Though Perfectly Good, It Was Never The Right Fit

Though Perfectly Good, It Was Never The Right Fit
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Perfectly Good jacket.
Origin: Desire to look professional, but not too stiff, at my last corporate gig.
Usage: Routinely, 2005 - 2007. Since then, not at all. Unless you count trying it on this morning and thinking, "This Is Perfectly Good" as usage.
Why kept: It's Perfectly Good. (As Noted.)   Also, Out of Sight, Out of Mind.   And a little bit of I Might Need It.
Destination: Housing Works, in one of the remaining tote bags.

Confession: The jacket actually fit fine, it was the job that didn't. That said, every time I look at it, I think of the job. It must go!

Confession (cont): My desire to look professional declined somewhat over time...you wouldn't believe what people wore to work -- and it was a financial company. That last, hot summer, we knew we were being laid off. I remember wearing sparkly flip flops to work -- even with a "business casual" skirt sweater combo, it was still crossing the line.

Confession, part trois: The other thing that's got to go: a Talbot's boiled wool jacket, powder blue, that I think made me look matronly. Sticky, because it was kind of sweatery, but expensive. I looked on ebay, and if I want $16.99 for my trouble, I can probably sell it. Sigh.

Update 3/11:  I took the jacket, too.   I tried it on again and can't believe I ever bought it.  (In my defense, it was the perfect thing to wear in the environment I was in...before my definition of "business casual" devolved to bejewelled flip flops, that is.)

Tin"tin"abulations

Tintinabulations
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: 3 spice tins, empty and showing, uh, patina.
Origin: Hip cooking ambitions.
How long kept: At least one might be from the 80s. (Unlike some of the spices in, um, someone's cabinet, none of my actual spices are older than my nephews.)
Why kept: I might have refilled one of these with bulk spices from my local health food store. At some point, I stopped using them and hung onto them because I might keep beads or buttons in them. (Uh, Good Crafting Intention Gone Bad.) And also, They Might Be Useful, and Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Aargh.
Destination: Recycling.

Guest Post: no longer my cup of tea...er...glass of wine

no longer my cup of tea...er...glass of wine
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

"A source book for decorators/clients to locate participating artists/artisans (who shell out $$$ for a page) - loaned to me by someone I am no longer in touch with. This ended up in my reading box next to my bed. The other night I set my glass of wine down on the end table to turn out the table lamp before leaving the room. Light out, I reach for the glass (I really thought I knew exactly where it was!) and knocked it into the box. Rescued: "A" 's gift of "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" and the book I will one day finish: "Terrible Honesty: Mongrel Manhattan in the 1920s" by Ann Douglas. Lesson to Me: Don't drink in the dark. If you look close, you can see some shiraz spatters. I'll wipe them off and send the book to Beacon Reads or Goodwill.
Good girl :)"

"S", there's nothing a few spatters of shiraz won't improve. (Malbec can also help.) Thanks so much...

I can hear "Taps" playing

I can hear "Taps" playing
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

"Taps" is playing as I dumped this partial two liter of caffeinated Diet Coke down the drain. It was old and no longer fizzy
Why kept: out of sight
Last used: gosh about last September I went caffeine free. Argh!
Destination: down the drain and in the recycle bin
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School's Out

School's Out
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Several filled and half-filled notebooks from grad school.
How long kept: Since 1995.
Why kept: Nostalgia. I'm proud of how hard I worked hard in grad school. (College sometimes seems like a bit of a loss, but I'm probably too hard on myself.)
Destination: They are sitting on top of the shredder right now, but I may be able to send these directly to recycling. I'm going to sleep on it and take one last look tomorrow morning.

Confession: I've got a stack probably two feet high of old case studies and papers. That's another frontier, for another day. Sticky!

Packin' it away and announcing the birth of a new category!

