Another Anti-Cleaning Post

I'm hosting my neighborhood Bunco group this evening.

On one hand I'm glad to be able to host everyone, show off the changes we made in the past 18 months, and will do my best to make it a fun night, but on the other hand, I really wish they weren't coming. And that's because of all the cleaning I've felt I've had to do over the past few days.

It's not that my house is "How Clean is Your House?" episode dirty. It's just not an absolutely perfect showplace all the time, or ever, even after a good cleaning.

I've got pets who shed and slobber and track dirt around, I've got a husband who prefers to eat his meals in the family room at the coffee table while watching TV instead of the breakfast or dining table (It's a battle I've given up fighting for the moment - once we have kids I feel very strongly about eating together at the table.), I personally have an affliction where I can cover any flat surface with paperwork, to-do lists, and other miscellaneous detritus without effort.

And while I don't mind living with a certain amount of mess (depending on whom you ask our house is either cleaner or dirtier than I consider it), it's not a level of mess I'm comfortable with non-family members seeing. Especially ones who don't work and either have time to maintain their house on a regular basis or can afford to hire someone to do so for them.

I know, I know, I should just hire someone and shut up. It would be good for the nation's economy. Unfortunately, like everyone else with investments we've seen our balances drop a good 25% over the past year, and our personal economy does not allow for such things.

Wish me luck getting everything done before people start to arrive at 7. I'm planning to leave work a little early to allow plenty of time, but it never seems to be enough!