Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013

Subject: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 10:03 AM

I broadened the fitness/exercise component this morning just as a reminder that the reason for the exercise is to promote good health.

The declutter aspect of this month so far is to lighten my pocketbook. The truck is in the shop for a couple of regular (oil change) or mileage-related service (rear differential). This the day after I had two dogs to the vet - one for an annual heartwork test and checkup, the other to trim a nail that he split up the middle and exposed a bit of the nailbed. Got his heartworm test at the same time to save a trip later.

This all puts more emphasis on the eBay room - time to sell that stuff and build up the paypal account.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 10:06 AM

Here is the January thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 11:02 AM

I posted this late last night in the January thread but thought I'd pull it over here too.

I received a distinct honor today regarding my writing concerning my adventures with cancer. Details later but the gist of it is that pieces of my Relay For Life Survivor Speech are going to be used by the National American Cancer Society in a mailing that will go out to over a million people within the next 6 months. I am the only survivor to be quoted and was chosen out of hundreds of survivor stories.

I am most honored.

:) Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 01:26 PM

That is such great news!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 08:53 PM

I've been sick most of the day...weather related headache (pressure behind my eyes). My sweet husband is home early today and has let me sleep most of the evening away. I haven't done anything except cook breakfast and lunch. Oh, and I did dry a load of laundry and got my yoga mat out to freshen it up a bit. I start a new yoga class tomorrow and then another one on Tuesdays. I'm ready to have MY mat back (I've been using the studio mats for the last month).

*YAWN*

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 08:56 PM

LOL, sounds like you did a little more than just cook breakfast and lunch. And you're a stay-at-home mom, there's never "just did a few things" with a small child in the house!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 10:03 PM

Still knocking moths out of the air here in the house. I'll do more looking for a source this weekend.

I brought the truck home after dropping $850 at the dealer - it's nice that they wash all vehicles they work on now. I got home and took a bowl of water and vinegar out and FINALLY washed the inside of the windshield. The wheel bearing is an important repair, there was no putting it off. I wouldn't have made another long trip, let alone many more short ones, with it deteriorating.

Susie came down for dinner and we both commiserated with Zeke about his bandaged foot. He still managed to nearly knock her over at one point - I would have caught her this time, she didn't fall, but it is always a reminder for her as to why he is better off living here. The girls and I are so attached to this big galoot - at this point if he left I think he'd be bored without other dogs and the wildness of the yard, and the girls would be heartbroken.

I hope your headache cleared up - hot shower or bath, or a cloth over my forehead and eyes is what I do to soothe that kind of headache.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 11:08 PM

I took a hot shower first thing this morning, liquid gel Advil after a little bit of breakfast, darkened the living room and put on Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Word World to keep Jeremiah somewhat occupied while he played (at least it kept him in one room). I do not condone the tv as a babysitter but today it was the best I could do. We were in the same room, sometimes he snuggled with me and he played happily on the raised foot of my recliner. We managed just fine. I'm feeling better this evening. :)

I'm looking forward to yoga in the morning and an afternoon of helping with firewood. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 13 - 11:46 PM

Exercise today, walking each way when I took the truck over to the dealer. I'm a few blocks away, takes about 10 minutes. Every little bit helps! The forecast for Feb is warmer than usual, so hopefully I'll get a lot more walks.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 12:00 PM

60 minutes of blissful, stretchy yoga. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 01:25 PM

Michelle, your headache seems to have moved west. Cold dry air is making my sinuses hurt.

Finished a bunch of piled up shredding, the kitchen is looking great, but the sun room is piled high and deep. If I tackle the boxes I can make it look a lot better. I need some for shipping, but a lot can go to the recycle bin. I made one trip over there yesterday and got rid of all of the box covers for the VCR tapes. I can take them in April to work to recycle, but I may mail them now just to get them out from underfoot.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 06:20 PM

I have not had a weather headache since I started drinking green tea - a specific for such. About 20 years, I guess. They were totally debilitating. (The only pain pills I have taken were after the partial mastectomy.) I have had headaches caused by food or toxins but rarely.

On the last day of January, after the 90 minute phone call with my s-in-l, I took a hot bath. Well, almost hot as I had already filled the tub and had to add more HOT. Then I caught a glimpse of my self in the mirror and ran to the scale. 170 - another 10 # in the last few months.

More changes around here. Less time sitting around in the city and more time potting in the country. The less I do, the more I eat. So do more and eat less sounds good. One day at a time. Worked yesterday; pots got made, pots got trimmed, 2 qts of humus made, and black beans cooked. One pint of humus has salsa added, experimentally. Tasty. Cafe in the eve.

Today: light brekkie and then went with R as he did a couple errands nearby and we stopped at a Fromagerie. They make goat cheese and have a very upscale shop with all manner of exotic jellies, pies, very expensive French mohair socks! and more. R bought a small piece as a special gift for a friend. Came home for black bean soup with Naan. I put the remainder, 2 qts, through the blender - black beans, salsa and some corn niblets. Yummy.

Green beans and organic sausages will be supper. And something for carbs - salad with humus, maybe.

I was achey from yesterday's work but it went away over night! But my hands are a bit sore. I hope I can get back to it tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 06:50 PM

Really about the green tea? Wish I could get that stuff down...I can't stand it. ICK.

How do you make your black bean soup?

Michelle

PS. I hope you feel better soon Maggie!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 08:06 PM

Making stew, catching up on some recorded television programs, getting a listing up on eBay to start there again. Laundry in, kitchen clean. Took Zeke's bandage off his foot. The day is just rolling along. I think the warm steam and smell of the stew will make my head feel good - and I love green tea, but it would keep me awake. I'll find a mild version, like jasmine. Thanks!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Feb 13 - 08:29 PM

F...i...r...s...t......d...a...y......b...a...c...k.....i...n......p...o...o...l......O...M..G...!!!...

Ouchies! But TBTG they are the all-over ouchies of muscles getting back to work. I wasn't sure I might not overdo the first day back-- there was that bad "mobility" episode requiring Flexeril last week. But I now think I can progress quite a ways aquatically till a spring return to outpatient PT-- I did use to teach this after all!

I hope to see a couple of non-traditional healing practitioners in the coming weeks to begin to turn all this scar tissue into normal flesh-- we had a hands-on explore last night to map it and start getting to know the contours and textures, so these peeps can teach us home technique.

Mostly it was reassuring today to discover that altho my butt now floats me out of vertical position, the hip abscess does not appear to have attacked muscles I plan to USE! (It does make me list to the right because scar tissue the size of a soccer ball is heavy.) And I got a cute new swimsuit (smaller of course).

Everyone, be my guest: into the pool!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 12:22 AM

Lots of little things done today.

Stew is in the fridge for next week, batch of chicken broth made for soup.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: MAG
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 01:00 AM

feeling virtuous because I made kale in the wok, w/ a little feta cheese on top -- so easy; why am I so bad about green leafies? -- we all know it's what we are supposed to eat -

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 08:55 AM

On my rounds waking up the house I noted the gudge on the switchplate leading into this room -- washed it. And the wall. Is this what "retirement" is doing to me?

Since I needed to preheat the oven for the cinnamon rolls, I prepped a few potatoes to pop them in to bake while I'm using the oven for the rolls. Waste not, want not...

The major project for today (if you want to call it that) is pulling everything out of the freezer to see what's there and reorganize it. This MAY tell me what I'm making for dinner tonight! (Besides, I'm tired of searching through a hodgepodge of different shaped and packaged stuff to try to find whatever I'm looking for. This time all the flat bags of stock, etc. will be stored narrow end up so I can find them, etc.)

The wheelchair is FIXED (hooray!). Tami (Ranger1) stopped by yesterday with a bucket of tools and got the job done. Had a nice visit, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 09:02 AM

Almost forgot --

Had lunch with another friend on Wednesday and we talked about Life, the Universe...Everything (since conversation is complicated at The Press Room during the session).

As I told her about all the documentation I've been gathering for an application, she told me about a website she just discovered that has lists and information and everything you need and should really be doing to get together all the documentation and information you (or someone else) WILL need when you or your spouse/partner dies.

Here is the aptly named Get Your Shit Together

The website is simple, straight forward, has downloadable lists and templates.

Even a way to be nagged, I mean REMINDED into actually doing something.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 10:49 AM

I'll have to look that over, thanks Linn!

I almost finished writing an ad for eBay last night, but I was tired so decided to leave it to finish this morning. I didn't want to find that I missed some important bit as can sometimes happen if I list late at night. I can pay ten cents to delay the listing till a later time, but the profit margin is so low sometimes at eBay that I don't like to let them nickle and dime me.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 11:03 AM

thanks, Linn, great site.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 11:17 AM

After last week's "butt-broken" setback I am thrilled to be able to get back to my six laps of ramp walking after every meal. I have returned TBTG to sleeping in my own bed on my left side/tummy at least 2/3 of each night without having to wake Hardi to wrestle me screaming to my feet (while I pee myself isn't aging lovely). There is a second bed in the Sailboats room which has been a napping or insomnia spot for years-- on my back, in a position not unlike the hospital bed/medical recliner position I came home locked into.

For the last several nights I have used that for the middle third of the night so that my cramped left shoulder gets a break, and the healing hip gets some time in a relaxed, straight position. But by the end of this week I bet my pool work will allow me to sleep in the bed ALL night, with 1/3 on my right side.

We also use that very-firm Sailboats bed as a platform for stretching exercises as needed at bedtime. That means that I can have one round of deep, daily stretching in the hot tub, and one at night up in Sailboats.

===

I reorganized some of the bathroom storage where I have kept my unmentionables and grub-wear for years, to accomodate the medical supplies we hope I will not need any longer as well as some unmentionable items I also do not use in the same way but like to have within reach as disposables-- I repurposed one of those handy rolling plastic drawer units that used to live in the Boondocker; if I need it back for Boondocking, by spring I will have emptied it anyhow. But this has allowed space for more everyday-wear in the closet.

===

The dishes got out of hand the last few days with all of the above transitions so they got whipped this morning. I also re-organized my little sewing kit-- shortening a skirt last night it was clear THAT needed to get done!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 03:14 PM

Alrighty, then...

Got all the stuff out of the dishwasher so I could start filling it again. (This is getting boring.)

First I went through my stock of vintage or just plain interesting jewelry for sale and got everything into plastic bags and semi-sorted, left stuff out to photograph or clean or repair.

Then I got the freezer cleaned out and organized. (Whew! -- bigger job than I thought.

Now I need to make some sort of token headway in this room. I fear that just about everything in it will either go to Goodwill or be sold. It's been a holding space for way too long; time to clear it out.

Oh, I've been playing around with infused vodkas (on my way to playing around with tinctures to make bitters). Last night I sampled the Earl Grey-infused vodka for the first time. Wow! It still needs about another month of aging, but the sample sip was so richly flavorful. First time I've made it and I'm really impressed.

And Tom gets a bath and hair wash after I clear out the sink and surrounding counter.

Moving right along...maybe I'll get to call a friend on the other side of the country later, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 03:53 PM

Rearranging the living room several times over trying to decide where I like our new couch (that we picked up today) best. :) BTW, this is the first couch we've had in over 15 years! HOORAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 05:32 PM

That is your Big Girl couch, Michelle! Enjoy it! (I try to keep the dogs from sleeping on my couch - I want it to be nice for company and not have to follow them with a lint roller to get all of the hair after they stand up.)

I've poked around in the eBay room and selected a few small things to list, just to get back into it. eBay changes its setup fairly often and that is true since the last time I listed. I worked through the process and see what I need to do as far as shipping to make it sound light and very reasonable (why is it no one wants to pay shipping, yet they know these things won't just materialize on their doorsteps!) None of this will add much to my paypal account, but it ought to at least blow out the cobwebs.

Good job on the freezer Linn - is any of it going into dinner?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 07:45 PM

Ayuh, Stilly. Just decluttered some cubic inchage from the freezer into supper. And another container is defrosting in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.

Plus the freezer is now organized in a way I can actually extricate stuff easily AND know what's there. Consolidated a couple bags, threw out some unidentified stuff that had been there too long anyway. And removed ALL of the blue fake ice thingies and stored them in the cooler in the cellarway. They were taking up way too much space in the freezer that I needed for edibles.

Should make a batch of soup with the contents of a couple other bags, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 08:44 PM

The men in my house, Rog and Morgan, did a ton of work for me/us, including all of the floors and scrubbed the bathroom. Rog cleaned out the frig AND the cupboards!! I did three loads of laundry between 1a-330a as i could not sleep, again.Shoulder is sore using the laptop at wrong angle or I would write more."-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Feb 13 - 09:32 PM

My washing machine was smoking earlier. Guess I won't be doing that again for awhile....

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 12:13 AM

Sounds like a productive weekend all around. This weekend I made a pot of beef stew for taking for lunch this week, sauteed a couple of chicken breasts (they are large enough these days they'll go into 2 or 3 meals).

I walked away earlier and didn't send this - took a while for that stupid bowl game and the post-game show to end. I like Elementary, but didn't appreciate all of the football first. :-(

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 10:01 AM

Oh.... A dear woman in our little personal circle died suddenly this morning... I would be there helping with my sisters if my stamina were better. I do not know what my role can be for now other than to pray and make sure the Collared One is fed when he gets back from the call. Come on, body, HEAL!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 10:08 AM

Woke up with a kink in my back - I think I slept in a funny position. Motrin and a hot pad this morning!

We had a little rain last night - maybe later today I can get into the garden and pull weeds before they get big and well-established. I haven't decluttered the garden for a long time now.

