2019 - Organize Your Life & Declutter Your Stuff

[startsmart]

Thank you everyone. It’s been a rough 24 hours but I am comforted by the fact that she was not alone (a real fear since she lived alone at home until 6 months ago) and not in pain. She had also passed when a relative showed up and started rifling through her belongings, looking for jewelry (while her body was still in the room).

We are deciding how to handle the service and my preference is to ask grandmas neighbor, who is a police officer, to bring some of his friends to help us keep the peace.

It’s likely we won’t have the service for a few weeks more.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 27, 2019 15:08:46 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Thank you everyone. It’s been a rough 24 hours but I am comforted by the fact that she was not alone (a real fear since she lived alone at home until 6 months ago) and not in pain. She had also passed when a relative showed up and started rifling through her belongings, looking for jewelry (while her body was still in the room).

We are deciding how to handle the service and my preference is to ask grandmas neighbor, who is a police officer, to bring some of his friends to help us keep the peace.

It’s likely we won’t have the service for a few weeks more.

Wow.  To make matters worse.  

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 27, 2019 15:08:46 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Thank you everyone. It’s been a rough 24 hours but I am comforted by the fact that she was not alone (a real fear since she lived alone at home until 6 months ago) and not in pain. She had also passed when a relative showed up and started rifling through her belongings, looking for jewelry (while her body was still in the room).

We are deciding how to handle the service and my preference is to ask grandmas neighbor, who is a police officer, to bring some of his friends to help us keep the peace.

It’s likely we won’t have the service for a few weeks more.

Unless I misread this I think someone needs to have the locks on all doors changed post haste. And have someone - whoever - stay/guard the house during service. Geeze people never cease to amaze me.

[debthaven]

That's just unbelievable.

[startsmart]

Jan 27, 2019 16:02:00 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Jan 27, 2019 15:08:46 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Thank you everyone. It’s been a rough 24 hours but I am comforted by the fact that she was not alone (a real fear since she lived alone at home until 6 months ago) and not in pain. She had also passed when a relative showed up and started rifling through her belongings, looking for jewelry (while her body was still in the room).

We are deciding how to handle the service and my preference is to ask grandmas neighbor, who is a police officer, to bring some of his friends to help us keep the peace.

It’s likely we won’t have the service for a few weeks more.

Unless I misread this I think someone needs to have the locks on all doors changed post haste. And have someone - whoever - stay/guard the house during service. Geeze people never cease to amaze me.

She was in an assisted living home so the director quickly noticed the intrusion and made her leave. Thankfully the staff had taken jewelry off for safe keeping already and my dad is there now removing the furniture and family effects as they charge by the day, even after someone has passed, so we needed to clear the room.

[debthaven]

Seems wrong that your dad has to rush to do that too. You'd think they'd give the family a few days.

[debthaven]

I did nothing today except go to the farmers' market with DH.

I have 41 short summaries coming in on Tues but I doubt I'll get to them before the weekend.

Lines are ongoing (with the occasional day off).

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 27, 2019 16:04:51 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Jan 27, 2019 16:02:00 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Unless I misread this I think someone needs to have the locks on all doors changed post haste. And have someone - whoever - stay/guard the house during service. Geeze people never cease to amaze me.

She was in an assisted living home so the director quickly noticed the intrusion and made her leave. Thankfully the staff had taken jewelry off for safe keeping already and my dad is there now removing the furniture and family effects as they charge by the day, even after someone has passed, so we needed to clear the room.

Gotcha. Thought she was in her home.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I have complete two deep cleaning chores, swept the kitchen, walked the dog, and gone to the gym. 
I need to do four more deep cleaning chores today. It's sunny out again, so I'll work on the front porch deep cleaning. 
Then, I need to prepare for the week. 

[laterbloomer]

So I've done 2 meetings and made supper today. I've given up on getting my nails done today. I must get the AP work done tonight. I'd like to get the bookkeeping done tonight but I can live if it is done tomorrow.

[laterbloomer]

Jan 27, 2019 15:08:46 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Thank you everyone. It’s been a rough 24 hours but I am comforted by the fact that she was not alone (a real fear since she lived alone at home until 6 months ago) and not in pain. She had also passed when a relative showed up and started rifling through her belongings, looking for jewelry (while her body was still in the room).

We are deciding how to handle the service and my preference is to ask grandmas neighbor, who is a police officer, to bring some of his friends to help us keep the peace.

