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Monday, December 19, 2011

I used to be a better housekeeper

 
If you came to my house a few years back it would’ve been a lot cleaner. You wouldn’t have seen dust bunnies on the stairs or cobwebs in the corner. The top of my lawyers bookcase would’ve been gleaming. The floors would be freshly vacuumed and mopped, the counters clear, and everything would be in it’s place.

See, I used to do a much better job.*  I would clean every single Saturday or Sunday without fail. Wash all the sheets, shake the rugs, mop, etc. But now, well, now I write instead of clean. Sort of like I write instead watch tv. And even, occasionally, write instead of work (hey, that’s what personal days are for, right?). 

I'll admit sometimes it bothers me - the dust not the skipping work - especially when there's swirls of dog hair floating down the stairs as I pass. Or I step on something sticky (and I HATE sticky). At this point I usually get out the dustpan, or sponge. Usually. But like I said; I'm not the housekeeper I was.

I am, however, a much better writer and I don't know about you but I'd much rather be known for that rather than my housekeeping skills. I mean, it's not like there's any awards or prizes for keeping a clean house. I've never heard of "Housekeeper of the Year." And you'd never see "She was a good mother and a great housekeeper" written on anyone's gravestone, right? 

But this might be nice:

She wrote well. 




*I also had a vacuum cleaner that worked but we’ve already talked about that.

22 comments:

  1. Dust bunnies are our friends!
    :-)

    Take care
    x

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  2. Surface dirt is all right. Just keep telling yourself that!

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  3. Man, can I relate to this post, Marcy. I desperately need a housekeeper. lol

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  4. i used to clean every sunday as well. Now, not so much. Sometimes it bothers me, but then i look at all the novels and short stories i've written.
    Elizabeth Bear says "no writer ever had a clean house" and i tend to agree with her.
    Also, for some reason, my work pc blocks your blog now as "porn" i don't know what's up with that

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  5. Dirt and unwashed dishes add character to a house :) (That's what I tell myself anyway)

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  6. Here here! When my family asks me on Christmas day why my house isn't clean, I hope you don't mind if I point them over to this blog post. Because writing is way more important than DUSTING.

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  7. I write instead of watch TV too -- except when CHUCK is on.

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  8. Writing is such a nice way to pass the time. And you're write, having a really clean house doesn't look so awesome on your tombstone.

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  9. Ha--we should form a club! love your header pic up there!

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  10. I have never ever been a housekeeper and never will be. Sadly, I wait until someone is coming to visit, which seldom happens here, or I begin to smell things. I know. It's gross.

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  11. it doesnt bother me, but the people i live with are starting to realize what i used to do for them... i'm a terrible housekeeper, but if you visit (expectedly) you'd not know, its the surprise visits. ah well!

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  12. When people ask me how I do it all, the first thing I say is "My house is a disaster and I'm a negligent parent". Now my kids are TEENS. They prefer me negligent. (and I do take breaks for some quality time sometimes) but I so hear you. Then, I've never been a great housekeeper (as long as we're confessing, I've never WANTED to be a great housekeeper)

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  13. When it comes to the end you are hardly likely to say "I wish I had swept more"

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  14. Yeah, that balance of doing everything perfect just...well...it extists somewhere but not at my home.

    And dust bunnies are cute after a while...sort of.

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  15. I was never a good house keeper. Cleaning is kind of boring to me – plus I rarely have company (the kids don’t care how the house looks). There's no need to mop the floors because the dogs keep it clean for me. I don't dust...the layer accumulated actually gives my shelves 'personality'. I hide everything under my carpet - the huge lumps are notorious for causing sprained ankles. And I only do laundry once everyone has worn their underwear twice - you know, wear them the correct way, then flip it inside out and wear them again. I call it, "Going Green'. It's all about conserving the Earth.

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  16. I used to be waaaaaay too concerned with keeping a clean house. I mean, really, you could eat off my floor. But, who WANTS to eat off the floor, right? Since my hubby retired ten years ago, I've gotten much more relaxed. (The first time he complained because I was steam cleaning the carpet when he was trying to take a nap, I got the message!) Besides, like you say, when I die, I don't want people to sigh and say, "Man, she sure kept a clean house."

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  17. Still having vac issues, ha ha. I get twitchy if the house isn't sparkly but I can work like a whirling dervish to get it done knowing the lovely prize of writing is waiting.

    Oh and got your email re chapter critique. I'm thinking of sending one...

    Happy Christmas!

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  18. Writing is WA-A-AY better than cleaning.

    After all, when you're done cleaning, what have you got? A house that's starting to get dirty again even as you finish.

    When you're done writing, you've got something that lasts. (at least until you revise it.)

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  19. I had a feeling I wasn't alone :)

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  20. I'd rather have, "She wrote well," than, "She kept a clean house."

    Sometimes we have to prioritize!

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  21. Hahaha..I think i agree with you 100%! I used to work and have time for people but just not anymore! I have actually had to take leave from my blog so as to spend the holidays with family and friends with my laptop shut.. but i have a feeling that will not be for as long as i have planned.. Happy Holidays former housekeeper of the year! :)

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  22. Not my cup of tea either. I don't like dust and dirt, but I don't like cleaning it all up even more. We have a nice lady come in once a month to keep it from getting too bad.

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