Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 05:59 PM

Clothing being now in good order/process, the next area to assault is the nasty mess generated by the contractor (not Allyn) who came last week to replace the huge kitchen window. And who has still not come back to finish the inside casing part of the job!

We keep a tall, wide hutch my sister built, in front of it, for storage and to block the late afternoon heat that otherwise pours in there.... they had to unload the top half, to move it. They left me some boxed mess to deal with (but a cleanable hutch-top interior). I wish Allyn had gotten this job, because he doesn't leave stuff that way! No care in filling the boxes... stuff smashed....

The mess consists of a variety of "dumped" items that got totally out of control AND coated in thick dog dust while I was off for surgery and complications.... so it will be a bit of sneezy archaeology for sure (I have hospital-quality dust masks,) and I am very glad I found those missing trash cans Hardi had lost, cuz I am gonna fill em UP!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 06:01 PM

Maryanne, I bet you'll have leftover hair and dust for quite a while. I still find cat hair on clothes occasionally because the cats left it in plenty of sneaky places. That said, I need to go through the house with the vacuum and get a lot of dust kittens that have been breeding fiercely this winter.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 10:01 PM

It's done! Little brother Michael and I finished mucking out the apartment at 8:15 this evening! We would have been done sooner, but we ended up getting stuck with the cleaning. My cottage now looks like a warehouse, but I will start going through boxes and consolidating or shredding, then put them either in the loft or in the storage unit, depending on how much room is left after storing the furniture.

The last carload is still in the car, minus anything that could be harmed by freezing. I just don't have the energy or space to do anything with it tonight. It will probably stay there tomorrow as well, as there is supposed to be a messy storm on its way. I'll use the down time to try and recover some of my square footage from the mountains of boxes piled everywhere.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jan 13 - 01:09 AM

Sleep well, make sure your bed and little bit of open space is comfy, and do a little sorting and clearing every day. You'll get there!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Jan 13 - 01:27 AM

Speaking of bed....the electric blanket has been on high for hours now....even though our bedroom is not heated, we will be toasty warm....even when just slipping in under the covers! HOORAY for a WONDERFUL Christmas gift (from last year)!

Dishes are all done, Pete's lunch is packed, toys are picked up, all food has been written and accounted for.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jan 13 - 11:34 AM

adrenal exhaustion: not a great deal other than tons of rest, eating properly, drinking lots, milk thistle for liver, multi B plus minerals and extra B6 &5. There was a bit more but the books are in the cosy cabin and I am in the cold city house with a coat on and about to grab the heating pad off the bed and a quilt.

Crisis #???????? so I stayed home from dancing last night to keep a stressed out R company.

Ok, warmer.

Spent all of yesterday morning giving moral support, then to thrift shop for very useful items. Back to cabin for lunch and one more tiny sewing project shoulder reacted so the hot pads are sitting there for next time. Hot bath seemed a better idea, then recuperation time and back to city as R did not sound good. After a nice store pizza, and a little TV/talk/phone(him)/reading, we both fell asleep on sofa before 11!

The trip back was dicey with all the secondary roads sometimes bare and sometimes skating rink quality. Left my wallet at the cabin so I need to go. Plenty of everything in frig so no hurry. Jst the psychology of being walletless! Almost as bad as being bookless!

Thinking about - the stress of physiological problems which cause emotional stress and the stress of business problems which create emotional and, hence, physiological problems. We humans must be terrifically resilient to survive life!

I left the cabin clean and dishes washed, and a good pile of wood on the hearth. Here - I will deal with the necessary chores after R leaves - and my feet are warm again. R has been on the phone since about 8:30, Also phone that chiropractor for an appointment. Very unhappy shoulder - not constant but - always ready to grab me! Most peculiar.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 22 Jan 13 - 12:22 PM

some interesting ideas

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Jan 13 - 01:29 PM

Dorothy, some of those are brilliant! Thanks!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Jan 13 - 07:56 PM

Dusting, dishes, laundry, general picking up and some quilting happened today.

