Epi-cally

What:  An Epi-Pen, which expired in March of 2002.
Origin:   Allergy to bee stings + love of hiking = preference for carrying epinephrine when in the outdoors.
How long kept:  Probably since 2000 or 2001.
Why kept:   I Might Need It.   It Might Be Useful.  Out of Sight, Out of Mind (more fruits of the medicine cabinets.)
Destination:  To my dentist for safe disposal.

Aargh.

Scatological Pun Discarded (As Blog Post Title)

What:   Towels, washcloths, etc.
Origin:  Bathroom redecoration of the last century.
Usage/Last Used:   These towels were well loved, and well used for maybe 15 years?   They always looked nice and did the job.
How long kept:   A couple of months past their expiration date. 
Why kept:  A little bit of Perfectly Good, and more to the point, indecision about what to replace them with.   See confession.
Destination:  Textile recycling.

Confession:  These great towels were made in the USA out of some awesome materials.   (You could wash them in hot water, and from time to time I even bleached them, just for good measure, and as per the care instructions on the label.)

A few weeks ago, they just started to disintegrate, threads coming off at the edges...no longer Perfectly Good.   As the manufacturer no longer exists, I had to pick a new set.   I chafe at this sort of change...but I did find something I like.   Onwards.

Good intentions

Good intentions
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What & why: Holiday cards I was supposed to send to "A" to recycle.
How long kept: a friend @ work gave these to me probably in mid-January
Destination: recycle bit
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No pizza for you

No pizza for you
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: clever coupon from a pizza place
How long kept: about three months and the coupon expired
Why kept: we might use it, except The Hubby makes better pizza than take out
Destination: recycle bin
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goo gone

goo gone
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: slime or homemade silly putty that The Boy made at school
Last used: today when it got stuck to a cloth napkin and it was also sticking to hands
How long kept: about 2 weeks
Destination: trash

I was able to save the napkin
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Guest Post: time to scrap the scrap paper

time to scrap the scrap paper
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

"Snippets are nipping at my heels. Some of these go back to Obama's election, 2008. Scraps of rice paper that I thought I could still use, if I just draw in the corners and edges...but it's bad feng shui for an artist not to have a clear sheet to start from. So, into the recycle bin, and a clean slate, or sheet, for the next project. I am promising myself."

Thanks, "S"!

I Have (Storage) Issues

I Have (Storage) Issues
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Frequent buyer card for a local coffee store.
Origin: Should Have Said "No."
How long kept: Maybe 2 years. Aargh.
Why kept: I might go back to this shop 8 more times, while simultaneously remembering to have the card on me. Then, I'd get a free cup of coffee. It Might Be Useful.
Destination: Shredder.

This isn't a stored value card, and it's not Evil. But I'm not doing these any more. Unless I'm in a place all the time, I'm not going to remember to have them with me...it costs too much mental storage space! I'd rather pay for that $4 coffee.

To Have Less Stuff, One Key...

To Have Less Stuff, One Key...
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

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?"

Hat Tip To "S"

Thanks, "S", for alerting us to a recent post on releasing stuff from Zen Habits.

The suggestion:  instead of figuring out whether you need your stuff, put it into storage and see how long you can live without it.   If long enough, dump it.

As "S" points out, this definitely flies in the face of one of my fundamental tenets:  Storage Boxes Are Evil. 

Other thoughts?

Photo:  Winston Hat Tip by flickr's Infrogmation used under Creative Commons license

Chaos May Be Thriving...A Bit Less

What:  Business Book.
Origin:   Desire to be of the times in my field.
How long kept:  Uh, when was this written?   Mid-90s?
Usage/Why kept:   I'm pretty sure that I at least skimmed it...in the mid-90s, and retained it because It Might Be Useful.   I might need to refer to it again, so I Might Need It. 
Destination:  Housing Works.

Confession:   For about 4 minutes, I thought It Might Be Worth Something, and did check online to see about re-selling this book, a tactic that has worked out surprisingly in one or two other cases.   Resale value of this book starts in the $1.99 range.   If I ever do need it, buying it back will be cheaper than paying rent on it, dusting it, and rearranging it when I choose to manage my bookshelves.

Learning Moment:   Business books are rarely classics.   When you go back to something that pre-dates wide adoption of the internet, so much of the advice is, um, ancient history.   Books on entrepreneurship that pre-date the serious problems faced by small business owners with availability and cost of health care now seem oh-so-sweet, innocent...and ultimately useless.

