Back from my cousin's engagement party tonight. It was great seeing everyone, but the combo of heat, humidity, and Too Many People sucked every last bit of energy out of me. I am however stuffed full of good food and fond memories from the poolside slideshow. Best of all, the event flipped my mom from being pessimistic about attending their Vegas wedding to being really excited about it!

We cleaned out 90% of the random detritus that had accumulated in the bedroom. Now what's left is tidily contained in a single small bin and both nightstands have been cleaned.

We will not speak of the office or the basement

I am about to head to my basement to clean. There are boxes that are not fully empty from my move 2.5 years ago and corners down there that have not been swept or vacuumed since I moved in.

My goal is to move things around to see if the more private half of it, behind a wall could serve as a temp bedroom if Mac has to move here so we can both save money while he figures life out. Best case scenario that does not happen and I have a space that can serve as overflow guest room if more than a two people come to visit me at the same time.

nods of encouragement and samesies to all who have neglected the housework. It speaks nothing of your value. The last 2 and a half years have been a festering boil on the ass of our psyche.

We are staying at my BIL's house and SIL is a compulsive cleaner. Every room has some kind of cleaning spray or wipes and rubber gloves here and there. She cleans all day. I try and immediately wash a dish, make my bed, and so forth, but no doubt DH drives her nuts. My sister a hoarder and her a clean freak. It is a real contrast. I fall somewhere in between.

BIL was supposed to go to a beach party with 2 of his coworkers and significant others, and not surprisingly they spent 2 hours attempting to park and came back here. It made a whole lot of sense with Greg having a large gazebo and pool and tons of recliners and so forth. Anyway, may hours of a wide variety of alcohol and food options, almost all consumed while in the pool. Loud music, fun people. Then after midnight the non-drinkers had to argue with the drinkers and confiscate their keys and drive them home. These guys all drive big trucks for Costco, so not just risking life and limb, but their jobs. Anyway, the sober crew won the day. Many apologies and thanks for insisting this morning.

Not sure about fireworks tonight, but hope we can see them from here. Most places in the city see them in some direction.

"Not everyone can be the type of housekeeper I am. It takes years of neglect, and a natural sense of entropy." -- Sam Starfall

I definitely don't feel like celebrating the 4th this year, since "independence" is feeling like a fucking joke. I would certainly not go to a parade, except if I know anything, it's that my neighborhood's parade has never been a jingoistic My Country Right Or Wrong parade, but is full of people who are pissed off about the same things I am. So we're going to wander out in the scorching heat and watch the parade, and then hydrate like crazy.

I’ve never been much for celebrating the 4th. I’ve always thought loud fireworks invading my birthday was annoying. ltc is being cranky to her grandparents today.

My attempt to reorganize all the things in the house was interrupted by Covid but I hope to get back to it when we get home. I did buy a new bathroom organizer which TCG will hopefully put together next week. I still haven’t found a solution for all the books

I still haven’t found a solution for all the books

I'm here to report that the solution is more bookcases and shelves. We all know this, of course, but we invested in three new bookcases when we moved over here and we got another one local and free, and we still need more.

However, the good news is that when you have more bookcases you can actually see all your books and that's been a fun discovery on the level of walking into a used bookstore where the owner's taste is EXACTLY the same as your own.

The bad news is, there isn't always room for more bookcases, and they do cost monies.

I have no issue with the monies of a bookcase and every issue with the wall space. Though I have stopped buying paper books many years ago now and only have electronic collections. Which are much more portable but less pleasure to browse.

I have no plans today and am reading a book which I think I’ve read before? But feel like I ought to do some cleaning and accomplish something. Not sure what. Dog freaked out a bit last night hearing some of the early fireworks so I’m a bit worried about tonight. I don’t remember him having any issues last year but I also can’t remember what I did last year! Knowing I have to work in the morning does put a damper on the fun. And nobody I know is doing anything today. Boo.

I'm lucky Bob is much neater than I am. Keeps my shit tighter. Plus we are VERY lucky to have a house cleaner every 2 weeks. But it hasn't stopped the Professor from peeing on the couch and making it so I feel like I can't invite anyone over. Cats, amirite?