Packin' it away and announce the birth of a new category!
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: brown packing paper
Why kept: might be useful. I was going to decorate it with the kids hand and footprints and use it as wrapping paper. Not going to happen (ooo new category "A" - "good crafting intentions gone bad")
How long: gosh. I'm not sure! Too long! Probably 4-5 years
Destination: recycle

So proud to announce the new category!! Hopefully the new addition will help us continue to lose our "house weight."
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Reports That Have Passed All Deadlines

Reports That Have Passed Their Deadlines
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: '07 and '08 Annual Reports.
How long kept: oldest one, almost 2 years.
Usage: Not since fall of 2008.
Why Kept: The oldest one was given to me by a prospective client in summer '08, so They Might Be Useful, I Might Need Them -- neither true:  the aftermath of the financial crisis has transformed this company tremendously, so neither report actually contains information relevant to the present.  They were in a client file, so Out Of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Recycling.

White is not good to me

White is not good to me
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: a white cotton cardigan type shirt
Origin: when I was pregnant with my first, I needed a large light weight cardigan for an event.
Why kept: I might wear it again
Last used about 3 years ago
Destination: Amvets or the like

I like this but like all other things white, I'm afraid to wear it and get it dirty. I am my mother's daughter :-) it is also a bit too fancy for every day wear.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Taking A Powder

Purple Haze
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Alum powder.
Origin: Crafty impulse.
Usage: Not at all -- I never even opened the bottle.
How long kept: Maybe a year.
Why kept: I might make some homemade clay, and thus It Might Be Useful.
Destination: Yesterday at lunch, a friend mentioned the science fair experiments she had been doing with her boys. They had been growing crystals with a variety of ingredients; she remembered alum crystals she used to create as a kid, but hadn't been able to find alum.

This goes into the mail today. (She lives in NJ.)

Confession: I had thought about making painted beads for one of my projects, with homemade clay made with alum.  I'm going to count this as a victory in my ability to "let go" of a thought (as well as a testament to the impermanence of all thought) -- shortly after getting the clay recipe from my mom (Thanks, Mom!), and locating the alum at the pharmacy, the intention evaporated.   Completely.

Bonus: A nice memory of charcoal gardens we used to "grow", I believe which also used alum. (Thanks, Mom!)

Bring out your dead (jewelry)

Bring out your dead (jewelry)
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: old gold and silver jewelry
Why kept: might be work something, out of sight, it was a gift from x, y and z
Last used: some of the silver was so tarnished, I'm guessing 20 years. Some even from boyfriends in high school YIKES!
Destination: these places that buy you gold for cash (well a check anyway) have been popping up all over the place. So I dug through my old jewelry and took it to one. I got about $59.44 for it. I'm sure it was worth double that but it's out of my house. Yay! The earrings that were worth more will be listed on e-bay this weekend if I have the time

One strange thing happened after I left the place, I started to get a pounder of a headache. I think it was from handling the bad chi jewelry. Or maybe it was the fumes from the glue and new cheap carpeting in the place. Or perhaps it was from the other people's bad chi jewelry. Anyway. Good riddance to old and broken jewelry that I was never going to wear again!

Guest Post: Nothing to sniff at

Nothing to sniff at
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

"Ancient potpourri, in an antique soap dish (that stays!) Bought in a big sack maybe15- 20 years ago? From an outlet? Possibly in Reading,PA, which makes it REALLY old! Anyhow, even with this head cold I have, I know this has no scent left. So, no "scents" in keeping it! (Ow :) Out to the garbage, now!"

Feel better, "S". Thanks for stopping by.

It's In The Bag!

It's In The Bag!
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Yet another tote.
Origin: Nice story, I teach yoga to some remarkable people. We borrowed some mats from Lululemon for a special workshop. When I went into the Soho store to talk with them about it, they offered me mats for my regular students, and I left with two of these bags filled with mats. Thanks!
How long kept: Since December, 2008.
Why Kept: It Might Be Useful. I Might Need It. I had a hook in my closet with a tote bag that held all of my...empty tote bags, so Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Aargh.
Destination: I used one of them to carry stuff to quilting class about a year ago.  One of the women class loved the positive messages written on it, so I gave one of them to her...should have given them both to her. This one's coming to class tonight.

You're Fired!

What:  About 10 pounds Make that about 15 pounds of HR communications and related stuff from my last employer.
Usage:   Not so much, unless you count filing it, storing it, and seeing on a shelf pretty much daily counts as "usage."
How long kept:  Since early 2008.
Why kept:   Might Need It.  
Destination:  95% of it to the shredder.   The remaining 5%, which I might actually need (pension stuff), my files.

