Spring Cleaning begins!

[gridlore]

Yes, it's still early January, but you haven't seen our apartment.

Realizing that the easiest way to get frustrated and quit for both of us was to try to do too much, I decided today was going to focus on getting the tons of trash out of our tiny kitchen/dining area. Between us, we manage to accumulate piles of junk, and neither of us is very good at taking down the trash. So several trips to the dumpster later, I had actually cleaned out enough space to sweep up and mop about half the floor. Considering how awful that floor is, I'm completely satisfied with achieving this much!

kshandra has been asked to continue clearing out the junk on the dining room table tomorrow (between bouts of job searching and screaming at EDD about her unemployment check.) That, and finally getting all the damn dishes cleaned and put away will go a long way towards improving this place.

After the kitchen, next target is the "entryway." This is the pathway created from out front door by the couch and computer station. Alas, it is also the default dumping ground for junk mail, coats, and anything else we are to tired or apathetic to carry any farther.

My plan is to continue dividing the apartment into small zones, and concentrate on those areas. Moving stuff to temporary holding zones while we figure out where it all actually goes is perfectly acceptable, just so long as everything ends up someplace that isn't on the couch or the floor.

Also, we're going to be finally getting rid off the ungainly shelving unit that has served as a TV/Stereo shelf. We have a perfectly good entertainment center in the garage. We just need to clean out a space and get rid of the old unit.

I foresee a lot of stuff going up on Freecycle, Craigslist, and eBay in the near future.

This cleaning frenzy has been brought on by two things. First of all, I just can't take the clutter anymore! Secondly, moving is in my thoughts a lot these days. Once Kiri has a permanent job, we can afford better (or at least a place built with grounded outlets!) Someplace closer to Fremont and wherever she's working. It won't be this year, or even in 2007 most likely, but I want to get in the habit of being organized.

Comments

[lysana.livejournal.com]

That bit of inspiration seems to be going around. Hurrah for all of us.

[mdlbear]

We've been doing that, too. Got about half of the office cleaned to make way for the plumbers. And somewhere along the way the bedroom and the upstairs hallway got cleaned up a little, too. Next step is the sewing room, because that has to be clear enough to set up a cot in when my Mom arrives on Friday.

...

[n-1-n.livejournal.com]

Sounds like your going about it in a very methodical and militant sort of way. Maybe those Army commercials are right, you do learn skills for life. Anyway, good for you! Keep it up : )

-David

P.s. I even cleaned my room... ME!!! Maybe there is some sort of cleaning epidemic going around...

Re: ...

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Well, it's pretty true. A lot of what I got out of the service was problem solving skills and the will to see things through.

I often tell people that if it hadn't been for the Army, my cancer would have killed me. Military service gave me the will to endure some pretty terrible times with the cheerful thought that as bad as it got, Drill Sergeant Colom wasn't there.

That thought could get me through the apocolypse.