118 Days of Productivity

As I mentioned at the end of this post, my husband Superman will finally be home for good in 118 days.  After almost three years of contracting overseas, I can't overstate how excited we all our that this part of our family's journey is concluding.  Still, we have "short-timers" in a big way.  You know about short-timers, right?  Short timers is that feeling you have after you've given your notice at a job and you're just waiting for the two weeks to be over so you can move on.  It doesn't mean you hated your old circumstances, it just means you're beyond eager to take that next step.  It is an exhilirating time.  Still, we have 118 days to get through.  Superman is tackling the challenge of short-timers by blogging each and every day of the end of his journey here.

When I posted the time on my FB, my friend Melissa (she wrote this awesome blog a few years ago and is a great one for meeting goals) said she was going to use that block of time to create a deadline for her own challenge.  I loved that idea.  So, I presented to the kids and to Superman that I was going to be productive every single day until he got home.  I don't just want to "wait" for him to come home.  I want to make the time fly.  I don't just want to kill time.  I still want this time to count.  I want each day to be productive.

productive

Definition

pro·duc·tive

[ prə dúktiv ]

ADJECTIVE

1.  producing much: producing something abundantly and efficiently

2.  worthwhile: producing satisfactory or useful results

3.  producing something: producing or able to produce something

Thus, I've challenged myself to be productive every single day for the next 118 days.  I especially like the second and third definitions of the word.  (I am not really worried about producing abundantly, but efficiently will definitely work for me!)  I want to cross things off lists, I want to meet my goals, I want no day to conclude with the thought "what did I do today?".

I'll be back later with a little bit of productivity for today.  In the meantime, I've got stuff to do!

Have a great day!

Monday Musings - Nothing to Say

Do you ever find yourself in that weird place wherein you have so much on your mind and really nothing to say?  If you do, then you'll be able to relate to where I am these days.  That is where I'm living.  There is so much going on that I'm thinking about...decisions, plans, hopes, dreams, struggles...and nothing I'm talking about.  I'm living in my mind.  I don't have a lot to contribute to conversations because the dialogue I'm having with myself is taking all my thought capacity.   Kids, house, and mental dialogue.  That is all that is going on in my world these days.

One of the things I've been thinking about (and talking with my kids about) is this article I read.  It is all about a Seattle family who is allowing/encouraging/supportive of their five year old son wearing tights, tiaras, and dresses.  The mother wrote a book call "My Princess Boy".  I'm struggling with this (not that it is my problem/situation/concern, you understand, but it joined the mental fray) because I understand her desire to make her son feel okay about who he is, but I'm not sure that what she is doing is actually helpful.  I don't know.  What do you think?

Oh, and as a random tip...one of the blogs I read suggested spraying the inside of your toilet paper roll with perfume (as a way to use up old perfume) to freshen your bathroom every time you turn the roll.    Not a bad idea...I used the perfume I had and worked well.  Weird, I know.

Buttercup has taken to wearing leg-warmers on her arms as sleeves.   Since I saw a number of sleeve  tutorials last year, I guess she's not the only one.  Who knew? I still think it is odd, but, hey, at least the gag gift my sister sent me last year is actually getting used. 

Why do you think the beneficial side-effect of gaining one hour during "fall back" only lasts one day, but the detrimental side-effect of losing one hour during "spring forward" seems to take a week to get over?

Finished an apron for Valiant...he barbecues and cooks and wanted one of his own, so we picked out fabric and made it happen.  Unfortunately, it took me 5 months to make it happen, but it is done.

Are you going to try to do hand-made gifts this year?  I am...I've been thinking a lot about what to make for whom...now I just have to make it happen.

Superman has been flying all over parts of the Middle East....he took a picture of a floor urinal and posted in on his blog.  I'd never seen one before, but still, I'm not sure it would be something I would have blogged.  Boys are so weird.

Enough rambling...my oatmeal raisin cookies are ready to come out of the oven.