Relieving ourselves of a thing a day, every day

Better.

So we've had one bad outlet and one marginal in the living room, going on a while now like years. I finally got myself in gear and called in the electrician (landlord's dime, woo). Net results: two healthy outlets, better load balancing (really you shouldn't run two UPSes off the same outlet, ahem), and a metric butt-ton of papers from my bookshelf thrown into the recycling bin. Hey, if you're going to have to move furniture anyway, you might as well clean while you're at it.

Also I've rearranged some of my craft supplies; the ultimate plan is to move all my crafting activities into the spare room so that we can, you know, actually eat at our dinner table. (Ahem.) But that's going to necessitate 1. getting rid of the twin bed in there, 2. getting a large mold spot fixed and I really really hope our landlord doesn't charge us for it, 3. clearing out yet more crap from that room (do we really need to keep his first clock radio? Really?), 4. getting a bookcase in which to store my bins of fabric and supplies, and 5. cleaning the hell out of the room, because the dust in there is beyond belief.

But apart from that, my apartment desperately barely needs any work! *thud* Still, I have made massive amounts of progress in the last few weeks. It actually feels like the end is kinda sorta in sight. This makes me very happy.


In:
1 matryoshka doll, a gift from a student ♥
1 datebook
2 books
1 chapbook
1 packet mini envelopes
3 ATCs

Out:
15 easy-reader books, given to my mom for her local Project Read
16 books
1 box diskettes
1 dead pen
1 camera case
1 large stack glued-shut envelopes *sigh*
1 binder
1 plastic folder
40 !! (est.) more items from the spare room
1 boxful papers
2 drinking glasses
1 bud vase
8 assorted craft items
2 scraps linen turned into an embroidered pouch and sent as a swap item
1 lace shrug
1 turtleneck shirt
2 cardigans
1 brooch
1 pendant
2 tubes concealer

In: 9
Out: 99
Net out: 90
Running total: 541

( Ins and outs )

Total for the year: 119 in, 525 out, 406 net out. I've passed my 365 things. Whoo!

My husband got really sick a couple of weeks ago (like, hospital sick). They never did figure out what was wrong, aside from the vexingly vague "unknown viral infection" diagnosis, but it's sure thrown off my stride this month, even though he's all better now. So I'm summarizing, not itemizing.

In: 51
Out: 42
Net out: -9
Running total: 451
 

Days 1-100: 100 things out, plus 46 "one in one out".
Days 101-200: 74 things out, plus 32 "one in one out" and 11 additional "in" compensated for on days 201-210.
Days 201-250: 34 things out, plus 10 "one in one out".
Days 251-260: 4 things out, plus 2 "one in one out" and 2 "in" not yet compensated for.
Days 261-270: 1 "one in one out", plus 11 "in" not yet compensated for.
Days 271-280: 1 "in" not yet compensated for.
Days 281-290: 1 "one in one out".

Days 291-297: Nothing in, nothing out.
Day 298: 3 books in (bought by rjw1), 1 old laptop box plus about half a dozen manuals and other bits and pieces out. The laptop box was much more than the total volume of the books, plus there were more than three individual bits and pieces, but the bits and pieces were previously stored inside the laptop box, so overall I'm counting this as evens.

Running total (day 298): 212 things out, plus 106 "one in one out" and 14 "in" not yet compensated for.

In
1 school cap - OldBloke's when he was a child, sent by his sister
5 photos - of OB as a child
1 space hopper
1 Kiddiezoom camera
1 'awesome transformer'
1 hoodie
1 Lego game (the last five items YoungBloke's birthday presents)
1 DVD
1 puzzle book

Out
3 Kinder pods
1 slinky
1 ball
1 car
1 pull-along toy
1 socket cover
4 handfuls pruck
2 boxes
2 books
1 mini blackboard
1 car activity unit
1 plastic tool set
2 jars gold paint
1 bag castor cups
1 set instructions for a long-dead tv
1 bag window locks
1 set instructions for indoor swing
1 tape head cleaner
1 bottle fluid for same
1 bag drawer catches
1 picture frame
2 dead candles
2 toys

In: 13
Out: 33
Net: 20
Running total: 978

Days 1-100: 100 things out, plus 46 "one in one out".
Days 101-200: 74 things out, plus 32 "one in one out" and 11 additional "in" compensated for on days 201-210.
Days 201-250: 34 things out, plus 10 "one in one out".
Days 251-260: 4 things out, plus 2 "one in one out" and 2 "in" not yet compensated for.
Days 261-270: 1 "one in one out", plus 11 "in" not yet compensated for.
Days 271-280: 1 "in" not yet compensated for.

Days 281-286: Nothing in, nothing out.
Day 287: 1 new laptop in (replacement for old laptop which is probably dead but hasn't been chucked out yet as we're not 100% certain it can't be revived).
Day 288: Batch of scanning (I thought I'd done it all, but some tidying-up revealed more). The pile I got rid of was around the same volume as the laptop, and I've recycled the laptop packaging, so this can count as compensation for the laptop.
Days 289-290: Nothing in, nothing out.

