Declutter & Accountability - January 2012

Subject: Declutter & Accountability - January 201
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:24 PM

Last time I checked, we're into our fourth year of this enterprise that we call "decluttering." For some of us it means getting control of the stuff in our houses, for others, it means getting control of our lives, and for most of us, it is a mix of the two. The "accountability" part came from those who are working on getting regular exercise on the path to better fitness.

I don't think we all live in horribly messy houses, I don't think any of us are hoarders. But we have too much stuff in the places where we live and it is our aim to reduce the amount of stuff and along the way streamline the way we live. The goal here, for most of us, is to have a beautiful space at home that we can enjoy and can open to our friends and family when we wish. We want good health and to be able to enjoy whatever adventures come our way.

Here's to a year in which each of us will create a space in our homes that is worthy of Architectural Digest, and our homes will be so organized that The Container Store and Martha Stewart Living come knocking, looking for ideas. And make it a year in which we all stop beating up ourselves for not being perfect, and along the way, achieve fitness (and have Richard Simmons come knocking looking for ideas!)

Have a great 2012, all, and here's looking at you! (Previous thread)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:43 PM

Great intro to the new thread SRS!!!

My goal for this month is to make half of my home office into a play room for Jeremiah. The other half will house bookcases and all my crafting gear. I'd like to have it set up so that we can play up there for the majority of the day with just a few toys in the living room area. Ideally, I'd like to work on my beading while the baby plays but we'll just have to see how it goes.

My house is in better shape than it has been in some time but as an unfinished old farm house, there are always projects in the works. It's nice to know that I'm not the only person who doesn't live in the land of Martha Stewart!

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 11:49 PM

Happy New Year!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 12:22 AM

Happy New Year!!!!

XXOOXOX

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 08:49 AM

Planned January Daily Fitness Schedule:

Sun-- Evening Club Pool w/Hardi; BackHab, Ai Chi

Weekdays (11:30 AM and about 8PM):

Mon-- Club Pool; BackHab, Ai Chi, Aquajogging; evening light cardio w/Hardi
Tue-- PT Dry Clinic; strength and balance training; evening light cardio w/Hardi
Wed-- Club Pool; BackHab, Ai Chi, Aquajogging; evening light cardio w/Hardi
Thu-- Home weightroom; Upper Body workout, evening light cardio w/Hardi
Fri-- PT Pool; Cardio and Stairclimbing

Sat-- Active REST DAY/Sat Svc

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 11:53 AM

The sun is out and the yard looks lovely, a great way to begin the year. Laundry is drying, the kitchen is clean, the table is clear and inviting.

It's time to file a bunch of papers then start a new folder for this year's bills and receipts. I have a couple of these annual holders around: I'll leave the 2011 stuff in the 12-pocked folder and get the 2010 one to use now. Those 2010 bills and receipts will be bundled into a manila envelope. After a while they'll be shredded.

Vacuumed yesterday but noticed that I couldn't get everywhere I wanted because there's stuff on the floor. So today part of my goal is to file papers, pick up stuff, and find places where it can go on shelves, etc. I have to take down the rest of the decorations, and I need to go turn over a portion of my garden to put in the potatoes.

The new year starts looking much like the old year, but I did finish some big deadlines, so it feels pretty good.

How are all of you doing exercise-wise? I figure my mowing yesterday was a great start (it took about 2 1/2 hours of steady pushing to get it all done, plus after raking leaves from the curb to the lawn and passing over them to mulch them in.) The bandaids on my thumbs are my "pink badges of fitness," though blisters aren't mandatory. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 12:34 PM

You don't have much winter there, do you, SRS? It sounds lovely. The sun has been out here, but temps have still been chilly, though yesterday it did get up into the 40s.

Thanks to Morgan, we have a drainer full of clean dishes and swept and mopped living room and kitchen. He came over yesterday and for a while I let him play a computer game. At the time I had my arm out of the sling and on a pillow with ice packed around my elbow. It hurt a lot and I was fairly upset. Morgan said to me, "Mama, is there anything I can do?" I blubbered that I didn't know at which point he came over to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said, "What can I do for you that you cannot do?" I still really couldn't focus though I did tell him how sweet he was and how much I love him. At that point, he said he knew just what to do and proceeded to wash the dishes and then to sweep and mop! I did get it together enough to read him a couple of my favourite stories from the old Childcraft books: the Shoemaker and the Elves and Nanette Visits the Château. I told him he reminded me of the little pixies or brownies that came in the house and cleaned it up while folks were asleep. The Shoemaker story was the only one I could find, at the time, that reminded me of what he was doing. It was just so sweet and such a nice way to get ready for The New Year.

