2015 Declutter and Get Organized Thread

[debthaven]

Something absolutely horrific happened to one of my closest friends and DH and I spent the evening with her. I didn't find out for hours after it happened, both she and DH were trying to reach me but I was teaching and didn't see my phone. I ended up cutting my last class short to leave early. I have never done that before. 

After DH and I got home tonight I was too tired / wired / upset to sleep so I marked some of my papers tonight. I know I'll be spending a good chunk of tomorrow (and many days to come) with her and I need to get those exams done before Thurs when I get more. I'll get 60 more next week so I really need to stay on top of it. 

Marking
Wed: 19 exams Tues
Wed: 18 exams
Fri: 19 exams

To do:
- call dentist  
- go to pharmacy
- call lighting store

The roofers are finally coming on Fri. I am having lunch with DS2 on Fri, and then I am teaching and staying till 9pm for parent-teacher conferences. 

I am very thankful that we have tomorrow off.

[busymom]

Debt, so sorry to hear about your friend.  It's a good thing they've got you to lean on!

I've been hearing too many horror stories (in the real world) lately.  A new friend of mine just had a friend of her own that attempted suicide, but didn't succeed, & at this point it's not known if they will make a full recovery. 

I won't be finding out until next week or the following week the opinion of the therapy center on whether my relative needs to be moved from his apartment.  I'll have to be patient, but I still think I may need to get him moved a little too close to Thanksgiving time.

[Ombud]

DD had each kid pick 20 things for the charity truck coming tomorrow. House is a hot mess as things get into boxes

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

We have tomorrow off for Veterans Day. DS#1 is here. We'll just be hanging out. 
I need a plan after that though. The lack of plan is making me incredibly lazy. 

[debthaven]

Busy it's a similar story, but the person succeeded, and my friend found them. 

Marking
Tues: 19 exams 
Wed: 18 exams 
Fri: 19 exams

To do:
- call dentist
- go to pharmacy
- call lighting store

The stores are closed today so I'll make those calls later this week.

[lund]

to Debt and Busy for helping friends and relatives!

[busymom]

I am so sorry to hear of what happened to your friend, debthaven. 

One of my relatives, as he got older, was put in charge of an apartment complex.  He and his wife did the maintenance, & other duties in exchange for a free apartment & salary.  Twice residents committed suicide there, & not only did he find them, & have to call the police, but when the police were done with their work, he had to "clean up the mess".    After the 2nd time this happened, he got a different job.  He'd try to make light of it, but I think it affected him.

I have a long list to get through today, so I'd better get at it.  It includes trying to set up some appointments & such for my relative.  There's things that need to be checked out before he finishes his stint in rehab.

[debthaven]

Busy that's awful for your relative. I'm sure it must have affected him ... how could it not?

[debthaven]

My friend was taken to the hospital that same night and released with medication. She refused sick leave so she's back at work already.   Perhaps it's better that way, I don't know.  

Marking/Work
Wed: 19 exams
Wed: 18 exams
Thurs: 18 exams
- give M curriculum
- do exam part

To do:
- pharmacy
- call dentist
- make haircut appt
- call lighting store

I finished this week's marking today during a rare free period. I completely forgot I had part of an exam to do for tomorrow so I asked to have till Mon and it's fine. Started a load of laundry.

DS1 shortlisted 3 apts so I'm going to look at them Fri and Sat. 

[Chocolate Lover]

So sorry to hear about your friend's troubles Debt. 

I decluttered a bill payment from one date to 4 days later. I feel better now.  And I permanently moved it to keep it from ever interfering with another bill of a decent size again. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Nov 12, 2015 11:43:25 GMT -5 debthaven said:

My friend was taken to the hospital that same night and released with medication. She refused sick leave so she's back at work already.   Perhaps it's better that way, I don't know.  

Some people do better with having a distraction. I hope she's fully recovered soon. I'm glad she has you. 


That must be fun looking at apartments for DS. You get to shop but not spend your own money!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

<font face="trebuchet ms">I feel like I'm ready to be done with my lazy bout. I'm not really sure where it came from, but I'm being slightly more productive than just maintaining the house. <br><br>With yesterday being a day off, I got caught up on paperwork and bill paying. I did catch a discrepency on DH's pay check, and I need to ask payroll about that. <br></font><br>It's Thursday, so I'm at dance class sitting on the couch. <br>I brought some school work to do, mostly prep work and a few catch up things. <br>When I get home, I need to make sure <br>~the kitchen is cleaned up<br>~clean up the napping room from DS staying there last night<br>~finish the deep cleaning in the dining room and entry way (30 min top)<br>~watch The Big Bang Theory<br>~evening routine<br> 

[debthaven]

I had to cancel the visit with DS1 and lunch with DS1 and 2 today :-(. DS3 has a really high fever. I also cancelled a personnel class.

