The mind-numbing powers of television, and other thoughts

If I had a television right now, I think I’d be utilizing its powers of distraction and entertainment. It’s not that I’m bored, just tired of what I’m doing, and the routine I’ve been in for the last several weeks. My leisure time has included stolen moments, invaded by the knowledge that I should be doing something else. Underneath it all, the problem is that productivity breeds satisfaction, and I haven’t been feeling very productive lately. Of course, my school work is getting done, thanks to deadlines, and marks one of the only areas where I can see progress- on paper even. I think that’s the reason I liked working so much (um, depending on the job!); I could see my contribution to society, or what I had done over the course of the day that moved me closer to a goal. This idea does not apply to my short stint at a fast food establishment many years ago, where I felt that I was contributing to the decline of society J. I’m sure even fast-food places have their role, and I must confess I love Subway and frequent Wendy’s, I just didn’t enjoy working in one of them. And when a person does not enjoy his or her job, neither the person nor his employer is happy.

Yes, back to the subject at hand. I’m going to reestablish my menu, so that I’m less stressed at the grocery store and when it comes time to make dinner. Crockpots tend to make my whole day better because it’s one less thing I have to worry about in the evening. That knowledge spurs soothing thoughts during the day (such as, “Well, at least we’ll have a decent meal when my husband gets home, even if I don’t accomplish anything else”), provides an early check-mark for my to-do list, and the yummy smells emanating from them throughout the day make me a nicer person. I guess I just like food. Particularly dessert.

Keeping my house clean and orderly is an accomplishment, just…one…that….is…never…quite…finished. I have a new goal to make housecleaning less a part of my life without seriously diminishing the state of the house. That is to say, I want to establish a schedule and routine which require minimum investments of time for the largest returns. I know, big dreams, but I’m working on a plan. (Which will be implemented AFTER the huge unpacking project next week when all of my “worldly goods” arrive from Indiana.)

I am also going to rethink my business plan. That will help. And if I do things just right (do some of the things on my husband’s to-do list to free up his time), I may even get my husband to help me- on Monday, which he has off of work.

As is usually the case, writing has boosted my spirits. I love words, especially on paper.

Weekend Fun

So, this weekend was interesting. I’ve been learning about the fine art of yardsaling. I don’t know if it’s a real word, but it is a real art. The trick is balance. You have to be able to recognize good deals while not going overboard and becoming a pack rat- or in the case of already being one, supporting your pack rat habit J. But making a list of the things you need and sticking just to that doesn’t work so well either, mostly because you need to be able to recognize a worthy buy when you see one. A worthy buy= something you need and will use + a good deal + you can afford it. If affording it means you have to trim a little somewhere else and it’s worth it to you to do so, go for it. But you can only do that so much. Anyway, this weekend was spent trying to save money, and we did pretty well, but I still need to learn when I don’t really need something.

I’m also working on cutting my food budget in half. My husband says it’s not possible, making it an all-the-more-attractive goal. That would make it $275 per month for a family of 5. If I have a garden it should be relatively easy (and I can have one year round here!) as we generally spend $50 a week on produce, but I don’t have one yet. I’ve been looking through a couple of my favorite sites, http://crockpot365.blogspot.com and www.5dollardinners.com. So one of my mini projects this year is crockpot cooking. That is, cooking dinner in the crockpot at least 3 nights a week. For the moment, it’s every night. I don’t have my pots and pans yet. So I’m getting a good start :).

We liked fajitas in the crockpot- very easy. And we liked the 16-bean soup. The pasta in artichoke sauce didn’t turn out so well, but the kids loved it. And, of course, I had to try refried beans because I have 25 lbs. of dried pinto beans in the pantry. They turned out okay, but need more salt. Then I wanted some rice to go with it…that didn’t work. The brown rice cooked so long it started to go bad. But I’m a glutton for punishment- I’m trying it again on high instead of low.

I know, I know, what a very interesting weekend eh. But I’m learning and progressing and the kids had fun. Writing actually does help me keep myself more organized. Now, why I’m posting my writing on a blog I have no idea. Maybe it keeps me more accountable- even though no one really sees it. :)