7 Quick Takes: Things I Resolve To Do in 2017

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Make healthier choices. I’ll be doing a plank challenge with some friends starting on January 1st and I’ll be trying to hit my college’s gym once I get over this stupid cold. I’m also going to try and cook more of my own food from scratch.

— 2 —

Annoy the crap out of T-Rump and his administration. I have the freedom to petition and I plan on making good use of it. 🙂 All of my favorite petition sites are locked and loaded and I have plans to attend a few protest marches.

— 3 —

Fill out a boatload of scholarship applications. I don’t qualify for grant-based aid because I already have a B.A. and I’d like to get as much of my Accounting program paid for without having to take out loans.

— 4 —

Get through as much of my Accounting program as I can. I am soooo excited for classes to start next week!!! I’m taking the second classes in my Practical Accounting series, a class on records management, and a class on Microsoft Word. The class on Word should be easy but I’ll appreciate that with two other classes.

— 5 —

Participate in Write 31 Days again. I have had so much fun in the last two years of participating in the challenge that I’d really like to do it again.

— 6 —

Finish some crocheting projects. I’d like to start some new projects but that means finishing some other ones first! First on the list to finish: my mom’s Christmas socks from last year.

— 7 —

Not eat any yellow paint. This one is a tribute to my friend Rick. He passed away four years ago and he used to resolve not to eat any [insert color] paint every year.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 25, 2016

For Today… December 25, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. We still have some of the snow we got on Friday.

I am thinking… about the coming week and what we’ll be doing with Daniel at home.

I am thankful… for an amazing Christmas Eve Eucharist last night. I definitely arrived home filled with joy at the birth of Christ.

One of my favorite things… NCIS reruns.

I am wearing… jammies. Clothes for today were a long-sleeved black shirt from Lands’ End and jeans from Kohl’s.

I am creating… some socks for my mom.

I am watching… an NCIS rerun where Gibbs returns to his hometown for the first time since he left to join the Marines. I heart Gibbs and Abby.

I am hoping… the pharmacy is open tomorrow so I can get my Effexor refilled.

I am learning… that Patons Kroy Socks Yarn is a pain to unravel.

In my kitchen… shrimp pasta, salad, garlic bread, a homemade gingerbread stout cake, and maple ice cream.

In the school room… Daniel is off until the 3rd.

Post Script… this piece on defeating terrorists with religious extremism is amazing.

Shared Quote… “The movement in our relationship to God is always from God to us. Always. We can’t, through our piety or goodness, move closer to God. God is always coming near to us. Most especially in the Eucharist and in the stranger.” — Nadia Bolz-Weber in Pastorix

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 12, 2016

For Today…

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… snowing. I’m loving it after 6 years of living in a place without four distinct seasons.

I am thinking… about my appointment tomorrow to get an estimate on my car bumper.

I am thankful… for my boots arriving from L.L. Bean on Friday during the first snowfall that stuck.

One of my favorite things… oatmeal cookies from $tarbux warmed up.

I am wearing… a long-sleeved black shirt, jeans, white Christmas cat socks, and my black boots.

I am creating… nothing right now except this blog post.

I am watching… TBBT re-runs.

I am hoping… they can fix my bumper without me being carless over the weekend.

In my kitchen… Mom made a pot roast last night for Sunday dinner.

In the school room… we just got a progress report on Daniel and he is doing well.

Post Script… my tasoni sister Laura wrote this beautiful piece regarding the bombing at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo. For those who don’t understand how big of a deal this is, imagine someone lobbing a bomb into the Vatican during Mass.

Shared Quote… “Forgiveness ensures our hearts are not entangled in a web of angry resentment or corrupted by hateful revenge; it liberates and empowers.” — Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church

A moment from my day… I love my “inferior Anglican Christmas hymns”.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: It’s Thursday?!!?!?!?

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

What do you mean it’s Thursday?!?!?! Choir practice got rescheduled to tonight so part of my brain was saying that I had another day to do Quick Takes. Oops!

— 2 —

The Big Bang Theory. I’ve been dealing with insomnia by catching up with clips of The Big Bang Theory on YouTube. It’s been interesting to watch this way because I’m getting the highlights and getting to skip commercials.

— 3 —

Done until January. I sent my Access final in on Saturday and took my Practical Accounting Final on Monday. I ended up with a 97.7% in my Accounting class. Score! I’ll probably find out my score on my Access final tomorrow.

— 4 —

A message of acceptance. I’m accepting the challenge to be that person.

— 5 —

Priorities. Most of you here already read Kelly’s blog but I really recommend reading it today because of her post on priorities.

— 6 —

One more item off my to-do list! I got cards sent out on Tuesday! Yay being done with school!

— 7 —

Prayer request. I could really use prayer for a special intention. Please and thank you!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 11, 2016

For Today… December 11, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. Weather.Com is saying that it’s 29F here and that snow might be starting soon. I’m kind of excited but wishing that my boots would arrive from L.L. Bean because all I have are my running shoes.

I am thinking… about my Access assessment that I finished last night. After I’m done with this, I’ll proof it and then submit it.

