Friday, May 14, 2010

I'm Back -- With A Big Red But

Just letting everyone know that I'm back -- as promised and on schedule.

BUT...

I've decided that I'm no longer going to post on weekends.  So I'm here today, gone tomorrow.  Gone Sunday, too.

I'm happy to be back online, but I have to confess that unblogging was good for me.  Oddly enough, I wasn't the only one who pulled the plug...or at least shook it loose from the socket.  At least two other bloggers I follow did the same thing.  Must be something in the air.

I also have to confess that I wasn't 100% offline the past couple of weeks.  I had to check email regarding an order for Shane's work boots and I answered a personal email.  I submitted a mystery shop report online and I looked up the house my brother is buying on Google maps.  I checked the blog of a real life friend to see if his baby had been born (she had), canceled a camping reservation and made a hotel reservation instead. I printed some to-do lists and revamped my menu planning sheet, all from the hard drive.  And a couple of days ago I started catching up with the blogs I follow regularly.  Not the full offline experience I'd planned, but not bad for a two-week stretch.

Being away from the computer cleared my head a little and, I think, helped me to be more patient with Shane and Kat.  That part was unexpected, but makes sense, now that I think about it.  I wasn't getting things done around the house the way I wanted because I was wasting too much time online; I was taking the resulting stressful feelings out on them. 

That's not to say all my time online is a waste or that I was able to get all I wanted to do done in two weeks.  Neither is the case.  But at least I feel my time is in better balance now and I hope to keep it that way by limiting my computer time.

Here are some of the highlights (and lowlights) of my time away:

  • With yesterday's van payment and extra money I added to it, we are now well below the $5000 mark in non-mortgage debt!  $4501 to be exact and I'm bound and determined to get that taken care of by the end of the year.

  • Our garden is finally beginning to grow and I hope to take photos and post them soon.

  • Kat attended a birthday (indoor) pool party, but also had a stomach bug.  There are ups and downs in life, even when you are just six years old.

  • Shane has had overtime hours (yay!), but they've really only served to make up for the hours he's missed because of rain (nay!).

  • I've been migraine-free for 34 days (yes, I'm still counting, and haven't counted this high for at least a year)  Unfortunately, the beta-blocker I've been taking to get pain-free was making me both bitchy and melancholy.  The doctor let me cut the dose by half, and I'm happy to say I'm a little less moody and still not headachey.  So far, so good.

  • Photos of my kitchen were featured HERE, and Rhonda's readers have a lot of questions, which I plan to answer in a post sometime next week.

  • We're planning a family mini-vacation (Eureka Springs, AR and surroundings) for the end of the month.  This is where we were married ten years ago, but we haven't been back since then. Shane doesn't get paid time off, so for us to get away for even just 3 or 4 days is kind of a big deal.

That's about it, I think.  Life's been pretty normal around here.  I think I've been around to all of your blogs by now, but if I missed out on something exciting happening in your life, make sure to tell me about it in the comments!






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11 comments:

Sonya Ann said...

I'm glad that you are back. I too, have backed off a bit lately. I'm not as outgoing as before.
I had terrible Annie withdrawals!

Sheila said...

Good to see you back. I know I wasn't on here as much as usual but I had problems with blogger for a while and just had the blahs the rest of the time!! It's amazing how much I can get done when I'm not on here so much!!! Congrats on being migraine free and getting the dosage to fit you better. Also congrats on getting the van paid down. We have only $3000 in credit card debt to pay off--then we will only have a mortgage! Have a great weekend.

The Cookbook Junkie said...

I am thrilled that you're back. Things have been slow everywhere online which is understandable when the weather starts to get nicer in most areas. It makes me nervous though - as if the world is starting to go offline and I really enjoy my online friends so I would never want that to happen.

Lisa B. said...

I'm glad you're back! But I understand needing to get your time balanced.

slugmama said...

Welcome back lady!
We missed you, even if your but is red...that's what happens when you spend too much time out in the garden and not sitting on the computer. Maybe your dorky gardening hat would have been better placed on your but.... ;-)

We all need breaks from various things in life now and again. I may be taking one soon too...not unplugging totally but getting outside finally to do some gardening and playing in the dirt.

So glad you are continuing your headache-free streak...wooohoo!

Congrats on the debt reduction too. 7 months left in the year so that's $643/mo. Highly do-able!!

The trip sounds like it will be fun too. Take lots of piccies. I don't think I've ever been to Arkansas yet.
But I can say I've been in your kitchen now, can't I?lol

Annie Jones said...

SonyaAnn: You not outgoing? Somehow I'm not buying it.

Sheila: Did you have trouble with the Inderal affecting your moods? I was going to ask, but, um, I was offline. It seems better now at the lower dose, but I want to give it another full month before I say for sure.

CJ: I think you're right...it's probably just spring fever. And who could blame anyone after the winter we had?

Lisa B: Thanks. :) Did you ever get back to the thrift store on a day they were open?

Slugmama: I know I have a big head, but that hat still isn't big enough to cover my "but".

NW Arkansas is very pretty, especially in the fall, but this time of year, too. It's only a couple hundred miles away, but you'd think you were in the Deep South because everyone is so friendly there. :)

Sheila said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A.Marie said...

Hello!!! I also took a break from blogging and it was good...I missed everyone though! Glad you are doing okay and I am going to go now and check out your kitchen pictures!! :)

Tug said...

Good to see you! Glad you enjoyed your time away, and YAY for bringing the debt down!! Hope Kat is feeling better as well.

Frances said...

Glad to see you back, Annie Jones. I was out of town, so missed you coming back. But I am glad you are here now.

I understand needing to back off some.

Annie Jones said...

A.Marie: Glad you're back, too. Thanks for stopping by.

Tug: Kat was puny for about 3 days, but luckily she bounced right back. If she has to be sick, I prefer a cold...at least then I know what the problem is. With the stomach, not so much.

Frances: How was your trip? Glad you're back, as well.