2024 Organize & Declutter

[jerseygirl]

Thank you very much for the information on TT finneme!! I knew someone would have an answer
Lots of knowledgeable people on these boards!!

[snapdragon]

I have new hedge trimmers that I plan on playing with after I have lunch. They are Black & Decker and with the battery weigh less than 5 pounds so I should be good on using them. There is also a weed wacker in my list but that is for later. 

The laundry is mostly put away. I have a few things that need to be dealt with but happy about that.

DW is mostly loaded and once I finish eating, I will complete that and turn it on while outside.

Looking forward to the new book that I bought later today. 

[snapdragon]

Happy Birthday Iggy aka IG 

[startsmart]

Happy birthday Iggy!

[Sharon]

Happy Birthday Iggy aka IG

I'm back after taking a little break from the boards.  I had to put down my long time kitty, she was 18 years old and she had lived with us for 16 years.  I also spent a few days where I used to live to celebrate Mom's birthday and I've been fighting a cold for well over a week now.

The past couple of days have been very nice so I have done some yard work the past two afternoons.  While working in the yard this afternoon I also decluttered some more yard art.  It just never ends.  I can't imagine how much those people spent on stuff to hang up, set around, etc in the yard. The fresh air and sunshine have been good for my soul.  I also hoped I would either air out the germs or sweat them out.  Today I also changed the bed and did two loads of laundry. 

[saveinla]

Happy Birthday Iggy aka IG

Sorry about your cats Rukh O'Rorke and Sharon. 

I have been very busy and not looking at the boards daily. I am supposed to travel to NYC on Tuesday for work - a very rare event, but the airline sent me a weather advisory - not sure if I will be going. I hope I can cancel and get ready to go on vacation. 

My work friend of 23 years was let go on Thursday and I am not very happy about it.  I don't think I can take on more work and still have a life. I was very sad when they announced it and my 2 grand bosses noticed it. I have calls with them on Monday, but not sure what they can say that will make sense.

I need to start shopping for my vacation, as I have requests from family members for some special items - hoping to get them online if possible, so I dont have to go to the stores. 

[finnime]

I'm sorry about your kitty, Sharon. That's very hard.

[debthaven]

I'm so sorry about your kitty Sharon . It's so hard to lose them.

I'm sorry about the work situation saveinla . I know you've been fed up with work for a while. I hope you can avoid having to go to NY. 

[debthaven]

Quiet day at home. I went through Shitepile and the vertical file on the desk. Lots of papers to burn lol.

[startsmart]

Feb 11, 2024 11:53:48 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Quiet day at home. I went through Shitepile and the vertical file on the desk. Lots of papers to burn lol.

I keep my shred box under the desk and since I’ve been working in here with Lincoln he has begun to remove and chew up the papers. Most inefficient (but cutest) shredder I’ve ever had.

If you want to see Lincoln go mad in his evening zoomies I posted a video here: imgur.com/gallery/NWikJhz

I am so excited, I bought 2 foam panels 2 weeks ago and set them up in my office so I can lay out quilts. It’s 8’ square so I am putting up the flowers I made last year so I can see the layout before finishing the top and it looks so good.

[debthaven]

He's adorable startsmart !

[snapdragon]

Those both are really crummy sitiuations Sharon & saveinla.

I finally managed to bake up those banana muffins. Of course, I did not realize I was out of brown sugar so just used cane. I have made a note in my grocery list for my next trip to the store.

Still really creaky and sore from yard work yesterday. But, I am happy that I have started to process.

[TheOtherMe]

Lincoln is adorable.  


Cats have settled in on my lap now that I have stopped yelling at the television.  

I received no mail this week that was not junk mail.  It's all in the recycle bin.

[startsmart]

Snap- I’ve started yard work too, mostly small bits of time while Lincoln is outside. He’s too small to be out alone and could get under the fence so I supervise. My chore this week is taking up a lot of leaves in the side yard to fill up the compost bin.

The kitchen upper cabinets are almost done, maybe 1-2 more coats in small areas. Doors are ongoing.

[debthaven]

I'm again teaching only 5h this week. Love the schedule but hate the paycheck. I had planned to teach 8-10h/week this semester.  But the Staff classes are starting late, and two professors have been flaky recently.

There's a meeting for the new Staff classes in a week. Things should ramp up then. I'll feel better once they do.

I do NOT want to do another semester of regular classes in fall. This said, those really are the only completely reliable hours. Ugh. 

[soupandstew]

I finally made good on my commitment to start purging my file cabinet - I got about 1/3 of the way through a drawer which is better than nothing.  I think we can all agree that I don't need miscellaneous receipts from 2002, and a sample book from every exterior stain manufacturer in the U.S. 

[TheOtherMe]

Good job soupandstew   

I always have to look at paperwork to make sure of what I am tossing and to decide if it has to be shredded or if it can be recycled.

[debthaven]

Done with teaching for the week. I don't have school for two weeks. Next week is winter break, and I don't have class the following week. I do have my private Professor classes. We found out today that the Staff classes will start late Feb, later than planned.   

The professional couch cleaner is coming tomorrow afternoon. We're still waiting for the estimate for the front door.

[snapdragon]

I put the clean dishes away and hand washed the dirty ones.

Weeding is on the agenda after a phone call with my finance guy.

I need to finish putting away my clean clothes.

I have a few things that need to be hand washed so I might do that this evening.

[debthaven]

snapdragon I know it's not the same, but sometimes I use the hand wash cycle on my machine. 

[TheOtherMe]

Think I am going to check on getting gas fireplace remote installed.

