Shred Day Reminder

I think I missed the last shred day, so I plan to get rid of the box of papers that's been sitting here awhile...it's this weekend!

Info from the UFCU site:

For this particular Shred Day we will have bins to collect can goods for the Austin Capitol Food Bank.

Date:	December 21, 2013
Time:	10:00 AM
Duration:	4 hours or until the truck is full
Location:	UFCU N Guadalupe Financial Center 4611 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78751

Holiday Care for Stress and Loss

Sorry for that unhappy title, but the focus is on good self-care and stress reduction. Most people have heard of holiday stress. And while I have not suffered a loss of anyone close to me for a few years, the holidays are when I and many people feel grief bubbling up as our memories of yearly traditions surface. And it's so random sometimes! I was at the grocery store around Thanksgiving and with all the seasonal foods in view, I suddenly remembered holiday grocery trips to Albertson's with my dad. It was sad but sweet. It wasn't the type of grief to bowl me over, but when we lose important people, the grief will cycle back from time to time.

I do know some folks who've recently lost people, and I sent them a good blog post about holiday self-care for the bereaved titled Six tips for getting through the holidays with grief by author Sameet Kumar, PhD. Even if you just find the holidays (and your family) stressful, the tips Kumar gives are quite solid and helpful. (I could so benefit from working out more in this season!) Kumar explains, "Most of the people I've worked with over the years find that no matter when their loss occurred, the spiral path of grief tends to circle back to very difficult emotions around the holidays. . . The holidays are stressful under even ideal circumstances. In the context of grief, they can feel absolutely terrifying. There's not much you can do to skip them, so you might as well find a way to get through them as healthy as you can. Grief sometimes feels like a battlefield; the holidays are grief's bootcamp. The goal of getting through this time of year is to not only endure but to grow into a sense of resilience." Well said. His tips would help anyone struggling this season, not just with bereavement but with any stressor or void. Holiday resilience sounds like a good goal--and I still plan to have some fun.

For anyone looking to read more of Kumar's work, he wrote a good book called Grieving Mindfully--it is probably the most helpful book I read on mourning. The "mindful" approach is to be accepting and non-judgemental of whatever feelings come up, assuming that they will not last forever. The idea is that most feelings, negative or positive, simply exist and are temporary--and resisting them can actually cause them to hang around longer. And they'll come out later anyways--we're human and can't avoid them entirely. Combine mindfulness with compassion and self-care, and that's a recipe for resiliency. Strength and recovery don't come from an absence of grief but the ability to feel and experience and still bounce back, over and over. It's become more normal for me, I'm happy to say, and learning how to grieve has helped me in other areas of my life. I guess it's one of the redeeming qualities or blessings of loss.

Free Shred Day This Weekend!

I already posted this, but for good measure, once again:

The Austin Chapter of ARMA International and Balcones Shred FALL free “Shred Day”  

Saturday, November 9th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Balcones Shred (9301 Johnny Morris Road).  

Households can bring up to five boxes of paper records per household for shredding.  Box size should not be larger than 24” X 24”X 36”.    All of the shredded material and cardboard boxes are recycled.  Please make sure your records are paper only (no hard plastics, no plastic bags, electronic media or three-ring binders) and are not wet or moldy. Monetary donations will be accepted with a portion of the proceeds going to Blue Santa.

For those needing a location closer to central Austin, University Fed. Credit Union's Dec. shred day is coming up:

Date:	December 21, 2013
Time:	10:00 AM
Duration:	4 hours or until the truck is full
Location:	UFCU N Guadalupe Financial Center 4611 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78751

Inspiration from...Rejection?!

I noticed that a past post on the topic of forgiveness got a lot of hits, so I'll venture into the personal growth arena again and share another interesting video.

If I need to tie it to decluttering and moving on, I'll say that if you struggle with decisions and worry about making the right choices, then you probably wrestle with fear and perfectionism, which perhaps carry over to other parts of your life.

SO, here is a fun 20 min. talk by a man named Jia Jang. Realizing he was selling out staying in his secure but unfulfilling job, he wanted to toughen up his skin as he pursued his real dream to be an entrepreneur. He tried out "rejection therapy" and gave himself 100 days to get rejected in all kinds of ways. He asked a cop if he could drive the police car...and the cop said yes. He asked a man if he could fly his private plane...and the man said yes. You get the picture.

And to paraphrase Jang, if you avoid rejection from others, you'll end up rejecting yourself for not being true to what you really want. Ouch. And scary. He also said that people are really nice and he didn't know that before.

