Plotting and Planning

Despite my rather Type-A Personality, I am dreadfully unorganized. I've just got to accept it.

My memory is not what it used to be—I must make lists, check them off, double check everything before I leave the house (in order of importance: coffee, phone, keys. I'm not kidding).

I don't know if it's just a matter of being an adult and dealing with itinerant distractions; if it's because I have less time because of holding an actual-real-life job; or if I'm truly getting more forgetful as I get older. But in any case, it bugs me. Because I'm a perfectionist in so many other ways.

My mom laughs at me when she asks me to check my calendar—it's a rather large planner, with lots of stuff stuck in the back—old receipts, tickets to concerts, gift certificates, coupons, directions to people's houses...whatever I might need in an emergency at Target, in the car, or if I magically have some free time and want to do some shopping. It's like my first-aid kit. Well, some people might view it more as triage.

And no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get organized electronically. It's like I need actual hard-copy versions of things where I can scribble out, tear away, and write down. It's harder for me to remember things I type than things I physically write. Sometimes my lists are ridiculously detailed, and sometimes they're so vague I don't remember why I bothered to jot a note.

I would love to be one of those neat, organized, ahead-of-time, controlled people. It happens occasionally and I'm always so grateful I thought ahead. But for now, I'm just that frazzled girl with the huge bag—required to carry my messy, scrappy planner—running out the door at the last second.

(If you have any ideas for me, let me know.)

This is a Call to All My Past Resignations

So many things happening all at once!

As my life has seemed to become more inundated with things to do, I've let a few pounds sneak up on me.

It's been a shock...and a blow to the ol' ego. Up until probably a few years ago, I couldn't GAIN weight. Now it seemes here to stay, even though I eat a pretty healthy diet. (Very little fast food, I love fruits and veggies.) I probably eat too much cheese, but I've cut back on that.

On a bad day I'm about 12 to 15 lbs heavier than I was last year at this time. There could be reasonable explanations for this:

• I spent the winter working my butt off on freelance...but that meant a LOT of sitting on the couch and writing after sitting at work all day. (And snacking).
• I was diagnosed with IBS and began taking medication for it...which could account for the weight gain, not only as a side effect of the drug, but also because of reasons I'm sure the internet does not want to read about. So. I'll leave it at that.
  
• My metabolism is slowing down...I am 28.5 years old now. (Although it's been screwed since I turned 19 and acquired hypothyroidism). I was slow the last time I went to the doctor, so my meds were switched up a bit, but losing the weight isn't as easy as it was to gain, even if it wasn't my fault.

Here's the thing. I hate exercise. Seriously. I have been taking a belly dance class every Saturday for the last few months, which is two hours and a good workout. I'm glad I've taken it. I'll resume after the summer rush is over. I'm also taking a yoga class, and I like doing that a lot. It's a hour of stretching and core muscle building.

So I have to find ways to try and work my body every day. Some current ideas:

• Walking Molly at a fast clip
• using our gym in our building (weights, elliptical)
  
• buying Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred... (I need to actually DO that, though).
• cutting waaaaay back on pop (I am about a can-a-day girl, I'm trying to cut that back further. And NO, I will not drink diet pop. Life's too short. I'd rather only have one a week than one a day with that awful diet aftertaste.

But here's my thing. I need YOU, internet.

• What are some of your least-hated workouts?
• Healthy meals? (Vegetarians, I'd love your input here, as our Farmers' Market is kicking into high gear and I love buying fresh produce there!)
• How do you stay on the workout wagon?
  
• What are songs that ALWAYS put you in a good mood, rev up your energy, and keep you going when all you want to do is plop down on the couch with a pound of goat cheese and a spoon (or whatever your vice of choice may be)?I'm not a music snob in the sense that I won't listen to Top 40, but I like other smart dance songs, like the recent Yeah Yeah Yeah's Heads Will Roll?

It's time to take charge, friends. I'm up high enough that I can't fit in a lot of last summer's clothes. Help me.

Pray For Me

This week ahead includes a LOT of writing, on two long stories in which I have done a LOT of reporting. It's really important to me that they both come off really well in the first turn-in, so pray. Pray. OK, if you don't believe in God (which is totally OK in house o' Willikat) could you at least do one of those "Hey, let Katie rock the writing today?" into the universe? Thanks.

I am working on overcoming bride brain to just write, write, write my little butt off. I got my errands for today out of the way early, dressed and ready early, and coffee in hand. I even dropped Mo off at my parents' house (man, she loves my dad, I think more than she loves me) so she wasn't here for snuggles and walks.

I'm going to turn on my magic writing music (Belle & Sebastian, Beck's Sea Change, Billie Holiday) and write.