(What's this all about?  Read here.)

With the coughfest that was April, I didn't make much progress on my 101 Things I'm afraid.  But sometimes other things are just going to have to take priority, things like taking people to the hospital and doling out various antibiotics and trying to become well enough to perhaps cook a proper meal or maybe clean the bathroom.  So it is what it is.

I did manage a few things.  I have made some progress toward Thing 47: Finish organizing and decorating my office.  You wouldn't know there has been progress made, to look at it, but it is now a more organized chaos.  I'm going to have some time to myself tomorrow afternoon, thanks to the help of my in-laws-of-awesomeness, so I'm hoping to tackle the office project some more and get a few more things off to charity.

I've also made a very very little bit of progress on Thing 21: Finish Evy's name drawings.  I thought I would show you what I'm talking about.  These are the drawings I made for Isla.  I've drawn each letter of her name in the shape of something that begins with that letter ("I" is an inchworm, before you ask):

So I'm doing the same for Miss Ev.  I'm struggling a bit for what to do with V because it's not that easy to make a vulture or a viper look cute.  Any suggestions are most welcome.

I finally gave a good listen to one of the albums recommended by a friend (Thing 9), Constantines' Tournament of Hearts recommended by Dan.  I'll write something up about it soon.

When the weather was warmer at the start of the month, the girls and I managed to try out a few more new playgrounds nearby (Thing 65 Try out every playground in the city).  I'm hoping we can make a fairly good run at this one this year before the cold weather is upon us again.

I got together with a friend (Thing 53) to see a movie.  We saw The Five Year Engagement which had funny moments but could have been improved by editing for length by at least half an hour.  But still, it was an evening out and a chance to catch up with a friend so I can't really complain.

We were finally well enough by Sunday to actually get out of the house, so we went for a walk around the conservation area (Thing 59 Family outing).  No date night in April, unfortunately, but we have one planned for tomorrow night.

I was despairing about losing track of all the new recipes I've been trying, but I realized the other day that because I have a journal where I write down everything I eat, I have a record of all my new recipes right there.  So I just need to backtrack to figure out where I am towards my goal of 101 (Thing 43).

And I bought these cheerful flowers for $5 at Walmart, which included the lovely polkadot pot they came in.  Sold!

Apparently making plans for Things (capitalized or otherwise) which I wish to accomplish in a month is a guaranteed way to cause misery and misfortune to rain down upon us, so I'm just going to take it as it comes with May and do my best to keep calm and carry on.  Frankly if we can make it to the end of the month without needing to see any medical professionals I'll count it as a win.

Life has been getting in the way of my life, if you know what I mean.  An impossibly long to-do list coupled with unexpected Shit To Deal With has meant that these 101 Things have spent a lot of time on the bench of late much like, oh I don't know, a baseball team's "second catcher" (oh did you not know that I once held the illustrious and not at all made up position of "second catcher" on a baseball team?  TRIVIA!  Three cheers for inclusive ribbons-for-all public school team sports!).

All this to say, I have fallen behind on this here project.  I didn't get a lot accomplished in March.  And by "n't...a lot" I mean pretty much nothing.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?  I'm not going to beat myself up about it.  Not going to happen.  When it comes to beating up on oneself, I could easily go pro if I didn't have to maintain my amateur status so that I can compete in the Self-Loathing Olympics.  But I'm trying to go easier on myself these days and I did not set up this project in order to have yet another 101 things to feel guilty about.  I'm trying to accept that c'est la vie and sometimes la vie est merde.  Zut alors!  Pamplemousse!  

I have just under two years left until the end date for this project (March 23rd 2014) and I certainly need to hustle a bit to keep on track, but the whole point of this project is to make room in my life for things/experiences/relationships that are important to me but too easily put on the back burner.  And while I'm not checking off many of the boxes, I am still steadily making progress and some of my Things are fast becoming habits and automatic entries on my to-do list (sending handwritten letters, making more time for friends, date nights etc.).  Which is a big step forward from where I was a year ago.

So yeah, effective immediately, all negative thoughts and naysayers can get benched.  

