Stress

What is is about life that makes you stressed? For me, it is not having enough time in the day to do all the things I wish I could do . . . not to mention not having the energy. Getting up at 6 a.m. to go to work, working all day, and getting home around 6 p.m. doesn't leave much time in the day to get things done outside of work. Weekends, you say? Well . . . after working all week to bring home a paycheck, do you really think I want to work at home? Lord, I wish I had a maid . . . or more like a personal assistant. A maid doesn't want to clean your house unless you've already picked up and organized after yourself . . . a personal assistant does what you tell them to do, because that's their job description . . . to assist. I have so many projects that I need to get accomplished, and more get added every day. Life is never boring, that's for sure . . . and, yes, I realize that that is a blessing in and of itself.

So . . . what are some of the things in your life that make you less stressed? For me, music is a big part of it. No, I don't play or sing, but I do love to listen to music. My favorite thing is going to a great concert . . . I would love to be one of those free spirits who can follow their favorite bands or singers around the country while they are on tour. My last concert was Christina Aguilera on opening night of her US tour for Back to Basics. It was really awesome . . . that girl can sing! Even though I had worked all day before the concert, I was still energized and up throughout the show . . . that energy even carried me all the way home. I could not go to sleep I was still so pumped. So, maybe that's my key here . . . I need to start bringing my music to work with me more often. I stopped doing that when I got this job a few years ago, but I think I need to get back into it. My iPod has over 11,000 songs on it, so I'll never be without something that I want to listen to. BTW: I love this version of the iPod . . . when they came out with the video version that is in color and has the album art displayed when the music is playing I was in heaven! When I ordered mine, I had them personalize it . . . it's mine, all mine!

Progress

Since my last post, I finally finished those birthday cakes for my niece and we had her party . . . of course, nothing turned out the way that I had expected it to but we got lots of complements anyhow. When I get the pictures off Mom's camera, I'll post them. The party itself was interesting to say the least . . . it was the first time that we had a party outside of the house for Maddie. It was at one of those blow up/jumping places that all have some weird name. All the kids had fun, but the part of the party that most of us spend the most time with was the most rushed part of the day . . . they give you 30 minutes to eat birthday cake and open presents, and that is just too fast in my opinion. LOL . . . this was the first time I had experienced one of these new fun parks for kids . . . and it was fun! Loved the slide, although I will have to figure out a way to get LJR back for jerking me down the slide before I was ready! ;))

I'm pretty much keeping up with my work at the office. In between planning for our 15 year anniversary party, though, it has been hectic. Having a lot to do is good for business . . . it is also great for job security . . . but sometimes a girl needs a break! I think after this party is over (Thursday) I may try to schedule at least one if not a couple of days off work. The last time I had a day off work with no other plans was New Year's. It's about time to have a long weekend . . . then maybe I can get my closet sorted out and my scrap room closer to being finished. Disorganization is a pet peeve of mine, and living in the midst of this chaos is only contributing to my grumpiness and my procrastination. How can I be expected to start work on anything if I don't have a place to start?

Mother's Day is coming up soon, and I love my mother. Throughout my life, she's been the one person who has always been there from Day One. When I was a kid, I always knew I could count on her whether I wanted her there or not. And, since I've become an adult we've become friends rather than just mother and daughter. It's a special bond that I love and only came to really appreciate after moving out of her house and living on my own. So, fear not mothers of the world, your children will realize all you do for them once they get out there and have to do it for themselves. Anyhow, I say all this to come back to the point that I have already begun plans for Mom's Mother's Day present. I will not procrastinate and wait until the last minute to do it this time. After 32 years of motherhood, we have gone back to the days of handmade gifts for Mom. First of all, anything she wants to buy she buys for herself. Second of all, she likes handmade gifts as long as they are in some way useful to her. So, for those of you that know me and my mother, don't tell her but I am making her gift and I think she'll appreciate the thought and effort behind it. I think she'll even find it useful in keeping her coordinated in some of her scrapbooking efforts.

Oh yeah . . . and for those curious folks out there, I finally filed my taxes! One more task checked off that long list of things to do.

Update on that procrastination thing . . .

So, we started off the week with procrastination . . . and this being a short week for much of the world's population means that putting things off makes things even worse . . . so I have caught up on my work, and I have pretty much stayed on top of things. Now, I just have to worry about the things at home that aren't getting done because I'm working 10 hour days and I'm dead tired when I get home. The laundry is piling up, new clothes that I bought won't even fit in the closet, swaps are sitting undone and not even thought of, I haven't started my niece's birthday cakes (yes, that is plural for a reason) and worst of all I'm neglecting myself. I have not cooked a real meal for myself to eat all week. The last real meal I had was when I stayed at Mom's almost 2 weeks ago now . . . otherwise it's been fast food, skillet meals, or chips and dip for dinner. This has got to stop!

Procrastination

How many of us are there out there? Those of us that have the best of intentions, make plans, schedule tasks, but never quite get it done until the last minute? I swear that as I have gotten older, it has only gotten worse . . . now, mind you, most times my best work comes under pressure, but come on! The undo stress I put myself under to get these tasks accomplished is ridiculous . . . but I do it again and again . . . and I can't seem to stop.

More than once in my life, I've been called an anal person . . . I like things done, and I like them done right. So, putting things off till the last minute does not seem like a smart thing for a person like this, now does it? I must become better at time management . . . I'm even beginning to see the effects on my work. I have a task on my plate, and enough time to do it in, yet I find myself piddling around and not getting it done . . . then I look up and I've got 1 day to get my swap done, or 2 hours to finish the billing for the last 2 weeks . . . I know I'm not the only one out there. C'mon, tell me your horror stories so that I might learn from your pain as I have never learned from my own.

The Beginning

So . . . I've written in a journal on and off all my life, but those have always been personal for me . . . this new concept of blogging is essentially the same, except it's meant for the world to see . . . being the private type person that I am, I have resisted the urge to post a blog. Unfortunately, one red-headed auntie who shall remain nameless has piqued my curiosity, so here I am. For the whole world to see, I am putting myself and my thoughts out there . . . scary!