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Declutter & Exercise - May 2012
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 May 12 - 11:54 PM Nice dinner this evening, solved a couple of computer and phone questions for a friend, and her garage storage room is now so clear that she can set up in there and not have to bring stuff into the house to do that work. We filled the back of the pickup for the thrift donation and a lot of stuff went in trash and recycling. A huge branch came down from the neighbor's tree into my back yard. I've always worried about that tree - and had my fingers crossed that no one or thing was there when it came down. All three dogs are fine. Three or four years ago one of my trees dropped a limb in their shade garden, and I was able to take a sharp limb saw and cut it up and pull it out. But this is an immense old tree - the butt end of the limb is hung up on the tree and the weight of it is down on my compost piles. I won't be able to tell for a while if it crushed the little red oak I've been nurturing for years. We'll get out to do that this weekend. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 May 12 - 11:09 AM I researched the ingredients on my shampoo that I picked up in order avoid the Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Since I've used the news shampoo all week my dermatitis is worse. The main ingredient is sodium cocoyl isethionate, a coconut product, and I am reminded that I can't use the salon product Nexus shampoo that has coconut smell (I can't remember the name of this shampoo formula, but the smell gives it away). And I can't use Breck or Herbal Essences. I'll cross reference those and see what their ingredients are. The upshot is, both product main ingredients are from coconut, so I may have simply shifted to a more concentrated version of what I'm allergic to. Meanwhile, look at all of the products that can be derived from coconut (and other sources, but largely from coconut): http://bit.ly/LXWuRb List of coconut derived Ingredients: 1,2 Octanediol 2 Phenoxyethanol Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate Capryl Glycol Caprylic Acid Caprylic Glycol Caprylic/Capric Caprylyl Glycol Ceteareth-20 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Glucoside Ceteth-20 Phosphate Cetyl Alcohol Cetyl Esters Cocamide MEA Cocamidopropyl Betaine Cococaprylate/Caprate Cocomide DEA Coconut Oil Disodium Cocamphodiprop Emusifying Wax Glyceryl Caprylate Hexyl Laurate Isopropyl Myristate Laureth-3 Olefin Sulfonate Organic Sodium Cocoate PEG - 7 Glyceryl Cocoate PEG -100 Phenoxyethanol Polysorbate 20 Sodium Cocoate Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Sucrose Stearate Sodium Laureth Sulfate Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinat Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Sodium Stearate Sorbitan Stearate Stearyl Alcohol Vegetable Cetearyl Glucos Vegetable Glycerine "With many ingredients there is the potential for the above ingredients to be from different sources. This is just a partial listing of ingredients to research further when seen on a package." Food for thought. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 10 May 12 - 12:03 PM Despite an exhausting round of estate stuff over two days, I DID get to the pool and I DID have the energy and legs to run in and out of all the banks and offices PLUS a few quick errands. This is so weird having a normal energy level! I am more convinced than ever that my thyroid has been out of whack for a VERY long time. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 10 May 12 - 04:15 PM Had the first eye-test for years yesterday. Some small changes to the macular in the right eye - need lots of fruit and veg, rather than asnything worse. A small speck of cataract in the left - keep eyes covered in sun. And I have had a faint noise like the sea in a shell in my right ear all week, sometimes less faint. Not happy about that. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 11 May 12 - 09:40 AM Pool between funeral home visitation and movie with Hardi: 30 minutes AJ 170-190 BPM and coldwater stretches. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 11 May 12 - 02:30 PM I forgot again to measure the church aisles as a way of measuring how much walking I do when I uber-ush a funeral, but going by the sore legs I'd estimate it was over a mile and a half-- nice improvement. TBTG for thyroid meds, and good shoes to absorb the shock my spine doe not need! A parishioner told me at ydy's visitation that she had been praying about my "weight" for the almost 20 years we have been here. Sigh.... I wish I had known-- it was the doc who needed the prayer, so I told her that and she said she would add him to her prayer list. We may have a new housemate on the horizon. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: ragdall Date: 12 May 12 - 06:45 AM Today I ordered shower floor tiles from a flooring shop that doesn't tack a hefty shipping charge onto a tile order. The tiles should be here by the end of next week. I'll need to work very hard to be ready to install them when they arrive. I wasn't able to find any similar wall tiles to replace the few that are broken. I bought two square feet of 6" x 6" white tiles. I'll need to be creative to work them into a wall of 4" x 7" blue-grey tiles in a way that will look "artistic". On the other hand,I spend much of my shower time with my eyes closed, perhaps the colours won't matter? Replacing the grout and the loose or damaged shower tiles will not be an easy task. Tonight I removed the shower door for better access when I'm working in the stall and carefully removed more loose tile from the wall without breaking any more of them. I tried out the diamond edged "grout saw" for removing the grout. It appears that my grout lines are too narrow for that tool. It jumped when I was pulling it down a grout line and inflicted a nasty deep