2021 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[Sharon]

I was up early and did a pretty good grocery run.  Serious work is needed on my eating habits with everything going with moving etc I have eaten way too much fast/junk food over the past several months.

It is supposed to be really windy today so the rest of the day will be devoted to cleaning and more unpacking.  During breaks I will work on finishing DGS2's Christmas stocking.

[TheOtherMe]

My big goal this weekend is to get all of the remaining Christmas cards ready to mail on Monday.  

It's a big job this year as I am sending out Family Group Sheets to everyone with a SASE to return the information with the option to email it to me.  I hope I get a lot of cooperation.  I've put a lot of work in to this.  Some know how time consuming it is and others have no idea.

[Lizard Queen]

The kids have a spirit week next week at school, with a theme for clothes each day. They both have PJ day Monday. TT's got a ton of PJ's, but his Christmas ones are too small. He really wanted to wear them despite this, so I promised to buy new ones instead. However, this lead to me going through his entire PJ drawer and purging. My kids have little patience, so I only do one drawer at a time.

Anyway, we were able to pull out half as too small, making way for new ones and making it easier to put all of them away now.

[debthaven]

I'm sorry I haven't read here for days. My DS2 was in a hit-and-run road rage incident on Wednesday night. DS2 was on his scooter. The driver that wasn't happy with DS2 purposely smashed into him with his car and fled!!! DS2's lower leg and foot are badly broken. 

DS2 was taken to a fabulous hospital for orthopedics, thank Gd. He should make a full recovery but as you can imagine it's been hell. They caught the guy (witnesses took down his plates), he's in jail. The judge refused bail. 

DS2 lives in a 4th floor walk-up, so he'll come here when he leaves the hospital on Monday. He's bedridden, in great pain, and quite traumatized.

I'm supposed to work 5 days next week but I won't leave him alone all day. I was supposed to WFH 2 days and be at school 3 days. As of now I'm WFH 3 days and at school 2 shorter days, but next week's schedule still a work in progress. 

Our boiler is broken, so we've had no heat or hot water since Friday. They couldn't come Friday, and I HAD to go to E's PhD defense and to the hospital. They're coming Monday morning. We need the heat back on before DS2 gets home! 

The ONLY good news this week is that as of Friday, E is now Dr E.   She cried, I cried, her mom cried, even her thesis advisor cried.  

Off to catch up.

[debthaven]

Thank you, debt, for bringing up alternatives, back then, so that I was more receptive today.

So happy I could help nidena ! What option did you go for instead? 

[nidena]

Dec 11, 2021 19:19:09 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Thank you, debt, for bringing up alternatives, back then, so that I was more receptive today.

So happy I could help nidena ! What option did you go for instead? 

It'll be something like this chair and a half but with a sleeper.  I ordered one from the store for my front room and decided to get a similar item, just in different colors for the library/computer room.

[nidena]

Dec 11, 2021 19:00:39 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I'm sorry I haven't read here for days. My DS2 was in a hit-and-run road rage incident on Wednesday night. DS2 was on his scooter. The driver that wasn't happy with DS2 purposely smashed into him with his car and fled!!! DS2's lower leg and foot are badly broken. 

DS2 was taken to a fabulous hospital for orthopedics, thank Gd. He should make a full recovery but as you can imagine it's been hell. They caught the guy (witnesses took down his plates), he's in jail. The judge refused bail. 

DS2 lives in a 4th floor walk-up, so he'll come here when he leaves the hospital on Monday. He's bedridden, in great pain, and quite traumatized.

I'm supposed to work 5 days next week but I won't leave him alone all day. I was supposed to WFH 2 days and be at school 3 days. As of now I'm WFH 3 days and at school 2 shorter days, but next week's schedule still a work in progress. 

Our boiler is broken, so we've had no heat or hot water since Friday. They couldn't come Friday, and I HAD to go to E's PhD defense and to the hospital. They're coming Monday morning. We need the heat back on before DS2 gets home! 

The ONLY good news this week is that as of Friday, E is now Dr E.   She cried, I cried, her mom cried, even her thesis advisor cried.  

Off to catch up.

  That's terrible about DS2.  Once he's healed a bit physically, I would suggest talking to someone.  Flashbacks to getting hit on/by a vehicle are no joke.  I got hit by a pickup when I was on my bicycle at the young age of 14.  There were nightmares for many weeks.

[debthaven]

Thank you nidena , that's a really good point. There is clearly trauma there ... he really didn't want to come here rather than go to his own apartment (again, 4th floor walk up). Yet when he found out I was scheduled to be out ALL day the following day, he was very upset. (I've now changed that long day to a shorter day, but will probably decide to go with my boss's suggestion to just skip it. I finally informed her late tonight. She's also a good friend but I only informed her tonight because I just couldn't deal with any more calls or texts.)

I LOVE the alternative you found! Plus it's a HUGE savings! 

