Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 11:10 PM

Maggie, thanks for the offer, but I know I have all the bits and pieces that I need, just need to locate them. And now I can't procrastinate taking care of stuff.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 10:44 PM

Tami, I can send you one of the spare ones around here. PM or facebook me your new address. Meanwhile, your camera should have a cable that you can connect to your computer, if you know where that is.

I started the new thread here.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 07:24 PM

200!

I need to get my butt in gear going through and organizing the rest of the boxes from the move. When my old laptop self-destructed and I wasn't able to afford a new one, a friend got me a replacement. It doesn't have nearly the bells and whistles the dead one did, but that's OK, it was a gift. A gift I'm happy to have. However, one of the bells and whistles that I'm missing is a card reader for my camera's SD card. I have a USB card reader...somewhere. In one of the boxes. And the box isn't labeled. Guess maybe this is a glass half-full opportunity here, find the rest of my camera gear and get stuff organized and put away all at once.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 05:12 PM

Well, trip to two grocery stores and library happened. Came home with weighty books on pottery in both French and English - I can understand the pictures! And 5 DVD, in hopes a couple will be good.

Cleared the front steps and the car before leaving. About 2 inches of slush. WE may get some sun on Tuesday. Temps hovering in the vicinity of freezing - little above, little below.

Late lunch and too sleepy to do much. No pots made today. The energy will probably rise again in a while. Table has to be cleaned.

Kat's situation is horrendous. On my heart. I am feeling very fortunate.

News item: A school building will be demolished: it would cast $4 million to repair. A new one will be built for $16 million.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 12:22 PM

I had hoped to be off this by 11 but that video was monumental. Shared! Maybe someone else will be inspired.

Started cleaning up a mess - inexplicable (a foot wide space along the back, against the wall, of the kitchen table - but I started! Another hour, later, will do it. For some reason there is a board with a cloth on it. Then I put a clean cloth on it and it got cluttered with stuff - and mouse manure. Nasty job getting the----- OK, so I just need to take everything off MY cloth and start over. Why didn't I think of that? YAY! Later.

Yesterday I managed to put the pieces of one teapot together and one honey pot. They look good. My shoulder started hurting and I messed up a would have been teapot. Another was not damp enough so I re-moistened and wrapped it again. Maybe today. Great hint on clayart today about getting a whole bag of clay re-moistened. Need to find a bucket and try that with one bag that is too hard. Hope for today is to make a few small pots. And go to the cafe in St. Isidore to hear John Speed.

But now - a few groceries, and the library to find more DVDs for the weekend. Maybe Canadian Tire for a bucket. Hate buying them but have not found any in trash this year, yet.

Happy last day of February! So quickly life is flying by.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 13 - 11:50 AM

It looks plenty hard! Keep up the good work, Michelle.

Went to bed early last night, got up at my normal time. I guess I really needed it!

I see a couple of preliminary bids on my eBay auctions. Good! Getting things moving again.

Drinking my tea this morning I find my teeth are suddenly very sensitive to heat and cold. And I find the onion bagle with poppy seeds that I had with breakfast made my gums feel battered. I haven't had a bout of gingivitis for a long time, but I suspect one is creeping up on me. Time to gargle with salt water, cut out all of the sugar, and hope it passes quickly. I've been aware of way too much sugar in the diet recently, time to go cold-turkey and after a couple of days of craving stuff (that I don't have in the house now) I'll get back on my old diet. There has been way too much junk food around lately, mostly at work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 05:25 PM

The guy in the video followed a program that is available to purchase. He also had a personal trainer. Any healthy, balanced diet would have accomplished the weight loss with an active vinyasa such as he was practicing. I practice Pranakryia yoga with a slow sun salutation vinyasa, sometimes holding poses at length instead of a continuous flow.

Much harder than it looks.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 04:10 PM

His weight loss was a little fast to be safe for most cardiac patients, I think. But it is great to see him get to his goals. I'd have liked more info about what he did (in addition to the yoga) to achieve them.