Check out his 2013 talk on vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/70167462

Or just see how he fared at Krispy Kreme in Austin (using a hidden camera) when asking for custom-designed donuts:

November Shred Day--Donations Accepted

I confess I forgot about a free shred day last weekend. But thankfully I was recently sent an email about a free shred day in November. Bring up to 5 boxes (wow!) and paper only. See info below: 

Free Household Document Shredding

The Austin Chapter of ARMA International (Association of Records Managers and Administrators), and Balcones Shred are sponsoring a FALL free “Shred Day.”  

Mark you calendar for Saturday, November 9th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Balcones Shred (9301 Johnny Morris Road).  

Households can bring up to five boxes of paper records per household for shredding.  Box size should not be larger than 24” X 24”X 36”.    All of the shredded material and cardboard boxes are recycled.  Please make sure your records are paper only (no hard plastics, no plastic bags, electronic media or three-ring binders) and are not wet or moldy. Monetary donations will be accepted with a portion of the proceeds going to Blue Santa.

Slowing down with Mindfulness

Decluttering is not the lightest topic--and clutter can cause stress. If you're looking to add some relaxing moments to your day, you might look into some free online mindfulness meditations. Mindfulness is a pretty hot topic right now--even physicians talk about the health benefits of meditation, showing how brains of those who meditate have better brain connectivity, as in better sensory awareness and attention span. (See a Harvard health article for a 2011 study.) Before you think you have to join a new religion and focus on nothingness, you can try out some free general relaxation meditations from the UCLA itunes podcast that focus on body awareness and breath. My experience has been that such meditation is actually about focused awareness, not about nothingness, emptiness or adopting a new theological perspective. If anything, mindfulness helps me slow down, get quiet, and become more aware of how my body and mind are connected. I was more physically active and aware when I was younger, so it makes sense that getting back in tune with my body reminds me of my youth and happy memories of both playing and slowing down.

I don't meditate as often as I should, and it's funny how slowing down is now on the list of to-do's, like exercise. But I can say that just like after exercise, I usually feel better after taking the time to relax, especially knowing I've done something healthy (despite no sweat or burning tons of energy). What a treat to say, "Gee, I now have to lie down and be quiet for 20-40 minutes." It's like getting away with something some days...though other days it's really hard to focus and not feel like more pressing tasks should be done NOW. It's great that in the name of health, relaxation meditation can be a high priority, as pressing as other daily tasks. Now if I could just keep it up along with a new workout plan, I wonder  what that would feel like. (Amazing?!)

For a larger and more recently updated UCLA audio meditation selection, go to the Mindful Meditation at the Hammer Museum page to hear a new meditation each week.

Random Task Day and the Urgency of Creativity

If you follow the online home organization guru the Fly Lady, you know that Friday is clean out your purse and car day. I confess I am not very good at following this routine, but I heartily applaud it. But today I will do some random tasks I've put off--washing my yoga mat and bag, plus some other tote and little bag I use all the time. It's been a few years since I cleaned these. I don't want to think about all the germs on this stuff and go all Sheldon Cooper--I just want to finally, finally wash 'em as I keep saying to my yoga buddy.

If you're interested in reading a blog by someone who followed Fly Lady for a year, check out http://365dayswithflylady.wordpress.com/ I searched for "alternatives to Fly Lady" because I've never fully committed, and I stumbled upon some wise words about how routines help us make space for creatitivity. She talks about how when routines help us go on auto-pilot, we get stuff done and have time left over to do what we love. I wish I could find the post I read a few days ago--my memory is that she said the housekeeping is NOT a replacement for creativity. It simply keeps us freer and lighter so we have more mental space to focus on the fun stuff. I've heard this and even written about it, but it's taking a long time to sink in!

As for  the importance of creativity in the lives of ordinary people, I love what  Dr. Brene Brown from the University of Houston said in an interview with Oprah. According to Brown, "Unused creativity is not benign. We are creative beings!" That rings so true with me. I feel much more joyful when I tap into my right-brained side. Brown has some new stuff coming up on Oprah life classes this September. I hope I can check them out online. If you haven't yet seen her famous TED Talks, go check them out. Her research is encouraging because it's stuff you already knew, but now there's proof!

Pushed over the Edge

Amongst some decluttering projects and testing for a gluten allergy, this has also been a summer of working out with friends. Somehow this was the summer I lucked out in having not one but two workout buddies who are members at my gym. I hadn't had a workout buddy since, oh, about a decade or so ago, so I felt extremely grateful. Had it not been for a younger friend, I would have never tried Zumba or Body Pump. I had fun, but I am also proud to say this week I was able to fit into an old pair of capris for the first time in a year. I haven't lost tons of weight, but the 5 or so pounds I've lost have made a difference, and I have more muscle than before.

