My week of keeping a log of my leisure time vs work time is just about up -- and what have I learned? One thing -- that sometimes leisure and work get a bit muddled, especially since I don't have a typical 9 to 5 job, in which I have to get up and go someplace....except when I'm teaching a course, and that's a different story. It was much more clear cut when I "worked" at the hospital. I *went* to work, I *worked* and then I came home. What happened after getting home - a lot of times that was work too...typical mom/wife types of things related to keeping the home and the children taken care of.
I'm list and goal and accomplishment oriented. And unless I cross things off the list -- significant things, like finishing a lecture or getting a load of paperwork done -- then it almost seems as though the day just slipped by without anything being done.
When I'm lecturing/teaching -- that is Work! But a very enjoyable sort of work. I really love getting up in front of a group and teaching. I enjoy putting lectures together and working on my powerpoints -- finding just the right pictures to illustrate what I'm talking about. I enjoy the interaction with the participants and many times I learn things from them that I wouldn't otherwise know.
So, much of what I did this week I labeled as work -- as it was -- preparing for our course next week, getting some lectures done, getting all the paperwork done that goes along with the administrative role of my part of the business. Interspersed was time spent on Facebook -- but much of that relates to the Business of Breastfeeding which is my work. Also communicating back and forth via e-mail with my two colleagues in LEC. So being on e-mail is also work.
I had wonderful conversations with my sister and my husband about work and leisure and how we were brought up as children to view leisure -- mostly with suspicion...that if you "indulged" in leisure, it somehow was equated with laziness, unless Everything Else Was Done.
My leisure activities -- that I really consider leisure involve reading -- novels are really leisure. Crossword puzzles that I've just begun to thoroughly enjoy -- thanks to Tim & Annabel. The occasional computer game. And notice that those are all solitary activities! Hmmmm.... Other things I would consider leisure -- eating out. And probably my favorite activity of all, having my family around and eating dinner on the deck in the summer time, spending an hour or so after we have finished, just hanging out and talking. Being with my family any time may involve work, but I think it is so pleasurable, it has to be leisure.
I discovered I really enjoy my work, so it's hard to look at it as *work*. And I still feel guilty when I take an hour during the day (I didn't, but I imagined it) to read a book. I'll need to work on that!!
I think if I add "read for an hour" or "do Monday's crossword puzzle" to my list of things to do, perhaps I'll feel as though I've accomplished something....
Something to think about!!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Leisure -- Is It A Woman vs Man Thing?
I started thinking about leisure in the context of men and women yesterday, and couldn't decide if it is easier for men to take leisure time or for women? Not in my family -- my Bob seldom takes a moment of what I would term leisure...he always has some sort of iron in the fire, and is either doing something around the house or at his desk. The only TV he watches is the news -- and the only two TV programs we watch if we don't go to church on Sunday night is 60 Minutes and the Amazing Race.
Think about those a minute. What does it say about our ability to just kick back? Both are competetive....
But I had to Google and find this which I think may say it all:
***********************************************
I'M GOING TO BED.....Men vs Women
Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed".
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar
Container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer , ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.
She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.
She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.
She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk, wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair
She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store.. She put both near her purse.
Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails..
Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."
"I'm on my way," she said
She put some water into the dog's dish then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.
She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.
About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed"
And he did..without another thought.
****************************Thanks to Rome NewsWire Forum*************************
Think about those a minute. What does it say about our ability to just kick back? Both are competetive....
But I had to Google and find this which I think may say it all:
***********************************************
I'M GOING TO BED.....Men vs Women
Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed".
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar
Container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer , ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.
She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.
She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.
She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk, wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair
She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store.. She put both near her purse.
Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails..
Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."
"I'm on my way," she said
She put some water into the dog's dish then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.
She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.
About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed"
And he did..without another thought.
****************************Thanks to Rome NewsWire Forum*************************
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
More on Leisure
I'm on day three of this keeping track of my leisure time....did fairly well on Sunday, which, after all, is supposed to be a day of rest anyway. Not so well yesterday. I did count our life group meeting as leisure time because it is something I want to do, enjoy doing, and counts for something besides work.
But one of the things I discovered on Sunday -- and yesterday -- was that when I think about doing something just plain old enjoyable, like reading a novel, I get a bit twitchy. Like I'm not *allowed* for some reason. That I should be doing something productive. And I've been trying to analyze why.
Partly, I think, it was the way I was brought up. I need to check with my sisters about this, but there was something inherently not acceptable about just being lazy, as my parents would have put it. We were generally supposed to be doing SOMETHING. Homework, housework, practicing our music, whatever....but sitting around and reading (yes -- my favorite form of leisure) was to be left until after all the real work was done.
