* DO YOU EVER? *

Do you ever get excited about house cleaning?? I must admit that I'm not much of a housekeeper. There is usually clutter and dust bunnies just about everywhere. I can't seem to keep up with it all.

I used to try a lot harder, but gave up years ago when I realized that my husband was never going to change, so why bother knocking myself out, when it'd look the same all over again in a few days, hours, minutes!

BUT, when I AM in the mood...look out! I was so excited when I went to sleep Saturday night because I'd finally bought new "cleaning stuff," and knew I'd be using them when I woke up Sunday. Weird? Not for me.

I'd been using watered-down Windex and watered-down all purpose spray cleaner for so long, they certainly weren't doing the job. And I'd completely ran out of one of my favorites: Soft Scrub with bleach. So, can't you understand my excitement when I knew I could actually do a great job of cleaning the kitchen?! And because of that, I was happy!

The radio was tuned to a favorite station and I think I actually whistled while I worked. It was one of those glorious, perfect days...sunshine & ideal temperatures...and did I wish I was outside? Nope! I gazed out my patio door from time to time and reveled in the beauty of it all, especially the birds at our bird-feeder, floating and swooping, waiting for their turn...all those except for those ill-behaved Blue jays!

This was not taken that day,
but at least you can see part of my kitchen!
Have I mentioned I LOVE this apartment?
 

In no time, the stove-top shined, the counter-tops were spot free, & the sink glistened!

Yesterday and today were semi-rainy and cloudy and I didn't feel like doing a thing.
Hey Mother Nature...please send more almost-perfect days. I want to keep cleaning!



* A LITTLE DECORATING, A LITTLE CLEANING, AND A JOB! *

A Little Decorating....

 

As you can see, the kitchen in our townhouse has definitely not been updated lately. It has the old wood grain countertops, old kitchen cabinets, and a white tile backsplash over the sink. The renters before us painted some of the walls red, which I don't dislike, and have actually come to embrace.

 

Months ago I decided I was going to put black and red "scrolly" stickers on the tile to give it a little umph. I found the black ones at Hobby Lobby but searched everywhere in stores and online for similar ones in red. I could not find any.

 

 

I came across other designs that I thought might work,

but it's too long and way too boring of a story, so here is the finale. Ta Da!

I just added those very few red squares to give it some red color and

 I think I did okay in achieving the Umph. What do you think?

 

Oh, and how do you like the tiny lights I put under the cabinets? It looks so pretty in the evening when they are the only lights on in the kitchen.

 

~~~

 

A Little Cleaning....

I don't have any photos to share, at this moment of any cleaning I've been doing. More on that later.... J

~~~

 

And, A Job......



 

Have I mentioned I'd been "semi" job hunting the past couple of months? Full-time or part-time, hopefully close to home. I wasn't being very picky, and yet it appeared that either I was too old, or didn't have the skills for much of anything! Depressing! So, just when I decided to forget about it, a job came along.

 

 

 

Isn't that how things usually happen?! It's like my favorite quote/personal mantra by Joseph Campbell:

 

"I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be."

 

For now, I'll just say this. It's part-time. I start tomorrow. It's close to home. And, I'm a bit nervous! Wish me luck, and I'll report back soon!

 

~~~

 

* I'd like to welcome my newest follower: Sandi of Dandelion Tea. Hello Sandi! I hope you always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you very much! *

 

* If It's Tuesday, I'm Confused....Again *

First I want to say a huge Thank You to all the wonderful women who stopped and left such heartfelt comments on my Thanksgiving Day and December 1st posts. It truly means so much to me! I love my bloggy friends!

If you're a long time reader of mine, you may remember I've used this same post title before. That's because my days are so busy and I get so mixed up sometimes that I honestly don't know what day it is! But, hey....I'm having fun, so I'm not complaining!

I saw the following gadget/button on Annesphamily's blog and it made me laugh out loud. It is SO ME! And Anne gave me permission to use it on my blog, too........

Isn't that hilarious??!!

The past few days I've been busy with writerly stuff and house cleaning stuff......and a bit of Christmas decorating stuff. I found an awesome CD in my son's bedroom that I confiscated! Hey, he moved out when he began college....uh...in January of 2007. He left a few things behind and he obviously hasn't missed this particular CD yet! It's "Joe Cocker, The Ultimate Collection." In fact, I'm listening to it right now. Fabulous!

Welcome to my two newest followers JJ and podso. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see!  

I really like the quote I'm ending with tonight and I've used it a couple of times before, too. It really speaks to me because it's exactly how I feel about myself.



"We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves." -- Lynn Hall

* Various Thoughts on a Friday Night *

I've had a very productive week, in spite of negative things being thrown my way, testing my fortitude. My optimistic, bliss-following self disappeard for awhile, but I'm baaaccckkkk, stronger than ever! Look out world, I'm ready to kick some butt! (and I mean that in the nicest, kindest way possible!)

* I sat in my local Bread Co. for a while one day and got a lot of editing done on my book.
* I totally de-cluttered and cleaned up our spare bedroom.
* I cleaned out closets and drawers of clothing that hasn't fit me in at least 2 years, and I know never will again! I have a bagful to donate to Goodwill and a bagful to donate to a friend.
* I started the de-clutter and clean up of our loft, which had turned into a large junk room.
* I baked a homemade apple pie today.
* I worked quite a lot on some Saturday Writer stuff. (one of the local writing groups I belong to. I'm the president for 2011, so there's been a lot to do before our first meeting this month)
* I've been reading a memoir by Cynthia Kaplan called Leave the Building Quickly. This book has really helped me zone in on my own writing style and voice. Parts of it are truly "laugh out loud" funny! Just tonight I used up the last of a Barnes & Noble gift card I got for Christmas, by purchasing her first book, Why I'm Like This,  another memoir.

Oh, one more thing. I had a light-bulb moment the other day and decided that I will purchase one book a month, from my blog writer friends who have a book published! My first one, for January, is Katie Gates' The Somebody Who. Katie has posted chapters from it on her blog from time to time and I know it'll be a great book.

I have a note around here somewhere, with the names of two or three others whose books I want to buy, but I can't find it at the moment! Don't worry, I'm sure it will turn up before February rolls around.

Happy reading and writing everyone! What books are you reading now? What are you writing?
"I am not the only person who uses his computer mainly for the purpose of diddling with his computer."-- Dave Barry