Friday, February 29, 2008

Calgon take me away

Please tell me I'm not the only one who remembers that commercial. The woman in the lovely bubble filled tub who is blissfully soaking while images of all the other stuff going crazy around her float around her head? I want that Calgon moment (without having to use calgon actually, nothing wrong with it, just kind of makes my skin itch). I especially want it since my day, which was all planned out, has so not gone as I wanted it to today.


I had a whole list of things that needed to get done today. Bank. Library. Post office. Grocery store. Job applications (time to look for employment for the fall if you are a teacher, which is what I have been doing all week). All so that I could be done with that list by sometime around 2:00 which would have given me time to tackle my sewing area. It's a disaster. If I was quick, I would even have had time to, gasp, sew today. Oh bliss.


And for those of you who don't believe me when I say how awful my sewing area currently is? (gwen, Nan, you know who you are) Um, let me show you JUST how bad it is. You see, I went out of town for five (only five really) days. My sewing "room" is also the eat-in dining room/kitchen. Now I did leave in a hurry and there were a few (just a few mind you) things piled here when I left. But, well, I came back to this. And -- in the just over a week and 1/2 since I've been back? Um -- I may have added just a bit to it (just a little mind you). But -- well, hey -- I've had a sick kid, a job fair, etc. going on.


Oh yeah, and I've had to work on digging out the REST of the house (trust me folks, those photos I'm scared to take -- the health department may just come and threaten to take Miss Tink away for her own safety). Now, some of this mess is mine, I will admit. But -- um, I don't remember putting the stuffed fish in my chair. Or the Olivia books hanging out there either. Hmmn...I wonder who thought that would be a good place for those things to hang out? I'm thinking she's adorable and about 3 feet tall, but still...


And just for yucks, how about a photo from the other side? If you squint really hard and look closely enough you MIGHT be able to see some fabric hanging out there. Maybe. I know there's a cutting mat somewhere under there as well -- somewhere. Where? I'm not entirely certain -- oh wait, I do see a small corner of it peeking out. Ah, good, it does still exist. I was beginning to wonder.


And Libby's challenge to show our ironing boards on our blogs? Yeah -- I was thinking about that one -- and then realized that THIS is the state of my ironing board. I'll cop to the Target bags (thanks Suzanne for telling me about them -- reusable and a whole $.99 each -- wooo hooo). But, um, -- while I like Tinkerbell (the fairy as opposed to Miss Tinkerbell whom I love to pieces) -- the purse so does NOT match my ensemble. Any of my ensembles. Again, I wonder who it could belong to?



Though, since I was taking pictures I did manage to shove aside move a few things to take a photo of the actual state of the pressing surface. It's not too bad really, then again -- this is just the wear since December when I replaced the darned cover. I go through about one new cover ever six months or so. I usually stick with the plain duck cloth covered ones because -- well, I destroy them. The last one went to ironing board cover heaven because of the holes I had burned through it. Yep -- I do love me some steam, but, well, um, it does take its toll.




So -- why am I here asking for a Calgon moment rather than working on the huge honking mess that used to be my sewing area? Or better yet -- done with the decontamination clean-up and blissfully sewing away? Miss Tinkerbell herself. I've spent the better part of my day at one Dr.'s office or another trying to have them find one of these. No, not the penny. The green thing. It's one of my knitting stitch markers. Lovely little things, soft, simple. Great. I love it for marking stitches for my knitting.


So where were Dr.'s looking for it? Um, yeah, that would be up Miss Tink's nose. Go ahead. Laugh. I know I've been doing a lot of it today. There is a point at which things are so absurd you have to laugh. Right before leaving for daycare this morning she announced that she had shoved it up her nose. My husband looked, I looked, couldn't see it. Ok, off to convenient care. Um, yeah, you remember that place right? Only this time, since I had a 2 year old to entertain, no knitting. UGH. And then, the convenient care Dr. couldn't find it either. Referral to the ear, nose throat specialist. Nope, not seeing it. So, a lovely scope (which I explained to Tink as a camera up her nose). All the while folks are asking -- are you sure she did it? And bad mother that I am -- "um, sure, I guess so" I'm taking the word of a 2 yo here folks. While the nose stuffing was occurring, I was upstairs throwing on my jeans and getting ready to drop her off at daycare -- I wasn't actually present. My husband was with her. On the plus side for the toddler's story -- she's pretty specific (pointed to which nostril and very sure about what color it was) oh, yeah, and my husband totally believed her so -- I'm going with it. When she's making up things -- usually it's NOT something she's going to get in trouble for. So, nothing on the scope either. Best guess is that she sniffed it back to her throat and has since swallowed it. Ok, so we get to (oh yuck) keep on eye on the poop situation and see if it comes out the other end. Fun. (we also get to keep an eye on her "booger" production and make sure it didn't go into her lungs and start an infection -- again -- joy oh joy).


