BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report

Subject: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 04:54 PM

The last accountability and de-clutter thread is here.

These are two of the most difficult months coming up, exercise in the worsening weather, thrift in the gift-giving months, and losing weight in the calorie rich environment.

I'm down about 12 pounds now, and the fat pants that got too tight are now comfortable again. I didn't want to go up another size, so at least budget wise I'm down into the pants I already owned. I still have boxes of clothes that are out of reach (figuratively and literally) until I loose another 20 to 25 pounds.

My bank stuff is still rather disordered, but I did get a paycheck. Now I'm working on setting up a college account for my son and teaching him about writing checks as we send off applications fees to universities that suggest they have funding for him.

It's a pretty afternoon and I did the poop-scoop bit and now I'll go mow the back lawn. According to Covert Bailey it would be better muscle wise if I do it tomorrow (making the heavy stuff happen every other day) but I don't think I can manage it in a busy work day, even if I mowed at lunchtime.

Kat, I hope you're feeling better, but I suspect we won't hear much about it as you plunge into this novel writing month of November. There are a couple of folks I don't expect to hear much from for the next four weeks.

Susan, have you tried offering a bribe to those young volunteers? Make muffins or cookies or something. The word will get around as fast as the warm oven smell meets them at the kitchen door. :)

All of you doing heavy lifting, remember to "lift with your legs." And keep up the good work!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: gnu
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 04:59 PM

Wednesday past, I made it to one pound lighter than I was on December 31, 1986.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 05:01 PM

And what kind of bell curve is represented by your weight measurements in the interim?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 05:43 PM

Progress!

(I fetched the steps in so that I can get at the top bookshelf to give it a long needed de-clutter, maybe sometime this week).

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 05:56 PM

Bribes, decent pay, fluttering eyelashes-- all of that. :~) Fud. Pizza next.

What I have not tried is asking any young ladies to come visit while we work. It feels kinda icky. I keep hoping one of them will have a girlfriend they want to show off for.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 08:18 PM

My goal this month is to keep a journal of what I eat. I used to do this and need to start again...it helps keep me on track...one of my favorite WW quotes, "If you bite it, write it!"

I'm happy to say that the only chocolate that made it's way into the house this Halloween season is dark chocolate...something I don't flip for but my husband does. He is great at having a piece or two and leaving it alone....if it's candy I like, I am unable to do that no matter WHAT story I tell myself at the store...so I just didn't bring any in the house. We'll continue along that trend (for holiday goodies) in the upcoming months.

I hate to say that I do this but it has helped me and maybe it will help someone else...all cookies and well meaning yummies that come my way are given to someone else to enjoy, added to the chicken food bucket (if it isn't chocolate) or tossed in the trash. I hate to do it but short of handing the gift back to them (which is offensive to most people), I have to do that. Most times other people are more than happy to take the yummies off my hands and they are great at understanding WHY.

Ok...activity for this month includes 2 power yoga classes per week, 1 not so power yoga class per week (although it's a drop in and the instructor's choice...normally this is a nice stretchy class but she has been known to kick our asses every once in a while during this class too). I won 3 seasons of Grey's Anatomy in an eBay action for CHEAP and I love to watch that while I walk...so walking is on my schedule too...3 days a week. Finally, I have been asked to join someone at the pool, so I'll be swimming at least once a week, maybe two.

Around the house, tonight I cleaned out the fridge. Tomorrow I am changing my closet & drawers from summer to fall/winter gear.

I've already started my Christmas shopping for the very few people that I exchange gifts with...it's going to be small and intimate this year....just the way I like it!!!! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 09:43 PM

Don't think twice about passing along candy. I do it all the time. In fact, the candy I gave out for Halloween was determined by the fact that I don't like it. I've never cared for the combination of chocolate & peanut butter, so I always give Reese's-- never have been tempted to eat any of it.

I spent a little time re-organizing the clothes rack in my room. Sent some more clothes off to charity, too.

Also started making a holiday to-do list. I updated my Christmas card list and printed the labels. I discovered that I have enough cards from previous years, that I won't have to buy any this year. I try to get them in the mail before the end of Nov.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Nov 09 - 10:15 PM

Hey Maryanne,

   I'm with you on the Christmas cards. It's my tradition to sit down either on Thanksgiving Day (after all the festivities) or the day after and get my Christmas cards ready to go out. I found some cute cards early this summer and stocked up for $1.00 per box...jackpot! Maybe I'll get the envelopes addressed this week........hmmmmmmm.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 03:15 AM

I haven't written holiday cards in years, so I need to do it early so a few folks who do send out cards will add me back on their lists.

