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

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 10:45 PM

Dupont:
When Connie and I removed the wallpaper in PA, a hot iron and a wet towel did it in no time!

One guest room is furnished except for the mattress which is still in hall. Will look good. Two glass cabinets will hold mineral samples and pertinent books. Designated "Mineral room". When I go to order a double mattress for the other room, I will purchase sheets for each as I have no plain cotton sheets, only flannel ones! Do not seem to be any such in the local thrift shops.

Today's stop in TS netted a beautiful glass water container with faucet - about 3 gallons! Found it a spot on top of a ceramic tile on top of microwave; will free up space on counter next to fridge and rid me of plastic water container. (This is for the distilled water, used for cooking and drinking.)

R brought me a plastic outdoor cabinet for garden tools and pots! In a niche that is shady and near the back deck. This will clear a bunch of stuff off deck and in the house! On a cooler day.

Progress is wonderful!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 09:34 PM

Nothing else needs to be painted right now, just the walls that are in the rooms that will get the new ceilings. I do need to give both dogs a bath, though. Tonight I'll see how far I can get removing this wallpaper. It's a struggle with every square inch, but I'm working on the most difficult surfaces first.

A friend of mine was doing some welding projects and had a base he built to support a file cabinet, though it's regular width, not legal. I find it very handy that it moves that way. They make inserts for file cabinets for using hanging files - could you insert a hanging support in such a way that you could hang legal files length-wise in a standard cabinet? I rarely shop at Walmart, but they have a 2-drawer legal cabinet for $39. Free pickup only.

Legal size inserts - the sides that the files hang on are usually notched ever half inch or so, meant to be snapped off with a heavy pliers and a vise grip or something comparable. You could put it in the cabinet sideways and break off the extra-long parts. It wouldn't be a drawer full, but it would be a standard cabinet holding your legal files.

The contractor texted, he'll be here tomorrow, 9am. I will be ready.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: mg
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 08:43 PM

srs if you are twiddling thumbs i suggest painting a small room far from the mess. it should dry fast, give yourself a boost of freshness.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: mg
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 08:41 PM

i hate cardboard more than anything. fine for moving stuff from place to place, but it rots, gets rodents, spiders, can't carry it once it gets soft. For long-term storage I would use plastic, recycled if possible. Of course, keep less and store less and use less plastic if possible.

I finally am getting rid of extra rubbermaid lids that i thought forever would match up. also spare socks..no place to give them though. I have gotten rid of two pillows, a little stool, recycled paper and cardboard, bathroom scales, a shelf thing in the last week or so and it is like how could i be so slow....i am pretty much post clutter but those last bits.

i need a rolling open top legal file cart under 40 dollars including shipping. one on amazon is fine but is not legal. if anyone enjoys treasure hunts and finds anything online, please let me know. my files are mostly legal or i would buy the little cabinet at thrift store..

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 08:29 PM

The other reason for plastic is that they’re waterproof.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 06:18 PM

There are plastic bins for sale regularly at Goodwill, so I wouldn't be driving the production of new plastic. The reason for plastic is to see through them to the contents. I have plenty of banker-type boxes already, but those hold files.

Wallpaper progressing, but slowly. No word from the contractor, so I have texted him this evening.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 06:05 PM

SRS, please don't buy plastic! Cheap Wal-Mart bankers boxes.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 02:36 PM

Perhaps I need plastic bins that I can label by the decade. Mementos from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, etc. I have a bad habit of too many things sitting out on edges of shelves, making it difficult to dust, and I know that "less is more" - fewer objects out mean they are more noticeable, not lost in the clutter. If I started with boxes to determine how large of a bin is needed?

This is for things like notes I want to keep from previous jobs, documents, signs, photos, etc. Touchstones for projects I still intend to get around to.

I seem to be drifting this week; I think it's the waiting for the contractor bit. I can't be as productive because I don't want to open up projects just to pack it all up to move in a few days.

I did start working on a patch in the office (a spot next to a junction box where I needed to reach inside to move wires) and I'll finish the wallpaper today. Otherwise, I feel like I'm twiddling my thumbs.

Time to read a book.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 01:48 PM

Yes, and it's been great to have it all out of sight for awhile, too. It takes time to massage every unpacked thing into the household, which often involves letting go of loved but worn out items already inside and in use.

I am saving a few categories for winter unpacking (books mostly), because after music season ends there will be icy days spent indoors to occupy, but the decor and household stuff needs to get moving.

