Bits and Photos

I confessed on the Chicago Cure Thread that I haven't been up to much this week. But it's not over yet, so I hold out hope. Stay tuned.In the meantime, a few bits:

1. There's been talk about hoarding at Alana's and Wende's, as well as a few places in the news (none of which I can find right now, naturally). For the record, here's what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it. I found it interesting all around, but this paragraph under "Risk Factors" caught my attention.

• Perfectionism. People with compulsive hoarding are often perfectionists. They worry about making the right decision about what to do with each possession — should they keep it or discard it? Trying to decide causes distress, so they avoid making a decision and simply keep everything.

2. Speaking of other people's blogs, I've been lazy about commenting both here and on flickr, but great job so far to everyone I've been following. Ditto for Wardrobe Therapy, for those playing.

I've got everyone I know of blogging the Cure over on the left - is there anybody else fabulous I should be watching?

3. Look! Photos!

The kitchen. At least the interesting part.


I rearranged the living room again. Best so far. What do you see for a coffee table? Shape, material, style?


Another shot. Hm, everything looks very close to the walls, doesn't it?


Finally got that cover on the couch! Should have done that ages ago.

Week 1: The Truth

Done:

• Dust, Sweep, Vacuum, Mop
  

• Flowers: One small bunch of daffodyls, which wilted before they fully opened.
  

• Removed: One sizable box of Goodwill stuff, including a stash of clothes that had been hiding out since Wardrobe Therapy. Also some trash and recyclables.
  


• Repair: patched one drywall hole.
  


• Repair: straightened all the switch plates and outlet covers. Hi, Dad.
  


• Repair: straightened tub overflow plate.
  


• Box: I actually resolved two boxes this week - but they were easy ones. Books and papers that should have gone to the office months ago. Still, they're not here anymore.
  

Budget Remaining: 95%

Highlights:

• Having my friends J & A (and baby T minus three weeks) over for dinner on Friday in an act of Cure-inversion.
  


• Lexi, the Drama Queen of Siam, getting her face stuck in an empty 3-ounce Ben & Jerry's carton (Cookie Dough, for the record).
  


• Finally getting the right size boots from Eddie Bauer - just in time to go outside without an overcoat.

(I also cooked at home and read before sleep and burned a scented candle - do I get advanced credit?)

Week One/Introduction/Before/Etc.

It's been great to see everyone's early Cure posts and planning. I do plan to post before shots, but first my schedule will have to line up with adequate lighting. I've changed some things since the last round and do have a few things planned for this one that might be interesting to look at. I also have a tripod now, so I should be able to get better shots. In the mean time, here's my plan:

• Follow the Deep Treatment plan, where not superfluous. That is, I don't need to revisit my choice of cleaning products, nor to buy another water filter. I do need to mop.
  
  
• Repairs. I've already confirmed that there aren't any big ones that need extensive planning or outside help, so I'll just deal with them each week, room by room.
  
  
• Side project: Curtains. I've already purchased rods for all four windows, have materials for making some of them, and have the others picked out. They should all be up by the end of this.
  
  
• Side project: Boxes. There are boxes in my spare room. I refuse to say that it's full of boxes (it's not! Really!). But it does contain boxes. Not boxes that were never unpacked from the move (though there might be a couple of those). But boxes. Some are empty. Some contain things that need to find a permanent home. Some I don't know how to describe. So: in addition to the Deep Treatment tasks, I will fully remedy one box per week.
  

The Rules:

• Put everything away.
  
  
• Only put things away in their permanent homes.
  
  
• Stick to the Cure Budget (which was chosen for 25% financial reasons and 75% to place a limit on the number of decisions that can be made Right Now). May be compromised in cases of extreme Furniture Karma.
  
  
• Report back here weekly.
  
  
• Tell the truth.
  