On a positive note, here's some of what I did manage:

• Handwritten letters (Thing 52).  Checkity check.
• Date night (51)?  How about date WEEKEND!  Bonus points!  We took off for a whole two nights to an inn in nearby Picton and it went by ridiculously quickly but was nice all the same.  I had a nap one day and we also played the world's longest game of Scrabble.  That sentence right there is how I know I'm getting old.
• Talk to my sister on the phone twice (60)?  How about spend a whole week with her!  Level up!  This one wasn't really by my instigation, admittedly, but my sister Leah came to visit for a whole week and I spoke to her at least twice during that time (I think our conversation went something like "Stop touching my stuff!" "You're a poopyhead!" "Yeah well you're a geekburger...with cheese!"  "Mom!")
• Get together with a friend (53)?  Okay this is getting old.  But not only did I have my friend Anita over for a movie night, but I also got together with my bitches for a weekend in P'borough.
• We went on an outing as a family of four (59), along with other extended family, to Maple Madness at the conservation area.  I'm also counting this as one of my two winter public community events (83), and our trip to the city greenhouse was the second (just in the nick of time, granted, but it was still technically winter).
• Speaking of coming in under the wire, I bought these pretty flowers (98) on the last day of March.  Isla insisted on purple.  Who was I to argue?

Hey look at that list!  Not too shabby!  I also made a little bit of progress on organizing my office (47), and with some unseasonably warm weather the girls and I have gotten a jump on trying out more city parks (65).

There are a few of my 101 Things which I would like to tackle in April but I think I'm going to aim low and make it my goal to check off one Thing by the end of the month.  Surely I can do that.

Cue the locusts.

Well this will be quick.  I have been sick for the entire month of February so I let myself off the hook on all of my 101 Things monthly commitments.  Any free time I have had this past month has been spent sneezing and coughing and wishing for death.  It's possible that it hasn't been quite that dramatic, but I certainly haven't had the energy for anything more than accomplishing the bare minimum around here, which I define as keeping the children fed, clothed, and at least clean enough to be recognizable.  

All that said, I managed a few things.  We went on an outing as a family of four (Thing 59), snotty noses and all, to go for brunch.  I finished one more of my recommended books (Thing 8), The Golden Compass, which I will write a book response about very soon, bringing my total to 6 of 12.  I sent two birthday packages with brief handwritten notes, I grant you, but I'm counting them as handwritten letters nonetheless (Thing 2).  I also somehow gathered up the energy to buy these flowers (Thing 98).  They have been a pretty oasis in a desert of discarded kleenex.  

I'm hoping to feel better soon.  It would be nice to not collapse into a heap of exhaustion every evening, and I really need to get a move on with this 101 Things project.  I would like to get back to having the time and energy to work on some things for myself that have nothing to do with the house and kids.  I think that my diminishing mental health sorely needs it.  

In the mean time, enjoy more pictures of these pretty flowers, why don't you?  

 

 

Bonus tulips!

Oh poor neglected website.  I think often of things I would like to write about, but the time to do so never seems to materialize.  January was sort of a weird month.  I'm not exactly sure what was keeping me so busy but I felt like I didn't have any free time.  I'm hoping to get back on track, and I have some thoughts about making some changes to get writing more regularly.  Promises, promises.

In any case...January.  Not a stellar month for my 101 Things project but I managed to accomplish a few things:

• My most impressive progress was towards Thing 43, Try 101 New Recipes, as I tried 13 new recipes in January, bringing my current total to 50 of 101.  Not too shabby.  Yummy:  The carrot cupcakes and cream cheese frosting recipes from Hello Cupcake.  Disastrous:  A promising recipe for Cumin-scented Cornbread (from this beautiful cookbook I received as a Christmas gift) which did not at any time become "dough" that I could "pour" into the pan, and became rather a crumble of sorts.

• D and I went out on a date night!  Nice!  We went out for sushi and then wandered around Chapters, and I believe we were home by 10.  But still!  We were out!

• I believe I met all of my other monthly commitments (getting together with a friend, calling my sister twice, sending a handwritten letter etc.) except for taking a morning or afternoon for a photo shoot.  Boo.  

Yeah, it seems that's about it really.  I'll have to do better.  I've been looking up times for CPR courses and meditation classes and blood donation appointments so hopefully I can check a few of those things off soon. 

