We went from a do-nothing day yesterday to a crazy-filled day today!  And, just about everything was spontaneous--something we don't usually do (guess that's why it's called spontaneous, huh?).

Bec called last night to let us know they wouldn't be home today and said that Carly's team was playing in a tourney in Lafayette, about a 1 1/2 hour drive from here.  This morning, I asked Sid if we could go to that, knowing that he did have lots of stuff planned for around the Cottage.  At first, he didn't want to do it, but he later acquiesced and we left here around 11am, arriving in Lafayette at 12:30.  Carly's game was soon to start, so it was timed perfectly.  In fact, Bec, Cade, and Carly arrived just about a minute before we did.

Going into the gym, we saw a lot of home-town folks, which I always enjoy.  It's always nice to see people I haven't seen in a while, especially when we have time to visit between games.

The first game ended in a tie, with a fantastic final shot by one of Carly's teammates at the 3-point site--FANTASTIC!  They played another two minutes of over-time, and they lost the game by only two points.  I won't say that there was "cheating" by the refs, but I will say that they surely seemed to be incompetent in favor of the other team.  I am one of those people who doesn't like to criticize the refs, but sometimes-----these guys were crazy incompetent, but it was a one-sided incompetency.  Oh, well, the girls played a beautiful game and would certainly have won had the calls been more accurate.

After the first game, Sid, Randi, and I left to find a Wendy's for lunch.  Bec had seen one on their way to the gym, so we followed her directions and found that one.  The service there was unbelievable--absolutely fantastic!  The young man in training to be a manager was extremely friendly and courteous.  He told us we could sit down and he would bring our food to us--something I've never experience in a Wendy's before, even though we have always had good service in the Wendy's that we have visited before.  Later, he walked by the table and said he could bring our trays back.  Randi said that would be fine but that she wanted to keep the fries to bring to her Mom or brother.  Not only did he bring fries back in a take-home bag; the fries were a completely full and fresh batch.  Again, service with a smile--that's what we had.  As it happened, his boss came in just as we were preparing to leave, so we told him about our experience.  He agreed that the young man was excellent and that he hopes to keep him at his restaurant.  What a compliment to that young man!

We then went back to the gym, ready for Carly's second game.  This time, the officiating was a lot better, but not great; however, the girls were very tired by this time, a little frustrated, and just unable to get the ball into the hoop.  They lost this one by a much larger margin, but this was a "fair" loss.  They worked hard, but the other team was better this time--not like the first game.

We had hoped to attend Mass in Lafayette, but because of the time frame for the games, we were unable to do so.  That means we'll attend Mass tomorrow.  By the time we left the gym, it was already 5:30pm.

Since we had eaten lunch a good while before, we decided to stop at a restaurant that we had experienced a while back and had really enjoyed.  BIG MISTAKE!!!!  The young waitress seemed overwhelmed or something--she just wasn't with it.  There was a man seated next to our table who was there BEFORE us, and didn't get his food until AFTER us, with other people who came in AFTER us getting their food before him.  I spoke with him afterwards and complimented him on his patience.  He admitted that he wasn't usually that patient.  Anyway, finally, we got PART of our meal--the gumbo that Sid and I ordered.  He had ordered hush puppies (they NEVER came); Randi had ordered meat loaf and creamed potatoes with hush puppies.  She got her order at least 10 minutes AFTER we got ours.  Ridiculous!  Needless to say, the tip this time was not in our usual territory.  Because we know that theseyoung people need the tips, we always give something; but we also have to consider their efficiency, courtesy, and service--she "bombed" in all of these areas, so her tip was less than it might have been.  And I hate doing that, but I think that's the fair way to deal with this kind of service.  Agree or not--that's up to you; however, that's how we do it!

We got back home around 8pm or a little before.  We are all exhausted, but we had a nice day, and we got to spend time with Bec and her kids and lots of home-town folks.  This time, our spontaneity worked!

My quote tonight is one of several that I've put up lately regarding keeping the past in the past; here is another one, for better or worse.

HEARTFELT BLESSING:  "Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.  Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."                        --Ralph Waldo Emerson

NOTE:  Life was never meant to be lived in the past tense.  The past for some is always with them, either providing them with some sense of honor or some kind of wound that they constantly tend.  We need to meet life head on, in the NOW of our lives.  Yesterday is past tense; tomorrow is placed in future perfect tense by spending time in today.  Let go of yesterday; give today your time and love.