The Drain

After my mother-in-law called on my Day of Birth, I went downstairs to open the cards and gifts that had been awaiting this 39th birthday. When I opened her card, out fell these fantastic earrings!!


"These are just my style," I thought, "and I have so many sweaters that would match them!"



Since I was still in my pj's, I figured I'd go get dressed for the day and don those fine earrings. It just might turn this 10 cent day into a million dollar day!



As I lifted one up to my lobe >>ploink<<> it fell into the sink and sashayed quickly toward the drain. Unfortunately it was faster than my clumsy fingers could recue it. **chink** It went down.



Now I remember this happening to my mom years back, and all I could hear was my dad saying "WHATEVER YOU DO ELLEN DO NOT RUN THE WATER!!" Seemed obvious enough that thus said bauble would be flushed out to sea, but I guess it made my dad feel better to say that instead of "you silly woman now I have to get up from reading the paper".



So thinking quickly, I didn't turn on the sink. I tried lifting out the drain, and of course it doesn't come out. I had a feeling I was gonna have to work for this one. What next? Plumbers wrench? Phillips head? 2 x 4? I mentally threw out the names of all the tools I knew.



Just thinking about tools doesn't, unfortunately, get the job done so I resolved to go ask the neighbor. (Christopher wasn't able to pickup his phone due to being at work)



Neighbor Dave happily e'splained to Lucy (that would be me) how the sink works, how the drain fits into the sink, and how they work together as a happy team to prevent flooding. I was starting to feel like I was at a Home Depot workshop, and wondered if I would get one of those cute little work aprons for free. Anyway, he was quite helpful with his remedial explanation of what I should do. He also gave me this long-skinny-grabber-claw-thingie (try to find one of those at Home Depot!!) to snatch it out once I had gotten the drain out.



Trudging back to my home, I thought about what might be unearthed as I pulled out the drain of our rental bathroom. How many people had lived there? Did they shave their armpits into the sink? I remembered they were Asian and weren't Asians purported to be hairless? At this point I weighed the Vomit Potential with the Earring Cuteness. Maybe I could wear just one and hope the trend catches on?? No, I determined that I would do this without being a sissy. Look at those women on Extreme Home Makeover with their hard hats! C'mon Jill!



Just as Dave outlined, the drain was easy to disassemble and when I pulled it out (eyes closed to a squint) no hair chunks or body parts came out with it!!! Hallelujah!! I used the cool Claw Thingie to rescue the drowning earring. I felt like such a hero I high-fived myself.



But not before I put a towel over the drain hole....I didn't want to drop that earring in again.

Did I mention that I love Fall?

My favorite season, in the Pacific Northwest, is by far the Fall. It couldn't be any more gorgeous here with the shades of evergreens mixed with the reds of the season.

I love when people decorate their porches in "harvest style". Hay, pumpkins, scarecrows, and mums. Simply lovely.

If I was in California, I would tell you that my favorite season is Spring. Love the weather warming up, the blossoming plants, and you can actually wear the lighter clothes they show in the stores!

I'm so excited!!

I am putting on the Christmas play for our church! The Children's Director asked Christopher and I if we wanted to run the program this year, and we (I) accepted. Christopher's kinda the silent partner in the whole deal. I'll just tell him when to show up and what to do ;o)

Anyway, it's called Christmas Show Spectacular...and just between you and me...I want Julian to be in the starring role. Ya think anyone will wonder??

gimmefive

Five Things I Love About Fall:

1. An obvious #1, the leaves turning colors on the trees.

2. We now have a yard that drops LOTS of leaves. Why is that great? When I rake them up the smell is absolutely divine!! Then the kids jump in and about the pile while I smile, remembering how Julie and I used to do that in Illinois.

3. Getting out the warm and snuggly sweaters! (These bulky clothes also conveniently hide the not-so-svelte figure I sport in my older years...)

4. Keeping my Pumpkin Pie or Caramel Apple candles lit all the time. **sniff** ..ahhhhh

5. The anticipation of the upcoming holidays.

Ethan's New Ride

A lesson learned.

Problem: Child #4 wakes up flushed, hot, and shaky. Mother knows right away a doozie of a sickness is coming on.

Solution: Hydrate Child #4 as soon as possible.

Problem: Child #2 has finished off the last of the apple juice without writing it on the grocery list. There is only high pulp orange juice and V-8 in the refrigerator.

Solution: Mother scours pantry to find another non-acidic beverage to mix with water, since Child #4 won't drink the plain water. The mission is successful and Child #4 is satisfied with the concocted beverage. He follows to drink 2 sippy cupsful in a row.

Problem: Child #4 leaves the washable floors of the kitchen to find a plush, beige, carpeted area to vomit up the 2 sippy cupsful of beverage.

Lesson learned: Never give a sick child red gatorade.

Family Portrait

Stay tuned within the next few weeks to see our latest family portrait!

The hottest spoof sensation since Wierd Al! Presenting...Julian Dayton!!

b-o-l-o-g-n-a!

By popular demand:

(Well, it's popular with the "under 12" crowd...)