#41: Compost old beer.

First of all, there are over 40 thinks on my "40 days 40 projects list" because there are over 40 things I have put off doing...once I started a list I just kept going. We are going to try and get to 40 projects over lent, it just might not be the first 40 I listed.

Secondly, I feel I need to explain my reasoning for throwing out beer. You see for the last two Labor Days we have held rather large BBQs. The first year it was VERY hot and though we had bought tons of beer and people had brought some of their own, we ran out and had to make a beer run during the party. The second year, we were determined to not run out, so we got more beer. But for whatever reason--the cooler weather, less beer drinkers, whatever--we had LOTS of left over beer. So we put it in our beer fridge, and invited people over the next few weekends afterwards. We even brought beer with us when we went to others houses! But we never got rid of all that beer. So today, with the sun shining, I dumped several cans of beer into our compost pile (along with some decaying fruit from the kitchen, lint from the dryer, and puppy poo from the yard). Now our basement is clear from expired drinks, and our compost pile got all hopped up on beer.

#13: Put away the rest of Christmas.

16 dishes, 2 candy dishes, 1 serving platter, 7 mugs, 1 teapot, 1 cookie jar, all of various Christmas and winter themes are now put away in their proper spots. No longer will they lurk in cupboards, counters or the hutch; they are all now in their "homes" waiting next years holiday season.

#24: Put up cat tree.

Yes, yes. I know. It's been nearly 3 months since Christmas, Mom, and we just now assembled and put up the cat tree you got us. After putting it off and putting it off, it only took us the better part of an hour to do and I am really liking the way it looks. And I think the cats are going to like it too.

#29: Make Reservations for Turkey Run

So Easter is coming closer, and we have scratched one thing off our 40 project list...Man, I'm even procrastinating when I gave up procrastinating for lent.

But I'll take it, one down is one down. And though it sounds simple--to make a reservation to go camping--coordinating 5 couples summer weekend schedules to get together and go camping is not easy. It should be a great summer road trip and a great camping trip. Turkey Run is one of the best state parks in Indiana, and as winter melts to spring and spring heats to summer, I will be looking forward to it.

40 days, 40 Projects

So this year for Lent my husband and I will be giving up procrastination. In the next 40 days of lent (well, 39 now) we will be completing 40 project from around the house that have been on our "to do" list for way too long. I'll let you know how it goes...

Good Girl

I taught my puppy, Nola Belle, to shake today. Such a good girl!!

Parenthood: Worth Rewatching

Do you remember the Ron Howard movie "Parenthood"?

The movie came out in 1989 and starred Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Weist, Rick Moranis, and many more (including a young Keanu Reeves and very young Joaquin Phoenix). I know that I watched this movie when it came out, but at that age probably most identified with the scene where Gil Buckman's (Steve Martin's) son didn't catch the ball at little league or wished that "Cowboy Gil" would come to my birthday party. In the 20 years this movie has been out, I've probably watched it a handful of times. At different times getting more and more out of it. I re-watched it last night using our Roku box, and really, really enjoyed it. The part that I found most poignant on this re-watch was the allegorical reminiscing of the great-grandmother about the roller coaster and merry-go-round:

"You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it."

I can't wait to watch it again after my husband and I have children, I am sure there will be another layer of the movie that will make me fall in love with the film all over again.