Not a Merry Maid

Yesterday morning I decided to vacuum in the corners and under the beds, a mix of carpet (mostly) and wood flooring. I usually do only a quick job with the upright vacuum cleaner, neglecting the stairs and the upstairs because the machine is too heavy to carry up the stairs.

The Eureka vacuum with the hose and various accessories sits in Bob's closet, for the most part unused. I thought I'd have trouble putting together the pieces but, in fact, everything went together quite easily. I got a little cocky backing down the stairs and misjudged the bottom step for the landing, losing my balance and beginning a fall backward, perilously close to the window on the landing. Fortunately, I caught myself and disentangled my feet from the hose and cord and power cord. The cord came out of the outlet and I decided to plug the machine downstairs.

Bob noticed the commotion and showed me how to use the tools, one a small "sucker" that works well on stairs. Bob fired up his favorite supervisory role and I slugged through the vacuuming. Not signing up for any outside jobs.

If Football, then Fall

CDH Football Practice August 16, 2013

Nothing signals the approach of fall like the beginning of the football season. Late Friday morning, Bob was working with a customer at Cretin Derham Hall so I walked over to the CDH field to watch a practice. Most of the boys looked young and slight, so I guessed that I was looking at one of the junior teams, probably not the champion Raiders -- always contenders in their conference.

Voices raised for projection purposes; no yelling or abusive comments. So much mutual respect among coaches and players. I'm a fairly recent convert to football but it was easy for me to follow the offensive and defensive drills and mini trip through the playbook.

I left the practice at about noon, around lunch break. I felt uplifted, joyful and full of hope for the future. Good luck in 2013, CDH Raiders.