BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 11:45 PM

The eBay sales are moving. A modem that didn't go for $15 when I listed that as the auction price and $20 for the "buy it now" price the first time just sold second time round for $21.07. Such strange and mysterious ways in which things operate over there, eh?

The hands are pretty bad right now. I need to look at the list of food and see if something seems to be a culprit, or if the dermatitis is too general to have a food source. I tried soaking in epsom salts and then using the pumice stone this evening. That ought to make them feel better for tomorrow. I suppose I need to try the drastic stuff now, like taking caffeine out of the diet. Not easy, but something I probably should do. I have been drinking a lot of tea lately.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 06:45 PM

I dug up the turf for about 45 minutes today, enough to make progress and work up a sweat. Of course, I could just stand out there and work up a sweat these days.

I plugged in and set up a new Radio Bookmark. I couldn't afford the $120 membership (you have to pay it all at once to get this thumb drive programmed to record the time of day you hear a program and want to "bookmark" it to go back and listen to later). I bought one online from the manufacturer for $40. I am a member, have been for years, but sometimes you have to take a shortcut.

My son is filling a box with papers from school. His room is pretty cluttered, so this will be a great start.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 01:21 PM

Qi Gong - 35 minutes

Andrea, that Rooster pose is incorporated in the qi gong routine, so not much other yoga, though I did try my Yoga for the Rest of Us dvd last night for the first time in years, because I found the dvd, finally, and I am sore from it, today. Hurt my shoulder, but tincture and gentle qi gong will work it out. I don't know if I will ever do much yoga, but what I could manage did feel good in that I could tell I was using some muscles!*bg*

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 11:06 AM

Totals are minimal, but I have a couple of items in play now on eBay. I've set a goal for myself, and though I was about ready to give up on this new camera, I pulled out the instructions and found the reason I was having difficulty focusing on the subjects (old bronze coins) is because they were on a similarly dark background. The sensor needs contrast. I tried a trick the book suggests and got better focus. So, I'll put several down on the table at once and photo graph them, turn them over in the same spot and photograph them, then crop them out of the larger image. Saves time and I think I can get a larger image than if I simply scan (the resolution is 1200px per square inch on the flatbed, but I can get much larger with the camera). I want people to look at these microscopically if they want.)

At lunch today I'm going to work on the yard a little on a bed I've been trying to finish for a while, then put down the steel edging.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 05:02 PM

Well, the event for which we purchased my scooter took place over the last several days-- and WOW was it helpful. I got more done, saw more people (and actually got more exercise too) WITH it than I ever have, at the same event, without one.

I was one of four people among several hundred, visibly using mobility aids. It used to be just the one lady. That's what I call progress!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 04:29 PM

Another coin listed on eBay. I really don't know much about them, I'm researching them as I go. That's the interesting part. I'm listing them high enough to cover list price and postage and make a little. Hopefully low enough that they incite a bidding war (wishful thinking!)

The last push this afternoon in the yard, after I make a quick run for lettuce (must have it in the house in case we have a BLT attack) and a chicken. My son has spent several days over at his Dad's. I suppose he can stay where he wants, but if he wants rides anywhere during the week he'll have to stay here, because I'm not driving over to his Dad's and then out to wherever he wants to go. His Dad's house is always in the opposite direction of our destination.

I expect some of you are probably all wondering, and yes, part of the reason for setting up the new television with the BluRay and NetFlix is to lure him out of his room more this summer. I think we can manage a few movie nights now that there is something nice to watch them on, and we can choose amongst what we have here, have borrowed from NetFlix, or can stream.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 02:26 PM

Great going Kat! I'm okay at the Rooster, unless it's in the middle of Snake Creeps Down in the 24 step form - then you could sell tickets for the clown show!

I've had a look at Michelle's pics...he's adorable! He reminds me of my grandkids in NZ, and makes me realise how much I miss them.

I have been gaining weight, I'm sure. I have been away at a wedding for a few days, and have had 2 meals out, plus buffet and booze. The first meal was at a Michelin starred bistro, but the portions weren't stupidly big, like pub-grub (which was the following night). At least I got away without resorting to the spanx! However I have had 3 mornings of cooked breakfasts....

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 12:32 PM

I posted last night but it didn't stick, I see. Darn! I hope Max manages to tackle that problem one of these days.

