Check!

My blogging (writing, reading and commenting!) has fallen by the wayside lately. I hate that. I hate opening up my Google Reader to find posts I haven't read in the triple digits. I hate that I might not get a chance to read all of those posts, much less comment on them. I hate that I haven't posted on my own blog in a week! I hate that I can't respond to every comment I get.

But what I love...

Is that I'm getting a lot done in things other than the blogging world! (*GASP* a world outside the blogging world?! Tell me more!)

I'm chipping away at that pesky to-do list. Slowly but surely, things are getting done. The bad thing is that I've been easily distracted and find projects within projects. The good thing is that then I add it to the list and it's an awfully good feeling to check it off. Do you ever do that? Add something to the list that you've already done, just because you can check it off? I suppose that's probably to-do list cheating, but I'm not above that.

And doesn't it just feel like you can accomplish more if that to-do list is written with a Sharpie?



For example, I thought I'd tackle number 11 on the list and tame our wild mass of electronics cords. I swear they sit here in the office and breed. I'm not all that computer/electronic savvy, so I don't know what half of them are for, but I coiled them up, put the ones we don't use neatly in a box and checked it off my list. But along the way, I got distracted with the video camera and tapes, and decided it was prime time to go through every tape logging what was on it. UNNECESSARY. Seriously, I'm due to have a baby in 11 days and this was my priority?! But, the girls really loved watching old home movies and now I feel better.

I had some filing to do in the office (and by "some" I mean mountains of filing) and got it done and checked it off my list! Hooray for me! But along the way, I got distracted with reorganizing the files. They were fine the way they were, but now they're really organized. Again, the baby wouldn't have cared what those files look like, but I feel better about them. Oh! And as I sorted, I got distracted with magazines. I'm sort of a magazine hoarder. I keep thinking there has to be some reason I need them. Well, I kept a few issues of each (mostly for cutting up for kids' crafts) and boxed up the rest for recycling. I'm twitching even as I think about it. I had every Parents magazine and Family Fun magazine from 2003 til now. Not cool. I had 2 years worth of Southern Living from 2002-2003. I had ONE Shape magazine (huh, one magazine about exercise... now there's a surprise), I had one Australian Shepherd magazine, 4 years worth of Today's Christian Woman, a few gardening and home magazines, tons of MOPS magazines, a few crafty magazines, and countless - I mean countless - baby and pregnancy magazines. Oh my word. Aside from the money I fear was spent on these things, I think once they're recycled the school down the street will be equipped with paper for a year. As I put them in the box, I just kept thinking, "There's nothing in here I can't find on-line. There's nothing in here I can't find on-line. There's nothing in here I can't find on-line."

A fraction of my collection:


Before I go scoop them all up and clutch them to my bosom, can someone reassure me that I won't miss the magazines? Thanks.

Three days ago I dragged out my sewing machine, dusted it off, and decided to sew up some new basket liners for the nursery. I finally got to it yesterday and am half done! Not only was I pleasantly surprised that I actually DO remember how to sew, I'm thrilled that something will soon be fully checked off the to-do list that is actually baby related.

Because the baby isn't going to care if my scrap room is clean or if my backyard flowers are properly pruned. But you know what? He might care if he has a name or not. I need to add that to the to-do list.

Speaking of baby... I hope to post a baby update and some belly pics in my next post (today or tomorrow? Let me consult my to-do list). I have to squeeze it in before he comes, because to post it after the fact would throw my sister into a tailspin. So stay tuned!