tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post3693703455454268960..comments2024-03-29T08:39:57.608-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: StuffJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21809848779694625092008-07-08T21:18:00.000-04:002008-07-08T21:18:00.000-04:00Caryn,Yes, I was a pretty easy going room-mate/wif...Caryn,<BR/>Yes, I was a pretty easy going room-mate/wife/mom until Flylady came into my life. Then, for a very short period, I became a Nazi. But very short. Not because its so much work, which it is, but because you have to be wired a certain way to care so much about polished sinks and perfect order that you are willing to do the screaming required to maintain order.<BR/><BR/>Or, perhaps you just have to produce children who are wired for order so that you don't have to scream.<BR/><BR/>Either way, I was out of luck.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57722620966226893372008-07-08T20:28:00.000-04:002008-07-08T20:28:00.000-04:00Do you all know about 1-800-GOT-JUNK? It's not a ...Do you all know about 1-800-GOT-JUNK? It's not a cheap service, but you call them out and point to the things you want to get rid of, and some young men in nice uniforms take the stuff away. Whatever is still in good shape they take to a charity. In LA, they donated to Out Of The Closet, a resale shop. Fridge, heavy oak bedroom furniture, etc. whisked away. Guiltlessly.Skeeter Demonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954410466019288295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30684824860749339582008-07-08T12:28:00.000-04:002008-07-08T12:28:00.000-04:00CarynI had to laugh. Amazing the things we save. M...Caryn<BR/><BR/>I had to laugh. Amazing the things we save. My natural father was a Dr. In fact, my script "American Siblings" is about him, me and my half sister. Anyway, I have boxes from when he died in 1978, from when I moved to Detroit in 1968 and boxes from my office when I left Ford. I have notes from my father about how he used Vit A, C and E to assist people in ... get this 1942!!! So, in some ways - it would seem historic. Still, it's stuff. How do you get the guts to clean the slate?<BR/><BR/>Ro<BR/><BR/>As you can see there is a gulf between talking Buddhist and actually acting Buddhist! Although, I will say, acting locally for me is easier. Here's the criteria - What is my present task? What is in my way? Where can I put it? If I'm out of space as I define it - something must go! Otherwise - there is no room in your life for new and fresh.<BR/><BR/>Here's a real motivator - Stuff<BR/>THAT'S HOW PEOPLE GET OLD - look around - the "old" people - how do they act - stiff - burdened - almost immobile. By the way I'm not judging - just observing. That life is definitely not for me. I get to chose.<BR/><BR/>So... if you need to see wood to get going on that third book ... see wood, baby. I'm behind you all the way!!!<BR/><BR/>Here's a little rap I wrote for the tiddiers:<BR/><BR/>I was sittin' by my desk in funk<BR/>Oh, baby it was the junk<BR/>Surrounded me and brought me down<BR/>Wow, I thought I'd drown<BR/><BR/>But a little Buddha man showed me my light<BR/>Gave me the power, gave me the might<BR/>I needed to see wood, If I could<BR/>That third book hidden from sight<BR/>But that's all right<BR/>Now I'm ready to bring it to the light!!!<BR/><BR/>Yo, bro - I'm on my way<BR/>Livin' and lovin'<BR/>and feelin' okay!!!Mike Vecchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016079615702702269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63139335440898614282008-07-08T11:43:00.000-04:002008-07-08T11:43:00.000-04:00I about spit my coffee out when Jan started talkin...I about spit my coffee out when Jan started talking about the Flylady. I loved her for awhile, but my family hated her. It wasn't just the ploished sink, it was the "area cleaning" that got them. She has this system where you rotate around your house cleaning a different area for a set period of time each day for a week then move on. Well, I was so pleased with myself about my cleaned area, that I didn't want anyone to use or even pass through that area. I was not a nice person to live with.<BR/>Alas, Flylady had to go.<BR/>As for tossing stuff? I could use a dumpster.