FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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 - 09:24 AM

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: LilyFestre
Date: 20 May 22 - 05:24 PM

Hi All! Just peeking in to say hello!

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: 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: 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 - 11:26 PM

Dorothy, we all know that life isn't tidy, and it sounds like you did a lot of catching up and came out ahead as far as memories of the people and the locations.

I harvested my garlic today; it was early and not all of them had bloomed, but the leaves were yellow already, meaning it was time. The house smells like an Italian restaurant with all of those bulbs in a bucket in the laundry room. I'll brush off dirt and sort them soon.

It's wonderfully cool this evening, maybe as low as 60; we've had an entire month of summer temperatures way ahead of time, so this break is welcome. I'll open the bedroom and kitchen windows a bit to let the house cool. If we're really lucky there will be rain this week as it stays a bit more spring-like.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 22 May 22 - 09:14 AM

It’s a rainy Victoria Day weekend in Stratford, and my garden is loving it. Between yesterday’s cloudbursts, I planted two clumps of Monarda didyma (bee balm) from a friend, and the pot of Primula vulgaris (primrose) that the in-laws gave me back in March. Then I dug out the deceased lavender and called it a day.

The same friend who gave me the Monarda has found a new home for Edmund’s baguette pans and fish kettle (poacher) — her next-door neighbour, who is a chef. Maybe he will also accept a couple of bannetons — baskets for raising sourdough bread. My basement is looking tidier by the day.

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

I planted a few peppers and tomatoes in the first of three beds. That involved some digging to finish pulling out roots the tiller didn't grab. After an hour or so I shifted to disassembling more of the keyhole garden. Rocks pried out and moved to the back yard, and a wheelbarrow full of soil dug out and tipped next to a plank that will be the side of the next raised bed. I put cardboard down to kill off the grass underneath. This fourth bed will hold the dirt from the soon-to-be-gone keyhole garden, and I'm planning to plant sweet potatoes in it.

The declutter of the day is that after pulling the laces out of my favorite pair of yard shoes in a long time, I put them in the trash. The soft soles are so thin that I can't put pressure on the shovel without it feeling like I'm digging barefoot. Time to find another pair for the yard. Old shoe laces go in the laundry room for the next time I need a cord to tie or fasten something . . .

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 May 22 - 09:59 AM

Also in today's trash is 1.5 pounds of JennieO turkey breast that is the least meat-like piece of animal protein I've come across since whenever. Too salty and strange mouthfeel. I tasted one corner of it then put it back in the fridge to await trash day. I won't even give it to the dogs. Not spoiled, just weird.

My photo cube (a 3x3x3 nylon cloth cube table tent) is back in the den on the cleared table because I wasn't using it much in it's place in the front room. It can be moved back when I need the table; I'll try to keep just the cube and two lights (that shine on it from outside to give diffuse lighting on whatever is being photographed) on the table, to make the move easy. Working on eBay stuff this week.

I'll be out running errands so the donation bin goes in the SUV. I bring the bin back empty and it lives in my laundry room accumulating Goodwill donations. Easier than leaving them all around the house and trying to remember them.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 23 May 22 - 11:21 AM

The Saturday storm system that I experienced as cloudbursts wrought havoc across Ontario, especially in the Ottawa region, where a derecho effect toppled hydro towers and trees. Stratford was hardly touched — boughs torn off here and there, a tree down on Milton Street — but my brother’s house in the south end of Ottawa is still without hydro power.

I did something I should not have, and the sciatica has returned to my right lower back. It’s mostly ignorable, but unfortunately weakens my right leg so I have trouble spading the garden. I have rather a lot of digging on my agenda, so I am quite irked. Heigh-ho, back to physio.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 23 May 22 - 12:43 PM

Knee pain: If you are going to get a surgical procedure anyway this injection prior to surgury may be for you. https://www.iovera.com/patient?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=patientkol-branded&utm_term=knee%20treatment&utm_co


There are brand new lubricant injections that can be used instead of surgury but since I'm not prescribing research is required.
Many of them use Hyaluronic acid, injections are done with simulataneous real time image scanning

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 May 22 - 07:00 PM

Don, thanks for the information - but it's something I tried without much luck with the first knee. They were a pain literally and figuratively (it is inserted over three weeks, one per week). The knee has deteriorated to bone-on-bone. So while I tried it the first time, I lived with the pain for a longer than needed because of the delaying shots, I'm not doing that again. It's to the point where it's plenty painful and I know how it will go if I don't get it fixed soon. And who knows - maybe not waiting till it's so bad will help with recovery. I can always hope!