I am thankful… for my shopping trip to Old Navy today. I got some new long-sleeved shirts that should help keep me warm and are in seasonal colors.

One of my favorite things… the Sanctimommy Said What group on Facebook.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were the blue-green fitted tee from Old Navy/black slacks from Kohl’s/black cardi from Kohl’s that I recycled from last night’s Messiah singalong with the Skagit Symphony Chorus.

I am creating… a prayer shawl and some socks for my mommy.

I am listening to… the Classical Holiday channel from DISH Network.

I am hoping… to get a perfect score on my Practical Accounting final tomorrow.  I’ve gotten 98’s on the last three tests and it’s killing me not to get a perfect score yet.  (Why yes… I *AM* Hermione!  How ever did you guess?)

I am learning… random Access things.

In my kitchen… pork fried rice from Haggen that seems to be missing the pork.  So NOT amused.

In the school room… Daniel has a new phrase: “dress for school”.

Post Script… a list of good Christmas carols, even if the versions she picks are occasionally sub-par.

Shared Quote… “Don’t make the same mistakes that everyone else makes. Make wonderful mistakes. Make the kind of mistakes that make people so shocked that they have no other choice but to be a little impressed.” — Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy

A moment from my day… a Wordle of our recessional hymn today.

Wordle of

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7 Quick Takes: Advent Is Here Edition

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Advent Playlist. I put together an Advent playlist for those who are interested. Secular Christmas music makes me stabby so this is a nice change from all the tripe that’s playing in the malls right now. Props go to Bonnie of A Knotted Life and to my friend Thomas as I borrowed some of their ideas for mine.

— 2 —

Free Advent Reflection Book. My BFF Rebecca put this Advent reflection book together.

— 3 —

Advent game of sorts. On Sunday, our senior warden (translation: president of the “vestry” or congregation council) was handing out white mailing envelopes with a blue piece of paper attached signifying that it was “The Advent Game”. The instruction was to take a slip of paper out each day and read it with our families before doing the action indicated. (If it wasn’t something we particularly wanted to do, there were “extras” in the envelope so we could draw another one.) Each slip of paper has been something fun or thought-provoking. I’ve been asked to do things like write in a journal, go outside after dark and listen to the sounds of the night, say a prayer for a pregnant person if I see one, or ponder some interesting reflection questions.

— 4 —

An “interesting” arrangement of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. We’re working on this for next weekend in my church choir. It’s good to be able to listen to it on the JW Pepper website because it can sound kind of like music from a haunted house if not heard with all the parts together.

— 5 —

Christmas cards. I was hoping to get my Christmas cards out on the day after Thanksgiving but that obviously didn’t happen so I’m aiming to have a workday on Tuesday to get them ready to take to the post office. My plan: curl up at $tarbux after I get Daniel to school and watch YouTube videos while I try and get it all done.

— 6 —

Messiah Sing-a-Long on Saturday! Provided that Daniel isn’t being the pill he has been a few nights this week, I’ll be singing Handel’s Messiah with the Skagit Symphony Chorus. I used to sing it with the San Jose Symphonic Choir when I was in high school and college so I’m pretty excited!

— 7 —

End of the Quarter. I just have to submit my Access assessment and take my in-class test for Practical Accounting on Tuesday before I’ll be officially done with the quarter. It has been interesting thus far and I’m looking forward to continuing with accounting next quarter.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 27, 2016

For Today… November 27, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… grey and rainy. I love it.

I am thinking… about the accounting cycle review problem I’m working on. My Trial Balance numbers aren’t right and I’ll be pretty much starting over from scratch once this post is up.

**UPDATE** I GOT IT TO BALANCE!!!!!!

I am thankful… for a good time with family from Wednesday night to Saturday afternoon. My evil twin and his long-suffering wife were up and we had various people over for meals over Thursday and Friday. It was also fun to watch the Apple Cup with them and the UW completely trounced WSU. 🙂 I would have liked Michigan to have annihilated Ohio State but I guess it was an exciting game for those who watched it.

One of my favorite things… grey kittehs, especially the one sitting on my desk.

I am wearing… my indigo v-neck shirt and jeans. Church clothes were the v-neck with a black paisley skirt, my black cardigan, black tights, and my flats. My boots arrive from L.L. Bean tomorrow and I hope they fit!

I am creating… a two-column journal entry on scratch paper to try and work out my errors in the accounting cycle review problem.

I am listening to… the Advent playlist I created for this year.

I am hoping… I can get everything to balance for tomorrow.

I am learning… about employer taxes in my Practical Accounting class. Not too hard.

In my kitchen… leftovers or something.

In the school room… Daniel continues to do well in his program.

Post Script… this piece by Barbara Kingsolver is fabulous.

Shared Quote… “Stop, you all. I know where you all live and I’m not afraid to use you as a sermon illustration.” — a seminary classmate of mine in response to some good-natured teasing on her husband’s Facebook wall.

A moment from my day… The Annunciation/Magnificat portion of Holden Evening Prayer.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.