Friday/Saturday

On Friday I did diddley-squat regarding clutter. And enjoyed it :)

Today, I remembered my textile donation! and took it to the Farmers' Market. The guy wasn't there yet! But there was someone who was taking the donations for him so I got to leave the stuff.

I also have been cleaning up a storm cuz I was coughing and realized it was probably due to the fact that my fan was filthy and was blowing dirt straight into my lungs. So I took it apart to clean the blades and then cleaned the grates too (grilles?). I was using one of the microfiber cloths I bought a couple weekends back, and discovered that microfiber traps dirt, but doesn't absorb it, so when you rinse the cloth off it's clean again! So I went a little nuts and started cleaning my bathroom sink, then wiping all the cat hair off my vanity and bathtub, then wiping down the bathroom door and walls. The cloth has two small stains after all of this. Pretty cool.

I also put additional potting soil in my plant containers. The one outside REALLY needed it cuz the plants were flopping around. The peppers, btw, have become hugely bushy!

Finally, in searching for a bill I found some papers to shred and recycled an envelope and a post-it.

Results: Oh, life is so good! I'm getting rid of mental clutter too, and it makes it so much easier to just enjoy what life gives me. So many worries that aren't worth worrying about. They just keep you stuck in the place that created the worry. I'm doing my best to stay out of the stuck places - when something bugs me, I'm trying to turn my attention to what wouldn't bug me instead of dwelling on the thing that bugs me. It's a much happier way to live.

Thursday

But first, I forgot that over the weekend I inadvertently removed a plastic wire-stringing thing from one of my doorframes and threw it away. I don't know what they are really called - they're for running cable from outlets to the TV when there's a door in the way. You use them instead of giant staples. Very ugly but not that noticeable unless you're looking for them.

On Thursday, I took out two bags of garbage. And I threw away another cable-stringing thing. :)

Results: Worked and got paid!

Saturday - Wednesday

Saturday continued: I recycled eight pieces of paper and maybe some other stuff I don't remember. And I changed the cat litter.

Sunday - Wednesday: I did dishes a couple times and took a magazine down to the lobby, and I recycled a newspaper or two. And I've been staying on top of the catbox.

Results: I ran into an acquaintance Saturday who offered me work - easy work for lots of money! He's also able to help me with another problem I have that is quickly becoming irrelevant! And we had a great chat the next day - everything was clicking on Sunday!

I also got some FREE jeans on Monday night, via a $5 coupon, no minimum purchase necessary, for my local thrift store, which I found in the free newspaper last week. I don't always read them, but I did read this and when I saw the coupon I went, "Wait, I know that store's name." Looked a little harder, saw the address, and realized which store it was! I must have tried on 20 pairs of jeans, but in the end I got a great pair! I hemmed them Tuesday and wore them today - love 'em!

Finally, my neighbor gave me four chocolate cupcakes last night. They have chocolate cream cheese frosting - YUM!

Oh, yeah, and I went to the gym last night!

Friday/Saturday

I forgot to write yesterday that I took out ALL the recycling. Also took down the empty potting soil bag and tomato starter pot.

Today: I have been to the farmers' market. Forgot to take the donated clothes for the third week in a row. I'm wondering how to make myself remember that next time. Today's big goal: Change the cat litter. But I did delete a few cookies from a browser - they were from the computer's previous owner.

Results: In a much happier mood today. Thank goodness! It's not fun dealing with PMS depression - it's scary how empty and meaningless life can seem when your hormones are running amok.

Thursday/Friday

I think I did some other cleaning thing on Thursday, but I forgot what it was. Oh, well.

Today I haven't decluttered anything. I did plant the tomato with the peppers in the peach basket - the bag of potting soil didn't go very far though. It looks like I didn't add any at all! I'll have to get some more I think. Anyway, they are about ready to go on the fire escape, yay!

It's been a weird day. I seem to be having a visit from the past in the form of virulent PMS. I've been hit by momentary waves of depression a couple times today, which I haven't experienced since my 30s. And I've had a headache pretty much all day. That could be due to a lack of sleep - my mind got going last night when I had a coughing fit right before drifting off, and then I was wide awake for a couple hours. It sucked. I ended up sleeping on the couch cuz the living room had nice cool air coming in from outside and it was just more comfortable.

