My Saturdays

My Saturdays are precious to me.  With the rest of my week pulling for both my time and patience, my Saturdays are designed to have nothing to do with any of that. There are the rare occasions when I have to work for a few hours or catch up on some homework but usually it is all mine.

Glorious.

Let me explain my normal week to you. Please note that these are the big things that happen every week. So many other important, albeit small details pop up every week and they are not to be ignored.  I am by no means saying I have a more busy schedule than anyone else I know but for my life, it can sometimes get a little crazy:

Sundays are usually reserved for homework, house cleaning, and laundry.  Other tasks may join this day like a lunch out or morning reading but the majority of my Sunday is taken up with prepping for the upcoming week and making sure all of my school tasks are done or close to being completed.

Mondays are work days.  I usually work from 7 am to 5:30 pm without an official lunch so I don't have to come in on weekends if possible.  I come home, sometimes cook dinner, and finish any GA stuff I need to for the following day.

Tuesdays I am on campus starting anytime between 7:00 am to 9 am.  I am getting project stuff ready for my professor, working on my thesis stuff or getting things together for his classes.  I sometimes leave between noon and 1 but then I run my errands, go to appointments, etc..  I get home, tidy up a bit, watch a little t.v. and then prep for the following day.  Not so crazy of a day but mentally draining bouncing from school idea to school idea and then making sure I've got the bills I need to pay or my co-pay check ready or my grocery list with me before I delve into other tasks.

Wednesday is another work day but I also have class in the evenings.  I work from 7 am to approximately 4:30 without a lunch so I can get to campus a wee bit before my class which starts at 5:45 to get situated, ask questions, eat, etc..  Go home and get books and such together for the following day.

Thursday is pretty much the same as my Tuesday except usually on Thursday evenings I get legitimate time to spend with my husband and pup.  Bonus!  I also try to catch up on a few missed t.v. shows if time allots between chores and errands.

Friday is a pretty good day. Another long work day (like Monday) but it's usually more laid back and I know that when 5:30 hits my weekend has officially begun!

And then comes my favorite day-Saturday.

My usual Saturdays are something like this:
Wake up without an alarm-feed pup-take pup to potty-make coffee-either read or catch up on missed t.v. shows from the week-take shower and pamper myself (pampering consisting of shaving, body scrubs, hot hot water, smelly good stuff, feet scrubs, and smelly good lotions).  Usually after my shower my time can go in 1 of 2 different directions. Either:  1-get in clean PJ's, read, and do nothing of real importance all day or 2-get dolled up, go out (whether to do something or not) and enjoy the day doing whatever I want whenever I want to do it.  Since Der usually has to work on Saturdays I make it all about me.  On some Sunday evenings we get time together, which is a real treat, so I don't feel bad being so self-absorbed on Saturdays.

Either way my Saturday usually have no deadlines, no time constraints, no pressure and no pulling.  Sometimes I go get a manicure and do a little shopping.  Sometimes I get my hair done and read a good book.  Sometimes I do nothing except sit on the couch all day watching television and eating junk food.

The point is-this time is precious and too wonderful to be ignored.

My Saturday today has thus far been awesome and as I was in the shower, it truly hit me just how amazing it is that I'm allowing myself to have this day to do whatever.  It may sound silly but it's mentally refreshing to know that I am consciously taking a break in my busy life to enjoy my busy life.  It makes me more appreciative, more humble, and more happy.  Bonus points for this adding to my goal of working on my mental and emotional health.  These days do WONDERS for me.

So cheers to another delightful Saturday-I hope your day is just as awesome.

What are your plans for the day?

My February

Well well! It's my first post in February...which is weird considering it's a little more than a week from being over.

What have I been up to you may ask?  School-work-family-love.  Pretty much same ol', same ol' but it's been a busy and good month.

Regarding school: I am getting my thesis together in its early stages.  I plan on using Spring Break to tweak my literature and methods more but I feel comfortable with it and after my first pilot survey being a success (with another one coming in 1 week) and a pre-proposal committee meeting, I am content with where it stands.  After Spring Break I'll have to rush to get the proposal defended and submitted to the Internal Review Board (IRB).  From there hopefully I'll have it back before I go to my conference at the beginning of April.  Then after I get back from said conference I'll actually gather my data and have the whole summer to analyze and work on it (which saves me a TON of time and headache).  It's been a good (and quick!) semester so far.  With 2 weeks until Spring Break it really seems to have flown by so far.  I'm assigned my take home mid-term next week so that will really determine where I stand in my PE class so far this semester.  I am slowly working on my class' final project (starting the first week of school) but it was been a mess and is much more tedious than I had anticipated.  Still, here's to hoping that it will sort itself out and I'll have time over Spring Break to actually hone in on what I need to do and really hanker down with details.

Work: has been about the same.  Since my schedule is about every other day now, it's kind of nice having a small break from the pace of it but I really do enjoy the routines my work brings about for me.  Pretty steady and organized from my OCD stand point =]  We're having a Mardi Gras party on Wednesday so I'm sure it will (as always) be a success!

Family: I went to Chattanooga a couple of weekends ago to see my mom's show and check out my sisters progress with their new house.  It was SO much fun, much needed and I already miss it (like always).  I also realized that my allergies had more than acted up causing some kind of sinus infection-I felt miserable in Chattanooga and came home feeling no better.  So I headed to the MD and got some meds and drops that dramatically helped me feel better...although I think I may have given it to D =\

Love: As many of you know, Valentine's Day comes in February.  I am no big fan of Valentine's Day. Here's the thing: I've never had a bad Valentine's Day (single or in a relationship) but I just don't really care about the hype.  I guess the only reason I attempt to like it is that I get another excuse to have fun and spend quality time with the one I love. Which this year, we really did! Derrick made us shrimp scampi for dinner, bought me white roses and chocolate covered strawberries.  I got him a shirt and tie (very similar to items he's been eyeing for a few months now) and we enjoyed each others company with laughing, cooking together, relaxing, and such.  I've also been able to spend more time with him (and Tuck) in general lately which has been great for both my person and my spirit.  I was not able to go to Dylan's 2nd birthday this year (which I think is the first time ever I've been a no-show as an aunt to an event) but hopefully I can make it up by seeing Kelly for her birthday (which is today!)  My fingers are crossed.

So there you have it-what may seem like a dismal February has been quite busy yet fun!

I have a feeling March will fly by and then it's on to April and May...probably the busiest months I'll have in 2012.  April and May are going to be insane for me.  Let me explain: April 4-8 San Diego for conference, April 9-30 continue with class(es) and gather thesis data whilst working my other job and GAing.  At some point at the start of April I need to register for classes.  Project due April 25 and final due by May 3rd.  May 2nd is my birthday.  May 4-12 we're going to Hawaii (more on that later!) and then May 13th is my wedding anniversary.  Starting May 14th-June 1st I've got a summer course on serial killers for 3 JAM PACKED weeks.  So there you have it-on paper it may not seem like a lot but so much leg work is going to go into those months...I may be dead come June, lol!

I hope your month has been amazing.  Make sure it is-do something to make yourself smile.

XOXO,
J