My thoughts were all over the place and I couldn't help but think of rabbits darting and then a rabbit hole, so....
Join me on a rabbit hole of thoughts and maybe this will be my new thinking post name.
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| Yes, I know that is prairie dogs, but the illustration came to mind when I was thinking about rabbit holes. It comes from an old science book. |
I love planners and calendars...kind of right up there with my love of purses for which I have whittled down my obsession a bit. The past few months have had me thinking I might need to do the same with my love of planners and calendars.
When Pam of Closed Doors, Open Windows mentioned that she was having trouble keeping up with the day of the week and might need to start putting an x on the day passed, well, she really did get my thoughts going, so hang on tight.
My first thought was --- "Yep, I could totally relate." I had a vet appointment scheduled one day and showed up the the day before at the appointed time. The sweet little girl who works there walked out before I even got in with Lemony and said, "Mrs. Palmer, your appointment is tomorrow at 5:00." As soon as she said it, I knew I was there on the wrong day. Honestly, I was so jumbled that week and stressed with Mother that I sort of felt like I didn't know if I was coming or going. So no surprise when she told me that.
I went back home and of course Jeff wondered why I was back so quickly. I told him what I had done and that I had my days so mixed up. He took it as insult since he is still working and counting down the weekdays to weekends.
When Pamela, mentioned the crossing off if days,
I began to ponder whether I needed to start "X-ing" my days off the calendar or find a place in the home to write, the day of the week and the date like I did daily in my classroom on the board. Good grief!
I quit "X-ing" out days when I retired because I didn't think I should count days anymore ---no more countdowns so to speak. Just enjoy each one!
Basically, my JUNE days have been too full with stuff that is less than fun and has worn my brain out.
Anyway, all that mumbo jumbo thoughts led to thinking about planners and calendars and I had already been thinking I was going to make a change for the next year in my choice of one.
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| Image from Pinterest... My love of calendars started with these from Hallmark way back in the early 70s. |
About 2013, I discovered these very pretty but pricey planners. I was still working and had the money to spend on them and so I sort of got addicted to them much like purses.
I eagerly purchased one each year and did my "X-ing on the monthly spread and wrote lots and lots of lists on the daily pages.
Did mention how much I love to make lists and and cross things off? No checking them, off ---I like to cross them off. You can still see them if you just check them off.
Are you seeing my crazy come out here?
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| From Pinterest |
I have decided I NO LONGER need the kind of planner that I have been spending big money to buy.
I plan to go back to a monthly spread only that just comes from a regular store...no frills...inexpensive to keep all my appointments and important dates and then a notepad to make lists.
OR...
I could go back to this idea...
Hubby started buying me a dog calendar each Christmas for the refrigerator way back when. I stopped him when the kids left home, but maybe I should just renew that gift idea.
I hated throwing away the pictures so I stuck them in the front and back pockets to notebooks.
Double the enjoyment.
For one more story about calendars, Kristan, our one and only niece got a very cool calendar one year from Christmas from Nana ( my mother-in-love). She didn't care one iota about it, so when all the presents were opened and Nana wasn't looking I got the calendar from her. I gave her something for the exchange and that calendar's pictures graced my fall science bulletin board for the next 20 years.
It was a National Geographic calendar that I am sure had come in the mail free to Nana and she thought, "Oh, I will just save this for Kristan." They had perfect pictures of animal groups which was perfect for my 4th grade curriculum.
Here is the book that I taught from that was my most absolute favorite science book ever to teach from and where the prairie dog picture came from. I kept a copy of it...
Oh my, I have exposed too much of myself with this post, but the next rabbit hole post will be a little less crazy. Maybe I will do a rabbit hole post on stitching thoughts floating around in my noggin this summer.
I may not be able to do a rabbit hole post in the sense that others do multiple thoughts because I love a story and I can't stop with a few words. BIG problem here.
I am serious ---my mind is overdrive lately. It is like it quit working back in midMarch and now it is trying to process it all pronto.
Speaking of Kristan, her family is due in tomorrow from Houston. We can't wait. We only get to see them at Thanksgiving and in June mostly. We are having a cookout over here on Saturday so super excited. I am letting the kids handle it for once. I don't think I have to do anything except maybe snap some pictures this time.
Sandy, I enjoyed your rabbit hole post. And thank you for the chuckle with the Julia Sugarbaker graphic. Your school bulletin boards brought back many good memories for me. Enjoy your cookout with your Houston family along with having a super weekend!
ReplyDeleteI miss Designing Women. They were good for a few laughs. It is fun to look back at the fun times in school before it got completely crazy.
DeleteCan't wait to see your pictures of Kristan and family! I don't X the days anymore, either, but I do look at my my phone each morning, before I get out of bed. I use my Google calendar for all of our needs. Have fun with family!
ReplyDeleteI definitely am just going back to a monthly calendar to keep some notes on. I don't need the fancy even with all Mom's appointments. Simplifying.
DeleteI enjoyed your rabbit hole post, Sandy! And I followed it perfectly, so what does that say about me?!? Before June started I was thinking of marking each day with an X - as there was nothing else to help me keep track of the days. And then June happened and it's been nearly non-stop full. It's still a little hard to hang onto what day of the week it is, but at least I have STUFF in my life! Not normal stuff, but oddly it makes my life feel more normal.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, this year I bought a small calendar diary sort of book. I haven't kept a book like this in years and I decided it was time for it again. And then COVID happened. And there was suddenly nothing to write in it. In truth, looking back I can see that I missed a real opportunity in not recording this time. But I didn't and time marches on, so I'm not going to worry about it. Still... it's a pretty little book. I'm for certain not buying another one for 2021. Maybe some type of journal, but the only calendar I need is the one that hangs in my kitchen - whether I write anything on it or not.
