Spring Challenge

New season, new goals.

I want to:

1. Successfully get cessation of fluoridation through the City level of government and prepped for either the state legislature or a local ballot initiative.
2. Select a mayoral candidate (meeting with one this week who a group of us are trying to get to run) and if that person wants my help, volunteer in the campaign.
3. Clean up all the trees and shrubs broken by the recent big snowstorm.
4. Resume walking. Hopefully this will help me get rid of the last 5 pounds I want to shed.
5. Vacation closer to home than last year, part of my green challenge. I have to take a week before July 1st per company policy.
6. Stay on budget all but one month in the quarter (depending when I hit my 60,000 mile car service, might even make it all 3 months).
7. Start a garden of sage and parsley, the two things I am confident I can grow and not lose to critters.
8. Help shepherd my parents through medical challenges. My dad has four surgeries within a month's time and I am chauffeur for some of them.
9. Avoid arguing with one of my brothers about covid, politics, etc. (The other brother and I are on the same page.)

Spring is more of a guide than a hard rule, let's see what we can do.

Sort last of storage unit boxes
Decide what to do with the empty bins in storage unit
Bookshelf project
Clear the bed project
Work on quilt blocks
Put away the winter stuff
Put away the duvet


Pretty much the ongoing projects and the winter stuff is weather dependent. Probably add a few more things as I think of them.

2. Unlikely we will recruit the person as a candidate - only four people showed up for the meeting
3. DS got out broken branches too high up for me to reach - more to do on ground level.
5. Company policy changed but I likely will still take a week off before summer
8. Taking dad for his third surgery this coming week and he wants to postpone his fourth until fall
9. DB is visiting and I'm trying but he says stupid things like people are picking on Fauci because he's Jewish. No, Fauci is an Italian Catholic who went to Holy Cross College.

1. Fix up house in preparation for visit from new in-laws in June when they come out for DS/newDDIL wedding (paint, refinish floors, do backsplash, buy new rug.)
2. Plant two new shrubs
3. Prune apple trees
4. Generally clean up gardens and plant vegetables
5. Reorganize storage unit and purge stuff
6. Get outside and MOVE! Winter is over!

• We built the shelfing unit for the kitchen, and now it needs to be sanded, primed & painted.
• We need to get a handrail installed for our stairway up to the bedroom. We haven't had one since 1994 or so, and we are getting older, so it's high time.
• Continue with room-by-room culling - kitchen is next.
• Start seeds
• Wash windows, screens & curtains
• Garden cleanup
• Closet cleanout/changeover
• Smaller seasonal tasks: hoses, hammock, storm doors, change bedding

I finished the last of my eBay listings today, finally. That's been on the to-do list for a very long time!

Filled my yard waste barrels and still more branches to go.

Put in for a vacation week in May.

Have decided who I will support for mayor but keeping it to myself for now since some allies for fluoridation cessation do not like her.

Sort last of storage unit boxes 2 of 5
Decide what to do with the empty bins in storage unit not yet
Bookshelf project ongoing
Clear the bed project see bookshelf project
Work on quilt blocks 17/30
Put away the winter stuff had a frost advisory last night, so I'll evaluate last weekend in April
Put away the duvet evaluate in late April

Going to prioritize the boxes so I have the last of the boxes gone, and can evaluate the plastic bins and decide which ones can stay, put in the trash, or given away. Bookshelf project is ongoing, spending a least an hour a day is slow but steady progress. Bed as staging area helps husband keep focuses since he does a bit in 10-15 minute increments. Block process is going, might have enough in the stash to make a second quilt top. Weather still all over the place so I'll wait until the end of the month to see if it's time to put it away.

Fluoride petition introduced to the council, hearing date TBD.

More yard waste awaiting pickup, will finish with branches at the following pickup and start on leaves.

Started walking.

I've put up the hammock and put out the hoses, and I started annual seeds yesterday.

By May 1, I want to
1. Repair and replace window box that snow slide broke from house
2. Replace washing machine with used machine from the barn. If that doesn't work, buy new washing machine
3. Replace oven hood with new one already purchased
4. Replace chandelier with track light in kitchen
5. Avoid email contact with brothers and mother's guardian
6. Remove one major stressor from life
7. Lose 6 pounds

1. Repair and replace window box that snow slide broke from house
2. Replace washing machine with used machine from the barn. If that doesn't work, buy new washing machine
3. Replace oven hood with new one already purchased
4. Replace chandelier with track light in kitchen
5. Avoid email contact with brothers and mother's guardian
6. Remove one major stressor from life removed a course from my schedule for the fall which does not pay anything near what it should for the amount of pointless stress and aggravation it causes
7. Lose 6 pounds

Good work, Tybee, dropping the course. And congrats on your WW weight journey!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nswef

Good work, Tybee, dropping the course. And congrats on your WW weight journey!

