7:30 a.m. Classes

Starting next week, I'll have four classes (with another starting in October). Two days per week I'll have a class that starts at 7:30 a.m. and two different days I'll start at 8:00 a.m. The best part of this is that my second class each day is immediately after the first; even with office time I'll be finished before noon. Whenever I have the choice, I will work early and finish early. Today's (admittedly minor) predicament reinforces my reasons for preferring such a schedule.

I'm sitting around waiting until I need to leave for a 3:00 meeting. I loathe having anything to do later in the day because I feel like I can't get started on anything since I'll have to quit partway through. This is especially ridiculous as it's not even 11:00. I am showered and dressed, and I've already been out for a 9:00 doctor's appointment. I've dealt with my various email inboxes and paid some bills. I still need to finish my syllabi, but the thought of not getting it done before I go to my meeting has me holding off until after the meeting. Somewhere in there (my brain) I suppose I'm rationalizing why this is a good idea. The logical side of me -- such as it is -- tells me to get done what I can and pick up where I left off when I get back. I think this kind of processing gets me in trouble a lot of the time, in a variety of ways. Well, "trouble" may not be the right word, but certainly it inconveniences me in the long run.

My "don't start if you can't finish" philosophy often keeps me from starting -- although with work stuff I always get it ready in time, whether "it" is preparing or grading. With personal stuff -- housecleaning, shopping, sorting papers -- I really do have a hard time starting. And lately I've been in a weird mood of not feeling like doing anything but not being able to sit still. That was part of the reason I went to the doctor today; I needed to adjust some meds, including cutting back on some new blood pressure medication that was working a little too well. (My BP and heart rate have been really low since my doctor changed my medication a few weeks ago.) I'm hoping to have everything in sync and to be able to narrow my focus by Monday when my classes start. It might be a tall order, but it's good to have goals.