We have 7 humans, 2 cats, a few chickens and a dog in this house…there are some phrases that come up frequently.
Statistically, given the number of people and the amount of things we do together, there are phrases that will come up sometimes.
There are phrases that will come up occasionally.
And there are phrases that will come up regularly.
1. “I Am Trying To Do My Work Alone…”
Ima just gonna stop you there, son.
I haven’t gone to the bathroom by myself for the past 10 years. We have 7 people in this house at all times, and although we have lots of space inside, and a whole forest outside…we tend to like to hang out together. That means you are doing your schoolwork with somebody either sitting next to you, near you, or on you. Dinner is together, sleeping is together, playing is together and quiet time is together.
Now, granted, it is important to have some alone time. It would be weird if we didn’t have some time by ourselves, at some point. I have always said that I I really, really, need to be alone I take a shower. Most of the time, this works!
But in the end, it is really better to work together. I would rather be a part of my family and working with them on anything, than on my own. When I work with my family, we come up with better ideas together, better plans, and better memories. You can’t really beat that!
2. “Roll Your Window Up”
This seems weird, but it is a daily phrase for us. In a car with 4 functioning windows, there is always someone who wants their window down.
Me: “Can you roll your window up?”
Her: “No. I’m singing my song.” (proceeds to sing her song to the world for the next 10 minutes)
Maybe this is really a metaphor for having 7 very independent people living together. We all may be doing the same thing, or going to the same place, but we will each be doing it a little differently. Some of us like to have the wind in our hair and roll their windows down, even when it is 36 degrees out, some of us like to take our shoes off in the car…and force us all to roll the windows down. I’m just saying we all have our different things.
3. 3 out of 7 People Have Matching Socks.
And that is just because they like matching socks (i.e., the boys).
The rest of us (i.e., the girls) are just glad we have socks. Why would you want matching socks anyway? What, are we going to get graded on whether or not our socks match every day? Who are these matching sock gestapos, anyway?
4. We Buy In Bulk. The Cashiers At Costco Know Us By Name.
You show up to Costco every week an a half and buy pretty much the same things every time, with the same kids at the same hour of the day, and after a while they get to know you!
I have always liked this, honestly. If I didn’t go, they would ask Ben how I was doing. If Ben didn’t go, they would ask how he was doing. They’ve always had nice conversations with our kids, and the kids have always had a good time talking with them. There wasn’t a time when I dreaded going to Costco, because we always ran into friends at the end.
It isn’t exactly a small Mayberry general store, but it isn’t too far away either! It just goes to show you that there are tons of good people out there, still. And that’s awesome, and I love them.
Our Costco is just a little bigger than this, that’s all.
5. “Is The Laundry Done?”
Nope.
Never.
But it’s in process, and we all have clothes. And that’s something!
It isn’t the laundry system I use…but I kind of like the idea!
I ran across this quote the other day, and I really liked it. The clothes definitely don’t make the woman. The woman will always make the clothes. In the same way, the situation will not make the woman…but the woman will most definitely make the situation.
Yesterday evening, I piled the kids into the car (it’s kind of an SUV. Don’t tell anyone.) to go pick Ben up from the ferry.
I love this drive across the island. It gets me out of the house, I have to put on real pants for it, which sometimes is a bit of a struggle on comfy days when I am warm in my sweat pants, and it is a beautiful trip through the woods to the water every day. Plus, I get to be seen with Ben (super hot). It is a nice break in the day that I enjoy, for a number of reasons.
After I picked Ben up we hopped over to the store for a couple things. Bread, apples, hand lotion (it is seriously dry up here), gluten free pasta for pasta salad, cotton balls and vaseline for a quick fire starter. When we were done with our little shopping trip and standing in line, Ben and I noticed Alice looking particularly odd: In the middle of all the bustle of unloading the cart, which is the kids’ job, she was standing perfectly still, looking directly at Ben…and chewing furiously.