It’s likely we won’t have the service for a few weeks more.

I have one of those families too. Aren't they fun? Thinking of you and sending good thoughts.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 27, 2019 16:04:51 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Jan 27, 2019 16:02:00 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Unless I misread this I think someone needs to have the locks on all doors changed post haste. And have someone - whoever - stay/guard the house during service. Geeze people never cease to amaze me.

She was in an assisted living home so the director quickly noticed the intrusion and made her leave. Thankfully the staff had taken jewelry off for safe keeping already and my dad is there now removing the furniture and family effects as they charge by the day, even after someone has passed, so we needed to clear the room.

Thankful that your Grandma was in assisted living and had the jewelry in safe keeping.  

If we move dad to assisted living, we will be in the same shoes as your dad as they charge by the day.

In independent living, we will need to get his stuff out ASAP because that is when the rent will end.  Not sure we will be able to get everything out the next day while making arrangements, etc.  

[TheOtherMe]

I remember my mom and aunts carrying on about the people they hired to take care of my grandparents pretty much stole everything in their very modest home.  This was back in the 1960's, so not much in the way of regulation.  

It's terrible for strangers who you are paying or family members to try to steal from elderly people. 

Some of the arrests that happen around here for financial elderly abuse is heart breaking.  

Since I did the rep payee volunteering and had to account for every penny my clients received and what money was spent, I was in the habit of saving every receipt for them.

I'm now doing the same thing for dad--for any money that is spent, whether he signs the check or my sister or I do.  Must have a receipt to back it up.  I file those all away.

I got some of my rep payee clients because their "loving" children were stealing their money.

[chapeau]

People make me sick. I very much hope there is a very special hell for people who do things like that.

[debthaven]

At our friend's dinner last night, one friend mentioned that people were scamming his elderly dad. OK, not exactly scamming, but definitely taking advantage of him.

They got him to join a "very exclusive wine club". This time the dad's cleaner was there, she called our friend. While our friend didn't make it there before his Dad wrote the next check (the wine seller had left) our friend should finally be able to cancel his dad's "subscription" (they have 15 days to cancel, but generally the elderly realize their children don't approve of their "investment" and hide it from them).

The EXACT same thing happened to another friend's grandmother. The grandmother and her sister (my friend's aunt) lived on the same street and both fell victim to a man. He used to tell each one, oh, you're only buying (A or B?) That's fine, no problem! But clearly your sister is much more of a wine connaisseur than you, because she's buying Y and Z.

So these two poor very elderly sisters would both try to outdo each other, purchasing cases of expensive wines that nobody would drink because they were both too old to entertain.

The crazy thing is I heard about N's Dad last night, but I heard about C's grandmother and aunt about 15 years ago! So clearly, this scam is still going on here!

I agree, I hope there is a special circle of hell for these vultures.

My ex's grandmother was a victim of another scam. She moved from Paris to the south of France with her recently retired DH, he died within 2 months. They found a "lady taxi driver". All these elderly widows were just thrilled to find this wonderful, kind, attentive woman that they felt safe with. The taxi driver would take them into the building and up to their apartment, and they'd write her a check.

The next time, she'd tell them, no problem! No rush! But just a gentle reminder, you never paid me for last week's ride. They were all mortified, so they'd write another check.

I don't know the details (because I was divorced from my ex by then) but I think my ex FIL managed to send her to jail.

[paynointerest]

Today I went through my closets at home and removed additional shirts/sweaters that I have not worn in over 3 years or ones that "don't bring my joy" to follow the Marie Kondo philosophy.  I wonder since grading projects doesn't bring me joy if I can just throw those out

I'm trying to have a new approach to completing my "work 'to do' list" and that is focusing on one task at a time until it is done. I have a bad habit of finishing part of a task and then taking on a new task and then getting behind. So this week the task was getting my student projects graded and 4 more recommendation letters written.  I graded all of the resume and wrote 2 recommendation letters.  I hope to get the other two done tonight.  Then I'll focus on house items.

