Now That's Thinking

My dishwasher has been spilling its guts out all over my floor for the past month or so- (conveniently after the Outpatient's homecoming). Today, my new one should be arriving. ( I live in Small Town, seems like whatever I want is not the one they have in stock- ever.)

Anyway, my BIL- PB&J, stopped by to help with the removal of the old beast. Upon the removal from the space provided for said appliance, we discovered where the instruction manual had been kept for the past 12 years. Behind the dishwasher.

No wonder I never lost it. The plumber kept it safe for me all these years.

Good thinking.

Must be goin round-

So- Middle was out of school for the whole week, flu-like symptoms. No, I didn't take her in to see if a pig was involved. What were they going to be able to do about it? The highest her temp got was 102.4, oral, wrapped up like a mummy in my very toasty bed. My sis, whose hubby is doing medical training at UofU has brought the info home that if you have the flu right now, it is most likely piggie in nature since the other flu season has yet to hit. However, I don't think that is necessarily the case. I used to get the flu every summer- without fail when I was the girlie patients ages. I am sooo looking forward to her returning to school. She is a busy body and went a little nuts being home for the week. Other than when the Outpatient was recovering from his dog bite- I have never had a patient home more than a day.

Friday, Outpatient went out of town to sell security systems. Oldest had two overlapping birthday parties (I dislike buying gifts for preteen boys whom I don't know), I did make pizza (outpatient missed it since he stayed over- unplanned) then my BIL and SIL and kids showed up- we visited, then hit the hay not too late.

Saturday, the EQP- known around these parts as the DR- left early to help a family in our ward work on their house, the patients and I cleaned house and yard, then the DR returned, helped in the yard, then we ran to get munchies for the all important weekend event- Cougar Football. We made yum sandwiches, and other snack foods for everyone to enjoy. The Lunchlady, Oldest Carrotstick and I avoided the crowds and kept track of the game by the level of noise issuing forth from the gathered throngs of loyal Cougar Fans. Good thing we heard yelling towards the very end.

Shortly after the departure of said guests, Oldest took himself off to bed. (He does that. I know, weird for a preteen). It was only 9:00. The DR and I decided we were tired too- so we sent the girlie patients to their wing, and took ourselves to ours. Sad. It was 9:30 on a Saturday night. My tiredness must be catching.

Anyway- funny, the DR laid there a while, then said he had a desire to go sleep in the trailer. He asked me if I cared. Um, no. A quiet night's sleep- no snoring or bed-hogging. I had just started to drift off, when I heard a lot of banging- like someone was taking metal garbage cans out. I looked out the window- and apparently the propane tanks were empty- so rather than come back in the house, he was out there- 11:00 pm- swapping out tanks! Now, I know that bed is really comfortable, but that was ridiculous. Anyway- he came in this morning ( I didn't even hear Outpatient get home) and reported his activities as well as recounting his dream- which I want to blog- but he won't let me.

Now it is not even 9:00, the younger patients are all asleep, and I am headed there soon myself. Maybe if I go to bed early for a week, I won't be dragging.

The doctor thinks I might be a little stressed.

Anticipation----

This weekend- I get to spend the WHOLE thing at home- without any "have to be dones", deadlines, or menfolk in my house. Two weeks ago, the DR took all the inpatients with him, and I stayed home alone, but I pulled out appliances, painted, scoured, dusted, de-junked, did my big girl job, and otherwise worked my fanny off.

This weekend, the Outpatient is attending the BYU game on Friday night, General Conference Saturday morning, and who knows when he will reappear here at home- most likely Sunday night.

The DR and Oldest are off to hunt Elk. A much needed and most assuredly deserved break for him- and his brother, PB & J is bringing the male carrot sticks so they can have a grand male bonding weekend. Should I feel guilty because I don't want to go?

The girls and I will stay home. No games, practices, deadlines; nothing that has to be done. Plenty that I can - and will work on- but I can hardly believe I get a free weekend at home. Never happens.

