Thursday, July 29, 2010

Long Days

I've had a long week so far. Not terrible, just long. Although I've been sleeping horribly, so that part hasn't been so great. Monday night I managed to push myself to make dinner, despite my general exhaustion. I'm glad, because it was a really good new recipe that I'll be sharing soon on Small Time Cooks. I'm reading a good book that I started on Monday and am already almost done with. For such a slow reader like me that is quite a feat. My house is still pretty darn tidy after all the cleaning I did this weekend. We all know how nice it is to come home to a clean house. Tuesday I was having a very rough day, I barely slept at all the night before, and ended up leaving work midday to go home for a nap. I worked a bit from home that afternoon, and used the rest of the evening to get my photos ready for the exhibition in August.

Yesterday was like a marathon. I slept in just a smidge, got up and got ready and had a big breakfast and coffee. Then it was off to the community college campus to take my placement test. Did great on the essay and reading portions, did poorly as expected on the math. They said I can keep working on my math though, and take another placement test right before school to see if I can move ahead in the developmental classes some more. Once I was done, they luckily had a few spots left in that afternoon's new student group advisement that is required before you can register for classes. So I wasted some time by walking to Jamba Juice and back, and then went through that orientation. I've enrolled in two classes online, and I have to go back by the school to enroll in the developmental math course I need. Once I've done that and paid my tuition (yuck) I'll be good to go, I guess. After 12 years, I'll be a student again. Yoinks! I feel like I'm there undercover or something. I was definitely older than everyone else in the advisement class, but I look so young I don't think anyone could really tell. It such a weird feeling, ha.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Work, yuck
-Get home, and get ready to clean
-Quick dinner
-Lots and lots of house cleaning while Josh is in Denton for show
-Late night snacks while watching Manhattan Murder Mystery
-Josh gets home and gets cleaned up
-Hit the hay

Saturday:
-Totally oversleep
-Shower and get ready
-Have to skip school festival thanks to oversleeping
-Head out to IKEA
-Get two benches, clock, and frame for exhibition photo
-Back home, unload cargo
-Bowl of cereal and a couple of eggs for a late lunch
-Watch a little HGTV
-Head to Stephanie & Rodney's
-Visit with the babies for a little bit
-Everybody packs in to the mini-van to head out for some drinking and golfing
-Drinks, food, laughs, and some hits at the driving range
-Back to the DeMeglio casa for some cake and games
-Head home
-Crash in to bed

Sunday:
-Up early to finish household tidying
-Shower and get ready
-Dad & Karen come by to see the house
-Lunch at Pappadeaux's, such good alligator
-Goodbye's and back home
-Menu planning and grocery listing
-Grocery shopping
-Unload the goods, clean and prep veggies
-Start some laundry
-A bit of reading, finish Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, while Josh mows the yards
-A little Newsweek reading
-Start an episode of Make 'Em Laugh
-Grab some Rosa's for dinner
-Eat and finish Make 'Em Laugh episode
-Do muscle relaxation exercise homework
-Interwebing, Skyping and re-watching Manhattan Murder Mystery
-Finish laundry
-Bedtime

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Gimme Money, That's What I Want

As I mentioned before we recently picked up a new car. We still kept our little troublemaker, the VW Bug, and after some repairs it is back at the casa. It's sitting in the driveway however because we had a bunch of junk in the garage in it's place. Our garage is actually pretty tidy, but it is lacking in cohesive organization. I got my mom to take back her shop vac, we bought a wall bike rack (don't ask about it though, turning out to be a pain in the behind), and I've been chucking stuff on Craigslist to try and get some more space. A side benefit is that from the stuff I sell, I get to put that cash back into the house decor. This week we got rid of the biggest piece we had sitting around, our old entertainment center. It was a nice piece, but we had no space and no need for it, since our new living room came with a whole wall of built-in storage. I almost got enough from the sale of it to get the two benches I want from IKEA. I didn't mention in that earlier post that I want two benches, but I do. Still patiently waiting for someone to take me up on a cheap metal bed frame that I myself picked up off Craigslist, but which turned out to be too small, along with a lamp, some curtains and other miscellaneous items that don't work in the new house. Anyway, looks like I'll get to make that trip to IKEA this weekend, because I also need to pick up a frame for one of the prints I'm preparing for an exhibition in August. Two chores killed with one hop, skip, and jump to IKEA! And then my dining room will be much closer to done and maybe I'll even share a picture or two.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Work, yuck
-Home to get ready
-Jason meets us at the house
-Head out to Dallas, make the boys listen to Dawes on the way
-Load in at The Cavern
-Hang out, meet Neff, good music and drinks
-Talk with some of Josh's Southpeak boys
-Hit he road, after a pit stop for gas and pringles
-Home, de-club myself
-Pretzels, chips & salsa while watching some Simpsons
-Hit the hay

