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Archive through January 09, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Home and Garden (ARCHIVES): TVCH's Home & Life Organization (ARCHIVES): Archive through January 09, 2005 users admin

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Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 8:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Enjoy the breather, War. Declutter time will come soon enough.
This year I would like to completely declutter the basement, almost all of which somehow turned into the place for anything and everything that doesn't have a permanent place. Aaaaaack!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 9:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ick, I just performed my least favourite chore, cleaning shoes. Got confused yesterday thinking it was week 2 and worked in the kitchen. Flylady digest finally caught up last night and told me it was week 1, ergo entrance...shoes.
What one chore could everyone else gladly do without?
Later I'll tackle icky chore #2...ironing. Ickick!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 1:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Need help from someone who actually reads her emails. What is the Flylady talking about? What are Flyspots and how long has she been doing these? Someday I really gotta stop skimming the subject lines and actually read what she is sending.x

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 1:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ROFL!!!

FlySpot is the SuperFling Boogie name for HotSpots, of which today is the second day. Each day during the SFB, FL and crew are posting a new location to work on for 15 minutes.

We are supposed to be surprised/amazed at how much clutter accumulated without us realizing it.

Yeah, right. I am never surprised nor amazed at the amount of clutter I find.

Yesterday was to tackle the The Front or Back Entrance Closet and today is Under the Kitchen Sink.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 1:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
No wonder a body gets confused which week it is. One day the entrance, next day the kitchen. Is this all on top of the 15 mins zone work? My word this woman is gonna stress me out and it's only the 4th day of the year.
Thanks for the confusion declutter, LK!

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 2:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lum, ONLY because it is SuperFling Boogie time. She's trying to get through all five zones in 15 days, so that means she has to skip around the house.

Potshot is finally up (he's not feeling well) and my pain meds are kicked in, so look out bed, you're gonna get repaired!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 2:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
<keeping fingers crossed that Lk and Potshot will be able to climb into a "level" bed tonight>

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 3:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Can I tell you how nice it is to be living in a small hotel room that gets cleaned everyday? I go home on January 15th and I hope that I can tackle my HOVEL! (hotel, hovel....it's close!)

I am really trying to do something to get my mail in order and to actually pay bills. I would like to get my bills set up to automatically come out of my bank account, but I don't know how to do that. Do any of you have a system for bills? I tried the folders with dates on them. Doesn't work. I usually have trouble finding stamps and envelopes, and I just go to the place or to the grocery store in person. That just wastes so much time. I don't have time to mess with something like QUICKEN or another accounting program. I don't really balance my checkbook, and I try to just use cash. I am really afraid that I am a financial mess.

Now if I can offer anyone "packing for a trip" advice....well, I'm here in Germany for 15/16 days in one small rolling carry on, a large rolling briefcase and a regular size briefcase. I had to bring computer and scanner and a stack of music books with me.

My goal when I go home is to actually sleep in my bed instead of on the couch. We'll see!

Happy organizing everyone!


Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 4:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Marm, we have computer banking. You should be able to set automatic withdrawals through that. Or you could have those companies you have to pay every month send you a permission statement to sign so they can automatically deduct from your account. This way you can even do your banking from wherever the winds blow you and always know the exact account balance.

ETA, I'll get back to you on that packing advice. My suitcase is always too full.
No potential nice-lookin', cheap valet/housekeeper among all those musical students of yours?

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 4:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lum: Me too

Schoolmarm: We handle it a couple of ways. Most of our bills we pay through Paypal. Our checking account covers the rent, and then I pay the cable bill, the internet bill, and Target over the phone using my Paypal card. The phone (vonage) is deducted from Paypal and the power bill is paid at the supermarket using our Paypal card.

That way, I don't bounce checks and it only takes 3 business days for the money to transfer into my Paypal account from our savings account. I figure that way, if our checking account is robbed, it has to be through the apartment complex, and tracking Paypal withdrawals are extremely easy.

That was the only way I could get our finances straightened out.

