Declutter and Fitness in early 2014

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:41 PM

Lynn, I also navigate to my bedside lamp via some other light - I don't use the ceiling light now, and I suppose I could take the fixture part off of the fan and use the brass cap (that is still around here somewhere.) I like the touch lamps that are inexpensive at places like Home Depot, and I have LED lights in them so if they stay on for a long time there is very little energy used, and in the evening I turn on my beside lamp (that has one of those LEDs) and leave it on till bedtime. I end up with just enough light spilling into the hall that I don't need to leave a light on there. The electric bills are all going to be horrible this winter, so these low-power lights are a big help. And today I remembered to push the thermostat down on the office furnace (the other one is programmed to be way low during the weekdays).

I suppose I could be freezing stuff for the freezer outside - it hadn't occurred to me! As long as it goes out the side door, not the back door where the dogs are.

There's a lecture on campus this evening - and there is [yet another] winter storm advisory for this evening and tomorrow. Fingers crossed the storm decides to arrive after the talk.

Those slippers sound nice. I usually walk around barefoot in the house, but this winter the floor (on a slab, no basement) is painfully cold.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:39 PM

Linn, love the slipper image and the sentiment behind those slippers.

===

I dragged down the double bed mattress for the afternoon's loading party to save Hardi a trip up to the attic.

===

The vacay house is already set up enough for a MudGather so I've got a thread running for that, to coincide with the painting trip I'll need to make on my own in about 6 weeks.

===

TBTG the week's weather is perfect: sunny and warming here for loading, and sunny and warming MORE in Ohio for unloading and enjoying our worktime there! (It's been colder there than it has up here, up to now.) Again, God's perfect timing. Did he make us this weather? No... but He did tell me when to hurry up my packing!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 12:45 PM

Yesterday I finally found notecards that were big enough to hold an 8-1/2 x 11 letter folded into quarters. Arghh! Most (including all the ones I had) were 1/8 inch too small in one dimension. Got them addressed this morning and to the post office -- this is the "New Year's" letter to my relatives telling them (officially) about Tom's death, enclosing a copy of the obituary, and (most importantly) correcting the wrong email address my sister put in her letter on my mother's death.

But, of course, before I could take everything to the post office, I had to clear snow off the car... And the driver's side windshield wiper appeared to have bit the dust. So took care of a bunch of errands -- post office, new wiper blade, picked up Rx -- before coming home and clearing the snow off the deck and steps. Is there anyone NOT tired of winter?

Today I HAVE to change all four lightbulbs in the bedroom's overhead light. I brought the ladder upstairs the other day, but it seems like by the time I have time, I've lost daylight. I use the overhead light to get to the bedside lamp to turn it on.

But first I have to bag and freeze the chicken stock I made Saturday. Again, it will be easier to freeze them flat outside on the deck table before storing them in the freezer.

Oh, better bring the laundry down and do that, too.

Splurged and bought myself a Valentine's present "from Tom" yesterday...a pair of bright shiny red sequinned fake shearling slippers -- he reminded me for over 30 years not to walk around the house barefoot in the morning.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 01:33 AM

Oh, look, another week of slick-as-snot freezing rain, way-below freezing lows overnight (not as bad as last week, but bad enough), following a relatively mild weekend. I suppose weekend-wise this is good, but it sure kicks the crap out of getting to work and back home again all week.

Lots of little things accomplished this weekend. Finished paying a couple of bills (the new car caused a jump in the insurance premium and the last bill from the former electric company). Laundry done, put away. Linens changed, some filing done, made leftovers for this week. Recycling dropped off, and during my series of chores today I got a little carpet at Dollar General that will reside in the back of the car, the surface of which is an automotive plastic and things slide around back there. The rubberized underside of the mat will stabilize the mat at least, and things shouldn't slide so much, or at least make noise while they do it. :)

I didn't read facebook as much, I decided I had better things to do, and I haven't been watching much television either. Radio, classical music, or just silence. I guess I'm just not buying the hype of the Olympics and staying glued to my set for the next two weeks and on facebook there are an awful lot of dogs and cats passing by these days.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 07:24 PM

We start loading the trailer tomorrow since it will be one of two "almost-warm" days this week before Thursday's departure. We're taking the snowblower (and bringing it back again), because we hear the accumulated snow down there is crusted and piled beyond hand-shoveling-- and we want NOT to have to park the trailer on the street like I had to do. I can't wait to enjoy the first trip's results with Hardi! A lot of work awaits us... but it can't be all work and no play! 

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 10:36 AM

Foggy, not freezing. I need to do some work in the yard this afternoon, pick up some mulch and plant my 'taters. Maybe get some more strawberries, and transplant the asparagus finally.

I also have some blog stuff to work on. And some photos to process - I'm teaching myself some new skills, a new program. Creative things have been out of the picture for a while. Time to remedy that.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 01:53 AM

A load of laundry out of the way and the kitchen sink emptied of dishes. I cleaned up the crock pot I picked up and am giving it a test overnight (oatmeal). I'm pretty sure I kept a box from one that was shipped last year, if I can find it I'll pack this one in it and list it. I have to say that eBay got terribly complicated since the last time I listed. It picked up the text from various auctions and buy-it-now sales, gave them long numbers, and made me choose or edit between them to put up older things (relisted). It wasn't working at all so I had to not edit the things at all, just use an old relist option. What a pain in the ass - I tried different browsers, etc. I hope if I put up a brand new listing that won't happen again.

