Me(4:18:20 PM): ok. so. DAY 3
Husband (4:18:33 PM): What does day 3 mean?
Me(4:18:40 PM): hmmm. i'm not sure,
Me(4:18:48 PM): day one, sink.
Me(4:19:01 PM): day 2. sink and get dressed.
Husband (4:19:29 PM): right, for me day 2 is microwave
Me(4:19:40 PM): oh. ok.
Husband (4:19:40 PM): day three is either counters or stove
Me(4:19:54 PM): you're not doing it right.
Husband (4:20:05 PM): I'm not?
Me(4:20:12 PM): no!
Me(4:20:22 PM): day 1 is sink.
Husband (4:20:23 PM): it would be helpful if I knew the point.
Me(4:20:33 PM): day 2 is sink and getting dressed.
Husband (4:20:45 PM): Right, day 2 is sink and micro
Husband (4:20:55 PM): day 3 is days 1& 2
Husband (4:21:28 PM): you add the previous day's work to that day
Husband (4:21:33 PM): daisy chain effect
Me(4:21:41 PM): no. not really...
Me(4:21:44 PM): slow down.
Me(4:22:07 PM): day 1 is sink.
Me(4:22:14 PM): 2 is sink and getting dressed.
Me(4:22:35 PM): but you don't have to scrub the sink.
Me(4:23:10 PM): you just have to keep it wiped down and clean after you use it.
Husband (4:23:15 PM): right
Me(4:23:25 PM): Day 3 is....
Husband (4:23:28 PM): it is a maintenance thing
Me(4:23:54 PM): do what we have already done.
Husband (4:26:59 PM): ok
Husband (4:27:01 PM): so?
Me(4:27:04 PM): AND write it down,
Me(4:27:09 PM): we have to write it down too
Husband (4:27:15 PM): is my theory about daisy chaining wrong?
Husband (4:27:26 PM): isn't that the point?
Me(4:27:32 PM): sure. it's right, but that's not what it's about.
Husband (4:27:33 PM): to build good habits?
Me(4:27:41 PM): yes.
Husband (4:27:45 PM): right
Husband (4:27:47 PM): I love the idea
Me(4:27:52 PM): I know.
Husband (4:27:56 PM): soooo
Husband (4:28:06 PM): what is wrong with what I am doing?
Me(4:28:17 PM): TOO MUCH TOO SOON!
Husband (4:28:21 PM): oh
Husband (4:28:39 PM): but to me it leads naturally
Husband (4:28:45 PM): the sink is clean
Husband (4:28:52 PM): to clean the sink I needed to do some dishes
Husband (4:29:05 PM): the dishes will be put away when I get home
Husband (4:29:22 PM): tonight is the microwave and the sink again
Husband (4:29:33 PM): which means some more dishes
Me(4:29:39 PM): ok
Husband (4:29:46 PM): not too much
Me(4:29:52 PM): but if you do too much, you will stop doing it.
Husband (4:29:59 PM): I'm not trying to scrub the floor or anything
Husband (4:30:05 PM): not at this pace
Me(4:30:07 PM): ok
Husband (4:30:11 PM): i get the theory
Husband (4:30:21 PM): don't try to do so much you get overwhelmed
Husband (4:30:33 PM): the sink was awesome
Husband (4:30:40 PM): great and smart starting place
Me(4:30:39 PM): good.
Husband (4:30:43 PM): it is gleaming
Husband (4:30:58 PM): but that made me want to do a little more
Me(4:30:59 PM): right. because when the sink is shiney it makes you feel like something is clean.
Husband (4:31:01 PM): so it would match
Husband (4:31:08 PM): right
Me(4:31:33 PM): ok. well, then if you don't want to write stuff down then you can do the microwave.
Husband (4:31:39 PM): eventually it will move on to a cupboard
Husband (4:31:44 PM): and closets etc...
Me(4:31:44 PM): NO!
Me(4:31:48 PM): THAT’S NOT NEXT!
Husband (4:31:58 PM): hi
Husband (4:32:09 PM): let me introduce you to the word "eventually"
Me(4:32:14 PM): YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.
Husband (4:32:29 PM): like in a few weeks?
Me(4:32:36 PM): no.
Husband (4:32:39 PM): give me the website already
Husband (4:32:42 PM): this is dumb
Me(4:32:43 PM): no.
Me(4:32:50 PM): you are dumb.
Husband (4:32:59 PM): then, transpose the parts you want me to follow
Me(4:33:03 PM): (I don't really mean it)
Me(4:33:08 PM): DAY 6:
Husband (4:33:15 PM): not on IM
Husband (4:33:22 PM): do it in an email or word doc
Me(4:34:11 PM): Hot Spots. We all have them.
