BUT FIRST,,, A NAP

Having done a lot of research into the Spanish Flu back when I was working on “Maude,” I sort of knew what to expect from the Coronavirus. I didn’t have to be persuaded to go into isolation. I was ahead of the government. This is my fourth week. I’ve spent some of the time taking care of the little projects I tend to ignore. 

One of the things on my “to-do” list was to paint the shelves in my kitchen cabinet. When I moved into here four years ago, they were covered with thin paper that was yellowed and curled up. I peeled it off and promised myself to paint the shelves a nice, shiny white, but I needed to put away my groceries, and that didn’t happen.

I started this morning. I emptied all the shelves and made an assortment of discoveries. All sorts of things happen when stuff gets shoved back into that corner you can’t see very well. Why, for instance, do I have three cans of baking powder? Why also, three boxes of corn starch, and two boxes of baking soda? I don’t cook much anymore. 

I found a box of Cocoa Meal that expired in 2013! What? Out went the oldest of the duplicates, except for the baking soda. It’s always good for cleaning. There was a strip of yeast packets from the time I got the crazy idea I was going to make my own egg bread. Sure, that’s going to happen.

 I was glad to find the glass container for spaghetti way back in the far corner. Sometimes, I put the box in the cabinet and forget it’s been opened, and when I take it out, the end comes unfolded and the spaghetti falls on the floor. Did you ever try to pick up a half-pound of spaghetti?” Now, I can use the jar and forget how long it’s supposed to cook, but at least it won’t be all over the floor. 

I have three different kinds of napkins that are already torn open. They like to fall out of the wrapper when you gather them up.

There was also one of those big chocolate chips used for cookies. I fought the nasty impulse to eat it and threw it into the garbage.

Don’t get me started on the plastic grocery bags. I’ve turned into my mother. In assorted hiding spots where they’d slithered, I must have about fifty. I do have a use for them. When I clean the litter box, they come in handy. So, I’ll put most of them in the garage next to the box.

Now that everything is out of the cabinet, the next steps of the project are to:

1. scrub the shelves
2. Sand off the leftover bit of the original paper liners
3. clean off the residue from the sanding
4. paint the shelves with the super-tough paint I bought for the project a year or so ago
5. finish with a sealer coat of acrylic

Now that I have them empty, I’m going to take a nap, but I promise . . . I won’t stop until it’s done. Just don’t give me a deadline.