Aye, there's the rub

I have the same fight every morning: I never want to wake up. I lie there between dreams and awakening, fighting off the inevitable, convincing myself that yes, I can snuggle in deeper for another hour or so. But knowing that I really can't, that I certainly shouldn't. Usually the thought of a fresh cup of coffee (delivered to me in bed this morning) helps, and I throw off the covers, greet the yawning kitties and climb down the ladder.

And it occurs to me: maybe this morning fight is related to the night time fighting off of the inevitability of sleep? It seems that as much as I hate to wake up, I also hate to fall asleep and will rage against it, reading into the wee hours until my eyes finally surrender.

It's a vicious circle

Getting Things Done

• I completed four projects yesterday. This included conceiving, executing and delivering an online class
• Thus proving that I can accomplish much more than I normally do in a day
• So I am planning the week ahead with this in mind
• I will apply Marci's "three things" system to my list everyday
• And focus
• And not beat myself up for not crossing everything off my list, but regroup and move on

Put a smile on someone's face

Why not spread some cheer today and give out awards for things you think are great? I love this idea that I came across on The Plug

He gave out "The Best Thing I've Seen All Day" awards. Pretty awesome!

Seven random observations about living in France

My friend Paula tagged me last week with the 7 Random Things about you tag, and since I have done it before I decided to change it up a bit.

1. Get used to everything taking 10 times as long and being 10 times as complicated to complete
2. Food is king. Don't try to understand it, just go with the flow
3. Remember to plan your shopping around stores being closed on Sundays and sometimes Mondays and during lunch time (see above: food is king).
4. Most French people are very patient with foreigners while you slaughter their language. They love that you are trying!
5. Everything is different. Not just the obvious things you expect, but things you never think about like the configuration of a keyboard, or the way you write a check
6. The amusing use of English words in the everyday language but with a twist: "un parking" for parking lot or "un camping" for campsite
7. Figuring out who to greet with a kiss and who not to is a cultural faux pas waiting to happen!
   

A Promise to Myself

I will wake up earlier every day. I will not fritter away my time in front of the computer. But I will blog more regularly. No more of this once every two weeks thing. I will exercise. I will drink more water. I won't let the house fall apart around me. I will create something every day. I will plan and use my time wisely.

So how are your New Year goals coming along?

Finding the good in February

There's a definite case of the February blahs going around. Lucy and I felt it yesterday and it was a big part of our lunchtime conversation. So we set ourselves a challenge for the last 10 days of the month. Finding all that is good about February and making the most of it.

As I mused on this today I remembered one of my faourite books: Romancing the Ordinary by Sarah Ban Breathnach. This is a lovely romantic book which is divided up into a chapter for each month of the year. In each chapter the author explores all the ways we can celebrate our lives that particular month. Here is how the February chapter opens:-

Cold, grey, wet, muddy mornings make the shortest month feel like the longest. But lingering afternoons and pink sunsets hold out promise. Like matters of the heart February is full of surprise, contradiction, and the spell of the sensuous. Cherish your romantic impulses. Become your own courtesan. Light your own fire. Have a clandestine affair with contentment. Play with your food, hide under the covers. Indulge in armchair adventures - unusual sleuths, film noir. Try on fantasies. Reconsider red - lips, nails, shoes, walls. slip on bangles or slip into silk. Trade the treadmill for the tango. Curl your hair, cinch your waist. Chocolate becomes you, so show off your curves. Remember: flirting is good for the soul. Make peace with your past. Lose your heart to life.

Some of the things she suggests doing this month are a midnight massage with sandalwood scented oil, cooking Divine Fettuccine, rediscovering flirting, and making "Not meant to be shared chocolate mousse" (I can't wait to try that one!).

So my lovelies, let's not moan and curse. Spring is around the corner. Let's find the good in February and make the most of it!

Tuesday Weirdness

mmmm; mmmmm, good!, originally uploaded by scrappyfran.

Today was a strange day. It seems as though my week is being all flipped around. I had a great Monday, good mail, bargains in the sales, sunshine and productivity. Not at all normal for Monday. And today all plans fell through, and those that did happen were less then stimulating. Total weirdness. But all was not lost. Thank goodness for comfort food!

January is a grace month right?

I mean, nowhere is it written that you're supposed to start doing all the things you plan to do and achieve in the New Year on January 1st. Surely this month is a grace period of planning, getting used to new routines and getting into the groove? I think it would be impossible to start the year off immediately doing everything you've written down as your plan for the New Year. I definitely couldn't, and after the first two weeks of this month I was berating myself that nothing had seemed to change from last year. But then it hit me that I was setting unrealistic expectations for myself (another thing I should work on this year!) and that it takes time to develop new habits. So I cut myself some slack, and am slowly working on some areas; and seeing improvement. So I'm giving you permission to do the same. After all, at any point in time we can strive to do better and start over. So take it easy, relax and enjoy January!

Well whadaya know?

