procrastination | BulgingButtons

May 24, 2015
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

A New Quilt Project

You know how you have lots of projects already in the works, but can never seem to find the time to finish them? You don’t? Oh. Well, I do.

Sometimes those projects linger for days, weeks, months, or in the case of several of my unfinished quilts, years. Still, I can’t quite bring myself to give up on them.

Just like Dug, I’m easily excited by new things.

SOMEDAY I may want to finish that particular project, so it sits tucked away, patiently waiting.

In the meantime, my attention gets drawn someplace else. New ideas pop into my head. New materials beckon to me. New trends emerge. “THAT’S what I want to do!” I tell myself, so nine times out of ten I give myself permission to go for it.

I’m not one to start and finish one thing before I start and finish the next. I’m more of a multi-tasker. I may be reading three or four books, writing two or three pieces, and sewing two or three quilts at any one time. My dearly departed father would be both proud and appalled. Proud because he did the same thing. Appalled because he preached against it.

Today I’m on summer vacation. I have the itch to sew up some of the gorgeous fabrics that have been patiently decorating my past two sewing spaces. I’ve found a pattern I’d like to try, and I’m ready to go. All I have to do is move the laptop and replace it with the sewing machine. Then it’s go time!

I’m excited. I’m ready. Here we go!

August 10, 2014
by BulgingButtons 3 Comments

Sunday Night Teacher Freak Out

It’s really too early for this. We’ve just had our first week of school, and the children were only there for four of the five days. I should not be in teacher freak out mode.

Sure, I was a little freaked out last week, because last week I didn’t know my class. I didn’t know how many of the thirty-four kiddos on my list would show up (for the record, 30), and I didn’t know what they would be like (also for the record, AWESOME!). Last week freaking out was normal. This week, not so much.

I should be calm, cool, and collected, but I am not. It’s starting to get dark, my family hasn’t been fed yet (the hungry teenager keeps reminding me), and I’m starting to fixate on the stuff I need to get done for school. I can literally feel my blood pressure rising. And yes, I do mean literally (I promise, I know the difference).

A few deep breaths, a request for my son to cook our gourmet dinner (thank you Red Baron pizza company) and a quick visit to my zen place should set things right. Now, what do I REALLY need to accomplish?

1. Correct and grade a math quiz. Yes, a real quiz the first week of school. I’m hardcore.

2. Score the spelling tests (that we corrected in class). Told you I was hardcore.

3. Create the writing lesson to be used by the entire grade level. Or at least create the part that we’re using tomorrow.

That’s it. That’s do-able. That’s no reason for panic. I think I’ll go have some pizza, then maybe I’ll think about tomorrow.

March 16, 2014
by BulgingButtons 5 Comments

Under the Wire, Again

I have had the most wonderful week off. I’m lucky to live in a place where other people travel for spring break. We had gorgeous weather all week, and I got a lot of chores done. It was a good week.

Now it’s Sunday evening, and I’m procrastinating again. I have work to do and yet, here I am blogging instead. Why? I don’t know. I was going to get it all done at the beginning of break, but that didn’t happen. Now not only do I have work to do, but I have to remember my train of thought before I begin. Who knows what I was thinking a week ago? Certainly not me!

What will get me going? A timer? A reward? A swift kick in the rear? Nope, none of those. The only thing getting me moving is the knowledge that there are people relying on me. They did their parts (they always do) and now I need to do mine.

I guess vacation is over. It makes me a little sad, but I do look forward to seeing my little urchins tomorrow. Fourth quarter, here we come.