Home Office

• Shred documents that are over 10 years old and no longer needed
• Organize my tax documents
• Clean off my desk

Home Kitchen

Focus on making meals that use ingredients that have been sitting in my cabinets/freezer for a long time

• Use the lentils/split peas
  
• Use frozen meat that have been in freezer for almost a year
  
• Use frozen mixed veggies, throw out old veggies
• Use a can of beans and rest of farro
  
• Use rice noodles
  
• Use sauces 
  

Get rid of cooking items that I don't use anymore

• Clean out misc items drawer (far left)
  
• Clean out and organizing baking pans cabinet
  

Work office

• Throw out papers that are over 5 years old that I will never read again
• Shred old exams cluttering my file drawers
• Organize my files related to the program I direct -- throw out any unnecessary paper work
• Organize the files on my desktop computer
• Throw out t-shirts
  

Home (misc)

• Recycle magazines that I have not read in years
• Organize photo albums and donate or throw away albums that are not filled
• Donate books that won't be read or are no longer needed 
• Organize the linen closet
• Get rid of old paint
  
• Organize my t-shirt drawer
• Recycle / shred unneeded papers (phase 1)
• Get rid of clothes/shoes that I have not worn in years or are no longer in style
• Take bag full of clothes/kitchen items, etc to local charity store
  

It is funny how my declutter/organization list seems to grow each time I post.

[debthaven]

paynointerest you're doing an amazing job!

If ever you feel that your list is getting too long/overwhelming, remember that you can choose to post shorter lists too. I get overwhelmed easily so I never post very long lists.

I ordered two more pairs of pants. I had 5 pairs in my size. After 2 months at the same size I decided to buy 2 more pairs. They arrived yesterday. I thought 5 pairs was enough but one pair was much more comfortable than the others, so I ordered that pair in two other colors. I still have to go through my spring/summer pants but I'll do that in the spring. The winter tops/sweaters are all fine.

[startsmart]

TheOtherMe - it’s definitely difficult to think about immediately after someone dies but it’s also reality. My dad only lives a few hours away and has a truck and trailer so he and my uncle had already discussed dad taking care of the few pieces of furniture there (2 dressers and a small couch). Grandma moved to a hospital bed in October and the majority of her things were at the house.

The person who showed up to loot from a dead woman was my grandma’s daughter. My aunt never visited in the last 2 years despite living in town but was there immediately after she passed. We required security at my grandad’s funeral 8 years ago because of my aunt and last year my cousin had guards at her wedding to keep her mother out.

It’s definitely a sad situation and so bad some family members don’t want to have a service at all. The rest of us think it’s only right to honor grandma and her life and thankfully, once the estate is settled, none of us have to speak to my aunt ever again.

My grandma did get “scammed” once a year ago. She had sent cash to pay the taxes for a car she “won” but since the Post Office had the receiving address on lockdown she got the money back (it was a few thousand dollars). After that my uncle forwarded her calls and mail so he could handle everything and she was getting dozens of calls and letters each day. When grandma told me about it she just cried and cried and it took a couple hours to get her to the point of forgiving herself.

[Lizard Queen]

I took a bunch of excess black Friday purchases back to JCP finally today. It was a big thing I was procrastinating about. My kids needed clothes, and it got confusing with all the various deals going on. I still have some work clothes that I need to figure out if I want to reorder a different size, keep, or simply return. I don't love having to dress up for work 4 days a week. I used to dress up a couple days a year at the most.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 27, 2019 18:51:51 GMT -5 startsmart said:

TheOtherMe - it’s definitely difficult to think about immediately after someone dies but it’s also reality. My dad only lives a few hours away and has a truck and trailer so he and my uncle had already discussed dad taking care of the few pieces of furniture there (2 dressers and a small couch). Grandma moved to a hospital bed in October and the majority of her things were at the house.

The person who showed up to loot from a dead woman was my grandma’s daughter. My aunt never visited in the last 2 years despite living in town but was there immediately after she passed. We required security at my grandad’s funeral 8 years ago because of my aunt and last year my cousin had guards at her wedding to keep her mother out.

It’s definitely a sad situation and so bad some family members don’t want to have a service at all. The rest of us think it’s only right to honor grandma and her life and thankfully, once the estate is settled, none of us have to speak to my aunt ever again.

My grandma did get “scammed” once a year ago. She had sent cash to pay the taxes for a car she “won” but since the Post Office had the receiving address on lockdown she got the money back (it was a few thousand dollars). After that my uncle forwarded her calls and mail so he could handle everything and she was getting dozens of calls and letters each day. When grandma told me about it she just cried and cried and it took a couple hours to get her to the point of forgiving herself.