Time to Cure

Well, I think this snuck up on everybody, but it's time again for the Spring Cure. After a quick re-read of the book, my plan for this round is to adhere pretty closely to the Deep Treatment prescriptions (less the metaphysical stuff - I think once a year is enough for that part). I feel like I need a course of that kind of structure at the moment, plus it covers all the stuff I most need to get done just now. I know I won't be able to resist slipping in a few side projects, but those will have to be treated as dessert. I'll post pics and progress where applicable, and can't wait to see everyone else's work.

Back To the House, or, The Post You Thought You'd Never See

Consistent with my usual failure to follow through, I never really posted final pictures of my living room. This is mainly because I was really dragging my feet about the finishing touches. Eventually it got to the point where I just had to give in and decorate for Christmas. I'm ready now, so...

For reference, the before shots are here. The floorplan is approximately this.

Facing the window, the right wall. The couch cover project
is still not done. It will be brown and red.


Left wall. The reclining bookshelf wants to be a Danish Modern
sideboard when it grows up.

And center. Remember the comfy gold chairs?

The star of the show, Mr. Greek-Nationalist Canadian Table.


The Big Shelf, supporting my primary obsession.
Where did I put my books before I owned this monster?



A relatively recent acquisition, next to my etiquette book collection.
He weighs considerably more than a real cat.


Carmella, the overexposed Guatemalan angel.



I looked for years before I found a creche that I liked that didn't cost
hundreds of dollars. Found this last year. They sort of have faces.


Ethiopian Triptych. Not purchased in Ethiopia, in case
there was any confusion. Never been there.

Rather than the end-of-AT housewarming, I had resolved to do some heavy-duty cocooning, and then entertain a bit later on in the year. Honestly, I haven't yet followed through on my grand-scale cocooning event. I'll try again for New Year's Day. I did manage to follow through on the party, though, which just took place. It was a small gathering of young ladies from church for a Christmas party. We had lots of good food and nice Christmas music and played games. I may have to write more about it in future, as it's got me thinking hard about hospitality and what it means - the latest part of an ongoing internal conversation.

And in case I don't get a later chance to say it, Merry Christmas (or other preferred festivity) to all you lovely, smart, fun ladies!

Look look look look look look look look!!!

Edited - right photo this time.

Tada! Look who's here!

He's still getting settled in - his permanent home won't be in front of the big shelf - but he just wanted to say hi to everyone.

We're getting on splendidly so far.

Part of the packaging...

Adventures in Stating the Obvious

I'm messing with my color scheme. I'm sure to keep messing for quite a while. It might look a bit funny now and then. Like right now, for example. Work in progress. Also soul-searching for the proper balance of joy colors and avoidance of color promiscuity when I post pics. Feedback is welcome. Especially let me know if I do anything that makes your eyes hurt.

No LR shot today, the lighting's all wrong. Tomorrow.

Happy Friday everyone - though I'm sure we'll be talking, have a good weekend.

(Ikea Isn't Really) Just Like Heaven

Stopped by Ikea on after work to pick up a gross of bookends for the big shelf. (Well, it sure seemed like that many - the friendly yellow-shirted employee was amused by the quantity I actually did pick up and offered to get me a whole case. Fortunately, the big shelf isn't quite that big.) They were playing The Cure. Again.

Today's teaser is on the left here, but I also liked this version that I created by accident while editing:

Taking and posting all these little pictures actually gives me a real charge - it's a reminder that I've really gotten a lot of stuff done.

p.s. The temple bells came from Woodstock Chimes, a gift from a relative who works there. If you're into windchimes, by the way, these are the Cadillac.

Current score: Slow Drain, 4; Mella, 0.

Calling the landpersons tomorrow. Grrr.

(Most people would have done that several days ago, but in non-emergency situations, I like to try whatever I can think of to see what works. One of my college professors liked to say that chemical engineering (my field) is just the love child of math and plumbing. Perhaps I haven't been doing enough math.)

