FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 21 May 22 - 10:46 PM

Dupont:

SRS! It was indeed. I planned and messaged and got it all organized ahead and the only blip was SIL who kept "not putting any pressure on you but..." The best part was my son coming out with Tenley for the Memorial, and being greeted effusively by my friend's progeny - apparently their mom kept them in touch with my life - and a few other long time no see folks. Taun was glad to see the parents of his very first playmate; I doubt he has seen Jake since they graduated from different high schools at the same time. I was down for T's grad and we went to Jake's, after the fact at Upatinas - the alternative school that started in Tina's lower, walk-out level. Those two and Tina's youngest - a year older - went to the movies together. And Tina and I had a visit. Jake is now in Colorado.

And, I have No pictures of the house and am hoping my son might. I was too stunned to even think of it. It is not large at all but the cathedral ceiling over LR and DR give it an openness and the large windows in the LR and DR - lots of light, and the beautiful trees outside that have grown up wonderfully in the 55 years. I sat on the window seat, looking at the beautiful ceiling and windows and FELT HOME. Taun remembered the window seat and looking down at the pond - he could not have been more than 2, possibly 3. I don't have the date of when we moved out, only Sara's, "You didn't want to move".

Taun, family archivist, appreciated the "treasure trove of pictures" I took him.

I am still recovering. Sorting out a few things, largely in my mind! -and sending emails, requesting vote by mail ballot for Provincial election, and enduring the heat today. Getting back to the piles of papers to sort - so many are really interesting! Too hot today to weed whack but I did pull some weeds early this am, and enjoyed the Allium - purple - just starting and some dwarf purple iris. The Roxanne geranium by the front step has not yet started but it is very healthy, a reminder of Tina who also loved it.

Messaged her eldest son and asked for email addresses for he and sibs so I can sort of stay in touch. First send them notes re their loss. George had told R how pleased they were that I had come. Makes me feel as though I matter, and R feel better about the long time away from work, a gift to me as I could not have done it alone. It was a grueling trip and I don't feel closure as much as I feel stricken by the reality - Tina is gone. The home I loved is unattainable. My bro has cancer and is doing well but, my bro has cancer. His daughter is still a mess. The 3 children of my SIL are doing great. She was a great Mom; she had terrific parents. It matters. So many feelings arising from trip.

I packed up the dry pots made before the trip and cleared the "studio" in hopes of getting more made.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 May 22 - 04:14 PM

More closet clearing, this time in the blouses, vests, and jackets. There are some I'll never get down to that size again, others are styles I'll never wear again. I still have a few obsolete pieces if I need to achieve that look of a white or beige blouse with slacks or skirt.

A couple of weeks ago I cleared out all of the size 8.5 shoes; I simply don't comfortably wear that size any more. I might start the morning in them but later in the day as feet swell they're too uncomfortable. I'm in 9 and 9.5 now. Jackets and shoes and most of the blouses go to Goodwill. There is a bag of silk blouses that I offered to my daughter the costume designer - who says yes, she says she can use silk.

I am slowly dismantling a low wall around a sort of "keyhole" garden bed I built years ago - as I work I'm impressed by how much work I put into it. And struggling to pull out the bottom layer that was a foundation for the rest. I'm 1/4 of the way now.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 May 22 - 05:59 PM

peeking in to add my wishes for your birthday

long time no see, how old is your little baby now?

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 May 22 - 05:24 PM

Hi All! Just peeking in to say hello!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 22 - 11:05 PM

Dorothy, that is way too much activity for just one week! You have a time machine stashed in one of your Canadian houses, don't you? Your secret is out!

Sounds like a marvelous visit, and I'd love to see photos of that house you loved so much!

I'm glad you sussed the phone scam and got rid of that plan.

Today is W*Y*S*I*W*Y*G's birthday. I hope it's a happy one! Thinking of you, Susan.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 19 May 22 - 10:17 PM

Dupont:

Managed to throw and trim pots on the Weds and do some weed whacking. Then the trip: Got to Albany, got a bit lost; a nice lady at a garage let us phone Broome for directions. My phone which I was assured had ROAMing did not function south of the border. Had a very late BF with B at a Cracker Barrel - an interesting experience. We had to navigate, holding our breath, through the stinky stuff to a back area without candles etc. The food was Southern.

Then he guided us to the hotel and we proceeded to spend too much time trying to get the phone to work - NO customer service. I ended up paying $1 for some foolishness and the nice tech told me to turn it off and then on...!!! Just like the computer! I messaged them that I was not pleased to be taken in by some foolish "service" that I could ask advice on everything from doctors to lawyers...! Received a message that they canceled the "membership" of $46/month! Tonight I had to phone the bank re the charge on my credit card which was added two days after the message. And the possible double charge for the motel on Monday night - a mere $152 - when we were so tired we could barely see the road. I would have stopped two hours earlier...

