Silent, beautiful days.

This has been one of those weeks where I never feel like I stop moving. Mike has been home for April vacation, and I've been working from home, taking full advantage of our office renovations. I have a feeling after life goes back to normal next week and Mike's back at work, I'll be heading into the office for some human interaction and a reason to put on clean underwear. WHAT, YOU DON'T NEED A REASON TO DO THAT I GUESS YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME.

As you can see, I need some practice interacting with humans.

I ordered some colorful zippers from zipit on etsy last week, and I've been an odd-shaped bag making machine. I made a couple matching ones for me sister and niece, one for my friend's birthday (currently en route to Chicago!), and one for my pens and pencils (it was the prototype). I already have a request from Meg, so I have another excuse to get crafty this weekend. I had to bow out from another writing group meeting this last week, and I'm trying to not get too down on myself about my lack of writing/inspiration/productivity in anything but work these days. Sometimes you just have to put your head down and get what needs to get done done. Then you can bake and go for walks without tights and drink margaritas before 5 pm. But before then you can only allow yourself enough breaks to take Instagrams, eat lunch, and ramble on your blog.

You know what I mean? Me neither.

From left to right, top to bottom: 1) A sunglasses case gift for Nabila; 2) My fan looking all weird; 3) HOMEMADE BIRTHDAY CAKE OREO ICE CREAM. THIS HAPPENED. 4) The beginnings of homemade sweet potato corned beef hash; 5) Wise tea; 6) Homemade iced coffee in an attempt to save money rather than visit 1369 every day; 7) My new Cuppow! Turns a mason jar into a to-go iced drink cup! Designed in Somerville, MA! 8) Birthday cake Oreos! 9) My second day working from home. I've digressed to cereal; 10) Homemade lamb shawarma; 11) How-to make Peter Pan collars. On my to-do list; 12) Stormy skies from my home office. 

Changing the stats.

It's been another one of those Fridays that's making me earn the weekend. The prospect of City Girl and some reading time is getting me through. An iced coffee from 1369 (thanks, Peg!) and leftover whoopie pies are also helping.

Mike is at opening day at Yankee Stadium. I try not to be the jealous type, but we can't help our genes, can we now?

I'm taking a much-need mental break and supplying some links that are brightening my day:

Busy Bee Lauren keeps complaining about losing her memory because of pregnancy brain (it's a real thing, I'll give that to her), but I'm convinced she's gotten funnier. Case in point: she's discovered her calling as matchmaker to the stars.

Apparently you can't embed Vimeo videos in Blogger, so instead I'll supply a good old-fashioned link. A little reminder to serve as an encouragement and role model for all the little ladies in your life.

Wooosahhhh.

It's been one of those prototypical Mondays. Things keep going wrong, I've eaten too much chocolate, and I've cried in the bathroom (just once! Jeez!). But like a wise, wise woman said (to me about an hour ago), it's [4]:13 pm, and this (no good, rotten) day cannot go on forever.

I'm willing myself to ignore the self-induced stomachache and instead think about today, at 5:18 AM, laying in the quiet of early morning, enjoying one last cuddle with Mike before he got up to get ready for work, saying, "I'll miss you so much these next two days," and hearing it back.

26 before 26: #9 Pay off my credit card.

Last year I took a freelance development editing job on a whim. I had been feeling unsatisfied at my job for the better part of the year, and I was itching to make a big step in my career. It wasn't just about the money, though I was feeling the stress of a significantly raised rent and a significantly stagnant salary; I didn't feel challenged on a daily basis, and I could feel my work ethic eroding with the remainder of my 24th year. I was also getting increasingly dramatic.

So when presented with the opportunity to make some bucks on the side and to add to my slightly sad resume some real publishing experience, I jumped at the chance. I knew I had no idea what I was signing up for, and I even had to Google "developmental editing" to prep myself for what lay ahead. Halfway through the gig, I got my current job, and a part of me feels that having that listed on my resume helped me to appear a little more qualified for it. I ended up stumbling through the dark on the whole project--always second-guessing what fell under my charge and what didn't--but I learned a lot about myself and what I want from my career. I was able to get a glimpse into where I work today and I think I appreciate where I am now more because of it.

Long story short, I used the loot to pay off my credit card, #9 on my 26 before 26 list. I haven't made as much headway as I'd hoped, but we all know what they say about the best laid plans.

I'm becoming that girl, aren't I?

I hope I'm not becoming that girl, but here I am, in my pajamas at a friend's house in Philly, doing work at nine in the morning after five hours of sleep. The peppermint tea I scrounged from their pantry and my general love of mornings is helping, but working on a Saturday is never a good start. I'm hoping to follow all this seriousness up with cuddles on the couch bed, banana bread, and crocheting.

Happy Saturday!

You have got no body, so why do you insist on wearing clothes?

