There are just some days...

that you wish you could do over. It all started yesterday (Friday) when I decided to use the perfectly matched paint from Home Depot to touch up some scratches on the bathroom walls. We're trying to get the house ready to sell and find lots of little things that we think will help. It didn't take long to realize that the "perfectly matched" part wasn't quite accurate. (I am not bashing Home Depot, they did great with my dining room paint.) So I painted quite a bit with my little brush and decided that today I would get a roller and make better progress.

Well, the quart of paint ran out - no problem -> back to Home Depot. I took Joel with me because he's just my favorite person to be around.

We also came home with a new pedestal sink. We originally had a little wall-mounted sink. (Our bathroom is quite limited in room but very serviceable.) So we both had our projects and set to work (the kids are at a friend's house for the day - making it a perfect day to enjoy working together). I'm painting away without a care. Joel's mumbling to himself things that he doesn't expect me to respond to like, "last time I did this..." or "did it go this way?" Our house is older and any small, quick project easily becomes quite involved.

Do you know how paint looks different when wet? Well, this new paint looks different dry as well. My painting and my mood slowed down considerably as the project progressed. I called my sister and whined and I whined to Joel. Did I think that whining was going to make the paint suddenly match? I think it was a dread of doing it all again next weekend (this time with the kids). But Joel was right (he often is) that this is really just a minor thing and no amount of complaining will change things. By the way, his sink looks great. (Notice the two shades of blue around the top of the sink as well.)

The moral of the story is to buy a gallon of paint vs. a quart and to not waste your time getting down about things outside of your control. Maybe instead of repainting, I can just pray that whoever buys the house will want a painting allowance to paint it themselves and won't care because they'll change it anyway.

The verdict is in!

I filled up this afternoon and the result was not impressive. I ended up with 17.6 mpg. (But I honestly think - and Dara agrees - that my original mpg was 16.6) So at best I was able to get 1.6 mpg more by accelerating slower than my grandma (who doesn't even drive!). I don't have much else to say...I was just hoping for more. Oh well. At least I can go back to driving normally, and won't have to hear Joel say, "I could run faster than this" as I go up a hill. :) If any of you have newer cars (which most of you probably do), you might try the experiment for yourself and let me know if it works. I really want it to work for someone.

Experiment cont.

Joel caused a bit of a panic this morning before church when he got into the driver's seat of the van. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but the experiment is important to me. To my surprise and delight he did his best to keep the rpms less than 2ooo. I couldn't believe it.

After church, the kids went with his parents so I used that opportunity to ask him to go with me to Garden Ridge. (For any of you who don't know, this is a store that has rows of miscellaneous things for cheaper prices. My mom can spend hours in there and my dad will usually stay in the car and nap.) Well, Joel went with me - being careful to watch his acceleration. Honestly, he didn't complain much at all. I was so proud. Then, as we're walking into the store, he says ,"You know it's bad when you feel like you're walking faster than you've been driving." I haven't had such a good laugh in a long time. (I'm still smiling about it.) The experiment lives on!

Experiment

I'm in the middle of an experiment that is driving Joel crazy. Earlier this week we watched some evening news special (it may have been Dateline - I really don't remember) about increasing your miles per gallon. Some of the people with whom they were talking were getting > 60mpg. One person was getting 92 mpg! Isn't that crazy?! Doesn't that sound desirable?

Well, I don't have a hybrid little car, but surely I can help my 2000 Plymouth minivan get more than our current 16 mpg. So I inflated my tires to the maximum and have done my very best to not go above 2000 rpms. It does take a bit longer to get up to speed (especially if there is an incline of any kind), but I haven't been late anywhere as a result.

I hadn't told Joel for several reasons (if you have ever ridden with him, you'd understand), but today he rode with me. Before we were two blocks away, he gave me this curious look (like I didn't know I was going slower than normal). I could barely drive without laughing. :) All day long I have defended my experiment despite the ribbing. Now I'm praying that it will be worth the effort and the irriation that I must cause the other drivers who are stuck behind me who feel like Joel. Honestly, I think maybe I'm helping those high strung people enjoy life a bit more. Joel doesn't think I am.

We should know by next week sometime if it has been worth it. I'll be sure to let you know!