Hiking, Nora Roberts, Being Sick, Missing an Awesome Event

I'm stuck in Colorado Springs this weekend when all of my favorite non-immediate family people are working at the most physically exhausting but amazing fundraiser of the year for the organization I work for.  I'm so sad I'm not there in Phoenix with them...the days are long and, like I said, exhausting, but I still would give anything to be working there this weekend.

In truth, it's still probably good I'm not there, considering last night at this time I was sporting a 101.5 degree fever and felt like death.  After 9 hours of sleep and some heavy doses of ibuprofen, I felt almost back to normal again today.  So during the girls' nap time I packed the dog in the car and, after a short detour to return some library books, I drove him up to Palmer Park where we spent the most lovely hour hiking/jogging/walking through the trails, just exploring the bike paths and enjoying the outdoors.  It was so awesome.

I even found an unread Nora Roberts book in my Audible library this morning so I got to listen to that on the hike.  It was like finding a $20 bill in an old jacket pocket.  So excited to have 15 hours worth of unexpected entertainment.  I felt really good, other than a slightly sore throat and a stuffy nose, so I figured I'm mostly cured of this flu-like infection.  Then I went to the grocery store with the fam and felt all the worst symptoms come back strong.  Super sore throat, aches, chills, fever-like symptoms.  I took more ibuprofen, which kicked in quickly, and I made my garlic/honey tonic and have been taking spoonfuls of that since noticing some white patches at the back of my throat.  I don't think it's strep, I think I have a tonsil problem...like I just get infected tonsils every time I catch a bug.  Sucks.

Now I'm home watching Creed with the husband and trying to drown out the noises coming from both my kids' respective devices.  

Also, I ordered myself a Kindle Fire with an Amazon gift card I got from my in-laws.  I'm super excited...it's supposed to arrive tomorrow (yes, a Sunday, weird right?).  I certainly don't need anymore tablets, but I LOVE them and when a gift card literally covers the full cost of one, I'm not going to pass it up.  I don't need anything else on Amazon at the moment.  And I like spending birthday money on wants rather than needs.

We're supposed to have good weather again tomorrow and now I'm addicted to Palmer Park, so me and Ike are heading there again.  I kind of can't wait.

I really really really wish I were in Phoenix though.

Wine, Friday, Nora Roberts, and 9 minutes until Dinner

I started listening to another Nora Roberts book on Audible a few days ago.  I don't know why, but every time I read/listen to one of her books I get this wildly intense desire to write.  Maybe it's because I love the way her stories make me feel (like a glass of wine and a slice of pizza are nothing to be ashamed of and I can still be beautiful and desirable while I consume them).  Either way, I'm literally drinking a glass of wine and listening to the book right now (Angels Fall).  It's good, but let's be honest, they're all sort of the same book with different names and settings (and I'm completely okay with that).

Also this week I've decided to stop giving a shit about what people think of me.  Also whether or not I have anything to worry about now that I'm working remotely.  What could I possibly accomplish, worrying all the time?  Nothing.  So who cares?  Why should I keep perpetuating the self-fulfilling prophecies?  If I keep asking myself why people might be upset with me, I'll come up with, or create reasons for them to be upset with me.  And if I keep worrying about things I have no control over, I'll only drive myself crazy and not gain anything in return.

So I'm going to start writing again, editing too.  Like crazy.  I turn 33 in a month, less than.  And I can't control what people think about my writing but if I want to do it, I should do it.

Dinner is in 3 minutes.

Chicken Enchiladas....the Stouffer's kind. Yum!!!

Busy busy busy

I feel like I've used that title before.  Eh, oh well.  It's true again.  But it's a really good busy.  For one thing, I have been keeping up with all my various must-be-dones for Christmas.  I've still been writing the book, I'm totally caught up with jewelry (what an awesome feeling for this time of year), we've had Christmas cookies two weeks in a row, lights are up outside, the house isn't in total disarray, etc.  I've been listening to audiobooks and podcasts through a lot of these chores/tasks, which is definitely a big reason why I'm not resentful of how much I have to do.  I have actually enjoyed cleaning.

One of the audiobooks I'm listening to is Unbroken.  I finally started reading it after finishing Goldfinch so many weeks (months?) ago.  I've heard so many good things.  People have told me it's a quick read, I'd get through it so fast.  And after starting it in the hard cover...then dragging through to the point where I felt like I was forcing myself to keep going, I found it on my kindle.  I thought, having it more available, I'd get into it more and get to a part of the book where I'd feel like I couldn't put it down.  That didn't happen.  I finally broke down and found it on Audible.  I've been listening to it for over a week, reading it for over a month, and I have to say...I really hate it.  The writing is just awful.  I really don't get what the big deal surrounding this book is all about.  I mean...the story of this guy is definitely honorable, I'm not saying anything against the recounting of this man's hardships, and all of the hardships of the POWs in World War II, but the author's annoying attempt to sound clever sentence after sentence is making me want to rip my hair out.  So that's my rant for this book...I've been wanting to get that out for a while now.

So I need to start running more often.  I'm still going on at least one weekend run, but I need to fit a couple more weeknights in...and I've been slacking.  Holiday cookies, egg nog, candy canes, and cereal mix aren't really helping me fit into my jeans either.  I probably need to go have another cup of egg nog now.

Good night :)