New Thing Number Twenty

I asked to be refunded a fee I was charged.

This one probably sounds really weird. People ask for stuff like this all the time.

I don't.

I was raised with the mindset that if I make a mistake, I deal with the consequences. If I came home after curfew, my curfew would be earlier the next time. If I procrastinated doing my homework, I would stress out the day before it was due and I probably wouldn't get a very good grade. If I got charged a fee, for whatever reason, I would pay it.

So for the first time in this kind of situation, I decided to ask for mercy.

I pride myself in being one who doesn't ask for free handouts, so calling in was maybe not embarrassing, but very humbling. They were understanding and didn't even hesitate to grant my request. I assured them that I would not be making that type of call again. I don't want to exhaust mercy.

This was an eye-opening experience for me. I play by the rules, but I make mistakes once in a while. Thanks to a kind representative--and a forgiving Savior--I don't always have to pay the price of my mistakes. Too often I feel like I have to pay, even for things a Certain Someone has already paid for. I don't have to keep punishing myself. I am worthy of forgiveness. 

I am worthy of mercy.

New Thing Number Nineteen

I agreed to swear in Russian for some kids.

Correction: I agreed to "swear" in Russian for some kids.

I actually told them they were beautiful, but they don't need to know that.

New Thing Number Eighteen

I volunteered at my mom's school for a couple days.

Is it still considered volunteering if they also volunteer to pay you?
My volunteering came first.
And I wasn't expecting to be paid.
But I obviously wasn't going to say no to being paid.

I kept an eye on the 9th graders while they worked in the media center. I guess it was a good experience, because I've been casually toying around with the idea of becoming a substitute teacher. You know, to experience new things.

Yeah, not doing that.

I became the "cool" sub and made friends with the kids, and some of them were really awesome. But my patience has its limits. I barely survived two days. If I had to actually teach them instead of just supervising, I fear heads would have been rolling down the hallways by the end of school. (If questioned, I will neither confirm nor deny anything.)

But it was a good opportunity to learn a few new things:

1. I sooooooo wasn't like that in 9th grade. And I will keep my biased memories tucked in a faraway corner forever so I will continue to remember 9th grade that way.

2. What happened to enjoying learning? Granted, middle school is more of a social torture chamber instead of a place of learning, but even I got a few things figured out by 9th grade. That was the year I decided to become an editor. Five years later, I became one. Another five years later, I get to charge the big bucks. Provided anyone is willing to pay the big bucks for real editing.

3. My kids are going to be the most awesome kids by the time they're teenagers. None of this "pretending to be cool" crap. They're going to be happy with who they are and that will make them sooo cool.

4.  There still are the brave few out there who are proving to the up-and-coming generation that liking "nerdy" things is not only acceptable, it's awesome too. Who says cyborgs are lame? Who says anime is a waste of time? Who says time travel is unrealistic? The people who end up working minimum wage jobs their whole lives, that's who. The nerds be makin' the big bucks these days. Hopefully that will remain the case.

5. Help one kid? Awesome. Help three or four kids? Fine. Figure out how to manage thirty-five of them? No frickin' way.

Very important life lessons, as you can see.

New Thing Number Seventeen

I created a game.

And I'm not saying I pulled out some Uno cards and invented some new rules. I created a game. An entire game.

I did base it on a popular idea, but it's popular enough that I don't really think it belongs to anyone. Hopefully.

The work-in-progress title: Pirate Curses.

I don't think I've tried something this elaborate before. I mean, 225 specialized cards (on a budget, of course) an entire set of rules, and little game twisters once in a while. Like, if I had enough money to mass-produce and buy all the rights I need, I could be a multi-millionaire. ...okay maybe a multi-hundredaire. But every penny of income is appreciated.

I feel quite the sense of accomplishment. And after the trial run tonight I'm pretty sure it'd be a smashing success at other social gatherings, provided the people at said gatherings are willing to make utter fools of themselves. (But really, why go to a party if the people there aren't willing to look a bit like fools? Those are my favorite people.)

Man, if I can make a game that people love, I can do anything.

New Thing Number Sixteen

I tried out a new piece of art! My darling convinced me to try it, and given my generally impatient disposition, I was hesitant. Especially with this project. If you think a ship in a bottle is hard, try it in a lightbulb.

I'm impressed it turned out this well! I expected the whole thing to shatter on more than one occasion (especially when I was shoving my self-invented origami boat into the bulb and muttering a few choice words), but all I got was a crack. I think it gives the bulb character. Like it lived a real life worth celebrating.

Well, I'm celebrating, anyway.

New Thing Number Fifteen

I helped finish a puzzle that I really wanted to throw across the room.

I figure this was a good exercize for patience and finishing what I started.

The primary finisher of the puzzle was Puzzle Genius Angie.

New Thing Number Fourteen

I went to Yosemite National Park!