More listings can go on eBay later, and it's time to finish paying bills. That will take care of any ol' loose change in the bank account. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 02:38 PM

I decluttered a bit by bringing the loaned shredder back to my mom, as well as getting Christmas presents to my brother. Two of the older nieces got the Hallmark Kiss-Kiss Bears that I'd had sitting around for eons, both are young adults, one newly married and the other deeply in love with the boy she's been dating for three years, so I thought they might find them cute. I also brought several cigar boxes that had been taking up space for several years to my mom to use for her various artistic endeavors. The nieces loved the Kiss-Kiss bears, mom loves the cigar boxes and was happy to get her shredder back, and I got rid of clutter. Win-win situation for all involved.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 02:51 PM

Well, my house was well enough organized to put together a lunch basket for the four hungry sons suddenly wending their way homeward.... I had strength to deliver it, and then had to leave sooner than I would have liked-- just could not stand up any longer. More food for hungry young men will arrive anonymously this evening thanks to our local chef friend. But I am off to the planned pool session for another baby-step-style "workout." Mostly stretches... it would be so much easier to sit here rapt with her passing, but there really is not much I can do at the moment so I am going to follow my program and do my prayin' from the pool.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 03:38 PM

Sounds good, Tami!

I put more stuff out in the truck that will go to recycling. Do you sell anything via eBay? No watchers on my few listings, I'll add a couple of coins this evening. It'll be a mixed bag for a while, but in particular I have quite a few books that I'd like to move along. One day I suppose I'll load them all up and take them down to Half Price books, or sell all of them as a lot on eBay and let someone else sort and sell them.

The back is better, but there is still a sore spot.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 05:07 PM

OK, I did 5 reps this time of:

Ai Chi
Kicks
Hot tub stretches

And half of a lap of deep-end aquawalking.

And it was too much!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 09:28 PM

Lots and lots of walking today.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 10:07 AM

5-1/2 post-brekky ramp laps. I love it that this is a constant incline one way and a steady decline the other way-- different muscles work there and same muscle work differently. I am still focusing not on speed but on correct gait.

LOL... the mind is still catching up to the new planet this body lives on. OK so I knew that each lap of the ramp = 100 feet, but I never thought to multiply that by the number of laps-- till I was out there just now enjoying the sun and grabbing an empty trash can so I can take out the trash later today....

Today for example 5 laps (500 feet) is twice the 250 feet I was able to do in one stretch at the nursing home, so I AM making progress if I take a moment to calculate it. Let's see, there... it was usually twice a day and the goal now is 3 times per day, so 250 x 2 = 500 and 500 x 3 = 1500, wow! That is triple the activity level!

I noticed today that each section's handrails require a re-grab every certain number of steps-- where sections join they rip my gloves-- so I can calculate steps at 2 (8 + 4 + 6 + 10) = 56 x 3 laps = 168 steps just on the ramp + daily laundry steps to figure in.... oh heck, later!

But counting laps will get boring so I will soon switch to time walked. First I have to see how long it takes to do the 5-6 laps....

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 11:22 AM

First time ever going home from Grandma's with less than I brought!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 12:25 PM

Good girl!

Decluttered my office this morning of various finished projects - I can recycle leftover invitations and promotional letters and leave some clear work surfaces. Had a battle with office materials, ended up with a paper cut and a slash from a jammed staple.

My back still has a twinge - and when I went to bed last night I felt it all the more after a day of its gradually subsiding. It is time for a new mattress. I can give this one to the Salvation Army, and schedule a couple of other large items to be picked up at the same time. I'll see if I can't talk my ex into giving me the spare high-end latex mattress in his garage. Long story, but he ordered one and ended up with three before the order was right. He used one in our son's room at his house, but one still hangs out in the garage.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 12:49 PM

A mountain of dishes has been done, dinner is all prepped so it will be easy to do when I get home (Smothered Chicken and Steams Carrots). All the toys have been picked up, the living room has been vaccuumed. I still have some rearranging to do but it's good for today. I've got about 6 errands to run and then it's on to that power yoga class. I'm a little nervous about going since I know I won't be able to do a lot of it but I'm sure going to try...gotta start somewhere!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 04:09 PM

I brought a container of my stew for lunch today - it was great. Now to have a smaller dinner when I get home. I'm trying for the larger meals early in the day and the smaller dinner before 7pm. I can rarely manage before 6pm, I don't get home in time.

Exercise - climbed the stairs from basement to sixth floor twice.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 06:38 PM

qi gong - 30 minutes

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 06:52 PM

Second massage appointment tomorrow AM. My carpal tunnel issues are already lots better, glad I am treating myself to monthly massage appts. And she messages me to remind me so I don't miss them :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 07:12 PM

OK, we can now add a weekly round of trash chores to the activity list, and a daily trip up the stairs whether I am sleeping up there or not, with correct use of muscles/weight shift/gait.

I'm tired!!!

===

I booked a pool date with a friend for Wednesday early AM next week tho I have to go to Rochester later that day. A friend who recovered from two orful surgeries has decreed that I shall go somewhere every morning, add social stuff, and add dog stuff. Pool is 3x per week so that is where non-parochial "social" will happen, and I know exactly who I want to hot-tub with. Dog stuff is in progress with Faulkner learning Therapy Dog cert items.

Other "social" occurs for me weekly whether I plan it or not-- this week it is a tough, all-standing visitation one day and a long funeral, cemetery, and lunch the next day. I was not at liberty to say who had died till the obit was posted, but the wife of our dear landlord and friend died suddenly in her sleep Monday morning. Their wonderful 4 boys (young kollidge men) are all home now. This means we will be on the hop around the edges of events, as they are not formal members of our parish and Hardi is not the funeral officiant.... but just a pastoring presence, each of us, with the family.

So tonight I SLEEP! This week's daily "out"s: Tomorrow pool, Thursday Closet Day with an alterations helper (new clergyspouse friend) at a friend's house, Friday funeral.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 08:53 PM

Power Yoga: 60 Minutes

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   (I did 97% of it....my body will do more than I thought it would...HOORAY)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 10:07 PM

Yay Michelle! We knew you could do it!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 09:54 AM

Darn, I posted last night and it didn't stick. I also agree - we knew you could do the yoga since you've set your mind to it!

Mended a sweater sleeve this morning (snagged by a jumping dog - I wish I could break Poppy of that, she has very sharp nails) and have sponged out the muddy footprint on my shirt front (good ol' Zeke at work). There is probably Cinnamon hair in the knees of my trousers since she wiggled and rubbed this morning.

Views but no watchers on eBay. I'll see if I can add a few more and different items tonight. It may be the "buy it now" setting that is offputting - I may put the books on auction next time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: MAG
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 01:04 PM

I have a committee meeting scheduled here next month, which will goad me into making the place OK for fresh eyes.

Maytag repairman here this afternoon; long story (grrr)

I have discovered white vinegar for getting film off things; am I the last to know?

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 01:52 PM

6 brekky ramp laps

Pool 1 hour, mixed Ai Chi (10 reps), BackHab (10 min), aquawalk (1 lap). and tub stretches. Parked at a farther and quieter spot. Showered standing. Bushed! Lunch on the way home. Brought trash cans and mail back in from the road. REALLY bushed!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 04:57 PM

:) Thanks for the support you guys!! :) It sure did feel great! My shoulders are achy today...too much downward facing dog I think. Or maybe the held plank pose for a few more deep breaths than I should have. Can't wait to do it again! I even brought my mat home (which I normally never did since it's a Manduka mat....a serious yoga mat (not the normal lightweight mat) that I splurged on once I knew yoga was for me. It's a bit longer and heavier. Anyway, I brought it home to do some yoga after the little one goes to bed. :)

Today involved lots of walking and lifting of Jeremiah..in and out of the car, in and out of carts....he's a solid 35ish pounds....doesn't sound like much until you do it frequently in one day!

I went to Aldis today (do they have those across the US? They are a chain here) which is a super cheap place for food. Today the prices on produce were really great! For under $25.00 I got 2 boxes of strawberries ($1.29 each), 2 boxes of grape tomatoes (.79 each), 2 boxes of mushrooms ($1.89 each), 2 3-packs of zuchinni ($1.79 per pack), a 3-pack of tri colored peppers for $1.99, a 3 pack of peppers for $1.79, 8 pounds of Sunkist seedless oranges for $3.00, a pack of 97% lean ground turkey for $2.99 and a pound of 95% lean hamburger for I think...$3.99. I was really very happy with what I got. I think I've forgotten something but can't think of it for the moment.

Also, today, at the Salvation Army is family day. I got Jeremiah Osh Kosh corduroys, a sweater (Children's Place), a fleece jacket, 2 long sleeved shirts, a mess of children's books (at .29 each), a book for me and a dark blue glass that I will use as a vase for under $12.00. Also....I went to a local consignment shop where I have built up some credit from taking in baby clothes over the last 2 years and got 4 summer outfits and 2 sets of swimming trunks that cost me nothing (would have been about $33.00 if I had paid for it). YAY ME!!! And bonus? Pete gave me cash this morning and told me to pick up some scallops for dinner....a HUGE treat for us!

I love to shop when I can be smart about it!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 05:13 PM

I was at Aldi yesterday, with similar low-priced produce.

Yes, Maryanne, you must be the last person to know about vinegar! ;-D I used it the other day in a stainless steel Dutch oven that had been scrubbed clean but still had the imprint of beans on the bottom. A cup of vinegar and 2 or 3 cups of water and I let it simmer for a few minutes then sit. I run the dishwasher empty with a cup or two, I do the same with the washer. I have a stainless steel Cuisinart electric kettle that builds up limestone inside, so every few months I pour a cup of vinegar into a couple of cups of water and let the kettle heat to boiling a couple of times.

This is all using White Vinegar, 9% (pickling vinegar) that I also use full strength out in the yard for weed control. Not all stores carry that strength (most have 5%) but I find that the small town grocery stores around here carry it (for pickling).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 10:21 PM

Arrrrgh. This evening I must have swatted a couple of dozen of these moths that originally came from the bird seed. I can't figure out what they're living on, but they're still going. This weekend will be a big vacuum after moving furniture in the area where they seem to come from (in the sun room).

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Feb 13 - 11:25 PM

qi gong - 20 minutes

I use vinegar exclusively to launder my clothes, disinfect surfaces, and to clean out drains when poured on a pile of baking soda in the sink's hole. There are so many uses! I also have a teaspoon of Mrs. Bragg's vinegar in a cup of water each morning. She has a whole book on its many uses.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 13 - 10:34 AM

An ah-ha moment this morning. My back is still sore, and it's because of the mattress. And I realized that though I sleep each night in there I am aware of waking up frequently and going back to sleep. I'm still tired in the morning. The mattress is the culprit in my back pain but possibly also some other things that I haven't really codified as issues but are there.

My ex has a spare mattress in his garage - he ordered one high-end latex mattress but it came with a flaw (visual only, but still . . .) so they sent a second. And it also had a flaw. Third time was the charm, but they told him not to return the others, they're very heavy. I made a trip with my truck to pickup a box spring for him that he put in our son's room at his house, but there is still a spare mattress out in the garage. I'll see if he'll give it to me before I go buy a new one, but this has to happen now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Feb 13 - 03:33 PM

Go SRS!!!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Feb 13 - 05:31 PM

Lunch with a friend from college today. We had planned on going out but once I got to her house we decided we'd rather stay in and chat over soup and a grilled cheese. Jeremiah loves her, as do I. :) He will communicate with lots of people but to sit in someone else's lap is another story. It was a happy heart moment to be sure. :)

Later, lots of walking.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 13 - 11:31 PM

What was your major, Michelle?

That's a high honor, having someone you're comfortable to share soup and grilled cheese with. That was the epitome of comfort food when I was a kid. Campbells cream of tomato soup and a slightly burned grilled cheese sandwich.

I made the bed in my daughter's room - until I have a new mattress on my bedframe, I'm not sleeping in my room. My back has had it.

The mattress and box spring I'll sleep on tonight came from the ex's house also, it used to be in my son's room there. It wasn't very old, but when the new windfall queen size mattress came along, the standard size set went to the garage. Until last summer, when I got rid of my daughter's old mattress and brought that still relatively new set over here for the guest room. My daughter and a couple of family friends use this one when they're here. Musical beds, but it's all in the family. Ex or not, it means more comfortable sleeping for loved ones and more room in the garage. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Feb 13 - 09:19 AM

Grey skies...waiting in anticipation of some snow!!!!!

(It's early...what? You thought I'd have something DONE? LOL)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 13 - 09:49 AM

Last night I slept in my daughter's room on the new mattress in there - much better! I'm thinking this weekend I'm not only going to bring in a new mattress for my bed, I'm going to move my queen-sized bed into my daughter's room for the time being and move her mattress set into mine. I've always wondered what my carved and elaborate antique bed frame would look like completely assembled - I've always just propped the headboard against the wall next to my free-standing metal frame. I'll post a photo once I get that set up. I may not leave it, I'm sure that sleeping on wooden slats isn't the same as on a steel frame, but I have always wondered. (Another way to avoid starting the income taxes yet?_

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 13 - 10:00 PM

Second thought - those latex mattresses are not only REALLY HEAVY they are also droopy. Dead weight. Snags on things. It's on the box spring in my room and it will stay there until I've cleared a path and have extra help here again.

But we got it moved, and this should more than take care of my sore back. I sent my ex off with a crock pot for his oatmeal. Not exactly an even exchange, but we both got something we've been wanting!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 09:48 AM

:~( I re-re-re-broke my butt again last night (hip/glute muscle not cooperating around the worst of the scar tissue/nerve pinched). Thought I could sleep on it for a little while..... ooops. TBTG it was just a few hours and did not go into deep freeze/spasm! So altho slow, I am moving this AM and hope to get to the pool later today for a good s t r e t c h ....

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 10:51 AM

M y mind is involved in conflict today. The Raccoon Network ad another thread of supporting one person while name-calling and sheer viciousness about another. So I posted this morning that I am tired of this type of behaviour. Two people pmed me and then my internet left. Sure enough, when it came back, one had posted on the RN that I "wouldn't respond"! The other is one of those who keep me there. In the meantime, I went to see who they were calling names and I LIKE HIM! He is not on the Network, would not be allowed on by those who consider him a woman hating .... He is a sweet, gentle, kind animal rehabber who is blunt and down to earth - like me. "I knew we would get along when you said I looked like a redneck bozo". He realized the intent...