On Friday, we went to Broome's house and saw why his wife spends 6 months/year in Edinboro! There was a path through the house - a lovely old colonial - with boxes to the ceiling in every room. Only horizontal surfaces were the bed and a space the size of a bath towel on the K table. There are also two barns, a couple transport bodies and more. He is really trying to get rid of stuff; he told of filling a van with hundreds of albums and selling the lot... it was only a small percentage of what he still has. His wife loves him! We love him.

We got lost in NYS and finally found the PA information center and a wonderful woman printed us directions for the rest of the way south. We even obtained real maps! Unfortunately, we had to phone Ingelora and ask her to meet us at the folk dancing. There I managed to give away a couple nice tops, some folk dance Cds and some printed material on folk dances!!! And a dress I bought in old Montreal in 1969 - Ingelora took that! I even managed to dance a few easy dances and it was wonderful to see my friends.

My son and his partner came to the Memorial and we met her for the first time - very nice. Some special people there for both Taun and myself. He was greeted by the sons of my friend and the parents of his very first playmate were present. We stayed for the lunch, then R and I went to the Twnshp community day because I wanted to meet a woman I liked on FB. Then we re-gathered at my bro's for a late lunch. I gave Taun all the family pictures I still had, including negatives from the last 60 or 70 years that my dad had taken. And the 3 colour sweater I knitted for him many years ago out of good British wool; It had gotten damaged and I thought I still had some of the wool but have not found it in these 15 years so he gladly accepted it, saying that Tenley could fix it. He is still slim enough to wear it - at 58.

Then we went to Ingelora's and chatted some more. I went to bed early. In the am we visited some more; we really like Ingelora. She is so happy divorced, in her own home, near the group home where her son lives. She teaches viola and violin to private students in her music room.

Then we went to the Charlestown Playhouse (nursery school) Clothing Sale - an institution! R acquired three pairs of good quality shoes ($14) and a bunch of books. I fancied a sterling silver dolphin brooch so I sent a pic to Taun to see if Tenley would like it. "She'd love it." He said he would get a nice card and present it to her from me. My son is happy!

R and I went for a quick lunch to my bro's (and SIL) and then met Taun at the house to which he had arrived as a newborn. My father and I, bro and ex built it ourselves. I had forgotten it; the marriage was already deteriorating and when my bro needed to sell his house next door my "husband" insisted we buy it and sell the one we had built with such loving care. My dad and I designed it and being there again after 55 years broke my heart - I loved it so much. Such a beautiful house to raise kids in - open and airy with huge window seat looking out at the trees and down to the small pond.Totally off the road and private. And the family that bought it from us have cared for it totally. The dad is 90 and still a member of the local volunteer fire dept. A lovely man. (Wife died some years ago.) The adult daughter was there to visit with us; we have exchanged emails and are on FB. My other son was her "first crush" when they were in grade school - grades 1 & 2, I think.

Then we went to see the woman who was our wonderful babysitter when she was 12,13... and her partner in her cluttered home in the woods near the village. I drove to the village and tried to phone - NO service! So I stood in the intersection waiting for someone to be driving or walking; sure enough: a woman walking four poodles, and a man who was walking himself gave us directions. Sara told me I did not want to move. She holds memories of that time of my life and shared only a very little in company. I hope to gather a few more. She said she helped me put a foot locker in the car; I must have taken it to Tina's for storage as I did not leave with a car.

So, I have much to sort out and much to get over - crying over the house I loved. And wondering how it all happened.

Monday, we wended our way up through New Jersey to have lunch with a friend of R's and then on up along byways until it was too dark for us to keep on. And more of the same on Tuesday; I decided I had to go to the Adirondack Wildlife Centre to pay my respects to a woman who had been a director and died in January; we stopped in a small lovely town with a beautiful library and a wonderful woman who found us directions, and told us where to get good food; R bought some books and we got the best cornbread ever and delicious soup. We found the Centre and walked the mile long wildlife trail, met the husband and chatted with him and I gave him a small donation in memory. Then we continued on until we arrived in Chateauguay about 7 pm. And early BED!

Weds, I did groceries and laundry, whacked some of the high grass, trying to miss dandylions, and pulled a bunch of weeds. And cooked a meal. Today, I managed to finish getting through the over 600 emails that had built up, sent a couple, messaged a couple folks, spent a bit of time on FB checking on a few folks, called the bank about charges on credit card, tried to fill out a govt form that was totally useless and arranged to get a vote by mail ballot sent here for the Ontario election 2 June. That is the week that was!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 22 - 08:04 PM

I'm about to swap out some worn-out night shirts with some new ones. At the thrift store I also found a nice blouse with 3/4 sleeves, but at home I found it still had a security tag so have to take it back tomorrow for removal. I was planning a short trip to the nursery, so I'll go a little further and have them remove that thing. It didn't make noise when I left the store so it may be one of the ink ones.

