Category Archives: general-post

Only kind of a pack rat…

I’m sitting here watching one of the latest episodes of the show Hoarders. The show shines a light on an issue that I think more people deal with than any of us realize. I would have never have called myself a hoarder, exactly, but I think I could have been considered something of a “packrat” at times.

Five years ago this weekend, Hurricane Katrina made landfall and caused extensive damage in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. I worked at a newspaper at that time, so I went back into my archive of articles written while I worked there. Ironically, the way our schedule landed, my column for two days after Katrina hit was entitled, “Cleaning out the clutter.”

An excerpt from that column:

I’m a packrat, and I admit it. I have a lot of STUFF in boxes all over the place, and I’ve recently began a massive project of going through all the boxes with the hopes of throwing things out.

I’m not doing too bad, as bag count has now hit around seven in this on-going project. Five of those bags were thrown out this last weekend.

Is there really any reason to still have a dress code for the school district I attended from 1987? What about a coupon for a free pizza that expired in 1998?

I have no idea how all of this stuff has accumulated over the last 25 years, but it has. My need to save everything under the sun is quickly going out the door along with a receipt for CDs purchased back in 1995.

[Read the full article here]

I think my biggest problem is my need to save receipts and statements. I’ll end up saving them for years and then doing  a mass shred/clean-up like the one I wrote about in that column. The problem is that I don’t save them in files. I have a great filing system set up! I just don’t USE it properly. It all goes in a box that then ends up in a bigger box that then gets shoved in a closet or under a desk.

I do have a method to my madness… generally. My husband tolerates it, but I know he’d rather see more paper clutter get out of the house all together. I’m trying to consciously change here and there to make my collection of receipts, etc. diminish.

I have a lot of books collected. I still have most of my college text books that some days I think I should have tossed. But I’ve recently discovered a need for some of those books. I’ve wanted to go back and re-study things I learned in college, and I am glad to still have those around.

I don’t buy CDs much any more. I do if it benefits a friend, but otherwise I’ve moved away from that. I’m still proud, though, of my nice CD collection. They’re all pretty old by now. Several of them I am sure are scratched. But they are fun to have to show how my musical tastes have changed over the years.

Past that, I have a few boxes of random items that I don’t need, but I’ve just never been able to bring myself to throw away. It’s these random items that makes me feel compassion towards the people on the show Hoarders. Sometimes, you can’t explain it… you just want to save something.

I don’t think I could ever be a full fledged Hoarder. If anything, over the last few years I’ve grown to love keeping things neat. I like to clean out my closet every few months. I have found a peace over my home exists when things are kept in good shape.  I can’t imagine living in a state of constant clutter, in a state of constantly being dirty. I need to vacuum. I need to sweep and mop.

I am a paper-clutter-pack-rat. And I admit that. But I vow its never going to go anywhere past that.

Bucket List Forward

I have a confession to make. I’m tapped out of ideas for today’s blog post. So I admit, I am totally cheating here. I got one of those “bucket list” forwards today, where its a list of random things and you put and X in front of the things you’ve done, then forward it on to others.

So, I though perhaps I would take that forward apart tonight and analyze it from my point of view…

( ) Shot a shot gun — I used to shoot my brother’s BB Gun! But, I do hope to some day get my concealed handgun permit and have one.

( ) Gone on a blind date — Nope! Didn’t date much before hubby, to be honest.

( ) Skipped school — Not on purpose. I missed a couple classes in college due to weather and/or over sleeping. But as for skipping school just to skip? Never did.

( ) Watched someone die — I am sure my time will come, and hopefully it’ll be a peaceful moment. But for now, having watched my cat die last month was enough.

127: Flying home( ) Visited Canada — Not yet, but perhaps some day! I know a lot of Canadians that I really like!

( ) Visited Alaska — The only state my husband has not yet visited. I would love to possibly some day do one of those Alaskan cruises. My aunt has taken one. So has my father-in-law.

( ) Visited Cuba — Not even on my radar.

( ) Visited Europe — YES YES YES I want to do this. This is literally on my bucket list.

( ) Visited South America — Not on my radar either.

(X) Visited Las Vegas — Can’t wait to go back! We have dear friends that live there that we’ve not seen in far too long. Hopefully sooner rather than later for us to get out that way again.

