Putting Away Horses

The project:
Helping our daughters' riding instructor put away the horses a dozen kids used during today's Fun Day at the Arena.

Time:
30 minutes or so (who was counting?)

Why bother?
The riding instructor gave not only her horses, but her entire day to the area's youngest riders. After setting up the event, arriving early to prepare the arena and horses, then bustling throughout the day, I'm sure the last thing she wanted to do was brush and put away all those horses and their tack. We stepped in without asking and got the job done.

Worth it?
YES! Any time spent with horses is good time, plus it helped get our instructor back to her own family sooner. We hope that, with this kind of help (and more), she'll continue offering these days.

Complimenting a Beautiful Young Lady

The project:
Put aside my worries about social norms and complimenting a beautiful woman.

Time:Minutes.

Why bother?
Why not?

In our society, it seems odd for one woman to compliment another, particularly complete strangers. But there I was wandering the streets of San Luis Obispo which is CHOCK FULL of beautiful people. I spotted this restaurant employee leaning against the windowfront of a neighboring business checking her phone. I looked for the photographer - surely there must be one nearby shooting this model shot.

Nope.

Rather than simply pass by, I offered a compliment.

Worth it?
Yes. Too many people don't see their own beauty. It doesn't hurt to point it out. Plus, she was visibly grateful for the gesture.

Mr. B Steps In: Printer Installation on the Sly

The project:
Mr. B voluntarily installed my new printer while I was away from the house.

Time:
30 minutes

Why bother?
To give me a hand.

So, there I was printing away on the printer that had given me NO PROBLEMS in the three years since I bought it. I've put a LOT of paper and ink through that bad boy. Not even a glitch. Then, click, grind, rip, shred.

And complete silence.

The printer ate itself alive with the paper jam to end all paper jams.

Surely, I thought, this can be fixed! Mr. B suggested I simply buy a new one, but that seemed so WASTEFUL. Plus, it was a great printer 'til the jam! If I could have it repaired...

Even the repair man wasn't interested. He told me I'd be better off buying a new one.

So I did, but I put off installing it because, while computers allegedly make our lives easier, I find they take up a LOT of our time. I wasn't ready to spend an hour plugging in then trouble shooting the printer.

While the girls and I were out selling books this evening, Mr. B unwrapped that bad boy, installed it and (almost) had it ready for me when we arrived home.

Worth it?
I was certainly grateful, so, yeah! :)

Photo courtesy Corey Holmes under Creative Commons License.