Today I cleared snow and slush from the ramp without help. It took two trips (TBTG I split the job up), but that is more than I could do last time there was that much snow. I almost look forward to the next few days' worth of snow because again, that ramp is the best $$ I ever spent on fitness equipment and it is just large enough not to be easy yet short enough to be DOable.

I hope to start outpatient PT next week. FB friends will be able to see the rest of the fitness journey, there, now that I have a system going within FB where I can upload my stats. I love stats! Maybe the March chart will be in Excel!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 03:56 PM

I don't have any near as much the physical challenge or the weight to lose - it is possible. I need to set a goal for next fall. Like going to the Getaway or something, and resolving to be fit and at my best weight by then.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Feb 13 - 12:06 PM

Pretty amazing video, huh?

:)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:36 PM

I've seen that several times over the last year and never fail to be inspired by his persistence and success in overcoming physical challenges.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:34 PM

Time for a energizing reminder of what can be done if you keep at it with patience and a goal. Michelle put this up on her facebook page but there wasn't a place to "like" it since it was someone else's link, so I found it on YouTube.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 06:51 PM

Feeling really crappy-- I think nerves are reenerating and that's taking calcium and energy, but I was cusrious in the AM ramp laps how far, total, I have logged out thre, so Greg and I just did the math:

FEB 2 TO DATE:
272 laps x 100'/lap=27,200'
That equals 5.15 mi total over 26 days
Daily average .2mi/day = 1056'/day avg.

I need to pick a fantasy goal to shoot for, with all this mileage.... "Marching to....?"

I do not even know where I want to go. I MUST be tired! Oh well-- out for more laps!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 05:29 PM

Finding the right stuff for sewing projects becomes more and more challenging. I keep an eye out for good elastic, for example, at the thrift stores.

I am about 50/50 in country and city, although I spent the whole summer in the country except for laundry trips. The lovely room upstairs (city) with all that useless Victorian furniture - OK to look at but who wants to live in a museum. I want comfort and organization. Guess I would try harder if I did not have to go out one door and in the other to get there. At the moment it is a rudimentary pottery studio and I hope I will use it more often now that I am feeling better. When it is warm enough! I went up to water the plants a couple days ago and in the back room - I had hung a heavy drape over the door to keep the front room warm - Plant froze. The front is probably Ok with the weather around the freezing point.

Came back from country yesterday to - to be here for R! Supper and TV, reading and computer. I am still working on processing very heavy feelings/45 years of memories. Long talk with a sensible friend today and short messages to a couple family members to alert them that MAYBE they could help. I've done what I can for now so maybe I can make a few pots. Sensible friend also had some glaze colours she would like me to try. My connection with the two clay people sites have helped a great deal with ideas, suggestions for better ways of doing things, problem solving and good old encouragement. Very exciting.

My brain is doing better, realizing simple things - use the telephone! Phone people! (I have not been.) Watch movies on that DVD player I bought last year! (We watched two on the weekend, first time.) Use the base glazes I have and add colourants to them! Obvious things that just did not make it in my brain until lately. Reminds me of Daniel Amen's book: Change your Brain, Change Your Life. Something has shifted.

On the other hand! Went to finish a load of laundry and realized I had left a bag full in the country! Not life threatening.

OH, the Pasta issue! There was a major furor over the language police making a fuss over the use of that non-French word on the menu of the Italian restaurant - the social media took it across the country! The office and the provincial government pretty much apologized for the zealous response! The News just now indicates the office will be doing some re-thinking. Maybe they will not fuss about "fish and chips"? It would be humorous but it cost the taxpayers. And gave great PR to the restaurant! Life in Quebec!

At Saturday's auction I was chatting with a bi-lingual man but when he started telling another woman what we were saying, I tried in English. She did NOT speak English so I resorted to my fractured French, not too badly. My French lesson! Also a sign the brain is doing better.

Story: A husband asked his wife why she always cut the roast of beef in half and cooked it in two pans. She asked her mom who asked HER mom, who said, "Oh my! I only did that because I did not have a pan big enough for the whole thing!

