dishes

October 3, 2012 Image

Today was for standin’ in the kitchen, cryin’ at a Country song, while makin’ lasagna – one for my family and one for a friend’s. It snuck up on me. That song about fathers and daughters. Caught me unaware and ill prepared as it took me back through all those early years. I didn’t know those tears were waitin’, hoverin’ beneath the surface. Some days are just like that. One lasagna delivered with garlic bread and salad for the sides. One lasagna is in the oven. Ours. And those damn dishes are waitin’ in the sink. The day is still young. I’ll do ‘em…soon. ~ Janean

October 3, 2012

May 4, 2012

my art heart

If I could eat, sleep, breathe art I’d be skinnier, covered in glue and paper pieces from collaging and smiling a serene smile because making art smooths out all the jagged edges on the inside, where no one can see. I love the process of making art as much as I love art itself. I’m smiling that smile now and sighing happy sighs because I’ve been making art for a few days straight. I created art last week too. Oh, yes. I needed that. More than I knew. Best of all, I’m not done yet. Round three shall begin once the laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, soccer games, school programs and orchestra concerts are done… I can’t wait to get started! ~ Janean

April 16, 2012 Image

Standing at the sink.
Workin’ on the perpetual dishes.
I was about to give in to the tears that have been threatening all day.
Really.
I was.
Then I look over and see that cone headed puppy with his head in the dishwasher.
I took a picture before shooin’ him away with a, “No!”
Because he made me grin and chuckle a bit instead of sob into the sink.
Thankful yet again for our dog, Blue.

March 21, 2012

breakfast food analogy

I am toast
and not the pretty golden brown
evenly buttered kind
I’m stuck in the toaster
charred beyond recognition
crumbling burned black toast
evidently when my day starts at 4:30a.m.
by 6-something in the evening I am done
kaput
not worth much
by almost 7:30p.m. I am toast
actually those crumbs in the bottom if the toaster
I may be in bed before the children tonight
unless I fall asleep on the backyard chaise
where I have the dogs leash under a leg
to hold it in place
and I am stretched out fairly flat
my eye lids at half mast
there are dishes
clean ones to unload
pots and pans to do by hand
laundry to fold
more to move around
from one machine to another
but something’s burning
smoldering
crumbling
beyond done
crumble
crumble
ick
charred to bits
toast

March 5, 2012

confession

Ever since conquering the multitude of dirty dishes, silverware, cups, pots, pans and recyclables on Saturday, I’ve managed to keep the sink empty and the dishwashing machine full and at the ready.
However, throughout the day yesterday, whenever I’d see something in the sink, placed there by someone other than me, I had to resist the urge to shriek like a banshee while simultaneously tamping down the desire to throw said item against the wall.
But I didn’t do either.
Instead I picked it up carefully and either loaded it in the dishwasher, washed it by hand or rinsed and recycled the damn thing.
Trying to stay on top of it.
Trying not to lose my mind, or temper.
So far so good.
(I think…)

March 4, 2012 Image

Yesterday I wrote on my electronic reminder list, “Do the damn dishes. Every last one.”
I didn’t take a BEFORE picture.
Too embarrassing.
But here is my PROVING IT photograph.
The picture I took before clicking, “Done”, moving my e-reminder from unfinished business to COMPLETED.
Until breakfast tomorrow.
Or drinks in the night.
I’m out numbered you know.
Just savoring this moment.
While it lasts.
The dishwasher is running.
Thankful for that too.
Always.
My husband even said, “The sink looks nice.”
Damn straight it does.
It’s empty.
Hallelujah the dishes are DONE.
(For now.)