CarpeAcum

A Tuesday for Dance

I attended a new tap dance class today. It was fun and challenging, although I pushed myself to the limit, aerobically. I enjoyed the class I took last year very much, but this one meets at a better time for me. I feel vaguely disloyal, but I'm certain I'm doing the right thing.

Today's accomplishments:

I completed the overly fussy and ornate Halloween party invitations. I do get carried away! It's fun to use all the stuff I have, though. These ended up being mostly from stash items, except I bought the actual black cards and envelopes (how to address them?!), and I bought some spider-y tissue paper. Other than that, paper, stamps, paper punches, pens, the whole thing--from already acquired materials. And without visible depletion of same.

I danced. And sweated.

I taught piano lessons to two adults.

I got Punkin ready for her dance classes.

Then a nap crept up and ambushed me. After that, there was crafting, cleaning up of the studio (yay!), some computing, dinner, more crafting, and I set up my new table on its risers in the middle of the living room. I laid the cutting boards on it to flatten overnight. I'm sure they'll have their fair share (and then some) of kitties checking them out in the night.

I filed (wait for it. . .) Christmas music. Yes, it's that time again, when the Beard starts moaning about Christmas music in October. I can't help it. It's only 6 weeks from Halloween to the Christmas recital. Some of the kids can pull it together in 4 weeks or so, but some will barely make it in 6-7. So I have to start. I try to do the reading I need to do during the day so he doesn't have to listen to it, but I can't do anything about the students who play while he's home.

Oh, and I did laundry. And dishes.

Monday was good

I am so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. But I'm going to post my motivational list (it motivates *me*, so leave me to my self-delusion), and then I'm going to toddle off to bed, at a reasonable hour (which should shock everyone).

Late night last night, so I slept an extra couple of hours after Punkin left for school. Since this marks the beginning of the third week of being sick, the sacrifice was worth it to prevent a relapse, or worse, some sort of bacterial thing that would require weeks of anti-biotics. Don't laugh--last winter was the first winter in a long while that I didn't need anti-biotics at some point. So I'll count the nap as an accomplishment.

I caught up with the laundry. No, really. Put all of Punkin's clothes away and got a couple other loads taken care of. Folded towels (I hate that). Yay.

Dishes. No kidding.

Went to the store.

Made a wonderful dinner: roasted chicken, baked potatoes and baked squash (why is the chicken roasted, when it cooked in the same oven with the BAKED potatoes and squash? Just wondering.).

Taught lessons.

Went to the library and renewed several books, took back others, picked up some reserved ones.

I got almost everything on today's list done. That's a first. I have to catch up on a couple of things tomorrow, then maybe I can move down the list.

Good night!

Sunday is Movie Day

Today's Accomplishments:

Laundry (notice a trend, here?).

Dishes (hmmmm. . .).

Made cookies for The Beard to take to work for a birthday celebration.

Saw "Igor." I could definitely have waited for the DVD.

Bought Punkin a winter coat. I had to make her shop for one. The Beard came along. She and he together wanted to buy the first coat they saw (sigh). We ended up buying one that was completely different from the one she said she wanted. She loves it, though, because it has fur trim on the hood. Whatever!

Finished Eclipse. Went and exchanged it for Breaking Dawn. One of my Scouts is loaning me the books. Punkin has no interest. . .so far. I'm enjoying them, though.

Somehow, that filled Sunday completely up.

Saturday for Resting

Saturday was lazy. So much so that I almost didn't post.

My accomplishments include reading in bed until very late in the day, reading in the afternoon, completing 2 stars on Mario Galaxy (Punkin's game. . .of course).

Dishes.

Laundry.

Contemplation of my 15 YO cat, who is picking up some bad habits (wetting the carpet, not two feet from the cat box), and has a tooth problem--her gums are continually infected. She should have all her teeth removed. She still sits in my lap and purrs, thought, so who's to say she's not happy?

It makes me sad to think about.

Friday is Party Day!

You know how it is: girls just wanna have fun. Today was Punkin's dance friend's birthday party. 14 girls dressed up, then tossed their shoes in the corner and screamed and danced. The screaming was interrupted by a movie, brownies, and present opening. Punkin was excited all week, and I think it was as much fun as she had imagined.

So. . .my day.

Met Dance Mom to get two packages of brownie mix.

Went to JoAnn's and bought brownie baking supplies (note to self: Wilton silver dust looks EXACTLY like flour when dusted on brownies).

Went to Target and got giftie stuff and cat litter (picture frames 2 for $1.25--had to buty those!). Waited through three lights, because I got into the right lane like I was directed to, and people kept letting the lowlifes in the left lane cut in. Argh.

Came home, turned on oven, changed into PJ pants and ratty sweatshirt.

Started brownies, found I had no vegetable oil.

Changed into jeans (left ratty sweatshirt on--ha!)  and bought oil and foil mini muffin pans (shoulda bought 'em at Target).

Went home and started in on the brownies. And chocolate candies (which didn't turn out, and I'm not sure why).

Fixed Punkin's dress. It turned out a little too tight, but with a strapless dress, that's way better than too loose!

Taught lessons while directing party preparations from the living room ("the gift is in the trunk," I'll bring the brownies with me," "Yes, Punkin needs dinner." La, la la).

