"These are the times that try men's souls."
- Thomas Paine
- Thomas Paine
I am not a good multi-tasker. I tend to focus intently upon one thing at a time.
To the exclusion of everything, I'm afraid.
truth in advertising
This ability to focus has played a big role in the large number of patterns I have been able to release over the course of the past year.
It also has resulted in
A large grocery bag
A huge avalanche...
of receipts.
more truth in advertising
And on my laptop?
An Orders folder with over 2000 order delivery messages in it. Have to get organized. Either that or start another folder.
It would seem I can only organize one thing at a time:
- The coat closet or the Ravelry page?
- The laundry or the knitting?
- The taxes or the newsletter?
- The diabetes or the design biz?
- The menus or the stitch count?
Of all the changes diabetes will bring to my life, this is probably the most challenging to me.
Paying attention to two things at the same time - me and Sunflower Designs.
And family...
And housecleaning (what housecleaning? my dust bunnies have built permanent hutches in the corners and aren't going away anytime soon. I am considering tying bows around them and calling them Easter decorations)
And dental health (yesterday's activity. my dentist wants to see me every 3 mos. now that I am diabetic. he also tried to sell me a $150 toothbrush to help with gum inflammation. EEK!)
And exercise...
And regular mealtimes...
And testing strips...
And all the other things that go into a full (and hopefully long) diabetic life.
Did I mention how bad I am at multi-tasking?
Yesterday, after my dental appointment, I picked up my glucose meter at the drugstore. I figure that's part of acceptance. And I dutifully read several pages in my new diabetes travel guide (can't tell the players without a program)
Last night I did some internet errands, ordering waterproof mascara (my eyes alternate between gummed up and tears overflowing. waterproof would be good) special gel bed socks to soften my heels while I sleep (pedicures and shaving my heels are no longer an option) and a new lipstick, hairspray and an inexpensive pair of earrings (because I needed to remind myself I'm still a woman.)
Today, I returned to my knitting. And before I knew it, the clock read 1:00 and I had still not eaten lunch.
Or breakfast.
This regular eating business is going to take some practice.
But I'm trying.
I set aside my knitting and tried to refocus.
I ate something, unwrapped my meter, and took a reading.
At least I tried to take a reading.
Several times...
Unsuccessfully...
If at first you don't succeed,
Finally, seven wasted lancets and two testing strips later, I had figured out how to set the time so it didn't blink 12:00.
Now I was really getting somewhere...
All kidding aside, I did finally figure it out and took a decent reading.
Now, if I could just shake off my inertia enough to go to the grocery, figure out what to buy and cook dinner tonight.
Good thing I am better at lace than I am at finger lancing, glucose monitoring, and menu planning...
Speaking of which...
I spent the last several days (when I wasn't obsessing over the diabetes)immersed in Pampas design.
As with diabetes, the hardest part is getting started. A new design always involves some fits and starts. You know...I start. I rip. I throw a fit. I start again.
Yep. Ol' fits n' starts - that's me!
This was my first try:
Close, but not quite there yet (sort of like me)
I went down a needle size and redistributed the placement of various elements of the design.
Only got this far, before withdrawing my focus, and rethinking my goals for the day.
Now it is 3:00 and I have eaten. I have tested. I have poked myself in the finger with no scars to show for it. And it didn't hurt.
NOW, can I go back to my knitting?
Trying times, my friends, trying times...
