I love the Chicago Cubs. This is a known fact.

I like the Detroit Tigers. They play an hour away from me, so I get to see several games.

Both teams are playing this afternoon. On Fox. I just turned on my TV to see which game I’m going to get to see. Almost every Tigers game is broadcast somewhere, but it’s hard to catch a Cubs game anymore.

Here’s the channel info on our local Fox station:

Milwaukee Brewers at Detroit Tigers. From Comerica Park in Detroit.

Okaaaaaaay….

Except that the Brewers are playing the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago today.

So, I guess I still don’t know which game I’m going to see this afternoon.

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The time? 10:30 a.m.

The dishes? Done.

The mail? Not here yet.

I’m working on finishing my second cup of coffee while sitting outside in the backyard. It’s GORGEOUS today… it’s currently 71 degrees according to In-AccuWeather, and the forecast today calls for “abundant sunshine.” Ya gotta love the person who typed that up.

My plans for today include working on CSS for a little while before The Boyfriend gets up, and playing with power tools after he’s up and around (and possibly off at work, though I don’t know what his schedule is this weekend). JM brought his futon home yesterday and it’s currently sitting in my living room. Which means I need to get cracking on his old room.  Nothing like a huge piece of furniture in your way to make you face up to your procrastination.

What are YOU doing today?

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I just finished reading Lucky You, by Carl Hiaasen, which is an interesting story about two winning lottery tickets and the individuals who possess them. I frequently fantasize about winning the lottery, even though I almost never play. The main reason I don’t play is because gambling really doesn’t appeal to me. The Boyfriend and I have a friend who bets on football and has been down for the season by a grand or more. Merely thinking about that is almost enough to cause an anxiety attack.

But it doesn’t stop me from dreaming about what I would do if I won. I’d like to think that life wouldn’t change much. I’d like to think that I would donate a sizable amount to the university from which I graduated, specifically the communication department. I’d like to think that I would pay off my debts, including my car, as well as the debts of some family members and friends. And I’d like to think that thinking about all of these things I would do for others would increase my chances of winning, if I actually played.

But if I had anything left after that, I might consider investing in a luxury home, somewhere close to water perhaps, where people would want to come visit. (Obviously, I’d also hire someone to help keep it clean!) Somewhere with lots of light and inspiration.

Quitting my job would be an option, but I’d probably stick it out for a while. If anything, it would give me the freedom to explore some of the other career possibilities that interest me. You know, like sleeping in.

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Back here, I mentioned that I’d set a goal of doing my dishes every morning while I made coffee. I also said that it takes 21 days to establish a habit. Some people say that SHE type people should make it 28 days.

It’s been slightly more than three weeks since I established that goal and with the exception of two days, I have followed through. Both days involved me getting out of the house much earlier than usual: when my mom was visiting and I had to have her in Bowling Green by 9 a.m. and the day I went to jury duty.

So, I’d say that I’m doing pretty well and it’s time to add a new goal to the mix. Looking around the disaster that is my house, I can see right away that paper is an issue I need to deal with - and this is one that’s going to require multiple steps. The first step is dealing with incoming mail. I have a tendency to sort through the mail, pull out what’s important and toss the rest on the closest flat surface. (Flat surfaces are evil things, sometimes.) Eventually, the important stuff somehow finds its way back to the junk mail and before I know it, they’re all hooking up, setting up housekeeping on my dining room table and multiplying.

This results in two major problems: a huge mess on my dining room table and bills that get forgotten about and go unpaid.

Having spent the bulk of last weekend paying bills, and realizing that things weren’t as bad as they seemed but not nearly as good as they could have been, it’s quite obvious that this is the Next Big Thing I Need to Work On.

So, my second goal is to separate the mail as soon as it arrives, and deal with the junk mail immediately. In keeping with the principles outlined in The Organizing Sourcebook, I need to make this as convenient as possible. My shredder is already conveniently located underneath the mail rack hanging on my wall. But not all junk mail needs to be shredded, and the nearest trash can is 15 steps away in another room. There’s a small wastebasket in my basement that I’m not currently using, which I’ll bring up today and place next to the shredder, thus simplifying my ability to eliminate the junk mail as it comes in the door.

There is one foreseeable problem with all of this, however. I’m not always home when the mail arrives, and therefore am not always the one to bring it in. So, I also have to get JM to leave it in one place. Given that he’s my son and has nature and nurture both working against him where organization is concerned, this will be a challenge. I think he can handle it, though.  If not, he’ll just have to move.

So, there you have it. My additional goal for the next 21 days. I think I’ll also check out Taming the Paper Tiger by Barbara Hemphill, because I don’t think I’ve ever read that one and I’m pretty sure I’ll need it for what’s next!

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My friendly neighborhood mail carrier brought me two things over the weekend: a refund check from the credit card account I just closed and a certified check from JL for three months of car insurance. This pays him up through July, which is the last month we’ll owe a payment until November when the whole thing starts all over again.