Oh, well. Every day can't perfect or we'd never realize it when we did have a perfect day. So this is just one of the not-perfect days.

On the plus side, I did call a couple of my credit card companies and ask them to reduce my interest rates and/or payments. I started crying on the first call (OH. PMS again) when the guy said he couldn't help me, and I got to a supervisor who did lower the rate a couple points. The second company said I could get a hardship program that will cut my payment AND my rate in half. So I'll keep an extra $140 or so each month as a result of these changes. That will ease the crunch considerably - it's surprising how little money it takes to keep one in the black. I was told years ago that $250 was the difference between making ends meet and bankruptcy for the average person.

Thursday

But first, more Wednesday: Last night I balanced my checkbook and recycled the envelope and inserts that came with the statement. Also did dishes.

Today: I tried another wipe on the bathroom. I'm not very good at using them, gotta figure it out. Then I cleaned the catbox as best I could - it's gettin' changed tomorrow. Then I threw away the rubber glove I'd been holding on to because...I got a new pair! It was practically impossible to find a pair - everyone has cheapo latex but no one has rubber! The ones I got weren't the same as what I tossed, but they are very sturdy so shouldn't get holes. I've been looking for MONTHS. Sometimes NYC really sucks.

Results: Got more organizing done at work! It's amazing. I'm so stoked that I've gotten all this stuff done. Also got a small check to tide me over till next week (I hope). And I got to go along and watch while the gang went to replace a bad inverter. An inverter changes the solar power current from DC to AC. I had no idea what it looked like or anything - was kind of surprised that it was a box of fuses and motherboards and wires. Kinda like the insides of TVs used to look, but no cathodes that I saw. My grandparents had an appliance store (my uncle still has it), and I used to watch my cousin repair TVs, so that's how I know what they look like inside :)

I also got a ride from my boyfriend down to the part of town where I had to do a bunch of errands, like buying the gloves. I got a tray for my peach basket container garden so I can put it on the fire escape, yay! And I got some groceries for the weekend. Oh, yeah, and I remembered to give him the necklace he bought me for Christmas, which broke the second time I wore it, so he could get it replaced! It was fun riding downtown with him - we talked about stock trades :) I get to watch the market tomorrow and hopefully do a day trade!

Such a great week!

Wednesday

What a great day! What a great WEEK! I have gotten SO MUCH WORK done at my job in the past two days I can't even believe it. It's like my energy and organization level was being held back by working at a job that wasn't right for me, cuz ever since I quit the other job, my energy has been better and I've been getting things done both at work and at home.

And I've been more ORGANIZED! For me, this is a major big deal. Organization is something I've been OK at but only to a point. I can keep it together if someone else sets up a system, for example, but I've never been great at figuring out the system myself. But the past two days I have written lists and done the items on them one by one. I have tackled major piles of old filing stuff and have done it! I am simply amazed at how different I have been this week.

So. I haven't decluttered anything personal today - unless you count the promo postcard given me this morning, which went into the recycle bin at work. I guess I could count it. It never made it into the house, which is good. But whatever. I'll see what I can get done tonight. I was planning on ironing when I got home, but I think the dishes need to be done more. We'll see.

Results: See above! But also:

My just-married co-worker returned to work from her honeymoon today, and brought each of us a favor bag from her wedding! So sweet of her. There were yummy treats AND earrings for the women and cufflinks for the men, which my friend made herself! I think she actually has a jewelry business. Anyway, I was so excited because they are pearl earrings and I didn't have any before! And I didn't put any earrings on this morning, so that was another reason to be happy - I put them on right away. They're very pretty, a nice rich yellowish pearl color.

THEN, I sold my stock at a profit! It could have been as much as $120, but I was a little slow to pull the trigger and then I ended up chasing it down. I got out when it turned back around with $82 profit. It went up from there for awhile so if I'd waited I probably could have made that $120 again, but you know what? It could have kept going down, so I'm happy with my take!

And that's all for now. Except that I'm feeling really good. :)

Tuesday

What a great day! I shredded five papers and a book of deposit slips from four or five years ago (my bank has changed twice since these were any good!). I also recycled the binging of the deposit slips.

I got a lot done at work today - felt very productive. And I get an extra day this week too, which will help with the rent and stuff.

Results: My stock went up so I'm closer to being able to get out of the option I have! Yay!

