Lists

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?”

– Mary Oliver

A List of Sorts

Before I cease to breathe and the next great adventure

that is the unknown overtakes my valued moments

there are some things I plan on doing.

Things I need to do

things I will do

things that I want to do.

First and foremost I will learn how to cartwheel

and spin through some grassy park

hands over head over ground under feet,

and I will know satisfaction.

I need to see the Pyramids

            and to drink Grappa in Italy

            and to go to Ridal Mount in the spring to see Wordsworth’s daffodils.

            I need to sit in the Louvre and admire all the faces in my favorite painting by                                 David

            and to go to the Plaza in search of Eloise

            and to see all fifty states

            and the white stucco houses of Greece.

            and to see a show on Broadway.

I need to live abroad and experience something different.

And I need to learn to make apple pie like my mother

so I can someday teach my daughter how.

I need to taste a kumquat, because it is the funniest of all fruits

and I need to learn to drive a manual vehicle, because it is a rite of passage,

because it is essential,

because it is something that always haunts my dreams.

I will learn to knit a hat

and proudly wear it in the cold months

that seem too long

Someday I will own a Bulldog

and name him something ridiculous and British

I will take a wine tasting class,

so I will finally know which wines are oakey, or fruity.

and I will watch all three Godfather movies

I will write something life changing,

even if it only changes my life,

and it only changes it a little bit.

I will buy myself some diamonds, because that will be the moment

that I know I’ve made it.

And someday I will grow my own garden

so I can have the satisfaction of eating fresh carrots

and lettuce and green beans

that I grew myself

And I will learn to play the drums for no other reason

than the fact that I’ve always wanted to.

And along those same lines I will camp at the gorge for

all three nights of Dave Matthews,  

and see a pig race at the Bear Creek Saloon,

and own something by Dolce and Gabanna

and play the Star Wars drinking game,

simply because I want to.

Mary Oliver said “What I want in my life is to be willing to be dazzled”

and I want that as well, but

I also want to figure out how to master chopsticks

so I don’t look like an idiot when I attempt to eat pad thai.

and I want to own stock in Starbucks, so I won’t feel as guilty

every day when I spend three dollars on a cup of coffee.

I’d like to find out more about my ancestors, so I feel I have

an adequate answer when people ask me questions about my heritage.

I would like to sit in a café in Jackson Hole Wyoming,

and wait with my coffee in hopes of seeing Harrison Ford Walk by.

I’d like to learn a bit of Latin, so I can impress

 those who would be impressed by it.

I desire to read all of the reference books

sitting on my shelf, and actually validate my obsession with them.

and I’d like to learn to sail

so I can feel the wind in my hair and sing

Jamie Cullum to myself while enjoying the solitude of the ocean.

I want to crush grapes with my feet,

to feel them crunch, and smell the purple flavor.

and make a quilt out of all the clothes I can’t seem to part with,

so they will be a part of something always,

and I’d like to be the one to name a crayon color.

Mostly I would like to be someone’s muse,

to know that I was someone’s inspiration.

and I’d love to learn to juggle so I don’t feel

quite so uncoordinated all the time.

I hope to improve my flirting skills,

for obvious, selfish reasons

and to learn to love running,

            or at least love the results of running,

because it will make my bones stronger,

and legs trimmer,

and mindset healthier.

I want to own a house where each room has a unique color

and to learn to Salsa and ballroom dance,

because I’m always happiest when dancing.

and I’d like to sing Karaoke in a room full of strangers,

just to get out of my comfort zone.

I’d like to find a nickname that sticks with me

and to drink a TAB soda.

I want to return to the town where I was born,

and explore my childhood memories

by riding the Skunk Train,

and sifting through sea glass at Glass Beach,

and by climbing the Eucalyptus tree in my old back yard.

I want to choreograph something to be performed on stage,

so I can see my creativity expressed by other people

and to see a game in Fenway Park, so that I can be in

the presence of past baseball greatness.

and I want to smoke a cigar, so I feel a little rebellious

and ride in a hot air balloon so I can fully grasp a birds eye view.

