Michigan Law and the Pandemic

It always amazes me how many people think that something isn't legal unless it's specifically mentioned in the state or federal Constitution. It's simply not true. The laws have to meet Constitutional standards, but they don't have to be mentioned there. Lately, it's all these people claiming that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has no legal power to create or enforce behavior restrictions (such as mask-wearing or closing restaurants) during the pandemic. Look, folks--the three branches of our government passed laws that give DHHS the power to create and enforce restrictions. Just like the legislature passed laws that give the police the power to arrest your ass if you violate them.
 

By the above logic, the police, who aren't mentioned in the Constitution, have no legal power to write you a speeding ticket or arrest you for drunk driving, and judge has no power to throw you in jail. I'd love to see someone argue that in court!

Lake Living: the Lady

I did it at last. I hired a cleaning lady.

It was halfway on impulse.  I noticed a listing on our local social media board from a woman who was looking for cleaning work. Two of her clients had passed away, and she had two openings in her schedule.  I decided to call her.  We arranged for an interview.

K--- arrived, had a look around the condo, and gave me her rate to clean it. She charges by the job, not by the hour, which makes sense--she doesn't have to worry about being accused of slowing down to pad out her hours. She said she come by every other week for dusting, sweeping, mopping, cleaning surfaces, and so on.  I found her rates reasonable, and she gave me references to call.

After the interview, I called her references. The first one gave her a glowing reference.  The second lady was . . . well . . . a snob. She told me in a patrician tone that K--- does good work, especially because, the reference said, "I want my floors cleaned on hands and knees, and she does that" and then she said, "I can't give her a perfect reference because she talks, and I don't know if she's concentrating on the work or not when she does that." And I thought, "Hands and knees? What is this, 'Cinderella'?"

"Does she clean the house properly?" I asked.

"She does," the reference replied curtly.  "And she doesn't steal and she's trustworthy. I've had a lot of cleaning women over the years--"

I can see why, I thought.

"--and it's hard to find good ones.  She's a good one. Even if she talks."

I thanked her, hung up, and called K--- to ask her to start that week.

She arrived on the appointed day and whirled through the condo in a tornado of dust cloths and a thunderstorm of cleaning fluids.  Max was home, and she bustled into his room to change the linens, dust, and vacuum.  Later, Max said, "She cleaned my whole room in ten minutes! It takes me an hour to do all that!"

I refrained from responding, "Because you complain more than you clean."

The commotion freaked out the cats, who vanished for the duration.  K--- whipped the condo into shape, announced she was done, accepted her electronic payment, and left, trailing little fairy sparkles in her wake.

Cleaning is a skill (anyone can learn it) enhanced by talent (some people are naturally better at than others), and K--- has both.  She's better at it than I am, that's for sure.  I'm no slouch at it, but K--- has it down to a science.  Our place is cleaner than it ever was. Interestingly, it =stays= cleaner, because after K--- has gone, we're reluctant to mess anything up.

And, best of all, =I= don't have to clean anymore.