I'm finding myself a bit bogged down in the daily grind - cleaning and cooking and laundry and caring for small humans and repeat.  Coincidentally, sort of a Groundhog Day situation (the movie, I mean...there aren't people watching to see if I see my shadow so they can make some inane weather prediction...or are there?).  My own stuff is getting pushed further and further down the list of priorities.  But I'll keep on keeping on and see what I can do to crowbar some me time back into the schedule.

And so it's at this time, when I already feel completely overwhelmed with the stuff on my to do list, that I've decided to join Twitter.  It's the thing to do, I suppose, and I figure it's one more way to get writing and to connect to other grown ups in the outside world.  So follow me, why don't you.  I promise you it will either be entertaining or a terrible waste of all of our time.  It could go either way.

All right, let's do this thing February! 

It's only nearly half way through the month.  Better late than pregnant, I always say.

Some Things I made progress on in December:

• I finished two books recommended by friends (Thing 8): Lamb by Christopher Moore, recommended by my friend Colleen, and Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers, recommended by my friend Jen.  They are both excellent reads.  I had been toying with the idea of doing away with Thing 5 "Write a book response on my blog for every book I read" and replacing it with something else, because they're annoying to write and boring to read.  But I think I'll keep with it and see them as opportunities to practice the art of brevity in writing.  So two quick and dirty book responses coming your way soon (well, not too dirty...although perhaps if I made them dirty they'd be more exciting to read).
  

• I tried at least five new recipes in December (Thing 43).  I say "at least" because I'm pretty sure there were more than five, but I only seem to have written five down.  Ah well.  The best one was this recipe for Cranberry Apple Jam.  It made the perfect amount for three little jars for gifts, and a little left over for me to try.  Yummy!  So I have now tried 37 new recipes of 101.

• Instead of buying flowers for myself this month (Thing 98) I decided that the money would be much better spent, and result in even more joy, if I used it to accomplish Thing 82: Send Anonymous Flowers.  I had been struggling with this one, wondering how creepy it would be to receive flowers anonymously.  I myself would be kind of weirded out.  But I think I figured out a way to do it that wasn't creepy:  the week before Christmas, Isla and I bought some gorgeous roses and brought them to the seniors home near us, and asked the people at the front desk if they could please pass them on to a resident who could use a pick me up this holiday season.  We left the flowers with them to deliver, so it was kept anonymous, and I felt such happiness imagining someone receiving those beautiful roses out of the blue (didn't get a photo of them to share though, unfortunately).  Isla had been really reluctant to give up the flowers, but I explained to her what we were doing, the importance of giving to others and so forth, and I think she understood.  I think I'd like to make this a tradition, although maybe next year we'll see if we can deliver them ourselves, so that Isla can see the impact of the gift.  In any case, another Thing completed!

Things I will admit I didn't do:

• Go out on a photo shoot (Thing 14).  Folks, it's too damn cold, and when I'm inside I'm too busy taking care of kids or cleaning up after kids or preparing food for kids to take any photos.  I'll see if I can carve out some time to do some photography indoors, but I might have to rethink this Thing for the winter months.

• No date night (Thing 51), but we did go out for dinner with some friends so that accomplishes Thing 53, Get Together with a Friend.  I'll see what I can do to arrange a date night this month.

• I don't think I managed any chunk of time to myself (Thing 92).  Must do better at that (I accomplished January's today thanks to the babysitting services of my mom.  Thanks Mom!)

I have to get a move on with these 101 Things.  The Things I'm setting my sights on over the next few months are:

• Writing.  There are two writing contests coming up that I would like to submit to, if I can make the time to write.  I also want to finish the first draft of the children's story I'm meant to be working on with my sister and her boyfriend.

• Reading more books and listening to more albums recommended by friends.  Morning dance party to Alice in Chains?  Why not, I say.

• I am going to finish (and start!) Evy's name drawings before I do anything else.  It must be done.  The mom guilt is too much.

• I'm working on establishing a regular exercise routine but it may be awhile before I can consider this one complete.

• My mother-in-law may have already perfected allergen-free bread for me, but I have yet to attempt her recipe myself.  But I will do it and hopefully it will fit the bill because I miss bread like the deserts miss the rain.

