2015 Declutter and Get Organized Thread

[debthaven]

The wood didn't come.   Supposedly it will come this afternoon.

This morning I Shitepiled and emptied dishwasher. DS1 did a major purge of his bedroom so I took him to the Salvation Army type place to drop his Stuff off. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Good morning, everyone!!!

Today is a work day/non-school day for me. I need to enter grades and catch up on some work stuff and finalize next week's plans and materials. That list is about  20 items long and ten hours worth of work. I left work an hour early yesterday to watch DD#1's XC meet. I've missed several because of volleyball, so I didn't want to miss another one. I'm going to have the girls help me a bit today. I may have to go in a bit on Saturday also.

Today, I'm also taking the dog to the vet for his annual check-up. I have massage therapy appointment at 5pm. I'll probably get six hours worth of work done today. 


For home, we have several goals to accomplish this weekend.

Load truck with stuff for the

Take truck to the

Prune the front yard

Load utility trailer with yard cuttings

Depending on amount in the trailer, take it to the

Deep clean the kitchen

Call insurance agent about two questions

enroll in health insurance (which was blocked last week when I tried)


send XH an email about some of the girls' stuff

make pointe shoe appointment for DD#2

renew my driver's license

order both girls' school pictures 


So, I suppose that means @tbird cannot buy any of my time nor can I help out with jenpen's kittens. 

[Chocolate Lover]

For those waiting on my Hamlet review, I was right, words are failing me.......  I've been sitting here staring at the screen since before Chloe posted.  So many of the usual descriptive words don't seem right. Awesome sounds too teenager-y, wonderful doesn't seem quite enough.    Stupendous, spectacular, superb, brilliant? Pick one, any will work. 

I did realize how horribly long it's been since I had to actually *listen* to Elizabethan English rather than read it. Been a rather long time since I've read any either, but you pick your own pace when you do. Once in a while it lost me, but not enough to spoil anything. 

[debthaven]

The wood was delivered late yesterday afternoon. But they brought the wrong forklift, and the ground was wet, so they couldn't put it towards the back of the house, they had to leave it at the front gate. This means it will take much longer to take it to the woodpile at the back of the house.   But, once it's done we should have enough wood for 1.5-2 winters. 

DS1 has sublet a friend's apt starting tomorrow. It's wonderful having him home but I understand that a 20-something would rather be in Paris than in the suburbs with no transport. (He's welcome to share my car but we don't have the same start times.) We will still see much more of him than we usually do though. 

ETA: Surprise! The company came back this morning with the other forklift, and took the wood to the back of the house! It still needs to be taken to the pile by wheelbarrow but now it's halfway there. 

[bobosensei]

debthaven maybe you'll feel better when you hear my old person rude story.  It was about 10-12 years ago, and I was at wal-mart getting an oil change and filling a prescription.  I dropped off the car then went to the pharmacy.  I dropped my prescription then sat down.  About 2 minutes later it was like the old people flood gates opened.  Seriously must have been a shuttle from an old folks home because there were about 30 old people coming all at once.  The pharmacist was in the back filling my prescription and everyone was just sitting down instead of making a line.  The pharmacist came out with a bag, made eye contact with me and motioned for me to come up, so I got up to pay for my prescription.  While I was paying I heard really loud talking.  Then I realized it was yelling.  Then I realized it was someone yelling at me.  I turned around, and this old lady was totally fussing me out.  Among other things she said that I was "a rude young lady, that didn't respect her elders, and that I saw all the old and disabled people, but was selfish and ran up ahead of them"  I just stood there with my mouth open.  I was only like 19 or 20 and had never had anyone speak to me that way, not to mention I hadn't done anything wrong.  The pharmacist stepped in and told the woman that he had called me up to pick up and pay for my prescription because I was there before everyone else.  I stumbled away and started crying in walmart.  I pulled myself together to pick up the car, and then I cried on and off the rest of the day.  That lady really upset me even though I knew she was wrong.  Later when I told my older sister who is a doctor she told me that lots of older people are that way.  They feel like the rest of the world owes them a free pass because of there age.  And honestly, the truth is most people would let an older person cut in line or go way out of their way to help them- but when you start to just feel like you are entitled you are an a*shole.  A*sholes can be any age.  I mean think about all the a*sholes you know now, they don't suddenly become nice when they get older.  So don't feel bad.  That lady probably got away with the stunt she pulled with you a hundred times.  

