BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability

Subject: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 07:18 PM

It's such a lovely fall day, it feels so different from how most of September felt down here in Texas, let's see if we can't nudge fall into sticking around a little longer and get a good early jump on October. Baggage left behind, de-cluttering ahead and the fall version of "spring" cleaning takes hold.

Here's the last thread

My gardens are going to get partially de-cluttered of weeds for planting and partly staged for next year. I've been moving stuff that was in the way so I can mow where the really tall grass is growing. I'll be preserving a lot of herbs and getting winter crops going.

The work in the house is making strides forward - I still have more stuff than I have reasonable space, but I'm whittling it down at a slow but steady rate.

A few rugs have been washed, the vacuums (I bought one when I thought the old one had died, but it hadn't. I suppose I could de-clutter one vacuum!) have been pressed into service and next I need to make some kind of dust cloth ball to throw at the high ceilings in the living room to take down some of the cobwebs up there.

And it's Secret Santa coming up soon. Who knows - one person's trash is another person's treasure - perhaps this is the year of the oddball gift. :)

So, get out your long sleeved shirt or sweater for the cool mornings and evenings, enjoy this weather, and let the energy this lower temperature brings on do great things in your house and yard!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 08:06 PM

Great idea, SRS! I have a bit of catching up to do, so here goes:

On Sunday, we rearranged all of the LR, moving the sofa away from the front window, to a catty-corner against the wall on the other side of my desk wall in the DR and the single sized window in the LR. Rog put up a shelf under the big front window and I put my large Norfolk Pine there with a wooden rocking chair on the left side, near the front door with my dad's child's rocking chair next to it. Roger's reclining chair is at the right side of the big window, near the end of the sofa. The pine really sets off the whole look with the mini-blind slats opening, the light filtering in in the mornings as it faces east.

Morgan's music center with the keyboard, taiko drum, baskets of drum sticks and other percussion instruments, plucked psaltery, and parlour banjo were moved to under the bookshelves where it fits very well and feels like more of the room, rather than apart. The wall behind the sofa is bare with no artwork, but when I look out on the LR from my desk in the DR, it looks spare with clean lines and I like it quite a lot. Of course, there are still books piled on the shelves, etc., but it shows how the rest of the place will look when the clutter is cleaned up.

My puir office, on the other hand, is sad. Everything extra was ferried back there. I can still get to the desk and make jewellery, but there are things for etsy, ebay and giveaway which need to be dealt with. I can do this...it's just going to take time and patience with myself.

I also stripped the sofa of the covers which protected it from dog hair as that is where Merlee slept a lot. I miss him, very much. It has been very quiet and rather subdued here, but there were measures we had to take when he was around that we can now relax: no gate across the access to the catboxes to keep him out of searching for "tootsie rolls," no need for covers on the sofa, etc. On the other hand, Rog and I will have to be careful not too take too much food on our plates as there is no one to "tithe" to when we are almost finished and we have to be careful not to accidentally drop any food on the floor because, again, there's no "clean up on Aisle 5" crew available. *sigh*

Morgan came over Sunday morning when I asked for his help in moving his music center. That kid never ceases to amaze me. He announced "I can do this by myself" when I was talking about where to put the sofa and he did with a little guidance from me; he had it scooted into place in no time. Then, intrepid climber that he is, he was in and out, over and under various pieces of furniture as we jockeyed them around the room. He also helped Rog to carry stuff to the back office. He was as good as having another adult available to help out. Just amazing and very proud of himself, for good reason. He earned a new Hot Wheels car and the $2 Rog had in cash in his pocket.

Yesterday I did two loads of laundry, folded and put away. I also swept the DR and kitchen. Rested my back before tackling the dishes. Trsytan, my grey tabby, enjoyied the sunshine on a cushy office chair in front of the LR window..even he adds to the decor.:-) Finished the dishes...over a week's worth with lots of pots and pans. Phew!

Today, I did qi gong this morning, the vigorous routine then worked on getting my account reactivated at the ISBN site so I can register one of my unused ISBNs for Prairie Child as I have made the decision to release it as an eBook at Amazon. I am taking my time, being careful to get the format just so, etc. It feels good to have made the decision and though it doesn't really declutter anything physically, it has done wonders for my mind!:-) Oh, I also typed up a short legal-type notice for my ex this morning. Got some really lovely garden fresh tomatoes for doing so.

I also helped Morgan with his "homework" today and, well, I won't gush, but he is a Wonder.

We've had cool nights in the 50s here, but almost to 90 during the day. C'mon...Fall!

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 09:42 PM

...the fall version of "spring" cleaning takes hold....

Nuh uh, mines is all done! Fall starts a month early up in these mountains.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 09:52 PM

Great list, Kat!

On the other hand, Rog and I will have to be careful not too take too much food on our plates as there is no one to "tithe" to when we are almost finished and we have to be careful not to accidentally drop any food on the floor because, again, there's no "clean up on Aisle 5" crew available. *sigh*

I know. I still miss the little thump on the foot of the bed when one or both cats would jump up to sleep with me, but not on me. The dogs stay on the floor, though Poppy clearly knows that dogs sometimes sleep on beds and she leans on it with those big brown eyes, hoping I'll let her up. Talk about the camel's nose under the tent! Anyway, they are the team that comes and checks the floor. I have taken many of the covers off of chairs and the couch, now that the cats aren't here. There is no way I could let the dogs on the furniture. The one love seat they used to sometimes hop onto is gone, sold via Craig's list last spring. I was dabbling before, but future work would be on more of a schedule.