I am only now recovering from the many years of not having running water. Realizing I do not have to be SO careful about what I get dirty. It's OK to use another plate or bowl or pan; there is water in the faucet! Ruts are easy to get into and hard to get out. I have had running water since 1999.

We were supposed to have sun today but none since Thurs or Fri. Flurries the next couple days. We will certainly appreciate the sun when it deigns to visit.

Time to cook and eat!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 01:39 PM

Sounds like Jeremiah charmed him!

Don't get me started on what cloth stores don't carry any more - they've gone from being bastions of great fabric and lots of choices to a setting where you figure out what will work to make-do. When I was a kid J.C. Penneys sold fabric, as did Sears, and there weren't separate stores that sold fabric. When they did come along, they were great. Now there is so much other craft stuff in there that notions and fabric are secondary. On the other hand, you can buy fabric online. I sell it on eBay sometimes, and I see a lot of it listed. And there is an Amazon store (I discovered it when I was looking up Amazon's various locations recently) that sells yardage.

And on the note of Amazon, I learned yesterday that my son (a junior at UA in computer science) has a summer internship at Amazon in Seattle. My sister tells me that Amazon has a reputation of tending to gobble up and spit out employees, but a summer there ought to be good experience.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:54 AM

My check up went well...a little more pain than usual but it was not intentional and my oncologist kept apologizing. It's not that I liked that he was apologizing but rather that he was aware that I was in pain and that he was not doing it on purpose. :)

I pretty much just collapsed in my chair when I got home. I would have gone right to bed but Jeremiah was wide awake. He played happily right at the foot of my chair while I relaxed. I did manage to make a nice dinner: Salmon, steamed broccoli and a baked potato. Simple. Yummy. Healthy. :)

Today I did the mountain of dishes in the sink and on the stove and am about to conquer the floors. Later I have yoga (very active yoga) with a friend that hasn't been able to go for some time is going with me. It's always more fun to have a friend along! YAY!

We are supposed to get some stormy weather here later today involving ice. If that begins, I will be staying home and doing a DVD. :) Next time I am in town, I am getting myself a yoga mat for at home. I tried to do some yoga the other evening and found myself slipping all over the place in downward facing dog because I didn't have a mat. My good mat lives at the studio. :)

My oncologist is pleased with my increased energy levels (FINALLY) and very slow weight loss. That was encouraging to hear. :) All 3 of my oncologists are pleased with my check up at every level! HOORAY!!!

Also...Jeremiah met my GYN/ONC yesterday. The doctor was polite but clearly not a kid kind of guy. We said goodbye (I stopped by his office where he does his computer work on the way out of the building) and Jeremiah, totally unprompted, said, "Nice to meet you." That was a very proud Mommy moment. The look on my oncologist's face changed substantially and he smiled at me....he was most impressed...so was I!!! Way to go Jeremiah!!!

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:33 AM

Dang store rearranged their sewing department and no longer has the elastic I use in ALL my skirts, pants, etc., so I had quite a job finding and then putting the new crap elastic they do carry, into a couple of items this AM, to keep my pants from falling off my butt. I still lack skin sensation where they tend to slip so cannot feel them going till they're all the way down! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 13 - 11:17 AM

Dorothy, are you in town most of the time now, or at the cabin? At one time you talked about moving a lot of the furniture in the house upstairs - I have a mental image of a large house filled with antiques that you rattle around in - did you get the upper floor arranged as a comfy living space? (I've been meaning to ask this for a while, I just finally remembered to do it, though it may seem like a non sequitur in the conversation in general.)

There has been a cold wind through the area this week, but we're lucky that we haven't gotten all of the snow that is a couple of hundred miles north of us. The dogs have enjoyed coming in, and since I've cleared off that kitchen island it is much easier to let them in. Zeke would stand on his hind legs and snatch food off of that counter if there was anything on it. I like being able to set up the camera and tripod there - something I'll keep up until I clear some of the stuff off of my eBay table. It isn't difficult, you just have to work out a system for yourself that lets you post the most accurate description (with photos that are well-staged). I took at look at the completed listings for "artisan pottery" on eBay - the sales aren't great there. But Etsy has come a long way in the last few years and might be a good place to try selling some of your ceramics.