scratch on one of the tiles. There is a lot of grout to remove. I hope I can find a way to do efficiently without the saw. rags |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 12 May 12 - 10:49 AM rags-- Dremel makes an inexpensive cordless model with tiny router-like attachments: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3ADremel%20Accessories%20Uk&page=1 (But you can cruise in from the benefits-Mudcat portal if you buy) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Right Relationship From: wysiwyg Date: 12 May 12 - 10:56 AM hit submit too soon Estate matters proceed (albeit with some conflict)... Love sent, check (and ongoing). Advice sought and prayed about, check (and ongoing). Information now flowing, with adjustment of contact person, check (and ongoing). Travel plans set, check. Lodging plans in motion (and ongoing). Local representation in progress. No irrevocable actions taken to date, check (and ongoing). IMNSHE, in any toxic situation, a clear-thinking person can choose the least toxic person in the constellation-- and deal with that person, with good effect. A PRAYING, clear-thinking person discovers an even better effect. TBTG for wise counsel, kind assistance, and a great priest. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 May 12 - 02:43 PM I'm back home. Drove in early in the morning after several naps on the road. Dogs have been to the low-cost shot clinic today (it's once a year), and now to address the huge limbs that came down in the back a few days ago. They are on a neighbor's tree so they're sending someone to take them out. I'll take photos then put a large plastic trash can over the small oak I hope to save that is in the mix of all of it. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 12 May 12 - 03:00 PM I've done something horrid to three fingertips on my right hand. I was working on rejuvenating the carpet tiles from my old bedroom, a process that goes: shampoo, dry, vacuum, check for stains remaining. Then repeat if necessary. If still stained, I have been using a product called White Wizard, then rinsing in the bath and drying. Today I thought I would vary that with the shampoo product, which I have seen on TV being used neat and worked in by the demonstrator with bare fingers. It lifts stains all right. Also made my fingertips sore, and the carpet fibres drew blood. Not to be repeated, I think. I've also put plants in the pots I bought them in around the garden to check for appearance, and used fertiliser on the peach to counteract the weakness from the fungus, and on the choysia cutting I was given by the lovely lady who lives in my grandparent's old house, which was looking a little yellow. It has rooted, but was obviously missing something in the compost. It's planted out now, but not perked up much. Also put slug pellets around the grow house - the horrors have nibbled my bought in celery down to soil level. I'm just off to search for nematodes. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 12 May 12 - 03:21 PM Still haven't felt up to anything, but did go along for the ride when Rog, Morgan, and I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Rog went in and found the sateen sheets, called me to see what colour I wanted and bought them for me for Mother's Day as well as a back chair spine support thingie: KISS MY BACK. It works well in the car and one office chair, but the chair in the kitchen is too large. I am thrilled to have it and the new sheets! |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 12 May 12 - 04:25 PM ...the chair in the kitchen is too large... I made a hi-density foam jobbie, custom-fit to me and to the relevant chair. It's working wonders. I made it from two pieces I cut and wrapped in sheeting which I then tufted to keep all the layers together: 1 foam upholstery wedge such as raises the head of a twinbed 1 foam bolster (half the length of a twinbed), sliced into two half-rounds-- one for head and one for back. This backrest supplements the built-in back the chair's previous owner had compressed to fit HIS back, which then did not fit mine. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 May 12 - 12:48 AM A tree guy cut up the down limbs in the back yard this evening (hired by the neighbors, who own the tree in question), and I asked him how much to take out another tree that is causing problems. $75, and we have a deal. That one is going to destroy my me fence otherwise. He'll be back on Monday morning. The dogs are such goofy happy pooches, we didn't walk this evening (I was tired from driving and from cutting up tree limbs) but tomorrow we'll go for a walk. And we'll check on Susie. She has been busy, so tomorrow afternoon will probably be the first opportunity. My son has been delivered to his Dad's house where he prefers to spend the summer (in the same neighborhood where his friends all live). It'll be a shorter summer because he'll have to move back to get an apartment before school starts. No more dorms. Lots to research before that move. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 13 May 12 - 01:05 AM Happy Mother's Day to all who are new moms especially, and to all who have lost their moms. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: ragdall Date: 13 May 12 - 01:27 AM Susan, Thank you for the Dremel information. I think that anything larger than a dentist drill will be too big to fit between my tiles. There is a grout remover tool at Princess Auto here, but it's too large too. I've been digging at the grout with a small screwdriver. It's fairly effective. Using it kills all feeling in my hands fairly quickly. I'll try wearing my wrist splints tomorrow and see if I can hold a tool in my hand. I'm supposed to wear them when I use tools, but I've found that I can't get a good grip on anything with them on. The other problem I will need to solve is that I can't see what I'm doing unless it's directly in front of me. My progressive lenses don't work if I have to turn my head to work on something, or if I'm looking down. I'm sure I can figure something out, maybe my reading glasses and a good light would help? For a break, and because the outdoor temperature finally reached 20oC (70oF), I carried the wooden screen door for the sliding door up from the basement, set it into its track, removed a storm window from each of the five main floor windows that open and replaced each with a screen. It was good to have fresh air moving through the house again. I also addressed the "ants moving indoors in the Spring for a few weeks" tradition. For the past week or two I saw only one or two ants each day but yesterday I captured about thirty of them in various parts of the kitchen and released them outdoors. Today I moved everything on my kitchen counters, wiped then down thoroughly with ammonia and vacuumed thoroughly right through the main floor of the house. My theory is if they can't find anything in the house to eat they will stay outside. Time will tell if I'm right. When I went out in my backyard to fill the squirrel's feeder I noticed that the water in the bird baths had evaporated. Out came the hose to fill those. The flowerbeds got watered while I was at it. I'm not going to get that shower done at this rate, am I? rags |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 May 12 - 12:36 PM My arms and hands are achy from all of the pruning yesterday, but I don't need to fool with that again until tomorrow. Aspirin is my friend for today. :) Lots of weeds to pull and I have to mow the lawn, nothing new here. The activity will serve to loosen muscles. It seems that during my week away someone tried to break into the next door house - this time they hopped over the fence and were going to go in through the back. It makes me wonder if they tried before and are determined to get in - the last time in the fall a burglary was stopped by a brace the neighbors place against the front door knob (it's like a long walking-cane with a heavy rubber foot - the top end is placed under/around the stem of the door knob with the rubber foot firmly set on the tile and it won't let the door be opened when someone pushes against it.) Jackie was home, but was slow to open the door, and she realized someone had hopped fence. She actually spoke to one who said he was there to mow the lawn - what BS - they had no tools in the truck that was backed up the driveway to their front door. She didn't get a license but she did describe them. I hope that helps get these guys caught. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 13 May 12 - 04:30 PM rags, Dremel does have leetle needle bits. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 May 12 - 10:13 PM Weeded some, dumped a huge wheelbarrow full onto the compost pile that has been uncovered (of a bunch of the limbs from the broken branches). I'll have to be systematic about weeding it this summer if I want to make progress. It's about now, as I do all of this work, that I understand why so many people have just yards and lawns they can cut in one fell swoop. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 13 May 12 - 10:21 PM I folded about three weeks of laundry, then put it away after Rog carried it to the bedroom. Otherwise, it's been a bit rough go with various reactions to the iron infusion. It's getting sorted, though. |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 13 May 12 - 10:37 PM Living room floor picked up, table beside my chair is clean (tends to get VERY messy when I'm sick...tissues, meds, etc). Laundry is going. Lots of personal family stuff going on which I'm tending to. The implanted sensor seems to be doing well for which I am thankful. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 May 12 - 11:42 PM Michelle, be deliberate in your choices this week, let the most important things rise to the top. Stay healthy. Kat, I read your remark abouta Roman Totenberg story on another thread and looked it up. Wonderful! I didn't get to hear entire newscasts while I was out of town. Here is the transcript of the full story. I've pulled out some of the clothes I picked up at the thrift store in Green Valley, AZ. It really is a remarkable place. The White Elephant is open from 9am - noon Monday through Saturday. What they put out is in good shape, works, has been tested, has been examined to be complete (no missing buttons on clothes, etc) and is all priced very low. Pants are usually $2, blouses $2 or $3. They sell high dollar things on eBay. They have furniture and they get reasonable prices (more than a lot of other thrift stores, but then I don't see Danish Modern in too many other thrift stores). Pants, vests, blouses, and more. A couple of things are a bit snug, but I will lose weight and I couldn't leave them behind because losing 5-10 lbs means they'll fit. Inspiration. :) A couple of loads of laundry are completed and I'll run another, with some of these garments. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 14 May 12 - 06:12 AM Missed my thyroid dose yesterday-- OMG. Sure explains a lot! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 14 May 12 - 07:28 AM Rags, I have a new tool (CEL multitool, but there are other similar items) with a specialist thing for grout removal. grout remover You will understand from the clip why I went to the builders' suppliers this morning and bought some ear defenders. I haven't used this particular tool, but the cutter cut through nails in an old set of bookshelves, the scraper removed messy sealer from the bath, and the sander has removed blisters in the old paint in the bathroom. The blurb suggests that some tool or other can be used for removing the tiles as well as the saw removing the grout, and then the remaining adhesive from the wall. I do not intend to do this particular job - there are far too many tiles. I'm getting someone in. I have been sorting my carpet tiles ready for laying. Oddly, some of them have produced stains which were not there originally. Through the process again, then. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 May 12 - 12:21 PM Wow, Penny, that is impressive! One of these days I need to have the brick on the back of my house repointed - that involves taking out some of the crumbling part and re-grouting it. I could buy an expensive tool (a larger version of your linked tool) but I suspect it would take me forever to do it myself. This is the kind of job I'll hire out - one of these days. (Perhaps when I win the lottery.) Waiting on the branch removal guy. Supposed to be here nearly 2 hours ago. I went out early and got cash to pay him (I am certain he doesn't take credit cards and I suspect even checks are a challenge). Nice guy, low tech. I'm still working on stuff as a followup to the trip. Washing the blankets my son used in the dorm, getting all of this stuff ready for packing and taking out for next fall. I've also been laundering the thrift store clothes and adding them to my closet. Cleaning the kitchen, clearing up paper on my desk, etc. I came home to the kitchen table with about half of the space filled with the rest of the antique china - I'll set up another big piece and see if I can attract more attention from collectors. It is a lot easier to sell specific pieces the way I did the market them one at a time, but I have to attract attention first so they know to contact me. I'll say something to the effect that I will work with them to send specific pieces in a "buy it now" sale if they are interested. Saves us both time. I keep hearing mechanical "thumps" and look outside to see if the battered pickup and trailer have arrived, but I think I'll be hearing those thumps for a long time - a new school is being built on the other side of the village, on the other side of our woods. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 15 May 12 - 08:25 AM Thankful for another day with my Nana. Back to the hospital today. Migraine in the works. Baby bathed, breakfast and lunches made. I imagine that's all that will get done in the line of chores today. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 15 May 12 - 09:45 AM Thoughts arising: I ONLY use Dr. Bronners pure castile liquid soap with tea tree oil - dishes, hair, body, and other stuff. It is incredibly effective. When R had just loaded a filthy machine into the truck and we had no place to clean up, some of this and a bit of our drinking water cleaned his black hands miraculously. Dremel is noted for its tiny tools. I seem to be having an allergy reaction to airborne something but 500 vit C every hour or so is keeping it manageable. Was worse in the country - farmers putting stuff on fields? Did not keep us from driving around looking at properties - same ones again - and collecting rhubarb from old abandoned plants - a huge armload. We went to see a house for sale, last week, and the young lad had run over the rhubarb patch with the mower!!! We gave him ... and picked up all the broken stalks. This week we harvested more. Always leaving enough to keep the plants very healthy - for next week? Yesterday I cooked one batch - about two qts. Some more to do today. Put some in freezer. Had breakfast with my cousin and wife and daughter (first cousin once removed?) and her children, husband and in-laws from Colombia, S.A. We had not seen them in two years and it was great to meet more of the family. And wonderful to be with family that we really enjoy and are of mostly the same mind. Took pottery to farm market Saturday. Only sold one piece but there were not many people; it was the first of the season. Talked to lots of people - ideas for what to make and in more colours. I signed up for 8 more during the summer - starting in mid June, every other week. Looking on line for another wheel - one that is easier to move so I can take it to Apple Hollow Music Fest and maybe to the farm market as well. The two I have are VERY heavy. Agreed: stuff I was collecting for a yard sale could more efficiently be donated to thrift shop and BE GONE! Maybe I will put it in car today. Declutter the studio! I did some major work there on the weekend. I can start potting anytime now. Maybe even today. Getting ancy! If I leave now, I can get in several hours - work and rest and work and rest. Oh yeah - I walked to the library yesterday aft and then to the grocery in the evening. The latter is usually - "I don't want to carry..." but I only needed salad and bought little enough stuff that it was not too heavy. I am very fed up with this extra 35 pounds. It may not seem much to some folk but for me it is a lot. It weighs on body and mind. One of our friends at the cafe told me he used to be 232 and he started walking - he has set routes around the small town and walks almost daily, picking different routes. Then - he is a character - He walked to the border (USA/Canada) recently (maybe 10 miles) and one of the US guards - they all know him!