I made myself a promise to go through the house and pass on any unused items to the Salvation Army, and to clear out my clutter. One drawer at a time. Today I am tackling the pencil drawer in my desk.
I just hauled all this stuff out and it’s piled on my desk, in the way of the keyboard, but hey, a promise is a promise.
I am getting rid of several pens that I bought that write terrible… in my picky opinion. And there are a few empty containers in here that used to have paper clips and what not in them that are going in the trash. But amid the castoffs, there are things I think I need to keep. Here’s what I am putting back into the drawer, maybe:
The lanyard from the VA where I worked last summer. (Hey I might need it again) Three tins of Altoids and Velamints. They never go bad. . .
do they? Scotch tape, post it notes, a box of Dixon Ticonderoga pencils #2 ½ , assorted pens, black silk cord I was going to do something with that I haven’t done yet, computer adapters (2). I am afraid to throw them away. A small dreidel. A rubber stamp that says “Happy Hannukah”,
A spare pair of sunglasses, a lollypop pen, which is a pen that sticks into a plastic thing that looks like a lollypop and you wear it around your neck. (Red). A very small notebook that’s a miniature composition book.
Oh, here’s the computer print out of Spanish phrases I got from my oldest son so I could talk to the groundskeepers. The list includes such scintillating phrases as : Please do not trim this plant.” and “This plant is not getting enough water.” The date on it is March 2001. I think I will throw that out. My Snood registration code. (A pox on them!), A Color Quiz personality analysis printout, (Blue), here’s a random quote: “Feels herself to be completely competent in any field in which she engages, and can sometimes be considered by others to be interfering or meddlesome.”
Hmmm. No comment, and it’s going in the trash.
Ah, here is a confirmation note from Garrison Keillor’s production assistant telling me that they have received my manuscript.
(Maybe he DID wrap fish with it). Last year’s Jewish calendar. The farewell cards from the people at the Lab where I worked. (I’m keeping those) A card with my Hebrew calendar birthday that I looked up on the internet once. (Shvat 16, 5711) , a small screwdriver….no not the vodka kind you silly! An unopened deck of playing cards. Ruler, scissors, nail clippers. Hmmmm what is this? A manila envelope. . .
Oh dear, here’s a picture of my friend Marka and I with Robbie sitting on my lap. (Sigh). A printout of addresses of family members. They are all outdated by now we all move so much. A photo of a baby quilt I made for one of the granddaughters. Three blank lottery tickets ready to fill out. (I gave up on the Lottery last year) and last but not least, Robbie’s new dog license that I never made him wear.
Well that’s about it. I didn’t get rid of much. Papers mostly, and 4 pens will get put in the give away box. Maybe the Salvation Army will have better luck in the next drawer. I can see I am going to have to get tougher in the “get rid of it” department.
I think I need a nap . . .