A couple of years ago, I was reading some book (which wasn't very good and I can't even remember the name of) and the main character was working in an office and was terrible at her job.
Well, actually, I think it turned out that she actually wasn't terrible at her job. But she got addicted to Sudoku or Solitaire, or something similar, and she stared procrastinating on all her mundane busywork (filing, copying, etc). Eventually, the backlog of filing was so bad that she took the giant pile home and set it on fire. Literally, just gave up on ever catching up, threw in the towel, figured if it hadn't been noticed yet it never would be, and SET THE PILE ON FIRE.
Now I honestly could not tell you how it worked out for her, because like I said, it was a terrible book and I don't remember most of the plot. I think the papers are noticed missing, but no one ever suspected that someone would actually just destroy the filing instead of doing it, so I don't think it was anything but a comedic anecdote. But honestly, right now, I can sympathize.
There are a few piles that I'm pretty tempted to just destroy, rather than catching up with.
Like coupons. I am by no means an extreme couponer, but I usually get two papers a week and clip coupons and watch the sales. I've never paid $3.02 for $900 worth of groceries, but I save a decent amount every week, and when I do get something free (or for pennies) I crow about it endlessly.
A few weeks ago I got behind on the coupons. I clipped, but I didn't file. And now I have a bag that looks like this.
And I can't even bring myself to sort through this ridiculous mess. So for the past two weeks I just haven't bothered. Which means that I'm not letting myself clip more coupons until I get the mess I have under control. Which means that I have a pile that looks like this.
Filing? Out of control. I really, really, REALLY want to get a NeatDesk and just turn everything into an electronic file, that a program does for me, but that's not happening. And scanning via my printer/scanner takes longer than filing. So it just piles up.
Sidenote: anyone want to buy me a NeatDesk? That's next on my crazy expensive for a gadget yet I really want it wish list after I get my KitchenAid mixer for Mother's Day.
And clothes. Ugh, don't get me started on clothes. Change of season is coming up, which means I need to go through the girls' closets and drawers, pull clothes from the attic, put clothes in the attic, make sure everyone has enough shorts, shoes, and shirts. My MOPS group is doing a swap, and I want to bring a pile of stuff Reagan has outgrown. Plus, I can always bring a few things to consignment, try to sell some online, give some away...so I need piles. Ugh. This is a time consuming job.
Well six months ago it was a time consuming job too. So I didn't entirely finish. And I certainly didn't do it as organized as I had hoped. So instead of the neatly labeled bags and boxes I used to have, back when I had a quality two hour naptime in the afternoon ("summer, 2T, dresses" "winter, 6 months, pajamas") I have Rubbermaid containers labeled "6 months" and stuffed with a random assortment of 3T clothing. Because I ran out of time and I was going to do it when I had time. Which I haven't had.
The basement? No, it's too scary. We can't even go there.
Literally, there are parts you can't walk through.
The laundry closet? Pantry? All cleaned out and organized only months ago, and now are heaping piles of mess.
Basically, I get it together, sigh with relief, decide this is how I'm going to keep up from now on, keep it up for a while, and then get buried again.
And once I'm buried I let it get to the point where I don't even want to dig out.
Looks like it's time for my last resort solution. I resort to this when I absolutely need to get off my butt and get to it.
I pile it allllllllllllll on the bed. With the stipulation that I am not allowed to clear it off unless it is going to a proper home. No pile making.
So if I want to sleep? I've got to work for it.
If you need me in the next few days, I'll be the one sucking down coffee as I try to create a place for us to sleep again.
Or I'll be the one tending to the bonfire.