And I want to read all of Shakespeare’s sonnets,

and actually finish an entire Jane Austen novel

and I’d love to see both House and Garden performed on the stage

and to meet Bill Cosby,

and I want to see the Pope waving from his window in the Vatican

and to attempt write a prose poem

and to do a shot of tequila with my mother, just to say that I have.

I want to be featured on the Writer’s Almanac

because Garrison Keillor’s voice

makes everything sound more interesting.

I want to become a vegetarian for a while,

to see if I have the self discipline and can make it

an entire year without craving a burger.

I’d like to ride on an elephant, because it’s the one thing

I’m jealous of my brother for

and I want to learn to play chess, because it seems like in life,

one should play chess.

Yes, before I cease to breathe and the next great adventure

that is the unknown overtakes my valued moments

there are some things I plan on doing.

There is something so satisfying about making lists, and lately I’ve been making a lot of them. Lists of things to accomplish on my days off, lists of books I want to read, things I need to get at the grocery store, office supplies we need at work, places I want to travel, schools I would like to go to, volunteer jobs, restaurants I want to eat at, songs I should download, types of herbs I want to plant, recipes to try, words I should look up, phone calls I need to make, e-mails I need to send… the possibilities are endless. And I like to think I’m not alone in my list making.  Whether it is making a list of things to pack, or coming up with New Year’s resolutions, lists are everywhere. They sashay through our subconscious, show up in our wallets, are taped to our refrigerators, and linger in our in-boxes. Mental, or physical, lists are everywhere.

Personally I like concrete lists, something that I can hold in my hands and actually cross off with a dash of my pen.  I just love the tangibility of them. Even if I don’t get everything accomplished, the list is still there reminding me of what is left to do. It’s a lot harder to sweep unfinished tasks or goals under the rug if a list is staring you in the face.  Even if I don’t, it’s nice to have a visible set of things to achieve, whether it be in an afternoon, or a lifetime.

I find that lists give me a wonderful sense of direction, which is often something that I need. I have a tendency to get distracted, overwhelmed, bored, forgetful, or all-of- the -above, but if I can visualize a list of things that need to get done, there is a way better chance of me actually following through. Even if it is just a lame way of convincing myself that I AM being productive, it’s nice to look back on something and say “look at all the stuff I got accomplished!”  In this sense, lists are the best kind of paper-trail.

I’ve always worked well off of lists. When I was growing up my mom used to leave my brother and I lists with our breakfast of things we needed to do.  As children we were home-schooled, and though my parents were often home to get us motivated for the day, there would be an occasional morning when both of my parents were working. Thus our list of school work and household tasks was left with breakfast… And look at me know. I’m a self-starting, self-motivated, list making fool. 

Lists have actually made their way into my writing process as well. I have a sticky-note stuck to the inside of my planner with a list of possible blog topics, and quite a few poems in my thesis took the form of lists. List of things I want to do in my life (see above poem), lists of alliterations, lists of colors items strewn together. Open up any of my notebooks in college and you would find countless pages filled with random lists of things I planned on incorporating into my poetry.  I’ve got lists of potential titles, lists of phrases I like, lists of interesting words, lists of spicy things, lists of words that evoke the color green etc.  Though some of my poems are a little more abstract than others, there is something unremarkably relatable about lists.

Lately I’ve had the desire to be a little more creative with my lists. Though most are still scrawled on sticky pads and notebook pages, I’ve started being a little more innovative with the big lists. My favorite list, the list that contains goals for my future, is collaged on a poster-board in my bedroom. Sure I don’t get to go through the physical act of crossing stuff off of this list, but it is a constant visual reinforcement every morning when I wake up.  I know it might be a while before I own a bulldog named Toby, or have perfect abs, but there are daily goals on there as well. Words like “Spend less, save more” and “good posture” are a steady reminder to work towards day-to-day achievements.  

Funding for Fenway

Sometime last year I washed out a pickle jar, put it on my bookshelf, added a handful of loose change, and my “Fenway Fund” was born. When I first started the jar, my dream vacation was still just a fantasy, and I figured I should start saving so the dream could actually become a reality.