I think my BIL had his mother's things moved out of her room at the nursing home the same day she passed.  All she had by then were her clothes.  She would have gone on Medicaid the next month after she passed, so the clothes were the entire estate.

If we get in to a crunch, I think niece's husband and two of the nephews would get dad's belongings to sister's place until we could get to them.

Mom could easily have gotten scammed.  Dad is always wanting to put cash in birthday cards that will be mailed.  He can't hear well enough to get scammed.  That's the only good thing about his being so deaf.  He also has no credit cards and no way to get to a bank without calling somebody.

As long as your grandmother wanted to have a funeral, then a funeral should be held.  I have expressed to my executor and in my will that I do not want a funeral for me.  

I'm sorry for the problems with your aunt.  

[laterbloomer]

- get a bunch of AP done for work

- get my report done for a volunteer gig I do

- get a second report done for another volunteer gig

- vacuum and mop the floors

- do my laundry

- get my nails done

- grocery shop


Half my list isn't really great. Maybe I'll get my other volunteer report done tonight, but I kind of doubt it. If I can do that I can get my nails done tomorrow evening and do the floors. We'll see.

[nidena]

AARP's magazine and newsletter do a great job of sharing articles about the various scams and whatnot.  One that I read about last year and the info came in handy when I was visiting my dad over the holidays was the "grandchild in jail" one.  My dad answered the phone and it was a scammer saying that "your grandson" is in jail.  And Dad's yelling into the phone: "J!  J!  Are you there?"  Basically, Dad gave the scammer my nephew's name but, thankfully, the phone call ended very shortly after that.  The scammer was saying that "he's in jail in Orange County."  Do you know how many Orange Counties there are?  Many.

Anyhow, if you're a magazine reader, I recommend AARP's publications.

The migraine, yesterday, lasted until about 2am, even with two rounds of meds taken at 8pm and 9:30pm.  Missed class this morning but will be going to the one this afternoon.  There'll be some homework to fit into the gaps in between appointments and classes.

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh’s 31 Days to Get Organized Challenge:


Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.

Day 2 - Shoes. Gather all of your shoes up from your closet. If they have dust on them, don’t fit, etc, put them in your donate bin. Only keep shoes you love, wear, and that fit you well.

Day 3 - Home Safety. Being organized is not just about closets and files, it's also about ensuring the best life for you and your family. The New Year is a great time to check smoke detectors in your home. Make this your 10 minute challenge for the day and make your family a little safer in the process!

Day 4 - This year’s challenge Mantra is “No more later” aka stop procrastinating. Today's challenge is to contact someone, preferably by phone, that you’ve been putting off. It could be a friend, family member, for more coworker, etc, but do it today!

Day 5 - The Junk Drawer.

Day 6 - Holiday Decorations. The holidays are over and it's time for the decorations to come down.

Day 7 - Bathroom cabinets! Pick one bathroom cabinet, and get rid of anything too old, expired or you don’t use, and put everything away in its proper space.

Day 8 - Plastic Food Storage Containers.

Day 9 - Hanging Clothes. In his video, he says that anything that has dust on it needs to go.

Day 10 - the mail. If you have mail pretty much all over your house then today's the day we're going to get that sorted out.

Day 11 - under the sink.

Day 12 - Clear out old magazines, catalogs, flyers, etc.

Day 13 - Gift wrap

Day 14 - space underneath your bed

Day 15 - Getting the fridge & freezer organized.

Day 16 - "The Lower Third Technique"! (For those notmwatchint the videos on Facebook, it’s basically to take a stack or pile of clothing and focus on the bottom 1/3 of the stack, as you’ll likely find you can donate most of that part of the pile).

Day 17 - Bills & Receipts.

Day 18 - back in the kitchen dealing with the cupboard that holds your cups and mugs.

Day 19 - Today I challenge you to tackle just one small area of your garage... it's all about just getting started!

Day 20 - has us back in the kitchen with a challenge about keeping flat surfaces clear.

Day 21 - Books (Don't start screaming yet)! This is always an emotional topic! I love books too but if your books are never going to be read and are covered in dust, perhaps today's the day to deal with them.

Day 22 - Linen Cupboard. Towels, sheets, blankets and more!

Day 23 - all about your "unmentionables"... and your socks too! Let's go where no other organizer will go... ten minutes and you'll be amazed at the result!

Day 24 - cleaning products.

Day 25 - that drawer (or container) in your kitchen where you keep your kitchen utensils.

