Shower Plotting

My poor kiddo --  all the public schools are closed due to the bitter cold and slick streets, but she goes to a private school and thus, must attend classes.

*Bwahahaha*

*cough, cough, ahem*

Bless her heart. Plus she has swim this afternoon even though the pool where she swims is in a closed public school.

Double Whammy!

I'm so glad the holidays are over.

It's not that I don't love my family and enjoy having them around, I do.

But it's because I thrive on routine. And one thing that is disrupted when everyone is home is routine.

I'm also one of those people who hit vacations hard (sightsee, rides, and a list a mile long of things to do) that I need to come home to relax. . . after all the laundry is caught up, of course.

Last year, I managed to waste my writing time by having no focus and dithering my time away.

This year, I don't want the same thing to happen. I have to make a plan for my days, but it has to be flexible.

For example:

Today is bitterly cold with some ice and snow still on the road and there's no way hubs will be driving his car in this weather, so . . .

1) I have to take the kiddo and the hubby to work.

Since it's so cold, I'll postpone my walk until I take my kiddo to swim this afternoon. I don't need to run any errands or have any standing appointments with my mom, so I'll . .

2) Take a quick shower--by then the hot water will be replenished--and think about the plots of my stories. Cleaning is also good to help get the juices flowing.

Though my judge shows are on, I'll fight the urge to watch them, which will give me time to figure out my 'sagging middle' of FIRE and give me a chance to figure out what happens to the other three stories. I know how they will end, but it's the journey along the way that isn't making sense!

Especially for EARTH. I have no idea what is happening with this story, except the beginning. I have no idea how it will intertwine with the other stories, or . . .

Nope. NOT A CLUE. Maybe I can find someone to brainstorm with before I have to pick my kiddo up from school.

Since I gained so much weight over the holidays (and before!) I doubt if I'll be eating much lunch. Cottage cheese and salads will be calling my name!

So that gives me, roughly . . .

3) 5 to 5.5 hours to figure out these darn plots!

Gotta put on my woolies to take the family to school.

Later, Peeps!

Weighty Wednesday -- Finding a Routine

Periodically, I find that my normal routine is shot to H-E-double hockey sticks. It happens. It could be the weather. It could be family. It could be errands. It could be a combination of the above.

This week you might think it has to do with the weather--tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, etc. But you would be wrong.

I knew this week would be rough three weeks ago.

Today is my daughter's last day of finals. School was out last Friday, but they have reverted to a finals schedule for three days this week. 9 AM - 12 PM. Two tests in the morning for three days. And driving time is roughly 20-30 minutes ONE WAY, depending on traffic and accidents.

Today is the last day.

I have to drive her to school -- since it's later in the morning, the hubs can't do it -- get some errands done and take a shower, and then I go back to get her.

Today is even crazier. Pick her up to take her to a pool party after school, then another mom will pick her up for a sleep-over birthday party, but I have to take the kidlet's overnight stuff to the other house.

Tomorrow will be a mess with taking my mom to the beauty shop, driving BACK across town to pick the kidlet up, and BACK again to pick my mom up from the beauty shop! All of this driving will happen between 8:45 and 10:15.

*Note to self: FILL THE CAR WITH GAS!

Oh, I suppose I could be walking at 6:30 in the morning, but then I wouldn't be writing this blog, now would I??

And with all kidlet's studying, she hasn't been going to swim practice, thus my second venue for walking is gone until Thursday night.

I'll get back on schedule. I always do. Besides I thrive from my walkies, and not doing them makes me sad. It's my thinking time. This is how I solve the great mysteries of live . . . or maybe just plot out my next picture book.

I see Friday as being my first day back to a routine schedule, but then again, Memorial Day weekend is coming up and I foresee a little bit of traveling in my future.

I'll have to fit my walkies in when I can.

And so should you.

Having a routine is wonderful. But sometimes life gets in the way and we need to MAKE the time for exercise.

If you don't have the time to walk for an hour or go to the gym, then keep moving---clean the house, walk up and down the stairs numerous times, pick weeds in the yard, mow the lawn.

The key is to keep moving. No you probably won't get any aerobic activity from these items, but you also won't be sitting on a chair with a remote in one hand and a bag of Jalapeno Cheetos in the other, will you?

Later, Peeps!