2016 Declutter and Get Organized Thread

[debthaven]

Also I am LOVING my new Dustbuster! Sometimes you really do get what you pay for ... I was SO frustrated with how badly the store brand one I bought worked, I was THRILLED when it finally stopped working at all.

I was debating whether to just donate the 20 euro one (about $22) and buy the 40 euro one (about $44) instead. But since it stopped working, I got a refund (it was under guarantee), and only had to pay the difference (20 euros). 

I should have just bought the better one in the first place. I've been in this house for 30+ years, and the 3 Black and Deckers I've had have all lasted about 10 years each. The store brand didn't last 3 months. I know that's not always the case, I've had some store-brand machines that have outlasted brand names. But it was definitely the case with that.

[jenpen]

Jan 2, 2016 19:41:10 GMT -5 jenpen said:

To-do for today and Sunday:
WORK:
- finish 2 PRISM tasks
- make sure WIHS64 is in demo and email project manager to test it
- figure out solution for WIHS9 and email project manager proposed solution
- review S's request for position reclassification, write up response/recommendation
- email our Employee-Management relations liaison to request meeting re: S and ongoing problems w/their performance
- go through work emails and pull out additional to-do's
- start work on setting up new laptop - installing software and transferring files from old laptop

HOME:
- launder bedding (wash, dry, put back on bed) - done
- launder comforter - washed, and mostly dry. It's hanging to finish drying and will go back on the bed last thing tonight -done
- launder afghan - I may just run this in the dryer for 30-60 minutes tomorrow.  It isn't "dirty", but the cats were on it a few times before their ringworm diagnosis. I think the dryer will kill any spores they may have left on it. -done
- put away clothes that were hung to dry overnight - done
- load of whites - wash and hang to dry - sweaters are hung to finish drying, the rest I'm letting the machine finish and will put away when I go up to bed - done
- run tub-clean cycle on washer, drain, and clean filter -done
- iron shirt - done
- patch jeans x 2 - done
- empty upstairs wastebaskets - done
- clean up breakfast - done
- run dishwasher, put dishes away - done
- scour kitchen sink and counters - done
- scour stove top - done
- clean coffee maker and microwave - done
- dot entry rug - done
- bring runner back down and dot it - done
- empty 3-drawer storage unit and bring downstairs - done
- move all the kitten's stuff (food,toys,grooming,etc) from the kitchen counter into the drawers - done
- make space to keep the drawers in the kitchen 'closet' - done
- empty bookcase in spare room and fill w/books that are now in bags on the stair landing  - done

In addition to the couple bags of books, I cleaned up the 3 full bookcases on the stair landing, went through everything that was still on the floor there, plus a few stacks of things in the spare room. Put most things away or at least put them back in the spare room now that the cats aren't living--and spewing ringworm spores all over--in there.  Also got rid of enough stuff to fill one small bag of trash.

One day late, but got all my home tasks finished. I hope everyone who returned to work today had a better day than I did 

[debthaven]

I couldn't sleep, so I took all the ornaments off the tree. I couldn't put them away because DS1 and his GF are sleeping in the basement where the Christmas box is.

It feels so bittersweet. DS3 will be away at college next year. He and I always decorate the tree together. I have no clue when he will get back for Christmas, so whether we will again decorate the tree together, or whether from now on I will decorate it on my own.

Per DH (I'm Jewish) we always put away Christmas on or as close as we can to the Epiphany. This year I'm working all day on Wed so I planned to do it on Tues. Technically it is already Tues here, so tomorrow I will just need to put the ornaments away.

I left the lights up, DH will take them off either Tues night or Wed morning. For better or worse, for practical reasons, unless 6 Jan is on a weekend, we usually do it in two parts, ornaments first, and then the lights. Then the poor tree gets taken out to get chopped up. 

Since I'm lazy, my dream Christmas tree would be all decorated, and then put away in the basement, and taken out the following year. But then the tree wouldn't smell as good.  

ETA: For the "newbies", one of my closest friends lost her husband in mid-Dec, in horrible circumstances. He was also a very close friend of nearly 30 years. So I've been spending as much time as I can with her / cooking for her / running errands for her. Most of her friends went back to work today. I'm still very available this week but I won't be once my semester starts next Mon (and I'm very worried about not being as available for her). Plus I really need to start prepping this week. Thankfully she also has some SAH / retired friends. 

[Ombud]

Still working through:

1. Contractor: starts tomorrow
2. Coit: estimate Wednesday, can do next week
3. GS1's new room: bed needed next week
4. 1/2 bath: decorative mirror
5. Family room (find new sofa - flooring - accent wall)
6. Landscape front yard

Today I cleared kids room ... posters down, DD came by & took 3 of Goodwill's bags / added 2 tables to pile. She wants contractor to drop sofas off at her house tomorrow. He works on her place too so he knows address

[Jaguar]

Okay I just pulled every scrap of paper out of that drawer. I have two piles that I have to organize, not bad at all. I'm going to see my sister tomorrow in the hospital and I'll get into this organizing on Wednesday. Woo Hoo this will finally get done, and I feel awesome.

