#58 Choose sleep.

Even the harried working parents of small children receive an entire block of time when they are supposed to rest, when they are expected to stop and recharge. Sleep is my last safe place, my only potential for a full eight hours of quiet time to myself, during which no one requires my attention or my care or even my presence.

I give up part of this precious time in order to write. Every morning, I wake at 4am to write until 7am, when it's time to wake Evelyn for school and to listen for Mina to begin chatting quietly in her crib. For three hours, I  sip coffee and write without interruption. I enjoy it immensely.

Except when I don't. You see, when one rises at 4am, one inevitably fights exhaustion by early evening. That means, especially after Daylight Saving Time over the weekend, I was struggling to stay awake past sunset.

Hence, my early-morning writing time has crept forward from 4 am to 5, then to 5:30, and then what-the-hell, this morning I didn't roll out of bed until past 7.

But I feel better. Extra sleep pays off, if not in writing time, then at least in feeling-like-a-human time.

#57 Finally update your computer, maybe blog more often than twice a year.

I have an embarrassing secret, but it is one that I suspect I share with many. The computer I used up until yesterday was purchased seven years ago. A charming HP system of yesteryear, it boasted the laid-back approach to speed and enthusiasm typical of the elderly. Approximately twelve-thousand years old in technological years, it has well earned its retirement to the recycle bin.

The old computer had a speed similar to the long, pre-caffeine walk to my office at 5am (i.e., slow). Therefore, I did not use it often, and even less so after we moved to our new house over Christmas. My justification for this new system is that I will accomplish so much more writing with it, mark my words!

We decided on the HP Touchsmart, which is this all-in-one-PC-media-center-type thing, whatever, that does all kinds of fun stuff. Hence, I've done everything but write with it: watch TV, load photos, download Skype, organize recipes. It is speedy and gorgeous and superfun, which is why Nathan, Evelyn, and I unpacked it yesterday evening and commenced fighting over it while Mina observed us for the shallow and materialistic dweebs that we are.

I won the fight, because I am the Mom.

See above: my victory web-cam shot.