Planning

I am a planner. Actually, for those of you who know me well, this comes as no surprise. I am a party planning, group leading, give me the microphone and leave me in charge of the directions and details kind of girl. Nothing makes me crazier than spontaneous get togethers. I mean, you can have them, but don't count me in. I've usually got other plans. Sorry. I plan things out at least a week in advance (though I already have things on my calendar for late August and mid-September). If you ask me what I'm doing tonight, I can tell you (sushi with one of my dearest friends Nancy...yay!). If you ask me what I'm doing tomorrow night, I can tell you (hanging out with my best friend). The next night? Drama small group. Friday through Sunday? Going to MI to see my adorable nephew. Next Monday? Kristin is coming over. You'll notice Scott isn't in any of those nights. :) Not because I don't like him. Schedules didn't work out. I'll see him next week sometime. :) And this is my summer vacation, my down time. You should see my schedule when I'm taking two classes and working full time and writing papers and in drama performances, and directing drama performance, and writing drama scripts, and taking finals, and doing class presentations, and getting together with my friends for fun nights. It's a whirlwind, well documented. My scheduling calendar is with me almost all of the time, so you can ask me at work, at home, at church or even in my car to put you in my schedule (I have been known to schedule things, writing them on my calendar, on my cell phone while driving at 70 mph without missing a beat).

So I'm a planner. It's not the worst thing in the world. I very rarely encounter situations when I do not have the proper pass/permission/tickets to get into events. I got us into that free screening for "Little Miss Sunshine" because I was paying attention and planning ahead. Scott says that he hates that I'm a planner. This is actually not as true as he thinks it is (so now I'm thinking for him, instead of the other way around, see his blog and my attached comment for more clarification on that). He should actually say that he wishes that I wasn't AS MUCH of a planner. Because the fact that I'm a planner has often benefited him in very positive ways. He got good Christmas, birthday, anniversary presents last year because I am a planner. His parents and brother got good gifts, because I am a planner. He got plane tickets home and didn't have to sit in the very back of the plane because I am a planner. He experiences new, fabulous restaurants because I am a planner. He gets a ride home from various things because I am a planner. So he's right in wishing that I didn't plan so much, because he is way more spontaneous than I am and wants to be able to fly by the seat of his pants, per say. And there are times when I wish that I wasn't so much of a planner. Because I can't figure out how I get so burned out, so quickly, or so tired. Or why I haven't read a book in forever, and can't find time to fit them in if I do start them, even on my summer vacation. My room is full of unfinished books. My life thrives on schedule, it is stressful to turn it off. But those days without a planner, when I don't have anything on my schedule (especially weekends) are blissful when they actually occur. I can sleep in late and do nothing except watch old movies and read my magazines. So he's right, I guess, there are some days when my life would be better left unplanned.

In the meantime, last night, I bought my hair stylist her Christmas present early. It's perfect for her, and it was on sale. And that's one more thing I can check off my list... Ah, you don't think I could possibly have a Christmas list going in July? Think again, my friend, think again...