Home life – Page 16 – Mary Louise Eklund

Let Me Introduce You to My Husband’s Mistress

She’s a few years younger than me and has had a bit of work done. He goes out with her on weekends. I have to honestly say I don’t mind I enjoy going along sometimes. No, she’s a 1966 Mustang Convertible, a classic car.

1966 silver Mustang convertible in our garage — Mike’s Mistress

She’s a new addition to the family. Mike’s been wanting a classic car for years. After taking care of what we had to take of and putting a little extra money aside regularly he had enough to go out shopping for what he wanted. When buying a mistress don’t go into debt for her, the wife won’t like it. So when this particular one came onto the market and we drove down to Chicago to see her – well the deal was set!

Behind the wheel of his Mustang — Mike’s a happy man

I have to admit following him home while he drove the Mustang and I drove his truck (aka the golden barge long bed w/4 door cab) I loved watching men react. They turn their heads to see her just as if she had boobs! LOL! One guy walking down the sidewalk stopped and turned around to watch her go by.

View of the road from passenger seat — Watching for reactions

Another thing I like is it gives me great gift ideas for Mike. You know anything to please the Mustang pleases him. She’s always wanting little baubles like floor mats, paint job (trying to convince him to change her color to fire engine red), fender cover for when he caresses her engine, car cover to keep her warm in the garage over long winters (YES he wants a cover for IN the garage). Lots of little things like that.

freshly painted motor with blue parts — What’s under the hood?

Yesterday he changed her oil and we went for a drive to fill her up with high octane. No she doesn’t eat for cheap. After all how many mistresses do you know that go to McDonalds when there’s a table at a five star restaurant that needs filling?

Passenger interior with multiple Mustang logos — Oh lookie non-electric windows, work even when the engine is off!

Though there are little things about her that bring back my childhood memories. Crank windows are one of those things. The little front triangle opera windows are another. I was never allowed to open them as a kid but I can remember Mom opening them to get a breeze without blowing her hair. No air conditioning, yes most cars when I was little didn’t have it and really who needs it when you’ve got a convertible.

small triangle window passenger side — Still can’t operate it because Mike says it’s sealed now and opening it would make it whistle when closed.

The other thing that pleases me are all the reminders you’re riding in a Mustang. The leather seats have running herds of Mustangs embossed in them. The mats have a Mustang on them. The of course the usual logo locations have the tri-bar and Mustang. Just in case you forgot you’re riding in a classic.

embossed Mustang herd in the leather of the seats — How many Mustang horsepower is that seat?

The mistress and I get along fine. I know if there’s an emergency and the other two vehicles are gone (say one with Mike and one with Aaron) she’ll get me where I need to go. I enjoy riding along and watching the reactions. I can’t wait until warm weather and we actually get to put the top down! Here’s a few more glamour shots of her.

Dice are hanging from the rear view mirror — Fuzzy Dice a gift from my Mom & Dad.

Photo of passenger side made for antique tag application — When we brought her home

Rear view submitted for antique tag application — Baby got back while the Buick looks on jealously through the fence.

In case you forget you’re driving a Mustang

As always I love to hear from you! For the gearheads that want more pictures you can go to my Flickr account by clicking on any of the photos then surf around. If you enjoy my posts don’t forget to follow or subscribe by email (upper right there you can sign up) You won’t get any junk mail just notices when I post something. Finally I always welcome stars and likes!

Until next time!

April 3, 2012

Let Me Introduce My Entourage

Mike says he can always tell when I’m coming into a room because I’m preceded by my furry entourage. Currently there are four members, and yes at home you generally find them with me. Part of that is I work from home and they are social creatures, so we hang together. Part of it I like to think is because I’m the Queen, the leader of the pack, the big honcho of the house, you get the idea. To show no particular favoritism we’ll go in order of age with oldest first.

my female cat a long hair grey tabby — Miss Mo

Meet Miss Mo. Her name is Mohican because she’s the sole survivor of her litter. I’ll tell her full biography in her own post. However when Aaron was little he dubbed her Kitty Mo. Over the years it has become Miss Mo about the time the furry boys got their Mr. designation. Her position in my entourage is princess. She’s the most verbal of the entourage so she does announcements such as “The stinky dog is getting up and stirring up her doggie smell.” Now that she’s older there’s many “pick me up and put me_____ .” She’s arthritic now being old and can’t jump up on seats or beds as easily as before. So once we settle into a room like my office she might shout to be put on the chair next to me. Generally she brings up the end being knocked kneed and all.