When I went out to my volunteer job this morning I forgot the donation bin along with my shopping list and phone. I'll try an evening run now that rush hour should be slowing. I'm trying to get things set enough in advance that I'm not making last minute preparations for a few weeks at home with the PT folks coming in. Time to arrange to pamper myself a little.

P.S. I made an assumption on the name in Don's link - following it I'm not sure what that is about but it isn't something that would make my bony knee feel any better.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 24 May 22 - 11:28 AM

The HVAC guy just left after an expensive couple of hours in the basement. The water heater, a gas-fired instant-on thing installed in 2009, has definitely reached the palliative stage of life-cycle maintenance, but it's good for a while yet. The humidifier needs a new wick of a type that the technician did not keep in his truck -- ain't it always the way -- and therefore requires another visit. Furnace and air-conditioner are fit and healthy, what a relief.

Especially after the expensive adventure of the water softener. Is it too much to ask that only one major appliance should fail in any given year?

The wardrobe reduction of last week resulted in *two* empty chests of drawers, one of which is now scheduled to find a new home. That leaves me with three: one in my bedroom for normal clothes, one in the box-room with clothes (mostly fancy) that I wear rarely but expect to want in the foreseeable future, and the empty one in the guest room for, y'know, guests.

The departing chest of drawers is the only one in the house that is less than 150 years old. It's apparently made of veneered "manufactured wood" (aka pressboard), and it weighs a young ton -- much too heavy for me to move by myself. Fortunately, it's in perfect condition without so much as a cat scratch in the finish, so the Habitat for Humanity ReStore should be willing to take it off my hands.

The box-room is also considerably clearer, and I intend to NOT acquire any clutter likely to end up in it. My long-term goal is to empty it of everything that isn't off-season clothing that I will actually wear when it's in season again, and the vacuum cleaner.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 May 22 - 06:50 PM

My ex called yesterday to tell me about a bill from a large phone company for 4 iPhones (Pro Max - $1300 each) and the extra monthly service plan for gaming data, etc. This said it was the first bill (installment - about $700) and it was in his name to his address. All of yesterday was spent trying to file online, but there were dead ends and they require a police report. Police reports, even online, stop when you can't say where the theft occurred.

This morning I called a local storefront of that phone company and asked what I needed to bring in to set up a new account and get a couple of iPhones. They would do a credit report (so SSN), ID, proof of address, etc. But if the credit report was good enough, the rest wasn't needed. His report is spotless. I explained then why I was asking, and it turns out the store folks can put you in touch with a real person in the fraud dept. My ex came over and we called again - it was a 45 minute call that resulted in an email with a report number he can show if anyone tries to claim he owes for the phones, and it alerts the credit reporting bureaus. He's also set up a fraud alert himself. This ID fraud ripped off about $5000 worth of phones after paying the sales tax at the store. The one satisfying thing? Once she turned in that report, the account was closed and the phones bricked. Nothing will work once the company bricks the phone.

That's exciting enough for today!

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 22 - 12:03 AM

Charmion, I'm delaying the call to the HVAC guy, but I also have a budget-draining operation coming up soon. Since today has been a day of pocketbook preservation, I had a follow-up conversation with a family member who convinced me that it's time to completely freeze the credit reports. Only open them up if I'm planning a purchase.

Rain! Finally! This will make dismantling the keyhole garden a lot easier in the next week. It's a good mix of native soil, imported topsoil, and soil amendments that will be all softened up. Perfect for sweet potatoes, but they need to go in soon.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 25 May 22 - 09:01 PM

Dupont:

Starting to take indoor plants outdoors. The Canna from last year, having spent the winter in the house! is now out in a large plastic bin, surrounded, to look better, by the hollow chunks of the fallen branch which I will put some other plants into the hollows. Mibni rose bush, doing fine in house, went into a sunny spot in the front garden. On Sunday, I will pick up veggie plants from le Jardin de la Resistance in southern QC. Try to plan a couple visits down there at the same time.

I am pecking away at weed whacking the tall grass and spent dandies, without murdering the wild strawberries or my fine crop of yarrow! The battery is only good for about 30 minutes then a 4 hour charge! But that is enough for my shoulders and back! I may be about half done. The mosquitoes drove me in tonight, impending rain for a couple days.

Construction going on down the road, 100 yards or so. It was dreadfully derelict and then demolished so this is predictable. Will be interesting to see what comes up. Our block is a total mix - old, elegant, small and almost derelict, etc!

