Organization and Failing at Normalcy
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 9:00PM First off, I have to say "Wow!" to all the comments I've been getting from people glad to see me blogging daily. This blog is supposed to just be to list shows and their contents, but hey, why not throw in some dailies? Thanks, guys, and I hope this stuff is interesting.
We in the tri-geekdom know we have too much crap. I've got 3 HR monitors, 4 bike computers, 3 sets of arm warmers, about 12 beanies, and a whole lot of other junk. I get PISSED when I can't find something. What drives me nuts is that I'll have 3 of something and can't find the one I'm looking for. When a workout or bike commute gets delayed because I can't find what I'm looking for, I go ballistic. And it's not like I want all this crap. I just have it. It shows up in my life and it just roosts here. I'm giving away a HRM and a bike computer tomorrow just to dig out from under the heap.
I spend a good bit of time trying to organize this stuff. Having a second person in the house who believes she knows where stuff goes just makes it worse. You see, MY system of finding things depends on me being the one putting it away. I think "where did I put that?" and then I go there and... it's not there... because Huck thought it should either go in drawer B or the trash.
Have I told you how many of my silicone dashboard grippy-anti-sliding-cell phone-paddy-thingies Huck has thrown away because she thought they were trash? Three.
So, I have to organize things or 1. I risk spending two hours looking for something and blowing a workout or 2. Huckster the Chuckster will mistakenly misread something that says "SUUNTO" or "NIKE" or "PHILMONT" and in her non-workout dyslexic fit thinks it actually says "Throw me away without asking Brett first!"
I had a great system of drawers that functioned perfectly until Huck decided we needed new bedroom furniture. In female-ese, new furniture = everything that was functional but doesn't match exactly has to go.
Putting the drawers within the new furniture just isn't working. I was trying to find a HRM to give a friend and found everything but. And I'm missing my ultra cool tattoo print primal wear arm warmers. I told her via cell phone today that I was going to the hardware store to buy a system of hooks and very small shelves to put in the garage so I can have some peace of mind and put my most commonly used stuff in one EASY TO FIND place again. She yelled at me that I better not buy anything, I pretended I agreed, and then I bought some stuff.
I just installed what looks to be some sort of tie rack and then a small double basket rack in the garage. I'm using them to hang helmets, armwarmers, gloves, HRMs, mp3 player arm bands, a headlamp, goggles, GPSs, and various other often used tri gear. Soon, Huck will get "the talk." This is where I point at my hideous construct and ominously demand "Put all that stuff there from now on!" She will pretend to care and then continue going about doing what she does.
Speaking of that, I couldn't do my swim workout today because she suddenly decided that she needed to go "walking" (chatting) with our new neighbor. It's not too terrible since my body could use a rest from yesterday. Still, I need to get her using Google calendar so we can straighten some of this crap out. The woman uses no fewer than 5 analog calendars but says Google is too difficult. Huh? Somebody email her at erhodes at rocketmail dot com and tell her to start using google calendar. I'm dying here!
Reader Comments (5)
There be dscord in the -afornia household! The sooner you learn the only 2 words in the useful Married Man vocabulary...."yes" and "dear"....the sooner you can stop pulling your hair out and live in quite sufferage like the rest of us.
WHAT? Your highly organized draw system you made last year is gone? What a shame!!!
I have suffered in the same way brother! The night before I was leaving for my last race my tri shorts dissapeared. We both looked EVERYWHERE in the house for them to no avail. Bought some new ones at the expo. Guess what just magically appeared in my workout clothing bin? Frickin' tri shorts! grr...
Firing up email client now :P
When i get home from either a ride or run, i immediately go to the garage, peel off my wet and sweaty clothes (laundry bin) and all my "accessories, HRM, gloves, GPS etc" go into a plastic storage bin. I have a spot in the kitchen, that cupboard over the microwave that no one ever uses, for all my gels, electrolytes, hats, running belts and bottles. i suppose there is nothing like an anal triathlete eh?
I just got home from my bike commute and immediately put up my helmet and gloves in their respective spots. It's working! Thanks for the support from my MAN-CREW!
Oh, Tex, I hope Emily isn't reading your blog as she may start to 'hide' more of your tri kit, messing with your mind!