Monday, February 25, 2008
My places are out of control
1. How do you people do it? You people who move every couple of years? You people who buy a house, live in it for awhile, then pick up and move again before the paint is even dry on the old place?
Move? I can't even get my head into the concept. I can barely move around IN my home office, for example, let alone think about packing all this crap up and moving it out!
Not that a move is imminent. But I have to get some rewriting done toot sweet, so I CAN dismantle this office and box up everything and put it in storage so I can get some preparation done, so I can then put the house on the market.
Woe. I hate it. It's an absolute and total WRECK.
But I can find dang near any book, or paper, or random pamphlet, pretty fast when I need it -- not because there is any method to the madness but because I'm mad -- bwa ha, ha, ha -- and even if I can't remember all my pin numbers I know that, say, my brittle and yellowed copy of the July 71 issue "Journal of the West" is in on the third shelf, from the top, of the first book shelf on the right when you walk into this room. For example.
Grrrr. I took the afternoon off partly to get started on the rewrite, and all I've got done so far is hoe out an area around my desk and cut a trail to the shelf I am most likely going to need as I progress.
2. Nobody who has lived his whole dang life in Oklahoma and Texas should ever be surprised by anything to do with weather, but -- "surprised" isn't the word I mean. ... Nobody, etc., should get upset with the weather. But dang. It's HOT today.
One of the local news babes this morning, in her chatter with the weatherman, was complaining about all the ice and cold and wet we've had lately. The weatherman said something like; "How 'bout wind and fire? That's what we've got for today."
And he wadn't kiddin'. The wind is sweeping UP the plain and Southwest Oklahoma is bursting into racing flames, I think.
Hoo boy.
--ER
Move? I can't even get my head into the concept. I can barely move around IN my home office, for example, let alone think about packing all this crap up and moving it out!
Not that a move is imminent. But I have to get some rewriting done toot sweet, so I CAN dismantle this office and box up everything and put it in storage so I can get some preparation done, so I can then put the house on the market.
Woe. I hate it. It's an absolute and total WRECK.
But I can find dang near any book, or paper, or random pamphlet, pretty fast when I need it -- not because there is any method to the madness but because I'm mad -- bwa ha, ha, ha -- and even if I can't remember all my pin numbers I know that, say, my brittle and yellowed copy of the July 71 issue "Journal of the West" is in on the third shelf, from the top, of the first book shelf on the right when you walk into this room. For example.
Grrrr. I took the afternoon off partly to get started on the rewrite, and all I've got done so far is hoe out an area around my desk and cut a trail to the shelf I am most likely going to need as I progress.
2. Nobody who has lived his whole dang life in Oklahoma and Texas should ever be surprised by anything to do with weather, but -- "surprised" isn't the word I mean. ... Nobody, etc., should get upset with the weather. But dang. It's HOT today.
One of the local news babes this morning, in her chatter with the weatherman, was complaining about all the ice and cold and wet we've had lately. The weatherman said something like; "How 'bout wind and fire? That's what we've got for today."
And he wadn't kiddin'. The wind is sweeping UP the plain and Southwest Oklahoma is bursting into racing flames, I think.
Hoo boy.
--ER
Comments:
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Books are the hardest part of moving. So many books. If it weren't for them, moving would be a snap.
# posted by 
: 4:38 PM
: 4:38 PM 
As someone who has moved three times in the past fifteen years, including one move of a thousand miles from VA to IL, I can say it is never easy. One thing that makes it a bit easier is the lack of bric-a-brac and knick-knacks. Neither Lisa nor me are collectors (except, of course, for books, CDs, and DVDs) so it isn't like we have all this extra "stuff" we have to wrap and box carefully.
What it comes down to, for us, is this - it has to be done, and it will be done, and so . . . it gets done. I actually get excited about moving, once it's confirmed, and enjoy all the packing - putting books in boxes, taping up our Christmas decoration boxes, etc. Yeah, it's hard work, and we always have to figure out what to get rid of (usually kids clothes they have outgrown, toys they no longer play with), but it always gets done, and we end up in our new place, with the task of arranging and setting up home being fun.
