I realized something recently. I've spent the past almost 20 years accumulating things to make a comfortable and interesting home for my family. In particular, the quantity of child-related items increased probably exponentially every year since Greyson was born. However, in the last two or so years, I've been getting rid of things. Apparently, around 2009 was the apex of number of material possessions in my life. And I'm being brutal. Like those warehouse clearance ads on TV, "Everything must go!"
I bring this up because recent events have spurred this cleansing process on substantially. I keep track of our budget and finances with an online service (mint.com in case anyone is interested), and I see where we could cut costs. We have some specific improvements we want to do to the house, so any extra money saved gets us closer to those, of course. In fact, every time I go into the basement and feel the 20 degree change in temperature, I start looking for money in the sofa to get us closer to the gas fireplace insert down there! Anyway, one thing we want to cut is the newspaper delivery. Dan mentioned to Greyson that we are switching to just weekend delivery, and Greyson said, "But Dad, I read the comics every day. And I'm following the Dimora trial!" Now, I'M not even following that trial (short, short version - corruption and racketeering within the city government, or something). And I certainly don't want him to! So, we'll be saving $22 every month or so AND we get the bonus of not having to debrief our 11 year old.
The other recent even that occurred was a nasty sewer smell in the unfinished side of our basement. Really, it was nauseating and hit you straight on when you opened that door. I poured water down the drain, as I learned I was supposed to, and then poured some more down when that didn't seem to help, and after about 2 weeks the smell diminished. However, there was still a smell down there, and I called a plumber to come and take a look. When he said he could come on Wednesday morning, the day I "work from home", I stopped what I was doing and cleared out a pathway so he could get to the drain and other pertinent areas easily. WELL, I found the source of the rest of the smell. Not one but TWO dead mice. Right by all our stuff that was piled up in and next to bins. GAHHHH! So, I got a trash bag and some bleach and went to town while trying not to gag and/or go into convulsions from the disgustingness. And the first thing on my list to do when the semester ends is, once again, go through the basement and attic and really clear out everything we don't absolutely need. My mom may have to make sure she is nowhere near here, because it pains her to watch me throw out things that maybe will be used at some point. Granted, I do give a lot of things away, but let me tell you, if I think a mouse has even breathed on an item, it is going straight to the trash. Honestly, it's very freeing.
Finally, a third way that I am simplifying things for myself (in the long run - it actually makes more work for me right now) is by encouraging Greyson's interest in cooking. Yesterday he (with my help) made Asian lettuce wraps. And they were GOOD. Unfortunately, I was so thrilled (and hungry) that I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. If I can get him to start dinner before I get home, things could seriously calm down around here. And maybe I won't have to hit the wine and chocolate quite so hard while keeping an eye out for nasty rodents. I can dream...