Saturday:
-Sleep in, intermittently dozing while waiting for Craigslister to pick up a lamp
-Haircuts
-Errands for Mom's birthday present
-Fish and chips for lunch
-Catch up on some dvr'd Rick Bayless and peruse my new MS Living issue
-Help Josh in the garage, get some photos of the old tv stand
-Shower
-Get ready
-Head up to meet the guys at The Moon
-Grab some Fuzzy's Tacos with Niki
-Back to The Moon for Tony's solo show, awesome second band, and then Fate Lions
-Visit with Mel, Brian, Niki & Veronica for awhile
-Head home
-Get ready for bed
-Chips & salsa w/ some more Simpsons
-Bedtime

Sunday:
-Sleep in
-Try to do some menu planning, but still so tired
-Doze for another hour or so
-Grab some food
-Do some real menu and grocery planning
-Put entertainment center on craigslist
-Get ready
-Grocery shopping
-Put everything up
-Start laundry
-Shower
-Spinach & Feta pizza for dinner
-TV while finishing up some computer stuff
-Finish laundry
-Snooze time

Friday, July 16, 2010

Three Things

I think these three things would have my dining room nearly finished. Of course, I don't have any money for these three things, so only time (and scrimping) will tell.

































Thursday, July 15, 2010

Dawesome

Feeling much better, thinking that I just had a bad allergy flare up. I rarely have allergies, but after a whole weekend of cleaning and organizing dusty, neglected spaces and Josh mowing the front and back yard, I think it got my sinuses going.

That isn't the point of this post though. The point is that you need to start listening to this band, NOW. I went to Casa Manana with Holly, Stephanie, and Amanda last night to see Telegraph Canyon, which I've shared about here before, and an up and coming band from LA, Dawes. If you listen to KXT, then you're surely already familiar with them. And perhaps you're already familiar with them through some other vein. But if you aren't, you need to be. Gorgeous songs, reminiscent of The Band, and to my mind just a tinge of The Grateful Dead. Luverly alt-country-folk-rock. That's a wide description, but just listen and enjoy. I couldn't embed any of their official videos, so you can go here to see them. Here is a decent video of "When You Call My Name", which is a favorite of the KXTers.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Sickies

I can't believe it, but I'm actually sick again. It's the super pits right now. I can't miss anymore work after my foot injury, the last time I was sick, and our trip to NY. My boss has a compromised immune system due to his cancer treatments, so gets to work from home while I get to come in and be miserable all day, ha. Hoping this crud will be over much more quickly than it was last time. I would love nothing more than to curl up in bed and watch some old movies while I wait this bug out, but looks like that just isn't an option this time.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Work, yuck
-Josh at show, so on my own
-Toast w/ avocado and egg, chips & salsa for dinner
-Watch "Dial M for Murder"
-Small batch of popcorn, "Sense & Sensibility" and some Conan Skype chat
-Josh gets home
-Hit the hay

Saturday:
-Sleep waaaay in
-30 minute walk
-Weights
-Shower
-Whole wheat pumpkin pancakes for lunch
-Josh off for rehearsal
-Start beef stew in the slow cooker
-Clean out and organize guest bedroom
-Break for frozen burrito
-Back to cleaning
-Josh gets home
-Beef stew for dinner
-Grab a well deserved jr. sundae and small coke
-Conan Skype chatting
-A little "Simpsons"
-Bed

Sunday:
-Up at a decent hour!
-Menu planning and grocery listing
-Coffee, cereal, and fruit smoothie
-Get ready
-Michael's to look for frames, nada
-Container Store for a bike rack, score
-Masterworks and Ansel Adams exhibits at the Amon Carter, fantastic
-Grocery shopping at Target and Central Market
-Drop Conan/tattoo pic off at shop
-Unload the cargo
-Eat half a cuban sandwich and a few chips
-Start laundry
-Clean and prep veggies for the week
-Make Goodwill donations
-Tidy a few things in the garage
-Shower
-Some popcorn and Masterpiece Mystery's "Murder on the Orient Express"
-Finish up laundry
-A couple episodes of "Good Neighbors"
-Bedtime

Friday, July 9, 2010

New Toy

This week Josh came back from his Dad's house with a present for me. It was a lovely brown case, containing an even lovelier gift. Ann brought back her dad's old camera from NY for me. It's a Canon AE-1Program, a 35mm SLR from the early to mid 80's. There was also an extra lens and a flash in the case. And several film canisters, which I'm nervous to open. I don't know if they've been exposed yet, and I don't want to ruin them if they have. I'll have to take them by Barron's and have them checked out. There was another roll still in it's box, so I might pop it in the camera and just see what happens when I start pushing buttons. :)

Thursday, July 8, 2010

To See

There are two photography exhibits that I'd love to see at the Amon Carter Museum right now. Masterworks of American Photography: Popular Culture and Ansel Adams: Eloquent Light both look fantastic. We haven't been to the museum since December! Going to try and squeeze in a visit this weekend since the Masterworks exhibit is ending July 18th. And the exhibit American Modern: Abbott, Evans, Bourke-White that starts in October looks good too. I'll have to put a reminder on my calendar for that!




















