Real World Event Discussions
In the garden, and RAIN!!! (2)
POSTED BY: SIGNYM
UPDATED: Friday, September 11, 2026 15:29
VIEWED: 338648
PAGE 690 of 834
Monday, March 30, 2026 11:53 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:
Originally posted by 6ixStringJack:
I did something I rarely ever do today...
I hung a few paintings up.
My old man came by with them maybe 6 months ago. They'd been hanging in his house for maybe 30 years by now. But every once in a while my step-mom gets it in her head she wants to update a room and whatever was in there gets replaced. I can't remember where they were hung in that house, but my old man said that he always liked them.
They're just two thin and tall paintings of some trees and water and just general tranquility is the vibe. I've had them leaned up against my curio cabinet that I restored years back and I got the idea in my head that they would look really nice on both sides of that cabinet. The cabinet was centered directly underneath the white air return duct by the ceiling, and the on the left side of the cabinet was also the dimmer switch for the chandelier going up to the 2nd floor and the window/door trim that I used to flesh out the entryway to the two staircases there. It turned out that the left painting would fit perfectly between all of that stuff and the left edge of the curio cabinet, and then all I'd have to do is line up everything when hanging the right painting.
Just finished that and I'm really happy with how it turned out. It got me to finally get a bunch of crap like books that I had stacked on that thing over the years, and I want to clean out what I've got inside of it now too. I've got my veteran uncle's flag from his funeral on the top shelf, but it's kind of been buried behind things like Christmas cards and stuff that doesn't need to be up there. It didn't come with a stand, so I think I want to make one or find one that was designed for that job, and I think I'll put that as the only piece on the top of the cabinet.
In any event, I'll stop using that as a catch-all for things I bring in the house now.
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Be Nice. Don't be a dick.
I know what you mean about paintings. I was given one earlier this year and I still haven't put it because I keep changing my mind on where it should go.
One of these days I have to make up my mind and do it.
If you're like me, you're probably never going to be happy with it.
Almost immediately after I did it, I thought of another arrangement that might have looked better. I would keep the one on the left exactly where it is (the one on the right side of the stairwells and above the dimmer switch), and the other one would be put on the other side of the opening to the stairs in the kitchen.
I dunno though... I think it would look good that way, but only from certain perspectives. If you were sitting down almost anywhere in the living room, you wouldn't see the other one in the kitchen unless you were all the way down at the end of the room. And if you're all the way over there, you likely wouldn't see much if any of the first painting since it would be hidden behind the curio cabinet. And having only that one painting in the kitchen would probably look weird since I don't plan on hanging anything else up there.
I dunno. I really like where it's at now, but I need to do some work clearing out that curio cabinet. The top that should look nice has become my home for paperwork and junk mail. I've kind of let the drawer and the cabinet beneath it become my catch-all for tech and wires and stuff, and I can guarantee that most of the stuff in there hasn't gotten any use in 2 or 3 years.
Old me would have said I needed more storage space, but I'll bet that I can throw out quite a bit from that space below the drawer and get most of that stuff hidden so I can have just the nice things to look at up there. The paintings look great, but the cabinet is detracting from them right now.
...
I am thinking back to when my friend sold his house
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 4:15 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by 6ixStringJack:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:Quote:
Originally posted by 6ixStringJack:
I did something I rarely ever do today...
I hung a few paintings up.
My old man came by with them maybe 6 months ago. They'd been hanging in his house for maybe 30 years by now. But every once in a while my step-mom gets it in her head she wants to update a room and whatever was in there gets replaced. I can't remember where they were hung in that house, but my old man said that he always liked them.
They're just two thin and tall paintings of some trees and water and just general tranquility is the vibe. I've had them leaned up against my curio cabinet that I restored years back and I got the idea in my head that they would look really nice on both sides of that cabinet. The cabinet was centered directly underneath the white air return duct by the ceiling, and the on the left side of the cabinet was also the dimmer switch for the chandelier going up to the 2nd floor and the window/door trim that I used to flesh out the entryway to the two staircases there. It turned out that the left painting would fit perfectly between all of that stuff and the left edge of the curio cabinet, and then all I'd have to do is line up everything when hanging the right painting.
