2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[ners]

debthaven Sounds like you have a plan.  Keep up the good work.

[debthaven]

Thank you SO MUCH ners ! 

[TheOtherMe]

My mom was in the hospital when she was forced to quit.  After 10 days on a nicotine patch, she never went back.

She told dad and me twice to get rid of all of the cigarettes, including the ones in her secret hiding places that dad new about.

She said she only went to a secret hiding place once.

You can do it!!!!

[debthaven]

Thank you TheOtherMe ! 

DH wanted to buy cigarettes and hide them. I told him if I FINALLY decided to quit, and he did that, it would be proof that he had no faith in me. I KNOW he'd give them to me, and I'd smoke them. 

To his credit, he didn't get them. (He swore he didn't, and I believe him. Y'all know he's not a planner LOL.)

[finnime]

Congratulations on quitting, debthaven!

I quite 29 years ago before I was pregnant with DS. I was heavily dependent on cigarettes. What helped me quit was the patch which I cut down by 1/4 at a time every 2 weeks. After spending all that money on the patch I wasn't going to screw it up by restarting. Then I became pregnant. 

[debthaven]

Thank you all SO MUCH my friends. 

[NastyWoman]

Feb 12, 2023 19:45:20 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I am VERY VERY VERY low. I have smoked like a chimney since I was in my teens. Yes, I'm That Person. I have quit before, several times, including for my pregnancies, but not only. But it never stuck. 

Against all odds, I've had three lung scans in the past 18 months that all went well. But the stress was just unimaginable. I borrowed a few Xanax from a friend to get through them.

I did my third scan two Fridays ago, I was seeing my pulmonologist the following Monday. The technician said, don't ruin your weekend, just pick up the results on Monday before your appointment with the doc. I was thrilled, until I realized he probably saw that I was dying but he didn't want to tell me.

I quit the next day, nine days ago. I knew my good luck couldn't last forever.

Amazingly I saw the pulmonologist that Monday, got my results, and against all odds, all is well!!! Now he only wants to see me in a year!!! (That's as long as I don't go back to cigarettes ... he knows I'm vaping for now. He says it's not ideal but it's definitely "less worse" than real cigarettes.)

But quitting is VERY VERY hard.

I would appreciate any good juju. I know the vast majority of you are probably disgusted with me. So be it.

But I would greatly appreciate any good thoughts. 

Thank you my friends. 

I am not disgusted with you, not even a tiny bit and I have never smoked in my life as in not even a single puff. I do however wish you good luck that this is going to be the time you will succeed in quitting. Sending good vibes in your direction. 

[busymom]

Wishing you the very best, debthaven!  You can do this!  (I actually lost a friend and an uncle to lung cancer, so it's excellent that you're quitting now, before any trouble crops up.)

[azucena]

I'm highly against smoking, but I'm not disgusted by you. It's an addiction and will take lots of work and willpower to overcome. The great news is that our lungs have tremendous power to heal themselves, and if I recall correctly, it doesn't take very long.

Keep up the good work, Debthaven.

[anciana]

Dear debthaven, sending love and hugs❤️ Hang in there!

[anciana]

TheOtherMe, my deepest condolences for your loss. As they say, grief is the price we pay for love. I am sorry you lost a cousin you loved so much 

[snapdragon]

I had absolutely no motivation to do anything this weekend so just rolled with it. I will attempt to work on 1 thing a day after I get home to try and ease myself into getting this done.

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe, I am sorry for the loss of your cousin.

debthaven, I am very proud of your commitment and very happy for you regarding the test results.  Despite having asthma since birth, I, too, smoked for about 6+ years or so.  Smoking as a teen in my crowd was the cool thing to do.  I quit because of a week-long lung related stay in ICU in my early 20s.  When I quit, one could still smoke in bars, so I used to "fuss" with a cocktail straw under the bar/table to keep my hands busy.  (So many knots, LOL.)  Playing pool, darts, pinball, and the juke box also helped keep my hands busy.  So, in addition to sending you happy vibes, that is my advice:  Keep your hands busy.  

This weekend was productive, as we did not socialize, well, except for supper out with DH.

-5 loads of laundry, including throw blankets and a load of DH's old clothes to be donated
-Straightened up the basement from the 7 children the weekend before
-Assembled an early Valentine's gift for DH which included summer sausage, jerky, mini cans of almonds, Slim Jim's, oatmeal packets, a Carmex 3 pack, and several mini bottles of bourbon/whiskey
-Emptied and refilled the dishwasher twice
-Refilled ice trays, Keurig, TP, and PTs
-Made two loaves of zucchini bread to trade with neighbors for plowing and locally raised ground beef
-Assembled grandnephew's birthday present into a gift bag
-Watched/listened to the Super Bowl while making a belated lunar New Year/early Valentine's/Super Bowl supper

So far one neighbor brought two bags of clothing to be donated.  

