Nope, I don't think so!  Last year I went on a rare garage sale hopping adventure and I actually came up with a few true finds.  One was promptly buried when it got back home to my house…a hazard of hoarding.  When I was moving things around in my office, cleaning and purging, I unburied a book…Confessions of an Organized Housewife, by Deniece Schofield.  NOT that I had any plans of actually reading it, but it was kind of like my own secret, private joke.  I, the mistress of the disorganized.  The cover looked so quaint and simple…

 
Is that a cord attached to a telephone?  Upon further investigation, I found that this edition was printed in 1984, so it is just slightly older than my #4 child, Lizzie.  In the intro, Ms. Schofield writes: "If you're like me, you not only need motivation to get going;  you need to know exactly what to do.  This book will do both.  It's packed with ideas that will help you take control of your own house."

That's it!  I want to take control of my house!!!  I know I have mentioned being a fan of the Hoarders shows – Hoarders and Hoarders: Buried Alive – and determined that I didn't want inside pets or to leave my children with a major mess if something were to happen to me.  So…on occassion, I will take time to read something from this book, pull out some words of wisdom and share them with you.  Today's thought is from Chapter 1, Basic Organizing Principles, pg. 18:

"The motion-minded person uses both hands effectively.  During the next week, notice how many times one hand is busy while one is idle.  As an example, what is your left hand doing while your right hand is brushing your teeth? (Helen answering the question: Resting.  If I tried to do two things at the same time, it would tire my brain and then none of the body would doing much after brushing my teeth.  Resume quote…)  You can easily be sticking things away in a bathroom drawer or medicine chest.  Shoulder rests placed on telephone will free both hands for activity during phone calls. (Helen: Do they make shoulder rests for cell phones? Resume quote…)  Become more aware of your hands."

This is reminiscent of the character Hines in The Pajama Game, who is the time efficiency expert.  Remember  the song "Think of the Time I Save"?  I don't think I'm ready to "live my life by the tick tick tock of the clock"!  But we shall see.  I am hopefully that I will be inspired to make significant changes in my approach to housekeeping.

As a side note: Ms. Schofield has update the book and the title: Confessions of an Organized Homemaker:  The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life.  I wonder if the content has changed?