GTD, yeah right!

I can't seem to get anything done. I feel like I get home and my brain turns to putty. That makes it even more frustrating for Laura, I'm sure. Her todo list for yesterday & today are ridiculous. Here's a sample:

• Go grocery shopping
• Go pick up extra cookies
• Drop off check at Sherri's house for Brownies
• Go to Co-op
• Teach children
• Make dinner for loving husband
• Buy stuff at Target

Now, I'm not a woman, so I can't remember all the stuff she has to do, but you can tell by this measly list, it's a lot. Just for reference, here's my list:

• Buy shims for door, & finish installing door in basement.
• Get gas
• Find damn glasses
• Wash car, damnit
• Shovel walkway & driveway, apply salt where needed.
• Buy more rock-salt
• Pay bills online
• Renew car registration online
• Transfer money to checking account to cover car renewal
• Narrow down digital video camera choices so when tax return comes in, we know what camera to buy
• Get tax return information to accountant
• Make sure all tax return information is together
• Help Carly deliver cookies
• Spend time with kids...all of them
  

Now my list looks longer, but it's deceiving. These are things I'd like to get done by the end of the weekend. Laura's list is just for today. And, I don't have a good track record of getting things accomplished. I know there are a bunch of sites out there to help with Getting Things Done, (Lifehacker, 43Folders, etc) but I can't do that. Here's why:

The typical day for me is usually like this:

• Get out of work, fight traffic to get home. Get pissed off at the people cutting me off trying to get over at the last minute, because they didn't read the signs, because they were on the phone.
• Walk in the door, yell at the dog, feed the dog, hug all three kids simultaneously, hug the wife, put my coat & other shit away.
• Try not to fall asleep waiting for dinner; try to help make dinner, eat dinner, instruct children to not stand on their chairs and eat their dinner. Put away dirty/clean dishes, remind children to put their dishes away.

Usually at this point, is the time when we go out to get things done: grocery store, Target, etc. If there's no immediate need to go out, the kids and I default to the TV. This is usually how it goes:

• Sneak Girl Scout cookie so kids don't see.
• Relax on couch in front of boob-tube, or play video games with the kids; digest dinner & cookies. I think this is where I lose all ambition to get things done around the house.
  
• Watch movie with kids
• Tell kids to pick up their messes, get pajamas on, brush their teeth, wash their hands
• Watch more TV with kids
• Remind kids to get their pajamas on, wash their hands, brush their teeth
• Turn off TV, listen to kids whine, remind them to get their pajamas on, wash their hands, brush their teeth
• Clean up dog pee (I don't want to talk about it)
• Help kids get their pajamas on, wash their hands, brush their teeth
• Put kids to bed...whew!
• Kiss kids goodnight, answer 20 questions, kiss them goodnight again.
• Go sit on couch, watch last TV show or play last video game, or watch rated >PG-13 movie.
• go to bed.

Now, I know this is a shitty schedule. But it's reality. Notice there's no real bonding with the wife either (nor prayer, but that's a whole other post). Change is hard. I need to formulate an action plan. Check back later for said action plan. Oh, any ideas for said plan are also welcome. :)


Technorati Tags: reflection, family, rant, 43things

You're all I need, you're all I want, you're everything...

I've seen this video several times. Every time I become a blubbering mess. I have tried to reflect to really determine why I sob every time.

Lately I've been trying out the Opera browser. It's touted as the most 'standards compliant' browser out there. With that said, it's surprising how many websites don't work with it. Anyway, it's got built-in Widgets. (Basically, there these little doodads that float around on the desktop, similar to the OSX & Vista widgets.) I installed the Opera Bible widget that refreshes Bible verses every so often.

I fired up my Opera browser & the Bible widget first thing this morning. This is what it said:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

I immediately thought of this video. That is why I sob. I know that God is constantly protecting me & bearing the burdens that I should. He shoulders so much burden, I don't even know. All I have to do is take rest in Him...

Ya know, yesterday was a shitty day for me. In the "thick of it" I didn't seek God's council. I should have. Today though, I feel God's love, and that's important.

Saturday Breakfasts

In my attempt to gain some rapport with my kids, I have decided to take each one of them, on an individual basis, to breakfast on Saturdays. Last week I spent some time with my oldest, and I’m hoping to squeeze the middle child in this Saturday. There’s a birthday party for my youngest, so don’t be haten’. The key here, is to make it a habit, and priority to spend this valuable time with each kid. I’m envisioning an open communication channel when they’re teenagers…

See more progress on: spend more time with my kids

TWiP...

I recently found a new podcast (netcast) that I thought I'd mention. It's called TWiP aka This Week in Photography. http://www.twipphoto.com is the address. Make a visit; you might learn something!

I can see the light...

I reviewed my account(s) today, and I estimate that I’ll be able to pay off my student loans by this time next year! The problem is, I want to start graduate school, & I’m not sure that I can afford it semester after semester.

See more progress on: pay off my student loans

Fasting...?

Given yesterday's ugliness, I've decided to fast today.

I was actually siting on the throne, contemplating what I was going to do for lunch. I was out of bread this morning, so I couldn't make a lunch. I told myself that I could just go out to lunch. But, I told Laura yesterday, that extraneous expenses would not be a good thing this month. So, I'm sitting on the throne, contemplating my current life situation, when it occurred to me that I might actually benefit from a fast. So, I thought, what the heck... So here I am...starving! :)

There's a whole lot of things going through my mind these days, so I could really use some alone time (with God).

Here we go...

Photo by Mykl Roventine

2 steps forward, 1 step back

It seems that when it comes to my wife & I, for every couple of steps forward, a step back is inevitable. Most of that responsibility falls on my shoulders. I need to learn to NOT take that step backward.

See more progress on: love my wife with all my heart

Bad brother

I’ve been a poor brother. I haven’t talked to either of my sisters in months. I always try to use the excuse that they’re busy, and I’m never guaranteed a conversation if I just call them when I’m free.

The other snafu is, now that It’s been so long, they’ll wonder what the emergency is.

See more progress on: call my sister once a month

Master of Science in Administration

Many years ago there was a Monster.com commercial that had kids talking about their aspirations. I specifically remember one kid say, “I’m going to work my way up to middle management.” That kind of struck me, because where would Corporate America be without middle managers? I understand their point though; to aspire to nothing less than the top isn’t really worth it. I guess what I’m trying to say is, maybe I want to be a middle manager. Heck, I’m at the bottom of the pole now, with no hope of moving anywhere. Middle management has got to be better than this.

I start my first class tonight. It’s only a statistics refresher, but grad school’s expensive! I plan on actually starting my curriculum this fall…when the van’s paid off. :)

See more progress on: get a masters degree