I'm not one to look back too much, so I don't get too sentimental about what I'm missing; I enjoy the excitement of "the new" too much to get all hung up on "what used to be".
As for weather, may I just say that I am sick and tired of winter. We are having yet another winter storm, and these things can end last week as far as I'm concerned.
What it comes down to, for us, is this - it has to be done, and it will be done, and so . . . it gets done. I actually get excited about moving, once it's confirmed, and enjoy all the packing - putting books in boxes, taping up our Christmas decoration boxes, etc. Yeah, it's hard work, and we always have to figure out what to get rid of (usually kids clothes they have outgrown, toys they no longer play with), but it always gets done, and we end up in our new place, with the task of arranging and setting up home being fun.
I'm not one to look back too much, so I don't get too sentimental about what I'm missing; I enjoy the excitement of "the new" too much to get all hung up on "what used to be".
As for weather, may I just say that I am sick and tired of winter. We are having yet another winter storm, and these things can end last week as far as I'm concerned.
I moved in 1959,63,64,66,67,68,69,70,72,74,and 76. I lived in 5 states, D.C., and three countries during that time.
By then I was hardily sick of the fun. So I looked long and hard found a house with a large back yard, on the corner of the block, facing the South with windows the way I wanted them and bought it.
Then I swore I would never ever move again. NEVER, not for love or profit, or any reason. Here I die!
Since that time I have accumulated, collected, buried precious pets, built on rooms, buildings, porches without permits or permission of the powers that be. They keep changing their minds anyway.
Here I am. Here I stay. When I die they will toast me, grind me up and (illegally)spread me around the back yard. I told you once ER, that I wasn't moving ever again.
Now as for you, you sorry ass stay at home Redneck, pack your shit up and get out of here.
By then I was hardily sick of the fun. So I looked long and hard found a house with a large back yard, on the corner of the block, facing the South with windows the way I wanted them and bought it.
Then I swore I would never ever move again. NEVER, not for love or profit, or any reason. Here I die!
Since that time I have accumulated, collected, buried precious pets, built on rooms, buildings, porches without permits or permission of the powers that be. They keep changing their minds anyway.
Here I am. Here I stay. When I die they will toast me, grind me up and (illegally)spread me around the back yard. I told you once ER, that I wasn't moving ever again.
Now as for you, you sorry ass stay at home Redneck, pack your shit up and get out of here.
Does it make you feel any better that I was doing the same thing today? Okay, I can get into the room where my desk is, but it's taken me all day to get halfway done finding the top of my desk.
Cool and clear here today! :)
Cool and clear here today! :)
# posted by : 5:36 PM
: 5:36 PM
Once there is a reason to move, I'll cowboy up and move. ... OK, I mean, besides the fact that my wife lives in another state. But youy know, she keeps comin' back once in awhile ... :-)
Re, "Neither Lisa nor me are collectors ..."
Oh, man. I can't stand to get rid of anything but trash.
And I'm so sentimental I should be embarrassed, but I'm not because I'm sentimental!
Yeesh.
DrLobo! Would that I could stay put! Put, I say!
Frenzied: Come do mine! :-)
Re, "Neither Lisa nor me are collectors ..."
Oh, man. I can't stand to get rid of anything but trash.
And I'm so sentimental I should be embarrassed, but I'm not because I'm sentimental!
Yeesh.
DrLobo! Would that I could stay put! Put, I say!
Frenzied: Come do mine! :-)
Ya know, I lived at home until I was 22.
Then I moved to college -- and in and out of dorms and apartments, and to D.C. and back, and to home for summers, etc., keeping stuff in storage when I needed to.
Then I lived in the same town in Texas for 10-plus years, and lioved in three apartments and one rent house in that time -- but see, I could move stuff one pickup load at a time, and didn't even really have to "pack."
And in '99 we moved into this house, and it's been dang near 9 years. I'd say I have settled as much here as the whole time I lived in the house(s) I grew up in, which are about 50 yard apart.
Sigh.
Then I moved to college -- and in and out of dorms and apartments, and to D.C. and back, and to home for summers, etc., keeping stuff in storage when I needed to.
