Moving moving moving...

Sorry, no, I'm not moving any time soon. That in itself will require a lot of decluttering. I was thinking more about how often I moved around in my 20s...graduating college, getting that first job, moving from one apartment to another, sometimes nearly every year...that's a lot of hauling stuff around. Schlepping, some might say.

Then combine all that stuff in boxes plus all the stuff that I left at my parent's, and you have some boxes I haven't sorted through in ages...and I mean college financial aid plan papers. Yikes. I frequently complain about my older relatives leaving way too much behind, but today I sat down with a box from my closet. Turns out I was a cluttery teen and 20-something, leaving blank scholarship applications mixed in with more important papers, like SAT scores. Transient lifestyles don't always leave us time to sit down and go through our papers because we're just focused on the next move, the next job, the next degree. But eventually it's time to throw out that car insurance bill from 2002. Yes, you will see me at another shred day this summer, a tiny bit humbler this time. As much as I criticize the hoarders from the Great Depression, I cannot cast the first stone like a neatnik could. Going through old papers is usually boring, but it feels good to consciously choose (mostly) valuable papers to haul away in the next move. Feels like moving forward in small way.

Wishful Gardening

Gentle reader, every few years I get optimistic and imagine plants and blossoms and color in my yard...I forget how the brutal Texas sun takes out my plants around July. But I'm at it again. This year I bought pansies (an annual that does okay) and then a lavender. It's the third or fourth lavender attempt, but darn it, I promise to keep it in a container this year and remain devoted to watering it through the long hot summer. I love the smell of lavender, but as I've written before, I have a ridiculously hot yard and not enough disclipline to water. (And our city's water restrictions are seriously intense!) 

A few months have gone by, and today I bought some chocolate mint (smells amazing) and what appears to be a Ghost Plant (succulent). The summers are unforgiving, but home beautification definitely includes the yard....maybe I'm a bit delusional, but it's time to make an effort again.

"Decluttering" the yard is also on the list of to-dos--I didn't cut back certain plants this winter, and I have a monster sage with purple flowers that's gone crazy. Unfortunately nothing else in that flower bed is doing anything, not even the Lantana. (Why are everyone else's Lantanas blooming right now?) Clearly my yard needs tending. But I'm just glad I have the energy and desire, even if it's a bit fanciful, to try some new plants and spruce things up. I suspect container gardening is the way to go during this drought, so I'll try out new plants there. And then I'll need to take better care of the survivors in the yard--Copper Canyon daisy, etc.

I also realized it's time to re-mulch the flowerbed. And maybe replace the white gravel by the door that looks so 1980s grandparenty...I have a lot of other to-dos in my life, but I'm guessing gardening is good for your health, so it can't be bad to start dreaming of some changes and get outside. I do think making a home your own is so important and even psychologically significant, and while the summer is my opponent, I hope for some victories that bring me joy.

Nothing like spring break to make me think of spring cleaning...when else can I justify spending time ripping up old receipts and getting ready for free shred day this weekend?

In the last few weeks I also had my fancy Mac laptop break--it won't turn on anymore. So I hooked up my late father's old PC from 2003 or so, and bam, it still works okay. It's a bit slow and you can hear it working and chugging along, but while I am waiting for the warranty repair, at least I have something to use. Hoarders 1, Relentless Cleaners, 0. If I had chucked this big old desktop, I'd be at the library or YMCA using their computers, and the last time I resorted to that, I swear I got ringworm or some nasty rash on my wrist. Yuck. So perhaps it's okay to hold onto a few essential back up machines, i.e. computers. But not 10, okay?

After dusting off this old computer, the CD-writer drive decided to start working again. (My slick new laptop does not have a DVD/CD drive, which is pretty lame, Steve Jobs.) Another reason I am glad to have the old one. I'm one of the few folks who doesn't have an iPod, so I was stuck when the old PC's CD-burner broke and my laptop was the only way to listen to downloaded music. I guess just cleaning your computer--literally getting rid of dust--can be a cure.