I also went to yoga. Sixty minutes of hot, sweaty, bendy, blissful yoga.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 09:34 AM

Night four (?) in the bed MUCH better. I added time-release Tylenol and Meloxicam for longer, all-night pain relief for the sore shoulders. I hope to get off the Meloxicam soon and then the Tylenol as my shoulders adjust.

I may get discharged from home health soon; as soon as the last open wound closes (and it seems to be closing fast), I get back to the POOL, yay! But I also will get back control over my schedule-- it's really not cool to have to wait to take a shower until an external authority tells you that you can, every day. At a different time every day.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 09:42 AM

Looks like a great day to get the dogs out for a walk - it's up to 75 this afternoon! How nice. I need a lot more exercise. My house needs dusting.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 10:07 AM

Maggie, that's 75 degrees warmer than it is here right now, lol.

Dog and I walked home through the woods after dropping the car off at the garage for yet more work, but it's something my mechanics caught before it got too bad. They also don't assume I know nothing about cars because I'm a woman. Frequently, they'll walk me through how to fix some of the minor stuff myself and have kept me from being ripped off by other garages when I've had to have something done that my guys don't do.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 12:47 PM

It was minus 8 degrees on our front porch this morning..that's without the wind!!! Brrr.

Had some work done on my car this morning and will be puttering the rest of the day.

Had a little set back but in the grand scheme of things, life is good.

Jeremiah scootched his way behind me in my recliner a few minutes ago and said, "Mommy, your hair is pretty. I love you."

Yes, life is good.

XOXOXOOXOX

Keeping busy to stay warm!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 02:07 PM

The 2 bags of clothes for a FreeCycler are leaving this afternoon. She requested I break the one huge bag into two easier-to-carry bags, so it was a great opportunity to fold a few that had been jammed in there... and revisit how much I had depended on those items for official business.... some real favorites that felt good on and looked as good as I could look in them.... [sniff] but buhBYE!

I had a great pep talk over lunch with my HS buddy, about who this new Susan is-- the one who doesn't run out of gas because her thryoid is quietly killing her? She remembers who I used to be! And reminded me that not one iota of that person is gone. She cut 50 years of bad conditioning/negative selftalk down into a much shorter timeframe, because she was able to help me spot when it really went totally out of control. So we ended with a good sense of where I am going-- and it's nice to know someone else sees me going there, too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 03:20 PM

Too cold in here to even think clearly! Like: I know it is warmer upstairs but I am sitting here with heating pad, quilt, coat and hat. Need gloves but would be unwieldy! So it is minus 26 C outside, which appears to be minus 14 F and that is very chilly. I went out to move my car this morning and it said, "OH NO! Do I HAVE to??" But it did. Mine started, thankful for that new battery! R got his running with help from mine. Nice new battery!

I phoned a friend and he answered, "WE're burning furniture!"

I have done nothing in two days but try to be warm. Well, there is FB and the internet.

Protesting a squirrel slam - don't ask - in NYS with emails to various people, petition and mutual support. Took quite a bit of time. Then here, reading some threads. Now, reminded to phone the chiropractor so I shall get up from my nest and get the phone, warm tea, lunch and a washroom break - not in that order. And return to my nest to stay warm.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 06:27 PM

Took before pictures today. I'll take a set each day so I know I'm making progress.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 10:35 PM

Awwww . . . Michelle - don't they just make your heart swell sometimes!

Everyone, stay warm. I hope you have lots of good layers. For what it's worth, I wasn't able to get outside at all today to enjoy the warmer weather. But I did see my first iris of the season. There is a patch on campus that is on a south slope under some oaks and is always way ahead of anything else in the area.

Sink is clean, dishes washed. I'll put the trash at the curb before I head to bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 10:13 AM

I policed the back yard this morning, about time! I'm getting caught up on some yard activities after a long cold spell kept me indoors.

This weekend I'm going to dust. It has been a long time and it shows.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 11:21 AM

It's still bitter cold so my job today is to keep the fires stoked and burning hot. :) Pete was very happy with me last night when he got home and the kitchen (always the warmest room in the house) was 74 degrees. :) I did a good job with the fire, something I am notoriously mediocre at. I seem to forget to stoke it until I get cold and of course by then, it's too late and takes hours to warm back up.

