Ah, Monday. Back to work, back to reality. I spent the weekend on home improvement - Saturday we finally got the clouds painted on the walls in Heather's room, and painted the trim while we were at it. Maybe tonight I can get the border up. Afterwards, we went to the Saturday night church service, then to the Pub like good little protestants. Mulligan's is great fun on the weekends - live, rowdy Irish drinking songs. Then Sunday morning we were up at 5:30, getting ready to show up for the Bellevue Community Church Habitat for Humanity build at 7:00. The weather cooperated beautifully, and even though it did finally warm up, the breeze was always refreshing. I'm only a little sunburned, thanks to somebody's donation of SPF 45 sunscreen (It had so much zinc oxide in it that I looked like I had a thin coat of clown-white on, but hey - I'm not fried). We helped build a decorative gable for the roof, and we worked on finishing the trim for the front porch. We got the post mounted, but they weren't ready to put up the railings, so that will wait until next week. Another group worked around back to put a little 8x8 deck off the back, while others finished the siding and painted all the trim work. I've always liked the idea behind Habitat, and I like it even more after working on the build. These houses may be small, but they're solidly constructed, and built with love. I'm thinking about volunteering again for the next one next month. Even if my part was small, I feel like I made a difference. At the end of the day, isn't that what we all hope for? To make a difference in the life of just one person...
I've never been good with expressing emotions. I always felt that emotions were a sign of weakness - part of being raised as my father's "son", I suppose. Lately I'm having a hard time bottling up those things that bubble up when people start flinging arrows and stones. Some I deserve. Others, less so. Innocent comments get taken out of context and used to further some cause. I make a genuine post about an overwhelming feeling I have, and someone turns it into an accusation, based on some sort of internet statistic that proves I've posted in response to something else. Frankly, I don't see the connection. I get angry more often than I used to, but I often feel like I've been kicked in the gut too. I'm not accustomed to that one. It usually brings tears. Intended kindnesses are perceived as attempts to control. And this post will be labeled as an attempt to send someone on a guilt trip - but hey - if the shoe fits, baby, wear it out.
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