Once upon a time, I was the sort of person who kept a tidy house. Meticulously so.

At the time, I didn't have much in the way of furniture, so it would appear to the casual passer-by that the place was vacant... and ready to let.

Something happened though. At the time, I was an apartment dweller in Phoenix, Arizona. I had a roommate, who was a nice enough fellow, but required someone to constantly follow him around cleaning up after him. He would cook a potato in the microwave every night for supper, then to clean up he would rinse off the plate and fork and put them away.

Needless to say, his dishes and utensils did not co-habitate with mine. Oddly, I'm not a huge germ-o-phobe... but when I saw him do this, I was grossed out. Of course, he did inform me that if I didn't like it I could do his dishes for him.

Nah, it was easier for me to just put my stuff in a different place. Besides, this way I always knew where the roaches were.

Somewhere along the line since then, I began to acquire stuff. One could say that I was transformed into one of those guys who always gets what he wants.

It is true what they say. You cannot always get what you want. All that does is make you want more. Eventually I got to a point where I wanted something, and I would get it. If it was just beyond my reach, or was just something I couldn't get... it wasn't that important and I developed a sense of apathy about things I couldn't get.

I don't really want it/need it. I guess.

And that may just be the root of my problem. I have let apathy replace the passion... I've learned to settle for what I can get. How else can I continue to claim that I always get what I want?

However, what's wrong with setting goals that aren't quite so... comfortable... and taking a chance... and forcing myself to strive to keep getting what I want? Nothing's wrong with it... but how do I motivate myself to go for it?

Anyway, I'm still somewhat of a pack rat. Back in the day when I kept a tidy house, I also did my own cooking every night, followed by the dishes. I ate out rarely. So, it was important to always have groceries.

I still keep a house stocked full of groceries. Friends and family always comment on how I'll never starve... but I really don't cook at home very much anymore. So I have these cans, jars and boxes of food in my cupboards. Some have been there for a long time.

Ok, so I've figured out that it was time to toss the stuff in boxes... noodles may keep, but the flavored powders do not. Cereal certainly does not. What I question is the stuff in jars and cans. I can remember there was a time when canned foods would last generations. I still remember a jar of apple jelly that had been canned twenty years before I was born as being quite tasty!

However, there has got to be a reason they are putting dates on those now, doesn't there? My guess is, it's the chemicals they use instead of sugar, plus any "preservatives" that just chemically break down over time.

So, I've been re-stocking groceries in my house... but I'm not going as crazy as before. I'm learning to accept that I'm just not home cooking as much as I used to... but on the flip side, I've been staying home and cooking more meals to keep them rotating and to ease my food budget for a piece.

I tend to buy quite a bit of junk food though... which I'm not willing to throw out, yet I won't eat in large doses either. I have a drawer that is full of Cherry Ripes and Curly Wurlys, and they are well past the date. Today, I decided to try one of the Cherry Ripe bars... it isn't great, but it isn't bad.

Am I the only one who'll do this?

I also tend to horde Girl Scout cookies... occasionally running out about the time the scouts start selling again. As long as the package isn't open, I haven't had a stale cookie yet! Must be those real girl scouts inside! =^P

Anyway, my house project (for the time being, at least) is to ensure that I won't starve... because stale food is just bleah!

What i'm listening to:

Stacy's Mom
Fountains of Wayne
Welcome Interstate Managers