Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 May 18 - 10:07 PM

Some good news-- there's been no nefarious account activity for the checking account whose blank checks were found in Tyler's closet. In fact Hardi was able to go thru the special statement with me over the phone and compare numbers with me to determine that none were missing (even from the middle of the 2 books found).

To limit electronic use of the account, I'll notify the bank tomorrow that the only transactions they should see until further notice are SS by direct deposit as usual and SS out via my monthly same-day transfer to pay down a card. And the surplus current balance just went to that card before anyone can sick it out.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 May 18 - 09:25 PM

Finished most of the clearing in the back of the garage by the workbench. There are still a few things that possibly should go, but for now, the worst of it is in the trash for morning pickup and the useable stuff is at Goodwill.

Now for a load of laundry, this was a sweaty dusty job.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 06 May 18 - 05:16 PM

:-)

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 May 18 - 01:18 PM

Charmion, first thing I did.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 May 18 - 12:09 PM

That is a lucky break, and a paper trail to find them again, we hope, even if they sold from the pawn shop.

This morning I've addressed the contents of a steel shelf in the garage. It's fastened to the wall and can stay there, but the things stored there are getting dusted and sorted. Some to the greenhouse, some to a stack for the Goodwill, and a lot in the trash. Up on the top shelf I can see traces of mud stuck to the vents on my Coleman stove, so I need to take it down to see if the inside is completely bricked in by mud daubers. They spend a lot of time in my garage and I am still finding and tossing out old nests.

Boiling water into the vegetable garden to knock out some of the patches of weeds that sprouted after the rain last week. I also have 10% vinegar to use to keep weeds out of some of the pavers and gravel I put down last month.

Lovely weather today so it will include a dog walk before dinner.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 06 May 18 - 11:58 AM

Go, Susan! To the phone, and call the cops.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 May 18 - 09:00 AM

Good things come to those who wait. And he wants to get caught.

Comforter, yes! One ash smudge on removable cover.

Shouting alert--

UNDER it:

In guest room, found PAWN TICKET WITH SERIAL NUMBERS, for Hardi's guitars, dated March 10. IN TYLER'S NAME.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 May 18 - 08:25 AM

Gang, if you're reading along and want to support, "Go Susan!" is a good phrase to post. Please don't do that if you're not actually reading.

NINE hours bentramasleep under just enough covers!

Used AM energy to further de-Horde the guest room and sent leads found to Det. Wilson. Almost ready to move bed, which I suspect is harboring a down comforter as an extra mattress pad. MAYBE it's even clean and undamaged?

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 18 - 07:49 PM

The good thing about having people over for lunch is that it forces you to do some of the most immediate things that help clear up the spaces you'll use for the meal. And as it wound down I put everything in the dishwasher. By the time we stopped talking in the yard the dishes were finished and now I have a great looking kitchen and dining area.

It's a lovely evening to start on the last part of the garage cleanup, the back wall with the window and workbench. Plenty of stuff to donate or discard back there and other things to reconsider - start using them or sell them. My mouse "walk-the-plank" trap hasn't caught anything, probably because all of the work scared off the most recent residents. I'll put it away for a while and re-set it after all of the work is done and if I start seeing any more signs of rodents.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 May 18 - 07:46 PM

The guest room is now clear of visible trash, and all parts of the electric recliner's power cord were found and connected. It works. It's padding needs to be put back together but TBTG I won't have to junk it-- that will have to be sawed in two to get it out.

The room's trash occupied another two big trash bags, which, when I take them out to the bin, will finish filling the 2nd 96-gallon trash bin. I'm sure I'll find more when I move the bed.

Of course I'm continuing to find ruined items. Such as two prayer shawls. Can you imagine?

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 May 18 - 06:58 PM

Finally remembered that the stuff in the dresser I brought included a woven cotton serape, so I added it to the sheet I've been using. I'll top it with another flannel sheet and look for a Goodwill comforter in a few days (I'm sick), to replace the one they stole.

