Day 13 - Monday Report and Review

In which we shall see: Pictures of a cultural icon (Garfield), a report card (no grades), irony alerts, and a break with tradition.

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I'm sure we can all relate.

About two weeks ago, I set out some goals - today I want to evaluate and see how it's going so far.

1 - BE ON TIME TO EVERYTHING.

The first week, I was awesome. I made it on time to: work everyday, every rehearsal, every appointment, and church. I wouldn't say I was EARLY very often, but I always made it on time. Last week, I didn't do as well. Maybe it's psychological - I heard again that my family thinks I'm late to everything, and most of last week was family events... and I was pretty generally late. I wasn't usually LAST, but I wasn't early or on-time. Bleh.

- Today I made it to work on time, but only barely. I think the problem (besides not liking to get up, which might be helped by other goals) is that I'm in the habit of checking things online in the mornings while I'm getting ready, and we all know what a time-sucker THAT can be. *Irony bell ringing* So, time for a new plan in the mornings! Skipping to...

2 - EXERCISE EVERY DAY. Again, I did pretty well that first week, but then came Conference and the pinched nerve and family activities blah blah blah. Today, it was the residual stiffness and "will have time to workout in the afternoon." I'm seeing that it's gotta be the mornings - in the afternoons (if I'm not at work) and evenings there is just too much else to do, and I am far too easily distracted. I really do need that stretching workout today, so I'll get to it tonight - and then right back to it tomorrow morning. Right after...

3 - GET MORE SLEEP. Yeah. This really hasn't been happening. OK, family stuff is done, everyone's gone home, it's getting colder and it will be far more efficient to warm up in bed than by puttering around the house doing unimportant things. Exercise early, get to bed early. Right.

4 - COMMUNICATE ABOUT IMPORTANT THINGS BY PHONE, NOT EMAIL. Not too much application here in the past few weeks - most of the people I needed to talk to were around, anyway. I haven't made any official announcement to this effect, though I will email it out soon *Irony alarm sounds loudly*. I did mention this new policy to a few people, so it shouldn't be a big surprise. I do see that it will potentially be a very important concept in the next few months.

5 - STOP GIVING ADVICE. It's been surprising to me how often I've had to restrain myself in the last two weeks. I had no idea I was such a know-it-all! *Irony bell falls silent, having broken with exertion* I can think of one specific incident where I gave advice recently, but I do think that was more along the lines of a "teaching" episode than a "let me give you the benefit of my insight and opinions" occasion. For the rest, well, I guess I know now why my tongue has been so raw - all the biting - and maybe I'm finally learning to shut up!

ADDENDUM - LISTEN TO DIRECTIONS FROM SELF. Either I've been too tired to give myself directions, or feeling too self-pitying or entitled to give myself helpful instructions. We'll see how I do this week, as I talk myself into making habits of these goals!

Note: One brother-in-law asked me how I was doing on my "no chocolate" goal - as we can see, that goal is not on this list. It probably should be, and my excuse for stuffing myself full of sweets over the weekend was to get so sick of them that I wouldn't want to eat any more. I recognize that at this point, that's not very likely. Maybe the next list!

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FYI: If I ever get married, I foresee three events: 1) - An egagement dinner, involving friends and family. 2) - The wedding, probably followed by a meal for the group at the ceremony. 3) - Three+ weeks later, a big party with a band, dancing, and all kinds of food.

That's it. No reception, no fluffy dress, no receiving line, no bouquets, none of that stuff. Doesn't that sound much easier, and much more fun?

Watch out for falling turtles,

Cyd