Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 02:57 PM

The ice coated my trees and fences and was on the metal trim of my sliding glass door this morning, but it wasn't on the roads so we had a work day like usual. I'm glad I took some photos since the ice didn't last long and the "silver thaw" of trees coated with ice was lovely.

After a weekend of baking I brought a couple of small loaves of bread into work today - I think the carrot bread is better after a day, the flavors meld more. I'll be making a variety of seasonal breads for friends this year - as affordable gifts for one thing.

My hands have broken out again (dry and cracked) - partly I think it is a contact thing (something I touch routinely with my right hand) and partly I think I simply need to avoid any of the cakes that people bring into campus for various events. Last week on Thursday I had a slice of what looked like a vanilla cake, but I'm willing to bet there was coconut in it. I'm so tired of this - I can go for weeks with my hands clear, and then something happens to set off the dermatitis and until it clears it is easy to re-trigger. I have resolved that if I can't read the ingredient list I won't eat it.

Despite grumbling about the cold I like this time of year - I can get out all of my great sweaters for a few months. Some I bought new last year at this time are larger sizes than I might buy now, but it doesn't matter so much if cardigan sweaters are a bit big. I will probably donate a couple of pullover tops that are hanging on me now, unless I can take them in a bit at the sides.

Everyone stay warm and cook up a storm this week!

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 09:19 AM

Annual physical and all is well - except of course my weight.
Keep hearing Gordon Bok singing "I don't mind the wet and cold I just don't like the growing old"
oh well...

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 11:22 PM

This evening I set out clothes for tomorrow for if we have no adverse weather overnight, and decided while I was looking at my earrings and such to try on a ring that hasn't fit for quite a while. I was able to slide it onto the finger where I usually wear it. This is the true test of a weight loss, if I can wear my "regular" jewelry again. A pleasant discovery!

Today I've worked in the kitchen and caught up with some recorded programs (the good thing about Win7 and above is that they make networking router-connected computers very easy - my office computer is on so the kitchen computer can pull recorded programming off of it to play while I cook.) eBay stuff is accumulated, but not listed - I was having too much fun baking bread and catching up on those programs.

Tomorrow the first look out of the bedroom window will tell me what I need to know for the day. The faucets are covered and the pickup is in the garage. The dogs are coming back in for the night in a few minutes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 08:23 PM

More baking of small quick breads, and I cut up and sauteed several of the garden eggplants and will put them in the freezer to use in tomato sauce and stew and such.

We're looking at a possibility of ice overnight, but I still have to be ready for work tomorrow. Just like a kid waiting to see if school is cancelled. ;-D

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 07:04 PM

I made a pot of homemade potato corn chowder today and then spent hours this afternoon sorting out two HUGE boxes full of paperwork...just things I've been setting aside and meaning to take care of. Tonight it is DONE. I'd say a 70% of it was trash, the other things were either magazines/reading material or medical paperwork/taxes/bills/child care stuff, etc. Feels good to have to all taken care of....I still can't get over how much JUNK was in the boxes!! There's been a Shrek marathon on TV which we all love. Pete's been working himself silly so it's been nice to have a fire going while he relaxes with a magazine, feet up and some silly TV. Jeremiah is playing with his trucks and books, watching intermittently and I am now finally taking a break and then plan to read through a couple of the magazines so I can pass them on and get them out of my house! Laundry has been going all day as well.

I am most content.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 05:54 PM

The new schedule/routine is going great and is resulting in clearer thinking, better self-carecare, and some overdue cleaning and organizing. This weekend I pitched 3 much loved sweaters and a favorite satin nightgown that all needed more work than they were worth. These made room for some new cozy items bought new and used.

For any lightweight items I pitch, I save a swatch the size of a medium-sized quilt square. I have no plans to take up quilting (tho you never know!), but I can insert them into a photo album to recall many happy memories of people, places, and events they evoke. Right now the collection is no bigger than a paper grocery bag-- a cold winter evening's project.

~S~

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 11:51 AM

Linn,

You have a lot on your plate, and everything probably looks like one giant contiguous job. I'm glad you have all of those notebooks, now when you need to do something specific for Tom's Legacy with all of your clippings and files you have that storage.

I hope you'll be able to go ahead and work on that guest room again, not to make it a hospital room, but to make it a hospitable room so that you can have guests come by on spur of the moment if they're in your area. I'm gradually putting away stuff in my sewing room (because it is my daughter's bedroom and she'll be here for the holidays next month) but I have my son's bedroom completely clear of odd stuff sitting around and it's ready for any guest who comes my way. (Okay - you got me - don't look in his closet!)

Around here I need to do a few things to address the cold. We've had a couple of brief freezes but the faucet covers aren't in place yet, and it must be done today. The hoses are out there and I need to pull them into the garage.

I made two batches of quick breads yesterday and am going to make more today. I'll pile them up in the freezer for sending home after Thanksgiving and for distribution in December. (I bought a batch of 5 little loaf pans at an area thrift shop years ago so I can do several loafs at once.) I also bought some turkey wings and used a thigh that had been in the freezer for a while to make a batch of turkey stock. I'm going to brine my bird (which I have to put in the fridge today) and that tends to make the juices too salty. I can use some to add the salt to gravy, but I'll have stock and grease from the earlier batch ready for making my gravy.