So good for you.  I will never let someone talk to me that way again.  I was too young to know how to stand up for myself, but I wouldn't take that crap now.

[debthaven]

Bobo, that's an awful story! I would have been really upset too, and as you point out, at 19/20 it's hard to stand up for yourself. I keep thinking about that lady at the bakery ...

DH and DS3 put the wood on the woodpile! DH still needs to chop up the huge wooden frame it came in but he's done enough for one day. 

Kids (nearly) all home for dinner tonight so I have to shop for that. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

load truck with stuff for the
Take truck to the
Prune the front yard
Load utility trailer with yard cuttings
Depending on amount in the trailer, take it to the
Deep clean the kitchen
Call insurance agent about two questions (I called, but now we're playing phone tag.)
enroll in health insurance (which was blocked last week when I tried)
send XH an email about some of the girls' stuff
make pointe shoe appointment for DD#2
renew my driver's license (well, I didn't make it there on Friday, so it will have to wait until next week.)
order both girls' school pictures

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, the above is what I planned.

Here's what we've actually done today:

Sorted the laundry (nine loads need to be completely put away by tomorrow night)
Went to town and purchased a brisket for Sunday's dinner. Separated the brisket into three sections, two of which went into the freezer
Watched Chelsea beat Avon Villa
Showered, got dressed, made the bed
Filed two FSA claims
Emailed the family about the reservations we've made for next year's family camping trip
45 min of cardio

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also need to, by the end of Sunday, 

vacuum my car (will probably have DD#1 do this because she ate in my car and created a substantial part of the mess)
clean the toilets
mop the floors
meal plan for the week
spend two hours in my classroom

[busymom]

I agree that at a young age, you really don't know how to respond to rude behavior. Especially if you were raised by parents who were polite!

DH & I worked on the garage some this morning. But, it's going to take more Saturdays to get through that pile. But, our dumpster is already full for the garbage man on Tuesday.

DD has told us she plans to come home for a visit before midterms, which she has never done before (they're given a long weekend off from classes).  It's wonderful, but because I'll have to drive, I have to make a few changes to my own schedule to make it work.  Still, it'll be nice to have her home next weekend. 

[Bonny]

I haven't posted here for a while and it turns out I'm doing an anti-decluttering post!

As some of you know I've started training for a big hike next fall. One of my goals was to lose some weight. I've lost about 12 pounds and am down a full size. Today I went through my hope chest (as in I really liked these clothes and I hope to fit into them again  ) and I can now fit into 7 pairs of pants, some business suits et cetera. I haven't been able to fit into these clothes for about 10 years.

 And if anyone is going to say something snarky about being out of style, my response is if they still sell it in in LL Bean it's still in style. I'm a classic!

I still need to lose another 17 lbs but making into the next size feels like a wonderful milestone.

[kjto1]

Great job Bonny!

[Bonny]

You guys!

Re-afirming how lucky I am to have you!  

[debthaven]

Hurray Bonny! That's wonderful! 

[bobosensei]

Bonny I'm not sure if you have the interest of the inclination, but the thing I found that helped me most with hiking is doing weight bearing exercise.  If I am regularly doing squats, deadlifts, and lunges I find that I can hike faster uphill.  I don't get out of breath and I don't need breaks.  Unfortunately if I stop for a month or so I go back to square zero.

Congratulations on your weight loss so far.  That definitely will pay off.  

[debthaven]

DH got an important letter about his accident last week. I told him you need to compare it to the one they sent last month and send it to the lawyer. After going back and forth for 45m about how "there was no first one", I spent another 45m looking for it (in his Shitepile). Lo and behold, it did exist, because I found it!  

Turns out he never sent the first one to the lawyer. 

Looks like I'm going to have to do HIS Shitepile again soon. I did open a ton of his unopened mail / throw out his junk mail while looking for that letter, so it IS looking a little better.

The good news is, he did scan and send both letters to the lawyer. 

[plugginaway22]

That sounds like a typical exchange between me and my DH!

[debthaven]

Pluggin, it's infuriating, isn't it?!

