Trouble Spot Tuesday Calendar

Since the end of 2008 is within spitting distance, it’s now time to think about 2009. Scary, I know. What the hell happened??? Where did this entire year GO? I have no idea. Regardless, it’s coming and for me, getting ready for the New Year involves setting up my calendar.

Pretty much every year someone gives me a calendar for Christmas – a paper one. This year I got to choose which one I wanted (thanks Mum) and chose a small spiral bound one. I like that I can bring it with me if I need it, but it has lots of space for me to have a monthly view, and weekly list. It also has space for a “To Do” list and grocery/meal plans. It’s awesome. I refer to my calendar a lot – like at least a few times a day so it’s important for it to be accurate and accessible as without it I’m toast.

I have YEARS, decades, worth of calendars saved. There’s lots of good information in there. It’s like my life in date form. I make notes about appointments, when we’ve had visits from friends and family, gone on vacations, got news about new babies being born, made phone calls, done classes, etc. The list goes on. I love looking back on all of those notations and reminiscing.

Every year, I sit down and transfer over all the birthdays anniversaries, pay days, appointments, meetings, holidays, etc. I love seeing the whole year fresh and ready before me and I feel connected to all the people who are on my calendar. However, remember to INCREASE ages by 1 year when you write them down or you will have nieces who are perpetually 4 and 6 years old (but they are not and kids in real life like you to know how old they are. Exactly.*Note to self, verify this information). Don’t forget to include your own birthday and maybe write down your age, because if you’re like me, you forget.

I’ve also made a list of all the birthday cards and gifts I need to get. I’m thinking that I’ll go out this week, while there are still toys/gifts on sale, and pick up a few and buy all the birthday cards I’ll need for the year. And then address them and have them ready to go. I’ve put a note on my calendar just over a week ahead to mail the appropriate card. That sounds like overkill to some degree, but I wish I could tell you the number of times I’ve remembered at the last minute that I need a card for someone and have to rush out to get one or scramble to put one together here at home. Hmm… maybe I’ll make some cards this year as well.

Ok, so I don’t have the cards organized yet, BUT my calendar is READY.

Now, if you’re into electronic calendars –there are lots of good ones out there I’m sure, but I can’t make any recommendations because they really don’t work for me so I don’t have a lot of experience here. I like my calendars to be tangible. I know there are some that have functions to email or message you when birthdays etc are coming up. If that works for you, go ahead and find one. No really – go. NOW. And let me know what you find because I’d be interested in this information.

And with the calendar being up to date, the sad neglect of my address book (uh, those scraps of paper shoved in an address book and emails saved from 1995 – yeah, they constitute my address book) has become apparent. So get ready, because we’re going to work on that next week.