( ) Visited Mexico — Born and raised in Texas; never been to Mexico. I could be persuaded to go to certain areas of it, though.

(X) Visited Florida — I feel weird checking this because I was so young when I went that I don’t remember it at all. But, I suppose it counts. We have dear friends in Florida as well, so I suspect a road trip that direction will happen soon.

(X) Seen the Grand Canyon — I’ve seen it from an airplane. It counts, dang it! But, I would actually love to see it up close and really take it in.

(X) Flown on a plane — I’m a pro at it at this point.

( ) Served on a Jury — I had a jury summons, but a stomach virus that day sidelined me.

(X) Been lost — Seriously, if you’ve never been lost, you’ve not yet started to live.

(X) Traveled to the opposite side of the country — My husband is from Oregon. Love going up there!!

( ) Visited Washington, DC — Some day.

(X ) Swam in the Ocean — I’ve swam in the Gulf of Mexico, but that soooo doesn’t count. But I have gotten my feet wet in the Pacific Ocean in Oregon, which was incredible, but what was REALLY cool was swimming in the Pacific in Hawaii!

(X) Cried yourself to sleep — This is another one in which I think you haven’t lived if you’ve never done this. It happens in the hardest of times, which are the times in which we grow the most.

(X) Played Cops and Robbers — What do you think massive slumber parties are about?!

( ) Played Cowboys and Indians

081: Doodles(X) Recently colored with crayons — Great stress relief!

( ) Sang Karaoke — NOT ENOUGH ALCOHOL IN THE WORLD

(X) Paid for a meal with coins only — I’ve in the same breath written a check for less than a dollar.

( ) Made a prank phone call — Nope. I don’t like making normal phone calls!

(X) Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose — Best medicine in the world is a great laugh.

(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue — Magic.

( ) Have children — Hopefully soon!! We can’t wait.

(X) Had a pet — Dogs, cats and hampsters are my history of pets.

(X) Been fishing — You don’t live in the country and not go fishing!

(X) Been boating — Not enough, though.

( ) Been Water Skiing — I don’t think my shoulders could handle it, to be honest. I’m a wimp.

( ) Been Hiking

( ) Been camping in a trailer/RV

( ) Been camping in a tent — All of the above are things my husband and I have talked about doing at some point, though.

( ) Flown in a small 4-seater airplane — In no hurry to do so, either.

( ) Flown in a glider — I could be convinced!

( ) Flown in a helicopter — I’d love to try this one!

( ) Flown in a hot air balloon — I’d most definitely love to do this one, too!! Consider it also on  my official bucket list.

( ) Driven a Motorcycle — Much to my husband’s dismay, its not happened.

( ) Been bungee-jumping — Pass!

(X) Gone to a drive-in movie — I LOVE THE DRIVE IN MOVIE!!!

(X) Done something that should have killed you — I think simply the way I drove back in the day was pushing it. heh. I’ve slowed down. A lot.

(X) Done something that you will regret (feel sad about) for the rest of your life. — I’ve always tried to live my life with no regrets. Simply learn from your mistakes and never regret them. But, face it, sometimes we all handle things badly that we wish we could go back and change.

( ) Visited Africa – Not even on my radar.

( ) Ridden an elephant — No, but I have had my picture taken with one.

(X) Eaten just cookies for dinner — I’ve eaten cupcakes before dinner too. *gasp*

(X) Been on T.V. — I’m in a music video!

( ) Steal any traffic signs — I don’t know why you’d want to do that.

(X) Been in a car accident — A couple of them. *sigh* Luckily, none of them too serious, and I wasn’t hurt in any of them.

( ) Bailed out of Helicopter/Plane — No, but I do think Skydiving would be fun.

( ) Went Curling — And why, pray tell, would I even want to do this one?

Other things on my personal bucket list: Visit LA, New York City, Italy (specifically), and I’d love to see some of the most interesting sites of our country, Mount Rushmore and Old Faithful to name a couple. I want to have a book published and be hired out to speak at events. Even if i don’t really like public speaking all that much. LOL! Go figure. Things I HAVE done: be in a music video, witness the Grand Ole Opry from backstage, and graduated from Texas A&M University.

What are some of your “must dos” in life? What do you think of these generic lists that go around in email?