|
|
Published July 03, 2009 02:59 pm - This pile-of-junk protocol that we practice at our house raises an interesting philosophical question: “If no one notices a pile of junk, is it a pile of junk?”
Mike Pound: Problems are starting to pile up
I walked into our bedroom the other night and couldn’t find our bed.
I knew that could only mean one thing: I had walked into the wrong house. Again.
No, I joke. What it meant when I couldn’t find our bed in our bedroom was that my wife had been “cleaning” again.
My wife has a somewhat unique way of cleaning. Basically, my wife cleans by moving things from one room to the next. Let me, if I can, detail a typical example of my wife’s cleaning method.
My wife decides she needs to clean out her car. The first thing my wife does is locate her car in our garage.
Sometimes our garage gets messy.
Once my wife locates her car, she takes all of the junk in her car that does not belong in her car and hauls it into our kitchen. But in order to put the junk in her car in our kitchen, my wife needs to move the junk that was already in our kitchen into our dining room. Once she does that, she needs to take all the junk that was already in our dining room upstairs to our guest bedroom. Of course, in order to put the junk from our dining room into our guest bedroom, she has to take the junk in the guest bedroom and put it in our bedroom. And when that happens I can’t find our bed.
I don’t want you to get the impression that our house tends to be cluttered. It does, I just don’t want you to get that impression. What we tend to have in our house is what I like to call “I’m gonna” piles.
As in, “I’m gonna put this stuff away later.”
Unfortunately around our house, “I’m gonna” actually means “I’m gonna ignore it until it’s no longer my problem.”
See, there are rules when it comes to a pile of junk. If someone sets down a pile of junk and says, “I’m gonna puts this stuff away later,” it is clearly that person’s responsibility to do so. Unless the pile of junk manages to stay in the same place for more than a week. When a pile of junk stays in one place for more than a week, it becomes community property and therefore the burden of putting the pile of junk away falls on whoever objects to the pile of junk’s presence. As a consequence, no one objects to the pile of junk.
My wife once ignored a pile of junk sitting in front of our TV in the basement for three full months. Then she discovered the pile of junk was me. So she ignored it for three more months.
This pile-of-junk protocol that we practice at our house raises an interesting philosophical question: “If no one notices a pile of junk, is it a pile of junk?”
Clearly the answer is no. Unless we are expecting company. Then the pile of junk becomes something that must be dealt with quickly and efficiently, and the quickest and most efficient way to deal with a pile of junk is to move it. Preferably to a place that the expected company will never visit.
Like the landfill. Or our bedroom.
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:


 |
|
3RD PARTY LOGISTICS COMPANY
Looking for sales people with transportation sales experience, also broker agents. Please send resume to P.O. Box ...>MORE
ARE YOU AN ACTIVE RETIREE?
Do you enjoy caring for others? Caring people needed to help the elderly in their homes. No experience necessary, traini...>MORE
TRUCK BROKERS
TRUCK BROKERS LANGE LOGISTICS, INC., a 3PL company seeks Account Managers in Joplin. Openings also in Dallas, Nashville ...>MORE
3 BOOTH RENTALS
small salon atmosphere, lots of exposure, 15th/Main. 417-529-8646...>MORE
CREDIT ANALYST/LOAN REVIEW
Credit ANALYST/LOAN REVIEW Commercial banking experience required. Send resumes to 3223 Main.Joplin 64804...>MORE
COUNTER HELP
part time. Apply Comet Cleaners, 2401 E. 32nd, Joplin....>MORE
HIRING HAIR STYLIST
NOW HIRING HAIR STYLIST. Fun and energetic salon. 417-845-0555, Tanya....>MORE