She had snagged a pack of Rollos next to the checkout line, shoved two into her mouth, and was trying to chew them as quickly as she could before we noticed.
Honestly, it was hilarious watching her small act of crime played out in such a quick moment. Her eyes held a look of fierce determination to enjoy those chocolates as long as she could before they were taken away, which they promptly were. We talked to her about stealing and took the roll of chocolates out of her clenched fists, and left it at that. On one hand, it was surprising to me that this hasn’t happened before. Maybe it has and I just don’t remember it; but given the number of kids, and the number of times we have taken them to stores, statistically this should be something we have seen often. So, that’s a good sign!
I also got to eat the rest of the Rollos. That was a little bonus on the side.
Stressful situations will bring out your true nature, whether you like it or not.
I was very proud that although Alice had a small moment of thieving, she accepted the consequences after and didn’t throw a tantrum in protest. She knew what she did went against what we have taught the kids, and she didn’t feel entitled to the chocolates when we took them away from her. It is wrong to steal, and that’s the end of it. Despite her little stature, she bravely accepted the discipline that was appropriate for her actions, and that is commendable.
Right now, I am stressed out…and trying to hold a commendable spirit.
This afternoon a real estate agent is going to be visiting our property in order to “dig a parking spot” next to our property, so they can sell the forest behind us. It is a weird piece of land back there, just smack in the middle of the hill and the only way to get to it is across our driveway.
To say I am not thrilled about any of this is putting it lightly. The owners of the property have had it for 20 years, and it has been ignored for the entire length of the time. All of a sudden, they want to send developers and landscapers across our driveway in order to begin permits on the land, and potentially chop down the forest to which we have just been introduced, and subsequently fallen in love.
The thing is, we just got here. I didn’t move out into the middle of a forest to have traffic in my front yard. We moved here to get away from it all. I’m not sure what our recourse is, or what is going to happen, exactly; but we’ll definitely find out, one way or another.
The funny thing is, when faced with “life,” my initial response is to fight back. I almost hate to admit that I have such a warrior’s spirit, because I don’t particularly enjoy fighting back. However, I can just feel when my eyes get that look of fierce determination and I stare long and hard into my opponent’s eyes, and dare them to make the first move…
Tear down the forest? I’d like to see you try.
The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”
Life gives us challenges all the time. Most of the time they are positive challenges, though, and the change is for the better. But if you aren’t ready for change, or if you cannot see the challenge as a moment of change, then the challenge will become an obstacle, instead.
Lieutenant General David Morrison, Chief of the Australian Army, was addressing a spate of immoral behavior that was unleashed in the Australian Army a while back, and had a very stern warning to those who had caused, and propagated, the immoral situations. He demanded of his Army that “If you become aware of any individual degrading another, then show moral courage and take a stand against it.”
The power to change the world for the better is always within our abilities. Sometimes we can help each other, sometimes we can change situations…sometimes it takes time and patience to see the change that is needed. I believe there is always a solution to challenges. It may be an unconventional solution, it might be a difficult solution, or it might be a solution as simple as walking away from the situation, but there are very few times when there is no solution available. The fact is, though, that not everyone will see their ability to find a solution, and every challenge becomes an obstacle: either an obstacle to succumb to, or an obstacle to turn a blind eye.
The thing is, as Lieutenant General David Morrison said, “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” and it takes a strong person to see the change in the challenge.
I will always know the strength of a person when I see them stop for the change.
During the odyssey of moving, things will, invariably, get lost.
This is a fact that is just bound to happen.You just can’t pack a life into little boxes and expect your life to stay the way you remember.
Take keys, for instance.We would put our keys on a bookshelf next to the garage door whenever we came inside.It was a handy place to stash our keys that was out of reach from little fingers, and it worked really well for us.So what happens when you pack the bookshelf?You have to find another place to put your keys.And you may not always remember where this new place is…
Thankfully, we have not lost any keys, although it was certainly a worry I had on a daily basis.That would just be a pain in the neck we didn’t need.
