Clearing Clutter/Liberating Self Nov 1st

But I am definitely trying to declutter once again. Amazing at how fast it builds back up, isn't it???

Yesterday, I purged DD's dresser and closet of clothes that do not fit her any longer. They are bagged up and in my car to pass on to cousin. Of course, I have a box from older sister of same cousin in my car I need to go through. Most of them are going to be too big and will just be stored until later, though.

This week I want to dejunk the following:

* Bathroom closet (where do all of those almost-used bottles come from?)
* My dresser - I have a sock drawer and two junk drawers that are despicable!
* My closet - need to get it back in shape

Maybe if I check-in her more often, I will be motivated to get some things purged in my home!

Y'all have a good day!

Vonnie

Have a wonderful holiday, Hope! I'm wishing great golf-weather for you!

I can't even begin to recount the end of last week or the week-end...but it's a new month as well as a new week so I'm just looking forward from here!

I don't have any hours at the high school this week. I'm almost done with them, and needed a "research week" so I won't be back there until next week. I have a clear slate as far as assignemtns go, but have tons of research to gather, read, and organize into some semblance of order.

We had guests for dinner last evening, so my house is in good shape. I need to drag the garbage cans to the curb for pick-up, but the bathrooms and floors are done (usually a "Monday-thing").

I've spent a bit of time this morning with my calendar...getting November and December documented, as much as I possibly could! Now that marching band is over, our week-ends get back to normal....maybe I'll get an extra "date" this month!

It's Reality Check Week for the Christmas Countdown....budget, wardrobe check, household declutter, good health habits.....anybody besides me gonna have "extra" work this week

Hi Vonnie! Decluttering unites all of us! Good to "see" you!

OK! it's almost noon: I have 2.5 hours until scouts, so I need to get some research done!

Have a great day, all!

Blessings,

Lenora
~"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ~WOO HOO! What a ride!

Let me sum up..."

(A quote from "The Princess Bride" which seems oddly appropriate.)

ACK!!
I have literally lost about two weeks, I think.
Much has been going on with adjusting children to a new country and helping my oldest son deal with the death of his natural father. There has been a bit on all of our plates and the stress of it all hit me rather belatedly this week.
DS8 went to school for one day and then his school had a ten day break. (That always happens to us when the kids begin school ~ they always seem to be starting at term break, or something...) and DS12 will be starting school tomorrow. (Sigh of relief from me... I have been with both of the children almost non-stop 24/7 for the last two months. I am about to go out of my freakin' mind!!) *Crazy-Face icon inserted here.* I mean it ~ I am about to go out of my mind with the need for getting *AWAY* from these people.
I am soooooooooooooo happy that they are going to school!! And as an aside: they look quite dapper (and OH, so cute!) in their school uniforms.
A few moments of peace for myself will be a luxury that I won't even be able to believe at first... And I need it. I really, really, really need it. (Have I mentioned that I am about to go out of my mind?) I am. Truly.

Declutter?
hehehehehehehe.
Did that.
Whole House ~ In the USA.
Now I need to clean, organize and clean this house...
Though I really *should* clean, declutter and organize the shoe cupboard. Oh, MY...

I did pick up Christmas Wrap and Everyday wrapping paper ~
I must get started with International mailing for Christmas...
YIKES!!

And Hiya, Kerri ~
You'll be hearing from me via email ~ I have not had computer time, overly... and you have been on my mind... even if I haven't written. Again.
And tomorrow?
I am beginning Morning Pages again...

*Hugs All Around*
Cari

Pinafore in UK=jumper in US
jumper in UK=pullover in US

What do you call them Hope?

why Brits get so irate about both languages being called 'English' when clearly American is a whole different language. And while we're on the subject...

My daughter just showed me her spelling test where she has to do a correction for the word 'laundromat' because she heard laundry mat (can you tell she doesn't often bother to revise her spellings!). I took a few minutes to remember that the English equivalent is 'laundrette'. Some ex-British colony and Commonwealth country this is... they are far too heavily influenced by American television, and the poor kids are constantly confused as to which spellings are right and which are not.

Grrr....

Apparently the real drinker here is actually the one who sounded most sober - must be practice. Time to break out my old pal Jack!

Kerri.

I think I need a drink after all that! Those things guys wear when working on their cars are called "cover-alls" in the US, Hope.
Not overalls--those are the things farmers and carpenters wear.
Pinafores are the full aprons (usually frilly) that go over a child's dress.

Speaking of clothes and such, I still have to dig out my winter things. Its been fairly warm here, but turned off cold today and I wasn't prepared. I should have known. For the last 2 days the geese have been flying South. . .honking all the way.

Since I have to search out winter clothes today, I think it will probably be a good time to declutter old and no longer worn clothing. DH moved the horse trailer into the driveway for me to make it easier to load things up, so no excuses. . .gotta get moving with it today!

Passing through very quickly to say I MISS you guys so much!!!
I'm using the library PC at the moment, and I only have 30 minutes or so which is nearly gone already
My PC is with a very nice chap called Ron who is fixing it Hopefully I'll be back with you all soon.

