Changing Lives, One Sink at a Time

Potential Quote of the Day: “Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?”

~Phyllis Diller

“I have a website that, I hate to say it, has changed my life,” says Jana the Jogging Neighbor.

"Really,” says I.

“Really,” says she. “It’s www.flylady.net and she helps people organize their lives using 15 minute intervals. She starts off by having you shine your sink. (Pause.) I forget what FLY means, though.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” says I.

“Nope. Even Shane noticed,” comments she.

Yeah, whatever, thinks I. It’s certainly got a stupid name. "How interesting," fibs I.

The website of flylady is cluttered and overwhelming, making the idea of such a person organizing something as distant as my house seem surreal. But, Jogging Neighbor Jana normally is a fairly level-headed friend so I signed up for the emails anyway.

That night detailed instructions about shining my sink arrived via the electronic post. My first reaction: total cheesed offness of such a degree that it took a glass and a half of wine (Peter Vella boxed Burgandy, undated…unless you count the funny numbers on the bottom, then it was April, 20, 2007…a good day for winemaking, I’d say) to amp down below "Chernobyl" level. In mid-gulp I realized that because I was so miffed, it was obvious what I had to do. I must Go. Shine. Freakin' sink. $*%(@)#)$)%_@

So I did. And now I can’t stop. I actually look for her assignments each day and although I try not doing them, but they stick with me…tickling my brain until I find myself body-snatched, as it were, by some other Me, stumbling away from my computer to fulfill the request of FlyLady and her minions. It’s the weirdest thing.

And yet my sink gleams. And now my shower and several of my windows do too.

But can't do the shoes yet at: marcyjoybryan@gmail.com