If I had a quarter for everyone who asks me: "How do you find the time to write so much?" I'd be one rich little girl. Filthy rich, actually, because my standard response is, "I write during the times that most people are probably cleaning their houses." Gulp. Well, today I forayed into exactly that Windex-perfumed world, kicking and screaming, in the interest of impressing my wonderful mother who is coming tomorrow. (Vague snippets of teenage memories bounce around my head as I grab the mop, a dozen years later..."Riva--clean your room!" "How do you find anything in this pig-sty?!" Betcha can't relate.)

For the greater good, I am willing to sacrifice my private, inner thoughts on this experience, by offering them up on the altar of public bloggitude. I'm sure you will all be that much more enriched. Here are some thoughts on housecleaning:

1. It's actually really enjoyable.
2. Bleach makes me dizzy.
3. Never knew the laundry room could look so darn good!
4. It's addictive. Now that the sink's sparkling, before I know it, I'm attacking the bathtub!
5. It takes a long, long time.
6. Especially in places where age-challenged homo sapiens tread (read: young children, but politically correct is all the rage these days!), my handiwork lasts nanoseconds.
7. I could do this more often.

Do you like to clean? More importantly, how do you find the time?