I mowed my entire yard, front and back, after trimming in the front. I was so tired that I headed to bed at about 9pm. I also took the old Maganovox to the recycling place. One television came into the house, so one exited it.

Lunarfairy, that's great news about losing the weight. In this day and age that's a real accomplishment when there seem to be so many things conspiring against a healthy body (processed foods, pesticides and hormones in meat and veggies, computers and computer chairs, for example, not to mention getting the hormone replacement therapy right).

Michelle hasn't been back to this list for a couple of days, but if you haven't read the news, they received a call last week and were able to take possession of a three month old baby boy from Pennsylvania. Visit the Chemo thread for a link to her sweet photos. I predict her house will be a bit cluttered from now on - and she won't care a fig (except for the baby-proof aspects, of course!) Congratulations, LilyFestre!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 03:48 AM

I wanna go back to bed and stay there til my house is tidy.

Ain't gonna happen though, and at this rate, neither is the cleanup of this computer room... too busy decluttering my MP3 player of duplicates that got synched by accident and rationalising the folders.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 10:51 PM

Lunarfairy, that is fantastic weight loss. Congratulations!

I spent an hour, today, walking and pushing the cart in the grocery store. I keep a steady pace, Rog wanders and catches up with me with stuff. Then I walked a bit at a park where the local les/bi/gay/trans/etc. group had their annual picnic for friends and family. It was pouring rain, but not very cold when we left home. The park is huge with small trees and shelter structures open on all sides. That far down the valley, in the wide open, there was a biting wind plus the rain. It felt like freakin' Wyoming in mid-Spring. Really cold, no games. Good food, met some of my bro's friends.

I also did the regular 30 minute qi gong routine and have found my balance is improving after five years post-surgery! I can do Rooster Stands On One Leg without teetering or grabbing the chair before I fall over!

Tomorrow we tackle our kitchen, my sympathies, Sins, and the floors. I will scrub some in the bathroom; might see if I can bribe Morgan to help me with the bathtub on Monday since I will have him all week. AND, he loves canasta, now, and wants to play it all of the time!

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Lunarfairy
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 11:22 AM

Hope you dont eat eaten by a toaster!

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 11:21 AM

Ah Miss Fairy I have always contended that the best cleanup is done with a can of gasoline and a match.
A few weeks back I "organized" my sun room. Now all the crap is neatly sorted and stacked in boxes and I haven't a clue what is in any of them.
Somewhere in the neat clutter is my circa 1968 manicure kit and I need it desperately.

Today I attack the kitchen. Wish me safe return.
Into the valley of death rode...

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Lunarfairy
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 11:15 AM

Has anyone noticed when you try to clean and organize, you create and even bigger mess. It like one big pile and you sit and sort into smaller piles. I have noticed this while trying to pack up and move. I walk through my house and have all these little piles of stuf or boxed up stuff... maybe i should just set it all on fire and make a run for it. All this cleaning and packing though has been good for my weight loss though.. I have lost a few more pounds.. Started out at 243 Nov-08 as of today 159.. i dont think i have seen that number since middle school...lol

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 10:18 AM

Yuck. 82 degrees out, and 80% humidity. Headache-ville this morning.

Must take recycling over and off-load one television, must mow, dig, and eBay. And must write a book review this evening. I got up early today to take advantage of the "cooler" temperatures but the humidity blew that plan away. I'll be sure to take my big water bottle out with me when I work in the yard.

On the inside (figuratively), I've been eating healthier (though I can't tell that I'm losing any weight - I'm not ready to step on the scale yet.) More fruit, and with the garden, more salads with tomatoes and such.

I'm keeping the food diary, with no news from just a few days of note-taking, but I am hopeful that patterns will be revealed.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 01:13 AM

Nice little walk with the dogs. I tested the NetFlix download with an old Agatha Christie mystery I probably have around here on tape. Just to see how it would look (and it happened to be one they just did in the new series - The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side. I watched the old one with Joan Hickson.

My son doesn't seem to be here for the weekend, but I'll place a large box or two in his room for all of that paper that built up during the school year. Tomorrow, for me, it's mowing and digging and eBay. And recycling. I'll take the oldest television over and abandon it at the Goodwill trailer in the recycle depot. I'll tape the remote control on and tidy the cord so they can see it still works. Only takes a coaxial cable, but it still works.

