Declutter and Fitness in early 2014

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:58 PM

Prufreeds on fone impossible

mower purch for HER use

chem-sensitive friend visit impossible

it was worse than I can enumerate today. Today's focus is on VACAY and birthday!!!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:53 PM

I chose this old thread to post in now because a legally-significant batch of posts are upthread. I'll need to print all of that plus this post.

The housemate with great references did not work out. The first of what would become so many red flags included declining a sleepover whike i was here, before moving in, to see if we'd get along before brekky. She seemed to have good reasons for all such decisions and we did a small dogworld project together instead to assess chemistry. That went pretty well and it's the last thing that did. Every "do not move this item" was agreed then disregarded. Instead of walking into a retirement home in progress as described above left in vacay-house mode, we arrived after 8 solid hours of driving unable to find items needed for immediate use by two people with different and serious health issues, broken items hidden, security measures removed, scented cad
ndles everywhere making plans to host a chem-sensitive friend, carpets soaking wet and all the clng products the sellers had used on it for years, in the humid air and pumping thru the whole house via central air. It's one of my health issues. No sleep that night. Everywhere I looked was oversized furniture and decor with our stuff buried. She had helped herself to garage storage we'd planned to use for offload what we'd hauled on this trip. She had not used the mower we purchased for our use and instead contracted someone we do not know.... on a property that had been cased and entered by unknown persons during my first trip here.

It was all that and more. It felt like arriving-- not at our own dear little live nest but in a badly run BnB from hell, with no hostess on hand, and the broken hall light fixfure making it hard to find the AC controls was unexpected from a person here to notify us of house trubble in a timely fashion... she later said it had fallen on her head the day she'd moved in.

I'm pretty sure a head injury did not cause her to forget and transgress every agreement and boundary any person in their right mind would have respected or asked questions about. I did however find unopened as well as empty containers accounting for what looked and felt just like an elephant in our living room.

Happily, she completed her move-out ydy with minimal damage to doorways.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 01:13 PM

Let's get a jump on spring. Here is the next thread.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 01:00 PM

Two boxes, totalling 15 pounds, to the post office today. The anchor has set sail, overland, to my brother, and an eBay parcel is shipped the next business day as promised.

I'll drag the chandelier box from my kitchen into the sun room because it's kind of crowded between the small round table and the microwave. I've let the table pile up with stuff again, time to clear that so I can sit down and eat, not just perch a plate on the edge.

There are looks but no watchers so far on all of the eBay listings. A lot of people wait till the last minute and pounce, so as long as there have been any looks, that is a good sign.

I may make one purchase soon. My paperback copy of Fellowship of the Ring is falling apart as I read it. I purchased it back in college, and who knows how many times I or others have read it. All of the volumes are in the same sad shape.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 08:23 AM

Actually, I think 2010 was the last year we were at The Press Room for St. Patrick's...Bob Frost had put together a group from our session "family" from 2010 until 2012, but I seem to remember Tom not feeling well one year and me being sick as a dog the next (and, of course, without me to drive him, Tom couldn't go.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 12:02 AM

Though I'm doing a LOT better emotionally than last weekend (and earlier in the week), I figure the Grief counseling (the woman works at the hospice where Tom died...she came to his memorial gathering on March 1) can't hurt...and the grief group, too.

Today a friend treated me to a delightful meal at a place I certainly can't afford, and then treated me to a Press Room pre-St. Patrick's show by a group of friends. I had planned to go to this performance before she suggested it. Other friends asked how I was doing...Tom and his band (which in later years included me) were the evening Press Room St. Patrick's entertainment for 33 years... I had no emotional/memories problem at all, actually. Their repertoire as well as style are very different from Tom's and his several bands. I enjoyed it and the whole day.

Tom lost his voice in 2009...so his last St. Patrick's performance there was 2009 and we hadn't attended since then for various reasons. I've already dealt with that loss...

I really should shut this off and go to sleep...

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 10:21 PM

Pulled out stacks of old New Yorkers. People buy them for the covers, lots of them on eBay. I'm going to try a few, see if they sell, otherwise, pull off covers and sell them all as a batch and recycle the guts.

Dropped of paper and cardboard at recycling and took a box of books to the half-price store, and probably got about what I would receive if I bothered to list them. But a heckuva lot easier and faster.

I think the spring cleaning impulse to get rid of stacks is setting in!

I hope the performance and singing went well, Linn, and am glad you're headed into some grief counselling. All of this will work together for you.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 09:25 PM

Country: After a peculiarly almost sleepless night - got up at 5 am and turned off finished kiln and closed windows ( opened to let fumes out); it was 0C in the studio so maybe my subconscious was insisting on this move but I still did not go to sleep for quite a while. The heat was off because the kiln was on but really needed to be turned back on!

Managed to get up just after 8 am and get ready to leave; R woke at last moment and offered to go with me so we were a little later getting to the venue for the Market but he carried the boxes in while I set up. Again sold several red and white pieces as well as several of another newish combo - cobalt blue decoration under pale green glaze. So the just bisqued pots will focus on those two modalities for next month. Sylvain took a photo of me, and pots which he will post on FB and I will share to my page.

R came back and helped pack up and we went to restaurant, then home as I needed to collapse. Soon to bed with hopes of glazing tomorrow.

After a seriously thawing day on Saturday, it turned quite cold again but SUNNY!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 05:18 PM

On second (and probably 52nd, if I'm honest) I've decided to get out of the eBay used book sales. I looked through a few representative authors, they just aren't selling, even the really good ones. I'll take them to the half-price bookstore this afternoon to get them out of here. I've sold a lot of books online, and back when I had full sets of favorite authors from my Dad's house, it went well. And sometimes special bundles of books.

Since I've cleared out a box of books in my office (waiting to be listed) I've rounded up a huge gob of dog hair pooled under a small table nearby.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 04:23 PM

Breakfast for lunch for my one meal today (a fasting day). I'm not quite as snug in the work pants this week as I was last week, so getting back to alternate day fasting seems to be working for me again.

