Running, Life, a Clean House, and Super-Bowl Sunday

I can't tell you how mentally at ease I am right now.  I'm actively trying to stop worrying about everything so much.  What's the point?  Nothing ever gets better from worrying.  So this morning I spent almost 4 hours cleaning the house and listening to my latest Nora Roberts book on my iPod (it's really the only way to clean, if you're not already doing this, you absolutely need to...pairing a book or a podcast with cleaning makes it almost relaxing and enjoyable...I use a bluetooth headset so I don't have to worry about cords getting caught on the vacuum or a basket full of clothes). Just to let you all know, my husband does ALL the cooking and dishes in this house.  And he gets up on weekends with the kids so I can sleep in...so we're pretty equal on our domestic responsibilities.

So anyways...I went for a run today with my dog...outside, because for the past few treadmill runs, I've been struggling to keep up any sort of pace for longer than 5 minutes.  The 40 degree mountain air really rejuvenated my pleasure in running.  Even when I had to walk through the unshoveled sidewalks, I still really loved the whole experience and I feel a lot better about these beers I've been drinking (it's the Super Bowl, people) and the wings my husband made in his brand new fryer (he was pretty excited about it...it was delivered yesterday).

So having a clean house, a good run under my belt (4 miles), and a relaxing and fun family evening watching the Super Bowl with my husband and kids (well, they're watching cartoons on their respective devices), it just makes me feel so satisfied with life.  I wouldn't ask for anything to be different right now (except, maybe, all of this plus a totally polished book, an agent and a book deal). Maybe some day.

Happy Super Bowl!

Such a clean house

I didn't do very much cleaning last weekend, obviously...then I had off two days this week and took of a third...didn't do any cleaning then either.  Whatever.  So today, my house was gross.  Disgustingly gross.  And now it's so clean.  I feel bad for my younger daughter on days like this because she usually gets neglected and strapped into a high chair for as long as I can keep her occupied with snacks and iPads and empty paper towel rolls.  But I was able to mop, vacuum, clean toilets, clean bathroom sinks, dust, sweep off the back porch, make jewelry, feed kids lunch, all before 3 o'clock.  Sadly, the kids' naps are almost over, so I'm sure the house will look like a disaster again in about ten minutes.

They're up now and we're home from going to one of those huge local furniture stores (not IKEA, unfortunately).

I could probably go to sleep right now.  Finishing up some jewelry, then writing a little and taking the dog for a walk...then the weekend is over.  Bummer.

Oh, and I got a Kerastraight Ultimate treatment done to my hair on Friday.  Waiting for the shampoo and conditioner to get here in the mail tomorrow before I make a definite opinion about it one way or the other.

Man, I'm boring today.

A Birthday

I'm turning 32 in less than a week.  I can't lie...I sort of hate birthdays now.  It's just a reminder that I haven't accomplished many of the things I really really want to accomplish with my time.  Obviously I'm thrilled with the fact that I have a beautiful set of daughters and a happy life and a job and no real true worries.  But when I'm being selfish about the things I want to say I've done with my life, I want a few things on that list to show true accomplishments that reflect something I'm capable of with my own abilities.  The jewelry is fun and I'm proud of it but it's not cutting it.  I want to make time to finish editing one of the projects I've written and I want to be able to focus on getting one of them sold.  But there's never any time.

Everything is taking all of my time.  Two kids (love them dearly, yes, of course), work (takes way way way too much of it), jewelry, exercise (when I spare time for it)...by the time I have done everything I'm obligated to do either with work, family, jewelry, cleaning, etc. I have about an hour of free and open time to do with what I choose.  And unlike that awesome month back in November, I'm letting that hour go toward TV or mindlessly looking online.  And then, before I know it, it's time to go to bed.

I guess I could start staying up late again but I really need the sleep now that everyone in my house keeps getting sick and work is requiring more of my attention.  Seriously...just one hour...if that...per day.  That's it.  And so now I look at people without children, or the version of me before children, and I think...damn, must be nice.  Again...I'm not complaining about children at all, obviously...but maybe Abby could cry a little less when I walk out of the room to pee.  And maybe Jane could not spend an hour every night repeatedly being told to go to bed.  Then maybe the time I spend with them would be a little less stressful and the time I end up with at the end of the day would be a little more productive.

Wishful thinking.

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 :)