BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 12:03 AM

OH, I don't know if that is sad or smart, Maggie, building an extra room for it all. Mind you I have dreamt of such a thing...a one-room museum for all of the family heirlooms and archival stuff I have. If my dream really came true it would be in the old ranch house where my dad grew up which is going to ruin on an elk refuge.

I did something right on eBay...I have five watchers on the book and four bids. It's up to almost twenty bucks! Whoo-hoo!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 01:20 AM

Good for you!

My friend's house has some amazing architectural features--they recycled big chunks of old demolished buildings in Seattle when it was being built (doors, windows, lintels, beams, etc.) so it really is remarkable. But there is a lot of extra stuff that they wouldn't miss if it was gone. I remember when they were building that room. It's just full of stuff now, it didn't add to their ability to enjoy the house. I think that maybe they'd have been better off subtracting stuff from the existing house (contents) than building more house.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 01:21 PM

All things considered, the kitchen is looking pretty good, and the sun room is navigable. I'm taking my son to a sold-out lecture on campus tonight so it might not be until the weekend that I get much more done. On my to-do list is the summing up of donations from August and starting the new list for September. I'm keeping on top of those pretty well this year, and it will help get a better tax refund. One hopes. The year isn't over yet.

Anyway, two weekends ago it was Hurricane Gustav that was supposed to batter us, but we had heavy humidity and overcast instead, no rain (here, anyway). Ike is taking a bead on us now, and seems to be more determined to go over the top of us. Another weekend potentially washed out.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 05:01 PM

I've been involved with Freecycle for about four or five years -- what a difference now from when I first got on two lists! (Besides the fact that the lists themselves have multiplied -- I've limited myself to just the two original lists I signed on to.)

Back then, far fewer people were involved and, in theory, non-profits had first dibs (at least, that was in the guidelines). And people didn't post greedy laundry lists, dream lists, of stuff they just wanted rather than needed.

Since I was primarily trying to find homes for good stuff that was too good to throw out and a yardsale takes too much time and trouble for the return, it worked fine. Still does. I even got a couple things I could use -- generally NOT by posting a "Want". I'm not crazy about the current trend of cluttering up the lists with wishful instead of needful "wants".

One of my best Freecycle experiences was finding homes for two manual typewriters. One went to a local Easter Seal organization to address envelopes. The other went to a six-year-old boy who was fascinated by typewriters and like to make books. How cool is that!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 10:21 AM

The Thomas Friedman lecture last night was wonderful. My 16-year-old sat and listened intently. I think that maybe hearing someone other than his Mom say these environmental things is going to help him see that it isn't just my rantings and ravings around here.

Now if he'll just take shorter showers and turn off more lights when he leaves the room. :)

There is so much I want to do, to read, write, and think about, and it is so difficult in a cluttered environment. I simply must speed up some of this clearing out.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: MAG
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 10:25 AM

Kat, I already own a have-a-heart trap, gotten when possums invaded the 'hood. Trapped 2, and drove them very far away.

I want to get the kittens tamed enough before I do anything drastic like trap them. I want to get them fixed, not get them to the pound.

I discover my band has a gig tomorrow I forgot about so my plans forthe weekend are in total flux. I actually have the morning free (WAS going to go to Portland) so I can do stuff, rather than go consume.

Den still a pit; kitchen looking better all the time. Well, I never let that get too bad.

Not sleeping too well these days; change in insomnia medication; lack of sleep is not helping. I get home from work too tired to do much except flop with a book. Haven't been to work out since Monday (necessary with diabetes).

I've got shasta daisy seeds, pink campion seeds, feverfew seeds -- all very prolific.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 04:01 PM

I have a Library "gig" tonight--a Friends of the Library meeting. I have my fingers crossed that the hurricane winds and rain really do wait until middle of the night to arrive, yesterday they were predicting earlier. I don't want to be out driving in 60mph wind with rain, it's never fun.