The next two are brothers, litter mates even. So again in no particular order we’ll start with Mr. Boots Red aka Mr. I-eat-it.

short hair black cat looks out the bay window over a spider plant — Mr. Boots Red

He and his brother were fostered by us and came named Puss & Boots. However when I got collars by chance he got the red one since the brothers look very much alike (more so when they were young) Mike took to calling them by their collar color. Along the years they got full names with Mr. on them.

His job is being the troublemaker. If there’s a crash in the room he’ll be the one casually strolling out tail up trying to look nonchalant. “What crash? You heard a crash?” He’ll dart around the entourage very unregal like – much to the disgust of his very proper brother and Miss Mo. Also if there’s anything new he’ll eat it. You have to put ear buds in drawers because he’ll eat the cords and gnaw the buds. He’s the only cat I’ve ever known that will eat fruit. Thus his nickname is I-eat-it because that’s what he says when he encounters something “I eat it!” then he inspects it. He’s the least verbal of the felines but will speak if he feels he needs my immediate attention.

Black cat looking up while on screened in porch — Mr. Puss Blue

Meet Mr. Red’s brother Mr. Blue our gentleman feline. He’s the alpha among the animals of the house but defers to me or Mike in a very courtly manner when we’re present. He’s very nice and polite. He’s always tried to divide his time evenly among those humans in a room. He’d visit each person to sit with them. When I’m writing like now chances are he’ll be lounging on the back of my chair with his front paw on my shoulder. When he enters a room he always greets me with a short chirped “Meow-meow.” I do the same in return and it’s become a way I can call just him.

Red brindle greyhound with graying face hold ears upright while looking out the window of the screened in porch — Arapaho’s Ace

Finally one you saw yesterday Arapaho’s Ace aka Rappy. She’s a retired racing greyhound. She’s a very timid girl but over the years of retired life she’s come out of her shell. Still she’s the gawky large member of the entourage that always waits for the others to get settled in the room then she settles. She’s bossed about by the felines, yes a dog who made her living chasing small furry things on sticks cowers now follows the small furry ones in our house. Honestly she’s not the smartest animal I’ve ever known. Actually she’s one the slowest and simplest animals I ever met second only to Chatterbox (a cat I’ll tell her tale another day).

So that’s my in house entourage. From the gentleman feline to the demur simple greyhound. I love them all each has a special place in my heart.

As always thanks for reading. I’d love to hear from you feel free to comment or contact me. Also likes and star ratings make me smile. Until next time!

March 30, 2012

Spring Is Here, I think it might stay

Today was a warmer day. I made a few more pictures of our garden. I’m always thrilled after a Wisconsin winter (even a mild one) to see color and greenery again. Here are a few shots of what’s growing in our gardens.

A new crop of Cat Mint (or is it Nip?) is on the way.

Soon the cats won’t have to get their high from the old dry stuff they’ll have tender fresh new twigs to maul.

pale yellow tulip blooms — Lemon Custard Tulips

Our lemon custard tulips are always the first to bloom. This year was no different. But my favorite is pictured next: the blue hyacinth. I’ve always loved their blooms more than the tulips.

Just because it’s my favorite you get another one.

macro close up of hyacinth bloom — A close up makes it better

I like them so much I even enjoy the grape hyacinths but they migrate because squirrels like to dig them up. Ours are starting to spill out into our yard and our neighbor is enjoying a few. That’s okay since the squirrels brought us some red tulips from somewhere to go in our daffys on the side our house in exchange. Here’s both flowers.

Blooms with white trim on the blue bells — Now see aren’t they pretty.

I love the center of the red tulips.

Red tulip bloom with yellow center made by yellow at base of petals and yellow pollen dropped on the red petal — Look at the pollen no wonder my allergies are going.

