Change 23 - Organize The Laundry Room

I have decided to (once again) organize the laundry room.

Over the past few years, I’ve tried to maintain some level of organization in our laundry room.  It appears, however, from the current state of our laundry room, that my most recent attempt has been an utter failure.  My wife does a great job of keeping our house clean and clutter-free, but the laundry room, at least the half not dedicated to laundry, is “my” area for storage.  I keep my tools, my paperwork, and even an old filing cabinet (which held my comic books when I was a kid) in my half of the room.  Right now, the room is a disaster, with cardboard boxes, filled with stuff, piled three or four high.

Tomorrow, I’m going to reorganize the laundry room, and spend whatever time (and money) it takes to KEEP it organized.

Change 22 - Take Off The Trash

I have decided to take of the trash, daily, instead of every other week.

This is a strange one, I know.  I live in the rural south, and we do not have trash pickup.  Instead, I have to load our trash in the back of my old truck and haul it off to the dumpster.  I hate doing this.  No, hate doesn’t cut it.  I loathe doing this.  Taking off the trash is a miserable, disgusting exercise.  As frugal as I am, I would gladly pay double, no triple, the going rate for trash pickup.  Seriously, I hate dealing with trash - even trash that is packed securely in garbage bags.

Currently, I just put the trash in the back of my truck and make trips to the dumpster once or twice a month.  Inevitably, a cat will get in the back of the truck, tear through the trash, and make a mess.  So, from now on, I’m just going to go the dumpster every day.  As much as I hate going to the dumpster - I hate cleaning up after the stupid cat even more.

I think I need to go throw up.  Ugh.

(And, yes, we keep our trash in trash cans, but we have yet to find one that is completely animal proof.  I’ve purchased a dozen or so trash cans over the years, but, inevitably, I lose their lids or a dog dumps them over.  Plus, I have to admit, I have such a weak stomach, I can barely deal with putting the used trash can back in the back of my truck.  Gross.)

Change 21 - Wake Up Earlier

I have decided to wake up earlier.

I usually wake up between 6:30 and 7:00.  I have decided to wake up earlier, so that I can a.) help my wife get the kids dressed and ready for school b.) spend more time in prayer and c.) go the gym.

I stay up late at night, after my kids and wife have gone to bed, so that I can work on my various blogs and websites.  Recently, however, I’ve been going to be a bit earlier, probably because I’ve been working out so hard at the gym, and I feel much more rested.  Getting up is getting much easier.

5:30 will be my new wake up time.