Mostly today it will be eBay Central, and I'll find a holiday symbol to use, i.e., stick a poinsettia in some of my photos. (Hint hint, shoppers!)

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 04:27 AM

(((Linn)))

<3

~Susan

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 02:30 AM

Oh {{{{{ Linn }}}}}. I am amazed at how upbeat is your writing (and replete with sharp detail) here on FB. Think you must be running on left over adrenaline. Please do take time to wind down and recover. That Labrynth sounds lovely.

Maggie and Sins - WooHoot! Way to go the weight loss. Sins extra for making it through and getting good report from doctor.

To all others. Just hug.

Got the call from Acura Home Health Care on Friday. First dose of Golimumab arrives this Wednesday (so glad I can arrange the delivery for my day off work) along with injection pen, swabs, sharps box, plasters etc. The nurse to show me how to do first inject will call some time this coming week. Fingers, eyes and toes (due to RA) crossed for luck that this treatment will work and that I won't suffer to much from side effects and not at all from the worrying risks.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 05:31 PM

I second what Maggie said....

Breathe in and out very slowly...sit down for a few minutes, close your eyes and just breathe.

Much love to you my friend.

You are doing an amazing job....I'm sure it doesn't feel that way, but you are.

Breathe in....hold.....hold....hold.....let it all out.

Repeat.

(((((((((Hugs))))))))))

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 05:05 PM

In vino veritas,
Go for it.
So sorry ,Linn.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 03:34 PM

My mother died this morning. Sigh. The timing COULD have been better (for a lot of reasons), but, what with Thanksgiving this week and all, and me being the furthest away, no decision has been made yet as to when the funeral will be -- this coming week or the week after.

So right now I can't plan much of anything until I have a better idea.

So...I think I'll go over to a friend's for dinner, long conversation, dog snuggling, and not too much wine...

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 02:37 PM

To Breathe. In and out. Slowly.

Why don't you ask your drug store if they can use the wheelchair? My drugstore rents various pieces of equipment; perhaps if someone comes along who has a longer-term need they can give it to that person for you.

A friend sent a recipe for Cranberry Nut loaf and it's a cold day, so I think I'll make some of that and other fancy soda breads in my small loaf pans and freeze them to give people in the next few weeks. I have one trip to the store for a couple of Thanksgiving ingredients and then I can settle in for the cold weather that is supposed to pass through tomorrow and Monday.

My nextdoor neighbor has a nice 8'x10' area rug she doesn't need now and asked if I'd like it. She buys good quality items and takes good care of them, she doesn't have pets, and they don't smoke. Sounds like a good rug - I took a look and will now see if I can find the place where it should go if I bring it over. For quite some time I've been wanting to create a conversation area with a rug and the sofa and the coffee table and a couple of chairs. Maybe this is the time to do that.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 11:41 AM

I'm not sure how life could get more complicated right now than it already is.

I can't remember if I mentioned that my mother in Milwaukee entered hospice earlier this week -- after time in the hospital, rehab and then a couple days in a nursing home. All during which I really could do nothing from this distance with, of course, my hands full with Tom's last illness and death (other than be an available ear for my sister). I just got a call from my sister about an hour ago. She was on her way to the hospice as my mother had taken a turn for the worse and may not live through the day. I gave her some advice based on my all too recent experience and will await whatever is going to happen.

So this rather puts a lot of plans on hold. I don't know if/when I'll be flying to Milwaukee for the funeral. I have to find the errant piece of paper with the date and time of my phone interview with Social Security about the SS death benefit for Tom (in case I have to reschedule). I have to let all those who have invited me to Thanksgiving dinner what's going on. I've made my packing list (I'll be traveling very light), and I called a friend for flying advice. I haven't flown since before 911 and the last time I booked a flight it was through a travel agent.

I distributed a few of Tom's things to friends last night at the session, found out that the fire department doesn't need the wheelchair, etc. so I was planning to Freecycle them, but with all this uncertainty, I'll worry about that later. But I have to get the damned thing out of the car! I would like to get the bags of stuff for Goodwill over there on Monday (and take the time to walk the new labyrinth at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital -- boy, do I need that right now!) and I want to see my neighbor today and perhaps visit a friend tomorrow. I had just called the electrician to schedule the needed work, so called him back this morning to explain why I can't reschedule right now.

Jeri will take care of the cats and mail and the packages I'm expecting.

I've got lists...I've got more lists... What am I forgetting?

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 12:26 AM

Guerrilla shopping this evening - an ice storm is predicted for Sunday into Monday and I want to be finished with the bulk of my holiday shopping. I stopped at two Krogers, an Albertson's, and a Save-A-Lot before I finished. I have most of my Thanksgiving meal (I forgot the little marshmallows for the sweet potatoes) and I picked up an extra turkey for either December or for next spring if a friend from Arizona makes a visit. I'll host a dinner for friends and family on that occasion.

Susie came by this evening and I showed her how the bread machine works. Set it on "turbo" and "manual" and in an hour had a loaf in a pan for her to take home to rise in her fridge and bake in the morning. Her sister arrives during the day, and the smell of fresh-baked bread is as visceral a welcoming smell as I can think of!

