How can time slip by so slowly so quickly?

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I hate when I am both holding my breath and pushing forward, but it happens. These times are so odd in that time teams to be barely creeping forward at a rocket's pace. Uhrm, yes, that about covers it. Yeah, no I do not understand it.

Less than a week and my lady friend, unless she cancels, will be here. There are odds and ends to do if nothing large. I must remember to get the trash and recycling out next week the day before she arrives. I forgot this week. Then again, it is winter, anything I put in it will freeze so there is no smell. As well, neither would be more than 2/3rds full even if I pack in a bit more. I use little so throw away little. There are a few details I need to tend, one timed to earlier in the day she arrives but most just odds and ends to be done or not. A quick once around general clean on the day before she is set to arrive should see me in good stead, if I wanted to stop there.

I received a call yesterday from my newer former neighbor. He and his friend were set to go into the canyon to cook brats and asked if I would like to go. I agreed, asked what I might bring, and was told he would call at noon. He did not call at noon, so... I am sure he will let me know what happened sometime. I, for my sake, am not worried. If he does it three times in easy memory, I just do not agree to his ideas. I will still invite him over, I just will not accept invitations. Life is really easy, very easy, if one does not generate emotional attachments to everything and lives simply.

Well, enough about me. Since I do not know about you, how about we close with a prayer? For you of course, silly people! :P

Have a great day.

Living on the edge.

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I am staying busy even when there is little to do. I may actually be pushing some things a bit. Physical activity, however, is down. Getting out and doing much is limited by a foot of snow on the ground and having no one around to go out into it. Though today we went shooting. The thermometers said 36 as a high, but it felt more like 40 or 50 to me. With little snow melt, though, I suspect the thermometers were correct. I need to find friends who do go out in the cold and know what to do. I am geared for it, should I find an opening.

I have about 5 days until my lady friend arrives. Things are mostly in order. I am still looking for my mother's Christmas present. It is a frustrating search, oddly. I visited the local (or one of them, there may be others) butcher shop today. It actually has two sides, a Mexican side where only one of the people there spoke English, and and English speaking side. It appears to be the same store, with two different shops attached to one main butcher area. Weird, but so some things go. We accidentally went into the Mexican side, as my friend thought that is where we were supposed to go. He had not been there for years, everything had changed. The American "store" section of the place did not exist when he was last there. Though I will do most of my shopping in the American section, the Mexican section had certain cuts for ribs (oddly often referred to as English cut) which the American section did not so I will probably do some shopping in the Mexican section.

What have I been doing? Gaming. I do with 8 different characters in a day what some people cannot do with one character. It is an online multi-player game. WoW was ok, but brutal and as friendly as a knife in the back. This game is a little more for casual, or more casual, players. It can get as technical as you like but everything does not require technical play. Yes, I know, children's games. Yet, I do not think children could honestly play this game well. Certainly they could not master 8 types of different playing. It does keep me busy, keep me awake, make my mind, memory, and logic work (you have to figure things out when your typical way does not work). Oh well, it is something. If too, it is addictive. I have a few goals and then I will back down play again.

That is life in a nutshell. A few more things to plan for Christmas, a little more cleaning, sorting, and storing, perhaps a little greenery for the place and season, and then I am set. As is, I am mostly coasting until my friend arrives.

Have a great day!

Cleaning, today, I think.

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Today is not a fantastic day. I cannot seem to get it all working again. And yet, I never simply stop working. I will clean the bathrooms today, down to the shine. Then I will be very careful in their use and upkeep so only a small amount of work will be needed when my friend visits. If that goes swiftly and well, and it might, I will then begin working out what goes to storage and doing a bit of laundry from the old place. While I am at it, I will probably make something tasty for dinner, tasty but simple. Pasta and hamburger, a few side items, some spice, and a little imagination go a long way. As well, I suppose it is time to shovel. Either today or tomorrow. Then again, it is forecast to be in the 40's all week, so procrastination may be my friend.

Days and nights are still not straightened out. I suppose with me, there is a 50% chance of sleep in any forecast at any time of the day. Still, I get up when I can and I work as I may. I am learning to do a great deal more. I think the climate, altitude, mountains, and being nearly in my own house have lead me to do more. Actually owning my own house will expand that a great deal. There are things in this house which give me ideas, like a fully tiled shower area, little details about the place, and the sense that with a little work and money, one can turn a house into a very nice home, without being flashy or silly too.

