Confessions of a One-Track Mind

It was cold last night. I didn't turn on the space heater, although I woke shivering before dawn and wished I had---but was too cold to get out from under the covers to do it. Dreamed about Susie...we had been to some scrapbooking sale, and she'd gotten a bunch of "theme" pages and she was talking about what pictures she was going to use them with. Bizarre, since that really wasn't the kind of crafting she was into.

Woke up cold and depressed. Added a long-sleeved pullover, which helped with the cold, but was freaking out about the house. My mom used to say, "A place for everything, and everything in its place", and I was looking around going, "Where? Where do I put that? Or that? All this STUFF, I don't even---!"

I did what any sensible person would do: I went back to bed and slept for another three hours.

I did not magically feel better when I woke up. More weird dreams...I had been given or rescued a little brown dachsund, and I was panic-stricken, because I knew I couldn't afford a dog. Also, he needed to be housebroken. Life or death, because I was staying with Mags Bennett (from Justified), and she was threatening to turn him into sausage if he crapped on her rug one more time. We were in an old house, recently inherited, that was all paneled in knotty-pine and the rooms ran together like a labyrinth.

Shifted some stuff around in the dining room---I swear, it never ends, I just DID the dining room, but of course, things come in from other areas while you work on them, or you set something down "just for a minute"---and pretty soon there's a fresh patch of clutter. Arrrgh!

Went back and forth, working out there, coming back here for a quick game of Staries...what snapped me out of my funk was looking at a slideshow of the quake/tsunami devastation in Japan. That prompted me to give myself a mental bitchslap. I'm worried about a few boxes and some piles of laundry? Pfft, that's nothing.

Alledgedly, the weather is going to warm up. Maybe it is, but since it's still only December, I'm willing to bet it isn't going to STAY warm. Which makes it all the more delightful that I've *finally* got a space heater in my office. It took some high finance, but it's done.

Here's what happened: Yesterday, after my lunch-and-browse, Mb asked me to come along to take care of bidness (which would be totally TL; DR), and while we were out and about, I told her about my new slacks and that Fashion Bug had a helluva good sale going on.

She was rather excited, since her folks gave her some money to buy a new special occasion outfit. So...I ended up at FB (with Mb) for the second time in four hours. We found her a very nice red and black dress with an all-over rose print.

This dress, in fact:



And, well, I tried on a few things to keep her company, and couldn't resist this dress,



It looks even more spectacular on me than on the model---*I* have real curves---and any dress that gives me a drop-dead figure for under $20 is worth it IMO. Although it was a trade-off---GK offered me $20 so I could go see TRON Legacy---but movies come and go; a good dress is the better investment.

Pleasantly enough, I don't need shoes to go with it; I have multiple pairs that will work, and it will also accessorize nicely with the "European" cloche. Heh heh. That hat has definitely earned its keep!

We went from there to Target. My primary objective was some fingerless gloves that I could type in---Mb has a pair from there that I noted and envied. Found a pair in red, and as we were checking out, I thought to ask the cashier if they had space heaters, and they did. Oh happy day!

I limped back and got one---limped, because it was a rather long day of trekking and shopping---and snagged a happy little ceramic heater the size of a toaster, just the right size for the office. Here's where the high finance comes in, because GK subsidized a heater purchase a couple weeks ago...except WalMart was (and still is) out of space heaters AND electric blankets, so I ended up with a small electric throw. Which was NOT what I wanted; I left it in the packaging and glared at it for its lack. Today, I took it back to WalMart (having prudently retained the receipt), got the money back, and deposited it to make up for the cost of the Target heater. (And the $20 for the dress. Worth it. Totally worth it.)

Now I don't NEED gloves to type in, but I have them, just in case.

Tomorrow, I'm heading over to J's, planning to wash my hair*, cook her lunch as a thank you, and watch "Desperado", since I've discovered she's a Banderas fan and I like to corrupt my friends when I can.

Somebody on my f'list has commented on my Yuletide fic. Nobody has recced it yet that I've seen, but it IS getting noticed.

================================================

* Just because it's tolerably warm in here doesn't mean it's warm enough that I want to sit around with wet hair. I can't afford to have pneumonia!

.

It's 45F/7.2C in my office at just past midnight. I'm wearing layers upon layers, including my coat and I'm doing my best to type in gloves.

Was going to go wander around WalMart to warm up, but my car won't start. Tomorrow, I'll fish out the battery charger and see if I can get it going. Got a new battery when I got the car, and that's about five years ago, so...not too surprised. Charger is buried in the trunk, won't that be fun?

As much as I bitch I'm USED TO being miserably hot. Miserably cold is just miseerable.

.

It's currently 49F/9.4C in my office, the weather forecast calls for a hard freeze, IE more than four hours below 28F/2.2C overnight, and a high tomorrow in the 50s. Brrr.

