All hands on deck . . . . right away!!

[Bucky]

Ok . . . . I need all the hands you are willing to offer.  I got an e-mail today from my SIL saying they are taking an unplanned "adventure" starting tomorrow for a week.   Getting in the car and heading to who knows where . . . wherever they want to go.  I sent an e-mail back and told them they are always welcome to come visit here as they have only been here once in 17-1/2 yrs.  I get a reply back that they "might" be coming out here to visit . . . she didn't know right now.  (They live 500 miles away from me, so it would take a full day for them to get here IF they came straight thru.)  I asked if they could let me know so I could "start" cleaning quickly.  My gut feeling tells me they might very well be coming for a visit . . . I just hope they don't wait to "surprise" me by calling when they are sitting at the end of our driveway!!        (I wouldn't put it past them to do that!!). 

So . . . here's my dilemma.  I know no one has ever died of embarrassment (at least not that I have ever heard of) but the house looks like a tornado ran thru here!!        To err on the side of caution, we are buckling down today and "trying" to get the house presentable should they end up coming here.  I know they are coming to see us, not the house, but when you haven't had them to your house in 15+ yrs. you would like things to look at least half-way decent.  My brother is a spotless freak . . . sorry bro, it ain't happening around here!!   

If anyone is available for a little bit to pitch in and help hide (I mean clean) things you are more than welcome to come.  Hmmmm, how come I wouldn't be embarrassed for you, someone I have never met, to see my mess but wouldn't want my own flesh and blood to see it??        LOL  As soon as hubby gets back home, I'm sending him out to get some clear, see-thru totes, to speed the process up and move the clutter to the basement for the time being.  I know, this is not the solution, but it DOES work for the immediate situation.     Thank goodness for basements!!  Got to go . . . . . .  hi ho, hi ho it's off to clean I go!!   

I need a nap!! 
Bucky

[genko_b]

Good luck with that - I just now finished sorting through a stack of papers I stuffed into a desk drawer when company came by a couple of months ago. At least I learned from my mother (who did the same thing) never to do that with bills. They had their own little place so they did not get lost in the shuffle.

The other thing my mother would do when company threatened to show up was get back into her nightgown and bathrobe, grab a box of tissues, sit in her chair in the living room nursing a hot cup of tea, and entertain them graciously in the middle of the mess. People were always so pleased she would see them even when she was sick. Sneaky, sneaky.

Genko

[Katybarstool]

Bucky

That sounds exciting an frightening at the same time! I'm rady to lend a hand, and can bring along a very strong 28 year old son, and a not very strong almost-60 year old (he's good at washing up and hoovering). Will be there soon ...

Kathyx

[Patze]

Hi Genko, that is such a great story and I love the part about nursing a cup of tea, a box of tissue's, and your Mom in her bathroom!  Too cute!

Hi Bucky, sorry lady, don't have the energy!  It was a long week and I can barely get out of my own way this weekend (even with a nap)!  Maybe box up the worst of it, and throw it in the attic or the basement?  A quick dusting and a little vacuuming to round out the cleaning?  Hey, it works for me!


Patze

[Poochie]

Bucky, I hope you get to see your family.  Just don't wear yourself out.  I would help you if you will come here and help me when we are done.

Hubby, daughter and I have been fighting the Piggie Flu all week.  This place looks like it should be comdemed.  Daughter did do the dishes this morning, so the kitchen is clean, but rest of the house leaves a great deal to be desired. 

Genko, I've been known to do exactly what you Mother did.  Only I go one step further.  I sit a few old get well cards on the mantel and in front of the TV set. 

Anyone that comes without prior notice first, gets what they get.  I've also been known to place a broom and dustpan next to the door as a warning. 

Good Luck Bucky, I hope you get things in shape for your company.

Hugs, Pooh

[Bucky]

Well, it's 10:40 p.m. and I'm done doing all I'm going to do cleaning wise today . . . whewwwwwwwwwwww.  I AM making headway, which is a good thing.     Wow, we can actually sit around the dining room table now and not have to move papers, boxes, etc.     Tomorrow I tackle the bedroom which will probably take the most time.  IF I go to all this preparation and they DON'T come . . at least my fall house cleaning will be done!!

Genko - I loved the story about your mom and her bathrobe, kleenex, etc.  Cute.     (P.S.  Bills are all where they're suppose to be.   )

Kathyx - did you guys get lost??   

Patze - ok, I "guess" you're off the hook since you've had a rough work week (they say a flimsy excuse is better than no excuse at all . . . j/k)   

Pooh - the get well cards sitting out was so funny.  Hmmmm, gives me an idea . . . LOL    Sorry you and your family are sick Pooh.  I hope you get to feeling better pronto!  Sure, I'll come help you as soon as I can.

Sweet dreams everyone . . . . hitting the hay myself here in a few minutes.

Bucky

[lynnmarie219]

Shhhhhhh Bucky is sleeping now....lol!

