2024 Organize & Declutter

[debthaven]

We're back from 6 days in the UK. It was a wonderful trip, but very tiring. We spent two days babysitting the grandkids, took DH's (almost) 92YO aunt out for lunch on the other side of London (a 3h round trip!), and celebrated DS3 + A's engagement. 

I've already unpacked. Laundry is in progress.

School tomorrow, then a Zoom class and work lunch on Wed. This is my last slow work week.

I got the list of my professor classes for the school year today. I again have 11 prof/staff classes, which is better than the 12 I was supposed to have. 

It's so good to be home! 

I have a lot of paperwork to take care of. It's not late, but I need to do it. I'm realizing that I'm somewhat depressed from being relatively immobile and in constant pain. I tried the stronger painkillers I was given, I hated them.
 
I'm only going to list two paperwork items at a time so I don't feel overwhelmed. When these two items are done, I'll probably take a short break, then (hopefully) do more. 

To do Sept:
- request US ballot
- renew DL (they changed the format)

My goal is to do both items by the end of Sept. (I know the ballot is time sensitive, I need to do it this week.)

[finnime]

Congratulations to your DS3, debthaven, and welcome back.

[debthaven]

Thank you finnime . We are absolutely thrilled for them! 

ETA: My next trip will be to the local hospital in mid October LOL. 

[TheOtherMe]

Can the ballot be requested online?  

I am supposed to be in Toronto when mine will be mailed to me.  Since the Iowa legislature doesn't want people to vote absentee, we only have 15 days from mailing to get it received by the County.  I will have to take mine to a drop box to drop it off.  I will not go to the polls on election day.

[debthaven]

Yes TheOtherMe , as far as I know.

DH offered to drive me to school this morning. After 1.5h in traffic, I had to cancel class. I have to go in Thurs instead. No more driving, it's too unpredictable. (It was supposed to take 25 min.)

This semester is kicking my butt. 

[Iggy aka IG]

I need to catch up here and may have missed something.  debthaven why is traffic being so beastly?

I arrived home from camping mid Sunday afternoon, so I am behind with laundry, and have a mound of dishes once again.  I took our male kitten for his neuter appointment this morning, so I'll leave a bit early to pick him up   This may give me some extra at home time to get a few additional things accomplished.  As you may remember, I am a new kitten mom, so placing my beloved into a kitten carrier was difficult for us both.  Once I placed the carrier on my truck console, he seemed to calm down a bit because he could see outside and was closer to me.  I talked and sang to him the whole way there, and by the time we arrived, he was purring and kneading.  I am a smitten kitten mom.  

Other completions:
-Paid bills
-Bought fuel
-Picked up the grocery order
-Did three loads of laundry thus far
-Went to the post office
-Bought eggs from a neighbor
-Been kicking butt here at the office

[debthaven]

Aww Iggy aka IG I love reading your kitten stories! I'm very allergic, so I'll enjoy them from afar.

They closed a major road near my school. AFTER I cancelled class and we headed back home, we saw a sign saying that road would be closed on and off for 10 days in Sept. I'm guessing it's because they are dismantling the Olympic venue nearby, but I'm not sure. 

When I take the train I walk at least 5K steps. I know that's not much, but it's hard these days. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, debthaven.  I just called the vet who said my kitten (his name is Charles, but he goes by Charm) is not yet fully awake.

And 5K steps is a lot, IMO.   

[TheOtherMe]

Sept 17, 2024 14:06:37 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

I took our male kitten for his neuter appointment this morning, so I'll leave a bit early to pick him up   This may give me some extra at home time to get a few additional things accomplished.  As you may remember, I am a new kitten mom, so placing my beloved into a kitten carrier was difficult for us both.  Once I placed the carrier on my truck console, he seemed to calm down a bit because he could see outside and was closer to me.  I talked and sang to him the whole way there, and by the time we arrived, he was purring and kneading.  I am a smitten kitten mom.  

I have always had problems getting my cats in to carriers until these Lucy and now Maddow and Amelia.  I think it's been easier with them because I keep the carrier in the house.  To them, it's part of the territory.  They are used to seeing it every day.  I move it off the ground when we have an appointment the next day.  All I do is pick them up and put them in.

Every other cat has been a battle.  Benjamin howled like he was being tortured and that was before I had a/c in my car.  None have purred and kneaded.  You are a great Cat Mom.  

