Roadblock ahead

Wouldn’t you know it? The one time I actually make a plan and start acting on it, I get a major hurdle thrown in my way. On Monday, I fell down the steps at work and broke my foot. I’m in a splint (sort of temporary cast) and on crutches. The splint has all the other inconveniences of a cast, too, e.g., I can’t get it wet. I’m only just now beginning to feel better, less pain, better adjustment to the crutches. But the crutches still don’t allow me to carry things, let alone handle the large itemsI’d be pulling out of the cabinets. (I actually tried doing it, but it didn’t work.)

The old me would have given up and said, “Screw everything” and gone into a deep funk. But instead, I’m finding other, more sedentary ways to work at the clean up, such as balancing my bank accounts, folding laundry.

I’m hoping that once I have my follow-up appointment with the orthopedic doctor (which is being held up because of workers compensation paperwork), I’ll be in a boot or some other contraption that allows me to be hands free. Then I’ll be able to pick up where I left off. I may have to adjust my schedule somewhat, but I’m willing to be flexible. It’s not “all or nothing” thinking anymore.

Progress, however meager, is progress

Yesterday, I really hadn’t done anything to further my January goal to declutter the kitchen. Then, around 8 p.m., I was a tad bored and decided pick up the kitchen a bit. After the first 5 minutes of cleaning off the counter, I tackled the table. The great news is I found the stickers I was looking for. The other great news is that when my 5 minutes were done, I went for another 5 minutes. Go me!

But one of the problems I’m having is what do I do with things I want to keep but don’t know where to put them? Last year a friend gave me a beautiful poinsettia plant for Christmas. (I felt horribly sorry for the plant, because I knew I would kill it.) I did eventually kill it and threw it out, but the decorative bucket it came in is very cute. I want to keep it and perhaps put some (artificial) flowers in it, but what do I do with it in the meantime? I guess I’ll just transfer it to the “back room” which is currently functioning as the “dumping ground.” But I feel like I’m just transferring the clutter. Maybe by the time I get to the back room I’ll have a little less mental clutter and have a better idea of what I want to do with the bucket and where to put it.

And so it begins!

Happy 2008!

I have begun cleaning and clearing my kitchen. I spent most of my kitchen time yesterday starting to clear off the kitchen table and washing dishes that don’t go in the dishwasher. One of the Great Truths I’ve learned in the last year is that the dishwasher does not have to be crammed full before I run it. In fact, a partial load requires less time to empty. It’s a win-win for me.

My plan for the kitchen is to go through the cabinets and cupboards, getting rid any old, duplicate, or unused item. If the item is useable, I’ll put it in the box for Goodwill; if not, it goes into the trash. In fact, I threw away two items yesterday. After making a small pot of tea, I apparently put the kettle too close to a rubber spatula sitting on the stove. The spatula was pretty much ruined, and I wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of smelling burning rubber every time I used the tea kettle. So, into the trash they went. Now, I might not have been so quick to throw the kettle out had I not had a very cute blue kettle at the ready. But it did feel good to get rid of the duplicate kettle.

New year, new home

Since I’ve been my home for 20 years, how come I’m finally getting around to taking care of the place?

Well, besides feeling better mentally,  another reason for finally getting serious is that I miscalculated my retirement date. I thought I could retire in 2010, but apparently I goofed in my calculations and can’t retire until 2011. I was pretty upset at the time, but decided to make the most of it by coming up with a plan to fix up the place. The idea is to take 1-2 months per room first decluttering, then decorating/fixing up.

January is dedicated to the kitchen. This room is first on the list because I want it to be an inviting place, where I’ll want to spend time preparing meals, thereby eating better—something I’ve been needing to do for quite awhile.

My room for February is the dining room.  The dining room should be fairly manageable for the shorter month (even with the extra day in Feb this year), since I don’t really have any hidden drawers  and cabinets to deal with.  Plus, it’s an appropriate follow-on to the kitchen, since it’s where I need to eat some of my meals, and right now the dining room table is filled to the brim with non-dining stuff. Things like my laptop, my happy light (a new addition), Christmas presents for wrapping (yeah, yeah, I know it’s past), financial papers, a set of blue margarita glasses, and other miscellaneous stuff.

So, that’s my plan for the next couple months.  Wish me luck!

Help me get my home in order!

I am a pack (b)rat. I never really thought I was, but by the looks of my home, it’s obvious I am. I’ve lived here for 20 years and I’ve managed to make a total mess of the place. And, other than a few appliance upgrades, I haven’t really done anything in the way of remodeling or decorating.

Part of my problem over the years was severe depression, and part was simply not knowing where to start. (Ok, and part was just plain ol’ laziness.) But, the depression appears to have abated (with a great deal of help and effort, not magically on its own) and I think I can now make the effort to fix the place up.

I hope to use this blog as my chronicle of progress. Let’s see if I can do it!