A celebratory weekend was in store - weeks of 13 hour days at the salt mine, several long Saturdays at the office crunching the numbers, sharpening my pencil and pulling it out of my @$$ and finally FINALLY my budget was done. Hit send - taaadaaaaa. The weekend is here!
Ahhh yes, sleeping in, long lazy breakfasts over tea and the newspaper, perhaps a crossword. Bliss. The forecast - sunny, cool and windy, perfecto for a weekend of pajamas, naps, and catching up on a few chores - at my pace.
But what ho??? Indolence Interruptus!!! Alas and alack my best laid plans were not to be - so Saturday was a work event for the Hubster. We are off in the trusty Kia headed north to a farm trade show. An Ag show - lots of tractors, belt buckles, and green and yellow toys. Uhhhhh okay. A hat over the mop, run a quick brush thru the teeth and off we go. 5 hours on the road, 4 hours of tromping the trade show displays and a belly full of KFC and we are home! Housework?? Harrumph so I got a sinkfull of breakfast dishes washed and a load of laundry done - that counts right?
Well there's always my beloved Sunday - often reknowned for white tornado like cleaning, a frenzy of vacumming, swiffer blazing, dust bunnies cowering in fear! Up and attem - hmmm I need a shower, but say wha? "Hey" my beloved offers over his famous oatmeal "we need a break, why don't you whip up some sandwiches, throw in the thermos and we'll go for a drive!! See the sites, look for coyotes and elks..." Initial enthusiasm quickly cooled as I got into the "sandwich making" mode. Now it's a known fact that I'm a sucker for a compliment and when my true love batts his baby blues and says "but you know sandwiches always taste better when you make them" my resolve to be a non-productive housewife crumbles. So, armed with my trusty "bad hair hiding" ball cap, a bag o sandwiches and the Stanley full o coffee, off we go.
It was a nice drive. The sun was shining, a couple of deer and one daft raven, and we came home. And of course, what is better on a Sunday when you are now fully in "unproductive" mode, after weeks of grueling office work than... that's right - a NAP!
A nap is one of the great gifts of the working class on a weekend. Turn the phone off, the furnace down, get undressed (it's a proper nap, no snooze in the chair event) and climb under the covers - lulled to sleep by the purring of the cat, and the even breathing of my hubby. In terms of behaviors, naps are, in my humble opinion, a worthy weekend event.
Or so one might think. But not today. Nope, it was November 13th and it was a perfect day to put up Christmas lights. Yup. Cold enough to let you know it was soon to be winter, warm enough that there wasn't any ice and sunny enough to see what we were doing.
In an effort to avoid a "|Grizwaldian episode" each year the Christmas lights are carefully put away - rolled not tangled, with hangers and such. We hauled out the totes, and started to unpack. Hmmm the initial review of the situation. Plug in end identified - check. Ladders hauled out and at the ready - check. Power drill - got it. Extension cord - yup. Zap straps - tons and in assorted lengths. We were ready!
As the sun dipped below horizon and the last v of geese flew overhead, after the last shout of encouragement from the neighbors "DON'T FALL OFF THAT LADDER" drifted off with the the chill wind - we were done. There's that special moment when you stand with yor mate in the street in front of your home, admiring the twinkle of lights - it's the official launch of that most blessed of holidays. As we stood arms around each other, I was quietly taking it in, and counting our blessings. A warm safe home, a loving family, a wonderful spouse, a great country - what more could there be?
"So honey," came the words "Whatcha making for supper?"
I'm not sure if there's a winter coming this year. I have yet to see flock after flock of Sandhill Cranes flying over my abode this year. I suppose they could have taken a different route, just for change.
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