Moderator Margee Posted March 4, 2012 Moderator Share Posted March 4, 2012 Rant of the day: . I just found myself 'steaming' inside and cursing out loud as I look around at the house needing a top to bottom clean again. As I put in a huge load of laundry in, I mumbled to myself....... ''jesus fucking christ - this is not the way it was supposed to be!!'' I have said that statement more times throughout my life, than all the grains of sand on twenty beaches combined!! When I was a good christian girl I avoided saying the...'jesus fucking christ' part . Anyway, this is fuckin' sunday morning and I am supposed to be able to sleep in because I don't have to sing in the god damn choir today!!!! I am supposed to relax today!! It's supposed to be a leisurely day! I shouldn't have to cook for the family later today!!! I shouldn't have to clean!!I am supposed to be able to sit up on my couch and read all day!!!!! THIS is the way, I think it was supposed to be!! 7 days a week - the errands never stop!!...... it NEVER ends.... the things to do...it's a monster.. it's a dark enemy......it endless!! As I was cursing the laundry, I made the realization that this IS the way it's supposed to be and I calmed down. As soon as I corrected myself and said out loud' ''Yes Margee, this IS the way it's supposed to be!'' Rational thinking always helps you calm down. Being logical always helps me calm down. When you say out loud, ''yes this is my situation and it is very difficult, but I must face the facts that this is earth and the name of the game (without god being involved) is called ''survival''. And survival can be very hard, from the poverty on earth to those of us who are luckier and bitch about doing all the errands, keeping up one's property, entertaining family and friends, painting, fixing shit box cars and trying to make it finanically. We're all slaves to survival. This IS the game! It is the way it's supposed to be! 70% work -30% pleasure! Back to wiping up my kitchen floor...........I'll be back later during my 30% pleasure break!!...... End of rant.......thank you for listening today. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deva Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 I don't have many visitors and don't have a high standard - I don't care if there are some smudges on the floor or some dust. I wash clothes once a week and that is it. I know some people couldn't stand dust and clutter - but I work all day and I have better things to do. Housework sucks. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asanerman Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Margee, I'm glad you "Wiped the Should" off yourself. Now that the "inside" is strengthened for the moment (and only for the moment) go for what's giving you mental and emotional diarrhea suffering. Liberation in action! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted March 4, 2012 Super Moderator Share Posted March 4, 2012 Margee, We need to work on your work-to-pleasure ratio! There's obsessive-clean (like that of my mother-in-law's standards) and clean enough (my standards). I do just enough so that if I have unexpected company, I'm not totally mortified. My normal/typical amount of dust or mess doesn't embarrass me, but please don't look in my closet or my tupperware cabinet! Now let me go find some trouble fun to get into. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted March 4, 2012 Author Moderator Share Posted March 4, 2012 I'm the only one who goes through this??? I find it just gets soooo overwhelming some days....I get in such a bad mood!!!!!!! I do rant about this often, don't I? Where did this perfection streak come from of always having to be on top of 'things'??? I posted this 3 hours ago and I still don''t feel like I got anything done and I have company for supper!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I should I just say, 'fuck it' and stay here with you guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Who says you have to clean? I sometimes let the lawn go for a month...LOL...no kidding...it will look like a fucking jungle being here in Florida it can grow FAST. It is all a mind perception. Hell...my intent is to be a full blown crotchety old fart when I grow up..... I am just in training for it now... My strategy is to let the grass grow high enough that the neighbor kids start bothering me, wanting me to pay them to mow my lawn. Then I'll mow it with the mower set as low as it'll go- scraping the dirt in places. If I'm lucky, it won't rain for a week or more, and that will kill the grass. Then I don't have to mow again for another month or two. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted March 4, 2012 Super Moderator Share Posted March 4, 2012 Where did this perfection streak come from of always having to be on top of 'things'??? Maybe I should I just say, 'fuck it' and stay here with you guys? Yeah, that perfection streak is hard to break. I'm like that in a lot of ways, just not with housework. What cured me with housework was when my MIL visited for the first time thirty-some years ago. I had been frantically cleaning all week. The house was spotless. Forget that 5-second rule, you could have eaten off the floor after 5 hours. We had a big cookout at our new house. I went back in the house to get something, and there was my MIL on her hands and knees trying to scrub the speckled-pattern off the kitchen floor! I was livid, but being the nice girl I used to be, said nothing to her. She never knew I saw what she was doing. The next time she came to visit, I said "fuck it" to frantic cleaning and just did my own "good enough" routine. Didn't catch her trying to clean up the speckles that time. I figure if someone else is inspecting MY home that intently, there is something wrong with THEM. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotalWreck Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Who says you have to clean? I sometimes let the lawn go for a month...LOL...no kidding...it will look like a fucking jungle being here in Florida it can grow FAST. It is all a mind perception. Hell...my intent is to be a full blown crotchety old fart when I grow up..... I am just in training for it now... My strategy is to let the grass grow high enough that the neighbor kids start bothering me, wanting me to pay them to mow my lawn. Then I'll mow it with the mower set as low as it'll go- scraping the dirt in places. If I'm lucky, it won't rain for a week or more, and that will kill the grass. Then I don't have to mow again for another month or two. I mow the lawn every 2 weeks in the spring/early summer when it rains a lot and grows fast and then by July and August, I only mow once a month because where I live the grass is practically dead during those months since it's scortching hot with no rain. My excuse for not doing it more often is that I'm doing the enviorment a favor by not using so much gasoline. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotalWreck Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Margee, I'm at a point in my life where unless somthing is absolutely important, I just say fuck it with the things I don't like or want to do, and cleaning is definitely something that can go on the back burner if you're not in the mood. I know it's easier said than done when you're stuck in a habit, but try to just enjoy today and rest. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Who says you have to clean? I sometimes let the lawn go for a month...LOL...no kidding...it will look like a fucking jungle being here in Florida it can grow FAST. It is all a mind perception. Hell...my intent is to be a full blown crotchety old fart when I grow up..... I am just in training for it now... My strategy is to let the grass grow high enough that the neighbor kids start bothering me, wanting me to pay them to mow my lawn. Then I'll mow it with the mower set as low as it'll go- scraping the dirt in places. If I'm lucky, it won't rain for a week or more, and that will kill the grass. Then I don't have to mow again for another month or two. I mow the lawn every 2 weeks in the spring/early summer when it rains a lot and grows fast and then by July and August, I only mow once a month because where I live the grass is practically dead during those months since it's scortching hot with no rain. My excuse for not doing it more often is that I'm doing the enviorment a favor by not using so much gasoline. I'm just a slob. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ro-bear Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 We're all slaves to survival. This IS the game! It is the way it's supposed to be! 70% work -30% pleasure! Back to wiping up my kitchen floor...........I'll be back later during my 30 pleasure break!!...... End of rant.......thank you for listening today. Yes, rational thinking often puts things in perspective. I have been grading papers all day, but it's just something I have to do. When it gets to be too much, I take a break, get on the Nordictrack, post on Ex-C, then get back to it. I've got dozens of things that need doing, but I just do a little of it, take a short break, do a little more, and after a while the to-do list is a little shorter. Don't do too much all at once, Margee; I don't think Martha Stewart is coming over today. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ro-bear Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Who says you have to clean? I sometimes let the lawn go for a month...LOL...no kidding...it will look like a fucking jungle being here in Florida it can grow FAST. It is all a mind perception. Hell...my intent is to be a full blown crotchety old fart when I grow up..... I am just in training for it now... My strategy is to let the grass grow high enough that the neighbor kids start bothering me, wanting me to pay them to mow my lawn. Then I'll mow it with the mower set as low as it'll go- scraping the dirt in places. If I'm lucky, it won't rain for a week or more, and that will kill the grass. Then I don't have to mow again for another month or two. LOL....that sounds like me. I do have a slight problem with that though....I live next to a guy who has a fairly sizeable pond. It attracts snakes...mostly Water Moccasins. Tall grass can conceal even the biggest ones. Last spring my daughter had to grab the dog by the collar as she almost got bit by a HUGE Water Moccasin. That critter was longer than a push broom handle and bigger around than a Louisville Slugger bat with a head that was about 4" wide and enough venom to kill a horse. She had to get the snake gun out...