Just opened a new credit card at 0% for 17 months.  Once the card arrives and it is activated, the trip charges in the US for my Toronto trip will all go on it.  

Foreign transaction fee is 3% and I am not paying that when I have two other cards with 0% foreign transaction fee.  

I can easily pay it off in 17 months.  The part that is going on Amex will be paid off as soon as it posts to the card, but I hate digging into savings for this trip.  

I don't know how many years I will feel I can drive to Toronto.

[debthaven]

Sounds like a good plan TheOtherMe . You're right, you should enjoy your trips to see the Toddler while you can. (I know he's not a toddler any more!)

No such thing as CCs here, or 0% loans. I would have loved one for a new front door. I hate using savings too. I looked into a loan, the interest rate would be about 8%. So nyet. 

We use our (wood burning) fireplace insert most nights. We used to have to, to make the temperature in the LR tenable. Since we got the new windows, the temps are fine. But we still love having a fire. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Feb 9, 2024 20:26:19 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Last year I sold YDSon’s left behind vinyl records on eBay. Successfully cleared out bottom of closet. I was sent a 1099K by eBay saying I sold $1300. But that’s not deleting costs of postage.
I use TurboTax and have used for my consulting business and personal for maybe 10 years with no problems. Closed consulting business so this year didn’t buy TT with the business application.
Wondering how or where I report 1099K and how costs of postage are subtracted. If I had personal plus business for 2023 think no problem
I might need to buy the personal plus business . I already bought and started the only personal program for 2023 taxes

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, snapdragon, startsmart, Sharon and saveinla! The actual day is this Thursday, but I tend to celebrate for several weeks.  

debthaven how interesting there are no CCs there.

Last Friday I ate a few too many Girl Scout cookies, became squirrely, and got more done in my home office/reading retreat:

~Keepsakes were put in the gifted lidded wine box which used to hold the hand weights which are now downstairs.
~Old documents (the paid off vehicle and CCs, etc.) were put in the clear plastic envelopes I bought late last year, per wvugurl26's suggestion, and then put them in a portable file cube I've had since high school.
~The small pile of yuck in my rolltop desk was then addressed.  I tossed some items, filed a stack, and some things went to the downstairs file drawer.  While there I pulled 2016 tax docs and put them into the To Be Burned box.  Since everything is neatly organized and chronological it was so simple!
~A side table was relocated, and a lamp and crystals were added onto it.
~A framed picture went upstairs and will be replaced by one of two tapestries in the Cardio Cave.  The larger picture still needs to be relocated.

I will say, using boxes for Donation, Toss, and Burn items instead of plastic trash bags is much easier.  While perched on my desk chair, I can simply rotate and toss into the appropriate box instead of attempting to insert it into a limp bag.

Sunday:
~5 loads of laundry, then ran an empty load with Tide wash machine cleaner.
~The usual dishwasher unload and reload, preparing of the Keurig, and refilled the ice trays
~Planned suppers and submitted the Sam's Club order
~Processed boiled eggs and produce for lunches
~Scoured the fridge and back pantry to assemble several waste not want not meals
~Discussed a few social engagements through June w/ DH
~Scrubbed 2 toilets
~Watched The Game and got in some reading

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG our two friends whose little 1BR house we rent most summers both have birthdays in Feb. They too have extended birthday celebrations. They call it "birthday season" lol. 

We are renting their place again for two weeks next summer, during the Olympics. I have ZERO desire to be here during the craziness. There's a big thing here about renting your place out on AirBnB to earn extra money. Having had a 1BR rental trashed by a tenant to the tune of 42K about 15 years ago (insurance paid half), thanks but no thanks!!!

DH's very close cousins from Brighton got tickets, so they'll stay here. Win-win. We've been staying with each other for over 30 years!

[Iggy aka IG]

Feb 13, 2024 18:47:03 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Iggy aka IG our two friends whose little 1BR house we rent most summers both have birthdays in Feb. They too have extended birthday celebrations. They call it "birthday season" lol. 

We are renting their place again for two weeks next summer, during the Olympics. I have ZERO desire to be here during the craziness. There's a big thing here about renting your place out on AirBnB to earn extra money. Having had a 1BR rental trashed by a tenant to the tune of 42K about 15 years ago (insurance paid half), thanks but no thanks!!!

DH's very close cousins from Brighton got tickets, so they'll stay here. Win-win. We've been staying with each other for over 30 years!

I love that:  Birthday season.  

And I don't blame you for not wanting to rent your place.  Goodness!  (re: the amount of damage.)

[TheOtherMe]

I would not want to be in Paris during the Olympics either and you have someone you know who will use your house.

A friend just bought a villa in the south of France.  He retired, sold his San Francisco house and started house hunting in France.  Now he has to get a residency card in France but he has to go to a French consulate in the US.  He's waiting for an appointment.

[TheOtherMe]

Feb 13, 2024 17:23:15 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Sounds like a good plan TheOtherMe . You're right, you should enjoy your trips to see the Toddler while you can. (I know he's not a toddler any more!)

I just looked and I should refer to him as a preschooler.  No, he is not a toddler.  

He has already been accepted at a French immersion school for the fall.  He is finally potty trained except at night.  That took long enough.  

[debthaven]

The couch cleaner just left ... she was here for 3 hours, and she did a fabulous job! The difference is amazing! Money very well spent. 

[seriousthistime]

I'm so glad, debthaven!  I bet you feel like you have new couches without spending the money it would cost to replace them.  Your rehabbing (plywood, foam) and professional cleaning are well worth it.