Trains vs Planes

Well we did a comparison of travel methods on this trip. We flew out and took the train back. 

Our legs on the plane.

Versus our legs on the train.

I'm not sure if that was a fair fight. I can tell you there was no clear winner in the toilet department. They were equally small and bumpy.

The first leg of our train travel passed quite pleasantly. I did a lot of this...

Well would you look at that the shawl that will not be photographed decided to make a cameo appearance in the lower right hand corner. It was nice to take a nap all wrapped up in wool. The train has a nice sleep inducing rock to it too. But it could have more to do with our 3 am wake up to catch a 5:15 am train. 

I'll be back with more train talk soon. 

Letting Go

Life gets busy. My work has been chaos. We were remodeling and moving dang near everything, at least twice. I was planning and packing for a longish trip back to see the families in SD. D and I created our own version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, packing more miles under our belts. We caught up with family, babysat nephews and ate a few meals. Yes life gets busy.

Some where in all the activity I let go of the idea of my blog goal of ten posts this month. Part of my mind was constantly trying to figure out a way to get a post in, and another part was telling me it was just too much this month. I am glad I listened to the second voice, I really had nothing to say, or at least I did not feel much like talking.

I came to the conclusion long ago that perfection is over rated in our society, as is busyness. I hear people bragging about how little sleep they get and how on the go they are. All I can think is how much better they would function if they gave themselves some time off. Rest is not a four letter word... well actually it is but you know what I mean

The thought Let It Go kept pricking at my mind as I talked to my Mom about a quilt top she had sewn. It is a lovely Christmas themed top, but my Mom is having a hard time enjoying it. You see one of the blocks has a triangle of fabric with the wrong side showing. Just fix it right? My Mom is an experienced seamstress, she knows how to fix sewing problems. She is not afraid to rip something out.

The problem is that the "wrong side" fabric is indistinguishable from all of the other right sides in the quilt. It is an ivory color with small whitish vines on it. Seriously I crawled up and down the quilt looking at each triangle of ivory fabric with white vines on it. Every single one of them! Because I wanted to make my Mom feel better, I wanted to help her fix it.

Turns out it does not need fixing. If we could not find it when looking specifically for it, I doubt someone will be able to see it once it is quilted laying on my bed a bed. And if they do I hope they will be polite enough to see it for its beauty not its mistakes. You know how a mother sees her children most of the time.

So today give yourself permission to let go of something that is bugging you. Something that is holding you back. Tell yourself it is good enough for today and go pet your cat. (Gus' suggestion)

Just be happy, if only for a moment.

Like a Deer in Headlights

This post is about church and religion as experienced by me today. I know this is not a typical topic for me. Please feel free to skip this one if you're uncomfortable or argumentative about these topics. This is just me talking, I am not here to convert or belittle anyone's beliefs. I would appreciate the same treatment from anyone reading this too.

Yes, today at church I totally looked like a deer in headlights. You know that shocked how do I get out of this? Where do I run? look.

Let me explain. I now identify myself as an introvert. I used to think of myself as asocial, but I don't think I was hostile. I don't love social interaction but I'm not hostile about socializing. Just don't touch my yarn till I have offered it to you. Society has rules and so do I.

Anyways for some reason church interaction has always been difficult for me. I truly hate the portion of the program when you greet or pass the peace with all your neighbors. It makes me uncomfortable, but I grin and bear it.

Today at church I was asked to help with communion during the hand shake portion. Little old me standing in front of the congregation holding the wine and juice glasses? Plus I even get to tell everyone what the liquid symbolizes for each one of them. Oh it was so far out of my comfort zone that I just wished I could see the fence that surrounds my zone. But alas I was far, far from even my protective fence.

I was worried I would drop the glasses, that I would sneeze into them, my nose would itch, any number of embarrassing scenarios. I did clink the glasses together a few times.

But I will tell you as I said the words "The Blood of Christ shed for you" to each person, it really hit home with me. We all gather to remember what Christ has done for us. How humbling, to be the one telling each person their debt is already paid.

It was a blessing to see the other side of the stage for a moment. Not one I wish to see again very soon, but a blessing nonetheless.

D said I gave him my Yikes look when I returned to my seat. Yikes indeed for this little introvert.

Will you all excuse me while I crawl back into my shell?

Random thoughts

I drove by a K-9 police cruiser the other day. It had decals of two dogs on it. Their names were etched into the decals as Badge and Kilo. Someone sure had a good time naming those dogs.

My husband got brownie points at my salon the other day. I bragged up how he found our B&B for our May trip, and part of the selection criteria was that the owner was a knitter. Additionally, I managed to mesmerize a young teen girl with my knitting there too. My fingers were firing on all cylinders that day.

I am just a bit freaked out by the thought that both sets of socks on the needles are for D. I am not actively working on anything for myself. Will this ruin my selfish knitter cred?

My Color Affection shawl is still refusing to be photographed. I am starting to think it is a diva thing since it has not yet been properly blocked. Since I am planning to use it on our upcoming trip, I also theoretically figured out a way to keep it from snagging while packed in my carryon. I bought a Pretty Cheep bag at WEBS that should serve as a shawl stuff sack.

How does one work a yarn store excursion into picking up a rental car at the airport? Do I just look for a yarn store with a brew pub next to it and take a really long trip to the restroom after claiming that we should start our road trip with lunch? You know because I don't eat while flying. I am pretty sure D will not fall for that.

Can I now start to refer to our trip as Planes, Trains and Automobiles, since we will be using each of those for a leg of the trip? If I do, which one of us is John Candy and which is Steve Martin?

I need to google how to eat a lobster again since we're going to a lobster boil tomorrow. D does not do seafood so he already knows how to eat his chicken. This will be only my second time eating a whole lobster so a refresher class is in order.

How was that for random?