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a man’s solution

June 12th, 2006 @ 4:34 pm | Comments
Filed Under: life, marriage

Yesterday we spent the day at my parents’ house, having a summer picnic and visiting with my uncle who just moved back to Pittsburgh after living in Los Angeles for like FOREVER. He came home for my sister’s wedding last summer but before that, the last time I had seen him was when I was 14. So it’s nice to have him home again :)

A summer picnic with my family involves hanging out in my dad’s garage (he calls it ‘The Clubhouse’) at the picnic table that has found a semi-permanent residence there where the cars should go (he reluctantly moves it in the winter to allow my mom to park in there away from the snow and ice) There is a nicely stocked bar along the side wall next to the work bench, so we are never at a loss for something to drink or snack on. There is also a dartboard on the wall where we waste lots of time while my mom is inside happily making us yummy food. We pretty much just hang out, crack jokes and make fun of each other, and generally have a good time.

Another thing that the boys do while we’re there (the boys being my husband Dan, my sister’s husband Michael, my 2 uncles and my dad) is play horseshoes. Yes. We are rednecks. That is fine. We are proud.

Yesterday they played several games (or is it matches? hm) And if you know anything about horseshoes, you know that it involves 2 sandpits. Which OF COURSE at my dad’s house are filled with actual sand, because we do things right, darn it!

When we got home last night and I felt something crunchy under my feet in the hallway, I was surprised to learn it was sand from said horseshoe pits. From my husband’s shoes. That he didn’t take off when he got home. I had only spent most of the morning (while Dan was OUT GOLFING WITH HIS FRIENDS!) vacuuming and tidying up and getting the place looking presentable. I even made the bed! And folded all of the laundry! While he was GOLFING! (Did I mention he was golfing?) So needless to say, I was a little irritated and told him so. He apologized and while I was in the bathroom getting a tissue to pick up the nice little pile I had made with my hand of the sand particles… I came back into the hallway to see him PUSHING THE PILE ALL AROUND WITH HIS SOCK ON HIS FOOT.

When I asked him WHAT THE HELL he was doing, he informed me that he was ‘mopping it up’ with his sock. No, you’re not! I said. You’re just spreading it around! And then walking back into the bedroom to take some in there. And then taking it down the hallway to the living room. And into the kitchen. And then into the bathroom

He spent the next 10 minutes vacuuming the hallway, while I watched.

comments

1. Laura
   June 12th, 2006 @ 5:02 pm

   Hehehehe.

2. melissa
   June 12th, 2006 @ 5:02 pm

   Thanks for giving me a good laugh today!!

3. Judi
   June 12th, 2006 @ 5:16 pm

   Brett called me from Ohio on his way to Pittsburgh (HOME!!!) and I was so pleased that he was going to be around family. I’ll bet he was in heaven at your mom’s. Couldn’t believe it when he told me he finally saw Donny after 15 years! We loved seeing him on Christmas day after all these years and know he’ll love being back in the burgh. On a side note, PRAY FOR BEN! Also, sand is one of the worst things for Pergo. Give Dan a slap upside the head for me.

4. Lorina
   June 12th, 2006 @ 8:49 pm

   Hahaha, horseshoes. Also, definitely not a redneck game. My family is SO Mexican and, when we used to get together and barbecue, it was horseshoes, volleyball, and swimming that entertained us. :)

5. Steph
   June 12th, 2006 @ 10:09 pm

   YEAH! Freakin’ men… :)

6. Priscilla
   June 12th, 2006 @ 10:46 pm

   Chuck and the guys in our family all play horseshoes. Chuck is the reigning champion right now!