For whatever reason, it seems that I’ve been cleaning the house. So far, I’ve washed and organized 94% of the kitchen, I’ve scrubbed bathroom sinks and showers, I’ve organized 17% of the family room, and I’ve purchased a small vapor cleaner thing that will supposedly shoot all of that black gunk out of the shower in the master bathroom.
My goal is to get the house in shape this summer so that when the girls start school in August, I can apply my faux pearl necklace and sing things like, “Oh! It’s Tuesday! Time to vacuum the floors before I hit my freelance.” If I can break the work down into daily manageable tasks, my life will surely be sunnier and my hair will shine, and perhaps I’ll lose the final few pounds that simply must go before my happy pants fit again.
Anyway, later this afternoon I’ll be attacking my bookshelf, and that’s sort of exciting because during Bookshelf Cleaning Day, all books get to line up on the floor and grapple for potential positioning on the top shelf. Current top shelf selections include To Kill a Mockingbird, Letters of E.B. White, The Franchiser, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and Remembering Denny. Currently competing for a top shelf position are the Shirley Jackson books recently gifted to me by Tempe, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Elegance of the Hedgehog. (My book club is meeting over sushi on Thursday to discuss The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and I’m currently within five pages of finishing.)
By the way, yes! I’ve decided to go vegetarian again on July 1. This means I currently have three more days in which to eat meat. Last night I had Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken, which is my absolute favorite chicken meal. Tonight we’ll be having a pesto pizza, and that’s insane because Only Three More Days To Go and I’m eating a meatless dinner?! I can’t even begin to think about tomorrow’s dinner because I’m getting my very first facial at 6:45 in the evening, and oddly enough, it will involve removing my shirt. This was a gift for my birthday, and it couldn’t be more perfect because Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Every day do something that frightens you.” SO, not only will this gift exfoliate, moisturize, and fortify my skin—it will also make me a bit more Rooseveltian. (Important Clarification: I will not become a Republican, although I have eaten with many of them, and some are quite delightful.)
In less than two weeks, I’ll be traveling to Memphis for a weekend of debauchery. (Although my definition of that word has relaxed considerably in the past 20 years, current usage does include a trip to Graceland, some yarn store browsing, and a search for vegetarian barbecue. (I will, of course, settle for sweet tea and a baked sweet potato. I will not be one of those vegetarians who ruin it for everyone else.))
I shall now leave the house to buy muffins. Enjoy your day. ‘ ‘ ‘text/javascript’>
I would like to know more about this magic shower cleaner thing & how well it works. Because while the Mr. Clean magic eraser for the bathroom works fantastic, there is a lot of scrubbing involved, especially since I have tile & grout to deal with. And I don’t like scrubbing.
Enjoy your muffins & your last 3 days of meaty goodness. :)
I’m afraid if you utter the phrase “vegetarian barbecue” in Memphis, you may be asked to leave.
I had similar thoughts as Deanna’s at the mention of vegetarian BBQ in Memphis. We visited Neely’s BBQ in Memphis last year, it was terrific.
Black gunk? Is it only on the grout or trim? Sometimes it’s best to take that out and replace with new.
I’m a tad too busy right now to dedicate much time to reading, unless I don’t want to sleep.
I won’t ask why regarding eating no meat. I just like the fact that you are going out to buy muffins. Muffins>Meat. :]
I love TJ’s Mandarin Orange Chicken. So, so good!
No need to even think about becoming more Republican if you’re becoming Rooseveltian. Eleanor was a Democrat and even Teddy left the Republican party. It’s nice that you’ve eaten with many of them but just remember, you are not allowed to *eat* Republicans. That’s strictly verboten on a vegetarian diet.
Well…congrats on the vegetarian thing…I read Eating Animals in March and found that it really made the decision so much easier. I wondered if you’ve read it? Someday…maybe I’ll be vegan like my twenty something son and daughter. Baby steps!
Going Vegetarian isn’t a “baby step” Tis a big step…My favorite blog — 101cookbooks. I also love the cookbook Vegan with a vengeance…
Three Monkeys cheese pizza. It’s a great vegetarian kick off.
I love Crescent Dragonwagon’s (seriously that’s her name)cookbooks. Not the usual “meatless” stuff – but rather things that stand on thier own deliciousness instead of a substitute for something else. check her out.
I’m glad you’re not going Republican on us. I’ll never go to The Dark Side.
Shirley Jackson’s Life Among the Savages Has always been a favorite of mine. Add some Flannery O’Conner to your mix – you’ll be glad you did.
Did you like, “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius”? I didn’t think I liked it that much but I still think about it all of the time so I guess it had a bigger impact on me than I realized.
Oh my gosh, I love, love, love this post! Happy pants? I’ve got a pair, too, but I never knew what to call them. I’m always, ALWAYS fantasizing about how serene I’ll be when I cross off all the chores that need to be done, when all my ducks will be in a row, and every drawer will be organized. It will be, simply, the greatest day ever. Do you think I’m setting myself up for disappointment. Maybe I should just go rearrange my books, too.
Good for you! I hope your cleaning streak continues! Can I come with you to Memphis..I’ll eat all the meats and you can have the veggies!
I feel so close to you, person I’ve never met. I returned to a veg diet recently, my book club just discussed Elegance and I have a weekend of debauchery coming up in Austin that will feature visiting the LBJ Presidential Library. My bookshelf reorg included shelving books according to spine color. (Prettiest spine color goes to The Year of Magical Thinking.)
Good luck on the cleaning and happy pants!
I’m with Deanna on the vegetarian BBQ in Memphis.
What do you think of The Elegance of the Hedgehog? I loved it.
My book club meets tonight – this month’s book was The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag.
angela, years ago you posted a link for a video i was addicted to and lost touch with. it was of some 70’s flute band singing and whistling with a white dove! help me! what was it!??!!??