That’s the garden tour for now. After I made these pictures Rappy and I went down to the lake. There I made pictures while the sun was shining. More photos from that tomorrow.

Aging greyhound looking over fence that divides flower gardens from vegetable garden — Rappy enjoys the tulips

That’s it for tonight. Take care, sleep well. Remember to give me a like if you liked the post and rate it with stars! Also don’t miss tomorrow’s lake pictures and the Southport Public Beach House here in Kenosha Wisconsin by following or you can sign up for e-mail notices right there in the upper right corner.

As always I’d love to hear from you feel free to leave a comment. It’ll so up when I get it and I check regularly. Until tomorrow!

March 28, 2012

Cinderella Needs HIS Pants

After walking the dog today I came home and hit the shower. Okay after my walk today I did that. Rappy is getting old and doesn’t walk as far or as fast as I like to. So I walk her a few blocks bring her back, put her in the fenced in yard and go do my walk. Then when we go in the house after that I shower. Which makes my daily shower about eleven in the morning. (I walk after morning writing.)

Now the stage is set for my tale.

I was in the bathroom all ready to step into the shower when the front doorbell rang. So I was in the decision mode of do I step into the water or do I get out, get dressed and go to the door. Eh probably my monthly comic delivery I decide so it’ll be on the porch. The UPS man puts my packages on my glass porch but rings the door bell to let me know of the delivery.

I step into the water. As I am about to lean back and wet my hair the doorbell rings again. “Eh screw ’em,” I think. A true luxury thought I’ve not had in 18 years. When you’re a mom and receive an unexpected call or doorbell ring dire injury to your child is the first thought. Now he’s in Madison on his own and doing fine, I can think “Eh, screw ’em” without fretting that I’m leaving my child alone to face some dire consequence.

While in the shower I remember one other time I couldn’t go to the door because I was in the bathroom. It was 1995. It was before the mother worries. It was the day before the Navy Birthday Ball in Battle Creek Michigan. We were living in Kalamazoo Michigan at the time.

I can’t remember how it all came about but Mike’s uniform with the cutaway dress jacket had an issue with the pants. We were waiting for the pants to be FedEx’d just in time to go to the ball. Without them he’d be pantless with those little shirt stays running from his shirt tail to the tops of his formal socks not a in uniform look for the ball.

Any way I was upstairs in the bathroom when the doorbell rang. I couldn’t get myself together and down the stairs fast enough knowing I was waiting on the all important pants. I got there in time to see the truck pull away. I ran out the door like a crazy woman waving and shouting after it but to no avail it kept on going. When I returned to the house I found a notice that they would attempt redelivery on Monday. NOOOOoooOOOOO!!! The ball was the next day SATURDAY.

So I call the 800 number on the notice. I get a nice customer service lady. I explain our problem. I said we’d even pay the Saturday fee to get them there Saturday morning. She said that might not be necessary she’d send a message to the driver since he’s still in the area and have him circle back. Relief flooded me and I thanked her profusely.

Now I sat on the stoop my hair drying in a mess waiting for the return of the FedEx truck I wasn’t going to miss it. In about fifteen minutes here it came down the street and stopped in front of my house. He ran out with the box and did the business of having me sign for it. I told him how glad I was that he could come back. He said “No problem but I have to ask just what did she mean by ‘Cinderella needs HIS pants for the ball’ as reason of urgent redelivery?”

When I finished laughing I explained. So here’s the picture of Cinderella in his pants and me laughing at his mentioning what the photo would have looked like if the FedEx didn’t have such good customer service.

Mike Eklund and Mary Louise Bright Eklund — Cinderella in his pants at the Navy Birthday Ball

So this time it wasn’t as dire. It was only political stuff as we are in an election year and have a recall going here in Wisconsin. I got out to my porch, clean, fully dressed but wet hair to find two different political fliers stuck to my door.

Oh well until next time. As always I’d love to hear from you. If you laughed at the post give me a like. If you really enjoyed it give me a follow.

Catch you next time!

March 28, 2012

Rain Makes The Flowers Grow

Today has been a rainy day and I’ve been low on energy. It’s colder now but the rain has greened things. Soon the tulips will bloom.

