Done Painting for Now

#1 - I'm done painting (for now at least).

original color

1st paint job

now

 

#2 - I'm also done door knocking for this election cycle. I did the last one I plan to do today. 

After I had some time to support a friend in a tough time and do the simple acts of listening and helping her prep dinner.

  #3 - I got my Covid and flu shot yesterday and feel tired and a bit warm today. I'm grateful I picked a weekend to do this when I didn't have much going on, so tonight I can just rest. Actually a perfect night for a long Latte ASMR video. She's got a new one, "Autumn Night Pampering".

 #4 - I was asked if I wanted both shots in the same arm.  I asked for advice and it was a matter of if you wanted both arms a bit sore.  I chose 1 arm, and it hurts.  I couldn't roll over onto that side last night, so I was glad I had 1 side I could roll over on. I think I'll space my shots out next time.

#5 -Usually by this time I'm out of leftovers for the week.  But today I still had homemade meals to eat both for lunch and dinner.  (Quinoa and veggie pita pockets for lunch and a vegetable stew for dinner.)

 

"Bohemian Trumpsody" - Marsh Family adaptation of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by...

I Had a Feeling that it Was You

 #1 - Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come

Just the title of that book makes me smile (about an introvert), which I picked up at the library today.

#2 - I started taping the bathroom.  The 2nd room in my place I'm going to paint for the 2nd time.  I consulted my friend Jill about the color last week and it's going to be a dark brown, a color in my pallet.  I just hope it doesn't make the space feel too dark.  Jill says it will work.

#3 - There gets to be a lot of trash strewn about by the dumpsters here because squirrels (and at night raccoons) take food out and with it comes the plastic etc it was in.  (See aforementioned post last April).  Today someone from the management company was cleaning it up.  It looks so much better!

#4 -  I wrote a thank you note to the Community Manager at the management company that I appreciated the above and her response is a little weird to me.  I live in a complex with close to 300 units!

"He mentioned someone was thanking him, I had a feeling that it was you."

#5 - I do home visits with families trying to reduce the education gap at an early age.  Every other visit I bring out a book or toy to "learn thru play".  Today was a medical kit which was a doctor jacket with pockets for various instruments. The family I visited today got really into it.  All the older siblings lined up to get checked and even Grandma and Dad came in for a consultation (though dad left as the line was too long I guess). I'm not supposed to be leading the visits, but rather supporting the parents and following the child's lead.  Today this was easy as I sat back and watched everyone engage.

It's a 2 year program, and I've heard people and families can really bond over that time. I haven't really experienced that, in part because the first year I started mid-program year, and in part, because we all connect with certain people more than others.

Anyway, today's family is one that has really made a way into my heart.

Lemons to Lemonade

 When I moved into my place I painted all the rooms.  Since most of them were more colorful or deep, I did a neutral clay color for my spare bedroom/office. However it is boring, and I have thought I would like something happier. Yellow in some manner.  However I have a yellow kitchen/dining area and didn't want 2 yellow rooms.  Plus I couldn't figure out anything else that really worked with my furniture.  However when I came back from being gone this summer I was reinvigorated to want something happy. So with the help of a friend I decided to try a gold.

I only painted one wall "lamplighter" and instead of feeling happy, it felt intense and stressful.  Maybe I'll like it if I do the whole room?  I already painted this room the clay color though, and if I don't like it, I don't want to paint it a 3rd time.  The next day I bought a warmer neutral color that I have in my hallway.  As soon as I started covering the yellow I felt a sigh of relief.

Still I had this almost full gallon of paint, in a color I liked, just not in that room.  Is there somewhere I can donate it?  It's such a waste.

A day or so later I thought of one of the garages I'd seen in the complex that had painted a wall.  That might be perfect!  But would I get it done before it gets cold?  (I figured I needed to act fast also before losing my momentum.)

Before

After

And now something I thought was a complete mistake on my part, is transformed into something that I otherwise would never have taken the initiative to do.

I don't like making mistakes, so this is a good thing for me to remember.

Also my niece and nephew helped me paint this wall today.  It was the perfect painting job for kids. My nephew did a jumping and painting dance and I wasn't worried about it getting on the carpeting.

The kids had today off from school, so I took the afternoon to spend with them.  We went on a short mountain biking course, thanks to my friend letting us borrow a bike. My nephew decided it was too difficult right away. I suggested my niece go ahead and he and I could walk.  However my nephew suggested he could run it.  And he did!  He ran the 2 miles. And even had fun doing the curves.

When we brought the bike back to my friend's house we went inside and my nephew started playing with her 12 year old.  My niece sat at the table where I spoke with my friend.  "You're getting older," I said and rubbed her back.  After a while though the 12 year old motioned for her to join them in their play. And she did. And she had a great time.

She's almost done being a kid

but not quite.

Permission to Post

 From Gratitude #2 yesterday

"Have you ever been a to a marathon? I’ve been to one. I ran it. And I had people show up to cheer me on and encourage me. 

 

I’m the runner in yellow. Look at my face and my obvious emotions. My friends were going crazy to encourage me onward. I responded and was filled with positive energy and renewed strength. I see them, I receive their encouragement, I give a happy wave, and continue onward with a huge smile on my face, stronger, believing in myself, encouraged.

