Have you ever seen the episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond” where Deborah and Raymond are waiting each other out to see who will take a heavy suitcase upstairs?
They both are too stubborn to be the one to take it up, and finally, Ray’s Dad picks it up and on his way up the stairs, he actually falls through the stairs, and then they both feel awful.
Real Man and I have had similar wars throughout the years.
In our first home, before we had a dishwasher, the dishes in the sink would be a small war.
Not always, but there would be times when we’d let them pile up and pile up, neither of us wanting to actually do the dishes until they finally just got overwhelming and one of us would give in and do the dishes.
Usually Real Man would give in on that one.
Sometimes, after the laundry is done and the work clothes are hung, our t-shirts/underwear/socks will still be in the basket, waiting to be put away.
And they wait and wait and wait.
I usually lose that war.
Nick Mom recently did a one-minute video called Garbage Chicken.
Because marital games of chicken do, in fact, exist.
Our longest war, to date, is the war of “the box in the corner.”
This box.
We moved into our home in July of 2011.
The movers left this box in our bedroom because we forgot to label it, and when we opened it, it was a mish-mosh of stuff that belonged in our room, belonged in the office, belonged in a variety of other places throughout the house.
So, we dealt with the boxes that were specific and figured we’d come back to that one later.
I went through it and pulled out the stuff that belonged in our room, and Real Man said he’d deal with the rest later.
It’s now April 2013.
I’d say that’s later.
And the two of us continue to live with this box in the corner of our bedroom.
I don’t think either of us even know what is in that box, anymore.
We have now piled things on top of that box, and use it like a piece of furniture.
You can see there are some unmatched socks, a few books, and some other random things that the kids dropped in our room and we just set up there.
Once something is placed on the box, it becomes invisible, never to be touched again.
One day, archaeologists will find that box in the corner, and when they open it, they may find the mysteries of life.
They may also find two skeletons, each pointing toward the box, mouths poised to say “You do it,” and “No, you do it.”
But they will definitely find that box.
In the corner.
Of our room.
‘Cuz I’m not losing this one.
Ha! I remember that episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. Stand tough and don’t lose this one. If it was me, I would have lost already. I cannot STAND an unpacked box! Good luck! We have wars like this around here ALL the time and I am not one to win too often. LOL
Comment by Debbie — April 10, 2013 @ 9:10 am |
Hahaha! I actually have that box in my house too! I loathe moving.
Comment by Lucy — April 10, 2013 @ 2:03 pm |
This was the last time…we are 100% positive about that!
Comment by abozza — April 10, 2013 @ 2:53 pm |
Obviously you are not die-hard Raymond fans. That episode episode continued with Ray having to go on a road trip for work and because of the refusal aspect he put some nasty smelling cheese in it “for Deborah”. Well Marie comes by and she and Deb. find the cheese, and both decide to leave it for Ray’s return. Then when he returns from his trip they “get into” who will be the “bigger” person to haul it upstairs. And once again they argue about that…. Seems like a lot of wasted time for my money. Just put it all away and save the “back and forth” for something more important.
After 46 + yrs. that has worked for us in the long haul.
Comment by Carla — April 10, 2013 @ 5:26 pm |
OMG, I forgot about the cheese!!! Thanks, Carla!
Comment by abozza — April 11, 2013 @ 6:50 am |
Yay! 🙂 I reference that episode of Raymond often when complaining to my girlfriends about the latest game of chicken my husband and I are engaged in. Today I “lost” the one where I hauled seven cartons of books from the dining room to the attic after they’d sat for one full year after a construction project necessitated we box them up. My husband outweighs me by about 60 pounds, and most of that is muscle, so it was pretty ridiculous for me to have to do it. But I actually feel awesome about myself now that the dining room is cleared out!
Comment by Stephanie Eagan — April 10, 2013 @ 10:04 pm |
Here’s a thought…I’m not a die-hard (anything) fan. Well, I kind of like Anthony Bourdain, but that’s different. Any-who…
Comment by Lucy — April 10, 2013 @ 10:19 pm |
Oh, I hear that! I have enormous bins of books in my living room that I collected to donate after Hurricane Sandy. We donated a ton and when I went to take the second load, they weren’t accepting them anymore. I’ve found somewhere that will take them, but just haven’t gotten there, yet. I can’t wait until that area is CLEAN!
Comment by abozza — April 11, 2013 @ 6:50 am |
I can’t believe you only have one box! We have sooo many. Like 4 in our room alone. My favorite one is the box labeled “IMPORTANT PAPERS” that i made a big deal I had to have immediately because it had all the IMPORTANT PAPERS.
Moved in 2010, and I’ve never opened the box. Makes a great computer table though.
Comment by Anna — April 11, 2013 @ 10:54 pm |
Ah-hahahaha! Love it!
Comment by abozza — April 12, 2013 @ 6:35 am |
Too funny! We have these games of chicken in my house too. I always cave.
Comment by The Domestic Fringe — April 13, 2013 @ 11:15 am |
It’s hard not to, but I’m gonna hold my ground on this one! I think…
Comment by Amy — April 13, 2013 @ 1:00 pm |
Ok, any post that involves Everybody Loves Raymond AND a box that lives in the corner for years resonates with me!
Nice meeting you through the link-up!
Comment by Amy L. Sullivan (@AmyLSullivan1) — April 13, 2013 @ 12:57 pm |
Nice to meet you, too! Glad you stopped in! 🙂
Comment by Amy — April 13, 2013 @ 12:59 pm |
I couldn’t do it. I admire your stamina.
Comment by Suburban Snapshots — April 13, 2013 @ 9:37 pm |
Stamina…stubbornness….potato….potahto. 😉
Comment by Amy — April 13, 2013 @ 10:56 pm |
I suggest you take the box to St.Vincent de Paul’s (without opening it of course.)
That said, it’s amazing the things we don’t see in our houses. Until company is coming…
Comment by Apple Hill Cottage — April 13, 2013 @ 10:50 pm |
I’ve suggested something similar. If we haven’t needed what is in there for the past year and a half, odds are, we never will!
Comment by Amy — April 13, 2013 @ 10:55 pm |