Hoarders...It's Not Just A TV Show

Today I decided to take advantage of some free time and clean out one of my closets. The coat closet just inside my front door had become the go-to place for any and every thing that made it's way into my apartment that didn't have a predetermined home. So I decided to do a little Spring cleaning in the Fall. What I thought would be a simple one-hour project turned into me cleaning out three closets (two inside and the storage closet on my patio), which I started at 11am and finished at 2:30pm. I figured I would just tackle all three closets since I rarely get in the mood to purge. And I came to a startling realization. I might be on the verge of being called a hoarder.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not like those people you see on the TV show that live in just utter filth. Junk everywhere, trash piled up, every available surface stacked to the ceiling with clutter. Although I will admit that when I opened the first closet I had to dodge a couple of falling items. As I started pulling things out of the closet, I decided to make a list of what I was keeping, just to see what I had. A list that just kept growing. And growing. And growing. Take a look.

1. 2 briefcases. I've never had a job where I needed one.

2. 4 sets of curtains. In addition to the two sets I currently have hanging.

3. 21 vhs tapes. I don 't own a vhs player.

4. 3 ancient laptops. You know what they say, once you go Mac you never go back.

5. 6 posters, half of which are in frames.

6. 8 programs from Broadway shows, some of which are still in the plastic wrap. Weren't they meant to be read?

7. 8 vases. And five more used for various things around the pad.

8. 7 unburnt candles. 4 of them I bought when I worked at Pottery Barn, for those of you who know how long ago that was.

9. 2 hammers. Yes, I found the one that I "lost" a few weeks ago.

10. 5 Post-It note pads.

11. 3 external hard drives. You know, in case the laptops get lonely.

12. 11 brand new picture frames.

13. 1 gazillion actual photographs. I should have stock in Kodak.

14. 3 talking Aflac Ducks. Thanks, Oz.

15. 2 iPod docks. I only have one iPod.

16. 200+ cds.

17. 1 Cd writer. To burn the 200+ cps into the 3 external drives using the 3 ancient laptops.

18. 3 igloo coolers.

19. 2 half used bags of charcoal.

20. 43 cubic liters of potting soil. And no garden.

21. 6 strands of Christmas lights. Haven't had a Christmas tree in years.

22. 8 spare keys. God only knows what doors they unlock.

Now, if anyone needs me, I'm going to Target. I have lots of empty shelf space to fill.