So when I realized this week that my dream trip is happening in about 9 weeks, I thought I should probably cash in the jar and see what I had to work with. Obviously I knew that a jar of change wasn’t going to finance my trip, but I figured I should find out sooner rather than later what was in there, so I could start budgeting accordingly. So yesterday I dug through all my purses, coat pockets, drawers, car cup holders, and every other place I could think of finding loose change, loaded up my jar, and headed to the bank. In the process of searching for a few coins I was pleasantly surprised when I found two of my all time favorite pairs of earrings, some purple eye-liner, and my passport tucked away in random pockets. Both the earrings & the eye-liner will for sure come in handy in my wardrobe revamping project, and it’s nice to know where my passport is… (one never knows when a passport will be needed at a moment’s notice… think of all the time I’ve saved now that I don’t have to go looking for it!)

I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that over the past few months I have accumulated $94.02 worth of change. Sure I still have a long way to go, but that will at least cover a few ball park hot-dogs and some beer! I’m hoping I can supplement this a little more over the next eight weeks, so I’m saving my change, cashing in bottles, and creatively cutting corners where I can.

I’ve been making an effort to be financially imaginative in the past few weeks, trying to save money while still maintaining a semblance of a life. My new apartment is a little more expensive, and utilities have gone up as well… and though I know in the grand scheme of things an extra $30 or so isn’t that much, but its $30 that doesn’t get put into savings, its $30 less that I have to spend on gas or groceries, and in the life of a twenty-four-year-old $30 a month IS a big deal. I’ve had to re-prioritize a few things, and am making fewer trips to the city to hang out with friends. So I’ve started to apply the same theory that I’m using on my wardrobe to my life, quality is better than quantity. I’d rather have one great weekend with my friends a month, than a few random nights at a crowded bar, I’d rather buy one really good cup of coffee a month and be able to enjoy it in the café atmosphere rather than rushing through the drive-through on my way to work and guzzling away $3.50 worth of espresso before 10AM. I’m learning to choose which books I want to buy vs. which ones I can check out from the Library.

This last one is probably the hardest… I can give up a coffee shop drive-through four times a week, but giving up the written word is a little more emotional. I mean, yes, I love the idea of libraries. So many books, for FREE is a great deal. But I’m the type of reader who reads things with a pen, I am constantly underlining, writing in the margin, circling things, making comments, etc. And sadly, they tend to frown upon this in library books… I so wish that wasn’t the case. I would love opening up a library book and finding someone’s hand scribbled notes in the margin, or a randomly underlined passage. It’s like a very personal insight into someone else’s reading, what did that person like about this passage? Why was this significant? Yes, I realize that my notes and scrawling might not be mind-boggling or insightful to someone else, but I also don’t think they would detract from the over-all reading… I can’t help it, I am a book junkie, but I really am trying to adjust to the library life-style. I’m also being encouraged to read some of the books on my shelves that I’ve been “meaning to get to” so I guess being on a budget is a good motivator.

My French Press is also getting a great work-out these days. Though I’m secretly cursing the fact that I no longer have a garbage disposal, I have made more coffee at home in the past few weeks than I have in the past few years (of course the fact that I no longer live above a coffee shop also cuts down on temptation). Yeah, it’s a little messy, and my garbage can constantly smells like coffee, but there are worse things! Plus I’m actually consuming less coffee (unless I make coffee at work, then all bets are off, cause I have been known to drink the whole damn pot) and saving money!

Though I know I will have to dig into my savings account to finance a good part of this trip, I’m quite happy to supplement my savings with my pickle jar of change.