So tmrw Yano Becky and I will unpack a plastic bin of misc that's been sitting, and Wedneday Brandon brings I, that next big kitchen box and we count/restack boxes.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 10:53 AM

Susan, isn't it great when you start to see clearance and gain function in a new abode! People talk about their new kitchen, or the family room with the fireplace, or the beautiful bathroom, but for me it was the day when I unpacked the last box in the garage and realized that we could finally park both cars under cover.

Of course, if we had stayed in Ottawa we would not have needed two cars, but hey.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 19 - 10:24 AM

It's getting to be time to calculate how much we should unpack weekly of the Garaged items, if we want the space back for parking. I know there's one big kitchen box left out there, and we'll probably unpack that this week. I'll book an hour of Brandon's time to get that into the house, and plan next steps with him.

The GREAT thing is how cool and breezy it is in there on hot days!

~Susan

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jul 19 - 12:48 PM

Charmion, congratulations on the contract! I have a movable up/down standing desk (that I'll be using more once it's set up again). I got an "Anti-fatigue standing mat" that helps with standing more comfortably. (It's tucked away in my office closet now while my desk is in the front room, behind a wall of plastic.) When I put the office back together I'll try to be more scientific about it.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Jul 19 - 12:14 PM

I seem to have converted to a stand-up desk.

It was supposed to be a sit-to-stand desk with a gas-assisted adjustable riser, but at the lowest position it is too high for typing. Consequently, it's a stand-up desk.

This is what happens when you buy furniture from a website.

I have accepted another book contract from Army Headquarters -- two volumes on Afghanistan, lots of typing -- and I was hoping for something that would allow me to sit and type comfortably for hour after hour. It has occurred to me that a person who is nearly 65 years old should probably not be sitting down for hours and hours, especially not typing.

And I can set the keyboard at the perfect height for typing if I stand up to do it. So, maybe a win overall.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Jul 19 - 10:05 AM

Wallpaper removal today.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jul 19 - 08:09 PM

Yeah Ceviche is VERY cool.

The second zip bag of winter bedding and spare down pillows is packed and in place under the bed, yay!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jul 19 - 06:02 PM

The ceviche was a winner—and at $5 a pound, also a bargain. Fish tacos also came out fabulous. The house was muggy but the fan helped keep the air moving and felt cooler that it really was.

Next comes the wallpaper.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jul 19 - 01:23 PM

Today we vacuum and then load up the second underbed zip bag, and stow that.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 06 Jul 19 - 12:51 PM

Dupont:

Warning to Charmion: a friend in VA hired a landscape company to do some work, They were not home on the day and returned to find 25 year old hollies with all the lower branches lopped off- the ones that hid the neighbours unappealing yard, heritage plants pulled out.... Sick at the devastation of a once beautiful yard/garden.

Heat: 35C is way beyond what I can deal with. Today is 26 and I am totally ... I do five minute indoor tasks. R went to install a window A/C this am but no easy way. He will bring home a portable later today. 117 year old houses were not constructed for... We slept with fan on last night and it was tolerable but never cooled off and today is going up - until a storm this aft - HOPE! Actually, it has already rained once this am - just more humid.

Yesterday he brought the "Dickens" desk for his office and a nice pine cabinet (counter-height) for TV/sewing room), a good "match for the one already in there. We found in the trash, a block from the Montreal house a few years ago. Very nice! Today, at the thrift shop, divested us of 3 left behind pieces and picked up a nice set of drapes for the office, and a terrific, needed, small cooking pot ($3).

Goal for today: eat lightly and breathe.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jul 19 - 11:24 AM

Sheet rock delivered to the drop station; we left here before 9am and there was a line of pickups and vans crawling up to and into the facility. It didn't take more than about 20 minutes, though. People are generally pretty efficient in there.

I stopped by the Supermercado Monterrey on the way home and picked up hot corn tortillas and some ceviche (impulse buy - to try) and guacamole, avocados, and some pico de gallo to go with the fish tacos for friends at lunch today.

The house is muggy because the outside is muggy. I think I need to get my fan stand and set it up in here. I wonder where I put it last?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jul 19 - 04:45 PM

Not much. Until this project is over the house is hot, everything is sitting everywhere and in any old which-way, and the dogs are confined to half of the house (and not allowed in the room where they prefer to sleep). I've put it off long enough, there is less work today, but I need to finish it. After the work is completed I'll have the luxury of deciding where things go in the office this time around. I've put in calls to the electrician and the A/C tech so they can come over next week and replace the vent and smoke detector (and I have something else that has been needing done for a while for each of them to do.)

Some friends are coming for lunch tomorrow, despite the chaos—I can still make the kitchen and dining area look respectable—so that will be my dose of relaxation.

