DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 09:49 AM

AI Overview
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), can be very effective for managing menopause symptoms and improving overall well-being, but the benefits and risks need to be carefully considered for each individual. While some older studies raised concerns, newer research and a greater understanding of individual needs have led to a more nuanced view of HRT, with many women finding it a safe and effective option.
Here's a more detailed look:
Benefits of HRT:
Relief from Menopausal Symptoms:
.
HRT is highly effective in reducing hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances associated with menopause.
Improved Mood and Cognitive Function:
.
Many women experience improved mood, reduced anxiety and depression, and better cognitive function (including memory) with HRT.
Bone Health:
.
HRT can help maintain bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, especially when started early in menopause.
Cardiovascular Health:
.
While older studies raised concerns about cardiovascular risks, more recent research suggests that HRT, particularly when started close to menopause, may have a protective effect against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, this is still an area of ongoing research, and the timing of initiation and type of HRT (oral vs. transdermal) are important considerations. The risk of dementia is reduced by 20%.
Reduced Risk of Diabetes:
Some studies suggest a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes with HRT.
Long-term Quality of Life:
.
By managing the physical and emotional symptoms of menopause, HRT can significantly improve a woman's overall quality of life.
Important Considerations:
Individualized Approach:
The decision to use HRT should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional, taking into account individual symptoms, medical history, and risk factors.
Timing is Crucial:
Starting HRT within a few years of menopause (or before the age of 60) is generally recommended to maximize benefits and potentially minimize risks.
Different Forms of HRT:
There are various forms of HRT, including pills, patches, creams, and gels. The best option for each woman may vary, and transdermal (patch or cream) routes are often preferred for reducing certain risks associated with oral HRT.
Potential Risks:
While HRT can be beneficial, it's important to be aware of potential risks, such as blood clots, stroke, and certain types of cancer. However, these risks are generally low, especially when HRT is started early and used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
In conclusion, HRT remains a valuable tool for managing menopause symptoms and improving women's health and well-being. A thorough discussion with a healthcare provider is essential to determine if HRT is the right choice and to develop a personalized treatment plan.

20 years ago one study claimed a serious risk of HRT but it has been shown to be faulty and inaccurate.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: pattyClink
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 09:51 AM

Well that's a new one, getting skunked inside one's house! Reckon a skunk came in through the dog door?

I got hours of hoeing and weeding in yesterday because it was a rare overcast and coolish day. Unnerved because the tarantula emerged to make her rounds just as I began. Trying to figure out where her den is, apparently it's just inside a solid perimeter fence, so to do her hunting she has to pass near my front door. That's better than the 'she wants to come in' theory. Gives me the creeps, and I wouldn't mind exterminating especially if she's going to be raising a brood, but I'll try to be patient if you say she's defense against worse pests. Though orange-size insects are very hard to get used to.

Then I read some mineralogy and cracked some rocks I've been wanting to crack for years. Yes the main rooms look like hell. But I've found the days I keep them nicely tidy nothing fun gets done.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 10:04 AM

Donuel, do you have stock in Big Pharma?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 11:10 AM

I have stock in nothing. My wife has the usual mutual fund portfolio. Besides, Pharma stock would have been an ethical conflict due to connections to the NIH. I had the earliest stock in Apple/McIntosh but sold it. I once took a job at Bear Stearns to take a peek inside. They openly had seminars on how to churn accounts and other corrupt practices. That firm is now not just merely dead, but is completely dead.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 12:49 PM

I don't want to see any more AI posts in here, Donuel. They're not reliable, they're often nonsense, and quite often they're wrong. Why would you post that one here now? We all have our HRT needs taken care of without a guy posting an AI recommendation. (I go the little pharma local compounding pharmacy route for a topical cream; it's good for bone strength.)

Patty, please be patient with your tarantula/s - you're lucky to have it. I don't see them as often in my yard now, I think what with weather changing and a big shrub growing over where the last hole was (usually here it is a quarter to half-dollar sized hole that opens up, and if you shine a flashlight in you'll see the sides lined with spider silk). It closes up in wet weather and the spider seems to be fine staying inside then. I have a couple of photos from one day mowing - I noticed a bunch of snails crawling toward and into the hole; a few hours later there were empty snail shells arranged neatly outside the hole. Door Dash for Tarantulas!

I can see a skunk getting in, they have gotten into the garage, but where did it go? Back out the door? And why weren't the dogs skunked, just the house? It is the oddest event I ever remember happening that is skunk and dog-related.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 03:50 PM

I will then refer you to the director of the FDA regarding the advances in HRT. 90% of google is AI driven now so double check with snopes. I have gotten red letter deep fake warnings on several YOUTUBE segments..
Deepfakes are usually made to attract clicks but the implications they make are still kinda crude.

