Sometimes people do these really interesting posts where they talk about their daily lives. I am over here maintaining that my life is super boring, so let me show a day in my (boring) life through photos so people won't expect me to do one of those week in a life series because while I find them riveting when other people do them, I'm pretty sure you all would fall over into a coma if you read about my day-to-day.
5:30am - Alarm goes off. I stumble across the room to turn it off and immediately turn on my SAD lamp.
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| Apparently I need to dust my nightstand. NOTE: This will not happen. Just like organizing the totes under the bed, this chore will get put off until someone who is not me or my husband comes into our master bedroom. |
6:22am - On a walk with Hannah.
7:37am - While getting ready for the day (brushing teeth, washing my face, getting dressed, putting on makeup - why do we have to do this EVERY SINGLE BLOODY DAY?), I was listening to an audiobook. Mini review: oddly riveting. So far no hats. Thumbs up. If you do not get this joke, do not read this book.
8:44am - I got to work by about 8:05, but wasn't even able to sit down and uncap my tea until almost nine because things kept coming my way, including my boss checking in with me and then regaling me with a story about how her car broke down, was towed to a dealership, but the dealership won't buy the now-dead car, and so she had to get some guy from "the neighborhood" to tow the car elsewhere. It was quite a saga. I'm happy it wasn't my saga.
9:39am - Keyboard warrior. Ha. I'm reading blogs because I had a meeting at ten, but I didn't want to do/start actual work beforehand.
10:45am - By the end of my meeting, I was out of tea and had to walk across the hall to fill up my thermos with water for the rest of the morning.
11:38am - It is grey, foggy, and drizzling here, yo. What a lovely view. *sigh*
12:04pm - Time for lunch. Veggies include carrots, cucumbers, mini peppers, and cherry tomatoes. I also ate some pretzels with that guac. It's not quite the entire rainbow, but I'm trying.
1:25pm - Yesterday my mom had emergency surgery. It's been very scary and I'm quite obviously in denial about everything. I'm going to Michigan tomorrow, which will be yesterday by the time you're reading this, so I'm not that much in denial. I'm sure I'll talk more about it as the weeks and months go by, but right now I want you to know that my mom and I are handling this with dark humor and my sister keeps texting "why would you say that?" in exasperation and frustration with us.
2:01pm - I'm working on a PowerPoint presentation that I'm going to be giving to students next week and I had to go around finding things on campus to represent non-coursework ways of getting involved. This is our campus literary magazine. The faculty advisor on this beauty is the Wisconsin Poet Laureate, but I'm not bragging or anything.
3:22pm - I ordered the dog park calendar when I ordered Hannah's new tag, so it just arrived in the mail. I took it to my office and spent a good thirty minutes inputting dates into it this afternoon. I'm like 100% sure I messed something up because I'm very bad at calendars, but I did my best.
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| Does anyone see a dog they recognize in these pages? |
4:34pm - After work walk with Hannah. We did a mile walk, but also spent some time on politely walking up and down stairs at the Middle School. She has to look at me for permission before going up or down and we also work pretty hard at having her watch me to stop in the middle of a staircase. She understands asking for permission at landings, but she sometimes gets very excited about being on the stairs and forgets to check in with me. This is bad when it's icy or snowy because she could drag me! We train for a variety of reasons, but safety is the most important reason.
5:31pm - Working out. Yoga with Adriene today.
6:05pm and 6:09pm - Training Hannah and feeding Zelda. Dinner was bubbling away on the stove while this was happening. Basically I'm having Hannah rest her chin in my palm. We use this a lot at the vet so they can examine her ears and back.
7:49pm - At the grocery store. Normally we go on Thursday nights, not Wednesdays, but since I will gone on Thursday, we headed out tonight. I'm absolutely freaked out by this guy in the frozen food area.
8:41pm - Last walk with Hannah for the day. It's super foggy tonight and it looked cool by the river. Bonus photo of just the river.
9:39pm - Shower and get ready for bed. So many beauty products, so little time.
And then I crawled into bed with my Kindle at about 9:55pm.
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Have you taken any photos today? What was the last one you took?
Safe travels, and I hope your mom is healing and feeling better.
ReplyDeleteThat journal does look like a beauty... and Hannah is extra beautiful in her neon necklace :)!
I think it's going to be a long road ahead for my mom, but she'll get through it. Thanks for your thoughts.
DeleteBoring or not, I love these day in the life posts. I hope that you are with your Mom now and she is doing well! It sounds like at least she is in good humor! I have some questions - in the shot of you filling up your water, is your thermos really small or is your thumb really big? :) the angle is funny, but I am assuming that is a 20 oz (or something) sized thermos? I am also curious about what items you have in your work pantry. Do you have a coffee maker? Fridge? Snacks? I have worked a few different jobs and each one is a little different.