Not like chocolate and peanut butter - one of natures most perfect foods? Make it just a little salty along with the sweet and I'm in heaven. But when I do Halloween I usually do the same thing, I buy the candies I can resist.

Today I started putting up the lumber border in what will support the raised bed for spring. I'll work on it as I have time. I took four of the shortest fence posts that hold chicken wire fences and pounded two on each side of a 2 x 8 plank (staggered the posts) and then piled dirt against the uphill side. This is untreated lumber, under $10 for the board. The posts cost $2.50 each. A heckuva lot cheaper than the plastic planks and support system I was looking at. If these boards rot, I'll get another few, they're cheap.

Dishes are clean, two jars of tomatoes cold-packed then processed for 40 minutes. I started with three jars, but one broke. I'll do a hot pack after this. Laundry finished, folded, and put away. Kitchen cleaned up. Amazing (thought I didn't get any of the work for work done I planned on).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 08:00 AM

My brain is still fabricating fencing details. Some small, low-quality (pine) logs will be going in the chainlink's trench when we backfill. Sod backfill on one side and logs on the other, as an anti-dig deterrent-- then, logs as a mowing border on the other. The logs are the small branches from a tree that fell down years ago. We blocked over our fireplace last year and will never burn them!

It cracks me up to be uing up all this stuff that's been lying aoround for years, making it look like we paid a landscaper.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:03 AM

You're right, SRS, I will be fairly scarce, but I am will check in now and then. We did a lot of house cleaning this weekend and ran extra errands. we had a little extra in his paycheck this week as they have three paydays this month, so skip taking out insurance on one of them. That was a nice surprise and went for a new toilet seat and a floor lamp to shine over my shoulder onto my keyboard; most helpful.

I send all of the leftover candy with Rog to work where they welcome it.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:03 AM

Dishes are done, laundry is done and folded, washing some throw rugs at the moment and soon will head upstairs to begin the seasonal change over.

On the accountability front, I've decided to set aside at least 1 hour every day to read something inspiring or educational in the direction of my well being. I exercise my body a lot and while I read daily, it's not usually a topic focused reading....and I think I need to do that! So this morning, after the breakfast table was cleared, laundry started, dishes washed, I set the timer on the stove for an hour, got myself a cup of coffee in my favorite Snoopy mug and read, undisturbed for an hour with my purple pen close at hand for making notes or underlining interesting thoughts. Doing this felt good, really, really good.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:49 AM

The promised young men received a little reinforcement today from their manager, on motivation, and are expected shortly.

Their reward will be a pizza party at the end of the day while the doggies play in Dog World.


Their next project (if they complete this one and earn another one) will be the conversion of 1/3 of my old chicken domain into my own personal potting shed. All the topsoil dug up to plant fence-posts will be shifted there, mixed with old chicken litter, and potted up for spring container gardening. The unused fencing supplies, ditto, for a spring re-do of the temp kennel when feasible.

A FreeCycler has already spoken up for the whole, weirdly mis-matched box of clothing I listed yesterday, which I will drop off the same day I pick up two other FC items in her area. My buddy Ed will ride along for company and to tell me all about the trip he's just back from, to see his brother.

FC-in will be workout/yoga videoes and equipment for my fitness library and a pile of magazines I'll pass on further.

It's all about flow-- what flows in, what flows out, how many items can be added to the chain as the flow moves.

I'm flowing, too, with energy. It's SUNNY out there!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 12:56 PM

I think there is a chocolate laced diet wreacking conspiracy which operates from mid September, when the stores start really pushing the Halloween candy to just after Easter, when the last bit of Easter junk is on clearance.

Then suddenly the TV and papers and magazines are full of ads for losing weigh and getting into that slinky swim suit. Join this club or that programme.

Where's my double dipped chocolate Acai berry?

I cleared some junk out of the wardrobe in spare room this weekend. Will do some ironing tonight.

