2021 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe, my home office is something I need to tackle again.  Perhaps we can encourage each other?     Specifically, filing needs to be done, the desktop cleared, the old home loan documents I asked about here a few months ago need to be shredded, and a few pieces of furniture arranged in order to make room for a comfy reading chair I'd like to eventually purchase.  Further down the road, I'd like to take a look at my books, and perhaps send some off to Decluttr (not a typo).

Glad your hand is healing, debthaven.  

startsmart, so glad you are enjoying NY!  I love that city in the fall.

Things are plugging along here.  I'm still nebulizing and coughing, but am upright.     Been keeping up on dishes at home, got my hair done yesterday, have my well-woman checkup this afternoon, and will pick up my new glasses tomorrow.  Taking care of business before winter hits.

[toomuchreality]

@iggy
I'm glad you're hanging in there.
I hope you're well again soon.

[debthaven]

I gave Job 1 my availability for second semester. As of January I'll be at school 3 days/week instead of 4 days/week (except for 3 weeks in April when the semester and summer term overlap). I'm looking forward to the easier schedule.

Laundry/kitches/dishes caught up. The play is this weekend.  

[TheOtherMe]

I can't wait for my house to be clean.  The cats can't figure out where their toys are.  

Cleaning lady has a new attitude towards Covid since it went through her house and her employees.  She said she finally understands my cautious attitude after seeing how sick they all were.

[seriousthistime]

Today's tasks:

--dining room shitepile/filing and recycling (in progress)
--plant the begonias
--evite for baby shower
--make and freeze soup
--drive food donations to drop-off
--start packing for trip
--vacuum
--laundry

Okay, the shitepile was almost gone, and then I added to it.  I was able to get rid of my two-drawer file cabinet which meant I had to relocate the files inside it.  I have a new file box, but now I need to go through the files.  I think there will be much recycling and shredding in the next few days, but I'm not there yet.

Question: are shitepiles ever really gone? 

I am the queen of living room throw pillows, out of necessity.  My dog liked to jump on the furniture and the way I could keep her off the two chairs was to block off the space with throw pillows.  Now that my poor pup has crossed the rainbow bridge I've removed the cloth cover protecting the sofa and all the throw pillows on the chairs. I'm enjoying the new look of the space, which keeps me from missing my dog too much. 

The throw pillows got tossed in the under-the-stairs closet. Soon, cleaning out that closet will become a task listed here.  

[anciana]

I have looked and looked! I actually found a bedroom set in the store we both liked but it doesn't come with king size bed, just queen   Then I found a bed on NextDoor that would work but it was priced to sell and gone by the time we messaged the seller. The search continues...

I am still planning on continuing with my mini-project this weekend since it shouldn't take too long, it could be done in a few hours of focused work. I am hoping it will give me the motivation and confidence to approach the dreaded basement this winter, finally. Hope I didn't jinx myself, lol.

We are having a beautiful autumn, it is so calming and I am hopeful, feel like I can breathe a tiny sigh of relief, maybe. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 11, 2021 15:22:39 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

@iggy
I'm glad you're hanging in there.
I hope you're well again soon.

Thank you so much, toomuchreality .  Per my request yesterday, the nurse practitioner checked my lungs for pneumonia.  Things are good with just a bit of congestion.  The rest of the appt went well.

debthaven , congratulations on a slower work schedule!  Break a leg this weekend.  

TheOtherMe , hope they found their toys.

Nice list, seriousthistime !  And   re: your pup.  And, I agree, I don't think certain piles ever completely go away.  At least the one on our kitchen peninsula and on my desk doesn't, LOL.

Last night I touched up the towels in the dryer while putting Halloween back into storage totes.  While in the storage closet, I double checked gift wrap inventory for next month.  This weekend I'll continue to take it easy and focus on the usual laundry and dishes.  The floors realllllllllyyyyyy need to be tended too, but I don't want to exacerbate the asthma.  For fun I am going to a neighbor's to have mimosas, donut holes, muffins, and strawberries with her and her twin boys.  The boys will get virgin mimosas.  

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.  I appreciate you.

ETA:  anciana , congratulations on finding a set you like!  ETA, ugh, sorry.  I read the next sentence.
 

[finnime]

The work crew is painting ceiling, wood trim including crown moldings and walls in my living room, stairwell and upstairs hall. They had to do some skim coating first and repair holes after removing the curtain rod holders. They're being very thorough and fastidious, covering everything with plastic tarp and taping it down first.

It's going to look sooo different.

[TheOtherMe]

Nov 12, 2021 10:38:16 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Question: are shitepiles ever really gone? 

Answer:  no, at least not in my house.  They seem to start building again once I have gone through things.

