(no subject)
mrlnpndrgn was asking me if I was still working on cleaning house, which reminded me that I hadn't updated on that situation. Not that anyone really cares, but still I should tell the whole story if only for my own records. Because oddly enough when I get bored I do go back over my old LJ entries. *sigh* I'm such a loser.
Anyway, when last I posted I think I'd gotten the garage done and maybe some other major part of the house done. After that I kind of dropped off the internets so I could concentrate on cleaning. Needless to say most of that week I was going through major PMS which meant that I cut my foot when I kicked the siding cleaner container that kept flying off the hose, causing me to get wet. Kicking it would have been okay if I hadn't been wearing flip flops. *sigh* Much swearing ensued and I had to make a trip back to the hardware store for an exchange, but eventually the house siding was cleaned and the patio furniture and sidewalks were all clean. I had the yard people come and do a bunch of trimming so the yard looked absolutely perfect. I also got the entire house cleaned from stem to stern. I'm sure there were a couple of weeks there where the trash men hated me because I got rid of *tons* of stuff.
On the Monday before mom's birthday luncheon I got a call from the B&B canceling on me. Argh! I understand her reasonings. She has a minimum requirement as far as seating and we were going to be seated along with a larger group, who canceled. Even understanding that doesn't mean I didn't have a minor freak out. More from having to deal with mom and her reaction than anything else. Being a fairly bright person I called the place that had catered Bud's dinner and asked if they could cater a luncheon at my house for six people. Thankfully they could on short notice. Of course, this made even more work for me because I had to take an afternoon off from shopping and go buy plates. I have Denby dinnerware in a pattern that has been discontinued. I can still order more but I hadn't before and so I only had enough for four people (which says something about how little I entertain). I had wanted to just borrow my grandmother's china, but mom was touchy on the issue, so I went out and bought dinner plates and dessert plates for six. Heaven forbid if I ever decide to have eight people for dinner. Guess it's time to start ordering, huh? Anyway, I got the dining room table set up and would have even had the table set on Thursday except the cats kept jumping up there. Mother suggested that I lock them out of the house for at leat 24 hours before the luncheon, but that was never going to happen. Still, I had everything ready except setting the table on Thursday (the day before the big event). I was very proud of myself.
So that Friday (8/4) mother and her friends came over about 11:30. After a tour of the house we had wine. Then the server came and got lunch ready and served us a delightful lunch. Instead of cake we had peach cobbler since the peaches are in season. It was all really delicious. The entire event went off without a hitch and the server person even did the dishes. I *loved* her. When they finally left about 2:30 I was bushed. I think they had consumed enough wine to make them sleepy because instead of going back to play bridge they all went home first to take a nap. *g*
The really cool thing about it all was my mother's reaction. She was so happy, and for the first time in my adult life she didn't find anything to complain about or to tell me later that I needed to work on this, that, or the other thing. She told me everything was perfect and it was the best birthday present *ever.* I think it's kind of weird that me having a clean and well organized house is her best birthday present, but she's kind of weird like that. Plus I have to admit I've really enjoyed having a clean house. I've even been keeping up on the laundry and keeping the kitchen clean. Heck, I pulled out the vacuum cleaner the other day just to vacuum the kitchen floor. I'm sick, although I'm sure I'll recover soon enough.
So...for now I have a clean outside of the house and a clean inside. I'm enjoying it so all the work was worth it. I told mother if she ever asked for this gift again I'd smack her upside the head, but I'm glad it's done now. It's taken me almost two weeks to fully recover.
You know, the really weird thing now is not having anything major to do. Mother and Bud are both reasonably well and the house is clean. I'm caught up on work and as far as I know (knock on wood) no one has a health issue looming. In fact, Bud had a CRT scan of his body last week and it came back showing no cancer anywhere. Mom, other than needing massive doses of anti-anxiety medication which she won' take, is doing fine. I've actually got free time and a minimum of stress. I hardly know how what to do with myself. It feels weird, but good.