He was excited about the new year because he was going to be able to stay up the whole night. I called him at about 930p. He was loud and excited and asked me what in the world I was doing up so late that I usually was always in bed by then. I told him I was getting ready to go to bed and wanted to wish him a Happy New Year. We then had a discussion about it now being 2012 but not the beginning of third grade. He was a little confused because were always talking about next year when you're in third grade. I think he finally understood. It was funny. I haven't heard yet, this morning, if he lasted the night or not.

I have done a few things over the past few days, laundry, paying bills, etc. Roger took off work from Thursday through Monday so it's been nice to have him home. Today we hope to clean a bit and I, also, will be working on clearing my hanging files to make way for the new year receipts etc.

If my elbow is not a lot better by Tuesday, I'll be going to the doctor. What exercise I have done has mostly been stretching all my parts but the one.

Last night as we were in bed trying to go to sleep, the neighbours decided to set off some fireworks at midnight. We quickly found out Luna is afraid of loud booms! I got up to go to the bathroom and as I sat on the edge of the bed a furry head peaked out between my legs from under the bed. Poor thing, she was really frightened. I talked her into coming out from under it, she followed me to the bathroom, sat down and leaned against my legs and finally just lied down on the floor as I spoke to her and petted her. She followed me back to the bedroom but didn't go under the bed this time, just stayed in the bedroom for while. Up until now, we have never been able to get her to sleep in the bedroom. She's always gone back out to the living room to lie on the couch. She wouldn't even stay in the bedroom with a nice cushy dog bed.

On Saturday, I did start work on a marketing e-mail for my first e-book. Learning a bit more of what I can do in Microsoft Word with pictures and other fancy bits. I also have to decide whether to keep paying for my website or just dump it and keep a running blog. A website doesn't really seem to be that important or useful, but I think that's mostly because I don't utilize it as much as I could. It's a lot easier to enter things in a blog than to go into the host server, log in and then use their tools to add to the website. If I dump it it would save us $12 a month which isn't a lot but every little bit helps, right? If any of you have any thoughts I be interested to hear them. I'll be working more on the e-mail and try to get it out this week. I think I'll be having Morgan over after school at least one or two days per week now as he is no longer going to the late day classes. He's quite excited about getting out at the usual time.

I really am loving having Dragon Naturally Speaking! It has been a great tool especially at the moment.

So here we are in the new year. I hope that it is a prosperous one for us all in all ways and I give thanks that it is so.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 12:59 PM

Kat, I've been using Wordpress for a couple of blogs for a while, and have a blogger site. The benefit to the blogger site is that it is automatically indexed in the Google searches (Google owns it.)

When the fireworks and shooting started last night I got up and watched the dogs - they were excited - so I invited them in and we did tricks for treats for a few minutes until the worst of it settled down. They thoroughly enjoyed coming inside for food!

Getting set to take my girl Cinnamon for a walk by herself. She came in to do timeout - a while ago Poppy snapped at Zeke for getting to rough and Cinnamon gets upset when anyone snaps at her friend Zeke so was all set to clobber Poppy. I gave her a boot in the rear, shooed her to the garage for a couple of minutes, then brought her into the house. I've snuck the leash (it rattles, so I had to be careful) to this room and closed the back blinds so the others won't see the door open. Poppy barks at the door every so often, but in a few minutes I'll take Cinnamon for a walk to remind her who is the pack leader. They each raise a ruckus if they think they've been left behind. I'll do the same later with Poppy (they benefit from these one-on-one walks). I benefit from the walk also. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 02:41 PM

Thanks for the reminder about Wordpress, SRS. I forgot I have a blog there. I just spoke to start logic where my website is hosted. I think I'm going to park my domain name through them for $24 a year and have it point to a blog or two. That will save us a little bit of money and make it a lot easier for me to work on and also to feel motivated to work on. It has been so cumbersome otherwise I just haven't wanted to do it to keep it up the way it should be. So, that's one good start, one item crossed off the list for the new year.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 03:48 PM

I am very grateful for a lot ...including probably renters for my rental house, which I sorely need...still have my job in an uncertain economy..only a couple of years until I could retire. I think the best thing for me to do is just to keep things minimal and as low-stress as possible. I really need a better cash flow and have to look at ways to achieve that without having to summon up get up and go which I do not have...I have put ads out for doing a modest amount of shopping, housework etc. in exchange for free rent, rather than look for another part-time job..which would conflict at times with my main state job...I hope to go to more music camps this next year..already signed up for Rainycamp and Singtime Frolics and Camp Alexandra...hope to make it to Princeton again..would love to go to one of the Georgia Straits but they are pricy...hope to work with others to get at least one group CD out this year and maybe another on canneries for the local cannery group here. The one word that comes to my mind when I think of 2012 is travel...my feets are getting itchy...Had VISA almost paid off..down to under $3k and loss of renters has upped that quite a bit...but hopefully I can pay that off and then my car, which I must say I am enjoying after being without one for several years. mg

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Janie
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 05:39 PM

Whew!!

