Brenda Birch

2009 – A Dismal Year

Looking back over my 2009 posts, I found I accomplished NOTHING! Sure I did a lot of complaining about politics, weather and the kids and dealt with a serious illness. I had good times and bad times, but little else to show for 365 days that I’ll never get back.  I have a great start on two different books, both of which have been shelved for my new project.  I’m going to chock 2009 up as a lost year and move on.

The after Christmas trip to the mall yielded a “loverly” white leather Coach purse for me and clothes for B2, B3 and B4. B1 and a friend went to another mall but he also got some new clothes.

B4′s IPOD touch was a dud, so Apple is replacing it.  I was on the telephone with customer service for over two hours on Saturday and finally had to return it to the Apple Store.  We should get a new one this week.

B3′s new UGG boots got a hole in the top of them after one jaunt of mall walking. Zappos gave me full credit so even though this wasn’t a quality Christmas, at least I didn’t get screwed.

I got my hair cut . . . really. Not a trim, but at least six inches. It’s short, short, short . . . and I’m loving it.  Of course I haven’t had to wash it and try to re-create what the stylist did yet.  Plus, my blow-dryer broke.  It should be fun.  I’m also toying with taking my hair color from a dark blonde to a brown in the hope that maybe all of this crappy karma can’t find me if I look different.

I purchased an inexpensive ebook creator software.  I need to update my website and perhaps my MG Fantasy would make a good ebook. The reviews said that it was easy to use.  Here’s hoping.

My goals for 2010 (drumroll please!)

1. Finish ghost story and submit by 5/1/2010

2. Re-write novel per an agent’s request and resubmit by 8/1/2010

3. Pick one of my next projects and finish first draft by 12/1/2010.

4. Stop beating myself up and worrying over situations that are out of my control.

5. Quit being so darned lazy.

6. Take care of myself.  There’s only one me ya know.

Consider 2009 a wake up call. It’s all about choices. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2010. Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I’m toying around with several new looks for the blog 2010. This is the first of many.

It’s taken me awhile to get into the spirit of things, but I am.  My BIL and my two wonderful nephews came to visit on Saturday and just left this morning. Actually they started driving from northern Virginia on Friday and finally made it to Charlotte after 14 hours in the snow.

We already had one Christmas with Grandma.  As usual, she spent way too much on the kids, but everyone was happy. I got some much needed B&N gift cards, a CD and a candle. 

I had to work yesterday and today, but I’m off tomorrow and Thursday of course.  All of the shopping is done because the kids wanted cash and a trip to the mall on December 26th. I’m taking B2, B2′s friend, B3 and B4 to an outlet mall about an hour south of here because I think they’ll have better deals.  The girls don’t like when someone else has the same piece of clothing they have so I told them if we went to this particular mall, then the chance of that happening would be slim.  But really . . . I don’t care about that. This mall has the BEST Coach outlet around and mama needs a new spring purse!

I bought a 2010 Planner.  I don’t know about anyone else, but my Planner is my life.  I had a blackberry once where I tried to keep my schedule and stuff, but I found the old paper planners work better for me. I ditched the blackberry a while ago because I kept butt dialing random people. Also, I have a hand the size of a five-year-old and they’re a wide phone.  My engagement ring is a size 4 if that tells you anything.

I found a really cute planner  at Target, but most of them were the style where you had to write in the days. Why? Is ink really that expensive? I liked everything about them except that, so I figured if I used a pencil I’d be okay.

So, today I assembed it all, put the note pages where I would use them, got rid of all the address and phone sections, meal planners and other parts that I wouldn’t use ever and started to work on writing the darned days in.  I was rolling along through January and February when one of the dates landed on the wrong day. Oh no! Whatever could I have done wrong? I was so careful. It took me all of a minute to realize I was copying from a 2009 calendar and NOT a 2010 calendar. Duh. It looked pretty good after I fixed that mess and finished it. Now I’m all ready to be organized for the new year. Well, as much as I can be.

Tomorrow I have to roast a pork tenderloin to take to my MIL’s house for Christmas Eve dinner, make some desserts and stuff, and then it’s off to church (you should have seen the kids faces when I told them they had to go to confession . . . I was only joking, geesh!). I put my foot down on going to the Childrens Mass. I’d rather go to the gynocologist. So 6:30 pm Mass it is. One day . . . before I die . . . I will go to midnight Mass. I hear it’s lovely.

Last year was the first year I didn’t wait for the kids to go to bed before I put out the gifts. They stay up much later than I do. Anyone who stays up past 10 pm stays up later than I do. Anyhow, they were whining because I didn’t wait until they were asleep. I guess they’ll be whining again this year because I’m doing it again.

Oh, the new CD I got was by Susan Boyle of  Britain’s Got Talent fame. YouTube Link here. It’s stunning.  I listen to and appreciate many music genres – from alternative, bluegrass, classical, new age, to hip-hop (hey I have teenagers!) to jazz.  I have to say, it is one of the best CDs I have ever heard. Bravo Ms. Boyle! You give hope to every forty-something woman who has yet to reach her goals. Thank you!

