Yvette's Inner Geek Blog

More cleaning and doing shit around the house today. The pressure is on because my former host parents and little host sister from Norway are coming to visit us in a month. Even though our house has gradually improved in the nearly two years that we've been here, both in terms of clutter and home improvements, there's a still a lot that's potentially embarrasing to show our international visitors.

We still don't have our skylights replaced nor the roof around them fixed. The general contractor we're dealing with now has been slooooow to keep in touch... but that's still a huge improvement over the people who would never call us back. I wouldn't put money on having new skylights before my Norwegians arrive, but I have a secret burning hope that they will be. Chilly winter weather is also a factor, which brings me to my next topic...

My main task today was sorting through various piles and boxes of clothes to give to charity. I diligently recorded each item so that we can claim them as a deduction on 2008 taxes. Nevermind that most of the clothes in the bags and boxes should have been donated to charity in 2003 or eariler... including one sweatshirt of unknown origin that I wish I had known I'd had for the Cheesy Christmas Sweater Day at work. Check it out:

My favorite part is that it's a cheesy knitted pattern that is puffy screen printed onto a standard sweatshirt. Also, it serves a double purpose as delightful holiday apparel and a souvenir from Charleston, SC. Why, Lord, why? Also, why is it in a box of my old clothes?

I honestly don't remember where this sweatshirt came from. Nor do I remember wearing it, though I guess it wouldn't have been totally out of fashion in the early nineties in the podunk town where I grew up. And it's been washed a couple times at least. Here's a closeup of the puffy printing over the actual weave of the sweatshirt:

I went to Charleston once with my family when I was in high school, but I'm pretty sure it was springtime. It's likely that this gem of high fashion was given to me as a gift... maybe from a parent who traveled to Charleston on business? In any case, it's now buried in a bag destined for the thrift store. 

Though I'm mildly tempted to pull it out so that I have something to wear at this December's Cheesy Sweater Day. Meh. I'd rather pare down my closet at this point. Besides, I still have a few sweatshirts from high school plays that I can't bear to part with yet--I mean, they have my name on the back and are the ultimate proof that my sixth grade dream (to be in high school plays and musicals) came true.

So tomorrow I'll drop everything off and be done. Clothing I'll probably never wear again will become clothing I will officially never wear again. I hope that my mystery Christmas sweater finds a good home with someone who genuinely likes it or with someone who purchases it as a purposefully Cheesy Sweater. Or maybe it will end up with someone who loves it because it reminds them of Charleston, SC.