Cleaning out the fridge

It's a cathartic experience. You should try it.

I cleaned the fridge out the weekend before Thanksgiving because company was coming.

I really didn't want my sister and her family to see my condiment collection, or the sticky stuff that had dripped on the shelf which we all saw, but no one bothered to remove, because it had turned into sticky cement.

A lot of the stuff in the fridge came from two neighbors who moved. I'm saying no next time. They can keep their own don't-know-what-to-do-with-this-food-we're-moving guilt. Don't dump it on me. I can't say no. Please don't ask me. I'm begging.

No one needs 15 kinds of mustard, or 10 jars of olives, three jars of capers or blueberry juice. And I have never made a martini with an onion ever. What is wrong with me?

And then there's the blue bread. I would love to tell you the blue bread is theirs, but it's mine. It wasn't tucked behind the Brita water filter either. It was just sitting in there with all the other crap. I honestly didn't notice it was blue until I yanked it out with everything else. I swear it was fine a few days earlier.

It is kind of a pretty shade of blue. More like a teal actually. HA.

I kicked everyone out of the kitchen, cranked the music, rolled up my sleeves and stripped the fridge. All the items were sorted in a "keep" and "toss" pile. Then I completely wiped everything down.

After I put everything back I just stared at it. It was beautiful. It sparkled. I could see everything. I felt like a new person! Silly I know, but the state of the fridge had been bothering me for weeks. I just didn't want to deal with it.

I was happy all day.

I showed Don, then Elli. "Nice, Mom." she said with a nod. Not impressed at all with how clean it was. And then she saw the bread. "Ewwwwwwww, I'm never eating a sandwich again. Ever!" She shouted. "What are you talking about. You don't eat sandwiches now!" I answered. "What about the fridge? Don't you like how clean it is?!! Isn't it nice!" I asked.

"Mom, it's a fridge." she quipped before walking away.

Whatever. I get no respect around here.

And then Thanksgiving hit. My fridge is packed again. This time it's mostly Tupperware containers, and extra food from hosting.

I'll be able to clean it out this weekend and it will look like this once again. I hope.

Does anyone like Firestone Pale Ale? I have some beer to give away.