Monday Final

OK, I just did about an hour and a half of Quicken catch-up. I did a month's worth of cash receipts, recycling 17 receipts and 2 papers where I wrote down cash expenses. Then I worked on bringing credit cards up to date. Got three done and one halfway. A couple more to go.

Now I'm filing the few papers that have accumulated from paying bills last week.

Done for the night!

In Praise of Vinegar

OMG. I just scrubbed a bunch of crap out of my oven after letting it soak in vinegar steam for an hour or so. Let me tell ya, vinegar steam and a scrub of baking soda, salt, and borax are a good remedy for dirty ovens! I'm going to work at it piecemeal cuz my wrists can't take it, but with my new big oven brush (okay, it's just a utility brush but it does the job) it's a heck of a lot easier.

Made that phone call. There's actually no way for me to add a comment to that part of my info, unless I want to go to arbitration. No thanks. I'm actually glad to be done with it.

I also called a bunch of property managers' numbers that were given me by both my dad and by my current manager. Guess what? Those I could reach aren't property managers, except maybe one. They will get back to me with a yes or no. I left one message too. I'm a little surprised at my current guy - he said he could give me names, and then none of them pan out. I emailed him so he'd know they aren't good referrals.

Anyway, that's two more items off my list! So that's good. As for decluttering, I've been so amped about cleaning I've kind of let that one slide a bit. I did put some plastic bags aside for recycling yesterday. I'm cooking a crockpot dinner - got started a bit late, but it should only take a couple hours anyhow. I think I'll do a little more Quicken and then some filing, and then be done for the night.

Results: I have had my mind completely occupied and have not been able to worry about something that was bothering me! So that's good.

It's my sister's birthday! I am so lucky to have her in my life - she gets me better than almost anyone else on this planet, and it's wonderful to be such good friends with someone so close to you! It's also my oldest nephew's 18th birthday - how time flies! I remember when I held him as a three-month-old baby, and here he is a young man.

Sigh. Life is good!

Sunday/Monday

Sunday additional: I swept the kitchen and tested my new oven brush with some soft scrub, and took out the garbage. I dumped the flowers and dirt in the lot next door through the gap in the fence. Did the dishes, then sorted the laundry for today. It felt way cleaner in here!

Monday: Did the laundry early-ish, then mixed up some homemade oven cleaner to take another crack at it with the new brush. This worked better, but it still takes a lot of scrubbing and my wrists are very weak. So I heated up the oven and put a bowl of vinegar in to see if it would steam off some of the gunge - works great in the bathtub so I thought it worth a try. Oh, I tried out my new bathroom wipes on my shower and toilet today too! It got really wet so I couldn't use it on the whole bathroom. Next time I'll do better - quickest cleaning EVER! I'm stoked.

And that's as far as I've gotten today. I've got a phone call to make that I really don't want to make and am considering not doing it. It concerns my old job and a comment left on my license for all to see. Since I'm never going to renew that license it would merely be to set the record straight as to the reason I was fired, and I'm wondering if it really matters that much. My friends keep telling me I have to respond to protect my reputation, but I'm thinking that since I really don't want to make the call, it doesn't matter to me. I'm never going to work in the financial world again - I have my dream job now, it totally floats my boat, and I'm not interested in the stress that goes with my license. Or even the stress of commenting on an inaccurate reason for discharge.

Sunday

Sunday is a fun day! I got home from the party at about 5am, crashed for four hours, then got up and started thinking about what I'd do today. I decided to go buy cleaning supplies at Target, cuz I needed several items I've never had. So I did that and ended up also buying some of their house brand v-neck tees, which were in yummier colors than I've ever seen. My colors don't come around every year, so I took advantage of it and got three. They go with everything and last a long time.

I came home just pleased as punch with my purchases - I got five microfiber cloths for $3.99 in the AUTOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT! Just to name one great deal. When I got home I sat around for a bit and then planted my other two pepper plants in the now-clean container, which I set in the bathtub till I can get a saucer for it. The container is a peach basket inside another peach basket (trying to keep them from rotting through good drainage), so it's about 14" wide at the bottom. I didn't have enough potting soil to put the tomato in, but at least the baskets are out of my kitchen for the first time in months.

