Cutting Him Off

Ok, I am sorry my blog friends, but I have to do it.  I have to cut-off CT.  Cut him off from what, you ask?  Well, here it is.  I'm cutting him off of..... LAUNDRY DETERGENT.

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, CT is truly the very BEST.  I will say, however, that he lacks a few domestic skills (like cooking and cleaning).  He doesn't make much effort in the cooking department (just doesn't have much interest in cooking), and as far as cleaning is concerned, well he can run a mean vacuum around the house, but that is about all. 

Anyway, one household chore that he always offers assistance in is doing the laundry.  Granted, I still have to sort everything out (if he did the sorting, our white socks would be coming out dark gray or pink) but he always offers to take the clothes baskets to the laundry room, and start up the washing machine.  (Personally, I think he just likes to press the buttons on the machine.)

So, the other day I went into the laundry room to start a load of towels, and here is what I found:

In addition to this messy bottle, I found detergent dripped all over the floor in front of the washing machine.  And this is not the first time I've walked in to the laundry room only to find blue spots everywhere.  This time, the bottle was actually stuck to the floor because of the spilled detergent.  Needless to say, I had another mess to clean up.

When I asked CT, "What the heck did you do to this bottle of detergent?" he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I dunno."  I'm thinking it was in CT's haste of trying to get the laundry started, and not being careful how he was pouring the detergent, that made such a mess.  As much as I appreciate CT's assistance with the laundry, I told him that he was cut-off from using the laundry detergent and starting the washing machine.

Ever since I met CT, my family has told me time and time again how much CT is so much like my dad, Joe.  My dad was a PRO at doing our laundry (laundry was always my dad's thing, not my mom's.)  I do remember there was a time, however, when my mom had to cut my dad off of BLEACH.  Yes, BLEACH.  See, my dad had this thing for using bleach, however, it seems that in his haste to finish the chore, he would drip bleach on clothes that had no business even being NEAR bleach.  After one-to-many clothes were ruined, but mom finally said, "No more bleach!"

So, no more bleach and no more detergent.  Yes, I do agree with my family, CT is very much like my dad.  My dad and CT would have got along great, and I am sorry that they never got to meet each other.  Oh, and as far as doing laundry, CT has NOT been banned from the clothes dryer (well, not yet, anyway!)





 

Our World of Beeps

Did you ever notice how our world is full of beeps?  "Beeps" as in beeping sounds.  I remember when we first moved into our house, CT and I had to get used to a lot of new beeping sounds.  While we expected some of the beeps, others came as a complete surpise and we would look at each other and yell, "What's that beeping?!?"   While there are some beeps that I am OK with, others I find so annoying.  Here are some of the recent beeps in my life...

Good beep - Our coffee pot.  I love the sound of the coffee pot beeping to tell me that my morning coffee has just finished brewing.  It's like it is softly saying to me, "Come and get me, I'm done."  

Bad beep - Cell phones.  Someone's cell phone beeping to let them know that they missed a call and/or have voicemail to be picked up.  Annoying - especially in a restaurant.

Good beep/Bad beep - The smoke detectors.  Yes, I appreciate the fact that the unit will beep when the back-up battery needs to be replaced (if we missed the semi-annual changing-of-the-batteries.)  But why oh why does it have to beep at 2 a.m.?  Then you have to walk around the house in the middle of the night trying to figure out which one is beeping.

Bad beep - The sump pump back-up battery in the basement.  Anytime this thing beeps, it isn't good and I cringed as I go downstairs to investigate the beep.  We got one of those bad beeps over the weekend, which resulted in an unplanned $150 expense (had to buy a new battery.)  Well, I guess buying a new battery is cheaper than having a flooded basement.

Good beep - The oven timer (when the oven is filled with chocolate chip cookies.)  CT tried to be very helpful this past weekend as I experimented with a "healthy" version of a mini chocolate chip cookie.  When the oven timer went off (signaling that the cookies were done,) CT said, "I'll get those out of the oven."  But then, the oven kept beeping... and beeping... and beeping.  I shouted out to him, "Turn off the timer!"  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  I don't think CT even knew how to turn off the oven timer.  Finally, the timer was silenced and the smell of fresh baked cookies just filled the kitchen.

Good beep/Bad beep - Trucks backing up.  Specifically, snow plow trucks.  I don't mind hearing the sound of the snow plow truck beeping, because I know that the truck is turning around to do another sweep of our street.  But wait a minute -- that means that our driveway, the one that took us more than 30 minutes clear, is now filled with snow again (well, at least the end of the driveway).  I guess I'd rather have a cleaned street, though.

So those were just a few beeps that I've come across in the last week or so.  All pretty normal based on today's standards, and I guess all pretty tolerable.  Feel free to share the beeps in your life.


Google image search found at crazeclub.com

Tag, Tag, Tag.... I'm It

WARNING:  THIS IS A LONG POST.  MY APOLOGIES!

