A cluttered mind
August 12, 2008 – 12:16 amSomehow I ended up getting hired to teach two classes at the University of Washington starting this fall.
In order to finalize the hiring process, I’m supposed to fill out some paperwork and bring it, along with my passport, to the UW processing office.
No problem!
well, except for this one little problem…
I totally can’t find my passport.
Right away when I realized that I needed it, I went directly downstairs and pulled out the “passports” folder of my filing cabinet. Jay’s passport is in there. So is CJ’s. Mine, however, has gone MIA. Hopped the red-eye to Paris and never came back.
I suppose I should confess that for the past 6 months I’ve been using a *NEW* filing system whereby I ignore my filing cabinet and perform the following detailed and rigorous 2-step process.
Step 1: Place papers in careful piles on the dining room table.
Step 2: In the event of a) dinner guests, b) my MIL, or c) the pile falling over, swiftly gather up the pile and carry it down to the “office” where I thoughtfully position the pile next to or on top of the other piles.
Step 3: Go through the piles in the office and file them into appropriate folders when I have time.
You’ll notice I said this was a 2-step process BUT then I listed three steps. (Nothing gets past YOU!)
The reason for this little inconsistency is that I never do step three. Never EVER.
Because, as it turns out, step 3 is boring and I have far too busy of a life to spend even five minutes filing.
Which brings us directly back to the “My passport must be in Paris” situation, in which Paris stands for somewhere behind the big green ball or on top of the precariously perched shelf. Or maybe underneath the turkey roaster.
I COULD go through all the piles of paperwork and hope that I’d find it.
OR I could figure out how to get a replacement passport. Which seems to me to be the better option. Because although I am DEFINITELY going to organize that room very soon, I really don’t have time for that today… or even this week.
(I’m a very busy person)
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By midwestmommy on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Are you sure we aren’t related?
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By Annie on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Congrats on the teaching!
I sympathize with the clutter - I hate filing, too.
Annies last blog post..Ten Lessons from a Day at the Beach
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By Dumblond on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
hahahaha. Yes. That is why I’m not neat! Because I’m smart!
Dumblonds last blog post..What is this "cooking" of which you speak?
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By Wendy on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
heeeeeey, that’s MY system!
I wanna be in your class! (what are you teaching?) I’d sit in front and ask obnoxious questions all the time! :)
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Wendy Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
ok, where’s my last blog post mention????
Wendys last blog post..dinosaur luv
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By Angie @ Many Little Blessings on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Good luck finding it or getting a new one! Do you actually need a passport specifically or is that just the form of ID that you want to use? I was just curious, since what in the world would someone without a passport do?
My passport is tucked safely away. It’s expired, but I suppose in the case I ever need an expired passport, I know just where it is. LOL ;)
Angie @ Many Little Blessingss last blog post..An observation during the Olympics Opening Ceremony
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bananas Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
well I can also use my DL + SS card. But… the SS card has fallen victim to my, erm, “creative” filing as well. Woe is me!
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By Jen on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
I must be a genius then.
Jens last blog post..August Movie Madness
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bananas Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
you and I both. We’re geniuses for SURE.
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By Polka Dot Mommy on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
I share this affliction. Searched for hours to find my birth certificate so that I could get a replacement driver license… only to find my MIA license a week later. Whatever!
Cheers!
Jamie
Polka Dot Mommys last blog post..Win This EARTH FRIENDLY HANDBAG!!!!!
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By Jackie W transplanted Okie (Buried in Legos) on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
I have piles too !
But I don’t have a passport to loose.
If I had a passport it would be in our safe.
Jackie W transplanted Okie (Buried in Legos)s last blog post..Fort
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By ali on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
my boss told us that a cluttered desk was a sign of creativity. (ali is super creative)
alis last blog post..the power of the dream and Ali storms the floor…
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By Carrie on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
But hey! Congratulations on your teaching gig! :) That’s exciting!
Carries last blog post..Just Waiting for the Excedrin to Kick In
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By Polina on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
It’s not about your cluttered desk or room, it’s about the way things tend to disappear exactly the moment you need them most and reappear magically the next day… even if your things are really-really well organized and you keep an eye on them - it is still possible to lose something URGENT and IMPORTANT when you desperately need it. and then find it in some very strange place…
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By Queen of Shake Shake on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
It’s true,neat people are stupid.