I've learned that gaining too much weight is a serious bummer when it comes to shopping. (I'm not talking a few pounds and still staying in a healthy range. I'm talking about reaching a size when you know you are out of shape and your body fat percentage is too high. See Gaiam's body fat guide.) I hovered around the same size for three or four years, and then BAM, my lack of regular exercise caught up to me in a major way. In my 20s I couldn't conceive of getting a muffin top. Now I understand that for some women, it's a serious battle to keep off the abdominal fat. And not just for cosmetic reasons--Dr. Oz and friends warn that abdominal fat is the worst kind. But getting back to clothes--shopping is a lot harder when you're trying to hide newly acquired weight, and it's frustrating to not be able to buy what would have been a flattering, easy purchase in the past. My options were getting too limited!

I've thought "I'll get in good shape again" over the last few years, but my frustration shopping and then my listening to a podcast helped push me over the edge into taking my fitness seriously. I decided to listen to a podcast of No Excuses Workout, an exercise program that's part of the Fly Lady community. The host Jonathan Roche is extremely positive, and while the show can get repetitive, one of his cohosts said something about how the "teammates" needed to make health and exercise a top priority in their lives. Simple idea, but it clicked for me that I needed to make working out a top priority in my life. Now. I was seeing the frustrating and unhealthy results of hoping that a bit of yoga and strength training would somehow carry me through and keep my metabolism running high enough.

My excuses or gripes had been that the gym was boring and that a foot injury was keeping me from dance classes. But turns out I was lucky to have friends to work out with this summer, so they helped me keep showing up. And while they might not always be so available and our schedules might not match up so well forever, I did get used to the gym and now want to go because I feel better. I'm in the habit and excited to finally see the results of my consistency. And I also have new respect for the people I see who are in good shape--for a lot of them, it takes work and routine. I admire that persistence. I finally feel enough motivation to get out there and join them, even if I use the smaller weights and am slowly working up to my old fitness level. (Not high school fitness, people.) I'm happier for having gotten back in the habit. And I had no idea fitness would end up being a highlight of my summer.

------------------
As an aside, I'll add that one of the most interesting shows I saw this year was The Truth About Exercise with Dr. Michael Mosley. Apparently some people have the right genes for getting in shape by doing a few short bursts of intense exercise (as in a few minutes each week!). It'd be nice to know if I fit into that group! I'm thinking not, though...

Goin' Wheat Crazy

Perhaps you saw my post on testing for a gluten allergy. The protocol is to abstain from gluten for two weeks and then reintroduce it with some servings of 100% rye bread. Now, true rye bread tastes almost nasty. It's also hard to find. I had to go a large Whole Foods downtown to get it, and no amount of Horizon organic salted butter makes it taste good. I had some mild reaction to it, but I think it's because rye bread is just heavy and bit gross to eat, really. Anyways, tried it again some days later to see if I reacted, and again it was mild.

So now I get to go a step further and not just test for a gluten allergy but for a wheat allergy. (Wheat contains gluten, a protein, but is not gluten itself.) And today is the Fiesta De Wheat. 

Breakfast: Whole Food breakfast bar biscuit, waffle, and breakfast plantains smothered in cinnamon and sugar (a wonderful and gooey gluten-free discovery)
Lunch: Bean and cheese breakfast taco on flour tortilla
Dinner: Sausage and garlic Home Slice pizza with salad that comes with a delicious garlic roll

Now, I think I am full, but there is something about pizza and garlic rolls that says, "Eat more of me!" I wonder if it's an evolutionary reaction triggered by going without wheat for three or four weeks.

I will say my stomach is a bit uncomfortable with the sudden food change. I'm feeling a bit bloaty. Hopefully it's the only reaction I'll have, though. Me like pizza and garlic rolls. But, sigh, I keep reminding myself that it's better to find out if I have a sensitivity or allergy instead of suffering from chronic inflammation and whatnot for years to come. I did realize that I don't have to figure it all out right now either. If I want to revisit this testing process down the road, I can. Thought it's certainly frustrating to limit myself to gluten free stuff, especially when the grocery store throws so many wheat products in your face. (SUSHI has wheat in it. SUSHI!) And I've influenced lunch spot choices when out with friends--no crepes from the crepe truck! Gotta go where they at least have salads.

I will say this city is much more accommodating than I ever realized. Sure, you can buy packaged gluten-free foods for premium prices (a dollar or two more than regular stuff), but I found some restaurants post their GF stuff either online or on their menus. (I'm talking about you, Firebowl, Ruby's, Galaxy, and Kerbey Lane.) It made me wonder how many people are really living with this restriction all the time. I heard 1 in 10 people have some type of sensitivity or allergy to gluten! No wonder the GF food industry is booming! 

Back to me: People are asking if I feel better. Well, I did lose four or five pounds, but I've also been hitting the gym. I do look better and feel stronger, and it's probably a combo of the two. And if I don't seem super sensitive to wheat, I think I'll cut back on it. I've had some fun trying out new foods and it's probably been good to take in fewer calories from carbs.

