Every morning when I wake up Jen comes in and gives me “The Update”, a rundown of what we’ll be doing the next 3 or 4 days. It’s similar to the briefing the president receives every morning but national security usually isn’t impacted. I like to hear what’s going on around us in our lives and what is coming up in the next few days but I must be honest and confess, I’m really only paying close attention to the parts about what’s going on that day. Hey, I have my reasons!

First of all, like many husbands I suffer from Selective A.D.D. and it flares up frequently when Jen is trying to tell me something that doesn’t pertain to that day’s plans. From what I understand, it’s fairly common. Secondly, the “Plan” usually changes from day to day. I’m good as long as I know what’s going on that day. Lastly, and most importantly, I really live my life “one day at a time”.

I realize that’s an overly used cliché and people say it all the time but I really do try to consciously approach life that way. The overall average life expectancy of a normal, healthy person in this country is 79 and I’m 46. I consider myself to be more or less average and healthy enough so I can expect to be around another 33 years. In other words, barring a miracle or major breakthrough in medicine, I should be in the same boat physically as I am today for a long, long time. So, as you can imagine, I prefer not to look into the future much more than 24 hours. Looking at life way down the road can be a bit depressing and it kinda freaks me out!

Whatever Jen has on the day’s docket pretty much determines what I’m gonna do that day to pass the time, not that I have a ton of options to choose from. If we have an errand or two to run at lunchtime and I’m gonna be spending some time in the van waiting, I’ll bring along my mp3 player loaded with my current book. If we’re going to be home all day, then I have all afternoon to watch something on my computer – DVD, Amazon, Netflix Watch Instantly, Hulu, etc. or spend some time just messing around on this laptop (ie. Write this blog, email, Trivia Night questions…)

Programmatically speaking:

LOCATION = “INSIDE”
FIRE_IN_FIREPLACE_SW = NO
IF TEMPERATURE < 45
SET FIRE_IN_FIREPLACE_SW = YES
END-IF.
IF TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 75 AND 90 INCLUSIVE
AND NOT_RAINING
MOVE “OUTSIDE” TO LOCATION
END-IF.

Basically, four months out of the year are spent on the deck, another four by the fireplace and four in the kitchen (wishing I could sit outside OR inside by the fire!).

Merry Christmas everyone!

Jim