Two Weeks and Not a Word

I would love to say I have not written a word because I have spring-cleaned my way to a spotless, organized apartment and a healthy, happy frame of mind.  But…no.

I started out with every good intention.  And then they fled.  I ended up having to interrupt the official week with sudden nephew sitting and this week saw the death of the mojo.  But I am not totally  in despair.  It will get done because I have decided that next week will not see me leave this house until it is done.  I will leave only for food, supplies and maybe a job interview. If one comes up.

I watched a fascinating 2 parter on Oprah this week.  Actually I watched 3 Oprahs this week which is unusual because even though I am home I don’t watch a lot of daytime TV.  The first show had Billy Joel and his wife on.  She is adorable as all heck.  They have a nice house in the city, too.  He sang and he can still sing, although time has taken something off the high notes.  It happens to all singers I guess.  What interested me though was that I had never seen him interviewed.  I have read interviews but never saw a televised one.  The dear man was stiff and nearly mono-syllabic.  Clearly he was there to help the wife push her cookbook.   I was surprised.  I always thought he was more animated.  But I guess he just does not do “couch talks” well.   And really, with Oprah bringing up his past issues with alcohol and his car crashes, I can hardly blame him.  None of that would have been what I would have asked him but that is me.  He perked up when Katie came out.  I have had older boyfriends.  But I don’t know if at 23 I would have married someone in his 50’s.  Still they seem happy enough.  But that is not the show I want to talk about. 

She had a 2 part episode on hoarders.   It was astonishing.  This couple – the wife mainly – had so much stuff in the house that you could hardly move.  The 2 of them could not even sleep in the same bed cuz it was covered too.   Among the stuff was 3000 purses, 3000 pairs of shoes,  and – to my astonishment – 3 boxes of pasta that had been on the floor so long that they had grown attached to the carpet.   Her kids had sent in the video and Oprah rode to the rescue.  An expert organizer came in and the house was emptied.  Pretty much everything went.   Ultimately, the “stuff” that could be rescued from this 3000 sf home required a 10,000 sf warehouse for the big rummage sale.   Then Oprah and her corporate friends redid the entire house.   My issue was, and I may have missed something because the boyfriend was shouting down the phone at someone over the stupidest thing, there was no real talk about her getting therapy.  A therapist was on hand but the hoarders did not appear to be going for any.   Anyone who fills their house with that much stuff has a problem.   It has been described as OCD- Hoarding.   I am not sure that a lovely new house will stop this woman from buying flyswatters by the case.  Or anything else.  

The reason it all resonated with me is because I have cluttered closets.  I am not a hoarder by definition.  I am disorganized and lazy by definition.

There I have said it. I hate housework and therefore avoid it until even I cannot stand it.   And I am there.   

So why am I blogging instead of sweeping and dusting?

Read the above paragraph,

I had a cleaning lady for a while and then when I lost my job I could not afford her.   It was nice to come home to a cleaner house but the clutter was not something she could do anything about.   And when she did move things, it caused a problem because she did not tell me where she was moving things to.

My procrastination is a big issue for me.    I handled it better when I was working.   Less free time kept me more on track. 

This has rambled and will be essentially meaningless to anyone who reads this.  But believe it or not, it has helped me enormously.  I have to go now.   I need to buy some more trash bags and soap pads.

Spring Cleaning

A cyber-friend of mine sent me her usual chatty email today and mentioned that she had “spring cleaned” two rooms and was starting on the next one.  It feels like she just finished her “fall cleaning” and yet she is at it again.  And this cleaning job she does is not a Swiffer and HandiWipe job.  Nope.  It is closets.  Curtains.  Walls.  Cabinets.   I remember in my childhood that my mother, grandmother, aunt — all of my female relatives, really — embarked on this effort.   They had “winter curtains” that had to be changed out for “summer curtains.”  All the crystal was washed, by hand.  The house was polished, washed, vacuumed and beaten within an inch of its life.  And afterwards, it smelled and looked great.  After reading this e-mail I looked at my own little nest, which is a nice sized 4 room apartment.   And it looks like it has been beaten within an inch of its life, without the benefit of a good cleaning.   So I am going to do a spring cleaning next week.   All but the walls because they really need a painting which will have to wait.   But if I can figure out how to do it without streakiness I may give it a go.  (My confidence in domestic matters wavers at times).

But I think it is not just our homes that require a spring cleaning.  It is our minds as well.   How many negative thoughts do we have every day?  How about bad attitudes?  How about pessimism?    How often do we have crummy thoughts and attitudes about ourselves that hold us back?   I think we need to clean out the crud that creeps into our brains every so often.   (or in some people’s cases, ahem, every day or just about).

So as I clean my little home I will also attempt to clear my brain of its cobwebs and dust.   And maybe, afterwards, we will both shine a little brighter.

Oh what a negligent blogger I be

A whole week and no post.

I came back from The MotherShip on Thursday after completing my Nephew duties.   I was sailing along quite cheerfully.  I ran an errand for the boyfriend and was underground and on my way home when I tripped near the train turnstiles and whacked my head on a support beam.  Two cops and a lady came to my aid.  Since I flew (sort of) about 7 feet I landed on my stomach, a knee and an elbow.  Ouchie.  A nice little bump sprouted and I have a bruise on my shin and elbow.  But everything feels better now.   The lump is kind of gone but it still feels tender when I touch it.  I know.  “So don’t touch it!”

The clocks sprung forward.  I hate it.  For a couple of days I always feel off.   I love having more time in the sun, so to speak.  But I hate feeling like I am late.

Not that I have any place to go at the moment that requires punctuality.

Gotta send stuff to the accountant.   I did not make much this year so hopefully I will not have to give anything to the IRS.  Sometimes I feel like they already get too much.   Well, always.  But then they need money to send us letters that we are getting a check in a separate mailing so they need the money.   I am not much interested in going on a spree so when/if I  get the lollipop (stimulus money) that W is giving us I will save it for the rainy day that will surely come.  Optimistic, aren’t I?  A regular Pollyanna.

Now I am going to watch the news and see if there are any developments in the scandal du jour…  these politicians just cannot seem to help it, can they?

A busy week!

A week has gone by without a post and I am suitably ashamed of myself.  Busy week.  I have been responsible for taking care of my nephew most days after school while my mom is out of town and Sis and the BIL worked.  We have had a delightful time – aside from the dead goldfish which have been replaced- but I am whooped with two days to go!   He is quite a character.  I had to read a spider book to him at least 700 times and participate in dogfights with his planes (he loves that stuff) as well as help him with his homework.  Which left the dogfights looking like tea parties.  This child hates homework.  I don’t know why they need to have any kindergarten but kindergarten today is what first grade was when I was that age so what do I know.  Still I enjoy him so much…

The boyfriend came in and spent the night with me at the house where I grew up.  It was fun.  We were in my old room and I was able to show him some stuff from my youth.  He met my nephew and really liked him.  He was able to again avoid meeting my sister.  Which is becoming a sore point between she and I.  The nephew only told her “he was nice” and when asked what he looked like, replied “like a boy.” 

My sister and I had a sisters’ day.  We laid around and talked, played Scrabble and ate some lunch.  She was exhausted from her first week back at work after knee surgery so the BIL and the nephew had a boys’ day away.  We really enjoyed ourselves.  Sister time is rare these days as if we are together we usually have the boy around or my mom.

It has been fun but I need to go back home soon and tend to my own business.  As much as I wish it would, that job is not going to knock on my door.   But I have certainly enjoyed having a washer and dryer and dishwasher at hand!