Well, the answer is: money.
But still, having at long last paid off the last credit card, I kept a long-ago-made promise to myself and had a lawn care service out yesterday. They[ul][li]mowed the grass,[]edged, and[]trimmed[/ul]And, because things had gotten particularly out of hand, they also[ul][]trimmed down all the weed-overrun planting beds to the ground,[]covered them all with pine needles, andcut back the shrubs that were threatening to cover the front windows downstairs.[/ul]All while I relaxed inside and watched a movie.[/li]
Holy cow! It looks like someone lives at my house now!