This week I'm grateful for... deadlines

I've written many times about my tendency to procrastinate (procrastination even has it's own label on my blog). I'm actually one of the world's most lazy people, a fact that I hide beautifully by keeping myself incessantly busy chasing one deadline or another. Shhhhh... don't tell anyone, but I'd really rather be lying down with a bowl of chocolates and a good book. Or just plain lying down.

Either way, this week I'm grateful for...


136. Deadlines - I think I know why they're called deadlines. Without them, I'd probably be dead from eating too much chocolate and lying down on my enormous arse all day.


137. Busy work - Another tactic for pretending I'm not bone idle. I have missed having a party to plan for this week. I even found myself contemplating adding a stitch or two to my seven year knitting project. But I just couldn't find that darn scarf.


138. Cold days - I live in Sydney so I know I don't know what cold really is, but I did live in London for years and I miss that COLD cold. It makes me feel rejuvenated and alive. We're off to Canberra today (I'm going to Shop Handmade! Yes I am!) so check in with me on Monday to see if I still feel this way!!

So, what's making you smile today? Add your I'm Grateful For post to the list below (and please, we love you, but it really does matter that your post is a Grateful one and not just a random), add the button (grab the code from my sidebar and paste it into your post) and pretty-please add a link back to me. Then pop over to visit other bloggers who are spreading a little sunshine. 





[Image found here]

Ms Nosybella: I really must do something about that...

Hello Bellas

My sister Al from the Pink Fibro and I were having a laugh the other day about all the little (and not so little) things around the house that need fixing. All the things that have probably needed fixing since we moved into our respective homes but time has passed and these days we just put up with the constant irritation. Women are good like that.

On this occasion, rather than wondering about our own homes, we were commenting on each others'. You see, we'd swapped houses between Chrissy and New Year and because we are no-holds-barred sisters, the conversation was full of things like:

"OMG, what's going on with your kitchen tap?!"

and

"Are pool pumps supposed to be that loud?"

and

"Aside from nearly killing myself on your front steps..."

and

"We couldn't lock the doors upstairs... um, do you ever actually lock the doors upstairs?"

So, here is an abridged list of things that desperately need attention in Maxabellaland:

• The front steps are crumbling sandstone. Nice if you live in a castle.

• Yes, it's true, the upstairs doors don't lock. Hello Hamburglar.

• There are no working door handles. Hello shut out of my own house on more than one occasion yet still we have not fixed the door handles.

• The seat on the second toilet is loose. Slip sliding awaaaaay.

• The stove does not work. The oven works well. This is why I'm a baker, not a fighter.

I could go on...

Alongside your 'To Do' list, do you have this kind of 'Things that never get done' list? 

If so, my question today is: 

What are your top three 'Never get done' items?

'Til next time

[Image by Michael Wildsmith/Getty via The Guardian]

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The auction for Lori starts at 9am on Australia Day (26/1). Click here to be a part of it.

My very own Gruen Transfer moment

I've mentioned before that I'm doing an AdSchool copywriting course for work. My final assignment, worth 50% of my mark, is due tomorrow. I left it until today, of course.

Today I'm feeling rather under the weather and this morning I commented to LOML that the downside to leaving things until the last minute is you risk having to perform when you're not at your best. I'm not at my best.

There's another risk. Whether you do your best work under pressure (like me) or whether you just like to procrastinate (also like me), you really need to read the assignment topic earlier than the last minute. Because, if I'd have done that I wouldn't have been faced with this the day before due date:

Brief for major copywriting assignment (taken from “The Impossible Brief”)

Due Friday 10th September 2010

Product:
Peace between Israel and Palestine

What’s required:

60” tvc, 30” radio, double page spread, magazine and press, outdoor billboard, any other support items/media you feel will add to your campaign.

So excuse me while I just go to the nearest ledge and jump.

Have you ever left something major until the last minute only to wish you hadn't? And, more importantly, what do you know about achieving peace in the Israeli-Palestine conflict?

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Everything's comin' up...

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There are two mottos that we live by here in Maxabellaland (thanks Jess!).

