those little things

by Rachel Marie Martin

Have you ever wondered about things that might frustrate me?  They’re not huge events, but are those little-itty-bitty events that leave me sighing and scratching my head.  Here’s a small sampling for you to enjoy.

1) Unmatched socks.  Last night, I folded and sorted and folded again and sorted again, socks.  Baskets of socks.  And, now, this morning, I’m left with a huge laundry bag of unmatched socks.  Where are the socks?  I’ve done all the laundry.  I’ve cleaned the drawers.  I don’t understand what happens to the socks.  Especially big, fluffy, green socks.  How could that my slipper sock get lost?

2) Almost empty containers put away.  You know what I’m talking about — the gallon of milk returned to the fridge with barely enough milk on the bottom to get a sip.  Or a cereal box stuffed into the pantry with just crumbs and four pieces in the bottom of the bag.  

3) Empty containers put away.  Specifically my Keurig coffee box.  Went to make my coffee this morning — opened the Keurig box — found it empty.  That is just unfair!

4) People holding signs outside their business and waving as I drive by.  Every single time.    Okay — some explanation.  There’s a local oil change company right by ballet that loves to have an employee stand by the road and wave while holding a sign that states – no waiting.  I get so tired of nodding, grinning, waving back, ignoring, pretending to change the station, looking back at the kids, looking the other way, staring straight ahead, and sneezing while I pass them.  You’d think that they would recognize me and that their attempts to pull me into their shop for an oil change will not be met.  They’ve tried for 6 months.  And, between you and me, I won’t be going there.  Just because I have to deal with the wave.

5) When I order a latte at the coffee shop and the cup is waaaaay to light.  Ever had that happen?  You know, when there wasn’t enough steamed milk and the barista (love that word) just adds frothed milk thus making the latte more of a cappuccino/latte hybrid. Somehow I feel like I got cheated out of two-three sips of espresso ladened milk.

6) Grocery stores that have their own instore coupons for buy-one-get-one free.  I either drop one or forget one.  Then when I’m walking out of the store, as I scan my receipt, I’ll notice that I’ve been charged for two cherry tomatoes or two porkchop packages or two boxes Ritz crackers.  The only reason I had two, besides having a huge family, is because there was a sign stating that it was a bogo with store coupon.  Come on!  Have mercy on me!  Wouldn’t it be nicer for us, the customer, to simply ring the free one up?  Versus having me stand in line at the service desk asking for my refund as I rip out a coupon from the stack on the counter?  At least they don’t have someone standing outside with a sign trying to compel me to come in and shop.

7) Crackers.  Why?  Crackers = crumbs.  Remember those Ritz crackers?  They create many, many, many crumbs.  Luckily we sweep about 20 times in one day in this home.  I’ll have to go check with Grace, the official kitchen sweeper, how many times she sweeps. Once I check with her I’ll update the official count….

8) Monday mornings.  After a weekend of sick children.  And now, a sick mom (that would be me).  Monday mornings where I have 2 laundry baskets full of socks — that are matched — waiting to put away.  Monday mornings where I know I need to get moving, and pull out the school books.  Sigh…

What I love?

My Caribou coffee, that I picked up this morning because I was out of Keurigs.  That I have baskets of folded socks.  That my Grace has already swept 3 times and is now knitting.  That we have crackers to eat.  That I don’t need an oil change. That I can go to the store and replace those empty cereal boxes sitting in my cabinet.  Those are all good.  Oh, yeah, and that Samuel says — momma.  That melts my heart.

It’s time to get to work, my friends.  Enjoy your Monday.  Sip your coffee and think of me. 🙂

Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

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16 comments

Little Miss Emmy Lou October 25, 2010 - 4:27 pm

Funny story.

I hate mismatched socks, too…

My dog puked in the middle of the night a couple nights ago. I go to clean it up. Guess what I find in her puke? A baby sock.

That’s where MY socks go.

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Katie October 25, 2010 - 4:35 pm

on #5. I don’t like this either! I purposely ask for no foam. Yet, I still get it sometimes..and I too feel like i have been cheated…

glad to know that I am not the only one! 🙂

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A 2 Z October 25, 2010 - 5:03 pm

Hi Rachel,

Over the years I would keep big bags of unmatched socks. A few weeks I just threw it out It was very liberating. Of course I found a few matches….I love your writing style. I’m a new follower! Lets keep in touch. Hope you feel better soon.

