Working on a New Idea

Yesterday I did end up calling in, and I slept for 8 hours. I must have really needed the rest! I got up for a few hours (after 2pm), then went to bed at my normal time. Not sure I'm back to 100%, but it's Thursday, so only today and tomorrow left for the work week.

Now... to my idea :-). I'm working on a 'friendship journal' idea. I've really been inspired by some amazing online friends. I've connected with a few, and came up with this idea. Let me try to explain it. In my handbound journals, there are 6 signatures. A signature is a group of papers, that's folded and sewn on the spine. So... I am going to make 3 blank cover journals. I'll mail 2 to friends. Once they're received, we'll all proceed to fill 2 signatures with our thoughts, drawings, ramblings, collage, etc. Then we'll mail them to the next person. And we'll repeat. At the end, they'll get mailed again, this time back to us, so that everyone sees what everyone did in all of them. And we'll keep the one we started with. Blank cover, so we can decorate that as well.

Sometime within the next week, I'll be finishing these and getting them in the mail. I think it's a really good concept. At some point, I may be adding 'friendship journals' to my shop. Any thoughts? I'd love to get all the input I can on this one. I think that especially with long distance relationships, it's so important to be able to hold onto something tangible.

And guess what?? As of this morning, I'm at 49 sales! I am so in awe and still squeal with delight at each and every one :-).

I didn't move fast enough...

Yesterday I wrote a post about moving towards relaxation. I can't help but think that I didn't move fast enough now. Yesterday, hubby went to the dr. He has the flu. Not the swine flu (they tested for that), but the flu nonetheless.

The only symptom I'm having so far is exhaustion. I can't keep my eyes open this morning. So, I'm going to rest a little bit and see if I can make it in to work. Not sure how that's going to work. Cross your fingers for me... that either I can rest and feel better or that I will actually call in to work. I feel soooooooo guilty when I do that.

Moving towards relaxation

I've been a little harried lately. I don't do well with being idle, so I stay very busy. When I had my prescription drug withdrawal I was forced into a short period of time where I withdrew. But it was not rewarding, it was not relaxing. It was tormented. Now, though, I realize that I need to relax. I need a time when I'm not promoting and marketing 20 hours a day.

I can't do it yet. I'm in the middle of making 2 custom journals and packaging orders to mail. But I am working towards it. Sometime within the month of May, I'll have some time off. It will be a forced period of time when I don't go online and promote, and I just relax. I enjoy writing, perhaps I'll go through my writing. See? Still busy. Ugh. I'm not very good at this. I think the most important thing is I won't be marketing my shop. I think I'll go out with my best friend who I had lost touch with (I had been thinking about her for a week, she called me yesterday, I was so happy!!), and I will try to connect with a *me* that's not online.

I will definitely still blog, because this is not work. It's me getting in touch with my inner self. I will probably work shortened hours at my day job (I've been doing this, going home several hours early at least once a week). And possibly I will create as well. After all, that's what I enjoy doing. Sometimes I don't get the chance to do that, but I need to cool my jets and just let the creativity flow. No deadline, no specifications... just create.

That is what I'm working towards... we'll see how many excuses I can find to avoid it.

Heroes sometimes come in surprising forms

As you know, much of my weekend was spent traveling. 5 hours in the car Saturday, 5 hours in the car Sunday. And in between, I watched my sons race motocross. I had bad dreams Friday night (I always get nervous when they race) and had an overall bad feeling on Saturday. I just felt like one of them was going to be hurt. Needless to say, my nerves were shot.

My youngest son, who is 13, crashed in his first race, sending my heart pounding, but he got up quickly and continued. The two oldest, 15 and 17, almost always race in the same class, and they are pretty competitive. During their first race, a boy went down and had to be taken away in an ambulance. Luckily, it was a leg injury, not a broken neck or anything like that. Nerves got worse.

In their 2nd race, I was filming with the camcorder from the balcony so I had a very good view. At one point, the 15 year old crashed and got pinned beneath his bike (I was meant to have the view I did because I could tell he was ok, just couldn't get out from under it). The 17 year old came upon him and could have gone right on by, to place in the race. However, with no hesitation, my oldest son jumped off of his bike, ran over and helped his brother up, then hopped back on his bike to finish the race.

