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Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 29 Nov 13 - 09:59 PM Sorry, Stilly, just no time for the foreseeable future, what with everything that's scheduled and having to go to Milwaukee for my mother's funeral, still remembering people who need phone calls (not to mention the phone calls to friends for my OWN sanity!) or emails about Tom... Except for cooking up something like the cheesy baked leeks I made the other night so the leeks wouldn't rot in the fridge. And a cat who is trying to eat my supper/chew on the box/nibble on the paper wrapping of the printer paper/knock things over -- all to make sure he has my undivided attention. They're afraid I might disappear like Tom did... Linn |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Nov 13 - 11:45 AM You're going to be tough nut to crack when it comes to pampering yourself, Linn. But you need to keep it in mind! This morning I took on The Sock Drawer. Pulled it out of the dresser, looked at everything in it, matched them all and organized them by color and type. Socks don't take a lot of space so they have only half of the drawer. I stored the warm weather gym shorts that I can finally fit into but now don't want to (in winter). My colorful bandannas and flannel sleep pants are also in there. I have a stack of lonely socks on my dresser and I was able to find the mate to one of them. I'm sure the others are victims of static cling, stuck inside the corners of bed sheets or up the sleeve of a sweatshirt and will eventually turn up. It's warmer out so I'll do some work in the yard, cutting down stuff killed by the hard freeze a couple of weeks ago and toting it back to the compost. I can take some newspapers over to the humane society (to shred for cages) and pick up dog food. Just an ordinary Saturday, but since this is my eating day, one that will have a very nice lunch and dinner that is centered around turkey and such. I'll make some lefse from the mashed potatoes. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Nov 13 - 02:01 PM Michelle, there has been an interesting program on PBS this morning (it's pledge drive time) about the benefits of yoga. Makes it look very tempting! I think yoga is offered as a class in the campus activity center, and as staff I get a very low rate (I think we pay $24 a month to join.) Are you still going to your classes, or does it get harder in winter with shorter days and more treacherous driving? SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 30 Nov 13 - 07:25 PM Actually, I'm doing what I can to be nice to myself. But I'm also checking stuff off lists and I've got a LOT of lists... I'd not been worried about Thanksgiving or Christmas (no, don't have plans yet for Christmas, but that will sort itself out, I'm sure), but I had been concerned about how to handle Dec. 15th -- Tom's and my "other anniversary", a double anniversary of the night we met and the night a year later when, while celebrating the fact we had known each other for a year, that we decided to get married. Hmmm. Now it's going to be sandwiched between the day I fly to Milwaukee and the day of my mother's funeral. I guess that will sort of take my mind off it... Found time today to get my hair cut (which it needed desperately) and have a nice therapeutic talk with my hairdresser whom I've known since she did my hair for our wedding almost 32 years ago. Then I went to visit some other friends who live close by and show them some old photos and the Bob Nilson drawing that Bob did at the sea music sing two days after Tom died. And she insisted on feeding me. Why is it everyone insists on feeding me? I certainly don't look as if I'm not eating... Anyway, she set a hot turkey open faced sandwich in front of me drizzled in gravy and a side of stuffing. And then warm apple pie with ice cream. And I came home barely able to stay awake -- L-tryptophan or just a day of not really HAVING to accomplish much. I'd planned on calling my sister in Milwaukee and, actually, a message from her was on the phone. So we talked for awhile and got caught up on funeral plans, etc. Then...I took a nap. Sitting up in bed, lights on, cat in my lap. At least I took my reading glasses off. Just came downstairs to heat up some leftover chicken pot pie for supper and check the computer. As soon as I'm done here, I'll go back upstairs and read for awhile until sleep again overtakes me. (Which I don't think will take long.) To hell with the rest of the phone calls for today...;-) Linn |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Nov 13 - 09:41 PM Your lunch is exactly what I had for lunch, minus the dressing. :) Good thing I got some yard work and a walk with the dogs in today to deal with some of those calories. I trimmed the dead canna lilies and pulled the wilted sweet potato vines and dug up as many potatoes as I could find. I didn't plant this year, they came up from sprouts left last year. And I purposely left some little ones in the soil to do that for next year. After the clearing out I pulled the soaker hoses and the watering hoses all to the front of the garage, and when I got back from walking the dogs I kept them with me on their leashes and opened the garage door and hauled the hoses in. This way I didn't have to play Zeke's game of running out of the garage and hopping into the truck that he does every time the big door opens. I have enough mashed potatoes left that I'll see about making some lefse tomorrow. And I'll make some more quick bread - zucchini this time, I think. That's what I have in the fridge right now, so that's what gets used. A little sewing this evening, then to bed with a book, content that my kitchen counter is clean, some of the wilderness that was my front yard has been tamed, and that I still have two more days off because I took a vacation day on Monday. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Dec 13 - 12:00 PM I made progress on the robe, but haven't finished. Maybe today. Every time I go into my sewing room I get distracted by projects and other stuff needing attention. Another beautiful fall day here in North Texas, and I'll spend more time in the garden once the heavy dew dries. In the meantime I've downloaded recent photos from a couple of cameras and will update my campus blog that is no longer dedicated to the library. Here it is. I'm gradually deleting the entries to do with library events that I wasn't involved with (I promoted everything). I left in my promotions for my events going back a ways, meaning I lose in post count, but if someone pulls this up when they are searching on me, they'll find my events and photos. A visual resume of sorts. When I apply for jobs, if people Google me I want some of this stuff to be at the top. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 01 Dec 13 - 09:19 PM FACT: I have good days and not very good days and I really am not keeping a record of the things that could make the difference. I keep realizing this and I keep trying to find a way that works for me. I need to try again. Bought a sort of calendar notebook at the collar store: like a wall calendar in a booklet. Made a list of factors. Try again. I have not had the energy to finish teapots or do any throwing in the last few days. What is done is what there will be for the Sunday Market. I have to admit that the rest will get done when I feel like it - if ever. Right hip really bothered me this morning so I took some MSM and some Glucosamine and the pain went away. Must remember to keep doing it - without waiting for hip to complain! The kitchen is inching toward better organized. I added some more items today, gradually emptying the containers packed in June, as I decide what needs to go where most effectively. Today R, with great effort moved the frig into the K from the storage area! So nice not to have to go in and out several times for each meal prep! It will soon be below freezing out there so the freezer - still out there - will cost almost nothing to run! Of course, going in and out also allows cold air into the living space just as though I were opening the door to the outdoors those numerous times. R also moved the microwave to its proper cupboard space and I moved the dishwashing area (bucket of water/wash basins and drainer) into the K from the LR, freeing up a large space in the LR. Nicer and more convenient. So nice not to have to look OVER the dish washing table to see out the window! Once the subfloor is in the LR we can further civilize it with furniture and a table for eating. We do most meals now in the sun room which is colourful with plants in bloom. I am entranced by the one bud on the fuschia as it slowly expands! A pleasant space even on the current GREY days. Today, R also put in the vent system for the incinolet (toilet) just next to the LR. We still will go out of the living space into the cold area but only a few feet rather than 99 steps! Each of these steps forward helps us feel better. Like the flush toilet and door through to go upstairs (without going outside) makes the city house feel a little better. I did unload the bisque firing, from Thursday, today, and waxed the bottoms ready for glazing but did not have the oomph to do the glazing - it takes no thought to wax but glazing takes "Hmmm, what colour shall I do this bunch?" I would love to do them all the same but need some variety. Hopefully tomorrow, and load the kiln, then go to city overnight. Then - whatever I have the energy to do. |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 02 Dec 13 - 11:50 AM We had our Thanksgiving gathering on Friday. It was lovely until we had dinner and my nana got sick. :( After we cleaned her up and then the kitchen and took her back to the nursing home, we just kinda hung out for a little bit. The following day I took Jeremiah to a photo shoot, then on a wood run and to church. That night as church ended I had a massive low blood sugar...thank goodness for the tootsie rolls in the foyer because they held me long enough to get to the store for some OJ which I guzzled standing in the aisle. *shrug* Gotta do what you gotta do! We went home, had a snack and later that night I woke up with terrible stomach pain and intense nausea. ICK. I spent the last 36 hours either in bed with a big green bucket or in my chair. Pete also got sick......thankfully, Jeremiah shows no sign of having the bug at all. My mom got sick too. :( What has all this got to do with decluttering and fitness? Well...I lost 5 pounds (does that count? LOL) but given it was a holiday and a weekend and we were sick....I had quite the mess going on here. This morning I am feeling almost 100%!!! Most of the dishes are done, I'm on my 3rd load of laundry, blankets from the living room are in the wash, bed to be stripped later today, all clutter around our chairs is picked up and the kitchen table has been found. Toys are everywhere but I don't care so much about that. Jeremiah did a FANTASTIC job of entertaining himself yesterday. We were in the living room with him but he was looking at books, coloring, playing on his train table...just quietly playing. He's never seen either of us very sick so to have BOTH of us down for the count...well, that was challenging. We made it through and I think I am going to find some space to designate for sick food only. Gingerale (which I couldn't keep down), mandarin oranges, broth, etc. In the last 36 hours, I've had 2 pieces of toast and some frozen mango (only because the mandarin oranges weren't cold and that's what I wanted). Nothing makes me more appreciative of feeling well than a day of not feeling well. Today my stomach muscles are sore from heaving. ICK. No matter...I feel better and so does my honey!!! Have a good one everybody! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Dec 13 - 12:19 PM Lovely weather today, so I'll put up some lights out front and put them on a timer. Some years ago when the whole natural gas boom started there was an initial royalty bonus and I used it to have the electrician come deal with my "wish list," the most important of which was an outlet on the front porch. Now I can plug my dawn to dusk timer in there and not wrap the house with cords like I had to when the side plug was the only one available. You know how sometimes it can be years later and you still look with pride at some fix you did around the house because it makes everything so much easier? This is one of those. In the summer if I use the electric weed eater, or work out front weeding and set up a radio, or for now, with the holiday lights. My office floor is looking better but a lot of stuff is piled up on the secondary desk. I ought to address that mess a little. Maybe another cuppa tea, lunch, clear the desk, then out to the yard. Sounds like a plan. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 02 Dec 13 - 12:56 PM I'm having one of those days where everything I try to clean or straighten up seems to just make a bigger mess. I KNOW I'm making progress, but the spilled box of rubberstamp ink pads that ended on the floor, the stuff on the table that ended up on the floor... The cat looked guilty, though I assured him it wasn't his fault. Getting dressed this morning was even a problem -- first my underwear went on backwards and when I got that fixed, I put my pants on backwards...arghhhh! Made a note to myself to fix the hole in the toe of my lobster socks... Took some leftover vindaloo out of the freezer, and the shrimp for tonight's dinner and did a quick survey of what else I should try to eat up soon. Tonight I'll actually cook something, not just heat it up. Pasta and a nice garlicky seafood sauce to throw the shrimp (pre-cooked) into at the last minute. Pinot grigio in the fridge to go along with it. Gotta go make the list of outlets and switches for the electrician to replace -- I'm waiting for a call back. Linn |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Dec 13 - 03:30 PM Michelle, that sounds like a classic case of food poisoning. Was there something that was purchased for that meal that might have been mishandled at the store? Toss the rest of it. Linn, good luck getting the electrical work done soon. It's so nice to have things work the way they're supposed to. And at least you noticed clothing was inside out right away. It's funny when you get to the end of the day an realize your panties or t-shirt were inside out. The desk is now clear, but in a couple of minutes I'm going to pick up two piles from the floor and stack them neatly upon it. I still have some filing to do, but filing and sorting those other piles of paper will wait until after I put up the lights and walk the dogs. I'm trying to make myself feel better as in "push back the blues." Paying the bills today did what it usually does - remind me of how much I owe versus how much I make and how much I have to do to get caught up. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 02 Dec 13 - 07:07 PM Does really sound like food poisoning, Michelle. Why would all of you get sick! I am thinking of a Shoe cartoon I used to have posted over my desk: "Sofa? That's not a sofa. It's a pile of papers that looks like a sofa." A visiting friend expressed the wish to see what my desk looked like so I made sure it was clear the next time she visited! R did not quite finish installing the incinolet but soon! It is so wonderful to have the frig in the K!! This morning I completed the cleaning of the sun room floor (post-raccoon) and arranged it so we have a small table and chairs to eat comfortably, amongst the plants which are happily flowering! Separated an over-grown African Violet into two. Hope it is happy and does not suffer from separation anxiety! Did the glazing and loaded the kiln. Noted precipitation was starting so turned on the kiln and left for the city, lest I be caught in freezing rain/snow. I did phone Vanessa to give her the choice of turning on the kiln so she could come and glaze but she passed. I am through beating myself over what I have not gotten done in the studio. ORders not filled are ----orders not filled. I will get to them when I darned well feel like it and if people still want them - OK! One more glaze firing before the Sunday Market; the pots are ready for loading. Then I will simply continue to do what I can as I feel like it. THAT de-clutters my brain! In the city, a load of laundry is ready for the dryer and one more to go. Then I can turn the heater back on. The weather is warm enough today. Considering cooking --- something. |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 02 Dec 13 - 09:33 PM I don't think it was food poisoning. My nana is currently living in a nursing home that is experiencing a LOT of sickness right now. I think it's a bug that we picked up there. Of course, it could have been food poisoning but Nana got sick within minutes of eating just a quarter of what was on her plate. Since I was so sick with it, I have NO desire for the leftovers and neither does Pete. We agreed to toss them. I had food poisoning from turkey twice...both times the bird was cooked by someone other than me...I am really leery of it. It's NEVER a pretty scenario. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Dec 13 - 10:56 PM Food poisoning - something that should be taken seriously. My brother's wife was a widow with a young son when they met. As a newlywed, only two months pregnant, she and her first husband went to a wedding where something at the reception had the ingredients for food poisoning. Her young husband died from it. Zucchini bread in the oven, some to go to work tomorrow, a loaf for my hairdresser (part of my annual big tip at my appointment tomorrow), and one loaf for the freezer. This is an economic gift for people. I paid the bills today - so depressing. As long as I spend no money this month I'll be fine, but I have spent some, so I'll have to make a point of selling some more eBay and Craig's List items sooner rather than later. There is plenty to sell, I just have to sit down and list it. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Charmion Date: 03 Dec 13 - 01:05 PM Time to get started on Christmas baking, which now constitutes a major component of gifts to relations and certain friends. Trouble is, Edmund's away and I just don't feel like making fruitcake when I'm on my own. I have already put in several hours of no-fun maintenance activity today -- shovelling snow, getting the car to the shop for snow tires and an oil change, shopping at Wal-Mart (shudder) -- so I'm giving myself a pass on kitchen heroics until tomorrow, after my trip to the gym. We have two new cats in the house, littermates who came to us at 12 weeks of age and are now 10 days in residence. Rosie the senior cat is not happy with this development, and periodic eruptions of feline hate provide evidence of an incursion by Rosie into the upstairs den where the kittens are ensconced, or of the adventurous sallies of Watson, who must have been a recce patrolman in a previous life, closely followed by sister Isobel, who lets Watson do all the hard work. The books upstairs are all ahoo because Isobel likes to climb the shelves and fling paperbacks at her brother. The repairs on the back of the house were finally finished and paid for, so of course Life had to throw me another curve ball just when I thought I could relax for the winter ... With three weeks to go to Christmas, I am one pound away from my arbitrary goal of 150 by Christmas Eve. With any luck at all, I will head into the annual bout of family visits in maintenance mode. I am also blessedly healthy -- no cold, and only the normal occasional mild hacking cough that means I'm breathing. In fact, I can't remember any time in my adult life when I have felt so fit and well. Next spring, I'm going to start running. |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 03 Dec 13 - 03:37 PM I'm off to yoga!!!! Happiness!!! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Dec 13 - 08:44 PM I sometimes hit a standstill with the tasks I need to do, but in general I think I'll get through the holidays with things being on time. This year I'm going to bake holiday breads and mail them instead of ordering the expensive fruitcake - I've enjoyed the baking I've done so far. Every day I check the job listings on campus. I filed an application last week for one that looks like it would keep me busy and use a number of my skills (and pay better!) It's still open, so I won't call the department yet, but I plan to call a couple of days after it closes so they know I'm still interested. A new job - what a nice holiday gift that would be! It looks like we might have nasty weather overnight on Thursday into Friday. Unfortunate for students wanting to finish finals, but if there is a snow day maybe they get an extra day to write papers. I have a musical meeting I was planning to go to with Susie, but we'll have to see if it is postponed or cancelled. It would be nice to have another long weekend. If the power stays on I can get some work done around the house. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 03 Dec 13 - 09:39 PM I am very low key, sometimes no key, about Christmas. This is left over from the years of separation from family; unless someone invited me for Christmas, there was one. This year, I am going to make a small effort - if we get flooring in the LR (at the mill) I will do some decorating, Maybe use the small ficus for a tree. I have a small box of decorations, a string of lights, and a wonderful PEACE ON EARTH banner for the front window. IF I get flooring... Today, I stayed in the city: went to 3 grocery stores, the Market and the library, cleaned out some K cabinets and threw out spoiled food. Two cans of tomato sauce had leaked??? But the thing that really gets to me is food, boxed or in plastic bags, that has never been opened but still gets bugs in it/came with bugs in it??? I made a large pot of split pea soup; I had it for lunch and supper and R had soup and chicken curry for supper. Still 2 qts of soup and a couple servings of curry - I love planned-overs! Did 3 loads of laundry; all put away. Dishes done. Went up to take a hot bath and did a little organizing in the clay area while waiting for the tub to fill. |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 04 Dec 13 - 12:29 PM Believe it or not, I've actually done a bit of holiday decorating. The other day I took apart several floral arrangements including the huge white and green one from the staff at The Press Room. And I still have a small bouquet of yellow mums and another green flower in the head of Pan on the table. So many greens were left from the Press Room arrangement that I put almost all of them right back into the floral foam in the basket. I dug out the Christmas boxes of decorations and got out some red & green plaid napkins, plaid runner, several red wooden cranberry garlands, and a tin ceiling tile with holly painted on it. The runner went underneath the basket on the (unused for the time being) woodstove and a garland woven into the greenery. There's a plaid napkin to go under the Pan head sculpture when I move some of the stuff on the table, and another went under the lamp in the entrance way. I had a lot of boxwood (I think it's boxwood) from the other arrangement, so I duct taped it around the edges of the tin tile to hang on the front door (and for the first time, that tin doesn't scratch the door!). So...voila. I'm not exactly in a holiday mood, but there's a little bit of festive normality around the house. Just got some laundry done, a few rebate forms prepped to mail, a few thank you notes prepped but not written, and will pay the mortgage on the way to lunch. I'm taking Jeri out for a birthday lunch in a few minutes (whenever she gets over here) and tonight I think instead of going to the singaround in Dover, I'll go to a friend's poetry reading at Café Espresso in Portsmouth. Linn |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Dec 13 - 01:26 PM Happy birthday to Jeri, and congratulations on repurposing the arrangements. That sounds like a good idea - I have a couple of christmas cactus that I have to find a way to display - they're on their rack in the sunroom window right now but they're both bursting into bloom this week. They're each beside another plant that has vines all over so can't be moved, so I need to find a nicely-lit place to move the cactus to so they stand out on their own. Lunch today is a kind of odd mix of Thanksgiving leftovers - there is no point in buying lunch when there is still so much food in the fridge. I didn't take time to assemble it into one thing, so it is a baked sweet potato and some sauteed mushrooms and some applesauce and some zucchini bread for dessert. I'll have some more turkey for dinner this evening, and plan to make some other things that I can freeze for later. Turkey works like chicken in a lot of Mexican dishes. I realized this morning that my time management at home has suffered as a side-effect of dealing with issues at work, and this has taken on the appearance of a passive aggressive approach to some personal tasks. Another casualty of a poorly designed and executed "reorganization," and I hear similar stories from co-workers. Sometimes it takes that "ah-ha" moment to recognize something to make a correction or push back. Here's for giving push back a try. . . SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Dec 13 - 12:08 AM This morning before I left the house I sat down in the sewing room and stitched a button back onto the waist of my pants. It took longer than simply changing pants, but I wanted to wear these and figured it was as good a time as any to do the job. I'm still drawing down the leftovers from Thanksgiving and won't shop much until the fridge has more empty space. It isn't a hardship - my sandwich for dinner tonight was scrumptious - a toasted onion bagel, dark meat turkey, with mayo and homemade cranberry sauce smeared on. The sweet potato is finished, and I'll be eating soup over the next couple of days with our cold front coming through. (I just spoke to Moonglow - it seems she and her roommates had so much fun with their Thanksgiving dinner that they made another one again tonight and had more friends over. She says turkeys are on sale this week.) I was going to list a futon for sale tonight and again on Friday (on Craig's list you can relist every 48 hours), but items negotiated via that site need to be prosecuted quickly or buyers lose interest. If it is slick with freezing rain no one is going to want to be moving furniture, so I'll delay the listing a few days. SRS |