Is it over? Not quite yet. I need to see what happens this week....and then I will probably test for problems with dairy at some point. Ay caramba.

Decluttering Other Losses

Here's a new topic for this blog:
Forgiveness.

Hmm.

You know I like podcasts or videos that I can apply to my life. I've talked about grief and clutter, but what about the old clutter of frustration and resentment?

I am no expert on forgiveness, so I find the web's many resources educational and helpful. If you're looking for videos and articles on happiness in general, The Greater Good Science Center at University of California Berkeley (and no, it's not just for hippies!) is extremely grounded in research. Dr. Fred Luskin especially blew me away in some of his video clips on forgiveness--especially viewing forgiveness as a stage in the grief process. Grief as in something I didn't want to happen happened, and I'm experiencing a loss because of it. (This usually isn't about death--it's more about disappointment.) Like some others I've read, Luskin says you must go through your feelings before you forgive. Then you can let things go (although I would argue that feelings might come up again later....oh well!). He also stresses that simply because we are vulnerable to hurt, we'll get hurt sometimes. It's inevitable.

You can find a handful of clips from his presentation, but this one might be my favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=50oNi4KUaqU

Clearing out the Gluten

This post is perhaps more about body clutter. (Fly Lady Marla Cilley has a book by that title.) I don't know about you, but that Dr. Oz has me freaked out about dairy and gluten allergies/sensitivities/intolerance. If you keep eating irritating foods, your body will suffer from inflammation, a major cause of disease. So I asked a naturopath about allergy tests and she said they're so unreliable that the best way to test is to "challenge" certain foods by fasting from them for at least two weeks. So I've given up gluten and am on Week 2. And I am hungry! My mouth often waters when I go to the store. Clearly I don't know how to stay full with gluten-free options, partly because I simply have to be more creative and buy new foods.

Good news: I can still eat all the dairy and tortilla chips I want.
Bad news: Eating eggs and hash browns for breakfast gets really old, and I think corn chips actually irritate my skin a bit. Might have more of a corn allergy.
Strangest food buy: Seaweed rice crackers from Whole Foods, used to transport guacamole to my mouth.
Comfort food: Gluten free mac n' cheese with rice noodles.
Surprisingly okay food: A cheeseburger wrapped in lettuce. I never did the low-carb diet, but I felt pretty happy w/ my lettuce wrap. fries, and lemonade. But the fact that this is only two weeks makes this more okay!
Bright side: I am more educated now that I know gluten is a protein composite found in wheat, rye, and barley. And you can eat yeast because that ain't gluten.

I am optimistic that I don't have issues with gluten....and I've told friends I think the dairy weeks will be when I whine the most. Still, it's fascinating to see how one can handle going gluten-free and to consider all the folks who do this all the time.

Declutterin' and Shoppin'

So, haven't posted for a while, but I'm still slowly decluttering. Was told by a wise person to limit it to an hour a day, if that, and I'd probably get more done and enjoy my summer more. I agree! I find it draining to go through my own old box of papers--last week it was my taxes from 10 years ago, old leases, and some fun old pictures and cards. To not be like my relatives, the non-sentimental stuff has got to go now. And yes, I am happy to say, I'm doing fun things that do not involve decluttering.

One of those things is hitting the gym with a friend. But now that I'm at the gym 2-3 times a week, I need more workout clothes. And man, I've worn out the Danskin pants I bought, oh, 6 or more years ago. They have some tiny holes. And they're now that faded black where you know it's just been washed too many times. (Why is it so hard to find flattering workout pants?) So I've picked up a few new things. Then I also decided I needed to update my sleepwear. I tend to keep things at least five years if not more. I loved my old green H&M t-shirt I bought in NYC, but it had two or three holes in it, so yeah, had to part with some old faves. I usually only do a few big shopping trips each year because that's all I can stand, but you can get cute stuff for reasonable prices, so it's good to remember I'm an adult and it's okay to restock when the rotation is pretty old. I even heard a story on NPR about how the price of clothing is extremely low compared to the past, which is keeping customers shopping more often. Good news for this anti-shopper. Might as well enjoy it and part with the old stuff!

Experimental Poetry

Experimental Garage Decluttering Poetry
(partly inspired by William Carlos Williams and written in a few minutes)

I have four oars
in my garage
vintage
or just old
three are wood
and look like they could decorate a pub
but no
they are in my garage
one is worn out plastic yellow

I own a small boat
kept an hour away near a pond
that has tons of lilypads
I rarely use that boat

So
goodbye two oars
I'll keep the pretty one and I guess the plastic one
because I assume plastic might hold up better than wood

Guess what, Goodwill?
I have two oars for you.

Next Free Shred Day....

