I’ve been wanting to revamp the layout on Literary Escapism for awhile now and last night I finally did it.  It looks fabulous, but it took me until 4am to get it to a point where I could launch it.  I haven’t stayed up until 4am in years, at least not willingly, and today I am so paying for it.  I slept in until 1pm today and now half my day is gone.  Plus all that motivation I had last night, shot to hell.  I have nothing.  I’m starting to get a little of it back by actually doing things, but it’s the actually doing things that is slow.  I was given 24 hours of complete alone time and it’s all going to be shot.  I had all these things I wanted to get done and I’m not even sure if I’ll get half of them done.

I’m guessing I have another 4 hours before the chaos ascends again, so I’m going to try and get those things done.  Wish me luck.

However, Ian and I were suppose to go to the fountain park with the mom’s group this morning and guess who forgot to grab his car seat out of the car.  *doh!*  I can’t believe I did that.  I was just talking with Jesse, when I got back from the store, that I needed to grab Ian’s carseat before he left.  At least I hadn’t told him that was where we’re going.  So I started planning a trip up to Rosies and guess what.  It’s suppose to rain this afternoon.  Seriously?  Are all my plans going to get ruined today?

To make my day even better, Ian has decided he would rather have the wooden Thomas set instead of the trackmaster set he has.  I’ve known he’s liked the wooden set better for awhile, but they are so much more expensive and we’ve been holding off on switching his sets.  However, this past weekend, while we were at Toys R Us, he found this sweet case for the wooden set on sale and so wanted it.  He even carried it around the store until we checked out.  So I caved and got it for him on the condition that he had to sell his trackmaster set before he could play with it, which he didn’t have a problem with.  Anyway, I’m just now getting around to putting it up on craigslist and what do I do?  Delete the pictures I had taken of the pieces before I could move them to my computer or even use them. Yeah.  So now I have to unpack all the track and trains and retake some pictures so I can get them posted on craigslist.  Argh!

I am really hoping this isn’t a sign of how the rest of the day is going to be. Currently, Ian is happily playing Lego Batman and I’m desperately trying to remember why I can’t close my eyes while he does.  Maybe if I did take a little nap, the day will start turning around for me.

So what have I been up to lately…..did I mention I’m pregnant?  Probably.  After all, I’m 8 months along (T-6 weeks and counting!), so it can’t be that new to people.  At least I hope it’s not.

Yeah, let’s just focus on today.  Today has been really productive.  I managed to get all the laundry caught up before noon (well, laundry for the living – I need to get to Simon’s now); managed to get a news post up on LE; realized that the new toy Ian picked up over the weekend wasn’t as cool as we thought it was (you’re seriously going to sell a Thomas Case that gives the impression of a portable track without an engine?!); organized Ian’s Trackmaster set to get put up on craigslist tonight; finished going through all the tubs of baby clothes and now have three separate tubs – one to be washed, one to give to Lori and one for donations.  Plus, this includes time to hang out with the monkey and his blocks.  Today has been productive.

Ian has totally been cracking us up lately.  He’s been a sweetheart (when does the other shoe drop), is going nuts over Lego Batman (he’s currently glued to my side playing it right now) and has been saying some of the greatest one liners ever.  I so wish there was a camera set up in my house 24/7 just so I could capture some of those moments.

Speaking of getting caught up, I’ve also been totally slacking on Open Source Cook, but I plan to rectify that soon.  Jesse has a new job with a bunch of the guys from EPI and I’ve already heard that my cooking has been a topic of discussion.  This is awesome because I have found a recipe I want to try before a shower next week.  I wonder when I’ll be able to send something in with him?  Do you think it would be odd to make something within the first two weeks?

Jill actually has one of these, but I so want this (ALVE Cabinet with doors) to put under the windows in my office. I am seriously getting tired of all the clutter that builds up in my office and this could really help with that since a lot of it isn’t just mine. The closet is filled and I’m starting to pile things everyone.

I could also use at least two of these suckers (ALVE Bookcase with drawer), but in reality, I would probably only be able to fit one in my office.  However, that doesn’t mean I could use the second someplace else. Right now, I have three bookcases and two bookshelves filled and I still have more books. And it’s not just books I’m looking to display either. I have a lot of interesting tidbits I’ve collected over the years that are sitting in boxes that I would love to get out. Not to say the least the few photo albums I still have.

