today's one of those days

where Cosme didn't need breakfast or lunch so I didn't have to get up and do anything.  I stayed in bed a little longer and looked some stuff up on my iPad.  I just got up and had my breakfast of pb&j with jalapeño kettle chips (which were too much for me to handle this early) and now I'm sitting here typing while I sip on my Coke.  Today's also one of those days where I'm not leaving the house.  When I got up I put on a stained t-shirt and an old pair of jeans and I'm going to tackle a couple of things around here today.  My first project will be the cat room.  After all the crafting, things got stuffed and stuck and left where they don't belong.  I need to take care of that today.  If I still have the motivation, I'll move to the garage where it's WAY out of control and is honestly a lost cause right now.  Until more things get moved out, there's still too much stuff and I feel like I'm just moving things around and not accomplishing anything.  But until I get out there and start moving things, it seems totally doable.

We'll see.

I installed the Walmart app on my phone the other day.  I was looking around to see how that shopping from your phone and picking up at the curb thing works. 

I started with something I knew I buy a lot of there.  Chicken breasts. 

Let's see.  Fresh Food.  That's what I want.

 Chicken is Poultry.  Seems easy enough so far.

Wait.  What?  This is Vienna Sausages and pet food all mixed together under poultry.

I'm not doubting the freshness of it but really?  This can of chicken in water looks a lot like a can of Fancy Feast.  And I wouldn't even consider vegetarian chicken flavored broth fresh poultry.

Yeah.  I don't care for it so far.

Let's try another category.  Still going with Fresh Food, let's try Specialty Cheese.

All of a sudden, I'm feeling a little fancier having used Velveeta and Easy Cheese.

Okay, here's one I'd consider a specialty cheese... oh, but Walmart doesn't sell it and it's shipped from another place.

So, I still haven't used the shopping app to shop and pick up curbside but I do know that when the time comes to use it, I need to make sure my chicken isn't pet food.  Honestly though, it'd probably be easier to just go inside and pick up a pack of chicken breasts... unless I'm wearing a stained t-shirt and old jeans and been TCB'ing in the cat room all day.

I posted pictures of

Archer yesterday for two reasons: 1. the photo-a-day was "T" and he's the only one of our dogs with a tail and 2. a fb memory came up yesterday of him as a puppy while he was still being quarantined for Parvo.

One of the pictures I posted was one similar to this one.

We all know he isn't smiling for the camera.  It's Archer.  I caught him in between barks because he hates having his picture made.

At first I thought the photo-a-day would be easier if I just settled for this.

Tennis ball in the Treasure hole.  I decided to stick with the tail.  You also have to be careful in our yard because there are a LOT of treasure holes.  A dead possum fell in this one not long ago but I won't go there again.

While I was trying to get pictures of Archer's tail, I heard drinking.  A food and water bowl ended up under this tree and I guess they filled up with rain water.

I don't get why Maggie prefers all the dirty water sources over their actual water bowl with water from the faucet.  I guess she likes feeling like a scavenger.  Oh, this is also where she was storing that last dead possum I talked about.  I probably should have gone under there and dumped out the dishes but I was thinking about the dead possum and anything else that might be under there.  Our neighborhood fb page keeps posting updates with people killing water moccasins on their back porches.  I doubt we'd have a water moccasin out there but I can totally picture a copperhead waiting for me.  I'll let Maggie drink the water.

I have to help out at the church today but I think I'm going to lie down for a minute.  My throat's a little sore and I'm a little nauseous all because of sinus stuff but you know what?  I'm not complaining.  The wedding is over and done with and that's makes everything better.

the downside to watching

videos on YouTube is then they think they know you and want to tell you what you'd probably like.

Wait, what?

I had to watch it to see if it was poking fun or if she was serious.
She was serious.  Then I stopped the video.  Now I'll probably have more videos on talking to ghosts... or getting high.

I have to hand it to Instagram though.

I also give them a round of applause for not showing me what the cat left in the toilet.  Yes, I watched it.

This post made me realize I need to figure out my iPad today.  The new one I got for Christmas still won't let me access my email and to post those YouTube screenshots above?  You know, those pictures taken by my phone of the screenshot on my iPad? Yeah...  Going between Apple and Samsung is hard but each has its pros and cons.  I tried to post from my iPad but my Apple iPad would only access pictures for my blog from my Samsung phone.  How does that even make sense?  Okay, I'm sure it has something to do with Google but you'd think I could get pictures from the actual device I was on.  I tried to email them to myself but I'm still waiting on it to come through.  Ugh.  Whatever.  I guess I'll try to figure something out today because that's exactly what I want to deal with.  I've posted several times on fb that I need a lady's maid.  Add IT tech to that list.  Or maybe there's a video that can show me how to do it.