1. This too shall pass.

and

2. Just do it and it's done.

My day yesterday was not so good. My day today is much better. A good night's sleep (it's true, the Tsunamis do occasionally get with the programme) and a lovely cup of tea at a fellow school mum's house and everything's coming up roses.

Which is really why motto number 1 exists. Just when you think you're at breaking point, you take a deep breath, repeat the motto and somehow endure. And this, too, passes.

Motto number 2 is an attempt to beat our natural urge to procrastinate (see here for details). Every now and then, when something's hanging around that we've been talking about doing for ages, we repeat the motto and just get the bastard done. And it's done.

I know they're not the most inspirational mottos in the world, but they help me get through life feeling a little bit better about most things. Do you have mottos like these that you live by?

What I learned* this week including the benefits of procrastination

In a week of redheads, sister-lovin' and afternoon teas, here's my top 10 things to know.

1. Some people just aren't that nice, including (shock!) in etherspace.

2. Since "mede-tai" means happiness in Japanese, sea bream ("tai") is traditionally served at weddings. (For more utterly fascinating things to know about Japan, contact Maxi-Taxi whose class went Japanese for the 'World Cup Week' at school.)

3. It's possible to like OTT bitchy, gay males after all. Michael K over at dlisted is hysterical and not too annoying.

4. Not that I really care, but I when I learned that "Kendra Wilkinson believes her sex tape will make her a better parent" I had a little chuckle. Especially when she goes on to say "We're not going to have kids just because a sex tape came out. That's just stupid." Gold.

5. The kids clothes at Ivy Design are fall-in-love beautiful. Look out for The Badoo in the little number above come Springtime.

6. 'Jedi' is an official religion, with over 70,000 followers in Australia. A little concerning, maybe it could be the new Scientology?

7. LOML is a saint. (We really should get around to The Badoo's christening!)

8. Fancy hairdressers charge obscene amounts of money to essentially do something that Cappers does well. Cut stuff. Maybe Cappers can cut my hair next time...

9. Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise. Thanks for jamming my head with this fascinating fact, Mirg. I especially appreciate the lecture about Venus not fitting in with the entire rest of the universe while Mars is fitting in just fine.

10. Companies such as 3M and Google have cottoned on to the amazing creative power of procrastination. A portion of every employee's working day is set aside to 'work on anything they like' (apparently most of the geeks play chess) and the distraction alone is often enough to get their creativity firing again. 3M estimate that this 'bootlegging hour'  produces up to 40% of new innovations for the company. Breathe again.

What did you learn this week?

[Image: Ivy Design]

* There's been some debate about whether this should be 'learnt' or 'learned' and I admit I've spent countless sleepless nights tossing and turning it inside my restless, weary mind. I think 'learnt' is old-school correct, but either is acceptable these wanton days. Mum? Anyone?

It's called a deadline, people. Dead. Line.

I'm tired. Dead tired. I'm tired because the Tsunamis won't sleep. And I'm especially tired because people are really bloody annoying.

I work for a large corporate in a glamourous advertising role (yeah, right). There are lots of projects so that means there are lots of timelines which means there are lots and lots and lots of deadlines. I'm cool with that. Aside from being a flaky, wishy-washy creative type, I'm rather efficient and organised and I thrive on structure.

I seem to be the only one.

I can't tell you how much of my day I waste chasing people.  They're all business as we set up a job, promising the world. But then, do they do what they say they'll do when they say they'll do it? Absolutely not.

I understand procrastination, I really do. On the home front, LOML and I have been getting around to selling our car for 2.2 years, buying a flatscreen for 1.5 years and baptising our third born into the (parental, Italian Catholic) faith for 2. The towel rack in the bathroom fell down 2 years ago and I've been meaning to buy an extension cord for the vacuum cleaner for about 5 years (we have moved house in the meantime).

So, I get the procrastination thing.

But not at work. Surely not there. Not when they're paying you and not when there are so many more interesting things we could all be doing if we just get the job done and go home. Oh wait, that's me. I forgot I work for a large corporate where working into the night is a lifestyle choice for some. Because if I'm really efficient I might get my work done on time and then what would I do? Go home to my family and friends? My colleagues are my friends.

Like, I said, people are really bloody annoying.