BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 06:04 PM

I'm still hand-wringing over the installation of computer stuff. This morning I installed Open Office; several Mudcatters recommended it. I have the disks for MS Office 2007 that I can install, but I'll give this a spin first. My old copy of Office 2003 will go on my son's computer.

I heard from my computer friend today--he is now up to speed on the computer olddude sent--they were configured for office use so needed a lot of tweaking and a few bits and pieces added for home and hobby use. He said it is a real pleasure to have this fast chip plus the software friends were able to pull together to put on this machine. I gave him a DVD burner as a christmas gift to go with it, and found an old copy of Nero 6 (it doesn't have the annoying "Nero Scout" that slows everything to a crawl and is impossible to isolate from the install, even though they supposedly give you that option).

The kitchen here is looking better, but there is lots of recycling to take over to the collection center. It helped a lot to flatten the boxes, and I should store them in the hall closet or somewhere, because they do tend to slide onto the floor and are slippery and tripping hazards.

If that child wants to vacuum, I have a couple of days' worth of work here. I wonder if sending children over state lines to perform housework is considered an infringement on child labor laws? :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 06:33 PM

Spent several hours this afternoon in the music room again. Got a few more square feet of floor cleared. Put a few books into the box for the used book sale, and a few more are "undecided".

Came to the conclusion that I just have way too many books. If I read from now to the end of my life, I probably couldn't finish them all. Will I ever read "Nicholas Nickleby"? If I haven't read it by now, I probably never will. I buy/bought books that I thought I'd like to read, but then never allocated the time to them. Jane Austin, even though she's a great writer, is just not my style.

And even once I've read them, I'm reluctant to let them go. I confess: I hoard books. Not just reference books like cooking/gardening/songbooks, but I have Tolkien paperbacks from years ago that I'm still holding on to. Sort of like a trophy case, that I can look at the shelf and think I've read this.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: MAG
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 09:41 PM

Oh, another book hoarder! How nice to meet you! and I'm another Mary Ann.

I did a lot of decluttering in the garden today; we DID have nice weather for a change; I already counted the exercise over on the accountability thread.

The iron supports for the OLD back fence are still sitting there, over 1 1/2 years after the new fence went up. I wonder if I can recycle them.

Kat, the pics of Morgan are adorable, but I was also very taken with the pics of your clutter. It is SUCH a relief to know I am in the right company.

I need a pain pill and a good book. Outside cats are outside; inside cat is very happy.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 10:17 PM

My name is Maggie and I'm a book addict. Welcome to the club.

Jane Austin, even though she's a great writer, is just not my style.

Gasp! Not your style! Have you read Pride and Prejudice? That's right up there with Jane Eyre as one of the best books ever written in the English language.

MAG, I have re-used fence supports in several ways in my yard. I'm not sure the type you have, but I have those large hollow tubes that you put brackets on. These in turn support the cross beams for the wood fence slats (they're referred to as "stockade fences" down here). A photo of the pole alone isn't coming up easily, but if you look at cyclone fencing you'll see hollow metal supports along the way. These are larger diameter and taller than those, but like cyclone fencing, the footer is concrete. Anyway, when we built the garage here several fence posts were removed. I kept them, and as needed, I knocked the concrete off and re-set them in new concrete. My new clothesline from last summer consists of two of those posts with new supports on top to hold the cedar cross beams for the lines to connect.

I've used the other metal posts, the type you hang chicken wire or other metal "woven" fencing on for things like surrounds for the garden and to contain the compost pile. So think about how you might reuse them before discarding. I still have one left, and consider it a resource, not a bother.

I'll take some bags of newspaper out to the pickup, along with bags of recycling to drop off at the recycling center tomorrow. That'll clear some floor space in the sun room. I sorted and filed bills and paper tonight, and I think this is a good time to issue a challenge:

Income tax.

How many of us agonize over getting it done at the last minute, or simply have to struggle to get all of the right paperwork together in order to do it. Let's see if we (at least, those of us in the U.S., where the deadline is April 15) can do it early. There are several benefits to this. It is processed more quickly if you're not in the rush at the end. And if you have a college student in your household, it benefits them. The earlier the FAFSA forms are completed, the more money left for your student to be considered for.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 10:43 PM

LOL...Maggie, I am sure Morgan would love to vacuum for you! I like your challenge. I am making calls to the docs, etc. to get end of year paid printouts from them so I can itemise and I will be getting our taxes out early. We need the return asap!