(a 20 gage shotgun). I really should do better by the grass. You should replant with that zoysia stuff that hardly needs water or cutting. That stuff looks like a freakin' carpet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Who says you have to clean? I sometimes let the lawn go for a month...LOL...no kidding...it will look like a fucking jungle being here in Florida it can grow FAST. It is all a mind perception. Hell...my intent is to be a full blown crotchety old fart when I grow up..... I am just in training for it now... My strategy is to let the grass grow high enough that the neighbor kids start bothering me, wanting me to pay them to mow my lawn. Then I'll mow it with the mower set as low as it'll go- scraping the dirt in places. If I'm lucky, it won't rain for a week or more, and that will kill the grass. Then I don't have to mow again for another month or two. LOL....that sounds like me. I do have a slight problem with that though....I live next to a guy who has a fairly sizeable pond. It attracts snakes...mostly Water Moccasins. Tall grass can conceal even the biggest ones. Last spring my daughter had to grab the dog by the collar as she almost got bit by a HUGE Water Moccasin. That critter was longer than a push broom handle and bigger around than a Louisville Slugger bat with a head that was about 4" wide and enough venom to kill a horse. She had to get the snake gun out...(a 20 gage shotgun). I really should do better by the grass. Shit- I'd consider graveling the yard. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Margee, clean does not mean perfect. Perfect=never clean enough. Clean=smells nice, not sticky, won't get salmonella, not breathing dust. Ro-bear is right, Martha is not coming over, and if she does, she needs to help clean. My solution for not having the cleaning panic is to own less. Read Not for packrats only by Don Aslett, it's a great book addressing cleaning and clutter. Be aware that he is a little religious but it hardly impacts the book, it's not a xian book by any means. Three things that have helped me through the years are, 1. Everything has a home, excess leaves. 2. "Banished from the island", my phrase for things I am annoyed with. They leave the property forever. 3. When in the store I ask myself if I really want to clean, store, protect an item. Most of the time I realize it's an impulse buy and leave it there. Saves lots of money that way. Another great read is Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern Sending encouragement vibes your way Margee! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMneg Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Margee, I totally get it! I'm not a clean freak by any means but it takes a lot of time and energy to keep everything up to the lowest standards. Great realization that this is how it is. The only time the stress of it ever leaves is when we go on vacation and that's not often enough! Wish the husband would help more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted March 4, 2012 Author Moderator Share Posted March 4, 2012 Yes, rational thinking often puts things in perspective. I have been grading papers all day, but it's just something I have to do. When it gets to be too much, I take a break, get on the Nordictrack, post on Ex-C, then get back to it. I've got dozens of things that need doing, but I just do a little of it, take a short break, do a little more, and after a while the to-do list is a little shorter. Don't do too much all at once, Margee; I don't think Martha Stewart is coming over today. Most of the time Ro-bear, I really do try to do things in small segments. I work, then take a break, work, take a break. It's just that some days seem sooo friggin' overwhelming. It was like every flaw in the house was magnified today. From the dust to the leak in the laundry room. Everything just got me. I hate when I feel out of control over my thinking!! It's evening now, my favorite tme to come on Ex-c...... the family is gone and I did my best to keep a smile on for everybody. I cooked a good supper and now I can relax. I'm gonna stay on x-c for 3 hours now!!! I got some work done today, my depressed mood has lifted and life seems good right now.Thank you to all who hung in there with me and my ranting today. P.s. I still think woman work harder than men....... Can someone say 'Amen' to that ?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Positivist Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Maybe I should I just say, 'fuck it' and stay here with you guys? ...unless something is absolutely important, I just say fuck it with the things I don't like or want to do... I agree with the "fuck-it"-ers! Life is too damn short. I used to be a clean freak. Now I have two large breed dogs. I can practically sterilize the kitchen floor and then in they come, with their beautiful big muddy paw prints all over it. I just can't care anymore. My house is always tidy, but not always dog-hair free or dust free. If anyone's offended, they can offer to clean for me. My mother did that once, so I handed her a cloth and went to read a book! I also wear wrinkly clothes sometimes. There should be a law against ironing. Life is too short. Give yourself a break! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Positivist Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I still think woman work harder than men....... Can someone say 'Amen' to that ?????? I think that any woman who has given birth has a "get-out-of-jail free" get-out-of-housework free" card for life! Put your feet up and when someone says, "Ahem, honey....uh....would you mind doing something around here?" you say, "Nu-uh, I'm done my work!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephie Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I hear you. However, I think you nailed the peg into the wall with the whole survival thing. What I have learned is that good pari of jeans can last you 5 days without a wash...so if you have 7 pairs of jeans then that's like 7 weeks. Of course, I would take this information for a grain of salt. 0_o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted March 5, 2012 Author Moderator Share Posted March 5, 2012 I hear you. However, I think you nailed the peg into the wall with the whole survival thing. What I have learned is that good pari of jeans can last you 5 days without a wash...so if you have 7 pairs of jeans then that's like 7 weeks. Of course, I would take this information for a grain of salt. 0_o I think my rant was more about 'this is the way it is' as opposed to all the wonderful advise I got for time management. I did need all those reminders because I can make my self crazy with the housework shit. But as I stated in the OP..I have said soooo many times in my life, 'It's not supposed to be like this.' When I realized yesterday that, yes, this is it...this is the reality of life....no god to send all his angels to help you!! We are the 'slaves' to the earth......just like the ants and that's just the way it is!! and you are all right here on EX-c...we have to know when to take our breaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephie Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I hear you. However, I think you nailed the peg into the wall with the whole survival thing. What I have learned is that good pari of jeans can last you 5 days without a wash...so if you have 7 pairs of jeans then that's like 7 weeks. Of course, I would take this information for a grain of salt. 0_o I think my rant was more about 'this is the way it is' as opposed to all the wonderful advise I got for time management. I did need all those reminders because I can make my self crazy with the housework shit. But as I stated in the OP..I have said soooo many times in my life, 'It's not supposed to be like this.' When I realized yesterday that, yes, this is it...this is the reality of life....no god to send all his angels to help you!! We are the 'slaves' to the earth......just like the ants and that's just the way it is!! and you are all right here on EX-c...we have to know when to take our breaks. It's quite the shock when it hits home, right? How many times have we started to pray then remembered that there is no one to pray to. Kind of a booster to self-confidence though I would think. Still sucks when housework or whatever life brings gets thrown at us though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will02 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'm organized at all times on the things that truly matter, but for everything else I only clean when it gets so bad that I can't take it anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thought2Much Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I may be a bit strange, but I take some comfort in cleaning my house and maintaining the yard. Since I don't worry anymore about what great things I should be doing for God, or if I should be in some prayer meeting trying to beg God to bless our missionaries, I am able to focus on things like keeping my house at its best. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I may be a bit strange, but I take some comfort in cleaning my house and maintaining the yard. Since I don't worry anymore about what great things I should be doing for God, or if I should be in some prayer meeting trying to beg God to bless our missionaries, I am able to focus on things like keeping my house at its best. +1 on strange I'm by no means obsessed with it being clean but I do love to come home to a clean home. I LOVE being able to walk through the house in the dark and not getting impaled or attacked by junk. If a blind person is not safe, neither am I. And I am of the view that having pretty shiny things is pointless if they are covered in dust or buried under junk. And I think one of the best benefits (for me) is that it makes me feel good to see my hard work pay off. I value the comfort of my home. It's my sanctuary. Some people like hiking in the mountains, I like my personal retreat. So I join the "strange" group as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akheia Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I'm another weirdo who just likes seeing a nice, clean house. It bothers me a lot if the kitchen is filthy or there's too much clutter around. I've got a back problem that prevents me from doing major housework, and I've had to really relax my standards since it happened. But I peck at it during the day and try to at least keep the kitchen clean. Margee, I know what you mean girl, because I've had that moment too where I realized that this isn't exactly what I'd planned when I was a starry-eyed teenager. But it all works out, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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