Down Time

I feel like the only time I sit down throughout the day is to check facebook...I mean....

I remember the days when Georgia was little and she would sleep (and we're talking really little because she gave up napping shortly after her first birthday) and I would watch a show or two. I could get through the whole episode uninterrupted and actually comprehend the storyline. I would watch Law & Order shows, CSIs, even pop in a movie from Netflix and enjoy. These days I am not so lucky. I have been reduced to having the following shows as my DVR constants:
1. Chelsea Lately. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. She is incredible. One of the only people that I can watch and literally laugh out loud. However, there are two short round table discussions and one guest interview. Easily fast-forwardable.

2. House Hunters. I used to sit and enjoy seeing a couple in search of the perfect home go through their each of their three choices, listing details about each, referring to the houses as "Pricey, big backyard" or "Small, great commute." Now I fast forward through the entire program until the last approximately six minutes, when Suzanne Whang lists the highlights of each home, and the couple says, "The house we chose is...." and leaves me in suspense for roughly 4.6 seconds until their answer is revealed. Frankly, I just like to see the before and after pictures since they moved in. Secretly, I love it when they move in to the house and three months later nothing at all has been changed, because it's lame when they show major renovations having taken place because you know the couple did all the work because they didn't want to look lame on national television.
3. House Hunters International. See above.

4. Design Star.

5. Project Runway (when it's actually on).

6. Rachel Ray. I used to watch her 30 Minute Meals show on the Food Network and love her. Then she started with her own talk show and bugged big time. Somehow, however, and possibly because it's my mission to get two things under control as my job as a mom/wife/cleaning lady/chauffeur/grocery shopper-all while pushing a fricken car cart- extraordinaire: making dinners easy and well thought out so I can say "Yep! It's Tuesday night! We're having Sage-Butter Gnocchi!!" and not "Crap. Is there another Pillsbury pizza crust in the fridge so we can make BBQ pizza?" only to hear "Mom! We just had that last night!" to which I reply "No, no, no we had Thai Peanut pizza last night." I digress. The second thing I have a mission to conquer is laundry, but that's another story. So, somehow RR fits into this mess. She still bugs, but has some great recipes (which reminds me - I need to order replacement ink cartridges so I can print some of those bad boys off).

7. Ellen. Gotta love her, although I find myself fast-forwarding through all but the guests (provided they are worthwhile viewing material. If not, d-e-l-e-t-e).

8. Oprah (I check the info on the listing before deleting prior to watching - has to be a decent description of what's to come otherwise I don't bother).

9. Martha (see above). Plus, most of her recipes are too hard core for my beginner skills.

Pretty much Design Star and Project Runway are the only shows that I watch from beginning to end, sans commercials of course. And I do this from the comfort of my own bed while Millie snores next to me and poor Trevor, adorned with a pillow over his head, tries to rest up for his 6-6 job. This, my friends, is what I have been reduced to.

And don't get me started on magazines. I love Better Homes and Gardens because it has great ideas on, well, home and garden stuff. Martha Stewart Living and Real Simple never did me wrong either. A Women's Health thrown in the pile on top of a Glamour which somehow I started receiving, and some House Beautiful installments and the pile to my right comes up to just beneath my shoulder. I'll get to them eventually. Until now, the glossies are adding some color and height to my desk! And the good/bad news? It's magazine drive time at the schools, and I told my favorite neighbor kids I would order a People! At least I get it look at the pictures, not read the articles! I can make it through, cover to cover, in under 7 minutes.

One day I will get a better grasp on time management and getting everything accomplished during the day to leave me some down time (other than at 10pm when visions of sugarplums are dancing in everyone else's head but mine). That day won't involve a sleepless toddler or supervising scooter races down the driveway or listening to violin "Gee gee gee. Screech. Cee cee cee. Screeeeech." My solution for now? MORE COFFEE in the mornings after my late night dates with Chelsea Handler or Heidi Klum!