The only one I seem to be able to handle is the ongoing construction project that is our house. It's starting to look a little bit like a home again (at least, I can see the possibilities now)... and I'm sick and tired of living the way we've been, with no kitchen, no kitchen sink, and no comfortable spot for me to work.
I don't think anyone really understands how big that last point is. When I first became a work-at-home mom, I set up a little office for myself in our third bedroom... but as time went by, we realized we needed a guest room. So I got rid of the desk, downsized the file cabinet into portable file boxes and moved my stuff into a cramped office armoire in the living room.
It was never comfortable working there, so the armoire became office storage and I ended up doing all my work at our dining room table, where I could spread out. This wasn't perfect, because I would often need to pack up all my stuff in the middle of a project so we could eat... but I was able to work comfortably and with relative efficiency.
We dismantled the dining room table back in APRIL. If I want to work at home, I either have to hunch over my laptop on our coffee table... or sit on the floor of my bedroom and hunch over my laptop there. Once school started, I spent several hours a day at Starbucks, where I can at least sit upright while I work.
But then work on the house progressed to the point where we were finally able to take some action... and I DESPERATELY need to have my home put back in order. I painted the kitchen and I did it quickly so that the rest of the work could be done. I have had to be home so that the electrician, the plumber and the cabinet guy can work.
I am having trouble concentrating on my writing because I need to make decisions now. I can't order the countertop without the dimensions of a sink and faucet. Have you ever shopped for a kitchen sink? Who knew there were so many choices? And who would have thought that my first choice would cost $1,200? Yes, I have lowered my expectations... A LOT.
I'm going through a similar process with the faucet. The one I'm leaning towards today is not as cool looking (or as expensive) as the one I really loved (as if anyone can "love" a faucet)... but it's going to be a big improvement over what was in there before.
We can't put our furniture back (including my armoire and dining room) until we have a floor.
And then there is the pressure of the dwindling balance in our savings account. I'm terrified of running out of money before the house is back together again.
Among the balls I keep dropping are my commitments to Los Angeles Moms Blog and 50-Something Moms Blog, where I owe a bunch of posts... and my own sister, who for some reason has enough faith in me as a writer to offer me work on one of her company's projects. I've managed to eke out a little progress on that... but not nearly enough. I have to get cracking on it.
Instead, I keep getting distracted by the ongoing construction in our home... and the saga of what to do about my stupid uterine fibroids. My doctor FINALLY got the results of the MRI I took two weeks ago (after a THREE week delay). Now I need to make an appointment to see a radiologist... which I would do right now, except for the fact that I'm supposed to head over to a local hospital IN PERSON and hand my referral to the radiology department. (After which, I get to wait around some more while they see if they can get the procedure authorized.) I was going to do it this morning... but I'm also expecting the cabinet guy. I decided to wait for him and then check out the situation at the hospital.
And I'm still not sure about getting the embollization procedure. I saw one of my offline friends over the weekend, who faced a similar situation a few years ago. She opted for the hysterectomy. She says she feels good, she has more energy, and that the surgery and recovery were not such a big deal. "Mark my words - if you have the UFE, you're just going to end up doing the hysterectomy anyway in a few years," she warned.
I need to get SOMETHING done about the fibroids. In the meantime, I feel like my life is on hold.
Is it any wonder I can't focus?
(One of the things I CAN'T drop the ball upon is an opportunity I received from my friends at Disney. Hop on over to my review blog to find out how YOU can join me at a blogger event at the Disneyland Resort.)
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