Not Much to Show Today…


Not all maintenance of the house involves cleaning stuff up. Today, it’s mostly laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. Second load in the washer and one in the dryer.ย  Next load waiting for a spot.

I’m also cleaning up a music collection by removing duplicate songs for my Car Music. I love Harry Chapin (paid link), but I can only do with one copy of “30,000 Pounds of Bananas” (paid link) a day…

I saw him in concert once at Armadillo World Headquarters and was devastated the day I heard about his death.

Last Monday, I talked about the sorting I was doing for a new merchandising idea I had. Well, here are the first results…

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(The black and silver ones are birthday presents…)ย Still learning, but it’s kinda fun. Debating if I should put them into my Etsy shop or just have them at conventions. There’s not much else in my shop at the moment…

I know they aren’t very polished, but I was thinking of only charging a dollar or two…what do you guys think? Leave me a comment. I love feedback.

I also got the office trash out before the collectors got here, so that was something.

There is so much to do, that I feel extremely overwhelmed at the moment.

Laundry days always do a number on my back too, so I may be finished for the day. After I get the current load in the washer into the dryer and both dryer loads put away…

This isn’t the cleanup you signed up for, is it? Next week, I promise back to work!

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Some Days You Need a Bit of a Break…


It was a long and exhausting weekend for some reason, so today I am taking it a bit easier than normal. I did a bit of sorting and organizing instead of major cleaning today.

I had an idea for a way to make some money (hopefully) and add something new to my table stock. I’m going to try making some cool bookmarks with a Steampunk theme, so I ordered some of these from Amazon. A lot of them, actually.

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And a set of tools to work with, since I recently divested myself of most of my jewelry stuff.

I spent several episodes of What We Do in the Shadows (which I really, highly recommend) sorting the cogs by size and shape in anticipation of the utility drawers arriving tomorrow.ย  I might have gotten a mite carried away with those too…

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These are temporary quarters, as they don’t completely sort everything out, but the drawers will have plenty of space for a second go-through.

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The desk is still in good shape, and so is the bathroom counter. Still feeling pretty good about myself and the cleaning…but that’s it for today. Some days, like I say, you just need a break. Maybe even a nap…

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Getting a Late Start Today…


Just moving a bit slowly…

Here’s the current state of what we’ve done so far.

Still have a clean(ish) desk. I will admit that there were stacks of books piling up, so I moved them where they belonged.

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The books on the left corner are related to the week’s blogs, so they don’t count as out of place.

The bathroom counter is still neat. We did get a fountain for the cats because Newell didn’t want to keep filling the sink for them. They still aren’t sure about it. And that isn’t exactly where it will eventually go, but we have to get them used to it instead of the sink and gradually move it back over by the Terracotta Warrior in the corner…

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Today we are going back to the depths. That area under the desk continues to bug me, and I want to get it tamed. Here’s an example of why…look at the expiration dates on these:

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Obviously, I need to keep better track of coupons I might use, and if I don’t plan on doing it, toss them at once–or at least when they aren’t good anymore!

I wonder if a coupon organizer like this really helps? I tried clipping coupons for a while, but never really got good at it. I think it may be time to try again.

That doesn’t get the depths cleared away though, does it?

These have helped a lot:

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The four-drawer one is great because the big drawers are good for holding my idea notebooks and such that I need handy but not on top of the desk. The six-drawer one is still mostly empty so far, but it has my gaming headphones out of the way. (The link isn’t the exact chest, but basically the same in white.)

The goal is to get the underworld tamed to the extent that they can sit side by side under the left arm of the desk. To do that, I have to get this out of the way:

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That doesn’t look like a big project, but to do it right and not have everything just drift back into it eventually, I have to sort through everything and throw out what isn’t necessary to keep and find better homes for what is left. I’m going to move the under-desk unitย to the short side of the desk under the computer if it fits well to keep things I really DO need at my fingertips, like current game manuals or the post-it notes I use every day.

