Labor Day isn't for laboring, I say

"Mom, we're going for a bike ride," Joey told me.

G will sometimes take the boys so I could have a little bit of time to myself, which just means uninterrupted chores. But it's after 1 PM and the vacuum cleaner was still in the closet and the downstairs rug was still scattered with toys. The laundry baskets were getting emptied, but it was a perfect late summer day and I couldn't get myself motivated to cross extra chores off my list, including going to work. I was supposed to work last night at the church, but had forgotten about the Vince Gill concert I was going to, so I intended to go in today for a few hours to make up for last night and take advantage of having G here to be with the boys.

But I didn't want to do any of that. I wanted to go on a bike ride, too. And I told them so, dusted off my bike that had only been used once earlier in the summer when I rode to and from work, and we headed off.

I didn't get far before the chain snarled. G had fixed it before we had even got out of the driveway, but it was off again. The older boys had gone ahead, and my uncooperative bike chain was holding him and Jeffrey up.

"Never mind, I'll just take it back home."

"See ya," he said, relieved that I've chosen the easiest solution that got him and Jeff on the road again.

The chain is so snarled I can't even untangle it to be able to walk the bike home, so I left it on the side of the road and walked back home.

And now I should be vacuuming or cleaning the pool or continuing the task of going through the boys' clothes. But I am going to go and sit outside instead and enjoy the beautiful day it is, even if it means I can't be riding my bike along with the others. Stupid bike.