I hope the video turned out ok, because as that was happening, tears were streaming down my face. They are again as I write this. I had never really thought that my oldest son (at least at this early age) could be my hero. But he is. As a mother, my heart swelled with such pride, that he would unthinkingly do such a selfless act.

As parents, we are often proud of our children. This was my biggest moment so far. I know I am rambling a bit... but I just wanted to share it with you. I hope we can all find the magic in every day.

My Dad is an awesome photographer!!

just a few of dad's pictures for the morning... I'm anticipating a very busy day and it's started already. Happy Friday!

And guess what??? I'm featured on a dear girl's blog: http://dragonflykey.blogspot.com/

An off day & a SALE for you

I always get this way, at least once during the work week. Where I'm just exhausted. Things have been a little busier at work, which is awesome. I'm now at 37 sales, which is awesome. And I'm really tired.

So, yesterday was an off day. I still discussed ideas with friends, and became inspired. But my heart just wasn't in all the marketing. And that's ok. It's ok to have an off day. And it's ok to NOT beat yourself up for just not being into it. In fact, I've learned that if you beat yourself up about it, then it flows into another whole day of being off. I don't want that :-).

Today I'll ease back into it. I'll do some marketing, do some brainstorming. Lots of ideas now, and I may not get them done til next week because I have a weekend trip planned. But you know what? I'd really love to move some stuff before my trip.

So... today I'm offering YOU 25% off your purchase in my shop. The only thing you need to do is put BLOG25 in your notes on your order. It's a great time to get those Mother's Day gifts! So please stop by and look around. I've never made an offer like this through my blog. Do let me know if you have questions!

a side note: I have free shipping, and the 25% off *does* also apply to the pendants that are already on clearance!! I will refund your paypal as soon as I see your purchase!

Brainstorming is good!

Yesterday was a very creative day, as far as planning goes. I was brainstorming ideas for my shop a few different times yesterday with online friends and they had some of the most amazing suggestions!! I'll be trying out all the ideas very soon, and will let you know when I've listed them!

One of the ideas was to make journals that are aimed more towards children. I've always just thought before that you know, kids could just use the ones I already make. But I will be coming out with some that have more playful covers on them, and one for the Harry Potter fans out there, not using that name directly, of course, but with a "wand". Another will feature silk fibers from a spinner I know embedded in homemade paper on the cover! Oh, and one of her homemade knitting needles as either the spine or the closure. Yep, I'm going to be working out the details of closures and stuff soon.

Creativity is good... and round-table discussions where artists toss ideas at one another--that's amazing! I've spent a lot of time in a cave. When I was a stay at home mom, married to a man in the air force, I kept to myself. Only after we separated did I go to a weekly writers meeting a few times, and once I even presented one of my poems! Those meetings, with critiques and comments flying, were such a rush. Yesterday reminded me of that.

I've always had a dream. Of living in an artist's community. Where interaction with creative people is a constant. In my dream world, this would make for such a happy existence! And in a sense, I'm living it now more than ever! Today I urge you... if you have a project that you're in the middle of, or even if you're just thinking about starting one... discuss it with someone you trust. Toss around ideas! Take notes, get input! See where it takes you.

Etsy, and the internet, open doors!!

So, in my shop, I'm now at 36 sales!!! Can you believe it? My goal had been 25 by the end of April and I blew right past that! I am so thankful for each and every sale! The bulk of my sales have been photos, or photo related (bookmarks, coasters, etc). You have no idea how much it means to me to snap a picture, list it on there, and have people not only give me amazing feedback via conversations, etc. but to also have them buy it to display in their home!!

Another totally amazing, art affirming thing happened last week, and I hope that I don't jinx it by talking about it in here. I was contacted by an online friend, telling me that her dad is opening his own online business (not a shop on etsy, but a real .com), and would like to use one of my photos as his branding. MY photo!!!! I can imagine that it'll go on his site, his business cards, his letterhead... My head still cannot quite wrap itself around that one! We have yet to fully discuss it, but what an honor! I had to call my dad immediately to tell him!

I'm being purposely vague about it, because the deal has not been sealed. Talks are in the works, and I am honored that I have been asked. It is amazing how the internet has opened so many doors. Not just for me, but for so many who put themselves out there! If any of you have had experiences with licensing an image, I'd love to hear about it. You can email me directly at robyns_art@live.com

This coming weekend will bring lots of new photo opportunities, with a long road trip and a motocross race. Who knows what will make it into my shop!! My only thought to leave with you today... put yourself out there. Things will happen that you could never have imagined before!

