Is There a Lost and Found for Motivation?

It's gone.  i know i had it earlier in the week and am hoping I just misplaced it.  I'm talking about that most valuable of intangibles, motivation.  I learned taking a Thursday off work, and then trying to reengage on Friday is not a great idea.  Of course I did things-the things that had to be done.  I had meetings at 8:15, 9:30, 11:00, 2:00, and lastly, at 3:30. I participated fully, but if I stop to think about what I actually accomplished, very little.  I hope those I met with got more out of the day than I did.  

Tomorrow though is the weekend, time for a a good hunt and search and with luck, motivation will be hanging out on a shelf somewhere.  The weather is supposed to be cold and gray, just like today.  Perhaps that might be where my motivation was hiding. After the glorious day of warmth and sun yesterday, there was a  dull, cold, colorless feeling in the air today.  I usually don't mind a gray day-good for reading, and thinking, and coming up with ideas.  Today though, the clouds just covered up needed energy. Tomorrow though, I'm going to put the weather to my favor and set the alarm, even though it is a weekend, and not rely on my natural clock to wake me up.  I think pup and I will drive down to the Mississippi River walking trails, or to one of the rural nature centers, and get an extra long walk in.  I'm going to tackle some purging of closets, and perhaps follow my daughters lead, and haul some used books and movies to a second hand shop and see if I can generate a little cash.  

Here is my motivational check list for tomorrow:

• Wake up early; do not linger in bed and waste away precious daylight
• Walk a long time, slow and patient and let pup sniff away
• Purge at least one shelf, cupboard, or closet-determine if for sale, donation or throw
• Clean and organize pantry, fridge, and freezer-there is something causing an odd smell somewhere
• Take a picture of my food waste so I hold my self accountable next time to use what we have
• Bake!!  
• Wash bedding and get it out on the line so I can sleep with sweet smells of fall
• Open a bottle of red, and marvel at all I've accomplished

What about you?  How do you start your weekends, and how do you decide what to tackle first?

Early Fall in the River valley

Today is the first full day of fall.  We have had some quite chilly mornings, mixed with wonderful sun, slowly heating up the air.  It was a little hazardous vision wise on my drive to work but I was stopped and able to take a couple quick photos of the fog coming off the Mississippi.  Pardon the dash board.  I could live year round in these kind of temperatures.  The fog has such allure, particularly seeing it over a river when you can't tell where the land, water, or sky meet. 

I was loaded, over loaded in fact at work, so couldn't so much as get a walk around the building.  I made up for it at home, and Kota, my darling dog, even scored two walks-one before dinner, and a second just a bit ago, in the dark.    I got dinner started, some simple rice, beans, and cheese with tortilla, and headed for walk one. Once back, the girls and I went to town on the makeshift tex-mex, eating out on the deck rather than inside.  I polished off the remaining premixed margarita's, hiding in my fridge for just such a dinner happy hour.  Walk two required a flashlight as there wasn't so much as a star to help guide us on the path. 

We met loads of other dogs and owners both times. It is so hard keeping indoors on these warmer fall nights in Minnesota.  We are anticipating another 80 degree high on Wednesday, but know we must brace for the 30-40 degree swing south, potentially coming in the same week. While I raved about my dream to relocate to the UK, this is the season, and kind of weather, that draws folks into my part of Minnesota.  Sadly, after fall lures them in, winter freezes the feet to the ground.  I'm a long way from retirement, but I think I might have a seasonal living plan for when I do.  Minnesota gets dibs on September -early November.  


Just a foggy haze on the other side of the bridge



You can see the fog rising up from the river

I want to thank all of you that have given my site a read or two.  On Sunday I hit my first milestone and went over 1,000 page views.  Now granted, I probably might be a fair share of those even with trying to not track my own.  While I read blogs that have thousands of views a day,  sharing my ideas and thoughts with any of you readers has been a wonderful outlet for the random things going through my head.  Trying to adjust to a new framework, and see life with a realistic, but open minded lens to other perspectives and writing about it has been more difficult than I thought.  Trying to not sound whiny, insensitive, dull, or self indulgent is a challenge.  I hope my posts get better, lighter, and are infused with more fun.  As I move into the next phase, I intend to bring in a little content with some research behind it.  Comments and ideas are appreciated.  For those who found me, and came back more than once, and those that did so from outside the US, let me know what's working, or what maybe isn't.  Thanks again.