Labor Day - Literally

things bought

and the money spent

are they really heaven sent?

things of this world

they do not last

so why your lot in

do you cast?

can money and things

buy you happiness you think?

can it love for you bring?

or can it bring you to the brink?

i believe still today

that it won't bring happiness your way

nothing in this world will buy

what you really need inside

so follow your mind

and you will find

that if you're smart

you'll follow your heart.

~Scott Kinney

So I'm just saying that I have decided to become a minimalist.  All I really need is my bed.  That is all.  The rest of this stuff has got to go!

That is because over the last month and a half I have sorted through every single thing I own.  I'm serious.  Since my garage sale in July, I have been in the process of preparing to move, sorting through my things, organizing, arranging, packing, and giving lots away. 

I decided to treat this move differently than those in the past where in my old home I just threw everything in a box and in my new home put it all in a drawer or cabinet or on a shelf without giving it much thought.  I decided this time that because I'm actually combining my stuff with another person's stuff til death do us part (counseling anyone?  I'll drive!), I would go through each and every thing I own to decide if it is something that I really need in my life.

What a time consuming, painful, horrible, liberating, wonderful, terrible process this has been.  Oh, the decisions!  Oh, the endless collection of stuff that has amassed over a lifetime!

But today?  I FINISHED.  I can honestly say that I have touched and /or seen every single item I own whether it was in the back of a junk drawer, in the corner of a closet, or hidden deep inside a box in my garage that hasn't been opened in 20 years. 

And I was pretty ruthless, too.  I really purged a lot of stuff and that feels good.  I like knowing what I have, where it is, and how I'll be able to incorporate my things into the things owned by my better half.  (Yikes!)

So right now I am dirty, sore, and pretty exhausted, but I'm ready for the movers to come, take my stuff and drive off to Mexico with it so I'll NEVER HAVE TO UNPACK IT AGAIN!

Because seriously, all I need is my bed.  And apparently my fridge...

Life in the Hood

My neighborhood is quirky. The kind of quirky that borders on weird.

This morning, I’m walking Dot at 6:30 a.m. and the sun is just coming up. It’s quiet and I’m enjoying the birds chirping, feeling all zen and stuff.

As I’m nearing a rather nondescript intersection, I hear a startlingly loud roar. I look up and yank Dot back on her leash, because barreling down the road – going at least 70 miles an hour – is a big, yellow bulldozer.

I’m serious when I say it was going wide open. I’ve never seen those things going much faster than about 30 mph, but this one had its front shovel sky high and the driver was hunched over the wheel yelling “YEE HAW!” as he blazed by.

Was he steeling the dozer? Was he out of his mind? Was he late for a job? Was he just joy riding for the thrill of it?

I don’t know, but it was one of the more random things I’ve seen lately. And dangerous, too, given that this is a total residential neighborhood full of mammaws and papaws who tend to be up at the crack of the dawn puttering around their yards. Look out little old people – bull dozer coming through.

For the last week, and the coming two, I’m having to work hard for my money, so I haven’t had time to share stories. But I look forward to getting back into the swing of things soon. Working hard for my money is seriously hampering my blogging habit!