I Must Have Been a Housewife in a Former Life

So we had another blast of winter here in the deep south. Both storms just happened to fall on the two days I was off from work so I didn't feel guilty about missing work and got to stay in PJ's for two days. I slept when I wanted to and got up when I wanted to. I got closets cleaned out, bathrooms scrubbed and rooms vacuumed. I cooked two meals every day  and caught up all the laundry. I ate a half gallon of chocolate ice cream...the list could go on and on.

This last storm was a bit scarier, more ice than snow. Ice is not Nice. We never lost power but many of my friends and family did. We would have been super screwed. We didn't have one stick of fire wood and just two taper candles. I had one flashlight with old batteries and our house is cold and drafty even when the heat is on.

God looked out for us and kept our power on and I am extremely grateful.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day or as we call it in the service industry, Amateur Night. Peeps who normally never go out to eat are forced to and the ones who suffer are servers. They HAVE to pay their tab but aren't obligated to leave a tip. I'm working from open til close and just pray I get lucky. I'm just hoping for quantity vs. quality, or maybe a nice mix of both.

These past few days here at home have been wonderful except for the worry about losing power. I think I was born to be a house wife or maybe a house wife who works two or three days a week. I got so many things done that I normally ignore when working full time. When you work full time you're at home a lot less and tend to overlook things like dusting, vacuuming or putting up clean laundry.

 The laundry will get washed but the first person who washes a load  rarely gets it out of the washer immediately so when the next person comes along to wash their load will either pull the wash out and throw it wet in a basket (the men) especially if there are still clothes in the dryer. If they feel generous or need their clothes immediately they will pull the dry clothes out into a basket and stick their stuff in. Then the clean dry clothes sit wadded up in a basket until someone comes looking for them or get mistaken for dirty clothes and have more dirty clothes piled on top of them, hence starting the cycle over again. Everyone here is old enough to do their own laundry but it's a nightmare. Do they check the water level? Do they clean the dryer vent out? Not always...and sometimes. I know when they clean the dryer vent out because they leave the lint ball on top of the dryer. That waste basket four feet away is just too far to aim for.


Yes they load the dishwasher but do they start it when it's full as a sardine can?  That would be a NO. They also load it with plates facing backwards and plastic cups on the bottom rack which melt. I guess they figure that's less to unload when it's their turn. I will give them kudos on unloading. This is most probably because I always say "If you'll unload the dishwasher I can get dinner started." Works every time!

As long as I'm picking on them, do they brush their teeth with their eyes closed or really not notice that huge glob of toothpaste left in the sink when they spit to rinse? Don't even get me started on the way they squeeze the tube. Is it supposed to be a show of strength?

When you work five or six days a week these things really get under your skin. When you have two days off in a row you feel relaxed enough to nicely ask for help instead of barking out orders as you dash out the door for work with zero minutes to spare. Granted I'm pretty good at giving orders but you catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar.

Today I cleaned the entire master bedroom, closet and all. Sheets and comforter washed, furniture and bookcases cleaned with Murphy's Oil  Soap and cleaned my makeup table. I even matched the entire (huge) sock basket and threw away ones who have been missing mates for as long as I can remember. I cleaned all the pictures on the walls and cleaned the master bath.

My sweet sister is coming to paint my kitchen on Saturday and I'm pretty pumped. She's already painted the baseboards, window sills and ceiling. Walls are going to be really cozy looking shade of blue called "Poolhouse". I'm going to take before and after pics just to let you all see what amazing work she does.

One more snow storm and I'll have this house kinda sorta in almost halfway tip top shape!

 Here's the thing about housework, the more you get done the more you WANT to do, especially when you have time to sit and enjoy the results.

Guess all my enjoyment is done til next week or next storm. Working all weekend. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to have my job but was sure nice to have a two day staycation at home.

 Bonus points... bet I gained five pounds too!

Happy Amateur Day to you all.

Til next time CUPID COTTON

Another Winter Storm..."Seriously"?

WOW!

By the looks of this forecast, seems we have "one humdinger" of a storm approaching.

I am just putting all money on the groundhog and hoping Winter will be behind us in a few short weeks.

I know that I am a sissy about cold weather...but Georgians are FREAKS about any mention of snow or any type of frozen precipitation. They don't wait to see if it really happens, they start freaking people out at least three days in advance and once the first flake falls all channels run 24 hour weather coverage.

The last snow storm dumped maybe two inches of snow and school was out for the entire week. I know people in Wisconsin and Maine were laughing at us...I think I heard them cackling as they shoveled out of their front door to stick their kids on the school bus or even make them walk to school.