This feels like a decluttering issue because It would take the clutter of a great deal of nonsense out of my life. But at least 3 of the group have pmed me that they agree and can we make changes! That feels good, but mainly I feel run over by a truck.

But, when the internet went off, in my frustration, I remembered a friend's status from yesterday and vacuumed the house, took off the bed sheets and found the clean ones - but left it to air, and did some useful straightening. Now I need to get off here and go open the kiln and see what the glaze firing hath wrought.

My magic black bean soup is - cook some beans til soft, add an appropriate amount of salsa and serve! If I want a dip, blender. And the last time, I added a can of corn niblets. Nice addition!

Someone mentioned carpal tunnel and massage. Terrific! My fav chiropractor told me that "carpal tunnel" is usually in the shoulders and people get operated on and nothing changes. I wish he were still alive and working. He would surely be able to fix this shoulder of mine. That chiropractor I was going to call? I did and got a message in French so I have to wait until R can phone, when we are in the city. I have been potting in the country all week, trying to get ready for the indoor farmer's market tomorrow.

OK, off here and on to the studio!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 11:56 AM

Sinuses feeling the impact of dust removal today. Vacuum and mop this morning.

We had a couple of clear sunny days, but this morning it is cold and overcast - North Texas seems to be showing some solidarity with all of you cold snowed-in folks in New England.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 11:59 AM

The firing is an unmitigated unsuccess! R has not shown up yet So I phoned: he is just leaving. OK. I had to do all the snow shoveling to have a place to put the stove wood. It was good therapy after the kiln mess.I just went at it in my t-shirt at 20 degrees F. The sun is shining. A beautiful day. Hope R is here before the wood guys. He's got the money, honey!

Oh, a few pieces are OK. One is beautiful - the same glaze on other pieces - a mess!? Half a dozen rejects. One shelf-full that I was hoping would get fixed in this firing - got worse. This automatic kiln is not doing me any favours. I will go back to the old beat up one that I have some control - OOPS. Cannot do that; it needs a new element. There was a nice one on Kijiji the other day for only $250 but too large for me.

I am going to have some lunch and read I'm Your Man, bio of Leonard Cohen, and enjoy the sunshine and contemplate the situations.    Hope the sun is shining wherever you are! And you are not snowed under!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 01:02 PM

DP, trust your gut but do not let it stew too long.

My magic black bean soup is - open a can of organic lo-sodium black beans, add to turkey stock and hopefully chopped turkey leftvers, and add sauteed onions and mushrooms. (A little salsa would be good in there!) Sometimes I have creamed it, from there. Pre-creamed, tho, it freezes well and is a great way to use up a turkey carcass/leftover meat.

I had to fire someone today who I had trusted.... Ouch! But a new relationship emerged to fill the void-- finally some educated hands on this scar tissue, next Tuesday.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 05:13 PM

1 ramp lap = 100 ft = 76 steps x 5 laps = 1140 steps a day to add to the indoor step count + pool count + social/work count + errands count.

5 laps = 5 minutes at current speed possible.

And it's so much prettier than the boring treadmill, not to mention fresh AIR.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 06:56 PM

I was wide awake last night. I tried to sleep, laid in bed for an hour and decided that was enough. I got up and fussed online until 3am when my Mom IM'd me asking me what I was doing up. We typed back and forth for a bit and she said to just call...so I did. We chatted for well over an hour. Needless to say that since I didn't go to bed until after 4am, I didn't get up until late. I've had a fairly relaxing day. Pete made a spectacular lunch and I finished a book. When we put the baby down for a nap, he turned the tv on and Hoarders was on. I watched for 10 minutes and my skin started to twitch. I cleaned the bathroom, dumped ALL of Jeremiah's toys in the middle of the living room floor and separated them out. I've got them organized so that he has about 25% of his toys out and available for play and the others are separated out in a large tote (in gallon or 2 gallon sized baggies) so I can easily switch out one bag of cars/Legos/Blocks/Stuffed animals for the ones that are out now. It just was too much and honestly I think it made it difficult for him to play. He had toys everywhere, couldn't find what he was after, etc.

Anyway, that took awhile but I'm so glad I did it. He's awake now and doesn't seem to really notice. Maybe that will change but we are going to try it for a few weeks. Toys that are not missed or requested are on their way to my yard sale storage area for the mega sale this summer. I still have 2 overflowing boxes of books in the living room that I have plans for. We have 2 very large book cases in the living room hallway. I am slowly clearing out a Jeremiah height shelf that should be more than adequate for all his books. He requests me to read stories to him several times a day so I like having them nearby vs. being up in his bedroom.

And I did some vacuuming. :) Sweeping the stairs and dusting are sure to follow before long.

Since lunch was soooo good (and kinda heavy...grilled chicken, buttercup squash and homemade mashed potatoes), dinner is going to be light Soup and maybe a quesadillas for my boys. Strawberries for dessert. :) YUM.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 08:03 PM

Michelle, you'll discover that keeping only a few toys out at a time is a great thing - they enjoy them, but later on when you swap out some of the other toys it's like they are new again. I didn't realize you weren't doing that already - it's a way to save time picking up and it lets your house look a little more in control. :)

Drizzly afternoon, starting to rain. Bleh. I have some recorded programs to catch up on, have to order dog meds and do my income taxes. I guess that will keep me busy!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 10:01 PM

A new friend loaned me a great wardrobe resource that for the first time will allow me to estimate the amount of work-wear clothing I need, how much space to allocate for it, and how much I should plan on investing in it $$-wise when I start to purchase new items. It also makes my alteration plan look even more $$-effective thank I had estimated. Another friend will work with me on compiling that list of must-haves, next Saturday. I have cardigans I can wear till I get to a size worth investing for in blazers, which will work if I add a dickey under the shell for a layered look. Otherwise there is just too much gapping around the neck to look right with the shorty haircut I got for the hospitalization/recovery time.

I never did get back to the pool today but I did hem a linen dress by hand, which is part of a work-wear set w/matching jacket. I had also altered another item by hand the other day for a funeral, so that is two dressier items I now have that FIT and feel good on.

I got a lead on why my scar-tissued hip may be acting wonky which I can check out in PT next week, to address the poor sleep I have been getting. I may just need more pillow blocking on that side for the 1/3 of the night I need to spend lying on it.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Feb 13 - 10:02 PM

SRS,

I HAD done it somewhat but have been wanting to take it down even a notch more. Jeremiah did well with it tonight. He had more space to play and clean up (he picks his toys up before I read him his night time stories) went much more smoothly (and quickly).

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 12:35 AM

We used to have this mountain of toys, and sometimes it would completely fill the playpen (yes, they were still in use then). Out of desperation I put a bunch of them up in boxes in the closet and the kids didn't seem to miss them at all.

I was going to start the taxes today, but instead I'm working my way through the house to dust and try to get rid of these annoying weevils. I bought some bird seed (probably described above) that was in the bag for a few weeks until I used up an earlier batch. When I picked it up I found the bag full of webs and worms and realized the moths I'd been seeing weren't from the yard getting in, but were from that bag. It all went out, and I've been looking for sources ever since. There were a bunch of cocoons on a plastic bag nearby, and in the laundry room I found a strange fuzzy cluster that just got sucked into the vacuum. Early spring cleaning.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 12:32 PM

I am really liking FB for tracking stats-- you can upload a fresh version of a chart each time you update it. With a comment field I can add narrative or not. I'll probably keep posting Feb. stats here but then move it all to FB.

Now able to do ramp laps AND pool workout, because both are still in baby-steps mode. Will nap later; also did an extra flight of stairs today. Now if I can just get free of this scar tissue.... LOL: "I DID pray to slow down, but did it have to come THAT way?"

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 01:24 PM

I need to pick up the mattress topper that can be used with this new mattress. It's still in the exes garage - he thought it made the mattress too stiff, but I think it will raise the level a bit and stabilize it. Kind of like sleeping on a waterbed the way it is.

More dusting today, and we'll see what else there's time for. A little eBay before I put Zeke in the kennel and back the truck out of the garage. I put it away last night before a huge thunderstorm blew over. The kind that can make a dents if the hail is big enough.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 04:15 PM

Spent a large chunk of the day decluttering the dooryard of snow. No twinges in the wrists! Thank you Gabrielle Stone LMT! I am going to be good to myself and go monthly, I feel so much better afterwards. And Dorothy Parshall, she works on my shoulders for the carpal tunnel issues and told me to stretch my shoulders as well as my wrists.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 06:00 PM

In my room I am finished with all except dusting the last set of shelves (lots of rocks and small art pieces - it'll take a little while). As I worked if I came upon something on a horizontal surface that should be on a wall, I put it in the cupboard where some of my framed stuff lives, or I put it on a wall - somewhere. This cleared up a lot of dusty things. Also laundered the curtains (nothing fancy, hemmed white cotton yardage).

I'm headed to run a few errands now, but I do feel like I accomplished something and rearranging my room always makes me feel good. They say moving furniture generates endorphins. :) I think this is along the lines of what Linn has been doing to clear out her bedroom. Something not being used - donate it, use it where it needs to be used, toss it or find a new practical place for it. I'm taking a table out of there and have removed devices (i.e., there was a DVD player but no TV in there and this is about 12-13 years old. I doesn't play well with a lot of the newer types of DVDs. It's in the Salvation Army area).

Laundry, cooking ahead for the week finished, but still no yard work. And maybe start taxes tonight.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 08:01 PM

I spent 2 1/2 hours reorganizing two 6 foot tall bookcases. I transferred my personal reading library to my office, took things off, dusted, reorganized each shelf and made room for Jeremiah to have his own shelf. :) It involved about 9 trips up stairs with arms full of books but it was well worth the effort..looks great!

We were invited to a friend's house for dinner...had a great time and now it's time to kick back and relax. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 10:50 PM

Sounds great, Michelle!

I roasted a chicken tonight to use during the week. One last load of laundry, and some puttering for a little while.

Good weekend - I hope it worked out for those of you in the snow zone. I wonder if any lost power?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 10 Feb 13 - 10:57 PM

Mine went out for two seconds. Enough to confuse the heater and reset the clock on my answering machine. It was dry, fluffy snow, so power outages weren't a huge deal here in my area.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 12:46 PM

Our ice storm was about as impressive here last night/this AM as the blizzard we never got the other day-- all I had to do was add a little salt to the ramp so that the un-cindered borders would melt with the rest. By day's end it should all be gone in time for the next snowfall which should be small enough that I can shovel it.

Last night I took all the pix I had been posting on FB and threw them into a montage (Ramp and "Fashion" Forays ), so my MIL could see them as a DVD (as she prefers). It shows the ramp under construction, the finished ramp, me walking on it soon after it was done, and before/after shots as I tried to find clothes in my closet that fit.

The next one will pick up from this one with clothes that will come back from the alterations; I am hand-shortening a few gotta-have-now's and leaving the rest to the perfessionals. That list of must-haves is so handy now-- it guides which items the alts get done on first.

A new favorite from my closet is an olive, longish, military-cut denim "barn jacket" that I can throw on over a sweater or nightgown to get out on the ramp. It was originally purchased to use in place of a blazer with work skirts and was a tad too large then. Now it is loose enough to button top to bottom, over a sweater or hoodie, and even sit in it comfortably!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 01:36 PM

Slow getting started this morning. So much to do - I think I need to make a list so I can cross off items and give myself a mental boost.

I have another load of laundry to wash - sometimes having the washer and dryer running are motivators, they give the house a heartbeat. I suspect it's just a blue Monday because of the heavy overcast and cool weather.

One eBay package goes in the mail this afternoon. That's a nice start to getting back to sales again.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 02:36 PM

Ranger: Sounds great!
SRS: you know that moving furniture is just exercise and exercise generates endorphins - if you are not hating it!

Anyone who goes to my FB page - anyone can, Dorothy Parshall, McGill University (amazingly, there is more than one Dorothy Parshall with no middle name) - can access the youtube about a book on de-cluttering. I have not watched it yet but a dear friend has really liked it.

My life became severely cluttered, I think it was Saturday or maybe Friday, by a contretemps on the Raccoon Network. Name calling and nastiness! I suggested mediation. Apparently I am dumber than dishwater!

So my brain/inner self has been trying to figure out where to go with it. Very little sleep last night as I lay awake trying to come up with a Quakerly/constructive way to tell someone(s) they are a darn fool, or worse.

I am really a BAD person. I called someone on making an incorrect assumption. On and on... Actually TWO separate situations/threads! I had the audacity to post: "I am really tired of the name-calling and nastiness. It really saddens me." As that thread went on, assuming I was referring to a totally different situation, I saw "...before Dorothy attacked us..." Oh, help! ?????? OH that was the same one who "tried to Pm Dorothy but she wouldn't reply". My internet had gone out!

In the midst of it, someone posted the site of this "horrible person" they were maligning. I went and looked at it. It is totally public, like mine. Seemed an OK person so I pmed him then I friended him. I really like him! He is feeling as threatened as those who are maligning him. I am not feeling too happy with the behaviour of the human race at the moment --So I am glad to be here, on this thread!

How could I have the stupidity to think that people might want to be solve problems in a constructive manner. No wonder the world is in such a mess.

Well, the bottom line will be to de-clutter that group out of my life. Ask those who are friends to let me know if any good info comes along but skip all the vicious behaviours.

The Farmer's Market was OK. I was delighted to be able to replace a broken butter dish lid for the woman who bought one in the summer. That the one in stock actually fit!!! Must try harder to be consistent in sizing things like that - so I don't have the clutter (as now) of lots of lids and bottoms that refuse to fit each other - and I just keep making more, hopefully!

The stove wood never arrived. Weds now, he says. So, Sunday eve, R started the chain saw to cut some wood and cut his finger. Thankfully, the glove took the worst but it was a trip to the city hospital - six stitches but did not harm a tendon! So, to be supportive, I ended up in that cold house which now has no water - frozen. This gives a new aspect to de-cluttering. I could not do the laundry and brought the dishes back to the country this morning to wash them! I left two large metal bowls full of snow in the oven so we can flush the toilet. No idea when this might be resolved. The oven is on to provide heat. I'll take water back with me tonight. I might even be able to find a couple buckets with lids. R could bring water from another building.