Just finished that and I'm really happy with how it turned out. It got me to finally get a bunch of crap like books that I had stacked on that thing over the years, and I want to clean out what I've got inside of it now too. I've got my veteran uncle's flag from his funeral on the top shelf, but it's kind of been buried behind things like Christmas cards and stuff that doesn't need to be up there. It didn't come with a stand, so I think I want to make one or find one that was designed for that job, and I think I'll put that as the only piece on the top of the cabinet.
In any event, I'll stop using that as a catch-all for things I bring in the house now.
--------------------------------------------------
Be Nice. Don't be a dick.
I know what you mean about paintings. I was given one earlier this year and I still haven't put it because I keep changing my mind on where it should go.
One of these days I have to make up my mind and do it.
If you're like me, you're probably never going to be happy with it.
Almost immediately after I did it, I thought of another arrangement that might have looked better. I would keep the one on the left exactly where it is (the one on the right side of the stairwells and above the dimmer switch), and the other one would be put on the other side of the opening to the stairs in the kitchen.
I dunno though... I think it would look good that way, but only from certain perspectives. If you were sitting down almost anywhere in the living room, you wouldn't see the other one in the kitchen unless you were all the way down at the end of the room. And if you're all the way over there, you likely wouldn't see much if any of the first painting since it would be hidden behind the curio cabinet. And having only that one painting in the kitchen would probably look weird since I don't plan on hanging anything else up there.
I dunno. I really like where it's at now, but I need to do some work clearing out that curio cabinet. The top that should look nice has become my home for paperwork and junk mail. I've kind of let the drawer and the cabinet beneath it become my catch-all for tech and wires and stuff, and I can guarantee that most of the stuff in there hasn't gotten any use in 2 or 3 years.
Old me would have said I needed more storage space, but I'll bet that I can throw out quite a bit from that space below the drawer and get most of that stuff hidden so I can have just the nice things to look at up there. The paintings look great, but the cabinet is detracting from them right now.
...
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 4:18 AM
It wasn't a bad day out. Hearing aide appointment made at least and groceries done.
So today's list is checked off. 
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 4:55 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Yeah, I can see that happening with this painting. One spot I thought might be alright is in the kitchen but then I don't feel like moving my kitchen table, which I would have to do if I hang it there. Another spot is above the kitchen chair I sit on to watch tv but if I manage to get a couch or something better to sit on, it might be in the way of that depending on the back. Third spot I was thinking about is above my dad's old dresser which I use for important papers and other stuff now. The problem with that spot is I would need help putting it up. And anywhere there is no room or I would bang into when I am doing something. So, have to think and make up my freaking mind.
I hear ya. I think you probably suffer from "planning for the future" or "future proofing" things like I do. You've got to do your best to try not to do that too much or you don't ever get anything done.
I think part of it is that you probably like things the way that they are and don't like messing with them too. I gleaned that from your qualms with how your screen was showing things after you got your computer back up and running. That's how I am too, especially when it comes to my computers and how they're set up. Over the years I've maintained a backup of all the programs I like installed on a new setup, but something still ends up being different enough to bother me for a while until I get used to the new setup after a few weeks.
IRL that can suck though. I'm looking at my living room right now and I'm wondering why I do things in there the way that I do them. Part of it is just laziness and bad habits that I stopped thinking about a long time ago, but another big part of it is that I never set up that place to work for me, even though I spend 90% of my time at home in that area.
I've got some large and easy to manage storage in there between the cabinet and drawer on the bottom half of the curio cabinet, and a really nice corner table I've got for my router, phone and printer, which has a nice drawer underneath it. So what's the problem???
Well I've got those things full of stuff that, though it is important and/or useful stuff that does eventually get used like a few reams of paper, batteries and pens and pencils, they don't need to go right there in the main living area and the first room that people see when they come in the house.
That's why I end up with a mountain of junk mail to sort through and other things ending up on my end table or on the shelves and on top of the curio cabinet. All of that stuff can go in that cabinet under the curio cabinet and be completely out of site until I'm working on it.
I'm going to get that sorted out this week. I might have to take a trip up to Goodwill a bit more often just in case I can luck into a nice piece or two that would work better than some of the weird items that I'm temporarily using in there.
