The Basket Of Lost Causes

I have a basket by my favorite chair. Things get tossed in there and I forget they're in there.

It's like The Bermuda Triangle. Let's peek at what's in the Pit Of Procrastination!

I haven't done any scrapbooking in over a year.

I didn't buy anything from L.L.Bean last Christmas and I don't have a Dream Home to design.

I live in Florida. Am I planning to wear mittens? Or go on a Northern Winter Vacation?

Speaking of vacation, I spent 3 days researching Caribbean vacations...in September...during Hurricane Season. Vacation has been cancelled because CAPE COD KID IS MOVING TO FLORIDA!

2011 Christmas Letter was never written.

Why is the September Vogue in the bottom of the basket? OHHHH, that was September of LAST YEAR!
I must have despaired of ever making it through the entire issue. There are still 3 days left in August. I could DO IT!

I put it back in the Basket Of Lost Causes. On top.

Procrastination Station

I've written before about my tendency to procrastinate.

23 years ago today, I was in the hospital in labor with Sorority Girl. I was kind of excited about having a St Patrick's Day baby. I could dress her in green for a sweet little baby picture. Did it happen? No, I procrastinated and she arrived at 3:30am the next day.

I was going through my idea book for a topic to write about and found an article from Real Simple magazine about doing a personal inventory. I can't link it for you because I PROCRASTINATED and it is no longer available online. Raise your hand if you're surprised.

 To me, it's less of an inventory and more of a list of things that you are procrastinating about.

WHAT HAVE YOU STARTED BUT HAVEN'T FINISHED?
I started going through my shoebox of 1,000 recipes and copying them into a blank recipe book, with notations of who gave me the recipe or what occasions I have cooked the recipe.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO BUT HAVEN'T DONE?
I really need to organize my walk-in closet. I cleaned it a little, but I have tons of clothes that are now 3 sizes too big and my purses and shoes are stuffed into large Rubbermaid bins.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE BUT HAVEN'T?
I'm thinking about changing my hair. I like it long, and every time I cut it I end up regretting it. Now it's long again, but has no style. The color is blah. I don't want to spend $100 on my hair. It needs layers or something. Some days I care, some days I don't.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY BUT HAVEN'T?
I want to tell my siblings "Could you pay a little more attention to Mom? I know you all do whatever she asks,but she has stopped asking. Could somebody please call her every day to see if she needs anything? I'm 1300 miles away and can't do much from here besides listen to her cry on the phone."

WHAT HAVE YOU FELT BUT HAVEN'T EXPRESSED?
I am procrastinating about finding a job. Part of me is waiting to see if Mom needs me to go to MA. Part of me is waiting for the pain in my neck to get better, which it isn't. Dizzy spells and headaches don't make me a person that would be of any use to any employer. I have arthritis everywhere and thought having it in your hands was the worst. I was wrong. It's worse to have it in your neck.

It's noon. I haven't made my bed, eaten breakfast or changed out of pajamas. My train has made a stop at the Procrastion Station.

How Can I Work AND Blog?

I have been working every day. And I mean EVERY day. Most of my shifts are under 6 hours and I'm actually enjoying my job. Today will be the 9th day in a row. I may or may not be considered for an upgrade in position. I want it, my boss wants it for me, his boss....not so much.

There's a file in my brain marked "bloggy ideas" that is getting full. I'll give you the short (extremely short) versions, because I don't know when I'll get around to actually turning them into real posts.

FACEBOOK- I really enjoy spending (too much) time there. I only play Bejeweled Blitz. I enjoy the Chat feature.

BOOKS- I read Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant, Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg and now I'm reading The Help. I LOVE this book! The book sparked a conversation with my husband, that I'm sorry I started. It was about childhood memories. It was a little bit painful.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES- My husband thinks kids don't remember the first 5 years of their lives. Geez, I could write a book!

POLITICS- I've decided that I probably won't ever discuss politics with anyone outside of my family again. The resulting conversations give me anxiety attacks.

OTHER PEOPLE'S BLOGS- I haven't had access to my computer for a few months. My list of favorite blogs are in there. My 1,000 photos are also in there. There are blogs I haven't read in at least 2 months, because I can't remember the names of the blogs. I miss some of those blogs and have tried to find them on search engines, with no success. I really need to create a blogroll here.

SORORITY GIRLS- I know they get a bad rap, but I need to write about some Sorority Girls that I think are pretty awesome.

I need to get ready for work. Have a great weekend.

Margarita Chex Mix

PROCRASTINATION STATION: UPDATE

I finished the Shoebox Gifts for the Nursing Home.
I did a little Gift Shopping.
The tree now has a STAR. Still no garland or ornaments.
I bagged up the Margarita Chex Mix to send to my brother.
I got a haircut.

Today I will get my nails done, make Chocolate Lollipops and Peppermint Bark for my nieces and nephews, get the car registrations renewed, have lunch with Sorority Girl, pick up prescriptions, pack to go to Mom's for 4 days.

Speaking of MARGARITA CHEX MIX here's the recipe.

1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
2 T of lime juice (or Tequila)
2 tsp of Seasoned Salt
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper (if you like a little more kick-I don't)
2 envelopes of DRY margarita mix
6 cups of Chex (any combo you like)
1 cup of nuts (any combo or variety you like)
1 cup of mini pretzels
1 cup of plain goldfish crackers
1 cup of dried cranberries



Preheat oven to 250 deg. Melt the butter in a large roasting pan.
Add the seasoned salt, lime juice (or tequila), and dry margarita mix. STIR.
Add all the snacky items except the dried cranberries. Stir to coat the snacky items.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Add dried cranberries.
Let cool on paper towels.
Enjoy!

Procrastination Station: Holiday To-Do

Welcome to the PROCRASTINATION STATION: Holiday To-Do

This is my daughter's Christmas gift. She wants a scarf with cables. I picked the yarn and pattern and started it a week ago. I've actually started it 3 times. And ripped it out 3 times. And made a new pattern. And stared at the yarn and needles for the past 3 days.
These are the bags of Werther's I bought last week. Suzy has a recipe for Caramel Vodka on her site. I have visions of a Caramel Appletini in my Holiday festivities. All I have to do is throw the caramels into a vat of vodka. After I unwrap them.

Tree: Out of the box and vertical

Lights: Permanently attached to the tree

Decorations: As soon as I drag the boxes out of the closet and decide if I want to get new garland before I put on the ornaments.

I would also show you the MARGARITA CHEX MIX that needs to go in a tin and mailed to my brother with his daughter's gifts.

And the CHRISTMAS CARDS with handwritten messages that still need to be handwritten.

And the SHOEBOX GIFTS that need to be put together and delivered to the Nursing Home by Friday.

But I haven't gotten around to taking those pictures yet.