Changes to my "Lucy Plan"

I have made some progress on my intense-cleaning plan, but I most defiantly have been derailed by the end of school, summer vacation, and my (almost over) job. However, this week is my last week to work as the job ends June 30th, so I have a modified plan in motion. So far it has worked well. ...but it has been only one day!

My new plan involves the kids. Together we are going to clean their rooms and areas where they significantly contribute to the overall mess and clutter of the house. This means that we are spending 30 mins each morning before we do anything else working on an agreed upon area.

Two days ago I sat down with them while they were happily munching a snack (and it might have even been candy, but my memory is fuzzy on the exact details) and told them that we were going to spend 30 mins each morning cleaning and doing chores before we did anything else. They were receptive to the idea - Hallelujah! I then wrote down a list for each girl, dictated by them, on what part of their room they wanted to work on and in what order. I reminded them last night too, so that they would not feel ambushed this morning. So far so good. We'll see how day 3 & 4 go!

Today Annika cleaned up her bookcase. I know, it is not much of an effort, but it is a start! It took her about 20 mins to dust and straighten out the books. We also cleaned up the area in front of it. (and right now both kids came to me and said they were hungry ... because they have been working for an hour cleaning. yea, right! They did work, but to be hungry already? less than 2 hrs after a large nutritious breakfast?) Lauren wanted to tackle her chest of drawers, and that took her quite a long time, but in her defence, I was helping Annika first. And we pulled out the chest and vacuumed behind it ... which she did herself and felt quite proud of her accomplishments. Again, we'll see how this lasts.

As for me ... I was able to do my 30 mins in our room before the kids even woke up. But I do need to continue on with the mudroom. It has been so long that most of my earlier work has been negated already. And then my desk area is slowly cluttering up too. But hopefully after this job is done I will not have as many odds and ends to keep track of.

Onward Ho, Lucy!

L O N G Week

I am at the tail-end of my current temporary job; being grant based they cannot pay me for any work done past June 30th. So I have been frantically shoving things in each and every day. This week I have been working at the local county food distribution site for emergency and monthly government commodity foods. I also am working at the food bank one day.

Working at these places and seeing the hundreds of families and individuals that are in need of assistance to survive is rather disturbing on a deep level. You never realize how many people are just barely surviving financially. And, sadly, I know we have not peaked yet; there will be many more in the coming months as GM shuts down so many of its plants, and thus suppliers and other support businesses, and then those who service the (former) workers all loose their jobs too.

Anyway, *I* have been working - and for that I am thankful. But I have been so very very busy that the rest of my life is falling apart! I have so much to catch up on. This gives me even more respect and admiration for working mothers and families where both parents work full time. The sacrifices and changes I have to make in our current lifestyle are pretty major. One of those changes is the amount of time I spend with the girls has been much less, and defiantly more hurried.

I will be glad when this job is over, and I can relax a bit and enjoy the summer. However, I do hope to hear from my job interview soon. It would be nice to get that job!!

Reading

I realized just now, as I was reviewing a list of books I want to read, and have made virtually no progress on reading, that I do not read much BECAUSE I read for 30 mins or more each night with the girls. I do read, just not "adult" stuff.

So, what have I read over the past few months? Parts of the entire Laura Ingalls series, A Pioneer Sampler (an awesome kids book on pioneer life!) The entire My Favorite Unicorn Series (4 books) Katie the Kitten Fairy, The Secret Garden, Raggedy Ann Stories (2 books) currently reading Raggedy Andy, a variety of My America Dear Diary stories (one of my favorites was the Titanic one) The Amazing Adventures of Edward Tulane, The Erie Canal Trail (where, oddly enough, the main characters move to Howell!) Charlotte's Web (Annika and I really enjoyed this one!) and countless picture books!

Obviously I am reading, just not stuff for ME!

Job Interview!

Well, I received a phone call, while I was out grocery shopping for Annika's birthday party, and apparently they want to interview me! Whooo Hoo! Now, what does one wear to a "business casual" office environment while on a job interview? Even further complicated by the fact that I have virtually nothing to wear! I do not want to buy something, but I must look presentable!! Hmmmm ... can I tell you how much I hate this "appropriate dressing" part of a job. grumph!

And then my other delima? I need to find kiddo care while I go to the interview. And if I start this summer? I need to find kiddo care while I am working too. Oh so many things to think about and I do not even have the job. Yet. I (think) I hope.

Wish me luck!

Derailed by End Of School Celebrations

I actually worked on cleaning the mudroom one day this week; the other days I either spent working at my job or spent preparing for the end of the school year celebrations. Yup, it is that time again. Soon the kids will be free from school and longing around the house.

