Ask Happy Homemaker!

by compound complex 337 Replies latest jw friends

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  compound complex

  Dear Happy Homemaker,

  I was visiting with friends yesterday who have an aquarium. They were explaining to me how snails help keep the tank and its environment clean.

  Will this work in my bathtub?

  Thanks.

  Sam Slugg
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  compound complex

  Dear Sam Slugg,

  Give these a try. But you must keep your tub filled at all times for maximum snail-scouring efficiency.

  Avoid excessive use of bubble bath.

  Hope this helps!

  Happy Homemaker!
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  restrangled

  Dear Happy Homemaker,

  Beloved son is soon to move back in. We are thrilled to have him but any clues as to how to maintain the small space he will be residing in would be much apprecieated. Formally a beautiful guest room has turned into a holding pen.

  Wires, computers, drums, and even a miniture refrigerator are now consuming all floor space. The space he is yet to occupy!

  I have considered a large extractor fan to be attached to an outside window, but this does not allow me access to dirty sheets or laundry thrown haphazardly under the bed...
  Any suggestions are much appreciated!

  r.
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  compound complex

  Dear r.,

  An extractor fan is not such a bad idea, but given its propensity for turning into confetti or mincemeat debris and mammalian inhabitants, I should opt for a hydraulic floor dump.

  All furnishings will have been firmly to the floor affixed. As you punch in the operational code to the mechanism, you will see the floor rise at an angle to outer wall; said wall will hinge open and dirty laundry, garbage, tangled wires, thrashed musical equipment, etc. will be siphoned off into each its own, of necessity, capacious bin.

  A marvel of technology and my fertile imagination. Incidentally, there shall be a separate cubicle for sleeping son, whose downward spiraling body will snap to wide-awake attention as he is showered, dried and fully dressed, in preparation for his day's activities. HE NEED DO NOTHING!

  Please consult with my design engineer, who will guide you and r.'s hubby through the development of this labor-saving techno-wonder.
  
  Can you say second mortgage?!?!?!?

  Hope this helps!

  Happy Homemaker!
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  restrangled

  Dear Happy Homemaker,

  Since I cannot afford the second mortgage for your suggested solution, I shall print out your message to maintain a sense of humor during said containment of 22 year old son.

  He has deliverd most items to the floor of the now containment pen, and thankfully I washed all bedding and floor before the arrival of all items. His closet is full, the floor is full, and I have hung most of his posters....that is ....those I can reach over said items.!!!!!

  Thanks for the laughs, I'm going to need them!

  r.
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  compound complex

  Thanks for the laughs, I'm going to need them!

  r.

  Good Night, and Good Luck!

  HH!
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  compound complex

  1. Commitments . Aside from physical clutter, our lives are often way too cluttered by the things we need to do -- at work, at home, in our civic or religious lives, with our hobbies, with friends and family, etc. Go through each area of your life, and write down every commitment you have -- from things you've volunteered or agreed to do on a regular basis, to meetings and sports games and other things you do every month or week. It can be overwhelming. Now examine each one, and decide if it truly gives you joy and value in your life, and whether it's worth the time you commit to it. It can be useful to just choose a few of the commitments that your really love doing. Get rid of all the rest. Just call people and tell them your schedule is too busy, and you have to decline. Learn to say no! One by one, eliminate the commitments in your life that don't give you value, and you'll have more time to do the stuff that's really important to you -- stuff for yourself, or your loved ones.

  www.dumblittleman.com - 10 Ways to Remove Clutter from Your Life
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  compound complex

• Your desk . If your desk is covered in paper and other clutter, clear it off to create a pleasing work environment. The steps here are the basic decluttering steps we'll follow for many of the other steps below:
• Clear everything off. Take everything off your desk and put it in a pile on the floor. Clear out the drawers too, if you have time. The only things that should be on your desk now are the computer, phone and other similar equipment.
• Clean. Wipe down your desk, and clean your drawers if you're decluttering them too. It's good to start with clean surfaces.
• Sort. OK, here's the meat of the process: sort through your stuff, one pile at a time. Toss out or route as much as possible, so that what you're left with is a relatively small amount of stuff. If you won't be using it again in the near future, or if you can access it on the computer, toss it out.
• Designate homes. Now you get to place everything back in your desk. Set up a simple alphabetical filing system, with one folder for each project or client. Have drawers for your office supplies and other stuff. With less stuff to organize, it shouldn't be too hard. Be sure to have a place designated for everything, and keep things in those places. Sometimes it helps to label, so you don't forget.
• Leave flat surfaces clear. Don't put stuff on top of your desk. Have an inbox for all incoming papers, and then sort them each day and either toss, delegate, do them immediately, or file all documents, so nothing remains on top of your desk. The only thing that should be on your desk is your computer, phone, inbox, perhaps a family photo, and the documents you're working on right now.

[ibid.]