Stay warm everyone! Chin up, Kat! Spring is just around the corner.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 06:03 PM

Michelle: You could move the wood pile daily! WE know wood warms us more than once!
Ranger! That remark about being male/declutter? So not true. The worst I've seen have been woman and my son and father are/were both at the top of NO CLUTTER! At 15, #1 son said very loudly and firmly,"Mother, if you bring one more thing in here, I will never help you move again!!!"
SRS, your ability to do computer stuff and sell on e-bay has me feeling as though you sometimes speak a different language! She says, wistfully.

Have not gotten much done since last post: 4 hours at an auction - "I do not think any old newspapers are worth 4 hours of my life!!" So we left. I picked up some needful things at the Dollar store and the bulk store and nothing at the thrift shop. Visited a friend who is .... a small square timber house. Long term project; she was vacuming between the logs prior to new chinking! Plan is to get it beautiful; she is a fine cabinet maker! Then do short term rentals at high prices to travellers from France. Visit a small Quebec village with bus service to Montreal!

Stopped in Ormstown for supper so I did not lose it completely. Nice quiet eve at home. Reading. Sunday pancakes for brekkie and Swamperellla in the afternoon. Cajun music. Dance music. Many of us danced freely for about 2 hours. (I can walk today!) Then hom for supper and a quiet eve. Too tired to move!

Got R off to city today about 11. Then I needed to spend a couple hours composing a message to a troubled woman. Because it is partly of my doing, in a way, it took tremendous energy as well as time. I have tried a few times over the last 40 years but this time she messaged me so maybe she is ready. This is one of those, if I had known then what I know now... So I do not castigate myself but there is still a certain pain involved which would be nice to heal/declutter.

OK, supper and then back to the city, perhaps to folk dance - if the body is willing!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 12:35 PM

First of job sessions this morning - did as much networking with others as promoting my job. I had materials scattered around the room, different aspects of the job (campus outreach, community outreach, administration office).

Am sorting out the binders, will know how many spare this week.

This morning I have a sort throat, which I hope is just a combination of sinuses draining and talking for the last couple of hours. I gargled warm salty water and will get some zinc lozenges at lunchtime, just to play it safe.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 12:00 PM

Ramp laps are changing-- and BTW this is the best money I ever spent on exercise equipment. The new thing added today, after a little experiment last night, is walking with no handrails. In the lightweight boots to do this once daily this week, then back to the 2-pounders for the rest of the day's laps; next week the 2-pounders with no handrails. (But I still carry the cellphone out there in case I fall down and need more help than my trusty dog can give me!)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 09:52 AM

I don't blog (yet), but always keep copies of any writing I do. Need to print a lot of it out, though. Posts here at Mudcat or Facebook or other places, I copy into a file with the date. It's disorganized, but stuff is there and attributed.

I'm here right now because I have to sit for a minute. Snow's heavy, but not awful and I just have to take it slow and easy. Deck and steps cleared as much as necessary. Started on car (and shook snow off lilac) but now need to rest a bit.

While sitting, will call Tom. Oh, seems like I decluttered part of a filling in a back upper tooth this morning. No discomfort except the edge hasn't worn down yet, so my tongue keeps wanting to investigate. Can't do anything about it or the one on the bottom -- absolutely no money for dentistry.

Alas, curling up in the fetal position and sucking my thumb is not an option.

I'll call Tom now.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 10:47 PM

I have blog stuff scattered all over the place. I have copies of some of it on my hard drive, but I need to do something about it one of these days.

Good dinner tonight of a zucchini and pasta dish - something I made up, using Italian sausage, canned mushrooms, frozen shrimp, and add to that bow tie pasta and some homemade spaghetti sauce. There is some left for lunch tomorrow.

