Seven

So many things swirling in my head. Kind of like the opposite of writer's block. So I'll take the easy way out with seven quick semi-short takes.

1. I'm a little bit borderline OCD when it comes to cleaning and tidiness and things of that nature. I don't vacuum every day. I vacuum four times a day. Not the whole house. But the kitchen and dining room at least. I proudly display my Electrolux stick vacuum in the corner of the dining room as if it were a piece of furniture.

I think when you're a stay-at-home mom and everything seems out of control you learn how to hold on to one thing every single day that makes everything seem in order. For some it's combing their hair or brushing their teeth. Maybe it's getting in a workout or maybe it's cooking meal. For me, it's keeping the kitchen and dining room tidy.

So you can imagine how I feel about my backyard currently looking like this.

That's right. It's so bad I had to take the picture from the safety of the other side of my screened window.

It's a means to much bigger and better end so I'm accepting it for now. It's only a week. Deep breaths.

2. The state of the backyard is due to a rather large and still unfinished lawn project we are undertaking. As I mentioned in a previous post Saturday was demo day. Saturday also decided to be a downpour day. As in rain. And lots of it. We got the job done. But boy was it messy.

A huge thanks to these guys.

Is it just me or do they look pleased as punch to be playing the mud? Boys!

3. And then there's this guy.

My little brother. Or younger, rather. Not so much on the little anymore.

Somewhere in life he learned he wasn't good enough. Couldn't do it. The whole school/academia thing messed with his head.

But it was all a big fat lie.

He's been the number one project manager for our whole yard. Layout. Ideas. Equipment. Dos and Don'ts.

He walked in and told my husband, the guy he idolizes for career success, how to get it done. And we listened.

He put in double or triple the hours of anyone else. Including ourselves.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. He's the hardest worker I know.

Joey, you rock.

4. Speaking of careers and success did you happen to catch the Oprah episode about people with cool jobs? They spotlighted a J. Crew design lady, a cake baker, a flower artist for The Four Seasons and a stuntwoman.

The message was simple: Do what you're passionate about, find a way to get paid for it, and then success will be imminent.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say: I disagree.

Now before you go getting all mad, listen.

Do you think there's anybody passionate about cleaning toilets? Do you think anybody dreams about growing up to sell car insurance? Or what about standing and holding a "slow" sign in front of road construction?

I'm guessing not. But I could be wrong.

Here's the thing, Oprah. There are mouths to feed and mortgages to pay. We can't all do what we love. But everyone can learn to love what they do. Everyone can see a job for the greater good. A way to buy that house you've always wanted. A way to have a big family and keep bellies full. A way to take that vacation to Europe you've always dreamed about.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's about attitude. Attitude leads to success. And attitude is always a choice. Even when you're scrubbing toilets.

OK, stepping down from my high horse now.

5. Yesterday Brian borrowed a wheelbarrow from one of our neighbors, Tim. We're still rather new to the neighborhood and this was the first time Brian had met Tim.

After dinner Brian went to go return the wheelbarrow to Tim.

"So Nick was saying...," Brian began when he got back.

"Hold on," I interrupted, "I thought you said his name was Tim."

"Yeah, I know. He clarified that for me."

"What was to be clarified? Either his name is Tim or it's Nick."

"It's Tim but it's pronounced Nick."

Got it, Brian. Thanks for that clarification.

6. I just realized I don't really have a number six. I keep racking my brain for something I'm forgetting. But I can't think of anything. And I hear a little Lucy girl over the baby monitor doing her best impression of Chatty Cathy. So, nope, there's no number six.

7. Homemade strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert tonight! What's cookin' in your kitchen?