How to Use a Reprieve

Maybe you got a snow day. I didn't. I got a "no electricity in the building" day.

When I woke up today, I didn't feel well. In fact, I asked my husband if he was willing to substitute teach for me today if I didn't feel better soon. But I did feel better quite soon and realized I had some work to do on lesson plans before setting off to the homeschool coop where I teach a writing class and a science class. But first I checked my email, and what do you know! Classes were cancelled due to power failure. Now what to do next? I realized I had several options.

1. I could decide I really didn't feel as good as I thought and go back to bed to read a book I am enjoying for the rest of the day. This is called PRETENDING TO BE SICK IN ORDER TO BE LAZY.

2. I could blow off the day surfing the internet. This is called WASTING AN OPPORTUNITY.

3. I could get ahead of the game and do some lesson planning, get caught up on correcting homework, and prepare to re-do the syllabi for those two classes (for the third time). This is called WORKING LIKE USUAL.

4. I could get another non-teaching project done. There's always a closet to organize or a room to clean from top to bottom. This is called BEING PRODUCTIVE.

5. I could get out a fun project, like that quilt I started and which has been languishing in my sewing closet, and enjoy that. This is called BEING CREATIVE.

The good choices are obvious. The bad ones equally so. But sometimes the bad ones are a needed down time. The hard part is deciding how much that needed down time really is. In my case, it would be hard to justify. So here is what I am going to do: some of each, starting with number 3 and going down the list, then starting at the top. I believe my day will be well spent even if I don't get to the last priority on my list. Pat myself on the back and chalk one up for good decision-making. Now to get off this blog and start my reprieve for real...