Messy houses

Today is Friday, today is the day that I clean the house. It usually takes about 4 or more hours depending which projects I self impose.

So anyway... I realize that I have the supreme luxury of working from home, and actually not working that hard or often. I therefore absolutely have the time to do things around the house that working families can't always accomplish. Unless someone's home is for sale, (and even then, there are occasional extenuating circumstances) I try not to judge people based on their housekeeping skills.

I clean on Fridays because I love the idea that Billy can come home from work, and aside from checking the hot tub, he can relax and enjoy the week-end, (not so much during the summer, as there is always something to do outside...) I like the fact that the house is clean. I feel more comfortable, and I can laze about the house guilt free (see that's what it's really about - right?)

The house is by far not perfect. Closets are always an issue, we have a chronically messy junk draw in the kitchen, and impossible to reach windows, walls and ceilings that need scaffolding and a brave disposition to attempt to wash and dust. It's just clean enough to satisfy my own personal anal-ness and within our comfort level.

Years back during winters, I lived with a friend. He had a family member who he was always giving money to, so he decided she may as well clean the house to earn it. I think she came once every two weeks. Now you have to understand, this friend was rarely home, and I pretty much stuck to my attic bedroom, the kitchen, and the bathroom. It was never terribly messy. It was nice not to have to vacuum, clean the shower or wash the floor. Luxury. This housekeeper got off pretty easy.

One time a 'friend' came over and after she used the bathroom she came at me with her index finger raised in front of her, and shoved it in my face. 'This" she said, 'is the dust from the rim of your bathtub.' Of course there was a little of dust on her finger. I think I was at a time in my life where I was not easily offended, because I don't recall being upset, but upon digesting this memory, if that happened today, I would most likely go off like a rocket.

Some thoughts include:
- So, you had to move the shower curtain to get to the dust, how sad are you?
- Were you looking for dust, because I can show you more behind the dryer!
- I'd like to go through your house with a white glove.
- We have a housekeeper, she must have missed it, or is due to clean it soon.
- You brag about how 'clean' you are, but it is because you are trying to compensate for all the things that you're not? like nice, skinny, smart, attractive, a good friend, and have hobbies aside from 'cleaning'?

One time she said to me that in her opinion, plants are filthy. Do you think I'm an idiot? You just pretty much said to my face that you think our house is dirty, as we have at least 30 houseplants. No tack, no grace or couth. She must really think that I'm terminally dense! Out for a walk once we were going to pop by with our puppy. She said it would be great if we could stop over, but they didn't have anything to tie the puppy up with outside. - Oh right, you're too clean to have a dog in your house for an hour! Right, we're disgusting dirt dwellers... good thing we have her in our lives as a standard of cleanliness!

I'm happy to be clean enough for us to live and enjoy our house. I'm proud of our home. I'm not trying to impress anyone. I'm not judging you because of a little dust or some dishes in the sink, (especially if you have young kids!) Enjoy life, it's too short to spend bleaching toilets.