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Thank you! Have gotten DH to take the old box supports and detritus off house, so now need to repair window ledge and of course the wood needs replacing, since that's what happens when you try to do one little thing on an old house. So that project will probably go into June, so that husband can replace wood around the window.

I guess our spring challenge is to start work on our Hermann house exterior. Over the weekend it occurred to me that DH should transfer his work Monday through Friday from the interior to the exterior in this nice weather. It’s quite a lot to do in finish coats for the deck, lots of stonework and some earthmoving.

he can work on the house interior whenever there is bad weather, or it gets really really hot in July August, September.

Okay----I cut up a dozen old tyres, so I could put them in the trash cart. But guess what? I rounded up about a dozen more! So, yeah---that'll give me something to do, instead of drive-n-eat ansd have rolls thrown at mee. See?

Sort last of storage unit boxes 5 0f 5 done!
Decide what to do with the empty bins in storage unit next up
Bookshelf project ongoing
Clear the bed project ongoing
Work on quilt blocks 21/30
Put away the winter stuff evaluate this weekend
Put away the duvet evaluate this weekend

Last of the boxes are done! Tonight's project is to sweep and inspect the empty bins and toss any that are cracked or broken. The bed is still a mess and the bookshelf organization is ongoing. Hoping to have it done before our epic anniversary trip. Still working on the quilt top and there's a little bit of room in the fabric bins. A member of the Buy Nothing group hosts a craft swap during the summer, I might contact her and drop off some of the scraps.

Weekend project is decide if it's time to put away the winter clothes and blankets, and check the blanket bins to see if they're still in good condition. Started going through the closet and pulling aside clothing that doesn't fit. Clothes and bins we don't keep will be listed on Buy Nothing Monday or Tuesday.

Planted the little garden.

Fluoride hearing date is scheduled.

Selected my mayoral candidate and got some blowback when I posted about it, but that's life.

Am walking occasionally but the weather still hasn't been very good.

Hit the mending pile yesterday and happy to say that it is gone!

Cessation of fluoridation failed. Based on a long suppressed report released last month by the National Toxicology Report we believe the lawsuit against the EPA will be victorious in 2024 and once it is we will try again.

Meanwhile although the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions says mosquito spraying reform is needed, the political hacks on my local Con Comm won't touch it.

https://www.maccweb.org/news/638600/...sachusetts.htm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yppej

Cessation of fluoridation failed. Based on a long suppressed report released last month by the National Toxicology Report we believe the lawsuit against the EPA will be victorious in 2024 and once it is we will try again.

Meanwhile although the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions says mosquito spraying reform is needed, the political hacks on my local Con Comm won't touch it.

https://www.maccweb.org/news/638600/...sachusetts.htm

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when the “fogger” truck came through my old neighborhood, I couldn’t believe it. “Are they STILL doing that?” I asked myself. It was like time traveling back to 1975.

And yet on Nextdoor there woukd be people asking when the city was going to spray for mosquitos. Crazy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

when the “fogger” truck came through my old neighborhood, I couldn’t believe it. “Are they STILL doing that?” I asked myself. It was like time traveling back to 1975.

And yet on Nextdoor there woukd be people asking when the city was going to spray for mosquitos. Crazy.

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The EPA doesn't care about current science and best practices. They are corrupt:

https://peer.org/curing-epas-culture-of-corruption/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tybee

1. Repair and replace window box that snow slide broke from house
2. Replace washing machine with used machine from the barn. If that doesn't work, buy new washing machine
3. Replace oven hood with new one already purchased
4. Replace chandelier with track light in kitchen
5. Avoid email contact with brothers and mother's guardian
6. Remove one major stressor from life removed a course from my schedule for the fall which does not pay anything near what it should for the amount of pointless stress and aggravation it causes
7. Lose 6 pounds

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I wanted to do these things by May 1, and they are not happening. I realize that 1, 2, 3, and 4 are actually to be done by my husband, and I have not been able to motivate him to complete any of them.
5 is not under my control, since all of these people have been emailing me. All I can do is ignore their emails, which may or may not be appropriate, but I can't stop them from emailing me.

I did no. 6, but now acquired two more courses for summer, but they pay better.

7--have had absolutely no success with Weight Watchers--was down 2 pounds after 1 month, but today I was up a pound and half. Am going to have to do something else, because this is not working.

Replacing this list as kind of hopeless with new list by May 15.

1. Lose 4 pounds (the 2 I already lost and another 2.)
2. Get my new fitbit up and running.
3. Limit email replies to brothers, guardian, and conservator, to a brief acknowledgment of their email, confirm what they are saying if appropriate, ignore if not. Limit to one sentence only.
4. Get new course on new platform ready to roll on May 15.
5. Try using new planner format starting May 1- May 15, use for two weeks.

