July 3, 2023—
A burgundy-haired grandma dished with the clerk at Lowe’s.
“We can’t do Saturday because we’ll be in Michigan,” she said, Day-Timer open, striped and circled. A boxed stove hood against her leg like a cat. “Monday, I have a medical appointment. We could probably do Wednesday. Let’s do Wednesday” for delivery.
To be fair, the round-faced clerk exuded both “favorite grandson” and “excellent waiter.” I watched anxiously because we were next in line, and about to buy a refrigerator and washer.
Wins and gains
I just started “How to Keep House While Drowning” on audiobook, and this jumped out—If you’re overwhelmed, K.C. Davis suggests triaging everything in a room into one of five categories, and taking care of even just one or two.
“Completing a category gives you a little dopamine reward. No more spending hours trying to clean and seeing no progress. Our brains need to see progress or they get discouraged. Category cleaning gives your brain multiple, quick finish lines to feel good about.”
I’ve always sensed this true thing, but never had the words. Rachel texted something like it Saturday, after she tackled the kitchen in the new house.
Photo: We walked the poodles and fed the cat we’re sitting, then I went home for a few hours to shower, scramble eggs, talk to our own kitty, and nap. I needed time in my own crate.