The Messy Briefcase to the rescue! — “Absentminded Professor,” my father called me when I was a child. Even then, I would forget things I needed to take to school with me. Now that I really am a professor, the absentmindedness hasn’t improved. I just have a million strategies that help me look like I’ve got my…

From a different porch — We spent a lovely week at North Topsail Beach last week. We enjoyed lazy days watching the waves, stuffing ourselves with fresh seafood, and catching up on reading. …

The life question I’m still asking — When I was 15, I started my first job in a library. I shelved books, read to small children in story hour, and helped run a theater group for Middle Schoolers. More than 40 years later, I’m still working in a library, now a library director at a small college…

Random reading, little writing — Aren’t these rhododendrons in my front yard pretty? I snapped this last week on my way to work in the morning and wanted to share it with you. I love having these wild things in my yard. I’m no gardener, so it’s magical to me when things bloom each year…

6/26/22 — From my posts on Medium On June 5, we euthanized our sweet old English Setter, Fergie. She had a tumor on her spleen diagnosed in October of 2020 and we have savored every moment with her since then. …

Announcing a new series from Messy Desk, Messy Life — I am excited by this new series “Messy Reading,” that I’m starting for the Messy Desk, Messy Life publication. I will post weekly links and summaries of content that fits the Messy Desk audience: messy organization and productivity, mental health and wellness, and neurodiversity (especially ADHD). Like many Messies, I…

Mess deconstruction and reorganization — There are a hundred home organization professionals out there that can help you declutter your spaces. The “how” isn’t that difficult. But most professional organizers act like you will clean up once, set up an organizational system, and keep that system in place forever. …