My random thoughts read like blogs now, that is, if I wrote them down. Instead, they bounce around my head until I catch one and nail it. I added an app called EVERNOTE to my store of activities on the computer to try to master and use. I'm so accustomed to paper it's difficult.

I was given a page-a-day calendar rather late, on my birthday. So I had almost 2 months' worth of pages to read and tear off and there was a pile of little note papers, 4 inches by 4 inches, BLANK on one side. That's like waving a red flag at a bull. Of course, I have to use that paper and of course I can't throw it out until I do. I was reading another book, still going on with research and plumbing my depths for the book I am writing, so I put the pile beside the book and gradually filled every page with little thoughts and reminders and noodges and lists of groceries to buy and people to write and I'm adding a page a day, remember, so it goes on and on. Now I have put the ideas in Evernote and thrown out the little papers, but what happens when I print out the ideas? More paper. I don't know if I'm doing this right.

I'm going to think about it.

It's coming up to the time of year when everything starts screaming at me, louder than usual, and some things that have been relatively quiet, are restless and begin to complain. Everywhere I look, everywhere I hear imperatives like CLEAN ME, MEND ME, TOSS ME, WIPE ME, FILE ME. I've managed to quell the noise from physical things like silver (don't own it any more), socks (disposable now), programs (left at the theatre for recycling), ornaments, doodads and surfaces (I take off my glasses), and OMG - papers! They do keep piling up. Every few years or so, I send boxes of them to the Archives at the University of Manitoba and that helps, but I have to keep sorting and labelling them. But now, there are new monsters to cope with, virtual messes. The directory on my computer is full of names I no longer recognize. On the other hand, some names have several addresses and the computer refuses to eliminate the incorrect ones. My Bookmarks runneth over. Do I really need all those directions on how to braid my hair? Every recipe I've ever printed out is lurking there waiting to be diluted, I mean, deleted. Letters from people I've been meaning to write are waiting not so patiently and I can't seem to get rid of online flyers and - Heaven preserve the halt, maimed, needy and desperate - the pleas for support on petitions and tiny little donations I'll never miss. Yes, well, multiply a dollar by 100 and I miss it.

Clean-out takes time. It's the first day of March, time for early resolutions about spring cleaning. As always, my fervent wish is for a clone.

Memo to Pat: thank you for your comments. I do appreciate them. I've asked SquareSpace to send a reply but it doesn't work. You'll have to send me your address so I can respond personally.