A Verb Promoting Action

tack·le: v.tr. 1. To grab hold of and wrestle with (an opponent). 2. Sports: To stop (an opponent carrying the ball), especially by forcing the opponent to the ground. To obstruct (a player with the ball) in order to cause loss of possession of the ball. 3. To engage or deal with: tackle a perplexing problem. 4. To harness (a horse). Synonyms: To take upon oneself: assume, incur, shoulder, take on, take over, undertake. To start work on vigorously: attack, go at, sail in, wade in (or into). Idioms: hop to it.

Now that Mt. Washmore has been leveled, at least for the time being, it's time for a new challenge. For some reason or another, I seem to be in a conquering mood, so I've decided to organize the office area. This is no small task. I would post pictures of the area, but I'd hate to be responsible for the retching and nightmares that would surely follow. Suffice it to say I'm in great need of some sort of order in this room.

Heavy construction equipment could accomplish a lot.

In the office area are two bookshelves, each approximately seven and a half feet tall, both crowded to the gills with books, computer equipment, old software, stuffed animals, cords, photos, baskets, and a partridge in a pear tree or six. There is a desk somewhere underneath all the paper, phone books, nail polish remover, photos, boxes and bills.

There are two chairs which have never been reupholstered that date back to my teenage years, inherited from my mother when she got new furniture. There's a large filing cabinet that matches the desk, and that's where the kids have their computer set up. One corner is full of computer parts, notebooks, a boxed Christmas tree, a file box and an exercise machine. A forty-year-old Filter Queen vacuum cleaner graces the middle of the floor. Against one wall is an antique secretary inherited from my father.

No, the secretary is not an elderly woman. It's a piece of furniture. Get serious, y'all.

The office was painted a year ago. I've had drapes for almost a year, sitting in a bag waiting to be put up. There are mini blinds on the two windows, and that has, of course, given me an excuse for not putting up the drapes. After all, the windows are covered, aren't they?

And besides, there's no need to rush into these things.

There is also a light fixture that dates back to the 1970's fashion of.....wait, WAS there actually fashion back then? At any rate, it probably needs to be replaced with something a bit more modern and in tune with the rest of the decor.

Such as it is, that is.

And so, this is my project for the next week. The Great Before Thanksgiving Clean-a-thon and Chuck It If You Ain't Got A Use For It Bash begins tomorrow. I can hardly wait to see what will actually get done.

After my nap, that is. A girl's gotta have her Sunday afternoon nap, you know.

But after that, WATCH OUT WORLD, because I will become a CERTIFIABLE CLEANING FIEND.