This morning, as I sat thinking about my to-do list and my inspired list, I was also coincidentally allowing my alter ego PennyAnnPoundwise to write a blog post over on xanga.
I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to go into town or not. If I did go into town at what time? I really wanted to watch three programs that come on back to back mid-morning. I won't get to see them again for days and days, maybe even another 8 days! My window of opportunity to see these programs is small as I am at the mercy of schedules and such most days. Today was a rare free day. Watch tv? Go to town? Miss programs or wait? Stay in town to shop or go out of town? How far out of town? Next town over, two towns over, three towns over? What to do?
While I was letting my left brain argue on and on, my right brain Penny was hard at work and had just reached the end of the post when my computer protection program pops up with one of those "Oh My Gosh! " messages stating that a program was a problem and did I want to remove it from my computer? Well of course, I did! I mean, why am I paying for the stupid program if I'm going to allow viruses and worms and ad-ware and such to run willynilly through my computer causing it to disintegrate even faster than the manufacturer had hoped it might? So I hit the "yes" button never once dreaming that for some unknown reason the program it wanted to stop was my blog. So it shut down the window and I hadn't even had time to hit the send button! An hour's worth of work gone, phhhhttt! Just like that. Into the never to be posted black cyber hole.
The thought of starting all over again made me want to cry. And after glancing up at the clock I realized that if I stayed home, I would not be watching the favored tv programs at all...No, duty would demand that I stick right here at the computer recreating that post, regretting the loss of all opportunities to do as I must and wanted. And if I was going to miss the short time allowed me to do the errands and then watch the movie I'd planned then I was going to be unhappy. As tears welled up in my eyes, I knew immediately that I was going to go into town and then beyond town. I was going to do the errands, but first, I was going to take the advice of a slightly older woman who once told me "Women should always do something they want to do every day."
I wanted to go plunder through goodies. I wanted to hunt for treasure. I needed a thrift store fix. First I dressed myself up nicely and put on makeup and checked my reflection, because I need to take time to make me feel good about how I look on the outside. I went into town where the aforesaid slightly older woman stood behind the counter at the thrift store and proceeded to hunt, slowly and methodically, shelf by shelf, until I found every hidden treasure that was meant to be mine.
I'm too tired this afternoon to bother with the strain of trying to load photos, but I'll tell you what I found:
1 small, old Currier and Ives print in a white frame, perfect for my bedroom wall where I've started a grouping of old light colored framed pieces of art from the 1930s/40s. This particular print is called At The River.
1 large picture of a young David, sitting on a hillside writing a song, while his sheep graze on the plain below him. That picture is for my Christian songwriting husband to go on another wall of the bedroom, one where we have a couple of pieces of Christian artwork.
l medium sized print of small blue birds with yellow chests. I have no idea where I'll put it, but I do collect bluebirds so I guess that's why it spoke to me.
2 sage green ceramic planters, just big enough for a small pot of ivy.
4 sort of sage-olive green and cream saucers, perfect for the stinking narrow galley rail above my stove that will hold nothing but saucers.
A pair of milk glass salt and pepper shakers...or I thought they were glass. I'm beginning to think it's more like a high density plastic since handling them in dishwasher.
1 1963 copy of Hints from Heloise.
Yes, I was very satisfied and my wallet didn't feel the strain because my husband, in great wisdom, suggested a month ago that if I must spend money couldn't I at least start my own little fund in the checking account that is earmarked for shopping? I followed his advice and had two deposits worth of money in the special fund.
Then I took off to go to Walmart. Because I'd done something for myself, I was ready to do just a tiny bit more for me, and a little something for the husband and the family. At Walmart I got two small Ivy, one small wave petunia and a small tabletop ironing board. Now that might seem an odd object to say I bought for myself, given my history of disliking ironing mightily, but you'll see why in a few moments. And I bought myself two new bras because a woman my age always needs a good bra if she's to look at least as young as she is!
I felt I'd spent quite enough on me at that point, so I looked up a special object my husband had gently hinted he'd love to own: a plastic sandwich box that looks like a Wonder Bread wrapper. No kidding, the man loves things that make him nostalgic for his childhood and he saw a nurse with one of those yesterday and he really wanted one, I could hear it in his voice as he told me of it, though he never said "Let's see if we can find one, " because he just doesn't do that. Just to let you know I didn't imagine things, he called while I was in Walmart and asked "Where are you and what are you doing?" and I said "In Walmart looking for a Wonder Bread sandwich box." His reply, "Really? For me?", pretty much said it all.
I picked up the necessary groceries including sweet treats for my daughter then left Walmart and pondered lunchtime options. Thinking over the numerous restaurants in the area I asked myself what did I really really want? I gave myself permission to have whatever I really wanted. This is something I forget to do too often. You might think this would be dangerously expensiveor high calorie, but often it's not. And I am always satisfied with what I eat when I remember to do this. It's those times when I don't do it that I end up eating something that leaves me dissatisfied and grazing all afternoon long that gets expensive and weighty.
What I really wanted today: a good burger and a frozen coke. Done deal. Had both at Burger King and went on my way. It was so hot and miserable outdoors that I also decided I really wanted a small ice cream cone. So I stopped in the next town and got a cone and ate it on the way home.
Totally satisfied. Didn't want a single bite of anything, no snacks, nothing, until supper time tonight. I felt I'd chosen well. I had lettuce, tomato and onion on my burger, no fries or any of the other fatty sides. A small cone, which is Weight Watcher acceptable as a dessert. Supper tonight a big bowl of tossed salad with chunks of roast beef as the protein. 1/2 cup pineapple chunks. And a good cup of coffee as a chaser.
Now back to the mid-afternoon when I arrived back home. I went to work on that front porch again. The old big ironing board is now on the front porch, holding a variety of red, white and blue birdhouses, two teapots: one filled with an ivy plant, the other with a double purple Wave petunia, a large holiday cactus (mine blooms for all important holidays so I can't call it a Christmas cactus, it will even bloom for July 4th). The birdhouses ended up red, white and blue because I simply couldn't find the right color turquoise or green or yellow. And the cans of spray paint were far more expensive than I'd thought they would be (el cheapo paint comes only in black and white). So I used what I had on hand here at home and that ended up being RWB. That corner is beginning to shape up into the front porch I'd dreamed of and it came together fairly quickly. I'm not finished but it's awfully nice to know I've started.
And of course, the xanga post got written all over again, housework got finished up, groceries had been bought, so the day wasn't a waste after all. As for those tv programs I really think I need to look into recording them with that lovely old VCR that works just fine, thank you. Then I can watch them when the time suits me, rather than working my life around the tv schedule.
Overall, I'm very satisfied with my day of Inspiration. Fair warning, it may be Wednesday before I can post again, but I'll take notes so you can keep up with this journey of 70 weeks duration of Living An Inspired Life.
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