Honey xx

ps I HATE school uniforms, Kerri! I object on principle on uniforms and homework. I always was a bit of a rebel

Becky told me about this group, and I recognize so many names! I've been posting on the Flybaby group, but I'm taking on the basement and garage this week, with DH helping watch the boys. Big clearing clutter, liberating self kind of thing. I won't post much, wondering if you guys are going to start a new thread this week. Man, it is so good to "be back" with support of Imaginary Friends, ha ha!

--Karin

Becky, I haven't read through the posts on this thread yet. Did you mention to them an idea of starting Christmas cards for our group? I'll collect names, maybe keep it by group (Flybabies and Clearing Clutter), and we can send cards out this year if you'd like. I don't care if it's 2 or 20 people. If you guys want to participate, click on "write to author" under the post and send your snail mail addy. If you're already doing something, I'll catch onto that later. Ciao!

Becky - did you realise that you were responding to Karin's post and telling her that she herself had explained it on Flybabies?? That's exactly the kind of thing I do... either don't realise who i'm talking too, or realise but then stick that person's name in when I meant someone else because I was already thinking of the first person!

I'm decluttering myself, DH and kids off on holiday for a few very short days. I wonder whether my SIL will take it personally that we made this decision the day after she came home from her 10day holiday in China!?!

it's amazing how much washing I've managed to do today, and squeeze myself into the doctor's office too (and DH - he has gout, I have a mole just in the wrong place for my bra!). When there's no time at all to do anything I tend to move a whole lot faster. I need to work on creating imaginary or somehow real deadlines for myself in future.

Still have a bit more washing to do, packing list and packing, and go pick up DH from work... probably very early. He says the medication must be pretty strong! Technically he had two days off according to the doctor but he insisted he had things to do if we're going away. Oh... and dinner!

Karin, good luck with your basement. That's going to feel really great to offload a ton of stuff like that. If you have sentimental guys deciding they can't live without decrepit and disgusting things they haven't seen in years you may have to step in! Post as much as you like, and we rarely manage to get a new thread up each week at the current rate - more like once a month, though I suppose we could get more chatty as Christmas approaches.

Must be time for Lenora and Cari to pop their heads up for air...

Kerri.

That would be me....Popping up for air!

I taught my first "entire" class yesterday! My supervising teacher was very complimentary, and the kids (11-12 graders) were great! It's really nice to teach an "engaged" group of students!

DH is off in Minnesota...he'll head to Chicago on Wednesday and will be home Friday.

I'm totally stalled on HGP/Chirstmas Countdown right now, although I did get a few more gifts bought last week (including gift certs for Laser Tag!)

I'm going to the University for my first class, then to the dentist (lost a filling) I have a Kappa Executive Board meeting this evening, and I've already made arrangements to miss my evening class.

I spent the bulk of the weekend reading horrifically boring research studies for two papers. YAWN!

Kerri! Have a lovely holiday!

Karin! I've got "basement liberation" on the books for next week! Did I tell you guys that I'm "decluttering" my MIL? She has been approved for an apartment in a Senior/Disability building just 15 minutes from here! She gets the keys on Friday! Although we've managed pretty well, I'm REALLY looking forward to having some "alone" time in my own house!

We've started bringing up some of her kitchen stuff from the basement so it can be run through the diswasher, etc. She's going to have to part with TONS of "unnecessary" stuff, which will be hard for her, as she seems to have an affinity for knick-knacks, and probably has three times as many clothes as will fit in her closets (most of which she can't wear,) but she doesn't want to part with any of it. DH says he's going to be "firm" about either selling or donating the things that won't fit or be used in her new place. He wants to start working on finishing the basement this winter.

I've got to be off to the shower, so I can get my hair dry before going to campus. It's about 33 degrees here right now...we're only expecting to hit about 40 degrees (went down to about 21 last night!)...wet hair is NOT good when walking across campus in freezing wind!

Blessings,
Lenora
~"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ~WOO HOO! What a ride!

One to go! Papers, that is! My paper for Family Financial Management is finished: Deliberate Downsizing: Making the transition from two incomes to one. I had fun researching and writing that one.

My paper for Middle Childhood and Adolescence is The impact of gender and self-efficacy on academic achievement. Gotta keep plugging away on that one, now.

DD14 and friend went to do some volunteer hours at the Humane Society. They generally end up washing food bowls and playing with the dogs. My friend is then taking them to see the Sponge Bob movie. (Glad I got out of that one!)

I did get all my "fall" decor down and put away. Depending on how much I get done on the other paper, we may dig out some Christmas decorations tomorrow...it may have to wait until later in the week, though. We'll see.

DH is out braving the crowds doing some shopping! He's traditionally a "Christmas Eve" shopper...so this is a switch! I loaded him up with advertisments and used a big marker to circle what I needed. Hopefully he'll be successful and not come home grouchy!

Well, that's my update for now...back to being academically-productive!

Blessings,
Lenora

Like Carianne, I'm just doing a fly-by. Dejunking has been hard to keep up with around here lately, although I have rid my family of some old clothing that no one seems to have noticed missing yet. I feel like a dog chasing its tail and never quite catching up to it. . .I keep seeing everything that needs done but not quite making it.

I am so angry. I just came from parent/teacher conference at the kids school, where I did not see ONE teacher! with a dozen teachers between the 2 kids, none were found in their rooms where the parents meet with them. Two had people with them, but I saw no others teachers in the building. Grrrrr!!

Hi all!