So I sit here listening to L. Cohen music which seems to soothe me. Hoping to get to a resolution in my own mind. Yes, Susan, I will not stew too long over this, either but I have to find a clear way forward.

I'll email my friend who stood up for me and one of those who pmed me. The sensible ones. Realized on the way down here that those who are the best known rehabbers were noticeably missing from the foolishness. One sweetie pmed me to apologize for calling someone an "outhouse rat"! I thanked her but her comment was after I quit looking.

Thank you, Leonard, for the music that soothes. There are other very dear musicians that I thought could help but ended up with this, seems to be what I need tight now.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 02:51 PM

Dorothy, I've been dealing with some of that nasty mudslinging and backbiting myself on another forum I belong to. The worst part is when all this is done behind peoples' backs and not to their faces. I wish people who are supposedly adults would act like it once in a while. I had my say, played peacemaker to the best of my ability, and will now step out of it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 03:19 PM

Busy day here. I had about 3 days worth of dishes to catch up on, my washing machine is broke and I can't get a new one until next March sooo it's Mom to the rescue. I am bagging up about 5 loads of things to take to her house and wash later this week.

I've decided that it's the corners of this house that are bugging me the most...where things are stacked and were just left there until a more convenient time came to put them away so I'm working on that.

I also decluttered some stuff in the kitchen that has been waiting patiently to be put away....believe it or not, some Christmas presents from my in-laws...but it's all taken care of now. YAY.

I did some dusting of jelly cupboards in the kitchen, swept the kitchen floor, the downstairs hall, the upstairs hall and stairs. The table is looking good.

I was really getting into it this morning..LOL...still in my sleeveless baby blue polka dot jammies, hair in a pony tail ON TOP of my head (I hate hair sitting on my neck) looking like a fountain, bangs all spiky, no make up and OF COURSE the mail carrier comes to the door with something I have to sign for. I apologized profusely and laughed my ass off after she left. NOT pretty. LOL

As for the chatter behind backs. I'm guilty of that once in awhile. Sometimes it's just better to vent than to hurt someone's feelings.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 03:34 PM

3 pans of dindin (2 servings each) are now out front cooling. Not up to the bulk cooking I *used* to do, but quite a bit of standing time, even if not all at once. Tonight we deliver these and offer to help the widower package up all the leftover funeral food for his freezer. Hardi will be in charge there-- I'm just the 2nd pair of hands to do the packing. THAT I can do, sitting down!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 04:07 PM

I think on a gray cold day like this I need to make an apple pie. Something to really look forward to after dinner. I'll make some small personal-sized ones, not the whole pie plate, but it'll serve for a couple of meals.

The mail carrier picked up my eBay package, the one that is launching me back into selling this spring. I've relisted a couple of items, and I have more small things for later. Still that chandelier awaits - but I will get to it.

I posted a photo of my first blooming daffodil on my facebook page. It may have been open for a couple of days, I last checked out the sprouts in the yard on Friday evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 04:07 PM

I wrote an email to the two I trust with this. That passed off a lot of the weight for me. And they will know better than I how to proceed. The lies are not just personally hurtful but are threatening the rehabbing (of wildlife) possibilities for each. (As in, "I'm going to report you....")This also threatens the animals if there are two fewer people available to help.

Anyhow, I feel better for sharing the load. Now I might get the dishes washed!

Nice pic of me and booth yesterday, that Sylvain posted on my page. And nice comments cheer me on. But not today. Today is recovery time!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 04:53 PM

Organized kitchen cupboard today, so no more food or pots and pans sitting on counter being shifted every time I need to use either the coffee maker or toaster oven. Baby steps, but progress none the less.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 06:00 PM

I have a small counter by my fridge that holds a toaster oven, a standing mixer and a stack of rubbermaid containers that hold flour, sugar, etc. I also have a large bowl that is loaded with kitchen knick knacks that I'm not sure what to do with. Ice cube trays. Letters for cutting out Jello letters (for the baby)...stuff like that...random weird things that don't get much use. Part of me thinks I should just toss them but the other part thinks...well, I might need that...blah blah blah. So there the bowl sits..

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 12:42 AM

Over time those objects may find logical places to live, near things they are like. Ice cube trays in with the Tupperware, cutter letters in with the popsicle holders, etc. Do you have any drawers you could use for that stuff?

I made some small calzone-shaped apple pies this evening. Came out great - so - pie for breakfast!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 09:36 AM

The sun is not shining but the weather is above freezing, the house is warm and water is RUNNING!!!! I had visions of no water until Spring!

The dishes, washed at the cabin are put away. The second load is in the washing machine. The front steps are shoveled and breakfast is eaten. The small Pau d'Arco bottles are refilled and I am about to head back to the country. Maybe I will have the energy to get some work done.

Nice pos feedback from pics posted on Clay Buddies, a FB group I joined a few weeks ago and from which I have gotten good ideas, some amazing glaze recipes - task: make list of glaze materials on hand, and quantity, and those needed for new glazes. Glaze pots that are waiting with the glazes I have finally settled upon as ones that will be successful. Well, that is prob two days work at my speed - get out and push. This site also gives me inspiration and encouragement. And a couple potters close enough to visit with someday!

Re the weekend's "crisis", those I trusted came through and we are all, and a few others, opting out of the deteriorated group with the understanding that if anything educational gets posted we will hear about it. Made some special friends through that group, 3 in real life whom we enjoy visiting and a few I would like to visit someday - Maine, Ohio, Kentucky... Someday!

Time for another load of laundry!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 10:02 AM

Sounds great, DP. Always head toward the health!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 11:53 AM

All of the ice-covered ramps and frozen pipes news - it makes exercise and organization more of a challenge, doesn't it? Spring is just around the corner, even for those of you snowed under at the moment.

The bare wall that is somehow all the more apparent now that I reorganized is rather depressing - I could rearrange my bed and the warm carved pine headboard against it would be nice, I've had it that way before, but I think I'll build another large rug support (I built one before and it has disappeared, not sure how or where, but it happened when I moved into this house so it has been a while since my lovely Oaxacan rugs have seen light of day).

I made a start on the living room last night, shifting around things that are taking more space than they need to. I also identified a couple of small declutter projects: I have two antique drop front desks that each has a pile of stuff sitting inside the closed drop-front desk. I need to organize, file, shred, or put away all of that stuff so the desks are more usable again. Perhaps a lunch-time project.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 02:12 PM

MAG, if you check out this thread, I think your email has been hacked or you have a virus of some sort. It's posting messages through your facebook page.

Digging out and surveying my collect of library-style bookends. I think there is progress to be made by moving books around the house.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 04:14 PM

MAG..I just got something I did not feel safe opening through my work email......mg

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 13 - 08:40 PM

I sent her a note through a couple of email addresses.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 08:03 AM

Last night: Yoga for 60 minutes. Power yoga. Hard. Left puddles of sweat on my mat. Left the studio with wobbly knees.

I can't even begin to describe how GREAT it felt!

I went home, made dinner, relaxed a little bit and went to bed before 11:00pm and just woke up. For me, this is HUGE! Not only did I sleep for 9 hours, I slept really, really WELL.

That kind of yoga is going to be happening MUCH more often.

I know I was nervous about it before the class started but I am sooooo thankful I pushed myself to go!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 10:42 AM

Go Michelle!!! Knew you could do it :D

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 11:59 AM

Michelle, do you ever do yoga on your own or with videos, or only in class?

My exercise is as usual, climbing the stairs in the library. I work on the top (sixth) floor, and make a couple of trips at least each day.

Made progress in the living room last night, moving and dusting furniture, and I cleared the dining table so I can spread out my income tax paperwork. My kitchen table is stacked with stuff that was around the house that needs to be sorted, filed, shredded, or tossed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 03:51 PM

SIX flights! That, to me, is monumental. I make a point of not taking the elevator up the 2 flights to the library and am very pleased with myself when I get there.

Yesterday was a point in fact. On the way to the country, I decided to go to a mall to look for a new water bottle ( an essential part has gone missing), check out printers and obtain some dk. choc covered almonds for treats. After two hours I was exhausted but persevering, one foot after the other. Having purchased nothing, as there was not a single water bottle in the mall that suited me, it was now too late to go to the country so I went to the Market and bought nuts, beans, crystalized ginger and the choc almonds at a bulk food store and some cheeses at the cheese store and took my sore feet, aching legs and back, home at 3:30! I had also done a major grocery store and got mostly marked down stuff. Then I needed to put it all away and finish the laundry. After I ate.

Lesson: that was the most I had walked in almost a year.

Unfortunately, I proceeded to eat everything in sight. So today, I start again.

Today, at the cabin, when a face cord of wood was delivered to the back door, I helped unload the truck.

Now, recovering from very hot bath. I hope to, at least, get that list of glaze ingredients done before I go back to the city.

Just finished a section of I'm Your Man in which it seems that LC recovered from a lifetime of depression and anxiety - after several years at the monastery and in India. Worthy of consideration. De-cluttering the brain?

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 05:57 PM

I got some good containers (BPA free) from Big Lots, 3-16oz cups with lids and hard straws for $9. Not exactly water bottles, but they're good for around the house or office.

I decided the other day that I need to dig out the Procrastination book again and reread it. I know where it is, now to remember to pull it out and read a chapter or two and get motivated.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 06:57 PM

I wish I could FIND my library-style bookends...they don't seem to be where they're supposed to be.

Had a VERY productive day today. Person I've been trying to call for three days finally called me back. Got good advice, plus we're moving on to the next stage. This is a major step on rearranging our lives for this stage of it.

Got a LOT of stuff filed in my binders this morning, plus stuff added to my calendars. Spent most of today in 1990 and 1998.

BTW, I'm accepting responsibility for the music papers of my deceased friend. Don't know when they'll be arriving, but her partner said to expect them in post office flat rate boxes.

Got the kitchen cleaned -- again -- today. (And just messed it up a little making dinner.)

Started a batch of grapefruit infused vodka with leftover grapefruit rind.

Speaking of supper, I've got to go serve and eat it.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 07:42 PM

I also got some stuff schlepped to the cellar and found a box to use to de-accession some cook books to Claire Bear. That's one step closer...

Tomorrow will be a busy day that starts too early, as Tom needs some fasting bloodwork done down at the Circle as early as possible so he can have breakfast. And then, after we have breakfast, he wants to go back and find out why his knee is still giving him so much grief (and have some suspicious redness on his foot and ankle looked at). Glad I carry a book with me...

Friday I should be able to unload the two bags of stuff for Goodwill that I have in my car.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 08:07 PM

Thanks for your votes of confidence!!! :) YAY!

I do have yoga videos for home and I've done them before but there is something to be said for going to the studio.

No dust bunnies calling my name.
No kitties crawling on me.
No child requiring my attention.
Too many other bodies around for me to just quit when I get tired.
No phone.
No animal hair on my mat (which is inevitable no matter how much I vacuum)

The downside of doing yoga at the studio is that I have to have a sitter and it's expensive.

Next week a friend and I are going to start 3 different evening classes at the Y. They are much less expensive and they offer child care. The downside of the Y is that the atmosphere is that of a gym. Ugh.

I love my quiet, clean yoga studio. No distractions.

Today was lots of walking, showing my niece around Ithaca and completely enjoying her company and her new apartment! She has done very well for herself!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 13 - 10:18 PM

I found the source of some gnats that have turned up, got rid of it (onion sets for the garden that sprouted and didn't get planted.) I am trying something for the weevil moths in the cabinet our dentist gave my son (long story - a video game in a large cabinet they had at the office - one of his favorite games - they were going to trade to a dealer but when my son expressed interest, they said he could have it. So we loaded it the pickup. Something shook loose on the way so it doesn't play, it's a hollow box of mdf with the monitor and motherboard, and now it is full of moths because I set the bag of birdseed on it weeks ago.)

I put a bowl of beer in the front of the cabinet (the door is usually locked, it's where quarters collect) and I put a little LED light on an extension cord next to it. I'm hoping to lure them to drown in the beer.

Laundry is in, and I'm printing out tax forms tonight.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 10:34 AM

Beer trap didn't work. Next try will be a sticky tape hanging from the ceiling light they seem to be attracted to.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 10:44 AM

I don't know about your moths, but many of them don't eat anythng. It's the larva that eat, and they're probably too young to be beer drinkers.

If there were a way to freeze them, I'd say freeze them. The cold will kill all stages, including eggs. I don't think it's something you can do for a few reasong, but if you can...

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Claire M
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 11:48 AM

Hiya,

Lost a stone since moving – I know because I've got some hooked earrings that were excruciatingly painful , & never stayed in & now they aren't, & do.
I've probably put more back on after trip to Frankie & Benny's (couldn't leave the loo the next day). Had to be up at 7 cause we (me, aforementioned man, mates & staff) were leaving at 9. I was shattered.

Went back to parents' the weekend before – still feels odd not referring to it as home -- was kissed by Merlin (dog) every 2 secs & my parents said I've got a much better quality of life now (!) EH ??!!

Was going to meeting to improve other care/nursing homes run by same company but found out at last minute the place wasn't the one where my mates live – I know nobody & have never heard of it so I thought I'd save myself the hassle & didn't bother.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 12:45 PM

Large wooden record crate and winter park uniforms sent home with my manager last night. I figure I'm working seasonally again so they can take up space at the park instead of in my cottage. The crate was part of a decluttering plan in the apartment that backfired. Andy has an extensive collection of records and needed something to store them in. Especially since I gave him the large box of records that had been taking up space for the last ten years.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 12:52 PM

Pete is home today and has taken the little one outside to play and to go for a walk. As much as I'd like to go with them, this gave me a much needed child free few hours to clean up the mountain of dishes (just how is they multiply so darn fast?), vacuum the living room (all toys picked up by Little Man J himself!), counter tops are clean, the table is reasonable (will take me under 10 minutes to have it all cleared off), a stack of DVDs and videos have been put away, the table next to my chair is in good order and dusting will commence as soon as my break is over. I am going away sometime soon for a bit (won't post dates for obvious reasons) and I really love coming home to a CLEAN house so I thought I'd get a serious start on it. The stairs and upstairs hall are clean. I still have laundry to put away (did major amounts of laundry at Mom's this week as my washer is broke and can't get another until next month..thanks Mom!)...let's see....I guess that's it for now.

