Taking Stock

I'm taking this idea from my friend Laurie who took it from someone else, which is often how this internet business works. 

PHOTO CREDIT: ZECA BRANDÃO

So, what am I doing these days?

Making: I trying to make more time for the things that make me happy like friends, family, books, travel, writing and all that.
Cooking: It's finally cold so it's time for soup. Potato leek soup is pretty popular in this house. I like this simple recipe.
Drinking: Coffee. Every day. My favorite place here in the Twin Cities is Dogwood Coffee and had a perfect cappuccino there on Monday afternoon.  Also, the picture accompanying this post was taken at Dogwood by Zeca when we went there after doing a little shopping a couple of weeks ago.
Wanting: I want to convert all my old Hi8 videos and audio cassettes to digital files. I'm sure that won't take me long at all.
Reading: This week, I'm reading We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby.
Playing: Cards - I grew up playing cards and am trying to play more often with the kids.
Deciding: I'm making decisions about Christmas presents, making a list and figuring out who is getting what. I don't usually do this so early but am into this year.
Wishing: I'm wishing for impeachment and then resignations and whatever else we need to do to get to someone with some integrity.
Enjoying: Reading and writing. Rithmatic - not so much.
Waiting: I have a couple of trips planned so I'm anxiously waiting to take off and see some friends who live in other states.
Liking: I'm doing some writing for NAMI MN and am really enjoying the work. It's concrete and I'm good at it.
Wondering: I wonder how much snow we're going to get this winter. Worrying about it, actually. I have a bad feeling it's going to be one of those winters when we'll have to shovel the roof all the time and I'll stress about ice dams and water damage. Go Minnesota!
Loving: The pace of our life is slower right now. We are easing into the winter soccer season but right now, our lives feel very manageable. I'm loving every moment of freedom.
Pondering: As I've gotten older and have switched careers, I find myself pondering the meaning of success. I think it's changing for me.
Considering: 
Buying: Christmas presents. Already. I don't even know who I am.
Watching: I just started watching Stranger Things even though it's not my usual kind of show. Friends have been urging Zeca to watch it so we decided to watch it together.
Hoping: I'm hoping my weekend travel plans go off without a hitch.
Marveling: At my kids, honestly. They are getting older and I see more clearly who they are and who they are becoming and it's a beautiful to bear witness to. 
Cringing: Every time one of my kids says, "Let me show you this video, mom!" They watch the most ridiculous things.
Needing: I really need to get back to the gym. I've made a million excuses - some reasonable and some not - but I need to make it a priority again. Maybe next week.
Questioning: Almost everything I do every day. Have you met me?
Smelling: There is a candle shop in my neighborhood that makes candles for book lovers. I got some in my stocking last Christmas and like to light them when I write because it makes me feel fancy and writerly. Currently using the one called New Paperback.
Wearing: My beloved hoodies whenever possible. 
Following: Soccer!  I'm keep up with the US Women's National Team and the National Women's Soccer League but watch other games too. Also, Luisa and I got season tickets for Minnesota United FC next year. 
Knowing: I know the kitten is going to wreck the new chair we bought last year. Even though she is great with the scratching post most of the time, I know this is going to happen and so I'm trying to figure out how to stop it or make peace with it. Slipcover?
Thinking: Right this moment, I'm thinking there are probably at least 10 things I should be doing instead of making this list. Yet, here we are.
Admiring: All the women in my life. I mean that. They are working and making a difference and getting through hard things and seem unstoppable. 
Sorting: I've been sorting through pictures lately. A lot of times, I'm looking for pictures for things I write and then I get distracted and just keep looking. I should organize my digital photos better.
Getting: I'm actually getting excited for Thanksgiving. It's not my favorite holiday because it's a lot of work and it is over in an instant but I've enjoyed it in recent years. This year, we're going to our friends' cabin after dinner which will be fun.
Bookmarking: Recipes from the New York Times that I know I'll never make.
Coveting: My friend Justine's fox print flannel pants from Old Navy.
Disliking: The darkness. I picked Zeca up from school at 5:30 and it looked like it was 10 p.m. The darkness inspired my friend Ann to spend November finding the bright side of things. Check out her #30brighterdays. 
Opening: I am opening myself up to the idea of rejection in 2018, like setting a goal of receiving a certain number of rejections as evidence that I am trying to do new things and submitting to new places. We'll see.
Giggling: I text a lot with friends and they never fail to make me laugh. Every day, usually more than once. 
Feeling: While I tend towards the existential in this realm, I'm going to go concrete here. I'm cold. My hands are cold and my nose is cold and I should probably look at the thermostat.
Snacking: Tortilla chips. Sometimes cheese. I'm a terrible snacker, especially since I work from home and the kitchen is right there.
Hearing: I just downloaded Kesha's song, Praying. I've never been a big fan (though I will always stop and listen to Tik Tok because it's catchy as hell) but she has been through so much and the song is so hopeful and melodic that I can't help myself.