JoyinVirginia has a blog

[joyinvirginia]

MEMORIAL DAY MAY 30 2011 AND A NEW PROJECT

DH and I went to a home show in February and talked to rep of a company that makes different kind of insulation, and saw demo. This product is supposed to help lower your energy bills and make your heating/ cooling more efficient. We have old-style insulation in attic floor, but this will be installed between the roof rafters. We got the new roof two years ago, we got the new heat pumps and work done on the ductwork almost two years ago, so now we decided to add this. Sales rep came to the house a few weeks back to measure and give us estimate. Only problem: the attic was PACKED with 20 years worth of stuff. Cluttered, crammed, congested, and to have this installed the attic must be cleared out. OK, we decided to go ahead and told them we would be ready by end of June.

On Saturday, the DH decided to begin clearing out the attic. Now, MY idea of clearing out the attic was to clean as we go - bring down box at a time, sort for toss-donate-sell-keep as we went along, do it a little at a time. The DH idea of clearing out the attic - Take EVERYTHING OUT OF THE ATTIC ALL AT ONCE - put it elsewhere, THEN take out time doing the toss-donate-sell-keep routine. DH started on Sat when he was home alone, and he was in charge of piling things up in the garage.

By 8 pm Saturday night - we had COMPLETELY cleared out the attic. there is nothing else up there except the attic and the HVAC equipment and ductwork! AND - we have most everything piled/ stacked in the garage ALONG WITH TWO CARS! YES!!! Things were not quite as bad as I envisioned, because we can still get both cars into the garage, and get in and out of the vehicles in the garage without squishing ourselves, AND the garbage cans AND the lawn mower are ALL IN THE GARAGE! YIPPEE! DH and I have decided this is a good time for this project. MUCH better to do it now than when we are 75!

How long will it take to completely finish the toss-donate-sell-keep sorting of all the stuff? I am going to try to get it done by July 4th weekend, another holiday weekend here in US. Oh - I still have a completely packed attic at what was my mother's house, that we own now and we are renting out. But the renters don't need the attic space there, and maybe I can work on that this fall.

Last thing to mention - when I told one friend about the project, he said "Our attic is always clear - because we never put anything up there!" I think that is a great example. Nothing is going back up except seasonal holiday storage - Christmas, Halloween, Easter - and that will be pared down considerably.

[joyinvirginia]

WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE MAY 2011

Oh my goodness gracious! The last time I posted here was May 30 2011! No wonder my garage is still a mess!
Since last year this has been going on:
-Older DD bought a house and moved out, taking some but far from all of her stuff with her!
-I have been undergoing dental work which seems almost endless - my dentist did tell me the whole process to get implants might take up to 9 months - he was right! Light at end of tunnel for this.
-Younger DD was band drum major so mom and dad have been VERY involved with band boosters this year. She also does concert band, and choir, and has been involved in several high school theater productions this year, and all of this needs parental unit involvement also.
- We got involved in start-up of a dog rescue organization and are active as foster dog parents, reference checkers, fund raising, and I sometimes do home visits of prospective adopters.
- I still work full time. I do love the people I work with and most of the folks we serve.
-I still work part time. I enjoy it but gosh this list is getting long! I really need my head examined.
- Younger DD graduates high school in June, and will go to college in August.
-Older DD got engaged at Christmas and will get married next March - oh, yeah, that is why I need to keep working the second job! We are paying for most of the expenses.
- I broke my elbow (left hand thank goodness!) in november and could not lift anything until after Christmas. Message from the universe I needed to slow down!
- We bought a rental house in Nags Head North Carolina in January. It is much cleaner than our home!

