Oh My Dirty Chai

It’s time for me to give up a few things. It’s going to hurt like hell and I’m going to grit my teeth all the way through it, but part of this new adventure for me is to stop relying on whatever I choose to fill a gap that can only truly be filled with writing. Instead of waxing and waning phonetically about my addictions, I’m just going to list them and get it over with.

My list of THINGS TO QUIT:

1. My dirty, dirty chai. It’s my coffee shop drink of choice and I drop an average of $8.00 a day on this ferocious habit. Hot chai tea with a shot of espresso. It’s the yen and yang of yummy, spicy latte hotness with a kick to keep me from slumping in my chair all day. I’m not going cold turkey, but I am only allowing myself TWO a week (not counting the one I’m drinking right now). One on the weekend at whatever time or event I choose and one for my regular 10:00 a.m. Monday morning work meeting. The Monday morning fix is non-negotiable.
2. TELEVISION. My TV viewing habits are out of control. Last night I DVR’ed and THEN WATCHED One Tree Hill at 12:30 a.m. One Tree Hill. It had Kevin Federline on it. Trying to explain how bad this show is like trying to explain sarcasm to a three year old. And there I sat in my chair, remote in hand, eyes glued to the TV like a junkie holding an empty needle. Here’s my plan on the TV front. I’ll DVR any primetime shows I want to watch and then give myself a few hours on Sunday afternoons to swim through the sludge. Sunday will now become my day of worship at Our Lady of DVRdom.
3. Sleeping in. I have to get my ass out of bed before 7:45 a.m. If I want to change my life, I need to be on the treadmill everyday by 7:00 a.m. Right now, my mornings consist of waking up, waking my daughter, and then spending the first 20 to 30 minutes of the day holding her on my lap, snuggling, watching the Today show. Neither of us are morning girls. I used to have a rule with my husband that we couldn’t talk until I’d been awake for, at least, 20 minutes. It saved us many early-morning arguments.

I think three is a good start. If I can pull these three things out, then I’ll consider a THINGS TO START list. First I’ve got to quit…break some things down before I try to rebuild this mother. The television boycott alone should offer up a good five to six hours of free time during the week…that’s more than enough to finish a novel in twelve months.

Baby steps, Ellie, baby steps.