Come play in my world for awhile!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Hannah say what?

When my kids conscientiously place their dirty clothes fling their clothing into the laundry basket, 99.9% of the time they can be sure to over-shoot their socks and/or underwear. And by overshooting, they guarantee the clothing will be eternally trapped in the no-man's land that is the 4.5 inches between the washer and the wall.

You know the spot. It's tight enough that you can't do more than stick your arm in the gap, but the gap is long enough that you just... can't... reach the stuff that's fallen in there.

I let the menagerie of laundry build up as long as I can. But after awhile the basket full of lonely socks staring longingly at me as I sort the darks from the whites gets the better of me.

So Friday I had my arm wedged in the gap. I couldn't quite reach. I jammed my shoulder into the crevice as far as it would go. I hoisted my butt into the air and angled myself down as hard as I could. My shoulder shrieked in pain. At this point my rump was flying high and proud like the American flag on the 4th of July. It wasn't attractive, but I could almost reach... I pushed a little harder and felt the washer shift against my weight... so close...

Just then three of my kids waltzed into the laundry room, and before I even registered their presence Hannah said:

Hannah: Man, mom! That should be illegal! You could break a bone doing that!

KathyB!: ((furiously)) What the heck is that supposed to mean?


Hannah: ((looking confused and clearly unaware of whatever she just stepped in))

KathyB!: ((mentally scrolling through all the snappy retorts I could fling at her if she wasn't 9... and wondering why acting like an adult never feels good))

Hannah: I don't know, mom... What did I say?! When the guy said it on tv everybody laughed.

***

Hannah finished collecting the socks and unders from the impossible gap.



It was trickier than it looked to get those socks and unders.

She didn't break any bones.

And it was totally legal.

64 comments:

Sultan said...

I wonder if any of my missing socks fled to the gap behind your machine?

ScoMan said...

That's what I call teamwork!

And stealing jokes from TV shows is an important part of life, even if you have no idea what they mean.

Jinksy said...

The answer is a 'Granny Grabber', as I call the metal stick thingy some bright spark invented for picking up things out of reach to the aged and infirm! It probably has a very posh name, but Granny Grabber is so much more explicit! It has a multitude of uses - but I must admit, I've never tried grabbing a granny with it...

Liz Mays said...

Well, you must have waited a long time to gather up all that laundry from back there since apparently all they have left to wear are swimsuits. ;)

ck said...

Looks like she just got herself a new job!

Unknown said...

Yo Kathy B!, since you're selling the kids you need to find a more efficient way of retrieving the socks and undies....try the end of a broomstick dearie. But I strongly suspect that when you sell them there will be no more stuff in no man's land behind the dryer. And you will be sad.

Signed,
Somewhere who's there now :(

LadyFi said...

Do you have any of our missing socks over there?

How about using chicken wire to stop them from falling down there... ;-)

The Good Cook said...

That picture of the girls retrieving the errant laundry is precious. Great post!

Lindy said...

I love that the one is holding the other ones legs...like she could be lost forever in the abyss if someone wasn't there to "PULL ME BACK!"

countryfriedmama said...

My big take away from this post is a realization that my laundry room, after seeing yours, is a horrid mess and must be cleaned TODAY. Thanks for the inspiration.

MadMad said...

Wait, wait, wait. You're doing laundry at 3:33 A.M. Dude! No wonder I stink at this housewife thing!

Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com said...

Great picture and very funny story!

TheKitchenWitch said...

Good job putting Sassybritches to work! Looks like it was a team effort!

Grant said...

That's what small children are for - getting to those hard to reach places.

Debrae64 said...

Not sure, but I think they can earn one of their GS badges for that! Surely, there's a fun patch for it! :-D LOL! Have a great week!

Unknown said...

good job keeping the camera handy to capture these moments!

Kristina P. said...

I love that picture! Your daughter is hilarious!

peewee said...

I use salad tongs. They work wonders!

Danielle said...

It's a good thing you have 3 to navigate their way through that task. They are genious!

Crazee Juls said...

I can so relate to this post, as I just cleaned out socks & underoos from behind my washer/dryer this weekend. Finding toddler socks when there are no longer toddlers at your house, tells you that you don't clean often enough.

You always have the cutest stories...:) Your girls are so fun! :)

beth said...

great picture!
ps - i am madly in love with north carolina after my vacation there last week!

Sandy said...

When the socks and such things miss my washer they end up in the trash basket beside the washer. Sometimes I catch them, sometimes I don't. Oh well.

Jen said...

have you even tried tongs? they work great to reach in there and get the 'stuff'.

Cheffie-Mom said...

What a great post! LOL! Love the photo!

Anonymous said...

Lol at 'it was funny when he said it on tv'!!

The Blonde Duck said...

That is the cutest picture ever.

Michelle said...

What a riot! May I hire them to come over and get behind my dryer as well?