I have to post here to keep accountable to myself. I have a goal of checking in once a week. DH turns 60 next week and we have a party on May 6 at the house. So I want the first floor to be very neat in time for the party. Every part of our house is presentable, but nothing is perfect and no single room is exactly neat. Older DD's old room has corner with Pile of Boxes. Our office/ computer room has Piles of Paper. Kitchen has endless problem of magically multiplying piles if you leave paper unattended overnight.
The garage... Well, we can get two cars in it. And the small lawnmower. There are still large piles of stuff from attic in there. I do one or two boxes every month it seems, there is always more pressing stuff to do inside. I did spend an hour on Wednesday pulling out empty boxes, and going thru two boxes of papers, and threw it all into the back of the pickup truck, ready to go to the dump. I have two large boxes of donation stuff in garage that need to get donated already! Maybe I can do that this weekend.
Good news - My Attic is IMMACULATE! Only a very few things are up there, only holiday decorations that I will actually USE! And the decorations are organized in large totes. I got two nice shelving units up in the attic for storage of smaller items. I LIKE to go up to my attic and look at all the nice open space! Now to work my way down.
I love reading the boards here. It really helps with motivation, and the encouragment everyone gets is fantastic. I am going to try my best to post updates weekly for the next couple months, and share my progress as I get motivation boosters!

[PaperGrace]

Welcome back Joy. I joined up here at about the same time you broke your elbow, having just got the ok to lift things again after breaking my elbow in the summer! It is a special kind of punishment isn't it?

[joyinvirginia]

THANK YOU, RIR (RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - RICHMOND VIRGINIA THAT IS)

Today was a new adventure. Younger DD is involved in school activity that required support and money. Yes, I am a mother of a band member. That means I am a Band Booster whether I like it or not. The school board in our rural county has budget issues like everyone else. So we do money-making activities to supplement the budget, and pay for things the school cannot or will not. Our band director learned about the opportunity to CLEAN the RACETRACK Grandstands.

Ever watch NASCAR races? Round and round the track they go! And many many people watch them. About 94,000 on Saturday night. And those 94,000 people leave a lot of trash behind! And how does that trash get cleaned up, you wonder? Maybe you don't wonder, I certainly never thought much about it. The company in charge of racetrack cleanup hires local people as the huge NASCAR event travels from state to state. The company will often negotiate with a non-profit group to clean a certain section of the stands for a contracted price. If your group can bring a bunch of people, you can clean the stands quickly. Then the company has the local waste management trucks come around the track and pick up the trash bags. This was for cleanup today after the event; the company has different groups come in to empty trash cans continually during the event, and get all the recycling containers emptied too.

So this morning the DH and I and quite a few other parental units and students showed up at the appointed area to park and then went into the raceway stadium. We were supplied with gloves (thin latex, I am glad I brought my tough waterproof gardening gloves), Trash bags, brooms and those dustpans with long handles. We were there to raise money for the band. A bunch of Marines were there to raise money for Toys for Tots maybe or some military charity. Some Boy Scout troops were there to make money. And who know who those other people were waaaaaay over the other side of the track.

I learned today that sunflower seed shells and pistachio shells are really hard to sweep up, but peanut shells are really easy to sweep up! Popcorn - intermediate. I learned that parents always need to go behind the teens because they usually miss a few things. I learned that ear plugs come in flourescent colors, and many race fans use ear plugs but then leave them behind, on purpose or by mistake, who knows. I learned that cleaning the racetrack was not half as bad as I imagined. I learned I should be really happy with the square footage at my house that I am responsible for cleaning. Doesn't seem so bad now!

I also learned that the NASCAR road show packs everything up quickly and then moves on to the next racetrack including the support staff. They will all be in Alabama on Wednesday! (I think that is where the lady said they are going.) Many fans will pack up the RVs and be heading that way also!
We ended up making about $1,500 for cleaning our assigned sections, it was about 20 parents and kids doing the work. Now we have money for band camp in August! Thank you, RIR!

[joyinvirginia]

I AM A MATT PAXTON FAN! FROM HOARDERS ON A&E (do not accept any inferior imitations on TLC or other networks).

Matt has a company called Clutter Cleaner, he started it to help with senior relocations and learned about hoarders this way. He has written a book called "The Secret Lives of Hoarders" that tells about this. His company has a website www.cluttercleaner.com and he has a blog www.5decisionsaway.com The title of the blog site comes from this piece of Matt's philosophy:
"We are all just 5 decisions away from a life changing reality. It goes both ways, you could be 5 decisions away from sh*tting in a bucket or 5 decisions away from becoming a millionaire. I’ve seen both." - Matt Paxton