Then I swept the living room floor cuz I dropped a lot of dirt - I brought in the bulbs I planted a few weeks back to get the stones in the bottom for the peach baskets. The bulbs were looking pretty dead anyhow. I'll throw them over the fence to the empty lot and see if they grow next year. I've got the old potting soil in a bag to pitch - I don't think it's any good for planting anymore. Maybe I'll throw it over the fence too - not sure how but I might be able to figure it out.

That's all I've done so far but it feels like a lot! Sweeping really gives you bang for your cleaning buck. I'm surprised that I have the energy still to do anything at all - it comes and goes so fast with me. It could be the result of letting go of that job last week. I've found that my energy improves when I'm not stressed out.

Saturday Continued

I took an old ink cartridge and battery to Staples to recycle. Then I recycled a small box and instructions that came with the new battery, and an envelope from today's mail. I cleaned the tomato container-to-be with borax and then threw some vinegar over that. Should be good enough. I cleaned the catbox and swept up around it. Finally, I did about an hour of Quicken data entry and recycled 12 receipts. :) I'm only two months behind on my checking and petty cash input, and then I'll catch up the credit cards - they'll be easy, not much to enter but interest.

Friday/Saturday

Friday: I recycled my water bottle after dropping the cap in a container that once contained mouse droppings. Yuck. It was a crappy bottle anyhow, kept leaking all over my purse. Got a better one now :) I also recycled two newspapers. And I did dishes.

I was going to use said container for my veggie plants but now I'm kinda rethinking. I guess the mouse crap is far enough down that it won't affect my tomatoes. Maybe I'll scrub it out with...something? first.

Today: I took my package to the P.O. finally, to return for a refund. And it was the easiest thing EVER! Only one person ahead of me, priority mail was cheapest, the boxes are self-sealing, and the clerk threw some extra tape on there for me to make sure it wouldn't pop open! Even the confirmation was cheap. I was in and out in five or ten minutes, including boxing it up. Fastest package-sending in YEARS!

Results: Have a long list of stuff to do this weekend, and the energy to do it! And I get to go to a party tonight cuz a friend is giving me a ride! How cool is that?

Thursday

Wednesday additional: I recycled a newspaper. Maybe it was two of them.

Thursday: I gave my boyfriend a book I was planning to take to the lobby, and I recycled the back of a book of checks (the checks were used up).

Wednesday

Today I uninstalled about five programs from my computer, and defragged it. Oh, yeah, and I took a couple magazines down to the lobby. No, wait, I did that Tuesday!

Results: Probable last day of work at the job I quit, and they paid me today instead of my having to wait till the next payday! That was a nice surprise :) Also got more money than I expected from my regular payday. And, I bought an option last week and the stock was up today so I should be able to sell soon! Sigh. Life is good.

More Tuesday

I recycled three newspapers - without checking through them for articles to save. I also paid three bills and recycled the envelopes and inserts.

Sunday/Tuesday

Sunday: I continued with the declutter by doing an hour of Quicken data entry, and recycling seven receipts, two post-its, and one envelope.

Monday: I recycled three envelopes and their inserts, and a postcard. And I threw away an old tin of shea butter - I'm really bad about using body care products. Finally, I gave my donation blanket to the person whose mom is collecting them!

Tuesday: I just gave notice at the job that was stressing me out. After asking for more money I started worrying they'd say yes. That's a pretty clear indicator that the job wasn't working for me despite the fact that I really liked the people in the office. I still don't know what it was - just never gained confidence. I was afraid to quit cuz I need the money, but it turns out I need to feel good about my job more, so I did it and feel worlds better.

Results: I got paid yesterday, and I got my rent check today after asking for it to be overnighted. Got a little extra cuz someone moved out and didn't pay the full rent, so I got the deposit. I might take her to court if a new tenant can't be found by August. We'll see. For now this will get the bills paid :)

Saturday/Sunday

Friday additional: I washed the blanket I made for charity - gonna give it to the guy who's collecting them sometime this week!

Saturday: I recycled two newspapers, another old price list, five post-its, and a catalog.

Sunday: So far I have recycled an expired coupon.

Results: I am getting a refund on a personal growth program I bought which was not anything new to me! I just have to send it back. Yay!