I found a couple of books to list on eBay, if they don't sell, into the bin they go. I'll get more there even at low prices than my local half-price bookstore will offer.

I've done some scrubbing in the bathrooms and kitchen, and I ran a cup of white vinegar through my electric kettle to clean out the limestone crust. I poured that hot water and vinegar onto the seems between the bricks in the back patio area, to see if I could kill some weeds coming up there.

The house is chilly, I need to put on socks with my shoes, and the dogs may come in for the night, but they will have muddy feet. Ugg.

Mudcat is certainly faster today! Max has cleared out a few cobwebs and slow circuits, apparently!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 11:52 AM

Cold and windy today, after a heavy rain yesterday. I have a couple of things to do for the garden (spread beneficial nematodes) but most of the day will be spent indoors.

Sold an item on eBay, I've listed it several times at higher prices and was tired of looking at it. I listed it for a .99 start auction and it sold for $8.00, which is what I listed it for a few weeks ago. Another item that didn't sell is going to the Goodwill bin. It has been around too long, and when my Dad sent it years ago he said it was to test, and if I didn't use it give it away. I guess that's what I'll end up doing - Goodwill can sell it to someone who takes a look at it and things "I wonder how well this works?" Hint: it doesn't have an auto shutoff and the pot is too small to make very much tea.

Must move the car out of the garage and unload the topsoil and garden stuff from the store I picked up yesterday. Hail was threatened so I moved it indoors quickly. One thing I picked up is a faucet stand with a hose caddy. I'll set it in concrete and run a hose to it and this will be my tap for the vegetable side of the house. I'll need to find a high pressure hose to run from the house spigot to this. It's going to be a fancy setup this year. I wish they'd put a faucet on the driveway side of the house. I've been able to remedy electrical shortcomings (putting in outdoor plugs) but to remedy plumbing shortages means breaking the foundation - expensive.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 08:01 PM

Country:
Saw a free plant on craigslist yesterday - in Montreal - only ten minutes away so I emailed and picked it up - tall forlorn looking palm; I put it upstairs and fed it; we'll see - and made a stop for deposit at nearby bank. Did not bother with snow shovel.
Nice evening at cafe but did not feel like dealing with pottery when we got to the mill. Accepted there will be no new pots for this Market. Loaded today and will turn it on before bed. R loaded pots back in car for me so I am ready to leave at 8:15 am.

This morning I did not feel like getting up at 8 or even 9; I was still dozing and dreaming and told R off for trying to waken me. He was up and active before me for a change. I made a nice omelet for a 10 am breakfast with muesli bread toast and a shared almond croissant from a tiny cafe in the city. I left 5 small pots there 2 years ago and she has them displayed nicely; People look at them and think they are beautiful but no one buys them! But she is happy to have them and I was happy to purchase the delicious croissant. That was a stop on way back from plant pick-up, close to house but not a direction I go usually.

Today we went to lunch at the new cafe here. Vanessa was working and her parents were there so we got to meet them. R and the dad talked non-stop! The mom and I talked as well but I was having difficulty comprehending with all the background noise. Bought two pastries for tomorrow. This youth training project is worth supporting and they have done a beautiful job of it - V's baby! Terrific food and beautifully displayed local products.

Oh, the laundry R took to wash is still in the washer. May see it next week sometime! May see the newer washer next week sometime. May not!

DID find the papers needed to convince the health ministry that I actually live in Quebec - Revenue Quebec income tax assessments for last three years were in my filing cabinet, which is down here to make more room in the LR in the city. With any luck R will fax those and the paper he needs to provide - to certify I live where we live! - to her and she will send me the health card as promised. ASAP. I am reaching the point of fearing I will get sick/break something/... one day before I finally get the card! They do not refund!

Making a one pot veg/sausage/apple supper. Veggies did not cook in oven so moved it to stove top, in large cast iron frying pan. Getting hungry! Going to bed early so I, hopefully, feel like getting up as necessary!

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 04:57 PM

Whoosh! I ran errands and pressed my luck just a little too far. The stop at the ice cream store was when the drizzle shifted to rain and when I came out the rain was heavy. On the way home it turned into a deluge. I got very wet from the car to the house. All said, though, this rain is very welcome.

Back to work around the house. One load of laundry is done, linens and one more to go, and I really need to sweep and vacuum and dust.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 11:34 AM

Sounds like some very productive decluttering - isn't it nice when it moves along and is appreciated (not clutter) by someone else?

Laundry in, and a friend is headed over to pick up two of the pots that were originally at his house before the foreclosure. We figure they're so heavy that they won't be carted off by anyone at his apartment building. We're going to dig up a rooted sprig of rosemary and I have cilantro growing in a patch that will contribute to the second pot.

Rain is due to start this afternoon and I have jobs in the house lined up. More eBay items to list in my week-long eBay garage sale. And I am rereading the Lord of the Rings and want to get Frodo on the road today. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 11:06 AM

Looks like my organizational and decluttering energy is back after a two week retreat into grief rebound. (But I am meeting with a counselor next Tuesday and starting a 6-week grief group next Thursday -- can't hurt.)

This morning I sorted through a two and a half foot high pile of rubberstamp catalogues and ephemera from the 1980s and tossed everything except the copies of National Stampographic (and the couple copies of Rubberstampmadness misfiled there).

Yesterday I stored a couple boxes of photographs temporarily (gets them off the bedroom floor!) in the closet, got the last of the Christmas decorations stowed in the boxes in the closet (and out of the guest room!), and put a box of letters and saved email printouts (I TOLD you I'm a compulsive archivist!) in chronological order. Also pulled some information from those missives and inserted them into the yearly archived calendars. And updated 2007.

Today is the monthly sea music singaround at The Press Room, so I'm done decluttering cultch for the day. And tomorrow I'm spending with a friend and we'll wind up at Great Bay Sailor's pre-St. Patrick's show at The Press Room, so that's a social day rather than a work day.

