According to my calendar, I'm in Galveston right now, visiting my friend Ann, finally getting to see the cute little Victorian house she's fixing up and browsing through some wonderful eclectic shops.

Things don't always go according to plan, though, do they?

Instead of strolling the tourist-free beaches and staying up late talking and laughing with my dear friend, I've spent the past two days glued to this old computer, spending hours and hours on projects that should have only taken half the time.

(I'm beginning to wonder if shoveling coal into it might make it go any faster. I don't think it could hurt!)

Ann's free days evaporated, too, anyway, complicated by family schedules. We're going to try again in the next month or two. Why are our lives still so complicated?

I'm grateful for the work that's keeping me glued to the computer, though. One is a photo shoot from a couple of weeks ago that forced me to learn Lightoom. I'm by no means an expert, but I've learned so much, thanks to tutorials and photography friends (thank you, Beth!) and learning something new is so much fun! (And frustrating. And agonizing.)

Unfortunately, one thing I've learned is that my E: drive on my computer has gone kaputz. Nothing like a few hurdles in your path to keep you on your toes, right?

The second project was a review for BlogHer with a quick turnaround, as in, I learned about it yesterday and the deadline was this morning. And I (pretty much) turned it in on time. Ahem.

It wasn't a typical product review… more of a personal essay on health and aging and menopause, so I was happy I was chosen for the project.

I can't believe it's already Wednesday, though. Here are a few highlights from the past few days…

 

My mother turned 80! Middle-son Daniel went with me for the celebration at my parents' house. I enjoy road trips with Daniel – he helps me find good radio stations and doesn't mind me singing along loudly, even when I don't really know the words. 

It was a quick visit with family, highlighted by fried Gulf shrimp, birthday cake, breakfast by Daddy, plenty of coffee, Mexican food, and my mother in a birthday sombrero… 

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…which matches this one of my dad from last month…

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Oldest-son Tommy ran his first full marathon! If you knew all the nights I stayed up with him while he struggled to breathe with his asthma, you'd really understand how very proud I am! And how relieved I was that he crossed that line, safe and sound and breathing!

This photo was snapped by his sweetheart, Kirby. She completed her second half-marathon that day. 

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Yay, Tommy and Kirby!

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I won a blog drawing!! This cute cup featuring a 'doodle' by Cyndee at Eloise's Collage arrived in my mailbox Friday. I love it! Thank you, Cyndee! 

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Remember the Thanksgiving Comes First campaign? Thanks to Suldog, I found out about a petition to "Tell Target to Save Thanksgiving". If you want to add your name, click HERE.

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It rained yesterday! I mean, really and truly rained!

Well, not enough to capture a photo of the actual rain, but I did get one this morning of a dew-covered wildflower…

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Last but not least, Hilary at the Smitten Image awarded me a Post of the Week for As if I were beside you… Thank you, Hilary!

(Click the icon below to go read the other POTW and see her wonderful photography.)

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I hope you're having a wonderful week, even if your plans went agley like mine!

(At least I wasn't left with "nought but grief an' pain"…)

 

…The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

~from To a Mouse by Robert Burnes

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26 responses to ““The Best Laid Schemes…” (What happened to Monday and Tuesday?)”

  1. Hilary Avatar

    Well yes, we seem to have connected on our blog post titles. 😉
    Too bad your plans went agley but you accomplished a new skill so that’s good.
    Happy Birthday to your beautiful mother and congrats to your handsome boy. And to you for winning that cup.
    And thank you for the shout out.
    You sure do cover a lot of ground in your posts. 😉

    Like

  2. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Some days I have to! When I get busy and all those thoughts start piling up in my brain, I have to get them out of there!! It's just been one of those weeks!

    Like

  3. Anyes - Far Away in the Sunshine Avatar

    It seems to me you did a whole lot from the look of this post. Happy Belated Birthday to your mom and congratulations to your son.
    Sometimes the best thing to do with plans is to let them go, and enjoy to the best of your ability what you did not plan 😉

    Like

  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I think you're right. There are times you just know it's not meant to be and there's no reason to fight it! It just means when I do get to go visit, it will be great!

    Like

  5. Gail Avatar

    Oh, dear, so sorry your plans fell through with your friend.
    Congrats on POTW! You totally rock and deserve that. It’s certainly an honor to be in the same company with Pearl, why you little…
    Amazing you were able to turn in that review with such short notice. Impressive.
    Also impressive is your son completing his first marathon. I can understand the pride you (and he) felt. What an awesome accomplishment.
    Hope the rest of your week glides by, coasting into the weekend for some fun!

    Like

  6. beth Avatar

    you truly have been living !!…..and as my dad always says, it’s better then the alternative.
    i’m so happy for you to have your first shoot and editing behind you….and you know how anxious i am to see a photo or two 🙂
    lightroom just keeps getting better and better as i learn more and more. making my own presets is going to be my new addiction…i just know it is 🙂
    congrats on the POTW and i love the photos of your parents !! OH and your son and his marathon…..wow. to be asthmatic and to run a marathon is a HUGE deal !!!

    Like

  7. brian miller Avatar

    whew…a little bit of everything in this…smiles…happy birthday to your mom…big smiles…and woot on son completing the marathon…and you for POTW!

    Like

  8. Lady Fi Avatar

    Love that picture of your mum!
    Congrats on your POTW!

    Like

  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thanks, thanks and thanks! 🙂

    Like

  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Whew! Almost behind me. Still jumping that hurdle with the cd but think I have a good plan. Thanks again for all your help!

    Like

  11. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you! Hilary's POTW really are such an honor – very impressive company! I'm gliding down to two days of work at the Bistro, but I think that will be a welcome break from the computer! lol Hope you have a great week and fun weekend, too!

    Like

  12. Amy Avatar

    Your week sounds crazy! Isn’t it amazing how the days just meld into one another?! Congrats on your POTW! Well deserved!

    Like

  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thanks, Amy! Yes, it is crazy how fast the time flies by!

    Like

  14. Suldog Avatar

    Thanks for the linky-love, Barbara! And thanks for pointing folks toward that very worthy petition!
    Also, congratulations on the POTW (which honor you deserved, of course.)

    Like

  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    You're welcome, and thank you for posting the link in the first place! 

    Like

  16. cynthia eloise Avatar

    i love the photo you took of my little mug. glad you like it. thanks for showing it.

    Like

  17. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I do!! Thank you for having the drawing!!

    Like

  18. lisleman Avatar

    congrats on the POTW – that blogher review do you win something or get paid? Learning photo software can be so confusing.

    Like

  19. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you! The BlogHer review is a paid post (yay!) It's a little different than others. I'll publish it next week. I agree with you on the software, but compared to Photoshop Elements, Lightroom makes much more sense to me! (Still confusing at times, though!)

    Like

  20. lisleman Avatar

    oh FYI – I just used your mom’s lesson in my Friday Fragment post with the due credit. thanks
    Oh you do know it’s Friday in more than half the world already.

    Like

  21. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Yay! I love it! I stopped by your place earlier – I'll head back over there now!

    Like

  22. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    I love those hats. So very Texas. Congrats on POTW!
    And don’t you just hate it when plans go all agley?

    Like

  23. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Yes, I do! I was looking forward to that time with her so much, but I was very grateful for the work that kept me from going!

    Like

  24. missing moments Avatar

    whew, I’m exhausted … what a week! Love you mom and dad’s photos … so much fun and love.

    Like

  25. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    They are great sports!

    Like

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