So ... today's earlier post was basically a moment of zen ... a moment of much-needed calm ... in a weekend of back-breaking labor.
The goal was to get the house ready to go on the market by the end of the month. Okay ... so that goal might've been a little over-optimistic. But still ... the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step ...
It started Friday. I had a dumpster delivered and took the day off work. I spent seven hours filling garbage bags, walking to the edge of the porch, and pitching them about three or four feet into the dumpster. The first day I cleaned out most of the kitchen cabinets and all of the pantry. I threw away everything in the back room ... and the rest of the items in the closet in the dining room. I finished the day by going upstairs and making sure the headboard was cleared off and everything was neat ... because ...
Saturday, Stoney and I went to the house first thing in the morning and met College One and her Mom and Step-Dad. The five of us moved the couch and coffee table out ... then we went upstairs and moved out the king size bed, box springs, frame, and headboard. They helped me do a few odd things ... like moving down the queen size mattress and putting it in the dumpster ... then left to go unload while Stoney and I continued our day. He went to the store and ran errands while I continued cleaning and pitching.
Today I got up early, headed over to the house, for day three of my dumpster rental. My old bedroom is completely empty. I also finished probably 2/3rds of the twin's room. There's still a lot to do in there ... but Stoney offered to help me with it tomorrow. While I fill a couple tubs with pics from my Dad's family, and fill a few more garbage bags, Stoney is going to take apart the queen size box springs. It won't fit down the stairs ... so we're having to actually break it apart to get it out of the house.
There's still a lot of odd things left to do ... a handful of kitchen cabinets still to clear ... the twin's closet ... things like that. Then there's one big ... big ... thing left. The basement. It's bad. Really bad. I lived with someone who had hoarder tendencies ... and the basement was his domain. Now ... now it's my domain. And I don't want it. This is where things have become difficult ...
A lot of people have offered to help ... First Wife ... my Mom ... Stoney. So many people have offered to help me clean this house out ... and I just can't do it. There's so much clutter ... so much junk that needs to be pitched. And I don't feel right about having anyone else come in to do it. It stresses me out to the point I can't function.
In a perfect world, I would've taken this whole week off work and used the entire week to pitch and clean. But ... it's not a perfect world.
Because that's the thing ... after all this dumping is done? THAT is not the end. I still have to clean. The refrigerator is filthy ... and I can't blame that one on anyone but me. I have everything cleaned out ... but I'm going to have to take the shelves out and scrub them ... all of it. It's just a mess. The kitchen floor? That needs a lot of cleaning. The living room carpet is going to need a professional cleaning ... as will the back room. Oh and I also need to have someone pour new front steps.
Yes ... January 30th was overly optimistic. But ... I'm getting there. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a pin prick .... but it's there.
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and
Make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me
Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me
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