TCB

Usually while Trace is out of town I get bored. I also am not used to sleeping by myself and therefore don't sleep as well.

But this time, since I knew he was going to be gone for so long, I decided to make it a point to keep myself entertained, or at least busy.

Hence, the Great Clean of 2012. I figured if I am going to be up late anyway, I might as well be putting the time to good use. I started with the upstairs hall closet since it was in need of the least amount of effort. I have since completed the bedroom, kitchen, two bathrooms, and TV room. I still have four rooms to go. In one of those I just have to remove wallpaper border remnants, so that won't be too terrible. He's only been gone since Friday, but I feel like I've gotten a lot accomplished.

Things the Great Clean has taught me:
1. Underneath the crisper drawers in the fridge is NOT where the cool kids hang out.
2. Those steamer mops work pretty well.
3. I have more shoes than I thought I did.
4. Part of the effort of the Great Clean was to be able to allow our dogs to sleep with us. Yeah, they don't get it. They only sleep for like 20 minutes at a time.
5. I really, really like having a clean house. I guess for most people this would go without saying. I have always been sort of a messy person (except at work). But after a while the clutter really gets to me and I HAVE to take action. So I've been very careful to not set anything down where it doesn't belong, to put things away as soon as I'm done with them, etc. I'm trying to train myself to avoid recluttering. Hopefully my Virgo-ness will take over soon.
6. Cleaning until 4 a.m. has the added benefit of making me super tired, so I fall asleep faster when I finally do go to bed.


Since he's been gone, I've had the exterminator come for the quarterly spray, watched two movies I've been wanting to see, started a new TV series, taken the dogs to the vet, had a derby meeting...in the next day or two I'm going around and paying off some bills.  I also have been skating and working on a winning chili recipe.

So generally getting lots done. That makes me feel good.

Also.... I'm not sure if this is related, but it might be.... There are three loose pens on the copy desk. They've been there for weeks and it's really starting to bug me. Because I know they're not mine, but the guy who sits next to me never uses them, either. But I don't just want to move them, in case they ARE his. So WTH?