• I'd like to get my office and the bedrooms organized and decorated soonish.  A little less chaos, a few more pictures on walls.

• I'm trying to find a time when I can donate blood but Canadian Blood Services seems to only have availability at the worst possible times for my schedule.  But I'll keep checking back with them.

• As for my Joy/Well-being Things, I think I'll be going to a concert in March, and I would like to get out to a play soon (perhaps for a date night or an outing with a friend).  I'm still on the hunt for the most wonderful pyjamas, and I hope to try a meditation class sometime soon.

• And I would dearly love to travel somewhere warm with my husband right about now but I don't see that happening any time soon.  Perhaps next winter. 

So that's the low down.  Exciting stuff, no?  I'd also really like to become interesting, if possible.  I'm sure that reading about my self-improvement projects isn't the most fascinating part of your day, so I'll try to do more interesting things and write about them, or become insightful or funny or something.  But I make no promises.

Now I'm pretty sure one of my 101 Things is Eat Tortilla Chips and watch Parenthood.  If not, it should be. 

Wow, really?  Eleven days since my last post?  I guess so.  Well I'm sorry for my lack of posting but it has been a helluva few weeks around here.  All fine and good, just busy and stressful and requiring the bulk of my already limited attention.  

So November.  I'm happy to see the end of you.  That said, although I didn't meet the goals I had set for myself, some small amounts of progress were made toward my 101 Things:

• I submitted a piece of writing to the Writers' Union of Canada's Short Prose Competition at the beginning of the month (Thing 1).  I can't believe I completed something in time, let alone something I'm actually kind of happy with.  I'm hoping to do some more writing this month.

• My husband and I went out on a date (Thing 51)!  Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had been unable to go out at all in September or October so it was nice to get this Thing back on track and spend some time together.

• I tried seven new recipes, bringing my total up to 32, so I'm nearly a third of the way to my goal of 101 (Thing 43).  The best find was this recipe for allergen-free pancakes.  Mine did not turn out quite as fluffy as those in her photo, but they were still pretty damn good and easy to make.  It's nice to have something to eat for breakfast other than rice cereal, because I'm not an infant.

• I managed an afternoon to myself (Thing 92), before meeting up with some friends (Thing 53) in Toronto for a super fun girls weekend. 
  

• I also wrote three handwritten letters.
  

• And my daughter Evy decided she was tired of waiting for me to get around to it, so she literally took it into her own hands to "Gleefully take down the wallpaper in the kitchen" (Thing 49).  My attempts to stop her were only half-hearted. 

So, some progress, but I have a few incompletes this month.  I didn't manage to get out to take any photos (Thing 14).  I also don't believe we went out on an outing as a family of four (Thing 59) and I'm not sure I spoke to my sister on the phone twice (Thing 60).  Not good. 

I'd like to say that I'll do better in December but I don't think the busyness and stress are going anywhere any time soon.  But I'm going to try, because I set these Things as priorities for a reason.  It is much too easy to get lost in the tasks and to-dos and problems of life, and far too tempting to put myself and my own personal goals last on the list.  I don't want to do that anymore.  I'm a much healthier, happier person (and correspondingly more productive) when I can make time for myself, and I don't think it's any surprise that, with the lack of attention paid to myself in November, I experienced a downswing in mood and energy.  It's probably no accident that I also had more RA flareups.  So, I'm going to try to get back on track.

And given all this stress, I'm thinking it might be the ideal time to Try a Meditation Class (Thing 99).  Or perhaps Become an Expert in a Specialist Subject (Thing 27) wherein that subject is wine.

(What's this all about?  Read here.)

Five months since this project began, and I'm still not through explaining all of my 101 Things.  So I'm going to make an effort to push through and get'r done.

I could have easily made my entire 101 Things list about things that I want to complete with/for/because of my kids.  They're pretty much the centre of my universe, and I'm okay with that.  But I decided to focus on a few simple things that would be a lot of fun.

61. Take Isla to see her first movie

 It has taken me so long to get around to these explanations, that I have already gone and completed this one.  Dave and I took Isla to see Winnie The Pooh when it was in theatres in the summer, and she had a blast.  I'm thinking of taking her to see Puss in Boots this weekend.  I'm secretly hoping she will develop a love of the movie theatre, so that I can have a movie buddy, since her dad is not so keen.  There may be bribery in the form of Swedish Berries.