Looks like indoor activities tomorrow. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 05:14 PM

I quit one of the 4 Freecycles I was on, today. The closer-by ones are smaller lists with more reasonable driving distances.

Freecycle is complicated by cell phone usage-- a lot of people use theirs for not only phone, but email. That makes texting an "I wanna" request in poor spelling a snap-- no time to think about approriateness needed.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: maire-aine
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:25 PM

Hi, all. I'm connected again, and no more websites blocked by the corporate computer security. My wireless connection is kind of weak (only have 2 bars) but I've been connected for 30 minutes now and no disconnects yet. Oops. Maybe I shouldn't have said that.

The chimneysweep came today and cleaned it up, and fixed a couple of loose bricks. I made pea soup and a pan of gingerbread, cleaned up the kitchen & did all the dishes, did 2 loads of laundry, and washed the kitchen floor. I think I'll stop soon, but I want to do a little grocery shopping this evening. Tomorrow will be another busy day.

Pulled a few weeds in the yard, but it rained most of the day, so I couldn't do much else.

Have a great weekend,
Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:44 PM

You have pea soup weather already? I'm so envious! I had to carry my gabardine jacket for tonight's meeting because I was sweating up a storm in it, it's still so hot outside. In the library we have hyper air conditioning, so it will feel good.

I haven't thought about fire wood, but I rarely do fires. I bought a pretty mirror last fall and propped it at the back in the grate, and I put in candles in front to be reflected. It looks good and I don't have the problems of it not drawing properly. It's poorly designed, I think. I had it cleaned when I moved in and I only do a couple of fires a winter.

A neighbor locked himself out before I left for work, so he came over to borrow a screw driver and a battery (his garage door opener had died). I was still, after all of this time of clearing, embarrassed to have someone come through. It looks better, but someone who isn't in here every day doesn't know that, to an outsider, it still looks cluttered. I have to speed this up and move it out.

More watchers on the dulcimer. Fingers crossed. It ends early enough in the evening (I planned it that way) that people should be up and around, it isn't one of those 2am auctions that no one wants to wait up to bid at the last minute.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:53 PM

Maggie, sounds like you might be headed towards beating yourself up a bit...all in good time, eh?:-)

MAG, I didn't think you wanted to take them to the shelter. I just thought you wanted to get them fixed and let them remain feral. Good for you for wanting to tame them and good luck!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 08:49 PM

Taking a box of software books to Maine tomorrow in hopes of connecting with a friend who will take them off my hands. Then Tuesday morning swinging over to another friend's before going to work at noon, and dumping a huge box of canning jars in her kitchen.

Haven't been able to get much accomplished lately, but that will help.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 12:43 AM

Oh, gawd, more canning jars. . . I wish some of you folks who are getting out of that business lived closer!

My canning friend made it to the Friends of the Library meeting tonight. We ended up chatting with the catering chef about a couple of her recipes. . . aren't we incorrigible! But at the same time, I like the idea that guests can stand and chat with the wait staff (as long as we don't keep them from doing their jobs). Especially since Aramark, that has the campus food service and catering contract, hires students. They have some of the BEST educated servers around. Today, waitress or waiter, tomorrow, electrical engineer or nuclear physicist. Many are MS or Ph.D. students. :)

I understand what you're saying Kat. But I've taken so long, I need to occasionally pause, look around, and see what I'm being too slow or fussy about. I want to move this job along because I have so many other things I want to be doing.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 03:55 AM

There's a fun day and jumble sale at church today... good opportunity to dispose of a few books we no longer require... and maybe those horrible glasses that someone gave us as a present.... and a few of the undrinkable bottles that we've 'acquired' at parties....

Possibilities are endless if only I could get my ass in gear!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: MAG
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 10:22 AM

My shrink suggested I take pictures of my house to sow her in case I've got something diagnosable like fear-of-getting-rid-of-wrong-thing syndrome.

