Friday, February 29, 2008

I Have A Secret (Shhh)

Cleanliness comes in fits and spurts at our house. And as much as I strive for balance between my writing and "homemaking," some areas, inevitably, fall a little behind now and then. Witness our family room, just this afternoon:



Polly Pockets have taken over, though they're not quite hostile. Pillows and blankets abound. The wooden blocks beckon us to trample them with bare, sensitive feet, and clothes and dishes claim spots that aren't rightfully theirs.

It's been worse, trust me. But after a couple weeks (or more, I shudder to admit) filled with trips out of town, devotion to my WIP, and frantic (but enjoyable!) work on editing jobs, I haven't had the time or desire to keep things nice and tidy. (In case you're wondering, Hubby's got too many of his own things going on to be much help. The bum.) Plus, ongoing winter weather has put my energy in the dumps... which means I feel like doing diddly-squat around the house. Oh, springtime, don't you hear my call?

Step into my office, won't you?



See the mound? That's my pile of things. Okay, it's two, maybe three, piles of things. I've got paperwork, statements, writing magazines, scrapbooking supplies, a hymnal, two Angelina Ballerina VHSs, and who-knows-what else. I know it appears as though I'm really disorganized. Or lazy. Or both. And I do have my moments, but it's not that bad. Really.

And I'm going to prove it to myself right now. Slowly, I'm going to back away from the computer. I'll sneak up on the rooms in question: living room... office... spare room... kitchen... laundry ro-- aw, heck. Top to bottom! I'm doin' it.

Here I go.

*I'm gone. Really.*

4 comments:

Rebecca Laffar-Smith said...

*hugs* *gives Janna chocolate*

I can completely relate, Janna. For the past month I'd been mostly away from work, reshuffling life but I still dread the housework sometimes and would much rather be here, at my keyboard.

I've let clutter pile up around me, beds stay unmade, laundry unwashed, dishes left to soak in the sink, and toys strewn across multiple rooms.

Thankfully, we tend to work in fits and starts. Our balance tend to be a swinging scale that we can rock from one side to the next. When it is weighted toward business or writing the other side falls out of balance. But we right the scale or teeter in the other direction from time to time, restoring order.

Good luck and enjoy your housework. Cranking up your favorite music nice and loud may help. I know it does wonders for my moral while I'm in the trenches of my home.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Thanks for commiserating with me, Rebecca!

And you're right, blasting some great music does help. :)

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Wow!

That's not in response to the mess, that's for the dual wall mounted monitors. *drool*

I'm combining comments to say LOL at your picture of the now clean room. I feel your pain.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Thanks! Hubby's really good at such designs and installments... The office is what he calls our "Internet Cafe." A little too trendy for what it really is, if you ask me. ;)