my state-of-mind is evidently in another state

I have one of those long lists of things to do that is once again overwhelming me. I can't treat it like the laundry, either, because unlike going out and buying new underwear, there are just some things that must be done. Period. It happens twice a year: at Christmas and end of the school year. There's something about all the activities that pile together, and while I naturally enjoy going to the concerts, and awards, and special productions, the hours spent away from the regular schedule accumulate and I get behind.

So here I am gamely picking my way through things that should have been done and prioritizing according to imminent implosions. I finally have it under control. Sort of.

Okay, well, at least I have a system.

Part of the plan includes jamming the earbuds into my ears and tuning out the world while I slog through papers, submissions, writing, you name it.

Here's the thing. I worked diligently through a pile of stuff, and just realized that I had left the mp3 player on repeat song. I heard the same song by Celia Cruz maybe 40 times!

Hmmm. I don't know what that says about Celia's music, or my powers of observation.