BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running

Subject: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 10:22 PM

It's evening on Dec. 31 as I start this, and while we haven't been going for quite a year, it feels like an anniversary. I think having a place to report progress, large or small, helps propel or sustain momentum in clearing out the stuff that you trip over or have to work around in your daily life. "Clutter" is a state in which something is in your way, and that something is there mostly because your space is occupied by more stuff than you can use or need.

Identify it, and work with what you recognize as a problem. If you need to, start small, perhaps de-clutter a shelf or a counter to make a clear spot, then work outward from there, if you don't know another way to begin. If you're tremendously ambitious, empty your entire house and replace only the items you really need and use, and sell or discard or give away the rest. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle.

I can't afford to just discard, I am working through the stuff and donating (keeping records) or selling (eBay) what I can, and the rest is being recycled as much as possible. It was a nice sign to have a spectacular eBay success this last week of the year; this isn't typical, but it will help me keep moving forward.

My kitchen and dining room are in very good shape right now, and cooking and serving food are a pleasure because I have room to work easily and more quickly than when I had to move stuff in order to cook. The rest of the house is still a work in progress.

The reports have been wonderful over the last year, and I look forward to reading more in the new year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: freda underhill
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 10:49 PM

SRS, thanks for this great thread. It's been inspiring, motivating and funny to trawl through the realities of other women's homes.

have a happy decluttering new year, SRS & all! (and don't forget to remove those cactus spines!!)

freda

..just about to load my ex's car with collapsable baby cot, toys, baby rugs, sheets, high chair, pram, and dump them with my sydney daughter. then off for another walk round the harbour, once the smothering heat is past!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 11:14 PM

Hi, everybody. Most everything is off of the diningroom table, and has been put away where it belongs. There is a trayful of ingredients to make rice pilaf, and I'll bake that tomorrow. I'm about ready to put away the candles from the buffet, but I lit them up again so I could take a picture.

I made a bit of progress in the kitchen this afternoon/evening, too. But I still need to make more countertop available. I'm going to look for a sturdy cart that I can put some of the appliances on, so I can slide the whole thing under a shelf that's about countertop height. I need to take some measurements, because there are 2 brackets under the shelf that I need to avoid.

I'll probably be asleep when the New Year arrives, so I'll wish you all a happy and healthy one. Thanks to all of you for making this little corner of the 'cat such a friendly, cozy place to visit. The encouragement is much appreciated.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 11:26 PM

I've been up in the attic tracing a phone wire. I'm getting ready to put in the wire to run broadband to my son's computer. I'll leave the bubbly until after I finished stepping from truss to truss up there. :) My first couple of goals for this new year are to have my computer back in order and to have a wired network so I get no more grumbling from my son about the signal strength to his computer. This is the "turning a lemon into lemonade" approach, after my huge computer crash and after suffering through such marginal DSL for years. Might as well do it all now at one time.

My attic could stand to have some stuff cleared out, dried out cardboard boxes I won't use for packing. I'll haul them down this week and put them in the back of the pickup to take over for recycling on Friday.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 12:30 AM

My house actually looks kind of sparkly and orderly, tonight, mostly due to Morgan and his energy! That kid! He gives me the energy to do so much more; it's a lot more fun to do it with someone than alone, imo. We got all of the Christmas stuff off of the tree. I went through my Christmas box and put stuff in a pile to give away and a pile for Morgan to take to his house, so what I have left finally fits without someone sitting on the lid and it is neatened up. That feels so good. Rog surprised me by taking the day off AND going through the ton of electronic gear cluttering up his office space in the kitchen. He still has to haul it out of the house, but I didn't even have to ask him to do it! I have a few dishes to do tomorrow. We've had a nice evening with my brother visiting and gone home. Don't know if we'll make it to midnight, so Happy New Year and thanks so much for your inspiration and motivation, you esp. Maggie, you just keep going! (Morgan will probably never want to vacuum when he gets to the same age as your son, btw. His mom loved to vacuum when she was really little, then hated it!:-) She was also thorough like him; he was down on his knees under stuff getting all of the pet hair!)