I am a fan because:
1. I like how he talks to people he is working with on Hoarders. He is honest and real and talks in plain language.
2. He is a really nice guy - his mother and grandmother say so! I met him at a book signing last year, and ended up in line right in front of his mother and grandmother - and a lot of older ladies who were old neighbors and friends of his mother and grandmother. It was a party in line!
3. I recently discovered Matt's podcasts on his 5decisionsaway.com website. It is funny and informative and crude and touching and entertaining, like listening to some funny guys in a bar drinking beer next to you. I can listen while I am doing boring work in the office or at home. It makes the time go faster and helps me focus on the boring tasks better.
4. Matt really cares about helping people. That is why he does what he does.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Go to www.5decisionsaway.com and check out Matt's blog. Listen to a podcast. I recommend #1 or #6 to start. Also the second half of #21 where Cory Chalmers and Matt have a discussion about all things Hoarders and how Cory got his start - from paramedic to crime scene cleanup!

LIsten to some of the podcasts, check out 5decisions away, and happy cleaning and decluttering

[joyinvirginia]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DH! BIRTHDAY PARTY WAS A SUCCESS!

I am NOT old enough to be married to a sixty year old man! I have decided that, as long as he acts young, I will keep hiim!
With the help of the two DDs, we cleaned the house and had lots of great food and hosted guests. The first floor of the house looks GREAT! We cleaned some on Saturday afternoon. The DDs cleaned floors, vacuumed and mopped, took care of dishes while I washed dog bedding, got dining room table cleared, serving dishes out and unneeded dishes put away. Older DD did some shopping for me. I cleaned the bathrooms, younger DD helped me.

Sunday AM DH and I cleared kitchen counter where we had mail, paperwork for dog rescue and my mother's accounts and my work. We also moved some things in dining room and some things on porch. Several more boxes or piles are now in older DD's old room. Quite a few more paper piles are now in my bedroom. Downstairs looks great, dd's old bedroom looks like a storage room, the upstairs office still has piles of books and stuff; and the bedroom has several more piles on the floor. The stuff from downstairs had to go somewhere - yipes! It is a manageable amount of stuff in a limited area.

Sunday before party started,I made the cake, old fashioned pound cake recipe that his grandmother used to make. While prepping this morning, I took a few minutes to clean off a small turntable in a cabinet that has food coloring and meds on it. I checked dates. I threw out some allergy meds that expired in 2009!I honestly thought I had cleared out that cabinet last year! I cleared some things off the porch and moved some plants around. Made sure we had toys out for little relatives who might show up. Cooked the meatballs to put in crockpot, and cooked the baked spaghetti and made a banana pudding. I kept the baked spaghetti vegetarian with the option of adding meatballs for the meatlovers. DDs put out cheese and crackers, veggie tray, fruit, salsa and chips, pickles. Some relatives, some friends, and some neighbors came, and I think the amount of people was just right. Happy Birthday was sung, the cake was eaten, the food was eaten!

DH was very pleased with his party. I was very pleased with the party. After everyone went home, we put everything away,I ran the dishwasher, we watched Amazing Race. I have a few more platters and things to hand wash, that will be done tomorrow.

Party prep lessions: Use paper plates and plastic utensils and cups as much as you can. Have your menu planned,keep it basic and fairly simple to prepare. Be sure to have plenty of toilet paper on hand, and put new rolls out. Start with empty trash cans. Have a recycle bag/ box handy next to the trash. Get help to clean and prepare for the party. Use the off limits rooms for your stash and dash if needed. make sure you know where the important papers or current bills are being stashed so you can retrieve those things first. Schedule so that you can change into clean clothes after last minute cleaning. Have fun!

[joyinvirginia]

BUSY FAMILY!

I am trying to not complain during this time. My youngest dd will graduate from high school in June. in the last few Weeks, we have been running around to her events. Concert band concert. Choir competition. Band competition. Field trip. School play. Helping to feed the kids at play rehearsal. Choir concert. Planning her graduation party.
Birthdays! Dh. Older dds bf.
My dental work. Going for medical checkups. taking dd for college orientation. Trying to visit my mom in the nursing home. working full time. Life it's busy!
Maintenance is doable but hard. On Sunday morning I got dh to help me clean the front door glass, it was heavy and I thought I might drop it. It took fifteen minutes. I was so glad I did it, but I am frustrated I have no extended time to spend on cleaning. Or exercising. Or cooking. The laundry gets done at night and folded while I watch the eleven pm news.
I love my family, I am proud of my younger dd! I am tired. I am busy! I don't want to be so busy that I miss just appreciating everything going on. I am so thankful that our family is involved in so many things. I really don't know what life will be like next fall when we have no kids at home anymore.
Ooh, almost forgot, I have to teach a class tonight! That will keep me busy too.
It it's hard to focus when so much is going on. Lists are my friend! The fridge calendar with everyone s schedule on it is essential. The grocery list on the fridge is vital.
I am just rambling. I will come back later and organize this post better and give it a point!