While I don't want to own these books forever any more, I do still need to read many of them.   I've been attempting the library, getting some to listen to on my iPod via Audible.com.   Next up, the Kindle.

Guest Post: droopy daisy

droopy daisy
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

"I thought this $3 Gerber daisy liked sun--that's what the tag said. Too much Vitamin D and/or the brown thumb that I have been hiding have caused this little guy to look like I feel. Into the bag of yard clippings, and I'll see if I can snag a cheap gardenia this week for the chamber pot."

"S", may you feel like an expensive orchid.

From The Mixed Up Files Of "A"

What: Potentially reusable envelopes.
Origin: Various bills, etc.
Usage: I do re-use these sometimes, but haven't dipped into this file with my business records, maybe since I set it up.
How long kept: 2+ years?
Why kept: Aargh! They Might Be Useful. They are Perfectly Good.
Destination: Recycling

Lugging this back to work

Lugging this back to work
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: luggage/computer cart
Whhhhyyy was it in my house? Oh I think when we went away for the weekend, I needed to clear it out of my car
How long kept @ home: 3 weeks
Destination: it's safely stored back in my office
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Guest Post: too many bags! (oh, stop your wining!)

too many bags! (oh, stop your wining!)
Originally uploaded by heywattsky

"OK, anyone in Beacon will recognize this stash as NOT coming from Artisan Wine Shoppe. Nope, the regular old liquor store is usually good enough for me (plus it's closer). Unfortunately they are closing up shop, so apparently I didn't frequent them enough, contrary to what this handful might indicate. They were often used to deliver homemade goodies, but clearly they were ganging up on me. No art project (I considered), no splice and use as wrapping paper (I almost considered). No...just Recycle."

This photo is artful enough, "S".

Don't go breakin' my heart

Argh, I lost my post YAY Found it

What Broken charm from my bracelet

Last used: Yesterday when the replacement arrived

Why Kept: this almost became a good crafting intention gone bad. The Boy said and I quote, "We can use it for a project." LOL I thought "Yes we can" followed by NONONONONOOooooooo

Destination: Recycle

Friction-Free Freecycling

Friction-Free Freecycling
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: A bottle of vegetable glycerin.
Destination: Freecycle. Here's the post.
"I did use a few teaspoons of this in making some liquid soap -- the crafty seizure that led me to this endeavor has not recurred. The "best by" date is June 2010, and it smells fresh and fine.

Seeking a fairly friction free Freecycle transaction: please be willing to communicate via email, and pick up at the agreed time.

Thank you, Freecyclers!"

The aforementioned crafty seizure was at least 3 years ago, if not more. Good Crafting Intentions Gone Bad. And, Out of Sight, Out of Mind: would you believe that there could be anything else in my medicine cabinets?

Aargh.

Work it Work it!

Work it Work it!
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: loud lined sweat pants and a quick dry shirt (s)
Why kept: I might wear them again and out of sight
Last used: 2+ years
Destination: freecycle free for all

We have another one planned in August. I may just rid myself of these sooner though. Must make room for other items in my home. Purge purge!!!!
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Brushed off

What: curling iron attachment from the butane curling iron blogged awhile ago
Why kept out of sight
Last used: YEARS! Aarrgghh
Destination: recycle

While I could have tried to find the freecycle member that took the curling iron, I decided OUT OF MY HOUSE NOW is a better method :)
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Argh another empty soap container

Argh another empty soap container
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

Yes, another one....
Last used: last week, after I got every last little bit of soap out of it
Why kept: ugh, I kept forgetting to get it into the recycle bin
Destination: recycle

Confession: I still have enough soap to lather a small army :) I'm trying very hard to use all the soap I have, open a store in my shower. Boy, I smell good and my feet are baby soft from the pumice soap.
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Get the Red OUT (was Don't go breaking my heart)

Ugh, I should check the photos before doing a mass catch up post

Don't go breaking my heartGets the Red Out
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What Pink Eye Eyedrops (broken charm from my bracelet)
Last used: The day before. The Kid has his first bout with Pink Eye (yesterday when its replacement arrived)
Why kept: It's perfectly good and not expired. We might need it and we did! We saved $30 by keeping this and using it again. (this almost became a good crafting intention gone bad. The Boy said and I quote, "We can use it for a project." LOL I thought "Yes we can" followed by nononononononoooooo)
Destination: Oops I put this in the trash. I should have taken it to the Health Department for recycling since there was a little bit left in the bottle (recycle)

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®