- asked him if he were going to walk to the next town (in the US). He said he would go there if he got a ride so the guard, who was at end of shift, gave him a ride and he walked around that town and found a Canadian to give him a ride back! He knows LOTS of people! Well, I am not doing that but I must try to find more ways of getting exercise. So potting will help. Bye, now. I'm off to the country! |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: katlaughing Date: 15 May 12 - 01:20 PM Bit by bit..I managed meditation yesterday. This morning I made it through half of my qi gong when I started to fall alseep...the music and his voice are very soothing! First time I've had energy to even try in about three weeks. |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 May 12 - 01:25 PM I feel a lot more limber now that a few days have passed since the long drive. I take daily walks with the dogs, and as it gets hot I'll do like last year and go before breakfast instead of after dinner. During those walks I have purposely not walked Zeke past her house because she is still so involved with the post-surgery recovery stuff - the chaos of a dog jumping on her wouldn't help. She had her stitches and staples out yesterday after the "bone flap" surgery on May 3. She's seeing a hearing specialist to day (had to drive to Dallas) to see if the loss of hearing on the right side (same side as the bone flap) is permanent. She's going to try to stop by here after that trip. For my current allergy issues yesterday I read labels at the Vitamin Shoppe and found a couple of bars of soap that have no palm contents. Dorothy, if you read the Dr. Bronner's castile soap label (I have a bottle here also) it has coconut oil as its main ingredient. I read that while coconut allergies are rare here, there is a lot of it in India where coconut is so prevalent in foods and topical products. The soaps were from Africa and France, but I may need to figure out how to shop India Indian merchants to see if they carry any no-coconut products. I may need to learn to make my own soap. I also pulled out a bottle of Tincture of Greensoap and will use that as a shampoo. I'll have to see how my hair reacts (hope it doesn't hurt the highlights). These soaps are all expensive, so I'll be careful to not leave them where the dog can eat them. I haven't completely resolved the question - I don't know that it is coconut yet, but if I avoid it for a while I may be able to rule it in or out as a culprit. Laundry is finished after several specialized loads (dark colors that might not be quite colorfast, fuzzy things that might leave lint on other laundry, etc.) The fellow who I asked to water my garden won't accept payment, though that's why I asked him, because I felt there were too many places to water to ask an elderly neighbor to do it for free. So he's coming over to help with weeding tomorrow and I will pay him then for that work. He has too much shade for crops in his yard, so I'll also suggest that if he wants to help out here some we could set aside a garden for peppers and such that he'd like to grow for himself. A bit of a gardeners exchange that is on private property instead of in a public area where so many of them are set up. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 15 May 12 - 02:12 PM 45 minutes AJ 164-190 ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 15 May 12 - 05:14 PM I started off finishing the sanding in the bathroom, and then did another carpet tile. Went out to try to pump water from the hole into a tub, but the pump was in an unhelpful mood. While I was dealing with it, the phone rang, and I walked into a gutter I had rigged up in front of the door going to answer it. (Only temporary, but doubling the flow into the collecting bin.) The roofer and the solar panel guy are coming to examine the roof on Thursday. Went over to the village and bought a new jacket from Oxfam - they keep getting new stuff in from a company called Indigo Moon, and I do like their designs. This is blue cotton with a patchwork body and flowers embroidered over it. I have cream trousers which it will go with, but I need some summer weight blue ones now. It had been there over a week, and I try to wait until someone else has bought things so as not to get carried away! Got home to find that plants I had ordered had been delivered and put in the bin cupboard by the front door. Not a problem with the young angelica plant. The cupboard is, however, about a cubic yard, with the door only two foot wide, and the bare root plum tree six foot tall. It was not that easy to get it out. I took advantage of a gap in the rain to get it into a pot with mycorrhiza pellets and lots of water. Mention was made in the blurb about roots being kept moist, but they did not arrive moist, and the tree showed no bud swelling. I am not confident abou this. I definitely won't be getting plums this year. Had a phone call from the health food shop in Dartford who kept some powdered almond milk for me. I've just discovered this, and it saves a lot of nut grinding not fine enough. Not cheap though. I bought a milk frother in a sale, and use it to mix the powder with cold water before topping it up with water from the kettle for a bedtime drink. Not every night. It being wet with thunder, I took the car over instead of the bus, as it allows me to cut down the outside walk. I'm in the process of copying all the saved programmes from my first Freeview digital TV recorder. (Freeview comes from a terrestrial transmitter, including the BBC and other channels that used to be on analogue transmissions, plus loads of others.) When it's clear I'll try and sell it. It would, if I subscribed, pick up some pay to view channels, some of which I would find interesting, but I just don't have enough time. But it also picks up some of the stuff labelled adult, and I can't hide those channels. When I bought it, the software allowed hiding things, but that has been changed. I wouldn't mind if adult meant things like National Geographic, Discovery, the Open University, and other learning institutions, but it does rather exclude thinking females. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 15 May 12 - 08:44 PM SRS: I missed the coconut problem. I am missing a lot this week. My current allergy is causing my head to feel not all there and I either don't upload or forget spoken stuff almost as fast as I hear it. Either squirrels or Lara bars? I thought I was getting Ok this morning and, with some trepidation, I ate a Lara bar while driving to pick up a couple squirrels to keep my singleton company and to help out a woman with too many little mouths to feed! By early afternoon it had started all over again. I sure don't see anything in a Lara bar to be allergic to but I've had the one squirrel a week now. Squirrels:Just over a week ago, a woman found me through the wildlife lovers networks and asked for help. She works full time and they needed to be fed every 3 hours. So I took them. They are down to 4 feedings and sleep all night. There were two but one died on Saturday - suspect avocado OD. I was delighted to find the woman needing help. I now have 3 and can also help by taking a bunch of mature ones to the country for soft release. Maybe on Thursday. She really has a LOT of squirrels! On the way home, it occurred to me that I could walk to the store more often and buy only a few items each time. I simply cannot walk nowhere with no purpose! Needless to say, I never made it to the country today after 2 hours of instruction re squirrel care and raccoon affairs and the sad state of the SPCA - It isn't just me; they just do not respond! I hope to get to the country tomorrow even though it will be raining. Rain is nice in the country. My brain can be dysfunctional in the country as well as the city! |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 May 12 - 11:21 PM I'm trying to stay out of the dish soap today, I'll run the dishwasher this evening and wear gloves when I wash things that aren't dishwasher safe. I've collected all of the regular soap from various bathrooms and sink areas and set them out of reach so I don't forget and use them. I have a lovely box of fancy soap that I'll give to my next door neighbor as a thank you for picking up my mail last week. Susie came down to visit today, dropped off by her sister and I took her back home. She's looking so much better without that big depression on the side of her head! She's also moving around a lot better now with practice and she will be in out-patient physical therapy for a while. Zeke came in to visit - and promptly jumped up on her. Good thing she was in a chair, but we know that for now he's still too much of a handful for her. We're looking at options that would allow him to go back and be contained more (putting in the same Invisible Fence system as I have might remedy the dog wandering the neighborhood trick he used to pull when he pushed open a door or window, and if he came down here, his collar would work with my system). Keeping him from knocking her over in the house is another thing to be pondered. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 15 May 12 - 11:49 PM I spent today at the hospital with a family member, went out to lunch with my Mom (our first alone time in quite a while), helped family member settle into nursing home, did the dishes, laundry and cooked an awesome dinner. Tomorrow I have the sensor implant removed (an hour drive to the hospital and I'm going alone) and speak with the doctor about the results and what we need to change (clearly something needs to change) and then a meeting that I arranged for my Coping With Cancer Group. It took me at least a month to get this speaker set up....he's a surgeon who uses robotic surgery for ovarian and uterine cancer. I had been looking for a surgeon who would come speak to my group about using robotics for cancer removal and was pleasantly surprised to find that he is a gynecological oncologist! I'm hoping to do a tiny bit of grocery shopping and to get in a visit at the nursing home too. Also...just in case anyone ever wondered....the Monster Rehab drinks (mostly vitamin B) have really helped with my energy levels. They have 0 sugar and 10 calories. I think the Roho Berry and the Orange ones are best (non carbonated). I found that drinking them slowly is best. Chugging one left me jittery. No harsh drop in energy later in the day either. I know some folks use this all the time...I have had all of 4 cans in the last month....but it helps when there are things that I MUST do and am tired. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 May 12 - 12:17 AM Sounds like an interesting talk you've lined up, Michelle. Ate a couple of cookies this evening, the last in the container. As I tossed the tin in the recycling, there on the label was "coconut oil" as a possible ingredient. I think there can be different reactions regarding topical vs eaten, I hope so. After my research this week I feel like tomorrow is the first day when I'll be able to completely avoid soaps or lotions that contain coconut ingredients, so we'll see if the hands clear up. I picked up my line trimmer at the repair shop yesterday and at the same time bought a premium line (with a wire in it) so for tomorrow's weeding I'm going to have Antonio work with me in the bed at the front of the house, taking out the overgrown Louisiana iris, and leave the vegetable garden for later. I'll use the trimmer to scalp the Bermuda grass in between the beds, spray it with orange oil and vinegar, then put down more newspaper and mulch. Pulling all of that grass or digging it up is just too much work. My front bed has needed attention for a long time, so I'll take advantage of an extra set of hands to clear it out. I think if we have three hours we can make a big difference along the entire front. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: ragdall Date: 16 May 12 - 07:34 AM Thanks, everyone who gave me suggestions. The shower floor tile arrived today. I have everything I need for the job. I'm getting a little panicky realizing that I have only three weeks to get the shower and all other preparations done before my in-laws arrive to spend a month with us. Penny, Thank you for suggesting ear protection. I hadn't thought about that. The tool you have looks very handy. I think it would be much too thick for my grout space. Thank you for suggesting ear protection, though. I hadn't thought about that. Susan, I paid out the $60 for the Dremel grout remover and a bit. The smallest bit they had was 1/16th. I don't know if that will be narrow enough or not. I plan to replace a couple of broken tiles at the bottom of the wall. I'll test the grout remover on there before trying it on the tiles I need to reuse. If it chips the tiles I can't use it. I haven't had a chance to try it because my "good" knee decided to give out yesterday and I can't bend either knee now without great pain. I'll rest it for a couple of days, hoping for improvement. I hope there won't be any big, nasty, time consuming discoveries behind the tiles. rags |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 16 May 12 - 09:18 AM I hope there won't be any big, nasty, time consuming discoveries behind the tiles. You can also use that one, with a grinding attachment, to knock down dogs' toenails. How bathrooms were tiled (and how waterproof the walls behind them were/are) has changed significantly over recent years, as the "Go Green" movement have made people less willing to chuck their money and their tiles into a landfill. Nowadays there are neat products (plastic based of course) to make the tile jobs and walls last A LOT longer. So if you do find nasties back there, at least now there are things you can do to keep YOUR work greener and cleaner. Good luck! I hope it all works out! Practice with that Dremel on a slow speed first! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 May 12 - 09:27 AM It isn't that difficult to put up the green board they used in wet environments, tape and seal it, then put up tile. But you might want a carpenter or finisher to do that part if needed, they would probably work a lot faster. A neighbor is coming over any time now to help with the weeding. I'm looking forward to tacking the tough job out front. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 16 May 12 - 08:41 PM SEVEN trips/tasks/meetings/errands today including 45 smokin' minutes of pool AJ in the upper ranges of the 170-190 BPM, sustained and better coordinated. The better I feel, the sicker I realize I was. I just thought fat people had no energy. WRONG! :~) ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 May 12 - 11:58 PM My neighbor was going to come over at 8:30 this morning, so I was working in my office, ready to greet him and suggest we dig iris instead of pull up Bermuda. I looked out the door at 8:30 to see if he was arriving and he already had several huge piles of grass and weeds out on the driveway - he'd come over at 7:30 to get started while it was cooler, and having brought an adze/pick tool, was making great progress through the beds. I learned something there - I'll get myself one. I let him work and got out gloves and joined him for a couple of hours, and now my veggie garden looks wonderful. I'll work on the iris later on my own. He didn't want to be paid, but I wouldn't ask him to do it without paying him, and I offered $15 an hour - he's a grown man, has a family, but hasn't been able to find work for years since he broke his back at work about 10 years ago and went through surgery and physical therapy. He still has issues with it, but he is able to do landscaping and some casual construction work. I view hiring him to help as the same when I had someone come to clean house - she wasn't cheap, but she was worth every penny to help maintain a baseline level of clean that I could keep up with as I worked and was in graduate school. This guy grew up on a farm in Mexico - he knows about weeding a garden! I need to set aside some cash to have him come over every couple of weeks and help with some of the various projects here, things I've wanted to do for a long time but never quite had the time to get to myself. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 May 12 - 12:24 AM Forgot to say that in addition to the garden work I took the dogs for a walk. All healthy eating today. Picked zucchini for this week and have chard and asparagus also. |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: ragdall Date: 17 May 12 - 01:42 AM The rest and Ibuprofen did their job, my knee is usable today. I've started working in earnest. I've found a more loose tiles than I expected. A few broke. I hope it won't be too hard to clean the mastic and grout off the survivors to be able to reuse them. The plywood under the tile on the door sill is waterlogged and yucky. It's short pieces, I'm sure I can find scraps from other projects to replace the pieces I remove. I'll have to wait until morning to run the noisy saw to cut them to size. The horizontal board came off easily. The vertical board is firmly attached. I'm afraid it will take some nearby tile with it when I pry it off. I'm considering "Plan B". I've been trying online to find some plastic panels that they use for shower stalls. The tile and grout from eye height up is in great shape. I'd like to use those white wall panels to cover up the tile on the inside of the shower walls to about eye height, caulk around the top edge and down the corners, and cover the shower floor with the $80 worth of tiles that I bought. I think it would look okay. I've had no luck finding if anyone in this town might carry those panels. I'm almost to the point of considering buying linoleum and cutting it to fit the walls. I swear that's what I've seen used in some motel bathrooms. One way or another, this project needs to get done. Back to work. rags |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Bat Goddess Date: 17 May 12 - 09:39 AM Neighbor came over on Monday, I think, and took the beige cabinet, the good frying pans with covers and a couple other items. And I unloaded some other kitchen gadgetry and panage to a couple guys at work. Today, I've got the car loaded with a nifty small file cart (for hanging files) on casters for Dr. Song. More cubic footage. Tomorrow, on the way to The Press Room, I can drop off the rest of the stuff at Goodwill (as it fits in the back seat leaving the rear area for Tom's wheelchair). Maybe I can continue with the pulling stuff out of cupboards part of decluttering tomorrow and Saturday mornings -- sea music sing this Saturday afternoon. More rearranging in this room will have to wait until next Wednesday -- I don't think there are any appointments set up for that day. My new manager (co-worker of the past year and a half) is giving me more hours. Discovered the other day that absolutely every (save one) of my short-sleeved blouses needed washing. That's accomplished. But after they're dry, they'll need ironing and I still haven't got the usual (only!) spot for the ironing board cleared out of the guestroom. (When the guys were tightening up the house, that's smack in the middle of where they piled everything...) Linn |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 May 12 - 10:15 AM Linn, I have the "big" ironing board hanging on the wall in my laundry room, ready to set up wherever (sometimes the kitchen, sometimes my daughter's room), but the one I use most often is the one that hangs on the inside of my dressing room/closet door. The iron sits on the counter where my radio, jewelery boxes, various personal products all sit, and that quick touchup before work is right there in the closet. You might look for one of those at K-Mart or WalMart or someplace. Last night Gargoyle posted a remark, and except for the toxic footer, it was valid: You will ALL be healthier and wealthier to do the work yourself. That has been my approach for years, but the problem is the number of hours in the day for yard and house and personal care plus an 8-hour work day. Sometimes farming out the work (might have been done by another family member in the household in days past) is the best way to help your self-esteem - getting the job done and not beating yourself up because you couldn't get to it yourself. You have to choose your battles and chores, and the cost of this chore was lower than some of the others around here that I can do. And there is still a lot more garden to weed! So I don't mean this as a defensive response so much as a clarification - no one is lounging here. Photos of another china piece will be processed and go into another eBay listing today. And at lunchtime I plan to go dig up some iris in the front yard. I figure an hour of that will give me some good exercise and make the afternoon go faster. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: wysiwyg Date: 17 May 12 - 11:03 AM they'll need ironing... Have you tried putting a few at a time in the dryer with a wet dryer sheet, on low? You may find that they become wearable. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Penny S. Date: 17 May 12 - 01:23 PM More carpet tiles, and I've cut out a few stems from the juniper near the study window, leaving two slender ones to fill out - I hope. The stems I've cut were leaning over and pulling the whole tree and blocking the view of the garden from where I intend my desk to be. Tomorrow I'll take them to the dump. The weedkiller I've sprayed on the creeping buttercup and forgetmenots where my tomatoes are going hasn't worked yet, so that digging job is delayed. The forgetmenots are lovely, and each year I get a cloud in a different place, but this year they are taking up a veggie spot. I've trimmed the dead twigs from the olive I'm going to take to my niece when she's ready - I need that spot for the unplanned passionflower I bought in Lidl yesterday. The guys came to measure up for the solar panels, and one pointed out how I could get rid of the graffiti on the garage brickwork near the front door. Crudely cut, it stated WOS ERE, just where I needed to put the house numbers my sister gave me some time ago. So I attached a coarse sander attachment to my new gadget and off it came. Then I drilled the holes for the digits, and up they have gone. My number can now be seen before anyone actually arrives at the front door. Yesterday I bought some remaindered alpaca yarn in a natural colour to make a hairpin crochet shrug in a pattern I saw in Oxfam (the actual shrug, not a paper pattern). Today in Oxfam, I found some more interesting yarn in Oxfam, so I'll try and work the two together. It's to go with a sleeveless chiffon dress from the same place - I don't think I'm up to sleeveless. Penny |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 May 12 - 02:52 PM Is this the kind of thing you have in mind, Penny? They're very attractive and practical. I tend to wear a lot of vests, but should look into something like this as well. I've eliminated all of the coconut products and I'll have to see if that works. The hands feel a bit better today already, but time will tell. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 17 May 12 - 06:49 PM Fantastic day here, got tons done and am now packing up my gear for tomorrow's Relay For Life event where I have been asked to be the Honorary Chair. I will share my story in front of a few hundred people, be a judge on the dessert committee (oh the horror of it all), lead the Survivor's Lap carrying an Olympic torch (that's the theme of this particular relay) and lighting the larger torch that will burn for the remainder of the relay. I am STOKED! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 May 12 - 07:16 PM You'll glow enough to light up the room, Michelle! Have a lot of fun, but also keep a hankie in your pocket. I suspect there are a few tears at events like this. I finished a writing thing I've been working on all week so I'm now headed out into the garden. Yes! Irises, here I come! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Declutter & Exercise - May 2012 From: LilyFestre Date: 17 May 12 - 09:05 PM I've been practicing. It is much easier for me to write about my adventures with cancer than it is to say it out loud. I've been crying off and on all damn day...LOL. I know it's part of the process but you all know how easily I cry. I'll have tissues in my pocket...no worries about that! :) I am SO excited!!!! Michelle |
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