The next shred day hosted by UFCU is not until the fall...boo. But you can prep ahead of time and fill up those bags or boxes. I have some set aside already.

*Weather permitting

Session 1

Date:	September 21, 2013
Time:	10:00 AM
Duration:	4
Location:	UFCU N Guadalupe Financial Center 4611 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78751

Session 2

Date:	December 21, 2013
Time:	10:00 AM
Duration:	4
Location:	UFCU N Guadalupe Financial Center 4611 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78751

Return Build-Up

My mother calls herself The Return Queen. She doesn't flinch at buying something at Marshall's and taking it back because she changed her mind. And about 99.9% of the time, she is successful and no one stops her from returning stuff, even if it's been a while, there's no receipt, whatever. (Nowadays they keep great records on credit cards--but she had the magic touch before then.)

I did not inherit this capacity for buying and returning things. (So I'm not The Return Princess.) I often thought of the task as so burdensome, I'd just keep the thing and occasionally eye it in my closet, wondering if I'd like it later. But no.

In the last few years, I've gained more tolerance and motivation for returning things. I still put it off, though. Here's all the stuff I need to return, hopefully in the next week:

Face wash that was too drying
Moisturizer that caused whiteheads
Shower curtain that doesn't look good in bathroom
Another moisturizer--this one slightly irritated skin
Cat food the cat refuses to eat (which is saying something--he's chunky!)
Sunglasses that fit weird and bump my cheeks
T-shirt that doesn't quite fit
Bird feeder that doesn't attract birds

Granted this a build-up of items. And you're probably thinking I need to see a dermatologist. Fair enough. But it's funny how I'll make choices and change my mind later and it's become this LIST. Am I more wishy washy now? Or just more willing to take stuff back? Taking more risks because I know I can return things? I don't know. Perhaps it's part of the aging process and realizing I'll get some money back for my trouble! It's certainly worth it financially. And yes, this stuff is clutter because I won't use it!

Sweet Moral Support

At brunch today a sweet, wise friend repeatedly offered to help me deal with my house-clearing/dehoarding stuff. She thinks I need to get it off my plate so I can move forward in other areas of my life. And yeah, the Fly Lady says that once you clean up your house, you figure out what to do with your life. I believe it, but man, it's hard to get motivated! I still feel pretty overwhelmed a lot of the time.

But the kindness of this offer revved me up! I don't have tons of projects that I can easily delegate to kind friends, but just the offer lifted me up some and reminded me that summer does not last forever...I might as well use the time to knock out some lingering clutter and make some posts on craigslist. I still have furniture to sell and an old computer lurking in the closet. I think I might still have my dad's tall camo snake boots. If I am really scared of snakes biting me in the country, then I need to get my own boots, right? Haven't used them in the last five years...probably not going to use them in the next five. Thrift store 'em. And those six or more boxes of Grandma's travel slides? I'm sorry, Earth, but 'tis the landfill for them. I can't mail them out to some artist. That's getting ridiculous. I've tried to be green most of the time, but at some point, it's the landfill or my garage. (And no, I'm not going to view them. I've seen enough paper photos to get the idea. She practically went everywhere but Antarctica and the North Pole.) All this verve and brainstorming just from a kind friend's insistence that I let her know in the next few weeks if I might need her help. 

As far as accepting friends' help, I'd say be careful. You don't want to strain a relationship with the tension of power struggles and "I don't think you should keep this" arguments. Yuck. When I did use a professional organizer twice, she clearly let me make most of the decisions as part of her method. She'd literally hold stuff up and look at me and ask, "Keep, toss, donate?" or something like that. Occasionally she'd voice her opinion, but it's important to feel that you are making decisions about your stuff. I appreciated that respect and freedom. I still needed her left-brained help and jump-starting organizational systems, but no, I don't want some Martha Stewart dictator coming in and shaming me into some method or process. And as the organizer said, it's better to NOT have a friend come in to do serious organizing. Not that it's a rule 100% of the time. I might take my sweet friend up on her offer if the project seems right. But as I look at the project as a giant, massive elephant, no, the entire thing is not a group project. However, it's not something to be done alone! We need people to help us in our struggles. Perhaps it's judging when to ask for help and who to invite in at the right times. (Side note: I once felt like my privacy was violated when a well-meaning friend decided to clean up my house while she was house-sitting. I felt like she must have looked at everything. No thank you!)

Anyways, I've been playing a lot of Bejeweled on the couch instead of remembering that taking care of my house will help clear my thinking about other parts of my life....so, some Bejeweled is okay, but it won't take long to post some stuff on eBay and craigslist either to get a better payoff  that will lead to more fun and lightness down the road...

A Smattering of Summer Stuff

Here's a smattering of updates....