Me(4:34:12 PM): A Hot Spot is an area, when left unattended will gradually take over. My favorite analogy is of a hot spot in a forest fire, if left alone it will eventually get out of hand and burn up the whole forest. This is what happens in our homes. If left unattended, the hot spot will grow and take over the whole room as well as making the house look awful. When you walk into a room, the hot spot is the first thing you see. Your eyes are locked on it. Over the years my hot spot has migrated. As a child it was a chair in my bedroom. I would pile it to the ceiling. Right now I have two hot spots in my home: the dining room table and the bed in the extra bedroom. The dining room table is a staging area. We put the unopened mail there, as well as any thing that needs to go to the basement. Some times you cannot see the top of the table. This is the first thing I see when I walk into the kitchen. Granted, the pile has only been there since last night, but if I don't deal with it first thing in the morning, it will collect many more items by evening. CLUTTER ATTRACTS CLUTTER. The Bed in the extra bed room is just the same. I use it as a place to put things that don't have a home. Do you have areas like this that continue to grow if left alone? Does the rest of the family see this as a place to put things when they do not want to put them where they belong? It is our job to NIP this in the bud. Get rid of that pile, find the surface underneath, and stop the Hot Spot from becoming a raging Clutter inferno!
Me(4:35:14 PM): DAY 6: Set your timer for 2 minutes and lets practice putting out your Hot Spot. You don’t have to work till you have finished; just do what you can in 2 minutes. That's it. After 2 minutes STOP.
Husband went away at 4:37:33 PM.
Husband returned at 4:44:30 PM.
Husband (4:44:47 PM): thanks for listening
Me(4:44:56 PM): you are welcome.
Me(4:45:26 PM): I did not listen, did I?
Me(4:45:41 PM): That was sarcasm, wasn't it?
Husband (4:45:44 PM): nope
Husband (4:45:57 PM): nope to your first question
Husband (4:46:05 PM): and yes to your second
Me(4:46:08 PM): oh.
Me(4:46:11 PM): ok.
Me(4:46:13 PM): sorry.
Me(4:46:24 PM): I love you.
Me(4:47:46 PM): ...
Me(4:47:53 PM): what was I not listening to?
Husband (4:48:27 PM): to not IM me the stuff
Me(4:48:37 PM): oh.
Me(4:48:45 PM): I IM'ed it to you.
Husband (4:48:53 PM): I'm just going to find the website
Husband (4:49:02 PM): read it there
Me(4:51:09 PM): NO!
Me(4:51:13 PM): The website’s stupid.
Me(4:51:21 PM): and then you won't do it anymore.
Husband (4:53:17 PM): can find it in 2 seconds
Husband (4:53:24 PM): you've given me enough text to google
Me(4:53:38 PM): UGH! FOILED.
Husband (4:54:04 PM): so, you can either tell me, or I do it myself
Husband (4:54:31 PM): i already have 3 hot spots
Me(4:54:45 PM): ok.
Me(4:54:50 PM): I will tell you.
Me(4:54:53 PM): BUT
Me(4:55:11 PM): you have to promise not to not do it because the website is stupid and girlie.
Husband (4:55:13 PM): the credenza, the squishy chair and the kitchen table
Me(4:55:26 PM): yes to all.
Husband (4:55:52 PM): well, you are doing a poor job of communicating the site's message to me right now
Husband (4:56:00 PM): telling me too much, too much
Husband (4:56:15 PM): when the point is to start good habits and build from there
Me(4:56:20 PM): fine. flylady.com
Husband (4:56:29 PM): HA!
Husband (4:56:34 PM): what a lame site
Me(4:56:37 PM): :(
Husband (4:56:40 PM): I have it on my banned list
Husband (4:56:47 PM): my browser won't even go there
Me(4:56:48 PM): :(
Husband (4:56:53 PM): just kidding
Me(4:56:55 PM): i know.
Husband (4:58:32 PM): Oh shit
Husband (4:58:36 PM): Purple Puddles?
Husband (4:58:40 PM): that is hilarious
Me(4:58:45 PM): stop.
Me(5:00:11 PM): But it really is a good idea...
Husband (5:00:20 PM): well, I love you
Me(5:00:25 PM): I love you too.
Husband (5:00:27 PM): and I hope that means you can FLY
Me(5:00:33 PM): shut up.
Husband (5:00:37 PM): :P
Me(5:00:40 PM): douche.