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 03:06 AM

There is something empowering about taking control of a space, and I think Rog is seeing that with the work you're doing, and with what we've each been describing.

You don't want to know about my sun room right now, tonight--but tomorrow I'll collapse a couple of dozen boxes and bring it back to a navigable space. The kitchen has a dishpan in the sink with a few things soaking in soapy water, a fresh loaf of bread is cooling under a towel, and there is a basket of clean laundry on the couch in the living room that I'll fold tomorrow. I took the holiday things down from the mantle and now it is a simple arrangement of silver and crystal with the halogen up lights (that I installed) giving them I richness I wasn't aware of before. (Thank you, Martha Stewart!)

Have a good new year, and let's see if by the end of January or February we have each made enough progress that we can report back about de-cluttering smaller spaces for more specialized reasons. I'm still wanting to get to sewing and beading, and I think by this spring I'll be there. (I need to get to that point before gardening season, because the garden is so much more interesting than being inside the house, despite the energy I put into the house right now!)

Happy 2009, all!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 04:29 AM

I may take the decorations all down tomorrow and get them stowed. I have to start looking up structural engineers/surveyors to see where my kitchen damp is coming from before too long. Nice.

Really, I should have a chuck out of my cooking pots, but while I am only feeding myself most of the time, there are occasions when I seem to be feeding the world and his wife, and so I have all sizes - and favourites!

I also would like to learn to knit properly, so that I actually get some pleasure from it.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 12:21 PM

It's hurry up and wait here for my computer stuff. Looks like it won't arrive until Monday. This computer mess will have killed much of my holiday if I let it, so I won't, I have other stuff to do.

Last night I got a good start on rewiring--the hardest part is figuring out what you have to work with after poking around to find the right wires to replace. It looks like they used a large enough bore to go through the 2x4 at the top of the wall that I can get my phone and/or coaxial wires through without difficulty. The line seemed to be working that I'm replacing, but in the past it has been very crackly and I think there might be a short somewhere along the way. While I'm up there I will collect the boxes that I won't use again and clear it out a little. The attic isn't full, it is mostly air and insulation and building members, but there are clusters of cardboard to address.

Moonglow brought a bag of clothes she doesn't wear that will be donated in the first trip to Goodwill over the weekend. The 2009 donations begin and I have to wrap up the 2008 list. My IRS forms arrived in the mail yesterday.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 12:49 PM

...building members, but there are clusters of cardboard to address

Just thinking of those building members talking to the clusters!:-) (Just the way my imagination goes, sometimes;-)

It's really great that you are able to do all of that yourself, SRS. Crackling in a line almost definitely will be cracked wires shorting out or something. It might be right at the phone, though, the connectors and the line to the wall jack and/or the actual line between the phone and headset. Sounds like you could do with the rewiring you are doing regardless. Have fun!

I tracked down my new cellphone which was supposed to be delivered yesterday (the guy left a note on the door - we were here all day, so he must not have knocked!) Anyway, now that I have it, by the 7th when my home phone number begins ringing on it, I will be able to put away a couple of home phones and the charger for one of them, plus the Vonage box which will also mean less wires running around in my office.

SRS, I will believe my de-cluttering has had an effect on my Rog when he actually removes the piles of stuff he made in the kitchen whilst cleaning out his drawers and desk!**bg** (Actually, he may do just that as he has actually taken off from yesterday through Sunday! Unless of course they call him in for an emergency! Knock on wood!)

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 04:32 PM

Something/body is inspiring me, this week. I have just shocked myself by going through the top left-hand drawer of my desk. It's the one everything gets thrown into, but also holds the important accounts book and other *stuff* I need to hand. I could barely get it open. It is now almost EMPTY, stuff is either thrown out, put away, or in a file of "Stuff to be scanned" and I can open and close the drawer easily! I can *feel* the four drawer filing cabinet calling...we have a date later this weekend.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 10:48 PM

I wasn't interested in watching football today, so I went to the mall. The good news is that all I bought was cat litter and aspirin. My mother used to say that, whatever you did on New Year's Day, you'd be doing all year long. If that means I didn't spend much, that's good.

