Comments on: The Twelve Days of My Office http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/ More than you ever wanted to hear from Jenny Crusie. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:18:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sheri http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9724 Sheri Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:44:59 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9724 Looking around--nope, everything is still the same. Inspired, yes. Motivated--unfortunately the answer is apparently no!! LOL! Maybe if I actually had some time off once in ahwile, but the boss just asked if I was ready to train again on Saturday (sigh). New class of 8 coming through now. I just cadetted my last class this past week and they are almost ready to go out on their own. And I applied for a promotion also--what was I thinking?!! Argh. Looking around–nope, everything is still the same. Inspired, yes. Motivated–unfortunately the answer is apparently no!! LOL! Maybe if I actually had some time off once in ahwile, but the boss just asked if I was ready to train again on Saturday (sigh). New class of 8 coming through now. I just cadetted my last class this past week and they are almost ready to go out on their own. And I applied for a promotion also–what was I thinking?!! Argh.

]]> By: Michele Lee http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9710 Michele Lee Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:50:04 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9710 I officially don't feel so bad about my space now. the hubs and I were just talking about how our room is over crowded, but that's because all my writing and craft stuff stays in here because otherwise the kids will get into it. I officially don’t feel so bad about my space now. the hubs and I were just talking about how our room is over crowded, but that’s because all my writing and craft stuff stays in here because otherwise the kids will get into it.

]]> By: Deb http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9432 Deb Sat, 08 Sep 2007 05:38:47 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9432 Work made me behind on my blog reading. And this made me look around at the computer/craft/junk room I'm currently sitting in and think, "15 minutes a day, huh?" And there is the slight possibility that if I began with 15 minutes today, I might be done by Christmas. Maybe. I don't know. See, just looking at all the junk is vastly overwhelming. Which is why I'm exceedingly grateful that the computer faces the corner. So that I really can't *see* the junk when I'm in here working. My husband keeps trying to find things in here, though, and it's very disconcerting to hear all those crashes and such behind me as piles topple. 15 minutes a day? Hmmm... Work made me behind on my blog reading. And this made me look around at the computer/craft/junk room I’m currently sitting in and think, “15 minutes a day, huh?” And there is the slight possibility that if I began with 15 minutes today, I might be done by Christmas. Maybe. I don’t know. See, just looking at all the junk is vastly overwhelming. Which is why I’m exceedingly grateful that the computer faces the corner. So that I really can’t *see* the junk when I’m in here working. My husband keeps trying to find things in here, though, and it’s very disconcerting to hear all those crashes and such behind me as piles topple.

15 minutes a day? Hmmm…

]]> By: Mary Stella http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9392 Mary Stella Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:51:31 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9392 <i>Mary Stella, I just found you in the spam folder, keeping some pretty strange company. I de-spammed you and then deleted the duplicate, but whatever put you in there must have stopped because the one above came through.</i> Nothing new. I live in the Florida Keys where most of the people are strange to some degree. That's not even counting some of the men I've dated. Thanks for de-spamming me. Mary Stella, I just found you in the spam folder, keeping some pretty strange company. I de-spammed you and then deleted the duplicate, but whatever put you in there must have stopped because the one above came through.

Nothing new. I live in the Florida Keys where most of the people are strange to some degree. That’s not even counting some of the men I’ve dated. Thanks for de-spamming me.

]]> By: DebraG http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9305 DebraG Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:33:24 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9305 <i>Seriously, what do you do with old stuff with sentimental associations? </i> I read a tip somewhere - take pictures of all that stuff and then toss it. You can still troll Sentimental Alley off the pics. Seriously, what do you do with old stuff with sentimental associations?

I read a tip somewhere – take pictures of all that stuff and then toss it. You can still troll Sentimental Alley off the pics.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9296 Jenny Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:57:04 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9296 Mary Stella, I just found you in the spam folder, keeping some pretty strange company. I de-spammed you and then deleted the duplicate, but whatever put you in there must have stopped because the one above came through. No, no, pressure is GOOD. That's why I put the pictures up on the blog. Left to my own devices I'd never get this place cleaned. Mary Stella, I just found you in the spam folder, keeping some pretty strange company. I de-spammed you and then deleted the duplicate, but whatever put you in there must have stopped because the one above came through.

No, no, pressure is GOOD. That’s why I put the pictures up on the blog. Left to my own devices I’d never get this place cleaned.

