2024 Organize & Declutter

[soupandstew]

At some point I will probably need cataract surgery so I appreciate everyone's input here.  I don't know how I'll make the logistics work but I saw an ad in the newspaper for a service that drives you back and forth for medical stuff.  

[debthaven]

At some point I will probably need cataract surgery so I appreciate everyone's input here.

Same here soupandstew . I'm very grateful that DH and I can drive the other to medical appointments. It's easier now that we're both semi-retired. Plus we only have one car LOL. 

[TheOtherMe]

For same day surgeries in Colorado, I had a couple of friends who I could rely on and I did the same for them.  

Here, my niece did the cataract surgery.  That was not the original plan but a snowstorm came in so I drove to their house and spent the night.  Her husband was working 2nd shift then, so he drove me home in the afternoon.  He drives in snow without caring.  The next day, my sister drove me to the check up appointment and then I drove my car home.

I have mostly used my sister as a driver.  I don't like it but I don't have anyone else.

When I had my gallbladder surgery, my niece was working so that was very helpful.  The nurse came out and told her I was not having keyhole surgery so she could let my sister know that open surgery was happening and it would take longer and I wasn't going home.

[jerseygirl]

I had a cataract operation on my right eye. Easy recovery but think for left I’ll ask for deeper sedation . I was awake, no pain or discomfort at all. But it was quite unnerving to see all the lasers and observe the process.
I had a specialized lens put in and can see very well for distance and close up without glasses. I’ve worn glasses for distance since 10 yrs old
But had to delay second eye because I had to spend a year overcoming colon cancer. Now that’s done with I’m going back to surgeon in November and hopefully have second eye done then.
Right now with one eye still having a cataract finding night driving difficult.
A wonderful surgery!

[TheOtherMe]

When I asked about sedation, I was told I had to be awake with my eye open.  

I had laser surgery on one eye because the lens had moved so much.  I was awake for that, too.

[startsmart]

Last night I made a long list of things to do this weekend - 26 to be exact - and I'm using a random number picker to let it tell me what to do first. And it works because the first thing they told me to do was the LAST thing I wanted to do - lol. I'll track here as I go: 

8 - Touch up paint on front porch  - DONE 
19 - Clean off kitchen counters - DONE
18 - Litter boxes - DONE
16 - Laundry and Sheets - DONE 
15 - Tidy up pantry - DONE 
17 - Take out trash - DONE 
2 - Move outdoor table and chairs to shed - DONE 
9 - Clean up trash on front porch - DONE 
20 - Move boxes of political stuff (find it a new home) - in progress


ETA:
I am 5 hours in and so hot and tired already! Thankfully I put in a grocery order for pickup tonight so I have a break in a couple hours. I’ve also been letting the kittens roam the house more and they discovered the water fountain and love it! I have to keep Lincoln contained or he bugs them too much but they get play time (supervised) a few times a day.

[NastyWoman]

Oct 11, 2024 20:11:17 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

I had a cataract operation on my right eye. Easy recovery but think for left I’ll ask for deeper sedation . I was awake, no pain or discomfort at all. But it was quite unnerving to see all the lasers and observe the process.
I had a specialized lens put in and can see very well for distance and close up without glasses. I’ve worn glasses for distance since 10 yrs old
But had to delay second eye because I had to spend a year overcoming colon cancer. Now that’s done with I’m going back to surgeon in November and hopefully have second eye done then.
Right now with one eye still having a cataract finding night driving difficult.
A wonderful surgery!

 totally worth the OOP $$! I needed distance, nearby, and astigmatism adjustments. And after more than half a century is was just done with glasses. I still think it is cool to open my eyes and be able to see what time it is on the clock.

[debthaven]

Fabulous progress startsmart !

By Tues
- organize final presentation teams/Thurs
- participation marks (till now)/Sat
- work out/input speech marks/Sun?

I need to keep on top of school in case I'm replaced for those last three classes.

DS2 + E are coming for lunch tomorrow. 

[TheOtherMe]

I did not anticipate the guys who came to get the yard ready for winter to ask if I wanted them to take all of the junk, including boxes I have not broken down because they are so big, to the .  I said yes and got back about a quarter of my garage.  

So things were definitely decluttered today and my recycling bin is almost full.  It goes to the curb for pickup on Tuesday.

I will definitely use these guys in the future.  I've been trying to get DN3 to get rid of the boxes for a long time and had offered to pay the fee.  It didn't work.  He took boxes when they were packing to move last winter and that was the end of him taking boxes.  

[debthaven]

That's great news TheOtherMe ! You must be thrilled! 

[seriousthistime]

I managed to declutter another 8 items yesterday, thanks to Buy Nothing. 

