Procrastination Problem

It's amazing what I can accomplish when I'm on deadline. It's equally amazing how little I accomplish when I am not.

2008 was full of deadline-driven-deliverables. I moved to Nashville, started a new career and planned every teeny, tiny, ridiculous detail of a big fat blowout wedding. I was totally on top of things. Lately - not so much.

With our first wedding anniversary quickly approaching, Jonathan likes to remind me that I have yet to print and frame a single wedding photo, order our wedding album or have my dress, shoes and veil professionally cleaned and preserved. I uploaded the wedding photos onto our digital photo frame though. That sort of counts, right? The dress, shoes and veil, on the other hand, can still be found on the guest bed at my Mom's house.

That's just a tiny glimpse into my procrastination problem.

Based on the contents of my wallet, I am having a full-blown identity crisis. By all outward appearances I am completely Collins. But according to my bank account, credit cards, cell phone account, voter registration card and vehicle registration documents, I am still a Perkins. I have to keep my Perkins driver's license tucked away behind my Collins license just to verify debit and credit purchases. My laziness is embarrassing.

Case in point:

"Can I see your ID?" the cashier at Target asks after running my debit card.

"Sure," I say as I pull my double IDs from my wallet. "Actually, my card matches my old ID with my maiden name, but here are both licenses," I explain, handing them to her.

"Aw, you just got married?!" asks the cashier. "That's just wonderful! Congratulations!"

This situation would be completely acceptable, except for the fact that it didn't happen last year - it happened last week. Pathetic.

So, where is the aggressively-get-things-done-Melinda of 2008?

Apparently, she got married and got lazy. It's completely inexcusable and unacceptable. With renewed energy, I am determined to flip this procrastination problem before it spirals out of control (as if that hasn't already happened).

First on the list: order the wedding album. I finally narrowed the photos to my favorite 108 and sent the list to our photographer. I consider this a big accomplishment, even though I was supposed to submit 75 photo choices, not 108.

Next up: print and frame photos. I bought a big 'ol frame over the weekend to match the frame that holds our 11x14 engagement print. A lovely wedding photo will be hanging on the wall very, very soon.

My mom made a call last week about having the dress, shoes and veil professionally cleaned and preserved. Despite the $250 price tag, I'll be checking that off the list too.

I'm still working to sort out the identity crisis occurring in my wallet. It's a little more daunting and annoying than the other items on my to-do list. Nonetheless, I'm on a mission to bring back the aggressively-get-things-done Melinda that I miss so much and kick this procrastination problem once and for all.

Mr. and Mrs. Newberry

The weekend before Jonathan and I got sick with the flu (October 10), we attended the wedding of our friends Emily and Brad.

I met Emily in 2004 when she was a freshman at UT and joined Zeta Tau Alpha (our sorority). We were instantly friends, even though there's a four-year age difference between us. I think that's mostly because I am a self-proclaimed late bloomer (which makes me wonder if I'm mentally 23, not 27). Anyway, even after I graduated and became a "grown-up," Emily and I remained good friends. She's such a free-spirited gal and so fun to be around. Brad is definitely a lucky man.

Here are a few photos from Brad and Emily's big day...


Cutting the cake (which was delicious!)

This photo really shows Em's carefree personality

Zeta sisters: Sheryl, Brittany, Em, Brittany and me

The bride with some of her best girls (and former roomies): Taryn, Britt, Em, Danielle and Kat

Two Pigs in a Blanket

For the past three days, Jonathan and I have been pretty sick. After tossing and turning all night Monday, we both woke up Tuesday morning with really high fevers, we were both really sore all over and had terrible headaches. Oh, and I nearly forgot about the hotflashes/cold chills. Naturally, I was convinced that we were both going to die from undiagnosed/untreated H1N1.

By Wednesday morning (er, afternoon), we were feeling significantly better. Our fevers had subsided, but the body aches and hotflashes/cold chills continued. Neither of us had any energy at all. We looked like cave people in sweatpants and t-shirts. I sort of wish I had a picture of just how ridiculous my hair looked. Poor little Alfie was lucky to get fed or taken outside to tinkle mcsprinkle.

Today, Jonathan and I are feeling much better. Jonathan woke up feeling almost back to normal. I woke up with a sore throat and aches and pains all over, but still better than the day before. After a shower (bye bye cave woman hair!), I am feeling much, much better. I dried my hair, powdered my nose and put on jeans instead of sweats. Feeling nearly cured, I've even began disinfecting our house (washing clothes, towels, blankets, etc).

So, obviously, Jonathan and I don't actually have the dreaded swine flu. I know, my blog title is a little misleading. Someone posted the "two pigs in a blanket" comment on my Facebook wall, and it made me laugh, so I had to use it. And honestly, on Tuesday, I really was convinced that we not only had H1N1, but that we would surely die from it. I guess I overreacted (I blame my medicine head).

Anyway, that's the update for now (I just don't have the energy for a creative ending right now).