I put up three coins for sale on eBay because unless you are an absolute idiot and clean it or ask a huge "buy it now" price, it always sells (especially if you start them at .99 in an auction). Just don't do something like this and "recondition and sanitize" the coin you'll get something for it. The person who bought this coin for .99 is probably going to throw it on the ground in their back yard and let the patina form again. I had to revise my image files after the first couple of listings - my Flickr account is ratchetted down so tight that I had to do a few extra steps to open those photos to the public. I used to use Photobucket, it's great for eBay links and easy to use, but they aren't letting the original size go out any more, they only make the originals available for download. This is part of the second-class citizen status of having a free account. I suppose I could load them huge photos and end up with the size I really wanted all along. :-/

Busy day tomorrow, advertising my job to the rest of the library.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 08:24 PM

Oh, and I forgot to mention: all 426 blog entries now backed up on my hard drive. I love Chrome's Save Page As. I was a little worried it was only archiving a link to the original page, so I deleted one of the entries that I wouldn't be totally heartbroken if it disappeared for good to test it out. Nope, everything is saved. Now I need to either put them on a USB stick or save them to a disk until I can print them out. As I was reading them, I was amazed at the amount of blogging I've done about folk music, even before I decided to formally write a weekly entry.

I have found another site that is even more community-driven than the one that is being closed down, and it has no ties with Big Business, it's a Mom and Pop kind of site, being run by a husband/wife team for the love of it. Kind of reminds me of how Max runs Mudcat. Many of my friends from the other site have joined me in a mass exodus to the new site, and the new site is welcoming the influx with open arms and excitement about what we can bring with us. If any one is ever interested in checking my blog out, I can be found at PixlBit.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 08:14 PM

Good card your mom found, Linn!

I finished a work project and ran down to Office Depot to have it printed. And since it was nearby I walked into Ross and found a couple of inexpensive (clearance) pants suits for those occasions when I have to be a bit more dressed up than coordinating separates at work. I'll have to hem a pair of pants. There was a lovely green jacket with a below-the-knee skirt that will work well for this spring.

Gotta lug the trash out to the curb. The Oscars are coming on, but I haven't seen any movies this year, I'm not really interested so I'll keep working on other stuff around the house. Some of the variety show aspects of the award show are usually good, and I do like to see the montage of who passed away in the last year, but it'll be on the news who won tomorrow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 08:13 PM

Linn, he's male. Need I say more? Notice we don't have any men on the declutter thread?

I'm glad he's feeling well enough to fuss about the food.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 07:36 PM

Methinks this should be posted here as well as on Tom's hospitalization thread.

Tom must be doing a lot better. He's not only really complaining about the food, but he refused to order dinner. When I asked what he had instead, he said, "Coffee." I read him the riot act; told him I didn't need THAT to worry about, too, and to find a nurse and get something to eat. (Sigh. He said he hoped for cake... I suggested something with nutrition in it. Arghhhh!!!!)

That, after an afternoon of clearing out the paper clutter on his side of the table. (Which usually just pisses me off.) Mixed feelings while doing that ranging from being angry at the crap that he accumulates because he won't throw out envelopes, flyers, envelope inserts, long out-dated notes on scraps of paper, geez, anything. I threw out a 2010 phone book, for-pete's-sake. Waaay outdated meds containers, EMPTY meds containers, and a gazillion crumpled Kleenex and napkins(I thought I was keeping up on those...).

Then there's the other end of that range of emotions -- satisfaction and pleasure at having his side of the table organized. It's frustrating. The only time he "lets" me do this is when he's in the hospital and can't keep me from it.

And I organized a magenta binder with all the phone numbers he needs in large bold type so he doesn't have to ask every time. AND his physical therapy exercise guide pages.

I love him but he can be very exasperating at times.

Reminds me of a card my mother gave my dad -- front says, "To my husband on our anniversary. Some wives try to change their husbands. I wouldn't do that. I love you just the way you are. Inside says, "Just don't get any worse."