I pulled some tortillas out of the freezer and made small quesadillas this evening with leftover chicken, hatch chiles (thawed) and cheese. The huge store-bought tortillas might work for larger quesadillas, but when you read the ingredients, they're full of stuff I really don't want to eat, including preservatives that let them stick around for weeks. Fresh homemade ones (remember - flour, salt, shortening, warm water) stick around for a couple of days if you don't freeze them. Guess which is more healthy?

I have to finish processing photos this evening and burn them to a disk. I'll turn the disk and my invoice in tomorrow. If I could keep up the work like this it would certainly help my bottom line, but it's pretty spotty. I'll probably start doing some work on Mahalo dot com, where I have earned a couple hundred dollars since last spring.

I look forward to using a light blanket on the bed tonight. I've had windows open for a few hours today, and if it weren't for the mosquitoes getting past the screens, I'd have one open in my bedroom tonight.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 09:54 PM

We cross-posted. I know, Texas is on a later schedule. And I ask tolerance from our Southern Hemisphere Mudcatters. They are just getting to Spring Cleaning for real. So I hope a few will post!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 10:52 PM

Finally sorted out Getaway lodgings, transportation, and packing. Now to sort out Micca - a bit like herding cats. Becca is house sitting and tending to my three felines AND Seamus who is thrilled to be staying at Aunt Mary's. He always gets Swanson Chicken Broth on his kibbles.
Dinner at Jacqui and Kendall's tonight with Becca and Claire Bear. They are visiting up north tomorrow while I am off to work.
Busy week and weekend ahead.
Then back to the Castlebay house concert and a meeting about a tentative maritime festival in summer '11.
The house concert schedule is amazing. Castlebay, John Roberts and Deb Cowan, Grey Larson and Cindy Kallett + Jed Marum,maybe Seamus Kennedy and Matt Brown,and and and.
Jacqui has done an amazing job of organizing.
Alas, my house is what it is. Hope Becca doesn't bring a camera.
Happy Fall all.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 10:58 PM

Ok. This is my 5th try. I took Ambien maybe 20 minutes ago and already my visual stuff is blurry. My fingers are tripping over each other and I'm about to sleep.

I love early fall as a time to take care of organizing things and for cookingl So yay!

MOre later when I can type more cohereantly. I have to be up early to take a friend to Geisinger (2 hour drive one way) and then a day of fun....part of that funwill be going to a farmer's market)

Fall still lingers here in these mountains....leaves are hanging on although not as brilliantly as they were last weekend....but the air is crisp and to me, that feels like a motivator to get busy. I have aproject in mind for this winter to keep the brutal cold winds from torturing our house....it won't be pretty but I've made a bet wioth the man I love most in this world that it will work. How kind he is to humor me.

I suppose I could ramble on but the truth is, it's not mre, its the ambien. I can't see much [ast my poofy cheecks. And yes, Jeremiah is tucked into bed and is sleeping soundly with daddy keepint out an extra ear.

Let's suffice it to say that I did a ton of stuff today and tomrrow will be more....and I need the sleep. Nighty night.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 11:36 PM

I almost fell asleep just reading your attempt to post, Michelle!

I've made progress on the photos. Not finished, but close. Again, I'll get my shower before bed to keep any allergens off of my pillow and away from my face overnight. It seems to have helped from yesterday to today.

Kat, I envy you having the time for your jewelry making. I WILL make time for my beading this winter.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 12:04 AM

Don't get too green, yet, SRS. I haven't gone back there and actually done any, yet.:-) Have to do that, though, to get some stuff up on etsy.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: ragdall
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 07:34 AM

We've been away, travelling in Alberta and visiting offspring. It will take me a while to catch up reading all the posts in the previous thread. I've managed to unpack everything and wash all the laundry. When we came home tonight we discovered that the house sitter hadn't watered as requested and that frost did some damage while we were away. I'll have to convince myself to work hard this week to get my flower beds ready for winter. I'll hate to dig up anything that is still blooming.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 08:53 AM

Well, the decision has been made to offload the sideboard to the YMCA (who will come and collect it). I made a graph paper outline of my future living room, measured the furniture, and played with cut-outs...the sideboard is going to be a nuisance, and I'd much rather have more seating. I also have to make room for a digital piano. It's not mine, but I've got it until my daughter moves to a house big enough to keep it in! This will not be for a few years. In the meantime, I may go back to learning, if I can find a teacher locally up north.

So I visited the shop in Doncaster, and bought the 2-seater sofa which matches my sofabed. The only difference is that it has the scatter cushion back as opposed to the standard back. However, there are matching cushions on both. The shop say they'll hold it as long as I want, and in the meantime I am boxing up the contents of the rather large sideboard. As soon as that's done, I'll phone the YMCA and get it out. I'll then get the sofa delivered, and try to configure the pair of sofas in this living room.