Long email to the "girl" who grew up in "my house". See if I can help her with disintegrating marriage. Karen. The misuse of the name Karen is disconcerting - as a pejorative. I know a lot of nice Karens.

So, between rain showers, I can clear planters, etc out of the DR onto bins on back porch. And get back to sorting the papers that have spent enough time in the sunny windows to be tolerable. Switching from winter to summer - finding fans...

Sitting here, wondering how much more of Quebec I can tolerate; the new language law, just passed, is offensive to Anglos and self-defeating for young Francophones. There is no guarantee we will even be able to access health care in English. That is scary.

But for Robin with his complex business, I would stay in Ontario permanently. Yesterday, working in the yard, the woman from next door and the one from across the road, stopped for a visit. I managed a bit of French but Sophia is bi-lingual and helped Luisa and I make rudimentary conversation. I like them both but it is hard work. This aft, I saw Luisa at our end of her yard so did not go out as I just could not! She is going to Portugal in a couple weeks. I will go to Beaver early next week. It is such a relief to be in Anglo land! I would like to sit and visit with Sophia but she rarely comes out of house. This has been a rough couple of years.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 May 22 - 10:29 PM

Dorothy, I was in Harbor Freight last week and at the register the clerk was slowly working through some kind of exchange transaction with two young men. Black, but I soon realized not African American - they were from Haiti. My French is all but nonexistent - I can say the numbers from one to ten, but that's about it now. Then one of them asked if we could habla español - pointing at them, I asked if they'd come through Mexico? "Si." I don't speak much Spanish either, though as the transaction was wrapping up a man arrived behind me who was a Spanish speaker. If I worked at learning some Spanish it wouldn't go to waste here; I hadn't thought about practicing French.

On Facebook fellow Mudcatter Virginia Tam shared an article about lead being in a lot of pre-2005 Corelle. I have quite a bit of it, plates and saucers mostly - and except for saucers it isn't getting used much. I think rather than give it to Goodwill I should probably toss it - it's a guess that it's only a problem if it breaks, but I don't actually know that. Rounding it up will help with some of the crowding in my main kitchen cabinet for everyday plates and cups. I use saucers a lot, so will have to hunt for something non-Corelle to replace them.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 22 - 09:28 AM

The dew has to dry on the grass this morning, then I'll strap on the homemade ankle cuff for my fitness tracker wrist watch before starting a workout that shows up on my Google Fit as "walking." It's actually mowing, and because my hands are always on the mower handle the swinging arm of a regular walk doesn't register on the tracker. Hence my shifting it to the ankle to pick up on my steps.

The slow process of moving soil to a new bed will happen some more. And I plan to do some weeding in the front beds and find a place to plant two pots of a new color of daylily I picked up this week. I also have three small potted trees to plant behind the back fence. I need to put them in places where they won't get trampled and where I can find them again to water regularly while they're getting established. And since bulky waste is coming up next month I can take down a couple of the tall hackberry trees that shade things out.

I've been to the gym twice this week, where I don't have a set of exercises, I just head for one machine and use it for an hour. The muscles around the knee are my focus. If, once the knee has had time to recover, we don't have another round of COVID, I'll keep going and I'll broaden my workout.

There is a stack of Corelle on the kitchen counter: dinner plates, lunch plates, saucers, and bowls, gathered from around the room. The bowls and saucers need replacing, the rest I think I can live without. I would usually buy more at Goodwill, but I suppose it's possible that other vintage plates (different pottery, not the Corelle recipe) could have problems also. It may be time to buy a few new. I wonder how Fiesta ware stacks up? I have one of those and could find a few more at estate sales, etc. The largest plates I use mostly for food preparation; a chicken can thaw on a large plate, or cut up ingredients sit on one prior to cooking. Paring down the stuff in the kitchen is a good thing in general, I'll just replace part of what I'm removing now to the pieces I most frequently use. (Next week I'll be at my favorite Goodwill, so I may be able to find something there - they actually end up with antiques regularly, and I think that's where I picked up the Fiesta ware.)

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Donuel
Date: 27 May 22 - 10:17 AM

Speaking of water, Nestle has circumvented an 1882 law that said the the great lakes are public and are not to be siphoned off to private entities.
Also the world's ground water that has been pumped for 50 years to replace the polluted or non existant water has now reached the level of economic depletion. Its getting to deep to drill.
If you thought gas prices were manipulated, the water crises will make pandemics look microscopic. Water wars are nothing new but water world wars (www) may threaten Canada and Brazil as water predator nations look thirsticly at the two top fresh water countries in the world.

