Hey Sugar, Sugar!

My wrist hurts, but I'm typing anyway. I really AM that unselfish!

My wrist hurts, but my marriage is OK. So that's a good trade-off, I think.

John used to care about the environment. Like, really care. He was a member of the Sierra club, supported Al Gore, drove a fuel-efficient car, used canvas bags at the grocery store, and recycled. He also treated his body really well - exercised regularly and didn't drink soda or coffee.

And then I introduced him to my good friend, Starbucks.

It's all been downhill from there. His Sierra Club membership lapsed, he sold his car and bought a gas-guzzling 4WD truck (for the snow, he claims), and was spending a small fortune at Starbucks every week. I started making coffee at home just so we wouldn't be living in his truck in the parking lot of Starbucks. In good news, he's perfectly satisfied with the home-brewed coffee and we were able to have the phone service re-connected. (hee)

But with some sort of warped "I care about my body but not as much as I care about coffee but maybe it's not so bad if I put organic milk and unrefined sugar in it" logic, he asked me to start buying raw sugar. I bought a really big box of raw sugar packets from Sams and I store the box on the top shelf of the pantry with a handful of packets in a small bowl by the coffeemaker. I've become a fan of the sugar packets too - perfect sweetening every time! (Let's not talk about the packaging waste and the impact on the environment, 'kay?)

But somehow John always manages to take the last sugar packet out of the little bowl. I'm not even sure if he knows where the supply is kept - he certainly doesn't walk across the kitchen and use his extra height to easily reach the box, grab a handful and re-fill the little bowl. Oh no - he just trots off to work in his rumbling hulk of a truck with perfectly sweetened coffee while I am left staring at an empty sugar bowl and dreading what comes next.

Because I can barely reach the box, on my tippy-toes, so my wrist ends up scraping over the edge of the box as I blindly grope for more sugar packets. The box is sort of wedged in the upper corner, so lifting it down from the shelf to save my aching wrist is simply out of the question. And yes, I suppose I could drag the step-stool over to the pantry, but I never think to do so.

Instead I grumble about my husband and his callous disregard for others.

This morning I was up first, made the coffee, filled my mug, poured in the organic milk and then (picture a heavenly stream of sunlight with angels singing a harmonic melody) I noticed that there was ONE more packet of sugar in the little bowl!!!

I GOT IT! I got the last sugar packet! I actually did a little jig in the kitchen rather like Steve Martin in Parenthood when his kid catches the fly ball and wins the game.

And then my thoughts turned to evil, as I contemplated John reaching to the little bowl for sugar and finding it EMPTY! I pictured myself in the kitchen happily sipping my sweetened coffee as his confusion and panic mounted. "The magic refilling sugar bowl is . . . empty!" he would think to himself, trying to remember the other six signs of the Apocolypse.

I'd like to report that my daydream came true . . .but I can't. Because right after my evil little fantasy, I started worrying that having evil little fantasies about my husband's dismay was somehow not . .. good. Or something. Like maybe that's how marriages start to crumble - from the little stupid things like unequal chore distribution that builds up resentment until someone sticks a pencil in someone's ear while they're sleeping.

I re-filled the sugar bowl. His ear is safe. (For now)

And he'll probaby never know how much love that little act of wrist-aching kindness has symbolized.

Unless he reads my blog, of course.

So . . . yeah . . . the blog. I'm slipping again. There's probably, like, two people reading this. Everyone else has assumed that I've perished in a tragic "pencil in the ear" incident.

What I've actually been doing is preparing for Europe, traveling to Europe, spending two glorious weeks in Europe, returning from Europe, recovering from Europe, and landscaping.

The whole history of John's environmentalism ties in with the landscaping story, which I'm saving until next time.

I also uploaded four new Home Construction projects to my website, with two more coming soon.

RKQOTD (at Village Inn, while eating breakfast Karl: Mom, do you think the workers at Village Inn like their jobs? Me: Uh. Gosh. I'm really not sure, Karl. I'm sure some of them do. Maybe some of them are just working here temporarily while going to college . . . it's hard to say. Why do you ask? Karl: Because the backs of their tee-shirts say "I like my job!")

Comments

[elizabeth]

Hee hee. I'm reading! Bloglines = you post, people know. : ) This was a hilarious story.

[Jules]

As does Google reader - and I get oh-so-excited when Karen posts :-)

Great story and am so glad death by pencil, for both you and John, has been dodged.