I remember at the end of 2007 when I wrote this blog entry. I really thought 2008 was THE YEAR.  Maybe 2010 will be. Just maybe. 

I haven’t put any goals on paper yet, but the goal in my head is to just keep breathing.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!

Ebb and Flow . . . And Pure Laziness

I have no energy. I have no enthusiasm.  I have no ambition. I am a lump of poo.

Mid-morning Saturday, it stopped raining long enough for us all to pile into B1′s truck (6 of us in an extended cab Ford F-150) and go pick out our Christmas tree. I’d love to have one of those pre-lit ones, but nooooo . . . we have to have a real one every year.  We can never agree. Hubby, B1 and B4 (boys!) all want a tall fat tree that doesn’t fit in the space we have, while I want a shorter, skinnier tree. B3 flip-flops back and forth.  B2 had a “stick up her ass” about something and sulked by the tailgate while the rest of us froze trying to agree on a tree. We did within five minutes (the 38 degree temperature couldn’t have had anything to do with it) and picked out a tall skinny tree.

Within an hour the tree was up, all the decorations were placed in their appropriate spots, and all of the empty boxes were back on the shelves in the garage.

I was off work today, so I ran out and got a few items on the Bs Christmas lists, brought them home, wrapped them and hid them under my bed. I have the snoopin’-est kids E-VER. Even if they find them, they’ll have to unwrap them and if they do, then they just won’t be surprised Christmas morning.

I have no energy.  For two weeks I was up early, either working out or writing, going all day and into the evening.  Then . . . one morning I hit the snooze button and lost all the momentum I had. It’s gone. Over. Caput!

Why can’t I wake up in the morning, full of energy and with a passion for my day? It’s obvious I can fake it for a few weeks but it’s all just an act, unsustainable to say the least.

I like my day job (for the most part), the kids behave (for the most part) and I don’t even have as much going on this winter as usual, so what’s the freakin’ problem?

It’s Freezing!

It is cold here – 36 degrees as I type.  It rained all day Saturday and although the sun came out on Sunday, the temperature still didn’t get out of the 40′s.  Sunday, I got a grand idea to shampoo the basement carpets. What a workout. I need to do the upstairs, but I need to wait until the house will be empty for a while.  I’m shooting for June 2015.

I showed B3 how to start the truck to get it warm before we leave in the mornings.  I hate getting into a cold vehicle.

B3 had a softball tournament with a thrown together team two hours away on Sunday.  They won, but really . . . it’s December and I really could care less.

Hubby’s been in a pissy mood. Again, I really could care less.

B1 got another traffic ticket – this time for running a STOP sign.  Dammit, there’s another $130.00 and three point on his license. Couple this with a F in Trigonometry and a D in Psychology and it equals GROUNDED. He can drive to school, to pick up his sister at her school,  to basketball practice, to games and that is it.  No more uptown weekends no more after-game fun. Of course this makes hubby’s mood even pissier (is that really a word?), so I’m glad he’s working seven hours away this week.  Why is it that when the kids screw up all of a sudden I’m the worst parent in the world?

I still have NO Christmas lists, except for B4′s. NO LIST, NO PRESENTS.

I’ve switched up the daily routine after I fell woefully behind in my daily word counts with the new project.  Starting this week, I’ve been getting up early, but writing instead of working out.  At lunch, when I don’t have an errand, I edit what I’ve written that morning. At night I work out.  Okay, it’s only been two days, but so far it’s working.

Well, I need to go remind B4 that he has to bring the dog up from her cage, feed and water her. This week it’s B3′s job, but when the cat puked on the steps yesterday, B4 couldn’t clean it up and had to bargain.  Ahh, pets!

Have a great day everyone.

Back on Track . . . I think.

I cannot believe it is already December.  I’m still wondering what happened to August.

The Bs have yet to give me their Christmas list.  I guess they really do believe I know what they’re thinking! ;) I found hubby’s present on line Sunday for $100.00 cheaper than most retail stores and websites.  I also bought part of my mom’s gift. Hubby did a little shopping on Friday when I was away, but since he can’t read minds like I can, he didn’t get too much.

We usually don’t get each other anything, but when I happen to find something I know he’d love and probably wouldn’t think to purchase for himself, then I do get him a gift.  I believe that’s happened less than five times since we’ve been married.

I came home from my mom’s house to find a brand new elliptical trainer where my old treadmill stood.  This thing is massive and I also have a new TV on a long stand so I can watch it while I work out.  Merry Christmas to me! I only hope it wasn’t too expensive because we are in a recession ya know.  Some wives may get upset that their husbands got them exercise equipment for Christmas, but I’ve really wanted an elliptical for awhile now. The treadmill kills my knees and NO, I’m not getting old!

I lost a few days of writing due to Thanksgiving, but got back into it yesterday. I’m still on track to complete the first draft by January 2010.

Hubby is out of town for the week, B1 has a basketball game today at 4:30, B2 is volunteering at the after-school center and will have to be picked up by 5:30, B4 has basketball practice from 5 til 7.  I have to cook something for a family who just had a death in the family and I need to do a couple loads of laundry.  I think I can get it all done and still get at least 1000 words written.