ReplyDeleteThose Hannah walks look cold, especially with the river! Are they pretty good at clearing the sidewalks in your town? I lived in Des Moines for a winter and I was trying to train for a half marathon and it was brutal. They did not always clear the sidewalks so I tried running in the street once and aborted that very quickly, as cars + ice do not really do it for me. I ended up doing my training on the treadmill, which was not fun, but felt a lot safer!
It's a 20 oz thermos, so just normal sized!
DeleteThere is a (shared) fridge in our office. I put in some fizzy drinks and have some salad dressing in there and bring my veggies/guac in every day. I have a snack cupboard in my own office where I keep nuts, pretzels, and whatever else I might want while I'm at work. There's a shared kitchen down the hall with another fridge and a microwave, but I have never really used anything there.
The Hannah walks were above freezing, so they weren't too bad. I mean, not too bad for January. Our town is so-so about clearing sidewalks. Some people are on top of it and others aren't. I try to be prepared with very good winter boots and I make judicious use of my YakTrax.
Last photo was yesterday of skiing!
ReplyDeleteI love these posts and feel like I could comment about every time stamp.
5:30. YUCK. I couldn't do it. Gold stars, Engie.
Hannah's eyes. They just melt me every time and I am just forever in awe of how intentional and thoughtful you are with training.
That cutout at the store is CREEPY.
Your water bottle looks so bright and cheery.
And yum; I'd eat that lunch :)
5:30 every morning, Elisabeth. Can you even imagine?!
DeleteThat is NOT a cutout. It's a full mannequin. The sign used to move back and forth, too, which was always so scary!
Oh no, I'm sorry about your mom. That sounds serious. I guess you're with her now- I hope everything is okay!
ReplyDeleteSo, you thought this would be boring but I enjoyed it. Why is it SO FUN to get a glimpse into someone else's life??? Your picture of the weather... ugh. Yep, that's how I remember the midwest! We didn't have SAD lamps back in the day... I think it would have helped me a lot.
i love all the Hannah photos in this post (and bonus one of Zelda.)
Good luck with your trip- I hope everything goes well.
Thanks, Jenny. The trip home was a thing and I'm sure I'll be making a few more before I know it.
DeleteThinking of you and your mom! Dark humor has carried me and my little family through a lot of hard days and I love that the two of you have that. That cut out is super creepy! (Maybe it's about the proportions? Or the eyes?) The last picture I took was of our dog, Bella, as a before grooming check so I could see what looks different after....
ReplyDeleteI love a good before/after of a dog groom. So much fun to see what they can do with those scruffy dogs.
DeleteI'm sending all of the internet good vibes for your mom <3
ReplyDeleteThe last picture that I took was of a bottle of distilled vinegar for my latest post. That's how I roll on a Friday morning. The day may have been boring for you, but it's fascinating to read about. I'm taking note of the Siskle and Ebert book - that's right up my alley. Don't give up, I'm sure they'll throw down a hat somewhere in there.
The Siskel and Ebert book was really good. I think you would like it. I listened to it (obviously) and it was read by the author and you could really feel his enthusiasm for the subject. Two thumbs up from this reviewer! (Don't sue me, please, the estates of Siskel and Ebert.)
DeleteIf I was ever in doubt, I now know for sure that I am a sloth.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's not true!
DeleteI'm sorry that your mom is going through some scary health stuff. Kudos to her for keeping a sense of humour throughout. Whatever it takes, right?
ReplyDeleteMy routine is so much more slothful. I fully embraced my retirement in every way. Note To Self: perhaps it's time to break out the Happy Light.
The last photo I took is of yet another worthless potato peeler that I threw in the trash. I'm considering writing a post.
PLEASE WRITE A POST ABOUT THE POTATO PEELERS. I have so many thoughts on potato peelers. I want to know yours.
DeleteI'm so sorry your Mom is having health problems, but so glad she has you to be darkly humorous with! And I liked this post, from the almost-a-rainbow lunch to the neat ice river picture.
ReplyDeleteThe last photo I took was of Maggie giving me the "I'm starving" look. I take so many pictures, not just of her, that the phone I've had for just over a year is out of storage. Tell me how that happens! It keeps bugging me to clear space so it can update.
My phone is out of storage, but it's not anything I've done. It's just literally "other" is like 75% of my space and I can't figure out what the "other" is! So frustrating.
