Project Life: week 1

Well, so far Project Life is a success! We've been keeping it simple so far: some photos, some micro-journals, some ticket stubs, but I can see us introducing some more scrapbooky things later. Shon's only written one entry for it as of now, but he's reminded me to take snapshots and seems to be interested in the project.
Here's our first week:

It included a canceled flight from Milwaukee to Boston (snowstorms!), 46 hours in Maine (family! snow!), driving through 4 states in one day (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Georgia), working on turning an old dresser into a TV stand, and taking Bruno for a jog.

New Project

So here I am, embarking on a new project - Project Life. I saw a mention of it somewhere on the web a couple of months ago and fell in love: I've always wanted to make scrapbooks, but never had a) money, b) more importantly, the talent and the style for it. This thing, however, I can manage: take pictures, write notes/quotes/micro-journals on pre-designed card that fit into a matching binder, repeat 365 (or 366) times. What's even better, I can get Shon to participate without having to break both of his legs.
The things arrived yesterday, we are starting today. I will try hard to make a weekly wrap-up and blog about it.

The Hated Question

Yesterday, I  read Jon Acuff's post about the pressure to get married. If you are married now, do you remember your single days? If you are single, how often are you being asked the dreaded "Well, when are you getting married?" Oh, the numerous instances when I wished I could pull a baseball bat out of thin air the way cartoon characters do! You know what the worst thing is? You can't tell the truth. You can't say, "Probably never, since the guy I've been dating for 3 years doesn't know if I'm good enough to be his wife" or "Actually, my boyfriend dumped me for another woman last week" or even "I have not been asked out once in the last year." You can't say those things unless you want a lecture - or a pity party.

One would think that after the marriage finally happens, the curious well-wishers will move on to something else. Heck, no. The question changes, however. It's "So, when are you going to start having babies?"

People! Do you not realize that we can't answer you honestly? A number of my friends who are my age want kids, but don't have any. The reasons vary: a drawn-out adoption process not going as planned, a year of fertility treatments not doing what they are supposed to do, a recent miscarriage, an outrageous amount of school loans, a spouse who refuses to hear the mere mentioning of babies, let along have them. If you know us, but don't know why we don't have kids, it means we can't tell you. It may be too painful, too humiliating, too much. We don't want you to pity us or give us a talk on how "if you wait until you're ready, you'll never have kids" or "you should take your time." We heard it all already, thank you very much. Don't pour salt on our wounds. Ask us about the book we're reading, the movie we saw recently, the politician who's getting our vote. Darn it, ask us about our pets, our jobs, or the color scheme of our master bedroom, but leave the babies out of it. Please. Pretty pretty please.

So can you guess the four-letter word that can turn a normal Valentine's Day into a not-so-awesome Valentine's Day?

RACK 14-22

14 - I was exhausted, so I stayed home and played FreeRice. Hopefully, I answered enough answers correctly to feed somebody.
15 - Bought a Christmas album to support my friends' adoption fund
16 - Insisted on leaving a larger than usual tip. Left a kind note, too
17 - Took baby pictures for friends for free.
18 - Gave Christmas gifts to friends' kids
19 - Gave a box of cookies/truffles to the post office
20 - Gave a box of cookies/truffles to the ladies at the bank
21 - Took a plate of cookies to the CVS ladies. They were excited!
22 - Donated a box of books to the local library

RACK 12 and 13

Monday, I took a bag of dog food and a bag of dog treats to Animal Friends Rescue Group.
Tuesday, I took a scarf I made to a lady who used to run a gift shop/sandwich shop in town. She let me sell my crafts there. She always loved that scarf, but never bought it. I figured she should have it.
Today I'm so exhausted I don't know what to do.

RACK 10 and 11

Yesterday for the best one so far!
After staying up pretty much all night, I fell good enough in the morning to make a trip to Albany (1hr away). Half-way there, though, coffee sounded like a very good idea, so I pulled into McDonald's drive-thru (we're too rural for Starbucks). I had no ideas for RACK and was praying all morning for a good opportunity to do something.
I noticed two kids in the car behind me. A guy and a girl, anywhere between 16 and 20, by the looks of them. They looked kind of tired. After paying for my coffee, I asked the lady how much was the bill of the kids behind me. She said it was $5. I thought, "I can afford that!" and handed her my card. A minute later, when she returned it, we had a conversation:
Her: So, you know 'im? (the boy was driving and making the order)
Me: Nope!
Her: Do you think he's cute? (a knowing smile on her face)
Me: Ehh... not really, I don't know.
Her: (truly perplexed, after a moment of silence) So why are you doing it then?
Me: Well, it's Christmas time, you know.
Her: Words of praise, beaming smile, laughter and an attempt to find out my name.
As I moved to the next window, I looked in rearview mirrow. You should have seen those kids' faces! Shock, then joy, eyes wide open, giggling :) I waved at them, and they waved back. I could swear the girl was bouncing in her seat.

Today I'm exhausted and staying at home in my pj's. In an attempt to still do something kind without leaving the couch, I researched the Internet and found a charity that accepts and sells video games with all proceedings going to children with rare diseases. I printed a shipping label and will mail the game tomorrow.

P.S. Seeing those teens yesterday made my day. For $5, which won't even buy you 2 gallons of gas these days, I got a real boost. My hope is that I made their day and that at some point they will do something similar because of the memory.