I am humgry. pout.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: maire-aine
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 01:21 PM

Weather is cloudy & chilly, but only a few drops of rain, so I was able to get some leaves raked to the curb. Most of the front lawn is cleared & most of the driveway, but the tree in back (my neighbor's yard) is still holding on to a lot of leaves. Next task for the week is to try starting the snowblower. I've also been cleaning out the freezer/fridge, so I'll have room for holiday baking.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 04:24 PM

It's a drop-dead gorgeous day out today, and everyone seems to be outside working. Across the street neighbors getting a new roof, and the street guys are coming back to finish the driveways along the road they paved early last month. Folks are out walking dogs and driving on errands and all meeting to talk in the street out front. The roofer across the street did work here for me a couple of years ago, so we were out talking, along with the guy getting the new roof, and looking at tomatoes and peppers in the garden. Passing around business cards because any time someone starts a new roof someone else who needs one comes by and asks about it. I feel very fortunate that I know (at least by sight, if not by name) my neighbors about a block out in each direct. So this kind of weather gets us all out there to catch up after so much rainy indoors time.

Shipping a couple of eBay things today. I had to cancel a sale from 2 weeks ago that never paid. He didn't seem to get it that PayPal only means don't send a money order, and when his money order never arrived, I ended it and he agreed. If a money order envelope arrives, I'll send it back unopened. I'm trying to keep a steady trickle of activity over there, because every sale helps.

At lunch today I mowed the back yard. I wish this were for the last time this year, but I suspect it won't be. And the ground is really moist and it's warm, so even if the days are getting shorter, the conditions dictate growth.

Must design a web page and send out promotional stuff, so I'm back to work. But I'd love to spend the entire day out in the yard.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 05:48 PM

THY'RE IN! THEY'RE IN! THEY'RE ION DOG WORRLD!!!

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 05:51 PM

THEY'RE IN! THEY'RE IN!

THEY'RE IN DOG WORLD!!!

Wrassle, run, roll, play, wash my face. At breakneck speed. As the last burnt-red stains of sunset, and the last of the barely-seeworthy twilight gave way to a COLD, dark night.

More later,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 10:13 PM

Power & Grace yoga tonight...didn't want to go...would have rather stayed home doing what I was doing but I went anyway and as usual, I'm so glad I did!!! YAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 09 - 11:41 PM

I always thought this was funny...NOT picking on any of you, just hoping for some smiles/laughs:-)

GOD AND ST. FRANCIS DISCUSSING LAWNS

GOD: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.

ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No Sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.

GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD: Enough. I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have they scheduled for us tonight?"

ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber", Lord. It's a really stupid movie about.....

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 04:30 AM

LOL.

We prefer the potential privations of poverty to Purity Through Suburbia. We know too many fundie-burbanites, as perfectly described by St. Francis above.

I'll take the cluster flies, frozen and burst pipes, occasional power outages, WILDLIFE, and unobstructed sunrises and sunsets-- till they put me away in an old folks tower!

In fact in spring I plan to sleep often in Dog World. I made a gate big enough to drive in the CAMPER! :~) Close enough to hookups! :~)

Cuz Faulkner gets carsick, so he cain't go on vacay with us. BUT, I can bring the campground to him! Just open up the camper door to let him out in the mornings. That's my little chunk of heaven. Miniature ponies, next? Well, maybe the odd goat or two. Oh yeah. This here fence is goat-proof......

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 11:16 AM

I let the weeds grow in my turf; when it's is mowed it all looks like lawn. I don't have trees that drop a lot of leaves, but all of my neighbors do and those end up in my yard, and in turn, end up in my compost. :)

My dogs absolutely love it when I go out and visit them in their stall. It's all happy wiggling and wagging. I suppose if I had to I could take a sleeping bag out there, but I know I'd have both of them on top of me.

As I reported in Kat's other thread, I'm off of the meds that needed weaning to stop. I'm sure it will take a little while for everything to finish the shift from the med that was resulting in weight gain. I am inspired to continue losing the weight, to benefit from the change. Right now I'm to the point where my fat pants are all comfortable, not so tight that I'd have to go another size up (that's where I was when I started this). I'm looking forward to visiting the far end of my closet (smaller sizes) and pulling down a box of garments (too good to give away, but no way I could fit into them). In fact, I have a goal that would be fabulous if I can reach it this year, but maybe not by the time we have our holiday meeting at work. It follows:

A few years ago I was over at my neighborhood thrift store, and I found what looked like the weirdest shaped sweater dress you can imagine. Then a flash of inspiration hit and I realized what it was--one of those shaped fitted skirts and a blouson top. It's a rich dark green Benetton (Italian) sweater dress that probably cost a small fortune new. The top front bottons and has pretty pearl buttons. And at one time I was able to successfully wear it (several years ago). Our next Friends of the Library meeting is a month from now and I'm sure I won't be into it by then, but maybe by the New Year? I might even find a way to go out and wear it if I do get to where it will fit, even if it is something simple like going to a concert or something.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 11:34 AM

Dog World is fun but chilly. Play that had drawn blood in the temp kennel has converted by itself back to peer-wrestling play. Much running and sunning out there (dogs) and jes' settin' a spell (me), assessing next escape-proof tweaks.