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 12:43 PM

Just back from my annual physical.. All is well. Lost a few pounds. Made it thru another year.

---

The mudelves are smiling at this good news! Congratulations! ;-)

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 10:35 AM

This morning I took a large plastic bin labled "size 10" from the upper shelf in my closet to look at the contents. I have good blue jeans, black jeans, and black slacks in there, along with a few pair of summer pants. When I get through the size 12 phase I'll have the garments I need for the next (and terminus) part of the weight-loss plan. I do have some size 8s in another bin, but I don't know if I'm going to fool with trying to get to that size. I think that was my divorce-era depression size.

Very cold weather settled in overnight. I got out my thermal plug (the circuit opens when the temperature gets down to 45 and stays open until it reaches 50). My oil heater is now plugged in for the dogs in the garage, and as it gets really cold I'll put it on a timer or leave it on all day during the coldest spells.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 12:23 AM

Found it. Seasonal Affective Disorder question (I left off the BS in the title, because for those affected, it isn't BS!)

Grim meeting of my department at work today. Openly discussing the state of our library. Someone speculated that about 85% of the people they know in our library would leave tomorrow if jobs were available elsewhere. I'm not the only one biding my time. I'll need to keep some daylight fixtures handy to keep my mood up.

Amber lenses on this evening - started later than usual because a favorite program (Elementary) is on from 9-10pm. They're making references to some of the various Sherlock Holmes short stories this season, something either they didn't attempt last year or that I wasn't aware of. Since last spring I've read two short novels and two longer story collections. This season the program referenced "Silver Blaze," "The Greek Translator," and one one more I remember from the Jeremy Brett series but I haven't read the story yet. It's a good move, to keep the die-hards happy, to see how far the new plots can get into one of these old stories before they have to divert to take into account 2013, not 1887.

Tomorrow is Friday. I'm going to a classical guitar concert in the evening with Susie, and we may bake bread on Saturday. The day is supposed to be cold and yucky because a cold front moved in this evening. I'll clear the counters and let the dogs in. They'll love it. The truck is in the garage in case of hail.

On my way home this evening I decided to stop at my local thrift store, since I have retired my favorite pair of black denim jeans. I could use them like slacks with lots of tops and not get called out for wearing jeans to work. :) I picked up a number of pairs of black size 12 and almost all were too big! A pair of Talbot's and one other pair fit well, and I only needed one, so got the Talbot's. $3.33 plus tax. I'm not so foolish as to race out to pick up the size 10s, I'm sure they would be too tight and I'm tired of too-tight pants. The fact that the 12s were loose has to do with the types of size 12. If it is a Women's size then it is more full in the waist, and that is what I found was too loose. Some were too long. I need to lose another 10 pounds before I start looking at the size 10s.

Enough. Like Mark Twain said, sorry for the long letter, I didn't have time to write a short one. It takes time to edit and trim and decide what really needs to be said. I'm slapping it down on the page then heading to bed.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 09:43 PM

SAD is covered well in a thread with that acronym in the title, just filter search for it.

~S~

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 07:07 PM

Phone calls to make tonight -- there really never seems to be enough time, and each call demands leisure to talk. Tom's first wife emailed back that I don't have to call tonight -- she's keeping up on things. Time to talk when life gets, well, not exactly back to normal, but a little less...I don't know what it is right now. I'm getting things done, checking things off lists, living in a world of lists, knowing there are still people who haven't heard...

Got the online obituary page through the funeral home accomplished today. The website is mine in perpetuity...and I can post as many links, YouTube videos, photographs, etcet etcet as I want.

Still waiting for a call back from the local fire department (down at the foot of the road) which maintains a cache of wheelchairs, walkers and other equipment for those in Nottingham who need them. I have a wheelchair, two different kinds of rollators, and a very nice walker to donate, but the fellow I talked to (who has helped Tom a number of times with lift assists or trips to the ER) had to talk to the chief.

I wanted to take stuff to Goodwill today, but the wheelchair is still in the back of the car and, besides, it got too late in the afternoon. I just discovered yesterday that Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (where Tom has been through most of his hospitalizations) has an outdoor labyrinth outside the new wing. When I take the stuff to Goodwill, I'll go over to the hospital and walk the labyrinth.

Went to Deidre Randall's talk Tuesday night and not only touched base with her, but made a couple other interesting contacts. Inspired me, too, to get serious about my writing again. Last night I went to a song circle run by a friend where I had gone for the first time the night before Tom landed in the hospital the last time (two weeks ago).

I think I've got all my Secret Santa and other Christmas shopping done...and bought myself a present: a lavender plant from White Flower Farms that thrives indoors.

I mailed a few things out today AND got a passport application at the post office. I'd like to visit a friend of mine (who lived in Portsmouth for quite awhile) who lives in Strath-something, Ontario in a converted church.

I also finished indexing Tom's 1995 freelance output, so now I just have 1996 to finish. I got all the meds, etc. cleared out of the table area, the commode moved to the cellar, the couch cushions back on, little bits of stuff organized, cleaned, whatever...it's all therapeutic and giving me a more peaceful environment.