Another closet and the spare bedroom nearly done, stuff moved around from closet to closet to put "dead storage" items in dead storage, put stuff that I occasionally need to get to where I can get to it with a little less digging and work, and stuff that I have wanted to get to mor eoften but haven't because it was inaccessible in places where I can get to it rather easily. Another large load of stuff for Goodwill. I could use the money from a yard sale, but when I factor in the time and prep, and keeping all this "stuff" until an opportune time for a yard sale, Goodwill is the sensible choice. I wish my local ecumenical ministry thrift store was open for collections on Saturdays. They need the dollars much more than Goodwill to stock the food pantry, etc.

It was sad and difficult to make the decision to get rid of my extensive hand-thrown pottery collection. No pleasure, however, in having all those pieces wrapped in paper and packed in cardboard in a back closet. This house is simply too small to either use the functional pieces in the kitchen, or to have much sitting out. A few pieces were small or flat enough that I was able to hang them on walls when I moved in, and I have kept a few favorite vases in the hope I will one day have flowers to cut again, but 98% is out on the carport. Annie called as I was going through the boxes, and is going to make it a bit easier. She has a large circle of friends and old-time musicians. She is going to pick up the entire collection and find good homes for the individual pieces among her far-reaching crowd of friends that she travels to play music with - gifts for people who host her, etc. Hauling it all to Good Will felt really bad. These pieces were carefully and lovingly collected over 30 years, and most have memories and emotions attached to them. Now, it is likely they will have meaning to some one else who receives them as a thoughtful gift from some one they care about and with whom they have made memories.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 06:11 PM

Having cleared the debris from Christmas visitors out, I have also cleared up from the evening with friends last night. It was a late one, of course, as we were out in the village for the torchlight procession and the firework display.

I don't want to believe what I read on the bathroom scales yesterday evening. They told me I had put about 10lbs back on in as many days since I was weighed at WW. I'm going away to Paris for a couple of days this week, to celebrate my 60th (a treat from my daughters) and I think I'd better eat soup for the duration!

My cat decided to try and do a runner out of the front door about 1am, but I managed to grab him. Today, he went out back late morning and did a disappearing act until I managed to coax him in at 7pm. He hasn't eaten all day, and I didn't even get his meds into him this morning. He seems quite frail at the moment. Hopefully his appetite will be back tomorrow. I think he's stressing because all of a sudden he's got a rearranged house and no builders, and while he's trying to adjust to this, it keeps getting invaded by visitors. I daresay the fireworks down the road didn't help. They were very loud (very impressive) and lasted a good 15 minutes.

Washing, packing and an attempt to sort out that bedroom of mine tomorrow, I think.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 07:31 PM

My husband and I played with the Wii for over 2 hours...that counts for exercise! We played tennis, bowling and golf but the real exercise came in the form of boxing....at which, I might add, I ROCK!!!!   *GRIN*   That was fun AND a great work out!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 08:57 PM

Solid PW pool workout; 45 min aerobic up to 180 BPM susteained and 10 min flex.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 09:09 PM

I walked both dogs today, and have done some of the gardening I wanted. I weeded, moved four Swiss chard plants to a more protected area, and dug a couple of the areas for potatoes.

Back to work tomorrow. The rest of the world has the day off, but classes resume during our truncated winter semester, so we're all back.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 11:45 PM

We had a leisurely morning then got busy. Roger swept the whole house while I did a bit of laundry and some one – handed scrubbing in the bathroom. We also picked up and put away a few things here and there.

Roger took the dog and me for a ride, stopped at the store for a few groceries, then bought me lunch. We came home and found a new BBC detective series and watched a couple of episodes in the afternoon.

Had a great visit with my daughter back east and our son as well as my sisters in Wyoming. All in all it's been a kind of quiet pleasant day.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 01:35 AM

Dishes from the last 2 or 3 days are done, toys are picked up, medications for the week are all sorted out and I am looking forward to tomorrow. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 05:11 AM

Still got to gird the loins and attack the bedroom. Need another coffee.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 11:48 AM

In the fun of enjoying a hard workout last night, I forgot that Sunday night is NOT the night to do it, if one wants to do the planned exercise program the next day-- I'm way too sore, so I'm dialing back today's pool workout to be a weightroom visit later with ZHardi for cardio and upper-body DVD, and some walking this afternoon.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 04:57 PM

I finished filing the piles of paper around my file cabinet and switched the expanding file for this year's bills. The 2010 papers are out of it and lumped into a big envelope. 2011 papers will stay in that file in case I need to find something in the coming months. I've been organizing the papers this way for years now, it works well.

Went for a walk with the dogs, it's a lovely afternoon, sunny, 52 degrees. I'll head out in a couple of minutes and dig another spot for potatoes.