[debthaven]

I had a quietly busy weekend lol ... at least 5 of us for every meal since DS1 arrived on Thursday (we never managed to get all 4 kids together). Then DS3 had 6 friends sleep over last night (they went out to Paris and all came back here). DH made a mega-breakfast for 10. Then DS3 stripped all the beds ... we washed all the sheets and he made most of the beds but I made a couple.

There will probably be some changes happening in the house this year. DS1 is getting his Stuff from abroad delivered soon. He told me it will all fit in his basement bedroom and / or the basement storage room (he did a major purge the day he got back.) As I've said, DS1 is planning to buy an apt during his 3 months here. He and DS2 are talking about having DS2 rent it. Since DS2 basically never sleeps here anymore, I told DS2 I want him to go through his closets and free up some room so I can at least use it as a guest room. 

None of this is going to happen tomorrow but if DS1 does buy a place, then a bunch of his Stuff will leave his basement bedroom, the basement storage room, and DS2's bedroom. (A few years ago DS1 bought furniture abroad that didn't fit in the basement, so it lives in DS2's room.)

At that point we will may put DS2's drum set into the basement and use the room, either as a guest room, or an office, or a music room. (If we use it as a music room then the drums would stay.) DS2's room is the ONLY room besides the kitchen that hasn't been redone, it really needs repainting and recarpeting. (It's one of the only 2 rooms in the house with carpet). In the past we've offered it to DD and DS3 but they prefer being on the other side of the house.  DS3 could change his mind though, because he'd love a big bed and his bedroom isn't big enough for one. That would be OK too. Since we're hoping DD eventually moves out, we wouldn't offer it to her again. But it would be fine for DS3 since he'll be going to college next year. 

There's another thing I'm looking forward to if DS1 gets a place ... I have a really sweet but small antique wooden dining room table. It was my first Mother's Day present from my ex MIL and I love it, but it's too small for us. I've always planned to give it to whoever of DS1/DS2/DD bought an apt first (not DS3 because my ex MIL is not his grandma).

At that point DH and I will buy an extendable table with leaves. We've wanted one for a long time but I absolutely want to keep that lovely little table "in the family". 

ETA: DH's uncle is in the hospital in the UK. I told DH to go over there this weekend but he didn't. DH's uncle is very elderly, and he has been sick for a while but he had a TIA / mini-stroke on Fri. It is school vacation here for 2 weeks (except for my school  ) so DH will probably go over there soon, possibly with DS3. DH and I lost all our parents about 15 years ago. His aunt and uncle have been like second parents to both of us, and like a grandparent to DS3, and so kind to all my kids. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

debthaven, Where does DS2 normally live?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Oct 17, 2015 14:50:44 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

load truck with stuff for the
Take truck to the
Prune the front yard
Load utility trailer with yard cuttings
Depending on amount in the trailer, take it to the
Deep clean the kitchen
Call insurance agent about two questions (I called, but now we're playing phone tag.)
enroll in health insurance (which was blocked last week when I tried)
send XH an email about some of the girls' stuff
make pointe shoe appointment for DD#2
renew my driver's license (well, I didn't make it there on Friday, so it will have to wait until next week.)
order both girls' school pictures (still narrowing it down on DD#1's senior pictures, but I'm close!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, the above is what I planned.

Here's what we've actually done today:

Sorted the laundry (nine loads need to be completely put away by tomorrow night)
Went to town and purchased a brisket for Sunday's dinner. Separated the brisket into three sections, two of which went into the freezer
Watched Chelsea beat Avon Villa
Showered, got dressed, made the bed
Filed two FSA claims
Emailed the family about the reservations we've made for next year's family camping trip
45 min of cardio

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also need to, by the end of Sunday, 

vacuum my car (will probably have DD#1 do this because she ate in my car and created a substantial part of the mess)
clean the toilets
mop the floors
meal plan for the week
spend two hours in my classroom

Plugging along. The yard work is not going to happen; DH just isn't into. I don't want to do it all by myself. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

We're hosting 2 parties next weekend - a kid party for DS's 6th b-day and a family party for him.  So some cleaning happened this weekend but there's lots more to do. 

[bobosensei]

I forgot to mention that over the weekend DH rented a steam cleaner.  I had lots of plans, but we both ended up coming down with the flu while we had it so I didn't do as much as planned.  Still I cleaned both of our couches which was the main goal as well as the rugs in the living room and the entryway.

