My New "Friends:" Fluff and Grit
I can't find my favorite barrette and I've been ripping the place apart, trying to find it, which leads me to admit something here.
I haven't cleaned my house in at least three weeks.
I'm not kidding. Yes, I have done some maintenance activity: dishes, wiping of counters and kitchen table, toilet brushing, sink rinsing, and tub splashing
but,
I have not: dusted, mopped, washed windows, wiped down cupboards, Windexed a mirror, made a bed, or scrubbed a baseboard.
I vacuumed twice.
Twice in 21 days. And we have dogs.
The only reason that I say this is that I was horrified, horrified at the state to which things have deteriorated, when, flattened on the floor with flashlight in hand, I peered under the couch, looking for favorite barrette.
Substances that one could only describe as Fluff and Grit (the dirt version of Bonnie and Clyde) were hiding out there, along with their partners in crime: Puzzle Piece, Bingo Chip, Rubber Band, and Paper Clip.
I realized that we have several "camps" of these types of substances scattered throughout the house. A "compound" under the bed, another under an oversized "chair." A virtual "confederacy" below the dresser.
Today, I continue search for favored barrette . . . while I disinfect the place.
I mean, I'm a dirty-nasty pig . . . but I do have a breaking point.
I haven't cleaned my house in at least three weeks.
I'm not kidding. Yes, I have done some maintenance activity: dishes, wiping of counters and kitchen table, toilet brushing, sink rinsing, and tub splashing
but,
I have not: dusted, mopped, washed windows, wiped down cupboards, Windexed a mirror, made a bed, or scrubbed a baseboard.
I vacuumed twice.
Twice in 21 days. And we have dogs.
The only reason that I say this is that I was horrified, horrified at the state to which things have deteriorated, when, flattened on the floor with flashlight in hand, I peered under the couch, looking for favorite barrette.
Substances that one could only describe as Fluff and Grit (the dirt version of Bonnie and Clyde) were hiding out there, along with their partners in crime: Puzzle Piece, Bingo Chip, Rubber Band, and Paper Clip.
I realized that we have several "camps" of these types of substances scattered throughout the house. A "compound" under the bed, another under an oversized "chair." A virtual "confederacy" below the dresser.
Today, I continue search for favored barrette . . . while I disinfect the place.
I mean, I'm a dirty-nasty pig . . . but I do have a breaking point.
posted by Cate at 8:30 AM
19 Comments:
I am sure I am worse than you! I hate cleaning, but am really working to be better!
You needed a break from all that hard work cleaning, girl!
I will go crazy looking for barrettes or clips that I lose too. It almost becomes a sort of physical feeling inside, it is so annoying!
xoxo
I bet your house looks waaay better than mine. When we moved all the furniture out of our bedroom in order to replace the flooring, some of the stuff we found under and behind furniture that hadn't been moved in a while was a leeeetle bit scary!
Ask the kids.
And please don't tell me you wash your windows more than twice a year. Please!
I am going to check under Maddy's bed right now. Everything we have ever lost has been found under her bed. As well as some things that we didn't know we lost.
Just do what I do...close your eyes, grope and hope for the best (yes, I AM still talking about looking for lost items/cleaning) ;-)
Lol, just try having to have your house "show ready" for 2.5 months. I'm ready for a 21 day siesta myself.
a.
I'm a fairly tidy Virgo, but I'm right there with you. :) I decided several years ago to focus on what bugs the heck out of me. Therefore, I don't wash windows, couldn't care less until I can't see out anymore, dust only when I can see the stuff, love, love, love swiffers. No more mops for me. Or - oh.my.god - washing the floor on my knees. I do have to admit that a clean house makes me way too happy.
P.S. I recently met a woman who washes her base boards Every Three Days!!!! Washes Them!!!
New friends? Well then, you are way ahead of me in the housekeeping race. Fluff and grit are very OOOLLLLLDDDD friends at our house. **sigh**
It's spring I tell ya. Spring cleaning is in the air after winter caused disinterest in dust bunnies. Things are changing. :-)
did you find the barrette?
I did the spring cleaning thing last week... and it is a freaking mess all over again! *sigh* I swear, cleaning this house is all. I.Ever.Do.
...I remember, I used to do other things... Read, write, shower and go to the bathroom alone... Ahh, th ejoys of the SAHM. heh.
:)
There are certain times of the year that a person's gotta just give in and let their house get dirty...and I think that this is that time of year. The cool thing about Fluff and Grit is how nice it is once they get kicked out of the house for awhile. Their absence is so NOTICEABLE! It is unfortunate how quickly they sneak back in though! :)-
Great post Cate--this one made me laugh out loud!
Clean clean clean. Now you have a new task-of-the-week.
