Tuesday:) Toni’s Tip of the Day

“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow just as well.” ― Mark Twain

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When procrastination can’t be avoided any longer, a little prayer comes in handy. Well, here’s how the story goes… I lost a very special earring on Sunday. I presumed that it fell off while I was putting on my sweater before church, I was sad because it was a very special set of earrings given to me by my sons a few Christmas’ ago. I looked everywhere in the bathroom and the closet, to no avail.

Today, I was sweeping the kitchen floor, after putting that chore off for many days, with many spills and crumbs being ignored. I thought to myself, after I sweep the kitchen floor, I’ll take that neglected broom into the bathroom and search very carefully for the missing earring.

If I say a quick prayer to Saint Anthony, my patron saint, maybe I’ll find the missing earring. I started sweeping the kitchen floor, not paying attention, just thinking about the bathroom floor in my future.

Thank you, Saint Anthony.

I was sweeping the baseboards in the kitchen, when the shiny earring came swishing out from the dark recesses below the kitchen sink.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness, I guess. And a little prayer doesn’t hurt, either. Honestly, I never expected to ever find that special tiny earring ever again. Voila!

Happy Tuesday!

Saturday:) Some Serious Diggin’! Can Ya Dig It?

“First law on holes – when you’re in one, stop digging!”

Denis Healey

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My week has been overly busy And stressful with procrastination and task avoidance, so today, I raised my hand in the air and vowed, “As God is my witness, I’m gonna do something productive today.” I slithered out of bed around 10am, listened to a podcast on healing the body and mind, talked on the phone some, walked the dog, and made some lunch around 2. The day halfway gone and my fisted vow still on my mind, I decided to do a little digging. Can ya dig it?

I started out back in the flower beds. Some very tall grass was gracefully growing where it shouldn’t, so I pulled out the clumps that popped out easily after all the rain. Then, I transplanted the clumps over by some bare spots along the back patio. Hopefully it will take and grow. I had several dry dead bushes and plants that didn’t make it through the bitter freeze we had this winter, so decided to dig them out today. How hard could it be? 🤦‍♀️ Well, these little bushes had deep thick roots that extended down to the depths of hell. Seriously!

I started out by trimming off the tall dead twiggy ends with the electric orange trimming thingy. At first I thought a spade would loosen things up, but don’t forget the roots from hell. So, the big spade shovel was used and the tall manual big branch snipper thingy cut the thick roots.

It took all my strength and putting all my weight into every crunchy dig. (And that’s a lot of weight!) My personal assistant inspected each hole to check for accuracy. Unfortunately, during her inspections, she uncovered a bunny nest. I heard some noise from across the yard that sounded like a squeaky toy. I knew she had no toys outside. OH NO! I ran over and a swarm of baby bunnies came racing from under her feet. I had to pick her up and take her into the house. She wanted those babies, and I don’t think it was to play hide and seek.

There was one remaining baby In the nest that looked injured in the corner under the drain spout. His little paw wiggling ever so slightly. It didn’t look promising. I built a little barricade of stones and some bushy roots to protect the baby from Bella. I hope the others made it to safety somewhere. They were so tiny.

Well, I got all my digging done out back. I still have ten bags of mulch out front for the front flower beds. I may have to get more on Monday for the back. Of course, those will sit there a long time too. Don’t forget, I have a MAP, Masters of the Art of Procrastination.

“First law on holes – when you’re in one, stop digging!”

Denis Healey

I need to stop digging holes, as I’m always in one.

Hopefully you are having a fine productive Saturday. Can ya dig it?

Saturday:) Serious Procrastinators Unite! But, Maybe Tomorrow.

“Procrastination always gives you something to look forward to.”

― Joan Konner

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Well, I finally put away my Christmas tree and decorations. Being a procrastinator, I used the excuse that I needed to wait till after January 6th, Feast of Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men (Wise Guys) brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. Then, I used the excuse that I love the lights and decorations, so I’d wait till after my birthday. That came and went.

I just hate to put away the happiness of Christmas.

Then, the last few days have been cold and really windy, and as I store the bins and bags in the garage, it was too cold to drag them out.

Today, there was no excuse. I’d procrastinated long enough. It was a beautiful sunny day.

Now, I’m feeling sad. The lights and the glitz and the Christmas cheer will be tucked away until next year.

Doesn’t it look sad and lonely?

I Even put away a few of my beautiful birthday gifts. The flowers remain to cheer me, and the wine will soon be consumed. No sense putting everything away. Maybe tomorrow?

Even though the beautiful reminders of Christmas and birthdays are gone, the warmth will remain in my heart until next time.

Saturday:) Serious Procrastination At It’s Finest

“I don’t like to think of it as procrastination as much as last minute motivation.”

Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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This morning I decided that just because I don’t like to send Christmas cards, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t send some out to my Tias (aunts) and special friends far away. But alas, I don’t like to send store bought cards because I am an artist, after all.

So, at the crack of noon, I went up to my studio/crap room to paint a few more cards. I liked the one I did for one of my time lapse videos a few weeks back. (I’ll attach the link if you missed it.)