]]> By: Mary Stella http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9294 Mary Stella Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:45:31 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9294 Hmm. This blog doesn't like me. It ate yesterday's comment. Jenny, your 15 mins a day plan inspires me. I'm going to start one to declutter my own office any day now. I need to clear space to move the printer from the dining room table back to the desk in the office. I don't mind keeping my laptop in the dining room since I prefer to write with a view of the harbor than one of wall, but I want a wireless printing network. Actually, before I move ahead, I'm going to wait and see if the method worked for you. No pressure. :-) Hmm. This blog doesn’t like me. It ate yesterday’s comment. Jenny, your 15 mins a day plan inspires me. I’m going to start one to declutter my own office any day now. I need to clear space to move the printer from the dining room table back to the desk in the office. I don’t mind keeping my laptop in the dining room since I prefer to write with a view of the harbor than one of wall, but I want a wireless printing network.

Actually, before I move ahead, I’m going to wait and see if the method worked for you.

No pressure. :-)

]]> By: Diane http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9280 Diane Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:37:37 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9280 I called my Virgo partner into my messy office to look at your office photo - I actually showed him the before and after photos on your next entry. "I thought your office was bad," he said. I'm a Sagittarius and we're always clashing about clutter. Yet he's no more organised than me - he just throws everything into boxes and then can't find anything! I'm always searching for bits of paper that I've left sitting next to my laptop and he's moved somewhere else. Anyway, Jenny, your fifteen minutes have inspired me to do something about the boxes of stuff that are accumulating around me. fifteen minutes a day. Yep, seeing it's now 11pm...I'll start tomorrow! I may even be brave enough to stick before and after photos on my blog. I called my Virgo partner into my messy office to look at your office photo – I actually showed him the before and after photos on your next entry. “I thought your office was bad,” he said. I’m a Sagittarius and we’re always clashing about clutter. Yet he’s no more organised than me – he just throws everything into boxes and then can’t find anything! I’m always searching for bits of paper that I’ve left sitting next to my laptop and he’s moved somewhere else.

Anyway, Jenny, your fifteen minutes have inspired me to do something about the boxes of stuff that are accumulating around me. fifteen minutes a day. Yep, seeing it’s now 11pm…I’ll start tomorrow! I may even be brave enough to stick before and after photos on my blog.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9261 Jenny Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:28:54 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9261 Reb, shhhhhh. We don't want the trolls to realize the ratings are good and start posting bad ones to bring it down. But I am VERY grateful to anybody who posted there, thank you very much. It won't last because there really are people who will post multiple bad reviews just to rain on somebody else's parade--there's a life for you--but it's SO nice to know we started out strong. And no I didn't post any of them. And Bob refuses to go near anything of his on Amazon, so trust me, he didn't either. Reb, shhhhhh. We don’t want the trolls to realize the ratings are good and start posting bad ones to bring it down. But I am VERY grateful to anybody who posted there, thank you very much. It won’t last because there really are people who will post multiple bad reviews just to rain on somebody else’s parade–there’s a life for you–but it’s SO nice to know we started out strong.

And no I didn’t post any of them. And Bob refuses to go near anything of his on Amazon, so trust me, he didn’t either.

]]> By: Reb http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9253 Reb Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:42:58 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9253 We just moved house. It was an eye-opener. Where did we get all this junk from? How on earth did we fit it all in our old house?? And where on earth do we put it all now??? A lot isn't even nice junk, it's just got faint sentimental associations. I need to be inspired by you all. Seriously, what do you do with old stuff with sentimental associations? I know I'll never use it again, but once a decade or so I might look at it and think "I remember ..., that was fun." So I don't want to throw it out, but I don't want to find it a home now either. Hey Jenny, I know you said you don't read Amazon reviews, but did you know Agnes has 16 reviews and 5/5 for ALL of them. Wow! We just moved house. It was an eye-opener. Where did we get all this junk from? How on earth did we fit it all in our old house?? And where on earth do we put it all now??? A lot isn’t even nice junk, it’s just got faint sentimental associations. I need to be inspired by you all.

Seriously, what do you do with old stuff with sentimental associations? I know I’ll never use it again, but once a decade or so I might look at it and think “I remember …, that was fun.” So I don’t want to throw it out, but I don’t want to find it a home now either.

Hey Jenny, I know you said you don’t read Amazon reviews, but did you know Agnes has 16 reviews and 5/5 for ALL of them. Wow!

]]> By: ArkansasCyndi http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9248 ArkansasCyndi Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:18:07 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9248 Holy Sh*t, lady. How do you find ANYTHING in there? But I confess...I cleaned house for 5 hours on Monday and NEVER got to my bedroom and bath...and I live in a 2200 sq ft house! Congrats on Agnes. Read it over the weekend. REALLY enjoyed it. Loved Shane and Agnes. Good job to you and Bob Holy Sh*t, lady. How do you find ANYTHING in there?

