Monday, January 19, 2009

Monday Odds & Ends

It was a nice quiet weekend. So quiet I had time to look around and think some. I really need to get better at finishing what I start. There are so many started but not completed projects around the house it ain't even funny. There's the half painted patio furniture. It was a great start that got stymied by the two chairs that need a bit of welding before I can finish them. It's been sitting outside since Sept. There's the painting I started before that I think, sitting on the sideboard taunting me. Need to get back to that. There's the coffee mugs I promised a dear patient friend. The last try on those bad boys exploded in the kiln when I fired them. Back to square one on that project. The list could go on and on.

I just don't seem to get things done with out some sort of external motivation. I need a kick in the butt. Trying to kick my own ass could be funny to watch but probably not very effective, so what I've decided to do is get a calendar and start giving myself deadlines or at least target dates to keep this all moving forward.

I also REALLY want to get raised flower beds in before spring. If I break it down into it's component parts and put a date to them It will make it easier to stay on task rather then putting it off until 'later'.

I did finally find a date on the samovar. 1897 which would mean it was made in czarist russia, pre-soviet. That's all fine and good but you would expect to find the imperial double eagle on it too if it were made in czarist times. The Cyrillic lettering on it isn't helping as when I try and translate, it doesn't have any vowels. So there's another 'project' half baked. Anyone speak russian?

I met up with Mo and Fiwa for lunch today at Southcenter Mall. Today's lesson was yes, the Chanel perfume counter is near ladies shoes, but it helps if your looking for each other in the same department store. We had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory it was that or the Olive Garden neither of which I'd ever been to before. Mo's got all the photographic evidence on what was eaten. Yummy & filling. As always the time flew by and it was a 1/4 till 2:00 when we left. Lucky for me that I have a pretty long work leash and nobody even knows I was gone that long. We even made time to stop at Borders so I could pick up two books my other Jay blogged about. Straight men love it when gay guys claim them. Really.

Another delayed 'project' for me has been finding a real stylist to cut my hair. As opposed to getting the 7 minute cut at Supercuts. Mo, being Mo had that one sorted out in about 3 minutes and we'll now be getting our hair "done" on Saturday. I'm gonna let Mo & Fiwa pic the haircut. Well see how just how much they really do love me. It was great seeing them, as always!

Well I suppose this is enough rambling about nothing. The days all most over. (amazing how fast the day goes when lunch is from 11:00 till 2:00) Time to start thinking about dinner!

Hope you Monday was quick and painless!

B

16 comments:

Jay said...

I hop you enjoy the Sarah Vowell books. If you like those you can go back and read her earlier books which are more compilations of some of her essays on "This American Life" and other humor stuff.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

Oh, I'm envious of your blogger lunch.

The technique of breaking down tasks and assigning deadlines is how I handle jobs. I don't always get them done, but that's my modus operandi.

KathyA said...

You have such interesting projects! You'll get them done when you want to. I did raised beds one year from a book on square foot gardening. In a space about 10X15, I grew bumper crops of eggplant (I canned tons of caponata), potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, onions, and shallots. The whole area is a patio now. :(
I'd love to see a photo of the samovar. Have you tried "Google Translator"? I use that site a lot to translate English to Italian and Italian to English.
So what did you get at the Cheesecake Factory? I usually get the lettuce wraps. I'll have to check the other blogs out to see the photos.
It's neat getting together with blogger friends. Maybe we should all arrange to meet in Kansas City?

Gin said...

Hope you had a great lunch with Fiwa!! I'm jealous of both of you...LOL I don't know Mo but I'm sure she's great too! I'll have to check her blog for photos of the lunch.

If you and Kathy meet in KC...I want to go too!! You can bring Fiwa and she can bring Cheryl! Perfect!!

Smocha said...

Bwa ha ha! That's my kind of lunch!

I wish I could think up the projects and then some fairies would come in the night and do them for me. :)

Leann said...

Sounds like you had an awesome time. I'd love to try the cheesecake factory. My absolute fave is cheesecake.

Scarlet said...

It's only 8:15 a.m. but I'm craving one of those Southern pecan cheesecakes from The Cheesecake Factory (THANKS TO YOU!).

Their blackened salmon's good, too. Oh, and their crab cakes are to die for! What about their coffee drinks?? OMG! I need to make lunch plans!

fiwa said...

Because I love you SO MUCH, I will offer to kick your butt for you, if you want? heehee...

That Jay - everyone wants a piece of him. I claim a piece too!

Yesterday was so much fun - I can't wait for Saturday.

love you!

susi said...

Hello again after a little while. This is not a comment on your latest post but I felt I should write something to you and your American readers.

I have just watched the inauguration of your new President - all I can say is that his speech was absolutely inspiring. I don't say this lightly or often (hardly ever, really) but "Well Done America!" and congratulations on your new leader!

Apologies, I should say and nearly forgot, to any readers who voted the other way - but it really was a wonderful speech!

Jenny said...

how great that you had a nice lunch. I bet they are as wonderful in real life as they are on their blogs.

How's biz for you?

Summer said...

Have a great time on Saturday and post some pictures. Friends are such wonderful treasures. I wish I could go too!

Summer said...

Have a great time on Saturday and post some pictures. Friends are such wonderful treasures. I wish I could go too!

Mo said...

Pictures are finally up.

I hope I wasn't being too pushy about Saturday. It just made sense in my mind.

Used my mug last night and loved it!

Thanks for hanging with me yesterday and letting me crash the party.

See you Saturday.

Oh, and I'm letting Kyla pick the haircut. She's the expert afterall.

Jamie said...

You are so lucky to live near blogging friends. It sounds like you had a great lunch, and I want pictures of your hair, maybe before and after?

I miss three hour lunches. Wait, I am on permanent lunch right now, what am I talking about?

Happy Wednesday.

KathyA said...

If I leave you a message on my blog that's a response to a message you wrote me on my blog, do you get it, or do you have to return to my blog to read it? At any rate, I left you a message on my blog. Whew! Kathy:)

Unknown said...

Sounds like good old fashioned fun.

I got the package the other day and didn't get online til today. I would like to say thanks for it. I laughed for about 30 minutes at what was in it.