Saturday, June 19, 2010

The weekend of chores - Updated


Friends (and all my former teachers) know that I am a terrible procrastinator. Regular readers know that I am trying to shift my habits this summer and become more productive just as a way of being nicer to myself. Ah, self care: something I have never been good at.

I am honoring my mode of being by taking breaks and not driving myself, while still pushing myself beyond the usual. In addition to this morning's yard work I have also cut up cardboard boxes until the recycling bin is filled to the brim, assembled the shelving you see on the left side of the photo above, and moved tools there. I now have an assigned place for the Skilsaw and various hand saws, electric drill and cordless drill, rotary sander, clamps, etc. These have been gathered from several locations. I put down matting in the workshop area to avoid tired feet and assembled a swivel stool for the workbench.

Moving tools to this location is enabling me better to organize garden materials on the opposite side of the garage. I was about to assert that I had swept the garage but that is an exaggeration. I have swept on both sides of the car but did not move it out. Anyway, it's a lot cleaner than it was this morning.

One load of laundry has made it to the dryer. I am about to hang up clean dry shirts (the kind one need not iron, thank you Eddie Bauer) and put dirty shirts for the cleaners into a bag. Sweaters from winter were (finally) folded and put away for the summer.

Next I need to empty the dishwasher, load it up again and run it, clean all the counters, and make potato salad for Fathers' Day.

Oh, I have read the lessons for tomorrow as it is my monthly preaching day.

Y'all may now place your bets on how many items I complete before midnight.

Update:

Mimi asked in the comments, "Do you hire yourself out as an organizer?"

No, Mimi, I do not, and with good reason.

The reason I celebrate these small steps forward is because I live like a bachelor slob and am a horrid housekeeper. Right now I have dirt and mud stains on the floor in the kitchen, dining room, and laundry room area (the path between the garden and the garage with detours into the kitchen where plants sometimes wait for planting).

This is what the sewing room / art studio looks like.


THAT is why I celebrate small pockets of victory. Also why guests are not invited upstairs.

Now I doubt anyone will want me as an organizer. Great at theory, terrible at practice.

--the BB

8 comments:

Wormwood's Doxy said...

Color me impressed, sir!!!

Two weekends ago, I cleaned out our garage. It felt great to do something where I could actually see the outcome! The blister I got from sweeping it clean is just about to heal. ;-)

Cheers,
Doxy

Paul said...

Don't let one ambitious weekend fool you, Doxy. The clue was in the winter sweaters getting put away when the temp is in the 90s. You don't want to see the sewing room, library, or former office - trust me.

Wormwood's Doxy said...

I'm all about celebrating what DID get done!

Michal Anne said...

OMG!! You are so butch!

June Butler said...

You should see our sheds. We can hardly walk in one of them. We have a freezer and a spare refrigerator in the other, so we must keep a pathway clear. I am insanely jealous.

Do you hire yourself out as an organizer?

Earthbound Spirit said...

I celebrate your small victory with you, Paul. As someone who makes sporadic attempts to tame the pyramids of paper, piles of books, and plethora of old art projects produced by my children, I feel your pain. The situation is only exacerbated by having said children moving out and back in again as young adults.

BooCat said...

I am afraid that my whole house looks somewhat like your sewing room but much worse. I am trying to work through it right now. Progress is slow. You give me hope.

Paul said...

I knew there would be kindred spirits out there. I often feel overwhelmed but am determined to make some progress this summer. Yes, Boocat, all of upstairs, except the guest room, looks like the sewing room. This is why every little bit of progress seems like such a big deal.

Let us cheer one another on! Hugs to all.