But I confess…I cleaned house for 5 hours on Monday and NEVER got to my bedroom and bath…and I live in a 2200 sq ft house!

Congrats on Agnes. Read it over the weekend. REALLY enjoyed it. Loved Shane and Agnes. Good job to you and Bob

]]> By: WapakGram http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9247 WapakGram Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:24:51 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9247 YEA!!!!!!! Congrats to you and Bob, him and you her and him. Top 25 on the NYT. Woo hoo. I am so thrilled for you and for us if that means more Cruise Mayer books!! Happy Dance! YEA!!!!!!! Congrats to you and Bob, him and you her and him. Top 25 on the NYT. Woo hoo. I am so thrilled for you and for us if that means more Cruise Mayer books!! Happy Dance!

]]> By: Sheena http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9246 Sheena Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:43:32 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9246 Music, and a good friend. That's what I need to get motivated when one of my rooms looks like that (and it's usually my study, and I get to that point at least once a year). Get some good sing-along music out and going, take in a cup of coffee and a coaster, and if you still need motivation, invite someone to come and talk to you and not let you leave the room under any pretext until you have done your fifteen minutes. The time will go quickly. If that was mine, though, it would look worse while I was cleaning it as I start to put things in piles on the floor until I can put them away. So maybe brace yourself for that. (by the way, I read Agnes and The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes last weekend, and they were both great. I need to read Agnes again so I can master all the mob plot details, but I really loved her. And Lisa Livia. And Carpenter. And all of them (except Brenda, of course)). Music, and a good friend. That’s what I need to get motivated when one of my rooms looks like that (and it’s usually my study, and I get to that point at least once a year). Get some good sing-along music out and going, take in a cup of coffee and a coaster, and if you still need motivation, invite someone to come and talk to you and not let you leave the room under any pretext until you have done your fifteen minutes. The time will go quickly. If that was mine, though, it would look worse while I was cleaning it as I start to put things in piles on the floor until I can put them away. So maybe brace yourself for that. (by the way, I read Agnes and The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes last weekend, and they were both great. I need to read Agnes again so I can master all the mob plot details, but I really loved her. And Lisa Livia. And Carpenter. And all of them (except Brenda, of course)).

]]> By: Brandy http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9245 Brandy Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:18:05 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9245 Um, I don't know if three hours is going to be enough time. Oh, my. You need shelves. Lots and lots of them! *g* Best of Luck! And Wonderful news about Agnes!! It's a FANTASTIC book! Um, I don’t know if three hours is going to be enough time. Oh, my. You need shelves. Lots and lots of them! *g* Best of Luck! And Wonderful news about Agnes!! It’s a FANTASTIC book!

]]> By: Vaishali http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9244 Vaishali Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:12:33 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9244 Good luck with the 3 hours. If you can do that, you not only can write magic, you can perform it too :-). Perseverance, yup, that's the ticket, in 15 minute increments. Be brutal when getting rid of stuff, de-cluttering is not for softies. If only I could follow my own advice, sigh. Good luck with the 3 hours. If you can do that, you not only can write magic, you can perform it too :-) . Perseverance, yup, that’s the ticket, in 15 minute increments. Be brutal when getting rid of stuff, de-cluttering is not for softies. If only I could follow my own advice, sigh.

]]> By: robena grant http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9243 robena grant Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:10:06 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9243 Yay!!! Congratulations on being 24! That's Agnes at 24th spot on the NYT extended list, not Jenny being 24 again. Yay!!! Congratulations on being 24! That’s Agnes at 24th spot on the NYT extended list, not Jenny being 24 again.

]]> By: Sheri http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9241 Sheri Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:42:31 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9241 I don't think 15 minutes a day will do it for me. As fast as I un-clutter one part of my house, another part fills up with crap to replace the crap I just got rid of. (sigh) It doesn't help that I am a pack rat and keep everything! I still have my English folders from HIGH SCHOOL!! Granted, I kept them on the off-chance that my girls would be subjected to the same mind-numbing blather that I sat through my junior and senior years with our English prof at my high school,(he used a lot of the same material every year) but he retired a few years ago, so why do I still have those folders?!! Exactly. Maybe I will give it a shot. 15 minutes isn't a lot of time--I could probably deal with cleaning stuff out that long every day. More than that and I get overwhelmed and stuff everything back where it was.... I don’t think 15 minutes a day will do it for me. As fast as I un-clutter one part of my house, another part fills up with crap to replace the crap I just got rid of. (sigh) It doesn’t help that I am a pack rat and keep everything! I still have my English folders from HIGH SCHOOL!! Granted, I kept them on the off-chance that my girls would be subjected to the same mind-numbing blather that I sat through my junior and senior years with our English prof at my high school,(he used a lot of the same material every year) but he retired a few years ago, so why do I still have those folders?!! Exactly.