I used to always get scratched by the cats.  That still happens on a regular basis but not because we are going to the vet.  

I am happy that you are smitten.    

[countrygirl2]

I've only came in here a few times.  We have moved and that has been an ordeal. We downsized a ton but still not enough. So I have been going through boxes and getting rid of stuff since being here, about a month now. I'm getting to the items that will be difficult to decided about.

We are trying to do a room at a time. Didn't realize it all needed repainting and so much cleaning needed done. If we had realized would have done more before we moved in.

I have to go through more boxes, the garage is better. Hubs and I assembled 3 shelving units and moved items to those and at the same time donated items.
I had a garage sale, it rained little sold so took loads to Goodwill. The garage is getting better. 

So a loose plan

Finish painting inside of house, have 1 bedroom completed and sidewalls in DD's need to paint the ceiling
Need to paint around inside of each window and ledge.
Going to paint rest of house inside, may take awhile as its hubs and I doing it and we are way slower at 78.
Keep washing my windows on the outside till I can get whatever film is on them cleaned off.

I ordered new blinds, the strings on these are frayed and a plastic piece in the top broken in most, I'm sure they are 18 years old.
After we paint DD's ceiling new carpet or flooring in the 2 bedrooms, rest is hardwood.

Put up 3 new curtain rods we purchased

We had a new high efficiency heat pump put in. In next couple of weeks new roof will be done, got concession on price for it.

Just continue to declutter and get rid of for quite some time in house and in garage and hobby room.

If a house or houses sell going to put in new counter top in kitchen, either silestone or granite.
Refinish lower cabinet doors, the cabinets are in good shape.

As fall comes on finish trimming and cutting plants back

Longer term plan, hubs wants to build higher shelving in garage, has 12 foot ceiling.

Work on our patio, maybe build in, but definitely roof

Next year may add solar panels

Widen parking a bit

Repair sprinkler system

Lots of work to do.

[finnime]

Put together a patio glider chair, so all its parts are now decluttered. It was a bit of an ordeal but the end is good. Just need to replace 3 missing nuts.

[Iggy aka IG]

Sept 17, 2024 18:04:50 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Sept 17, 2024 14:06:37 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

I took our male kitten for his neuter appointment this morning, so I'll leave a bit early to pick him up   This may give me some extra at home time to get a few additional things accomplished.  As you may remember, I am a new kitten mom, so placing my beloved into a kitten carrier was difficult for us both.  Once I placed the carrier on my truck console, he seemed to calm down a bit because he could see outside and was closer to me.  I talked and sang to him the whole way there, and by the time we arrived, he was purring and kneading.  I am a smitten kitten mom.  

I have always had problems getting my cats in to carriers until these Lucy and now Maddow and Amelia.  I think it's been easier with them because I keep the carrier in the house.  To them, it's part of the territory.  They are used to seeing it every day.  I move it off the ground when we have an appointment the next day.  All I do is pick them up and put them in.

Every other cat has been a battle.  Benjamin howled like he was being tortured and that was before I had a/c in my car.  None have purred and kneaded.  You are a great Cat Mom.  

I used to always get scratched by the cats.  That still happens on a regular basis but not because we are going to the vet.  

I am happy that you are smitten.    

Thank you very much, TheOtherMe.    

This morning, I did what I am calling a mid-week reset.  I put out fresh towels and took out the garbage.

Today:
-Phone appointment
-Continue to try and balance my personal checkbook

This evening:
-Another load of laundry as I am still playing catch up
-Exercise
-Address the mound of dishes

[moneysquirrel]

Sept 15, 2024 11:32:36 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

*Service Appt -- Tuesday
*Classes -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
*Meeting -- Tuesday and Wednesday
*Zoom Meeting -- Friday
*House Cleaning -- Friday
*AC Filter Change 
*Dessert for Tuesday's Meeting
*Finish necklace set
*Fix my bracelet
*Package a few items for upcoming craft shows
*Maintain laundry, dishes, flat areas, routine bath and kitchen areas
*Continue to work on storage areas in order to organize and declutter
*Payments -- monthly bills @ 4  1 left, partial payment on 2025 trip
*Errands -- Grocery and others
*Begin new project ?


