my drying rack a year later

I love my drying rack, ANTONIUS. Maybe it's wrong to love an inanimate object. I have had this drying rack from Ikea for over a year. It has literally saved me hundreds of dollars with its 41 yards of clothes line! I only use the dryer to decrunch the clothes. The rack folds flat, can be taken outside, or put against the wall when not in use. Let's be honest, it's in constant use with two kids in cloth diapers and most of the time it lives in the dining area. It has had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with us for over a year. Thank you for being part of the family, ANTONIUS. 
Between the drying rack and some winterization we do to the apartment, we save $29 a month in electricity usage. I'm a sick person, I like getting the utility bill to see if our usage went down during the month compared with the same month last year. When we first set up averaged billing with the utility company last September, we were paying $117 a month. Every April, the utility company reaverages. Most of the time rates go up because costs go up. Not for us! We now pay $88 a month. I'm hoping to bring it down again, but costs are going up too fast and it seems like all I do to save on electricity and money is negated. I will continue to be frugal with our electricity usage and share our apartment winterization tips soon.

the story of how I acquired the drying rack of my dreams

(written August 2008)

Trevor and I went to IKEA on our fourth wedding anniversary to get a new drying rack, the ANTONIUS. I first saw it in the IKEA catalog and then online. The write up was wonderful:

Key features:

Folds to save space when not in use.
Adjustable feet for stability on uneven floors.

Product dimensions:

Width: 27 ½ "
Height: 63 "

Good to Know:

41 yds of clothes line.
Product Description:

Steel, Anti-corrosive phosphate coating,

Pigmented epoxy/polyester powder coating

package measurements & weight
(1 packages in total)

I was so excited since the two drying racks I have barely give me 20 yards of drying space. I would have been smart to look at the package measurements & weight link, but I didn’t care. The drying rack of my dreams was in reach and with two little ones in cloth diapers; I would have all the drying area I needed! And IKEA was out of stock that night. BUMMER.

Last night I checked the stock availability and it was IN STOCK. I took the kids and off we went today, after rechecking the stock availability. I parked in the 15 minute loading zone, since I knew it was row 31, bin 8 that I wanted. I was going through the maze that makes up IKEA, taking all the short cuts to the self-serve furniture area and I heard a familiar voice. It was Denise and her daughter from church. I go over and say “Hi!” and explain that I am in the loading zone and just there to pick up the drying rack of my dreams, so I can’t stay and chat. Off we go to row 31, bin 8. (If you’re never shopped IKEA, all the wheels on the carts move, making taking corners very difficult, especially if you are traveling at a semi-high rate of speed. Keatt and Wesley crashed into a few things. What was I afraid of if my car stayed in the loading area too long –having my car ticketed? towed? tires slashed?)

I stand in row 31 looking up at the number 8 and see nothing. Finally, I realize the eight is there for an entire area, not just the drying rack. I look down and there is THE RACK. I have no idea if it was there the other night, I had checked the availability online and it was not available (we went anyway). The rack is rather heavy and LONG. I knew it would be over 5 feet tall, I assumed (ops!) that it would need to be assembled. I hoped my car was five feet wide and made my purchase. Turns out, 1999 Honda Civics are not five feet wide right behind the front seats. If I didn’t have the kids with me, maybe, maybe, it would have fit in the truck with the seats down—maybe. I tried anyway and looked like a dork. Meanwhile, Wesley (two months at the time) was starting to cry, but Keatt was holding herself together. Wesley was attracting the attention of the young boys in the van nearby. I grabbed up the 20 pound drying rack and walked over to the returns area, thinking if I could just run into Denise and if she was driving her Honda Passport, there was a chance I could get my rack home today. I wait in line to ask the cashier if I could leave my rack there while I looked for my friend since it would not fit in my car. Okay, but only for a few minutes. I will say this, IKEA is not known for their customer service in my book. The entire time I am carrying the rack and pushing a cart with two kids, one getting louder and louder by the second, no one offered any help. Thanks, IKEA.

I race back through the self service area and turn into the maze that is IKEA and see Denise and her daughter. I’m sure I sounded like someone possessed when I told her what happened. She did drive her Passport that day and she could take my rack home for me. HOORAY! I turn the stupid four-wheels-move-at-once-cart around and head back to the returns area to get my rack and get out of there! Wesley is screaming and would not take his pacifier. Denise offers to push the cart while I hold Wesley, but I knew what Wesley wanted and he would just keep screaming, since he would have to wait to be fed, I left him in the cart. I get over to the returns area and grabbed my rack. Three associates were there, one was talking to a customer and one looked at me oddly as I grabbed the rack. He did not offer to help as the cart with my kids careened from side to side as I struggled to get both of them and the rack out the door. PHEW! We made it to the car. I loaded in Keatt and then the screaming baby. I helped load up my new drying rack and made plans to see it later.

