Lack of Focus

It's not that I'm indicating that I don't have enough to do at work, because there are plenty of projects on my plate. However, I have had a severe lack of focus for nearly 3 weeks now. There has been the occassional day when I can really bare down and get things done but I have not done well in general lately. I'm still getting things done but not at the rate that I know I could get them done.

Admittedly, there are times of year that are much busier than this at work but I still have plenty to do now. However, I'm wondering whether I need that cram-packed feeling to convince myself that I'm being productive enough and keep the wheels turning.

On the other hand, I'm just wondering if I have too many other things on my mind that are distracting me. However, I don't feel this distracted and lacking focus at home. Maybe I just haven't noticed there or maybe I'm too busy with homework at night to notice.

I need to get disciplined and get back to the Franklin Covey planning a day approach. So, my new goal is to either start or end a day with my daily task list updated. I seem to do a better job of getting to tasks if I can march down the list crossing things off. I have my task list on Outlook but it's different because I can't arrange things in an order under a specific day. OR can I? Is anyone out there a master of Outlook?

Now, it's time to use part of my lunch hour to get back to work and get some things done.

Thankful Thursday...digging deep

On a day when it's -3 before the windchill, I'm very thankful for the seasons in central IL. I love how pretty the snow is but I also truly appreciate when Mother Nature gets this business out of her system and we can see the beautiful spring blossoms and take a walk with a light jacket.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful to have a loyal walking buddy. Without her, I'm not sure how much physical activity I would be getting these days. Joanna is way more active than me so I'm really glad that she's willing to walk with me two days a week.

Selling hats

Do you think I could sell some of the hats that I wear as a woman on E-bay? I particularly would like to sell the maid hat and the matching eye glasses that apparently make me see things that need to be done that others can look past. I may also consider selling my employee hat and the "I can't say "No" hat". However, that employee hat would have to go to a very high bidder to replace my pay check.

I guess it's part of being a woman, but it be nice to at least lend these hats to someone for a while.

You have to admit, if I could find a way to list these "hats" on E-bay, it might, at the least, get mentioned on late night television. Leno, here I come!

A bit greener

With green being trendy, we jumped on the bandwagon, a bit.

Last week, a local television station was sponsoring a computer recycling day so we dug out the old CPUs and monitors, and John wiped them clean. I gleefully dropped them off at the recycling center and felt good about it!

Just before Christmas, our doctor hinted at the fact that little J may be borderline asthmatic. I, mistakenly, shared this info with my mother, who is now acting like he could have a serious asthma attack at any moment. She worries, I guess. She recently shared with me that she saw on Oprah how using green cleaning supplies helps kids with asthma. (Oh, how interesting it is to have her in retirement, watching Oprah). She thinks I should think about switching to Method or something similar for J's sake. So, I'm thinking that even without the asthma playing a role, maybe I should think about it, just for the sake of our environment. Does anyone have recommendations of less expensive green cleaning supplies that actually get the cleaning job done?

The headlines

Our weekend was not lacking for eventful happenings so here are the headlines.

1. We finally booked a trip! Whee!!! John and I are going to take a cruise from New Orleans to Progresso and Cozumel, Mexico. We'll also have two fun days at sea. We're the most excited about a day excursion to see the Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins. Since we do our best to pinch pennies, we decided that a cruise from New Orleans offered us the opportunity save on air travel that would take just as long as driving there, so we will be driving, which will also allow us to take some more items (like our own pop) with us to save some money on board.

2. There was a murder in our little town of 1700 people this weekend. It was just around the corner from us. Very bizarre and quite sad.

3. We went to my brother's house on Saturday for a visit. We had a wonderful time and the addition of a master suite that they built above their garage is gorgeous. It makes me yearn for more space in our house. Someday.....

4. The studying began, as I have my first class on Thursday and wanted to get the reading done, well in advance. Hopefully after class on Thursday, I'll finally get myself in the right mindset to study. It is definitely more difficult knowing that I'm the only one taking time away from our family time for studying now that John is done with class.

Thankful Thursday...on Friday

I'm a day late but trying to stick to this new goal.

After having lunch today with a woman who lost her daughter-in-law to breast cancer, just a year after she had a baby, I'm so very thankful to have my health.

There you go!

We're getting closer

I think we've narrowed our travel options to San Antonio, a caribbean cruise to Cozumel to see Mayan ruins, or a nice long weekend getaway in driving distance. Any great ideas?

How does one decide to spend money on a vacation? Just as I think I'm ready to commit to giving ourselves this gift, I think of all the other things we could use that money for - the bathroom, new living room tables, a swingset for Jer. I guess I have to remember that investing time in our marriage is important too.

Sometimes you wouldn't even think about this

As previously indicated, John and I have been trying to figure out where to go on a trip. I've been contemplating a few places, like a cruise, that require a passport. We looked at John's the other night and they don't expire until 2012 because we got them to go to Costa Rica in 2002 so I figured that wasn't a worry.

Then, this afternoon I realized that I haven't used mine since 2002, when my name was different. CRAP! I had not even thought about my passport in years. My passport is not current and it takes 10-12 weeks to process unless I pay $60 to expedite. I'm not sure it's worth it. Maybe it's a sign that we should make this trip domestic.

Ugh. I just want someone to tell me where I'm going, charge it to my credit card and send me on my way. I want to stop worrying about what it is going to cost, if it's really what I want to do, and if John will enjoy it. It's shouldn't be so stressful to do something relaxing.

The resolutions - already challenged

So, I'm a few days late greeting 2008 with my goals (because I don't like to commit to real resolutions). I've probably already broken some of them. A few come with a realistic and idealistic element. We'll see if I can do either.

1. The realistic goal - Keep myself under a specific weight. The idealistic goal - lose 5-10 lbs to be at or below my ideal weight.
2. The realistic goal - exercise at least 2-3 hours per week. The idealistic goal - exercise in some way everyday. (READ - sex does not count as exercise.)
3. Take a trip with my husband. (If planning it doesn't kill me first.) I'm currently more stressed planning it than what it's worth to take it so I'm not sure this will happen.
4. Relandscape our front step area. Realistic - by next fall. Idealistic - by May.
5. Replace the surround in our bathroom.
6. Begin a Thankful Thursday blog message. I saw this on Natalie's blog and I think it's a great idea to remind myself to be more positive.
7. Be more patient and open with my husband. (I love him with all of my being but sometimes we're just not on the same page and rather than complicating the situation by saying that I'm upset and why, I get moody and shut down.) I'm going to try really hard on this one but I think I said that last year too.
8. Enjoy the many milestones that Jeremiah experiences. Take time daily to play with him, read to him or simple snuggle him.

OK - so that's probably the lamest list of goals/resolutions I've ever written but I guess that's what I'm thinking about for the year at hand. I feel like there should be a professional one in there but I'm just not feeling it at 9:30 on a Sunday night. Maybe there will be a revised version in a few months.

2007 - the appendix

OK, so I'm a retard and there are a few things to be added to the reflection on 2007 list.

1. Of course I had someone close to me give birth! Emily Anne Keyes entered the world on May 25, 2007.
2. And um, yeah, I only turned 27 in 2007, not 28. No need to age myself any quicker.

Now, I'm going to bed. It's been a long day of driving in bad weather and watching our football team stink it up in Pasadena.