Multi-tasking vs. List Writing

Multi-tasking sucks and I'm tired of every damn job ad listing it as a must-have skill.  In the last year I have come to realize that I am not a multi-tasker.  I am a list-writer.  There is a difference.  Crossing items off my list (which is unnaturally exciting) means that you've done one thing.  One.  And now you can move on to the next or as I like to do, rest - relax or eat a treat and then move on to the next thing. 

When I am forced to multi-task (at work-every day-every moment of my 9 to 5) I get flummoxed and inevitably make mistakes.  Mistakes which are constantly thrown back in my face.  And to admit you are not good at multi-tasking is considered a real sign of inadequecy (in the corporate world).  This makes me as qualified and good at my current job as if I were to attempt to be a surgeon or astronaut or president of the United States.

Why has multi-tasking taken the lead over focusing and doing an excellent job one at a time?  I can understand why this could be a good thing for mothers to have and possibly the only way to stay sane and get through the day.  I am not a mother.  I have 2 cats that ignore me on a consistently daily basis. 

I'd like to start an Anti-Multi-Tasking movement.  Who will join me?  Courageous souls that can admit that doing more than one thing at a time just confuses the hell out of them.  Will you admit it?  I have and I feel so much better that I'm going to go relax now!

Snuggie - the downfall of society as we know it.

My friend gave me a snuggie for Christmas.  It is soft, easy to use, and works in all areas of the house.  It is my favorite gift ever.  It also causes severe un-productivity.  Four times in the last week I chose not to do what was on my to-do list because I was extremely comfortable in my snuggie and did not want to get out of it.  My friend Red, who gave me said snuggie, called me on several occasions and immediately told me to get out of the snuggie.  Of course I was actually in the snuggie when these calls occured but I had no intention of doing what she said.  Even the name of the damn thing sounds comfortable - snuggie - snuggle - warmth - comfort - addiction.  I now have to return to work tomorrow after 10 days of Snuggie filled comfort and joy.  I'm considering calling in sick due to potential snuggie withdrawal.  Or I could take my snuggie to work.  Hecklers be damned.

Apricots, Influence and Blogging

A friend of mine, we'll call her red, told me an amazing thing the other day. 

Unneccesary history follows (actually it is necessary);  We often do our grocery shopping together (strength in numbers) and we were at Trader Joes (why do they always have bad parking lots).  They had a sale on their dried turkish apricots and Red adores those things.  In fact she has no control over herself when they are in her home.  She'll eat the whole bag. In a day.  Not good for the system...  Anyway, I saw her eyeing those sale apricots and I said a loud "NO".  Scared the Bejesus out of the stranger standing near us.  Red wimpered a bit then agreed that in fact it would not be good to buy them and I was absolutely correct in saying NO.

Back to current time;  See us now, perusing at the local Farmer's Market in our neighborhood.  She turned to me and laughed telling me that she was in TJ's yesterday and as she walked past the dried apricots she distinctly walked away hearing in her head my direct order to NOT buy.  It was funny and we laughed about it but then I thought about the power I had. I didn't even need to be there!  How intoxicating.  Exhilerating.  A bit of turn on if I must say. 

So, the amazing thing is that because of Dried Turkish Apricots and/or Red and/or my power-slash-influence-slash-new found Voice I've decided to blog.  Why not, I may just find out more fascinating things about myself.....