2024 Organize & Declutter

[debthaven]

That's wonderful TheOtherMe ! You'll be so happy when it's all done. 

[debthaven]

This week
- laundry (done)
- vacuum car/Wed
- donation bin/Wed
- bottle bank/Wed
- get e-liquid/Wed
- pharmacy 
- Shitepile

I got a lot done! DD is here, so we took her out to lunch and then ran errands together on the way home.

[moneysquirrel]

Aug 15, 2024 10:47:07 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

Updating:

Aug 12, 2024 17:24:39 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

*House Cleaning -- Friday  --  I cancelled -- They were at least an hour late.  Rescheduled for next month.
*Errands -- Bank, grocery for perishables, post office, etc
*Dr. Appointment -- Thursday week -- Just got back -- All is ok -- Back in 6 months
*Zoom with J -- Friday week
*Classes begin last week of August

Til later

Presentation went well.  I am new to this group so I was a little antsy about it.  

New Items for List of to-dos:
*Service appointment -- Tuesday
*Service appointment --  -- Scheduled for Friday
*Quarterly payment -- Insurance -- before month end
*Last of the monthly bills -- at least three  two left.
*Finish the bracelet -- getting close to the end and ready to start something new. Finished 

Have been missing in action but getting a lot of things off the list. 
*I also arranged all of my handouts for the class that I teach as they were a jumbled mess.  I don't think I will have to make a lot of copies this semester as I have a lot of backup.  Decided that I will lighten the load and not carry all of them with me weekly. 
*Set up my class list -- pleased that it is mostly newbies 
*Ok on clothes and dishes as of now but both will be run before the end of the week.
*Need to make appointment for last medical test (that I am aware of )

Iggy aka IG Happy anniversary
TheOtherMe -- Glad that you are getting things back the way you want.  Know you will be happy when all is back to order.
debthaven -- Welcome back.  I also have a collection of travel items.
NastyWoman -- Glad that your progress is noticable.

soupandstew -- my weather is similar to yours. I have been spending a lot of time indoors.  Even my doctors have given me a little break on outdoor exercise  -- told to wait until cooler times.  With me that may be mid-October but I will try to start the walking in September.

[TheOtherMe]

Got a text from the ceiling repair people.  They wanted to come Thursday evening and then return on Saturday as they are running behind.  I said no evening will work.  I am not letting people work inside my house in the evening.

So now they are coming Friday morning for a few hours and return on Saturday for the entire day.  I don't really like it, but I want this done and they are not coming at night.,  I will not have that.  

The guys who move the furniture were planning on coming back on Saturday.  No longer than they will be here, I would let them come that evening or Sunday.  The furniture has to be moved by Labor Day.

[Iggy aka IG]

Aug 20, 2024 15:37:24 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I did something for this long trip I was very happy with. I bought a cheap transparent pencil case for myself, a nicer case for DH (part of his birthday gift) and equipped them.

I bought two double USB wall plugs (one each), two extra phone cables (one each) and two Kindle/e-cigarette cables (for me). Now we each have a small electronics case for travel.   

I'm going to add a double wall plug for each of us, because no place had one. I did this over several months, to spread out the cost.

Brilliant!  Thank you for the idea, debthaven!

[Iggy aka IG]

Speaking of traveling, has anyone here been on a cruise?  I've been researching for a few weeks now and have jotted down numerous packing ideas.  I'd love to hear your input.

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG I haven't, but I know Mich and MPL have. I think Jerseygirl too. Feel free to ask here anyway. 

[Opti]

TheOtherMe sometimes one is compelled to accept schedules that will work in order to get things done. I hope the ceiling is repaired and happy by sometime Saturday.

Went to my first PT appointment and now I have exercises to do twice a day. They should be easy, but they are not because the right knee hurts. So might be icing the knee in a few after doing them.

Made the next three PT appointments while there and set up the medical transport when I came home. The one sounds tight, but it will work out as the location is pretty close. So twice a week PT for six weeks and now I need to shift my attention to booking lab appointments. Hope I can do the blood draw Friday or Monday. Sigh.

Takes so long to do everything because it is hard to walk. It will get better.
Doing filing and tossing stuff to my shred "bin" so I have room for current stuff.

