Self-distraction

I've been attempting to read Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers for two weeks now. It's quite good, very witty, and in keeping with my penchant for mysteries these days. The glitch has been that I distract myself with phone calls, list writing, and other organizational tasks that I would attribute to some sort of mania if I were prone to mania, in the clinical sense. I am not. So, I'm trying to practice the discipline of just sitting still and giving into the book.

I know. Blogging is another distraction. It's just that I've been so negligent of this space lately... See, that's it. I have about 4 good hours after I get home from work and I'm trying to squeeze my whole life into that space, so while I want to read, I also want to talk, get things figured out, formulate plots, get my gym bag ready for the next day. Speaking of which...

Anyway, I really want to finish this book and give it back to my coworker. It's hard to figure out why some things I actually want to do feel like such a struggle right now. This book. The gym. Losing these last 10 pounds. I think if I can just get over a certain hump, I'll have the momentum I need.

I Inherited a new project at work today (only a few minutes late b/c of the ice). I spent the day trying to wrap my mind around it, figure out what my questions are, and organize it. On other work-related fronts, tomorrow is the weekly conference call re: the project that is winding down. Not much in the way of status to report.

Tomorrow is also the office Valentine's Day potluck. That means I don't have to figure out what to take for lunch. It also means lunch will in no way be healthy. Seriously, I'm going to have to do a mini detox to kickstart myself.

Read online tonight that those "stave off the recession" checks should be mailed by Spring. Looking forward to using mine to pad savings and/or pay off a few debts--pretty much the opposite of what they are hoping people will do with that "found" money.

Also read an article on fiscal fitness in this month's O magazine that really buoyed my resolve to be frugal. A columnist for the Washington Post noted that many people who are in debt also have an overweening sense of entitlement to the tune of something like: I work hard; I deserved that [insert luxury item here]! Her answer was brilliant. Yes, you do work hard but you do not deserve [luxury item] if you are thousands of dollars in debt.