Darn, the trash wasn't picked up today—I was sure our regular Thursday pickup wouldn't happen since it was a holiday. I've pulled the cans and the bag up away from the curb and will put it back on Monday. Tomorrow morning I'll put just the broken-up wallboard into the back of the SUV and drive over to the local trash dropoff. It saves keeping it around for the next couple of week's worth of trash pickup.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jul 19 - 02:07 PM

SRS, you're balancing so many aspects of the work! I'm sure you know what you're doing, and are working well with great people-- but what's the relaxing downtime activity? Is there time each day or week to get completely away from this enormous project?

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jul 19 - 11:57 AM

It has been relatively cool here this week, in the mid-90s [35 C today] when typically it's often over 100 [38+] by now. With no ceiling on one room, and about the remove the ceiling from the hall that connects into this room, that's a good thing. I have two AC units in the house and the one in the hall outside my office serves that area, but my thin film of plastic isn't of much help to keep the warm air out of the rest of the house.

I have seven bags of insulation that I'm going to drag up into the attic and line up on the walkway area that runs through the center of the space. No floors up there, though I do plan to put in some Plastic attic decking to enable me to walk around in areas where now I have to carefully step from beam to beam. No joists up there to support a floor, but this would make it a walkable space for work without weighing too much moving between the trusses. (This is one of many items I keep stashed in my Amazon "Wish List" so I can find the name or product description for searching later when I'm ready to act and make a purchase.)

I have to call the electrician and the AC guys in conjunction with this work. The cash goes in that direction now, not in to attic plastic.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 05 Jul 19 - 08:29 AM

SRS, I see that you have learned the lessons of friction and weight. Over the years, I have accumulated several small mats that would be hazards to navigation if used as their manufacturers intended but are perfect for sliding large pieces of furniture across a hard-surface floor.

It is stonking hot in Stratford and, like Dorothy, I am hiding in the house with the curtains drawn except to go to the gym and the grocery store. I'm okay with that, if a bit bored.

Today I left a sharp voicemail for the landscaper who was supposed to start work on our patio this week and hasn't. On Friday, he texted to say that he was going to Sarnia to spend Canada Day with his mother, but offered no date of return. Nothing more has been heard from that quarter. It is to be hoped that he is not lying in hospital after a misadventure with patriotic fireworks.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Jul 19 - 08:25 PM

Dupont:

Daniel Amen is a great fav of mine: terrific work on ADHD and went on to major good ideas for everyone.

SRS is a very moving person! I used to do those sorts of moving things before I got to 75 and started feeling "old". The WILL is the trick!

Today, Super YAY! I came home from shopping: exhaust fan for upstairs, magnetic curtain rod for metal door with BIG window facing south, bigger, nicer mailbox, and exploration of a store to which I had not been before - the fan was $5 cheaper than local store but the trip cost about $2 in gas. An adventure.

At home, I found Robin and Lorenzo and a riding mower: the lawn is well mowed (part of the back left in field, producing grass seed!) and all the books and excess furniture is out of the addition, into basement - ready for the two rooms to be become guest rooms! Time to go for another mattress. We have a single brass bed, with mattress, for the smaller room and waiting for a double brass bed for the other. Still need room for one more in case son and two grandsons arrive!

The "mitten cabinet" is now on 2nd floor in to-be-bathroom, it's intended home. We think. We now refer to rooms as what they are or are going to be: "R's office" still needs furniture and computer. TV/sewing/reading room is pretty good, 2nd floor t-b-bath is bare other than the mitten cabinet! That is a long term project!

The heat has me indoors and very still. 33C at 6 pm. Once in a while, I do a few very small things. New set of white drapes (thrift shop $12) will go in front guest room, rods in place. A lacy curtain from there will go on door. I am using any piece of fabric I have that can work to keep the sun outside! For winter, I may be looking for heavier drapes to keep the heat in!

Dishes need washing - later. I can usually think about supper around 8 pm. Wash dishes while cooking.

LOVE new car! So glad the old one died before the trip to Connecticut!! The cruise control was great - NOT breaking down somewhere in New England was even greater!!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jul 19 - 12:17 PM

The ceiling is down in the office. It took about four hours of steady work. The room that needs a new ceiling is part of the Old garage area, so it wasn't built with a ceiling being put in just that room at the same time as the walls. I had to carefully cut the sheets right along where they meet the wall so as not to radiate a break through to the next room where the sheet extends. That was a wall against the sunroom, a wall against the hall, and two sides of the closet in the corner of the office.

I'll finish the hall ceiling tomorrow.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 19 - 11:51 PM

The office is emptied, plastic sheets are up to contain dust and insulation. Tomorrow is going to be a day of hard work, not a holiday, but it's what will put me close to ready to have the work done.

