He corrected me, reminding me that we last talked at a wedding in 1999. Undaunted, I googled "Fashion in 1999" and corrected my status, stating that I would wear my low-cut jeans and a belly shirt.
Yes, ten years and two babies later, a belly shirt would be a grand idea. I didn't even like them the first time around. After all, I'm not a boy, nor am I fourteen.
***
I am testing myself today. I believe that one of the reasons that people don't have others over is a preoccupation with appearances. One cannot entertain without sparkling floors, fresh-cut-flowers, and a gourmet dinner with artistic garnishes.
It's a totally unrealistic standard, unless you have a staff.
So, to test myself, I am leaving things imperfect on purpose. I am sweeping the floor, but not mopping it. I am leaving the backyard in its normal, toy-strewn disarray. And, I'm moving the laundry baskets into a bedroom, and closing the door.
I must admit, I have a compulsion to stop writing this and over-clean, but I am choosing to relax for awhile. Perhaps my calm demeanor will spill over, and my children will not put his children into headlocks.
***
It's official, friends. I am doing a mini-triathlon. It's eight laps in the pool, four miles on a bike, and a 1.4 mile run. I've got a posse of girls doing it with me, and I am seriously excited. Do you want to know what I'm most excited about? Getting a number on my arm written in black Sharpie. Because, that, dear friends, is officially bad-ass.
***
It's spring, and that means that Paul is power-washing. There is no drug more addictive, and no high as powerful as the sight of gleaming white siding and a grime-free deck.
***
Owen's T-ball practice kept getting in the way of the massive, ten-foot dirt volcano he was constructing in the infield. Every time the ball would be in play, he would sigh, run to the next base, and construct another Mt. Distraction.
I can relate. There's that moment when bowling totally gets in the way of one's drinking. Talk about harshing my mellow.
***
Thanks, Mrs. 4444 for hosting Friday Fragments!
23 comments:
WOW a mini-triathlon? you so totally rock! thats awesome.
Wow that's hard to do..to leave it un-perfected...I do it a lot though...Ive become good at it...Lol..im older than you...Bwahahah...WooHoo for you with the triathlon...that s is sooo kool..and the sharpie...awesome...take pics for us..and have a great dinner..!
Well, you come on over anytime, I throw dinner parties every weekend, and I couldn't care less about the state of my house.
No triathlon is that little--you go girl!
BTW- i had guests for dinner yesterday and took three loads of laundry to my room and closed the door. Only problem was that i forgot about it...until bedtime. Oh well.
I'd love to see the belly shirt you choose??
I don't know how to swim but can float on my back and tread water for a few minutes.....so you swimming EIGHT laps, is amazing!
I get winded walking to the refrigerator (so maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration) and don't ever run (might run one day if something is behind me and is amazingly scary....OR if someone tries to take off with one of the kids) so running for a mile and a half (almost half) is fabulous!
I can barely ride a bike with training wheels, never learned to actually ride a bike....so biking for FOUR miles is amazing.
You have to have someone taking photos and they need to be shared because that's something to be really REALLY proud of!
I can't wait to hear about your mini-triathalon. You're right - having a number written on your arm in sharpie is soooooo bad-a.
There's only certain people I go overboard and clean for before they can come over. I'm realizing that it's for my family, and not my friends. I'm overly concerned about appearances for my family. Hm. I know I never care if someone's house is "perfect." Glad to know you're relaxing!
Great idea, wearing something so that people you haven't seen in awhile will recognize you...I still have everything and a lot of it is coming back into style.
Can't wait to hear about your mini tri-athalon! Way cool and the number on the arm is way bad-ass!
I do chores everyday, I sweep (we have hard-wood flooring thru out the entire house, except the bedrooms) and clean the bathrooms, including sinks and toilets. So, if someone were to stop by unannounced, the house is ready! I know I tend to clean more when in-laws are coming over adn that is not too often!