The computer guy managed to get it fixed thank goodness and we got it back yesterday I think we need to have windows reinstalled, as we're still getting lots of problems but the system is at least useable. Great news though! We visited my Auntie yesterday and she announced she had been saving for a long time for a new PC for DS13! I had no idea so I was quite gobsmacked. It's wonderful news as this one really is on its last legs and it isn't very up to date. A new one will be better for DS13's homeschooling and as he is really interested in computers it will be great for him to have a really up to date one. All I ever do with it is emails and the internet so I will keep this one downstairs for me and he will have the other in his room. Aren't we blessed, with such a lovely thoughtful Auntie?

It's wonderful to be back, I can't tell you how much I have missed you all. The odd hour in the library just isn't the same. Reading along with everyone here is so much a part of daily life for me, even when I don't post. So I feel like I'm come home

On the decluttering front, I am doing pretty well lately (probably because I haven't had the computer!). I am in the middle of thoroughly sorting out my room, which I've been doing a little of every day for the past week or so. I have decluttered clothes, shoes, hundreds of items of paperwork, loads of stuff. I need to get started on DS13's room soon, as now the new PC will be coming in there soon we need to seriously declutter and rearrange some furniture to make room for it.

Well, right now I have to declutter all the dirty dinner dishes into the dishwasher! See you all tomorrow Boy it feels good to say that.

Lenora, I DID read right, decluttering your MIL. How neat for you and your MIL! I hope her move/transition goes well. Oh my, you've been working so hard at school, too!

Fern, what a frustrating time with conferences!

Honey, HI!!!!! What a good job you've done decluttering! It really feels good, doesn't it?

Fern, I really liked doing yard sales, before I had three kids running around and trying to keep stuff, too. I just donate most to Goodwill, if the stuff is in good shape. If you claim deductions on your taxes, there are some great programs to help you make a list of everything you give away, too keep track of its value for tax deductions, too.

Well, my decluttering the basement has gone better than I expected. I still have a lot of work to do there and in the garage, but I filled the truck with stuff to get rid of and did it. And in the boys' room, too. Old clothes.

We are doing some work on the house this winter, so I need to clear out the basement as much as possible. I talked with DH about renting a storage area for month or few when we sell the home, and stuff it with as many boxes as we can, clear out the house a bit. Well, why not clear out stuff we're not using right now, eh?

CHRISTMAS CARDS. A few people responded already, and I've added them to the list for this forum group. If you want to participate in a group Christmas card mailing, just click on "write to author" after this message and send me your snail mail addy. I understand if you don't want to send cards, I didn't send any last year, except to DH. BUT if you want to receive a card from me (I can't speak for everyone), just send me your info and tell me that, and I'll send you one, anyway. Since I'm already putting them together it wouldn't be much to add a few more.

Decluttering. I've shown DH where I keep my Going to Goodwill bag and where to put things we declutter. He went through four boxes in the garage last weekend and got rid of things, too. YEAH!

Well, back to the grunt work. It's going to be a busy day today...

--Karin

Why is my tap dancing class on a Monday? The last thing I feel like doing on Monday mornings is dancing! I do enjoy it when I get there though Good exercise, too.

I didn't get a lot done today.............

Morning - tap, followed by errands at local shops
Afternoon - napped for two and a half hours!!
Evening - grocery shopping

So, no decluttering today. Tomorrow I have a free day so I'm planning on finishing up the sorting out in my room.

Words............

Anne, I am so glad you like 'gobsmacked!'

Hope, a leotard is like tights? Over here a leotard is like an all in one thing that covers the torso and the arms to the elbow. They're worn for dance or yoga. Some people wear them for tap dancing..........not me, I hasten to add!!!

Do you have 'bodies' over there? A body is like a leotard but is more of an everyday thing, you would wear it with a skirt or trousers over the top. I don't wear those either, I am kind of long in the body and I have trouble getting the poppers to meet underneath, if you see what I mean.

Christmas......Karin, I have a list of names and addresses as I organised the cards last year, if it's any help to you just ask. It's probably easier if people send you their addresses anew this year though as so many people have moved!

Apologies to everyone, but I am not going to take part in the Christmas cards this year. I have done for the last two years, but this year I am having a very simple Christmas and doing only the bare minimum. I haven't got all that much heart for Christmas this year without my Auntie who we lost in April, but I have to do my best for DS13, so I am still celebrating it but in a more low key way than usual.

Thank you all for the welcome back!

I understand about not wanting to do Christmas. I'm very sorry about your Auntie, too. I'm trying hard at Christmas this year because DH is back, but my heart's not really in it yet, truth be told. Last year kind of kicked me hard.

Honey, I'll just wait for folks to send me their addys, because there might be a bunch who don't want to participate. But like I said, I'd still love to send one to YOU and others with absolutely no obligation for a return. You guys don't know how much you've meant to me over the years.

Decluttering, I got rid of about half of my Christmas junk collected over the years, kept the good stuff, and a bunch of new things I bought at like 90% off last year. Simple lights for outside and some character ornaments for the boys. At that price, it's not even worth trying to untangle the old lights and figure out which bulbs are out, etc. Cool thing is everything is in green and red boxes now. So cute! When I take the stuff out to decorate, I may get rid of more. We'll see...