I put everything on the calendar--the amount due in red a week before its due date, and then mark it paid in green. I can tell at a glance what was paid, what is still owed, and DH no longer asked how much a bill was.

What also helped for me is that all of our bill are the same amount every month. I averaged out our power bill and determined that, last year, our average was $118.00. So, to cover increases, I will pay $125.00 each month, even if the bill for February is only $63.XX, the money will accumulate for our summer bills of $135.xx or even $163.XX.

I think the averaging is what helped the most--and getting rid of the credit cards (I just closed the Target account last month, after Target 86ed the Salvation Army bell ringers.)--since I then knew what everything was going to cost and I know how much money we need for every month; there are no mysteries.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 7:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The silence in here in deafening today. Is everyone working hard or sloughing off?
Talk of the Energizer Bunny, today I was like that commercial. Thought I'd just do my home blessing and then call it a day. But no, some internal battery kept spurring me on. So I decided to wash just one long wall in my entrance, but that took all of 5 mins, so I kept going and 10 mins later the rest of the hallways, 3 doors and the staircase walls were done. Lawd, I do love my Ha-ra. Also finished my wardrobe. All that's left for the entrance now is a good vacuum of the hall runner. No point doing that today though, since we'll be tossing the Christmas tree this weekend. Might as well wait for that trail of pine needles. Plastic bag or not, we always manage to turn this purge into a mess.
So, I played on the computer a bit and remembered my promise to clean up my desk. Major endeavour, but it got done. Now all I have to do is go through all the stuff I didn't toss and/or shred. Good thing Santa brought dh a new fancier shredder. It certainly earned its keep tonight.
I am also caught up on all the laundry, empty hampers everywhere. Wow, I am really impressing myself today.LOL That means tomorrow I can just let everyone have a whack at me again and then put my feet up for the rest of the day, right?

Lk, how did the bed repair go?

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Friday, January 07, 2005 - 12:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Can't clean when you are "cross the Bonnie Blue ocean" from home!

I DO have the hotel room organized, though!

Keep fluttering, my friends!

I'm tackling my office when I get home.

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Friday, January 07, 2005 - 1:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The bed project was totally exhausting. I discovered that when we moved and the bed was reassmbled, the bed was not squared.

That was WAY more than I was up to doing, so I squared the platform, which meant that there is a gap between the plywood boards. HOWEVER, that said, the platform is way sturdier than it was and the bed is much more stable.

Unfortunately, that pretty much wiped me out, so I've been resting a lot.

Today I head to the doctor. A friend is loaning me her car, so I am not catching the bus in the rain/snow. Yes, Las Vegas is receiving snow.

In exchange, I'm supposed to pick her up from the Nellis AFB Hospital after she gets broken foot recasted.

When I get home, I'll be snuggling in next to DH and working on the clutter more tomorrow.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Friday, January 07, 2005 - 3:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Atta girl, Lk. I think you just may get the "tomorrow is another day" philosophy yet.wink When the ole bod says "enough!" the ambitious perfectionist really should listen.
Happy snuggling!

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Saturday, January 08, 2005 - 3:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I did make it to the doctor. HIS scale says I weigh 50 pounds more than my scale. I know I can't weigh as much as he claims since I'm wearing 20s, a size I couldn't wear when I was at the higher weight.

The doc wants me to lose weight, but then went into his concerns about Potshot. According to the doc, he's actually more concerned about Potshot than he is me and believes that if Potshot continues on his current way of life, he won't be around by his 60th birthday (5.5 years away).

So, I guess I will be decluttering HIS body as well (although he doesn't have weight to lose....gotta figure this one out).

I knew that we weren't eating as healthily since I've been so out of it, but I didn't realize it had been so bad. Honestly, most of the time, I'm not hungry and I can go a day or two without eating, if left to my own devices. Which then means that Potshot eats junk food--or pre-prepared food which is as bad. SO, my new promise to myself is that, no matter what, we will eat a dinner I/we have prepared from the basics together and I'll buy some of those frozen TV dinner plates and make up dinners for when I am too tired to consider eating.