I think the virus just stopped us all in our tracks and we couldn't concentrate on anything. The news was alarming. I kind of wish I had been able to hold it together a bit more as I could have accomplished quite a bit during that time. I definitely think even with all Mom's appointments that just a monthly simple calendar is all I need these days. I am not sure about the crossing off. That makes them seem to pass off to quickly and they already do that.
DeleteOh, thank you for the mention of my blog and my own rather "rabbit hole" way of thinking these days! I love this post, and enjoyed all the little rabbit holes you took us on! Love the picture of your bulletin board from school days! I can imagine you were a very interesting and fun teacher who made science come alive for the kiddos! And I am very happy for you that your family is coming for the weekend. That will be a great time together, especially after so many months of feeling so isolated! Take lots of pictures! We will enjoy seeing them! Now, what day is this? Oh, it's Saturday already! I'm still a bit confused! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy teaching science or anything that meant bringing stuff in and exploring and learning cool new stuff.
DeleteI enjoy your blog so it is worth mentioning. I love it when we read from others and it makes us remember or think of things. I have learned so much about the other parts of the country from other bloggers. Now, if Google will just keep it simple for us.
It is hard to keep up with time these days for sure. My mother has been so confused about the days, months and WHY she cannot get out of the house. I loved the story about your MIL and the calendar. Glad you did a secret swap.Have fun with your niece.....you deserve some fun time.
ReplyDeleteI am looking so forward to the cookout. I am ready for some smiling.
DeleteGreat post, Sandy! I enjoyed jumping down the rabbit hole with you.
ReplyDeleteThat Hallmark date book you showed is so cute. I have found them dating back to the 1940s and will be listing them in my shop. Still on vacation right now though. ��
Enjoy that vacation!!! I remember looking so forward to hopping down the local store that had the Hallmark calendars. I definitely think I just need a wall calendar to note things these days. One more thing that I am simplifying. Just takes time!
DeleteI have kept a planner since the early 1980s. I buy an inexpensive Day-Timer Advance Planner. It is supposed to be something that is added to one of those expensive Leather Planning Systems that has whole bunches of stuff I don't need, so I just buy the Advanced Planner which used to be under $5.00, but is now $8.99. Still, an inexpensive way to keep track of our appointments which are mainly medical. It has a two-page spread to show a month at time which I prefer to a week a page. I write everything in pencil so erasures are easy, and I can keep it fairly neat that way. I also keep one upstairs on my vanity where I keep track of what I wear each day. This was necessary when I was working because I didn't want to wear the same things too often or to the same meetings each time. (I know, a little OTC.) Now, these are mostly blank for days because I don't go anywhere except to hair appointments, the drive-thru pharmacy, and maybe some take-out food. I have kept all of these over the years, and it is very interesting to read back through them from the "old days."
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting and giving thoughts. I definitely think it has taken me this long to realize I don't need the fancy planner. I liked it when I was working as it gave me a place to keep lots of information, but I think something like you are talking about will be just fine for now.
DeleteSandy, I have kept my planners over the years starting with 1973!! I would write in what I did each day and I'm so glad I did because it brings back so many memories that I would have forgotten about. I had to laugh about you getting to the appt a day early. I have done that and the worst was driving 3 hours to get to a wedding shower and finding out I was there a day early!!! Another time I was on the bus to go to NYC for my medical for my last job and I realized I was a day late. I cried all the way down and back!!! Another time took my niece to an Easter train ride and yes, a day late!! I never heard the end of that from my husband!!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly made good use of the calendar that Kristen didn't appreciate!
I enjoy your rabbit hole post, great title and it's not a problem that you can't stop with a few words!!
Oh Mary, you made me feel better and I know that you totally get me if you have planners from 1973.
DeleteI keep my Daytimer (as I call it) for a few years after it's done and then end up tossing them. Just too much stuff to hang onto* but for the current year, I depend on mine greatly to keep me on track. I also glance OFTEN at the current date on the bottom of my computer screen because, like you, it's getting harder to remember the date.
ReplyDelete*I have a private blog no one sees but me that I've been adding to for probably 11 years or so, recording the note-worthy events and thoughts in my life.
Oh How I would love to peek into that private blog. I too started one to put some things I wanted the kids to know one day. I do think a paper calendar is necessary for me, but I think I am totally ready for something simpler and way less expensive.
DeleteIt really is hard to keep track of the days after you retire, Sandy! And, I think it's been especially hard to do so with the virus shutdown and my husband working from home. One day blends into the next. My mom has had such a hard time that I bought her a fancy digital clock on Amazon that tells the time, date, day of the week and whether it is morning, afternoon, evening, night, or pre-dawn (I saw that last one when I had a bout of insomnia while up caring for her one day this month!). I like it so much that I may invest in one for myself.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy this last bit of June--and let's hope and pray that the second half of July is kinder to us all ♥
I am with you on July being kinder to us. Wow, I simply hate to wish away time, but June has been just plain rugged. Mother has some kind of little digital clock that she keeps right by her chair. I am definitely ready for a simpler and less expensive calendar, but I need a paper one, but that digital clock does sound cool.
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