THERE is a goad to getting rid of stuff. Anybody else this bad? Or do we all just have ridiculously busy lives?

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 10:23 AM

Go for it Liz, empty the clutter bin into the car and haul it over there! Make a couple of extra trips! Someone can use this stuff--that's great!

Rain's starting here. Lots of areas in the path are without power. We'll see how the day goes. I'm going to pack up eBay stuff for now, I think.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 12:23 PM

Anybody else this bad? Or do we all just have ridiculously busy lives?

There is a fine line, and it is easily crossed. Your shrink is right-- it would be a good thing to check out, becuase there are some very simple behavioral strategies (non-medicated ones) to make life quite manageable.

For me that fine line is one particular spot. When its clutter gets over a certain line, I know I am starting toward trouble. BUT if I take care of that spot when I see it crossed, it is quite easy to move on from it to other areas about to get outta control, and keep it all in good order for quite a long time til the next slip down the slidy slope.

The great news is that our brain chemistry and learned habits are quite plastic-- formable and re-formable. The higher brain, the mind, and your intentionality have quite a considerable degree of take-charge control over the lower brain, over the habits getting in the way of the life you want, and over the brain chemistry.

So I would say check it out, but then don't jump onto meds right off if they're suggested, because from other disciplines you may find this quite manageable. And if your shrink doesn't find a problem, then you can still go right to the behavioral changes.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 10:56 PM

I used to watch a program on one of the satellite channels called Clean House. It is kind of torturous to watch, it is amazing how much worse those houses are than mine ever has been. But -- occasionally -- they do one that hits home. The woman in graduate school with books and paper got to me. I recorded it, and I think it's still on the DVR. Another had to do with inherited items the woman couldn't let go of. I should go rewatch them. They touch on, in a non-clinical way, the mental process behind hoarding or not letting go. Pass some of Don Aslett's books over this and you can find permission to discard whatever you need to. If you can do it in a responsible, beneficial way, all the better.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Sep 08 - 11:36 PM

Things have slowed down around here. We spent most of the day running around doing stuff that needed to be done, then watched a movie. Tomorrow Rog has to work some in preparation for Obama's visit here on Monday, so I *think* I will work on jewellery, finally, unless I go with him. I'll be lucky to get laundry and maybe some dishes done. I have a few things for eBay, but researched one of them and got discouraged...it's not really worth anything.

I am kind of at the point where I cannot do a lot without Rog's help or that of someone else and I don't know who that would be without having to pay them, which ain't happenin'.:-) My own work is taking over my time, right now, too.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 10:03 AM

Repairing things is another way to remove clutter, because once it is fixed, it goes back to where it belongs. The stack of shirts and pillow cases has now gone through the laundry and been hung up or folded and put in their places.

A friend sent me information about how to repair my weed trimmer, so I can fix it instead of buying a new one. And hang it back on the wall where it belongs.

Kat, are there things that you need Rog to help with that your online pals can help with also, or is this the "any strong back who is handy" kinds of chores?

On the sorting paper front, I'm going to contact a co-worker in Special Collections and ask if they have any particular parameters regarding the types of maps in the map collection they maintain. I have a bunch of maps from national parks around the country where I have worked or visited. I may be able to donate several files that are now sitting on my dining room table.

Lovely day, but muggy. If it dries out I'll try mowing this afternoon. This part of Texas was, as far as I can tell, unmarked by Ike. But go 50 or 100 miles due east and the story is much different. The water didn't even rise here. The garden still looks good, but I need to go patrol for predatory bugs. I can clear up more room in the fridge by freezing or cooking a bunch of the stuff from the garden today.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Charmion
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 11:36 AM

I have now worked my way to the last three items on the de-cluttering agenda I set myself for Edmund's absence.

The cellar is tidy: all boxes plumbed, the space under the stairs cleared out, camping gear sorted and neatly stowed, good luggage we don't use re-homed, busted luggage we don't use disposed of, stashed stuff that we don't use but is still worth having delivered to the Salvation Army.