The kitchen is also caught up, sinks and counters scrubbed also. There are still some ornaments out, but tonight I'll make a push to finish them. I've been working on the area around my dining table - that is where the papers I've been organizing have lived. I cleared a couple of the built in shelves at the end of the room and put in a wine rack a friend had given me. During the break I took advantage of a great sale at a liquor store I like and got over a case of various wines, all well under $10 a bottle. It looks nice but it's also nice to finally have a wider selection of wines for various meals. Mostly various imported reds and a few German whites as well.

How's your arm, Kat?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 06:05 PM

Ended up doing a shop-a-thon today, with lots of walking. Up to and past capacity: still out of breath even when walking easily indoors-- lower meds a-coming.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: mouldy
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 03:03 AM

Got all the seasonal decorations properly boxed up and put away. Mainly packed for my few days away, and all washing up to date. (Still haven't braved the bedroom).

However, I want to delay leaving until the post has arrived, and that's usually around lunchtime, so once I have deposited the feline at the cattery in an hour, I will try and crack on.

Part of me hopes that we don't discover a flea market in Paris - the baggage restrictions on out cheap flight make it impossible to buy anything of any substance! (Could always chuck clothes away, I suppose.....)

Andrea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 10:21 AM

Andrea: When we went to Whidbey Island last year, I only packed extra underwear. I knew there were good thrift shops and we bought a couple changes of clothes when we got there. In our case, it saved carrying stuff on the plane; we returned by truck.

It seems we have all made it through the holiday season relatively intact. I am realizing that I manage to get all the daily nitty gritty done. It is finding a LIFE and a way to exercise that suits me... Long talk with dear friend in Maryland yesterday, catching up. He goes to a gym and rides an exer-cycle for an hour - frequently - listening to Bulgarian dance music! I could do that if I had one here - maybe a half hour, listening to music or even talking books! AND he gave me names and number for friends of his in Montreal who are musicians and into dance - as a resource for more dancing! Yesterday I walked around the block; I was starting to feel the chair grow around me like a prison! Arghhhh!

So - phone calls to make, 2 emails to send to arrange for "coffee date" with friends, one to work out logistics re raccoon books. I ordered several copies of one useful book and had them mailed to a woman in Ohiio (that darned border). She will then send copies to others as needed. What a sweetheart! And an email to SPCA encouraging a meeting to talk about strategies for wildlings as the birthing season will start in April.

Now to peruse the almost 30 emails awaiting.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Penny S.
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 12:58 PM

I managed to get through two Christmas dinners and fried leftovers without putting on any extra - still at my lowest for months (apart from an odd glitch yesterday)! Still have a stock of choccies, seasonal sweeties, nuts, cakes and biscuits, but last year I managed to keep these going until Candlemas. (The next day after that being my birthday can lead to further supplies.)

Today I cleared an area in front of my study window as I am having a curtain pole measurer coming on Thursday. I don't feel up to doing the job myself as I don't know what the wall is made of, and one window is very wide. I have to move stuff in the living room as well.

I also headed off the post of the previous occupant at last. They never redirected mail, and I wasn't given the address to send on to. The estate agents dealt with it for a bit, but then started shredding it. I set up a stamp to read NOT AT THIS ADDRESS and put things back in the post, which worked except for plastic covered things, on which someone would carefully wipe the ink off and redeliver it here. Today I had back, for the third time, one on which I had stuck a sticker ov er the address, with the stamp on. Someone had carefully moved the stamp and reattached it before redelivering it. The sorting office now has a flag on my address. Only stuff for me will now arrive!

The problem with that declutter was that I went out in the storm to the next but one village, next to the Waitrose supermarket, where they were selling off Christmas goods at half price. Hence some of the above mentioned stash of goodies.

Penny

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 01:58 PM

It's better, thank you, SRS. Still in a sling, though I do take it out for short time every couple of hours to give my neck a rest and to just keep my arm from getting too stiff. I have been able to do a lot more with it in the past couple of days.

We did a bit more cleaning, yesterday, so the new year came in a bit better than I expected. I must be feeling better overall because I put Roger on notice yesterday that I am done with bachelor living and am reclaiming my way of making our home feel more comfortable and inviting. It's not all his fault. There is a lot of decluttering I need to do, especially in my mind and through my words.

It might seem simple but one thing I have determined to do this year is to write on the lines in my datebook. It sits in front of me just above the keyboard so I reach over to write in it and the most comfortable way is to do so in a slant. I'm adding one step to that, slanting the book instead before I write in it. This will make it easier for me to find past information about appointments and other things.

This morning I checked into a new satellite service for Internet to see if it would be less expensive for us. Still thinking about it. I also called two doctors' offices to find out if the sleep study from November 15 had finally been written up and sent out them. Finally, it has and will be faxed to the doctor who moved away, the one who really saved my life. I will be meeting a new doctor/pulmonologist on the 12th who will take over his work with me, but he really wanted to see the report and offered to send me his " thoughts" on it. I hope he does so before my first appointment with the new doctor. I've heard good things about her, but she's going to have to fill some very big shoes. I've never met a doctor quite so brilliant and empathic and an excellent listener as Dr. H.