Confession:   Ack, feeling much better, but fell asleep on the sofa watching TV I ordinarily wouldn't be caught watching.  (For an unknown reason, since I have Battlestar Galactica via Netflix DVD, recommended by a blog friend.   Or maybe I knew I'd fall asleep!)  Thus, another flu-backdated pose.

Confession, part deux:  I was not "fired", but our entire team was disbanded prior to our company's acquisition in early 2008.   It was a good thing, though I learned a lot, the job wasn't a great fit for me.

 

Sunday, 3/7 update:  Ack,  another box of related stuff, unopened since it was archived in this repurposed folder box.   Destination:  shredder.   I have to give big props to my shredder, which has been going strong since the late 1990s.   (Here's a link to a newer version of that shredder.)

Just hanging out

Just hanging out
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: little kid hangers. About 50 of them.
Origin: from a friend whose kids had grown.
Why kept: might be useful. Probably should have said no.
Destination: to my friend "Q" who mentioned out of the blue that she was going to go buy some.

Confession: I probably still have 50 left.
Confession- part deux: my "Q" gave me a few full sized hangers.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

A says, score one for "Q", "blogging" those full-sized hangers!

Guest Post: Expired

Expired
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

"My Planned Parenthood membership for last year (I had renewed during that Sarah Palin viral email campaign--which reaped almost $100,000 for PP). Also, a Driver Accident card with emergency info (how old? 14 years. My address was Bklyn and my person-to-contact was Pat). Found in a fanny pack that I took to Costa Rica a few weeks ago. If I had fallen into a ravine while zip-lining on that trip, this card would have been pretty un-useful. Both recycled."

Thanks, "S"...I think you've helped me to find my blog item for the day...

Happy 100th day!!

Happy 100th day!!
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

Here is my sticky post. Okay this was more literal than I intended hee hee
What: a box of "sharps" (glucose test lancets)
Origin: last summer I had gestational diabetes
Last used: last month. I still occasionally test to make sure my numbers are good
Destination: the Health department provided the container and they also dispose of the full containers too
Why kept: might be useful is I tested more often. But I can bring the lancets in to the health dept if I need to.

I'm so grateful that I had this little glimpse into diabetes. It taught me volumes. It's a very frustrating disease. You can do everything right and your numbers can be out of whack. I would eat virtually the same thing daily and my numbers would vary. Anyway I'm even more grateful that I had a healthy baby and that the diabetes is gone gone gone!!

Confession: the original thing I wanted to post I couldn't locate. I'll keep looking and post it soon :)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Toasting 100 Days!

A Toast To 100 Days!
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Toaster Oven and accessories (pans)
Origin:  See Confession.
Usage: Quite a bit when I first received it. Not so much in the last 3-4 years.
How long kept: Um, since 2003?
Why kept: It Was A Gift From Mom. I might make toast, and thus I Might Need It.

Also, It's Perfectly Good! It has a unique feature, a removable liner that fits in the dishwasher. So it's squeaky clean. It Will be Useful. For someone else.
Destination: Housing Works

Confession: I periodically become enchanted with a must-have kitchen appliance. (Curious, since I barely cook.) I use it a lot, and then...the thrill is gone.  

Reality is that in an NYC apartment, I can't afford the counter space for something I don't use routinely. And pulling this thing in and out of my cabinet on those rare toast making occasions, kind of silly. I'll use the oven.

Confession, part deux: Recovering from the flu. This is sitting next to my front door in a Century 21 shopping bag. It might go tonight...or tomorrow.

Day 100 Musing: Where's All of Our Stuff Going?

I've always got an eye for a "fringe" market, and secondhand stuff surely meets that definition.

A few years back, I became aware that much of what we give away to charity doesn't get sold in the charity stores.   Instead, it gets taken in, delivered to a warehouse, processed/graded according to what should be sold in the store and what should go elsewhere. 

So, though I did look for my former boa at my local Housing Works branch, it was not to be found.

After learning that some of what we donated was sold for rag scrap, proceeds of which the charity could keep, I never felt badly about donating damaged goods (though I would segregate them and mark them as "clean rags") -- though it's best to ask to see if this is the case.  (And I now recycle this stuff via the CENYC textile recycling program.)

