Maybe it's just me. I'm not a fan of deep cleaning the house. I like a clean house, don't get me wrong. I'm talking about all those spring cleaning tasks: dusting the ceiling, cleaning the windows, scrubbing the floor with bleach.

Well I've been avoiding writing (and to be fair, schoolwork) all day! And my house is all shine and sparkle! Anyone else deep clean when they're avoiding writing? Why is it that we do it?

It's a female guilt trip thing, which I'm happy to say I'm immune from. Some women have a problem with just sitting and thinking, or doing something that doesn't involve earning money for the family, or keeping the house clean and bellies filled with food.

I'm quite happy to idle away some time just staring into space - I don't feel I should be doing something else if I'm not writing. I do what needs to be done to keep the place clean and tidy, and when the house needs a deep clean, I pull in my husband to help. My neighbour usually offers to help as well. She loves housework, which I find very strange, but I'm glad she lives next door when it comes to deep cleaning time!

This "cleaning" you speak of - what does it entail? Is it something that one can do at any time, or are there prescribed rituals and  times for this "cleaning"? Is it in fact a religion, or a cult, or just a philosophy of living?

I must admit, it's an intriguing word ... 

Lol!

Been there, done that.

Instead of "real" cleaning, though, I tend to procrastinate by doing "virtual cleaning." I go through my feed reader... I clean up old emails... I touch base with people I haven't spoken to in years... Anything that semi-sounds important is suddenly a very high priority for me.

Man I wish when I was procrastinating shit would get done LOL.

SifuPhil (01:43pm Mon, Sep  3, 2012)

This "cleaning" you speak of - what does it entail? Is it something that one can do at any time, or are there prescribed rituals and  times for this "cleaning"? Is it in fact a religion, or a cult, or just a philosophy of living?

I must admit, it's an intriguing word ...

The cleaning procrastination thingy happens during times of stress. Around due dates for papers, end of the semester, general life stress times.

I think it's more like: hey, you know what I can control right this second? Nope not all this stress. Not my muse. Not my characters. I can't control the dust bunnies. And the streaky windows. And the dirty floors.

That makes TOTAL sense...when I should be doing a test or what ever I do find myself cleaning. I think it makes the room clearer and I can potentially concentrate better.

I LIKE my dust bunnies - they keep me company during those long, dark winter nights, they don't require feeding and they multiply like crazy.

No - house never perfectly clean and tidy - I am a domestic slut. Domestic sluttery does not run in my family. My mum dusted and vacuumed every week day. Mondays were a heavy cleaning day for her after the weekend.

No, I decided to be a domestic slut after hearing Quentin Crisp observed that "The dust doesn't get any worse after three years"  . . . . I related to that. But i'm not actually that bad.

My daughter is much more successful as a domestic slut than I am. Domestic sluttery frees her up for a wild social life in Paris - whilst mine frees time for pondering, cuddling the rabbit, walking the dogs and, yes, writing.

In fact, when I'm avoiding writing, my dogs get fitter as they have more walks.

My mom cleans like crazy, and my dad is the total opposite. Guaranteed fireworks every now and then at home.  I just clean regularly but not compulsive in any way. I just like it clean, but enough is enough for me.

FlanneryCam (12:38am Mon, Sep  3, 2012)

Maybe it's just me. I'm not a fan of deep cleaning the house. I like a clean house, don't get me wrong. I'm talking about all those spring cleaning tasks: dusting the ceiling, cleaning the windows, scrubbing the floor with bleach.

Well I've been avoiding writing (and to be fair, schoolwork) all day! And my house is all shine and sparkle! Anyone else deep clean when they're avoiding writing? Why is it that we do it?

Actually, what I've been noticing recently is just the opposite!  My house has been looking fairly scary in recent weeks.  I've been working on a couple of time intensive online projects.  I just try to do a little housework during breaks every day.  I don't know how some people keep their homes spic and span.  At best, my home is clean for about a day and then erodes from there.  Sigh...

I clean my house once a week and I think it's enough. I don't clean it when I need a distraction from writing. When I'm not very keen on writing, I tend to go out with my friends and relax.

I like a bit of dirt here and there. It makes life and living seem so much more normal. Maybe it's a reaction to my mother who is fanatical about being clean.

Still I do clean up. Not to avoid writing but rather to have a reason to get up and do something. You see, I have this nightmare about dying from thrombosis if I sit for too long.

I always thought "Thrombosis" would be a great name for a garage punk band.

Without cleaning I would have no excuse to get into my French maid outfit. 

SifuPhil (09:14am Wed, Nov 28, 2012)

I always thought "Thrombosis" would be a great name for a garage punk band.

Without cleaning I would have no excuse to get into my French maid outfit. 

Thrombosis? Hmmm, I can imagine a trombone in a proboscis.

Now about that excuse. Do you mean get into your French maid or get into your French maid's outfit? Wait, not really that much difference between the two, is there?

OMG FINALLY!!


I have that fear too!! IT'S HORRIBLE!! I spent my entire plane ride to Texas doing leg excercises, refusing to bend my arms more than 90 degrees for more than a minute, and skulling water.

You know what that did?! It made my ENTIRE BODY swell up like a balloon. I got really worried because I had gained more than 2 inches on my calves alone and they had bruises all over them so I thought I was going to die (swelling/bruising is a sign). I was really terrified.

Also I should point out I have flown that flight 6 times, and only the last two did I drink lots and experience swelling.

It also had a numbing effect on my legs which was scary. I got Gregory to help me draw around the bruises with pen I was so scared.

Sounds to me like you almost died of fright. When I am on long journeys, what I do is take off my shoes, then sit cross-legged on my chair. So far I have survived many journeys of 5+ hours of non-stop sitting.

I would have had to buy two seats ha ha .

Victor Leigh (12:31pm Thu, Nov 29, 2012)

Sounds to me like you almost died of fright. When I am on long journeys, what I do is take off my shoes, then sit cross-legged on my chair. So far I have survived many journeys of 5+ hours of non-stop sitting.

I've never thought to try this. Really it works?

But yeah, this only works on some planes, with the seats getting smaller and smaller and my butt... well, let's just say it's getting a little bigger. Too much holiday goodness. Time to get back to the gym.