What the Junk?!

That was me falling on the floor. :p I didn't actually fall on the floor, but I felt like it! I got two chores done today before lunch! I went out and mowed. That is never fun. I got that done and came in and got my writing for today done. Another great day of writing. I then decided to get the other chore I needed to do done. I went to the grocery store. That wasn't as bad as I was thinking. It wasn't too busy, so that part was nice. I needed to get a few things and I got them and a lot more. I'm fully stocked for a bit, so that is great.  

After I got home, put things away, ate lunch, and relaxed a bit, I wrote more! Yes, I added to my word count. I went in to just tweak a few things and ended up adding more words. I'm not complaining one bit!  It was nice to get more done. Now, I'm going to get off the M1 and relax a bit before doing my nightly Shortwave listening. I just ordered a different kind of antenna on eBay last night. I'm hoping it will help me pull in more channels. We'll see. I'll update you about how it is when I receive it. The best thing about it is that I can use it with my current radio or any future ones I get because of the way it's made. :)

I did my usual Sunday stuff today. I also mowed the front lawn. That was a pain. I had to go get gas in the can first, though. That was the easy part even though I didn't want to go out to do it.  I knew I was low on fuel and the can was empty, so if I didn't go before, I'd run out in the middle and that would be worse! I'd have to go get the gas when I was hot and sweaty and irritated. I am glad I did it the way I did. It's done now and I won't have to worry about it for at least a week. 

I also wrote for Camp, got a great idea for a future story or storyline, and wrote notes for it in Evernote for later. All in all a good, but tiring day. I wanted to carry those branches to the street, but I was so wiped out after mowing, that I decided I better come in and cool off. I'll get those to the street next weekend. They pick up on Mondays, so I don't want them out there all week. Now, since I've gotten the linens back on the bed, I'm going to try to relax until bedtime. I need a nap! lol

I got my writing for Camp done today. That was easy compared to what I did before that! I had started mowing parts of the backyard. I have been putting it off because it's a lot harder than the front. I had to pick up a ton of branches and sticks before I could even get started. I finally got those up and started mowing. Of course, I missed a bunch of sticks, but luckily, they were smaller ones and didn't make my mower stop working. There were a few bigger ones, but I was able to see those and avoid them. I was about to die when I was done. I was wiped out, I was hot, I was dripping with sweat. I came in and stripped down and saw that my package had been delivered. D'OH, So I had to put some clothes on and go out and get my package. Then I was able to wipe of with a cold wet washcloth and then sit at my desk with both the air conditioner and the fan blowing on me!  I finally got cooled off and breathed a sigh of relief!

I got my writing for Camp done after opening my package. What was in the package? Well, I was searching things in the Amazon Warehouse and found a pretty snap-on case for my M1 MBP. It was only $10 and it came with a keyboard cover AND a padded zipper sleeve! The 'brand new' one in this same design was $32 so I was happy to get all if it for $10. It came today and the snap-on case was brand new and still shrink-wrapped. The padded zipper case was brand new too, it was just re-packaged. No big deal. I got a great deal. 

Another cool thing is, that the pictures showed the case without a cut-out for the Apple logo. I noticed in people's reviews of this set (in this color and others) that they had an Apple logo cut out. I was hoping I'd get that too, and I did! Yay! So, I have another case for my M1 and it's so pretty and colorful. So much so that I put it on! lol. Here is the case/cover with the nice padded zipper sleeve:

I love it! It's so pretty, the sleeve is perfect. The MBP fits in there perfectly. 

Phew. I think I AM dead. Why? Well, it's hot here and I have been hiding in the air conditioning like I mentioned yesterday. Well, I desperately needed to mow the front lawn. I went out and got the mower started up after some work. (it has to be rigged up to run! LOL) So, I get it running, go and I"m mowing and it starts sputtering. I was hoping it would straighten out, but no. It cut off. I walked it all the way back around and put gas in it, worked on it a bit, and started it. Went and got the rest done. Just the front, mind you!  So, I do that, and then remember my friend asked if I would trim some of the bushes in my driveway so they didn't brush his car. They don't brush mine so I don't pay any attention to them hanging out a bit. I came in, grabbed my clippers, and went to do that. Keep in mind that I'm already hot as hell from mowing. I get that done and then rinse off Goontz as I needed to run out.  Well, I turn to go into the house and realize my keys are not on my wrist. D'OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I think and think, where the heck did they go?  I looked all around and then I remembered when I went out front to clip a few weeds at the street that my mower can't get, I laid them down. I go, thinking they are there and they are not. I think, okay, I know I didn't leave them there. What if I did leave them there? What if someone came and took them? They'll have a key to my house and to Goontz! I was freaking the f out as you can imagine. I looked in that area thoroughly, left, went back, and looked several more times. I had left my phone in my room, so I had no way to call anyone.  I remembered that I have a tool that lets me get in my back door so I went to get it and got inside. (Yeah, my backdoor has issues too!)  I look, hoping I had brought my keys in and forgot. Nope.