Oh, and Trevor finally relieved me of the roll of leather hides I'd had for him in the backseat of the car for the past several months. Yeehah! AND he was thrilled. (He's an artist who does amazing masks and things of molded leather.) Got some more art materials that need to find homes, too.

Linn

I feel accompl

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 09:54 PM

Okay, the big item, the chandelier, is FINALLY listed on eBay. Took me long enough.

The front yard is mowed and I took time to trim away a Salvia greggii that was severely damaged by the hard freezes this winter. I have seen at least three others that will need to be removed, or cut way back to see if they grow from the roots.

I finished reading The Hobbit on Thursday and have started The Fellowship of the Ring. The only way I'm going to get through these three books anytime soon is to set aside regular reading time. Once I finish these, I have the director's cuts of the films to watch. I am on a mission. :) I saw the first two Hobbit movies and was under-impressed with everything that was added into them, and this is what pushes me to reread all of the books and then to wallow in hours upon hours of director's cuts of the LOTR movies.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 05:31 PM

More small estate items listed on eBay and I'm working on a high dollar one now. If these small things don't sell in a week they're going to the thrift store. Nothing seems to be particularly charismatic so far, few looks in the early hours.

I mowed the back yard yesterday, and in a few minutes I'm going to mow the front, then lug some cinderblocks to the front to build an enclosure around my front faucet. I have an electronic sprinkler device to attach to the faucet that will be used to time watering by zones, but I don't want it in view from the street. I'll be picking up new soaker hoses this year and stretching them around the house soon. I tossed a bunch last fall that were kinked and had multiple patches.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 02:25 PM

CITY still:
I would not mow without wearing a respirator. The result too horrible to consider.

I am recovered from the most recent coughing; I am suspecting a food.

However, the real reason I am back on line is the JOY of no longer having a washing machine in the middle of the K!! R went to Canadian Tire for a couple things in the flyer, including a new scale for me. He got a rain check for the scale - only 9.99! Returning home, he backed the trailer up to the front stoop and wrestled the washing machine onto it, and the water heater and a large pc of plywood which were on the stoop since last week. SO NICE to see useless objects leave. I suspect the metal went to the scrap yard. It is amazing how much lighter life feels. Maybe there will be a newer washer soon. I have never looked forward so much to doing laundry! It is stashed everywhere!

I made 4 containers of humous and that left in the blender went on lettuce for lunch, with a few corn chips. Cooked the chick peas yesterday. Tried a new method: added the tahini (1 c) and lemon juice (1/4c) to the chick peas (2c before cooked) in the pan and mixed well, then put small batches into the blender. Worked better but could have used more lemon, maybe even 1/2c. Good though.

Once again we have a critter eating plants and - pulling the garbage bag out of my nice stainless step-on can! Definitely not a mouse! I expressed hope that the new K will be tight enough to prevent these incursions. Assured.

My car is shoveled out - by R. But he refused to buy me a real snow shovel; he does not see the need so I shall do it myself, as intended. I really do not care for the little collapsible one for real work. I do not believe I have ever seen a snow shovel in a yard sale or at an auction???   

Now I feel like finking out and leaving at 6 to be in time for the cafe and then load the kiln after. Yeah, that will work. The pots are drying nicely here, in front of a heater. I can stop on the way for a shovel and a bank deposit.

Subject: Enter Miss Biscuit
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 12:32 PM

The shelter being overcrowded, and my having appeared yesterday aftn to visit her to exchange Biscuit-scented items to aid introducing Faulkner to her presence in his territory, I gave in to the shelter staff's plea to take her early. So I brought her home before prep had been completed. What a rollercoaster yesterday was!

She's fretted loudly and F was doing his best to show her the ropes. I think she is less socialized than we thought, but we have two weeks before it's final and I am plannning to ride it out. No accidents so far.... but she srsly needed to chill and I almost gave her a chill pill. It got better in the evening when Hardi took F upstrs and I gave her an offlead tour of the dnstrs! Since she got home she's eventually self-soothed off to napland. Too briefly!

By mid-evening she'd hit her limit of fretting: as soon as Hardi turned out the lights for a little TV watching, she crashed on my lap and began dreaming all her adjustments. Then she happily went outside with Faulkner (thru the kitchen door out to DogWorld), and was put to bed in the laundry room with her own bed and kitteh company.

The highlight of Day one was definitely that lovely BIG snoring lap-nap. Close and calm bonding. She's about the size of what was surgically removed. (It's better for that weight to be alive, loving, responsive-- and have its own legs!!!)

That sleep and bonding definitely allowed some mental re-sorting, because there were no overnight accidents despite plenty of room and a long bedtime drink. She was completely calm when I let her out and then into the kitchen while I made brekky. Then she sat herself quietly in my recliner while I breakfasted with Jesus elsewhere, Faulkner betwwen us in case of crumbs.

After brekky, she cheerfully yielded the recliner till I was settled, and went right back to sleep belly to belly.

She stirred at sunrise to alert on the sound of birdehs calling us from the ramp, where I'd already planned a good romp with the two doggehs... combined with "who owns the door" 001.

Later it will be even warmer for a yard orientation on the 25' lunge line.

Off to a good start-- basic household structure and territorial constraints.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 12:03 PM

After mowing yesterday I have a bit of a stuffy nose. I'm sure the mix of dust and pollen is taking its toll. I'll mow the front this afternoon but for now I'm letting a decongestant kick in as I work on a smallish eBay clearance (instead of bothering with a garage sale I'll simply list a bunch of odd things all at .99 auction prices.)

It's lovely today, tomorrow rain is due, so this afternoon I also need to get some of my seeds in the pots I've set up and make a run to get more top soil to mix my own potting mix. I keep a large bin of it in the greenhouse and have run out. Finally it is feeling like spring may stay, not go back to a nasty freeze.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 11:24 AM

CITY: Not sunny but bright and neither raining nor snowing. 17 F with a high of 30 today and better tomorrow then down again - to a minus one F mid-week! Whew!

