To Shred or Not to Shred, that was the question

 

Struggling to drag the underbed storage bin, out from Under the Bed, I knew the final to-do item on my to-do list mentioned in a Prior Post would now have to include a new and updated To-Do list.

The simple task of adding the keepers stack from the work completed Could.Not.Happen! 

Nothing but a hair off my head could be added and that might be hard,

Dragging it out with words not spoken but heard inside my head, I sighed and lifted it to the bed.

I found Tax Returns all the way back to 1996, each year in a large envelope, 

a Tupperware container of paperwork that Bob had under his bed in 1985 when we got married. 

a container of 40 years of nursing home paperwork for Bob's son, most of which was dated before I married him in 1985.

Real Estate records from my Real Estate Sales/paperwork, dated 990-1994

Each one had to be opened, gone through page by page, keep/toss/keep/toss for THREE days of a couple hours a day. OV VEY!!!!  The result of three days of torture, the shred these papers were piled so high on the computer room bed, I could not see the bedcovering.

It was such a mess I totally forgot to take a photo, until I was almost done and remembered I had to put this on the blog. Had To!

I set my brain on OverThinkThis and tried to decide between:

Pay Staples Money by the pound, and fret over if they were using my personal information and that shredding the papers was shredding money.

Build a fire in the back yard and burn it all.

Do It Myself with my tiny little shredder, that takes one sheet at a time, because if you put 3 it goes really slow and bends it into hard boards that are caught between shredded and hard as a brick. Alos they are still readable. Do not ask how I know this.

 I over- thunk myself into doing it myself. I assume I can trust myself, except of course the memory losses that continue to mount each day.

I said to Bob... I do solemnly swear, I will shred one shredder box a day until the bed is clear.

I could tell he was thinking, why are you telling me?

The first day, I did one box full. Time 30 minutes.

Second day, 2nd box. Time 30 minutes. I thought I will do one more.

150 minutes later, I carried the two trash bags stuffed with all the shredded stuff and a drawer that was sitting on the bed, through the house, through the garage and around the house and put it all in the trash bin.

The next morning, I went to get out of bed and my back was out.

I have a trick back, full of Arthritis. I can walk as long as I want to, but 

I CAN"T STAND IN ONE spot for more than 10 minutes. The longer I stand the more the back will hurt the next day. It doesn't hurt while I am doing it, it waits to leap with glee and make me walk hunched over like a proper hunchback. I simply forgot I could not stand in one place that long.

Memory issues made me forget there was a CHAIR practically touching my foot.

Bob said, for petes sake, it was ONLY PAPER. I said Paper is heavy, it doesn't get any lighter because it is SHREDDED. He replied, well why didn't you ask me to take it out for you?

I forgot I could not stand, forgot to sit down and work, I forgot I don't carry heavy stuff.

Can you say Memory Loss? 

I am fine, I took two ibuprofens at bedtime, which brings me to "Pain Pill Issues."

to be continued

The To DO List, Part 2

 

Bing AI and I the MadSnapper

continued from prior post The To Do List, part 1

I took two days off with The Do List, which list all the things I put off, because I don't want to do them.

The List has 14 jobs listed. I started with the one I hate the most, UPDATE the important papers box and 2 file drawers that are the most daunting for me, and could/would be a nightmare for Bob or our kids.

 #1 The metal box we are supposed to grab if running out the door from flood/fire/home invasion or if for some reason I forget to pay the taxes and get evicted. (think senior moments) 

4 years ago, I created a folder, with a bright yellow tab. 

Open this in case of death. 

 I created a list. It is all monthly bills, how they come, when and how they are paid, auto charge or online. I listed Retirement info, who it is with, and how to reach them.401k info, who has it, how to get it, beneficiary.

All info needed if one dies or both die at same time, it is there to direct the person/persons left to deal.

I also added a list of people to be contacted, names, phones, who they are, what they need to know.

 Details matter. If it is a spouse, they need to know what and when and why and how.

If you both die at the same time, the family needs to know. I added several of you to the list to receive phone calls and/or emails in order for you to pass it on. I chose my niece as the person for Facebook notifications. So far, I have not figured out how someone would post on my blog. 

THING CHANGED OVER 4 YEARS. NOW THE BOX IS DONE.

 THE REST IS THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE I DON'T WANT TO DO

I rather play with AI....

The To DO List, Part 1

 

Loretta Carter, 10/28/1939 - 12/25/2023

On Christmas day I received the news that my friend, Loretta Carter, in Savannah, home of my birth had died on Christmas day. We had been texting all week, and she sent photos of her holding her 8th great grandchild, Retta Mae, 3 months old. She was like a sister to me for more than 60 years. 

Madeline Cetti, August 1, 1944 - September 08/04/2023

My friend Madeline died August 5th, 4 days after she turned 79. I turned 79 Sept 5th. We were sisters from Jr High until she died as #4 of my best friends, in Savannah, we both married a month apart, we were attendants in each other's wedding in 1963, our children were born, a month apart, we raised out kids to adults together as friends.

Between their deaths, Bob's Autistic Son, who lived in assisted living, at age 64, died on Sept 15th.

Three totally unexpected deaths, in three months and My WhatIfferBrain kicked into high gear, and I decided the things in the house that needed to be done, needed to be done, because who knew when I would be next. 6 Close Friends, 6 Dead, I will be next and who know when.

I took two days off with The List, which is all the things I put off, because I don't want to do them. to be continued tomorrow.