MAG, if you saw the clutter in This Album, it's mine. If it was what you saw in the one with Morgan, it and the lovely house I wish was mine, is mouldy's shed which she has very much decluttered by now, BUT I know what you mean!! It is a relief when we see each other's and realise we are not alone!

I have been a bookaholic, but I am getting better. I am thinking I may sell my Marion Zimmer Bradley collection! Used bookstore owners complain that they never get enough sci-fi/fantasy in trade. I think I have every one of her Darkover Series and also her Sword & Sorceress Anthologies. They are kind of like a trophy-I-read-these-and-love-the-author kind of thing, just as you say Maryanne!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: MAG
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 11:41 PM

Sage, the new fence has the hollow round ones. The old ones are more flat, and pointed at the end. They held up a flimsy grapestick fence which finally tumbled down, and my neighbors and I went with split on the new one: I paid for materials and he did the labor. I think I got the better end of the deal; he dug out those bushes anmd they were monstrous!I guess, since I have three of them, I could tie them together and try beans or vines or something. A lot of overgrown bushes came out when the new fence went in, so there is actually room by the fence. :)

It would be nice to get my taxes donw early. I just sweat blood over them.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:36 AM

That's a great idea, about planting beans and reusing those posts that way. And every time you pick beans, you'll appreciate how they got to be there. This evening I bought my son a gyro at the corner gas station (a characteristic of the Texas economy--if you can't get funding to build a restaurant, get it for a gas station, and put the food inside!) and had a nice visit with the main cook. He is from Lebanon, and I took him several of my surplus eggplants last summer. I told him I'd cut the plants back after the frost killed them, but left the roots in the ground to see if they will sprout in the spring. He's convinced they will--his mother used to do it that way with her garden. So I hope by not de-cluttering too soon (and digging out everything to start over from scratch) I have saved myself some work and will have sturdy plants much faster in the spring.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 09:25 AM

GRrrrrrrrrrrr...

My new fence panels are not the ones I wanted, they're too tall, so if I put the trellis on the top they'll be over 8ft which is not allowed... ('immovable' objects like walls and fences must be no higher than 6ft), so I'll probably have 3 bits of trellis to take back...

The handle on my pickaxe broke, I can't find the rest of the brackets and the wretched panels are 2" too long to put on the present posts. And my help didn't show up. It's not going the way I planned.

But the 5 bags of garden crap (I choose my words carefully) are now in the front garden, waiting to be put into the car and transported to the tip, and it already looks a whole heap better out the back. PLUS:- I got to within 5ft of the robin, who was looking for insects in the leaf mould I'd turned over. He just sat on the branch and watched me watching him... one of those moments. :D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 10:05 AM

Liz, I have a very large yard and in back it is mostly turf. When I mow, especially after a period of moisture and lush lawn growth, I'll end up with an array of birds arriving (they recognize the sound of the mower, no doubt, or the smell of freshly-mown lawn) and are usually behind and beside me, and will stay within a few feet, hoping to be first in line to pounce on bugs left exposed by the mower.

My pit bull would watch the birds and figured out what they're doing. She also loves to eat bugs, katydids are a favorite, so it is this strange drama of the birds looking for bugs and the dog watching the birds and occasionally rushing in to take a bug from a bird. I guess you could say the dog is mugging the birds. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 11:59 AM

I've an idea: for those of us who have been posting to this and/or the accountability thread, if you want to stay in touch in case Mudcat goes down for any length of time, please send me a PM with your email addy, if I don't already have it. Later this week, I will look into starting a google group for us, like we did when we did Art's computer thing. It will be private, by invitation only and only for those times when we may be unable to connect here. What do you all think?

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:05 PM

Sounds like an idea Kat...

I have started to excavate the fence posts. It was very theraputic ripping the old fence panels out, but it took so long that it's now too dark to see where I put the lump hammer (5lb hammer) and the only stars visible are the ones I saw when I failed to see the tree branch. For such a little tree, it's got very hard branches with hardly any spring in them at all! I've jury rigged the panels so they look like they're a fence, but if anyone tries to climb them, they'll have a nasty surprise! They're between two gardens that have no street access so they should be OK. The cats may get a shock when they try to walk along the top of them... hee hee hee.

