Can we talk about stuff? The kind of stuff that accumulates over time. The kind of stuff that you think you need or might need someday? The stuff that you think you're being really really organized about and then you forget about it until you decide to tackle the situation and you can't even remember why you kept the stuff to begin with? Like a pile of rolodex cards for the rolodex that you threw away with the invention of the computer. Or gobs and gobs of receipts--from 2002. Or how about art projects that you thought killed in college--now, not so much save for the hours of tedious yellow marker.
Because I'm still in the process of moving out of my space in Bridgehampton and back into my home office... which is requiring a massive reorganization before bringing more stuff in... which means that I have to go through it all to make sure that the colored pencils that are over a decade old are still worth a damn. Or the design trade publications from 1998 that I moved from one state and then another and yet another and still haven't read. Do you think the theories will still apply? Ordinarily I would walk away from this situation in an attempt to avoid the hives that are slowly forming up my neck -- but I don't have any choice in the matter. I used to just tiptoe around the stuff... quietly, not wanting to disturb, occasionally opening the closets or drawers whispering.. hello in there - just let me sit at my computer... but now the other stuff is coming and therefore this stuff needs to go.
And it is with this task that I stand before you, OH DESK. Help me. Giant universe filled with lots of other stuff-- as my pitch pierces my own ears... And, does anyone have a blindfold? Because I'm getting all teary-eyed having just found an awesome pen and I can't watch. How do you throw it away? Do you want it? Maybe I'll place an ad - "Stuff, in need of a good home. Will work with other stuff." Or maybe I'll just put it all back and pile more stuff on top... or maybe, just maybe...
In other news today... and before I drown myself in projects circa 1995, Aiming Low is repeating this post today. You can either read it here - or you can go there.. Heck, you can read it in both places if you'd like... because the season for repeats is looming upon and, although I have brown hair and she has the same glasses as me, I am not Tina Fey (shocker) and therefore don't get paid residuals. Just put the hate down.
Because I'm still in the process of moving out of my space in Bridgehampton and back into my home office... which is requiring a massive reorganization before bringing more stuff in... which means that I have to go through it all to make sure that the colored pencils that are over a decade old are still worth a damn. Or the design trade publications from 1998 that I moved from one state and then another and yet another and still haven't read. Do you think the theories will still apply? Ordinarily I would walk away from this situation in an attempt to avoid the hives that are slowly forming up my neck -- but I don't have any choice in the matter. I used to just tiptoe around the stuff... quietly, not wanting to disturb, occasionally opening the closets or drawers whispering.. hello in there - just let me sit at my computer... but now the other stuff is coming and therefore this stuff needs to go.
And it is with this task that I stand before you, OH DESK. Help me. Giant universe filled with lots of other stuff-- as my pitch pierces my own ears... And, does anyone have a blindfold? Because I'm getting all teary-eyed having just found an awesome pen and I can't watch. How do you throw it away? Do you want it? Maybe I'll place an ad - "Stuff, in need of a good home. Will work with other stuff." Or maybe I'll just put it all back and pile more stuff on top... or maybe, just maybe... In other news today... and before I drown myself in projects circa 1995, Aiming Low is repeating this post today. You can either read it here - or you can go there.. Heck, you can read it in both places if you'd like... because the season for repeats is looming upon and, although I have brown hair and she has the same glasses as me, I am not Tina Fey (shocker) and therefore don't get paid residuals. Just put the hate down.
By the way LOVE the post over at Aiming Low. Paid you a visit and left you a comment. As for your office and your piles of stuff? I don't feel the need to offer you up as a potential candidate for A & E's Horders so I think we are all good. My laundry piles on the other hand have virtually destroyed any chance I had at domestic supremacy.
Aren't there, like, elves you could hire for this or something?
I don't envy you right now.
In preparation for the 6 people that are paying to rent out house next week, I have gone through every drawer and pantry and closet to clean them out. It was amazing the junk I found: expired bottles of medicine, tax returns from the 90s, bits and pieces of candy, bottle tops, broken sunglasses, dead batteries, you name it, I found it.
Now all my kitchen drawers are all nice and tidy. Unfortunately, I know it's just a matter of time until they revert back to their former selves.
Freecycle, baby. I live for that shit. That way you know your stuff goes somewhere it will be used and maybe even treasured. It's like crack, frankly.
The hardest part of doing things like that for me is just getting started, but once I start I can not stop and will spend hours sifting through stuff. Drinking through it all helps.