GETTING THINGS DONE, AND HOW!!

I'm a very happy camper right now. I have an almost full time handyman getting things done that have been put off for years. Don't get me wrong; the genius has many fabulous qualities, but doing major projects around the house is not one of them. He doesn't like doing them so they often tend to get put on the back burner, and as a result, a few jobs have stacked up around the house.

Now with Jim IV to help out for a few weeks, I am scurrying around finding all sorts of things for him to do. Right now the living room is full of items to go to the Salvation Army as soon as I get them added up for tax purposes. So our living arrangements will be a little cramped for a while.

One of the best things about working with my own son is that we are very compatible, so it is pleasant spending so much time together. And I don't know why but it seems like when the genius and I work together we can't agree on how to do each project. But Jim IV and I are doing just fine.

The genius likes all this too because 1) he doen't have to do them, and 2) they get done anyway, and 3) my nagging will stop (at least for a while).

Of course, there was a time when I did all this myself. In our old house I painted all the rooms at least once and several more than once. I cleaned out closets regularly and hauled all kinds of stuff up and down stairs. I even moved the furniture around by myself.

But those days are long gone what with my arthritic back, knees, and hips. So it's nice to tell someone that I need this piece moved here, or that carried there, etc.

The only "downside" is that my days of lounging around all day are over. I find myself working much harder than I've been used to.

But, as I keep telling myself as I fall into bed at night exhausted, "A LITTLE WORK NEVER HURTS ANYONE!"