The Sad Truth about My Organizational Obsession Misplaced
AUTHOR: Carolyn Savage | POSTED: July 12, 2012 | COMMENTS: 16 Comments
CATEGORIES: Love This...Not So Much,
This week I’ve been cleaning and organizing my house. It seemed like the perfect opportunity. Sean and the boys are in Colorado and MK had gone for a week of grandparent-grandchild bonding. So, I’m at home with the twins, which has been heavenly, not only because I’ve enjoyed spending time with just them, but also because I need to clean. You see, we have camera crews coming next week and in the same way cameras add ten pounds to a body, they can make a little clutter look like a hoarder’s paradise.
Therefore, I slaved away in my basement today. Why? I’m not sure. I highly doubt Dateline wants to film our latest interview in my storage room. And I’m also quite certain the Discovery Channel isn’t going to shoot B-roll in my crawl space. But I can’t control the neverending “what if” scenarios that fly through my head and implore me to clean stupid stuff just in case. You know, “Just in case there’s a tornado warning and we have to all seek shelter amongst my tubs of decorations. I wouldn’t want the crews to know I’ve lazily stacked my Halloween sh*t with my Easter crap!”
Oh the horrors of being outed as a closet slob.
I have to say, the flawed logic of cleaning stupid stuff comes from my mom. She used to make me organize my drawers before company came. “You never know, Carolyn. A guest may need to borrow your Duran Duran t-shirt, and you wouldn’t want them to think you are sloppy!”
And so it rubbed off.
I do admit, organized spaces bring me joy. Nothing makes me smile more than my medicine cabinet.
I’m proud of it, and sometimes show it off at parties to oohs and ahs. I know my guests admire my organizational mojo, but my dirty little secret is, I’m not all that organized..anymore. There was a day, long, long ago (well—probably three kids ago) where if you stood idle long enough in my house, I was likely to categorize you with my most prized label maker. But now I’m just lucky to have my socks paired together. It’s amazing how the addition of three kids can lower one’s organizational standards.
I guess my struggle to keep my head above water when it comes to house work with a gaggle of kids, has caused me to rejoice at the smallest of organizational triumphs. Legos sorted by color make me smile. And a polished fridge…
…inspires a bounce in my step that screams, “ No one is going to get the SARS virus my kitchen!”
Unless they eat something from my kitchen…
…in my car.
My car is my messy place. I admit it. I usually have enough fast food remnants in there to keep us alive for a week,
…and my cup holders, when not occupied with flat diet Cokes, are usually sticky from granola crumbs…
..and pennies that have somehow adhered themselves with the force of cement. My car makes Sean crazy. (Which in a very twisted—and kind of spiteful—way, makes me just as happy as organizationed spaces.)
I will relent this week and vacuum my car, however. Just in case they want to film me driving, which they’ve actually done before. It was horrifying, not because I had a cameraman in my car as I picked Drew up from school, but because every time he switched positions he had to kick a fast food bag, or two, out of the way.
So pardon my absence, I’m cleaning my sock drawer…just in case!
Dateline is rerunning their story on us with a new ending. The tentative air date is Sunday, September 2nd. I’m hoping they are going to replace mu blubbering at the end, with footage of our joyful additions, Reagan and Isabella. We are filming with them on July 17th.
Our bigger upcoming commitment is three days of filming for a documentary produced by The Discovery Channel. This project has been in the works for quite a while, and both Sean and I are looking forward to completing it. The airdate isn’t set yet, but as soon as we know, I’ll pass it along!
Make sure to tune in.
You might be lucky enough to see my newly cleaned coat closet.
I know…so exciting!
Ha!!! My car sooo looks like yours! It’s a dumpster on wheels!
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Carolyn Savage Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Dumpster on wheels! Made me laugh! Thanks!
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Caroline you have me in stitches!! You write very well and with such humor….keep up the good work…Oh by the way I can relate to most of the stuff…
have fun
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Carolyn Savage Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Thanks! (And I didn’t pay this lovely lady to write that…FYI!)
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A little scary how similar we are. My car is a mess – which totally aggravates Rick. And there’s not much that makes me happier than when something is well organized. My junk drawer in the kitchen gets comments when people see it; my pantry does on its good days. Our linen closet would rival your medicine closet.
Hmmm…now I want to organize. Too bad I’m stuck at work….
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Carolyn Savage Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Oh Emily…I remember seeing pics of your laundry room (or something uberly-organized) on IVFC. I knew then that it was quite possible we were seperated at birth!
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No leftovers in your refrig lol. Either your family does not eat them so you do not save them or … you cook so well that they eat everything that you make.
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Carolyn Savage Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
The boys are out of town with Sean this week, so I haven’t cooked all week. I did just toss some taco meat that had been in there since…well…I honestly don’t know. Disgusting!
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I remember the color sorted Legos! Maybe the pressure of picking up toys with the boy added to my need for organization now.
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Carolyn Savage Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
You would remember the Legos! At least I didn’t get all “mommy-dearest” when the colors got mixed up. I admit, though, it did make me twitch a little!
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I think you should just pay the $30 and take your car in and get cleaned… no work for you and it will be perfect. Instead spend that precious time with the twins
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Carolyn Savage Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
I think that is the brightest suggestiong I’ve heard all day! Definitely on my list of things to do! (Although given the condition of the interior, it might cost me more than $30. Hazard pay will definitely be demanded!)
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I was so inspired by this post that yesterday I went to 2 Targets and found enough stacking plastic drawers to fit my linen/medicine closet. Then I took nearly everything out and sorted and tossed and organized. I don’t know why that was so much fun but it was! I’m almost done and I love how it looks. My husband gave me a label maker for Christmas that I have not used yet, so today I will label each drawer like you did. When it’s complete I’m going to want to show you a picture somehow. I’ve struggled with that closet for 22 years, but I never thought of using those little plastic drawers. Love your blog!
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Carolyn Savage Reply:
July 14th, 2012 at 7:41 am
Oh…so happy for you! Email me the pic in my through my “contact us” button and I’ll post it with pride of a proud OCD..I mean organizational mama!
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I just want to mention I’m beginner to blogging and truly savored your blog. Almost certainly I’ll want to bookmark your blog . You amazingly articulate with impressive article content. Thank you for sharing.
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[...] In fact, the only thing more attractive would be a man with a labelmaker. [...]
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