I must now go and declutter my body of the ripe and fruity aroma that is making itself noticeable now that I'm inside in the warm... enjoy the day!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:32 PM

Great minds think alike, I had the same thought after I read Max's post. That's a great move for him, but the addiction of regular contact is strong. :) There is a Mudcat gardeners group that I can post a link from also, back to a new group. That one is open to the public to read, I think, but if you follow links you hit the protocol that asks you to join to read a new group content.

http://groups.google.com/group/mudcat-gardeners

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: freda underhill
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 01:13 PM

you have my email address Kat, and yes, I'd like to be included. This is a VERY IMPORTANT and helpful thread populated with great declutterers. it is a homage to our nesting instincts and obligations.

yes, it's so supportive to see/read about other people's clutter and encouraging to read the stories of continual attempts to clear, sort and organise.

it's wonderful to create a zen space of creative flow, and then so inevitable to see it populated with small random distractions.

freda (yawn) at 5.13 am

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:19 PM

Okay, I've just started the group and sent out invites to the three of you who have contacted me via thread or PM. If you don't get the invitation, please let me know. Anyone else who wants in, please let me know.

I am off to do one for the other thread, now, as I would like to keep them separate.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:27 PM

Hi, y'all.
Yes, I read "Pride and Prejudice" when I was in school.

Kat, I think that's a great idea. PM on the way.

I'll probably join the gardeners' group, but right now my garden is under 8 inches of snow (2 feet in some places). It's 21F ( -6C) outside now, and supposed to go down to 13F ( -10C) overnight, and down to 4F ( -15C) tomorrow night.

I hadn't realized how much MZB had written. I've only read "The Mists of Avalon", altho I have a copy of "Lady of Avalon" that still on the get-to-it-one-of-these-days shelf. Maybe I'll move it up on the reading list.

A lot of my books were purchased at the used bookstore (John King Books is a 4-story warehouse goldmine of books), so if I see something I want, I buy it on the spot because if I wait, it'll be gone by the next time.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 03:00 PM

More invites sent out!

Maryanne, Lady fo Avalon is well worth reading, but nothing compares to Mists of Avalon, imo. Her other series which I mentioned are incredibly good, too. I have always been proud of the fact that I received a rejection notice for a short story for her S&S series in which she'd actually penned a few comments of her own plus hand-signed! Basically, she praised my writing, but the character wasn't quite right for fitting in!:-) That was years ago when I hadn't even been writing much, yet.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: vectis
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 06:47 PM

Two more boxes to the local charity shop and another porch ful gone to a variety of freecyclers.
Must keep going

HOW LONG BEFORE YOU START TO REALLY NOTICE A DIFFERENCE???????????

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 09:06 PM

How long have you been working at it? I've been moving through this project for many months now, and I can tell a difference, but the neighbor's walking into the house would probably still tell you it is cluttered. Just not quite so messy. ;-)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 10:07 PM

Kat, I'm interested in the group. I don't know if you have my home email or not.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 10:40 PM

"How long?", you ask. It's a function of how much you work at it. How long until I become a great guitar player? I could shorten the time, if I practiced more. (Instead of de-cluttering???) And whether or not you have help; I live alone, so I've got nobody to blame but myself, either.

At this point, the public areas of the house are presentable, but the music/computer room and the spare bedroom are pretty chaotic. Once I get the books to the library used book sale, and the cardboard boxes & newspapers to the recycling center, the whole place will look better.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 11:13 PM

MAG, for some reason I cannot find an email for you in my google mail. Want to PM it to me and do you want to be invited to both the declutter and accountability groups?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 03:38 AM

The trouble with de-cluttering is, it's a self replicating task. You clear one area, only to have to fill it again with stuff from another area. That sewing table I found about three threads back? Full of stuff from the living room. The living room? Full of stuff from the hall. The hall is in a state of flux because I'm dragging huge bags of leaf mulch, tree branches and shrubbery through it in the process of decluttering the garden. Spring is on the way (judging by the amount of bulbs already showing) so that will soon all grow back and need trimming again, but I'll have to move the stuff in the front garden to make room for the new clippings.....