I'm tempted to shift something large out of here. I have a computer or office desk in pieces that I could reassemble and sell. And use some of the other antique tables around here in it's place. That way at least there would be fewer folded up tables around. It's a start.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 08:48 PM

I tried to pick up a small DVD player that would convert my older DVDs up to the 1080p size of the new television. The one I wanted was the last one at that store, a floor model, great price, but when I got it home, it wouldn't open the little door to put the disc in. So I did more research. I've been thinking about getting something to download NetFlix - my son has a game player that will, but I never have it around for my viewing. I watch NetFlix in my office on the computer. So when I started doing the math I was able to find a modestly priced BluRay player that connects to the Internet for NetFlix and plays the DVDs as well as BluRay (I've never had one of those here, but I think I can borrow them through NetFlix).

This came to about $100 more than I planned to spend, so I'm going to commit myself to selling enough stuff on eBay to cover that. It's one way to convince myself to get moving and sell some of the clutter that is sitting around here!

It logged on easily, it updated itself, and it works great. I haven't given it the NetFlix info yet, but I'll do that this evening. See what's out there.

For exercise today, I'm about to take the dogs for a nice evening walk.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 03:02 PM

I love Canasta. There is a game site on line (King.com) that offers it.

I think I know where the mouse head is. Freddie is feeling poorly. Eating and drinking but lethargic and chose NOT to go out prowling last night.

This too shall pass.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 01:19 PM

Kat, some of my fondest memories of living at Mom's house when we were all there was when we sat down with a couple of decks of cards and played 500 Rummy. Mom insisted we add face value, it helped with math skills, but those were always a lot of fun. I played Gin Rummy with them also.

Doing the math, sorting out a couple of purchases for the house. It looks like guitar lessons are on hold until next month, after the trip for orientation, because he doesn't have any fingernails right now. I hope we can get the lessons under way and the room cleaned up before the trip to Arizona for school. I don't want to clean it myself, because who knows what I might throw away that he wants to keep. But I don't want that mess in there forever, either.

Mowing, gardening, and eBay this weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jun 10 - 09:44 AM

grrrrrr... after housework at Mum's (where I weigh myself weekly) I was the same as last week. Same thing with Mum - 3 pounds up from yesterday.

New scales.

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 06:27 PM

I am down another 2.6 lbs this week. Haven't done much of anything with Morgan's swimming class in the morning, then him the rest of the day. It's been so hot we haven;t felt like doing much of anything, but yesterday we did dust all of my cat knickknacks and other dust catchers on two shelves in the bedroom, plus I dusted the two-tiered bedside table on my side. It's a start on the dust which covers everything in this house. It was really nice to go to bed last night,look over there and see the cleanliness. Everything sparkled.

It was hot again, today, so we bought two decks of card and I taught him how to play Canasta. He got the concepts a lot better than I thought he might, even though he is really good with numbers. He didn't want to stop playing and got over 5,000 points to my 6,300 (with a few helpful discards from "mama."):-) Lots of fun.

My next goal is the top of my dresser, then cleaning out my drawers. I am going to try to do that tomorrow while he is here.

Doing some walking with him, going places and all, but I can feel I need to get back to the qi gong. It's amazing how much I miss it/how much it helps.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 06:05 PM

Sins.....I'm pretty sure that head is NOT laying around here. My cats like to do the same thing. EW. They left me a bunny head not long ago. EW. EW. EW.

Well, I did nothing today. I'm tired. The dishes are still in the sink and they might just stay there until tomorrow. Ditto for the laundry. At least the dishes are IN the sink and the laundry is IN the hamper....nothing laying around except for today's mail which I have spread out all over the table. *Shrug*

Down 3 pounds according to the Dr.'s scale (which I swear is NEVER, EVER right).

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 04:33 PM

My exercise is in the yard mowing and moving branches and such, and walking, whether walking to work from the parking lot, climbing stairs, or walking the dogs. It can go in spurts.