(One caveat:  Some of those collection boxes you see in a suburban mall parking lots don't belong to actual charities.)

The recession has fueled growth in this industry.  Click here for an interesting story from NPR this morning about two Big Box second-hand stores up in Nashua, NH.

Good thing I have the flu, because this story would have tempted me to jump into a rental car to drive up and see what it's all about!   Though this lifetime is certainly as a time as any for a trip to Nashua, for now it's better for me to be here, recovering, working and shedding my stuff.

Guest Post: Honey, Don't!

Honey, Don't!
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

The Return of "S"!

"Sorry, Mr. Cute L'il Honey-Dispensing Bear.

I know you've been sitting on my counter for months on end, waiting for me to decide what crafty thing I was going to do for your next life. Guess what, it aint happenin.' My fingers are no longer sticky and I am tossing you into recycling.

I am beary sorry!"

And thanks for being here with us on Day 100 of 365 Things.  (For those of you playing at home since January 1, it would be day 61.   Either way, we sure have gotten rid of a bunch of stuff!)

Just a dab

Just a dab
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: hand cream
Last used:???? Probably over 5 years
Why kept: out of sight and might be useful
Destination: garbage

It was so old, it didn't have an expire date stamped in the crimped end.

Confession: I have plenty more hand cream. I should revisit my vanity drawers next month again
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Shreds-idue

What:   Remains of the records of a small business investment I made back in the 90s.
Usage:  Not since the 90s.
Why kept:   The company went out of business, a victim of the dot-com bust -- though they weren't a dot-com company, everyone that delivered services through technology got pummeled.   They ran out of money and the company was never formally dissolved.   I always worried that something could come up about this, and I Might Need It.   Also, a little bit Out of Sight Out of Mind.
How Long Kept:  1999
Destination:   Shredder.   Binder, basically brand new, is going to a school in Afghanistan.

Confession:   I had this on deck, but needed to confirm with the ex-CEO that it was ok to destroy.   Got this assurance on Sunday...came back from my trip on Tuesday ready to shred this.   And whacked by the flu.   Thus, I'm backdating this post.

More Rx or storage boxes are evil

More Rx or storage boxes are evil
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: several more OTC drugs
How long kept: 2006 was the old expire date argh!
Why: I don't know. It's SO rare that I actually take any Advil, tylenol or Aleve that I will never buy the jumbo size again. These were out of sight in a storage container in my bathroom
Destination: my local health department will dispose of them properly.

Confession: I tossed the old bug itch cream. They don't take liquids. I wasn't sure if it qualified.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Little Blue Marble

What:  Candleholder/globe
Origin:  I like globes.   Think It Was A Gift From...stocking stuffer maybe from Mom, I mean Santa?
Usage:   Not in this century, although I did remove evidence that it had been used, the remainder of a votive candle. 
How long kept:  I can't remember.
Why kept:  Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind, and it didn't go the other day because of the vague sense that someone had given it to me.   Aargh!
Destination:  Housing Works.

Confession:   This is the last day of the out of town posts.   I actually took this to Housing Works during the blizzard on Friday.   Yes, Housing Works, Starbucks, Whole Foods and any number of neighborhood businesses were open.   All of the banks, however, had closed at noon.   Scandalous.

Basket case

Basket case
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: cute decorative basket
Last used: 2007. Its been sitting in the kitchen, but we are going to hang it.
Origin: it was a handmade basket purchase at a craft show that I sold stuff in way way way back in the early 90s
Why kept: sticky
Destination: next amvets pickup. (I might list it on Freecycle)

Fire Prevention

What:  Candle Stubs.
Origin/Usage:  Remnants of many a dinner party, saved in a ziploc bag in my outdoor pack.

Why kept:  Maybe I'll get lost in the woods and need to light a fire to survive:  I Might Need Them.   They were in my backpack, so Out Of Sight, Out of Mind, and (kind of)  Storage Boxes Are Evil.  
How long kept: At least 10 years.
Destination:  Trash.

Confession:  Next time I go hiking, I can bring a fresher incendiary technology.   At that time, will also replace the packages of kleenex and almost done roll of toilet paper I removed from the pack.   They haven't been so useful sitting in that pack up in the top of my closet.