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Subject: Treadmill Progress From: wysiwyg Date: 05 Dec 13 - 01:37 PM I'm thrilled and grateful to report that my sleeping difficulties appear to be gone-- I had several greeat co-counseling sessions on this and am now sleeping thru the night with minimal waking time, and have been sleeping in till 9-10AM at long last. The December 2012 Treadmill Progress I'm aiming for 2x/day, 10 minutes each. November = 1.5 miles, 60 minutes, @1.5 - 1.8mph. December started with a tweaked hip and several days not treadmilling. Today I resumed with 10 minutes, @1.0 - 2.0mph. So 70min-to-date and 1.75MTD. I'm in chapter 3 of an audiobook about the realities of plantation life as journaled by the horrified but reflective wife of the slave-owner. Pix of supporters and assorted affirmations are posted at eye level. Faulkner keeps me company. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 05 Dec 13 - 07:06 PM Things are going well here. :) Jeremiah is picking up toys at this very moment, I just finished vacuuming and various other household chores. Sleep with the CPAP is going well. Last night I left it on my face ALMOST all night. :) I no longer have any issue with falling asleep with it but seem to take it off sometime during the night yet. Last night I know it was still on at 4:00am. :) I have a full night of titration at the hospital coming up soon so they can adjust it (might be getting too much pressure which is what wakes me enough to take the mask off). Last night I actually had dreams while wearing the mask...that's a first and it's progress! I am finding that when I wake, I am feeling restful...almost as though a fog has lifted....very nice! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Dec 13 - 12:08 PM We're under a couple of inches of ice here today. The trees look unhappy. A few years ago the power company sent contractors through and they ruthlessly pruned trees along the wires. It is paying off now (but still, "knock wood.") Snow day home from work, and there is plenty to keep me busy. Just as well I didn't list the futon for sale this week. Ads get to be "shopworn" if they are renewed too often. I was just looking at the television listings (over the air - I don't have cable). I wonder who watches all of this crap during the day? They save the better programs for evenings and weekends. Think of what it might do to viewership if they actually ran interesting programs during the day. (My two cents.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 06 Dec 13 - 12:27 PM I am impressed by Linn's busy life; she is so wonderfully forging forward and getting things done! Michelle amazes me with how much she gets done. Susan: congrats on solving yet another problem! And, of course, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Jeri! I have admitted to being plumb wore out with trying to do the pottery orders that were weighing on me so I just shucked them off. Happily one small vase is now sitting here waiting for pick-up by a wonderful mom. Back in Sept, at the fair, a young girl (about 10) asked me to throw a vase. I had not thrown one in years but I gave it a try and ended up with a rather heavy coning tower shaped object. I would have dumped it but: the little girl came back without mom and bought a small pot her mom had admired, then had to admit to mom what she had done with the money mom had given her; Mom came back, thrilled that her daughter had paid attention to what she liked, and asked me to please finish the vase for her daughter. I am delighted that I have managed to get this object through the process into a respectable looking 6 inch vase in blue and white. Mom will pick it up in the city and the daughter will be delighted. So, the adult orders have not been completed but... Actually it is the teapot orders; they are a pain. I need to be physically and psychologically prepared. Maybe next week. I reduced trips to the country to one this week. And still was so tired that last night I fell into bed about 10:30 and did not get up until 9:30! R did not sleep well and, thankfully, no 8 am phone call so he had a quick breakfast and was only half an hour late for a 10 am meeting. Weds I did another load of laundry, the dishes and re-arranged some of the city LR. A chair we had bought at the Sept auction because I thought it would be better for my bod had smelled and I stuck it out of the way. It no longer smells so I switched the chairs around. cleared some books and magazines and re-instituted a couple lights to cope with the ever-shortening days. Went upstairs to throw pots and after one, realized I was missing a needed tool. I looked all over the house for a sub to no avail, realized it would have been less time consuming to go to a store so off I went. Bought a new water bottle in one store and toilet tissue in another but the tool evaded me so I went back up and threw 11 more pots with what tools I had. Thurs, I trimmed the bottoms and packed them to go to the country and off I went. Stopped at the restaurant/hang-out? and had a nice visit with two friends, got to the mill in time to pack up new pots, load all into the car, pick out the needed tools, and go to the writers' group, then to hear music in St. I. Almost no audience so glad I went! Back to the city about 10:30. My friend with Parkinson's is back in hospital. The family wants to have a pottery viewing but it will have to wait. I think a hot bath is needed - now so I can recover before going down to the cafe tonight. That new mask helps a lot but yesterday I needed it in more places. My cough is still doing very well. |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 06 Dec 13 - 01:45 PM Another great night of sleep...mask still on at 4:35am...YAY. I've been stressing about how much the mask stays on as there is a computer card in the CPAP that measures usage for the insurance company. I have to have so many hours per night of compliance or they won't pay for the machine.....makes a difficult thing even more difficult to get used to if you ask me!!! :p A winter storm is coming our way, I'm not sure why people here get too excited about it...it IS December in northern Pennsylvania and frankly, we are overdue (date wise) for a snow storm! I love a good snow storm as long as my family can stay tucked inside. The ground is bare at the moment and my chickens are kicking through leaves like crazy looking for food (bugs, etc....we do feed them but they still do look for natural means of food as well). My honey is home from work today working on a project so I've been enjoying his company, doing some reading by the fire and lovin' on Mags, our dog. :) Jeremiah's been a little wound up these last 2 days (weather related I'm sure) so it's nice to have a little quiet break for a tiny bit. I hope everyone is having a great day! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 06 Dec 13 - 03:23 PM So I am in the upstairs taking my hot bath and think I hear a knock on the door. Expecting a package SO - wrap very large towel around wet self and put on slippers and trundel down to the door. Guess the fedex guys have seen worse. It is good to get the package the first time around and not have to clutter life with figuring how to get it later. Lengthy email to my longest friend - since I was 4 and he was 8! He probably spent as much time at our house as his next door. So nice to hear from him, by snail mail this morning. Also lengthy post on Writers' Ink re last night's meeting. It was so chaotic it made my brain hurt. The poor chair had no attention at all! Gradually coming back from bath induced stupor. Will leave about 6 for the cafe. The weather is not so cold that I need to be concerned about freezing. Keeping minimal heat at the mill. Weather does create clutter in our lives; so much simpler when we do not have to concern ourselves with heating, or cooling. |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 13 - 12:15 AM There is a 2-3 inch crust of slick ice (an accumulation of sleet or freezing rain) that kind of softened this afternoon but is now as hard and slick as can be. Dangerous walking. The dogs have made their last trip out and we're all to bed. They were in most of the day, though I have a heater on in the garage for the times they are outside and don't want to wait in the open air for me to let them back in. Everything has been cancelled in the region for tomorrow and probably into Sunday until some of this ice clears. No one here has snow tires and I don't think I could even find chains to buy for the truck if I wanted to. I stopped by Home Depot yesterday and put four 60# bags of playground sand in the back of the pickup to add weight and to toss down for traction if needed. Stay warm, everyone! SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 07 Dec 13 - 07:51 AM Waking up to a beautiful 6 inches or so of new fallen snow!!! Maggie, can you stay in today? In this household, if there is ice, we stay put....even with all the northern road care and 4 wheel drive...ice is ice....best to stay put! We are having a family day today. We've been so busy on weekends since July with work related things that a few weeks ago we set THIS weekend aside. I'm not sure what we will be doing but whatever it is, we'll be together. I'd love to take Jeremiah out sledding or to build a snowman BUT it is deer season here and given that we live out in the sticks...well, it's just not safe to play outside when the hunters are around. I did get Jeremiah a little red coat and bright orange hunter's cap (to walk to and from the car mind you) but refuse to put him at risk. Our property is posted but as you might remember, that doesn't seem to make a difference. I will say that so far, we have been incident free regarding trespassing hunters this year. :) We will have more snow in the weeks ahead for sledding and building snowmen. Maggie, I also wanted to tell you that cat litter works great for weighting down a vehicle and even better if you need something for some traction. Time for some coffee. Anyone getting ready for Christmas? Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 13 - 11:44 AM Michelle, you got that right! I have no plans to budge from the house for the entire weekend. I'm sitting here in my pjs and down booties drinking tea. In a little while I'll take a hot bath and put on my layers for the day. I don't keep the house super warm, I wear a sweater or sweatshirt layered over a t-shirt, plus socks and shoes. I can't *quite* fit into my LL Bean flannel lined jeans (I can wiggle them all of the way up, but I still can't fasten the button) so I'm in regular jeans. I haven't been able to pull those Bean jeans over my hips for several years, so I'm inspired that I'm this close. They're a women's jean, so the cut is generous for the numbered size. I'm expecting to read an account later today of a splendid sledding expedition with Jeremiah. Snow is some much nicer than ice if you're going to have a winter storm pass over the top of you. I still have an organizer full of hats and mittens of various sizes from as my kids grew up, and/or if they had friends come over to play. Or if they needed to come in and warm up and change into dry gear and head out again. That's something you can get at garage sales for various sizes, though I think I bought most of mine at cute store displays over the years. Every couple of hours I send the dogs outside to take care of business. It got down to about 10o overnight so I put Cinnamon into a fleece dog jacket made like a hoodie. She looks so cute, and this morning she didn't fuss about it. As soon as I open the door again they race to the house - I'm glad the porch patio itself is dry or I'd have dogs sliding into the glass doors like bugs hitting a windshield. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Dec 13 - 08:14 PM Baking today, it seems a good occupation in cold weather. I have a load of laundry to take out and fold, and I suppose that is it for my heat generating activities. I have to keep washing my hands because the dogs regularly come see me and want ears scratched. They all need baths, to some degree. They don't smell bad, just doggy. Old movies playing, various indoors activities since it is still so very cold outside. Supposedly drizzling now - since it's 29o I suppose that means freezing rain. It's supposed to warm to 36 tomorrow, but I don't expect all of this ice to disappear until mid-week when it finally gets well up over 40o. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 07 Dec 13 - 08:50 PM Pete and I spent the last 2 hours rearranging the living room, sorting out toys that have been outgrown, sweeping and washing the areas that have been under chairs, couches and tables and best of all....we made room for the treadmill which has been folded up in a corner for the past 3 years. We aren't done yet...still some heavy duty moving to take place...a full bookcase and the entertainment center/stereo/television and all the wiring that goes with it all. I'm excited to see how it all turns out as the entertainment center has been in the same spot for the last 15 years. Pete has lost a substantial amount of weight in the last few months and he is showing interest in using the treadmill too. I have been asking for the last 2 months for him to help me rearrange so I could put the treadmill into use. I am quite happy to be all dusty, sweaty and dirty with the living room all torn up because I know where it's headed...yes indeed....I'm a happy girl!!! Michelle PS. Yard sale stuff is being boxed up and we have a few bags for the Salvation Army as well...including a chair that has been LONG OVERDUE to GO! GO! GO! |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Dec 13 - 12:41 AM I realized this evening I hadn't done anything with my green tomatoes and they were still looking good (those that hadn't turned red). I made a small batch of green tomato relish and the jars are now out of the hot water bath and cooling (with that wonderful lid pop). Bread on top of the freezer is probably about ready to put into the bread box and keep up high. Good ol' Zeke. If you leave him an opportunity, he'll help himself to baked goods, etc. It has been below freezing all day, and we have a freezing fog advisory until 9am tomorrow morning. This weather is the gift that keeps on giving! Monday is going to be a doozy - Sunday won't warm up enough to melt all of this ice, and Monday has more freezing rain predicted. Time to head to bed to read. The dogs are all tucked in warm. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Dec 13 - 02:34 PM I haven't heard a half-dozen cars go past the house today. The newspaper has posted photos online of "cobblestone ice" on area freeways. Just finished a hot midday soak in the tub, ready to put in a load of laundry and do something other than fiddle around on the computer. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Dec 13 - 12:58 AM Work is closed again tomorrow (Monday). The ice just keeps on keeping on. Overnight we have a freezing fog advisory in effect. The dogs are in for the night, and I'm working on some mending now. I moved some of the stray boxes out of the sunroom earlier and it looks much better. A load of laundry is in, and the faucets are again on a slow drip in a couple of rooms where pipes are near the outer walls. Susie and her grandson Eric drove down this afternoon. She was going to drive to Home Depot for a couple of things but I had the materials they needed so I was able to send them back home. I hated to see her out in the "cobblestone ice" that is featured on our streets this few days. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Dec 13 - 11:46 AM I have a letter I need to write, one of those that shouldn't be ignored. As I think about writing that, I'm drawn toward dusting and sweeping. Yeah, it isn't a fun letter to write. (Requesting a refund for work that wasn't done correctly and cost way too much as a consequence.) It's above freezing today but it is overcast and grim, and it will be very muddy once the ice clears. I think this is the worst stage after the cold weather, the chemistry of recently frozen dirt is probably fascinating to scientists (they probably research soil under glaciers, not dirt on dogs wet feet, but it is the yard research that interests me more today.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 09 Dec 13 - 06:38 PM We got word from our realtor today that the financing for our vacation house in southern Ohio has been APPROVED and we will be getting a package next week to sign here for the long-distance closing!!! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 09 Dec 13 - 07:44 PM WOW! Congrats, Susan! SRS: Seems like just yesterday you were still mowing and picking! Winter is setting in with a vengeance. Forecasting 1-5 F at night starting Weds night. Not sure I left enough heat at the mill when I left today! It was snowing very lightly - just enough to make life miserable if it froze so I left in the early afternoon and arrived in the city safely. But more snow here. I will go down on Thurs and hope things are OK 'til then - clay and plants. OR ask Vanessa to turn up heat... Friday night about 10:15, I got a rescue call from R. Flat tire about 30 minutes up the highway. Enough gas in car for about 20 miles; stopped at a friend to see if he had any lawnmower gas. No. But we called another on en route and he put enough in that I would make it OK. It was 18 miles up and enough gas left to get back to mill. Super at midnight, again. Saturday started, after obtaining a full tank of gas, with a futile search for a tire. In the country people only dive BIG trucks with big tires, not little city trucks! About 10:30, someone suggested there might be a spare, "You might crawl under the truck and see if you have a spare." So ... there was! It took about 80 minutes to get the wrecked tire off and spare, pumped up with in truck compressor, on. COLD out there! Back to mill about 1:30, cold and tired. R finished installing the Incinolet but---- does not work and we needs someone with more knowledge. Oh well. Vegged out after that. I tried to make sure I was ready for the Christmas Market. Ended up with no bags. Only needed one and the neighbouring vendor provided it. We left at 7:30, in two vehicles, to get to Market. Were the second ones there but the janitor was cleaning - with MR CLEAN so we were unable to go into the building until it aired out. Fortunately R talked him into using just water for the second go round! It was a fun day. Tremendous numbers of people attended and I even sold a few pots! A person who has been looking at my mugs for almost two years and giving me a treatise on wht type mug she wants and why, actually found I had finally made "her" mug! Nice shape; I shall have to make more! R just hung out and talked with people. He really needed a break. Home by 5 and that was the end of my usefulness. He read until bedtime. So did I but mine was about 7:30 and his about 10:30! Pots are still in the car. Will take them to my friends some time this week, then retire them to the mill until the February Market. So back to the city and a hot bath and quiet eve with my computer and a book and some TV. And a good way to keep one's life uncluttered is to always have plenty of gas in the tank! |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 09 Dec 13 - 08:15 PM DP, one of the neat things about this is that we can totally furnish it from items already on hand and/or in the camper. For example, the Mudcat Dorm will furnish the bedrooms and an office. The camper's kitchen includes all needed appliances, pots and pans, adishes, and spice rack contents. We have enough extra chairs and side tables for the living room. And so forth!!! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: mg Date: 09 Dec 13 - 09:41 PM Going to be logs of typos on my blackberry tablet. Ice and very cold here..some snow.. Roken pipes ago work..hope not the same at home in my little uninsilated unheated cabin..left water dripping for days..starting to warm up. Hoping to rapidly pay down very high visa bill..cit out Internet and going back to very basic cell phone. Will take bus to work and walk home and probably park car for six months and pay mini.also I surance. Rental house that renters damaged now so,do for price of land. I did xeed in lieix of trust and it went back to bank. I don't feel guilty because I brought them full offer a few years ago. And they turned it down because buyers did. Other have same income for 2 years because he had just retired from government..so they lost quite a bit..their fault..estate market live on is on market so I might have to move. But I can do that easily..down to so few possessions..packed up Pendleton blazers and silk blouses and good briefcase and shipped to dress from success..other fleece things to rosebud reservation in sought Dakota. It is so great to vet fid of eve not nice stuff. Should global through papers next but smart me does all paperwork at work to keep it out of my house. ,title attic in my car in. Cut up old futon and through down stairs and now room for. You exercise machine. Was,king hl.even four minutes,es each niht unless ice. Cold does not bother me. |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 10 Dec 13 - 06:31 PM Watch out, Susan! Sounds as though the vacation home could become cluttered with stuff you already have! Our TV has no sound tonight so looking on Craigslist for another one. Did numerous loads of laundry today. Sorted out the back of the laundry "room" and a tall cupboard in the LR. Nothing extraneous but better organized. Made veggie chili and cornbread. Walked to the grocery (3 blocks) for green peppers. "Only getting peppers so may as well walk." Came home with a chicken to roast and sage. That was enough to carry. 