Look at me!

It seems some habits never die.

Especially the bad ones.

We may think we licked them ages ago, but no, they lie patiently dormant, just waiting for an opportunity to arise and worm their way back into our lives.  As if this isn’t frustrating enough, they never reappear in our lives in a subtle, maybe we can ignore them and they’ll go away sort of way, but always in a smug and completely irritating, AH HA!  I still gottcha sort of way.  Whatever.

So, having set the stage, I’ll just go ahead and admit that one of my many bad habits of old has reared its ugly head after laying in wait for over 25 years.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it turns out, I STILL HATE TO STUDY.  What’s more, it seems I’ll still do ANYTHING to keep from studying.  This is quite inconvenient too what with The National Board Exam looming in the not so distant future.  You’d think I’d be all buckled down with my books, flashcards, online Prep classes, etc.  Alas, not so much, even though I have everything organized, set and ready as evidenced below.

I even planned out a bit of a schedule for studying, 2-3 hours in the morning and 1-2 in the evening, leaving me plenty of time during the day to do massage, play, run errands, or whatever.   Sounds reasonable right?  Well, reasonable or not, I stuck to said schedule for exactly one half of one day.  Impressive, I know.

People who know me know that I’ll do anything to keep from cleaning house, including things like going to the dentist for a root canal.  It’s absolutely true about me throwing a dinner party from time to time just to create a situation where I will have to clean my house because it has gotten so bad even I can’t stand it any longer.  You get the idea, so you’ll appreciate the situation when you learn that I now find myself cleaning house to keep from studying.  Oh boy, am I in trouble or what?

Even as I type this, I realize I am posting to my blog so I can put off studying.  After this, I think I’m going to email my friend Sue, who is interested in my upcoming Seminars in LA and then I was thinking the dogs need a bath and the yard could stand to be raked and Dora could use a waxing, and the neighbor’s fence could be stained, and, and, and.  There is no end to how creative I can get coming up with activities that will keep me from studying.

In fact, just yesterday, I was up in Sedona rooting around in the Red Rocks looking for something to occupy my time and energy when I fell upon a grand idea.

Look at me!

And for some perspective.  The crossing of the red rocks above is the same as below at the top of the gap on the upper left.

Pretty cool, huh?

Just kidding, that’s not me.  I was out and about on a hike with the Sedona Westerners and we happened to catch some rock climbers making their “bid for the summit” of the final pillar.  Awesome.  On their way back down, this one guy jumped from the upper platform to the lower.  Crazy stuff.

Here’s our group taking a break from our highest vantage point.  That’s Bob, the leader for the day, handing out cookies he had made.  These were chocolate with walnuts.  The last time I went on one of his hikes, he had made macaroons.  Yum.  Yum.

And here’s a view from the trail further down.  That plant with the long, wavy arms is an Ocotillo in full leaf.

That’s it for now.  I’ve got to meet a friend in a few hours.  Who wants to make a bet as to the activity that will occupy my time til then?

Could it be:

A.  Studying

B.  Going to the Dentist

C. Cleaning the grout in the shower

D.  Anything but studying

Only time will tell, so stay tuned.