So I started this a few days ago and fantastic, the draft didn’t get saved.  It must be a sign that the first draft was garbage.

This week we’ve been changing some of the furniture and appliances in the apartment.  While I’m normally giddy at the idea of things like a new dresser without termite holes in the legs or a new oven with a multitude of features, I’m always brought back down to a state of arrgghhhh (that’s frustration and not me trying to be a pirate) when I am forced to deal with the piles and piles of CRAP we (and by we I mean Francy) are saving.

The idea of giving things away to the less fortunate doesn’t exist for him.  Not because he’s against helping the less fortunate, but because Italian life leaves one a little diffident and cynical.  There have been instances of people robbing the Goodwill containers and selling the stuff at the mercato.  The idea that food donations are picked over first for the “good stuff” and then the rest is handed out.  I understand.

However when selling this junk on the Internet causes you more stress than cha-ching. When you can’t find or put away the things you actually need or use because the cupboards, drawers and dressers are full of junk, you have hoarding issues.

Yes, I may be a little too Spartan at times; if I don’t need it, I don’t buy it.  If I haven’t used it in more than a year, I give it away.  If it gives someone less fortunate some pleasure that’s great.  If some scrounging dirtbag takes it, I’m less happy, but said object gets USED!!!!

So the moment you’ve all been waiting for-TA DAAAAA! The photos.

socks o' plenty

These are the remaining pairs of socks my mil gave Francy over the years and often without telling him, but rather by simply stuffing them into various drawers.  They are all too big, the wrong material, a color he hates and old (some were given to him 10+ years ago).  Can we give them away?  No.  Why are we saving them? You tell me?  Would anyone in their right mind buy them?  I think not.

I may have lung cancer, but look at the fancy bag I done got me!

Ok, I actually tossed this next gem in with my give-away junk.  1.  Neither of us smokes and therefore it makes carrying something with a cigarette logo even lamer. 2. He’s had it sitting in a drawer for ages and he never uses it. 3. People who carry crap with cigarette logos on it look like tools.  Sorry, it’s true.

I’m sorry if all this makes me a bad wife, but I don’t like clutter and I married a pack rat.  I do my best to deal with it and accept out differences, but when I’m expected to organize and sort through it all…yeah.