Waiting for the water to boil or the nail polish to dry (or your turn in the endless line of party preparers waiting to pay the cashier) is a time when the topic of New Year's resolutions crops up. And there's a minute to think of what you want to be, and how you want to be.
What I want to be is a better writer. How I do that is write this and my "patient experience" post on HEN BACKTALK blog today.
How I want to be is free of this disease. How I work toward that is to show up for my radiation appointments. And go for a walk before my pre-appointment shower. And another walk later. And some workout time this evening. And skip the vanilla latte today. And take a nap if I need one today.
How I want to be is a good friend and relative. I know some ways to do that today.
If you are in a group that believes in paying your debts by the new year, you can write one check today. Or two. I can call the dentist and ask her to take my cleaning off my credit card today.
I still don't have a place for a kitchen calendar where I could put gold stars for things I do today, but I still do have a red purse calendar with room to draw a star or two.
Today.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
THE H WORD - Sherlock says: Don't mess with this
The great way to stop stuff trouble is to build good habits. It takes time. It takes reminding the family - until they hate hearing about it. But it works. The laundry actually ends up in the hamper which you've kept near the tub and shower. The dry cleaning ends up in the container you cleverly positioned on the way to the car, or the bus. Let's talk about an imaginary woman called Sheila.
Sheila has herself firmly in hand, and her habits going strong. Her hamper works, her dry cleaning gets dry cleaned. She owes herself a frappucino.
Then along comes a new idea. A new central organizer or something. It might even be something from my blog. Creativity raises its not always wise head. Sheila says Aha! She thinks the new thing is very high tech looking, or very Victorian, or whatever. She makes a date for charity to pick up the hampers.
She buys the new thing. Admires it. Happily plunks things in it. Then Sherlock notices (almost immediately) that something isn't right. The dirty clothes are still near the shower - on the floor. The dry cleaning is draped over the hall chair with her coat for the office. Nothing has been dry cleaned for some time.
What happened? Her good habits are short-circuited. All the training it took to get things in the hampers is gone with the wind, so to speak.
Luckily, Sherlock had a talk with Sheila, and the New thing is now a sorter for different types of cat paraphernalia like brushes and food and sand and flea drops and rubber mice. 'Nuff said.
Sheila has herself firmly in hand, and her habits going strong. Her hamper works, her dry cleaning gets dry cleaned. She owes herself a frappucino.
Then along comes a new idea. A new central organizer or something. It might even be something from my blog. Creativity raises its not always wise head. Sheila says Aha! She thinks the new thing is very high tech looking, or very Victorian, or whatever. She makes a date for charity to pick up the hampers.
She buys the new thing. Admires it. Happily plunks things in it. Then Sherlock notices (almost immediately) that something isn't right. The dirty clothes are still near the shower - on the floor. The dry cleaning is draped over the hall chair with her coat for the office. Nothing has been dry cleaned for some time.
What happened? Her good habits are short-circuited. All the training it took to get things in the hampers is gone with the wind, so to speak.
Luckily, Sherlock had a talk with Sheila, and the New thing is now a sorter for different types of cat paraphernalia like brushes and food and sand and flea drops and rubber mice. 'Nuff said.
Friday, December 20, 2013
THREE PAIRS OF TWEEZERS
No, I don't tweeze in the car. And never in Starbucks' restroom (although the light is excellent there.) So where do tweezers escape to?
I brought a pair with me in my suitcase, but moving was such a trauma that I just couldn't find them. No problem, I got a ride to the drugstore and got a pair that were a little more visible. The little basket I take to the bathroom was kinda full, and so were the transparent pockets in the closet where I hang my clothes, but I found a place for the tweezers. A place I never found again.
