Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Mom's big Mouth!

Sometimes in life, we have to learn to say no to our children. My amazing son seems to be one person that when you say no he thinks you mean that you will think about it.

As an amazing wood craftsman, he is in the restoring and remodeling business. Last week one of his workers was not able to work and he was trying to replace him.  I asked how much he paid the guy who was suppose to clean the windows on the house they were getting ready to paint. When I found out the amount, I said, "are you insane?"  I then volunteered to do the job.

An eight foot ladder, 22 windows to do, the sun beating down and at sixty six years of age, I decide to be Super Woman.  My mind was thinking I could do it but somehow that information got lost on the way to the rest of the body. He found this cleaner at the Dollar store called "LA'S Totally Awesome" and believe me it was. The paint with a scraper came right off but then the window had to be cleaned. Up and down the ladder gave me all the exercise I will ever need.

I did a very good job but my son mentioned he never has to mix his crews cleaning liquids, he never has to move the ladder for them, he never has to keep running to McDonald's to get sweet tea for them and he never has to hear them say,"TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT!"

I love him but I am now out of the cleaning business.

 His final words to me, "Here Mom, eat a Snicker's, you always turn into a Diva when you are hungry....lol..It was like working with Dame Shirley Bassey all day.."

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Set The Eggtimer!!!!

Get The Egg Timer

Get me the egg timer!" The shouting of these words means it's time to clean. Children, animals and friends run to escape the madness of "Cleaning Woman." I have loaded my cloth bag with all the cleaning supplies I will need and set the egg timer for twenty minutes. First, the bathroom because I dread it the most. I open the shower, spray with my tile cleaner or vinegar and water, spray the tub, sink and commode and let it all sit as I move to the kitchen. I spray the oven, put a garbage bag next to the refrigerator and the egg timer goes off. I stop and relax for 15 minutes.

After my brief rest, I set the egg timer for 30 minutes and go back to the bathroom and wipe everything down. Mop over the floor as I pick up the throw rugs to toss them into the washer. I use dish washing soap on a rag to wash the mirrors and windows in the bathroom and then dry them with a paper towel...Perfect every time! The bathroom is starting to look great but what is taking that timer so long?

I move on to the kitchen, open the refrigerator and start tossing everything that needs to go. I empty the dishes and put them into the sink or  dishwasher and start wiping the refrigerator out. What has happened to the timer? I start to take the racks out of the refrigerator and the wonderful sound of the timer bell rings. I stop.

As you can tell by now, I try to make my cleaning into a game. I play against the timer and that makes cleaning more interesting. I set the timer for 30 minutes and when it goes off I rest for 15 minutes. I can do my house with an hour off for lunch in 7 to 8 hours and that is from ceiling fan, windows, carpets, clean linens and everything that needs to be done. It's a hard 8 hours but more rewarding than working outside the same 8 hours because it is for me and my family.

One more note. Do the jobs you hate the most first, toss everything you haven't used for awhile and fill a basket with future garage sale wares.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Controlling Companions

I cannot believe how you treat me after all I have done for you.  I try not to complain how some of your annoying habits are causing me stress.

Your snoring at night is driving me up a wall and your taking over my pillow and my side of the bed is just rude.

I'm sorry if you didn't like the dinner I made for you and I'm sorry that peanut butter is no longer your favorite.

Why do you have to wake me up every morning at the crack of dawn? I'm really sorry that you can't sleep but no one told you to lay around all day napping.

When the telephone rings, I should have the option of having over a minute conversation without you whining.

I am going to set some rules for this house and they will be followed. Do not look at me with that smirk.

Don't come over here trying to make up. Do not do that funny sighing thing you do. Allright, I forgive you but will you be terribly hurt if I say one thing?
You are a dog! I am the Master.  Well, at least I got to say it.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

Some very wise person said, " A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the make of the car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a child."

Today, on this joyous day of celebrating our Mother's, all the reason of why we are who we are, come to mind.  Even in the hurts that can happen during the day, just the thought of our Mother can bring a sense of peace to most situations. How many times do we start to do something and realize that we are doing it the same way our Mother did.

 I remember many time thinking my marriage would be happier if I pin curled my hair.  Silly, but Mother's marriage was happy and she always pincurled her hair.  Maybe I should paint my nails. Mother's nails were always clean and painted. Cleaning the house always gives me a good feeling because my Mother,even when she was ill, always made sure the house was clean.

We didn't have a lot of money but every Friday, when Dad got home from work, all the family went to the grocery store. As we children threw in our favorite treats, Mother discreetly put most of them back on the shelf. Yet, we never lacked from some home made treat from her. After grocery shopping, we got to go to the Drive in Movie theatre.  Mother  had  made hot dogs and french fries, all carefully wrapped to stay warm and we had the luxury of buying a cold drink from the concession stand. The concession stand in my eyes at that point in my life was like fine dining.

 Mom took us up to play on the swings while Daddy carefully put out some blankets on the ground so we could be comfortable. It didn't seem like much to some people but it was the ground work for the love I feel for the Mother that so tirelessly made sure her children felt secure. This could be the reason that if my cupboards are bare, I feel like the world is not in sync.

I remember the first time I saw my Mother cry was when her Mother died. I hated to lose my Grandmother but the overwhelming feeling of my Mother's tears brought me into a more awareness of life. In my inner self, I vowed to never make my Mother shed tears again.

As the good and even some bad memories come to mind when we think of our Mothers, they deserve the knowledge of one gift they gave us all.  We will never be able to equal that gift back to them. Their great gift to us was life.