I made an amazing discovery today. I get more done when I actually write down my To Do list, instead of just keeping it all in my head and trusting my less than perfect memory. Who would have thunk it? Hope this Monday was productive for you too!

7:14 a.m.

• I've been out of bed for about two hours (!!!)
• But it's still dark and that really depresses me
• I'm working all day at a craft expo
• Really looking forward to the weekend so I can kick back a little after a crazy week
• The kittens seem to think I'm a tree and are climbing up my legs. Ouch!
• Grateful for some relatively warm Fall days of late
• The apartment is a wreck - maybe I won't be kicking back that much after all!
• Thinking about planning a Halloween Party
• Hoping that Lucas will make some more of these soon

• 

• Really cannot believe how freaking dark it still is
• But I'm enjoying the calm and silence
• Maybe this will become a ritual? (Not!)

Happy Thursday!!!

Pros and Cons

Why I love living in a big city

1. The restaurants, the culture
2. Thanks to the metro I don't have to deal with traffic and I can go anywhere I want
   
3. The anonymity - If I go out not looking my best I don't give a damn because I'll never see these people again! And nobody is minding my business!
   
4. The city lights
5. The shopping
6. Meeting people from all over the world
   

What I miss about small island life

1. Sunshine all year round!
2. The beach
3. The warmth and friendliness of the people
   
4. The feeling of connection
   
5. The music, fetes and dancing (I really miss dancing!)
   
6. Knowing where to go and who to call to get anything done
7. Did I mention the beach?
8. The mangoes! I'd kill for a julie mango!
9. The food in general
10. My friends I've known since childhood

You might be wondering what brought this on. I'm not feeling discontent with my life in France (stop worrying Mummy), but I recently signed up on Facebook and have been contacting old friends, and the memories have come rushing back. Most of the time I don't realise just how different my life is, as different as it could get really. And even though the "things I miss" list is larger then the living in a big city list, I'm staying right here. For now. Because if I did a "Things I love about living in France with my husband" list it would most definitely be longer than the things that I miss.

Up early

Awake early today and planning to make the most of it. After working on a project last night that turned out to be much nicer than I was expecting, I went to sleep with my head full of ideas, dreams and plans. Was out of bed before Lucas was even awake, something that never happens during the week. The day ahead seems full of promise. I plan to fill it with activity!

Oh man!

This focus thing is a lot easier said than done! Let's just say that today was a total write-off. Luckily tomorrow is another day!

Wabi-Sabi

Yesterday I read an article in the Mar/April 2006 issue of Somerset Studio all about Wabi-Sabi. According to Quinn McDonald, the author, wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept that embraces the beauty of things impermanent and incomplete.

The article was extremely enlightening and spoke about how one can live a wabi-sabi life, especially as an artist. The paragraph that stood out the most to me was this one:

Wabi-Sabi is the release of control. It avoids beating up the creative soul for not achieving perfection. Recognizing and embracing our imperfections allows room for growth. The only result of demanding perfection is certain failure. perfection is impossible, and while we live in a culture that loves people who are "passionate", we seldom feel passion for our daily lives, and it is impossible to give more than all. perfection is a cruel boss. It leads to giving up, depression and anger rather than eagerness for growth and improvement.

I think I might have to print this out and stick it up somewhere, for those days when I fall into the trap of perfectionism.

Monday morning musings

• ugh, another grey cloudy day. I guess I need to realise that summer is finally over. That sucks
• coffee, need coffee
• hmmm, wonder if anything exciting happened on The Pub last night?
• why do I never get mail on Mondays? is there some kind of conspiracy?
• I wonder if I can learn enough about Photoshop to actually design papers and kits?
• why oh why does Mozaique have to leap onto my desk like that and scare the crap out of me??
• ok, so what is my plan for today? I really don't wanna be stuck online for hours
• but lemme just check my e-mail quickly and also a couple of message boards
  
• oh yeah I wanna make a new banner for the blog and update my links.
  
• so much for not being stuck online, but thank God for free Photoshop tutorials
• now which mag was it that had an article about using layer masks?
• OMG! I can't believe it's noon already! need.to.get.off.the.internet.
  

Back to School

Known as la rentree in France, it's back to school time! What this means for me is:

1. Lucas leaving earlier in the mornings since the heavy traffic starts again.
2. The days starting to get cooler, so I need to start thinking about getting my sweaters out (though we've just been hit with Indian Summer, yipee!)
3. In a month or so putting the clocks back and getting used to a 5 hour time difference with the Caribbean
4. Everyone is back from vacation so things will get done again (forget trying to move forward on any projects in August in France)
5. Lucas playing table tennis again once a week
6. Hearing the kids at the school down the street screaming during their recess

I actually wish that I was going back to school myself. I admit it, I am a nerd and I love the academic environment. I did want to explore the possibility of doing a course or two: photogrpahy, or graphic design or maybe French and Spanish, but it didn't happen and now it might be too late. Or is it? I should find out, it would be nice to use my brain and keep it from turning to mush.