There's still a lull in proceedings at the moment, and the survey report still hasn't come. It shouldn't be long - 5 working days is quoted as a minimum wait. (They send them to South Africa to be typed(!), and there's been a weekend in between).

Next on the clear out list are the toiletries that never get used, and the old bed base and mattress from the spare double room.

I've started picking my pears now. It's a dwarf tree, and easier to get at the fruit. So later today the dehydrator will be up and running yet again. I've already done a load of apples, and there are still lots on the tree, but there are more than I can deal with.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 09:35 AM

Go Andrea! Sounds like you have all work well in hand.

South Africa?!? Will the report come back singing like "Graceland"?

===

he doc wants me to double up on the Stupid Pill-- BP not dropping yet, and option is hospital stay to attack BP. But that would crash my activity level as well as cost money we do not have. I had a complete meltdown last night over THAT but it was healthy, cathartic rupture of tears and I'll wait a day or two to see how it clears up my thinking. Back to discuss with him/see if it worked, next week.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 10:34 AM

Weigh in this morning showed 1.4 lbs lost! Considering what I've eaten in the past week, I was quite surprised.

rags, good to *see* you back here. Don't worry about catching up, just dig in here or, your flowerbeds.:-) Sorry to hear things weren't watered as needed.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 11:09 AM

Sometimes over-watering can look like under-watering. The effect can be the same- it impacts the plants and how healthy they look. I was astonished at my water bill for August - I hadn't been watering too much myself (I use soaker hoses), but I was away for a week. I think the neighbor who watched my yard really poured on the water (he prefers using a hose and nozzle). But that didn't do it any extra good, it still looked stressed from the high heat.

Blood pressure has to be under control - good luck getting that down to where it belongs, Susan.

Finished a freelance job, will turn in the disk and invoice today. Didn't get much else done while I was working on that.

I picked up some bananas and yogurt yesterday, so this morning I made a smoothie with banana, yogurt, and some frozen strawberries. They taste good and they are very filling. Hopefully this is also a healthy breakfast (some of my dieting friends look askance at bananas, and will eat only 1/2 at a time. This smoothie had 1 1/2 bananas).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 11:21 AM

Weigh in - still down 25lbs. No change despite not watching what I eat. I'll take it. BP under control at 113/76. Glucose also under control at 76 - 130 max. Now if I can make my cholesterol behave...exrecise will do it. SIGH

And David Coffin has joined the house concert roster. A brilliant singer out of Boston who performs with his daughter sometimes (we hope this time). David put the tune to LEJ's shanty for Barry Finn.

Straighten up continues - what Nana Sullivan called "a lick and a promise". Martha Stewart does not live here...

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 12:03 PM

BTW September's lodging project lost me 7 pounds with no dietary changes, in fact I ate more. Maintaining that space and the rest will probably lose me more.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 01:00 PM

A friend of mine just commented in an email that he has to take his blood pressure pills (two of them) at two different times of the day. If he takes them all at once in the morning they make him light headed. He divides the dose and does one in the morning and one in the evening. Something to think about.

Disks burned, invoice ready, I'm out the door.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 01:13 PM

I did that, too, SRS, thinking it would be okay. Wrong, the docs were concerned and explained to me why it was not a good idea. I'd be sure your friend spoke with his docs. My BP is now so low it gets ridiculous. The docs tell me if I can "tolerate it" it is best, so I trundle along with an average of 65-70 over 45-50!:-) As I lose even more weight, we will have to adjust it, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 01:16 PM

The best part about my numbers is that we have a Wellness Program at work. I will pick up and extra $200...AGAIN. Just for keeping my numbers down.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 01:38 PM

I'm following doc's orders-- the great doc I had found has moved back from Philly to here. He does want me to take divided doses (and we are organiing for it as I type).

The best sub-news is that the doc's office is now on email, saving drives and co-pays for tweaking things. I will not be looking for any advice about it here; support and encouragement are appreciated and I wish all here the best.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 02:30 PM

new corner sofa bed is here. I like. congrats to all the losers on the thread. I am not weighing or measuring myself but I wore a pair of winter trousers today and had trouble all day keeping them up. Also pulled out my winter mac and it buttons with loads of room to spare, so must be losing weight. Still feeling pretty good and best of all....







wait for it









I slept beautifully last night and did not wake until 4.20am. Normally I would be up at least 2 times before then. Went on bathroom break, straight back to bed and slept until 7:40. TSO had difficulty getting me to wake up.

It was gorgeous.

Myocardial perfusion scan tomorrow... wish me ..... I don't know.... luck or good energy... or sumfin please.   I am a little bit scared.

hugz to all you lot.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 02:52 PM

Myocardial perfusion scan tomorrow... wish me ..... I don't know.... luck or good energy... or sumfin please.   I am a little bit scared.

I pray you peaceful and confident energy,
e v e r y t h i n g you need,
and tugs in the right direction via your kitteh-twhiskers

(And much love),

~Susan >>>>(((Tam)))---->!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:01 PM

Accountability: Went to a large buffet for lunch today and behaved myself rather well and made a fabulous spinach salad instead of going after other yummy stuff that isn't so good for me. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 06:10 PM

Thanks, Kat. Clearly there are different strategies for these meds. I'll let my friend know what was reported here and ask if this divided dose was suggested by his doctor. I don't practice medicine but I think he's glad to have a friend who cares enough to occasionally fuss at him about taking care of himself.