Planting the garden this weekend, that's what the nursery trip is about. I have a few seeds started but other things will be bedding plants.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 22 - 10:47 AM

Years ago I experienced several years of using remote storage; after my father died and his stuff stayed locally in storage until I could move it down here. Before Dad's stuff could arrive I went through a divorce and filled two pods. So once I moved into this house I first emptied the pods into a room in the house (stacked up like a warehouse) and then I brought the contents of the remote storage locker and filled the garage. As the remodeling on the house was finished I moved stuff out of that room, and some of the garage stuff came indoors. I swore to myself that I would never have one of those garages that was so full of stuff that I couldn't park inside once I finally emptied it enough to pull the pickup in. For a while I needed a shoehorn to pull in and out, but now it's quite airy in there. Gardening stuff lives along the sides so when the door is open it looks like a garage with gardening stuff, not like a storage locker.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 19 May 22 - 10:13 AM

As a fellow clearer-outer, I also enjoy the wide-open space I have in my garage where other people keep their hoards of stuff. Every winter, I rejoice in that space as I drive around town without having spent a mauvaise quart d'heure clearing the car of ice and snow. Likewise, the driveway is left clear for the snow-removal people, who scrape it down to the tarmac and thus save me hours and hours of hard labour that I am frankly too old for.

Of all the household services I pay for, I love snow-removal the best, though lawn-mowing comes a close second.

I feel much more ambivalent about house-cleaning, and I now realize that I'm not crazy about having another person having the run of the place. The cat-visitor doesn't go into the bedroom or the study for more than the few seconds it takes to ascertain that the roof isn't leaking and the windows are intact, but an effective cleaner can hardly help eventually finding out where everything of value to me is stashed. Cleaners also grab and drop fragile things that should not be grabbed or dropped, and they apologize profusely but the things remain irreparably damaged. So I guess I'm resigned to the whole tedious business of dusting, vacuuming and scrubbing while I still can.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 May 22 - 02:18 AM

I've been turning out my wardrobes and drawers, and having a sensible review of many of my clothes. Some of them are rather too 'young and trendy' for someone of my age, and as I'm now much slimmer (size 12) the 'fat lady's ones' will have to go.
Gardening - gaagh! But I've managed to dig up several chunky plants I no longer like. They don't contribute much to the 'cottage garden' effect I'd like to create. So into the garden waste bin they went.
I'm proud to say my garage is now completely empty (except for my little Fiesta car of course), unlike many around here, which are crammed with stuff, so their cars have to be parked outside on their drives.
I think many elderly people become either hoarders, or 'clearer-outers'. I'm in the latter camp.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 22 - 10:20 PM

Busy, day, Don! I would love to have a hot tub out on the patio, but I'll never get around to putting one in. Charmion, that sounds like a great distribution of fancy hangers. I have the same ol' plastic colored hangers I use, and if I need more I dig in one of the kids closets. My daughter in particular had all sorts of costumes and sometimes I raid that stash.

I moved bricks and furniture sitting on the patio and took the weed-whacker to the edges, knocked a lot of the grass out of the cracks in a brick extension on the west side, then swept it all. To finish, I didn't exactly power wash, but squirted a lot of the worst mud-stained spots off of the concrete. There is a potted plant back on the little square redwood table, and the patio looks a lot larger now.

The bricks go in three places in V-shapes for feeding the dogs outside (so the bowls won't slide), but I haven't done that in ages. I need to teach Cookie how to wait at her other place outside. It'll come back to Zeke and Pepper.

My workout today was accomplished by running the tiller without the rudder or whatever the metal stake is that extends down in back. I removed it as recommended in several YouTube videos, then ran the tiller with just the blades and pulled it backwards to till the raised beds. It's digging and trying to move forward as you pull it back - an effective way to turn the soil down a few inches. It works well but was a lot of work to do that pulling. I'll make another pass in each bed after raking out roots and stems and gardens will get planted this weekend. Finally!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 18 May 22 - 08:18 PM

The ideal weather made this a fitness day. Mowed, picked up sticks and bamboo sprouts, applied a ceramic coating to the car and started the hot tub up to temp. The tarps and rugs that insulated the tub over winter were put over a future garden area to knock down weed growth.
I threw out inoperative appliances like wet vacs. Did the garbage and lawn refuse. Made soup and I'm winding down while the sun is setting at 8:13 tonight. I got through several podcasts during breaks.
Having discovered Lex Fridman I have over 200 youtube shows to go.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 18 May 22 - 02:40 PM

How did I end up with dozens of high-quality plastic coat hangers? They’re the kind with broad plastic shoulders that furriers use, and the basement was full of them.

Not any more.

The locker rooms at the YMCA have nice built-in coat racks that are all clagged up with bent and twisted wire hangers that won’t hold a winter coat. Today I asked the guy at the reception desk if the Y might be up for a donation of decent hangers, and the management accepted with enthusiasm. They’re out of here in half an hour, when I head out for a haircut.

