2022 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 13, 2022 11:22:34 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Good news! Today I got an emergency appt for my papers for early Jan (instead of early March). 

Last day at school till next semester! I'm on Zoom tomorrow and Thursday.

Yay!!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 13, 2022 1:53:54 GMT -5 finnime said:

Cheering you on, Rukh O'Rorke , from the peanut gallery.

Thank you! It's working! The most difficult thing is done, and many others getting crossed off, either done, or postponed as I reassess one by one. A few more major hurdles.

I miscalculated my hours in the gauntlet yesterday, likely for the best. It was like I already throught it was Tuesday? I'm thinking done by 3 p.m Thursday, so 50 hours??

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 13, 2022 11:12:17 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Dec 12, 2022 15:35:54 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I guess I didn't remember that you are leaving your job.  What's next?  

I am leaving my state and looking for my next place to be. Not sure where that is but I need to be someplace and get a feel for the house, neighborhood, area and people before I completely move. I am unable to do that while working due to work's vacation policy so I need to have the freedom to travel and stay somewhere for min 2 weeks at a time.

Plus I have been at my job over 25 years and I just am ready to be done. I am sure I can find some social activity or part time job in the future in case I need more people exposure. I am mostly a introvert so solitude with books and a cozy blanket, fire, mug of liquid does not bother me at all.

sounds exciting! Good luck finding the perfect spot!!

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 13, 2022 11:12:17 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Dec 12, 2022 15:35:54 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I guess I didn't remember that you are leaving your job.  What's next?  

I am leaving my state and looking for my next place to be. Not sure where that is but I need to be someplace and get a feel for the house, neighborhood, area and people before I completely move. I am unable to do that while working due to work's vacation policy so I need to have the freedom to travel and stay somewhere for min 2 weeks at a time.

Plus I have been at my job over 25 years and I just am ready to be done. I am sure I can find some social activity or part time job in the future in case I need more people exposure. I am mostly a introvert so solitude with books and a cozy blanket, fire, mug of liquid does not bother me at all.

Good for you.  It has taken me years to understand working for the IRS and having to  put on my people face every day for over 25 years was not healthy for me and it took it's toll.

It took Covid for me to totally understand how introverted I am.  When I was in grad school, I wanted to live in a teepee in the mountains.  I'm glad I didn't do that but I wish now I had bought a cabin in the mountains to have my solitude.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 13, 2022 11:22:34 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Good news! Today I got an emergency appt for my papers for early Jan (instead of early March). 

Last day at school till next semester! I'm on Zoom tomorrow and Thursday.

I am so happy for  you debthaven    Hopefully, this will help ease your very justified anxiety.  

DN1's work visa runs out in July so they are unsettled at the moment at what they are going to do.  He was promised a tenure track position when NIL was hired, but it hasn't happened.  He did finally interview for one two weeks ago.  He said if he doesn't get it, they will be job hunting.

The interviewers asked if they had bought a house and he replied they can't even look until they know if they can stay.  Asked about paying the import tax on their car.  Same response.

[debthaven]

I'm sure the incertitude is difficult for them TheOtherMe .

I'm rarely here on Wednesdays when the cleaner comes. So today we moved the couches to clean underneath. We found lots of nuts and marbles (courtesy of DGS lol). She'll do that extra hour next Wednesday which is fine.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

made it through another hard day, less than 24 hours to go. Focus now is getting together 10 charity bags for 7 am pickup, and then ready for cleaners, have long meetings for work tomorrow too, so need to be ready. Other work tasks with Friday deadlines....

Was doing good but I got into my scatterbrained habit of starting a bunch of things, pulling out to sort, grab giveaway stuff, not put back, in nearly every room! how...why....likely just the stress, trying to use spare minutes productively here and there. Kitchen needs addressing, and suppose to have all cabinets emptied....


Where to start? Have been short on sleep would love to just snuggle on couch for the evening, bath and bed, but I've got some stuff to do.....only 6pm, will take a break for a bit, and then see how far I can get to by 8/8:30, and determine next steps then.......