Lovely weather today, the kind of weather that makes you feel empowered, like you could do anything. The list today was short enough: discs of photos delivered, proof approved. Several projects are right on target, some are ongoing, a couple are early. I'm aiming to get ahead of all of this stuff. Wishful thinking?

I've shared that roasted tomato and garlic soup recipe with several folks and it meets universal joy from cooks and gardeners alike. I have my eyes open for the right tomatoes (truly local, homegrown) to test it. I stopped at my new favorite farmer's market stand and came home with some fresh fruit but their tomatoes weren't local and were very expensive. Maybe after payday. . .

On the fridge I have a list of projects that I need to do around here. I haven't looked at it in ages, and I think it's time to do more than just post that list, I need to consider it and to place them in a hierarchy. For example, I've been looking at some tile and grout projects that might need to be put on the top of the list. I'd like to finish off that, which has been one of the longest-running projects in the house (going back almost to when I moved in).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 07:27 PM

Well done, Lily and Miss Tam. A good night's sleep is pure heaven.

Final preparations for the Getaway are wearing me out. I know I will forget something critical. LOL As long as it isn't Micca.

The Getaway auction is my excuse to declutter a bit around here. If things don't sell, I will tuck them into people's luggage.

SINS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 07:39 PM

Mary you are wicked. Wicked! Because you know any of your victims will use those luggage items for Secret Santa warfare gifts.

Micca sounds like a bonus for the event. I was reading the current version of "where's Micca" - it sounds like he'll be celebrating retirement (in a non-retiring manner, one suspects).

Unloaded rather odd tall and heavy crystal or flint glass vase. I found it a couple of weeks ago in one of the trunks packed when I was moving out of the old house (where my ex still lives), and was pretty sure it had come from my ex's bachelor household, not from all of the glass from my great aunt. I cleaned it up some - it had many years of dust in it even before it was packed away. The ex stopped by to say hello, to visit the pooches (they love to see him, especially since he is one of those individuals who knows how to feed them!) and pick up this chunk of glass.

It is lovely out, but the mosquitoes are really bad this year, especially at sunset, so I think I'll leave my mowing till tomorrow morning. I can move some more furniture in my son's room for both exercise and de-cluttering purposes.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Sep 10 - 11:54 PM

Worked up a sweat this evening. I cleared the desk in Moonglow's room, and lugged it into my son's room. I'd cleared the longer folding table in his room that used to hold his computer and slid it out to Moonglow's room. I lugged my son's big honker television off of the wire shelves and put it on an oak slat table.

I slid the wire shelves out of his room, and though the current arrangement will be revised (computer desk and tv table need to be reversed), I've ended up with more floor space in his room and I think he'll be able to work at the computer, watch television, or play games easily from his office chair or from his convertible sofa.

The longer table is now in Moonglow's room holding my sewing machine. The wire shelves are standing in the hall right now, but I think I have a place for it in the sun room. There is a smaller wire shelf in there that this bigger shelf could replace. It would handle storage for gardening tools that I keep in the house and would extend enough past the window that would let me put some plants on one end of it for propagating or starting seeds.   

Lights off, doors closed for now. I'll finish that job tomorrow.

I kicked back with a small glass of pomegranate juice (I found two bottles of the Pom Wonderful juice on half price at the grocery store this week.) Pomegranate grows here in Texas, so I am going to see about finding a bush to plant in the spring. This stuff is good, and very healthy.

That's my report!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 12:01 AM

Phew! That sounds like a lot, SRS! Pomegranates are so good. It was a special treat for us, when I was growing up. They only came but once a year in the grocery stores in WY and mom was very careful about budgeting enough for us each to have one. I loved them!

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 12:03 AM

I spent about 2 hours today decluttering the Department of Homeland Medications today, tossing expired scrips and empty bottles I had thought I might refill. It took up an entire XL wastebasket. Then I re-organized what was left in a new way.

I decluttered my LR side table and found several important documents I needed for a grant application. I had hoped they were in there; not only were they, but some additional support documentation was in there too, as well as a lost headband that matches my favorite shirt. Alas, no wallet. It must be here somewhere. Maybe in the car.

Out in the car I found and nabbed the spare pair of specs I don't really need for driving. I want to turn them into a second pair of readers for my home office. It's a simple (AKA cheap) prescription; maybe I can use those old spares at the puder, tho, with a second pair of magnifiers over them, till I can scrape up bucks for new lenses-- it's a pretty cheap prescription and the frames are fine.

A friend who is moving next week was kind enough to take a rolling kitchen island out of my van that I had thought I might put up in Room #1 as a TV stand. She can use it more than I can, and she gave me the decluts from her herb/spice cabinet as she packed. As well as a lot of dried exotic garlic bulbs, and instrux on how to get new plants from them.

The new schedule continues to work fabulously. It supported some additional LR decluts today and some downtime after the intense meltdown of last night. I learned something really interesting and scientific about cats today in that downtime, as well as Chinese lacquerware.

I'm reconfiguring an interior step-up that sits at the foot of the stairs to Room #1, and I cobbled up a mock temporary step to measure how high I need to build the new step. It will make a safer landing place at the foot of those stairs. (LF has been up there and will recall the awkward last step.) I had to go up to the room to fetch some 2x6's that were up there, and an ext. cord for my full-spectrum light. It was nice not to have been up there 5 times a day for awhile, and to see it after all the work I had done. Nicer than I recalled-- always a nice reward for the work. Anyway, going up there I carried up a few items destined for that space that had accumulated in the stairwell, and stowed them up there in their rightful places. That made room for the fella coming next week to tack carpeting in there-- ooooh, we have wanted THAT for YEARS.

Hardi and I decluttered someone's ordination process this week, providing an anti-racism training our ordinands are mandated to take before they collar up. The woman we worked with had already had tons of it, in secular work settings, and just needed the theological part. As usual we teamed well and enjoyed the whole experience, but more importantly we set (and documented) a precedent for how to handle such instances-- long overdue.


This is the first night on the doubled-up Stupid Pill. It's lovely to know it will help me sleep, but I am more interested in how it will affect dreaming and the day's-end storage of memory into longterm memory. In the AM I will find out if the sleepiness carries over past waking, and have a couple of clear hours hopefully before the AM doubled dose kicks in. Folks, it is likely I will be very repetitive while I adjust to this one, and I do not plan to tax my mind by checking every new post to see if it a repeat of already-posted stuff. If this dosage works, the doc will then try me on some other stuff in the same class, till we find the one that doesn't have the Stupidity side-effect. It might be helpful for folks to realize I'm doing my best here and not actually trying to be a pain in the ass. A friend is keeping en eye out and will let me know if I run off the rails, so-- it will not be necessary to notify me of that here, thank you very much. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 02:50 AM

bleagh... well the good night's sleep was not to be had last night....

more up than down since 1:20 with headache, achy legs, palpitations, nausea, etc. I feel terribly bloated, though looking at my legs and hands doesn't show edema. Last night was methotrexate night and I guess it is causing the bleagh.

Off to shower before hospital. Thanks for good wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 07:46 AM

Well the first part was a singularly unpleasant experience. Haven't felt that bad accept the couple of times I started going into shock (allergic reaction).

They let me play my bones to help calm me. Technicians were quite impressed. I got really panicky because of the meds they dripped to simulate exercise. I did my best to keep the pedals going to 50, but I kept slowing down to beg for something to throw up in.

ECG showed lots of arhythmia (technologist said it is no wonder I feel bad) and the blood pressure was 200 over 125 before start, then 185 over 115. It had got down to something over 110 before they sent me to go eat something fatty (fat clears the gall bladder so better pictures of heart can be had). Heart rate 88. After the meal they did the xrays. I go back on Monday for another isotope injection and another fatty meal and xrays. But no more of the nasty thing that made me feel I was dying.

So glad to get that over with. I feel quite yucky right now, but I think it is the methotrexate and all the fat I had to eat for the xrays.

Know what is great about new sofa? It is so firm my posture is improved sitting on it and the design is great for playing guitar.   Don't feel like I am subluxing my shoulder to play the big guitar.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 07:53 AM

MAjor clear out required - computer table has decided it doesn't want to stay in one piece so it's going... which will deprive me of a sewing table I don't use and give me a chunk more space.. trouble is going to be finding time to do it! Busy month ahead with a concert, a wedding and a quilt to finish before 20th Oct....

If I lost any weight in September, it's entirely due to upset stomachs and chest infections, I have ceased to care.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 08:34 AM

Survey is here!

The surveyor has classed the house (estimated as c.1850: younger than I thought) as a "reasonable buy", which is class 2 out of 4. 4 is "money pit". This is despite a good list of work needing to be done. It's 70% damp, downstairs and will need a damp course (it never had one). It will also need some timber treatment for isolated outbreaks of woodworm, and need inspecting for rot where floorboards are touching damp walls. The party wall in the roof space will need building up for fire safety. (This will need the access hatch to be made bigger, or NOBODY is getting in there! - Planning officers, please note!) The rear lobby does not comply to any building regs ever, being single brick, and needs to be rebuilt (I don't mind that, as I wanted a new door on it anyway). This would be subject to a planning notice, apparently. The solid floors in that and the kitchen will need a membrane putting down (been there, done that before!) The doors of the 2 reception rooms are modern replacements, and should be replaced themselves with reclaimed old ones (I'm all for that). There are some general routine roof repairs to be done too, and the annexe, lobby and lean to outside are roofed with asbestos, which will need specialist removal. (That IS expensive). The back gutters don't collect water properly, and they need reworking. This is accountable for some of the damp, apparently. As they are attached to the next door house, I will have to be nice to the neighbours! The plaster work is of the old horsehair and lime on wooden laths, and is in danger of suddenly dropping of through age and/or damp without much warning. The surveyor recommends that as the place is decorated, the plaster is renewed.

It's a project. Not dissimilar to this house when we took it on, or the work I've just been through!

Once I am in, the list will be: Plumber (check or sort heating);
Electrician (check wiring and rewire if necessary);
Sweep (check front room flue and make sure it's working);
Planning officers (get them out and see what I can and can't do);
Builder (find a reliable one, and get estimates for a programme of work).

And it's still classed as a reasonable buy! The surveyor has done rough estimates for the main works, and it comes to what I knocked the price down by. I would think a realistic cost would be at LEAST 50% more, which I was prepared to do anyway. (There are always hidden horrors that pop up once you start poking around)

So....according to my solicitor, the sale of this place is ticking along nicely. She hasn't received any paperwork yet from the solicitors at the Northumberland end, however. I hope that doesn't screw things up too much!

Task for this afternoon? Wrap and pack all the beer and wine glasses to further empty the sideboard.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 09:14 AM

Andrea, despite the language differences, I think I followed all that-- and I agree (not that it matters) that you are on the trail of a real gem. Full speed ahead, as "that she blows!"

Go Captain Andrea!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 10:50 AM

VT,

    I am so happy for you that the hard part is over. The anxiety is a killer (literally) and combined with pain...well, I wish I was there in person to hug you close.
    When I know I am about to have to go through some horrible medical thing, I try to plan something to look forward to IMMEDIATELY following the test/procedure. Not something big because honestly, it's the smaller things that make me the happiest. I hope you are able to rest today....snuggle right in.

    I have to do my pill box today too. I keep 2 (larger) mini laundry baskets (the kind you get for a buck or so)....one with current meds and the other with meds that have not been used up but may be needed every once in awhile. I do a week at a time with the phone nearby to call in any scripts that are getting low.

    It's a very rainy, yucky day here today...damp and kinda coldish. We will be turning on the pellet stove to soften the dampness of it all. Normally we are adament about NOT turning that stuff on until Mid-November (or firing up the woodstove) but while we can tolerate a bit of chill, the baby cannot. Luckily, the pellet stove was throroughly cleaned out this spring and is ready to go. I will have to find a new place to store Jeremiah's carseat/carrier though as I have stored it on top of the pellet stove all summer long when it obviously has not been in use.
    The dishes were done last night so I have a relatively empty sink so I'm glad to not have to fuss with it this morning. I think I'll put a roast in the crockpot to simmer all day, make some bread and oh....I have a bunch of books from that library sale that I need to find a space for....most of them were put away already but I have a pile here for Jeremiah. :) I won't sweep the floors today as Pete (who is working from home today) and the dogs will be in and out...no point in doing anything with the floors until tomorrow when it's supposed to be more dry.
    I have Weight Watchers later today but since it's a drive (my choice to go to one a bit further from home)and the folks on the news are warning of *ponding* on the roads, I'm going to skip it today. If my scale and the WW scale match up (usually fairly close), I'm down about 6 pounds this week. SIX. I've been trying to track more and have really been making an effort.
    Time to go. Pete just went down to the barn in all this crappy weather to get us some fresh eggs for breakfast. :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 11:26 AM

Last spring I rearranged the cupboard where I keep my prescriptions. Put in a couple of those plastic Rubbermaid lazy susans and one of them is for OTC treatments (cough, cold, allergy stuff) and Rx, the other is for vitamins (that are cheapest when you buy the large bottles at Sam's Club). If I were to take off my cupboard doors I don't want this on display, so I would have to find somewhere else to keep it all.

Since it became noticeably cooler here last weekend I've noticed that I'm not storing as much water. My wrist watch band is flopping on my wrist when it used to fit enough to stay put, and I feel lighter. Moving to a cooler climate would be the way to avoid this annual occurrence, I suspect. (I wish!)

There may be a funeral soon, the husband of a co-worker passed away yesterday. He had been ailing for a long time. I'll make sure I have something suitable to wear ready to go. Too much funeral stuff lately.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 01:55 PM

We often "travel" (teleport afar for pastoral calls) on short notice, so I stopped using anything but the spacebag to hold the current stuff-- I can grab and go. A smaller sorter is alwasy with me-- one in my purse and one in my overnight bag in the van in case I lose the purse. A copy of the scrips usually is in the spacebag too in case info is needed.

Right now with the "try it" BP med, I do not have the purse or car sorters set up on the new dosing timing.... and that is scary all by itself.

The BP-med trial... well, here's how I just described it to someone:

Today is the first use of doubled Clonidine (per order) while awake. If I were at work right now-- any job I've ever held-- I'd be fired. If I were driving I'd be in a ditch. (Is it supposed to give me a bi-polar day each day I take it? I'm "down" for 3 hours and then "up" till bedtime.)

===

SO. I am not taking it doubled in the mornings, again, until I can clear my head, find an open calendar date to spend the day at the doc's office in my camping recliner, and let them check my BP hourly while I sleep off the morning's Clonidine, so they can at least see if it is doing any damn good!

I have no way to safely get to WalMart or CVS to see if their cuffs fit me.... my home monitor died and I can't find one that fits that I can afford.... the heck with it....

I have to go back to bed now or be "in crisis." Yet I know that I will be quite clear by 4PM.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 03:16 PM

Dollar store timers, the size of a pedometer work really well for reminders of when to take meds. Just a thought. If I'm home, I have just used the timer on the stover. I imagine your compute has some kind of timer you could use too for free...a pop up kind of deal.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Alice
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 06:01 PM

Everyone seems so productive with lots to report!

Did get all but two of the storm windows back on the house with the glass cleaned. The last two windows had a lot of problems with the wood and are not finished yet. I really need all new windows on the house, but who can afford that?

