5.27.2012

Going in Circles

Have you ever had one of those days when you had so many things in your head, it felt like tasks/errands/projects were spilling out of your ears?

I've had that feeling for the past three days.  Nothing profound had to be accomplished, just regular life stuff, but I kept zig-zagging from one thing to another, doing things haphazardly, until I finally just sat down to read a book I've been trying to finish since October.

Then, I fell sleep.   So, I didn't make any further progress.

It started on Friday when I sat down with the checkbook and the bills.  Two things were held up because I needed input from the husband.  While I waited for his input, I put in some laundry (to be hung on the line in twenty minutes.)

I started a sewing project and was twenty minutes in when the needle on my sewing machine broke.  I scrounged for a replacement, did not immediately find one, so went downstairs for a break and a drink.

While putting away clean dishes, I dropped a ladle behind the 'fridge.  My husband rolled it out, so I could retrieve the ladle, and I spotted the broken shards of Pyrex (and dust bunnies the size of lemons) from last month's disaster in the kitchen.  I swept and mopped and ended up swabbing down the outside of the 'fridge.

Then, I got sidetracked rearranging some of the pictures on the 'fridge door.  Which, reminded me that I had to unload my camera and sort the recent pictures from my dad's 89th birthday.

I got on the computer and edited pictures for a while, realizing I was way behind on making copies for family members.  I checked email, blogs, dumped the upstairs trash, then returned to the sewing.

I found a new needle and completed what I could.  I discovered I needed more fabric and some buttons to continue.  I put that on my list for tomorrow, when I would be out grocery shopping.  Which took me back to the bill thing.  When was the guy coming to trim our huge tree, honey?  And, what are we doing about that magazine subscription? 

Oh, yeah, and here's the laundry still in the washer, but now the sun is down.  Into the dryer it goes, taking energy and money I hate to use when I have perfect Florida sunshine with which to dry our clothes.

Saturday, this was my list:  get to the grocery store, clean goop (from faulty, sticky pads on the chair legs) off the dining room floor, make our son's birthday gift, create a photo album for my parents of recent celebrations, send a promised item to a blogger buddy, burn and mail a CD to my sister, clean the guest room for the ex-clown (who's arriving Tuesday), make and send cookies to a friend in Afghanistan, finish paying the bills, finish the sewing project, and paint the new front door before the primer gets any more filthy.

Of the eleven things, three got done.  

This morning, three more things got done.  The rest of the list will follow me into tomorrow, along with some new things.  I've been trying to get some of this stuff done for a month.  I start something, then get interrupted, or distracted.

I feel like I have ADD.  And, I wouldn't mind a few drugs.

I think I'll go read.

16 comments:

Rita said...

This happens to me all the time--LOL!
Have you ever seen this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6oHBG3ABUJU

Jeanette Levellie said...

Oh, yes. Sounds like my life. YOu can be the pres of the club of "Oh, yes, that needs done..."

Dana said...

This sounds very familiar. :) I have so many days like this...

Just A Normal Mom said...

Oh how I can relate! And that darn list gets things added faster than I can cross them off.

betty said...

That does sound a bit frustrating that you couldn't accomplish too much and yet exerted a lot of energy trying to do so. It is sometimes hard to get it all done, isn't it?

I hope tomorrow is a restful day though!

betty

Elaine L. Bridge said...

At least these comments have proven we're not alone in this - I do it all the time, as well! I think it's because we all have so much to do, all the time! Oh well, you have inspired me to FOCUS today - to do one thing at a time and just write all the other "needs-doing" items I encounter in the process of finishing that one thing down on a list! Oh to actually be able to cross something off!!!!! Fun post!

Martha said...

I can totally relate to this, sounds like my usual days. I really do wonder if my plate is just too full or if I really do have some adult onset ADD! Drugs some pretty good about now, lol!

Tina said...

I love you. I swear. I read to destress. I nap to destress. And what you described about how your day went and all the distractions? I feel like you've been spying on me. That happens to me on a regular basis, just different tasks.
Tina @ Life is Good
Post A-Z Road trip!

Michael Ann said...

Oh yes, can totally relate....sort of like "If you give a mouse a cookie..." :-)

Barbara In Caneyhead said...

A woman's list is never done until she developes alheimers and forgets it. ;o) - Barbara
Life & Faith in Caneyhead

Anonymous said...

When in doubt READ!! Words to live by!

notes4neta said...

I can relate, too! You are definitely not alone in this circle thing! This happens to me a lot and I find it frustrating! Sometimes I make a list and actually follow it, doing my best not to get distracted! If I don't focus, I just flit from one activity to another, but I never feel like I'm getting anything done!The truth is, things do get done. Just not in a 'straight line'.

kim said...

Sounds like my every day! I also thought of the "if you give a mouse a cookie" books reading this. It's gotten to the point where I'm happy if I just get one thing accomplished every day.

pammustard said...

This was hilarious! It happens to me all the time! I actually go crazy these days when I start something new and realize I didn't finish the previous task. I actually said it out loud last night "I am going to FINISH one thing at a time". My husband looked at me and said "What??" and I said "forget it, it's a woman thing."!

Melanie said...

When you said you had felt like you were going in circles for 3 days, I read '3 years' and realized I was projecting my own tizzy onto your writing. Which means two things. One: we are fated to be blog friends. And two: I get nothing done ever. I finally called for a cleaning lady today because I cannot seem to breathe and clean my own house at the same time. And although you may not have finished anything, you got a heckofa lotta stuff done! Thanks for visiting me. I am intrigued to go back and read more about you. And the ex clown.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Sounds like one of my days I have too many days like that and it can be so frustrating at times when it feels nothing is getting done.....