Turning Diligent

I took a little character quiz recently and found that one of my definite lesser virtues is diligence. (Your undoubtedly fending off your shock about now.)

I'll case in point myself with the most normal of tasks: laundry. We have a fair amount of laundry. Besides there being 4 of us, the towheaded toddler insists on eating yogurt with his fist, the man of the house currently runs 3 times a week which necessitates laundry-doing in a major olfactory way, and yours truly has a knack for always forgetting an apron. To boot, in humid North Carolina your towels and washcloths basically have to be washed after one use, because they never dry out. (Maybe you always wash your towels after one use. This says something else about me on a hygienic level then.) So we have frequent laundry needs.

Here's the routine. I usually have 2 loads to do at a time.

Day 1: Gather laundry
Day 2: Start 1 load
            Change load 1 to dryer
            Start load 2
            Forget about laundry altogether
Day 3: Remember laundry
            Take dry Load 1 laundry up two flights of stairs
            Dry or rather rewash and dry Load 2.
            Take Load 2 upstairs.
            Fold load 1, Noah wakes up or some other inevitable.
            That night, if I'm doing good, I finish folding.
Day 4:  Put away (or finish folding) and put away clothes downstairs in boys room.
             Collect new laundry build-up.

My sister, Emily, on the other hand, loves washing and folding laundry. (She lived in Honduras and misses doing it on a washboard--!?) She folds every article of clothing like it's on display in a department store. Flat, crisp angles--it's almost stunning to watch this girl work.

My folded washclothes/hand towels 

   My sister's folded bath towels

I started taking a little more pride in my overdue folding today. (Clean clothes may or may not have been sitting in basket waiting to be folded for two days now.) I tried to fold more precisely, put clothes away in drawers more neatly. And what do you know, it did feel more satisfying. And motivating to keep it up.

This makes me realize that learning even simple skills comes in levels:
  - Just doing my own laundry. #dareIadmitIreallystarteddoingmyownlaundrywhenIwentawaytocollege
  - Learning how to treat, iron, care for different fabrics and materials.
  - Shoving them in more or less organized drawers and closet space.
  - Now doing it all for a family.
  - Doing it effieciently.
  - Doing it neatly.
  - Enjoying doing it well.

In turn, I wonder if becoming a bonafide "diligent person" who passes her character trait test with flying colors might just start from being diligent at little humdrum things that don't seem to matter at first.

I'll try it and let you know how it goes.

10 minutes

I have a problem. A blogging problem. I write and rewrite, read and reread, edit and reedit, and it takes me FOREVER to write a one sentence caption. Honestly. You can imagine how long writing a thank you card takes me.

So I had a thought: limit myself to 10 minutes and post it, no matter what, after just that length of time.  That took me 3 minutes; 7 to go.

Strike that, I just went back, reread and edited. 6 minutes.

You wouldn't know it from my recent track record of posting, but I often think of something that speaks to me. But when it involves fleshing the thought out in writing, I want the thought not just clear, but well written. But "now" never seems like the right time to capture it. So I make note of that thought and put it off. In the meantime, other thoughts come that I also never sit down and write. I'm afraid if hell is really paved with good intentions that I'm about halfway there.

So I'm thinking (but somehow still don't want to commit to it for fear I won't follow through!) that I should make a "blog once every day for a month" goal. Even if it's just a sentence. Or even if it takes me an hour. Just to overcome my putting-offness.

10 minutes up.

And I still went back and took 4 minutes to edit. 40% longer than I committed to--agh!

Hurting, Helping, Trusting

Yesterday I took Seth to a friend's house so I could go to a doctor's appointment. He shrieked in delight when he saw his friend and was thrilled to be at her house. As I pulled away I could see him out my rearview mirror: he turned around and saw his car and mommy leaving. He looked stunned. I realized then I never told him I was leaving him there. I pulled away, needing to get to my appointment on time, a little sick at heart to think he felt abandoned.

Later, as I drove back from the appointment I still felt a small pit in my stomach remembering the look on his face when I left him. "I never want to leave him again. I never want to hurt him again. I never want him to get hurt again! How can a mom save her child from all hurts??"

I suddenly felt anxious imagining future scenarios that will inevitably hurt him. I felt more uneasy as I considered, on top of that, the possible evils that could lurk into his future life. I want to shield him from all of it!