The only cellar tasks still to do are: disposal of bits of wood left over from construction projects -- another Freecycle task -- and delivery of a box of household linen I will never use (including tablecloths and matching napkins, sets of table mats, and fancy linen tea towels) to the church for the fall rummage sale and the Christmas bazaar.

I have also purged the library and re-homed the discarded books. A great raft of reference books, including the 120-year-old encyclopaedia, went to live with a teacher of English as a second language; the novels and miscellaneous history went to the Rockcliffe Book Fair. The book fair also got our accumulation of strong bags suitable for carrying quantities of books -- liquor store bags, cotton bags Edmund picks up at law conferences (though I saved the big one advertising Divorce Mate software), and the heavy paper ones clothing shops use more and more these days.

We have space on the shelves for the first time in years, and there's nothing on the study floor but the cat basket, furniture feet, and the rug. If one were so inclined, one could actually do one's exercises in there without knocking one's head on a cardboard box overflowing with novels or a broken plastic laundry basket full of wire hangers.

In the study, I have not even started sorting, scanning and stowing the great accumulation of photographs, both negatives and prints. At least they're safely packed in plastic bins, all together instead of "lost" among the contents of a dozen boxes of junk.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 11:56 AM

Congratulations, Charmion!

Clearly, doing it (rather than writing about it daily) is an effective strategy! ;-D

I'm glad to see you still have SOMETHING left to do, so we can follow that account. The house sounds amazingly organized, and I am envious.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: MAG
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 12:57 PM

One kitten almost let me touch him this morning. I let my Scamp outside to see about the potential for making friends. Nada yet.

workout. band gig. gather tomatoes. life is good. den still a pit.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 03:11 PM

It started raining on Friday night, and rained all day Saturday. And this wasn't even the rain from Ike, just some dumb ol' storm that got stuck over the Great Lakes. I was marching in a parade with Dem candidates, for a community festival, so I was soaked by the time I got back to my car.

I discovered that I have a couple of leaks in my roof, one around the chimney, and one around a fan. For now, I have a big (former litter) box to catch the drips, but I guess I'll have to have some work done. It's about 18 year (maybe 19) since I had a new roof put on.

It has been hot and very humid today, and we had a little rain about an hour ago. The rain from Ike is supposed to get here tonight and last most of Monday.

While I was crawling around in the attic, I brought down a box of books on needlepoint. I still enjoy doing it, but not really interested in creating my own patterns. So the books will go to the library used book sale.

I'm getting a better wireless signal in the upstairs bedroom, than in the diningroom, so that's where the new computer will stay. That could be good, de-cluttering-wise. I won't clutter up the dining room, and I may de-clutter the bedroom more, if I spend more time there.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: MickyMan
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 03:30 PM

I had about a dozen bluebird houses that have been in the garage for about a decade. I built them but never put them up anyway. Last month I gave in and gave them away on Craigslist. A nice older lady came who put them up that day. That's one for proper declutterin', ain't it now?

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 03:34 PM

Well, Maggie, some of the work is definitely needing a stronger pair of arms and back...so that will have to wait for Rog and who knows when that will happen. As for the other, I am thinking maybe I need to read one of those books you've told us about. I don't feel reluctant to give some stuff away, I have troubled figuring out to whom and how. Most of it I'd like to give away to friends, but that adds up in postage. Some of it I would rather burn in a kind of pre-transition Viking kind of thing (with me still alive and well just some of my things going ahead of me:-)!

If I gather for a yard sale, that takes up space, looks cluttery and I have my doubt as to when I'd have a sale and if I'd have help (Rog hates them and the last time I thought my dau. and I were going to have one together at her house, her partner got all worried we might mix up the funds. Good grief, right?). Our driveway is unsuitable until it gets a lot colder as it is full of ants again this year. Let's see have I come up with enough obstacles?**bg** This is good to think out loud this way, I think.:-)

Oh well, I am going to try to work on a necklace now. Not in the mood, but it needs to get done.