During nursing school and college there was very little leisure time -- homework was always there; I remember saying things like, "If I can only make it until Friday, then I'll be OK"...or, "If I live through all I have to do this weekend, I'll survive." Somehow, we still managed to make our fun, most likely at the expense of our sleep.
Even after I got married, there was always something. It started by realizing that Bob was getting his master's, and since I had nothing to do on Tuesday nights, I may as well go for mine as well. And then I started teaching in the school of nursing which meant there was always something to do in the evenings and on weekends as we spent hours grading care plans and other papers. And so it went....
And now I work out of my home, and as anyone that has a home business knows, that work is never finished. There is always something more to be done.
So -- perhaps this week will help me learn that leisure is not only OK, but it is good. And that I need more of it.
So does Bob.
After all, God rested on the 7th day.....
But one of the things I discovered on Sunday -- and yesterday -- was that when I think about doing something just plain old enjoyable, like reading a novel, I get a bit twitchy. Like I'm not *allowed* for some reason. That I should be doing something productive. And I've been trying to analyze why.
Partly, I think, it was the way I was brought up. I need to check with my sisters about this, but there was something inherently not acceptable about just being lazy, as my parents would have put it. We were generally supposed to be doing SOMETHING. Homework, housework, practicing our music, whatever....but sitting around and reading (yes -- my favorite form of leisure) was to be left until after all the real work was done.
During nursing school and college there was very little leisure time -- homework was always there; I remember saying things like, "If I can only make it until Friday, then I'll be OK"...or, "If I live through all I have to do this weekend, I'll survive." Somehow, we still managed to make our fun, most likely at the expense of our sleep.
Even after I got married, there was always something. It started by realizing that Bob was getting his master's, and since I had nothing to do on Tuesday nights, I may as well go for mine as well. And then I started teaching in the school of nursing which meant there was always something to do in the evenings and on weekends as we spent hours grading care plans and other papers. And so it went....
And now I work out of my home, and as anyone that has a home business knows, that work is never finished. There is always something more to be done.
So -- perhaps this week will help me learn that leisure is not only OK, but it is good. And that I need more of it.
So does Bob.
After all, God rested on the 7th day.....
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Work vs Leisure
We are beginning a new series in our Adult Community at College Church in Wheaton led by Leland Ryken -- kickoff being this morning with an interesting quizlet, given in true Wheaton College Professorial style. Upshot of the whole thing was that Lee wanted some volunteers to keep a log of leisure and work time this week, and then report on it next Sunday morning. No one volunteered, however Ned & Linda Gulbransen were volunteered -- and then someone behind me (I didn't see who, but I have a good idea) volunteered me.
So, I'm thinking about it. What is work? What is leisure? How do I decide? Is, for example, blogging on work and leisure actually WORK, because I'm doing it as part of an assignment, or is it LEISURE, because I rather enjoy writing (not that you'd know it by the paucity of posts in this blog), or is it in that sort of grey, nebulous place of neither one nor the other?
I'm hoping to find out what is what....
If you enjoy doing something, then is it leisure? Even if it is work? I love lecturing, but that is my work -- and it expends a lot of energy (not enough...doesn't burn nearly enough calories to my way of thinking) -- and I wouldn't call it leisure...
I don't like cooking as anyone who knows me at all can attest to. So for me, cooking -- even thinking about cooking -- is work.
What about getting dressed in the morning. After all, showering, dressing, putting on the coffee, making the bed -- sorta getting ready for the day....does that fall into either of the above categories? I HAVE to do it (goodness knows, I'd be ostracized if I didn't)...but I'm not sure it's work (though some days getting up and moving along seems pure drudgery).
I suppose there are a bunch of things that are going to fall into the neither one nor the other category....
It will be interesting to see how the week falls out. Especially given that I'm not "working" this week -- I'm home....
So, I'm thinking about it. What is work? What is leisure? How do I decide? Is, for example, blogging on work and leisure actually WORK, because I'm doing it as part of an assignment, or is it LEISURE, because I rather enjoy writing (not that you'd know it by the paucity of posts in this blog), or is it in that sort of grey, nebulous place of neither one nor the other?
I'm hoping to find out what is what....
If you enjoy doing something, then is it leisure? Even if it is work? I love lecturing, but that is my work -- and it expends a lot of energy (not enough...doesn't burn nearly enough calories to my way of thinking) -- and I wouldn't call it leisure...
I don't like cooking as anyone who knows me at all can attest to. So for me, cooking -- even thinking about cooking -- is work.
