Writing and Thinking and Rambling

I'm feeling very "write-y" this morning.  For the last two years, I have spent every day off writing.  Specifically, writing a seemingly endless array of papers for my master's degree.  I like to write in the early morning, from when I get up (430-ish) to about 9 or 10.  My struggle is this...

I don't know what to do with myself.  When I was in school, that time seemed to fly by, and sometimes, I just kept writing all day.  Now, I find myself at a loss.  I've been replacing some of the time with a dog walk, but today it's 12 degrees and she doesn't even want to be out there, and neither do I!

I need a hobby.  Another obsession, let's say.  I even toyed with the idea of getting ANOTHER degree, but I think my husband would have a stroke, and I'd be paying off student loans until I die.  But it is a thought.  It wouldn't get me any more money, so it seems like a waste of money, right??

Self-improvement is what Project Nineteen is all about.  I'm the project.  So all this thinky stuff is me trying to come up with a plan, basically.  I started reading this book.  Don't be put off by the title, it's an interesting premise:

From the Amazon blurb:  "Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek."

We'll see.

That's enough rambling for this morning.

Sunday Stealing--Lollipops

Find it here.

1.  Are flowers a nice gift to give someone?  I'm not really partial to them.  I'm allergic to some, and wonder if others are.

2.  Do you wear any jewelry?  My engagement and wedding ring on my left, the first "poor" wedding band hubs gave me on my right, and a rotating cast of simple earrings.  Never necklaces...I can't stand stuff around my neck.

3.  Have you ever laid in a field of flowers?  Not that I can recall.

4.  Do you like tea?  Yes, iced with lemon.  Herbal teas like raspberry zinger when I feel crappy are good too.

5.  What would you do with a million dollars?  Put 75% in the bank.  Use the rest to a) rip up this hideous carpet and put down tile, b) repaint the interior of my house, c) remodel the kitchen, and d) donate what's left to Puppy Rescue Mission, and Watermelon Mountain Ranch, the largest no-kill shelter here in New Mexico.

6.  What word do you have trouble saying?  Can't think of one.  Although, I did once call "chickpeas" pickchees, which devolved into hilarious laughter as my husband and I were on the way to somewhere in the car.  You had to be there, lol.

7.  Favorite fairytale?  A tie between Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz.

8.  Do you sleep with stuffed animals?  Nope.

9.  Do you prefer the city or the country?  Definitely the country.  Although we live somewhere in between.  I could not live in a city like NYC or Chicago--too much hustle and bustle and noise.

10. Are you a big fan of makeup?  Well, since I never wear any, I would say...no.

11.  Favorite drink?  Water, with coffee a close second.

12.  What's the longest amount of time you've stayed awake?  A couple of days.

13.  Have you ever traveled outside of your country?  Yes.  Drove from Missoula, MT through Canada to Alaska.  Went to Puerto Rico a couple of times (although Puerto Rico is technically part of this country).

14.  Do you like spring?  Not so much--it's crazy windy here that time of year.  I prefer fall.

15.  Lipstick or lipgloss?  Neither, I'm a lip balm kind of gal.

16.  Favorite color?  Purple

17.  Do you like to decorate?  Sporadically.

18.  Do you ever go barefoot when you're outside?  Yes.

19.  Are aliens real?  From the movie Contact:  "if it is just us...seems like an awful waste of space".

20.  Does your zodiac sign fit your personality?  Nope.  I think the whole zodiac thing is BS anyway.

21.  Favorite sea animal?  Orca.  I was fortunate enough to see a pod of orca once....they were so graceful and beautiful.  They are fascinating animals.

Image credit: Wikipedia

22.  Are you a nice person?  I can be.  I can also be self-centered.  I'm actively working on trying to change that.

23.  Favorite word?  I have no clue.

24.  Night or day?  Both.  I love the early, early morning when it's still dark.

25.  What would make you happy right now?  Well, that aforementioned million dollars would be a start.  But right this very second?  If my evil cat would stop scratching at my door, I'd be thrilled.

Saturday 9--Winter Wonderland

I've missed meme-ing.  It's nice to be back.  Here's a little Saturday 9 for you...

1) This is an unconventional take on an old familiar song. Over the holidays, do you prefer traditional carols? Or do you like to mix it up with more contemporary fare? Not a big Christmas music fan; I mainly hear what's on the radio.

2) Now that Christmas is behind us, are you enjoying a relaxing week? Or do you have socializing/celebrating/chores to do? I worked Christmas day, but have been happy to have a couple of 3 day weekends in a row!  Back to work tomorrow, sigh.  Cleaning today, more sigh.

3) Winter is a time for cocooning. What book or movie did you enjoy in 2018 that you would recommend to your fellow Saturday 9-ers? Thor: Ragnarok.  I love superhero movies, and this one is great.  It's a fun romp, starting with the opening scene...a welcome relief from some of Marvel's recent dark movies.  

4) Looking back on the past year, what was one of your happiest moments? Finishing my degree.  I never thought I'd have a Master's in Nursing Education, but I did it!!! 

5) What was the smartest thing you did all this past year?  Got my finances under control.  

6) As 2018 comes to a close, what are you most grateful for? Two things stand out...I'm so grateful for my new job--leaving the toxic environment I was in has improved my outlook considerably.  I'm also grateful for the two trips home that I was able to make to spend time with my Dad.  

7) This week's featured artist is Herb Alpert. Because of the style he popularized and the name of his band, people assume he's Hispanic. Yet his parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania. What's something we'd be surprised to learn about you? I survived Hurricane Camille in 1969 by hiding under a bed with my Mom and brother.  It's an indelible memory.

8) He performed an instrumental version of "The Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXII. How did your favorite sports teams do in 2018? I don't follow sports.

9) Random question: When did you last check your social media feed? this morning at 0530 when I got up

And here we are again....

Project 19.  As in 2019.  As in I'm the project.  I thought that I would start a journal, since I've decided on my "one word" for this year.  Initially, I thought I'd write the journal, but I really prefer typing, so here we are.

I'm done with school, got the master's degree, and now I'm at a loss.  I've gained 30 pounds in the last two years I've been in school--whether that has anything to do with it, I have no idea.  I've done very little in the way of self-care other than leaving my previous toxic job environment.  So, it's time.  I want to make 2019 one where I focus on my health, my family, self-improvement, and figuring out who I am...now.

This year's word:

I suck at listening.  To my body, to my husband, to my co-workers.  I get so laser-focused on whatever is in my brain at the moment that I just ignore everything else.  It's not a nice habit.

I want 2019 to be about growth.  Let's see what happens.