THE PRICE OF LACK OF ORGANIZATION

As the sorely missed George Carlin used to say, "You have to have something to put your 'stuff' in." I have used precious book shelf space to store the how-to-organize-your-life-and-stuff books, but failed to find where it teaches me how to find the time to read them. Of course, that my life is a blivet (trying to put 3 pounds of manure in a 2 pound bag) makes the situation serious. I have more 'stuff' than my should-be-adequate house fits.

But storage problems are miniscule to the overall problems. Being a bit compulsive (which is in degree akin to being a bit pregnant). I make massive use of databases and spreadsheets to track my life. Yearly expenses are noted on a spreadsheet to ease life near April 15th. This should make filing income tax a breeze. To the papers I thought were neatly filed, the breeze resembles a gale in my office. I try to keep track of online payments, note checks paid, file receipts, balance two checking accounts, photocopy check deposits, so that any trip to the bank turns into the 'event' of the day, not made too often.

Sorting mail, if not done daily, piles up so I tremble thatI will never be able to lower the mountain. The only space in the house for mail is the dining room table. (I do have to lay my food down somewhere). When I have more than one person for a meal, the whole pile has to be moved. Often the pile contains a bill, unceremoniously buried, which can be costly when not paid on time; too severe a punishment for my organizational lapses.

For years it has been a firm rule that I will not play a CD (used to be an LP) unless first entered in my database and numbered on the disk. Too often I find CDs that have missed this baptism ritual. When my filing system gets disrupted and I can't find what I want on the database, I assume I don't own it and have been known to buy a second copy. In fact, that happens with tools, kitchen gadgets, office supplies, and all sorts of things that get lost. Sometimes in my wanderings I note seeing something I have lost but since I am not likely to need it at the time, it quickly gets forgotten. I am apt to replace it for a third time when I need it.

Why then, after emptying the dishwasher, folding the clothes from the dryer and putting them away, replacing things to the papers I thought were neatly filed after using them, do I find no surface without something piled so high that I am constantly holding back avalanches. In an attempt to 'assist' me to sort mail daily, my husband once tried putting the mail on our bed. His assumption that I would deal with it before I could get into the bed was wrong. My eyes were rolling around in my head as I headed for its horizontal comfort, already comatose. He was stopped at the pass when all I could do was push it all to the floor with no time to pick it up in the morning as I rushed off to work. I realized that being utterly exhausted much of the time figured as a strong factor in my lack of properly of organizing. Naps have been suggested to ease this. I have not found the time to schedule naps but sometimes the bed finds me when my face hits the pillow. I am instantly useless. Sometimes this is after I have awakened, realizing that my face was on my keyboard, having fallen asleep while sitting, trying to type.

As I try to solve this problem (which uses up more passive time) I realize that I have unconsciously placed the clutter problem at the bottom of my priority list. I shall waste no more time trying to lift it high up on the list. Even if the sign of an uncluttered mind is an uncluttered house, I will accept that my multi-tasking, ever curious, ever busy mind will just have to remain cluttered.....as will my house.

BBC AND REUTERS FRANKNESS ON BUSH

It has been clear for a long time that many other countries do not hold President Bush in high opinion but this is the first time I have seen the BBC ridicule him so openly. Read the whole article to catch the entire context from which this quote was obtained:

Asked by the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot whether he saw a chance to sign a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, he replied: "Yes, I do, before I leave - I'm an optimistic guy."

Presumably he meant before he leaves office.

I think we could assume that would be legacy enough.

If people think the next President will bring automatic change in atmosphere, the article further states:

It is loosely called his "freedom agenda". As Stephen Hadley put it, "we need to promote democracy and freedom as a counterpoint... to the ideology of the terrorists".

It is a good idea, but having lived in both the Middle East and the United States in the past four years, I can assure you that what looks good on paper in Washington looks less convincing on the streets of the Arab world.

There people will tell you that the "ideology of the terrorists", or "resistance" as many put it, stems from big injustices that first need to be addressed.

And many add that until Mr Bush, and that unknown successor of his, grasp that, there will never be any progress towards a lasting peace.

Normally, reading like opinion from others on Bush makes me chuckle. However, the view the world has of us and what he has brought down on our heads is not funny at all to me.

Reuter's writes: Doubts remain over Bush's readiness to use his final months in office to push Israel, a key ally, to make compromises.

Gaza (Reuters): GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Saturday dismissed President George W. Bush's upcoming visit to the Middle East as a "photo opportunity" and said he was not welcome in the region. They further quote: "The visit is nothing but a farewell visit to get some photo opportunities as Bush prepares to leave the White House."

Why does the saying: 'An hour late and a dollar short' suddenly spring to my mind?

Meanwhile, our Boston Herald, commenting on Bush's trip doesn't mention Palestine and Israel but concentrates on what he will do about Iran. Yahoo News runs an article on two demonstrators while Senator Clinton was speaking (struggling to hold on to their manhood, no doubt) wave placards and shout "Iron my shirts", proving that America doesn't really get exposed to reality where it counts in our current media. Ah, I long for the return of the Amazons of mythology! I'd like to see someone iron their shirts while these two men are wearing them!