Oh gosh, I wish I could swim. I could do a mini biathlon. Hmmmmm. Where would I find one of those?
I think you are on the right track having people over without freaking out about the state of your house. Do you judge others when you visit their homes? (Unless it is super gross and creepy and you want to escape. Which hopefully doesn't happen too often). okay my point is, that people like to see that you have a life and what you are interested in. I think I just got lost in my own point.
The power-washer...bwahaha. I NEED that.
First off, thanks for having us over despite the potential stress. Your house is beautiful, your children are HI-larious, and you and Paul are very good hosts. Dinner was awesome - delicious and simple. It left you guys time to chat and interact without freaking out about getting the food ready.
We remind ourselves that having everything *just so* makes guests feel uncomfortable. An appropriate modicum of lived-in-ness is needed, particularly when hosting people with children. You guys are very brave for having three other children added to your own two - but hopefully the resulting time together was worth the risk. I don't remember anything *too* valuable being broken!
you are so rocking it. triathalons- hell, even running!- scare me :) and your whole shewang on cleaning is so true. makes me want to do a whole post on it. how are we supposed to be casual friends if we don't want anyone stopping over to hang out cuz our floor is messy?
You are doing a mini-triathlon? You are SO bad-ass in my book!!
Mine always seems to be un-perfect, or a tad less perfect than that. Night before last, I even met the pizza delivery guy outside, to save face.
I envy your confidence.
The mini-triathalon sounds totally badass. Of course, we're going to need pictures of you rockin' the sharpie markings.
I love watching kids Owen's age play t-ball. I love that there's at least one kid on every team that consistently runs the bases backwards.
I was talking to a friend a few weeks ago and telling him that I was in panic preparation for company that was coming. Cleaning. Big time. I said, "I know you do that too."
And he said, "No. I don't. My house is usually pretty ship-shape as it is."
It was like an epiphany- WOW! You can keep a house clean all the time??!!
Okay. I stepped back and realized- he lives my himself and is just a very tidy person.
Let's meet up at Angie M's for a dinner party. That's what I want to do. And we won't care at all what her house looks like because it will all be so wonderful.
Oh Dear. I have pictures in a belly shirt with Doc Martens -- possibly I made a fashion faux pas? Wait. What am I saying? Belly shirts, in general, are a faux pas!
Have a great time with an old friend and I applaud you for not getting yourself so wound up over the house that you couldn't enjoy the time.
:-)
Traci
After your mini-tri you can wear the belly shirt!
I have this new rule about entertaining.
I clean the bathrooms, wipe all the kitche counters down and sweep the hardwood.
We always clean after a party...especially when there's little kids present!
Which is always!
Have a ball!
Pinkus used to stand in the outfield with his glove on his head like a hat... he never did like playing t-ball
You're very welcome! Thank you for linking up! :)
Pressure washer...hmm...sounds like a nice Father's Day present!
I think you're right about why people don't have others over more often. I have to admit that's my reason sometimes. On the other hand, when I come to someone's house and it's messy, I feel comfortable :) I think that they see me as family if they don't feel a need to clean like a freak before I get there.
I loved my burgundy Doc Martens. I used to pair them with any number of overalls that I owned.
I think you are amazing for doing a mini-triathlon. I think they should take the mini out and call it a triathlonette.
Doesn't seem that 'mini' and 'triathlon' should go togther...
That's exactly why I never have anyone over. That and the tiny issue of not having any friends. :)
Wow, congrats on the mini triathlon. How exciting. I hope you'll get a photo of the sharpie on skin. you're right, that is officially bad ass.
loved the end part about Owen and his volcanos and the comparision to drinking and bowling. Perfect!
Oh, and I applaud you for not over cleaning. I'm learning to get a grip on stuff like that too. No one reall notices and guest would rather have you not exhausted and wishing they would go home so you can sleep your cleaning frenzy off. Great job!
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