Then I lived in the same town in Texas for 10-plus years, and lioved in three apartments and one rent house in that time -- but see, I could move stuff one pickup load at a time, and didn't even really have to "pack."
And in '99 we moved into this house, and it's been dang near 9 years. I'd say I have settled as much here as the whole time I lived in the house(s) I grew up in, which are about 50 yard apart.
Sigh.
Plus, I have all the Baby Bird memories, and Er-and-Dr. ER on their own, for real for the first time memories, goin' on.
SIGH.
SIGH.
Books and papers are always the most difficult for me, too, if only because I want to stop and read before packing them away.
For what it's worth from someone who has moved 17 times in 34 years, my advice is this: move as few things as possible.
If Bird's left anything at your place, make her come get it. And give her anything else she wants.
Pack all the things you use once a day; 75% of the things you use once a week; 50% of the things you use once a month; 25% of the seasonal items.
Sentimental stuff can be harder, but bring it down to use. If you never use grandma's china, do you really need to keep the whole set, or will a few pieces do?
Anything not in the above, give away. Yard sales are a pain in the arse.
For what it's worth from someone who has moved 17 times in 34 years, my advice is this: move as few things as possible.
If Bird's left anything at your place, make her come get it. And give her anything else she wants.
Pack all the things you use once a day; 75% of the things you use once a week; 50% of the things you use once a month; 25% of the seasonal items.
Sentimental stuff can be harder, but bring it down to use. If you never use grandma's china, do you really need to keep the whole set, or will a few pieces do?
Anything not in the above, give away. Yard sales are a pain in the arse.
Re, "Oh, man. I can't stand to get rid of anything but trash."
Well, actually ... I kept az KFC bucket on display for about three years because it had Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s likeness on it ...
SIGH
Well, actually ... I kept az KFC bucket on display for about three years because it had Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s likeness on it ...
SIGH
I moved 22 times in 20 years. One time I lived in a house for one night and moved out the next day because of carbon monoxide poisoning. But then I bought my house in OKC and stayed for 11 years. I had it all, including my baby grand piano.
Now look at me. I have been here since August and things still are not unpacked, because there is no place to put things. I can't find my little ivory man that was my mother's before I was born -- the one little treasure I desperately wish to find!
I've gone from 3 beds with living room, dining room and den to two bedrooms, living room and eat-in kitchen. I've given up huge sections of my life.
And for all I know, I could be packing it all up again as soon as I get an offer of a real job.
Now look at me. I have been here since August and things still are not unpacked, because there is no place to put things. I can't find my little ivory man that was my mother's before I was born -- the one little treasure I desperately wish to find!
I've gone from 3 beds with living room, dining room and den to two bedrooms, living room and eat-in kitchen. I've given up huge sections of my life.
And for all I know, I could be packing it all up again as soon as I get an offer of a real job.
Say ER, you need some culling done?
How about I drive my old 83 Chevy truck up there and haul of some of those books for you?
How about I drive my old 83 Chevy truck up there and haul of some of those books for you?
Trixie, Love, so many moves and so little dance floor. (I'm claimin' that line. That's goooood!)
You just need a great hobby room, don'tcha?
ER, et. al, what is it with you academics and your books? I mean, really, do you need to keep'em once you've read'em? Do you really refer back to them that often, if even at all?
Not according to the 3/8" of "protective" dust covering them.
What happened to loven'em and leavin'em?
You just need a great hobby room, don'tcha?
ER, et. al, what is it with you academics and your books? I mean, really, do you need to keep'em once you've read'em? Do you really refer back to them that often, if even at all?
Not according to the 3/8" of "protective" dust covering them.
What happened to loven'em and leavin'em?
Yes!! Yes!!!! SBM, I will be happy in any house if you will just come build me a hobby room! When can you be here? Hee hee!!
"ER, et. al, what is it with you academics and your books? I mean, really, do you need to keep'em once you've read'em? Do you really refer back to them that often, if even at all? "
I can't speak for ER, but for this academic, you can take my books when you pry them from my cold dead fingers.