[finnime]

Rukh O'Rorke, when I'm in the place I think you are right now, I tell myself, first things first. For you, that's the 7 a.m. pickup. So, throw into the bags the giveways you've gotten out. Next work on emptying the cabinets. Then prepare anything you must for work. Then get sleep.

[TheOtherMe]

Tomorrow is clean for the cleaners day.  Of course, it's not the only thing.

[debthaven]

Last full week before Christmas break done!   I'm only working Monday (online), then I'm off for two weeks.

DS3 arrives tonight. SO happy to not be a basket case anymore! 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 14, 2022 20:10:53 GMT -5 finnime said:

Rukh O'Rorke , when I'm in the place I think you are right now, I tell myself, first things first. For you, that's the 7 a.m. pickup. So, throw into the bags the giveways you've gotten out. Next work on emptying the cabinets. Then prepare anything you must for work. Then get sleep.

Yes, I think you know where I am.....

Thank you so much for this finnime, this was incredible helpful to me last night. But 8:30 I was still mostly vegging and the task at hand seeming more daunting every time I looked at the clock.

I modified your approach to do a few preliminaries: putting dishes in the diswasher for a cycle, because that is so time consumin (But now, i think I will elave them there unless I find things for a new cycle....), brushed/flossed teeth, cleaned the cat boxes, and got the garbage out. Then I worked on the pick up until about 11/1130, then got ready for bed read a 1/2 chapter in my box, and got about 5/6 hours.

I put 6 bags out for today, may get to more depending on when they actually come to collect. Last time, I think it was maybe around noonish. I'm worried that trying to find more will result in more messes of pulled out and sorting etc. I have a few clumps of stuff that are likely to be profitable, but also dangerous to start pulling at.....like a jenga game!

First work meeting is 8:30, need to chill for a few with my coffee. Next I just need to prep for cleaners, including emptying the cabinets......really unready, but cleaner won't be coming till around 11. May move a 10 am meeting to the afternoon. I have no choice on this godforsaken 8:30 am one.....every single week.....

Ok - Just about 6-8 hours of the gauntlet remain!! Off to do my best showing......

[debthaven]

You can do it Rukh O'Rorke !

I got my schedule for Semester 2 ... it's fabulous! Tuesday mornings at Job 1, shorter Wednesdays at Job 2, and the professor/staff classes. WFH most Thursdays. Off Mondays and Fridays.

I'm finally really cutting down!!! 

[seriousthistime]

So far I have decluttered 6 cups of pecans.  Two batches of spiced pecans are in the trash.

The first batch was to cook for 30 minutes.  I stirred them at 15 minutes and all looked good.  Put them in for 5 more minutes. They were burned.

The second batch, also meant to cook for 30 minutes.  I put them in the oven and set the timer for 12 minutes.  They looked good.  I stirred them and set the timer for 3 minutes.  Then they were burned. 

Maybe spiced pecans are not in the cards.  Pecan pralines, anyone?

[startsmart]

Hugs to all who are dealing with difficulties this month, it’s a tough season with so much going on!

I had a big declutter win! After deciding to move my med stash from its ineffective boxes, I tossed ALL the expired medication and then restocked yesterday at Walmart. I had meds from my grandma expired in 2007. All that went out in the trash and my new set up is a lot more streamlined.

I have to continue cleaning the downstairs to make it cat friendly so when I let the kittens out of the bedroom/bathroom they don’t destroy anything. I am hopeful this will help me keep the house cleaner.

Maybe lol.

[Iggy aka IG]

As startsmart said, it is really a tough season!  I've had more stressful situations here at the office the past two weeks than several months prior.  Do people not realize it's supposed to be the holiday season?  "The most wonderful time of the year?"  I just want to toss them a homemade snickerdoodle and tell them to chill.  Here's to an upcoming few days off....

Hugs everyone.  

[finnime]

How is it going, Rukh O'Rorke?

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 15, 2022 9:42:51 GMT -5 debthaven said:

You can do it Rukh O'Rorke !