[Sharon]

I have slowly, oh so slowly, been getting some stuff done.  This weekend I moved all the furniture in the bedroom and evicted an entire city of dust bunnies.   I've also spent a little bit of time on some of the last remaining boxes in the garage.

DD and DSIL came over early before the super bowl and DSIL got the batteries hooked back up on my travel trailer.  When I had taken it in for service I asked them to disconnect the batteries so they wouldn't drain down, instead they completely removed them and put them inside the trailer.  I will probably sell my trailer, hopefully soon, but still need to get it cleaned out.

They then also started working on dismantling my old animal shed.  That isn't what I would have chosen to have done now but it does need to be done.  The cows have a nice new shed that is in the pasture, they just choose not to use it.  I now need to get an electrician out to bury a wire that goes from my pasture well, up over the top of the animal shed, and into my shop. 

startsmart my daughter battles bunnies eating her car.  They have chewed through something relating to the power steering twice.  She parks her car is in a 3 sided shed so they have now rigged up a low fence that she pulls behind the car to keep the bunnies out.

[azucena]

Finished two work items yesterday that I'd been procrastinating on way too long. Talk about mental clutter.

Two more today:
1. schedule April client visit
2. review contract

Posting them here to give myself some accountability. Finding it really hard to stay motivated at work in part because several key people in my line of sight aren't pulling their weight. Their undone work is taking up my headspace and also making me resentful. So I'm passive agressively delaying some work of my own which really only hurts me.

[TheOtherMe]

I had a friend who had squirrels eat the phone line about every 6 months.  This was before cell phones.  It was also where the internet came in to the house.  So it was a problem.  

He's sold the house now so I have no idea if the squirrels are still eating the line.

One got in to the house and chewed the numbers off the remote control.

[snapdragon]

I managed to do 3 loads of laundry last night and plan on folding and putting them away tonight.

I have to wash dishes

Yesterday I managed to work on 2 large crates of paperwork that were in a corner of my office. Basically when I was told to "hold onto this" I did. I found things dated back to 2009! The crates are now empty and will be put back in the warehouse.

I will continue to work on going through things  -- I am moving desks Friday so about 90% needs to be gone. Than I am here for 5 more days. Today will be drawer 1 of the filing cabinet I think.

I am getting there. But I am going to have to push myself I think.

[Iggy aka IG]

Good job, everyone!

I, too, have been focusing on the office again:

-CLRed the kitchenette faucet (the city water is good at calcium buildup)
-Cleared out several more inches of bookcase space and added an empty binder to the donation pile
-Bought more paper coffee cups and lids for client beverages
-We're out of folders, so I've been slowly shredding the contents of my desk drawer folders for reuse.  Similar to snapdragon, I've found paperwork dating back to 2009.
-Continuous sweeping and Swiffering has happened due to the mud season
-One more phone meeting today and the new agency management system will be installed.  This means I will be completely able to access work from virtually anywhere.
-Next up:  Defrost the mini fridge.  This will have to wait until after vacation.
-This spring:  I'll call the paper recycling truck and start purging the numerous filing cabinets.  Here's to paperless!

Speaking of, my agency was nominated as a 2023 local favorite business.    What an honor just to be mentioned.  

[debthaven]

Congratulations Iggy aka IG ! For both the new management system and the nomination!

I was offered 5 more individual Admin students yesterday. I took 2 because of the new windows, but I won't teach more than 15h/week anymore. 

This is another very quiet week since Job 2 is still off. 

They're coming to take the final measurements for the new windows tomorrow.

snapdragon feel free to ignore my comment, but if the birth year in your profile is correct, you're retiring VERY young!

[TheOtherMe]

I've been lazy.  I am keeping my leg elevated and wrapped in a heating pad.  I have a superficial thrombosis and I'm following doctor's orders because I do not want it getting worse.

It also means I can't go to the Memorial Luncheon for my cousin tomorrow.  6 hours in a car is a no go for my leg.

I sent photos of the Toddler to his Ukrainian grandma.  I wish I could figure out a way for her to Facetime with him.  She wants to so much.

[debthaven]

Oh no TheOtherMe ! Please take care of yourself. I'm very glad you decided not to go to the memorial, although I know you wanted to. 

[debthaven]

I dropped my electronic cigarette on our terra cotta tile floor coming home. It seems fine, but I freaked out, so I ordered a second one on Amazon. I didn't want to order one on Amazon because there are complaints about it being fake/not working/leaking. But I also didn't want to be without it if mine broke, so I took the risk. 

Today was my first day back at Job 1 in three weeks. (I was on Zoom for the past two weeks because of the strikes.) It was hard to not smoke during my breaks, especially since my smoking pal Amanda was there too.  