I thought I’d start working on a dozen, but then realized half way through that I wanted to send a few out in today’s mail. Probably the last chance to get there before Christmas…maybe. Plus, I had to let them dry before popping in an envelope. Nothing like waiting till the last minute.

I got 8 cards and envelopes done by about 3pm. Most people send out 80 cards, and I sent out 8. If you didn’t get one, SORRY. 8 don’t go a long way.

So, I quickly addressed and stamped the cards, running out to the mailbox. The mail lady usually doesn’t come early. I went to my mailbox…DANG! My mail was already there, but I could see the truck down the street, meaning she already did both sides. Too far to chase her down, I didn’t have a jacket on, but I figured if I ran through the park to the next street, I could put it in a neighbor’s mailbox. Oops, I didn’t know any neighbors on that street, and I didn’t want to get arrested for mail tampering. Then, I ran through the next park, past the splash pad and over to Mr. Mike’s mailbox. His mail box flag was up, so I added my cards to his, then scurried home. Saved! It was cold out. 🤦‍♀️

Yes, procrastination is my middle name. I did manage to get out for an evening walk before the sun was totally down. And, it’s after 8pm and all I’ve eaten all day is a granola bar. I sure can waste away a day and not get much done. Ah, but life is good.

Elvis on the Shelvis wanted to show me a few tunes on the piano. I tinkered a little while, but I need to get serious about learning to play. Maybe another day… said the queen of procrastination.

Friday:) From Chaos To Organized

“Clutter is the physical manifestation of unmade decisions fueled by procrastination”

― Christina Scalise, Organize Your Life and More

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I’m not sure what that quote means, too many big words, but I recognized procrastination. I majored in that in college. Oh, I know clutter. That was my minor in college, and has been my occupation for all these years.

But, every now and then, I get a bee in my bonnet, (when I can find my bonnet in all the clutter) and I decide to tackle one de-clutter project at a time. I figure if I tackle one project a week, by the end of the year, it’s time to start over again decluttering the first project.

I was inspired when I was looking for a pair of scissors to cut open my package of brownie mix. Very important! The drawer was so disorganized, and there were about five pairs of scissors mingled in between hundreds of paper clips, rubber bands, twist ties, pens, markers, stamps and well, you know the drawer I’m talking about. I think we all have one or a few of those. I decided that after the brownies got placed in the oven for baking, I was going to tackle and organize that one drawer.

BEFORE…

AFTER?..

Aren’t you proud of me? Next January I’ll be tackling it again, I’m sure. But for now, I can find the scissors and I know where the stamps are.

Procrastinators unite! But, maybe tomorrow, or next week.

Have a good weekend.

Seriously Lazy Saturday:) Procrastination is My Middle Name

“Procrastination is my sin. It brings me naught but sorrow. I know that I should stop it. In fact, I will–tomorrow” ― Gloria Pitzer

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Every now and then, I have one of those days. You know, the kind where you look at the piles of laundry, the unmade bed, the dishes piled in the sink, and you decide that today is an official procrastination day. (I have many of those.)

This morning, I got a text at 9:17 a.m. from my neighbor that I was doggie sitting for. He said, “Just landed. I’ll text you when I get home.” I replied, “Well, I guess we better get up then.” Granted, I didn’t go to sleep till almost 2 a.m., but I didn’t have anything I had to set my alarm for, so neither my doggie buddy nor I were in a hurry to get up.

I fed little Bella, then we went for a short walk in the park. By the time we strolled past the pond, Mr. Mike texted that he was home, so I dropped her off. Doggie sitting is very rewarding. It’s like having a dog without the responsibilitities or the vet bills. She loves to see me, wags her tail, we go for long walks, watch tv, then I take her home. Kinda sounds like being a grandma, doesn’t it?

After I dropped her off, I did continue my walk. I try to walk every day, but it’s not considered a chore or home project that should get done, it’s just my daily routine. Housework can wait, my walk cannot.

It was a bit overcast, so not as dreadfully hot as the past few days, but still pretty dang hot. I managed a little over 5 miles before I decided to go home and collapse under the ceiling fan.

Nice clouds. Nice view on my walk.

Well, that’s all I got done all day. I walked. It’s nearly 8p.m. I haven’t even eaten anything besides a few bites of watermelon and a handful of nuts. Oh..wait…I did do something else.! I took a nap. And now, I write this blog. 

Seriously Lazy Saturday. Everyone deserves one now and then. I hope you can enjoy procrastinating every now and then with the same dedication and conviction that I have achieved.

Saturday:) SPS~ Severe Procrastination Syndrome

“I’m a big believer in putting things off, In fact, I even put off procrastinating.

~ Ella Varner

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Today, I battled a bad case of Severe Procrastination Syndrome. I told a friend about it, and he said he had never heard of it. I said that’s because I just made it up, self-diagnosed my symptoms, and discovered that there was no cure. Sure, you can take little baby steps, but it always comes back.

I am very skilled at it. This morning, with no agenda requiring an alarm, I didn’t get up and dressed until 3 pm. Yes, 3 pm. I did call my mother at 9:45, made some tea, but then just laid around most the day, checking emails, Facebook, reading, etc.

