I am going to need a vacation to recover from the vacation

By: Melanie Zimmermann | Hickory Daily Record
Published: November 20, 2008

OK. Don't anybody panic. There are two days, count them, two days, until I start my vacation. Yes, that's right. I will be off next week. Don't worry, I'll be back. Don't cry. Do you need a Kleenex?

I don't have anything special planned, with the exception of Thanksgiving. I am trying to psyche myself up to get some serious housecleaning done. I am ready to throw away the stuff I know I will be looking for in a few months but haven't used in the past six years.

My basement is my main target. It is the place where everything is shoved when company comes over or I get the urge to clean the upstairs. I have been lucky so far. There is a path to the washing machine. There would be total chaos if I could not get to the washing machine for lunch money.

In my dream world, my basement is well-organized. All the holiday decorations are stored in color-coded containers. My craft area is neatly arranged so I can slide down the table from one project to another. My darkroom will be functioning again and my treadmill will be in a well-lit area so I can tell what kind of spider just dropped on my head. Dream over.

After I get my basement finished, I have a plan of attack for each bedroom. These two rooms have been declared federal disaster areas. Most of the clean-up will be folding, hanging and putting away clothes. Not too bad.

My room, in particular, is the room where everything ends up that doesn't make it downstairs to the basement. If a tree fell on my house and I couldn't get out of my bedroom, I would be OK for a few days, as long as there is electricity. I am pretty sure there are some leftover chocolate Easter bunnies in the top of my closet and an unopened Diet Pepsi under my bed.

The rest of the house is in pretty good shape. I try to keep the common areas - living room, kitchen and bathroom fairly neat. (Both my parents are probably rolling in the floor right now). I may even try to clean out my cabinets. If I throw away my pots and pans, will Santa bring me some new ones? What else can I throw away?

So that's how I plan to spend my vacation. What are your plans for this Thanksgiving week? Going on a trip or staying home? I want to know.

E-mail me at mzimmerman@hickoryrecord.com.