I made a special Valentine's Day breakfast for my guys and I have a little something special for each of them that will come later tonight. Did I mention that I woke up to a handmade, hand written Valentine from the Love of My Life? Yes I did!!! Oh how I LOVE his love notes!!!! :)

I have a busy day ahead ending with a soft, sweet, yin yoga practice at the studio. A little something special to extend that sweet, sweet Valentine's Day glow!   :)

Happy Valentine's Day Everybody!!!

XOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 01:03 PM

Sounds like a good day all around! Jeri, I thought about freezing - but the weather doesn't look like it will get that cold or I'd put this big video game case outside. It weighs a ton so I'd have to have help. Instead, I've found moth traps that I'll pick up at Home Depot. The package says it has a "professional strength" lure. I hope so!

Moth traps. I'll put one inside the case and several others around the house.

I should have frozen the bird seed - I do that with all of the other grains I bring into the house. I wasn't thinking, and didn't realize this bag was ventilated with tiny pinprick sized holes for the larvae to exit.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 01:17 PM

Yesterday was a trip to Rochester for a support group/counseling appt, and I took the drive easy enough to arrive with energy-- and a chair to nap in, kindly carried from my car to the appt. by Mr. Lindon Rouse, a stranger who informed me that to fail to help when an opportunity arises is to block God's blessing. (What a delightful angel!) After the appt/support group I was blessed with a real milestone-- I am now small, nimble, and well enough to sleep on a couch with the most minimal overnight kit I have ever taken which I carried all by myself. Also (TMI alert) was able to manage hygiene issues with the simplest of portable kit.

I slept well, woke rested, took my thyroid meds, gave my hostess a little thank-you session, and took the easy way back via: one brekky stop to stretch the legs, one errand in Corning w/HC parking TBTG, one noonday prayer service at St. Paul's, one admin errand in W'boro to get more medical records sent-- and HOME to tea and that comfy chair calling me as soon as I nail down a few scheduling items and then REST. Estimated walking (in small doses) was about equal to double the usual day's ramp walks, plus a flight of stairs like my usual extra trip in the day.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 08:34 PM

Tonight was yin yoga. Slow, long held postures....inflections instead of forced muscle use. Tonight's focus was on the spine, props encouraged. We did Pinnacle which basically is sitting on the floor, knees bent and beside your body (so you look like a frog) and then laying the torso all the way back and hold. I had a bolster from the small of my back, all the way up my spine..it felt DIVINE. Each pose was held for 3 minutes. Some poses got a little uncomfortable but I have to tell you, my back is soooo nice and loose now....I want more. More. MORE!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 09:11 AM

Since I'm planning a trip to Goodwill this afternoon on the way to The Press Room, I decided to investigate a few boxes in the guest room first thing this morning. And I hit pay dirt! Ephemera and memorabilia that had been sequestered in boxes, but hadn't gotten either sorted or put in the pre-binder stage.

Some of the stuff dates back to the '60s and the most recent is 2006. Some I remembered having and some is like Christmas. Some was even put in page protectors and can go right into the yearly binders.

The whole point of the project (or at least one of the main points) is so I can actually FIND what has been accumulated.

And part of the on-going project is a sudden urge to make a real difference in one room -- to reclaim the guest room so I can actually put up a guest in there again some time.

I'm juggling quite a bit right now and, alas, most of it doesn't show or make itself evident by looking around the house.

I HAVE to get more page protectors (and run a bunch of other errands) before going to the Press Room session later today. Got to check with Tom to make sure he can walk. (It was "fun" getting him into the car yesterday to go to the Walk-In at Lee Circle. The path from the bottom of the deck steps to the car is rough, uneven and very slippery ice. I covered it with cat litter, but it's still iffy because of the unevenness.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 11:51 AM

Linn, do you have shelf space for the new binders when you get the page protectors and all of that stuff out of boxes? And when you have those boxes emptied, will you be able to put other donateable stuff into them and take them out of the house? That's like a triple whammy in the declutter process! I need to end up with boxes of stuff to go to the Salvation Army along with the mattress and old electronics.

During the week I carried items from around the house that were in the wrong place or that need attention into the kitchen. Whether it needs repacking and putting up, shredding, taking out to the garage, etc., it's on the small kitchen table for this weekend.

All of the tax forms are printed out and paperwork in place on the dining room table. That's also for this weekend.

Those moth traps I brought in excited attention for about 30 minutes, and they have a few insects stuck inside. I'll move them to different locations before I leave for work today, and I'm going to order the Home Depot set online because I can see that a dozen of them is going to take care of the problem a lot faster. They're also more reasonably priced than the Safer variety, but do the same thing.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 02:04 PM

A friend in Rochester with lung cancer is going to be taking my free time for a bit. That may be where my med supply items are headed as well.

Faulkner can now join me on the ramp-- Hardi and I are putting up a gate in a moment.

Meat sale items packed and ready to freeze.

Hardi led me on a chase thru the house with a fun Valentine's treasure hunt. The prize was DARK CHOCOLATE. :~)

Next organizing challenge: the pile of medical records.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 08:13 PM

Stilly, these will be pages going into existing binders. Just the continuing process. They are currently living on a dresser in the bedroom and in a row on the floor in front of the dresser.

Showed off some photos tonight at The Press Room session -- keep in mind, I haven't really concentrated yet on adding photos to the yearly accumulations, just odd batches as they come to the surface (mostly duplicates). Have several friends taking scanning off my plate because they want some of these visual archives in their collections, too.

Found a binder of the type I use at Goodwill today for 99 cents -- beats the hell out of $5-$9. I've gotten most of mine at yard sales since I lost the source of the econo-binders. (Since Office Max left the area, Staples takes advantage of being the only source, so what I used to buy for about 4 bucks each now costs $9.)

Had a daunting list of errands to accomplish before getting to Portsmouth and the session. It was actually easier in effect than in thinking about it. Only sang one song tonight as I was being a social butterfly. Gave away a book and a necklace...but acquired a pile of NY Times book review sections.

Tomorrow is the monthly sea music singaround, but I hope to throw together Nigella Lawson's recipe for no-churn coffee ice cream and get it into the freezer before we head out.

I'm exhausted. Think I'll sample some of the Valentine chocolates I bought at half price and fix myself a sip before going upstairs to under-react...after moving papers off the bed. Sigh. Then back downstairs to set up coffee, read aloud to Tom from Richardson Wright's 1943 book, "Bed-Book of Eating and Drinking", and put the house and Tom to bed.

Tomorrow is another day...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 13 - 11:00 PM

We went to a HOCKEY GAME and I got thru the 1 hour drive each way AND the whole GAME!!!

And our team WON!!!

And we got free tokens for free pizza slices!

And no one stole my walker, either. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 12:55 AM

Linn, do you use three-ring binders? And are you needing very large ones, like three and four inches thick? I have a few around here and some in my office that are going to go in surplus one of these days. I could box them up and send them to you.

A meeting Friends of the Library tonight at work went very well - we had a different type of food and it seemed to energize everyone. I'd taken a friend who is a former caterer - on the way to drop him off at home we did some brainstorming about what I might be able to set up for the next meeting. It didn't cost us any more than normal dishes (the same ol, same ol) and it really was a nice change. It's nice when something like this works out so well.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 09:32 AM

SRS, if Linn does not use those, I do! I have a LR full of medical records to contain...

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 09:53 AM

The 3-ring binders I use are WHITE, and either 2-1/2 or 3" (I think 3-inch, actually), with the clear sheet on the cover and spine so I can insert a cover and spine label. Bigger works, too, as long as I can slip a sheet in the front. Smaller ones are used for the occasional overflow year or for those puzzles that I need to ferret out the year on.

I lucked out at a couple yard sales over the course of the past few years. I used to get the Econo line ones at OfficeMax for about $4 bucks each. Staples charges $8 and I won't pay it. The Goddess of Yardsales (and Goodwill) smiles on me...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 11:10 AM

A new goal is in the formation stage... last night, leaving the hockey game, I noticed my left hip/thigh muscles were feeling really weird. Tight? Sore? WTF? This is the thigh that had been numb since surgery; in recent weeks the tingles have told me that the cut nerves are regenerating. That also has always been my weaker side and 7 months of PT pre-surg did not change that because of the hanging flesh that impeded walking....

Then, post-surg PT didn't touch it, probably partly because with cut nerves I could not feel it well enough to get correct form to aim the force towards each individual muscle that needs to be strengthened, one muscle a time, in a workout.

But I DO know HOW to do it, at least for most of the area's musculature, from the attempts in pre-surg PT.

So-- starting later today I will add side-stepping out on the ramp, where the incline will play the role of leg weights to add resistance to the hip's working muscles. Right now, just from my 6 laps that hip is tight and complaining, so it is clearly calling for WORK to get it up to par with the right leg! I'll have to change my chart to add a slot for the stepping.... not sure yet how to quantify the stepping except by actual number of steps at first......

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 12:07 PM

Nerve damage can take a long time to heal, or so I hear (knock wood!)

These binders are all black, though I'll take a look. Most of these are being tossed.

Cold and clear here today.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 01:01 PM

SRS,

Please send ME black binders then!

===

Hope I am not wearing out my supporters, but this seems to be a big weekend of new-and-GREAT stuff and if I do not post it I will not remember it later!

I AM IN MY BIB OVERALLS, which-- considering how my jeans are falling off my ass now-- is a very good thing for around-the-house wear!!! They are loose enough to sit comfortably which means I can lop off the long hems. When they are loose enough to go through the dryer for another shrinkage, I'll actually hem 'em-- right now they are rolled up about 6 times!

Next visit to the scale is Monday-- I only get on my thyroid doc's scale (ev 6 weeks), because I do NOT need to check my poundage every time a nervous doc "suggests" it! :~)

BIB OVERALLS!!!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 09:40 PM

Lots of walking today & some major business tended to.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 11:49 PM

qi gong - last night

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 08:08 AM

I've assembled the filing materials to clear up this mess of medical records, hopefully later today.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 12:09 PM

Taxes are finished, not much of a refund, fumes from what was withheld, but at least I didn't have to pay extra this year.

It's a lovely day to work in the yard - so of course I have something going this afternoon that I can't get out of. I'll go out for a little while - I killed some time in the house trying to get an item on eBay, but was outbid, so now out to the garden. I need to start by tossing some of the clippings over the fence (I'm not opening the gate yet, I need to repair it.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 12:11 PM

SRS, LOL. Misread this: I killed some time in the house

as: I killed someone in the house

===

FB has a Drill Sergeant posting fun reminders to get back to workouts.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 02:04 PM

Note to self: don't admit to murder on social media or mudcat.

Got a basic clear-out done in the garden, but no digging. Today was removing the last of dry crop plants from the fall. I cleared a swath through the sun room, breaking down boxes and getting a bunch set to go out to the pickup next trip out. I'll swing by the recycle bins and donate quite a lot of corrugated.

As I worked in the garden I calculated a way to do more raised beds and use the soil in the existing beds without having to bring in new. And I'll reuse large planks along one side. It's a project that will need before and after photos. Every time I bring in new soil I have to build it up, I'd rather use the good stuff already perking along.

Lovely afternoon, too bad I have to spend it indoors, but I'll enjoy the company and it will give me a toehold on a writing project I have in the works.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 06:55 PM

After dropping off friends at home on my way back from a theater matinee I swung by the village recycle bins and got rid of a bunch of corrugated cardboard. There is more in the sun room to go out to the truck, I'll do that this afternoon. It's looking much better in there, a good space for describing, photographing, packing and preparing to sell eBay items.

Dishes, laundry await.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 07:00 PM

Oops, HTML ital ends after SRS quote above

===

UCK UCK UCK UCK!

Just finished taming/containerizing the hard copies of all medical records received so far (and be set to catch those yet to come). One batch yet to print off computer (have to get ink cartridge).

UCK I SAY!

~S~

PS: UCK!!!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 04:01 AM

Just to let you know it's 3:56 Monday morning and I'm dressed and just about to follow the EMTs and Tom to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (and I'm on the computer because I need to check my bank balance to see what I'm using to get gas on the way).

It's probably just bruising from the fall Tom took sometime between 12:30 and 2 a.m., but he left here on a backboard.

He doesn't know how long he was on the floor (he landed on his back) before the cat woke me and I found him. (He had taken half a sleeping pill sometime in that time.)

I'll keep you all posted.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 08:54 AM

Anywho, sometime between when I got up to pee at 12:30 and he was okay and 2 a.m. when Sabine, one of our cats, woke me and I found him on the floor not knowing how long he'd been there, Tom had taken half of a low-dose sleeping pill. That may be the reason he was looking for a chair to sit in -- I've never known him to try to do that in the middle of the night before.

He's currently in the ER and is going to be admitted as soon as there's a bed in Telemetry. X-rays, CAT scans, etc. show no damage other than bruising and muscle wrenching, but he produced the enzyme that COULD be indicative of a heart attack (or just that he lay on the floor for awhile). Not that they think he had a heart attack, but he needs to be observed for the enzyme cycle.

Ach! Well, he hasn't fallen for a month, seen a doctor since last Thursday or been in the hospital for nine months. Just getting too complacent, eh?

I'm exhausted. Way too little sleep before 2 a.m. when I found him on the floor. Right now I'm going upstairs, turning the phone off, and taking a nap. I'll call the hospital when I wake and see where I'll find him. Then turn around and drive back there. This time with a full tank of gas (AND I got 10 cents per gallon off with Irving Rewards! SOMETHING is turning out really well this morning!)