That night, I was reading a parenting article called "Helping Without Hovering". Near the end it suggested:

"Good parenting sometimes means allowing our children to fail and to deal with some heartbreaking experiences. President Thomas S. Monson reminds us that, "Life was never intended to consist of a glut of luxury, be an easy course, or filled only with success. There are those games which we lose, those races in which we finish last, and those promotions that never come. Such experiences provide an opportunity for us to show our determination and rise above disappointment."

The article added: 

"All people will face disappointments and unpleasant experiences at some point in their lives. If children can learn how to handle less-than ideal situations when they are young, they will be more resilient and resourceful as adults. Help your children to see that they can develop creative solutions for their problems instead of ignoring or avoiding them."

This made me think. My motherly instinct says, "Protect him from all hurts". But perhaps that has it own 'hurts'. Certainly Eve, Sariah and Mary wanted to protect their children.  But these mothers trusted that God's plan--letting each of us decide if we will follow Him amidst all circumstances--was right and worth whatever hurts occurred; and they had faith that there was a balm to heal. 

2 Months Gone by

Hold on, hold on. Yes, of course, I have an excuse for my absence. It should be a good excuse: I've been in and out of my first trimester pregnancy push with baby #2! I'm very happy for a healthy pregnancy, very excited for another child in our family...and for being out of that 13-week woods.

It should be a valid leave-of-absence. But here's the thing. I don't get morning sick. I never throw up. I barely feel nauseated. I call it "a little yucky". And, granted, I feel pretty tired, unmotivated. That's the worst of it. I've known a few women who go on an IV during their pregnancies; I truly have no reason for being such a slacker. (Though maybe I do: Ben was on his surgery rotation for 6 weeks of that time; plus Seth's birthday and Thanksgiving. It was a bit of a toll on this tired mommy. That's the best I can do for excuses.)

Now I play the game of trying to backtrack. It's a balancing act. I don't want to lose the last 2 months of my thoughts and experiences, but I also don't want to miss the moments of the present goings-on. That's maybe what I get for deciding I was "too tired". Here's to feeling motivated! Wish me luck.

Ashley

Ashley has a Midas touch. Everything she handles turns classy. I mean everything. I've attended a dinner where she served high-end mac and cheese (for her daughter's first birthday, so cute). For a person generally unsophisticated like me, I need some Ashley in my life to remind me how to live well. Additionally, she even somehow manages to make exercising look classy. A very hard feat indeed.

Here's her running story. In February she signed up for a half-marathon. She hadn't run a meter in years, but decided since her husband was busy in medical school she needed some new hobbies of her own. She didn't train with anyone, she ran every mile on a treadmill. *eek* Eight weeks later, she ran her first half-marathon. And she didn't stop there--she then signed up for a marathon, which she runs in just 2 weeks.

But here's what is great about Ashley. She doesn't tote a 'tude. She's convinced everyone can do it. That's where I come in. About May she invited me to do this half-marathon in September. "You can totally do it, Celeste."* Oh Ashley, of course you think I can do it, because you think everyone is awesome like you.

She was so convinced I could do it, I thought, "Ya know, maybe I could." That's a sign of a good friend, don't you think?; someone who helps you reach outside yourself.

Besides all that, Ashley's a great listener, adores her husband and daughter, stays positive, helps others, and cooks fantastic food. Here's to Ashley and to classy people everywhere!

---

*I guess that's one great thing about moving away from home too. Anyone who has known me for a long period of time would never invite me to do something like run a long distance for fun. And pay for it. They've heard my "I-can't-stand-when-people-claim-to-like-running-because-you-know-they're-just-saying-it-to-look-good" shpeel. But if you move away where no one knows your past or quiet strong opinions, you get more invitations to expand yourself. So here's, also, to living in new places.

13.1 miles

There I am! A testament that people can change.

And yes, I definitely plan to keep running and racing.

Unbroken

You know you love a book when:

 3. You buy it in hardcover before you finish reading it.
 2. You read even the description of the font set, because you don't want it to be over just yet.
 1. You want to change yourself because a character inspires you.

In my top 3 must-reads for nonfiction. I kept thinking, "If this was fiction I'd say this is so unrealistic; these things could never really happen; especially not to one person." But they did.

One thing I walked away with after reading Unbroken is the realization that it's possible to not complain. Even in bad situations. Even in horrific situations. And maybe "woe is me"s are actually destructive to success. I at least know this: if Louie Zamperini didn't complain, then I can never justify complaining.