62. Take Isla to see her first play

I have my drama degree and I love live theatre, but it has been ages since I have seen any and I am really looking forward to taking Isla to see her first play.  My mom will be taking Isla to see a puppet show at the Grand Theatre in a couple of weeks, and I'm sure they'll have an awesome time, but for the purposes of this list I'm not counting it as a "first play" per se, which I think needs to have actual live people in it.  So I will still consider that "first" up for grabs.

How will I know when it's complete?

We will have seen actual live people performing characters with some sort of story, on a stage or in a park or somewhere with some sort of performance area. 

63. Take Isla on a mommy/daughter weekend away

Our week in Halifax kind of accomplished this, but I'm leaving it as an incomplete because I'd like to do it again.  Also, with Halifax, we were visiting other people, and I think it would be nice to just have a weekend to ourselves some time.  With the youngest daughter around all the time, it's hard to have quality time just mommy and 4 year old and, while we try to find small ways to accomplish this, I think it would be fun to whisk her away somewhere to spend some extended time just us.

How will I know when it's complete?

We'll have gone out of town for at least one night, staying at some sort of hotel/motel/campground, just the two of us.

64. Take Evy on a mommy/daughter weekend away

Miss Ev is only 16 months old so a weekend away is not the sort of thing she would appreciate at the moment, although I do try to make quality time for her and I on a regular basis (which is easier now with the eldest one in school).  But in a few years time, and before this project is complete, I'd like to do the same with her, have a weekend just mum and Ev.  The unfortunate thing about being anything but the first-born child is you rarely know what it's like to have undivided attention, not in the same way the first-born had, in any case, before siblings came around.  A little bit of that would be nice.

How will I know when it's complete?  Second verse, same as the first (a little bit louder and a little bit worse?  Perhaps).

65. Try out every playground in the city

This is hella ambitious but I decided to keep it on the list.  It's a fun challenge.  Already we've switched up from going to our usual places and have gone to a few parks we might not otherwise have tried, some awesome and some not so awesome.  There is a city parks map online which is useful, although their legend of parks does not appear to go either alphabetically or numerically which is annoying.  I have been trying to get a hard copy through the city, so that I can cross them off as we go, but my search has been to no avail as of yet.  In any case, this will mainly be a warm weather endeavour and I think once the littlest one is no longer taking naps (please let this be years from now) it will be a bit easier.  I keep thinking I should probably keep track of each park's amenities to create some sort of database, but that seems like a lot of work.  And this is supposed to be about fun.

How will I know when it's complete?  We'll have gone to every park on the city parks map.  I am not counting school parks, just public city parks.  There are enough of those.

66. At least once, allow Isla to do my hair, makeup, and choose my clothes, and take her out for lunch (provided the outfit will not break any public indecency laws)

I might regret this one, but I think this could be really fun.  I don't care much about hair, makeup and clothes, and would prefer my daughters didn't either, but that said, I think Isla would have a blast dressing me up like a real live doll.  And I feel like by going out in public no matter how I look, it will show her that those things don't really matter and should just be about having fun.  I think that's a good message.

How will I know when it's complete?  Isla will have free reign to do my hair and makeup, and choose anything out of my closet for me to wear, provided I am decently covered and dressed suitably for the weather.  We'll go for lunch at a public establishment where I will not comment to others about my look (i.e. "Just so you know, my daughter dressed me today!  I'm not usually like this!") unless asked. 

67. At least once, let Isla make all the decisions for a do-anything, go-anywhere day

I try to give Isla choices when I can but let's face it:  the day-to-day life of a child is primarily dictated by the parent(s), in most cases.  I think it would be fun and empowering to let her decide, for at least one day, what we do and when, what we eat, and where we go. It would be interesting to see what choices she makes, and I think that a day of spontanaiety is good for all.

How will I know when it's complete?  For at least one day, Isla will get to make the decisions from start to finish.  Now, obviously, these have to be within the realms of possibility.  We can't ride an octopus to China, at least not until we've finished those Chinese octopus riding lessons.  So clearly her decisions are limited by what is actually doable.  It also has to be safe, of course, and age appropriate.  All the basic no-brainer parenting rules still apply.  But within those boundaries, the choices will be all hers.  Smarties for breakfast?  Sure.  Watching Lion King six times in a row?  Why not?  I will also try my very best not to influence the decisions any way.

68. Learn something new with my children

I learn new things with my kids all the time but for this Thing, I'm thinking of something that I really know just as little about as they do.  So I don't know what it could be.  Let's say the girls wonder how soccer balls are made.  You know what, I have no idea so let's find out together.  And we'll embark on a thorough fact-finding project.  I would like to do this as often as this sort of thing comes up, of course, but I'll count this done if it happens on this sort of larger scale at least once.

How will I know when it's complete?

We'll have started in complete ignorance and learned enough about the subject to be able to explain it to others.  And hopefully we'll have had a lot of fun along the way.

69. Create two annual family charity projects

Now that Isla is old enough, at 4 years old, to really begin to understand the practice of giving and looking beyond our own needs and wants, I would like to develop at least two annual family projects which involve giving back in some way.  It could be something like a Christmas shoebox program, or collecting items for the food bank, or making decorations for seniors or sick kids.  In fact, I would like to do all of those and more.  But we'll start with two.  My hope is to start with something this Christmas; we already buy toys for my husband's company toy drive, but I'd like to do more, I just haven't quite figured out what yet (suggestions welcome).

How will I know when it's complete? 

We'll have participated in two charity projects with the kids, and have done each at least twice (to make it eligible for the "annual" part).  These should be projects that are sustainable in the long term, and fun for the family to do.

I had hoped to make progress on some of my 101 Things tonight, but my arthritis is flaring up pretty badly and, with my husband working late and the kids finally asleep, I think I will just head to bed.  Someone has to be up at 4 a.m. for no particular reason and my guess is that it's going to be me.  Sigh

(What's this all about?  Read here.)

So October.  Let's see how I did.  First the good stuff:

• I finished getting rid of 101 Things (Thing 50).  I should really say "we" finished, because my husband played a big part.  It feels great to get rid of stuff but to look around the house now, you wouldn't really know it.  Other things seem to have crept out of corners to take the vacant space.  But it's progress and the trick now is to keep on purging, while at the same time limiting how many new things come into the house.

• I got glasses (Thing 36).  And you know, street signs are a lot less blurry.  So this one's good for all of us, I think.

• I tried five new recipes (Thing 43), the best being a Lentil Nut Loaf that my sister and I made for Thanksgiving.  So so good. 

• I'm counting my Halifax trip as going out on a photo shoot (Thing 14), because it was basically one long photo shoot (more photos to come, by the way, once my computer stops being such a brat). 

• I'm also counting a movie with my sister as getting together with a friend (Thing 53) because she's not only my sister, you guys, she's also my friend!  And, at times, the wind beneath my wings.  I have plans with actual un-related-to-me friends soon.
  

• Isla and I sent home a postcard when we were in Halifax, which I'm counting as a handwritten letter (Thing 52), even though I was the one who took it out of the mailbox when it arrived well after my daughter and I were home.  Still counts!  But I will try better to write a longer letter in November.  To someone who doesn't live in my house.

• We went to the Scarecrow Festival in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, so that and the Fall Fair in September are my two community events for this fall (Thing 83)
  

• The whole family enjoyed an afternoon out (Thing 59) at the pumpkin patch and corn maze at Fruition Berry Farm, a few weekends ago.  A beautiful day and lots of fun!

• I got professional photos taken of the girls (Thing 73) down at Lake Ontario Park on a lovely fall day.  Isla was quite cooperative but Ev was not so into it, but somehow the photographer (Taylor Studios) managed to get a few good shots where they're both looking at the camera and look relatively happy. 

And now, the not so good stuff:

• I don't think I had a day to myself this month.  A few hours here and there, which were nice, but a full afternoon some time would be nice.  I'll see what can be done about that in November.

• No date night again.  Boooo!  It was a pretty busy month for us.  With my Halifax trip and a business trip D had to Ottawa, we were apart for nearly two weeks, and a major project has had D working late many nights.  But there's hope for November.  If we can at the very least manage a "date night in" watching a movie, that would be good.