I had a chef's salad for lunch today with two of my smaller tomatoes. Mmmmm! I wish I could grow lettuce here, but it's just too hot, at least it is now.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 02:09 PM

I weighed myself a day early this week... 3 more pounds. I think the lawns are getting tired of being mowed. But, with my back so bad, and painting the foundations coming up, I may as well be pusing the mower as walking the street.

Go ahead...

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 12:57 PM

You've all been very busy! And good to see Liz and Mary moving and walking around more.

We're still working on college visit stuff, college funding paperwork, commingled with bill paying, etc. I have worked in the garden, and this morning used orange oil to knock out some of the spider mites and used hydrogen peroxide to knock out some of the fungal things like mildew (not here yet, but it's so muggy and there is early blight on tomatoes, so that helps there). I'm eating a handful of strawberries a day (they don't keep longer, making me wonder what growers and markets treat strawberries with to keep them plump and firm for so long, from field to store?) I'm eating more produce because there's more of it around.

Yesterday and designed and printed out a couple of weeks' worth of food diary sheets. I want to try to detect the further culprits in my hands breaking out, and to see just how long it takes to cycle through the stages once a breakout happens.

Shipped one small eBay package yesterday. Have a couple more listed, and need to keep listing things.

We moved the former living room television into the front room on Tuesday evening and set up the new Vizio in the living room. It looks wonderful. At the same time, I re-thought the set up (so far) on the peripheral equipment and have the VCR and DVD going through a RF filter, and that's where the antenna is attached. I'll gradually add more up to date equipment and cables as I determine which ones will suit me best and when I can find good sales.

I have a lot of work to finish up this week, so I'll probably spend a couple of evenings knocking off some of that. When it's time to take my son to school in August I want to be able to take the time off and not feel like I have work looming when I get home.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 12:54 PM

And on the de-clutter front. I removed the headless remains of a mouse from the dining room this morning. Any bets on where the head is?

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 12:28 PM

Along with our new gym comes a trainer - Cruella DeVille. We each get two free sessions per year to evaluate our chances of living another week and create an exercise program.
I am just back from my first session. Even my fingers hurt. But she assures that in a few weeks I may even walk again.
Wish me luck. Send aspirin.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 09:52 AM

With the recent round of proliferating work-product, the home office got over the top (literally). So I spent some time ydy whipping it into barely-minimal organization. I work better with a little healthy disorder but I do need room to work! It looked a lot worse than it was. I discovered that I DID have space for things I had been tripping over, so stuff went where it could have been out of my way to begin with.

A good outcome of it was that I discovered that the new pullout keyboard shelf Hardi made ma a few months ago will comfortably hold the laptop in addition to the main keyboard. So that is now semi-permanently out of its case with peripheral hookups dangling conveniently for the next re-connect. A new daily habit has been putting back a pretty curtain that covers all that, before leaving a work session-- so I always come back to a neat, pretty setup when I next start work.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Jun 10 - 09:16 AM

Don't talk to me about unfinished things... I have to spend some time up here in the computer room over the weekend, putting some vinyl and cassette onto digital, rehearsing for a practice weekend in 2 weeks, a concert in 4 weeks, writing up minutes from meetings and excavating the floor.... I could spend a week locked in here and not get all done that I need to get done....

There are still 2 quilts to finish - plus I got commissioned for another one! Off out tomorrow if PA duties allow, to find the right colours for it, got a lovely trellis pattern in mind so need some more flowery yellow and green fat quarters.

Ho hum!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Maryrrf
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 10:16 AM

It was very tiring, but these projects have been hanging over my head for soooo long - especially the photos. I finally decided to just get it done, once and for all. Now, when I get the photos in albums I can enjoy looking at them.

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Alice
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 12:14 AM

Wow... you finished so much, I'm tired just reading about it!!