Decluttering has gone a little by the wayside recently. Hopefully I can catch up a bit by giving some stuff to my choir's book sale next month, and the bring-and-buy sale in December.

Running total (day 290): 212 things out, plus 103 "one in one out" and 14 "in" not yet compensated for.

In
1 packet of Gogos

Uncounted: 1 case of flu; 1 box of tamiflu; 1 case of not-very-well-but-not-yet-flu.

Out
1 blender with spice grinder attachment.
1 pair boots
4 Dungeons and Dragons books
3 Dungeons and Dragons boxes

In: 1
Out: 9
Running total: 958

I had a long list of stuff mostly out, and lost it, so the first few lines in and out are reconstructed from memory. I know there was more out, possibly one or two more in but this is all I can remember. Everything else is from a tidy-up today, with my son agreeing on toys to get rid of prior to his birthday!

In
Ben 10 Toy
Ben 10 colouring book
Ben 10 puzzle
2 rubber bugs
1 mask
3 books
1 Kinder toy
1 Bakugan battle brawler

Out
Charity
1 puzzle
3 jigsaws
1 England deeley bopper
1 box fairy stickers
1 rattle
1 dress
1 hat
1 emergency services station with pilot, helicopter and fire engine
5 cloth books
1 socket cover

bin
8 balloons
4 bags of pruck
2 broken cars
3 sheets of stickers
1 assorted unmatched playing cards
1 small pile paper/drawings
1 doctor's kit
19 Kinder toy pods
1 broken food storage lid
1 broken foot pump
2 completed activity books
23 toys
2 slinkies
1 mask
3 football toys
1 remote control for a lullaby mobile we got rid of three years ago
3 sweetie boxes
1 ball
1 toy bag
1 bracelet
1 bionicle box
1 cork

In: 11
Out: 81
Net: 70
Running total: 949

Oops. :)

In:
1 tape runner for paper crafting
1 eyelet setter for same
1 miniature hammer, ditto
2 packets decorative snaps
1 bookbinding kit
1 roll book tape

Out:
Zip, nada, zilch. Weekend's coming, though; I'll figure it out.


In: 7
Out: 0
Net out: -7
Running total: 460

Oh, also in but not counted: one nasty burn on my arm. Note to self: if you need to reach around behind the waffle iron, shut the damn lid first. It's kind of interesting watching what burned skin does, in a nasty gross kind of way. :/

 

In:
- 4 Magazines
- 7 Books
- 5 Sheets stickers
- 18 Movies (In my defense, they were on sale. And I have to get DVDs of all my old Disney movies eventually, anyway)
- 1 Apples to Apples game
- 1 Small figurine
- 1 Journal
- 1 Bracelet
- 1 Pot lotion
- 2 Pairs sparkly rainbow toe socks
- 1 Bookmark

Out:
- 16 pieces clothing in good condition to charity
- 5 pieces of Denmark cosplay, neatly stored
- 1 Magazine finally given to friend
- 2 Books
- 2 Dead nail polishes
- 1 Stuffed Bear
- Bag, diffuser, 2 Stickers, card to a friend (5)

Bag for Mum:
- 1 Sheet stickers
- 16 VHS movies replaced with DVDs
- 11 Magazines to sis (I have so many magazines!!!)
- 2 Cards
- 2 Child's toys
- 2 Hats

Bag for Dad:
- 1 Card
- 1 Book

In: 38
Out: 68
Oct Total: 30/31
Year Total: 622/730

In:
1 book

Out:
4 bras
2 throw pillows

In: 1
Out: 6
Net out: 5
Running total: 467

ETA: Forgot about the throw pillows.
 

( In & out )

October total: 6 in, 42 out, net 36
Yearly total: 108 in, 458 out, 350 net

In:
3 bras
2 pairs underpants
1 book
2 packets charms for jewelrymaking


Out:
1 blouse
4 books
1 handful papers


In: 8
Out: 6
Net out: -2
Running total: 462
 

Word to the wise:

If the question is "Is this bit the waste toner cartridge?" ... the list of methods of inquiry should probably not include the item "HOMG TURN IT OVER TO LOOK IN THE HOLE."

Just sayin'.

(For the record, the answer was "yes." On the up side, that bra was never quite comfortable anyway, and the ten to fifteen minutes of uncontrollable howls of laughter when I saw myself in the staff-room bathroom mirror was totally worth the dead $8 t-shirt.)


In: 0
Out: 2 (O RLY)
Net out: 2
Running total: 464
 

Took a run to the hardware store, bleh.