The biggest financial nightmare I’ve had to face was two (teenage) sons needing car insurance. I remember the look of disbelief on their angelic little faces the day I told them how much it would cost them to be able to drive. They’re through the rough part now. Turning 21 last year saw a drop in their rates. Hitting the quarter-of-a-century mark and/or getting married will probably result in further decreases.

By that time, they will need to have their own policies. I expect that JL will be the first to go forth and find his own car insurance quote. He’s definitely on an independent streak that will hopefully last far beyond when he comes home in August. His plan is to get two semesters in, achieve sophomore status and then head to Australia for a semester abroad. I wonder what car insurance costs down under?

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Ah… what a nice morning, in which I was able to sleep in until 9 a.m. Much nicer than yesterday when I was pulling into a parking lot at 7:51.

Living in Toledo and generally working or going to school at places close by, I’ve rarely had to deal with rush hour traffic on the expressway. I was a little worried when I first jumped on I-75, as there appeared to be quite the lineup of cars not moving very fast. Turns out it was a temporary slowdown caused by people trying to veer off onto 475, and others trying to merge in. No problem.

I was already worried about hauling my laptop in, so I didn’t want to complicate matters by taking my travel mug of coffee, too. I just figured I’d grab a cup inside. Big mistake. By the time I was settled into my seat and finished looking over my paperwork, I was hesitant to give up my chair. We were supposed to get a break right after we watched the orientation video, but the first courtroom came to claim the first group and guess who was in it? So, I went from 6:30 to 11:10 a.m. with about three sips of coffee. I spent most of the morning pining for that travel mug like a long-lost love. *sniffle*

(Excuse me while I pause a moment to sip this morning’s first cup.)

Ahhhh… coffee, I do love you so.

As it happens, I did not get seated on a jury. I didn’t even get to go through the questioning process, though I did get to witness 18 others do it. And it was very interesting. It made me feel a lot better about the next time I’ll be summoned, let’s put it that way. And you know it’ll happen.

One of the things that is interesting to me is that Toledo never really feels like a large city until you go through something like this; when you realize that you’re in a courthouse full of people and you don’t recognize a single person. While there were two people in our group who worked at the same university as me, I didn’t know either of them by face or name.

The night before, I was searching online for ideas of how I should dress. The summons read “dress comfortably,” but that can (and does) vary widely among individuals. Most of the online research I read indicated casual but comfortable unless otherwise indicated. So, I wore what I wear to work, which is a nice pair of jeans, a short-sleeved shirt and a sweater, even though the forecast called for 90+ degrees. Boy, was I glad I brought that sweater once we were in the courtroom!

“Hoochie Mama” shorts and flip flops are NOT appropriate for jury duty. Ripped jeans and a wrinkled t-shirt? No. For the most part, though, people were dressed about the same as me or nicer. So, we’re good on the dress code in the future.

Things I learned about jury duty selection:

• I’m very lucky to live in Lucas County, where the commitment to jury duty only lasts two days. In Franklin County (Columbus and surrounding area), it’s two weeks and in Ottawa County? You’re on call for THREE MONTHS.
• You can be called to serve for common pleas court (in Lucas County) once every September through August. One jury pull is done per year, in July, with all the names of people they’ll need the following year. And yes, you can be summoned in August (the end of one year) and again in the following September. Additionally, you can be summoned for other courts, such as Toledo Municipal (or other municipal courts if you live in those areas) and the grand jury, within the same year that you’ve been summoned for common pleas.
• The state of Ohio has done away with the exemption if you’ve served on a jury within the last two years. (I think it was two years - I could be wrong.) So, again, you could be called to serve multiple years in a row.
• Lucas County hasn’t yet given up using registered voters like many other locations, but if it becomes difficult to build a pool of jurors because people are giving up their right to vote (idiots), they will begin the process to use licensed drivers. Sad state of affairs that people would rather keep their ability to drive than their ability to participate in the democratic process. And before anyone starts talking about your vote not counting, had people gotten out and voted in Toledo’s last mayoral primary, we might have avoided getting Carty back into office. I say “might,” because in Toledo politics, you just never know. And let’s face it, some people are just stupid. *sigh*

Overall, my experience with jury duty was much more pleasant than I expected. Yes, I was tired by the time it was all over and I was sick of sitting. But I can honestly say that I was never bored. And I had a nice lunch with a very lovely woman who was almost empaneled. That’s kind of the sad part about it for me: you spend the day getting to know these nice individuals that live in your hometown, and at the end of the day everyone goes home, never to see each other again. Kind of like summer camp.

Except for the $20 check.

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I’ve been summoned for jury duty about six times. Usually, I call the after hours phone number to find out that the group I’m in doesn’t have to report. When I received my summons a couple weeks ago, I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to be so lucky this time.