Tulip bud nestled in its leaves — Tulips ready to bloom

Then they will join our already bloomin’ daffys.

Daffodils on the south side of my house — Daffys in a row

I am glad to see the green. It wasn’t a particularly hard winter but it was a dreary one.

As always I’d love to hear from ya feel free to comment below. The comment will show up when I get it. Also if you like any of my posts give me a few stars and a like.

Until next time.

March 23, 2012

Don’t Forget Those Who Serve & Their Families

For 25+ years I’ve been married to a man who has been attached to the Silent Service in some manner or another. No it’s not alphabet soup agency it’s the submarine service. When we started our marriage it was the Cold War and he was an Ensign now it’s the War on Terror and he’s a Captain. I’ve always been the same rank – a Navy wife.

Lafayette class submarine SSBN 629 underway on surface photographed from air. — USS Daniel Boone, SSBN 629 Mike’s boat as an Ensign. Photo from the US Navy used under US Government Work copyright exemption

I get what this service man is saying, “Flavin says for those who are on active duty, it can be tough to turn around and see people across the United States simply living their regular lives.”

Yeah it’s always been hard. It’s been hard to watch the big reception for ships but never being able to tell anyone when my husband was coming home from being submerged for about 3 months with no communication.

Yeah it was hard to endure Hurricane Hugo and the clean up without even a phone call or email from Mike of encouragement. Insurance for home repair, waiting for permission to return home to see if I had a home left, getting the debris from my yard and returning mementos found to their owners all without my husband. My husband somewhere under the Atlantic having last heard “Charleston destroyed” wondering if I survived.

Our engagement announcement photo — Ensign Michael Eklund and Mary Louise Bright Eklund photo by my parents used with permission.

Yeah it was hard every time I have to do something that involved joint ownership to be hassled about the power of attorney and be looked at suspiciously when I explained no he wasn’t ill no there wasn’t a phone number where he could be contacted. I always wanted to say “NO I didn’t kill him so it would only take my signature to renew the tags.”

Yeah it was hard to watch life flow on normal around you. Crowds with no idea there were people putting their lives on the line so it could happen. I wanted nothing more than a thanks. Really, not talking to my husband for 6 months a year while he protected the nation would have been so much easier if a few people not tied to the Navy or our family had simply said “thank-you.”

When I would lament the lack of people appreciating the sacrifices of those on active duty Mike would shake his head and say it’s his job then he’d quote Churchill “Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” He’d remind me that no where in that commitment does it say a thanks is required or the people should even notice those men (and today women) standing ready. He’s right but dammit I wanted a thanks for him, for me.

I’ve been the wife cooking dinner while a haggard man came home from working his civilian job and spent the evening calling men in his unit to war zones. Both of us sat down to dinners with no appetites knowing the homes that had just been turned upside down from those calls. We knew too well we’d gotten the call and would get it again. Still we choked down dinner for our son. As the posters said in WWII London we had to “carry on.”

Group of singing school children some crying. Aaron in center in blue shirt with American Flag prominently displayed on it — Glenwood Elementary in Oak Ridge Tennessee’s 1st 9-11 remembrance ceremony. Aaron is in the center there with blue shirt with American flag on it.

I’m the Mom who stoically told her son after 9/11 that his father had a duty that took him away from us. I also told my 3rd grader that day that his father’s generation wouldn’t see the end of this war while on active duty that he and his generation would fight it too. In the past year I’ve been among those that said good-bye to my son’s friends as they went to that war. If fate hadn’t blinded Aaron in one eye – he’d be going with them. Thank goodness that black dress for funerals has stayed in the closet.

Yeah it was hard when Mike got the call back to active duty, again. Thankfully for us wars aren’t fought by old men like Mike. They are fought by young men like our son Aaron and his friends. I always regretted being right all those year ago. Mike spent most of his active duty in Tampa in the war room doing what salty old Cold War sailors do, advise. He did go into the war zone a few times. Now I was angry not for us, honestly that time had passed, but for all the young men and women whose lives changed or were lost while back home the biggest news was a pop star shaved her head and went crazy or the lines for the latest video game.

