Running With Quills: ELIZABETH FACES CHAOS

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Tuesday, May 05, 2009

ELIZABETH FACES CHAOS

Ah, sweet chaos.

Gotta love it, right?

*sigh*

I'm trying to. I figure that anything that is so much a part of my daily life should be close to me, as in I should LOVE it.

And before someone asks, "How's that working out for you?" let me say that it isn't. No matter the state of my smiley face, or lack there of, things keep...happening.

Our daughter sold her house in Arizona and moved into our winter house. Evan went down to help her. I stayed home because I have a ms due 10/01/09. (Don't ask. I ain't talking 'bout that.)

Six days later, Evan came home sick.

I was sick the first three days he was gone.

Yup, lovely. It's just a wee tad hard to concentrate on your writing when sprinting for the bathroom at unexpected intervals.

Then the realtor called with an offer on our winter home in Arizona. Yes, the one Heather just moved into. We did the counter offer and the counter-counter and the ... you get the idea.

Bottom line, we're in escrow.

If all goes well (or badly, haven't decided which), we'll be looking at houses closer to the grandkids in two weeks. If we find one or two that is/are suitable for the three of us or one alone and two together (if you can follow that, you're as crazy as I am), then we'll move there. All of us.

One way or the other.

And I?

I will be nucking futz.

*deep breath*

*I love chaos. I love chaos, I...arrrrrggggghhhhhh*

How's the chaos quotient in your life?

40 Comments:

Carrie said...: Hi Elizabeth,

Yes, the past couple of days have been glorious chaos. I can say glorious because I don't have kids (13 nieces/nephews and 1 grand niece are more than enough for us), I'm stuck in this @#$% condo for a few more years. If it was a free standing one or hand better insulation between the units, I'd probably like it much better!

Anyway, I spent the last week sprucing up the author blog site Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem along with hours of reading code trying to figure out a particular snafu. I also had the joy of booking quite a few fabulous authors, so I'm still doing a happy dance!

On Saturday night I had to make sure that an author intro was up for Sunday. Sunday night I had to write my own post, Monday night/morning I had to get part 1 of and author blog/character interview, complete with pictures and then I had to write my column for my university's A&E magazine which was due today (Tuesday)!

Whew! Now I can take a breather, right? No such luck because I still have to read some books, and I have another author guest blog to post tomorrow night.

I'm shocked I managed to remember that today was my niece's birthday!

I also have to overhaul my personal author website (create and add themed artwork) and work on the flurry of novels that are floating around in my head. They seem to be a bit tangled up with each other, so it's been a bit more difficult to sort out the details.

Then of course, there's the usual suspects like laundry, dishes, cleaning the house and painting the garage door...again!

So, I can definitely say I hear you on the river of chaos!

Good Luck with your house hunting!

Carrie; 9:21 PM
ChrisTina said...: Well, Elizabeth, I'm a prof, and it is the last week of classes, so every morning I wake with one question on my mind:

Suicide...or homicide????

But I live secure in the knowledge that it always gets better.

May it always get better sooner rather than later, for all of us!

Chris H; 9:33 PM
Kate Douglas said...: May I just offer a "poor baby" or two? I did my chaos last month with the deadline for DemonFire, the trip to Arizona, the kitchen remodel that started a week ahead of schedule and then the trip to Mt. Shasta, so I claim a chaos-free zone for the next week, at least. Good luck, and I do hope things go smoothly for you.; 9:51 PM
Stella Cameron said...: EL: First, cool it! This isn't good for you and Evan--or for Heather. When all the furor is over, you'll get a prize--a new home near all of your children and grandchildren.

Trick is--don't completely lose your mind in the process.

My chaos quotient? Too high. And the odd thing is that everything that winds me up is something I love and care about (or someone, perhaps:)

Hang in there. I'm so glad the winter house sold, particularly since this is not the prime time to be selling.

If you need someone to scream at, pick up the phone!

Stella; 10:26 PM
Anonymous said...: Just breathe.

