Timing is everything?

So, part of my excuse for not putting things away and the like has always been 'IT TAKES TOO LONG!' I would explain that when I got home, it would be late after a show or rehearsal and I'd just want to go to bed. Or I was running late and it would just take too long in the morning.

I started timing these tasks.

Cleaning Cat Litter = 90 seconds Now, I haven't timed cleaning the box completely, i.e. emptying all the litter and scrubbing it down with the wipes and putting the litter back in. But a daily scoop of the clumps for two litterboxes TOTAL is around 90 seconds or less.

Putting my clothes away = 45-60 seconds This was my biggest whining. It really doesn't take long at all. This is including folding the bra's and putting them in the drawer as well as hanging the clothes up in the closet/folding them back into the drawers.

Making my bed = 2 minutes, tops Usually less. Now, it's not made to my mom's specifications with the sheets perfectly smooth and all, but it's made, up to and including my stuffed animals displayed on the front.

I haven't timed vacuuming, but I honestly don't mind that chore. It's kind of magical to see the carpet become all clean. I haven't timed washing the dishes either because...well, that's not necessarily a daily thing.

Am I falling back on old habits? Maybe. I'm trying not to, though. It's not the easiest since I really haven't had a lot of time at home these past few weeks and the time I did have, I wanted to spend watching bad TV and knitting.

Tonight, however, I shall return to vacuuming and finding places for things. The attic is its own repository but I'm trying to make it somewhat contained. I'll have to spend some time going through the stuff up there, but not right now. I should, though, look into getting rid of some of my gowns that I don't wear.

Not EXACTLY going by the book...

As I sort of stopped at clothes and haven't really gone on all that much. I've already culled most of my books but after going through the one still-intact bookcase and realizing all my other books are still packed, I won't be doing this until I have a new lease in my hot little hands. That said, we are nearing completion, I think! I haven't had a chance to tackle the Guest room which is really the last room I need to take care of. Maybe this weekend? Since my show opens Saturday, it's going to be rough finding the time...but I feel really good about how things look. I still haven't donated things yet. I definitely want to try and consign some items but again, that requires time. I've already culled most of my papers...mostly. I need to collect some to bring to work to shred. Nothing too exciting. Sorry to anyone who is actually reading this.

The 'What Ifs'

This was a pretty busy weekend so I didn't get all that much done, but I did clean up a lot of the living room. I got some bins and boxes out of the way and packed up a few more boxes which may or may not get moved into the attic; basically, I had already started to pack before the Landlady and I worked out this potential deal and I'm not going to unpack only to have to re-pack again if she deems the apartment not up to her standards.

That's the fear, really. That I will have put in all this work and the Landlady will say 'Nope, not good enough'. It is, however, nicer than it was when I was looking at the place to initially rent it last year.

I'm re-reading the book again and the more I think about it and the more I see my place 'tidy'-(er), the more I really, really like it. I even think it's liking me back -- as the book says, it sort of feels more welcoming and brighter. There's still further to go, but not much. The guest room is the biggest tackle but it's also, I think, where I'll be getting rid of most of the things. It's not that I don't have a space for them, but a lot of stuff I just don't need. There's yarn that I was pressured into buying or that I won't be using in there, there are cooking utensils that I don't use, etc. There's a bookshelf that I want in the Living Room. Then I may have a way to even make the guest bed and use the sewing machine desk. I might even be able to keep the door open and let the cats hang out in there.

But how sad would it be if the place looks amazing (yet still appropriately lived in) and the Landlady still says 'No'? After I've begun to fall in love with the place all over again? How heart-wrenching would it be? Maybe the apartment will help if it wants me to stay, knowing that I'm going to take good care of it now...but I can't help going to the worst outcome. Maybe it protects me from getting disappointed but I can't help but think about that potential outcome.

I might not have too much time this week with rehearsals and everything -- we're heading into Tech Week for show #1. I'm going to try to at least maintain and do a little more...somewhere and somehow!