Closing out for the year

The good news is that they're not open all the time. On the other hand, the time they are open is just when I'm apt to be out and about.

They do dinner, too?

I've cut way down on sweets in the last, uh, twenty years, but I still like them sometimes, though I tend to be ms. picky. Diane had a pineapple coconut muffin that was calling my name from across the table.

Luckily I'd just had some late breakfast pizza (healthful, ya know, made by herself, kidding) so abstained.
This time.

So strong of you!

No. Egads..
on the other hand, I'd probably hang out there if they did. There's close to zilch "exotic" food here, me from a city of thousands of small places with food from around the world. (Mustn't whine)

No, you mustn't.

Accounting system had developed some glitches and inconveniences, so am redoing the whole thing from scratch. Did a good back up incase I need the old data for reference, deleted old 'company', uninstalled and reinstalled the program. Right now am busy taking a break from entering the chart of accounts with balances. I might as well have a job!

Oh, I bit the bullet and started DSL between Christmas and New Year's Day. Dial up was kind of slow, but got progressively worse in the last three months or so.

So far, I've managed to ignore that place. Having that awful gold buying shop next door with the big signs plastered all over it helps a lot. I don't want to go anywhere near that place either.

Thank you to Osso and Olga. It's been quite tough.

To my wife's credit, if she hadn't helped me out, I would have been over the edge.

Happy new year to you.

I haven't used a wall calendar for years, the computer will move the birthdays and such over for me. I will add anything special like weddings, bat mitzvahs, planned trips, conferences, lectures etc.

I'll skip all the business related new year stuff, that would take up pages. House wise it's the only time of year I get to do what I call a deep cleaning - everything is pulled apart, cleaned and its fate is determined by whether or not I enjoyed cleaning it. The no longer loved is sold (Ebay/Etsy) or donated. All the drawers are emptied, inventoried and reorganized. Same for the closets and basement. Clothing is assessed and either thrown into the work clothing pile (stained/damaged, but still comfortable), put in the Goodwill box or returned to a hanger or shelf. Some things get rewashed or mended, if required. Any interior painting gets done.

Books are reconsidered: Will I read it again; can I get the same information off the internet or from the local library; is this volume worth the space it takes up? Last year I got rid of 2 book cases and made our home office less cluttered.

I also clean out the pantry and basement freezer looking for old dates and to throw out stuff I realize is just never going to be eaten (I told my husband he didn't like wasabi peas, but he didn't believe me and bought a big bag full - last year at this time). We also check out fire extinguishers and fire alarm batteries (we heat primarily with wood) like good rural citizens.

I clean out our (computer) address book looking for the dead or MIAs who I don't care to find and delete them. I also make it a habit to send notes to people who I do want to keep in contact with and ask them to update me (via snail mail or email) as what they have been up to.

Each year I actually look to live more comfortably with less. I hope by the time I'm in my elder years I can go back to a life like I lived as a student. Back then it took me about an hour to clean and organize my tiny apartment and possessions . The majority of my time could be spent with people I loved doing cheap things like drinking coffee in cafes, visiting museums and taking long, chatty walks. The one big difference being that in my later years I won't have to worry about what I should do when I grow up.

Hoping your new year brings better things Reyn.

Just wrote out the check for property taxes.

It's on my To Do list. Where I live (The Sticks) it's not a big deal.

Yeh, I noticed that.

I don't alter my routine at New Year. Don't change much but the calendar. Spring and fall are my times for these things.