Ugh, it's Monday Again...

So, it's Monday again. And I feel that familiar exhaustion this morning. I slept in over the weekend, so getting up at 4am this morning was difficult.

Sleeping in... it is so heavenly any more. It was a good weekend. Yesterday we went to a friend's house and learned how to make fused glass pendants! Kevin has a shop on etsy, and actually we met on twitter. His pendants are absolutely gorgeous! When we went there, I knew absolutely nothing about how to fuse glass. But last night, I went to bed with the process swimming through my head. If only I had a kiln... Not likely to get one of those any time soon, but I would like to play with the glass some more. We'll see what the future holds.

Today I go to work. I have learned that work is what I make of it, more or less. So this week I hope to make it a peaceful, calm week. I know, I can't control others, but I can control my response. And the level to which I absorb their negativity. I have some photos at work that I can edit. And I have some listings that I can work on for my shop. So, if all else fails, I can get absorbed in that. It's a good escape.

Life is what you make of it... here's hoping I make this a wonderful week!

Getting Organized, Everything in it's place

My space that I live in is small. Thankfully, it's an apartment, so it's cheap, and it's temporary. But it's small. I've taken over one section of the living room and one couch with my papers, my paper cutter, my cutting mat, my finished journals, my packaging supplies. Yesterday, a table was moved in for me and put over the coffee table. Strangely enough, it works.

So all my supplies are nicely arranged on the table, with finished journals in a box, and packaging supplies on the coffee table. It's a really nice feeling to have it all organized and I feel that all of a sudden even my brain is less cluttered!

I have my projects in progress in one section, so I can see what I need to finish. By the end of the day tomorrow, I should have several journals ready to list! Including one new design that was a special order! If it works the way I envision, I'll be making more to list!

It's amazing how change can stimulate action. Thankfully this is change for the better. I've had a rough week, and getting my supplies organized really helped me to come up out of the rut. This organization has been a long time coming. A really long time. And since I didn't even have to move a table, it was so easy!!

I stated the other day, in the Etsy forum, that my dream is to make my business flow.... from the conception of the idea, all the way through to packaging. To make it easier on me to be able to create, and run my business, and not freak out when I have a dozen sales to ship out. (It could happen!!! Actually, two days ago, I had 5 items ordered in one day!) And now it's coming to fruition.

Sometimes, life is good. Sometimes even when it's not, something small can happen to make it all worthwhile.

Kicking my own butt

So, I realized that I've been dwelling on some mistakes I've made in the past. Beating myself up for things. Sometimes, I think it's good to do that, because it propels you to change. But dwell on it too long and it just becomes like quicksand, sucking you under, refusing to release it's hold on you.

So, it seems that the lesson being shoved down my throat lately is balance. The yin and the yang of everything. I think I'm usually pretty good at that, but here lately it's been a struggle. And life has a funny way of hitting you over the head with a lesson until you get it!

I'm letting go of some online activities to make more room for the creating, and I think I probably need to get back to doing something I enjoy. Reading, writing, photography (the camera used to come out every day, but now it only seems to come out during planned photo days).

I will be working on creating something new tonight... not for my shop, something to give as a gift. Lots of thoughts swirling in my head this morning!

The photo above is a red winged blackbird... I absolutely love them! This one was so friendly, and their song is amazing.

An Article I wrote!!

An article I wrote on outdoor photography is featured today on this lovely blog!!! http://www.alloverart-nc.blogspot.com/

Sometimes you have to let go...

For awhile there, I was trying to do it all. I was active in a couple of groups on Etsy, I was talking in the forums constantly, buying ads on various sites, hosting a Project Wonderful ad block on my blog... And I worried about it all. Constantly. There was always the push to keep up.

I realized late last night that I just need to let go of some of it. I removed the ad block a couple of weeks ago, that was such a relief! I post in the forums sometimes from work, I've not looked into buying any more ads. Today, I'm going to go on hiatus from the one remaining group that I was active in (that I have not really contributed to since my recent prescription drug issue, but that I've been stressing about).

I've been talking about working smarter not harder. I've networked with some people lately, and it's worked to get the word out for my shop. I'm even going to plan to take a couple of days off per week with that.

