My Friend Karen's Idea

First Chiara had these questions posted on her blog and then Karen and I'm at a loss today for something to write about (mostly because I'm still so damned frustrated that I forgot all my new scrapping stuff at Whitney's yesterday) so I'm using these questions for inspiration:

What's your morning routine? The first alarm goes off at 5:45 for Mark and he is out the door by 6:30. The second alarm is for me at 6:45. I punch it down once and manage to crawl out a few minutes before 7. I'm not a morning person but once my feet hit the floor I'm fine. I must brush my teeth within 30 seconds of getting up. After that I come out to the family room and restart the computer because someone has always left it on all night and I find it works faster if I start off with a fresh reboot. While it's rebooting I warm the milk for my coffee which Mark has brewed for me (Starbuck's Sumatra) and usually clean up some mess that has been left overnight and/or take out the recycling. I check my email and visit with the friends on HoP until about 7:45. I hit the shower, make my lunch and some days take Laura to school on my way to work and others just go straight to the office. I'm usually out the door right at 9.

What's your bedtime routine? As soon as the kitchen is cleaned up after dinner I escape to my scrap room. I have a TV in there and can have complete control of the remote. Sometimes I do nothing more than watch TV or organize my scrap stuff but for the most part this is when I get to scrap. I stay in there until at least 10 and sometimes as late as 11. I then go back to my room where Mark has fallen asleep with the TV on and then I switch to the news for 15 minutes and then to E!News for the last 15 so I can get my fill of fluff celebrity gossip. I usually set the timer on the TV because many nights I don't make it through the first 15 minutes before I'm asleep.

What's missing from your daily routine? More time for my journaling. I get lots of thoughts and think "I need to write that down" and then the day gets away from me.

What is a habit you're working hard to develop? Sticking to my routine at the gym. Many days especially at the end of the week I find myself kissing off the gym and I really need to go at least 5x per week.

What is a habit you're working hard to break? Eating sweets immediately after dinner.

At your favorite restaurant, do you always order the same thing or do you try the special? It all depends. If we are at "The Fish Market" I will go for anything with shellfish in the special, especially scallops but if we are at "Mona Lisa" it's always a #9, no onions.

What things do you buy at the grocery store every single time you go? Milk, juice, deli turkey, Italian parsley, garlic cloves, bottled water and cereal.


What would someone close to you say is your most annoying habit? Rubbing my
nose with my knuckles.


Which outside forces have the biggest impact on your routines? One of the kids being out at night especially if I know they or one of the kids in their group might be drinking. I have tried to hammer home the necessity of not getting in a car with anyone that is drinking, including themselves, but I never can completely relax until I hear the front door open.

Describe the person you know who is most driven by habit. Without a doubt, Mark. He has not changed any of his routines, especially his morning one in 20 years!