Big Mommy...And Other Things

The little one and I have both been sick with some kind of nasty crud. A sick toddler is a major handful, let me just say. It involves lots of crying and whining, and many other things I'd rather not mention. Thankfully, I can report that we both are feeling better.

Which brings me to this very funny story from last week. My mother, who watches Piper while I work, made a trip to the store one morning. In the car on the way home, she and Piper had the following conversation:

Piper: See Mommy.

Mom: We can't see Mommy right now. She's at work.

Piper: See Mommy.

Mom: Mommy's at work. We'll see her this evening.

Piper: *Claps her hands together.* SEE BIG MOMMY NOW!

Frankly, I have no idea if that turned out as funny as it was, but it was hilarious, and I am now known as Big Mommy in some circles.

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Most of you who come here know that I was going to try to hire someone to come in on the weekends to help with things around here. In a bit of luck, my husband's cousin recently moved in next door with her husband. They are expecting a baby. Having just relocated from Illinois, they have yet to find jobs, and could use some extra cash. My husband mentioned something in passing about giving her $20 to watch Little Bit for a few while I did some things (to be discussed further down). It was a huge blessing, and a blazing success. Piper loves her, and so they bounced back and forth between both houses, while I got some serious work done.

Then, in one of those lovely twists of fate, we started discussing other cleaning. So, his cousin is going to come and do a set list of tasks during the week while we are gone, and I'll increase the pay accordingly. I can't tell you how nice it was coming home this evening to find Piper's room picked up and neat, one of the bathrooms all clean, the dishes done, and Piper's clean laundry folded and put away. It's great so far, and there's less stress for me. The hardest part for me is deciding how much to compensate her for the efforts.

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This weekend, during the previously mentioned time that the husband's cousin was helping with Piper, I cleaned out eight large trash bags of clothes that I've accumulated for the last several years. There for the longest time, I kept everything. However, since I've become a mother, and had a million tasks added to my to do list, I just don't have the time to clean up or around all that stuff. So, I've been slightly ruthless in getting rid of stuff, and I made a ton of space in my house by clearing out this stuff.

I've also come to the conclusion that it is selfish as to hang on to all these perfectly good things when there are people out there that need them. So, I'm hauling loads of usable things to the Goodwill, where people who need things can use them. It's helping a bunch.

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I'm finally feeling good again. There for a bit I was rather depressed and a real Downer Debbie. It felt like the relationship with the husband was strained. We've finally started to have some time together. Things are feeling a little bit better all around. I've gotten the kind of help I need.

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I've not written anything recently. Not that I'm not thinking about my novel. It's on my mind a lot, and I have some things I need to work through, so I'm not upset because it's not dead in the water.

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Friday is our fifth wedding anniversary. It is also the same day that marks 11 years of being together. It's amazing. We have a nice evening planned. We're going out for dinner, and doing a little Christmas shopping to finish up some of the things we need. It's hard to imagine the holidays are so close, but I'm feeling better than I have in a while. Now I just need to get a sleepy toddler ready for bed.

Playing Hooky from My Blog

Soooooo…

I have all these plans and then Poof! I disappear. Well, I still have plans, and I have been doing things, so it’s not a total wash.

Since my last post, I have been crazy busy. Our peeps next door moved out and we’re getting the place ready for new people. The daughter has been a royal handful as well. And I’ve decided to pull all the crap from the house that we don’t need that’s clogging up space or that needs to be in a garage sale. So basically, that means there’s stuff everywhere until I get it over to my dad’s.

In good news, I submitted a contest entry over at the AW Freelance Board, which means that I wrote an entire freelance article. In my book, it’s progress toward that my freelancing goals.

I opened up my WIP yesterday and added new words! Queen of Legends currently resides at 3,632 words so far. I’m putting up a mock finish goal of 100,000 words, but I have no clue how many words I’m headed towards, but considering there are six main people and two primary points of view, I have a feeling it will be huge. But I’m getting excited about it again.

I’m reading Holly Lisle’s Character Clinic as I’m getting back in , so I hope it helps a bunch. Actually I love all of Holly’s stuff because her writing is clear, clean and resonates with me. Ten people can explain it to me, but it always seems to click when Holly adds her voice.

I really want to get started on book reviews soon. *Glances over at stack of books awaiting reviews.* Okay, I really NEED to get start on book reviews soon. I’ll be adding them to the mix soon, but I figure I should stir the bowl as I slowly add ingredients. Then I be the writer I want to be.

Blog changes are still pending. I’m compiling ideas and such. When I get a bit of the housework caught up, I’ll work on the blog. Until the next time, take care.

Computer Room Makeover

I'm trying to get my home clean, organized, and clutter free. So, despite my husband's objections that other rooms are more important, I've started on the computer room. There is a method to my madness, regardless of other opinions. The reasoning being that the computer room is where all the papers, files, and miscellanous items of the house reside, and before I go stuffing other crap in here, I'd like to know how the systems are going to work.

Tonight was the first night in ages that Piper's slept in her own bed. So I've been here since then, going through stuff and making more organized stacks. I'm making real progress, and hopefully can finish it all tomorrow. After that it's on to Piper's room. Once these two rooms are done, I don't see the rest of the rooms in the house being difficult.

Which means I don't know if I'll get to any real writing this weekend, but after I get things organized, writing should be easier. But I may or may not be online the rest of the weekend. It's really up in the air.

Of Illnesses and Such

My daughter's sick. Tonsillitis. So this week has been full of exhaustion. She's not sleeping, so correspondingly, neither am I. It's turning into, "Floor met Face. Face meet floor." Productivity is trashed, and I long for a nice sleep in event. I'm having the craving to write, but lack the neurons to produce anything.

On a more positive note, I pulled apart the computer room and the only part that's put back together at this moment is the computer desk. Monday is a work holiday, and my mom has agreed to keep the baby for at least part of the day, so it's going to be a cleaning and de-cluttering day. I'm excited. I want to get this place straightened up!