So, I got back out to the front spot AGAIN and look.  I go back around the house and just stood there trying to think. It was on my arm when I was clipping the branches, maybe when I tossed the branches to the side, they fell off? So, I look in the first place, nothing, I go to the next place, move the branches and BINGO!!!!!! I let out a HUGE sigh of relief. I gathered them up and came in. Of course, by now, I was so hot, that I was almost sick. I was soaked in sweat and just miserable.  I took off my soaked shirt, washed myself off with cool water, and came into my room with the air conditioner. I still need to run that errand, but it may wait until tomorrow!

I actually started it last night after I posted here. It took an hour and a half, but it's all backed up on Time Machine. :). Now, I need to get that 2 TB drive working. Soon.  I hope. lol.  I didn't do a lot today. I wrote. I needed to write a good bit because yesterday I didn't get much written. I was happy to get a good amount out today.  I am just finishing up a dramatic portion of the story. I am not sure what is coming next! I also want to start the other story I mentioned during Camp NaNo. I just need to figure out how to start that one. 

One other thing, I mowed the front yard today. That is always a PITA! :P

Thrilling title, I know! :p  I went out and mowed my front lawn today.  I really didn't want to, but it needed it, so I went ahead and did it.  I didn't do much else! I did write, and that is about all I did.   Absolutely thrilling post today, eh? :p

Yeah, you read that right! So, I had to mow my front lawn today. BOO! I needed gas for my mower, so I had to go out and get some.  I got a happy meal at McDonald's while I was out.  I paid extra for the six-piece one and they gave me a cheeseburger. ~_~; They were very busy and lined up around the building so I just ate it.  That was bad enough, but then, later, I was going to get UberEats from the local Mexican restaurant that I like.  They were on there last week and today they weren't listed. So, I went looking for something else. I decided to do an online order at Firehouse Subs and just go get it myself.  I ordered the steak and cheese which is delicious.  I get it without the peppers, onions, and condiments. I only get steak and cheese and add extra provolone.  Well, I picked it up, brought it home, opened it up and it had onions and peppers. BOOOOO!  I had to pick them out. Luckily there was no mustard or mayo on there. That would have totally ruined the whole experience.  I don't like mustard and I actively HATE mayo. UGH!  

At least I had some leftover pizza for dinner.  At the end of our thrifting trip last night, we stopped back in Reidsville and ate at Carmela's and split a pizza. I had three slices left of mine and that was dinner.  It was yummy!  In other news, a friend of mine has Covid and has been having a bad reaction to something she is taking and broke out in hives and had to go to the hospital.  Luckily, they medicated her and sent her home. That was a relief. Another horrible thing happened.  One of my longtime online friends lost their son in a car crash.  I feel so bad for the family and my friend.  I wish I could do something for them.  It's a very sad situation. It's been on my mind all day.  

I wrote a little today but not too much.  Only 1118 words, but that isn't too bad.  It was just not a good day for writing.  I had so much on me with worrying about my friends and then the food fails that happened to me.  It was just not the best day. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better! One good thing did happen today.  I received an order from eBay of some Starbucks cards and I ordered several more that I need for my collection. Now I'm going to post this and then re-read what I wrote for today and then relax until bedtime.  Goodnight from me!

I went out this afternoon and went by Starbucks and treated myself to a latte and a sandwich!  I got a vanilla latte with caramel and a double-smoked bacon sandwich. Delicious!  I also washed my car while out. It has rained the past few days and I noticed mud on my car.  It was from where it rained so hard that it splashed on the car.  I decided while out to wash it.  I could have brought it back here, but I went by the car wash that has the 'all washes $5' and they were fixed and running!  

I didn't do anything else while out.  I ate my sandwich near the Starbucks and then headed to the car wash.  I sipped on my coffee and still had a little when I got home which I enjoyed in the car while watching my resident groundhog.  The little cutie came out from one of my outbuildings.  He tried to climb a little tree out there and fell off.  Poor guy!  He was okay, though.  He is such a cutie!

I went in the house and got the trash together and carried it to the can. I put it on the street for the trash trucks tomorrow.  I also noticed some branches down and carried them to the street too.  The grass needs mowing again, but it's still wet, so I'll have to wait until at least tomorrow for that.  I came in and put away the laundry I washed yesterday, tossed the bed linen in the dryer, washed my hair, and then sat down for a bit.  I got a lot accomplished.  I might read some, I'm not sure. I finally finished my current read.  I started in early last month!  I didn't pick it up as much as other reads, so it took me a long time to finish.  I am probably going with a zombie or post-apocalyptic book next.  I usually devour those pretty darn quickly!