Still to do today, one more round of PT exercises after dinner
Start disability folder for this employer
Continue to cull and sort files through COB or later
After COB since I am tired, but sometime tonight create login/pw on online portal for disability insurer
Probably will do updates there like a good Opti, but so tempting to just call and tell them I have scheduled out my first two weeks of appointments. Waiting to see how it goes. The driver told me they will drive out of county. So I want to call
the only in network option and see if they are cheaper or whether how they bill is easier for me in the short term.

Still to be addressed fully, Dad's IRA stuff. If I can wake up more later today I'll call again today.
If not that's a tomorrow thing. So very slowly putting away papers and tossing things from the last six years or so.
Hate the pandemic. Wish the deaths of my parents could have come at better times, but so it is.
And need to get clear and call the lawyer who handled my BK. I think its time to do a lawsuit so AAA will pay
for what was done to my car and hopefully me as well.

[moneysquirrel]

Aug 21, 2024 13:42:37 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Speaking of traveling, has anyone here been on a cruise?  I've been researching for a few weeks now and have jotted down numerous packing ideas.  I'd love to hear your input.

I have taken two cruises.  Neither one was to the islands so no ideas as to beach prep.  Some ideas:
*Magnets especially with hooks/clips -- walls of cabins are metal.  Perfect for hanging lanyards, hats, etc.
*Non-surge extension hub.  Must be one without surge protection.  I got mine on Amazon -- look for one that states ok for cruises.
*If there is an excursion you "have" to experience -- book it ASAP.  Popular ones get sold out early
*Friends had their iron/steamer put in "cruise jail" for the trip. So leave them home.
*Ships usually offer a "fill the bag" laundry option -- especially good on longer cruises -- less need to bring additional clothes or to come home with filled cases of dirty clothes.
*Over the counter meds are pricey on board ship -- pack a few and/or check in port for cheaper options.
*Pack makeup, sunscreen in small containers -- contact lenses cases are perfect.  I did color side for makeup, white side for sunscreen. At end of trip can be tossed.  Use small cases/ travel sizes whenever possible. Toss when done.
*Pack old tees, clothing and toss at end of trip -- leaves room for those trip momentos.  
*Comfortable shoes  
*Try to eat in the dining room at least some days.  Buffet good but the main dining is great as well.  Special restraurants cost a little more but if you have a package may be able to try one.
*If possible arrive at the departure location at least one day in advance -- with all the travel tie-ups recently you don't want to miss the boat.

Hope this helps -- let me know if you have any other questions. 

[Iggy aka IG]

moneysquirrel thank you very much for taking the time to write down your tips!  I'm going to copy them for future reference.  

ETA:  My trip also isn't to the islands.  

[Sharon]

Things are still progressing at my house.  The sprinkler system is finally functional again.  It still needs some fine tuning but pretty much everything is getting watered now, which means no more hauling hoses for me, YAY. 

After they fired up the sprinklers I kept hearing water coming underneath the remnants of the old fountain and sure enough there was a rogue sprinkler head under the cinder blocks.  I moved all the cinder blocks onto the drive way, took a picture and put them on FB marketplace for free.  They were gone within about 2 hours.  That inspired me to finally take a picture and list the assorted decorative garden rocks that DD and I had dug out a flower bed.  Those were gone within half a day.

Work is crazy and seriously wish I could retire. 

[jerseygirl]

Aug 21, 2024 13:42:37 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Speaking of traveling, has anyone here been on a cruise?  I've been researching for a few weeks now and have jotted down numerous packing ideas.  I'd love to hear your input.

I don’t have the very nice suggestions from moneysquirrel. We sailed on sail boats without a crew for many years and I never wanted to take a cruise. The ships looked so huge and I thought it would feel just like a hotel . But when my sister could no longer fly, we took a cruise from NYC to Bermuda. I LOVED it! We had a balcony room. I liked that we could see the water and really not just like a hotel. We took cruises every year after that until sister couldn’t travel.
br]Cruises are a very easy way to travel and I think pretty cost effective. The most stressful is getting to the pier and getting back home. I preferred cruises that left from Hoboken rather than NYC cause it is less crowded. You might best travel day prior if you need to fly to the port. The boarding process is very organized , much better than at airports . I wouldn’t worry too much about what to pack . We liked the buffets for lunch but the dining rooms for breakfast and dinner. I liked the open air restaurant because I could see the water . Just enjoy all the opportunities- spa, entertainment etc

[snapdragon]

I have added to my hoard - 

I went on a trip conning my neighbor to take me out of state where I ended up buying another vehicle. 

I now have a 2006 Honda Ridgeline which will come in handy for several things that have popped up since I now have a house. 