Done for the night. Dogs are in. I found an old movie that is playing that I haven't seen before - Dangerous Crossing in a noir series. I've put it on NetFlix and will wait for it so I don't have to watch all of the stupid late-night commercials.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 07:47 PM

I ran errands today, got my new plates and registration on the car, picked up a repaired camera lens, and did a little shopping.

I passed a Goodwill and went in to see if I could find anything useful for me or for eBay. I found two 1 quart crockpots. They were both taped shut so I couldn't open them there, and the bowl of one has a hairline crack. The other didn't have the right lid. I could take back the cracked one because the bowls are the hardest part to replace, but instead I'll put the good lid on the intact pot and sell it for more than I paid for both of them. I found an Ott lamp that needed a bulb, and got the bulb on the way home. I love those things, and have them all over the house. Goodwill sells most of it's small items for about $3 or less.

It warmed up to about 60 today while I was out running, and tomorrow will be about the same, so I'll plan to do some garden work tomorrow. I policed the grounds, and found that Zeke had apparently eaten a dish towel. I found it out there in the piles, a twisted part of a towel in a big poop. No wonder I found signs of diarrhea also, it was probably a job to push that through. Ugg.

I haven't been watching the Olympics, it's always all US all the time, they cut away for commercials when some of the interesting small nations turn up. I'm not buying into it, though I may try to catch some of the figure skating.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 06:58 PM

Made a huge mess in the kitchen today, first making a big batch (no way to make a small one) of chicken fried rice then a big batch (ditto) of chicken stock from the carcass of the chicken that at last ended in the fried rice.

But I cleaned it up. Fried rice and stock in the fridge waiting to measure it out to freeze tomorrow.

What would I do without sesame oil, toasted sesame oil, dry vermouth and white truffle oil?

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 11:06 AM

DP, I'd love to see those heart-pots!

Snow in S. Ohio is so deep we now plan to take our snowblower along to facilitate access!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 10:57 AM

A coughing fit on Thursday resulted in nothing getting done. Friday did not bring hot water; maybe Monday.

I did get up enough energy - before lunch! - yesterday to do the next step on the pots and put them on the oven door to start drying. Then packed them carefully and loaded them in the car for the trip to the country. Terrific music last night - more like soft jazz. There were only about 20 people present, largely thanks to BAD road conditions. Everyone listened; no talking! This wonderful guy just kept playing and one of our superb locals joined him and they filled the evening with lovely healing music.

When we got to the mill, I put all the pots in the oven on low and this morning I loaded them in the kiln. With what I made a couple weeks ago, there was almost a full load. It should be done and start cooling before noon. With any luck, I can glaze and fire in the late afternoon and have those ready for the Market tomorrow. I made 5 small heart shaped bowls so really would like them for this pre-Valentine sale.

15F and almost sunny but flurries expected later. R is hoping to get the snow blower working to clear the drive. I need to go to the library.

Darn! I only coughed in the early part of the night and had a good sleep. Woke up thinking I had gotten past that but now the cough is bad again. R, also. Sometimes togetherness is a bit much. Spent about 90 minutes on phone yesterday with a friend on Whidbey - she was coughing too!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 12:45 PM

It IS more fun with two people-- we both were single parents for so long that we are more used to doing it "all" on our own, but over the years we've learned to put our church-teamwork skills into our home skills, and so (puff puff!) I just finished my end and came in to check on the beef stew I set to simmering before we went out.

I ran the blower while Hardi did a little job in the bsmt with the band saw, and then he came out to work with me. We took turns shoveling out from under the trailer and he shoveled out the interior, while I blew it all to hell and gone. And now we're off to DAY OFF fun!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:52 AM

Chance of snow today, not warming above about 34^o. I'm working at home again. We're not supposed to telecommute, but I have deadlines I'd like to meet.

I worked overtime in December, something I expected to see on my January paycheck (that arrived Feb. 1.) They turned it into comp time instead of time and a half, so I rattled a few cages and got the mistake fixed. Turns out I missed a step back when the time card was turned in, but in 17 years of working here they have never before offered to pay time and a half so there was a bit of a learning curve. It was deposited in my account overnight - a nice little buffer for the month.

I just brokered a new computer for a friend who is badly in need of one. The new one is used, but only a couple of years old, much more robust than what he's using now.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 08:41 PM

A batch of pot roast (enough for two meals) is simmering away, there is split pea soup and chicken soup in the fridge, and the kitchen is fairly clean again. One NetFlix ready to go in the mail - I'd never seen Living With Ed (Ed Begley, Jr.), and A&E cable program that I can't see (no cable) so I got the disk. I'll go ahead and get more, it's breezy yet interesting in the eco-projects he takes on. There is no mention of how much these projects cost, but he's bound to come up with things I can afford now and then!