I got my schedule for Semester 2 ... it's fabulous! Tuesday mornings at Job 1, shorter Wednesdays at Job 2, and the professor/staff classes. WFH most Thursdays. Off Mondays and Fridays.

I'm finally really cutting down!!! 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 15, 2022 14:55:37 GMT -5 finnime said:

How is it going, Rukh O'Rorke ?

Almost there, I got so super lucky today. 8:30 got cancelled , and I moved the 10:00 to January .

One thing I don't think I mentioned, is that I was prepping one area the cleaners have never cleaned, so that took me a lot of time too.  DD's old room, and she is visting next week , but she left it in shambles when she moved out, and then the cats created additional chaos, knocking over shelving in the closet, scattering things everywhere, etc. I've been working on it a bit here and there, but want it to be nice when DD walks in. Even though she didn't leave it that way........This was an attic room, so the room with a hall and the stairway. I had tended to use those stairs as a storage area  and they got pretty cluttered over time....

So I got that together, and then was only about 1/3 done with cabinet emptying when the cleaner came. She kindly worked around me and we managed to get most of it done. 

So 6 bags to charity, about 4 extra bags of garbage out the door, 1-2 of recycling, and scrubbed kitchen shelves, drawers, and cabinets. I tipped the cleaning person $60 today, so over 20%. I think the company tab was 210 for today with the extra services.

Tossed quite a bit emptying the kitchen drawers, hope to toss more plus put some to the giveway pile on the way in! Looking forward to reorganizing it all but that will have to wait till tomorrow I think. DR table and LR coffee table stacked like crazy with kitchen stuff.

Oh she's done!! It's over!!! whew!!

I was super mad at myself in the middle of it, why, why, why did I do this to myself? But yeah, this needed to happen.....and it was just tight given everything going on. Work, the DMV debacle, etc. Didn't get or line up any of the handy stuff I wanted before Christmas.....will try to think of that tomorrow too!

Just finished my 9/10th espresso shot, mixed with alot of hot water and creamer for a more coffee kind of cup. Way too late for coffee, but I doubt anything could keep me up, lol! I should have gone for cocoa......but I didn't.......

[Rukh O'Rorke]

ok - maybe the coffee was a bad idea cuz now I'm getting buzzy again....excited....making lists....planning next charity pickup........

[laterbloomer]

Hi All 👋

I finally put my foot down with ISO and told him if he is not going to do the dishes immediately, then they are going in the dishwasher. I am sick of looking at the neverending stack of dirty dishes on the kitchen counter. He didn't like it but i made it clear it's gotten to the point that i'm willing to die on this hill. Once I got him in line I could put my foot down with the other three people that live in this house. It's working! Everyone is cleaning up after themselves right away and I get a thrill every time I walk into the kitchen. There is still more clutter on the counters than I would have if I lived alone, but it's not dirty dishes!

[TheOtherMe]

I ended up canceling my cleaner for today.  My stomach has been messed up since yesterday,

[snapdragon]

I need to keep feeding the neighbors cat while she is out of town for the next few days.

I intend to roast a chicken for dinner.

I am not sure about shopping, I got c-19 #4 jab last night so the arm is not happy.

I need to break down boxes in the living room and pick up in there. The dining room is a mess and I should pick up the kitchen too.

Things have gotten out of hand but I just am not mentally in a place to actually try and manage for now. I think this holiday is just going to be harder for me to get through. I am going to have to call a few friends to try and perk up.

But the boxes really need to go...they are the completely wrong type for me to keep and use in moving. Just cumbersome.

[debthaven]

I hope you feel better TheOtherMe . 

DS3 and I had a very productive trip to the mall today! I got gifts for my niece, grandniece, grandnephew, DS1 and DS3's partner. I ordered DS2's gift online.

DH and I got our first flu shots. I hope we don't have a reaction.

And DS3 and I decorated the tree that DH and he bought this morning. 

I only need a gift for DS3 now ... just 1 person left out of 12! 

PS I gave up the rest of my summer term evening classes tonight. I really don't want to get home at 8 pm anymore. They were lovely about it. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Got my hair done this morning, and just submitted the monthly grocery order for pickup tonight.  Headed out of town for a few days with the family.  Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.  