[laterbloomer]

Today went really fast for some reason. I did manage to get things done though. I hemmed 2 pair of pants for ISO. Since I had the sewing machine out I took in 2 tops that I'm hoping to keep despite my weight loss. I got my hair done, the colour had to be done this time. I got to visit with a good friend I haven"t seen in a few months at the hairdressers, that was so nice. And I did my laundry and made garlic shrimp for supper. The thing I like most about today is that I never felt rushed, I like productive days like that.

[laterbloomer]

debthaven your poor son!! I am so glad the guy is in jail!

[debthaven]

Thanks laterbloomer . 

The police called DS2 when they found him, to give DS2 his name, so DS2 could sue him. DS2 works in digital marketing so he immediately looked the guy up. The guy is a member of a formally disbanded, newly-reenacted anti-Muslim white supremacy group. 

My ex is French/Jewish/Moroccan. DS2 looks Moroccan. DS2 described how this very white French guy plowed into him with a huge smile on his face.

So there's all that to deal with as well, ie the lawsuit. But that's later, I just pray that DS2 heals.  He's extremely athletic so the idea of 6 weeks in a cast is just hell for him. 

Every time I go to sleep I have nightmares, so I haven't really slept since Wednesday. Clearly I've been pretty f*cked up by this too. 

I won't make any decisions tonight but I think I'm going to go with my boss's suggestion to just skip that Tuesday meeting altogether.

I can't skip the rest of the week because money, but I can skip Tuesday, so I probably will. I also REALLY don't love the idea of big meetings in person these days with Covid rates rising. We're all masked, but also having coffee breaks/lunch together. So it's just as well. 

That would leave just one day at school. 

[busymom]

Hi Kids!  Debt, I didn't like your post because of your son getting hit, I did it because they caught the person who did it.  Sadly, the country you live in doesn't sound very friendly to anyone not born in France.     

Haven't decluttered much lately, unless you count Christmas cards.  Although I did find some of DD's things, and I sent them home with her.  


It's been a crazy couple of days.  DH finally set up the tree tonight, but it appears to have a "lean" to it.  We'll let it fluff out first, then we'll work on getting it to stand up straight.

[startsmart]

Giving myself incentives seems to really work! Today I finished reorganizing all my fabric. It involved matching up fabric and finished hexagons, then taking 5 finished hexagons of each fabric for my stash. If I have more than 5 it goes to overflow for swaps, less than 5 and I put aside fabric to sew into hexagons. Hectic and a bit mental, if I can admit that, but it’s done!

Of course then my fabric order from Black Friday arrived lol. I used a birthday gift card and half of the order will make about 1,300 hexagons so that’s an incentive after I work on the fabric I’ve set aside.

I haven’t been doing as much physical work this weekend because after getting my back adjusted Friday I have been super sore. Hoping to get in for a massage appointment this week - I haven’t had a massage since February of 2020.

I did get the kitchen cleaned today and then made a breakfast casserole, salmon, Brussels sprouts and prepped to make potato leek soup tomorrow. Cleaned the fridge out too while things were cooking.

[hitenney]

debthaven - that's so terrible! I will be thinking positive bone-knitting thoughts and prayers for his speedy recovery.  I hope he is able to edit that smiling image with heavy bars and handcuffs adorning the driver.  Thank goodness for witnesses!  And Mom's that can help us...  

The passport thing is done, although she sent me back to Walmart for another picture.  The original clerk told me to pull my hair behind my ears, but not to take off my glasses.  At least the re-take was free.  And they didn't care about my marriage certificate. So now we will see how long it takes.

Startsmart - hope you get your massage soon - my DS is a massage therapist.  (I wince when I think of all that college tuition - but he loves doing it)

OK, now I need to get back to my to-do list!

[finnime]

Oh, I'm so sorry about your DS2, debthaven. I join the others in wishing for a quick and complete recovery for him, including the trauma. I'm glad you are able to bend your schedule for him. Give him many hugs from us, and here's a few for you, mama. 

[TheOtherMe]

debthaven  how horrible!  Just horrible and appears to be a racist attack or is that a terrorist attack since it was intentional?  

I do hope that he heals quickly.  I would definitely get him some therapy and you, too.  

Congrats to E on defending her PhD thesis.  That is exciting.  

I can't send enough hugs to you and DS2.    

[TheOtherMe]

Christmas cards are finished and ready to go in the mail.  Today I need to clean up my mess and I have a genealogy class this afternoon.

The cats think I have not paid enough attention to them while I've been working on the cards and have been knocking things off the end table by my recliner.  They sit there and knock things off one at a time.  Seem to be quite proud of themselves.  I pick the stuff up and they do it again.  

[Sharon]

debthaven that is horrible that your son is going through all this.  I'm glad that they caught the guy and that he is now in jail.  Not sure how the criminal justice system works in France but I hope they will be able to hold him until the trial.

While your son may not admit it I bet inside it brings him comfort to be able to go back home with mama for a while. Sending healing prayers and thoughts to your whole family.

[Sharon]

DD and family showed up for a while yesterday and we plowed through some more boxes of stuff.  DSIL removed the closet organizer out of one of the closets in what will become the sewing room.  I'm so close to being able to put my car in the garage. 

