It’s just funny…what do you need a headlamp for?

For a while now, I’ve owned a headlamp. I keep it in my bedside table. It’s there in case there is an earthquake in the middle of the night, in case the power goes out, in case I need to go to the garage in the dark, or in case I need to pack it for camping.

Last July 4th, we were at the beach and I had my headlamp in my bag. It was getting dark as we packed up, so I said, “Hold on,” and found it, strapped it on, and kept cleaning up. My friend E just laughed, and said, “You just have a headlamp? What do you need a headlamp for?” I declared I used it for camping, for the garage, and for moments just like these.

It was my only source of light when I chaperoned a trip to Ranch Camp. I used it when I road-tripped with Lauren down the California coast. Corelyn and I used the headlamp to paint the chairs for our photo shoot in the garage, in the dark. I brought it on my road trip with Corelyn, and managed to pull it out the last night to direct her out of the driveway with her full car. I cursed myself the day we went to the winery tour and we didn’t have one to look in the huge containers they store the wine in. I used it just the other day to look at Jeff’s finger (which is another story) in our dim living room.

I think everyone should own a headlamp. And you know what? Real Simple magazine, a magazine I adore and trust, agrees with me! In June’s Real Simple, which arrived at my door on Monday, there is mention of having a headlamp on hand (for grilling, mainly, or for whatever!) I laughed when I saw this, about two years after my own falling in love with my headlamp. Jeff got mine for me, and I suggest you ask your boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend for one for your next birthday, too!

All our friendship has been for the past 2 years is RUSHING.

I said this to Corelyn last night as we RUSHED out of the door to Trader Joe’s and I said, “Remember that time that we went to TJ’s and forgot our list?”

“Yes, we talk about it nearly every time we go to TJS, obviously it was traumatic.”

“Well yes, and we were rushing for some reason….”

“WE’RE ALWAYS RUSHING.”

“Corelyn, all our friendship has been for the past 2 years is RUSHING. We just RUSH around all the live-long day.”

Last night was no exception. The plan was to do the following: paint chairs, make granola, exchange music (if we had time), maybe slap on a second coat of paint, outfit plan for the photo shoot on Sunday.

On the actual docket? Unexpected visit from Mary, which turned into outfit planning whilst waiting for dinner to arrive. This was a blessing (not in disguised, as Corelyn pointed out) because she had insight into what she really thought would look great. Also unexpected visit from Becca, who showed up because she was supposed to grab dinner with Mary. This turned into dinner with Mary and Becca, whilst hanging out with Melissa, who actually was supposed to come over.

This led us to a late start on our painting, which meant we painted the chairs in my garage in the dark, using a camping light and head lamps. Mary watched for a few minutes before turning to go inside and keep Becca company.

“How do they look?” Mary asked as we came in, about 30 minutes later.

“Well, you’re not going to like them. But we’ll put a second coat on them and they’ll look great,” was my honest response. After that, we sat around for a few minutes making plans for the granola we were about to make, waiting for the food. The Indian place we order from somehow was very late in getting us our food, so this led to us eating and finishing up around 9:15. Since our normal TJ’s closes at 9:00, we had to head to a different one.

As we were going to the car, after saying goodbye to Mary and Becca who were rejuvenated by delicious food and ready for another adventure, Melissa, Corelyn, and I were reminded a) how late it was b) that we had the list and c) all we do is rush.

We headed to TJ’s where we had a hilarious conversation with the check-out guy, “You know how there is always something in granola that you don’t like? This granola will have nothing you don’t like, because YOU made it.” He seemed intrigued. He gave us stickers. One has a chicken with chicks that are multicolored.

Then we went back to the house, when we realized it was 10:00. Perfect time to make granola and paint the second coat. We got everything ready for the oven to bake, then took the timer, the camping lamp, the headlamps, and headed back to the garage.

27 minutes later, we headed back inside, but not before Melissa came to say goodbye and tell us someone had left a hilarious note (which is going to be posted soon, I promise.) She headed home, and we headed inside to finish the granola.

As we washed our teal hands, we could smell the oats and maple syrup all deliciously roasted. We documented what we had already added, and then added a slew of other things while making sure to keep track of what we were adding. Pictures were taken, random splotches of paint were found on each other’s arms, and granola was finished. By the time Corelyn left it was nearly quarter to midnight. We hadn’t had a music exchange, we didn’t pack the kitchen, but other than that, we had accomplished a lot.

Tonight, book club. Tomorrow? Rinse and repeat Tuesday’s chaos with some donuts, muffins, and pancakes. Stay tuned.