While the garbage taker outer is away...

I clear clutter.

My husband is out of town for the week.  He's visiting his family in the mid-West.  His nephew is getting married.  It's his second marriage, so we didn't think it was necessary for me to use vacation time and go along with him.  He decided to drive.  It's 1000 miles.  Since it's a long drive he decided to incorporate a visit to his aunt's lake house and visit his aunt and his cousins.  It's on the way and he loves it there.  He spent much of his youth visiting his aunt and uncle and cousins at that house in the summers.  It feels like home to him.

While he's gone I have to take care of the dog and the house and do the chores he typically does.  One of those chores is taking out the garbage.  This is an opportunity to put things into the garbage that often get taken out when the regular garbage taker outer takes out the garbage.  This is what I hear at these auspicious times.  "Hey!!! Why are you throwing THIS away?"  Yeah, when the regular garbage taker outer isn't here, I don't have to hear that.

So I'm taking advantage of this time.

Since I'm telling you all of this I thought I would share a little something something I found on the internet about decluttering.  This is from a post from Colleen Madsen of 365 Less Things. (the comments are mine)
1. Stop the Flow of Stuff Coming In. Decluttering is a waste of time if you simply replace the old stuff with new. Determine today to buy less. Trust me, you won’t regret it.  You've seen the TV show Hoarders, haven't you?

2. Declutter at Least One Item a Day. Decluttering does not have to be a mad frenzy that disrupts your entire household.  She says one item a day.  I like to use the biblical number of perfection and throw out seven items each day.  You can do what you like, but throwing things away is a good thing.

3. Declutter the Easy Stuff First. There is no need to make things difficult by trying to declutter the hardest things first.  Yep, baby steps.  Start with the things that are cluttering up the inside of your drawers before you start getting rid of the furniture.

4. Put a Disposal Plan in Place. Make a plan for your junk.  eBay, Freecycle, Craigslist, and our local thrift store are my favorite disposal options.

5. Decide to Not Keep Things out of Guilt or Obligation. Your home should only contain the things you love or use. You don't have to keep that ugly painting your sister-in-law gave you as a wedding gift. Seriously, throw that kind of stuff away.

6. Do Not Be Afraid to Let Go. The urge to hold on to items you think you might need someday can be eliminated simply by being realistic about what need really is.  When you think about it (or watch Hoaders) and you think you may use something you find in your closet or garage or junk room (oh please, if you have a junk room you are in desperate need of this blog post) throw it out.  That's what stores are for. Stores are for buying things you need, right now.  Not later.

7. Gifts Do Not Have to be Material. Give clutter-free gifts. Encourage people to follow this concept when buying gifts for you. Cash is a great gift.  And if you are cleaning out a drawer and you find cash, put it in your wallet.

8. Do Not Over-Equip Your Home. You don't need enough kitchenware and bedding to supply the 7th fleet.  Buy what you need.  Not more.

9. Do Not Declutter Things that are not Yours Without the Owner’s Permission. Everyone should have a choice about their own belongings, even small children. Honor them by allowing them to choose. You can encourage hoarding tendencies in others by ripping things away from them before they are ready to let go. (actually, this surprised me.  I'm sharing it with you even though I'm tossing stuff while my husband is away.  I can't imagine asking him about every little thing.  that being said, I would never toss something that I knew was dear to him without asking.)

10. Do Not Waste Your Life on Clutter. Don't let your stuff control your life.  Your stuff has needs.  It needs to be cleaned, fixed, insured, moved, etc., etc.  Spend you life with the people you love.  Spend your life doing what you love to do.  Get rid of things that are barriers between you and your life.

391.  Spellcheck
392.  Texting
393.  Photoshop
394.  Google maps
395.  Gmail private messaging
396.  Scanning
397.  Blogs
398.  Bloggers
399.  YouTube
400.  The Internet!!!

Not my best week

This has been a tough week for me.  It started off with me alone.  My husband went on a weekend adventure to AC with his buddies to play in a poker tournament.  I was lonely last weekend.  I don't know how come I've grown so attached to him of late.  Immediately after we married my husband and I left for our honeymoon.  This is normal.  Most newly married couples go on a honeymoon just after they marry.  Our trip was just a bit different.  We married in Chicago, honeymooned in Knoxville, TN and visited the World's Fair.  Do they even have those anymore?  I haven't heard of them lately.  We chose the World's Fair because it was something to do on the way from Chicago to Jacksonville, FL.  I was being whisked away from my home in Chicago to live in Jacksonville, FL.  This is where my husband was stationed.  He was in an S3 squadron called The Maulers.

You can ask me anything you'd like about that World's Fair.  I don't remember anything.  Oh, maybe I remember the China exhibit a bit.  I think they brought the terra cotta army.  But I could be wrong about this.  All I could think about was, "I'm married, and my husband is going out to sea for nine months when we get to Jacksonville."  I didn't really know anyone in Jacksonville.  I'd met a few of the wives in the squadron, but not many.  And, they had kids.  I didn't.

We made it to Jacksonville a week after our wedding day.  The next day, he left.  The end of my honeymoon was the beginning of my life as a navy wife.  This was the beginning of my life being married and on my own.  And, I was good at it.

So, a week after we kissed and said "I do," we kissed and said "good bye."  I adjusted very well to navy life.  I loved the freedom of being married, but on my own.  And, for the next 16 years of marriage I was on my own, off and on.  Sometimes it was harder to have him home than it was to have him gone.

Now, I don't like him gone.  I miss him.  So, that is how this week began.  And, I had a crummy migraine to match my crummy mood.  And, the migraine lasted for three days.  I had to take Monday off work because of it.  I didn't want to do this, but I didn't have a choice.  Ouch.  I'm going to blame this headache on Tamoxifen, just because I hate Tamoxifen and blame all evil in the world on Tamoxifen, but... it may have been the heat.  Who knows?

Anyway, the week didn't start out well.  Then I wrote the post about money.  I'm thinking, I shouldn't have done that.  This post fell flat.  Seriously.  I lost 20 fb friends.  Seriously.  I don't know why I let things like fb and whether or not my posts resonate with people effect how I feel about myself, but sometimes I do.  Btw, I'm going to blame this on Tamoxifen, too.  Anyway, I was kind of proud of the money post.  Yet, hardly anyone else seemed to "like" it.  Maybe I'm out of style.  Maybe I'm behind the times.  Maybe I'm just DOING IT wrong, when it comes to money.  Any of the ways you look at it...  I started feeling down.

So, I gave myself a little pity party yesterday and tried to get over it.  I'm almost over it.

This weekend I will freeze tomatoes for winter use.  I will freeze peaches for winter sunshine.  I will make pickles.  And, I'm going to load up my eBay page with items to sell.  I'm going to get back to myself and do what makes me feel good about myself.  Maybe I'll take a few pics and share them with you.  Maybe.

The Sunsphere

Updates and random thoughts

I have an update on my ongoing romance with tamoxifen.  I have to have a endometrial biopsy.  Evidently, ladies, your endometrial layer should be 4 mm.  Mine, however, is a WHOPPING 1 cm.  So, off I go for more testing.  :)

I've become a Power Seller on eBay. What does this mean, you may ask.  One thing it means is that I've been working eBay like it's a job and not just an enjoyable hobby.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I sold a LOT of silver coins on eBay.  They're on to me.  In fact, eBay powers that be, are so "in tune" with the climate of the marketplace, they have opened a Precious Metal Bullion section of eBay.  I guess they heard the price of silver had risen.  Don't they read my blog?  I don't think I'm going to be a power seller for long.  Alas, the well has run dry.  :)

I haven't been to the gym in 2 weeks.  Yeah, I'm feeling lazy and tired.  Not a good combination.  I'm going with the fewer calories in, in order to fit in my pants.  I need to turn this action around soon.  :)

I'm going to San Diego, CA in a couple weeks.  I haven't been there in 21 years.  I'm sure it's changed a lot.  If anyone wants to tell me fun things to do while I'm there, please do.  I'm staying in the gas lamp district.  I've never been there.  I've heard about a mystery dinner theater.  Is that a fun thing to do?  I'm open to suggestions.  I'll even consider going to the zoo, but it's not my favorite idea.  :)

This is my 99th post on my blog.  Wow.  99.  I know a lot of you have WAY more than this, but this is where I am.  For my 100th post I'm going to write 100 things about me.  I wonder if I can think of 100 things?  :)

Last Friday my boss asked me how to make a smiley face on the computer.  :)  I told him how and when he looked at it he said, "That's not a smiley face."  *shrug*

I read a blog about not having expectations about other people.  The example given was this.  If you ask someone to do something for you, and they say they will do it, and then they don't do it, don't get upset.  Adults can do whatever they want.  If they don't want to do something they've committed to doing, that's just the way it goes.  It was your fault for expecting them to do what they said they were going to do.  Huh?  I've got to think about this some more.  I'm just not getting something.  :)

Canada's postal system is on strike.  How can they do that?  I've got a buyer for eBay stuff and I can't mail it to them.  I guess I'll use UPS.  *rhymes*   :)

I've been having a hard time writing poetry.  I admire the blogging poets I read.  I don't know how your minds work, but it must be busy in there.  :)

I'm getting over the idea that my blog is going viral.  haha  Last month I wrote a post, I took an arrow in the chest.  I don't know what happened, but it kept getting page view after page view.  (us blogger have a dashboard that we can see these things on)  Anyway, for a month, I thought I was pretty darn popular.  Now things are back to "normal" and I'm feeling kinda down about it.  I've got to get over myself.  :)

All in all, life is good.  It's the end of the fiscal year at work.  This will keep me busy at work.  I think I'll buy a new book for my kindle.  Something entertaining and not controversial.  There's enough controversial stuff out in the blogosphere.  :)

Making money in Atlantic City

Hi all.  I'm in Atlantic City this weekend.  I came with my girlfriend (the one that questioned the irony of my name) to AC.  She's visiting her family in NJ and I'm making money by chilling in the swanky hotel room.  Really, I am.  Now we all know they don't keep the lights on in those casinos by giving away the money.  Check out what has been happening at the Tropicana this past week.  Can you say "pay out 11 MILLION!!!" 

Yeah, I'd never have the guts to make the kind of bet it would take to win that kind of cash. 

To be completely honest, I'm not a betting kind of girl.  I just can't do it.  So, why do I go to Atlantic City?  My answer is, it is just good to get away sometimes.  I'm enjoying my time away.  I'm relaxing.  I walked on the boardwalk.

Yep, walked.  I didn't take a ride in one of those carts.

I'm way too cheap to pay those prices.  I went and got a pedicure.  And, I made money.  Yep, I'm back on eBay selling silver.  Sure, the price isn't as high as it used to be, but... there is still money to be made out there people.  I have my camera and my laptop and I'm snapping pics and writing descriptions and adding items to my sell page on eBay.  I know this isn't romantic, but I enjoy it.  This is my kind of gambling.  I just can't do the slots or the tables.  Congrats to the big winners, but I'll make my money the old fashioned way.  Working for it. 

Silver Star or the roller coaster of precious metals

The Silver Star is a roller coaster in Rust, Germany.  The precious metal market is a roller coaster the world has been riding these recent weeks.  Click, click, click... the ride has been going up the hill.  And now... WHEEEEE!!!  Silver is down $4.00 today.  You may or may not have followed my journey of selling my silver.  It certainly can be Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.  You may or may not know I convinced my father to open his safe after 20 years and let me sell his silver.  Anyway, it's all on me now.  I promised my dad I'd make him some money and now I must keep my word.  Because you may or may not know that keeping my word is one of my strong character traits.  So, tonight I will be busy photographing, describing, sorting, uploading and just plain DEALING with the silver coins my father has entrusted to me.  I'm feeling pressure to do well for my father and my husband.  It is the strangest thing.  This little hobby I've had, selling my clutter on eBay, has become important to two men who are so important to me.  I don't want to let them down.  I'm feeling pressure, also, because time may be short for the silver BOOM.  So, if you've been on the fence about this money making scheme, don't wait too much longer. 

I'm just sayin'.  Wheeeeeeee...

Silver Star Wikipedia

Random thoughts and updates

This post would have been MUCH more interesting had it been written yesterday.  I took a sick day yesterday and had plenty of time and energy to write a post, but for some strange reason my internet provider could not keep the internet capabilities up and running.  Too bad, no refunds.  This is just how it goes some days.

Update number one.  How did I do selling my silver coins on eBay?  I did GREAT!!!  It was so exciting.  My husband and I sat together at his desk.  He on his desktop PC and me on my laptop macbook.  We took turns updating each coin as it came to the end of its auction time.  There was much laughing  and "oh mys" and just great rejoicing all around.  Fun fun fun.  My husband was able to make almost a 400% return on his coins after holding them for 18 years.  I think he did well.  And, I helped.

We had a lovely Easter Sunday.  Church was beautiful.  The sermon was uplifting and hopeful.  I sat next to my doctor and I didn't even know she went to that church.  Maybe she doesn't, but she was there for Easter Sunday.  My son came to church with us even though he had stayed up the whole night before playing Portal 2.  He did it for me and I appreciated it.  My husband had to go to his office and work on his dissertation (of course) directly after the service and I made a delicious leg of lamb.  It turned out perfectly.  I made roasted root vegetables to go with it.  I wish I had pictures.  I really need to start taking pictures.

After dinner I packaged up all the coins and got them ready for mailing on Monday morning.  It was a lot of work, but so worth it.  Then I went for a lovely walk with my husband around the neighborhood and worked up quite a sweat.  I've REALLY got to get serious about regular exercise.  I'm slacking off again and it makes me think less of myself.  See how all these random thoughts are just kind of running through my head?
I had ordered a new bathing suit from Dillard's on line.  It is sitting IN THE BOX on my bedroom floor MOCKING ME.  I know I need to try it on and discover if, in fact, I have a bathing suit to wear on my vacation.  But, I HATE trying on bathing suits.  I mean, who doesn't?  Even in the privacy of my own bedroom I HATE TRYING ON BATHING SUITS.  Maybe I'll have a cocktail before I do it.

As I said earlier, I took Monday off.  I was sick *cough cough*.  I went to the MVA and got my new driver license.  I went to the base and got a new base sticker for my car.  And then I went home and took a nap.  It was a lovely day.  I rarely take a nap and usually only when I am ill.  So, I guess taking a nap on a day I call in sick (*cough cough*) is appropriate.  Then I made barbecued chicken with roasted root vegetables for the family.  It was delicious.  I REALLY need to start taking pictures.

Thanks for taking a moment to catch up with me.  I'm back at work and all is well with the world.  Oh, did I tell you tomorrow is Administrative Professionals Day?  Yeah, it is.  Also known as Secretary's Day.  Yeah, I'm a secretary.  I will get taken out to lunch at the restaurant of my choice (I choose a NICE restaurant) and I will be given a pot of petunias.  Petunias need sun to grow and flower and my house is in the midst of a thick woods (no sun).  I will say thank you and enjoy the attention.  I CAN'T WAIT.

Silver Rush

I've shared in this little blog that I am clearing clutter in my home by selling items on eBay and packing them in boxes and shipping them to new homes.  I love it.  I love the thrill of the auction.  I love seeing my price go from RED to GREEN.  I just, downright, enjoy it.  But, I have to admit, it is a bit like a glorified garage sale for me.  I rarely get more money than I paid for the item I sell.  Well, once I had a stack of 12 Martha Stewart Living magazines go for $160.  I was BESIDE myself.  I had found a TREASURE in my closet.  Who knew?  However, this is FAR from the norm.  But, I still LOVE it.

My husband has decided to join in my fun.  And now to explain the title of this blog.  Silver is at an ALL TIME HIGH.  Currently silver is selling for $45 an ounce.  This is a very high price.  The last time silver was selling at this level was in 1980 when the Hunt brothers cornered the silver market.  There was a day known as Silver Thursday when the Hunt brothers were issued a margin call.  If you don't remember or know the story, enjoy.  Who says you can't learn anything on the internet and reading blogs is a waste of brain power.  Consider this a history lesson as well as an economics lesson.  Wow, I've certainly digressed.  My husband is a numismatist.  He really enjoys his hobby.  I have to say this was one of the sexy things I saw in him.  I mean, a guy who collects MONEY.  What is NOT SEXY about this???

Dear husband is selling some of his collection on my eBay account.  And IT IS EXCITING.  I'm hoping he will sell his coins for the price he hopes for.  I started all his auctions at $.99.  This makes me nervous, but whatchagonnado?  Feel free to take a look at his items.  It's going to be fun to watch his items sell.  *I hope*  I'm so happy he trusts me enough to put these items in my care.  He usually uses a professional coin trading company, but this time he's using ME.

If any of you have some dusty coin collections in your closets and have a need to make some extra cash, now is the time to consider selling.  Remember, we are talking Silver.  Check out the market, don't just take my word for it.  And, there is always a chance the price of silver will go even HIGHER.

This is not my typical prose for Emily's link, but I'm sharing an interest I have and something that is making my life a little more exciting than usual.  I hope you enjoyed it.

I took this picture

$0.99

I love eBay.  I love selling my stuff on eBay.  My husband thinks it's so funny.  He says I clean out my closets by packing everything in boxes and padded envelopes and bring it to the Post Office.  

I get a rush seeing $0.99 turn into $0.99 and then, if I'm incredibly lucky, $1.00 or $2.00 or even $3.00.  What a RUSH!  I really enjoy this as much as I really HATE garage sales.  I don't like people touching my things.  I don't like it when I've taken the time to put a price tag of $0.25 on something and then the buyer has the unmitigated gaul to offer me a dime.  Anyway, I like eBay.

I'm clearing my clutter.  I'm getting rid of projects I'm no longer interested in pursuing.  I'm freeing myself of clothes I will never wear again.  I'm creating empty shelf space.  I'm opening up room to breath.  I'm clearing space in my home for open space.

Possibilities.

Oh, and I made $10.98 last week.