What: Used envelopes, saved for re-use.
Origin: Desire to live a kelly green lifestyle.
Usage: Not at all.
How long kept: One, probably 3-4 months; the other about 3 weeks.
Why kept: Guilt. They Might Be Useful. I Might Need Them.
Destination: I've pushed these envelopes right through my shredder; final destination, recycling.
Confession: "M", is it "Fly Lady" that talks about clutter hot spots? I have 3 -- one for my work stuff, one for craft stuff, and the other for yoga files. I totally cleared my craft stuff away, putting some of it into a repurposed storage box.
Sigh, I know that Storage Boxes are Evil. But not as evil as the small-ish mound of craft stuff that was on my dining room table.
Funny thing, it seemed much bigger than it actually was. All from projects I've been working on completing in recent weeks, it fit into a small box, about the size of 2 shoeboxes. And at the same time I sorted out a stack of mailing envelopes, and repurposed part of my ever-emptying hall closet shelf. (Still far emptier than it was when we started this project!)
I found two more shopping bags. Sigh. The dwindling stash of shopping bags grew...
Showing posts with label guilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guilt. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
To Have Less Stuff, One Key...
What: Keycards from a recent hotel stay.
Origin: Conference I attended at a lovely, family-owned, old fashioned resort/conference center.
How long kept: About 6 weeks.
Why kept: Guilt. Briefly Out of Sight, Out of Mind...found them in my file of receipts and things from the trip.
Destination: Back to the resort, via USPS.
Confession: So, one key is to remember to leave this stuff in my hotel room!
Digression: And seriously, if you're going to San Diego and you're a particular sort of person, I would recommend that you check out the Town & Country resorts.
We see old fashioned family resorts up in Northern Minnesota, some struggling. They're clean, the people who own them care...and one problem they face is competition from the more "luxurious" digs at the newer local casino/golf course. Sigh.
Now, the T&C was nowhere near the rustic and bare-bones feeling as the lake resorts. (And isn't that the point, right Mom?) They are up to date with Wi-Fi, etc. Lovely people. And it's pretty large, while retaining the old fashioned sort of feel that's lacking at the slicker resorts one often sees at business conferences. This place has heart.
It's the kind of place where I imagine that they will think, "how nice," when they receive these key cards, as opposed to "what kind of weirdo would send these back?"
Origin: Conference I attended at a lovely, family-owned, old fashioned resort/conference center.
How long kept: About 6 weeks.
Why kept: Guilt. Briefly Out of Sight, Out of Mind...found them in my file of receipts and things from the trip.
Destination: Back to the resort, via USPS.
Confession: So, one key is to remember to leave this stuff in my hotel room!
Digression: And seriously, if you're going to San Diego and you're a particular sort of person, I would recommend that you check out the Town & Country resorts.
We see old fashioned family resorts up in Northern Minnesota, some struggling. They're clean, the people who own them care...and one problem they face is competition from the more "luxurious" digs at the newer local casino/golf course. Sigh.
Now, the T&C was nowhere near the rustic and bare-bones feeling as the lake resorts. (And isn't that the point, right Mom?) They are up to date with Wi-Fi, etc. Lovely people. And it's pretty large, while retaining the old fashioned sort of feel that's lacking at the slicker resorts one often sees at business conferences. This place has heart.
It's the kind of place where I imagine that they will think, "how nice," when they receive these key cards, as opposed to "what kind of weirdo would send these back?"
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Let's Go to The Videotape
What: Kids Yoga tape.
Origin: Borrowed from a former employee; left behind when we closed the business.
How long kept: 6 years.
Usage: Not at all
Why kept: Guilt. See confession.
Destination: Nephews.
Confession: I kept this fairly visible on my bookshelf, and would think about its owner, Beth, from time to time. I kept hoping to return it to her, but she has fallen out of my world. Nobody I know is still in touch with her. I googled her; I have a feeling that she got married and changed her name. If she turns up again, I will replace this for her with something equal or better.
Update, June 13: I did this tape twice yesterday with my 4 year old nephew. I'm sore today.
Origin: Borrowed from a former employee; left behind when we closed the business.
How long kept: 6 years.
Usage: Not at all
Why kept: Guilt. See confession.
Destination: Nephews.
Confession: I kept this fairly visible on my bookshelf, and would think about its owner, Beth, from time to time. I kept hoping to return it to her, but she has fallen out of my world. Nobody I know is still in touch with her. I googled her; I have a feeling that she got married and changed her name. If she turns up again, I will replace this for her with something equal or better.