Between streamed TV murders on my fone and a few naps, I moved most of the dirty laundry out of the LR and into the guest room. Now I wish I hadn't put it where I did, on the bed, because I want to move the bed.... I'll move it to the closet, the curtain for which is still up. I bagged the busted drain snakes they'd left and the clothing of unknown ownership, from the guest room, and emptied a trash can of bathroom crud that contained my water pitcher, which I set to soak.

In the guest room I found a bit, that fits my cordless drill/driver, so now I just need a bit for that. The guest room still has another trip's worth of trash to bag up, and then I can see if the electric recliner still works and, if so, reclaim that room.

I'm not trying to make it all like it was-- that vision is broken. I'm making new visions as I'm able.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 May 18 - 12:19 PM

Others family members will disagree with my action, but after much thought I decided that Tyler's family gets a piece of the recovery/consequences too.

So I reached out to neighborhood family members, indicating that I have his little boy Gavin's items to return but desire no face contact. A younger brother replied (who was the first family member that had worked for me but whose own drug use this year is obvious), and we worked it out via txt that he'd send his mother with car when she got home from work, and that they would contact me first so we don't talk. It's a police matter, and for that and other reasons, it's best we don't meet.

In text, after the pickup, I urged her to contact the child's mother to interrupt unsupervised visitation. Since I don't have Gavin's last name or his mother's name, I've also requested law enforcement follow up on that. Tyler apparently didn't think I might report him, but in addition to my own deep concern, I am a mandated reporter.

So I bagged up the visitation-bag of clothes and tiny shoes, tub toys, dinosaurs, and new gifts for Gavin that Tyler had left in place here. I bagged up Tyler's friends' filthy frypans I don't care to wash or put in MY trash bin. I bagged the chess, dice, and dominoes they played with during long meth highs. I bagged the gluten-laden food he left, and the peanut oil we dare not use here (my BIL who is here often is highly allergic).

I loaded all this into the red recycle bin I use for hauling heavy items between house and garage. She picked it up from the front doorstep without conversation, leaving the bin as requested, while I unpacked a few boxes in the garage.

Several items I'd been missing from the LL were in that guest room. Now that most of the nastiness is out of there (I took out food trash ydy), I've set the guest room to air. And now that I've cleared some floor space in there, it's a good place to drag all that laundry I'll need to do, in hopes a County seniors-helper can load it into my car to go to a laundromat, and go with me to get it all done and re-loaded. There's nothing in it I need soon, because we bagged laundry by category when we got my bedroom ready. And I don't care to overload the fragile plumbing with Tyler's mess.

A plan I want to start soon involves using blue tape on the Liberation Library walls to stake out placement of furniture I brought.... BEFORE draggifng it in from the garage-- so I can move the library's existing furniture to IT'S planned locations and thereby create space for a table to organize and CATALOG the books which MUST BE DONE ASAP-- at least a photo catalog.

After a transfer glitch, I finally received PA funds early this AM to replace supplies, but now I'm down with a nasty head cold and ucky tummy, so it's a good thing I got chicken soup with my scooter yesterday. Despite both pairs of comfy slippers being gone, I found a pair of slipper socks and a blanket I'd brought from PA and cranked up the heat.

Today my only "work" in the house will be putting away groceries and clean dishes, hauling those loads of laundry to the guest room bed, and bagging uo the remainder of the guest room trash so I can stand to be in there again. Once upon a time (just two months ago), it was a peaceful haven. I could use one!

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 18 - 09:23 AM

Friends coming over for lunch today so a quick tour of the house to sweep (dog hair, one guest is allergic) and organize my stash of boxes in the sunroom - it has grown recently. After two days of rain my garden is in drastic need of weeding; it's astonishing how fast plants grow when conditions are perfect. Boiling water with white vinegar nips many at the bud and will be one of my main defenses this year against the creeping Bermuda.