I do have a very small painting commission, but I am still working on trying to pay the bills... no other sales yet, but have been able to continue creating and adding items to Etsy.
click.

Sorted through some more of the old photos and books yesterday. I definitely need to re-organize and get rid of the extra books and purge more of the old files. Winter project? Hard to be in the basement when it is actually sunny and NICE outside!

A.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 07:19 PM

TBTG that Stupid Pill finally wore off-- back to the brain I woke up with, and articulating curriculum.

The bottom step I mocked up for the attic stairway (LF, the pallet between attic step and woodstove) worked GREAT!

The attic-stairs door does not run into it when it swings open, so it will not need to be removed and shaved, and will thus not break the air seal between laundrty room and attic airflow.

The step's edge that meets the kitchen door threshold is close enough not to trip anyone.

And THAT all means that the cost of a slab of plywood (and a 2x4 to cut for shims) is justified to fit a new, shimmed surface for that step-pallet.

Where one will step off that step-pallet onto the slate floor, there is enough clearance where it meets the guest fridge (the old MudMeet beer fridge) to tuck in a shorter step-- more like the short step that is there now for MY runs to the laundry room and bulk-cookery freezer.

A saw-using man to cut the plywood pieces to my measure has been found, and I will be able to assemble it all with my hand tools, YAY!

Another LONG-wanted safety project about to be DONE.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 08:32 PM

Wonder if I will ever get packed. Micca and I have hit the cheap white wine and good champagne.Remembering our first trip together up and down the east coast. Mudcat Central, Bert's breakfast at Anna and Honey's house.

We will never get out of here tomorrow. Sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 12:06 AM

Mary and Micca, have a good evening. Enjoy the visit and the wine. Don't worry about tomorrow until tomorrow. You'll get there.

I moved a little more stuff in my son's room, and while I was at it, I programed the remote for the HD receiver that the old TV needs to operate. Now it turns on the box and the television. There is so much floor space in there it's hard to believe it. The computer parts are all placed where they need to be, except I need to get another hard disk to put in and install everything (he took the other hard drive to AZ, and it failed while there, I suspect he moved the enclosure while it was working, so I need to install this old Dell from scratch).

As an aside, I'll report that I watched the 2-part PBS program Nature about dogs, and was so proud of my two girls! One is full-breed "pitbull" (one of several get that name, she's an American Staffordshire Terrier) and one is a mix of a couple of things (catahoula and blue heeler). In part two of the program they showed the absurd lengths people have gone to to breed useless (and sometimes dangerous, health-wise, for the dogs) features into these animals. I have two healthy normally-formed athletes, and they indeed do a better job than a burglar alarm on the house. They have distinct barks for different occasions. I know I can go back to sleep with several o the noises they make, but there is one in particular, the "hey, human-who-I-don't-know, what are you doing?" bark that always gets me up looking. Last time Poppy did it there was a man on the next door neighbor's roof. They are so good at their jobs!

Tomorrow is Friday. I've put in some extra hours for work this week so it'll be a short day for me. This is good, because I think it will still feel like fall. I'm hoping to get some garden time in.

I'll look forward to reading how the Getaway goes. Have fun, all!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 04:02 AM

Alice, you too have been getting a lot done. I am sure I am not the only one still in awe just at the painting-a-day commitment you took on-- the wealth of creativity pouring out of you. THAT is inspiring.

===

For quite some time a huge Gateway box has sat in our LR looking like a big cow (but feeling like a big elephant) in the room. It holds items my MIL would have reviewed (later today) on her annual visit, so she and I could take the box to the post office and ship it to her home. But she's not here this year-- her appendix burst in August, and she's just gotten home from rehab. And TBTG for that-- a good friend just lost his mom the same way.


This box originally brought me the puder I am typing on now, with the proceeds from our 2000 housefire. I love that box. It represents redemption from that post-fire hell we were in, the sweetness of the Catter who spec'd it so perfectly, and the great things I've done on that puder. Several techies have sentenced this puder to death. Nyah nyah, the joke's on them-- it's like a pink bunny in a cow suit: still hopping AND mooing, nowadays in my very own productive office/nexus of healthy living.

That box has made a very handy horizontal surface to hold stuff I need to sort, and has never become a junk surface; right now it is holding 2 very full, stacked boxes- mostly some stuff that came out of last week's kitchen cleanup. CET's cat Atticus nearly toppled those last night, in one of the mad-cat dashes that relieves kitteh nerves (Hi Charmion!).

It appears there is only one healthy thing to do. If Charmion were here on her way to Getaway I KNOW what my moral duty would be, and with military precision she'd set me to work and mando-pick a rousing work rhythm.

So-- [sniff]-- tomorrow that box and its contents leave the LR and go back out to the cold storage section of the addition (beneath the former Mudcat Attic Dorm), contents and all, to wait for MIL's visit NEXT year.

The two boxes of mess I took out of the kitchen will move to a spot right in front of my OT-study desk, where they will get some WORK done to reduce them. I'll do a ruthless purge on the day the Stupid Pill most makes me want to go to sleep-- the only antidote to which is movement and mind-focus.