Love having DH home, hate the additional piles of stuff everywhere. Little does he know I really DID declutter his stuff before he got back! Not the work things, but his clothes, shoes, etc. He doesn't even miss it, can't remember what he had. Maybe I'll get him some nice new shirts for Christmas to replace the ones he'd had for, well, since we were married in 1991.

Take care!
--Karin

Poor Karin! I can beat you on the "embarrassing thumb tricks," though! Here's the story:

A few weeks ago DH and I had a date. We went to a little bar-and-grill that serves all-you-can-eat prime rib and crab legs on Saturday nights. While cracking a claw, I poked one of the little "pointy things" on the claw right into my thumb! It hurt a little, and bled a little... then I got over it...that Wednesday morning I woke up and the WHOLE tip of my thumb was hot, swollen, and really painful! It hurt so bad that I couldn't hold a packet of sweetner to open for my coffee! I ended up having to open up my thumb and use hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic cream....twice! It took another WEEK for my stupid thumb to really heal...it still has almost a "hole" in it and the skin is just starting to look normal again.

I hope my little crab-leg induced thumb infection alleviates some of your embarrassment! At least a knife is a reasonable reason for a cut!

It's so good to have you all "back," Honey, Karri, Hope, Cari! I was missing my friends!

DH and a friend got all of MIL's furniture moved from the storage unit to her new appartment yesterday. We'll be moving her bedroom furniture and other things this week-end.

I've been reading research all morning. I think I'm going to stop, have some lunch, and give myself a manicure. My nails really need some attention.

I've got class this evening, and of course, all day tomorrow.

I've set a deadline of next Wed. to finish one paper, Then have a week to wrap up the other. I've got a good start on both so hopefully, real-life won't be too compromised!

Have a great Wednesday, all!

Blessings,
Lenora
~"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ~WOO HOO! What a ride!

as long as my whole body, never mind one arm! DH did a similar thing with a prawn Lenora, and then nearly passed out when the doctor had to burst it. That was Chinese New Year last year, on holiday in Malaysia. Next year we're apparently off to Bali, but I'll be taking a beefed-up first aid kit! Karin, if it still hurts don't be shy about takin some painkillers and sneaking a bit of a break. You'll be all the more refreshed for it!

Honey, I know this is probably insane of me to be saying this to you, encouraging you in any of your bad habits, but... keep whatever you want from your Aunt. Box up anything you can't yet part with and then tackle it properly in another year or so. It'll keep in your loft (with a few pieces downstairs if you can bear them), and then when your wounds are a little less open and painful you can look through things again and be a bit more reasonable about what to keep. Ancestral photos should probably not go up in the loft though!

My mother's having minor surgery on the 30th to install the bit she'll need for her dialysis. They'd rather she doesn't suddenly deteriorate and then have emergency stuff and get stuck on haemodialysis. Hers will be the kind she can do at home and walk around with. Her medication will come by the pallet-load and will weigh approximately half a ton every month. Needless to say they're having to rethink some things, and since our stuff will be stored there for a while next year I now have an added incentive to cut out the crap. As if I needed that kind of an incentive.

And DH kindly reminded me this morning that we've gotten DS almost nothing for his birthday, which, for Honey's benefit, is on 1st December. I will have the car for 5 days in the next two weeks because of extra Chinese classes, but I'll only have five 2hr blocks of time in which to shop without the kids since they break up for their holidays as of tomorrow. Actually DD is due home in little over half an hour and has no school tomorrow. So planning is the name of the day since I won't have time to run round like a headless chicken. We'd expected DH to be going away between now and then, plus all the chaotic family holidays and crises since the beginning of October have totally messed up what I normally do for Christmas. Normally I've overdone the kids' presents by this time, so it's just a matter of picking out suitable things for the birthday. I begin to feel a great deal of sympathy for my parents having a child's birthday to celebrate near Christmas. And I feel even more for my cousin who had a planned caesarean on about December 22nd last year to avoid going into labour during Christmas dinner!

Other Chritmas preparations include the dratted Christmas cards - I suggested to Honey that she use ecards to cut costs and the feeling of effort involved in writing. Need to plan parcels too, clear up before the decorations go up (there's currently nowhere to put the tree because we have a standing fan there!), print out some recent photos (still haven't done that for those being ultra observant!), prepare for Saturday's primary school orientation (and uniform and book buying frenzy) and wrap a small present for DS to take to school tomorrow for their gift exchange.

I think we're all getting worse at this instead of better. I've got OrganisedChristmas up as my homepage this year and I'm not getting any further along than I ever did. I look forward to maybe having a real freezer next year, along with properly seasonal weather (freeze-your-arse-off cold and nasty dangerous slush!). I currently have a clear blue sky and enough hot sun streaming through the window next to me to make me consider turning the nearby fan on as well as the air-con!

Lenora, I wouldn't mind betting that both you and your MIL will be happier with her living more independently nearby instead of under your roof. No house can have two mistresses, and both you and your MIL are used to being mistress of your own home, so no matter how well you get along this will still be better for everyone. And the girls will have somewhere else to go to at times, which will be good for you and them, as well as your MIL. It sounds like the best of all possible worlds and I hope it works out well.