I can't speak for ER, but for this academic, you can take my books when you pry them from my cold dead fingers.
Re, "Do you really refer back to them that often, if even at all?"
Pssst. Here's a secret. We never really LEARN stuff; we just learch which books stuff is IN.
Not really. But in history, it's cite or die. In respectable journalism, it's about the same.
I can't imagine getting rid of any serious work. And since I hardly read any fiction, and zero popular fiction, most of what i do read is a classic of some sort, and so I can't imagine getting rid of any of them either.
SB, you should come over sometime and see my cave, and all my babies.
And, what Alan said!
Pssst. Here's a secret. We never really LEARN stuff; we just learch which books stuff is IN.
Not really. But in history, it's cite or die. In respectable journalism, it's about the same.
I can't imagine getting rid of any serious work. And since I hardly read any fiction, and zero popular fiction, most of what i do read is a classic of some sort, and so I can't imagine getting rid of any of them either.
SB, you should come over sometime and see my cave, and all my babies.
And, what Alan said!
For what I'd charge you, ER, it would more than motivate you to do it yourself! ;)
# posted by : 11:19 AM
: 11:19 AM
There's a pic you'll relate to over at my place--you know, that place you haven't been to in awhile! ;)
# posted by : 3:05 PM
: 3:05 PM
In re the small side discussion concerning books, and the whole question of needing them, Walter Benjamin has a wonderful essay - collected in Reflections - on the experience of unpacking his library. He relates an exchange with a non-bibliophile who asks the silly question, "Have you read all those books?" (I get that one, too). His response is beautiful - "Oh, these aren't for reading." Some people collect those stupid troll dolls. Some people collect coins they won't spend. Why should book collectors be chastised for having books on their shelves they have no plans to read?
And, no, you cannot have a single volume of Barth's Dogmatics or Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples (the latter was a wonderful special edition, with a leather slipcase, my wife got me for our first Christmas).
And, no, you cannot have a single volume of Barth's Dogmatics or Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples (the latter was a wonderful special edition, with a leather slipcase, my wife got me for our first Christmas).
The closest I've gotten to reading Walter Benjamin is Larry McMurtry's "Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen."
I know people who buy books for looks. Seriously, To line shelves. For looks.
I must admit that I have, still, about six grocery sacks of books on my to-read "stack." :-)
I know people who buy books for looks. Seriously, To line shelves. For looks.
I must admit that I have, still, about six grocery sacks of books on my to-read "stack." :-)
GKS--you're absolutely right! I never thought about books being a collectible like troll dolls, but it works!
I, know, ER, you've been busy with the house and stuff. :)
I, know, ER, you've been busy with the house and stuff. :)
# posted by : 5:01 PM
: 5:01 PM
We've moved eleven times in six years. Moving is how I accomplish my spring cleaning. Yes, we were military.
This past move, the movers were grumbling about my books. One asked if I actually read all of them, to which I replied "no - I just collect them to piss off my movers." I'd had a long day.
We have a saying in our house: "books are people too!"
This past move, the movers were grumbling about my books. One asked if I actually read all of them, to which I replied "no - I just collect them to piss off my movers." I'd had a long day.
We have a saying in our house: "books are people too!"
# posted by : 9:23 PM
: 9:23 PM
And people live on in books! I feel like I am acquainted with Angie Debo, E.E. Dale, Grant Foreman and others (Oklahoma historians, y'all).
Moving can become like an addiction, where you get to see a lot of your stuff again, things you haven't laid eyes on for a while. My problem is more that after about 3-4 years in one spot I get antsy and start looking at real estate on the other side of the continent.
Am getting better though.
Start packing slowly and learn to live with a stack of boxes in the house.
Don't try to do everything when the crunch comes. Hire professionals. Sleep lots.
Allow yourself to get excited about this adventure!
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Am getting better though.
Start packing slowly and learn to live with a stack of boxes in the house.
Don't try to do everything when the crunch comes. Hire professionals. Sleep lots.
Allow yourself to get excited about this adventure!
# posted by : 9:22 AM
: 9:22 AM << Home