I doubt it will all purge in one day, but my larger goal is a LR guests can enjoy, so all these boxes-- "Love ya! Gotta go!" And I do like to purge, when in MadCat mode myself.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 11:33 AM

It's Friday! It's Fall! It's PayDay!

Whew! So many good things all at once!

My house is in generally looking better and a little less cluttered, but it still has plenty of clutter and lots of things that aren't in what should be their final resting places. The chair in the hall outside the office that is stacked with donation items, for example. the folding cot that is sitting in the front room because the chair in the hall is blocking the closet where the cot usually hangs out. And the possibility of finally putting in a new and different shelf in that back of the closet and then getting the chair and the cot out of the way. As you can see, there are domino effects to some of this de-cluttering.

De-clutter my bank account today, find something else to list on eBay (I have several small items I can just list that don't require research of fancy photos), mow the back, etc. Will report in on all of that later.

Michelle, you have made so much progress. You're so soon after your chemo and tests and such it's simply too soon for anything else that might turn up as a result from the initial cancer. I know you've been worried. Take the advice I posted last night (you'd be surprised how much something like that helps anyway, let alone if your insides have been rearranged and de-cluttered in recent months) and I hope in a week or two to hear that that fear has been allayed. (No cryptic speaking or all-knowing messages here, just common sense from someone who has been there and done that. Some of that, anyway.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 11:39 AM

TBTG my missing wallet/ID pocket finally turned up today. All my documentation is in there!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 12:26 PM

Thanks SRS....it's what I'm hoping for too. Sometimes it's hard to keep in mind that while I am home and my outside scars have healed that my body is still full of toxic chemo stuff that can take a LONG time to get out of my system....I know I am way too hard on myself about what I don't get done or how tired I am. It makes me feel lazy and sloppy.

Today I did the dishes, found the counter, made way for more canning to take place, found the kitchen table...or at least a good portion of it, have the second load of laundry in the dryer, swept the kitchen, bathroom, living room and hallway. I'm just about to go wake up my wee one from his nap for some tubby time, bottle, some fruit and then off to run errands. I'm picking up 2 bushels of apples and this weekend my husband and I will work together to peel all the apples and prepare them to make apple pie filling to can. We will also make several batches of applesauce and apple butter...and thankfully THOSE apples do NOT need to be peeled as we have a gizmo (the name eludes me at the moment) that allows us to run cooked apples through it while it separates seeds and skins from the cooked apple. It is going to smell SO GOOD in here!!!
   Off to get my cutie patootie ready for the world. :)

Love to all,
Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 01:01 PM

She describes a weekend on her feet doing all of that canning stuff and still manages to characterize herself as "lazy"? That is hard hard work! Not only that, it's so wise to have all of this ready to use food during the year because with Jeremiah your time utilization has changed and you will all benefit from this investment in good eating.

Good thing you found the wallet, Susan. The work to replace lost documents is an exponential list of tasks. It's hard enough if any one of them goes missing. To lose all of it - oy!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 01:41 PM

I can admit to putting a load more pears on to dry, but nothing as immense as your wonderful achievements, Michelle!

It will be the last because I need to start getting stuff de-cluttered and sorted even quicker - my buyers have signed their end of the contracts, and it looks like very shortly I will have to do my end. I then have 2 weeks to shift (that's quite good really, because once contracts are exchanged I theoretically have no legal right to remain). I am getting removal and storage estimates from 3 companies on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will hopefully be able to get stuff away and stored in time (depending on when we actually exchange). The northern end of the business are now aware, and are going as fast as they can.

I know I said I was bored because nothing was happening, but.....

At least they are happy for me to leave the appliances, so that's less stuff to shift.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 01:47 PM

found the wallet

It';s one of those memory-issue things that happens periodically. The car keys go missing when I'm overbooked and myu mind sabotages my ability to go onemore place. The wallet is th eone that always scares Hardi, because he worries about identity theft. But it always turns up. The one time it did ot, it was the whole inner part of my purse that carries the meds, essential toiletries, etc., and I'd left it at th epool. If you leave somethig in this comunity, the managfer always looks inside to find ourt whose it is and calls you, so I never worry-- either I have t ior they have it and thuys it's OK, or I really did leave it where the Bad Guys wil rip me off, in which case it's to late to worry. I let Hardi know it'sa goone out of my sight and he or I usually strumbkle acorss it in the house or one of the cars.

Of course this is one of the things that is harder to straighten out on the Stupid Pill, but today I am back to the more manageable one per AM and one per PM, so I hope not to multi-post all day-- and focus on my OT curriculum. :~o It's hard to correlate 4 sources and 3 schedules into one organized course of study (distance learning), even while wide awake! :~) At least today I can DO it.

But next is that box, mentioned upthread. Here it goes.....

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: October+ fall declutter & accountability
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 02:35 PM

Apple butter.....homeresque drool.... can't get it in UK.

I am kicked back on lovely new sofa after a very naughty dinner PizzaHut delivery.

Asshole downstairs is screaming at the crying baby again. Going to drive me potty.

Had nasty fluttery palpitations all day today. Finally eased off after 2.40pm. Why do they make you feel so horrible?

Played through about 5 songs and started learning 2 more on guitar this evening.

Going to watch Terry Pratchett's Colour of Magic tonight on the new sofa wif my honeybun.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.