Maybe I should just give up and bake a cheesecake.

and just like that

it's been over a week since the wedding.  I was exhausted.  I managed to get some stuff done last week but seriously, I was worn out.  We used this weekend to fully recover.  I now feel well rested and like I'm back in my normal routine.  Something happened to the garage door opener the day after the wedding but we haven't been able to look into it because there's so much stuff still stacked up out there.  Today I'd like to work on getting some of that under control.  Don't get me wrong, it looks better but it's still not good.  There is a lot of stuff.

Oh, another thing is the food.  We still have bbq left from the wedding.  I ate bbq every day last week, except for one.  I guess the rest needs to go in the freezer today.  We also had sausage left over but I took care of that and tried a new recipe.  I pulled some shrimp out of the freezer and tried my hand at THIS jambalaya recipe on allrecipes.com.  I think it's a keeper but next time I might use a little less cayenne.

That's also a couple of slices of fresh-from-the-oven french bread.  I thought the jambalaya needed it.  Next time I'll plan it a little better because you know what would be the perfect finish to spicy jambalaya?  A nice, cold, creamy slice of cheesecake.  Maybe I'll make one this week to go with leftovers.

Ahhh... normal routine.  Baking, cooking, cleaning and no crafting of any kind.  Give me a little time and I'm sure I'll feel like doing something but definitely not this week.  And I could also probably go into a little detail about the wedding or the week after when I was MIA but no, I'm getting back on track and don't need any stories to trigger flashbacks or PTSD.  I will say this though and I know it sounds ridiculous, VERY ridiculous, but I was so stressed before the wedding.  That week before I was waking every morning around 3:00, not able to sleep and just had stuff on my mind of what needed to be done and wondering what I was forgetting.  I knew I needed to chill out and here's where it gets ridiculous.  I went on YouTube to find some kind of chill music, just something where I could put headphones on and it might make me take a nap.  I found a hypnosis video on anxiety.  I played it.  I SWEAR that next morning, the morning before the wedding, the morning I should be totally stressed because it was the last day for anything to get done, I woke up at my regular time and not 2:00 or 3:00, my stomach was normal with no twisting or knots or trouble brewing and I felt awesome.  I wasn't stressed at all.  It was the best feeling.  I don't know if the hypnosis worked or if the guy's voice just made me chill or what but something worked and I went with it.  Dealing with anxiety and worry like I do and finding something that helps in any way is awesome and I'll take it.  Now, if you catch me making granola or dreamcatchers or whatever kinds of things new age hippies do, call for an intervention.  Please.  I don't have time for any of that.  Well, maybe making the granola is okay, I mean that could be a delicious snack... but that's IT.  I draw the line at whatever comes after making granola.  I'm serious.

Now I need to go fold clothes... unless mother earth wants to do it for me.

I'M KIDDING.  Oh crap.  Maybe I shouldn't even kid in case y'all think I'm serious and call for that intervention.  I need a safe word or phrase or something where I can call uncle and y'all know I'm not serious.  I'll think of something.  "I love McDonalds" seems like a mouthful.

it's the week of the wedding

and I'm stressing.  I guess that doesn't mean anything when you take my stress record into consideration.  I'm at that point though where I can flip and blow up, the point of being overwhelmed and frustrated to where my body only knows to stop and cry.  Actually, that gasket's already blown so now it's like I just easily overheat.  I'm like a car.  I have to keep adding fluid but instead of water, Cosme suggested I make it something a little stronger just to calm down.  Okay, okay... I know once I blow a gasket I shouldn't keep driving the car but the only other thing I could think of was a pressure cooker and I've never used a pressure cooker... (hangs head in defeat, thinking of all the gaskets I've blown) 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to next week.  I would say Saturday but I'm one of those introverts who becomes an extrovert with a little alcohol.  So Saturday I'll be full of regret and panic, worrying about how social I was Friday night.  My mind's healthy like that.  Maybe if I start taking Cosme's advice and adding a little "fluid" though, I might can build up a little more tolerance by Friday and won't become such an extrovert.  Highly unlikely. 

I mentioned to Lauren the other day how there's the Ultimate Warrior.  Well, I am the Ultimate Worrier.  Not only am I stressing about how everything turns out once it all gets done but there's also that dance.  Eric is making me dance.  I don't know how to dance with another person.  I asked him if he was trying to make me have a nervous breakdown.  He didn't answer.  I'll take his silence as a definite YES.

Oh.  I do have to mention this from last night.  It was 10:00 and lately it's taken both of us to let the dogs in.  Maggie will run right in but Archer has to be coaxed out of his chair.  We started the routine.  I had Maggie in the cage and Cosme went out to lure Archer in. 

Me: What is that on the patio?  Is that blood?
Cosme: Uh... yeah, it looks like it.
Me: Well, as soon as we get them in, we need to find out where it came from.