Thank goodness Amazon ships really large heavy things in gigantic boxes. I found one of those folded in on itself in the recycle bin behind city hall. It might have held something like an oversized footlocker dimension-wise, and when I pulled apart the glued seam it stretched out to more than a dozen feet long, perfect to place across the hallway for sliding both book cases out of the office.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 19 - 10:30 AM

Charmion, I put these here 17 years ago, and I am aware of the passage of time! The thing you learn about moving stuff by yourself or with just one other small person is that just about everything moves easier if you slide it on cardboard and if you take all of the shelves or drawers or removable parts off first, it's easier to move. In this instance, the two shelves are turned then tipped to rest length-wise on their sides, then slid out of the room. Before I slide these cases out of the room I'll put down a long layer of cardboard into the destination room. Once the place is looking good I'll probably have someone come help me arrange and put the heaviest pieces back.

It has been interesting getting an up-close look at the collection again. I'll be working on it after all of this construction finishes so I'll put things back in a way I can see what is there and stage the work.

Thank goodness for the village recycle bins. I've been down several times to retrieve large boxes to use for all of this, and I'll be by again today (they should have been emptied yesterday, so anything in there now is visible and probably reachable.) I've tossed in lots of old volumes of magazines I saved but never looked at again.

Did I mention in this thread that I've started reading an interesting new book by Daniel Amen, MD? I don't usually pay much attention to the lectures during the PBS pledge drives, but I got sucked in by this one, and think the promise of offering relaxation exercises was timely. All my life I've just dropped off to sleep when my head hits the pillow, but with some of these construction concerns my mind races. His deep breathing exercises and biofeedback tricks really do help. He also offers some matter-of-fact brain health reasons for getting off of sugar and alcohol and eating healthier. It suits my current goals.

Plastic over doorways begins this morning.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 03 Jul 19 - 09:47 AM

SRS, are you doing all this moving of large furniture by yourself? I know you have plenty of experience, and you obviously know how to do it safely, but shit happens even to the experienced and the careful.

Just sayin'.

Of course, I move bookcases on my own, too, much to Himself's dismay. I know I shouldn't and I do it anyway because I hate asking him because then I would have to explain not only what I want to do but also why I want to do it, and then convince him that it's a good idea, all of which is a lot of rhetorical work. (Note: none of our ceilings has collapsed.) It feels easier just to do it myself and take the risk. But I'm not as strong as I used to be, and one of these days I'll go down under a bookcase if I persist.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jul 19 - 09:44 PM

There have been frequent breaks in this room emptying process, but I'm to the point where I slowly tipped over and turned the first of two huge double bookcases (that I bought at a nude furniture store and moved here back when I still owned a pickup truck). They are too big to take out of the office upright.

Books from my dad's collection are now being packed and all boxes will be either put in the front room ahead of sliding in the big book cabinet, or stacked in the office closet. Much of the electronic stuff is in the closet. A lot of his collection (cassette tapes, primarily) is still in boxes on the shelves and can simply be relocated for a few days.

Yesterday after dinner I decided to go ahead and unload the two antique armchairs. They need work, but the "bones" are sound. Goodwill looked at them askance, then said "okay." They'll be an upholstery project for some enterprising soul, perhaps to be sold later at a garage sale. I'm not the only one who buys things at Goodwill to fix and sell. Those chairs were both in the garage so they didn't make the house any less crowded, but I figured it would be a good time to do it anyway.

Susan, the end of my sunroom has a double closet door (hanging from the top, and overlapping) that are mirrored. They make the room look a lot larger, and conceal a shallow shelved cupboard where I keep glass and crystal.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 19 - 07:00 PM

There's a hot tip buried in the following report on the day.

Today the focus with Yano Becky was the BR. We gathered dirty laundry and sorted pillows brought in from the garage, and changed a bunch of pillowcases. Three old, nasty pillows were allocated to the kennel closet, a few to the camper, a few to the travel pillow bag, and a few to the bed (including one that had gone missing way back in MudDorm days), which happened to end up in the pillow case it was wearing when I first acquired it-- a sentimental item from a dearly loved elder.

We also augmented mattress padding in a key area that has caused my lumbar back issues to flare up recently. I can't be doing back PT in the daytime and then undoing it all night because of poor sleep posture; I can't expect PT-pushed muscles to heal with deep sleep-- if night pain is precluding deep sleep.

I also remade two orthopedic pillows a few nights ago, and redid one this AM for even better support.

