\tThis afternoon while trying to find a list Bill keeps in the computer of names and numbers I need to finish off my \u0093to do before we go on home leave\u0094 list, I came across a file where I’d stuck a few things I’d written a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n
\tOne is called \u0093If I didn’t work…\u0094 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.<\/p>\n
\tIt’s an assessment maybe we all should make once in a while:<\/p>\n
Cook for my family<\/strong> Make sure the laundry is done<\/strong> Go on walks<\/strong> Meet the neighbors<\/strong> Play with Kaitlyn<\/strong> have tea parties with Kaitlyn<\/strong> Take Kaitlyn to swimming lessons<\/strong> Take Kaitlyn to the park<\/strong> Make a scrapbook<\/strong> Learn to garden<\/strong> Paint something<\/strong> Organize the junk drawer<\/strong> Write<\/strong> Learn to wash the car myself (well, maybe)<\/strong> Get a library card<\/strong> Finish my cross stitch that I started before Kaitlyn was born<\/strong> Relax<\/strong> Laugh<\/strong> Only read the funnies in the paper<\/strong> Only watch the news for the weather<\/strong> Invite friends over more often<\/strong> This afternoon while trying to find a list Bill keeps in the computer of names and numbers I need to finish off my \u0093to do before we go on home leave\u0094 list, I came across a file where I’d stuck a few things I’d written a couple of years ago. One is called \u0093If I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kaitlyn-marsue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\tI have been trying and it’s extra hard when you cannot find all the ingredients you’re used to!<\/p>\n
\n\tSorta.<\/p>\n
\n\tHonestly? Nearly never. I should. It’s like when I see people biking and I think \u0093oh, I should get out my bike and go on a bike ride.\u0094<\/p>\n
\n\tWell, 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 \u0093bonjour\u0094 and he just stared at me. The man, not the dog. The dog barked. Like he wanted to have me for a snack.<\/p>\n
\n\tUntil she drives me crazy changing Polly Pocket’s clothes for the zillionth time<\/p>\n
\n\tNot 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.<\/p>\n
\n\tI’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. <\/p>\n
\n\tNot as much as I imagined when I wrote this, but I do take her to the park. <\/p>\n
\n\tIt’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. <\/p>\n
\n\tOne word: wasps.<\/p>\n
\n\tDoes finger painting count?<\/p>\n
\n\tI moved it to France. Where it remains disorganized.<\/p>\n
\n\tYes.
\nHug Bill more often<\/strong>
\n\tWould 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.<\/p>\n
\n\tActually, yes. I do wash the car myself. But not at home. Why? See the entry for gardening.<\/p>\n
\n\tHad 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.
\n
\nTake a class or two<\/strong>
\n\tNot yet. Still want to.<\/p>\n
\n\tNot just no… started ANOTHER one I have barely touched.<\/p>\n
\n\tI’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.<\/p>\n
\n\tEspecially when attempting to play euchre. <\/p>\n
\n\tMorning 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.<\/p>\n
\n\tCan’t even do that. Just found out that the news here comes on at 8pm and lasts \u0093around\u0094 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.
\n
\nVolunteer to help others<\/strong>
\n\tI’m trying to just be nicer and offer to help people out when I can.<\/p>\n
\n\tWe’re trying. I’m ready for some invitations to go to other people’s houses so I don’t have to clean first. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"