It's as if Maggie understood every word.  She proudly walked out of the cage, into the yard and over to the tree they like to sit under.  I knew what was about to happen.  I told Cosme to come inside as she was heading over there.  At that time, Archer heads into the cage.  Maggie started to head back and I grab Cosme, pulling for him to come inside while panicking "SHE'S GETTING IT, SHE'S GETTING IT, SHE'S GETTING IT".  I pulled him inside and shut the door just as Maggie got to the porch with her dead possum.  Then I felt bad.  We looked out the blinds with this dead possum on the doorstep while Maggie gives us the saddest look like "I brought you something and you didn't want it".  We opened the door a little, making sure she didn't grab the possum (because we didn't need her bringing another one into the house AGAIN) and let her in the cage.  Cosme went and got the shovel to take it away and Maggie watched while whimpering.  Not only did we not appreciate her gift to us but we were throwing it out.  I felt bad.  Cosme did tell her she was good and I think that made her happy again.

Then we went to bed and I only had possum on the brain, no wedding worries.

i'm almost done with one

of the craft projects and I need to hurry and get it out to the garage.  I've been making a tree and it is one of the messiest things EVER.  I'm covering the base with moss and the branches are so wide, the best place for it is the kitchen island.  Moss is everywhere, including the floor.  This stuff is as bad as glitter.  Just when I think I've cleaned it all up, I put something down on the island and find moss all over it.

This HAS to be completed today and HAS to find a new home in the garage.

One thing that is a quick finish is the chalkboard but I'm finding ways to keep going with it.  Yesterday I pulled out the chalk pastels, hoping they will last on the chalkboard, and kept on doodling. 

This doesn't surprise me.

Anyway, the first thing I do today has to be finishing that tree and getting it out of the kitchen.  Well, after I run a couple of errands and find a spot to put the tree.  Next, I'll put the chalkboard out there just so I'll quit messing with it.  I think I'll move on to computer projects after that and start printing.  I really need to do some spray painting but it seemed a little windy out earlier.  Painting might have to wait for another day.  And somewhere in there, I'll try to squeeze in my regular, everyday things that need doing.

Oh well, it'll all be over soon and then I'll find something else to work on or stress over.

i was running wedding

errands yesterday.  My first stop was in Brazoria.  I pulled up and was pretty sure I'd been there a couple of times.

It's a bakery and flower shop now.  I hadn't been there in about 10 years but it felt the same while looking different.  The air conditioner was working about the same.  My will power didn't fail me because I didn't get anything sweet.  Luckily I don't like coffee because I wasn't tempted by anything at the coffee bar.

I just dropped off things for the florist and went on over to the BBQ place.

I'm hoping that's the only time I'll ever pay that much for BBQ.  If it's not, I've either got a serious BBQ addiction or more money than I know what to do with.  Knowing me, it would be a BBQ addiction.

I had to run a few more errands before coming home.  I threw dinner together with some little pieces of meat I picked up the other day.  I wasn't sure what it was exactly but it was a good price.  "Sirloin Tender Steak", I think.  It seems like it would be sirloin steak but most of the pieces were really small.  I googled it to find the best way to cook it but all I could find was articles on how to get your sirloin tender.  I gave up and put it in a bag with some marinade/tenderizer and minced garlic.  A little later I cooked it in the skillet and roasted carrots and broccoli in the oven.  I think I'll have to make it again sometime because it disappeared.  Oh, and then I made brownies.  I guess the will power I had earlier at the bakery had gone to bed.

Oh well, I was able to check a few more things off the wedding prep to-do list and that felt pretty good, even if I did just spend a butt load of money on BBQ.  Today I will work on crafts and housework.  TCB, y'all.  TCB.

i am so tired but

I also feel so rested... if that even makes sense.  Eric and Paige came over yesterday so that Paige and I could work on wedding stuff.  A couple of her friends came to help too.  We got SO MUCH done.  I can't think of one thing wedding related that we didn't address or finish.  It felt awesome when we were done.  I was worn out and needed a shower in the worst way but it felt awesome.  Once I took a shower I got in bed and then I felt even more awesome.  The alarm went off this morning and thought to myself how wonderful that sleep was.  I stripped the sheets off the bed, stuck them in the washer and now I'm already planning how nice it'll feel going to bed again tonight.  I have plenty of errands to run today and I know I'll be ready for bed soon enough.

Anyway, that's what I've been doing, a ton of wedding stuff.

I did take this picture for an azalea update.

See how one side is great and the other side is kind of spazzy?  I don't know.  Maybe it needs a little more Miracle-Gro this morning.  I thought about trimming those dead looking twigs.  I might just do both.

I also need to look up wherever I found the last fix for my computer, when I thought it was crapping out on me.  Something I did in the library and preferences or something.  It's starting it's thing again.

Okay, I'm about to tackle chores because right now there are tree limbs that I've turned into a tree standing on the kitchen island.  I would put it on the table, where most of the wedding crafts have been, but there are still quite a few craft projects in the way.  Something's got to happen because I'm fighting for room with myself in the kitchen.