Supposedly it will be back up to a normal 70-something by the end of the week; meanwhile, fleece is the answer. I also remade my bed so I can use the wedge pillow, although the weight of all the covers may be problematic. Napping with it under ONE comforter was excellent, it really does support my lower legs nicely, but we'll see how well it works IRL conditions.

.

This evening, my office is 55F/12.7C, and I'm comfortable instead of miserable. It's amazing what a difference just a few degrees makes!

I'm enjoying the chance to wear jackets and coats again---including stuff I forgot I had. I rediscovered a plum-colored jacket last night. I got it early this year at Goodwill with GK. At the time, it barely closed. Now, well, I wouldn't call it relaxed fit, but I can close it. I just need to figure what I'm going to wear it with, since the last time I tried them on (this summer) my plum capris were sagging down my ass.

For that matter, when I put on my jacket to go out the other night, I realized that I didn't have to think about it. Last year, my shoulders gave me so much hell at the attempt that there were times I went without a coat of jacket just to avoid trying to struggle into it. And it's been a while since I automatically reached for the Excedrin-and-ibuprophen chaser as soon as I woke up. Big Thank You to The Universe for that!

And, in the vein of "I'm that much closer to having seen it all", here's a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Police mashup:

.

We had freezing temps overnight, and it's supposedly going to be the same for the next few nights. According to assorted thermometers and using my handy-dandy Farenheit to Celcius converter,
I can tell you that at 3 PM it's

69F/20.5C = bedroom
51F/10.5 = office

Little ceramic space heater is going for all it's worth in the bedroom. Bed is literally about four inches deep in coverings*: A sheet, two quilts, the sheep throw quilt I got from SBJB AND a twin comforter her bags yielded, topped by the queen comforter that was a b-day present from foreverhermit last year. I have another comforter I may dig out---I was still sleeping in bedroom slippers---and somewhere, I have an electric blanket, which I retired when my old waterbed sprang a leak. I ought to excavate that, it'll probably eliminate about thirty pounds of weight atop me.

SBJB, the bags have been donated to the clothing give-away at the food pantry that's been feeding me. I was happy to be able to give them something for a change, so thanks again!

Still haven't trimmed my tree, though it's up. Did fish a big gift bag out of my stash to house a couple of the brown boxes that have landed on my doorstep. One from GK (and she says she found an end-of-season dress for me at Target that she'll be sending shortly), which she says contains, among other things, something of Kat's that she knew I was disappoointed not to get. (I can only think of one item in particular...we'll see.) An even bigger box has arrived from pwcorgigirl---if that's licorice, it's at least a year's supply!

I'm not even doing cards, although I got a very scenic one from dine.. I've picked up a few things here and there for people, but I have yet to wrap any of it, much less ship it out. *fail* Oh, why does postage have to be so blessed expensive?!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

* Yes, I *AM* a wimp.

.

For the gift exchange the last Christmas I was at the medical billing company, I was fortunate enough to be assigned to the best-dressed gal in the office---IE, someone with fabulous taste, for my Big Gift. One of the things I put on my list for "likes" was leopard print, and she got me a fantastic throw with spotted faux fur on one side and ultrasuede on the reverse. This week, it's been seeing a lot of use. I'm wearing it over my shoulders like a cloak, holding it in place with a binder clip. It's very useful for sitting at my desk, or any other time I'm not in my bedroom. My space heater has been on in there for a solid week now.

Speaking of Xmas, I finally got to exchange belated Xmas gifts with missybrat last night. She took the idea I had for a wreath for my bathroom and ran with it---it's very cute, with little hotel-size soaps and shampoo bottles arranged around a shallow basket. I've got it hanging up in there, and now I *really* want to get the rest of the room fixed up. I angsted a bit over whether she'd really like that sinister Alice-in-Wonderland print by David Gough---and she did! Whew! He's not for everyone, but luckily, the two gals I presented his artwork to---StormValkyrie and Mb---both have offbeat taste.

Although I parted the curtains to check for snowfall several times during the night, there was no sign of it. It's still horrible, no good, very bad, cold, wet weather---currently 50 in my office---and I'm glad J cancelled the session we had scheduled in Melbourne. I've been putting off doing laundry, and the sitch is dire...I'm *almost* really to take it to a laundromat, except a) I don't have that kind of money, and b) I can never seem to go to one without winding up surrounded by screaming parents and kids gone wild. *shudder*
.

Spent quite a bit of Thursday cocooning with cookbooks. Was heartened to realize that I've got a lot of staples on hand. I may have to pick up a few things (whole-wheat flour and garlic were recurring ingredients I know I don't have), but I have beans, rice, a bag of cornmeal, tons of pasta, tomato products, etc.

pwcorgigirl, that cookbook you sent me has lots of stuff that looks do-able. I'm eyeing the Polenta-Corn pudding, which sounds yummy/easy, and there were a bunch of other things. Among the baking supplies I picked up were fresh boxes of baking powder and baking soda; I know that yeast needs warmer weather than I'm currently experiencing, but Irish soda bread would be oh-so-lovely. Or pancakes for breakfast! I'm feeling inspired...now if only that translates into being motivated---!

