My house is kind of filthy.  I've been very busy and bringing work home so my housework has suffered.  I asked Chef if he could help out a bit and he ran 2 loads of laundry and washed a sinkful of dishes, but that's about it.  Not really the help I was hoping for, but that's ok.  I figured we were both busy and tired.  So this morning he called to ask me if his best friend, wife and two children under 2 (one is less than 1 month old) can come and stay for 2 days next week.  I have plans all weekend (including having to work) and in between doing that and life chores like bill paying, I'm supposed to clean the house and go food shopping.  I forgot to mention, the wife is allergic to cats.  I have two.  It's not like my house is big but when you are trying to clean a house for someone who is allergic to cats, you can't give it the simple once over. 

This means double vacuuming and double hot laundry for washing sheets for the bed.  AND, I'll have to rearrange the guest bedroom so that they can put two pack-n-plays in it and I don't think they'll fit.  Chef said that he would help clean after he gets home on Sunday night and said that he could handle last minute little stuff on Monday before they come.  Little stuff?  WTF?!  I don't want to say no because he never gets to see his friend and he really wants to meet the new baby and see the older one whom he adores.  Plus, we have some tweaking to do on the baby gift we have for the little one and wrap it.  I'm tired.  I should probably be cleaning my house now instead of complaining in my blog.

And my front steps are now 3 different colors because we're trying out a couple of new shades. 

I don't call my mother, sisters or brother on a regular basis.  I don't call anyone on a regular basis but apparently I'm supposed to speak with my mother-in-law daily.  I don't know anyone who calls their MIL daily (or even weekly).  But she was really upset and threw some drama at Chef and me and after we said the phone works both ways, we were told that she expects us to call her.  I guess Chef will be trying to do so.  I'm still undecided.  I'm just not a big phone kind of girl.  Never have been.  Even as a teenager, I didn't talk on the phone as much as most teens.  

I was going to leave you all my Harry Potter books and memorabelia Jeanie but if you want the cupcake tins you got 'em! 

I'm still looking for someone to be guardian to my kitties - anyone want that job? 

It took me 6 months to decide on a color for my front steps and other assorted bits around the house (like the back door, cellar access door and shed).  I painted the steps, double checked the color match to the paint chip and am now on a mad hunt to find another color before it's too cold to paint again.  The color I found is a deep, rich color.  As long as it's not bigger than a paint chip, it's a deep rich color!  It's really bright when you paint it on four 6' long steps. 

Well, if it's too cold to paint they'll have to stay as is - acting like a beacon to those lost in a snow storm. 

Jeanie - here's your cupcake  It's got candy chips and no frosting.

AD - I don't dare tell you all the stuff I did the rest of the weekend.  You've already fallen over in a faint over one day.  LOL

We're stuck with the rewrite of our wills.  We don't know who to use as an Executor/Executrix.  Someone has told us that it's preferable to have someone who lives in the state (because of state laws).  Unfortunately the people we trust live out of state (and out of country).  I guess the estate could hire an in-state lawyer to help but geez, I hate the idea of paying them even from the grave.  Also, we're not so sure what to do about certain items that mean something to us and have some value.  These are the icky decisions you have to make as soon as you accumulate a bunch of crap.

So if there's anything you want, speak up now before we finalize. 

I just started to total up all the stuff I did today. 

Went to the dentist, dropped donation clothes off, went to the bank, bought paint, started rewriting our wills, sanded the front steps and put two coats of paint on them, sanded the back door, cleaned a bathroom, swept the downstairs, checked email and BZWorld, had lunch, watched a movie, went grocery shopping, baked a pie, made lunches for the week, baked and frosted cupcakes, had dinner, washed dishes constantly and did some internet research on two different subjects.  Not bad for 12 hours.

I had more things planned but people weren't available so I couldn't do what I needed to do.   

Signing off so I can have a cupcake.

Jeanie - you will be very pleased to hear (but not surprised I'm sure) that Deadwood, SD is rated as one of the most picturesque towns in America!  Check this out http://cityguides.msn.com/articles/cityarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=22421086&GT1=24000

I can't wait to see it for myself. 

I went shopping today for a winter dress coat.  Unfortunately all I could find were short ones and ugly retro belted maxi coats.  So I bought boots instead.  I didn't need them but I found a sale.  Buy one pair and get 2 pairs free.  How could I pass that up?  Well, I almost did because most of the shoes were all man made material and I like leather because man made stuff makes your feet sweat.  But I found a pair of boots that I really wanted so I kept looking for the 2 free pairs.  My logic was that if I couldn't find any for me that I would buy 3 pairs of the same boots in different colors and give the other two to my sisters (we have the same size feet).  AND I also found a pair that were marked $20 less than the others because they missed re-pricing this box.  Well, they had to give them to me for the price on the box.  Plus I got the two free pairs of leather shoes.