I won't go there on how disgusting the water was.  The instructions were to go over everything first with just water then again with the cleaning solution.  We let the dogs on the couches and I've only ever cleaned them a couple of times in the 7 years we've had them- and never completely.  It took 2 days to dry, but they look new again and the faint dog smell is gone from the room.  I had hoped to do the rug in our bedroom and our cars, but didn't feel up to it.  So I told DH we will rent one again a few weeks before moving and take care of everything else.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I need to have our carpets and one couch cleaned. (The other couch is leather.) We've finished three full years here, and it's time I suppose. 

[Ombud]

Getting back to list as DD asked to borrow DS truck for weekend move :

1. Clean air ducts
2. Chairs
3. Clear out house - DD
4. New window coverings - selected
5. Paint, replace bathroom sink, mirror, 2 light switches, hook up TV in my room - Contractor
6. Have carpet, tile, dryer vent cleaned - Coit
7. Deal with kitchen,
8. family room (inc new sofa - she's taking 25 yr old set),
9. laundry room
10. Yard

[debthaven]

Whoo hoo Ombud! Big day!!!

[debthaven]

Long day today.

I have a new client I'm "coaching" at home starting tomorrow. She can only come every 2-3 weeks (which is just fine with me). 

DS3 is off school this week and next week, so no 6.55 carpool pick-ups for 2 weeks. 

I'm caught up on house / kitchen / laundry. 

I am exhausted. 

ETA: Bobo, the steam cleaning is harder work than they like to let on. We put it off for years, finally rented one last year for 24 hours, and ended up keeping it for 48h to do everything twice. The results were great, but physically it was much harder than we'd anticipated. 

ETA2: Chloe DS2's in the city, in a studio. So, no room for the drum kit, plus the neighbours would probably murder him. 

[busymom]

I went over to Mom's house to inspect the wood floors, as the last of the finish was applied yesterday. (And yes, the floors were dry to the touch.)  Everything looks SO much better!  We could do some more detail work on the floors, as some edges are missing small pieces of wood, but I'll ask our real estate agent how important it is.  We've spent enough on that house already, & it's not like we'll be living there. 

It's unusually warm for this time of the year, so while I was at Mom's I did some painting outside.  I wish this weather would stick around longer, like a few more months... 

[debthaven]

You've worked so hard on your mom's house Busy. I'm glad the end is in sight, and that the floors came out so well.

My DH left for the UK today to see his uncle. He comes back on Sunday, DS3 and I will pick him up from the airport. His uncle was very happy to see him.

No marking but I have to submit some marks by Monday. I have next week off marking too. 

The gardener came yesterday and pruned a bunch of stuff. He comes twice a year now (one in fall, once in spring). The plumber is coming tomorrow to sweep the chimney (legal obligation here for insurance), check out the boiler, and fix a leaky toilet. 

I did a load of laundry tonight but I was too lazy to do a second one, I'll do it tomorrow.

ETA: It worked out well with the new student ... She wants two lessons a month, one at my house, and one at her house. I'm not taking any more work on though.

[busymom]

Days like today remind me of why I work hard on Mom's place when I get a bit of time.  My relative is not doing very well right now. In fact, I've been on the telephone with multiple people, & waiting on call-backs to determine if he'll be able to continue living in his assisted-living apartment, or, if it's time to move him to a nursing home.  (Unfortunately, the complex he's in does not include a nursing home.) As luck would have it, the nursing home my Mom had lived in previously has an opening, but I don't want to push him unless it's obvious he cannot live alone any longer (I know he probably won't be thrilled about having a roommate.) But, his health & safety have to come first, & I'm the only contact he has now that Mom is gone.

DD will be coming home for a long weekend, starting tomorrow night.  It'll be nice to have her home for a bit. 

[debthaven]

I submitted the marks they need by Monday and worked out some oral marks. The second load is in the machine.

Having a lazy / quiet day finishing Last Tango in Halifax on Netflix.  

[Ombud]

I will not stress out
I will not stress out
I will not stress out

They aren't moving this weekend -- I'm off to the Commonwealth Club for a lunch time presentation bc:

I will not stress out over their escrow still not closing