Death Defying Acts of Stultification

Stultification, which the dictionary defines as – Cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, esp. as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine.

In other words I am bored. Mostly with my job and the never ending tedium of home care and car care and self care.

I’m pretty sure I need a vacation.

I’m taking a vacation in a week. But that is not this week. I’m hoping to get some good deep relaxation for a few days. Relaxing, however, requires up front work to keep from being so behind on not relaxing that I want to cry. You see the problem here of course. No, it’s not my OCD acting up again. I just need someone, anyone to give a shit about this house and it’s condition besides me.

I’m thinking I need a house keeper again.

I’ll need to make more money of course. Something for which I’m having little to no luck with. With the economy as it is I am fortunate to be working and to have health insurance. I am keenly aware of this. It makes me a lot sad that I can’t seem to I Dream of Jeannie up a response with a head nod and blink of the eyes and voila – instant promotion with no extra work.

Uh huh, right there with you. Soooo NOT happening.

I’m very committed to trying to spend less money next year on stuff. I have lots of stuff. Very committed to eating better next year. I can always do better. I’m even more committed to ridding myself of these sinus issues I’ve been having for months now. V-E-R-Y committed. By any means necessary. Well almost any. I think the plan I came up with to chop the part of my head above my mouth clean off may be a bit extreme.

So for now I’ll keep working, working out and looking at my good fortune with eyes of adoration. I’ll be keeping my eyes off of the page of the dictionary that defines the S word above.

Hope all is well with you.

Suprisingly not humbuggity

Is humbuggity even a word?

Today was my last big push to get the items I needed for Christmas, to clean a little more and to replenish what’s missing in the pantry.

It turned out that there were several items that were nearly finished but not done in the pantry. Double bottles of the same substance with tiny little bits left in them. Honey, balsamic vinegar, rice. I now have about 50 percent more room for stuff. Plus, it’s organized nicely. For better or ill, that still makes my little heart flutter just like a tweenager seeing Justin Bieber sing.

Not much knitting action today. I hope tonight I’ll sit and rest a bit with something simple. 1 texting mitt is done. Vancouver shawl is progressing as is Muir. And there is the hat for Marc which had to have the kitchener stitch picked out and the ribbing undone because it was too small. I love the progress I am making, but wish I had more of it.

Off to do the dishes and run a load of laundry.

Quest for Boots

There isn’t anything in a girls closet that is quite as satisfying as a good pair of boots. Except for maybe jeans that fit well, a good coat, well you get the idea. For a long time now I’ve been good at shopping for things that fit, don’t ride up, last longer than one season and are age appropriate. It’s a tall order for sure. I have a good pair of brown boots. I also have lots of black clothes and the whole dilemma of brown and black worn together seems so trite. Still, I’m not sure if it’s a fashion do or don’t.

Why does this matter when the impending disaster of Sarah Palin running for Prez in 2010 looms large (I tell you that woman scares the crap out of me). It matters because I was attempting to score a pair of black boots before I go into self imposed austerity mode next year. I’d like to be more helpful with college for my kids. I’d like to visit Spain when oldest daughter does her time abroad. I’d like to pay down the Prius debt and do a little traveling myself.

These are not things that can be done (by me anyway) when you are spending money on clothes and lattes. OK I don’t typically buy a latte, usually tea, and a scone.

I think I can do this well. I think.

I shopped for black boots at Macy’s yesterday and everything I liked was out of my size. Sadly the black boots may have to wait for awhile. Still sorting out in my head how the austerity measures should work. Me and the European Union.

I made quince bread yesterday, from a recipe that required nearly 2 1/2 hours of baking between roasting the quince and actual baking time. Don’t forget the full cup of oil required. It’s lovely stuff. You just need to be very careful how much you eat. It has fresh rosemary and lemon zest in it. And corn meal. And a LOT of oil.

I think I’ll go toast a little for tea.