I also did some work on a CD cover for my brother with directions for our sister, the artist, on what changes would like to see in what she has come up with.

I intended to do more work on my marketing e-mail for my book, but here it is already lunchtime, so I'll have to see about getting to it this afternoon.

I have some other specific goals in mind for this year, but at the moment, they remain too private to share. When they come to fruition I will definitely share!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 02:03 PM

PT today per schedule.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 03:48 PM

Yesterday Pete and I had a day to ourselves. One of our Christmas gifts was a full day and evening of babysitting! We found a fantastic consignment shop and picked up 7 new outfits for the baby, went to a bead shop that was overwhelming and heavenly...they even had a couch with magazines and Bluesville on the radio so Pete was content. I'm hoping to take a few classes to get some basics down pat for both beading and wire-wrapped jewelry making! Then it was off to dinner(which we were given money for as part of the gift) and then to Barnes and Noble...a place we used to go to almost every weekend....and had a few cups of coffee (courtesy of a gift certificate as part of the same gift). It was a wonderful day that we both needed and enjoyed. :)

Washed some new dishes, swept the kitchen, dining room and hallway, picked up toys, I'm on my 3rd load of dishes, made and packed 3 days worth of lunches for Pete (jambalaya) and am going to vacuum once the baby is awake. He's been really cranky lately and his sleep schedule has been off. Today we know why. He is sick with a cold complete with cough, runny, runny nose and fever. Poor little man. He's been playing and into things he shouldn't be (which is normal and good) but he's also been quite a bit more clingy and asking to be UP! UP! Mama's lap is a good place to snuggle.

I sure wish he felt better. Vick's Vapor Rub and a humidifier are both on.

Also, my car died. Pete just went to town to get me a new battery. I think I'll go put a fresh pot of coffee on so he has something to warm up with when he gets home. HELLO JANUARY TEMPERATURES!!!

Walking DVD to come before dinner and then some Wii Boxing afterwards. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 06:39 PM

Kat, we were trying to sort out a bill from a sleep study that Moonglow participated in, and it seems the insurance company paid the wrong place, the sleep center instead of the doctor. My daughter already paid the sleep center. But we won't know, probably will have to pester the insurance company to repay the doctor because the sleep center, on in a large chain, has gone into bankruptcy. Here's the story. They have a huge debt load compared to their assets, and they've bailed on customers, employees, everyone. I wasn't getting an answer when I called, and Moonglow said she had the same result. Calling other offices didn't work, so I googled it and found the news. If you used this company you're lucky to have anything out of them.

Michelle, that was a good start on your mini-break with babysitting. Next time you need to visit a spa for Mommy and Daddy and enjoy the hot tub together instead of shopping for baby clothes. But you'll get there!

Penny, I had a post office box for years and it took forever to get people to understand when I shifted to a new post office and my address changed. One friend sent a parcel that was never returned - they simply kept it. He wrote to ask if I'd gotten it and I asked where he sent it or I'd never have known what happened. I tried writing to that new box user and sending an new forwarding card - absolutely no cooperation.

I helped a neighbor a bit this afternoon, tech stuff. I'll be running around tomorrow and need to pick up a new modem for her.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 10:24 PM

I hope you get things sorted out, SRS. All of the sleep studies I've had done were through the two hospitals which are here. This last one was supposed to be at a specific doctor's sleep clinic, but they couldn't get me in soon enough. No problem with any of them being legitimate, though. I didn't even know there were places like what you told us about. I hope the study itself was of some use for Moonglow.

Meditation this morning. Early evening I did 20 min. of qi gong; took it very slowly and carefully with my right arm. Some moves I was not able to do and wouldn't even try, but there don't seem to be any ill effects, so far, from the bit I did do. It's a start back, then next week my osteopath will manipulate it and that will help, too.

I did well on writing on the lines and was able to tick off all but one of the things I wanted to get done today.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 11:34 PM

Well, I ended up only doing half a mile tonight at 4mph. I also did 5 load of laundry away, 8+ trips up and down the stairs and vacuumed. I've been busy all day and it shows! I don't know about the rest of you but when my husband is home for holiday breaks, I like to spend that time with him and Jeremiah and I kind of let the housework slide. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 08:29 AM

Happy New Year!!

Sorry I've not been around for a bit, life seems to have got in the way. Work has been busy and Paul has been busily working on the house extension. We ordered our new range cooker the other day which should be delivered early part of next week.

I've pretty much been able to maintain my weight for a while although last year I had renal colic twice and then pneumonia in November, just waiting for the result of a chest xray I had on the 30th December to see if my chest is completely clear, fingers crossed it will all be ok.

