Project A.C.E. Is Underway

Project A.C.E. = Andrea's California Exodus

I went to Pilates today and met with my trainer, and friend, Abby for the last time. As she pulls out the workout sheet that she created for me so that I could continue my Pilates work after I've returned to Texas. I immediately started crying... it started very suddenly and unexpectedly. I realized that this is really happening and I have SOOO much that I need to do and SOOO many people and things that I really am going to miss. Not only do I have all of the spots that I have yet to see, although I think it is going to have be moved to another list of things that I want to do when I come back and visit.

This week my list of things that I need to accomplish:

1. Finish quilts and get them mailed off (not really part of Project A.C.E., but needs to get done)
2. Pack up my sewing equipment (after I finish #1)
3. Go to storage unit and get wine boxes and then get additional boxes from BevMo
4. Sort through clothes and determine what is going to Goodwill
5. Shred and pitch paperwork
6. Have a nervous breakdown (one of many, I'm sure)
7. Get a couple of good walks in

So, back to my final workout with Abby.... One of the items that she had me do towards the end of the workout was called "swimming"; which is basically laying on your stomach and making that swimming motion, which is supposed to work the stomach and back muscles. Anyway, I immediately start singing R.E.M.'s Nightswimming. So, that is the ABBA soundtrack entry for the day.

And as a side note... One of the lines in the song is "...September's coming soon...." Freaky, huh?

How Our Minds Work

I've spoken before about how minds think differently and this was evidenced again today while walking with Samantha.

We passed a car that had a bumper sticker that said "War is never the Answer".

I said, "Doesn't that depend on what the question is?"

Sam got to thinking about it and started down a lengthy path about the possibilities of when War would be the answer from a philosophical standpoint. (Sorry, Sam, I sorta stopped listening and drifted off into my own world.)

I had to interrupt her and say, "Yeah, I wasn't thinking of that, I was thinking of questions of this nature:"

• Name the 1969 song by Edwin Starr, which is a blatant anti-Vietnam War protest....
• Name the band that sings Low Rider....
• What 3 letter word is akin to the Old High German word werran meaning to confuse...

So, there are times when "War" is the answer....

(And yes, that would be 2 song references in the soundtrack of my world....)

Walking Across Golden Gate Bridge

I woke up this morning to gray, gloomy skies and I didn't think I was going to go out. However, as the morning progressed the sun started to come out and I pinged Samantha to see if she was still interested in going across the bridge with me. She had never walked across the bridge, even though she is native San Franciscan. I picked her up and headed out to Crissy Field. Once we got there, the day turned out to be beautiful. It was windy but the fog moved out for just the time frame that we were there, so I really think the gods were on my side. We walked out along Crissy Field and stopped at the Warming Hut. We purchased some water and coffee and then headed out. Here are some pictures of our walk over:

First a shot of the bridge from the start of the trail.

Here's a shot as we start to cross.

One of the support thingies.

One of the signs posted on the bridge.

A view of the bridge from the other side.

Once we got to the other side, we had to sit for a little bit and joked that we should call Sam's dad to come pick us up. The funny thing is that at about that time her folks called and when she told them where we were her dad DID ask if we wanted him to come get us. We didn't take him up on the offer. Instead, we hauled our butts up and headed back. Once on back on the city side, we stopped at the gift shop and did the total tourist thing....we bought t-shirts that say we walked the bridge.

I thought I had more pictures of the city from the bridge, but sadly my battery was going on my camera and I couldn't really validate that the pictures were being taken because of the glare. I highly recommend walking across the bridge on a sunny day, it really is a great experience.

How to Procrastinate 100% Guilt-Free

August Procrastination Post....Enjoy!!

1. Plan your procrastination. If you let a task sneak up on you and then blow it off, you'll feel guilty. 
   
2. Indulge all of your guilty pleasures until all of your guilt is gone. 
   
3. Carry a list of your accomplishments dating back to childhood to ward off thoughts that you're lazy. 
   
4. Think of all the people who don't even have a task list or goals. 
   
5. Remember a great time you had while avoiding something you loathed. 
   
6. List all the nonprocrastinators you know who lead balanced lives. Short list, huh? 
   
7. Make a list of the productive plans you'll make in the near future. 
   
8. Procrastinate with a friend. That way you can always say, "Well, they did it too."
   
9. Learn a neat skill like juggling that you'll have for the rest f your life. 
   
10. Master Task Value Assessment (TVA) - the art of evaluating the task versus the alternatives. 
    

And your personal procrastination list challenge: List 10 valuable things you do while procrastinating. (Keep this list handy when you feel guilty about procrastination.)