Re Cycling at its' finest!

Still, I'm getting lots of excercise and fresh air, my garden looks better than it has for a while and I may even find room for a few new plants! I bought them anyway, I'm a sucker for the poor, bedraggled 'didn't quite make it through the dry spell but might perk up with a bit of attention' bargain packs at the garden centre....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 07:54 AM

I'm trying to maintain a baseline of keeping the peninsula (we don't have a kitchen "island") clear. If stuff arrives there during the day, I try to clear it off again by bedtime. It is such a pleasure to cook there now that I have the motivation to keep it clear.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 01:31 PM

Back for a few minutes. I'm headed out the door, time to get this medical stuff out of the way. It is ironic that I have this today and my dental check up tomorrow. I'm getting checked up top to bottom, so to speak. Groan

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maeve
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 02:37 PM

Maggie; thinking of you today!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 03:16 PM

I've been cleaning the kitchen all morning long...emptied out a few cupboards, got rid of stuff, cleaned, organized....cleaned out a few nooks and crannies too....feels GREAT!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 03:23 PM

I deleted a bunch of bookmarks this morning and worked on the final copy edit of Prairie Child.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 08:08 PM

I need to get my files rounded up for doing eBay again, and install my html editor. I'll store my data on a different partition and keep a shortcut to the file on my desktop, instead of the file itself.

I also need to find the box for my newer monitor, it has to go back. I can't get it to clear up, though I'll do a little research before I completely pronounce it "history." As a pack rat I typically keep this kind of box, but I have to figure out where I put it. Out in the garage, I think.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 01:08 AM

Do you know, Rog told me yesterday, he bought new external HDs for the station at $139 for each and each holds one terabyte! That's a lot of storage!

Morgan and I decluttered some of Rog's clutter in the kitchen, today. It looks better, but I told Morgan I hate my house, right now. It needs a good cleaning, scrubbing, etc. top to bottom and I cannot do it alone. May have to call my former floor cleaner and spend some of our taxes on having her help. That would be a luxury!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 10:17 AM

Sometimes it's best to invest in professional help for cleaning/repairs. It's money well spent in the long run. It'll get done faster, and with less chance of injury. Could you afford to throw your back or knee out from over-doing?

M

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 10:42 AM

Good point, M, though I think chronic pain would stop me before it got to that point.:-)Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 10:59 AM

I had a friend in graduate school who was well-enough off that she had a woman come in and clean one day a week. Candace was very talented, so my friend would have her come help when she was painting or doing wallpaper, etc. Lots of odd jobs and things where executive decisions might be called for.

I arranged to have her come over to my house for a half-day every other week to take care of the baseline stuff--moping, vacuuming, bathrooms, the stuff that helps you feel better about the house, plus it meant I always picked up the stuff sitting around so it was back where it belonged and not in her way to do the work I needed her to do. Sometimes I would include other stuff, like ironing or cleaning blinds, etc. It was a huge help and money well-spent.

I might still have her helping me except that at age 49 and seemingly as fit as anyone and more than most, she collapsed due to a massive stroke. She has never recovered and is now in a nursing home. She was an independent woman who worked partly for an agency but gradually ended up working for those clients on the side, and it allowed her to set her hours, raise her two children, and put them through school. I didn't try to find someone new to do the same job, because while there might well be someone who can do the work, the independent spirit of the person who worked with me for a couple of years was as valuable as the skills she brought to the job.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 11:03 AM

She sounds like a remarkable woman, Maggie. That's what I had Barbara come in for, the floors, mainly and it was every other week. We dropped it because we had to save money somewhere. Maybe this spring I'll be able to have her come in, again, though it may get awkward as we've decided we want to be friends, regardless and have plans to meet for lunch, etc.That is more valuable to me than any cleaning she could do!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 01:58 PM

Yes, a remarkable woman. So unfair.