This reminds me of the time my husband went to Savannah, GA, to take a career-changing job and bought a condo there. I was left in Atlanta to put a roof on the condo there, sell our business and move out of that office, sell the hangar and one of the airplanes, and get the condo ready to sell, all while keeping two kids in private school, and packing to move to Savannah. I'll never forget the night we were talking long-distance to each other and he mentioned that I would need to immediately look for a job when I got to Savannah. All I can say is that the marriage survived. Oh, and I have never had to do one single thing to move our household since, despite the fact that we've moved four more times! LOL!
God, I love that man.
Stay strong.
Lynne Thomas; 11:20 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm so sorry that you are having so many things go "Phhhblt" at the same time. It must make it very hard to concentrate and get into your WIP. But If you're able to get your house sold for a reasonable price and find one in CA for a reasonable price(it just might happen!) you'll be closer to the progeny and that would be a Good Thing. I wish you, Evan and Heather some peace in the midst of it all and a happy outcome. KathyK; 7:14 AM
susan andersen said...: Yikes! And...yikes. Crazy times. Are you giving up your home up here, then, or will this be a new winter home? Poor babies on the stress of selling and buying and moving. Makes it hard to be creative--or at least it would for me.; 7:41 AM
DFender said...: Good luck, EL! My chaos meter? Pegged. (which can also be called "normal" in my world)
;-)

Deb; 8:02 AM
Marcia said...: Nope! Can't top that! Just hang on, hire a moving company, close your eyes and BREATHE!

Best wishes for the house-hunting. Hope it goes quicker than ours. We took 3 years!; 9:16 AM
elizabeth said...: Carrie--looks like chaos is working out for you just fine. ;-); 9:26 AM
elizabeth said...: ChrisTina--I should introduce you to a friend of ours, an accountant who made it through 4/15. (He only babbles and giggle a little, now.); 9:27 AM
elizabeth said...: Kate--"chaos free zone"

I want one of those! Does your have a Zip Code?; 9:28 AM
elizabeth said...: Stella--thanks. It is those we love who make us most nutty.; 9:29 AM
elizabeth said...: Lynne--whew, I can just imagine what you said after being told to begin looking for a job immediately. Good thing love is tough -- and learns.; 9:32 AM
elizabeth said...: Susan--a new winter home. We're not ready to leave Washington yet. And after this, I may NEVER leave. :-); 9:33 AM
elizabeth said...: DFender--sounds like we live in the same world.; 9:33 AM
elizabeth said...: KathyK--thank you. Peace is lovely. I practice it a minute at a time.; 9:35 AM
Nell said...: Hey Ms. Ann,

Keep breathing and I hope the move part goest smoothly. I'm telling you my dad dying in the house he was born in made him the smartest man I ever knew. :-)

That being said - we're starting on some renovations... urg... pass the wine please.

Love to you and Evan - Nell, Mike and Mikey.; 9:35 AM
elizabeth said...: Marcia--that's how long it took us to find a house in Arizona in the first place. Won't take us that long now. We're just going to find something to live in, not to love.; 9:38 AM
elizabeth said...: Nell-hey, girlfriend! Give that handsome man of yours a hug from me, and get one for yourself in return.; 9:40 AM
Charity said...: Hey there Ann,
Congrats on the house sales. With any luck you will quickly find something you the hubby and H want to buy.

Take a deep breath.

Charity; 10:13 AM
BarbaraME said...: Hi Miss Ann - another critter checking in. I'm so sorry life has been nuts. Breathe deep and take it a day at a time. Being closer to your grandbabies will be worth it!

Hugs,
Barbara (snoopy); 10:43 AM
Twin Mommie said...: Yikers Ms. Ann, moving sucks! Tell that big guy of yours to wrap you in a bear hug and hang on!

It'll be so worth it in the end, it's just making it to the end that's the problem. LOL

Seriously, sit down on a box, have a glass of wine, and relax. *hugs* to you, E, and H.

Irish

p.s. After this, anytime you get bored, just let me know and I'll send twin dervishes your way for some fun. :-); 11:24 AM
elizabeth said...: Hey, Charity. Hug the little critters for me.; 11:30 AM
elizabeth said...: snoopy--I plan on collecting a LOT of grandkid hugs after this mess!

Good to hear from another critter.; 11:32 AM
elizabeth said...: Hello, Irish! I saw your picture in the dictionary next to "Mother of Chaos"

:-)

Give the little dervishes a big hug from me.; 11:37 AM
elizabeth said...: A simple recount tells me I missed someone. I've looked twice now and haven't found my missing person.

Do I need new glasses?

A new mind?; 11:39 AM
Katherine said...: The only good part of chaos is that you have no time to have the thought "what should I be working on now".

Normally life flows along nice and evenly but we must be in some weird phase of the moon.

