Archives of Our Lives

{a narrow and broad look into the lives of people I love}

Thursday, August 7, 2008

"Ow--My Most of Me"

I'm a bit late in answering the first question of my new feature, "Ask Me Anything." And I'm sorry about that, but I've been busy. In fact, I can hardly move my fingers enough to type this out [and it doesn't help that Poor Kyle's keyboard is ridiculously difficult to use]. I'm sure you all want to know what it is I've been doing. Read on...

Q {anonymous}: What do you do all day if you don't work, go to school or care for children? Do you like this state of existence or are you going to do something different in the future? Does poor Kyle support what you do/don't do?

A: Whatever the heavens I want, actually.

It's quite nice. I "garden" [a term I use loosely]:

Make chocolates and eat chocolates:

I recycle truckloads of cans and bottles:

And without children to tote around and worry over, I am free to take each day as it comes. I fly by the seat of my pants. When I go to historic parks, I can take photos of myself in front of water mill wheels, without stressing that someone will steal my kids in their stroller while I'm not looking:


As far as Poor Kyle's support, I suppose my anonymous commenter would have to ask him. My perception is that he loves me no matter how diligently I do or don't decorate our house while he's at work. I, myself, am perfectly happy with my life right now.

Sometimes, though, when people ask me "What do you do all day, Camille? How do you fulfill your life's dreams without a job, or a degree, or snot-nosed kids waking you up at 6 in the a.m.?" I start to feel like I have to defend my existence. So for the past few days I've been doing this:



Mowing lawns. It's not a bad job, actually, when I'm not doing it for 12 hours at a time [which I attempted yesterday]. Because when I do try it for 12 hours at a time, my hands turn redder than a Hot Tamale™, and I get blisters on my feet the size of a few extra big toes:



Last night after coming home from my 9 to 9 work day, I was literally walking on my heels to get around. because walking any normal way was too painful. And then this morning, I had to wake up and do the entire thing over. So before heading off to my "job," I prepared my feet for the onslaught: I popped my four blisters (collecting over a tablespoon of puss from the combined poppage, and completely soaking three tissues in the process), bandaged each one, and donned three pairs of socks, in an attempt to soften the blow.

My mother-in-law cannot understand why I would want to do something like this.

"Because," I explain, "I want to feel productive."

"Why?" she wonders.

"So I can be a contributing member of society..."

"But...why?" she persists, clearly confused.

"So I can have money of my own...?"

"Well, I don't know why you'd want to do anything like that if you don't have to."

And you know what? She may be on to something. This whole job nonsense...it's exhausting.

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10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think your life sounds quite pleasant. Other than the blister popping. I could do without that pretty easily!
~A

August 7, 2008 at 10:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

haha, great answer. don't worry. your existence need not be defended- you are an important person to society and to your family and dear husband. never forget that.

August 7, 2008 at 11:05 PM  
Blogger Alice said...

Ya know what...I love to mow the lawn.

It is so cathartic and peaceful for me. You go girl!

August 8, 2008 at 5:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Camille,
I'm glad you answered that one first, it sounded condescending and accusatory to me. Some people's kid's, eh? I thought, "does Kyle support what you do/don't do", a low blow. Of course he does, he's your frikken husband, he loves you forever.
I like MIL's idea. Working sucks.I avoid it whenever possible.
And, OWW!, hurty feet, me no likey either.

August 8, 2008 at 12:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Since the "economy" is bad right now and everyone is giving me that as an excuse to not hire me, i have also given in to mowing lawns with my father's business. I will start tomorrow and hopefully make a little money to pay off the $3800 of debt i have accumulated in the two months i have been home from my mission. some might think that means that i am a frivolous spender, but no in fact i am just trying to do my duty and get educated in this wonderful land of the free!!!!

gus

August 8, 2008 at 1:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Millie,

I, for one, am very glad you are working. There's a certain sense of satisfaction that comes with putting in a hard day's work. Well done.

August 8, 2008 at 1:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've imagined camille commenting anonymously on her own posts, i wondered if this said comment was so.
To stir up the readership, explain a few things.
If so, most clever.
If not, ouch.

(c., your great grandfather in law loved mowing the lawn, though it only took 20
minutes. 12 hours of anything sounds labourious, even if it would feel fun in partly parcelled pieces).

Props to ~A and gus. Good stuff.

August 8, 2008 at 3:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Erp, few cells misfiring there, meant, your grandfather in law. Lr's dad.

August 9, 2008 at 6:44 AM  
Blogger Lindsey said...

I think mowin a lawn now and again is a good thing. But 12 hour days-that's a bit excessive! Blisters and missing So You Think You Can Dance. Not worth it, I would say...

August 9, 2008 at 10:46 AM  
Blogger chelsie said...

I know i am in no league of yours, however i have started a blog!!! Don't have any expectations so you can't be let down.

August 12, 2008 at 12:19 AM  

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