Cougars- Victorious. Labor Day- Laborious. Edited

Pic from last season

As you might well imagine, the Looney Bin was a happy place Saturday night. Much whooping and cheering was to be heard. Cousin THL, and Uncle J came to join the party, along with a surprise visit from Best Friend. Now, everyone is totally prepared for the national media people to refuse to give the Cougs their just dues, as they did with Washington last year. I was surprised, however, to find that for the most part, they begrudgingly did give the Cougs credit for holding the QB to his lowest numbers prior to his injury, and also to the offensive line for doing an awesome job as well. BYU -14-- Sooners (ranked 3 in the nation) 13. Woo Hoo!
(not that I am a betting person and I do not condone it- but the point spread in Vegas was Sooners by 31 points)

The season is under way.

Labor Day was used as exactly that. Labor. Well, not the having a baby kind of Labor. The DR and I dismantled the weight set which has been a major piece of the decor in the male patients wing for over 7 years now. We removed it to the family room and set it back up. Not as bad as we thought it would be, but we now have three new dents in the wall. We moved the snowmobile trailer up to Uncle J's house. We dumped the tanks and cleaned them in the Cougar (yucky job, but could be sooooo much worse). I personally handled so many loads of laundry I lost count. The DR claims it is because I also emptied and refolded all of the patients' drawers full of clothes as well. I have decided the patients have too many clothes. DR hauled off to storage the bins of toys and such, and today will haul off the trash. So, the tally for the weekend is. Toy closet, Family Room, and Storage Room- totally clean. Crap Room got a little messier, it sorts of functions as the dump here at the Looney Bin. I will deal with that tonight for a little while. And every one of the drawers for each patient is orderly for however long that lasts. It might even be over already. Laundry and Dishes. Never done.

Middle and Oldest got to go on a major hike with some neighbors, so they kind of labored too, and we didn't have their "help" for the day. Youngest stayed home and got to go out to lunch with the DR which led her to claim it the "best day of my life". One of the best traits of youngest is that she does not need anyone else to entertain her. She, like Outpatient, can play by herself for hours.

All in all, a good long weekend.

Progress Report-

Well, after a brief hiatus, we are back at it. The DR has hauled off many a bin and box of the Outpatient's old toys, and we have collected several more bags of garbage. We boxed up all the video tapes. I can't throw those away for some reason- thousands of dollars in Disney movies- ugh.

One of the reasons this stuff is so hard for me to clear out is I have become way too sentimentally attached to things. I opened a bin of outgrown shoes today. I quickly shut it back up. I can vividly picture my baby girls wearing every single pair or them. The outfits, the hair, and most heart twitching, their sweet little faces.

I can't exactly justify keeping every pair, but it pains me to give them away. If I had done it right when they outgrew them, like I do now, it wouldn't be so hard. But alas, I did not, and now I can not.

See these pink sandals? In there.

White Fisherman Sandals? In there.

Oh, help.

Update on the projects

Not the best pics- but they are the best I have for now of the paint in the kitchen area. I will have to see what I can do about taking a better one soon. I hadn't really thought about it, but now I need all new window treatments too. Looks like Mt Everst is growing- ack.

My Mount Everest

I am attempting to climb my own personal Mt Everest. I am cleaning out the craft room- (known less affectionately around these parts as the crap room). Those who have seen this room know how bad this is- although I haven't let anyone in there for a really long time. I am also going to try to paint my front room- and possibly the dining and kitchen. I know. I am crazy.

It has been interesting to come across things. I found two birthday cards of the Outpatient's. They both had money in them from the grandparents! Oops. They have been there for nearly two years. Oh well- he has some cash for his wallet when he gets home.

The task is so monumental, that I am pacing myself. One to two hours is about all I am allowing at a time. Then I come back again later. I have successfully emptied several of the boxes and bins, filling three 39 gallon garbage bags so far, plus many items for donation. I am trying to be heartless. I also found an apology note from the Outpatient from the spring before he left. I am keeping that.