[plugginaway22]

So sorry to read about your son's accident Debt...it sounds too similar to your DH's accident many years ago! Glad they got that criminal.

[Deleted]

debthaven I’m glad that @$$&*!= is in jail for what he did to your son. I’m sorry DS2 is having to deal with being injured like that. It’s a blessing that he can come to your house after he is discharged, and you can help him. I can imagine he is traumatized, like you said. I will say a prayer for him.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2021 20:51:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Thanks laterbloomer . 

The police called DS2 when they found him, to give DS2 his name, so DS2 could sue him. DS2 works in digital marketing so he immediately looked the guy up. The guy is a member of a formally disbanded, newly-reenacted anti-Muslim white supremacy group. 

My ex is French/Jewish/Moroccan. DS2 looks Moroccan. DS2 described how this very white French guy plowed into him with a huge smile on his face.

So there's all that to deal with as well, ie the lawsuit. But that's later, I just pray that DS2 heals.  He's extremely athletic so the idea of 6 weeks in a cast is just hell for him. 

Every time I go to sleep I have nightmares, so I haven't really slept since Wednesday. Clearly I've been pretty f*cked up by this too. 

I won't make any decisions tonight but I think I'm going to go with my boss's suggestion to just skip that Tuesday meeting altogether.

I can't skip the rest of the week because money, but I can skip Tuesday, so I probably will. I also REALLY don't love the idea of big meetings in person these days with Covid rates rising. We're all masked, but also having coffee breaks/lunch together. So it's just as well. 

That would leave just one day at school. 

When DD flipped her car a few years ago, the sight of that car haunted me for a long time, even though she and the children walked away with no injuries. I did not sleep at all that first night, even though I could hear the children talking and playing in my den and knew they were ok.

it took a while for me to stop seeing that car every time I closed my eyes.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Dec 8, 2021 16:40:41 GMT -5 anciana said:

I know, Knee Deep in Water Chloe , I have a lot of hang-ups 

Hugs. I'm sorry; I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad. 

Dec 11, 2021 9:21:45 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have a class this morning on family artifacts.  It's about keeping vs getting rid of.  I hope it helps me make some decisions about my parents' things.

I will try to figure out how to post photos of the before and after of the organizer in the two rooms.  The change impresses me, but I'm embarrassed about how bad it was before.

Please don't feel embarrassed; we're all on this journey together. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

debthaven, that's awful. I'm so sorry! 

I'm glad for E though! 

[debthaven]

Thank you my friends for your kind words and for all being there. Prayers are welcome. 

DS2 didn't want us to visit today because he had a bunch of friends and his associates coming. He said we'd be seeing plenty of each other this week lol. With traffic it's 2.5h round trip. We speak twice a day, and text.

I went to a friend/neighbor's house to shower this afternoon which felt great.  

Fingers crossed they can fix the boiler tomorrow morning. 

[ners]

debthaven Sorry to hear about your son.  Prayers that he heals physically and mentally.  Hope your boiler is fixed on Monday.

Very happy for E.

[laterbloomer]

Since I have the sewing machine out I decided to take in my pants. With my weight loss I am at the point it's take them in or buy new. I've done 2 pair so far and I'm really happy with them Especially since I'm doing it the lazy way. 2 more pair to go for my winter pants. I'll see if I feel like doing my white jeans too.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 12, 2021 10:58:45 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Dec 8, 2021 16:40:41 GMT -5 anciana said:

Dec 11, 2021 9:21:45 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have a class this morning on family artifacts.  It's about keeping vs getting rid of.  I hope it helps me make some decisions about my parents' things.

I will try to figure out how to post photos of the before and after of the organizer in the two rooms.  The change impresses me, but I'm embarrassed about how bad it was before.

Please don't feel embarrassed; we're all on this journey together. 

I will get them posted this week.  I'm not putting them on YM.  I just have to figure how to post them so they stay longer than 24 hours.

[seriousthistime]

debthaven, that is SO HORRIBLE about your son.  I wish him a quick and complete recovery in every way. 

It would not be nice to post what I wish for the driver who hit him.  You are free to let your imagination run rampant on that point. 

[countrygirl2]

I have sorted through 3 boxes in the guest room, which right now is just filled with the gun cabinet, 2 book cases, a hutch for storage, litter pans, and some boxes. One big box is going to trash, one box of cords, and misc stuff to hubs garage. There are a bunch of display items in the last box. I told son I will keep them for him if he wants them, most from Africa, Indonesia, and other places. I have most everything full and just don't want more. That box will go to the basement.

I want less stuff to dust, there are enough pictures and items in the big TV cabinets and the etagere for me to have to dust. I may pull out a few more items.

I am getting ready to thin books and cook books and dust in there. Have to clean litter boxes also, then I'm mopping with just plain water to clean up litter and dust in there. Also an end table left in there. That room will not be used for much except storage at this time, we don't want to haul all that to the basement. Will see later what we decide. If little guy comes to visit, litter boxes may go in the front hall and his twin bed moved from downstairs, there is room in there for it.