36. Shop

On Saturdays, I usually shop. I shopped for books at Barnes and Noble. I shopped for Brooke's headbands at Tai Pan Trading--which is a very cool store filled with decorating ideas for your home. Then, I shopped at Smiths for food and other items. I always call Brooke and Ali when I'm in the store so I can get them exactly what they want. This saves me a lot of time--otherwise it is inevitably wrong and I have to take it back! Arghhh! Now, I wondered today what it would be like to shop with Oprah. Gayle would know! Oprah can buy anything! She could buy twenty books--any book she wanted--anytime, anywhere. That would be Very Fun Indeed! :)

35. Rest

I really needed to rest today. I came home from school and tried to rest. Sadly, I can't nap--there's something the matter with me! I felt really ill this afternoon --dizzy and nauseous. So, I tried to sleep but I couldn't--just kept thinking of everything on my to-do list! Arghhh! It's so frustrating since I haven't slept through the night all week. I will wake up at 4 am, start worrying about everything I have to do, then I worry that if I do get to sleep, I won't wake up on time to get to work. This is all Very Frustrating! :(

Do you get enough rest every day?

34. Enthuse

I need to enthuse myself and others today. First of all, I am exhausted. Brooke awoke at 4:30 am. today and woke me up and no, I could not just "go back to sleep" which The Husband can so easily do. I remember waking to feed my babies and he would stir and snore in the matter of about two minutes. I don't sleep well in the best of times. So, I woke up and got my dinner ready in the crock pot--pot roast--which will now be ready when I come home. I have a lot on my to-do list today as usual--but I don't want to be cranky and out of sorts all day--even though I already am-- I need to be cheerful and enthusiastic-- like Oprah is on her show when she says the person's name and they enter the stage. It would be fun if when I walked into work everyone was clapping and cheering for me--maybe then I could be more 'up' and enthusiastic!

33. Anticipate

I anticipate quite a show when Oprah interviews Wanda Barzee's children. Barzee has consistently blamed 'that man (Mitchell)' for the atrocities committed to poor Elizabeth Smart. It seems her own children have a different tale to tell. They accuse Barzee of being an abusive mother---I shouldn't be surprised--how could that woman live with herself--standing idly by while her husband kidnapped and abused Elizabeth Smart. They are both horrible people and I hope they both go to prison for a very long time. After I listened to Barzee's children discuss their mother on Oprah, it was so strange how each had a different reaction and story to tell. Barzee had six children and the ones who spoke on the show each had varying stories and degrees ranging from compassion to hate. The ones who seemed most 'healed' had lots of therapy.

32. Organize

Every Sunday I organize for the week ahead. I cook meals and put them in the fridge or freezer for the week. I get my clothes washed, ironed and ready-- both to wear and to take to the cleaners on Tuesday or Thursday. Then, I organize my lessons and correct papers to get ready for the entire week and write all of my to-do lists. Then, I have to check all my tennis plans as well so I don't forget any matches! I try to organize around the house as well and have learned several valuable tips from Oprah. Once, I remember a woman who had tidy baskets for each family member. When they came in the door they put their shoes and backpacks in their basket. When she walked around the house, she put stuff in the correct basket and then she put the baskets on the stairs and the kid took it to their room. What a great organizational tip! :)