[debthaven]

Enjoy your family Iggy aka IG  !

[moneysquirrel]

Iggy aka IG -- Have a great visit with family.

TheOtherMe -- Hope you are feeling better.  Take care.

debthaven -- Glad that you are taking steps in order to make you happier.  Great transition toward full retirement.

This week has been a little busy for me.  The cleaners had to reschedule from Monday to Wednesday.  I took advantage of the change to get the omicon variant booster.  I have been putting it off because I wanted to have it within the six months of my upcoming vacation.  This way I will be within the 6 month window for my craft retreats and the vacation as well as any activities here at home (just in case I decide to attend any Mardi Gras activities this year).  Tuesday I had my usual reaction that I have to most vaccines -- I slept most of the day away.  

Wednesday afternoon ws the day we had several tornados in the area.  One of them hit very close to the venue of our last craft show this past Saturday.  My immediate area was ok. But there is lot of damage and some of the victims were just finishing repairing damage from hurricane Ida that came through last year.  

The last two days have been somewhat uneventful.  Maintaining progress and enjoying the lack of rushing about.  My siblings and I have decided not to exchange gifts -- all we were doing were GCs and there were no need to continue that practice.  Besides none of us needs anything.  We are still giving to the kids. I will also give to my DS and his family.  May make cookies or fudge to share with all if I feel up to it.   Most of us did it last year as my DSis was out of work and struggling and it was her suggestion.  I was more than happy to simplify my life.  I love the holiday and getting together with family and friends, decorating the house and even cooking/baking.  I don't like how commerical everything has become.  I am one who reuses all her decorations from previous years -- lots of handmade items from my aunt, mom and myself plus items I have picked up when traveling.  Good memories of past times. 

I need to get to the grocery this weekend but we are expecting more rain tomorrow so I will plan to get that done after church on Sunday.  I still have to get the Christmas cards done.  I don't send out a lot -- just to those out of town.  

Craft wise -- I finished one of the patterns I purchased this summer and have started the last kit as well.  My hope is to finish it before the end of the year.  This one seems pretty easy and I have made great progress on it today.  My list of things I want to make for 2023 is growing.  Some of these are items that have proven popular at the craft shows and I want to continue to make them until I no longer see the interest.  I only make a limited number at a time so that way I don't have a surplus on hand.  

Need to post this before I lose it.  Take care all. I will check in when I can.

[debthaven]

I stayed up WAY too late to wrap gifts (except for the ones I bought at the department store today, the store did gift bags for those). 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Hi friends, 
I've made it to Winter break, along with the 375 11-14 year-olds and 40 other school staff. It was an intense week. My secretary was sick, so she hasn't been to work since Tuesday. I postponed several school meetings for last week until January. I'll likely have to work at least 40 hours over the next 2.5 weeks just to get amildly caught up. We had a party of 40 people last Saturday, and we're having a party of 25 people today. We will also host Christmas Eve dinner for just our children. I am working on my Winter Break To Do list, and I'll post it here today or tomorrow. 
I'm not caught up on the last five pages or so, but caring thoughts for all of you. 
Chloe.

[CCL]

Dec 17, 2022 11:50:35 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Hi friends, 
I've made it to Winter break, along with the 375 11-14 year-olds and 40 other school staff. It was an intense week. My secretary was sick, so she hasn't been to work since Tuesday. I postponed several school meetings for last week until January. I'll likely have to work at least 40 hours over the next 2.5 weeks just to get amildly caught up. We had a party of 40 people last Saturday, and we're having a party of 25 people today. We will also host Christmas Eve dinner for just our children. I am working on my Winter Break To Do list, and I'll post it here today or tomorrow. 
I'm not caught up on the last five pages or so, but caring thoughts for all of you. 
Chloe.

How was your new house for entertaining? From what you've shared, it seems ideal.

[CCL]

Dec 16, 2022 11:40:55 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I ended up canceling my cleaner for today.  My stomach has been messed up since yesterday,

Hope you're feeling better.