The director of the FDA was on Morning Joe this morning.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 04:46 PM

As far as the news/science media was concerned, HRT was ok, then for a while it wasn't, then it's ok again and people understand it better. I've been on it for years since a hysterectomy in my mid-40s, too young for menopause, and for various reasons stay on it. Hold the course if you make a decision based on sound reasoning, and ignore anything coming out of the federal government for the next four years. And no more Chat GPT stuff, please.

To refine the information about the intensity of this mystery skunk episode—it's not like the full-blown burning tires dog-hit-in-the-face shot of skunk squirt; after spraying Skunk Odor Remover and mopping it's still strong, but it's like what the house can smell like after you burn toast, but with the mammalian bouquet added to the smell, and far more durable. Maybe the dog ate a skunk and this is the output? ;-)

The Harvest Gold kitchen sink has left the property and several other things will go out on the front porch for an early evening pickup. I handed off various fruits and vegetables to my daughter, sent home some salad and babaghanouj with the ex, along with tomatoes, and the tomato hedge in the yard is looming, looking like it's going to send a whole bunch of ripe fruit this way this week. Time for some canning or cooking and freezing. The good thing about that wall of tomatoes is that there will be enough to process (canning) in large batches to make it worth having a pan of boiling water going for several hours in a house that is running the air conditioner full-tilt because it is 100^o outside. It's a busy process of harvesting and using or giving away (and not wasting).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 06:22 PM

I have successfully sold Edmund’s last great extravagance, a Kamado Joe ceramic barbecue with a smoker and an electric rotisserie. It cost more than $2,000 in 2020, and I got $995 for it after four and a half years under a tarp with resident spiders enjoying Liberty Hall. The buyer is a firefighter, so I can be reasonably sure he and his buddy won’t hurt themselves when they load it on their truck. I interrogated him about the truck — do they have straps and tie-down cleats? He was amused.

He bridled audibly when I asked for $500 up front to hold the barbecue for him until Saturday. “That’s a lot!” he complained, and I said that it had to be enough to hurt if he decided to blow me off. He wasn’t ready for that level of blunt, and griped that he didn’t know me, etc. etc. etc. I said I don’t know him either, which is why I want a deposit, and as a firefighter I’m sure he has friends in law enforcement so I wouldn’t get far if I defrauded him. We settled on $250 by e-transfer, the balance in cash at pick-up.

I wanted to take down the ad because my phone was blowing up with people determined to get their hands on a fancy bit of kit for comparatively cheap. (New, that model of kamado costs more than $3,000 today, without the accessories.) I would not mark it Sold without a deposit.

Apart from that adventure, today I’ve just been enjoying the full use of my house again, including the stove, the bathrooms and the waste-baskets. No more low-contact living!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 07:13 PM

Apart from that adventure, today I’ve just been enjoying the full use of my house again, including the stove, the bathrooms and the waste-baskets. No more low-contact living!

YAH!!!!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Jul 25 - 08:41 AM

Hooray for Charmion's Declutter!
And for getting the house sold firm.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Jul 25 - 11:55 AM

Dupont:

Congratulations to Charmion on the progress made!!

Went to Beaver on a Saturday and came back after a week - on Sunday. My sense of time is worse that ever and I bought some plastic - erasable calendars at a dollar store to try to keep in touch. Have not yet gotten around to using them - like the book I bought to write in what is happening in my life! I am beyond hope- as usual - or worse.

I hoped being at Beaver, I would feel better. I just felt worse and worse, hence the return. Drove the 6 hours on Sunday and got here feeling fine while unloading the car and starting to deal with laundry. Monday felt great - best in ages! and started sorting myself out to go back to Beaver. "Maybe the bed was too uncomfortable" - It is! Maybe the weather - Monday and Tuesday were great! Today was get out and push as the weather changes its mood- warming again...

So, that is what it is to feel good! And now the big -what to do to maintain... Ate a good BF and forced myself to walk to the River and back. Looking on line for a new mattress - small enough to fit the space... May need to change the furniture configuration to fit the available size. May need one that comes in a box to deal with getting it into house... Do need to go back to Beaver to A: flip mattress to see if that helps - there is definitely a high ridge down the middle! B: check on possibility of increasing available space.

We have been using a 3/4 size mattress - not easily available -but RV mattresses are available in 3/4 size! THEN - how toxic will a new mattress be??? Ah, organic... $$$$ So much to consider, including how I feel and why!

OR- is there something in the house that affects how I feel? Did not use the air cleaner, except as a fan for heat! The air cleaner needs a new filter which is sitting in the LR in the unopened box! Need help to make the change!   

There were "a lot" of blueberries on my shrubs but not ripe yet; the neighbours invited to pick! They are lovely fat berries! Maybe I can go back on Saturday by way of a boat event along the way?

Picked up veggies from Farm yesterday - now to find the energy to process them Soon! Will NOT join up again next year!!

OK: I am getting used to the new computer and coming to terms with the fact that I had no back up and have lost ....tons! But I can prob find the recipe for Italian celery soup on line.

