Ordering Well

John and I go to the same person (Annette at the Family Salon) for our haircuts. Well, he get his haircut; I get haircuts, colors, pedicures and whatever else has to be done to keep me looking presentable. As I like to say, the maintenance just gets more and more expensive the older I get – kind of like a car.

Last night, John was in for a haircut and I was in this morning for “maintenance.” Annette told me that she asked John if I’d been busy baking in preparation for Christmas. I don’t bake. I used to, but when I discovered that most of the goodies I prepared went straight from the cooking rack into my mouth I decided that it was probably best I didn’t bake. I don’t mind eating other people’s goodies, mind you, and being as we have a fabulous bakery in town, I’m not afraid to call them either.

So, what did John say when asked if I’d been busy baking? He said, “No, Nancy’s more of a buyer than a baker.” Cracked me up! Though, as my friend Debbie says, “Knowing how to order well is important, too.”

36 Years of Communication

Wow! Another blog lapse. It seems I’ve got a lot in my head but not enough time to write it all down. So, today’s blog will be short, and somewhat unimportant, but perhaps a fun little glance into the Holte household.

I had a friend who told me recently that he reads my blog posts, and likes them, but well, “they are kind of long.” So for Chris, this one's for you.

Today, after months and months of procrastination and lack of planning, our plumber is at the house installing a couple of new faucets. Our kitchen faucet broke, oh probably a year ago, and my family has been not so patiently waiting for me to get a new one. This is the new kitchen faucet. The birds seemed very excited about it.

As is often the case, when shopping for household items, you start to notice that some other areas in your house could use a little help, too. And so it was for me when, after looking at new kitchen faucets, I wandered over to the bathroom faucet area and got to thinking, “You know, our bathroom faucet is getting pretty gross. These aren’t terribly expensive. Why don’t I just get a new one for the bathroom while I’m at it.”

I’m sure I talked to John about it before I placed my final order for both faucets, but he seems to have forgotten that. Thus, we just had the following conversation:

John: “What’s Leroy (our plumber) doing in the bathroom?”

Me: “He’s replacing the faucet.”

John: “Oh, you should have talked to me first.” (Really, I’m sure I did.)

Me: “Why?” (Not asked in a “why would I do that” kind of way but more in a “why, did you have another plan?” kind of way.)

John: “Well, I was thinking that we should just do the whole thing over.”

Me: (somewhat amazed) “Really? The whole bathroom?”

John: “No, just the sink.”

Me: “Well, I was thinking we’d re-do the sink when we re-do the whole bathroom.”

John: “Oh, well, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”

Me: “And that’s why I just got the faucet.”

And that’s how communication works (or doesn’t) after 36 years of marriage.