Thanks for listening, folks!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 04:37 PM

Don Aslett's Clutter's Last Stand is on eBay as item number 220280786845 and on several eBay stores. I also see his books Clutter Free (that was the first one I read, then I passed it on to a co-worker), Lose 200 lbs This Weekend, and For Packrats Only if you do a search on "Aslett" in books. Of the two I read, Clutter's Last Stand seems to approach it more philosophically, but they're both good.

As I mowed the lawns this afternoon I contemplated the order things get done here. Family, Work, Chores, then De-cluttering. As you said, I guess I shouldn't beat up on myself, since all of it is getting done, just not all at the same rates.

Maryanne, good luck with the roof (I had to put a new one on last fall) and with Ike. He was a wash here (so to speak) but really hammered the state to the east.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 05:31 PM

Thanks. It's not really a bad storm, no lightning/thunder/wind, just continual rain. The humidity must be 120%.

About the emotional issues with de-cluttering, I don't think I really have a problem with that. My "clutter" is mostly glassware and china that I want to keep, but I want it stored so that 1) I can see it and enjoy it, and 2) that I can take it out & use it, then put it back where it belongs, and 3) I really need to entertain more so that I can use it. Some times I feel about the dishes, like I used to feel about my dolls & toys-- I just like to spread them out and "play with them". Does that make any sense? I just enjoy having them and looking at them-- they're pretty. But if I take things out of the china cabinet, I'm afraid I'll never get them all back in again.

The other stuff is books & record albums/CDs/cassettes, that are all over the house. I've probably got 50 vinyl records that I want to listen to, in case there's something on one that I want to learn. And that's just pure procrastination (no thread creep, really).

Oh, well. Thanks for the info on the books. I'll check the library.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 05:35 PM

The book info was for Kat, who said she wanted to read something about it to get motivated or to help her decide what and how to de-clutter.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 12:25 AM

We just packed up a whole s******d of shirts, shoes, and stuff to give to Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul. I'm talking two BIG trashbags of shoes, four suitcases of clothes, and a smaller trashbag of more shirts and dresses.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: maeve
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 06:34 AM

Wow! That's one major closet decluttering! You've inspired me, Rapaire. :)

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: mouldy
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 09:12 AM

Ruth has gone back to uni - the boxed up tv has gone from by my dining room window! The X Box has gone from the tv table! I can see surfaces, and the towel-load in the laundry basket has drastically shrunk. All the lost mugs have reappeared!

The cat and dog are bereft!

However, her car's still here because some b*st*rd forced the door on friday night, bent it at the top, and popped the window, leaving glass everywhere. I am now trying to source a door from the scrap dealers.

No luck so far, although a friend of hers, across the road, has an older version of the car and I am waiting for my son in law to check if it will fit.

I am gradually sifting through my stuff again, and starting to accumulate another stall's worth for the boot fair, although it will take some time, I fear. I hope I get it done soon enough before the "season" ends.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 09:49 AM

The packet of hankies arrived-- JUST what I wanted, lovely! Thanks to Maire-Aine!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 10:00 AM

This is that beautiful fall day I've been waiting for! Cool, clear, crisp, dry, and because we had rain over the weekend, everything is green! The lawn is mowed so the yard is beautiful, the dogs are frisky, the windows are open!

Who knows if I'll get anything done, but this is when my energy returns!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 10:12 AM

That's great, Maggie and thanks for reposting the book info.

I have done a load of laundry and put the dishes to soak. Trying to decide if I want to battle the crowds to see Obama depending on access to handicapped parking, seating, no shade, heat, etc. Part of me really wants to try and the other part says stay home and watch My Rog bring it to me live on the tv. So, probably not a lot getting done today, at least this morning!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 11:08 AM

Find your umbrella and a folding camp chair, and GO. Use your HC parking placard to get dropped off as far front as possible ("I'm just dropping off my wife....") for an expedited front-row seat. Be sure to take a cane even if you don't need one. They will want the cameras to pick up the diversity of HC folks up close-- use that to get your access. Use your in-charge body language to excuse yourself right up to the front because you know that you belong there!


We went up to sleep in the Mudcat Dorm last night (the house's only air conditioner is up there and there's a humidity wave here). In the past year we have rearranged the beds to make one king (for us) and one double (for guests). We had not been up there since before vacay, and we'd cleaned and decluttered it then. It was so pretty to see it waiting for us last night. I keep a jar of vanilla spice hand cream up there as well as a vanilla candle, so it's delicious dreaming....

There are three projects left up there: (A) swap around the bed frames so the two matching-height frames are under the twins that became the king; (B) finish the window treatments (have all parts on hand); (C) plank across the milk crates to make shelves for the linens that used to be crammed into a small shelf I re-purposed as my table-side collating-supplies shelves.

I do the layout abnd paste-up and then, later, collate our songbooks up there. Sometimes I arrange (chordsheets) up there too. Also headed up there is the new zero-grav chair Hardi bought me for camping-- so that in the early summer next year it will be waiting as a recliner for the days it's too hot/humid to be in the living room in the late afternoon. (That means the folding zero-grav can come out of the laundry room where it's in the way a bit.)

Before heading up there last night we had an urgent fold-up of the camper-- a huge wind storm (Ike?) came our way and during a lull the winds, before the rains hit, we thought we ought to fold it down. I am proud to say that even though it had to go quick (and late! after midnight), the interior is so well organized that I'm not feeling at all concerned about what we'll find next spring-- cuz I think the pending fabricating chores are gonna have to wait. I think it will turn out that we just closed the camper for winter. And that's good-- on to the main house (maw in law's coming) and the Mudcat Dorm.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: maire-aine
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 01:00 PM

You're very welcome, ~S~. Good to hear you got the camper folded up. You must have gotten the same storm we had.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: SharonA
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 02:35 PM

"De-cluttering in earnest"? Yep, never more earnestly than now, for me. The town fire marshall came a-callin' to the apartment building in which I live, last Wednesday, and told me I have 30 days to de-clutter or I'm going to be either evicted or padlocked out of my apartment. I'm dead serious here (and so was the fire marshall!). So I'm going to log out now and get rid of de clutter. Hope my next post is not from a homeless shelter!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 02:47 PM

Yikes, Sharon, good luck with that!

Susan, I did a modified version. Yes, I did, I went! Found out I can walk a bit farther than I thought 'cause my foot does not hurt! I'll put more in one of the other threads. Thanks!!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 02:52 PM

Yabbut keep babying that foot so it KEEPS working for you! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 02:53 PM

Is that a standard procedure in apartment houses in Pennsylvania, or were you a special case? Yikes, indeed!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Peter the Squeezer
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 04:15 PM

I have to make sure that I keep moving about, just in case I get put in the bin!

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 08 - 08:48 PM

I brought a box in from the garage a couple of weeks ago, and last week I went through and tossed a lot of travel and park related stuff. But I kept my collection of NPS and other federal and state park maps and brochures, so today I called the map archivist in Special Collections at my library to talk about the kinds of maps in their collection. He would like to see them. I think what I'll do is make an appointment so we can sit down together and I'll take along some post-it notes and will tell him of anything significant I know about the maps. I don't need a tax deduction on these, because the process of having them appraised would cost more than the deduction (unless I find a friendly appraiser at next month's map society meetings on campus--that is an idea).

This will amount to a few "inches" only (in library parlance of shelf space), but it has been wonderful going through them. I'm not going to be using them for anything, but I picked them up around the country over the last 30+ years and if the university can use them, great!   

