The

Undeniable

Ruth

®

…and the Ruth shall set you free!

  • I Want to Outsource my Life

    ·

    Ruth Carter

    I want to outsource my life. Last year, my life was crazy busy because I was dealing with heart issues and traveling so much. This year, I’m crazy busy with client work, being an adjunct professor for ASU Law, and a few other projects. I have had to cut way back on my commitments – I just don’t have the bandwidth to take on anything else. Even on the weekend, I don’t have much down time. I spend my “days off” running errands, writing blog posts, working out, volunteering with Ignite Phoenix, and making a little time to see friends.

    I love everything that I get to work on, but I have no time or energy to spare.

    This is How I Feel Most Days -- Too Much To Do - Photo by Ben Ammon
    This is How I Feel Most Days — Too Much To Do – Photo by Ben Ammon

    If I could outsource sleeping, I would.
    If there was a way to go 24-48 hours without sleeping and still being able to function, I would, but I can’t.

    Since I can’t outsource sleeping, I want to be more efficient about how I use my waking hours. And I think that means I need to take some tasks off my plate, because when I have too much to do, I get flustered and distracted easily.

    I started to think about what I can outsource in my life. One of my friends buys a lot of everyday items on Amazon.  At first, I laughed at him, now I am starting to understand where he was coming from. The fewer stores I have to go to, and the fewer mundane errands that I have to run, the better. I went on to Amazon tonight and I started doing searches for products that I would be interested in having delivered to my doorstep – like dog food and moisturizer. The prices appear to be comparable or cheaper than local stores.

    I also went to the REI website and bought my next pair of insoles for my running shoes. It’s only a 20-minute trip to get them at the local store, but that’s at least 20 minutes I just got back into my life. And with free delivery, I’ve spent the same amount.

    It feels little weird to think that my shampoo and Rosie’s dog treats are going to come in the mail, but if doing this means I get to feel more calm, rested, and focused, I’m in.

    (Footnote: Shopping locally is important to me, and I do the majority of my shopping at my locally owned grocery store. Most of the things I’m considering buying online are things I’d get from big box stores.)

  • My Dog Stinks

    ·

    Ruth Carter

    Rosie StickThis is my dog Rosie.

    We go for walks every day.

    She likes to rub her head on stuff.

    It makes her happy.

    I let her do it as long it’s not poop.

    There’s one plant Rosie loves to rub her head on.

    This plant smells so bad.

    It makes her head smells bad.

    Then we go back in the house.

    And she gets that smelly plant smell on her bedding and the carpet.

    But she’s happy, so I let her get away with it.

    My dog stinks.

  • Arizona Independents: Declare a Party for the Presidential Primary

    ·

    Ruth Carter

    I am a registered Independent – but not for long.

    Registered Independents are the largest group of registered voters in Arizona – 35% of eligible votes the last time I checked. By our sheer numbers, we have a lot of influence – but we can’t exert that influence in the Presidential Primary unless we register as a member of a political party.

    Image by DonkeyHotey from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
    Image by DonkeyHotey from Flickr (Creative Commons License)

    That’s the rule. I didn’t make it.

    Our Presidential Primary is on March 22nd, so that means we have until February 22nd to register with the party whose primary we want to vote in. It’s easy to change your party affiliation on the Service Arizona website.

    I’m pretty sure I know which party I’m going to declare for the primary election. It’s too bad that only 4 states will have had primary elections prior to the Arizona registration deadline. For this election, I’ve been mulling over whether it would be better to vote for a candidate I want or against a candidate I don’t want. (I still wish Jon Stewart was running for President. Perhaps he’ll launch a campaign as a write-in candidate late in the game.)

    There has yet to be a political party that doesn’t done something that is a major turn-off for me. When pollsters call and ask which party I’m for affiliated with, I usually say, “None of them. They all suck.” If they follow up with a question about whether I’m more conservative or liberal, I like to respond with, “I’m sane.”

    Despite my distaste with members of every political party, I’m a big believer and advocate of the idea that you have to vote to maintain your bitching rights. If you want to bitch about the candidates for President, you have to vote in the primary. If you don’t vote, shut up.

    I will declare a party for the Presidential Primary in Arizona and then change back to being an Independent once the primary election is over. I don’t have to be affiliated with a party for any other votes in Arizona.