Dear Candace,
I am writing to you in the depths of despair, as Anne would say, since my impacted sinuses are giving me no relief and I’m considering applying a small hammer to my cheekbones in order to loosen things up a bit.
Never am I so grateful for modern conveniences as when I’m sick. Tom can run to our nearby Walgreen’s to get whatever OTC meds I desire as well as the lotion-est of tissues. Additionally, my essential oil cache is being put to use as I frantically google, “how to transform your face from The Hulk into something more human with a drop or two of magic oil.”
{Later…} The apocalyptic ice storm turned out to be quite mild in our area, but we were happy to remain at home, drinking hot tea and being cozy. I was sick and lazy- Tom, on the contrary, his usual healthy and efficient self. He continued remodeling in our laundry room, and thankfully the power never went out during the Midwest Ice Event of 2017. Our hot water heater needed to be relocated, new drywall finished and painted, carpet tiles put down, all the things.
I’m no longer scared of my dungeon basement laundry area and might actually do laundry more often. {I’m trying to trick myself into believing that with the addition of white paint and turquoise jars, the whole thing can be a spa-like experience.} This week I’ve been working on tackling the enormity of laundry piled up from when the room was under construction. We had an abundance of winter wear to be washed, too. (Ugh, wet gloves.) The kids are going to be responsible for their own laundry entirely. I really mean it this time.* I’m redoing our whole system-out with the broken plastic hampers! No more dim lighting! Empty your pockets or suffer the consequences! Be cheerful and turn those socks right side out! I’m getting over my passion for hating laundry and ridiculous OCD washing habits. You are going to be so impressed.**
What else? What else is that I’ve left the house only once in the last week. I’m feeling a little stir-crazy, but it’s also sort of wonderful after such a busy holiday season. I’m not sure how, but we keep eating leftovers. I feel like reinventing myself and my house this month. Winter nesting mode, I have arrived! You know what else is really getting to be kind of embarrassing? Christmas tree is still up.***
Please do not get the nasty cold I’m still trying to shake off,
Rachel
*Caleb has been washing all his own clothes this week. BOOM
** I might even mix different kinds of darks. Deep breaths.
***It’s coming down this weekend. Today I asked Caleb to pull the Christmas containers out of storage so I could pack everything up properly first thing tomorrow morning. JANUARY I GOT YOU
Dear Rachel,
Your laundry room is so beautiful and bright, that now I’ve lost my will to do laundry in my boring laundry room. Let’s do some more hamper shopping together, to distract me from my mountainous laundry heaps, m’kay?