Editing my Wardrobe

I’ve been in somewhat of a fashion rut lately. I blame this on several factors, but it is mostly because I just pull out whatever is comfortable, or at the top of my drawer, and the cycle keeps repeating itself as the clean laundry gets put away. It is also largely due to my job… People say that you should dress for the job that you want, and not the job that you have, but what happens when you have the job you want, and it often involves doing things like putting large pieces of pottery into the back of cars, wedding flower beds, cleaning up olive oil spills, and chasing mice out of retail spaces. So needless to say, I don’t exactly dress to impress on a typical work day. Not that I look terrible or anything, but my wardrobe tends to lean towards what I can only describe as “farmy”. I wear a lot of jeans and tee shirts, and rely heavily upon accessories for any additional flair. Of course I do have a few work occasions in which I get to dress up (somehow I don’t think brides would appreciate me bopping around their weddings directing traffic & caterers in my usual work attire) But there is always the prep period when I am getting dusty tables out of the storage barn, setting up chairs, and hauling racks of wine glasses around, so cute shoes, and summery dresses are often out of the question.

This trend of dressing, sadly tends to carry over into my days off, which are usually spend catching up on laundry, cleaning, errands, groceries, e-mails, volunteer meetings etc, and though I would love to jazz things up a little bit, jeans and tee shirts just seem to be my universal wardrobe… which I guess is better than sweatpants.

When I moved, I was once again reminded, of what a clothes-horse I actually am, and I began to feel a little guilty about the lack of wear some of my clothes have been getting. Sure some of that is seasonal and situational. I have sweaters that are ready to be put away for the spring and summer, and let’s face it, there aren’t too many every-day occasions that call for a Nicole Miller little black dress, but there is a lot of stuff in my wardrobe that IS everyday attire, and it’s not getting worn.

Yes, I do have a few things stashed in my closet that probably shouldn’t be worn anymore. Every woman I know has at least one thing in her closet that doesn’t fit but might fit again “someday.” And the more I think about this, the more I wonder why we hold onto this stuff. I mean who are we kidding, styles change, and just because it used to fit, doesn’t mean when/ if it fits again that it’s something you should be incorporating into your current fashion choices! So I’m learning to let go… slowly.

My new goal for this season (meaning spring & summer) is to wear EVERYTHING in my closet at least once. Again, there are a few exceptions to the rule as I don’t plan on making much effort to wear most of my sweaters or winter coats over the next few months, but in general, if it doesn’t get worn by August, it probably shouldn’t be taking up precious closet space.  I mean if I have it, I should have it for a reason, whether it be for a special occasion, or interview, I should be wearing the clothes in my closet, rather than coveting ones in the stores. So if it doesn’t get worn by the end of the summer, it is getting donated (possibly to goodwill, or maybe just to a friend’s closet, but the main point is that it will no longer be in mine) This goes from everything from shoes, cardigans, jewelry the whole lot. Because let’s face it, if I’m not wearing it, someone should be! 

So here I am, giving myself a wardrobe makeover. In a desperate attempt to break out of my fashion rut (while sticking to a tight budget) I’m essentially going shopping in my own closet. I’m taking a few extra minutes in the morning to pull stuff from the back of the rack and the bottom of the drawer, and am trying to pair my old clothes and accessories in a new way. We will see how well it works, but I’m already excited about some of the outfit prospects.

This little project makes me wish I was a little more crafty. I have friends who take old dresses and turn them into skirts, and salvage the fabric from one thing, and turn it into something cool and fresh looking. Sadly, my sewing skills are seriously lacking, so I don’t think any of my old clothes are going to be getting a chic transformation, but I’m hoping that they can at least be accessorized in a way that makes them feel refreshed. The only thing in my wardrobe that I have been able to successful convert is my favorite scarf, which actually used to by my favorite sweater… I was desperately in need of a project, and was having some termination anxiety about putting the sweater in the goodwill box. Sure it was itchy, and had shrunk, and actually looked horrible on me, but the color was great, and it had some sentimental value. So I got out my seam ripper, unraveled the sweater, and converted it into a scarf… and that is where my creativity involving closet transformation ends.