However, there are some things we are used to having that did not come with us on the first trip: the bathrobes.The laundry hamper.The box of computer cables.The bikes.The rain boots.They are all waiting for us in the garage for our second, and final, return.But they aren’t lost either.
The only things I have been most worried about losing have been the living creatures we brought along with us.The kids, obviously, the dog, the cats and the chickens.Except for one very whiny cat (for two whole days straight, in the front seat of the car, emphatically pleading with us as if we would cave in and let her out…think again, kitty ), all of the living creatures did great!8 1/2 hours the first day and 9 1/2 hours the second day, and everyone was a total trooper.We all got through the very long trip with our final destination as the motivating factor to keep going, and finally arrive at our new home.
What we found, when we finally got here, was the previous owner and some of her friends still working on the house.
It was a little odd, since the house was not only ours at this point, but she had pushed the closing date by a month so she had more time in her home.Which is completely understandable: she had raised her children in this home for the past 17 years, and she was being forced to leave all of her cherished memories and sacred moments behind.They will all be replaced by another mother’s cherished memories, and she clung to the door frames until she actually saw the new family arrive.
What surprised me most was what happened next.
She and her friends showed us around the house, warned us not to mess with the water on the washer (“just don’t mess with it..you’ll want to. But don’t.” Those are words from experience), and watched all the kids barrel upstairs with Christmas morning energy to find their new bedrooms.I had never actually been in the house before this, funny enough.Ben had, and he said I would love it more than I could imagine; but I had never set foot into our new home.I had spent the last few months looking at pictures of our new home and in futility, trying to figure out where things would go, remotely.My first steps into the forest green home with a crisp white trim were a dream like blur.I knew there were people here, there were kids upstairs, there was a diaper that needed to be changed…and after 9 hours of non-stop driving behind our rented U-Haul, I had no idea what my appearance had come to.
The previous owner and her friends told me they had spent all day making sure the house was clean for us.There was water in the fridge for us.They made sure there were night lights all around the house, so the kids wouldn’t get scared at night in their new rooms.One of her friends said, “Listen…there are children in the house again,” which drove all of us mothers in the room to share the box of Kleenex.Then, with a tearful smile and a very huge, motherly hug, she said, “This is your home now.”And gave the house to me.And she left.
She just wanted to see who would fill her home with new memories.She just needed full closure on that season of her life, knowing she left it to someone who would love it just as much as she did.
And she did.
This home is the home I could only dream of finding.
It has beautiful hardwood floors downstairs, a warm brown carpet for the bedrooms upstairs, and spaces for beds, toys, Lego workbenches for the boys and window seats for the girls.The master bedroom has an enormous brick fireplace which is flanked by open windows overlooking our forest.Our kitchen faces the east, so I can watch the sunrise through the moss covered trees every morning.Our driveway descends down to our dirt road that leads to our rather remote house, on the far side of the island.I have raised gardens, sprouting rogue squash that never died over the winter.There are bushes with tiny yellow bell flowers beginning to bloom.There is an old treehouse that is in need of repair, which is already being planned by the kids.
This is a home.
It is our home.
I couldn’t imagine, as a young girl growing up on the scalding and lifeless black concrete surrounding my elementary school in the middle of LosAngeles, that one day I would be raising my children in a beautiful home, in the middle of a forest, on a dirt road on an island.Who would dream of such a thing, especially in LA?Dreams were something you had to inherit, I thought back then.They weren’t something you could work towards, or even conceive as being real.They were just dreams that got you through the day.Islands were for pirates or hotels.
I wonder, now, what my children will dream about.What will they imagine for their future.Where will they raise their families when they get older.
There are things we lost since we left.Ben and I had spent a good 20 years exploring SanFrancisco, and all the cherished memories we had stayed there. I cried during our last date while we drank a cocktail and overlooked the city at night, for the last time. The childhood I had envisioned for my children is definitely changed since we moved.Old dreams, old visions, old plans were lost by moving so far away.What we found was new adventures.New childhood memories.New treasured moments.