We cleared the 2' tall pile of once-worn clothes off the top of my dresser, and I put away a hamper full of other clean laundry. *Later, Greg?? put up some closet hooks for my everyday cotton seersucker or poplin shirts, which will hopefully prevent that buildup from restarting. In the space where those-- and huge towels-- accumulate, I set a large object Greg had left out as floor clutter, to take up the dressers open space so I break that habit.

I had a fresh lumbar spine x-ray today, and already have the report... much worse than I thought, making the PT even more essential.

The images were done without the continuous pelvic tilt I'm conditioning towards, so I know that the alignment when I walk with that tilt is better than when I don't, but it is a sobering report.

* The hot tip-- Instead of closet doors, we have floor to ceiling drapes. They are situated where the closet doors were, now, but there is room to move them forward, making the closet much deeper. Right now the new hooks (and the items on them) are outside those drapes, but soon the drapes will cover them. One of the former housemates showed me the trick of putting a hook right on the molding that trimmed these closets' sliders, but adding depth by moving the drapes is all mine.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jul 19 - 10:25 AM

I'm in good company then! Yes, it's difficult to let go, partly because these are story fragments. Something I need to write down and flesh out, and as Susan suggests, photograph.

The big push begins today. I've run my sturdiest jeans through the laundry every night to start fresh with this very sweaty, dusty work each day. The room needs to be emptied, plastic needs to go up, and I need to start pulling down the remaining ceiling and insulation. Ugg. I think I'll put a tarp over the top of this table where all of the electronic equipment is sitting for now. On the plus side: with all of this hard work I've dropped a few pounds.

See you at the other end.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 02 Jul 19 - 09:29 AM

SRS, I am embarrassed with several boxes of such "little objects", all carefully packed, that have survived several moves. The most embarrassing box, labelled "Ancestral Doohickeys" contains little objects that came from my paternal grandparents' house, which was sold in 1968. So far, I have not been able to let them go.

Besides, who wants a jar that once -- i.e., well over a hundred years ago -- contained bear-grease hair-dressing? I'm sure it was kept because it is very precisely fitted into a wooden sleeve, making it suitable for use by a gentleman who travels, but ... sheesh!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 19 - 09:13 AM

SRS, this would be a great time to photograph that curio collection, so it will be easier to let them go later.

Here, back issues and bed pillowing are on the docket, again.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Jul 19 - 07:24 PM

Two sets of large office bookshelves emptied, through the convoluted process of emptying a lot of unneeded books in office and the adjacent room and then compressing them into that adjacent room. Now I have the music stuff on another two large bookshelves. As a single step that should go faster as it'll go into boxes and be restored to the office after the reconstruction. ETA on the ceiling work is Friday.

I finished mowing the lawn this morning, since I have to keep up with the regular stuff during this period of extra work in the house. It looks like rain this evening, I can hear thunder now. I haven't set up the sprinkler system yet and it's already July. Often by now the lawn is turning brown except for an area near the house I keep watered for the dogs. #WeirdWeather

Over the years I've accumulated a lot of little objects that have been sitting on the edges of my bookshelves—crystals, carved wood, objects picked up along the way. I'm now accumulating them into boxes. Maybe I need to assign just one shelf for all of this stuff (though I have shelves in my bedroom with this kind of stuff - maybe I should move it in there?)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 30 Jun 19 - 07:52 PM

Dupont:
The house is still moderately clean and tidy - by my low standards. Robin slept and read ALL day yesterday. He needed it.

Today, we partly cleared the east wall (brick) of Wisteria - I think - leaving it about 3-4 feet below the roof. There are a couple of plants coming up in the yard which I will try to coax into standards. I trimmed a bunch more lilac and other stuff. The transplanted trees seem to be happy. Amongst places that are not so great are a variety of maple trees, and others. I am pecking away at this to free a low spreading evergreen and a beautiful Weigela. Plan to leave one sugar Maple that is in a good spot, maybe.   

R was going to take all the debris, and the pile of stuff in the middle of the back yard into the woods, however, the bugs are dreadful. It rained 3 times today. During one we went foraging: groceries, a really good Dollar store, hardware store, and -uh oh - thrift shop. More books, some really good ones! And a useful garden tool ($4) that I have been wanting (edger).

Robin opened some windows I could not budge, replaced a couple screens: better air flow! Added a couple drapes to reduce solar gain. I have moved the distiller into a guest room in the addition so I can keep the heat it generates out of the main house.

We have been so enjoying the fresh basil from the Farm in our omelettes that I purchased a plant; need re-potting - tomorrow when the bugs are less?

