Shamed Into Cleaning -Laughter for Anissa

For Anissa - the genius behind Aiming Low, Hope 4 Peyton and Free Anissa. She really is a superstar that aims quite high and

taught me that laughter is the best medicine.

Today I had to admit to myself my terrible aiming low tendencies. I am not a Type-A mom, although I am friends with many and often go to them for tips and pointers. No, I am more like a Type D mom. My son is well taken care of, has clean clothes and is fed. The "common" areas of my home are clean. But my bedroom and office area? They leave much to be desired. And today, the proverbial chicken came home to roost.

After over a month I finally decided to call my home warranty company about the broken downstairs toilet (yeah, I paid for the service but in my ultimate wisdom failed to call and use it). For a nominal fee of $50.00 the plumber was schedule to come out and fix the toilet. No problem. Common areas clean, kitchen clean, no obvious sources for embarrassment - in sight. As he is looking at the toilet he asks about the other bathrooms and if there are problems.

Hmm, last night I was considering the same thing myself. All of the toilets are notoriously difficult to flush and since he was making a visit it only made sense for him to check out the other bathrooms. Right? I was on board for him checking Mekhi's bathroom because, say it with me, "common area." I was NOT prepared for him to walk through my bedroom/ office and bathroom.

Of course he asked to see that one too - no need for multiple trips out and expended unnecessary money, right? So I said - hold on a minute. Prior to answering the door and giving him entry into the house I'd strategically closed my bedroom door to prepare for the possibility of him looking at Mekhi's bathroom. So, I quickly scurried into the room - pulled the door shut behind me and proceeded to throw the clean clothes (that had mysteriously fallen off of the bed to the floor) under the bed. I tried to pull the comforter down to hide the evidence but the bed was cluttered and it really didn't make much of a difference because clothes still peeked from beneath the bed. I took one of the myriad reusable bags in my room (that I keep meaning to put downstairs or in the car for use while shopping) and stuffed it with a few pair of jeans - at least they'd be out of the way. I quickly realized that I was fighting a losing battle.

More clothes were strewn on the floor, erupting from my unpacked suitcase from last week's trip to California. A dirty clothes pile was waiting in the middle of the floor waiting to be washed. The papers in my office look like they were tossed into the air and allowed to fall wherever. And stayed there. Because in reality that is pretty much what happens when you give a toddler free range of the house. Oh and let me not forget the corner filled with a cornucopia of gift bags,novelties and knick knacks from the conferences that I've been to attending spanning back to July of this year.

Yeah.

I declared the place a disaster and let him in because who was I kidding? There was no hope in sight for a bedroom/office that looked remotely in order. After looking at my toilet (and not mentioning the proverbial elephant in the room) the plumber left to go purchase some parts. Not knowing how long his trip would take and hoping to regain some of my dignity, I started cleaning like crazy. The pile of folded clothes on my side table? Placed in the closet. The dirty clothes? Back in the hamper. The large boxes in my office from deliveries (have you wondered why I am doing so many giveaways? Trying to clean house, yo!) out of the office and into the garage. While downstairs I scooped up some trash bags and commenced to cleaning and rearranging. One hour went by, and like the very hunger caterpillar that was "still hungry" - I was still cleaning. Another half hour - still cleaning. And then a call - the plumber let me know that after traveling to two stores he was still looking - and still about a half hour away.

I continued cleaning.

Finally, after two hours the doorbell rang. With parts in hand he marched himself directly into my bedroom and stated "I see you've been cleaning!" All I could do was laugh. I explained that he "shamed me into cleaning" and I was going to blog about it. We both had a great laugh and I shared stories of my blogging adventures, gave him recommendations for a graphic designer and web designer and chatted with him for the duration of his time spent fixing the toilets.

He has been gone an hour now. And you've guessed it. I am STILL cleaning. Actually, I am lying, I am typing this blog post with Hope for Anissa. I hope this makes you laugh my friend. And now I have to run because there really is more cleaning to be done!

Yesterday Anissa suffered a massive stroke and is in the ICU. This is her second. She is married and the mother of three young children. Everyone that knows her, loves her. She has a zest for life and crazy funny sense of humor. Please say prayers for her family and if you are so inclined, sign up here to help the family.