Seventh Time's the Charm

I played Nintendo last night for the first time in probably over a year - Super Metroid. I got to the really hard guy that gives you the Varia suit - he's like a dragon that shoots out surfboards and Chinese stars. Anyway, Quentin has always killed this guy for me - ALWAYS. I can't remember ever killing him myself. So, last night I got to him - and no Quentin. So here I go, getting killed over and over again, and getting extremely frustrated. Finally, on the seventh try, just as I was about to die again, this dragon starts dissolving into the victory fireworks (as I think of them), and I HAD HIM. I was so thrilled. I just wanted to tell about this.

One more story from yesterday. Mom and I had planned to go to Boone to see Megan and Isabella. It was pouring down rain, and Mom had called that morning wondering if we should go another time. Well, I thought we would do all right, so we planned to go on anyway. When I got to Mom's house, she was waiting on her carport with her umbrella in hand. I wanted to get as close as possible so she wouldn't have to get too wet. So, I pulled up beside her car, putting my car in her yard. But I was close. So she came on and got in. I put the car in reverse to back out, and nothing happened. We were stuck in the mud. The harder I tried to get out the stucker we got. There was mud flying all over both our cars by then. We just looked at each other and laughed. What can you do. So we went in, and I called my dear husband who always helps me out. He said, "Well I guess you better call somebody to pull you out." Fine. So me and Mom got in her car and went down the road to a garage. I asked them about pulling my car out and how much it would cost. The guy said, $125.00. I couldn't believe it. Well, much to my relief, another guy was in there and said that he could probably just put a chain on his pickup truck and get me out. I asked him how much, and he said, "Oh, about $20.00." So, that is what happened. Still $20.00 was a hard lesson, but a lot better than the alternative. After all that, Mom REALLY thought we shouldn't go to Boone (she thought it was a sign), so we will try to go next week.

Be It Ever So Humble . . .

Today I visited an old friend from high school. She was one of my best friends, and we had a lot of good times together. Our class is getting ready to have our 30th high school reunion, and she and I are working on the decorations for it, so I went down to her house in Lewisville to do some planning. Did I say house? More like a mansion. It is 10,000 square feet. I forget how many bedrooms, but there are a bunch. And eight bathrooms. The grounds are also impressive. It looks almost like a park with a pond, stonework archways, big trees, shrubs, well you get the picture. Inside the house the walls were covered with stuff - artwork, flowers, pictures, and there were rugs and throws everywhere. Overstuffed furniture. There was a study just like you would imagine a study to look like - wood paneling, leather furniture, big desk, huge picture windows and bookshelves covering the walls, with plenty of family pictures. In the basement was a big bar, like you would see in a restaurant, a room with a pool table, and a workout room. The third floor had guest bedrooms, a large playroom, and the "nanny's quarters", which is what she called it. This included a full kitchen, living room, den, bedroom, and bath.

Anyway, as opulent as all this was, I was telling Bennie that I would hate to live there. It just wasn't "homey". If I had a million dollars (BNL's), I would still want to live like I am right now. I like my kitchen better than hers. Believe it or not, but my kitchen has more cabinets and counter space. And I would hate the inconvenience of having to walk all day long just to get to another part of the house.

So all this got me thinking about happiness. It seems like we are always wanting more in order to be happy, but how much is enough? Do we ever get to a point where we stop wanting more and are just satisfied with what we have? I guess I just feel very grateful for what I have. I have a great family, and I love our house. I have a good job with three day weekends. I try not to dwell on the things I don't like about my life but instead concentrate on the good things. So I guess that's what I'm doing with this post. Counting my blessings and being happy.