[Ombud]

Jaguar, is your sister okay?? Nothing catastrophic I hope

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

*CHE=Chief Home Executive

I don't think that's creative enough. 
What else can we come up with?

C
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C
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hhhmmmm....

[Jaguar]

Jan 5, 2016 0:02:50 GMT -5 Ombud said:

Jaguar, is your sister okay?? Nothing catastrophic I hope

My sister Cindy has Alzheimer's, and it's in the end stages now. She's going in circles. She goes to the hospital when she gets so bad, she's near death. They fix her up and send her home. Then once she's home she goes into the downward spiral again and lands back into the hospital. She needs 24/7 care and her family is trying to get her into that care.

It's a journey that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Alzheimers sucks shit, no two damn ways about that. I need prayers for Cindy.

[debthaven]

Prayers  for your sister Sugi. 

[lund]

Prayers for your sister and virtual hugs for you, Sugi.

[plugginaway22]

We are watching my sister and BIL deal with his mother and brother spiraling downward with Alzheimers and it is so very sad.  So sorry you are dealing with that, too Sugi.

[Ombud]

Jaguar  

[WholeLottaNothin]

Sorry to hear that, Sugi. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh's #31Days2GetOrganized Challenge:

1. Set up a donation center (bin, basket, garbage bag, etc.) in your home and add 5 things to it
2. Look in your closet for the pair(s) of shoes that is most covered in dust, and add it to your donation pile. (He also mentioned the 80/20 rule where you wear 20% of your shoes 80% of the time.)
3. Pick any single room in your house and tackle the floor. Get every single thing that doesn't belong on the floor of that room off the floor, whether it is toys, books, clutter, etc.
4. Unmentionables - go through your unmentionables drawer, and get rid of at least 5 items that you don't need/love/wear because they're stretched out, don't like them, etc.
5. Bathroom - choose 1 drawer, cupboard, or shelf, and go through all of the lotions, makeup, medicines, etc. Throw away anything that is out-of-date, and items you do not use.

[tcu2003]

Jan 5, 2016 11:39:42 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Peter Walsh's #31Days2GetOrganized Challenge:

1. Set up a donation center (bin, basket, garbage bag, etc.) in your home and add 5 things to it
2. Look in your closet for the pair(s) of shoes that is most covered in dust, and add it to your donation pile. (He also mentioned the 80/20 rule where you wear 20% of your shoes 80% of the time.)
3. Pick any single room in your house and tackle the floor. Get every single thing that doesn't belong on the floor of that room off the floor, whether it is toys, books, clutter, etc.
4. Unmentionables - go through your unmentionables drawer, and get rid of at least 5 items that you don't need/love/wear because they're stretched out, don't like them, etc.
5. Bathroom - choose 1 drawer, cupboard, or shelf, and go through all of the lotions, makeup, medicines, etc. Throw away anything that is out-of-date, and items you do not use.

We put away all of our Christmas decorations, so yay for that.

I also did #1, #2 (no shoes to donate, but 2 pairs thrown away), and #4. 

Hopefully I can tackle #3 tonight, as well as today's new challenge in the bathroom.

[Ombud]

Jan 5, 2016 0:07:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

*CHE=Chief Home Executive

I don't think that's creative enough. 
What else can we come up with?

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C
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L
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hhhmmmm....

Chef
Extraordinaire
Overwhelmed

Creative
Front
Office


--anyway that's mine today

[megaptera]

I'm going to try to check in at least once a week. (I may have said that last year, LOL. )

Here is my stuff-to-get-done-by-Sunday-evening list:

1. Drop off some permitting paperwork at county office.*

2. Install towel rack in kids' bathroom.*

3. Figure out insurance on a particular medical bill.

4. Call city for inspection on recently installed water heater.

5. Drop off bag of donations (that's been sitting in my bedroom for at least 3 months) at Goodwill.

6. Finish organizing fridge (we finally bought a new one before our old one completely crashed).

7. Clean off the counter where mail/paperwork/office supplies live and multiply like rabbits.

*A couple of these are DH's tasks, so I may have to do some nagging gentle coaxing to get them done by this weekend. 

I should be able to get at least 5 small (non-weekly) tasks done each week. If not, I'll head straight to the slackers thread.

Prayers for Cindy, Sugi.

[Jaguar]

I got the organizer envelopes from the dollar store to go at that mass of paperwork tomorrow. I went to visit my sister Cindy and just after I left she fell in the hallway. She needs 24/7 care and we can't give it to her home here.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 5, 2016 0:07:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

*CHE=Chief Home Executive

I don't think that's creative enough. 
What else can we come up with?

C
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C
F
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L
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hhhmmmm....

[

For today's goals, I'm helping DH with some medical stuff that he's been avoiding for over a decade.

