Sunday, November 05, 2006

Procrasti Nation: my country of origin

Yesterday I took a "before" picture of my messy desk area, books and papers piled literally a foot high in some spots. My plan was to clean it up, get organized again, then take an "after" photo so you and I both would know how it's supposed to look.

Uh...the "after" shot will have to wait a while longer. I've made some progress, but there's still a lot to do.

Here are some of the things that were on my desk (two desks, actually) at the beginning of the day:

  • Printouts of my first four months of blog entries, except for those I gave to someone who "doesn't like to read online";
  • Eight different stacks of genealogy research printouts;
  • Two genealogy books;
  • One website-creation book and four pages of HTML code;
  • A reverse dictionary and a book on American slang;
  • A stack of two non-fiction and five fiction books that were moved to my desk "temporarily" when a nearby shelf broke;
  • Two identical 2006 Ascension Parish telephone directories and a 2004 Baton Rouge phonebook;
  • Two fold-out maps: Baton Rouge and Missouri;
  • At least a hundred photographs, scattered in little stacks;
  • Assorted utility bill receipts and bank statements;
  • My great-aunt Hazel's diary covering January 1942 to September 1944;
  • My own well-worn baby book;
  • A sympathy card that wasn't mailed within a decent amount of time;
  • A delicious-sounding recipe for corn casserole (already misplaced and probably in the trash);
  • Assorted CDs, DVDs, zip disks and 3-1/2" floppies;
  • Two empty softwear boxes and two unopened (free) ones;
  • Three looseleaf binders of computer, electronics and appliance manuals;
  • One book of logic puzzles;
  • Things you'd expect to see, like the stapler, Post-Its, paper clips, tape, and more pens and markers than any human needs.


  • This process would be so much easier if I could focus on the task at hand. I have well-organized files to put papers into, but do I pick up a piece of paper and put it in it's proper place (Peter Piper)? No. I read it, and I think about it, and it reminds me of something else, and there I go, off on another tangent.

    There've been distractions, too. Saddam Hussein received the death sentence and another religious leader crashed and burned. I finished one really good book and started another. I read part of the Sunday paper. Chocolate covered cherries are in the refrigerator and keep calling my name. I had nice phone chats with both of my daughters. Kadi and Butch have had to go in and out a number of times, and sometimes they just needed their bellies rubbed. And when I sit at my desk and look out the window toward the neighbor's yard, I see golden sunshine, blue morning glories, white lattice and green leaves.


    Who can work with all that going on?

    9 comments:

    1. Oh boy...you're desk sounds just like mine. Except instead of photos I have jewelry tools, findings and partially assembled or disassemble pieces of jewelry. Thanks for cheering me on, this is kind of fun! Carmon

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    2. Well, after my day of desk cleaning several blog entries back, I can certainly relate! The mess is creeping back and I have to beat it back down, very soon. Yes, we must be compatriots from Procasti Nation; I hail specifically from the county of ADD.

      The NYC marathon was today - so glad to see you still running!

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    3. Inhumanely possible to keep a desk cleaned. Mines always a wreck. I'm afraid to put anything away in case I "need" it in the next five minutes.

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    4. what a lovly photo, morning glories, we have very little green now except for cedar trees. winter is upon us.

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    5. I love the distractions from the task at hand, letting yourself follow the line of discovered memories. Sounds as if you had a perfectly pleasant Sunday (Peter Piper).

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    6. I know-sometimes procrastination is worth it. Yesterday I had to make a choice between washing the greasy breakfast dishes and skillet, or giving in to Spot's hopeful eyes and go out and throw his ball. Guess which one got put off. :-)

      Glad you found the thingy that lets non-Bloggers comment!

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    7. See, this is what I love about you guys. I confess my shortcomings, you let me know I'm in good company, and the little guilty feelings just vaporize and disappear. No therapy needed.

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    8. Your desk sounds like a treasure chest to me! Fun. Wish i could help you 'clean up' - I love a good treasure chest.

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    9. Jackie, the treasure chest idea appeals to me--except if I dig down another layer or two, I wouldn't be surprised to find 16 men on a dead man's chest, yo ho ho, and a bottle o' rum.

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