It was always hard to see brow hairs in the bathroom here, so I had finally figured out a way to pile up some books to hold my magnifying mirror by the window. Then all I needed were tweezers. Sherlock was no help. I have an extra basket for some grooming stuff I rarely use. I emptied it three times and searched the contents. No tweezers. I looked in a plastic box that holds night-time medicine, nail files, whatever I might need at night. No luck. It appeared that I would soon have more tweezers than eyelashes.
So I bit the bullet, so to speak, and bought yet another pair. They can't defeat me! I put a red thread through the joint in the handles. This is much harder than threading a needle. It didn't make the tweezers easier to find, and the thread gets in your eye.
Then one day I went looking for the shoe polish in the closet where all the shelves are. That one has transparent pockets on the door, too. There they were, miles from any other face product--both earlier sets of tweezers.
I need a new category for where stuff goes. No, I need a sidecar on the seriously loaded basket of my grooming tools. Or a nap. Before I try to see my eyebrows, and try to avoid the John L Lewis brow, which is definitely not the Red Carpet look right now.
I brought a pair with me in my suitcase, but moving was such a trauma that I just couldn't find them. No problem, I got a ride to the drugstore and got a pair that were a little more visible. The little basket I take to the bathroom was kinda full, and so were the transparent pockets in the closet where I hang my clothes, but I found a place for the tweezers. A place I never found again.
It was always hard to see brow hairs in the bathroom here, so I had finally figured out a way to pile up some books to hold my magnifying mirror by the window. Then all I needed were tweezers. Sherlock was no help. I have an extra basket for some grooming stuff I rarely use. I emptied it three times and searched the contents. No tweezers. I looked in a plastic box that holds night-time medicine, nail files, whatever I might need at night. No luck. It appeared that I would soon have more tweezers than eyelashes.
So I bit the bullet, so to speak, and bought yet another pair. They can't defeat me! I put a red thread through the joint in the handles. This is much harder than threading a needle. It didn't make the tweezers easier to find, and the thread gets in your eye.
Then one day I went looking for the shoe polish in the closet where all the shelves are. That one has transparent pockets on the door, too. There they were, miles from any other face product--both earlier sets of tweezers.
I need a new category for where stuff goes. No, I need a sidecar on the seriously loaded basket of my grooming tools. Or a nap. Before I try to see my eyebrows, and try to avoid the John L Lewis brow, which is definitely not the Red Carpet look right now.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
A KITCHEN IDEA REMINDER
Where the devil is it! My nail polish I only use once a year? That scratch touch-up stick? My other, and favorite, lipstick????? The flea medicine for Caruso?
Saw a kitchen on line, I think it was the one in the female-architect designed house. There were little step-ups inside wooden cabinets (the steps seem snowy plastic.) They display the stuff that usually hides behind other stuff in kitchen cabinets, or bathroom, or wherever cabinets. Since they're not wire, they keep the tiniest thing from disappearing.
And they look smart, not tacked-on.
Now where can I find some?
Saw a kitchen on line, I think it was the one in the female-architect designed house. There were little step-ups inside wooden cabinets (the steps seem snowy plastic.) They display the stuff that usually hides behind other stuff in kitchen cabinets, or bathroom, or wherever cabinets. Since they're not wire, they keep the tiniest thing from disappearing.
And they look smart, not tacked-on.
Now where can I find some?
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
IT ISN''T CLUTTER
Today I saw a picture of a kitchen with an indoor tall palm tree. It reminded me that for years I saved a picture of a palm I loved. I even learned the name of it, and tucked away the picture for "someday."
I wish I had made a pretty montage board with photos of things and design that I really admired. It would have taken up almost no space, and saved my favorite indoor and outdoor photos from becoming hidden clutter dumped in a book or file folder. Not to mention that seeing them displayed might have inspired me to act on my finances instead of daydreaming.
When I unexpectedly moved twice, somehow these pictures disappeared. If they had been mounted attractively, the whole display board could have slipped into a plastic folder like the one that holds my writing samples. It wouldn't have added even 25 cents to my UPS bill.