Black gold will take a backseat to blue gold.
It is said societies will survive with 2/3 of the near 8 billion people were to suddenly expire. However it would be better to have water catchments everwhere instead of dams. Then abandon the areas that are natural deserts.

Now were off to the Memorial weekend water park before it becomes half pee by August.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 22 - 10:59 AM

I have one of those survival "life straw" filters here in my emergency stash, should I need to start drinking the water from the creek behind the house. I also know how to make distilled water using pots I have here.

There's a healthy stack of Corelle in the kitchen now. I've found new replacement bowls and saucers on Amazon, so I may trade the large stack out (to the dump, not to Goodwill) for a small stack from Amazon.

All financial institution cards in my wallet now have alerts, at least email and sometimes text, set up on them. Next, freeze the credit reports.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 27 May 22 - 12:33 PM

My sciatica has improved enough that I can use a spade again, so I transplanted two small shrubs that need more sun.

Apart from that, I’ve been kinda idle.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 May 22 - 01:18 PM

I bagged the Corelle in two used tough white shipping bags from Amazon, taped them shut, then dropped the stack into the trash with the sound of breaking crockery. If it isn't safe for me to use, no one else needs to either. I ordered six bowls and saucers to replace them and will be able to remove the wire rack in the cupboard that straddles the plates. No need for a second tier now.

It's hot again, but I'm headed to a shady part of the yard. First, to dig around under the juniper that is filled with tiny bagworms, showing that the shrub is in stress. It was planted too deep so I need to clear soil away from the root flare and let it breathe. Then spray it again with Bt to kill the bagworms. The soil that comes out of there will go into the bed I plan to extend for more flower planting.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 May 22 - 05:17 PM

How's the sciatica after transplanting, Charmion? Still ok?

I try not to use paper towels very often, so I tend to use a lot of really REALLY old terrycloth wash cloths that were new when the kids were little. We used them as napkins for the kids. Then around the house when they got so ratty they couldn't be used in polite company (and new wash cloths replaced them). Today I pulled an old t-shirt out of the recycle bin, cut it up the size of the old wash cloths and sewed together three layers - two of jersey and one of wash cloth. Turned it inside out, zigzagged around the seams, then crossed it a couple of times with straight stitches. This is a triple-layer rag for cleaning in the kitchen that can soak in dish soap or a little bleach water and go through the wash. Wash cloths by themselves don't absorb a lot, but these will do a lot better. It's an experiment, I made two.

I got the idea from some "as good as 1500 paper towel" products being advertised on Instagram. Why pay $13 for three when I have raw materials here?

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Charmion
Date: 29 May 22 - 08:22 AM

Sciatica continues to ebb, and the transplanted rose of Sharon bushes are doing fine after two days of rain, some of it torrential.

Remember a few days ago that I wrote something about the unfairness of more than one major appliance conking out in one year? Well, the television is making ugly noises that indicate imminent speaker death.

Life is cruel.

Yesterday, I went to Best Buy in Kitchener and bought a new one.

Guess what? A 32-inch TV, once large, is now “small”, and it is very difficult — practically impossible — to find a good-quality device without Internet capability. If you live in small-town Ontario, you are doomed to disappointment if all you want is a TV that connects to an antenna or a cable network, and peripherals such as a DVD player or a streaming box.

So now I possess a so-called “smart” TV that boasts a 43-inch screen — still “small” by current standards. I may want to watch it from the porch.

It was obscenely expensive, especially for a gadget that will inevitably be superseded within the next ten years. And it must be “calibrated” to ensure that the screen renders colours correctly, a process that adds $100.00 to the already extreme price.

I did not buy the extended warranty. My appetite for spending is completely exhausted.

Subject: RE: FITNESS & Declutter 2022 - Pandemic redux
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 May 22 - 10:08 AM

I've never heard of a TV needing to be calibrated in some way other than what the instructions tell you to do when you take it out of the box. You can avoid some of the smart stuff by not connecting it to the accounts it suggests.

My "big" TV was purchased probably 15 years ago now, a plasma screen that is 40". (Bought on time from Dell, on sale - paid off within a year to avoid interest.) Whenever I go through the front at Costco I walk past all of the humongous TVs, of which this would be on the small size. Did you look at someplace like New Egg or Amazon? My go-to place for electronics used to be Fry's Electronics, but they suddenly shut down a couple of years ago (though you saw it coming any time you were in the store with the scantly stocked shelves.) Next to Fry's is NewEgg.com for good prices (and reviews that are helpful). I know - "Now you tell me."

Mowing this week was completed, front and back. Now out to the garden.