50 minute conversation with daughter of friend with Parkinson's who has been in hospital a week now. Gives the family a rest but they are hoping she will be home by the weekend. Never made it up to the potter's wheel! |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Dec 13 - 06:42 PM The tyranny of "spell check" - wrong words spelled correctly. I think I got most of what you were trying to say, Mary, but I hesitate to try to make any corrections for fear of changing what you were trying to say! I got to work today, but there were still a lot of really messy bridges, and they will probably stay icy for another couple of days. On the way I picked up dog food - Zeke has been eating the regular dog food and scratching up a storm. He is clearly allergic to one of the grains in that formula, so I got his regular (no corn or wheat) mix today. I learned today that since I am in a "new job" and the HR folks can't review a job evaluation to know that I meet the minimum skills involved, I will remain listed as an "administrative assistant 1" (that I never ever was) and at the same pay level until next summer when they can do the evaluation. This really sucks. They did it to three of us who were tucked in down here because they couldn't fit us anyplace else when they gave our jobs to others, more favored in the eyes of the dean. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 10 Dec 13 - 06:53 PM We've had snow, then freezing rain, and then today, while I was out doing errands, it started to snow again. No real accumulation, though. I'd anticipated it taking awhile to clear the car this morning so I could take the trash up to the road for collection, but it evidently didn't rain (and freeze) that much on top of just enough snow to make the windows and windshields fairly easy to clean off. Chipped the ice off the steps when I came back from those errands, but didn't have time to put some sand on the deck before Jeri arrived. (She's taking care of the cats, picking up the mail and generally keeping an eye on the house while I'm in Milwaukee.) We'll see how difficult it will be tomorrow morning to clear the snow off and the ice underneath...if I need to sand or not. Remembered after I got home the other stuff I'd needed to get today before my trip to Milwaukee. Also didn't figure out today which carry on I'm using and start packing (I'm traveling VERY light). Yesterday was productive -- the electrician came and fixed or did all the little stuff that Tom hasn't been able to do for the past four years or so (outside light, replaced non-functional rheostats with switches, replaced several outlets and put in two new outlets in the kitchen -- they'd had wires since the house was built in 1977, but never finished). And then I got to clean a few surfaces that hadn't seen light of day in years...sometimes decades. (And discovered under the kitchen dresser a pile of papers from Tom's 2004 heart surgery that need to be shredded -- and a few archived.) Talked to an old friend on Sunday to tell him of Tom's passing -- he lost his wife a couple years ago. That reminded me to rejoin the Maine Old Cemeteries Association and start going to meeting again. That was something I'd introduced Tom to -- it got so he could spot old cemeteries better than I could. Always enjoyed driving all over Maine for the meetings, but then travel got too complicated for Tom. Maybe now, too, I'll have time to hone my slate cutting skills... I think it's going to be another early night -- tonight with pain killers, probably, as the lidocaine patch did absolutely nothing last night; knee pain woke me often. That's probably weather-related, too, although my previously broken arm isn't bothering me. Linn |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Dec 13 - 08:53 PM Nine year old stack of papers - sounds like one for the shredder! I hope you sleep comfortably. I was tossing and turning last night, not quite sure what the cause. I think just being no longer acclimated to a cold climate makes me feel it more. Safe travels on your trip to Milwaukee. I'm sure you'll find lots of warm hugs from friends and family when you get there. Now that we're out and about after several days of ice I'm figuring out which errands need to be run soonest. A prescription called in during the middle of the ice needed a little time so they could get in and compound it. I also still have to order my new glasses. Sad accident during the ice - there is a long bridge over a lake north of Dallas, and a 21-year-old was crossing it at 4am on Friday morning and her truck skidded and flipped off of the bridge. Death by drowning trapped in the truck in a lake at night - that is something out of a nightmare. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: wysiwyg Date: 10 Dec 13 - 09:40 PM DP, Watch out, Susan! Sounds as though the vacation home could become cluttered with stuff you already have! Au contraire-- in downsizing from a 3 family home into two one-family homes, we'll be pitching excess and keeping the best. ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 10 Dec 13 - 09:59 PM Lots of walking today and YOGA!!! Michelle who is typing with a very snuggly, cuddly kitty in her arms. HAPPINESS! |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 11 Dec 13 - 06:12 PM The thermometer doesn't read THAT cold but the real feel of the air with the dampness and wind combined have made for a VERY COLD day here. I had other plans for today but they weren't meant to be so I've been home playing my fiddle, keeping the fires stoked, doing dishes, laundry, picking up, etc. I'll start dinner soon. I feel like soup and grilled cheese or a baked potato but my diet suggests that I need to add some protein so maybe I'll go an entirely different route and make salmon, a baked potato and veggie....I just want something HOT and filling. Hummmm. We shall see. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: SINSULL Date: 11 Dec 13 - 06:19 PM A good friend of mine who has had more than his share of crap, broke his ankle this week while retrieving a ball for a neighbor's dog. Some of the details are sad, some frightening and some semi-hilarious but the long and short of it is he needs all the positive energy we can spare. Prayers, candles, good wishes, please send them CPC's way. Thanks, SINS |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 11 Dec 13 - 07:01 PM I hope he's young and healthy enough to heal well and fast! Definitely sending healing energy, prayers, white light and anything else I can think of. Linn |
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Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013 From: LilyFestre Date: 11 Dec 13 - 07:09 PM Me too!!! Michelle |
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