[Sandra @ The Memory Workshop]

Can't speak for your other 2 readers...I actualy read the old fashioned way, by clicking too often on the bookmarked link, only to be disappointed *again* by the lack of new posts.

Someone has got to let that man of yours know how good he's got it.

[Wendy Lust]

Well, now you know at least four people read and enjoyed today's entry!

[StacyS.]

Count me in as number 5 - needing the dose of sarcasm and the kids quotes. I still read the old-fashioned way too, clicking on the bookmarked link to see what's new:)
We're still here!
StacyS. (Alberta, Canada)

[Lisa M]

I'm number 6 (and really trying harder!) Note that we all post on the same day YOU post, too? I am sure your fans are legion; they just are waiting for your July 4th post, having learned from much disappointed blog-checking. I was just TICKLED, I tell you, to see your new entry.

[MargieH]

Make that lucky #7 reading your blog!
Hope all is well with you...are you not coming to Chicago's Expo in August? LMK if you need help :0)

[Kirsten]

And I suppose I'm just lame reader #8...was waiting for some super clever description of Europe...but I love Parenthood...

[Nellie Hulsman]

Count me in too as a frequent reader! Loved having seen you again in Europe! You were a blast!!!

[Arianne]

I have your blog under my feeds, so as soon as you post, I read!

Just one more week and it's vacation-time!
I can finally make time to start on my projects ('Disappearing act' and 'Blushing Zebra'). Can't wait!

[amymarie78]

I'm still reading.... checking in loyaly waiting for a bit of morning wit to brighten up my day!

[Michelle OKeefe]

I'm still here and that makes 12 so far! However, I'd like to point out that you missed 2 holiday postings - Flag Day AND Father's Day. We'll let it slide - THIS TIME anyway.
Glad to see you back, missed you.

[jennylilac]

OMG Karl is too funny! Welcome back!

[Tracy Johnson]

I'm checking in at #13. Welcome back, you lucky European traveler! I am excited to see your new classes. I have finished up 2 of them I purchased from you at CKC in Mesa and am now working on the home one. My fav so far is the pocket pop - I did it for my oldest daughter with pictures from birth to current and put it in her graduation album. I got lots of "well, aren't you crafty", and my always favorite (NOT!!!) comment "where do you find time to do this?" I told them it was a kit I purchased from a very smart person, and that appeased them! Can you tell there weren't a lot of scrapbooking people at the grad party?
Glad you're back!

[Dawn]

I also read your blog too, waiting on you updating about your trip to Europe.
DId you enjoy your trip to Europe, are you coming back again.
Did both your classes in Holland.
Bought several kits too(Hee)

[Tifani Northcutt]

So I too click my bookmark tab and to see if you have updated, many many days of sadness. So happiness hit my house today with the new post. :-)
I guess you have more the just the 2 people checking on you to make sure you are still alive and no harm came to you or the pencil.
Can't wait to see you soon. YEAH!

[Michelle Laboissonniere]

Yeah! as usual you create laughter at my little computer desk!!
oh and just so happens I am listening to a little David Cook...good times!

[Cath]

Now listen here- in the beginning of June I was in Europe for 2 weeks - 4 countries, 5 if you count out own! And right before that I was at still another meeting in Chicago for 6 days. So I was away from home from May 29-June 15 and I STILL managed to check for new blog entries. Sometimes from overseas, there I was clicking away. Now we leave for Ireland July 13 and I will be checking in for more funny posts! And playing the new PRINCESS BRIDE GAME! Have you seen it?

[Cath]

apparently travel has taken away my typing and spelling skilz. "our own country", etc. Skip logic too, or lack thereof. Love the blog even if you don't post enough :)

[Cyndi]

NUMBER 20 here .... whew ... thought you fell off the counter or something. Good to see you around. thanks for the laugh

[angie]

Well, as reader #21, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. . .especially the random talk with Karl at the end.

. . .your kids are hilarious!

[Angie]

Yes,an update!
Does this count as your 4th of July post?

[Michelle Grant]

Hey Karen!
You make me squeal!!!
You are just too funny!
See you at CHA honey!
Mi x

[liezbeth]

23 readers, I'm the 24th post but Cath posted double, grin. Love your stories and dousn't visit to often so no problem with the irregular updates. But I would love more ofcourse. They are so recognazible.

Liezbeth.

[alief]

don't ever stop, I never comment but come back and check for updates alllllll the time. your writing and your humor has me actually laughing out loud and I just couldn't bare it if you stopped!!