3 things: windows, auctions, and writing
Nov. 17th, 2013 01:43 amThings I have done today:
1. Put weatherizing plastic over one of my living room windows. This involves carefully lining the outside of the frame with special double-sided tape, waiting fifteen minutes to be sure it's secure, and pressing special transparent plastic sheeting all over the window. Then you run a hairdryer over the thing to sort of melt out all the inevitable wrinkles.
This took a bit of doing, since my windows are ridiculously huge -- as I'm sure I've said before, I have to use twin size bedsheets as curtains since it's impossible to find ready-made actual curtains in the right size. I had to use my stepladder, and stand on the plastic bit at the top that specifically says not to stand on it, but whatever, I got it done.
Next weekend, I get to do the other living room window. That will be much more of a production, since instead of just moving an armchair and a hanging spider plant out of the way, I have to move two three-shelf bookcases, not to mention all the books and houseplants they currently hold. Oh, and another hanging spider plant, because spider plants are inevitable. *sigh*
Theoretically this will prevent drafts and add a layer of insulation, which will keep my apartment warmer with less heating. Here's hoping it works!
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2. Went to the annual Service Auction at church in the evening. I skipped the dinner portion and most of the silent auction, but I like the live auction part and it's good to get out of the house and pretend to be social now and then. I ended up buying a seat at a brunch next April, a pie of my choice, tickets to a Bach lute concert in late February, and season tickets (five concerts! such riches!) to the Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble's 2014 Winter/Spring concert series.
It is hard to resist classical music, okay? And I really enjoyed the concerts I bought tickets to at last year's auction, so... what the hell. Best case scenario, I get a coworker or church acquaintance or even Susan or one of my parents to go with me; worst case scenario I go by myself and still enjoy the hell out of the music. There is no downside here. :-)
I stayed a little bit after to help put away tables, even though I hadn't actually signed up as a volunteer. Well, I was there, it needed doing, and I could do it -- so I did. *shrug* This meant I was still in the room when the cooks were trying to dispose of the leftovers from dinner, so I ended up with a week's worth of chicken-and-leeks to take home at no cost. Instant karma!
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3. Worked on the next of my mini-ficlet prompt fills, for![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot. It's at about 600 words and maybe half finished? That is only a guess, though. It's always hard to estimate the length of these things, since I don't outline them in the slightest; they are written very much off the top of my head.
I've been enjoying these ficlets a lot. They're a nice change of pace from my various WIPs, and I think it's useful to sort of switch up what my brain is chewing over without taking a break from the physical/mental act of writing.
1. Put weatherizing plastic over one of my living room windows. This involves carefully lining the outside of the frame with special double-sided tape, waiting fifteen minutes to be sure it's secure, and pressing special transparent plastic sheeting all over the window. Then you run a hairdryer over the thing to sort of melt out all the inevitable wrinkles.
This took a bit of doing, since my windows are ridiculously huge -- as I'm sure I've said before, I have to use twin size bedsheets as curtains since it's impossible to find ready-made actual curtains in the right size. I had to use my stepladder, and stand on the plastic bit at the top that specifically says not to stand on it, but whatever, I got it done.
Next weekend, I get to do the other living room window. That will be much more of a production, since instead of just moving an armchair and a hanging spider plant out of the way, I have to move two three-shelf bookcases, not to mention all the books and houseplants they currently hold. Oh, and another hanging spider plant, because spider plants are inevitable. *sigh*
Theoretically this will prevent drafts and add a layer of insulation, which will keep my apartment warmer with less heating. Here's hoping it works!
-----
2. Went to the annual Service Auction at church in the evening. I skipped the dinner portion and most of the silent auction, but I like the live auction part and it's good to get out of the house and pretend to be social now and then. I ended up buying a seat at a brunch next April, a pie of my choice, tickets to a Bach lute concert in late February, and season tickets (five concerts! such riches!) to the Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble's 2014 Winter/Spring concert series.
It is hard to resist classical music, okay? And I really enjoyed the concerts I bought tickets to at last year's auction, so... what the hell. Best case scenario, I get a coworker or church acquaintance or even Susan or one of my parents to go with me; worst case scenario I go by myself and still enjoy the hell out of the music. There is no downside here. :-)
I stayed a little bit after to help put away tables, even though I hadn't actually signed up as a volunteer. Well, I was there, it needed doing, and I could do it -- so I did. *shrug* This meant I was still in the room when the cooks were trying to dispose of the leftovers from dinner, so I ended up with a week's worth of chicken-and-leeks to take home at no cost. Instant karma!
-----
3. Worked on the next of my mini-ficlet prompt fills, for
branchandroot. It's at about 600 words and maybe half finished? That is only a guess, though. It's always hard to estimate the length of these things, since I don't outline them in the slightest; they are written very much off the top of my head.I've been enjoying these ficlets a lot. They're a nice change of pace from my various WIPs, and I think it's useful to sort of switch up what my brain is chewing over without taking a break from the physical/mental act of writing.