Not sure what tomorrow holds, as far as work. The university is closed tonight so I suppose everyone will get up early tomorrow to see the verdict and either get ready to go to work or go back to bed. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 08:01 PM

Ah, yes! There is a reason why pea soup is a Quebec specialty in winter! SO comforting!

MY cough escalated and I have gone down a bit so the only thing I managed was to go up and wrap the clay objects better so they do not dry too fast.

The good news is that R and Bruno came in so B could check out the water heater and declare it officially dead forever. He told me he will install a "new" one "tomorrow". "New" means on from another building that is being cleared to make into condos. It will be newer than 1985. I am hoping this shall come to pass, if not tomorrow, then in the next few days.

I fed the guys chili and will soon feed R and I pasta. Maybe small salads also - when I stop coughing again.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 05:54 PM

The University closed early today, and we'll see what happens tomorrow. It isn't going to be above freezing for a day or two, sounds like, and the ice on the roads is the issue.

Dogs in the house all day, one asleep on the rug beside me now. She's wearing her jacket even in the house and isn't fussing about it at all.

I caught up with a NetFlix video while I made a batch of split pea soup. I usually make it maybe a couple of times a year - I've made it three times in the last couple of weeks, what with this cold cold weather. I'll keep that for taking for lunch and am making a little bit of pot roast for dinner tonight.

I've cleared up paper in the kitchen and run the dishwasher, though soup making seems to have involved enough stuff that I again have a sink full of dishes. I'll find more stuff to do to keep moving around here - I'm keeping the house cool, around 65, because I'm sure there is a high demand right now and also because the bill goes way up in this kind of weather. If the power goes out I'm prepared for a three-dog night with my three pooches!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 03:52 PM

Ach, Charmion! I "collect" (accumulate) old maps of all sorts including outdated highway maps. I decorate with them, covering the insides of lamp shades, walls, table tops, pocket folders..

Won an argument with my mother with a highway map of Wisconsin from the '60s -- towns drop off the map when the population drops below a hundred. The leader of the dance band my dad was in back in the '40s was found in Hika, WI in the '60s. In the '90s when no one could remember where he lived, I said Hika and was ridiculed for years by my mother. (Family gatherings were so much fun...) . It was no longer on the map. Then I bought a batch of road maps at a yard sale and showed her Hika...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 02:51 PM

I got the path outside the fr porch dug out this AM by hand--where multiple elevation changes where the ramp meets the steps make snowblowing impossible till the edges of things can be seen. Hardi and I will work on that area together tmrw, and then get the snow out of the trailer before it packs down and freezes.

We got abt 15 inches of snow, and cleared most of a large farm driveway yesterday. What we did ydy allows good enuf foot and vehicle access out in back where we usually park. Out front it is possible to park, but we need to clean it up for feet and ramp access. TBTG my lower-body strength and balance make it work for me as-is, but for visiting friends and for trailer loading-- that HC parking zone is the next priority.

I've only run the blower once or twice before, and that was years ago-- I need to relearn how it starts and what the finer points of adjustment are, etc., so for now I won't be running it when home alone.

♥♡♥
It's more fun with two people-- one to move vehicles for the other and one using the blower while the other cleans up edges with tge little John Deere. Anyway that was our plan when we added the blower.... Hardi DID move a lot of snow over the yrs with that little blade!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 01:35 PM

SRS seems to be having similar temps to Montreal! Yesterday was not bad but today is cooler at 8F.

Wonderful Susan to be able to do snow removal. You are doing so well!

I succumbed to the cough yesterday and only went upstairs to cover the pots so they do not dry too much. Coughed most of the night, for the first time in a few nights - R slept through it, thankfully. He has an identical cough but never during sleeping time. I am waffling today, between coughing spells; do I just give up or do I go up and try to get things done. If left too long, things become throw aways. Today's coughing spells are leaving me drained. I feel good but then the energy just goes into the cough pit... Definitely not going down to the country for the writers' group.

Hot water: asked R if it would happen in this millennium, "In 2014". I warmed water in a pot this morning to wash hair and put the pot of water in the open oven (the only heat in the K) so I can do some dishes if the energy arrives. I did tell him I consider this a "crisis".

We went to a Mexican restaurant for supper last night as I had a Living Social coupon which was coming to the expiry date. The traffic was bad in the fresh snow but not in the directions we went!! Good meal but too expensive for our budget without the coupon and even a little high with it. But it was nice to have something very different and very tasty.

Then we watched the grand finale of Republic of Doyle. The only thing it has going for it, imo, is the scenery of Newfoundland; the ending - until next season - was a total cliff hanger! So much for closure!!

I managed to complete two pieces of snail mail this morning - a bill that has to be paid in this archaic manner and a check/donation to the clayart group which I have found interesting, and helpful, at times. Like mudcat, it can also be aggravating, etc, if one does not choose carefully what to read and when to forgo it!

