I'm In Love (With A Stone)

So it turns out that I didn't lose or throw away that old pumice stone I had. I put it away in a drawer in the bathroom, and when I went looking for a razor this morning, the first thing I found was the stone.

After half an hour's work, the toilet was shinier than it's been in a long, long time. It's so shiny that I made Ally take a picture of it, which I'm hoping she'll post soon. I'm still working on the brown spot at the very bottom--it's been years since that part was white. But the rest of it is clean!

I found out that the stone works on the tub, too, at least on those stubborn rust and calcium deposits. I still have to use degreaser and scrubbing powder for the ring, but that part's the easy one. The bathtub should be white by the time Ally goes through the house with the camera again on Sunday.

Inertia is a very powerful force. It's really hard to overcome it and get started on something, but once started, I find it almost impossible to stop until I'm done. I've made some good strides today.

Last night, eldest son and the ex did some lugging for me, and some of the old, heavy stuff went down to the basement, where it will stay until we have enough together between two households to justify renting a truck to haul it away. Hopefully, that will happen later this month or early next.

This afternoon I started organizing my cupboards, and threw out a fair number of broken, soiled or otherwise useless containers, a whole lot of lids that had no containers, and then organized the remaining containers so that I know what I have. As I said to Ally, the biggest problem with having a big mess is you don't know what you've got or where it is, so if you need something, instead of using what you have, you go out and buy more.

Clearing up my mess has also helped with my mood, and I've been more proactive in looking for employment. Yesterday I filled out the two applications I picked up, and I took them back today, and picked up two more to fill out. I also emailed an application. So hopefully something will turn up soon on the job front.

I'll leave you with this comment from Ally: She said that the best aide in cleaning a kitchen or cooking is a playlist of music that you like to sing along to, but that everyone else in the house hates. Then you can enjoy what you're doing, and everyone else will run away and hide, and not give you any 'helpful' suggestions. Today our playlist included Beatles music, which isn't offensive to anyone in our family, but we did enjoy singing along, I while I chucked out containers, and she while she crocheted some new disclothes.

Seeking Employment

So it's been pointed out that I'm looking for a job, and prospective employers might see these pictures and be less than impressed. I decided to go ahead with it anyway, with this to say to any employers who should stumble upon this blog:

My house does not reflect who I really am, or how I present myself to others. That's why I'm trying to change it.

I bathe daily. I brush my teeth. I don't wear rags, and I wash my clothes regularly. I can present a professional appearance when needed, and a neat casual appearance any other time. I don't go around in sweats, or dressed like folks from the People of Wal-Mart blog.

I have two master's degrees, and I graduated with an A- average. This is not a feat that can be done by anyone who is totally and hopelessly disorganized. So I do have hope.

At work, I've been known as the one who actually vacuums the office, sorts through old papers, and organizes the files. I just can't seem to get my act together at home.

So if you feel the need to judge me for this blog, keep this in mind:

In me, you'll be getting an employee who is competent doing a great many things. But no one is competent at everything. In me, you'll be getting an employee who has a proven track record of recognizing her areas of incompetence, of facing them head on without hiding or blaming circumstances or others, and of taking positive action to correct them.

As someone with supervisory experience, I know that an employee with those particular qualities is even rarer than someone with two master's degrees.

I look forward to meeting with you to further discuss my qualifications with respect to any positions you might have open! ;)

And now for the update:

I took care of the pile of laundry in the hallway. I still have to make my bed and put another load of laundry away, and dust a bit in my bedroom. Which leads me to the reason my bedroom wasn't in the pictures that Ally took of the upstairs.

It's *gasp* relatively tidy, and has been for a while. I got new flooring put in last year, and I painted the bedroom at the same time, and I made it into a sanctuary. Now the worst that happens is clean laundry piles up on the floor, but that pile usually doesn't stay more than a day or two.

And the dusting builds up, and it's a pain to deal with it because of my allergies.

But I'm going to take my allergy medication, and tidy my room right now.

Tomorrow, I'm going to deal with "The Box." I'll tell you what it is, and why it's there.