Minty freshy

Minty freshy
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: mentadent dispenser
Why kept: might be useful, if we get Mentadent again. We just been using Crest lately. And it seems that every time we get new Mentadent, it comes with a dispenser anyway so..... Why keep it!?
How long kept: two tubes of toothpaste ago was the last time we used it (two months maybe)
Destination: recycle

I'm so excited that we are coming up on our 100th day. Hmmm, I'm going to have to find something that is really sticky to get rid of for my celebration of Day 100
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Hat Off!

What:  Old favorite hat.
Origin:  Early sun protection impulses.
Usage:   A lot...in the 80s.
Why kept:  Nostalgia.
How long kept:  Since 1983?   Aaargh.
Destination:  Trash.  (It was shapeless, and lest you think it could be blocked, it was also starting to crack.)

Confession:   Maybe I could have composted this.   It must have been straw, jute or hemp.  

Confession, cont:  This one was sticky -- I love the person who used to wear this hat (a much younger and different version of me...)

Shoe issues

Shoe issues
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

And I teased The Hubby about the amount of shoes he has. I guess I've been hoarding them.

What: Three pairs of sandals and a pair of shoes. One pair hurt just wearing them for a few moments!
Last used: 2-3 years
Why kept: Might wear them again
Destination: AMVets pickup this AM
We are working on rearranging some things around our house. I realize I don't need that many sandals!

Confession: I kept about three or four other pairs :-/
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Let It Snow

Let It Snow
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: A Good Box.
Origin: Bought a lot of blank paper in early 2008.
Usage: The paper is gone, and for the last few weeks, this empty box keeps on getting knocked from my office shelf.
Why kept: It's a really nice box, and other than the fact that It's Perfectly Good, It Might Be Useful. I Might Need It.
How Long Kept: It was nearly empty for quite some time, maybe 6 months. Recently emptied, maybe right before the holidays.
Destination: Recycling. (Storage Boxes Are Evil!)

Blizzard, bring it! I'm not stopping. 

(Though that's easy for me to say, as an apartment dweller I don't have to shovel.   I suspect that "S" is hard at work, "releasing" snow from her driveway and sidewalks up in Beacon.)

Vaseless Accusation

Vaseless Accusation
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Ack, 3 vases, 4 candleholders, tote bag.
Origin: Floral and other decoratory ambitions.   Tote was swag from a benefit.
How long kept: All since the late 80s. Tote probably 2 years ago?
Last used: Uh, Bueller, Bueller? Anyone?
Why kept: Aargh. Out of Sight, Out of Mind. And I Might Need Them.
Destination: Housing Works.

Confession: The two glass vases (if you can see them -- the very 80s candleholders are buried at the bottom of the bag)?   I kept two identical vases I probably should have released.

Sigh.

The soap opera continues

The soap opera continues
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

"All My Penguins" or "As the Penguin Squirts"?

What: Christmas Penguin soap dispenser
Why kept: out of sight. It was found under my bathroom sink. It was also kept because it was cute and I might use it again.
Last used: probably 8-10 years ago
Destination: donated (probably went to Cancer Federation) or its in the next pile for Friday :)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Plastic-y good

Plastic-y good
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: a plastic container for wipes
Why kept: might be useful. I thought about placing crayons or other small items in it but its not quite big enough for what we need to store
How long: hmm probably 6 month to a year
Destination:repurposed. This held the black light bulbs for Cancer Federation
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

My Laundering Money

My Laundering Money
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Stored value cards for our building's old laundry system. Some have money on them, some don't.
Origin: Cleanliness is next to...
How long kept: Probably 6 months since the laundry system upgrade.
Why kept: There's money on them, so They Might Be Useful.
Destination: The laundry company to see if I can get a refund. Otherwise, they can dispose of them.

Proclamation: Stored value cards are a trap.

Duuuude!

Duuuude!
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: two black lights and 1 flickering red bulb
Origin: I think I stole the red bulb & one of the black lights from our brother. The other I bought at a novelty shop in the 80s
Last used: the 80s aarrgh
Why kept: they are COOL dude! Might be useful and out of sight
Destination: Cancer Federation pick-up Tuesday

I thought about calling our brother to see if he wanted them back. I didn't :). These moved with me twice argh
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

To Tell The Tooth...