Sure enough, I have to be at the courthouse by 8:15 tomorrow morning.

Which means I should get to bed soon, because I’m already yawning.

I’m so taking my laptop with me tomorrow, though. Even if I don’t have internet access.

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Though it would seem I’m only concerned with organizing one aspect of my life (the house), there are actually several areas where I’m attempting to make changes. One of those areas is finances.

Thanks to a run of some bad luck with various cars and medical bills, I have managed to incur just a little more consumer debt that I’m comfortable with. I’m also trying to build up an emergency savings fund to prevent such a thing from happening again. The reality of the situation is that while I enjoy my job most of the time, the pay isn’t anything to write home about. If I were in a dual income family, I’d be in a pretty nice position, but it’s all on me and the dependents? Aren’t quite ready for complete independence just yet. But we’re getting closer…

Anyway, because there are only so many hours in a day and I can’t think of any part time job that would A) fit around my frequently changing schedule and/or B) not totally kick my ass physically, I have decided to try making a little bit of extra money with my blog. I debated with myself about this for a very long time, but ultimately it came down to some bloggers whom I respect highly making the same decision. I’ve opted to go with PayU2Blog because I like their method of having you relate personal experiences with the sponsor.

I’ve had two assignments so far, and it’s been interesting. In addition to the extra money, I think there’s an opportunity to get myself to think about writing in a different way. Ultimately, that could end up being an even bigger benefit. There’s certainly nothing wrong with a challenge, eh?

Now, I would like to say that I did get the dishes done this morning, and it was almost pleasant because The Boyfriend cooked a very tasty meal last night: cajun grilled chicken, fettuccine alfredo and green beans. Very yummy. And The Boyfriend actually soaked the fettuccine pan overnight, so cleaning it up today was a cinch. He’s really learning!

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I just realized that there are only two more weekends in June. That means that my busiest month of the summer is rapidly approaching. In July alone, I’m attending BlogHer, at least two Tigers games and one wedding, not to mention celebrating my 41st birthday! When I’m in Chicago, I’ll be missing a bridal shower and another wedding reception. As much as that saddens me, I’d probably be pulling my hair out with everything that I need to get done.

Speaking of hair, my July To Do list includes getting highlights to hide the ever-increasing amount of gray. Even though I worry about affording it, I’m getting it professionally done. I fear messing it up if I do it myself.

I’m lucky, because I really do have great hair, even if I don’t know what to do with it half the time. But one of my friends isn’t so fortunate. Shortly after turning 30, she began noticing a lot of thinning. She’s looking into treatment options, possibly even a Hair Transplant.

I think if I were in her shoes, I’d do the same. I hate to admit it, but when it comes to my hair, I’m vain. Losing it would be very hard for me to handle. And after Britny’s stunt, what self-respecting woman would want to shave her head?

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Ok, back to normal. Mom’s on her way back to SC as I type. The Boyfriend is home from Bonnaroo. The heatwave has temporarily diminished.  Everything is peachy keen except for the sinus headache I have at the moment; an indication that yet another change in the weather isn’t far off.

This morning, however, it’s gorgeous. Sunny and 62 degrees. I’m outside, Mickey’s hanging out with me and were it not for the roofers working across the street, this would be a perfect, peaceful morning. But I’m not one to begrudge people making noise when fixing up their homes, so work away, roofers!

I didn’t expect to feel as down as I did last night, though. My mom moving has definitely had more of an effect on me than I’d care to admit. I don’t quite understand it, because it’s not as if we don’t talk to each other almost as much as before. But I can’t call her up and say, “Let’s go to breakfast,” anymore.

She still does so much for me and I’m still struggling just to get my own kids launched into the world. It leaves very little to do anything for her.

That’s yet another reason why I really want to get on top of the things in my life. I’m still moving at a snail’s pace, but I’m still keeping to the same daily goals. Having The Boyfriend and JM out of the house a lot over the past two weekends didn’t really present a true picture of what my house looks like on a daily basis. I expect to feel a little more overwhelmed than usual over the next several days. But it’ll get better.

Now for some neighborhood news… S & T across the street have been very quiet lately. I shouldn’t say “very quiet.” I should say, “keeping the levels respectable.” I still hear loud stereos when they pull into their driveway and leave, but *I* do the same thing (although I don’t have a sound system like theirs). I’m not exactly sure what’s different. Maybe they realized after the brawl the other night that we aren’t out to get them - we’re just looking for common courtesy. Maybe it’s because they’re getting a small dose of their own medicine. It seems the new neighbors on the corner have become the people to visit “after hours.” Which is all well and good, unless you’re outside in your backyard making a lot of noise and waking up your neighbors. And seriously, tell your friends not to toss their empty beer bottles into your neighbors’ yards. That’s so disrespectful.

Alright, that’s all for now. My Eric Meyer on CSS book was due yesterday and I still have one more project to work through. Gotta get that done before heading into work this afternoon!

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