I can’t believe it’s only Monday.  I’ve done at least a week’s worth of stuff over the past three days…and have at least that much more to do over the next three days.  And I really don’t know how I’m going to get everything done.  I’m going to need a vacation to recover from my vacation!

Patrick’s friend Julia and her boyfriend, Pat, are spending this week at my house before leaving with Patrick and his friends for Burning Man Saturday morning.  I thought they were coming later this week, but they changed their plans and got in at about 2 pm Saturday.  As a result, Patrick and I went crazy Friday night and Saturday morning getting rid of stuff–throwing it out, putting it away, throwing it in the laundry or stuffing it in places unknown in the garage.  The house was relatively straightened up when they got here, but there was still lots to do.

I still had to finish caulking the tub so that we could handle all the showers over the next week, so had to go to OSH for supplies, then to the grocery for food and sodas, then home to get busy on the tub.  I finally got it finished by early evening.  Then fixed a big spaghetti dinner with garlic bread and salad.  Thankfully, Julia and Pat went to bed early and, after soaking in a warm bath, I collapsed.

On Sunday I spent the day doing laundry, working in my room and doing various cleanups around the house.  Dinner was beef brats on the grill, macaroni, corn and salad.  By about 8 pm my back was killing me, so I soaked in another warm bath and relaxed for a bit in front of the tv.  Julia and Pat went to see an improv show in Hollywood with Patrick and a few friends.  By 11 pm we were all ready to head off to bed.

Today was shopping day for food for the week, Burning Man, and the big party Friday night.  I had to clean out and compact everything in the fridge before we left so there would be room for everything (I hoped!).  First we went to Albertsons and then came home and unloaded the car and put away perishables.  Then we headed to Trader Joe’s where we bought another full load of stuff.  From there we went to Ralph’s and picked up anything we still needed, including six 30-packs of beer!  Two will stay here for the party, the rest will go to Burning Man.  It took most of the rest of the day just to get everything sorted out and put away.  Everything fit in the fridge, but just barely, and there’s no room for anything else.  So I have to wait until Friday to buy the chicken for the party ’cause there’s no where to store it.

Dinner tonight was orange chicken, rice and salad.  I am already sick of cooking.  I haven’t cooked this many meals in a row for years!  I’m ready for fast food!

Tomorrow I’m staying home and finishing up cleaning the kitchen and trying to get the back bedroom cleared of stuff that’s been stored there for the past year or so.  Also have more laundry to get finished.  Wednesday and Thursday will be for cleaning bathrooms and floors as well as cleaning up the backyard a bit and hosing off all the plastic chairs.  Vanessa will be arriving sometime on Wednesday, so I have to wash all the living room slipcovers to make sure to rid them of as much cat hair as possible since she’ll be sleeping there.

And then Brian and his girlfriend arrive Thursday night.  They get in at LAX at 10:15 pm, so we won’t get back to the house until around 11:30 pm.  They will no doubt want to go right to bed since it will be 2:30 am Ohio time.  And I will be grateful to head off to bed at that point as well I’m sure.

On Friday the craziness begins.  Patrick has to pack up the trailer and his truck with all the Burning Man stuff for everyone who’s going with them.  I have to take Brian to get a rental car and go to the grocery to pick up the chicken and anything else still needed.  Then it’s home to start baking the chicken and the baked beans.  I’m going to get some disposable aluminum pans to make cleanup that much easier.  In fact, as much as possible disposables will be used.

The Burners will be leaving around 4 am on Saturday–yay!  My driveway will be empty for the first time in weeks!  I’m hopeful I get to rest on Saturday and Sunday.  I think Brian and his girlfriend will be heading out to see LA.  I’ll probably spend a bit of time cleaning up all the residue from Friday and then am going to crash.  I actually think I’m going to be happy to get back to work next week.  It will certainly be more restful than my ‘vacation’ week.