Would you be upset if you were offered a place to stay on vacation and it wasn't 'perfect'?

[Breeze54]

Just wondering... my son (I haven't seen him since he got back from Iraq) and he's is bringing
home his SO live-in girlfriend and the plane should be landing in a few minutes at Logan Airport.
They're coming here tomorrow to sleep over and I've been cleaning for two days BUT we were in the
middle of packing to move, so the place was torn apart and I got little help from youngest son.
I have boxes everywhere and stuff piled up to go through to throw away or pack, etc. Total CHAOS!!!
But the bedroom is clean but cluttered. I feel bad but I'm exhausted and I have to drive son to work
at 6 AM and then into Boston by 11 AM to pick them up and be back at son's job to pick him up by 3 PM.
I said screw it. I'm done for the night and I'll do what I can in the AM and after we get back in the
PM. But I'm embarrassed that it's not all 'fixed up', as I never met her before. Would you understand
as a guest or would you wonder what the hell is going on? I told my son to warn her! ;)

PS. I guess I'll just keep them busy until they're tired and they can just go to bed and maybe she won't notice. Ha! :P

[Longhorn]

1. I doubt either one of them wants you to go to a lot of trouble

and will be happy with whatever you can provide. Relax and enjoy the visit! :hi:

[Breeze54]

2. I hope so but I haven't done the dishes yet and i have to do a

load of wash still and there are bags of 'stuff' that need to be dragged to the basement but
my son is just sitting on his ass watching TV (he helped for a couple of hours after work)
and I want that stuff removed and out of the way. I'll relax as soon as the kitchen's cleaned
up and the bathroom! :P I just wish everything was in it's place for company, ya know? ;)

[SeattleGirl]

3. Hell no, I wouldn't be!

I'd be happy that my soldier boy was back from Iraq, and that I was going with him to stay with his parents.

Doesn't sound as if the room is "dirty", but rather cluttered. Big difference.

[Breeze54]

4. Well, it's pretty cluttered at one end but

the end with the bed looks great! I even found my summer curtains and hung them up!

She seems like an easy going person. I've only talked with her on the phone.

Thanks, SeattleGirl! I just want him and me to not be embarrassed. ;)

[littlebit]

5. Last year

I stayed at my parents house. They were in the middle of a major remodel. Half the house was closed of and the other half was filled with boxes. It did not bother me one bit. I was just happy to be there and spend time with them. I only get to see them maybe once a year.

[Breeze54]

6. Thanks, that makes me feel better!

I guess as long as there's a clean bathroom (that bugs me) then we can spend time outside in the yard. The problem is I have a small 2 seater car and they don't pick up their rental until Sat. morning and youngest son needs his car for 2nd job tomorrow night, so we can't go anywhere, once we get home at 3:30 PM, unless I run a relay, driving one at time to a restaurant or lake! :P Hell; I guess I'm just getting a little nervous and I'm tired. I'll be better by the AM!

Thanks! :hi:

[Left Is Write]

7. Are you kidding me? You're fine! No, I wouldn't be upset!

I'd be so happy to see my parents I'd sleep in the broom closet!

[Breeze54]

8. LMAO! Well, when he left for Iraq? I slept on the floor during my visit!!

:rofl: I forgot all about that!! :rofl:

They're even getting a bed!! :P

[Missy Vixen]

9. If she throws a fit

she's not the right one.

Hopefully, you will all have a wonderful time together, enjoying each other's company and not worrying at all about what the house looks like.

I hope it's a great visit.
Julie

[Breeze54]

11. Thanks, Julie... she doesn't seem the type to throw a fit but

my real concern is the first impression. I don't want her carrying tales back home,
that we're slobs and the house is a mess. I have a feeling she's a neat nic.
I am too when I don't have teenagers living with me! :P He's worse than a 3 yr old! :grr:

[AlCzervik]

10. hell no, you're in the middle of packing up but you still managed to put a room

together. I'm sure she won't mind and will understand and i'm also sure she's happy you're welcoming her into your home.