I've been busy this morning...breakfast made, cleaned up, dishes done, Pete's lunch packed, dinner dishes done, cleaned, peeled, chopped carrots, celery, onions and tomatoes for a pork roast that is now cooking in the crock pot. My plan is to conquer the kitchen table next. It's just a spot that seems to gather clutter. It's clean for maybe 3 days and then a mountain appears. Time to take care of that. Also, today I am cleaning and packing away toys that Jeremiah no longer plays with...time to start stocking our yard sale storage (free storage off our property..YAY) area. It's going to be a doozie this year and good news for anyone with children!!! We are learning, like I presume most parents do, that no...Jeremiah does NOT need as many toys as we love to give him. Lesson learned and we are paring down. :) I also do not NEED or WANT 25 framed photos on top of the piano...LOL. What can I say? I love to take photos and I love my family!!!! I've got it down to 9 that I really love...in various shapes and sizes. :)

I have also organized my calendar with the upcoming quilting classes and yoga for next month too. :) I WILL be organized (ok, it's really necessary since I am forgetful about recent things....thank you chemo brain). No more showing up on the wrong day or not at all!! YAY ME!

So...I'm off to tend to the table and the toys!!! Homemade biscuits or cornbread will be made much closer to dinner time.

Stay warm everybody!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 11:54 AM

All the stress of the past month has caught up with me. Woke up with a headache and mild sore throat this morning, and two hours later than I normally wake up. I think today is a rest day once dishes are done.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 02:19 PM

A day of rest sounds perfect!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 08:55 PM

I also am feeling the rhythm of needing some rest. Four months of hopping to the authority of a uniform has finally gotten to me: since nursing has deemed I can now do my own wound care and they only need to visit me in a week to make sure it's all good, then I want to go off home PT, too.

I think the last open wound will be closed in 10 days and that then I can get back to my own perfectly excellent PT in the pool and then, in the spring, outpatient PT and my osteopath can show me the next phase (but I think I know what it is already).

In that 10 days I need to rest deeply, determine my own new schedule now that I have thyroid meds and very little back/joint pain-- and get back into the world on my own two feet before I jump back into aquatic life. During that time I will continue my ramp walking, treadmill walking, and stretching program now that Hardi knows how to partner with me on the stretches.

Affirming this is a whole new set of nerve awakenings in my abdomen and legs-- nerves finally regenerating/reconnecting months later than the surgeon had projected. They need some space to do that, and I need some space to feel all the weird sensations they are temporarily giving me.

I'm OUT!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 10:34 PM

I got the k warm enough, via the open oven, to have a place to get warm. Managed to do 3 loads of laundry by filling tub with HOT water and letting it cool enough to put the clothes in. The extra heat warmed up the laundry room to a tolerable level. With a warm kitchen, I washed dishes and made black bean soup. Grateful for mug warmer next to chair. Did not go outside. R had to use my car to boost his truck this morning. another few days of this until more reasonable sub-freezing weather next week.

But I am going to country tomorrow and getting that wood stove humming! Will be nice to be in a warm house. I have no trouble relating to wood stove - the necessity of regular feedings - since it was my life for about 17 years and I love the heat it provides.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 11:57 AM

It hurts to read how cold it is for those of you in the northern tier of Mudcatland! I know how it feels, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and though my part of Washington State didn't get as cold as the eastern section, I voluntarily inserted myself into extremely cold conditions as a mountain climber. I'll offer you one of my climbing mantras: "If your feet are cold, put your hat on." You lose a lot of body heat through your head and simply wearing a hat, even in the house, will help.

Long day at work, starts at noon and I'll get home after 10pm. So much needs to be done this weekend. I might be able to start the income taxes, if it's warm I need to garden. I need to do eBay. Same ol' same ol', in other words.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 12:21 PM

Maggie, this is why I'm the hoodie queen! I grew up in a series of poorly (if at all!) insulated houses (one of which was built in the 1600s and had horsehair and wattle for insulation) in cold climates. At my grandparents' when I was small and after my youngest uncle had moved out, they closed off the upstairs and used it for a walk-in cooler all winter. At Christmas, we used to go to bed with our longjohns under our PJs and wool hats on our heads and we all used to fight over who got to sleep with the dog! The windows were covered with plastic, but the frames weren't the tightest, so every time the wind blew, so did the curtains. My grandmother doesn't miss that house at all, by the way!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 02:05 PM

When I was a teenager, we lived in a rented house that was very poorly insulated. When I complained of being cold, I was always told to put some extra socks and another sweater. Most winter days I wore 3 to 4 pairs of socks. It was during the 80's when stirrup pants were all the rage and girls in school would wear layers of socks and let the different colors of each layer show over the tops of their stirrup pants...so not only was I warm but I was in style! LOL OY!