I think it's time to weed out extra coffee mugs and donate to the Goodwill. They're coming out of the woodwork, since I brought a few home from work. That's a long story - I'm downsizing the amount of stuff I have there.

Must vote today. It's a small one, but so small that every vote counts. This one to do with a bond to make river levee improvements. They won't impact my part of the creek that feeds into that river, but all of this stuff is eventually connected. I'd love to see a hiking path developed up to our area, the creek is lovely and there are long wooded stretches beside this urban creek.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 18 - 11:48 PM

Jed's death has kind of knocked the stuffing out of the week. I'm keeping my eye on information about upcoming events. The service on Sunday is for family and close friends; there will be something else later for the rest of us. I have a guest room if someone travels far and needs to avoid a hotel cost.

I moved the rug back into position and the table on top if it. It seems to be dry after a day of a fan and air conditioner. Guests coming for lunch tomorrow so I did a little cooking ahead tonight. One is a vegetarian, one has a salt and tomato restricted diet, so I have a few things available and let people mix and match, or we heat up tortillas and make custom quesadillas according to taste. I fried up some sliced potatoes and made a batch of boiled tomatoes to make mashed or hashed (potato tacos are pretty good - and I have masa for making corn tortillas). We tend to decide what the lunch will be once everyone arrives and we see what people brought with them.

The rest of the weekend will be eBay and yard work. After 2 days of rain the weeds have gotten a big head start on me.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 18 - 10:59 PM

An evening spent sorting out my computer banking software. Quicken killed off my ability to download bank files to update my accounts, and even had I entered each transaction manually, it wasn't letting me select "cleared" or any other status. They're going to a subscription mode. Grrr. The time it would take to find a new program and learn how to use it was more than I wanted to spend right now, so I bought the lowest-end version (downloaded the software), finally got it to download the bank account info, and I have 14 months to find and practice with another program. I wasn't paying attention when Quicken kept trying sell me a new program, I didn't realize it would essentially turn into a brick. I'm caught up now, and anything else I planned to do this evening will wait till the weekend.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 May 18 - 07:45 PM

Cleanup continues, slowly.

The hug-bearing friend returned today to start sorting out the Liberation Library. It's very hard to be in that room but we cleared it of items just delivered and started sorting books. I'd found pictures showing where the categories went and they aren't clear enough to read titles, but I can do a lot from the colors of the spines.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 18 - 10:50 AM

Decluttered an expensive 1/2 gallon (the remainder) of a mango yogurt drink when it became clear that it had turned into something not so benign. It's fertilizing the tomatoes now and my gut will recover. I like the store where it came from, but they sell lots of imports that don't always have sell-by dates. In this instance, I think they washed off the dates because this brand usually has them. The hurricane last summer made importing some stuff more difficult and more expensive. They're taking risks by keeping things that get so old they're no longer edible.

This morning I decluttered some mapped drives that I used when I telecommuted for work. The red X over each (disconnected) drive was making it difficult to see the large external drives on my home computer (for some reason the letter drives were duplicated). I should have done that ages ago since there is no trust in the workplace that telecommuters are really doing their job from home. Too bad, for 15 years it saved me a lot of money as far as the daily round trip commute.

The garlic will be ready to harvest soon and the cilantro has bolted, so that bed will be ready for more bedding plants soon. Cucumbers seem to like it there. Salads and pickles ahead! I need to organize the canning jars in the pantry shelves to be ready.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 03 May 18 - 09:55 AM

Now that the house is as squared away as I can make it right now, it's time to turn my attention to -- sigh -- fitness.

While I wasn't looking, I regained five of the pounds I lost while having pneumonia (and little else *rimshot*). The fat pants are out of the storage box again, and I'm back on the wagon with respect to portion control and avoiding foods that say "Eat Me Now" rather too loudly.

