cheerfulmonk.com

I’ve mentioned before that I loved my apartment and viewed it as my play pen. When I got immersed in a project I didn’t worry if the apartment looked messy. In the fullness of time I would devote a few days to uncluttering it and it would look fine again.

The ability to focus on a project stood me in good stead when I was in the hospital, rehab facility, and assisted living home. As long as I had my iPad and internet a good part of my life came with me.

Unfortunately when I fell and broke my hip I was getting psyched up for a big decluttering, That meant I did it when I got home using a walker. It took a lot more time and effort that way, but I finished Thursday morning when the Merry Maids came to give the apartment a thorough cleaning. I was tired, so I’ve been taking a well-earned vacation since then. I’ve decided that for thirty days I will spend some time just enjoying how the apartment looks, and I’ll keep track of it in a little journal. Hopefully that will help shift my priorities a bit. Enjoying the looks of an uncluttered apartment has to have a higher priority now because I may no longer have a choice of when to work on it. I’ve also arranged for Merry Maids to come to clean every other Thursday. That should help too.

Life keeps changing, and we have to change with it. That isn’t necessarily bad.

September 14, 2024

September 13, 2024

September 12, 2024

I’m in the midst of a massive decluttering and came across these scribbled quotes.

Be in love with your life.

Let your inner light shine.

I can still do that, but sometimes I need to be reminded. It doesn’t happen automatically.

September 11, 2024

Using the first walker last Wednesday was a lot of work. So when Ginny told me that putting cut tennis balls on the legs that didn’t have wheels made them glide easily, I had to try it. (I will use this walker when I have to get a blood draw Friday.) It was harder to cut the balls than I expected, so I found this video.

I laughed at his closing line.

Still, my hands aren’t strong so I had trouble cutting the way he did. Instead I used my small kitchen scissors for more leverage. I ended up cutting a circular hole, and it works just fine.

Would I do it again? Probably not. As it turns out, Amazon has pre-cut balls and other glides for walkers. So I would try some of those instead.

Still, I love the fellow’s closing line,

Old people, don’t break a hip.

September 10, 2024

September 9, 2024

I was trying to get caught up commenting on everyone’s blog, and suddenly Blogger has made it difficult. I’ll continue tomorrow, but it’s bedtime now. Sleep well, everyone! I’m thinking of you.

September 8, 2024

With almost nothing inside it so it doesn’t get in the way of sitting or transporting bigger items.

Why? Because it has a cup holder, and if I have my 30-oz cup of water with me it’s easy to keep hydrated.

That has been working fine.

September 7, 2024

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
—Abraham Lincoln

Years ago when we got back from a trip and the living room was full of our things from the trip and the mail that had come when we were gone, Andy said,

There’s only one thing we can do — go out, close the door behind us, and start over somewhere else.

I thought of that Wednesday when the living room was cluttered with things from my 45 days away. This time was worse because I’m still using a walker for a while, and it’s hard to carry and move things.

I started with the walker and bag I used at assisted living. It was fine there because I didn’t have to carry much.

Amazon.com

But I spent lot of energy Wednesday without much to show for it. So I ordered this bag from Amazon with one-day delivery.

Amazon

The bag held more, so yesterday was better. But I had also ordered this walker, which came today:

Amazon.com

That makes a huge difference. Not only does the walker take a lot less effort to move, I can put a big tote bag on the seat and carry a lot more. I accomplished a lot more today. It pays to spend some time getting the tools we need.

September 6, 2024

in all the world.

(The picture doesn’t do the raindrops justice, of course.)

September 5, 2024