[joyinvirginia]

WHAT I WANT TO DO VS. WHAT I CAN DO

The upcoming weekend is Memorial Day in the USA. I always have plans for a three day weekend like this, the plans are usually lots more than I truly have time for. Usually I just manage to maintain. I am going to try listing here what I have to do, what I want to do, and then update with what I really do. Let's see how this project works.
Thursday: to high school for play younger dd is in, dh already went to Costco to get box of snacks we are donating to sell.
Friday: work half day if I get work caught up by lunchtime, if not I will work all day. Need to do done work on course I am teaching (it is mostly online). Bluegrass group Steel Wheels is playing that night at Ashland Coffee & Tea (VA), we want to go see. Maintenance that needs to be done includes dishes, wash a load of towels.
Saturday: have to visit mom sat or sun. Want to go to yoga class or to swim at the y. repot some plants and weed flower bed. Laundry. clean out computer room so I can vacuum, clean the window, get together some books to donate. Dds play at school has two performances, I want to go to one or the other and maybe help sell things at booster table.
Sunday: I want to go to church, older dd is having birthday party for her bf in the afternoon at her house. I may not have time to see mom until Monday. I want to exercise some at the y or at home, my neighbor and I walk our dogs together. Finish the computer room if not done. Work on piles in my bedroom. I want to sit on my decluttered porch and enjoy it and read a magazine! Finish the laundry.
Monday: go see mom if I have not gotten there prior two days. Do something fun with one or both dds, go swimming or go to the river walk our the museum www.vmfa.state.va.org
I would really really like to get the garage cleaned out this weekend. Th ere are still lots of boxes and piles from the great attic clean out of 2011 cluttering up my garage! But I just don't know if it is going to happen. we will see!

[joyinvirginia]

UPDATE: WHAT I AM GETTING DONE

Thursday: worked all day, dh and I went home, walked dogs, had a sandwich, then to high school to see dd in school play, it was great! So many of the kids are so talented! went to local fast food place with dd after, then home, walked dogs, loaded dishwasher and left it running when we went to bed.
Friday: working and being very unproductive, I want to be outside! Dh picked me up about an hour early from work. We stopped to do errands on way home, walked and feed dogs, still had time to cut grass and work in yard some. Dh does the riding lawnmower, I use the push mower for detail work. Then we cleaned up and went to Ashland (VA) Coffee and Tea and saw the steel wheels www.thesteelwheels.com
Terrific band from Harrisonburg VA, four guys with banjo, mandolin, guitar, stand up bass, and more. Fabulous original music, kinda bluegrass/ gospel/ bluesy/ folk music, great harmonies, just a fun evening. Ashland c&T has lots of bookshelves and a sign: take one, leave one. I took for books there and borrowed four more, mostly books of short stories. Then we went home and dd had another great night at theater. I just finished sitting at kitchen table for an hour sorting and tossing some of the endless pile of paper that seems to reproduce when no one is looking!. Dd is going to YMCA with me in am if we can get up by 8:30. now I am gonna go to bed!
Saturday: walked dogs with neighbor, chatted with another neighbor doing yard work. Went to Y and swam laps. Went with older dd and dh to see school play again, then went for late lunch/ early dinner with dh and dds. Spent couple of relaxing hours on the screen porch reading. Dh and I went back to high school to see end of play again, hang around for cast party and cake, home with dd.
Sunday: church, grocery store, fixed fruit salad and veggie tray, took to older dds house, her bf birthday party today. Fun! cleaned out car and vacuumed it when we got back home.
Monday: walked dogs with neighbor couple of times. Younger dd and I went swimming, then shopping including getting photo cards made for graduation announcements. Came home, dh and I worked on computer room/ office together. We have about ten different power cords, dh hates to let them go. They all fit in one shoebox that fits on bookcase shelf, so he can keep them. Got rid of one paper grocery bag full of paper, had previously discarded two medium sized boxes of paper, yea! Also emptied small trash can three times! Books in piles got put on a shelf.
No museum today, we can go another time. I am very proud of progress on room.

