Maybe I should be the star of a new reality series – because the last week in the kitchen has definitely been nerve-wracking! As anyone who follows me on Facebook knows, I enjoy baking as a way of relieving stress. Never did I think that it would be the *cause* of major stress – LOL!

It started out innocently enough – I wanted to make some homemade bread to send to my mother-in-law. We already send her a batch of cookies every month, so when Jan suggested sending her some honey-wheat bread, I thought it was a wonderful idea.

I’ve made this bread several times, and each time it comes out great. I put the ingredients in the bread machine (have to cheat on the kneading – my arthritic hands won’t let me do it any other way),  and in no time had a beautiful batch of dough to work with. Got it all ready for the oven, then FORGOT to set the damned timer.  Yep. Two exceptionally burned loaves.

No worries – I’ll just make up another batch, right?

Wrong.

By the way, I should have stopped while I was behind – I also was attempting to get the laundry done. And proceeded to forget to turn the dryer on. Yep. Should have taken the hint and gone back to bed.

But no, I’m stubborn.

Got the dryer going, and another batch of dough in the bread machine. An hour and a half later, the bread machine dings – yay! Gonna get that stuff cranked out in no time!

BUZZZZ! Wrong answer!

Opened up the bread machine, and noticed the dough almost about to explode. Not good. I stuck my hands into the mess and tried to get the dough out of the container.

**Note to self** Next time you decide to play with bread dough, wear rubber GLOVES!! It took half an hour to get all the goop off my hands and clothes.

Okay, so *that* round didn’t go as planned. I’ll try it one more time, measuring *very* carefully, and proceeding with the utmost caution. After all, I’ve done this same recipe many times, and *never* had a problem before.

Third time’s the charm, right?

Uh-huh. Not even freakin’ close.

The last try, I got sidetracked and left the dough in the bread machine about 10 minutes longer than I should have. Did you know that it will OOZE like a volcano?

The good news: my bread machine has *never* been cleaner. The bad news? I still have to bake bread…even if it kills me.

I’ve been struggling with writer’s block for the last several months. No matter how hard I try to concentrate, even on a tiny scene, my mind stays blank.

I say blank, but what I mean is…all over the place. I’ll start to type a sentence, when suddenly my brain goes, “Wait! Did you put the sheets in the dryer?” So, I head for the laundry room, see clutter on the kitchen table, and…well, by the time I get back to my desk, I barely remember what I was doing.

*sigh*

So, yesterday I went to my doctor for a double ear infection. The intake nurse was asking the usual questions, and I realized that I had stopped taking one of my medications – SEVERAL months ago.

It just so happens that this medication helps regulate memory, concentration, and about a dozen other things. I had cleaned off my nightstand to paint the bedroom, and I’m guessing the medication had fallen to the back of the drawer. Outta sight, outta mind. No real excuse, but it’s the only one I have 🙂

So, what I’m hoping is that I’ll be back to writing in the next few weeks, once the meds kick in again.

Okay, I just spent the past week two weeks painting our master bedroom and dressing area. For those who don’t know me well, let me explain why it took so long.

Back in 2002, I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease in my lower back, as well as bipolar depression. Most people would realize that there are just some things that can’t be physically done, but am I one of those?

Hell, no.

I’m forty-five years old, in horrible physical shape, and for some stupid reason, think I can still do things like I did twenty years ago. Newsflash – I can’t. Or, I can, but spend days at a time wondering why I was so stupid.

Anyway, I’d spend a day prepping, priming, or painting, and then the following day or two trying to get over doing the work. Needless to say, what should have been a 2-day job quickly (or slowly) turned into a two-WEEK job.

Yesterday, I finally finished. Cue the ticker-tape parade! The bedroom looks fantastic.

This morning, I woke up with another brilliant idea – paint the sunroom!

Guess I’d better stock up on pain killers…or maybe a well-placed 2×4.

More as it happens.