2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[finnime]

I could and have stayed with DSis for a week at a time without an issue, and vice versa. But close family is my limit for more than a few days. Hotels are a valuable resource as you get a few years on you!

[moneysquirrel]

Hello all, 
     Have been trying to get things done and then things I crash before signing in to check on things here.  

debthaven -- Congrats on your one month anniversary. 

TheOtherMe -- Hope that your leg is healing and that you can attend the wedding.  Glad that the Toddler is playing games with you during Facetime.

Sharon -- You have made so much progress on clearing out the land. 

finnime -- Just a word about excursions.  Book early if you can.  Several of the ones that I wanted were no longer available when I logged in to select them.  Also one of the ones I wanted was overbooked and many of us were notified that our reservations were cancelled.  I was able to book an alternate excursion but not sure how many of the others were able to do so.

Today:
Yoga class
Ran Dishwasher -- will empty it later as it is still too hot to deal with
Organized one area
Paid a few bills

Upcoming this week:
CLasses -- Thursday -- 3 
Grocery
Bank
Taxes
Craft Retreat Registration
Post Office
Play and Dinner out

Next Week:
Classes -- 6 classes -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Shutters -- think they will be installed this week.

I am sure that many other items will be added to this list before the time period is finished.  

[Sharon]

I'm only working a half day tomorrow and then heading to stay with Mom for a few days.  I have a follow up doctor appt on Friday for the surgery I had a two years ago.  I'm kind of looking forward to the long weekend and hoping to have some down time.  Yes there will be a lot of fetch and carry for Mom and I'm hoping to talk her into doing some minor decluttering, or at least some organizing but knowing Mom there will be lots of rest breaks.

Yesterday I did quite a bit of shredding, there of course is more to do, seems like there is always more to do.  I'm also done with making broth for a while.  The freezer is all cleaned out of things that need to be made into broth except for 1 ham bone.  Right now I'm sick of the smell of broth.  Over the last two weeks I have ended up with 9 pints of beef broth, 9 pints of turkey broth, and 20 pints of chicken broth.

[debthaven]

My sister's surgery went well, so thank you all for your good thoughts!  

Good luck with your trip to see your mom Sharon. 

This weekend
- pick up residency card/Fri
- mark 18 videos

[Iggy aka IG]

Regarding staying with the entire family, I do pretty well if we're in a large VRBO so everyone has their own space.  So far, it's been just weekends.  This summer will be a full week, but DH and I have excursions planned for the two of us which will balance family time.  My sis and I do well with sharing a hotel room.

moneysquirrel nice list!  

That IS a lot of broth, Sharon !  I hope you have a lovely time with mom.

Congrats on the card, debthaven .

Continuing to focus on the procrastination list mulling about in my head:

-Called the social security office to request a statement.
-From last year's office purge project, today I finally posted a social media picture of the empty binders and in-boxes.  In 10 minutes, I received one "like" but no takers as of yet.  I still need to rummage through drawers and cupboards for more items.
-Waiting for the water delivery man.  Now that I am actually in the office, hopefully we'll connect so he can take the dispenser and water bottles.  (I received a gently used machine and will fill up smaller 3-gallon bottles at the store in lieu of heavy 5 gallons.)
Added:  He's here!!!!
-Put defrost mini fridge on my calendar as a reminder before leaving the office tomorrow.

ETA:  Bottles and dispenser picked up.
Yesterday I also scheduled an oil change for my vehicle, changed back to my old dentist and scheduled a cleaning, arranged an upcoming lunch date with the family, and went to the bank and liquor store.  I love when the sun is shining.  

[TheOtherMe]

Canceled a dental cleaning for Monday as I'm not able to get around well without the walker and I have not used the walker in public.  She said to call back when things get better and they will get me in ASAP.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Mar 9, 2023 16:28:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Canceled a dental cleaning for Monday as I'm not able to get around well without the walker and I have not used the walker in public.  She said to call back when things get better and they will get me in ASAP.  

[Empire the P.A.]

I think I made a mistake. This morning I was looking at my kitchen buffet hutch and decided I needed to organize it better. It was getting too cluttered with knick knacks and useless vacation glassware. So once I finished that I got started on my upper kitchen cabinets to de-clutter even more and now I have the kitchen table stacked high with everything I pulled out. How many insulated coffee cups does a family of 4 need?! We have at my last count of pulling things out at least 12! Also multiples of measuring cups and spoons that keep popping up and endless amount of Tupperware type containers.  I bought a new set a couple of days ago. I made a bag of items to be donated. I haven’t finished but had to walk away for a bit. 

[debthaven]

I'm sorry it's taking a while TheOtherMe . You must be frustrated.

Good for you for getting started Empire the P.A. ! Things often get worse before they get better lol. 

moneysquirrel I'm always so impressed at how many activities you do! 

Glad the water items finally got picked up Iggy aka IG !

[Empire the P.A.]

I would also like to ask, what kind of jack#$& puts an empty can of Pam back in the cupboard? I know who it was and I gave him the stink eye while throwing it out right in front of him. He probably still thinks he did nothing wrong. 

[debthaven]

My kids used do that with Nutella. Then they'd complain that there was no Nutella left!

[Iggy aka IG]

[Iggy aka IG]

Okay, so far, I've listed:

The aforementioned empty binders and in-box trays
2 wire brochure holders (they were hand-me-downs from a prior agent)
Stacks of various sized note pads
Bags of three sizes of binder clips
A container of small round labels

If there are no takers, I'll post them in a local public group.

I've also tossed several things including outdated home office envelopes and will bring home a few other items such as photo paper and Velcro DH may be able to use.  Much to my delight I found some return address labels with my home address which would've come in handy for Christmas cards.