Finished frosting brownies after they cooled.

Took brownies to party; took pictures; hung out until the movie started.

Went to dinner with The Beard. Gnocchi. . .mmmmm!

Back to party. Listened to screaming. Jonas Brothers. More screaming. Sat in the hallway because the screaming was slightly muted.

Helped clean up. Took Punkin to Grandma's to show off her dress. Grandma was properly appreciative, although I know it's an act. Yay, Grandma, for acting appreciative.

Home to bed, but my kitchen looks like a bomb went off in it. It will all still be there tomorrow.

Thursday of No Note

It's late, but here's today's very short list:

I got Punkin to the bus on time. She had forgotten her reading book, and then insisted I drive her to the bus stop so she wouldn't miss the bus. She is very conscientious about riding the bus. Nearly a month into school, and she hasn't missed it once.

Dishes.

Laundry.

I fixed the fancy dresses that Punkin's dance friend and her cousin are wearing to Dance Friend's 12th birthday party tomorrow night. I worked on one during Punkin's piano lesson. We bought them en masse last Sunday afternoon at Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul. Punkin found a really pretty strapless pink dress with pink shoes to match.

Teaching.

That pretty much covers it. I am finally feeling better, so I comfort myself with the thought that I spent the day healing.

Wednesday's a long day

Well, here goes my lame Wednesday list:

Got up. Some days, that's an accomplishment in itself.

Got Punkin up. She was up late last night, so getting her up this morning was more than the usual challenge. After dance last night, my brother picked her up and took her home, since we were at the Parent Open House. She got to watch <gasp!> TV on a school night! It was completely out of the ordinary for her. Then she had to do her regular bedtime routine, and finish the math challenge questions (tee-hee!). And eat grapes. So she was up late.

Got myself to school in time to work with Punkin's choir class. Too bad--I don't have my background check completed, so I can't be in the school until it comes back clear. Blech. Drove there and back--30 minutes I can't have back.

Nap attack.

Laundry.

Ordered Piano music. www.pianoatpepper.com Love them. I just wish they would give me a teacher discount, but free shipping works.

Taught lessons 2-8:15 ( I do have dinner break from 6:30 to 7:30). We went to try out the new Carl's Jr. for dinner. Good burgers, but pricey. We could almost go to Red Robin for that $$$, and they'd bring the food to us.

Then I painted Punkin's finger- and toenails in preparation for her big party on Friday night. She wanted painted toenails when she goes to Jazz dance tomorrow night, because they dance barefoot. The pink nail polish we chose turned out to be bright, fluorescent, bring-the-planes-in pink. She's happy, though, so yay. It turns out that I have abosolutely NO talent for painting people's nails. Not too surprising. I think I'll tip better the next time I have my nails done.

Dishes--not too many, since we didn't eat dinner at  home.

And that, as they say, was that. A few things off my list, and a few things accomplished. I'm still feeling under the weather, and Wednesday is a big lesson day, so I have to be happy with what I got done.

Off to bed.

School Open House Day

Without further ado, I present today's accomplishments:

Laundry. I folded and put away towels and clothes, and I did bed linens. Before sleeping, I'll make the bed -g-.

Dishes.

Teaching. I had 3 adult students during the day.

Nap. After teaching, I sat down to "rest my eyes" and woke up when Punkin came in the door from school.

Taxi Service. I took Punkin to dance, bought a new headset at Staples, got myself coffee and a cookie, took Punkin to the store to pick out a nail polish color (between dance classes was the ONLY time all week that I could take my daughter to the store--seriously!).

Then we had dinner.

Parent Open House. Attended, shook hands, asked questions (Punkin would be mortified if she knew  how many questions her father and I ask), filled out forms, smiled and chatted with friends, thought about how glad I am not to be teaching in a public school.

Monitored homework, which, after talking to Punkin's math teacher, will now always include the Challenge Questions, which she has (conveniently) not been writing down in her planner. My question: Is there always a challenge assignment? Answer: Yes. (Busted, Punkin!)

Discussed parenting methods with The Beard. At length.

Am ready for bed!

The Hurrier I Go, the Behinder I Get

I can't seem to get ahead. I feel really behind in everything, so in the interests of bolstering myself and maybe even motivating myself, I've decided that I'm going to post my daily accomplishments. Maybe that will help me to remember that I have done things during the day, and that, although there's always more to do, I am getting some things completed. Maybe after a week or so of that, I'll feel caught up enough to put in my summer journalings. Maybe.

Today's list:

Shopping! I've needed to do that for a while. I bought 50 pounds of flour!

Two loads of laundry.

Cleaned out Punkin's closet. I haven't put away her clothes in 2-3 weeks, so everything in the closet was not being worn. Now I know what I can get rid of.

Girl Scout Meeting. I had to run it by myself. I had tag-team moms help out, but the meeting was all me. We made s'mores and discused the coming year.

Vacuuming/bathroom cleaning.

Cleaned off the table.

Teaching.

I sent an email that I've been putting off--that feels good. Now the ball's in the other court.

Dishes. Not a big deal, but they have to get done.

I was right. That does make me feel better --g--.