However, the ultimate prize would be the ALVE Desk. I want a real desk again. Something with drawers and cabinets where I wouldn’t have to keep everyone on my desk. Right now, my desk is cluttered and loaded down with things simply because I can’t put them anywhere else. Books, pencils, file drawers, everyone you would typically see on a desk is either stashed on top or someplace else in the house where I have to hunt it down in order to use it. All because my current desk doesn’t have drawers. Granted, I’m not a huge fan of drawers simple because it is easy to toss stuff in there and forget it, but there are just some things that should be in a drawer.

Wouldn’t these be pretty in my office though? All of them are from Ikea and there’s one near here so I wouldn’t have to pay for shipping. The chances of me getting any of these though are pretty much nil. I will continue to hope and dream. Maybe for my birthday, after all, one of the bigs ones is coming up…hint hint.

There’s probably not many out there who care, but you anyone be upset if I start using Facebook exclusively and change myjaxon.com to a placeholder page so I can keep the things I do use it for?

On August 4, heavy rains caused flooding in Louisville, Kentucky and the surrounding areas. The Louisville Free Public Library’s main branch was hit hard and the damages are estimated at $1 million.

I’m putting to together a book drive in effort to help.

How you can help:
Everybody:

• Donations of new books, all genres.
• Information about monetary donations can be found at WFPL.

Authors & Publishers:

• Donations of both signed and unsigned books. All genres, from children’s books to romance to non-fiction, etc, etc.
• Signed books can be used in fundraiser purposes. Unsigned books can be used to help replenish the books that were lost due to the flood.

I have spoken with somebody with the library and at this time, they have no place to store books. However, I’m close and I will keep the books at my house until they are able to take them.

For those wishing to donate books, there are two ways you can send them. I can either receive them my post box address or a friend will receive them at her home.

If you wish to mail them via the USPS, send to:

Shiloh Walker
PO Box 976
Jeffersonville, IN
47131

For those wishing to use Fedex or UPS, send to:

LFPL Book Drive
C/O Jennifer Kennedy
20813 State Rd # 62
Marysville, IN 47141

Feel free to repost this information in it’s entirety.

Shiloh Walker

http://shilohwalker.com

http://shilohwalker.wordpress.com

Jesse will finally get his office.  Originally, Jesse was designing his office in a way that would work best for him.  And while that is what we should do, I also wanted it to be designed in a way that would sell as a second bedroom.  Jesse’s plans really didn’t have that in mind.  So Jesse is getting a slightly smaller office than he originally envisioned, but it’s still the size of the master bedroom upstairs.

Ian is going to get a playroom in the guise of a spare bedroom.  Eventually, my office will move into that room, but that’s after we transform my current office into a dining room (we will never use it as a bedroom since there’s a door right next to the back door).  But for now, Ian will have his own room to play in, and if we ever have another kid, we’ll need a place for all the toys they’ll accumulate.

The previous owners started putting in a second bathroom downstairs, but only got as far as installing the plumbing.  So we’ll be finishing that project.  It’ll be another full bath, with a shower, sink and toilet, but the shower will be a stand-up stall only.  For being a basement bathroom, I really don’t see the point of a tub.  Plus, I’m not a fan of tubs since I really can’t fit into one comfortable.

As for the main living area, if you’re wondering what that green line is, that’s Jesse’s projection TV.  I’m not crazy about that idea, but it’ll take up less space than a regular TV, so I’m not arguing against it.  We’re also going to put in some built-in media shelves in the area under the stairs.  It’ll be a great place to store all the DVDs and other media equipment we’ll have.

We’re also talking about having the stairs redone.  We’re not sure if they are still up to code and we’re going to price it out.  I would like to get the stairs recarpeted and Jesse wants to change how they dump into the basement, but that’s all going to depend on how much it’ll cost.  Plus, we’ll have to put in some kind of banister/ledge between the stairs and the rest of the basement since there isn’t one there already.

As for the storage room, that’s going to be another major project for later on.  We’ll be sectioning that area off and putting in some shelves around the north side of the house, but the area with the washer/dryer is going to get completely gutted.  I can’t stand having the dryer and washer separated, so they are going to be moved next to each other.  Plus we have one of those old crappy solid concrete double sinks and I want to change that out for a single one and actually hook it up to the plumbing.  I also have dreams of cabinets and a counter down here with more shelves and a closet under the stairs.