I realized that all four of the canisters on my countertop were empty, and I had no plans to fill them (I probably won't be baking any time soon), so I boxed them up and put them in the basement. That made lots of extra space. I'm also starting to put holiday decorations away. Should have the tree down and furniture re-arranged over the weekend.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: MAG
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 10:54 AM

I also give heartythanksfor these threads; having a group to commiserate with and share success with is a tremendous help.

I am taking 2 hours off today in order to carry out recycling, garbage, and composting in daylight.

And more f***ing snow last night. It was supposed to RAIN.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:14 AM

I was offline last night and decided, after several attempts, to simply turn off everything. Overnight the modem reset itself, which is great, because I really don't need another thing to fix around here.

I'm going to run a wire through the attic and down to the junction box behind my computer so I can hardwire the Internet connection to my son's computer, but I have to get creative. I punched out the tiny little hole on the top of the box (after removing the wall cover) and now I have to go in the attic and figure out how to reach that little hole from the top. It will involve taking the drill up and making a couple of more holes, putting a light next to the j-box, and dangling a string with a screw (for weight) down to the proximity of the box. I'll also measure the height from the j-box to the top of the room so I can let out enough string. I might have to get a magnet into this also.

Did I mention that I have to crawl around in the attic to do this?

It will be wonderful once it is in place.

On another note, I've figured out why the catahoula keeps pushing through the garage gate into the main part of the building (where the truck is). She's chasing mice or rats.

It's always something, and she seems to enjoy herself, so more power to her.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 12:07 PM

Decluttered the back fence on Wednesday.... realise it's just held on to the posts by one nail and the ivy I'd just decluttered from it... still, the new panels arrive on the 13th so it's just a couple of trips to the tip with the removed vegetation and then the old panels can go.

The rest of the house is just blah... lost all momentum recently. No sooner do I tidy something than it gets filled up, or needed.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 03:47 PM

Been running around Home Depot, exchanging wiring bits. I think I've about figured this out.

I need to get up in the attic while it is still light out, that will make the job much easier. I have to drag the drill up, and if I'm smart I'll drag a couple of planks up to span the beams to kneel on.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 03:49 PM

Don't forget the planks, SRS!**bg**

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 05:19 AM

Don't use press board or chip board... Manitas went through one of those boards a few years ago, getting the Christmas decorations out of the loft, almost appearing through the bedroom ceiling. It was August before I finally caved and hired a plasterer.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 06:02 PM

I've been back and forth on those boards (regular lumber) so many times today I feel like I was doing a long yoga exercise in a sauna. It's a warm day, and the attic is even warmer.

Darned wiring was part of my connectivity problem, and when I remodeled my contractor took a shortcut and went sideways through a stud instead of running a separate set of cable and phone lines from the top for boxes in each side of the wall. We can now add dry wall repair to my list of things I'll be doing this weekend. At least it's my wall and I can put a hole in it if I need to. I'll probably put a plate over one hole, but I have to repair a small spot above the junction box.

Geez. NOW I can get back to rebuilding the computer.

I think it is safe to say that, electronically speaking, this has been the Winter Holiday from Hell.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 06:30 PM

Jeepers, SRS, glad you got that part done!

Rog has the kitchen looking worse than ever. Unbeknownst to me, he had more to go through and organise. He's only got two filing cabinet drawers. I cannot believe the amount of electronic gear he had in there. Oh, and he has another computer set up, trying out a modem he found to see if he can get that one up and running for my brother. I asked if he'd have it all done and put away by tomorrow and he assured me he would. He goes back to work on Monday and I don't want to be fighting it in the kitchen!

I did get two things listed on ebay, one of them an old "collectible" multibus CPU, at least Rog tells me people collect them. I only put them up a couple of hours ago and have had a few lookers, so we'll see what happens. I am going to try to get more stuff up, tomorrow. We need to get some more cash in here, too.

