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!)

What's In A Vice....

Among the definitions for vice at Dictionary.com, it states that a vice is: An evil, degrading, or immoral practice or habit. A serious moral failing. Wicked or evil conduct or habits; corruption. A slight personal failing; a foible: the vice of untidiness. A flaw or imperfection; a defect. A jester or buffoon. A physical defect or weakness.

My newest vice is Triple Chocolate Bliss flavored coffee. It is a blend of white chocolate, chocolate, and dark chocolate flavors. And if that wasn't enough, I am not happy unless I can stir in a generous portion of chocolate non-dairy creamer as I fill my cup to the brim.

The really funny thing is: I don't like coffee.

Surprises...

Last month, my mother-in-law gave me a big Costco sized bag of individually wrapped assorted Dove chocolates. With 8th grade science studies going on in "Rosie's" room and "Pippin" getting a piano lesson, I decided to open the bag and treat myself.
As I unwrapped the caramel sensation and began to pop it into my mouth to savor, I noticed a message on the inside of the wrapper.

Keep the promises you make to yourself.

Where did that come from? I fought the urge to look over my shoulder, thinking I was the focal point of a prank. Interesting. Quick deduction brought me to the conclusion that it was put there by the confectioner company. What an interesting statement to put on the inside of a chocolate. It must be a random thing they do as a selling technique.
With the sweet caramel taste a memory in my mouth, I opted to open a 63% extra dark square. It had a statement too.

Hearts that feel deeply, live richly.

There must be these little promise statements on the inside of each piece of candy. I love the statements and have to wonder how God uses things in the most unexpected places to speak to me.
On the other hand, I have to laugh. I figure the candy company used this as a marketing ploy to encourage consumers to savor the moment and enrich their lives.

Knowing me though, I will have to fight the urge to not open them by the handful just so I can know what each wrapper says.

Can You Eat Just One?.....

I drive by Krispy Kreme so many times during the week and can almost always say no to that big round red light shining it's temptations.

Then there are other days....maybe a half dozen in this last year.....when I take on the challenge that becons my senses and weakens my will. I tell myself, "I'll just go in for the free doughnut. They give them away and don't demand that a person buys more. I can be strong."

But see, that is the ploy. Everytime I tell myself I can be just strong enough, that hot fresh doughnut melts in my mouth. They bank on it and that is why they run business the way they do. They count on people like myself to fall prey....a victim of sensory blissful overload.

"I'll take a dozen please", I say as I wipe the remnants of warm and gooey icing from the edges of my lips.

It Happens To Everyone.....

What does?.......

being human and dealing with a gambit of emotions.
This is where I am at right now.
The majority of opinion around me, tends to believe that I don't wrestle with petty things because I am quiet, I am organized, I tend to choose the mature option with things, I try diligently to think before I speak......
.....ugh I sound like a noble, dependable, wet noodle.

The fact is...I wrestle every day with what I WANT to say and do and what I actually DO say and do.

For example, here is the thing I am focusing on right now in my mind......
A few weeks ago, I took my 15 year old in to get her first pair of contacts. I spoke with 3 different people at the establishment of choice and they all told me that I could do the exam and trial pair of contacs for $110. It was a great deal to have all the perks of a real eye specialist and all of the support that they offered.
I was frustrated though in dealing with "contact fitting gal". She was short tempered and sassy through our whole appointment. She was sarcastic with my daughter and annoyed with me when I took over explaining how to put contacts in because she didn't want to give my daughter the time of day. Anyone who knows me, knows that a lack of professionalism is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Still I bit my tongue and stayed in a "gracious attitude". She had us pay only $85 of the bill because she wasn't 100% sure on the fit when we left and asked us to come back in two weeks.
When we went back, we were able to find the correct lenses and "contact fitting gal" informed me that my bill was just $110 to be paid in full that day. No I didn't keep my mouth shut. With a smile I informed her that I had already paid the $85 and should only have $25 left to pay.
As much as I tried, I couldn't keep her eyes from rolling back in her head as she told me that I was mistaken and aparently shy a few marbles for believing such a falsehood. The $110 was for the fitting only and not for the doctor.

What did I do?...
I paid it.
I remember that feeling of being rescued from life with glasses and I wanted my daughter to have that freedom.
However, as best as I could convey my opinions about the situation without embarassing my daughter or making her feel guilty for money spent, I let that gal know that I didn't appreciate being misinformed. I told her that her team needed to get their facts straight and not take advantage of customers and they certainly needed to become more professional so that customers could actually respect them.
Yeah really........then I paid with a smile and walked out.
As I left, I could see the steam coming out from "contact fitting gal's" ears as she thought I had nerve to speak with such an obnoxious air.

I then made sure to tell all of my friends in need of contacts how annoying she was and they should go to a different office.

Now I must blush......
After we got back from vacation a couple of days ago.......there was a refund check in the mail from said place for paying $85 too much on our bill.
I was so happy to see that, relieved that I did in fact understand correctly, thankful that the money could go back into the account.........
Then I wrestled. Did I want to go down there and with all sincerity say thank you for being observant and honest? No. I just wanted to march down there and shove it in her face and say, "ha! you thought you knew it all and couldn't let anyone tell you otherwise. Look at this.....the accounts department caught your mistake and I am justified!"

Honestly, I am still wrestling. I have to call her in the next couple of days to get the final prescription written out. I have been stalling because I am not ready to suck it up and be the bigger and more mature person that I know God wants me to be.
I am human....
definately not perfect.....