Without my husband around (he was at the Iowa again – his brother graduated), I discovered this weekend that I turn into a veritable recluse. I didn’t see a soul this weekend – unless you count the people at the grocery store that I didn’t know – and I spent the entire weekend cleaning things, preparing food for when Joey came back, and baking cookies to surprise him on Monday. I barely went outside, even though it was beautiful and Henry could have used a walk.

Several things of note did occur on my hermit-weekend, though.

1. I rode Thunder to the grocery store on Saturday afternoon. My parents are coming Wednesday – Friday (YAY!! I CAN BARELY WAIT!) so I bought extra treats to entice Pops and probably make Mom sad. (I bought soda and chippies, which is rare.) I also bought yogurt for them.

All of these extra treats seemed to weigh a lot more than normal. I pushed my little cart out of Central Market, happily looking at the bright blue sky and exceedingly proud of myself for figuring out my bike lock all by myself without Joey showing me ahead of time. (I remembered all the necessary parts, too.) I loaded my two reusable grocery sacks into my panniers and tried to back my bike up so I could get it unlocked.

It was good that my bike was still locked up, because it was back-heavy with the groceries. It tipped over. Hard. I caught it just in time and began to feel concerned for my ride home…like maybe my bike was going to pop a wheelie of its own free will and dump me and all my groceries, treats included, into the street. (Maybe Mom would say it serves me right for buying chippies and soda, though. But probably not.)

I made it home, but just barely. Every time I stopped, my bike heaved to the side or tried to kick backwards. Three times I nearly fell and skinned my knee. I could just imagine that conversation with Joey. “Um, hi…Thunder threw me. And I wrecked the groceries.”

But I made it home, very little worse for the wear.

2. On Sunday morning, I set my alarm for 9:00. I couldn’t bear to go to Sunday School alone, so I thought I’d just go to the service and sit in the back somewhere. I gave myself an hour and fifteen minutes to get ready, which was definitely more than enough time.

My jeans, though, were still slightly damp, so I popped them in the dryer. Five minutes later, I smelled an acrid, smoky smell. I rushed all over my house trying to figure out what was on fire. It dawned on me that it could be the dryer. I discovered that, once I opened it, the smoky smell intensified, so I grabbed all the clothes and threw them on the floor. I removed any and all flammable objects and called maintenance right away.

I quickly made my bed, straightened the house, and set myself up to wait for them to arrive. Surely they’d come in plenty of time so I could get in the shower and make it to church.

Three hours later, I was still waiting. Church was very, very over at this point. And I still hadn’t taken a shower. (I had this bad feeling that as soon as I did, the maintenance guy would show up and wouldn’t that be awkward?)

So I gave up and went to Target. He showed up shortly thereafter, four hours after my call, and told me that yes, the heating element in my dryer was catching fire every time it tumbled.

Great. So glad I didn’t get in the shower before I noticed the smoky smell or I’d have burned the whole house down…I had caught it just in time.

So the maintenance guy ordered me a new dryer and I hung what was in the washer on my clothes lines the balcony, which I probably should have done in the first place. But now I’m getting a new dryer, so I guess it was worth it.

3. I watched PS I love you with Henry, who fell asleep immediately, and cried most of the way through it like it was my job. It’s a terrible movie, no one ever watch it.

4. Joey got home at 3:00 this morning. I immediately started a load of his laundry (YES, at 3:15 this morning…I wanted to be able to hang it out this morning and it would get dry enough to fold), and unpacked his bags while he hopped in the shower. We then tried to fall asleep, but I was so excited and releived he was back….that I didn’t fall asleep again until at least 4:30. Joey was roadbuzzed so he didn’t fall asleep until 5:00.

We are going to bed so early tonight. But I’m GLAD HE’S HOME!