October 29, 2003

    I have been completely cranky and unproductive for the last two days.  Not just normal cranky, either, but that horrible moody cranky that collapses into random bouts of irrational despair, complete with crying fits.  Things that would normally fall under the category of "minor drag" have had me on an emotional roller coaster.  I would swear I was super-bad PMSing, except it's about two weeks two late for that.  I really don't know what's going on.  The only good thing is that it seems to be coming to an end.  And my stupid computer class was canceled tonight, so I can stay at home and not face the big bad world.  I hope my mood improves in the next few days, because I'm having a hard time working on anything creative, in my present state.  I took a character profile questioner with me to school, and sat in the back of my anthro class so I could work on fleshing out some of my characters while pretending to listen to the lecture, but even that proved to be too emotionally straining. 

    I blame the time change.  Stupid time change.  Who's stupid idea was that anyway?  "I know!  Let's change the time!  That will be great!"  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

    At least the weather is getting cooler.  I don't always like winter, because I get cold easily, and I have a hard time remembering to dress warm enough.  What can I say?  Einstein left his house without his pants.  I leave my house without a warm enough jacket.  But I figure that if it's going to look like winter outside, then it might as well feel like winter.  Then, at least, I can bundle up in all my sexy thermal and fleece, and drink some tea, and hide from the cold darkness outside.  Even if it's only 5:45 pm.

    I finally saw that show "Clean Sweep" on TLC.  I caught it towards the end, during the garage sale, so I didn't see the "before" shots until the very end, at which point I nearly spit my tea across the room.  I was expecting clutter, but this was really disturbing.  Not only did the featured couple have crap piled everywhere, but they had a lot of really nice crap piled everywhere.  Two incomes, two shopping addictions. 

    At least, that was the obvious situation to me.  It didn't seem like this was ever addressed, however.  Yeah, a lot of stuff was thrown out, and a lot of stuff was sold, but there was nothing even mentioning the fact that these people were going to have to stop buying stuff if they wanted to stop living like this!  When the show was over, the couple still had way too much stuff to be able to manage, and the crew had brought half a dozen new pieces of furniture into the house.  And redecorated for them.

    I liked the premise, but it needs to be a lot more severe.  This couple's house will be back to looking like the "before" pictures in a matter of months.

    The reason I wanted to watch this show because VSC's mother is apparently a big fan, and wants me to come in and do the Clean Sweep routine on all of her stuff.  Now, VSC's mother doesn't have enough clutter to make it on the show (at least, not judging from this episode) but there is plenty for me to work with.  I've been thinking about it ever since VSC told me that last Friday, and I'm getting really excited about the idea.  I like getting rid of junk.  More specifically, I like reducing the amount of junk present in peoples' lives--whether it's my life, or somebody else's.  I've been on a path of decluttering for about two years now.  My taste has just changed to the point where I don't like having all the little junky stuff around.  The house is now at a point where it is easy to clean and take care of, and we have a place for everything (without even shoving anything under the bed).  But I 'm ready for another wave of getting rid of stuff.  I still like the decorative things that we have on display (our house is by no means minimalist) but I'm tired of the stuff we don't use.  All the toys, figures, cards, and "collectable" things that we've been intending to sell.  I'm just ready to be without it.

    So anyway, I'm a fan of getting rid of stuff, and having a simpler lifestyle.  And I think I'd be a good person to help other people get rid of their crap.  I'm getting to the point where I have very little sentimental attachment to useless things, and I can be ruthless when it comes to the question of "keep or chuck?"  Just ask Dilemma Woman--I dragged her though this same process a year or two ago.  And VSC and I have done this several times.

    The scary thing is, I like it.  I really really enjoy making people rid themselves of all their unnecessary crap.  Not in a sadistic way, more in a helpful way.  I love the way you can see a space transform into a usable room.  Helping people declutter is like watching their facade being chipped away until their true personality is revealed.  Even if you have known that person for years, it's always a new experience, watching them decide which of there possessions may stay, and which must go. 

    So, yes, VSC.  Go ahead and tell your mother that I would love to come over and rid her of her crap.  It would be my pleasure.  And I'll be a lot more ruthless than any TV crew.