Tonight, though, I am going to relax and watch a comedy with Rog, Still Crazy.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 07:15 PM

I've been sloughing off lately and I need to get serious again.

For the past, dunno how many, years, the first item on my New Year's Resolutions list is "Get rid of something every day – throw it out, give it to a friend, Freecycle it, sell it on eBay or Craig's List". I've been doing okay, but I've not been serious since I beat the house into submission inSeptember. (Okay, I did find a place for the Christmas tree...)

Last week I went through the bag of papers I cleared from the table prior to Thanksgiving -- threw out (THREW OUT!!!) everything except a scant 1/8 inch high pile of papers (the Funny Times list I needed immediately), maybe it was 1/16th of an inch. Small, anywho.

This not having two consecutive days off is problematic.

Tomorrow I declutter a bunch of bananas into banana nut bread for the freezer. (That's quite a few breakfasts.) And wash the fillet crochet on the front door which nobody usually sees but I noticed the other day and it's embarrassingly full of cobwebs and dust. Sigh. (It's dark in that unused corner...what can I say?)

And maybe get some stuff posted on Craig's List.

2009 is going to be a better year all the way around!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 08:43 PM

My kitchen looks like the inside of a goat's stomach again. I'll be putting away tools and taking some stuff over to Home Depot and that should help. It's all "temporary" to do with this wiring. I still have one stubborn line that won't move down the wall, but I think it's because there is extra cable looping around and causing a blockage.

I finished reading the last Harry Potter book last night, after setting it down a while back with the last couple of hundred pages to go. I could see the denouement coming and I wanted to read it all without interruption. It took a while to find that uninterrupted time. I had made a couple of predictions to Moonglow that I'm glad to say were true. She'd been waiting for me to finish it because she knew I'd gotten it right but didn't want to give it away by accident. I've been reading mysteries for a long time, and despite the wizarding setting, it was still a mystery.

Off to do a little more attic tidying then I'll start on the kitchen.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: mouldy
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 08:46 AM

Got the decorations down from the inside of the house at least, and into brand new storage boxes. When I can muster up the energy I will lug them up into the loft. However, today I have a headache to nurse, and there's rugby on TV...

...big men in tight shorts!


Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 11:56 AM

I am off to do dishes, have a load in the washer and one in the dryer and I will be riding herd on Rog making sure he gets all of his electronic gear out!:-)

I've got watchers and bidders on both ebay items. Not much, yet, but it's early days. I will be adding things to it, today and/or putting up my bookshop on Biblio, again.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 11:58 AM

A number of large, bulky items were consolidated and put where they belong ydy, including some of them moving to the parish office.

In the process I found a missing and much-needed MP3 player. I'd camo'd it by adding a car-charger and putting it, as an improved kit, into a tote bag. No wonder I couldn't find it by the color of the player-case it lives in!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: MAG
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 12:49 PM

Nine degrees here today and more snow onthe way tonight, instead of the predicted thaw.

My plan is to repack books more neatly into boxes so I can actually move around the den easier. And put up the plastic I got for one window weeks and weeks ago.

If I get that done, and the dishes and some laundry, I will treat myself to a good long practice.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 12:50 PM

Three 30-gallon bags of clothing has been cleaned out of our closet, mostly mine but DH is also cleaning out his stuff. I no longer need the sizes 34w, 32w, 30w, 28w or 26w (keeping some 24s for days I feel bloated) and I am NOT keeping them. The same with DH. He has lost weight and there is no need for us to have 5 different sizes in the closet. It feels great to get rid of the stuff and the extra space is a beautiful sight to behold. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 12:52 PM

Kewl, all o'youse!

My Rog got the jump on me! While I was in here posting, he started and finished the dishes! So, it was sweeping and scrubbing the bathroom for me. I don't mind, either, so that's good!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 12:55 PM

The lines are in the wall, and I'm tackling my son's computer. His connection problem stems from not installing all of the equipment drivers when he rebuilt the computer (replaced hard drive, anyway) a couple of years ago. I'll still go shopping this morning but maybe won't have to get the new ethernet card after all.