My potted plants: Three survived. Yay for the pansies, succulent, and lavender. The chocolate mint died in the few hot days we've had...such a shame because it's one of the best smelling mints ever. Might get a new one and put it in the shade for summer. The wind also beat up the bird feeder, so it's probably time to buy a new one. I got five years out of this one, so it's done well. As for other plant stuff, I could trim up some shrubs that are touching the house. Supposedly those branches transport carpenter ants and other nasty bugs onto your home.

My car: So we all change our car batteries from time to time, but apparently having corrosion can also cause your battery to not work so well. I ended up buying a new battery, but I really had let a bunch of corrosion sit there for a long time. I checked online and apparently you can keep the terminals clean with baking soda and water--just try to disconnect the wires from the terminals first and go at it with a toothbrush. The baking soda makes a bunch of bubbles and cleans it up. I recommend you look up more detailed directions because sulfuric acid and batteries are potentially dangerous. The acid can burn holes in your clothes, blind you, etc. Still, I never was taught to clean up my battery growing up, so it's good to know it's not super mysterious and can be done safely.

My kitchen: Oh, the kitchen. Today I bought some earthy products in the hope that cool cleaning tools will inspire me to spend more time in there. Have I written this before? I think so...anyways, I'm trying out some cellulose wipeys instead of always using paper towels. They're Full Circle cellulose cleaning cloths. They can go in the dishwasher or be boiled, so that sounds hygienic. I heard that sponges are actually really nasty and you should use washable rags anyways. Still, I can't seem to give up on sponges all together. I also got two plant-based sponges, Twist Clean Naked Sponges. (Aren't most sponges often natural sponge, though?)  But somehow these just look cooler--plain white, no coloring, etc. I'm sure there's some rule out there of when to buy a new sponge, and I'm sure I'm due.

That's all for now....

Free Shred Day and Cleaning out the Glove Box

I would be remiss if I did not mention the City of Austin's Free Shred day coming up Sat. May 18. You can find out more info at the city's link: http://www.austintexas.gov/event/free-shred-day

I found some shreddable documents today when I decided to empty out my glove compartment in my car...I used to keep my service records in there, but in the last few years I started putting them in a file folder indoors. Anyways, finding service receipts from 2003 was funny but jarring. I also found a map to a state I haven't lived in for years. Even better, I found the my back-up garage door opener. In my defense, it's very small and black, and for some reason I thought it was in the house, not in the glove box. Such a good feeling when you find long-missed items when you tidy up. 

By the way, I know we call it the glove compartment, but how funny we still call it that when no one is wearing driving gloves. According to Merriam Webster, the first known use of this term was in 1939. Must have stuck. 

Moving moving moving...

Sorry, no, I'm not moving any time soon. That in itself will require a lot of decluttering. I was thinking more about how often I moved around in my 20s...graduating college, getting that first job, moving from one apartment to another, sometimes nearly every year...that's a lot of hauling stuff around. Schlepping, some might say.

Then combine all that stuff in boxes plus all the stuff that I left at my parent's, and you have some boxes I haven't sorted through in ages...and I mean college financial aid plan papers. Yikes. I frequently complain about my older relatives leaving way too much behind, but today I sat down with a box from my closet. Turns out I was a cluttery teen and 20-something, leaving blank scholarship applications mixed in with more important papers, like SAT scores. Transient lifestyles don't always leave us time to sit down and go through our papers because we're just focused on the next move, the next job, the next degree. But eventually it's time to throw out that car insurance bill from 2002. Yes, you will see me at another shred day this summer, a tiny bit humbler this time. As much as I criticize the hoarders from the Great Depression, I cannot cast the first stone like a neatnik could. Going through old papers is usually boring, but it feels good to consciously choose (mostly) valuable papers to haul away in the next move. Feels like moving forward in small way.

Wishful Gardening

Gentle reader, every few years I get optimistic and imagine plants and blossoms and color in my yard...I forget how the brutal Texas sun takes out my plants around July. But I'm at it again. This year I bought pansies (an annual that does okay) and then a lavender. It's the third or fourth lavender attempt, but darn it, I promise to keep it in a container this year and remain devoted to watering it through the long hot summer. I love the smell of lavender, but as I've written before, I have a ridiculously hot yard and not enough disclipline to water. (And our city's water restrictions are seriously intense!) 

A few months have gone by, and today I bought some chocolate mint (smells amazing) and what appears to be a Ghost Plant (succulent). The summers are unforgiving, but home beautification definitely includes the yard....maybe I'm a bit delusional, but it's time to make an effort again.

"Decluttering" the yard is also on the list of to-dos--I didn't cut back certain plants this winter, and I have a monster sage with purple flowers that's gone crazy. Unfortunately nothing else in that flower bed is doing anything, not even the Lantana. (Why are everyone else's Lantanas blooming right now?) Clearly my yard needs tending. But I'm just glad I have the energy and desire, even if it's a bit fanciful, to try some new plants and spruce things up. I suspect container gardening is the way to go during this drought, so I'll try out new plants there. And then I'll need to take better care of the survivors in the yard--Copper Canyon daisy, etc.