[Breeze54]

12. Oh, you have no idea! I couldn't even find my bed... for all the clothes

piled on top! Ugh! I got a big box and threw them all in it! ;)
They're clean and some may go to goodwill. I was taking my time
sorting through 10 years of 'stuff' and then had to try to make
it look like a home real quick, instead of a storage unit.

Maybe they'll help me with some... if they want their dinner! :rofl:

That would be cool! ;)

Maybe we'll just have some beers and eat and forget about it! :P

[Connonym]

13. I honestly think most people over estimate how clean other people keep their houses

because we're all so anal about cleaning everything before company arrives I think that we get into this mind set that everyone else on the planet lives in a perfectly clean house 100% of the time. This may be the case with some people but I would suspect that the majority of us don't live that way. I don't mean to say we're all living in pigsties but that there is a normal amount of clutter that goes along with daily living. And seriously, I've come to the conclusion that if people are going to judge me because there's a stack of mail on the counter or there's an dirty glass next to the sink they can kiss my ass. There's actual living done where I live and the house reflects that. Seriously, I think we should all relax about it and just enjoy the company of our guests instead of worrying about impressing them. Hopefully you son and his friend will be more concerned with your hospitality. Especially in your current circumstances.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

14. I think you're right

I go to someone's house and it's SPOTLESS, and I always think it's always like that, but it can't be, can it? With 3 cats we can never get rid of every single cat hair!

[Breeze54]

15. Good point and I'm sure they won't care but I care!

You're right. I'm obsessing a little. His father's Mom and all of them live in houses you can eat
off the floor. :crazy: I was not that obsessed with housework although my house was clean when the
kids were babies but Clutter is my middle name and Chaos is my youngest son's middle name. :P

I'm sure they'll be fine. It's only one night and then they are going up to Cape Ann, MA and then
NH, ME & VT for day trips, to the White Mtns. for 4 days touring and then back here for the 4th
of July in Boston and a family cookout at my sisters house. They're going to be exhausted!
That'll give me 4 days to finish! ;)

[grannylib]

16. I would hope that she'd be understanding of your situation; if

she loves your son, she'll focus on what's important about the visit! And particularly if she's forewarned...hoping all will be fine and that you'll enjoy the company without worrying about the surroundings :hug:

[Breeze54]

17. Thanks, grannylib... much appreciated!

I'm sure she'll be fine. I don't really know her. I'm the worry wart! :P
I'll let you know, after they get here and relax and settle in tomorrow afternoon. ;)

[grasswire]

18. turn down the lights a bit, light some candles...

....and things will be fine.

But I want to know why the kid in the other room isn't helping you get the bags out of the way and whatever else you want. Bring him here. I'll kick his teenage butt.

HELP YOUR MOTHER!!

[reyd reid reed]

19. Me too

I'll hold him down and grab his cell phone while you unplug the tee vee.

He can have 'em both back when everything's all spiffy.

[Breeze54]

24. LOL! You hold him and I'll kick his ass!!

I mean, really! He's known about this for a couple of weeks and every time
I've asked for an hour or so help, he takes off. :grr: What a complete brat!
He used to help me when he was younger but it's like pulling teeth now
that he's "legal". I'll get him... his days are numbered, that's for sure! ;)

But in his defense; yesterday, he took out the trash 3 times, fixed the vacumn
cleaner, hung some curtains for me, helped me move some furniture and helped me
make up the bed. He just didn't finish and that's when he plunked down to watch
a TV show. :(

[Forkboy]

20. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest bit.

How she reacts would say more about her than any "mess" would say about you, in my not so very humble opinion. :)

[latebloomer]

21. Good point

Nobody reasonable would expect your house to be less than chaotic when you are getting ready to move!

[WinkyDink]

22. Yes, and have been. Went from nice motel to friend's relative's. Under construction.

Bathtub/shower had tools, etc. in it; had to use the tiny shower off kitchen, and do hair and make-up in bedroom. Bedroom had flotsam and jetsam around.
People were VERY generous and friendly, but I'm a tad fussy and am willing to pay $$ for it!

