Ya mule, YA!

I’ve come back from vacation with a determination to be more productive overall. Yes, yes, I know I blather on about working harder frequently, but this feels different.Previously, I’ve been intellectually bemoaning my inactivity but I haven’t really felt that bad about it. That is the real problem-I’m comfortable with underacheiving.

For the last few days, though, I’ve felt different. Instead of becoming a useless pile of internet-surfing slug after dinner, I’m working my way through various household jobs and a small amount of writing work. I’ve been able to focus on one task at a time instead of scurrying around trying to do 8 things at once and forgetting 7 1/2 of them.

Infuriatingly, I have been given additional surprise tasks that are testing my resolve, like the washer full of putrid water on Monday (the culprit was a bikini top breast pad plugging the sump up. Oh it smelt terrible). Yesterday was the discovery of the curdling milk soaked into the back seat of the car. That one isn’t resolved yet, but blasting the air conditioning in my face seems to mask most of the stink.  Today, the cat was frightened by the sound of the dryer, or she was tired from a day of doing nothing, and she chose to pee in the dining room while I sat 10 feet away. That, ladies and gentlemen, is respect.

So, all of these hurdles are pushing my anger buttons pretty successfully. I’m trying to do a good job for once, but life keeps heaping other smelly jobs on top of the stuff I normally neglect. I’m angriest at myself, specifically the lazy slob inside who still wants to shift into neutral and do nothing. That guy is pissing me off.  Still, laundry is getting done, kitchen is clean, carpet is shampooed, child is happy and nurtured, and wife is doing okay.  I got gun shy at writing up and submitting an article query to Today’s Parent magazine, but hopefully I can take another run at that tomorrow and be successful.

Doing things is hard!

Travel=Tired

Finally back at home after a 10 day excursion to Thunder Bay and back. I wonder where vacations illicitly bought their “relaxing” credentials, because there is no part of being away from home and travelling that counts as relaxing. Fun? Yes. Interesting? Yes. But not relaxing.  Maybe it’s just vacationing with kids that takes so much energy.

The home front has suffered a technical glitch while we were gone, and I threw my shoulder into fixing it today. I dismantled and (hopefully) fixed the drainage pump on our washing machine. Though it might seem manly and brave to undertake such a repair, the honest truth is that I was already in the process of taking parts off of the thing before I even considered whether or not it was a good idea.  So far, there have been no jets of errant water, or bolts of deadly electricity shooting from the machine, and it looks like it’s doing its job.  As a bonus, Max saw me putting it back together and he wanted to fix things too. He went around the entire house (under supervision) fixing all sorts of things with a small screwdriver. I feel pretty rugged right now.

Of course, there were a few prices to pay along the way, in the form of a couple of small but bloody cuts on my hands. You wouldn’t think that they would put razor-sharp edges on the interior of a washer, but oh, they do. I guess I was on such a self-injury roll that I kept it going during dinner prep (threw something into hot oil, splattering my hands). During a brief bit of gardening I grabbed something that was sharp enough to prick my thumb. Didn’t fall asleep, so it wasn’t enchanted, whatever it was. Maybe something wicked is on the way. And then, while I was showering the days dirt off, I dropped a soap bottle on my toes. Also, it’s very difficult to enjoy a hot shower with a variety of wounds on your hands.

Tiny keyboard, don’t let me down

This is my first full post done on my iPhone, so let’s see how well it goes.
The trip has been good so far, after first couple of adjustment days. Max has been a dynamo of fun and energy, capering about like a pixie on a sugar high.
I’ve just chewed through the second of two books that I brought with me, so now i guess it’s time to turn the brain to ‘create’.
Strangely, I have been achy for no observable reason. Particularily, my feet are sore. Dunno why, maybe the northern air causes my feet to swell.
Goodnight, dear Internet. I’ll send more notes later.