I also brought two items into the house. My living room furniture is difficult to arrange. The living/dining combo is an L shaped room with high vaulted ceilings.  Looking at the furniture I've moved from place to place to place over the years (starting with a large house 30+ years ago), nothing really fits or functions well in my current living room.  I was in a rather upscale consignment shop last week and noticed a pair of chairs for sale.  I went back yesterday and bought them, and rearranged the living room. I'm mostly happy with the new placement.  And I can see the two older chair-and-a-halfs, each with ottomans, need to go. But I hate to get rid of one of them.  It's the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in.  There's just no space for a chair that big in this house. I believe Habitat ReStore will get at least one, maybe both, of those huge chairs. 

I'm already looking around trying to decide what next to donate.  

[debthaven]

seriousthistime is there another room you can put the comfy chair in and make that room into an office/reading room?

[seriousthistime]

Right now the comfy chair (without ottoman) is kind of diagonally placed in a corner of the living room and I'm finding it's not too bad.  I'll live with it for a while and see. 

[moneysquirrel]

Good evening all,
I have been busy with all the usual items.  Have two craft shows under my belt and have six more scheduled.  I share a booth with a friend which helps.  Keeping up with the basics of home maintenance as well as trying to remake some seasonal items that I sold out of.  My class schedule continues but I had to miss a few due to conflicting appointments.

I also was one who had cataract surgery.  Mine was last year and I no longer have to wear glasses for distance.  That was amazing as I have worn glasses non-stop for over sixty years.  I do wear reading glasses for any close work. (Which is a lot of my time either on the computer, reading of beading.)  I do need to have the laser adjustment later this month on one eye.  -- 

I had to cancel my house cleaning this month. Hated to do it but too many conflicting appointments.  I am able to get the basics done myself but some of the areas I can't do as well.  Skipping the month will not make those too unmanageable.

I am continuing adding items to my donation bag.  A lot of the items are going straight into the trash as they are not suitable for donation.

debthaven -- wishing you a successful surgery and post-op.

seriousthistime -- great news on finding items that will work in your home.  Sorry about the comfy chair.  Hope that you can find a place that works for it.

TheOtherMe -- Wonderful that you got rid of all those boxes.  Could those young men build you a shelving unit for the garage to help with the items you want to store there.

I am sure that I forgot a lot of the comments I wanted to make but these will do for now.

[debthaven]

By Tues
- organize final presentation teams/Thurs
- participation marks (till now)/Sat
- work out/input speech marks/Mon

I would have liked to do another Admin task but I ran out of steam. 

I'm working online today, then off for a while.

[TheOtherMe]

I have been trying to find a replacement house cleaner for several months.  I had one and she scheduled with me 3 different times two weeks apart.  She canceled every single one so I said good bye.  Last week, the same thing happened.  Set up 3 appointments and canceled 3 times so I said good bye.

So I am back to looking.  

Last night made me mad.  She said it's because her grandma is ill.  Okay, I understand that, but she is not the caretaker for her grandma.  I asked that.  Grandma is in the hospital.  I don't understand that she doesn't need to work for an entire week because her grandma is in the hospital.  

My grandma gave us so many scares before she died, that I think all of us were shocked when she didn't make it.  However, our lives didn't completely stop because of it.

So I am back to hunting for someone to clean my house.  I am angry about it today, so it will wait until tomorrow.

I will get the trash and recyclying ready to go to the curb tonight.

[debthaven]

Oh crap I'm sorry TheOtherMe . I don't blame you for being angry.

[TheOtherMe]

The first one developed some major health problems that she was getting checked out, so I was only upset with her because it was 2 weeks in between appointments, but I don't understand the grandma excuse.  

Sadly, the world doesn't shut down when people are sick and dying.  I know none of mom's grandkids missed work to be with her in her last couple of weeks.  Niece did miss work because mom wanted her to be there when hospice came to the house to evaluate her, but niece was mom's medical POA.  She didn't miss work at the very end either.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 13, 2024 11:30:28 GMT -5 debthaven said:

seriousthistime is there another room you can put the comfy chair in and make that room into an office/reading room?

 That's what I was going to suggest.  Comfy chairs are difficult to come by, IMO.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 14, 2024 10:17:06 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

The first one developed some major health problems that she was getting checked out, so I was only upset with her because it was 2 weeks in between appointments, but I don't understand the grandma excuse.  

Sadly, the world doesn't shut down when people are sick and dying.  I know none of mom's grandkids missed work to be with her in her last couple of weeks.  Niece did miss work because mom wanted her to be there when hospice came to the house to evaluate her, but niece was mom's medical POA.  She didn't miss work at the very end either.  

Exactly.  I hear many excuses from clients as to why they didn't pay their bill, obtain necessary requested information, etc.  I'm amazed that some people have made it this far in life, LOL.