I realize the south isn't as prepared for adverse winter weather but with increasing global warming and freakish weather that has been occurring the last couple of years...why not invest in more than 3 snow plows for the largest city in the southeastern United States?

A couple of weeks ago when the forecasters told us the Big Storm was "acomin'" three days in advance...all the grocery stores were out of milk and eggs with huge signs on the dairy case that read "Due to inclement weather we are currently out of milk and eggs".

The sign SHOULD have read "Due to the mere mention of inclement weather three days from now, we are currently out of milk and eggs because of not only poor planning but freaked out Southerners".

So here we go again...

When we got hit a couple of weeks ago here...up north there was over ten inches of snow on the ground and kids were still attending school and all government offices were still open.

I wonder if they freak out up north when in July their forecasters say "It's going to be 98 degrees tomorrow...plan your emergency strategy now...don't wait for all the window units to be snapped up by retired people with nothing left but spare time or for all the flip flops to be wiped off the shelves. Emergency centers will be open to hand out free sunscreen and wet washcloths while supplies last".

Do they put their forecasters on a 24 hour newscast feed? I can just imagine the reporters...

"It seems all daisy dukes have been wiped off the shelves and people are standing in line at the Red Cross for free Bermuda shorts and tank tops while supplies last... Now let's toss it over to Ted who is at the local WalMart where people are fighting over window fans and plastic wading pools".

It's all over facebook..."Snow coming" "Another big storm" ...

Seriously?

I am a firm believer in being prepared...but I am also a firm believer that a couple of inches of snow won't wipe people off the face of the Earth, even if it is in the deep South.

My biggest fear is that I will run out of dog food or that I have mis-guessed how much gas I really have in the tank of my car. My big worries are that people will give into the scare and stay sequestered in their houses and no one will go out to eat, putting a serious crunch on my ability to make a living.

Even my teens are sick of the "Snow Scare Syndrome".

It's like we NEED something to worry about in the South or we just aren't connected to the rest of the world.

I say we turn the tables and start worrying about some REAL crap!

Let's have a 24/7 newscast about getting everyone a job. Let's have a round the clock report on the mortgage crisis. Let's have a call in show twenty four hours a day for people that have no medical insurance but have serious health problems.

How about a 24 hour news feed on the pitiful way politicians waste their time and OUR money on back biting and working against each other every chance they get and every time they open their crooked mouths?

These are programs I might not only watch but call in to!

But just like the rest of the Southern sheep...following their Southern herd, I will go to the store tomorrow to make sure I have plenty of dog food and at least five dollars worth of gas in my car so I can drive to work and wait on the few Northern transplants that will brave the storm to actually get in their car and go out to eat.

God bless the Yankees and may God have mercy on our scared Southern sissies!

Til next time... Cold but Courageous COTTON

Slip Sliding Away...Literally

The first picture is of my busted upper lip. Trust me it looks ten times better than it did yesterday. Last night I went out back to let the dogs out. Their water bowl was frozen solid so I dumped out the dome of frozen liquid and went inside to get them a fresh bowl. Everything here has been frozen solid for days. The good thing is that they don't track mud in... the bad thing is that the water freezes in their bowls in no time.

When I went back out with a fresh bowl... I forgot I had dumped the frozen water right by the door. (mistake number one.)

I know my back porch so well I didn't bother to turn the light on (mistake number two.)

By the time my foot hit the frozen block of water everything turned into slow motion. The water bowl flew out of my hands as I went face first into the edge of my glass patio table. I grabbed for a chair to try and cushion the blow only to have it turn and smack me squarely in the temple and collar bone. I can't even sleep with the left side of my head on the pillow it hurts so bad. I can only open my mouth halfway the pain is so intense. Tim fixed me a bologna sandwich today and I had to smash it as flat as I could so it could fit in my mouth without having to scream.

Tim went out back and removed all the ice and we put out some salt .

Today the snow came... The dogs are fascinated with it. I shot this short video of them when I let them out when I got home from work tonight. (With the porch light turned ON.)

Even Zach has gotten out his winter hat...granted he still has on shorts but has covered his scrawny head.

I have to be back at work in the morning...not looking forward to THAT drive, but I'll take it slow and will make it I am sure.

Hopefully I didn't break any bones in my face...If I still can't open my mouth open more than two inches in a week I'll go see the dog's vet and see if they'll give me a deal on an ex ray.

The snow is pretty and it brings out genuine excitement in us southern folks. It is such a blanket of calmness and quiet. It's kind of a nice...every once in a while.

Til next time...Trying to Heal Cotton