The hard part about reaching the end of this series is picking from the limited list of available projects. It’s getting harder to avoid the projects I dread.
Like the linen closet, for example. I still haven’t figured out how to organize the contents, so what I did today is, at best, a temporary measure.
Behind the doors are some blankets and sheets precariously folded and stacked; a milk glass chicken; a portable car DVD system, and two art prints.
I wasn’t sure what was in the top drawer, but there was a lot of it. I found a couple of point and shoot cameras; Christmas ribbon; a birthday plaque; one photo album; several picture ornaments; a box to hold cards; two blood pressure monitors; and two passport organizers.
The second drawer had a memory box; an empty lens box; an old clock; an Amy Ruppel painting; an old laptop; and two totes from a law conference.
The third drawer held a memory box for Mikey; a memory box for Nico; and a video camera.
The fourth drawer is where pictures that should be in frames go to be forgotten.
I would like to say I cleaned everything out and revolutionized home organization by making my own linen sorting system out mod podge and washi tape, but no.
As far as projects go, this one resembles the long, gentle slide of a sad trombone.
Eh. I didn’t bother refolding the sheets. I hate folding sheets. I’m going to Camp Mighty in a couple of weeks, and on the life list of goals I have, among other things: Quickly and efficiently fold a fitted sheet “Gap perfect” without the aid of a Youtube tutorial.
I may make the top drawer my health and fitness drawer, which will allow me to store medicines, heating pads, ice bags, and other wellness items in one spot.
[tangent]
Funny story about the blood pressure monitors. I have very low blood pressure, but when I am pregnant it drops really low, which is why I have the monitors. Because my blood pressure would suddenly drop, my heart rate would take off to compensate. This happened with both pregnancies, but it was worse when I was pregnant with Nicholas, so bad they brought in an experienced anesthesiologist for our c-section. I was laying on the table, braless, makeupless, and wearing a hair cap when my experienced anesthesiologist, a Henry Cavill look-alike my age, ambled into the O.R. listening to his ipod and carrying a new MacBook Air.
He wasn’t the stooped octogenarian I was expecting. Instead, he set up his fancy new laptop, leaned over me and ask, “So, what kind of music do you like?”
Uhhhh.
“The Eagles?” I answered just like that, my answer really a question because I couldn’t, for the life of me, think of a band from this decade. Then I used my elbow to lift my breast back onto my chest.
He smiled and said, “I like a girl who likes classic rock.”
And I liked that I wasn’t yet hooked up to any heart monitors.
Twenty minutes later we were waiting for Nicholas to come out when I started to feel the familiar ache of a run of tachycardia. My chest felt like dead weight, my throat was tight, and I could barely take a shallow breath. Everyone was focused on Nicholas, who was minutes away from his grand appearance. I caught the Mister’s eye and gasped out “check my heart rate” in the softest voice he has ever heard me use. He blinked a couple times, stunned I could be so quiet. Then he turned to the boy-doctor, who looked at his monitors and proceeded to shoot his eyebrows up his forehead, across the crown of his head, and down to the base of his skull. I got a lightning fast injection and everything was fine.
All this to say, one of those blood pressure monitors belongs to my dad, and I should really give it back.
[/tangent]
The second drawer has all our travel gear, including cameras, passport cases, and portable DVD systems.
The third drawer has a few random holiday bits I will use now that Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner. I won’t be able to use this as a permanent holiday storage drawer, so we’ll see what this eventually becomes.
The drawer where pictures that should be framed go to be forgotten looks exactly the same. I haven’t decided how I am going to tackle organizing my pictures, and a drawer this packed, this unorganized, and this hopeless deserves it’s own day. It’s the least I can do.
YES! I have put off the great picture purge of 2011 for another day. Be still, my beating heart.
New here? For the next 31 days Im living according to the famous William Morris quote. You can learn more about the project here.
There is so much to love about this post, I don’t even know where to begin . . . so I’ll simply say, this: it’s top-shelf! (in keeping with the theme, naturally)
Although, speaking of tangents, I’m not sure that’s really a compliment. I guess it must stem from the fact that you put valuables on the top shelf, to avoid little hands. I, on the other hand, don’t really love top shelves . . . it means I have to get a chair . . . and maybe pull a hamstring.