Today I decluttered myself of about 7 inches of curls from the top of my head. Chemo curls. They were pretty and I enjoyed them while they were healthy but it was time to part ways. Everyone is always telling me how much they love my curls and frankly I was a little nervous about having my hair cut (the first one in almost 3 years) but things turned out better than I expected! I am THRILLED with my haircut....I feel like ME again!!!! I never knew a good hair cut could make me feel SO good!!!!! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 05:06 PM

This morning, I notified Home Health that I want to go off the PT schedule-- I need a break from all these uniforms and degrees and schedules other than my own!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 02:01 AM

What does Jeremiah think of the missing curls?

This has been a very long week, with some programs that didn't go as planned. Keep moving forward, do what we can to avoid future unfortunate repeats.

Hoping for a productive weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 08:37 AM

Finally got that last load from the apartment unloaded. Most went right into the storage unit. The rest is curtains, sheets, coats, etc that need washing. They can stay in the back of the Subaru until they've been laundered. I took care of two boxes of ancient paperwork, gave the empty file box to Jason to help him stay organized, and packed up a box that will be going with me when I visit family to be parceled out among the various relatives. One person's clutter and all that!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 10:18 AM

Work on hutch debris has begun; the contractor finally returned yesterday to put up the window casing and Hardi vacuumed the dust bunnies from behind it. As I pass by the first open box on my way to and from the laundry, I grab an item and put it where it belongs, doing any necessary cleaning and repair of it and, sometimes, the area where it is put away. The bottom-most container to unpack is a laundry basket full of cookbooks, which will be easiest to put away in the top shelf of the hutch.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 12:13 PM

Today I am continuing on the slow and steady slide down the scale and am feeling good!

Jeremiah didn't say much about my hair. Pete asked him about it at the dinner table and he said, "Mommy is pretty." Oh. My. Heart.

I asked Pete what he thought because he really does like me with long hair and I had quite a bit chopped off. He said, "I really like your haircut but what I LOVE is the smile on your face!"

I am in search of some alternate places to get exercise into my schedule. For me, it's always been the yoga studio but things have changed.

Change is good and I'm looking forward to the adventure!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 02:05 PM

Sounds like a great haircut, Michelle, and fabulous men in your family. And it sounds like a good plan for getting thing put away, Susan.

The meeting I went to last night was cancelled after our library speaker fell on her way in and broke her arm. I'm sure we'll all study what we can do to prevent something like this in the future, short of wrapping visitors in padding and carrying them into the building. We didn't know she was coming by herself and carrying two bags of books. She tripped on something on the path.

This morning I decided to follow my own advice when someone new comes into this declutter discussion. I started on the smallest room, in this case the laundry room, and swept, dusted, moved things, wiped down walls, mopped, and put things away. Now to throw in some laundry and move onto the front room. I haven't done much in there for a while but it's time. Vacuum, dust, put books away, set up the futon until the next time the dogs might come in on a cold night. I'll leave the covers on it, but make it less conspicuous in the room. I want to clear space to the piano so I can play it on occasion. It needs to be tuned and it needs a key repaired. Maybe I should splurge and do that since I won't be having it restored any time soon but I'd like to play it for now. I've missed music and I think it's good on various levels - enjoyment, hand-exercise, and contemplation. I used to sit and play just anything and let my mind drift - it's a creative time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 03:09 PM