Hope, would it be possible for you to get started on your decluttering during commercial breaks of your favourite programmes or something?? Sometimes that jolts me into starting something I've been putting off. There's no more commitment than a few minutes at a time which often seems less painful. At least make sure you have all the supplies you'll need: boxes, tape, packaging materials, some kind of labelling system...

Kerri.

My DS13 doesn't seem to be embarrassed about being seen with me, it's more when I open my mouth and say anything! I am apparently not allowed to say anything is 'cool', nor to refer to his hooded jacket thing as a 'cardigan' or a 'woolly'.

I think I am fairly 'cool' to his friends though as mine is the only neighbourhood house where the kids are all allowed to come in and play a lot. DS often has several kids in at once, which makes me popular with the other kids AND the parents! Makes sense to be the house where they all hang out, I think. I'm hoping that continues as they all get older, then at least I know where mine is and who his friends are Ulterior motive, me?

Named after the guy who invented them, who had a long last name whose first three letters were "pap."

it looks like my SIL - the one who got rushed to hospital the other day with heavy blood loss - may have cervical cancer. Several things about this aren't ringing true yet for me though. For one, she should have had a pap smear 6wks post partum, which is 10wks ago now. It could be a misunderstanding or a mis-translation from my less medically informed in-laws though. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that. WHilst I can't honestly say I like the woman even a tiny bit that's really not something I would wish on her, let alone on my BIL.

so all of you due for your pap smears - GO GET THEM DONE!!!

lecture over.

I spent most of my morning pages this morning planning how I was going to win the war on clutter over the next few days. It hasn't been dealt with and over an extended period has been getting totally out of hand. Since then I've cleared the dining table, coffee table and a kitchen counter thing (the type that pokes through into the living/dining room), folded half my laundry (just bedding now) and found a home for the last two files of morning pages. Not a bad start, but I have to keep the momentum going.

I completely lost the cycle for the recycling, which is collected every other Thursday, so now I really have to just throw it away. It's been taking over my kitchen and it's driving me nuts. That, plus a bag of leftover exercise books from DD's school year and the charity drop stuff I'm going to put together should really help me get back on track, feel a weight lifted from the house so I have the energy to deal with the rest.

After that I have a furniture move planned. I have an odd shaped built-in desk, which extends into part of my bedroom. I put a small cupboard and then another small cupboard behind there to create a little private nook some time back. Haven't been using that private nook at all and the things on top of those cupboards extends the visual clutter on my desk right up to the wall (visually I mean - I can't see any floor or the sofa bed properly) and it makes me feel really hemmed in. The reality is that this chair under my bum right now is where I spend my time, no matter how many nooks I create for myself - it's my control centre! - so I may as well mae this comfortable and find a new home for those little cupboards. Plus, one of them is the old computer cupboard which I eventually removed because I was sick of not being able to get at the wiring. I had the scrap paper in it, right at my fingertips, but now the scrap paper is across the other side of the room and only the kids get to use it. It's driving me mildly bonkers!

So there you are... the time has come for rebellion! And I need to sort all this out and get some kind of peace before I clutter the whole place up again with sparkly stuff. Even the number of cushions is driving me crackers since I added the two Christmas cushions. I have to subtract a couple because it's too much.

I find that the clutter is both agitating and enervating at the same time. It annoys the hell out of me and maes me restless, but I can't seem to find the energy to do anything about it! Now I'm past that and ready to really deal with it, and about time too.

who's with me??

Kerri.

for my decluttering efforts. I think I've done most of the things I set out to do today and I kept the momentum going. I've tossed out tons of stuff today, found and lost my desk (I'm experimenting with a switch of printer and in-tray - not keen yet), prepared the charity drop stuff, moved my furniture - who knew my sofa bed fitted there!!! And I've started eyeing up the kids' room for changes too - I'm getting complaints that my room has changed and theirs hasn't. I think I've probably started something here...

HURRAY FOR ME!!!

and while I'm all enthusiastic I thought I'd try and energise anyone else who's been desperately in need. I know I've been completely out of it, but clear visual lines and furniture changes should help me immensely. Even my pretty yellow (fake) tulips (small ones) will be put away till I need pepping up for Spring!

I think maybe the 4litres of Coke I've drunk in the last ... maybe 3 days... has something to do with the fact that I've been bouncing off the walls. There again, probably not. I may just have reached my personal limit.

Get going girls!

Kerri.

No problems with my emails generally, and my inbox isn't full. It's a puzzlement

Busy busy today. I just had to correct that. I accidentally typed 'busy busty'

We brought my Auntie's things home yesterday, mostly to my Mum's house initially as she has far more room than me. At some stage we will go through it all together and sort things out properly.

On the list for today are laundry, cleaning, walking to the shop for bread (or sending DS13 - teenagers come in very useful ) and ironing.

What I feel most like doing is having a nap...........

You know what I might do? I have a friend visiting this evening who is one of those rare and weird people who loves to clean and tidy! What if I leave it all until then? Just kidding, but it's tempting!

I've been on the go since the kiddos left! I've dusted, vacuumed, swept and mopped the main floor, done 3 loads of laundry (wash-dry-put away!) and swiped the downstairs bathroom. Now I'm taking a lunch break before hopping into the shower!

DD14 has a group of friends coming over for videos and munchies this evening. I'm with you, Honey...I'd rather they be here...and comfortable having fun around us, than "out there" somewhere!