That said, let’s just sick with awesome . . . awesome, with a side of awesome sauce!
I used Nicholas’s dino stool to put the sheets back. :)
I laughed out loud at your tangent. Thanks for sharing. :3
I hate, hate folding fitted sheets…I sort of have this idea for a fitted sheet that would use a drawstring instead of elastic, so that it could be loosened and folded like a normal flat sheet. Because seriously, they’re such a pain. There’s been a pin floating around Pinterest about storing sheet sets in their own pillowcases…seems like you could jam a fitted sheet in there and no one would be the wiser…One of these days I’ll try it on my own linen closet. ;)
I’ve seen that pin! My husband does that, but he just crams them in there. I have to admit, after a few minutes of trying to make it look neat I would probably do the same thing.
You’ve totally intrigued me with this Camp Mighty thing. I trust you’ll be sharing all the details so I can live vicariously!
Yes, of course! I’ll also be asking you all for help on completing my life list.
Wish i could lend you my boyfriend every once in awhile to run around folding things. Watching him fold is like watching a youtube video. perfectly square shirts in 3 seconds. perfectly square packets of fitted sheets. i hate fitted sheets so much i turned them into pillowcases and only use flat sheets.
Congrats on getting to the long avoided areas, i never seem to get to the last 10% of most things. :/ Looking forward to seeing how you deal with photos. Far too many .. theoretical organising articles and not too many step by steps where someone starts with an overwhelming pile themselves and then sorts it out without turning it an all consuming hobby in itself. That’s what i’ve enjoyed most about your series, very real. Thank you for putting it out there.
Ugh! I can’t do it! My sheets always look crazed.
1. The photos scare me.
2. Oh, I’m real. I don’t have that much money, patience, or interest in keeping things super neat. Hah!
Thank you.
“All this to say, one of those blood pressure monitors belongs to my dad, and I should really give it back.” I love the mix of stories and organization, it makes me so happy. And yes, I was immediately curious why you would have two blood pressure monitors and I am so happy you obliged me with a story. I too have low blood pressure but of course I do, you are my long lost twin sister form different parents;)
Why am I not surprised you have low blood pressure?
Doctors that good looking should only be allowed to exist on TV.
The guy was hot! I was livid.
permagrin over here after this post … this should go in the “classic” category … :)
I second Naomi. Classic. Thank you for brightening my day. “Then I used my elbow to lift my breast back onto my chest.” Hysterical. Oh the joys. Anyway, the Laura nerd really loved the artistic use of html. :-)
Thank you, Naomi and Laura. :)
So, the glass chicken thing made the cut, huh? I’d love to know what you learn about the fitted sheets. They are my nemisis. (or foe, as Mikey would say, that quote really stuck with me, so cute).
The glass chicken! I forgot to mention that it holds all our spare keys for all the doors in the house. Haha! Everyone must have thought I was insane to keep that thing! :D
I know why you kept the chicken…because you can actually tell someone in your house where to find the keys. What a great marker! I realized the power of naming areas/places in our home when we moved to a new house a few years ago. So many long conversations about where something was kept in the last house and where it now lives. Some days l feel like I am setting up a scavenger hunt.
Thanks for sharing your days of organizing….and memories.
Oh Jules, it is this post especially, but frankly ALL of your William Morris posts that showcase that you can write really, really, really well. They are funny and honest and engaging and make me want to read everything you write! And this…”Then I used my elbow to lift my breast back onto my chest.” is just such a gem of a sentence (side note, sorry that happened – of course he was hot! Eek!) that I read it in complete amazement. I read A LOT of blogs, and I read yours every single day because your writing really stands out (no matter what you’re writing about)! :)
Kristen, you made my day.
Oh my goodness. I adore this post. I never thought find a writer skilled enough to place Henry Cavill, a boob, and a glass chicken all in one post. Pure awesomeness.
Oh, and fitted sheets are of the devil.