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Maryrrf
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 11:27 PM

I have not posted much, but I have gotten a lot done! I made a list of things and stuck to it, starting with a Memorial Day Weekend organizing marathon. I'd already taken a lot of stuff to Goodwill. From Memorial Day till now I have organized my paperwork/bills/receipts/ etc. into file boxes, cleared out and organized the upstairs bedrooms, including loads of stuff in boxes that my sons had left in between their various moves - now the upstairs is cleared of all boxes and plastic bins and everything is sorted and neatly put away in closets, drawers, etc - furniture polished and rugs vacuumed. Books have been purged and sorted and all are now in bookcases (I had to repair one bookcase but managed to go to Home Depot and find all I needed to do it). My sons had loads of books stashed all over the place - now they are all arranged.   I organized my CDs - they are all on shelves or in albums. And best of all, I sorted through photos ranging from the 1930's (my parents) to 2006 (after that they are all digital). What used to take up two large plastic bins now fits into two shoeboxes, arranged with dividers by year, and the larger pictures are in a plastic container. I even got a few mending and sewing projects done. It feels great! Now I have some smaller organizing tasks that I will work on. Since the photos are now sorted by year I can put them in albums and I probably should scan them too. I also have to do some repairs on my porch, and I want to clear out and organize the attic storage space. But this weekend I'm taking a break!

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 07:16 PM

A day at work eating everything in sight (which luckily included a fair amount of fruit) and not walking far... although I did walk home from the station - first time in a few months. Obviously I'm getting better, although still can't afford to overdo it or I'll be flat on my back for a month again... slow but sure!

Busy driving a poorly friend around, so not getting a great deal of walking done. Or sewing... or decluttering, but it's good spending time with him and his mum, helping him with his problems. Makes mine look like a walk in the park.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 01:58 PM

(((LF)))

===

Here, multiple challenges evident as the day began have me pretty well stuck on MY goals, so I am setting them aside for a day of drifting through the hours-- trying not to USE any sharp objects of any kind in anyone's direction including towards myself.

On days like this, I have been told by smart, discerning people, I "seem fine," so I do not leave to anyone else the decision on how to spend a day like this. I just burrow into goodness and trust that tomorrow will be better-- and it always is.

It's a good day just to physically visit the progress I have made around the place, and perhaps straighten them up the merest tad.

The one thing I did get "done" today was packing a kit I will need for a Convention display Friday/Saturday. When I go out I may repack the boondocker's pillow kit (for the motel sleepover we'll have Friday night). Then Hardi can reload my scooter (which we took out for my boondock), which we bought mos' pertickalar for this Convention.

So my real goal for the day (adjusted) is just to welcome Hardi home later with no dramatic matters pending.

~Susan
~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:47 AM

Nervous energy while waiting for test results resulted in some housework this morning...dishes are done, laundry is ready to hit the line and I'm almost ready for more. The floors here need to be swept, mopped probably too. Mags will get more brushing, weeding will happen as the sun warms up the garden a bit more (chilly this morning), I found most of the kitchen table (at least on my side...Pete has his side covered with seeds in a certain order and I shall not disturb the master plan). I also have a DVD that Susan lent me a while back that I may play with today. Gotta start rebuilding my strength.

And, JSYK, no chemo yesterday. My platelet count is far too low (which means my blood clotting ability is not working well) so they sent me home and we'll try again next week. They say it's a normal side effect and my bone marrow just can't keep up right now. So, rest, putter at will and stay away from all sharp objects.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:38 AM

Am wearing a blouse today that I bought two years ago and could never keep the buttons closed. I don't look any thinner but my clothes certainly are fitting or drooping. Onward and upward.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 09:04 AM

Back in the day I used to do 6 step sessions a week... I even got asked to train as an instructor, but I couldn't afford it. Since then the body beautiful has been through the menopause, coupled with neck and back problems. Yesterday I had a go with my skipping rope. I did 20 (which is no use, really) and decided to stop because I could feel my damaged vertebra complaining a bit. I ended up on Ibuprofen, and have had a lot of "fizzing" in my back again where the damage is - maybe touching on my spinal cord (we think). It's really annoying. Anyway, I have a blood pressure check on Monday, and I daresay the GP will ask about the back as well, in that it's a medication review as well, although they only put me on calcium supplement.

Peter got called out on another emergency job, so he won't be here till Thurs (when I am going away down south to a wedding). I have compiled a list of stuff with him, and the new stair rail's in the garage. I have a lot of baking to do for the church before I go away, so I'll be busy. I wish I could eat it!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: freda underhill
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 08:24 AM

That's very inspiring Cat J. My daughter was doing a lot of running, but she now extremely pregnant so is walking. She's much fitter than in her previous preganancy.

