Too busy talking

I’ve been on the phone so much this evening talking to various friends that again I haven’t got a ‘proper’ post to upload tonight. During the course of the day I have many ideas/rants for my little blog but lately as soon as I get round to writing it I’m either too tired or bloomin’ can’t remember what I was going to write about. So everyone just gets these boring posts of me apologising or making up excuses for not writing anything interesting.

Still I will have some interesting times coming ahead as my history course starts tomorrow, I’m off to Ireland on Friday to help out with an event that work is organising and I have a new role at work that will be finalised soon. These three things could be either very good or very bad but I’m hoping my confidence will appear so they will be good. Positive thinking! In other news, I’ve realised that I’ve still got some issues to sort out though. While talking to one of my friends who I haven’t talked to in a while and I was telling her about my kidney tests that I had last year and I could feel myself welling up with tears. Most bizarre as I thought that was in the past and I had dealt with it but obviously not. Oh well, time for some deep breathing before bed.

Still got nothing to say

Maybe I shouldn’t post anything then. I doubt anyone would notice if I didn’t. At least that would stop me staring at the laptop for about 20 minutes trying to think of something to write about. I’m going to have a peppermint tea and hopefully I will have an early night. I’m a night person but after so many late nights it catches up with me and then I feel rubbish like I do now. Sleep is a great healer. Sweet dreams everyone.

Yawn!

I’ve got slightly carried away with sorting out my clothes to take on a work trip that I completely forgot about my blog. It means that this is another ‘no’ blog and I’m sorry about that but I really need to get ready for some sleeping. Trying to decide on what clothes to take to on a work trip is tough especially as I have been wearing jeans for the past few months in the office. Digging out the work trousers and skirts and trying them on is so time consuming. Oh well, I’ll have another go tomorrow at trying to decide what to take and I must remember that Ireland will be colder and wetter than here.

Good Saturday

As a pessimistic I don’t like to count my chickens too soon but yesterday was a good day – I actually felt well and didn’t have any moments of panic. I had my last piano lesson with my current teacher as she is off to university to study maths today. She is so sweet and a really good teacher but I will get another teacher as learning the piano has been fun. She told me that I can play the piano and I need to believe that I can. After the boost of confidence I rushed home as I had a hair appointment booked. My hairdresser did wonders again with my barnet – it looks a lot more tidier and stylish.

With the sun shining all day it made the difference on my attitude, so in the afternoon I listened to a history programme about the fall of the Roman Empire which my new tutor recommended and then we did some food shopping. In the evening we were entertained by my parents with some homecooked curry. Finally when back home I even managed to read my book in bed. It was nice to have such a good day after a few weeks of feeling odd and generally lethargic.

Night off

Well it is a Saturday night! Not much to report anyway but hope everyone is having a good weekend. Cheerio for now.

Is it really Friday?

I’ve spent most of this week with either a day missing or maybe the week just whizzed by that suddenly Friday is here and I’m like “hell, how did that happen?”.  I’m not really sure I can blame jet-lag for this (maybe I should) or the fact that I spent three days working at home. Anyway, this is better than thinking it was Friday on Thursday – so I’m quite glad that it is Saturday tomorrow. Not a whirlwind of a weekend planned but I’m hoping to get some stuff done instead of sitting on my arse like I did last weekend. A piano lesson and a haircut booked for tomorrow and I’ve got some history homework to start on before my class starts next week. I’m going to Dublin for a work conference on Friday so I’ve got to find my smart work clothing and do some ironing for that.

There is two other things that I would like to do this weekend: running and yoga breathing. I need to stop my procrastination and get back to living my life. I especially need to do this with my upcoming course and this event that I’m helping with. Not my normal work so I’m slightly apprehensive on how it will go. I think that is enough things to do this weekend. One other thought before I finish off – after my holiday to Lake Superior I really need to move out to the countryside. Either the Lake District or further out in to the depths of Essex or Hertfordshire. I feel I need fresher air and views to die for to make me feel calm. I doubt it will make me stop worrying but maybe happier. Now to persuade my husband that this is a good idea or I might just put the house up for sale anyway. Happy Friday!!

The art of Comments

I don’t get huge amounts of comments but I’m truly thankful for the ones that I do get. As most of my posts are normally me rambling on about how shit I feel or moaning about something I don’t expect comments. Many of the blogs that I read get lots of comments, some with over 100+. Wow, that must be great but then again you have to read them all, approve them if they are new and maybe reply. No wonder these popular bloggers are blogging full-time – just to keep up with the comments. Not all reply to each comment and I must admit if I post a comment then it is nice to see a reply even if it a “thanks for your comment”. I must admit that I haven’t always replied to every comment I get but I do try.

