What's My Name Again?

Every now and then (and in my case more than I'd prefer) life steps in and takes over. As a Stay-At-Home-Mom, who rarely stays home, of four children some days are more hectic than others. I honestly thought that with one more child off to school for at least part of the day that my life would be so much more peaceful... Stop laughing! It's not funny!

Those of you who have been in my shoes are not so quietly snickering at my naievete, I know. Granted, I do have a couple hours a day when the baby is taking a nap (yes, I still call my 20 month old the baby, he will always be unless we have another one... and don't hold your breath there). But those hours are consumed with playing catch-up. I know some of y'all know I finally got my story revised and sent off, now I'm editing another one that I did in a sort of ... challenge with Mysti. Her result is contracted and in the process of editing for publishing. Mine is still waiting for edits. But, I digress.

I once heard an author say, "We all have the same amount of hours in the day, it's up to us how we use them." Or something like that... I guess I should take the quotations off... Anyway, I know that everyone has the same allotment of time in their day. Everyone has a million things they need to get done. Why does it seem that I never get everything done? I know that I have quite a few irons in the fire (some that y'all have no ideas about) and I also have a distressing lack of the ability to say, "NO!" But, honestly, I don't squander my time! So, how is it that I look up and realize that the kids will be walking through the door any minute and I just barely got through emails? Or that I find after blinking my way out of a scene that I forgot to blog or put up my Hottie (which I am SUPREMELY sorry for... please forgive me) not once but twice? Where does the time go? And who the heck am I at this point in time? Mommy? Author? Wife? House-slave? Geesh... what's my name again?

Is anyone still actually reading this blog, or do y'all just pop in for the hotties? LOL, just kidding, I know y'all are around, it's ME who's been AWOL. But seriously, any suggestions on time management. I start my day with a to-do list and at the end of the day there aren't as many things crossed off as I would like. Am I reaching too far, should I just keep plugging along? I don't want to plug along, I want to accomplish something. I have quiet a few author friends and they seem to have the same problems. Does anyone out there do this without losing their sanity and their name? Just wondering... okay, and whining a bit... but seriously. Anyone?

Dear Santa...

What I'd really like for Christmas is a little more time. Do you suppose you can slip one of those nifty watches like Hermione had in Harry Potter into my stocking?

If I had three of myself (or three times the hours in the day), I might be able to manage being a wife, mother, housekeeper, author, student, accountant, dog trainer and more into one day.

Now? With only one of me, and a meager 24-lousy-hours a day?

Have you seen the dust on my mantle? The husband who barely knows my name? My DD, tugging on my arm, begging for me to play a board game? My heroine, currently tied to the bed and being ravaged by the hero (actually, she may be okay with that, and doesn't mind waiting until I get back to her, lol)? My dog, who regularly wreaks havoc in and out of the house?

So, Santa, I don't need anything extravagant. Keep the diamond earrings and the Caribbean cruise. Just send me a few more hours. Please? I've been (mostly) good.

Sincerely,

Mysti