Oh, I know how it is! Last month I did the exactly thing ordering fried noisettes WITHOUT EVEN NOTICE THAT IT WAS A FRIED THING! Happens, but I think it’s ok once a while.

Sometimes there is just no replacement for fried goodness. Don’t feel guilty – just move forward and adjust elsewhere. :)

The adjustment bureau is on the way.

Friiiiied PICKLES ?!?!
Only in America.

Glad to have another new experience to look forward to. Sort of. LOL

Where did you go?

Mary Ann— Fried pickles are one of my favorite things! The first time I had them they fried the entire spear, but every time since they’ve been like the pickle slices you get on hamburgers. Then you dip them in ranch. Ah-mazing.

MMT— Ian got takeout from Wings and Rings. Wings and Things? Wings and Stuff. I got a pizza from Mellow Mushroom. And after eating $7 worth of fried pickles, I could only eat one piece. ha

Stop, Emily! You make-a me crazy for fried pickles. I never knew I needed a fried pickle until now. What’s next?
No, no! Please do not tell me.

Well, maybe a whisper.

So funny. Pickle themes.

Emily, I can’t even imagine what fried pickles look like, let alone taste like!
The thought doesn’t sound very appealing, but if you like them so much, I assume they’re at least kinda good.
Are they battered before they’re fried?

I just got a flash of insight!
They’re sour pickles, right (not sweet)? Like, dill pickles?

So the taste combination is something like vinegar-flavoured potato chips?

Yes, exactly! You’re a fried pickle clairvoyant! :-D

http://www.meatwave.com/blog/fried-pickle-me-this

It just occurred to me that I should be bringing the fried pickles to the hypothetical heaven we were discussing last month. All for the best, I think.

What a compliment, Emily!
And an honour!
I’ll add that to my resume

. . . or maybe suggest to my dear ones that it be part of my euology:
“She was a fried-pickle clairvoyant”.
(… that’ll confuse the hell out of ’em, eh? Haha.)

Speaking of which . . . yes, absolutely, bring those suckers to our after-life picnic at the top of the waterfall!
I’ll bet our companions would love to have some. :)

(MissNikkiAnn, you listenin’ ?)

Mary Ann, yes, I am listenin’ and can smell the wonderful scent of Emily’s fried pickles. Can we please add a side of fried Oreo Cookies? Thanks!

Thanks, Emily!
I’m signed up for that course.

Glad to know someone’s with me!

Have you done your clutter inventory yet? It seems like a really daunting task.

interesting! I think i will do the inventory. it’s mostly going to be daunting in the kitchen, I think, as that’s where my roommate’s stuff is the most commingled with my own.

I just recently got the email about the clutter inventory, and I haven’t checked out the 30-day challenge yet. (The course itself starts on Jan 10.)

Haven’t done the inventory yet. I hope like hell I don’t have to do it as part of the course. But now I have a sinking feeling that it is part of the course.

I can tell you this: just the thought of doing it makes me sweat! I could not actually inventory every item in the house. There are too many items! In some rooms, it would be possible, but in other rooms, not.

… Well, yes, physically possible, but not in any practical sense. It would take too many hours! (Unless I could list things like: “n piles of miscellaneous paper”; “n piles of books”; “n piles of odds & ends”.) (With all the piles, maybe I should get some Preparation H. Hahahaha.)

I would call this territory (of clutter), one of my crazinesses. But I have only two. Areas of craziness. The other one is… ummm… I forget.

This post I’m writing is making me crazy.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I’m in the course also. I’m such a skinflint I’ll be sure to get my money out of the course.
It might be worth a shot to ask for break on tuition if it’s a hardship. Early registration was about $150.

I don’t think it’s required, I think it’s just a way of gauging your progress from start to finish.

I’m not sure I’m going to do it. They want you to count your towels, your linens, your toiletries…yeah, those are the first three things on the list and I’m already out. haha

I have three bath towels and 4 hand towels. I think. It’s more than plenty. Toiletries, now, that’s another matter.

And I have two sets of sheets, one flannel, one non. Don’t really see why one would need more than that.

It’s too easy to wonder why anybody else needs what they have.

Pellymelly, you may not need more than those sheets you have — and in my world, I may wonder how anybody could possibly get by, or want to get by, with that.

This area is already fraught with all kinds of difficulties.
If we’re going to dicuss this stuff at all, I think it’s a good idea to keep in mind (accept even), that we each/all have the things we have, for our own reasons, and we may have difficulties paring down for our own reasons – and sometimes those reasons are even good reasons, reasons that need to be respected.

Sure sure! Everyone decides what they need and what makes them happy. For me, one set on the bed and one in the wash is enough. People with more beds may need more!