I also realized it's time to re-mulch the flowerbed. And maybe replace the white gravel by the door that looks so 1980s grandparenty...I have a lot of other to-dos in my life, but I'm guessing gardening is good for your health, so it can't be bad to start dreaming of some changes and get outside. I do think making a home your own is so important and even psychologically significant, and while the summer is my opponent, I hope for some victories that bring me joy.

Nothing like spring break to make me think of spring cleaning...when else can I justify spending time ripping up old receipts and getting ready for free shred day this weekend?

In the last few weeks I also had my fancy Mac laptop break--it won't turn on anymore. So I hooked up my late father's old PC from 2003 or so, and bam, it still works okay. It's a bit slow and you can hear it working and chugging along, but while I am waiting for the warranty repair, at least I have something to use. Hoarders 1, Relentless Cleaners, 0. If I had chucked this big old desktop, I'd be at the library or YMCA using their computers, and the last time I resorted to that, I swear I got ringworm or some nasty rash on my wrist. Yuck. So perhaps it's okay to hold onto a few essential back up machines, i.e. computers. But not 10, okay?

After dusting off this old computer, the CD-writer drive decided to start working again. (My slick new laptop does not have a DVD/CD drive, which is pretty lame, Steve Jobs.) Another reason I am glad to have the old one. I'm one of the few folks who doesn't have an iPod, so I was stuck when the old PC's CD-burner broke and my laptop was the only way to listen to downloaded music. I guess just cleaning your computer--literally getting rid of dust--can be a cure.

Other spring cleaning tasks I've done:
Wiped down washer and dryer
Cleaned behind toilet and cleaned floor (Thanks, Fly Lady missions!)
Washed mattress cover and allergy pillowcases

I still need to do the normal life stuff (dishes, etc.), but I like the extra sense of accomplishment of spring cleaning. Not a way to spend an entire break, but it's satisfying to know I have the time. I even have the windows open to air out the house--aren't they always talking about "airing out rooms" in British period pieces? Well, I recommend it for your spring cleaning--it goes along with the sense of freshening up the place. 

We'll see how much spring cleaning gets done this week...

Lent Status Update

Thus far my facebook fast is going pretty well, though there were a few days this week where I felt like Cathy, the girl in the comic strip, freaking out with little drops of sweat flying around while wishing I could log on. I have stuff to say, and it's tough when you don't get to throw it into a status update when that's been the norm. Ugh.

But for the most part, it's been a nice break. It's peaceful to not have a stream of photos scrolling by multiple times a day. Also, I never know what all I will find on there Sunday (the feast day when I can check it.) I feel like I am getting away with eating lots of candy on Sundays. I also confess I had to sneak peeks sometimes--I needed a mailing address for a friend, etc. It's hard to cut it off completely, so I am not totally legalistic about it.

Thankfully, life goes on...I do stuff. I see people. The weather has turned sunny. And of course I have event invites emailed so I'm not really missing out. I hope no one thinks I am shunning them but remembers I am not on there much right now. I am probably a bit more productive. I still have a lot on my to-do list and not enough time (or I feel that way), but there isn't this constant option of checking in. If only I wanted to compulsively clean my kitchen with the free time!

Digital Life—Decluttering Time

Gentle reader, I'm giving up facebook for Lent, except feast days (Sundays). I am not sure this is totally needed—I don't think God is asking me to be less social, nor do I think online isolation is somehow a great idea or even virtuous. But I have noticed that I have a lot of not-so-exciting tasks to get done, and facebook is an easy go-to when I'm already seated in from of my laptop. Instead of dealing with a long put-off project or filing bills (blech), it's easier to jump on fb, and whoosh, there goes the time. Even when it comes to decluttering—whether it's a routine mail sort or finally posting those old slide-rules on eBay, I have opted to get on fb or cruise online articles. When I have decided to stay off fb for the rest of the day (which is a rare commitment), I've noticed that I have a better sense of what to do next, e.g. fold the laundry that's sitting on the chair. For me, getting on fb can stop the flow of my day if I check it too much. It's an interruption and sidetracker.

I remember a few years ago a friend told me her office receptionist was on facebook so often, she completely gave it up because it sucked up so much time, even at work. I have seriously considered leaving facebook two or three times, deleting most of my photos and messages, getting ready for a grand exit. A few years ago I even announced it was imminent. But I couldn't quite pull the trigger because I would miss out on hearing little comments from two or three old friends from out of state. Without fb, I felt they would practically disappear from my life. Would we really bother to email or call each other? After all, a lot folks now see catch up phone calls as a once-a-year event, if that. Fear of disconnection, which is a valid fear, kept me from deleting my account.