I'm also negotiating for a higher pay rate at a job that wants to hire me. I was upfront about what I usually charge and about what I could accept under certain circumstances, and I compromised for a trial period. I did not intend to remain at the compromise rate and so I'm speaking up about it now rather than later. It may mean that I don't continue there, which is a little scary at the moment in terms of cash flow, but I've had misgivings about the job all along, so it may be that it would be best to look for something else. It never pays to do something that doesn't feel right, and this only felt right at the initial interview. Something about it went south after that and it just hasn't set right with me ever since.

And I've reached a point in life where I don't think I should have to compromise on what I want my life to be. It's never failed me that when I let go of something that's not working, something better comes along - I'm working at my dream job two days a week now, because I was fired from a great job gone sour. So I know it will be alright. Maybe not immediately, but soon.

You know, letting a job go is just another level of decluttering.

Tuesday - Friday

I'm not sure I did a declutter on Tuesday. Maybe some paper into the recycle bin.

Wednesday: I shredded five sensitive papers from my stack (still have a few). I also used a couple of paper bags to make a window shade for the living room cuz I thought it might help with the heat. Unfortunately only part of it stayed up - I bought the crappiest double-sided tape in the world last fall to put up plastic in my windows, and it works no better on paper, apparently. Oh well! At least I found a use for the bags. I'll try hanging the rest back up this weekend. So anyhow, I recycled the handles from the bags.

Thursday: Shredded three more sensitive papers at work.

Today: I paid four bills and recycled the envelopes and inserts.

Results: I got a rebate check from my credit card! And my direct deposit went through finally, so I don't have to make a trip downtown to pick up my check!

Monday Dejunking Final Edition

Hee hee! I took a magazine and a cat toy down to the lobby on my way to buy ice cream!

Results: It's free pizza night at the gym! They have free pizza the first Monday of every month, but I rarely remember - if I hadn't been going to Target I would have missed it. YAY!

Monday Dejunking Continued

After the last post I tossed two used candles. I was hoping to reuse the wax, but that's just crazy at some point. I tossed one yesterday too that I forgot about. Then I did five items of hand wash, and then got the bug to go through some drawers. I threw away 34 photos, a couple of plastic bags/sleeves, and five pieces of old credit cards, and I put a book of old deposit slips in the shred pile.

But the recycling is where the clearout really happened. I recycled 27 pages of inventory from a job I quit in 2007 or so (!), eight post-its, five notes, nine advertising flyers, four envelopes, and ten random pieces of paper/brochures/programs. Oh, and I found two old eyeglass lenses, which I put with my planters for the next container I plant! Did two drawers and they are nice and organized now with room left.

I think if I do a drawer or so each night after work, then maybe more on the weekends, I can really declutter a lot, without overwhelming myself. One item a day is still a good way to do it - that's the whole premise of this blog, after all - but I'm at the point where I want to ramp it up and have a neat and clean and SPACIOUS house. It feels really good to chuck stuff - especially papers that have lain around for years!

Monday

I forgot that I also took a magazine down to the lobby yesterday with the other stuff, and threw away some stocking feet I'd cut off one day so I'd have peds for my shoes.

I did end up swiffering the floors last night to get up the dust bunnies. Then I used the swiffer at around midnight to kill an ENORMOUS water bug that the cat chased into the living room. I looked at it for two hours before I got the gumption to swipe at it - I was afraid of missing it and having it land in my hair or something. Put on a hat and big shoes before whacking it! :)

Today I've been lazy. Slept in till almost 10, then did a body wrap. I lost 2", too! I did the dishes and then put stuff in the crock pot for dinner. Also wrapped up some meat for the freezer. Took out the garbage a little bit ago, and recycled a crossword puzzle book that I'm done with. Currently thinking about what else I can dejunk, or maybe doing some hand wash. Yeah, hand wash sounds good for the next step!

4th of July Dejunking Continued

I forgot that I threw away a broken umbrella and its wrist loop, which I guess I thought I could reattach, and a jar of borax, pepper, and bay leaves, which is supposed to keep roaches away and didn't work.

I may do more later, or maybe will sweep, but I'm pretty much ready to call it a day.

4th of July Dejunking

Forgot that the first thing I did today was move my cat's tent (yes, it is a tent for a cat, made by Ikea - it was a gift and it's SO cute when the cat goes in there) into my room where there's a bit of space for it. It's out of the way, which she will like, and it's not crowding my living room now.

I've been dejunking for a couple hours and wrote out everything I chucked/recycled, with numerous asides and explanations. None of these are necessary, so I'm going to just do the list now.

