Random Rambles During a Cleaning Break

Tomorrow our small group is meeting here again.

I'm surprised and frustrated how many things have gotten out of hand since last time. Because, if you had asked me a few days ago, I would've said, "I think we're doing a decent job keeping up with things"

Which just goes to show how deficient my ability to see and comprehend things is. I'm not sure what my problem is. Although I know most of my kids are like me. The ability to work a little, look around, shrug, and think "hey, I did most of it" and totally overlook the fact that there's still much much more to do. And totally underestimate all the little "finishing" jobs.

Sometimes when I'm trying to work hard I think to myself, "I'm being a Betsy!" -- my lovely cleanie friend who says she enjoys cleaning ... I've watched her do it, she really does seem to enjoy it. So I try to 1.) not hate it and 2.) just keep working. And I'll keep working and working and working past my usual bail out spots, thinking I'm being like her. And then, all of a sudden, I'll just decide I've "done enough" and quit. And if I look around I know I've left lots and lots of little things that she would never leave. Things that probably would take 2-3 minutes each, at the most, if I were to never quit and leave them, but since I always quit and leave them, they each are half hour jobs.

And then I do these things that have been lagging for ... I won't say how long, I'll say "far too long" and you can imagine them in YOUR comfort zone, because mine would freak you out. Sometimes it even freaks ME out, and that's scary.

So today I scrubbed that ... something. I don't even know what it was. That was stuck to the side of the pantry. And I scraped up and wiped that "cheese?" in the fridge picture. Although, in all fairness, it might've been paint. Who knows. I tried not to think about it too much.

I also used that long fluffy wand thingie to stir up all the cobwebs on the main floor. No longer are they hanging in elaborate configurations from the corners. They are now all floating about the room and landing on the light bulbs and scorching. It's a scary reflection of your dusting when it smells burnt on the day you dust. Watch, now, it might settle right back into long stringy configurations again, I don't know. With this much dust in the air (cough! cough!) there's a good chance of it. One of those millions of monkeys typing chances, only with much better odds.

While I was putting something in the cupboard, it came undone and almost fell on my head. The heavy cupboard door. I hate the hinges on them. They do this all the time. I guess I should tighten them all weekly. I'll do that right after my weekly dusting. Ha Ha!

I think there was more I was going to ramble about cleaning, but I suppose since it's Saturday evening now, and dinner and kids' baths are all looming before me, I should get back to WORK. I need to vacuum the inch of dust that's settling on the floor and mop all the non-carpeted surfaces. Like walls and ceilings.

I wish I was an efficient cleaner.

I wish I was a PROficient cleaner.

I wish I could organize my way out of a wet paper bag.

I wish I could teach my children to clean and organize.

What did Ms. Lewin used to say? If ifs and buts were candies and nuts we'd all have a merry Christmas.

Hm. That quote doesn't really fit. Oh well.