Whipping Cream

No reason for this shot - it's just purdy

I am a hair twister. Like a maniac.

When I'm reading, when I'm thinking, when I'm daydreaming, when I'm procrastinating.

It's something I have done since the 3rd grade. It started after my momma had given me a home perm (oh dear lord!) and I had curls all over my head that felt good when they plopped plopped around my finger while touching them.

It makes you look a tad crazy at times. I've even twisted my hair while stuck in traffic! Well - you gotta do something!

So . . . this morning I sat down and wanted to write a post. I didn't have a solid idea that I wanted to write about and I was letting my mind run around like a puppy without a leash to see what it would come up with.

So you can only imagine the hair twisting that was going on.

Here is the sentence I started out with:

I opened up the refrigerator door, spotted the whipping cream in the canister, and squirted a huge huge squirt directly into my mouth. Couldn't even talk for a few moments afterwards it was so delicious and a bit shameful.

WTH? That is the sentence that couldn't! I gotta say, the brain is a wondrous thing that I will never get tired of. Thank god for that because it's the only one I have.

But, sadly, that sentence did not inspire any additional thoughts. It's a good sentence regardless. Ha!

BTW - do you ever squirt whipping cream into your coffee? You know - when you're out of cream? I've done that more times than I care to admit to. 

So, here is the post that couldn't. Some days are inspired. Some days are waiting for inspiration.

I KNOW you all know what I'm talking about.

How you doin?

Signing a Contract

We did it. It has been months in the planning and months in the picking and months in the finagling and months in the budget-adjusting. We found a contractor, had plans drawn up, and we begin in about two weeks.

Ack!

We were out to dinner last night with Pup's ginormous family (just a smallish chunk of them actually) and I mentioned to SIL Penny Lane that we were starting our den soon.

Penny asked me, "Why don't you guys relax and have some fun instead of always working on your house?"

At first I was bewildered. I think I actually asked her what she meant. She simply meant what she said. From her perspective, Pup and I are always working on the Chez Emerson and not enjoying life. From our perspective, we are making Chez Emerson lovely so we can enjoy our life.

Got me thinking though. What is important? Is where you live important? Is your stuff important? Is cocooning the thing you love? Is traveling the thing you love?

Penny lives a simpler life, unencumbered with stuff. So when I looked at the question from where she was sitting it made sense. But where does this leave the question?

I think for Pup and me, we are still finding our way. We've only been married a bit over a year. We had to move into his house, we had to blend our ways of living, we had to blot out reminders of his ex-wife from the house, we had to blot out any residual reminders of my wasband. I'm sure we're not doing it perfectly, but we're doing it.

For Pup, I can see how having a wife isn't always easy. He was a single guy for a while and he was used to not having to ask anyone else if they wanted to attend another Pup-family gathering. He didn't have to ask anyone else if they wanted a recliner in the living room. No one was hogging all the hot water in the shower.

For me, I'm finding I need to say yes to some family gatherings and not feel bad if I don't go to others. I need to listen to a few wants (pool table anyone?) and find joy in the decision.

So . . . the question. Why aren't Pup and I enjoying life instead of working on the Chez Emerson? I think the working and finessing and decorating and incorporating and compromising and nesting is the beginning of our enjoying our life. Our new and tender life together. We're finding our way; tiptoeing through the landmines and coming through on the other side.

How are you enjoying your life? How are you working it with your spouse/partner? Or how are you working it for you?