Fridge Analysis

I think that any time you blend households, it takes compromise to make the situation work. One of the (many) things that I do which annoys Mike is the tendency that I have to allow the fridge to become cluttered. I come by that honest, as anyone who ever took a trip to my parents' home while my mom was living can attest. The first time Mike had a fridge-meltdown, I was like, "What?! The fridge is too cluttered?! You're making that up, right?" Alas, he was not. But, in the meantime, we have come to a sort of compromise which works well for us. He doesn't complain much during the clutter accumulation period and I don't complain much when he reaches the maximum allowable clutter capacity and cleans it off. But, being a good 'fe, I try to anticipate before we get to the red zone and work hard to "thin the herd" so to speak, so that it doesn't set off Mike's OCD.

Case in point: As I was straightening up the apartment in the wake of Hurricane Caleb (who went home this afternoon), I looked at the fridge and decided that it was probably getting close to OCD time. Let's see what's on the fridge, shall we?


Item 1: Elvis
Analysis: I'm not sure how Elvis came to be on the fridge. While I loves me some Elvis, there are plenty of other representations available to look at and this one is really rather superfluous.
Result: Elvis is leaving the building!
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Item 2: Photo of little Mikey and little Kelly
Analysis: This picture is really, really cute. I love the way Mike's sucking on his woobie here. (Although they call it a binky up in Michigan - when Caleb was little, his binky was a pacifier and the woobie was his blankie). This is also fairly new to the fridge line-up, having just been added after our last trip to Michigan to visit Mike's fam.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 3: Postcard
Analysis: When I saw this at the bookstore, I knew I had to have it. Considering the differences in Mike's lifestyle and mine, I was tickled to be able to bring it home and slap it on the fridge to showcase my own personal viewpoint on cleaning up. Now it's been there for several months and while I'm not ready to give it a dirt nap, it's probably outworn it's welcome on the fridge.
Result: Relocated to my desk.
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Item 4: Pictures of Mike and Cindi
Analysis: Again - these pictures are really, really cute. And they were taken at the Brookfield Zoo, which doubles as Mike's happy place.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 5: Smile Magnet
Analysis: This magnet was a recent gift and also has sentimental value, as the verse is my personal mantra.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 6: Home-made magnets
Analysis: These magnets were made and sent to us by my cousin's boys, who Mike affectionately refers to as "the Carters." While these have been on the fridge for a long time, they're small and don't take up much space. Additionally, I am loathe to part with anything home-made.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 7: Gilda MagnetAnalysis: It stays. No analysis necessary. No argument will sway me. I love Gilda and I love this quote.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 8: Erma MagnetAnalysis: I really like this magnet too. I'm open to argument from Mike on this one, as I could relocate it without any significant emotional trauma. But it's small, I really like it, and magnets are very functional.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 7: MWSU MagnetAnalysis: A free magnet that I got in the mail from the alumni association. I was tempted to keep it because there is very little MWSU representation at my house. But really...do we need another free magnet that will be outdated in a couple of months? Really?
Result: Lose it!!
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Item 8: Picture of little Andrea, baby Mike and St. Gemma GalganiAnalysis: The picture is put in a prominant spot for a reason. Every day when I see it, I will remember to pray for Andrea and the prayer card contains a prayer for illumiation/forgiveness of sins for the prayee.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 9: Message board magnetsAnalysis: Message board magnets are very functional! But, as you can see - this one has pretty much ceased functioning as intended. The last time the Potters visited, Kelly covered the message board with "American Idol" related comments - except for the dungenous crab thing...I think that may actually relate to something Mike said during the weekend. Also - these boards are really, really hard to clean. That eraser on the marker works like crap!
Result: Storage. (It may make a comeback if we find that we are missing having a writing friendly unit on the front of the fridge)
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Item 10: Angel Magnet
Analysis: This magnet belonged to my mom. I swiped it off of my dad's fridge during a visit. As I have said also, magnets are really quite functional.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 11: Pickle StickerAnalysis: I love this sticker, although I'm pretty sure that Mike will balk at actually letting me put it on our car. It really doesn't belong on the fridge. Still, I'm sure I can find another home for it besides the trash.
Result: Relocated to my office at work.
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Item12: Lyric PicturesAnalysis: She's really cute, but we see her all the time. I don't suppose she needs to be on the fridge, too.
Result: Back to the photo box.
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Item 13: Various picturesAnalysis: These have been long-time members of the fridge line-up.
Result: Storage - except for my parents' wedding picture. That stays!
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Item 14: Little Miss/Little Mister BoardAnalysis: Ah, I do love this board. But I think it's time to switch it up. It's not taking a dirt nap, but I just don't know what to do with it.
Result: Storage or relocated to work (Haven't decided on this one yet).
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Items 15 and 16: Home-made Picture MagnetsAnalysis: These magnets were also made and sent to us by my cousin's boys. They're much bigger than our other home-made magnets, but once again, I am loathe to part with anything home-made (with affection) - but they've been on the fridge for quite awhile. I think I'll move them for a bit to another magnetic surface in the house and then sneak them back into the line-up.
Result: Relocated to a magnetic surface in the living room.
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Item 17: Laughs Last MagnetAnalysis: This magnet also belonged to my mom and was "borrowed" during a trip home. She bought it because it reminded her of my dad - and now it serves to remind me of my dad.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 18: Lucky Cat MagnetAnalysis: Ah, lucky cat. You are so cute. But - he's been on the fridge for a long time. Maybe time for a new venue.
Result: Relocated to the heater next to the litter box. What? It's a very cat-centric area.
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Item 19: St. Anne
Analysis: I like this picture - it's beautiful. It's small. Plus it's a new addition to the fridge.
Result: It stays!!
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Item 20: The Black MadonnaAnalysis: Alright - so we've already got St. Gemma Galgani and St. Anne. I suppose that the Black Madonna can be moved. It's all about compromise.
Result: Relocated to a pocket in my purse.
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Item 21: Office Message Board
Analysis: This board has been on the fridge for-EVER and I have yet to use it. In fact, the only person to use it was Amy; to leave a good-bye message the last time she visited - over a year ago.
Result: Bye bye, Jim. I still love you. Please don't hate me.
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Item 7: Furio pictureAnalysis: Look at that fat Buddha belly. Love it! But he's been on the fridge long enough.
Result: Relocated to my file cabinet at work.
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Our new and improved fridge......for the love of God, somebody send me a postcard so I can put it on there! It's so lonely!