Tell me about it. I'm a neat freak - but i HATE to be the one doing the work.
Baylor,
Can I just tell you how relieved I am to hear that someone else gets obsessive about finding lost items?! I swear, it's like some benevolent force misplaces my stuff so that I'll get off of my ass and straighten up the place! I hope you are feeling better! xo
Deb,
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, your description of moving the bed sounds like something that we would find around here. Nice try. I think we're running neck and neck! By the way, that floor is freakin' glorious!
Bec,
Were you looking for my barrette under Maddy's bed? Because that made me just laugh! Can I come over and look?
I think that this is the first time that I've implicated my children in a missing item case--usually, they disregard MY stuff like it's crap (Lou's stuff, on the other hand, intrigues them!). I'm thinking that my clip was on the edge of the sink and got knocked down the drain (likely the work of James!). Who knows?
And I'm gonna admit something: I have NEVER cleaned the outsides of the upstairs windows (and the insides get washed but ONCE a year!).
Susan,
Ahhhh, just screaming over that one! I do a lot of groping with my eyes shut! Love it! xo
A,
I.Cannot.Imagine. It makes me feel agitated just thinking about it. I mean, you can't even cram stuff into cupboards and closets! I feel your pain! Any news?
Deirdre,
Having grown up in a house with paneling on the walls, I had no exprerience with baseboards when I first moved here. Consequently, they were ignored . . . for approx. two years. You can imagine. I love your philosophy. I think life is too short to clean all the time (esp. when it just gets dirty again so quickly). Oh, but I'm with you: the clean house makes me happy!
Annie,
HAHHAHA! So you're familiar with Fluff and Grit, too? That was a good one! Oh, I hope you are enjoying the homecoming!
Pearl,
No. I'm thinking that it's gone for good. But I DID find a cool paperclip with a little decorative marble tile on the end and I've wedged it into my hair. And it's sort of cute. And it holds the long pieces back. I'm no longer mourning as hard! xo
P.S. If you're ever in the DC area, you'll immediatel identify me: the idiot wearing a paper clip in her hair!
Amber,
See, that's exactly the point. You invest all of this energy in getting the place clean and it lasts, what? 48 hours if you're lucky? My boys followed me about yesterday as I picked up (I put something on a shelf, they immediately pulled it back down). It makes me mean, I'm tellin' ya!
Lynn,
Fluff and Grit have quite the reputation! I'm discovering that they travel the country, freeloading! Sorry to hear that they hit your place, too! I'm here anytime you want to commiserate!
Funny!
Now if we could only figure out how to get them to chip in and pay the bills, we may not be as ready for them to be gone. :P
My house is no better, BTW, just add lots of piles and unfiled items to the mix.
Read ya' later!
where have i been, that i've missed 2 terrific posts??? computer gliches that are now rectified and i'm inert when it comes to cleaning my own home and doing chores in general. i have no reason and i'm lucky enough to have a cleaning lady 2x a month. If not for her, we'd be in a sorry, sorry state.
btw, i loved your comment from yesterday. i'd love if we could meet someday and have what you described. MD and NJ aren't that far away. (=
We all have those moments ya know? Seriously some days I barely lift a finger and others it is all I do.
Jessie,
They're insidious, aren't they? Stealth, committed! I agree--the house has just got to be dirty at certain times. There's no other choice!
Tara,
Nothing like a long weekend to get the vacuum flyin'! BUT it's true--starting a weekend with a clean place is liberating! I LOVE that the floors and windows are your husband's job (my man does laundry and all exterior stuff!). I mean, really, how can we CLEAN when we've got so many other important things to pursue (reading and writing and blogging!)! xo
Cheryl,
See, whenever I feel the urge to have the place clean but don't feel like doing the work, I become a director! "Over here," "under that," and "don't forget the corners!" A neat freak? I want to be just like you!
Human Z,
Piles!?!? Tell me about piles! The bane of my existence! And what a great idea--split expenses with Dirt and Fluff!
Kiki,
Yes, yes! Let's meet sometime! You're right--we aren't very far. Maybe this Summer--if Lou and I go to NYC, maybe we could meet for lunch or dinner? (Are you regretting this now--look how how I'm running with it!?!)
Good for you for having a cleaning lady--very smart! Life is too short (besides, you've got many other things keeping you busy!). xo
Shannon,
Absolutely. I'm the same way. Sometimes, I work myself into a frenzy. Sometimes, I swear, my ass spreads from remaining in the same position (on the chair) all day! Thanks for the comment!
See what a barrette will have you go to to find it! Small cute things have a way of showing the underbelly of life.
Corey,
Ahh, so true! And it's still in hiding--incredible! xo
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