But until that time I will probably be fairly busy, and as I suspected, I am not going to make my Sunday deadline for finishing the mudroom. Oh well. The office is still looking good.

Tired

Stayed up till 3am last night filling out this wacky on-line application for a job. Among the insane requirements were some very bizarre questions, such as, "How would you address multiple issues in your group?" Anyone care to explain that question, because both Bill and I went, HUH?

Well, it is over. I applied. We'll see how it all turns out. ....seems like a lot of work for 15-20hrs a week.

Job Guilt

I am sort of job hunting right now. I do not really want a job during the summer, but I have some feelers out getting ready for the fall when I want to start. And people are letting me know if a position becomes available that they think may be of interest to me. Yes, in this economy there actually are jobs available. Mostly part time, but jobs none the less.

Right now I am working a gig that has me go to the food bank and other venues that dole out free food to all those un- and under-employed folks out there. And there are many!

I'm starting to feel very guilty that I am looking for a part time job, not to survive off of, but to supplement my retirement and allow our family to have a nicer vacation. I mean, when we can pay our bills off of Bill's salary alone (and by no means do we live high on the hog, we have just made some frugal and wise financial decisions, and we are lucky with Bill's current job looking secure for now.) and many others are looking for work to feed their family or to keep a roof over their head ... I start to feel very guilt about taking away that paycheck from them.

I agree that we still have to keep making wise and frugal decisions, and you never know, Bill could loose that job tomorrow. But still ....

I'm feeling guilty. That is all I'm sayin'

The Beginning

I cleaned up the mudroom floor today; 20 pairs of shoes and 4 pairs of boots were removed from our floor! *I* had the fewest pairs, and I was the only one not wearing yet another pair of shoes. However, I took 5 purses, three bags, and two coats off the hooks - and those were ALL mine.

I also told everyone that sometime this week they would have to take everything out of their cubbie and clean it out. Luckily it is almost the end of school, so the girls will not be adding more and more stuff to their cubbies each day! You'd think that was all part of my master plan ... wait until school was out to tackle this room. You could think that, and I'll let you, but you'd be wrong. Its just luck.

Decluttering the Mud Room

Take a deep breath, because this looks pretty bad! Are you ready for what I am currently tackling? I would like to finish it by the Sunday, but it is a busy week, so we'll see. This is a lot of work, and there is one cubby full of junk for each family member. I may just take everything out, put it in a box (one for each member) and let them deal with the contents.

See ya next week for the results!

A Clean Office

I did it! I met my deadline of finishing the Oval Office by Sunday! Whew! This first venture into "joint" cleaning and organizing has been rewarding and frustrating! I have decided that I am Lucy to my friend's Ethel; she agreed to go along with some of my wacky ideas!! There were moments that I questioned myself, but ultimately I am very glad I plowed through frustration and the likes thereof.

The results, you ask:

The previously cluttered floor in front of the shelves, now barren!

The bookshelf is organized, neat, and clean! I am not sure about the odd grouping of plants on the top - when we put these shelves in last year I envisioned plants on the top, but just never got around to putting any up there. And, believe it or not, I really do not have many plants in this house. I think I was too busy nurturing young kids, and had no energy left for the plants. I am starting to feel I need more green in the house, so I may soon-ish have plants up there.

I was challenged by part of the bottom area of the shelving, as I use it for storing some of my "office work" stuff. I have different papers, envelopes, notebooks, and even some odd shaped stuff for girl scouts or whatever project I am currently working on. I may go out and purchase something more attractive than the white plastic drawers, but for now it works and I was very happy that I did not have to purchase anything!

The piano is clean! No dust or extraneous items on it.

The desk is clean and decluttered. I have a small "in-box" to store some items I am currently working on, or need to grab for a meeting etc. Other than that there are no "things" on my desk and I intend to keep it that way!

I painted the window trim, washed the screens and put them back in, and I even washed the window treatments and re-hung them. Harder to do than I thought; this simple treatment really confused me! Yesterday, however, was nice and I was able to hang the curtains on the line, which was really nice!

Finally, I washed the carpet and was done! Well, I am bothered by this little area rug we have squeezed between the desk chair and piano bench. I love the rug, but it was a cheap Walmart purchase from when Bill and I lived in Dublin, so 8-9 years ago. And it WILL NOT stay in place. I walked over it once or twice and it bunched up like this. I am seriously contemplating removing it. I actually would kinda like to put in on our front porch, but rain would ruin it. So, who knows.

Anyway, I finished the Oval Office and am now on to the next project: The mud room. Ouy Vay