TELLER
Local credit union has opening for part time teller 25-35 hours per week, experience preferred. Apply in person Joplin M...>MORE
OPIES TRANSPORT
Now Hiring Over the Road Drivers with 2 years experience. 800-341-9963 www.opiestransport.com ...>MORE
SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR
SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR full time, responsible for development and supervision of ongoing activities required to...>MORE
See all ads |
|
2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
4x4, asking $4500. (417)850-2454....>MORE
1997 NISSAN MAXIMA
Loaded, 98,000 miles, excellent condition, must see, $4500. 417-438-1609....>MORE
1986 FORD MUSTANG GT
Convertible, 5 speed, 112,000 miles, $3800. 417-439-1707 or 417-439-7901...>MORE
2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
KIA, 2002 Optima EX, 4 door, leather, loaded, cold air, sunroof, CD, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
2005 HONDA PILOT EXL-DVD
4 door, 4x4, red with tan leather, 8 passenger, 89,000 miles, new tires, $14,500. (918)961-8995....>MORE
1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, automatic, cold air, CD, extra nice, $2400. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
1999 FORD F350
crew cab, 7.3 diesel, 4x4, white, Astro top, best offer. 434-3995...>MORE
1993 ISUZU TROOPER
$2000 Good Interior Needs tune up. 417-396-8811....>MORE
1999 DODGE NEON
5 speed, air, 92,000 miles. 417-529-4420 or 417-781-8907....>MORE
1993 CHEVROLET SHORT CONVERSION
V6, loaded, cold air, good mpg, great shape, 115,000 miles, $1950. (417)385-7039...>MORE
See all ads |
|
Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE
ATTRACTIVE, COMFORTABLE 4 BR
3 ba, 2-level, 2600 sq. ft. home. Greystone Subdivision, $194,900. 103 Jason Blvd., Oronogo, MO. Open house, Sunday 11 a...>MORE
HISTORICAL ROCK FILLING STATION
on Route 66 with lots of updates This solid old building has 1200 sq. ft. on 100x100 lot, on Main Street of Carter...>MORE
FURNISHED 3 BR
2 ba, 1750 sq. ft. vaulted ceilings, located in S. Joplin, near Shoal Creek, $97,500. Usa Real Estate 417-781-1233....>MORE
LOMA LINDA
2 BR, 2 BA, 1 year lease, $750/$700. No pets. (417)310-0056....>MORE
BY OWNER: 3 BR, 2 BA
1880 sq. ft., Cedar Ridge subdivision $189,900 417-621-5098...>MORE
916 OREGON
OPEN SUNDAY 1-3 PM , CARTERVILLE. 3 br, 2 1/2 ba REDUCED! 417-439-5010....>MORE
BRIARBROOK
3 BR, 2.5 ba, 1 year lease $725/$700, no pets. 417-310-0056....>MORE
3 BR, 1 BA, 827 S. PICHER
central heat/air, refrigerator, stove $500/$500. 437-6365....>MORE
GROVE, GRAND LAKE, OK.
Beautiful 2-story 2-kitchen Lake Home with Million $$$ lakefront. Stunning Commercial Building for restaurant or o...>MORE
See all ads |
|
BOW FLEX EXTREME HOME GYM
(417)438-9041...>MORE
TWO LIVING ESTATE SALES, ONE SITE
Saturday, November 7, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. 28245 Fir Road, Carl Junction, MO. Follow signs. Downsizing...>MORE
1950S CAVALIER COKE MACHINE
in working order, $350. (417)782-2751....>MORE
14 WEEK-10 WEEK OLD MORKIE
males, $200. Papillion females, $200. 417-548-2433....>MORE
WANENMACHER’S WORLD’S LARGEST
GUN SHOW -November 14 and 15. Tulsa Fairgrounds, Saturday, 8-6 p.m., Sunday 8-4 p.m. www.tulsaarmsshow.com....>MORE
CHIHUAHUAS
Chorkies, WaPoos, Shih-Tzus, just in time for Christmas. $85 to $250. Registered and shots 417-438-6057...>MORE
COFFEE, END AND ENTRY TABLE
coffee, end and entry tables, Nordic Track Walk Fit, sewing machine desk, (417)206-4958....>MORE
YORKIE, POMERANIAN AND SILKY PUPPIES
wanting forever homes. Well socialized. Prices $75-$300. Early Christmas presents (417)652-7510, leave message. ...>MORE
2008 POLARIS TRAILBLAZER 330
2 wheel drive, like new, $2300. (918)961-8995....>MORE
COUCH
full size, with pillows, light pastel colors, lavender and blue, no cats, no dogs, no kids, $150 or offer. 624-2197....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|