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 03:16 AM

Went for a long run last night. It was raining but not too hard so it kept me cool. Tonight I'll be doing my usual 4 mile walk and an hours step aerobics class. A pair of jeans that I bought that were a tad too tight are now too big which is a shame as I haven't worn them.

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 01:24 AM

Michelle, whatever you can manage this week will be more than enough. Have you had the last treatment? What a relief!

Happy dance here this evening! The new telly will arrive tomorrow. I'll have to move the old one from that room, a cathode ray tube set that weighs a ton. It'll go in a different room and one of the sets at the low end of the pecking order will leave the house. Possibly on the same day. I'll see if I can package it with the converter box for a garage sale, but I doubt it. (I have an eBay item that has a couple of bids, but that's something very small, easy to ship. TVs can only be disposed of at garage sales, in my opinion. I wouldn't waste the time with an ad in the paper or even Craig's list. Maybe I could restart my Free Cycle membership and someone would take it from that group?)

In other matters: I'm sure I'll go through squishy times as my kids move further away. I paid for a round trip ticket to Tucson this evening - for one. I'm sending him out there on his own. I'll take him to the airport, and pick him up. He'll have to make the transfer in Albuquerque (this is Southwest, after all. Few direct flights.) He's been through that airport before, though, and he'll stay in the dorm the extra nights so we don't have to worry about sending an 18-year-old to a cheap hotel. It's easier than a hotel, costs a little less, but it will give him a little more time to see how the dorm life works and think about what to take along.

Off to bed. Up early to dust. And finish a bunch of work for work while I await the delivery.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 10:14 PM

I put groceries away from the farmers market and dug my pillow out of my suitcase. Also brushed Mags.....she is beautiful with unending fur.   Does that count?

Night all.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 03:55 PM

I knocked off another two pounds by diet and by walking as far as I could each day depending on my lower spine degenerative arthritis and resultant pinched nerves. Some days 0.2km, some days 1.5km.

The doc was pleased this AM as my blood pressure is down 30/6 from two months ago, which I can understand because the ENT I saw a week ago (11.5 months for the appt) said she thinks she knows what might be the problem with my throat and gave me a regimen to follow for two months (if no change, day surgery) AND she said there was no sign of the return of the cancer AND she said my left vocal cords look good because she couldn't even see where the surgery was done. That certainly reduces blood pressure!

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 02:46 PM

Mine are still the "kids", and the youngest turns 24 next month. The other 2 have kids of their own!

No WW tonight - dropped in to see Eleanor, who'd had no sleep due to a sick Freya puking all night. We then went to the supermarket, and she did a biggish shop. I was shattered, she was in a state, only having had about 20 mins sleep, and it was too late by the time I dropped her off, even though she only lives about half a mile from the meeting hall.

Like all kids, Freya's fretful, but picking up. She slept all morning. It was this time last year that she got a viral stomach bug....and gave it to us! I suppose it's one way to lose weight!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 02:24 PM

The kids will always be my kids, but they are adults now. Raised. Not complete, but to the point where they'll do more of the work than I will.

I'm gonna have to quote that one, SRS. An excellent synthesis of a whole lotta wisdoms. OK?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Alice
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 01:33 PM

Thanks Eiseley, SRS and Kat. It is hard to sit at the computer and work on designs. When the rain stops... I just want to be outside in the garden!

The garden is also my exercise, and now that I am no longer in the ad sales job sitting in my car driving everywhere, it is hard to make myself sit at the computer! But, the garden will not pay the mortgage, so I must focus.


Alice

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Eiseley
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 09:19 AM

The beginning of the rest of your life. Thank you for sharing those thoughts, Stilly. It is exciting, and liberating, and I can only imagine a little bit poignant. As my friend in Germany wrote when I described my son graduating---from junior high into high school, "Ein Auge weint, das andre lacht" [One eye cries, the other laughs].

Alice, your work is beautiful! Yesterday afternoon I realized that I was almost out of stationery. I write a lot of letters, so I go through it pretty quickly. I gathered up supplies and spread the array out on the new picnic table to make the little rice-paper-paged books I like to use. If anyone would like a real letter, I'll happily write one and mail it to your mailbox. The neighbor kids were having a waterfight in the alley, and then came and huddled dripping in their towels to my ersatz patio. Pretty soon everyone was joining in and we had a lively time. I now have fourteen new notecard booklets and the neighbor girls have the names and addresses of potential pen pals for themselves. It was a well-spent afternoon.

