Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Way We Always Do Things

If you have been following my blog you know that the past several months have not been typical for me.  I was diagnosed with cancer in May, had surgery in June, and have been recovering slowly but surely.  Being very blessed to not need chemotherapy or radiation, I still have not regained my energy or stamina which I allowed to prevent me from doing certain things.  That being said, I decided that I needed to downsize expectations of myself until my energy is at my former level (assuming it will be someday).

My tendency to be a pack rat was exacerbated during my time of illness when I was just stashing things wherever I found a space which caused me to not be able to find things.  Although there have been many times in my life when I could clean closets, dressers, chests, desks, and cupboards in a day..............not so now...............instead I had to break down each project into smaller segments.  I have taken one side of a closet to clean one day and the other side on another day.  I have cleaned several drawers in a day and then several more on subsequent days.  I can happily report that my desks, armoire, closets, dressers, nightstands, and some cupboards are now clean and reorganized (of course, lots of the things removed have been carried out to my garage for future handling when the temperatures are no longer in excess of 100 degrees).

The point of this blog post is to tell you that even when we are unable to do things the way they have always been done, we can find other ways to do them albeit more slowly.  The results are just as rewarding as it is a wonderful feeling to open a drawer or closet and immediately see the item(s) I need. When the organization experts tell us to make three piles (things to keep, things to discard, things to donate) they are absolutely right.  I also followed their advice and turned all of the hangers in my bedroom closet so the hooks face outward.  As items are worn, laundered or dry cleaned and rehung, the hooks are turned to face the back of the closet indicating that the garments have been worn.  At the end of a season or a year the items on hangers with hooks still facing outward will become things to donate (although I sometimes delude myself thinking that things which no longer fit me will someday by magic again fit me).

Now I am spending less time searching for things.  I am going to give books to the local library; I am going to deliver clothing and household items to local charities; and  I am going to tackle kitchen cabinets and drawers in the coming weeks.  By the time I finish those it should be cool enough to tackle cleaning out the garage.............I  will try very hard to discipline myself to keep everything organized, but I make no promises.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Why Trust Is A Must

The more I read and the more I hear about what is going on in the world, I am shocked and dismayed by the lack of integrity existing today in the realm of journalists, newscasters, bloggers, and celebrities.  Slanted, biased, untrue, and misleading are just some of the words that describe the information that not only we are exposed to on a daily basis but also to what our CHILDREN are exposed.

There was a time when integrity was not considered optional in our society, but it seems that era is long gone.  From the highest office to the lowest citizen in our world blatant untruths abound and are passed around via the Internet at such speed that trying to stop them is like trying to stop a moving train.  The people who originate lies obviously must have their own motivation to do so, but people who pass lies on and on seem to do so without thinking or researching to prevent perpetuating lies.

To bring up our children to be honest, productive, successful, educated, and caring adults they need and should be able to expect integrity from everyone.  Children are innocent, trusting and malleable so trust is a must......................how on earth are we going to restore integrity in our society?

Any suggestions?


Monday, September 10, 2012

Longing For Cool Weather

Although we are now one-third of the way through September, we are not having cooler weather here in the desert.  In fact, we are still having triple-digit temperatures.  I am getting anxious for sweater weather (of which we have very little) and for adding new merchandise to both of our on-line shops at:

www.malcolmfortots.etsy.com

www.malcolmfortots.com

We can now ship all over the world from our ETSY site, and we know you will be pleased with your purchases.  Thanks in advance for shopping with us.