I've found that not complaining is harder than I thought, because it's often breaking social etiquette. It's easier for me to say, "Seth is still screaming all the way through nursery at 21-months-old, dangit" than "Yesterday Seth looked at me, placing his hand on my cheek in a way that said, 'I trust you and I love being with you'; I love being a mom". It's the commotion and worry of the day that's easiest to share. It's difficult to come across down-to-earth without a little complaining. Thankfully, I live around many moms who know how to share those tricky situations in a laugh-them-off way, without complaining. I need to learn the ropes of that social nook a bit more.

It runs deeper than social settings though. I know because when Ben walks in that door, what do I tell him about my day? Oftentimes I reel off the latest reason dinner is going to be a little late because of some hold-up. Couldn't I just as easily tell him the new words Seth said that day while we finish up dinner together instead of souring the welcome home moment? I could. So it's not just social pressure. It's a mindset.

There's a graceful way to stay upbeat while still looking at your challenges realistically. At least this book made me begin thinking so.

Starting this goal on the Zamperini scale is daunting; but I'll just start with baby steps. If Zamperini was running the mile in 4 minutes, I'm try to run it in 10.

Relaxing in Oceanside

Vacationing isn't always relaxing for me. I'm actually more likely to feel uptight and anxious without a schedule--is that strange? So I wasn't sure what shape I'd be in at the end of our open-ended family reunion. Happily, Oceanside is gorgeous and we were spending time with 30+ of my favorite people on the planet. I had high hopes.

It helped to plan on a walk or run every morning, card games each night and playing on the fabulous beach somewhere in between.

Turns out the opened schedule led to some great things:

- walks on the pier

- scootering to a beautiful art museum

- trying my hand at boogie boarding

- lots of sunscreen and cold ocean water

- late night cousins' hot tubbing 

- starting Unbroken

Granted, several scheduled events were also super memorable:

- family dinners and devotionals together

- sand creature building and judging

- whale watching

- playing Bohnanza, the Movie Game, Catch Phrase, and Scum

- eating at the fantastic In and Out, animal style

- 7.5 mile run (!) with great conversation

Fun within a relaxed schedule: a wonderful way to do family reunions. And such a wonderful place to do it, that Oceanside. 

Much love to our dear Evans family! 

Poor & Needy

I've felt the need lately to feel more compassion for the needy. With that hope I've studied the phrase "poor and needy" from the scriptures Elder Bednar style.

I learned many lessons about caring for the poor and needy; here I'm going to include the top 5.

    5. It is not only a modern, but an ancient emphasized command
       30 times in Old Testament; Deut. 15:7-11 a beautiful example

    4. A top priority of Jesus in mortal ministry
        a doctrine he lived and taught (i.e. sheep/goats, Good Samaritan, Matt. 22:36-40)

    3. I must see myself as poor and needy before God
      many Psalms, Alma 34:17-27, Mosiah 4:17-18

    2. Must not harden my heart in this matter, don't let my heart faint
       Deut. 15:7-11, D&C 124:75, Pres. Eyring

And the point that impacted me most:

    1. I am not a disciple of Christ if I don't help the poor
      D&C 52:40, Alma 34:28, D&C 42:29, Jer. 22:18, D&C 104:18, D&C 105:2-3


Other great helps from:
 Pres. Romney,
 Bishop Burton,
 Pres. Eyring,
 recent section on welfare in Ensign magazine (last 7 articles on this page)


I'll end with some food for thought from Bishop Burton:

The purpose, promises, and principles that reinforce our work of caring for the poor and needy extend far beyond the bounds of mortality. This sacred work is not only to benefit and bless those who suffer or are in need. As sons and daughters of God, we cannot inherit the full measure of eternal life without being fully invested in caring for each other while we are here on earth. It is in the benevolent practice of sacrifice and giving of ourselves to others that we learn the celestial principles of sacrifice and consecration.

Can't Finish

It's no secret, I'm a picky reader. I'd like to think of it as being a critical reader. Or a critical thinker, that sounds even better. But perhaps it's that I overanalyze. Or expect too much or something. Whatever it is, that point will be important to consider for those of you who adored reading The Help which I'm going to be posting about shortly.

Anyhow, I've caught a more serious bug lately. I start reading a book. I love it. I think on it. In fact, I stop on each page to contemplate some thought or illusion. After one of those contemplative stops, I find I can't pick up that book again. I've lost my momentum and I can't jump back on.  

Did the thinking make me tired? Did I not take time enough to synthesize the incoming thoughts so I felt like I couldn't move on until I cemented them? Is it better to try to think and stop all together or to put off the insights to just move on and finish the book with would provide at least some other insights along the way?

