BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^

Subject: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 05:42 PM

Here is the last one from 2009.

Today I didn't turn on the computer until I finished some of the clearing and rearranging in my office. Hogmanay may be an event in Scotland for the last day of the year, but frankly, the last day of the year here in North Texas was the end of a dreary string of heavily overcast drizzly days that were all about 33 degrees and miserable. Last night was supposed to be a Blue Moon and I despaired seeing it, but after my son and I watched a late movie, I looked out in the back yard and was amazed to see the bright night look of a full moon shining down! It felt like a huge emotional weight had lifted, just in the nick of time.

So today, a crisp sunny day, I have been moving forward in the clearing up and mopping and such I started last year. I have a batch of lefse in the fridge chilling before I shape the patties and the kitchen is looking quite nice. I've finished filling out some rebate forms that must be mailed soon, and I've tidied up the bills and receipts from last year. I need to do my taxes in record time this year, due to college funding (FAFSA) eligibility forms for my kids, so I want papers where I can find them when I sit down to taxes.

What a difference a day makes.

I moved furniture in my office and it looks better now, less likelihood of stubbing a toe or banging a knee on stuff sitting around. The trunk is now in front of the window with a towel-covered blanket on top and a box to step on to get up there for my old cat. I swept and mopped and though I still have more to do, it is already much improved.

As to accountability, I have been building up to resume my diet, but I won't quite go cold turkey on the non-diet foods. I've been eating the Scarsdale breakfast (toast and fruit) for several days, and today I started in with the lunch (usually a lean meat and a veggie or fruit.) I'll go with small portions of whatever we have around for dinner so I don't end up wasting the current leftovers. I hate starting a diet and not being able to use the food already in the fridge. I loaded up on lots of fresh vegetables in the last few days. I know I gained back some weight, and I'll probably eat modestly and get exercise for a few days before I even step on the scale. Scales can cause more bad feelings than about any other device in the house. :-/

I have to race through a lot of paperwork for my work, and go through a lot for scholarships for both kids. So I'll be busy--good thing my office is looking so much better (I moved in a new small table for the printer, stacked up some shelves that had been beside the computer as a sort of credenza. They were awkward.)

Birds have started coming to the little feeder I hung in the newer garden a week ago. I'll put seed on the ground in the morning to attract a few more. It's always a nice day when I can watch birds at the feeder outside my kitchen window!

Have a good 2010, everyone, and please keep up the good work, good health, and the entertaining reportage!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 06:34 PM

It must be catching. I started sorting through a humongous pile of linen and other stuff from our largish linen closet. Something I've been wanting to do for ages.

I've sent to two garbage bags full to the car for donation, there will be more; have the ironing board set up for ironing some of it, not the sheets though. I will dampen them and throw them in the dryer then fold them when they come out wrinkle-free which was not done last time they were washed.

I have another shelf to go through, but the one I finished had a ton of stuff in those vacuum bags. I will not be using those any more except for a couple of heirloom blankets and lace tablecloths. I don't know what I was thinking, except maybe a way of saving space, when I loaded them. I found a bunch of towels and pillowcases I thought were gone. They were crammed in one of those bags which was all wrinkled up like a candy wrapper. Quite colourful but useless for my purposes. All of that linen will go back on the shelf sans bags and we will USE it as needs be!

This feels so good. As though I've moved off center and am starting to progress. The docs say at thirty days on the higher dose of zoloft I should really notice a difference. That will be around the 17th. I can hardly wait, I already feel so much better.

Thanks for the new thread, SRS.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 06:43 PM

My mother always said "whatever you do on New Year's Day, you'll do all year long". So, when I changed the bedclothes this morning, I turned the mattress. It's one of these new 15-inch ones, so you can't flip it, only spin it around. I also caught up on all of the laundry AND put everything away. I made a pot of French Onion Soup (garnished with fresh thyme from the yard)-- mmmm, yummy! I order it when I go out, but I've never made it at home before. Turned out well, and there's some for tomorrow's lunch.