<BR/>When we were fresh out of college and newlyweds, we lived in Delaware, Ohio for two years. We didn't unpack a lot of boxes in that time because we knew we weren't staying. so those boxes plus more went on to Grand Rapids, Michigan-to the basement to be forgotten until 7 years later when those boxes that had remained sealed in Ohio and Michigan were joined by even more in our basement in St. Louis-24 years ago. Yes, that's right, we have boxes of stuff stored in our basement in boxes that have been sealed since they left Purdue 33 years ago, Ohio 31 years ago, and Michigan 24 years ago.carynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06761365713102858135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45489876971159802162008-07-08T10:31:00.000-04:002008-07-08T10:31:00.000-04:00Lest anyone think I am the complete Celia cruz (wh...Lest anyone think I am the complete Celia cruz (who reputedly only wore each dress once and then threw it away) I confess to routinely going shopping in my closet. Jeez that may be a whole other blog. I find stuff there that's NWT that I forgot I bought because it was crammed in the closet with other items that look just like it. I never thought of it as depression-era mentality, more like 80's Material Girl. BTW, there used to be something called Dress for Success, where you could donate work outfits. (Pat's got me feeling guilty...I may be climbing back into that dumpster!)Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49846510543163350552008-07-08T10:23:00.000-04:002008-07-08T10:23:00.000-04:00Elizabeth,I have that depression-era thing, too. I...Elizabeth,<BR/>I have that depression-era thing, too. In fact, for a while I thought I was the only babyboomer saddled with both environmental guilt (how will the world despose of all this trash?) AND depression guilt (If I throw it away and have to buy it again, and that will be such a waste).<BR/>But my mother, the ultimate packrat and heavily influenced by living through the depression, put shelves in the garage and stored extra canned and boxed food. She called it her "grocery store." But when she died, all that food had to go into the dumpster -- it was too old to even give away to a homeless pantry. The lesson I learned: Sometimes hoarding is the ultimate waste.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29021165954835378162008-07-08T05:36:00.000-04:002008-07-08T05:36:00.000-04:00Hey Deb,We should wear bibs the next time we go ou...Hey Deb,<BR/>We should wear bibs the next time we go out to dinner! I'm so glad to learn that I'm not the only one with "stuff" issues. MTV, you're sounding very Buddhist..I like that.Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65666826524576730982008-07-08T02:48:00.000-04:002008-07-08T02:48:00.000-04:00I'm a storage unit. Over the last two years, I've ...I'm a storage unit. Over the last two years, I've had several family members move. My 86-year-old parents downsized into a two-bedroom apartment and then, after Mom died last Dec, I moved Dad into a one bedroom. ALL of their stuff came here, for me to deal with (I have a bro in Calif).<BR/><BR/>Then last year, my young adult daughter needed to move back home (actually in an apartment-like unit behind my house) to regroup--and brought her stuff. Then her brother had some situations and I got half of his stuff (his dad got the other half and our son). <BR/><BR/>This topic is exactly what's been on my mind. Earlier today, I thought about a local company named "Junk Be Gone." They'll come take it all. But I have this depression-era "it might be useful someday" consciousness mixed with the reuse-recycle one that makes me have to keep stuff out of the waste stream. <BR/><BR/>And fessing up, I have way too much of my own junk. In my early 20s, I used to think, "When my complexion clears up, I'll get married." It did and I did. In my 30s, I thought, "If my desk and office ever get completely cleaned up, a place for everything and everything in its place, I'll probably be ready to die." I consider my deskS CREATIVE CHAOS. I admire all of you brave souls who order the dumpsters. You've inspired me. Tomorrow, I get rid of a dozen whatevers. What's your address?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33402417066596712742008-07-08T01:24:00.000-04:002008-07-08T01:24:00.000-04:00I cleaned out two file drawers today and filled tw...I cleaned out two file drawers today and filled two grocery bags with papers and magazines for the church-around-the-corner's recycle bin. That bin has saved me from the guilt of throwing out paper that's blank on one side. I have enough one-sided paper to print nine drafts of War & Peace--double-spaced.