Habitual Habits

This is something that has been bothering me for quite some time - of how hard it is to get into a good habit, how easy it is to break and how VERY easy it is to start back up with bad habits. 

This time last year I'd managed to to start a very good habit of writing just a little bit everyday.  Well, by everyday, I mean four or so times a week.  Sometimes I'd eke out the time during quiet moments at work and sometimes, I'd get that 15 minutes of quiet that would manage to stretch to 30 or 40 minutes.  It was just blissful for me - such an accomplishment.  Until we realize that when I write, I do so on pen and paper instead of at my computer which has left me with partial notebooks filled with script that goes from relatively neat to downright illegible and littered with lil doodles.  Gods bless my friends for their encouragement - to get me back into the writing bug but it's really been slow going. I think the fact that I'm sitting here right now, doing just that, writing here is a start but I really think the habit I also need to form is getting the typing down. 

Looking over things, I think I have to admit, I can be a bit OCD about some things and not just about how i load and unload my grocery cart (thus being a bit picky about how i put the bags back in and load them into the truck for the ride home) -I like to have some aspects of my day scheduled out.  That's why I'm up at 5am nearly every morning.  I don't like a bit rush to work so getting up early allows me to indulge in the quiet of  taking care of Meister Penguin! or farming.  Much like how I like to do a load of laundry a day (hard to do with no kids around lol) or my lists of things to do that i make out nearly every day. It's a bit of rigidity in my free flowing way. 

My irritation at getting some actual typing done has lately increased because I've found myself really working on proper hydration.  Specifically at work, I've found that every time I get up, I stop to sip my water.  I was doing that this morning and couldn't help but berate myself.  Why this and not that? 

I think I need to stop beating myself up about it.  I work, in what some circles consider, a full time job.  I do most the housekeeping, all the laundry, nearly all the cooking and take care of my family.  If I'm a lil tired after all that, then maybe I shouldn't stress over yet another thing.

And of course, try to get some of that damn typing up tomorrow....my day off.  lol

Outrage and Opportunity

A while ago E's neurosurgeon made an appointment for a CT scan with a contrast to better determine how they're going to fix the loose lead to his implant and of course time passed and then boom!  Green Lantern came out and we bought our tickets....for the same bloody day...yargh!  Fandango is great but you really need to keep an eye out because just when you think there's not going to be any offerings for a non 3D movie - they come out with the listing of them about five minutes after you've grudgingly purchased for a 3D showing.  Another issue is apparently when you make your own huge scheduling conflict and need to exchange the tickets (that you haven't picked up yet) for a different showing.  Now, I would be going on about how this process worked but alas, this is where we get to the opportunity part of my outrage.

The Fandango situation isn't actually the source of my outrage, though they really should be able to work something out when you order tickets and need to make changes before you even go to the theater. My source of ire comes most from the imaging clinic.

 Let's count the ways - two doctors who know E's current drug regimen missed this and I'm more willing to give them a pass because they might not be completely versed on the intricacies of the procedure.  The nurse who called to explain the procedure was told about medications and made to to tell E no less than five times that he could not have anything in his mouth so many hours before the procedure.  Arriving at the clinic, the nurse there, was told again what medications he's on and then while preparing for the scan, the attendant once again got a drug history.  It wasn't until the doctor came in to do the procedure that he looked over the E's history and found out that, yes, of course he's been taking his meds as directed by his physician.  Two of which have possible interactions with the dye that could cause severe seizures. 

You could insert screaming here...they had to cancel the appointment and we can't reschedule until his doctor figures out substitutions for something like three days prior and one day post procedure to keep him from scaring us to death.  Is it wrong of me to expect people to actually pay attention to the answers they get to the questions they ask?  I happen to think not cause this experience has really left a bad taste in my mouth.  My confidence in this group is a bit flagging now.

Despite the above, there was a bright side! The bright side being that because he didn't have the procedure, we got to go see Green Lantern!

Now the reviews I read were absolutely dreadful - this movie has been called something like the Battlefield Earth of 2011, that being said, I thought i was pretty good.  The story didn't drag as I expected it to, there were even some funny parts (though I did seem to laugh at inappropriate moments). I was amazed at how nice they made Blake Lively look...it really didn't look like her at all to me.  Which, I suppose, could be a bad thing.  I don't know, don't really care.  I think if the reviews are stopping you from seeing the movie, maybe discount them some cause I found the ones I read, were very harsh.

My apologies if this posting is a bit disjointed....I'm here at work and mein gott...it's been a busy one.

I'm a lil cupcake....

Short and stout?  Ok, not really but it seemed fitting since I am going to be talking about them. My day off was Thursday and rather than run off doing errands, E and I had a lazy day home till he got craving for his favourite cheesesteak so off we went, hitting the "back way" route to our favourite Philly place.  Going through out town...ahem...sorry, city, I couldn't help but spy on a what must be newish bakery - oh goodie!  A lil sweet talking and ride home later, we stopped in so I could see what there was to see. 