Then I wandered into the Godiva chocolate store.  Apparently I signed up for their frequent buyer program (which is weird because I don't remember doing that and I don't frequently buy) which entitled me to a free goodie and I got chocolates for 50% off and because I spent $10 I get an extra prize next month. 

All in all it was a good haul.

I had a 3 day weekend thanks to Personal days that I hadn't taken yet.  Chef had Monday off too so we went to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Museum of Science.  It was advertised as being the science behind HP but it really was a bunch of the props and costumes from the movies.  Still, it was fun.  They really had a lot of stuff.  I never thought much about how much goes into making a movie set look soooooo real.  Then we went and visited with our great niece Lilly.  She's such a cutie pie.  She wasn't sure about Chef at first but warmed up to him quickly. 

Then last night we went to see This Is It - the Michael Jackson movie.  It was really wonderful.  I loved the music and seeing how the tour was developed.  It was 2 hours long but I wish it was even longer.  Such an amazing talent.  I can't believe he's gone.

Between my trip last week and Monday off, I am so far behind at work I can't think straight.  But this too shall pass.  Either it will get done by me, by someone else or not done and never needed to be done.

Halloween was very nice.  We had about 3 dozen kids and just enough candy.  We usually get about 6 kids and have lots of leftovers.  I think it was because it was such a beautiful night out.  The streets were really busy and the children very sweet.  No really little ones though.  I always like the 2-3 year olds.  They're funny.  Chef was even able to come home early to help hand out candy.  He kept his uniform on and the kids loved it!  A couple even joked with him and started ordering burgers and stuff.  What can I say - I married a kiddie crowd pleaser.

Impossible to rent a movie anywhere around here anymore.  All the rental joints have closed down.  I didn't want to join Netflicks but I guess I might have to.  Unfortunately it won't help me now.  I need a halloweeny type movie for tomorrow night.  Nothing scary but something like Ghostbusters or Casper.  It makes it more festive while I wait for the chillun chile types to come begging for treaties.

CC - I'd never read the book until last year.  Neither had my sister.  We were both a little frustrated at the fact that the tree gave everything and yet the boy didn't seem to learn much in the end.  But most people I know (especially children) love the story.  I guess she and I are missing out on something when we read it.

So, I'm home from my trip.  This one was physically bad (i.e., exhausting) for me.  I didn't get more than about 3 hours of sleep for 3 nights in 4.  I tried some sleep aids but they just don't work on me.  I've got to figure something out before my next trip.  Nothing much to report other than the new hotel was nice.  Oh, and it turns out that Frankenstein's castle is only about 20 minutes away from the office.  I didn't get to see it this trip but next time I go my team wants to take me there.  That could be cool.

I've got a new work computer and they didn't load all the software I had from my previous laptop.  That makes me nuts.  I provided a list of everything I had and needed.  I hauled the thing with me on my trip only to find that I couldn't do the work I'd planned on.  Things like this make me very tired.

Saw Where the Wild Things are today with my sister and my nephew.  She was watching him while my other sister had a job today.  It was ok; a bit slow in some areas but I have to say that I don't really think it was made for children.  I did like the characters though.  My nephew has the book but he didn't really understand the movie, other than it had a happy ending.  Happy ending stories always make him smile.  He loves The Giving Tree story.

Just before I left to meet them my neighbor (landscaper) was working on my next door neighbor's yard.  He asked me how I felt about him clearing out some of the plantings between the houses.  I told him he could get rid of the icky stuff like the scrub maples and prickers.  I trusted that he would make it look good.  I got home and HOLY COW there's almost nothing separating us anymore.  Almost no privacy at all.  I threw him a horrified look and he started laughing.  He's actually going to put in some burning bush and forcythia (sp) which will fill in nicely.  Fine with me.  It's got to be better than what was there.  I had to call Chef at work though and warn him.  We had been trying to convince our neighbor to let us do this since we moved in but he always said no.  This landscaper is going to help me with some other bits around our house too.  Especially around my new parking lot.  He's got great ideas and great taste so I'm looking forward to that.  I told him I had to save up money first though.

It's pouring buckets and I'm supposed to be packing for my next trip.