Two medium-sized bags of summer clothes went to Goodwill this morning.

I still have a superfluity of hangers, but what’s left is an assortment of wooden coat and suit hangers (the curved kind) that could well be rehomed by way of the spring rummage sale at church.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 22 - 12:13 PM

The weather forecast suggests that by the weekend we'll be closer to normal spring temperatures and some rain might happen. Fingers crossed!

My den is looking better after shipping stuff, and previously I mentioned moving furniture. If I move stuff into another room, then things in that room have to move. It's a giant representation of that Chinese plastic toy with 35 numbered tiles in 36 spaces.

Now that the patio is in better shape I'm considering attempting a cushion on the wrought iron bench. The question - will Cookie leave it alone? She tears stuff up less often now, but she still has the impulse at times. Which reminds me - it's time to wash the dog bed covers and put the dog beds away. It's too hot for fluffy beds when the tile floor feels cooler.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 May 22 - 06:54 PM

That's a good measure of healing, the sorting of stuff. I still have things from my parents that I hold onto, though much of it went. And they died two decades ago.

Costco has the wild caught salmon I like and usually has cases of it in view in the freezer. Today there were two nearly-empty cases on the shelf. In case this is a hint of things to come I bought an extra for myself and two for my ex, who asked for one. During shortages I'm fine with various sorts of toilet paper, but heaven forbid we run out of the good salmon!

Today is a regular eating (non-fasting) day so I enjoyed a slice of pizza at Costco. Sometimes you need a dose of crust and grease to keep things moving along.

Another large box mailed today, clearing the path to some other work in the front room. The boxes that Tractor Supply uses for shipping dog food are 24x17x9, so you can cram a lot in them. This box had some rather valuable Oaxacan wool rugs I bought 40 years ago and have never used or hung up. They're gorgeous and it's time to use them. They are interested in using them on the walls there. Meanwhile I still have a couple here and I need to build a new frame to hang up the one, and show my son the plans - it involves using Velcro all over the frame to stick the rug to so it doesn't hang folded or have to be stitched or stapled, etc.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 17 May 22 - 05:39 PM

A friend took a picture of me tuning my mandolin the other day. It’s the first photo of me since Edmund died in which I don’t look as if I have a headache and can hardly wait to flee.

This afternoon I went through the closets and drawers in search of clothing to part with, and ended up with two huge bags of winter stuff that I packed up to wait for October, and a third bag of hot-weather garments that can go to Goodwill tomorrow. I have to obtain a cardboard box in which to pack up Edmund’s summer hats, and then they can go, too. (Except the UN-blue Tilley he was issued for deployment in Haiti; I need that for gardening.)

I find that I can now let go of some of Edmund's stuff that I held onto a year ago.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 22 - 09:46 PM

I posted a sequence of photos on Instagram showing the tarp installation over the patio cover. I didn't want to haul the tall articulated ladder out so I tied a long twine to a grommet at the corner of the tarp, attached a padlock to the other end, and threw it over the top to begin pulling it across. Nudging with a broom stick and a few leveraged pulls I managed to get the whole thing in place. With just the short step ladder and some cheap bungee cords I fastened it to the frame. This is over the top of the 12x10' tarp I screwed down onto just the very top, so the filtering is robust. The new tarp hangs a longer on the west side where the evening sun hits. The house is much cooler this evening.

I had my coupon at Harbor Freight but my size tarp was out of stock; I glanced to the side and found one on a shelf with a tag saying it was an "open box" and priced a dollar cheaper than my coupon. The stars aligned and my house is much cooler.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 May 22 - 05:38 PM

I started with last year's letter and added on - my annual tax protest is as agonizing as paying the federal income taxes. When you live in a house for 20 years and do only essential repairs because the others are out of reach, then the tax office needs to stop assuming this house is turnkey ready for someone to buy it and move in. This year I'm trying to push the taxes back before what they were raised to a couple of years a go. I've learned a thing or two (I hope).

Now to the post office to mail my letter to the tax district asking them to send me the information that they will be using to prove my house is worth more - the "comparables" are properties in the area that they say prove mine holds the same value. But if they have a pool, were newly renovated, don't pay flood insurance, etc., I can dispute their choices. And I didn't know that before.

On the same trip I'll make my run for the second tarp and some cheap bungee cords to anchor it into place over the top of the first one I screwed down yesterday.

The AC needs attention, but before I make that call I'll trim the weeds around it and hose out the filters on the outside unit like he told me I should last summer. It might help, and it can't hurt.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 15 May 22 - 07:11 PM

I’m utterly exhausted after a long day of singing, at church in the morning, and then the Stratford Concert Choir’s first performance since the 2019 Messiah. Yesterday, I played back-up mandolin for a friend’s violin school recital. And I tidied the garage and raked three bags’ worth of last year’s leaves out of the garden beds.

