Writer's block

Can one actually write about writer's block? Doesn't that by definition mean you do not have writer's block? Is there a minimum amount of time you must be stuck for before it's really a block and not a brain fart? I mean what's acceptable? 10 min, an hour, 2 days? Who decides these things anyway?

I started thinking that I'd like some fun blog prompts and of course I come up empty handed. So I start Googling and I find all kinds of sites dedicated to breaking writer's block, yet none of them are what I want.

I want something interesting, funny, or thought provoking. I've had a few ideas lately but then I think "that's silly" and talk myself out of it. Sometimes I just get side tracked and forget what it is I thought was so clever in the first place.

So all in all this is a post about writer's block. If you're writing about it do you still really have it? What are you ideas for breaking it? Do you have any really great places that lead you to think deep (or shallow) things? I'm trying to take a cue from Dawn and just WRITE more, even if it is silly or boring. So deal with it, and blame Dawn if I suck. It's all her fault anyway.

Shoot me some ideas and I'll try and write something up about it and post it with a link back to your blog too. We can all use more followers right?

First delivery

The first delivery is now sitting in my garage. Of course they were supposed to be here before noon and rolled in more like 1:15pm but at least it's done. My garage is now a warehouse for building supplies.

We now have proof that we're actually starting some sort of renovation project. We have 165 10ft 2x4s, 2 windows which are 48 inches wide by 60 inches tall, and enough flooring for just under 800 sq feet. The bathroom flooring will be ordered later.

Of course we've been digging a hole thinking the windows were 60 inches wide and 48 inches tall so our hole(s) are still not big enough. Hopefully we'll get started on that second one this weekend... or not. Those nice big windows will be letting a lot of light into the basement though so I am glad we chose larger ones (yah yah people were right get over it).

So here are the next pictures of the project. Gabe was excited and terrified of the truck. He has a thing about loud noises so he kept his hands on his ears the whole time.

The semi front detached from the bed and became the fork lift. The studs and windows came first.


Then the flooring and padding for underneath.

I was quite impressed with that truck up our hill. Anyone who's been here knows that hill is pretty steep. The Uhaul bottomed out on it when we moved in, there's a dent in the driveway from that. I guess what we needed was a semi.

Now I really do need those volunteers that keep saying to call them but mysteriously aren't around when ya ask ;)

The Basement Saga part 1

This really is a saga. It's going to take months and money and sweat, probably some blood too because we know how this works.

I'm hoping to be in my new bedroom after soaking in my new tub by October some time. Am I dreaming? Probably but a girl's gotta dream.

On the Fourth of July while the rest of the world was relaxing and watching fireworks or grilling out my dad and I decided that 90 was a good temperature to dig holes in. We were crazy. We did get almost all of the first hole dug. We didn't die either so that's good, if we had though we could have just rolled that person into the hole and back filled. It's definitely big enough.

There will be a pair of holes. They are for the egress windows that are required for living space in the basement. They'll let a lot of light in too so we don't turn into people that could be mistake for Powder.

I do have a picture of the plans and I'll have to post that later since I forgot to scan it. The dimensions though are as follows: Bedroom 18x14, bathroom 12x14, living space 40x13 (whole length of the house).

I really can't wait until we have a little more US space. The only downside is that we'll be as far away from Gabe as possible. So I'll need to get another monitor. My mom is in the room next to Gabe so he's not alone or anything but it will take some getting used to I think for me.

Without further ado here are the first pictures of the side of the house. The one on the right will be the bedroom, the one on the left is the living space.

The first hole, both will be about 65 inches side to side and from the top of the window to the bottom of the hole is about 52 inches, it's 36 inches out from the house.

The second window and where the next hole will be dug next weekend. That's the top of the umbrella laying on the side. We use it to keep the sun off of us.

Friends

Sometimes I forget how much I love my friends. Sometimes I forget I have more friends than I think too.

We had a fabulous day Saturday with lots of friends, old and new, and I find each and every time we get to go and be geeks wonderful unexpected things happen and I always find new friends.

I remember why the gaming community is something that I love and I don't mind calling myself a gamer anymore. Ten years ago I would have avoided calling myself that at all costs, now not so much. The people are some of the nicest, sweetest, most giving and generous people I've ever had the privilege to meet. The few jerks can be ignored, every group has them.