Then, work has started on the development being constructed in our back yard! They have left us a few trees as a buffer. When the leaves fall, we will have a great view of trashy looking (IMO) houses. I wonder how the reservation is going to deal with the greatly increased traffic through their space?? They ruled out non-local traffic before 9:30 am most recently. School children are going to be routed on the other side of the beautiful cedar hedge along Our entire driveway then ??? (I am sure there is a plan. I just "love" the idea of the kids walking to school in the am past our (second floor) BR window?????????? I hate the whole darn thing but no point in getting my knickers in a knot over the inevitable! I don't even know the plan but the devastation has begun.

I just messaged dear Larry re the front door at Beaver not latching properly, opening itself whenever it feels like it - notice of impending tornado! Larry just messaged back - fixed!

What next?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jul 25 - 12:47 PM

Dorothy, you have been busy! I hope you're able to find a comfortable mattress that doesn't off-gas or have material/construction issues. There are so many inflatable mattresses on the market these days, but what is the material that is being inflated?

The house is going to have the burnt-toast level of skunk for a while, it seems. Staying in the main part of the house I get used to it, but going outside or into my bedroom or sewing studio and returning, it hits me. Will be keeping a lot of doors closed.

Congratulations on the negotiations on the barbecue smoker. It sounds like the process I went through selling my dad's aluminum Boston Whaler and the outboard motor when I was handling his estate. Boys and their toys.

The child's wading pool is set up with the floating solar fountain and the nearby birdbath has a lot of traffic. There is a cooler with bottled water for postal and other delivery folks, and soakers and sprinklers are in place. It's all about staying cool. When I'm at the gym I'll shower and wash my hair there to lower my home water use. Keeping the A/C set high and lights off when not in rooms will help with the spike in the power bill. I should go around and turn off all of the things plugged into power strips to avoid the "vampire" drain of all of those ready lights and devices that aren't really off, they're doing something to be ready for when they are used. This is an expensive time of year, and after the recent administration's chopping of support for solar and wind, bills will rise.

Time to call the insurance company about the roof. Ugg.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Jul 25 - 12:31 PM

The barbecue has gone to its new home, with all its paraphernalia, and I have too much cash in my wallet. Must visit the bank.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 25 - 11:00 PM

However the spider date ended a few nights ago, Ms Argiope now is fondling an egg sac. Overnight she got carried away with the web proximity a little too close to the door, so each time I've gone out I've wagged the door enough to let her know that she really should back up some. I've read that sometimes they have several egg sacs; before the male arrived she constructed an opaque spot in the middle of the web, and if I see that happen again I'll guess she's setting up the parlor for company.

The roof claim was filed online, including uploaded roofer photos. A call a couple of hours later for more information, and tomorrow I can expect to hear from the local adjustor. I told the woman tonight that I'm not in a hurry because of the garden, as long as any delay doesn't time out the claim. It was a pleasant conversation, and I shared wit her my talk with the roofer who took the photos - when we discussed insurance companies I told him that Amica is "very polite." He thought that was a novel description of any insurance company, but she was glad to hear it, and said they're good to their employees also.

This evening I fried a batch of sliced breaded eggplant; I take the patties by themselves (instead of making eggplant Parmesan) to the neighbor across the street. Her diet is limited but she can eat these. I have more to make into several meals for myself. ANd after the mess and despite feeling like letting it all go, I cleared up the kitchen. A gift to myself tomorrow morning.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 25 - 05:13 PM

Bulldozer on a lowboy at the bottom of the street this morning as I returned from shopping didn't bode well for the day, but (knock wood) so far so good. A gentle knock on the door shortly after I pulled in (the girls informed me of it) and a fellow asked if we had a gas line running to the house. Nope. And on either side or across, nope. But I pointed out a house two doors up with a quaint lamppost in the front yard. It hasn't been lit for years, but it's one of those gas ones, so he was going to start there as they tried to locate a line they needed to dig to and add some kind of device to prevent corrosion. There are so many things that can go wrong with that kind of exploration - the water line is right next to it, for example. I should have filled a few pots with water, but I forgot, and it seems I don't need to worry. Meanwhile, opposite my house across the creek is day two of brush removal along a side tributary/drainage and right-of-way where I think some of the power lines go. Again, something I'd rather not do without in 100+ degree weather.

A couple of the well-padded shipping boxes from my friend are in the house now for the next round of photographing and listing glasses on eBay.

A recent environmental health article alerted people to the problems of many dental floss products; the "glide" ones in particular are all PFAS, problematic "forever" chemicals, others are nylon or polyester. Coated floss isn't great for you. Researching dental floss and trying to find cotton or linen or maybe bamboo? I find silk. Silk has higher uses, I think.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 09:31 AM

Big day yesterday.

After the bank visit, I bumped into my brother-in-law Guy, the youngest of Edmund’s siblings, and learned that his wife is miserable in Stratford, which she finds intolerably provincial. Then last winter happened, and she took it personally. The egregious snow load damaged their roof, causing extensive interior damage as well as totalling the shingles and flashing. Twenty thousand dollars later, Jan wants to sell that house and get outta Dodge.

