I am so very good at it. One of the most common reasons I do housework is to avoid a task I find even ickier - and that includes just about everything on my current To Do list. Anything - dishes, laundry, pulling weeds - all are better than dealing with that list. My house, unfortunately, is immaculate; the laundry is done; and Wesley and I worked on the garden yesterday so I am getting a bit desperate. Hmmm, it's time to write a blog entry. Yes, that's the ticket. Unfortunately, I purposely placed my To Do list on my desk, right behind my laptop - I can see the top of it in my peripheral vision - however I find that I am quite able to look straight ahead. I do not see it.
This is not a new phenomenon. In college I wrote most of my papers the day before each was due - just kept putting it off, putting it off. When teaching, I justified procrastinating long term lesson plans by saying, "I don't know how much they will actually absorb in each lesson; I need to remain flexible so I can do next what is best." Yea, right. And a good book can detour me from just about anything that needs be done.
The pesky To Do list is long - I leave in a few weeks for a trip to California and from there on to Africa. I know, not great planning. When initially thinking about my trips to France and Africa I didn't realize they would be so close to each other but I find that, when opportunities present themselves, it is best to just close your eyes and jump in. But, in this case, I face a mess of a packing job. Let's see:
1. A family wedding in the Bay Area (the 5th in the garden of my family home - including mine and my daughter's). Got to look nice.
2. A week in Pacific Grove where it could be foggy and cold. Need to add cold weather stuff.
3. A week camping at Yosemite - may be scorching hot and I have to prepare one dinner for about 40 people. This means significant camping gear.
4. 3 weeks in southern Africa where it will be winter. Staying at animal parks - so need to plan for a rugged lifestyle - but also spending a week in Cape Town where such clothing won't work. By the way, the most interesting notification (other than the need for yellow fever shots and malaria meds) was that some of the nations we will be visiting do not allow civilian use of camouflage. Drat, there goes my whole wardrobe plan!
How does one pack for such variety? At least I am driving to California which makes it easier.
The camping gear is the challenge. I am not sure where it all is - at my cousin's house in Marin (I will be there before Yosemite so can look in her garage)? At my son's place in Oakland? At Goodwill? If it's in the attic of my home that is rented in Pacific Grove - well, that's pointless. Couldn't get to it even if I asked to be let in to look. As I remember, the small attic space is crammed with my stuff.
I think I will have to count on the kindness of family members who will be at Yosemite with me.
Thankfully family members up here in Portland will look after my house, my plants and my cat so I can leave with more ease. However, I will truly miss my time with my grandson, daughter and son-in-law. They will be at the wedding so I will get some time with them but it will be a while before I am back to my regular schedule.
Okay, so now I have whined about packing - is there ANYTHING else I can do to avoid the list that I can still see in my peripheral vision? Shouldn't I be a bit more mature and face facts? It won't go away and the longer I put it off the worse it will be as I try to jam all the remaining tasks into the days before departure.
Hmm, I think my cat needs brushing.
This is not a new phenomenon. In college I wrote most of my papers the day before each was due - just kept putting it off, putting it off. When teaching, I justified procrastinating long term lesson plans by saying, "I don't know how much they will actually absorb in each lesson; I need to remain flexible so I can do next what is best." Yea, right. And a good book can detour me from just about anything that needs be done.
The pesky To Do list is long - I leave in a few weeks for a trip to California and from there on to Africa. I know, not great planning. When initially thinking about my trips to France and Africa I didn't realize they would be so close to each other but I find that, when opportunities present themselves, it is best to just close your eyes and jump in. But, in this case, I face a mess of a packing job. Let's see:
1. A family wedding in the Bay Area (the 5th in the garden of my family home - including mine and my daughter's). Got to look nice.
2. A week in Pacific Grove where it could be foggy and cold. Need to add cold weather stuff.
3. A week camping at Yosemite - may be scorching hot and I have to prepare one dinner for about 40 people. This means significant camping gear.
4. 3 weeks in southern Africa where it will be winter. Staying at animal parks - so need to plan for a rugged lifestyle - but also spending a week in Cape Town where such clothing won't work. By the way, the most interesting notification (other than the need for yellow fever shots and malaria meds) was that some of the nations we will be visiting do not allow civilian use of camouflage. Drat, there goes my whole wardrobe plan!
How does one pack for such variety? At least I am driving to California which makes it easier.
The camping gear is the challenge. I am not sure where it all is - at my cousin's house in Marin (I will be there before Yosemite so can look in her garage)? At my son's place in Oakland? At Goodwill? If it's in the attic of my home that is rented in Pacific Grove - well, that's pointless. Couldn't get to it even if I asked to be let in to look. As I remember, the small attic space is crammed with my stuff.
I think I will have to count on the kindness of family members who will be at Yosemite with me.
Thankfully family members up here in Portland will look after my house, my plants and my cat so I can leave with more ease. However, I will truly miss my time with my grandson, daughter and son-in-law. They will be at the wedding so I will get some time with them but it will be a while before I am back to my regular schedule.
Okay, so now I have whined about packing - is there ANYTHING else I can do to avoid the list that I can still see in my peripheral vision? Shouldn't I be a bit more mature and face facts? It won't go away and the longer I put it off the worse it will be as I try to jam all the remaining tasks into the days before departure.
Hmm, I think my cat needs brushing.
I always knew we were cut from the same cloth; I, too, excell in procrastination.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame about the camouflage rule; there are so many interesting clothing items in the resale shops here,donated by military personnel who have graced our peninsula. Oh well, that's life. I trust you'll enjoy the trip nonetheless.
Love,
Emily