Pal with digi-camera my come by later and if so there will be snaps of Dog World soon. It's not quite perfect, but it is not too bad either, even pre-lansdcape-- considering it was 80% re-re-recycled materials. Spring will make it prtetty. I already have a lightweight shade pergola planned, on wood posts. (A dry spot to leave chairs, under it.)


Me, back to "normal" life but with a nicely enhanced strength / increased energy level. Pooltime again now feasible-- back at it tonight.

Next boy-tasks will be with much less supervision.

And the FC box goes out tomorrow.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 12:38 PM

Daily house chores done and may actually get to the closets and drawers that I had hoped to do yesterday. Somehow I got sucked into the book I was reading and didn't do squat (other than the power yoga class). I did get some of the grocery shopping done and the rest will happen tomorrow. I had planned on going today but my body is not cooperating (PCOS).

I found coupons.com yesterday and to my surprise found coupons for children's toys from PlaySkool....so while I was shopping, I picked up a little push/pull/ride scooter for our wee one for a mere $12.00. I am most happy with that.

Susan, I have a Meghan Garcia yoga DVD for real sized people if you are interested. It's the DVD I started out with to learn some of the more basic yoga. Also, I have no idea how much get up and go you've got lately but if being on the floor is difficult, they make DVDs (and offer classes at the senior center in Wboro) for chair yoga. I'm not sure how much interest you have but noticed in one of your posts you said something about some yoga dvds. I love yoga and high recommend it to anyone. It's never a DO MORE, BEND MORE, HOLD LONGER kind of thing...it's all about finding YOUR own edge and what works for you.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 12:39 PM

er...highly recommend!

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 12:55 PM

LF, if you would like to donate that to the parish to my attention, I could use that with some folks I'm working with.


Thanks,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 02:09 PM

Folks you are working with? As in you are teaching yoga? I'm confused.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 02:13 PM

Long story.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: maire-aine
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 02:38 PM

Went to vote this morning; just city commission and some ballot proposals. Made a couple loaves of soda bread-- one will go in the freezer. My snowblower needs work, so I'll take it into the shop this afternoon.

Can't wait to see the dog world photos.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 02:52 PM

Me too! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 07:42 PM

Yoga: Meditative Posture Flow....long held poses with release to feel & recognize each echo. I love this class!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: GUEST,MAG
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 09:05 AM

decluttering continues apace; I'm taking some time off work, so it's going faster.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 09:44 AM

My fridge is so decluttered that it's practically empty....a few bottles of water, salad dressing, some pickles.....you get the idea. My freezers are full but I need to pick up some fresh stuff. I made a grocery list and left it on the table last night and this morning I see that my husband has added a few additional things.....butt plugs and elk steak. LOL.

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 12:42 PM

I've decluttered my mind of 1657 words on my novel in the past hour. That's almost the what the word requirement averages out to if you count all of the days in November.:-) So, I am at 7148 which is actually 1858 than where I was last night.

I am now going to go do some qi gong, then hook up my plant sprayer to the sink, wash off and water my houseplants, then it'll be lunchtime. We waiting to find out what's wrong with our car and how much it will cost. They think it is something simple like a spark plug or sensor, but won't know 'til they call.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 03:06 PM

Oh, well, the rest of my day will be spent putting things up on ebay, finally. Nothing like a car repair taking all of our extra to motivate. I don't know how our car knows to do that whenever we have a little extra; I suppose I should be happy it waits until we do.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 05:36 PM

Finished a big newsletter, did a blog entry earlier today and have been planning more furniture moves for next weekend.

Nuked a bunch of snails in the garden by putting out bowls of beer. Got a couple hundred of them, so I'll put out more again tonight. Conquered a troublesome web site that wouldn't let me log on to change a bank account number (ongoing from the fraud problem in early October).