The cat toys were put away so the cleaner could clean without the toys being in the way.  They have been returned to the play area in the living room (of course) and all is well in the world of the cats.

I don't think I want to know why I found a cat toy (one of their favorite mice) sitting by the toilet last evening.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 12, 2021 15:03:39 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Nov 12, 2021 10:38:16 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Question: are shitepiles ever really gone? 

Answer:  no, at least not in my house.  They seem to start building again once I have gone through things.

The cat toys were put away so the cleaner could clean without the toys being in the way.  They have been returned to the play area in the living room (of course) and all is well in the world of the cats.

I don't think I want to know why I found a cat toy (one of their favorite mice) sitting by the toilet last evening.  

[TheOtherMe]

That was my reaction.   WTF is this doing there of all places!  

[debthaven]

Thank you Iggy aka IG !  Opening night went pretty well! There were a few flubbed lines but we did it!

There was a VERY long 10 min panic during our 15 min intermission when I put my (prop) handbag down on a chair in the dressing room and it DISAPPEARED!!! ALL of us spent 10 minutes looking for it, even the director! Suddenly one of the 2 hair/make-up ladies miraculously "found it" in the only place none of us had looked ...  

Where did G find it?! In the small part of the dressing room reserved ONLY for our street clothes. Apparently G had decided it was a "regular" handbag, not a prop. Even though it had my police cap and handcuffs sticking out!!! I KNOW the only reason G found it was that SHE put it away in the first place, but I can't prove it. The director thanked her for finding it, then told her not to touch ANYTHING else ANYWHERE besides hair and make up.

So glad things are moving forward so well finnime ... they sound like a fantastic crew!

PS A policewoman needs her cap and her handcuffs, right?! LOL.  

[stillmovingforward]

As long as DH plays along.....

[toomuchreality]

Nov 12, 2021 19:35:23 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Thank you Iggy aka IG !  Opening night went pretty well! There were a few flubbed lines but we did it!

There was a VERY long 10 min panic during our 15 min intermission when I put my (prop) handbag down on a chair in the dressing room and it DISAPPEARED!!! ALL of us spent 10 minutes looking for it, even the director! Suddenly one of the 2 hair/make-up ladies miraculously "found it" in the only place none of us had looked ...  

Where did G find it?! In the small part of the dressing room reserved ONLY for our street clothes. Apparently G had decided it was a "regular" handbag, not a prop. Even though it had my police cap and handcuffs sticking out!!! I KNOW the only reason G found it was that SHE put it away in the first place, but I can't prove it. The director thanked her for finding it, then told her not to touch ANYTHING else ANYWHERE besides hair and make up.

So glad things are moving forward so well finnime ... they sound like a fantastic crew!

PS A policewoman needs her cap and her handcuffs, right?! LOL.  

Other than the temporarily lost purse, it sounds like a good time!
Cuffs aand cap are definitely needed!

[empress of self-improvement]

Nov 12, 2021 15:23:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

That was my reaction.   WTF is this doing there of all places!  

BTDT. With the twits, I kept finding the toys in the bathroom and the kitchen. Those 2 nerds had the biggest fondness for my shoes, kept in a pile by the kitchen door, and I'd keep finding the toys there. And flip flops scattered around where they had been using them for pillows.

[TheOtherMe]

I keep shoes on a ledge by the stairs to the basement.  They take great pleasure in knocking them off and watching it hit each step on the way down.  One shoe at a time.  Good thing there are only 3 pair of shoes there.  

[startsmart]

I am home from New York and had a great trip! There are a few client issues that I need to resolve that came up separate from this work trip but all that will happen next week. 

I was able to get my grocery shopping done yesterday and think that will keep me for the rest of the month. 

My big project right now (aside from continuing to empty the dang pool!) is to move as much as I can upstairs to really make space in the garage before winter and downstairs. I am continuing to paint my closet so all the clothes I don't regularly wear in winter are upstairs on a clothing rack. When I tried to move the rack downstairs I discovered it is too big to fit out the door of the room its in so it stays there until I can disassemble it. 

Slowly making trips upstairs with items going into storage for now and cleaning up the first floor. Since I have never been the type of person to go to clubs or bars, even in NYC, I ended up watching a lot of Hoarders on my trip and it has motivated me to get to cleaning. 

For those of you who enjoyed my quilt tops, I have started on the final one which is black, white and gray and my goal to finish that one is the end of November. It's coming along really fast, in part because I have much more variety in fabric pieces. I started it on the plane to New York and pieced 325 pieces before getting home (33% of the total 980 pieces). 