I know I've put on about 5 more pounds during December, but I'm going to concentrate on cutting my carbs, starting today. The sun managed to peek out for a few minutes this afternoon, but it has been very cold today. It only "got up" to 25F (-3.9C) today, and it's going to be about that all next week, so not much walking outdoors for a while.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 09:17 PM

I made lefse (Norwegian potato flat bread) for the first time this evening. The dough was a little soft so it wasn't a thin as it should be (these came out about like tortillas, but they need to be thinner, so the dough needs to be like stiff pie crust dough). I called my sister and a friend and got their tips on making it, then called the friend back to describe what I was seeing and get more feedback. Not bad for a start, but I ate 2.5 so I've had most of the calories I need for the evening. (They were still warm so I buttered then sprinkled cinnamon sugar and rolled them up.) I'm going to make myself a salad later, and I have some asparagus to use up.

Need to do more work in the office, and need to read up on a scholarship form for my son that is due in a little over a week.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 10:25 PM

We went to our favorite restaurant for Hardi's day-off lunch, taking Splenda and other items to "play" with the day-chef who loves to play with food. With him, we created some new appetizers using apples to increase the fruit/healthy side of their menu choices. We got some very good guilt-free dessert results, too, to add to their menu-- so they will not lose customers determined to stick to their resolutions!

We brought most of it home to feed from during the day's other activities which included measuring where the new rugs will go, hiking up attic stairs for same, and other get-up-and-move chores during the special NY day hockey game.

One of the chores was putting up some roasted beef for the freezer. Sliced, in post-marination delightful flavorings.

We concluded that our FOOD habits had not slipped during the hols but that our WORKOUTs certainly had, and Monday it's back to non-holiday-worktime and, for me, the aquatics in full gear.

In pursuit of rug measures we reallocated some items from MudDorm (attic shangri-la) to downstairs areas till spring, including a nice two-burner hotplate my son had given us to use where the 2 burners on the kitchen cooktop are no longer working-- we rent here and will not replace the cooktop.

We decluttered a well-meant but off-the-mark Christmas gift, too. (Cash for clutter!)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 10:26 PM

I made breakfast for the first time in about 3 weeks! My husband has been taking such good care of me and part of that includes not letting me cook. The thing is though, it felt good to cook for HIM!!!

We spent the day at our favorite bookstore and took our niece along. Later my husband and I went to the movies and saw It's Complicated....kinda funny.

Now we're home and I'm snuggled into my recliner in front of the fire, just relaxing.

The additional medication (anti-depressant/anti-anxiety) added to the Xanax has worked wonders for me. No panic attacks today. That, my friends, is a wonderful thing!

Tomorrow I plan to work around the house. I haven't put laundry away in quite some time. There are lots of clean clothes in baskets....but I'd prefer if they were put away. I also have some of those vacuum bags full of clothes that are just too big and I need to get them to the Salvation Army sometime soon. My goal for this month, or at least the first half of this month is to get my house in tip top shape so I can come home to a clean house after my surgery and just relax.

As for being accountable for my food.....I'm concentrating on just trying to get in proper nutrition. I'm down about 17 pounds since the 10th of December and am holding steady this week which is a good thing.

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 03:27 AM

I spent the better part of yesterday in bed with migraine. I had 2 back to back ocular migraines no pain but a little dizzy and nauseated. Then the big proper one hit. Took a shower, took codydramol, took to bed. woke about 4:50pm and sat on the sofa afraid to look at anything. No reading, no surfing or mudcatting, no jigsaw puzzling.

It was a sucky way to spend anniversary (poor TSO) let alone New Years day. I feel better now though still dopey from meds.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 08:36 AM

Migraines SUCK. Here's to a dark, quiet room, rest and relief.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 11:16 AM

House is finally all sorted after the New Years Eve party. Had a fantastic time and got to catch up with a catter I haven't seen in nearly 5 years!

Operation drop a dress size started today. I've put on 4lbs over the festive season but only got another 9 months til our big day. Dress buying expodition is in March so I have about 12 weeks to lose this last bit of weight. This morning I went to my spinning class followed by body pump. I've been so good over the holidays by keeping up the exercise classes.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 11:59 AM

I am finishing up the linen closet today and probably will do some dishes.

I've dropped another two pounds!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 12:54 PM

I spent this morning doing laundry, putting away a few baskets that have been sitting full of clean clothes for a few weeks (Oh! So that's where my green turtleneck is!!!!), and removing all packaging from new clothes that my husband got for Christmas. There were 7 pins in each shirt....what's with that??!?!?!   It took me nearly as long to get rid of all the packaging from his new shirts as to put away all the other laundry!!!! So....now all the new stuff is in the hamper, waiting to be washed. I think I have about 3 loads of laundry left to do today (counting the new shirts and some blankets).

