2017 Declutter and Organization Thread

[debthaven]

Interesting Iggy aka IG thank you! That said we would have to start doing that on Mon, because the end of the week is tomorrow (or even Sat). I'll be honest with you ... that is NOT DH's style. But if he does his weekly call and I can manage to do one, that would be two.

And CONGRATS on being done with that! At some point we all seem to decide that life is too short. I'm very happy you are rid of that burden!

[startsmart]

Got rid of 3 more items of food + 70 clothing hangers today and yesterday I threw out about 20 items of clothing not nice enough to donate. I have 3 bags and a box of stuff in my car to take to donation after my last call today and then I'll tally everything up and add to my total. 

Going through my clothes was SO cathartic. I found a lot of things that never fit right, too old, stained, etc that all went out. I do need to go through my jeans (about 6 pair) and then my hanging shirts for work and I think I can find another 10-20 items to donate. SO CLOSE to being done with my closet/dresser! 

Once the clothes are done and I've caught up on laundry this weekend I need to start planning for my trip to the UK - I like to be ahead of the game when it comes to packing and one of the friends I'm meeting in London wants a list of places for us to visit. 2 more hotels to book and then I'm good for this trip! 

My house cleaner came today and I always feel so much better when things are tidy and clean. I have some boxes to pack up and need to work on the boxes in the attic but overall things are looking and feeling good  

[debthaven]

You work SO hard startsmart ! I'm glad you're feeling good about your progress!

Since I don't usually work on Fridays and I really pushed myself to get things done this evening, I'm posting a new weekend list to feel like I've made progress and make myself feel better.

This weekend
- bottle bank/Fri
- haircut/Fri
- call tree guy/Fri he's coming next Fri
- see A?
- Group 1: 4 group reports
- Group 2: 4 group reports

[Sharon]

I have been working insane hours the last 2 1/2 weeks, on top of having a new boss so lots of stress with that.  Needless to say I am barely keeping my head above water.  One more day of long hours then next week it should be more or less normal hours.  New boss doesn't seem to recognize assigned work hours, lunches etc.  I am getting the feeling that he expects us to work extra hours every week.

Anyway DD took home a baby jumper this evening so one more thing out of the house.

[snapdragon]

Sharon -  having to read that about your new boss and work environment just made me cringe. I really hope that he will be paying you for the above extra hours! 

debthaven - good thoughts headed your way on the leakage issues and here's wishing you the best on the finalization of your DH's suit. Enjoy your time with DS.

startsmart - Glad things are getting done and I really hope you enjoy the UK and come back with some photos for the rest of us to ooohhh over.

[snapdragon]

I am putting up a small list for this weekend.

1 - put up last set of insulated drapes.

2 - clean BBQ and get all the patio stuff back out side and not in the dinning room.

3 - put up the solar light over by the garbage area.

4 - put dryer lent cover back on building E.

5 - take out trash and anything I have shredded.

6 - remake the bed.

7 - fold and put away laundry.

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, debthaven.  I sent out a final email this morning to the board to report the loose ends I took care of.  Yesterday I gave the board members a list of things we need to wrap up, and made sure everyone wrote down names next to each so we know who will take care of what after they/we learn what the lawyer says.  All my April Zen list has left is the close the old hotmail and yahoo accounts and switch to gmail. 

startsmart, you have absolutely motivated me to get to the rest of my clothing purge. 

Sharon, I hope your work insanity ends soon.

snapdragon, looks like a good sized list!

I'm going to continue to work on the list I posted a few pages back this weekend as well as do the usual laundry and dishes.  Oh, and dust and vacuum. 

Happy weekend, everyone!

[startsmart]

Iggy - I made a list about a month ago of things I want to finish around the house by the end of the year and each category of clothing got its own entry It was one of the "easy" tasks compared to finishing up my paperwork and projects outside. 

Thanks Snapdragon My friend's policy is "friends don't let friends use selfie sticks" so I'm hoping for some nice pictures and a lot of fun time. 

I didn't make it to Goodwill last night (or even out of the house, actually) but perhaps after the gym this afternoon I'll go to the coffee shop and work for a couple hours. 

We're still early days on our launch goal but doing well, just lots of long hours. I think I was up until 11pm editing emails. 

[debthaven]

I got final confirmation from School 2 about the extra hours. So I'll again be doing a full day there in Sem 2 (unlike the half day that was initially scheduled).  

I also got the email from School 1 asking me for availability so I have to decide if I tell them 9.30-12.30 or 11-2.30 (because school-wide lunch break) on Wednesdays. I know starting at 11 may not make that much sense but it's really tempting nonetheless.

Sharon I'm sorry about the new boss problems. It's hard but it might be better to stand your ground rather than have him think that all those extra hours are par for the course.