After I put the kids to bed, I finally got some alone time with ANTONIUS. Wow, that is some serious drying yardage. I almost felt badly that my first drying experience was with a small load of diapers. Yet, I was overjoyed with my new drying rack.

Daddy's Girl

Keatt's always been Daddy's girl. I have found it funny in the past when Trevor is away she doesn't mention him. This weekend she asked about him every few hours. Friday she stood at the screen door saying, "Daddy come home." It wasn't even his usual time to come home and he never comes in through the back. Every once in a while she would tell me daddy's at work. The one I liked most was "Daddy's standing at work." Okay. You can't debate with a 2 year old's logic. No matter how often I tell her he was hiking, he was at work according to her.
When my sister visited a few months ago, she taught Keatt to answer "Where does Aunt Erin live?" with "New Mexico." Keatt still remembers, but if you ask Keatt where Aunt Erin is now, Keatt will tell you she is on an airplane. Keatt used to tell me Daddy was in the car when I said he went to work. Then we visited his work. We met him in the front area and took the elevator to the lunch room. That was all Keatt saw of Daddy's work. Telling me he was standing at work makes sense in that context. Sometimes out of the blue (often when we are coming down the stairs in the morning) Keatt will tell me, "Daddy's having a good day." It's good to know she's so close with her daddy that she knows how he feels!
I kept Keatt up to see Trevor when he returned from hiking tonight. Hugs, hugs, hugs. As soon as everything was inside, she took his finger and lead him upstairs to read books. Seconds before I heard the car outside we were brushing teeth and getting ready to read books. I asked if she wanted me to come up too. "No, just Daddy." Trevor said, "I'm sure Mommy can come." "No." I've gotten used to that. During the day she's mine, but when Daddy is home, she is all his; unless she gets hurt, then it's all Mommy!

Impulsivity

I didn’t think I had a problem with this like I used to, but it’s still a problem. When I think someone is impulsive, I think gambling or shopping. It’s more subtle than that, including blurting things out or posting things one did not think through. The other day someone I know on FB posted asking for help, they didn’t understand why no one liked them and what was wrong with them. I felt I needed to respond and apologize for my part. I wanted her to know my judgments got in the way of getting to know her. I am judgmental and I let physical characteristics get in the way. My apology was sincere, but I did it to someone who did not know an apology was coming and I did it through e-mail. I don’t even know that what I wrote was received correctly. 

Then I panicked and thought she could use this against me and I put my bias out there for all to see on FB. This only caused hurt feelings to my friends that feel I judged them, or worse continue to judge them. My post on FB was not 100% accurate; I did not define what it means to me. My post, taken at face value, basically implies I go around judging every single person that is not a model; which is far from the truth. Plus, I gave lots of ground for speculation and gossip, which is what I was trying to avoid.

My other problem with posting my bias is readers not knowing where my heart was. I was called out on my bias in high school by a close friend. I am also bias against people that are small minded and not tolerate. That puts me in a bind and explains a lot about how I feel about myself that years of therapy have not touched. I want to explain why I think I have the bias or defend it or something, but it is what it is. UGLY. I am working on it. I don't avoid the people I hold judgments against; in fact, God uses them in my life to open my eyes to what I am missing. 

During Labor Day weekend 2005, I attended a business conference lead by Dani Johnson. It was not what I was expecting. After everyone was seated the first thing she told us to do was go apologize to someone we judged as we came in the room. I sat there. I did get up the nerve to join in other rounds of asking forgiveness and hugs. What happened that weekend and during the other two seminars I attended with her was amazing. She creates an atmosphere that allows you to look at yourself and all the crap that is there and then start apologizing. Being in that cocoon of acceptance and forgiveness was amazing and I forget that the world does not operate that way. What I could admit and start working through then is now supposed to stay between me and God.

As I continue learning about my  impulsivity I will continue to stumble and share things that are inappropriate. It doesn’t change who I am or how I treat people. Once I get over my initial hang up, if I ever had one, I am a loyal, sincere friend because who wants to base friendships on talking about the weather, or celebrities, or gossiping about others?

caution: I bite

I need to leave the apartment. The children are driving me crazy. I am crazy, we feed off that and Keatt agreed to an all day time out. I don't think she thought it through. Need to breathe.