Later in September:
*Craft show -- Saturday week
*Vaccines -- Flu and Covid -- will be on two different days.  I know how my body responses to these.
*Medical Test

MAnaged to get quite a bit of little things finished. Dessert for the meeting late night is all gone -- I didn't have any to bring home as I gave the rest to the others.  I still had some of the leftover cake from the previous week baked before I knew the meeting for that night was postponed. Up to date on the routine laundry and dishes.  Still waiting on one of the monthly bills and made a partial payment on my trip.  Decided to try to make a small payment each month so that the final payment in a few months won't be so huge.  I will be using quite a bit of my sinking funds for this trip.  I will begin to replace those funds asap after the final payment. 

[finnime]

Got the nuts I needed at the small Ace hardware nearest us. Installed them, and now the glider can be used with no more than usual risk(!)

Need to go through our supplies still. Show on Saturday may be deferred to Sunday due to weather. We'll know tomorrow.

We have another show a week from Saturday, too, in a Cape beach town.

The weekend after that is the old mens' birthday bash. I've been planning the menu which I won't finalize until I know for sure who will be here. DH and ODB will be pleased no matter what, I'm sure.

Menu:

Veg with dip

Shish kebab--steak
Grilled shrimp on skewers
Bacon-wrapped scallops
Chicken satay with peanut sauce
Fruit kebabs, grilled
Vegetable kebabs, grilled
Grilled potato

Cake, maybe 2 cakes, I don't know yet.

It's not a sit at a big table and eat sort of occasion. We'll each grab a plate, maybe 2, and graze.

What do you think?

What to drink--need to figure that out

[debthaven]

finnime I think that all sounds wonderful!!!

[debthaven]

Work week over.
Best of all, I finally got my health insurance reinstated today!!! SOOO relieved! 

[Iggy aka IG]

Sept 18, 2024 16:19:09 GMT -5 debthaven said:

finnime I think that all sounds wonderful!!!

[snapdragon]

Got quite a few items put away for fall. Also managed to put together another heavy duty shelf in the garage for storage totes.

Finally finished swapping out my closet.  (put into totes)

Took my holiday china that was inside the house and moved it to the garage.

Got the bed stripped and remade.

1st load of laundry in the wash. Moving it to the dryer now before going outside.

 - Going to be gathering scrap metal and recycling it. I need to take some stuff apart before I can get it there. 
 - On the scrap metal idea. I need to empty out the former fire barrel. (it was left full of ashes) Luckily they will take it. 

Placed a call to the landscapers and am waiting for a return call. 

[Iggy aka IG]

I finally caught up here.  

I accomplished all three tasks I listed yesterday.  There are still more dirty dishes to address, but I did empty, refill, and start the dishwasher last night.  Towels were washed and dried and need to be folded along with Monday's clothing load.  I also tried on the clothing items I bought during a Labor Day sale.  I'll keep four items and return one.

Today:
-ATM
-Mammogram
-Renewed my vehicle's remote service plan
-Reserved a hotel room for an upcoming trip

Tonight:
-Hopefully finish the rest of the dishes
-Fold clothes
-Exercise then walk with the kittens

From the procrastination list:
-A few weekends ago, in the shadow box purchased in February, I arranged keepsakes from the NFL game I attended in January.  I need to dust everything, including the box, before sealing it.

[debthaven]

I was so relieved about the health insurance that I crashed on the couch for two hours. I have papers to submit but I'll wait a week hoping that I'm (yet again!) fully in their system by then.

We have nothing planned this weekend except a Sun morning rehearsal. I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend at home to put things away, mend a sweater, do laundry and do paperwork.

Work gets busier next week. I just need to get through three more weeks till my surgery. 

ETA: I hope the mammogram goes well Iggy aka IG . 

Has anyone heard from Sharon recently? 

[snapdragon]

I am now back from the scrap yard. I got a whole $4.95 because of a fan motor. But all the unsightly and rusty metal is gone! 

On the way home I stopped at the hardware store for a towing hitch, latch & pin. I also got a few towing straps and rachet straps too. 

I forgot 2 library books were dropped off too.

[TheOtherMe]

I have not heard from Sharon.  I hope she and her mother are doing okay.

I decuttered  my old iPhone today.  My vet's office is an official UPS drop off site, so that's where I took it.  I was so surprised to see them on the UPS website that I called the vet's office to clarify.  So much easier than driving to town.