[toomuchreality]

Nov 13, 2021 13:29:46 GMT -5 startsmart said:

I am home from New York and had a great trip! There are a few client issues that I need to resolve that came up separate from this work trip but all that will happen next week. 

I was able to get my grocery shopping done yesterday and think that will keep me for the rest of the month. 

My big project right now (aside from continuing to empty the dang pool!) is to move as much as I can upstairs to really make space in the garage before winter and downstairs. I am continuing to paint my closet so all the clothes I don't regularly wear in winter are upstairs on a clothing rack. When I tried to move the rack downstairs I discovered it is too big to fit out the door of the room its in so it stays there until I can disassemble it. 

Slowly making trips upstairs with items going into storage for now and cleaning up the first floor. Since I have never been the type of person to go to clubs or bars, even in NYC, I ended up watching a lot of Hoarders on my trip and it has motivated me to get to cleaning. 

For those of you who enjoyed my quilt tops, I have started on the final one which is black, white and gray and my goal to finish that one is the end of November. It's coming along really fast, in part because I have much more variety in fabric pieces. I started it on the plane to New York and pieced 325 pieces before getting home (33% of the total 980 pieces). 

I admire you for being able to complete these projects. They're beautiful!

[startsmart]

Pool is empty! I also got it flipped up and on its side for cleaning. I’ve put myself in time out for further tasks today after 3 injuries and 4 bandaids.

It’s debatable if I’ll risk making dinner tonight.

[movinonup]

Hi everyone. 

It's been almost nine years that I've been posting on these boards.  I figure it's time to post in this thread.  We've been moving our stuff back into our house after a home renovation which is mostly done.  When I found myself moving a giant laundry bag full of unfolded socks, I decided it needed to be addressed.  I have 70 pairs of socks that I matched up that are sitting in a basket waiting for my son to decide which to keep and which to donate.  I also folded about another 20 pairs for my wife.  Maybe about the same for myself.  That's over 200  socks! And there is still a bunch left!  I keep finding stray socks as I move stuff from where we were staying to our house, so when I get them washed, they will be matched up with a partner.  I lay the socks out on four drying racks and try to match them up.  It's torture.  Some of them haven't been worn in at least 15 years.  I know because they are toddler socks for my son who is now in college. 

In addition to getting the socks under control, I have been generally organizing and donating what I can.  Four bags of clothes and sheets in the last three weeks were donated.  Also three boxes of children's books were donated to a local Catholic school.  I guess I should start counting how much crap I get rid of.  How does this work?  Is a pair of socks one item or two?  Do I count every piece of paper?  I guess it doesn't really matter.  I'll be able to measure my progress by how much less stuff I have around me.  

-movinonup

[debthaven]

Welcome to the thread movinonup !

I can't help you with the counting because I don't count ...

[TheOtherMe]

I no longer count either but I know by the open space I now have that I have gotten rid of a lot, especially in the last 6 months.

[moneysquirrel]

Good morning all,

movinonup -- Welcome.  I count things but I like numbers and it gives me a sense of accomplishment.  You can count things as you see fit.
debthaven -- You are almost done with this semester.  And the play seems to be going well.
startsmart -- Your quilts are beautiful.  You said that this new one is the last of the series.  Do you have a new project in mind -- quilt wise that is?
TheOtherMe -- Hope all is going well.  Your work with the organizer seems to have been successful.
Knee Deep in Water Chloe -- Continuing to keep you and your DH in my thoughts.
finnime -- you seem to be getting so much done in preparation for your move.

Laundry has been started.  Thnigs are about the usual.  No additional work done on the house. House is picked up and work will be needed in the craft room.  Putting things away as I finish projects but a good deep cleaning and reorganization will be needed at that time.  

I am not going to be responsible for Thanksgiving this year.  My DIL wants to do it and I am both grateful and disappointed.  I will probabily do my "thanksgiving" meal a little later so that I can have a few once a year favorites this year.

Only two more craft fairs in December and then I think that my friend and I will be finished for 2021.  I do need to send in the check to reserve our spot for the last one this week.  Also have to remake one earring that has been popular this year.  Don't think that I will sell any additional ones this year but I will need them for next year anyway so I wll work on them in the next few days just in case.  We will be doing at least two in the spring that we usually do but there may be an additional one or two as well.  Spring shows are not as successful as the fall ones.

Only 4 more weeks of classes and then I will be finished until sometime in January again.  Got my notes ready for this week and just need to make copies for my few students.  And i just need to update the last few pages of notes for the semester prior to those classes.  

I need to come up with a new list.  

Wishing all a good week.  Will check in as I can.

[debthaven]

The play is over. It went well! As always it is bittersweet ... we're all happy to get our lives back, but we also really miss each other. 