Definitely enough productivity for a while. Tomorrow is pool class, and then I’ll flop.

My favourite contractor has surfaced again, so I might just get my mouldy bathroom dealt with before the collapsing stock market swallows all my money.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 22 - 10:45 AM

An underlying theme in the declutter threads has been how to save money (and the pain of unexpected bills). Emptying our pocketbooks is something we try to avoid. We wince each time someone describes an expensive repair or replacement. Cars some to mind in the last year. Water heaters. Washers and dryers.

One savings I've managed this year is to change cell phone plans. AT&T was close to $70 a month, so I switched to the original plan at TING and dropped to about $33 a month. The company leases access to the T-Mobile network, so I have great national coverage. A few months ago I took a look at TINGs new plans and found a FLEX plan that rewards those who don't use much data. Now text and talk minutes are included in a flat $10 a month. It used to charge as I reached certain benchmarks - number of minutes, texts, or data. My bill is now $18 a month, and if I go over a Gig of data, it goes up by $5. I use the phone mostly on WiFi in the house to avoid the data. That's $52 a month that can go for something else. That's about how much the last tank of gas cost.

It's sad to think Don won't pay to keep the pool up and running - that might be a good alternative to going out for $$ recreational activities. Musical potlucks at the house around the pool sound inviting. And if something untoward happens, turn the potluck into a rent party. :-/

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 May 22 - 09:24 AM

my sister lives at Noosa, close to the water & also endures heat & humidity

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 May 22 - 05:15 AM

I don't think brother Tim ever needs heating where he his (Diamond Valley, I think just a little bit inland from the main Sunshine Coast area of QLD) but, maybe he could use A/C he doesn't have. He tells me that summer heat and humidity combination cat get a bit challenging.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 May 22 - 04:49 AM

I live in a 1-bedroom apartment & my electricity is under the 1-person household level. I giggle internally when I see the link for Energy Reducing hints on my bill.

My windows are locked open 6" or so, & I use small fans in occupied rooms in summer, & warmer clothes in winter as my part of Sydney is not cold, tho folks further west need heaters, no doubt some/many of my neighbours have heaters. I'm about half a km from the harbour (hidden behind buildings) & have friends on the harbour in a very cold 2 bedroom terrace a couple of kms away who are already using their winter quilt & heater. Folks further west (30-40km) have night-time averages below 10C mid winter. Folks in parts of the Blue Mountains (100km) can get snow.

But I'm ok in my little bit of paradise as winter draws on ...

Today I took 2 bags of useful stuff to my favourite charity shop, a craft shop & came back with 3 small balls of wool! Not that I don't have more than a lifetime supply of yarn ...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 May 22 - 03:54 AM

Petrol is around £1.62 per litre round here. Trying to convert that, I get it to:

7.48USD per us gallon.
2.57CAN per litre.
2.86AUD per litre.

We had a bit of a shock last week when we needed heating oil, it had more than doubled to £1 per litre. We don't order the oil. Bob next door does that. If we can combine our 600-700L order with his order, the oil company will do it at a slightly cheaper rate as they can do both in one tanker visit. He told me that it was good job we'd not wanted oil a few weeks earlier as the price had shout up to £1.75 before settling at £1.

Our fixed rate electricity tariff ended this month and the best I could find adds about £1000pa to the bills...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 22 - 08:50 PM

I did a quick fix on my patio cover - instead of buying a set of lattice panels (about $27 each, need 5-6) or even buying a larger tarp, I used the 10x12' tarp I bought last summer (still in the wrapper - to set up for filtering out sun on the glass doors). It went up on top, and later on I'll add the longer tarp over it and have a double filter there and shade the door. That bigger tarp is on sale until the 22nd (I have a coupon). The cover structure is warped and needs to be tightened up. Something else to do this summer.

It's time to finally list my eBay items and make space in the front room as stuff sells, as will taking my bin of donation things to Goodwill. I reuse that bin and it lives in my laundry room.

The big money-saver to take care of this weekend is to send in a tax protest to the county - taxes are increasing so fast and the tax office presumes this house is in mint condition. I need to catalog the flaws that I would need to declare if I were selling it, and deduct that depreciation from the appraised value they assigned. I'll have to go to the hearing, but I've learned some tricks about how to do that from a local journalist whose raison d'être seems to be to yank the chains of all of the county taxing entities. This is a gift to my future self.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 May 22 - 06:42 PM

I live almost in the CBD, around the corner from the next train station east, & am 2 stations & a short bus trip from the coast. I"m also a 10 min walk from the harbour, tho it's been a long time since I wandered down to here. Most of my activities are just on the other side of the CBD = short train trip (2 or 3 stations) then max. 30 min bus trip. Trains & buses are 10 to 15 mins apart. My part of sydney is well served by public transport.