Also, I made breakfast for the two of us this morning. Feels good to be back in my kitchen. Sounds silly, I know, but I haven't been able to do that for a little bit.

So....it doesn't sound like much activity but my belly is starting to hurt which is a clear sign that I need to sit and read for awhile or do some puzzles or something.

YAY to Kat and Catherine for keeping up the good work during the holidays...that can be tough!!! HOORAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 01:20 PM

Down to 1/2 load of laundry to do. I knocked out a good deal of jigsaw (I am still relaxing) while I had sunlight to see by. I still feel dopey from yesterday's meds.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 03:59 PM

I'm planning to have my son do his own laundry, to learn how, but if we divide the laundry from a household of two people into two separate batches of light and dark, that means a lot of small batches. So I'm going to rethink this, and simply have him do most of the laundry.

Working on organizing in the house, but also working in the yard a little. Time to get those bird feeds up full time.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 04:23 PM

We took Morgan to a model train show this morning. A bunch of old-timers with the whole line replicated, to scale of the D&RG from Salt Lake City to Denver. They had about 6 trains running in and out; it was really neat.

We came home, had lunch, then Morgan asked if he could do the dishes. There weren't that many, so I let him. Besides getting his shirt soaking wet, he did a good job, even on the pans!

He put his shirt in the dryer, then helped me sort through some more linen. Rog changed the shower curtain for me and brought the dirty one out. Morgan asked if he could do the laundry, so I sat and told him how much soap, which dials to set and turn, etc. and darned if he didn't get it going. So my work is almost done!*bg*

Michelle, I don't think it sounds silly at all to be glad to be back in your kitchen. I understand how good it feels. I get frustrated because Rog has been the chief cook for so long my kitchen doesn't feel much like mine when I really start trying to make something. I can feel, this year, I will be in it more, as a cook, and reclaim some of it, not that I blame him, he had no choice all of these years!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 05:11 PM

I'm waiting for the holiday visitors to leave tomorrow before I join the de-cluttering- notice how I avoided the 2009 thread altogether? We still have to finish building 2 rooms in this house before I'll really feel able to start it. For now, the bath towels are all in one laundry basket, the clean sheets live in another one. There is one side of the big upstairs filled with chairs, side tables, and old clothes. The other side is the "workshop", but it is also full of futon and one of the visitors. I hope to be able to spend the rest of the winter sorting out the combined clutter of two households blending into one. I'll need to have some cooperation and assistance from my DH, who finds it harder than me to let go- but we'll manage, somehow!

All the best to all of us!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 10:20 PM

Animaterra, tell us more about this house, and what are the two rooms? Is it space being divided into two rooms, or is it new space being added onto the house?

I finished shopping around for iron crooks for the garden, to put bird feeders on. Plus, I used a gift certificate to buy dog food and a new feeder at the feed and seed I go to regularly. One of them had clearly been around that garden center for a long time, it was getting pretty rusty in spots, so they gave it to me for 50% of what they thought the price would be (the tag had faded so much we couldn't tell for sure). My new feeder is up, one I bought last week has been moved over, and one more needs to be refurbished, if possible. That's for tomorrow.

Laundry is drying, and it's getting cold out again. Feels like a good night for a hot bath. And hot cuppa tea. I had a beer to go with dinner, but it just didn't taste right so I poured it out. I couldn't think of anything to make with it, and flat beer isn't even that great for cooking. I don't know if there are snails to lure with it outside, but I didn't bother trying.

I have paperwork to do for the office, so I'll start that this evening. Ugg. The vacation flew past and I didn't get much done during it. Some, but not a lot.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Tinker
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 11:20 PM

WEll, I joined in today and cleaned and sorted seven drawers of stuff that has been allowed to accumulate for years.... from sewing stuff, to general junk, and nuts and bolts...

I figure if I can chime in here at least once a month I'll be getting a handle on some of my forgotten corners...

