I put my shoes on every day now.

Last Monday I realized that one or two little things can set in motion a string of psychological effects, many of which are unintended and unexpected. Last Monday, on a whim, I decided to put on my shoes.

I purchased a new pair of shoes a couple days earlier and they didn't quite feel right. I figured I just had to break them in a bit. So I put them on. Normally, I don't wear shoes around the apartment. I stay in my socks or wear slippers. I keep my shoes next to the door and put them on when I leave. I do this in order to keep the apartment a little bit cleaner. Last Monday, when I put on my shoes, I felt differently. I felt like getting something done. I felt energized and focused.

The simple act of putting on my shoes triggered my latent and heretofore untapped potential for productivity. I made lists. I cleaned rooms. I took out trash. I did laundry. I read a book. I scheduled appointments. I did all of this in addition to my usual daily tasks: feed the baby, feed the dog, change the baby, wipe up various messes, make some dinner, etc.

I think I don't feel dressed if I'm not wearing shoes. I find it much easier to sit around on my butt watching TV, playing on the internet, or doodling on scrap paper when I'm not dressed. When I put on shoes, I feel like I have things to accomplish. As a result, a week later, the apartment is as clean as it has been in months. The dog has all his shots and claws or a reasonable length. The baby is learning to eat with her own two hands. Michelle has been fed within minutes of arriving home. I've blogged twice, written in my journal twice, my neck is clean shaven and my beard is well trimmed.

I hope to incorporate more productive activities into every day as I become more efficient. Finishing my thesis may actually happen unless I backslide terribly. For now, I'm just happy knowing that I can be as productive as I need to be to keep this little family going strong.

The World is Ending

The auto industry package failed in the Senate. A bunch of lame duck ideologues decided that the market was more important than the jobs of some 3 million Americans; that Wall Street was good enough for a $700 billion bailout, but the Auto Industry wasn't good enough for a $14 billion loan. So now it is up to the White House to use so-called TARP money to float a loan to the auto industry. Most people are sure this will happen. George W. Bush will be judged by history to be one of the worst presidents ever, and he doesn't want to pile the failure of the American auto industry on top of everything else he as screwed up.

One in every 31 adults is either behind bars or on parole (just heard this on the news). This number has been growing ever since the Justice Department started tracking it. Either more people are becoming criminals or law enforcement is getting better at catching them. Wait, what if there are just a greater number of laws to break? Don't know why this is, but I expect the number to increase as the economy continues to tank.

The governor of Illinois is a corrupt idiot whose foul-mouthed stupidity is taking all the wind out of the sails of the upcoming Obama administration. I've been nothing but happy with the president-elect's cabinet nominations and staff appointments. I believed him when promised to eschew ideology, and his appointments, many of which are disappointing to the ideological left, have not disappointed me. But this a-hole of a governor is going to leave a black mark on the next administration before Obama is even innaugurated.

And William Petersen is leaving CSI.

Oh well, at least there's some good food in the fridge and a happy baby taking a nap in the next room. Everything will be okay.