Missed a Spot...

The last couple days before the semester starts it feels like you are about to go on a long trip.  Please note that I was sure not to say "vacation", since a vacation has the connotation of being relaxing, etc.  I spent my last few couple days school-free cleaning, organizing, rearranging, and cramming in last minute crafts, while I still had free mind space for some creativity (craft posts to come).  Preparing for a long trip entails cleaning one's car from the tippy top down.  However, contrary to what I have believed growing up, cleaning the family vehicles from top to bottom is not necessarily the interest of every husband.  After initiating a Sunday afternoon car-cleaning, Will joined me and we tackled both vehicles.  While following his vacuuming with a wet rag, this is how it went:

Me: Oops! I think you missed a spot, honey!
2 minutes later...
Oh, did you not do in here?
1 minute later...
OK, WILL- Your going to have to bring yourself and that vacuum back up here.
Will:  [grumble, mumble]

Perhaps it's because of my fascination with how childhood experiences drastically affect your adulthood, but my annoyance was soon covered up with giggles.  Details and precision are rarely present in my personality, however this reaction to Will's "sloppy cleaning", purely came from my father's child rearing way of "do it right or don't do it" philosophy.  A man who cleans tires with a toothbrush and vacuums his new pontoon; I was lovingly dubbed the name "Kent" for the next few minutes.  Needless to say- our vehicles are sparkling and it aids in my confidence when starting a new busy semester.

I'm not sure what the moral or point of this random story is...but my conclusion is two-fold.
1. There are too many things in life that you can't control; but a clean car isn't one of them.  There is a new confidence that comes with the fulfilled responsibility of a extremely clean car.
2. Although the nature of your kid's personality may be different than your own, there are still life habits to instill in them so things like ANOTHER first day of school can feel a little more approachable.

Spotty Specs.

If there is any scenario that is worse than the impossibility of finding a needle in a haystack, it's finding eyeglasses in Mall of America.  Although I may have left Mall of America with a few treats, I lost one of my most important possessions...my specs.  With my summer reading list and the new semester growing nearer, I couldn't waste anytime to replace them.  Not to judge, but there seemed to be a very small chance that the people of Mall of America would 1. find my glasses, 2. think it nice to find the owner, and 3. exert the time and energy to take them to the MOA lost and found.
My red "break light" eye glasses were not cheap and I simply could not justify spending that much out-of-pocket on new ones.  I am really not a brand snob but it did take some self-coaxing to take my business to the Wal-Mart Optical Center. They didn't have the vast array of color choices that Lens Crafters offers, but I did "spot" some polka dot eye wear (no pun intended), which I quickly settled on.

rock and read

I have been identified as world's worst (best?) crafty wannabe.  I am the nerd that spends her free time and possibly weekend nights tackling the latest craft ideas that have taken over the "bookmark" list on her Safari page.  I have only been needed at work one day this week which leaves me surprisingly content among my favorite (or easiest) craft ideas.  

Today's first craft endeavor: record bookends

These bookends cost fifty cents (check local thrift stores) and they can be really cute if you are picky about what labels are on them.

The process: melting and forming

Update

- I am completely done with my summer classes and now have 22 days with no homework, professors, or tests hanging over my head.  Let the summer begin!
-Will and I were able to spend a night with our favorite couple friends, Mark and Pia.  We packed in a full night with burgers, karaoke, and good conversation.  
-We witnessed another beautiful wedding.  Will's old college roommate married a very, very sweet girl.
-Grandpa Cousin had a birthday!
-Jonny came home and Will and him made a dent in the progression of Alkali Scientific. 
-I squeezed in a place on the trip to MN so the boys could check out some labs and spent a very relaxing, "me time" session at Mall of America.  I know, "relaxing" and "Mall of America" don't belong in the same sentence but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  My day was complete with reading at Caribou, window shopping, real shopping, people watching, and simply leisure.  The day DID get a little long walking the miles of stores in cowboy boots but I considered it a small sacrifice. 
-Will is seeing the reciprocation of putting in hard work towards his business.  It's still in the beginning phases but everyday provides encouragement through customer interest, customer support, and most importantly-orders!