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”-George Bernard Shaw
Change is one of the scariest things to experience in life.But if the forest never changed, how would it ever turn green?
It is 41F this morning, I am wearing a Chef hoodie, rainbow fuzzy socks and drinking my morning black coffee with my cat keeping my lap, and one hand, warm.
I’m not in Seattle yet, but I think I’m feelin the vibe.
There were a couple sketches and paintings I did when I was taking Art classes in college that were rediscovered as we excavated the library.
This one actually got into a show in the Art Gallery on campus, which was pretty groovy. I got a job at said Art Gallery after the show, which was so much fun. Neurotic. Chaotic. Horrible coffee…but lots of fun.
This was a painting I did in the oil painting class. It was pretty good for a first semester try, and I thought I was going to go into Art after this class…but I have always been a writer. So, ditched Art, studied Literature. I’ve always been grateful that I figured that out early on.
But…these are the last few things I haven’t packed. Tomorrow the movers come and load the truck.
There is no turning back.
Tonight we sleep in sleeping bags.
I have to pack the silverware.
There is no time for over-thinking things.
No more laundry to be done. The clothes are all packed.
No more breakfasts to cook. The pots are all packed.
I am up to my ears in packed boxes, and I almost thought I packed the coffee…but I am very happy to report that I wasn’t that dumb. It was just somewhere else…just like everything else that I have packed into other elses.
Our goal was to only have packed boxes in the house. No clutter, no piles. Everything is either in a box or in the dumpster, and we have done pretty well accomplishing this! The funny thing is, I had stuff laid out in front of our house for weeks with a sign saying, “Free Garage Sale,” and no one touched the stuff. But put the same items in a dumpster, and all of a sudden there are guys with flashlights rummaging around in the middle of the night, every night.
Fun times.
So, for a little mental break to fly me away to mystical lands where giant eagles would move me, instead of UHaul trucks, how about a couple pick-me-up quizzes for this fine Friday?
…wait, it’s Tuesday.
Did I mention I packed the kitchen calendar, and I’m all messed up?
Larger than life…I have definitely gained a few pounds here and there. Mostly on the here.
Hoarding a great treasure in the mountains…well, we are moving to a forest.
Setting my enemies on fire?….Check, check, check.
You are larger than life, stronger than most and some may say you’re hoarding a great treasure in your secluded cave in the mountains. Though some may want to slay you for your treasure, others admire you for your wisdom and grace. And if they don’t, you can always just sneeze at them and set them ablaze
The fox is very mysterious… They can be in groups of their own kind or they can be tamed. Once you look into their eyes you can see more than you would think. Also, you can see they are no different than you. They are happy loving creatures who are a lot of fun. They are also very spiritual beings. Also known on totem polls as the cunning trickster.
Unicorns are the masters of taking Emo to a whole new level.
They are pros at this “mysterious and gentle, but with a gigantic horn that can stab you” deal.
And then traipse off into the forest, without a care in the world.
You are a gentle spirit to those who treat you well, but you will hurt people who hurt you. You are a bit wary of people because they have hurt you so much. But when good people are around you, they always seem to feel a bit better. You are very compassionate and kind, even if you are a bit wild.
You are a very curious person. As a kid growing up in medieval times, you heard about a secret order of witch doctors that can heal every disease. You joined their order and learned all the secrets to this dark and lost ark. Now, you use your power and knowledge to help people. You are a truly great person!
Although, I really think I would be on par with Gawain more than, say, Lancelot.
You’re the sword-wielding slayer of the Medieval Age!You’re smart, sophisticated and loyal. You have a solid idea of morality and try your best to always do to the right thing. For this you have earned the respect of those around you. You’re very loyal and are willing to sacrifice yourself to help those you care for. You have a solid commitment to honor – never breaking a promise. When the going gets tough, you’re the one that your friends will call upon!!