Anne-Marie

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mama2ways October 25, 2010 - 5:06 pm

well said- left a smile on my face- praying for peace and health in your home today friend!

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Makay October 25, 2010 - 5:12 pm

Yeah… being cheated of the $9 latte is annoying- I mean it is overpriced foam.

I am having an awesome giveaway on my blog So Far So Great! You should enter it is for persecuted Christians,

http://sofarsogreat1.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway.html

You have till Wednesday afternoon.

Love, Makay

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Kelli October 25, 2010 - 5:33 pm

LOVED this post. We have a pizza place near our house that has someone standing outside with a sign that says that they have $5 pizzas…WE GET IT! I don’t think if I drove by one day and the person wasn’t there that I would think they no long have $5 pizzas. Drives me crazy. But that $5 pizza comes in handy late at night when you just need a little something 🙂 As I was folding laundry last night I was thinking…where do all of the socks go???

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Mandy October 25, 2010 - 7:19 pm

I can sympathize on many of these points~ socks and crumbs are major issues in this house too! An don’t get me started on my coffee issues~ too many to even begin to get them all down in a comment box… hope you have a wonderful day!

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Krystle October 25, 2010 - 7:51 pm

All those little things can add up and just feel like too much!
And then you’re right…you can sit back and be thankful for what those little things really mean in the grand scheme of things…like you have crackers to eat!
Have a wonderful day!

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Stephani October 25, 2010 - 8:47 pm

I am in the process of doing laundry as I type this and couldn’t stop laughing at the photo. I have a basket of socks and wonder where those socks are? We just moved, so everything was matched, organized, folded, organized again and yet, I still have a basket of spouseless socks. You’re not alone. I so enjoy your blog and love coming here to breathe inbetween loads of mismatched socks.
Stephani
http://www.writingfuelsmysoul.blogspot.com

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Janet October 25, 2010 - 9:46 pm

I have similar stories. And oh they can be so frustrating. I absolutley HATE socks. In fact I will not fold my husbands. And then of course one always ends up missing and he go crazy trying to find it.

The joys of life. Thank you for sharing some of lifes little moments

Blessings & Hugs
Janet

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Lea October 26, 2010 - 12:24 am

Just thoroughly enjoyed this entry and think we’ve all had dryers that eat socks. :o) I cannot even begin to imagine all the socks your family has.

And, I’m with you on the waving outside the business. We have a business that puts a clown outside their business (it’s a tire place) and he waves all day long and drives me crazy.

Gotta love Keurig! I go straight to mine first thing every morning.

A wonderful week to you and your sweet family!

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Our Family October 26, 2010 - 2:40 am

Oh, how I loved reading this- I can relate! 🙂
So sorry you’re sick- hope you feel better soon!
Jessica

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Diana October 26, 2010 - 2:45 am

I just came across your blog,wow Im definatly going to follow your blog:) A mother of seven, I have so much respect for you! I wish I could have a big family:)

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BARBIE October 26, 2010 - 3:40 am

I have 2 or 3 laundry baskets with mismatched socks in there. I do not know where they end up. I often get so frustrated I toss them and start again! I loathe cracker crumbs, to the point where my kids must eat their crackers over a paper plate. Call me strange but I just cannot vacuum every day! Sorry you are sick! Feel better soon!

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lmworley416 October 26, 2010 - 5:33 am

Had more than my share of single socks and you can actually have a lot of fun with them. You can have “sock ball” fights…kinda like snow ball fights, but with socks.
Praying in Seattle!
Psalms 62:5-7 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Prayer Bears
My email address

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carissa @ lowercase letters October 26, 2010 - 10:32 am

ditto to all! except my missing sock bag has like 1/5 of the inventory yours does. ; ) yes, the b1g1 free coups drive me nuts! really, all coups do,but i must give into them.

i want my sage to be just like your girls. wow, grace is a sweetheart!

i’m so sorry you are sick. poor mama. you definitely deserve extra coffee this week. and i hope samuel says “momma” extra sweetly… although i know every time its said its like music to your ears! he’s so handsome!

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