Update, June 13: I did this tape twice yesterday with my 4 year old nephew. I'm sore today.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Baggone It!
What: Several Whole Foods Bags
Origin: Poor planning/forgetfulness
How long kept: Several weeks to several days.
Why kept: Guilt. They're Perfectly Good Bags. And I Might Need Them. They Might Be Useful.
Destination: Recycling.
Confession: Guilt, also, about even shopping at Whole Foods. I wish that I could/would buy everything at my local health food store. Sometimes I'm too lazy to get there before they close, and the dastardly Big Box store stays open later.
Sigh.
Origin: Poor planning/forgetfulness
How long kept: Several weeks to several days.
Why kept: Guilt. They're Perfectly Good Bags. And I Might Need Them. They Might Be Useful.
Destination: Recycling.
Confession: Guilt, also, about even shopping at Whole Foods. I wish that I could/would buy everything at my local health food store. Sometimes I'm too lazy to get there before they close, and the dastardly Big Box store stays open later.
Sigh.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Ho ho no
What: adorable santa hat and mittens. They are so cute but when I put them on The Boy, he looked like a little girl. I should have said "no" because I knew the red was more pink. Oh well, The boy enjoyed playing with them around the house
Why kept: guilt, it was a gift (hand me down) from X. The Boy may wear it
How long kept: about 6 months
Destination: garage sale pile unless "Q" wants it for her daughter or "L" for her niece :)
Why kept: guilt, it was a gift (hand me down) from X. The Boy may wear it
How long kept: about 6 months
Destination: garage sale pile unless "Q" wants it for her daughter or "L" for her niece :)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The End Of Lentils
What: Some aged red lentils.
Origin: An infrequent cooking impulse.
Usage/how long kept: I did make something from some of these. In 2004? 2005? See confession.
Why kept: Out of Sight, Out of Mind. I Might find someone to give them to, and thus They Might Be Useful.
Destination: Compost.
Confession: I can't remember exactly what i made from these, but it was somewhat bland. And yech, the color of these lentils...a modicum of good taste prevents me from committing my description of the dish to print. It did not look appetizing.
I've had them out on the counter for a few weeks, as a reminder that they must be dispatched. After reasoning that I wouldn't eat these myself -- due to their age -- reasoned that I wouldn't wish them on anyone else, either.
Guilt! Aargh.
Origin: An infrequent cooking impulse.
Usage/how long kept: I did make something from some of these. In 2004? 2005? See confession.
Why kept: Out of Sight, Out of Mind. I Might find someone to give them to, and thus They Might Be Useful.
Destination: Compost.
Confession: I can't remember exactly what i made from these, but it was somewhat bland. And yech, the color of these lentils...a modicum of good taste prevents me from committing my description of the dish to print. It did not look appetizing.
I've had them out on the counter for a few weeks, as a reminder that they must be dispatched. After reasoning that I wouldn't eat these myself -- due to their age -- reasoned that I wouldn't wish them on anyone else, either.
Guilt! Aargh.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
This One, Not My Job
What: I'm not exactly sure. When I bought it, I thought it was organic cinnamon. (See confession.)
Usage: Once.
How long kept: Probably 3 weeks.
Why kept: Guilt. (See confession.)
Destination: Compost.
Confession: I love buying bulk foods from my local, family owned, health food store. They've been holding their own against Whole Foods' entry into our neighborhood.
I do cop to shopping at WF. (Guilt.) Some items, like their olive oil, are better products than my little store offers. Other times, it's laziness -- I don't make it to the health food store when it's open. I know that if I don't shop there, it might not be there.
And I don't want that to happen.
On 9/11, we were evacuated from our homes. When we came back to the neighborhood, the credit card I took to the store didn't work. One of the owners said, "Take your food. We know you, come back and pay us when you have cash."
You think they'd do that at Whole Foods?
I use a lot of cinnamon, it's both tasty and healthy. If this is cinnamon, it has something awful mixed into it. Like dirt. Maybe it's actually another spice. (Or, dirt mixed with another spice.)
I've been hanging onto this thinking that I should tell the health food store that something is wrong with this. Not so that I can get my $2.29 back. But because it's the right thing to do; if I owned the store, I'd want to know!
(My mom would totally take this back to The Jewel. You might have to have lived in the midwest to get that one.)
So these jars of, um, yech? have been hanging out in my cabinet, and then on my counter, while I have been dreading this conversation.
