Lists, Lectures and Laundry

I called my dearest friend Maternal Mirth last week for a chat. We got into discussing housework, and she told me she had lists.


Now I often hear of lists that people make, and prior to our conversation I had just started the week before of making a list for the next day, of things that had to be done. It all started when Sophie had to take antibiotics and get a foot soak twice a day (upper toe nail infection) so to remember I would write it down. I also started to add things that were random, like calling the Village Hall to find out what that ungodly noise was coming from the bathroom when you used the water (I thought the pipes were going to burst the whole damn floor humms and shakes. The Village Idiot  Plumming inspector said to push a button inside the toilet. I seriously thought he was blowing smoke up my ass because I was a girl, but needless to say he was right. We have to do it each time it happens. To weird though. ANYWAY off track here...)

So these lists were becoming a daily thing, and quite useful. My thought process on lists prior to this was, What the fuck, I've got 704 things to do today, and NO time to write it all down. Fuck it.

Not fast forward a week to my conversation with Maternal Mirth, and how she has a "list" that she hand wrote, and she photo copied it to check off. She says she tries to do this list 2x's a week. She also has a "maids list" of more detailed work (think dusting baseboards, cleaning blinds) this list she tries to do 1-2x's a month.

Key word "try". I asked her to email me her lists, and as soon as I got them I printed one copy, then sat down one morning with my cup of inspiration juice, Starbucks coffee! in my hand and tweeked her list according to my house...lets just say her one sheet is my two sheets. I also have more rooms. She has more square footage but mine is divided up into tinier rooms.

I wasn't too crazy with my list, keeping it simple for me, but enought that I could keep up with housework. The maids list is probably not going to be used for quite some time, because I need to get into a routine of simple housework before I get out my rubber gloves and Q-Tips for the detailing.

So I called her a few days later, because I was sitting on Facebook for hours, I had a messy house, and needed inspiration to get off my lazy ass and do something. I was looking for a lecture, possibly some yelling and screaming, telling me how horrible of a housewife I was. What did I get?

Sweet Maternal Mirth saying "Don't be hard on yourself. I said in my email that I TRY to do my lists. So just try. If you make your housework evil and chore, you won't want to do it. If you just do a bit at a time, and reward yourself with things like the art room, and facebook, you will feel much better."

As much as I was looking for a screaming lecture, or at least a stern voice, she has known me for close to 3 decades, and knows that force doesn't work for me. Glitter, sunshine and rainbows is what inspires me to work. So be it.

I do need to keep with the lists, I picked Thursdays and Sundays as my work days. Thursday is the day after my classes I teach so I am not concerned with them, and Sunday is like everyone elses Fridays (Spaghetti is off work Mondays & Tuesdays)

I am hoping that I can keep with the lists, and my laundry, if anyone cares (is anyone still reading this excitement?) is doing well. I am keeping up with it for the most part, I am trying (again key word is TRY) to keep it off the floors, and keep it moving. I know Maternal Mirth can do her's twice a week, I do believe if I did that, I would never keep up. Maybe someday, till then I do laundry almost every day.

There's your update on life around here. It's been cleaning, and purging. I have an enormous garage sale coming up on May 1st, we set up April 30th, and let the early birds pre shop a bit, it's a subdivision thing and people come from as far as Chicago to shop! (Were bout an hour away)

I will be spending all my free time from now till then (besides Weaky's birthday Sunday!) getting ready! Oh and Happy Earth Day!!

Tap. Tap. Tap. I empty my head.

Too much in my head! Lots to do, I need to list it... read slowly I will be ALL over the place...

1. Blog topics ~ Erase the pages * Dogs are kids too * Q's for the readers *


2. I HAVE to mail my Mamarazzi's Favorite Thing Swap either today or Monday. NO later then Monday, or I will be unable to swap again!


3. I want to participate in the SITS Spring Fling (give-a-way every hour. AND they will be setting up Mr. Linky for everyone to do there own give away!! I am thinking some fun scrapbooking supplies I have. (extra paper, punch and stamps I haven't even opened!) March 10th is the date for that


4. I need to call Comcast and get rid of the movie channel, not needed. Tightening that budget belt!


5. Contact Nikki & Loren for a confirmed date to visit them in Nashville, thinking it's Palm Sunday weekend...


6. Contact the tax lady... damn, I need to print my Stampin' Up! spreadsheet from last years business.


7. Upload the pictures of our Waterpark trip.


8. Finish the dishes, unload the dishwasher, clean the fridge, get Banana bread recipe from mom (too many banana's!)


9. Vacuum the house, dust and water the plants.


10. Get bags, boxes and get this clutter O.U.T.


11. Spend some time with the Kodak picture printer Spaghetti bought you 3 years ago. xoxo.


12. Someday purge and shred the piles of papers in this loft!!


13. Oh yeah, I have a "Plate for All Seasons" stamp camp on Wednesday, yep that is 5 days from now. I have to make 12, 6x6 layouts, and then cut and prep for 8 people to do this project. I am looking for some organized chaos here. (this is so not a night before project)


14. Take the deposit to the bank for my customers orders, so I can pay the credit card!


15. Put away the Holiday decorations, go through them too (for the garage sale, May 2nd) that I brought up from the basement.

Alright that is enough for now... my head is slightly emptied. I need to go put on the babysitter Sprout Channel for the kids, feed Weaky... oh me, oh my, too much, it's all to much...

