February 10, 2006~~5:47 p.m.
I'll never be crowned Princess of Productivity...

I had a long talk with Shoe this week about how much easier it is to 'stay caught' up than it is to 'get caught up'. We discussed how his problems at school affect his health, mental and physical. It was a good conversation. I don't expect it to prevent him from ever falling in that trap again, but I do think the foundation of shared understanding will help in the future.

So the other side of this... I'm SUCH a hypocrite.

The fall semester ended two weeks ago. My end-of-the-semester paperwork is due on Tuesday. This is work that is incredibly time-consuming, work I complain about every time it comes around, work I usually spend a solid two weeks to get done.

You see where this is going, right?

Yea, I haven't really started yet.

As of yesterday, I still had four FULL days with no other work to do thanks to the Monday holiday. I should have gotten right up and started this morning, but instead, I took an extra-long hot shower, messed around on the internet, took a nap, ran to the grocery store for raspberries I couldn't live without, read a gossip magazine, worked out, chatted on the phone for an hour, wrote some e-mail and a diary entry...

I figure I'll get a lot done tomorrow because the husband will be home bugging me to get it done so we can do fun things. He has already been warned that I could very well kill him if the words, "You know, if you'd started this SOONER, you'd be done by now," pass through his lips. It has also been hinted at that it would be a good weekend to just do nice things for me.

Unfortunately, since I started *booty camp* last week, there can be no sweets for the sweet. I've been really good so far, stuck to the nutrition plan and worked out four days this week. The concept of committing to the group thing steps over my "one day at a time" plan, but it's working for me so far and it really is easier for me to stay on track when other people are helping to hold me accountable.

Back to baby steps.. that's how I need to tackle this paperwork. One thing at a time... steady progress. If I work really hard while I'm supposed to be working, then I can afford little pockets of fun between productive bursts.

I can do this...

because I have no choice. :)

~Alice