Not as much as I had hoped but R really needs to rest. The books have to go down a VERY steep stairs; I refuse to use it at all. And we do not have a board long enough to slide them down.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jun 19 - 07:26 PM

Dusty weekend, but there is light at the end of this crumbling tunnel. A contractor came by today and concurred with the first guy, the ceilings need to be replaced. He has a crew of five (himself included) and they can do it in a day. The catch - he wants me to take down the ceilings and clear out the insulation. I'll save a lot of money on the job by doing that part, so I have heavier air filters and goggles to wear doing the work. Extra heavy duty bags for collecting the insulation, and painter tape and plastic sheeting to put up around the surrounding rooms to keep the dust limited to the work areas. He'll even paint the rooms when he finishes. The hall has wallpaper, so it might be a challenge to take that down in time. Anyone have good tips about taking off wallpaper?

I'm going to have to call the air conditioning guy to replace a vent and the electrician to replace the fan and wired smoke detector.

One more trip this evening to the used book store, then I need to assemble enough boxes to hold the books I'm still going to keep that I haven't moved into the shelves in the front room.

In all of this I've identified a few things that will go on eBay, but they're noted and filed away out of the way for now.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jun 19 - 02:41 PM

DP, kicking ASS!

.........

What is an Active Rest Day at this point in my recovery?

Last night, I slept well. I went out in the cool morning and watered a dozen plants spread around the patio, and did many of them while sitting. I sat at the table for brek instead of power bar in recliner. I sat at the desk to create a poolside laminate from pix of a deteriorated laminate taken ydy.

Then it was time to stretch my back in the lift recliner, which is in the office/tv room/library, so I started sifting thru movies on our new Netflix plan, and started one.

Got up to get own lunch, and watched a movie with Greg.

Initiated a Netflix break and folded the partner-needed king sheet alone, and then stowed the filled laundry hamper of linens.

(I DID purge enough in PA!!! They're all put away!)

Set up a system for keeping BR door open all day for cold air flow.

Made coffee and tea for us since Greg got off track making them for our Netflix afternoon.

Many of these are things I don't do every day on my own, especially PT days in the pool, or on alternated days or with walker. Today I must be active enough (out of the chair) not to stiffen up, but not so active I exacerbate bone and muscle stress during preceding (alternating) days' land or water workout days. My guide is my pain level: aiming to max out effort within OTC pain meds, because tramadol, while nice if the pain gets on top of me, blurs my thinking.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 29 Jun 19 - 11:47 AM

Dupont:

Holy moly, SRS!!! Of all the happenings in my life, I have not had a ceiling fall! Guess you just needed something else to keep you busy! Aren't you glad to be "retired"!

Today was designated to get boxes and boxes of books down to the basement/library-to-be (from hallway) and the pile of debris out of the back yard... Some of this might happen after R takes a nap; he got up about 6 am, read until BF...

A brass bed and new mattress of single guest room is in hall - after the excess furniture is removed... That might happen this weekend or...

I took a hot bath before making BF and am feeling better, mostly recovered from the trip. Wanted to go to Beaver for the weekend but, clearly, we are too tired.

The house is moderately clean and tidy and - oops! a load of laundry needs to be moved to dryer.

That article looks to be interesting.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 19 - 10:01 PM

Thinning books in the front room (not affected by the ceiling incident) in order to move some of the office books into there. I told my daughter about this at lunch today - if there is something in particular she wants, speak up. It won't end up like the cartoon of the empty bookcase and a Kindle propped against one side on the bottom shelf, but I will never read or have no interest in looking at these, and if I change my mind, I know where to find another copy.

There are now four insulation-filled contractor-grade plastic bags up in the attic awaiting the new ceiling, when it will be spread out again.

If I'm going to have to redo this room I might as well give it a lot of thought and this is going to be the largest concentration of decluttering activity here in a long time. My work has been gradual, now it's a big push. I offered my daughter a bookcase I built many years ago and she'll take that.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jun 19 - 06:18 PM

This afternoon I worked on the vegetable garden, reworking the areas where plants were chewed around the cambium and died (snails? cutworms?) I've put more Sluggo out and planted two more tomatoes and two more peppers. I've also put a "bat faced torpedo" Cuphea in a pot. I've never grown that before but it sounds interesting. I also scalped around edges of the garden and raised bed. This was an hour or so, enough in the heat. It's strangely overcast today again, because there is a huge load of dust in the upper atmosphere that has apparently blown across from the Sahara. The light is lightly brown or yellow even though it's a sunny afternoon. This should clear out by the end of the week.

I'm spending evenings working on rearranging furniture so I can move the furnishings out of the office. I've packed a few shelves of books, and have many more to go. I'm thinking about what to do with a couple of chairs in the garage and one in my room - they need reupholstering (versus tossing out at the curb or putting on freecycle). As expensive as it is to reupholster, I think I would go with the best one first, and discard the others. Something else on my list - if I'm going to keep pieces, they should be usable and look good.

