When Boss conducted the first meeting of 2010 right after the holidays, the first thing she distributed was schedules. I was facing several different schedules for several different projects, way more than last year's, all of which were supposed to fit into one another so that they'd all get finished in the allotted time. Some were for online projects, others were for print projects, and there would be video projects in between. And a lot of the little boxes had my name printed in them for one thing or another.

Uh-oh, I thought. I have never been good at schedules. I'm hopelessly disorganized when it comes to schedules. I need them all laid out, tasks and deadlines marked as needed. Otherwise I'd overlook or forget something until it was way due. Disaster loomed!

My planner last year was a lovely thick leather-bound book that Mega Publications gave me (thanks!). I really needed to refill it with this year's planner, but so far I haven't found the right refill that would fit its rings, and time is running out. So I got myself a desk calendar for my deadlines. However, imagine how silly I'd look with a desk calendar peeping out of my tote bag every time I was out of the office on official business! Also, the little datebook I got that would fit into my bag simply wasn't big enough to hold all the things I needed it to hold from day to day-- dates, times, schedules, notes about things, lists of things to do, thoughts that I liked to jot down from time to time.

I'm still looking for that elusive planner that's big enough to hold everything yet would fit in my bag; one that will be my constant and faithful companion when I go to work-related or blog-related events or get to travel out of town on lecture or leisure trips.

That's why, when Sarah Cada mentioned that she was giving away a journal in her blog --the one called "This Journal Will Actually Change Someone's Life," I checked it out. Boy oh boy, do I ever like it. The monthly expense chart was particularly inspired... anyone who knows me in some depth will tell you how hopeless I am as well when it comes to managing expenses. Now I am wishing for that journal! LOL. /counts pennies/ I wonder if I could save up for it before the year gets any older?

It's just that I need that planner so badly!