So I'm a

Cooky
Husband
Enabler

Or,
Chief
Exec
Overbearing
Wife

Or,
Household
Medical
Manager

What title do you currently have for you organization goals?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

(Typing on my phone while I sit in the medical office lobby)

Paperwork/Scheduling tasks for this week:
Three bills to pay
Print project graduation financial spread sheets.
Figure out how to access HSA for an office that takes absolutely no cards
Finalize Christmas spending analysis
Balance four accounts
Set up DD's senior picture yearbook submission
Schedule date night for this month
Schedule facial waxing

Cleaning tasks for this week
Deep cleaning the kitchen. That's a list of over 30 tasks. I won't bore you with that list; I'll just track here how many I've done.
Right now it's 2/30 completed.

[debthaven]

I was out most of the day so didn't get much done at home. Christmas is all packed up, except for the tree lights. (I keep my ceramic reindeer, my reindeer candle and reindeer table runner out all winter.)

I went to the dentist to replace the last temporary crowns with permanent crowns.   We talked for a long time (we met years ago through the friend who just lost her husband). He is also feeling very low. He didn't feel up to doing the paperwork so he'll bill me at the end of the month when I go back to replace a filling.

Back to work tomorrow.   I still have that ONE paper left to mark. It's due Thurs at noon so I'll do it Thurs morning. 

I've done most of the "mini projects" I planned to do so at this point I'm going back into maintenance mode. I'll get DH to do his "overflow basket" one night while he's watching TV. I have to (re)memorise my lines and learn my songs for the play, I really intended to do that over vacation but I haven't looked at it once. 

And I should do Shitepile (paperwork) before the semester really starts on Mon.  Done! I have two things to deal with but I filed / burnt the rest. 

ETA: A few years ago it would take me a full day to get through Shitepile! Now it only takes me 30-60 min a week. :-)

[Malarky]

Jan 5, 2016 0:07:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

*CHE=Chief Home Executive

I don't think that's creative enough. 
What else can we come up with?

C
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C
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L
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hhhmmmm....

QUEEN

Ranks above prince and princess.  

King long ago abdicated all power.  

  Just a suggestion.

[debthaven]

Malarky I LOVE your suggestion! 

[debthaven]

Ombud, I can't believe you never posted to say your DD moved out! How does it feel to have your house back?! It must feel great, especially since it sounds like she's not far away (but not in your house anymore!)

[Ombud]

Contractor got here at 9am. It's 4:55 5:15pm and he's still patching holes / plumbing / electrical. He did say it'll be a long day patching her room & bath .... but that's just 1 2 of the 4 bedrooms. Last room will go equally fast .... bath will / should be ready to paint by day after tomorrow, glad I farmed it out

DD stopped by on her way home from work but barely came in. Guess she knew it wouldn't be a good day

Yes, debthaven. DD, BF, 3 GKs moved out. Oldest one is at SFSU and wants a room here every other weekend. He'll stick around with his BF (who stays sometimes on weekends). But those 2 have plans for grad school (1 music, 1 law)

6pm: Contractor is sort of done / holes patched / still needs to replace bathroom sink - mirror - light then prime bath, paint rest. Going fast!! 3 day job

[Jaguar]

I started in early cleaning out those two massive piles of papers, I'm over half way done now.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 5, 2016 16:36:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

(Typing on my phone while I sit in the medical office lobby)

Paperwork/Scheduling tasks for this week:
Three bills to pay
Print project graduation financial spread sheets. UGH. STILL WAITING FOR THE DEC. STATEMENT. MEETING IS TOMORROW, SO IT MAY NOT MATTER. 
Figure out how to access HSA for an office that takes absolutely no cards
Finalize Christmas spending analysis ALMOST DONE. DETERMINED I'M MISSING INFO ON TWO GIFTS. NEED TO TALK TO THE CHILDREN
Balance four accounts
Set up DD's senior picture yearbook submission
Schedule date night for this month
Schedule facial waxing

Cleaning tasks for this week
Deep cleaning the kitchen. That's a list of over 30 tasks. I won't bore you with that list; I'll just track here how many I've done.
Right now it's 2/30  6/30 completed.

We were $78.29 over on our Christmas spending. I suppose that's pretty good considering DH decided at the last minute to go to his family's party. We had not planned for that in our original goal list.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Malarky, I'm definitely a spoiled princess in my house. 


I thought I'd had an explanation post prior to that one though. Maybe I just imagined I typed that up. 


So, Flylady uses the term SHE=Side-Tracked Home Executive. 
I've also heard CHE=Chief Home Exectutive or HCEO=Household Chief Executive Officer. 

I thought I had labeled a list for this week with 


MY CHE TASKS




Anyway, that might help explain the randomness that was that post iwth the acronyms. 

[busymom]

Not much done here since the last post. Did a lot of financial stuff. And, I accompanied my relative on his appointment to a specialist this morning. But, I AM trying to get rid of some extra weight, if that counts...

[Jaguar]

I just went through a massive amount of paperwork and I'm calling it a night, and I'm not finished yet, but I can see the end.