Do You Ever...

Feel like killing someone close to you? I’m serious. Does anyone else think they could ‘literally’ choke the life out of someone? I’m at that point with my dearly devoted Hubby. Yes, I said it – I want to off him, or hire a hit man, or perform some other diabolical deed. Perhaps I just need a deep breath, or a loud scream!

I’m slowly de-Christmasing the house, and I need help. Keep in mind, I decorate a lot, and it takes me a long time. Three years ago, once I had stopped working, I tried to get all my decorations organized, in an effort to maximize efficiency. As ‘we’ took things down I separated it all and labeled e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! That way, the following year, I could easily find each piece and know where to display it. Remember now, during the time I was a principal, I had to rely heavily on Hubby to help me get all the decorations down and I just allowed him to follow his own methods (trust me, there were none!) Yet, once I was among the retired/disabled/unemployed, with a ton of time, I believed I could bring order to the chaos he created. How lovely it was the following year to remove each labeled box and know exactly where to place it. Then, I was a bit sick after Christmas, and Hubby decided to help me get things done. [insert first scream!]

The labeled boxes I had so laboriously created the year before, appeared to be only a suggestion to him. Everything was put wherever he freaking felt it should be! So, last year, I had to root through everything as I decorated. He ‘promised’ he’d be more careful. [Liar, liar, pants on fire!] He still had tree balls mixed with lights mixed with candles mixed with… oh you get the idea: one big mess – again! So this year, I told him he would do nothing alone – then I got sick last week. “How about if I help you start to pack things away?” [insert second scream] “Noooooooo!!!” I said I would do it little by little with him following my instructions.

Sunday I felt okay, so I began to get the living room done. When he saw me busy, he went outside and began the windows, door, lamppost – all okay, until he came in and dumped them in the living room which I had just completed. “Can you find the bin where they belong and put them in?” [said with a saccharine overtone] He then put that bin in the breakfast room and left the wreaths where they were. [insert third scream] Monday was tied up with the little guy (although as young as he is, he did help me take the ornaments off the little tree I had for him in the front hall. This year I did it in all kinds of mini Christmas stockings.) Yesterday we had a warm day, so Hubby decided to golf – yes, there’s still a ton of decorations left to do. I decided to refresh my mantle wreath and I stayed in the breakfast room, hot gluing to my heart’s content. When he came home, I asked if he could please, please, please move the clutter he created. His response: “Why are you so grumpy?” [insert fourth scream]

I’m having my friend over tomorrow for lunch, and I wanted to have things fairly organized, so I again asked for help this morning. I outlined each step and I’m still staring at things unmoved. My girlfriend won’t mind that I’m half and half; she understands that things take a little longer for me. But I refuse to have stuff thrown hither and yon, and I’m losing patience. I’ll try once more before we go to see my mother and you’ll probably hear the fifth scream, or I’ll be posting tomorrow from jail. Does anyone else go through this?
Peace,
Muff