In:
1 length wide chicken wire, as my younger cat has learned how to get around the narrower chicken wire I had already wrapped around the bench where I keep my plants... He wants to dig, because digging is fun >:(
1 box bird spikes for cat-proofing the balcony railing
1 packet cable ties for same
1 bottle Drano (DNW, but my husband insisted)
1 plastic doohickey for clearing drains without the use of nasty chemicals (but it only sorta works)
2 bottles windshield wiper fluid
2 little bottles of acrylic paint for crafting
2 tubes lip balm to try
1 more box fabric from a fellow swapper


Out:
2 random boxes
1 book
1 lone plastic hanger

Out but not counted: those last two bags of trash; two bags of plastic recycling


In: 12
Out: 4
Net out: -8
Running total: 462

My arms hurt. ;_;
 

Days 1-100: 100 things out, plus 46 "one in one out".
Days 101-200: 74 things out, plus 32 "one in one out" and 11 additional "in" compensated for on days 201-210.
Days 201-250: 34 things out, plus 10 "one in one out".
Days 251-260: 4 things out, plus 2 "one in one out" and 2 "in" not yet compensated for.
Days 261-270: 1 "one in one out", plus 11 "in" not yet compensated for.

Day 271: 1 book in (purchased by rjw1).
Days 272-280: Nothing in, nothing out.

Running total (day 280): 212 things out, plus 102 "one in one out" and 14 "in" not yet compensated for.

In:
20 books since the start of the year (est.)
4 Xbox games, ditto
5 assorted techie gegaws, ditto
1 pair sweatpants
1 pair shorts
1 pair swim trunks
4 shirts

Out:
2 teacups and saucers put on consignment
2 mugs
1 dead Xbox, RIP
1 ancient Ethernet card, still in its box and shrinkwrap
30 (est.) books
50 (est.): six trash bags of papers and other assorted detritus... I'm counting these as 50, though I'm sure there was way more, as most of the stuff was small items


Because I haven't been tallying my husband's In items, I'd initially thought that I shouldn't tally the things of his that have gone out, either. (And there have been a lot of those. That spare room I've been cleaning out is mostly full of his stuff.) But I don't know. I mean, in the last few weeks, we have thrown out four trash bags of assorted junk and have two more that he just has to take down to the dumpster (those suckers are heavy), plus filled up most of a file box with books to donate. That cleaning project has been eating up a lot of my energy, and I was starting to really feel unhappy at the prospect of not getting to count it.... so I've just started. I'm making a wild guess as to numbers, but not counting these things was really bothering me. It was like I had this big huge invisible pile of crap leaving my home, but I couldn't talk about it here. And this group is supposed to be all about talking about it, right?

So... yeah.

Also, I'm tired. And tired of being tired, if you know what I mean.

In: 36
Out: 86
Net out: 50
Running total: 470

 

In:
- 1 Denmark cosplay
- 2 Magazine
- 6 Books
- 1 Haru Mochi

Out:
- 1 Necklace and 1 set earrings, repaired and returned to friend
- 10 Fabrics and notions, turned into one cosplay costume
- 2 Packs car lights, which I totally returned 2 weeks ago and forgot to post :P
- 1 pair pyjama pants I love dearly but which are more hole than pant
- 1 Bag assorted clutter from top of dresser, most from last Nov/Dec
- 10 Sweaters/sweatshirts culled from winter clothing tub
- 1 Ripped laundry bag
- 7 Small toys
- 1 Shower rack thing
- 1 Cracked Tupperware
- 1 Powerbrick to old laptop
- Old cell phone and case (to cell phones for soldiers)

Bag for Mum:
- 2 Kid's toy spoons
- 1 Extra measuring cup
- 1 Fancy ceramic bowl
- 4 Small painted pots

In: 10
Out: 47
Sept Total: 62/27
Year Total: 592/730

Days 1-100: 100 things out, plus 46 "one in one out".
Days 101-200: 74 things out, plus 32 "one in one out" and 11 additional "in" compensated for on days 201-210.
Days 201-250: 34 things out, plus 10 "one in one out".
Days 251-260: 4 things out, plus 2 "one in one out" and 2 "in" not yet compensated for.

Days 261-270: 9 things in from rjw1's office clearout (3 glasses, 1 water jug, 1 bowl, 1 small filing cabinet, 3 books), 3 books in (bought by me). One of the books compensated for by a book that rjw1 got rid of.

Going backwards... though I know what's going out to compensate for the filing cabinet (a knackered chest of drawers around 1.5 times its size).

Running total (day 270): 212 things out, plus 102 "one in one out" and 13 "in" not yet compensated for.

In:
4 teacups and saucers (again with the Limoges)
1 plastic plate for a friend's baby
2 old linens for cutting up for quilts
1 stack old sheet music to use in paper crafting
1 book


Out:
1 reusable ice pack

I think there was more that went out, but I can't seem to dredge it out of my memory. (It goes with age...)


In: 9
Out: 1
Net out: -8
Running total: 420