Have you done 100 things?

Visiting over at my friend Becky's blog I found this list. I also decided to add comments on some. Shocker, me have to comment?

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done. (I am changing the color to red) Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity~ Animal shelters!

7. Been to Disney World

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Preformed on stage~ 3 H.S. musicals, and 8 Acapella choir concerts

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm~ at sea would love too!

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch ~many times!

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning~ lost 12 lbs from the shits!

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables~ Green peppers, and onions.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept in an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked - Gah no!!

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill~ shopping with my mom!!

24. Built a snow fort~ tunnel and all!

25. Held a lamb~Petting zoo

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon~ I don't run well.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run~ I also don't do sports, see #27

32. Been on a cruise - Nope. I would try.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors~ would love too! Mine and Spaghetti, trip to Italy and Ireland!!

35. Seen an Amish community~stayed at one

36. Taught yourself a new language~ some Italian, and sign language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied~ Yep, the day I get my tax return, but then sadly gone to taxes the next day.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing~ probably not official rock climbing, but Aerial, Spaghetti and me went to Starved Rock in IL and was all crazy off the paths... well it counts for me.

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

41. Sung karaoke - Aerial again, with my mom and Zoe's mom, in Amish country... Sir Mix Alot's I like Big Butts I do believe was the song...

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant~ I bought an extra serving of Ravioli's at Olive Garden in Salt Lake City, and gave it to a homeless man outside.

44. Visited Africa~ Would love too!!

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight~ Honeymoon. Sigh... I wanna go back...

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted ~are we counting those carnival cartoon sketches, those are fun.

48. Gone deep sea fishing ~ I don't do anything deep sea. Oh hell no. Not a big ocean person. I am a ceeement pond type of girl. Just as Chandler over at Maternal Mirth.

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person~ I have a version in my living room?

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling~Honeymoon. Scuba diving. 40 feet. Scared. Motion sick. REALLY sick. Never threw up. Thank god, I was underwater. Pretty cool. NEVER. AGAIN.

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone skiing~ not pretty. I hit a tree. The second time, I hit people. Bad idea.

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business ~ My Stampin' Up! business. Longest job to date, over 4 years.

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies ~ Thin mints.... speaking of, I should have my 3 boxes here soon...

62. Gone whale watching~ Want to go with Frances!

63. Got flowers for no reason~ yep, my mama.

64. Had a nervous breakdown~ Can you say postpartum? Spaghetti found me up in the tree house one day. Both kids safe inside. I didn't want to come down. Postpartum was fucked up. Not a place I want to visit again, twice was good enough for me. Both lasted about 6 weeks.

Also when my sister had her Brain surgery for her muscle disorder. No one really knows that, I was pretty strong through the whole ordeal, but at one point you just shut down.

Planning my fucking wedding.

65. Tried out for a professional team? I was accepted to try out for the Chicago Luvables, the cheerleaders for the Chicago Bulls basketball. Yea that was about 25 lbs lighter, and 10 year younger. Didn't make it, but it was amazing, being on the United Center floor, cheering with the Luvables. Awesome, and at least I tried!

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp ~ again would love to go with Frances. She is into the History of Anne Frank.

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy~ Thanks to my mom. Yes, I have a shitload of my favorite toys! And Bagel loves them!

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial~ and Grants tomb

71. Eaten caviar.

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job~ Just once, I didn't do it. But since it was my bank, and my shift, I had to be fired to set an example to others to be more careful. Ya know, when you don't notice $2300 in table chips fall in the garbage... my bad.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle ~no. Not a fan. I was on one once went 20 mph, and was scared. yucky. Maybe a moped in a small town. No bikes for me. If you do wear a helmet. Don't get me started on my lack of empathy for idiots who don't wear helmets...

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper~ Once because I was sitting in a big library by a big window, and it was just an around town picture, but still in a big city paper. And when I was in my youth group I was on another kids shoulders, we were both in cow costumes... long story...

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chicken pox

89. Saved someones life~ when I was a Sr. in H.S. I had a History class with alot of Freshman (you can tell my love for school right?) so this WAY dorky, not attractive guy, would just write me notes, as a friend. He was often sad, and I would try and cheer him up as much as I could. I think just acknowledging him, and talking to him in the halls, we were friends. One note, was so depressing. I told him all the good things about him, that I could think of, and gave it to him before the weekend.

He told me that note made him think. And he decided not to commit suicide that weekend as planned, because of me. We stayed friends, for the school year. And I saw him become more social over the year. Sometimes just giving someone the time of day, makes a difference.

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous~ Tyler Christoper from General Hospital (twice)

(yes that is me with black hair. Postpartum with first child)

also was right next to Flava Flav at Hard Rock hotel in Chicago, and Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfish) back stage at a concert. And I know the whole Drew Davis Band (guitar player, Loren Ellis personally)

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one~ I think we all have this one. Gramma W. Grampa John, Gramma A. Aunt K. and Uncle J. and my friend Donny from H.S. (medical issues)

94. Had a baby~ twice.

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone~ and a pager.

99. Been stung by a bee~ behind my ear!

100. Read an entire book in one day~ I LOVE to read, so done this with Dean Koontz books

Hope you enjoyed my list, I had fun doing it. If you do it too, let me know, I wanna read!