My friend Shine writes this blog every Friday wherein she breaks up with something. I do not intend to make this a habit, however, today I really have to say:
"Dear Beans, that's it. We're done. No more. I mean, I don't even really like you unless you're a vehicle for lard. And you are so cruel to me. I can no longer tolerate the abuse I must take in order to have you. So, farewell. Take your bean dip and your borracho beans and your frijoles refritos and your black beans and just go. 'Bye bye now. Antje"
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Leisure Time and discretionary income... what odd concepts. I sometimes wonder when we decided we were owed such. And how we mixed up earnings with wealth...
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But they are huge topics, and today I am musing on just one small aspect of leisure time. I did not get out of bed this morning. I had had plenty enough sleep, but my head was almost splitting from the pain and I could not bring myself to get up. What this afforded was another hour and a half of laying in bed, this time semi-conscious, next to someone I love. The semi-conscious part is critical, because it allowed me the awareness to enjoy his presence. I got to snuggle up close to him, feel the weight of his arm over mine, and generally feel connected to something. Studies show we need this connection. And I know I need it. I revel it in.
So, headache aside (it was cured anyway by a dose of Vitamin I), how much of this time do we afford ourselves on a weekly basis (or should it be daily basis?) without becoming unproductive and lazy?
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I ask because the way to keep life from spiraling out of control or getting overwhelming is to fit in all the big stuff and then the smaller stuff around that and then the smallest stuff around that. But it seems that the smallest stuff can get easily pushed to another time... and when that happens a lot, it might become big stuff... you know, like I haven't gotten an oil change - which takes 3o minutes - in 10000 miles and now I have a blown engine... oops.
So will I forgive myself because I stayed in bed today if something really big does go wrong because of all the things I didn't do this morning?
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I tried to make a list. The list started with folding laundry. It includes exercise, thank you cards and watering the plants. These are not trivial things. Should I leave out laundry and Emma the puppy think to chew on it, I could be out a critical piece of clothing. Should I fail to exercise consistently, I am taking years off my life and quality off my years. And if I don't send thank you cards I just might not get any more birthday presents. So you see what I mean.
Now luckily I am climbing tonight and that should leave me with plenty of time to fold my laundry while I am watching today's stage of Le Tour.
Btw, also on the list are detailing my car (must be done in the wee hours to avoid heat stroke), replacing a motor on the dishwasher, fixing the insinkerator, collecting - photographing - and - selling the 100s of items of stuff I have that I never use nor need, attaching insulative window film to the 100 year old, wood-framed windows to avoid Air Conditioning the outdoors, cleaning my vanity, watering my front lawn, taping the vinyl on the hot tub cover, dusting, storing a bag of shoes I am trying to sell for Annie and ... vacuuming the dog hair.
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One the subject of breaking off relationships that are not productive and finding time for things that keep you sane - there are eight (8) dogs in my house right now. And that's an insane number. And one of them barks constantly. Soon, I am told, two will leave. But that's still six (6) and that's still a large number for the heat outside does not allow them to live in the yard as planned.
I'm just saying that I might have to consider not having so many dogs around.
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At least that would definitely cut down on the vacuuming.