Austin, TEXAS, December 2, 2005 — There comes a time in every holiday season when I get to the point that I feel I've gotten the silly stuff done and can just do what I please. Like go to movies or hunker down with a book and a cup of coffee. Today I put the family calendar project to bed. I didn't print calendars for all my cousins so they may ask for them and, when they do, I'll print them. But I have the data in the computer and I have printed ones for my sister and my dad and his sisters. I have also already mailed (a few days ago) everything I'm going to mail except for these calendars and some checks to a few people. And these things are ready to mail.

Let me say, though, that I was useless today for the most part. I got up and intended to go to the club and have a good workout before going to a luncheon. But FFP was stuck into some work and I decided to get as much done on the calendars as possible and get that out of my way.

We left for downtown about eleven. We shouldn't have rushed because from 11:30 until noon people just stood around. We could have done less of that. But there were lots of interesting people to talk to. The event was the annual Heritage Society of Austin awards lunch. We ate while they did a slide show on the recepients. There was a speech by a woman from Denver who has been instrumental in some downtown projects there. She was amazing. It was a good event. FFP and I commented on how nice it is to just be able to go to a lunch like that and not rush, rush worrying about getting back to work.

We got home and I bustled around writing letters to my aunts and getting stuff ready to mail. When that was done, I started looking at doing a budget for November. I gathered up some receipts, went through the checkbook. I also backed up the bookkeeper's computer. I was about to set up the input and look through the credit card bills when a friend called and wanted to see an early movie. She suggested Harry Potter. I'm not a Harry fan but going to a movie seemed fun. More fun than the budget. We met at the Gateway and saw the 4:45. It didn't really grab me. But it was probably more interesting than doing the budget. She came back to the house and we ate some barbecued pork on toast and watched Left Luggage, a movie from Netflix. Which was sappy, but I liked it anyway.

So, yeah, I wasted time watching two movies, displacing from doing stuff I should do. But I didn't watch any stupid crime shows. That should count for something.

I saved some time today by not making the bed. We then didn't have to turn it down. I am so worthless. No workout, little done on my 'chores,' two movies. So why do I feel a sense of accomplishment? It's getting the family calendar project sort of done, I think. I am so sad. But I am determined to get all these little things done and then, do what? Maybe sit around and read and watch movies? Which is what I do anyway while displacing from this activity or that that I've put on my urgent 'to do' list.