Yard sales, a B2 Spirit bomber, and a backyard scavenger hunt (7 Quick Takes)

~1~

Our neighborhood held its annual yard sale this weekend. Before I married John, I am not sure I had ever even gone to a yard sale. But John really enjoys selling things. He especially loves the neighborhood yard sale because we get to see neighbors that we haven’t seen all winter—and meet a few new ones, too.

It’s not about the money—at least not for me. It’s about clearing some items out of the house and connecting with people.

Even though it was incredibly hot—almost unbearably so at times—it was so much fun to talk to people. A few of our friends even stopped by! And when people see that you have people at your yard sale, suddenly everyone pulls over because they figure you must have some great items for sale.

~2~

A B2 Spirit bomber just flew over our house! John was outside, and I heard him yelling for our boys. I grabbed my phone and ran out because I knew it had to be something exciting. Just as we got outside, we saw it flying through the sky behind our house.

I was thinking it must be here for the Preakness, but it could be for other reasons. Regardless, it looked like some kind of alien spacecraft sailing through the sky. How does it even fly? Flying always seems like a miracle to me—whether I’m watching a bird or a plane or a metal triangle.

~3~

I was trying to get our boys to go outside the other day, and they weren’t both totally on board with the idea, so I made a scavenger hunt for them to work on while they were outside.

It took them about two minutes to complete. I guess I need to up my game here.

I’m not sure that you can tell in the photo, but the list is written on a paper plate. I’m not sure why I can never find anything to write on.

~4~

Last weekend we celebrated Commencement at Loyola University Maryland, where I work. Commencement is always a big event to work, and we held it at M&T Stadium, which was gorgeous and magnificent and wonderful in every way. But I was so tired afterward that I never wrote my quick takes last week. Did you miss them?

Heading into Commencement week, one of my colleagues gave me a survival kit with batteries for my electronic three-hole punch, Frappucinos, mints, and my favorite flavor of Triscuits.

This is such an incredibly busy time of the year, but it’s also a time when I really appreciate the amazing and thoughtful colleagues I have. I feel so fortunate to have the chance to see how hard people work behind the scenes to make everything so exceptional.

~6~

Have you tried the new Old Bay Goldfish? I saw them once and didn’t buy any, and I haven’t been able to find any since. You have to buy things when you see them. I have learned this lesson before.

Fortunately, a Catholic writer friend I follow on Twitter is shipping me a bag of them from New Jersey. I can’t wait to see what they’re like. And, I can’t believe I am having them imported from New Jersey.

I’ll take Old Bay Goldfish however I can get them, and with loads of gratitude.

~7~

The other day I found Funfetti pancakes in the freezer aisle. As I put them into my cart, I thought, “I never thought I would be the kind of mom who buys Funfetti anything.”

You don’t really know what kind of mom you will be until you’re in the role, I think. You also don’t expect that when you get home, your children will look at the pancakes blankly and with no real interest. And then one of them will say, “Did you remember the ice cream cake?”

So, now I’ll probably be the mom who eats the Funfetti pancakes, which might not be all that surprising in the grand scheme of things. And, for the record, I didn’t remember the ice cream cake.

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