Well, I finally did it. I became that woman. For the first time in my life, I paid another woman to clean my house. The saddest part is that it's really never looked better. She cleaned my kitchen from ceiling to floor. I hear people call that "Spring cleaning". Catchy, huh?
It isn't that my house was horrid or anything. My dishes get washed and my floors are vacuumed or swept. There was just clutter everywhere and I didn't have the time to wrangle it into place. With a 55 hour work week lately, a wicked commute, Evie's 2 dance classes, my two dance classes, 2 dogs, a cat and two children.... my house was looking pretty neglected. It was all I could do to straighten up each night. Okay, I have only one child and one husband but he makes a mess like a 5 year old only with bigger clothing on the floor. They mess up faster than I can pick up!
So, she cleaned my kitchen completely: walls, floors, scrubbed the chair rail, the microwave, counters, etc. Kevin asked if we were putting the house up for sale and I forgot to tell him. The living room was vacuumed, dusted, pictures cleaned, glass windexed, generally de-cluttered and just wonderful; the bathroom just as nice. It freed me up this weekend to do 6+ loads of laundry, cook a real dinner and pack for next week's vacation. All I had to do was "maintain" the new status quo.
I felt really guilty for a couple of days. How horrible that I need help to take care of my small house. Of course, I got over it and decided to just enjoy the experience. Now, I'm lovin' this! All I need now is time to lay on the couch. Where are my bon-bons? I was promised bon-bons!!!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
It's March Madness, Baby!!
I've spent some time over the last two days working on my bracket. Okay, I've spent more time than I have to spare. I've almost collected too much information though. Not just about the teams but about historical performances by a 12 seed or the 4th seed, etc. Granted, when it comes down to an even match, I just have to go with the colors or mascot I like the best.
Of course there are the token selections like making sure you have Kentucky or Duke going past the first round... although some people think VCU can take Duke and Davidson might beat Maryland.... 16 seeds are 0 for 88 in the first round, 15 seeds are 4 for 88. Then you have to decide between an 8 & 9 seed. Really, who can do that without switching choices at least three times. Then, you have to predict the #12 seed upset. You know, that team that makes you say, "Who the hell is Long Beach State?" Luckily, those guys almost always fall out in round 2.
Too many variables! I need Charlie Epps from Numbers.
Of course there are the token selections like making sure you have Kentucky or Duke going past the first round... although some people think VCU can take Duke and Davidson might beat Maryland.... 16 seeds are 0 for 88 in the first round, 15 seeds are 4 for 88. Then you have to decide between an 8 & 9 seed. Really, who can do that without switching choices at least three times. Then, you have to predict the #12 seed upset. You know, that team that makes you say, "Who the hell is Long Beach State?" Luckily, those guys almost always fall out in round 2.
Too many variables! I need Charlie Epps from Numbers.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Send in the Clowns
The circus came to town this week. We're following a tradition my mother started with my sisters and I and kept as long as we could afford it. I have no idea what tickets cost when I was a child, but an evening at the circus for just the three of us ran well over $130 for tickets, soda, cotton candy and a souvenir.
We take Evie every year when Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey come to town the first week of March. This year was actually better than its been for the last several years. Ringling's Bello-bration The theme this year centered around one very funny, tall haired clown and his antics around the circus. They did a similar show with Bello two years ago, but they've finally perfected what works. The best part for Evie, of all things, was the dogs. They really were hilarious and Evie instantly dubbed them, "the coolest dogs in the WORLD". Frankly, I'm not sure she's wrong. These dogs could do everything but make my morning coffee. At least, that wasn't part of the act, so who can be sure. They even had trained zebras. Well, they had zebras that were trained to run around in the ring and then switch directions. But I cut them some slack, they're freakin' zebras. Zebras are like those kids in school that are cool just because they're cool. Not because they actually do anything. You know all the horses want to be zebras. They probalby pretend to be zebras when they're on vacation. They're stylish, always dressed for day or night and can use any color to accessorize. Does that make zebra the new black?
I think the strangest part was the big cats. I could swear a few of them were ligers. Have you ever seen Napoleon Dynamite? He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove. Napoleon Sound Board I had to look up a picture on the Internet to be sure but they're actually real creatures. They looked like big tigers with dark blond stripes instead of black. A Real Liger They were truly beautiful but strange to look at. Much like with the movie Napoleon Dynamite, I was transfixed. They were the train wreck I couldn't tear my eyes from. Then just as he does every year, Kevin begged for a tiger. Evie calmly explained that they can be dangerous and might eat his head. She pointed out that we have our house cat, Mariah and tigers are just big cats, you know. We always have to act like we didn't know... really, big cats you say?
We take Evie every year when Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey come to town the first week of March. This year was actually better than its been for the last several years. Ringling's Bello-bration The theme this year centered around one very funny, tall haired clown and his antics around the circus. They did a similar show with Bello two years ago, but they've finally perfected what works. The best part for Evie, of all things, was the dogs. They really were hilarious and Evie instantly dubbed them, "the coolest dogs in the WORLD". Frankly, I'm not sure she's wrong. These dogs could do everything but make my morning coffee. At least, that wasn't part of the act, so who can be sure. They even had trained zebras. Well, they had zebras that were trained to run around in the ring and then switch directions. But I cut them some slack, they're freakin' zebras. Zebras are like those kids in school that are cool just because they're cool. Not because they actually do anything. You know all the horses want to be zebras. They probalby pretend to be zebras when they're on vacation. They're stylish, always dressed for day or night and can use any color to accessorize. Does that make zebra the new black?
I think the strangest part was the big cats. I could swear a few of them were ligers. Have you ever seen Napoleon Dynamite? He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove. Napoleon Sound Board I had to look up a picture on the Internet to be sure but they're actually real creatures. They looked like big tigers with dark blond stripes instead of black. A Real Liger They were truly beautiful but strange to look at. Much like with the movie Napoleon Dynamite, I was transfixed. They were the train wreck I couldn't tear my eyes from. Then just as he does every year, Kevin begged for a tiger. Evie calmly explained that they can be dangerous and might eat his head. She pointed out that we have our house cat, Mariah and tigers are just big cats, you know. We always have to act like we didn't know... really, big cats you say?
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