As usual, we went up to the roof terrace to catch up. She smoked real cigarettes, I vaped. 

It's been 10 days. 

I don't want to be that statistic, the person who dies within a year of retirement. 

PS I forgot to share my good news!!! My "green card" is ready!!! I managed to snag an appointment on 10 March to pick it up. 

You can't pick it up without an appointment, and they only release new appointments early Monday mornings. I only got the text on Monday afternoon. There were no available appointments, I checked all day. I checked one last time at midnight and got one. 

I WILL apply for French nationality before it expires in 10 years!!!

[TheOtherMe]

Congratulations on the "green card"

[finnime]

Good for you, debthaven, on the green card and on the vaping instead of smoking. We're all with you.

[snapdragon]

I have been at my job for over 25 years so I am retiring from here. I need to move states and there is no way I would have the time to go somewhere and see if it "feels" right in just a few days so I plan on doing a few 1-2 week trips in the different areas to attempt to find my real place.

I probably will get something else but I am going to hold off until next year. I need to relax, pack, find a place and move and than settle in before looking for something to do that I would enjoy and would be part time. I don't HAVE to find work so in that respect I am very fortunate. I realize that I am mostly introverted but do need some people interaction to stay healthy.

[TheOtherMe]

The introversion was the reason I worked part time after my retirement.  I did that until the church closed and decided that was a sign for me to be done.  I was 68 by then and the gallbladder issues had started.

[moneysquirrel]

TheOtherMe -- Sorry to read of another loss of a family member. My generation is now the oldest. Our ages range 65-90.  
debthaven -- I am sure that you will kick this habit.  If it helps create a reward system for achieving a certain goal. Great for the :green card".
Iggy aka IG -- You are making many changes to help you be more efficient.  Congrats on the honor.
startsmart -- Have  a great trip. Relax if you can.
snapdragon -- I am sure that you will find something to meet all your needs.
Sharon -- Slow progress is still progress.  

I am sure that I am forgetting some comments.  I tend to read on a regular basis but usually late at night and on my phone.  It is easier to comment when I aqm on the computer. 

I have been maintaining the house.  Cleaners came on Monday and like many others I pick up prior to that visit.  Spent a bit of time and money booking several excusions for my upcoming cruise. I therefore decluttered some money from my account.  

Trying to update my list from a few weeks ago. Eliminated a few lines from the original listing.

Feb 7, 2023 13:27:47 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

Feb 5, 2023 13:09:47 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

Upcoming -- this week and/or next:
*Classes -- 3 Thursday  -- No classes next week due to Mardi Gras
*Check craft supplies and start a shopping list of things I need to restock. (Have been trying to use up my supplies but certain ones are getting to the end and those I use pretty regularally. I should have enough to get most if not all of that to-make list done but will be close on a few of them.)
    > Christmas -- 7 earrings completed.
    >Thanksgiving -- 6    4 earrings (Other style has a few left.)
    >Halloween -- 4 to 6 earrings (Other styles have enough left.)
    >Pirate -- 1 pair
    >Several Bracelets and Pins
    >Several simple necklaces (Aiming for 6 at least.) Two done.

Some of these items will be quick to get done.  Others will be here for a while.  

Addition to this list:
   * Blood work -- Friday

[jerseygirl]

I’m also introverted and when I retired the ‘first’ time at 61 I spent a year without working. Did NOT like this - lonely and needed to do something meaningful not just busy work
So I started consulting working at home primarily with going to an office maybe once week or month
Perfect! I had control over my time and loved WFH and getting ‘dressed up’ and go out to lunch once week/month. Also go to go to conventions with paid expenses in usually nice places
Finally closed business mostly because Jerseyguy had health problems snd just thought 80 was enough!
I’m still volunteering at charity so that’s mentally engaging and go to meetings
I feel very fortunate to have been able to have opportunities and health to enjoy

[TheOtherMe]

Feb 15, 2023 17:24:37 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

TheOtherMe -- Sorry to read of another loss of a family member. My generation is now the oldest. Our ages range 65-90.  

Feb 7, 2023 13:27:47 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

I have a 98 year old uncle left on my dad's side and an aunt who is in her 90's but not blood related.  On mom's side it is only her 94 year old brother.  

The cousins range in age from 45 or so to 90, so we have a long road ahead of us.  Up until now, it's been the older cousins who have die.

The cousin who is 90 does have cancer and has had cancer for several years.  A call about him would not surprise me.

[seriousthistime]

Feb 15, 2023 4:34:21 GMT -5 finnime said:

Good for you, debthaven , on the green card and on the vaping instead of smoking. We're all with you.

Well said, finnime.  Yes, we are with you, debthaven!