Fortunately, it's spring in Perth County and the asparagus will soon start rolling in at the farmers' market. I can eat asparagus until I piss green, and then eat yet more asparagus. Also tomatoes.

But dinner tonight will be roast pork, so restraint must be today's watchword. Darn it.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 May 18 - 10:37 PM

That is nice!

My new "walk the plank" mousetrap arrived and is set up in the garage overnight to see if my cleaning activity chased them all away or if they are still lurking in the joists and rafters. So much sign of mice in the garage, but it was cumulative.

Hoping for a soaking rain tomorrow - something moist is forecast - I'm hoping it's just rain and not high winds or hail that can play havoc with a tender garden.

Busy weekend coming up, foundation work quote coming soon. Computer is acting up - I think it wanted an update.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 May 18 - 08:10 PM

Aw, a SURJ friend who had offered to look at the Liberation Library to try to restore it, did come.... and is not only coming tmrw afternoon to work with me in it, but after she left... she came back with dinner, dishwashing supplies, a hug-- and flowers! :-)

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 May 18 - 10:45 PM

Gotta love the irony though-- the live in helper chosen to make things just a bit easier is the one who just made it harder.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 18 - 08:27 PM

Thanks, mg; I was actually expecting an "I told you so." Which I don't need.

You're probably doing a pretty good job of that all by yourself. No need to pile on.

The instruments - anything you can put up on the Mudcat site or the Mudcat annex on Facebook as far as descriptions, serial numbers, photos, would help people in the community keep any eye out for them on eBay or in pawn shops. (Link the facebook reports to mudcat.org and people will be able to see the photos.) That theft is heartbreaking - because clods who stole these have no music in their hearts. They see only dollar signs.

Over the last few weeks I've also cleaned up around my employment cubicle. The urge to declutter has jumped boundaries. I got rid of several dozen old 3.5" floppy disks that were in a couple of cases - I don't think we have any devices that can read them now (and I'm sure I moved the data ages ago). The disks and the storage cabinets went into the e-waste bin.

In the garden the tomatoes are finally growing and I think the ones I planted a couple of weeks ago doubled in size overnight. The potatoes are starting to send up shoots and the squash leaves are spreading out. Soon the garden will be visible from the street (right now it looks like a dark brown patch of soil.)

This morning I moved a few things in the garage along the back wall - I need to finish the job - for now I'll spend a couple of minutes each morning (before the drive to work) putting things where they should be stored.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 May 18 - 08:08 PM

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 May 18 - 07:54 PM

Susan,

   I'm sorry to hear all that's happened. :(   We didn't suffer the same amount of loss but when we had the cabin, people broke in and stole things that meant something to us. I know you've been working on making that space your new home so I bet there are things gone that you can't replace either. That's heartbreaking.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 May 18 - 06:03 PM

I'm finding a few odds and ends everytime I look inside a place-- stuff of ours that they'd buried, or useful items of theirs that they left. Two cans of tuna in water is a help, but the countertop canisters for mashed potato flakes and Scottish oatmeal are priceless. They're just big plastic jars that had held fruit or peanuts, but I'm super strict on plastic purchases and if it can't be re-used, that product in plastic ain't coming into my house. These stack and are just right for my hand.

Also thrilled to find the Behringer mini-mixer and a mic. All the instruments are gone-- two autoharps, a nice electric ukulele, an electric guitar, and a good Kentucky style mandolin. A small amp, a boom mic stand, guitar stand. But Hardi will be pleased about the Behringer.

I'm making headway on filthy dishes, using shampoo from my travel bag.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 May 18 - 09:25 AM

Thanks, Charmion.

I awoke after rotten sleep with no idea where to start. Thinking about a nap made me think "fixing my mattress"-- removing a poorly placed layer from a February fix.

I didn't fix it in February because I couldn't think thru the folded layers capturing the hard, compressed foam layer to remove. But I was able to reach thru the folds from another angle, and I think the rest can await opening the camper (weeks away) to use its kingsize mattress to prep the bed for July vacation here with Hardi.

I cut the extra mattress layer in half and slid both pieces into the remaining leg-support pillow I'd fought with all night, to approximate the firmness and thickness of the missing leg pillow (one of three missing key orthopedic supports).

To do the bed, I'd taken a folding chair into the BR. So I took the opportunity to unpack a full-to-bursting laundry hamper we'd found in a closet, which turned out to be mostly clean and folded items for the new dresser-- I must have wisely NOT put away that last batch into the dresser I knew I'd replace on this trip. So I have a dresser full of clean clothes.

And I was richly rewarded by finding a clean towel and flannel bath wrap at the bottom-- I'd been going nuts trying to figure out a shower with no clean towels and no laundry soap I can't afford till funds arrive. The shower is filthy from the plugged drains, and to rinse it for use will require me to get in there with the hand-held sprayer, so I can stand to get naked in there pending a real, disinfecting cleaning via county social services.

Son and DIL left me breakfast sausage to cook up, and I may feel like eating later... so I washed one pot as best I could. The Horde left me a freezer full of frozen vegetables and I brought bulk mashed potato flakes, so if I get hungry I can stop living on power bars.

NOW I can see sleep! I hope. I have the HVAC fan running to flush the air in my BR that had me coughing all night-- some irritating incense residue I think.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 01 May 18 - 08:49 AM

Oh, Susan! Aaaagh! I don't know what's worse: the anger, the disappointment, the discoveries of loss following each hard on the heels of the last, the being overwhelmed by all the extra work that you so don't need.

Mary's point is so well taken; this is a bad burn, and you will be shy for a long time to come.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 18 - 10:56 PM

Near as I can figure, the one housemate/chore helper with weekend visit's from toddler became hosting 6 other people, from nests found, which is some of what needs washed.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 18 - 10:53 PM

Thanks, mg; I was actually expecting an "I told you so." Which I don't need.

Stolen/missing items are at about $6000 so far, with cleanup at about $1000 so far.

It's getting hard to think, now, too. Sleep will help and it HAS to look better in the morning.... but how am I going to do 10 loads of wash with no laundry supplies? Yep. Gone. And cash is awful short since missing blank checks caused me to pause that account.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: mg
Date: 30 Apr 18 - 07:31 PM

what an ordeal. and this type of behavior leads to homelessness because people are afraid of taking in a nephew or someone who could do things like this.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Apr 18 - 06:32 PM

Plumber's been and drains open.

Police report filed and extra patrols in case of retaliation.

Locks and garage code changed.

Dog back from kennel.

Bedroom habitable.

Garage-ful of stuff looks like I wanted it.

Zzzzzzzzz......

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 11:53 PM

Two-thirds of my garage is organized after a weekend of steady work. I must have swept out 20 pounds of mouse turds and I tossed a lot more volume/weight in mud dauber (wasp) nests stuck to the walls and planks. I made two trips to the village recycle bins, one trip to Goodwill, and put a number of things at the curb - most of them were picked up; this evening the last item (a funky chair frame) is stuffed with a broken plastic bin and lots of styrofoam and bags of trash.

The dog stall is clean and the bedding washed and boxed for the time being. I still have to work on two sets of shelves (screwed onto the wall), the work bench, and the corner where I keep a number of pieces of equipment (mower, trimmers, saws, etc.) There is bulky stuff to toss or donate (enclosed cat litter box, animal carry cases, etc.) and stuff I've never used I should probably sell. But the end result of this work is that while I had enough space to park in before, I can *almost* fit two cars in there now. I moved my impromptu table (a door and saw horses) to the least-cluttered side and could actually set up a spread out project and still pull the SUV in and out without being squeezed for space.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 07:10 PM

The neighbors DID,and that's why I wasn't too shocked to buckle down to deal with it-- but I didn't my post about that last weekend.... and they hadn't been inside, to see the extent.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 04:23 PM

Too bad the neighbors didn't think to alert you to what was going on. And since he was staying there with your permission, chances are the police aren't going to be helpful. I'm so sorry. There is still a reputational aspect and I bet the word can get around that reparations are in order and not to trust this kid. And you could always get some small satisfaction by going through small claims court to get some cash or materials back. (I'm sorry to say his behavior sounds like something my youngest brother would have pulled at that age. Or this age, come to think about it. I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him, but when you first meet, he's all accommodating and pleasant.)

Quick stop at the neighborhood garden center for a few seed packs and a couple of bedding plants (tomatoes and strawberries). Big chunk of cardboard that was once in the dog stall is now in the village recycle bin, and the last few parts of a 3-piece office desk dropped off at Goodwill. My next door neighbor stopped in to catch up on the work they're doing and as often happens we found ourselves standing beside the garden talking and pulling weeds.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: LilyFestre
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 04:09 PM

This morning I sorted through paper clutter. Funny how even though I do go through it periodically, it piles up and up and up. Ah well, it's done for now! :)

One load of no longer used toys and clothing made it's way to Goodwill this weekend although I cannot take credit for it. Jeremiah did some sorting in his room and Pete delivered it to Goodwill yesterday as I was on a bus trip to Buffalo to see Phantom of the Opera (which was outstanding by the way).

We added 5 turkeys to our little homestead this weekend too. They are so much more quiet than chicks.....

Have a great week everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 02:47 PM

There's a lot that's missing, apparently including power tools and Hardi's electric guitar and Kentucky-style mandolin. There's a lot that's damaged. The pantry and freezer stocked for my return, of course, are empty.

It's way, WAAAAY beyond a normal 24-year-old having a party get out of control and not cleaning it up in time. A number of decor/art items were removed from their locations and displayed elsewhere-- with a woman's touch. A whole bookcase (and its books) is missing but I'm not done looking.

So what are we doing about all this: First, son, DIL, BIL and I spent about an hour and a half consolidating piles of trash, dirty laundry, recyclables (and towels soaked with overflowed toilet water) into manageable piles (plus taking down smoke-soaked curtains to add to the 6 laundry bags), and created traffic paths thru the house to bring in the four heavy pieces that come off the truck today.

Then we did the garage-consolidating Tyler had committed to doing, to create interim storage and ongoing workzones out there-- a corner for framed art and other decor I brought; a corner for kitchen boxes; an area for BR boxes; a corner for Liberation Library boxes and furniture; a corner for scooters/walker. Large furniture pieces to go in back of two of those corners were unloaded and placed. The individually-numbered creche set went up into the rafters, with numbers visible from below. Boxes coming off the truck to get to those furniture items coming into the house went to their above destination corners.

We're on lunch/nap break now, and then those last big pieces will come into the house, and one big item that's being replaced will depart. Behind them in the truck are my 6 bankers' boxes, and heavy electronics/stationery boxes, with designates garage space awaiting them.

My germination kit came in along with the rolled plastic sheeting, for a perk-me-up project in a few days.

The plumber comes tomorrow morning. I'm still waiting to hear from the locksmith.

My bed is full of nail polish and cigarette butts, and DIL and I'll tackle that tomorrow. I found clean clothes to put on, and we're running a pee bucket with portapotty chemicals. I'll take a few pillows back to the motel tonight and hope plumbing is functional tomorrow with new locks.

We set up a patio dishwashing station in case we can't use the kitchen sink. The dirty dishes they left piled high in the kitchen smell bad enough that I'll probably soak and rinse them out there and then load them in the DW when the plumber gives the OK.

Everybody is mad at me for trusting this housemate, including me. So far, everyone else feels free to vent about this-- at me-- except me.

I'll file the police report when we're done unpiling the closets where they may have shoved some of the items I'm missing.

It looks like he let 4-5 friends stay here, hosted large, wild and messy parties, and then they left him too big a mess to finish clearing. But failing to do the agreed work (in lieu of rent) appears to have started right after I left.

The neighbors say that in addition to the trash left that WE are dealing with, there were 15 bags of garbage at the curb last week plus the 96-gallon trash and recycling bins the waste mgmt company supplies.

A rotting teak patio set (left around my fire pit) went to the curb.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 10:36 AM

Oh dear. I hope it doesn't become the sad outcome your concern telegraphed. It would have been just as easy (or easier) to live up to the your expectations since he was already in that zone. Fingers crossed.

Yesterday's progress was inspirational enough to get me out to the garage for day two to finish the job. I have some large sheets of Styrofoam stored out there that I thought might come in handy (isn't that always the case for the beginnings of hoarding!) that may be broken and placed in the trash over coming weeks. I need to move the door/tabletop over to the area where I want to use it, not bury it in a compressed stack of stuff.

I've also given up on some of the recently-planted seeds that seem to be no longer viable so this morning I put in new ones in the same pots. I can tell if it is a pepper or a tomato once it sprouts; sometimes you end up with both this way, but one can wait for only so long when watching empty pots of soil. In the garden itself I'm testing weed control on the places where the tilling didn't knock out all of the Bermuda grass. I use a glass electric kettle to boil water for my tea and clean it by adding white vinegar to the water to boil. I usually pour that hot water mix onto the bricks out on the back patio to kill weeds, but I've been boiling it just to use on the garden. Boiling water by itself works pretty well, I think the vinegar hurries it along.

May Day is almost here. Does anyone have any rituals to celebrate? When I was a kid we used to weave a basket out of construction paper, fill it with lilacs, put it on the door knob for our mother to discover after we rang the bell and ran to hide. Every year she was so astonished as we giggled and watched. #FrontPorchDrama

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Apr 18 - 07:48 AM

Arrived safe but housemate not here and toilet/tub clogged, so went to cheap motel last night pending Monday plumber. (And locksmith.) Heading to house now to unload-- and inventory damage/theft.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 18 - 04:50 PM

Dusty job out there in the garage. I just made my first ever offer on Freecycle - I snapped a photo and sent the email. I have boxes of tile fragments that might interest no one, in which case they get dumped in the back where rocks and other lumpy things get dumped to help stabilize the soil (lots of plants also put back there). I was thinking I'd like to try making mosaic crafts but never got around to it and doubt I will now. I can load up the boxes and meet the taker somewhere, they don't need to come to the house.

Other dust was disturbed this morning when I started looking through the huge stash of old cassette tapes on the shelves in my office. That's another task I need to tackle sooner rather than later because it's going to take a while.

I hope you're finding good road food and pleasant conversations at rest areas, Susan. The people one meets are some of the best part of travelling, and if you have an animal with you, they act like an ambassador, starting conversations.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 28 Apr 18 - 11:28 AM

This morning I nailed a horseshoe over each of the three entry doors to the house. Himself will sniff about pagan practices, but I don't care.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 18 - 10:27 AM

Lovely weekend morning that began with a walk around the neighborhood with the dogs. I have recycling stuff to deliver to the village bins and a couple of brief stops but I think the best plan is to make the most of this nice weather and address stuff in the garage that needs to be moved, donated, or sold. I park in the middle of the space and have plenty of room to get in and out, but I think I'll concentrate the stuff that I keep on just one side. This would give me room to set up a table to work in there (the table consists of a door and two steel folding saw horses). My first offer on one of the Freecycle list seems to be looming.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Apr 18 - 02:05 AM

Almost 25 years

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 08:12 PM

I arrived at my overnight stop in good order before sunset, by choosing the right departure time; I've been doing this part of the drive since we moved to PA, for stepkids' annual Xmas and summer visitation in Chicagoland-- that was the tradeoff to get their mother's OK to move them out of state when Hardi was elected by the parish here. After the kids left home, we made this jog often to visit family and friends during vacation.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 07:58 PM

I've lucked out with cats who travelled well. One of them was a great camper, and when I drove cross country I had a pickup with a sliding glass window in the back of the cab and another one in the front of the camper shell. Her litter box was at the back of the bed of the truck, and she would indicate she wanted through and I'd open both windows. There wasn't much space between the windows so no danger of slipping anywhere, but it was a bit of a wind tunnel if we were driving.

It looks like we'll have nice weather this weekend so I won't try to predict what I might accomplish indoors. I'm gradually working my way down a list, and in a couple of weeks I'll be adding some more after I have a guy look at the house and tell me what kind of shape the foundation is in. I have a couple of projects that require the advice from someone who knows about foundations, and depending on their cost, they may move up near the top of the list.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Charmion
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 04:10 PM

No cat of mine has ever been great company in the car! When I travel with cats, which thank the Lord isn't often, they grumble and fuss in their carriers, or howl, or swear, or mew piteously. Our Siamese would wait to unleash her most unearthly yowls until the car was close to pedestrians or other uninitiated witnesses. She put on the performance of her life one day when I had to tank up the car on the way back from the cattery where she had spent our vacation, kicking up such a ruckus that the cashier (who was indoors, well away from the diesel pump where the car was parked) felt obliged to ask if there was a baby in the car.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: keberoxu
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 11:50 AM

Acme, I know what you mean about the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Like clockwork with a ticking second hand!

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 11:47 AM

Have a safe and pleasant drive, Susan! When driving west I always make a point of stopping somewhere at sunset to avoid the glare. You'll notice most of the truckers do the same thing. Sunset = Dinner time, walk around a rest area time, whatever. I always enjoyed travelling with an animal, most of the time I travelled with a cat. They can be great company, especially at that point after sunset when the dome of darkness is advancing across the sky above you, the last light before the stars come out. There's a psychological event if you're out on the road at that time, I'm sure of it. Having the dog will help.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 11:02 AM

My hope is that my scooter crushes neither the dog crate nor the wing chair adjoining it, and that the uncrated dog stays in her designated spot-- especially when I get out to pee/refuel.

Departing shortly for 1st leg, which I hope doesn't require a refueling stop.

~S~

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Apr 18 - 11:16 PM

Whenever, Patty!

I enjoyed the description of traveling with trailers and trucks. I had family antiques in a U-Haul truck from central PA to Texas; Pennsylvania is particularly bad - as I drove across I-80 from near Williamsport to Pittsburgh, then down I-79 and out of the state, there was a crack in the concrete every 50 feet. Ca-lunk ca-lunk ca-lunk ca-lunk all the way, and anything that wasn't completely padded and blocked into place rubbed against something else. I had several pieces with the marks of being sanded on that one spot from all of the rough roads.

Subject: RE: Declutter & Fitness - Clearing Out the House
From: pattyClink
Date: 26 Apr 18 - 10:12 PM

Thanks Acme, I am in Florida for now and then have some expeditions to Arkansas and Missouri next on the docket before fleeing to the North Woods when it gets hot. Looks like I'll make swings through DFW in the fall for O'Flaherty and maybe in the spring for NTIF so hope we can connect.   

March and April have been fabulous this spring in the South, and even in Florida, April is a lovely time here. Things aren't too hot, and they have some wonderful roadside flowers (hot pink, no less!), as did Alabama, Mississippi, Lousiana, and Texas, each their own amazing assortment. I've never caught the bluebonnet time in TX, but I can imagine it's something to see.

Made Texas Caviar today for a gathering, it was a little tricky with my tiny saucepan, but, guess what, I was able to borrow somebody elses, and between the two, it worked out fine. Turns out I was right to ditch the larger pots and pans, can make do without them.   I can't make a very wide range of recipes, but then again, I don't want to!