Abby says - Thank goodness for first aid training

There I was, sitting at the netbook with these two books and getting ready to post about soil preparation and what happens during the 8th week of pregnancy (here's a hint:  nausea and being gassy cover just about all of it)

when my dear husband hands me this ball of soft fuzzeh kitteh

This is Ernie.  He gets into ALL the trouble.

I am to hold Ernie while Tim fixes the screen above the kitchen sink.  If not, Ernie will attempt to escape, and then be eaten by the feral kittehs in the alley.  For reals.

I have bad timing.

Me:  Can I let him go now?  He is squirmy.
Tim:  Yes, I got it.  Oh no wait I don't.
Me:  Too late, he escaped.  One sec, I'll grab hi-
Tim:  *Loud yelling, cursing, manly sounds of pain*
Ernie:  *screaming cat noises.  These are the worst ever.*

Turns out, Ernie was way faster than I.  As he almost got out the window, Tim grabbed him and the window shut on Ernie's paw.  Ernie was terrified and in pain and commenced to bite the everloving crap out of Tim's hands.  Blood was everywhere.

After a zillion apologies, good first aid training (thank you Girl Scouts), and lots of kitty treats, both husband and cat are doing fine.

My boys are survivors!

We'll call the doctor in the morning to see if he recommends antibiotics for Tim.  We're keeping an eye on Ernie, and so far he's not limping.  We'll call the vet tomorrow for their recommendation as well.

So, tomorrow (for really reals!) I'll be posting about preparing soil for our garden and the weird but true stuff going on in my god pod.

Goodnight, folks.


P.S.  The entire time I'm trying to get Tim to sit down and apply pressure to his bandage, he's trying to find Ernie to make sure he's alright first.  DAW!

Abby's Status Update

I was reading back through previous posts and realized that I make all sorts of plans but don't really say much about how well those plans turn out.  So, here's an update on how I'm doing with all my amazazing plannage.

Music in the morning:  Not really happening.  However, I've gotten much better at getting to work on time.  I'd say I'm at about a 98% success rate.  I'm rather pleased.

Chore List:  That post was from the end of January, and Tim just now put up the white board.  We've been coasting along at our normal pace.  That's definitely something to focus on.

Medication:  I finally hit the perfect dosage, and it's been fabulous.

Project completion:  I'm slowly getting there.  The guilt from looking at all my unfinished crafts has tipped the balance in favor of getting things done.

Research on ADHD:  Nada.

Work:  It's AWESOME.  I'm so productive and getting things done and working on projects and getting noticed (in the good way) and I am SO HAPPY!  The downside is I have a rule about not working at home.  I am breaking that hardcore.

There you have it.

Did I forget anything?

-Abby

The knowledge, it fills me. It is neat!

Hey folks. Abby here.

I went to a lit convention today, so I've decided to drop some literary knowledge up in here.

I was lucky enough to get loads of author signed shwag and listen to presentations by Nick Bruel, Shannon Hale, and Phillip Hoose.  My favorite part of the whole day was getting to listen to 4 of our amazing local authors;  Saundra Mitchell, Christine Johnson, Mike Mullin, and Julia Karr.  Saundra's success story is the kind of future I hope for all my young patrons.  She is just the inspiration I needed to cheer right up.

It's not a secret that Sephy is a writer, so I asked the rockin' authors for some resources and advice to aid her on her way to the NY Times bestseller list.
On Writing by Stephen King and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott were both recommended as excellent books about the writing process.
I was informed that most books on the topic of getting published aren't very helpful, but critique groups are fabulous.  The following is a list of critique group, support, and networking websites recommended by my new friends the really awesome authors who I wish were my friends.

Websites for all authors:  Absolute Write, Figment, and Critique Circle.
Just for teens:  Inkpop and Pulse It.
Specifically for authors of children's books:  Verla Kay and The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Once you're ready to send out those query letters, Query Tracker is an excellent database of literary agents and publishers.

I leave you with a ridonkulus image* from Shannon Hale's presentation.  It was right after lunch and she felt we were a bit too sleepy.  She convinced over 100 librarians, media specialists, and educators to stand up and sing "the Princess Pat."

Awesomesauce

*An image that I forgot to attach and now realize it doesn't live up to the story as I told it.  The video does, though.  No, you can't see it.

Abby writes a win/fail

What is a win/fail you ask?  I shall tell you!  A win/fail is a list I make when I'm getting frustrated or discouraged with my current situation, be it the state of my home, an inability to concentrate, difficulty finishing a task I don't want to do, whatever.  It helps me put things in perspective before I get angry at myself or panicky.  Once I hit that point, I'm done doing anything for at least an hour.  That sucks.  I actually think this list would help anyone who is stuck or feeling down about their situation.  It also helps me to remind myself that very few things are that deep.

Win!

I have been a nonsmoker for 19.65 days and haven't committed a felony!

Despite my medication needing an adjustment, I am keeping on track with my most important tasks at work.

I have gotten to work early/on time so many times in a row that I've lost count.  This is really big for me.

I motivated myself enough to write a blog post tonight.

My 2 year wedding anniversary was last weekend, and we had a perfect evening and amazingly fabulous fondue.

Fail.

I haven't gotten anything done this week that I don't really like doing...because I was playing Skyrim.

House is a mess, and my husband's awesomeness is the only reason I have clean clothing.

I can't finish three sentences in a row without being distracted...oooh look, glitter!

All in all, not as bad as I thought.  It never really is quite that bad.  Hooray, I feel better!

Abby says - TA DA!

The living room is clean, organized, and things are precisely where I want them.  This may not seem like much to most people, but it is nothing less than a miracle for me.  I haven't had a clean and well-organized living room of my own since 2000.  I am NOT kidding.  Technically that doesn't even count because it was a shared living room in a sorority-like situation while I was in college.  There were 16 women keeping it clean.  Well, 15 if I don't include me, which I shouldn't.

How did you do it, Abby?  I'm so glad you asked!  Here is a breakdown of my process.

1.  I set aside a specific time to do it and made sure to not make plans to do other things (which is how I avoid most housework).
2.  I broke the big task into smaller chunks.
3.  I asked for help, specifically from my husband.
4.  We let ourselves take breaks and took turns being the motivator.
5.  We were goofy!  We chased each other with cleaning products.  We danced with mops.  It was fun.  Cleaning was fun?!

We wanted to have it finished yesterday, but plans didn't work out quite how we wanted so we finished it tonight.  That bugged me a bit at first, but then I realized it's perfectly fine.  Our living room was already cleaner than it had been since we moved in last May.

Now two rooms (the other being the kitchen, which is the husband's domain) are just the way we want them!  One more to go and the house will be presentable for the first holiday gathering on Friday.  The first holiday gathering at my house ever.  As in, at any domicile wherein I pay the rent kind of ever.  Let's just day, most of my friends don't know my address because they may show up unexpectedly and kill me via embarrassment of my surroundings.

BEWARE!  Beware, bedroom with your dust bunnies and spare cats, your socks hiding in the darkness.  Be frightened, bathroom of doom.  Cower, ye front room of things-that-have-no-place yet.  I am coming for you, and you shall despair!