We did set some ground rules: PG-13 or under for the movie(s), maximum of 10 guests, we need phone numbers for all, everyone stays on the main floor of the house, and nobody gets to leave until their grown-up picks them up! DD14 says that everyone is "good with that," so we'll see how things go! I already know most of the kids that are coming, but not all their families. I told DD14 to make sure everyone had our phone number, in case the adults wanted to call first. Two of the girls, I've never met their parents...and those are the ones that didn't call! ...I can't imagine......

anyways...that's what is on my adgenda for this evening. We told DD14 that if all goes well, we'll aim for making it a regular (if not weekly) event through the winter. We have no local skating rink, no rec center, nowhere local (and/or supervised) for them to go, so they might as well be here!

Tomorrow, I'm off to the library with the laptop to FINISH that paper! I think no more that 4 hours should do it. I'll be dancin'a jig when that one's done! That paper is for my "Family Financial Management" class. The topic is "Making the transition to being a single-income family." Not surprisingly, although there is a wealth of articles on choosing child-care, balancing work and family, women and careers, etc. there is NO research being done/or published by acadamia in this area that I can find...and I have access to an amazing number of research/article indices....hmmmmmmm

I do think MIL and I will both be happier with the new living arrangements. I've really been concerned that she has no social contacts...it's not healthy...hopefully she'll make some friends there and find something/some way to bring a bit of personal enjoyment into her life.

Honey, I think Kerri is very wise about giving yourself some more healing time before making decisions about your Dear Auntie's things. I did know that Dawn was blogging again. She actually only cut back to about one post a week (I was in withdrawl, even then) and I caught her almost the minute she was back to daily writing! I love her style of writing, her amazing insights...and, of course....those FABULOUS kid-photos!

Well, It's well after noon...and I'm still dirty! I'm off to the shower! Have a great day all!
Blessings,
Lenora
~"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ~WOO HOO! What a ride!

DH and BIL just left with most of my MIL's furniture from here. There is still a ton of stuff in the basement and some stuff in the storage unit that must either be brought here, or given away.

I'll be heading down to her new place later to help unpack, put away and get some groceries for her.

I think it will be "weird" not having her here, though. We'll miss her...especially DD9, I think.

I'm just taking a quick break from my papers....must "get-on-back" to that!

Love to all!

Lenora

That makes you third cousins. (Trust me. No one ever follows me when I explain it.)

Hi all... I am new to this, but I've been reading through the posts and sympathizing with everyone's clutter troubles. I can't seem to figure out where it comes from though. DH and I are trying really hard to stop it. We are newlyweds of one year, and eveyone seems to pass their junk on to us thinking we must need it. We really received everything we needed from our gift registry, so it's just added mess. I suppose I feel guilty about getting rid of it. I think I place too much sentimental value on things. For instance, I save cards. I have every birthday card since i was five. I always mean to make them into new cards but it never happens. I guess I need a push to just throw those things away. Also, when our wedding invitations were printed they accidentally gave us an extra hundred. So, they are sitting in a box in my office. I know it's silly but I can't seem to throw them away.... I know how expensive they were. But what could I EVER do with them?
All in all I just feel like I am being wasteful when I take boxes and boxes to Goodwill every week. I know I am happier without it, but I hate to "lose money". Any ideas?

When I started my decluttering efforts (which was maybe four years ago, a year or so before I found this site). I initially got rid of almost 100 trash bags full of stuff in the first couple of months! This was from a two bedroomed flat I don't know where I used to put it all. Prior to that I never ever parted with anything unless it was actually broken. If something was in good condition I had to keep it even if I hated it! Go figure. Of those 100 or so bags, some were clothes, toys, household objects. I was able to pass on quite a lot of toys and my son's clothes to a friend, and the charity shop (thrift store) took a lot of it, too. Most of the paper clutter went in the trash.

You could have a yard sale. I have had a couple of boot sales (British equivalent!) but I just get rid of it all to friends and charity now. If you have a sale it's best to take the unsold stuff straight to the thrift store - don't take it home!

Do you have anything that a friend could make use of? Or that you could take to the thrift store? I also have people passing stuff to me - I am a lone parent and am often offered things by family members that they don't need and they think I might. Sometimes it's a lovely item that I am pleased to have - in eleven years I have received a new-to-me sofa on average every two years from family members who were replacing theirs! I also was recently given a great table by a friend. However, it wasn't such a great decision to accept the two whole sets of curtains for evey room in my flat which didn't actually fit so I never used them. I kept them for about seven years in grocery bags because I didn't like to give them back to the person who gave them to me, and I didn't like to take them to the charity shop either in case I offended the giver............mad when you think about it, eh? I also accepted the most hideous pair of extremely loud 1970s style purple curtains, which became another thing I never used but kept for several years. In the end you just have to say to people 'you know that so and so you gave me? We're not really using it now, so would you like it back or shall I pass it to someone else/Goodwill?'

As for that paper clutter, I have that problem too. When I did the big declutter I had every single birthday and Christmas card my son and I had received in the previous seven years! Go through them, keep anything that is really special to you or is so pretty you want to use it for a craft project and get rid of the rest. Another thing I try to do is to ditch magazines as soon as I have read them.

