The Worry List

I tried my best to keep this at bay, but I knew the day after Labor Day it wasn't going to be too long. The "worry list" is back and in full force. I'm not going to dwell on this - I want it all to go away - but the insidious thing about this list is that I don't purposefully make it up and it's the one that keeps playing over and over in my head. So I've decided to write it all down and get on with things, 'cause I don't want to waste my time worrying any more!

1. Merlin - he has taken a big turn for the worse this weekend. He fell down the cement stairs and is having a really hard time walking. He wouldn't get up for several hours yesterday afternoon and there's no way Myron and I can pick up this 170 lb critter and carry him in and out of the house when necessary. Lots of tears by everyone because it is obvious his back legs are not working well and won't be getting better! He's headed for the vet tomorrow to get a professional opinion on whether anything can be done to strengthen his legs and lessen the pain. And I had the very unpleasant task of having to explain to McKenna what would happen if he can't walk on his own. She was the one who didn't mince words when we talked about putting him "to sleep" - she said "You mean we have to kill him?!?" and then went histerical on me. Talk about getting your heart ripped out twice ... once by the dog and once by your daughter who loves the dog more than anything.

2. Julian - just informed me tonight that his teacher told him he couldn't go on his first skating field trip tomorrow and he was histerical. He couldn't remember why and we didn't get a note and now I'm mad at the teachers for not telling me so that I wouldn't rub it in for Juice and furthermore help re-direct whatever behavior caused this to happen. So I have to have a conversation with the teachers tomorrow and I really hate that.

3. I am not prepared for a meeting/presentation I have tomorrow in front of the Shoreline City Council. I was asked to chair the committee I am on and I just haven't had the time this weekend to go over the report or the PPT and I need to give the Council a report on finances at 8pm tomorrow night! Finances is not a topic I can really pull out of my a**. This one I need to be prepared for, so lunchtime cramming is in order for me tomorrow.

4. Work is absolutely insane for the next few weeks. All day meetings, sales calls, one huge project to supervise and travel to, projects that I was supposed to have done by my anniversary date in order to achieve my bonus that aren't done, someone quit and someone didn't come back from maternity so need to fill 2 positions (it took me nearly 6 months to find the perfect people last time), trying to get more business to fill in 2009 - it's looking too light right now, etc, etc. Lots of pressure!

5. Money - Myron's work has slowed down and we committed to a Disneyland vacation end of October. And we have 2 offers on duplexes in Everett. And Julian's tuition increased. And we have kid activities costs to pay. And the markets aren't doing very well so investments are sucking air. When is that lottery strategy going to pay off???

6. House projects - we are STILL working on Mac's room and we have to do something with Juice's room. He is still in his toddler bed touching head to toe! Our living room has been a complete disaster for months and I'm about ready to start a bonfire in the middle. Myron got super motivated to get part of the garage cleared out (we can't put the trailer in anymore and need to for the winter) so I put a bunch of stuff up on craigslist and I've had other people calling my schedule shots this weekend and now I'm behind on regular chores. Just making my weekday life so much more challenging.

7. Family time - the more things are on the to do list, the less time I have for anyone because the siren call is to get stuff off the list. And the more on the list the more gets put on the list - it's a vicious circle. So the kids get no time with me at all, ergo my ingorance about the skating thing. Can you say GUILT!?!

8. I'm overextended again so all my volunteer efforts are only getting part of my focus. SLU Chamber, City of Shoreline, Syre PTA and now PCMA ... it's all coming together at once and I'm getting nothing done 100%. And of course I have solid justification for each one and I turned down 2 other recent requests so it's not all about the NO. Just need to juggle faster for a while.

9. Health - I finally made an appointment with OB and mammogram and they asked if I'd been anywhere else to get my exams done because it's been since early 2006 that I've been in. Well ... truth be told, in 2006 I weighed a bunch less and really don't want to hear my doc talk about my weight again. Now I'm going to worry that I've put myself in jeopardy by waiting this long for my annual exams.

This is really depressing and sorry if you actually are reading this. Now I've made you feel all yucky!

The things I am grateful for:

1. This gorgeous weather. It's part of the reason for my craziness because it makes me want to accomplish as much as possible before rain comes when I won't feel like doing a thing but have to. At least now I want to get things done ... I just don't have a lot of time.

2. My kids are doing realatively well in school and like it (for the most part). They are healthy and I don't think I'm damaging them beyond repair yet.

3. We are back as season ticket holders to the 5th Ave (I know - I'm contradicting the money worry, but we bought these early in the year when things were really going well!). We saw Shrek, the Musical and it was super fun. The rest of the shows are fantastic and I can look forward to dates with my hubby every other month or so.

4. Things are fine - it's just my brain that's the issue.

I'm trying not to wish my life away, but I'm looking forward to being on the other side of this!