To Tell The Tooth...
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Useless New Dental Technology
Origin: Dental Swag
How long kept: Probably since 2008
Why kept: It might be better than ordinary floss, and It Might Be Useful; or, I might run out of floss and I Might Need It.  Also, adding a new category:  It Was Free.
Destination: Garbage

At the end of a dental visit yesterday, I went through the Swag they gave to me, and left other single-use flossers on the counter in the exam room.   Single use flossers?   Why?   Why?   I kept the toothbrush and floss, both of which will definitely be useful.

Confession, part 1:  I put mascara on today for the first time in an age, and thought about using the tiny little brush on this flosser to separate my lashes.  

Confession, cont: I also got rid of a bottle of toothpaste that had one squeeze of toothpaste left. There are several almost-empties in my medicine cabinets, which will be dispatched in the next week or so, though probably not blogged.

Guest Post: Come file away with me

Come file away with me
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

Welcome Back, "S"...I guess that this file has earned its last frequent flyer miles!

"Always tucked in a travel bag, this nail file has filed its last hangnail. I can't believe it has been with me since I was 16. That's 40 years, folks! Part of a manicure set from Great Aunt Lenora @ Christmas 1969. A lot of diamond dust later, (and the long pink handle has been MIA for at least 25 years)...it is now fodder for the metal recycle bin."

CFL Bulbs

CFL Bulbs
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: seasonal light bulbs and regular light bulbs
Origin: stuff mart (more commonly known a Ikea)
Last used: the colored bulbs were used two Christmases ago and the regular bulbs were never used
Destination: they went in the Freecycle free4all

Vase-cular Disease

Vase-cular Disease
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Florist vase, marbles and yet another tote bag.
Origin: Valentine's Day flowers, and Aaargh, more swag.
Usage: Tote bag, once or twice. Vase was well used.
How long kept: Tote bag, think it was from a benefit last winter. Vase/marbles, since last week.
Why kept:  Tote Bag, It Might Be Useful and Out of Sight, Out of Mind.  (And might have to create a category, Tote Bag Disease.)   And I actually didn't keep the Vase overlong-- put the dead flowers into the compost bin before leaving on my road trip last Friday morning. 
Destination: Housing Works.

Confession: I almost took two more vases (from centerpieces at benefits). But decided that I liked them more than some of my older vases.   Stay tuned for the vase purge...

Guest item - The Hubby: "Giving them the boot"

Guest item - The Hubby: "Giving them the boot"
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: cowboy boots. Very well loved boots.
Last used: we went riding before we were married so early 2000s. They have been on many-a-trip with him out West
Why kept: nostalgia, they might be useful, out of sight
Destination: Cancer Federation pick up

I'm very proud of him. I know how much he loves these boots :) Good job, darlin'!

Confession: I asked if he was sure if he wanted to get rid of them. For me it's hard to let go of nostalgia but he said they were not comfortable anymore
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Weekend Report: Blogging for "J"

This past weekend, I was visiting another major northeastern city.   (OK, not as major as NYC, but what is?)

It was a road trip with "J" (recipient of Outliers) to see another old friend, "AO".

After we arrived on Friday, J mentioned the stuff she was hauling in her trunk, and "AO" suggested that we visit the Goodwill on Saturday.

Goodwill won't take plastic toys because of concerns about lead (which hopefully makes us all think before we buy that next plastic toy), but they did take a couple of gigantic stuffed toys, clothing and a cache of shoes that "J"'s daughter had outgrown and which will absolutely be useful.

("J" and I each bought a sweater at Goodwill.   Sigh.)

We had long discussions about the influence of the Depression and World War II on our parents, which informs my false frugality that leads me to want to save absolutely everything.

("AO" has the world's neatest closets and a beautifully organized home.   I might have to interview her to find out how grew such amazing habits, which she developed long before our college days...)

Confession:  I bullied "J" into letting the Ikea bag go.   Sorry, "J".   I don't even feel a frisson of guilt.

Bonus:   While we were at Goodwill, we got a photo from "M" of her Freecycle Free4All!   We're all connected.

