Friday, April 4, 2008

This Is No Way To Mop a Floor....

Take a minute to picture the facts and circumstances that build up to this setting:

*I administrate the childrens classes at our church
Schedules and lesson planning are very much due for those classes, which is my job

*I am the home school teacher to 1 junior high girl and 2 high school girls
There are only 9 weeks of school left to finish out grades and subject content

*I am not a packrat but all of my family members are
Two days ago the girls felt it was time to finally overhaul their collective rooms

*I am not a packrat because when things are laid everywhere, I feel panicky and claustrophobic
Things to be gotten rid of are now wall to wall in the main part of the house

*We have company staying the weekend with us beginning tonight
See above

*My in-laws and our oldest daughter (with boyfriend in tow) will be here in 5 days
Still see above

*I am three months over due for a hair cut
I feel like the Shaggy DA

*I got up and took my friend to the airport at 4:30 this morning
An honor and privilege to do anytime

*The calendar has us with a fun full weekend in store with friends, classes, birthdays, and church


So there is the basic setting.
School was just getting started.
I was still in my grubbies because I chose to lay back down after returning from the airport instead of showering.
I reviewed the math lesson and then figured a cup of my newest vice (Chocolate Marshmallow Bunny Coffee with Hershey's Chocolate Caramel creamer) would hit the spot.

That is when I heard the noise...the hissing and spitting sound of running water forcing its way out of a pipe. The sound was coming from the laundry room. As I followed the noise, looking for the source, my socks became wet. The water was warm, snuggly warm.

"No please no," I muttered as I pulled the panel off of the water heater. "We have school to do, a car full of Goodwill stuff to drop off, a friend to pick up, rooms to still finish cleaning, a drum lesson, dinner...blah blah blah..." Relentlessly, unmercifully the water still poured. It didn't care that I had a schedule to keep.

I slapped off the power to the water heater on the electric panel and called my hubby. He had no phone service in the mountain pass he was driving in and couldn't take off of work anyway. So I called my dad. He came in a flash with tools in hand to be our knight in shinning armor. One quick look told him that the whole unit had seen its finer days of water regulating. After wrestling with it for hours, we found that none of the designated parts wanted to work in the way they were designed. Water came out of every opening possible except for the drain spout. We rotated towels through probably 30 gallons of water on the kitchen floor before the spout gave way to our authority.

So here I sit, sore arms from wringing towels, no water in which to shower with, 15 wet towels waiting for a turn in the machine, and a schedule to keep. I am okay really. I laugh in the face of adversity. Haa haa!

At least my kitchen floor is now mopped clean.
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(personal note: David at Authorblog honored me a 'blog of the day honorable mention' for this post. It is exciting!)

23 comments:

  1. So sorry that you have had the most awful day, the only consolation is that it can only get better. And I really hope that your weekend does exactly that and turns out to be everything that you wanted from it and more.

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  2. If I lived closer, I'd offer you a shower. Please tell me that you've at least had your coffee ....

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  3. Awesome! And, not so much.

    This is the perfect kweckerism in the style of your prose, all the while being tragic and challenging and down right sad.

    I will offer whatever I can - please know that! And through God's work, you and those around you will mudle through.

    I look forward to hearing the end to this story soon, eh!

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  4. I'm not sure whether to cry or laugh with you.

    You haven't been praying for patience have you?

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  5. Jules I am less than three miles away.....my house is quiet.....I just ordered pizza....I have dry towels.....and hot water.....Need I say more?

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  6. Mima...you are right it can only get better from here. The unexpected is its own adventure and will add more flavor to the weekend.
    Hey here is another upside: I didn't cook tonight. Amazing how many things take water to prepare. Instead we have been raiding the snack cabinet.

    Quilly...fortunately the coffee was already made. And the choir sang AMEN!
    If only I could hop on a plane to Hawaii to borrow your shower, my feet would stop as I take in the view of everything and not leave for months.

    Kevin...glad you saw my quirky smile thru the whole thing. Another up side, I got to stay home in my grubby clothes instead of running errands everywhere.

    Jeff...to laugh or not to laugh, sometimes we do both at the same time. Interestingly I never pray for patience. I know better than to get in that boat. (wink wink) If I am going to do that, then I might as well do something like ask people to make a list of the things I do that bugs them.

    Kelly...alas, I should have checked earlier. Hubby just about has the new one installed. I've stayed in the bedroom out of the way reading. By tomorrow morning the water should be hot...I hope.

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  7. What a rotten day. I'm glad it's handled now. Ugh.

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  8. ok I just read this again. Chocolate marshmellow bunny coffee?

    Where does one find Chocolate Marshmellow Bunny Coffee.

    I don't think Stump Town Coffee here in Portland has that brand. :o)

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  9. This is a great way to show your sense of humor, your patience, your undersdanding of life, because those little setbacks could have ruin your good humor, and they didn't, what a great girl you are.

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  10. If I were only in a 'closer' neighborhood ... I would join your Dad-I-Shining-Armour, and divide his challenge by two, and as we beat that water demon into submission, I would ask you to try to reach your Hubby, so that he could join your Dad and Me in the chorus of one of my most favorite of hymns ... which I would sing (some would say a baritone bellow)(OH YES!!, I definitely would! [smile]) ... "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way ... When sorrows like deep billows role ... WHATEVER my lot, Thou hast taught me to say ... 'It is well ... It is well ... With my Soul!'"

