A bit beleaguered

[darkemeralds]

I completely forgot about a dinner with dine and friends this evening until she called me while I was almost home and already twenty minutes late. (Sorry! Sorry! Please invite me back....)

I've been slow to answer email and comments, and can't seem to find a handle on the regular things of my life. I'm mentally foggy. Not sure what's up,



My job is basically eating my brain, and not in a good, "I'm so wonderfully busy and engaged" kind of way.

I wonder what I can do to clear the mental fog.

Comments

[lamentables]

Oooh, lovely pic. Wasn't until I saw the rear light that I realised it's not a b&w photo.

[darkemeralds]

Heh. Portland spends at least six months of the year in black and white.

It's kind of soothing.

[karen_jk]

You and I both need an appointment book. I need to consult mine slavishly right now; I'm so distracted that I keep making mistakes. I made an appt for my therapist on Thurs morning, completely forgetting that my son had a dental procedure that morning requiring anaesthetic. Luckily I remembered 48 hrs before and switched the appt with the therapist.

[darkemeralds]

I am so hooked up to calendars and alerts it's crazy! My Outlook syncs with my phone, which I am never parted from. But when I get nutty, I lose track of which notification tones are on and which are off. And then whether I hear them is up for grabs.

To be honest, my Android phone is too complex for my needs, but to get what I want, I also have to take some stuff I don't have time to figure out.

The fact that you caught your schedule conflict 48 hours in advance tells me that your subconscious mind hasn't abandoned your calendar altogether!

[dine]

I'm sorry you couldn't join us - we had a good time, but missed you! we're already talking about maybe breakfast at le petit provence in a couple weeks - they've locations on both Division and Alberta; no one's been to the Alberta restaurant, so we think it's about time to try it (plus, that'd be more convenient for you and a couple of others). does that sound like doable for you?

[darkemeralds]

That sounds fantastic! I've never been to Petit Provence in either location, and Alberta is really handy for me.

Again, I'm sorry to have been such a flake last night. It was a wake up call for me to spend some quality time with my calendar, my phone, and its notification tones, which I shall do over the weekend.

[wintersfire]

I know that feeling! Try and do some things out of your routine and see if that stimulates your brain or maybe you just need to sleep and be kind to yourself for a little while :D

Gently does it...

[darkemeralds]

You know, it's funny you should mention that, because that thought flitted across my mind the other day (before disappearing in the fog). I remember reading somewhere that even varying something as basic as the sequence in which we towel-dry our bodies after bathing or brush our teeth can prick the consciousness into being present again.

My life, I realize, has become so deeply routinized lately that almost no consciousness is even required. For the most part, that routine is good for me, resulting in a better diet, a tidier house, and a more peaceful, orderly life.

But come on! I can at least ride home from work on a different street! Thank you for the suggestion. It's very helpful and I know it will make a difference.

[wintersfire]

I've had the same problem myself recently and found a bit of a change has really perked me up. I love my routine too but sometimes it's easy to deny ourselves simple pleasures of change and discovery.

I let lj and writing slide for a bit and re-read some old fave books, made the effort to spend some time just being, watching, absorbing the moment, not rushing to tasks (or at least once home from work and with the kids in bed).

I love porcelain and china and I rarely use it any more. I dug out some pretty cups and milk jug, sugarbowl etc and now set up the tray, lay everything out and take tea like a grand dame :D

Moments are everything x

[darkemeralds]

We should all take tea like a grande dame at least once in a while. That sounds lovely.

Change and discovery are great pleasures, and "simple" in the sense that they're basic to our nature. I realize that I've even been re-listening to the same set of podfics for the last few weeks, resisting simply discovering some new ones. There's a definite "run and hide" quality to this whole state.

I may have to break out my Mandarin lessons again. Language learning is a tremendous brain-activator.

[wintersfire]

The Mandarin will do the trick I'm sure!

I actually only use my DW to respond to you (by and large) - I rarely post there so you might be better finding me on lj at bornof_sorrow :D

[darkemeralds]

Oh, thanks for the tip. Have friended you over there. Must now read over there from time to time!