[joyinvirginia]

PERSONAL HEALTHCARE MAINTENANCE

Over the past few months I have been making appointments to catch up on my health care maintenance. I like my body mostly, and I hope to lived in it for many years to come, so maintenance is needed just like we change the oil in the car and do maintenance on the house.
Mammogram: I usually get this done in September. I had some abnormal cells in a fibroadenoma (benign breast mass) in 2010 and a biopsy to make sure things were ok, the mammogram in 2011 was fine.
Dental: I began the process to get two implants last August. The process its almost over! I am seriously dental phobic, so I needed to go to a therapist to work on my anxiety about this for six months before I made the oral surgery appt. History: about 25 years ago I had a bicycle accident and landed on my face. The two front teeth needed root canals then crowns to save them. However over the years some deterioration takes place and dentist advised me to have them out and either get implants or a bridge. Implants were my choice. I had a free consult with the oral surgeon and get an estimate first, then proceeded to save money and get incredibly anxious and see therapist. My dentist told me exactly what to expect, as did oral surgeon, and how long it might take. So I had extractions and needed some bone growth, oral surgeon stuffed some material that promotes bone growth. Technology is wonderful! Used to be they had to do a bone graft for this.
Anyway- December got the implant base put in, back to oral surgeon in may for the bases to be uncovered, then to dentist for impressions, and now waiting for the crowns to be done and put on the bases. Home stretch!
Pap smear/ pelvic exam: last time I had this was about 18 months ago. I have a little polyp on my cervix that should get checked out. I had another polyp couple years back and it was benign, but another one grew! I finally made an appointment for this maintenance check, it will be at end of June. I am not phobic about this, it just gets put off because it is not at the to of my priority list.
General checkup: I have been putting this off also, since the nurse practitioner I really liked at the primary care office left there, and I never really clicked with the doctors there. I finally got motivated when, at last oral surgery visit, my blood pressure was very elevated. I had a primary care visit two weeks ago, got my blood drawn, and went back for results today. I have lost 4 pounds and been watching my sodium, eating more salads, etc. my blood pressure was lower, no meds needed if I keep losing weight! My cholesterol and blood glucose are perfect, kidneys and liver working well!
Now I just need to stick to healthier eating and more activity! I don't have to be ideal weight, I just need to lose a little to keep my blood pressure under control. Like everything else, small changes or baby steps.

[joyinvirginia]

BIG CHANGES COMING! Younger dd graduates high school June 9!

Tomorrow! Eeep! I am excited, I am happy, I am anxious, I am proud!
And... I need to clean and prep for her party Sunday! Dh emptied the trash cans in the house this evening, I have the dishwasher loaded and ready to go after we get a shower. I worked in the front yard flowerbed when I got home and dh and I cut the grass, I am really dirty and sweaty now. I did make two pitchers of tea to stick in the fridge.we ordered her cake for the party Sunday, will pick it up tomorrow after graduation. She has a friend graduating who has invited us to her party tomorrow afternoon.

[joyinvirginia]

DD GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL AND PARTY IS A SUCCESS

The graduation was great, there was lots of celebrations! The party at or house was today. Lots of friends and family came. Yesterday we cleaned in the evening, had the table ready with serving dishes and plastic utensils. I was up at 7 to make baked spaghetti, cut up strawberries and veggies, do some last minute stash and dash of mail and papers on the kitchen desk. I had to send dh to the store for a few last minute things, like sodas. We had to go to church where new graduates were honored, then home for last minute party prep. The cake came from Costco and was delicious! Most everything got eaten up, we had a little cake left, I made a banana pudding and just a little was left. The chips and dip were enjoyed, strawberries were eaten up, we did have a lot of veggies left over. Everyone had a great time, dd was very happy, and I have been so busy I have not had time to obsess over being mom of a high school grad and soon to be college student.

