3 Signs I am Drowning and How I Fixed It
I am still treading wine, but drowning more than drinking. I just returned from two back to back business trips. I realize many people travel every week for work, across countries and continents – they’re amazing, I am not. I am tired and my body hurts from lugging my ginormous (technical term) laptop all over the place in heels. I was ready to spend some time at home and get back to normal, then my old pal Murphy (as in Murphy’s Law) showed up…
My little diva has been sick for the past couple of days with a 103.5 fever and sleep disrupting killing cough. I have tried to catch up on work and home life while “functioning” on 2 hours of sleep over two days. (Why was this so much easier when the kids were babies??? Don’t say I am getting old – I am fragile and can’t take that right now!)
Here are the signs that things were slipping in my world:
- There was soy sauce and wine on the table, I meant to put soy sauce on my brown rice…
- I put a carton of milk in the dryer – of course I didn’t turn it on (because my husband walked up)
- I lost my son’s homework, my daughter’s valentine’s and my… (I can’t even remember the other thing!) all in one day! They were all found, including the thing I don’t remember losing, by somebody else.
There are plenty more examples, like my inability to string a sentence together to save my life, but I think you get the drift. I have hit the proverbial wall and it is not made of cheese, chocolate or wine corks.
I told my friend this morning, “I just need to get organized and catch up on everything and I will be fine”. This sent her into hysterical laughter. I am pretty sure my friends only keep me around for the entertainment value. She gently reminded me that being “caught up” might be too ambitious and I would miss all the fun in the meantime.
So guess what I did?
At 12:05 I was sitting in my home office, in my pajamas, unshowered and decided to meet a friend for lunch. This gal is rarely in town and was 10 minutes from my house. I looked at my work email, my to-do listsssss (did you catch the emphasis on the plural lists) and walked away. I set a new record for fastest shower and walked out the door at 12:10. mostly clean, no make-up and a big smile.
I have to tell you a spontaneous lunch out is incredibly therapeutic. The to-do listssss continue to grow, but I am no longer drowning, because really, what is more important – expense reports or lunch with a great friend?
I knew you’d agree.
How do you keep your head above water?
I looked nothing like this at lunch today, but I was happy.
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Pay It Forward
Slightly Off-Balance 
Re. all the sickness: yuck!
Re. dropping everything to have some Paige time: yay!
p.s. I put a package of mushrooms in the dryer once and did turn it on. It was…not great.
I heart you for putting mushrooms in your dryer, bewteen the two of use, we almost have soup!
There must be something in the water – I’m feeling all out of sorts myself and I’m working my ass off.
BTW, I would TOTALLY take the unshowered PJ wearing Paige! If I can come to lunch the same way!
Mads! You should be pampering that cute preggers self of yours! I love the idea of a PJ luncheon…
Unshowered. Pj-wearing. Rice-wine eating. All sounds about right to me.
That’s life.
Hang in there, lady.
And I’m so glad you enjoyed your lunch…
Julie – I thought of you when I mentioned the unshowered part. That sounds kinda weird… 😉
You go girl! (I was going to say you go lady but didn’t want to insult you!). Glad you were able to have a little fun. Traveling is only fun when there are no consequences at home. Here’s to a better week!
“To do” lists are only for people who want to say they did something!!! =) Cheers to living! Hugs
Once again, I am eerily reminded of how our children seem to channel one another. Murphy left me for you and my Diva just switched from Stomach Virus Diva to Teething/The Cough/Congestion/Ear Infection Diva.
I find it doesn’t matter how productive I am in my duties, the only way to truly feel in control again is to stay “screw it” and run away. To meet a friend, to the gym, to eat dessert with fellow bloggers – it doesn’t matter. I just need time to be me for a bit so I can breathe again.
I have also never been a good traveler. While I like to go places, I tend to dislike the act of going there (still waiting for the beaming technology promised by Star Trek). Then it takes me about 3 days to get used to a new bed before I start sleeping well – and by then it’s usually time to leave.
That’s if the insomnia doesn’t hit.
Good luck!
Kelly – Can we set up a virtual dessert date? I hope Diva feels better!!!
I feel you dearie. I locked my daughter in yesterday with the key on my bedside. I have piles of laundry. I am yet to make a balanced meal. I have piles of paperwork waiting for me at home. My office on the other hand is doing just fine. I wonder why I am so organized and detailed at work, but when I get home, its a whole different story. Ah ah….something to think about. I can see you are out of river already…keep your head above water babe!
Lunch, unshowered, while in PJ’s sound downright delightful, if I do say so myself.
My most recent “I’m so tired that I have no idea what the hell I’m doing” moment was placing my keys in the freezer. I took out ice cream, scooped ice cream, and put my keys back in place. It wasn’t until the next day, as I retraced my steps and I found a puddle of ice cream where my keys normally sit that I realized what I did. Milk in the dryer, though, would have been worse.
How do I keep my head above water? I utilize those shredder bin. Just dump all these paperwork in there and forgetaboutit! One of this day, it’ll catch up to me, but in the meantime I can breathe!