I also have also been self-diagnosed with SSMA~ Severe Social Media Addiction. While I’m sipping my tea, I flip from Facebook to email to WordPress with an occasional texting frenzy with friends. Basically, until about 5 pm, my only exercise was limited to my two pointer fingers. Yes, I’m old school, never learned to type or the thumb texting thing.

It was pretty darn hot all day, which added to the lethargy. But, I did have a glimmer of ambition around 8pm. I put on my walking shoes, and walked a few blocks to test my knee and steroid injection from yesterday. It was feeling pretty good…for a few blocks, then I started to feel some pain and pulling. Not good. My friend Debbie called, giving me a good excuse to sit on the bench in the park and finish our talk.

Enough walking…back to procrastination. I sat on the bench for a while before shuffling home in the dark. 



Montage Monday:) A Week in a Peek

“Procrastination gives me a little extra time to make a list of the things that I’m not going to get done tomorrow.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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I would say it was a busy week, but it wasn’t really. It was a fun week. I’ve been checking off a lot of “firsts” and “bucket list” events on my life calendar these past few months. I was invited to the Fort Worth Rodeo this week, that was a first. Very cool, a very Texas thing to do.

Now, I need to get productive and get some things done around the house. Or, maybe I’ll just make a list and think about it tomorrow.

Here’s a week in a peek… 

   
  

Tuesday Tips and Late Night Painting Projects

“I love the silent hour of night, for blissful dreams may then arise, revealing to my charmed sight what may not bless my waking eyes.”
― Anne Brontë, Best Poems of the Brontë Sisters
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“Do not put off till tomorrow what you can put off till today, or the night before you leave.” Here’s a tip. When you’re visiting your mom for three weeks, try not to procrastinate. I promised my mother that we would do some glass painting during my visit. We did some watercolor, pastel chalk projects and played with a bunch of crafts, but I totally forgot the glass painting.

On my last night there, I started packing a few things and was scouting out the nooks and crannies to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind. There on the floor were all the clear glass vases that she had been saving and a few more that we bought at the dollar store. Yikes! I forgot. So, at 10:30 pm, we gathered all the paints and vases on the table. Mom was tired and it was late, so she just assisted me with prepping, shuffling and moral support. Mom is my biggest fan. She kept saying, “You are wonderful!” I always reply, “The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Late night glass painting project. BEFORE…

I spent two or three hours painting. Mom scooted her chair close by and moved the vase after each step and handed me the next. It was a well oiled assembly line. We let them dry over night.

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I finished eight vases, four with bluebonnets and four with lavender. Cute, huh?

In the morning, I popped them in a cold oven and baked at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool without opening for at least three or four hours. Voila!!! Last minute, late night, guilt ridden, procrastination glass painting project.

Hey! What’s cookin’ good lookin’? Not cookies or brownies…glass vases. Now, Mom has some gorgeous vases to give her lady friends as a gift for a birthday or celebration. MY WORK HERE IS DONE!

Tackling Tuesday

“When the going gets tough, the tough…” well, they just go out to lunch and don’t worry about it. Words to live by. Feel free to borrow that.

Today was going to be my tackle tasks Tuesday. It started out with a great early morning Zumba workout at the YMCA, then I rode the stationary bike for a couple miles, and came home all pumped up with grandiose plans of tackling some of those to-do chores from my New Year’s resolution list.The tea kettle was boiling while I prepared a healthy breakfast of Greek yogurt, chopped apple, and organic granola. Very impressive! Off to a great start.

Ring…ring…ring. “Can you meet for lunch later?” Well, say no more. All my plans went out the window. It certainly doesn’t take much to derail my train. I’ve been known to wrap up a sandwich in mid-bite when I get an impromptu lunch invitation. Therefore, all the tasks got put on hold.

After lunch and a few errands, I procrastinated even more when I got home with the mandatory checking of e-mails and Facebook. Heaven forbid, it had been at least three hours since they’d been checked. Who knows what important messages and events had been posted in my absence? Then, of course, being new at this blogging thing, I felt compelled to read all the comments on my blog. Then, common courtesy demanded that I check out all the stories posted by my new found blogger friends. The techno-world can be so tedious and time consuming.

By this time, it was getting dark and time to start thinking about dinner. It was a gloomy and rainy evening, so a big bowl of healthy homemade soup was the order of the day. A couple hours zipped away watching NCIS and the Los Angeles version that followed. Now, the entire day had gone to hell-in-a-hand-basket, (whatever that means?). To make things even worse, I followed that up with a bowl of chocolate ice cream. An overwhelming feeling of guilt coursed through my cholesterol clogged veins. How could I redeem myself?

A little voice in my head kept repeating, “Baby steps, baby steps.” I had foolishly whiled away an entire day. I walked into the kitchen, opened up the first cluttered drawer within arm’s reach, and dumped all the contents onto the counter. I threw out the old yucky stuff and organized the vitally important items, such as the twenty different measuring spoons and paper wrapped fast food chop sticks. The little junk drawer is completely organized. Now, I feel better. One small drawer for mankind, one giant leap for procrastination.