Guess I shall try some lunch and hope to complete the pots.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 01:27 PM

No, Stilly; none of the three universities near me collects maps of the sort I have just heaved-ho -- official state highway maps from Virginia, New York and Maryland, and city atlases from Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

If we were habitual travellers in the Canadian hinterland, we might have something they would want, but we're far more interested in destinations that do not offer blackflies in summer and total isolation at other times. I'm a wuss; it's a known fact.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 10:18 AM

SRS, no worries... besides, do u have any idea how many people it takes for Hardi to be able to sked a wk of vacay!?!?!

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 14 - 01:25 AM

Charmion, before you toss those maps, check around to see if any of the universities in the area has a map collection in their Special Collections. I've donated a lot of my out-of-date maps to my university map collection and they love it. Mine were the mini-folders from national parks and various related maps. There is information there that, when compared to other maps, adds up to an interesting story. Seriously - check around and see if someone wants them!

Susan, it sounds like you have been hit by the winter gremlin. If waiting a little is what it takes to make your move safely, I hope you'll alter your schedule a bit.

I'm going to work at home at least in the morning tomorrow. We'll see how the day advances, if I go in for a half-day in the afternoon. The houses built in this climate just aren't meant to go down to some of the temperatures we've experiences regularly this winter. It is 24^o right now, going down to 19^o overnight. The high tomorrow is around 28^o. It's well below freezing every night until early next week. Brrrrrr.

The pooches are tucked in for the night, I'm finishing my cup of herbal tea, then everyone is in bed for the night. The forecast keeps changing, but now it looks like we are in for some snow tomorrow.

Snow Day!!! (Fingers crossed!)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 09:43 PM

The trailer is now totally filled with snow. Looks like we'll have to shovel it out to load it next week. On the plus side tho I was able to help w snow removal today, over a half hour on the snowblower plus cooking for Hardi and shoveling the trash cans outta the drift the road plow left em in.

♥¤♥.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 06:00 PM

Snowing again and cold in Ottawa, but I'm feeling virtuous with the cellar mucked out and the study tidy for the first time in months. The recycle boxes are full of out-dated road maps and legal manuals. I hope nobody out there is yearning for a heavily used loose-leaf copy of Volume I (Administration) and Volume II (Discipline) of Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces, dated 2008.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 04:37 PM

It's cold out. Really really cold. And windy, which makes the cold feel worse. The next several days forecast are about the same. By all rights my house should be totally spotless and decluttered with all of the time I've been shut in due to icky weather. Instead I seem to find ways to mess it up. Tomorrow is supposed to be so cold that I think I'll take the day off. I don't like sending the dogs out in it and I don't want them in the house for 9 or 10 hours alone, they're not used to it. The garage isn't warm enough with their little heater, either. This has been the strangest winter, and now that we aren't allowed to telecommute, I have to take a vacation day to stay at home, even if I chose to work. I may do some of the Lynda training things - those are as useful to me the individual as they are to me the employee.

Sounds like everyone else is getting hit a lot harder and snowed under a lot deeper. Stay warm and dry, all of you!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 05 Feb 14 - 01:10 PM

SRS: I could not listen to such a debate!! Almost as bad as watching a hockey game - maybe worse, even!

Lunch is in the microwave. Pots are uncovered and will be ready for next step after lunch.

The water heater is dead forever and will be replaced ---- Several are being removed from a building R sold- finally! And with any luck one will make it into the cellar here before the next millennium. In the meantime, no dishes done - until it becomes desperate enough to heat a pot of water! Did clothes in cold water yesterday but prefer hot for sheets, etc.

The trap door to cellar was challenging to open this am. My doing as I had put something there to protect the cord for the wee heater. But I managed to save the life of the handle of my fav mop by using strong slim files to weasel it up enough to open!! "Sometimes, R, I DO know what I am doing!"

Cough is still doing well but had another cough-free night so I am feeling OK.

Nice email this am from folk dance friend in PA to which I wrote a lengthy reply. I do miss those guys and hope to get down there in the spring - that means after mid-April!

Goal is to get to the studio by one, so lunch...

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 08:46 PM

This is my late night, followed by a "regular" day tomorrow. Makes it really hard to get anything done when I get home because I have to go to bed right away to get up in the morning. I have a couple of things I need to do, though, so I'll prioritize as soon as I get home.

Listening to a bit of the Bill Nye debate with the creationist. An exercise in frustration. They are so mis-matched. Ham is a Luddite repeating the same nonsense over and over.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 08:22 PM

Not dry enough but turned over and covered 'til morning.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 07:01 PM

I paid off one credit card so I could get the full benefit of a balance transfer at 0% interest until June. This may enable me to finally get that amount paid off nad keep up with the other one. I will only use the one and pay it off each month - unless I go berserk! I could not pay rent on the cabin and pay off the credit card so that is the only good thing about no longer renting the cabin. We miss it very very much.

Now have no hot water here in the city. I am hoping this might become a priority for R soon! At least we do have running water here.

The good news is that even though I am still having periodic coughing spells, some of which are dreadful, I did manage to get to the pottery this afternoon: 5 heart shaped small bowls, 4 smallish pitchers and a bunch of lids of which I hope some will fit the already dry jars I made a while back. I really need to make a template and make ALL openings and, hence, lids the same size! I can probably get these dry and fired before the Market on Sunday. I'll go back up in a while and check dryness and carry on to the next steps as possible.

