A Bit Better Blog

Purge Campaign

My office is moving in a couple of months, and in preparation for this we are having a series of "purge campaigns" designed to give everyone a jump on getting rid of stuff so it doesn't have to be moved. I'm a bit behind schedule with this (surprise!) from being out so much with health stuff, but once I started it was really kind of fun. It turns out, of course, that we all save stuff we don't need to save. Some things I come across and think, "I know I saved this for a reason, but who knows what the heck the reason was!" Another thing I really like is that by purging, and then ultimately moving to an entirely new place, I will get rid of the "ghosts" left by people that used to use this office. For example, here's a pen that was here when I moved in, that I kept for some reason but didn't actually use. Or, here's my stuff organized the way the person who used to be here organized stuff, but not necessarily the way I would have if the office was completely empty when I got here. And recycling large quantities of paper, well, it's good for the soul, I say.

As I may have mentioned before, this same thing needs to be done in my house. For lack of a better term, this goal or mission of mine will be called a purge campaign, though it is more than that. I have to get rid of stuff, surely, but I also have to get things I keep moved to where they will be more useful. I really hate living in all my clutter, but even worse, I would hate to end up in a situation where I'd be forced to do the purge really quickly, like if we found a great deal on a house and decided to move, or something. So I want to get it done before any situation like that arises. So I've decided that this blog will mostly document the progress of that.

I'll be back with a plan.

Things We All Suck At

Okay, I suppose I'm not speaking for everybody. But after my last entry, in which I noted that I suck at meal planning and at keeping up with my kids' clothing sizes, I got 2 lovely comments chirping in with "me too! me too!" So I think I speak for many of us, anyway.

This is just a quick post to acknowledge that, and to say that I'm now on IV antibiotics for my ear infection that will. not. go. away. I've done 2 infusions now, and was taught today how to do it myself (I have a midline, which is a 20 cm catheter in the vein, stays put for up to 8 weeks, but I only need 2 thank G-d). So my plan is either to get up early tomorrow and get it all over with, or to take all my supplies with me and do it at work.

Oh, one more thing: yesterday evening I ended up, magically, with some free time. My husband took the kids to the grocery store while I waited at home for the delivery of supplies from the home infusion people. I cleared off my nightstand which has (embarrassingly) been covered with junk for a long time. It made me so happy. I found a bunch of ponytail holders (which explained where they all went), and a book I'd finished reading that I promptly passed on to a neighbor. Then I cleared out my bra and panty drawer and got rid of all the things that are too old/torn/don't fit/ have out of whack wires, etc. Why do we keep things like that?? Then I was able to stop piling the excess on top of the dresser. YAY! I just wish I had time to do ALL the drawers and surfaces....

Things I Suck At

Meal Planning.

I'm so envious of moms who seem to be able to go home and find something to have/make for dinner and only occasionally decide that there's really nothing good and let's order pizza. We do the pizza or something equivalent much more often.

Keeping up With the Kids' Clothes Sizes/Seasons

Both kids have had clothes in piles and in their drawers that have to be stored elsewhere, and other clothes in baskets that have just been unearthed for the new season and washed. I don't think I'll ever be able to walk into the kids' rooms and see drawers full of CURRENT clothing.

Is it wrong for my big lifelong dream to be organization?