For instance, I've got a really cool piece that my friend gave me a few years back. He got it from his wife's boss when he sold his business. It's just a small 2-drawer wooden piece that looks like an extremely well detailed miniature file cabinet. It's long, but it's pretty narrow and I can't really imagine what it was used for. But the really cool thing about it other than the nice woodwork is that there is a flap-open door in the back of the unit that just pulls down and back and it's big enough to store things that maybe you would want more hidden than they'd be if they were in the front drawers. The story behind the piece is that the old owner hid his gun in there.
I just can't get rid of the thing because of all of that and I plan on doing something with it someday. But right now, I've got it sitting between the curio cabinet and my TV stand. I've got my wireless range extender sitting on top of it along with my 6-Battery charger fo
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 11:48 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by 6ixStringJack:Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
Yeah, I can see that happening with this painting. One spot I thought might be alright is in the kitchen but then I don't feel like moving my kitchen table, which I would have to do if I hang it there. Another spot is above the kitchen chair I sit on to watch tv but if I manage to get a couch or something better to sit on, it might be in the way of that depending on the back. Third spot I was thinking about is above my dad's old dresser which I use for important papers and other stuff now. The problem with that spot is I would need help putting it up. And anywhere there is no room or I would bang into when I am doing something. So, have to think and make up my freaking mind.
I hear ya. I think you probably suffer from "planning for the future" or "future proofing" things like I do. You've got to do your best to try not to do that too much or you don't ever get anything done.
I think part of it is that you probably like things the way that they are and don't like messing with them too. I gleaned that from your qualms with how your screen was showing things after you got your computer back up and running. That's how I am too, especially when it comes to my computers and how they're set up. Over the years I've maintained a backup of all the programs I like installed on a new setup, but something still ends up being different enough to bother me for a while until I get used to the new setup after a few weeks.
IRL that can suck though. I'm looking at my living room right now and I'm wondering why I do things in there the way that I do them. Part of it is just laziness and bad habits that I stopped thinking about a long time ago, but another big part of it is that I never set up that place to work for me, even though I spend 90% of my time at home in that area.
I've got some large and easy to manage storage in there between the cabinet and drawer on the bottom half of the curio cabinet, and a really nice corner table I've got for my router, phone and printer, which has a nice drawer underneath it. So what's the problem???
Well I've got those things full of stuff that, though it is important and/or useful stuff that does eventually get used like a few reams of paper, batteries and pens and pencils, they don't need to go right there in the main living area and the first room that people see when they come in the house.
That's why I end up with a mountain of junk mail to sort through and other things ending up on my end table or on the shelves and on top of the curio cabinet. All of that stuff can go in that cabinet under the curio cabinet and be completely out of site until I'm working on it.
I'm going to get that sorted out this week. I might have to take a trip up to Goodwill a bit more often just in case I can luck into a nice piece or two that would work better than some of the weird items that I'm temporarily using in there.
For instance, I've got a really cool piece that my friend gave me a few years back. He got it from his wife's boss when he sold his business. It's just a small 2-drawer wooden piece that looks like an extremely well detailed miniature file cabinet. It's long, but it's pretty narrow and I can't really imagine what it was used for. But the really cool thing about it other than the nice woodwork is that there is a flap-open door in the back of the unit that just pulls down and back and it's big enough to store things that maybe you would want more hidden than they'd be if they were in the front drawers. The story behind the piece is that the old owner hid his gun in there.
I just can't get rid of the thing because of all of that and I plan on doing something with it someday. But right now, I've got it sitting between the curio cabinet and my TV stand. I've got my wireless range extender sittingNOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 11:50 PM
Out in a bit on a sunny day but probably cold. Need some hand lotion. Cold air and cold water in washrooms in mall make a mess of my hands at this time of the year. Old age is catching up with me. That was my mum's saying.
Turning the monitor on and off makes me twitchy because of the old one and all the hassle it was giving me at the end.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2026 3:30 AM
Back and in on a coolish day. Ordered my easter lunch at the seniors centre. Now to figure out what I am going to eat.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2026 5:24 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Brenda:
I probably do in some way. Don't really know why. Maybe it is because this is the first time in YEARS that I have actually been able to get at my stuff and see what is what. You know like what do I need to keep and what can I donate or what has to be plain chucked because it useless to me or anyone else.