I’m sorry for her, but not that much. Jan is the youngest of our generational cohort in the family, and by far the most rigid. She also holds grudges over trivial differences of style and opinion, so I never know whether she’s nursing a grievance. My Dad would say she’s “not suitable for small ships.”

The guy who bought the Kamado Joe forgot the cover, so I drove all the way from Stratford to Hamilton (and back) to take it to him. He didn’t ask me to; I offered, probably because I want everything I do these days to be completed without loose ends.

When I got back to town, I went over to Jan and Guy’s house to see Jan and maybe do something to cheer her up. (Guy was tending bar at the Festival Theatre.) She was surprisingly glad to see me, so I asked her if she wanted to go downtown for supper. Well, she talked a blue streak through a beer and a Cobb salad, probably more in one evening than she’s said to me in the last five years. She should probably go back to Toronto, but it’s possible she’ll never be happy anywhere. Too bad.

Serious house-hunting in Ottawa begins next week, at 0845 on Tuesday. Agent Jeff has a must-attend medical appointment on Monday, so he won’t have time then to run around town with me. That means I don’t have to blast out of church tomorrow and immediately charge down the eastbound side of the highway, and I’ll be able to put the garbage out before I leave.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 10:49 AM

I had hoped this would be a calm quiet time of year, but nope. Did get the windshield on the car replaced after lots of hassle. A little pebble on the road should not set in motion a month long process, a 3 hour procedure (to 'calibrate' after install), and an $1100 repair half-borne by insurance.

Sick of the newish car and its annoyances. Constant dinging if I so much as open a door, locking the back hatch unless the motor is turned off (real handy when dropping trash at the dumpster), insane center-in-the-lane guidance when I need to hug the outer line (no it can't be turned off if cruise is on), and a dozen other aggravations. I added a CD player but it's so clumsy to operate I don't use it much.

Noticed a better older vehicle model is now trending much less than last year, so set out to plan a trade-in. Looking up my current payoff, discover I got swindled into a ridiculous partial warranty 'just $50 a month' which in reality jacked up the cost to finance by over $5K, so now my payoff is more than the initial price of the car.   There is a way out of that but it will take time and a registered letter to cancel the 'plan'.

Yes I did tell them in no uncertain terms I wanted no add-ons and warranties. They kept me waiting for hours (after I had driven 3 hours to get to them, and already turned over a check), chatted me up, made me wait some more, wore me down, lied to me. I'm so tired of every vendor out there trying to cheat me. This time I'm taking a retired car dealer with me to make the deal, though he can get so belligerent I may have a stroke during the process.

Perhaps the delay is just as well, because in the last year, all 3 of the credit bureaus have bungled up different parts of my record, plus now I have this ludicrous house-renumbering to go through with them. Spent hours trying to get the free reports, finally got 2 but the last I had to spend 30 minutes yelling at a machine, and the machine decided it will mail me a report, to Lord only knows what past address.

So yeah. Summer has become about cleaning vehicles, clearing jungly weeds where it was once desert, and online hassles for hours, about things that used to take a 2 minute visit to a website or a 5 minute phone call.

Going to tidy up the car and the house, and go to a little concert tonight with a friend, and forget about all this stuff for a while.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 11:37 AM

Charmion, was the cover fabric? You could have mailed it, but it sounds like getting out of town was part of the reason for the drive? Was it otherwise a good trip and did you do anything else while you were there?

patty, you have your hands full! And a case to send to the state attorney general about that vehicle seller (but did you buy it in New Mexico? Arizona?) Make that letter really pithy to get some of the annoyance out of your system.

My Nissan Pathfinder was typical of many cars, when I picked it up there were stupid (in my opinion) settings I had to redo. The manual is 555 pages, but I have a PDF version of it (find it free from the manufacturer) that is searchable. I had to go in and reprogram some of the features, such as when the car is turned off I don't want it flinging open all of the door locks. Really? Does the car know I stopped in a good neighborhood? And a few other things I no longer recall. The programming is an odd process also, not just using the car's computer—to do with turning it on and off, holding a button, putting it in park, etc., but it does work if you try.

Cat sitting coming up again next week. Making plans to attend a wedding in September. Talking to roof contractors and the adjustor will arrive on Thursday, when I thought I'd be finished with the cat stuff, then realized it is the last day, so that will be a really complicated morning because I don't want to set up dominos of changing the appointment for two other people. I'll deal with it.

Making pickles today, and more tomato cucumber feta salad. Gotta use this stuff while I have it. A Caprese salad with dinner last night was wonderful.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 12:13 PM

Stilly, the post office has been threatening to strike since May. The barbecue cover is a rugged nylon material with heavy plastic handles here and there, not to mention buckles and straps. It’s quite heavy. I figure that the gas cost about what the postage would have, and I didn’t have to wrap it up.

