the truth

Jim's new view:

In the cleaning process I found:  2 movie passes, a birthday card to Ras (from February!),  a sealed letter addressed to Mandy (from who knows when!), and space for my water on my own desk.  While the newfound order is nice, here's the naked truth - cleaning had nothing to do with either order or the state of my union. 

Jim built me a new computer this week.  And it could not come home to disaster.  Because this computer is "sick" (his words).  And I'll share some other words of his from a few days ago.

     J:  I don't think you fully appreciate how nice your new computer is or what it can actually do.

     A:  (doubtful look with silent "is he serious?")

     J:  (doubtful look with glaring "you're unworthy of this RAM")

     J:  Are you even excited?    

     A:  I cleaned the room.  I'm excited. 

     J:  I don't know if you deserve this.

     A:  I'm pretty sure I don't.  

We had this issue once before.  When my reaction was not enough.  Christmas 2002, our first one married.  He insisted that I unwrap my gifts from him in front of Tonya and Daniel, who were living with us at the time.  Well, that kind of attention flat out does me in.  So when I opened gift after gift with a fidgety, half-giggled "thank you" on my lips, disappointment clearly dressed his features. 

     J:  You didn't like anything.

     A:  I did. 

Well, six years later I'm prepared to tell the truth.  I did not like the tan pleated pants.  I do not like opening presents in front of people.  And I really, really, really, really, really like my 3 gigahertz dual-core CPU. 

Comments

[Tiffany]

"cleaning had nothing to do with either order or the state of my union" Love this! I'll take motivation from whatever source. A new computer coming sounds like a wonderful reason to clean. How great for you! (And you are certainly worthy of any RAM you get!)

I let piles bug me for a while (or ignore them) and then when they finally get taken care of I'm wondering why it took me so long--everything looks so nice--it wasn't that terrible to clean. It's a strange thing why I leave them there in the first place...

[Rachel]

Wow, that IS a lot of RAM. I am green with envy.

Love the new room.

And Kent absolutely understands your position on opening gifts in front of people. Not a fan at all. You can guess how he feels about family Christmas exchange at my family's house. That is a LOT of people.

[kim sue]

my husband still struggles with the fact that I do not like to open presents in front of others....but after almost 14 years he is learning to accept it :o) your room looks great and I am sure you will really, really, really, really, really, really enjoy your "sick", tricked out new toy!

[Mandy]

Your room looks great! I always feel so much better after doing something like that. Closure, at least for a while.

I have trouble opening gifts in front of other people too.

[Kelly]

You've been busy! I just want to see all the things you've been photoshopping since setting up said "sick" computer!

[Melissa M.]

Good show Amy! I love before and afters.
I think we need to paint in there, perhaps a lovely lion surrounded by daisies?

[Mandi]

Looks great! Now the hard part is keeping it that way -- at least for our computer room that's the hard part - it always goes back to messy no matter what I do.

[michelle]

Nice work! I immediately noticed your computer and thought, "Oh, she has her OWN computer! How great would that be?" Now that I know it's a sick computer, I'm even more jealous.

It's hard to be a good reactor. I disappoint my husband constantly.

[Angie]

It looks great! I always love finishing a big cleaning/organizing project.

[April]

How do you have a husband that can "build" a computer? Now that takes "handy" to a whole other level!! I'm jealous of the skills as much as the RAM. In my relationship, I'm the one who's constantly saying, "You don't like it do you? Do you REALLY like it? I can tell you don't like it." Etc. Hmmm...perhaps this is too much pressure? I cannot believe that I could be overbearing in any way. That doesn't sound like me at all.

[Leilani]

Looks great - want to come tackle mine? I used to get so worried at my birthday parties - about having to be excited about the presents.

[Barb]

The teen lingo is cracking me up. We are totally confused in our communication around this house because of the new meaning of *sick*.
What wouldn't I give to have a computer all my own! Are you sharing this one with the family or is it all yours?

[ruby red]

Separate computers save marriages more than clean offices. Although fairly positive you have had your own computer before this at least it looks that way from the pictures.

[Shanon]

HAHAHAHA!!! Dido!! Jared keeps asking me if I like my new computer and how it is working. I keep trying to be my excitedest (I know I made that up) but anyways, I don't really know what else I can say. I really like my new keyboard! I am so with you on the gifts. Jared is now not allowed to buy me gifts anymore. He has tried but after this last one he has given up and I told him to please STOP trying!!

[Michelle M]

How fun to get a new RAM! Computer talk cracks me up. You did a GREAt job at cleaning u your office. :)

[Jill]

I have RAM envy! I am constantly having to delete things from our hard drive because it's so full it's running slow. It's maddening and really doesn't improve things enough to warrant the effort.

I love a freshly cleaned and organized office (or anything really) so I commend you for your efforts. You're worthy of the RAM.

[Jill]

P.S. I'm an absolute chump when it comes to opening gifts in front of people, even if I really like what I get. But tan, pleated pants would have done me in for sure.

[Megan]

Nice work Amy, I just assumed you never got around to cleaning. Call me sometime I need to talk to you about pictures.

[Neighbor Jane Payne]

Oh Amy...I'm glad to here there is someone else that hates the attention of a crowd. I was so glad I lived in the day when you had a gift attendant open your wedding gifts and display them at the wedding rather than the couple open them.

[Elizabeth]

Looks great. I wonder if I will ever get to the stage where I don't have to shut a door. My bedroom looks like a big laundry basket right now.

[Wendy]

Loved the comments about the things you unearthed in the process (this would be me to a T). What a fabulous job you did. I have enjoyed your blog. You deserve a nice space to work in when you write it.

[Annalisa]

Wow. That was a lot of cleaning. How long did that take you? Ans I get mad at the clutter created by my fairly clean and average clean child :). How fun to get a new computer. I want a second computer (I'm just with you: I don't want to have to open it in front of people).