The problem with being productive

I am a master of multitasking and time management. Really. I am able to keep organized a hectic and random schedule that many people would find overwhelming, and I still find time to go running, keep the apartment (relatively) tidy, never get behind on bills, practice, spend time with the people that make me happy, and I usually do it all without even thinking about it. No agonizing over what to do or should be done. Just plan, and do. Now, I know many people have much more family and work-related obligations, but I also know a startling high number of people who get overwhelmed by having to do a load of laundry.

The problem with being productive is that it creates an unrealistic expectation for what should be accomplished in a day. Not every day should be productive. Some days are meant for simply relaxing. Sitting on the couch. Listening to music. Watching a movie (gasp!) in the middle of the afternoon. Not caring if it's sunny outside and you should be "enjoying it." OR maybe you do go outside for an aimless wander, just to waste time. It feels like today should be one of those days, and yet, I can't bring myself to be comfortable with it. There is a list of things I should be doing that I simply cannot bring myself to tackle. I would definitely feel happier and more accomplished if I practiced a couple hours today, or went online and downloaded some application forms for grad school and started to fill them out, or updated my resume, or did the old seasonal switch of clothing, making a a Goodwill pile of stuff that went an entire season untouched to clear precious drawer and closet space for this season's new fashionable items that I probably won't buy...I WANT to do all these things, but for some reason, it is just not working out today. Even the mere fact that I am "blogging" about this should illustrate the extent to which I am sabotaging my own attempts at productivity.

I know I shouldn't worry about this too much because everything that has to get done will be taken care of by a different me, I just sort of wish she were here today.

They are coming for you...in 20 years!

Perhaps you've heard this term recently: 'Terror Babies'. Terrorists from other countries coming to the U.S. to give birth on American soil so that the child will automatically have U.S. citizenship. Then 15-20 years from now, the kid will use that citizenship for easy access to the country, infiltrate our society and commit acts of terrorism. This video clip with Anderson Cooper provides more information on the new "threat." The whole premise seems pretty far-fetched to me, and I hope that it doesn't become the next big rallying call for conservatives. Can you just imagine Sarah Palin's podium speeches? It would probably be something like "And we need to protect our babies from these-terror-these-their babies. Terrorist babies. Because I tell ya, I have seen some pretty mean-looking people trying to come here across our borders into this great country we call home and give birth to their babies. And it makes me sick." (Wildly enthusiastic hand clapping! Cheers!) Oy!

What I really like, though, is the Weekly World News article on the subject. It's pretty brilliant. I may have to start reading WWN more often. I had no idea it was so satirical!

Beware the babies!

Dear 3 friends...

"Why a blog?"

Well, I've decided that I don't want to inundate hapless Facebook folk with my mini-amusements during the day, and I am seriously disturbed by Twitter (to be addressed at a later date, I'm sure) so I've created a place to collect all my thoughts, or rather, the things that strike me as crazy/beautiful/brilliant/disturbing. There is simply too much out there to go unnoticed, so even if only one person reads this, my soul will be settled. It isn't much more complicated than that, so I guess I'll just dive right in.

Twist and Shout?
I recall being quite bewildered by this video when it was first released. I'm very pleased to report that after stumbling upon it again some 20 or so years later, I still have no idea what they were thinking. Salt N' Pepa drenched in sepia tones, playing air guitar? Curly pompadours and poodle skirts? Why didn't anyone stop them? There was certainly time; music videos don't just spring up over night, at least not the ones made in 1988.