I've been so focused on marketing that I've not called my Dad in over a week. And you should see my house!! Not to mention the fact that I have tons of new ideas swirling in my head that I simply do not have time to create. So it's time to work on me. Time to connect with Dad again. Time to get my ideas to become reality, and time to clean my space.

I did take a lot of photos on the weekend and that was healing. And I made two journals last night, one was a custom order, but the other one has a beautiful map of Paris on the cover. I can spit those out-- the ones that are made like the others in my shop. But I have an idea for a new design and I need time to be able to make it. Mostly to know that I can.

One of my goals this year was to not only come up with ideas (I'm really good at that!), but to follow through. I need to post that around the house, in my car, at work... "Follow through". Another is to work smarter, not harder. I'm figuring out how to do that in baby steps. The hardest thing is to remember to take care of ME.

My ultimate goal is to work from home. I'd like to sell my journals and photography from Etsy, but I'd also love to be a freelance photographer. None of that's going to happen if I don't get the basic steps to flow. It won't happen if I get bogged down by packaging orders to mail, or if I don't continue to make time to create.

So, as always, I have a lot of work to do. That work is going to start with calling my Dad tonight... and straightening up my crafting area.

Meeting Goals

At the beginning of April, I had either 11 or 14 sales. My shop had been open for months, and I'd been promoting my butt off. But at the beginning of April, I stated a sales goal. That I would hit 25 sales by the end of April. Judging by past progress, I was not totally sure that I could meet this goal. However, I stated it, and I believed. And guess what? Last night, on April 13, I met my goal!!!

Tonight I'm going to work on some new journals for my shop, one is a custom order, the other one will have a gorgeous map of Paris on the cover. I'll also do some custom bookmarks that a friend had requested. And tomorrow will start a customer appreciation sale! You might want to stop by! There will be amazing deals!

I know that to some, 25 sales is not alot. I look at others' shops and they've had 1700 sales. But each step gets me closer to my goals. Each sale teaches me something about my abilities and what I'm doing-- both right and wrong.

Tonight I'll also be setting goals for the next month. I have found that if I state concrete goals, then I will work towards it and I will achieve it!

The flower photo above is available in my shop! Just click on it :-)

A photo Weekend

What a busy weekend! Two photo days fully taken advantage of! Yesterday we went for a drive up the coast. It was windy and rainy and cold. Still got quite a few pictures, though, including some of a lighthouse. One of my friends' has requested photos of all the Oregon lighthouses. 1 down... 8 or 9 to go.

This is Cape Meares Lighthouse. It's near Tillamook and since it's on such high ground, it's only 38' tall, making it the shortest lighthouse in Oregon. Currently for sale in my shop.

Last week, I put my stuff in a craft show. It was a different experience for me because in this craft show, I paid for table space and set up my stuff, then 5 days later I picked my stuff up. There were workers there all the time, but nobody manned their booth. And that's how it was meant to be. Well, I crashed and burned. One journal sold and that's it. I did not even pay for my table.

Perhaps it's the economy, perhaps it's because I didn't sit there, talking my stuff up. I think more the latter. There is another show like this in November, and I doubt that I'll consider it I think it's so important to actively market. To be there for questions, to point things out that they wouldn't see if they are just walking through. Perhaps I will still do craft shows, but not unmanned ones.

I'll be posting pics from my weekend throughout the week.

An Blog Feature on Me...

http://roses7184.blogspot.com A wonderful, sweet friend of mine featured me on her blog this morning... take a look if you get the chance!

Compartmentalizing

So, I have two impending interviews... I mentioned that the other day. I've had the questions for both for a bit now.... and I haven't been able to answer and return them. So, of course I've been doing some soul-searching to find out why.

I compartmentalize. People at work know certain things about me and not others. Same with people online. Each section of my life is put into a little box, and only brought out when needed. In the coming weeks, the fam and I will be going over to an online friends house to learn how to fuse glass. It's a crossing over. I'm a bit uncomfortable with crossing over. Oh I'll do it and I'll have fun... but my initial reaction is that I don't want to open that box.

Years and years ago, I wrote an online newspaper column. I can't say it was a job because I never got paid. The guy was a major flake. But, I went on a trip to Corpus Christi, TX, where I was raised. I had been chatting in the local chatroom there and had planned to meet a dozen people while on my trip. And of course, I was going to write about it. Out of those dozen people, one was the same in real life as she was on there. The others had grossly misrepresented themselves.

