It just takes one phone call!

Night before last, our neighbor called about 9:30 PM. She was desperate for a sitter the next morning -- all her regular sitters weren't available. Sure, I can sit for her! I love her kids -- and only 2 of the 4 would be there. So, after taking Joe to school & Dave to work, I refilled my coffee cup & walked over. We had fun! It was craft time -- tearing scraps of paper to make pictures, coloring, etc.

While I was there, a friend of my neighbor called. SHE was desperate for a sitter that afternoon! All of her regular sitters weren't available. I told her to bring them on over. "I know we've never met, but either Diane or I will be here to watch your kids. I just have to be free by 3 PM." Diane got home about 11:45 AM, so I dashed home to get a bite to eat & let Cali out. Diane called to say she had to take one of her kids to pre-school, so could I keep my eye out for her friend's van. I told her to leave her daughter with me & we'd watch for the other family. They arrived about 5 min. after Diane left. The kids know each other, but the neighbor girl (3) and the oldest friend (5) are more like kittens spitting at each other! I had to discipline a little -- separate, teach, etc.

Diane had a couple of errands, & I know it's much easier without kids, so I told her just to get them done.On her way home, she called to see what kind of Starbucks I like. YEAH!!! I was about to conk out from being so tired! She got in about 2:45. I took a couple of min. to tell her about what had happened with the kids. She kept saying, "That's a good way to say that." and "You're so good at that." I told her I've been around the block a couple of times & the patience comes with age -- she's in the middle of it & worn down. AND, her littlest one is a cute, strong willed princess! We laughed about that too. I encouraged her to not wait until she was desperate -- if I'm not available, I'll tell her.

Her kids & a couple of others in the neighborhood love to come over, ring our doorbell & ask, "Can Cali come out & play?" If it's "yes", I usually sit out on the porch & crochet or talk to the kids.

All that to say, I didn't get ANYTHING done at my house on Thurs!!!

Today I had planned to get the kitchen finished. NOT!!! After taking Joe to school & Dave to work, I set up an antique 8mm film projector in the conference room as a display (along with the display of remote controls & VHS tapes -- with the tape pulled out of the cassette!). Anyway, I needed to get an actual display case & 2 frames (for the manual & diagram sheet). That meant a trip to Hobby Lobby. But first, I went to Office Max to get file boxes so I can finish the basement this wkend.

By the time I got home, it was nearly noon. So, I got busy in the kitchen. First order of the day was to empty two cupboards & cut the upper shelf on one side so I could move the microwave into the cupboard -- that way it's actually in the kitchen & not in the dining area. That required a jig saw. Which we didn't have. That meant a trip to Home Depot. Once home, I had to figure out the saw, make measurements & start cutting. Sawdust EVERYWHERE!!! And, bec. the saw has guide feet on each side of the blade, I couldn't get completely to the area I needed to cut out. What a mess!!!

Then, at 3 PM I had to leave to pick up Joe & take him to work. (Thankfully, he can pick his car up @ the repair shop tomorrow!!!) But, on my way out the door, Dave called to tell me he has to fly to Cincinnati 9/15-16. I can't figure out why he finds it necessary to keep me on the phone while he works on his computer, looking for flights. I'm not much help when I can't see what I'm doing. I finally got off the phone, got Joe & got back home. I got back on the phone with Dave, asked a couple of questions & then started working on my computer looking for flights. Since he tends to have problems when he flies (delays, broken planes, etc.), he prefers to fly non-stop. It came to an $800 ticket!!! Not my money.

Back to the kitchen. More cutting, cleaning up the mess, getting the microwave into the cupboard. It fit! By now, it's just after 5 PM. Time to go pick up Dave at work. As I pulled out of the drive, I called to let him know he got to pick where we would be getting supper -- the kitchen is too torn apart to cook or even get a glass out of the cupboard. Taco Bell. Not my favorite, but it was OK. I had something small, so I may have a bowl of cereal later.

I'll finish the kitchen tomorrow. My right shoulder is too sore from all the work with the jig saw. You see, there's a feature on the jig saw that allows you to hook it up to your vacuum cleaner. I didn't figure that out until after the first mess. So, I got the vacuum cleaner & hooked it up to the saw attachment. Yeah, it doesn't FIT -- the attachment cracked. SO, I taped it on, stood on the step stool, put the vacuum hose on my right shoulder & began to cut the upper shelf. I felt like a monkey trying to scratch her butt thru her ear! It was heavy, awkward & a strain. Men just don't ask women how to design some power tools! What's up with that?! We need them too, but they need to fit our hands & be more practical -- just as effective & powerful, but better thought out.

Too tired to do anything else. I'll start again in the morning -- either before I take Joe to get his car, after I take Dave to work, or some other urgent need that only I seem to be able to take care of.