desky le desk desk

Ah, my desk at work... a chaotic state the likes of which can rarely be found.

But I got a little table to make it better. Now, it's just a matter of actually, like, making it better. Not just oozing the chaos over across the way onto the little table...

There's far too much chaos and clutter and I have a strong desire to declutter and de-chaosify.

Sometimes, 'where to start' is painful.

True on so many fronts, though. Easier to keep on the worn path of ruts than to step to the side and try something new.

Chaos is approximately 20% controlled on my desk. That's a start, but there is a long way to go. This desk needs to not continue like this. It needs to be a small oasis of calm and clear work.

Right. Goals.

it's not too soon for goals

It's feeling more and more like it is well past high time to sit down, map out the financials, and make some concrete goals for expenses and cash flow. Saving needs to be pretty darn high on that list.

The ebb and flow of money has always been a big stress... it feels tiring, exhausting at times, and it also feels like, constantly, a little worry in my side.

There's enough - barely - but not much. And that means closer attention needs to be paid.

Because why is something that at its core is merely a tool, cause anything other than ease of use?

Liberate yourself from the money beast. Tame and groom that beast into the money tool. Kind of like comfortable shoes. Necessary, needs to be taken care of to last, but in the end not something that should cause trauma in your life.

when in doubt, order birks

The boots, ah the boots. The legs fit, the look is great, the toe wiggle room is fantastic, but the concept of arch support seems to be a thing of mystery. The guy comments, if you're going to wear shoes like that you just have to get used to the way they are designed. Good point, guy. So the eureka moment is to enlist the support (literally) of my favorite cork company of old and see if a pair of arch support insoles to see if that takes them from pretty darn good 8-8.5 range up to closer to the 9.5 star range...

So while you're at it, why not order the london's you've been coveting for the weekends...

Embrace simplicity and feel-good.

boots of destiny?

The boots that kept catching my eye... got the coveted sister in law text of approval and decided to stop searching for the magic mystery boots and give these a whirl.

Thanks large internet shopping interface, for the 25% off.
Thanks credit card co for the bonus points to knock some of the cost off.
Thanks for having two pairs left in my size.

Brown suede boots. Wow. A far cry from black. But they look slick and slightly ass kicking.

Here's hoping, universe. Will these be the boots made for walkin' the next few years, kicking ass and stomping tall?

Hope so.

sunshine on my solar panels heats my water

Your really have to read that to the tune of John Denver.

When we've got a hundred gallon plus tank of hot water at 145 degrees all from the solar collectors?

Wow, baby.

Motivation to save for grid tied pv, and then some.

Probably could have gone with one panel, not two, but oh well.

boots, where art thou?

Still have not figured out what boots are the magic, fix all of the world's problems, climb to the highest tower in the highest castle in the highest mountain and then skip back down, boots.

For hundreds of dollars, it doesn't seem like too much to ask that they be bliss on the foot, right?

Difficult difficult lemon difficult, indeed.

But then again, it's just flipping boots. Small isolated town-first world kind of problem, to say the least.

And yet - the thought of stomping around feeling like a bad-ass? Very promising. Onward, search ahead, wagons ho, etc.

and let this be an historic bag of hersheys with almonds nuggets

Time to kick self in the seat.

Time to clean out the diet.

Time to get fresh air and rosy cheeks, for human and dog.

Time to sleep better.

Time to get up and get going, because it's the only time you've got to call 100% your own.

High time to call this the last fucking bag of candy, self.

Time to love yourself and treat yourself with love.

auntie of the desert

Really fantastic to be an Aunt. It's tough to "bond" in two days' time, but as an adult with rational thought and the ability to form abstract connections, etc., it's downright easy to decide:
1) Yep, don't want a baby.
2) Yep, love being an Auntie
3) Yep, love family.

Little humans are exhausting. Granted, you get these periods of time when they are actually asleep and thus, still and quiet. They also at this age sometimes are having a bath, and are thus pleasantly chattery and somewhat still. Sometimes, they eat and are entertained by tidbits of round cereal and blobs of scrambled egg.  Most of the time, though, they are busy busy busy. Hat's off, as always, mommas.

I think that I will really like this Aunt journey. It's not that hard to drop the emotional distance you place with most other humans, when it comes to a wee giggling human girl. She has no baggage associated with you, after all; you're not awkward or confusing, you're just a human adult. All's good, if you act in somewhat expected ways and hold her properly.

Auntie-ness. Fun. Sweet. Not too many expectations. Not emotionally overwhelming. I like it.

khakis have a power they didn't realize even in their own self-awareness

Sometimes, you have to put on a pair of (admittedly, cheap large store) so-so fitting khaki pants and feel a bit frumpish and clunky and all the like, to realize that you need to focus on what fits well, flatters, and feels good on. So:

Order that dress. It's cool, it should be a good fit, and you know you'll feel good wearing it.
Pay attention to instinct and plan to pick up a pair of grey leggings. The ones from the big red store have worked out just fine.
Listen to fit feedback on the boots and INVEST (capital letters because it will be a significant outlay of cash) in a pair that are the fetch the gold ring from the mountain fitting pair.
Because you feel good in dresses and your guy likes how you look in dresses. Win-win, chick.

do not undervalue quiet

After 2 years of semi trucks rumbling along about ten feet away from our sleeping heads, the near silence of our house is almost overwhelming.

The cats are easing from slightly freaked out, to slightly blissed out. All will be well when the new cat tower arrives later this week.

The dog is mostly blissed out. BOOM out the door in the morning. Race race race about at full speed. I wish I could still get on the couch, he says with his soulful eyes, but the multitude of memory foam beds will suffice.

Really good salami and a $75 bottle of wine = a good first night.

Culling a huge amount of clothing = liberating.

Realizing that the answer is THE pair of black boots = search is on.

Deciding to return the ill fitting jeans and trying another pair = hopeful.

10k a few days away = man will I be whopped. But it's going to be a blast.

New house rules.