Last week’s Reality Check:
I’ll start with a possible excuse for not actually posting this on the 16th. The kids will be out of school, so unless it’s ready to go and they sleep late (pretty pretty please?), it may not happen.
Monday –
I got posts scheduled out for the week, which always takes a load off my Blogging Shoulders. Laundry was sorted by the kids before they left for school. When 3:00 hit, it was craziness from then to 8 p.m. Kids being farmed out so they could still go their own basketball practices while we drove to another city for the oldest’s last game, that last game going into overtime, meals at various places for various people at various times, etc.
I didn’t run the dishwasher. With only one person eating at home, there just weren’t enough dirty dishes to fill it.
Tuesday –
I filled the dishwasher and ran it. Last night, I was wrong about not having enough dirty dishes to fill it. Just like I’m wrong every single time I let myself make that decision.
By 11 a.m., the last load of laundry (which was sheets, which every slob knows is a totally negotiable load . . . ) from yesterday’s Laundry Day was in the washer. After not starting on Sunday night and leaving the house at 3 p.m., I think that’s pretty good. Especially since I actually did that laundry management method that rocks my world and means laundry is actually done. I’m talking about folding straight out of the dryer and putting away immediately. Seriously, doing it that way is like magic. (But not magic at all.)
Morning was a little crazy being on the phone working on details for helping my in-laws purchase a used car that my MIL will be able to get in and out of more easily.
Trying to get NEXT week’s posts written and scheduled so I can really tackle some bigger projects.
Wednesday –
I’m so off my rhythm on dishwashing. But I’m doing it. Even though it’s generally the morning when I run it and then the evening when I empty it and that just doesn’t work as well.
BUT I’M DOING IT.
That blankety-blank Alamo project is finally out of my house. Yay for that. I’m determined to block all of the musical I’m currently working on with 10-12 year olds today.
__________________
Ummmm, it’s Monday morning. I didn’t write anything after Wednesday because life was pretty much a blur. Let’s see what I can remember in these few moments before kids start stirring.
I did block all of the musical on Wednesday. This was big for me. While that’s exactly how I like doing things, the last few years I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants and blocking scenes in the hour before rehearsal. I’m sure I’ll write more about that in the future. I’m working on re-prioritizing right now.
I have no memory of what happened in the kitchen on Wednesday night.
Thursday, I rushed out of the house to drive the hour to meet my 87 year old father-in-law at the bank to help him get out the money to buy a new-to-them car. With the hopes that my MIL will soon be able to go back home, they truly did need a vehicle that was easier for her to get in and out of. I just made it back into town in time to direct a rehearsal. I did make dinner, but was so exhausted that I have a vague memory of justifying leaving the kitchen for “later.” Oh, and we made a toilet Valentine’s box for Kid #2. (Get it? #2?)
Friday was filled with counting money for a school fundraiser, taking my daughter to the dentist, discussing a rather exciting speaking opportunity on my phone while standing outside the dentist’s office, Valentine’s parties and recording, uploading and publishing a podcast in the one hour I had at home.
Saturday, we cheered on the kids at their basketball games and then Hubby and I went out ON Valentine’s Day for the first time in a very long time. Probably since before we had kids. Don’t worry. We ate before 5, so we missed (most of) the crowds.
Sunday, I paid for my lack of keeping up with the basics for the last half of the week. It only took about an hour to get things ready for our church home group (which is insanely amazing compared to pre-blog), but I was irritated with myself for needing to spend more time in the kitchen washing BIG stuff that I’d put off.
Oh. And that hour didn’t include dusting or vacuuming. Because I didn’t bother. Everyone coming knew (from last week) that my vacuum cleaner is still in the shop. (Grrr.) I also didn’t bother changing out of my pajama pants. Really. Yay for friends who accept me for my dusty house and lack of proper attire.
Now it’s Monday morning. I’ve worked out. (Totally skipped Friday.) Even though the kids are home today, it will still be Laundry Day (and they’ll “get to” help) because Laundry Day keeps us clothed.
I’ll let you know next week how that all works out.
What’s your reality right now?
Oh. And if you’re not on Facebook, see what had me giggling all last Monday. The comments on this post are hilarious. I was trying to be funny and lots of you totally got it. I felt a little bad about those who thought I was serious. Bad, but not bad enough to not keep checking the comments over and over and laughing at the thought of people thinking the video was actually Hubby and me.
One last thing: #2 did win “funniest” for his Valentine’s box. And it really did “flush.” He borrowed his sister’s dollhouse toilet that makes a flushing sound.
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--Nony
Jessica says
the sheets load is totally negotiable. 🙂 also, I read your blog while I’m rocking my baby to sleep for his morning nap, and my giggles at your Facebook post and the comments are making it hard for him to fall asleep. I’ll have to look at that later 🙂
Iva says
Well, let’s see – I had a full-blown panic attack on Friday due to everything I had to do at work and at home. I remember feeling angry and ashamed because I had put myself in this position by procrastinating and not planning well. My husband (literally) talked me down and I devised a game plan.
You’ll be happy to know, Dana, that my game plan included your pod casts to and from my daughter’s out of town doctor appointment. By the time I got back home, I decided that I needed to get back into my laundry routine (why does it always come back to laundry?)
A few years back, I created one and we rocked it. Everything was caught up and life was (almost) perfect. And then the routine fell by the wayside. I spent an hour Friday ironing clothes that had been housed in the laundry basket for two weeks. (Had I put them up right after they finished drying, i wouldn’t have had to iron at all – even my work clothes).
So, today, my dishwasher is humming in the background (we run it in the AM) and my sheets are happily washing and drying. (Mondays are sheets and blankets). Tomorrow, I will tackle my mountain of laundry that is in my hamper. I could have done it over the weekend. A little at a time. But like you, I like a beginning, middle, and end. I decided that since tomorrow is a furlough, I will do a marathon laundry session. (They kids will get their chance on Wednesday – they do their own).
So, I want to take a quick second (too late) to say, “Thank you” for providing the blog, commentary, and advice you do. I have NEVER encountered another blogger who thinks the way you do – who thinks the way I do. Your blog (and you!) are indeed a blessing to me.
Thank you!
Sarah says
If stuff gets wrinkled sitting in the basket, put it back in the dryer with a damp (not wet) towel, and fold or hang it as you take it out. This is what tumble dryers are for.
Or hang it in the bathroom while someone takes a hot shower.
Jennifer says
Towels are also negotiable. And sofa slipcovers. And the bag of hand-me-downs from your sister that still need to be picked thru for what your kids can even wear….
Sarah R says
I finally got into a really good routine with tidying up and vacuuming in the mornings. With two toddlers who play on that floor and because of where we are and circumstances, it really should be vacuumed daily. But last week my two year old loosened the cup on my vacuum so when I went to take care of the floors all the dirt and junk got sucked right into the filter. Luckily it is a filter you can take out and wash, but it was a hassle and getting it to dry without getting stinky was quite the ordeal. Finally today, almost a week later, I was able to put the vacuum back together and take care of the floors this morning. It felt so nice to be back in my routine and it made me appreciate it so much more. Sometimes it is hard to see if the little daily things are worth it, but today I realized that they very much are!