Trevor is off in the wilderness hiking with a guy from work. No communication. At least when he went on the canoeing trip he called at night and I could vent about his children to him. It’s different when you vent about your children to others. I often feel like a bad parent. Yesterday in a phone conversation I said my son was “being a shit.” I stand by those words today. The fussiness and crabby nature that has emerged is driving me crazy. Couple that with my almost three year old testing boundaries every chance she gets. When she’s not testing me, she acts like a baby. It’s okay for him to throw his food/dishes/utensils on the floor—why can’t she? My answer is I can’t give him a time out, only take away his tray and get him down from the table. She has had many time outs. Right now they have M&M balloons attached to them and together they are dropping blocks over the gate; they are really adorable. I need to stop biting heads off and enjoy my kids while it’s calm.

financial future

Last night Trevor and I sat down for the third time with a financial rep to look at our financial needs analysis. It's a relief to know that we are in good shape. We are not saving for the kids to go to college because we can't. We are living on two-thirds of Trevor's income and saving one-third. We have one car and I stay home with the kids. I always thought I would be working, but that's not what is happening. Sometimes I wish I was working and no doubt the kids do too! We make due with what we have--the kids are in cloth diapers and Trevor has found someone to carpool with twice a week. We wear sweaters and sweatshirts in the winter and there is no air conditioning in the summer. Last summer I stopped using the dryer, except to "decrunch" items. Now, my daughter asks if things are crunchy as she pulls them off the drying rack, which takes up a large corner of the dining area. I will blog at great lengths about the love I have for my drying rack later. Right now, I need to see who's crying and take comfort in the fact that although we will not be paying for their college education, we will not be dependent on them to take care of us!

rules

I have a lot of rules for myself. One rule is about food and food prices, specifically snacks. I will not buy Oreos unless they are $2.49 or less. While I was pregnant with Wesley and for a few months after that, I bought Oreos once every month or two. It’s been months since I have bought those tasty little cookies. I was happy to see Oreos on sale 2/$5 PLUS $2 off a purchase of 2 and I had a 75 cent off 2 coupon. I limited myself to 2 packages of Oreos. The 2/$5 sale would not have been enough—they have to be $2.49 or less. My rule for M&Ms is similar. The big bags must be less than $2. 2/$4 is not good enough and it depends on my mood, but I usually count any rebates at the drug store; although, I would rather have a coupon in hand. 

regretting potato chips

Oh Kettle Cooked potato chips! There was a coupon last week 2/$4 limit 4. Since I needed to bring chips to a BBQ, I bought some. Two to bring and two for home--the limit was 4 after all! I don't keep chips in the house; I generally don't buy chips. They are expensive and not good for you. So, why, WHY?!?, why did I buy not just the ones I needed to bring to the BBQ, but two extra for home consumption??? That was $8 that could have been used on other items, like fruit, or  five and one-third hot dogs with drinks at CostCo. As it turns out, we didn't need the chips for the BBQ and they are staring at me from across the room. Sharp Cheddar Kettle Cooked potato chips. I really don't want them. Why did I buy them? They were a good deal. I don't know what the policy is for returning potato chips. I don't really want to find out and I don't really want to eat them.
I should admit that I have a problem with good deals. I have mostly confined it to the grocery store. I love a good deal, but am usually regretful later. I currently have 17 boxes of cake mix and 9 boxes of Hamburger Helper. I recently decided that I want to make cakes from scratch--they taste better and they are easier to work with. I don't like Hamburger Helper or Chicken Helper or Tuna Helper, yet there are nine boxes in the garage and I forgot about the three in the cabinet. That's a lot of money that could have gone to other things. Like meat, fresh veggies, the savings account.... *sigh* I haven't even mentioned how many boxes of cereal I have in the garage!

preparing

I like when sunlight streams into my apartment. Squirrel likes it too, even after Keatt puts random items on her. Lately, I feel like a squirrel outside gathering nuts and seeds for the winter. I want my home to be warm, well stocked, and I am prepared to sleep through as much of winter as possible. Being a human makes sleeping that much impossible. I find myself trying to make plans now before the rains of the Pacific northwest come. If I reach out and connect with people, maybe I will continue to do so during the dark, dreary months ahead. Or will I let Keatt and Wesley watch Wonder Pets until those are the only songs I know? The rhyming is amazing. It is unbelievable how I have gone through life never rhyming "fact is" with "cactus" or "pupa" with "supa dupa" until now. That’s butterfly pupa for those of you free of toddlers. I do look forward to The View tomorrow. It’s not supposed to rain tomorrow, but my fanny with be parked on the couch. Or maybe I will tape it (yes, VHS!) and savior it later if the kids nap.

Ah, television, how you rule my life when it’s dark and gross out. What I really want, and the plans in my head are many, is to help others. Instead of watching countless hours of TV and telling my kids to share, maybe I will find the motivation to help others get out of debt. My husband and I rang in 2009 credit card debt free. Soon, I will have my student loan paid off. I feel I need to share those with others. So, if you are reading this, stay tuned and enjoy all the sunny days you can!