But no, I didn’t do anything else on that trip. The suburbs of Hamilton aren’t exactly a tourist Mecca.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 01:18 PM

Yes SRS, I have spent much time with my 547 page main manual (there are 3 accessory manuals too). I have reset and turned off everything I can possibly turn off. We have unfortunately reached a 'nanny-state' peak with this model, where many things are no-option.

I am told this kind of thing is starting to turn off drivers, to the point that knobs and buttons are on the horizon for future car designs. Driving the open road should be a pleasure, and I'm hoping to get back to something that will please rather than cause stress.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 03:36 PM

A nanny feature on my car is a damnable nuisance. This is the parking assist, the alarm that goes off when the vehicle manoeuvres close enough to another solid object to risk contact. The sensor goes mad in a snowstorm, especially when — not if — it gets covered with frozen wet stuff. I think the VW designers live in the tropics.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 03:57 PM

patty, when I had a rental last year I wanted to make a couple of changes and hunted for the manual, found stuffed in a cubby in the back. As you note, it came with auxiliary manuals. I had the vehicle for about 10 days so I spent an hour sitting in the garage figuring out how to tune the radio. I gave up on a couple of other adjustments and never got it to open my garage door.

I have a stack of things to offer on the buy nothing page, and this afternoon I responded to a freecycle request for a "standard front door." I happen to have a spare door leaning against the wall in the garage. It was kicked in in 2005 in a burglary; there is barely a mark, but since the insurance company would pay to replace it I put in a door I liked better and repaired the jamb. Over the years it has served as a table when set across saw horses; I've offered it and won't miss it (and since I don't think there is a standard door size, I sent him the measurements).

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jul 25 - 05:55 PM

Dupont:

WOW! So many familiar problems/complaints... When I bought the Prius, I soon informed the service manager that the owner's manual was probably translated from the Japanese by an incompetent anglophone... Most annoying so I just don't bother with it. Found on line how to change the clock! Most bothersome of all - and chronic! is that I cannot see relevant parts of the dash without peering around the steering wheel. There might be a way to adjust something... The fool who seemed to believe he "sold" me the car ---I said, I want that one and he deigned to do the paperwork. Then adjusted the seat without allowing me any input. I suppose I could get the service manager to tell me how - but that is not his job. The "dinga ling" also told me - when asked about something on the gear shift, "You don't need to know that!" I am a woman after all so... R went, "WHAT!!!!" when I told him!

It has basically taken me most of my 88 years to realize that women are... Actually, during the first 25 I had a father who treated me like an equal member of the universe! No wonder I had trouble being married to a know-nothing incompetent twit. So it has taken about 60 to figure out ... things! WOW! lights are flashing in my brain! My sons second wives are more like me; Julie grew up in a teepee in the BC mountains! And Tenley has been on her own long enough to have gained competence - I surmise! I guess I had a hard time realizing I was less then equal to the dunderhead I married; I recently realized he wanted a clone of his Af-Am matriarchal mother who dressed "appropriately". It has taken me over 50 years to realize - yes I CAN wear shorts! Three days after the wedding, he insisted we stop at a shoe store so I could buy "real shoes" - high heels! (I didn't buy them.)

Sorry, the last few months I have been having epiphanies! Remembering and realizing and deciding my sons are old enough to know the why of their mother bailing. In brief, I told them that henceforth I would refer to him as a "Trump clone" rather than the litany of nasty words that describe him.

I guess it is time for a healthy meal. I keep trying but the weather has me beaten. Not going back to Beaver until after the big event of the season - too much traffic and made it will cool off a bit - After 3 August. and try to recoup a life with air cleaner and a better bed.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jul 25 - 04:31 PM

The center panel that the side-by-side fridge doors seal against was hot this afternoon—so hot it felt like a burn. The top of the fridge in front was hot. Not part of the self-defrost system. It took a couple of minutes with a well-worded search (on a non-AI search bar) to find the exact thing. I wrestled the fridge out of the space between cabinets and took off the back bottom cover to find the compressor fan was not turning. Touching it started it again, then I used a little WD-40 to clean then some 3-in-1 oil to lubricate. And the vacuum to remove a lot of dust. As a new roof looms I don't want to also consider a new fridge; I have a home warranty for repairs and may call to have someone check the fan and replace it if needed. For now, it will stay in the middle of the doorway to check its progress or be easy to reach by a repair person. And I'll clean the wall and floor back there - many glass shards also.

Meanwhile, last night I tossed a swatted housefly to Ms. Argiope and she was all over that in a flash; she is encroaching even more on my top left corner space. This morning I had to open the door to a knock because the dogs were making such a fuss and at least the guy was standing several feet away on the path. Made no sense with his opening line ("am I number 200?") then tells me he's "working with neighbors in the area about roof damage after the storm" - no, I'm sure he isn't. I was quite rude, but I think Ms. Argiope approved.

Cat sitting begins. It's a heckuva busy week already, so this will be the event between every other thing that I need to do each day.

