Weekend Adventures

Last Edit July 2, 1999

July fourth weekend was to move the weight machine. Pick cherries. Clean up the house a bit.
I am trying to empty the third bedroom.
Want to put the clothes racks in there so I can walk through my bedroom without feeling claustrophobic.
Need to put stuff of his in there to unclutter the new living room.
This requires planning. And nagging. And coaxing.
Like in any household where the task requires a man's strength and therefore will not get done unless the nagging is successful.
When regular high school ended for the summer (he is in adult school to finish the last two classes), I offered to buy a Sony PlayStation if he cleaned up his bedroom and the third room.
He's spent 3 weeks working on his bedroom.
And then he announced that it was time to buy him something so he could get the magazines off the floor.
My son was not done spending my money. Oh my no.
He is on a tear.
Thinks it is his life's calling.
Get his share now, before I croak.
I haven't received my bonus. Don't know what it will be. But he's spent it at least twice!
I reminded him I want to retire. Soon. I reminded him that he was spending his inheritance.
He said that at least he wouldn't pay taxes on it.
He wanted a new computer desk. A bookcase (short). A new computer chair. (Lifetime of the last one - 6 months). We have been looking for months. And putting it off.
But, having seen me buy the expensive pots and pans and the spa at the fair...... he decided to get his.
So I take him to Office Depot.
And we pick out a desk. Assemble yourself.
Bookcase. Ditto.
48".
And another one.
72"
I need someplace to put my Fabio books. They are overrunning my home office area.
And he try's an ergo- bench - that kneeling thing.
Plus he has his Not-A-Chair contraption.
A few plastic storage bins. For neatness.
And, last but not least, a Dolly that can haul 600 lbs. I can finally get the redwood stumps out of the driveway. Notice that it is one I can handle.
Hmmmmm.
This is leading to my need to have him move the weight machine (big sucker - lots of things I have done with this - besides use it as a coat rack that is) - out of the dusty garage so I can use it in the comfort of my family room.
We proceed to Sears. Craftsman tools
He unerringly proceeds straight through the store right for the ratchet sets.
Beeline.
And calls my attention to this. It is a sign of his adult-hood.
Egad.
He's become ----- a Tool Man! By now I had no doubts.
He picks out a ratchet set - so we can move the weight machine (oh, yes, we did indeed need this)
And a hack saw - so he can put his new super cutting blade from the fair in it. (I have no idea....)
Then he dragged me to Target (well, I was driving.)
Lamps.
They sell them in pieces now.
Base. Harp. Lampshade. Bulbs.
Two 3-way lamps. Nice ones. Mae West brass-like things.
He has decided his room is a cave. (Well, it is.)
Has decided I will get curtains for his room.
Has made this necessary by smashing the blinds the contractor had half-smashed earlier. Like 4 years ago.
He was efficiently buying.
Had a mental list. Supplied me with one of my own.
He then went home and built the two bookcases and assembled the chair.
Dressed in a tee shirt and jockey shorts. Of course.
Used his drill and the new bits.
Used the ratchet set.
Left them all over the living room.
Moved the weight machine.
Oh that was fun! If you had recorded the conversations we would be arrested.
Bolts and nuts bring out something in men.
Perverse senses of humor.
Guide me in. Hold those nuts. It's hard to get it in. Women are never satisfied.
Oh my! And he's only almost-18.
I was laughing so hard I had to try not the drop the wrench I was using to stop the nuts from turning while he used the ratchet. (For some reason, this is a man's tool. I always get it going the wrong way!)
The desk is next.
In return for this (I can now walk into the garage) I had to buy him --the Sony PlayStation.
This manchild - who could not get up for school - set his alarm and got up to - you guessed it - to play on his PlayStation.
Because he also dragged me to Blockbuster for games. (I allowed him to buy one).
I am still trying to find the floor in the third bedroom.
But I can now lift 20lbs 20 times, pull downs and leg lifts. Working biceps and triceps, shoulders and arms and thighs. Not straining the metal-reinforced abdomen. Working around it.
Ignoring my son's offer of testosterone. He thinks 20 lbs. is puny.
Not for a woman of my decrepit years!
I need to get back into shape.
I need the house back in shape.
This is going to be a slow process.