I can't not go to the parents evening and I don't want to leave DS3 home any longer than I need to. 

ETA: DS1 was able to reschedule the visit for tomorrow before the 2 others, so we'll all be able to see all 3 places tomorrow! 

[Jaguar]

debthaven, are you and your family and friends safe ?

[Sharon]

Nov 13, 2015 16:58:12 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

debthaven, are you and your family and friends safe ?

[Chocolate Lover]

  Good thoughts and vibes and prayers Debt. 

[busymom]

Prayers for Debt & her family!

[plugginaway22]

Thinking of you, Debt, hope you are all safe.

[Waffle]

Please check-in, debthaven.  Saying prayers for you and your family. 

[lund]

Nov 13, 2015 16:58:12 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

debthaven, are you and your family and friends safe ?

In my thoughts and prayers

[jenpen]

Thinking of you, debthaven. I hope you and all your loved ones are safe . I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this horror again.

[startsmart]

thinking of you debthaven, check in when you can! 

have y'all seen the Facebook feature where people can "check-in" as safe in relationship to an event like today? A friend of mine from high school is in Europe with his wife and I was able to see quickly that they were safely in Rome today. 

[startsmart]

Figured I should check-in as its been a busy week for me.

Yesterday I got the gutters installed on the east side of the house (finally!) and I'm more motivated than ever to tackle the next length. But of course I had a setback when I went outside to fix the breaker after running too many space heaters at once and then fell again. This time wasn't as bad as the summer and I didn't require crutches or a trip to the x-ray department.

I spent some of my break time today cleaning and the house looks better than ever. Carpets are steam cleaned, kitchen is mostly put away and the bathrooms are cleaned up. Now the challenge is keeping it nice!


1) put away clean laundry
2) move all the papers and work files back to the office
3) move window shades to the garage
4) put all of the gutter install supplies in a box for Monday
5) find a box for the china
6) package all of the gifts for the Post Office on Monday
7) clean and put away the table fan
8) dust the bookshelves and kitchen table
9) straighten up the couch
10) trim loose threads on the rug

Just about all done except I didn't get all the packages to the Post Office - just one today. But I've been busting through the mail I need to send out (only about 300 cards this month) so I can reclaim my kitchen table. 

I am also nearly ready for tomorrow's party. Drinks are out, cookies baked, seating arranged... I need to pick up a few things tonight but otherwise should be easy tomorrow! 

Oh and my mom is here and things are awkward. I think she's leaving early on Saturday so I can get back to my routine (haven't really talked to my parents in a month). 

[Jaguar]

I just heard on Facebook that Debt and her family are safe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[debthaven]

Thank you all! I think Joss posted on FB, she messaged me. 

We just got home or I would have posted earlier. Thank Gd that my two Big Boys who are both living in Paris now are safe!

DS3 and DD were at home and we were at friends' (also in the suburbs). 

It's a disaster. The people in the theatre were sitting ducks. 

[debthaven]

The places in Paris they attacked are not tourist places, they are places where Parisians go out (especially young people). It is by the grace of Gd that my DS1 and DS2 were not there. I don't know where they were when it started but soon after they were together in DS2's apartment. 

[lund]

So glad to hear that you and your  family are safe!!

[busymom]

Thank you so much for checking in here, Debt!

[Chocolate Lover]

So glad you and your family are safe Debt!   thanks for checking in!

[debthaven]

I have no idea what is going to happen here now ... schools are closed, but my school is a university, and it's private, not public, so I don't know if it's closed or not. No cinemas, concert halls, nothing is open. Apparently the State of Emergency will last AT LEAST 12 days. 

DS3 (who is feeling better, the only good news of the day!) was supposed to see a film in Paris with his French class tomorrow, of course that has been cancelled (thank goodness! we wouldn't have let him go but it's very hard to argue with a 17.5 year old so I'm glad we don't have to)

DH and I were supposed to see DS1's shortlist of 3 apartments, but he cancelled. 

I am not going to bed but I may fall asleep on the couch.