Things I Learned This Morning

• When you have to wake up early on a Saturday morning, you will not sleep well the night before. 
• I stayed up later than usual to catch up on my Bleeps blogs
• Was woken up 3 different times as 3 different teenagers came home (they are different ages, therefore they have different curfews)
• One teenager sleeps with her phone. Normally this does not cause an issue for me, but last night she rolled over and slept-called me. At 2AM. I was NOT happy.
• At 4AM, fat Jenny decided to freak out about something. I still don't know what. I still don't care.
• A 6:45 alarm sounds like the devil coming to get you on a Saturday morning
• Technically I could have slept a little later, but before heading out to the build site, I had to go out of my way to make a certain stop. It was non-negotiable:

•  A smiling face is always nice to see first thing in the morning:
  

•  You never know who will prove to be a construction dynamo. Seriously, she could frame a wall lickety-split!

•  There's always time for a little fun:

 

• When framing a wall in the basement, you have to use galvanized nails on the bottom. In case you have never had the pleasure don't know,  trying to drive galvanized nails into treated wood is like trying to hammer jello to a wall. They are coated with zinc so they won't rust, and this makes them very soft. It sucks takes some patience. For every 1 nail I got in without bending it, I had to pull out 3 or 4 ruined ones. I had them all in a pile to photograph, but a very kind person (obviously not a blogger or photographer) cleaned them up before I could snap my photo. Here are some I found lying around. The lighter ones on the bottom are the devil galvanized ones.  As you can see, sometimes the regular nails had to be pulled out also.
  

•  It's fun to see a little bit of American pride in unexpected places:

 

• If you try to hammer your finger into the wood, you will get a blood blister. I'm surprised I got off so easy...

• A Habitat for Humanity build day is a fun way to socialize, give back to your community, avoid going to the gym, sweat a whole lot, tire-out yourself (and your snoring husband next to you), get points for working hard so you don't have to make dinner, and feel good about helping out a deserving family. Check out the H4H in your area. It's worth it!
  

Ruminations of the Weekend

• Walking into a room full of people you haven't seen in 20 years is quite stressful. You think that as a grown woman you can handle yourself in all situations. But driving up to that beautiful house, all those old insecurities come flooding back. Looks? Weight? Hair? Clothes? Success?
• Walking into a room full of people you haven't seen in 20 years is quite exhilarating. You know all those fears you had a minute ago? Gone in a flash.
• Being hugged by 40 women in one evening does wonders for one's self-esteem.
• Being hugged by those same women the next night is even better.
• Lessons from a nonagenarian:
Ladies do not walk around with food and beverages

Ladies never walk around with a cigarette

Ladies never drink from a bottle (except a water bottle)

Ladies sit with both feet on the floor, not with legs crossed

Ladies never sit on their boyfriend's (or husband's) laps

Ladies do not wear barbaric earrings

• Mrs S is amazing. I thought so 20 years ago, and I still think so. She is one sharp cookie. Which, of course, she would never eat.
• People don't really change over time. The quiet ones are still quiet. The loud ones are still loud. The goofy ones are still goofy. Uh oh, which one am I?
• Unfortunately, for some, cliques don't really change over time either.
• Wool skirts and saddle oxfords look as bad fashionable today as they did 20 years ago.

• Where's the spring uniform? The blue, yellow, or pink cotton dress. So lovely.
• Breast cancer can take your ta-tas, but not your spirit.
• Everyone should learn to fight like a girl.
• A solid education is one of the best gifts you can give to your children.
• Our graduates have been all over the world, from Alaska to New Zealand, from South America to Asia and everywhere in between. Oh, and Destin Florida. Duh!
• You don't have to be in your 20s to look and feel amazing.
• The women of SAA class of 1989 are absolutely fabulous. Seriously.