This is my project for the day because I really need to get some editing done. ๐Ÿ˜‰

As you can see, it’s a bigger task than it looked in place under the desk!

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Time Passing

 

Well, time passed. Going through the under desk unit yielded most of a bag of trash, and clearing the space where I wanted to put the drawer set filled the rest. When I got the storage unit emptied, it turned out that it was too wide to use on that side without interfering with typing.

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That’s okay, I will do without it.

I found a button that I bought for a friend several years ago and still haven’t delivered because I forgot all about it. I’ll have to see if I can get that to him someday. Though the way things are going these days, I might just keep it…I apologize a little bit for the language…

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I found a frame that I could use for one of my trip photos of Newell from last summer.

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And now there is room under the desk for my under desk exercise bike which is close to this one, but not as fancy. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Ignore that area behind the desk. One day at a time…

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While this may not look like I got a lot done today, I feel that getting another bag of trash out of the house (and sweating like crazy by the time I did,) is a good step forward for the day, and now I can go edit with a “clean” conscience.

 

 

 

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RIEVIEW: Clutter’s Last Stand by Don Aslett


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Today I want to tell you about the first book to ever get me excited about house-cleaning. (Not that it particularly took, but it got me motivated…) Don Aslett’s Clutter’s Last Stand came along long before Marie Kondo put pen to paper to create The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying-Up, but it affected me just as profoundly. As you can tell from the photo above, I have gone back to this book again and again.

For one thing, it is very engaging. It is written in a light, humorous style that brings a smile along with the sting of the advice. (And de-cluttering advice CAN sting a bit…)

It is illustrated with lovely cartoon characters in situations you can relate to, and it’s full of handy lists:

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It includes checklists to help you pinpoint areas that might be harder for you to deal with:

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As you can see, I’ve been through the list several times over the years…

Despite the light tone, the advice is sound and useful. I am probably about to read it again as we are embarking on this new round of de-cluttering. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a handle on your housecleaning. I love the book so much that I got a new copy:

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(And I even just ordered the second edition. I will update this RieView if there are significant changes.)

There are dozens of copies for sale used on Amazon of this 1984 edition, and almost as many of the 2005 edition if you want to check it out without a lot of out-of-pocket expense. And, remember, I will be updating if there are significant changes between the editions.

 

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Another Monday…Let’s Get After It!


First of all, the review of what we’ve gotten done so far:

The desk is still neat, underneath still uncluttered to the part I’ve finished, but today I am going to take a break from sitting on the floor because it hurts my back if I do it too long. And there are other parts of the house that could use a cleaning too.

Before I get started though, a quick anecdote. I went to Home Depot today looking for WD40 and cannedย air because my front door has been screeching and my portable air conditioner coils are full of dust. Well, they didn’t have the air, but when I brought home the WD40 and told my husband what I planned to do with it he said: “You know that’s not a lubricant, right?” I blinked and showed him the back of the can where it said “lubricates.” It felt kind of good to know something he didn’t, but I was a bit shocked. How do you get through life without the miracle of WD40? BTW, the front door is whisper silent now. ๐Ÿ˜‰ I found the remnants of a can of air, but it really didn’t work on the coils, so I am still contemplating what to do there.

Anyway…time to clean, right? Today my goal is to restore the upstairs bathroom to the Asian-influenced beauty it had before we started using it every day and letting things pile up. It is currently a mess:

 

I am not going to lie. It’s really filthy. So I didn’t want to take closer pictures, but that’s a cop-out, so I probably will…but for detail shots. I think you can get the idea from these.

Let’s get started.

Time Passing

(We remember what that picture means, right? Time passed…)

 

Well, it probably won’t get completely finished today, and the linen closet is a day by itself. I have a real tendency to over-estimate my stamina for the day…still, I think you will be pleased to see the difference. I know we are.

