Okay readers, I need your help and encouragement.
Growing up in Wisconsin, a basement has been a part of most homes in the area, although they were often different. By my Grandma K, it was the place the laundry chute led to; by Grandma and Grandpa H, it's where Grandpa went to put that one last log in the woodstove before the 50+ people arrived for Christmas dinner; by my Aunt and Uncle G, it was where my cousin's really cool bedroom (and the rec room with the freaky electric fireplace) were; and, at home, it was where I hung out during Tornado Warnings (okay, and watches).
Whatever the purpose, I never really gave a second thought to a basement, it was a basement. There really wasn't something "EXCITING" about a basement. That is, unless you're my cousin P. In all fairness, my Aunt and Uncle K moved out to California when P and his sister were still in school, but if you ask me, he was just a little too obsessed with my basement when he toured the "under construction" condo during a visit. At that time, the place was empty, so yeah, the basement was cool.
A year after I moved into the condo, I had done a good job of filling up my basement, with Christmas decorations (don't forget, I have in excess of 30 bins, plus three Christmas trees); a crib my cousin C gave me in hopes that someday I actually do "get" a kid of my own (along with some dressers from my parent's neighbors, for the same reason); Grandma K's walker and wheelchair; my crafting supplies; and assorted other "valuable" things that "I might need" one day. But, hey, it's a basement, it's not where I entertain, so who cares if it's a disaster area.
Enter Cousin P once again. He and his wife M were coming to Wisconsin for a visit, and I offered up Staci's Bed and Breakfast for them to stay at, since I was going to be out of the country for work. The only condition...stay OUT of the basement. Note to self: P takes after his father and his grandmother...he's stubborn and he doesn't listen. To my horror, I learned he took M downstairs to look at the basement. How embarassing! I vowed by the next time the two of them came for a visit, I would have the basement cleaned up.
Four years later, I've acquired more, um, stuff and the basement isn't ready for any tours. I had taken a stab at it more than once, but for some reason it likes to become cluttered quickly. I did have great intentions to fix up the basement this year, since I had to do something with credit card points when the firm switched providers; I have several gift cards to a major home improvement retailer waiting to be spent. The problem is, I just really haven't had the time yet this year.
Now I find out that P and M are likely coming, along with P's sister, for a visit in July. Odds are about 100:1 that I'll need to be at a client that week, since it's quarter end, so the logical place for them to stay is once again Staci's B&B. Only this time, I know that P won't listen to me, and they're bound to want to look at my basement once again.
So, my readers, this is where you come in. Don't worry, I'm not asking you to come help me clean the place...instead, I need a little push from each and every one of you. I cannot start the organiztion this weekend, since I may have to work at some point, and I have a 1st Communion to attend in Chicago on Saturday, so I only have 8 weekends to get this all done. While it may not be fixed up, I cannot have a repeat of June '07. So, please, help encourage me to get moving and get organized. If you don't see reports of progress (and, in upcoming weeks, as I've gotten through at least SOME of the things, pictures to support the progress), send me a note to help me get moving.
Hopefully, I will soon be able to move from "Basement Bedlam" to "Rec Room Remodel."