Another panel of ceiling came down. I have to scoop up the insulation then cart the sheetrock outside. And keep emptying all of the furniture. Clearly the whole thing needs to be replaced.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jun 19 - 11:01 AM

Solving large and small puzzles today. Last night the keyboard starting reversing itself (like caps lock was on) but I couldn't get it to respond to a change. This morning I tried searching and noticed the mouse was out of sorts also. I finally realized that my favorite keyboard (I have two attached at the moment) had the shift key stuck in the depressed position. Probably damaged by ceiling-falling damage, but it's back in position now and the computer isn't acting insanely any more. I like the "Unicomp" sturdy keyboard that uses the IBM Selectric key spacing and technology, but that old keyboard doesn't have the "Windows" button on it. So the flimsy Dell keyboard is there in case I need to push the Windows button. Next time I order a new Unicomp I'll get the one with the Windows button (it just did it again - I think the buckle under the key is broken).

Well, that didn't take long: the shift key is sticking again. New Unicomp keyboard ordered. Chalk another expense up to the ceiling.

Two bags of collected insulation are now up in the attic where it can be redistributed once the patch is in place (if a new ceiling is required there will be a lot more bags of insulation joining them. I don't want to switch to fibreglass.)

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 26 Jun 19 - 10:40 AM

Now that we're past the Solstice, it's getting hot in Stratford. Dominion Day -- oops, Canada Day -- is Monday, and Tuesday will bring the landscapers for Day One of the deck removal & patio construction project. I already feel the drain on our bank account.

SRS, I'm sorry for your ceiling troubles. Something like that happened to me back in the early 90s, leading me to believe that the collapse of a ceiling is one of very few non-criminal events to which the rational response is a robust scream.

Except for the choir trip and the rehearsals to prepare for it, I have been very idle for the last two weeks. I like to think that I was recovering from bronchitis, but that was only part of what was going on; mostly I was just sitting around reading. Today, I feel compelled to get off my ass and leave the house.

After the laundry is folded and stowed, of course.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jun 19 - 10:30 AM

SRS-- kudos on this:

I'm going to be emptying that room for the work so I might as well sort now so I won't be putting back anything I don't think I'll actually use.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 19 - 10:33 PM

Here, Susan, You Are Doing Something Important When You Aren’t Doing Anything from the New York Times.

Yes, the timing of the ceiling isn't lost on me. There was dust everywhere and my favorite older keyboard is still a little wonky.

Two boxes of books to Half Price Books, a couple of things to Goodwill, and the recycling dropped off. I'm going to be emptying that room for the work so I might as well sort now so I won't be putting back anything I don't think I'll actually use.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jun 19 - 10:13 PM

SRS, just after you got your office setup resolved.....?

It's become clear that my current stamina is so low that a deep nap follows an effective workout. I'm not suppressing these naps!

Working with Becky today was one of these. Happily, after that nap I was able to scooter out for groceries and even bring a few of the items in, myself.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 19 - 03:15 PM

I remember a friend from work who had something similar happen at her house a couple of years ago, and she sent me a link on Angie's List for the painter who does drywall, plaster, etc. He's coming by tomorrow. Thank goodness to finally talk to a human being and not a phone answering machine. I left several messages, we'll see if any of the NextDoor folks return my calls. Only one of them is listed as actually doing drywall. I suspect Nextdoor doesn't hold a candle to Angie's list as far as sound recommendations.

Meanwhile, I've moved stuff from the center of the room into the dining room and I need to move a lot more out. I'm sure to work in there it will raise a dust and knock into things. The hall also needs the same work done (before it also collapses) so I guess putting the rest of my office stuff in the room next to the hall wouldn't be helpful. It has a "pony wall" that would let a lot of dust in there.

I think I may have to set up an office in one of the kid's bedrooms for the time being. The dining table works for now, but I need to store a lot of other equipment out of dust's way. I have a couple of tarps in the garage I'll bring in to have ready.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 Jun 19 - 02:51 PM

Dupont:

Left Friday am for Connecticut and arrived home last night after a leisurely trip through beautiful rural Vermont. R and I snarled a each other all day - physically and emotionally exhausted. "I thought weddings were supposed to be joyous." Some of it was, and some was very strange to us - a BIG wedding with all the trimmings! As foreign to us as the multi-million dollar estate at which it was held.

