Two weeks ago, my youngest daughter made off with the TiVo remote. We looked everywhere. And then we resigned ourselves to watching television in real-time.

Aaargh! Can I tell you how painful it is to watch American Idol with all the commercials? Or being unable to fast forward through all the judges commentary? It HURTS.

With my husband out of town for the week, I threw myself into an organizing frenzy, hoping to uncover the final resting place of the remote, plus, you know, the organzing is soothing when your children aren't behaving.

I can't make my kids stop screaming, but I can stack my towels in color-coordinated stacks. Take THAT universe.

So, yeah, kicked up a bunch of dust, made a huge pile for the Goodwill. Kicked up some more dust. Inhaled. Didn't mean to inhale, but it was just there. Bleh-uh-uh-uh-hork.

I'm learning valuable lessons through this exercise:

1) Chain the TiVo remote to my person at all times. No, wait. Install a tracker on all remotes and keys and pairs of shoes that will aid in their recovery. Then chain THAT remote to my person.

2) Dust once in a while, oh my GOD. Is it any wonder we're all snotty and wheezy?

3) American Idol is all about the advertising.

4) Stacking towels is strangely soothing. Screaming children are not.

5) Life is much better when my husband is home. (Hey, babe. You could buy me that remote thing for Mother's Day.)