I also talked for well over an hour with my friend and health consultant in PA - thanks to my new cheap long distance. Wonderful to be able to catch up with her and the doings of her wandering daughter. I, then, sent her my recent writings as I realized I might have done sooner were I thinking clearly.

Brain dysfunction. I am beginning to feel I am coming out of the malaise of these last 8 months, hopefully. Very heartening. Now to be very careful I do not fail to use my wonderful new mask, or the respirator when necessary - remembering that it is necessary!

Right now, while I wait for things to dry, would be a good time to look at recent article on environmental illness. A friend suggested I print it and give it to people so they can better understand my difficulties and be more understanding, and be forewarned when I get grumpy.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 14 - 03:51 PM

Declutter of bank account complete: bills all paid, except for insurance premium addition. After buying a new vehicle I learned that previously they kept the whole premium down (my son and I are both on it) by marking the youngest driver as the one with the oldest vehicle. Our cars are both the same newer age so the policy went up and I have to pay a pro-rated amount. Since I paid in full in September I got a "paid-in-full discount," but if I wanted to pay this next bit monthly I'd have to also give back that discount. This is a mutual insurance company so they always send me an annual bonus payment in February - it appears we'll be sending checks back and forth in a couple of weeks.

Dog beds laundered this morning before I left for work, but I didn't have time to dry them. No way did I want to put two bulky dog beds in the dryer and leave it running when I drove off. There will be tons of dog hair in the lint filter and even though this is an electric dryer, that is bound to be a fire hazard. The beds are propped so they can air dry until I get home tonight and then they can finish in the dryer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 11:09 PM

I've been teaching myself Camera Raw as a way to process digital images, so this evening I worked on chandelier photos in that. Interesting, but I can't find all of the settings I saw in the Lynda tutorial, so I'm sure I'll be revisiting that and watching the segments I bookmarked.

Tonight is supposed to be a low of 38^o but every night until next week after that is below freezing. B-o-r-i-n-g. And damned depressing.

Heading to bed to read. Best thing to do on a cold evening. Read and listen to a pitbull snore at the end of the bed. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 07:50 PM

I took today off, I wasn't feeling great last night - I'm wondering if there is some lactose intolerance showing up. I realized I had quite a bit of dairy in various foods yesterday afternoon and evening.

The chandelier has been weighed and I'm working on the description now. I'll list it this evening. In other sales, I had a text last night asking if I'd take a low-ball price on the futon, to which I responded with a much higher price. Got back a sob story about he's broke and sleeping on the floor. Frankly, I don't care. He can find an adequate bed in any number of ways, he doesn't need to use a sob story to bid down something he wants to buy. I ignored him after that and haven't heard back.

It has been a grim, gray few days around here. I could really use some sunshine! I also need to cross things off my list to motivate myself to get more done.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 06:47 PM

Feeling lonely here!

So I went off to the library and then to the Market for apples and juice - the bag of apples was so heavy I could barely carry it. I do believe he gave me extras! Then the cheese store and a long conversation with charming staff person about finding cheese without calcium chloride AND the fact that the secondary labeling does not always list it. He came back and told me which one did not - a Swiss brie. This was at the marked down portion of the display - 3 for $14 so I picked up three wedges which would have cost almost $30, and a new bottle of organic whipping cream, the only one without additives!

And black beans from the bulk store as I could not find the ones I thought I bought last week. A new package of brown rice is also unfound. This means I need a better way to mouseproof stuff like that as I found other things in odd places! A large, lidded plastic bin is in order! On list to bring one in from the mill. Of course I shall have to store it --- under the K table!

Nice email from granddaughter (20-something) made my day; starting to plan a trip to Montreal, from NYC, in the spring - or whenever something interesting to her is happening here.

A dreadful coughing spell in the library - went in the rest room to complete it! and another one after I returned from excursion. The latter worn me out completely and I read until about 4:30. Then had enough energy to do the batch of chili for which beans had been cooking all afternoon. Now, I have almost enough energy to pot but no inclination. I will spend a quiet evening and hope for an early night. Tomorrow!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Feb 14 - 09:45 AM

I hope everyone had a pleasant Sunday! I did take my walk, equal only to about 2 blocks but fresh air and viewing the trees and the snow dripping off the various roofs was a nice change. Then I made a light lunch after searching all over for the lettuce and having R search all over. I found it by the "bag to go back to the city". Part of "I have no idea when R is going to decide to leave so I better start getting things ready". THEN I made a light lunch!

Then I just sat and computered/not wanting to start anything... Geri visited with two back copies of the local paper so we had a nice, but short, visit. read the gleaners and I went back to my computer. Back to the city about 7:30 and R turned on the superbowl. I, in a state of shock that he would do such a horrendous thing and with ear plugs, finished my current novel and phoned my potting partner to apprise her of changes in the reception of electric in the studio, as it has to be turned on elsewhere first.

When I say:"I cannot stand watching sports" I mean exactly that - ever! He means - except when I feel like it.

