- Per one of yesterday’s questions, this week is all about managing my expectations. You know, life sort of moves along and everything is good, if not just basic and status quo, and then before you know it, something goes off the rails. Our storm wasn’t bad but it tripped up our momentum. I found myself feeling lazy afterwards, even though I did get stuff done. I just felt unmotivated.
- The heat in August definitely hampered my movement but I walked out of the house Tuesday and it was actually cool. Only 70 out and I don’t for one second believe my weather app that said the humidity was high because it certainly was not. Thank you, God, for slightly cooler temps. We’ve been begging for them. I also watch some meteorologists on Youtube and they are all predicting a much cooler fall and winter for even us here in the Southeast. Fingers crossed!
- Definitely listening to all the Jimmy Buffett tribute stuff on XM this week. I like that they have guest DJs playing full albums and offering info and personal stories. That’s nice. I don’t care what any normies want to say; he made great music. Calming, story-telling of the highest degree, and just fun. These days, I feel like people are less interested in having fun and more into being mad on the internet. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
- I went into Hobby Lobby with my son so he could turn in an application and this is the first time I noticed that while Fall threw up in there, they have zero Halloween stuff. Is that because they’re religious and don’t believe in it? It never did occur to me but it’s the only thing I can think of.
- The annoying part of that is that it’s the closest craft store to me. Joanne’s is in midtown, Michael’s is even farther, and they keep putting the Spirit store in the garbage, far areas of town. Sigh. And I am only annoyed by that because it used to be in our old Steinmart, but it’s a Total Wine now. I mean, I’ll take the trade-off, I guess. I need to go there, actually.
- Now that I have gotten through my cataract surgery, I can’t even remember why I was saying that September sucked. LOL. I mean, we’ve been very busy but nothing really sucks. Sure, the pool is starting to turn so I have to get chlorine and I’m not supposed to lift more than 20 pounds, meaning I have to ask for help but is that even a bad thing? (Oh and for those who didn’t know I was having this surgery, it’s from childhood asthma meds; steroids can cause them.)
- I had my follow-up this morning and everything went well. I go back in one week and that’s my pre-op for eye 2. I was actually not planning to get that one done but the difference is astounding! My left eye is so clear and now I see the shortcomings in this right eye, which used to be my good one!
- In case anyone is wondering, the surgery itself wasn’t bad at all. They numb the crap out of your eye and I got some kind of mild sedative so I was awake and aware but not panicky. I looked online to find blogs or forums where people talk about their experiences but long gone are the days of that online. Everything is a corporate sponsor now. I actually hate that you used to be able to find everything you wanted on the internet but, no longer.
- I was going to go to work for maybe 3 hours today but I decided to take a sick/mental health day. Yesterday I was off, obviously, but I didn’t feel like doing anything. Today I am listening to music, drinking coffee, and grading papers. I may walk later or go for a drive to the country store, maybe the Dollar Tree for Halloween things. I don’t consider it playing hooky, since I am still disoriented, for the most part. Even typing, I mess up sometimes because my eyes are disparate now.
- Sometimes, as a busy parent and full time worker, I just need a day to myself. Weekends are always dedicated to cooking and sports and catching up but everyone is around. When I’m alone in the house I can get so much done and just think. It’s nice; cathartic. The one major thing I miss about working from home.
- I definitely appreciate the rare alone time now; it’s good for me to slow down. My entire life feels go go go all the time!
- Coming up soon for us is soccer season – Isaac has game 1 this Saturday – and then a bunch of junk like dentist appointments, parents coming to drop off a car, Elliot getting his driver’s license, a band concert, parent/teacher conference, brew club, etc. It’s so much all the time!
- For my final item, I want to recommend a youtube channel I have been loving for over a year now but have gotten back to watching, Celebrating Appalachia. It’s just nice; it feels like hanging out with friends or family. Love it!
incognitusscriptor.com 
You got back to “witching,” ha, well Halloween IS on your mind. Mine, too. Weird on the decorations.
Jimmy Buffett was great and so much fun. We need people who make us laugh desperately. Exactly why the world seems so much flatter every time we lose a comedian. (I used to dream about them all the time which was how I knew I felt good about my life.)
I loved Come Monday the best. My brother’s ringtone is Cheeseburgers in Paradise. If you haven’t read A Pirate Turns 50, you should. He’s a very good writer. Of course, with Tom McGuane and Jim Harrison as friends, some of that must have rubbed off on him. Both excellent literary writers–Jim Harrison from Michigan and graduated from my high school–wrote Legends of the Fall and worked on Wolf for Jack Nicholson). Very sad to lose Jim and Jimmy and pretty darn early for them to go. And now his sister has(d) pancreatic cancer, but seems to be holding her own.
I’m taking a rest day today, too. Just a little abdominal work and some puttering around. Enjoy it. I’m using these eye drops to try to avoid ever doing cataract surgery. Red light therapy. Surgery gives me the willies.
I started reading one of his novels but couldn’t really get into it. I have Pirate but I have not started it yet. Maybe soon. The surgery was a breeze; promise!
Well, it’s true, I might appreciate his writing more because I’m a literary writer (and he aspires to that with his famous buddies) AND because I fly fish, so I’m interested in the fishing stuff. But he’s a good writer and there’s a lot packed in there between the lines. Glad your eyes are working out. My dad had his done and had nothing but problems and his eyes ran so much even in sun glasses he couldn’t stand the sun. I have sensitive eyes. The only thing going for me is if I do it one of my best friends will do it and I trust her. She says I do not need it yet (when this other doctor near me started talking about it). She’s luckily five years younger than me but already talking about retiring. But these drops and redlight therapy have improved my vision. And some better nutrition. I take astaxanthin and lots of vitamins now. They have been using these drops with dogs for a while now….
I just went online to Hobby Lobby and they don’t have any Halloween online either — only fall! I had no idea!! Target usually has good Halloween decorations. I’ve also ordered a bunch from Amazon!!
Hobby Lobby might be waiting until October to put out the Halloween stuff.
Now I’m curious about Hobby Lobby. I’m thinking they’ve gotta at least have some friendly jack-o-lanterns, something. But maybe you’re right about that Christian thing.
Asthma meds, hmmmm. I’m due for an eye exam and have been in denial about the mention of cataracts last time. I’m glad your eye is now the new “good eye”.
“Today I am listening to music, drinking coffee, and grading papers. I may walk later…”, sounds wonderful. Well, except for the grading papers maybe. I get opportunities like that now, and think back at how busy I was when kids lived at home. Whew.
Yeah, we are BUSY all the time so when I can take a day to myself and it’s quiet and I’m not being asked to do a bunch of other things, it’s fantastic.