The other regulars are all shaking their heads in disbelief now at ME giving advice! I am about the least organised person on here! What can I say? I am still a work in progress, and still have a lot of clutter, but nothing compared to my Bad Old Days. The thing is with clutter, it keeps increasing! Just gotta keep on keeping on

Speaking of which it's time I got off here and went and did something. Onwards and upwards.......

They rot down and fertilise the ground or something, don't they?

I didn't have a good night last night. There was an argument next door to which the police were called It's usually very quiet around here I'm not particularly bothered as this person is moving out on Friday anyway. I always found her okay though, she seems pleasant enough. I think she was having a row with her landlord. It did stop me from sleeping however and I finally dozed off about 2, only to wake up a couple of hours later with Cramps From Hell. I have never had them so bad in my life, I was in agony. Alright, slight exaggeration but I was in a lot of pain for a couple of hours which is how long it seemed to take for painkillers to kick in. Consequently I slept late and didn't get dressed until 2pm. I didn't even make it to tap class.

So THAT's my excuse for doing nothing today!

All I am intending to do this evening (it's 5pm now) is grocery shopping and putting out the trash.

Hope, when is your new grandbaby due? Do they know the sex?

Off to write my grocery list. I need to try and do a frugal one - for the next few weeks I am trying to shave money off the food budget to help out with the Christmas budget!

Well, I managed to get rid of quite a bit in my office today. Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I *know* these things, but it helps to hear them again. It really motivates me to get right to what I'm supposed to be doing.
I wasn't expecting to have major holiday company, so hadn't been too worried... but my Mother announced to everyone that I would be giving a tour of my new house after Thanksgiving dinner. So we are in a panic trying to finish half painted rooms, looking for Holiday decor, etc.
Hope- be careful with your back. My Dad's a Dr. and he says that the problem with back problems is that usually they aren't that bad, but people don't take care of it and rest and then they turn into bad back problems that never seem to go away. Besides, if you live where snow comes and stays that's definately a legitimate reason to not rake leaves. Also, if you have leaves under the snow it helps prevent bad slippery ice. Really, you are just doing yourself a disservice to rake them.

My husband and I live in a Townhouse, and don't have a yard. When we bought it we were so dissapointed to not get a "real" house with a big yard, etc. There was nothing available at the time and we only had two weeks to find something. Now I am counting my blessings big time on not having to take care of the yard. I have a teeny garden on my balcony that is perfect. We've resolved not to buy a house with a big yard until our not yet existent children are old enough to take care of it.

hope everyone had a great Monday... it can set the tune for the whole week!

...you flip on the TV and the first image you see is Jon BonJovi's backside! (Where's the lascivious, drooling, smiley-icon?)

Welcome Pink! These gals are nothing if not motivating! Even on my worst days, someone will list a task that will make me think "I need to do that, too." I'm not even gonna think about clearing desk clutter just now, though....I'm in a research paper "crunch."

I have an exam in Middle Childhood and Adolescence this morning, so right now I'm focusing on that. I should be able to wrap up one paper tomorrow and finish the second one this week-end. (I sense a martini binge for the week-end after that!)

I have absolutely nothing to do for Thanksgiving...except show-up and eat!! I've had a couple of moments where I get that panicked feeling of, "I need to be doing something for the holiday!" Then I remember I have nothing to do! Weird!

Hope, do be careful with your back! You've got serious "grandmama duty" looming when the new arrival comes, right? You don't want to be out-of-commission for that!

I'm off to switch a laod of laundry and then get back to my study-notes. The test covers gender-roles and gender-identity in adolescents, self-esteem/self-concept development and adolescent sexuality. It's made for some really great conversations with the girls, especially with DD14. DH came home while DD14 and I were folding clothes and discussing STD's and birth control...poor guy..his neck gets all pink when he's embarassed, but to his credit, he's willing to contribute to the conversation....uncomfortable or not!

O-kay! I'm off!

Have a great day, friends!
Blessings,
Lenora
~"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ~WOO HOO! What a ride!

No decluttering for me today, but then I have only just got home after 12 hours out of the house so it's not my fault

Tomorrow I am decluttering the egg that has been on my front windows since the night before Halloween. It's not visible from the street, only from inside the house, which is why I haven't got around to sorting it out yet! I have a telephone engineer coming soon and he may have to get up the front of the house so I want to clean it off beforehand. Well I can't have anyone realising what a slob I am, can I? What's the best thing to get egg off windows with, any suggestions?

Happy Thanksgiving to those who are celebrating today

I'm off to read and relax.

I am feeling like I want to hibernate, too. Which is making it diffic ult to go out and do the Christmas shopping - I just don't wanna

I am having trouble getting out of bed lately too. I've been getting up about 10 quite often, including today, which throws my whole day out as I end up not dressed until midday. I've been going to bed about 2 though, so I guess that's why. I need to go to bed earlier, obviously. I am still not very good at that.

I had a bad back as a youngster too - which I put down to a bout of what I now think was pleurisy, when I was 11. For years afterwards I had trouble, and lugging around all those school books in a huge shoulder bag didn't help. No lockers at my school! (Or any schools I know over here, for that matter).

How long will your Mum be in hospital Kerri, or is it a day thing? It can't be nice for her looking forward to the op, but it will be so much better to have her dialysis at home than in the hospital.

