life of uncertainty

Isn’t that from some kids movie or something? In any event, it is the take away item I’m most happy with now that I’ve become a Moxling.

I had a busy weekend, much of it not spent at home but when I was home and wanting to just crash I told myself to just keep moving, spending a few minutes here and there on stuff that I would normally just ignore until I couldn’t take it any more. Because of this I think my house is still in pretty good shape even though it was a kidlet weekend.

Accomplished even with all the outside activities:

Dining room table cleared, wiped, seating moved, vacuumed, living room and hallways vacuumed as well.

Beds stripped, bedding washed, beds remade, all laundry washed with exception of one blanket (to be done this evening). Clothes folded and for the most part put away.

3 floor surfaces swept, scrubbed, mopped. Garbage taken out, dishes out of sink and into dishwasher.

One kitchen cupboard cleared out, wiped down and restocked (pics after I purchase needed spice containers.)

One child’s bedroom cleaned by said child, bookcase ordered by way of elimination and magazine file boxes.

All fast food dinner garbage thrown away, spilt chocolate milk wiped up while still a liquid and not a sticky stain.

I’m feeling pretty good about the state of my place as I head into a work week. The real challange will come tomorrow when I’ve done away with my “no cooking/shopping/eating real food” month and start meal prepping/cooking/eating like a responsible grown up mother who actually gives a damn about what she shovels into her mouth or her kids into theirs.

I do need to tackle my windows but feel daunted by living in an upstairs apartment.

And if you are reading, Mother Moxie Superior I can’t seem to post comments on your site. The option to leave one doesn’t even load. I’ve been having other weird issues and am curious if any other readers/followers are as well.

I’ve had many times of envy in the last several months when friends and acquaintances have mentioned her help in the cleanliness of their homes. C’s help comes in many forms; kicking your butt when you need it, reminders that you CAN do it, persistence that you blast the music that moves you, tips, suggestions, moral support, and sometimes just getting it done for you.

It is with great pleasure that I announce her brilliant brain child, MoxieClean! I urge you to check it out! If you are totally overwhelmed by the current state of your home give even one of the challenges a whirl today. If you are just in need of a sprucing put all the day’s tasks under your belt. If like the creater and co-conspirator your house is already AA-MAA-ZING!!! then check it out for the clever writing, the pics of spaces sure to make you pat yourself on the back harder and never stop scrubbing, offer up your own suggestions, or just pop in to lurk!

…when her kids leave town for 5 days? It took a while to adjust but I built up some pretty good momentum.

Tuesday… watched AI with friends, put away laundry (gasp! in the middle of the week!), watched SVU and retired to bed with some Sudoku.

Wednesday… got off to a rough start when the @$&hole woke me up at 5:30am to tell me they’d missed their flight. Not being able to return to sleep, I got up and did a short yoga routine and got in and out of work early. Made HH Cheeseburger Mac for the rest of the week’s at home meals. Met friends for a walk at Bush Park. Spent 4 hours at my grandparent’s house visiting. It was nice! I’m remiss at how long I let slide by before I make it over there. They are 5 mins up the road. Went home, pulled a very hot and sudsy bath and read*. Retired to bed with some Sudoku.

Thursday… took dear friend out for dinner for her birthday. We shared an appetizer, main course and dessert. Afterwards, we visited and walked the new pedestrian path that crosses the river. It is a converted train bridge and is so very fun! I went home and watched my crime dramas. Retired to bed with some Sudoku.

Friday… worked a half day. Visit with my therapist, read more* while dining on Indian cuisine. I stopped at the library and had an hour long massage with the lovely K. I went home and watched the rest of my recorded crime dramas IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY I joined the lovely G and family for dinner, conversation, ice cream and Bond/James Bond. Retired to bed with some Sudoku.

Saturday… slept until 10ish, finished my book, played Sudoku and puzzles until after 1. I got up and started cleaning my bathroom and doing laundry. Stopped for a bite on the couch and watched an informercial. Continued with cleaning/organizing/purging for the next 6+ hours. Finally, sometime after 8 pm I recognized my exhaustion, took a shower and then took myself out for Mexican food and a margarita. Stopped on the way home for another ice cream cone. Watched crime drama repeats and… you guessed it, retired with some Sudoku (I’m completely addicted)

Sunday… tried to get myself out of bed at a reasonable hour, 8:30? I did return to my bed, twice I think, to play more Sudoku though. Finished some last minute cleaning/organizing, including my car. Loaded the car with stuff that needed OUT of my apartment. I dropped donations off at Goodwill and met my friends for lunch at Napolean’s, a new crepe place. Stopped off at consignment store for my little one’s clothing, made a pit stop at a friend’s house and headed out to Keizer Station to meet my lunch dates for pedicures. I got a french manicure and it makes me so happy. Happy enough in fact, that I can almost live with it being rainy all this week and said beautiful toes condemned to the dark of socks and close-toed shoes. I dropped a friend off after a quick stop at Staples and went to my grandparents. I spent a couple hours going through an ice chest of pictures looking for my parents’ wedding photos. Found some great ones of my sibs as children but not what I needed. Along with my grandparents we mourned the many stacks of photos that have been ruined by moisture. I will be returning this weekend to look through more and maybe armed with photo boxes so I can help save the others.

I then headed home and met with J to discuss food for my parents’ anniversary. We had a great time discussing food, family, photos and whatnot. So much so that a couple hours went by like the blink of an eye. I ran out for some Chinese food and ate in front of the television, again with repeats of crime dramas (I’m obviously not picky). I tucked myself in just after 11 and slept soundly until my kids arrived home around 2am.

They were carried up from the car by their father and put in their beds, a hair barely disturbed. It took everything I had in me not to bring them into my bed and snuggle as a threesome

I know they have grown immensely in this experience and I like to think I have as well! I enjoyed myself but they were missed!

* I read this week An Exact Replica of a Figure of My Imagination by E. McCracken. This book was so powerful! I laughed out loud in a couple spots and finished the book in tears. I’d personally like to thank her for sharing her story. I’d read many reviews on this book and many stories of loss here in Internetland and I think this was yet another great example of how complicated the loss of a child can be, especially when they are barely known in tangible context to many besides the parents. And really, how complicated and unique grief is for all of us. Thank you for sharing Pudding’s story. It definitely made me feel the quiet of my house differently. I felt acutely aware of how heartbreaking and life altering that silence would be under different circumstances.