I could secretly do the same on a small scale now, carefully considering my projected budget and avoiding pictures of Ralph Loren's $$$ castoffs.
You can make your own Garden Vision Board, or Indoor Vision Board. And send me a photo.
I wish I had made a pretty montage board with photos of things and design that I really admired. It would have taken up almost no space, and saved my favorite indoor and outdoor photos from becoming hidden clutter dumped in a book or file folder. Not to mention that seeing them displayed might have inspired me to act on my finances instead of daydreaming.
When I unexpectedly moved twice, somehow these pictures disappeared. If they had been mounted attractively, the whole display board could have slipped into a plastic folder like the one that holds my writing samples. It wouldn't have added even 25 cents to my UPS bill.
I could secretly do the same on a small scale now, carefully considering my projected budget and avoiding pictures of Ralph Loren's $$$ castoffs.
You can make your own Garden Vision Board, or Indoor Vision Board. And send me a photo.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
WHERE THINGS GO - and sensory overload
When I read what others write about clutter and our Stuff, they sometimes mention how Stuff everywhere distracts our attention and tires us. When we avoid Stuff Problems, we choose a box for this, a closet for that, a drawer for measuring cups; a different drawer for cooking tools. And we close the drawer.
When friend of mine developed cancer, she was lucky enough to have a therapist who told her: Put all the medical paraphernalia in a box and close the box. Serious illness can drive us to distraction all by itself. If it's inside us, we don't need any unnecessary reminders.
I don't have pills to take for my DCIS (yet). So most of what I have is piles of paper. So much paper that an important reminder for tomorrow almost got lost and ignored.
In desperation, a set up a file folder. All my file folders and hanging files for health are red. This one only says Mammo.
Now I think it should have two separate files--Diagnosis and Fighting. If I later have to take the long-term medicine, it will go in the closet.
I need my concentration for remembering to walk, for counting my exercise reps, for talking to friends and my granddaughter on the phone. For showing up for appointments. For remembering to say thank you. For drawing some Christmas presents, which I love to postpone.
And of course, for remembering to go to Starbucks.
When friend of mine developed cancer, she was lucky enough to have a therapist who told her: Put all the medical paraphernalia in a box and close the box. Serious illness can drive us to distraction all by itself. If it's inside us, we don't need any unnecessary reminders.
I don't have pills to take for my DCIS (yet). So most of what I have is piles of paper. So much paper that an important reminder for tomorrow almost got lost and ignored.
In desperation, a set up a file folder. All my file folders and hanging files for health are red. This one only says Mammo.
Now I think it should have two separate files--Diagnosis and Fighting. If I later have to take the long-term medicine, it will go in the closet.
I need my concentration for remembering to walk, for counting my exercise reps, for talking to friends and my granddaughter on the phone. For showing up for appointments. For remembering to say thank you. For drawing some Christmas presents, which I love to postpone.
And of course, for remembering to go to Starbucks.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
A DIFFERENT HOLIDAY STORY
A radio celeb and single father once said this: I wish I could remember his name. My apologies that I have to post it anonymously:
"My daughter has everything she needs, and a lot of what she wants. The only thing I want to hear from her at Christmas is: 'Daddy, please give me some money to buy presents for other people who don't get any.'"
The same man and his radio guest decried the practice of people giving their kids' used toys to holiday gift drives. It may be a great way to unclutter, but it's not even re-gifting. It's just easy recycling.
There was a Cancer Society thrift store near where I lived in L.A. that put local items out immediately. Once during a budget famine, I got a skirt there once that actually fit. And other people in a budget emergency could get a quality dish or a toss pillow or a scarf for Aunt Hepzibel without raiding the grocery money.
There's a used book store at the library that sometimes has a treasure for a gift.
And yes, I need to do more. And give more. So about the drawing my daughter wants . . .
"My daughter has everything she needs, and a lot of what she wants. The only thing I want to hear from her at Christmas is: 'Daddy, please give me some money to buy presents for other people who don't get any.'"
