In Case You Were Wondering . . .

I have neglected my blog for a week now--and for a good reason. No, not just because I am struggling to balance the blog=addiction versus blog=pleasant creative outlet struggle, but because Book Club was at MY house this week. People, I am not used to company. Oh sure, I have a few friends (okay 2) who know that my "laundry room" is really my sofa and that the crumbs on my kitchen floor could feed a small third-world country, but this was serious. Visitors would be coming to my home who had never before seen me in "my element." So what is "my element?" I will tell you.

Nine people in 1100 square feet.

There, I said it. THAT is my element. So, what have I been doing? CLEANING, of course. Scrubbing walls, floorboards, carpet (yes, scrubbing carpet) and working desperately to find homes for all the little pieces of clutter that find their way into my house. I am not a pack rat or a compulsive shopper, by the way, and yet every time we go through our things to see what can be donated, I am AMAZED at how much stuff we give away. Where is it coming from? Well, that is likely another post entirely.

Furthermore, I should add that I consider myself "housekeeping challenged." I do clean, but I have struggled to learn how to clean as I go. I have actually stepped over things before and ignored stuff on my counter because I was waiting until later when it would be more convenient to do the whole job really well. Funny how inconvenient life can be.

So, have you ever experienced the phenomenon of seeing your home with new eyes? It's what happens when you realize that someone is coming to visit and you take a little look around to see what needs to be done. All the minor imperfections that usually blend into the background suddenly jump out at you. "Oh no! My sofa looks ratty! The bookshelves are sloppy! The carpet is stained (and a few shades darker than I remember). My floorboards are chipped and in a few places missing!"

Yeah, that's pretty much how I spent the first part of my week. Every now and then I would visit flylady.net for moral support. Happily, things began to shape up and by Book Club night my front room (which also functions as play room, laundry room, and entry way), was looking decent. My four "hot spots" that attract clutter were clear and I only had three containers of miscellaneous stuff that I didn't have time to put away hidden in my bedroom. I was ready.

Now I should be clear about one thing. I didn't want my home clean because I was worried about my book friends being critical. I knew that they would not care or maybe even notice the imperfections that I was now keenly aware of. They just wanted to get together to enjoy some interesting book talk mixed in with a few treats and personal updates. It's a nice night out. I wanted them to be comfortable and I wanted to be comfortable. (Although imagining someone remarking, "I can't believe she lives like that!" can get you dusting.)

But here is my favorite re-discovery of all: when my home is clean and orderly, I enjoy living in it. A lot. I love my 1100 square feet--with all the chips, dents, indelible scribbles, worn fabric, and unfinished projects. So, although it is a lot of work, I'm trying to keep it up. A clear counter can sure make me smile.

What makes you smile?

Withdrawl

I decreased my time at the computer last week, but you know what I discovered?

I may be an addict.

This is going to be harder than I thought. When I noticed my boys were interested in "Dragon Tales" for a few minutes I rushed to check my e-mail and maybe a blog or two or twenty seven (the number of blogs saved on my sidebar). When the kids went outside to play, I would just peek again, quickly. Then during naptime, I might just see if anyone had commented on my comments. Am I so starved for adult interaction? Can I beat the cravings? Is there a blogging patch?

Or maybe we should consider an alternate approach. Could all of you clever, articulate, thought-provoking bloggers (and I think you know who you are) please stop being so darn witty? Or at least so darn prolific? Give a girl a break!

Here's to a new week.

Real Mom Conversation

To my 2 year old: What do you want to do while Mommy washes the dishes? Do you want to dry the dishes or play Fischer Price?

Toddler: "Butt!"

Mommy: "That's a potty talk. And did you mean 'bum'?"

Toddler, thoughtful pause, then even louder: "NAK*D butt!"

Nice.