OH! I forgot to mention that yesterday when I went to Reidsville, I set off a 'blast' on Munzee. It is the one that will capture up to 50 virtual Munzees that are in the area of up to a mile (or a bit over, I forget). Anyway! I did it and I got 50 virtuals.  Cool!  I was going to go around and deploy some physical munzees today, but I wanted to give everything a chance to dry out a little more!

My starter kit came today.  It was smaller than I was expecting, but I'm glad to finally get it.  I took a picture to share.  I blurred the Munzee tags as I haven't deployed them yet!

Nifty, yes?  I can't wait to go deploy some.  I was going to do that today, but it's so hot and I had to mow.  I got the front lawn done and a big portion of the back that I haven't done since I started mowing for the season.  LOL! You can imagine how that looked. It's much better now.  I still have one more section to do, but it won't take long.  I would have done it today, but I was burning up and I was pooped! lol. 

I went to bed early last night since I wasn't feeling great.  That helped a bit.  What helped, even more, is when I took a nap this afternoon! LOL I don't think I'm sick, I think I just have allergies. It's so much going on that I am paranoid.  I don't feel bad at all tonight.  It's not like I've been around a lot of people!  Before all the social isolation stuff, I was a total social isolator! :P

I worked on the puzzle today but I didn't finish. It's a little intense.  I didn't get a lot more done but it felt like a lot. I should finish it off tomorrow.  Here is the progress, it's going to be interesting to finish, that is for sure!

It doesn't look like I got a lot done today, but I actually did. Really. :P I mowed the front lawn today. Ahhhhhhh! It's too early for that! While typing up this post, I was watching a YouTube video by Matthew Santoro.  He was showing weird foods people eat. BLEAH! LOL!  I love his videos, he is so funny and they are always fun to watch.  I loved it when he was talking about the deep-fried tarantulas and had to leave the room.   Off to watch one more of his vids and then I'm going to turn the television off and relax.  See you tomorrow!

No puzzle today! (the title in French above)

Yes, I skipped puzzling today.  I will start the castle one that I got at the thrift store next.  This one is hopefully complete!  I didn't start today because I decided to give myself a break day.  I went up to my friend's house for a bit and was there when I got a text from my other friend to come outside with my shoes on.  I had to text him and tell him I wasn't home. LOL I walked down the street and he was trimming some of the plants in my yard that have gotten bigger than I can handle.  He also went in the basement to get the information off of the water heater.  I couldn't locate the manual, so I'm thinking that I never got one. When the people who installed it put it in there, they didn't do as we asked, they didn't dispose of the old one, and they were generally unhelpful.  I think they probably left the manual in the box and tossed it. >_< Boo on them!  

I carried a bunch of branches to the street and that wore me out. I got way overheated.  I was dripping when I came in.  I was able to clean up, dry off, and cool down.  I didn't go back out after that!  I washed a load of clothes very late last night.  I just put those away.  It was too late to worry with it last night so I figured I would just do it today.  A quick tumble in the dryer and they were ready to go.

All I need to do now is relax until bedtime.  I washed my hair after doing the yard work as it was sweaty and gross. It's almost dry and should be completely dry by the time I go to bed. I'm going to try my best to NOT be up past 4 am again tonight!

How I'm using Evernote today: I took screenshot pictures of every regular US Starbucks card and put them in notes in Evernote.  I can check off the ones I have and keep a look out for the ones I don't have.  It will be a great way to keep up with them. :)  Again, if you'd like to try Evernote, use my link below!

Try Evernote for Free!

So today I was getting ready to get up and get ready to go for my daily walk.  I got a text from a friend and he said that he was getting off of work at noon and if I could wait until 1 or 1:30, we'd walk on the Riverwalk trail.  I said that would be fine as I haven't been down there to see it since the hurricane and flooding damage.

He eventually got here about 2 and we headed down.  Well, we park and go across the bridge and everything looks okay.  Then I noticed that it looks like the trail is blocked off a little further down.  We walk to see what it is, and yes, it's blocked.  They had a barrier up and it said 'this part of the trail is closed'.  So, we turned and went the other way.  The trail, which used to be one continuous trail is now divided into three!  They have portions that are messed up, bridges washed out, etc.  I hope they get it back to normal soon.  The part we walked on isn't my favorite part, but at least I got to the trail!

