Thursday, November 30, 2006
It will eventually be clean and organized...won't it?
Sometimes I wonder.
What is currently holding me back? A complex web of intersecting reasons.
For example:
1. Lack of time at home. It's all I can do to maintain what I've already accomplished and add a bit of clearing here and there (minor stuff that doesn't make a big visual impact and therefore feels like not much has been done). When I am home and don't have to rush back out (extremely rare) I'm so exhausted it's all I can do to nuke some soup for dinner and take a shower and set my clothes out for the next day. I typically try to clear or clean a little on these nights anyway--I do laundry, or clear one surface or unpack a bag that's been sitting around.
2. Feeling like I'm going to move anyway, up to T's, at some point next year, so why bother making it nice when I'll just have to leave? This isn't something I consciously think about, but I'm pretty sure it informs my actions.
3. Not knowing how to proceed, or ending up with decisions that aren't right and are a pain. I finally decide that maybe I don't need my toolbox at home. But then I need it (to wit: I had to put a car battery in yesterday and it's a good thing I had a wrench and some needle nosed pliers). Some of the tools are already up at T's so it's not like I have a whole Craftsman cart sitting on the bedroom floor.
4. Things keep coming in. There always seems to be some big box of filing or other crap K. finds and wants me to come get. Sometimes it's junk, but mostly it's either papers I need to keep or a mix of junk and necessary stuff, or a mix of our stuff (her old pay stubs etc) which means I have to go through it all carefully.
5. The up-and-back of items. I will sometimes bring things up to T's and decide they can live there for now. But then I need one (like my computer) so I lug it back down and it sits on my floor.
6. The up-and-back of me. Going away to T's most weekends and traveling for business once a month means I am always partially packed. I try not to be, but often I will get unpacked 1 day before I need to drag back out the big suitcase (which is a major pain to put in the back of the closet--the only place it fits.
7. Not knowing how to effectively fit everything I need in the space I have. I have limited space and each storage option seems to take up a lot of room.
What is currently holding me back? A complex web of intersecting reasons.
For example:
1. Lack of time at home. It's all I can do to maintain what I've already accomplished and add a bit of clearing here and there (minor stuff that doesn't make a big visual impact and therefore feels like not much has been done). When I am home and don't have to rush back out (extremely rare) I'm so exhausted it's all I can do to nuke some soup for dinner and take a shower and set my clothes out for the next day. I typically try to clear or clean a little on these nights anyway--I do laundry, or clear one surface or unpack a bag that's been sitting around.
2. Feeling like I'm going to move anyway, up to T's, at some point next year, so why bother making it nice when I'll just have to leave? This isn't something I consciously think about, but I'm pretty sure it informs my actions.
3. Not knowing how to proceed, or ending up with decisions that aren't right and are a pain. I finally decide that maybe I don't need my toolbox at home. But then I need it (to wit: I had to put a car battery in yesterday and it's a good thing I had a wrench and some needle nosed pliers). Some of the tools are already up at T's so it's not like I have a whole Craftsman cart sitting on the bedroom floor.
4. Things keep coming in. There always seems to be some big box of filing or other crap K. finds and wants me to come get. Sometimes it's junk, but mostly it's either papers I need to keep or a mix of junk and necessary stuff, or a mix of our stuff (her old pay stubs etc) which means I have to go through it all carefully.
5. The up-and-back of items. I will sometimes bring things up to T's and decide they can live there for now. But then I need one (like my computer) so I lug it back down and it sits on my floor.
6. The up-and-back of me. Going away to T's most weekends and traveling for business once a month means I am always partially packed. I try not to be, but often I will get unpacked 1 day before I need to drag back out the big suitcase (which is a major pain to put in the back of the closet--the only place it fits.
7. Not knowing how to effectively fit everything I need in the space I have. I have limited space and each storage option seems to take up a lot of room.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Ack
That title says it all.
I'm back from my vacation. The suitcase and other stuff I took with me = around the room as I haven't been home long enough to unpack yet! K. dropped the file cabinet out on my housemate's patio (off her bedroom) so I need to get that cleaned up and drag it in so I can get the filing under control.