Other spring cleaning tasks I've done:
Wiped down washer and dryer
Cleaned behind toilet and cleaned floor (Thanks, Fly Lady missions!)
Washed mattress cover and allergy pillowcases

I still need to do the normal life stuff (dishes, etc.), but I like the extra sense of accomplishment of spring cleaning. Not a way to spend an entire break, but it's satisfying to know I have the time. I even have the windows open to air out the house--aren't they always talking about "airing out rooms" in British period pieces? Well, I recommend it for your spring cleaning--it goes along with the sense of freshening up the place. 

We'll see how much spring cleaning gets done this week...

Lent Status Update

Thus far my facebook fast is going pretty well, though there were a few days this week where I felt like Cathy, the girl in the comic strip, freaking out with little drops of sweat flying around while wishing I could log on. I have stuff to say, and it's tough when you don't get to throw it into a status update when that's been the norm. Ugh.

But for the most part, it's been a nice break. It's peaceful to not have a stream of photos scrolling by multiple times a day. Also, I never know what all I will find on there Sunday (the feast day when I can check it.) I feel like I am getting away with eating lots of candy on Sundays. I also confess I had to sneak peeks sometimes--I needed a mailing address for a friend, etc. It's hard to cut it off completely, so I am not totally legalistic about it.

Thankfully, life goes on...I do stuff. I see people. The weather has turned sunny. And of course I have event invites emailed so I'm not really missing out. I hope no one thinks I am shunning them but remembers I am not on there much right now. I am probably a bit more productive. I still have a lot on my to-do list and not enough time (or I feel that way), but there isn't this constant option of checking in. If only I wanted to compulsively clean my kitchen with the free time!

Digital Life—Decluttering Time

Gentle reader, I'm giving up facebook for Lent, except feast days (Sundays). I am not sure this is totally needed—I don't think God is asking me to be less social, nor do I think online isolation is somehow a great idea or even virtuous. But I have noticed that I have a lot of not-so-exciting tasks to get done, and facebook is an easy go-to when I'm already seated in from of my laptop. Instead of dealing with a long put-off project or filing bills (blech), it's easier to jump on fb, and whoosh, there goes the time. Even when it comes to decluttering—whether it's a routine mail sort or finally posting those old slide-rules on eBay, I have opted to get on fb or cruise online articles. When I have decided to stay off fb for the rest of the day (which is a rare commitment), I've noticed that I have a better sense of what to do next, e.g. fold the laundry that's sitting on the chair. For me, getting on fb can stop the flow of my day if I check it too much. It's an interruption and sidetracker.

I remember a few years ago a friend told me her office receptionist was on facebook so often, she completely gave it up because it sucked up so much time, even at work. I have seriously considered leaving facebook two or three times, deleting most of my photos and messages, getting ready for a grand exit. A few years ago I even announced it was imminent. But I couldn't quite pull the trigger because I would miss out on hearing little comments from two or three old friends from out of state. Without fb, I felt they would practically disappear from my life. Would we really bother to email or call each other? After all, a lot folks now see catch up phone calls as a once-a-year event, if that. Fear of disconnection, which is a valid fear, kept me from deleting my account.

I must confess I gave fb up for Lent maybe four years ago, before using it was so entrenched in my daily life. Before my friends and acquaintances seemed as plugged in as well. It was a bit tough, but I found the decision to fast from it much less uncomfortable.

So what's to be done? Some folks can use fb sparingly and responsibly. Maybe it's like knowing how to avoid overeating. All I know is, once I announced I was going to stay off during Lent, I felt a sense of isolation! Again, not that God was asking me to do that, but I am asking myself to deal with chores and maintain a better focus as I go about my day. I also had to jump on to make sure event invites would be emailed to me—that's a major fear of not being on fb: missing a party or event. So now I am all set up. And if I want to feel social, I guess I'll have to actually reach out and be social. We'll see if this fb fast is a good idea—if it's really in the vein of a spiritual practice, I should also add a positive practice that brings me closer to God. Perhaps that way I'll feel I am gaining more than just checking items off my to-do list.