To C-SPAN, a very happy 25^th anniversary!  Who’da thunk all these years later that what once seemed as stimulating as watching paint dry would make it to this venerable age?

And who’da thunk that all these years later I’d actually be looking forward eagerly to spending a Sunday morning in bed, curled up with a hot cup of coffee and C-SPAN?

Hard to believe, huh?  This former party animal has grown up and so has C-SPAN.  Check out their website if you haven’t already, it’s chockfull of goodness.  Really, it is!

And tomorrow, instead of the usual Sunday morning circuit of This Week on ABC and Face the Nation on CBS and the usual drive-by raspberry blown at Pumpkinhead Russert on NBC’s Meet the Press, I’m going to settle in and watch Richard Clarke’s testimony on C-SPAN at 10:00 am EST.

Want to join me?  Do you take your coffee black or no?

8:51:21 PM    comment []

Leah's mulling over keeping or not keeping the cleaning lady.

Keep her -- that's my two-cents.

But not because somebody made a less-than-charitable comment about your housekeeping skills.  If somebody ever said that to me, I'd be sorely tempted to whack them.  Or laugh in their face.

You see, I'm absolutely certain that no one will carve on my headstone, "She was a paragon of housekeeping."

So help me God, if anyone did that, two or three things must have come to pass.  I must have become incredibly mentally ill before my death, or I must have really pissed someone off.

And I must already have come back as a vengeful wraith to wreak havoc with the author of that stone-set eulogy.

Housekeeping is simply not that important in the big scheme of things.  Cleanliness?  Okay, I?ll give you that; there is a strong relationship between health and infection control practices.  Beyond that, being too clean may actually result in increased susceptibility to allergens in children.  A little dirt and dog dander is far better than none.

But housekeeping?  Give me a break.  I'd rather people sought me out in life for something more than the shine of my floors or the neatness of my pantry; I'd rather be remembered for things of far greater value.  Did I take the time to work with my kids on their homework and projects?  Did I help my friends and neighbors when they needed an extra hand?  Did I write something that moved or stirred anyone to positive action? 

When a woman runs a vacuum in the forest, does anyone hear it?

I'll remember my hard-working housekeeper many years from now for her ability to keep us in line with her ever-other-week spic-and-span routine.  But nobody around here would remember if it were me wielding the dust mop; it would simply have been something I was expected to do, nothing above and beyond the call of duty, nothing that only I could contribute uniquely.

Frankly, I think being more concerned about cleaning would send the wrong message to my kids; it's far more important that they spend time reading, playing in the fresh air outdoors, crafting some new artwork.  Why would I expect of myself anything I wouldn't expect of them?  It's important to set the example; housekeeping is simply not the stuff of their lives, at least right now.

Not to mention that I'm outnumbered; with two kids trashing a room faster than I can clean, it's an exercise in futility.  No sense in teaching them how to be resigned and tortured at such a tender age; far better to teach them that bringing in reserves may be a smart move.

Don't get me wrong; I'm still a Martha-phile.  I thoroughly enjoy the little things of life done well.  There's a certain zen that comes from being in the moment when one engages in home arts.  There is a difference, though, between being able to create a perfectly seasoned seven-course meal, and dusting the bookshelves.  The same difference lies in sewing a charming outfit for a child and in fluffing the drapes.  Some tasks require a certain artistry, yes?  But then they're typically the tasks of choice; choice comes from the heart and soul.

Yeah.  Screw the housekeeping, leave it to a professional.  Outsource the soulless, artless, repetitive work, keep the economy running smoothly.  (You may well be giving someone else the work of their desire.)

And keep the home arts of choice for yourself.

11:58:50 AM    comment []