I've got a busy year ahead of me. I have a place running the London Marathon on the 22nd April for the charity Sense which is a charity for the deaf blind, click here to have a read about what they do. I have a fundraising page where people can sponsor me and help raise money for this wonderful charity. I'm also taking part in the London and Edinburgh Moonwalks which is another 2 marathons which are powerwalked and the London Sunwalk which is a half marathon also power walked so thats 3 and a half marathons in 4 consecutive months. Take a look at my Year of Marathon Mayhems page

Harry is doing well at school and was one of the 3 wise men in the school navtivity play. The twins will go to the same school in September. Harry is still learning the violin and enjoying it. Amelia loves to sing. I think George is going to play the drums!!

Hope 2012 is kind to everyone x

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 10:33 AM

Catherine, thanks for checking in. Sounds like we might hear from you again come July! I hope the xray is clear - those sound like serious ailments to get through - be sure you're healthy when you start these races!

I must confess here this morning that I embarrassed myself with my Internet provider (I was on hold and hung up before it got worse). I knew my bill would go up, thought by $5, they raised it by $10. I found in my notes just now, while waiting on hold and haranguing the clerk about playing fast and loose with the bill. The penalty for leaving the contract is $5 a month. I found a note to myself "Call back in Dec. 2011." Another NOTE TO SELF: "Check the notes before making the call next time." I'll just shut up now and pay the bill.

Running around, spending money today. Not my favorite thing, but it must be done. While I'm out, I'll pick up that new modem.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 02:31 PM

The doc approved the fitness plan for January, below, and set a target HR goal of 110 sustained for 15 minutes (with higher intervals for cardiac training).

To achieve that we slashed the meds further-- with the option to eliminate one entirely, if that HR is not possible due to the med's pulse-slowing effect.

The bennies are running out on PT so I ordered a poolside pulse-oximeter which will arrive in a few days, so I can focus the remaining PT bennies on the dry clinic. One or two PT pool sessions left, as I transition back to my own pool routines, which I have missed!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 05:35 PM

Are you still planning to travel some this month, Susan?

Kat, one of the little extras in Windows 7 Ultimate is a "Stickynotes" program that you can park where you want on your monitor and it's made to look like a post-it note. I wonder if the diary you're keeping is doing a similar task? The difference here is that when I finish I remove it from the "slip" so I can't see a list of what I've accomplished, just the list of what needs to be done.

Today my son and I visited a couple of places so he could get his hands on several laptop/net book/tablet products out there and compare how they look and feel. He's already done some research and narrowed it down to a couple of designs and brands. And then I took him to the credit union and set up an account with money his grandmother left him that I'd been holding. He was (as I told his dad) the King of Ennui as I had him set it up, but I think he's smart enough to figure out pretty soon that it's a nicer place to do business than the commercial banks. And he can put cash over there every so often to save and forget about it since it isn't his main bank for now. Teaching kids about money - it's a tough job.

It's an evening of work to make up for the afternoon off and it's nice to have a job that lets me be flexible on days like this.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 06:55 PM

A day of connecting by emails and discussions on FB. Animal advocacy - some ideas on how to improve our outreach and effectiveness. Entered some info in address book and got rid of the paper copies; more yet to do, now that I found address book.

Used my new battery booster to start car yesterday. R used it and left key in ignition, got a boost, then came home and turned it off??? We will keep said object in car! And take the battery charger to the cabin.

Made a couple qts of stewed apples. R used my car while he determines how to get clutch repaired in his truck.

Appt with country neighbour on Saturday morning to consider the internet and cell phone possibilities.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 07:41 PM

Wed-- No Club Pool (doc appt); evening light cardio w/Hardi & upper body weights w DVD

Also a lot of bending and carrying in connection with a closet cleanout.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 08:59 PM

Thanks for the reminder, SRS, about the sticky notes. I like writing down what I do and what I need to do and having it to refer back to, so I remain a Luddite in some respects.

Meditation this morning. Got a "wake up" e-mail from the Dr. who moved away. Basically, we need to do some tweaking of the BiPAP and I need to move enough, in a safe environment, to be breathless and move out more CO2. I have a lot to discuss with the new doctor on the 12th.

I was able to tick off everything on my list today, which included parking my website and pointing my domain name to my blog, thus saving us a little bit of money every month; updated my blog, Linked in, and twitter. I spent the morning figuring out what I wanted for an e-mail signature for marketing my book. I used a neat, free program called Wise Stamp. I also answered some e-mails.

I spent about 30 min. on my feet, this evening, marching/dancing in place while I folded laundry and also walking back and forth in the house. I definitely got to the breathless stage, worked past the initial "ow, it hurts" and felt pretty good by the time Roger got home.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 09:18 PM

Are you still planning to travel some this month, Susan?