Sort last of storage unit boxes done
Decide what to do with the empty bins in storage unit almost done
Bookshelf project ongoing
Clear the bed project ongoing
Work on quilt blocks 21\30
Put away the winter stuff done
Put away the duvet done

Put away the duvet over the weekend and the duvet bin had a crack in it so I swapped it for the empty bin. Was going to wait on the blankets but the condo management sent a notice saying the laundry contractor will replace the washers and dryers in two weeks and we will need to use all the money in the laundry cards before then. Did the math and figured how to wash the blankets without adding money. One blanket is air drying on the couch as we speak. The card is at $0 and I don't have to deal with the mad dash of laundry this weekend.

Posted the bins on Buy Nothing, waiting for tonight to pick a winner since bins with lids are an in demand item. Might list the cracked one since they're so popular here.

Also doing a bit of spring cleaning and will post to Buy Nothing soon.

You're doing good Hana!

Vacationing closer to home except one day I went to the dentist in Vermont. Checked out some of the more affordable towns there and they are super rural, don't think I could handle the dirt roads in winter without a more expensive vehicle, no stores except selling fishing bait, libraries are small and sad. So my dream is definitely New Hampshire now. Should find a dentist there. Finally found a PCP in NH who doesn't require masks. It feels like home when I go north of the border.

Tybee, it really sucks when things need to get done and you are dependent on someone else to do it. Ugh!! My last husband was such a procrastinator .

Sort last of storage unit boxes done
Decide what to do with the empty bins in storage unit done
Bookshelf project ongoing
Clear the bed project ongoing
Work on quilt blocks 28/30
Put away the winter stuff done
Put away the duvet done

The storage unit project is done! No idea what I'm going to do now. The bins are with their new owners. The bookshelf project continues and there's some space on the bed. We're at the point that if someone needed emergency crash space we could get the space guest ready in a few hours. Almost done sewing the blocks, watching less TV due to the Writer's Strike. Still have lots of scraps, maybe I'll make a crazy quilt for SiL and BiL. Promised Mom a cardigan this fall, I'll probably get an early start on it.

Yay Hana!

Another candidate with a better chance of winning jumped in the mayoral race and I have switched to her.

Update:
We built the shelfing unit for the kitchen, and now it needs to be sanded, primed & painted.
We need to get a handrail installed for our stairway up to the bedroom. We haven't had one since 1994 or so, and we are getting older, so it's high time.
Continue with room-by-room culling - kitchen is next.
Start seeds - done, outside hardening off
Wash windows, screens & curtains - done
Garden cleanup - done
Closet cleanout/changeover - done
Smaller seasonal tasks: hoses, hammock, storm doors, change bedding - done

"Replacing this list as kind of hopeless with new list by May 15.

1. Lose 4 pounds (the 2 I already lost and another 2.)
2. Get my new fitbit up and running.
3. Limit email replies to brothers, guardian, and conservator, to a brief acknowledgment of their email, confirm what they are saying if appropriate, ignore if not. Limit to one sentence only.
4. Get new course on new platform ready to roll on May 15.
5. Try using new planner format starting May 1- May 15, use for two weeks."


No number 1 or 2.
Successful with 3, 4, and 5.

Losing weight seems to be beyond me at this point.

New list for June 1:
1. Lose 2 pounds.
2. Get my new fitbit up and running.
3. Go to knee doctor and see what he says now.
4. Go to dentist.
5. Record all spending.

Good work Rosa.

Tybee, don't let the slowness of weight loss discourage you. You're making good progress on the other items as well.

I got rid of the fitbit. It was not accurate... so why bother?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nswef

Tybee, don't let the slowness of weight loss discourage you. You're making good progress on the other items as well.

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Thank you! I have to try again at a lower number.

Accomplished the knee doctor today!
Saw a really good doctor and he aspirated my knee and shot it with cortisone. He said only cure would be two total knee replacements but wants to take it slow and see if I can get relief in the short run.

At least now we have a plan!

I have gained instead of lost. It's like because I cut way down on caffeine my body wants another vice.

The Fitbit is more accurate if you wear it in your sock so it’s only recording steps and not arm movements.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

The Fitbit is more accurate if you wear it in your sock so it’s only recording steps and not arm movements.

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That's a great idea! I was given one, but since my job is wiping tables, desks, etc - in other words, lots of arm movements - I didn't feel it was worth wearing for steps. I will definitely retry in my sock!!! Thanks

So while the City is forcing fluoride on residents, they are buying bottled water for City employees using taxpayer money.

"New list for June 1:
1. Lose 2 pounds.
2. Get my new fitbit up and running.
3. Go to knee doctor and see what he says now.
4. Go to dentist.
5. Record all spending."

Nothing on 1 and 2. 3 and 4 accomplished. Kitchen hood also put up yesterday.

List for June 25, at start of summer.

1. Change over to iphone.
2. Finish teaching comp class.
3. Find a diet plan and write it down and start. Weight watchers not working for me.
4. Get arthrocentesis on other knee.
5. Get front teeth work done.