DeleteAhhh, that Pizza Guy is at our Woodman's, too. And he has startled me so many times!!! Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteLove the stairs training. Charlie is doing pretty mediocre on the deck training thing we were talking about recently. After I let him out the back door, sometimes he will stop at the top of the steps to head down to the yard when I command him to, but sometimes he goes nuts and just zooms off like a bat out of hell. It's my fault for not putting a leash on him to prevent this...Also, sometimes if I'm in a hurry or don't want to deal with it, I often just carry him out in my arms, walk across the deck and then put him on the tie-out stake leash in the yard. And then I reverse it to bring him in the house- so he's basically never unleashed (in my fenced in back yard- I'd never let him off leash in the front!). This is all the "easiest" way for me, but obviously he's not getting any better at following commands in and out of the house this way, either. Sigh.
It's so hard in the winter to do outdoor training! You just want to go out and come in as soon as you can! You can practice the commands you want him to follow in the house and then when it gets warmer out, implement them outdoors!
DeleteThat guy in the frozen food area is SO creepy.
ReplyDeleteThinking healing thoughts for your mom. Hope your trip to see her offers comfort to you both. xxoo
That guy in the frozen food section should be outlawed. I can't imagine how many people he startles every day. I wouldn't buy that pizza for anything.
DeleteSay what you want, but I love reading about everybody else's days - boring is relative! ;) I love to picture your day in my head and these accounts help!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she's okay!?
I guess my own life does seem boring, but everyone else's is so interesting. Maybe I'll try to do this photo every hour more often.
DeleteI love this format, to get to know your "ordinary" life. How interesting that you walk Hannah 3 times a day. I think that's a great way to unwind and let mind wonder. I totally do check blogs when I am tired working on a project.
ReplyDeleteI do walk the dog three times a day. I don't know how else to do it? First thing in the morning, she's gotta go. She's been inside for an entire workday when we get home, so it seems fair that she needs a walk then, too. And then last chance walk before bed. Honestly, isn't this how all dog owners do it? What's the secret to cutting this down?
DeleteI'm glad to know you're with your mom now, and I hope she is on the mend and feeling MUCH BETTER. I'm sure you're feeling better to just be with her, it's so scary to be far from family or friends when something serious is going on.
ReplyDeleteI can get behind that lunch, it looks delicious. Wholly Guacamole is my favorite store brand guac.
Congrats to Hannah on being a calendar girl! Mulder was on a Keeshond rescue calendar one year! I bought copies for my entire family, and I'm not sure anyone wanted them.
My most recent picture is of Chana (chick peas) that I took at the Indian Grocery store. I don't mention garbanzos because I don't want to upset you. (JK, it's because they were called Chana and Chick Peas on the packaging.)
The first time H was in the calendar, I sent one to everyone I know. LOL. I quickly realized that I'm the only one who wanted one!
DeleteHa ha. I LOVE that you have now taking pictures of chickpeas everywhere you go. We should do a study about word usage based on chickpeas/chana/garbanzo.
I am thinking of you and your mom and your trip and hope all is better and you are doing OK. This day looks delightful to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Sarah. It was a pretty average day for me!
DeleteI love a photo-filled day in the life post! What fun to see your day! I'm so sorry about your mom's emergency surgery and send my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like while I thought it was sort of boring, not many other people did. Maybe I'll work more posts like this as a regular feature into my rotation.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your mom, Engie. I hope everything has gone well with her recovery so far. <3
ReplyDeleteI maintain that everyone's life is interesting in different ways, and I stand by that! This was fun to read because your life is so different than mine. :)
What, Stephany? You don't walk 2.5 miles with a dog every day?!
DeleteSo very interesting to get a glimpse into other people's lives. Thank you for sharing! Hugs to mom.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's only boring to me!
DeleteI love these peeks into other peoples lifes. So not boring for me. Hope your mom is recovering well. Dark humor is sometimes the best to get you through the tough times. My aunt and I have those conversations too. Always cheers us up somehow.
ReplyDeleteI guess it is interesting to see other people's lives. I'll have to do this sort of thing more frequently, I guess.
DeleteI hope your mom is doing okay and is comfortable! I am glad you two could lean on humor to help you through the stress of the emergency.
ReplyDeleteI love how hard you work on training with Hannah! You're amazing!
LOL I recognize that guy from Woodman's!
Hannah's training is my favorite hobby. I want her to be the happiest, most enriched dog she can be.
DeleteThat guy from Woodman's is a giant creep!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that we all think our lives are the most boring things ever.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is an equally universally acknowledged truth that everyone else - at least in BlogLand - will find our boring lives fascinating. ;)
Thanks for sharing.