I have a problem with authority

I've discovered something about myself that I never would have guessed--I have a problem with authority. A big one.

It really just hit me this evening as we were driving home from the mall. As we passed an elementary school, I could see a list of rules on the wall and I thought, "They didn't have that when I was a kid." You just behaved yourself in school or your parents would hear about it when you got home. And then you were in real trouble.

I also noticed recently I don't like people in a position of authority telling me what to do. I'd rather be asked. I don't like signs that tell me to go a certain route, when that route is obviously illogical. And I really don't like the local newscasters telling me how to feel about a story. Cut the drama.

I think I'm getting old and crotchety.

Lacking inspiration

I made a goal for myself to improve intellectually. Huh. I typed that without giggling.

Anyway. I love to read. But, I put a rule on myself--for every fun, trashy, or "my English professor's eyes would roll so far back in his head, he'd have to shave his eyeballs just looking at the title" book, I have to read a classic or something that will help my writing skills develop. I'm using The Bookman as a guide.

The only problem is, I've started Atlas Shrugged, In Cold Blood and Lincoln at Gettysburg, and I can't manage to get into I-can't-put-it-down mode.

I would rather fold laundry. Count calories. Pick my toes. Clean the basement. Clean anything.

Sad, isn't it?

A hectic day

I don't know how people with kids do it. I had a busy day at work, came home, cooked dinner, sat down for one hour. Got up, fixed a treat for work tomorrow (more to come on that) got in a workout, cleaned the house, packed a lunch (even more to come on that) and got my clothes ready for tomorrow.

I'm exhausted. Parents, I salute you.

As for the treats for work tomorrow...I have a blog at work. It's about the work-life balance, or lack thereof. As part of my blog, I asked co-workers to send me healthy, sweet treat recipes because this is what I look like when my sweet tooth is in full force:


One employee submitted a recipe that called for dried prunes, dates, cocoa powder, maple syrup, almond butter and a few other sticky things. My beloved saw the ingredients on the counter, mainly the prunes and dates, and asked with a very concerned tone, "Are you having trouble poopin'?"

I can see how he'd get that impression.

Oddly enough, the ingredients stopped up my food processor pretty well. In fact, I'm pretty sure we came close to burning out the motor...

After making the treats, it was time to pack lunches. As of yesterday, eating got more complicated. We're trying a new thing where we eat four, small, 300-calorie meals a day at work and one, 600-calorie meal at home (dinner). Do you know what it's like to not only figure out what you'll be in the mood to eat tomorrow, but also to add up the calories?

And tomorrow is Fat Tuesday. Paczki day.
My entire allotted calorie bank for the entire day. So not worth it.

Right. I'll just keep telling myself that. Maybe I'll start to believe it.

Winter: a cruel tease

I saw two robins last week. I'm always buoyed by the sight of them; spring is closer and winter is in its last throes.

Not in Michigan.

Now, just six days after the robin sighting, I'm sitting in my house, looking out the window and seeing nothing but snow blowing around. It only took an hour before the ground was covered and my hopes for an early spring dashed. I know it's still February. But when you go through a cold snap like we did (it was so cold for a few days that the snot inside our noses froze while walking to the garage), any sign of spring is something we grasp, hoping we'll see the last of our shovels, ski coats and rock salt for a few months.

No such luck.

Just checked out the window again. It's still snowing. Only now, it's coming down sideways. Fancy.

Sigh.

Reading, writing and re-writing

I was in a meeting last week with one of the best editors I've ever had. He told me that writers are only as good as the books they read.

At that moment, I was grateful that I wasn't in the middle of a grocery store bodice-ripper.

I agree with him to some extent. I know I've read books where the author turned a phrase particularly well, allowing the reader to get lost in the prose and beauty of a story- inspiring me to do the same in my work (I'm a writer. No, seriously, I am. I actually pull a regular paycheck.) But I also disagree with that statement. We all need an escape from whatever reality we have. Sometimes it's fun to pick up a fun novel and read for the joy and entertainment of reading. I call those books, "brain candy."

So, now I'm reading In Cold Blood as well as a book about how Abraham Lincoln crafted the Gettysburg Address. I aspire to be a speechwriter, so this second book seemed right up my alley.

I suppose at some point I should just pick one book and go with it, but that's not me. Ask my hubby. At any given time, I'll have two or three books going at the same time. I'm a multi-tasker.