A New Day

I had a great weekend.
Saturday I attended a Stake (local church) Women's Conference and it was FABULOUS! I am ready to be a better me. I'm starting with turning off my computer until the kids are in bed, so I will have to report later. I have decided to use it only in the early morning or evening when children are in bed. Some of you are disciplined, but I like to turn to the computer whenever I am avoiding something else I should be doing. No more! (We'll see if I have withdrawl). Let's see how I do. This week will be an experiment.
Do you have any goals for the week?

Warning: More Excuses Ahead

Hey, I'm just here to say that I have nothing to say.
With the combination of allergies, daylight savings, and two speaking/teaching assignments this week, I'm SPENT! So please, be patient and in the meantime, if you would like something to do, why don't you post your favorite anecdote and/or clean joke in my comments section? At least then we can all have a good laugh. (I could sure use one.)

And just to give you a measuring stick--nothing more edgy than this:

Q: What did the salmon say when it swam into a cement wall?

A: Dam!

I'm Famous (sort of)

The ladies at Segullah noticed my stroller post and asked if I would share it. Click here to read it.
What?! You've read it before? But not in this font and color . . . come on, please? Oops--begging now.

Just think. If all 5 of us who read my blog go over there and comment--maybe they'll add Fridays to their Monday/Wednesday blog schedule and vote to keep me on the staff! (I just joined their editorial board.)

See you at Segullah.

(If you've never read their publication, then you'd better click here. You'll thank me.)

Book Review -- Tender at the Bone

Yesterday I finished reading Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl. I loved it. Reichl is the restaurant critic of the New York Times and this book is her embellished memoir. Man, can this woman write about food! It was lucky I didn't drool into the pages.

I have to admit, though, my favorite chapter is the very first one and is more likely to make your stomach churn than to make your mouth water. It is titled, "The Queen of Mold." In it, Reichl describes her mother as "taste-blind and unafraid of rot." Would you like a good laugh? Read those first nineteen pages.

The book is more than tantalizing descriptions of food, however. Reichl's book vividly describes characters and events that shaped her life. Although humor is sprinkled throughout, it is not the comedy you might expect after the first chapter. It is, however, packed with lively description, and colorful characters. (Wait. Did I already say that? Well, consider it emphatic repetition.) For me, reading it was a 5 star experience.

So now I need something new. Read anything good lately?

On Finding Myself Asleep at the Computer

slip
slip
slipping into sleep
the late hour weighing
heavy on my lids
squint
blink
just a little more
the words delight
yet lose the war
(snore)

My House is a Mess

There is nothing more to say.

More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Jennifer B., From A to Z

Available or not: For a snack? Yes. For a date? No.
Best friend: My hubby, of course
Cake or pie: Both, please
Drink of choice: Water
Essential items used daily: my Mac, the pantry
Favorite color: Yellow
Gummy bears or worms: Neither, thank you
Hometown: I decline to answer since I have ended up living there
Indulgence: Blogging, naturally
January or February: February
Kids: 7 of them, ranging from 12 to 2
Life is incomplete without: Beauty (and I mean that in the deep philosophical and artistic sense, not the superficial, vain, “How do I look?” sense)
Marriage date: April 30, 1993
Number of siblings: 6, I mean 5
Oranges or apples: apples--so many good ones to choose from--ever tried an Ambrosia apple? Mmmm
Phobias or fears: Heights, plus I have a recurring dream about losing my teeth
Quote (favorite): When one cannot think of anything to say, it is a time to be silent.
Reason to Smile: Toddler hugs
Season: Fall--memories of Back-to-School, the weather and anticipation of holidays to come
Tag 3 people: Tyler, Toni, the lurker from Garden Grove
Unknown fact about me: I won an award for good penmanship in 4th and 5th grade--if you’ve seen my current handwriting, this is also a humorous fact.
Vegetables you don't like: Brussels sprouts
W: What? There’s no W category? Whatever.
X-rays: right foot (I had a “dancer’s fracture,” but didn’t get it dancing. I was chasing my little brother through the house and tripped on the stair. Graceful, no?)
Your favorite food: This is like asking which child is my favorite!
Zodiac sign: Cancer (and I don’t want to hear any remarks about me being crabby! Got it?!)