Life Abandoned

My parents threw away all of these things (even the vacuum cleaners and the dryer) when they got too dirty to function, because no one even told them THAT they could be cleaned. Cost them thousands of dollars over the years.

All I'm saying is that cleaning is not intuitive, and not knowing how to clean is not a moral failing, but it is something you can learn.

I like this video because it does a great job of introducing the basic foundations of house cleaning (and because he doesn't use bleach, which is a common allergy in addition to being awful to inhale). He also talks a little about how to clean a vacuum. And why you shouldn't put grease from your pots and pans down the sink drain. I also love that he mentions that different houses and different people have different needs and different versions of what clean and cleaning looks like.

This is another video from the same guy about cleaning and depression. This advice, especially at the beginning, can feel really really difficult and oppressive to hear. However, I find that it's generally pretty solid. But I'm autistic and so is he, so that gets a massive Your Mileage May Vary stamp on it.

I have a favorite part of this video. It's from 10:52 to 12:36. I think we could all use to hear that. There's a HEFTY pause after that one. I promise the narration does come back.

This is a pair of videos about how to correctly load and use a dish washer.

The first one is a quick 1 minute 30 second overview on loading. I can't find the exact video I'm looking for, so consider this a substitute for that. If I can find the one I'm looking for, I'll swap it in.

Here's a blog post about scrubbing brushes and how to clean them.

And a video for all cleaning tools, including scrub brushes. This video does use bleach. I'll try to find some alternatives to that.

How to clean a top loader (without the removable agitator thing). This should be done every 1-3 months depending on you unit, or every time you wash really soiled clothes.

How to clean a top loader (with the removable agitator thing). This should be done every month, or every time you wash really soiled clothes.

This video is for pet owners.

These carpet brushes are a LIFE SAVER if you have dogs. This thing allows me to go from vacuuming about 4 square feet before my vacuum is full to vacuuming half the living room (I don't vacuum often enough. You should vacuum weekly, and I just can't.). I have to unclog the vacuum less often. It fluffs up some of the flat spots in the carpet. And I also use the brush to shampoo my rugs in the spring.

A spot cleaner (or a carpet cleaner with a spot cleaner attachment) is another life saver, ESPECIALLY if you can afford to splurge on a heated one. I see them at Goodwill or at yard sales occasionally, and they're worth picking up. The shark one in the video is great too.

It's America's Housekeeping Book (1941). Available for free download on the Internet Archive. (Large PDF file at the link here).

The LISTS y'all. The step by step lists. The emphasis on efficiency and arranging spaces for the least resistance possible. The basic concept of "take a tray or basket into a room when you are tidying up so you can put things that belong elsewhere on it and take them out LATER in ONE GO".

Painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus by William Carlos Williams

both mini monsteras (monstera adansonii and raphidophora tetrasperma) are fabulous. mine grow like weeds

honestly their daddy is pretty robust too (monstera deliciosa)

pothos (epipremnum aureum). your mileage may vary on this one because i do inevitably murder them but they are supposed to be easy and they tend to droop when they need watering (helpful visual reminder). they come in a lot of fun varieties

heart leaf philodendron is really similar to a pothos but ime harder to kill

fittonia (nerve plant) is colorful and also tends to dramatically flop to the ground when it's been underwatered (but recovers quickly once you remember to water it). honestly i routinely forget about my mostly-fittonia barbie dream terrarium and it's thriving

ponytail palms. i toss mine outside in the spring/summer and after that it's happy for the rest of the year. cat friendly i think

syngoniums come in a crazy number of varieties in all kinds of colors and sizes, they're low light, and they're not fussy. this is the other resident of the barbie dream terrarium that i forget about all the time

aglaonemas are maybe a little higher maintenance than the others, but they're pretty and they can hang in there for quite a while. i had one for years that was very happy in my cubicle with no window

snake plants (sansevierias) are basically plastic plants but alive. i was shocked recently to learn that one of mine had grown babies because they basically do nothing (and need nothing) most of the time

