Where do you put the little things you always wish you could find, at a time when you need a special something?
Two shelves are on my cabinets in the “computer room.” Each shelf runs for about 3 feet on each side of my computer. The shelf is about 3 feet higher than my computer desk, so I can see some items on the shelves without standing up.
What’s on my shelf? A combination magnet/demagnitizer, a few extra pair of reading glasses, a multiple outlet, a glue stick, a jar of pennies, 2 sizes of vise-grip pliers, two flash drives, a paint can opener, wire strippers, small pliers, small bag of screws, white plumber’s tape, a bunch of bound mini glue sticks, 2 sprinkler heads, and a few drill bits, screwdriver bits, allen wrenches, wire nuts, ball inflator pins, battery covers for who-knows-what, and a couple of mini disk adapters for the cell phone camera and for the digital camera.
Why don’t I just throw all that stuff into a box? Good idea. I think I will. After all, I have dozens of labeled small plastic boxes filled with assorted things. This box could be labeled: “Misc.” But wait — why don’t I sort all the stuff into appropriate boxes with a label on each. For example, there is already a box labeled “drill bits” and another one labeled “battery covers.” What the heck are those shelves for anyway? I know. They are there to help me find things I need fast.
But if I don’t use the things on the shelf for a year — what’s fast about that?
Okay, so I’ll chart the use of each thing to see if I use it within a month, 6 months or a year. No way. I’d rather be doing other things.
So what do I do when my “computer room” shelves are barren and I need a small vise grip? I’ll just run into the garage and look for the box labeled “wrenches.” Uh oh. What if those boxes have been moved around (as they usually are), and I can’t locate the “wrench box”?
Wait a minute! Isn’t that exactly why I began to use those cabinet shelves in the first place? Exactly so I won’t have to run around looking for the “right” box in which they may or may not be housed.
Thank goodness I decided to leave all those do-dads on those two cabinet shelves. I saved myself a lot of work and frustration just now. Thanks for listening.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com