I'm glad that you made such progress today.....I was going to come down and help you out but now its too late and your sleeping...shucks...and I really wanted to make the trip to help clean house (NOT). 

Your dining room table sounds like mine...its used for everything but dining!

Remember if you are too tired to tackle the bedroom...the door can be shut tight! 

Don't overdo it my friend!

[salsen]

This thread is too funny.  We have some very ingenious ideas out there.  I just try to shuffle stuff off to the bedroom it never entered my head to just let people think you are sick.  I find no fraud in this.  Since most people can not quite understand how bad SJS can make you feel you are just painting a picture for them they can all relate to like a bad cold. 

Pooh sorry to hear ya'll are all sick.  My son said yesterday he was down with all the nasty symptoms.  I am calling tomorrow to check on him since he is at the optimum age that is getting hit the hardest. 

I try to remember Dear Abby's advise, those that do not call ahead before their arrival to see if it convenient get whatever.  No excuses needed.

[Bucky]

Rise and shine . . . up and Adam . . . time to get moving!!   

Lynn - you could have come ahead, I would have left you a "to do list".     Oh, and the part about shutting the bedroom door sounds great in theory . . . however . . . that is the room they would be sleeping in!!!     No getting around this!

Salsen - hope your son is feeling better today.

Better get working pretty soon . . . . breakfast for all helpers.   

Bucky

[Scottietottie]

Hi Bucky 

My brother lives in South Africa. I hadn't seen him for over 13 years and he phoned and said he and his family were flying to the UK for a holiday and he'd see me the following week. He wasn't going to stay though - he'd booked into a hotel about a mile away.

Well my house was a disaster area. Housework just wasn't a priority. Ferrying the kids to various activities was. Fresh food - clean clothes - clean bed linen - prioritised over sweeping, dusting and decorating.

One room had recently been done out as a sitting room for the kids and their fiends. Kid taste rather than adult - the walls were back, but it was the neatest room in the house.

I proceeded to pull wall paper off the main living room (which desperately needed a makeover anyway) stash furniture anywhere and everywhere I just told my brother we were in the middle of decorating. He kinda got confined to the kid's sitting room and the bathroom although his kids saw my kid's rooms. (They were their problem!)

A bit drastic - but it was a god visit!

Take care - Scottie 

[lynnmarie219]

Scottie....too funny about your brothers visit....I can just picture you tearing the wallpaper off and making more of a mess to make your point about redecorating. But you didn't lie....you were redecorating..just sooner than you planned!

Bucky,

6:30 am??   On my day off of work.....are you kidding?? lol

And I guess my "close the door tight" trick wont work if they have to sleep there....lol!  I yiyiyiyiyi

[Bucky]

Break time!!!     It's 12:35 p.m. and I'm a third of the way thru the bedroom.     Back in August I did a closet makeover and it was amazing the amount of "stuff" that was stored in my closet.  Welllllllll, it has sat all around the bedroom all this time and NOW is when I have to get it moved out (stuff that is NOT going back in the closet but I want to keep).  Hey, I could get to the bed to sleep so it hasn't been a problem.     It's something I have kept putting off and putting off . . . well . . . . guess what??  I should have done this back in August!!  LOL

I miss my usually relaxing Sunday.  Still no word if my brother and SIL are EVEN coming . . . . 

Hubby went to run an errand and at least is bringing home lunch.  Yay, don't have to stop and make something.   

Hoping to get the bedroom done by the time I fall into bed tonight (I have to take a break to co-host chat tonight so that will give me a little breather).

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon / evening.   
Bucky

[Patze]

Good luck Bucky, and I'll keep the fingers crossed that everything gets done in time!


Patze

[Pisces24]

How about saying they caught you in the middle of going through stuff to donate to a (charity, friends, etc.) rummage sale??  And you are having a hard time deciding what to donate and what to keep - that way they don't volunteer to "take" something.  That has worked for me a few times. LOL  

When I was a kid, we moved into our own place (out of grandma's) and didn't have much furnture. Back then no used furnituer stores so we started going to auctions to furnish the house affordably (you could do that back then). And Anybody knows when you start going to auctions and get the bug "I think maybe garage sales are the same way?" you just start getting stuff.  Plus add to that my folk's what I call "depression era attitude" that you just don't get rid of stuff and frugality that got passed down to me, I take in more than I throw out. A friend of mine just says I have not house/apt moved enough times.

Oh and the basement and garage are good to stuff things in if it is not already full.  

[lynnmarie219]

Bucky,


I thought for sure you were going to say that you were going to put all of the stuff back INTO the closet...lol! Good for you...you are going to deal with it instead of hiding it! I hope your family does make it for a visit after all of this work you did...but even if they don't....you should feel great about getting it all done and having a much more organized home!!

I laughed when I read your last post...BREAK TIME!! you sure run a tight ship! lol