Yearly Planners- A Tangible, Safe Place for my Incessant Need to PLAN

So ever since I was, let's say, a middle schooler, I have been OBSESSED with agendas. No, I am not talking about a travel itinerary or a general plan of action, I am talking about those glorious little books that contain dates and spaces to obsessively plan in. Each year, (and because I am a teacher, MY year starts in September...actually it always has...I never got away from that idea of the fresh, new beginning-of-the-school-year thing) I buy a new planner and start a fresh, possibilities-are-endless planner.

A myriad of planners. Many of the above are not acceptable...why? Read on...

There is something SO exciting about the initial search for the new planner. (Some call it an agenda, but I prefer "planner" as that's exactly what it is. I don't always stick to my "plans" inside the planner, so it's not exactly my agenda, it's a place where I document and plan...hence, it's a planner.) I usually venture out to Barnes and Noble, as I have learned over the years that the buyers at Barnes and Noble just KNOW the right qualities in a planner. They seem to display the best-of-the-best when it comes to planners...a sort of Planner All-Star Team just waiting to be drafted into my arsenal. So, you ask, what do these All-Star Planners have that others don't?

A qualifying planner-candidate must have the following qualities to be a part of my life:

1. Cannot be too bulky. Must be slim, yet hardy...kind of a printed manifestation of my ideal body type.

2. Must fit inside my primary purse of that year. Cannot take up too much space in said purse because as you all know, my chap sticks and endless bottles of Aleve/Tylenol must have ample room.

3. Must have the "right" font. If the font is too big, weird, or common, I will not consider it. The font must be appealing to me- it has the be a font that perfectly represents fun and structure at the same time- kind of like the quality that Hipsters use to pick out clothing- you know it when you see it but it's hard to describe or define in any way.

4. Ample space for writing on each day. A planner that gives you no space to actually WRITE your plans for each day on is not a planner, it's a calendar. Don't try to fool me...I need my space.

Are you kidding me?!?!?! First of all the above planner looks like a doctor's prescription pad. Secondly it is a perfect example of NO WRITING SPACE! My life cannot be contained into two college-ruled lines. This is just insulting! 

5. Typically I will also never choose a planner that has no lines provided on each day. Like I mentioned, I crave structure and a day with no lines is just too abstract for my tastes. How can I properly plan an IEP Meeting at work and a happy Hour with friends on one day if I don't have lines? To do that would be to imply that I drink at IEP Meetings?!?!!? (Tempting, but out of the question.)

The lines provided in this planner are perfect. It would actually be a contender (lays perfectly flat, right paper, good hardy binding, right size, font has the "it factor,") except for the darn flowers. My Tuesdays would be completely marred by these unacceptable graphics. 

6. The "right" paper. I have to be able to write on this paper with a ball-point pen and then highlight over it without smudges, blending, and/or smearing. Therefore, the paper cannot have any kind of lacquer or shiny surface, and it cannot be too thick. I like to be able to make an impression, no pun intended, when I write in it! ;)

7. Some open, unstructured pages for me to write my "lists" in. Those who know me know I make "lists" every day. Some lists are more important than others (long-term plans, future-baby names, People-I'd-Like-To-Punch-In-the-Face, etc.) and some are fleeting scratch-offs that are the product of my A-Type personality needing to get something out of my head and on to paper (Things-To-Do, grocery list, shopping list, etc.).

8. MUST lay flat for writing. Non-Negotiable.

The above planner wouldn't even get a second chance. Number one- it looks like a wallet. Don't insult me. Number two- it would never lay flat, interrupting the careful process of neurotically writing and highlighting events in my life.

9. An overall general appeal that I can't put my finger on. Perhaps it's a combination of all of the above that creates this "It" factor in a planner but nonetheless, if the planner doesn't have that certain quality then it's immediately eliminated from contention.

My planners have been a source of fascination to may people over the years. My best friend, The Rat, often takes my purse from me, opens my planner, and goes through it as if it's a New York Times best-seller. Why? I don't know, but perhaps it's the lists, the color-coding of my events, or the fervor at which I document my appointments. Needless to say my planner is a central and essential part of my life. If I didn't have my planner I would immediately lapse into a panic attack of epic proportions.

And I am not alone in this planner-fascination. In fact, two of my closest and dearest friends have a similar affliction. My friend Tara started documenting her life in her planner at a very early age, like myself. As middle schoolers we documented every single school and social event into our school planners as if we were making the BMMS Bible. As far as I know her fascination has not translated to quite the obsession I have as an adult as she doesn't carry a planner with her 24/7 but I know she appreciates the appeal of a well-built planner.

My friend Tracey, on the other hand, is equally as planner-obsessed as I am and agrees with my list above about what makes an acceptable planner. In fact, Tracey and I choose the same planner each year, in, let's say, July and take turns buying the planners each year. The past two years we have repeated our purchase of one, really great planner from the company "Bob's Your Uncle," which has served us well for the past two years.