Husband (11:08:23 AM): hello

Me(11:16:25 AM): what's up with you!

Husband (11:17:05 AM): it is raining!

Husband (11:16:41 AM): Heading out to lunch in a bit.

Husband (11:16:59 AM): what up with you?

Me(11:17:02 AM): you and I are going to do something.

Husband (11:17:10 AM): IT!

Me(11:17:18 AM): yes. that too.

Me(11:17:25 AM): but we are going to do something.

Me(11:17:33 AM): and you have to promise that you are going to do it with me.

Husband (11:18:41 AM): huh

Me(11:17:56 AM): I have to promise that I am going to do it too... so it kinda sucks all around

Husband (11:18:58 AM): when will we be doing it?

Me(11:19:11 AM): from now on to forevver.

Me(11:19:19 AM): but just one day at a time.

Husband (11:19:35 AM): huh,

Husband (11:19:46 AM): I say I love you every day already!

Me(11:20:13 AM): I know. That's not it.

Husband (11:20:07 AM): What could it be, hmmmmmm

Husband (11:20:09 AM): hmmmmmm

Husband (11:20:09 AM): hmmmmmm

Husband (11:20:11 AM): hmmmmmm

Husband (11:20:14 AM): hmmmmmm

Husband (11:21:20 AM): hmmmmm

Husband (11:21:26 AM): well, I give up

Husband (11:21:37 AM): and according to my vows I have to trust you

Husband (11:21:42 AM): sooooooo....

Husband (11:21:46 AM): I promise.

Me(11:21:50 AM): YAY! I promise too.

Husband (11:21:57 AM): Now, what did I just get into?

Me(11:22:05 AM): So. Day 1.

Husband (11:22:13 AM): Day 1

Husband (11:23:21 AM): is what?

Husband (11:23:27 AM): what are we doing each day?

Me(11:23:47 AM): it's a website that we are going to follow.

Husband (11:23:59 AM): Nope

Husband (11:24:07 AM): there, that was easy

Husband (11:24:25 AM): What website.

Husband (11:24:27 AM): ?

Husband (11:24:30 AM): what is it for?

Me(11:24:29 AM): I am not telling you.

Husband (11:24:32 AM): what are we doing?

Me(11:24:36 AM): Here is the welcome letter:

Husband (11:24:46 AM): If you don't tell I won't do it.

Me(11:25:14 AM): I know that you have become overwhelmed by your home and the chaos that you have been living in. Keep in mind that your home did not get this way overnight and it is not going to get clean in a day. We are going to teach you how to take BabySteps and establish little routines for getting rid of your clutter and maintaining your home. This system will work for anyone; it doesn’t matter if you work outside of your home, stay home with children, retired or work at home. You can do this.
The voices that you hear in your head keep telling you that you are behind and you have to get it all done now! We are going to quiet those negative voices that are beating you up constantly and replace them with a loving gentle voice that tells you that you are not behind and you can do this one BabyStep at a time!

Me(11:25:35 AM): Your very first BabyStep is to go shine your sink. Don’t listen to those voices that tell you that is not going to help your messy house. This is exactly where I started and this little habit has changed my life! Take this BabyStep in faith and go do it. Here are the directions for shining your kitchen sink.

Day 1

GO SHINE YOUR SINK.

Husband (11:26:10 AM): Fine

Me(11:26:08 AM): After you do this; you will keep it shiny by drying it out after each time you use it and making sure when you go to bed that it is shining so it will make you smile in the morning.

Husband (11:26:14 AM): I will do that

Me(11:26:41 AM): You don't have to do the dishes or anything. You can put the dishes on the floor. Just shine your sink.

Me(11:27:02 AM): And then keep it shiny by drying it out after each time you use it and making sure when you go to bed that it is shining

Me(11:27:07 AM): Ok.

Me(11:27:17 AM): So there you go. That is all we have to do today.

Me(11:27:20 AM): Shine the sink.

Husband (11:27:27 AM): cool

Husband (11:27:33 AM): will

Husband (11:27:34 AM): do

Me(11:27:37 AM): good.

Husband (11:27:43 AM): funny

Me(11:27:42 AM): See?

Me(11:27:46 AM): We can do this.

Husband (11:27:51 AM): yep

Me(11:28:18 AM): ok.

Husband (11:27:54 AM): I’m going to call you

Me(11:28:45 AM): then you have to email me a picture so I can see your sink and you can see my sink.

Me(11:28:52 AM): that sounded dirty.

Me(11:28:57 AM): HA! It is a joke.

Me(11:28:59 AM): Get it!

Me(11:29:05 AM): dirty....

Me(11:29:15 AM): sink....

Me(11:29:24 AM): joke...

Me(11:29:29 AM): hello?

It's what I say every time I look around my apartment. Seriously. There's stuff that I'm not sure what to do with. There's stuff to give away. There's stuff that I have no idea what it is. I'd love to invite a friend or 2 over for some dinner, but I can't.

So this is my blog. I am going to try be a little less crazypants and a little more not so crazypants. Because let's face it, crazypants is fine. Too much crazypants is not.