[debthaven]

In the end I opted for 11-2.30. It gives me more flexibility ... I can do a staff class or mark papers before and/or after. So Wed will be a "short day" rather than a half day, but that's fine too. It still gives me a bit of a break because I can go in later and get home earlier, even if it's not a half day per se.  

[startsmart]

Dropped off a big box and 3 full bags of clothes at Goodwill. My total is now at 775 for the year so I'm hopeful that I can hit 1,000 by the end of December. 

I've been working on my papers from the office and have my memorabilia sorted into 12"x12" cases (from Costco 5 for $20!) and then sorted into birth-school, K-8th grade, high school, college, post college. 

There's another box with just letters/birthday cards, etc. and the next thing I'm sorting through is all of my investment papers from older jobs. 

[busymom]

Will you all disown me if I tell you I had DH bring my tote box upstairs filled with Christmas cards?     I don't plan to mail any of them until after Thanksgiving, but the calendar is flying, & I figure I'd better get started.

Saturday the piano man will return with the new hammers installed into the "guts" of my piano.  I can't wait until my DD gets to play on it again.  

[debthaven]

I'm glad you're getting your piano put back together soon busymom !

I took DS3 to the train today. Thankfully he'll be home again for Christmas soon.

This weekend
- bottle bank/Fri
- haircut/Fri
- call tree guy/Fri he's coming next Fri
- see A/Sun
- Group 1: 4 group reports/Sat
- Group 2: 4 group reports

PS: DH gave me my birthday gift early ... Eurostar tickets to London to see our grandson in Dec! We're going to babysit!

[startsmart]

Working from the coffee shop this morning because the house is way too distracting. I do need to head back in an hour or so and work on projects at home. 

Maybe I'll get around to last weekend's list! 

It's cold and rainy and super foggy here today so all I want to do is drive around the country with my camera. Instead I'll go home, haul out the space heaters for the winter and finish up my laundry. 

[chiver78]

I think it's great that you took advantage of some free time now to write them out, so you won't have to find time in a packed holiday season to write them out later! why would you think we would yell at you? lol...

today, I'm trying to take it a little easy since my foot is still super sore. I'm doing crafty stuff all day, even though I'm standing now to work on picture frames. I have pinned an autographed jersey into a shadow box, and have re-framed a stunning sunrise pic into a larger frame with a mat. hopefully will hang both later when my roommate gets home. I'm pretty awful at hanging shit, I'll just wait. I think after that, more work on the cross stitch and maybe some work on a crocheted blanket that I found half done when I was in the spare bedroom a couple weeks back. both of those options are all about crashing on the couch with my foot up.

[TheOtherMe]

I have managed to bring up a box of Beatles magazines and some albums from the basement.  Now to get my mind around letting them go.  I have not had the albums around me for years, longer than just the time I have lived here.  Most are sealed.  Will probably try to sell on eBay and see what happens.

I have no way to play them so why keep them?  

I don't think I will have any problems letting the magazines go.  

Baby steps.

[TheOtherMe]

Nov 10, 2017 23:26:49 GMT -5 busymom said:

Will you all disown me if I tell you I had DH bring my tote box upstairs filled with Christmas cards?     I don't plan to mail any of them until after Thanksgiving, but the calendar is flying, & I figure I'd better get started.

My sister has started on my dad's Christmas cards.  She called me yesterday for addresses.  One of his sisters is now in a memory care facility so I messaged her granddaughter on FB to get her address.  

My sister does way more for Christmas than I do.  I only buy one gift--a gift card to Dairy Queen for my dad, so I don't have anything that will make me crazy.

Christmas has always been difficult for me for years.  I doubt if this year will be any easier.  Christmas was mom's favorite holiday and her birthday was January 2.  I miss her.

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 11, 2017 18:45:27 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have managed to bring up a box of Beatles magazines and some albums from the basement.  Now to get my mind around letting them go.  I have not had the albums around me for years, longer than just the time I have lived here.  Most are sealed.  Will probably try to sell on eBay and see what happens.

I have no way to play them so why keep them?  

I don't think I will have any problems letting the magazines go.  

Baby steps.

If you have an original Yesterday and Today album don't donate it. Check out value first. JMO

[CCL]

Nov 11, 2017 18:48:27 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Nov 10, 2017 23:26:49 GMT -5 busymom said:

Will you all disown me if I tell you I had DH bring my tote box upstairs filled with Christmas cards?     I don't plan to mail any of them until after Thanksgiving, but the calendar is flying, & I figure I'd better get started.

My sister has started on my dad's Christmas cards.  She called me yesterday for addresses.  One of his sisters is now in a memory care facility so I messaged her granddaughter on FB to get her address.  

My sister does way more for Christmas than I do.  I only buy one gift--a gift card to Dairy Queen for my dad, so I don't have anything that will make me crazy.