On the plus side -- Miss Tinkerbell is a trooper and every single doctor and nurse was amazed at how cheerful (she gleefully told them it was a 'geen stich mawker' up her nose while pointing to her left nostril -- little scamp) and well behaved she was. Not a lick of complaint, even when they were shoving things up her nose and/or squirting liquids up there so they could get a better look. She was even polite and said "thank you" to the Dr.'s. ALMOST enough for me to forgive her for shoving it up there in the first place. Almost.


So, what did I get done today? Bank? If I hurry maybe. Food? Looks like we're going out to eat tonight. Library? What's one more day of late fees? Applications? They're online -- I can work on them tonight. Post office? Luckily open tomorrow -- sorry Sharon and Aunt L. One more day. Sewing table? Um...yeah, pretty much the same state as in the photos. And, given the day I've had -- the applications may wait for tomorrow with the sewing table getting attention tonight. I NEED some fabric therapy. And hey, if I can get in some fabric therapy -- I may have a third package to send off tomorrow. Woo Hoo!


So -- Calgon? Nah -- I don't have any (though I do have some absolutely yummy vanilla sugar scrub and salts). I think tonight's stress relievers of choice will be some fabric play and some lovely hot chocolate. With homemade marshmallows. (note -- the marshmallows are already made. And pink. Tinkerbell helped :0) ) And if a little bit of the Irish manages to find its way into my mug? Yeah, just about perfect.


Oh, yes, I'm also going to be hiding all of my knitting supplies. ALL of them. I mean, this time it was a stitch marker. I don't want to KNOW where she would think of putting my bamboo double pointed needles. *shudder* Or my Addi's -- um, yeah. Lesson learned for Mom too -- don't leave ANY crafting supplies out where small one can get to them. Maybe a touch more of the Irish will be needed?!?

23 comments:

Lindah said...

Awwww, don't be too hard on yourself about the craft supplies being out. It's probably a good thing to have them out of reach, but really......this mom could tell you a story about little pebbles up a little nose. It happens. Big, tall, strapping, 6-foot-plus tall daddy himself now. :-)
Hang in there, mom!

Libby said...

Of course I remember 'Calgon, take me away.' Also 'Ancient Chinese secret, huh?' Face it, if I cleared my brain of all the useless clutter I might be able to think real thoughtful thoughts *s* Sounds like you just had one 'of those days' Good thing it's over - and it will be the stuff of many an amusing story . . . a long, long, long time from now. Trust me.

PamKittyMorning said...

I can't remember if it was my brother or the neighbor kid who stuff mashed potatoes up his nose and they mildewed and mom couldn't figure out the smell and that's what it was. I remember baby sitting a kid with a very flat little nose putting about 4 pearls up his nose.. dad was a dr. and totally ignored me telling him and I ended up getting them out. of course now that I hear about the infection and the poop watching it makes me feel a little quesy. I feel your pain on the cleanup. I still have stuff yet to put away but I'm loving my reworked room. Good luck with the stitch market.

Kristin L said...

That little geen stich mawker doesn't look so bad -- Tink will be fine! As for the messy table, that's fine too. My table is covered like that, but with kid's stuff, PLUS I have a room for sewing that one must wade through to get anything.

Gina said...

I'm sorry but I did have a chuckle at your 'adventures'.
I was lucky as gemma didn't do anything like that, but i did find I got tidier as she became more mobile.

love and hugs xxx

julieQ said...

My son stuffed a un-popped kernal of popcorn into his ear...right up againest the eardrum, pointey side in!! I was terrified that he would be deaf...$300.00 later and one specialist...it was out! Calgon...take me away!

Nan said...