If you weren’t your regular self, you would be a prince or a princess! In an alternate reality, you are destined for royalty. For all the good fortune you have had in your life, you would give back to the people with lots of charity and good deeds, and everyone would adore you.
Oh my goodness, today is the last weekend I have here.
The LAST WEEKEND. And if you think I’m sitting here, sipping my coffee in a hammock (which is harder than it sounds. #experience.) and enjoying myself, you are greatly mistaken.
No, I am sitting at my gutted desk, filleted and laid out to dry on empty shag carpets which have also been stripped of their plaskool bookshelves and rubbermaid drawers. The now moved drawers have been stuffed to the gills with patterns, glue guns, string, yarn, twine, bottle caps, stones, crosstitch projects and scissors. And fabric. And maybe a few other things. I may need bungee cords.
Last night I dreamt there was snow on the road where I was supposed to go…it was a weird dream of roads. I was running with some friends, and we were supposed to be on a new trail that looped around back to my house but I went down a more familiar trail and it took me to my office (apparently I was employed in my dream). And I was running in pointe shoes.
That’s just the kind of graceful gal I am (not).
But then I was trying to run through the city, and half of the city was covered in snow. The intersection and the overpass I needed to go over was covered in snow, so while I was waiting for the green light I started building a little snow castle with snow turrets. I spent a lot of time on the details building that castle…which clearly means:
“To dream that you are playing in the snow indicates that you need to set some time for fun and relaxation.”
Sister, you can say that again.
So, I was just thinking: there are a lot of great literary figures out there, and most of them have gone through a great move in order to build their story. Which literary figure moved the farthest?
I think it is actually Agent Peggy Carter, believe it or not.
“Carter joins the French Resistance as a teenager, and becomes a skilled gun user who serves on several operations alongside Captain America.[volume & issue needed] The two fall in love, but an exploding shell gives her amnesia, and she is sent to live with her parents in Virginia.[volume & issue needed] With Captain America thought dead, she lives a quiet life for many years.”
Carter moves from Virginia, to France, back to Virginia. That is quite some distance to travel, no joke! That’s at least 8,046 miles. …Or 12,948.8 kilometers, for those in France.
And…be straight with me people: I am feeling I could totally fill Agent Carter’s shoes. I just have this sneaky suspicion that wearing her uniform would look a little too right for me.
Just sayin’.
I may or may not be looking for it on Amazon after we move.
And after I lose these incredible 10 pounds I have acquired somewhere. (“yay, we’re moving! Let’s not watch what we eat!”)
Okay, so who else moved?
Jane Eyre: she moved from her parents’ house, very young, to her aunt’s house, to the boarding school, to Rochester’s house, back to the school, then got a boatload of money and then back to Rochester’s pad where she took over. Like a boss. (spoiler alerts)
Dorothy: From her farm, to a creepy old vagabond’s tent, to freaking OZ, back to her house. And all in heels, my friends. That’s a determined woman.
Elizabeth Darcy (nee`:Bennet): Although she didn’t exactly go anywhere in particular, other than to London for vacations…she did move in to Pemberley.
And I am pretty sure Pemberley is where my soul was born.
For the record, I didn’t rig the quiz. I am just more Elizabeth Bennet than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Heck, I even married my Mr. Darcy. BOOYA.
Which Female Literary Character Are You?
You got: Elizabeth Bennet
You are someone who is independent and likes to protect that at all costs. You are careful about who you trust and when you accept someone as a friend, you become very loyal and stand by their side no matter what. You are never afraid to express your opinions and speak your mind. You love to be around people who can handle your humour and wit.
Sometimes on a blog, you can get lost in your writing.
