There’s nothing like a deadline to really kick you in the pants and get your rear in gear.\u00c2\u00a0 Seriously.<\/p>\n
I have two to speak of at the moment.\u00c2\u00a0 They happen every year.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t know why I procrastinate every single time.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t ever procrastinate this badly at work.\u00c2\u00a0 But it’s like my brain refuses to acknowledge these two holidays until they’re right on top of me.\u00c2\u00a0 You know the ones I’m talking about.\u00c2\u00a0 Thanksgiving and Christmas (or insert your own favorite gift-giving bonanza here).<\/p>\n
Generally, Thanksgiving isn’t all that stressful for me.\u00c2\u00a0 I usually go to my family then, and so all the stress of hosting falls to them.\u00c2\u00a0 Though I do try to be a good daughter and help with the Christmas caroling while making dinner.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m only slightly crafty in the kitchen, so I don’t get more important chores than cleaning up, chopping veggies, and smelling the dressing for the right dosage of sage.<\/p>\n
This year, however, I’m the hostess.\u00c2\u00a0 Albeit for a much smaller crowd of four.\u00c2\u00a0 Which means I’ve got to call upon my turkey roasting experience and remember how to read my grandmother’s homemade cornbread dressing recipe.\u00c2\u00a0 All while using a gas oven that I have a suspicion is just a little bit off on temperature.\u00c2\u00a0 It’ll be an adventure!\u00c2\u00a0 It also means that I have to finish unpacking what I’ll need for the week Fianc\u00c3\u00a9’s mother and brother are here, and setting up the house so that it’s presentable.\u00c2\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been working on that part – a little each week.\u00c2\u00a0 We’re nearly there, except that I still haven’t managed to find the moving box containing my recipe box… which is kind of an essential item.\u00c2\u00a0 But I have faith, it’ll turn up, most likely the day after they’ve gone home.<\/p>\n
We have another round of house guests the first weekend in December.\u00c2\u00a0 Friends this time, so less stressful.\u00c2\u00a0 That will just mean that I’ve managed to keep the house looking presentable for two weeks in a row.\u00c2\u00a0 My family will acknowledge this to be an oddity.\u00c2\u00a0 I can’t help it, I’m a piler, not a filer, and “maid service” is not in my job description.\u00c2\u00a0 Although I did get the cleaning nazi bug this past Saturday afternoon and scrubbed nearly everything from top to bottom.\u00c2\u00a0 Shocking, I know!<\/p>\n
Then there’s Christmas.\u00c2\u00a0 Need I say more?\u00c2\u00a0 There are gifts to be made, bought, and shipped!\u00c2\u00a0 The biggest deadline on the calendar and I’ve let it slip up on me.\u00c2\u00a0 We’re going to visit the family this year.\u00c2\u00a0 Which means, unlike for Thanksgiving, there are many more preparations to be made.\u00c2\u00a0 Gifts must be shipped, not to mention made.\u00c2\u00a0 Shipping has to take the holiday rush into account, so the gifts must be completed early.\u00c2\u00a0 I can’t just pile everything in the car and hit the road – we’re flying this time.\u00c2\u00a0 I just looked at a calendar this morning to work out how many actual days I have left to get everything made.\u00c2\u00a0 Here I had been thinking I had a full two weeks more than I really have.\u00c2\u00a0 Darnit!\u00c2\u00a0 I think I’m going to need to plan for a few items in my suitcase.\u00c2\u00a0 Amazon to the rescue for anything that falls outside the window.<\/p>\n
But I have a plan now.\u00c2\u00a0 “Planning” is<\/em> in my job description, after all.\u00c2\u00a0 It’ll be tight, but I think I’ll make it.\u00c2\u00a0 I’ve just gotta get to work!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There’s nothing like a deadline to really kick you in the pants and get your rear in gear.\u00c2\u00a0 Seriously. I have two to speak of at the moment.\u00c2\u00a0 They happen every year.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t know why I procrastinate every single … Continue reading