Tomorrow is school and work. Kind of disappointing, all of the stuff I didn't get finished over the break, but our computers have certainly been through the wringer!

Still cleaning in the kitchen and dining room. Still eating healthy. My jeans still fit even after the cookies and snacks--this is good!

Now to go install some downloaded drivers into the Dell. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 02:09 PM

Thanks once again for the inspiring posts. I am practically paralyzed by the mounting clutter after Christmas and our return from a trip.   

I was given a nice-looking audio cabinet to hold minerals and shells. It is assembled now after a bit of grief. Now, the specimens are screaming to be washed and dried and set out, while the Christmas boxes are shouting to be filled and atticized, but people keep needing to be fed every few hours, and it's time to set up new financial files for the new year, and I ought to get some exercise, and I'd really rather do some music, and tomorrow it's back to work.

Well, that was whiny. Let me go jerk the twinkle lights out of the podocarpus(sp?) and make a start on the Christmas box issue.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 03:29 PM

I was given some books for Christmas. Well, one, actually, but when I was in the shop selected by the donor for me to look in, I spotted two I couldn't not have for reference - Josephus' Antiquities, and a book not unlike the "Key to All Mythologies" from Middlemarch. I'm going to have to have a book purge. Again.

Does anyone know what to do with old videos? The ones that were originally blank? I'm actually managing to clear all my old recordings, so I have a lot of used ones I am probably not going to need any more. I have a DVD/VHS player I can use to dub as well as record, and now have a Freeview box with hard drive for temporary stuff - though if it's for something important on analogue, I'm going to double record as it sometimes gives up on the job. Currently I'm watching through all the stuff recorded over Christmas - it's amazing how quickly 60 hours gets used up.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 05:17 PM

In the scheme of durable recordable media, the cassette tapes and video tapes have probably the longest predicted shelf-life (when compared to CDs and DVDs and such). I haven't been in a rush to clear out all of my tapes. I have shelf against one wall that holds them compactly and I keep them all in that area. One of these days I'll move some out. I have cleared out duplicates and some we'll never watch again, but I use those to record over now, since I don't have a functioning DVR at this point in time. (I could put a card in my computer with a HD receiver and record there, I suppose, but I've spent enough for now on the computers around here.)

My son will install the new Ethernet card after he comes in this evening. My daughter, away at school, will follow the schematic she has for her computer and will install her new power supply. I'm getting a l-i-t-t-l-e tired of computers. (But this one certainly runs quickly with the modem directly into the computer.)

I need a nap.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 07:43 PM

2 days of not doing anything I should have in the house, and remarkably, it's not piled up... yet.

Tomorrow is (hopefully) Limpit's first day back at school and I'm alone in the house for a change... bliss! I can whack the stereo up to full and dance around with the vacuum cleaner and the carpet washer. I may even put clothes on.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 10:10 PM

I've made some progress around here, but have a lot more to do computer-wise. Once this is finished I can get back to other stuff. I've done some clearing in the kitchen and dining room--those are the baseline I want to keep in good shape to work outward from.

I feel like I had a good workout this weekend, with all of the climbing around in the attic.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 11:08 PM

More work in the closet, taking 3 30 gallon bags of plastic hangers to Sal's tomorrow. How does one accumulate so many hangers? I have NO idea. Buh bye!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 01:09 AM

I've been rearranging the hall and office closets, moving holiday stuff into shelves in the top of the office closet and putting packs and luggage in the hall closet. The hall closet is where some of the phone wiring lives, and I think it will be easier to set up without bulky holiday decoration boxes being shoved in and pulled out past it. I will build a little cabinet of sorts to protect the wiring, but it isn't going to happen right away.

I picked up an incredibly inexpensive MP3 player today ($30) that has 2G, enough space to hold several albums and a couple of recorded books. My last one cost much more but I gave to my son who has managed to get past some of it's problems (though it still isn't easy). I got his advice before starting to experiment with this one. My problem before may have been that I let Windows Media Player help out. He says it is better just dragging with Windows Explorer (one of my favorite Windows programs). Seems easier to me, also. (The other one insisted WMP was the way to go, but my son got stuff in there fine with WinEx, until it stopped letting him see the contents at all.)