Yeah I get what the young serviceman is saying. I’ve lived it for 25 years. So what do we want from those of you untouched by war be it the Cold War or the War on Terror. Think, stop and think about why you sleep peacefully in your bed, why your major concern can be standing in line for the next big video game, how it is you can live your life untouched while we’ve been in a war for years? Then chill out, so the foam on your coffee isn’t perfect there are rough men and women who’d just like a hot brewed cup of coffee right now.

I know times are financially tough and if you can’t donate to help the USO or Wounded Warrior project or some other worthy charity that supports our service men and women. There are ways that only take your time – support a family who has a member over seas. Maybe shovel the snow or mow the lawn so a harried single parent due to the other being in service doesn’t have to worry about that. Maybe find a book drive to send those books you’ve already read over to those serving. If nothing at all at least tell a spouse of a service member thanks – while you’re doing that tell ’em thanks for me too. Then maybe just maybe give them a hug when the tears come.

March 8, 2012

Yesterday, A Day With No Internet

Yesterday, like so many I went black from the internet. I thought I’d have withdrawal pains. But I didn’t. No I had weather front pains but not internet withdrawal pains. However a point had to be made SOPA and PIPA are dangerous. I’m not for pirates I am for artists. Heck I make my money from copyrighted material that’s mine. I support protecting that totally! However I also make my money expressing myself which I don’t want limited. Apparently the sponsors of the bills got the message.

I worked on my outline update for the steampunk novel edit/rewrite. I read a book. I cleaned the bathroom. All good and worthy things I could do without the internet.

Adam wears one of my aprons and Aaron makes an odd face — Aaron and Adam cook

Then I called to make an appointment for a massage. The very best Christmas gift I got was a certificate for 6 one hour massages. Now that I’m over the stomach bug and aching from weather fronts I thought it was perfect time to call. I was expecting to schedule one for next week. But nope she had an opening at 2pm. With a bit of scurrying (shaving my winter legs among that) I was there. Best massage of my life! She did a full hour and half! I left totally relaxed.

She smiles holding up a spatula while tending an electric skillet of pancakes — Sara, Mistress of Pancakes

Then I came home to Aaron and friends preparing dinner for Mike and me. Our anniversary was the 17th and we went out. So our gift from Aaron was he’d make dinner. It was breakfast for dinner. There were six of them in the kitchen cooking away.

While waiting Mike and I were talking about the Italian ocean liner that sank. The liner captain that in my Navy Captain husband’s view was a criminal for his negligent actions causing the sinking and abandoning his post during the evacuation. Mike wanted me to hear the Coast Guard shouting at the man to get back on his ship and coordinate the evacuation efforts. I said I’d read about it on the 17th. No I needed to hear it, hear the Coast Guard’s voice and the anger in it. “Google it,” he said. I told him I couldn’t and I was blacking out the internet in my life for the day for a purpose. It was the first thing I searched for this morning and yes that man was pissed. I don’t speak Italian but it’s plain that man is pissed.

Sunset from our rented sea front condo in the Tampa Bay area. — Ahh…

So after a wonderful dinner being so darn relaxed I couldn’t keep my eyes open I went to bed at 8pm and slept like a rock. I got up at 8 am to a new day with internet, still full from dinner, news the SOPA and PIPA bill sponsors had abandoned it, and joints that move more smoothly. Really I can’t think of a better internet blackout day – except one with a reliable car.

As usual I’d love to hear from you. You are welcome to comment here. It’ll show up when I get it. You can also find me on Google+, Twitter (@marylouiseklund), or Flickr (click on the photos). If you want to email me you can at gmail.com or yahoo.com I’m marylouiseeklund on either one.

Until next time!

January 19, 2012

So I’ve Had Bad Luck Lately

We have gotten our first snow of the winter. It’s awful, all wet and cold per usual. Aaron was nice enough to shovel. But it’s still out there and they say more of it is on the way. Thus I got out my snow boots because it was time. I discovered the seal between the boot and the sole is broken. How did I discover this? I got cold wet feet when I walked outside. If I’d wanted that I’d gone out in my sock feet!