It's a nice muted green and after driving it home I know that I will enjoy being able to not have to wait for others, renting and returning the same day or having to pay extra to have something shipped and it taking over a week to arrive. 

[debthaven]

Congratulations snapdragon !

This week
- Shitepile/Thurs
- clean out backpack/Thurs
- clean out wallet/Thurs
- reorganize vacation bedding/Thurs
- mend bathing suit and fleece/Thurs
- post office (DH)/Thurs
- pharmacy?

DD left this morning. DS1 & Co arrive Sat/Sun for 5/6 days. I want everything done by then. 

I found two sets of DS3's old single bedding in the linen closet. DS1 wants them for the kids, so that freed up some room. 

[Opti]

Still to do today, one more round of PT exercises after dinner
Start disability folder for this employer TBD; PT folder completed though
Continue to cull and sort files through COB or later

Today
Start disability insurance folder; create login/PW for yet another website
Communicate to disability insurer and work first two weeks of PT scheduled
Check on PT option in network on costs, availability, and how they bill
Wash hair
laundry?
PT exercises morning, evening
Print lab tests to schedule to files then schedule
Schedule medical transport for the above or find ride(s) if possible
NJ Anchor application?
Much number crunching and cash flow estimates
Yet another call for Dad's IRA paperwork and call an office too to find out protocol for coming in and fully completing this

ETA: I suppose I should have changed one of the entries above. I started a PT folder for the exercises and paperwork
I pulled a folder for the disability insurance from this employer but hadn't labeled it and filed everything into it yet

[seriousthistime]

Is the NJ anchor application for a job? 

[Iggy aka IG]

Aug 21, 2024 21:00:34 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Things are still progressing at my house.  The sprinkler system is finally functional again.  It still needs some fine tuning but pretty much everything is getting watered now, which means no more hauling hoses for me, YAY. 

After they fired up the sprinklers I kept hearing water coming underneath the remnants of the old fountain and sure enough there was a rogue sprinkler head under the cinder blocks.  I moved all the cinder blocks onto the drive way, took a picture and put them on FB marketplace for free.  They were gone within about 2 hours.  That inspired me to finally take a picture and list the assorted decorative garden rocks that DD and I had dug out a flower bed.  Those were gone within half a day.

Work is crazy and seriously wish I could retire. 

So freaking 

[Iggy aka IG]

Aug 21, 2024 21:21:17 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Aug 21, 2024 13:42:37 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Speaking of traveling, has anyone here been on a cruise?  I've been researching for a few weeks now and have jotted down numerous packing ideas.  I'd love to hear your input.

I don’t have the very nice suggestions from moneysquirrel. We sailed on sail boats without a crew for many years and I never wanted to take a cruise. The ships looked so huge and I thought it would feel just like a hotel . But when my sister could no longer fly, we took a cruise from NYC to Bermuda. I LOVED it! We had a balcony room. I liked that we could see the water and really not just like a hotel. We took cruises every year after that until sister couldn’t travel.
br]Cruises are a very easy way to travel and I think pretty cost effective. The most stressful is getting to the pier and getting back home. I preferred cruises that left from Hoboken rather than NYC cause it is less crowded. You might best travel day prior if you need to fly to the port. The boarding process is very organized , much better than at airports . I wouldn’t worry too much about what to pack . We liked the buffets for lunch but the dining rooms for breakfast and dinner. I liked the open air restaurant because I could see the water . Just enjoy all the opportunities- spa, entertainment etc

jerseygirl thank you!  I jotted down several of your tips, including the preference of where to eat for what meal.  I cannot wait to dine outside.

[Iggy aka IG]

Unlike usual, when I save it all up for the weekend, this week I've been doing a load of laundry after work.  Because of camping, kittens, etc., the piles were getting out of hand.  Tonight, depending on time, I'll try and fit in 1-2 loads.  Plus, because the W/D are downstairs, I'm getting in more steps.  

[debthaven]

I'm so glad things are FINALLY getting back to normal Sharon ! How many more years left before retirement?

I regret taking a class this semester. But it's only one day/week at school, and I'll be happy for the cheaper insurance, especially if I need a new hip. I should know on 6 Sept.

[Opti]

Aug 22, 2024 9:34:11 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Is the NJ anchor application for a job? 

No, that's a program that gives renters and homeowners a kickback on part of their property taxes. For renter's it could be paid as early as Oct 1.

