I rather like this idea of asking a question of all of you, as I did last week when I asked whether you were a bed maker or a non-bed maker. It’s so interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts on the subject.

This morning the sun shone in the windows in that certain way that shows every speck of dirt, every dog hair, every clump of crumbs on the kitchen floor, every streak in the window glass. Since I have been ‘attending’ to my dollhouse and my blog and my job search, the house has suffered. Oh, I ran the swiffer every couple of days and I vacuumed, but that, my friends, was it.

Worse than all that, the bathroom was more than overdue for a cleaning. For those of you who are newer readers of this blog, I have mentioned before how much I dislike cleaning the bathroom.

For the record: I detest it. It’s a thankless job, involving scrubbing, hair in the drain, long hair (mine) everywhere, spots on the mirror, hard water stains, toilets, and general unpleasantness. For a while there, my husband was cleaning the bathroom. It was his job, a job he volunteered for because I do all the rest of the cleaning and he was sick of hearing me say how much I hated cleaning the bathroom. That lasted a short while, until I had to start reminding him that too much time had elapsed between cleanings. And that sort of thing always escalates to nagging. Then resentment. So I took over again.

Today, I could no longer ignore it.  The bathroom is now clean. And that will last for about 3 hours. Or until Don comes home from work tonight and washes his face, somehow managing to splash water everywhere. My sister says her husband does the same thing. What is it with these guys?

The photo above is of my now clean bathroom.  (I just discovered that it’s not easy to get a good photo of a bathroom!) So here’s my question: Do you like cleaning the bathroom or do you dislike cleaning the bathroom?

Do tell. And by the way, if you like doing it and you live nearby, come on over any old time.

Also – a quick reminder that Thursday is Reality Shot Thursday. Please join in. As I said last week, I’m happy to keep it going if there is enough interest….but numbers have been dropping each week. I’m starting to think it might have run its course? If you’ve thought of joining in this is the week to do it, as I ponder the future of this little meme.

As I was washing the sheets today, I pondered bed making. Do you think, as I do, that people are divided into two groups: those who make their beds every day and those who don’t? I know people who never make their beds. They change and wash sheets, of course, and perhaps for a few hours the bed is freshly made, but for the most part it isn’t. And it doesn’t seem to concern them one bit.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Don, for example, would never make his bed if he hadn’t met me. After 17 years together, I’ve trained him well enough that even when I am out of town he will make the bed. Maybe not as early in the day as I would, but he’ll get around to it.

You can surely tell that I am a staunch and true member of the Bed Makers Club. The bed has to be made. End of discussion. I don’t necessarily like the process of bed making, but I love the end result. When Don was sick a few weeks back, he stayed in bed for 2 days. It killed me. I desperately wanted to make that bed. The only time I really don’t care about whether the bed gets made or not is when I’m really sick. When I had my surgery this past summer, for a few days I cared not a whit about the bed. Then, for a period of a month, per doctor’s orders, all I could do was pull the covers up. No lifting of the mattress. No tucking.

Didn’t like.

I’m curious about those who spend a fortune on expensive sheets and pillows and dust ruffles and never make their beds. I’d like to have a little chat with them and find out what makes them tick. They, in turn, might examine my need to make the bed and conclude that I am a wee bit anal.

I can’t help it. I love the look of a freshly made bed. It satisfies me. Even if I never get back in the bedroom until it’s time to go to bed, I know the bed looks nice. There are the rare occasions when I am so caught up in events or errands that I forget to make the bed. When I innocently walk upstairs later in the day and see it in all its unmade-ness, I gasp. I’m not kidding. Ask my husband.

So, even though I know we need a new mattress, that we need a king size rather than a queen size bed, that I’d like a new blanket, I can ignore all that if the bed looks crisp and pretty.

By the way, when I was in Wisconsin this summer, I was informed that Tempur-Pedic had donated lots of their beds to the theater and that I would have one in my apartment.  I had my doubts about whether I would like it (“it’s a foam mattress” kept running through my brain) but I have doubts no longer. Oh my goodness, I loved that mattress. No more sore hip if I stayed in one position too long, no sore lower back from sleeping on my back. Hey, I’m in my fifties; I need more cushioning. The whole memory foam thing is true. It really does shape to your body. Alas, they’re pretty expensive and must remain on my ‘someday’ list. I know that mattresses are highly personal choices but if you get a chance to try a Tempur-Pedic, you should. And no, I’m not getting compensated for this, I just really miss sleeping on that mattress!

But, as usual, I digress. Back to my question. Are you a bed maker or are you a non-bed maker? Tell me. Share your thoughts on the subject. I’m conducting an unofficial poll.