Finished trimming yesterday but did not throw any new. The energy just was not available. Did not go anywhere - no shovel. R did forget the laundry - "It's in the washer!" So I shall have to fetch it on my way, after picking up a shovel at Canadian Tire (which sells everything, not just tires).

There is hope. There appears to be agreement that we will move to the apt in VSP (part of Montreal) when it is ready. "Bruno says he is making it nice for you." Then B will work on reno here - ripping out old K to bare walls and putting in new one - "8 weeks". HAH! We shall see!

Anyway, off to the country shortly to shovel snow and fire pots.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 05:48 PM

Linn, check to see if Tom had a balance in his PayPal account and transfer it over to your bank account. Maybe there is a little windfall. Having a sales-only email isn't a bad idea. I have it to go my main bill paying and business account and am used to it, but with email so easy to set up (and keep track of in Thunderbird) you might as well have a few.

Applied for another job, one that has been open for a while and one that fits my qualifications, though I know there will be a learning curve to deal with if it is offered. So far the applications turned in this winter are in limbo, the job listings are still open.

Cool sunny day today, chance of rain tomorrow. Puttering around the house now that the application is in.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 03:09 PM

CITY: Chaos starting to really grate on me!! But yesterday's storm - although R left in am with intention of getting a washer, it did not happen. Contents of laundry room is mostly in LR. I cleared a path yesterday am for the "new" washer, then had to move stuff again so R could see the TV! The washer in the middle of the K adds a few steps to each trip from one side to other! Guess I need the exercise! Today he is otherwise occupied so... I gave him a bag of laundry and some detergent. With any luck he will do it and bring it back; HE is the one out of clean socks!   

Made the celery soup yesterday; nice meal but we like it with a bit of sausage so I went across the street to see if the butcher had any - it has MSG in it! My first and last time in that shop. So walked a few blocks to a large grocery, just as the snow was starting. No sausage there fit to eat either. Not wanting to move the car nor walk any further, I had my soup without and put Ikea Swedish meatballs in with R's. The soup requires a piece of toast topped with provolone in the bottom of each bowl. Yummy! Other than that, it is merely onion and celery in veg or chick broth. Very quick.

Not going to go to writers' group tonight; the roads will be clear but the drive into the mill -NOT! If things stay OK, I shall go down early tomorrow with a shovel and clear enough space to park and carry pots in so they can dry and get fired Friday night. I would like to have a few more of the white and red ones for the Market on Sunday since that was all that sold last month. Maybe a few green ones as well.

Before I go to country tomorrow, I intend to buy myself a good snow shovel and put a big sign on it "DOROTHY"S - DO NOT TOUCH!" R went off with my in-car shovel this morning and the real one for this season disappeared months ago. Not going anywhere today- no shovel to dig out car! If R wants orange juice, he better bring some home.

I did get most of pots trimmed yesterday, working in short blocks of time. Want to do more today. Energy level is not high last couple days, even though I feel fine. Cough came back on Tues and Weds but has diminished again today. I wonder if the fragrance at folk dancing caused it - nothing else I can think of. Using the kick wheel on the weekend and Monday and dancing Monday night did make me a bit stiff but OK now. Just tells me I need to do more - of both.

Phoned my 88 year old friend of over 50 years this am, in PA, but she was on her way out the door to acupuncture! So had a very long chat with rehabber friend in NYS. Good lunch but still not jumping up to get to work! I want to start my new heritage seeds - the peppers - but the soil in in the country. I am really late but maybe in the fall we will be able to have a greenhouse to keep them going a while longer.

Sunny and 16 F today with hope of 30 tomorrow and 36!!! on Saturday. More snow next week! March in Montreal.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 12:58 PM

Ah, Stilly... Still can't do much of anything outside here as it's still covered with snow.

And more is falling today (on top of yesterday's "wintry mix" of rain, freezing rain and sleet.

I was just able to join a grief group this morning (6 week), but tonight's first meeting was just cancelled because of the dangerous driving conditions. Even if it stops this afternoon, the temperature is in the teens (F.) and the leader is afraid of black ice. I guess there is a major accident on Rte. 1.

But I CAN get some stuff done here in the house. Got the last of the Christmas stuff put away and the boxes stowed in the just-cleaned-out bedroom closet. Have a few more things to put in there to open up some more floor space in the bedroom.

Hope to cull some more stuff for Goodwill and better organize the stuff I intend to sell. (No, I haven't actually embarked on that...need to set up a sales-only gmail address and set up MY account with eBay/PayPal; Tom had wanted me to use his, but I'd rather have it in my name.)

Dishwasher unloaded and zucchini bread made. Need to neatify the kitchen. And maybe finish filling out the passport app now that I've found out what year my dad was born.

If MrSippy doesn't deliver vacuum packed barbecue (THE BEST!) and visit today, maybe I'll watch a movie (prolly "A Thousand Clowns") this afternoon.

Oh, I hope the snow won't be enough to require the driveway to be plowed... (Forty bucks each time that happens; it's been an expensive winter.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 12:29 PM

We get Friday as a holiday (Spring Break) but I took off today also to give myself a four-day weekend. It's a nice day, not as warm as Monday, but I'll take it. And it's the first day off in ages that didn't have to do with staying home as a defensive posture against bad or icy weather.

Last summer I visited a neighbor who had a Mexican plum sprouting in a flower bed where she didn't want it. I worked for probably an hour to dig out two sprouts and a 2' horizontal root from an adjacent tree that I planted in my yard. The leaves fell off and it looked dead for months. After the warm days this week I see small leaves sprouting! I have chicken wire around the plant to keep the dogs from knocking it over for this growing season. Once this gets established there is a larger tree I'm going to take out that isn't thriving and is in the wrong place (I learned this after it was already set in place or I could have moved it.)

Decluttering the garden of weeds today, using corn gluten meal. Where there is relatively bare soil in existing beds I'll pull any small weeds, sift over some corn gluten meal, the put mulch over it. This keeps the weed seeds in the soil from germinating. The mulch keeps in moisture and keeps the beds from being a bright mustard yellow from the corn.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 08:32 PM

Negotiations with potential housemate are going well. New dog joining our pack Saturday-- she'll be my travel dog and Faulkner's junior partner. Beagle/Basset mix = Bagel = Ms. Biscuit.

I suspect her weight equals to the pound what I had removed surgically.
She's a LOT more fun!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 05:14 PM

I don't like daylight savings time but I do like having it still light when I get home in the evening (like would happen as the weeks pass anyway). I need to water the garden and I'm working on the hose layout for the coming year. I could probably stand to declutter some of the garden stuff that I haven't used in ages, but it seems as soon as you toss something like that you think of a new use and it's gone. I'm doing mental designing for the cucumber patch, so nothing goes until I have a support in place for the chaos that are cucumbers. They were climbing the house last year, cluing me in that I'd planted them in the wrong place. One thing I did declutter last year was an extra mattock I gave a friend in partial payment for some work he did here - I saw him earlier this week and he pointed it out - still one of his favorite tools. Mine also.

I do this every year, as it gets to better weather I'm tempted out of doors and forget all of the house declutter. I am easily entertained in the garden. And now that I'll be poking around to get photos of my plants and of bugs and more. I'll try to keep up with the house declutter, but no promises. I was one of those kids who didn't often have to be told "go out and play!"

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 01:36 PM

That's a big step, Dorothy, but it sounds you're ready, and have been for a very long time!

Picked up batteries today, and will use the external flash I haven't used in ages to do a bounced flash to for photos of an important document that we have in our collection. It's encapsulated in very shiny mylar so I need to do what I can to avoid reflections. I realized this morning I need a flash stand because I can use my old large flash in conjunction with a wireless setting on the new camera (in a "slave" setting) - but only if I have the stand. I can get away without a stand today, but I just dropped one in my shopping cart at Amazon. I may have a stand at the house so I'll look around first, but they're inexpensive if I need to replace it.

I'm enjoying learning more about my camera - I've been using them successfully for years, but I can do a better job. Now I'm looking at storage space (hard drives) to replace a couple of smaller drives I've been using with the computer. These camera images are huge and need very large files to live on. It is more of a virtual clutter/declutter situation here, and the time that goes into researching if I can use my old enclosures with the new much faster higher-capacity drives, etc.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 12:05 PM

CITY: The impending snow got R out the door before breakfast! Muttering about doing this and that and I did hear a washing machine in there... I still have one in the middle of the K which I wiggled out of the way this morning so I could do dishes and wash two white buckets to go to the glaze-making area. I seem to always need buckets! I also moved stuff to clear a path for the newer washing machine. Hope springs eternal... and the laundry is becoming desperate.

I arrived home Monday night, after a couple good hours dancing, and the mail included my permanent resident card (PRC) in one envelope and my notice of appointment for citizenship in another! So Tuesday morning, I went to the office of the Quebec health dept. to obtain my health card. NOT so simple. The last time, they told me I needed a PRC but now I have "taken so long" they want proof that I really live in Quebec! R has to make a sworn statement that I live here and they want my income tax assessments for the last 3 years! I think of Linn! When I moved back to Quebec from Ontario in 1986, I changed my driver's license and got my health card in the mail without even thinking about it. How things have changed! Certainly not for the better.

The woman was very nice but the longer we talked, the worse it got. Where were my children? When did I visit them? People try to get health cards without living here. So I spent the morning there - almost two hours, then went to the market for bulk food and cheese, to the library for books and home to recover. And that is about all I did! Such a let down.

At least I can visit my friend in NYS without worrying over coming back across the border. But I do want to stop worrying about "what if I fall and break something?" The only reason I would go to the hospital. I have been wanting to ride a bike along the canal for exercise but concerned that I not fall. Happily, my weight has stayed at 155 so now that I am feeling better I can, again, work on moving it downwards.

Gave R a salad about 4 when he came home, also bent out of shape by bro who has the sensitivity of a (it would be an insult to name any animal, or even a stone!) R went off again and came back for a late supper. Had to leave in the middle for a alarm at a building. Returned and, as I reheated his supper, told me how he confronted the prospective thief - which turned out to be a very large raccoon! Then we watched the news.

I am stymied for a few days in my health card project. The house is a disaster area until I can put the laundry room back together when/if the better washer appears. The upstairs studio is warm, pots need trimming this afternoon - hopefully so they can dry before Friday. I did not throw more pots at the mill before leaving; ran out of steam. But I think between what is drying there and here and Vanessa's, we have a kiln load - will fire regardless! If the roads are clear, I will go down on Thursday to fire so I can do two glaze firings before the Market on Sunday.

It has been nice to have warmer weather! Even a sunny day.

My citizenship appointment is 3 April. Finally after 46 years! I could have had it in '78, but could not bring myself to affirm allegiance to an earthly being (the Queen). I have had cause to regret my adherence to truth and honesty. Even Quaker friends do a "You what!"

I wonder if I will be able to vote in the provincial election on 7 April!

Well, it is after noon. A pot of celery soup would be nice. Then trim pots. No sign of R.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 14 - 12:01 AM

Wind is very high tonight, the report said to fasten down light objects. I'm leaving the trash cans behind a fence, hopefully that is enough. The air here smells like burning grass, but the fires are a hundred or more miles away.

A bit of shopping with a gift certificate tomorrow. Essentials. I am trying to keep most of the movement of stuff out, not in. I still find the space in my large living room remarkable, once I got rid of that futon and moved things around. But in addition to reducing furniture is the effort to remove things from flat surfaces. I'm not doing that 40 bags in 40 days (if for no other reason than I'm not Catholic) but I suspect for some people it is very useful. If I were to take bags into my kids' rooms I probably could fill them. Maybe next summer before my son moves to Seattle I can get him to go through the stuff. My daughter is a hopeless case, and with every visit she always finds materials she can use for current projects. Her bedroom is a virtual storeroom.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 10:56 AM

Two days in a row of warm sunshine, something I haven't seen for weeks.

Linn, are you ready to start selling things on eBay? Do you have an account? PayPal is linked with eBay but it is also used free-standing, so if you don't have an account go ahead and set it up through eBay. They must link it to your checking account so they can extract any fees you owe, but once you start selling if you keep a balance in PayPal that isn't usually an issue. Any purchase comes first out of PayPal and if you don't have enough it will go to checking unless you've added a credit card and pointedly tell it to draw from there instead. You may find a time in the future when you choose to make a credit card purchase via PayPal is offered, but I think you need to have the card associated already to do it easily. [Read: there are a few steps to getting set up to use eBay and PayPal.]

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 10:16 AM

About 3 inches of fluffy white stuff out there this morning -- and this time I had to clear it off the car (yesterday it melted before I had to go out) so I could take the trash to the head of the driveway.

Planning today to finish a book ("Venice Noir") so I can sell it and start clearing out this room -- shuffling stuff around, taking some chairs to the cellar for the time being (and checking for some chairs for a friend), and basically working towards a new computer configuration AND extricating the LPs in the backless closet so I can call a dealer in.

Bright sun today, but 8-10 inches of "wintry mix" due tomorrow and Thursday.

Eating a delightful breakfast of French boule toast and yesterday's leftover soft cooked egg (with a touch of mayo and sprinkling of pepper).

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 10:58 PM

I have the amber glasses on this evening to hopefully bring about an earlier bed time. I hate this week or so right after Daylight Savings Time goes into effect. I have stuff I'd like to do around the house, but for now, I'll work on getting the sleep cycle into gear.

The dogs enjoyed staying in the garage last night since it was finally warm out there and on freshly laundered dog bedding. It was like a campout for them! I hope they'll be content to stay out there from now on. They've gotten pretty spoiled over this cold winter, but I could stand to have less dog hair all over the house for a while.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 03:41 PM

MORE snow? Really? It just doesn't stop this winter!

Finished another project at work, a big one using new skills, the first of several projects for that library division. It's good to put these things behind me, though I'd like to put the entire library behind me one of these days.

It's gorgeous today and supposed to be even better tomorrow. We have Friday off, but the weather is not as lovely at the end of the week. We'll see if I can resist taking tomorrow off.

I have an eBay project spread out on the dining room table in the front room (I use part of that as a formal dining area but it also works as a clean and uncluttered surface for projects). This is one of the sales items that I'm slowly but surely listing and moving off of the mid-century modern dining table piled high with stuff in the sun room. I think I'd like to swap out the tables, especially if I could find some chairs to go with the mid-century one.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 11:39 AM

Have to go out and clear snow off the deck and car before heading to Portsmouth for some errands and a visit with a friend.

Had to schedule it for today as the prediction is for 8-10 more inches of snow on Wednesday and Thursday. At least the roads should be clear by the time I have to head to the Press Room session in Portsmouth on Friday. (To and from Portsmouth is about a 45 mile round trip.)

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 11:32 AM

Linn: you are doing just - as well as can be expected - just fine! Grief counseling might help. But this phase is predictable, if not fun. I am thankful you seem to have a terrific support group. Most have have found that the grief never really ends and it will hit us from time to time over the years but you are in the early stages and self-care is primary. You seem to be doing well in that dept.

My son Troy was born a special person. I thought I was a "perfect mom" until the second one came along and I realized that what I had a was a "perfect child". He does have his down times but generally, he just has a beautiful spirit. It was special for me to live on Whidbey those three years and hear how wonderful my son is! As my 50th wedding anniversary approached, I finally was able to come to terms with my anger and distress over "that man" by realizing I had two beautiful sons - so let go of all the rest of it. One of those magical moments of letting the light in.

Anyway, I hope some of you enjoy this new CD.

I did little on the weekend, other than help R deal with the computer, delete emails, visit from the man who is trying to form a cooperative nursery in the field here at the mill, finished a novel, checked the clay supply and realized the time is now to start using the different clay and trying some different glazing ideas. I received a lot of kicks of encouragement from the clayart group this week. Sent a photo of my NEW kiln off to the manufacturer. Went for dessert to the new cafe that Vanessa coordinates - the pastry chef is not doing a thing for my weight; melt in the mouth delicious!

It is to go above freezing today, the studio is warm and a bunch of pots await trimming. Off I shall go, after putting out buckets to catch the drip off the roof. Trim pots, throw last bag of dark clay, clean wheel in prep for dif clay. Then go to city for dancing tonight.

Any further organizing around here can wait until the building is warm enough. Another month or so.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 14 - 11:01 PM

The last of the dogs' bedding is in the dryer. I swept their stall, filled one of the dog houses with a few pillow cases stuffed with old towels and some loose old sheets and rag rugs. A large comforter is in the dryer now and will be folded and tucked into the front dog house (Poppy claims it, and if Cinnamon gets in there Poppy sits and barks at her.) All of our bedding is fresh and ready for spring. We went for a walk this evening, didn't travel far, but it was so nice to get let them get out of the yard.

The garden is watered and tomorrow I'm going to take a flour sifter and some corn gluten meal and sprinkle it around the garden where I planted the potatoes, then put down some mulch. This will keep weed seeds in the soil from sprouting. Don't use this near where you're going to plant crops with seeds. I'm also contemplating how to build a wire structure for the cucumbers to climb this year, well away from the house.

Chamomile tea for the evening. I am so glad I bought a bag of loose chamomile at the Middle Eastern market where I get my olive oil, tea, flat bread, etc. This will last for ages and cost only a couple of dollars. The regular grocery store tea bags add up to a small fortune.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Mar 14 - 02:03 PM

A couple of things here haven't sold after repeated listings on eBay. I'm going to list them for .99 and if they aren't gone after a week, to the Goodwill they go. Since they're packed and weighed I might as well put them on the bargain table before sending them to the thrift store.

I made another pass through that big cupboard, from the other side where there is also a door. Found another item for eBay (who knew they made percolators of glass, plastic, and a special metal basket for the microwave?) and more plastic for the summer produce freezing bag collection. It's nice to be able to see what's in there now. I also went through the cupboards in my dressing room and pulled some items. I suppose the things that are on that countertop can go in those cupboards.

The sun is out. Maybe I can undo some of the damage from the last hard freeze, and finish the top-dressing over my potato patch. I picked up seeds yesterday and am contemplating the best way to grow cucumbers without taking over everything else in the garden. And a good space for my zucchini.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 10:43 PM

I agree with Jeri (who said it more succinctly than I usually manage). I think this kind of thing goes in waves, and you had a high tide wave hit this week.

The work I took care of today didn't take me outside but I've walked around the house so much that I feel like I've covered a couple of miles. Lots of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, cleared out a deep corner cupboard that had a lot of stuff I hadn't seen in ages, including the plastic lid for a pyrex bowl that I feared I had accidentally tossed in the recycle bin. A bag of those containers is now in the pantry, ready for freezing stuff from the garden next summer. I can re-use it, but that doesn't mean it needs to be all stuffed into that cupboard.

Max sounds good on his WPSU Blues program tonight. Dorothy, I haven't listened to your son's music yet, but I like his web page. I'll tune it in tomorrow when I'm staying put for a little while.

I've gone through the house this evening looking for clocks to reset the time. I wish we'd just stay on the same time all year.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 08:51 PM

Jeri, yup.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 08:00 PM

I had a headache yesterday too. Today, it switched sides and is worse. It's always worse on the atypical side.

Please don't think you're not doing OK because you want some help dealing. It's OK to ask for help, and it's OK that life is hard now. You'll get through it, but you have to GO through it. You put a lot of the shit off so you could deal with what you had to do, and now, you don't have to put it off. Boom!
I'm pretty sure you know this, so consider I'm just agreeing with you.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 07:40 PM

Dorothy, I didn't check it out last night when I had the headache, but I did just now. So far I've only listened to the first cut, but I think I'll probably buy the download to my iPad. Thank you!

Just did a wee bit of fridge declutter. Where does this stuff come from?!?

Spent another day more or less just being. Worked a bit on "The Archives", talked to my sister who has been unavailable all week, and to a couple other friends.

I was blindsided by my emotional and physical reactions this week. After accomplishing so successfully Tom's memorial gathering (which has been more or less hanging over my head for three months), I expected to go into another stage of mourning...but I didn't expect this. I think I'll call the social worker at Hyder House and see about their grief counseling ... Last time I talked to her she said she thought I was doing fine (and I thought so, too). Now I'm not so sure...

Missed seeing the Berrymans tonight and an after concert gather at Harvey Reid's because I can't quite cope with more than one person at a time right now...still...and it's starting to annoy me. I can't quite bring myself to start writing thank you notes because it's just a bit too emotionally wrenching. Last Saturday was a wonderful experience but I'm on sensory and emotional overload.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 05:20 PM

I decided to do the "fill the plastic bin" routine again. A couple of weeks ago I was able to unload several perfectly usable items that I haven't used in years. I've started with a lamp shade and will go from there.

Yesterday a shopping trip bagged me a dozen chicken breasts, 10 went into seal-a-meal bags in the freezer. I can sometimes use one of these large breasts for 2 or 3 meals, depending on if I cut it up in a dish. And today I found some frozen cod and flounder at the local Fiesta grocery. They don't seem to have the sodium stuff added that holds so much water. It's difficult to find unadulterated frozen fish any more these days.

More laundry to do today, and eBay stuff to list, all indoor activities. I picked up plants for the garden but I'll wait till tomorrow, hoping it will warm up some. I've also picked up corn gluten meal, that I'm planning to use with an extra flour sifter, to sprinkle over the ground after digging up beds and putting in the bedding plants. Sprinkle corn gluten meal to keep weed seeds from sprouting then put down mulch over the top of it. An organic gardening method developed over the last couple of years. The corn also acts like a fertilizer for the garden as it breaks down.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 12:20 PM

Linn: what SRS said -but if you have a headache, soft music could be healing? :My son's wonderful new CD The launch party was last night on Whidbey. I was there in the spirit.

I may or may not have managed that link! The music is entirely composed by Troy. How wonderful I feel about what has come from the purchase of the $50 guitar 40 years ago! His music has sustained him through many rough years and now he is happily retired from that "day job" and a full time musician. It makes me SO happy. (He was an air traffic controller.)

I so relate to the job problems. Been there too.

Delight in Michelle's quilting!

Posted on FB the other day about Suite Francaise by Irene Nimirovsky, a page turner, novel. R is also finding it excellent reading; he generally does not do novels although he is also reading Skios by Michael Frayn - because I laughed out loud through the whole book - satire! THAT would be good for a headache!

Thursday, I managed to throw a bunch of pots and trim the ones from Weds. Went to my writer's group and back to the city with the assurance that the cellar door was closed. It was. And the place is now without water heaters everywhere; there are two in the cellar functioning!!!! Oh JOY! Hot water is a wonderful thing to have!

There is now a washer in the kitchen which makes it challenging to get into cupboards. Newer washer and dryer have not yet appeared; old ones are clutter. It will be a few days. R offered to take laundry elsewhere and do it. I could not get my head around that but now I have. When I get back to the city on Monday, I shall sort out two separate loads and entrust them to him, hoping to see them again - clean and dry. I do not want to enter the building where he will wash them.

I am in my 9th consecutive "Good" day and very solicitous of my health. I do not want to go through this last 9 months again - ever. I am coming out of the fog, waking up, wanting to get things done.