Managed a night's sleep with almost no coughing. Making up for it now. R is gone to work with only orange juice, vit C, Pau d'Arco and a piece of zuke bread. I am drinking warm water with apple cider vinegar to sooth the gut before my toast. Hoping today I can make a few pots, with just enough time to dry and fire before the Market on Sunday. Pot between coughs? At least I feel at the cusp of OK.

The weather has moved down to 12F and sunny. There is a couple inches of snow on the front steps. A chore for later. Now toast beckons!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 14 - 02:34 PM

Another bright morning with the sun making some effort but just enough to know it is up there!

Late to bed, late up. Did NOT cough in the night!! Felt almost normal. Brekkie done and most of the weeks dishes. Filled the dish rack. More to go but that was enough to wear me out. I wandered around looking for the iron on patches I bought last week - in the dish cupboard?? OK! Mended the 3 pairs of pants. Now I can put the iron away 'til next year. Now down to sewing with the machine. Maybe today... Coughing incessantly for most of last 2 hours. Tiring.

Wrote a 2000 word treatise on stress and its effect on - well, on everything. A la Hans Selye. It is this hyper intellectual claptrap of the group on Meet-up - the brain and society. They need a down to earth kick. No one seems to care about real life. But i cannot help giving the kick once in a while. The meeting place is too toxic and too noisy for me to attend and everyone is so busy blithering they did not recognize when I did go and tried and tried and tried to say something. Hence the written word, to which the leader will respond missing the point totally. I just had to do it!

I almost feel like doing something useful. I did whip another batch of cream for the next round of choc bread pudding - still from the original batch! It is actually quite good. As good as brownies!!

Contemplating a walk outside - around to the other side of the building and back, just for a change of position. Tired of sitting. It is up to 28 and the snow is dripping off the roof.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 14 - 12:24 PM

It's a heavy gray overcast and very cold and humid today. Yuck. I'm wearing my dacron booties (they look like blue insulated boots). Not going anywhere, and I think I want to bake today. :)

I'll bring my bathroom scale into the living room and balance the box with the chandelier on it to get the shipping weight. I'm not going to close and seal it, because if it doesn't sell with these prisms at the high price I'll sell the prisms separately and put a new set of almond/teardrop crystals on it and sell it that way. In which case I'd have to take it out of the box, put the new crystals on and photograph it again.

The dogs are in and everyone is napping. I think I'll join them in that activity for a little, then get moving. I'm not a football fan so any viewing today will be movies, NetFlix, or streaming PBS for the last Sherlock to be completely caught up.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 10:09 PM

I spent enough time outside this afternoon to dig a few rows and put in the onion sets. Not a lot, for me three bundles will last quite a while. Watered everything in, and then put the insulating cover back over the faucet since we're going to have some cold nights again this week, down to the low 20s again several more times.

Linens changed, a couple of loads of laundry done, a loaf of bread made (it is a very good loaf, and I added a couple of tablespoons of ground flax seed to give it a little more whole wheat look and nutty flavor.) Looks like tomorrow will be all domestic indoor stuff, the forecast is for cold rain early turning to freezing rain or snow later.

Soaked in a hot tub, and now catching up on Sherlock this evening.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 07:14 PM

Nice morning - not sunny but bright. Then afternoon snow but very light. Less than an inch so far. May do more tonight.

Yesterday's good morning turned into a lousy afternoon and I phoned R to ask if we could go to the country together in my car as I did not feel up to driving. So we did and even got to the cafe on time for the main act. It was wonderful to have our friend Steve back in the audience, and participate in one song at open mike, recovering slowly but steadily from the motorcycle accident last summer that put him into a rather lengthy coma!

We continued on to the mill and made it to bed before midnight. I coughed all night for the first time in at least a week. I had a period of recovery in the am and managed to make breakfast about 10. Then mended pair of long johns by hand after I mended the heat thingy - that we put in the microwave to get hot to warm the bed. Crisis! When R pulled it out this am, it was leaking! I HAD to mend it and as long as... Did a tiny bit of sorting in the studio but not enough energy to do much so did not turn heat up.

R put sweeps on the bottoms of the front door!!! and the door from storage area (COLD) into studio. No more jeans blocking the crack under the door! I made a nice simple lunch about 3:30 then dashed off to the library as a book seemed to be overdue. Part way there, I realized I had forgotten the book. So I threw myself on the mercy of the librarian who simply renewed the week overdue book for me.

Since, I am sitting here - watching the snow fall until it became too dark, computering, and sneezing and blowing my nose and coughing, coughing, coughing... Time for more C and Pau d'Arco.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 04:30 PM

It's not bad right now, but we have cold weather moving in again, so I went for the most basic of comfort foods, made a loaf of bread. The house smells heavenly. I'm going to spend an hour or so in the yard getting my onion sets in the ground, and then see what other job jumps up demanding attention.

I relisted (I think) the futon today. Craig's List sometimes just seems to update an old ad, not boost it to the top. It may take a few minutes for it to show. If not, I'll completely delete it and write a new listing when it warms up again. Yes, we're headed into the deep freeze again tomorrow.

