shovel

Time To Play!

I can’t believe how much I have done since 5 am! Cleaned my house from top to bottom (I will admit to tidying last night), and I shoveled my driveway and my neighbour’s. Now, I have time to play!

My sister asked me if she could come over and hang out for a little bit and I obviously agreed (part of why I felt the need to clean). She will be here around 11:30am(ish) after an interview for a new job. I’ll be playing hostess until about 2:30pm when I will take her to school and pick her up at 5:30pm.

As I have said in previous posts, I am not someone with a lot (or any) friends. I’d love that to change, but as it stands, my family and husband is all I got. Thus I love the fact my sister reached out to me. There has always been an invitation to message her and hang, but with her in university, I feel guilty stealing any of her time. She has friends and a boyfriend (who seems to be good for her), and those are who she spends her free time with when not studying or working weekends.

Since I spend 80% of my time alone, it will be nice to have some fun talk time! I will have to keep from starting arguments though. It’s my curse how easy I can start a fight and without ever meaning to. I’m hoping she’ll enjoy the time away from our parents’ place and the argument zone it can be from time to time.

This is probably the best part of being an older sibling. I get to provide a (kind of) safe place away from home. We all have gone through those times where we wanted nothing more than to run away from our parents. It doesn’t always have anything to do with them and their treatment of us; just a need for free space and independence.

Anyways I’m going to take a boiling hot shower, scrub myself clean, and relax until she gets here! Take care of yourselves!

 

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Forging Ahead: Alarm Clocks and My Word Count

Managed to get up at 5am again, but I will admit I hit the snooze button once. Like most people these days (I think), I use my cellphone as my alarm clock, and utilize the most annoying songs to wake up to: Meow Mix and I’m a Gummy Bear, respectively. While they wake me, they don’t force me to get up, and thus I downloaded an alarm app.

It has been… a work in progress.

It’s called Zelda Alarm (I do love The Legend of Zelda games), and I can choose songs from the various games to use. I currently use Deku Nuts Palace from Majora’s Mask, and it wakes me up even when I’m past the exhausted point. It makes me press keys to replicate the six note ocarina songs, forcing cognitive functioning right away.

My only complaint is it only seems to have two songs, and I’d love for that to change soon! But if you struggle to get up like I do, it has helped (plus putting my phone further from my immediate reach).

On to a different subject now, I was pretty tired after yesterday’s shoveling, and my word count was under half of the day before it. My word count was 551, but at least its something, right? Small steps are just as important as the big ones. Lack of sleep and winter were not my friends, and I forgive myself for it.

Today, I forge ahead despite yesterday’s failings.

I do need some advice, if any are willing to share. What are ways you take breaks from writing  (or whatever activity, chore, etc) that don’t keep you from returning to writing (or whatever activity, chore, etc)?

Usually, I find a show with short episodes, and try to just watch one which equals a 20-minute break. It’s easy to keep on point at the start, but once I get into the show, I’d rather watch it than write (sadly). I worry reading will end up the same way, too, and playing games on my phone does get me quite off track.

Part of me wants to try just walking on the treadmill for a period of time, but I think I will get bored of doing that, so I’m open to suggestions!

Winter, Writing, and Shih Tzus

Winter is my favourite season of the year! I love shoveling and snow and snowball fights!

The only thing is, where I live, we have on and off years. For example, last year was very mild and snow did not stay for long. The year prior though we got a lot of snow, schools had snow days, and it seemed every other day brought more snow.

This year has brought the snow. December was nice and mild, but January is proving itself the winteriest month ever! It holds the champion belt, for sure.

So, I have been up since 5am (which is great despite its rarity) to do one thing and that’s shovel. I did our driveway and backyard with Andrew’s help, but it didn’t end there for me. I headed to me parents’ to see that the plow had done their street and I shoveled their driveway and backyard (cause I try to be their favourite daughter, and I’m winning, clearly!).

If, at this point, you’re wondering why we shovel our backyards, it is for a simple reason. We own shih tzus who don’t like anything higher than an inch to go outside to do their business in. I also own a beagle who needs the paths to stay a bit warmer while outside (they serve as wind breaks at their current height).

After that, I went to my brother and future sister-in-law’s house to shovel their driveway, and give them a break. They both work somewhat hectic hours, and don’t have a snowblower (as far as I know). They do have a friend with a plow end on his truck who helps them though, and that’s probably the luckiest thing for them.

Once that was done, I helped a neighbour of my parents who I babysat for years ago, and then headed home for food, drink, and a relaxing shower.

Thus, the late start to my writing for the day! I wanted to get more time in, but I am sure to feel pooched sooner than later.

Yesterday’s word count was 1,362 which equaled one chapter (editing it will come later). I was hoping to write more today, but winter seems to throw snow chunks into my gears. Fingers crossed I can do it anyways!

Hopefully none of you readers have to shovel (much, if at all), and are taking an easy on this fine yet chilly Tuesday!