Old technology

Old technology
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: a cassette tape
Last used: 10+ years ago
Why kept: out of sight
Destination: it went to the free4all

Confession:I found this in the bathroom arrgh!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Mess Transit

What:   Metrocards, each with funding for less than one ride.
Origin:  Annoying MTA insistence on selling the cards for cash value, rather than a number of rides (and having the number of rides have odd, hard to calculate costs due to multi-ride discounting.)
Usage:   Some.   I usually get the unlimited ride versions, unless I'll be out of town a lot.
How Long Kept:   At least since Christmastime, one possibly since last August.
Why Kept:  They're Worth Money.
Destination:   They're done, shredded.   I filled 'em up and used them both.

free4all woot!

free4all woot!
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

Oh my!! This was SO exciting. I wish we had time to take more photos. We were so overwhelmed (and I was a little scared -hee hee) with the response. I was scared that none of the stuff would be taken.

Additional stuff the Hubby got rid of includes: a breadmaker and a food dehydrater (a prior freecycle find that was used a few times last year). Probably about 50 people came through their cast-offs. My friend "S", her hubby, her dad and I packed up the remainders and took them immediately to Goodwill. "H", her hubby took the books to the library to donate. It was a great day!
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The poor Wonderdog

The poor Wonderdog
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: another rawhide bone
Origin: Christmas
Why kept: out of sight (we couldn't have her finding it)
Origin: it was a gift from X
Destination: Freecycle Free4All

I feel sorry for the poor pooch. She LOVES these but tends to eat them in large pieces with disagrees with her tummy. That is all I have to say about that. She's a good girl. I will have to find her a new nylabone :). Yay found an old nylabone - she's a happy girl
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No Brownie Points For Me!

 

What:  Frozen Brownies.

Origin:   Neighborly holiday ambition, baked for holiday gift giving...these were extras.

How long kept:  Since December, 2008.  

Usage:  Maybe some?   In January 09.

Why kept:   They Were Perfectly Good.   Out of Sight, Out Of Mind.  I might eat them, and thus They Might Be Useful.   And, Aaargh.

Destination:   Union Square Greenmarket Community Compost.   Thank you, Lower East Side Ecology Center.   Containers went to the #5 recycling bin at the grocery st0re.

Confession:   When I took a good look in my freezer, as predicted...a few pounds of expired coffee.   One was unopened.   I saved it.

Fishing for compliments

Fishing for compliments
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: a bamboo planter sans bamboo
Last used: the bamboo met an untimely demise about 2 years ago
Why kept: sticky, it might be useful if I ever got more bamboo. I'm not going to get more bamboo...ever. I can't keep it alive
Destination: Freecycle Free4All

We are still going strong!!! We will gave to celebrate 100 days. I think we are close or perhaps we have passed it? I'll ty to check today
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Bookmobile

Bookmobile
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Copy of Outliers.
Origin: Purchased a bunch of them for a client event.
Why kept: Too lazy to return it, and I promised it to a friend. (It Might Be Useful?)
How Long Kept: August, 2009
Destination: Giving to my friend (we're going on a road trip today!)

Saving on dental work

Saving on dental work
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: misc candy
How long kept: some since Halloween. Scary
Why: we might eat it and out of sight
Destination: freecycle Free4All. Someone will take it, I can guarantee!

Confession: we kept our favorites (mmm baby ruth)

A Asks:  M, when's the Free4All?  Can you take photos?

Tote Suite: First Out

Tote Suite: First Out
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Tote Bag from a WTC-related benefit I attended, stuffed to the gills with spare office supplies (I found a trove of index cards, for example) and some women's clothing.
Origin: Various.
Usage: Not much.
How long kept: One of the branded 3-ring binders, since 1993.
Why kept: Tote bag, office supplies -- both Out of Sight, Out of Mind, and They Might be Useful; binders, like "M"s post, have some nostalgia value, one is from grad school; clothes, I don't know; and a few books, because I might read them again and thus They Might Also Be Useful.
Destination: Housing Works.

Comment: This is the first of many, many tote bags to "go". They are like a swag virus -- why people feel that we need to leave every conference and benefit with "stuff", I'm not sure.

Confession: I recently organized a conference...we did the same thing.