The bla bla blog (OR, a point of procrastination)

I'm procrastinating.

I've gotten worse about it in the past couple of years.  I'm well aware when I'm doing it, and yet I don't stop.

Today is a typical day-after-traveling day, when procrastination is at its worst.  I just got back from visiting my Utah family.  Michael and I drove over on Christmas Eve for dinner and then opening gifts that night AND on Christmas morning.  Then we had our Christmas Day "linner", and my dear husband headed home so he could be back at work the next day.  I stayed, with no specific plan as to how to get home.  I just wanted more time with my kids and grandkids.  I AM on vacation, after all!

It was lovely.  I saw 3 movies, which comes close to my usual year-long movie theater attendance record. I colored, read, sang, watched Frosty and Rudolph, and played Princess Candyland with my granddaughters.  I talked, laughed, cleaned and relaxed with my daughters and my sons-in-law.  And I rode on the train for the very first time in my life (if you don't count the Durango-Silverton train, which I rode as a teenager once).

And now I'm home.  Here is what I planned to do at home while on my break:

1. Sew.  I need to finish the last few valance panels for my library. And shorten a pair of jeans I just bought so I can wear them when school starts again.

2. Crochet. I have a huge afghan, commissioned by Lisa and Hondo, that has been in the works for a year and a half, interrupted often by friends/family having babies (the NERVE!).  So I had to stop the big one and make the baby afghans.  Since I have two grandchildren on the way in 2015, I'd better get this big thing done so I can tackle the others.

3. Purge.  My closet needs it.  My laundry room storage area needs it.  You understand.

4. Blog. Ta-da!

5. Update my Goodreads -  I have several books I've read but not cataloged.  I stated more than once this week, in discussing books with my girls, that I could see myself spending a LOT of time on Goodreads once I'm retired (which ain't happening for at least 7 more years), because I really enjoy, not only reading, but writing reviews on what I've read! I do it for myself more than anything, but it's a huge ego boost to see someone I do not know "like" one of my reviews!  My girls are all amazing writers, and I enjoy reading their reviews, too.

6. Shutterfly - every year, for the past 2 or 3, I have made a photo calendar on Shutterfly and ordered them for each of my children and my parents.  Problem is, I wait until January so that I have photos from the entire previous year from which to choose...and so, by the time the calendar is made and shipped, it's February!  I should just have the calendar start then...but wouldn't it end up being the same cycle?? Jen and I get the shaft, since we're the January babies...

My point in listing all of this is that I'm doing none of it.  Zero. Zilch. Nada.  OK, I'm blogging, but that is actually a procrastination of all the other things. Although I did actually get the calendar started...I have the first 6 months completed. I did that on Thanksgiving weekend.  Forever ago.

And no, I haven't showered yet today either.  I'm in my very snuggly warm fleece robe.  And my memory foam pink camo slippers.  Bet you're wishing I was taking accidental selfies NOW, huh? (That was a reference to my latest Facebook profile picture).  I want that George Jetson shower/get dressed machine.

Well, thanks for joining me on the Procrastination wagon...cuz face it, if you're reading this, you are probably putting off something WAY more worthwhile and productive! Maybe, in a future blog, I can share which of those items (if any!) I actually completed.

I wish you all the best in 2015--odd years are usually worse than even years for me, but the multiples of 5 are the exceptions.  Don't ask me why I feel this way, I just do. Maybe I could apply for a government grant and study that concept (If you are born in an even year, does that influence whether or not all even years will be better than the odd years?).  And don't look for any "Goals for 2015" or "Best of 2014" lists from me. I'm not in the mood.  I AM on vacation, after all! (Seems like I've heard that line before...)

Happy New Year!

Love, Cindy

P.S.  I did get my Christmas decorations put away last night...does that count for something?

Sunday morning

It's not even 8 a.m. on a quiet, chilly Sunday morning.  Against my will, I have been awake since just after 6.  I should already be showering and getting ready for church.  I have a Sunday School lesson to teach, and I definitely need to be spiritually fed.  Yet I'm sitting here at the computer, wondering if I really have anything to say...and saying it anyway.

This past week was very, very long.  In a way, I'm glad to say that it is the first week of this school year that seemed to drag.  For the most part, time has been flying by.  When school first starts, I tell myself it will be no time at all until Halloween hits.  Well, hit it did, and now we are closing in on Thanksgiving.  My, my, my, how the time doth fly.