On the plus sides, the owners seemed really nice.  There was quite a selection of pastries and even things claiming to be bagels.  I would say that the selection is heavy on Mexican delights but in all honesty, I would need to research that...maybe after I post this.  *lol!* From what I can gugue, prices weren't too bad - I bought three palmier, a strange coconut covered cake thingie and slab o' bread pud for 5 bucks.

The downsides to this place? Nothing's labeled or priced!  That drives me freaking insane!  Don't get me wrong, the gentleman behind the counter was super friendly and nice about answering my questions but I would have rather look and know for myself than feel like a bit of a nuisance.  I also know it's on me, not asking about prices but...ehh....call it an oddity of mine. 

And then...there were cupcakes.  Mini-cupcakes, actually.  The presentation was absolutely adorable, three to a cellophane bag, pretty ribbon and a cute label that could be filled out.  The flowers were hand formed from fondant and the frosting was a white chocolate. I was really excited about this...till I found out this was setting me back another FIVE BUCKS!  Holyshit...they better be the best cupcakes I've EVER eaten. 

Needless to say...and I really hate to admit this, they were not heaven to taste.  The cake was likely Pillsbury's Funfetti cake mix and kinda dry.  The frosting and fondant wasn't too bad though...but seriously, the cake was a real let down.  All in all, it was a good trip to a new bakery and it left me inspired.  Perhaps not to make my own palmier (which I've done before) but I totally want to make mini cupcakes, decorate them and give them as gifts.  The Elfling and I were texting about it the other day and thought they'd be great for party favours or even on her birthday to share with friends. When she's back home, we're planning on playing.  So see, the good outweighs the bad! 

I'm So Lonely

Sunday marked a week that the girls have been gone and part of me is really lonely.  Not to say that E isn't good company cause he is and that my darling pets aren't like small children in need of attention cause...wait... Ok, Freya is.  But still...I miss cuddling with one or both of my kids, hearing what they have to say, seeing what havoc they've brought upon my computer while I'm away. Despite the distance, technology keeps us close as she very easily texts me at all hours of the day.  Here's a sampling of topics:

Gypsies.  This turned into a discussion of UK gypsies and their extravagant weddings.  The Elfling declared the caravans and big, trashy, poofy dresses as not a part of culture...*sighs* I know - not ours.

Oompa Loompas.  She's apparently turned into a tall one.  After seeing a picture, she has gotten a lot of sun...too much on her cheeks.  They're slightly sun burnt but she does not look like a wrestler.

Kosher Cakes.  Ok, so I only guessed that this means the cake doesn't have dairy in it.  And of course no gelatin.  Everybody should know about the infamous Sandra Lee Hanuka cake she made...with marshmallows....ugh...

Anyhow...she may be a texting maven, but I can appreciate it cause i'm on her "must text" list...or some shit like that.  Blogging here from work means I stop to actually get things done...and unfortunately, sometimes loose my train of thought.  Based on how today's going, I think it's more that I've just lost my mind so I'm going to end it here while I'm still keeping all cursing to myself, in my mind. 

ok, so a quick postscript...she bloody sent me a picture of how much fat she kept the family from eating while cooking last night...ewww!  Mind you...I totally drain grease too when i cook ground beef so I know where she got it.

Turn the Page

My Gods it's been forever and a day since I've posted here!  To be honest, the end of 2010 was a bit of a hinky one for me.  I had things going on, happen that left me feeling rather unhappy and despite this being a bit of a sounding board, I didn't want to make use of it to pour out the unpleasant things that happened.  I'm back now...and who knows, maybe I've learned my lesson...slowly at least. 

Sam and I were talking a couple months go when I mentioned how I'd been depressed and in truth, he suggested that I go back to writing.  Yes, go back...I haven't written anything proper since last year and really, that on top of everything else? Depresses me too.  I'm trying to change that and it just boggles me, how so carefully set habits or so difficult to start and yet so easy to beak...yargh!

Let me tell you a little something about Sam.  He never fails to astound me - I've known him since he was 17 and experienced through him, his pursuit of a college degree which has taken him from a start on a path of journalism to where he is now, studying Psychology.  I suppose that's one reason why I'll take his advice to heart, when he tells me to write.  I'm so envious too - he's studying abroad in England this summer! 

Anyhow....so here  I am today...I actually meant to be back here blogging once again last week when this happened but I suppose its better later than never.  As my readers know, I took a job last summer at a hotel and guess what?  I got a promotion.  This is my first full week working the front desk which, quite frankly, still terrifies me a bit.  I think it's getting better and hopefully my manager and co workers would agree that I'm doing better.  It's not been bad so far...just a lot of new things to learn and quite an experience. 

Ahem....so....I suppose this is a bit of a welcome back to...all of us and an update on a big thing in my life.  I'm looking forward to going back to sharing snippets of my insane lil life.  Till then....

All hail the Emperor!  He is my One and All.

Yeah...there's a story behind that one....