Stuff sure accumulates after years in business!

[TheOtherMe]

Mar 9, 2023 17:17:47 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Good for you for getting started Empire the P.A. ! Things often get worse before they get better lol. 

I was aghast with the mess the organizer and I made the first time she came.  After the session was over, I understood the process.  

Everything has to be removed and the person has to decide to keep, recycle or trash.  Then the keep pile goes back.  The process works.  It really does work.  You just have to believe in it.

[saveinla]

Mar 9, 2023 17:13:32 GMT -5 Empire the P.A. said:

I think I made a mistake. This morning I was looking at my kitchen buffet hutch and decided I needed to organize it better. It was getting too cluttered with knick knacks and useless vacation glassware. So once I finished that I got started on my upper kitchen cabinets to de-clutter even more and now I have the kitchen table stacked high with everything I pulled out. How many insulated coffee cups does a family of 4 need?! We have at my last count of pulling things out at least 12! Also multiples of measuring cups and spoons that keep popping up and endless amount of Tupperware type containers.  I bought a new set a couple of days ago. I made a bag of items to be donated. I haven’t finished but had to walk away for a bit. 

I was ruthless when I had to pack my kitchen for remodeling. I was ruthless again when I had to unpack after the remodeling.

I still have some things extra, but we never bought a lot of stuff and most of the stuff I have extra are things I can use and so I am not throwing them away.

One thing I did was move to glass containers a while ago, but did not throw away all the plastic containers. But given that we have just enough kitchen space, I gave away all of them. I have a few takeout containers I keep to send things to people and I dont expect them back, so its all good.

[debthaven]

This weekend
- pick up residency card/Fri
- bottle bank/Fri
- mark 18 videos

I'm taking DH out to lunch to celebrate. 

[TheOtherMe]

Congrats on having the residency card in your possession debthaven!

My organizer did a particularly messy project yesterday.  It was even worse than mine.  She then had a "contest" for people to guess how long it took to do the project.  Knowing how she works I guessed 2.5 hours.  The highest guess was 13 hours.  They have never seen her work.  The correct number of hours was 3 and then a half hour for labeling.  

I know when I do this by myself, I lollygag and have to look at things and deal with all the memories.  When I have her, I know I am paying for her time, so I can make a decision and it helps knowing that she is taking the recycling and donations with her.

[debthaven]

Tonight I cleaned out the fire pit and had a private "Now I have my residency card so I can burn the extra papers" fire pit party. (DH was asleep on the couch.) It felt great LOL. 

DH signed up for a theater workshop tomorrow and wanted me to go too. I said nah, I'm going to sleep late, and spend the rest of the day marking. I also plan to catch up on laundry. 

I am SO happy and relieved!!!

[finnime]

Celebrate, debthaven. Dance, cavort, frolic!

[startsmart]

It’s been a frustrating week over here with my plumbing going haywire, I finally got a plumber out yesterday who delivered the horrible news that I have a broken drain pipe under my house/yard.

It’s going to be expensive.
It’s going to take weeks before it can be fixed.
I’m already dealing with the toilet that won’t flush and tub that won’t drain.

And it’s just damn depressing and frustrating and making me sad. I don’t have any place I can decamp until the work is done and even the cheapest Airbnb/hotel would half cost as much as the repairs which is thousands of dollars I don’t have.

So yeah, the only thing I’m decluttering is money and sanity.

[debthaven]

What a cute photo finnime ! Is that Franklin?

This weekend
- pick up residency card/Fri
- bottle bank/Fri
- mark 17 videos/Sat

I'm on my second load of laundry, and I ran/emptied the dishwasher.

Oh no startsmart ! I'm so sorry to hear this. If it's under the house, they may be able to reroute the pipes. If it's in the yard, then it will need to be dug up, yes. I hope it costs less than you fear. Could you possibly move up some planned business travel? 

[finnime]

That is Franklin the Dog, yes. He appreciates the compliment!

[TheOtherMe]

So sorry startsmart

[startsmart]

debthaven - nope, in fact the planned travel for April was cancelled so I'm just stuck. 

[debthaven]

[moneysquirrel]

startsmart -- I am so sorry to here this.  I had the same issue last year and yes it was expensive.  However I was able to use some of the bathroom areas as the blockage/ break I had was only in one major section.  They discover a few more breaks once under the house.  They had to tunnel under my house is also expensive.  Is your house raise or on the ground?  We don't have basements.

[moneysquirrel]

Working on laundry (sheets) and general household pickup today.  

[debthaven]

startsmart the same thing happened to us too. You may remember we found out the "new" part of our house was sinking, and we had to get VERY expensive resin injections done.

While using the cameras, they saw that most of the pipes under the "old" part of the house were completely broken (they were ceramic, from 1905.) Happily they were able to reroute those broken pipes. They also had to dig up the newer ones in the garden. Some of you may remember they dug under our new patio, saving us 10K!

I was a TOTAL mess, so I really feel for you. But you will get through this. 

Other thoughts:

- Any chance any neighbors are travelling and need house or pet-sitting? 
- You mentioned that an AirBnB would be expensive. If there is one nearby, contact the owner, explain your situation, and ask for a reduced rate for a longer stay.

My DS1 has done this MANY times. Yes, the owners earn less per night, but they also don't have to worry about changeovers and renting it out every night. It's worth a try!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Hi! I’m doing the 20-minute rotation of housework and homework aka rotating standing up chores and sitting down chores. At least 60 minutes of irony today!

[debthaven]

Irony huh Knee Deep in Water Chloe ? 

Good to see you here again! 

Going to the dentist to get my definitive crown today.

Then back at school 2 days/week for the next four weeks.