Yesterday’s faculty meeting was the usual kind of meeting. The department chair couldn’t figure out how to get the computer and projector working. I didn’t want to push myself forward, but when she went to call the IT people I did just go up and turn it on. I went to tell her and she said, “Oh, Dr. L was able to get it going?” I somewhat resented her assumption that the man had been the one to fix it, and I’d just been sent as a gofer to tell her about it, but there it is. Shortly after that, I also turned on the projector for them. They appeared to chalk that up to magic.

I just don’t look like a Computer Guy, I guess.

Before the staff meeting, I merely answered emails, installed software, did financial tasks, blogged for my own blogs, worked on the WebCT course, and negotiated with potential clients, none of which is billable, so yesterday was an entirely unbillable day. Today, however, I have about seven hours of billable work.

I don’t think I’ll hit twenty this week. However, goals don’t expect that you’ll meet them first crack out of the box.

Resolutions do. In fact, resolutions usually assume that you’ll do really well on the resolution for the first few days, and then taper off to nothingness.

I hate to think I’ve tapered off already. But yesterday I had planned to go to the gym after the staff meeting, so I didn’t go in the morning,  and then I left without my gym bag, so I didn’t go in the afternoon, either. By the time I got home and answered all the emails, I had to leave for rehearsal.

Today I should already be at the gym. However, I started the day with several blog posts in my mind, and I have a noon deadline for one of them, and there were client emails, and … in short, not only have I not gone to the gym, but I’ve been sitting here in my nightgown for a couple of hours, working. That was another of my resolutions: to get ready for the day before beginning to work.

My third resolution, healthy eating, is teetering on the precipice. I had a balanced breakfast yesterday, but then ran out of time for lunch before the meeting. As I drove home at 4:00, not having had lunch, I had to stop for gas, and bought a package of Junior Mints. I ate them in the car as I drove, marveling even at the time at what a bad choice that was.

The boys and I made fried rice for dinner. That was fun, but they heckled me mercilessly about putting vegetables in, so the entire pan contained a bit of onion and minuscule dice of one carrot. In a rush to get to rehearsal, I just grabbed a bowlful of that and had no salad or anything. When I got home from rehearsal, the boys were on their way out the door for a Taco Bell run, and I had them pick me up a taco. Which I ate in front of the computer as I read about the <cite> element.

Here’s the point: you have to plan for making good decisions. If you’ve been making bad decisions for a while, it’s because they’re easier in your environment than the good ones, or because you’re in the habit of it. Just saying you’re going to do the right things now doesn’t cause it to happen.

I needed that reminder today.