The wind is still vicious. The roads are slushy from blowing snow. I came home the scenic shortcut and the great ponds were covered in clouds of blowing snow.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 09:18 AM

(((Linn)))

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 10:57 AM

Geeziz Linn.....You know you have my best as always. Much Love.

Pat

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 11:01 AM

Sounds like that scenic shortcut was a good mental-health-moment, Linn. I hope the nap is refreshing and that the prognosis is just bruising that will clear up with time.

Sneezing and stuffy today. I suspect it is spring allergies rearing their lovely head.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 03:46 PM

Rufus slept on top of me while I napped -- successfully keeping me from floating to the ceiling. Sabine decided around 2:45 that it was time for me to get up and call the hospital and find out what room Tom's in.

Still don't know -- they connected me right to his room and he can't see well enough to know what room he's in and he's had a call out for a nurse for about 5 minutes.

I'm grabbing his glasses (not that they'll help a lot) and his cane and heading back to Dover. I'll take the scenic shortcut again precisely because it's cheap R&R. The wind is still brutal. My tire tracks in the driveway are drifted full.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 05:27 PM

Absolutely cats WILL keep you from floating off of your bed. That's a good service they provide.

Why is it when Monday comes along that my To-Do list balloons with items? Today seems more than usual.

Policing the yard this evening, trying to keep ahead of the fly population this year. And it's time to start this year's compost heap, using a bucket of kitchen waste, buckets of yard waste, and some trimmings from the garden over the weekend. I also have bags of leaves I can divide between the compost and mulch in the garden.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 05:56 PM

Love to you & Tom, Linn.

More walking today and lugging of stuff. Eating while away from home is hard for me...more on that later.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 07:34 PM

Didn't have a chance to make a To-Do list for today...but I WILL so I can cross things off and feel as if I've done something. (Rescue Tom, check; Call 911, check; Clear snow off the windshield and follow Tom to the hospital, check;...Nap!, check; drive another 40 miles round trip, check...)

Picked up a coupla packages of frozen mac & cheese on the way home -- supper! Just finished a small glass of wine. I think Tom's out of scotch, so I can't make a Rob Roy. I'll settle for a Planter's Punch...the orange juice (and falernum and maraschino cherries) is good for me. (Boy, I sucked down orange and cranberry juice in the ER this morning!)

Tom must have pulled muscles in his back or just bruised it a lot when he fell. It's very painful when he coughs...and very painful for me to watch him. But he's in good hands even if they're a bit stretched. We're both looking forward to him coming home, probably tomorrow. I won't know for sure until I get to the hospital tomorrow morning. Mostly they're just watching the enzyme levels, but he's also getting some IV antibiotics for his ankle wound and the remains of his foot infection.

Thanks for all the prayers, white light and general good thoughts -- really appreciated.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 08:06 PM

I scooped about half of the back yard before it got dark and started the new compost pile. The pit bull made overtures to the food trimmings I buried under poop - I suspect the clippings on top will be disturbed later on, even though there are droppings mixed with the food trimmings.

Work for work tonight, I was feeling a bit of a sinus thing this morning and didn't get much done before lunch. Long day tomorrow and I need to finish a couple of things for meetings. Laundry is finished from last night and the shopping list is growing. Items relisted on eBay. I'm hoping to have some sales proceeds fill my PayPal account so I don't have to transfer from checking into it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 08:42 PM

Doc reports I have dropped another 5 pounds (thank you Synthroid).

I doubled my pool workout today tho I had not really wanted to do it at all.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 08:44 PM

Linn: What a load you are carrying and how fortunate Tom is to have you in his corner!

Susan: Your progress is so wonderful! I love reading about it.

SRS: Spring? Gardening? And there is no sight of bare ground up here!

R actually came home (city) just after 5 pm on Valentine's Day so we were able to go to the wonderful eve of music and dinner at the St. I cafe. Such a treat! Then back to the city. Only about 25 min trip.

In the early aft I had managed to have a long phone call with friend and health consultant but no new ideas - just DO MORE!

So I checked website of the pottery supplier and found no list of raw materials. Phoning got me no where and I was not about to drive 20 miles to try to get supplies they might not have. SO I went back into my shell to figure out what to do. Tah dah! I can send an email! But then life went in other directions and I have not done that yet.

Friday: came to the country and managed a few tasks but not in the studio. Detox bath took a couple hours and then went to the cafe for music - that was very good but often so loud that my brain was unhappy. It was too inconsistent for ear plugs, which also hurt the quality of the music. The people, nearby, who talked loudly throughout had voices that grated on me, as well as the annoyance of their rude behaviour. I used a great deal of energy trying not to be explosively angry. Went home exhausted.

Nice brekkie on Sat - pineapple pancakes!, then R went back to the city. He needed to go and come back and go again before dark. He is not task oriented.

I managed to make 3 qts of black bean soup/salsa and a very long phone call to a dear friend in the NW. Then went to the library to return week overdue books. Need to put due dates into computer! Borrowed a few more , including one on the brain which may be helpful.

Then phoned R who was finally back and met him at the sawmill at 4 pm. A friend, thankfully, came to help him unload while I sat in the car and kept warm and read. By the time the trailer was unloaded and a cabinet loaded to go to Montreal, it was 5 pm and getting dark. Of course, the trailer has no lights so he put a portable flashing light on it and I was to travel close behind. It was 8:30 when we finally delivered the cabinet. We dropped the truck and trailer at his building and went to the house where I fell onto the bed in my clothes until I had the energy to disrobe and crawl under the covers.

A 3 hour ordeal: he kept getting too far ahead of me, took a wrong turn, lost me completely on the highway... None of which worried him but I was a basket case. Decided he still has a "teenage brain".

Jewish funeral on sunday morning was interesting and very well handled, and shiva at the home was a social event at which R knew many people and I knew none, other than the son and daughter, very slightly. In any case my auditory processing disorder precludes any conversation with more than one person. R reported to me as he socialized to try to keep me in the loop. I had one good conversation with a retired nurse, now an artist, who sat next to me for a while. I may have talked her ear off in my gratitude to have someone with whom to converse.

We actually had the rest of the day at home, watching TV and reading, simultaneously. And a simple supper after R said, "Quick! Feed me something without sugar!" Quick was cauliflower with blue cheese and pork medallions - without applesauce, what a drag but there was none! Seemed as tho everything I wanted to eat or feed him was in the country, as was the computer. I had left Sat aft, expecting to be back in a couple hours, not a couple days.

SO today I came back, started a fire in the wood stove, washed the dishes, lunch, checked the studio - too cold and I turned heat up, checked the wildlings food supply - gone but it is too cold for them to be out so will fill it tomorrow, detox bath and nap. Still tired, I decided to stay over and hope to get work done in studio tomorrow.

I will try to do that email re glaze materials in the morning when I am fresh. I think I shall soon be asleep.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 18 Feb 13 - 08:47 PM

Linn! It takes a lot for me to open a Declutter thread, but when I saw your post on the Press Room Shanty Sing thread, I knew I had to come to this one. I am hoping that Tom did not have a heart attack and that his injuries heal soon. Love to both of you!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Feb 13 - 03:53 AM

de-clutter, waz that?

good to see how you are heading upwards & onwards, Susan & to see that Tom is in good hands & almost ready to leave the hospital.

sandra

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Feb 13 - 08:35 AM

Okay, NOW I'm frantic. Had phone turned off so I could sleep yesterday so didn't get overnight messages from hospitalist.

Tom is in critical condition in Wentworth-Douglass ICU. He had severe breathing problems overnight.

I'm on my way.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Feb 13 - 09:07 AM

+++Tom+++

+++Linn+++

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Feb 13 - 10:39 AM

Now open and collecting good thoughts:

Thread for Tom and Linn

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 07:24 AM

I may have that all-night-in-my-own-bed thing working finally-- a kink in my Quadratus Lumborum is healed enough to sleep at least on my right side if not belleh-down as I prefer, so my neck is unkinking, too. This makes two nights, now, of not having to spend 1/3 in the guest room on my back--- YAYYYYY!

The key (for me) is to keep walking during the day, and let the healing occur WITH the walking, with correct posture (butt tucked). It is an odd but key muscle; the pain it causes can be felt all over the region, not just at the muscle itself. (It CAN also be the root cause of what we feel as sciatica.) This pair of muscles focus and issue I have sought info on for YEARS, which a massage therapist identified for me a few weeks ago TBTG!!!

In clothing news, I am gonna have to get some ladylike suspenders to wear under blouses, sweaters, etc., to hold up jeans and skirts. I bet I will have to have them made to get a size and fit I will like.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 11:13 AM

Thanks for the link, Susan. And for suspenders, take a look at the Vermont Country Store. They have lots of unusual and very practical items.

Linn, don't beat yourself up over the phone - but if you can set it to vibrate instead of turning it off that might give you less of a shock yet still get your attention.

It's a hectic week at work so things are going undone here with extra work. I went to a public lecture last night that was excellent but when I got home I checked in a few sites, turned off the computer and called it a night. I have to rewrite my job description for a poster we're putting up to tell people about our jobs - so they can declare interest in them for the reorganization. I'd like more responsibilities and an assistant - I don't know if that is going to happen, but I'll try. :)

Rainy and cold today - I need to be doing garden work this weekend, the rain will help soften the soil for digging out weeds and reshaping beds. I visited a new feed store yesterday on my way into work (had to buy dog food and feed stores have it). This new one looks interesting - I'll have to swing by on the weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 01:35 PM

Linn and Tom have a landline, as their house doesn't get cell coverage. Phone is either on or off.

Sent a music box, some favorite childhood books, and some glow in the dark stars over to J-boy's younger nieces. Also dropped off some more books to the local library to either put into circulation or on the sales shelf- wherever they'll be most useful. Now off to put away clean, folded laundry before the cat decides to nest in it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 06:07 PM

Thoughts to Linn: Hope Tom is improving.

another light snow fall today - about 3 inches of the light fluffy stuff. Precluded a trip to the country. I did manage to get a few things done yesterday in the studio. Came back to the city and washed dishes here, and a couple loads of laundry. Roast stuffed chicken for supper with cauliflower and cheese sauce. That's what I ate about 9 pm. I gave up and went to bed and R had cauliflower about 1:30 am.

Another load of laundry yet to go - change bed here - and put away the two completed ones. Swept the front steps of snow twice today.

Noisy with snow clearing!

Went upstairs and moistened and wrapped pots that were partly finished before Christmas but had dried too much to finish. Watered plants. Used exer-cycle for about 10 minutes! (1st time in months!) Will do it again in a bit. Moves in the right directions.

Just saw a recall of salsa (on TV). The brand I often use (I think) is said to have pieces of plastic in it. Have to look at that more closely.

For your bemusement: Quebec "language police" have just gone off the wall: An Italian restaurant is breaking the law with the use of the words pasta and pizza on their French menu. Does anyone know the French for "pasta"??

Off to go "biking" again.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 06:24 PM

Home! {well almost...waiting for a speaker I contracted for a meeting and then the actual meeting but I have been home!} It feels so good to be in my own cooking space and back in the land of readily avaiable healthy foods! I am sooooo excited to be joining the YMCA tomorrow! Yoga has been graet and will continue...it has been a great way to find where my energy levels are and now I am ready to add more....feels like I've been waiting to get to this far! More later.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 07:52 PM

SRS, do you mean they are making you advertise your own job for others to seek?!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 12:44 AM

You got it. A bit bizarre, isn't it? We all hope that the result is to move up and to move into positions we like better. Today coworkers were saying they hoped that one of the new jobs would be event coordinator - I do also, because that is a lot of what I do already. We have been told that there are tasks and there are jobs - so some jobs will have new tasks, but some job configurations will be new, and there will supposedly be about 40 more jobs than there are people when we finish. We shall see.

Supposed to be stormy overnight, so the dogs are in the house and the truck is in the garage. Hail is often a component of thunderstorms, and something to be avoided. The dishwasher is running, a couple of baskets of laundry have been moved into the bedroom and I'll probably fold it in the morning.

Linn, nighttime seems to be the hard time for Tom, but I hope overnight it gets easier and he's ready to go home soon.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 09:34 AM

Heavy rain this morning, warm cuddly dogs in the house overnight. They've been fed and now the day begins. Mostly I'm posting this morning to wish Linn rapid healing - get over that cold so you can go see Tom in the hospital (or bring him home). When it rains it pours, so to speak.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 12:41 PM

Jeremiah and I went to have coffee with a life long friend who is visiting and is making plans to move back to the area (I can't WAIT). I will have to join the Y next week as an unexpected budget cruncher popped up. No big deal. :) I have plenty to keep me busy until then.

I've got the pedometer on today and am curious to see how much I rack up on a normal day of puttering of home.

The sun is shining here today but it is bitter cold and windy.

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 02:02 PM

Hotmail will allow me to print a whole pageful of individual emails with one zap of the mouse!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 03:11 PM

Argh! My post disappeared when I hit submit!

Cottage closet cleaned out of things left behind by previous tenant. Several items that are too large or heavy to be stored in loft are now stored there instead. When "little brothre" Michael comes over later, I will have him help me lower the shelf in there so I can actually use it comfortably.

Several boxes have been earmarked for the loft. I have the 8' stepladder from the garage in here right now to move them up there.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 05:44 PM

Phone is through Comcast -- no cell service at the house. (Try the parking lots at Lee Circle 5 miles away.)

What an afternoon! I slept most of the day -- needed it. All the sinus cavities hurt, chest tight, have an unproductive cough. Good news is I can breathe. My brain is pretty much non-functional. And I think I'm running a fever.

Jeri picked up some expectorant and a couple packages of On-Cor mac & cheese. Bad news is she got stuck on the glare ice in the driveway. (That's why I have an AWD Subaru.) Put cat litter on the ice, it melts, as freezes on top. I'm pretty much out of cat litter and none of it has gotten into the litter boxes...