And now I'm going to go upstairs (with a margarita) and make those phone calls. I need to find out what's going on in Milwaukee (my mother went into hospice on Monday, as far as I know) and I need to call another old friend...

Yes. Talking about Tom helps.

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 12:44 PM

I need to look hard at the alternate day fast thing. Still packing on weight even though reducing the steroids. On 2 mg daily down from the 15 mg I started on over a year ago. But as of today on steroid asthma inhaler to calm this habitual cough. 2 puffs twice daily. Gah!

Walk home from GP yesterday (5 minutes for fit person) took me 30 minutes due to hips seizing up and coughing fits. Cold and rain make both worse. Lots of moaning and aching in hips last night from that walk.

Had DBS (diagnostic boob squishing) today. Most uncomfortable especially the manipulation of my arthritic shoulders to get good picture of armpits. Imagine sleep will be interuppted by shoulder pain tonight. I might just pre-empt with co-codamol.

Next up, bloods taken. Vein inside left elbow is starting to give up (right arm vein can't be located) and the left is now knackered from being stuck every month. Get big black bruise every time now and it is painful when they sick me. Didn't used to be.

I didn't wear proper plaster over the burn on the back of my hand today so constant digging into handbag for taxi fare and appointment and blood forms means I broke the blister. Ick. On the upside, Chris gets to wash the dishes.

The problem with swapping (my occupational health prescribed non working) Wednesday to Thursday to accommodate hospital appointments is that I am not getting the day of rest in the middle of the week. But my employer wants me to not miss work for medical appointments. Can't seem to get line manager to understand that I should not be using the non working day to take care of personal appointments. Defeats the purpose.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 10:00 AM

Eldergirl,

Here is the solar shield link that Alice came up with in another site. Reasonably priced. If you're in the UK or somewhere else I suppose Amazon has a country-specific ordering page.

Too bad our Kat is no longer here. She is the one who spoke at length about the efficacy of a bar of Ivory soap under the bottom sheet at the foot of the bed. There's something about it that helps with cramping and twitchy feet. I've also heard that having a packet of mustard by the bed to consume (I know - it's a bit of a pucker!) if it is a problem.

And if Susan passes through this thread again I think she can expand on the efficacy of special lights for SAD. I think that has been an issue in her household in years past.

Good luck with all of that, and thanks for checking in!

Yesterday was my fasting day, I was careful about it, and I got about 45 minutes of good exercise mowing the front lawn. I'm down another pound. I need to try to get home early enough this evening to mow the back yard (the yard is large and is most often mowed over two days). Here overnight it is supposed to turn very cold and rainy, so this will be the last mow. I want the yard to look trimmed and park-like for a while. If I don't mow it will look kind of shaggy for the winter. The grass is just about to all go dormant. I don't always lose weight on my regular eating days, but exercise is always good, and in this case, the lawn needing a mowing right now trumps waiting until tomorrow on a fasting day to mow.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Eldergirl
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 05:35 AM

Hi all, i've been following this thread off and on for a while now, my admiration increases for youse guys, the amount of stuff you get done in a day just amazes me.
Re blue light blockers:
My other half has great difficulty sleeping most nights. Trouble is, when he wakes and can't nod off again, he turns to his laptop to use the time positively, but i'm not sure it helps him in the long term. He also suffers from depression, which lack of sleep probably increases, so we've acquired a light source designed to help SAD sufferers. Maybe, just maybe, if I can arrange the light source for morning use, and get a pair of blue light blockers for evening use..
(sigh) but none of this will cure his twitchy burning feet.
All minor niggles I spose, but they add up.
Peace, love, and all that stuff. X el

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Nov 13 - 10:08 PM

The blue blockers are on, it makes some things a little tough to do, but it means the television and the monitor aren't overstimulating my brain with blue light. It is very early days yet in this test.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Nov 13 - 01:43 PM

Whoo hoo! I'm down below 160! Stepped on the scale this morning and am at 159. There's always a little fluctuation up and down in a weight-loss endeavor, but this is my first time into the 150s in probably 3 or 4 years. Back then I was told by the mail-order prescription service that is part of my insurance that they were no longer going to pay for the compounded Rx for my hormone replacement, and I was tired of fighting, so I went on their product for a while, hoping that the upside down numbers weren't going to be a problem. I slowly gained weight the whole time I was on it. I finally did the math and realized that it cost $75 for three months of the product I didn't like and only $93 for three months of the Rx I preferred. I switched, and though I didn't lose weight, I stopped gaining it. The weight loss is due to alternate day fasting (regular eating one day, 500 calories only on the modified fasting day). I'm now down 35 pounds from my high in the spring of 2013, when I was topping out just above my highest pregnant weight.

I have a bag of stuff to take to the Goodwill. After the laundry finishes today a couple of more items will go into that bag and out the door. I'm not keeping any of these size 14s as fat pants. I know how to keep my weight where I want it since I now have a system.

15 pounds to go, but I can finally see glimpses of my old self. I can wear a few more of my rings, my shoes fit better, and after feeling like I had almost outgrown my winter jacket last year it is now a lovely loose fit again. I have a pair of flannel-lined LL Bean jeans that I haven't been able to wear for the last three or four winters, but this year I may once again fit into them. This is so nice, being able to shop my own closet. And there is so much more room in there now that I've discarded the larger sizes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Nov 13 - 11:32 PM

I brought home a book from the library yesterday, though I have to admit that since it is for a writing project and is only one of two that I need that I could get, I also ordered both of them via Alibris and they'll be here when they get here. I can read the library copy in the meantime.

I put on the amber (blue blocker) glasses Alice recommended this evening because I work late on Tuesdays and the winding down when I get home part is hard, especially since I need to be at work in the morning on Wednesdays. I'm about ready to wrap things up - these really do block a lot of light, and I am feeling tired/sleepy.

What Dorothy describs about support is true - after a while people forget. I remember hearing a radio program about grief, and they said that the Jewish traditions to do with grieving are quite comprehensive and extend for at least a year. I don't remember what they are, but I thought it an interesting topic. Simply asking if it is a good day might be an opening to use if you need to talk, here and in other discussion sites.

Lights out for me. I'll report in about the glasses after I've worn them a few times.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 Nov 13 - 06:07 PM

Ah, Linn, You are running on an energy born of relief and the need to get certain things done. But also a way of dealing with the pain of loss. Wonderful to know that if you bottom out from all the stress of the last months/years, you have a terrific support group of dear friends. Back in '62 when my father/best friend died, I was most delighted and supported by a very late note of support. A dear person who waited weeks, purposely, until there was a lull in the support because she knew I would need it when others may have thought all was well. How right she was. I got through the early days on "thank heavens he is no longer in pain". Then I slumped with the weight of my tremendous loss of the most important person in my life. I have never forgotten the wisdom of that wonderful woman, when I really needed it.

Here in my real life in the city, we now have a door to return the "duplex" to a "one-plex"; I can go to the upstairs bathroom without going outside and in the next door! It seems a small thing but as the weather gets colder, it is so nice to know I can take a bath without going outdoors in my bathrobe!

R is realizing how tired I am of "living like this" and asked what was the next important improvement. Heat for the upstairs BR so we can move out of the cave downstairs to a room where there will be light coming in windows in the morning. And two big chests of drawers for clothing, rather than the bookshelves now being used. But light is the big thing. I so hate to wake up in the dark - at 8 or 9 am!

There is even some semblance of hope that the kitchen may be renovated- a major project entailing removing every piece of wood - joists, studs included to get rid of the powder post beetles that have eaten everything. The whole k is in danger of falling into the cellar!

For reasons best known to someone else, my night cough got worse on Friday night and I started not getting enough sleep. Getting nothing done on Saturday in the country, I came back to the city to spend Sun and Mon Afts with my friend with Parkinson's. My time with her helps her through times when her husband needs to be away; hard for her whole family to fill that extra time. I am a poor substitute but my presence is a help to all.

I am glad to be giving back to these dear friends of 45 years. I also feel the pain of her increasing disability; know how I would feel to need someone to hold me up and help me struggle to move one foot forward at a time; and know it will get worse. I weep for her and for her family as they watch her deteriorate physically. As I think of things to say to her, filling the airspace, trying to keep her mind off the absence of her husband, I have the benefit of talking about aspects of my life, and of her wisdom and support. Also discussing books I am reading or have read and thoughts on the world in general. whatever helps her through the long afternoons.

The phrase, "pieces of me" is on my mind as I have finally realized that, in the course of my very many moves, I have left pieces of me all over the place. I have given pieces of me to people and sometimes left them behind bereft as they were not prepared to be without those "pieces". I have also, of course, added to myself, pieces of the people with whom I was involved in those places. I am looking at my life backwards and realizing that I have been hard on some of hose people who came to depend on me in some ways - and then I was gone, not realizing that I had been important to certain people. Might be something worth writing about to share. I see I have been hurtful without ever realizing it.

I told a mutual friend on Friday night that I was about ready to throw in the towel on this relationship with R. Four years is long enough to deal with this. I muttered to myself all the way back from the country Sat eve, as I have done often over this four years but "really fed up this time" only to find him being exceptionally accommodating when I arrived. I wonder if she told him??? Oh, phooey. I could save myself a lot of muttering in fury if I would just accept that I am in it for the long term regardless. In other words - de-clutter the fury and accept what is.

My cell phone died yesterday and it took two trips to the koodoo booth to get back on track. "This phone is like your old one." NO, it is not! I needed help to figure out the basics. These "kids" do not get it! And for some reason the phone numbers I use most often did not make it onto the new one so had to be re-entered. Then hot bath, bed all afternoon, and now I am almost ready to do something useful.

A trip to library is in order. Avoiding grocery trip. Going back to country tomorrow where there are lots of groceries. But no bread here. OK, make cornbread from mix to go with the chicken I roasted yesterday - and R did not come home 'til after midnight. Salad and chicken and cornbread - and phone him to ensure supper by 10 pm with any luck.

Library, here I come. I'll walk if it not too cold.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Nov 13 - 05:25 PM

My schedule is on my work Outlook calendar and in my phone - I try to give myself enough of an alert time so I stay on schedule. Anything else is as it happens on the fly.

Today is the last day I'll wear these black denim trousers for work. They've looked good with a lot of things but they're just way too big now and even with a belt to hold them up they are loose everywhere and almost to the floor. I went shopping last week to get some new tops and bras, but I can live with thrift store trousers because there are always so many to choose from that are in mint condition. Time to make a trip over to shop for replacements.

Yesterday I started clearing some of the things from my dining room table. It isn't horribly crowded, but it was the staging area for several projects. I need to think about the setup for Thanksgiving so don't want to have to clear it at the last minute. I also need to start looking at prices for turkeys. Since the freezer was defrosted I have room to easily store a bird, and I might get two and use one for xmas also. Can I stand turkey two months in a row? Possibly. Sometimes it's nice to have a spare bird handy for just in case. I'm all out of whole frozen chickens, so it looks like shopping-wise this is going to be a fowl month. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Nov 13 - 03:45 PM

(((Linn)))

Winter draft sked:

MONDAYS      
*600 cal lunch is 800 on PT days.
PT 10am and nap post-lunch/recovery calories.
Dishes and cook supper.      

TUESDAYS
600 cal lunch is 800 on ex. days.
PW pool stretches/aerobics.
Make veg for week.
PW pool stretches and aerobic.
Laundry, vacuuming.
Cook supper.      

WEDNESDAYS
*600 cal lunch is 800 on ex. days.
AM PW pool or ramp exercises and aerobics.
Session day (2nd Weds EWR Roch)
Faulkner day.      

THURSDAYS
*600 cal lunch is 800 on ex. days.
PW pool stretches/aerobics.
3rd Thurs. session & H&H Roch.
Ladies Guild also 3rd Thursday.
Date Night.      

FRIDAYS
*600 cal lunch is 800 on ex. days.
AM PW pool or ramp exercises and aerobics.
Day with Hardi.
      
SATURDAYS
Ramp stretches.
Date afternoon.
Sat. Svc.
Dinner C&C      

SUNDAYS
Session or dancing, evening.
Active rest day.   

Not a lot of time for Mudcat in there.... need naps, more!

~S~

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Nov 13 - 09:07 AM

I rarely have English Muffins but Shaws had a three day offer - buy one, get two free, so I did.

Do the easy stuff, Linn. It allows your brain to work on the important things while you stay busy. Careful what you give or throw away. I managed to donate a bunch of my mother's clothes without checking for jewelry on the lapels. Several treasures were lost.

One day at a time. Always one day at a time.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Nov 13 - 01:07 AM

Aww, Linn. When it rains it pours.

I'd think that donations and working on those listed projects are probably the static cling that is holding you together right now. If you can give yourself a chance to take a few deep breaths and let the clothes and item donations wait a few days or a couple of weeks, they won't go away. Get yourself that extra sleep that you need. Read a couple of good books. You don't need to burn that candle at both ends any more.

Take care, kiddo. And a big virtual hug.

Maggie

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: mg
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 04:51 PM

There is a way to send items for free to the Phillipines if you are near an lbc??? shipping..it goes through the end of the month I believe. I think I posted a link earlier. If not, google shipping free phillipines typhoon. They are desperate for medical supplies and would love anything you could pack up I am sure. There might be other ways to ship for free. It will take a while to get there but the need will be ongoing..and was ongoing before the typhoon..great poverty there...you might need to use their boxes though.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 04:18 PM

I think I need to do something with MY LinkedIn account which I've been more or less ignoring since I set it up. I'll need to find a job at some point, but I don't have to immediately. Good thing because I have LOTS of work to do! NOW I have the time to get serious about selling stuff.

Tomorrow evening I'm going to a talk at the Portsmouth Library by Deirdre Randall (Peter E. Randall Publisher) on publishing options. Two birds with one stone. Both to hear the talk, but also to reconnect with Deirdre for whom I was going to do some proofreading and copyediting (for the clients who were willing to pay for it) before Tom's health started demanding so much of my time.

Finally had a chance today to start bagging some of Tom's clothes for Goodwill...and setting aside some articles for friends. Also de-accessioning a few other items to Goodwill. It's an ongoing project, but it's feeling really good to start filling bags with the easy stuff.

I tried to give Tom's old wheelchair to his cardiologist's office (it's narrower than most, and the York office is a bit cramped), but she gave me a couple other places to donate it and his walker, rollators, etc. Checked with the VNA to see if they could use the unopened wound dressing materials, but they're not allowed to. She did give me the name of one place that might be able to use them. And I need to research missionary and aid organizations (outside the US) that can use Tom's prescription meds.

Got Social Security notified and a bunch of other necessary phone calls made this morning. Submitted the information to the funeral home for Tom's obituary; I just don't have time to write one for the papers. Still have plenty of phone calls, emails, etc. to go.

I, who have always had at least one to-do list a day (combination list and journal) am existing in an absolute flurry of lists. It will all get done...it will all get done.

And I figured out why everybody gives widows food -- there's no time to cook in between phone calls...because this weekend, at least, there were NO "in betweens"!

Oh, and the upstairs phone died so I bought another one this morning and now have to program in the numbers.

And meanwhile in Milwaukee, my mother is going into hospice today.

All I can say is it's been quite a year...

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 03:01 PM

Pete has made them from scratch a few times and they were good...time consuming but good! Our local market had Thomas's English Muffins for .97 a pack....NINETY SEVEN CENTS! Needless to say, we stocked up! They are normally a treat for us and we don't usually do toast or muffins for breakfast here. Oatmeal? Yes. Eggs? Yes! Fruit? Yes! Yogurt? Yes! :)

It's a lovely day outside so I'm off to pick up Jeremiah and we are going for a walk! YAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 02:53 PM

I tried making English muffins from scratch one time. They came out terrible, so I buy them by the bag if we want them, but we don't eat them often. I used to occasionally make baking powder biscuits for the kids for breakfast - though since we're not southerners we at them with jelly, not gravy. Our morning forms of bread are usually blueberry muffins, pancakes (buttermilk if I had it handy) or toasted bread (all made from scratch).

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 12:02 PM

SINS,

   I am following your lead and had two raisin English muffins to ward off all impending doom!!! ;)

   As it normally is on a Monday, my house is a disaster area. I almost have all the dishes done, laundry is all caught up but needs to be put away, general clutter abounds and is being picked up as I go. Jeremiah had his annual physical today which I am thrilled to say he passed with flying colors! He is 38.5 inches tall and weighs in at 38.5! :) He is right on track! YAY!

There are some serious sales going on this week in the grocery department. I am going to buy up a large amount of yams to can. Potatoes and cranberries too!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 11:58 AM

Whoo hoo! I moved the shoe rack in my closet, it used to be kind of out of sight behind the hanging slacks on the side of my closet with one high rod. As I've taken out all of the multiples of clothing that I had that fit me in different sizes (the size 16 and 14 are mostly gone now) I have more room, and on the other side where there is an upper rod (blouses) and lower rod (a few long t-shirts that are mostly sleep shirts now) I have a lot of empty room. So the shoe rack is over there and I can see everything.

I used to wear those long t-shirts as sleep shirts, and then as I gained weight I simply wore them around during the day, especially in the yard when I was working because they were long enough that they didn't pull up over my pants waistband when I was bent over weeding. (I would get sunburns on my lower back that way.) Now I'm wearing smaller t-shirts during the day and the big ones are used once again for sleeping in. I don't need so many so the tattered ones are in a rag bag.

A trip yesterday to Victoria's Secret was a lifesaver. Having stretched out the bras I had, then lost 33 pounds, I was swimming in them. I've tossed a few in recent weeks and I finally got into the store to get a couple that once again fit well.

In the kitchen I cut up a lot of veggies, still have many more to deal with. They're going into the freezer that now has more room in it after the defrost. I've done laundry, not only for me but all of the dog bedding. They're getting set up for the cooler weather, though I have to do some modifications in their stall in the garage - hopefully by next weekend. It isn't that much work, it's that I have to get started doing it. :-/

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 08:12 AM

Have a million disasters and potential disasters to deal with but put them all in their place with an English Muffin and some black and Blueberry Jam. Life is good.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 12:31 PM

Take care of that VT, no need to tell you that burns can be tricky.

I've decluttered a couple of more pounds. I have about 15 to go, so I'm to the point where I may build in some exercise (I'm not a fan of the gym, I'll instead do some exercises while I watch television or maybe dance around the kitchen as I work. Photos will not follow. . . )

Taking a mental health break and going to a museum and lunch with a friend this afternoon. I always have a lot to do around here, so "something to do" is never a great excuse for not going out for a while. And I need to socialize more away from work. Even if it is with a retiree from work. ;)

Also working on a headshot for the Linked-In account I set up a while back. I need to do something with that, make it into a useful tool.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 09:32 AM

You tell 'em Michelle.

Left message for Linn on the Obit page.

Sending encouragement to all re health and life organisation goals.

I need to do some serious clearing and organising today at home. Next couple of weeks at work will be attempting to move thousands of hanging files. I work in a very large record office and I maintain the hardfiling of contracts and correspondence related to the records (8 miles of shelving in 8 repositories) we hold. We have run out of filing space so I located (in the building) and had moved 3 more (near 7 foot tall) lateral file cupboards. So for the last 2 weeks I have been snaking files along into the newly insalled cabinets. Probably more than 500 files already.

But I burned the back of my right hand today trying to turn a tin of muffins around in a narrow oven. I have a quarter (or 10 pence piece in UK) sized red burn with nearly the same size blister forming inside the red patch across the first 2 metacarpal phalangeal joints. I cooled the burn with tepid water. Chris is going to get me proper dressing for it. My skin is so thin from the chemo and other immuno suppressants and age.

I have cotton conservators' gloves at work so I can provide a bit more protection. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 08:20 PM

Michelle, it sounds like you met some folks who made assumptions and rubber stamped the status quo.

Alice has reported having some success with some amber "blue blocker" glasses she wears in the evening, that help her get to sleep more easily by blocking the overhead, computer, and television blue rays (that cause wakefulness).

I did some targeted shopping today, containers for flour, beans, pasta, etc. Got some stuff for making a batch of beans tonight.

Thanks for the drop in, maeve!

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 06:45 PM

I got the official report from my sleep study. Ugh. Just ugh. I'm not sure how they can make a determination of anything. They reported I slept for 26 minutes during the entire study. No REM or other whatever they measure waves...well no kidding..I couldn't sleep! I was in the hospital wearing more jammies than I normally do, not my bed, hooked up to a bazillion wires, a camera watching me sleep.....how do they expect anyone to sleep there? Also, the bed reminded me of the ones in hospice...they look like a normal bed but then they have these steel pillars underneath that raise the bed up...CREEPY. Also, a Dr., who has never even seen me, wrote I need a gastric bypass. Um...seriously? I'm a big girl and yep, I need to lose a lot of weight but if he were a doctor who actually talked to me, he would know I lost over 100 pounds and regained it after my joints crapped out on me from chemo so my exercise of choice was ruled out and energy levels have been in the toilet for well over 3 years now (uh...sleep apnea ringing a bell here?) Give me a chance for f*cks sake! This weight WILL come off. I did it before and I AM doing it again!!   BACK OFF PEOPLE. GRRRRR. It pisses me off to NO END that a doctor who has never met me would suggest that kind of surgery....which..btw, I know MANY people who have had it, some who have had it twice and even one woman who had it done 3 times and I know of only ONE woman who was been able to maintain her weight loss. I am NOT a fan of this surgery and will NEVER consider it. I'd rather be where I am than put my body through that kind of butchering.

Ugh. The whole letter does nothing more than make me anxious.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: maeve
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 03:18 PM

Just stopping in to scatter a heaping handful of encouragement, Maggie.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 02:43 PM

I'm still sorting and storing things I took out of the freezer. Pasta and grains don't need to stay in there forever, so I'm checking out my storage canisters and in some cases reassigning contents. I need to pick up a couple more and I have a good coupon.

Laundry is underway. Dog bedding is finished. What an incredible amount of hair came out of them in the dryer. I must remember to launder the bedding more often to avoid such a buildup.

Cutting up veggies after a (hopefully brief) shopping trip. I'm planning to make a new batch of beans this evening and bake some bread.

I know some of you have some pretty active lives so I'll push this up to the top every so often to keep it easy to find.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 12:05 AM

There's nothing like a lovely Friday morning with a garage sale and on my way to work today I saw both an estate sale and a garage sale! I picked up a pretty little tablet-top chiminea (looks like you could put a can of Sterno in the bottom) for $4 and at the estate sale I bought a cotton and polyester bedspread comforter for $12 that was folded and added to the bedding for the dogs out in their stall in the garage. I bring in what's out there every so often to wash it, and since we're into colder months they need more. It's a large and thickly padded spread and they were very happy to curl up on it right away.

Dishes, one more load of laundry, then to bed. I crave the weekends these days, because work offers so little reward. I guess I was lucky for a long time and didn't realize it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 13 - 12:50 PM

I have concluded that after my $850 truck repair for the oil drip that I still have the exact same oil drip. Shit. I'm going to have to take it in again to the dealer because if they didn't do the job right they'll do the repair for free. Otherwise, I'd take it to my oil change garage (Goodyear.) Part II will follow one of these days soon. Just in time for the holidays, to spend more money on the pickup.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 13 - 01:53 AM

It's rather anticlimactic to come back and report that I did indeed defrost the freezer, and put back a lot of bags and containers of things. I need some wire baskets to organize some of this stuff, I'll swing by the restaurant supply place and see if they have what I have in mind. After that, maybe Office Depot or the container store. I had an old wire in-basket from work that I used to organize some smaller frozen individual portions of meat (I use a Seal-a-meal now to repackage and freeze the meat I buy in the marked down section at my grocery store. The only way I can afford some of those nicer tender cuts, and in theory, aged meat tastes better!)

Off to bed. Tomorrow holds so much for a lot of people. Linn, when you wake up it may take a moment to dawn on you all that happened today, or you may awaken remembering everything instantly. But whatever else, remember to breathe. Eat regular meals and get plenty of sleep. Take care, all.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 05:00 PM

Linn's husband, Tom Hall, passed away today. In addition to the Curmudgeon in Hospice thread, there is now an obit thread. I put it up quickly, thinking Kat would have often been the one to do that (another reason to be sad!) and hoping that the messiness of approaching death can remain in the older thread and the fond memories and (I hope) good stories will be left in the obit thread so Linn can find solace there.

We love you, Linn, and I want to offer a hug collective hug from all of us in this virtual-declutter and lifestyle group. Lean on us if it helps in the days ahead.

Maggie

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 04:11 PM

I'll post before and after photos so you can see what I'm doing. I use a hair dryer (one that was my Dad's, Mary!) and a plastic spatula/pancake turner thing. I open the drain in the bottom of the cabinet and let the water drain through that hose into a large flat pan while I scoop off big chunks of melting ice and drop them into a bucket. If the freezer is pretty well frosted up this is about a four-bucket operation. It's quite satisfying to see the sparkling insides when the frost is out. This was built about 1975 so it isn't the most energy efficient, but it is a workhorse as far as having a large freezer that I could afford to buy (I got it a few years ago for $30 at an estate sale.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: mg
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 03:57 PM

no drips with a good steamer...just steam that goes away into the air. it is a miracle trick.