Good morning. Let’s just get to this. I have been up since 5 am. I am sitting here in my pajama’s… coffee cup at my right hand… next to a notebook of lists of “to do’s”. Later this afternoon, I will drive to the cities and stay overnight to catch my flight in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow to New York for BEA.
I have not packed. I have not really done much of anything besides organizing my agenda of events on Wednesday evening. I have never been less prepared for this trip. 😯
My work week was busy with a capital B. Yesterday is normally my day off but I had things to prep for while I was gone next week and I thought I would be out by noon and then get a jump on these tasks before me. Uhhhh…. yeah…. I walked out of work at 4:55 pm, barely making it to the bank in time, in fact they locked the door behind me as I ran in.
With my hubbies busy schedule as owner of an Excavating company, I take care of all lawn care. Our lawn takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to mow and I broke a belt on it on Monday. I got it fixed and on Thursday evening at 8:15 pm (yup… pm) I mowed the front part. Last night after running to the bank and getting home around 5:15 pm I should have started the back and finished it. Instead I called my hubby, found out he would not be off the job until around 9 pm, took one look at the lawn, thought about my BEA prep I still needed to do… groceries to buy…. and I called a friend and went out to a quick dinner instead. 😛
I got home around 8:30 pm, and started the back lawn until I could not see… and I will finish later today before I leave.
So today – here is what I need to do:
1. pack
2. finish laundry
3. finish lawn
4. stop at work, one quick email I need to send
5. take bike to friends house who will deliver it to Duluth for me for the MS 150 bike ride next weekend.
6. Pack my bike gear
7. Fix the deck gate so Sam (newer dog) can not squeeze through while I am away and break my heart)
8. Grocery shop for hubby while I am away – quick easy fixes
9. Stop at a couple stores in town – I have a gift card
10. Get nails done
See – really it is not so bad…. only 10 things! 😀
Anyhoo… I do want to post a pic or two fro Alyce’s Saturday Snapshot since I almost forgot it is Saturday…. here is my deck after last weekend hauling out of all things that scream “yes, come and hang out with me at my favorite place to hang in the warm summer time:
(Stop by and add your own pics to Saturday Snapshot as well or just check out what everyone else is up too 🙂 )
Have a super day – and dont worry about me… I actually work well under pressure and have a game plan of when and where I need to be to get it all done and leave here about 4 pm this afternoon. From the hotel tonight I plan to prep a post or two, and I will be checking in throughout the expo as well so keep stopping by 😀
Book Journey 
I am sooooo bummed I am not going to BEA this…BUT I will go next year for sure. Carpool? 🙂
Becky you would LOVE it! Connect with me throughout this year. And yeah… totally carpool. I am on my own this year so going up tonight alone to the cities and catching my flight out in the am.
Good luck with getting your things done, Sheila. Maybe you can cut a corner or two so the list is finished faster. 🙂
It wont be bad – I have a plan 😀
I love how you make your to-do list feel manageable, when obviously it’s a lot of tasks!
Great photos…I’d love to lounge there!
Good luck getting all those tasks completed…..
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
It is a lot and not the way I planned to go into today but it is what it is – I will just run from one thing to another… its not like I havent done that before 😀
I say skip the shopping for your husband. He can survive on his own. That’s what the dollar menu at McDonals is for. Have fun. Here’s Mine
He actually said that too Paulita! 😀 I am not doing much I will be at Wal-Mart where I get my nails done – then I will grab the items for him – a Stoffers lasagna, spaghetti makings, milk, cookies, a sub, lunch meat… I am going to cook the lasagna while I mow so that will be done for him tonight and then he will eat on that for a few days – he is not a finicky eater… thank goodness!
Whew! Have a super time in NYC, Sheila.
Thanks Barbara 🙂
Holy Moly, Sheila, I need a lie-down after reading your list. I’m exhausted. Have fun at BEA!
I can sleep – on the plane 😀
You have a beautiful deck. I could curl up on those chairs and read a good book…Have fun at BEA!
Thanks… I have been looking at my deck LONGINGLY for the last couple days but too bust to even sit for a bit 😀
I need to pack, too, but I did get my nails done yesterday so I can check that one off of my list. It’s supposed to be cool next week so I’m still trying to decide what to wear.
I’m smiling. Why do you people want to “get your nails done”? Seems something one does before going to BEA? I’ve never had “my nails done” and I’m not sure what it would entail. Anyway, it probably makes you feel good so why not?
Ok – my Kathy comment for some reason will not go under her comment – the jacket comment is in response to her – this one is for Judith (I am too tired to argue with WordPress today)…
Judith I highly recommend you go and get a manicure and pedicure…. you will be thrilled! The pedicure feels wonderful and they make your feet all soft and the manicure fixes my “garden working” fingernails. Its a little pampering that felt really good today – even if I really didnt have time for it 😀
Ha ha, that was my “humbug” voice speaking. I’m sure it’s very nice – you convinced me to try it sometime when the opportunity presents itself. Have a great, great time at BEA, Sheila.