Nothing on the agenda this week except for work and laundry/kitchen/dishes. It's my last week of PT. I'm working 5 days this week, but I start late on Monday and Tuesday. I'm working from home on Friday. 

The next two weeks are rough weeks. But I won't have any rehearsals! 

PS I unpacked the 3 bags I brought home from the theater: props, clothes, food. Second/last load is in the machine.

[startsmart]

Moneysquirrel - yes! When this series of quilts is done I will work on the random one which is going to be king sized and then I begin on some holiday themed ones.

Now that the pool is empty and cleaned off I could work on the new base. Moved 16 bags of sand and put down weed blocker and sand for the pool. I still need to move the pool back and then put in the border and stepping stones.

Got my laundry done today (4 loads) and I’m slowly putting it all away. I have a bunch of stuff to move upstairs but working on it slowly since I kept injuring myself in dumb ways.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

[bean29]

Well, we made some progress on the garage, but while we moved some stuff to the curb for a community junk pickup...I moved a box of books, Nintendo parts, games, movies and miscellaneous stuff inside.  DD's night stand, which we will move into her bedroom or the "spare" bedroom which is in flux...we plan to flip the purpose of the two rooms.  Her Vacuum cleaner, which she did not take when she left, and some drawer parts to her Ikea desk which need to be assembled (she took the desk w/o the drawer.  I told DH to look at his vacuum at the office and decide if he wants the vacuum or if we want to give it to DS (I am pretty sure he did not buy one yet).  I told DH that DD is interviewing for a job out east - so it is unlikely she will take the vacuum.  I am dreading more of her stuff landing back at my house.  My DS needs a sofa - he has been living in his house for 4 months and has not purchased one yet.  DD bought a new one in July - I am thinking if her roommate does not want to buy it from her, DS should take it.

The manager interviewing for the job told DD he wants to interview this week and have the person in place by Dec 2nd.  If DD gets the offer and accepts that timeline will only work if they provide temporary housing.  DD also said her Management would be way short handed if she left that soon, she said they would likely try to delay it until Jan 1st at least.

On top of that issue, my DH talked to me about selling the house to get $$ for an investment opportunity.  This is about 2 years out, so not an immediate thing.  I told him he will need to start decentering and doing maintenance if he wants to put the house up for sale.  

I realized on my way to work today that DD should look at the books and others she still has on a shelf in the basement and decide if they are appropriate for a teen girl, she can gift them to her Cousin's DD.  They just bought a new house and they have a beautiful library room with built in bookcases.

We have a coffee table and a TV Stand in the garage that are too good to have put on the curb.  DH also had some parts for can lights.  Since Goodwill is no longer taking furniture we will take to the Habitat RE-Store.  I just could not bring myself to put it out for the garbage, I feel guilty as it is destructive to the environment.  DH has a truck, so he will take it over to the restore.  There is not one close to our house right by the Big Box Hardware stores.  Problem is I know it is unlikely my DH won't go shopping while he is there.

I moved my shredder upstairs from my temporary office.  Turning off the mailed statements on my HSA, just realized this weekend that they are charging me $5 to send a statement!  I guess I should look at my statements more often, I don't know when that started.  

[seriousthistime]

Nov 12, 2021 10:38:16 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Today's tasks:

--dining room shitepile/filing and recycling (in progress)
--plant the begonias
--finish packing for trip
--finish vacuuming
--ATM stop

My airport shuttle picks me up at 6 a.m. tomorrow.  My goal is to be able to roll out of bed, make the bed, get myself clean, get dressed, and meet the shuttle.  I think I can do it.  I may not have ever done it before, but I think this time may be different.  

[anciana]

Nov 12, 2021 12:58:20 GMT -5 anciana said:

I have looked and looked! I actually found a bedroom set in the store we both liked but it doesn't come with king size bed, just queen   Then I found a bed on NextDoor that would work but it was priced to sell and gone by the time we messaged the seller. The search continues...

I am still planning on continuing with my mini-project this weekend since it shouldn't take too long, it could be done in a few hours of focused work. I am hoping it will give me the motivation and confidence to approach the dreaded basement this winter, finally. Hope I didn't jinx myself, lol.

We are having a beautiful autumn, it is so calming and I am hopeful, feel like I can breathe a tiny sigh of relief, maybe. 

Yup, sure enough, jinxed myself. It was erroneous to think I could relax a bit. I was not able to channel all of the anxiousness into cleaning, instead I spent a few hours just sitting and fretting. I did the usual weekend chores and managed to add a few small ones. But the mini-project didn't happen. Maybe next weekend.

[debthaven]

Good luck and safe trip seriousthistime !