Sorry to have missed that earlier-- no, not AFAIK; sister is doing fine on packing up her apartment without me for now, TBTG. May change mid-month but staying put for now.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 12:11 AM

This evening I set up the new modem for my neighbor. It required a lot of going back and forth between the living room (where the modem and router are) and the bedroom because when she first wanted the modem set up she didn't want to have any holes in the wall or run it up into the ceiling and back down. Now she's thinking about wiring the room. It would be easier.

I packed up my holiday lights, most of the tabletop ornaments, and started on the mantle this evening. I'll save the rest till tomorrow when I'll also rearrange boxes in my closet as I put them away. It looks like we'll be having friends over for dinner on Saturday so I have to scramble to get this place picked up and figure out what the central dish is. Everyone else will bring other stuff (we always do potlucks - that way no one person bears the whole expense of the dinner and we always enjoy what others bring to the meal.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 01:51 AM

LOL SRS! I hope to be around a bit more once the training has settled down. We've got a few festivals planned to go to this year too so hopefully it won't be all running/powerwalking and there'll be much more music and singing.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 08:39 AM

Every year we winterize the next "most troublesome" source of drafts.

Top of the list this year is MY OFFICE, duh! Where the BRIGHT SUN is even when it's cloudy!!! Hardi offered me an evening of "my choice" and so I will spend the day prepping for him to insert his head into a cavity HE can reach to staple-gun in some foiled bubble wrap left from someone else's project that has been sitting up there since February 2010!!!

My part of the job will be gathering materials and tools-- and stair-climbing them up there, plus clearing space so he can get at that cavity.

Let's see... caulk gun and caulk, staple gun and staples, knife, duct tape.... LOL, I also have a 5-gal bucket that needs to go back up, to carry it all!

This foiled bubble wrap is neat stuff-- the Celotex that flexes to cut/lay in place like carpeting. With heat-reflective surface.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 10:34 AM

Drafts were a major problem in this house when the fireplace was front and center in the living room. It let in warm and humidity in the summer and kept the room very chilly in winter. Last summer I bought a large (est. 4' x 10') pink styrofoam-type plank of insulation and measured and I cut pieces to build a box that fits into the cavity - it doesn't just cover the front, it is literally a box I slid into the fireplace cavity, starting with lining the sides, the back, (two pieces because it slopes), the bottom, and then a facing piece on the front that is flush with the stonework on the fireplace wall. I caulked it with low-pressure window sealant foam. I put a plank on the rock hearth (not level) and with shims made the 3/4" plywood piece level, and the large television sits on that, blocking the pink portion of the rock wall. It feels so much better in here. If I get insulating curtains for the sliding glass door and the double windows on the back of the house (same wall as fireplace) I'll have an even better insulation system. My electric bill went way down.

I finished a couple of deadlines over the break, but more of them loom. Must trot!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 11:23 AM

Yes, the cavity is box-shaped and a liner of this stuff is pretty much the plan. Need to leave the front open but already planned to curtain it off as well.

Another kewl thing today, in combat of the Little Grey Gnats of SAD trying to get me-- and man they are really swarming today. The closet cleanout (it's my SuperCloset that I've posted about before) included a shopping bag full of scraps.

These had been held/stored the requisite time since some clothing was re-purposed (dresses became skirts). I did use quite a few of the scraps in some small projects, and was glad to have them handy... but now it's time for that nasty bag to go and I am not a quilter!

A few of the bodices (about 8) are pretty enough to wear as liners under sweaters to keep cotton next to the skin and to cover that throat area that radiates so much heat in the winter. I need 2 new sweaters-- now I realize they can be V-necks!!!

I tossed a few yesterday but when I tackled the larger bag this AM, that seemed not quite right somehow..... The rest of the bag (scrappier bodices, sleeves, other parts) is going to FreeCycle (they're out on the porch NOW), where someone will enjoy a winter quilting and/or dollclothes project, and I get to keep a visual reminder of some old favorites that wore out and were discarded as skirts or blouses long ago. (The space cleared will hold some other stuff I DO need to keep, organized in those nice re-usable shopping bags that hold their shape.)

I even had hangers on hand-- to hang up the bodices I saved, where they will look pretty on a bare wall. But the neatest thing is the pair of motion-detector LED lights we found ElCheapo to light that black hole of a closet.

Next is putting back in the things that STAY, with lights ON!!!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 12:23 PM

Meditation this morning, 30 min. of qi gong, and about 8 min. of stretches and walking in the house.

There seems to have been some cosmic serendipity last night after I read my doctor's e-mail. I felt scared and a little depressed. So I went to Netflix and was going to watch a short video to relax my mind and wait for Rog to come home. I had to laugh when one of the top movies recommended was called "Fat, Sick, and Almost Dead." I started to watch it, but decided to wait so Roger could listen along later in the evening. It's a documentary made by an Australian man who had spent his young life concentrating on making oodles of money. As he continued with success he ate more and more and became quite obese. While the video follows his journey of driving across America in 60 days while on a very well monitored juice fast, it encompasses much more about nutrition, especially micro nutrients which we get from fresh fruits and vegetables.

