I'm finding more and more, I want things in my life automated. Maybe it has something to do with my profession and the way so many of the procedures I write are scheduled to run automatically. Obviously, it has quite a bit to do with how technology is always improving and there are more opportunities for doing this. Regardless, the more of my mundane, repeating, monotonous chores I can arrange to happen without my having to do anything, the better.
I spend a great deal of time online. I work online, so it's all day at work already, but I also take advantage of many of the ways doing things online can save you time and errands. I've done my banking online for years. I have the large majority of my bills scheduled to be paid automatically so I don't have to do it myself. I develop my photos online. I do my grocery shopping online. I do a good chunk of my other shopping online too. I've never been a great fan of actually shopping. I don't have much patience for it. The trying on clothes. All the people. The parking. And if i have to bring my kids, forget it. Chances are I don't want or need it that bad. I purchase my music online, reserve and renew my library books. Hell with my Kindle, I don't even have to get on the computer. I can have a new book at my fingertips in minutes without even getting out of bed. Technology rocks.
It doesn't just end with the computer though. Is there anything better than direct deposit? And a coffee pot you program to start brewing before you get out of bed in the morning? And the programmable thermostats, so you can have the heat go down after you go to bed, and come on and warm up the house before you get up in the morning? And exactly how did we live before the DVR? I'm in love with my automatic garage door openers right about now. I have the weather forecast delivered to my phone every morning. I know it's not just me enjoying how technology can make your life a little more pleasant. Hell, a lot more pleasant.
Christmas, for me, is a prime example of where technology and automation reign supreme. I enjoy the spirit of the holidays, the decorations, the food. Most of the time I don't feel it's worth the hastle, though. To that end, I try to make the process as painless as possible for myself. I have a fake prelit tree. I generally end up putting up the tree and almost every last, blessed decoration myself. If I'm not going to be a raving bitch by the time I'm done, it better not be anymore taxing than it absolutely has to be. Even then, I'm going to resemble the Grinch much more closely than Martha Stuart by the time I'm done. I like it to be done, I just HATE the doing. I wish I was one of those moms with the cocoa, Christmas music, smiling away in blissful euphoria while I was at it. Nah, scratch that. I don't even want to be like that. I just want to sit and drink the cocoa, preferable spiked, and listen to the music while someone else does the dirty work. And is dirty freaking work. Digging out those dusty totes. Battling the dust bunnies while plugging everything in. The endless pine needles. The horrible, itchy scratches on your hands from putting up the tree. Yeah, Christmas joy my ass.
The Christmas decorating in it's entirety generally takes me one full day. It's all I'm wiling to devote to it. I know, some of you space the whole thing out. Tree one day, wreaths and candles another, etc. I don't have the patience for that. I need it done and over with, and all the crap put away. And once I'm done, I want to be done and not have to think about it anymore. So a couple of years ago I bought light sensored candles for the windows. This way I don't have to worry about turning them on and off every day. Small tasks like that drive me insane. Only problem is one window that gets too much light from inside and doesn't go on when the lamp is on. I'm thinking next year I'll move the lamp. This year, I put my Christmas tree on a timer. Also fabulous. Genius concept that I don't have to crawl under the tree every night to turn it on. Some inventions are worth their weight in gold.
I totally love the IDEA of putting up the tree, then it takes all of 10 minutes for me to be annoyed. And the whole time im putting it up im thinking of how much I'm going to hate taking it down.
I'm so the type to take the tree down AS SOON as the presents are opened on xmas morning. If I had it my way, taking the tree down would be part of cleaning up the wrapping paper....
Posted by: Alice | February 12, 2009 at 03:28 PM
I'm not in so big a hurray to take it down. I wait until after the New Year. My mom used to leave it up for weeks. One year she decorated it with hearts for Valentine's Day. My dad was livid.
Posted by: Diosa | February 18, 2009 at 09:21 PM