<BR/><BR/>My other best friends are Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Epilepsy Foundation and the Vietnam Veterans. Whenever one of them has a truck coming to town, I scrounge for stuff to give away. If they'd come three times as often, I might make some real progress.<BR/><BR/>My father-in-law was the biggest pack-rat of all, so we've named our basement storage area "The John H. Walsh Memorial Room." Artifacts include a box of my high school formals, a crib mobile and busy-box, and warranties for appliances we don't have anymore.<BR/><BR/>We are truly <BR/>ruled by our stuff.<BR/><BR/>Hank, hold onto that Olympics 1980 tee-shirt. That could be a collector's treasure.<BR/><BR/>Hallie, my husband has two modes: Save it forever (or for the yard sale we never have) and Get rid of it now. His specialty is throwing out one piece of a multi-piece item. He just tried to pitch the cover to the old turtle sandbox, which he stashed in the garage about 10 years ago for, duh, the yard sale. Oh, and he can't resist a free coffee mug.<BR/><BR/>It's a good thing you don't live near me, Ro, or I'd be diving into your dumpster or at least thinning out your staging area. To save my marriage, I've had to take a solemn oath not to stop at yard sales.<BR/><BR/>Jan, Flylady sounds like my old neighbor, who never brought anything into the house without throwing three things out. She put a new 10x12 Berber carpet in the trash because the color didn't go as well she thought it would. Naturally, I asked if I could stash it in my garage. I did find a home for it in the school library.<BR/><BR/>Roberta, my problem now is kids coming home from college with more stuff than they had when they left. There's a big <BR/>TV sitting in front of my fireplace this summer, because our minivan was the only vehicle big enough to haul it away from school. On the other hand, we also have summer custody of the tower fan that is cooling me off as I type this.<BR/><BR/>OK, trash day is Wednesday. I bet I can find 33 things to throw out. But will I?AliasMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02215864597874551595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31878490192778829912008-07-08T00:10:00.000-04:002008-07-08T00:10:00.000-04:00It's not hard to get rid of my own stuff. I don't...It's not hard to get rid of my own stuff. I don't spend much money, so I don't have much stuff. Even books, sigh, even books I can donate to the library. Before the last move I was able to get rid of about six bookcases. <BR/><BR/>But other people's stuff, that is hard. Kids are the worst! That's not a piece of trash, Gram, that's artwork. Yes, it did start out as a used paper towel, but now it's got crayola on it, see? So, eventually, I laid down the law: no art work too big to go into the file cabinet.<BR/><BR/>I also had a bunch of old, unfinished mss, and they were weighing me down, mentally--can't start a new one till I finish X. I bought a scanner and scanned the whole shebang into the computer, then threw out the paper copies. Now I know I'll lose track of the scanned files, too, but that will be okay. It's the same thing as putting leftovers in the fridge till they spoil, and THEN throwing them out. Much easier than throwing out perfectly good food. I don't have a desk, just a notebook computer and the ceaseless urge to roam. I used to have a desk, but we didn't get along.Skeeter Demonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954410466019288295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78657339313038299352008-07-07T23:12:00.000-04:002008-07-07T23:12:00.000-04:00JanRoIt's as important to make physical space for ...Jan<BR/>Ro<BR/><BR/>It's as important to make physical space for things as mental space. So, create the physical space and that act itself will create the mental space.<BR/><BR/>It was no accident for me that Rosemary picked this topic. It was exactly what I had been thinking about for the last few weeks.<BR/><BR/>This series of posts, has been very powerful for me. And, as Hank would say - Imagine that!Mike Vecchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016079615702702269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86669901486882899152008-07-07T21:14:00.000-04:002008-07-07T21:14:00.000-04:00My husband's a pack rat so when we had outside wor...My husband's a pack rat so when we had outside work done with a huge dumpster trekked in, I got up early and hauled all his garbage out of the garage and dumped it. That was last spring and he still hasn't missed it. I'm a minimalist, btw. And I'm with Rosemary on white. A chunk of pasta sauce will land in the vicinity of my boob every time.Deb Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553920518121536568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89234008215583443392008-07-07T21:08:00.000-04:002008-07-07T21:08:00.000-04:00Please..I'm so timely I haven't seen a movie since...Please..I'm so timely I haven't seen a movie since Atonement. I did just score tix for the All-Star game though...Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78833500700333740452008-07-07T20:30:00.000-04:002008-07-07T20:30:00.000-04:00Speaking of too much stuff--you're so timely, RO--...Speaking of too much stuff--you're so timely, RO--anyone see <BR/>WALL-E? <BR/><BR/>(My grandson Eli was here this weekend..and I got to be with him at his very first movie.)Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36500570502256884552008-07-07T20:13:00.000-04:002008-07-07T20:13:00.000-04:00I hear ya, but I got a reality check when Goodwill...I hear ya, but I got a reality check when Goodwill gave me a list of things they wouldn't take ..including most clothing, bookcases, etc. I even registered with Freecycle, but couldn't bring myself to invite hordes of people to my home for free plastic garden chairs. Most of what's in the dumpster deserves to be there...stuff I thought I'd fix and never did, lattice from that never built pergola, broken plates for that mosaic project that's been on hold for five years...Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20527346633687841552008-07-07T20:05:00.000-04:002008-07-07T20:05:00.000-04:00But don't you feel guilty about throwing things aw...But don't you feel guilty about throwing things away instead of recycling them -- or giving them to someone else to recycle? Sustainability is the new chic. <BR/>I read recently that the world's scientists belive we have only 10 years to make major policy shifts to save the planet. Does it begin in our closets... or messy offices?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-560671530306710652008-07-07T19:25:00.000-04:002008-07-07T19:25:00.000-04:00I'm putting off starting book three until I can se...I'm putting off starting book three until I can see some wood (the surface of my desk) in the office. It is the same as brain clutter...all those business cards, articles torn out of papers..things I printed out from the inteernet and still haven't read. Gotta go.<BR/><BR/>Re white linen shirts. Hank, my darlin' you - and Roger Federer, who makes my heart go pitter pat...and once I get over the shock of his losing I will blog about him - look fabulous in them. I OTOH should be physically prevented from buying any white clothing. I am an absolute magnet for olive oil. Someone at the next table at dinner can have it on his salad and it will wind up on me. Now, black is another story. You can never have too many articles of clothing - or shoes - that are black.Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30009302100122171122008-07-07T17:56:00.000-04:002008-07-07T17:56:00.000-04:00Love it! Getting rid of the Feng Shui book is very...Love it! Getting rid of the Feng Shui book is very meta. And certainly means you have achieved the highest plane.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for being my enabler. I can't think of many people I'd rather have. Yes, Gaps are terrific, but they sometimes get twisty after you wash them. I'm kind of a JCrew girl. Can we now talk about white linen shirts?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75723174736173130822008-07-07T17:50:00.000-04:002008-07-07T17:50:00.000-04:00I love white tee shirts. You don't want to talk t...I love white tee shirts. You don't want to talk to me about white tee shirts, Hank, because then I'd just become your enabler.<BR/><BR/>In summer,I live in Gap or Ann Taylor white all-cotton tee shirts. Ralph Lauren used to make a wonderful one, cut just right, and then stopped. ::sniff::<BR/><BR/>I was a packrat until I got divorced in '92, and suddenly -- childless and single -- I was eager to be free of "stuff." Not just marriage stuff, but all the accumulated oh-gee-remember-this stuff from my childhood and adolescence. Why was I keeping a candy wrapper from a first date with a guy I later learned like to stalk his teachers with binoculars? I mean ... REALLY ... do I *need* that watermelon Jolly Rancher wrapper and its accumulated juju?<BR/><BR/>I think not.<BR/><BR/>These days I'm savage about either repurposing something or getting rid of it. I need "room to breathe", as the Japanese put it, in my closets, in my office, in my head.