I'm back from my vacation. The suitcase and other stuff I took with me = around the room as I haven't been home long enough to unpack yet! K. dropped the file cabinet out on my housemate's patio (off her bedroom) so I need to get that cleaned up and drag it in so I can get the filing under control.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Taking Action
Yesterday, I used my lunch to take some action.
I took the clothes I've been carting around for 3 weeks to Goodwill. I'd tried before but the Donation Station was closed. Alas, I love the term "donation station" as it reminds me of "conjunction junction" from Saturday TV.
I had donations from both me and T because it seems that the GW up near her office (in a very plush suburb) DOESN'T TAKE DONATIONS. Does this strike you as odd? All these affluent folks passing on their barely used clothing and no one to grab it and redistribute it, even though they have a store RIGHT THERE that is ostensibly for that purpose? I'm sure they have a good reason, it's just funny to have GW tell you that they don't accept donations. Of anything...
So, now GW in SC/Capitola has some really nice stuff. People in my area tend to keep, reuse, recycle etc. so that oftentimes their things are ready for the garbage rather than Goodwill. That said, I've come upon some very nice and totally usable clothes @ GW. In fact, I have one shirt I wear ALL THE TIME that I got there years ago.
I took the clothes I've been carting around for 3 weeks to Goodwill. I'd tried before but the Donation Station was closed. Alas, I love the term "donation station" as it reminds me of "conjunction junction" from Saturday TV.
I had donations from both me and T because it seems that the GW up near her office (in a very plush suburb) DOESN'T TAKE DONATIONS. Does this strike you as odd? All these affluent folks passing on their barely used clothing and no one to grab it and redistribute it, even though they have a store RIGHT THERE that is ostensibly for that purpose? I'm sure they have a good reason, it's just funny to have GW tell you that they don't accept donations. Of anything...
So, now GW in SC/Capitola has some really nice stuff. People in my area tend to keep, reuse, recycle etc. so that oftentimes their things are ready for the garbage rather than Goodwill. That said, I've come upon some very nice and totally usable clothes @ GW. In fact, I have one shirt I wear ALL THE TIME that I got there years ago.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Clutter B-Gone
I need a big, industrial-sized bottle of "Clutter B-Gone."
I'm tired and sick (missed work Monday) and there's stuff everywhere. I've been taking my laundry up to T's--there's nothing like driving your dirty socks 75 miles each way when there's a washer dryer feet outside your bedroom--because I haven't been home enough to do them! This translates into a LOT of schlepping. Plus there's the weekend duffle bag of clothes, books, dance shoes etc. that almost always needs to be unpacked, repacked or rooted through (usually for a misplaced item or two).
Things are about to get worse for a bit, but I'm hoping they will eventually get better. I found out yesterday that I need to move a file cabinet (tall, about 100lbs) out of K's back room and over to my place because the ceiling is leaking and the landlord is coming over to replace the carpeting on the weekend. We were supposed to go through it etc. and it wasn't a big hurry kind of thing. But now it is. And of course I'm sick and have NO time. I think people feel I'm exaggerating when I say I have no time...
Here's a look at what this week should have been, if I hadn't gotten sick. Keep in mind this doesn't include time for things like cleaning, laundry, bathing, eating etc.:
Monday,
5 AM: Drive 80 miles to work
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3ish PM: Drive 75 miles to SF to tutor (takes about 2 hrs with traffic)
5:30-7:00 Tutor
7:00ish: Drive to Oakland (about a 1/2 hour drive), arrive around 8PM.
Tuesday:
5 AM: Drive 80 miles to work
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3:30 PM: Hair appt (to fix that frumpy bag-lady look)
8:00 PM-10:30 PM: Dance Practice
Wed
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3ish PM: Drive 75 miles to SF to tutor (takes about 2 hrs with traffic)
5:30-7:00 Tutor
7:00ish: Drive to Oakland (about a 1/2 hour drive)
Thursday
5 AM: Drive 80 miles to work
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3:00ish-6:00ish: Clear room in room, Move filing cabinet
6:45 PM-9:30 PM: Dance Practice
9:30 PM: Clean Ruby's cage, pack for trip
Ack. Typically my Thursdays are even worse, with a 4-5 PM appt and teaching 7:30-8:30 followed by practice from 8:30-10 PM.
