Saturday, I had a relaxed morning and played on the computer for some time. Then, had a cold cuts sandwich for brunch.
In the afternoon, I took some of the chocolate cake I might or might not have baked yesterday, over to neighbor T, who doesn't bake and who likes it when I bake! LOL. I also spoke with cousin P, who called to confirm that I will be going to the monthly prayer gathering, tomorrow, and will be giving her a ride.
Later in the afternoon, I cleared the filing backlog and began cleaning out some of my files. They were mostly work-related files. I tossed the file folder of various certificates stating that I had successfully completed various training courses for work, but couldn't bring myself to toss a certificate of appreciation I had received for my work from a now-defunct board of commissioners. I tossed some memos pertaining to time off for various medical conditions and was tearing up parking related documents (applications for on-site parking and approval confirmation, etc.) when I suddenly realized that some of these papers had, not only my car license number and my driver's license number, but, also, my social security number! Oops! I had to retrieve what I had already torn up and re-tear them in smaller bits!
And then, I came across a couple of other files that I had put aside during an earlier file cleaning session. Almost three years ago, I found myself unable to toss the contents of these files and I had put them aside to go through them another, later date. I wrote about it here, at the time. I couldn't toss them, today, either. I am still a sentimental fool and I had to stop cleaning the files because I was unable to go on.
I watched a National Geographic TV show called "Wild Sri Lanka" while I filed, and, later, some news and a music program. I knitted while I watched the music program and I did a load of laundry. Dinner was the rest of the roast beef I had thawed and had for my dinner, yesterday, too. Later in the night, I video chatted with my daughter. She had gone to see a performance of Hello Dolly with some friends and friends of friends and to dinner, afterwards. I'm glad she had a fun evening out with friends.
Today, I am grateful for:
- What I was able to accomplish, today
- Getting caught up on the filing backlog
- The sunny day
- Fun TV programs to watch
- Daughter having a fun evening with her friends
Saturday's To Do List:
- Finish up the paperwork backlog - DONE
- Clear the family room coffee table - DONE
- Another load of laundry? - DONE (hanging up to dry, overnight)
- Take a piece of cake over to neighbor T - DONE
- Change the clocks before I go to sleep in the night - Will do after this post
Sunday's To Do List:
- Put away the laundry from today
- Attend the monthly prayer gathering
- Change my bed sheets
- Do another load of laundry (the bed sheets)
How was your Saturday? What are your plans for Sunday?
Our active files could use a clean out, too, as the drawer is getting full. I don't see it happening in the near future because there are other things more important to get done now. But it's on the list.
ReplyDeleteAs long as it is on the list, Live and Learn. :) I am thinking of weeding out a file or two a day, to make it a more manageable task. We'll see how much progress I'll make!
DeleteHooray for cleaning up your filing backlog. Doesn't it feel wonderful? Now you just need to have one folder on your desk for "Pending" which you just need to go through once a week. At least, that is what the experts say. My pending "folder" is usually that pile of papers that always ends up on top of my printer. Ha,ha. I try like you do, to go through my paper files once in a while to see if there is anything I missed that could be purged. Usually though, I am shredding papers while I am filing others. (eg. replacing last month's invoice marked paid with the latest month's invoice) If it is a receipt for a home maintenance purchase or work done on the car that I want to hang on to, I move that receipt to a different file folder marked for that purpose. I also keep emails and communications from representatives in their corresponding folders. These are strictly business papers.
ReplyDeleteMy memories and keepsakes are nowhere near my desk. They are kept in scrapbooks, boxes, or drawers to be brought out and enjoyed by me whenever I want. You wouldn't believe the amount of sentimentals I keep. They bring me joy and I won't be parting with them. I will leave that work to someone else after I am gone. They will get to decide what to keep and what to purge. They will decide what is sentimental to them, not what they think was important to me. It won't matter to me anymore because I will be gone, and I HAD my full enjoyment of items I kept. Those papers of your mothers are important and sentimental to you. You should keep them for as long as you desire and enjoy them. If you can't part with them, then don't. Those memories should never make you feel guilty for hanging on to them.
Thank you, Susan. Yes, it is good to feel I am caught up with the backlog. :)
DeleteI have 2 file folders on my desk - one is marked "For Action" with a few papers I need to do something about, like a survey for one of my doctors; the other is marked "Filing", which is currently empty! Ideally, the week's worth of filing will be put into this folder to be filed on "Desk Day", once (or maybe twice) a week. We shall see how that works! Ha, ha!
Thank you, Susan, for sharing your wisdom with me. I think I've been reading too many articles about how hard it is for adult children who have to clear out the parental homes and how it is our duty to them to have as little for them to sort out as possible. :) I've been thinking I need to make it less of a burden for my daughter. My mother didn't have a separate household for me to clear and she wasn't very sentimental, either, so the few things she kept seem even more special to me. But, you are right - she had her full enjoyment of the items she kept and I have the right to enjoy what I decide to keep. :)
Oh, how wonderful that your daughter got to see Hello Dolly! I missed it when it was here at the Pantages. I really wanted to see it. I worked with Carol Channing, who played the original Dolly on Broadway. It looks like a marvelous production.
ReplyDeleteI thought of you when she told me which show she had been to see, because I remembered reading on your blog that you had worked with Carol Channing. My daughter really enjoyed the show, she said. She took part in drama during high school, as an optional 7th period (after regular school) class and truly enjoyed it. She even won the school's drama & acting award, one year, which was a total surprise to her as she wasn't even in the school's EMA (Entertainment, Music, Acting) program!
DeleteOops, sorry, EMA apparently stands for Entertainment and Media Academy! I always thought it was Entertainment, Music, and Acting! LOL!
DeleteI think those precious files from your mother might become precious to your daughter one day. Some items are just too important to us to toss. I have a little notebook that my mother copied recipes in during WW2. It is a treasure that I would not part with. I have a few letters from deceased family members that will not be tossed either.
ReplyDeleteSaturday's weather was amazing, sunny and mild, and DH and I went for a walk. This morning we woke up to find that snow was falling, oh, and DH turned on his computer and found the time had changed! We hadn't known about it for some reason, but thank goodness there was still time to dress and have breakfast and get to church in good time.
Bushlady, I, too, have a note book in which my mother wrote down recipes, in the 50s and 60s. That is something I will keep. My daughter isn't interested in the quotes, etc., that her grandmother copied. She told me to toss them. I do have an idea as to what I can do with some of them...a little project I have been intending to do, someday. That someday might be soon!
DeleteHow lovely that you had a sunny, mild day in which to enjoy a walk! Yes, time change went into effect, early this morning! I was still on the computer when I saw the clock change from 1:59 to 3:00 a.m.! I'm glad you were still able to make it to church in good time. Now, I am humming that song from My Fair Lady, about getting to the church on time! :D
Sounds like you had a productive day. I too did paperwork this week - filing, shredding etc.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I too find it difficult to get rid of sentimental stuff. I'm much better now, I used to collect all sorts of papers for sentimental reasons. Now I try to think memories are more important than bits of paper, but still I tend to keep old letters, photos etc.
You were busy, this past week! You are right - memories are more important than the bits of paper, etc., but, sometimes, the bits of paper help to jog the memories; especially when one gets to my age! :D
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