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 12:13 AM

I made a nice discovery this evening. Last summer I put a small metal shelf (heavy, but small) in the back of my pickup. It had been sitting at the curb waiting for the trash, and since I didn't have anyplace to put it then, I just left it in the back of the truck. When I loaded those long shepherd's crooks in the pickup this evening I noticed it again (I have a camper shell with tinted glass, so I don't always look in there every time I drive) I decided to unload it. I cleaned it up and it fits directly under a table (was once part of a sectional computer or office desk) I put in my office that will hold my printer. And this can hold various small appliances like the VCR and converter box (the small television is on top of the desk/table thing). I was getting ready to get some work done this evening when I had to finish clearing my work space, so that's how this discover came about. It gives me kind of a nook to work in and beyond this nook is the windowseat I built on the trunk for my cat.

A cuppa hot orange spice herbal tea tastes wonderful, much better after dinner.

I have these various audio video pieces here next to the computer because I have a number of tapes (many many tapes) I need to convert to DVD. But that doesn't mean I want to trip over all of this equipment every day, so this solution is good.

Stevie Ray Vaughn is keeping me company right now. Rock on!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 12:23 AM

Good to see you here, Tinker. Even once a month can make a difference. If you spend 12 days this year de-cluttering, you'll see the difference.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 12:43 AM

SRS, to learn more about Animaterra's house, see THIS THREAD. It's pretty neat!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: ragdall
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 12:50 AM

SRS,
I don't think that twelve days decluttering would do much for my house. LOL! I can reclutter much faster than that.

I managed to wash all clothing, bedding and towels before midnight, Dec. 31st, but not to get everything on the main floor dusted, so I expect I'll be living in dust for the rest of 2010, but have clean clothing and linens?

Next, I have two biggish tasks in mind. This computer's hard drive has only 8 GB empty space left so I'll need to transfer all the 2009 photos to an external drive then back those up on another external drive.

The other task is to defrost the big upright freezer while it's still cold outside. (It's -8ºC [17ºF] at the moment). The freezer is near the door to the carport. If I put the freezer contents into grocery bins I can store the bins in my car while I'm working on the defrost.

I should try to get one of those jobs done tonight. Which one? I'm wondering if I'll have the energy to finish? It's almost 10:00 pm and I just spent two hours shovelling snow so I'll be able to get the car out the driveway tomorrow.

If I can accomplish one of these tasks tonight, my reward will be taking time out tomorrow to look for an "unusual eagle" that was reportedly seen near the abattoir today. The concensus is that it's a species that shouldn't be anywhere near here.

Wish me luck?

rags

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 09:31 AM

Another spinning class this morning. Recycling sorted out. Support joist/beam fitted in ceiling for stair case (by Paul not me!) We're in the middle of potty training Harry so there is a fair amount of washing done too.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 11:30 AM

Thanks for that link, Kat, I'll follow the progress on that thread.

I have a ceramic cooker that I found for $1 at a garage sale that has barely been used that I'm going to wrap and give to a friend today. He's coming over for lunch so I'm going to bake a chicken in my identical pot (it came from my father's estate, and a friend of his talked him into buying it. When I asked her about it she cooked a chicken for me in her identical pot so I'd know how it works. The chicken comes out falling off of the bone but incredibly moist, unlike if you roast it in an open oven.) I scanned and printed out all of the instructions and recipes that come with it. The pots are usually about $45 and hard to find, so this form of recycling is also a great way to save money.

As to accountability, chicken works out perfectly for lunch today as part of the diet, and today is the first day for the full force diet that I'll be on for the next couple of weeks. I did gain some weight, but I think there's actually only one pair of pants that are now too tight to be really comfortable, so the damage wasn't too bad. :-/

I called my local radio (and web) organic gardening guru this morning. His first program of the year, and he has answered a question that I've wondered about for a while but always forgot to ask at the right time of year. I'm going to try to remove the bag worm population from a juniper outside my kitchen window. Turns out the winter application of "dormant oil" is old fashioned and not used any more, now they sell "agricultural oil" that is lighter, but he confirms that I'll get just as good a response with BT in the spring when they start moving around. Good!

That covers my soup to nuts stuff. After lunch today I'll be racing through paperwork for the office. Much to do to hit the ground running. My office is looking a little more put together, though I have a small table I have to move out. It's an antique with ornately turned legs, so I'll put it somewhere in sight so we can enjoy it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: maeve
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 11:47 AM

Just in to wish you all a Joyful New Year.

