BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011

Subject: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 06:48 PM

Wow! Even though I know the first of February is here, it still managed to charge right past. Lots of February posts on the January thread.

Though we have a snow day today, I have been busy around here, not online quite as much today. I built two steps to my bedroom window because I couldn't let my dogs in the sliding glass door, it was plastered shut because of the freezing rain that got into the track last night. It wouldn't budge, so I moved a few bricks. The sun on the door finally cleared it this evening, but it may freeze up overnight, so I won't be in a hurry to remove these bricks.

So, I'm inside, and the dogs have been in the garage (they have a heater) part of the day, in the house part of the day. When they're in, they feel the need to follow me around, to be nearby, so I have to be careful not to trip on them. At one point I was at the computer keyboard typing and both dogs were crowded up against either side of my chair, and in one moment, both of them leaned forward and licked the sides of my hands as I typed. Now THAT is togetherness!

My work lately has been to reprogram my procrastination ways, and to recognize that I need not only to work more efficiently, but to give myself time for leisure. Even though I may enjoy what I'm doing at the computer, it isn't the same as sitting and sewing or watching a movie, and I'd like to do more of those things.

I'll report again on the book, I have a few more underlines to revisit and share. Right now I have a pot of hot stew on the stove and some pizza crusts to shape and bake for the freezer, but I'll save a little to make a foccacia bread to go with the stew. Mmmmmm!

Here is the last thread, Jan. 2011, and I have to read the last few entries still. I figured I'd better get this month's thread started before we lost track of it altogether.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 09:41 PM

I think it's about nutrition more than diet per se-- originally iot was about exercise actually-- but OK, I can at least agree: it IS February. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: maire-aine
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 10:47 PM

Well, the snow has started here. The forecast is for 12-inches to 18-inches of snow. I'm expecting to find a 4-ft snowdrift at the bottom of my driveway in the morning, but I'm not going to worry about it tonight. I'll just take it slowly and do a little bit at a time. Don't have to go anywhere & plenty of supplies on hand.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 11:09 PM

A "dietician" is concerned with, even trained in, nutrition. Hence, it seems strange that the word "diet" has come to have such a bad rap as only being ways of losing weight. Our diet is, in fact, that which we eat: the nutritious or non-nutritious materials (some I would not consider food!) we ingest. Whatever edibles we ingest comprise our diet, for better or worse! The amount of calories in our diet .... My diet today included half a pan of brownies. I better not make brownies again soon! Nutrition is what we need in our diet. Other than brownies, I had a bowl of beef stew, a piece of cheese and a small bowl of one apple, granola and plain yogurt. Not too bad. Lots of water and one cup of green tea.

I am still considering ways to get exercise in this cold weather. I need to be more mindful of getting a walk in on the better days. These have been far apart lately. I am moving the scale to the upstairs bathroom so I can use it after my bath. It was barely accessible down here. Accessibility is important. Tomorrow - if the predicted blizzard permits. Also a shelf for bathroom essentials. Not even a place to put clean towels right now.

Two years ago I was living in a well organized home. It is a slow and challenging journey to get to that point again! But it is happening. I need to think KITCHEN. And keep plugging away at what is.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 11:22 PM

Prediction here is for some snow and then sleet and ice. I spent today getting all the laundry in the house done as well as the dishes and anything else that required electricity so if we should happen to lose power tomorrow, we're all set. Dirty dishes in the sink make me crazy so I'm starting tomorrow with NO dishes in the sink (or on the counter or beside our chairs). My husband is staying home again tomorrow (YAY) and has agreed to tend to the baby so I can tend to the medical paperwork and get some things moved upstairs as part of making our living room Jeremiah friendly.

I also did about half of the assigned homework for the class I'm taking. I have my violin out as well....playing with some new folks and having FUN! I've GOT to get a new G string as mine is all corroded (it's been tucked away for awhile). Until I can get to my favorite fiddle shop, it will have to hold or I just will have to bump things up an octive. Either way, no biggie.

I'm going to be getting a new chair for myself...might be one from storage or I have a large chair up in my office (needs to be recovered) that might work. My current recliner leaves me with aching hips...something I don't have when I sit at the dining room table on wooden chairs.

Diet...still working on this new WW plan. I get it, I'm just not doing it. Hmmm. Lots of movement goes on in this house just chasing about after the baby. Up stairs. Down stairs. Around the corner. Etc. Also, I've taken to doing some yoga in his room right after his morning nap. He creeps around the floor playing with his toys and sometimes comes to give mama an assist. :) I'm hoping to hit the Y for a few classes this week. They have childcare....Im kind of leery about it but they have their clearances and the adult in charge is old enough to have had handled her own kids. And I will be in the very next room...within hearing range. I need to get more exercise in and let go a little bit...he'll be fine. :)

I am having problems getting in enough vitamin D (as the sun bothers me...photo sensitive) so I take a VERY large prescription of vitamin D. It has been suggested to me to go out and take a half hour walk every morning. LOvely idea, however,the gas well traffic on these back roads are not conducive to walking on the road. Town is 11 miles or so away and I'm sorry but I'm not buddling the baby up to drive 11 miles in, walk in the cold, pack the baby and stroller back up and go home in that half hour. It would be more time in the car than on the walk. Add on top of THAT that I just don't want to. My energy levels are the lowest they've been in my life. Leftover chemo yet. Anyway, I can find something to do around the house or outside (to get in some Vitamin D) without trucking down the back road with an infant and crazy gas well/water tanker trucks blowing us off the road.

As to the food end of things. We are doing better. Jeremiah is now able to eat the same foods as we do as long as it is pureed. I refuse to feed him CRAP so as a result, Pete and I are eating better. A bit backwards, I know, but it's making us both stop and think about what we are eating and do we want Jeremiah to have that too?

Night All. Happy February!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 11:26 PM

Good points, Dorothy. We've been doing these "accountability" threads for over three years, now, but I deleted the first two, thinking we'd just keep one running thread. They've certainly turned into much more than what I'd originally posted:

Subject: BS: Accountability -counting goals 3rd Month
From: katlaughing - PM
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 03:33 PM

WELCOME TO THE THIRD MONTH!!


Please post your fitness/letting go of weight goals, as you meet them by the day/week/monthly. Also, feel free to post your goals in your first posting. Encouragement/chatting is okay, as long as it is kept to a minimum. I will delete any extra stuff. Also, at the end of the month, I will delete all and we will start over.

(I had cleaned up the old thread and started it over, last night, but cannot find it, so this is an entirely brand-new, shiny thread!)

Have fun and good luck!

Feel free to make suggestions!

SRS, you've done a great job of keeping the decluttering threads going in combo with the others. It's been a lot of fun.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 11:44 PM

Got these for Hardi to try as an alternative to bad-glycemic-index rice varieties moist Asian restaurants use. LOVE THEM! Got 'em locally!

The Shirataki Noodle Diet: http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2006/08/got-shirataki-you-bet-we-do.html

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 01:26 AM

My opening comment was more weather related than inspirational, but Kat posting her early remarks makes it easy to see that the scope of these threads has expanded, and we have done some heavy lifting over the time they've been running. Very heavy lifting.

The book I've been reading, The Procrastinator's Guide to Getting Things Done is still with me. I read a little each day. Yesterday I wrapped up the chapter on "shortcuts" to getting started, and they're basically statements that help you see what you're doing and address the problem. The stop running the little negative scripts and try to set your view so you're thinking positively about what you do accomplish while at the same time getting started on things that you don't enjoy because there will never be a "right time" to do them. There is just now.

"Recognize what you are doing. Admit to yourself that you are making excuses." That about sums it up! "Waiting another day will not make the task easier to do."

Another homily in that chapter is to "make an effort even if it is a small one." So today I finished pulling together the papers and files for the taxes, and I started filling out the 1040 tonight. I'm doing the higher math for the Schedule A stuff now; sometimes I save more than others when I itemize. It's more time consuming, and every year I think if I'd only put all of the medical receipts together during the year, that would have been great. I just got up and made such an envelope that will live in my receipt file for the year.

The next chapter has to do with anxiety, and I'm sure I'm not alone in recognizing that one form of procrastination stems from the desire to not disappoint others. Things like "I'm scared to find out . . . bad news, that I didn't succeed, that others are disappointed in me." She looks at this as a fear reaction, and asks things like "Thinking about the task makes you feel uncomfortable" and "You hesitate to get started for fear you'll mess it up." She sums up the lists by saying that

Your negative thoughts + Your emotional reaction -> Procrastination

That pretty well sums up why we put things off. I, at least. Not wanting to hurt others somehow, or worried about their reactions.

I'm headed to bed; I've done as much as I feel like this evening and my pit bull is practically begging me to go to bed so she can get her beauty sleep. The dogs are serious about sleeping at night, and they want me in my bed also. :) Tomorrow is another snow day so I can work on the taxes some more.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 02:40 AM

I got onto the scales on Monday (clothed for a chance) and hit 12 stone. Well that's still the upper 11s, which isn't good, and down to me hitting the packets of biscuits and having a 2 course lunch out on Saturday. Ironically, I think it may also be down to the village cafe and farm shop being closed for their winter breaks recently. (I have been lurking around in the house more, and snacking). It's a round trip of a mile to visit the farm shop cafe, and a good brisk walk. I've only been a couple of times since it reopened, due to other stuff I've had to do.

It's an excuse, and I'll stick to it.

Had second Morris practice last night. Good exercise, but a double whisky in the pub afterwards wasn't exactly low cal!

Anyway, Ernie's coming to fit the stove today. Huzzah!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 08:27 AM

I've long thought that 2nd February is a much better day for new resolutions than a hungover annd jaded 1st January.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 01:54 PM

Knocked out 5 more entries (some of which were annual reports and minutes), totaling about another 5,000 words.

The next slog will be actually posting them all, which will also involve moving some existing posts around to fix the date-order of blog posts so they approximate the order in which they were first written and print-pubbed.

Then after that in the main website I'll insert links to specific blog-posts where they coincide with calendared events, which is shaping up as almost a site-map to key news and info.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 02:14 PM

Several inches of snow and still coming. 14F. Not blowing right now.
Rob woke up feeling headachy and terrible. Agreed it is result of dust/mold inhalation. I suggested hot detox bath and he agreed with alacrity. But instead of resting after, he had to go to a meeting earlier than expected. He could not eat - too sick. But he did take his supplements. Actually, he needed time to rest and had none.

So I cleared the car and drove him to the meeting - through the snow! and waited and brought him home. Meeting had a much needed positive result. Then I drove him home, he ate the remains of brekkie, then a bowl of the famous chili and one brownie. Took more vit C and Pau'd'Arco. And felt well enough to go off and do what needs to be done. I hope he gets home in time for another detox.

Now the laundry is doing. Another load after that. Then save hot water for next bath.

Now he knows better why I am uptight about dust. Maybe he will wear a respirator. Hope!!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 02:56 PM

There are dishes waiting in the sink, and the taxes are started. It's one of those cold days when paying attention to staying warm is more important, since we are getting rolling blackouts here. I have a stock pot full of water simmering on the stove, partly to put some moisture in the air, partly to have for hot tea or other uses if the power cycles off again. The high today is supposed to be 17. That would normally be a very low low, I've never seen it as a high temp down here before, that I can remember. It was very cold the winter after we moved here (early 1990) and killed shrubs in the yard. This may have the same effect.

I will sit down and work on the taxes, it will be nice to have them finished today, so that is my goal for the afternoon and evening. I have a battery operated calculator and a good battery operated Coleman lantern, so there's no excuse for not finishing them, though I may have to snuggle with the dogs on the futon to stay warm to finish if the power is off!

My truck is finished, but they're not driving the courtesy vehicle for picking up customers. Though they're only three blocks away, it is three blocks of sheet ice, so I'll leave the truck where it is and get it tomorrow, if things begin to clear.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: maire-aine
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 03:25 PM

We ended up getting only about 8-inches of snow, and it seems to be close to stopping now. Need to run the snowblower again. Good idea about the pot of hot water. I've got a good supply of firewood on the front porch in case I need to use the fireplace.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 04:02 PM

The energy-hoggerator is OUT of here, as far as the back porch and waiting for the truck to haul it to the dump. No one at FC wanted it-- it's circa-1970's-- and the dump has an appliances department for safe disposal.

Out of it came a sack of flour for the birdies and a small amount of BBQ sauce. All the rest I had used up, in prep.... except tonite's gourmet takeout which was waiting for tonight, cuz Ah ain't about to cook me no supper after THAT job, nuh UH!

Chicken is roasting for the freezer (rosemary, etc. stuffed under the skin), and lentils are in the crock pot.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 04:16 PM

The little stove is in and running. Only burning wood at the moment, as I have no solid fuel for it yet. No end of soot came down when the flue was swept, and despite sheeting up, I have had to shampoo the carpet. It may need a second dose.

I had an appointment with the nurse for a BP check up, blood test and weigh in. Here scales put me at 12 stone 11, which went down to 12 stone 7 when I took off my boots and hoody. Not impressed.
Weighed myself pre shower tonight, with nowt on, and I was 11 stone 10 on my digital scales. Hmmmm. At least the BP seems to be more or less under control at the moment!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 04:45 PM

Burning wood is so cosy. I do miss it.

Now to finish the laundry and the dishes before the next lot starts!

I also really need to finish this mystery. It is largely about children with very serious emotional problems due to abuse. Live to Tell, by Lisa Gardner.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 05:25 PM

The wind is blowing the snow sideways, Jeremiah is napping, RP is home, both fires are going strong and I have a hot cup of mocha-java in my hands (half coffee, half SF cocoa and skim milk)....I love being all snuggled in with my family!