In happier news, the Law of Furniture Karma has acted in its own mysterious way, as predicted, and this handsome fella is on his way from Ottawa to my house. While the floor-to-ceiling MCM look leaves me pretty cold (the phrase fashion victim comes to mind not infrequently), I do believe that a Danish Modern table is a Joy Forever.

Alas, he won't make it in time for the final photo shoot this time around, but that's ok. The loveseat is kind of anxious about meeting him and still doesn't have a thing to wear. In the meantime, want another peak at the living room? Right. Here:

Kitchen Details

Back to the kitchen for some finishing touches and some of those little things Alana was talking about:

I found this clock at a thrift store on Saturday and thought it would jive with the Warhol Kitchen.

Factory cool, yes? Here it is in context:

Speaking of Warhol, Sam, Sam and Sam have a new friend...Sam!

To explain: I fell in love with Blue Sam and Green Sam at a shop in Maine last year, and brought them home with me. When I moved in here, I knew I wanted to put them in the dining corner, but really needed a third Sam. The best option I could find to get my hands on Red Sam was a 2-for-1 with Gold Sam thrown in. I didn't think I'd care for Gold Sam, so I planned to go forward with the vignette of three. But Gold Sam got under my skin, so now he's up too.

Come on, who could resist those eyes?

I do have one other piece of cat art in the kitchen, that you can just see on the fridge in the Gold Sam picture above.

My Sister the Blonde Artist did this when she was about 13 in Microsoft Paint. Yeah.

And, since we were talking clocks up at the top there, here's another peak at the living room.

The Final Lap

I guess we're beginning the descent now. So much done! So much still to do! So many flowers!

I'll spend the time on general cleaning and tidying and finishing up living room stuff. The couch cover project had to go on hold for a bit because my hands weren't cooperating this weekend (I have occasional bouts of mild arthritis related to a medical issue - nothing serious, but enough that I know when to take it easy). Better now, but I'm not going to have time to finish it up in the evenings. I don't care to sew in short bouts, and still have other things to do. It's one thing I really wish I could get done, though - and the couch is looking really sad the way it is. Soon, though.

In the meantime, do you want a sneak preview of the living room? Of course you do. Here:

Where Ikea gets its inspiration.

Presenting, the namesake:

Never noticed this before, don't know how old it is. It doesn't exactly stir my soul, but whatever, I'll take my 15 minutes. And since my real name couldn't be remotely construed to be Scandinavian, it's probably the best I'm going to get.

Belated Bathroom

Thought I might as well post the finally straightened out bathroom (vanity portion). Yet again, nothing special, but I'm glad I was given the motivation to straighten it out.

Here it was a few weeks back in just-moving-in state.

And here it is now, largely courtesy of BB&B next to my office.

Now if only I can figure out a way to stop splashing water everywhere.

Ok, I take it back.

So remember how I said I'd just be working on the living room from here on out? Well I'm a big, fat liar. (Not really - I'm just a liar of medium height and build. But whatever.) The living room is still on track, but I've been inspired in other areas. Here's what I've done so far:

• The bedroom: I have a few things to straighten up and clean that I'm still working on, nothing big. But I also made the definite decision to purchase a new mattress sooner, rather than later. Not happening right away, but it's definitely on the list now. A new bed will follow eventually. These are genuine "needs" that I just hadn't decided how to prioritize. So that's my big Cure accomplishment for Bedroom Week.

• Shopping. I started out last month with a Cure budget and a plan to devote most of it to living room protein purchases (tables, anyone?). To stay focused on the larger purchases, I decided to actively avoid some of the smaller ones for the moment, where I could easily make do with what I've got. We're talking soap dispensers and things of that ilk, but a good number of them. Well, time marches and plans change, and I came to a couple of realizations:
  

1. I'm not going to do as much LR purchasing as I thought, at least not right away, mostly because the right pieces haven't manifested yet. I know they will, as per Wende's Law of Furniture Karma (my term - I'd link to prior references but I can't find any). But I won't be incurring most of those expenses right away.
   