Christmas has always been difficult for me for years.  I doubt if this year will be any easier.  Christmas was mom's favorite holiday and her birthday was January 2.  I miss her.

[TheOtherMe]

Nov 11, 2017 18:58:27 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Nov 11, 2017 18:45:27 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have managed to bring up a box of Beatles magazines and some albums from the basement.  Now to get my mind around letting them go.  I have not had the albums around me for years, longer than just the time I have lived here.  Most are sealed.  Will probably try to sell on eBay and see what happens.

I have no way to play them so why keep them?  

I don't think I will have any problems letting the magazines go.  

Baby steps.

If you have an original Yesterday and Today album don't donate it. Check out value first. JMO

I actually do have that and it will be sold.   

[busymom]

Well, the piano is mostly repaired.  The repairman had taken the "guts" out of the piano, & cleaned them back at his workshop.  He brought everything back, then attached new hammers into the piano at my place.  DD isn't allowed to play until the glue/adhesive sets up, which will be about 3 days.  Still, it'll be nice once again to hear music from that piano.  

[dogmom]

I took some time away from Mom's last week to clear my head.  So, I did some sorely needed cleaning and decluttering around our hose.

Living room was yesterday.  Cleaned the set of book shelves, have six books in the donation bag. 
Changed slipcovers.  The ones that were on the couch and loveseat have seen many better days, those are in the garbage.  Waxed furniture, vacuumed, cleaned window sills.  Looks nice in there again.  Laundry is also caught up.  Also went through some of Shelby's old toys that she pretty much destroyed and threw them away.  Did pack away the fan that was in the living room and brought out the humidifier.

Today will be some grocery shopping.  I'm going to also continue to swap out summer to winter clothes.  I know there are more items I can donate.  I think I have eight shirts and a couple pairs of shorts ready to go.

ETA, since the Holidays are quickly approaching, yesterday I went through a bin of old Christmas lights that were in the garage.  Our City takes them for recycling.  Getting too old to put them up on the gutters, they are bagged and ready to go.  Going to try to make Christmas decorating simple and easy.  Will be going through some of the old stuff and getting rid of it.  Since Shelby is such a puppy yet, our usual Christmas tree is not an option.  I did order a small fiber optic one that fits on a table for this year.  Ahh, different.  No tinsel, or ornaments.  Wonder if we'll like it.  It is rather retro. 

[debthaven]

This weekend
- bottle bank/Fri
- haircut/Fri
- call tree guy/Fri 
- see A/Sun
- Group 1: 4 group reports/Sat
- Group 2: 4 group reports/Sun

I spent all morning driving DH and kids around and visiting A, so I got started late on the marking. Doing laundry at the same time.

ETA: Caught up with marking till tomorrow.

[debthaven]

This week
Home
- Shitepile
School
- organize D groups X 3
- Group 1: 17 papers/Tues
- Group 2: 20 papers/Fri
- Group C: 4 group reports/Sat

I'm working every day this week (and next) because of those STUPID PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES!!!

Semester countdown: 10/14 weeks done

[ilovedolphins]

Today I got rid of my old Christmas tree.  I had to keep telling myself "It's only stuff".  It was the first tree we got when we moved into our first new home 17 years ago.  It is a big tree and I no longer have time to put up a big tree with taking care of my parents.  Maybe when the grandchild is older I will get another big tree.  It's only stuff....it's only stuff.

[debthaven]

Aww hugs ilovedolphins. Yes you can get another tree later for your grandchild.

[ilovedolphins]

Why do we get sentimental about things?  I still have some Christmas decorations we bought for our first tree that I need to depart with.  I guess maybe it is just the memory of how excited the kids and I were to pick them out.  They are only things....they are only things...

[debthaven]

ilovedolphins don't get rid of these items if you don't want to. Your children might want those decorations. If you think you have too many, just get rid of the ones you're not sentimental about, but there's nothing wrong with keeping some of them.

[ilovedolphins]

These were some bulbs that we bought so I could get rid of them.  I won't get rid of the ones that the kids made when they were small or the ones that they are sentimental about.  I just need to move on to a cleaner house.

[TheOtherMe]

Nov 12, 2017 15:42:23 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

Why do we get sentimental about things?  I still have some Christmas decorations we bought for our first tree that I need to depart with.  I guess maybe it is just the memory of how excited the kids and I were to pick them out.  They are only things....they are only things...

When my sister and I went through the boxes of things mom had decided would not fit in their new apartment, we found all kinds of decorations from our growing up years.  I brought home the Hallmark Little Women decorations and my sister kept a few more because she decorates big time at Christmas.  

Of course when Christmas came around, mom wanted some of the bulbs we had tossed.  They were from the all blue tree when we were kids--over 40 years ago.  They were gone as neither one of us wanted them.