Other Thoughts | BulgingButtons

August 18, 2013
by BulgingButtons 7 Comments

Daily Prompt: Procrastination

Oh daily prompt, you have struck a chord. So, you want to talk about procrastination. Yep, I know all about it. In fact, I’m using this daily prompt as a wonderful way to engage in it right now. You see, I have a bag full of papers that need to be checked, and a lesson that needs to be polished, and one or two other things to do (ha, more like one or two hundred) but here I am.

I don’t know why I procrastinate. It’s not like the things I have to do get any easier or more enjoyable if I put them off. In fact, often the opposite is true. Sometimes I end up hurting myself with this bad habit. Library fines, anyone? I have owed books, phone calls, birthday cards, thank you notes, movies, and countless other things over the years. Sometimes deadlines pass and opportunities are lost. Really, it’s a sad situation.

And then there’s the financial cost. I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no excuse for paying late fees. Ever. At least not when you have a decent job and a steady income and money in the bank. I have all of those things. Yet, at various points in my life, I have paid late fees. For what? For the privilege of paying a day or two later than the date stamped on the bill? Believe me, the thrill wasn’t worth the 35 or 50 bucks. It’s outrageous. Ridiculous. Absurd.

No more. I pay all my bills on time and take care of business right away. Do I still procrastinate about putting the dishes in the dishwasher or folding the laundry? Sure. Sometimes. But as I’m getting older, I’m getting better. I figure the older I get the less time I have to waste, and procrastinating just isn’t that much fun. Now I’m going to click on publish and go do my work.

August 5, 2013
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I’m So Excited!

I’ve been feeling a little like Agnes from Despicable Me recently. At first glance, Agnes and I might not seem to have much in common, but bear with me and I’ll explain. First of all, she’s the little sister. She has older sisters who lead the way and look out for her. I have an older brother who looked out for me when we were kids, and sometimes still does. This was especially true when our parents weren’t around. Next, Agnes was adopted. Hey, me too! Of course my story and hers differ in lots of ways too, but right now the reason I feel most like Agnes is her exuberance. She is one excitable little girl. Agnes knows what she likes and shows great joy when things go her way. Right now it really feels like things are going my way, and I can’t help thinking of little Agnes, and smiling. I can almost hear her voice in my head proclaiming, “Im so excited!” This is a really good time for me both personally and professionally, and I want to celebrate. Maybe I’ll get myself a fluffy unicorn in honor of little Miss Agnes.

August 4, 2013
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

Oreo Habit

I am the girl with the Oreo habit. Ok, not a girl anymore, a full-fledged middle aged woman. I’m much too old to have an Oreo habit. But really it’s not an actual Oreo habit, it’s a sweet habit. No, that’s not even it. It’s a food habit. And it’s more than a habit, it’s an all out obsession. There, I said it. Will that make it go away? Of course not. I wish it were that simple. A public declaration, a little shaming and humiliation, a few minutes of feeling bad, then presto change-o… no more problem! I would do it. I really would. You want me to wear a sign for a day?Put it on the blog? Confess my sins to a talk show host? Fine.

I tried out for the Biggest Loser. I put on a dress that both made me look cute and made me look fat. I did my hair and make up , to the best of my ability, then toddled off to a local mall with folding chairs and my sweet boyfriend (who LOVES a big woman, lucky for me). I sat in line for hours, filling out forms and chatting with other fat women. Then I got my chance. I filed into the private space along with about a dozen other fat people and sat at the table with a giant grin pasted across my face. “Look at me! I’m fat! I have personality! Pick me, pick me!” But they didn’t. Secretly I was relieved. After all, I have a kid and a dog and a boyfriend and a job and a life. How could I jet off to “the ranch” to reinvent myself? And deep down the bigger question, how could I possibly face the humiliation of trying to do it on national t.v.?

I was terrified that they might pick me. After all, I had plenty to lose, I’m reasonably cute, and I’m pretty articulate. I reasoned that they didn’t want someone who would just cry and mumble the whole time. Not that I wouldn’t cry. I’m sure I would cry buckets. In fact, I had already decided that Jillian and Bob were too intense for me, so I would HAVE to be on Dolvett’s team. Do you think they take requests?

Anyway, that was over a year ago, and America managed another whole season of Biggest Loser without me. I didn’t watch. Well, not much anyway. I tend to feel too guilty. I much prefer Extreme Weightloss. One episode and it’s over. Besides, I like the one on one approach, and who could possibly resist Chris Powell? With him training me I would have to succeed, right? Maybe it’s time for another try out.