A couple of weeks ago I took the files off of some floppy disks (sent by my sister) and decided it is something I need to get back to again with my own old floppies. I have a stack I located today (hiding in plain sight) that are by the old Dell. I'll move the disk contents into a file in dropbox then be able to pull them into the big computer for storage. Something to do this evening. The old disks will then got to the e-waste bin at the library.

Snow flurries in the forecast for tomorrow and Monday. Extra day off? It would be nice!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Feb 14 - 03:44 PM

I've just made one of the bigger messes in the kitchen that I've ever been responsible for -- including Thanksgiving and other ceremonial meals.

But the resulting vegetarian vegetable soup is outrageously good. Haven't a clue as to why I decided that's what I wanted to do for lunch since I started it when I was already hungry.

I'd bought a mess o' mushrooms the other day on the markdown rack, so I first sautéed them up in butter, while defrosting 2 bags (4 cups total) of the veggie stock I made a week ago. Then I cut up a bunch of carrot rounds and celery and let them simmer a bit in the stock. Next I threw in a bunch of frozen stuff that needed to be "churned" -- sugar snap peas, cauliflower, broccoli, and corn, and remembered a jar of fried onions in the fridge (where did THAT come from? Oh, I remember, mark down rack...). Then just for good measure I cooked up some orzo and threw that in with the last of last week's baby spinach that I hadn't used in the eggs florentine. Did I mention garlic? Lots of garlic...

I suppose I could have used a can of chickpeas, but, quite honestly, I think it's got enough in it. Sort of kitchen sink veggie soup. The stock has a splash of dry vermouth in it, and was fairly heavily garlicked and onioned to start out with. All I did was add black pepper; I don't think it needs any other seasoning. I seldom add salt to anything as it usually doesn't need it.

The other day I tried the roasted cabbage steak recipe that was making the rounds on Facebook and it was great -- that recipe is a keeper. I love cabbage no matter how it's fixed, and this was a nice variant, with extra virgin olive oil brushed over it (and garlic rubbed on it) instead of the ton of butter I usually put on boiled cabbage (along with both pepper and salt).

Big decision tonight is I'm going to see a friend performing at a Greek restaurant and do I eat before or get a later than usual supper there. Or just get some tzatziki and a glass of wine...

Linn

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Jan 14 - 12:20 PM

That TV thing could get a person in big trouble!! I am amazed! Sound and light - I have always found them each difficult but far more so since 2000 when I was poisoned. Ear plugs in pocket all the time now and my wonderful new mask. People tend to believe I am protecting them from my disease. No one questions it.

But, at 20, I went for a job interview at State Farm. They showed me the work area - a huge room filled with small desks, a zillion people, phones, typewriters. I knew I could not work there! It seems that the vast majority of people are not affected OR are not aware they are being affected, so those of us who are have to find ways of protecting ourselves.

Some better today. Made R a real brekkie and had my usual piece of toast/tahini/apple. R went off to work, feeling well enough. Have a load of laundry in dryer (bedding) and one in washer. Also cleared a corner of K where I had put stuff from laundry room, hoping R would insulate that window. But it was all in front of the back door and -YAY!- a moderately warm day so I took out the compost (walking on top of a crusty foot of snow) and cleaned up that corner. Made a cup of Echinacea tea 'cause it made me feel better yesterday (forgot I had it). Here I sit with my tea, building up energy for the next round - gearing up and organizing to go to the cafe and then to the mill. The "warm spell" is supposed to hold through the weekend! ( high of around 30F)

.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 06:06 PM

There is a device called TV-B-Gone that you might want to keep in your pocket for this kind of outing.

The cold was still here this morning, but wind has been pushing it around. I felt it buffeting me on the road. Tonight I'll probably have to pick up more of the neighbor's paper that blew down the street from his trash (I found a magazine with an address in the next block - with wind pushing magazines you know it is pretty gusty).

Slogging my way through the work week. Editing today, and I find to work here I have to put on headphones and turn on music loud enough to drown out everything else in the room. I enjoy telecommuting so much when it comes to this kind of work and controlling the light and sound in the environment.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 03:33 PM

This last triggered a conversation between us two sick folks: R detests Arabic music while he eats a souflaki. I enjoy the Indian music in a grocery store we go to and the Greek music is nice in the Greek restaurant. Flickering lights drive my brain totally berserk in minutes, if not seconds. So I would have had to turn around and leave that restaurant. Nobody wants to be around when my brain is being attacked! Including me. OR esp me!

I had to message my writers' group friends this morning that I cannot get there tonight. Sent them links to material on the subjunctive mood and a poem by AA Milne about Christopher Robin and his sneezles and wheezles, one of my life-long favourites.

Then I went back to bed but determined I felt worse there so here I am. We had nice salads for lunch. R is reading a terrific book called Rapt by Winifred Gallagher. "a really good writer". My brain is not up to reading that good a book though I was delighted when I found it at the library. I shall soon give up on internet and go back to my latest novel.

That will be it for today.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 01:53 PM

And thank YOU for the meal!

It was a great steak, and I had smashed potatoes (great) and onion strings. The latter tasted great, but my stomach was heart-burny later.
But I lucked out, in that I only had one TV in front of me and one off to the side. Also, while ANY piped-in music is a PITA, it was less obnoxious than some. Not much, but a litte.