 

One end of the counter was worse than the other. (And I forgot to take a picture of the mess behind the sink before I started cleaning it up.)

Now, the clutter is gone and it looks like it is supposed to…:

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May still be a bit cluttered for some, but SOOOOO much better. The tablet is running my Steam Powered Giraffe playlist. This is even better for housecleaning than the Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack from last week.

I still have more work to do in the tub. I’ve found that Scrubbing Bubbles work great, even on our textured surface, but it takes a couple of applications when it’s gotten as bad as it had.

I did like the results from the Tile Plus Mold and Mildew Remover, but wish I had read the cautions before using it because it says open windows and/or turn on fans. Well, this is obviously a windowless bath, and I didn’t turn on the overhead fan until I’d already sprayed it. Don’t do that. I think I am still tasting bleach…yuck! Stay safe out there!

Anyway, here are the results so far:

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Like I said, not finished, but much better.

I also cleaned up the toilet some and put in 2000 Flushes. Taking a break for lunch. I may or may not get back to it today. It sucks getting old…

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It’s Monday! That Means Cleaning!


First of all, I am extremely proud that after a week, my desk still looks like this:

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(Which may still look cluttered to some, but remember where we started last week…)

Now, to tackle the Down Below:

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Would you believe I hauled out several bags of trash yesterday? Yeah…neither would I. But I did!

I still haven’t gotten back to the principles of Marie Kondo yet, but I just need a bit of a refresher. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up really did open my eyes to a lot of things. The problem was that I quit in the middle. I believe in her methods enough that I immediately bought Spark Joy when I finished the first one–maybe even before I finished the first one–and pre-ordered Joy at Work as soon as it was available. (Now I just have to make time to read it!)

Of course, if I followed her steps in order, I would still be working in the library right now, and that is not the area I need to focus on at the moment, so I am going to try and apply the principles to the chaos under my desk but not the structure. We’ll see if it works.

I need something to help me focus. Last week it was American Horror Storyย as I was gearing up for the RIEVIEW last Friday. Now I need something new. Sure enough, YouTube came through–with several Cleaning Marathon lists like thisย one. Or here’s another I thinkย  I may like better.

Yeah, that one was better…but this is more my style…though it starts a bit slow for cleaning. It’s cool for sorting through trash though. I may have to buy the CDs after payday…splurged a little TOO much for my birthday on games.

 

Time Passing

(time passed…)

 

Well, I ALMOST made it through the whole soundtrack. And it was from both movies…so I feel good about it. I had to remind myself that I can’t sit on the floor or kneel under the desk as long as I used to before I got old.

Two and a half bags of trash later, this is what I’ve got so far–and the things that found temporary homes on my desk during the sorting didn’t stay there. So, win-win…if tiny.

I may do more later, but I also have a lot of editing to do, so we will see…

Here’s the clean:

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For now, at least. Maybe I’ll do some more after lunch…and some Tylenol. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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And…Here We Go Again


You may have noticed that the last entry was dated last February. Things stalled out in the library, and haven’t gotten any further since, but I have a new schedule, and I just paid to update this website too, so that’s a lot of incentive. I am going to start a weekly rotation and today is Here’s The Clean’s turn.

I am the first to admit that I am the Queen of Procrastination. If it doesn’t have to be done today, I’ll do it tomorrow. Which is why I haven’t done my taxes yet for the year. And, therefore, why I am starting this time cleaning up with the desk I do most of my work on. (Not my office where I am supposed to write, but my gaming desk where I have started doing everything. My office is a WHOLE ‘nother project.)

Here is what I am starting with:

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Yikes, right?

I am working through the desktop today. Keeping small goals makes them more likely to happen. I have started with a communications center:

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Putting it up allowed me to clear off the notes on my computer case.

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Looks neater already.

Another thing I did was take the jar I had been keeping coins in and replace it with a smaller bank that will use less real estate but remind me of last summer’s trip instead.