My other problem is is this is a small one bedroom apartment and there is only so much room for my stuff. And so some of it comes down to rearranging things again to make the space more usable for me.
Yeah... My problem is that I keep taking stuff in and I've got way too much space to put other people's junk so I don't have to make decisions... Until I start noticing that my space doesn't belong to me anymore and it belongs to the stuff. By then, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. We're not exactly there yet, but I can feel it coming on if I don't start going through things and throwing most of it out.
Quote:
I've been looking at something to put my nails and stuff in to. I've got my dad's old nail can and his hammer sitting on top of the fridge but in a side thing with shelves, on the floor is some nails and other stuff I have bought over the years for various reasons. But I can't really get at them because something else is in the way.
You just said the problem right there...
You can't get at something because something else is in the way.
That's how it is in my garage right now. I had that thing perfectly organized a few years back with a few dozen modular shelving units I built from discarded lumber. I knew where everything was and never had to move anything to get to what I wanted. But if you don't put stuff back where it belongs or clean up after a project AND you're taking in other people's crap, the space fills up and becomes pretty unusable, fast.
That's also how it is in my livingroom. But that's for different reasons like I said yesterday. I just need to remove a bunch of stuff that is useful and worth keeping to a different room where it's out of the way and I can get to it on the rare occasions that I need it. Then I can use that space for things I do in there every day or at least much more frequently, and I can keep the clutter out of sight when I'm not working on it.
The other major thing that comes out of this after you get your space working for you and you keep up with it is that you never lose anything anymore. No more going through the entire house and garage to look for a tool until hours pass and you've checked inside your refrigerator 3 times.
Quote:
I hear you on the laziness. I've got my files in a plastic thing and it is right in the middle of the living room and I have to walk around it to get at my Victrola on Sunday. Been meaning to do something with those for a long while.
That's funny you mention that. One of the things I have in my curio cabinet is a plastic tote with the most important paperwork that I've got. Things like my birth certificate and my High School diploma. Stuff I've had to use in the past for things like applying for jobs and what not.
But that's just a great example of what I mean here. I've had that curio cabinet there for probably 4 years now. I know I've been in that box at least one time, but right now I can't look back and visualize the 2nd time I was in it in 4 years. I do remember the one time that I did go through it that I took time to go through everything in there and decided some of it could be thrown away. But it's a big plastic tote taking up some prime real estate when it could be put in a closet upstairs where it's not taking up room that would work much better for me if I had it doing something else.
If you absolutely have to bury something, make it important things that you rarely need to get to.
Quote:
Like my kitchen table. It has become a place to throw my keys on some times. Mail tilNOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 6:32 AM
I've been following along. Funny thing is, I've been decluttering bit by bit here, but sort of in all directions ... videotapes here, old paint there, dead electronics elsewhere... so it's hard to see progress. But I know it's there.
Been doing yardwork too, tackling things that should have been done years ago. And I wondered, when and how did I get so far behind???
And so I looked back in my diaries when I was dx'd with cancer and treated, and what I was doing before, during, and after.
Funny thing, before the dx I was struggling mightily with sinus and nasal problems that were keeping me from sleeping well, plus a lot of joint pain and fatigue. Once I tecovered from chemo, surgery, and radiation I was going great guns. All the pain etc was gone. But slowly it came back and I was finally dx'd with a serious autoimmune problem. So I think what happened was that it had been dragging me down for years, the chemo knocked my immune system down for about six months and provided relief, but that kind of wore off and it wasn't until I got on a regular treatment plus injections for joint pain that I finally got functional again.
But now I have to tackle the backlog mountain!
Decluttering for one, remodeling parts of the house, getting our estate in order and so for. It's a lot, but if I keep chipping away sooner or later it'll be whittled down. That's the plan, anyway.
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"It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal."- Henry Kissinger
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Wednesday, April 1, 2026 7:34 AM
You've seen some shit...
I'm glad you're keeping up with it and you're well enough to get back to doing what needs to be done, Sigs.
Good luck to all of us then.
--------------------------------------------------
Be Nice. Don't be a dick.
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