Randomeandering

What do I do when I'm not here trying to enchant you? That is a fair question, but sadly, one I do not have the answer to. I spend a great deal of time trying to find motivation - obviously with little to no success. Sometimes I look for other things to do, but I don't want to be too fancy...

...and definitely not a formal member of anything, so this might be perfect? The job application game has really been kicked up a few notches, and the pop quizzes don't have the obvious answers they used to have. 

I mean would they excuse my penchant for pocketing post-it notes if I was a creative self-starter who didn't ask a lot of questions?

And what kind of place is this where I'd potentially have to choose busting up a fist fight over my morals? I wish I had taken more screenshots of the other Sophie's choice level decision-making demands.

I try to take my mental health walk every day because nothing keeps me feeling more grounded than trudging through sleet and gloom this time of year.

The real pick me up though is the section of gray hair that usually escapes my hood and dances right in my peripheral vision. I have decided that salt and pepper doesn't truly describe my look, so I am going to call it cinnamon and sugar. I think the thought of warm apple pie gives me a cozier vibe, but maybe salt and pepper go better with...

...coleslaw hair? Pass the salt and pepper I guess...

...no, no, there aren't enough holes to deliver the amount I'm hoping for...

...that'll do!

Yes, we found a new store to unleash ourselves on that has lots of...

...including the most elusive soap scent.

I am not certain the monkeys would agree as to the legitimacy of this one, but this guy conjers a worse scent...

...and I probably should've rescued that baby.

This little piggy went to the outhouse...

...to check on the fiance?! (My aunt explained to me that it was "engaged" instead of "occupied," as opposed to the worst salute to a diamoond ring ever.)

Um, excuse me, but where are her clamshells?!

And what the flock?!

Maybe not everything needs to be told how it is? I appreciate the subtlety of pork rinds, and how recently I found out what they actually are!

Hearty Random

Sometimes it's hard to say what you want to say, or express how you really feel about someone.

Maybe you can find the words, but feel compelled to take creative liberties with the spelling to add more emotion?

Clearly it's important to stay motivated...

...well maybe not clear at all. Here's some simple advice...

...just go! How about a game with your love?

When he tries to give you a missspelled piece of his heart? No points! (I still lost.)

These Vagentines must be shared...

...but are leaving me speechless with their tags hanging out! Good fortune indeed!

Happy Valentine's Day, folks! I guess it must be time for Easter...

...ew!

Writing Wednesday

Apparently the art of alliteration in snappy titles has been lost on me. The other thing I am completely adrift on is the current role public libraries serve to provide. I went to the library to try to work on some writing today, since it's Wednesday and all. My house is plenty quiet in a literal sense, but figuratively, there are a lot of voices ranging from dust bunnies to half finished craft projects screaming for my attention. Off in seek of solace and quiet, to the library I went! I suppose it should be noted that the last time I embarked on one of these productivity in scribing attempts at the library, I did encounter some chattiness, but nothing to deter me from believing libraries could still be the sanctuaries of my youth where I was shushed on countless occasions.

My first mistake was not grabbing one of these chairs...

...instead I opted for one of the chairs with the swivel tables to put my notebook on...

...that happened to be so very close to shelves of books.

I had not considered what it was like to be a dog, until I saw that the opportunity to find out was closer than I realized! Fear not though, as this distraction was quickly forgotten, and then replaced by the crying toddler who had fallen during storytime. He recovered quickly, able to run a few laps around the main room. No worries though as the more than full volume conversation taking pace at the circulation desk in that photo helped me forget about all of the other shiny objects. I was fully invested in the call on speakerphone one row over. I was dangerously close to turn into a fist pumping "get off my lawn" type of character demanding more library-like behavior.

And then came the Cabin Porn. Followed by the joke told in two rounds to various librarians who proved to be disappointing audiences. The guy claimed he'd been working hard on his joke since Monday, looking so forward to the opportunity to share it.

Granted, the joke has been on Reddit for five years, but who'd know? Certainly not somebody armed with paper, pencil and literary dreams! Maybe I needed to be better organized, declutter my mind...

...or just go home and succumb to what may await me there...

...but I was surely not expecting this trail of Pringles my husband left on his way upstairs with his lunch to make sure he could find his way back down.

New year...

...who 'dis? I had to rename this post from "Out with the old" because apparently I had good intentions of ringing out 2022 with a blog post when I loaded all of these photos into a draft, and then promptly forgot I  had done so?

I mean the date on the draft was December 27, so I was cutting it kind of close, and also had a rather short attention span. I know better than to think I can walk type in here all nonchalant...

...as if three months haven't gone by. On the contrary, I am nothing if not extremely chalant! Even Santa pleaded with me to tell him why...

...those hands need answers.

I hate to waste a decent photo dump, so I will just take this opportunity to give a little glimpse into what I was doing for the final quarter of 2022...

...and also like...

...but I'll try! Been there...

...read that! Sat there...

...wrote that! Attemped this...

...and got that! But she got this...

...so how about that?! Crafted like this...

...and painted like that! Smelled things like this...

...and regretted that! Puzzled this...

...laughed at that!

I guess now I'll go back to where I was...waiting for the snow to come back!

Despite being dismayed at what happened to the American Girl store displays, my scene obviously lacks some styling, and her purple highlghts > my gray ones.

Taking care of…

...businesss! Maybe lay off the good stuff until the proofreading is complete!

Where have I been? Oh, you know, just out looking for a place to keep my pancakes and waffles.

Is there anything Rae won't label?

Let's have a think on this one...so this is what you drink your melted snowman friend out of? What kind of monster are you!

She doesn't know...

...He's trying to make his point...

...While the rest of his friends mock him! At the risk of also being mocked, do you see what I see here?

And here?

My stepfather was amused and happily shared his receipt the other day...

...the "best bra"?!?! And only $19.99?! But of course it's for men!

I've been trying to get my act together, while my hobbies collide! I am trying to read 52 books in 52 weeks in 2022 (I've fallen behind, currently struggling with number 35), attempting to write more (I think we see how that is going, while I still contemplate Nanowrimo next month) and working on some crocheting (dish cloths - I am strictly at dish cloth level). You can probably see how these three things just get in each other's way! I cannot bring myself to try this stitch...

...from a little booklet from 2004...doesn't seem anywhere near old enough for that!

Take it easy out there folks...

...and don't use more force than necessary with toilet paper!

I hope these dancing ivy stick figures, in fall colors no less, bring you joy!