[Iggy aka IG]

I appreciate the cataract surgery conversation.  Thank you, everyone.

This was weekend #? of being gone one or both days.  The good news is I should, barring any unforeseen circumstances, be able to stay home all next weekend which will be nice.  After DH went to bed Saturday night, I put in my ear buds and listened to XM radio while doing what I call KP (Kitchen Patrol) to catch up on dishes.  I don't like doing dishes, so I might as well have fun while doing it, LOL.  And, oh!  When we returned home Saturday evening, DH and I finally went through the numerous totes and boxes of Halloween decorations a neighbor gave to me for free months ago.  It was better than Christmas morning.

Yesterday:

-Fluffed, folded, and put away last weekend's towels
-Did 5 loads of laundry including sheets
-Set out fresh towels
-Refilled the ice trays, Q-tip dispenser and Keurig
-Made banana bread, steaks, and warmed up leftover fries all in the air fryer
-Planned this week's suppers
-Compiled this week's grocery order
-Finalized Halloween party details
-Removed breakable knickknacks and started decorating for Halloween
-Cleared off the main kitchen counter
-With DH's help, relocated one picture and hung two
-Finalized with a friend next summer's flight plan, played with the kittens, prepared a Halloween surprise to mail to a friend, and watched an NFL game

[debthaven]

You got a LOT done Iggy aka IG !

We just bought a used office chair (in excellent shape) for 30 euros ($33)! I'll need to sit high up for the first six weeks, and this seemed like a good/economical solution. (It's much cheaper than buying a new couch, right?! LOL)

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 14, 2024 14:04:58 GMT -5 debthaven said:

You got a LOT done Iggy aka IG !

We just bought a used office chair (in excellent shape) for 30 euros ($33)! I'll need to sit high up for the first six weeks, and this seemed like a good/economical solution. (It's much cheaper than buying a new couch, right?! LOL)

 Nice!

[TheOtherMe]

Oct 14, 2024 13:13:11 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Oct 14, 2024 10:17:06 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

The first one developed some major health problems that she was getting checked out, so I was only upset with her because it was 2 weeks in between appointments, but I don't understand the grandma excuse.  

Sadly, the world doesn't shut down when people are sick and dying.  I know none of mom's grandkids missed work to be with her in her last couple of weeks.  Niece did miss work because mom wanted her to be there when hospice came to the house to evaluate her, but niece was mom's medical POA.  She didn't miss work at the very end either.  

Exactly.  I hear many excuses from clients as to why they didn't pay their bill, obtain necessary requested information, etc.  I'm amazed that some people have made it this far in life, LOL.

Thank you for the validation.

If she was the caregiver, I would understand, but she isn't the caregiver.  I asked her that specific question and she said no, she is just worried.

[moneysquirrel]

Decided to plug in the freezer located in the garage this morning.  Hoping that the major threats of hurricanes is in the past.  This freezer has been unplugged since sometime in April.  Once we get fall weather I do begin to do more batch cooking so the freezer is needed.  I will start the process of filling it up over the next several months then the pattern will be repeated.

Managed to get to the grocery this morning and I did get some additional items for a change.  Also a quick stop to get some vitamins that I was almost out of.  Think I am ok on them for several weeks now.    

I lenghtened a necklace that a friend wanted to purchase and I yesterday I delivered an item that was ordered.  Now I am still in the process of remaking some items that I sold out of at the last craft show.  They are Halloween related and I have two more shows before then.

A few of the monthly bills have been paid but I expect several more this week.  

Need to get dinner started.  

[chiver78]

hi, friends. have a products question for y'all. with very limited cabinet space, I try to keep to one flavor of reusable container for leftovers/freezables in whatever size. I've been looking to add to my stash of Ziploc's 'twist and go' containers in both 16 and 32oz. well, I googled them today after not seeing them anywhere in a long time... and they have been discontinued. 🤬 so I'm looking for something similar in size and quality, and I'll be putting the Ziploc ones in the donation bin as I use up what's in the freezer. I just don't have the space for multiple slightly off-sized stacks. TIA!!

[debthaven]

chiver78 Ikea sells sets of inexpensive "tupperware" if there's one nearby.

I use the Joseph Joseph nesting containers. Since they nest, they don't take up much room. I got them on sale on Amazon last year.

[chiver78]

hmm....there's one in the greater Boston area, but I've never been. I remember you're somewhat familiar with this area, it's Canton/Randolph/Stoughton, I'm just not exactly sure where the town lines are. maybe I'll take a road trip up after I'm done with work next month. thanks!

[startsmart]

I’ve got to remember my remaining list because I have more to do and the random number picker broke on me. Yesterday I went to Kansas City and picked up my new laptop and started setting it up today (which is also my bday).

[saveinla]

Happy Birthday @smartstart