Above is the beloved planner we chose to use for 2010-2012. A perfect specimen.

Here is a side-ways view (because I am an idiot) of how neurotically I used this particular planner. Now you can see why The Rat was oddly fascinated by my scribble.

When July of this year rolled around, it was time to choose a new planner for the upcoming year. My search yielded the usual suspects and I became frustrated. It wasn't until I decided it was time to expand my horizons that I found "the one." For the past year I had been languishing in stress and anxiety for various reasons. My personal goal for the upcoming year was to be stress-free and to let things roll off my back. I decided my planner needed to embody my new carefree attitude and remind me, in times of doubt, that I shouldn't take life too seriously. Therefore,  decided to search for planners I would normally rule out based on the "it's too frilly or decorated" rule. In the past my planners had given, at least from the outside, the impression that I was a colorful, yet structured individual. Well, I decided to hell with the structure. This year my planner would scream FUN at every turn without violating too many of my planner rules.

Luckily I stumbled upon a site advertising the new Lily Pulitzer Planner Collection. Normally anything with the "Lily Pulitzer" name tag made my gag-reflex act up. Total BARF-mode on pure principle. However, in order to step outside of my comfort zone I actually clicked on the link and took a look. To my surprise the Lily planners had all the qualities I normally look for and DEFINITELY added the "fun" flavor I needed to be reminded of all year long.

I finally decided on one winner, conveniently based in navy blue to match my purse of this year.

Introducing my 2012-2013 Planner Choice:



Lily Pulitzer "Skip On It"

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

LET THE 2012-2013 PLANNING BEGIN!!! Email me to get "penciled in." ;)



Just What the Doctor Ordered

This part weekend one of my oldest and dearest friends got married. I will spare you all the details...it was gorgeous! Basically the entire wedding party rented out the Inn at Herrington Harbor (where the reception was also held) and it was more of a college reunion than a wedding. Just what the doctor ordered for this morose case of melancholia that I've acquired lately. Why pay thousands for therapy when you can drink, eat and be merry with old friends?!?!

Our celebration began on the 4th of July with a Rehearsal Dinner Crab Feast followed by a booze-fueled party on the Inns beach afterwards. Despite the 105 degree weather, we made out okay and managed to rage until the wee hours of the morning:)

Here are a couple shots from that night:

 Cat and I enjoying the beach:)

 My three oldest and bestest friends.

Me with my slightly tipsy other half:)

The next day was scheduled by the bride and groom as our "off" day to rest and enjoy the Inns amenities. The heat still raged but there was enough pool drinks and tiki bar to get us through. That evening we had the actual rehearsal, followed by a BBQ. Most of us opted for an early bedtime, knowing the next day was the big day!

In the morning the bridesmaids headed over to the "getting ready location" to become beautiful for the ceremony and reception. Lots of make-up, hairspray and cocktails later, we were ready to rock! One of the most fun parts of the weekend was that the bride and groom rented the groom's brother's Penn State Bus to transport the bridal party to and from locations. Here is a shot of the bride and her party enjoying the transportation:

All of the bridesmaids looked gorgeous and each one of us had different and creative hair. Below is a pic of a few of us together in our dresses (SUCH a fun color for a summer wedding) and then a pic of me doing my BEST blue steel to show off my hair for the night. I must say, I am a sucker for a good french braid bun;)

The reception was absolutely flawless and fun was had by all. The bride and groom both commented that it truly was the best days of their lives and that the bridal party certainly added to the overall level of fun!

When I left the Inn the next morning I remember taking a big sigh of relief that I had blown off some steam and was started to feel human again! I must say, the next time I get down in the dumps I am going to remember that all I need is a big group of my closest friends, some beer, crabs, good music and some fake eyelashes and I will feel better in the morning:)

"Our Pets Heads Are falling Off!" Bad Luck or Negative Vibrations?

A series of unfortunate events...a stroke of bad luck...what goes around comes around.... all phrases have been used by people to describe times in their life when things just aren't going well. Whether it be the unfurling of a carefully planned event or the seemingly purposeful string of unfortunate happenings in some one's life, we've all felt that at some point some one's got it out for us...that we are reaping what we've sown or for the less-willing-to-accept-responsibility, that Lady Luck is not in their favor. Recently, Mondo and I have suffered a "series of unfortunate events," not unlike Limony Snicket. Continually we've found ourselves like Lloyd and Harry in the classic movie, "Dumb and Dumber," when they reach a boiling point and their bad luck culminates in their "pets heads falling off!"

This morning's latest news, the death of my childhood cat, made this analogy all too real for us. Just last week, after hearing other bad news, we glanced over at our dog, Snoop, and casually said, "what's with our luck lately? At least our pet's heads aren't falling off." Although Merra's head didn't actually fall off, the news this morning certainly made us think twice- was it just bad luck, or were we actually creating our own fortune?