I don't want to be one of the 11. I don't want to be disingenuine. But I'm also very comfortable with my boxes. So I've taken a deep breath. I will answer the questions today, to the best of my ability, and send them out there. The two ladies who will be posting the interviews each seem like amazing individuals and it will all be ok.

That's not really the point though... as a general rule, when you put yourself out there it ends up being ok. Well, it does for me anyway. I don't have anxiety about putting myself out there, it's just those damn boxes. Which ones do I open and show you? Which ones are messy inside? Which ones are jam-packed with treasures? I think we are about to find out.

Thursday.... ahhhhhhhh...

I'm really glad the work week is almost over... We've had lots of computer problems at work, making my job more difficult. But this weekend will be wonderful! Saturday we're going on a photo taking exhibition at the same place that I took the picture of my wise tree.

Did you guys notice the Wise Tree on the right of your screen? I am going to change the item weekly, offering something new!

Then Sunday will be a trip to the coast to take pictures of lighthouses. I am really excited about that!

In my Etsy shop, sales have been a bit slow. However, I made a goal to have 25 sales by the end of the month. I made several sales the other day and am now up to 18! I am really excited, and it's pushing me to offer more items, and of the best quality, in my shop! If you've not checked it out yet, please drop in! I'm at www.robynsart.etsy.com.

I'm working on a couple of different interviews-- me being interviewed this time. I'll link to them when they are up. I've also been doing some solid research on marketing and figuring out what works. The stuff that does not work, I will drop, making more time for all that does! Smarter, not harder... I'm getting there!

Overcoming Anger

I give 100%, generally. Maybe 75% when I'm ill. I expect the same from others. I don't get that from anyone else. And it makes me so angry! It does not change anyone elses response, it just makes me angry.

I don't like to feel angry much of the time. I want to do the things I do... work, run an online business, do stuff around the house, and have others pull their own weight as well. But I've learned that I can't control anyone but me. And that sucks!!!

So how will I deal with the anger and bitterness swirling inside me? I will use it as a catalyst for change, if things remain the same... but in the meantime, I need to deal with ME.

I need to breathe. I need to meditate. I need to lose myself in the things that bring me joy... which means of course never actually losing myself, but immersing. Tonight when I get off work, I will make some journals and list them. I will sort through my photos and see which of those I'd like to list. Perhaps I will email some old friends, and I will package up some orders to mail out. I'll peck away at the chores as well.

What I won't do. I won't yell. I won't get angry. I will take care of me. Perhaps I'll even enjoy a soak in the tub!!

How do you take care of YOU? How do you deal with anger?

I did it again

I just posted a couple of weeks ago about how we define ourselves. Then last week, I was completely defined by how I felt, or so it seemed. It's very difficult to not get sucked into what we feel physically.

When I look back, I can argue... I was not defined, I still went to work and worked long days every day. But that's not what I mean. I felt absolutely horrible. I was ready to drive off of a bridge. And every breath reflected that. People at work pulled me aside, asking if something bad had happened because I looked so sad.

This time, however, was different. It was like I was separated into separate parts. The largest part was down in the dumps, exhausted, and completely ready to throw in the towel. However, another part was playing detective. It was asking questions....

"Why do you feel this way?" "Is it PMS?" "What was different immediately prior to feeling this way? Diet? Exercise? Daily routine?"

And finding my answers was a little difficult, as it ended up being me going off a medication three WEEKS prior, and the week before being a very busy Spring Break. Exhaustion was easy to excuse. It was the despair that frightened me. And that little detective was not about to let despair win!

I am not sure that the little detective has always been with me. What I am sure about, however, is that he is here now, and I think he plans to stay! Thinking about it, I think he came to be by my introspection... by blogging, talking with people, meditating, journaling... I created him!!! How awesome is that??

Feeling Amazingly Good!

I am feeling so good! Really, I feel normal, which is great! I've gotten the meds back into my system. I'm sleeping well and I'm productive like I was before!

