Linger or Mop?

I read a book in college called Reclaiming Friendship by Ajith Fernando. One of the big concepts from the book was "Lingering" and how it's a forgotten skill. I have a hard time believing that among college students - all they DO is linger (i.e. "hang out"). I probably remember that concept because I thought it justified giving more time to relationships at the cost of studying, grades, showing up for my part-time job, etc.

Really, Mr. Fernando, I am a FABULOUS lingerer. I actually had to develop the discipline of not being the last one at a party, and I still struggle with that. I once got fired from a job and the boss told my friend, "All I ever see her doing is talking to everyone." Yes, that's a problem when you're supposed to be doing payroll - but it makes for a great dorm Bible study leader. Good thing I figured that out and moved toward campus ministry rather than accounting.

Anyway... Ajith Fernando's point, if I remember correctly, wasn't to forsake your job - but he emphasized how important it is to give time to your relationships. As a stay-at-home mom, I notice all the other stay-at-home moms have very little time to linger, what with baby's nap schedule, housework, and those pesky meals you have to make magically appear three times a day. Add to that holidays, hobbies, computer time, nail-filing, sleeping, laundry, going to the bathroom, minor home repairs, and trips to the store, and it's a wonder we even HAVE any friendship time. When I get to hang out with friends, it's like GOLD, I tell you.

It happened today. It was chilly outside, but the sun was shining and all the kids were playing and there was always a neighbor-friend to sit and chat with. But my floor needed mopping. Desperately. And yet I couldn't tear myself away. We were out there for easily four hours. No problems were solved, or diseases cured. And my floor is still filthy. But I'm going to believe that Ajith Fernando would be proud.

And tomorrow is Sunday! Mass and then MORE relaxation. Gotta find someone to linger with.

Document this.

6:11 p.m. Friday, January 8th, two-thousand ten.
Christmas decorations at the Loves are put away.

Less than a week after Epiphany, that's pretty good, no?

Interior ones, that is. We may officially be the last ones in the neighborhood with the exterior lights still shining.

Those stinkin' photo frame ornaments

Years ago my mom gave me several beautiful photo frame ornaments. A couple years later, mother-in-law gave me four more. This year, another from a friend. AAAAAAA!!! They collected in a box because I don't have/take the time to sit down and print out teeny-tiny photos to go IN them.

Last night I sat down and did it. Took me less than an hour (shocker! how many dreaded chores would take WAY less time than I fear if I just tackled them?). I put a "first Christmas" baby photo of each of the kids in a frame, and a photo of Kevin and me in a "Love" frame. Still had a "Joy" one, and it was a no-brainer what photo to add there - one of our house covered in snow last December - still one of my favorite, most joyous days ever.

So the "chore" turned out to be not so tedious.

But, please, no more photo frames anyone. I can't handle the pressure.

Darned if you do...

...and darned if you don't.


I love chili. No one else in my family likes it, but I keep hoping if I tweak it just the right way, I'll trick them into eating and liking it.

But then, when I go through all the effort to make home-made and they barely touch it, I'm annoyed. So I got a bag of Fritos and some canned stuff and tried again tonight. Didn't go over well. It honestly looked like dog food. I don't blame anyone for not loving it, but I put the Fritos right into the bowls with the chili, so they had to eat just a little bit to get the Fritos.

Put forth effort, get annoyed at the waste of time. Buy canned chili, get grossed out. I give up!

P.S. I have a stomachache.

Me and C-SPAN

I'm in constant search-mode for activities that remedy my occasional moodiness. Today, I sat down with an open-faced pb&j (to savor the marmalade) in front of C-SPAN. Haven't tried this before.

Not sure it helped. What it DID do was send me to the computer to look up a bunch of words not in my current vocabulary and almost convince me that I need to spend MORE time in front of the TV to get filled in on all the stuff going on that I heard of for the first time today.

Let's see what else I can come up with...

The Dollhouse

Over a year ago, I blogged about the oodles of dollhouse furniture my dad made my girls--- with no house!

This year, dad bought the house, but we had to assemble it ourselves. Or, rather, Kevin had to assemble it. I was the designated painter - a much easier job.

I love dollhouses, and I hoped as it came together that the girls would love theirs. I will say that Kevin didn't love putting it together. Here is some documentation.


It was a frustrating endeavor at times. I could tell by the swearing, the tantrums, and the breaks he had to take to keep from throwing it into the dumpster. So the expression he's wearing, and the knife threat above are accurate depictions of the experience. Good thing he's a construction manager, and not a worker in his career world.

Putting the siding on. By this point, there was an end in sight so Kevin was much more calm. Also, we had adjusted to the sleep deprivation of working on it late nights after the kids were in bed.


Christmas Eve I painted the thing and sealed the roof (we don't want leaks in rainstorms). Yes, the downstairs smelled toxic. No, I didn't care. It was finished!

I got the paint on the "oops" shelf at the hardware store, so I had to take the shade of pink that was available. Turns out to be the exact color of my childhood home - no joke. And here it sits in the girls' room. Well loved, well played-with, well finished! Hallelujah.

First Post of 2010

Too many unrelated things are going on in my world to comprise a coherent post. So you get an incoherent post. Lucky you!

I wrote to my current favorite blogger, Mark Shea about his writing (including his Mary books, of which I've finished one volume). And he wrote me back! Granted, his reply was brief, nothing to hang on the wall and exclaim about, but still...

Step-mom bought me leggings for Christmas. Nice ones. But I have nothing to wear with leggings. Last time I wore leggings, I paired them with my boyfriend's sweatshirt and some Esprit shoes and the year was 1987. Today, all my other pants were in the laundry, so I wore the leggings. All day I have felt like a nerd. I'm wearing them wrong --- not in keeping with 2010 style. Either I need to purchase an appropriate tunic, long sweater, or use them solely for running pants (and probably still feel dorky in them).

Today is the feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bethanie's favorite saint. Normally we have dessert and invite neighbors over for special saints' days, but tonight it's Rice Krispie treats and a little reading of her biography. Here's a good quote of hers: "Live simply, that others might simply live."

Joe Peterson is a long-time friend of Kevin's, stood up in our wedding, and is currently living and working in Kenya. Read a touching (and wild) story of how he spent his first hours of 2010 in this post.

We're back to school around here after two weeks off (and a weak week before that) so I was anxious about getting back into the groove. Today went well, though. Hoping for the same the rest of the week.

And perhaps I'll get my thoughts together for future posts.