See, what I want is a book on household/clutter organization (or instructive human) that will simply TELL ME WHERE TO PUT THINGS. Not a single one I've ever seen has done that. They'll tell me how to plan a party or how to let go of clutter or how to understand where my need to collect/keep things comes from, but they don't tell me what to DO with the stuff I am not getting rid of. I'm serious. Thz srs prblm.

Oh my, back when I did clutter clearing professionally I would have given ANYthing for a client like you.

I've got systems! Really cool, inexpensive ways to keep stuff in order! Just try it, it'll be great, trust me!!

Yeah. It didn't happen that way much.

This reminds me of the time a friend helped me to unpack my kitchen stuff into this house. I had a plan that made sense to me, but she just rolled her eyes. I believe she said something like "Way to make it hard on yourself." She then moved all my dishes directly over the dishwasher. (What was I thinking about otherwise?)

12 years later, I thank her for that every time I do the dishes!

Erin, I went to bed early (and am up in the middle of the night, bah!) and am sorry I missed the header conversation.

I like the way it looks right now, it's very clean and crisp. I like the header font and colors a lot. (The typewriter thingie was cool, but difficult to read through.)

I'm going to have to agree about the testimonial widget being not quite right, though.

I have trouble reading stuff on the web anyway, and I can guarantee that I would not spend time trying to read that small print as it flips by...regardless of speed.

I would second smonster's recommendation of having a couple of catchy pull-quotes with a link to "What clients are saying."

I have a testimonial page with the expectation that people who want that info will read it if it is easy to find.

You could also use well-formatted testimonial quotes on the portfolio page. I have some designer friends that include 'the story' of the project with testimonial language.

I LOVE that sort of thing, and I lose myself in the stories, even if I'm not shopping for their services!

One other thing that I've thought about several times is a tagline that I really like, but think could be tweaked.

"I'm a wordslinger. But I want to be your wordslinger--your verbal hired gun."

For some reason, that 'But' really jars me. I could go into why, but instead, here is a suggestion.

"I'm a wordslinger...a verbal hired gun...and I want get your words in line!"

At the very least, I would change the but to an and.

"It's horizontal; I can put something there!"

I live with this. I've learned (slow learner) that putting things on the stairs isn't a sign that they should be taken up with the next person that goes. It's a sign that there are more storage options available.

Yesterday was a blur because we had the plumbers back (yes, the guys who were taking photos of the last job they did), but I should be around today. Especially while sitting at the DMV waiting for my license renewal. What I want to do is talk to Someone there about why they've put the requirement that people bring a SSN card on page 2, in tinyfont, with the center listings, and not in the bulleted, boxed list with all the other things to bring.

Erin - haven't looked at the site yet - will try to today after the DMV. Can this count as my onerous task for the next few rounds? DO NOT WANT TO GO. Someone make me go.

tea: sarameg, is your bday Saturday or Sunday?

So, I am up early because I have people working on my balcony. Phone rings at 10 after. I would normally have ignored it, as I don't know the number and it would have been all the way in the living room. But, I was sitting next to it and didn't know if it was the supervisor, so I answered it.

Turns out it was my doctor, of the medical/medication fuckups. Oh, he was sorry he called. I. Went. Off.

He ended up giving me his cell phone number.

Oh, he was sorry he called.

I'm not sorry he called. Way to go Vortex.

I've got systems! Really cool, inexpensive ways to keep stuff in order! Just try it, it'll be great, trust me!!

poised to take notes

If you can organize my house, I will pay you. Cash money. Bring it. Hell, bring the dog.

Dear asshole contractor -- if the warped wood was a maintenance issue, then it would ALL be warped, on all of the balconies. If one piece is warped, it needs to be replaced.

And, I know that you are being a dick and taking longer than you need to because you know I have an appointment. Eff you, I cancelled it. I got all day, motherfucker.

ok, now I want Vortex to make some phone calls for me. (and do my DMV onerous task)

Oh, sweet mother of God.

1. My mom calls and asks whether my dad can use my FF miles to buy a ticket to a wedding in a couple week. He just found about it two days ago, and he "needs to go." No one else in the family has enough FF miles for a ticket.

2. I am hesitant and confused, and I manage to avoid saying no directly for long enough that she just says it's okay and moves on.

3. I feel like a dick and post on Facebook about said feeling, wondering if it was a reasonable request. Flights are pretty expensive, after all; how many times did they pay for my flights home?

4. My little sister can't believe my dad would have asked me to do that, so she asks him. He has no idea what she's talking about and asks where she heard that. She says she saw it somewhere on Facebook.

5. My dad tells my mom.

6. My mom flips the fuck out and sends me a voicemail and text messages to the effect that she had already booked the ticket, she knew what my answer was going to be, but she just wanted to see how much I loved my parents. They can take care of themselves and don't expect anything from me. Oh, and I don't need to give her my old phone to send to India like I agreed to because I am a supermegadick. That last part was only implied.

Grrr! they just finished. If I could have just gotten the dentist to push by an hour, I could have gone. But, he's going on vacation, so he's not available until August 22. I managed to get them to agree to let me call for a cancellation.