Monday, December 10, 2007

Company Frenzy

That is what my dad has deemed the period of time you spend running around the house throwing items into closets, under beds and quickly running a vacuum at the same time as visitors are about to stop by. These are visitors who just called and said, "Hey! I'm in town, at Wal-Mart, and I'd love to stop by. Can you give me directions to your house?"

I always seem to be in a company frenzy even when I have planned company coming. That is simply because I am a procrastinator. Only I procrastinate on things I don't want to do that seem to be so annoying (wait, isn't that what we all procrastinate?). For example, housework. This I despise, but I also despise a dirty house, so something has to give. I dislike most types of housework, especially cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping and mopping the kitchen, making beds (what's the point?), and dusting, oh the dreaded dusting.

My husband doesn't mind picking up toys or running a vacuum so those are his chores. All that is left are dishes and laundry, which I don't mind. After all, you just put them in a machine and it does the work for you! Wow, I just realized how lazy this makes me sound. Maybe I am lazy, but I'm still in denial. Joining the lazy recovery group is on my "To do list" which I am procrastinating on writing.

So yesterday, when I knew my parents were coming over to visit for a few hours (and to attend a Christmas Cantata), the procrastination set in and the company frenzy took place about an hour before their arrival. I'd like to think that this was because I was so busy on Saturday and then with church Sunday morning, but really, that has nothing to do with it. I was just procrastinating. We had kept the house remotely clean. I had done 3 loads of laundry on Saturday and had loaded the dishwasher (because those are my chores), but the other ones which no one wishes to do were not done. So an hour before the scheduled arrival I cleaned the guest bathroom and the toilet in our bathroom because it just needed it and I had the supplies ready. Donnie ran the vacuum and Hoss refused to nap (and took off his diaper and threw everything out of the crib...I'm really starting to re-think this toddler bed thing).

But in the end the cleaning got done, to a satisfactory point. We didn't dust or scrub the bath tub, but we were presentable. If you want to visit (and we would love to have you all), please feel free to give us at least a week's notice. It won't mean that we won't procrastinate, but it will mean that we may have a moment to wipe the sweat off our brow before you get there. After all, what is a visit without a Company Frenzy to start it all off?

6 comments:

Ang said...

Reminds me of a story. Once upon a time there were a couple of college freshman who knew that weekly room checks were coming, but it seems like they alway procrastinated until the very last second. Then one day one of them had the good idea of making their bed BEFORE bed the night before, then sleeping on top of it so they didn't have to make it in the morning! Of course this is totally fictional, and I don't know anyone who ever did that!! Have a good week Jess!

Jessica said...

Ang -- I have NO idea what you are talking about! :)

Janelle said...

Oh you crack me up!

Jennifer Swanepoel said...

Can I join the lazy recovery group too? I'll sign up later... ;)

Jessie said...

"Company Frenzy" - so that's what you call it! I live there...only I get really bossing and grouchy in the middle of the frenzy - it's not a nice place to be...but I can't seem to get out of it!!!!! I hope your visit went well!

Heather said...

See, I hate doing the dishes because, even though I'm just putting them in the machine, I still have to scrub the funk off of them from where they've been sitting in my sink for a few days,quietly wedding themselves to Chef Boyardee residue. ;)

When all else fails, just meet guests at the door with a broom and say, "Gosh, I was just now cleaning!" It looks semi-virtuous, anyway.