GAH – cool really? I better grab a sweater or a jacket….
I would have got my nails done yesterday or at least some of the things on my list but that just did not happen…
Good luck with the to-do list! And at least you have a beautiful deck waiting for you when you get back–looks like the perfect place to relax and enjoy summer weather.
I do love my deck Cheryl…
Good Luck-you are truly crazy-I would skip the nails and shopping. Have fun in NYC-you can always shop there.
LOL -my nails looked really crappy and I wanted a nice pair of black pants… which I found 😀
Sheila your to do list is just as long as mine. Phew I am so happy to find out that I am not the only one who isn’t packed yet. Last time I was packed a week before. That will be today but to my defence I still have laudry to do LOL
My husband told me not to do groceries for them cause he took next week off so he said he would go and buy stuff them so that is one less thing i have to do 🙂
I am so excited to meet you next week, see you soon
I usually have a suitcase open a week out that I toss things into as I think of them…. this time I had not even done that…. so now I have the carry on open, the suitcase, and a second smaller suitcase for my bike ride overnights when I return. I think I really am nuts…. 😛
Shoot, I have to get my nails done before BEA? I don’t remember that being in any of the BEA prep posts! *adds to To-Do list*
Anyway, hope you get everything done in time and you don’t wind up mowing the lawn with a flashlight! Can’t wait to see you next week!
Oh! I totally forgot to add that to my BEA post didnt I! As readers, people do not always see out face because a book is stuck in it… but they do see out nails…. lol 😀 I will add that to next years post… hee hee
Have a great trip – I’m tried just reading your list:)
I am tired too – but the lasagna is in the over – I am back from all the errands and I did not skip a one (even added in tanning) and now all I have left is the lawn, the deck gate and throw it all in the car after I put the lasagna on top of the stove to cool! 😀
I have a serious case of deck envy going on. Looks like a great place to sit with friends and hang out *and* a great place to sit on your own and enjoy a good book. 🙂
Good luck getting the rest of your pre-BEA tasks done. I’m sad I won’t be there this year, but I don’t miss the stress of trying to be adequately prepared. Here’s hoping sitting it out this year will help me save enough cash to go again next year. Hope you have a fantastic time – can’t wait to hear about it! =D
Oh I know I will forget something this time… I am trying to pull it together too quickly! I almost forgot my business cards which would have been a bummer as they are brand new! 😀
Yes – save up so you can be there next year 😀
Fun times for you in NY coming! Enjoy the trip. Hope it goes well.
My snapshot.
Thanks Marie, I think it will 😀
I am really out of “your loop”, I don’t know what BEA is , but have a great time. You will get it all done, cause you have a list. By the way, I am jealous, you have a ‘firepit”..on my list of wants.
LOL – it is Book Expo Of America – google it…. it is awesome 😀
I feel worn out just reading about your hectic schedule. If I were you I would forget everything and curl up on the verandah with a good book! My Saturday snapshot is at http://chriscross-thebooktrunk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/witches-woods-and-saturday-snapshots.html
I was worn out as I wrote it Christine 🙂 I have had a stress head ache all day but I will get through this…. 😀
That sounds like a very hectic day! I too envy your deck! We have a tiny patio (slab of cement) in our back yard and no patio furniture.
Its my favorite place to read!
Looks like an inviting place to hang out. Have a great time at BEA!!
Thanks Nise 🙂
Phew! I’m exhausted just reading that list ! Good luck on your ‘to do list’ and have fun at the conference!
Thanks Susan! And I think I finished the list… I am in the cities now so I better have everything I need…LOL
Have a great time!
Thanks Ryan!
I love your deck! Is that the new patio set I see there? I keep wishing our back deck were better…the builders just sort of slapped on tiny square wooden things on the back of all the houses in this edition. No real option for anything else.
Have fun at the conference!
Here’s my Snapshot.
Yes the patio set is on there – kind of matches my other table and chair set!
Good luck! By now you should be on your way. When you said “3 hours to mow the lawn”, the first thing I thought of was: “Three hours of audio book time!!” LOL Sad, I know. The deck looks great. I love summer … I get my furniture, awning and plants out there, fire up the grill, and I have a whole other room. 🙂
Thats exactly what it is Leslie – audio book time! 😀 LOVE it!!! 😀
Hope you get/got everything done! I’m a procrastinator,too!! And I mean in a baaaad way. 🙂
Have fun at the expo-can’t wait to hear about it!
P.S.-I’m 9 chapters away from finishing The Secret Garden. Dying to find out how it ends!
Shannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com
Your lawn sounds like a killer! Yikes!
And my neighbors are thinking of getting a deck and they were wondering how to put their fire pit on it and I’ll have to show them what you did. That is a good idea.