I have friends who live 20 miles west of Sydney where public transport is not so good. (services are 30-60 mins apart.) Some areas of greater Sydney, especially where poorer people live do not have much, or good public transport so folk need to drive to the station or to their work if there are no connections.

As to downsizing - I did sell half-a-bag of unwanted treasures last weekend! And have taken several bags of other stuff to charity shops recently. I still have 4 more bags in front of my wardrobes waiting to be loaded into my trolley & taken away. As a wise friend said, can I see space? Not really ...

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 14 May 22 - 06:40 PM

A half a tank of gas now costs $50. Two weeks of groceries 300.
No pool this year should offset inflation.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 May 22 - 06:01 PM

Sandra, you are fortunate! We don't have great rapid transit here, and I have a vehicle that takes the more expensive gas, but I can manage to drive infrequently. Make every trip count, and do as many chores as possible along the way.

Several household chores today to choose from, but as I just walked into the den and realized it was easily 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house, at the top of the is I have to get the shade cloth or lattice on the patio cover to keep the sun from baking the back of the house.

Visualizing moving some furniture. A lot of it, actually.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 May 22 - 10:48 AM

Australian fuel prices have also risen dramatically!
fuel costs around Sydney - nearest to me is 217.9 cents per litre

I don't drive so am not directly affected - apart from prices in shops etc. I heard a shopkeeper interviewed yesterday say that fright on a container (of whatever) used to cost $9 now costs $25!

Fortunately I have a good pension, but people on low incomes are badly affected.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 22 - 11:41 PM

Fence extension completed. I had scrap pieces of treated 2x4 and screwed them onto the 3 support pieces on the last pole (I'd ended the fence at the middle of the post so they were sticking out.) I was able to screw on two more pickets facing the street, giving me 10 1/2" more fence, and to give it a finished look I then attached a final picket to the ends of those 2x4s (at a 90^o angle from the street). This way you don't see the last post and you don't see the fence just stop, it has a more substantial look at that end/corner.

The new filter is in the tiller and it's ready to go in the morning. I set up my sprinkler to water those beds after dark this evening (instead of waiting until tomorrow). So I can till early before it gets too hot. Bonus filters: I changed out the air filters in both heat pumps in the house.

I'll wear one of my double-layer masks for the garden dust (these I don't use for public places, just for yard work.)

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 22 - 04:12 PM

My modest Vanguard mutual funds have tanked - if I did the math correctly the loss this spring is about 20% of the total from the high. But since they're shares it's better when it turns around again.

While taking a mediation/power nap it dawned on me that the fence extension I'm proposing by adding to the post at the end of the fence would have been better achieved by simply letting the cross-members extend beyond the post position, not cut them off there. Now I'm adding scraps on to the empty half of the post supports and putting up one more picket. I had other kinds of plans when I put it up, and thought the gate would be positioned differently, is why. #LiveAndLearn

Down five pounds.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 13 May 22 - 03:40 PM

In southwestern Ontario, regular gasoline now costs Cdn$1.95 per litre, and Diesel fuel is up to Cdn$2.50 per litre.

A litre is a hair larger than an American quart, so that's Cdn$7.80, or about US$6.00 per US gallon of gas.

Food prices have risen to levels I have never seen before: $2.49 per pound is the new $1.49 per pound for apples GROWN RIGHT HERE IN CANADA, and oranges are unobtainable for less than $1.99 per pound. On Tuesday, I paid $12.59 for a modest bunch of asparagus. My heating bill went from steep to ridiculous between January and April. Meanwhile, my investment accounts have taken a massive kick in the arse ...

Thanks to Edmund's Army pension, I'm fine for money. I worry about my car-dependent friends, however, especially those who did not have the luck and/or foresight to marry a soldier back in the day.

Stinking hot today, first heat wave of the year. I weeded and pruned again this morning, and rearranged the clag stashed in the garden shed to make room for the garbage can, which moves out of the garage in summer to increase the distance between the kitchen and the stink of cat-litter gleanings. A set of choir risers was stashed in there about two years ago, and to my surprise I easily moved them single-handed. Now they're stacked in the garage shelving that used to be jammed with Edmund's now-departed camping gear.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 May 22 - 11:01 AM

Sticker shock - putting gas in the SUV at $4.57 a gallon. Must. Stay. Home.

Finally all of the tiller parts are here. Watering for my side of the street is Wednesday and Saturday so I'll set up the sprinkler early tomorrow and after it has time to soak in I'll use the tiller to finish the garden preparation. In the meantime, I have figured out how to extend the fence another few inches for my privacy area where the potting bench sits now. I guess this is a "just because I can" kind of operation. The fence did originally end right at the driveway edge, now it's a couple of feet shy of it. And maybe it will keep any itinerant shower-takers from noticing the space.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 May 22 - 10:36 PM

Busy day - and I finally got to the gym to start using the recumbent bike and treadmill. Before the first surgery there was no COVID and the gym was much closer to the house. Now I'll try to get there a couple of days a week. I even managed to get in more than 100% of the steps with my fitness tracker.

