Saturday, December 09, 2006

There Will Be Time

posted by dinah
I tell people things about my life and they look at me kind of funny. It's that look that says, really loudly despite the fact that no noise pops out, "You do what?" or maybe more like, "You do What? Clink did it recently when I mentioned that I have coffee every morning with my friend the judge and her dog, Tex. She said, "Every day? How do you do that?" Just to be clear on this, I have coffee every morning with a friend (sometimes two), for twenty-five minutes, right before work, it's how I start my day, every day, for years now.


Oh, and I write fiction-- one more way to get funny looks. Now I take a grad school course in fiction techniques (doctors aren't suppose to do this). Did I mention I have a psychiatry blog? At that point, the noise gets louder, I'm told I have much too much free time. And should I bother with the fact that I exchange emails three times a day (yes, I mean three times a day, well sometimes more) with a high school friend I reconnected with after decades? And that we've done this every day for the last 18 months or so?

I used to feel a bit awkward about it. I've wondered why other people don't have more time (they're quick to point out to me that it's because I work part-time, what can I say?). For a while, my answer to "how do you have time?" was to get a bit defensive and say "I'm more efficient than you." (--amazing anyone even wants to be my friend, but hey...ask an obnoxious question and...).

I've given up, I concede, and now I just say, "I have the life everyone else wants."

It's not so bad.

9 comments:

Midwife with a Knife said...

You have a psychiatry blog?

Sarebear said...

I like it. I've got the life everyone else wants.

Sounds like you do!

I like the time pic you used, too! It's very "me".

ClinkShrink said...

I just take it for granted you have a knack for juggling schedules and chaos doesn't bother you. That and the fact you don't seem to need much sleep, at least judging from the times on your emails.

I'm still trying to figure out the morning routine part. My morning routine is timed to the millisecond, and if something disrupts it then I will be that much later for work. I think the difference is that I have to drive farther and my parking space isn't always available so I have to leave earlier. I dunno. I'm hoping your efficiency will rub off on me when I housesit Max and PodGirl.

Steve & Barb said...

I have mastered time by phase-shifting it so that everyone else's time moves more slowly. However, it doesn't make me more organized. I'm still working on that time-space thingie.

Dinah said...

Midwife: I forgot to mention that?
Sarebare: You're welcome to steal the line. No charge.
Clink: Just juggling, limited chaos, and my morning routine is also timed, it just includes coffee time built in. If I have to drive the kids to school and be at work by 9, I actually do get up a little earlier.
Re: PodGirl, the chaos now includes a surprise birthday party, trying to figure this all out. I'll let you know the final call and save you the negotiations. Don't throw out that house key.
Roy: Huh? What does that mean??? Last I checked, time passes and space is occupied.

ClinkShrink said...

I think if Charm City ever needs a new emergency services dispatcher, Dinah should get the job. I can hear the scanner now:

"Unit 516, respond to shots fired on Monroe & Fayette Streets. On the way back swing by and catch that ambulance with the chest pain case for an escort. And don't forget piano lessons at 2:00."

Everyone would get to where they're supposed to be, on time, with the required snack.

Sarebear said...

Sounds like Roy needs to take some lessons from Hiro Nakamura. Altho Hiro seems to need to have a steep learning curve before he gets a handle on it, too. Hee Hee. I like "Heros", too . . .

NeoNurseChic said...

Dear God - I have it timed to the millisecond as well. But then, I don't know anybody who has to be at work by 7am for a 12 hour day that stops and has coffee first for 25 minutes. Maybe guzzles the coffee down before charge nurse writes them up for having it! Yeah...that's more like my life. I get up 25 minutes before I have to go out the door! And even then, I'm grumpy and irritable. I hate mornings. 100% And I don't like coffee, which makes things a bit more difficult. I can chug red bulls but it takes a lot more (and they taste quite yucky warm) to get the same caffeine jolt as that cup o' joe!

I have the life, though, too - I only work 3 days a week. And I think it's so tough. haha I love it - when I stop to realize that after working the 18th of this month, I have off until the 26th without using even a minute of vacation time, I realize that I've got it pretty damn good! Lots more time for me to lounge around and procrastinate! Oh woe were I more productive! ;)

Take care,
Carrie :)

Anonymous said...

EEK, You should be on Oprah for your abililty to get so much done everyday. I never seem to have enough time, for revisions that a minute will reverse. I love you and you too clink. And is emailing three times a day excessive anyway.???? Love abf