Seriously, those 3 books are excellent. I recommend them. If I ever write an autobiography I hope I can write like Gaskell does about Bronte. Remen's writing helps me find my own voice and helps me consider my life in new ways. I love those stories. And I have much to learn from Susan B. Anthony's perspective and incredible fortitude. But...I just can't continue reading them right now. 

I attribute it also to my mood. Right now, no matter how great those books are, I'm thinking Harry Potter. And actually, poetry. 

The alarming thing to me is, once I get off the reading train I find it hard to get back on. I picked up The Deathly Hallows from the library yesterday in hopes that I'd get rolling. I still haven't cracked it. 

Help, I need a reading pick-me-up!

Following Through: The List

I'm now sitting at our little black desk back at home after a long, lovely vacation. I have a MONTH worth of being spoken to to catch up on--a good time to work on my following through goal.

Believe it or not, I did make that "Following Through with Things I Want to Put Off" list. I'll kick my posts off with that. A reminder after vacation that I am capable of accomplishing many tasks if I put my mind to it.

Following Through with the Things I Want to Put Off

5/28

Made this list

Sent training schedule to Ash and MaryAnne

5/29

Printed U-haul receipt

Completed FAFSA

Organized library books

5/30

Counted and marked days to harvest

Worked on Shutterfly book

6/1

Updated Facebook status and albums

Put away dishes from drainer

Wrote thank you note to Haley

6/2

Got oil change!

Taped backpack

Updated family blog format

Organized tupperware

Vacuumed car

Follow Through

I've had that Gavin Degraw song stuck in my head. And not because I've heard it recently. I've been thinking about following through. But Gavin isn't the one who sparked the idea. It was Gillian.

On Friday nights we trade babysitting with Gillian and Jonathan. Every other week they go on a date and I sit in their very orderly and homey living room while their boys sleep. Over time I've noticed two things.

1: their grand piano never has dust on it.

2: a new project is always done.

One week she had sown pillowcases. Another week they painted a table for their porch. For several weeks they were reading, buying for and preparing their first ever vegetable garden. The most impressive part is the projects are always completed.

I go home and look around. It doesn't take long to see how I do not follow through:

- dishes constantly left in drainer and not put away before used again

- mending and "to bleach" piles sitting...for months.

- October: family pictures taken, April: picture frames purchased, ?: order the prints

The non-follow through attitude is not so troubling when it comes to taking dishes from drainer. But it is alarming when that attitude spills into more important areas. Like e-mailing. Or acting on impressions I've received. I often fall into the "danger of 'someday'" trap.

I perplexedly told Ben my realization. "I don't follow through!" He made a suggestion: instead of looking for all the instances you fall short, decide to see it as, "Look, I can improve by following through with this."

Okay. To do this I think I have to pinpoint why I stop before getting to the finish line.

Sometimes it's not wanting to giving effort to the last 10% of the task.

Sometimes it's not wanting to put forth the first effort.

Sometimes it's lack of energy.

Oftentimes it's motivation. "I can always do it later..."

Oftentimes there's something else I'd rather do.

Oftentimes it's wanting someone else to make the decision, or show me how to do it, or even tell me when to do it.

And many times there's also a dash of fear I won't do it right.

Now I have the causes identified, so time for the list. (There always has to be a list you know.)

It will be a list of weekly progress---tasks I wanted to put off but followed through with, no matter how small. To pressure myself to follow through with it I'll report back in a week with how it goes.

Truth be known, I've been meaning to make this list for 3 days. I still have yet to do it. I will make it now, before I post or it will surely never happen!

Done!

Self-Conscious Block

I have not posted in almost 2 weeks, why?
Because I've forgotten to?--no.
Because I've been busy?--no.
Because I didn't want to?--nope.

In these 2 weeks I've scratched down many different post ideas. 14 actually. I've even written several. They're saved as drafts.

I get this block sometimes. The wanting to look good block. The feeling self-conscious block. If I can't take major time to think through and edit my writing I put it off for "sometime". And naturally, I get really backed up and never write or post at all. Same with journal entries. Same with writing people back in email.

A similar block also occurs coming home from our morning running group. I play and replay a slightly stupid thing I said that (probably) only I remember. Maybe I shared too much, maybe I shared it in the wrong light, or maybe I didn't share when I should have. It blocks me from feeling good about what were probably pretty positive interactions.

So I want to defy my self-conscious block! I want to not care what you think about this post! I want to publish a poorly written sentence and a misspelled word and not care!...But have I already reread and rewritten this several times? Hm, yes.

