I have a blog? Oh yes, I vaguely remember something about that … hmmm … I seem to have abandoned you. I’ve been pondering what to do for a pre-holiday challenge and amid all the indecision (plus sending out my newsletter this week and some other exciting diversions like my lab puppy munching on a battery) I seem to have just avoided blogging. I feel like I need to decide what I’m going to do about the pre-holiday challenge before I can post again … so perhaps now’s the time. I’ll just write and see what I come up with. This should be interesting … but first … I have to share a few things.

I’m sitting here with the world’s worst headache — the kind you wake up with and hope will somehow just magically go away. The kind that hurts so bad you can’t even fall asleep when trying to take a nap. The kind that goes down into your neck and circles your entire head. And yet … I have been awake for approximately 8 hours and 43 painful minutes and it just now occurred to me “Take an aspirin! Take two! Make the pain go away!” And so I did … perhaps by the end of the post I’ll have 1) a plan for the pre-holiday challenge, and 2) a pain-free head.

Do you know what that’s all about? Why are there some things we feel we should just be able to bear? Be able to handle on our own? Be able to tough it out and just take it? Or just figure out all by our lonesome? For some reason I’m like that with headaches. How about you —- is there anything you have like that in your life — or am I all alone in this insanity?

I have a feeling this post is going to be one of those that my husband won’t get … the “random girl-talk” type of post. Do you ever do that? My best friend from high school, Liz, and I will do this … we’ll have about three to four conversations going simultaneously and they can extend over an entire weekend. We’ll seamlessly jump from one topic to another and back again without missing a beat … and if Jay overhears any of it he’s completely lost. I miss that. I miss Liz. I should pick up the phone and call her as soon as I’m done with this mish-mash of a post …

Hmmm … maybe I don’t need to create anything new! That’s it … we’ll just do the same drill as last time. (I’m back to the post-holiday challenge again, Jay.) I’ll pick one thing that I’m going to do by the end of twelve weeks and post about where I am each week. And you do the same. I’m feeling braver this time … I’m going to tackle my PILE of magazines! It’s true … I have too many. There isn’t much I overindulge in, magazines seem to be one exception. The other used to be plastic food storage containers, but I’ve got that one under control. This is scaring me … am I really *that* boring???????

Alright … here’s what we did last time. So let’s just do it again! Here’s a recap:
1) Decide on a goal and describe the benefits of accomplishing your goal. For example, how you will feel, or your space will look, etc.
2) Make sure your goal is measurable (three times a week, four hours a day, eight pages a month, fits on a bookshelf, etc.)
3) Set a deadline.
4) Post your goal here and then, check in from time to time and let me know how you’re doing. It’s a simple way to create change in your life … and just in time for the holidays, in this case. Yeah!!

So here’s my goal:

1) Reduce my collection of magazines and magazine clippings so the collection will fit in my magazine bookcase, metal basket by my desk and one other small “in-process” basket (to be designated.) Also, set up a system for storing magazine clippings so they’re useful and accessible. Doing this will help me to feel more in control. I will be able to easily find all the beautiful and inspiring photos I’ve been saving. And my space will be more organized by containing the magazines in a single location. (OK … maybe it’s two.)

2) The magazines will fit in the spaces designated above — and as new magazines come into my life, old ones will go bye-bye. (Ouch!)

3) My magazine collection will be organized and in control by December 23rd. What has not been gone through or put into a system will be pitched if it doesn’t fit in the spaces designated above. And I need to add a space … the clippings will probably go in binders … and those can be on my other bookcases that I use for reference. And I have to decide if it’s OK to keep the large picnic basket full of clippings … OK … I’ll decide soon.

4) I’ll check in with you — if you’ll check in with me. Deal?

Oh before I sign off, update on the headache: gone … yeah! And, do you want to see my “collection?” These are some old photos — I thought about doing this before but I wasn’t ready … now I am … or at least I’m making myself be ready. Here we go:

Magazines then and now album

aren’t they lovely? here’s more …

Magazines then and now album

and last but not least … the picnic basket. Again, this is an old photo … currently the very large picnic basket is loaded full of clippings!

Magazines then and now album

I think this is the world’s largest picnic basket … roughly 2 cubic feet of storage. (A TON of clippings!)

Better go get busy! Have a great weekend 🙂