For the most part, the reader can get a good sense of who you are through your writing; yet, there are a lot of little things that make you up, on top of the big ones. Sure, we homeschool and have a bundle of kids…but we aren’t the only ones who homeschool with a bundle of kids. Are we doing Waldorf? Classical? Eclectic? Secular? Virtual? Charter? What do we do and why have we chosen our curriculums, exactly? I make all of our meals from scratch, but what does that mean in real life? Am I one of those neurotic women who obsess about food, and use buzzwords like kale, local or organic? Or is it just an interest? If I do make all our meals from scratch, and we homeschool, and we have a bundle of kids, why aren’t I writing more articles on organization or couponing? (this is not going to happen) I have been married for over 15 years, and together for over 20…why aren’t I writing about healthy relationships?
I like punk music, so why am I wearing mom jeans? (I’m not really wearing momjeans. I’m really wearing green plaid pajama pants.)
I drink endless cups of black coffee every day…how is this possible?
I like Science Fiction, and shun the Twilight series. Am I a snob? (yes)
I hate 99% of chick flicks, and I only watch a small handful of musicals. Am I simply opinionated, or am I a hater? (debatable)
There are so many things that make up a person,
In person, am I really an altogether groovy chick, or are you going to feel incredibly awkward when you meet me?
Who am I, really?
This question plagues me, and it is definitely the fuel that keeps this fire under me going. I have grown and changed so much in my adult life, that I wonder if I am even the same person I was. Yet, when I look back…I have kind of painfully been the same person this whole time. Some little things have changed, but the big ones haven’t.
I thought I’d break format a little today, and answer a few “Getting To Know You” questions from GoodReads.
I know! Me too!!
3. What is your favorite subject in school?
English, obviously. I loved reading literature, analyzing the material and writing amazing essays in the end. It was like finishing a puzzle for me. Very satisfying to complete.
4. What is your favorite flavor of jelly beans?
I am very particular with jelly beans, actually. I like the bags of assorted jelly beans, but I eat them two at a time: coconut and lime, popcorn and cinnamon, apple and cherry. I love mixing the flavors, but it takes forever to eat a bag when you are just eating them two at a time.
5. Which flavor of ice-cream do you prefer?
I am not an exotic ice-cream aficionado, but I am particular about what I enjoy. The absolute best ice cream is Ben&Jerry’s Vanilla Caramel Fudge Swirl. It is the perfect balance of creamy vanilla, and the perfect caramel and fudge texture. This ice cream got me through quite a few pregnancies.
6. What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic?
I can adapt to just about anything. Long term is a little harder, but short term is no big deal. Snow? Water? Heat? No problem. Need and event organized? Got it. Need some ideas? I got your back. However, this makes “settling down” pretty tricky.
9. What do you usually do when you have leisure time on your hands?
I know this is going to sound crazy, but if I have free time I am either reading or writing.
14. What is your favorite home cooked meal?
Probably my rosemary and garlic roast lamb. It’s pretty phenomenal. Also my stroganoff. It’s kind of out of this world.
17. How many siblings do you have?
2, and I’m the oldest. I have “first child” syndrome in a big way. Something is happening? Here, let me take over. No, I got it…no, no, I got it give it to me, I got it. I’m learning how to back off. Sometimes.
22. What kind of vehicle do you usually ride in?
I refuse, with all of my being, to buy a minivan. I just can’t do it. It feels like giving up something…so we have a Crossover with 3 rows of bench seats, and we can fit everyone in our car. We just can’t fit anyone else in our car.
23. Do you have pets?
1 dog, 2 cats, 3 chickens.
24. When was the last time you visited a park and what did you do while there?
Last week I took the kids to the park because it was sunny, and I was talking to a grandma there about her little granddaughters, and then a mom of 2 under 2 who was losing her mind. She was just tired, and she’s going to be fine. Ah, all this experience with being tired.
27. What do you usually do when you meet someone for the first time?
I generally lead the conversation because I have found people will open up when the environment feels familiar, so I just treat people as old friends, and it is better for everyone. Which is a total INTJ response to conversations. But it works, and that is what I am going for.