ZZ plants are probably the ultimate ADHD plant. i forgot one in my antique booth for six months with no sunlight and never watered it and it's still happy as a clam. they come in a cute little mini variety called zenzi and a goth variety too

tbh i would consider most of these plants relatively low light plants! variegated varieties (the ones with lighter and darker patches) will struggle more but yeah. snake plants and ZZ plants would be my top picks for you probably

you might also want to look into grow lights! some of them are pretty cute and they can come with automatic timers

none of the plants on this list are super dangerous to cats (like lilies or sago palms – i would never bring those into a house with cats)

that being said, these three are completely non-toxic per the ASPCA Poison Control:

Spider Plant

FIttonia

Ponytail Palm

the rest of the plants may cause nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (snake plants specifically) or oral irritation/difficulty swallowing/vomiting (the rest of them).

i've kept all of these plants in a home with a cat, but not one who's very determined to eat plants. so it might be worth starting with those three and seeing how it goes

a couple of other cat-friendly, easy-to-care-for plants that didn't make the list for no real reason:

Peperomia obtusifolia (baby rubber plant)

Pilea peperomioides

i've kept both and an confirm they're pretty hardy. my Pilea is one of my longest standing plants at this point despite some hardcore neglect

Do Now: (3-5 min)

Read and React.

Read the above posts and ask yourself if you’ve ever experienced this. Discuss with a partner or with yourself on paper.

Main Activity: (10-15 min)

Brief discussion that “adult jokes” will often change with time. We will illustrate this with a famous Merry Melodies cartoon that’s nearly impenetrable for modern audiences.

Instruct students make a T-chart of “I get it” & “I’m too young to get it”. Everyone, including the teacher and as many faculty and staff volunteers as you can find (even parents who wish to participate asynchronously) will keep score of how many jokes and references are made in the cartoon that fall into either category.

Here is a link to the cartoon via archive.org (I think HBO owns it otherwise). Runtime is 7:45

https://archive.org/details/looney-tunes-s-1941e-17-hollywood-steps-out

Higher Order Learning: (30+ min)

Students (and volunteers) work independently or in groups to research the Plot section of this cartoon’s Wikipedia page in order to learn about each of the jokes and references that they marked as “I’m too young”. THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE. Once they discover why each bit was supposed to be funny, they should rate the humor of the bit on a 1-5 scale.

Finish for HW.

Extension Opportunity:

new item for two truths and a lie: I have once had a shitpost turned into a lesson plan

“most surreal thing that’s ever

happened to this post”

I’ve tried, tried, tried And I’ve tried even more  I’ve Cried, Cried, Cried And I can’t recall what for I’ve pressed, I’ve pushed, I’ve yelled, I’ve begged In hope of some success  But the inevitable fact is that It never will impress 

I’ve no more fucks to give,   My fucks have runneth dry,  I’ve tried to go fuck shopping  But there’s no fucks left to buy  I’ve no more fucks to give,  Though more fucks I’ve tried to get,  I’m over my fuck budget and I’m now in fucking debt 

I strive, strive, strive  To get everything done  I’ve played by all the rules But I’ve very rarely won, I’ve smiled, I’ve charmed, I’ve wooed I’ve laughed, Alas to no avail I’ve run round like a moron, To unequivocally fail!

I’ve no more fucks to give, My fuck fuse has just blown, I’ve been hunting for my fucks all day, But they’ve upped and fucked off home, I’ve no more fucks to give, My fuck rations are depleted, I’ve rallied my fuck army but It’s been fucking defeated! 

The effort has just not been worth The time or the expense I’ve exhausted all my energy  For minimal recompense The complete lack of acknowledgement  Has now begun to gall And I’ve come to realise that I  Don’t give a fuck at all!

I’ve no more fucks to give, My fucks have flown away, My fucks are now so fucked off They’ve refused to fucking stay! I’ve no more fucks to give, My fucks have gone insane They’ve come back round and passed me While they’re fucking off again!

I’ve no more fucks to give, My fucks have all dissolved, I’ve planned many projects But my fucks won’t be involved! I’ve no more fucks to give, My fucks have all been spent, They’ve fucked off from the building And I don’t know where they went!