Counting Coups: I've considered getting an electronic keyboard because my lovely old upright grand needs to be restored. It is so old that it's tuned a whole note low and is missing the hammer on high C. Today I found a keyboard at Goodwill for $20. There wasn't a power supply or sustain pedal (both plug in) but I tested batteries, replaced on dead one, then hunted through all of my old power supplies for 1A (it used to power a Linksys router.) Plugged in - and it works! I don't need all of the voices or reverb, I just want it to sound like a piano. You have two weeks to try electronics and return them if they don't work. You have two weeks to try electronics and return them if they don't work so I wouldn't have been out anything if it was a dud.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 May 22 - 06:49 PM

One of two boxes for friends and family finally was mailed today. It's large, and I ran into a delay when it came to finding a shipping method - UPS didn't like my account information and locked me out and the other carriers were all pretty high. I got lucky when I went into my PayPal account with this bookmarked link and it let me do discounted shipping. If you use PayPal, it's worth bookmarking that page.

The second box will hopefully go later this week. This is another few cubic yards of stuff out of the house.

It's unusual for me to make more than one trip out in a day, but on my first time out I forgot to take my completed ballot for a May 24 election. I have plenty of time, but now that it's ready, I don't want to misplace it. I have a couple of other things I can do on that same trip. I bought a pound of asparagus today that was more expensive than usual - another customer and I were laughing about the decision to buy gas or buy asparagus.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 11 May 22 - 04:46 PM

The confusion is not me but my computer deciding where to put my typing on its own.

I'm listening to podcasts of Lex Fridman interviewing scientists. I don't think I can do all 250 hours.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 11 May 22 - 04:40 PM

I cut a dozen vines and many more bamboo sprouts (6ft tall).
Now I have to change the weed whacker head and put a new chain on the. I weighed this opal thing and its over 5 lbs.in saw.
My deep red smoke tree looks good with the vining deep purple flowers.
Im on the hunt for a dynamic colored Azelea bush. I need to call the county to remove a dying Linden tree on the curb thats dropping large limbs.

I'm still doing detail work on the Opal Seascape. The next step requires gloves and mask. I have 3 small pictures painted with crushed colored gemstones. I weighed this opal work and its over 5 lbs.
I found a new way to create indestrucible but flexible foliage on the Opal islands.

I ordered a table from Etsy and after the sale an email said the table does not include legs. I said an advertised table but now without legs is called the floor.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 May 22 - 09:55 PM

Dupont:

Never got enough energy to throw pots; put clay in a plastic bin, well covered and with water in the bottom. If I cannot throw tomorrow, hope it stays damp until next week.

Car is mostly loaded. Plans made for my part of trip. R's: I thought we were staying with Broome on Thurs but he/Penny arranged a hotel room - with her points! He added a couple smoked meat sandwiches to his bagel order, and the elusive Zero bars, to requests. R will pick up said foods tomorrow night. Donna is looking for zero bars - in her non-existent spare time! (SRS: might be interested in "The Word" bookstore in Montreal - owned by donna's husband - 50 years in a hole in the wall near McGill campus. On my FB "friend" list.)

Managed to trim a part of the back yard with my wonderful battery powered weed wacker - as the evening cooled a bit. It "only" went up to 25C today - too hot for me. When we get back, I will install the A/C in BR.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 10 May 22 - 07:39 PM

A lung infection responded well to Amoxcilain, whew.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 May 22 - 03:55 PM

Exercise and fasting today. Hopefully today will budge more than a few ounces at a time. I'm about to mow - a noisy activity that will hopefully disturb Cookie from her vigil at the base of the baldcypress where a young squirrel has been waiting her out. I distracted the dogs but the squirrel didn't catch on that that was an escape opportunity. Those rodents that fail to figure out the easy stuff are destined to be caught by Cookie.

Meanwhile, I set a have-a-heart trap in the front after seeing a mouse or young rat fly past when I was mowing. It's right against the wall; the only thing I've caught so far are fire ants.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 May 22 - 09:12 PM

Dupont:

Went off to do errands and have the car serviced. The list blew out the car window when I was driving back home for a book to keep me company. 3 hours in the dreadful chair in the showroom @ $350 an hour! The car is well serviced; I am too exhausted to use the clay I prepped last night. I have, however, made some progress in sorting the stuff we brought from the Mill this trip. Food tonight is, however, from M&M.

This awkward time of year; the house is too cool or too warm. I turned the heat WAY down and have a fire in the stove. Trying to keep it warm enough for him and cool enough for me! BR window open some and close drape to keep out afternoon sun... And door to keep the cool in the BR. Etc...

Managed a stop at Koodo/Telus re the loss of my phone history a couple. Spent an hour on line yesterday trying to get help to NO avail but the nice young woman fixed it in one second. I might know what she did. Not at all sure what I did to cause it.