Friday, I was getting ready to come to the country "before rush hour", about 3 pm. I realized that leaving then, I would get here about 4:30, eat and then feel as though I had no time to get work done and just read until it was time to go up to the cafe. HAH! I went upstairs and worked until 5:30, threw some nice stuff, trimmed the old stuff, cleaned up and got out of the house by 6, returned books to the library and hit the road. Got to the cafe in an hour and enjoyed beautiful music. I saved 40 minutes travel time as well as joyfully getting pots made. R arrived late. We were asleep just after 11.

Quiet morning. nice omelet. warm enough in studio and I shall go there once I figure out what else today might hold. Emails are done.

I have gotten some helpful feedback from clayart group and feel uplifted, encouraged... My clay life is waking up and I looked at pics of neat pots I once made - why not again! The Paragon kiln guy wants a pic of me and my NEW/old kiln to go with the piece I wrote about acquiring it - for the company newsletter and home page! Arnold is such a sweet guy.

I am feeling life is possible. Grateful for my protective mask that makes it possible to go in iffy places. And for the humans who are understanding and supportive - even if what they understand is to let me alone when I am "like that". I recently thought a sign around my neck would be a good idea - "Beware: NOT having a good day." At the cafe. At my best, I am not very friendly after 9 pm; while others kibbitz and say long good byes, I slip out the door to get home to bed. I have been like that since very young; not to do with toxins.

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Mar 14 - 11:41 AM

This morning I must confirm my suspicion - I have slowly gained weight during this cold weather. I donned a pair of jeans I haven't worn for a while and they are very snug. They're still in the size I've worked to reach (down from larger sizes I wore last year), but they're tight. My job has been so sedentary lately, and I haven't had excuses to climb the stairs (six flights) - I must make myself get up a couple of times a day and climb them, if for no reason than to get out of the basement to see what the weather is doing. This weekend is supposed to be chilly again (not so freezing as it has been, but a clammy kind of cold down into the high 30s). Not conducive for active yard work, so I'll at least keep the meals modest. One day it will eventually warm up around here. I think we've had almost 60 nights of freezing temperatures this winter, something that is almost unheard of in our southern clime.

It's a major cleaning day, something I decided this morning when I looked around and found enough for several loads of laundry. I can start storing the heaviest sweaters, so they need to go in on ultra-hand-wash (I love that setting!) and I need to change out blankets (launder before storing for the spring, etc. Like I said, it isn't warm yet, but it is time to put away the really heavy-duty cold weather stuff.

Must make some of my robust whole wheat loaves of bread. I have never been happy with small loaves, they don't bake as well as the standard size. I can keep it going for about a week without suffering in quality, and anything left goes into a batch of bread pudding or a snack for the pooches. Bread isn't counter to weight loss if it's healthy and you don't eat too much. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Mar 14 - 10:55 PM

I suspect there is some after-effect of burning the emotional candle at both ends, and now you're feeling the effects, Linn. Get lots of sleep, eat healthy foods, breathe, and get some exercise. Read lots of good books.

Today I hefted a large box full of photos and negative envelopes (had filled a full file drawer) onto a book truck and seem to have pulled some abdominal muscles. I have the hot pad thing in place right now, and I think it'll be an early night. I'd given my photos to the university archivist, but when I turned them over there seem to be too few boxes. It turns out that this file drawer was in storage over the summer and if I hadn't asked for my file to be delivered to my office (even though I didn't know if I had a use for it) they might have been lost. I opened the bottom drawer the other day and there the were!

One reason for an early night is I'm rereading The Hobbit and I'm up to the point where they have found the back door to the mountain and Bilbo is creeping down the well-hewn hall. There are only 80 pages left at this point, and there is a whole bunch of banter with the dragon coming up. It looks like Jackson is going to base the entire last movie on about 50 pages of the book? What a lot of made-up stuff he must be planning for that flick.

I need to work on the garden - replacing plants killed in the 9^o temperatures early in the week. Fingers crossed we don't have any more severe freezes. It's nice this evening, not getting much below 50, so the dogs are out in the garage. Just reminds me, the heater is still on out there. I'll turn it off in the morning.

SRS

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Mar 14 - 08:21 PM

Left the Press Room session about two hours early, handing the gavel (figuratively speaking) over to Bruce -- I had (and still have) a raging headache and the general consensus was that I looked as bad as I felt. I got a couple songs in, though, even though my voice for some reason or other is not exactly optimal today.

Ach!

I'm going to take some more aspirin and give them the opportunity to work...

G'night.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Mar 14 - 10:39 AM

From talking with friends and your comments here, I think my recent mammogram experiences are soooooo much better than everyone else's!

Granted, I've had those "worse than the dentist" experiences in the past, but since I've started going to Women's Life Imaging in Somersworth, NH, the experience has been entirely different.

First of all, the johnnies are big enough to cover me up. The room has low lighting, and the equipment they use not only is pleasant room temperature, but I don't have to get into all sorts of physical contortions for them to get the shots they need. They seem to squeeze with the least necessary pressure -- I've never found it uncomfortable. The tech (and everybody else) is friendly and even takes time to explain why I have a large deep lump in my right breast (and what its composition is) from a seatbelt-caused hematoma about 8 years ago. (When I had two cars totalled in two weeks.)

I actually look forward to my mammograms. Oh, it's also the first place in the Seacoast to offer 3D mammography. And it's a nice drive over there on mostly back roads.

Linn

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Mar 14 - 06:41 PM

I always feel like a meatball when I get a mammogram! Hope all goes well Maggie!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter and Fitness in early 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Mar 14 - 01:56 PM

Made the appointment for my regular mammogram. I've put it off - it's not painful, just uncomfortable. And another thing this morning, I turned in an application for a job that is very similar to what I did for the last few years in my current department. The new job is a different department, same university. I was moved from my old job when they decided to make that job "librarian preferred" (English majors need not apply).

My poor broccoli is dead in the ground, as is the chard I planted a couple of weeks ago. A 24-hour period of deep-freezing that reached a low of 9^o was too much for otherwise cold-hardy plants. I'll replant on the weekend.

SRS