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 05:36 PM

Helped to load and unload a half cord of firewood today. It was cut in 16 inch lengths and already split so it was not a heavy weighted wood but it was many more smaller pieces of wood. I'm not sure which is more work to load and unload...fewer heavy pieces or a whole bunch of smaller, lighter wood.

Either way, it was a good workout. Left me out of breath and sweating. :)

That's my goal for next month, by the way...to sweat in obscene amounts every single day. :) Aren't you glad to know that? LOL

Michelle

PS. Tomorrow is a 6 month check up at my GYN/ONC. It's the longest I've gone between check ups. My battalion of butterflies have arrived in full force. Bastards. LOL

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 10:36 AM

Clearing out in the sun room is going to happen as the stuff stashed in there is sold on eBay. I have other things to do today, but I'll push one or two more small items out. It goes in cycles - as you get things sold the momentum builds to sell more. I got out of the habit last summer when the garden was taking so much time.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 01:39 AM

Oh, my, Tami! Note to self: keep a hard copy or back up on home computer.

A couple of items listed on eBay, and more to go tomorrow. Not high-dollar items, but some that are likely to sell and help build up my PayPal account a bit.

I'm so pleased with the looks of the kitchen. There are still other surfaces with stuff to clear, but nothing that was on the kitchen peninsula was piled anyplace else, it was put away or discarded. Next, the breakfast table.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 11:51 PM

Decluttering and organizing the cottage has come to a screeching halt after I received the news that the gaming website I've belonged to since September 2004 has been bought out and is being shut down. I have over eight years' worth of blog entries on there and I have been feverishly backing them up before the site goes dark. Being as I'm not the most tech-savvy person in the world, it took me a couple of days to figure out how to do that. I have about 425 blog entries spanning that time, many about video games, but also about so many other things. I have 125 backed up, only another 300 to go. It would go faster if I didn't go through and read them all as I back them up.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 08:16 PM

Sounds like "kamikaze kitty" is a match for Rufus, also an airborn acro-cat. Our house is post & beam with all the posts and beams exposed. There's a dormer upstairs so the bedroom has a diagonal beam leading to one of the cross beams. Rufus is the second cat in the history of the house to discover the diagonal. Calliope, though, would skibber back down the diagonal when she was done playing Sheena, Queen of the Bedroom. Rufus, on the other hand, first tries to figure out how to get to the peak of the roof, paces back and forth on the beam for awhile, then sits and surveys -- "Everything here is mine." Then, when one least expects it, he launches himself halfway across the room and lands next to me on the bed. Whoomp!

Whaddacat!

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 07:24 PM

Lots of stuff around the house is a bit neater this evening. I completely cleared the kitchen peninsula and have set up the tripod with the central stand reversed (hanging down between the legs) to use as a copy stand for close photos of some eBay stuff. It was a process of rearranging a couple of small shelves and also simply putting things in the logical places where they should go. And keeping at it until I finished.

There is more cardboard in the pickup for dropping off at recycling, and I've cleared up some of my jelly jars (for canning) of really old jelly. I've mixed it into a strawberry sweet slurry that I'll pour into the garden. Sugar is a great growth stimulant (not a fertilizer, but it does give the garden a big boost).

The moth traps have been working - I've seen a couple fluttering around but nothing like before.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 12:46 PM

Ranger...ROFLMAO....oh the visual!!!

Jeremiah played at the train table all night. Many of his favorite cars work just fine but his monster trucks are a bit big. I see a trip to Toys R Us in the future to add a few more appropriately sized train pieces or maybe even just cars...he loves the equally. :)

I gained almost 3 pounds this week. I knew it was going to be bad but I went to my WW meeting anyway. Gotta keep chugging along. Not being able to cook in my own kitchen with foods that I know work well with what I'm doing was rough, as was eating out so much. I could have made some better choices but it is what it is. My belly has been icky all week from the travelling food.....so glad to be home in my own kitchen again. I'm pretty sure I said that already but it really does make a HUGE difference.

I've been to a yoga class this morning...ahhhhhhhhh. My teacher commented on how well I'm doing. I'm sure it's not a pretty sight but oh how I love the way it makes me feel. :) I just get lost in it. :)

Michelle who going to scrap last week and keep her eyes focused ahead. :)

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 13 - 01:05 AM

Please share the train table response, if you got a photo!

Sounds like your cat has a sense of humor!

Great concert this evening, and now to bed.

Hoping you all enjoy the weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 10:33 PM

One entire stack of boxes is now organized and stored in the loft. I've kept the step-ladder in here and the cat is amusing herself by climbing up to the loft and launching herself into space for a landing on the futon. Meow, meow, then silence, followed by cat-body hurtling from above and landing with a thud, generally scaring the bejeesus out of me and the dog. I'm calling it the "kamikazee kitty" move.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 05:55 PM

Today, while Jeremiah was napping, I pulled out a train table that I've had for several months now and set it up in the living room. My office is off limits to him so he has no idea that it even exists!!! I dusted it off, made some space and got it all set up. While I was in that area, I dusted the entertainment center, opened it up and dusted all the shelves, put DVDs and videos back where they belonged, did some organizing, cleaned the glass (inside and out) so it sparkles! :)

I am SO excited to see Jeremiah's reaction to the train table that I'm ALMOST inclined to go wake him!!! ALMOST!!! :)

Dishes are all done, dinner is ready to go and I'm feeling like doing a little more organizing in the living room. I didn't do much today....slept in until almost 10:30...still catching up from my time away from home.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 12:40 PM

The computer wouldn't start this morning - nothing but a blinking white cursor on a black screen. Finally got it to open in the safe mode, after changing out the keyboard, and did a system restore after an uneventful virus/malware scan. Just coincidence as far as timing, but we've had a problem at work with infected computers. Important decluttering of the virtual world.

It's cold and clammy out, my nose was bleeding when I blew it this morning. One of those days just to survive. When I get home this evening I'll file all of the tax forms (haven't gotten the "all clear" from the IRS yet). A clear dining room table and running the dishwasher may be as much as happens at my house today.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 10:14 AM

I am thru the first ream of paper and on the way to the second. I quite like seeing that I have as much printed matter on hand about my experience as the medicos sent me!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 12:58 AM

Glad to see Tom is feeling better, and I hope the driveway cooperates. That was so good of Jeri to make the food and expectorant run for you!

I was swamped today, finished one thing this evening, have several others to rush through in the morning. If I get home at a decent time a friend is here in town for a guitar concert. I'm looking forward to that!

Bushed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 06:47 PM

Linn: "Altruistic ego-centric" (not quite right) via Hans Selye - We have to take care of our selves FIRST do we can take care of others. Such a rough go round you are having.

And all I worry about is R having adrenal exhaustion.

A friend of his is having to move out of a building where he had a marvellous artists community. Could R remove some of the stuff so the city does not charge him for leaving it behind? So R is acquiring more stuff! And moving some for the guy. And this morning loaded my car with picture frames of all sorts and conditions to take to an artist friend. What is her address? Just go up the hill and turn right... I eventually got there but still without a number. Phoned her and left a message, then started walking along looking for her LR curtain! In a block long row of houses, that was all I could remember! So we unloaded the frames, chatted briefly and hugged. It was the funeral of her ex we attended on Sunday.

Then I went for groceries and to the library and got home for late lunch.

I acquired a few things too: rolling shelf unit for studio, big old wash tub with bottom falling out to be painted real pretty for the garden, toy castle for the baby raccoons, and 3 neat wooden boxes - always useful. Also a small freezer which I was really wanting.

What am I getting rid of????

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 05:48 PM

I hope you feel better Linn! Great news about Tom. Lots of love coming from our house to yours.

XOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 05:44 PM

Phone is through Comcast -- no cell service at the house. (Try the parking lots at Lee Circle 5 miles away.)

What an afternoon! I slept most of the day -- needed it. All the sinus cavities hurt, chest tight, have an unproductive cough. Good news is I can breathe. My brain is pretty much non-functional. And I think I'm running a fever.

Jeri picked up some expectorant and a couple packages of On-Cor mac & cheese. Bad news is she got stuck on the glare ice in the driveway. (That's why I have an AWD Subaru.) Put cat litter on the ice, it melts, as freezes on top. I'm pretty much out of cat litter and none of it has gotten into the litter boxes...

My up-the-hill neighbor gave Jeri a ride home (about 6 miles) and came back and put down some sand. Will get some more tomorrow. My regular plow person threw out his back, but is trying to call in a favor and maybe get some sand -- the oil truck (I've got 1/8 tank and bad weather is coming in Saturday night) came while Jeri was here, took one look, and gave it a miss. He'll be back later tomorrow (I hope). Yes, we've got a woodstove and firewood, but I'm really sick and Tom is in ICU and blind to boot (which is why we haven't used the stove for two winters).

The GREAT news is Tom has the ventilator out and is doing very well. He called me -- just before the power went out. (Ach! The Co-op picks the damnedest time to play around.) Okay, power back on. Talked to Tom's nurse -- he seemed to think he could go home tomorrow (wishful thinking); she says maybe next week. Not sure if that means out of the ICU or actually home. He's just been through quite a lot. (I've got to knock this thing I've got out, too.)

Well, that was a little more excitement than I really wanted, feeling like I do today. Arghhh!

I'll post this on Tom's thread, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: ranger1
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 03:11 PM

Argh! My post disappeared when I hit submit!

Cottage closet cleaned out of things left behind by previous tenant. Several items that are too large or heavy to be stored in loft are now stored there instead. When "little brothre" Michael comes over later, I will have him help me lower the shelf in there so I can actually use it comfortably.

Several boxes have been earmarked for the loft. I have the 8' stepladder from the garage in here right now to move them up there.

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 02:02 PM

Hotmail will allow me to print a whole pageful of individual emails with one zap of the mouse!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 12:41 PM

Jeremiah and I went to have coffee with a life long friend who is visiting and is making plans to move back to the area (I can't WAIT). I will have to join the Y next week as an unexpected budget cruncher popped up. No big deal. :) I have plenty to keep me busy until then.

I've got the pedometer on today and am curious to see how much I rack up on a normal day of puttering of home.

The sun is shining here today but it is bitter cold and windy.

Have a great day everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 09:34 AM

Heavy rain this morning, warm cuddly dogs in the house overnight. They've been fed and now the day begins. Mostly I'm posting this morning to wish Linn rapid healing - get over that cold so you can go see Tom in the hospital (or bring him home). When it rains it pours, so to speak.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 12:44 AM

You got it. A bit bizarre, isn't it? We all hope that the result is to move up and to move into positions we like better. Today coworkers were saying they hoped that one of the new jobs would be event coordinator - I do also, because that is a lot of what I do already. We have been told that there are tasks and there are jobs - so some jobs will have new tasks, but some job configurations will be new, and there will supposedly be about 40 more jobs than there are people when we finish. We shall see.

Supposed to be stormy overnight, so the dogs are in the house and the truck is in the garage. Hail is often a component of thunderstorms, and something to be avoided. The dishwasher is running, a couple of baskets of laundry have been moved into the bedroom and I'll probably fold it in the morning.

Linn, nighttime seems to be the hard time for Tom, but I hope overnight it gets easier and he's ready to go home soon.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 07:52 PM

SRS, do you mean they are making you advertise your own job for others to seek?!

Subject: RE: Declutter & ~~Health~~ February 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Feb 13 - 06:24 PM

Home! {well almost...waiting for a speaker I contracted for a meeting and then the actual meeting but I have been home!} It feels so good to be in my own cooking space and back in the land of readily avaiable healthy foods! I am sooooo excited to be joining the YMCA tomorrow! Yoga has been graet and will continue...it has been a great way to find where my energy levels are and now I am ready to add more....feels like I've been waiting to get to this far! More later.