My up-the-hill neighbor gave Jeri a ride home (about 6 miles) and came back and put down some sand. Will get some more tomorrow. My regular plow person threw out his back, but is trying to call in a favor and maybe get some sand -- the oil truck (I've got 1/8 tank and bad weather is coming in Saturday night) came while Jeri was here, took one look, and gave it a miss. He'll be back later tomorrow (I hope). Yes, we've got a woodstove and firewood, but I'm really sick and Tom is in ICU and blind to boot (which is why we haven't used the stove for two winters).

The GREAT news is Tom has the ventilator out and is doing very well. He called me -- just before the power went out. (Ach! The Co-op picks the damnedest time to play around.) Okay, power back on. Talked to Tom's nurse -- he seemed to think he could go home tomorrow (wishful thinking); she says maybe next week. Not sure if that means out of the ICU or actually home. He's just been through quite a lot. (I've got to knock this thing I've got out, too.)

Well, that was a little more excitement than I really wanted, feeling like I do today. Arghhh!

I'll post this on Tom's thread, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 05:48 PM

I hope you feel better Linn! Great news about Tom. Lots of love coming from our house to yours.

XOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 06:47 PM

Linn: "Altruistic ego-centric" (not quite right) via Hans Selye - We have to take care of our selves FIRST do we can take care of others. Such a rough go round you are having.

And all I worry about is R having adrenal exhaustion.

A friend of his is having to move out of a building where he had a marvellous artists community. Could R remove some of the stuff so the city does not charge him for leaving it behind? So R is acquiring more stuff! And moving some for the guy. And this morning loaded my car with picture frames of all sorts and conditions to take to an artist friend. What is her address? Just go up the hill and turn right... I eventually got there but still without a number. Phoned her and left a message, then started walking along looking for her LR curtain! In a block long row of houses, that was all I could remember! So we unloaded the frames, chatted briefly and hugged. It was the funeral of her ex we attended on Sunday.

Then I went for groceries and to the library and got home for late lunch.

I acquired a few things too: rolling shelf unit for studio, big old wash tub with bottom falling out to be painted real pretty for the garden, toy castle for the baby raccoons, and 3 neat wooden boxes - always useful. Also a small freezer which I was really wanting.

What am I getting rid of????

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 12:58 AM

Glad to see Tom is feeling better, and I hope the driveway cooperates. That was so good of Jeri to make the food and expectorant run for you!

I was swamped today, finished one thing this evening, have several others to rush through in the morning. If I get home at a decent time a friend is here in town for a guitar concert. I'm looking forward to that!

Bushed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 10:14 AM

I am thru the first ream of paper and on the way to the second. I quite like seeing that I have as much printed matter on hand about my experience as the medicos sent me!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 12:40 PM

The computer wouldn't start this morning - nothing but a blinking white cursor on a black screen. Finally got it to open in the safe mode, after changing out the keyboard, and did a system restore after an uneventful virus/malware scan. Just coincidence as far as timing, but we've had a problem at work with infected computers. Important decluttering of the virtual world.

It's cold and clammy out, my nose was bleeding when I blew it this morning. One of those days just to survive. When I get home this evening I'll file all of the tax forms (haven't gotten the "all clear" from the IRS yet). A clear dining room table and running the dishwasher may be as much as happens at my house today.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 05:55 PM

Today, while Jeremiah was napping, I pulled out a train table that I've had for several months now and set it up in the living room. My office is off limits to him so he has no idea that it even exists!!! I dusted it off, made some space and got it all set up. While I was in that area, I dusted the entertainment center, opened it up and dusted all the shelves, put DVDs and videos back where they belonged, did some organizing, cleaned the glass (inside and out) so it sparkles! :)

I am SO excited to see Jeremiah's reaction to the train table that I'm ALMOST inclined to go wake him!!! ALMOST!!! :)

Dishes are all done, dinner is ready to go and I'm feeling like doing a little more organizing in the living room. I didn't do much today....slept in until almost 10:30...still catching up from my time away from home.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 10:33 PM

One entire stack of boxes is now organized and stored in the loft. I've kept the step-ladder in here and the cat is amusing herself by climbing up to the loft and launching herself into space for a landing on the futon. Meow, meow, then silence, followed by cat-body hurtling from above and landing with a thud, generally scaring the bejeesus out of me and the dog. I'm calling it the "kamikazee kitty" move.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 01:05 AM

Please share the train table response, if you got a photo!

Sounds like your cat has a sense of humor!

Great concert this evening, and now to bed.

Hoping you all enjoy the weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 12:46 PM

Ranger...ROFLMAO....oh the visual!!!

Jeremiah played at the train table all night. Many of his favorite cars work just fine but his monster trucks are a bit big. I see a trip to Toys R Us in the future to add a few more appropriately sized train pieces or maybe even just cars...he loves the equally. :)

I gained almost 3 pounds this week. I knew it was going to be bad but I went to my WW meeting anyway. Gotta keep chugging along. Not being able to cook in my own kitchen with foods that I know work well with what I'm doing was rough, as was eating out so much. I could have made some better choices but it is what it is. My belly has been icky all week from the travelling food.....so glad to be home in my own kitchen again. I'm pretty sure I said that already but it really does make a HUGE difference.

I've been to a yoga class this morning...ahhhhhhhhh. My teacher commented on how well I'm doing. I'm sure it's not a pretty sight but oh how I love the way it makes me feel. :) I just get lost in it. :)

Michelle who going to scrap last week and keep her eyes focused ahead. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 07:24 PM

Lots of stuff around the house is a bit neater this evening. I completely cleared the kitchen peninsula and have set up the tripod with the central stand reversed (hanging down between the legs) to use as a copy stand for close photos of some eBay stuff. It was a process of rearranging a couple of small shelves and also simply putting things in the logical places where they should go. And keeping at it until I finished.

There is more cardboard in the pickup for dropping off at recycling, and I've cleared up some of my jelly jars (for canning) of really old jelly. I've mixed it into a strawberry sweet slurry that I'll pour into the garden. Sugar is a great growth stimulant (not a fertilizer, but it does give the garden a big boost).

The moth traps have been working - I've seen a couple fluttering around but nothing like before.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 08:16 PM

Sounds like "kamikaze kitty" is a match for Rufus, also an airborn acro-cat. Our house is post & beam with all the posts and beams exposed. There's a dormer upstairs so the bedroom has a diagonal beam leading to one of the cross beams. Rufus is the second cat in the history of the house to discover the diagonal. Calliope, though, would skibber back down the diagonal when she was done playing Sheena, Queen of the Bedroom. Rufus, on the other hand, first tries to figure out how to get to the peak of the roof, paces back and forth on the beam for awhile, then sits and surveys -- "Everything here is mine." Then, when one least expects it, he launches himself halfway across the room and lands next to me on the bed. Whoomp!

Whaddacat!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 11:51 PM

Decluttering and organizing the cottage has come to a screeching halt after I received the news that the gaming website I've belonged to since September 2004 has been bought out and is being shut down. I have over eight years' worth of blog entries on there and I have been feverishly backing them up before the site goes dark. Being as I'm not the most tech-savvy person in the world, it took me a couple of days to figure out how to do that. I have about 425 blog entries spanning that time, many about video games, but also about so many other things. I have 125 backed up, only another 300 to go. It would go faster if I didn't go through and read them all as I back them up.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 01:39 AM

Oh, my, Tami! Note to self: keep a hard copy or back up on home computer.

A couple of items listed on eBay, and more to go tomorrow. Not high-dollar items, but some that are likely to sell and help build up my PayPal account a bit.

I'm so pleased with the looks of the kitchen. There are still other surfaces with stuff to clear, but nothing that was on the kitchen peninsula was piled anyplace else, it was put away or discarded. Next, the breakfast table.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 10:36 AM

Clearing out in the sun room is going to happen as the stuff stashed in there is sold on eBay. I have other things to do today, but I'll push one or two more small items out. It goes in cycles - as you get things sold the momentum builds to sell more. I got out of the habit last summer when the garden was taking so much time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 05:36 PM

Helped to load and unload a half cord of firewood today. It was cut in 16 inch lengths and already split so it was not a heavy weighted wood but it was many more smaller pieces of wood. I'm not sure which is more work to load and unload...fewer heavy pieces or a whole bunch of smaller, lighter wood.

Either way, it was a good workout. Left me out of breath and sweating. :)

That's my goal for next month, by the way...to sweat in obscene amounts every single day. :) Aren't you glad to know that? LOL

Michelle

PS. Tomorrow is a 6 month check up at my GYN/ONC. It's the longest I've gone between check ups. My battalion of butterflies have arrived in full force. Bastards. LOL

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 07:36 PM

Methinks this should be posted here as well as on Tom's hospitalization thread.

Tom must be doing a lot better. He's not only really complaining about the food, but he refused to order dinner. When I asked what he had instead, he said, "Coffee." I read him the riot act; told him I didn't need THAT to worry about, too, and to find a nurse and get something to eat. (Sigh. He said he hoped for cake... I suggested something with nutrition in it. Arghhhh!!!!)

That, after an afternoon of clearing out the paper clutter on his side of the table. (Which usually just pisses me off.) Mixed feelings while doing that ranging from being angry at the crap that he accumulates because he won't throw out envelopes, flyers, envelope inserts, long out-dated notes on scraps of paper, geez, anything. I threw out a 2010 phone book, for-pete's-sake. Waaay outdated meds containers, EMPTY meds containers, and a gazillion crumpled Kleenex and napkins(I thought I was keeping up on those...).

Then there's the other end of that range of emotions -- satisfaction and pleasure at having his side of the table organized. It's frustrating. The only time he "lets" me do this is when he's in the hospital and can't keep me from it.

And I organized a magenta binder with all the phone numbers he needs in large bold type so he doesn't have to ask every time. AND his physical therapy exercise guide pages.

I love him but he can be very exasperating at times.

Reminds me of a card my mother gave my dad -- front says, "To my husband on our anniversary. Some wives try to change their husbands. I wouldn't do that. I love you just the way you are. Inside says, "Just don't get any worse."

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 08:13 PM

Linn, he's male. Need I say more? Notice we don't have any men on the declutter thread?

I'm glad he's feeling well enough to fuss about the food.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 08:14 PM

Good card your mom found, Linn!

I finished a work project and ran down to Office Depot to have it printed. And since it was nearby I walked into Ross and found a couple of inexpensive (clearance) pants suits for those occasions when I have to be a bit more dressed up than coordinating separates at work. I'll have to hem a pair of pants. There was a lovely green jacket with a below-the-knee skirt that will work well for this spring.

Gotta lug the trash out to the curb. The Oscars are coming on, but I haven't seen any movies this year, I'm not really interested so I'll keep working on other stuff around the house. Some of the variety show aspects of the award show are usually good, and I do like to see the montage of who passed away in the last year, but it'll be on the news who won tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 08:24 PM

Oh, and I forgot to mention: all 426 blog entries now backed up on my hard drive. I love Chrome's Save Page As. I was a little worried it was only archiving a link to the original page, so I deleted one of the entries that I wouldn't be totally heartbroken if it disappeared for good to test it out. Nope, everything is saved. Now I need to either put them on a USB stick or save them to a disk until I can print them out. As I was reading them, I was amazed at the amount of blogging I've done about folk music, even before I decided to formally write a weekly entry.

I have found another site that is even more community-driven than the one that is being closed down, and it has no ties with Big Business, it's a Mom and Pop kind of site, being run by a husband/wife team for the love of it. Kind of reminds me of how Max runs Mudcat. Many of my friends from the other site have joined me in a mass exodus to the new site, and the new site is welcoming the influx with open arms and excitement about what we can bring with us. If any one is ever interested in checking my blog out, I can be found at PixlBit.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 10:47 PM

I have blog stuff scattered all over the place. I have copies of some of it on my hard drive, but I need to do something about it one of these days.

Good dinner tonight of a zucchini and pasta dish - something I made up, using Italian sausage, canned mushrooms, frozen shrimp, and add to that bow tie pasta and some homemade spaghetti sauce. There is some left for lunch tomorrow.

I put up three coins for sale on eBay because unless you are an absolute idiot and clean it or ask a huge "buy it now" price, it always sells (especially if you start them at .99 in an auction). Just don't do something like this and "recondition and sanitize" the coin you'll get something for it. The person who bought this coin for .99 is probably going to throw it on the ground in their back yard and let the patina form again. I had to revise my image files after the first couple of listings - my Flickr account is ratchetted down so tight that I had to do a few extra steps to open those photos to the public. I used to use Photobucket, it's great for eBay links and easy to use, but they aren't letting the original size go out any more, they only make the originals available for download. This is part of the second-class citizen status of having a free account. I suppose I could load them huge photos and end up with the size I really wanted all along. :-/

Busy day tomorrow, advertising my job to the rest of the library.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 09:52 AM

I don't blog (yet), but always keep copies of any writing I do. Need to print a lot of it out, though. Posts here at Mudcat or Facebook or other places, I copy into a file with the date. It's disorganized, but stuff is there and attributed.

I'm here right now because I have to sit for a minute. Snow's heavy, but not awful and I just have to take it slow and easy. Deck and steps cleared as much as necessary. Started on car (and shook snow off lilac) but now need to rest a bit.

While sitting, will call Tom. Oh, seems like I decluttered part of a filling in a back upper tooth this morning. No discomfort except the edge hasn't worn down yet, so my tongue keeps wanting to investigate. Can't do anything about it or the one on the bottom -- absolutely no money for dentistry.

Alas, curling up in the fetal position and sucking my thumb is not an option.

I'll call Tom now.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 12:00 PM

Ramp laps are changing-- and BTW this is the best money I ever spent on exercise equipment. The new thing added today, after a little experiment last night, is walking with no handrails. In the lightweight boots to do this once daily this week, then back to the 2-pounders for the rest of the day's laps; next week the 2-pounders with no handrails. (But I still carry the cellphone out there in case I fall down and need more help than my trusty dog can give me!)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 12:35 PM

First of job sessions this morning - did as much networking with others as promoting my job. I had materials scattered around the room, different aspects of the job (campus outreach, community outreach, administration office).