Of course when we get home at 2:30 am and only get four hours of sleep the next morning I remember why I don't do it more but I do know I want to do it more anyhow. Although I think we need a bigger vehicle. Someone should have a van (other than Jenny :P)

I'm really looking forward to our "little" BBQ this Saturday and I'm hoping I have enough food/drinks/fun (EEK!) but no matter what I know that we'll have a blast.

If you're heading our way next weekend we can't wait to see you. Bring some beer (or whatever you drink) and anything else you think might be fun. Heck bring someONE you think might be fun too. Maybe we'll pitch more than one tent in the backyard. This is one of those events that reminds me why I love having a yard and a house.

OOOH in completely other news, we got the loan for the basement so we will be starting all of that work. I'm REALLY hoping to be in the finished product by October. That way we'll have even more room (privacy) for us and anyone who wants to come and stay. Then the parties can get even bigger ;)

1094 days

Every once and awhile you surprise yourself. It sneaks up on you and suddenly you look at yourself and are all "huh did I do that?" It's usually something you talked yourself out of and when you finally make the leap you find out that you can do it.

Today I took a math final where I knew I was the most prepared student. I taught several other people things that they needed before class. I was the one people came to for help this semester. When did that happen? When I was in high school I used to be the one that needed help but most of the time I was too afraid to even ask for it. I was the one that never thought I was very good at math. Now I got a 100% on my final and have an A for the semester. When did I get so smart? Was I always good at math and just convinced myself that it wasn't cool for a girl to be good at it? I hope not.

I hope that as I've gotten older I've become better at focusing and concentrating on what is really important.

Henry Ford said "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal" I think he was right. I have my eyes on the goal now. I know what's important. I don't really care what other people think of me and I'm going to do the best job I can do because I'm the only one that matters.

I have one last test to take before I'm done for the semester and it's anatomy. I'm really working hard so that I end up with an A in this class too. It's definitely my hardest class but it's also the most fun.

I did my first college English paper this semester and I got 190/200 points on it and it was all about carseats, which is even more fun. I got to write about something I like and I got a good grade on it. I have an A for my final grade in that class as well. All my Psych work is in but the teacher hasn't given back grades, as far as I can figure I have a B+ or A- in that one too.

One more to go! Eye on the first goal. I am already on my way to achieving my goal of being a nurse. Only about 1094 days til I graduate.

Fog

Noun- A cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth, appreciably reducing visibility.

In reality it means that we're cooped up inside and Gabe is laying on the floor wrapped in a blanket and with a pillow watching tv. He's awful melancholy for a 3 year old sometimes. Maybe he's part Eeyore? Such a funny boy sometimes. I just hope he's not getting sick. He says he's sad today. It's amazing how sensitive kids can be to things like the weather.

I'm really looking forward to some nice warm weather this anti-spring junk has to end. Yes we need the rain but geez can it be warmer than 50 out for it at least? My heat is still kicking in. I hate the cold and damp. It does horrible things for Mike as well. We want warm dry weather any day now, please?

I'm just about done with school. I have til next Friday but that's really only two meetings for one class left. There are no big or exciting plans for summer though. We are hoping to have a big BBQ at the end of June, so if you're local and haven't been invited check Facebook and send me a message. I promise I want you I just forgot :D

We interrupt this blog....

With just three weeks left in the school year I've been a bit busy. I've just submitted the rough draft of my first real college paper for English. Of course it was about carseats ;) So that's mostly where I've been and what I've been doing.

I do exist I promise!

We're busy at the house as well. We're going to be painting the outside. We have actually bought paint so any day now we can start. We need to seal the deck too, bought that stuff already. My mom put up some lattice work around the deck so the cats don't decide to go hiding.

Lewis- He would and he's dumb enough to not find his way out of a paper bag. He's cute and has a lot of extra toes so we keep him.

Mango-I'm not sure she'll go outside at all. She's a big ball of fluff and teeth (no claws) and really is Mike's cat. Once she got into the hallway of our apartment complex and she was so scared she peed herself.

PJ- He's not that bright either but he's little so he can squeeze through a lot of little places. He likes being outside too though.

Moses- Well she's fat so she can't get into or out of much. I'm betting she'll just lay on the deck and bask in the sunshine.

Yes I admit to having four cats. We're not really crazy cat people, though I'm more of a cat person than a dog person. My mom had Lewis and PJ and we had Mango and Moses and now that we all live together we have four. It's quite amusing most of the time.

There will be a full fence going up this summer as well so the cats can roam the yard freely then.

I'm hoping to have some fun this summer and in just three weeks I'll be free of school til fall (I think).