Went into a pharmacy to buy "222's" for Broome. They never figured out that I was having trouble understanding their words - muffled. But ascertained that these could not be bought without prescription; felt fortunate they did not call police; they seemed upset. Life seems to become more complex every time I go out there...

Got two large brownies at the bakery without any trouble! Put them in the "brownie container and cut them into much smaller pieces - about one mouthful size. We are being conservative!

The range malfunctioned and overcooked the food - not too badly but the window said something about calling for service. Down to one functional burner and now the oven... It's a Jenn-Air $$$$$$$$! I can live without the oven - anyway we are going away for a week! Right now I need to focus on what to take; what not to forget!

Manana!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 09 May 22 - 06:20 PM

Three cheers and a tiger for you, Sis!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 09 May 22 - 05:37 PM

Today, I pruned and weeded at home, and had my fangs probed by the dentist.

The rest of the week will be rather busier than I like.

I put on my summer jeans this morning and found them too big. Last summer, I could barely button them.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 May 22 - 05:04 PM

Flickr sent another nasty-gram; since I'm not a pro member at this time I can't have more than X number of private photos. I've removed hundreds of photos anyway, but hadn't finished the job. There are few if any people photos - Flickr is leaving customers open to trolling by forcing free accounts to be mostly public. (That's where the old Mudcat Troll did most of his damage, harvesting from FB and Flickr). I've wasted time this hot afternoon sitting here editing groups of photos. Over the years I've gone back and forth, joining Flickr or not. For now, not.

I've walked through the house focussing on horizontal surfaces to clear clutter. So many things have someplace they can be stored if I get around to putting them away. In general if there are objects on surfaces then there is dust also because I don't move things often to dust around and under. As a result a number of things are in the trash now. Must be ruthless sometimes about not keeping everything because it might someday have a use.

It will cool some around 5, so I'll go out and mow the front then.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 May 22 - 02:11 PM

The forecast is quite hot here for this week, so it's a matter of pacing myself for the outdoor work, and as much as I'm not a morning person, getting up earlier for some of it.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 08 May 22 - 07:53 PM

Saw you guys on mudcat facebook for my mudcat fix. The best thing I found there was Paxton

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 May 22 - 04:53 PM

Dupont:

Nerve wracking wondering about the trip to PA and then about planning it, is over. The die is cast. Diagram of who I will meet when and things to do in white spaces. Leave on Thursday, Albany overnight, PA Fri eve to a friend and we will all go to the folk dancing. Me: hoping I can dance a few easy ones! SIL being very conciliatory: whenever you can, just call and come over.

Trimmed taller grass in front today, careful to miss dandelions. Two loads of laundry, still to be sorted and bed re-made. Wonderful weather no humidity and nice breeze. R in Den with wood stove perking! I turned the heat WAY down!

Collected some more items from the Mill yesterday; no sign of the rest of my vinyl albums or Marie Corelli books. The storage area looks like a cyclone hit - totally stirred up. Still pecking away at sorting and burning and sorting some more; there is a lot more paper still there. I consider just getting rid of it but have found some treasures in the first lot.

Box packed to take to #2 son - negatives for last 80 years, possibly?. Another folder for bro, and another bag for folk dance group. Making distilled water for the trip. Found decent clothes in closet - that fit! Been wearing the same few things for two years.

This trip into my distant past community could be its own kind of cyclone.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 May 22 - 01:20 PM

A proposed new gadget for Jon to think about.

A new navigation system enables a swarm of 10 lightweight drones to fly together without crashing into one another or obstacles, even in challenging places such as forests.

Drones can compute their location and find a path to follow using a panoply of sensors, which can be expensive and unwieldy. Shrinking down a drone often involves getting rid of key components, impacting its ability to travel safely.

I've always thought having a drone would be interesting, but fear I'd lose it in the trees around here.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 04 May 22 - 08:47 PM

The US has passed the 1 million covid death count.
Doesn't seem real somehow. A much smaller number feels more believable.
I now know how 700 million sudden deaths might feel like.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 May 22 - 06:07 PM

Don, My brother and I are "downwinders" from living near the Hanford plant when we were young. The family moved away fairly soon after my brother was born, but Mom put us on a list of people to be notified of events or studies - after a dozen years or so that listing went away. I suppose if some insurance company went digging in those records they could hold that against us.

I've been achy for a couple of days, no other symptoms. I'll go ahead and do a COVID test, just to be super safe.

Lawn mowing and trimming in back this evening. Today a small box arrived, an air filter kit for the lawn mower includes a spongy filter I don't usually use in the mower, so I might cut it into shape for the tiller. I could get started on that work now rather than waiting a couple of weeks. I can add a little oil to it later. This would be much better than the crumbly filter that was in the machine when I took it apart.

Alternate day fasting has resumed for now. I need to get some more fruit and veggies this evening, after I finish mowing.