Esther Bubley (1921–1998)
Humble Camp, Gene Tanner and his Dog, Sergeant, Tomball, Texas, 1945

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Sink or Swim

I'm feeling very overwhelmed lately. We had a nice weekend, in which I got a few things done. But it just seems that there's never going to be a way for me to get all the the things done that need doing. Money is really tight right now, and I need all the work hours I can get. I'm doing good on getting to work early so far. But at the same time I really need to go take the placement test for school. Time is dwindling and the longer I wait the harder it's going to be to put together a decent class schedule. Taking the test means missing work though.

On top of the school/work/money thing is the driving thing. We got the new car, in part so we'd have something I could more easily learn on, and drive on days I have school. But I haven't had a chance to drive it yet. And beyond that is the stress of actually getting my license. And then the increase in our insurance and gas costs come up, which swings us back around to the money side of things. Add to that the everyday stuff like I don't like my job, housework, cooking, and insomnia.

And let's not forget the icing on the cake- I've gained at least 6 pounds since my foot injury. Half of my pants don't fit. The expensive pairs, naturally. So I'm on a heavy rotation of stairs, jumping jacks, pilates, walking, and hand weights. Also counting calories and measuring food portions. I can't afford to buy a bunch of new clothes, not to mention that I don't want to. It's all my favorite pants that aren't fitting!

I know people have problems way worse than mine, but it doesn't stop these things from stressing me out. Guess it's a good thing I'm doing all this exercising for stress release, huh?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Mean Reds

I've got a bad case of the mean reds today. Be back tomorrow.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Weekend Hopes

Here are a few of the things I'm planning, or at least hoping, to find time for this holiday weekend. Happy Fourth!
Whole Wheat Peach Muffins with Crumble Topping
.Make some Whole Wheat Peach Muffins
.Measure my NYC map for framing
.Do breathing exercises twice
.Do pilates thrice
.Get a Small Time Cooks blog post up
.Finish reading 2 books
.Grocery shopping
.Bit of house cleaning
.Hang out time with Josh
.Hang out time with friends. Possibly a party?

Friday Conezone #16

Hey guys! It's finally Friday! This week has been all out of whack for me, with us being gone Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday felt like Monday and things have been off-kilter ever since. But it's finally time for the weekend. As I've mentioned before I like to try and keep things a little topical when it comes to the Friday Conezone. Today I found out that two of the three photos I submitted were accepted for an August exhibition at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. Naturally I'm very excited! So, for today's Conezone clip I decided to share Conan's photoshoot experience at Teen Beat magazine. Enjoy!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Resolutions Update

I can hardly believe we are already at the halfway point for 2010. It seems like every year passes by faster and faster, doesn't it? Figured that today would be the ideal day to take a look at the progress, if any, I've made on some of my goals for the year. Let's see if I've gotten anything done, shall we?

.Read 20 books- Bahaha. I've read three. I'm reading a couple right now, so maybe I can catch up on this one. Doesn't seem very likely though.
.Exercise at least twice a week- I was doing great on this one until I injured my toe. I'm trying to get back in the ballgame now, especially since I have weight to lose from being off my feet for so long.
.Improve my eating habits- Again, not so awesome. Trying to get back on the ball, and then I could still use some more improvements.
.Be a better listener- probably failing at this one, though I keep trying so that's a partial success, right?
.Learn to drive- I've driven Josh and I twice this year, and now that we've got the automatic Honda Fit I can make much more progress. I look forward to doing some practice driving this weekend.
.Get a full physical/gyno/bloodwork- I may have discovered 4 new health problems to deal with, but this one is a big checkmark. None of these problems are life threatening, so what are some eye drops and daily pills compared to living a long, healthy life?
.Learn some tactics for handling stress
- I'm going in for another appointment with my therapist tomorrow to work on my biofeedback, and learn how to adjust my body's response to stressors.
.Start a vegetable garden in back yard and container herb garden in side yard- I planted some cilantro, basil, and a tomato, pepper, strawberry, and cantaloupe plant. The cilantro is dead, I've eaten one tomato I've grown, and have one pepper to show for my efforts so far. We'll see how the plants fare the rest of the summer before I decide to go further with the veggie garden idea.
.Learn how to develop my own black & white film- a whole lotta nada going on here
.Have clothes hemmed- again zip, not sure why this task is so difficult for me
.Finish family photos for the hallway- zero progress made
.Get my Beatles tattoo- I got my Conan tattoo first, but I'm hoping to get this one before the year is out.
.Be more like Diane Keaton, Jane Birkin, Linda McCartney, Katharine Hepburn, and Audrey Hepburn- I should probably think up some more specific ways in which I can be following the example of these fabulous ladies.
.Rent a cabin- I'm thinking the Holiday Inn Express we just stayed in doesn't cross this one off my list.
.Finish organizing my office- More or less done, although I make it messy every week, so it's constantly in need of re-organizing.
.Cross 2 things off my Life List- Hmm, I need to actually take a look at my list again and see what all I can consider done. I think I had visit Niagara Falls on there, in which case we consider this resolution half finished.

So, there we go. That's what I've managed to get done in the past 6 months. Of course I've also met one of my biggest inspirations in person, made a lot of new friends, decided on a path I'd like to follow, and applied to school. We'll see where the next 6 months take me as I move more down that path and actually start school in the fall!