I'm trying to combine a fairly tradition SAHM workload with a full time writing job. Mostly, this works out just fine. When I'm super organized, I can have a large block of time to write and come up with ideas for a new article. Coming up with ideas is the most time consuming process. It involves talking to you all on this blog and skimming twitter and facebook to see what people are talking about. It also involves getting out of my basement office and talking to real people to see what is bothering them. 

By 3:00, I can, on my good days, put everything down and take care of the kids, shop for food, take the kids to soccer practice, arrange for doctor's appointments, make dinner, and do all the other mom stuff. 

Yesterday, I had total failure. I got an e-mail at 3:00 from an NPR producer asking if I wanted to appear on their "Tell Me More" show. At 4:30, we chatted on the phone. I think he wanted to make sure that I wasn't insane or anything. When I passed the insanity test, we booked a time to appear in their NYC studios. 

After this conversation, I'm not sure that I was entirely sane. I had to call my husband and my mom. I paced around the house and made notes of points that I wanted to bring out. I was a little looopy.

So, I forgot about Ian's appointment with the neurologist. Dinner plans were abandoned. The basil sat in a pool of lukewarm water in the sink and I ordered a pizza. I didn't check Ian's homework. SAHM fail.

Today, I have to pull myself together. I have to call the neurologist and take crap from the secretary about missing the appointment. I have to take my mom to Westchester to continue cleaning Aunt Theresa's house. (I'm pulling her love letters out of the trash pile. Either they will get a decent burial or I'll use them in an article.) I have to wash soccer outfits for tonight's game. And turn that basil into pesto. 

I'm off duty on this blog for the day. I very much appreciate yesterday's conversation about student loan debt, particularly those who challenged me. It helped prepare me for Monday's talk. I might be back over the weekend for more debate prep. 

Open thread for you all. Talk about last night's debate or whatever amuses you.