[joyinvirginia]

SUMMER MUSIC!
AND FALL MUSIC TOO!
We have been really busy the last few weeks going to various music performances. There are some great performers who have come to Richmond this summer! In will revise post later but want to list some now so I won't forget! Plan to have fun doing something you like while planning clean up and maintenance!
Groups we have seen, some local and some touring:
Ray Wiley Hubbard
Dawes at Friday Cheers downtown Richmond
Sarah who used to be with Nickel Creek opened.
Yeasayer from Brooklyn at the National.
Delicate Steve opened, great guitar player.
Los Campesinos from Great Britain at the National.
Yellow Ostrich opened for them.
Richard ”Kin ky” Friedman from Texas at Ashland Coffee and Tea, he was on the Rolling Thunder tour with Bob Dylan decades so. Two nice young musicians opened.
Smoke House from Virginia, Britain in 1819 from Louisiana, and Ocean vs. Daughter at Ashland Coffee and tea.
Anthony Snape from Australia who now lives in Nashville, oh what a great singer-songwriter! At Ashland coffer and tea.
Youngest dd and I got out to the National a few weeks ago when tickets for the Killers went on sale. They are playing Asheville NC then Richmond before they start a nationwide tour doing festivals and big venues. We got tickets! Exciting! Updated to say we did go to see The Killers, and it was a great show! Because dh had his leg in a cast, we took wheelchair along and he and I got to be in raised special section along with woman who had shoulder surgery and pregnant woman.
Then Jim Lauderdale was at Ashland C&T

Edited to add September at Ashland Coffee And Tea:
Chris Delmhorst from Boston
Sean Rowe from up north somewhere, Vermont? He has this really interesting baritone singing voice, really enjoyed him.
Slaid Cleaves from Austin Texas, really enjoyed this singer-songwriter.

[joyinvirginia]

POST THE GREAT JUNE STORMS OF 2012!

So last week we had sudden bad storm with tornado warnings, powerful wind, torrent of rain on Monday June 25. I am in central Virginia, area around capitol of Richmond. Some neighborhood lost power then, it was a brief but very violent storm.
Then on Friday evening we got smacked by the ”derecho” winds from a storm that started around Chicago according to our trusty weatherman and zoomed east at sixty miles an hour. Lots of trees down, lots of power out. We went to home town on Saturday, to my mothers house where I had promised renters I would pack up this extra cabinet TWO YEARS AGO! They are very patient plus we charge them incredibly cheap rent. Did I mention the attic at that house its packed with my mothers stuff?
Anyway, most of the whole county was without power, they might get it back Tuesday. But they're was an annual festival going on and we went and everyone had a good time!
So Saturday night, June 30, here comes yet another powerful storm that originated in the Chicago area and zoomed east. We came home that night to no power, most of our county that had not lost power after Fridays storm, did lose power after the Saturday storm. we spent Sunday at church, which did have air conditioning, and at older daughters house. We are in midst of heat wave with temps of 100 degrees fahrenheit daily. That is not unusual for this area, but managing without air conditioning is brutal. It is not unusual to have high temps with high humidity around here, you walk a block and are covered in sweat.
Update from power company a week later: ninety percent of our county lost power after Friday and Saturday storms, and some people are just getting it back, because the power company had to cut trees and bring in new poles in heavily wooded areas.
Our neighborhood got power back late Sunday night. The power workers are working hard in very hot conditions. many areas trees have to be removed before its safe to work on the lines. Cooling shelters are open, including our church, I saw a Red Cross Disaster Relief truck on Saturday. Everyone is pulling together and we will make out ok.
we are used to getting remnants of hurricanes that blow hard for hours and leave us with downed trees and power outages, hurricane Isabel we were with power for eleven days and hurricane Irene was five or six days I think. The difference this time is the sudden onset and not a lot of advance warning. I an not sure what we would have done without things like cell phone weather alerts.

[joyinvirginia]

PRIORITIES GET REARRANGED WHEN...
DH steps of a curb into a hole and TEARS HIS ACHILLES TENDON! Augggggghhhhh!
Luckily dd does not leave for college for another six weeks and can be her dads chauffeur. Unluckily this means he had to have surgery on Wednesday. Did I mention we are sopposed to go the beach on Saturday?
His director did say we could go to beach if he keeps the leg elevated. And come back early for surgery. Yea.
Good thoughts are welcome, for him and me. He gets really grumpy when he cannot ride his bicycle.