Where Will I Find the Time?

I’ve gotten into a comfortable workweek routine the last couple of days. We wake up around 8:00 and while Jojo takes a shower, I make breakfast. We have either toast and eggs or oatmeal and cereal (depending on how late we wake up). While Jojo gets dressed for work, I make his lunch (usually a sandwich and a cup of soup). He leaves at 9:30. I do the dishes then I have the rest of the day to myself.

Mornings are spent checking my email, going on Facebook, surfing the net and job searching. I usually send out applications, if anything interesting pops up. I research companies on the web and I make phone calls. By lunchtime, I either meet up with a friend or a former co-worker, otherwise I eat at home. If it’s with a friend, it usually means meeting some place quick because they are on their lunch break. If I’m on my own, it’s usually a sandwich or leftovers while reading a book.

After lunch, I go to the gym (four times a week) for about 45 minutes. Then, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I volunteer at a homeless shelter. On the other days, I run errands. Either I go to the bank, the post office, the doctors, the pharmacy, the dry cleaners. Or depending on what we need at home I go to: Food for Less or Albertsons for fruits and veggies, Ranch 99 for meat and seafood, Trader Joe’s for prepared food, Walmart for household stuff, Seafood City for Pinoy stuff (like sardines, sinigang powder, etc.), and Costco for bulk items (like paper towels and detergent). I also have my occasional "me" time which means getting a mani-pedi, going to the hairdresser for a hot-oil or a trim, or going shopping (of course!).

I am at home usually by 5. I do one major “household” chore a day. It’s either laundry and folding clothes, or general cleaning, or changing towels and sheets, or taking out the trash, or re-arranging cluttered cabinets, etc. Then by around 6:30, I make dinner. Lately we have been eating at home more, mainly because I have more time to make a real meal. I sort the mail while waiting for Jojo to arrive. He is home by 7:30 and we have dinner together.

After dinner, Jojo does the dishes then relaxes by playing computer games or the Wii which leaves me time to blog or work on my recipe scrapbook. Sometimes I’m on the phone with my mom, my sister or a friend. Then around 9, Jojo and I watch tv together. We have a host of favorite shows lined up each night of the week. By 11:00, we are in bed, usually winding down the day by talking or watching the news. Jojo usually nods off first while I spend a few more minutes reading. After my evening prayers, it’s off to lala land.

Despite not having a job yet, my days are busy and quite fulfilled. And while I am excited to start working again and ready to start putting in 40-60 hours a week at a new job, I also wonder, where will I find the time to do everything I’ve gotten used to doing?