Anyway, figure this one out: I drove my friend's car to the base hospital to pick her up. Her car is legal for the base (has the sticker and everything), I was the one without the military ID. I was sent to this little guard shack with metal stairs and no handrail and not big enough for me and my cane (thank Goddess I didn't have the walker!) and was told that they didn't need my ID, but the registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle to make sure it was legal for the base. I told them again the the car was legal, but that I needed a visitors pass. Apparently, though, the pass is for the VEHICLE not the person. I found that truly odd, especially in light of the post-9/11, current US bases in Iraq being infiltrated. Now, granted, I wasn't on the base itself, just the medical complex, but still...it just seemed wrong.

I've now been medicated, and I am curled up reading the paper. When I finish, I'll be posting a bunch of automobile repair manuals onto eBay and hope that they sell.

Tomorrow, being another day, I've decided to take my timer (which I found earlier today in a decluttering session) and do my Zone stuff for 15 minutes, and then work on emptying/organizing my art stuff. I was toying with "Should I remove the boxes and organize the baskets and keeper containers and sort into them, or should I take the baskets down and spread them all over and sort one box at a time into them?" and opted for the first.

As I go through the art supplies, I'm certain I'll find things to toss, so I might be able to create ephemera kits that can be sold or traded with my fellow paper artists. For example, most of my Rubber Stamps are going bye-bye since unless the company has a really liberal Angel policy, you can't use most RS in any of your artwork without written permissions.

I also have a bunch of ABs to work on, plus teaching myself to knit and crochet, and some latch hooks and counted cross stitches to do. In short: I want to get cleaned up, so I can have some fun!

I also want to keep working on my notebooks--household and recipes. So, I guess 2005 will be fine-tuning organization, more than decluttering. And that seems like progress.

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 12:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, DH didn't want to post on Saturday, so I guess we're doing it on Sunday or Monday night. That's fine.

I've been spending the day making lists. I have decided to take advantage of the workout room down at the office. I'm thinking I can do 15 minutes of the treadmill and then 15 minutes of some of the other machines down there and that will take care of the Doc's requirement to exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

Since I generally don't get moving with the pain pill until 9AM, which is also when the office opens, I can't workout until 9AM.

So, I'm going to readjust my schedule. Before deciding to go with the fibro, instead of fighting it, I was trying to get up and moving at 5AM--and was burning out by 8AM. Now, tho, I've decided to not get up before 7AM. Even if I am awake, I won't get up to do my morning routine until 7AM. (How's that for learning, Lum?).

So, I'll get up at 7AM and take the meds that I am to take without food first, spend time meditating or journaling, and then read the paper. Then at 7:30AM, I can fix my oatmeal and listen to some music and take the rest of my meds. Those meds take an hour to kick in, so, in that time, I'll read the paper and check what needs to be done when I come back. At 8:30AM, I'll start doing a 20 minute stretching routine and then walk down to the office to exercise at 9AM.

I'll be home by 9:45AM, after cooling down, and then make a fruit smoothie to drink while I watch Starting Over and work on a craft to settle my mind before starting the day's project(s).

I know that I need to rework my To-Do lists and cut about 40% off from each day and include rest time periods. I can't fight my body anymore--I have to accept that I have fibro and (to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld) work with body I have and not the body I want. I think that as I stop struggling upstream, I'll be able to clean up the physical surroundings, as well as my mind and body clutter out of here much easier.

As I said, my new motto is 2005: From Survive to Thrive. (And by January 31, there will be no boxes in the house--that is my other goal and I know it is possible to meet without killing myself.)

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 8:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow, Laurie, it sounds as if you have yourself a working plan. I will be interested to see how it goes for you. I suppose that it will always be a case of reworking the program to fit your needs, which would be true for any of us.

Your list is very ambitious! I personally would be challenged to be out of bed by 7, but that's just me! LOL

I have finished the de-decorating (as Nino called it in my folder) except for the things that won't get put away until I am good and ready...the Christmas village, for example. And some of my Christmas things are never put away.

