The 5 P's

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

I think that this whole work thing would go off without a hitch with proper scheduling/ planning and everything went the way I imagine that it would go. But, no, of course not, that would be too easy.

Today was my second day going to work. I woke up at 5:50am. That's damn early. And to top it off, I couldn't sleep all night because I was worried that I was going to miss waking up at 5:50am.

When the alarm goes off, I tip toe to the bathroom and groggily start the day's preparations...shower, makeup, hair etc. Now that I am on a very tight time schedule with the little one, the clothes that I want to wear that day have to be chosen and ironed and put in the bathroom the night before so that I don't waste time trying to figure out what I'm going to wear in the morning.

Keira's milk is already poured in the sippy cup the night before. Most of her lunch is made the night before. I just like to make her sandwich in the morning so that it doesn't get too mushy before her lunchtime. Her clothes for the next day are also chosen the night before so that I dont' have to figure out what she's going to wear in the morning.

Once I'm ready, then there's the task of waking up Keira. I feel so bad that she needs to wake up so early. Poor little thing. She now needs to wake up at 6:45am rather than 7:30am. 45 minutes is a lot for a little thing like her. 6:45am only works when Per is in town. When he's out of town and I have to do it by myself, then she needs to wake up at 6:30am. Gee, that's early.

She wants to sit on the toilet FOREVER. She likes to read books and point at objects and have me tell her what they are. This is all great when I didnt have to work or on weekends, but this is not so great when we have a tight time schedule to keep. I keep looking at my watch, worried that I'm going to be late for work.

I run downstairs to turn on the milk warmer while she sitting on the toilet. Run back upstairs to be with her. Run back downstairs five minutes later to put in the milk. Run back upstairs to change her. Brush her teeth. Wash her face. Comb her hair. Run back downstairs to get the milk. Run back upstairs to give it to her. Whew! And I haven't even gotten to breakfast yet.

We go downstairs and she takes about 20 minutes to eat a little tiny bowl of Cheerios. She is a super slow eater sometimes, that one. When she's done, we have to sit on the potty again so that she can pee. Then, I have to chase her around the house to put on her clothes and shoes.

By the time I get to work, I'm much more calm and can quietly enjoy a cup of coffee before I begin the day. It's somewhat weird to be back at work. I can't remember how to book a meeting in our CRM, and my brain doesn't seem to be working at full capacity either. I think I must have left it at home in between the Cheerios and the vacuum cleaner. It's nice to see other grown ups and talk about grown up things, but at the same time, I miss my little one and wonder how she's doing. I need to leave the office by 3:15pm in order to get home in time to pick her up. I can't believe that I even have to leave that early when I used to leave around 8pm! I feel guilty as I go out the door, but hey, WTF, I have more important things to get to!

The whole dinner thing when we get home is kind of stressful too because I need to prepare dinner, eat, clean up, shower Keira and she needs to be in bed by 7:30pm. And then, of course, it starts all over again...where does the day go?

Snowy weekend

What to do when it just keeps snowing and snowing and snowing? Why have some fun!

1. Get a haircut
Check out Keira's new 'do. She got it chopped yesterday. Cute or what?


2. Hang out at Hoppeland

Quickie Road Trip

Here we are on a quickie road trip (four hours up and four hours back the next day) to the cabin in order to deliver a washer/ dryer, bed, and bunch of other boxes that we couldn't find space for in the house. Good thing for the cabin. More room to house our junk. Got snacks and drinks. Road trip ready. View out the window. Even though it's cold, still darn beautiful! Hmmm...should we start a fire? It's kinda cold. Yeah! Fire started! Per blowing away the snow...and there was lots of it!

Every Soccer Mom's Wet Dream

Yes, you see it right. Me. The person who said that I would NEVER in a million years drive a station wagon has picked up her new XC70 STATION WAGON.

It's a brand new four wheel drive with leather interior, DAB radio, GPS, beep beeps in the front and back (so I hopefully don't hit anything when I'm parking) and it has lots of room.

There's a rubber mat in the trunk so that the trunk won't get dirty with all kinds of junk that we put in there. There's a high ceiling with room for the stroller and groceries. There's tracks in the car so that I can put netting back there to ensure that the groceries don't roll all over the place.

I can't believe I have this car, but it's great! It drives like my old car..only I don't worry that I'm not going to make it up a hill and I certainly don't have to worry anymore about the leaking transmission fluid, the leaking brake fluid, the starter or anything else. It runs and drives like a dream.

I feel so Mommy-like...kind of sporty and all grown up. I'm not sure I like that whole grown up thing...but, the sporty part is pretty cool. I'm going for another test drive.

Bye, Bye Baby

Here's my other baby of 10 years. The Volvo S70 that I brought with me from Texas. The car that has been with me through thick and thin. I'll miss you, baby! It's been fun.

Purging is good for the soul

It is amazing the amount of stuff that one can accumulate in one's life. Ok, I'm specifically talking about me and my stuff. I mean, there's just so much of it. I've spent all day just cleaning out my closet and trying to find room for all the other clothes that I have with me from my trip to the U.S. and my time in Germany.

My closet is overfilled and stuffed to the gills with clothes that I brought with me from the U.S. 8 years ago, belts that I never wear, shirts that I bought and I thought that I would wear, but I don't because they make me look fat. I even found 4 pairs of True Religion wide bell bottomed jeans that I'd been keeping around because I was hoping that that fashion would come back soon and then I wouldn't have to buy any new ones. Ha! No hope of that . Looks like skinny jeans are here to stay.

I found so many sheets and towels that I don't even use and that have probably been gathering dust bunnies on the top shelf of the closet.

Why so much crap? Well, a lot of the stuff is from the U.S. when I moved here 8 years ago and I thought that I'd probably use it some time so why chuck it?

It's been 8 years now. I'm sure if I haven't used it then, I'm not going to suddenly begin using it now.

I am happy to say that I am no longer married to this stuff that I've managed to hang on to for so long and am happy to get rid of it all. Yes! Yes! Bye bye old jeans. Adios linens and things. Hasta la vista, baby!

God, I feel good!

Year of the Tiger

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!