Last night I ate a meal that wasn't strictly on my diet, though it wasn't horribly fattening. The plan called for plenty of broiled hamburger (however much that might be) and a salad. I made taco meat during the afternoon (hamburger meat plus seasoning and tomatoes). I was going to eat it with a few corn chips to make it not too far off of the plan, but when I stopped by Central Market they had hot tortillas off of the machine. The plain ones were sold out but they still had the white flour ones made with butter. Warm. I brought those home and we heated some of the taco meat and spooned a little meat into the tortillas and didn't bother with cheese or sauce or lettuce, etc. A pack of 10 (small sized) was demolished between us. It was so good!

Kat, I agree, machines around the house seem to know if you have something extra you were planning to use elsewhere. My hot water tank did that earlier in the year. My truck has been very well behaved, but did a bit of that a year ago, so this year I went ahead and had some workd done that needed doing (based upon mileage) before any problems arose. So it amounts to the same thing, doesn't it? Preemptive still costs money.

eBay has been nice to help knock off a few bills. It also motivates me to keep moving out extra stuff from around here. Slow and steady.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 06:15 PM

Thanks, SRS. I had the menorah all ready to go, wrote up the sales pitch, loaded the pix, went to preview and ebay hung up somehow so that the whole thing got dumped when I had to shut it down to get out of there. Discouraging. I will do it this evening, saving it, first, as I know I should have done!:-) I have some other unusual things to put up including an adorable little purse I had as a kid which is in the shape of a Scotty dog...really cute and collectible.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 10:32 PM

Kat, I was having that problem, and realized it was because I was using Internet Explorer. I've tweaked and adjusted and IE still hangs and is so slow. They sent out a big update yesterday and I thought that might help, but it still has it's slow periods. Firefox is great for eBay. I also have used Chrome successfully.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 10:50 PM

Thanks but that's not it. I use Firefox exclusively. Not sure why it did it, but I won't take any chances on losing it next time.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 07:43 AM

Last night: Yoga, 60 Minutes...fairly intense. One of my good friends went last night and that makes something I already love doing even better! YAY!

Today? I've been asked to do some test reads at a local radio station for possible commercial work. I don't think I have the voice for it but the owners have approached me 3 times now....I thought they were joking. They weren't. So....we shall see what happens. I'm thinking I'll read something, they'll listen to the recording and say, OMG....you sound like CRAP...and I'll laugh and say, I told you!!! Either way, it'll be an experience!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:41 AM

The FC-out ydy took up two black trash bags. The FC-in took up two GROCERY bags, and 2/3 of that will FC out again promptly-- to get one item I wanted I took some magazines I did not need, but I know where they can be donated. Today I will sort thru and list another pile of FC stuff.

No playtime in Dog World today, tho there are tasks that need to be done out there-- I got what Hardi had, with a vengeance, so must stay out of the cold air. But Hardi and I can play a new training game with the doggies later, to reinforce their return-when-called training. I'll play the inside "role" from their nice warm kitchen corner, and Hardi will play the outside role. He can putter a tiny chore or two out there while we play; the doggies will be so amused and get a great run out of it, too.

Ydy during Dog World play hour, Sadie "told" Faulkner where her submission "limit" is. It's so cool to be able to be WITH them and see their communication. She very clearly said, in dog-ese, "If you want me to keep playing with you, you will have to knock off that skin-pulling thing you've been doing on me!" And F's behavior replied, "Oh. ....that was a problem? .... so.... .....show me how you want to play. I like to play." They also worked on "leave the fence alone" habituation.


The FC-d out videos cleared space in my home office for stowing a bunch of stuff that has been sitting up there waiting for shelf space, so I'll take my flu meds (and soup) and hole up, today, up there-- tea and other goodies are waiting. A somewhat-mindless Songbook task also can be done if I get awake enough.... or I'll just go back to bed!

A HUGE pork roast found ydy at our butcher's will be dinner tonight and a bag of single-portioned leftovers for the freezer-- to go with cornbread stuffing, etc., in the cold months ahead. A nice batch of their homemade kielbasa will slow-cook at the same time and portioned for the freezer in lunch servings.

