* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

 

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

I know, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, and believe me I am NOT one to rush Christmas and decorations, etc. But, I'm cleaning out the closet in the bedroom where my desk and laptop is. Attempting to cram as much "things to keep" stuff in it, and get rid of the stuff "I really can let go of."

 

 

See, all this has to do with desperately needing to get organized, so I can WRITE and not have clutter stressing me out. That's my biggest "chore" right now. I hate clutter!

 

 

 

So, anyway, I came across this photo taken at an office party in 1984! I was a couple of weeks away from my 32nd birthday in January of '85. OMG, I was so young, slender and cute!....If I do say so myself! Yes, that is a glass of beer in my hand, too! (Ron must've taken this photo because he was at the party with me, of course!)

In my mind, I still feel like that same young woman. I feel as if I look just like that, too. The human brain is so interesting. We all know we will age, and yet when we're young, it seems as if we never will! And then all of a sudden, poof... 20, 30, 40 years go by and we're staring into the mirror at an old, wrinkly person.

I think mirrors should not

be allowed in our Baby Boomer homes!

We could fix our hair and put on make-up,

looking into our rearview car mirror!

DOES IT LOOK LIKE I NEED HELP??

See this mess of books and papers? It looks eerily like my home office.

I can't figure it out. I don't sit around all day doing nothing. I usually get up early and stay up late. And yes, I'm on my laptop blogging, networking, and e-mailing, for quite a while. Then I do some actual writing. I honestly don't waste a lot of time.  

And yet......

Its like that saying, The harder I work, the behinder I get. 

I do have somewhat of a system. (See my little jotted notes below?) They are some I clipped together in June 2011, to keep track of contests, calls for submissions, and notes for my memoir. At least I had them clipped together! 

And I do have files and folders, but I don't keep up with them. I'm nowhere near as organized as I used to be when I was younger, and worked full-time in offices. My mind is always in a zillion directions now and I don't stay focused. Is it because I'm older? Or because I have so much writerly stuff on my mind? Whatever the reason....now is the time to change!

I've read quite a few blogs lately that have a new Word for the Year. Something they want to focus on. I've decided that's what I need, too. After much soul-searching, the following three words jumped out at me:

Concentrate - Organize - Complete

What do you think? Is there any hope for me?!
Do you have a Word for the Year?



* Welcome to my newest follower Josie Two Shoes. I hope you will stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you so much! *


*Note: Yesterday, I did get caught up (I think) replying to individual comments on my blog all the way back to December 9th! Today, I'll be making the rounds to as many blogs as I can!





"I'm a disorganized mess. My purse is gross: I once found a shoulder pad, string cheese, and a Christmas ornament in it!" -- Hoda Kotb

* This 'n That on a Wednesday *

Yesterday was Coffee & Critique day. Every Tuesday morning from 10:00am to 12:00 noon, a few of us local writers get together for....you guessed it: Coffee (or whatever drink of choice) and Critique. We meet in a cafe and most times stay for lunch as well. This is the only critique group I've ever attended, but from hearing about others, I know it is a quality one. We are an "open" group. No requirements or invitations. We do have some Guidelines. You bring something to read if you want, but you aren't required to. No one gives unkind remarks. We're there to give suggestions and advice. I am positive I have become a much better writer since being part of this wonderful group. And you know how we writers are. We love being around each other, talking about writing. We "get" each other. And boy, do we have fun!

I found The Cutest To-Do List at Jenny at The Modest Peacock. She shared it on her blog. Click on the link:  http://themodestpeacock.blogspot.com/2012/01/thought-id-share.html 

I printed one copy at home and took it to Kinkos and made 10 more. (I didn't want to use up all my color ink.) Each page is one day. I've tried making my own To-Do Lists, but they've never worked. This one just fits me. It even reminds me to drink my 8 glasses of water a day...which is something I've never done!

This is what I saw when I looked out my windows this morning!

 We've had barely an inch of snow all winter, which is so different from the last few winters. The two photos with the plant on the window sill were taken from my kitchen. The other one is in my neighbor's front yard.

My alloted blog time is over now, so on to other tasks! Thanks for stopping by and please don't forget my give-away. (See Monday 2/6 blog post)

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -- Robert Brault (http://www.robertbrault.com/)

Surrounded by Books

Have you ever seen that episode on "Two and a Half Men" where Alan totally loses it in the book store? He's sad and upset that his little boy is growing up and doesn't need him as much anymore. So, Charlie, actually trying to be helpful, tells Alan that now he'll have the time to do the things he really wants to do. At first, Alan agrees and is happy, thinking about reading....and then becomes unglued, thinking he doesn't have enough time left in his life to read all the books he yearns to read. He starts yelling as he pulls one book after another off the shelves, and finally slips down onto the floor, sobbing as he drops books everywhere. (I found it hilarious, but then I have a warped sense of humor.)

 (courtesy: Google)

Yesterday afternoon I was attempting yet again to de-clutter my loft. It's such a beautiful room, with large windows, a ceiling fan, overlooks our entry foyer. I also have my collection of CD's, a few books and knick-knacks on a shabby-chic bookshelf. But, since we really don't use the room, over the years it's become my "craft" room. I work on my homemade cards there. I stash old photos, magazines and books in there. All with the promise to myself that I'll get it cleaned up and organized soon. But, unfortunately, the minute I walk past it, going down the stairs, I forget about it...until the next time I come up the stairs, go down the stairs, etc.

So, yesterday, I said to myself, "Self, you are going to get a good start on this room. You have no excuses, particularly since you're in kind of a writing slump!"  Hmmm...KIND OF?!

First things first. Pull out all the books that are in the shelf with really deep shelves, and then dust it. OMG, I found all kinds of books that I'd completely forgotten I had! It was like Christmas.....at first...but then, I began to feel a little like Alan. I have all these books I WANT to read. Some I even began at one time, but for some reason, just couldn't get into. Novels, memoirs, How-To books about writing (boy, do I ever need to start on those!)...

       (photo: courtesy The Overweight Bookshelf blog)

So, I began stacks of books.

One - books to definitely read asap.

Two - books to read after I read all in stack number one.

Three - books to donate to library

Four - books to use in my blog give-aways

Five - books to sell in our Saturday Writers Silent-Auction

I found myself completely surrounded by books and feeling overwhelmed. That's when the TV episode crossed my mind. I also felt a bit like the girl in the photo above, only I was sitting on the floor. How had this happened? Why wasn't I reading as much as I used to? I can think of two reasons: The time I spend writing my book, and the time I spend blogging. I need to make up my mind what the most important thing(s) are in my life (besides family & friends) and spend quality time on those. And reading is being pushed up to Number One for the month of July.

What about you? Do you have a task you keep putting off? Do you feel you are spending your time on what's really important to YOU?

Welcome to my newest follower: Jo. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! 

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." —Louisa May Alcott