I got signed up on the disability insurance website and my payment choice went through, however it appears they processed a large payment after I was on this morning and its coming by check. I hope it arrives and is delivered to me not someone else in my building. 

More later I need to roll to the laundry room.

[debthaven]

Opti I've been VERY hesitant to write to you, because you told me not to address you previously. I've respected your wishes, but now I'm going to do it anyway.

- My DH had knee replacement surgery in Jan 2023. It gave him a new lease on life. He tried every solution under the sun before the surgery. Withdrawing extra fluid, many different infiltrations, PT. Only the surgery changed anything. If your cartilage is truly gone (my DH's was), everything else is just a band-aid, and you're just kicking the can down the road.

- You need a cheap basket or accordion folder so you can find your important paperwork. 

- You have limited time, energy and money, like all of us. I don't think suing AAA is a good use of ANY of those resources. 

- Since you are perpetually "underfunded", you should concentrate on your dad's IRA, late taxes if you still have any, or the program you mentioned. You need income, not lawsuits. 

I truly wish you the best. I will now proceed to ignore you again, per your wishes.

[seriousthistime]

Aug 22, 2024 15:55:42 GMT -5 Opti said:

Aug 22, 2024 9:34:11 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Is the NJ anchor application for a job? 

No, that's a program that gives renters and homeowners a kickback on part of their property taxes. For renter's it could be paid as early as Oct 1.

I got signed up on the disability insurance website and my payment choice went through, however it appears they processed a large payment after I was on this morning and its coming by check. I hope it arrives and is delivered to me not someone else in my building. 

More later I need to roll to the laundry room.

That will be a nice help. 

[seriousthistime]

Aug 22, 2024 16:06:27 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Opti I've been VERY hesitant to write to you, because you told me not to address you previously. I've respected your wishes, but now I'm going to do it anyway.

- My DH had knee replacement surgery in Jan 2023. It gave him a new lease on life. He tried every solution under the sun before the surgery. Withdrawing extra fluid, many different infiltrations, PT. Only the surgery that changed anything. If your cartilage is truly gone, everything else is a band-aid.

- You need a basket or accordion folder so you can find your important paperwork. 

- You have limited time, energy and money. I don't think suing AAA is a good use of ANY of those resources. 

- Since you are perpetually "underfunded", you should be concentrating on dealing with your dad's IRA, late taxes if you still have any, or the program you mentioned. You need income, not lawsuits. 

I truly wish you the best. I will now proceed to ignore you again, per your wishes.

I agree, anything that brings in money the quickest should be a priority.

[Opti]

Aug 22, 2024 16:06:27 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Opti I've been VERY hesitant to write to you, because you told me not to address you previously. I've respected your wishes, but now I'm going to do it anyway.

- My DH had knee replacement surgery in Jan 2023. It gave him a new lease on life. He tried every solution under the sun before the surgery. Withdrawing extra fluid, many different infiltrations, PT. Only the surgery changed anything. If your cartilage is truly gone (my DH's was), everything else is just a band-aid, and you're just kicking the can down the road.

- You need a cheap basket or accordion folder so you can find your important paperwork. 

- You have limited time, energy and money, like all of us. I don't think suing AAA is a good use of ANY of those resources. 

- Since you are perpetually "underfunded", you should concentrate on your dad's IRA, late taxes if you still have any, or the program you mentioned. You need income, not lawsuits. 

I truly wish you the best. I will now proceed to ignore you again, per your wishes.

Since we are in year one of the merger and I am just starting PT I am going to see how things go. I would like to look at my x-ray again when I am less freaked out. To me it appears the cartilage is missing on the inside of the knee but not everywhere. Since I want to remain working, I will need to schedule knee surgery for a convenient time to be out, so I don't get disappeared(laid off) altogether. This is just the very start of this journey for me. I wish it had been fluid and soft tissue damage, but it is osteo arthritis and while it will not get better the specialist did not advocate jumping to knee surgery right away. 

Yes I have been underfunded for twenty-one years, but prior to that most of those eighteen years I was decently to well-funded. Life happens. Interestingly someone from Elec Engr same school is now gainfully unemployed pursuing art. He's making YouTube videos and I guess seeing where its going. 

[debthaven]

Lastly, most posters on this thread don’t post about the need to eat/drink/sleep/shower.

Sorry if that’s harsh but that’s very basic self care, and that’s not what this thread (which has been going on for many years) is about. Nobody here can help you with that.

I hope things get better for you, but I won’t engage with you again anytime soon.

