The Bystander
by Joe Michelich
I like to think I'm organized. I like to think of myself as a neatknick to an extent.
Yet, there are times when I balk and just let things go. And I do have trouble
throwing things away.
One area that draws the most attention is my office. It is about 15 feet long
and about eight feet wide. It has a desk, a credenza, a small table, a bookcase
and a couple of file cabinets and walls of pictures, most of which need a dusting.
Same with a bunch of outdated trophies.
On the credenza I have several stacks, one of which has scrapbooks of
columns and stories I wrote as a high school kid and on. I will never throw these
away. Memories. Same with 2-3 stacks of records that still sit in my garage,
records that can't even be played today. Memories.
I have a habit of depositing notes or score sheets, etc. on the floor after using
them. Often times I need them to check something. Thus, I don't put them in a
waste basket. Sometimes, the papers accumulate for more than a week.
Same with research materials I get out of newspapers, magazines, my notes,
etc. Often this pile is six months old. Just depleted it last week.
I'm looking at the bookcase and you can't believe what can be seen. How
about four rolls of TX400 film and the camera (Mamiyua) that we used over 10
years ago or more. Toothpicks too. Have a supply that will last forever.
In the top right hand drawer of my desk is stuff that can be one day, to many
days old. When the stuff gets near the top, I say I need the space. Sometimes, like
today when this function occurred, I found a couple of letters that I had forgotten
about.
Our back rooms are loaded with stuff that needs to be eliminated. We
stopped job printing about a year ago and this entire section needs work. The
same for a lot of computers and associated pieces of equipment that need to be
thrown out. To say the least, the work area in the middle to back of the building
leaves something to be desired.
If I have said it once, I have said it hundreds of times, we have to put some
time in cleaning up the back. Will it get done? Probably when we can't walk
through to the back. Almost there.
And just recently I embarked on another chore that needed attention, phone
numbers. Today, with so many calls in use, my old telephone index is outdated
because of several factors; numbers no longer needed, confusion and names of
people I can't remember.
It is a deal with the letters on the side and an indicator that opens to that letter,
room for 25 or so names on a page. To tell you how old it is, on the back it says
"made in Japan" for the Bates Manufacturing Company.
So, I'm now transferring the needed names, eliminating a great number into a
booklet. I loved the old deal, but I'm not sure where to get one so I went for the
booklet and an update. When I got the transfer done, I'll give the back room
another thought....well maybe. Something to do in the spring...., right?
by Joe Michelich
I like to think I'm organized. I like to think of myself as a neatknick to an extent.
Yet, there are times when I balk and just let things go. And I do have trouble
throwing things away.
One area that draws the most attention is my office. It is about 15 feet long
and about eight feet wide. It has a desk, a credenza, a small table, a bookcase
and a couple of file cabinets and walls of pictures, most of which need a dusting.
Same with a bunch of outdated trophies.
On the credenza I have several stacks, one of which has scrapbooks of
columns and stories I wrote as a high school kid and on. I will never throw these
away. Memories. Same with 2-3 stacks of records that still sit in my garage,
records that can't even be played today. Memories.
I have a habit of depositing notes or score sheets, etc. on the floor after using
them. Often times I need them to check something. Thus, I don't put them in a
waste basket. Sometimes, the papers accumulate for more than a week.
Same with research materials I get out of newspapers, magazines, my notes,
etc. Often this pile is six months old. Just depleted it last week.
I'm looking at the bookcase and you can't believe what can be seen. How
about four rolls of TX400 film and the camera (Mamiyua) that we used over 10
years ago or more. Toothpicks too. Have a supply that will last forever.
In the top right hand drawer of my desk is stuff that can be one day, to many
days old. When the stuff gets near the top, I say I need the space. Sometimes, like
today when this function occurred, I found a couple of letters that I had forgotten
about.
Our back rooms are loaded with stuff that needs to be eliminated. We
stopped job printing about a year ago and this entire section needs work. The
same for a lot of computers and associated pieces of equipment that need to be
thrown out. To say the least, the work area in the middle to back of the building
leaves something to be desired.
If I have said it once, I have said it hundreds of times, we have to put some
time in cleaning up the back. Will it get done? Probably when we can't walk
through to the back. Almost there.
And just recently I embarked on another chore that needed attention, phone
numbers. Today, with so many calls in use, my old telephone index is outdated
because of several factors; numbers no longer needed, confusion and names of
people I can't remember.
It is a deal with the letters on the side and an indicator that opens to that letter,
room for 25 or so names on a page. To tell you how old it is, on the back it says
"made in Japan" for the Bates Manufacturing Company.
So, I'm now transferring the needed names, eliminating a great number into a
booklet. I loved the old deal, but I'm not sure where to get one so I went for the
booklet and an update. When I got the transfer done, I'll give the back room
another thought....well maybe. Something to do in the spring...., right?
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Issue Date: Dec. 8, 2011
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