But the emotional impact of relating to very dear folks - known for up to 50 years but rarely seen and catching up on some of the contretemps of their lives and re-calling the contretemps of the last 50 years... I am trembling with exhaustion; had to firmly broach with R the FACT that he, too, is suffering.

It was also fun to meet new and interesting people of the sailing community - the bride is a licensed Captain for up to 200 ton ships! People had arrived from most parts of the world!

The best part was my 2nd son drove up from Philly to see us and Jeff, his friend from grade 7 with whom we stayed. Jeff has turned out to be terrific!

Taun also went to the wedding site in his own vehicle in hopes of seeing friend Tom (father of the groom) who was important to him from age 6 to 16 or so. Tom embarrassed Taun by taking him around and introducing him as "my first son" and was insisting he sit at the "family table". Dear Broome who "sees all" rescued Taun and I went around explaining what had happened to each of the close family. Knowing Tom was drinking too much and anyway they like Taun too, it was OK - I think. Taun said, "This is Logan's day!"

Taun has promised to visit this summer with the boys! A real push for R to bring a couple more beds to the house and clear guest rooms.

We did not buy any antiques even though R almost grew roots in one shop! There was a net gain of 4 books (R) and a wonderful wood earring holder (I have been looking for this sort of thing for years!) and pair of wood earrings. And two choc bars (on sale).

But still, the house is moderately tidy, laundry up to date, stuff from trip put away, dishes will get done as I prepare supper, after R&R and maybe an actual nap.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jun 19 - 01:21 PM

Ugg indeed! I once caught a bed-ful of wet ceiling in a neglected apartment that was "promptly" deemed uninhabitable-- the LL had to give me a break on a better apartment. Warn't fun, in between.

Here, one huge contractor bag was unpacked with Yano Becky. That zip case is now full of the bulkier items, and I have a few sheets to wash and add to the sheet bin under my dresser.

I also put away clean laundry so I could use the hamper those folded items had occupied, for the dirty sheets out of that bag plus the ones left from changing the bed. Did I mention how huge a project THAT is. With all the orthopedic pillows we both use now, that bed change is a minimum of 45 minutes for two cooperating people!

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 19 - 01:09 PM

I knew I needed to get attention to a panel of sheetrock on the ceiling that was sagging, but I didn't act soon enough; it collapsed into my office overnight with a gush of dusty insulation. I've collected two contractor bags of insulation, tossed the sheet rock out, moved my computer station (the main part - everything else is pushed against the walls) into the dining room and now I'm waiting for someone to call back (I tried two local contractors recommended on NextDoor). And a request for recommendations on Facebook. There's another piece sagging, and a chunk from the end of the one that came down. And the hall. This is due to shifting from the foundation that needs work.

Ugg. And last night was the worst night's sleep ever, though I didn't hear anything. I think I had too much caffeine yesterday. I did the math - I use a huge mug and usually have two cups of tea - it comes to a quart, or the equivalent of drinking a full pot. This morning I compared the measurements of a few mugs and instead of the 16 ounce mug I used a 10 ounce teacup. And no more caffeine after noon.

Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Jun 19 - 12:13 PM

We have a similarly problematic tree, Maggie, and it will be expensive. A moribund birch that stands well above two storeys high threatens our neighbour's house and is therefore getting urgent. She must worry about her roof whenever she looks at it, because she remarks on it whenever she sees me. It will be a job for professionals, for sure. When Tim (of Tim's Tree Service fame) brings his bucket-hoist cherry-picker to deal with the birch, he can also remove the scruffy cedars that grow right beside it. They aren't beautiful, they also loom over Judith's roof, and their absence might allow a ray or two of sunlight to reach the western end of our house.

I spent last weekend in Kingston (Ontario, not Jamaica or upon Thames) on tour with the Stratford Concert Choir. We sang at St. George's Cathedral, a sort of half-sized colonial copy of St. Paul's in London. We did a good job and the audience really liked us. Pity there weren't more of them; the nave of the church was about half full -- but, on the other hand, more people would have mucked up the gorgeous acoustic. If you're going to wear yourself out singing Anglican liturgical music, for Heaven's sake do it in a good-sounding church.

My very gradually ebbing bronchitis continued through the whole trip, with barrages of coughing that shook the bus and rattled through the rehearsal space. I could see the conductor's face tighten whenever my elbow rose to cover my face. By the end of the second performance, I needed a large dose of Ventolin followed by a cold beer and about an hour of total quiet. Fortunately, there's an excellent pub across the street from the cathedral where I had a pie and chips with a pint and a match from the Women's World Cup. I kept my mouth firmly shut for the rest of the day, went to bed before nine and got up this morning blessedly free of chest discomfort for the first time in quite a while.