Back to this week.  Couldn't tell you why it was so slow.  All I know is that I was ready for Friday on Tuesday.  Weather changing?  Could be a factor.  Still adjusting to the time change?  Always a possibility.  Anticipating the holiday break, and anxious to be with family?  Very likely.

When weeks (or days or hours) drag on, one of my first thoughts is that I need to focus on what I like about NOW....what is, (or will be) good about this hour, this day, this week.  I like to anticipate upcoming events as much as the next kid, but then I make myself stop and remember that if I spend too much time looking ahead to what will be, that I'll fail to enjoy what IS.  And it can be a challenge...finding something to look forward to on this day.  But I won't give up on that.  I have a fear of wishing my life away, I guess.

So, today, I'm looking forward to a (hopefully) good Sunday School lesson.  I am grateful for the people I "teach" (I'm really more of a facilitator...I throw out the topic and relevant scriptures, and let them teach me!).  I love our dedicated, caring bishop. (Well, I'm married to him.) And I'm looking forward to AFTER church...practicing Christmas music with the choir, then home to try a new crockpot recipe and take a nap.  Now THAT's something to anticipate!

But I will wish for this...that the coming week won't be so slow.  Because I AM anxious for Thanksgiving, and the time I'll get to spend with some of my babies and their babies.  Yeah, yeah, I'll try to focus on what I can enjoy about the 17th through the 21st....wish me luck.

Rants, Vents and Grumps

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.”

OK, I was going to share the above quote and say "Thank you, Meryl Streep.  I just thought it was menopause."  However, that clever quip will not work, because, in looking for the quote online, I discovered a site that said the quote was NOT Meryl's, it was just attributed to her and went viral.  According to this site (seniorplanet.org), the actual author of that tidbit is  "Portuguese self-help author/life coach José Micard Teixeira" - but it sounds oh, so much more VALID coming from a more-than-mid-life, silver-haired Academy Award winner, doesn't it?!

Whatever. For some reason, it just seems to match perfectly with the reason I'm blogging today.  I'm tired. And I'm frustrated. And I'm disillusioned. Let's take the following:

1. Politics: How many more days until this year's elections?  If I hear one more ad for Amendment #68 (Pandora seems to think I have a special interest in this one), or any other number of political sound bites for amendments, ballot referendums or candidates, I'm going to turn off all electronic devices.  Here's my problem--I really DO want to be more informed.  I really DO want to learn enough to feel like I'll be making a definitive choice on my ballot--a choice consistent with what I feel is best for me, my loved ones and my country.  But HOW? The above quote is a prime example of my dilemma! How on EARTH do I know what "truths" are out there? So much of it is subjective, and whenever I think I have a clearer understanding of an issue, someone else comes along and tells me "How could you think that way? What about this?"  Maybe my problem is that I belong to the George McFly club; I'm just no good at confrontations.  And I'm sorry, but I feel like any political discussion these days is confrontational.  There is no way to bring up these topics without someone doing their best to convert you to their point of view.  I just want the facts, ma'am. So stop it.  I don't like it. Why can't we all just get along?

2. Technology: Oh, the love/hate relationship I have with my aforementioned electronic devices.  I LOVE being able to facetime with my children and grandchildren. I love that these babies KNOW their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins by sight and sound, no matter how far away they are.  That is, until it takes me 5 tries of hanging up and calling again, before it finally connects. Then the picture turns fuzzy and it says "Poor connection-video will be restored when connection resumes" or some such thing, and in the meantime I miss the punch line of whatever story someone is sharing with me.  Or that it takes me 3 dropped calls to continue a conversation when I'm in the car between Montrose and Grand Junction, because we happen to live in a part of the world that is 3D.  And wireless--sigh. At this point, I probably need a new router, and that could solve part of the spotty service I get in my own home...but geez. I have to practically sit next to the router to get the most uninterrupted service....what's the point??

3. Housework: I'm tired of it. I'm tired of feeling like I'm always behind on it. I want the vacuum to be robotic, the clothes to hang and fold themselves, and the bathrooms to sanitize automatically.  Is that so much to ask? This is a stage that I hadn't counted on--true, when there were 8 of us, plus a dog or two, there was more to do, but there were more people to do it. Now there are still the same amount of chores to do, (in slightly smaller amounts), but there's just Mikey and me to do them.  Bleh.