Today, so far: I've been filmed as a subject expert for a German documentary, so challenged into sounding like I'm not an idiot at 6am. One intern needs a new project the other one wants to discus the semantics of creating a finding aid one way vs another. There are three visiting researchers all on their pet projects looking for primary sources that has me running from one storage area to another. (my poor brain is jumping from one historical topic to another with no rest). There is a big fencing tournament coming up but my coach has to keep rescheduling sessions because of things in his life. I think I have one tonight but it's been on-off-on again three times today. (Lesson or no lesson I'm going fencing tonight---I need to stab something.) Oh and rather than enjoying the Quills I'm supposed to be writing the narrative portion of a grant to the NEH, right at this very minute...oh goody here come the film makers again...gotta run; 1:30 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Ms. Ann,

Adding my hugs or better yet, have E give you a hug for me. Moving is the pits, hard to leave the winter house and friends behind, but the reward is having the family together. Maybe you'll be around the grandkids long enough to get some immunity built up ;-)

Jumping in the have a glass of wine conga line. Remember to take care of yourself.

Hugs,

Sue/MsPicky; 2:05 PM
elizabeth said...: Katherine--next to you, I've got a calm day!; 3:47 PM
elizabeth said...: Hey, Sue--it's critter day! The wine comes in a few hours. I think I'll phone in the conga line until I've had more sleep. ;-); 3:49 PM
Lori of Canada said...: I am trying to ignore the chaos quotient.... which isn't working.

As a teacher who is heavily involved in my school, life has been crazy. Aside from teaching three courses at three different levels, I had a major fundraiser I helped organize last week. I was hoping when that ended, things would get better.

ROFL. July. Things will, in theory, be less crazy in July.

Yesterday, I had student council elections drama to deal with, organized a field trip to see a local musical for this afternoon (and found coverage for my classes for that time), chased down students who are signing up for English 11 advanced (making sure they know about the summer reading), met with students who are writing the Advanced Placement exam tomorrow (I teach Advanced PLacement Lit), and met with students about our potential Europe trip next year. Oh, and did I mention I taught?

A day in the life of a teacher who needs to not do so much.

I re-scheduled a parent meeting about the Europe trip to next week... only not everyone got the message so some people showed up and I got a phone call a little while ago.

I have the usual household chores and spring stuff I have to do. I have two kittens, and they are nine weeks old. I adore them. However, chaos is part of their lives. Right now, they are sleeping. One of them is curled up against my leg so I guess I am not moving for a bit. THe other just crawled off my laptop's keyboard. They will also chase me when I go to bed tonight. Last night, they spent 20 mins trying to get into my room... and I felt guilty for not letting them in. The result? At 3 am, after a trip to the bathroom, I forgot to close my door all the way and wound up sharing my bed with the two of them.

Lori M.; 5:16 PM
Lori Foster said...: My son says that if I ever got a good night's sleep, I'd have enough energy to NEVER sit down. And it's probably true.
I live in chaos, and if I get things calmed down a little, I seem to take on more. I dunno. Must just be my nature.
It really can frazzle you sometimes!

I hope all goes well with the house-changing and moving and I especially hope no one else gets sick!

Good luck with the writing schedule!

Lori; 5:02 AM
elizabeth said...: Lori M--ah, a sister in chaos. :-); 11:19 AM
elizabeth said...: Lori--you really have to meet my husband. Like you, he's only really happy when the sky is falling. Me? I'm just looking for cover!; 11:20 AM
wstridgerunner said...: Oh EL, my heart goes out to you!! I've been through the selling the house/buying the house twice before.......get the name of a good therapist or; meditate......A LOT!!! If that doesn't work, just do what I did and tell yourself over and over again...."This too shall pass"!; 12:26 PM
elizabeth said...: wstridgerunner-thanks. I'm sure it will all sort itself out. Just the next few months will be downright crazed.; 12:42 PM
still karibear said...: Chaos is how I know I'm alive. If it ever goes away long enough for me to just stand and breathe, I'll probably collapse!; 6:51 PM
elizabeth said...: karibear--You should meet my husband! I do chaos, but I don't enjoy it.

And I do love that man.; 10:25 PM
jan said...: WEll I broke my foot in 2 places in Nov...in Dec thru March I had walking pneumonia and in April, I fell down and my arm came out of the socket, tore all the muscles, tendons, ligaments and anything else that is in an arm, to shreds.

My arms just hung there...7 weeks later its doing much better...

Chaotic, yeppers!! DH had to dress, feed & wash me...do all the housework (sigh)take care of the cats, dogs & birds, but bless his soft heart for doing it all, without a peep!!; 7:06 PM

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Tuesday, May 05, 2009

ELIZABETH FACES CHAOS

40 Comments: