Declutter & Accountability - January 2012

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: maire-aine
Date: 16 Jan 12 - 12:11 PM

Something "funky" going on with my Internet Explorer for the last couple of days. I've been getting error messages & it's very slow. I go to my AOL email & it only loads emails in "basic" format. I go to FB and I can read everything, but can't "like" anything, nor can I post anything in "update status". Arghh! There were a couple of updates that ran a few days ago. Any thoughts, SRS?

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 11:31 PM

I set up the Gentle Leader dog walking collar on Zeke and though he wasn't sure at first, it took about 30 seconds for him to ignore it and walk beside me. We all four of us took a walk around the block and he was as good as gold. Also got the dog pillow and gave all three a run at the futon - and they each settled down on a cushion. They're so funny! If there wasn't a cushion there they'd just sleep anywhere. The low tonight is in the 50s so they don't need to come in.

All of the laundry is folded and put away. The dishes will be finished soon. Simple stuff. Tomorrow is a holiday, but I'll find more of this stuff to keep me busy.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 09:21 PM

45 minutes pool: BackHab, Ai Chi, 5 step-ups.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 12:42 PM

SQUEAM ALERT

* Sister has successfully packed and departed apartment, and texted me this AM that she is on the road to Californy (has driver).

* Declut of the day: One Very Large Rat. (see rat thread FMI)

* Activity of the Day:
KidFit with Professor Bounce, have started looking for DVD of series.

* Most fun activity of the week:
Tie: campfire with friends and dog, string-walking stretches with Hardi.

* Office dig-out going very quickly, will be able to do work project on schedule. New shelves bought to hold up existing tall hutch shelf as legs, to create more stowage. Need long 2x12 next for base, and then up it all goes. In my sleep, I figured out how to customize the shelf-legs to the desired height!!!

* Decluttered some boundaries this week as well.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 12:42 PM

we have snow on the ground here so today might be the day i take my geneology cards aand alphabetize them at a restaurant overlookoing the sea

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 11:25 AM

It's funny - these dogs can count. It isn't enough that they have a large futon to sleep on, they ALSO want the extra dog beds on top. He tried to get onto Cinnamon's bed and she scooted in first and curled up. These are about $20 at Big Lots. I am going to get some carpet scraps and use those to created dog places (in the winter they don't enjoy the tile floors as much as they do in the summer!)

Lots to do today. Nothing new in that, is there?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 08:05 AM

I need to get another dog bed A rolled up scatter rug stores nicely and makes a great spare dogbed. What was that song about the sleeping bag rolled up and stashed behind the couch?

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 02:17 AM

Kat, that sounds like a wonderful visit from Morgan. He's such a treasure!

I ran errands this afternoon and stopped by to see Susie. She's very swollen from the trauma, they shaved her head (half had been shaved for the surgery and they asked her son - he said go ahead - it's easier to keep the area clean without hair.) She has a neck brace on until they can determine if her neck is broken and she's in traction for the broken hip and they'll do that surgery probably on Tuesday. After some of the metal hardware is gone they'd do MRIs for the neck and check on the brain swelling. She's not conscious but she does sometimes try to speak or respond.

Two of her children were there, and among other things, they worried that they should find someplace to take care of Zeke after a couple of weeks. I told them he's fine here for the duration - clearly none of them is set up to deal with him, and they're not thrilled at the idea, because they find him too rambunctious. We like him, he likes being with the dogs, the yard is large, and we have a history.

I need to get another dog bed - the two on top of the futon in the living room are firmly the property of my two dogs - I saw him looking at them and the girls curled up before he had a chance to claim on. I'll get one more and put up there - dogs CAN count, and I think they'll figure it out. :)

In other activity, I filed a lot of paper today and culled old documents from files (last year's policies for things, etc.) A load of laundry, dishes done, trash out. Counters clear - must keep this up to keep dogs in their places!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 12:32 AM

mg, have you ever seen a copy of the Caretaker's Gazette? The have sample listings. They have all kinds of caretaking jobs all over the world listed and the subscription is not too high, imo. Might be a good place to look.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 11:55 PM

I can't remember if I said this or not but I plan to look for free rent in exchange for some office and housekeeping chores..not personal or pet care because I have to be able to move about on weekends etc...but it has been at least two years since I lost my second job and I have made absolutely no effort to replace it..partly because sometimes I have to put in extra hours at my main job and partly because I can get wiped out tired..I live in a charming little cabin on a beautiful oceanfront property, but I don't use the property or go through the swamps to the ocean and I hate being cold and not having a bathtub and I also want a dishwasher, washing machine and cable TV so I can watch my infomercials..I get mesmerized by the steam cleaner ones especially..Anyway, I have an ad in the paper and one flyer up but I nheed to do more..put something on Craig's list..

There are a lot of retired people here who have cabins in the back of their main house and they are gone for months at a time..that would be my ideal situation...mg

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 10:22 PM

2 sets of step ups on the high stairs.

Got financial center moved back to attic dorm, sorted priority piles to prep for year-end summaries.

New plan for office shelf build just about set, have half the materials on hand now.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 09:56 PM

At 3 PM this afternoon, we finished a 23 hour Morgan-thon! He came over yesterday afternoon, after school, and spent the night, and the morning, and part of the afternoon! We had a blast, though close to the end, Papa was in sore need of some quiet. :-)

Morgan has always slept on a cot in our room because the living room is so far away from our bedroom and it was a little scary for him. Now that he is eight years old and we have a kid-cuddly dog, he decided to try sleeping in the living room. Cot up against the sofa in case the dog pushed him off or vice a versa, with his sleeping bag and a spare blanket and of course the dog, we told him goodnight and left a nightlight on. He also knew where the flashlight was. He came into our room a couple of times before Roger was in there, telling me he wasn't quite sure and could he please watch some TV. I am of the opinion he watches too much TV at home and he knows that when he comes over here we usually don't watch any television. We might watch a movie on Netflix but no TV, usually. I told him no and asked if he'd like to hear some music. So, out came the Walkman CD player, he's tucked in with his pillow kind of on the dog's rump and that was the last I heard. I was up and down a couple of times, very quietly, and never heard a word. We were so proud of him. He slept the night through and said the dog never left him. One of the dogs at home always sleeps with him too so I'm sure that's part of the reason why he was able to be a big boy and sleep in the living room.

We did a lot of stuff with him last night and this morning, then just before lunchtime we went to the grocery store where I stocked up on fruits and vegetables. Morgan was a very big help bagging up the produce for me and finding stuff for me. After that we bought lunch, came home and ate it. After that he cleaned up all of the stuff he'd had out playing, coloring, etc. and packed up all of the things he brought with him. By the time his parents got here, Mama was ready for a kiss goodbye and a chance to just *stop*! I'm not complaining though. It really was very good time and he behaved so well, it was really neat.

I got in a lot of walking and lifting, doing all sorts of things yesterday and today and I'm pleased to say that, as of today, I have lost 3.4 pounds. That's since I started having the extracted juice I've been making since last Sunday. I'm pretty amazed. I haven't really changed what I have for meals, but my body can really feel the difference in the micro-nutrients which I'm getting. The doctor I saw Thursday was really glad to hear about it.

Ever since I was a little girl I've loved chocolate. I had been very ill as a baby and the doctors told my parents not give me milk, but give me lots more food because that's what I needed. Consequently I didn't like milk, but I loved chocolate. I remember dad coming home one time, when I was a little, with a brand-new product from the store. It was Nestlé's Quik. He said he was sure they could get me to drink milk if it was chocolate milk and he was right. All my life I've always had a little bit of chocolate nearly every day. There are times when I crave it greatly, especially when emotionally upset or or nervous about something.

The juice I made yesterday was not very tasty so I didn't have any made up this morning for my mid-morning sip. About 1p, it suddenly dawned on me that I was absolutely craving some juice. So I stopped prepping all the stuff we brought from the grocery store and whipped up a batch right away. This evening when I was drinking a bit more of it it dawned on me, I have not had any craving for chocolate in a week or two. I could still eat it, but I do not have to absolutely have it. Instead my body is craving the juice and, boy am I grateful. My whole outlook, moods, energy levels, and mindset have improved greatly.

Tomorrow, it's back to the usual Sunday chores: dishes, change the sheets, laundry, and vacuuming. Oh! And I have to do some dusting. It's really getting thick.

Oh, and I almost forgot: Friday morning I heard a kind of weird hissing sound, followed it down the hallway to where the furnace and hot water heater are. At first, I couldn't really see anything, so I turned off the furnace and called Roger. While I was on the phone with him I got a flashlight took another look and saw water running down the sides of the hot water heater. Roger rushed home from work, crawled under the house, getting entirely muddy in the process, and then left to go buy a new one. Isn't that the way? Seems our homes or cars always know when we have a little bit of extra cash. Roger had just done some freelance work for which he'd been paid. Half of it went to the hot water heater and the other half supplemented what we had for the house payment. *groan* Though we grumbled a bit, we both were very grateful that we were able to take care of things.

Any other time up to now, that would have caused me to call my daughter and tell her that we had to cancel our plans with Morgan but, because of the way I'm feeling, we were able to carry on.

I know this might seem like a long catch up, but I wanted to share the good news with you all. Thanks for listening,

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 09:54 AM

This is the first weekend without kid stuff in a month, but it brings it's own issues nonetheless. Oven mitt in the middle of the kitchen floor tells me that one of the pointy-tailed elves patrolled house last night. :-)

My credit card consolidation went through this week. Now to pay off the one that is left. Taxes loom - as long as I have kids in college they need to be completed as soon as possible in the year because of the FAFSA. eBay will help with the card payoff so I need to get past all of the distractions and start listing stuff. The sun room is more clear since I recycled a bunch of the boxes in there.

It should be sunny and warmer this weekend, so there is some yard work to do. A friend on facebook remarked that she had a yard full of leaves and did any of us know someone who could come rake? Yes! A neighbor I've known almost since I moved in here. He and his wife take a walk at least once a day, across the bridge and up the hill past us. We talk every so often and have shared produce, plants from the garden, etc. He helped answer questions for Spanish speaking folks during our garage sale last fall and mentioned he was looking for some casual work to supplement his wife's income - he has had trouble getting work. When I first saw them on those walks he was wearing a huge back brace and walking with a walker - but still out every day. He'd broken his back at work, and had some surgeries. He can do the manual work now - and with maturity has the steady pace that compensates for swiftness. Two years ago he completely remodeled their house - new roof, siding, carpentry, painting. He keeps going, even if he can't get a job, so I was glad to recommend him. They arranged for the job on Monday. Nice to help both friends this way!

Better get moving.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 08:50 AM

Yesterday I vacuumed, did dishes (how is it they pile up so quickly?!?!), cleaned off the kitchen table, balanced the checkbook, picked up all the toys from the day, filled our pill containers and have decided to talk to my doctor about getting rid of some of them that I don't think are necessary any more, recreated one of my favorite recipes that was about 15 points per serving down to 2 points (oh yes I did!!!) and had that with some tomato soup for a lovely lunch (Pete worked from home yesterday so it was nice to have some company) and then had a 5 hour nap. LOL. What can I say? It was a busy week and I was wiped out!!

Happy Saturday! We're off to pick up a double dresser...an online yard sale SCORE!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 01:11 AM

SRS, sounds like you have a full plate!

Today was probably the last day in the PT pool and it was a very good (long) session with HR where it is supposed to be, much encouragement from a variety of sources, and some fun peer talk with a fellow hard worker. We found a coiple of new baselines for my workoputs at my own pool and did some good planning for the dry clinic next week.

PTist concurs that any good land thing is better at this point than working out too much at home-- she's very good for slowing me to reasonable paces of progression. Some new step-up strategies to be sure I donpt hurt myself, etc.

Hardi and I have embarked on a new weekly (or oftener) activity, doing some silly kids; games during hockey intermissions. More about that next time. Good, gentle movement for muscles stiff from the day's PT tho. And FUN!

Brekky today was heavenly. We had Trucker's Brekky (steak and eggs, home fries, wheat toast), except that I had crab cakes instead of the steak, and the dippy eggs on top. OMG YUM! A smidge of tartar sauce.

Hardi ate his whole platefull, and I are one of the two crab cakes-- and some carbs because we were on the way to the PT appt. and I knew a hard aqua-run was ahead of me-- it turned out to be 38 minutes cardio on the aquatic treadmill.

After the PT appt I had half of the leftover crab cake, and then we did a long shopathon at WalMart (my oat bead on sale, YAY!). Then when we got back I polished off the other half of the crabcake. Dinner later was red cargo rice (a variety of brown), with stir-fried chicken and bok choy. The rice had been cooked about half and half with kale (or maybe collards), and spinach, and then stirred with a spoonful of fat free greek yogurt to cream it up. Deelish!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 01:05 AM

The kitchen is clean. One thing about having Zeke here, I have to stay on top of dishes and trash or he'll get into them. He really is a softy, used to staying indoors when it's cold out. It should be down to freezing tonight, so I'll let them in - my girls will sleep on the futon and he'll head for the leather lounger. They'll be outside again at first light.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 05:22 PM

That video isn't visible in the US. Darn!

There is a lot of interesting science about how we metabolize food. A striking example is the diabetes in American Southwest tribal people - they were accustomed to a sparse desert food supply, so when the American high-carb diet came the sugars produced quickly overwhelmed their systems.

Last night I lowered the futon for the dogs (all three) and closed the bedroom doors to keep Mr. Zeke off of the human beds. He still wasn't happy, so during the night moved into the leather recliner. I'd blocked the sofa access with a diningroom chair, intentionally leaving this one open. I'll let him sleep there - he'll have the least impact and it is a compromise. No couch, no beds, just a comfy chair.

My virtual decluttering is underway this afternoon. I was tired last night so decided to not start this file moving from C: to D:. But today I'm in the process and it will relieve the problem of a crowded C: drive (we're talking red zone crowded!)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 03:12 PM

Just want to quickly share this Latest Nature of Things: "Programmed to be fat" . It was very interesting. Of course, I think that because it, in part, upholds my self-learned theory that the toxins keep m from losing weight:

Latest Nature of Things: "Programmed to be fat"

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 12:03 AM

Got an update this evening, it is going to take Susie a while to get over all of the trauma of today. I've been dog-proofing the house this evening. Not for my dogs, they know the rules and it is set up fine for them. But it looks like Zeke will be here indefinitely, so I called a friend who has had Labrador retrievers for years and asked for some tips. If he's going to be here for months then we need to go about setting the rules - I need to be the pack leader for him, also, not the day camp counselor that I have been. :-/

He pulls off of his leash (a collar martingale) sometimes, so I was thinking about getting one of the "easy walk" martingales like I use on the pit bull, but actually she thinks the Gentle Leader (like I use on the catahoula) would be better.

She suggested that I establish a tub or bin for his toys - and once I know what his favorite toys are, keep them there. I'll go up to the house and find some and bring them back down. She also suggested getting a big piece of carpet remnant and make it his in the front room - he will adjust to sleeping on that bed with the dogs, I'm sure (during cold weather) but if I make a point of giving him a rug that I can move around when needed, that will help. Also maybe learn some of the hand signs - I had a trainer work with my two years ago and I only remember one hand sign. I may have to give her a call and ask for some tips.

I'm not complaining - Susie has the hard job ahead, getting better. My role is this is to take care of Zeke so she doesn't have to worry that no one could take him. He's safe until she's ready to get back to her house.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 11:09 PM

Thanks for asking, SRS. Yes, she's settled in pretty well, though she'll still let anyone come in the house or yard with nary a word unless they have a pet with them! Not alert dog material. We may watch for anther as a companion for her and more *alert*.:-) Otherwise, she is wonderful and worships Morgan.

I am not sure why the things in Photoshop that I have done would need to be enlarged. It's what I used for the cover of WindWords, both print back in 2004 and e-book this year. Maybe it's because I use the dimensions of the provided template. I am not familiar with the other programs you mentioned.

Had a great visit with the new pulmonologist. I really like and trust her! We are the right track!

kat

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 08:44 PM

She's in ICU for probably a week, the most pressing problem is a head injury. Oh, my. I'll wait to go see her, they don't need me underfoot for the time being.

We have a long weekend coming up - anyone doing anything special, or just staying in and staying warm?

Kat, I meant to ask, has Luna completely settled in? Has she gotten past the shy times when she wasn't sure about people or how to act?

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 07:58 PM

2 sets of ten step-ups on the high stairs.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 02:24 PM

Working on things that don't require much computer firepower this morning. I'm waiting for the backup to finish - it's up to 79% now. Taking more than 12 hours.

Oh my - interrupted by a call - Susie's daughter called - she was hit by a car in the parking lot at work this morning - it was slow moving, but still extreme pain in hip, eye swollen (she had surgery 2 weeks ago), and she doesn't recognize anyone. I went up to the house and got Zeke and his food, and will hold down the fort here.

The week just took on an ominous look.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 12:43 PM

I had a wonderful evening last night-- an actual SOCIAL EVENING (Hardi had to miss it boohoo), where church was NOT DISCUSSED. I actually can't recall the last time that occurred, even at family events... It might not have in the last, oh..... however many years that is, since 1992! Oh, yeah-- relief-- visits to son and DIL are usually non-church-talk (upside) but do not offer any other adults to meet (downside). I made a new friend, Faulkner had a great time too, and it involved movement I can only do now thanks to PT and TBTG so it replaced the planned evening workout quite nicely.

Today is the catchup day where I am taking care of the billing for the PT and planning the wellness seasonality for 2012. I included calendar prompts to resume some key activities in case I forget. I'm worry less about WHY my memory is sometimes so unreliable and doing more about it.

We added the winter "portapottie" to the van in case we get stuck on Bloss Mountain again this year for 3-4 hours. (Last week I heard of someone else that happened to, very recently.) It's an empty TidyCat plastic bucket we got via FC, which is also narrow enough to fit into the space left by the boondocking cot I may use yet this winter.

I also have a twin down comforter to allocate to the boondocker for sleepage and/or winter emergencies; the cot is already in it for a Feb. work thing.... travels in the south end of the Diocese sometimes allow boondocking when it's too cold up home, but when I'm not 'docking there are always friendly churches I can bunk in and the bucket also makes a nice gear-tote.

Tomorrow is the last visit to the PT pool for the foreseeable future. I am planning a gift and have an item to print for it and a craft activity for later using what I print, that will involve a stair-climb.

Dinner is 90% made so that means more OFFICE time, YAY!

I'm reading a neat Harriet Lerner book my priest recommended that includes a little family systems stuff. I liked the part about how we actually benefit from the same dysfunctional behaviors other system members display toward us.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 11:53 PM

Kat, the thing about Photoshop that was reinforced when I was working on Bobert's cover is that just because you can add text in Photoshop, if it is enlarged at all, it gets rough edges. I'm only beginning to use Illustrator, but a friend who works in a print shop was telling me some about it, and this is why I've wanted to start using it. If you put in text in Illustrator then save it as an outline it essentially saves the text in such a way that it doesn't get those rough edges if it is enlarged (raster/vector graphics).

Tackling paper tonight. I got a lot out of the way last week, but this crept up into the office and settled on a number of flat surfaces. Other household chores like the dishes are finished, so the rest of the evening will go to clobber paper before I set my computer to (once again) back up the C: drive.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 07:05 PM

It's cold here and has been for a week or so. There is even a biting wind this evening. Luna didn't get as long of a session with the ball-throwing this evening. She did a good job of watching while I got in ten minutes of stretching and walking in the house, though.:-)

I worked all morning on the cover for Prairie Child; learned how to do some things in Photoshop which I should have known years ago. Yesterday, I redid all of the chapter titles in the BookBrewer e-book file and also tried to do some CD cover for my brother. Can't do it. It needs a real artist, so I emailed a friend to get a quote.

Laundry is ongoing, it seems. Juice has been wonderful. I made up my own blend this morning and it was delicious:


1/2 pear
1/2 kiwi
handful of parsley
1 cucumber
few sprigs of mint
one green apple

Yum!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:52 PM

It was a great walk in lovely warm weather. Our last for a while, it's supposed to get cold tomorrow and stay that way. My lawn needs mowing again, it hasn't been so cold for so long to kill off winter grass or weeds. Ironic that I'm mowing now and didn't mow all summer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 04:20 PM

Half the last pool workout, minus the BackHab.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 02:36 PM

It is rather exciting to learn new things - I've used this CD cover to make inroads into using Illustrator. It's not like I know nothing about it - all of these programs are linked. But when I found that I could make it look like a program I was much more familiar with (InDesign) it all fell into place. Interestingly, I was first looking through Illustrator, then felt really sleepy and took a nap and it just kind of slipped into place. I woke and realized I knew what it would look like and how it would work. Power nap indeed! :-D

Working on lots of stuff, don't know if I'll finish anything.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 02:10 PM

SRS: That book looks very interesting. I'll keep an eye out for it. Do NOT buy books on principle that they breed like rabbits. Having said that, I need to go message a couple people on FB; I bought a bunch of books to give away on living with wildlife and two copies of Starling North's classic raccoon book. All sent to a friend in Ohio - the border thing. Now she needs to send them to two addresses in US - and gets to keep one of each for herself. Right after I finish here.

The carb question: we just read The Paleo Solution - our ancestors ate almost no carbs until them became farmers. So that and the articles in the journal, and I, agree with Mary, and other's. Wheat seems to be a BIG one in our culture. Suspect many more re sensitive to it than those obvious- Celiac, etc. A friend states that one piece of WW bread and she is tired within an hour; one piece of white bread and it is the next day. In any case, if we feel tired we tend not to do as much, metabolism drops, weight goes up?

In spite of my best efforts R and I have been dealing with a bug. I saw mine coming and scotched it with larger doses of Pau d'Arco. R was too busy, overworked and underslept - spent yesterday in bed, ate lightly and took large doses of Pd'A and C. Much better today. We went out for a fancy breakfast and he finally went off to work about noon.

I arranged for internet at the cabin - go out tomorrow for tech to set it up. Had a phone call from a scammer - five of them! He refused to quit. I phoned credit card company and asked what they were doing to alert people. A lame, "it's on our website" Phoned Bell; waste of time. Posted on FB page the link to do not call/canada - after I found it and registered. Also my fury. This creep even phoned again after I made my phone calls, trying to keep the phone busy so he could not get through. "You hung up on me! That's rude!" I hung up again. I wonder how many people a day he scams.

Like SRS, the decluttering I need to do is the mess in my computer. I back up often but do not take enough time to remove stuff. Did some of that yesterday; will do more today - or maybe tomorrow while I wait for tech - or both!

10F put there. 60 in here! I need to walk to store for veggies so I shall bundle up and do so - soon while it is warmest? After I put sheets in washer and send those messages but before I get hungry and eat the wrong stuff.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 11:48 AM

Meditation and qi gong this morning. Down another pound.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Janie
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 10:43 PM

Ya'll are wearing me out!

Have a sick teenager cluttering up the place but last night was able to do some work on closing out the private books for 2011 and preparing end-of-year statements for clients who need them. Then stayed up way too late reading the last of the Jean Auel series. Slept well however.

Too well. The alarm rang for 30 minutes this morning before I heard it.

Tonight I have done nothing but answer e-mails.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 10:17 PM

I have to finish Bobert's cover art to send out tomorrow (he misunderstood which printed pieces could be included with the cover he chose, so I'm moving some things around and creating a tray liner for clear back on the case - he thought the back was black.) Between us we can just about get this job done. :)

I was going to move the folders (My Documents, My Pictures, etc.), but have decided first that since I've had an external hard drive sitting in a box on the floor for months I ought to use it. I'm making a backup of the computer and THEN I'll move the folders. Moving day may come tomorrow because it takes a while for all of this to move (clone) to the new site.

I'm sure I need to log out of all programs to do this, so I'll switch to the laptop for the time being.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 10:17 PM

My car has been dead since before Christmas which has made running errands somewhat difficult. Today I got my car to the shop where they gave me a loaner car and I ran several errands. I just might have my own computer back by the end of the week!!! Made a stop at the bank and at the YMCA.

:)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 07:15 PM

...resurrected an old thread...

Ah yes, the wisdom we stored up, when we had it, against the days when we might not recall it. I look back more often than one might guess, to see what I used to know. :~)

===

OK, it was a bangup day, with step-ups thrown in via steep stairs. The PT equivalent would be at least 3 sets of 10-- the usual-- but more like 4 and with higher steps, too. Plus active-rest eq's of some upper body stuff I currently do with DVD, when I've been sitting too long.

===

What I have to show for it in decluts is:

~ Significant office re-org progress including adding light where there was dark and too much thereof.
~ Huge "landing room" progress where a catch all of the Xmas season made me really NUTS. Each item that left today involved a lot of walkies. Each item went where it was SUPPOSED to go, not where it could be easily shoved into TomorrowLand.
~ Some work projects advanced.
~ A new computer-calendar/anti-forgetting thingie, so I remember to take things WITH me when I go places where things were supposed to GO.
~ Decluttered a FCer who was ragging on me for no cause whatsoever just like some of the old Mudcat days. My conclusion: There is no such thing as toxic people-- just our toxic reactions TO them. I politely wished her well in her future endeavors, and wished myself well in mine. The item she talked me out of giving her will go elsewhere, hassle-free. :~)
~ Up in the old Mudcat Dorm, vacated by housemate just before Xmas bless her heart, some furniture moved back where I wanted it and some where I had always wanted to try it out (NICE!).
~ A number of new Dorm projects for the cordless drill/driver were spotted. Seems the visiting housemate's kids/grandkids wreaked a little havoc no one took care of before they left. I will pay myself for this little set of inconveniences via the cute sneakers they also left, which now will go to my next yard sale instead of the parish thrift shop.
~ One of my work responsibilities may pass in whole or in part to someone else, per dates I had set awhile back. So the re-org is also an opportunity to ensure that my files and resources are in good order, in the event I get some help (or a new gig to replace this one). Also, separately, I finally found the intern I've been praying for these last 15 years. "Oh THERE he is!!!" :~)
~ The bedding got augmented for winter temps now that the real cold appears to (sort of) be here.

===

What I have to show for it in fitness scheduling is:
~ A more realistic idea-- to report to the PT Friday-- about that second workout each day I undertook... a great goal but I'm not there yet.
~ By the time the pulse-oximeter arrives I should be better able to get that second one in-- on actual machines instead of on my feet doing chores.
~ OTOH I get more done every day and also am less breathless every day, so it's all good.

===

What I have to show for it in general wellness is:
~ Per goal, there was more book and a LOT less TV/internet today. Faulkner approves, and so do I. Hardi and I will celebrate that tonight with the beginning of a new couples' study that is just for US.
~ Per plan, there was plenty of good fud to eat up in the office, and many mini-meals were easily prepared and consumed.
~ I hope not to be up half the night again with stomach waking me up to feed the salamander: http://www.garagehowto.com/salamander-heater.html
~ A couple invited us to a NON-MINISTRY, SOCIAL evening tomorrow night. (What is THAT!?!?!?) Hardi has to work. I'm going! And it will be cold there! And I have a metabolism now to keep me warm!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 12:13 PM

Working on some virtual clearing - moving data from C: to D: drive. It has been a while so I've resurrected an old thread (on which I offered answers about a previous OS). What goes around comes around. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 11:43 AM

SRS, yes on fone.... mine would always time out on the long thread-load last month. CAN post, but time......?

===

Aaargh, recurring bladder infections-- had to cancel PT this AM but then that will allow for more stair-climbing which is what the PT would have been mostly about today, and only I will REALLY care if I pee the stairs! :~) For a start I can run up a couple of antibiotics-- I keep forgetting the bedtime dose that sits by my chair down here. And more office clearing, YAY!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 11:24 AM

Meditation and qi gong this morning.

SRS, the goat is in heaven whenever she sees Rog come out the backdoor with leftovers.:-) Sometime, I will save the pulp and try some of their soup recipes. Might get Rog to try more that way.

Had an adjustment from my osteopathic doc, yesterday. She couldn't believe how good my colour looks, noticed the weight loss, and also was very pleased with how my lower legs look. even though, I've always been careful about salt, with juicing I am now doing even less and it shows. I think they may have to adjust the meds, soon.:-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 10:29 AM

The phone is not the way to post here, I was testing the browser function. Knowing one can do it and actually wasting time browsing via phone are two different things.

Mary, I have most sugar out of my diet and try to keep the carbs low each day. Multi-grains, non-wheat grains, etc. I'm working on keeping more fruit and vegetables and good quality proteins in my diet.

Soy is also problematic in some non-cultured forms.

What are you hearing (beyond the sales hype) about products like this? Dr. Ohhira advertises on the organic gardening program I listen to and the host offers testimonials. If nothing else, they are expensive (Amazon has 60 for $34). I eat good quality yogurt and some of those come with a variety of cultures beyond the main one that is used.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 01:58 AM

I agree, Mary. Carbs are a big problem. This is a test from my phone.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 01:03 AM

Well, sugar scares me too but not half as much as starches...we evolved to be able to metabolize small amounts of sugar via berries, fruits, honey etc. We did not evolve....most of us..Mediterranean people perhaps being an exception...to digest processed starches..people in ancient times really probably did not go around eating grasses...when they started to, like in Egypt, their health plummeted. L And he goes on about your body quits producing insulin when you are diagnosed iwth Type 2 diabetes..not necessarily...often insulin scores are way high...mine was 5 times what it should be...still not in a good range...we produce too much insulin, not too little...and it is nothing short of malpractice when a health person tells you otherwise without actually checking your insulin levels. You can do it in a simple blood test. It costs about $30 extra if they mjake you pay for it;. Pay for it. It supposedly is the most predictve score for future heart disease there is..

Assume the worst about sugar and high fructose corn syrup. I do not think it is benign. I think small amounts of sugar are OK for mostpeople, but notwhen mixed with starches, such as in cookies, cakes etc..OK in a bit of dark chocolate or high fat ice cream. Watch the processed (don't worry if simple or complex..pretty much the same to the body because complex means starches and they break down almost instantly to sugars) and ground up starches. Some people are OK with whole grains etc..some people can't handle those. Look to beans, lentils etc.

I am totally for a dual food stamp program to reduce the amount of purchasing people can do with them...but allow for a few treats. A major amount of money with specific foods that can be purchased, similar to WIC. A small amount for treats, sugary things, cokes etc. I think this would increase the health of people quickly. Worst combination of foods would be transfat, white flour, ;high fructose corn syrup, white sugar. Sounds like a cake mix? A store cookie..a doughnut. mg

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 12:30 AM

Dorothy, that's an interesting article - and one of those very long ones that the New York Times is so good about running. I'll finish reading it tomorrow. I recently got Taube's book Good Calories, Bad Calories after hearing him interviewed on a local NPR radio program.

Busy beginning to the day with a drive to the airport in a steady rain. Work around the house this afternoon and a lovely dinner with a friend who is in town for a few weeks, staying here for another week or so then heading to Dallas to stay with her other daughter. I'm kind of an adopted daughter - she has a large extended family this way!

Kat, you're going to spoil the neighbors' goats rotten with all of the produce pulp you have left over!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 12:10 AM

Today: realized I was totally exhausted yesterday! No wonder I never made it to the library. So did that today - walked about 8 blocks round trip plus two flights up. R had my car. Computer, reading, went to International Folk Dancing for an hour but new instructor spent most of time talking. We only did one dance. I came home and watched Little Mosque on the Prairie and Redemption which looks like it will be a very interesting series. I "need" the TV and VCR I gave away on Whidbey - I could record when not home. Will watch Craigslist.

Excellent article on sugar in NYT magazine:
Is sugar toxic?

This is related scientifically to the ones I saw in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on the effect of high fat diet on hypothalamus - long term.

precis

"Glucagonocentric restructuring of diabetes: a pathophysiologic and therapeutic makeover"
"Obesity is associated with hypothalamic injury in rodents and humans"

I found these three concepts and research very interesting as a help in understanding the problem of weight difficulties.

Of which: I felt I was eating very carefully the last couple weeks and gained two pounds. Just have to look harder at what I am doing here.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 07:55 PM

Oops, I overdid it again, but I did get the office desk cleared afterwards.

90 minutes of Ai Chi stretch, Backhab core work, aqujogginf with ski, high knees, and intervals, more Ai Chi to stretch out, and step-ups in shallow water.

That Reebok fleece coverup was GREAT!

The salamander is coming on-- I could eat a horse (and won't)!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 12:41 PM

Meditation and qi gong this morning. Houseplants watered, one load of laundry done, emails answered, as well as PMs, and made up a delicious cup of new juice with red grapes, one golden delicious apple, a small piece of ginger, and blackberries. Yummy!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:52 AM

My new daily schedule (up earlier, more books/less TV) began this AM with a wonderful hour spent in office-land (Presbytera World), waking up to Hardi's latest helpful addition to the desk skirt (he snuck it in there), and envisioning how I want it when friend V comes to help.

Later this aftn I will clear off the huge desk surface, so I can get some work done even tho friend-help not due for several weeks. It all goes into a reclaimed bin friend V will help organize, and under the skirt!


Now it's off to the scheduled pool workout. When I get back it's upstairs with this missy for a good read and desk-clearing, up in that sunny, bright office-- facing the BLUE-SKY, western window.

Among my ruminations will be spotting the way the church year flows and where my best windows of opportunity are for the other ministries in which I take the lead. (One of them heated itself up over the weekend, leaving me a lot of opportunities to harvest in office-time!) I don't need to declut the schedule/commitments-- just see the seasons of it better than I have been seeing them.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:41 AM

It's been a productive morning here. The dishes are done, a pot roast is in the crock pot with lots of carrots and onions, scraps are in the chicken bucket, laundry is going, toys are picked up, Christmas gifts from yesterday's non-adventure are put away and I'm working on our budget/getting things paid. I also had a tri-axle of wood delivered this morning with a very pleasant chatty fella. It's always nice when people who come to your home to deliver a service are friendly! :) Also, I unloaded the playpen this morning which had become a catch all while the Christmas tree took it's usual spot.

Getting things done sure does feel good!


Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Janie
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 08:04 PM

No where to put additional shelves, Maggie. I've had shelving built where there was room for it in closets.

I don't have a garage or basement and my little garden shed is just big enough to stow most of the garden stuff and house the lawn mower. My house is quite small - 1100 sq. ft., and poorly configured. Stuff that normally would be shelved in a garage or basement has to find homes in one of the closets or be tossed after a project, only to be purchased again for the next project. Today I decided to keep the 4 unopened plastic drop clothes, wood filler, spackling compound, sandpaper, caulk and caulking gun, wipe rags, etc. In the top of a closet. Along with some random hardware that I will eventually need. But they may really need to go. They are taking up space that could be used to store stuff like light-bulbs, duct tape or office supplies for my private practice.

I think my comment about the attic and flooring was confusing. The attic is not suitable for significant storage - Not high enough to stand up even at the ridge, and accessible only through a small trapdoor with drop-down ladder. There are planking or small plywood sheets over the joists and insulation in the immediate vicinity of the trap door. I've stored what I can there. The rest is uncovered insulation between joists. Anything stored beyond that bit that is already covered would be inaccessible to me given my physical limitations, even if there was some sort of flooring. And if I don't anticipate needing to get to it, there is no point in keeping it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 05:02 PM

I think that film was turned out in 3D, wasn't it? That would be worth the trouble to go see. I hope you enjoy it!

Moved all of my files back to the dining room table, along with the laptop. I'll spend some time on the next spreadsheet this afternoon. When I need to get up and walk around it will be on some other chore. The kitchen is looking great, so it's other stuff that needs doing that will get attention. I should walk the dogs also.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & Accountability - January 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 03:30 PM

Good for you, Michelle. It is so good to spend time on taking care of ourselves first.

SRS, you have had a busy weekend. Hope you had a good visit.

I didn't get much sleep last night due to a stuffy nose. Finally gave up about 6 AM and got up about seven, though we intended to sleep in. I surprised myself though. After breakfast I felt energized and vacuumed half the house. That's a first for me in about 1 1/2 to 2 years! I've also done two more loads of laundry and vacuuming included Roger helping me take the couch cushions off and vacuumed up all of the dog debris. She is a hairy mutt!

I copied out more juice recipes from the Reboot site and made a grocery list. We then went to the store where I walked for about 45 min. gathering up more goodies. When we came home I did a bit more vacuuming, Roger did the usual: litter box, trash, and might get to the dishes which are soaking.

With our new gathering of food, we tried out another juice which they call V8. I guessed at how much to cut the recipe down because we didn't want to make too much, didn't want to bother with actual calculations. Anyway we got a very pretty reddish – pink juice which did not taste at all like the V8 we're all used to. I'm sure I didn't get the amounts correct, but I still liked it, though Roger did not. It had in it: one beet root, 1 plum tomato, 1 carrot, a half batch of parsley, and four radishes. I added one green apple which made it taste better.

I have some more recipes I'll try throughout this week. I will definitely be making another batch of the first one I tried. I woke up and found myself craving it last night and I can really feel the effects it's having on my body. I was down another 4 ounces this morning.

I may still get out the garden hose sprayer, a special small line made for use inside for houseplants, and give them all a good washing. Right now were going to watch a Werner Herzog documentary on that ancient cave in France. I was delighted to find Netflix has it.

Scratch that. Looks like I am going to go throw the ball for the dog, first.:-)