Mid-August Post? Check

August has been quiet around here. One custom Dummies book is on hold as I wait for the client to return feedback for the chapters I sent over a month ago, and I'm waiting for decisions on two more proposals. As I received payments for two custom Dummies books during the last week of July and my financial situation is safe for now, the first half of August has been the perfect time to check off boxes on my long-dormant to-do list:

• I purchased three Trashie Take Back Bags, filled them up with my old clothing (and some of my mom's), and delivered them to a FedEx Office 46 miles away. At least I did that on the same trip where I enjoyed a pleasant lunch with my Instagram for Dummies co-author Corey Walker nearby.
• I cleaned under the sink and prepping medicines for deposit during National Drug Take-Back Day in October.
• I rearranged art and (light) furniture in my home and office, and I'm happy with the updated flow.
• I purchased plastic storage containers and transferred all the stuff from the cardboard boxes in my office closet into those containers so they're easier for me to access.
• I installed earthquake straps on my office bookshelf, cleaned the shelves, and reorganized those shelves so they're nice to look at. These straps may not work for long in a strong quake, but they will buy me time to move me and my laptop out of the way.

With all that done, I turned my attention to putting my mom's daycare toys and other stuff (like strollers) for sale on Facebook a few days ago, and activity has been brisk. She retired in May, and I can see the most visible sign that her retirement is permanent from our kitchen window.

On August 13, there were four large play structures in our backyard, vestiges of the home-based daycare business my mom operated until she retired in May. The next day, the buyers of all the structures dismantled them and carted them off. My mom and I agree the backyard looks weird.

Though the physical activity helps my brain, and I'm glad those tasks were fairly light, the mental gymnastics of managing all these sales and pickups has worn me out more than I expected. The days when I'm feeling worse now outnumber the days when I'm better.

As I look at the backyard from the kitchen window, I know more changes are ahead -- and I don't know if I can manage them.

My mother is 85 now. Her memory is failing and her cognitive abilities are slipping. I need to keep her brain active instead of just playing cards on her computer and filling out crossword puzzle books. I'm starting to dive into a new e-commerce business, which will help me financially in several ways, and I hope to involve my mom as well.

The stress I'm experiencing from the daycare sale has given me pause. Should I wait to start the e-commerce business until I know how well the deep-brain stimulation is working (or not)? Should I wait until I know what's happening with the books?

 No, because I can still be useful. I can still help. I could scrabble up to a higher health plateau that has more energy. And besides, I won't know if the deep-brain stimulation treatment is working until my birthday in November.

So, I'll continue to take things one at a time. Sell off as much daycare stuff as possible. Work on the e-commerce business and see how well my brain can handle it. Wait patiently for book contracts. Keep checking off tasks on my to-do list as my body allows.

I'll also update you as often as I can. I expect to share my Trashie experience in my next post. In the meantime, I hope sharing my changes have you thinking about your own to do list, and have a prosperous second half of August.