Clutter and Parsnips and Phillip Morris

January seems to have become the retail world's annual time for all of us to get organized. Every store is selling bins and baskets and storage something-or-others for every possible kind and type of stuff you can imagine. They must make a mint off all our crap and clutter in January. Fortunately, there are those occasional glimmers of sanity. How about saving some money on plastic storage bins by getting rid of some of that stuff?

You've read my recent thoughts on the subject of purse "ephemera." Into the mix wades Linda Lewis Griffith this morning in the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Here's what she wrote:

"Want to increase your personal tranquility? Clean out your closets and medicine cabinet. Research shows that the state of our desk drawers and garages reflect the amount of chaos in our lives. The more clutter we keep in our environments, the more scattered we feel in our heads."

Right on, Sister! Griffith suggests targeting some small area and going at it with a garbage can and recycling bin (I'd add a big box for a charity) for 30 minutes. Set a timer. And work like a fiend for that 30 minutes. Good advice. Don't know where to start? Linda lists 5 "sure-fire clutter-traps that invariably need cleaning out."

1. THE PURSE You've already heard me on that topic.

2. THE SPICE CABINET Mine got purged when we moved, but we cook a lot so there are a lot of different items in ours. When I buy them now, however, I write the date on the jar using a little stick-on label. That should help the aging herb issue.

3. RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS Again, ours got purged by half when we moved. I have dedicated shelf space for recipes, related magazines, books about food and cooking, and cookbooks. (The shelves above the desk in the kitchen.) When this space fills up, something has to go in order for something else to come in. Period. End of story.

4. TOOL KIT Randy stole my old one. So I bought a new one. Actually, he bought me a new one, although he doesn't know it. And new tools and supplies. This tool box lives in my studio NOT in the garage, which is how the old one ended up being stolen.

5. UNDERWEAR DRAWER Oh goodness. This is a tough one for me. As in, "They're just underpants. So what if they have holes. No one will see them." Sprung elastic, however, does get to me every time. The undies I'm wearing right now will be hitting the garbage can at the end of the day.

Yes, recluttering and getting organized (the organization of my studio is continuing) really does make me feel calmer, more confident, and more in control of my life. I love knowing what I have and where it is. I love being able to put my hands on things instantly. I love not having to move 6 things to get at the thing I actually want. I love not being visually cluttered. So, for me, the task month, the joy month really, is January and every other month. I make an ongoing effort to get rid of boxes and containers, not add more. (I just gave 5 of them away!)

Parsnips. I tried an experiment tonight. Kind of hard to describe. It's something that Chris Dillow at Fig Good Food wants to try. It's led Chris and me to have smoked salt sampling and discussions. Anyway, I tried it and thought it was a flop. Maybe Chris will have better luck. I LOVE parsnips, by the way. A highly underutilized vegetable.

"I Love You Phillip Morris." A very funny movie. Jim Carey really is a fine actor, as is Ewan McGregor. Either of them could sell freezers in the Arctic. They sold me on this movie, which I saw yesterday.