Throwing Caution, Cleaning, and Calendars Out on Thursday

Whatever you have done is fine. Take this day to reflect upon the highlights of 2009, or in many cases, the excrement of each day. But don't clean, unless you have to. Perhaps we'll set some group goals for 2010, and review some helpful tips to invigorate us. But take today off.

(OCD translation: Scrub your asses of because ringing in the new year with a string on the carpet certainly spells doom!)

Happy New Year's Eve Moxlings.

-Cheyenne

Whittling Down Wednesday

Some of you whisked away your trees and glittery things faster than the Grinch absconded with everything in Whoville, while others leave things up through the New Year, while still others have "Take tree down" on their pre-valentines day to-do lists. That said, I am hard-pressed to advise y'all on the clean up of christmas, so I shall restrict my admonishments to matters of the home.

Today my to-do swallowed me whole, so I'm typing this from its belly. Good god.

So far I have:

-Made the bed.

-Taken out the trash.

-Organized closet.

-Checked to make sure we have all the gift cards we're using.

-Showered after fifteen people threatened my life.

-Later I need to do some major online stuff. Someone kill me. I loathe HTML.


Thoughts:

-Dishwasher.

-Washing machine.

-Windex all mirrors and windows that need it, extra points for exteriors!

-Remove any and all holiday artifacts that you want out.

-Strip/re-make beds.

-Dust up high, five minutes in every room.

-Wipe down doorknobs.

-Put all dishes away and fold all laundry before bed.

-Tuck yourself in with a good book/stiff drink or both, and enjoy a 2009 well lived.

T is for Tuesday, Tinsel, and Tedium

So how's the dismantling going? I still have my lights and cards, do any of you leave a remnant or two or all your trees shivering on the porch like my mom's, lol?

Today's ideas are simple, and as follows:

-Remember idle dishwashers and washing machines are the devil's tools.

-.Remember so is tinsel.

-Wrap up ornaments.

-Sweep up evidence of the tree.

-Take down stockings with care.

-Dust.

-Clear two surfaces.

Now reward yourself with something yummy! We'll get through this!

The Mondayer the Merrier

I don't usually get the Monday doldrums, or whatever it's called, but today I have two units of it, likely stemming from christmas let-down. I spent the entire weekend cleaning the house as if I was serving the Obamas a picnic on the bathroom floor, and breaking the world record for going to Old Navy the most times in 72 hours, oh and Starbucks, but from what I've heard, most of you were OD-ing on tryptophan and cursing the speed with which our shiny, hella expensive wrapping paper turns into a wasteland of overwhelming bullshit. Some had pipes burst, unexpected company, and other intrusions, so I went all soft on your asses, even as I arose at dawn to detail a friend's car and slipped on the ice, into the splits, with my front knee bent and shredded it open, yet soldiered on.

So okay, my house has been stripped of all things christmas, except the lights, our first ever, and the cards. I was going to take them down yesterday but like five more arrived and so we'll enjoy that a while longer.

Onto your house(s):

-Were you all blessed with the gift of clothing? We were! Get those washers running.

-Are the dishes so bad you want to move? If you got a gift card, break all your dishes and get new ones. If not, man that sucks. Get crackin'.

-Get the kids on those toys.

-Make sure all disposable signs of the wreckage, er, festivity, are gone.

-Vacuum.

-I have a feeling the dining room table needs some tough love too.

-Remove three items from your house permanently. DO IT!

Okay that's a start. We've got to keep on a steady course, especially those of us who have New Years Eve plans. My best advice there is to wisely plan it at someone else's home, lol. But seriously, back on the wagon. And throw your tree in it if you're ready!

Sleepy Sunday

One way to organize presents is to separate the ones that got eaten by the new puppy, who escaped from her crate while you were gone, from the ones that didn't. Grrr...

It typically takes me a while to integrate all my new goodies into my life, but that is my goal today. This will require me to clean out the cupboard under my sink in the dual vanity, and possibly the side of my closet wherein I keep boxes, tissue, bows, and things of that useful nature. These tasks make me shudder. Going outside in the frigid air to vacuum my car and then Debe's before she wakes up? Not a problem. So yeah, new stuff = serious serious cleaning in places long forgotten, but if I can maintain the stamina, perhaps via caramel brulee latte, I can do it before Todd gets home from the coast. I've been deep cleaning for four days, partly because he deserves to return to a glistening home after what he's been through, and you know, partly because I will gnaw my tongue off if it doesn't get done.

Did anyone know one puppy = 5,099 toys and scraps reassigned as "toys?" It does.

We don't decorate our home for christmas, out of respect for Todd, but since he was gone this year I hung lights, which was a smashing success. I am not taking them down. The goddamned puppy ate my presents, I deserve them. But I will take down all the cards, saving the photos, and force my children to make room for their new things, even if it means ditching old stuff.

I have lists for them, and a monster for myself, and I will get it done, even though I fell asleep watching Lost and couldn't muster the energy to go to bed until my bladder got up and started walking on its own.

What are you all doing today? Taking the tree down? Leaving it? Still hosting company? Three things I'm sure could be helpful in any home today are:

-Putting away all gifts and recycling all packaging.

-Vacuuming/sweeping.

-Making use of leftovers.

-And the basics, if you love me.

I may check back in, for I have notions so grandiose I will end up winning some sort of medal for my achievements today, or collapse and die. I've had my protein shake, got my iPod on, and donning my gloves now. Wish me luck, and let me know what you did.

Mellow Christmas Saturday

Clean up those leftovers. And savour your weekend in between.


I hope everyone had a splendid day with loved ones and shiny new things.

Merry Christmas My Marvelous Moxlings!

Blessed be this day of merriment and glad tidings, you've all worked so hard to make today one of comfort, giving, and hopefully indulgence--preferably out of a bottle.

I am so proud of each and every one of you, for all your efforts great and (seemingly, but never) small.

Merry christmas everyone, or however you wish to observe this season.

Love,

-Moxie