Category: reality

Ok, so the boyfriend is off to the suburbs for the day, and I thought it a perfect idea to clean the apartment. A nice fresh overhaul. Have you done yours yet? I can organize things as I like, and worry about the details later. If you’d like a little background setting music: I have Toy Story 3 on in the livingroom.

I was told that my grandmother use to write an article in the newspaper about doing household things in incriments of 20 minutes. I don’t think I agree with that philosophy because if I actually stopped for a break, I wouldn’t start again. It would get me off schedule. This is a habit I picked up in sales school (Southwestern Company, Nashville, TN). Stay on schedule; get the job done and hit your goal. My grandmother was probably a lot more laid back and relaxing to be around. I have been told before that I am some people’s morning cup of coffee. Thanks?

On to the day: I decided to put up the golden shower curtain that was originally in the shower four years ago, when I moved in. I use to think it was too “adult” looking- and went with something more colorful from Target, now I am thinking it is perfect and actually makes the bathroom look a little fancy. Why not? Ok- I definitely didn’t get a manual on how to take down a shower rod. I tried google-“how to take down a shower rod”- SUCCESS! A little elbow grease and a screwdriver, and I am in business.

For furture reference: http://www.smalllinks.com/TG8

Ok, maybe I do wish boyfriend was home… I got it done, regardless. They don’t tell you how much arm strength you need to put up a shower curtain, but it’s a lot! It’s more endurance than anything, but I’m working with what I’ve got.

My poor golden retriever is staring at me. I should take her for a swim at the dog park when I am finished. Gosh, it’s gorgeous out. For now, I will the open balcony door and let her sun herself on the porch. Good parenting 101, check.

I have done 4 loads of laundry already. 10 minutes to go on the dryer. I figure it’s best to do all this at once, then I can feel a sence of accomplishment when boyfriend gets home. I was not lazy today! It’s so perfect outside. To use a variation of a quote Annette Bening uses in American Beauty, and to give you a hint of my level of determination to get this done: “I will clean this house today! I will clean this house today!” She didn’t sell the house, but I will clean mine!

I wish there wasn’t so much stuff in piles. My boyfriend and I are “pile builders.” There are certain types of cleaning habits. We like to organize things by putting them in piles, that of course we will attend to later to dispose of, and of course we do RARELY. Right now there is a pile of magazines in the bedroom that stare at me with anger. Why do we keep them? We will never read them again, and it’s not like we are writing a dissertation on the analysis of “Men’s Journal,” in relation to the depiction of cars vs. whiskey in American society. I say “lets toss ALL of them!” I dare not, until he comes home…

I’m starting to think I should have showered by now. Every time I go down to the laundry room, I see the same people I did this morning when I started…and they are all cleaned up and dressed for outside play. SOON! I just keep thinking to myself: I stay dirty because until my apartment is clean, I don’t deserve it. The shower will be the cherry on top of my sundae! It will be my pièce de résistance! These other people just don’t have the dedication I do!

I changed the curtains in the bedroom to something more “spring” feeling. I even managed to not break the swivel chair, as I stood on it to remove the old curtain. Sweet, going to the gym more frequently is paying off! It’s a little lighter- which I will only regret come 6am, as the sun is shining through, but for now it’s really pretty- and also gold.

Laundry is done. Sheets are changed. I’m obviously leaving out the details of scrubbing the sinks, bathtub, counters and toilet- no need, you knew I did that already. All that is left is a once over to make sure that the aparement LOOKS like I actually cleaned it. There is nothing worse than a morning of cleaning, then when you look back over and the only thing you notice are the new gold shower and bedroom curtains.

I’m sure this isn’t the sexiest of topics to blog about, but too bad. Ha. Maybe my ramblings will inspire you to accomplish something you’ve been putting off today. Now, off to the shower!

Disclosure: I understand that what I am about to rant about makes absolutely no sense at all. It’s just me.

I like to believe that my body chemistry is unlike anyone else in the entire planet. By believing this, I can avoid listening to stereotypical advice on what to eat and not to eat, how much you should work out, and how much sleep a person needs.

Food/Eating

I have the pickiest eating habits of anyone else I know. Sometimes food that made me sick a week ago will be fine today, if I am in the mood for it, but then sick again in a day because I said so- and it really will. Shrimp was my favorite food growing up, and since age 25 I have been allergic to it (hey, ask the doctors at Mass General, if you don’t believe me). I am lactose intolerant, but LOVE cheese (especially paired with wine). I get a stomach ache from almost every meal (from even a salad)- yet my cravings ONLY consist of chocolate, puffy Cheetos and chicken wings…that of course my body digests perfectly. I feel sorry for my boyfriend, who will have to preview a menu to make sure there is something on it I will digest. He even researches the places I go for client lunches and will text message me the menu item that won’t kill me. It’s actually very sweet. Funny thing is, on our first date, I assured him that I was easy going and not picky about food. I guess it had never been pointed out to me before, as I only ate what I wanted- and didn’t realize that consisted of a very limited range. Hey- I’ll eat sushi!

Working out

Working out to me has been this enigma that I have been trying to solve since college. I can’t quite figure it out. Did people in the 1960s (or earlier) work out? I watch the show Mad Men- and there is an episode where the newly divorced woman in the neighborhood is seen “walking.” GASP! “Where is she walking to???” The other women cry. Her response- “I just like to walk.” The only other exercise I have seen on that show was of course the young school teacher, aka, Don Draper’s latest victim, running at 4am. So only young school teacher-types and divorced women work out, while the “normal” women smoke and drink red wine 24/7? YET…They are ALL thin and gorgeous. (Please note- I realize I am arguing with a television show, but if you look at pictures from that time- the women really were perfect looking!) I won’t argue much past the 1960s. I think we all know that the 1970s brought the leotard to us, for the purpose of exercise class. I’m just saying- there WAS a time when we didn’t need to think about all this so darn much. Red wine solved it all.

In college, I worked out so much that if my friends and I were getting ready to go out, and I felt kinda “fat,” I would go run a mile or two then continue the beautifying process. I tried diet pills- that only made me seem to be on speed 24/7. Lost a couple dates that way (I guess you’re supposed to let the other person talk too), yet never really got thin, until I STOPPED taking them. Strange.

Now that I am in my 30s, working out is like this chore I know I have to do, yet stall until it hits me like a deadline that it must be done. Other days, I crave to be on that treadmill. Neither situation would be possible without the use of my boyfriend’s extra Apple headphones (I plug them into those beautiful little TVs installed on top of the machines). At first, I could “borrow” them, but now they have slowly become my property and just as important for me to wear to the gym as my sneakers or sports bra. I also have the belief that if I work out 1 week prior to a special event or trip, that my body will be drastically better than it was the day I started. If a special event or trip is coming up, all of a sudden I LOVE working out and couldn’t image never loving this activity. When said event is over…give me my couch/remote back.

Sleep

I will never understand how one sleeps through an entire evening, without waking up. I have tried everything from counting sheep, melatonin to benedryl- nothing works. I will say, at the suggestion of a colleague, I bought some vitamin B1 and (when I remember) it works like a charm to ease my mind and let me sleep, at least until 3am. I can fall asleep in a car in about 2 minutes, or when laying on something warm. Once awake, I can never figure out how to stay up without being exhausted. Caffeine makes me tired and coffee gives me a headache. If someone puts a movie on, 10 minutes (sometimes less) into it, I am sound asleep. When it ends- like the second it is over-I am wide awake. I will say this- there is nothing more victorious than when, from the hours of tossing and turning, you find that perfect sweet-spot and your eyes finally close.

I think I need a vacation. 🙂