We continue to find our way through the rubble.

Warm regards,

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 12:42 PM

There's our girl!

A post of mine has gone missing. In it I talked about decluts of roast beef and I forget what else.

Pooltime post-hols resumes tomorrow-- today I'm charging up aquatic MP3 players, printing green and blue maps of African vegetation, etc., but the poolbag is packed and set by the door. The break from pooltime has been a GOOD thing, and now I am eager to get back to it.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: maire-aine
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 03:55 PM

It's too cold to go out today, so I've stayed home and cleaned the refrigerator. I took out each tray in the door and washed them; threw away all the stuff that didn't look safe anymore, mostly salad dressings and steak sauces. Along the way, I got some ideas for supper and lunch tomorrow, so I can use up some of the little bits left in the jars/bottles. That'll fill up the recycling bin. Will make some coleslaw as soon as I go back downstairs.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 05:01 PM

Lunch was great. I've been watching birds on the feeders as I wash up the dishes; there is a one-eyed sparrow camped out in the thistle feeder tray. He looks like his eye is red and swollen closed, no feathers around it. I imagine pigging out at the feeder and keeping the other eye out is the best way this little guy will survive. There was a gorgeous pair of cardinals on the ground picking up seed at the same time.

I've been filling out forms and I'll be tidying up computer stuff this afternoon. There is leftover chicken from lunch for my son for dinner, and I'll probably have some other lean (within the diet) leftovers, so I don't need to stop and do much cooking. Bread is in the oven.

I'll try to mix the paper with the household stuff so I feel like I've made progress on both fronts. Hard to believe the break is already over. Back to work tomorrow. Ugg.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 07:06 PM

I've been watching the birds today too...they seem especially active today!!! It's almost like watching the planes come and go at O'Hare!

So, let's see...today I did the dishes, swept the entire downstairs, vacuumed the living room rug, picked up, did 4 loads of laundry and I'm about to go upstairs to my office and clear out all the Christmas wrapping gear (my office serves as Wrap Central during the holidays). I made a decent lunch for us today and will figure out what to do about dinner while I'm working in my office. I'm not particularly hungry so that makes it hard to decide what to make! I also have some thank you notes to write. :)

Feeling kind of restless today.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 11:46 PM

Man, I can't keep up with you two!**bg**

With my Rog's help, I cleared the sofa of linen, started stacking the bedspreads, sheets and pillowcases on one shelf, towels on the next up. The highest is too high for me, so stuff I don't need often will go there. I decided I don't need to iron as much as I thought, so I have a small pile to do and then that will get put away, too, and our linen closet will be done. It already looks so much better and I can actually find stuff in it!

Also did more laundry today. It has been cold here; we haven't been out of the 20s much in the past month or so, it seems. I crawled in bed for a nap this afternoon. OUr bedroom is cold because we sleep better that way. Anyway, I had one cat curl up on my hip (I was on my side) the other curled up next to my cheek. They were so toasty warm, I had a great 45 minute nap! Didn't really want to disturb them, it was so cozy.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 01:15 AM

The dogs are curled up on a platform of blankets and beach towels in my bedroom. It's cold tonight and all week it's supposed to be even worse. Arctic weather coming through on Thurs - Sat. I'll keep them in at night at least. It'll be a juggling act, they don't get along with the cat. At all.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 03:11 AM

Accountability - forget it... ain't going to happen... although I will definately appreciate the not living on party leftovers which is what I appear to have been doing for 3 weeks now... I crave beans on toast and a cherry yoghurt!

Decluttering - starts today, up here, in the computer room where I can barely move. That is, once I get off the computer and start shifting stuff... and assuming I don't get sidetracked by something else up here.... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: ragdall
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 05:32 AM

Liz,
You're my kind of person! I get soooooooo easily distracted, especially while on the computer.

I managed to defrost and organize the upright freezer last night, thereby earning the right to toodle off at first light in search of the mythical Sea Eagle that was allegedly seen near the slaughterhouse yesterday.

No luck finding the bird. I'm consoled by the knowledge that none of the other 6 birders who checked in tonight had seen it either.

