This afternoon while trying to find a list Bill keeps in the computer of names and numbers I need to finish off my to do before we go on home leave list, I came across a file where I’d stuck a few things I’d written a couple of years ago.
One is called If I didn’t work… and it’s simply a list of the things I thought I would do if I didn’t have to work. It was something I wrote when I was struggling with my desire to stop doing what I was doing but justify not having a paycheck anymore. (Little did I know that just three months later, I’d find out we were moving to France anyway.) So I thought I’d read it… and see how much of it I’ve actually done. It’s embarrassing how little.
It’s an assessment maybe we all should make once in a while:
Cook for my family
I have been trying and it’s extra hard when you cannot find all the ingredients you’re used to!
Make sure the laundry is done
Sorta.
Go on walks
Honestly? Nearly never. I should. It’s like when I see people biking and I think oh, I should get out my bike and go on a bike ride.
Meet the neighbors
Well, hey, they don’t even speak English. And French people aren’t going to rush over and bring you a casserole to welcome you to the neighborhood. This afternoon when I was getting the mail, a guy went walking by with his dog and I said bonjour and he just stared at me. The man, not the dog. The dog barked. Like he wanted to have me for a snack.
Play with Kaitlyn
Until she drives me crazy changing Polly Pocket’s clothes for the zillionth time
have tea parties with Kaitlyn
Not the way I pictured it, but we do have tea parties. I thought we’d sit around eating cookies and wearing big floppy hats. We don’t.
Take Kaitlyn to swimming lessons
I’ll blame the language for this one. But last winter I did take her to skiing lessons, so that counts. Since when I wrote this list I didn’t know we’d live so close to good skiing. Or any skiing, for that matter.
Take Kaitlyn to the park
Not as much as I imagined when I wrote this, but I do take her to the park.
Make a scrapbook
It’s slow going… I’ve only got a few pages done and I started it about 9 months ago… but I’m plugging along. I have done two video scrapbooks, though. More my style.
Learn to garden
One word: wasps.
Paint something
Does finger painting count?
Organize the junk drawer
I moved it to France. Where it remains disorganized.
Write
Yes.
Hug Bill more often
Would be easier if he didn’t travel 3 weeks out of the month. Ok, he hasn’t even started that yet. We are trying to just spend time together after Kaitlyn goes to bed… watching tv or making plans.
Learn to wash the car myself (well, maybe)
Actually, yes. I do wash the car myself. But not at home. Why? See the entry for gardening.
Get a library card
Had one in the U.S. (I still carry it on my keychain) Not brave enough to go to the French library in town yet. The English libraries have wacky hours.
Take a class or two
Not yet. Still want to.
Finish my cross stitch that I started before Kaitlyn was born
Not just no… started ANOTHER one I have barely touched.
Relax
I’m getting better at it. Last night instead of coming home to do laundry and clean up after dropping Kaitlyn off at Cubbies, I went to a friend’s house and drank cocoa. Does that count? It should.
Laugh
Especially when attempting to play euchre.
Only read the funnies in the paper
Morning routine: read two funnies on line (For Better or For Worse and Luann) then read stupid pop culture blogs on USA Today. Occasionally take the grammar quiz on the N&O so that I can remind myself I have some mastery of a language. Just not the one I need right now.
Only watch the news for the weather
Can’t even do that. Just found out that the news here comes on at 8pm and lasts around 40 minutes. Then the weather is on. Then there’s like 15 minutes of commercials, then the evening programming. I haven’t bothered to watch it.
Volunteer to help others
I’m trying to just be nicer and offer to help people out when I can.
Invite friends over more often
We’re trying. I’m ready for some invitations to go to other people’s houses so I don’t have to clean first.
If under writing creating and maintaining a blog counts, you’ve made great strides there. This could qualify as a treatment for some film, and probably has lots and lots of plot concepts as potential, whether true or not.
Don’t forget BLOGGING !!!!
Your wonderful blog has ME feeling guilty because I don’t keep up with it as much as I’d like to. The BLOG will be a wonderful history for generations to come….. not to mention the various film treatments as D.A.D. says.