As you can see, I'm not off socializing or doing anything other than the necessities (working to earn money, and doing dance practice for the perofrmance troupe I committed to). On an ordinary week, I typically teach two dance classes as well.
My friends (and partner) say to cut back, but I'm not sure how to do that. I feel like I've already given up much of what I love (socializing with friends, my own Latin and Standard dancing). I can't quit the performance troupe until the end of January when our performances are over, because it wouldn't be fair to my dance partner(s) or the group as it would mean my partner(s) or someone else in the troupe would have to sit out as well. I also often have work that takes me past 3 PM so the 'breaks' between my workday and my evening activiites/work disappears in those cases.
Skimping on sleep is something I already do, and which isn't great for me. I don't have the $$ to pay people to do my laundry or cleaning (besides, it's just one bedroom and it's full of stuff I need to figure out how to live without--like my toolbox, and computer etc--or pile up more creatively).
I am truly open to ideas...
I'm tired and sick (missed work Monday) and there's stuff everywhere. I've been taking my laundry up to T's--there's nothing like driving your dirty socks 75 miles each way when there's a washer dryer feet outside your bedroom--because I haven't been home enough to do them! This translates into a LOT of schlepping. Plus there's the weekend duffle bag of clothes, books, dance shoes etc. that almost always needs to be unpacked, repacked or rooted through (usually for a misplaced item or two).
Things are about to get worse for a bit, but I'm hoping they will eventually get better. I found out yesterday that I need to move a file cabinet (tall, about 100lbs) out of K's back room and over to my place because the ceiling is leaking and the landlord is coming over to replace the carpeting on the weekend. We were supposed to go through it etc. and it wasn't a big hurry kind of thing. But now it is. And of course I'm sick and have NO time. I think people feel I'm exaggerating when I say I have no time...
Here's a look at what this week should have been, if I hadn't gotten sick. Keep in mind this doesn't include time for things like cleaning, laundry, bathing, eating etc.:
Monday,
5 AM: Drive 80 miles to work
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3ish PM: Drive 75 miles to SF to tutor (takes about 2 hrs with traffic)
5:30-7:00 Tutor
7:00ish: Drive to Oakland (about a 1/2 hour drive), arrive around 8PM.
Tuesday:
5 AM: Drive 80 miles to work
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3:30 PM: Hair appt (to fix that frumpy bag-lady look)
8:00 PM-10:30 PM: Dance Practice
Wed
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3ish PM: Drive 75 miles to SF to tutor (takes about 2 hrs with traffic)
5:30-7:00 Tutor
7:00ish: Drive to Oakland (about a 1/2 hour drive)
Thursday
5 AM: Drive 80 miles to work
7AM-3ish PM: Work
3:00ish-6:00ish: Clear room in room, Move filing cabinet
6:45 PM-9:30 PM: Dance Practice
9:30 PM: Clean Ruby's cage, pack for trip
Ack. Typically my Thursdays are even worse, with a 4-5 PM appt and teaching 7:30-8:30 followed by practice from 8:30-10 PM.
As you can see, I'm not off socializing or doing anything other than the necessities (working to earn money, and doing dance practice for the perofrmance troupe I committed to). On an ordinary week, I typically teach two dance classes as well.
My friends (and partner) say to cut back, but I'm not sure how to do that. I feel like I've already given up much of what I love (socializing with friends, my own Latin and Standard dancing). I can't quit the performance troupe until the end of January when our performances are over, because it wouldn't be fair to my dance partner(s) or the group as it would mean my partner(s) or someone else in the troupe would have to sit out as well. I also often have work that takes me past 3 PM so the 'breaks' between my workday and my evening activiites/work disappears in those cases.
Skimping on sleep is something I already do, and which isn't great for me. I don't have the $$ to pay people to do my laundry or cleaning (besides, it's just one bedroom and it's full of stuff I need to figure out how to live without--like my toolbox, and computer etc--or pile up more creatively).
I am truly open to ideas...