   
2. All those make-do things...I already know exactly what I want to replace all of these, and can trade up on them all for a pretty paltry sum.

Fortunately, with the furniture purchases postponed, I had a spare paltry sum on hand, so I did a little big box shopping after work. And things are good. Pics soon.

• Fixed the internet access issue. Finally.

Things I still plan to do:

1. Fix the cord-n-cable situation, now that the tech issues are resolved.


2. Little more shopping for things I haven't found yet.


3. Fix newly-developed tub drain clog, and/or call landpersons. Grrrr.


4. Necessary tidying.


5. Make a good start on the loveseat cover this weekend, after I...


6. ...finish the bookshelf setup (I've stalled out).

This weekend looks promising - it's supposed to rain.

Bad Housekeeping, Part 1

Confession: I have a shoe problem. Not the shoe problem you're likely thinking of - though I probably own more pairs than I strictly need, I have considerably fewer than most of the women I know, due in part to being both extremely picky and a difficult fit, the latter making shoe shopping a distinctly non-recreational activity.

No, I came head-to-head with my problem the other day when I was straightening up my living room (that's why I can call this quasi-cure related). The problem is this: I can't put shoes away. Really! I think it might be a disorder. I found literally every pair of shoes I own for normal wear (basically excluding just eveningwear and winter boots) scattered more or less homogeneously around the front room.

I don't take my shoes off immediately when I come home, unless they're wet or something; I don't generally walk around barefoot except just before and after bed. But when I do eventually take them off, they never, ever, make it to my closet. I always have shoes strewn about everywhere. It sometimes makes for problems getting dressed in the morning. And I've been this way for years.

Does anybody know how to fix this?

p.s. - That shoe in the pic? I have those. In navy. I wore them yesterday. It was weird to find them in stock photo.

Week 6 "Let's Call It Progress Anyway" Report

I'm actually pleased enough with what I got done this week, even though it's less than I had planned on, which was already less than I would have liked to do. Most of the week was eaten up by a business trip to Buffalo (motto: We have more Canadian flags than Canada!). Not the most exciting place to be, but I got to see the parents and the Sullivan architecture downtown, so all's well. But of course I couldn't clean the bathroom from 500 miles away. I also found the travel took a lot out of me, physically, and I've had to take care to rest up to nurse the fatigue and aches and pains...which also put a damper on the bathroom cleaning, etc., and may continue to do so.

So, since both time and physical capacity are running short, I think I'm switching off to the one-room remedy, so that I can actually manage to wrap up the living room. Since that was my most important goal from the beginning, I'm not disappointed.

So anyway, what did I do this week:

1. Cleaned bathroom (I did the "cleaning" but not as much of the "ordering" as I would have liked - but it's started, and it's good enough for now.)
2. Improved but didn't finalize bathroom organization.
   
3. Dealt with a Laundry Situation (which wasn't on the list, but probably should have been).
4. Dealt with new mail.
5. Bought Week 7 flowers last night.
   

Here's my list for the rest of the Cure:

1. Finish setting up the big shelf.
2. Finish loveseat recover.
3. Hang stuff on LR walls.
4. Resolve internet issue (something else I couldn't do from out of town) and,
5. Finalize cord situation.
6. Shopping list: end tables, lamp and throw blankets.
   
7. Clean all floors.
   
8. Planning for the housewarming cocoon party.
9. Get enough rest, so I can actually accomplish the above without damaging myself.
   

Go to bed early and read before sleep.

Inquiring bookworm-apartment-curators everywhere want to know - what's on your bedside table?

In this week's "reading before sleep," I finished up The Monsters of Templeton, an incredible first offering of Lauren Groff. It won't be published until next year - I managed an advance copy from B&N - but it'll be worth the wait. Such an engaging story, set in a fictionalized Cooperstown, NY. It's deserving of a full review, which I haven't written yet, but which will be up on QB (my book blog) within the week, I hope.

