Small things that make an unexpectedly large difference

(Wow, if Morrissey would've just come up with a song by that name, he really coulda been a contender.)

So as part of my associate-editorial responsibilities, I need to complete these dreadful things called "tracking sheets" that list the name/address/phone/e-mail of each contributor plus the title/details/payment for each contribution. Have to do one for each project I have for every issue. It takes forever and I'm really bad at it. ("Name: Shelley Snowflake. Address: [click over to Firefox, copy, paste] Phone: [click back over to Firefox, copy, paste] E-mail: [I wonder what's going on over at Pharyngula?]")

And so I tried this cunning trick yesterday. I set the timer for fifteen minutes and challenged myself to finish the tracking sheet for one article before the timer rang. It actually took me about sixteen and a half minutes.

So for the next article, I was ruthless. Twelve minutes, max.

Got it done with fifteen seconds to spare.

Tracking sheets for a whole issue usually take me about two and a half hours. I got this one done in under forty-five minutes.

So now I am the proud owner of this adorable new lime-green egg-shaped timer. (The boys wanted their IKEA timers back.) And I am setting it for *everything.* Hooray for old Jedi new Jedi Temple Academy mind tricks!

Also: here's a picture of Fisher.

(If you're ever in Portland and want great lighting for photos, check out Hotlips Pizza in the Pearl District. About an hour or so before sunset, the sun comes in the big windows along the side and bounces off the kitchen wall and makes the most incredible reflected-light effect.)

And here's one of Rhys, not taken at Hotlips but pretty darn cute regardless.

And for good measure, one of Jim with his M8, taken in our bathroom mirror.

Comments

[Jen Adams Donnelly]

Hey, thanks for the Moz clip... you would not be surprised to know that I am actually Internet-acquainted with the person who posted that clip. Check out the video, "Imperfect List" that she posted.

I agree it's so much easier to get shit done when you actually do it. But that's the hard part.

[Summer]

You live with handsome men. And I love the name Hotlips Pizza.
That might just be a new stage name for me.

[Helena]

Productivity... huh... I have realized that working on the computer is a problem, since I'm, well, on the computer, and the computer does so many other cool things. Alas.

[azureavian]

what adorable men! you are gifted beyond most.

[Elizabeth]

Plus Hotlips has some of the best pizza in Portland, and the absolute best freshly made fruit sodas! Oh, and have you found your way to Mississippi Pizza yet? I want to go there for one of their Monday evening adult spelling bees. :-)