Not sweating the small stuff...now

Ahhhh...it's Sunday evening and the lingering scent of pumpkin spice is in the air. That's a very good thing and I am feeling remarkably Zen now. The weekend didn't start off this relaxed.

On Friday, I bolted home from the office to go on a cleaning frenzy before the 'social worker visit' Saturday morning. I have absolutely no clue why I was so anxious (except perhaps the Chai tea I have been downing like an addict). I wasn't edgy the first time I did all this stuff three years ago. But, suffice it to say, I was as stressed out as a chihuahua trying to pass a peach pit. I cleaned with neurotic attention to detail. I can admit now that the house wasn't even dirty when I started. After the cleaning catharsis, I was making a pumpkin roll from scratch at 1AM and, while it baked, put festive, harvest corn stalks out by flashlight to keep the porch pumpkins company. (I am sure the neighbors think I'm a fruitcake putting stuff out for the season in the dark of night.)

Finally I was finished and ready. I collected the day's mail in the wee hours and was, for a hot second, thrilled to see my child abuse clearance came in. Well, it's mine if my name is 'Carrie' - which it is not. Everything else was correct but my name. This was a major bite because it is taking quite a while to get these forms back these days. But, be proud, I neither cried nor cussed. I just put it on the pile of things to address during 'the visit'. I think I almost expect there to be a problem with everything anymore. That way I can be pleasantly surprised when it goes smoothly.

I was up with the chickens on Saturday and the visit was easy-peasy. Amazing what the gal was able to remember about my house from three years prior. Yeah, not much about it is the same so I guess it really wasn't that surprising if she said 'is that new?' and the answer was 'yes'. Still, I was impressed with her recall. As for the 'wrong name form' she gave me a direct contact to get that remedied ASAP. But, some things rolled down hill a bit. She arrived with Dunkin' Donuts in her hand. So much for all my little home-made tricks. (#*@. Then, love her for either not noticing or not saying anything, I was mortified when I walked out behind her and then turned around to come back in. Off she drove, but then I turned to see the flashing on the house above the garage all pulled loose and, to top it off, the gutter decided to sag off of the house right over the front door. This is what I get for leaving early, coming home late and decorating in the dark.

I'm just glad the gutter didn't flop off and clock her in the head as she was standing at the front door. No kidding. What an embarrassment. It looks like the flippin' Addams family lives here. Then again, maybe she thinks it's part of the Halloween decor ;0) I should be so lucky. Looks like I'll be on the phone again. I tell ya: home ownership = money pit. I did nearly everything inside by myself but when it comes to roof/gutter issues, I am keeping myself on the ground forever more. I have already found that I am not so graceful on a roof.

Saggy gutters and funky roof aside, life is still very, very good around here these days. I am hoping things get processed in a timely way and I have no more paperwork glitches. The rest of my weekend was perfect and sweet anticipation of the months to come makes everything else not matter so much.

I do believe that peach pit has passed....arf!