Organization Skills

I used to believe that I was an organized person. I was able to plan out my days and I could find anything I needed in my house, and usually my workspace and my home were neat and tidy. That pretty much began to change when my first child was born. He's 21 now and in that time I have progressively become less organized. Since my natural inclination and desire is order, I have grown steadily insane as my life has grown more chaotic. No, I refuse to believe that the insanity came first, resulting in the chaos. I only have 2 children. I'm sure God knew what he was doing, although I thought I wanted about 6 children. He knew not to give me more than I could handle. He also knew to give me an awesome husband who helps with everything and more. I've been working on reclaiming the life I once knew. Not that I want to go back in time. I only want to simplify the life I have so I can feel less crazy. I know it's not good to be a control freak and that it's healthy to accept what comes your way in life. My sister and I joke on our vacations that we are trying hard to be willow trees. If you have ever tried vacationing with extended family, you may be able to relate to moments of chaos and frustration that would necessitate becoming a willow tree in order to keep from losing it. Anyway, I think things are getting better! I finally found my login information so I can go back to blogging!

Gray Hair

I've been going gray since college. I started coloring my hair just after my first son was born. I was 25. It has become a real hassle and I'm tired of it. The gray has been winning for awhile, so this year I have been letting the gray grow out. A couple of days ago, I went to get it cut short so that most of the artificial brown color is gone. So now it is a mixture of my natural brown and my natural gray, and it is short.

I'm thinking it would be much easier to color now!

Proverbs 16:31 - "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life."

Hmmm...decisions, decisions....

Income Taxes

"Income tax returns are the most imaginative fiction being written today." - Herman Wouk

It has been 8 years since I worked in public accounting, but I have not missed the tax seasons at all. The stress and overtime of tax season is why I got out of it. I did it for 8 seasons. And while my children were young! What was I thinking?!?

We just got ours done and I am so relieved! I always dread it, not the doing it part, but the bottom amount. This time we get a refund! I never know how our income will fluctuate in a given year. It seems to be like driving in the mountains, up and down and winding all around.

Thank you IRS! I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Inspiration

Came across this quote from Jack London: "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."

Well, I am always looking for inspiration! Now I got my club ready in case I find it!

If I could draw, I would try to illustrate the cartoon-like image in my head right now.

Time to Blog!

Man! The weather got hot in a hurry! But I still love this time of year. Everything looks so fresh and new! And I just can't fight the urge to clean something! And I just want to spend some time outside - at least until I start sweating too much.

I have not felt like cooking lately. I have not been logging in my food either. But I have still been eating healthy stuff, for the most part. My home is filled with healthy options, so it hasn't been too hard.

Work is making me nuts! Work-related stress has always been my downfall. I try to avoid it but it keeps creeping back into my life.

Let's get rid of a bunch of people and then let's just change the whole accounting system. It's no big deal, we just need to build a system that will give us any kind of information we ask for at the push of a button. No problem! The current system is not designed for what we need, but we've been waiting 10 years for this to happen. You have 30 days. Well, obviously, the accounting department has simply been holding back this information. Not that they told you in 1992 that the system you bought wouldn't work for what you want. Maybe let an accountant help pick out the software instead of going with what the production manager heard about at a seminar. So, NOW you want to do an efficiency analysis of all the procedures?

I have to blog to keep my brain from exploding and, hopefully, keep my blood pressure from skyrocketing.

What's Wrong with a Little Routine?

By nature some people are more comfortable with routine than others. I realize that many people shudder at the thought of the mundane of daily routines. But some of us literally THRIVE on routine. It's not our fault. It's in our DNA. That's why we can do things like accounting and other seemingly boring jobs. Yes, I get bored. Both with life and with work when there is NO break in the routine. But sometimes I JUST NEED A LITTLE ROUTINE!!!!!

I know all the expressions and beckoning of those other people. I've heard it all my life from my mama, my sister, my brother, my husband, my coworkers, my friends and my therapist. (I was actually in therapy at one point.)

Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for anything and everything. (Thanks, Mama and the Boys Scouts of America!) You need to be more flexible. Go with the flow. Be a willow tree. (That's my sister's favorite.) Learn to let go of things. Let's just play it by ear. (I can hear my husband say that like a broken record.) Accept the things you cannot change. (The oh so irritating serenity prayer.) Don't worry; be happy. (Crazy islanders!) Serenity now! (Frank Costanza) We plan; God laughs. (That one is on my kitchen wall.)

It feels like the unexpected is ALWAYS happening; and I never have time to restock my preparedness kit; and I already flexed myself into a knot; and the flow is coming at me like white water; and my willow tree got hit by lightening; and I cannot loosen my grip on that last little bit of sanity; and my ears are tone deaf; and I don't know that something cannot be changed unless I try, right?

Why does everyone think that it's the rigid person who should change. If the others are so flexible, why can't THEY adapt to MY ROUTINES?

Daffodils!

I am sooo ready to stick a daffodil under my nose and sniff deeply! It's one of my most favorite fragrances. And daffodils are such a sure sign of spring.

The ground is still wet from the melting snow and there still are some stubborn bits of snow lingering in parking lots, but spring is near.

You can smell that earthy smell of spring. The birds are flocking and singing and flying and nesting. The tree buds are plumping up. And there is just a general feeling in the air that spring is going to spring very soon.

I think we all have a little seasonal affect disorder that looms during the winter months. It magnifies the impact of spring's approach for everyone. People come out of their houses more and walk their dogs longer. Neighbors are more likely to exchange a nod or wave and a smile.

I can't help it. Spring makes me feel young again because it takes me back to the carefree days of youth and the joy of watching the daffodils and honeysuckle bloom.

Life is good today!