Having lived in some of those states that aren't supposed to get that sort of weather, it doesn't matter how good a driver or their car/tires are when they're faced with ice and inadequately cleared roads.

I am very sick of the cold. Most of the time, it feels like it's too much to go outside unless I have to. This is definitely not a healthy way to look at winter.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 01:15 PM

17°F has been our high lately, here in New Hampshire... But, Maggie, you're just not supposed to have to deal with such temperatures! Ach! It's like those poor snow-inexperienced people in Atlanta (and other place) who have neither the tires nor the skills to drive through even the small amount of snow that we denizens of New Hampshire don't even slow down for. (Though we should -- nothing worse than an over-confident driver of a 4-wheel drive SUV...)

I took Jeri out to lunch yesterday (for playing with the cats and keeping an eye on the house, etc. while I was in Milwaukee) and, since we were both hungry for steak, we went to the local Bugaboo Creek (I wanted to try the onion strings so see how they stacked up against "haystack onions").

The food was decent. The filet was tender and tasty. But why, exactly, does a restaurant have at least SIX large screen TVs each tuned to a different channel in just our smaller section of the dining area? AND loud and more or less inappropriate "music" piped in? (Forgive me, one of my pet peeves is restaurant music that bears no relationship to the type of food being served. I'd rather hear oriental music in a Chinese restaurant than light rock, or opera in an Italian restaurant rather than country or blues...)

It was very distracting and I'm not sure which was more distracting, the constant jangling of motion on six screens or the over loud "music". What's the matter with being able to pay attention to your meal and your dining companion?

Thank you for indulging my rant...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 11:13 AM

The winds are strong and from the south. It's cold this morning but warming to near 60, but the kicker is that these warm winds bring high fire danger. And pollen. I'm taking Sudafed in low doses during the day today to counter the mountain cedar that is blowing in.

It has been a busy January but I'm titling these threads so they can go for longer periods of time, so this one will run at least through February. We'll declutter the number of new threads here at Mudcat.org that way.

For fitness I'm planning to spend some time working on a computer station that is set at the front of a treadmill. This is something that doesn't get much use, and my using may call some attention to it, but also give me some exercise. I miss telecommuting and all of the things I can get done at home during the day - take time at lunch to go mow the lawn or walk the dogs. I tend to work through lunch when I'm at the library.

Has the snow melted for any of the rest of you yet? Are you able to stir around out of doors at all, or is everyone still house-bound?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 14 - 12:12 AM

I just unplugged the spaghetti of cables behind my computer and took out two 7-port hubs, replacing them by a wonderful 24-port 2.0 USB hub. That'll deal with the hubs pitching off the back of the desk every so often, disconnecting or tangling wires. And now all of my old enclosures with external drives are turned on and I may move around data and put larger drives in the enclosures (at least, the SATA drive). I'm going to start working with Camera Raw with my new camera and that eats up space fast.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 07:15 PM

SRS, yup. That's why those items will be loaded last right inside the van doors. We travel with similar items on each year's vacay. My job is knowing what's where, and being sure they stay accessible. Then Hardi's the muscle. It's one overnight stop... where I've stayed before.... with very secure parking, right outside the room's dog-guarded door.

♥♡♥

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 05:59 PM

SRS: Robin could care less!
Your 17 degree temp reminds me of a Christmas Day in central Ontario many years ago when the ex from D.C. phoned complaining about how cold it was ...36F. I said, gleefully, "Well, It is wonderful here! It has gone up to 17 and we are out doing firewood in our shirtsleeves!" I was a lot younger then - about 40 years younger!

R went off about noon to do useful things; he can actually talk today! I am still going up and down like a yo-yo. Coughing non stop for interminable lengths of time, but I went off to get groceries, mainly because we were running out of chewable C. It helps with my coughing without burning my tongue and it is portable. Came back with lots of groceries and had to off-load and go elsewhere for C. It felt good to be out but I was worn out when I got back. Had a small lunch but the cough.... doesn't just linger; it takes short breaks! I may go lie down for a bit.

Caught up all emails and an overdue message to a special, and fragile, friend. Had a go-round with Apple the day before yesterday re receiving messages in French. The customer service person was not totally adequate. So today I phoned again and talked to someone new. Now I KNOW that THOSE messages are scams and where to forward them. Also know that my account info is correct as per the changes I made Monday. Any further French messages or English ones that seem unusual will be forwarded to "[e-mail]".   And, yes, changed the password.

That's it energy gone again.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 03:48 PM

It's warmer this afternoon, and the weekend is supposed to be lovely, so I'll relist the futon on Craig's List to have it in play Friday through Sunday. And if it doesn't go, then schedule the Salvation Army.

Susan, when my son and I traveled from Fort Worth to Tucson we had guitars and computers and other electronics in the pickup, and when we stopped for the night we unloaded that part of the stuff into the motel room. We packed so that it wouldn't be a struggle to untangle things in the truck - what needed to come out had to be easy to reach. It meant we slept better not worrying that something might look tempting to a burglar out in the parking lot. Are you making your drive in one day?

SRS