It was shocking to put away all the holiday stuff and need more room rather than less and especially after I had boogied one very large box of stuff. Oh well, I am dealing with a "gatherer" here.

I was briefly tempted to post what I am doing for storage, but then realized I would just be documenting a bad example and I don't want to throw anyone off her bearings! LOL

My current problem is curtailing my Clubhouse time. I must anyway (soon) and not by choice so I am trying to cut way back. Boy oh boy is it ever tough. I have become so dependent on this place, which I don't think is a good thing.

Like your motto, Lk. A different take than some for 2005...From Strive to Thrive in 2005, yup sounds just great. May it prove true for all of us. Happy fluttering all!



Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 10:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lk, you are well on your way to becoming an exemplary student.
Flexibility is the key to the list of chores. Mine changes all the time. After all it doesn't matter when or by whom things get done, just that they get done eventually.
When anyone around here finds the answer to dealing with the body we want, rather than the one we are stuck with would you please give Lk and me a dingle?
Lk, keep reminding yourself of that motto; we all want you to thrive.
Vee, I know what you mean about spending too much time at TVCH. Lately I have had to skip threads that I normally would pop into, just so I get things done around here. Lawd, it is tempting to stay in front of that computer though.
Guess I am the last hold-out on the de-decoration front (thanks, Nino for the expansion of my vocabulary ). Was all set to do it piecemeal yesterday, but laziness got in the way. Today's the day - I hope.
Oh, and thanks, Vee for restraining yourself from giving me a good excuse on the storage front. Hope I can get everything back into the boxes it came out of.
Aside from Lk's ambitious list, does anyone else have special projects on the horizon?

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I appreciate you taking the time to tell me your story Lk.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 2:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
as someone who has rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, the word is moderation. you have to have balance. and that does not mean go/go/go then rest/rest/rest it means go/rest,go/rest,go/rest. i don't have the flareups that i used to have. fixing the sleep apnea did alot towards working with the fibromyalgia. i have to hold down a 8-5 job, and there are some nights that i can't do alot. the whole family has learned that everyone has to work towards keeping our house up. when we moved to the new house in september was a great way to deal with organization, things we were keeping went with us. things that weren't went to the dump or donation. luckily we had help from lots of people. i was more the director than the worker. here it is now 4 months later, instead of organizing the christmas stuff when we moved, we just did it as we were putting stuff away. it took 6 big huge tote bins! and this included the tree in its own bin. we still have holly's 8 boxes outside her room, and boxes are slowly disappearing in my closet. they are being replaced by bins with organization. i can't believe i'm about to tackle the sewing/scrapbooking boxes and put everything into organizational bins (ones for scissors/pens/etc.) that starts next weekend. everything in moderation. that's the key.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 2:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
fibro question.. I was up late one night, and this talk show was talking to someone from a fibro center (I believe) here in Chicago area... and one of the comments was that they were noticing a help of some sort with a high protein diet..

now, it was late, so my mind couldve been playing tricks, but I was thinking "Is this true?" and why isnt it reported more?

call me curious...

(PS thanks Landi, and WTG!)

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 2:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Vee wrote: I will be interested to see how it goes for you. I suppose that it will always be a case of reworking the program to fit your needs, which would be true for any of us.
Indeed. I expect it will need some changes. One change already is that Potshot wants to come with me. That alone is interesting.

Your list is very ambitious!
That's why I'm going through the 40% reduction thing and scheduling rest periods.

I personally would be challenged to be out of bed by 7, but that's just me! LOL
Ah, but we have two cats who believe that they MUST be fed no later than 7AM or it is grounds to contact PETA. And when the 14 pound one is standing on your chest, pulling on your face with his paws, and mewling with bad kitty breath in your face, you tend to get up.

It was shocking to put away all the holiday stuff and need more room rather than less and especially after I had boogied one very large box of stuff. Oh well, I am dealing with a "gatherer" here.
I'm sorry about that, Vee. I was thrilled to clear out my decorations and inventory the rest. I really got rid of a lot--I went from 6 large containers of decorations to two.