Kat, just come right out and ask her. Maybe when you're telling her about this great thread & how much it's helped you.... (ha-ha). If it's just a one-time/one-day thing, she might be okay with it. If she doesn't want to do it, maybe she knows somebody that she could recommend.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 02:21 PM

I will, Maryanne, thanks. I do feel comfortable talking with her about it and she already knows about these threads, as I've told her about them. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 07:12 PM

What goes around comes around--at my last dentist appointment, probably 8 or 9 months ago, I told him about my de-cluttering project and about the Don Aslett books that were so helpful. He said they really needed to do something like that (due to estates, etc.). I was in Half Price Books the next day and spotted a used copy of the book I've been using, so I picked it up and dropped it off.

Today I had another checkup and I remembered to ask him how his de-cluttering is going. He was quite animated, said that book had been very helpful, especially since they're getting ready to move. They can decide now what to take and what to donate, discard, sell, whatever. He said it has been very useful in going through those items that came from grand parents and great aunts that you might feel guilty about getting rid of. "But if they were here now and you were to talk to them about the situation with these items, of course they wouldn't expect you to keep them if it isn't practical.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 07:36 PM

I might have passengers in my car this weekend, so I am working on getting all the junk out of the car.

The last time I just shoved everything into bags which are still sitting around somewhere. I'm trying not to do that this time.

Maybe I should have passengers more often.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 09:37 PM

Maggie, there are a lot of Aslett's books available at paperbackswap.com. Which one would you recommend?

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 11:50 PM

Oops. My quotes didn't close.

Aslett has several areas of concentration. Cleaning was his original baileywick, but a chapter on de-cluttering in a cleaning book brought so much mail that he wrote at least a couple just on junk and clutter.

I think the first one I read (looking at Amazon) was Clutter Free, which was useful, but the one that really hit home was Clutter's Last Stand. These really are philosophical, though it isn't Big P philosophy in a way that would scare off the everyday reader. But it is philosophical.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 01:23 AM

Good to see the 'cat back! There's a lot of work to do this weekend!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 11:50 AM

I have to look back through the thread and see what some of my goals for myself are. I have to pull together tax papers, get the monitor replaced, take a cat to the vet, and I have a lot of projects around the house that I could do at any given time if I had all of the set-up in place. Like finish some tiles, or paint the hall. Finish clearing out shelves in my office. Some of this I mentioned, some of it I've grumbled to myself about.

ONT ANOTHER TOPIC COMPLETELY: I may start a separate thread on this, but I thought I'd give a heads up here. Circuit City is going to liquidate and hopefully actually offer some good prices, but anything you buy there can't be covered by store warranty, just the manufacturer warranty, and getting that taken care of might be tough. Last spring I purchased a used slide scanner on eBay and decided it might be prudent to buy a warranty to go with it. A company called Square Trade offers warranties. Of course you purchase it, it is like the extended warranty the store offers. I don't purchase those often in stores, but I bought this one after the scanner because I know that they aren't being made any more and I wouldn't be able to get it replaced if it failed.

It did fail, and I had a year with the Square Trade folks to file the claim. (I think you might have to wait a couple of months after first buying it, but I'm not sure). Anyway, I contacted them, they let me go ahead and send it to Sony, the company that Minolta contracted with to do repairs (Minolta no longer builds or supports these things). Square Trade would cover the repair up to the purchase price. Sony couldn't repair it, sent me a letter, so I sent that on (scanned and emailed) to the Square Trade folks, who put the money in my PayPal account. It was orderly, and easy, and if I had the money to purchase an out and out luxury like a flat panel HD television, or a new stove or something like that, I would probably buy the Square Trade warranty to back it up since Circuit City won't be there.

So there is my testimonial. I don't publish those often, but this worked out very well. I still don't have another slide scanner--I was buying a used item of the top of the line in slide scanners, but they've gotten way too pricey, so I'm going to do some comparison and see what else is out there that I can make do with.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 04:00 PM

I bit the bullet and got roto-rooter prices from several plumbers. I found a local one (if they don't know where your town is, you know they're not local). I have a theory--local folks behave better and give better prices. The farther away from their offices, the higher the cost for various reasons, and the less responsive if there is a problem.

He should be here in a little while, and it will be a relief to have the drain lines cleaned out and not have my washer drain run out over the laundry room floor. After that work I'll see how much of the day is left for other work. Or if I have any money left for anything else. . .

