Blogging With Beth

I have nothing good to say today. It's been pretty slow here in NM...

I practiced the organ today - I have to play a week from Sunday, and I don't really know what I'm doing. It's amazing how much harder it is to learn to play a new instrument as an adult. Helena was with me, but I don't think she was really willing to be there. She's been out of sorts because of her "monster molars." We also stopped at the library, where I had to make small talk with a former teaching colleague of mine. She's very nice and everything, but there was some "faketitude" there. I have to say, I'm so glad that practically any movie, CD, or book you could ever dream of is available from the interlibrary loan system. And, it's free. Can't beat it!

Dan is working hard right now on the computer, creating a few websites (or at least putting them together.) He is satisfied with his job, but he doesn't love it. I think that he'll probably work for a few more years and then branch off and do something else. For now, the freelance will help us to build up our savings account and begin to save for retirement.

No creative juices flowing here, so rather than bore everyone, I'll "sign off."

"And you read your Emily Dickinson, and I my Robert Frost,
and we note our place with bookmarkers that measure what we've lost."

Did you ever consider how comparing yourself with others goes along with coveting what others have? Inevitably you think, "Geez, her hair looks so good." Then, before you can stop yourself, it's "I wish that I had hair like that." What's up with that? Can we all just be happy with what we've got? Insecurity is one of the hallmarks of my personality.

After all, life is good! We are all blessed with different gifts and the ability to ask for more if we really think we need them. Instead of worrying so much about the gifts we don't have, let's all use the ones we've got.

Dan and I made up some chocolate milk tonight. We made it this big treat. Sure, you might think that's lame, but honestly, once you hit a certain point in life, it doesn't take a whole lot. We also watched a program about the United States Secret Service, which was intensely interesting. It's unbelievable how much it takes in terms of resources to keep the President mobile and even moderately accessible.

Helena Marie is teething - serious teeth, too, big giant molars and stuff that haven't quite pushed through. She's remarkably good-spirited considering. Her new favorite activity involves pushing her strollers and walkers up and down the alley. BUT she leaves plenty of time to play with her neighbor across the street, Emma, who's 2. Emma helps her learn how to eat corn on the cob, shoot a basket, and climb up the slide the wrong way. Helena's other full-time playmate is our cat, Bennie. He endures much abuse at her hands - headlocks, tail-tugs, "heavy petting" (where she bangs really hard on his back), and the incredibly endearing "head butts and rubs" (they head butt, then she rubs her head against his. Cute.) He takes what he can get, as he used to be the #1 King of the House. He's now somewhere in 9th place behind dishes, diapers, books, etc.

Tomorrow we're off to the library and other various and sundry errands.

"Please don't confront me with my failures - I had not forgotten them."

Many thanks to Caity for cheering me up yesterday.

It's all about attitude, isn't it? Generally, outside of some huge cosmic events, whether or not you have a good day is all about you. I wish that I had better control over mine! Age and experience are helping in that department.

And in that spirit I add this from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

Yesterday Helena played hard outside - up and down the alley, all over our yard and the neighbors', basically going crazy. We brought her in for lunch at about 11am, and right in the middle of her cheese course, she fell asleep. Right there in the high chair, one hand still gripping the cheese, the other arm under her head. I didn't know that was possible. She is astonishing! It is so fulfilling to watch her grow and continue to develop her (strong - are you surprised?) personality. She's very good at shaking her head "yes" and "no" - mostly "no" - and she's currently fascinated with stairs. We love her.

It is so stinking hot!

It is beyond incredible that music can speak so much more clearly, more honestly, more specifically than any other communication, but that it can never be described justly. It's just impossible to convey the right feelings outside of actually experiencing it. And the listening experience is different than the creating experience, although sometimes just as powerful (especially if you realize that, hey, you're not that good at, say, the bassoon.)

That was heavy! On a lighter note...

After posting on everybody else's blogs, I dusted off the PC and got busy making my own. (Our Mac has some trouble loading the site. Beyond that I have no idea what's going on.) Let's hope it's worth something. I really do feel the pressure. Hey, if it's a quantity over quality thing, I'm all set!

Tonight Dan and I finally broke out of our protective coating and broke bread with our neighbors. They are great people, young like us with one daughter, and we had an absolute blast. Thanks to Caity and Joel's invisible hand, we're bonding over all the neighborhood issues and all the richer for it. Much as we like the dates we go on once in a while, it was fun to bond with another fam like our own.

If anyone's interested in WHY I was losing it over music earlier in the post...well, you've felt that way too.