Walking Backwards

Wow, the nap did wonders (I'm sure the caffeine helped, too). I feel a million times better. Sadly, I now have a house to clean and tend to. Joe and I had planned to spend most of my spring break deep-cleaning the house and getting rid of most of our excess crap, but by the time spring break rolled around, I was so sick of the pace we've been keeping that I just didn't do it. I did a lot with the boy and spent time outside and just in general relaxed. Now, while I am not regretting how I spent my time, I am kind of behind schedule. At the end of May all of the in-laws are coming to visit for Nico's birthday and Joe's mother is staying here. Yikes. I don't want them to see the half-finished chaos of everything around here. I'm not aiming for Martha Stewart here, I just think it would be nice for them not to have to step over the pile of old computers by the front door or trip in the hallway over the box of Nico's old clothes that are supposed to be going into the attic. Also, since getting one of those "simplify your life" books, I'm realizing that having this much unnecessary stuff is just driving me closer to insanity. We just have Too Much Stuff! The worst part is that I bought it all. I say that I am totally against the current spend-all-you-have consumer culture, but it seems like, lately, I have been totally absorbed into it. I hate knowing that there are things in my life that I never use and don't need that I spent money on and feel guilty getting rid of because it seems like I would be wasting the expense. I need to get it into my head that just by purchasing these frivolous items I have wasted the money already.