September 12, 2007
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Yeah, I’m definitely forming the nighttime habit again; checking in at the end of the day. Pretty soon I’ll be writing earlier in the day in and commenting at night. I’m still not quite there so I apologize if it feels onesided but you know how I get. I’ll be leaving all those comments in no time.
I’m still walking around in this funny space where I’ve never been before. It feels like it could possibly be transitional, like I feel very open to change. Maybe because I have this whole routine going. It’s Tues so I volunteered at the hospital and then taught bellydance. Sam has nixed the dinner thing so now I am trying out new restaurants which feels odd since I don’t know that part of town. I am fairly picky, in terms of price and freshness and how much grease it involves. So to pick a place feels like a hassle instead of an adventure. When I look at that behavior now it seems silly. I am approaching it all wrong. I should put some effort into reading about good places over there and have an address in mind. And I should put it on some sort of calendar so that I am actually reminded before it’s next Tues night and I am driving up Sandy Blvd looking for food.
I’d be curious to know how you all keep your calendars. I have one in the kitchen where I write all my appts. But I always make them for Wed so I don’t look at that calendar every day. I have another calendar above my desk which is for stock market stuff. I write down the days when companies report their quarterlies but unless it’s earning season I don’t look up there. I guess I could start using it for a to-do list, since I’m not actively trading these days. I want to turn CNBC off, get up, and do some chores. Next year I’m going to sit in this chair less. I want to start working on this place. I drove around today because I wasn’t comfortable in the restaurant and to kill time I looked at people’s paint jobs on their houses, trying to pick out a color. I favor blue-grey, either light or dark, with white trim. Sounds boring, I know.
My dance partner said something really interesting. He was talking about remodeling his kitchen and he corrected me by saying, “it’s not hard, it just takes time.” I have been thinking about that statement and so much of what I put off because it seems too difficult is just an issue of time. And when I look at it that way it changes my approach. It makes me think that if I just commit to an hour, say during the time Wall Street goes to lunch, and that’s Eastern time, I could get some of these jobs done around here. Because it was luxurious to have tea on the front porch and feel good about the boards being all protected now. Also the grout is drying and not so shiny. I wonder if the people who keep up and have clean windows, I wonder if they are happier because when they look around they don’t have that hanging over them. I say I don’t see the dirt but I must and on some level it must be a constant source of guilt.
Comments (11)
My calendar only has those things to which I’m obligated: birthdays to remember, training sessions to attend, Saturdays I have to work, etc. I figure the rest of the time is MINE! ALL MINE! so I try not to schedule very much. I like being able to be flexible and spontaneous. Those things I do schedule are things that are done weekly, as in the couple of TV programs I really do enjoy watching, so they aren’t actually on the calendar.
We do like some of our routines, though, don’t we. I like having something that I know I’ll enjoy stuck somewhere in all the days when I have absolutely no clue what may or may not be going on.
I love you…GFW
I’m so impressed over that porch.
Realtors are given really nice planners by their title (escrow) cos. They are large, floppy and the calendars are broken down in 30 minute increments. Then there are ‘call’ lines beneath each day. I try to make all my appts on Monday for the week. Then on Tuesday I can fill in with floor obligations at the office. I even schedule my fun time and family time as our broker insists that is as important as work and should be inflexible. I even tell my dates to schedule in advance as my work schedule is so ‘all over the page’. It’s only fair.
RYC—i haven’t a clue what that comment might be as i gear up for the third novel, which starts out in hyperpornoverdrive
i post in the mornings & answer comments, time permitting, then do the sub lists at night, and with two blogs—this one purely Xanga since it’s D-rated because of the Dali eyeball up top—do my rotation of 2 days ER then one NYCJoyce.
Calendars
calendars- I have my main one which is gov’t issued- I write all my client appts. in there, the kid’s schedules and their homework in there and what is on all my discs. If I lose it, I’m up shit creek, loosing tons of info. I don’t do well with online calendars like the one in Outlook… …. I feel guilty cuz every time a gf comes over, they find me in the exact same spot, my office chair in front of the computer. I have guilt over the things I plan to do but find no time because I spend so much time sitting in front of my computer anymore. I need to do that and just get up from this chair too…. I’d feel more satisfied if I accomplished more of what I know I need to do…
I’ve spent way too much time in front of the computer this year and it’s about to change. I need to paint things left over from the replacement windows job last year. I still haven’t even painted my backdoor in the living room as it requires enamel paint and I don’t have any. Never mind that there are two stores to buy them from right here in town and it’s going to be white! I’ve a little flip calendar that I mark my chiropractor appointments on or weddings that we will attend but other than that I don’t really care what day it is since all days are work days to Dave.
Why are you still looking at the tv all day when you aren’t even in the market??? I know you need to keep up but I’d forgo that little job until you were back in the frey.
marilyn
I like to tackle big jobs now and then ,and keep my daily clutter and dust bunnies under good control but thats because I feel at loose ends and uncomfortable if i do not.If i could fix that need to clean i would have more time to relax..which would be nice. I have a calender but i forget to look at it…
I keep most things in Outlook, but try to write down the personal stuff as well. My work schedule (many meetings all day, too many for my tastes these days!) changes constantly with people rescheduling, cancelling, etc. It makes it hard to plan even a lunch outing. But that’s only 9-4 usually. I try not to schedule meetings (which also means phone calls) outside of those hours. My personal stuff is not enough to worry about forgetting, other than the girls’ tutoring and music lessons now. I check Outlook in the morning and make my plans from there.
Re: remodeling. The issue for me isn’t whether it’s hard or not so much as I can’t stand to have a mess going on. I want it finished so my house feels put together. It’s too stressful for me to deal looking at a mess. So I end up hiring people because then it’s DONE.
I wonder if the people who keep up and have clean windows, I wonder if they are happier because when they look around they don’t have that hanging over them. I say I don’t see the dirt but I must and on some level it must be a constant source of guilt.
That’s the age-old motivation question, Pru. I have to come down hard on the side of those that take the time to clean, organize and remodel because it results in a personal environment that is pleasing and comforting and gives us a feeling of satisfaction. Yes, it makes us happier; measurably happier. I work very hard for that sense of satisfaction. Conversely, I am confounded when I haven’t the time to achieve it – my psyche suffers and I swing into lows and blues and blahs. In crayon math, then, for me at least, it’s better to invest the time and effort and so I do.
I have missed so much of everyone’s posts, and I’m sorry to just drop in like this unannounced.
i’m just glad you’re back… how ever often it is!
I know nothing about South African stocks… no help there. And I am also a Outlook fan. Need to be a little better about using it, but it does work!!
prudy…i have left my thoughts…