 My attempt at wardrobe metamorphosis

This has also gotten me to thinking about the types of things I buy in general. I have so many tank tops, and other clothing items that were impulse buys or “good deals” but just because it was a good deal, doesn’t mean I’m going to wear it. In looking at the clothes in my closet, I find that the ones I wear with most frequency are the pieces that I splurged on. It’s sort of sad, and sickening to think how much money I have spent over my lifetime on the “good deals” that I only wear a handful of times. I can’t help but wonder how much more tailored my wardrobe would be if I had less impulse buys, and more quality, classic pieces. Definitely something to think about the next time I’m indulging in retail therapy. Quality is better than quantity.

Truffle Shuffle

What is it about moving that brings out my inner hostess? Get me into a new space, and before I've even finished unpacking boxes, I've already mentally started planning an appetizer menu, and start dreaming about summer fetes on my porch.

This most recent move was no different, and before I even had things hung up on the wall, I was already dreaming about sweet basil sangria, late summer brunches, and of course the inevitable housewarming party.


These dreams are often rather anti-climatic, as people make other plans, and conflicting schedules don't always allow my parties to live up to their full potential, but a girl can dream! Of course my dreams of sophisticated parties with high end wine, exotic appetizers, and a certain Martha Stewart flare don't always align with my current lifestyle/ budget. I know my friends would be just as happy with drinking games, tater-tots, and bagel bites, but sometimes a girl just needs to throw a grown up party!

I can't help it, my inner foodie busts out, and there is no containing it. There is something undeniably satisfying about creating a menu, sticking with a theme, and creating creative nibbles. And so I plan, and I shop, and I cook, and I dream, and I throw housewarming parties filled with gourmet endeavors, and dream of the day when "Grown-up" parties are common-place.

So this week, I fully embraced my domestic goddess, and decided for my next party I was going to make home-made chocolate truffles. Impressive right? Only, they are maybe the easiest dessert I have ever made! Seriously, they take almost no effort! Granted, my home-made truffles are a little abstract looking, and not the most attractive truffles in the world, but they are never-the-less delicious.

Melting the Chocolate, Butter & Olive Oil

I was turned onto a recipe from the California Olive Ranch, and all you really need is a double boiler, and a melon baller (though I think a spoon would work almost as well) and Voila, you too can be an instant gourmet. Trust me, your friends will be impressed the next red wine party you show up to with a tray full of Olive Oil chocolate truffles. They are the perfect combination of sweet and savory, as they are dusted in cocoa powder, and even have a pinch of sea salt in them. Needless to say, I'm excited to entertain tonight, and I cannot wait to get home, open up a bottle of red wine, and enjoy the fruits of my gourmet labor.

Block of "truffles" ready to be formed

The Finished Product

 

To view the recipe, and find other delightful olive oil inspired treats, visit the California Olive Ranch Website.

Core Focused

While my life was engulfed in moving chaos, I ended up spending a week living with my parents. It was so much simpler since all of my day to day stuff was already moved, while all my furniture was not. One thing that I quickly discovered while staying with them, is that I had been living in an apartment that was letting me live in denial. In my old place, the only full length mirror was in my livingroom, and as I had no blinds, and only sheer curtains, this prevented me from ever seeing myself naked. Not that that would typically be a problem, It’s not like I have any need or desire to check out my naked body. However, it is a problem when you stay at your parents house, and realize for the first time that you have a very prominent muffin top.

This really should be of no surprise to me. After-all, I eat when I’m stressed, I eat when I’m bored, I eat when I’m happy, and I have been a combination of all of these things over the past few months.  But its not like I hadn’t been exercising, and I hadn’t even noticed my clothes fitting differently, and the scale had literally not changed so when I saw myself from the chest down, I was sort of startled.  This of course got my thinking about anyone who had seen me naked recently… it’s a short list, but if I was having this reaction to my own body… I’m not even going to finish that thought. It was time for a change.  I know we are typically a lot more critical of our own bodies, because we all have hang-ups and insecurities, which is natural, but that week long stay at my parents house, and a week’s worth of seeing myself naked each day, I was ready to push myself a little bit.

I promptly got out my copy of the Abs Diet for Women and started reading. Though typically I am skeptical of diets in all shapes and sizes, this is actually one I can get on board with. Firstly, it’s not a typical diet plan that involves restricting calories, and depriving yourself of all things delicious. It focuses on twelve main power foods, and they are all tasty things that are already a huge part of my day to day life. Things like peanut butter, olive oil, spinach, almonds, whole grains, milk, berries, and oatmeal. 

