speaking of puzzles...

sometimes things happen in life.

things that you should probably own up to.

but don't.

and that feeling of guilt just never really leaves?

well, i'm about to share one of those moments.

listen closely...because i'm only going to say this once. and if the subjects of this story ever approach me about this, i will DENY DENY DENY (and quickly delete this post LOL).

sooooooo, many moons ago i was a teenaged babysitter.

and one of my jobs was for a family with toddlers. they had a split level house.

for those of you who don't know what this is, it's basically like living on three levels...the kitchen is one level, the family room is another, the bedrooms, another.

the dad was an AVID puzzle putter together-er...i'm sure there's probably a name for that...but we'll just call him an A.P.P.T. (hee hee).

now, if you're an A.P.P.T. one thing is for certain: you are one who loves detail...attention to detail is CRITICAL for an A.P.P.T.

he always had a different puzzle 'in the works' on the dining room table. and the kids weren't allowed in the dining room...

but the kids WERE allowed in the family room. DOWNSTAIRS. out of sight of the kitchen. where i was making sandwiches one afternoon.

i went downstairs to tell them lunch was ready.

oh the shock. the panic. the sheer horror.

they had gotten into the trunk that kept ALLLL the boxes of puzzles. ALL.OF.THEM. and they had dumped them. ALL.OF.THEM. everywhere.

what's a girl to do?

this girl scooped them up and put them in assorted boxes, put the lids back on them, put them back in the trunk and never.ever.ever said a word.

can you EVEN imagine this poor dad the next time he tried to put together a puzzle?

split levels are not recommended for parents of toddlers. this is reason number 342.