So little time, so much to do!

When I was working outside the home, I kept a piece of XS stashed at the office to work on during breaks and lunch hours. Even if you only get

Now I work at home, so there's XS handy wherever I sit.

Please, when you find the wealthy man you seek, ask if he has a brother!

One stitch at a time. That's about all that anyone can do. I sometimes go a while without being able to stitch much (if at all), but I always find my way back. Treat yourself to a little stitching holiday on occasion, even if you have to pack the kids off to Grandma's for the weekend or make whatever other arrangements. It's not as much as anyone wants, but it's better than nothing! And, of course, have projects you can take along with you and work on whenever you'd otherwise be idle. Sometimes it's amazing how much you can get done in those minutes here or there. Some people get really creative and do things like move to public transportation for work so they can stitch while traveling or whatever else they can fit into their personal situations.

Best wishes, Ericka

First of all, you hand two-thirds of the housework over to the son and the daughter. If you are the sole breadwinner, you cannot also be the full-time homemaker. Second, you reserve some time just for you (that was the mistake I made when the kids were at home, I didn't do that)and during that time you sit and read, or stitch, or whatever. If the kids don't do the work to your satisfaction, well, they will leave home soon enough and then you can have a perfect house - but you will also be pretty lonely.

So, the answer is you don't fit it all in. You prioritize.

p.s. I haven't picked up a needle in three months, since before I went into hospital on June 10th, but I know I have to wait until I am well enough. I'll get there. Eventually.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Good morning Jane,

First - I agree with Olwyn Mary - start teaching those kids how to help around the house, especially the laundry and bathrooms. And the animal care. I don't even you your profession - sounds draining at the very least.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your reading; I'm always looking for what other people like to read.

I plan > Hello all, I have been reading rctn for about a month now and in

Welcome, Jane!

Ditto everyone else's remarks: You don't find time, you make time. Delegate chores all around, and make yourself and your own time/interests a priority. Do just a little here and there, and it adds up. I used to get so much stitching done when waiting in the car for DD's lessons, dr. appts, even sitting in meetings or Sunday School class, etc...sometimes even get to the mall to pick her and friends up

Work sure does get in the way of having a *life*, LOL! Part of it is just accepting that there are 24 hours in a day, you do what you can and the rest waits for tomorrow, and hopefully someday more of those 24 can be called your very own. To everything there is a season!

cheers, Sue

Jane wrote:

Yeah, I used to do the same thing. Eat my lunch quickly and still have

Also, I find for me that computer time is a killer. I started using a

Allura

------ WIP: The Dreamer, Big Girl (Dolly Momma) Cross Stitch News:

Flylady is especially useful for people like one of my college chums who WOULD NOT start a project unless she could finish it in one sitting. She missed a deadline because she never had 8 hours straight to do the project.

Then she popped in on me to kill some time chatting just before Lunch opened, and I was doing something she knew I didn't have time to finish before I was due in class. She got quite an education in the concept that you don't need to do everything in one sitting; you can do 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there.

Astrologically, her sign's strong point is that stick-to-it-iveness to work straight through till she finishes a project. My sign's (supposed) weakness is the flightiness to only maintain interest for short periods. But, with college class schedules being what they were (an hour in class, an hour out, an hour in class, an hour out), I actually got more accomplished with my little bit here and little bit there approach, while she was waiting for evening so she would have a 3-hour block.

I have no doubt that she's one of those people who will not do housework until she has time to clean the whole house properly at once, as opposed to those of us who can load the dishwasher now and leave scrubbing the sink and stovetop till later, without any guilt that I didn't do it all in one fell swoop.

Which reminds me, I put off scrubbing the sink last night, so I suppose I should go do that now.

For me it depends on the project. Some things I need to clear a few hours to do, others work in the dribs and drabs of time.

Latin could be done while waiting for Art History or Philosophy to start. Not a problem set or writing lab reports.

Stitching - simple things I can pick up anytime, some things need peace and quiet.

until she has time to clean the whole house properly at once, as opposed to those of us who can load the dishwasher now and leave scrubbing the sink and stovetop till later, without any guilt that I didn't do it all in one fell swoop.

Oooh, I like that!

Personally, the best part of the kids headed back to school is full control over what is on the radio in the truck or on the TV. Ok - so he's still semi-confined but I'm actually looking forward to hockey season for her. Adults to talk to that aren't my (much loved) neighbor or my favorite checkout clerk at the grocery store.

True. Since I wrote my term papers directly into the typewriter, both flow and clutter dictated a one-sitting effort. If I'd left my research index card piles scattered around while I went to class, some could've gotten lost (if I was sitting there, I'd notice one float off the table when someone walked past), or someone needing a corner of the table could've un-organized them.

But since I type fast, and I usually knew where I was going with a paper by the time I finished putting my research cards in order, I could easily do two 20-page papers between midnight and 8 AM.

And that was only once a semester.

You're a legal secretary used to being interrupted 100 times a day! :)

As I said, my "(supposed)" shortcoming is working in short bursts; in my career, that ability to juggle was a blessing, not a downfall. I'm getting bored with filing, I know that phone is going to ring any second and give me an excuse to stop, and just when I'm getting bored with typing, someone's going to ask me to run down to court and give me the break I need.

Unfortunately, when I watch a movie, it's generally on Turner Classic or DVD, so there are no commercials.

But with the news/talk shows, I've gotten pretty good at "I REALLY have no need to hear a review of the best diapers, so let me go toss some laundry in", which generally gets me back to the living room in time to find out whether the next segment is worth watching, or whether I would rather unload the dishwasher than find out what the well-dressed bimbo is wearing this year.

Jeeze - I had 10 page lab reports due weekly, plus mulitple 5 page essays and couldn't live without a first draft hand written out and then typed the final.

Every time I see the topic to this, I keep thinking, boy, I wish it was "So MUCH time, so LITTLE to do!" LOL!

I recall having two jobs I quit because there was not enough work. Deadly dull, the days felt endless and I went home exhausted. Even now I prefer too much to do in a single day, what I have learned is the ability to not let it worry me if I don't get it all done. God forbid though that I wind up with not enough to do !

This is an old topic, but I agree. At one point I also switched jobs because I was underworked. At that job the pay was good, and they were happy with me and didn't mind that I was underworked. I was there when they needed me, and handled the tasks as they came and they didn't mind that I wasn't constantly working. But I hated the periods with nothing to do! My current job where I have more then enough (and sometimes too much to do) is much better. The things in my life that keep me busy are good even if sometimes I complain. It's good to feel useful.

Personally, I take short cuts with housekeeping. Our house is often messy and I'll relax and watch TV and cross stitch anyway. I can't work all the time. And many days I'm too tired to stitch. My stitching moves slowly but it's my hobby for me and I don't worry about it. The projects are done when they are done.

-Evelyn