(procrastination, garden)

From early in the week, and observation through the window from my work desk:

The green wall and canopies of leaves have gone up. New shadows have my attention as the tulip poplar's shade moves across my view like an hour hand. And shade's absence, where we cut back a tree months ago so sun could be lavished on the squash trellis: the inky spot is missing. Only the gnomon of the trunk remains.

And a complaint:

Someone spoofing the EPA has been calling us. I assume if i answered i would be greeted by one of a dozen scam pitches we frequently get. Why would anyone believe the caller when it doesn't match the caller ID? Who are the people responding to these scams? Because if you have a phone number for more than a few months the overwhelming number of junk contacts should educate you as to the absolute bunk most of them are.

We are fully leafed out now -- since last weekend, i think. The black walnut might still be working at leafing out, but from the bed through the bedroom window it's all green: no glimpses of sky any more. Star of Bethlehem began blooming on the 15th, and the bearded iris bloomed in the front yard yesterday. (It's from the previous owners: might be Jurassic Park (but i've never had reblooming) or Edith Wolford. They are survivors of much neglect like our gladiolas.

Procrastination early in the week, for two days. Included looking into whether there is a taxonomy of procrastination types. I was pointed towards T A Pychyl's work and this non-scholarly summary:

* Inevitable delays, which arise when one’s schedule is overloaded or disrupted by another obligation or need
* Arousal delays, which occur when a person decides they’d be more motivated to do something at the last minute;
* Hedonistic delays, which happen when a person chooses to do something else than the task at hand because of the instant gratification factor;
* Delays due to psychological problems, such as grief or another mood or mental health condition, whether chronic or acute;
* Purposeful delays, commonly required when a person needs to, say, think about an issue or creative work before getting down to the act of writing or producing something; and
* Irrational delays, which are inexplicable to the procrastinator and often fueled by fear of failure and anxiety.

There is also decisional delay mentioned in the literature, which is when there is some discomfort associated with making a decision, so that is avoided.

I've added these to my "Behaviors and Consequences" list, https://airtable.com/shrWJdEydy3qxGlDS , where i have listed behaviors i want to be aware of. I've made a form that allows me to select behaviors and record the antecedents as way of being mindful of the behaviors and slowly change. While looking into the types of procrastination was a way of procrastinating, it wasn't frivolous, no more than folks who clean house as part of procrastinating are frivolous. I'll refine the consequences over time if that's valuable. I'm pretty sure the main thing that's valuable is recognizing when i'm in a somewhat habitual behavior pattern and what triggered it.

Although the afternoon consumption is not stopping. What i think i would like are intensely flavored small "candies." I've some Finnish licorice that is somewhere between hard and chewy. Läkerol is a little more chewy and more quickly consumed -- but i just bought a box of every flavor in stock at licoriceinternational.com . Hopefully, the potent flavor will provide the stimulation i am looking for. I have a little gumball dispenser, and i will mix all the flavors together in the dispenser and have the pleasure of not knowing the flavor and being surprised. I know some folks won't think of salmiak (salt licorice) and pleasure as compatible concepts, but i like the intensity. I wish Läkerol had clove, cinnamon, and cardamom flavored candies.