As the rains have come and gone... the weeds keep rising and the grass continues to shoot skyward, but the bliss of the beautiful, warming weather has a downside for people like me: yard work.

I'm not cut out for manual labor.

It is not a matter of "being above" doing it - I just don't like it and grow tired of all the grass cutting, trimming and weed pulling very, very easily. Especially when you need to do this every week! No thank you! (Eventually, I will have to live in the desert and just have sand and rocks to look at out my window...!) Until then, it is growing grass that annoys me right down to the roots. Literally.

Until my recent discovery: the weed eater.


I purchased a cordless, rechargeable one from the hardware store.

Now, I should mention a couple of things --- my husband is currently unable to do all this lovely maintenance and grooming since he is stationed overseas... PLUS we already HAVE a weed eater. A gas-powered one....but it is a bit too complicated with the gas and oil mix plus having to "prime it" to start it... and trust me when I say that I've already aged an additional 10 years since LAST summer's fiasco trying to start the damn thing.

Not going to repeat that in summer 2008. I don't plan on living until I'm 110, but I can tell you that I do not wish to look 80 years old when I turn 40. It's really not a good look.

So a trip to the hardware store and about $60 later.... I'm now the proud owner of a shiny, new weed chowin' machine... that pretty much came out of the box and away she goes!

I couldn't believe it even STARTED when I just test drove it down the driveway edges.... Most of the time, you have to charge them for a few hours or overnight to get anything electric to do its job.... not this little electic machete!

Before I knew it, I had worked my way through the Amazon forest that used to be my front yard and my kids simply stood there in shock and awe. Never, EVER had they seen their own mother out in the yard with ANY sort of device that resembled a garden tool.

Sure, I've been known to come outdoors with finger sandwiches and lemonade à la June Cleaver to help re-energize the tired troops to finish up the yard before nightfall.... I've also always been available to find a can of Raid to ward off the wasps so that the pests wouldn't interfere with real work being done in the garden... I mean, I've BEEN outside before.

But for ME.... MOM! to be OUTDOORS with the sunshine and a weed whacker?!

The kids had a glazed over look on their face -and one murmured, "Should we get the camera to document this for Dad?" The other one simply shook her head, "No...no. Stay there. If we move, she might stop and then tell us to do it." So there they stood. Still. No movement and not a peep came from their tiny corner of the garage where they continued to stare at the strange person doing what appeared to be yard work outside their house. Only crickets were chirping while the earth stood still.

When I walked towards them after spending a whole, joyful 15 minutes with my lawn trimming machine, they attempted to act natural... Simultaneously, I heard them whisper under their breath, "Cool."

I walked past them into the garage and proceeded to place the wonder weed whacker on the charger ...they continued watching in amazement. Now I had REALLY gone mad - first the lawn care, now the electrical portion of it too? Will Mom know HOW to do that? Will she need our help? Should a phone be nearby in case we need to dial 911... I could hear their thoughts in my head... because that's what moms do, you know!

Still not sure whether or not to speak.... because their mom might stop sleepwalking or something.... I quietly heard, one speak softly to me, "Uh, Mom? Did you just LIKE doing that weed eating thing? You...uh... you really...uh.... uh....." I turned to look at my oldest child, stuttering in disbelief...and said, "Yes, I really enjoyed that!"

It was a moment that you see at the Olympics when the team wins gold. The girls high-fived and cheered. It was as if they had a look of true relief on their faces... the realization that their mom really COULD do something outdoors!

For me, it was time for a tall drink. Work hard,drink hard (liquor). It's going to be a great summer.....!