I forgot to mention - a few weeks ago I bought a bag of high-end bird seed for the feeders outside. This is a "patio mix" without shells. I had it in a brown paper bag until I finished using the regular bird feed. I finally realized that the new bag was the source of moths and their weevil progenitors. I put the seed out in the feeders (the birds won't mind eating the little worms) and have been swatting moths every day still. Part of this dusting/mopping/vacuuming is to see if they have found some other food source that has gone unnoticed (a box of dog biscuits, an empty flour sack, etc.). No luck so far in finding a culprit. It may just take a while for the offspring of the birdseed to die off.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 13 - 11:08 AM

Note to self: You can't put bread in the vacuum seal bags for the freezer. I had to quickly cut open a bag after it collapsed a loaf from last night, and it appears to have recovered. I saw a note in the book about how to freeze bread, so I'll go back and look for it later. :)

Warm and humid today. Yard work plans, after I finish ripping some recorded books into the computer so I can take them back to the library tomorrow. I'm not making many trips on the weekend - to save gas I'm doing those errands after work on the way home. Since I drive to campus more my gas bill is going up. It was a few cents under $3.00/gallon in December, but it's back up around $3.25 now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Jan 13 - 03:24 PM

We're a little bit out of the deep freeze, at least for a few days. Could reach 50F (10C) by Tuesday?! The pumpkin & the acorn squash that I was storing on the front porch froze, so I had to cook them up before they thawed and started to rot. At least the seeds & stringy part all came out in one big lump. So I made a big pot of spicy pumpkin soup, and put some in the freezer.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 13 - 03:39 PM

Sounds delicious!

I've been wading through Dust Central this afternoon. I also have to get into the garden, but I got started on this and I'd like to finish at the point where I can see that I was working in there today after all.

I've washed the dog beds and some rugs. I washed table cloths from work (from the meeting that the speaker didn't make it to - we still had the reception since the food was there.) I did the table cloths before the dog beds, just in case you're wondering. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Jan 13 - 05:04 PM

SRS, the image of Space-Bagged bread-- priceless! Glad your prompt action allowed it ti re-inflate!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 13 - 06:50 PM

I pulled a bunch of VCR tapes off of the shelves in the hall and more from the coffee table and under the piano bench in the front room. This isn't all that needs to go, but it is a big chunk of it. Perhaps half. I packed a box full after taking off the cardboard covers and it weighs in at 25 pounds. I'm going to pay a recyling company in zip code 65202 to break these up, recycle the various bits they can(the tape isn't recyclable) and it won't land in the dump here. This will cost about $23. The box is full of duplicates of things that I have on DVD now or that I can stream via NetFlix or other sources. I still have some unique and important tapes, it isn't like everything is going.

Off to walk the dogs before dark and then I'll vacuum in there this evening. The dog beds are clean and restuffed, the futon is in the upright position, and I've been putting books up on the shelves. I've dusted some and it's looking more like a room, not just overflow storage. I need to get some of the sideways stuff off of the bookshelves, I am sure some of that can go. I culled a few old reference books and a couple of biographies I know I'll never read. Anyone want to read about George Sand or Beverly Sills?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 01:35 AM

Good walk with the pooches, it was a warm quiet evening. After that I finished clearing up in the front room. In this region of the country they tend to build two living room areas in houses - the front room is smaller and is lined with book shelves I put up, and it's is where the piano sits. This is the higher level of the house - the den or living room (larger) is six inches lower because sunken living rooms were popular in the 70s. They're a pain in the ass, actually. No way I'm putting the piano down in there, I'd never get it back out again without someone coming in to help.

I vacuumed then took time to shift books around and tuck away many of the books that were on the front of shelves or horizontal on top of the books on the shelves. It looks more dignified.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 10:48 AM

Tired this morning - I think it is a side effect of disturbing all of that dust, my eyes are a bit itchy allergy-wise.

Two rooms tackled over the weekend. I think this is an early burst of spring cleaning and a way to put off the income taxes and other pressing chores.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 11:32 AM

Maggie, you're making me feel guilty, lol. I've pretty much just been a slug for the past week. I think it's just a reaction to the stress, as well as trying to fight off something before it really takes hold.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 11:47 AM

Tami, if you tackle the smallest room, or as others have advised when that seems too much, a drawer or cabinet, that little endorphin boost of having set a space to rights is good to help you move on. Maybe re-arrange your dresser, toss things that you don't wear any more, make the top look fabulous without clutter, but a nice lamp and mirror for effect, etc.