Maybe I will give it a shot. 15 minutes isn’t a lot of time–I could probably deal with cleaning stuff out that long every day. More than that and I get overwhelmed and stuff everything back where it was….

]]> By: G and T http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9240 G and T Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:38:28 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9240 OK, so this is not hopeless. What's hopeless is my house. I had a hurried move from a place with storage into a place with no storage without purging, and now I am entertaining approximately 40 people in three days. Ha-ha! I have written a number of pieces on organizers, and none of the ones I have talked to make their clients cry like you see on Clean Sweep or that other show on HGTV, whose name escapes me now. They can help. And part of what they do sometimes is take the extra stuff AWAY to new homes. I'd get an organizer, but my problem is there is no place to put the stuff I really need, nor do I have any furniture. And she might make be get rid of some of the 23 orange shirts I own, which would be bad. OK, so this is not hopeless. What’s hopeless is my house. I had a hurried move from a place with storage into a place with no storage without purging, and now I am entertaining approximately 40 people in three days. Ha-ha!

I have written a number of pieces on organizers, and none of the ones I have talked to make their clients cry like you see on Clean Sweep or that other show on HGTV, whose name escapes me now. They can help. And part of what they do sometimes is take the extra stuff AWAY to new homes.

I’d get an organizer, but my problem is there is no place to put the stuff I really need, nor do I have any furniture. And she might make be get rid of some of the 23 orange shirts I own, which would be bad.

]]> By: Egads http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9238 Egads Wed, 05 Sep 2007 23:55:16 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9238 First, you have inspired me. I'm right with you doing the 15 minutes. We'll see. Second, what kind of system do you have for storing the stuff associated with finished books? Do you just throw it all out, including the collages? If you keep that stuff (and I think I probably would), I can see it accreting with each project. Maybe clear storage boxes, and the attic for that? Or does the old stuff inspire you for the new stuff, so you keep it handy? Some time ago I found the website that put up pictures of authors' workspaces. Some people had really great views, some people had the cute corner, but most of them looked...ready for visitors. Then there was your office photo, and I loved it at once. No pretension, in all its messy, creative glory. Real. Thank God for that, because if I had to be neat all the time like those other pictures, I'm doomed. First, you have inspired me. I’m right with you doing the 15 minutes. We’ll see.

Second, what kind of system do you have for storing the stuff associated with finished books? Do you just throw it all out, including the collages? If you keep that stuff (and I think I probably would), I can see it accreting with each project. Maybe clear storage boxes, and the attic for that? Or does the old stuff inspire you for the new stuff, so you keep it handy?

Some time ago I found the website that put up pictures of authors’ workspaces. Some people had really great views, some people had the cute corner, but most of them looked…ready for visitors. Then there was your office photo, and I loved it at once. No pretension, in all its messy, creative glory. Real.

Thank God for that, because if I had to be neat all the time like those other pictures, I’m doomed.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9236 Jenny Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:48:53 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/09/04/the-twelve-days-of-my-office/#comment-9236 I love the Julie Morgenstern book. And if I could find it, I'd read it again. Oh, and I'm so glad you liked the bag, J. You never know with handmade stuff. Sometimes its great and sometimes it's Loving-Hands-At-Home. I just got home after a long day of errands and other distractions to get the news that Agnes is #24 on the NYT extended, so you have all done excellent work, raising it ten places. And we're grateful. Bob even said, "Maybe we're not doomed." Well, he didn't say that, but that was the tone. Now I'm going to open my mail, eat some ice cream, and then set the timer for fifteen minutes. Argh. I love the Julie Morgenstern book. And if I could find it, I’d read it again.

Oh, and I’m so glad you liked the bag, J. You never know with handmade stuff. Sometimes its great and sometimes it’s Loving-Hands-At-Home.

I just got home after a long day of errands and other distractions to get the news that Agnes is #24 on the NYT extended, so you have all done excellent work, raising it ten places. And we’re grateful. Bob even said, “Maybe we’re not doomed.” Well, he didn’t say that, but that was the tone.

Now I’m going to open my mail, eat some ice cream, and then set the timer for fifteen minutes.

Argh.

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