The same man and his radio guest decried the practice of people giving their kids' used toys to holiday gift drives. It may be a great way to unclutter, but it's not even re-gifting. It's just easy recycling.
There was a Cancer Society thrift store near where I lived in L.A. that put local items out immediately. Once during a budget famine, I got a skirt there once that actually fit. And other people in a budget emergency could get a quality dish or a toss pillow or a scarf for Aunt Hepzibel without raiding the grocery money.
There's a used book store at the library that sometimes has a treasure for a gift.
And yes, I need to do more. And give more. So about the drawing my daughter wants . . .
Sunday, December 8, 2013
ASK SANTA TO BRING A CARPENTER (and where to take him shopping)
As a former closet designer, it is my duty to tell you a lot of clothes closets could use a kitchen designer, but a very experienced, truly innovative kitchen designer. Maybe even better is shopping in a kitchen store.
Kitchen stores are a wonderland of gadgets and especially places to put things. My last design department job was in a such a store. There were interesting cabinets and shelves and gadgets that I could imagine in a wardrobe closet.
For example, I once did an attic wardrobe closet that had loads of floor space and not quite enough wall space for the shelves people had pictured. But if I had worked in the kitchen design store first, I could have solved this with at least one of these . . .
Kitchen cabinet manufacturers now feature a magic "drawer" that is the world's tallest and skinniest. It pulls out to reveal about six feet by three feet of shallow shelves on a backboard, for skinny grinders or skillets too heavy to stack or platters or trays or whatever needs shallow, vertical space.
Think how many flats and loafers and driving shoes you could put in pockets on such a thing! How many sandals! Think how many scarves or belts (or neckties for Santa) would be easy to see and never get dusty! Imagine never standing foolishly on a chair to reach the shoe boxes on the top shelf. Never snagging a blouse as you reach to the back of a regular closet.
And where pull-out cutting boards are available, you could install one in a wardrobe cabinet to keep things neat as you choose the bottom sweater in the stack. Or as a folding shelf.
You'll get some good ideas yourself. The tough part is not spending your holiday money on a new kitchen instead of your wardrobe closet.
Kitchen stores are a wonderland of gadgets and especially places to put things. My last design department job was in a such a store. There were interesting cabinets and shelves and gadgets that I could imagine in a wardrobe closet.
For example, I once did an attic wardrobe closet that had loads of floor space and not quite enough wall space for the shelves people had pictured. But if I had worked in the kitchen design store first, I could have solved this with at least one of these . . .
Kitchen cabinet manufacturers now feature a magic "drawer" that is the world's tallest and skinniest. It pulls out to reveal about six feet by three feet of shallow shelves on a backboard, for skinny grinders or skillets too heavy to stack or platters or trays or whatever needs shallow, vertical space.
Think how many flats and loafers and driving shoes you could put in pockets on such a thing! How many sandals! Think how many scarves or belts (or neckties for Santa) would be easy to see and never get dusty! Imagine never standing foolishly on a chair to reach the shoe boxes on the top shelf. Never snagging a blouse as you reach to the back of a regular closet.
And where pull-out cutting boards are available, you could install one in a wardrobe cabinet to keep things neat as you choose the bottom sweater in the stack. Or as a folding shelf.
You'll get some good ideas yourself. The tough part is not spending your holiday money on a new kitchen instead of your wardrobe closet.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Clutter and the opposite of holiday shopping.
No, this isn't about re-gifting!
My daughter specified no presents except what I paint or draw. Last year was easy - I collected the most interesting autumn-colored leaves on my walk, and made a falling-leaves drawing/painting.
This year I have leaves, but no ideas.
The other problem: because of being unexpectedly busy, I haven't finished sorting the closet, where art supplies cuddle up with books from insurance, maps of this almost un-mappable township, stationery, and mystery novels.