Then I came in to do some cooking to find the electric can opener didn’t work. Nope not a spin, just a grrr click grrrr click sound. I had to dig around to find the manual one. It skipped. You know it was so old that I think I used it in my dorm room in college. Well, with some effort it chewed open the cans.

Then the football playoff last weekend didn’t go so great. There’s not really a team in it now that I really really like. The Packers lost, the Bears weren’t in it, the Colts were so bad they couldn’t even BUY tickets. Saints lost. I’m left with trying to pick a team out of the four left. Eh, I’m lukewarm on three of them. Ravens I don’t care either way for.

Sunset on Gulf of Mexico from St. Petersburg Florida — All things being the same I’d rather be here

Today I set out to correct what I could of these. No use going to New Orleans or Green Bay to give them tips it’s over. But I could go replace the other stuff.

However there seems to have been a run on electric can openers in Kenosha. It took three stores to find one that had any in stock. While there I also got a manual one. Those troubles are fixed.

But I could not get snow boots. They were on sale being “out of season” items. The stores have already stocked up on selling me summer wear. I could get a nice pair of strappy sandals and some really cute shorts. However there weren’t any of the “non seasonal” snow boots in my size. Nope not in the three stores. They won’t be getting any more in until AUGUST. We all know that in JANUARY in WISCONSIN we need sandals and swimsuits but when AUGUST comes it’s time for snow boots! Go figure!

Me as a toddler looking sad with my Aunt Susan also a child offering me flowers — I’ve had a bad day there’s no making up to me for it. (That’s my Aunt Susan offering me flowers)

I was tired. I’d be able to open cans again. I’d have to stay out of deep snow and just wear my winter shoes until I could hit a few more winter sales to find boots. I was looking forward to getting home.

However my car died, just stalled dead in a busy intersection. No electrical to even run the hazard flashes. I couldn’t get it to restart. So after a full cycle of the light a crossing guard helped me push it to a parking lot. I was getting ready to search for a tow truck number when I tried again. It started. I was just a few blocks from home so I took off heading there. It stalled once more a few blocks from home but started right up. I got to the house.

Luckily the Buick dealer can look at it tomorrow. If I dropped it off today they’d do it first thing in the morning. I explained I didn’t have a ride home. No problem their courtesy van would take me home. Ahhh nice people easy to work with. Tim my personal service specialist was so helpful. John who drove me home was really nice. It was soothing after a bad day.

Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico from Tampa Florida — My happy place… I’m at the beach relaxing… all is well… just listening to the waves… watching the sun set

I got home. I can open cans. The sidewalks are shoveled so my winter shoes will do for now. The car is where it can be repairs. So all in all things are looking up. Still I’d rather be on the beach with a cold drink all other things equal.

As I usually say in my closing I’d love to hear from you. You can comment here, it’ll show up when I get it. You can say find me on Google+ (+Mary Louise EKlund) or Twitter @marylouiseklund or on Flickr (where the picture are linked). If those don’t suit you, you can email me as marylouiseeklund at either yahoo.com or gmail.com.

Until next time!

January 16, 2012

Organization is Job #1 in 2012

Sorry for the interruption but I’m now back from the stomach virus of 2012. Yes it was so bad I’m only doing it once and got it done the first week of the year. Get the unpleasantness over with first you see. Now I can turn my attention to the new year and what I’d like to do with it.

I’ve always liked a new year because it’s time to start new files. My filing drawer in my desk looks so neat and organized. I vow it will stay that way I will unfold and neatly file things ALL YEAR LONG. Then rush sets in about mid year and it goes downhill until January’s fresh start. Rinse and repeat for decades. Still I enjoy the look of neat files until expediency out weighs a pretty file drawer.

So the joy of starting anew with neat files has inspired me to consider other areas that need the same organization. Trust me I could summarize and say MY LIFE but well that’s not a realistic task sheet for me. Instead I decided to come up with top 5 things that need organization. Honestly I think that’s a bit excessive but I’ve got a year and I like things in 5s or 10s and ten was WAY too much for just a year.

