Slice of Life, Day 7--"Things I've Noticed...One Week In"

These are a few things I've noticed one week into this year's challenge...

--It's been really hard to find time to write this year. More so than ever, I think. I find myself posting so late that my eyes are burning with the need to close.

--I have to fight the urge to write about the weather almost everyday. I love weather, so this time of year when it's changing almost hourly is fascinating to me...but not to many others, I know! ;)

--My posts are shorter. Maybe because I'm so worn out and maybe because I'm just okay with short this year!

--I'm getting to be less of a perfectionist and more free-flowing with my writing. You'll find mistakes, and I'm okay with that this year.

--I'm just glad to be back and I'll be very proud when I finish. I didn't think I could manage it this year, and somehow, one day at a time, I'm doing it. ;)

Happy Slicing!

Slice of Life, Day 6--"Am I a Hoarder?"

Today a search for some files took me to my storage unit. As I rooted around old school boxes, stacks of antiques I've collected over time, and various pieces of furniture, I wondered, "What exactly makes one a hoarder?"

I mean, where's the line?

If you'd asked me to get rid of one thing in that room today, I'm not sure I could have made a decision. Okay, maybe one thing, but honestly, it all has a purpose (or could have a purpose, or is sentimental, or is practical to have on hand...).

You see where I'm going?

I don't think I really have a problem, but attachment to "things" has always been "a thing" for me. When my childhood home where my parents lived for 33 years was destroyed in the Joplin tornado of 2011, I salvaged all I could from the rubble that had meaning and now I hold onto it.

I have huge totes stacked and labeled that hold my rarely-seen treasures. I don't need to see them everyday, but I can spend hours just looking when I do.

I see myself as the memory-keeper of the family. I store it and when I see them, we get it out and laugh and cry and talk and reminisce.

I like to hold my past. To touch it.

Does that make me a hoarder? I hope not, but if it does, I'm okay with that. ;)

Slice of Life, Day 5-- "Slicing Saves March"

You don't have to know me very long before you know how much I love winter. I mean seriously love it...the snow, the clouds, the cold, the decorations...

But, even I'll concede that by March, I am tired. It feels like it's stretched on for ages and ages.

It's changed from delightful, fluffy, white snowflakes, to endless, daily snow flurries.

From cold nights with twinkle lights, to a wet chill that gets in your bones.

From cloudy days holding promised snow days, to days you wonder if the sun will ever shine again!!

Will spring EVER arrive in Indiana this year, I wonder??

But, in my opinion, slicing redeems March. It forces you out into the virtual world when the real world is too frozen to support life.

I'm so thankful for our bright community of Slicers that usher in spring each year. I know, by the end of the challenge, I'll feel sun on my face and a warm(ish) breeze in the air.

Slicing saves March.

Slice of Life, Day 4-- "That Feeling"

Today I saw two houses.

First, the box house at the top of my budget in the Indy suburb. All I could imagine was a mortgage stretching into forever in a house that was already boring.

Second, the house in the downtown neighborhood with original hardwoods, surrounded by houses that didn't look a thing like it. Diverse, rundown, gorgeous houses on a street that I never dreamed I'd think about living on, but that suddenly felt like home.

I can't really explain it, but as my hand ran up the bannister of the stairway, I could feel it.

That feeling that they say happens when you find the one. I just knew.

Now, really, there's a lot to fix. Foundation, floors, a few ceilings that need repainted, etc. Oh, and it need central air. Not small things.

BUT, that feeling I got as I stood in the street, passed a few neighbors, listened to the quiet---how many times do you get that feeling??

This is house 6 on my search for the perfect home. It is by far the cheapest, the most beautiful, and the only one that sparked my imagination and my creativity. I could "see" the crown molding in my mind's eye, the uncovered hardwoods, and the wood trimmed windows come to life.

It would take some money to redo. I'm not unrealistic or afraid to walk away if something goes sideways, but I sure hope that a year from now I'm writing my Slice of Life post from a house just like that one.

Slice of Life, Day 3-- "An Essential Operations Only Day"

Today I kept my operations limited to only what was essential.

As the powder-fine snow fell for most of the day, I...

*Drank coffee

*Played with my dog, Yadi, in the snow

*Did laundry

*Face-timed my family

*Looked at houses online

*Made a grocery list for tomorrow

Yes, there was more to do and more on the calendar,

But we don't have many days left that will be filled with snow from morning to afternoon.

And so, I watched it fall and did just enough work to keep the momentum going.

Tomorrow will come soon enough.

The pace will pick up to full-speed.

Maybe I'll wish I'd done more...

Or maybe...I'll be glad I took an unplanned brain break.

Quiet and peaceful.

Just the essentials.

Slice of Life, Day 2-- "A Day of House Hunting"

Today I spent the chilly winter day inside house hunting online. I realize that listening to stories about house hunting are pretty much only interesting to the parties involved, but it's literally all I did! I don't have time to look during the week, only to go to showings, so weekends are my time.

After I slice, I'm determined to put away the computer and let my brain rest.

As a first time homebuyer, it's been an up and down process for me, but March may bring the end of the stress (at least of finding one!). I've seen enough to have figured out what I want (mostly...) and to pick a few neighborhoods (mostly...) and to settle on a budget (mostly...).

I still dream of finding that perfect home, which for me, ironically, starts as a non-perfect, 100-year old home...fixing it up, bringing it back to life, and finding homeowner's bliss in my little slice of history. Probably not happening!

Most of those homes in Indianapolis are either not in my budget or not in my timeline to get fixed up.

So, the truth is I'll probably settle somewhere in between all of it...there are so many options, and yet people keep saying I'll know it when I find it...

I think those people might watch too much HGTV. ;)

-sigh-

Slice of Life, Day 1: "I Almost Didn't, But I'm Glad I Did"

This is the first year in my 6 years of Slicing that I almost didn't. I actually thought several times today that maybe I just won't. 

I'm not sure why not, except that I just don't have the "in person" Slicing community I used to have...and it makes a difference!

I miss my fellow teachers who joined me, my students, and the administration that made this such a special month. March brings back sweet memories that sting just a little.

So, I'm slicing this month with new purpose. It's not about motivating anyone, or cheering students on, or planning celebrations, or any of those things that made March fly by each year.

This year I'm doing it for me. For my writing. 

To reflect. To notice. To record. To share.

And I'm doing it with the people that have been there all along to support me---the community at the Two Writing Teachers. 

I didn't make my final decision until I visited the blog tonight and saw all of you there, posting away, and just knew I couldn't miss it. 

And I'm so glad I did. 

Happy Slicing, friends!