I pulled myself out of bed this morning at 9 (even though I didn't get home and to bed the night before until 3 am), took a look around my room and realized how messy my apartment was. From that point until nearly 3, I vacuumed, dusted, did dishes, took out the trash, took out the recycling, cleaned my fridge and freezer, hung a painting, and cleaned my bathroom. It was a good day to clean because it was so warm outside, I had all of the windows wide open, plus the Wild were on T.V. and the Gophers were on the radio in the afternoon.

It's kind of strange for me to clean my place like that, considering all through Junior High, High School, and College, my rooms were always a mess. Clothes everywhere. Never vacuumed. And in college only tidied up in preparation for either a girl coming over or a party. And now today, I spent a long time cleaning just because I felt like I should clean.

I suppose it may be that I'm maturing and I have some sort of a sense of pride in making my home look good, but I honestly think it's because I'm paying money for it. In other words, I pay a good chunk of a pay check on rent. I am starting to accumulate some good furniture. The items in my home are mine, not the collective family's.

I think it's different when you're growing up and you never pickup after yourself or take the dishes to the dish washer or, heaven forbid, hand wash them yourself, because it's not really YOUR house. You never paid a mortage, your parents did. You didn't buy those dishes, your parents did. You didn't save up for months to buy the new couch, your parents did. And so it never really bothered you to leave your milk glass (not even on a coaster, mind you) out all afternoon.

Now, I use a coaster for my beer glass on my cheap desk from Target and I immediately bring it to the sink when I'm done.

Huh. I think I'm old.