Don’t ask me how many hats I have. Two hats might be enough for sensible people, but I have probably got enough to wear a different one every day for a month. That’s probably silly, especially when I gravitate to the same 5 or 6 all the time. Tra la la.

I am going to check out the clutter course and I’m looking forward to LOLing with you about it over the FaceTimes.

Mary Ann, I’m afraid to even read the article! Oh, no! Will you hold my hand if I get scared?

I’m chuckling at us all, including myself.

Pelly – Okay, and I promise I’ll never ask you how many hats you have, NOR will I say anything remotely like, “Oh my Gaaaaaaawd, you have HOW many hats?”

Emily – maybe we could just do a rough guess at quantities – and if the count of any particular thing is over, like, say 23, we could say “done”. Or “many”.

MMT – good, the more the merrier, or … something.

Bridget – I was just about to ask you if you’d hold MY hand! We’re in the same realm of scarediness on this. Let’s hold each other’s hands, and cry on each other’s virtual shoulders. ;-)

Mary Ann – I like the idea of writing in “many” when the count gets too high. Then if it gets pared down, we can put down “fewer.” :)

it’s a deal Mary Ann!

Oh, and I didn’t actually have a drink today, I had one on the first and forgot to record it. Whoops!

Look at you! All tidied up and ready for the New Year!
(Our tree will stay up until after this weekend.)

Ours would still be up if our apartment hadn’t sent out an e-mail saying we could just pile our trees in the parking lot. :)

Ah yes, the ole parking-lot pile.
I guess they mean BEFORE Valentine’s Day.

Oh, fab about 750. I love it but got lax at year-end myself. That’s exciting. Derek, too, again wantes to try gym time with me (hates exercise—end of that story) to see if he can ‘live with it’ and work toward more energy, fitness. ’Tis the season! Good for you guys… :-)

Emily – Yeah, you both look really happy – what I’d call “a cute couple”. :-)

Very cute photo! I like 750 words, it used to be my way to start the day, with a cup of coffee and a little quiet writing contemplation…

Holy sweet Jesus it’s a photo, BOTH of your faces are in it, and BOTH of you are smiling. 2012, indeed, Mayans. 2012 INDEED. Seriously, though, Adam (are we busting out names on this site now? Gotta drop Boy & Boy Jr.? OK.) wants to lose 15 pounds “by Hawaii,” whatever that means, since I have no knowledge of a plan to go to Hawaii, so we’ll see.

Indeed, and isn’t it grand…bringing out the artist in us all!

Have a great year!

Thank you thank you thank you! You guys rock.

9:56am
Last hour: Very serious chat with husband about various things, including the fact that I need to do my laundry.
Next hour: Clean out floor of my side of the closet; sort laundry and start a load; take things to Goodwill; shake sand off shoes from yoga retreat which I have been putting off for TWO MONTHS omg.

3pm GMT
Last hour: lunch, Photoshop and Illustrator designs for assignment
Next hour: more assignment work (no rest for wicked!!)

two weeks to go and then I can hand everything in woo hoo!

9.32 a.m. CST

Last hour: Got up, played with the iPod a bit, checked e-mail and read LiveJournal posts.

Next hour: Breakfast, make my swatch for the sweater I’m going to knit in January.

10:54am
Last hour: Cleaned out closet floor; started sorting laundry; put Goodwill stuff by the door; started a to-do list.
Next hour: Start a load of laundry. At least.

10:54AM EST
1. Folded laundry while watching my favorite TV show, text messaged with my mother, took care of puppies.
2. Fold the rest of the laundry and organize grocery list (and, subsequently, finalize meal plan.)

Thanks for frogging, Emily! It’s MEGA motivational when you do it CDC is down here for crissakes.

10.32 a.m. CST

Last hour: Had breakfast, did a bit of work on my Master To-Do List spreadsheet, began winding skein into ball for swatching (forgot I was going to have to do that).

Next hour: Finish winding ball, start swatching!

I love that we’re frogging today, thanks for starting this – hoping it will help me stay on track as I have a lot of work to do once I’m done the “fun stuff”!

11.41 a.m. CST

Last hour: Finished winding ball, started swatch. Looks like I chose the right size needles, which is great because it makes everything just that much easier!

Nest hour: Finish swatch, lunch, wash and block swatch.

6.27 GMT

Last hour: went food shopping, put away, walked dog
Next hour: Dinner! followed by some more study ;)

1:45 EST plan to work in spare room that is a disaster.
get laundry in.
basically make a mess for an hour so I can move a dresser into the room.

12.44 p.m. CST

Last hour: About half-finished making swatch.

Next hour: Take a quick break to post all the SparkPeople stuff since people apparently have no patience, post the Achievements post on LiveJournal, get back to the swatch.

