Sluggishly Slow

My, my, has it been so long?

I went to the doctor on Tuesday because this chest cold had gotten worse -- to the point where it hurt to breathe in at all and I was actually wheezing! 

So I've been taking medication and breathing from an inhaler four times a day, and I guess I'm feeling some better.  Sluggish, though.  I sit down at the computer at least once a day with the desultory intention of reading and commenting in journals, but I don't last very long.  I've been sleeping a lot.

Yesterday, though, was Eler Beth's field trip to Exchange City (for which, as a volunteer I had already had three hours of training!), so I couldn't miss that.  As a result I slept all day today and got up with my chest hurting again.  It was fun, though.  The fifth graders ran a whole town for the day.  I got a lot of good pictures of Eler Beth doing her job that I hope to post later.

Today was Thomas' first day at New Job.  Yesterday on his last day at Old Job, they surprised him with a card and a $100.00 Gift Certificate to Bass Pro Shop.  He was also told that if New Job doesn't work out, to come back to them.  They are a good bunch there.

But New Job went well today, and he is working tomorrow, also.  He was right about there being plenty of overtime.  So I may not have to seek employment any time soon, which pleases the kids.

Well, there are several things that I want to write about, but just don't know if I'll get to any of them any time soon.  But I wanted to put in an appearance and say hello to everyone.  Hopefully I'll be back later this evening.  Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Help!

Can't.... Get.... My.... Butt.... Up.... Out.... Of.... This.... Chair!

Can't... Drag... Fingers... From... Keys!

Can't... Blink... Eyes!

Send... Help!

Journals Tournament III

         Edited: My apologies to Kellen.  Kellen is a very talented and intelligent 17-year old young MAN, and I incorrectly referred to him as a "she".  I am so sorry!!  I have corrected the pronouns in the entry below.  Please hop over to his site and check out the last tournament; plan to participate in the next one if you can.

Last month I really enjoyed participating in the Journals Tournament (and ended up winning! Yay, me!), and am looking forward to #4.  Kellen has asked for any suggestions for the next one, which his mind is busily weaving away at as I write.  He is also asking for more participants!  Go on over to his site and check it out.  Leave him a comment if you have an idea you think he'd like.  Let him know you'd like to be invited to participate in the next one.  It really was a lot of fun, and harder than I'd expected. 

Tags: Journals Tournaments

Keeping Up With Alerts

    I, like everyone else it seems lately, have been having trouble keeping up with alerts.  So I've changed how I keep up with everyone's journals. 

Of course, right now I'm behind because I was away all weekend, but here is my new system which seems to work, when used correctly.

First of all, I made a list of all the journals I read.  Long list!  I actually made this list by saving all the links into my favorites.  Then I went into my "Manage My Alerts" and deleted all of them.  Whew!  Took a lot of pressure off.

Then I listed the journals that I have in my sidebar (and that will be growing soon), along with the journals whose authors have been regularly commenting in my journal.  I turned the alerts on for all of these, and to be on the safe side, I also put them in a favorites folder under the title "Commenters".  Because these journalers regularly comment in my journal, I do not want to be rude and not read and comment in their journals on a regular basis; and besides, these are my favorite journals!  These are the journals that I will try to keep up with on a regular basis; daily or every other day.

Then I picked out the specialty journals (like the Vivi Awards, Journals Tournaments, etc) and some journals that I read, but that aren't updated on a regular basis, and I turned on their alerts.  That way when they are updated, I won't miss them.  I also, to be on the safe side, put them in a favorites folder entitled "Intermittant".  I will check them weekly, just to make sure I haven't missed an alert.

Then I looked at all the journals I had left.  These are journals that I like to read, and sometimes comment in, but who don't comment in my journal, or who don't do so regularly.  I don't want to miss out on these journals, but I just have to give myself some freedom from an overwhelmingly, incredibly daunting number of journals alerts.  So I divided these into journals that I really, really like and have been reading for a long time, and newer journalsthat I'm basically just checking out.  I put none of these on alerts, but have them in my favorites section in folders entitled "Good Journals" and "New Journals".  I will set aside an hour once or twice a week to visit these journals and catch up for the week.  Since for most of them I have never commented on every entry, anyway, I don't think it will hurt their feelings if I don't visit them every day.

So anyway, that is what I did last week, and it was working until I got busy with stuff here at home and then went out of town over the weekend.  It has drastically cut down on the number of alerts I am getting, so I don't feel so overwhelmed.  If you read and comment in my journal regularly, then you'll probably see your name in my sidebar; and if it isn't there yet, it will be.  And know that I do have your journals on alerts, because how could I get through a week without keeping up with your lives on a regular basis??

Tags: Journals alerts, comments

Updates and Reminders...

The 55-year-old co-worker of the missing Northern Indiana girl is behind bars being questioned in her death.  He was able to tell the police where to find her body, which tells a story right there.  He went to prison in 1979 for the murder of a young boy, and was only recently released from prison.  I'm sure more details will be forthcoming.

I am getting ready to go to the Vivi Award Site to cast my votes.  This won't be easy, because some of the categories have more than one of my favorite journals competing.  I have enjoyed checking out some new journals and hope to have more time to read some of them soon.

I have done laundry today, and hung some sheets out on the clothesline, since it's such a sunny, dry day, with a little breeze blowing.  Of course, it's only 44 degrees, but even if I have to finish them up in the dryer, they'll still have that freshly, line-dried smell.

If you haven't yet voted, go do it now!

Tags: Vivi Awards

A Dangerous World

A little North of us here in Indiana, an Amber Alert was put out yesterday for a 16-year old.  Last night they found her body.  She had been leaving work when apparently she was abducted.  I don't have all the details, but will probably learn more on the noon newscast.  The suspect is a man who worked with her; a man who recently got out of prison where he was serving time for murder.  I'll post more details when I get them. 

The story reminded me of an entry Mara posted this week about her daughter, who was robbed on her own doorstep.  She posts reminders at the end of this entry that would be good for all of us to read. 

I consciously try to make sure that I keep my head up and look all around when I am walking by myself;  I look people in the eyes when I encounter them; and I have always varied my routine when coming and going at home or at work.  Sometimes I leave the house, drive around the neighborhood for a few minutes, then come back to my house before leaving again.  It may seem silly, but I want anyone watching my house to know that they just never know when I may show up.

Please read Mara's entry; if you have other useful safety reminders, especially for children or for women who may be coming and going a lot on their own, please come back and leave a comment here, or write about it in your own journal.  Things are just too, too crazy out there!

Sunny Day!

Finally the rain has stopped, and it is a gorgeous, but cold, sunny day!

My front yard is covered in leaves, and I love it that way!  I love the way they crunch under my feet.  Eler Beth can't wait to rake them up, but I'd like them to stay there for a day or two.