So I've moved and begun the unpacking process. I've admitted my hoarding affliction and am prepared to overcome it. Really wish I had faced it before I lugged all the extra junk to the new house . . . but better late than never.
Anyway, I'm unpacking and I open 3 green garbage bags and 1 huge tub of plastic food storage containers and I realize I need therapy. Did I never throw out an empty butter tub (of any size), Chinese soup containers (those lids are totally leak proof) or the large yogurt containers (about a 100 of these). The following thoughts have formed:
1. Who was cooking all this food that had to be stored? Ahh . . . not me.
2. How much food was I planning on saving at any one time? Frig is only so big.
3. They are not see thru so how many would I have to open to find the food I was actually looking for? Honestly, most of them.
4. I don't go anywhere, so I don't take food with me.
5. I have teeny tiny tupperware . . . was I really saving a tablespoon of something?
So you see its become some sort compulsion, but I can honestly say its all unconscious. I don't shop products wondering what would fit in it after the original item was gone. I don't hit thrift stores for rubbermaid or tupperware containers. I always, and this is a compulsion, return containers to original owners if I take food home from their house. I can always find a justification for collecting a specific container too, which deeply bothers me. Chinese soup containers are tall, skinny and I'm not kidding, leak proof. I don't eat soup so why am I saving them. Square, rectangle ones are stackable in the frig; butter tubs hold 1-2 servings of whatever, and on and on it goes.
So they are all going to the recycling guy . . . well, most of them, or some of them, maybe a few of them; ok 10 of them. And don't get me started on my thousands of buttons in 5 different cookie tins or my entire 3 shelf cupboard of glass jars for canning, in all kinds of sizes.
Hey, one affliction at a time.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Its Been Awhile
Its been a bit since I've been here. Its been hard to find the joy in my days lately. Laughter has been hard to come by . . . yet, I've laughed harder in the past month, than in the past year. A recent family gathering reminded me why I moved $3000 miles away. What you caught that money symbol by the 3,000 number? That's because my family is all about the money, the price, what we have, what we spent, what we hoard, what we leave behind for the others? How are the poorer relatives judged . . . by the job, the car, the marriage, the children, and THE MONEY!
Anyone who knows me, really knows me, doesn't wonder how I fell from the money tree at a dead run and never looked back. Much to the dismay of most of my family, I have given away all my money, my belongings, my heart, sometimes my dignity; in favor of The Golden Glow. Every time I relinquish my grip on something I cherish to someone I cherish more, I get that warm glowy feeling that feeds my need to do it again, and again and again. Its addictive but its my joy.
A recent example, I "paid" the children who I live for, a special dinner for getting good grades each grading period; which means a dinner at the restaurant of their choice. My youngest niece (7 yo), Sarah, has a decision-making issue - and likes to milk any Aunt Dana event for as long as possible. So, on her day to do a special meal, she was asked where she wanted to eat.
First, we had to sit in a Kohl's parking lot for 15 min while she chewed over her choices ~ Denny's, Ihop, Friendly's, etc. We whittled it down to Ihop or Denny's but we had to stop at Ihop to review the menu and see if they serve Macaroni & Cheese. They do not.
And so it was off to Denny's. She reviewed that menu for 15 min, even though she wanted the Mac & Cheese 15 min earlier. Surprise, she chose Mac N Chs. She talked endlessly through the meal, stretching it out as long as possible; asking for numerous refills of her soda & toiling endlessly with her milk shake dessert. The process took about 1 1/2 hrs, but it was well spent.
For $10 (kids eat free on Tues at Denny's), I spent 90 min laughing hysterically at the social commentary of a witty 7 yo. I could barely eat or get a word in edgewise. "Did you know that Jr Luther Martin King freed the slaves, and somebody killed him because they wanted to keep their slaves?", asked my Sarah. Nope and on and on it went.
My memory of that dinner will last way longer than anything I have or ever will purchase. That Golden Glow will never wear off. I just wish my family would stop trying to put a price on it . . .
Anyone who knows me, really knows me, doesn't wonder how I fell from the money tree at a dead run and never looked back. Much to the dismay of most of my family, I have given away all my money, my belongings, my heart, sometimes my dignity; in favor of The Golden Glow. Every time I relinquish my grip on something I cherish to someone I cherish more, I get that warm glowy feeling that feeds my need to do it again, and again and again. Its addictive but its my joy.
A recent example, I "paid" the children who I live for, a special dinner for getting good grades each grading period; which means a dinner at the restaurant of their choice. My youngest niece (7 yo), Sarah, has a decision-making issue - and likes to milk any Aunt Dana event for as long as possible. So, on her day to do a special meal, she was asked where she wanted to eat.