In case any of our new members are wondering what this is about . . . It started with this concept:
http://www.eatthatfrogmovie.com/

. . . now adapted to mean generally-getting-stuff-done.

wash about to end. water break.
2 bags of good clothing to donate. Need to select a place that does not just weigh clothing for rags. I read somewhere to be sure to put the donations in car today. That makes sense to me.
still making a mess to get the dresser moved into the spare room. At least now I can figure out how that can happen. Before it was “the impossible dream”.
Next hour: Hang wash out (January!!!) and continue in spare room.

2.00 p.m. CST

Last hour or so: Posted most of the threads for the challenge on SP and sent the SparkMails.

Next hour: Finish posting SP threads, post the Achievements post on LiveJournal, get back to the swatch.

4:10pm

Last…forever: Started laundry. Went out for breakfast. Went shopping with Ian for new clothes for him for tonight. Picked up stuff to make loaded mashed potatoes for potluck. Came home and threw clothes in the dryer.

Next two hours: Nap! Then getting up, getting ready to go out, and ringing in 2012 at a party downtown that I’m already wishing was over. haha

Happy New Year, fellow booklovers!

3.14 p.m. CST

Last hour or so: Got the SP stuff done, posted Achievements post on LiveJournal.

Next hour: See how much of the swatch I can get finished.

1:50pm PST
Last hour: Noodled around on computer, tidied up front room.
Next hour: Laundry, housecleaning, maybe have a snack.

Hey Janna, are you on Ravelry?

Hi Debbie, Yes, I’m on Ravelry! My username there is karalianne. :)

Janna – Cool! I’m Chickenknittle on Rav. Gonna friend you right now so I can keep up with your sweater making!

4.31 p.m. CST

Last hour or so: Finished the swatch.

Next hour: Knit a baby sock or two, wash and block the swatch.

5:15 EST
2 1/2 hr since last post.
One son stopped by. He’s very discouraged. I gave him my page-a-day Zen calendar. Plus ham, wine, a mug that said Employee of the Year, socks, wasabi peas & edema, canned cat food, lint brush … probably other stuff. Nothing to FIX his troubles. That’s frustrating for me.
None of the stuff was Christmas gifts. Just stuff I’d had. When I put the Zen calendar in the bag I knew I was grasping at straws.

Before he came by I had continued in the spare room. Came up w/ a different way to put dresser in the room which is both easier and smarter. Long debate w/ myself, “Are you just taking the easy way out?”. Answer was No but the argument with self was a chance to beat myself up again. ARGH!
(The dresser is 78 inches long and 20 inches deep.)

I did one fun thing in clean up process. Put all swim suits and beach shoes in a really nice 3 gal tin that was summery flower design and a lid. Travel items I came across went into bag from Bermuda. Also sorted scarves.
Gave my husb 2 baskets for our bedroom. He was working in there today. And I solved one problem in that room.

Maybe back to work. I had a splash of wine w/ my son. Earlier husb and I were watching BBC politics/newspaper drama/intrigue. Plan to finish it today.

3:09pm PST
Last hour: Did a load of laundry, cleaned bedroom, cleaned bathroom, had lunch, let chickens out in the yard to run around. Goony birds!
Next hour: Clean office, front room, and kitchen, continue on laundry.

5.30 p.m. CST

Last hour: Listened to audiobook and worke on Master To-Do List.

Next hour: Wash and block the swatch, work on some citations, measure DH for the sweater.

husb is checkin’ out the bed to make sure we didn’t break it when we made it. :) think I’ll join him. test my side.

State of Play is the mini-series we are watching. It’s really great. Many threads. I’d have trouble watching it once a week.
Love Bill Nighy. Most of Life on Mars cast has shown up. Plus Battlestar Gallactica actress.

Hey guys!
Even though I missed the frog, I got some done anyway! Went through a big chunk of the clutter that’s been near my side of the bed since hubs & I moved in t/g 2 yrs ago.

Happy New Year’s everyone!

6.40 p.m. CST

Last hour: Finished citations in a module. Had a temper tantrum.

Next hour: Dinner, wash & block the swatch, measure DH for the sweater, edit the first part of a report.

4:40pm PST

Last hour and a half: cleaned kitchen, front room, office, put away holiday decorations, cleaned up clutter, did another load of laundry

Next hour: finish laundry, run errand to bookstore, pack up stuff for NYE party we’re going to (knitting and booze, gonna be a good night!), change clothes

other than laundry I am done for the day.
Maybe 2nd frog-a-thon for me. Too much email in the past.
Dresser not moved in but terrific progress made! I am delighted.