Speaking of coins…you know that old adage about cleaning old coins with vinegar? Well, I found a double handful of coins in the old car we were donating to make room for the new car my husband got me for my birthday. And they were sticky and nasty, so I decided to try that. I wish I had read this forum first. Apparently, overnight is not a good idea. It did make for some interesting results:

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This wasn’t at all what I expected. But it WAS interesting. I’ll never do that again. Maybe if it comes up again, I’ll try the Coke method

Now, back to cleaning.

Several hours later, and a full trash bag from the desk and floor under it, and not quite nearly done. But, it is almost 7:00 pm, and I’ve been at it most of the day. Now it is time for my husband. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Here’s the final shots of what I finished. I decided the part that isn’t done is just too depressing to share…lol.

I may sneak in a bit here and there while working on other stuff the rest of the week. If so, I’ll update it Monday. If not, guess what we’ll be finishing next week? ๐Ÿ˜€

It doesn’t look like that much, but it really is a big difference.

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Remember, the whole point of this blog is I am a slob trying to get better…that bowl of candy used to be a bottlecap collection for instance…

One step at a time!

EDIT:

I kept fiddling while we were playing Factorio, so I got to where I am (mostly) happy. There are a couple of piles to sort, but they are minimal:

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Tidying Up


Unless you live under a rock, you have heard of Marie Kondo and her KonMari method. The link is for those who are rock dwellers. ๐Ÿ˜‰ I also recommend the Netflix show, Tidying Up.

I don’t know what it is about this diminutive woman, but from the moment I started reading her first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I was hooked. And things finally clicked for me. If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know how I have struggled–good days and bad days; method after method; good intentions but few results. This time…I have optimistic hope I may finally get something done!

Let’s start with CLOTHES, as Marie suggests. Here is my before pile (on the second day–I forgot a picture the first day) and after pictures of my newly arranges closet, neatly folded drawers, and boxes out for the donation truck:

 

 

Absolutely no regrets.

Second is BOOKS. Well, that’s been harder, simply because they are EVERYWHERE, and I’m still trying to collect them all into the library…but I have already culled two and a half boxes in the process. Here’s some early shots. Will add more when I get the rest of the books into the room…:

 

There are MANY more piles now! But gradually all the books are getting into the room. And this was really the “click” point for me. When I realized that moving the majority of my reference books, and autographed books, and pirate books, and Titanic books out of my office would give me room for bulletin boards and white boards, and other things that would really help more with my writing. I am still keeping my Conn-Mann references in the office, for the most part, but all the rest are making their way downstairs, and freeing up WALL SPACE!

So, I will try to keep you updated again. To add these pictures, I had to remove many from 2012, so the oldest posts will have broken links. Sorry about that, but I can’t justify making this one premium as seldom as I update it…but who knows…that may change. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Back to work now. ๐Ÿ™‚

 

 

 

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In a Rather Anti-Climactic Moment…


It appears that everything is still here with a different URL after letting the premium lapse. So, I will be getting back to things next week. This week Allergies are winning our cage match.

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It’s Been a Good–Well Decent–Well Lackluster Run


I have made the decision to let this domain expire. It’s a hundred dollars a year, and way under utilized. I have archived all the important pages, and I have blurbs of the blog posts, but I will not be re-newing it.

INSTEAD, I will be restarting in the New Year as a free WordPress Blog. Not all the bells and whistles, but the continuing saga will reoccur.

And, looking at the early days has inspired me. The song titles, the game charts…I think I can re-invigorate myself if I go back to the beginning. Sorry to lose you, my dear followers, and if you want to re-follow after the New Year, I will tweet out new blog info when I have it. If you aren’t following me on twitter (@RieSheridanRose) or Facebook, send a friend request and we can fix that.

It’s just an expense I can remove from the picture, and that is cleaning in itself, isn’t it? ๐Ÿ˜‰

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