This weekend I made five new journals and listed them! I had pulled all journals out of my shop to take to the craft show, and my shop being bare of journals did not sit well with me! Four of them can be seen here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6370303&section_id=5775933 the other one is an art journal and can be seen here. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23272654

So, Saturday I took tons of journals and photo pendants to the craft show. The show starts on the 7th. And Sunday I had my radio interview. I had a couple of technical difficulties, but all in all, it went well. Mona (my interviewer) put me at ease and was wonderful! Then we went to the mall. I was cranky and did not want to go. We had a beautiful warm, sunshiney day and I wanted to go take pictures... but you don't always get what you want. So, I bought some gorgeous papers for my next line of journals and scrapbooks. Let's just say I'm kicking it up a notch! Some new ones should be listed this week.

Next weekend will be busy. Saturday, going out and taking pictures, then picking up any unsold items from the craft show. Then Sunday we will drive to the coast to take some pictures of lighthouses. I have a friend whose husband collects lighthouse photos and she has asked me to do this for her. Those will be in my shop next Monday!

I hope you are all feeling well, and if you're not that you can find out why! *raising glass* here's to a wonderful Monday for us all!

Radio Interview/ Photo Pendant Tutorial

Tomorrow is my radio interview!! It's at noon PST. Please join us! I'll also be having a giveaway here after the show!

The show: www.nowlive.com/showid/63074
After the show, come back here, make a comment pertaining to the show, and you'll be entered in a drawing for a photo pendant!!

Figuring it all out

I've spent days and days now being completely exhausted. Exhaustion is not fun, but I can handle that. A couple of days ago, I started feeling like I hit a brick wall. I was on the verge of tears pretty constantly, and I just felt like jumping off a bridge. Not literally. That's what was strange. Part of me felt like all that, the other part was still analyzing and trying to figure out what was going on. I knew something just was not right.

Within the last year, I went on a medication for chronic headaches. The doctor and I had figured out that I've had daily headaches for at least the past 15 years. So... I went on this med, I took the pills every night, and the headaches went away after the first two weeks. Eight months or so later, a couple of weeks ago, I ran out of them on a Friday and forgot to pick up my refill. My pharmacy is closed on the weekends.

So... by Monday I realized that my headaches were not back, even though I had stopped taking my headache pills. So I decided to not pick up the refill. Yep, I took myself off of it. And, though I was using it for chronic pain, it's original intended purpose was for depression. So this week, it's all out of my system and I hit a brick wall.

As long as I know the answer, I'm ok... I went to the pharmacy, refilled it, and began taking it again last night. I should have it fully in my system by Monday. In the meantime, I have an understanding of why I feel weepy. And people around me understand, so it's alright.

The picture I chose for today is one taken by dad. His photos always remind me to look for the beauty in life. I'll be back on track here real soon, and I hope to take some gorgeous pictures this weekend!

Sometimes you need an angel

I will be adding some of my angel photos to my etsy shop today. I'm thinking of a trio...

Spinning out of control

So. I'm seriously exhausted. Ok, a little less so today, a little less. But yesterday afternoon, I was practically falling asleep at work. I went home a couple of hours early and took a nap. I also went to bed early last night. I can't seem to shake this. I'm at the point where something's gotta give. And it can't. I have too much to do. I have work. I have the craft show (thankfully I don't have to be present-- it's like a really well-advertised, short term consignment shop) that I need to finish pricing for and such, plus I need to deliver the goods on Saturday. And I have that radio interview on Sunday. And prior to the radio interview, I need to do a test drive of the studio online, get familiar with Skype, and take photos of each step of my pendant making process.

I need to list it out and check things off one by one. Remember my plan to do marketing smarter not harder? I'm working on that in all areas of my life. In the past, when making journals, I've measured each set of papers, used the ruler on the bookboards to mark the holes to drill, etc. Yesterday, templates for the paper and the holes (for both the paper and the boards) were made. I am really excited about that, because all the measuring out always seemed like such a huge obstacle.

Housework... I'm working very hard on getting help around here. I will get to the point where I feel like my life is more in control. But right now, it's spinning... I have thoughts and ideas running through my head all the time. All I want is the energy to carry them out. Perhaps I will need to quiet them for awhile, but I'm really not sure how. I can't even sit and watch tv in the evening without having my laptop on to tweak photos, or sitting making a journal. It seems like I *must* multi-task. What's up with that??

Today at work, I will make a list. I will put absolutely everything on it that I need to do until my radio interview is over. And I will begin checking things off. I will delegate, and I think the list will stop the spinning a bit.