Oh, Christmas Tree...

It's the beginning of the most hectic month of the year. I have just 25 days until Christmas day and I have only just begun the crafting. With the stressful situation at work and my unexplainable lack of energy, it's hard for me to get the motivation to do anything. I have the desire. I am working on taking things one little step at a time. Heck, I have trouble even doing my laundry once a week.

I did actually work on Nanowrimo this year. I got about 2,200 words written. Then I got a trojan, which I tried to rid my computer of, only to break the operating system and have to completely wipe my hard drive. I lost it, but at least I got farther along than I have in other years. And now I have an idea to try again later.

Last night I painted another alphabet box for a co-worker's nephew. Her family is hitting a rough patch this Christmas, so I wanted to do something to help out, even just a little. I'm making something for her two kids and her sister's two kids (her sister lives with her family). I've always wanted to help someone out, and lack the funds to do anything financially worthwhile, so I am looking forward to this. And yes, I have calculated the time to put into this into my Christmas gift making plans.

Yesterday, I got quite a bit more done than I thought I was going to this weekend, especially considering I spent half my day sitting on a heating pad because of my tailbone (hurting for no apparent reason). I got my laundry almost completely done (just one load sitting in the dryer left!), my jackets and shoes put away, and a craft almost complete. I did do the craft while watching my Monday night shows (or what wasn't a repeat anyway...and to me, Castle was new), which helps keep my attention span on one project longer, and to do something while watching TV always makes me feel better about watching TV.

I have almost completed my Christmas shopping. For once, I actually went broke, so the next two weeks will be dedicated solely to crafting gifts instead of buying them. Next check I plan on picking up a few things for my dad. And I don't have a bigger gift for my sister (I have TWO for my mom!) so I have to come up with something in that arena as well.

I was thinking about my work schedule yesterday and I am a little disappointed. It looks like I will be working every single holiday this season, which I understand since I am on the bottom of the totem pole, but they always try to give someone one of the days off. I've worked Halloween and both days of Thanksgiving. I don't see me getting Christmas or New Years off. I will have to talk to my trainer about that tomorrow to throw around options so I could get something off. It would be nice, anyway. (On the up side, I will get Thanksgiving off next year, due to the days my weekend will fall on).

My sleep is still sporadic. I can't seem to find a rhythm that works, or stop myself from oversleeping to ruin it. Take last night for example. I went to bed at 1am because I was tired. Now I've been up since 5:30 because I can't fall back asleep. And it will result in me falling asleep later, and getting up at 2:30 pm again. I was hoping to sleep until 10 and try and get myself up then. Obviously not. So I rolled over and got up at 6:45 and decided to try and get things done before I go back to sleep, instead of lying in bed for three hours before being able to sleep again. This blog being one of them. Finishing my laundry will be the second. Anything quiet since my parents are still sleeping.

I am happy for the Christmas season to finally be here. I started listening to Christmas music on Saturday and that is always up-lifting. I think I'm going to start working out on a regular basis starting tonight after work as well. I hate going by myself, but from the looks of it, I won't have anyone to go with anymore. So I better get used to it. Okay. Now off to make myself feel somewhat useful...

Edit: 9 am
Two hours later and for once I got done what needed to be done! My laundry is put away, except for what is hanging to finish drying, and even those will be easy since I used my own hangers so I can just grab them. My box is drying and when done, I'll only have to reattach the hinges. I even cleaned up everything except the one TV try it is drying on. Go me! I ate my breakfast, which seems silly since I'm going back to bed, but I won't eat again until I am work, and that won't be til around 6 or so. I'm even proud of myself for getting this thing update-twice!

Dad snuck into the little house some time before I got out of bed at 7, but after Dawn left for work a bit before 6. Mom is still in bed. At least she was a few minutes ago. Believe me, I would be too if I could. Dogs are blissfully sleeping after a potty break. I wish I could fall asleep as easily as them. But it cannot be helped.

I started a list of gifts I need to make last night. I just wrote the major things down. Okay, so the list only consists of my co-worker's names and their favorite colors, but I know what I'm making them and believe me, that's a start. I need to do a little digging for more ornament making supplies that I'm bringing to my co-worker today. I know what I want to grab, so hopefully I will remember to get them when I am getting ready for work.

I have been on a wonderous Jane Austen kick the last three weeks. I read The Annotated version of Pride and Prejudice, which was amazing and makes me wonder if there is more like that for her other books. It helped me to understand aspects of the Regency Era I was not familiar with and made the book that much more amazing. Now my sister is letting me borrow "101 Thing You Didn't Know About Jane Austen". I am on number 49. Afterwards, I am going to read Pride and Prejudice again, this time with no annotations to stop to read. I am fairly certain I have not read a book as many times a I have read Pride and Prejudice. The first year I discovered it, I read it probably seven to ten times. Since then, I have lost count.

I wish I felt this productive all the time. Then there would be no stoppin' me!