Just know if you think something I write in the future is poorly done, it's actually progress. Onward then!

Do you think writing disclaimers is giving in to the self-consciousness? Doh!

Monet's Water Lilies

I keep thinking about this painting. We saw it while in New York City.

At first I didn't think much of it. I knew it was famous; my eighth grade English/Social Studies teacher Mrs. Zollner taught us a bit about impressionism. I specifically remember her talking about water lilies. I didn't really see what the big deal was. I'm not a big fan of light pastel colors, so I decided in eighth grade I didn't like Monet.

So seeing one hanging in the museum I thought, "Oh look, there's one of those water lilies I don't like." I wondered what people loved about it. I decided I had a few minutes to try and figure it out.

I read the caption, I looked close, I backed up and stared. I started thinking of myself painting a pond of water lilies. I looked at the water and realized how real it looked. I suddenly saw the floating phenomenon he captured with the lilies. I saw the layers of color on the water. I thought of him painting these for 30 years.

Something in me sparked. I suddenly felt very moved by this painting.

I think it was realizing when Monet saw his pond he saw something complex, beautiful, something he could see with new eyes and capture in new ways every day. He was not so familiar with it that he disregarded it. He also didn't seem to have the sense that he knew it perfectly. He kept discovering in himself a new perspective of a beloved thing.

I saw beauty in that. I also saw beauty in the painting itself. And maybe most of all I saw beauty in realizing that I can have new eyes to understand something, love something, if I stop and look a little longer.

Cosmopolitan

Recently I was doing the very unenjoyable task of checking out at Wal-mart. The line, of course, was long. I handed Seth my keys and a graham cracker to keep him occupied. I occupied myself with...well, trying to ignore the eyes of a dozen half-naked women surrounding me. The emaciated ones.

One particular blond at my shoulder began whispering, "Look at you: your shabby ponytail, old jeans, mommy figure. What are you doing with your life?"

I started to feel self-conscious. What am I doing? I'm not ---

Wait a minute. "Hey lady, you're standing in an illustrated hot-air balloon advertisement in your underwear trying to seduce this shabby population. And you're being sold for $3. Don't you be trying to give me a reality check."

My Eulogy

Is that weird? I totally think about my eulogy a lot. I think it's mostly a way to look at my life as a whole. It also makes me think about what other people would say about me. What sums me up? What little moment in my life says a lot about who I am? And the big question: is it good?

Another thing that makes me think this way are these awesome videos from MormonMessages. In 2 minutes, what would I say or do for others to get a feel for who I am? Watching these make me want to be all proactive and fun and true to who I really am and what I really believe.

I've concluded that a few key elements that need to find a good story would be about my:

- loving to eat

- involuntary crazy facial expressions

- conversion and change of heart

- thriftiness

- family--husband, son, siblings, parents--being my best friends

- things I've learned from reading

Hmm, I'm still thinking though. I'm guess I'm glad I don't have to write my own eulogy!

Understanding Need to Defend Religious Freedom

Being a religious person it makes sense that I would want to defend religious freedom. But I didn't really understand why it's necessary or what attitudes to defend against. Watching this interview with Elder Oaks pulled the strings of many lightbulbs.

So, good citizen, watch it and learn muy importante things.

I wish I could just embed it, but no can do. I guess you'll have to do the extra work of clicking the link.

Wealth and Poverty

Maybe it's because I just read A Tale of Two Cities...which I still need to post about...Maybe it's because I'm thinking about the responsibility we'll have to society once Ben is a doctor.

For whatever reason, I decided to pick up the Readings for Inventive Writers book the other night and read two opposing essays about wealth and poverty. Both disturbing.

The first is called "Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor". It was written by an American ecologist in 1974 and published in Psychology Today. Read if you dare. And by the way, he's serious. I had to look up his bio to see if he was known for being a satirical writer. Unfortunately, no.

The other essay is just as strong in the opposing opinion. It is called, "Socioeconomic Inequality: The Haves and the Have-Nots". It was written by a BYU Sociology professor in 1990 and published in BYU Today. It is not in response to the other article, only in stark contrast to it.

If you're going to read one, read "Socioeconomic Inequality".

The BYU professor's point disturbed me in realizing he's kind of painfully right. Or even definitely painfully right. Right about the prevalent attitude toward the poor and needy. And also that it is not just a problem to society but to our spiritual standing before God. That's strong stuff. Read it and see what you think.