Half my paperwork was completed today, may do more later on. Turns out, I like to organizae this stuff...getting started was the hard part! I love feeling accomplished, don't you?

:) Stay warm and safe everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Hawker
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 07:28 PM

Well, Havent been around much, but decided after my hernia op last November that when I was on my feet agan I would try and ditch three and a half stone! BIG ask! I started on 5th Decemebr and have lost 21 pounds to date thats one and a half stones, so Just 2 more to do, preferably by the end of May, but not absolutely critical. Losing about a pound a week now, but that's just fine. Will keep you posted, but have the desire and more positivity to push me forward this time, so hopefully, I will achieve my goal. happy to support anyone who needs a diet buddy,
Cheers, Lucy x

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 08:43 PM

Rock on Lucy!!!!

Michelle :)

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 11:18 PM

I got a good start on posting the back-blog entries this evening-- 4 or 5 of them I think0-- plus about 15 blank "placeholder" posts so that the blog's owner can start entering his own posts in monthly updates. That way I can just focus on filling in the placeholder posts with the ones I've copy-edited in the WP, and link the posts into the main website where they need to go.

I love working myself out of a job! It usually makes room for a new job.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 02:02 AM

I've lived in places that are as cold as this, but there is usually a lot of cold weather so it isn't so remarkable. The fact that I took the dogs for a walk two nights ago in a fleece jacket and ballcap makes these days down around 11^o tough to adjust to. Fingers crossed that pipes don't freeze - having a boxy shaped house helps, I think. I have the cupboard doors under the two outermost sinks propped open to keep the air circulating.

I'm going to sleep in the front room tonight, where the smaller furnace keeps it nice and warm, and let the rest of the house stay cooler. The front room has the shortest outside wall and the rest is protected by interior walls. My bedroom, on the other hand, has mostly exterior walls. I'll leave on enough heat so the pipes don't freeze, but the two-ton heater that keeps the sunroom, office, and kitchen warm also overlaps into the front room. The three-ton heater gets the living room and bedrooms, rooms that people are rarely in. I suppose I should move into the office/bedroom and use a lot less heating and cooling, but I'd miss the master bath. :)

Work is cancelled for the third day in a row tomorrow, but it's so damned cold that the days off aren't a treat. There's no day of playing in snow with the kids.

Taxes moved a bit further today, but they're not finished. On the other hand, the dishes are out of the way and a load of laundry is in now, before the rolling blackouts start (probably around 5 or 6am).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 03:08 AM

Keep safe and warm, people. It's not funny when it keeps coming like this. When our snow first came before Christmas, everybody was walking to the village shops and the cameraderie was great. A week down the line, the tone changed, and by the time the roads were clear enough to think about venturing to the next place with shops, the mood was definitely antsi.

Uh oh! Have just now looked out of my bedroom window (at 8am) - and it is turning from rain to sideways snow! Hopefully it won't settle...
I did NOT order this!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 04:16 AM

Major paperwork day required... which is just as well because my newly arthritic left knee has today invited the other one to join in the fun.

Consequently, I'm giving it a rest for a couple of hours before I venture back down stairs (they're the killer) and working up here on some admin stuff.

My carol book has reached the footnotes and proofs stage - even though we're still adding stuff to it - and it's looking good.

My quilting is progressing - the wedding present quilt will actually be finished before their first anniversary! Seriously, the black and white 'Stars and Stripes' pattern I made just before Christmas (see Facebook for photos - Flickr is not my friend) is in the process of being hand quilted and will be finished in a week or two.

I may have lost some weight, haven't had the Wii Fit out for a week or so to weigh myself.... incidentally, the trick to accurate weigh-ins is to always use the same scale in the same position - don't take any notice of what the GP's may say, or the store, or the clinic.... if your scales at home say you are getting lighter, then you are getting lighter. No two scales will give you the same measurement unless they are government controlled, properly callibrated weighbridges for haulage trucks.... and I'm pretty sure none of us warrant using one of those! Plus, at the clinic, you are usually dressed differently each time. At home, you can wear the same robe, the same dress or the same birthday suit every time and get a more accurate result.

As I say, I may have lost some... a couple of days of 'digestive unrest' has helped and my trousers fall down if I have more than £3.57 in change and my phone in my pockets.

As for decluttering... working on that now and hopefully will be able to report positive progress next week.

Enjoy the day all.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 11:04 AM

More blog entries posted. Seeing light at the end of the tunnel!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 12:56 PM

July 2010 - Present entries are posted, including a huge annual report.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 01:03 PM

The sink is empty, counters are clean, healthy snacks are out waiting for me to get munchie, laundry is going and I am moving forward with the medical paperwork. It felt good to burn some of it....a good riddance of sorts! :)

Not feeling so good today.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 01:04 PM

I forgot to add that an active search for a responsible sitter has begun so I can get to yoga a few times a week!! YAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 02:36 PM

I sat down and sorted the receipts and health care files this morning before cranking up the computer. I have to pull some of the doctor visit bills from my Quicken account, and that that most tedious portion of the itemized deductions is finished.

I still don't have the pickup, and I was scheduled to drive to Dallas early in the morning for my first time ever volunteering at the local public radio station. It's supposed to snow tomorrow so they cancelled the volunteers; I'll leave the truck where it is until probably Saturday morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 03:40 PM

...and it was only a snow shower!

We just got gales now.

Andrea (who will fess up to hitting the fish and chip shop after zumba tonight)

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 05:02 PM

Busy day, fun FUN!

The blog posts are now cross-linked with the corresponding main-website content. TBTG I had the Spirituals permathread experience here, to learn from, oy!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 06:46 PM

Worked in the kitchen, more order out of chaos. Found space for two small shelf units. It looks much better and my spice cabinet is not sitting on a chair. Oops was that I forgot I was going to put one of those shelf units in the bathroom- but I have a small cabinet that will work.

Cleared most of the front stoop then went to get the car shoveled out to go for groceries. Got in car and looked at situation and decided I did not need groceries that much! The roads are still pretty bad from yesterday's snowfall. The news last night included a 70 vehicle pile-up, a 30 vehicle pile up and a 10 vehicle pile up - all within 20 miles of Montreal. Tomorrow ....

So I did a good detox bath which took all the starch out of me. Still recovering. I had been feeling needful. Glad I got lots done first though. Finished novel, looked up author, looked up the Child Assessment Unit Cambridge (MA) on which some of it was based. So many ways to harm a child.

Put the scale in the bathroom. Still holding at 160. Need to do more and eat less but not in this weather. If I get doing, I "forget" to eat.

The sun poured into the LR until about 3 pm and the temp was up to 19 F; such a joy! Flurries expected tomorrow but today was lovely. I could have gone for a walk --but I needed the detox more. Supposed to go up to 26F on the weekend!!

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 08:29 PM

Sinuses are upset, probably because the house is so dry. I have some saline solution to try, and the neti pot to help if that doesn't work.

Chicken steadycam for those of you needing a chuckle. :)

Dorothy, did you see this letter by Bill Zeller in which he describes his reasons for committing suicide. It's very sad.

I did a load of laundry last night and the washer drain overflowed. I think the line must be frozen somewhere out there. The washing machine isn't on an outside wall, so I hope this is something temporary.

Better head back to the kitchen. I have a plastic Rubbermaid thing full of frozen soup bobbing in that pan of hot water I have on the stove. I may leave it there till it's ready to eat, but it would probably be better to put it in a bowl and nuke it. Heating in plastic isn't as healthy as heating in glass. The soup steam should help the sinus.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 09:49 PM

Hey Stilly,

I know you aren't used to the kind of cold you're getting at your place....I wonder if the extra heat you are using/needing is bothering your sinuses? If so, a humidifier works wonders.

   More progress made on the medical billing. Good grief. I think a third of my bills is to cover postage for all the ink, paper and postage they use!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 10:58 PM

SRS: Thanks for that link. One more thing to add into a mix that fascinates and concerns me. The author of A Boy Called It went through the most horrible sorts of abuse and became a motivational speaker; Bill Zeller went under. Why do some make it and some .... Another subject for me to ponder some more. -- You really do need to get humidity into your home! That is part of what the hot baths help me with but today's put me out of commission for 6 hours! I'm sure you don't need that. But if you do it before bed?? NEVER, ever heat in plastic!! But you know that! I hope that drain thaws soon!

Michelle: I once received a medical bill erroneously. When I took it in to the clinic, a "suit" informed me, "Oh, this happens all the time. Just call....." The high cost of "health care" is in administrative errors, imo. Good luck with your organizing!! WE are more organized than THEY are, for all the good it does us!

Tomorrow is a new day! We get to start anew.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 12:58 AM

I heated my soup in glass, but in a microwave. Probably not much better than plastic. I'm thinking about getting a double boiler and a toaster oven and using the microwave less.

Taxes are still underway. Dug up medical bills. Also, I used the state and local tax calculator. It gives me the choice of two communities when I bring up my zip code; one is the village where I live, an enclave of Fort Worth that has no commercial activity except the Goodwill and a State Farm insurance office, and Fort Worth, where I do virtually all of my shopping and pay sales tax. If I were so foolish as to choose my village as the place I shop, I'd lose $100 in sales tax credit.

I take the dogs out every couple of hours and make sure they're set for the night so I don't have to get up before dawn. Last night I slept in the front room where the smaller furnace is - I woke up sweating because the dogs were on the futon, close-by my side. Those pooches really crank out the BTUs! I'll probably do that again tonight, and will leave that heater down also, to stay comfortable. I'm using a sleeping bag (inherited from my son, who outgrew it when he topped 6'). No way I'm putting good sheets on the futon with dog hair. Saturday it's supposed to get above freezing.

I have yet another snow day tomorrow - four days off in a week in Texas because of ice is unprecidented. There is a great graphic going around that really does describe what many of us are experiencing. I hope most of you can see it: Southerner's Enjoyment of Snow Over Time.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 10:54 AM

I have several glass nukables I use for just about everything-- casseroles with lids. In the upstrs ofc/kitchen I have a glass saucepan with lid, which I got at a Sal Army, which I also use for everything including eating out of it. The warm glass and the handle make it a great oatmeal dish and that's one less to wash. There's been many a delish and nutrish ramen-based lunch upstrs with that glass pan-- I add good stuff from the mini-fridge and dine on gourmet mini-meals. Because for us, what to eat and when to eat is more important that what to serve it out of.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 05:25 PM

I am uncertain about the perils, or not, of nuking. I do it a lot. I would certainly look at it more closely if I were younger - it just doesn't matter - or if I had children. But my friend Connie does it - in glass only - so I figure it cannot be too bad, She is my benchmark/health and science consultant! I have gotten back to making a thermos of herb tea in the morning, using a pan on the stove. If it were HOT weather...? In PA, I had the distiller and the crock pot on the porch in the summer.

This morning I wrote a four page draft of another approach to the raccoon story. I feel very good about that. I am going to need to consolidate at some point. I am preparing for when the reporter contacts me so I have the raccoons in a row! Also tried to contact the rescue org that did not help us when we needed it. I would like to have it included so others will not have our problem: We had the guys four months and they became so important to us that we still miss them - A LOT! Originally we were only to keep them until they were weaned but we found no where for them to go.

Also googled worm composters as it is a pain to struggle through the deepening snow. I never thought of this when I put the composter there. But I also had not thought of placing a huge portable garage between the back door and the compost - making it a 50-60 foot trip instead of 20 feet and, the way things turned out, I wonder if I am tromping on an important flower bed!

Nice to have a 25F day and some sunshine. Went to pay a bill and bought some groceries.

Hmm, thought of another subject for writing, developing it in my head in bed this morning. I better get it down before I forget again. How I wish, as I have for about 60 years!, that my brain could connect to a machine that would write down my thoughts. Seems I heard a glimmering of that...

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 05:51 PM

I called again to see if the Chevy dealer is open, but there is no answer. Hopefully tomorrow when it's above freezing I'll be able to walk over and drive home (via the grocery store and the post office).

The dogs have been out in the yard for a while; it's still cold, but the sun has melted a lot of snow and ice. These last few days haven't been at all productive, they've been cold and miserable, mainly focused around taking the dogs out every couple of hours and doing things that won't be impacted if the power goes off suddenly. I think we're past that now, so life can move on. I need to think about getting a couple of uninterrupted power supplies (I have one here that is ancient, probably needs a new battery pack, it belonged to my dad).

They did a segment on the Nate Berkus show today about decluttering, but the bulk of the program was preempted for a lengthy and mindless discussion of snow sliding off of Cowboys Stadium. They could have run a crawl across the screen for all the "news" the event engendered. All I can say is that this first Super Bowl for North Texas is probably the last Super Bowl for North Texas. It is snakebit!

The taxes are moving along. I probably will finish them this evening, and I'll make that my goal, to finish them before I head out tomorrow to do anything else.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stringsinger
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 06:03 PM

There is no diet. Just what we as humans elect to eat.

Clutter is hard to deal with for me. My little Calico cat Birdie loves it.
When she and her sister Lily were in their respective cages as kittens,
Lily was neat and tidy and Birdie made a mess of everything. She loves
my studio room as a result. Clutter does mess up the brain, though.

Exercise, if sensible should get the oxygen flowing, the blood and muscles active
and affect mental well-being.

Overdoing exercise, being a jock, beating yourself up as a miler on pavement, lifting too much weight, combat sports, and overexertion is counter-productive, injuries to the legs, knees etc.