I must confess I gave fb up for Lent maybe four years ago, before using it was so entrenched in my daily life. Before my friends and acquaintances seemed as plugged in as well. It was a bit tough, but I found the decision to fast from it much less uncomfortable.

So what's to be done? Some folks can use fb sparingly and responsibly. Maybe it's like knowing how to avoid overeating. All I know is, once I announced I was going to stay off during Lent, I felt a sense of isolation! Again, not that God was asking me to do that, but I am asking myself to deal with chores and maintain a better focus as I go about my day. I also had to jump on to make sure event invites would be emailed to me—that's a major fear of not being on fb: missing a party or event. So now I am all set up. And if I want to feel social, I guess I'll have to actually reach out and be social. We'll see if this fb fast is a good idea—if it's really in the vein of a spiritual practice, I should also add a positive practice that brings me closer to God. Perhaps that way I'll feel I am gaining more than just checking items off my to-do list.  

Shred Day Alert

I recently found a checkbook belonging to a relative who's been dead for ten years...you never know where this stuff is lurking in your home! Thankfully, I just learned another free shred day is about a month away at a local credit union. (Remember, my relatives never shredded anything, so I'm enamored with free shred days that got papers from the '40s and '50s out of my garage!) I also have my own papers from three or so years ago that need to be shredded, so it's important to take responsibility for myself and keep things moving out of here. It's pretty easy and stress free if you know all you have to do is throw stuff into a bag and show up one day. Another way to be kind to yourself as well as your family down the road. Shred it, baby.

From https://www.ufcu.org/learning/events/index.php

Session 1

Date:	March 16, 2013
Time:	10:00 AM
Duration:	10 AM - 2 PM or until truck is full
Location:	UFCU N Guadalupe Financial Center 4611 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78751

Session 2

Date:	June 15, 2013
Time:	10:00 AM
Duration:	10 AM - 2 PM or until truck is full
Location:	UFCU N Guadalupe Financial Center 4611 Guadalupe St Austin, TX 78751

My French professor said...

Not much decluttering to report over here...January is not a bang-up time for clearing stuff out. I was thinking about books today and something my French professor said: "The more books you have, the fewer you read." Well, that might sound like simple math, but I think of that often now. I own a LOT of books, still haven't read several, and I check out numerous books at the library. Right now I have more library books than I will read in three weeks--especially given that I am more likely to watch TV than spend hours reading each night. But there's something nice about having those titles onhand. Will I read the Jennifer Weiner novel with bleh reviews? Probably not. But I like that it's ready on my coffee table should I decide to try. I will definitely crack open Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? I read a page in the bookstore and laughed out loud. I even got ambitious and checked out Lolita because a professor referenced it so much and I feel like I should have read it by now. The odds? Not great that I'll squeeze it in this month. The library won't like to know I'm overbooking books--ha ha. But I have good intentions. And mad props to our library for having such a great selection. I wonder if they really think I'm reading all these.

I remember deliberately reading one book at a time growing up--it seemed chaotic and disorienting to jump around unless school required it. And I read a lot more fiction for pleasure back then. Today I might jump in and out of different books, and it does take longer to get through them. I'm sure there's some wisdom to be had in focusing on one title at a time...but I don't want to get legalistic and judgey either. Just like jumping in and out of text online, I'm probably typical in wanting to get some book info here, some there, and then check my email. I do miss the days of reading for an hour or more on my bed in high school and having a sense of order to my reading. Today I'll focus on one title if I'm addicted to it or really love it--that's what it takes to grab my undivided attention. 

Times change, screens dominate our world, and I have more books around than ever. For now, I'll enjoy the excess. Until a stack falls on me as seen in Hoarders or the space taken up makes me angry, I'm not too anxious to spring clean the shelves.

Podcasts, Tears, and Laundry

I often complain that the internet is ruining our ability to read and concentrate for long periods of time. However, the internet brings many educational gifts. One of my faves is the podcast. And I especially love a podcast that relates to me somehow.

I did a post on grief movies a while back and agreed that a good cry makes you feel better. If you have time to hear a scientific discussion about tears, listen to this episode of WHYY's Voices in the Family. While some of the researchers' comments sound a bit flat and unemotional, it's pretty clear that talking about tears is a huge topic--and it's especially interesting when it's mostly men covering it. The show concludes that we usually feel a release once we allow ourselves tears. Unfortunately shame and the pressure to not cry, especially for men, stops some people from sharing their feelings. (You can check out the following show about men and emotions.)

And if you're looking for a declutter tip, find a good podcast to listen to while you putter around and clean up. Folding laundry is always more bearable while listening to something new and noteworthy.