My street is being repaved and is currently torn out completely. It is wonderful not having cars zipping down the street.

Neighbors are walking outside and chatting in the beautiful quiet of the night. The kids are catching fire flies and are playing catch in the open space where pavement once reigned.
What a wonderful time it is! Who cares if we must walk half a block to get to our cars? The peace that comes from quiet open spaces is wonderful. We are enjoying each other. I like it. I will miss this camaraderie when it ends. The machines rule by day, neighborly socializing rules by night. I'll take the noise and the dirt -- that is a cheap price to pay for getting to know my neighbors better!

On a completely different note:


I don't have much of an evil sister update. It is interesting to note that following the fiasco Up North she has pretended that all is well and that we are fine now that we are home. I decided to be a bigger person than I am. I called the other day after work and I offered to go to her house to see her new mulch. I know it sounds strange. This is how my sister operates. She NEEDS you to come and see her mulch.

She does a small home improvement and she asks you to come over and see it. If you do not she is resentful. So... I went and saw the mulch. Whew Hooo, mulch! I complimented her on the perennials in her yard and she complained about lack of structure and how it wasn't her. I restrained myself from clubbing her -- that girl can't even take a compliment! She has some gorgeous perennials. Gorgeous. I hope she learns to appreciate them and enjoy them more.

Stop worrying that it isn't perfect today and be happy with what you have going! I'm working hard to do that and seeing her negativity has made me work even harder at it. Maybe that is one more thing that made this week's construction beautiful. Enjoying it now. It won't be like this forever. I'm letting the kids stay up past bed time. We can worry about bedtime when cars take the street back over.... for now, the kids rule!