When I finished Templeton, I had emptied my bookshelves for the living room rearrange, so my books were stacked on the floor and I couldn't easily take my pick. So, I've been perusing a couple of nonfiction favorites, which I'm now realizing are going to look pretty esoteric...

The Existential Pleasures of Engineering probably has very limited appeal, but it's a lovely 1976 celebration of the intrinsic value of engineering as a social contribution as well as a spiritually fulfilling pursuit - something that was sometimes hard to appreciate in the aftermath of the "better living through science" era. Things don't change so much in thirty years, and it's good to be reminded of the better reasons I have for doing what I do. The sense of fellowship with my antecedents is even better.





Markings is one of those books that always seems to hold a few more mysteries than you can detect. It's the strange part-diary, part-memoir, part-book of quotations left behind by Dag Hammarskjold before his unexpected death in 1961. Being "translated" by W.H. Auden (who, no, didn't speak Swedish) makes it all the more fascinating. His loneliness and brilliance are absolutely palpable; his acceptance of destiny and the burdens of power, humbling in the extreme. Perusing this in the silence and low light of the late evening is powerful, and only for select moods.


Last night I started in on Devil in the White City and I'm hooked already.

So, please, tell me...what are you Reading Before Sleep?

A Progress Report.

First off, I may or may not be offline for much of the week. So no worries. ;-)

What did I accomplish this week? Well, not dealing with my files, but I think that may have been shooting to high, anyhow. I did a fine job of cooking at home, eating at home, going to bed (mostly) and reading. I media-fasted more than I had planned, due to an unexpected ISP interruption that I still haven't resolved, and which also interfered with my plans for cordipus wrangling (didn't want to go unplugging everything until I figured out what was wrong).

Soap and water and a lot of scrubbing ultimately worked on the makeup problem, though I'm still finding drips there and about.

Biggest task was rearranging the living room furniture, particularly the big shelf. That was a pain, but I'm really liking the direction things are going in there. The immediate shopping list is down to a few end tables and possibly a hanging lamp - could do more, but I'm not up to the pressure of finding all the right pieces in the next three weeks.

Week 6 To-Do, abbreviated due to non-cure-related obligations:

1. Clean the bathroom.
2. Organize the bathroom and linen closet.
3. Finish filling/arranging the big shelf.
4. Deal with all mail.
   
5. Go to bed early and read before sleep.

A quick housekeeping question...

I had a fairly catastrophic morning, which involved: massively oversleeping, snagging things, spilling things, spilling more things, changing clothes three times, changing shoes twice, and winding up a full hour late at the end of it all.

The whole ordeal culminated when I was putting on my makeup and somehow flung an open bottle of liquid foundation literally half way across the house. Which leads to my question: Does anybody know how to get makeup out of carpet?

To-Do: Week 5

Happy Thanksgiving, Canadians!

On Saturday, I was remarking to myself that the Week 3 flowers still looked just like new, despite being over a week and a half old.

When I got up Sunday morning, this is what I saw:

This week I bought orange mums in an attempt to pretend it's actually autumn outside. Actually, the heat broke late today so things might be back to normal.

This week's hybrid list:

1. Clean office area and related closets. Since the coat closet is mostly full of paper, I guess that counts. I'll have to clean it out to do the file thing anyhow.


2. Dust, vacuum, mop. I'm no good at cleaning, I might as well admit it.
   


3. Declutter and organize files. This probably wasn't realistic to begin with.
   


4. Tackle the cord octopus. Unexpected ISP interruption made this impractical. But it's started.
   


5. One-day media fast. Gladly!


6. Buy fresh flowers.


7. Cook three meals at home.


8. Eat at home Sunday-Thursday.


9. Go to bed early and read before sleep. I'll give myself a high B- on the "early" part, middle A on the "read" part.
   


10. Rearrange livingroom furniture.


11. Decide what else I'm going to buy for the living room right now.
12. Fix one thing. Cleaning up all the makeup I threw around on Wednesday will have to count for this. It took long enough.