More on Random

Lots of random things have been flitting through my head for the past five days. I am blaming it on not having a plan.

You see, I took some time off—a long weekend. If you read my post on the attack against lice, then you know the last time I took some time off, I made plans, and those plans changed. Dramatically. This time I decided to fend off unforeseen problems in my fine fashion. If I made no plans, well, then, there would be no disappointment if those plans had to change. And since Murphy’s Law is always in effect in our lives, no unforeseen changes would occur, because I had made no plans.

Which is exactly how it went down. Do you see the logic in this line of thinking?

This gave me a lot of free time. I don’t often deal with free time well. I don’t get bored easily—I was an only child left to entertain myself, after all—but I do sometimes get restless. Which is good. I need to learn to deal with this.

Plus it makes me do random things, like dance to the radio in my bedroom, or clean out my car. Both things are actually good for you, you know.

I caught up on my blog reading. I got angry with a blog post from CJane—a post on homeless/panhandlers/those less fortunate in front of a store in a ‘scary’ part of town. Long story short, she is of the opinion that she is of no use to ‘these’ people. With all of the economic turmoil that has occurred in the past two years, with the devastating effects of mental illness or domestic abuse—something we may not be fully cognizant of, but do have a basic understanding of in our culture—with the basic human understanding that ‘these people’ are sons, daughters, siblings, parents… Well, it made me think of a lot of things.


Like the homeless veteran who I would see every day in Forest Park when I drove through the park to bypass road construction. Every day I saw him, I stopped to give him a cigarette. Was I enabling him? I bet so. Did a cigarette bring him a level of comfort that he did not have otherwise? I like to think so. One day I stopped and he told me of how a dentist had stopped to talk to him the day before, and offered him free dental services. Which he was going to take, ever so gratefully. It made me wish that I had something more to offer.

I think that drive, that feeling of wanting to provide humanity with more of yourself is important.

I started planning out the boys return to school in six weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever been so prepared for that!

I introduced K to the wonderful works of the X-files, Season One. Yes, I own all nine seasons. Don’t judge.

I read the One Read book- Await Your Reply. I am haunted by the way Chaon deals with the family’s endurance during and after the psychodrama when they have a loved one who is mentally ill. I would read a passage, and think, “Wow. This is it, right there. That is exactly how I felt, and could never explain.”

I made it to the post office—something that I needed to ship for the past month finally made its way out of my house! I do not know where my aversion to the post office came from. I just know I would rather go to the DMV.

I filled out my voter registration card for the new county. I made a secret wish to be called for jury duty soon. I want to experience jury duty at least once. I can’t explain how badly I want to be on a jury. It’s not just the idea of being sequestered on a murder case and having to live in a hotel, sans guys, for a few days.

Honestly, I am never going to be on a jury. I have too many things going against me. Like having relatives in law enforcement. Perhaps this—knowing that they will not let me stay on a jury—is the reason I have such a desire to be on one.

I had a wonderful Fourth of July. We barbequed with my parents, then visited the fair in downtown Jefferson City. Ant rode on the Sizzler with the Nana, and both agreed it was completed worth the $7.50 that it cost for one ride. Ant apparently told the Nana-- when she asked if he was ready to experience her favorite carnival ride—“I was born to ride this ride.” We watched the fireworks over the capital building, from the parking lot of Grandpa’s work. Ant ran around frantically, sugared up and caffeinated. He had a blast—caffeine doesn’t happen often to our children. We went back to the house, and blew up the traditional fireworks. We were all in awe of my husband’s pyrotechnic skills. The best part, however, is that the little Taurus that really can’t actually made it there and back.

J has many hidden talents. We’ll find out if throwing pottery is one of them tonight. I think I am as excited as he is.

And now, I am going to do laundry. Yes, that’s right; laundry will be done in my house today. I wish I could say that I got around to cleaning out the garage, but whatevs. I might even clean up our container garden today, and plant more spinach.

So, yes, perhaps I should have planned a trip (and I always look forward to a roadtrip), and yes, maybe I should have saved those vacation days for something more important, and yes, maybe, just maybe, I should have made a plan to actually put those days to use (nah, I don’t really think so, either).

Would I have accomplished all of these other things, though? Would I have had the chance to do all of this LIVING, otherwise?