47/365 Crossing Things Off

 

When I start to feel overwhelmed, my trusty Moleskin notebook full of lists helps.  Unfortunately, it doesn't do the tasks for me...

The Bag Lady

At my office, I think I am the crazy bag lady. Every day, I have mutliple bags I bring to work. There's my laptop bag, my purse, my iPod case, my lunchbox...and recently I've had other bags with me due to the hectic nature of my schedule. You see, I don't like carrying one big bag. Even in my tiny purse, things get lost. In my OCD organization mode, I want separate bags for separate purposes. Otherwise, I don't feel like I can ever find anything...

My bag lady ways reached new heights on Friday. I literally had 8 bags with me that I had to carry out to my car. The normal bags...laptop, purse, iPod case, lunchbox...but add to that a Target bag of things I'd purchased, my gymbag (for a workout I never got to), a tote bag with make-up, hair stuff, and my chorus clothes (I was headed straight to a double gig evening), and my music bag. I was quite the sight as I walked out of the office and to my car.

Jumbled Thoughts in the Head

I have a busy day at work today...as well as a bunch of stuff I need to get done before I leave for SC on Sunday. Unfortunately, I don't have much time to get any of that stuff done...

Thus, my head becomes a bunch of jumbled thoughts. Since I'm a visual thinker, I probably need to make a schedule of what I will do when. OCD, I know...but it helps me calm down and get myself together.

So...hopefully my slow day at work tomorrow will allow for a little more blogging than this measly little post...

End of the Week Musings

I've realized a few things this week:

1. No matter how much easier it is to go into a Friday with no trainings scheduled, having no trainings during the day makes it drrraaaaggggg...

2. After tracking all of my calories in FitDay.com this week, I apparently eat more than I thought I do. No wonder my weight tends to always stay the same, even when I'm an exercising fiend.

3. I cram my weekends way too full of stuff...some of it self-imposed (like chores and organizing), some of it imposed by others (emergency rehearsals), and some of it that is too fun to pass up (dinners with friends, fun shows, and dates). Maybe next weekend I'll finally have some time to lay around and do nothing...oh wait. Next weekend is a concert weekend...

4. I'm terrible at fixing mechanical things. Whether it's my computer moving slowly or my sunroof not closing (oh the sunroof drama I've had this week...thankfully, I found non-residue duct tape) I seem to have a knack for being frustrated by things I can't fix.

5. Fall-scented candles are relaxing mood-lifters for me.

6. I've become a bit obsessed with having an organized closet. It's a little sick actually. Everything is perfectly lined up and soon all the hangers will match.

7. I need to exercise more. I feel so great afterwards...it's just the getting myself into gear that's hard.

8. This makes me laugh. Maybe one of my crafty readers can crochet (or knit) me a Sexy Turkey Hat? Who would've thought that a Turkey Hat could be sexy? :)

So, while it's not been a particularly enlightening week, I did realize a few things...

Weekend To Do List

Whew! After my post on organization earlier this week, I came up with a list of things I need to do this weekend to get caught up (including regular "chores"). Looks like I won't be doing too much relaxing this weekend!

Clean Kitchen Counters
Clean Kitchen drawers, straighten
Clean top of Fridge
Polish oven top
Windex oven front, dishwasher, fridge, microwave
Clean out inside of microwave
Clean Fridge (mini clean)
Clean Room
Clean bathroom
Organize under sink
Tilex shower
Wash half bath towels
Wash throw rugs
Wash sheets
Switch Winter/summer linens
Sweep front and back deck (clear cob webs, wipe fruniture, etc)
Clean Windows
Change air Filter
Clean lights
Wipe down Washer and Dryer
Clean returns
Switch Winter/summer clothes
Organize closet
Organize jewelry box
Clean Car
Sam’s Club
Finish up limoncello/start new batch

Yikes! See you on Monday...

Organization

I've been trying to get my life re-organized for a few weeks now. I'm usually organized to the point of being obnoxious about it...but recently I've just been too busy to care! I think I like to be organized because it lets me feel like I'm in control. When I first moved to Annapolis and lived in an apartment by myself, I was ultra-organized in everything...the apartment, my office, my music for chorale, my schedule, my cooking habits...literally everything! However, I was also spending most of my weekends in the apartment by myself since I didn't know many people yet. I can remember some weekends I would come in from work on Friday evening and not leave again until Monday morning! So, I had plenty of time to keep myself organized...and it was a pleasant diversion from the fact that I was lonely. Now, I'm lucky if I can find the time to clean my bathroom and do laundry...much less alphabetize my music or ensure that my closet is in perfect order.

I'm trying to find a nice balance between being organized enough to make it through a week with minimal stress and being so focused on organization that it is detrimental to my relationships with people. I knew I needed to reform my obsession with organization a few years ago when a friend called to invite me out and I almost said, "I can't...I'm supposed to clean my carpet tonight". Thankfully, I caught myself before the words were out of my mouth!

At the moment however, my life needs a bit of organization. My car is a mess, my bed currently is unmade, I have no idea where half of my clothes in my closet are, the dry cleaning pile contains most of my nicer outfits, and my desk at work has a pile of papers a mile high that need to be thrown away or transferred into outlines. So, I'm going to do what I can to get some of these things back in control!

Odds and Ends

Just a few thoughts that have been rattling around in my head:

-I'm so annoyed by drivers who drive in the middle lane at 5 mph under the speed limit! Really, if you aren't passing some one, get over! This has caused me much angst in the past few weeks during my commute. Seems like I need to find something else to think about as I am driving to and from work before I experience full-on road rage...

-I discovered the identity of an anonymous opera-blogger today. I've been trying to figure out who she is for the longest time...googling her based on hints and particular roles she mentions...but today I found her out based on an innocent fact she mentioned on her blog! Not that it matters...I will probably never see her perform or meet her in person. However, finally figuring out her identity did validate my google-stalker skills.

-I am learning how to add habits to my life one teensy habit at a time. I have a tendency to want to change my routine and my habits in one fell swoop. However, the habits I tend to stick with seem to be small ones that I add to my life gradually. My current "baby-step" habit is eating healthier- more fruits and veggies. So far, I've been doing well for about 5 days. I managed to tamp down the Chick fil A craving that arose this afternoon...but I'll probably let myself have it this weekend. I don't stick to rigid eating plans too well...

-Allergies are taking over my life. I keep taking medicine, but they still are bothering me. They are worse when I am at work....leading me to believe there might be mold growing in the vents. Maybe once everyone starts calling in sick they will check the vents...

That's about all for now. Sorry that I'm not more interesting, but my head is filled with goo.