It's amazing what the early bird can do!

I was restless and didn't sleep well. I got up at 5:30 am and decided to catch up on some housework. Here's what I got done before my workday started:

• Washed my face.
• Washed and dried two loads of laundry.
• Striped the bed of the linens. Cleaned up an accident on the mattress.
  
• Folded four loads of laundry while watching Chef Class and Nick Cannon's Wild and Out.
  
• Cooked two meals for my family (chili and ziti).
  
• Spilled last night's leftovers all over the kitchen floor when I opened the refrigerator door.
  
• Showed my oldest what happens when someone does not properly put away food in the refrigerator.
  
• Cleaned up the spill and mopped the floor. Put the soiled laundry in the sorting cart.
  
• Cleaned the inside of the toilet.
• Rearranged the storage containers on my kitchen counter and on top of the refrigerator.
• Got annoyed with my youngest for dragging her feet and not trying to get ready for school.
• Took pictures of my flowers and cat.
• Read my emails.
• Searched for an empty spray bottle to use for a DIY green all-purpose cleaning spray. Didn't find one.
  
• Thought about all of the cleanup work that needs to be done in my place.
• Wrote and sent a long text message on my cell phone.
• Fed the cat. Washed out her water dish and replenished it.
• Washed and dried off the cat's place mat.
  
• Got a yogurt out to eat. Put the yogurt back in the frig because I changed my mind. I wanted to eat chili instead.
• Snipped fresh cilantro from my herb garden to stir into my chili.
• Enjoyed the flowers and bird songs while on the PC.
• Looked for jumbo binder clips. Didn't find them.
• Put away some office supplies. Restocked my pen and pencil containers.
• Organized my gravity-feed can dispenser in my pantry.
• Refilled the cereal container in the pantry.

Whew! That's a lot of work before starting my 9 to 5.

a room with a view.

Standard footwear for female commuters who take public transportation in the Washington, DC metro area.
loving life

rush hour traffic in downtown dc

Life's a b*tch and then you die

I used to subscribe to the philosophy that life's a b*tch and then you die. Somewhere along the way, I stopped believing this. I became optimistic, perpetually happy, and looked for the good in everyone or situation. Lately, my life has more closely matched my former outlook. But, I know that I will have to weather through these trials and emerge a stronger, better person.

I've read that Monarch butterflies go through a similar process. They must struggle to break through their cocoon. The struggling makes their wings strong. If they didn't have to struggle to break free (as if a human snipped open the cocoon to make the process easier) their wings don't develop properly and the butterflies die. I'm the Monarch in my cocoon.

The Great American Scrapbook Convention is coming to town. My friend E.V. and are sharing a two bedroom suite near the convention center. This will be the third year in a row that we've done this and it should be a lot of fun.

I'm looking forward to seeing some upcoming movies. I've got my eyes on Star Trek , X-men Origins Wolverine, and Angels & Demons. I'll throw in Night At The Museum 2 for the sake of my youngest. We loved the first movie.