To Do Lists

I live by my to-do lists. It is the only way I can keep all my tasks straight at work. It is the only way I remember what I need to pack or finish doing before a big trip. It is how I am (attempting) to keep myself from freaking out about what needs to be done for the wedding. (Check in with me in about a week to see if I managed successfully).

I came across this adorable little number today, and instantly became jealous of the kid who wrote it. Oh, to have this life again...

Gearing up!

There is a lot going on right now.

The baby graduated from college last weekend. I don't remember allowing him to get that old.

My mama's birthday is today - and it's a big one! There has been a lot going on with her lately... just a little reminder to let her know how much I love her - birthday or not. Looking forward to seeing her again soon to celebrate her birthday (since last weekend was overshadowed by graduation fun).

My bachelorette party is in a week and a half. I really cannot wait to spend some time with some of my favorite girls for fun in the sun!

Which means that as of tomorrow, I am a month a way from being Mrs. Neufeld. Maybe I should be practicing my new signature or something.

And in the midst of all of it, there are changes going on at work too! My to-do list is becoming massive, but with everything else going on, how can I possibly be expected to work??

It is an exciting time, and my head is reeling, but I'm ready. I just have to get myself settled into some sort of schedule to make sure everything is taken care of with the attention it deserves. It is a little exhausting, and hard not to push little things to the side with a dismissive "I'll take care of this later". Later always comes too soon. And those little things start to manifest themselves into a big long list. Organize yourself, Maureen! Come on, you can do it!

Dancing Towels

Growing up, there were a few things I could always count on for family gatherings around any holiday at my grandmother's house.

#1 - There would either be some kind of "Sing Along with Mitch" album playing on repeat, or something like the Boston Pops that would inspire a well choreographed dance party or foxtrot, jitterbug, and polka moves. Mostly just involving the girls. And, involuntarily, any unlucky man that was careless enough the try to walk through the red-carpeted living room.

#2 - The dish full of broccoli would begin cooking at the same time as the turkey.

#3 - At some point just before every meal, usually while the dining room was full of the hustle and bustle of setting the table and propping up the card table for food, the smoke detector would go off. Without fail - breakfast, dinner, didn't matter. And because of this, everyone seemed to know where the nearest dish towel was at all times.

I had this dream last night that was all about those dish towels, watching as they performed a spirited dance as they were waved in the air near the ever-present smoke detector outside the kitchen door in my Grandmother's house. Flashes of color appearing and disappearing in mismatched rhythms.

Sort of an odd thing to dream about. And I'm not sure what it meant. But it made me happy.

The Life I Was Meant to Live

This is the life I was meant to live. Now that my work schedule has back off slightly (or at least stopped demanding such crazy hours), I can actually do things at normal "after work" hours like regular people. My first week of freedom is including 3 Broadway shows in the span of a week.

This is why I moved to New York.

It is invigorating. Sometimes when we have a dinner with this person, and a work event on that night, and we're supposed to meet up from drinks with friend X,Y, and Z, plus go to the movies for a "quiet night", it just gets exhausting. When I have something going on all the time, I feel like time passes me by too quickly. This statement, of course, has exceptions. Theatre is always one of them.

I've seen a lot of shows. But somehow it never gets lost on me. The opposite, actually: the more I see, the more I crave it. And especially lately, the more I feel the need to be back in it. Recently, I had a chance to talk to someone who was telling me how almost everyone in her office was involved in some kind of outside art - they all belonged to theater groups, improv troupes, dance classes, something.

It's missing. All of it. From my life. I read scripts for shows that I know I am not a part of, watch rehearsals for dances I am never going to do, sing along to songs in the car that will not be performed anywhere, and haven't even had time to entertain the idea of designing anything in ages.

At least going to see shows brings me back into the mix - it gets me close to what I love and where I want to be. Not quite there, but close enough to feel it and make me contented for a while.

For now.

::insert sigh here::

I just wrote a very long blog entry. Decided against it. Erased and tried a different route that I've been thinking of. Erased that too.

Now this is all I'm saying. Got nothing else for right now.