I got out a big plastic bag for junking stuff, and started in. There was more recycling than junking, but anyhow, I threw away: Three videos, three tapes, a piece of coal from a firewalk I did a few years ago (yep, I really did it and the reminder isn't needed), a cough drop I'll never use, a tiny plastic zipper bag that's got a hole, a dead pink Sharpie, a wonderful gift bag I've had for five years and used for my lunch bag till it was coming apart, an old cosmetic case, and 10 used mailers (bubble and regular).

Recycling: Ten more old price lists, 12 magazines, an info pack for a health product company I no longer belong to, 18 more brochures, and 27 random inserts, flyers, postcards, and so on, including a certificate of completion of a training class. I recycled eight more newspapers, my Series 27 manual, notes, and 82% score record (because I am never going to be a FINOP again, HALLELUJAH!), three arrows I broke with my neck (again, I did this, and I know it, and the reminders are not out on display so why keep them?), 11 post-its, two random pieces of paper, and a couple of glass bottles. I'm cleaning another glass bottle to recycle.

Giveaways: I took a shirt and some catnip down to the lobby while taking out the recycling, and took a lip-plumping system down to the lobby. And I'm getting a bag ready to donate - there's a booth at the Farmers' Market that takes textiles, including unusable stuff, which is great cuz I have a broken pair of earmuffs that I couldn't bear to throw out! Not to mention ripped up sweatpants :) I'm donating two pairs of slippers, a dress, the ripped sweatpants, a t-shirt, two old stained towels, and the earmuffs.

I also moved several piles of papers and miscellaneous stuff into the empty drawer (yes!), put away art stuff and knitting stuff, and took all my vitamins and supplements off the table and put them in the drawer where I keep the opened bottles. They don't have to be out for me to remember to take them. I put all the change and found money in the change jar and began cleaning the table. There are STILL pine needles from my Christmas tree on that table. I guess I've only spot-cleaned it since then. Oh, well. I unpacked my opera costume and other stuff and put away the suitcase. The dress needs cleaning but the rest is put away.

Took a couple breaks in all this to put away my laundry. The place is looking clearer. I'm actually really surprised it looks so good!

4th of July

I'm finding it a challenge to get anything done this weekend with decluttering and cleaning. Got a couple books out of the library for help and have narrowed down the problem to getting rid of junk and a need for a clutter drawer. Trying to dejunk is overwhelming so I'm just going about it in my haphazard way so something gets done.

One of the books was about organizing the right-brained way. Unfortunately, I don't fit the profile of a right-brained clutterer. This guy's approach is no more helpful to me than the left-brained approach, because I use both sides of my brain equally. So I'm analytical and detail-oriented and really DON'T want to see piles of stuff around the house, but I am also a big-picture person who has trouble breaking down decluttering into small steps that actually amount to something when added up. Basically, I just need someone to come in and do the job for me, then set up a system for me that I can follow.

Too bad I don't use the useful-for-organizing parts of my brain, haha!

Anyway. I started decluttering by recycling 16 newspapers WITHOUT going through them to find articles I might have wanted to save. Then I opened up a drawer and tossed an ancient SPF lip protector that I have never used, and recycled 6 brochures, a handout, and an old price list for health products I buy and sell. Next I'm going to grab a garbage bag and go searching for junk per one of the OTHER books I got from the libe. This one is more about decluttering. I also got one on cleaning, but the clutter is in the way of easy cleaning so that's gotta go first. More to come...

Friday/Saturday

Last night I continued my efforts with filing. I had piles of bills and pay stubs that needed to be filed, and in the process of filing them I also opened some mail and recycled some stuff: Two envelopes, a newsletter, inserts from one statement, 10 post-its, and a couple of pieces of paper. Also put a few more items in the shred pile.

Today I paid three bills and recycled envelopes and inserts, did laundry, and returned a library book (the score to the opera!). Oh, and I planted two of my organic peppers and some arugula seeds in a windowbox planter! I took the empty potting soil bag down to the trash when I went out to do the laundry.

