Day in the Life of an Idiot

Or something like that.  

I just spent two hours on my yard. Can you tell that I just spent two hours on my yard? Probably not.  Though, you might be able to tell that I mowed the boulevard, if only because the grass had gotten long enough to start to sprout seed heads. But, really, now our boulevard basically looks like everyone else's boulevard, so maybe not?

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person in the world that struggles with basic yard work. 

Though, last night, Shawn and I took a walk around the neighborhood and I noticed that my immediate neighbors seemed to have as many bare patches and rough sections as I do. I do wonder that, given the shift in how my generation feels about going organic and chemical free, if we're going to see a lot more crappy lawns in general.  We're certainly not the only people in our immediate neighborhood to plant front yard gardens.  Several folks a block or so east have entirely shade/natural flower gardens for "lawns."

But, back to my original point, I also have to wonder if some of my frustration with yard work is that I'm kind a clumsy nerd at heart.  Just pulling out the lawn mower was a huge hassle of untangling the electric cord and hauling it around to the boulevard and THE WHOLE THING WAS JUST SO HARD.  Probably other people don't trip over the cords they're carrying. Gods, I do. And, then, like Pig Pen from "Peanuts" I end up tangled in the cords and completely immobilized. (At least that's how I feel.)

On the other hand, it's done now and the yard looks fairly passable. 

At least where most people can see it.

In my reoccuring role as Dolly Domestic, I am making muffins for Shawn's staff meeting tomorrow.

I'm trying something new (and if the batter is any indication SUPER tasty) in 1001 CUPCAKES, COOKIES & OTHER TEMPTING TREATS called "#31 Frosted Peanut Butter Cupcakes." I have to tell you, I'm not usually a big peanut butter fan. I like the ocassional peanut butter cookie, especially if it has a chocolate star in the center, but I don't go out of my way to make/eat peanut butter. So I can't really explain how it happened that, in flipping through this book, my eye lit on this particular recipie. It has a big picture, though not a terribly colorful one, but something told my brain, like poor Alice in Wonderland: "Try me!"

Whatever strange spell grabbed me, I'm trying them. I even decided to make half of them "#32 Peanut Butter & Jam Cupcakes," wherein I put a drop of jam in the center of the muffin.

Today is my busy day. There's fish tanks to change, recycling to take out (though I may have already missed the pick-up guy), volunteering to do at Mason's school, and Wyrdsmiths tonight (as well as trying to squeeze in a kuk sool wan, since Mason's cold has prevented us from going earlier this week.) If my cupcakes are going to be frosted I need to hit the grocery store too, since I'm in need of cream cheese for that and we're out of some of the basics like milk and eggs (seriously. I TOLD you I was Dolly Domestic today.)

The person I really need to channel, however, is Tate Hallaway. Her/my Ana #3 is due on April 15 at the publisher... and I have been just pulling TEETH to get words out for some reason. Usually looming deadlines are the best motivator I can ask for. I'm a dark sider. I'm highly motivated by fear, hatred and jealousy (though jealousy more in its guise as competition.)

(Wow, I just ran downstairs to pull the cupcakes out of the oven and they look _just like_ the picture in the book. Is that supposed to happen?)

Anyway, I have no idea what's been up with me and writing Tate's stuff lately. I'm sure I'll make my deadline. I have too much pride (fear, hatred, etc.) to miss it. But, man, I wish it were easier this time around.