Now who knows what I'll be able to find once I start rebuilding the drives, but for now, I have stashed a little something in this player.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 04:09 AM

Blissful day - Limpit is at school, Manitas is at work and I read the thread on hibernating farmers this morning... as it is presently snowing and looks set to do so for a while, I have given up all thought of decluttering the garden waste to the tip, and will emulate my farming forebears (well, three of 'em any way) and return to my hibernation spot.

After all, it IS still Christmas (Old Christmas Eve), Distaff Day is not til Wednesday, Plough Monday (first Monday after Twelfth Night) is still a week away, so I'm being all traditional and not doing much!

Now I know our snow is nothing like American snow, but we get it so rarely in the south-east urban sprawl that it's an occasion worth noting.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 10:26 AM

I think it's great that so many folks are all working on the same thing, and cheering one another on.

But once the excitement of starting has worn thin, it can only continue effectively if one makes a new habit of the urge to create order. For me, that means posting about it less-- decluttering my posting habits. :~)

So if you don't see me much posting here, it doesn't necessarily mean I backslid or that I forgot y'all-- more likely I'm just using the time I freed up by getting better organized, and I'm away from the puder.

Isn't that the goal? I think organizing for its own sake is a phase, or else it just becomes the flip side of the pattern. I'm aiming for the middles ground-- only as much organization as supports my other goals in life. Until I get a wife. ~:)

Or I guess I could teach the dog to pick up around here, more. I know if I threw all the clutter into the catbox, he'd be there for me-- in a heartbeat. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 12:04 PM

I understand your reasoning, Susan. Some posts we put here are to move this back up the page and less to report anything substantial. I admit that after writing out many of these posts I will cut out big chunks of what I just wrote as "too much information."

However, in a social sense, some of us are holding our own toes to the fire to continue to participate. It has been helpful to many of us to look around and see some new or interesting (or really necessary!) thing needing to be done just to have an excuse to report. No improvement is too small if it helps maintain momentum. We force ourselves to be a little more efficient this way, and it is one of those "success begets success" situations.

I'm waiting on the UPS truck to delivery the next batch of clutter--boxes of computer stuff. But in the end, I hope for a more streamlined operation here.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 12:24 PM

Natch. To each his own. Not given as advice. But that dog thing has possibilities. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Penny S.
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 02:29 PM

Rushed out as soon as I got out of bed to clear the drive and salt it -it's steep down onto the road, and takes about half an hour to sweep - more if it needs shovelling, which it didn't. I'll need to get more salt in. Then I was so knackered I spent the rest of the day in bed. But I have reduced the unread newspaper pile. Meanwhile the thaw set in and we haven't had any more - but if we do, it should melt.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 03:56 PM

I am limping along with this dodgy computer set-up but was able to poke around and isolate photos to use for the annual report I'll be working on this month. I haven't installed my MS Office files yet and I don't have access to my Adobe files, and the new hard drive arrives tomorrow. So I'll pick photos and I have to do some writing in a Wordpad file.

Our freezing rain was supposed to stop freezing by noon, but it hasn't stopped raining and it hasn't stopped freezing. The ground itself is wet, but all of the things up in the air--branches, metal fences, the trash can, the bird feeder, are crusted with ice. It is beautiful, but it can be messy. No work outside today, but I can at least throw some boxes in the back of the pickup for the recycling bins at city hall when I head out to pick up my son again. Cardboard has staked a claim on my sun room until I flatten it into submission.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 05:43 PM

Every time I started out into the garden to move foliage from back to front, it snowed, so I didn't move anything at all... just the dust inside.

Major weekend project ahead I feel...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 05:47 PM

JSYK: Salvation Army does NOT take hangers!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:28 PM

Should we ask how you know? :) Actually, I think that is fairly standard at most of those places now. Maybe the metal ones can go into the recycle bin (or to Volkswagen beetle owners).