    This is the Spirit and package that I send all of my most respectful and caring Love to you in.

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  11. Jennifer...Thank you for your sigh of understanding. Amazingly and such a blessing for us, my brother-in-law works for a plumbing supply co. and was able to bring us one after work the same day.

    Kelly...I get the silly seasonal flavored coffees at WinCo. They are always on an encap on the end of the cereal isle. Last month my vice of choice was Triple Chocolate Bliss.

    Kitem...Thank you for joining with me and seeing the humor in the situation and in me. Your compliments make me blush. I have to admit, I wasn't okay 100% of the time. There was a bit of pacing and muttering on my part. Then I'd laugh, then get overwhelmed, and then laugh again.

    John Michael...I am so glad you came by to visit today. Thank you for the smiles. Goodness, my little laundry room is way too small for the visionary likes of 3 grown men singing away and beating the water heater plumbing into submission. Oh what a picture that would be.
    But the song, it is one of my favorites. I was just singing it tonight as a matter of fact.

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  12. That is too funny. I am so happy to see there is someone else in this world just like me. I thought I was the only person these things happened to. But be wary, they always come in threes... *sigh*

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  13. You have a great blog, by the way!

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  14. Josie...hi there and thanks for stopping by for a visit. I am honored that you like my blog.
    Thank you for laughing with me and this crzy experience.
    Thank God that the rest of the weekend was mild. Things better not come in threes though! You might find me giggling and mumbling curled up in a corner.

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  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  16. Oh, no, Jules - you can come round to our place if you want.

    Thank God for your Dad.

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  17. David...Thank you for the invite. Travel to Australia? How fun that would be in reality. It is one of my many life goals. My husband was there a handful of times with the military on short term flying missions and he has always spoken of his great love for the area.
    Ah...some day.

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  18. Yep, we could be related. I, too, could just about laugh OR cry! :)

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  19. My Darling Friend, please forgive this intrusion … but knowing your compassionate Heart, I am compelled to send this to you. Please read it, and follow your Heart’s leading. I have unwavering trust in that. I Love You, Your Servant, John-Michael

    Oh my darlings, you sure know how to make a girl cry. I have just come home briefly to check in, there are too many messages to answer but I appreciate each and everyone one of then so very much.

    Unfortunately, I have been given a bit of a bum steer in terms of Jack being able to stay in Hospice with me. That is actually not the case, apart from a night here and there, so the woman that told me it was possible has really got a lot to answer for as I pinned all my hopes on this. Anyway, Jacks Dad came down and can stay at my place this week at least but that's it. After that who knows and yet they are saying I need to be in Hospice for a lot longer yet.

    The pain last night, defied description I have never felt such pain in my life including child birth, I was a sobbing mess, eventually they had to knock me out and I finally got some rest. Anyway they are comparing scans and trying very hard to work out what is best to do. I know I desperately need chemo, the longer I go without it, the bigger the tumour is growing and pressing further on the nerves. So now not only do I have megga pain that is not responding to treatment, I have a child not welcome at Hospice and my life is completely screwed.

    I spent the night in tears and most of the day too, I don't have think I have any left but who knows, I will let you know how tonight goes. I am a broken woman.

    There is talk about Jack having to move up with David to Warragul and change schools and everything. I said NO WAY I am not giving him up when I am not ready to die and I am not giving him up twice. I will work something out. There is no way he needs to go to another school, he needs the security of his local school here and his friends and having close contact with me.

    Anyway my friends, it is a lot to contemplate tonight, I will do my best and I will not be letting my son go away from me no matter what. Please keep praying and sending me your love and care, I need you all so desperately right now. I hate to have to go, but I must leave now to go back to Hospice as they need to medicate me there, it is too dangerous to be on the medication I need to be on at home.

    I will be thinking of you and I will post again either tomorrow or the next day, I promise.

    Love to you all, my heart is full of you love and hugs to each and every one of you. Xxxx

    posted by Jen Ballantyne at 18:40 on 9/04/2008

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  20. Oh no! I guess at least you got a clean kitchen floor out of the deal, and a great post.

    David sent me.

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  21. Hi, Jules: I keep seeing you here and there and just thought I would drop by. Are you sure you aren't living my life! Or parts of it anyway? As long as the kitchen floor is clean, everything is good.
    Donnetta

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  22. mamageek...sometimes it is easier to handle the stress with laughter. Crying takes too mcuh energy and still nothing gets accomplished, eh?

    JM....my goodness. Thank you for letting me know. You do me a great honor with your kind words and your seeing into my heart. I will go visit the first chance I get.

    Anna...I am so glad you came by for a visit and found a smile waiting for you. David is so great ot help us all get to know one another. I look forward to cruising around your place.

    Donnetta Lee...I am so glad you decided to "speak up".
    So you've had these sorts of things happen too?
    I remember once I was trying to do too many things at the same time; balance toddlers, bake cookies, and handle an impromptu teacher training time on the phone. Just as quick as could be, I spilled 4 pounds of sugar on my kitchen floor.

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  23. Jules, I hope that everything is ok with you, no post for a few days. Just wanted to let you know that I have been thinking about you, and thank you for your prayers I'm sure that they have been helping, and I need every little bit of help I can get!!

    Take care

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