Day 26 - all about cookbooks and recipes and cooking magazines.

Day 27 - Take out your phone and clear out the stuff that makes it harder for you to use your phone as efficiently as possible!

Day 28 of #31Days2GetOrganized has us dealing with that one storage space that pretty much everyone has neglected. It might be that cabinet in the kitchen, or cupboard in the garage, or shelf in the basement. Clutter collects in the dark... today's the day to shine a little light. Let's tackle just one storage space and do a little decluttering. #ItsAllTooMuch #LetItGo

#31Days2GetOrganized

[mollyanna58]

Yesterday, I cleared off the dining room table, and washed and replaced the tablecloth. Also a little general cleaning. A few more boxes and things out of the attic, including one box that a squirrel or something had stored nuts in.  I also found a basket that can be used for the dogs' toy basket, since Liberty chewed up the last one, after she chewed up all the toys. 

[debthaven]

They are expecting a LOT amount of snow here on Tuesday night. Since Wed rehearsal may be cancelled again, they added another Sat afternoon rehearsal. Argh. I'm already working Sat morning (required annual training for Job 3). And I'll have those 41 essays to mark.

I emptied the dishwasher and did a load of laundry after work today.

Just trying to keep up with the essentials (laundry/kitchen/work). Shitepile is growing alas.

[TheOtherMe]

Since I didn't want to put a half empty 30 gallon bag of trash on the curb, I went through a couple of drawers in my dressers.  Why I moved some of those clothes, I do not know.  They are not only out of style and don't fit, they are not in good enough shape to donate.  So they are gone.

It's so cold and windy that I don't want to put the recycling out so I have started a recycling box in the garage.  The bin is full.

[laterbloomer]

- get a bunch of AP done for work

- get my report done for a volunteer gig I do

- get a second report done for another volunteer gig

- vacuum and mop the floors

- do my laundry

- get my nails done

- grocery shop


I got my other volunteer report done. I won't be at that meeting this Saturday because I will be in Jamaica!!! They get the Year End Report and the Proposed Budget to approve without me there. I don't really regret that with this group. They are a bunch of micromanagers

I will get my nails done tomorrow or Wednesday after work and I might just leave the floors for ISO and the girls. I have most of my packing done already. Okay, I'm feeling almost ready to leave

[countrygirl2]

Thank you everyone. It’s been a rough 24 hours but I am comforted by the fact that she was not alone (a real fear since she lived alone at home until 6 months ago) and not in pain. She had also passed when a relative showed up and started rifling through her belongings, looking for jewelry (while her body was still in the room).

That is just so sad, goes on all the time.

All the places I know of charge by the day.  We had to hurry and move MIL from one facility to the other to stop charges.  Though the one place you paid for the month, no refunds we found out.  

I haven't gotten rid of anything last couple of days, haven't been up to it.  We hope to get the Christmas tree down tomorrow and in the basement.  I took a few bulbs off today.

[sheilaincali]

Didn't have the most successful decluttering weekend BUT we did get a few things done.

We installed the backsplash in the kitchen and discovered the original formica countertops under the bland white overlay they did when we were demo-ing them. We were able to save the originals- still scraping glue off of them but they look really good and now I'll be able to return the butcher block countertops I bought from Ikea (hello $400 back).

Hauled a load of stuff to the dumpster- old sink from the Boy's bathroom. Empty boxes, old sink from the kitchen, misc. trash. Not a lot but 5 larger items. Also have my old garbage disposal in the back of my car- a co-worker wants it since it still works but is huge and took up half of my under sink area. Because we have a 70 year old house with 70 year old plumbing we very rarely use the garbage disposal anyway so the much smaller one the Hubs installed will work fine.

Friend picking up the Boy's furniture asked to delay to this weekend- it was snowing Saturday and she isn't a fan of driving in the snow. I don't blame her.

The Hubs is traveling for work this week so I'm hoping to use the time to do a bit of decluttering but honestly it's balls cold here (Minnesota) and mostly I just want to Netflix under a blanket.

[busymom]

I am sorry for your loss, startsmart.     And, also sorry that vultures move so quickly on the departed.



Not much progress here, as I am dealing with an allergic reaction to a drug I was told to take after the first appointment on my root canal (complete with bright pink, itchy skin).  But, since I had to go to the doctor, and use the scale, I'm pleased to report I've lost 9 pounds.