 

Your people don’t have to run an actual marathon. Maybe your friends marathon involves changing diapers or washing dishes or pushing papers or calculating payroll or just getting out of bed each day… marathon work can come in many forms."

 

Brooke

 

Show up for your people. Cheer your people on. It matters.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭11

Friends and Paint

 #1 - I met my "new" friend two years ago.  I went on a camping weekend with the outdoors club where I met my former partner saying, "I do not want to meet anybody."  (Knowing this was quite unlikely, as the majority of the group is women close to retirement age.)  A woman sat down next to me during a meal and we started talking.  I soon learned she was a recent empty nester, and it sounded like living alone, I assumed divorced.  However soon I learned that she was a widow.  I was in the depths of heartache at the time and I melted into a deep conversation with her.  

We have been friends since, and in many ways she has been a life saver. She has been someone that says, "Yes," to the type of things my former partner would, and I don't really have other friends that might. Yesterday, for example, I received an email for a couple winter retreats. Once of them is in Wisconsin in an area that is well known for cross country skiing.  My friend asked about cross country skiing together this winter, so I emailed her and she said yes. 

Not only that but I emailed the organizer to ask if we could come a day early so we'd have more time to cross country ski.  The answer was yes and there won't be an extra charge!! What?!

 #2 - My friend sent me the post our mutual friend posted on Facebook.  I'm asking her permission to repost it here...

 #3 - Sometimes when I sit down to dinner, I want to talk to someone.  So I called someone I met at the retreat center this summer.  She is back in Chicago now, and I haven't spoken to her since I left.  I'm so glad I called her today because I found out she is coming to town for a wedding next month and now she is going to stay with me.

#4 - My office/spare bedroom is a neutral color because I didn't think anything else would really work with the bedspread, curtains and a piece of furniture I had in there.  But I have also had the desire to have something "happier".  I had to depart from the pallet that I chose for all the paint in my place, because there wasn't anything else on that pallet that was light/happy that I wanted to use.  So I hope I will like what I chose since I already painted this room once and do not want to do a third time.

Anyway, I bought paint today and started prepping the walls.

#5 - I've been trying to do weekly courageous things, like I did at the retreat center this summer.  I didn't have one for this week yet, but I'm going to count the painting.  The color I have now works fine.  It is a neutral clay color.  The new color may or may not work.  I'm happy to switch out the curtains if needed, however the bedspread and the bookcase I want to keep. So I'll say this change requires a bit of courage.

A long one Today!

#1 - I did my 2nd pilates reformer class today - I signed up for 4 free - I can see how it is good for me and if it didn't cost extra I'd probably continue doing it.

 #2 - I do home visits with families.  I'm supposed to be there supporting the parent (of a pre-school age kid).  Sometimes the parents sit back and I have to walk a line of, "Is there something really important going on or do I need to ask them to put away their phone?" or "Are they just putting in a quick load of laundry or are they off doing a bunch of other things?"

 Ideally the parent is leading and I am sitting back.  Today I brought a new book and one mom, who has really been taking the lead, completely took over. She kept her 3 year old engaged in the book a good 20 minutes, long past when they actually finished reading it.  I was so grateful to be there doing what I am supposed to, encouraging and letting her lead.

 #3 - Similarly another family (both of these families it is my 2nd year working with), where the mom was often leaving the room last year, isn't yet taking the lead, however she has remained present and interactive in all the visits thus far.  Win!

#4 - I am about to go and do something intimidating. A woman whom I've taken occasional writing classes with for years, emailed, "Hi Tammy! Not sure you'd be into this, but I'm going! Hope all well."  It was a Spanish Cultural Conversations class thru community ed. I was interested.

It was at a time that worked.

It was at a nearby location.

However the description said it is for people that speak Spanish with fluency and know the subjunctive. 

I don't even remember what the subjunctive is.

I emailed that to this woman and she said she is the same but still signed up.

Well, I've heard in the past about job applications (I don't recall the specifics) but that a majority of men would apply for a job they had 50% of the qualifications for while women needed 80%.  (I'm making up those numbers, but it is the idea.)  And I thought, "I am NOT qualified for this AND maybe I should try anyway.  For God's sake it is community ed."

I still wouldn't even consider it except for the invitation and support that someone I know is doing the same.  I am heading there soon.  We'll see...

 

#5 - Finally I wrote about my first, potentially, problematic interaction with a neighbor in my building in a post almost 2 years ago

Friday, October 14, 2022

The Last Neighbors

I haven't seen that neighbor in a while, I'm guessing he moved out though his roommate is still here. But regardless, my initial fears about his anger turned into a positive connection.

 

About a year ago a different, what I'd call angry - because I've heard him scream some pretty awful things at his kids - neighbor moved in behind me.  I try to be friendly to him and his kids.  However, when I informed him that his vehicles were about to get towed recently (the parking lot was supposed to be empty for some work).  I almost thought, "Maybe I should have let him."

However, today when I got home there was something attached to my door.  It was a $30 gift card for gas. 

I actually prevented 2 neighbors from getting towed that day (both would have had 2 vehicles towed), and it is the one that I would call unkind who returned in an act of generosity.  I got a fortune recently that said, "Kindness is the ability to love people more than they really deserve."

Or maybe it's the other way around, when we treat people with the kindness they deserve, they are more likely to act worthy of it.