Tag: life

Enough Said…

~ JodiLea ~ Leave a comment

When I read this, I giggled. Then I realized it described my current state of mind. I am always busy juggling different projects. However, this week has been a torturous stream of events gone wrong.

It began with my computer getting hacked. Those terrorists are really improving their game, and I got caught off-guard that morning before I had my coffee. I won’t go into the blow-by-blow account of it all here. I became unglued, got professional help, and all is well now. (How is that for brief?)

The remaining hours of Monday went by in a blur. In fact, Tuesday through Thursday were blurrisome (A new word meaning “annoyingly vague”) also.

It was Friday that was vivid. A trainer at our new gym had to cancel our orientation appointment, so now we must wait until Thursday to learn how to use the equipment. Sigh. My plan to work on a baby quilt was delayed due to phone calls, emails, and snail mail having to do with either my medical situation or a quilter wanting or needing something. I don’t mind helping my fellow quilters, but everything takes time. Somehow, I don’t have enough time.

I get up early and go to bed late. I do not fiddle around. I need more sleep. I fall asleep in the weirdest places. Like my keyboard, at the dinner table. I should go to bed now, but I have some things to finish. That’s how it starts. Then I get to bed after midnight. Did I get a lot accomplished? Heck, no. I was too brain-dead after 10:00 pm. I do my best work in the mornings, so I will sleep on time and get up early. It won’t give me more hours, but I think they will be happier.

We will have to see about this…

Let the Games Begin!

~ JodiLea ~ 2 Comments
Bloganuary writing prompt
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.
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Ever since I can remember, family gatherings meant playing games- cards and dominoes. After Thanksgiving dinner, we would work on a jigsaw puzzle. I say “we,” but I wasn’t much help when I was a kid. I was not included in all the games that were played. I would hang out in the family room regardless, just to listen. You never heard such arguing! My family was the original “Family Feud.”

Meanwhile, in a different town in California, my hubby’s family played games, mostly cards and dominoes. They were different from the ones my family played but just as competitive and loud. At the first gathering, my hubby took me to, I must have learned 7 new games. I was also told that to be in their family, I had to play pinocle. After many painful attempts to teach me that game, an exception to the rule was decided. I believe that not playing with me made the game fun for them again. I truly sucked.

Fast-forward to the present, and our kids and their kids are continuing with this tradition. The games have changed over the years, especially when hubby’s Uncle taught us ‘Hand and Foot.’ Everyone loves to play that one. I recommend that anyone not familiar with that game Google it. There are a million variations, but decide on one and have a blast!

To Keep, or not to Keep

~ JodiLea
Bloganuary writing prompt
Where can you reduce clutter in your life?
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That is the question.

I have clutter in every aspect of my life. As a writer, I have kept short stories and novel drafts over the years. I even have the first spiral notebooks in which I wrote poems and short stories. I wrote most drafts using pen and paper because it was easier than pounding on an old manual typewriter.
I have filing cabinets and bookshelves full of binders of drafts and notes that ‘I might want to revisit.’ I do go back every 3 years or so to reread some of my favorites. Occasionally, I even tinker with one, trying to be inspired. I don’t remember ever breathing life back into any former efforts.

Old Notebooks

Another area of my life with clutter is the guest room that I call my sewing/craft room. I have been “building up my stash” since 2013 when I joined a quilt guild. Almost every week, we have fabrics sitting on our “free table.” I have found some really cool stuff on that table. Someday, I need to dig in and make a lot more quilts for charity and use that fabric up. I have cupboards full, boxes under the bed, and even some bins in the basement. Some may call that hoarding. I call it preparation.


I have way too many cookbooks. I started my own cookbook back when my kids were young. My notes are semi-organized, and most recipes have been taste-tested. My goal was to give them a cookbook when they went off on their own. The kids are in their 40s now, so I guess that plan is moot. Perhaps by the time I have great-grandchildren…

I sometimes have these days where my mindset is, “You don’t need all this stuff!” And that is true – I don’t need it. However, I may want it at some point in the future. I suppose that is why I keep it. Just in case.