I took a couple of minutes just now and made another push in the front room - I took the various things off of the shelves that were sitting here and there in front of books. It looks so much less cluttered, even with a wall full of books which would tend to be the definition of a fully-stuffed place.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 11:59 AM

I'm about to begin my day. Everyone is home today due to icy roads. Also, I just scored a beautiful couch in perfect shape for $100.00. In the stores, it runs an easy $800.00. I'm PSYCHED! We have lived here for 15 years without a couch...I'd say it's time! YAHOOIE!

Michelle

PS. For those friends on FB, there are photos!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 12:05 PM

Thanks, Maggie, but I only have the one room. It's a matter of starting on unpacking the boxes and organizing the contents and then getting things into either the loft or the storage unit. I know where I'm going to start, I just haven't had the energy to do it yet. Like I said, I'm wiped out, both physically and emotionally at the moment.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 12:24 PM

I had energy when I woke up this morning. I even got a bunch of little things done. AND I got dressed for going out -- Tom's been talking all weekend of going to Urgent Care today to find out why he's still in so much pain with his knee. (From the fall on the 16th -- he saw his PCP last Monday -- primarily as a followup to his foot infection -- who didn't seem concerned about it.) But now he thinks he doesn't want to go. At least not today.

I just figured out what needs to be fixed on his wheelchair so the brake will hold. Should be easy to fix -- if he's not in it and I can turn it upside down and manage to find the right wrench AND be able to get to both sides of it. And the frustration of not being able to find both the right tool(s) AND be able to get at the bolt and nut at the same time (oh, and SEE them, too) was just enough to make me totter on the edge of losing it. I can't get my fingers in there and none of the tools I've tried so far will work and the one I think WILL is not where it's supposed to be. (In the damned tool box where I ALWAYS return stuff.)

I guess I don't realize or think about exactly how much constant stress I'm under that I mostly ignore until something fairly small and reasonably simple pushes me into the state I'm in right now. All I want to do is escape -- probably into a nap -- not that that will do a bit of good.

What WILL do some good is if I get something accomplished today -- more than I've already done. But I'm feeling so lethargic and paralyzed that it's going to be a major effort.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 01:33 PM

I would suggest asking a mechanic with the right tools to come over and fix the chair if you have someone who could. This is too big a safety issue and you don't need the added stress of figuring something out that might not be right and would be a snap for someone who has done similar things for a living...mg

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 09:24 PM

I think I wrote something here earlier today, but I evidently turned off my computer incorrectly and hadn't sent then closed the browser.

I vacuumed the shelves and am now moving a few pieces in the front room. I think if I put a couple of the antiques where they can be seen better from the hall that the room will look more elegant.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Jan 13 - 11:51 PM

I am working on a major grocery shopping list. I've been trying to keep shopping down to once every 3 or 4 weeks (with the exception of milk, fresh fruit and eggs)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 10:18 AM

:~( I sorta broke my butt. Well, the right side of it at least.

We are not sure exactly what I did to throw some stuff out of whack, but I had to spend the last night and a half in the recliner on muscle relaxers to put the muscle-fire out. It is similar to a post-op muscle strain I had in the nursing home, on the left side. So I am handling it the same way-- resume walking as soon as the fire is out and I can stand upright without screaming.

The worst part is that after the first day with this, when it got better I went back to our bed-- and lying on my right side only made it worse, so I have no idea how to avoid having to wake Hardi up to help me out of bed to pee, again! It was definitely not caused by sleeping that way to start with, because I did have several great night's sleep in that bed, so....???? Back to experimenting.

I THINK that two longish days in the car instead of walking on my ramp might have contributed, so this week I will be all about schedule, schedule, schedule.

And we def have to get a backup battery system in the works for that electric recliner. TBTG when the ice storm knocked out the power last night, I was not in it and did not need to be back in it till after it came back on. But we have a plan....

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Health JANUARY 2013 - To Life!
From: ranger1
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 10:45 AM

200!

Sorry, couldn't help myself...