Am sorting out the binders, will know how many spare this week.

This morning I have a sort throat, which I hope is just a combination of sinuses draining and talking for the last couple of hours. I gargled warm salty water and will get some zinc lozenges at lunchtime, just to play it safe.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 06:03 PM

Michelle: You could move the wood pile daily! WE know wood warms us more than once!
Ranger! That remark about being male/declutter? So not true. The worst I've seen have been woman and my son and father are/were both at the top of NO CLUTTER! At 15, #1 son said very loudly and firmly,"Mother, if you bring one more thing in here, I will never help you move again!!!"
SRS, your ability to do computer stuff and sell on e-bay has me feeling as though you sometimes speak a different language! She says, wistfully.

Have not gotten much done since last post: 4 hours at an auction - "I do not think any old newspapers are worth 4 hours of my life!!" So we left. I picked up some needful things at the Dollar store and the bulk store and nothing at the thrift shop. Visited a friend who is .... a small square timber house. Long term project; she was vacuming between the logs prior to new chinking! Plan is to get it beautiful; she is a fine cabinet maker! Then do short term rentals at high prices to travellers from France. Visit a small Quebec village with bus service to Montreal!

Stopped in Ormstown for supper so I did not lose it completely. Nice quiet eve at home. Reading. Sunday pancakes for brekkie and Swamperellla in the afternoon. Cajun music. Dance music. Many of us danced freely for about 2 hours. (I can walk today!) Then hom for supper and a quiet eve. Too tired to move!

Got R off to city today about 11. Then I needed to spend a couple hours composing a message to a troubled woman. Because it is partly of my doing, in a way, it took tremendous energy as well as time. I have tried a few times over the last 40 years but this time she messaged me so maybe she is ready. This is one of those, if I had known then what I know now... So I do not castigate myself but there is still a certain pain involved which would be nice to heal/declutter.

OK, supper and then back to the city, perhaps to folk dance - if the body is willing!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:17 AM

Dorothy, are you in town most of the time now, or at the cabin? At one time you talked about moving a lot of the furniture in the house upstairs - I have a mental image of a large house filled with antiques that you rattle around in - did you get the upper floor arranged as a comfy living space? (I've been meaning to ask this for a while, I just finally remembered to do it, though it may seem like a non sequitur in the conversation in general.)

There has been a cold wind through the area this week, but we're lucky that we haven't gotten all of the snow that is a couple of hundred miles north of us. The dogs have enjoyed coming in, and since I've cleared off that kitchen island it is much easier to let them in. Zeke would stand on his hind legs and snatch food off of that counter if there was anything on it. I like being able to set up the camera and tripod there - something I'll keep up until I clear some of the stuff off of my eBay table. It isn't difficult, you just have to work out a system for yourself that lets you post the most accurate description (with photos that are well-staged). I took at look at the completed listings for "artisan pottery" on eBay - the sales aren't great there. But Etsy has come a long way in the last few years and might be a good place to try selling some of your ceramics.

Stay warm everyone! Chin up, Kat! Spring is just around the corner.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:33 AM

Dang store rearranged their sewing department and no longer has the elastic I use in ALL my skirts, pants, etc., so I had quite a job finding and then putting the new crap elastic they do carry, into a couple of items this AM, to keep my pants from falling off my butt. I still lack skin sensation where they tend to slip so cannot feel them going till they're all the way down! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:54 AM

My check up went well...a little more pain than usual but it was not intentional and my oncologist kept apologizing. It's not that I liked that he was apologizing but rather that he was aware that I was in pain and that he was not doing it on purpose. :)

I pretty much just collapsed in my chair when I got home. I would have gone right to bed but Jeremiah was wide awake. He played happily right at the foot of my chair while I relaxed. I did manage to make a nice dinner: Salmon, steamed broccoli and a baked potato. Simple. Yummy. Healthy. :)

Today I did the mountain of dishes in the sink and on the stove and am about to conquer the floors. Later I have yoga (very active yoga) with a friend that hasn't been able to go for some time is going with me. It's always more fun to have a friend along! YAY!

We are supposed to get some stormy weather here later today involving ice. If that begins, I will be staying home and doing a DVD. :) Next time I am in town, I am getting myself a yoga mat for at home. I tried to do some yoga the other evening and found myself slipping all over the place in downward facing dog because I didn't have a mat. My good mat lives at the studio. :)

My oncologist is pleased with my increased energy levels (FINALLY) and very slow weight loss. That was encouraging to hear. :) All 3 of my oncologists are pleased with my check up at every level! HOORAY!!!

Also...Jeremiah met my GYN/ONC yesterday. The doctor was polite but clearly not a kid kind of guy. We said goodbye (I stopped by his office where he does his computer work on the way out of the building) and Jeremiah, totally unprompted, said, "Nice to meet you." That was a very proud Mommy moment. The look on my oncologist's face changed substantially and he smiled at me....he was most impressed...so was I!!! Way to go Jeremiah!!!

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 01:39 PM

Sounds like Jeremiah charmed him!

Don't get me started on what cloth stores don't carry any more - they've gone from being bastions of great fabric and lots of choices to a setting where you figure out what will work to make-do. When I was a kid J.C. Penneys sold fabric, as did Sears, and there weren't separate stores that sold fabric. When they did come along, they were great. Now there is so much other craft stuff in there that notions and fabric are secondary. On the other hand, you can buy fabric online. I sell it on eBay sometimes, and I see a lot of it listed. And there is an Amazon store (I discovered it when I was looking up Amazon's various locations recently) that sells yardage.

And on the note of Amazon, I learned yesterday that my son (a junior at UA in computer science) has a summer internship at Amazon in Seattle. My sister tells me that Amazon has a reputation of tending to gobble up and spit out employees, but a summer there ought to be good experience.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 05:29 PM

Finding the right stuff for sewing projects becomes more and more challenging. I keep an eye out for good elastic, for example, at the thrift stores.

I am about 50/50 in country and city, although I spent the whole summer in the country except for laundry trips. The lovely room upstairs (city) with all that useless Victorian furniture - OK to look at but who wants to live in a museum. I want comfort and organization. Guess I would try harder if I did not have to go out one door and in the other to get there. At the moment it is a rudimentary pottery studio and I hope I will use it more often now that I am feeling better. When it is warm enough! I went up to water the plants a couple days ago and in the back room - I had hung a heavy drape over the door to keep the front room warm - Plant froze. The front is probably Ok with the weather around the freezing point.

Came back from country yesterday to - to be here for R! Supper and TV, reading and computer. I am still working on processing very heavy feelings/45 years of memories. Long talk with a sensible friend today and short messages to a couple family members to alert them that MAYBE they could help. I've done what I can for now so maybe I can make a few pots. Sensible friend also had some glaze colours she would like me to try. My connection with the two clay people sites have helped a great deal with ideas, suggestions for better ways of doing things, problem solving and good old encouragement. Very exciting.

My brain is doing better, realizing simple things - use the telephone! Phone people! (I have not been.) Watch movies on that DVD player I bought last year! (We watched two on the weekend, first time.) Use the base glazes I have and add colourants to them! Obvious things that just did not make it in my brain until lately. Reminds me of Daniel Amen's book: Change your Brain, Change Your Life. Something has shifted.

On the other hand! Went to finish a load of laundry and realized I had left a bag full in the country! Not life threatening.

OH, the Pasta issue! There was a major furor over the language police making a fuss over the use of that non-French word on the menu of the Italian restaurant - the social media took it across the country! The office and the provincial government pretty much apologized for the zealous response! The News just now indicates the office will be doing some re-thinking. Maybe they will not fuss about "fish and chips"? It would be humorous but it cost the taxpayers. And gave great PR to the restaurant! Life in Quebec!

At Saturday's auction I was chatting with a bi-lingual man but when he started telling another woman what we were saying, I tried in English. She did NOT speak English so I resorted to my fractured French, not too badly. My French lesson! Also a sign the brain is doing better.

Story: A husband asked his wife why she always cut the roast of beef in half and cooked it in two pans. She asked her mom who asked HER mom, who said, "Oh my! I only did that because I did not have a pan big enough for the whole thing!

I am only now recovering from the many years of not having running water. Realizing I do not have to be SO careful about what I get dirty. It's OK to use another plate or bowl or pan; there is water in the faucet! Ruts are easy to get into and hard to get out. I have had running water since 1999.

We were supposed to have sun today but none since Thurs or Fri. Flurries the next couple days. We will certainly appreciate the sun when it deigns to visit.

Time to cook and eat!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 06:51 PM

Feeling really crappy-- I think nerves are reenerating and that's taking calcium and energy, but I was cusrious in the AM ramp laps how far, total, I have logged out thre, so Greg and I just did the math:

FEB 2 TO DATE:
272 laps x 100'/lap=27,200'
That equals 5.15 mi total over 26 days
Daily average .2mi/day = 1056'/day avg.

I need to pick a fantasy goal to shoot for, with all this mileage.... "Marching to....?"

I do not even know where I want to go. I MUST be tired! Oh well-- out for more laps!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:34 PM

Time for a energizing reminder of what can be done if you keep at it with patience and a goal. Michelle put this up on her facebook page but there wasn't a place to "like" it since it was someone else's link, so I found it on YouTube.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:36 PM

I've seen that several times over the last year and never fail to be inspired by his persistence and success in overcoming physical challenges.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 12:06 PM

Pretty amazing video, huh?

:)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 03:56 PM

I don't have any near as much the physical challenge or the weight to lose - it is possible. I need to set a goal for next fall. Like going to the Getaway or something, and resolving to be fit and at my best weight by then.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 04:10 PM

His weight loss was a little fast to be safe for most cardiac patients, I think. But it is great to see him get to his goals. I'd have liked more info about what he did (in addition to the yoga) to achieve them.

Today I cleared snow and slush from the ramp without help. It took two trips (TBTG I split the job up), but that is more than I could do last time there was that much snow. I almost look forward to the next few days' worth of snow because again, that ramp is the best $$ I ever spent on fitness equipment and it is just large enough not to be easy yet short enough to be DOable.

I hope to start outpatient PT next week. FB friends will be able to see the rest of the fitness journey, there, now that I have a system going within FB where I can upload my stats. I love stats! Maybe the March chart will be in Excel!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 05:25 PM

The guy in the video followed a program that is available to purchase. He also had a personal trainer. Any healthy, balanced diet would have accomplished the weight loss with an active vinyasa such as he was practicing. I practice Pranakryia yoga with a slow sun salutation vinyasa, sometimes holding poses at length instead of a continuous flow.

Much harder than it looks.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 11:50 AM

It looks plenty hard! Keep up the good work, Michelle.

Went to bed early last night, got up at my normal time. I guess I really needed it!

I see a couple of preliminary bids on my eBay auctions. Good! Getting things moving again.

Drinking my tea this morning I find my teeth are suddenly very sensitive to heat and cold. And I find the onion bagle with poppy seeds that I had with breakfast made my gums feel battered. I haven't had a bout of gingivitis for a long time, but I suspect one is creeping up on me. Time to gargle with salt water, cut out all of the sugar, and hope it passes quickly. I've been aware of way too much sugar in the diet recently, time to go cold-turkey and after a couple of days of craving stuff (that I don't have in the house now) I'll get back on my old diet. There has been way too much junk food around lately, mostly at work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 12:22 PM

I had hoped to be off this by 11 but that video was monumental. Shared! Maybe someone else will be inspired.

Started cleaning up a mess - inexplicable (a foot wide space along the back, against the wall, of the kitchen table - but I started! Another hour, later, will do it. For some reason there is a board with a cloth on it. Then I put a clean cloth on it and it got cluttered with stuff - and mouse manure. Nasty job getting the----- OK, so I just need to take everything off MY cloth and start over. Why didn't I think of that? YAY! Later.

Yesterday I managed to put the pieces of one teapot together and one honey pot. They look good. My shoulder started hurting and I messed up a would have been teapot. Another was not damp enough so I re-moistened and wrapped it again. Maybe today. Great hint on clayart today about getting a whole bag of clay re-moistened. Need to find a bucket and try that with one bag that is too hard. Hope for today is to make a few small pots. And go to the cafe in St. Isidore to hear John Speed.

But now - a few groceries, and the library to find more DVDs for the weekend. Maybe Canadian Tire for a bucket. Hate buying them but have not found any in trash this year, yet.

Happy last day of February! So quickly life is flying by.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 05:12 PM

Well, trip to two grocery stores and library happened. Came home with weighty books on pottery in both French and English - I can understand the pictures! And 5 DVD, in hopes a couple will be good.

Cleared the front steps and the car before leaving. About 2 inches of slush. WE may get some sun on Tuesday. Temps hovering in the vicinity of freezing - little above, little below.

Late lunch and too sleepy to do much. No pots made today. The energy will probably rise again in a while. Table has to be cleaned.

Kat's situation is horrendous. On my heart. I am feeling very fortunate.

News item: A school building will be demolished: it would cast $4 million to repair. A new one will be built for $16 million.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:24 PM

200!

I need to get my butt in gear going through and organizing the rest of the boxes from the move. When my old laptop self-destructed and I wasn't able to afford a new one, a friend got me a replacement. It doesn't have nearly the bells and whistles the dead one did, but that's OK, it was a gift. A gift I'm happy to have. However, one of the bells and whistles that I'm missing is a card reader for my camera's SD card. I have a USB card reader...somewhere. In one of the boxes. And the box isn't labeled. Guess maybe this is a glass half-full opportunity here, find the rest of my camera gear and get stuff organized and put away all at once.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 10:44 PM

Tami, I can send you one of the spare ones around here. PM or facebook me your new address. Meanwhile, your camera should have a cable that you can connect to your computer, if you know where that is.

I started the new thread here.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 11:10 PM

Maggie, thanks for the offer, but I know I have all the bits and pieces that I need, just need to locate them. And now I can't procrastinate taking care of stuff.