"S" has pointed out a quote, used by a great being: "We're not in charge. We are responsible." And I really do kind of try to live to this ethic.
Enough. It's compost now. I can't be responsible for everything. This one, I delegate to the universe. Or one of my cinnamon-loving neighbors.
Confession, part deux: I bought some new cinnamon the other day. At Whole Foods.
Bonus: If the secret ingredient really is dirt, it will add some "spice" to the compost.
Usage: Once.
How long kept: Probably 3 weeks.
Why kept: Guilt. (See confession.)
Destination: Compost.
Confession: I love buying bulk foods from my local, family owned, health food store. They've been holding their own against Whole Foods' entry into our neighborhood.
I do cop to shopping at WF. (Guilt.) Some items, like their olive oil, are better products than my little store offers. Other times, it's laziness -- I don't make it to the health food store when it's open. I know that if I don't shop there, it might not be there.
And I don't want that to happen.
On 9/11, we were evacuated from our homes. When we came back to the neighborhood, the credit card I took to the store didn't work. One of the owners said, "Take your food. We know you, come back and pay us when you have cash."
You think they'd do that at Whole Foods?
I use a lot of cinnamon, it's both tasty and healthy. If this is cinnamon, it has something awful mixed into it. Like dirt. Maybe it's actually another spice. (Or, dirt mixed with another spice.)
I've been hanging onto this thinking that I should tell the health food store that something is wrong with this. Not so that I can get my $2.29 back. But because it's the right thing to do; if I owned the store, I'd want to know!
(My mom would totally take this back to The Jewel. You might have to have lived in the midwest to get that one.)
So these jars of, um, yech? have been hanging out in my cabinet, and then on my counter, while I have been dreading this conversation.
"S" has pointed out a quote, used by a great being: "We're not in charge. We are responsible." And I really do kind of try to live to this ethic.
Enough. It's compost now. I can't be responsible for everything. This one, I delegate to the universe. Or one of my cinnamon-loving neighbors.
Confession, part deux: I bought some new cinnamon the other day. At Whole Foods.
Bonus: If the secret ingredient really is dirt, it will add some "spice" to the compost.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The bag less traveled
What: a beautiful jewelry travel bag
Why kept: it was gift from a friend, guilt.
Destination: goodwill
This is truly a beautiful bag. It has hand stitched flowers on it. Unfortunately, I don't travel nor accessorize enough to warrant keeping it. I think that some will buy this from Goodwill.
Arrgh. I forgot to hit send yesterday!! Ugh another late post! Sorry everyone (I back dated the post heh heh)
Why kept: it was gift from a friend, guilt.
Destination: goodwill
This is truly a beautiful bag. It has hand stitched flowers on it. Unfortunately, I don't travel nor accessorize enough to warrant keeping it. I think that some will buy this from Goodwill.
Arrgh. I forgot to hit send yesterday!! Ugh another late post! Sorry everyone (I back dated the post heh heh)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Stuck Karma
What: Green tea
Origin: A Buddhist ceremony called "Lama Chopa/Tsoh" that involves a food offering. You take the food home, and are meant to eat it. Someone put this on my plate, and I felt stuck with it.
How Long Kept: An embarrassing amount of time. 5 years?
Why kept: I don't really drink Green Tea. But I felt that there would probably be Karmic Consequences for disposing of it other than in the appointed manner (That would be a new category...I think we'll call it "I Might Need It/Might Be Useful." And Guilt.)
Destination: I started drinking one tea a day the other day. With a handful more to go, I'm counting this as done.
Bonus: Antioxidants and karma repair? Dude.
Confession: There's probably a Karmic Consequence to making light of this.
Origin: A Buddhist ceremony called "Lama Chopa/Tsoh" that involves a food offering. You take the food home, and are meant to eat it. Someone put this on my plate, and I felt stuck with it.
How Long Kept: An embarrassing amount of time. 5 years?
Why kept: I don't really drink Green Tea. But I felt that there would probably be Karmic Consequences for disposing of it other than in the appointed manner (That would be a new category...I think we'll call it "I Might Need It/Might Be Useful." And Guilt.)
Destination: I started drinking one tea a day the other day. With a handful more to go, I'm counting this as done.
Bonus: Antioxidants and karma repair? Dude.
Confession: There's probably a Karmic Consequence to making light of this.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Hard to let go
Origin: Garage sale for $1
How long kept (broken); one year
Why: it could be fixed; guilt for the favorite toy
Destination: recycle bin
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