Last week, I sat down with homemade crackers, cheese, and wine in our dusty garage to steal away a couple of hours to just bang out some meal plans. And I did! I nearly finished two and got a great start on a few more. Relief! As I wrapped everything up, so proud of myself, my husband and kids knocked on the other side of the garage door announcing my time was done. Zed had been crying, I was clearly missed.

What a great evening!

The next time I sat down to edit and clean everything up after my mad evening of joyful, uninterrupted work:
IT.
WAS.
ALL.
GONE.

I love the program I use to work and write, but after years of it doing auto-save (I swear this was a previous function!), it somehow was re-set? Anyways, I didn’t have a lot of additional time to waste feeling sorry for myself, so I dug in changed the preferences to save EVERY MINUTE! Yes, I would have done ‘save every second’ had that been an option. And then I closed my computer, because the distractions came again.

Attempting to start over after knowing how fabulous (or at least complete!) those meal plans were leaves me a bit sick to my stomach. But, really that time in the garage was golden, even if I have so little to show for it. Maybe I am just not destine to catch up on life. Ever.

So, here I go, starting over. Maybe it will be better. Maybe a touch worse. My poor brain can’t remember any of it. Regardless, I will do my best to make it shiny and new like a freshly scrubbed 1999 quarter. Even though, I want to burst in to tears since it all sounds so damn counterproductive to do my work twice.

Instead I thought I would take a moment to count the lessons (please note: I am way too bitter to call them blessings):

1. Working in the garage, despite the boxes, dust and unpredictable temperature changes can be a lot of fun!
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2. Especially with a glass of wine, grown-up snacks and the heater on my cold toes.

3. Auto-save. Auto-save. And then save it all again after doing the work. Auto-save.

4. Do not let the computer play pandora all day without being plugged in.

5. Alternatively, close & save programs if playing pandora all day without a plug is required, desired or happening against your will.

6. Did I mention auto-save?

7. I am somehow running a business and raising my little ones… all with a bazillion distractions. Yay- Go Me!

8. Find ways to get someone else to deal with the distractions. (Aka hide in the garage, while husband takes over.)

Please share with me the last time you lost a bunch of work that you had happily completed. Anyone else have to learn the double check the auto-save lesson… the hard way? Please tell me I am not alone! Actually, I have a sneaking suspicion this hasn’t been a problem for the majority of the population since 2004, but I am clearly catching up slowly.

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly