De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 19 - 10:15 AM

PA:

What seemed impossible (Sunday departure) now seems potentially doable ttoday (Saturday departure).

Because retired ppl rock! "Plans" can be tossed out the window-- no one is controlling us now.

Omg.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Jan 19 - 11:42 AM

Susan, congratulations on your long-awaited liberation from career shackles, both yours and Hardi's. It will take you a while to get accustomed to being in control of your own lives.

My sister-in-law and brother recently retired, both on the same day (30 November), and are going through the same detox process. SIL worked in the federal government as a speechwriter, a sometimes miserable job in which everybody in her chain of command imposed ridiculous expectations that constantly impinged on her personal life and eventually robbed her every speck of free time; for example, she was expected not only to carry a BlackBerry that was always turned on, but also to check it repeatedly every day, even Sunday, so she could "maintain situational awareness" and "respond appropriately" to "emergencies". Not surprisingly, she had nightmares about getting fired for missing a midnight email and not being able to pay the mortgage and then losing the house.

She told me yesterday that, for the first time in at least five years, she slept through the night and suffered no night terrors.

I quit my last government job on 1 February 2013, nearly six years ago, and HAVEN'T MISSED IT ONE G-D BIT. I confess to missing the money a bit, but not enough to regret having quit. We sleep better, we eat better, and all around, in general, we live better.

Himself is a bit bored, now that he is not travelling all over the country doing courts-martial, but he's finding ways to fix that. He's even talking about doing a Ph.D. in law (the University of Western Ontario is just down the road). Me, I don't know how to be bored. There's always lots to do, and if I don't want to do any of it, there's always a book I haven't read yet, or dinner to make.

Life is so good on the other side of the Great Barrier of retirement, even if the pennies need a bit more pinching than one might have imagined.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 19 - 12:47 PM

I'm also thinking about going back to school; as you get older here in Texas it is possible to do coursework for very little expense or for free.

I pulled out the 2002 five-disk sampler The Mudcat Cafe Blue Plate Special. We're losing so many people lately I think a day of listening to their voices is a good celebration of the lives of those now passed.

eBay and sewing this weekend. Walking the dogs when it gets warmer out and while the sun is bright - that light on the forehead is good for combating the winter blues (SAD).

As the seasons change, so do the re-run offerings on the various television channels. Last week I was up late each evening watching the early programs of a favorite series, but it was just too late. Last night I checked to see if it still streams on Amazon Prime - yes - so I went to bed earlier. I'll watch it on my own schedule.

Gotta clear off my office desk again after paying bills and an annual ritual - choosing an electric company. I renewed my contract for two years with the same company this time; I'm thinking I probably should have done it for just a year since the rate (everywhere) went up a couple of cents a kWh and will be about 25% higher for the next contract. If I'd gone for only a year it might be lower next winter - or not. The gas prices are coming down because of the oil industry, but the electric power grid doesn't run on gasoline. My crystal ball is cloudy on this topic. The company is a good one, transparent billing, easy to understand statements. And as it is, some companies weren't on the list because they didn't have Spanish language materials and were kicked off of the Power To Choose site. I should probably have checked a couple of the old places I've used before. I have three business days to change my mind, so I should spend time hunting down a couple of other companies. It's possible to easily outsmart yourself doing this.
[sigh]

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 19 - 03:55 PM

Charmion-- bingo! Again. In so many respects not to enumerate here.

PA:

Our 65 year old bodies got 95% done on what our 40 year old "autopilots" thought might just send us down the road today, but we're opting now for 1 more night with TV and dinner by personal chef.

Sorry for any yptos but good techance is packed and loaded.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 05 Jan 19 - 04:10 PM

Having a nice, quiet weekend at home. We are all puttering at will, doing a little bit of this and that. I am working on cleaning out some cupboards and doing a bit of re-organizing in the kitchen, specifically the Lazy Susan. It's really the first weekend in awhile that we haven't been busy/on the go with something and I am quite enjoying it.

Tomorrow is church with the family and then more of the same.

Life is good.

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jan 19 - 07:39 AM

PA:

Of course on vacation Greg has sometimes slept in on a Sunday, but I'm still thrilled for him that he's slept past "Unlock the Church" mental alarm, beside me, this first Sunday of his retirement.

We weren't sure how recliner sleeping s time would go--the mattresses are already loaded-- but we'd prepped for possibly sleeping separately, with Greg potentially going up to use the bed we'd prepped for Leo. (We usually share a dbl recliner when we visit my son and DIL, but....)

So we expect to get going about noon.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 19 - 12:39 PM

Have a safe and interesting drive to Ohio. Is this the last trip, or will you return for more furniture and such again in the spring?

This morning I reset the daily steps I want to achieve in my fitness tracker and I reinstalled Google Fit on my phone. The last time I tried Fit it didn't seem to register very accurately, but I was in a building that had sometimes spotty WiFi.

Last night I let the Labrador retriever sleep on the bed but he puts out way too much heat and wants to lean up against me. I woke up a couple of times because I was too hot, so I don't think I'll conduct that experiment again.

I'm heading into the yard today since it is supposed to reach almost 70^o. Raking leaves from the gutter into the yard and I'll run the mower to mulch them into the turf.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Jan 19 - 07:36 PM

Beaver:

Susan well on her way to Ohio! May she have an uneventful trip!

Me - did manage to get some sorting and organizing done today on a day that was sunny ---oops! snowing!! oh, gee, sunny again! And it has cooled - from freezing to -10C now. I did bring in as much wood as space allowed, sensing the impending drop in temp after a couple mild days - mild means hovering around zero Celsius. Thankful for the work R did to clear ice and snow from around the wood pile.

Dan came by yesterday and we gave consideration to a structure for next year so I do not have to struggle with the tarp. I would like something moderately interesting, only on the part of the deck that is necessary to hold the winter's wood as it must not block any windows.

Checked out Bob's Greenhouse Poly for prices, as a possibility.

Also something on the other deck, connected to the studio; kind of dependent on how much pottery I will be making in the future. I did manage to glaze in the studio last month but now need to clear that out so I can start throwing pots again. Challenge is to find room for everything - just like in the house.

Little Red had a busy day; she found a bag of blue organic nacho chips that I put outside - slightly off but more a temptation for me. I sat at the window, on computer, also watching her, or him, fetching a chip and running across the road into the woods, then back for another one?? OR just sitting out on the snow nibbling. At least she can no longer come in and sit on sofa!

Almost had inclination to work in studio; "almost"... Almost had inclination to do sewing; almost... Now it is 7:30 pm. Am I really just going to read until bedtime?? Maybe clear some more papers? Maybe...

Contents of 6 of 8 drawers in bureau that is leaving are now well cleared. Need clearness on how to arrange storage for papers that need to be available - as if in file drawers. And all those odds and sods of officey type stuffs, to access easily....

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 19 - 09:35 PM

Finishing the holiday cleanup, lights boxed up, live boughs that may have contributed to recent sneezing are out the door, and I did some cleanup in the front yard this afternoon to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather.

I've reset some of the goals in my fitness tracker, added another phone app that may do a better job of identifying activities, and have decided to try to track hydration better this time of year when I don't feel very thirsty. I have a 2-quart jar that I filled this morning and when I walked through the kitchen made a point of filling a glass. Let's see how long I will remember to do that.

An eBay box is ready to ship tomorrow. Every little bit out the door helps!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jan 19 - 08:41 AM

OH:

Reached 2/3 twds destination and stopped. We're adventuring. Home tonight.

SRS, in March we go back to PA to close the house. I've been posting about that but it's just gotten more interesting.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 19 - 11:37 AM

I thought you said you'd be back to PA, but the recent posts were sounding final.

Supposed to be up to 80^o today so I will get out the mower and mulch in leaves and finish knocking down stuff left in the garden after the first frost (some tomato vines were tangled on a tomato cage and I didn't bother to pull it all apart.)

Busy week. Happily this morning I found the movie gift card my daughter passed along recently - after the Golden Globes last night there are a couple of films I'd like to see, if they're still in the mainstream theaters. I also have a duplicated gift I need to exchange before we're out of the easy exchange season. I spoke with the next door neighbor about my work on extending the new fence he put up and mentioned that I'd done the work with the sole bit that came with the new power driver, so drill bits were on my holiday wish list. And I told him I'm going to use some of his old fence to build raised beds; I should do that today and tomorrow while it's warm and because it's time to plant potatoes.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jan 19 - 12:59 PM

Final ministry fishbowl . Final driving alone. Never final beloved county. Final set of huge house decisions for that house. Bittersweet, all.

One cool new thing is that habing a landlord/lady that's a hoarder plays well with ACOA tenants worried about how the house looks. Another cool thing is that we both shot fine video to guide paid help costs and landlord repairs, which also facilitates knowing what work we need to do on our end to leave the house the way they want it. This is good because I only tracked down the paid crew chief for March the night before we left. I'd begun prepping my head for handling all 5000 sq feet by myself. Labor in those parts can be hard to track down except by face encounter.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jan 19 - 02:44 PM

OH:

HOME.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jan 19 - 10:16 PM

Welcome home!

My son and his dad were here for dinner and then I took him to the airport; the gifts that won't fit into the luggage are going into a box I'll mail this week.

Amazing interview today (not declutter or anything else, just very interesting) to do with precision medicine. It is an interview with the author of this National Geographic article.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 19 - 01:28 PM

Still drawing down the freezer today; made a batch of banana bread (with frozen fruit) that I baked in small pans. These will be given away, they won't go back into the freezer. Chicken tenders and a jar of turkey stock are thawing to make a batch of chicken and rice (in the rice cooker, using basmati). Finally, I have frozen broccoli and a box of gluten-free cornbread mix, to make my friend's recipe that calls for chopped onions sauteed in a lot of butter (I'll do half-and-half butter and olive oil) and then submerge the florets in the batter before baking. That will be for me to have with meals this week (when I'm not eating the rice.) I have frozen jars of my Puerto Rican red beans that can be two servings; I make enough rice to eat for several days, so later in the week I may defrost one of those jars because those beans are best served over rice.

I like having the USPS "Informed Delivery" in place for my post office box, it saves me driving over especially when I'm waiting for a couple of freelance jobs to finally send their payments. No trip to the post office today or yesterday, there's just junk mail there now.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Jan 19 - 01:39 PM

Beaver:
Congratulations, Susan! No place like home!!

My home was invaded by noise ALL Morning. By noon I was ready to scream. It would have been better if I had gone elsewhere but with four large trucks parked along the road, engines running, I was doubtful about getting out AND where would I go? It started just as I was thinking about the lack of traffic on this road - the red truck, the blue truck, the white truck, the black car, the white car, the grey car and the snow plow/sander are the sum total of what I might see in a day. THEN: a sort of snowplow with HUGE tires, a truck with flat bed trailer, a truck with a crane - in front of house - and another truck down the road a couple hundred feet. The crane lifted huge chains off the flat bed and arranged them on the road and 3-4 men wrestled them onto the huge tires with the help of the crane truck and some noisy machine. They have left a short while ago and I am exhausted from the noise. NOW I need to go to the library. Then come back and re-collapse. I did clear the snow off the porch and car - about 4 inches and the weather - from minus 14C last night to plus 4 and drippy wet out there. Warm enough to work in studio but shoulder aches from snow removal. Not a very good day! I shall cancel it after trip to library - books are due.

The plow might not have made it up the hill without the chains.

Oh yeah! SRS! up to 80? plant potatoes!! HAH! and ho ho ho!! Pulling covers over head! Eating chocolate! Maybe stop in at Community Trust for a pep talk? I did write an article for Jane this am, and edited hers on home sharing, just a tiny bit.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 19 - 04:50 PM

OH:

And NO free senior svcs I do NOT have to wake up hubby OR ME to train one of THREE Yano's you said might come at 9AM our first day waking up in our house! To clean a house what's clean! We go back to BED after calling to cancel!

;-)

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jan 19 - 12:51 PM

An "active rest day" in the fitness world isn't couch potato-ing. We're having one today as trip recovery.

OH:

By noon, freezing, and without tramadol, I:

. Treated infected ears
. Had early brekky (snack sz)
. Took AM meds
. Purged accumulated email
. Set up puder and peripherals
Installed next audiobook
- Re-ordered misc items passed as I circulated to various rooms
. Considered where to stow silver
. Welcomed waking late-sleeping husband to the day
. Managed dog out
. Made half of my 2nd brekky
. Sorted and purged mail
. Paid 2 bills
. Found and activated insurance card and set it up as paperless
. Had and gave session
. Assessed closet resources to offer Greg
. Put on swimsuit for later
. Suggested higher daytime heat setting while the concrete pad reaches heated winter temp after the 30 day "empty house" setting
Stowed heavy silver chest by removing several heavy components and reassembling in the designated space-- more walking and less lifting.
. Reassembled one purse, and a spare I'd also used is almost empty.
. Found and stowed house tramadol supply.

Next, warm pool and haircut.

Greg's closet if second wind after supper.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jan 19 - 02:25 PM

Beaver:

Well, managed to get car stuck in the drive again last night. Phooey! Left that for morning. After some BF - no way! Body said not a good job for me. Thought about who could help bu called my 92 year old Friend in PA (69 days to the equinox!) and after a long chat, and more food, my body DID it - some shoveling, some work with the ice breaker and some gravel. YAY! Then I cleared as much of the ice and snow as possible. Thinking about how to put something at the corners to indicate the safe way to back in. Maybe a pole on each side, with a flag on it...

Laundry done anyway and drying in BR. Now to bring in wood while the sun -SUN!!!!! - is on that side.

I did not need to go anywhere but my body is reaching the stage where I wonder who would I phone to take me to the hospital if the car is stuck. Considering the state of my health, that is fairly silly but perhaps better to be prepared than not. I hear, "call an ambulance!" but I would have to be in very bad shape... Like when I injured my back in PA. I never mess with a back injury!

20 years ago, I drove myself 18 miles with excruciating pain - pneumonia. An xray - which I would usually refuse - and 3 different antibiotics - to the shock of my doctor! - then I was fine. Doubt I missed any work; figure the cause was doing blown in insulation without a respirator.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 19 - 03:36 PM

DP, it's never too early to make a plan.

OH-- it's all OH now until the March clear-out.

New fones late last night. Both temporarily working-- ydy's long list of premature chores is on the other one so will post separately.

Today is fone configuring and such. Greg is out now replacing the awkward and failing PA TV with a lightweight OH one-- when we started to plan padding the other we looked at prices for new and elected to donate it to the parish yard sale with the rest of what was long planned to leave. Arrangements were made before his last day, for all that.

I've almost found my kitchen. It's that superb space surrounding the just- done pork roast. Mister is doing the sides.

Cello concert this evening after I fix my new haircut.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Jan 19 - 04:16 PM

Beaver:
DID the wood. Then sat back and watched the snow dancing down and thought about Snowflake Bentley. This is a good time for that wonderful story. Maybe Michelle...? I googled and there is a lot:
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin is the children's book I have and I sat and read it again. Cannot give it up!

It intrigue's me that I can sit here: "I don't feel like... I'm too tired... Maybe it can wait..." But once I force myself to get started on bringing in the wood it becomes like the Sorcerer's Apprentice! "Where else can I put some?" So there is plenty of wood for a couple days and the tarp is not going to get frozen to anything AND the snow on top of the tarp will keep it from blowing off! I am safe and warm. And the sun has come out again, in time to go behind the hill. And snowflakes are still dancing!? Almost down to 5F, it is going to be a very cold night. The reason I back in to the drive is in case the car has trouble starting; I also have a booster pack, charged and handy. I DO plan, sometimes. Probably most of the time.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 19 - 06:23 PM

By noon, freezing, and without tramadol, I:

Treated infected ears
Had early brekky (snack sz)
Took AM meds
Purged month of accumulated email
Set up puder and peripherals
Installed next audiobook
Reordered misc items passed
Considered where to stow silver
Welcomed waking late-sleeping husband to the day
Managed dog out
Made half of my 2nd brekky
Sorted mail
Paid 2 bills
Found and activated insurance card and set up account as paperless
Had and gave session
Assessed closet resources to offer G
Put on swimsuit for later
Suggested higher daytime heat setting while the concrete pad reaches heated winter temp
Stowed heavy silver chest by removing several heavy components and reassembling in the designated space-- more walking and less lifting
Reassembled one purse and a spare I'd also used is almost empty.
Found and stowed house tramadol supply
Got free Y membership sorted--Free Bennie
45 minutes pool workout
Reconnected with new friend Cathy
Got haircut
Collapsed

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 19 - 06:26 PM

I see now that some of that is duplicate, but in any event it grew.

Most trips back I'm still moribund this soon after arrival. A real dinner is usually weeks into thst arrival. Now here we are stepping out after a home cooked dinner.

Planet Weird. To Cello Springs!

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 19 - 10:25 PM

Over lunch today I met with an office manager of a web site about contract work to be done on the site, for 10-15 hours a week. In the next few weeks I will be training with the local webhost company on their content management system, prioritizing tasks, etc.

Boxes need to be packed and put in the mail tomorrow, to several recipients.

This week I set up a couple of new apps for fitness tracking, and I found that my phone app for Weather Underground (I pay $2 a year to have it ad free) has a feature to choose activities and set the conditions that are preferred and/or acceptable so it is tied with the forecast. For walking, for example, I would like it to be from 50 to 75^o, wind 10mph or lower, humidity at 50% or lower, and the acceptable range is larger, from 45 to 85^o, wind up to 20mph, humidity up to 75%. Both them them are set to daylight hours only. The representation for the day shows each hour with the optimal conditions with a long blue line rising from the time, each hour with acceptable conditions has a blue dot at the time. I can look at the next few days and see that there will be good conditions for going out to walk (with the dogs, primarily).

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 11 Jan 19 - 12:25 PM

Beaver:
Maggie: WOW! the things you/one can do on tech stuff boggles my mind. Well, I often remember to check the 7 day forecast but mostly I just look at the window and the thermometer - 0 F at 8:30 this am!

Last night the propane froze in the middle of trying to cook. I tried using the microwave and it quit! Cooked in toaster oven. This morning the microwave works!? (I went to the back shed for the "spare" and did not find it.) Poured a bucket of hot water on the propane tank and cooked! It took a second bucket of encouragement. But most of all---- the car started - without any aid from the booster pack! Managed to remove ice at door to studio and water the plants. Went to library for a stack of books. I will not be doing much more than bringing in wood and staying warm for a few days. Beautiful day. I hope little red and friends are in safe places.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jan 19 - 03:08 PM

I cannot believe how hard it is to acclimate to this new fone. Greg got a great deal on two Cadillacs. He had been using a later-gen fone than mine, so it's not such a huge change for him, but mine was a circa-2009 fone, so..... Oy!

Besides fone learning, I've only gotten a few clothes stowed try and made rice, but they were the important ones-- we're going to see a Friday night rock band, to check out a new-to-us pub that also hosts weekly blues jams.

Also stowed was the really good, all-purpose dressy outfit-- I added, into the garment bag protecting my long black dress skirt, the new silk kimono my PA dressmaker had created from a bed jacket design I've loved as casual wear over jeans. My son sent us the silk from his Navy stop years ago in Thailand, so my dressmaker spec'd out lining fabric I picked up cheap, and she made it while I was in OH. She has one more project of mine to finish-- copying a fabulous dress coat which is like a flowy trench coat. I love the way she fits things to my body.

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=153649&messages=38#3971161

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Jan 19 - 10:24 PM

I spent about 4 hours reorganizing the kitchen today. I didn't really plan it that way but one thing led to another and another and another....LOL. I'm happy with the way things have turned out. I cleaned, organized, boxed up about 2 boxes of stuff that I never use and our pig, Elwood, is having himself a feast tonight of goodies I was going to toss. He's one happy pig!!! In addition, the dishes are done, the table is cleared, pills are sorted for the next 2 weeks, the hutch is cleaned off and dusted, I roasted a chicken, some squash and potatoes for dinner as well as made a large pot of homemade chili for tomorrow and weekday lunches. I'll make some cornbread to go with it tomorrow.

I've been seeing a new endocrinologist and his changes have proven to be very beneficial. I had blood work done yesterday and the results are all in...everything is in normal range with the exception of my triglycerides which are lower than last time so I'll take it! My blood sugars, which were averaging in the mid 250s are resting comfortably in the 120 range for the first time in a LONG time. I have 3 different insulins going and a sensor attached to my arm at all times for really tight tracking but it's working!!! I am most happy about that! Getting to the point where a "normal" blood sugar doesn't feel like a diabetic low took some patience and trust on my part but it's all good now!

It felt really good to get a substantial amount of work around the house done today. I'm hoping to do more again tomorrow.

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 19 - 11:58 PM

I spent this evening editing a resume and a couple of cover letters for jobs for a friend who has been unemployed for a while. Fresh eyes on the documents can help.

My fitness tracker is unhappy, it has been a sedentary day, but my weather app just sent a notification that tomorrow afternoon after 3pm will be perfect for walking.

A friend and I are comparing notes on tomatoes we want to grow this year and will be sharing seeds. His local library has a seed bank, where he found a variety intended for our southern climate, and I have organic seeds from my Mudcat Secret Santa - we're going to grow both in our gardens and compare results. I may grow some in pots this year. I haven't started the raised beds yet, but that will come soon, and in the meantime will start seeds in the house or the greenhouse. There's a lot of winter left that can hit the greenhouse, so I'll only use it if I can get it weather-proofed first. I didn't do much this fall as far as covering the louvered vents, leveling the doors so they close tightly, etc.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jan 19 - 03:37 PM

We've puttered our way thru a number of minor furniture arrangement tweaks, partly thanks to the 8-10 inches of snow were mired in while we await the driveway plow. My favorite was the one that ended with Greg's bass and being set up and played.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Jan 19 - 01:07 PM

Beaver:

Down to minus 20C again last night and the day started out bright and sunny - and COLD. But the clouds gathered and it is warming - up to minus 6C! I really almost hibernated during the cold snap! Today I may actually get some things done.

The studio door had - well something , anyway it would not close and I am heating it! So last night, realizing the impact on finances - I thought about it - unfroze brain briefly - and took a hammer out into the COLD and banged the offending piece into place so the door closed. Today I will find something to put over the much-too-wide crack at the top, rather than heat the great out of doors. Not snowing!

The other day, I opened a new cargo trolley and took it out to the wood pile and loaded it, as much as I could without stuff falling back off. I was able to bring it in the house to dry and warm up, as well as filling the usual space. Today I can off load it into the now almost empty spaces and re-fill it, and them. Preparing for the next cold snap!

R phoned on 11th and informed me that there is money for the new house; re selling the M house, he needs a realtor that will bother putting up a sign; and two business bugaboos were sorted last week. All of which de-cluttered his mind - for a while. I told him I will come back to M after there is some furniture in the new house. A bed and kitchen ware would suffice. As long as the BR is painted.

Today I have managed an excellent BF and washed the week's dishes. Hoping to get myself on track to do more than read novels. Need to keep my feet off the COLD floor. It affects the whole brain and body!

Will do wood when the temp reaches a probable high point - somewhere closer to the freezing point; it will not go above freezing in the next couple weeks.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 19 - 02:14 PM

The friend I was helping with the letter-writing has a phone interview this week! Whether my assistance made a difference or it was simply moral support to get him moving forward, this was wonderful news this morning. (He considered apologizing for applying past the deadline when he saw it had passed, but the link still worked. I told him that once the letters and resumes were printed in a stack no one would know his was late unless he apologized, so just don't do it. He backdated his letter to the due date.)

This morning I made a list of things I keep thinking I need to get done but always end up forgetting about during the course of each day. Things that need to be done before other things on the larger list can be started. It's always something.

Every year I try to get started on my taxes as soon as possible, because it's too easy these days for identity thieves to claim your refund if any of your important numbers were compromised (like seems to happen monthly with many important sites with online presences). Get the forms in as early as possible to head off the crooks. But due to the government shutdown the IRS is mostly closed and I use the Free File Fillable Forms (not affiliated with any tax preparation company, just the tax forms online that can be filled out and turned in). They usually open up in late January, but all bets are off this year. I decluttered my files this year so all of my documents are in one file drawer.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jan 19 - 05:07 PM

Another Yano tmrw followed by a care mgr visit to detemine continuing needs and eligibility. If we're continuing I want to get back to afternoons.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Jan 19 - 11:57 AM

Today's Yano is chatty Ms. Billie. I've lost count who else has been here.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 19 - 04:06 PM

Big job finished - the huge cardboard boxes that were flattened and stored between trusses in the attic have been removed. The folding steps to the attic and the hole they're mounted in is a narrow area but I managed to get all but one of the boxes down after turning or folding them to fit the best edge through first. I took the box-cutter up to dismantle one that refused to fit and I wasn't going to try to remember how I got it up there in the first place. All of these were stacked in the SUV on a tarp, then slid through the big door in the recycle bin. One of them wouldn't fit so I had to cut one side and fold it up on itself. I found three invoices on the boxes that can go in a file that I keep for insurance purposes. This clear out is in advance of some work that I need to have done up there.

The top item on the this week's task list is now crossed out and a couple of more added. It's meant to be a list for just this week, and weather is nice until the weekend when wintry weather and extreme cold (for us) arrives. I'm cat sitting for a friend on the weekend so I will have to get out in it, here's hoping it's just cold and not icy.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 09:01 AM

Huge day ydy ending with our surprisingly cooperative assembly of what I think is Camp Ridgebury bed 4.0.

Our mtg with the county care mgrd portends change I'll summarize later, none of it bad.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 02:25 PM

So... ydy was a long day of household biz, working alongside and supervidising an awful Yano 9am - 1pm and wonderful Brandon 2:40-4:30pm, with a county care mgr mtg sandwiched between (with very short breaks). By the end of all that, which included a Goodwill trip for me, I was whipped and brainfogged and grateful that Greg suggested dining out. Arepas! Then another hour of physical work after supper, assembling our very complicated bed. Ow!!!

The wonderful results of that hard day:

Two recliners set at the curb
A heavy analog TV (and small obsolete flat screen TV loaded in the car for recycling)
A small box of clothes and sneakers to Goodwill
Two recliners allocated to different rooms
Much more open space in Greg's sewing/music room.
Our normal bed height, and no more pitted foam camping mattresses requiring re-stuffing every six weeks
Clean bedding
Improved settings on the new lightweight smart TV Greg found on sale
Assurance that the two file cabinets (needed to free up floor space in the TV section of the library) will indeed fit in the closet formerly occupied by the heavy analog TV
Discussion w Brandon about keeping Tues aftns open for us and confirmed he's moving those file cabinets next Tuesday
Discussions w Brandon re how to work best here w two bosses w very different working styles, and a raise
More space in garage (one recliner had been there) for Greg's workout equipment
A better garage locay for my walker/chair (replacing that recliner)-- SO useful for grocery unloading and/or waiting for a ride
Reallocation of warm fleeces for each chair
An improved TV area for us to share
Rug runners to cross painfully cold but necessarily bare tile floor to TV chairs
A warmer sleeping space for Greg-- his side was so much colder than mine and it took awhile to understand why
A new step for my side
A better Arepa recipe (3 kinds)
More music and sewing furniture for Greg

Care mgr Daejanna affirmed my frustrations w clnrs and turnover. It emerged that her notes indicating personal care needs were wrong, so straight clng companies the county contracts with have not been an option before. All three of us agreed that taking a break from weekly services makes sense while she reassesses our eligibility/copay rates now that there are two seniors here, and a change in income and costs. Can we state now what help we actually need? No. Do we know now our exact income? No. Do we know now our new medical copay rates, annualized? No. Do we know our annual anticipated Rx costs? No.

She affirms that Retiring Is Like That, and that there's a lot more stress involved than we'd anticipated. Says we're doing really well and its normal that it doesn't feel that way! ;-)

She'll drop off a new financial form later this aftn.

Today:

Progress re-pillowing newly re-allotted chairs from ydy work day and removing my items from (his) sewing room. This led to a discussion during my rest from an hour of working hard in the house, re orthopedic pillows and the level of concern with blocking my chairs. Everyone does it, and it has to stop immediately. I'm going to dress each medically necessary chair in an old but vividly pink t-shirt or top!

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 02:50 PM

I get the gist of the job they come to do but have no idea what "Yano" stands for.

Fitness today - starting the NY Times challenge for January (once you join they start you from the beginning with an email every day.) It started with a six-minute small workout, and I followed it with a mile or so walk with the dogs. My Weather Underground phone app alerted me to a good chunk of time today to plan on and it was spot-on.

The fridge clearing process is moving along, and I'm being frugal with purchases (the "no-spend" month) but I did treat myself to a sandwich out yesterday after that big dusty attic episode and two trips to the recycle bins. This afternoon I'm preparing to do some audio work, receiver to computer stuff (setting up the cables now). This first job is for my daughter, and once that is taken care of, then I need to start work on my Dad's musical collection. I received some stuff in the mail this week from Deckman (Bob Nelson) who led the way for several folks to donate their collections to the Pacific NW collection folks at the University of Washington. It's now officially my turn to work on this.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 07:44 PM

I had a visit with my endocrinologist today. My blood pressure was beautiful, my thyroid is at a functioning level and my A1C dropped from 9.7 to 7.2!!!!   He was most happy with me and so am I!!!!   Finally someone has gotten it figured out!!!!   The A1C is still a little high but it's on the way down and that's a significant drop in 3 months time!

Michelle

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 09:17 PM

Re: Yano

It was after about the 8th "Surprise! No warning!" worker landed on my lap before coffee or breakfast (as I've posted about) that I created a generic term to term to refer to them-- (even the agency gets their actual names wrong):

Yet Another New One.

We're up to at leastr 10 and maybe 12 such women to whom I have had to explain intensely private toileting details. And I am not even a 'personal care' client.

I'm past remembering every name by now.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 09:55 PM

So much for my frugal month - sometimes you have to set aside those intentions if a great opportunity presents itself.

I have a Macy's gift card that needs to be used, so I headed to the mall and parked at the Sears end, intending to walk the length of the mall for exercise. But I was only a few steps in the door when I encountered Joe Boxer fleece pajama pants on a really good sale. So while I checked out I chatted with the clerk. Was Sears going to close this store? No, but they were discontinuing the Land's End part of the business and everything down there is 90% off, including mannequins. Mannequins? They are so expensive as dress forms (what these are - jersey-covered fiberglass torsos on sturdy brushed aluminum stands) and these were $40 each. I caught my daughter before she left town and she came down and we put a large male torso on a sturdy short aluminum stand from one of the child-sized torsos (all had the same interchangeable bases, just different length rods). This way she can use it on a table in a closed space. I picked up the smallest adult male torso (probably "medium" size) on the tall stand. I can use this for eBay sales and my own sewing.

I never made it to Macy's.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 17 Jan 19 - 03:50 PM

Beaver:

Oh Susan! LOVE the Yano term! R's Mom used to comment on the amount of energy it took for her to take care of he "caregivers". She too would have enjoyed your "Yano" term.

Now that the house is a done deal, we are both in that stage of anticipation and trepidation! It is BIG. It will take a lot of heat! and a lot of care! But, I remind Mr Stressed-out, once the other house is sold, there will be funds and one less property to care for. And two others are probably getting sorted out in the next couple months. And if "you would just stop stressing and actually DO something about things..." I am hoping for early to mid February to get started on making the house a home.

In the meantime, cold weather and snow will keep me moving - bringing in wood. I have to watch for a break in the weather to pack up plants,etc and move them to QC. And winterize everything here for the time I am gone. At least a month.

Even though this house is warm enough, the cold seems to weigh me down. It is moderately tidy but the vacuum would be helpful. Cannot do that and be here - due to dust. So I am living with it. Too cold to even shake out the throw rugs!

Car refused to start this am and I could not use the booster pack due to inability to open hood - failure to attend to this when R was here and we knew it took two to do the job. Later it started; I had missed the meeting I wanted to attend, but I drove out for gas and then kept an eye out for someone who could be part of the team. Did not find a helper so I came home. It was very cold to co-opt a volunteer! Maybe tomorrow if I go anywhere. I will, however, start the car a couple times a day in this cold snap as that might help. I did not do that yesterday. It was minus 22C this am at 9 am. Below zero F.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 19 - 04:21 PM

Congratulations on the house, Dorothy! And great news that there will be fewer properties to manage.

I crossed everything off my list for this week except one - to groom the dogs. Big Job. Mainly just brushing and looking for anything that needs the vet; it's not likely they'll get baths this time of year. Their annual exams come up soon.