You should see Payton’s room. For a boy who is all Howard Hughes when it comes to personal hygiene, his room is always cluttered.
My bedroom and office area? Totally cluttered too.
See! 100% proof positive neat people are stupid because we aren’t neat and we’re eff’ing geniuses!
Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..Where Champagne Replaces My Morning Coffee
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By Kaza on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
This is SO my life right now. And I just cannot FACE the overwhelming (and monumentally boring) task of organizing the paperwork. Which doesn’t bother me a bit… until I have to actually FIND something.
Kazas last blog post..Kickin’ Ass and Namin’ Names
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By Redneck Mommy on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
I can’t find my passport either. I won’t need it until October, so I have some time to find it.
I *think* it’s in my closet which looks shockingly similar to the pics you posted. Only with more laundry on the floor.
Sigh.
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By Jen on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Is the Hulk mask ever really optional? =)
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bananas Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Oh you’re so right. The Hulk mask is NOT optional. Only… I should be wearing it.
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By Bec (Bad Mummy) on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Now that filing system should be something they pay you to teach at UW :lol:
Bec (Bad Mummy)s last blog post..Tantrum mode
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bananas Reply:
August 12th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
“How not to file 101″
I can see it now. Ha!
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By Reese on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Passport replacing is a huge PIA. Good luck with that. I need to get one, too and have been waiting until after we got married so that I don’t have to get a new one and then change the name on it.
It’s been 4 months and I haven’t done squat in passport-acquiring-process.
Reeses last blog post..All About Poop
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By judy haley (coffeejitters) on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
did you look under the hulk mask? ;)
mine disappeared too (the passport, not the hulk mask)
I swear my passport gets around more than I do
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By The Diaper Diaries on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
OH MY GOSH!! We have the exact same filing system.
The Diaper Diariess last blog post..A Brief Rant Up On My Soapbox
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By Stacy (mama-om) on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Step #2 around here looks like:
Watch your toddler gleefully grab carefully stacked pile of papers and strew them about, rip them up, and possibly even pee on them.
Ewwww.
I hope you find your passport! You know you’re going to have to update us!
Stacy (mama-om)s last blog post..Love in Your Pocket
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By jenn on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
OMG that is so funny. well no the unable to find your passport part but the rest of it. i have the same filing system here!
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By HellTygr on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Step 3? You mean there is supposed to be a step three??
I always stopped at step two also, which is why each and every one of my bills is now on auto-pay. ;)
Good luck finding that passport!
HellTygrs last blog post..Update
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By threeundertwo on Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
Whoa, I totally need to get a Hulk mask, because I want to do this right.
Congratulations on you teaching job! And is the turkey roaster in the picture? I didn’t see it.
threeundertwos last blog post..Shopper’s Eye
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By Heidi on Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
Ack! I am not a neat freak, but I am learning that taking that one extra steps saves me a lot of annoying crap later. I think doing this step 75% of the time is good enough for now. Or maybe it is 40% . . .
Heidis last blog post..no guts, no glory
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By Zhu on Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
The Hulk mask is because you turn like Hulk when doing your paperwork? :lol:
Zhus last blog post..Heart Of The Country
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By canape on Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
That woman we had lunch with at BlogHer 2007? The one with the book on how to be like her? Might just pass out looking at those pictures.
I felt right at home though.
canapes last blog post..Restoration
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By Kelly on Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
You are SO my people! Sending you a little blog love at my site, come on by and check it out!
Kellys last blog post..Blog Roll Stroll
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By World's Greatest Mommy on Aug 18, 2008 | Reply
My “office” is part of our kitchen. I use the stacking method for papers, too. But everyone gets to see them since they are part of the main living area.
World’s Greatest Mommys last blog post..A Letter to Target
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By Malia on Aug 18, 2008 | Reply
We appear to have a very similar filing system! I am surrounded by piles and when I need to get rid of said piles, I put them all in a box and shove it in a closet and then months can go by before I even think of that box again. I don’t have a passport, but if I did, it would be in one of those boxes!
Malias last blog post..Week in Review/Weekend Recap
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By Mrs. F on Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
Have you seen that show on the Style Network called Clean House? Just curious.
:{)
Mrs. Fs last blog post..Oh Dude, No Way. Me? Me?
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