I guess I should go and DO something, as its' now 11.20. My friend is coming over this evening and I have a suspicion you might bring her new boyfriend, so I think I'll dust and hoover. I've a big pile of ironing too, and a load of egg to remove from the windows

Have a nice day

- it comes right through your post Hope! Hope you haven't got a hangover to spoil the fun!

I have my Christmas tree UP! It currently has only two strings of lights on it... but it is up, which is a huge start. We went to my in-laws yesterday (cake-cutting for DS' birthday on Wednesday), then came back and had quite a looong nap. Scrambled together some canned soup for dinner (we only had lunch at 3pm thanks to my in-laws screwing things up - DH was really pissed!) and then went back to bed after some reading and computer games. This morning I drove DH to work so he didn't have to borrow the car from his father while I take ours - did I tell you he was pissed at them?!? Then in another 15mins I have to take the kids to their classes, so I have two days of having the car in which to finish all of DS' birthday presents and the majority of Christmas presents. Last class tomorrow, so if I want the car again I shall probably have to beg. No, DH is off somewhere again apparently, but by then I don't really want to be venturing into the crowds, even midweek.

My SIL's gifts are officially done. DH now doesn't want to buy anything for his parents... did I mention... yeah, maybe I did... The kids have advent calendars and new Christmas books and I have the one remaining Christmas album I have been itching for for years (but which didn't exist!) - surprisingly enough, Cliff Richard. Hell, even my mother was shocked on that one, but DH knew. Even before I shoved his nose in it, told him to buy it and then walked off! I even did my SIL's Christmas shopping this weekend. In exchange for her looking after the kids for 5 long hrs. A change is as good as a rest!

And for the record, the house looks like it was hit by this morning's earthquake on Hokkaido. It wasn't, but it's got that look! My charity drop bags made it into the car too thanks to DH - isn't he a wonderful guy! Now we'll actually be able to see the Christmas tree, when it's worth looking at!

I have to go look at the other threads in my remaining 5mins or so.

Kerri.

Sheesh! Am I glad to have those papers done! I think I've permanently damaged the nerves in my behind from too many hours in a hard chair! I told DH that an ergonomic and soft computer chair would make a great Christmas gift for me!!!

I actually still have to format the reference page for the big paper...and depending on how I feel, I may add a bit of "fluff" to the smaller one...but the worst is over!

I learned one interesting fact this week-end....when all my laundry is done, we don't have enough hangers for our clothes! Blessed, to be sure, with such obnoxious abundance..I need to do a going-through of the closets, I think! I've got the DDS' bedding in the laundry process, with mine done on Saturday.

I did get my holiday garland and bows hung on the deck.. Since we live on the front corner of a cul-de-sac, my closest neighbors (and my friends) have a clear, but boring view of the backside of my house (we face the main street, not the circle). I like to have some decorations that way! I was hoping to have DH pull the rest of the decor out of the basement and put it in MIL's former room, but he didn't get to it. I may bring up a bit at a time, but since he's out-of-town until Wed. the heavier boxes (my Christmas dishes) will have to wait.

Kerri,I'll be saying prayers for your MIL...and for your DIL, Hope. May all go well (and quickly on the new baby for Hope).

I LOVE the rocking horse, Hope! It's such a "grandmama-gift!" Good-luck of the house plans. I'm sorry it's such a chore to keep up with all of that!

I must be off...first to change a load of sheets, then back to this chair-of-torture to finish the reference page.

Blessings,
Lenora

That's what I got my cousin's daughter one year for Christmas. She loved it! Boy, was I popular with her parents that year

Thank-You Kerri for my mystery gift! It was driving me buggy trying to figure out who had sent such a lovely gift. Thank-You so much. I have tried to email you to no avail. We keep having troubles with a highjacker virus ~ so a lot of people have not been hearing from me ~ who I thought were hearing from me and then just being quiet...
I hope to have my email up and running again, soon. Probably a new address in the works which will be a "keeper" address. I will send along word to you about how adjustments, etc. have gone ~ like I said... I thought you had gotten my mails but were just really, really busy.

And I forgot my password here. LOL
Luckily I had it written down in my day planner.
So I am back...
I think.

Good call Honey to send Kerri to my other online spot. She found me. Thank-You.

I will catch up on posts in the morning ~
I just wanted to wave a hello to everyone.

(Good to see you Karin!)
And Hope... LOL and Lenora...
and, well... all of you!!

Love,
Cari

I was scrabbling all over the place at that other site trying to trace you and you were here all along!

Glad it's an email problem... nothing worse than wondering what on earth you've said this time to make someone go quiet! And I finally filled in the info on that book you sent me... only took me... how many months??

I have an aftermath list of my own to work through now that DS' birthday has passed, and top of that list should be the bills that are probably overdue by now. Dontcha just love that! And finishing decorating - that poor naked Christmas tree still has only two strings of lights on it. Have to get the kids ready for their new school year just after Christmas too, and wrap certain presents - all my SIL's since I'm finished with her, and my nephew since his father's in the country for a few days - saves postage. Speaking of which... Honey - give up this year. It isn't really going to get out in time, not even for Easter. It'd probably be quicker if I hand carry it over in June for goodness' sakes!

So clearing up will have to get done if I'm to achieve anything else!

good to see you surfacing Cari...

Kerri.