Who Needs It?

I've realized that I lack enough time in the day to get done what I really want and need to do. I keep saying that I'll do X whenthe wee ones are in school and I have more time. And there are lots of Xs.

I finally have a solution. There is something I need to give up, as it's really wasting a lot of my time. I'm sure many of you have seen posts lately from people giving up their blogs because they've realized that the blogs are taking too much time away from family and activities. No worries, that's not what this post is about.

I've got it all figured out. If I can give up sleep, I've just earned myself an extra six or seven hours a night to do all the things I've wanted to.

Granted, it will be hard to volunteer at the hippotherapy barn, so that one still has to wait until the wee ones are in school, but there are lots of other opportunities. So long as I can talk my husband into putting a studio in the basement, I can finally get back to ceramics. And by back to, I mean relearn how to do it since I haven't anything with pottery since I was in the sixth grade or so.

I also need a studio to do some glass blowing. I don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by the art of glass blowing. Making your art from something so amorphous and delicate appeals to me. There likely isn't a completely right or wrong way to do it, which means my pieces don't have to be perfect -- and it just looks so peaceful.

My other dream when I have more time "someday" is to learn to decorate cakes. I see what some people can do, and I'm just in awe. I love Ace of Cakes, and even seeing the creativity that other bloggers display with their cakes for their children. The cakes I see that some people buy for children's birthday parties are awfully cool, and I constantly think "hey, I could do that... if I only knew how." And I'd actually enjoy doing all the baking and carving and coloring and decorating. I'm still signing up for a class at the local community college once the wee ones are in school. But I'll at least practice now with my newfound no need for sleep time.

With an extra third of the day, I would also finally find time to do yoga even on my busy days. It's possible that this idea is inspired by the fact that my arms are still mildly sore today after my first yoga class in probably two months. And the yoga class I go to now is intense! This also might ensure that I don't miss any of my running days. Oooo, I'm liking this!

I might also be able to subscribe to the newspaper again. I gave it up last September when the e of unread newspapers surpassed ten inches. The Depression Era Baby in me can't pay for something like that and then not read them. It took me awhile to get through them, but I finally did. Of course, now my magazine pile has grown significantly. And no, I haven't renewed any magazines in two years. That means I have only four magazines I receive -- three are auto-subscriptions due to work and my gym; the other is a Christmas present from my SIL. Without sleeping, I might be able to actually read some books for fun. I love that idea.

And best of all? With my newly found time that I won't be spending sleeping... I'm going to be just enjoying the quiet. No phones ringing. No children needing my help. No husband making noise. Even the kitties will be silent. And the birds. And the neighbors -- no kids outside screaming and playing, no adults mowing lawns or doing home construction. Ahhhh...

Ok, so maybe it isn't realistic. Do you think I can manage to dream about it tonight at least?

So what would you give up to gain time?