Three Christmas presents have been purchased. Only one remains, though I will send a little money along with that one too. One gift will wait until the person it is for may choose it, or something else she likes. Since she just bought a canoe, and she likes the better gear, I have a catalog with some items she may choose from. It's good gear and it's spiffy.

The things causing me to drag, at this point, are school, house, getting my banking switched over, and getting this place in order for my visitor. There always seems to be more on my plate than I can really do, and much of it is out of my hands. But that is as it is. Pushing does not seem to help, either them or me. Life could be good here, or I should say, it could be even better. I am seeing my way to that.

Just yesterday my former neighbor and myself were out doing a bit of shopping. We met another shooter who just moved here from southern Utah. We talked guns and life for a good hour, right there in Walmart! Should have gone for coffee, but why? Anyway, I took his number. I think we might end up with a small shooter's club. Hunters, shooters, and reloaders weclome, to be sure. Of course, we are all of the liberal bent. Ha! Any guy who buys a gun for his girlfriend, and she likes it, is good in my book. So, I am beginning to network. Oh, and I told my former neighbor this too, if this new guy has a gal, she will know other women. Odd the way that works. And, if they come for a meal some time, and his gal sees poor lonely guys, she might just figure things out. Women are like that, sometimes. Anyway, it is a thought. Capitalism, for me, does not stop at the store or bank!

Well, that is that for now. Stay warm and safe.

Up too late.

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Yes, I am just now considering going to bed. I did sleep some last night. Not much, I do what I can. I would like to place a few calls this morning. My Mom needs a call and I would like to find out if cross country skis and whatever other equipment needed is available to rent. If I do those things, and pay a few bills, I will be satisfied today. It is not much but it could keep me sane, or happy, or whatever.

Oh, and writing a bit on the blog. I still have too many unsorted things and only time will sort some of them. Too many nagging little chores, loose ends, and untidy business yet to be sorted. If they were things I could do myself and be done with, they would be done. As is, all I can do is call or write and... wait. Arghhhhh! Lucy keeps moving the ball, too.

Well, have a great day!

Update: All completed. As completed as I can do things. The bills are paid, ski equipment rental has been found and a system set in play regarding that, and I have tried to call my Mom several times (starting last evening, actually). I am now considering trying to stay awake through the day to kick start a schedule modification. Sometimes that works, sometimes not. If I can pull if off, it is worth the effort just for the efforts own sake. Or I like to think that.

Plans and more plans.

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Whoever thought my cooking ideas might actually begin taking off. I doubt if I will ever quite be the food host of hosts, but to be thought of as a resource and occasional dining spot is good enough. Next is roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and perhaps a pie of some sort. I will have to see if I can get everyone to agree to one type of pie or consider making two types. After that, I think I would like to do a breakfast. Whether it is eaten in the morning is not important. I occasionally enjoy bacon, egg, toast, and perhaps sausage and corned beef hash out of it's usual time slot, having it for dinner. And I do not think I am alone.

This week I need to check about ski rentals, perhaps a Christmas tree (which she and I might figure out how to decorate more simply as a holiday event), and I do have several other pieces of business to attend. I really need to get off my bottom and get back to work. Oh, I need to see why my checks are not arriving at my new bank. That is irritating, especially when the agencies involved know my new address through my change of direct deposit slips now. Slow is one thing, this is sloth, but on their part.

I truly enjoy having an actual house in which to live. There is no one around to help in the case of trouble, but then anyone who shows up here is trouble and can be dealt with. The people whom own the place, through some contact locally, sent me some jam or jelly they made from fresh fruit on their property in Hawaii. I am saving that to share over Christmas. It was quite nice. I think it humorous, being that they are atheists. But Confucius covers that notion well too. Still, I must grin. It may have to do with me, when I realized their mail was really coming here and I had missed tending it, that I sent what they had (minus fliers and other junk) 1-day. A pricey option to Hawaii. Still, I felt duty bound. Then again, it may be just who they are. They really seem like pleasant people.

Pretty bland writing and material, but it takes a bit for the flow to come back. Still spotty, but I will try to write more. I am nearing a thousand posts in 3 years, that is nearly a post a day, averaged out. And few of them are word, or even paragraph, shy, either. Although, I doubt if half of them have been read widely, and for good reason. Though some of you seem to appreciate from time to time:)

Be well. I hope your Christmas plans are pulling together and you at least find a place to share even if you have to pull a couple of low down out-of-staters in via bribes and tickets. :p