Thick, smelly "fog" created by the pulp mills, blanketed the downtown on my return. Headlights which remained on for several hours while the car was parked at temperatures well below freezing, gave me the opportunity to meet another helpful tow truck driver. He needed to "tap" my starter with a very large hammer and wiggle the battery cables before the car would start.

Monday's task will be getting a new battery cable installed.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 09:00 AM

I decluttered my puider life the other day by changing some bookmarks and settings to let Firefox load and run faster. Why it counts as decluts is because my working life is speeding up and the long load time is no longer helpful.

BUT I have been enjoying how THIS iteration of my worklife is different, just because of the self-care and house-care routines that have become part of my gray-haired life. I LIKE GOING SLOWER, for the first time in my life I think things have a good chance of STAYING in balance instead of the rushrush/crashcrash cycle of earlier times. Time to reflect and consider others' viewpoints (firstly God's) are built in to this rewiring jobbie!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 09:25 AM

I've just bought a whole heap of Really Useful Boxes - I love those things!!! Decluttering seems to be going in reverse but the plus side is that one lidded box will hold what was previously in 2.5 open crates, so I can stack stuff on it and reduce the footprint.

I've also bought a new mouse mat that has an integral 4 port USB Hub, so that will reduce the trailing cables and means I can use my pen mouse whilst downloading music from the external hard drive to the MP3 player... fab!

Back to the slog now... make it look like I've actually done something... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 10:39 AM

I've realized my son has a bunch of short essay answers on the next scholarship form that is coming our way, due in a week. And we need to do a couple of more college applications. And get the test reports set straight. Oy. A lot of this work shifts to him, but we do have to pace ourselves.

Lots to do for work, but first, I rearranged some books in my office to make room to put the laptop back in its usual place. It was moved during the break and now needs to come back into this room.

Sunny and bright, but cold and getting colder. The dogs tore up a set of sheets that was folded on the foot of the bed--they were being playful, but as soon as I picked up a ruined pillowcase from the floor, the pit bull tucked her tail between her legs and crept back into the bathroom--she knew she was in trouble. That's an expensive mistake on my part, but I'll see if I can replace this at a garage sale one of these days; after this I think I'll put them in the back bathroom during the night. Less stuff to get into trouble with, and the cat will be able to sleep on the bed, as he is accustomed to.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: maire-aine
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 12:31 PM

I submitted my resume for a job that I really hope I can get. This looks like it could've been written just for me. Wish me luck.... M|

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 02:48 PM

Actually got the contents of 4 crates into the one box, plus reduced 1 huge box down to 2 stackable containers a quarter of the size, so that's a bonus...

The new mouse mat is brilliant - except it stays powered up when the computer is in 'sleep' mode so there's a blue light on all the time... guess I'll have to log off properly again and save some power - but it has had the desired effect. Cables are sorted, speakers unknotted, desk much clearer, additional equipment (Tape 2PC and vinyl to digital decks) accessible with ease and the external drive in a place where it won't get knocked over by the cat... who is bemused because I've taken away his favourite seat in the window. So some progress was made. Off for a long bath with an even longer gin and elderflower now...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 06:08 PM

Good luck, MaryAnne!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 06:51 PM

Ditto! Go get 'em girl!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 07:15 PM

Yes, Maryanne, when the description seems to fit so well it makes it easier to go through the interviews and such, because its like you speak the same language (that can't always be said of job interviews, can it?)

Liz, sounds like you're creating a black hole in your office. Same material, packed densely. If things start disappearing maybe it is attracting stuff into the vortex. Paper clips, pens, balls of paper that were wrapped around chocolate until you balled them up for cat toys, etc. Be careful in there!

Have lined up folks to fill out application for my son for big scholarship, now he has to write essays. He gets tired of this, but it would help with funding immensely.

I'm going to move the dogs to the bathroom tonight and sleep easier. After our dry run last night, and knowing how cold it is supposed to get, I'll have a bedroll of sorts in place for them, to be taken up in the morning so I don't kill myself tripping over it. Also, I'll see if I can't get the last of the ornaments that are still sitting on their storage box packed into the box, and then that box stowed on the shelf it came from. Two less tripping hazards that way.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 07:20 PM

Not so much creating a black hole as putting things of one sort together, then putting them all in the same box. I didn't know I had so many blank cards for cardmaking until I got them all in the one box... and realised that I've bought duplicates thinking I had used them all, but in reality had just put them somewhere else. So I shan't need to buy card blanks for a while!

