THE DIRTY DEED...

What comes to mind when someone starts a discussion on the absolute worst chore around the house? You know the discussion - it's about that horrible job you just plain dread; the one you put off for days, weeks, and even months. The chore you find every reason under the sun not to do and will go to great lengths to pawn off on someone else. Is it washing windows? Weeding the garden? Cleaning the toilets? How about ironing? Well let me tell you, if I live to be 100, I hope I never ever tackle the job I did today...and it's none of the above. It's something much, much worse.

I'm talking about cleaning out the shower drain. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't fun. It wasn't even satisfying once it was done. It was just plain D-I-S-G-U-S-T-I-N-G! My wonderful husband is the resident carpenter, plumber, auto mechanic, electrician, appliance fixer, painter, handyman of every sort. He does everything, including the drains when they get clogged. He's been meaning to do it again, but lately he's been really busy at work, and when he gets home it's dinner, JR time, garden/yard work, etc. etc. He just hasn't had the time.

Since it was Tuesday, I figured, how hard could this be? I admit I now only vaguely recall comments he's made after cleaning them; phrases like: craploads of long hair, I hate this job and even gross. At the time I probably thought he was exaggerating and paid little attention. I suppose I likely Yes dear-ed him and told him with very little conviction that I thought he did a great job... But tonight as I sit here typing, I have a whole new respect for him and all the times he's bravely taken on the job.

Without getting really gory and entering the TMI realm, I'll just say I have never experienced such slimy, nasty stuff in all my life. Worse than any diaper or baby vomit I ever tended to - and I've had more than my share of both. (I've even spared you by not taking any pictures of the "stuff" and if you saw what I did, you'd thank me!)

Yep, tonite my shower drains freely again, but I gotta tell you, where this task is concerned, been there, done that, got the dirty T-shirt to prove, and never going back again.

I sure love my husband right about now... For alot of reasons - doing this job for years, for being a great husband and father, and mostly because, um, I never got to the other bathroom...