It seems as if the Arctic temps are going to linger well into next week, and they're even forecasting a slim chance of snow. Would someone please send me a plane ticket to Puerto Rico, with an open return date? I am OVER this!
.

I've had a day. For starters, I got an email from GK last night saying only "Call me about Mom.". The trouble was, I didn't get it til nearly 11, and I know better than to call her at that hour. So, first thing this morning---I called her and found out that they've put Kat into the hospital to get her pain meds regulated and she should be out again by the weekend. GK also asked me what I'd think of moving in with her for the duration.

I said I'd have to think about it; I shouldn't---I should leap to assist her in any way I can---except that I dealt with both of my natural parents in terminal illness, and neither of those situations were complicated by dementia, crazy neighbors, moving out of my house or any #$#%ing cats. I don't know if I can go through that again.

Meanwhile, it was 41F in my office when I got up this morning. I went over to J's to discuss doggy business and to avail myself of her lovely shower. Here's where we get some GOOD news: There's a chance that what I've been doing is going to turn into a real live paying job within the next month or so. (Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease---!) Not necessarily full-time, but probably on a par with the one I had, without having to drive to Melbourne.

To celebrate, I took my $5 gift card to Target...didn't buy anything. Was tempted by some shoes---they have a dandy clearance going, including a boatload of size 11, some of which actually fit---but the only pair in my price range was a pair of open-toed wedges. I might be able to handle wedges, but the thought of open-toed shopes in this weather---brrr! No thanks.

Home by way of WalMart, where I snagged onions and some baking supplies. Onions for something stew-ish, and baking supplies because for one thing, I got a bagful of walnuts on Monday and am thinking about mixing up something like a quickbread or a soda bread or even a coffeecake, although I didn't buy any sugar...I'm *pretty* sure I have some, and can't afford to buy more unless I know for sure I don't. Gingerbread is another possibility...I *DO* have molasses, and pwcorgigirl's awesome recipe....

Right now, it's 50F in my office, and I've been belatedly battening down the hatches. I hung my throw quilt over the bedroom window holding the A/C to try to insulate it a little and keep the heat in, and I've got a chenille bedspread tacked up over the office doorway so that whatever hot air I build up in here might actually stay here.
.

Another night of freezing temps...I'm ready to hibernate. Got under the covers to thaw this afternoon and nodded off for two hours. Am wearing inherited sweater over clothes-swapped long-sleeved knit, fleece-lined pants and mismatched furry mule slippers (one cheetah, one leopard)---not the slightest bit 'cute'. And they say this will probably go on for another week. I sure hope they're wrong. Global warming, my fat ass!

Another cold front has moved in, and I managed to spill a beverage all over my comforter, so I'm waiting for it to dry. Joy.

Glad tomorrow is my Friday...wonder how many books I can get out just with the boxes I have on hand. Gawd, it's only been about fourteen months since my last major purge...but I find myself looking at the same titles, untouched on the shelves, and I know it's time to let go of more. (Kinda like the boxes of clothes---last spring, GK and I channeled several huge bales to Goodwill. But looking through my closet reminds me that I can do better than THAT crap.)

There are so many thing I want to do with this place, but stuff has to go first. (Yes, I'm repeating myself, but it's the only way to get it to stick in my fluff-tarded brain.) If it doesn't contribute to my best life, I need to let it go....

DAMN, it's cold. We had freezing temps overnight last night, more are predicted for tomorrow, and at the moment, it's 48F in my office. (No insulation, no heater except the portable one in my bedroom.) It's rare for us to be this cold for this long, although the weather forecaster said there are benefits, like it'll kill weeds and insects.

With regard to dayofindulgence, I'm thinking about what I'm going to do. I'd like to finish something---which presents a LOT of possibilities. I can think of four or five SPN WIPs. There's Flying Towards Destiny, Sweet Temptation, or that multifandom crossover that I recently found my notes for. (When it comes to steno pads with unfinished scribbling, I probably have 100K words kicking around here.) There's the Equilibrium fic where I attempt to make sense of some of the plot holes. The list goes on....

The weather has gone and gotten brisk. (For Florida, fifty-something *is* brisk.) Actually being able to wear long-sleeved tops and wahoo!---jackets! is great. I'm sure by March the novelty will have long since worn off, but right now? Yay!

Today I've been running around in jeans, which I tend to avoid May-September, a soft, fuzzy top in raspberry pink knit and a blazer that's a black-white-silver animal pattern. Not quite leopard, not quite snakeskin, but definitely fun. Spent $7 on a pair of size 12 shoes, because it seems like all my 11s are killing my feet. These aren't "cute" shoes---they're a cross between sneakers and mary janes---but my feet aren't screaming, so...carry on. I'm OVER the damn brown suede slippers!

I've seen gas up the road at $1.98---if you'd asked me six months ago, I would've said I didn't expect to see $2 gas again in my lifetime, and I'm so happy to be wrong!

Etcetera....