I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a clean freak. I can withstand the effort to clean my house until the hairballs are the size of the actually cats, not the dog. Let’s not get carried away here.

I believe in the value of dirt. I worked as a microbiologist long enough to know that most of the ‘bugs’ are actually helpful to maintaining a healthy immune system.

I also have worked as a chemist long enough to be sensitive to most cleaning agents and really don’t feel it necessary to have my house so sterile I can perform surgery on the dining room table.

It is my mess, aided and abetted by they dozens or so people who live in my house. (okay, really there are only four of us, but the mess is equivalent to a dozen or so).

That said, there’s one room in the house that I like having clean in the morning. And when it’s not, I start the day feeling off. It’s the kitchen. When the hubbinator does the dishes, he loads the dishwasher, occasionally washing a few pots, but doesn’t wipe down the counters or finish all the dishes.

It drives me nuts, but it’s his way.

So before I go to bed, I finish  up the dishes. Wipe down the counters. Occasionally sweep.

And when I wake up….

My nocturnal children have returned their dirty dishes to the counter.

Arg. But at least the countertops aren’t sticky. So there’s that.

Until next time.