Bridget – congratulations on your progress! I know the feeling, of trying to make space in a room (let’s just say, a room “like that”, lol) to shoehorn in a piece of furniture.
You sound worried about your son. I hope things improve for him, and his outlook gets sunnier.

um what’s a frog-a-thon?
5:15 PST
last hour hacked up a lung, finished healthmonth checkin for 2011
next hour: finish laundry, finish planning tomorrow’s workshop

Sidewalk D — this very thread you’re posting on is a “frogathon”, and you’re doing it very nicely!

I posted this a few hours up above, in this thread:
In case any of our new members are wondering what this is about . . . It started with this concept:
http://www.eatthatfrogmovie.com/

. . . now adapted to mean generally-getting-stuff-done.

The idea is, to have company and support, in knowing that others are also tackling either work, chores, long-procrastinated-on stuff

7.33 p.m. CST

Last hour: Dinner, washed the swatch (it’s drying right now), measured DH (his hips are larger than his chest, and his waist is smaller than both).

Next hour: Edit first part of report, start citations for next module.

9.33 p.m. CST

Last two hours: Edited first part of report, did all of next module.

Next hour: Figure out details for tomorrow’s knitting, sort out plan for the day (to-do list), report back with final stats.

I sound like such a Debbie Downer! Sorry, guys.

Emily – if you have Chinese food and a movie you’re having a traditional Jewish Christmas! :D
Sorry to hear that you aren’t able to celebrate in a way that feels like home to you. Maybe you and Ian can celebrate Christmas together another day with proper Christmas dinner, so you don’t feel like you’ve missed the holiday…

I’m so sorry Emily, and do hope you can both have your Christmas dinner another night this week! It’s true – you’ll definitely be having a traditional Jewish Xmas!! Sending hugs your way.

It is always darkest just before the powder is ignited and the human cannonball flies out of her dark prison — to the applause of thousands. Hang in there, I think somebody found a lighter!

Aw. Pick a different day for dinner. In the meantime… Chinese and a movie sounds excellent!

Give yourself a nice self-pampering day tomorrow with Chinese food, a movie, bath with candles and oils, and whatever you feel like to make you feel cosy and comfy :) Then have celebrations on a day with your husband when you’re both free. Sending good wishes your way!

Hi Emily. I’m sorry to hear that – that does sound disappointing, and it would be easy to get down in the dumps about it. I’d echo the ideas of pampering yourself this weekend as much as you can (do what would make you feel the coziest and most comforted), and then think of Christmas as ‘delayed’ by a few/couple days. You can do the whole Christmas ‘thing’, just a little later. And today and tomorrow, remind yourself that you’re having a ‘traditional Jewish Xmas’ (LOL).

I know that’s not quite the same – there’s a zeitgeist about the days of Chistmas – but still, make the best of it – make lemonade out of nice, fresh, ripe, fragrant lemons.
In times like this, I too struggle to remind myself that there IS some choice about how I respond to what life deals out to me.

Emily, we postponed our Thanksgiving to Saturday and it was great. That’s when family was together. That’s when turkey was eaten.
Our Christmas may be tomorrow or may be later. Our son and DIL are spending morning together at their house. Her parents have separate households and she has a grandparent to visit. We’d rather them come when they are not feeling rushed and stressed.
We have an open door for when they want to come by.

You can make Christmas whenever you want and movies are always a great option. Take advantage of these days in whatever ways bring you little bits of joy.

I hope you found your way to some happy times during the past few days, Emily!
(written Dec 27th, 5:30 pm EST)

Thank you everyone for your inspiration! I went out Christmas Eve and bought things to fill our stockings with, since I realized that not exchanging gifts with my husband was one of the reasons I was so down. We opened stockings when Ian got off work then we went to bed. It was actually very nice. I hope everyone else had a lovely holiday!

Emileeeee . . . you’re baaaaaack!
I’m so glad you found a way to make Christmas happy!

We went through a similar process here – for several years, not exchanging presents at all (we already have everything, and too much of it!), but then I/we realized that it would feel much nicer if we had at least something under the tree for each other – so this year we did, at the last minute, and it was good. :-)

And thanks for the Christmas present! :-)

Congratulations for another trip around the sun.

happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Miss Piecrustacean!

I guess I missed the fruit sending party! Happy Birthday!

Glad to see you back, Emily!
Getting started is often the hardest part.
Good luck with keeping-going.

urgh…
I’m glad you’re back, Emily.
And, yeah, you’ve started.
For me that seems to be the hardest sometimes.
You may not have been told
recently, but you’re pretty awesome yourself!

Emily, that is a great start. Very glad you are back.

I hear your, girl. Small steps. Good moments.

Really really nice to see you back and that you’re feeling a bit better. Have a great day today.

Good for you. Positive change begins with small steps.

Emily, every time I look at your picture, I have to chuckle.