Friday, September 21, 2007

A Big Fat Kick in the Pants

I love hosting visitors at our home. Living in Key West and having an extra bedroom with it's own full bath makes it a prime opportunity for friends and relatives to come visit at a reasonable price.

Even before I moved and before I bought my Vancouver house, I used to host a "Dinner Night" every Wednesday night for 10-20 people. I would plan the menu and do most of the cooking, instructing guests what to bring as contributions to the meal.

It's probably the Old German Lady living inside me - I feel the need to feed everyone or cover them with a blanket.

I've never claimed to be a clean housekeeper despite having frequent guests. All my life the only thing that has motivated me to clean my room (then house) was the impending arrival of a friend. My mom was quite exasperated at my version of cleaning my room (throwing all the crap in the closet or under the bed) and even when I went away to boarding high-school, having someone come stay with me was my only motivator to straighten things up.

Living in the opposing corner of the country from the majority of my friends and relations has given me ample time to let my housekeeping skills go totally in the toilet. Fortunately, beginning in February this year we've had guests from out-of-town nearly every month.

Tonight two of my cousins arrive and we spent the afternoon and evening cleaning up our house. I have to say it looks pretty good - especially since I bought a couch cover, new throw pillows and put up sconces that have been waiting patiently in the corner for months.

I'm glad I can be forced to sterilize the pigsty once in awhile, or Scott would probably leave me.

8 comments:

Atypical California Girl said...

I tend to be like you.
The place is a happy chaos until company is about to arrive. Then things find their place in the house and I enjoy the order for about three days.

Marisa said...

Yeah, we'll be lucky if it even lasts THAT long!

Tammie Jean said...

Kind of sounds like me. When I was younger - oh, forget about my room. You wouldn't have known there was a floor. Or even walls.

Now, I keep most of the house in good order. But I have a few places that get messy, like the spare room and the bathroom my daughter and I use. When company comes they finally get cleaned. My desk never does though...

Jim Thomsen said...

I never feel comfortable about hosting people in my house. I think I don't want people to judge me by what my house looks like, or think they're getting some deep insight into who I really am — because they'd be dealing in nothing but misconceptions, and that usually leads to more misconceptions.

I much prefer to be a helpful, low-maintenance guests in the houses of others.

moosh in indy. said...

You realize that was an open invite for me to come right?
You don't even have to clean for me either.

Marisa said...

As long as you bring the Moosh for entertainment, you're on.

Atypical California Girl said...

Just for that I think I need to visit Washington and impose myself on Jim since I was gracious enough to put him up in my guest room.

Marisa said...

You're darn right you do!