dreaminghope: (Squinty Puck)
dreaminghope ([personal profile] dreaminghope) wrote2009-02-06 08:56 pm

But it's crooked!

Our back screen door doesn't close on its own. Unless deliberately closed, it hangs open and squeaks in the wind. Russ doesn't care, but it bugs me. It takes about ten seconds to close it: notice that the screen door's open, flip both locks (the bottom one sticks a little), open door, close screen until it latches, close door, flip both locks (wiggle the bottom one). Repeat about twice a day.

A couple of times a week, often on Clean Laundry Day, our abundance of socks or underwear will overflow, resulting in a gaping drawer. Open drawer, tuck offending item down, attempt to close drawer, find second offending item (or that first item hasn't been tucked enough), do more tucking, close drawer. It takes five seconds or so, about twice per week.

There are also the wardrobe doors, the kitchen cupboards, and the kitchen drawers; maybe two seconds a piece, which is mostly for crossing the room to close them after Russ hasn't; about once a week each.

Allow five seconds a week for closing the shower curtain after Russ' shower...

While I'm on the subject, I'd best mention straightening the living room throw rug (15 seconds, twice per week) and making sure the tie-backs on the living room curtains all line up (only once per week, after vacuuming the curtains, but it probably takes me 45 seconds to get them satisfactorily tidied).

I don't mention the basement door or the toilet lid because they absolutely must be closed. If the basement door isn't almost hermetically sealed, Puck, our big cat, will open it and descend into the basement, which he seems to think is one big litter box. If the toilet lid is left up, you get wet kitten cuddles courtesy of Zoey the Mini Kitty, who likes to sit in the toilet.

So, altogether, I spend about 236 seconds per week closing and straightening things that only I notice. That’s 3.41 hours per year.

This domestic math has been brought to you by a woman who is not going to leave the living room couch for the sole purpose of tucking away the strap that's peeking out from under the bedroom closet door... really, I'm not.

[identity profile] tareija.livejournal.com 2009-02-07 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
I know I have said this before, but you do know that I admire your organizational prowess, right?

[identity profile] dreamhope.livejournal.com 2009-02-08 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think is organization exactly... but they do seem to go together.

[identity profile] raw-julie.livejournal.com 2009-02-07 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
lol....ah, yes. I do feel your pain. Except for me its crumbs on the counter, dishes on the counter and shoes...oh, the shoes. When they get to be too much, I huck them down the basement stairs. "Oh, your boots dear? Why, they're in the basement."

[identity profile] dsignrmom.livejournal.com 2009-02-07 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
LMAO, love the visual of this one.

But, alas, in our house it's ME who's the problem. Mike HAS actually hidden my shoes from me before. I get yelled at for leaving cabinet door open, but he, Oh HE is notorious for stepping BACK from the toilet BEFORE he's finished 'draining the hose' and there's ALWAYS piss dribble dried on the front of the toilet...I HATE cleaning that up!

[identity profile] dreamhope.livejournal.com 2009-02-08 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Oh crumbs! I can't even add up the time I spend wiping up crumbs and my associated counter pet-peeve, the coffee drip.

My basement is where all my problems get hidden. Russ will finish a project and just leave the tools and materials on the living room or dining room table. After awhile, I move the pile into the basement. Then comes the day: "Hey, where's my screw driver? It was just on the kitchen table." - "It was on the kitchen table; it's been in the basement for three weeks."

smiling with all my teeth

[identity profile] dsignrmom.livejournal.com 2009-02-07 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
And just why, may I ask, does the mini kitty like sitting in the toilet, doesn't she get cold in there?

this is wonderfully written, as I'm sure you know

Re: smiling with all my teeth

[identity profile] dreamhope.livejournal.com 2009-02-08 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
I often ask why the Mini Kitty is doing something. The other day, I walked into the living room to find her standing in the garbage can. It's a small wicker one, and she'd managed to get all four paws in and was just standing there like it was a perfectly normal thing to do. Similarly, I've found her curled up in the sink. Why she would choose to sit in the toilet is beyond me.

Re: smiling with all my teeth

[identity profile] dsignrmom.livejournal.com 2009-02-08 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
OMGodness, THAT's the kind of cat I want. One with a wierd personality! Love it!