DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2026

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2026
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 26 - 07:00 PM

An innocuous line in the standard income tax form asks for the number from another form I had ignored when I figured my taxes. Today an AARP video discussed an "additional deduction" and I hunted around to find that the innocuous line is about form A-1 that has an extra $6000 deduction for my demographic^*. I hadn't filed yet (waiting till this month because I was going to have to pay). Fortunes have been reversed with that extra deduction.

Lovely weather today after the storms cleared so the dogs and I will go for a walk. Oak trees are full of tassels so I may take along a disposable mask to keep pollen out of my sinuses.

*1. it's only temporary till 2028 and 2. it will hasten the drawing down of the Social Security fund if things aren't fixed in the next few years

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2026
From: pattyClink
Date: 08 Mar 26 - 08:57 PM

Here's a fun song I wish I had seen in time to learn for yesterday's time change.

Daylight Savings Time Green Day parody

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2026
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 26 - 01:19 PM

Yes, the vehicle clock is sometimes a challenge. Last time it went pretty quickly, but I don't always remember which set of buttons will get me to the easy time change. The annual vehicle inspection is due (to renew the tags next month) and fortunately setting your clock correctly isn't on the inspection list. :)

Part two of insurance work coming up soon: I have a referral name for a painter to call this week. I need to ask him about a carpenter to do some work before painting. If I can bundle these two trades with the painter as the contractor I think I can get the back door to the garage replaced as part of the painting job, no one the wiser, it'll just be prep work.

Last fall I started painting the decorative iron on the house but stopped during the winter. Now we're into the season I'll get this finished before I have painters come over (I'd rather fool with this myself since it's easy enough to do than pay extra for it.) I should also knock down wasps' nests that will be in the way and wash off some of the mud daubers' handiwork on the porch.

Another batch of yogurt made last night and spooned into two sturdy commercial yogurt brand containers I'm reusing. And this morning is the first in months that I didn't take a Prednisone. This is the last week of 1mg, and I'm starting to alternate a bit ahead of the end. Now to keep Trump from living rent free in my head so I can stay off of it.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2026
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 10 Mar 26 - 02:45 PM

I used to reset the clock in Herself's car twice a year. Then I realised there's more days in British Summertime than Greenwich Mean Time each year, so now the clock stays an hour forward during the winter, and there ain't no change for the Summertime Car.

Subject: RE: BS: stay out of trouble thread (stay afloat)
From: Charmion
Date: 10 Mar 26 - 03:50 PM

Op KITCHEN will cross the start line tomorrow or Thursday, depending on the weather. Yes, the work will all happen indoors, but a huge sleet storm is coming toward us and Marc the contractor would rather not be on the road in that. He lives out in Osgoode Township, so I totally get that. I don’t want to be out in it either, even just to move my car out of the garage so Marc can plunk dead cabinetry in there until he's ready to load it up and haul it away.

The cats are expensively boarding at Cats’ Paradise until the tumult and shouting are over. I needed a walking stick to extract Watson from under the bed, but Isobel uncharacteristically allowed me to put the habeas grabbus on her without hardly a peep, let alone her usual demonstration of combat techniques.

At present I am taking a break from emptying the kitchen cupboards. Why, oh why, I ask myself, must I so indulge myself with stemware? Could I not make do with something that would be easier to stash in odd corners? The Waterford will spend the next couple of weeks in the study.

Okay, enough sitting about. Back at it!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2026
From: Charmion
Date: 11 Mar 26 - 11:03 AM

D-Day has been called on account of freezing rain — a large and very foul weather system has covered the Ottawa Valley from Pembroke to Hawkesbury. It’s also garbage day, and I expect a journey down the driveway that will look more like tightrope-walking than my usual progress to the street to recover my recycle box.

The contents of the kitchen cabinets are stacked on the dining table and a six-foot folding work table Brother Andrew helped me set up in the sitting room yesterday. (With a poncho liner draped over it, the load in the sitting room looks not unlike a body laid out for a wake.) The refrigerator has yet to be emptied, but that will take about five minutes. The immediate perishables will go to Andrew’s house, and the rest will be okay in a cooler.

SIL No 1 has generously agreed to give me breakfast and supper for the duration, and the pub will do for lunch. At least I can sleep in my own bed.

Speaking of sleep, I’ll have to set an alarm to wake me up as long as the cats are away. Today I didn’t even crack an eyelid until a quarter to eight. Watson would never let that happen.

The garbage truck has just passed. Wish me luck!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2026
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 26 - 12:37 PM

Charmion, having made the move back to Ottawa (after selling the house that had the completed kitchen) it's a good thing you're now near family who can easily assist as you re-do another kitchen.

As for trash/recycling day, stay safe! It's an embarrassment of riches around here with the new humongous bin; I had a sound large lidded Rubbermaid bin and an old one from the greenhouse (full of holes - drilled by me and chewed by the pitbull). And an ancient galvanized 30-gallon can from the previous owners. Since I can't seem to find my favorite 15-gallon white gardening bin (for carrying to the compost pile) I'll use the holey big bin (but will fill it only 1/2 way.)

Another appliance may need attention. The frost-free upright freezer has an insulated copper line that runs to a small evaporative tank, but the insulation has deteriorated and there is water under the freezer (discovered when I ran a yardstick under to see how much dog hair had accumulated.) Research first—if I can replace the existing insulation with a new wrapping one, I'll do it. It's on tiny castors so can be moved to be reachable without unloading the freezer.

Cat gig coming up next week and a preview one-off this afternoon (while she's out of the house all day).