The greenhouse needed sorting and I spent time adding line to the replacement cartridges for my string trimmer, clearing out stuff on the workbench, putting tools away, and I decided the mice need thinning. I didn't have luck with the "walk the plank" mousetrap in the garage because I got it after cleaning and getting rid of hiding places there didn't seem to be any left to take the bait. The greenhouse is a different story. It's about time to start seeds and get the raised beds into shape.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jan 19 - 06:35 PM

Go DP!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 11:29 AM

Last night I pulled out the various brushing and hair-removal appliances and brushed the dogs (the strangest device is a serrated edged blade with plastic handles - draw it across the coat and it does the best job on the older blue heeler with all of her fluffy undercoat). The old tick collars came off (put on last summer, supposed to work for three months - time to visit the vet for more).

I set up a bucket of water with baited mousetrap on the rim for the mice and wood rats that have been in and out of the greenhouse - the photo I put up on Facebook brought protests from a lot of my urban friends, who want them caught and released or perhaps repelled with oils. Oils? Really? They're a real problem in the garden, I don't put up the bird feeders any more because of them, and I would like them gone. Poppy used to be a good ratter but she's very old now. I haven't seen Pepper catch any yet, but she's fast enough to catch birds, so perhaps she'll take on the job.

A short additional list for this week includes mowing the back yard today. I'll have to get out there before the rain predicted this afternoon. It's gorgeous out right now but there's heavy dew on the lawn at the moment. (I know - Dorothy is trying to force a path through the ice to her wood pile - I'm not complaining about the conditions here!) I set up Google Fit on my phone and am interested to see that it track my walks with the dogs, and I think it'll show the back and forth of the mower in the long narrow yard. My fitness tracker supposedly does the GPS thing also, but I haven't figured out all of the phone settings (it does this via bluetooth connections to the phone.) I'm curious to compare Nokia and Google results side-by-side.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 11:56 AM

SRS, shedding blade for horses? (How do you get the dog to hold still?)

We spent our AM coffee planning-chat thinking thru some upcoming garage rearrangement with a view to making space for the March truckload as well as long-term layout after the March load is unpacked.

Next we're off for what Friday's have been for our last 25+ years... Greg may have seven days off a week now instead of the occasional one, but this should be a good piece of getting our rhythms on the same track. Something relatively normal will be a relief!

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jan 19 - 05:21 PM

Incredible mouth pain in 4 soft tissue spots and several cold-sensitive teeth, all on the left side of center-- same areas that had responded so differently to novocaine for recent major periodontal work.

Old glasses (needed for wearing while new lenses are made next week for current frames) dropped off for repair and new insurance info registered. Confirmed I'm still covered for EyeMed.

Confirmed my PCP and on-site Urgent Care are "in network" w new insurance, and that no copay is charged-- Process: Medicare pays, then supplemental insurance pays, and then patient is billed for anything remaining. Made appt w PCP for Feb. 1 to test system/costs.

Urgently needed hygiene items found. Shower rod sleeves found. Oriental market w ear picks found. Potential Korean restaurant found.

Arabic spices wanted, found.

We survived 4.5 hours away from home with no meltdowns (but I was close until I took Tylenol).

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 12:34 PM

The Retriever shedding blade works well on all of the dogs but the oldest one who is mostly blue heeler likes it best.

I did mow the yard and the short Bermuda, native grasses, and weeds look so nice! This was followed by a concerted amount of scooping and adding dog droppings to the compost (it might make sense to scoop before mowing, but the weeds make that job difficult.) No mice in the bucket but I'll leave it there for a couple of weeks at least. It didn't work in the garage, but it might work in the greenhouse. The final place to deploy it is in the attic. After clearing out all of those flat cardboard boxes it will be easier to place at some point in the future. In cold weather it is most likely there are uninvited inhabitants up there now.

Overnight the wind arrived and things tipped over and blew around all night and will continue until this evening, apparently. I expect to find yard furniture, trash cans, and more out in the street later. One of my metal chairs rattled around in the gusts so it wasn't a good night's sleep.

Several months ago the earwire of one of my favorite pairs of sterling silver earrings vanished, and I didn't really want to buy a new pair. It finally dawned on me to replace the wire, so a dozen new wires arrived from Hong Kong (!) and I replaced both wires since the new ones didn't match the remaining old one. They're actually nicer, and give me ideas about making more earrings. It's time to start using a lot of the beads I discussed over the years with Katlaughing and a few other Mudcat crafters.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 02:10 PM

SRS, yes, the horse version is very similar.

~S~

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jan 19 - 07:58 PM

As we did a zillion other things today waiting for Snowgeddon II, we made a big crockpot of soup together. Faboo supper.

Lots of things put away today.

Most of soup now in freezer and other frozen soups found. We'll cream and/or thicken the part I didn't have freezer containers for, for variety.

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jan 19 - 09:53 AM

ALL my ADL tasks are off kilter and way behind functionality levels now that Yano structure is on hold. On Maslow's hierarchy were stuck at shelter, food, water. So try we focus on getting me caught up. We've been focusing almost exclusively on tech transitions and getting Greg settled. Necessary but cost me. Back to back wknd winter storms our first two weeks here ain't helped.

~S~