Results: I just created my own reality twice today! This morning on my way home from the Farmers' Market, I decided I wanted to find some broken crockery to put in the bottom of my planter for drainage. I threw some broken dishes out last year and now could use them. So I didn't find any but when I went to plant my plants, I broke an already partially broken fired pot that I'd had since the end of 6th Grade. It was part of a going away present from my friends (I moved to another state), and I'd been planning all these years to superglue it back together and plant something that could trail over the broken spot. But today I dropped it and it broke into a few more pieces, and I decided, well, there's my crockery! My friends' gift will be remembered as part of my veggie garden. So I got out my hammer and broke up the part that was still intact.

THEN, when I went to return the library book, I was thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice if the library was open today?" See, for some unfathomable reason, the library has always been closed on the Saturday before a Monday holiday. I guess getting Monday off wasn't good enough! So I was thinking this, and I turned the corner to the library, and it was open! First time ever! They must have gotten comments about it. But I was very excited to have something I wanted happen almost instantly - I'm practicing being happy so as to allow the things I want to come to me, and when it's stuff that I don't have a lot of disbelief around, it manifests right away like this did. Pretty cool!

OH! I got a letter from the lawyers about my aunt's estate. The change in executor was granted and the will has been submitted for probate. I thought this was happening in July, so I'm very excited that it is a month ahead of when I thought.

Friday, July 2

First day of the loooonnnnnggg weekend! I took it easy most of today. Did take out a box and a cat food bag on the way to the bank, and I recycled five paper bags. I did dishes, got laundry organized for the laundromat, put a few clothes away, and did a little dusting in the living room. Then I tried out a dinner recipe from this menu/shopping list service I signed up for. I did the shopping yesterday and am trying the recipes this week. So far I'm liking it - tonight I made steak au poivre and it was YUMMY. If it ends up saving me money to use these recipes, that will be a good thing :)

Tomorrow I'm making a list and seeing how much I can get done.

Oh, I have a friend who auditioned for her own cooking show. If you go to this website you can see her video and vote for her!

http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=17526&promo_id=1

I Was In A Show...

...hence the complete lack of anything blog for two weeks (and three days). The show consumed my life and I had nothing left while it was up. Now, however, I am BACK! I've continued to declutter, just didn't have the gumption to post about it. I did lots of envelope recycling and even took a plant stand and checkbook cover down to the lobby last week. The real cleanup starts tomorrow, though, as I embark on a four-day weekend, wooooo! Normally I'm not fond of holidays, but since I've been working so much while also doing the opera, I am looking forward to four days of cleaning and decluttering. So much to do!

I have kept my room fairly neat and even managed to change the sheets the other day and rotate the mattress. I got my A/C put in the window too, because it was brutally humid for a week or so and I feared for my kitty a little bit - not to mention it was next to impossible to sleep in that muck. Of course it has cooled down the past couple nights so that I wish I had my fan back in there, but hey, at least I don't have to run the A/C night and day right now.

Results: I got a tax bill paid off during the time I was MIA, so can now start on the other one I owe. My trial period at the new job is over and it seems I am going to be hired as things are going well. I still feel on the fence about it for some reason, but I have a good time when I'm there, so I don't know. Maybe it was just scheduling issues - we resolved them this week and it should make things easier.

Let's see. I learned to listen to myself from the experience in the opera (Die Fledermaus, for any opera buffs out there). My first instinct was to turn down the role I was offered. I hemmed and hawed to myself about it and asked a few people what they thought and finally ended up accepting it, and in retrospect my first instinct was correct. I'm not sorry I did it, but I could have saved myself a lot of disappointment and frustration if I had not. The bright side is that it really made it clear to me not to settle for something I don't really want. I didn't even enjoy the performances, which has NEVER HAPPENED to me in any play/musical/opera I've done. That was the biggest letdown of all - I was never quite ON, which is unparalleled in my experience. It's truly bizarre because Fledermaus is one of the most fun operas in existence.

The audiences loved the show, though, and my friends couldn't tell I felt off, which is good. We even had a real actress, Lois Smith, come to our opening show - she did a guest stint on the soap I watch! That was a big highlight for me. The other great thing was getting to see an old college friend after over 15 years! We've both lived here for years and never knew it till the wonder of Facebook reconnected us!

Anyway, I'm not going to sing again unless I am offered a role I really, really want to do. That's the great part about knowing what you want - and about not NEEDING to perform - you can say no and not feel like you're missing out on anything. I feel very lucky that I can take it or leave it. I didn't always feel that way about singing.

I'm looking forward to a weekend of telling you all about my decluttering and cleaning!