Eiseley

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: freda underhill
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 07:22 AM

I'm doing an internal declutter by going to the hypnotist tomorrow for a reboost, my first visit this year.

She's on the other side of Sydney but is worth the trip. She has helped me hugely with adjusting to a healthier lifestyle.
Have long walks booked with friends for three days this week, so feeling good.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 06:21 AM

Back from my festival. I packed up after Seth Lakeman last night, and decided to drive straight home while the roads were relatively empty. It was 165 miles. We had a very heavy thunder shower about 4 yesterday, and more rain was forecast for the morning, so with only the fly sheet wet at the time, I decided to throw it all into the Volvo and sort it out today. I got back at 1.15am.

The washing is sorted, the fly sheet is on the line to get it dry before today's forecast rain arrives later on. I'm not too fussed with packing it away too well, as it will all be out again for Beverley Folk Fest in a couple of weeks.

This morning's task is to list all the remaining bits and bobs that need doing to the house. In a minute I have to empty the glory hole under the stairs, as that is going to be carpeted with the leftover bit from the ground floor carpet (how swish - even the cupboard interior will match!) It hasn't been decorated in the 20 odd years I've been here, so some leftover paint can be slapped onto the walls. There is not too much in there, but there are long-forgotten odds and sods at the back, I'm sure.

Did a lot of walking at the festival, but I also ate well...if I go to weigh-in tonight, I'll see.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 03:30 AM

Did a 4 mile brisk walk and an hours spinning class yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon we all went for a lovely walk in the country park. Harry kept saying "Look Daddy ANOTHER pill box!" the Hornchurch Country Park used to be RAF Hornchurch up until the 1960's but the only remains are the old pill boxes from the war. It has the lovely Ingrebourne Valley nature reserve too and the kids loved looking for birds etc.

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 02:24 AM

Still waiting for that thunderstorm!

I obviously did too much on Friday and Saturday (Friday was carrying large loads of food shopping, Saturday was standing around for ages, butchering and prepping the large loads of food for the freezer - fresh meat prepared and frozen, which will make 11 lots of meals for 3.

So Sunday was an enforced day of rest for me - but I did manage to vacuum the front room with the new vacuum cleaner (it sucks... boy does it suck!!! And I mean in a good way!) and piece up a small wall warmer or cushion cover and the last child sized quilt. Today I don't work so I will continue to sew and maybe go see an old friend later today.

The entire pizza I ate last night has done nothing for the accountability.... harumph!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: June'10 Declutter & Exercise Accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 12:16 AM

Kat, I have fond memories of taking my children down to the historic Forest Park Pool in Fort Worth for swimming lessons for several summers. It makes such a difference to know they can swim, and it was such a pretty pool, so we also went down there to play. Which is it for Morgan?

Alice, I'll say it again, your work is lovely! I did a simple card for my son's graduation announcement (not the uber expensive and entirely impersonal school offering), a couple of fonts and a couple of photos, but personalized cards are so nice for those special events.

The toys at the curb are gone, the branches are still there. I took the household trash down to the curb this evening, along with a tall plastic can I use for garden or garage trash--it's nice to clear out a lot of stuff at once. It's so hot and muggy out, but I did get a little gardening done and this evening I watered as the sun was setting. I watered in some dry molasses that I sprinkled under each veggie crop. When I used all of this new bagged soil for the raised beds I mixed it with humus and compost, but it still isn't completely "happy" soil, the biological activity makes a big difference in how the garden looks and grows. The molasses will boost that activity.

I have picked ripe tomatoes. I'm ready for the first BLT, and will try to hold out until when Moonglow can come share in the fun.

I've been shopping the last couple of days, picking up meat for the freezer. Chickens, fish, pork chops. I'm going to be budgeting out meals for the month based on the meat I bought this week, and adding veggies, rice, potatoes, or bread. We'll see how it goes!

It feels so different this evening, not just the beginning of summer vacation (no uniform stuff to do in the laundry), but the beginning of the rest of my life. Really. The kids will always be my kids, but they are adults now. Raised. Not complete, but to the point where they'll do more of the work than I will. And it is very liberating.

Interesting days to come!

SRS