It was nice out there, too!  I came home and my steps were lacking.  My friend didn't want to walk a lot since it was his first time in a while.  I usually walk right at 6 miles.  We only walked close to four.  I pulled out my lawn mower to get part of the back yard done as the weeds are bad. (Still no significant grass! LOL!)  The mower WOULD NOT start.  I was getting frustrated.  I figure it might just need some gas, but I didn't feel like driving to get some and risking car problems, so I pulled out the electric mower my friend got me as a backup some time back.  That was a pain in the butt! lol . It started fine, that part was great.  It was just that the mower is quite small so it only does a little patch at a time and I had to keep watching out for the cord.  It isn't rechargeable. :p . So, I get a small part done and I think, that is all of that I'm going to do! I put that mower back in and was about to put the other one in when I decided to try it one more time.

Guess what started on the first try!  Seriously! I decided since it started, I would go ahead and do the front.  It isn't too bad yet, but it was starting to need mowing so I got that done.  That helped quite a bit to add to my step count for today.

I came in and relaxed.  I had to turn the air on for a bit to cool off!  I worked on my puzzle and finished it! Yay!  I went to turn it over to tape it and part of it fell apart. D'oh!  I got it turned back over and re-did the parts that came out and it's now taped and hanging on my wall.  The picture was so pretty I wanted to display it.  Here is the completed puzzle:

Isn't that pretty!  I will probably start the other one tomorrow or the next day.  It all depends on how my day goes tomorrow if I start it or not.  I need to pick up a few things at the grocery store, so I might just pick them up on my walk tomorrow . It isn't anything heavy or cold so picking it up on the way home won't be a problem.  Now if my friend gets off early tomorrow and wants to walk, I'll have to get him to run me by there!

Oh, if you are wondering, I'm still writing every night for Camp NaNo!  I have 8120 words! I'm almost half way there.  I set a goal of 20,000 words for myself.  I'm off to get today's part done.  Good old Scrivener is helping me again!

Well, food wise it was. lol . I got in my walk.  I came home and relaxed a bit and then carried branches to the street.  The pickup for yard debris and trash is on Monday.  I had a bunch of branches that I carried to the street. I don't like to take them out until right before they are due to be picked up.  I think it looks messy if they are out there all week!  I got that done and I also washed my hair and my bed linen.  Both Sunday staples.  I just need to put the bed linen back on the bed.  

My slump comes from food.  Lunch wasn't too bad, but dinner. BLEAH.  I wanted something different.  I thought I'd make some spaghetti.  I had some pasta and some spaghetti sauce.  The pasta was sort of meh and the sauce was meh, too!  The best part of it was the slices of butter bread I made to go with it. Phooey! I tried a cheap can of spaghetti sauce.  It wasn't all that great.  Meat flavored my ass! lol . Oh well, live and learn.  I'll get Ragu or Prego next time.  

I can't believe it's only 3 days until Halloween and 4 days until NaNo. I'm so read for both.  ^__^

I got in  my walk today and luckily, it wasn't as hot as my walks were at the beach.  I stopped at the grocery store on the way home to pick up two things I needed so I didn't have to go for a big trip later.  I got home and relaxed and cooled off.  I got up and did my workouts.  I did those and then my French lesson.  I had time after that to relax a bit, so I did until lunch time.

I fixed myself some lunch.  I ate and then got up to go mow.  The front lawn had gotten pretty high while I was gone, so that needed doing.  I got it done and came in to cool off and relax.  I washed another load of laundry.  This was the things I didn't get around to yesterday.  I sat down and paid all my bills.  I'll have to be frugal at the grocery store this month.  I had two extra bills that I don't usually have.  I didn't spend as much as I usually do at the beach, so that helped out a lot!

I eventually want to do a recap post of the trip.  I also want to share pictures of some of the goodies I got.  I'll try to do that later this week.  I'm back on track for my usual stuff today, so that is good.  I am really sleepy, though. I never sleep well at the beach, and I tend to get up a lot earlier than I do at home.  I slept pretty well last night and I'm hoping to sleep just as well tonight! I need it.

I don't know if I mentioned it while at the beach, I got quite a stack of Starbucks cards that I didn't have.  I just put them in my binder that I keep them in.  I always love getting new ones.  I now need to add the four Starbucks stores that I visited to my tracker. ^_^  That will be awesome.  

So I did my workouts today after almost talking myself out of them.  I then went out and mowed the entire back lawn.  I was ready for the day to be over at that point.  My friend wanted to go to the trail and ride bikes.  He carried his since you can only rent one bike from the Bike share at a time.  There were two bikes there so I was happy.  Unfortunately, they both said they were 'unavailable'.  I didn't get to ride.  I didn't have on my good walking shoes either. :(  I walked around the parking lot hitting Pokestops while we rode his bike.  I would really like to try out one of the bike share bikes, but I'm beginning to think I never will! :(