A few of its zingers and good questions:

LDS scriptures state clearly that the obligation to assist the poor remains intact whether or not the poor are judged to be deserving. Second, how can one reasonably view the growing millions of poor children as blameworthy, no matter what one thinks of their parents?

......

A major point from the widow’s mite seems to be that the moral judgement over the use of money is based not on how much we give, but on how much we keep for ourselves.

.......

Indeed, throughout history only a relative few have been afforded the “opportunity” to engage in selfish political or economic oppression. Now, for the first time, the test seems to be underway on a truly massive scale. There may even be more people alive today exercising substantial political and economic agency—facing real choices between personal luxury and Christian charity—than in all previous centuries combined. How will they handle their “opportunity” to engage in direct or indirect oppression, their choice to hoard or to share? How are we handling ours?

.......

It becomes a difficult moral and financial dilemma that each of us must work out individually. How much are we justified in keeping to meet our needs, and how much are we keeping selfishly to satisfy our wants?

It reminds me of how I felt after watching and reading about Gandhi. It's not easy to read or think about because it's asking you to change the way you think and live somehow. I'm still on the thinking part.

"Temple Grandin"

Another great HBO movie. As I watched it I had the epiphany that most people are different from each other. New, I know. But really, I realized I subconsciously think most people are like me and if they're not that's strange. Some people don't like structure and do like shopping? Sure. And some people don't like being hugged but do like working with cows. And we all have something to learn from each other.

Also, Claire Danes' acting is just phenomenal.

Disappointing Orange

You know the feeling when you peel an orange and smell that citrusy goodness and take a bite of the first slice, ready for sweet juiciness, and to your disappointment you spit out or labor to swallow a dry, tasteless, almost wooly mouthful of what should have been a great experience? (Sorry about the long sentence; I'm still reading Dickens. He must be having some effect.)

My sister coined her own phrase a few years ago of experiencing "a disappointing orange" moment. Ben and I still use the phrase.

I so was looking forward to our Martin Luther King Day as a family yesterday. I started out in the right spirit of things, reading about Frederick Douglass online. Ben planned to study in the basement until midafternoon and then we'd go out to our local very awesome children's museum together.

While Seth took an early afternoon nap and Ben finished studying, I went to get groceries. Just a quick trip. Well what do I do but first thing lose my grocery list somewhere in the store. I tried to look for it--to no avail. So I tried to remember everything and chaotically went back and forth through the store as I remembered items I needed.

Finally I get to the checkout. I load up my groceries, pay, and grab the milk last thing and put it on the bottom rack. I swing by Customer Service to activate the iTunes card I bought Ben for Christmas. (I bought it at self-checkout and it didn't get scanned correctly for it to work I guess.) They tell me I need to pay for it again since I don't have the receipt. Grr. Never mind, I'll look for the receipt at home I guess.

Walk allllll the way to the back of the huge parking lot, put my groceries in the trunk, ready to go, just grab the milk. Uh, the milk? Where the heck is the milk?! I check all the bags I just put in the car. No luck. I retrace my tracks in the parking lot to see if it fell off the bottom of the cart. Nothing. "Well, we don't have any milk at home, so I might as well get some while I'm here."

So I walk allllll the way to the back of the store. Retracing my steps to see if it fell off in the store. Again nothing. How do you just lose a gallon of milk? Did I mention this was a "super" Walmart? Real super. The atmosphere there makes even typically pleasant things aggravating to me. Grab the milk. Stand in line again behind several people to buy the milk, again. So much for the quick trip.

Get home and put groceries away. Try to make some decisions about dinner and writing an important email before we leave for the museum. Now it's 4. If the museum would have been opened until 6pm like I thought, things would have worked out. But I check online just to make sure--5.

So we jump in the car (taking great care to buckle Seth in of course) and head over. A bit of construction, a few red lights, but we were going to make it in time for some fun at least. And then we got stopped by an accident up ahead. Five minutes we sat waiting to move and realized after some cars in front of us turned around that traffic was completely blocked by a tow truck and police car. Back tracking and finding another way to the museum would have taken us until about 5pm to get there. So we turned around and went home.

So that was our holiday together. Not awful: we had money to pay for groceries (even the extra milk), we weren't the ones in the car accident. Plenty to be grateful for. Just one of those disappointing oranges.

Epilogue:

Luckily, Ben made some really great homemade vegetable soup with pesto when we got home. And I read Martin Luther King's letter from Birmingham Jail outloud to him. That put us right in perspective.