So those are our plans for our unfinished basement.  Now the real fun comes and we start the search for a contractor.  We’re not sure if we’ll end up using a contractor, but we want to make sure our floorplan is actually feasible before attempting it.  Either way, construction won’t start until September, but that only gives us two months to get some estimates and find out what will be easier – us doing it with some help from the fathers or getting a professional in here.  Jesse and I are pretty sure we’re going to have a contractor come in and redo the stairs, but aside from that, we’ll have to see.

So if anyone knows of a really good contractor who’ll give free estimates, let me know, will ya?

I saw this meme over at Carrie Vaughn’s blog and the whole idea of it makes me want to do it.  Here’s the details: Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

So here’s my fifteen:

1. Amber Flame by Hannah Howell
2. The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop
3. Charlotte’s Web by EB White
4. Dark Elf Trilogy by RA Salvatore (series)
5. Daughter of Fire by Quinn Taylor Evans (series)
6. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (series)
7. Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur (series)
8. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre (series)
9. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton (series)
10. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (series)
11. Midsummers Night Dream by William Shakespeare
12. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (series)
13. Poison Study by Maria Snyder (series)
14. Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
15. Wicked by Gregory Maguire

These are the ones I’ve gone back and have read multiple times.  Typing up this list has made me want to go back and read them again too.  Quite a few of these are the beginning of some great series and more often than not, the entire series stays with me just as much as any single novel does.  So I’m really including the entire series in this list, but using the first novel as  starting point.

The last time we went out, we saw The Transformers and Saturday we saw Star Trek, which just happened to have a trailer for the new Transformers movie.  However, before we went and saw that fabulous movie, Jesse and I did something we haven’t been able to do in awhile.  We spent 1.5 hours at Barnes & Noble and browsed the aisles.  We weren’t together the whole time; he went and looked for books he was interested in and I did the same, but then we met up in the Cafe area and just sat and read.  It was great.  I haven’t been able to do that in awhile.  I think the last time I spent any length of time in a book store was last August when I went to the Borders in Ann Arbor for the Sherrilyn Kenyon signing.  While we were at BN, I did find some interesting novels and my TBR list was expanded again.

As for Star Trek, I liked it.  I’m not a huge trekkie fan, in fact, I’m not a trekkie fan.  I used to watch Deep Space Nine years ago, but I couldn’t tell you anything about it, who was on it, or what it was about.  In fact, I only remember truly watching it once while I was cleaning up the play room (I was probably 12 at the time, I don’t know).  So while I know that Star Trek is a huge franchise, I really didn’t have any expectations going into the movie except thinking that “It’s another one of those“.  But I have to say, it was a great movie.  There were a few parts I wasn’t crazy for (the obvious one liners that were from the original Star Trek that were thrown in to appease the fanatics), but overall I would go to see any sequel with this cast of characters.

Sunday was pretty good as well.  I didn’t get to sleep in, but that’s okay.  I made breakfast for all three boys and then they fixed my refrigerator.  Sorta.  We’re still not sure why it’s leaking water (we’re going to thaw the whole thing out and hope there was a huge ice blockage), but the doors are now opening into the kitchen instead of into the living room.  I’m loving it.  After that, all three left the house!  I was able to check my email in silence and then I promptly took a nap.  Of course, Ian and Jesse woke me up when they got home, but that was perfectly alright.  They brought me hoem something and Ian was excited to show it off.  Both of them were wearing excited smiles when they showed me the Wii Fit.  I’ve been wanting one (and I’ve already logged an hour on the thing), so this was a great surprised.  I got hugs and kisses from both and then Jesse went to put Ian down for his nap.  I ended up with a 4 hour nap yesterday.  It was awesome. Of course, I was tired the rest of the day, but it was still good.  We played with the Wii Fit, dinner was simple and Ian went to bed really well – so the night was really relaxing.  It was great.

So that was my mother’s day.  It was a good weekend.

I just came across this one over at Trish P’s LJ page and it’s another amusing one.  It’s a What Herb Are You? quiz and it’s kind of weird how it picked one that I love.  I’m a huge fan of mint anything.  Mint Chocolate, Mint Ice Cream, Mint Oreo cookies.  That was probably the only real craving I had while I was pregnant – Cookie Mintser from Coldstone Creamery.

Mmm…mint.  I just thought of something.  Mint No Bake Cookies.  Jesse is always having me make these, but I wonder why I never thought about adding a little mint to the recipe before.  Uh oh Jesse, I’m thinking of playing with your no-bake recipe (we’ll see if he actually reads this or just skims though it).  I may have to try this and see what happens.  You never know it may be good – as long as I don’t overdo the mint.