Is it possible to anticipate bad things enough that you actually project negative energy into the Universe causing bad things to happen? We've all heard the theories that say that when you think positively, it actually CAUSES your life to move forward in a positive manner? But is this true or are things going to happen no matter how much you worry, perseverate, and/or analyze them? It's an age-old question. One that has caused many a cliched euphemism- "you reap what you sow," and "karma's a b*&%h." It's been the center of songs, poems, lyrics (JT's "What Goes Around Comes Around" anyone?) since the beginning of time.

But is it really accurate? Did Amelia Earhart ever think twice about her ability to fly across the world? If so, would she have crashed the first time- her doubt actually causing her fate to change? Did she doubt herself during the fateful trip that eventually caused her disappearance over the Pacific, never to be heard from again? Did Christopher Columbus visualize himself making it to the New World? Did his positive thinking cause his ultimate success? Did Michael Phelps picture himself holding eight gold medals? If he had only pictured himself with two would it have changed his performance? How powerful is the mind? Or to throw another twist on things, was it something each had done earlier in their lives or even that day that caused their lives to move in that direction- Phelps had stolen an old lady's purse on the street, would he still have enough good "karma" to win the gold medals? Who controls fate? Is it karma, positive thinking/the mind, or God? A combination of the three?

Then, once you find yourself  in a rut of bad luck, if that's what it is, how do you reverse it? Create positive karma which you hope will counteract the bad karma that's been following you? Pray to God to ask for Him to change your luck? What if it's "Thy will be done?"

This week I had the opportunity to visit a Senior Center where I encountered an elderly woman by the name of Jensis. Jensis self-soothed by openly singing gospel songs. I was lucky enough to overhear a spirited rendition of "Got Jesus on the Main Line." As Jensis sang the chorus, "got Jesus on the main line, tell Him what you want," I began thinking...Is it that easy? Can I just "call" on Jesus to reverse my bad luck? I turned to Jensis, mid-lyric, and said, "I think I will." She said, "You think you will do what, baby?" in her southern drawl I love so much. "I think I will tell Jesus what I want...on the main line." She smiled, looked me in the eye, leaned over and said "And you'll be surprised how fast you get it, baby. He'll make your head spin!"

But is it that easy? Can I make all this go away, this bad luck, just by calling Jesus on the "main line?" Another friend, after listening to me drivel on for weeks about my "bad luck," suggested the power of positive thinking. That by thinking positively, emitting positivity and openness into the universe, I could change my luck. That it wasn't luck, but rather a self-fulfilling prophecy. Both theories held equal weight in my mind.

I even had a dead relative weigh in recently. No really, it's true. I visited a town called Lilydale in upstate New York. It's the world's largest concentration of spiritual mediums in the U.S. Call me crazy but I had a feeling there was an answer there for me. And I was right. Upon my arrival I attended a "group reading," out of curiosity. There were maybe 150 people there, hoping to hear from someone departed. A medium stepped up and pointed me out. "You, in the green." I had on a bright green shirt. I looked around, dumbfounded, and nodded. "Can I come to you with a message?" Um...YES PLEASE. "Your grandmother is standing next to you. She's holding a rolling pin above your head, like she wants to tap you with it." I looked around, nodding like a bobble-head. "She is telling me you have been selling yourself short with negative thinking. You are seeing yourself down here," he gestured towards the ground, "and you should be seeing yourself up here," he then gestured to about his shoulder level. "She asks why you have forgotten the power of being an intelligent, beautiful and vibrant young woman. She's irritated you're selling yourself short." It made sense...after all, I HAD been negative and hard on myself for about a year now. It was dragging me down, into a bit of a slump. Hence the bad luck. I nodded, thanked him, and went to find my Mom and sister afterwards. "What's with the rolling pin?" I asked them. "That seems weird." My Mom calmly turned to me and said, "It was Granny. Her rolling pin is hanging on my kitchen wall. She used it to bake her pecan pies." I was in awe. It was legit.

So here I sit, two weeks later, my series of unfortunate events continuing, trying to figure out how to end this pattern, whatever it is. Whether it's bad luck, karma, or God's plan, I cannot say. What I do know is that there has been SOME good that came out of it. Due to my flat tire on Monday, which I thught was just one more bad event, I was forced to sleep at my parents house to get to work the next day. Because of that, I was able to see my childhood cat for the last time, although I would have no idea he would leave this earth this Saturday, I was able to hold him and pet him for the last time. Because of the more serious events that have happened, I have grown closer to my husband that I ever knew possible. Got to see the bright side, right? Wait a minute...is that the beginning of positive thinking? Perhaps this will be the beginning of a new day, an end to my bad luck...

...maybe "our pets heads..." will stop "falling off..."

:)