I was cleaning off -- ok, starting to clean off -- the top of the cabinet to the right of the refrigerator in our kitchen. It has, over the course of several years, become a completely impenetrable mass of stuff. I mean, serious stuff.
I have now made a dent in the problem. Removed from the stack were (among other things):
The newspapers in a sealed bag from the day that Katie was born. (Removed to the office and united with the newspaper from the day that Julie was born.)
A huge stack of information about the small stock holdings that daisy_knotwise's mother had and which need to be cleared up. (Removed to the mail shelf.)
Two packages of Hall's Cough Drops. (Handed to Gretchen for her enjoyment.)
The cupholders for two of the car seats. (Shoved onto a high shelf in the cabinet above.)
The huge package of plastic pocket change purses that Gretchen bought for me because you can't find them anywhere. (Removed to a high shelf in the pantry, replacing expired bottles of sunscreen and bug repellent that were emptied and recycled.)
A broken curtain rod. (Recycled)
The silicone caulk that I still haven't used to try to put a new cover on the dryer vent. (Removed to the basement to join the caulk gun until I get a chance to do something about this.)
Thirty-seven and thirty-four cent stamps. (Handed to Gretchen for the stamp file.)
The recharging station and spare batteries for a cordless screwdriver that I'm not sure we still own. (Unplugged and shoved onto another cabinet while I look for the screwdriver.)
Katie's first ultrasound. (Given to Gretchen to be united with Katie's second ultrasound.)
A gift certificate and a gift card. (Pocketed.)
Assorted wedding invitations, all for people who are still married to the best of my knowledge. (Recycled.)
Many random bits of paper that were of no further use. (Also recycled.)
The Flat Stanley that my niece, Claire, sent us some years ago. (Retained to be returned with photos on our trip to Texas in a few weeks.)
Several really stale-dated checks. (Hauled to the office in the hope that I can get them reissued.)
*sigh*
And after all that, there's still an incredible amount of stuff all over the cabinet top.
daisy_knotwise's mother had and which need to be cleared up. (Removed to the mail shelf.)