A side note; when I took produce to my next door neighbor this evening we talked about the roof work (hers and mine) then I mentioned working on the fridge (why do appliances need work when other expensive things are happening?) and she asked "is there anything you can't do?" The answer I should have given her is "finish what I started." There are a lot of incomplete projects around here.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 25 - 09:44 AM

Pretty soon we're going to reach a point where we have to start a new thread (keep them under 700 posts so they still open. I may have to figure a new naming scheme to not chop off one at the end of the year if we know this event will happen every 699 posts.

Cat sitting a cat who is losing interest in all food tells me this may be the point that he can't return from. For pet owners, hindsight is the best way to realize that this was the case, and she's not there yet. For pet sitters who don't live 24/7 with the animal, it is a bit more clear. Whatever he eats, I'll be sure he's comfortable, and call the vet to take him in if I must.

My garden is the fussy spot in activity at home right now. I'm considering getting out some of the frost cover, a lightweight translucent white non-woven fabric and putting it over the cucumbers part of the day. The shade would help avoid some of the crispy leaves.

The front panel on the fridge was back down to a cool and normal temperature this morning after slowly cooling since the compressor fan is running again. I pushed it back into place but will check regularly. If it happens again I'll call a service tech to swap out that fan. There was a lot of dust and crud behind it, but now that is cleaned up.

Good luck with your house search, Charmion. By the time I write this you may have already offered a bid and signed papers, you're racing through the process so quickly!

Keb, how's the bed? Did you get a topper and did it help?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: pattyClink
Date: 28 Jul 25 - 02:25 PM

Spent yesterday regrouping and getting some plans together, felt like I was getting things under control.

A bat flew into my bedroom long about 10 p.m. With no butterfly or fish net handy, and failing to remember when my last rabies shot was, I texted for help, but the hour was too late. For a while I couldn't find the thing, searched every high spot (thought it was a bird at first). Saw it resting hanging off the side of a fabric suitcase, way too close to my bed for a comfortable night. Closed the bedroom door to contain it, moved into the living room for a darn sleepless night.

This morning dear neighbor came over with heavy gloves to apprehend the thing and get it out of the house. It had disappeared with no trace. Apparently it squeezed under the door and found its way back into the attic through a closet.? Don't know, so far no sign of it today.

So now the day is about clearing out that closet, figuring out where to store everything, so we can fit some kind of no-cracks-anywhere trapdoor for the attic. And once again my days will be about fixing stuff left ragged and broken for the next owner to deal with.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 25 - 05:36 PM

Oh, my! My invisible skunk and your disappearing bat! And in both cases, it's possible to encounter a rabid one, so care is necessary.

Though patty and I already live in hot climates, it looks like much of the nation is getting to share the wealth this week. The summertime routine of parking in the shade is in full-swing; it may mean you walk farther to the store or business, but you don't bake in the car when you get back to it.

Four more pints of fresh pickles bottled this afternoon. I get a haircut tomorrow and will take eggplant and cucumbers to my hairdresser (she in particular adores grilled eggplant). There is a cardboard flat (that held 35 cans of Costco's sparkling water) with a half-dozen tomatoes finishing ripening and a whole bunch in the yard that are just about to shift into the picking stage. Once there is a rosy glow on the flower end of the fruit they will fully ripen indoors (without the assaults by squirrels, birds, rats, etc.)

I have to tend the various water features in the yard; the wading pool in front, the bird baths, and in the back I set up a smaller galvanized tub but realize why I stopped using it before, there is a film that forms from the coating on the tub. And I need to run the sprinkler in the back so the dogs have some green (not straw) grass to run around on. Time to get out the tractor sprinkler.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: pattyClink
Date: 29 Jul 25 - 11:14 AM

I don't know where the doggone bat hid all day long, we both scoured that room top to bottom, looked under and behind everything.

It waited til I was in bed with lights out trying to sleep to start moving around. Thought maybe there was a mouse, got up to look around, and the bat was on the floor under my headboard. Called the neighbor, he was 4 hours away, so I was on my own. It flew crazily into the bathroom.

Went outside in my jammies and pried the screen off the bathroom window, opened it. Waited, but nothing flew out. Waited. Back inside, couldn't see it, nope, there it was, clinging to the wall by my closed bedroom door, itching to get back in, and this time looking like it might fly right at me.

Threw a heavy robe over myself, dashed into the bedroom, closed the door and barricaded the crack at the bottom of it. Then realized the house lights were on and every bug in the county would be flying inside. Luckily the breaker panel was in the bedroom closet so I turned off the lights.

I heard it making noises twice in the night. I hope the second set of noises was it radar-ing around and finding the small open window. But who knows. I wonder if it is sick and decided this would be a good cave to die in. I know that bedroom door will be closed at all times until this is over, because if there is anything more scary and unnerving than a visit from a bat at 10 pm I don't know what it is.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 25 - 12:12 PM

Oh dear! I would have thrown the bathrobe over the bat and then carried the garment outside and placed it on a table or chair and be ready to flip it open and head to the house so it could disengage and fly off. I've caught lots of birds indoors this way, with a jacket or large scarf. Good thing you could reach the breaker.