The cat amuses himself by rolling walnuts and humbugs out of the bowls in the front room.. he shows no interest in rolled up bits of chocolate wrapper. He's far happier batting his nut up and down the hall or chasing a green bean around the kitchen.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 09:49 PM

Morgan had a lesson in ironing cloth napkins, today. He asked, so I let him try his hand, with close supervision. He did a good job. We did a stack and got them put away. I remember how much I loved ironing my dad's bandannas and mom's hankies. I think I got a whole nickel when I did them for the week.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 11:55 PM

We lost Clementine a year ago in late January, and I still occasionally find stashes of balls of stuff that she lost behind large pieces of furniture. I moved the upright grand last month and found a bunch of my son's cloth-covered hair bands (she had an elaborate game where she carried them around) and rolled up bits of foil and candy wrappers. She'd kicked them all under the piano and never been able to retrieve them.

Still miss that little sweetheart.

There are links to organizing folks at the bottom of this thread. I've never bothered to follow, has anyone else? I suppose they've been there all along.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: JennieG
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 12:27 AM

Today we took a large box to the local Salvos (Salvation Army - in Oz they and everyone else call themselves the Salvos) of childrens' games, and also a large bag of clothes and books. It doesn't seem to me as though we have done much decluttering yet, but we can see spaces on the floor where none were before so our little clean-ups must be having an effect.

The links on the bottom of the screen are for Irish folk music today. They probably wouldn't help much with organising.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 02:22 AM

I finished the puzzle last night and did one load of laundry and ironed douvets and bed linens guests used over Christmas break. Also ironed all the trousers and 3 pairs of my cotton PJs (yeah I am spoiled like that).

Tonight rest of ironing to do, put away puzzle and pull out fairy stuff again. Maybe try to change strings on my guitar.

I want one of those kit houses, Animaterra has - built on the Chickahominy River in Virginia. TSO would never agree. sigh!

Want a ceramic cooker too for the caravan, so I can cook chicken next to bonfire at folk festivals like Knockholt. No room or need for it in small flat ans living with vegetarian. I rarely cook meat

dammit - I am still not right in head after headaches and meds. I had to retype a dozen words because I transposed letters.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 03:06 AM

VT - at least you recognised they were errors, that means an improvement! Take it easy and don't push yourself beyond your limits more than three times a week...

More decluttering today... hopefully without resorting to buying more boxes! The Christmas decorations box can go back to the loft tonight, so that's one big thing out of the way. The dawn has come up like fire and thunder so I'm thinking I'm in the right place here.

I'm thinking I'll go through the rest of the card making stuff, get that sorted properly and then I can maybe restock for the next concert at Easter. Only 3 and a bit months.... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 03:55 AM

Christmas decorations were taken down on Sunday and put away in the attic.

Day 3 of serious potty training has commenced. Harry is doing well so far.

I went to a circiut training class last night. It was a lot of fun, hard work and I ache lots this morning but I also feel great so I have booked another class for next week on top of the ones I normally do!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 05:09 AM

Been sitting up here for 2 hours now... have drunk pints of hot chocolate and downloaded an album and 3 song lyrics. I think I may have lost momentum....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: mouldy
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 05:36 AM

Well I put another 2 and a half pounds on over Christmas, due in part to Quality Street (1 point each), 2 curries, and lots of leftover nibbles from New Year's Eve when only half the expected number came.
Veg soup is now cooking, sugar free jelly is made for pud (jello to you lot over the pond!)

Feeling a bit disgruntled at the moment as it's snowing and my planned trip to Harrogate with Eleanor, and without Freya, is off - Harrogate is higher up and has hills. Also, my son in law has gone into de-cluttering mode himself, and wants to shift furniture, so he can't have Freya.
Now I KNOW I could make a start on the hell-hole that is my study, and which is currently being used as a dumping ground, but it's my birthday, and I am not going to do that all day! Hopefully Eleanor (plus Freya) and I might find somewhere relatively local to grab a lunch.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: 2010-Jan De-clutter & accountability ^^^
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 07:41 AM

Happy Birthday Andrea, hope you and Eleanor find somewhere nice to have something to eat.