Busy Mondays easily become busy Tuesdays. I'm still on track with my goal to hang out with Jim every other day, even though this morning it was especially hard to part with my bed. I remember the thought, This is how it starts going through my head, and I was up, getting dressed, making oatmeal, and picking out an outfit for the day to stuff into my makeshift gym (ahem, Jim) bag. I'm wearing my second Goodwill find, munching on banana bread, and listening to Kate Nash on Pandora. She makes me laugh, and frankly that's what I need right now, swimming in image edits and emails telling me everything is wrong.

Something about Nash's lyrics make me want to sit down and write a story. Her commitment to each storyline is so complete and such a joy to listen to.

Busily climbing over the hump.

Today is a busy day, but I'm happy to say I've already checked four things on my to do list off! It's beautiful and sunny out and I'm wearing high-water pants with slip ons. Plans for a latte break later at Darwin's Ltd and hugging Mike so hard to show him I have been working out are what's getting me through. I made some progress on my crochet blanket last night, I'm daydreaming about curling up under it tonight!

I am in Georgia. I am going crazy.

That's a little extreme, I know. But working from home today has been tougher than ever. My back hurts, the constant stream of Christmas music is wearing me down, and the lighting in my grandparents' dining room is bothering my eyes.

I'm counting down the minutes until I'm done for the day, but the truth is I have a lot to do before I can be done for the year. It's frustrating, but also motivating to know that I am in charge of how quickly I get done. Granted, little blogging breaks like this are not helping me move forward, or are they??? Alas, my dad's last packet of Via stuffed way back in the pantry has served as my late afternoon hero today. Back to work, I guess.

The proverbial string tied on the finger.

Ugh. I just deleted an essential program from my computer, then frantically dug up the email that told me where/how to download it and its customizations, and still had to restart my computer and email someone for help. I know macs are supposed to be easy and intuitive, but sometimes deleting essentials is too easy and I don't need to be able to click and drag something into the trash. Sometimes I need a Microsoft-style warning: Are you sure you want to do that, oh computer-n00b? 


The clock on my computer screen reads 5:01, and I'm taking a moment for myself before I pack up and head home for the day. My holiday unofficially starts tomorrow, with a day of working from home. Something about sleeping in a little, working in my pajamas, and having time to make myself eggs makes me feel like I have the day off, even if I'm working.

If anything, this job is going to teach me the value of Daylight Savings, being on time for your bus (and taking a bus that's on time), a grocery budget (it's very difficult walking by a Trader Joe's day after day), and productivity applications. Evernote, iCal, and the ability to make email folders are my saving grace these days. Hopefully soon I'll learn how to streamline all of this information into one application instead of sprawling everything I need to know across multiple platforms in a desperate attempt to notforgetanything. There's a whole section of my afternoon routine titled: Did I forget anything?

It seems, today, that I have not.

I am in here.

I'm tired. Not in that exhausted way that feels like clawing toward rejuvenation, but in the way that feels good. Like sore muscles or cheeks that burn from laughing.

Work is so good. Everyday I learn something, and though so much of it is foreign and clouded by technicalities, everyday something new clicks.

School was cancelled all last week for Mike, and it was comforting coming home from a new place and new people to him. He made dinner and cleaned the house, and generally made the week easier. Today was his first day back at school, and my first night home again without him, so it's a bit quiet and a bit blue tonight. My writing group reconvened tonight, and lit a fire under me to get cracking on a story for next week. I'm still flailing a bit in the department of coming-up-with-a-schedule, and I'm secretly yearning for the mandatory break the holidays provide.

That last sentence was me completely ignoring the stress the cost of the holidays require: plane tickets and gifts and celebrations. I guess that's one perk of being tired, the dreamy focus on the good things to come.

I'm currently reading Infinite Jest with a group of friends, most of whom live in Philly. I'm only 30 pages in, but my initial fear of the giant has abated. It's the little things.

Goodbyes.

Tomorrow is the VP of my department's last day. He's moving on, and while that's exciting news for him, it's a little bittersweet on our end. There's a bit of "restructuring" happening, and we're losing another member of our team to Corporate Marketing (doesn't that just drum up all different shades of gray and itchy suits?). She and I have been combing the web for newer and more exciting opportunities, just in case the restructure doesn't turn out to be a good fit. It's making for some interesting days, some discouraging days, and some downright frustrating days. The truth is, it's difficult to be happy where you are if you're constantly looking for another place to be. I keep struggling with figuring out what I want to do with my life that I fear I'm missing what I'm doing with my life, right now. All I know is that I want my next step to be a wise one, not one made out of fear or confusion or desperation. Luckily, I have that luxury afforded to me right now. Who would I be if I didn't take advantage of my position to make a slow and informed decision? So I'm going to take a step back, make a lot of lists, revisit my resume and my dream jobs before I make any more moves.

We also took him out to lunch and I ate way too much. Thoughts of heading home, taking off my wet socks, and curling up with some soup and Jenna are what's getting me through the rest of the afternoon.

We home.

Today I'm sleepy and thrust back into real life. Feeling a little down, the way you do after you've spent a weekend in an awesome city with some of your favorite people and are forced to go back to work. Pictures, updates, and reflections coming.