<BR/><BR/>Someone recommended a great fung shui book on this that I lept into with a glad cry, balking only when the chapter on the placement of the bed with respect to the windows transitioned to a chapter on the state of my bowels and the virtues of the high colonic. Wasn't really ready to go there with a fung shui book. So I got rid of it and the room felt much lighter, afterward. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29212160475982696352008-07-07T15:09:00.000-04:002008-07-07T15:09:00.000-04:00Good move on the blouse Jan! And I would like to r...Good move on the blouse Jan! And I would like to report excellent progress in my stepson's room. When I suggested we look things over this weekend (euphemism for clear this trash out,) he came up with the concept of "if I don't want it in my new apartment, why keep it here?"Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25660083027975172132008-07-07T13:36:00.000-04:002008-07-07T13:36:00.000-04:00Going to count t-shirts now.... Do you mean seven ...Going to count t-shirts now....<BR/> Do you mean seven short sleeved, seven long sleeved and seven v-necked? And do "new" and "Already-worn" count separately?<BR/><BR/>Good for you on the blouse donation, Jan.. You know that means a lovely wonderful blouse is coming your way, right?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57936449912228846652008-07-07T12:47:00.000-04:002008-07-07T12:47:00.000-04:00Hey Mike,I'm thinking of reorganizing my office, t...Hey Mike,<BR/>I'm thinking of reorganizing my office, too, in the hopes it will faciliate an easier transition into writing. I love writing. I just hate to start writing. I'm not sure a physical reorg will do the trick, though. Maybe need a mental reorg. <BR/><BR/>HANK, I agree shoes count as one.<BR/>More than seven white t-shirts is probably too many.<BR/><BR/>And Roberta, I can report an important toss. Last week, I threw away a never worn, Ann Taylor blouse. I actually bought it to wear to my mother's wake (its dark colored print) and It's a really, really lovely blouse, a classic style that never goes out, but my mother died six years ago, and I still haven't worn it..... So FINALLY,I gave it to the Goodwill. You think it was time?Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57115990455004304672008-07-07T12:10:00.000-04:002008-07-07T12:10:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rosemary Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033747422699443024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88927715658298345852008-07-06T21:45:00.000-04:002008-07-06T21:45:00.000-04:00Ohhhh... I'm not touchin' this one with ten foot p...Ohhhh... I'm not touchin' this one with ten foot pole! Okay, I will.<BR/><BR/>I actually have threatened to have a dumpster dropped off in my driveway!<BR/><BR/>I'm sure if I did, my wife would have a smile on her face for the rest of this century - maybe even a few decades longer!<BR/><BR/>It's really funny. This is part of my journey as a writer. I need to revamp my office and office space to support my authorhsip.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, for me, many times the decision has come down to - continue to work on your writing or take a "small" side trip and save some lives. Literally, it comes down to exactly that. The device I am working with has over 30 testimonials stating that it saved their lives in rollover crash. And, then there is the military work I just finished to save lives in Iraq.<BR/><BR/>So, you ask, what does this have to do with tossing stuff out? After Elizabeth Lyon's comments, it seems to me I need to focus on writing and I need the space for that. I just bought a 22" Dell monitor that gives enough real estate to have both the manuscript AND my plotting/storyboard software up.<BR/><BR/>However, my office in it's current configuration is overun with all manner of technical goodies, final reports from 3 or 4 years ago, income taxes for my business etc. etc. My file drawers are stuffed.<BR/><BR/>I need to generate a functional writing area that supports theme generation, plotting, character development etc. etc...<BR/><BR/>Where or where did I leave my shovel???<BR/><BR/>What I told my wife is that once you realize the cost of these attachments in terms of interrupting who you wish to become there really is no decision to make is there?<BR/><BR/>MikeMike Vecchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016079615702702269noreply@blogger.com