What about getting dressed in the morning. After all, showering, dressing, putting on the coffee, making the bed -- sorta getting ready for the day....does that fall into either of the above categories? I HAVE to do it (goodness knows, I'd be ostracized if I didn't)...but I'm not sure it's work (though some days getting up and moving along seems pure drudgery).
I suppose there are a bunch of things that are going to fall into the neither one nor the other category....
It will be interesting to see how the week falls out. Especially given that I'm not "working" this week -- I'm home....
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Nigel
I, like many others, have a GPS system which I have decided I probably can't live without. I also get Pediatrics, as one of my many journals. What does one have to do with the other? To fill white space, WVR, MD aften prints paragraphs about -- well, just about anything. One of this month's was entitled, "The Female Voice." He went on to describe how most computer generated voices, such as that in your GPS or like Siri in the new iPhone, are all female voices. Why? Because according to an aritcle in CNN.com (October 21), most people find women's voices more attractive than men's. And in popular culture, computers that are helpful or subservient tend to be female....such as the computer on Star Trek. He goes on to say that he has yet to meet a driver here in the U.S. that has a device with a male voice.
Well, WVR, here I am. I have Nigel, a British sounding, and very male voice. I think his original name was Tim -- probably one of the reasons I chose him. I like the British accent (though he and Ken, his Aussie counterpart sound exactly alike to me). Perhaps Josh, our pastor at CCiW could tell me what part of England he comes from -- I don't think Yorkshire...he sounds rather bland for that.
None the less, I have Nigel. "In 800 yards take the exit right, then take the motorway." Thanks, Nigel, I will.
Well, WVR, here I am. I have Nigel, a British sounding, and very male voice. I think his original name was Tim -- probably one of the reasons I chose him. I like the British accent (though he and Ken, his Aussie counterpart sound exactly alike to me). Perhaps Josh, our pastor at CCiW could tell me what part of England he comes from -- I don't think Yorkshire...he sounds rather bland for that.
None the less, I have Nigel. "In 800 yards take the exit right, then take the motorway." Thanks, Nigel, I will.
Monday, October 10, 2011
To Florida and Back Again
Hard to believe my trip to Florida has come and gone. It was wonderful visiting with Jill and the GrandAwards. I'm pretty sure 3 is just about the most delightful age. I'm devastated that some of my pictures (many of my pictures....) turned out blurry. Bummer.
We ate dinner at Joe's Crab Shack on Wednesday night because Deven was up to 80 books in his 100 book challenge. He needs to read 100 books by the end of second grade, and by the time I left on Sunday, was up to 96. I think a second 100 book challenge is in order ... also slightly harder books ...
We went shopping (of course). Miramar Outlets in Bonita Springs is wonderful, and I love Ann Taylor. Am almost persuaded that I can now swap out the summer and winter clothes -- a job I dread on a bi-annual basis. Yuk. Deven was more than happy to be spared the shopping chore! Laura seems to love it -- and people at Ann Taylor remembered her. Jill thinks perhaps she's been there one too many times!
We had dinner on the beach on Friday night, though it was a tad chilly. The clouds were up and about, but it was still nice.
I had to go to the delightful little store, "Exquisites" because that is exactly what it is -- got a new Vera purse that will hold both the Kindle and the iPad.
Saturday night Jill hosted her "life group" from Vanderbilt Presby Church -- great food and fellowship. Loved meeting some of her closest friends.
All too soon it was over -- and home again. But -- in my bag was a letter from Deven that he had written totally spontaneously:
"hi grame this is Deven A i'm goingto miss you becus you are going to Chcago i hope you get snow so we can go in the snow i love you grame il come back soon i love you."
I love you too, Deven.
We ate dinner at Joe's Crab Shack on Wednesday night because Deven was up to 80 books in his 100 book challenge. He needs to read 100 books by the end of second grade, and by the time I left on Sunday, was up to 96. I think a second 100 book challenge is in order ... also slightly harder books ...
We went shopping (of course). Miramar Outlets in Bonita Springs is wonderful, and I love Ann Taylor. Am almost persuaded that I can now swap out the summer and winter clothes -- a job I dread on a bi-annual basis. Yuk. Deven was more than happy to be spared the shopping chore! Laura seems to love it -- and people at Ann Taylor remembered her. Jill thinks perhaps she's been there one too many times!
We had dinner on the beach on Friday night, though it was a tad chilly. The clouds were up and about, but it was still nice.
I had to go to the delightful little store, "Exquisites" because that is exactly what it is -- got a new Vera purse that will hold both the Kindle and the iPad.
Saturday night Jill hosted her "life group" from Vanderbilt Presby Church -- great food and fellowship. Loved meeting some of her closest friends.