So cute.

Stephanie Faris said...

I thought I was the only one who got clothes stuck back there. And I have no idea how to get it out. Could you loan Hannah to me for a few minutes?

Ink said...

Adorable! Again! As Always!

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Can I borrow her? Actually, I'll take the whole team! They do good work!

Pam said...

Great photo! I bet the girls thought that was a lot of fun! Why does it seem like fun for them and torture for us? Oh to be a kid again!

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

That is a great one! So funny! That is what little kids and their little arms are for, right?

Hit 40 said...

My fat cat tigger got trapped behind my laundry units today. He cried and moaned about 10 minutes. I was about to try to drag the washer out from the wall on my on...

then I realized to just shake his favorite food treat. I missed how he did it, but yes he escaped on his own.

Susie said...

What a hilarious quandry:-)

Queenie Jeannie said...

LOL! Luckily I have a golfball retriever and that works like a charm! Although the girls look pretty cute!

Suzy said...

I'm with Jinsky. Someone gave me one 6 yrs ago, after my first surgery. After I was all better I wanted to donate it but didn't. I can't TELL you how many times I've needed it since. Out here I think the're like 20 bux, maybe less.

Marbles dropped behind a buffet anyone?

passions and soapboxes said...

And where are the pictures of you ass end up. Where are they Kathy. Ha Ha Ha.

Niki said...

My kids do the same thing with their clothes. It's why I have a set of grabbers. To reach things behind the washer and dryer.

bernthis said...

there could be a body there and I would just leave it. Not worth the potential injury

Anonymous said...

I would have totally left them back there.

Gibby said...

Like some of your other commenters have said...how cool is the teamwork of the Belinski girls?? Think of the possibilities!

Kathy B! said...

@passions -- I'm the one with the camera, hence there are never embarassing photos of moi posted. And likely there won't be. That's why it's called the world according to ME.

to many -- I usually stick a broom back there to coax the socks out, but this time they were so close that I thought (incorrectly) that I could reach... I'll have to look into one of those grabbers.

Stacy Uncorked said...

That. Was. Priceless. :)

Anonymous said...

Your kids never fail to make me chuckle.

Sturgmom said...

Those girls are ingenious!

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

There should be a net or something that attaches to the backs of washer/dryers. Think we could patent that?

mCat said...

I like that she had to fetch the clothes wedged between the washer.

When my youngest made a comment to his friends mom about how I did his laundry wrong, that was the day he began doing his own. They ought to learn to manage their tongues eh?

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

Now that's what I call temwork...you tell them to work together to set those unders free!

Anonymous said...

haha that is too funny!! I am sorry!!

Unknown said...

I have problems getting Steve to throw dirty clothes in the hamper let alone the washing machine. Good luck! That doesn't look legal. : )

Anonymous said...

I know the exact spot you speak of. I haven't looked back there in months. *gulp*

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

hee hee hee....that photo is priceless! (so is her humor!)

JennyMac said...

Haha...Love the pic! we have had to do something similar at our house although your girls looks cuter than I am sure I did. LOL.

ymk said...

I love how one is holding the rescuer's legs, afraid she might get lost in that gap like one of those socks.
Glad you made her finish the job, though. We don't want you breaking any bones ;)

Cynthia said...

Came from your comment to my guest post at Vodka Moms...

Looks like a tricky situation with the machine...Love the picture, heavy drama behind the machine;)

Helene said...

Oh man, I have the same issue in my house! The picture is classic...they should have to retrieve the clothes since they're the ones who threw them back there (accidentally, of course...but still).

And kids should know that when moms are doing household chores that they shouldn't joke around!

Janell said...

I'm loving the imagery of your daughter walking in on you. And her quoting from t.v. - hilarious! I honestly think the only time I've picked up behind the washer and dryer is when we had to move the old ones out to replace them with new ones. Also, you have a pretty laundry room. I love the window!

Ginger said...

I'm afraid of what's behind my washer. Hopefully when Jack is big enough he'll brave it for me..

Cute picture of the girls. :)

Jenni said...

That picture CRACKED ME UP!

Mary K Brennan said...

That has to be the coolest photo yet. I tried that once with my older son. Almost dropped the poor lad. The pile is still there.
We could probably put out piles together and form new pairs.

theUngourmet said...

I hate when this happens!

You should have had your daughter snap a photo of you trying to grab the socks and unders as well. That would have been an award winner I think! ;0)

Fun photo!

FranticMommy said...

You shoulda remained stuck with your butt in the hair, told her to get the camcorder and put it on America's Funniest Home Videos! Made some money outta the deal..............

Anonymous said...

I know you're about to hit puberty and all, just remember which daughter is going into it. ;-)

Patricia said...

What a great photo. I think hubby needs to make you a shelf to stop the the clothes from going over... just sayin... *L*