The little cat had a terrible morning; the capsule of various meds that I pop down his throat seems to have lodged in his cheek today, and when it started to dissolve and the bitter taste of the meds inside hit his tongue the poor guy slobbered all over. I was able to get some squeeze treat into his mouth to wash it down and neutralize the taste (I didn't want to try to remake a capsule my friend left for him in a pill caddy). We were both covered with cat food when that was finished.

Heat wave here still. The time of year that if a bicyclist has an accident they can be burned by the pavement, and walking a dog in the heat will blister their feet (yet people still do it!)

The garage is looking better as I toss some things and recycle others. The pathway in from the side door is much easier and there's enough clearance on both sides that people can open doors and climb into the SUV in the garage, not wait until it is pulled out into the driveway. I've always been able to park in the garage, but there have been times when it was a squeeze.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 25 - 11:32 PM

She's out of town and probably didn't take the computer with her, and like most rational people, knows that reading or posting to Mudcat on a phone is difficult, but I hope Charmion is having a productive week!

Today's hairdresser appointment included the delivery of produce and then a follow-up of shopping in the nearby town where I used to work, at the good Middle Eastern market. I see that olive oil is going up in price, no surprise, I suppose. I buy 3-litre bottles and they've gone up by about 1/3.

We have an orange air quality alert today; who knows how long those status reports will last with the NOAA and the NWS taking funding cuts in the throat. All of my driving back and forth doesn't help, though they're short trips (staring and stopping of the internal combustion engine adds a lot at each occasion).

Dorothy, has the heat made it to your town, and would it be just as bad at Beaver?

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 05:43 AM

Stinking hot in Ottawa. Five houses yesterday, two good. Five visits today, including second visits to three of yesterday’s houses, this time with SIL No. 1 along for a second opinion. One of today’s houses is in my old downtown neighbourhood.

It’s weird being back in the city — traffic noise, especially.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 09:43 AM

Does the noise and traffic make the old neighborhood less desirable or merely something to be tolerated? How does convenience and walkability fit into your house viewing? Bus routes for when you don't want to or can't drive? Services, shopping, etc.

Roof inspector comes tomorrow morning, so I'll do a bit of tidying around the house outside in case photos go in the permanent record.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 12:09 PM

Looks like Charmion is up to her usual - highly efficient tricks!

Dupont: It is as hot in QC as Ontario but I have an A/C in the bedroom where I spend most of time with book and computer. Keeping an eye on the temp with phone, I have managed to drag myself out to walk to the river and back before it gets "too hot". I discovered the "health" app tells me how far I walked and how mantises I used the stairs. I see it tells me other things but that is my limit of caring. I DID SOMETHING!

If the temp is over 72F, it is too hot for me! - with humidity and Atmospheric pressure added... If I spend time in the cool room, I can gather enough energy to take that short walk, take a cooling break and go to a store for victuals and get back to the room!

The hydro was off in parts near Beaver for a couple days- I have the small freezer full of good food there... I just shrugged my shoulders - a 6 hour drive??? Phooey! I did not even message the neighbour to ask if it affected us. I did message her this am to mention the ripening - or beyond of the beautiful blueberries?. She told me she had asked Larry to fix the door but never mentioned the Hydro out? I shall be surprised when I get back - but not going to get upset about it. She may have gotten to the berries! Far more important!

I decided not to go back until after the Gemboree - too many people in the area! Now I will be waiting for a vitamin order. (SRS: "Bancroft Rockhound Gemboree" - brings thousands of visitors to the area each year.) Bancroft is "The Mineral Capital of Canada": it apparently offers every mineral found anywhere else in canada - somewhere up here? But those on display are not always local! Been there - more than once. Robin, the geologist, was not impressed enough to want a second visit.

Hmm-visit...guests... new mattress???? That has to wait until I get back and assess the situation up close!

In the meantime, I find things that can go in the "leave" pile. And finding bits of energy to make the house tidier, in case my son has time to visit before he heads off to Sweden in Sept and London ...

He gave me a lecture recently on the dangers of excess CO2 in supper closed homes. He uses a meter and makes sure to get enough good air! Our 1902 house - leaky!! But I still need open windows. R goes around closing the windows I opened while I am gasping for air!

Time to go do some thing!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 12:38 PM

Yesterday I took my final two cartons of books to
the second-hand bookstore donation area.
That's the end of months of decluttering, book-wise.
I still have some boxes to unpack, just not with books inside.

The mattress topper is a slight help, only slight.
I'm thinking seriously of shopping for a different mattress.
Not looking forward to doing so in this heat.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 07:49 PM

Keb, the mattress topper is easier to change than the mattress. You can get various thicknesses; maybe try buying one double what you first bought and see if that helps? (And you might be able to pass your first topper off to someone else who is solving the same problem). I'm curious, how many books did you keep? And do you have a mix of digital and physical books? I have quite a few I've gotten free (every month the University of Chicago Press offers a free eBook to download; I use it with the Adobe Digital Editions software. I save it to the desktop and then load it onto the tablet to read.) I learned about this from Batgoddess.

