I should really think about starting to pack...

...but I just can't. The good news is, I've been getting ALL kinds of projects done around here. ANYTHING to not have to start packing for a trip I don't want to be taking. I know, I know, I sound like a royal bitch, complaining about having to go to Italy, but it is what it is.

In the meantime, I cleaned a bunch of crap out of my closet (finally!!) I ended up with three bags for Goodwill.And 100 new hangers to put down in the laundry room!
Last week, I decided I couldn't take CSJ throwing his stuff on my kitchen island anymore, so I tried to figure out where he could dump his stuff when he gets home. I was at Michael's, and found this little shelf. It seemed like the perfect little solution. He can hang his keys underneath, put his wallet, change, etc., on top, right? I just needed to figure out where to hang it. I was going to paint it the same color as the kitchen wall, so it would blend in, but then I couldn't find the right place. Finally, I decided to hang it in the stairway at the back door. I figured that was the best place, because he can literally walk in the door and dump, and NONE of it would come into the kitchen!

Anyway, I got the first screw into the wall, but then when I tried to put the second one in, this is what happened.Um...yeah. BIG, GIANT hole in the drywall. Way to go, ChiTown! I've been trying to ignore that for over a week now, but it's impossible, since it's literally the first thing I see when I walk in the door. I'll just have to deal with it when I get back. Unless, of course, "someone" fixes it while I'm gone. But, I'm not holding my breath.

I also cleaned the fish bowl the other day. That's not really that rare, as it has to be done every week to ten days. But, this time, it got a DEEP cleaning. I used a cloth-wrapped chopstick to get into every single nook and cranny. I TOLD you I didn't want to pack!

Here's the happy tenant. I've had this little guy for about 3 years (maybe more?) and sadly, he's never had a name! We just call him "fish."

Oh, good God, what else can I do to avoid packing? I actually spent over 4 hours cleaning and organizing my linen closet the other day, which is something that was years overdue. I threw away 2 full bags of garbage, mostly expired medications. I bought a little storage drawer thingy to help me organize all the stuff, and at the end of the four hours, when I was feeling super organized and accomplished, THE FREAKIN' THING DIDN'T FIT IN THE CLOSET!!! Oh my God, talk about being pissed! One more thing I'll have to deal with when I get back.

I don't think I'll be able to put this off much longer, though, because I won't be around tomorrow. One of my cousins and his boyfriend are having a HUGE party. Actually, I thought it was just going to be family, friends and a few neighbors, but I just found out it's going to be a HUGE blow-out bash! Apparently, there were about 350 people on the guest list, and as of last Saturday, about 280 had responded "yes." WTF?! I guess I need to rethink bringing my Little Dipper full of Spinach Artichoke dip, huh? The party starts at 3, and he lives in Indiana (but just right over the border) so I figure that doesn't leave me a whole lot of time to pack tomorrow.

I guess with that, I'd better start getting my shit together. Literally, and figuratively. I intend to be back at least once more before we leave Sunday morning, but just in case I don't make it, let me just say "Ciao!"