First, we had to sit in a Kohl's parking lot for 15 min while she chewed over her choices ~ Denny's, Ihop, Friendly's, etc. We whittled it down to Ihop or Denny's but we had to stop at Ihop to review the menu and see if they serve Macaroni & Cheese. They do not.
And so it was off to Denny's. She reviewed that menu for 15 min, even though she wanted the Mac & Cheese 15 min earlier. Surprise, she chose Mac N Chs. She talked endlessly through the meal, stretching it out as long as possible; asking for numerous refills of her soda & toiling endlessly with her milk shake dessert. The process took about 1 1/2 hrs, but it was well spent.
For $10 (kids eat free on Tues at Denny's), I spent 90 min laughing hysterically at the social commentary of a witty 7 yo. I could barely eat or get a word in edgewise. "Did you know that Jr Luther Martin King freed the slaves, and somebody killed him because they wanted to keep their slaves?", asked my Sarah. Nope and on and on it went.
My memory of that dinner will last way longer than anything I have or ever will purchase. That Golden Glow will never wear off. I just wish my family would stop trying to put a price on it . . .
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Texting
Its time to share my opinion, and mine alone, on texting. I'm old school with regards to writing. Long flowing letters filled with information and emotion. I find Texting, cold, short, impersonal. I just can't get into it. I still try to type long flowing missives, but they don't fit in the space allowed. Guess that's the problem - allowable space.
I've never been one to respect borders or fit into anyone's definition of space, except, perhaps, outer. I think and live big; I talk loud; I take up my space and more. I exceed my own expectations and I hold others to that level as well. I see more than the words written and feel more than the message conveys and texting only leaves me wanting. I want a conversation, an answer and affirmation. Instead I am left with questions not answered; feelings not expressed; and doubt as whether the message was even received.
Beyond that frustration is one more . . . I am an English teacher trained in 4 years of Latin conjugations and 2 years each of Spanish and Italian. I hate, detest, deplore and scream at misspelled words. I know texting is shorthand, its meant to convey a quick thought or answer a short question . . . but it is extremely difficult, almost utterly impossible, to not want to send back a reply including the correct spelling of a misspelled word!
K, im dun now.
I've never been one to respect borders or fit into anyone's definition of space, except, perhaps, outer. I think and live big; I talk loud; I take up my space and more. I exceed my own expectations and I hold others to that level as well. I see more than the words written and feel more than the message conveys and texting only leaves me wanting. I want a conversation, an answer and affirmation. Instead I am left with questions not answered; feelings not expressed; and doubt as whether the message was even received.
Beyond that frustration is one more . . . I am an English teacher trained in 4 years of Latin conjugations and 2 years each of Spanish and Italian. I hate, detest, deplore and scream at misspelled words. I know texting is shorthand, its meant to convey a quick thought or answer a short question . . . but it is extremely difficult, almost utterly impossible, to not want to send back a reply including the correct spelling of a misspelled word!
K, im dun now.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A friend
A friend of mine has started a blog rejoicing in the blessings of her family.
I want to write about everything else. Hence, this blog
I'm going to use this forum to be talkative, loud and obnoxious, because my inner circle finds me very much amusing; and the outer circle might like a good laugh or two at my expense.
. . . so
tonite, I took my nephew driving (his 5th time out), as we passed his first "oncoming" car, I about burst at the look on his face - sheer panic and then determination to get through it. I am reminded of driving lessons with my dad. It was all just panic, panic, panic. I spent $1000 on driving lessons from one of those companies after one day on the road with Dad. A few years later, I taught my younger sister. No mailbox was safe and NY still hasn't passed that left on red law yet. Please feel free to comment with your first driving "experiences", I need something to read in the car while we practice!
I did, however, share with my nephew, the most awesome moon I have ever seen, and we both took a moment to appreciate it;
then I reminded him to put the car in park so it would stop rolling away . . .
I want to write about everything else. Hence, this blog
I'm going to use this forum to be talkative, loud and obnoxious, because my inner circle finds me very much amusing; and the outer circle might like a good laugh or two at my expense.
. . . so
tonite, I took my nephew driving (his 5th time out), as we passed his first "oncoming" car, I about burst at the look on his face - sheer panic and then determination to get through it. I am reminded of driving lessons with my dad. It was all just panic, panic, panic. I spent $1000 on driving lessons from one of those companies after one day on the road with Dad. A few years later, I taught my younger sister. No mailbox was safe and NY still hasn't passed that left on red law yet. Please feel free to comment with your first driving "experiences", I need something to read in the car while we practice!
I did, however, share with my nephew, the most awesome moon I have ever seen, and we both took a moment to appreciate it;
then I reminded him to put the car in park so it would stop rolling away . . .
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