It has been a day of ineffective errands, with an early trip to the discount grocery but the produce warehouse wasn't open yet and I didn't have time to wait around. Got eggs on sale and left. And my trip to the Supermercado was a dud; I hoped to pick up a serving of their ceviche but the bin in the meat and fish shop was low and had today's date, so it was from yesterday and wasn't fresh. Tomorrow afternoon I'll try again. I did put in some quality time at my scanning gig.

Whoever put up the Freecycle request for a door never responded; they were a new member to the group so either didn't know to check back or didn't know to be courteous and mark his request as filled. It does have me thinking about replacing my front door with something that has a bit of glass to let in more light. This door is much easier to replace than the sliding glass at the back of the house. Perhaps I should offer the extra door in the garage to clear it out.

Tomorrow is a hellish day as far as morning appointments go, then it gets better, and I have a long weekend to look forward to.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: pattyClink
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 08:39 PM

Agree about the mattress topper. Mattresses in stores now come in huge, deep, and heavy; and huger, deeper, and heavier, really hard to wrassle. I had a 2" gel topper that worked great, though looking back I would have made a cover for it out of old sheets to keep it in better condition.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 11:08 PM

I have a wooden bed with slats which I nailed down soon after I bought it ~40 years ago as they slid about. My mattress is over 20 years old, & is thin rubber foam! I thought it was 6" deep, but it's about 4, & I have a very thin mattress topper over it. I sleep well even tho I have chronic back pain.

Last year I was pondering upon a bamboo mattress topper but haven't done anything yet.

A friend suggested a memory foam topper, but I checked out Pros and Cons of Different Types of Mattress Toppers & cons won out "Can be hot & Can make it difficult to turn over or shift in bed"

sandra

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 11:55 PM

On top of my very heavy and kind of odd latex mattress (weighs a ton; there's a long story but my ex ended up with three of them so gave me one) I have a 2-3" topper, and all of that is held in place with a mattress pad with elastic sides that reach down around the whole thing, much like a fitted sheet does.

Over the years as a seasonal park ranger I moved around and had a foam pad (5-6" thick) that would roll so I could pack it with my other few belongings in the back of my pickup. It went out on the floor, no frame involved, but all things considered, was very comfortable to sleep on.

The roof gets inspected tomorrow morning and shortly after that I'll have a plan as far as new roof or no new roof.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 04:18 AM

my mattress topper also has elastic loops on all corners & each morning I have to pull them straight as movement pulls the topper to one side

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Charmion
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 09:11 AM

A good house has been identified; now to buy it — not a simple matter, according to Jeff the realtor.

The house has broadloom carpet throughout the upstairs, and that must go — ideally, before any furniture is hauled in. The Stratford house had the same problem, but it had swing space where the study stuff and the bedroom furniture could be stashed while the flooring people laid pre-finished hardwood. So I will need a plan for that.

Jeff the realtor has an excellent method for compelling his clients to make their own decisions based on their true wants and needs. He can be quite forceful about it, but with me he was preaching to the converted.

The house in my old neighbourhood flunked out of contention because it lacks storage space and its awful kitchen would cost about $30K to refit. Also, its footprint is very small, so it’s like a tower with several levels and dozens of stairs.

The big-city traffic noise doesn’t bother me, but I’m a bit unnerved by the density of the traffic stream on arterial roads. I handled it casually before, and I’m sure I’ll readjust.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 10:05 AM

yah!!

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 12:49 PM

Good luck sorting the house, Charmion. If you get this one you described, is it empty and ready to move into, and on the schedule dictated by your house sale?

A personable young man from the insurance company poked in the attic, walked around the roof, poked in the garage attic, and I think I am ok for now, don't need a roof quite yet. The damage is documented and if in the fall it starts leaking after wood under shingles swells, we'll revisit the question. I put on heavy duty shingles for a reason, so if I can get a few more years out of it, that's fine.

Of no interest to the insurance company but of interest to this young man is the creek at the back of the yard, so I walked him back for a look. There are fish in it, bass and sunnys, and access is easy. I don't fish, but I could (I'd have to release them, fish in urban creeks are for sport only.) He apparently has taken up fishing in the last year (and saw my father's old rods on the wall in the garage.)

Of course I got a look at my house through his eyes and it is a mess. Must work on that.

The last of the cat sitting runs are this afternoon, I'm ready to put this behind me.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Sorting *Health *Progress - 2025
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 02:37 PM

Here is the next in the declutter sequence of threads. We're just about to the 700 limit so I'll do this now while I'm thinking about it. This thread will be closed (if it is posted to after 700 a message will show that it is closed and nothing more can be read.)