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 04:04 PM

Most of the old fence is now decluttered to the front garden where hopefully, given the state of my wrists and the weather, I'll stick it in the car and take it to the tip... that'll be a whole load of crap gone... There's still a bit of work to do in the garden - a heap of rubble and stuff has to come through - but it looks so much better and the cats are appreciating a soft patch of ground to 'manure'...

Then I suppose I'd better start on this room again...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 06:27 PM

Happy Dance!!! Happy Dance!!!

The plumber got the clog in the line and now the washer drains without backing up. Yes! He had about 55' of cable out before it cleared, so the snake that was here at the house when I moved in probably isn't long enough to do the job. Unless I ran it down the washer drain. Just as well I didn't have to do it.

A good trick he uses, is to turn on the hot water tap and let it run. After a little while it hits the clog (it wasn't a complete blockage, but enough that it backed up) and backs up the line and runs out the clean-out hole where he is running the cable in. When the clog is gone the water stops running out of the clean-out hole. If I were to run the cable I have here, I'd have to keep that in mind!

I forgot to give him the $10 tip I had in my pocket. Oh, well. He didn't have to spend more than about 15 minutes here, so it wasn't a very difficult job.

Now to do some of the rest of the stuff on my list. Starting with LAUNDRY!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 06:32 PM

I organized and filed away all of my bank & retirement account statements; lots of unimportant papers going to the recycling bag. Ran the snowblower about 4pm. We got about 3 inches of snow, and some is still falling, but it's supposed to drop off overnight. Tomorrow is the trivia quiz, so I plan to bake a cake. No snow in the forecast for next week, thank goodness. I'm getting tired of this, plus I need to get groceries & gas for the snowblower.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: MAG
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 09:16 PM

I'm off the Portland for 2 days; Tom Paxton concert; I'll "see" you in a couple of says.

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 11:10 PM

Have fun, MAG!

We cleaned up the house this morning. Stripped the bed and washed the linens; washed clothes; Rog swept and vacuumed; I mopped and gave the dog a bath and we ran errands. We were done by late morning and home form errands by 130p. The rest of the weekend is free except for some dishes.

Decluttering was me picking up stuff all over the house which needed to be put away. I had spring fever anyway, so we would have done this regardless, but I did call the ex, as planned, this morning, left a message and haven't heard back. So, I figure he either got cold feet, which isn't like him, or maybe his problem with the county escalated and he's been too busy to call. I am sure I'll hear from him. It's just as well, I have more time to prepare so I can make sure he understands I do not have a lot of time to devote to his "cause." He can talk your ear of and go on and on and, did I mention his pontificating was one of the reasons I left him?**BG**

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 03:16 AM

I see my ex almost every day. We're still raising kids, which is why, but I think getting divorced helped us get back to being friends.

I installed some software on my son's computer, cleaned up the kitchen, did some laundry (no flooding!) and put a lot of laundry away.

I FINALLY found an inexpensive little mp3 player that works the way I want, with an easy to navigate menu. It is on sale, starts tomorrow, but the signs were up this evening. They said they'd hold them (my kids have been limping along with one malfunctioning and one cheap-and-goofy one, so they're each getting one also). I'm taking one that I bought a couple of weeks ago (also cheap-and-goofy, almost the same price) back to another store, so it will be like buying two. This is one device we all use. I love recorded books, but the one I got a couple of weeks ago couldn't hold a charge. These new ones take the tiny SD cards so there can be a lot more than 2gig and it can be easily loaded via a card reader.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 10:05 AM

Trouble with all this gardening is it leaves me completely limp and achey the next day... Decluttering myself to the sofa was about all I could manage this morning, when I was supposed to be loading the car with crap...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: January 2009 De-Clutter off & running
From: maire-aine
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 11:27 AM

It seems like all I talk about is snow. Went out at 9am (don't want to annoy the neighbors too early) and ran the snowblower again. We got about 4 inches overnight, so about 7 inches for the weekend. I'm running out of room to put the stuff. We need a thaw, and soon. We're already at our normal snowfall for the season, and we're only halfway through winter.

I boxed up some more books for the library-- Sherlock Holmes collection this time. But there is a group of "Sherlockians" here in town, so I sent them a list, in case some of them want any of the books (I'll charge them a few bucks & give the $ to Alzheimers). I'll take the books to the meeting on Saturday, and anything left over goes to the used book sale.

Maryanne