[Breeze54]

23. Well, I don't have to worry about it now anyway.... UPDATE: Change in plans...

I knew this might be coming... argh!

They have hotel vouchers that a friend that works for the Hilton gave them.

They thought it was for one night but it's a few vouchers and they can stay

at that hotel or any hotel in the Hilton group and they've decided to stay

in Boston for another night and then they're heading north. So, instead of

them coming here to stay tonight, I'm going to meet them in the city for lunch

and some local fun and they want me to sleep there!! :P They have a frigging suite!!

When they get back from NH and points north, then they'll be coming here.

That's next week! So, I can relax and just have fun with them! Problem solved! ;)

I'll be heading out in a couple of hours to meet them at the Boston Gardens.

I may not get back until the morning!! :woohoo: Mom gets a vacation too!! :D

[Sentath]

25. YES!

They rock

:yourock:

[Longhorn]

27. I hope you had a great time!

That worked out nicely! :hi:

[Breeze54]

30. I'm having a blast!!!

We had a great time today and more to come tonight! :D

See my update below. :hi:

[LisaM]

26. This will just let you know about her character

if she can't understand packing to move, and sniffs at your for it, then he needs to give her the heave-ho.

[BluePatriot]

28. She won't notice and if she does it's her problem.

Free places to stay = you'd better have no expectations at all and shut your mouth, hehe...
My MIL's house is a bit more dirty than my mom's house...but she is also a lot more laid back and into fun things.
I truly enjoy the time I spend there. With my mom, LOL, I wonder more about being neat even as a guest.

So I say don't worry about it, as long as things are "clean" (no mold, no rotting food, hehe) - who cares about clutter...

[Breeze54]

29. Another Update!: LMAO...

I came home to switch to a bigger car (the Hilton wants $32.00) for me to park overnight. :grr:

So, my youngest son got off work early tonight and we're heading back into the city in his car
to go see the sights and just hang out together as a family :D but look what happened while we
were at lunch!!

We went to Vinny Testa's Restaurant across from the Prudential Center and we were sitting
outside at a table with an umbrella and then the sky got really black and foreboding looking,
so we moved inside and just in time... The rain came down in torrents with lots of lightening
and thunder just cracking wicked loud and all the tables started blowing over and it was
just a wicked storm but look at what happened right across the street from where we were
sitting at around 2:30 PM!!

Catching lightning -- in a camera

June 27, 2008 05:41 PM :scared:

The Prudential Center, Boston, MA
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/06/catching_lightn.html



By Globe Staff

When the storm hit this afternoon, Marissa Piette went to a window in her office in the Back Bay,
pointed her camera at the Prudential Center, pushed the button on it halfway down -- and waited.

"I'm from the Midwest so I've seen my fair share of big storms. I've tried to catch lightning on
film before, but I've never been able to," said the 21-year-old University of Nebraska student,
who is interning at a public relations firm.

This time it worked. She said she thinks lightning hit the Prudential three times, and she caught
it twice on her Olympus Stylus 710.

:wow:

Good thing we went inside the restaurant when we did!

I LOVE my son's girlfriend, Misty!! She's just a very nice person,
very sweet, intelligent, pretty and kind and funny! He did GOOD!!! :D

He looks great and he's grown all his hair back.. no more military bald head! :P

That's all for now. Waiting to hear what time we're leaving here. :hi:

Sorry to be a pest but I'm having fun... for a change! :D

[Mutley]

31. No way.

For one thing, it's a free stay. For another thing, your son should just be happy to see you, and I'd hope the new SO would have enough class not to complain about the house being a little messy.

[Breeze54]

32. She won't get the chance now anyway but now that I've met her

I seriously doubt she'd say anything! ;)

She's really nice and very polite!!

But I posted an update (2) upthread.

They're staying at the hotel another night, so it won't be an issue now. ;)

:hi: