As I sit here trying to write this week's column, I'm finding it hard with my limited attention span to concentrate on the task at hand with David sitting next to me in his recliner shredding papers like a Watergate conspirator. Why is he doing that, you ask? Well, I'll tell ya. We bought a small file cabinet when we first moved into this house over 20 years ago which we filled with so many papers that we cannot cram anymore in it. I started putting new papers needing to be filed into a drawer in our no longer needed or used desktop computer desk. (Another thing we need to purge.) We've found old receipts and such from as far back as 2004 so I guess we didn't start using it immediately but still... Now it is overflowing so something had to be done. If left up to me it'd never get done as I seriously don't like 'adulting'. 'Out of sight, out of mind' seems to be the mantra I follow the most.
I'm always nervous about destroying any old papers even though I know if we haven't needed them by now, we never will but my tendency to hang onto things makes my brain scream 'Nooo, you can't throw that away!' What if the IRS suddenly decides it needs that old receipt from 15 years ago? I know they only go back seven, but my mind is not always rational when it comes to such things.
Of course, this same attitude has spilled over into every other aspect of my life which explains the 'Fibber' closet. Honestly, I want to purge this house of so many things and be able to feel like we have a nice, neat, organized home but as soon as I think I'm ready to do it, something holds me back. What I usually end up doing is taking things I think I'll be able to part with and putting them into boxes and storing them in the garage. That's not going to work much longer since it and the storage, I mean the storm, room is already filled to the proverbial rafters.
Anyway, I am happy to say that this week doesn't look as grim as the last two weeks have. It seemed like everything was breaking down, including my sanity, but we are finally getting back on track. After more money than I care to admit to spending, we (and by we I mean David) got the fireplace back up and running like new for about a quarter of the cost of a new one. I cannot believe how much those darn things cost nowadays. If it weren't for the fact that we've gotten spoiled with having a remotecontrolled fireplace to use for ambiance and warmth, I'd have balked at the cost, but I'm so attached to having one I just couldn't let it sit there with its fake logs and do nothing.
I had a bit of bad news concerning my baby laptop. The poor thing is so old that I cannot find a replacement battery. The technician could not find a battery for me either and if he can't then I'm sure they no longer exist. I did get the good news that once he pulled out the broken part of the charger cord I was able to buy a new one and it still works. I was absolutely amazed that something as delicate as a laptop could be jerked off a table and onto a hardwood floor and still work. Now I won't have any more excuses for putting off making the remaining three embroidered Christmas stockings I need for the three new family members. About the time I think I'm done, BAM, someone else comes into the fold and I'm lovin' it.
In between fixing the fireplace and me having my electronics back, David has also had to replace the doorbell and put more batteries in the outdoor camera. Our indoor/outdoor temperature/ rain gauge thingamabob is acting up again. Just last month David replaced the batteries, but it seems to be on the blink again. It may be getting too old to work anymore. Right now, it is reading -40º outside. It's cold but it's not nearly that cold–yet. We may have to bite the bullet on this one and get a replacement. I like looking at it to see how much rain we've gotten. It also gives wind speed and a bunch of other stuff I tend to not pay much attention to, but I like it.
David and I have gotten way too attached to all the nifty gadgets in our home but what else do we have to do? Retirees have to find their entertainment where they can.