30. Do you plan to go to college?
I went to college, and our kids are planning on going to college. Glenn has already told me that when he is in his office, I can call him at lunch, but not before. Because he is working. #melt
31. What job do you think you would most enjoy as an adult?
I would love to either be an editor, or go back to teaching in university…actually, I kind of like that idea better. I love the classroom. Give me a chalkboard and a projector, and I’m a happy camper.
33. What was the last item you cooked and ate?
Baked chicken with chickpeas and roasted tomatoes. It is the bomb for quick meals.
34. How many books did you read last year?
I….have no idea. But let me put it this way: I have packed my kitchen, and I have 3 boxes. I have packed all of our books, and we have over 10 boxes (I lost count). So, there ya go. Also: Kindle.
40. How many pairs of shoes do you currently own?
Maybe 5. Or 7. (counts on fingers) 2 tennis shoes, a couple heels and jellies. 41. Which one fashion accessory do you like better than others?
Earrings. Hands down.
52. Have you ever been horseback riding?
Yep. I love horseback riding.
53. Have you ever been water skiing?
Yes. I freaking hate water skiing.
54. What do you most like to do in the snow?
To stay in the car.
55. What is your favorite all-time movie?
The Philadelphia Story, with Kate Hepburn
56. Can you change a tire?
Yes. But make sure your jack can actually lift the car off the ground. Otherwise it WON’T WORK. #experience
57. Is your room more clean or more messy?
The house is okay. My room is a disaster. I feel bad about it.
58. Do you prefer a bath or a shower?
Shower. You can’t wash this hair in a bath.
81. Do you like drinking from the cup or a straw?
I kind of prefer a straw, because I have less of a chance of spilling anything on myself if I use a straw. I am a little very clumsy.
91. Have you ever won anything? If so, what did you win?
I notoriously win the body lotions at bridal showers or baby showers…and I can’t stand body lotions. I don’t really like rubbing stuff all over my skin, it just feels gross. I also have trouble smelling, so they just don’t do much for me. However, I will win them most of the time. And give them to someone who really likes them.
97. Have you ever been in a musical drama or play? If so, what was it?
Baby, I write the plays.
107. Do you know how to iron your clothes?
Kind of.
108. Can you sew a button on your clothing?
Buttons are easy.
109. Have you ever cut your own hair?
I have been not cutting my own hair successfully for the past million years (as in, I just don’t get it cut. Just let it grow forever. It’s getting pretty long at this point). I do trim my bangs by myself, against all good advice from serious hairstylists.
Sometimes in life, times can be hard. We all go through these times, and it is through these times when we discover who we really are and what we are really made of.
I have found, during this past week of packing, that I am more willing to pack an entire house than I am to fold one load of laundry.
Case in point: 80% of the house is packed. The laundry is still sitting next to my bed.
(this is not my washer, and I have no idea how it caught on fire. But I appreciate the sentiment.)
There is a definite comedic aspect to packing.
“Why on earth do we still have this…???” “Why would I keep this…??” “I don’t even know where we got this…” “Don’t give that to us…I’m not packing it.”
As we speak, I am packing my desk. It…has been a while since I have brought a trash bag over here, it seems. It isn’t until it is beyond the pale that you realize things have gone too far. The craft projects I have piled and stashed around my desk is much too far. I had to upgrade my grocery bag to a full on, ninja black hefty trash bag to take care of this defiled desk.
So, to lighten the mood, and so I don’t fall into the pit of despair having to fully grasp how much I have ignored my desk and the ridiculous amount of fabric, glue guns, ribbons, spools of thread, paper clips, push pins, charger cables, baskets, paintbrush containers, and who knows what else I’m going to find…I looked for compatriots with whom I could commiserate. I thought there would be more comedy sketches about packing, but I’m not really finding much out there. However, I did find one!
Brian Regan
I completely lost it at “girth units.”
“They’re boxes! And they’re brown! And they have tape on them! Pick them up!”
Our Costco is just a little bigger than this, that’s all.
It isn’t the laundry system I use…but I kind of like the idea!
credit
The Platypus Directive 
