Thursday, May 14, 2009

Ready or Not....

Wouldn't it be funny if I had written out a list of housework to do for Thursday, yardwork for Thursday evening, and more housework for Friday in preparation for the Unseen City Tour on Friday, and then found out at 11:00 on Thursday morning (before I'd started crossing things off my list) that the tour was actually ON THURSDAY??

I'll give you a hint: No.

Well, okay, it was actually really hilarious. But it could have been EXTREEEEEMELY embarrassing! Luckily, I had my sister's friend Stephanie looking out for me... she got in touch with my sister and my sister got in touch with me to suggest that I double check the day of the tour. So I looked it up online, and sure enough, the tour was scheduled for tonight. I should've taken before and after pictures of the inside and outside of my house when she called this morning and again just before the tour started. Three people saved my life today: Stephanie, my sister Sarah, and my sister-in-law TusaRebecca. As soon as I texted my sister-in-law, she came over with yard bags and garden tools and gloves and we got to work on the outside of the house. Thankfully, yesterday I had borrowed Stephanie's daughter to come play with Anja while I was able to clean the whole dining room. We literally worked all afternoon, and luckily, the girls were complete gems. First they were happy all morning, then they both napped at the same time for a good two and a half hours! Martin came home at 2:00 (when he asked his boss, she evidently said, "you need to go home." Martin's office is incredible.) and quickly cleaned up the kitchen, so it ended up being on the tour as well. TusaRebecca and I were so stinky and sweaty by the end of the afternoon! My sister sent over her cute ice cream table from her porch along with some yummy scones! (I'm assuming they were yummy... I actually didn't get to eat one.) My mother-in-law's yard contributed some pretty irises for the dining table and some dogwood flowers for a pitcher that sat with the scones on the ice cream table on the porch. Okay, I can't help saying it.... my house looked really cute.

And then people actually LIKED it!!! One lady even commented on (now, don't faint!) HOW CLEAN IT WAS!!!!! Can you even believe it?!?!? And while people also said that they liked my decorating style and that it felt cozy and inviting and cottagey, the comment I got the most throughout the evening was, "My, you're brave!" I'm sure they meant to say "stupid" and I'm sure their compliments were sort of genuine but with a little bit of pity thrown in as I stood there with my 8-week-old baby, but still!! I appreciated their nice words and without TusaRebecca's hard work and my sister's heads-up, I would've simply had to post a sign on the door explaining that we'd all come down the the Plague, so sorry, no tour for you.

The most surprising part of the night? It was so much fun! Martin is a funny guy--he is all quiet and shy seeming to most, but boy, if you get him in a social setting, he can really work a room. Here he was explaining our house to strangers and having a really good time!! I had a great time too, Anja was AMAZING and had so much fun being our little greeter, Greta slept for most of the time, but what time she was awake she spent completely happy. We saw a number of familiar faces and at the end of the night we sat down and had ourselves some delicious steaks (courtesy of my mother-in-law) and the last Summer Ale in our fridge to celebrate a job well done.

What a day!

6 comments:

Lady Caitie in the Pretty City said...

Yay for you!! Congrats! Sometimes those last minute, crazy situations make for the best memories! :)

LauraSuz said...

1. Aren't sisters, SIL, and friends the best? You can always count on them.

2. I too love your decorating style; your home is always cute and inviting.

3. Long story short, I had Dan's cell while I was gone so I just saw your text this morning. Otherwise I would have gone in a second!

Sarah said...

I am SO glad everything worked out. What a crazy story! And Caitie is right -- what a fun memory!

Stephanie B. said...

Hi, Annie,
I found your blog through Sarah's. I loved reading about the tour went. I wish I could have been there. Remember when I was there and said, 'some people work better last minute'. Well, I didn't meant it like it ended up working out!
I also had some free time with fast internet at my parents' last night and enjoyed listening to clips of your CD online!

Stephanie B. said...

Hi, Annie,
I found your blog through Sarah's. I loved reading about the tour went. I wish I could have been there. Remember when I was there and said, 'some people work better last minute'. Well, I didn't meant it like it ended up working out!
I also had some free time with fast internet at my parents' last night and enjoyed listening to clips of your CD online!

Unknown said...

OK. You have no idea how mad I am about the police thing. Mad at the guy for being a jerk to Martin and furious that a day after Baxter got hit you almost got hit. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I'm going to do something about it. I may call Christine. You should have seen how mad she was when I told her about Baxter. She will have good advice. Maybe I will just stand on the corner with a giant stop sign and a whistle and act as crossing guard for a few days until they get the hint. Of course you will have to cooperate and take walks while I'm the crossing guard! We will call all our friends to take walks at the same time. I'm pissed off big time because if it had been me pushing Anja in the stroller the other day and not walking Baxter, there is no way I could have gotten the stroller out of the way fast enough. Grrrrrrr....