I am what most people would call a pack rat.

I have Happy Meal toys from like 10 years ago, just because I used to keep them on my desk at my first job after college, when I was young enough to do shit like that.

I have books I read 10 years ago and haven’t looked at since.

I have shoes that I don’t even remember.

Bottom line, I have two very full closets, a very full garage — and two parents and a brother that will be here in less than a week.

I am in full-blown panic mode.

I just spent an hour tearing down boxes — why in the hell did I keep the box my vacuum cleaner came in? because I was too lazy to throw it out at the time — and filling up my apartment community’s dumpster with the remnants. Then I went through some of the half-filled boxes in my garage.

I set aside a plastic tub for things that I’m not ready to get rid of just yet but I don’t want around anymore — aka the box I’m going to spring on my parents to schlep back to their house. When my ex was moving out, I threw out a lot of stuff, including wedding photos. He took them out of the trash, which struck me as odd at the time — but somehow I ended up with them again!!!! WTF was that about??? Anyway they’re in the box, along with love letters and other assorted mementos. I don’t want to pretend like that part of my life didn’t happen, but I also don’t want the energy associated with those items dragging me down.

I kind of like this cleaning thing … but not enough to keep up with it, I’m sure. ; 0

One cool thing I found was a CD I bought a few years ago — Sara Osmer was a girl I knew in elementary school. Check her music out. The EP I have is “Dry Mouth,” but I’m looking forward to listening to her other songs, too.