 The Abs Diet for Women

It is also not a diet that is really focused on numbers and calories. Yes, as with any diet, it is a way to lose weight, but I feel like the main focus is more about gaining a healthy lifestyle, building more muscle and getting in shape, rather than dropping pounds. Muscle after all weighs more than fat, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn (just by doing nothing!) Though there is a great section about how to figure out your body mass index, your percentage of body fat, and how many calories you should be consuming, the main focus of the Abs Diet is about super charging your metabolism, which will in turn build more muscle, and burn more fat. Sadly, I have gotten to the point in my life where my metabolism has slowed down a little bit… at least I’m assuming it has. When I was in college I exercised a few days a week, but nothing too strenuous, and I was drinking a lot more alcohol, and yet I was 10 pounds lighter. Oh to be young. =)  

My favorite thing about the Abs Diet is that it encourages snacking! In fact you are supposed to eat 6 times a day, which means three meals and three snacks. Even though I am not always hungry at snack time, eating more frequently keeps me feeling satiated longer, so I am less likely to fall off the wagon. So many diets you see are a cup of yogurt in the morning, carrot sticks at lunch, and then by the time dinner rolls around your body is so starved for energy that overeating is inevitable. With the Abs diet that is never a problem. This is great for me, because I am constantly snacking at work.  Plus get you a flex meal every week in which you can eat whatever the hell you want. Forget the rules, forget the power foods, indulge your cravings, and start over tomorrow. Talk about freeing! Knowing that you can eat a plate of onion rings without totally un-doing everything you have worked for is my kind of plan.

Another thing I really like about the Abs Diet, is that it comes with a workout plan. Forget hitting a plateau, because there are a variety of exercises for each main muscle group, meaning it is very easy to change up your workout a few times a week. I often get stuck in a rut, and end up doing the same exercises week after week, meaning my body just gets really good at that one exercise, rather than pushing past that. Also there are optional cardio workouts, meaning if I want to I can push and exercise 5 days a week, or 3 days a week, whatever works into my schedule, so if I’m crazed at work one week, and miss a few workouts, it’s not the end of the world. Not only that, but the Abs diet makes it incredibly easy to exercise no matter what your situation or experience level is. There are home versions of every exercise, as well as suggestions for the gym, suggestions for people who have never exercised in their life, and suggestions for people who run five miles a day. There are modifications and adaptations for new mothers, calorie counters, lactose intolerant people and even vegetarians!

Though I’ve only being seriously following the Abs diet for about a week, I am already noticing more definition in my arms and legs. My main goal for the Abs Diet is to becoming longer and leaner, and not necessarily to lose weight (though that would be an added bonus!). The book is chalk full of testimonials from women of all ages, shapes, and sizes and their results after 6 weeks. Though a lot of them did lose some weight, it seems like most of them gained more muscle, and burned more fat rather than shedding pounds. So I’m optimistic about this lifestyle change, even though I’m not sure I will have the promised “flat belly in 6 weeks” at least I’ll be well on my way to a longer and leaner me.  Following the Abs diet has also been a nice distraction from the fact that I am still waiting to hear from graduate schools! At least now I’m making grocery lists, and planning out snacks rather than stalking the postman.  Focusing on the Power 12, is a lot more enjoyable than focusing on the 4 schools I have yet to hear from. Speaking of which, it’s time for my afternoon snack!

The Abs Diet Power 12

1. Almonds and other Nuts
2. Beans and Legumes
3. Spinach and other green vegetables
4. Dairy
5. Instant oatmeal (though any unflavored, unsweetened will work, instant is just more convenient)
6. Eggs
7. Turkey and other lean meats (or in my case, Tofu)
8. Peanut Butter
9. Olive Oil
10. Whole-grain Breads & cereals
11. Extra Protein Powder
12. Raspberries and other berries

Just another malleable Monday

I secretly love Mondays… I know, its sick, who actually loves Mondays? But before you get out the tar and feathers, let me elaborate a bit. See, most weeks Monday serves as my Saturday, only I find Monday is usually more productive than any “real” weekend.

