Friday, July 23, 2010

Cleaning, Pillars and Win a Book!

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

Read on to find out how to win a hardback book...

The weather has been quite nice out here lately -- still warm but far less humid and bearable. Unfortunately, now Dakota is a bit under the weather (on our first walk of the day yesterday, she plodded sedately at my side the entire way. Dakota is seldom sedate), so we haven't enjoyed it as much as we might have.

I have done quite a bit of weeding, so that's something. And, yes, I actually enjoy weeding. It really makes me feel like I've accomplished something. I can look at the results and feel good about it.

Speaking of which, I've been watching the show "Hoarding: Buried Alive" which is a bit like a car accident that you can't look away from. But, every time I watch a show, it inspires me to clean and purge my stuff. This week, I gave DD (who has shows a frightening tendency to be a hoarder -- she attaches memories and emotion to everything she owns, including trash. She had used tissue paper crumpled up and stuffed away in a drawer that she didn't want to throw away because it came from a gift "Grandma gave me.". I want to get her a new comforter for her bed. The one she has is eight years old, torn and has some stains. "I love this comforter, I don't want a new one, I'll feel awful if you get rid of it." Oy.) ... so I gave her a paper grocery bag, sent her to her room and told her not to come out until it was full of stuff to give away or throw away.

Then I did the same thing. To look at our house, you wouldn't think we have that much stuff to get rid of. My house is pretty well clean and uncluttered (my DH is a neat freak -- I fall somewhere between DH and DD, lol). Still, I found plenty to fill my bag.

We went to Goodwill yesterday and donated four bags of stuff and DD's old bike (that was amazingly painful for her, but she managed), and then a bag of books to the library. It felt WONDERFUL.

I'm also purging my own bookshelf, and thought I'd offer some to you folks if you're interested. I'll give away at least a book a week (sometimes more depending on what I find) and I'm only giving away books that are new or like new.

So ... today I'm offering a hardback copy of "Kiss Me While I Sleep" by Linda Howard.

Here's the blurb:
Efficient and unapologetic, Lily Mansfield is a hired assassin working as a contract agent for the CIA. Her targets are the powerful and corrupt, those who can't be touched by the law. Now Lily is playing a deadly, unauthorized game, seeking her own vengeance, compromising her superiors and endangering her life. Fellow CIA agent Lucas Swain's orders: either bring her in or bring her down. Yet he too is drawn into the game with Lily Mansfield, dancing on a tightrope, trying to avoid a major international incident while battling a tenacious foe dogging their every step. Vigilantly watching her back, Lily doesn't see the lethal peril directly in her path . . . or that loyalty has a price.

If you want this book, just leave me a comment -- you can say other stuff too, but mention that you'd like to throw your name into the hat. I'll draw a winner Sunday and announce it on Monday.

Good luck!

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In Pillar Place: Monarch, Omicron hatched. Another boy, apparently shy because I had a terrible time getting a picture, and I never did get a really good one:




We have well over a dozen pillars who have started cooking in their chrysalis', and another many who are still eating like pigs. Yesterday, I found yet another egg (unbelievable!), so we're up to "V" in the hurricanes (we named the one before Ulysses, because they don't have a U hurricane name, and the last egg is Virginia, because their name -- Virginie -- was too weird).

I imagine things will be fairly quite over the next week or so, but they we're going to be buried in butterflies (there are worse things *G*).

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You Are Alive and Energetic



You are most comfortable when you are mixing things up a little bit. You like novelty in small doses.

You are drawn to harmony and compassion. You value commonalities over differences.

You have a deep and interesting inner world. Your thoughts are vivid and interesting.

You believe that if you look closely enough at people, you can appreciate them more... flaws and all.



About 75%...

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9 comments:

MJFredrick said...

I don't want to be considered for the book, but what I've been trying to do this summer is a Fly Lady suggestion--get rid of 15 things in a room each time you clean it. They don't have to be big, but 15 things. Some rooms are easier than others!

Chrystal said...

I would love to be entered to win a book. :)

Oh and I love watching Hoarders too. Fly Lady is a great inspiration of how to get your place in tip top shape but in baby steps as to not overwhelm people. I love her.

Maria Zannini said...

No need to put me in for the book.

I just wanted to ask about Dakota. Do you think it's the heat? Is she eating okay?

Ref: DD, hoarding
Don't kids tend to collect stuff anyway? I seem to remember I held on to the most ridiculous things as a kid, but as I got older I was less sentimental. I am constantly purging, which drives my husband crazy.

Marianne Arkins said...

Mary and Chrystal -- I love FlyLady, but have gotten away from using her ideas. It's funny you mentioned her, though, because I'm printing up a calendar with the different areas to work on each month, and have a few "fling boogies" scheduled!

Marianne Arkins said...

Maria, re: Dakota -- I'm assuming it's the heat. She was pretty calm during Wednesday's agility, too. She's having ... er... loose stools (there, that sounds fairly polite) as well. This morning she was much more perky, and she's never been off her food. Hopefully she's feeling better (poop problems aside).

RE: DD -- I was a packrat up until I got married. DH is so incredibly anal about "stuff" that I really wasn't allowed to keep things because he'd nag (and nag, and nag). So, I'm sure DD gets it from me. She's also incredibly sensitive and emotional, so I'm sure that figures in to the fact she's so sentimental about everything.

Dru said...

Who is FlyLady?

Don't include me in your book giveaway.

You Are Alive and Energetic

You are most comfortable when you are mixing things up a little bit. You like novelty in small doses.

You are drawn to passion and emotion. You see the world as a colorful place.

You have a deep and interesting inner world. Your thoughts are vivid and interesting.

You believe that if you look closely enough at people, they all have worth.


I think this is true.

Brandy said...

Don't include me in the giveaway!

Poor Dakota, I hope she's feeling better soon.

I have been gathering things to get rid of this week as well. We moved too many times when hubs was in the Military for me to keep too many things beyond furniture and my books and I purge those every year.


You Are Laid Back and Low Key
You are most comfortable when you are challenging yourself and trying something new.
You are drawn to passion and emotion. You see the world as a colorful place.
You have no trouble finding contentment wherever you are in life. You are happy in the now.
You believe that if you look closely enough at people, they all have their own unique beauty.

Hmm, maybe a third correct.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Mary Curry said...

Marianne, my DD is the same way. I had to force her to throw away used toothbrushes once I discovered that every time I bought her a new one, she added the old one to her collection.

Hope Dakota's better soon.

Tori Lennox said...

I tried FlyLady for awhile but I found her too annoying for my taste.

The name Virginie reminds of that old song "Carry Me Back to Old Virginie". And I agree, it's a weird name.