My next thought, which I actually nicked from a fellow “Twit”, was why do some people comment and others don’t. It seems the general rule of thumb is that if I comment on your blog then I expect a comment on mine. This isn’t always the case if you comment on the big blogs but for us normal folks trying to fit in a post when we have the time then a relationship seems to build. Almost like friends chatting by letter. Twitter is kind of the same – there is always those who will chat or answer your questions while others won’t say anything. They are the stalkers, who just like to follow people and never give anything back. I don’t think you can make people comment on your blog unless you want to write a controversial blog like about abortion or religion and all the nutcases will comment.

My Minnesota Holiday – part deux

The road trip. On Tuesday morning we got a taxi to the airport so we could pick up the hire car. Husband had requested for a large SUV type vehicle so he was more than pleased with having to choose from a selection of SUVs. From the airport we then drove north along Route 35 towards Duluth. The journey up north was so different from driving in the UK and not just because we was on the wrong side of the road. The roads are so much wider and everyone drives so much slower – stick an American on the M25 in rush hour and it would seem that they are stationary. It was easy to get out the city with a straight road up north. This made the journey so enjoyable for us, taking a leisurely drive through the country. After a few hours we arrived at Duluth, the port town on the edge of Lake Superior. It was magnificent to see Lake Superior through the industrial buildings at Duluth. We were staying at a converted brewery called Fitgers which also housed a micro brewery and various shops and restaurants. It was a lovely old building and the rooms were good too. Duluth is a nice port town and we had a good walk around the lake from the hotel to the Aerial Bridge. After two nights here and a lot of drinking of the local brew (and got the t-shirt too) we moved on to the Lutsen Resort, a couple of hours drive up north.

On the journey up with stopped off a few times at various State Parks and small towns. This was turning in to such a nice road trip. We arrived at the gorgeous Lutsen Resort which is right on the Lake with its own rocky beach. I had booked four nights here with the last night free but after such a good time at Lutsen we booked the last night there too. It wasn’t planned but there was a rather timely marathon going on nearby and my work friend Mike and his family were staying at the Lutsen Resort as well. No, I wasn’t running (as if!) but Mike was and he came 25th, which is bloody great especially as we had seen some of the route while walking the Superior Trail the day before. We spent our days hiking, visiting Grand Marais (a beautiful small town), eating, drinking, relaxing, laughing, talking and generally enjoying ourselves. It was wonderful to meet up with Mike and meet his gorgeous family, also having someone who knows the area is a bonus. On the last day before coming home we did a bit of shopping for gifts and I got myself some quilt squares from a quilt shop – lets see if I can actually get around to making a quilt. Then in the afternoon, husband went kayaking while I read my book on the beach. The lake is so huge compared to anything in the UK that is was like looking at the sea and there is something so therapeutic about sitting by water. The weather was in the 80s for most of the holiday, even on the day when the fog came in, it was still warm out. I’m sure I’d bored a few with my moanings about the heat but seeing the sun is wonderful (a vitamin D fest!). The journey home was uneventful and now I’m feeling blue about being back at home and work but I do have some wonderful memories and photos. Here are some more photos as well on flickr.

Urghh

I have a throbbing headache and feeling really tired so no real post tonight. I wasn’t going to post anything but thought I couldn’t do that so this is a quick hello/goodbye post. Early night for me and hopefully I won’t worry too much about my health tonight.

Oops

I would really like to finish of writing up my Minnesota trip but after a tiring day back in London I don’t feel like I can do it justice so I will finish it up tomorrow instead. Terrible behaviour but I was always bad at doing my homework. That doesn’t fair well for my new studies that are starting next week and my piano lessons – still one day I might change my ways and do my homework. Maybe this blog will have to take a back seat now and again while I’m learning but I do enjoy writing this. I read today a small article about stress management and it said to only do what you can. Basically don’t try to do too much. Learn to say no.

I feel I am repeating myself again – trying to be someone that I’m not… organised, tidy, clever, fit and relaxed. Oh well, change I might. It would be nice to be more organised in life. Do more, do less. Now I’m just confusing myself. Can I still blame jet-lag for the ramblings? Enough of this, I’m off to bed and hopefully sleep will arrive before midnight again.