I thoroughly enjoy my real weekends when I get them. I love staying out late in the city, and spending the mornings recovering with good friends over brunch and copious amounts of coffee from any adventures had the previous evening. I love laying around in comfy clothes, exploring new places, trying new restaurants. But I find that having this freedom on Monday (and sometimes Tuesday) often leads to a much more productive “weekend.”

Firstly, I have far less distractions on Mondays. Though I would love to spend the day with friends, our work schedules typically don’t line up, and so while others are busy starting their work week, I get to spend the day playing catch up. Not only do I get to sleep in, I then get to slide into my day, spend a few extra minutes at the gym, linger over my coffee, and I still have time work on projects, write e-mails, clean the bathroom, can run errands, pay bills, write, get organized, make lists ,and do what I need to do to get on track for the week. And it’s sort of silly, but since I have the chance to do all of these tasks on Monday, I am much more motivated the rest of the week. I find that if I get the ball rolling on Monday, the trend continues in everything from making my bed in the mornings, to pushing a little harder at the gym. Sort of like how breakfast is the most important meal of the day, for me my Mondays are crucial. They set the tone for the week, so if I slack on Mondays, there is a really good chance I’m going to lose motivation throughout the rest of the week.

I think some of this stems from my college years. My roommates and I started “fancy Monday” our Junior year because we needed something to motivate us to get out of bed and face the week. We all got up early, took showers, and actually made a conscious effort to dress up a little on Monday mornings. Granted, sometimes fancy Monday just meant that we didn’t wear sweats to class, but most weeks it meant we all left the apartment looking rather dapper, often wearing pearls, and as a result we tricked ourselves into being highly motivated at the beginning of the week. Being dressed up meant we weren’t likely to come home and nap in between classes. Hello world, we put in some effort, and are ready to face the some challenges. Of course, on occasion, fancy Monday had a few mishaps… one in particular resulted in me falling down the stairs in front of a full lecture hall because the heel from my fancy high heel got stuck in one of my pant legs. I smashed my body into a trashcan, and then literally crawled to my seat in the front row… but damn it, at least I looked good while I was on the floor.

Another thing that I find particularly productive about Monday is the lack of people who are out and about. I can typically avoid lines at the grocery store, the gas station, or making returns, because everyone else has done these tasks over the weekend. In fact, I find that when I do have a “real” weekend, I get really frustrated by the abundance of people everywhere, and how long it takes me to do things. If at all possible I avoid going to the grocery store, the liquor store, or any other sort of big retail establishment on the weekend. Though indulging in retail therapy isn’t always as fun when you aren’t with your friends, I find my weekday shopping trips take half the time, and I’m much more likely to spend when I have enough time to browse without feeling overwhelmed by a crowd. Maybe this is just my “country girl at heart” mentality speaking, but crowds of people, and long lines just aren’t my thing!

Perhaps another reason why Mondays are so appealing to me is my nigh-owlish tendencies. Even after a weekend of work, I still stay up late on Sundays, and it is glorious not to have to get up and face the world at 6AM on Monday morning.

Sigh, I know it won’t be like this forever. Sooner or later (sooner if I get into graduate school) I know I’m going to have a job with a less erratic schedule… eventually I’ll be doing the Monday through Friday 9 to 5 thing, my weekends will be real weekends, and I’ll be grocery shopping on Sunday afternoon, and wishing all the “good” classes at the gym weren’t offered in the morning or mid-afternoon time spots. I won’t be able to slide into my week by pushing the snooze twelve times and leisurely enjoying two cups of coffee while I peruse facebook and make a grocery list.

Maybe the main reason why I love Mondays so much is that they are flexible. There are often things I should do, and things that I want to do, but there aren’t many things that I HAVE to do on Mondays. It’s my own pace, my own schedule, my own agenda. Just another malleable Monday.