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Not according to plan

10 Steps to My Home Improvement Plan

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As we start this project, I have a plan for my daughter’s room. Of course I do. I have a plan for all things except the books I write. Still haven’t figured that one out!

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So karma can laugh at it

My 10 Step Plan

  1. Paint Trim White

    While the trim is in reasonably good shape for being over forty years old, it is dated. We’re hoping a fresh coat of paint will help with that.

  2. Paint Room Light Purple

    We figure a nice soft purple will keep the room bright and open. Purple has been her favorite color for three years, and I have painted her room “recently”.

  3. Closet

    Take off the Doors – You lose the middle third of the closet as a door is always covering this. We’ll keep the doors in the basement, but we want to open it up so the whole thing is useable

    Organizing System – I am researching this now, but closet space in 1970s home is a premium. She has a standard six foot reach in closet. I want to use all the space. We have an inexpensive system in there now, but it doesn’t use the space well. I’d prefer a system where if we move we can take it with us. This is where the lion’s share of the budget is going.

    Curtains over Closet and Attach Hyrule symbols to the rods

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If that’s even possible.

4. Make an easy canopy

a. Put up curtain rods over bed and attach Hyrule symbols to the rod.

b. Drape inexpensive fabric over the rods

5. Wall sticker symbol of Hyrule on the wall over her bed but under the canopy

6. Hyrule pillow for her bed.

7. New Curtain rod for her window

a. Trade out the dark curtain for sheers

b. Attach hyrule symbols

c. Honeycomb fabric light blocking shade

8. Hyrule light switch plate

9. New vent cover

10. New Rug

Contemplating hiring an electrician to come put a ceiling light in the room. Currently, there is no overhead lighting at all

I had originally budgeted $500 for the whole project. Okay, stop laughing. Seriously. It’s really not funny!

I have since learned the closet system will probably cost more than that. I’ve thought long and hard about it, but a good closet system will last us forever, especially if it’s one we can take with us when/if we move. I’m reassessing the budget, especially if I also want to bring in an electrician.

Of course, the electrician could wait a few months. The clothes all over the floor? Those need to find a home in the closet!

What do you think? Anything you’d add? Anything I’m missing?

Black Friday 2016 – Not According to Plan

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It’s the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. While many Americans are out starting their Christmas shopping, I’m not because I’m almost done.  All eight of my nieces and nephews are bought for and wrapped. My children are done, and we have them half wrapped. The family gift exchanges are purchased. We’ve bought the gifts for our extended family.

I have one gift left to get for my ninety-year-old grandmother. Yeah, she’s hard to shop for.

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Can’t even imagine the stress…

So, yes, I’m one of those people. I plan ahead. I like things to be organized and predictable. When you combine this  with my crazy work schedule from mid-November until the end of the year, I want my shopping done so I’m able to enjoy the holidays as much as I can. And, I like to have the best possible selection of gifts available so what I’ve planned to buy isn’t back-ordered.

I do, indeed, make an Excel spreadsheet of everyone I have to buy for what, I plan to get them, and whether it’s been purchased and wrapped yet. Making a list, checking it twice…

While Christmas shopping has followed my plans, the rest of the year hasn’t. From my daughter having some medical issues we’re still working through, to a more recent job loss and the potential loss of medical benefits, stress has been a constant companion.

My muse doesn’t much care for stress, and she takes a vacation to a tropical island at the first hint of trouble.

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If you look closely, you can see her in the water.

 

Of course, my response is pretty predictable. I keep looking for her, trying to get her to come and play, before the realization sinks in. She’s left me, and she’s not coming back.

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Muse?!?  Don’t leave me!

No, she’s not terribly reliable, especially when you need her. I guess I don’t blame her. When I’m that tired and anxious, I’m not much fun to be around.

But I’ve still been writing and reading. Maybe less of both than I should.Especially reading. I can be a critical reader, and have been trying to train my brain to do a better job of dissecting why a book is good or why it isn’t.

When I’m stressed, however, my ability to handle stupid characters drops to almost zero. If the characters are too stupid to breathe, I’m done with them. I don’t care if they get their happily-ever-after. I was 30% of the way through a book last week, and I just put it aside. I didn’t need to add to my stress or frustration with fictional characters.

Despite all of this, I’ve managed to finish two novels this year, and I’m working on revising them for publication. Then comes the really awful part of querying them, but that’s still a ways away.

My work isn’t as inspired as it would be if my muse would hang around more, but I am pushing through. I need to prove to myself that this endeavor is worth the time commitment, even when things aren’t going as planned.