My current problem is curtailing my Clubhouse time. I must anyway (soon) and not by choice so I am trying to cut way back.
That was one reason for my cutback, Vee. Use your timer--15 minutes and then do something else. Also, I now only visit the update page to make sure that I am not mentioned, my "folder page," Starting Over, Altered Art, and here. Much more enjoyable for me.

Like your motto, Lk. A different take than some for 2005...From Strive to Thrive in 2005, yup sounds just great. May it prove true for all of us.
I'm glad you like it. I had several moments of clarity today and it felt really good!!!

Lum wrote: Lk, you are well on your way to becoming an exemplary student. ... Flexibility is the key to the list of chores. Mine changes all the time. After all it doesn't matter when or by whom things get done, just that they get done eventually.
Right, I can sometimes just a really slow student. But when I get it, I really DO get it.

When anyone around here finds the answer to dealing with the body we want, rather than the one we are stuck with would you please give Lk and me a dingle?
I looked on eBay, but no one had a body transplant listed.

Lk, keep reminding yourself of that motto; we all want you to thrive.
Thank you. I want that for all of us so we are all in my prayers.

Guess I am the last hold-out on the de-decoration front (thanks, Nino for the expansion of my vocabulary ).
Nope, we're still up here. I have no desire nor energy to take it down.

Oh, and thanks, Vee for restraining yourself from giving me a good excuse on the storage front. Hope I can get everything back into the boxes it came out of.
See, I was hoping to hear something that I might be able to alter and use for the good. geez...

Aside from Lk's ambitious list, does anyone else have special projects on the horizon?
Ambitious? Yikes, I don't want ambitious, I want manageable. Help out here folks, whhat makes in ambitious?

Reader wrote: I appreciate you taking the time to tell me your story Lk.
Which story, Reader? it's great seeing you here. Did the story help at all to get you motivated?

Landi wrote: It's all about moderation...
Right, and that's what I wasn't getting. I think I am now. Or, if not, that's what I WANT to get. It just isn't an easy mind switch for me to make, so I have to tackle it in chunks.

Reader wrote: Do high protein diets work on the fibro?
Good question, Reader. I know that it depends on what other aspects you have going on at the same time. The problem with Fibro is that not enough men get it, so it remains one of those mystery dis-eases until someone important can get the funding to test for it.
So, what did anyone tackle today?

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 2:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay, Lum wanted a project...here's a little project that I have had back-burnered for months. [The idea comes from you know whose website. (Shhhh! Don't tell anyone who may be frightened by MarStew types.)]

This is the before photo:
c

This is the after photo:
c

Yup, I did it all this afternoon...all by myself!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 3:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You hang around me long enough, Lk, you'll be an A+ student in no time. Flying has been helping me a lot, but I am not religious/fanatic in anything, so I can teach you "how to let 5 be an even number" (a German adage) by example.
So you want manageable, try doing your stretching routine and 2x5 mins on those machines for a while. Trust me, I know whereof I speak, jumping from exercise inertia to exercise routine wnats to be done gradually. "The bodies we have" are quick to protest too much ambition. With time you can add a little more time a couple of mins at a time.
For the last few days I have been doing the 30 mins computer/15 mins work thing (note the ratio, Pupil!), because sitting too long has been making me so stiff that ppl around here were giggling every time I would go through the vowels trying to get vertical. OooooEeeeeIiiiiiiiiiUuuuuuAaaaaaaaaah!
Actually managed taking down the tree decorations that way today. PTL, really didn't think I'd tackle it this morning. DH is wrestling it down and out the door as I "speak". Better him than me.


ETA: YAY, Vee, you did some major turfing there! When shall I tell DH you'll be coming around to do his cabinet? Talk about vanity - thy name is definitely M-A-N. Asked him last week to turf the old stuff and keep just what he has been using regularly. When he was "done" I sure didn't see a difference.

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 3:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Dang, Vee...I thought that your "Before" looked pretty darn good!

Oh, by the way, I was the first to put my Christmas decorations away, since I never put them up in the first place! LOL!