The Clutter Surrounds Me

Have you ever noticed that no matter how long you live in a place there is always that box of stuff that never gets unpacked, but instead just magically grows feet and makes its way through your house (or apartment) in our case. Well, there is more than one box, there are several boxes that just keep shifting. We end up taking out of the boxes what we need at the moment, and then throw the box back on the shelf in the closet, or push the box to the side.

After just over a month of living in our new apartment, Josh is still using 3 to 4 boxes as a nightstand. Are those boxes empty? Of course they aren't. They are chock full of crap. I seriously don't know what's in any of them anymore. One box is full of camera gear that I don't use often. But I never NEVER throw a camera away. I have quite the collection started.

There are black velvet boxes full of books stashed on top of the shelf in the closet. Basically the bedroom is totally off limits to the 4 guests that have stopped by. Can you picture me trying to lift a box full of books over my head and onto the shelf, my huge muscles bulging? It takes all the strength I have to hoist it off the floor in one fluid movement. If its not in one fluid movement, forget it. As soon as my flow is compromised the grueling task has to start all over again because I swear on my life that I only have the muscles God was nice enough to provide me with when I was born. I'm teased all the time. I can't even open a jar.

If you know me well, you know that this clutter is seriously bothering me. I pick up probably three times a day. It makes my skin crawl, and my mother makes fun of me that when I have kids I won't be able to keep a pristine house. Yes, I have forgotten to empty the dishwasher on occasion, again last night I got the talk of "I don't know why you didn't empty the dishwasher while I was at work."

What I wanted to say? "I was to busy watching soap operas and eating bon bons that I really just couldn't take the time to empty that dishwasher.

This was what I thought after the first initial mean comeback I decided not to use:

"Well because I edited photos all morning until my eyeballs wanted to fall out, I made the bed, I picked up the house, I worked on my wedding session guide, I cleaned the dishes in the sink, I picked up the bathroom, and THEN, I went to target to get a new outfit for this weekend, I found something I liked, but you wouldn't like it so I trudged it over to Penny's and their clothes were a joke. I couldn't ever tell whether I was in the petites or the plus sizes. What the hell does misses mean? By then I was defeated, but decided to take my chances at the Macy's here in town... It smelled weird, but I kept going, searching and searching for a damn pencil skirt, no I dont want a tulip skirt, or an old lady length skirt, I'm talking about a pencil skirt. Did anyone help? No. And then I had to sneak in past these unobserving cashiers to get into the dressing room to try on these things as quickly as possible because I had to get to the grocery store to get the groceries and dinner all before you get home. Hallelujah they all fit, and I looked damn good in that skirt I found, so before I could talk myself out of the skirt, because I feel awful buying myself something I don't absolutely need, I ran to the counter as fast as I could, and waited while the lady ahead of me had a 15 minute conversation about the heart association that she already donates to, so she doesn't want to donate today with Macy's. I was then happy to find that I only had to pay 13.99 for the skirt, so after I got out to my car, I drove back over to target to grab some tights that I'm not going to wear like I thought I was. I then went to Safeway to buy your deodorant and toilet paper and that frozen pizza that I am so good at making. I got home, had to try on my outfit, and then because I dont know anyone down here, I ran (literally) in my heels to the leasing office to get the assistant managers opinion on my outfit. Your opinion is important to me obviously because when you say no to this outfit, and then "that's a little much for this occassion," I change right away and get all depressed because I liked that outfit, but I won't wear something you hate. I needed a womans opinion to tell me it looked nice. We got to talking, (like you know I like to do) and then all of a sudden after 15 minutes of talking to her I saw you drive up. You were home, I didn't have the dishes out of the dishwasher. (I'm going to hell). So while you are going to the bathroom I had to pick up all the crap I had left on the floor because I hate when you come home to a mess. I feel like a terrible wife. Half and hour later I am making that excellent 'homemade" pizza and have yet to empty the dishwasher.

And that was where we were. I only said half of this to Josh, but just picture how fast that was going through my head, and how fast I said the last half as I walked away to pick up a few more things before I sat down to edit a few more photos. Yes all the clutter was still in the house, and it's still here today. I might die with all this crap of ribbon, wrapping, camera gear, books, printer paper. It will never end because there is always something else I have to do... Like empty the dishwasher.