Kurashikata - a way of life

I guess this also applies to my son and not only me. My brain can get ideas all over the place.  My best way to keep track of project ideas is a notebook.  I've gotten on the Hobonichi Techo planner bandwagon for 2019, and I'm hoping that will get me in the mood to be thoughtful about my projects. I've spent the last couple of days cleaning my mom's sewing table - removing old projects (ones that have sat there for a number of years, and are best donated to those who could use the items as is, vs. altered in some way to fit a family member)...organizing the tons of "stuff" that lurked in the drawers...and vacuuming up termite poo.  You can see the table top again!  My family joked that a blanket my mom had started, but never finished (she basted several layers together), could be a family "heirloom" because if I don't finish it, I can always leave it to my daughter to finish. HAH. Like I'd let that happen.  I have to finish it. Funny...

I am the youngest of 3 (one boy, two girls).  There's 8 years separating the oldest (boy) and me.  So, once my brother went off to college, I became the unofficial boy of the family.  My dad has always been one to tinker and make things - he would fiberglass coat the boat he had; he built his orchid hot house himself; he built dog houses...the list is endless.  I became his helper.  I got to play with power tools.  Shop class in 8th grade was fun - because I took my wood project home and worked on it at home, instead of class. My parents would watch PBS a lot (weird now that I think about it), and things ranging from painting ( William Alexander drying off his 2-3" brush is most memorable), to cooking (The Frugal Gourmet is one that comes to mind), to carpentry (This Old House with Norm Abram).  I grew up with Childcraft books (copyright 1984!! Man, that is a while ago!), and my favorite book was #11 - Make and Do - sock puppets, tambourines, I want...

And, even if it doesn't become something great, at the very least, you can say, "I accomplished X, and that's more than nothing." I have held on to the domain for almost 2 years, trying to think of what I could post on it, or how I could use it.  Recently, I've been trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.  Don't get me wrong - I love my job (my current one...my previous ones - well, they definitely got me to where I am now), and I think I have managed to get a grip on family.  I've read lots and lots of blogs on self-help and self-improvement.  And I always figured that I needed a plan before I finally execute the plan. Little did I realize that the years flew by, and I'm now 43 (GASP! I actually admitted it!).  My daughter is a sophomore in high school.  My son is in first grade.  I don't have much more time to plan.  I just need to try it and if it works, it works - YAY!  If it doesn't work, well, time for plan B. I don...