Revelations

Fiorella is the most creative creature on the face of the earth, and she's usually pretty self-secure about it too, but sometimes she needs someone to pat her on the head and say "good dog." Like about now, when she's desperate for someone to come over to the house, ignore the messes, and admire her Christmas decorations. AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO PACK AWAY SO MUCH AS A  STRING OF TINSEL UNTIL SHE GETS HER FILL OF OOHS AND AAHS!
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When it comes to keeping fires going, Fio is a great believer in rotten wood.
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An extensive analysis of the personalities of the hero and heroine are the basis of every romance your Fiorella writes. From then on, the characters make their own story.
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Strangely enough, Fio felt quite comfortable walking up the driveway to the mailbox yesterday when everyone else was complaining about the weather. Sure, the temperature was hovering at freezing, but the cold was still--no wind--and the sun was bright. Of course, Fio was clutching her mother's mink jacket around her, which also may have helped.
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Fio is gathering all the evidence on the dining room table in preparation for working on the taxes, one of her least popular chores, but it must be done. Luckily, she has a very nice CPA couple who tolerate her ignorance and stupidity. Thank you, Lisa and Blake.

Way Too Busy

Fiorella had been swimming against the tide lately. She can't find DVDs of El Color de la Pasion, DuoLingo turned out to be a time-wasting dud, she's exhausted from getting the family tax report ready for the CPA, there doesn't seem to be any way to salvage the GPS that Minnesota son gave her for Christmas, the complicated pedometer that Daughter gave her for Christmas is too complicated for mortal woman, the garage roof has started leaking, she's got to find a dry cleaner who will spruce up the baby crib mattress, and she's been sort of sick the past few days.

This is not the sort of life that the TV people live!

Movin' On

Christmas is almost over at Casa Fiorella. Husband kindly packed away the last of the Christmas ornaments yesterday afternoon, and Fio hopes to get his help unwinding the lights from the tree today. Maybe we'll even get the tree disassembled and stuffed into its many containers.

Fiorella loves decorating for Christmas and is always a little sad when her creative efforts have to be banished to the garage shelves till next year, but it's not just that Christmas has a limited shelf life--it's that tax time is just around the corner, which means that Fiorella has to turn her mind to IRS and her dining room table into a processing station.

At the same time, she's trying to rock-line a driveway, learn Spanish, write a book, and pretend to be human.

Up, Up, and Away!

Hold on tight because Fio is on an upswing, probably because of friend Pat's good vibes.  She practiced piano yesterday, finished off all the income tax tallies, concocted a stand-up cone that now holds up a photo for her renovated shelves, left messages for all the people she was supposed to contact, and attended a neighborhood meeting.  Then--wonder of wonders, she integrated the critiques into her novella.

And today she'll (gulp) go through the Allstate information and consider her options.

Taxes, Shelves, Strays

Fiorella finished what she could of the taxes today and sent the rest off to the CPA.  Next year it's going to be easier, with Fio's new business charge card and the file system she's setting up.
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Fio and Husband are working on the shelf wall in the den now.  He doesn't know it, but the shelf wall in the living room comes next.
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Neighborhood update: Gizmo, the large, fluffy friendly dog is loose again. Friend Mickey called Fio to get the name and phone number of the owner.  This may be a continuing story.

Beware!

Bad news. The digital piano is back to its old tricks again, and the window washer couldn't proceed with his job because half the screens had been flipped by last year's window washer.  Now Fio and husband have to figure out a way to dislodge and reset the screens that are facing wrong. Aaargh!  And just when Fio was in the last stages of finishing the taxes!

Pity anyone Fio encounters at the San Gabriel Writers' League tonight!  Fio is in a venting mood!

Harried

Fiorella is overwhelmed--the book, the taxes, the house, a family business, packing away Christmas, a million other responsibilities.  She stays up late every night and works without ceasing through the day.

Have patience with her.  She's moving as fast as she can.

Mountain Mover

Fiorella's finally realized that when she refers to downsizing, she means intensifying--clearing out everything else and concentrating on her writing and her art. On the other hand, she also has to keep track of the taxes, manage the family business, and get the house and property in shape to sell within the next ten years.

But you can do it, Fio.  You can do it!

Not a Second to Spare

Why is your Fio so busy?  Because she always has too many projects going.  Right now, not only is she attending physical therapy, keeping up with friends, writing a daily blog, revising a manuscript, practicing piano, preparing a poetry program for the SGWL, putting together a photo album of her recent wedding anniversary, cleaning the house, handling the family's financial matters and business opportunities, gathering the income tax info for the accountant, but also lopping off limbs of cedars that are keeping the propane truck from getting through.  Projects on the backburner include framing Younger Son's painting Time Flies, repainting a picture of her daughter as a child, and making small, clever purses to sell on the internet.

And Husband wonders why she hasn't started putting together the jigsaw puzzle he gave her for Christmas.