I found in this mix a drawing a friend did, a great one that I'm going to mount and frame. He is a talented cartoonist and he illustrated the occasion of my teaching rangers how to rappel on the back side of the Ferry Building at Ellis Island. But that's another story for another thread. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: MAG
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 11:32 AM

Rappeling? You do rappeling? That sounds prretty energetic to me.

I tidies the patio so it's actually nice to park there for a bit.
All summer it's full of seedling starters, repotting materials, etc.
and tools that are not put away -- because I'm going to need them again right away, so why put them in the shed??

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 11:50 AM

Finally working on jewellery today. That will get a bit more clutter out of the office once I get it done!

Maggie...I'd like to hear that story!

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 04:58 PM

I pulled out another box with several more files of maps and brochures. I'll sort them before I donate them, and since these aren't an endowed gift, the chances of someone organizing them any time soon are slim to none, unless I do it myself. Which I might, with their guidance.

I taught mountaineering for several years after taking a Mountaineer's class myself, and spent several years climbing in the North Cascades. I relocated to NYC to take a job that was an interpretive historian ranger position out at Ellis, back before it had been restored and we pretty much had the run of the place. The park had a rope and I had the harnesses and gear so I taught several how to rappel.

It was the classic case of the first time down was the hardest, and everyone wanted to do it again after that. I scouted around and found a wall that didn't have any windows for people to plunge through on the back side of this building. If you look at the gray ornamental top, that's all nickel. Beneath that is a limestone ledge topping the brick wall. Then a step down, so to speak, is a small balcony on each side, before you get to the longest stretch of rooftop. We were on the little balcony, walking down the back of this building. Not that there was much call for rappelling at Ellis or the Statue, but it was a skill that interested my fellow rangers. We had to stay out of sight of the ferry and the public, so we wouldn't alarm anyone.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 05:05 PM

That is so neat, Maggie. When my sister, bet, was in college she belonged to a rock climbing club in which I think she was the only girl, as in her drafting classes. Anyway, she has actually climbed Devil's Tower in WY.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 05:07 PM

Last time I did that I used...clothesline...and I didn't have no steenkin' harness either! Wrapped the clothesline around my waist and through the crouch and over the side!

Mind you, it wasn't really the safest way to rappel.

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 05:16 PM

Through the "crouch" or the "crotch?" That's what we called the "hot pants rappel." One to be avoided at all costs. You can do it, and have to be real careful that you get the wrap around your body and over you shoulder so that the bottom rope is under your cheek, not in the crack. And you move very slowly, this is in emergency rescue no-other-options only situations.

I looked it up, had a nagging feeling. . . the top of the ferry building was lead. They've recast it with nickel and copper, I think, to retain the look but be a little more environmentally friendly.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: De-cluttering in earnest - September
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 06:10 PM

Ouch! That give a whole new meaning to rope burn.

Back to de-cluttering...I have finally done some more. Finished a complicated necklace; not exactly happy with it, but boxed it up to send to my client, so they can try it and see what they think. I know this will probably come back to me for more, but it feels good to have it moving at least.

I also decided to tackle a myriad of scarp notes tucked into two stackable little bins, about 8 inches back, by about 3 inches across, open ended. I don't have them stacked, they sit in front of my monitor. I also have pens, business cards, CDs and cassette tapes in them. I really needed to go through all of it, but mostly the papers.

So! I did it! I decided I didn't want to put them in a recipe card file holder on index cards, so I put them in a new file drawer in my Yeah Write program. (I love that program, thanks BillD!) Each file folder is labelled so I can keep up with what I usually put on scrap paper, including:
Books to read, CDs & Musicians (that I want, well the CDs, no necessarily the musicians!), Contacts, Locations & Stores, Lyrics, Music to learn, Radio to listen to, Recipes, Sayings, and Websites. None of it duplicates anything I have anywhere else, such as contacts. The contacts here are more temporary or less personal than what I put in my address book.

Anyway, it's not a huge amount, but it sure feels good to look at my desk and see less paper.:-)