I took photos in my strange warm but icy yard, but I don't have my photoshop handy to post any. Tomorrow, tomorrow. . .

Franken won in Minnesota. A little more clean up that is good for all of us!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 08:57 PM

Something that will reduce the clutter: I cancelled home delivery of the newspaper. Compared the cost/benefit and decided it wasn't worth it. So I'll save some money and it'll be good for the environment in the long run. Also called the phone company and changed to a cheaper service plan (now that I'm no longer using dial-up to connect), and that should save me about $20 per month. Caught up on laundry, including all of my blue jeans. Spent a couple hours getting info together for 2008 taxes, so I can get 'em done early.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 11:51 PM

I need to do taxes soon also, because I need to do the FAFSA for my college-aged daughter. And said daughter fixed her computer today.

Yesss! Last week right after christmas it died. We talked about the symptoms, decided it must be the power supply, she checked the Dell web site forum and found that the power supply can be a problem in her machine, and found a link to a good replacement. For about $50 she picked one up (NewEgg is great) and today she said it was four screws and a few plugs. She also had to bend or cut the case a little because the new supply was narrower and longer, but the rule "if it doesn't go, force it" (not good) ISN'T the same as "if it won't fit, cut the hole bigger."

I meant to ask earlier: doesn't someone now have a new washer in service in her house, after years of hand washing? How is it going?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 12:02 AM

I put the dirty dishes in water to soak, today!Hahaha! Had Morgan from 930a-530p, partly from choice, but it did cut into my get-things-done time.:-)

I have a 1907 print ready to go on ebay, have it saved as a draft and I have some other items to get listed this week. I also re-upped my bookshop at Biblio, downloaded their booklisting software and started entering books until I came to a publisher's advance copy whose isbn doesn't show up. I'll enter it manually, but I want to find out if it is worth anything extra as a first, exclusive edition.

Morgan went through some of his toys and finally consented to get rid of an old mixing board he'd scored from Rog. It is heavy, but made a great spaceship control board thingie. He dropped it by accident on my toes last summer and I almost pitched it then. I am not sorry to see it go. Rog took out most of his stuff which he cleaned out and packed up. He left to PCs and the mixing board. He was going to carry them out this AM, but got called out early and left too quickly.

I may not get much done each day, but it really helps to talk about it and post what I do get done, no matter how little. I see it as steady progress, for me. I think when we first started out, I wanted to keep it completely positive and have us post only when we got something done, but I think the way it's evolved, like a having a chat over the fence or at a coffeshop, has been neat and helpful.

Thanks, gals and guys!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 05:57 AM

Don't mention fences!!! I have to replace mine next week and I'm already behind on clearing the garden stuff out so I can get the new panels actually into the garden!

Actually Kat, documenting the negative works as a 'To do list/guilt tripper'... to have mentioned in public something that didn't get done, and then have someone else 3 weeks later say 'how did that go', makes you remember to do it. I've got a garden and 3 crates of indoor crap to sort... plus now that Twelfth Night is here, Christmas decorations to take down and put away...   This is my 'To do list' now!

Fill bird feeders - can't do that until I've
Cleared shrubbery from back garden into front with view to putting in car to take to the tip
Whilst going to the tip, might as well take those other bits and pieces from the loft.
Whislt in the loft, put the Christmas decorations away - can't do that until I've taken them down!

So it looks like I should be sorting the decorations rather than the garden, brilliant! I now have a plan of inaction.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 07:01 AM

Ah, Stilly. I blush to disclose I'm still washing by hand. The clearing of the nursery and plumbing of the washer have been delayed by the daily search for pinecones and wood for heat and the uselessness of the feet. Thanks for asking.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 02:23 PM

Spent part of the morning sorting out the remaining clutter. I have several baskets full of clippings and notes, so if I need something, I have to rummage thru each basket until I find it. I've decided to organize that stuff into folders. So far it's going well-- one basket done, and 2 more to go.

I have no plans to work during January, and dog-gone-it, I'm beginning to like this staying home business.

Maryanne