Of all the time I spent in Hollywood this year, quite a few times I
was tempted to post but never got around to it. Postworthy stuff,
maybe by my standards, but nothing particulary remarkable.

But what the hell, I am bored and feel like talking. At some point
some woman smiled at me. This caught me totally off guard. I wasn't
sure if she was smiling at me or not. I just sorta smiled back and...

More "that's so sweet" about my SO:

My lovely cleaning people quit almost a month ago because they moved out of
state and I just haven't gotten around to hiring someone else (hate the
interview process, too). But in the meantime, SO just comes in and pitches
in. He changed the bed, and scrubbed the tub once already, and vacuums
pretty regularly too (Roomba bit the dust a couple of months ago and
haven't yet got another). I protested (most of it is my mess, after all),
but he said we'll have to divide chores once we live together anyway so he's
just practicing. :-)

--
Kim Olson
Writing and Editing Services
Email Kimedwrit@earthlink.net for rates and information
Free newsletter, The Lazy Vegan, has gone to the "blogs"!
For more information, visit:
http://home.earthlink.net/~kimcof/lazyvegan.htm
or
http://thelazyveganblog.blogspot.com/

Organic waste collection is new for me. Since my move, we have received
this green container for collecting organics and putting at the curb once a
week. Today I discover all these maggots all over the place. So my
question is, how do I stop this.. and how do I get rid of all those things!

Debbie

I managed to get all the dishes done. Came home from weekend camping to a
disaster I had left before going out of town, and that's not a good feeling.
I got down at the dishes. And the counters.
I have a clean and clear counter in the kitchen and the dishes are done.
Table is cleared, and since the kids slept in a little today, they're just
sitting down for breakfast.
I am making a strawberry rhubarb pie today. Or, at least, I'm going to try.
I have a massive rhubarb jungle in the corner of my yard and I absolutely
love rhubarb!
So I cleared most of the kitchen fairly well so far. Soon as the kids are
down and eating, I will go out and cut my rhubarb for my pie! :D
I've never made a pie before... "Making a pie" normally always means toss
one from the freezer into the oven that Grandma...

I think it's really over this time. Never have I felt so empty
inside.
I guess I will just have to find some way to cope with this
disasterous change in circumstances. I just don't know what else to
do
with my life or how I can fill this void.

Thanks for reading.

As you may know, I've been working from home for the last year or more.
I *love* it, but I may have an opportunity to start a part-time job soon
with good money and full benefits, so I think I'll take it. This will
require me to get better about my routines, so that being gone five
hours a day (four for work, one for the commute) doesn't end up meaning
that my house goes to hell and no one has food to eat. :-)

I think most of you work outside of the home. What are some things that
keep you on track?

(I'm thinking of buying a freezer, because with my tiny one, I can't
really do much cooking ahead or buying in bulk, and I think that would
be a good idea for us, especially with the new teenager.)

Serene

This was buried in the other thread, so I'm reposting it with its own
title. Hope everyone else had a good weekend, too.

I did it, even with all the birthday stuff today and some nearly
crippling hip pain. It basically took me all weekend, but I took plenty
of breaks, including a nice three-hour walk with James yesterday that
both of us really needed. Those of you who *didn't* have a ten-year
break from parenting will understand how tiring it can be having a kid
in your space all the time.

Anyway, here it is. I know there's room for improvement, but it's where
I wanted it to be by today, so I'm very very happy with myself.

http://www.serenepages.org/images/clutter/after-7-20/

(Plus, I think I rubbed off on James. He cleaned the living room and
bedroom while I was struggling with all the kitchen stuff.)

Serene

OK, this is a strange question, I know, but... how do you all handle the
storage of those measuring spoon sets?

Of course it's nice the way they come all on a ring so they stay
together and you don't lose a stray, but I hate having to wash the whole
set after just using one of the spoons, and it's awkward having to kind
of lay them out and separate them in the dish drainer so they don't all
nest together and not get dry.

I'm thinking about a few solutions, like a) rubber banding them
together, b) using a twist-tie, or c) finding some sort of easy-to-open
ring or spring-action clip so I can easily open it and take the spoon I
need.

Any ideas?
Diva

--

DivaMagenta @}{~~>~~~>~~~>~~~~~

"Religion is man's futile attempt to reach out to God, trying to earn
His favor. Christianity is the good news that God has reached out in
love to us through His Son, because He knows that our arms are not long
enough..."

I've been drifting in and out as I usually do but i think I've missed
a few major milestones here and there.

Can you update me on any significan't news?

Love,

shug

Here's an interesting article- who are you in this?
t's silent. It's sneaky. It creeps about in corners: clutter. When the
state of the house aggravates you to your last nerve, it's tempting to
launch an all-out battle in the war against clutter.

First, though, know your enemy! There are as many reasons for
household clutter as there are clutterers. As Pogo says, "We have seen
the enemy, and he is us!"

Take aim on your household's clutter problem by going to the root of
the problem: your own thinking.

What's your clutter personality ... and which of these internal voices
strikes a chord?

The Hoarder: "This might come in hand someday!"

Hoarding is rooted in insecurity, financial or otherwise. Deep down,
Hoarders fear that they'll never have the resources they need if they
let go of any possession, no matter how worn, useless or superfluous.

If cabinets and closets are crammed with egg cartons, cracked
margarine containers, and old magazines, there's likely Hoarding
behavior underlying the clutter.