Day One-hundred-and-sixty-seven: Ladybugs

For the last several years, my parents' place has been infested with ladybugs throughout the winter. They have caulked everywhere one can imagine a tiny bug can get in and still they do. Now, these are not your nice American ladybugs but some import. They bite. They stink. And, if allowed to get too numerous in the house, I suppose they would swarm.

My father has designed a rather ingenious non-lethal trap to collect them with. Tonight I collected five in the upstairs bathroom.

When this infestation started, everone started giving them ladybug themed gifts. As we were cycling through pictures today to show my cousins, I was reminded by a picture of Marilyn holding up a metal ladybug that we didn't buy. I'm way down on my gift giving, especially of ladybugs. My problem is that I don't shop in those kinds of stores. Well, I really don't shop at all.

After the cousins left, we went over to see the progress my sister is making on her 3,500 square foot house she is bui9lding to replace the much smaller one that burned down. She deserves the mansion she is building but as a mansion, it is taking longer.

Then we came back to my parents' place for dinner, chores that we postponed, pool, and Setback. I once again lost badly at pool, except for the very last game. I then proceeded to lose really badly in the last game of Setback.

Why didn't I go to bed with the last win rather than the last loss? I would have gotten more rest and I wouldn't be writing so much about losing in my Life after Layoff blog.

As it is now, it's once again close to midnight and I still haven't meditated. I don't know how effective it is when I'm this tired.

Day Ninety-four: Pajama day

I stayed in all day and also stayed in my pajamas all day. Well, since I do keep my furnace off, I also put on a sweat shirt. I don't intend to do this often but it felt right today. A pajama day every once in a while is a fine addition to my Life after Layoff.

This doesn't mean I didn't get anything done. In fact, I have begun the fixes to my new storage shed. The weight is now off the shelf and thus the pressure is no longer collapsing the wall. Now I need to figure out a way to reinforce it, whether or not I ever use the shelf again. I also set up my NordicTrack Skier in the corner of my living room. This gets it out of the closet and into a place that I can use it, which is the place that I would put my recliner, if I were to get it. (I did not use the NordicTrack today.) I did do my back exercises. Oh yes, I've started a "to do" list spreadsheet. The first project item I laid out was the preparation for my December road trip. Traveling 2,000+ miles away from home in a car for six or so weeks is not something I can do spontaneously. My departure date will be entirely controlled by my preparation.

I also did the final Entrepreneurial Webinar.

Then I watched the VP debate on CNN so I could see how the six analysts and 30 persuadable people in Columbus, Ohio scored the debate. I haven't heard whether any of my relatives in Columbus were part of this group.

Last night I started reading my Fasting Handbook, Dining from an Empty Bowl. (This was after my blog entry.) I think I will do more reading tonight. Today I've also read Opening to Meditation by Diana Lang. Both are relatively short books. I got them at the same time because I thought they might go together. My "to do" list spreadsheet doesn't yet include meditation but it will. The last chapter of this short meditation book is questions and answers. One question seemed to hit close to home, "What if I can't stop thinking?" I liked her answer. If it works for me, I'll include a paraphrase of it in some future entry.

My back exercises and the meditation book make me realize that I need some additional equipment. I need an exercise mat and a yoga bench, something that allows me to basically sit on the floor and somewhat cross my legs. Maybe it would double as a step up platform. My futon pads are too soft but I may have to try one of them unless I can find a place to shop tomorrow.

Since I've already brushed my teeth and am in my pajamas, I can go to bed early tonight. I used to be a morning person and would like to get back to being so. Staying up until morning isn't the same thing. It is also easier to get my exercising out of the way, even though I used to do it in the morning so it would have the least impact on my family.

Day Twenty-one: Cleaning, eating, shedding

Three full weeks of LIFE, that is, Life after Layoff, which is L I F E.

I got up this morning closer to what was my normal work time for rising. I jumped into getting the dishes done while fixing my high fiber breakfast, oatmeal, All Bran, and lots of fruit. I almost got done before the oats boiled over and made me clean the stovetop.

After cleaning up, I was hit with a food coma and took a nap. By then it was time for lunch.

This afternoon, I swept the shed area and unloaded the shed from the back of my truck. Unloading consisted of opening each box one at a time, taking out its contents, moving the empty box, and reloading it. I kept out the instructions so I can see whether or not I can put it together by myself. Unfortunately, to conserve space, I stacked the boxes back on top of each other, with the floor being in the one on the bottom. I'm sure however it is built, the floor is first.

The day seemed more productive than I just recounted. Oh yes, I need a couple more boxes. I can't believe that I unpacked several books for storage in other places, packed storage boxes only, throwing away the water cartons that were used as three book boxes, and ended up without enough ... boxes.

I also worked on some lyrics to a song that I hope one of my sisters will sing.

I added a couple descriptive words to my focus pages and thought on them a little bit. I wouldn't say what I did was meditating. I'll work my way up to that. I'm adding it to my mental list. If I tried to write all my mental list down, I would spend all my time doing that and still not get enough done.