A few other goals for November:

• I'd like to complete the first draft of the story I'm writing for a children's book project I'm hoping to work on with my sister and her boyfriend (Thing 7)

• I picked up one of my friend-recommended books (Thing 8) from the library today, The Midwife of Venice (recommended by my friend Jen).  I'm eager to get started on it, just as soon as I finish The Help

• I'm also going to see if I can get listening to a few of the albums people have recommended (Thing 9), so the torture I put Dan through isn't all in vain (p.s. I still need more book and album recommendations so please, recommend away!)

• I'd like to complete a rough sketch of the name drawings I'm doing for my daughter Evy (Thing 21)

• I'd also like to get at least one of my ten thank you notes done (Thing 56)

• Pyjamas!  (Thing 97)  They will be warm and cozy and cute and mine!

Now considering November is already a week in, I should probably get a move on.  But thinking about pyjamas has made me think about pyjamas and, along with the TV and couch, my jammies are making a strong case for an evening of lethargy and mindless entertainment.  And clearly if my jammies are talking to me, I'm in need of a break. 

You win, jammies, you win!

For those who may be curious, I did it.  This morning I sent in my submission for that contest, a short story of about 2100 words in length.  Late last week, as I was busy with preparations for Hallowe'en and Isla's birthday, I began crafting very convincing excuses I would quietly share this week as to why it wasn't completed.  Something about being kind and forgiving to myself, that it was the act of working towards something rather than the completion of it that was really the main goal.  But I knew that I would be disappointed in myself if I didn't rise to the challenge so I buckled down and had a few late nights and now it's in the mail.

And I am actually shockingly rather happy with it.  It is definitely still a work in progress and needs some more polishing, and has the potential to grow into a longer piece, but I feel pretty good about it as it is.  I hold out no hope that I'll win anything - it's a big competition - but I'm feeling pretty proud for keeping a commitment to myself and finishing what I set out to do.  I think that this may be the first piece of creative writing I have completed since university, so it's proof to me that challenging myself with a contest deadline gets me to write.

I'm setting my sights on the next one or two.  The Writers' Union of Canada has a postcard story competition due in February and a children's writing competition due in April.  I would not be so bold as to publicly announce that I will definitely write something for them, because that would be foolish (ha), but I'm excited to keep on with the writing.

I was surprised at how easily some of it came to me and I was reminded of how good it feels to figure out the parts that are more challenging, to suddenly have the right word pop to mind after struggling for half an hour to find it.  That feeling of joy when you discover that simply moving one section somewhere else makes everything fall into place.  It was a good experience and I'm feeling a little more brave about this whole writing thing as a result.  So that's nice.

In other news, I completed another Thing.  I met with a dietitian yesterday (Thing 37) who, along with her intern, tried to help me brainstorm some ideas for things I can eat, given my many annoying food allergies.  At one point she said, "Kirsi, you are a challenge!"  I told her that she is not the first to have said that.  While they were both really eager to help and spent a lot of time with me trying to come up with ideas, I was kind of surprised at how little they knew about allergen-free diets given that nutrition is their field of expertise.  So in my frustrating search for resources and information, it's becoming very clear that I'm going to have to just become the go-to girl on the subject and learn about all this stuff my own damn self. 

And in the mean time, at least I have rice. 

I plan on posting an October recap for my 101 Things tomorrow.  I also need to do a short book response one of these days.  But tonight, I'm much too exhausted and sick for anything beyond sitting on my couch watching TV, and climbing into bed at a reasonable hour.  Although I could possibly drum up the energy to also eat some cookies, if necessary.  Sweat pants, engage!

A quick dispatch from the land of crazy.  I have approximately four billion things on my still-to-do list before Isla's birthday and Halloween and that stupid writing contest deadline and my house falls into a shambles. 

I unexpectedly completed a Thing this week, Thing 36: Get Glasses.  Clearly Contacts was having a free glasses promotion (I think they have it all the time) so I got a new pair of glasses for only the cost of shipping.  Glasses for $12!  Sold!

Here's the photo evidence: 

P.S. I'm trying to woo my computer into cooperating with me so I can post more Halifax trip photos with a minimum of hassle, but my advances do not seem to be working.  This sexy secretary's about to go all angry librarian.