[seriousthistime]

Aug 22, 2024 12:55:36 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Aug 21, 2024 21:21:17 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

I don’t have the very nice suggestions from moneysquirrel. We sailed on sail boats without a crew for many years and I never wanted to take a cruise. The ships looked so huge and I thought it would feel just like a hotel . But when my sister could no longer fly, we took a cruise from NYC to Bermuda. I LOVED it! We had a balcony room. I liked that we could see the water and really not just like a hotel. We took cruises every year after that until sister couldn’t travel.
br]Cruises are a very easy way to travel and I think pretty cost effective. The most stressful is getting to the pier and getting back home. I preferred cruises that left from Hoboken rather than NYC cause it is less crowded. You might best travel day prior if you need to fly to the port. The boarding process is very organized , much better than at airports . I wouldn’t worry too much about what to pack . We liked the buffets for lunch but the dining rooms for breakfast and dinner. I liked the open air restaurant because I could see the water . Just enjoy all the opportunities- spa, entertainment etc

jerseygirl thank you!  I jotted down several of your tips, including the preference of where to eat for what meal.  I cannot wait to dine outside.

I absolutely second the bolded part!  DD and I went on a cruise a few years ago.  She lives in the port city and I was flying in.  I insisted on flying in the day before, and that was a good thing because there were storms in Dallas and I had to overnight there.   The next day's flights were delayed or cancelled due to the number of flights cancelled because of the storms. I never would have made it. 

DD and her DH once took a cruise to Alaska.  They misconnected in Seattle and the cruise left Anchorage without them.  They finally got to Anchorage and had to rent a car to drive down the Kenai peninsula to the next port of call. They made that one with minutes to spare. 

I visited DD recently and a tropical storm blew in.  It didn't hit her area too badly but so many departing and arriving flights were cancelled that I had to extend my return by two days to get rebooked home. 

Don't count on your flights running on time, or at all. These days it's wise to expect delays, and when things run on time it's a bonus.

[seriousthistime]

I'm sitting here looking around at all the cleaning and organizing I have to do.  Everything is off my kitchen counters and on the kitchen table and island.  I just had a backsplash installed, today it was grouted, and tomorrow is the caulking where the backsplash meets the countertop. And the contractor was simultaneously working on the main bathroom as well, so that is now done except for cabinet pulls on the vanity, and then I can move things into the vanity. And the contractor had his saws and other equipment staged in my garage, so things were moved around in there and that needs to be reorganized as well. 

Look forward to a number of organizing/decluttering posts coming soon!

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 22, 2024 17:51:02 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Lastly, most posters on this thread don’t post about the need to eat/drink/sleep/shower.

Sorry if that’s harsh but that’s very basic self care, and that’s not what this thread (which has been going on for many years) is about. Nobody here can help you with that.

I hope things get better for you, but I won’t engage with you again anytime soon.

I will add the employer (boss and HR) has every reason to question if there will ever be a return to the job.  It's not like there has been stellar attendance at this job or the previous job.

Usually if there are attendance issues, there are performance issues because the employee is not present often enough to do the job.

[Sharon]

Aug 22, 2024 14:06:19 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I'm so glad things are FINALLY getting back to normal Sharon ! How many more years left before retirement?

I regret taking a class this semester. But it's only one day/week at school, and I'll be happy for the cheaper insurance, especially if I need a new hip. I should know on 6 Sept.

I will be 63 next month and had hoped to cut back some hours by now.  If I hadn't moved I probably could have cut back hours but it was still worth moving.  We can still get insurance as long as we are working 20 hours a week. 

I would love to retire tomorrow.  Work is coming up with all these formalities and procedures that now have to be done.  We are short staffed and having all this extra crap to do makes the job take longer.  All of the changes at work and all the trauma of everything that has happened at home as thrown me into a real funk.  I just want to retire and putter around my house and get it back to looking nice.

Today I was mowing the lawn.  This was the first time in a long time that the lawn was actually green enough to get out the riding lawn mower.  I had emptied the bags of grass into the pasture.  The cows love the fresh cut grass.  I drove over a little gravel pile that was in the pasture but didn't think anything of it.  Well there was a big chunk of cement hidden in that pile and it got wedged between the mower deck and the blade.  It stayed there all across the pasture, out the gate and down the road along side the house to the front yard.  I engaged the blade and oh what a racket.  I had to run to the dealership and pick up new blades and son in law has been volunteered to change the blades for me.