So...that's what happened with the cleaning and all that stuff. I now return you to your regular programming of squee. Is it Friday yet?
Anyway, when last I posted I think I'd gotten the garage done and maybe some other major part of the house done. After that I kind of dropped off the internets so I could concentrate on cleaning. Needless to say most of that week I was going through major PMS which meant that I cut my foot when I kicked the siding cleaner container that kept flying off the hose, causing me to get wet. Kicking it would have been okay if I hadn't been wearing flip flops. *sigh* Much swearing ensued and I had to make a trip back to the hardware store for an exchange, but eventually the house siding was cleaned and the patio furniture and sidewalks were all clean. I had the yard people come and do a bunch of trimming so the yard looked absolutely perfect. I also got the entire house cleaned from stem to stern. I'm sure there were a couple of weeks there where the trash men hated me because I got rid of *tons* of stuff.
On the Monday before mom's birthday luncheon I got a call from the B&B canceling on me. Argh! I understand her reasonings. She has a minimum requirement as far as seating and we were going to be seated along with a larger group, who canceled. Even understanding that doesn't mean I didn't have a minor freak out. More from having to deal with mom and her reaction than anything else. Being a fairly bright person I called the place that had catered Bud's dinner and asked if they could cater a luncheon at my house for six people. Thankfully they could on short notice. Of course, this made even more work for me because I had to take an afternoon off from shopping and go buy plates. I have Denby dinnerware in a pattern that has been discontinued. I can still order more but I hadn't before and so I only had enough for four people (which says something about how little I entertain). I had wanted to just borrow my grandmother's china, but mom was touchy on the issue, so I went out and bought dinner plates and dessert plates for six. Heaven forbid if I ever decide to have eight people for dinner. Guess it's time to start ordering, huh? Anyway, I got the dining room table set up and would have even had the table set on Thursday except the cats kept jumping up there. Mother suggested that I lock them out of the house for at leat 24 hours before the luncheon, but that was never going to happen. Still, I had everything ready except setting the table on Thursday (the day before the big event). I was very proud of myself.
So that Friday (8/4) mother and her friends came over about 11:30. After a tour of the house we had wine. Then the server came and got lunch ready and served us a delightful lunch. Instead of cake we had peach cobbler since the peaches are in season. It was all really delicious. The entire event went off without a hitch and the server person even did the dishes. I *loved* her. When they finally left about 2:30 I was bushed. I think they had consumed enough wine to make them sleepy because instead of going back to play bridge they all went home first to take a nap. *g*
The really cool thing about it all was my mother's reaction. She was so happy, and for the first time in my adult life she didn't find anything to complain about or to tell me later that I needed to work on this, that, or the other thing. She told me everything was perfect and it was the best birthday present *ever.* I think it's kind of weird that me having a clean and well organized house is her best birthday present, but she's kind of weird like that. Plus I have to admit I've really enjoyed having a clean house. I've even been keeping up on the laundry and keeping the kitchen clean. Heck, I pulled out the vacuum cleaner the other day just to vacuum the kitchen floor. I'm sick, although I'm sure I'll recover soon enough.
So...for now I have a clean outside of the house and a clean inside. I'm enjoying it so all the work was worth it. I told mother if she ever asked for this gift again I'd smack her upside the head, but I'm glad it's done now. It's taken me almost two weeks to fully recover.
You know, the really weird thing now is not having anything major to do. Mother and Bud are both reasonably well and the house is clean. I'm caught up on work and as far as I know (knock on wood) no one has a health issue looming. In fact, Bud had a CRT scan of his body last week and it came back showing no cancer anywhere. Mom, other than needing massive doses of anti-anxiety medication which she won' take, is doing fine. I've actually got free time and a minimum of stress. I hardly know how what to do with myself. It feels weird, but good.
So...that's what happened with the cleaning and all that stuff. I now return you to your regular programming of squee. Is it Friday yet?