A sense of accomplishment

I couldn't find what I wanted yesterday at Target, and IHOP at 10:30 on Sunday morning is a zoo. So, change of plans ... I got the Halloween storage tote and office supply cabinet at WalMart and made my own eggs at home.

I've consolidated my office supplies and some of Mike's stuff into the new thingy, and packed away all of the Halloween decor. I also emptied a box from my office, and one from the family room that had kitchen decorations. That is four boxes in the trash.

Speaking of trash, I took out the trash (and the recycle bin), ran the dishwasher, and started my laundry
-- oy, laundry. please hold while i go do the transfer to dryer and start a new load --
This is why it takes me days to do three loads of laundry; because I forget I'm doing it. I've also fed & watered the animals and had the dogs outside a zillion times. I did a bit of research on eBay to see what we've got hanging around here that will sell. Blue's Clues toys, yes. Mary Kay nail polish, not so much.

In addition to hanging the kitchen decorations & throwing some of the clutter into a basket or two (hey, that only took a YEAR), I hung the clock we bought in March in the living room, and a couple of other pictures.

There's still a box in my bedroom, and I need to straighten my office desk, but I've accomplished most of what I set out to do over the past few days. I still feel like the house is overly cluttered, but I think I need the rest of the family to help me with some of that. Ahem, {Mike}.

Something else I've been doing over the past week is writing. Even though I only have a handful of people reading my blog (unless I have lurkers out there. Lurkers? Leave a comment, would ya??), I think I'm a pretty good writer, so I've started a book. I have no idea how to write a book, so for now, I've got an outline with a couple of stories and some cryptic notes. I am enjoying it, as much as I've enjoyed checking in here every day, probably because it is just me being me.

As far as 'feeling better,' I guess I'm doing ok. The exercise is helping (I've lost two pounds), the writing is helping, seeing a cleaner house is helping ... but I'm still not feeling myself. When I think about work (because it DOES still cross my mind once in a while) I want to crawl into bed and hide. I just am not sure I can wrap my brain around the details quite yet. I'm not so sure I'll go back to work next week as planned. Ginger and Melissa (the partner) have both encouraged me to take as much time as I need. Ginger actually said "Eh, maybe you shouldn't work in November at all." I guess I still need to figure out what it is that is going to make me feel ok about going back and work on that. I just don't know how. There's an 800 number through work for 24/7 counseling. Maybe I'll try that ... it is more anonymous than a face-to-face therapist.

Or maybe I'll vacuum.