I found an easy fix for my autumn pumpkin-roll jones. It's actually good for IBS and a bunch of other things, but it's expensive and sometimes hard to find. The cream-cheesy filling that goes into the roll is easily swapped for the cheesecake-filling in the dairy case-- and if food is an addiction for you for God's sake do not buy THAT stuff-- it's good! I can make pumpkin bread in bulk and use the prepared filling much more sparingly than the boughten pumpkin-roll-filling, get the stuff we need but with a lot less sugar/fat calories, and use oats in the pumpkin bread to make it even better for us.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:15 AM

MOTIVATION TIP

After I post here that I have decided to get rid of an item (or bunch of items), but before I bag or box them and bring them downstairs-- I list them at FreeCycle. I leave them right where they are until a FC-er schedules a pickup! This means that stuff that can and will actually leave does not clutter up my downstairs at any point.

Stuff that no one wants is simply bagged up for disposal and rolled downstairs and OUT on trash night.

It's amazing how much energy there is to move stuff the moment someone else actually wants or needs that stuff. At that moment the stuff is transformed-- it is no longer trash I must deal with ("sigh..."), but valuable property belonging to someone else.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:58 AM

I'm following the Scarsdale diet again, and it called for lamb last night, so I picked up a leg at Sam's Club. Most is in the freezer, cut into portions, and some is in us. While I was out there one of the sample ladies got my attention with some fresh farm raised catfish (it's one of the few farm raised fish that I think tastes good) that had been dipped in some Zatarain's seasoned corn flour and sauteed in a pan in minimal oil. It was so good, and so simple! I may not buy the mix, there's an awful lot in that jar, but I can approximate it on my own (I can read the label, it's a simple mix).

I do need to buy some fresh cornmeal and toss the old (into the garden--it won't go to waste!) Too often I've kept flour and grains too long and they get rancid. I'll be this corn isn't as good as it was 2 years ago when I bought it. This time, a small bag or buy a small amount in bulk and not keep it for ages. This is part of my healthy eating routine (as directed by Dr. Weil). Rancid foods not only don't taste good, they aren't good for you. We know oil can get rancid, but any kind of a whole grain also has oil in it and gets rancid.

I'm down another couple of pounds, and some of these fat pants are getting quite loose; I've moved the belt up another notch. I'm going to give myself the psychological boost of wearing them a while longer so when I shift down to the next size they feel good and it isn't a case of squishing into them and gradually letting them fit better. It is nice to wear pants that fit well, not too snug.

It's a beautiful fall day and the street is noisy with construction workers finishing driveways up the street. My neighbor's new roof looks good, and has a cluster of brightly colored leaves resting in one corner, making it look like it's always been there. My allergies are perking up so I've done the gargle and neti pot routine along with the zyrtec. A walk at noon will get me my exercise for the day, and I'll pick up a few more pecans while I'm at it. See if I can beat the dogs to them. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 01:12 PM

It has taken what seems like the whole morning (not really, though) to get one item listed on ebay, but i have done it! (It wasn't lost afterall, but I didn't find that out until I'd recreated it in my own program.:-) I wish ebay woud make drafts easy to find!) Now, for some others, but that will have to be after lunch and naptime...I feel sleepy today.

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 01:37 PM

Ha! There's some good news. The car was only 281 instead of 350! That's enough to make me much happier!

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 02:45 PM

The radio bit was FUN. I did 4 commercials, some stuff for the midnight show and the birthdays/anniversaries for tomorrow morning! I don't know if they'll ask me to do more or not...either way it is totally okay! They asked me to do something I've never done, I did it and had fun...in my book, that's great! If it turns to something more, that's great too! :) YAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 07:51 PM

Down 2.2 pounds this week. YAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 11:00 PM

Cleaned up the kitchen and the dining room table, discarding and shredding a lot of paper in the process. It's been a hectic week, so I'll treat myself to an early evening. Full day tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 12:04 AM

Didn't sleep very well last night, so I've been draggin' all day. Also really tense & anxious-- probably why I didn't sleep last night.

Got more leaves raked, with some help from my next door neighbor. Most of the leaves are down now-- the fall colors have mostly disappeared around here. Also have some books bagged up to take to the library's used bookstore. Laundry is all caught up.

I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow, and take back 4 bags of returnable bottles. Want to stop at Home Depot/Lowe's/whatever and get a new door chime. The old one only gives a half-dead "thunk" when you press the button.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: 11-09/De-clutter & Accountability report
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:17 AM

Up early this morning, floors are swept, dishes done, laundry running, table cleared...it's looking like a beautiful day out there! I don't have anything on my agenda today other than house work (puttering with whatever) and yoga later tonight. At the moment, I'm listening to the radio waiting to hear myself....it's really kinda strange!!!!

Have a great Friday!

Michelle