I do remember the "Calgon take me away" commercial. I just never believed that a tub full of perfumey stuff could help relieve the day's stresses. I'm with you - a bit of the Irish never hurts! And pink marshmallows? I think they could solve the world's ills, don't you? What a day you had, my friend! I will say Miss Tink is a game girl, though!
As for your "mess" - I thought it was quite lovely with the green and pink bags strewn around. Very artsy-fartsy, Angela! Thanks for sharing!

Kate North said...

I hope you won't hate me for laughing :O Seriously, when you said your stitch marker had gone missing, I knew just where it had gone.... Poor you. We've been really lucky here, nothing up the nose yet, but I do remember my neighbour calling me once to ask if she could leave one of her kids with me while she took the other one to casualty to have a bead (i think it was) removed from the nose. Sure, I said, bring her over, thinking she'd be leaving the 8 year old girl with me and taking the 5 year old boy to casualty (as you'd assume, right?) No, apparently not. I hope this doesn't mean Tink means to make a career of it!

Lisa said...

Angela, how funny! I titled my own post "Calgon take me away... all ready!" yesterday. Different theme, similar sentiments.

here is a nose story for you. My MIL took her young son (my future hubby) to the pediatrician and while there mentioned a strange odor emanating from his nose. The doc took a look and pulled out a fermenting raisin. Hubby hadn't made mention to his mom. However, the event had long lasting benefits... while in med school, faced with a similar situation, was able to know where to look! Ya just never know!!! Glad Tinkerbell survived the ordeal (and you too).

and btw, we all have messy sewing room weeks!!!

Greenmare said...

I think a bit more of the Irish is in order for you. On the plus side, you have one totally normal 2 year old, if that helps?
poor you guys on poop patrol! Ah, this too shall pass (as my father in law would say)

Greenmare said...

oh and the reason for all this is because it happened on the leap day!

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Probably sad but I think that was looking pretty good!!
I am having a catch up, love the tour of the old quilts...not that I needed more motivation to make them, but don't you just love seeing them old like that.
Some great new additions there as well, Tracey

Nicole said...

Oh my. And I thought my little Ozzie got into an awful lot of scrapes! Forget the Calgon, try Chardonnay instead.

Unknown said...

Oh dear, you are very courageous to tell us all about that not so nice day! And in such an entertaining way too! I admire your DD so much. I would not like having things put up my nose! Your ironing board has a lot of similarities with mine. Usually I can´t see it! And thank you for showing pictures of your sewing area. You kept your word! Take care and enjoy the irish.

Magpie Sue said...

O.M.G.! You poor woman/mommy! I was spared an episode like yours, thank heavens, when mine were little. My youngest did end up with a sewing needle sticking out of the back of his head once though :- ( Guess we all have to go through one version or another.

I sure hope your weekend has taken an upswing and you've managed to get in some of that fabric therapy. (And yes, I also remember those Calgon commercials!)

Tanya said...

That's hilarious! I'm sure Tinkerbell will be fine with or without the mawker in her poop! Glad you can laugh along with the rest of us!

YankeeQuilter said...

After a day like that a lot of Irish in the cup is called for! Glad she is OK and is didn't hurt too much.
Sio

Laurie Ann said...

Oh man! I remember when I was a kid I used to eat pennies. Why? Who knows? Maybe I thought it was fun to see them come out the other side. SIGH. Poor Mom!

Holly said...

Ah, the joys of motherhood. Think of the stories you'll be able to tell her someday. I hope things work out in the end :)

Darlene said...

Definitely a "Calgon Take Me Away" day. Just leaving a little ((HUG))!

Red Geranium Cottage said...

OMG I am laughing sooo hard. I had to read the part about Tinkerbell to hubby. Sure we can laugh cause our kids are all grown. LOL!!Not that we've not been in your situation but we can laugh NOW. That was hysterical. Anything green shown up yet???
I remember the Calgon commercials. Sure I do. Does that make me old??
I gotta get my butt to the post office too. LOL!!! I'm going, I'M GOING!!!!!

Emily Cole said...

Wow, what a day! I am so glad none of my kids has yet to shove anything up their nose (other than a finger)! I do remember those commercials too!

Anonymous said...

I had to laugh because we usually refer the Calgon commercial for something really different : "un coup de Calgon" meaning you're eally pi**ed at something and close to a nerveous breakdown ...
now they say a messy workshop is a healthy one... ;P