[Iggy aka IG]

Happy Friday, everyone!

debthaven, thank you!  I read the results last night on the patient portal and I am good to go for another year.  

Today:
-Dropped off three pieces of serveware at a neighbor's home.  I was unable to sell them during my online summer sale, so I offered them free to my neighbor whom I know entertains a lot.  She couldn't use them, but apparently her mom has the same set.
-Post office
-Phone appointment
-Continue to kick butt here at the office

Tonight:
-Kitten time
-Bake cookies for tomorrow

Tomorrow:
-Kitten time
-Go visit a friend at their cabin

Sunday:
-Put up the few pieces of fall decor I own
-Chores
-Make a lasagna for the freezer
-NFL
-Kitten time

Have a wonderful weekend!  

[TheOtherMe]

Love seeing Kitten time on your schedule.

[Iggy aka IG]

Sept 20, 2024 15:20:48 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Love seeing Kitten time on your schedule.

Thank you, TheOtherMe.  

[debthaven]

I did nothing but a load of laundry today. It was glorious! 

Tomorrow is another day. 

[busymom]

Hi Kids!  I've peeked in from time to time here, but haven't had any accomplishments to report in quite a while.  DS has been getting a lot of paperwork dumped on him (meaning me) that needed to be completed, so that's been taking up a good chunk of my Summer.  In fact, I just got another couple of envelopes with more to be done this week.  However, this morning DH had a late start at work, so we decided to see how much we could get out of the garage in one hour.  I was sore at the end (which is embarrassing, because it was only an hour), but even in that short time it looks better.  DH keeps promising to break down boxes to recycle, but tends to put things off, until we have so many boxes it looks like we're getting ready to move.  (Partly Amazon's fault--I'll order 4 items, and it arrives in 4 different boxes.  Target isn't much better, sending me a small order in a huge box.)  But, we got rid of a lot of the mess, so I'm feeling better about things.  I should be able to complete the latest batch of paperwork this weekend, then I need to catch up on filing.  

While DD's wedding was wonderful, that took priority the first 1/2 of this year.  DH & I don't even have the energy to take a "normal" vacation, so we're going to try & schedule just a few days out of town to get away, maybe when the leaves are turning color.  That'll do for this year, then when we get back on track, we'll get back to decluttering and take a real vacation next year.  (We hope!)  

So nice to see the progress you all are making.  DD & her new husband are busy setting up their "home for now", selling his place, and dreaming of buying something a bit bigger in a year or so.  

[debthaven]

Good to see you back busymom !

This morning I:
- did the pre-admission online for the hospital
- contacted the local nurse regarding aftercare
- filled out the consent forms  
- scanned the estimate for insurance (I'll send it on Monday).  

I still have a dentist appt, anaesthesiologist appt, 2 lab tests and supplies to get from the pharmacy, but it's a start. It feels like having a part-time job. 

To do Sept:
- request US ballot
- renew DL (they changed the format)
- dentist appt (for surgery)

[startsmart]

Today I intentionally slept in to catch up on a few nights of rotten sleep and then I got to work! The bedroom has been swept, mopped and furniture rearranged a tiny bit. I put away clean laundry and now I’m working on organizing my journal supplies and EPP supplies.

Soon I’ll let the cats out into the bedroom during the day and I’m trying to reduce the amount of stuff they can destroy. HOWEVER I did discover one of them ate the charger for my camera so I need to dive into my box of random cords and find a replacement or order a new one.

It’s getting colder here (finally!) so I am working around the fans and bringing out heaters for the period of in between weather.

I think the thing I’m most excited about for the new hot water heater — besides a hot bath — is being able to mop more frequently and wash the dishes faster. Boiling water for those tasks is a PITA.

[snapdragon]

I went grocery shopping for the first time this month and between 3 stores it was just over $200. I will hold off on costco until the end of the month or early next when I have guests coming for a few days. 

All banking is now up to date.

The second load of laundry is due for the dryer and dishes will be put in the machine later today for cleaning. 

The DR table has been picked up - not clear but much better.

I need to phone and see if there's any legal filing cabinets left and pick one up sometime early next week

the landscapers are coming Wednesday to trim my hedges - really happy about that.

my office is starting to annoy me so I will probably attempt to work on it next week after I get a filing cabinet.