Genealogy – I’ve got a wealth of material that I’ve not entered. I know the first rule of genealogy is start with what you have, organize it, enter it, then identify areas that need more research. I’ve got two two-drawer filing cabinets full of un-entered material, several large plastic totes of papers, photos, and such. Add to that multiple boxes of loose pictures from 1910 on and shelves of photo albums from decades of family portraits, snapshots, and such. Then I jumped ahead into research trips when the opportunities presented themselves in my travels and much of that hasn’t been entered. Now you get the picture of the mess I’ve got that needs to be organized, scanned, filed, and entered into my genealogy software. First step is for 2012 – organize it beyond sticking it in a folder that’s got the letter of alphabet that starts that branch of the family’s last name. I want to organize my to-do stuff in genealogy to look like my files at the start of the year.

Outline that urban fiction novel – I’ve got a few scenes, notes on the plot, and research for an urban (really rural setting) fiction novel set in the town I grew up in – Greeneville, Tennessee. I need to organize this into an outline. I write better when I set down to do a chapter (about 3,000 words) and I’ve got plot points to hit. So all these jottings need to be made into a plot line then converted to a chapter outline. Now I’m not one that doesn’t think outlines can flex they can, they do as I get into the story but then I make the change, make a not there is where the change started and continue with the first draft re-writes deal with the changes.

Rewrites – speaking of rewrites I need to rewrite my steampunk novel draft that’s now cooling on the shelf. I have a few issues made by changes I need to figure out before I jump into it completely. I’ve got notes on the outline so I need to stop and think how the changes go throughout the whole piece. That’s organizing the outline to help guide rewrite.

Comics – My old ones are organized but I’m getting monthly shipments and those need to be set up in short boxes with dividers. Also I’m behind on my reading & reviewing. Need to set up a system for that so I’m doing it regularly. It all really depends on SOPA passing. If it passes doing scans to illustrate reviews is out and I’ll need to delete all the scans from previous reviews. I also need to plan how I’m going to do reviews without scans. However if SOPA fails then I’ll do reviews as usual but the new twist is they’ll be here instead of on Google+.

Jewelry – no not my personal stuff though that could use some organization but more organization of my jewelry for sale. We’re (the Three Gems & Friends) setting up an esty store this month. I need to do some research on that for drafting store policies. Also need to organize a system for the items I list. I need to make pictures, name pieces, and do descriptive text for each one. Then I need to organize how I’m keeping them while posted so I can ship them out quickly when sold. I also need to stage replacements for those sold. Yes I’m actually planning on selling some of it. So organizing that is on the to-do list.

Same file drawer with right side now containing new empty files — File transfer finished – Okay those on the left are still shabby but those are just PART of my to be entered/cataloged genealogy research material. Yes a new year’s resolution on those is to get more organization to them so I can use them.

By far the biggest job is the genealogical stuff. I love doing the research but really some answers may very well be there in the material I’ve got squirreled away in various containers or files. Wouldn’t it be grand to welcome in 2013 (Mayans be damned) a bit more organized than I was when I welcomed 2012? Oh yeah! I can dream can’t I?

As always I’d love to hear from you. I’m always available here just comment and when I get it your comment will appear and I’ll even answer you! If that’s not your style you can find me on Twitter as @marylouiseklund or on Google+ as +Mary Louise Eklund. If those are too public you can email me at marylouiseeklund at either gmail.com or yahoo.com!

Until next time!

January 10, 2012

Always seems to happen…

Things are going well. I’m on a roll. Then WHAM! I get sick and it knocks me off my feet. Then I spend a week catching up. Yep on that cycle again. This time it’s a stomach virus that hammered me Wednesday night. Solid food and I are in negotiations today. The negotiations broke down yesterday. I’m not suffering alone, Aaron’s girlfriend has it too. The good news is I’ve got enough reserves to take this with Gatoraid support. I’ll be back in a few days now I think I’m going back to bed.

In the meantime enjoy this rose from the Leu Gardens in Orlando, Florida

The Leu Gardens has a diverse collection of roses in their gardens — I enjoyed photographing roses in the Leu Gardens

You can give me a shout out at all the usual locations.

Until next time!

January 7, 2012

Category: Home life