OK, those were the biggest whining topics. For now. Tomorrow I may feel differently about any or all of them.  Right now I highly doubt it. I will probably feel the same about them all, but perhaps I'll be busy doing something fun that will distract me for awhile. One can only hope.

On Turning 54

As I laid in my bed, middle of the night, several nights ago, I decided I wanted to blog about being another year older.  Yes, unfortunately I am sometimes coherent enough at that ungodly time of night to have those kinds of thoughts, and actually remember them in the morning.  But I decided to address this by creating 5 Top Ten lists....plus 4 randoms.  That's 54.  As is often the case, this post is more for my own amusement than anything.  Peruse at your own risk.  The management claims no responsibility for your boredom and/or amusement level.  Oh, and the following lists are NOT, I repeat, NOT, in any order of importance or relevance.  The contents of each list are not, either.  Just rambling, random thoughts.  You've been warned.

Top Ten List #1: Animals I Like

1. Panda bears
2. Penguins
3. Big dogs (nothing yappy for me, thank you very much!)
4. Otters
5. Horses
6. Giraffes
7. Tigers
8. Elk
9. Macaws
10. Hummingbirds

#2: All-Time Favorite Movies

1. Mary Poppins
2. Forrest Gump
3. Tootsie
4. Silverado
5. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (yeah, I coulda counted them as 3, but that didn't seem right.)
6. Singing In the Rain
7. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
8. White Christmas
9. Back to the Future
10. Cinderella (original Disney cartoon version)

#3: Best Sing-A-Long-in-the-Car Songs

1. Poor, Unfortunate Souls (I do a KILLER Ursula the Sea-Witch!)
2. Old Time Rock and Roll
3. I Dreamed a Dream
4. Yesterday
5. I Call Your Name (Mamas and Papas version)
6. Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious
7. I Saw Her Standing There
8. Since You've Been Gone
9. Hallelujah Chorus ( I can still make it through 97% of the alto part)
10. The Rainbow Connection

#4: Pet Peeves

1.  People who don't refill ice cube trays when they're empty
2. Parents who end any direction they give their child with "OK?"--like they're asking their permission.
3. Incorrect usage of their (Those are THEIR toys.), there( Put them away over THERE.), and they're (THEY'RE not going to put themselves away!)
4. Incorrect usage of to ( Let's go TO the store.), too (Can the dog come, TOO?), and two (No, we will only be gone TWO minutes.)
5.  Don't even get me started on apostrophes.  CONTRACTIONS and POSSESSIVE, people!  NOT plurals!!!!!!
6. Pictures hung crookedly on walls.
7. Toothpaste tubes squeezed in the middle.
8. Business marquees with unintentionally incorrect spelling.
9. Foul language---in my mind, the use of it drops a person's (POSSESSIVE) IQ every time it's (CONTRACTION) used.
10. Trash cans that are overflowing, and no one can seem to find the strength to pull out the bag and tie it up.

#5: Things I Like About Me

1. I have all my wisdom teeth.  And my appendix.  And I never broke a bone.
2. My smile.
3. I can find SOMETHING to like about almost anyone.  I don't have any enemies.
4. My choice of spouse.
5. I can usually make people laugh.  Even if it's at my own expense.  It doesn't bother me.  I tend to find myself amusing, even if nobody else does.
6. I don't embarrass easily.
7. I enjoy reading--to myself and to children.
8. I find joy in simple things. (See the end of #5)
9. I'm not a jealous person.  I admire what others have or do, but I don't yearn to be like them. For the most part.
10. I can carry a tune without a bucket.

AAAAAAnd, finally....4 Random Things.

1.  The Pixar short "For The Birds" will usually make me laugh so hard my stomach muscles hurt.
2.  I still bite my fingernails.  It's worse when I'm stressed.
3.  I really, REALLY wish the hang-up clothes would hang themselves up.
4.  I tend to say 50 words when 5 would do.  I know I do it, and I think I've gotten better at 'editing', but then I look at the length of this post and think.....nope. Not there yet.

And that's the way it was....Cindy's 54th birthday reflection.  Thanks for listening.