If I had stored more candy in there behind all that, I might find it easier to dig out all the art supplies and see if they give me any ideas.
My strategy of going to Starbucks and postponing the art supplies and scrap picture inspiration is not working. I must think of a reward that keeps me in here in front of the closet. Or just picture her face if she gets her Christmas gift in February.
(PS See your dentist or health practitioner before you try the buried candy closet-search strategy.)
My daughter specified no presents except what I paint or draw. Last year was easy - I collected the most interesting autumn-colored leaves on my walk, and made a falling-leaves drawing/painting.
This year I have leaves, but no ideas.
The other problem: because of being unexpectedly busy, I haven't finished sorting the closet, where art supplies cuddle up with books from insurance, maps of this almost un-mappable township, stationery, and mystery novels.
If I had stored more candy in there behind all that, I might find it easier to dig out all the art supplies and see if they give me any ideas.
My strategy of going to Starbucks and postponing the art supplies and scrap picture inspiration is not working. I must think of a reward that keeps me in here in front of the closet. Or just picture her face if she gets her Christmas gift in February.
(PS See your dentist or health practitioner before you try the buried candy closet-search strategy.)
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
LOST AND FOUND Is this good news?
This morning I couldn't find my red purse calendar. I took the room apart because I had used it yesterday to make a dentist appointment. So it had to be here, right? Finally I realized I might have left it at the grocery store. There it was in their lost and found.
When I first moved here, I couldn't find my front door key. After looking everywhere, I called the library. I had left it on the checkout counter where there is no clutter.
A few days ago I lost my car keys. They were 6 inches from the "car key dish" in a different dish.
So if clutter is not always the cause of the thing I can't find, what is?
It didn't take long to realize that a major culprit is being distracted.
In the library that time, I was trying to hurry and distracted by a dozen things I had to remember to do in a new town and trying not to drop my cane on the floor.
Yesterday in the market, I was distracted by a dozen over-the-counter meds in umpteen sizes, but no sign of the one the doctor suggested.
So what distracts me enough to lose things?
Way too much on my Today list
An awful lot in my purse.
Thinking I have to rush because people are behind me in line.
Just plain NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
And SENSORY OVERLOAD. A mountain of medicine cartons and a shopping list in my hand.
The phone ringing and the cat wrapped around my ankle.
What keeps me from finding some things?
Sensory overload in the purse, on the chest of drawers, in a drawer
In other words. Clutter.
I re-organized the purse a bit, but I still have a long way to go.
If you reorganize or simplify today, give yourself a treat. And don't call me til I finish this ice cream.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
SHERLOCK SEES MY FILES; takes aspirin
Since there's no file cabinet in here, I have a file box on a little table. Easy to reach. And too small. Right now it looks a lot like my recycle bag, because it's too full. Even too full to read the tabs on the manila folders. I wanted this design because all the tabs can be read. Let's face it, I just stick paper in right now where I think the folder is. Okay, I confess: there's also a smaller box of the same design from last year, in the closet on a shelf, ignored. Under torture, I couldn't tell you most of what is in it.
This is a 911- level FILEMERGENCY.
In the bottom of a borrowed closet is a completely empty file box no one uses. That should be my file for paperwork that's in limbo right now. And since I do more and more on the laptop, and store more and more in flash drives, maybe even some research clippings should go in that limbo file. Okay, "inactive" file.
Today, tonight, I will assume squatters rights on that file box, and paste an INACTIVE label on it before Sherlock resigns, packs his headache pills, and goes away.
This is a 911- level FILEMERGENCY.
In the bottom of a borrowed closet is a completely empty file box no one uses. That should be my file for paperwork that's in limbo right now. And since I do more and more on the laptop, and store more and more in flash drives, maybe even some research clippings should go in that limbo file. Okay, "inactive" file.
Today, tonight, I will assume squatters rights on that file box, and paste an INACTIVE label on it before Sherlock resigns, packs his headache pills, and goes away.
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