All too soon it was over -- and home again. But -- in my bag was a letter from Deven that he had written totally spontaneously:
"hi grame this is Deven A i'm goingto miss you becus you are going to Chcago i hope you get snow so we can go in the snow i love you grame il come back soon i love you."
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
My Friend Nan
I've not seen her since I was 4. We (Mother and Daddy and I) stayed with Nan and Don and their two sons, Hugh(ie) and David in Tasmania when we were traveling around Australia, and Daddy was doing evangelistic meetings. We had been summarily booted out of China where we were missionaries -- the communists came, and foreigners left -- us among them. So we went to Australia and moved around a lot -- Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne...Tasmania.
I don't remember much from the two years we were there. I remember going to kindergarten with Heather, one of the children of one of the families we stayed with -- actually, Jean and Lyall Lush ended up moving to Seattle and our families stayed friends for many many years. And I remember staying with Nan and Don, and playing with Hughie (also age 4), and not being very nice to David, age 3.
And of course, there was (and is, and always will be) Vegemite. (I'm on a CS Lewis listserv, and whenever things get a bit slow, it's time to bring the non-posters out of the woodwork by having the Vegemite-Marmite wars as we have an equal number of Brits and Aussies on the list. But I digress).
Anyway, Hugh "found" me when I was in nursing school, and we corresponded for awhile, but then lost touch. However, in this day of electronic communication, Nan found me several years ago via the internet. How she did that, I'll never know as of course I'd been married for many years, and don't use my maiden name on much of anything. But find me she did, and we have corresponded rather irregularly over the past 8 or so years.
It has been wonderful "meeting" someone from my past that knew and loved my parents and loves Jesus so very much. It brings back a whole part of my life that I hadn't really thought about for years...I mean, I was FOUR, after all. But we've exchanged pictures, and she has/had a blog -- and I had mine (Mother of the Bride) and now this one.
Nan caught up with me again recently -- she saw the pictures of the newly painted house from my last post and wrote, this time to "Jan of Blue Gables."
I name everything as anyone in my family will tell you. This computer is "Big Mama", the middle sized laptop is Harry Potter (it's an HP), and the really little one is Miss Minnie. My car is JanzLmo (which is also the license plate), and Bob's is Frank Sonata. The GPS is Nigel, as he's a Brit, and I'm thinking the iPhone will be Ima. (Ima iPhone). The iPad may or may not be Iva. Haven't decided if Iva iPad is just a bit over the top.
In the nearly 30 years we've lived here, I've never come up with a name for the house. But Blue Gables resonates with me...and as a Lucy Maud Montgomery fan, "Jan of Blue Gables" resonates even more.
Thank you, Nan!!
I don't remember much from the two years we were there. I remember going to kindergarten with Heather, one of the children of one of the families we stayed with -- actually, Jean and Lyall Lush ended up moving to Seattle and our families stayed friends for many many years. And I remember staying with Nan and Don, and playing with Hughie (also age 4), and not being very nice to David, age 3.
And of course, there was (and is, and always will be) Vegemite. (I'm on a CS Lewis listserv, and whenever things get a bit slow, it's time to bring the non-posters out of the woodwork by having the Vegemite-Marmite wars as we have an equal number of Brits and Aussies on the list. But I digress).
Anyway, Hugh "found" me when I was in nursing school, and we corresponded for awhile, but then lost touch. However, in this day of electronic communication, Nan found me several years ago via the internet. How she did that, I'll never know as of course I'd been married for many years, and don't use my maiden name on much of anything. But find me she did, and we have corresponded rather irregularly over the past 8 or so years.
It has been wonderful "meeting" someone from my past that knew and loved my parents and loves Jesus so very much. It brings back a whole part of my life that I hadn't really thought about for years...I mean, I was FOUR, after all. But we've exchanged pictures, and she has/had a blog -- and I had mine (Mother of the Bride) and now this one.
Nan caught up with me again recently -- she saw the pictures of the newly painted house from my last post and wrote, this time to "Jan of Blue Gables."
I name everything as anyone in my family will tell you. This computer is "Big Mama", the middle sized laptop is Harry Potter (it's an HP), and the really little one is Miss Minnie. My car is JanzLmo (which is also the license plate), and Bob's is Frank Sonata. The GPS is Nigel, as he's a Brit, and I'm thinking the iPhone will be Ima. (Ima iPhone). The iPad may or may not be Iva. Haven't decided if Iva iPad is just a bit over the top.
In the nearly 30 years we've lived here, I've never come up with a name for the house. But Blue Gables resonates with me...and as a Lucy Maud Montgomery fan, "Jan of Blue Gables" resonates even more.
Thank you, Nan!!
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