I wish there was a better word for “actively trying not to turn into a compulsive hoarder despite my genetic and social predispositions.”
Several weeks ago, I embarked on making my paint cabinet look nicer and be a bit more inaccessible to my cats. For the past several months, I’ve been using a nailed-together cabinet that a friend found on the curb. It’s obviously a homemade job, possibly assembled from old crates, and held together with nails rather than screws. It was stained … Read more
On Tuesday, I got rid of much of the scrap wood collection that has been accumulating in my basement, waiting to be disposed of. The total included: 2 milk crates full 2 buckets full a chopped-up hollowcore door that I had been using as a folding station atop my washer and dryer, but hasn’t worked for that since I moved … Read more
Last week, I embarked on my first foray into Ebay selling in three years. I was getting tired of Craigslist hagglers and spammers, plus some of the stuff I had to get rid of would probably never sell on Craigslist, but would on Ebay. Yesterday, besides protesting and eating pizza, I dropped off several Ebay packages at the post office. … Read more
This week was quite productive on the getting-rid-of-stuff front, despite all Freecycling coming to a halt for a day and a half during our record-breaking blizzard. I successfully parted with: a pair of Earth shoes that were cute, but too narrow for me a Saris indoor bike rack that didn’t do the best job of holding my bikes a 2nd … Read more
Today was a “look in the kitchen cupboards for stuff you haven’t used in forever, then Google said item and the word ‘recipe’ so you can finally use it up” day in my household. I found a package of potato flakes, even though I never make instant mashed potatoes. The Great Google brought me to a potato flakes discussion on … Read more
No, I’m not talking about heaven. I’m talking about a free bus ticket to La Crosse. After my driver’s license was misappropriated three weeks ago, and the bus driver took his own sweet time to get it back to me, the bus company gave me a voucher for a free ticket. So I went this weekend to the scenic bi-state … Read more
Here are some things I’ve gotten rid of this week: A computer accessory (thanks to eBay) A self-inflating camp mat (thanks to Craigslist) An electronic pocket dictionary that translates among five languages (thanks to Freecycle, it went to a nearby rural EMS department where about 10% of the clients, but only two of the paramedics, speak Spanish) A beauty-(is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder)-full Schwinn … Read more
Today I shredded old letters from my first love. It felt good, but not in the sense of getting rid of a long-carried emotional burden. Just in the cleaning-out-my-closet sense of feeling good. I dispensed with the emotional baggage a long time ago and was surprised to find, today, that I hadn’t dispensed with the letters. Sorry if you’re my … Read more
In my recent sorting things binge, I’ve found the following items that I borrowed from someone more than a year ago: Plumbing wrench Washable plastic picnic plate that includes molded cup holder Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone audio book I wonder what else is lurking around my house. I guess if it’s only three items, I shouldn’t feel too … Read more
As part of my efforts not to turn into a compulsive hoarder whose relatives will have to come unbury her from the clutter after she is suffocated under a pile of unread magazines, I’ve made an informal resolution to post one item a day to Craigslist. It’s surprising to see what gets an immediate response in the middle of winter: … Read more