Too quiet... but busy.

I know, I know... I hate to say it, but it's been busy.

We had a good weekend, but a quick one. We have friends coming to stay with us at the end of this week, and there is so much I want to get done before they get here. Of course, this week's evenings are all but booked up.... tonight, a work meeting, Wednesday- a dinner with my old roommates, Friday- a makeup Mother's day dinner with Jed's mom. And so much to get done in between.

Of course Martha arrived in my mailbox with a feature on gorgeous summertime porches, so we launched into action yesterday trying to spruce up our own. We hauled out the furniture, brought in a bucket of soapy water, scrub brushes and a hose-- and we CLEANED it out. Of course, after all of our effort, it looked pretty much the same. So we figured some new caulk around the windows would be nice. And after we were done, the glistening white caulk made everything else looked super dingy, so now I think we'll have to do some spray painting. I'm thinking also of painting the brick-- something less... red... and maybe doing some indoor/outdoor carpet. Or perhaps just painting the floor and using some rugs. Anything to make it a bit home-ier and less mudroom-esque.

:::

So our dogs are with my parents this week because one of them is getting their teeth cleaned for the bargain basement country vet rates down there, and so the house is creepily quiet. There is nothing to monitor, nothing to watch out for. No whining, no barking. No little noises or distractions. It's just silent. I became acutely aware of how sad it is without them last night when we were climbing into bed, and it just seemed so lonely. I *KNOW* we still have... us.... but without something ELSE to dote on, snuggle on the couch with, or yell at... there was just something missing.

Do I live a life that relies on distraction? When I'm by myself, I have to have the TV on for some background noise. It seems like it's most comfortable for me to always be multi-tasking. Eating dinner and checking Facebook, emailing and watching TV. Driving and (i know...) talking on the phone. Maybe it's a byproduct of a job that requires doing at least 4 things at once-- paying attention to staff while emailing, while thinking about who I'm going to call next, all on top of at least three downsized spreadsheets... while wondering if I'll have enough time to get some work done in the porch tonight... OR, perhaps, I'll put a coat of poly on the bay window seat. During the finale of Dancing with the Stars.