I was right.
The home we visited tonight was all about marble and stainless steel. The kitchen counters were black marble and the stove was gas and featured a griddle and a grill, in addition to the burners and two separate ovens. The floor was bamboo, smooth, shiny and blond. Windows everywhere, twinkling lights on islands across the water. If you woke up in the master bedroom, you’d be looking at the Puget Sound. The master bathroom has heated floors, a shower with three nozzles that is bigger than my closet and a giant tub. Downstairs is his office and her “play room” which features large, expensive weight-training systems and a sauna.
We ate pork tenderloin and baked squash with dried cranberries and challah bread and fancy salad that seemed to have dandelion leaves in it.
The company was not so interesting. The dinner was hosted in honor of the youth pastor candidate and his wife, and frankly, they were kind of dull. At one point, the young man (who is balding, but that is neither here nor there) started rattling off a bunch of books he’s read: Howard’s End, A Room with a View–I can’t remember the others–and so I said, “Do you read for pleasure?” and he paused for just a second and said, “No.” Those were all books required for a college class. We did talk a bit about books, then–the host mentioned his wife’s book club and I was intensely jealous that she belongs to this long-standing book club. She talked about how these women have been with each other through crises and life situations for years and years . . . and I thought, “Where is MY book club? Where are my friends? I want a support system!” She described a couple books and I asked what they were–one, in particular, she mentioned that she hated, but she claimed not to remember what it was.
I felt a little bad when I’d realize that I was completely ignoring the youth pastor candidate couple, but they were so boring. She, apparently, loves sports and NASCAR racing. Oh dear. She didn’t wear any make-up and had a huge pimple on one cheek. He kept hijacking the conversation to ramble on and on in his North Carolina accent. Oh dear. They did not make a good first impression on me.
But I would have happily sat and discussed books with the hostess while sitting on her lush leather couch and feeling warmth from the gas-burning fireplace (which was surrounded with marble that matched the kitchen). The fireplace is two-sided, so if you step out onto the patio, you can also sit by the fire and be warmed.
The youth pastor couple mentioned that she just found out she is pregnant, which is joyous news, but on the other hand, there is no way they can live in this area on the salary that we can offer. The salary sort of necessitates a working wife. So, I have no idea what will happen. I guess there is another couple to interview next week. The dinner ended before 9 p.m., because they were exhausted from their long trip from Pennsylvania. Apparently, they left at 1 a.m., Pennsylvania time.
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This morning, the entire family was presentably dressed by 10 a.m. We went to the church to have our portrait taken for the church directory. They give you a free 8×10 and then sell you additional pictures at exorbitant prices. Although Babygirl hates people and new situations, she did not cry, so we managed to get an acceptable picture. Babygirl and I came home while my husband took the kids to the local Mexican restaurant for lunch. I didn’t think Babygirl would cooperate, so we had a can of soup.
My husband dropped the kids off and went to the church to participate in the interviewing process. I didn’t see him again until after 5 p.m. I spent my day cleaning out Babygirl’s closet and taking the boys and Babygirl for a walk to 7-11 to get Slurpees. I even got Babygirl a small one, half-full. That 79 cent Slurpee bought her complete happiness and contentment for quite a long time. When we got home, the boys watched the t.v. shows I had taped for them from the morning and I went in the front yard with Babygirl. We eventually walked around our circle, which is about a tenth of a mile, but which took a long, long time. I had my cell-phone on and called the boys half-way through to make sure they hadn’t burned the house down or anything.
Babygirl has developed an obsession with rocks that some people use in their yards, the small, smooth, round rocks. She spends a great deal of time crouched down, studying the rocks before she picks out just the perfect rock to hold for five minutes. I remember YoungestBoy being the same way. Even if he was in the stroller, he’d beckon to the rocks and I’d have to pick one out for him.
When we finally came inside again, I returned to the bedroom closet and sorted through more clothing and shoes. I have two tubs of baby clothes that I will probably eBay, but not now. I just don’t have time now. I have clothes to give my neighbor, clothes to give my nephew, and a giant black garbage bag to just give to Value Village. It’s always a good feeling to purge the house of stuff.
Because garage-sale season is coming. *wink*
Actual Unretouched Photo 