Since we're going out of town this weekend, we've been cleaning the apartment. We've been at it since we woke up and will have a few last items to address before going to sleep. Then, tomorrow, there will still be plenty to do.
I wouldn't want to do this every week, but I sort of like devoting one whole day to gutting out my living space. There's a satisfaction in tossing out things that are no longer relevant. There seems to be cleaner air filtering through my lungs. There's also this "I'm a big kid now" sort of pride in a neat and tidy home.
The magazines were a good feeling. They all have a place now rather than in little piles here and there. I recycled quite a number of them, too, which frees up space for things I wish to be more accessible.
I'm reading about... I don't know... 10 books at a time. Each book has been removed from this little table I had by the couch and placed on the appropriate shelves. What was really exciting for me was the necessity for a new shelving category(Look, all I did was clean today, so, this was an event). I arrange my books in approximate genre groupings (Well, I know Beth understands me). I found that I needed a revision within my non-fiction section. I have more books on food than I used to (ethical eating, local food, etc) as well as memoirs. I just take great joy in watching my library grow.
And my desk! My lovely desk! You can actually see it now! I only have a few items on it - this computer, my letter holder, a lamp, my books on Okinawa, my box ( Don't ask... it's a me and Stacy thing), the pictures of my grandmother, Luke, and Minerva, two cards, and my flamingo (It's all about the Alice in my life). It's an open workspace again. The piles around my desk have also been sorted... the envelopes I make, the stories from class I had to read, pictures from various ceremonies, recipes clipped out from magazines, cds, etc. It's good to have the clutter sorted out now.
While running around in the dust, piles of paper, and doing some vacuuming, I had the TV on. I just liked the noise. Something to occupy my brain as I worked. I went through Season 4 of Frasier and my favorite version of Alice in Wonderland. It might have been a nice day for a marathon... like all the Lord of the Rings films or lots of Mystery Science Theater 3000. But, I have Frasier memorized (it's sad, but true), so it was easy to tune it in and out accordingly to when I needed to concentrate (finding space that didn't exist) and when I needed a break. I prefer this method of watching a lot of pointless TV to being sick and just sitting in front of the tube... it was a great change from last week.
We did lots of laundry and we're trying to make the place pleasant for the kind souls coming to watch my cat. There are a few more corners I want to vacuum tomorrow... David found a scary spider in the sink last night (likely a male Black Widow... and though they aren't harmful like the females, that's still kind of spooky). I really freaked myself out. I stayed up later than I meant to (our flight leaves at 5:45AM Thursday morning, so, I was going to train my body to sleep earlier... yeah... not happening) so I could research online topics on spiders and cats. While all evidence points to a needlessness in the worry, I'm borderline terrified. I already found two other harmless spiders today between walls and furniture. I'm glad they eat yucky insects and all that, but I want to feel secure about leaving my cat alone...
...I'm getting there... I think. I'm still going to be a big baby and cry a little as I fly away...
But, now I'm rambling.
I should put a few more things away. I keep trying to tell myself that I'll be happy when I see the final product. However, that moment never feels close by until it's here.
I feel for all the families frantically cleaning tonight and perhaps all day tomorrow in preparation for Thanksgiving. My good friend will be hosting Thanksgiving for her family at her place this week... I know how busy she is, so I'm dazzled by her madness and her courage.
I'm also thinking about people like my mother... who basically made a miniature Thanksgiving just for me, all by herself, this past weekend... and now she's got to do this all over again Thursday. My aunts generally take turns hosting the holidays since we no longer have my grandmother as Queen Hostess. My mom and I are very similar... we stress out about throwing dinner parties. We don't find it fun. We don't think it's enjoyable. We like being with our family and friends, but we drain ourselves with the worry of every little detail. I admire people who enjoy this sort of thing... I love you people who enjoy this sort of thing... because it delays the day I have to cook a family Thanksgiving more and more...
So, thanks to the hostesses who make my Scrubbing Day limited to preparing a nice place for people to sleep. I had good day... because only two people, other than me, will care how this place looks this week.
Good luck to all of you on your on Scrubbing Day tasks!
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