My Spring Clean is officially done – while it is still Spring!!!!! I am quite pleased with myself.
The results:
- 4 bags of donations
- 2 Craigslist sales (thanks to DH2U)
- Old television to recycling (It was free and they sent us a postcard asking us to spread the word to San Diegans about the FREE drop off dates for electronics)
- Several bags of trash
∴ Tons more space!
We are living in a one bedroom condo with less than 700 square feet, so extra space is key.
One of the items whose dumpster time became apparent was my pair of black boots. I love these boots, but I was on my way to the opera when I noticed this:
It took me a couple months to say goodbye, while they sat in my closet.
These boots saw me through my entire dance career, many a night of clubbing, and even some sophisticated outfits. I loved being over six feet tall in them, and the confidence that comes with a comfortable and sexy pair of shoes. I bought them because they represented the person I wanted to be … and the person I eventually became — a woman who could pull them off!
I wore these boots as I walked across San Francisco after the bars closed and to the best annual holiday martini party on the planet.
Thank you, boots, for your diligent years of service.
As I mentioned in my earlier blog post, I decided to cap off my spring clean with a treat to myself: maid service! I purchased the daily deal months ago, so I decided to cash in my certificate. It was the first time I ever paid someone to come into my place. While it wasn’t nearly as bad as the horrific maid experience had by DJ over at Thoughts from Paris, it definitely did not inspire me to do it again. They were unapologetic about arriving an hour and fifteen minutes late, the level of clean was only what I normally do on a medium clean day (despite their website claiming your kitchen will be cleaner than you’ve ever seen it), and they used an air freshener reminiscent of cheap hotels.
I guess the lesson learn might have been “You get what you pay for”, but testing that hypothesis would involve spending even more money for a comparison, and that’s just not going to happen. So I tried something new and figured out it wasn’t for me. At least this week’s cleaning is done.
Coincidentally, my boots cost less than the maid service.
Grown Up, Now What? 
These boots are made for walking…and that’s just what they’ll do…. (or dancing in your case). I love the tear in the back – what do we know about what our backsides look like? I, for one, don’t really want to know.
We DO have memories attached to clothes. Maybe shoes especially.
Yes – for me – shoes. I JUST trashed a pair of Munroe black patent sandals a couple days ago. They were worn but I’ve had them for about 10 years and traipsed across a lot of Europe in them and many places in between. Such good shoes, if you’re ever in need of a cute shoe/sandal that’s also well made and good for your feet.
Good-bye dear friends. It still stings a little so I understand your pain.
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I wonder how long I walked around with the big nasty tear in the back and just didn’t notice it! Glad to know that I am not alone in attaching memories to clothes. I’m sure you saw glimpses of all your exploits each time you saw those sandals that had to be retired.
Thanks for the Munroe recommendation. I haven’t heard of them before. I’ll have to check them out. Do they happen to make black boots?!?!?!?
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Tammy,
It sucks but sometimes we have to do thing on our own. People have to do the best job that they can if they hope to be called back again.
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I was really hoping this would be one of those times in which you get what you pay for. Even though discounted, it was still enough for the job to have been done right. You are right, they won’t be called back.
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Hmm, it seems as if using a maid service isn’t worth what you pay for. I’ve actually been thinking about having one come to my place and clean things up, but your bad experience doesn’t seem like a good idea. It’s true that it might be ok here, but still I think I’ll pass for now on doing it.
Way to go on getting rid of all that stuff. I’ve always found I feel so good after I donate piles of things. Then that feeling dissipates once I realize just how much more I could probably get rid of. Oh well, one day I’ll go through the basement and open up all that space. Good job on getting rid of those boots too. I know what it’s like to want to keep an item of clothing even though you should give it up, but sometimes you just have to say goodbye.
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I doubt if my experience is typical, because a lot of people have maids come in, and I’m assuming they wouldn’t if they were treated poorly and had to pay for a less than mediocre performance. This company definitely over-promised and under-delivered.
So glad to know that I am not alone in having the act of letting things go feeling wonderful. To me it is liberating, even if slightly sad. At least now I have so much more room and don’t feel cramped.
Thanks for stopping by, Steve.
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