Coming Clean 07/20/2009
 

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?

 


Comments

ZB
07/21/2009 07:08

Lol, can't really relate because I'm the clean, neat one in my family and I love cleaning but I've heard your line many, many times.
My rule is clean as you work so that it doesn't build up. It takes me about 2-5 extra minutes to actually do that but it always pays back because I'm not left with any accrued interest.
Maybe once you do it and you see how good it feels and how easy it is, it will start becoming a habit.
I hope it doesn't take away from your writing though...

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shani
07/22/2009 08:58

I love everything clean and orderly! I didn't always, you can ask my mother about my room:) also, I think that if your house is clean and neat, its a calmer place for everyone.

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Riva link
07/23/2009 03:03

Wouldn't you know it--it's all the neat freaks coming out of their (clean) closets to comment! :-) Yeah, ZB, you're totally right. If I'd do a little every day it wouldn't be as overwhelming, but I'm way too free-spirited to do anything consistently!

And Shan, you, of course, are right as well. In a future blogpost I will write, be"H, about a very strange epiphany I had on exactly the point you made. Curious?!!! :-)

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Ronit
07/26/2009 22:59

Riva, I have a theory that artists (and that would include writers) tend to care less about neatness. What do you say?

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Riva link
08/19/2009 02:06

Ronit, I'm with ya. So now here's the question: is qualifying as an "artist" another way of saying, "My house is a mess!" Now here's the real question, Ronit...Are YOU an artist?! :-)

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