Moderation in all things including moderation.

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 09:25 PM

SRS,

I once attended a nutrition seminar at Cornell University. According to the expert panel, microwaving depletes nutrients, more so when actually cooking food vs. reheating.
   

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 09:42 PM

Every so often I hear something new about microwave, and there was something on the radio a week or two ago. I can't remember what program, but the gist of it was how it affects the molecules it heats. In a fashion that isn't good for us. I'll have to poke around and see if there is more.

Taxes still moving along. This year my itemized deductions are not greater than the standard deduction. I could have saved myself a lot of work if I'd known that.

The sun defrosted some of the snow this afternoon, but now it is a hard freeze again and everything that was soft and fluffy earlier is now a hard slick coat of ice. The dogs can spend the daytime outside over the weekend.

Back to taxes. I came in to print up the EIC stuff for line 64a. Slowly getting there. I've been scolding myself for not getting much done during these very cold days, but this task is almost finished and that will be something. Part of the procrastination process is to put off things that you know are possibly going to be negative (pay extra or get a tax refund?) or the discomfort of doing something you know will be expensive (getting the pickup repaired). But I've done both those things this week, so in this, at least, I didn't put it off. I have one more repair on the truck, and I must pace myself, but it isn't as urgent.

Only 12 more lines on this form and I'm finished. (Then I have to file it electronically, but that's kind of fun, once the work is finished.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 01:27 AM

Those tax forms, for every line it seems I need to go find a new publication with a worksheet. But I finished!!! Filled out the online forms and filed electronically. This week was feeling like a non-productive time, with such cold and dark days, but this evening I've broken free of that malaise because the bills are paid and the income taxes are out of the way.

No outdoor work this weekend, it will still be miserable. After the ice comes the mud. I'll work on things around the house, and hopefully I'll get my pickup back in the morning so I can stop by the post office and the grocery store. I'm out of fresh fruit and green stuff after a week stuck in the house. I'm munching the last apple this evening, and it's just this side of mealy.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 09:55 AM

The sun is out, bright on the sparkling frozen world, and will hopefully make short shrift of the ice on the roads. The Chevy dealer has people there this morning and I'll walk over to get my truck after the sun has had time to work (but before noon, because they work a half-day).

I see in my email that the IRS has accepted my electronic return, so my next step is to fill out the FAFSA forms (federal student aid). That's the goal for today, so the kids can keep their paperwork up to date. Good goals, if rather sedentary.

I'll move the carpet from the bedroom where I created the soft landing for dogs coming in the window and use the step stool for doing some step exercises. I'll walk to the dealer this morning, 3 blocks that will be very carefully stepped all the way with the remaining ice.

I've drawn up a frugal budget for myself this month, one to stick with as this year I work to pay off several bills. The first few days of February were almost frozen in place around here, but with the bright sun this morning I feel like I can move forward with some of my activities and make plans. About time!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:15 AM

OK.

SRS: Thanks for not taking my last post in this thread personally (cuz it warn't meant so). It's one of the things I like best about you and your leadership in this thread.

All: GOGOGO!!! OUT OUT OUT!!!! Never EVER think that just because I do not reference your posts I am not reading them and sending encourgaement, cuz Ah usually IZ.

====

Us:

Food/fridge: We're in withdrawal mode from taking out the spare fridge, and the attic stairs are nice and cold and hard to get at, to wean ourselves. Especially useful for stuff to pre-cool before packing for the freezer. In the meantime the K fridge is getting more and more vegetarian-like as time goes by, and each week I add one new veg to the shoplist to put into practice all I'm learning from cooking programs (pls no advice on same).

Water: The friend's spring is on a road that is not open (we looked), and we will be out of potable water in 3 days. Exploring options. Water in any container from peeps coming to church, if they think theirs is safe, is welcome. We have enough fillable jugs loaded in the van to re-up our supply till balmy weather makes the friend's spring accessible. We are also exploring other Potter County options, off the frack map: AM I FRACKED UP?

Laundry: I was sick last week. It's clean. Next is fold and put. Uck. It's a tower of full hampers staring at me.

Blog: 5 or 6 posts left to hang up and crosslink.

Finance: This past month a friend taught me how to TAKE PayPal $$, whoo hoo! One of two books I ordered is here; a support system is in place; home energy svgs are long-solved; other economies planned; long story (no advice here needed).

Friends: A SAD friend has resurrected in time to plan a lunch next week, HOO rah!

SAD: I'se winnin' this year (barely), but OMG is it hard!

Personal: A skin issue that has been screamingly painful for several days is finally scabbed over. It's where I sit. Ydy I was actually able to wear trousers. Hopefully progress will continue.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: mouldy
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:20 AM

Having weighed myself yesterday on my own (digital) scales, I have come to the conclusion that either me or the docs need a new set...There was at least 12lbs difference. One woman at my zumba class says she refuses to get on the ones at the surgery!
Mine used to always be very close to the WW scales.

Tidy up session tonight, as the UK based tribe are all (5 of 'em) arriving tomorrow, and then I have Freya for 4 days, while the adult 4 enjoy themselves on the piste in Aviemore.

Toddler wrangling...what grannies are for, I suppose.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 10:12 PM

If you can't trust the doctor's scale, try on your old clothes. Those are the best way to see if you're down a size or not.

We're in withdrawal mode from taking out the spare fridge . . . I'm in the same mode, Susan. I have a freezer full of stuff, it is mid-winter, and I need to eat what I stored to save the cash for paying for things like the higher electric bill. I need to eat the stuff I stored because it is also healthier! I went shopping today, and some of the things I bought will last for the month. Most of them, actually. In theory, my purchases should be pretty minimal this month. Will help pay for work on truck, to spend less on other things. (Truck now runs great!)

Tonight will be nice, just me in the house. The dogs are comfortable back in their own digs in the garage, and with the freedom to come and go as they need.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: maire-aine
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 11:20 AM

Seemingly out of nowhere we got five inches of snow yesterday. The forecast in the morning was only one or two inches. Yikes! The city plow came by about 2 hours ago, so I dug out the bottom of my driveway.

Not going anywhere today, so I started cleaning out my refrigerator. I've planned my week's meals, and I'm going to try to stick to the plan. Started out with oatmeal for breakfast.

Susan, I recently dealt with a sore spot near the same area. What a relief to get it healed up.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 01:19 PM

This morning I made a cup of tea and sat down to finish the FAFSA before doing anything else. It is now out of the way for the kids. This morning's work was all more of my Conquer Procrastination program. :)

It doesn't look like the Stupor Bowl is going to get snow or rain as they originally predicted. Looks like the town cleared up nicely just in time for the big event. I swept up some sunflower dried seed heads I'd tossed in the driveway snow to see if the birds were interested, but they only seem to like them when they're on the plant in the fall. As long as there is commercial seed around, the local stuff is of no interest. I swept it up and won't put any more out, I'll toss them by the creek and let native sunflowers stabilize the bank.

Another batch of laundry was washed last night and the drain is still backing up a bit, but not as much. I think there must have been a frozen plug at the intersection from the kitchen branch to the main line; I have another load to run today and will continue to monitor it. Meanwhile, in the declutter department, here is the Nate Berkus segment I was watching when the local station interrupted it during the week. It's a segment with Peter Walsh, an "organizing guru." The link should bring up the page where the segment will play, and if you scroll down the page itself you'll see a couple of the earlier segments with Walsh. It doesn't all apply to all of us, but there might be useful tidbits there. This is what I think is most useful for me:

"Cluttered people spend between 15 and 20% of their budgets on things they don't need, lose, or misplace. If you want to give yourself a 20% pay rise, declutter and you'll suddenly start finding stuff at home that you didn't know you had and you're buying duplicates of to replace.

Re: skin stuff, my organic gardening radio program the host was talking about the ways people have used a soak in water with corn meal to be beneficial to skin problems. It's also good for toenail fungus, etc. I'd suggest do like the do with oatmeal for chickenpox and put some coarsely ground cornmeal into a mesh bag and let it soak in the tub for a little while then get in an soak or rinse off liberally with it. Quantities are speculative (for me) but if I were doing it, I'd use a mesh or even muslin bag and put a 1/2 cup to a cup in it, then once it has soaked a little, gently squeeze it to get the corn juice into the water and rinse or soak from there. Scroll down the C page for various corn entries. (File this under "it can't hurt, it might help" if you're not well acquainted with a lot of these organic gardening tips. Howard Garrett is a landscape architect who has been into organic gardening and healthy living ideas for about 25 years now.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Declutter, Exercise, Diet, February 2011
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 09:40 PM

I did a little cleaning out of the old stuff in the fridge because tomorrow is trash day. Tonight I'm planning to watch a movie and I'll fold a couple of loads of laundry while I'm at it, but not so conscientiously as to miss the movie.

The big goals for the weekend, tax and FAFSA were completed, so after a couple of other quick checks online the computer will be turned off so it won't interrupt the movie. I have a couple from NetFlix, I'll toss a coin to see which it is tonight. I've watched enough of Downton Abbey for now.

SRS