Getting Back on Track

Well, after yesterday's post and all of your wonderfully supportive comments, I felt compelled to trudge ahead one step at a time and begin to turn my situation around.

I found a couple of things that I had misplaced, both at home and at work, so that helped a bit.

I'm still behind, but, as they say in the movie What About Bob?, "Baby steps, baby steps."

At my dentist appointment last week, I was reminded that I really haven't flossed in.... hmmmm.... well, a very long time. In my new spirit of self-improvement and non-procrastination, I decided to take out the little sample floss I received from my dentist and floss last night before bed.

This morning I feel like my mouth is full of over-stuffed bean-bag chairs. Guess I over-did it a bit.

I must remember... baby steps, baby steps.

Dragging my Heels

This spring has been a tough one emotionally for me.

I constantly feel so far behind.

I thought once report cards and parent teacher interviews and library book fair were over, I would be able to relax a little, but it hasn't really seemed that way. I think I got so far behind then that I'm still catching up now.

I'm at the stage now where my mind is so full of things that have to get done that it simply can't concentrate on getting anything done.

I'm misplacing things, forgetting to return phone calls and emails, missing permissions slips that must be signed, just generally in a dense fog of nothingness.

I go through sprints when I feel I must plough through all of the necessary before I can reward myself with a smidge of the enjoyable. Although on paper (or on the screen, I suppose) this sounds like a good plan, it ends up not as good as it sounds, for all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. In my case, it makes me grouchy, surly, and snappish.

I gave up blogging for a short while when I was at my busiest. I found that I missed all of you so much that the sacrifice back-fired. I spent almost the same amount of time in front of the computer, but I played mindless games instead, supposedly my reward for the sacrifice. It would have made better sense not to have sacrificed in the first place.

Ofttimes, when my brain is filled with this fog, there just isn't room for logic and priorities and simple common sense.

"Enchanted April"

I borrowed the video Enchanted April from the library this weekend.

Based on a book written in 1922 by Elizabeth von Arnim, it is the story of four women of diverse backgrounds who decide to rent a small Italian castle for the month of April. Together, they spend most of that month attempting to escape their disparate and desparate lives back home in dreary London.

The four women are played by Josie Lawrence, Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright, and Polly Walker. Each does a brilliant job of giving her character just the right qualities. I especially love the character of Mrs. Wilkins, played by Josie Lawrence. At first she seems slightly batty, but once in Italy, where everyone's mind seems to open to new ideas, she seems acutely insightful.

I won't reveal any more of the story, as you truly must watch it unwind itself in order to enjoy it fully. It is completely family-appropriate, but may be a little bit slow for younger viewers.

And listen carefully to the dialogue. Often the humour is very subtle.

This is one of the best feel-good movies I've watched in a long time.

By the way, if you're thinking of watching it, try to watch it in April.