Ok, you know the blog drill.  You get "tagged" with a list of questions you answer, giving your readers an opportunity to get to know you a little better.  After Saimi was tagged by another blogger, she then selected me (aka, "tagged" me) with the same questions (but really, Saimi, 19 questions?!?) 

So, without further ado, here goes:

1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?

No pets in our family, unless you want to count the birds outside that CT feeds throughout the year.  I swear we spend some serious dollars each year buying all kinds of bird stuff (food, bird houses, bird poles, etc.)  So, yes, they are members of the family.   

2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?

World peace.  Cliche as it sounds, wouldn't it be nice if everyone in the world got along and loved each other?

3. what is the one thing most hated by you?

Rude, ignorant, bad drivers just annoy me.
 
4. what would you do with a billion dollars?

I'm not sure what I would do with a billion dollars.  That is an awful lot of money, and frankly, I don't want to be greedy.  A mere million or two would work just fine for me.

5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?

Katie and Ellie always get me out of a bad mood.

6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?

Both are equally a blessing.

7. what is your bedtime routine?

Double check to make sure all doors are locked.  Make sure coffee is prepared for next morning (gotta love timers on coffee pots), then wash face, brush teeth, and snuggle with CT while watching TV until we get sleepy enough to shut off the TV.

8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?

At a restaurant.  CT was standing there waiting to be seated, and he turned and smiled at me - not just any smile, but a big smile showing off his huge dimples.  My heart skipped a beat, then melted, and I said to myself, "Oh sh _ _ , I'm in trouble now!"

9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?

I enjoy watching the Scrapbook Cellar chicks create.  They are all creative creatures by nature, and I love to see what they create. 

10. what kinds of books do you read?

Sorry, can't say that I'm a big reader. 

11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?

Good question.  Hopefully working in a job that I love, and counting the years down until we officially retire.

12. what’s your fear?

Walking on ice.  I fell once and broke my arm.  It was horrible.

  13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?

Are you kidding me?  No way.  Never.

14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?

Married and poor, because I definitely cannot see my life without CT.

15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Do you really want to know the obvious?  Tinkle.
 
16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?

Oh boy - would I love it if CT could cook!!!  I threaten to send him to cooking school every once in a while.

17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?

I like my name and will keep it, thank you very much.

18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?

Forgive, maybe.  Forget, never.  That is one of my downfalls.

19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?

Pizza.  Pizza.  Pizza.  Morning, noon, and night.  Pizza.

In the spirit of "tagging", I'm suppose to tag a few bloggers and pose these same questions to them.  However, realizing that not everyone likes to join in this fun, I'll leave it up to you and won't hold it against you if you decide not to play along.  With that said, the two lucky winners are:

Mitzi @ Coffee & Reflection
Peggy @ Small Steps to Giant Leaps

And here are the questions (yes, 19!)

1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
3. what is the one thing most hated by you?
4. what would you do with a billion dollars?
5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
7. what is your bedtime routine?
8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
10. what kinds of books do you read?
11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?
12. what’s your fear?
13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?

I'm Baaaack... I think

Oh boy - two weeks have gone by and I haven't written any new posts.  My apologies to my 15 followers, and anyone else who may randomly stop by.  I guess I haven't had much to say - that, and I've been busy with some of the curve balls that life throws you once in a while.  Also, my apologies to the bloggers that I follow.  I haven't been reading many blogs in the last week or so.  Heck, I even needed Leanne to tell me that I was "tagged" by Saimi in her blog this week.  So, I've got to write up my tag question answers and get those posted.  Hope to get to that this weekend.

So, here are a few updates:

First, I have to give an official shout-out and thank you to my personal blog designer, Leanne (who, as you know, is also my sister.)  Leanne is the artistic creator of my blog header.  It is so convenient to call her up and say, "Ok, I'm ready for a new blog header, so when you're in the creative mood, feel free to work on one!"  I love the excitement in her voice when a few hours later, I get a return call that says, "It's done!  Check it out!"  So, thanks, Sis, you are definitely the best.

Second, I do have my "word" for 2011.  No, I don't do resolutions.  I don't believe in them.  Why set yourself up to fail?  Anyway, my word for 2011 is "Re-Focus".  Focus would be too easy of a word.  Everyone needs to focus in at least one aspect of their life.  In my case, I need to just re-focus on many things in my life.  So, that is my word.  Done.  I think I'm supposed to post this on Leanne's blog.  Gotta double check that.

Third, we are in our dreary winter months here in Chicago, which means very little sunshine, lots of cold weather, and snow every other day (or so it seems).  At least we're not getting a foot of snow at a time, like our poor friends on the east coast.  No, we just get enough snow (a few inches at a time, like every other day) to make life a little miserable.  It is so hard not to get into a winter "funk" with this weather, but CT and I dream about moving to someplace warm and sunny when we retire.  Our move, however, would only be during the really bad winter months (like the day after Christmas through March or April) and then we would return home.  Chicago will always be our home, and I can't even imagine ever leaving this place for good. 

Ok, so that is my quick update.  I promise to get caught up with all my favorite blogs.  In the meantime, I hope life and winter is treating you well.