He suffered from an autoimmune problem which caused skin rashes for which he was on prednisone all of the time. While travelling across America,he told people what he was doing, and met a truck driver in Iowa who had the same skin condition and who was morbidly obese. He offered to help the truck driver who was so inspired, after a few days of committed juice fasting, he went on to a 60 day fast with a doctor's supervision and, within a year dropped 202 pounds. He quit driving truck and has made it his life's work to help people just as he was helped.

The docu was very entertaining, very "revealing," and very inspiring. It also won a slew of awards noted at the bottom of the homepage at THE WEBSITE. An even more important website which seems to have new and new members every day is REBOOT YOUR LIFE. That's the Australian link, but it gives you an idea and, I haven't looked for it yet, but I'm sure there is a link to the American equivalent.

I intend to speak to my doctors about this. I don't want to do a complete just juice fast, but will probably start out replacing one meal each day with juice. Have to buy a juicer, first! I could relate too well to the trucker, especially, NOT that I have that much to lose ( there wouldn't be anything of me left!), but the pain he had in trouble with moving, etc. was too close to home.

Regardless, even if one is interested in losing just a little bit of weight, the documentary is well worth watching, just for health purposes, in my opinion. He does have several experts, doctors and nutritionists who speak of how terrible the general diet of the majority of Americans and Australians is. Most of us only include 5% of our daily intake of food in micro nutrients when it should be about 60%. The neat thing he points out about juicing is looking at a plate or bowl filled with the recommended amount is overwhelming. It looks as though one would never be able to eat that many fruits and vegetables. By juicing it becomes a much easier and tasty task.

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 01:05 PM

2 trips outside today per daily phone alarm, one with quite a heavy load to bring in. Car crap now reduced-- bagged items not needed till spring are headed to space waiting in that closet!!!

I'm getting the upper body workout that had been scheduled, in all these chores. I can feel the metabolism beginning to respond as the meds levels go down, but it's still breathless-provoking to do so little at such energy cost... however I know that these are the right pieces I'm working with, and that they will pay off exponentially and synergistically, so I am obedient to them.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 06:30 PM

Kat, there is a lot in various places these days (public television, public radio, various green sites) about macronutrients, micronutrients, etc. And then there are the various flora programs - Dr. Ohira (sp?) is the one you hear about a lot. Please let us know what you decide to do. Commercial fruit juice is mostly forms of sugar and carbs, so you're going to have to make your own fresh juice to make it work.

I've been busy ticking things off of my to-do list today. Finished a couple of important ones that I can finish later this evening. Got a call from a friend who is in town and I'll run an errand, shop, then pick her up and we'll have dinner with my ex also. She'll spend the night and I'll spend tomorrow cleaning getting ready for dinner on Saturday.

Interesting use of the bodices of dresses, Susan. Do you finish them along the bottom so they're basically fitted blouses? I see design folks on programs like Nate Berkus doing layers so you end up with a dress under a top and a jacket so it looks like a skirt, yet when you take off a layer or two it can be dressed up for evening wear if you don't have time to go home and change. I don't think this fits any of our lifestyles, but it's still interesting.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: GUEST,wysfone
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 06:58 PM

Not these. Too short. Originally empire so more like dickies. Hemming.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 07:26 PM

I've already joined ReBoot Your Life, SRS, and will start in the 13th. And, yes, I will be getting a juicer. Rog and I are always reading the labels for sodium and sugar content. Most store-bought foods are loaded with both.

Looks like my start, yesterday, is going to be persistent. About a half hour before Rog is due home, I get itchy feet. Put on the oldies rock, as I did last night, and marched in place and back and forth in the house for about 11 minutes. Longer than last night, plus did more stretching. The sciatica I woke up with is GONE. (Usually, I would have immobilised and had pain for several days. Guess ya can teach an ol' cat new tricks.:-) My docs are going to be happy, but, more importantly, I am happy. Scales said I've dumped 4 lbs of about 7 gained over the holidays.

As I am sure some of you know, by now, I sent out my first marketing email for my book, this afternoon. Then, I decluttered my email contacts list of old addys, etc. I'd been needing to do that for some time. I also posted excerpts from WindWords on my FB wall, twittered (why do I feel like a little bird when I say that;->) and added to my blog.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 07:45 PM

Today we got a Jersey bull calf who was born on Christmas day. We named him Herald. :)

Schedules are a bit screwy here but I have faith that things will even out.

Later in the day we ran a few errands. All in all, a good day!

Michellle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 08:38 PM

The PT peeps will be so happy when I report tomorrow that the closet thing involved a LOT of "step-ups" which is a structured balance/gait thingie they make me do all the time-- and that I did them relatively easily.

And I know I got my walkies in because my legs ache like the dickens!

~Susan