I'm trying to purge a few things every couple months or so. Both books and clothes. It's working for me because the more often I ask myself if I really want to keep a particular item, the more likely the answer will be no.

Um, does anyone know anything about Masonic symbols?

Some.

And the word Yessop, associated with a ring?

No, sorry.

It's funny, because I think I have a ton of closet space now, because I have two closets, each of which are slightly wider than the door. But I still need to get rid of stuff!

I keep trying to empty mine, but now that the sewing machine works, I convince myself that I can make Frankenwardrobe.

Speaking of purging: I'm permanently deleting data and it's making me feel slightly ill. I mean, they promise me the tool is just removing stuff that has been obsoleted, and we DO have backups in storage, but oh god it would be so bloody painful to restore it if a lot of somethings got zapped that shouldn't. And such horrific timing.

But they promised.

OK, survey question: I'm going to my grandmother's birthday party this weekend. Her actual birthday isn't until later in the following week. Should I order her flowers to be delivered on the actual day, or give her something to open at the party, or both?

Um, does anyone know anything about Masonic symbols?

And the word Yessop, associated with a ring?

I have a ring that has what might be Masonic symbols on the inside of the band. We found it when we cleaned out Mom's jewelry cases, and none of us had any idea where it had come from. (I'd love to think there was some deep mystery there. Odds are Mom found it on the sidewalk one day while out walking, but I do like the idea of her sneaking off to super-secret female Mason meetings.)

Alas, I don't remember the word "Yessop" engraved anywhere on it, just a teeny, tiny compass.

Both. I say card & maybe small gift for party and flowers on the day. 'Cause it kinda sucks to feel like your birthday is over before it really is. You know?

Should I order her flowers to be delivered on the actual day, or give her something to open at the party, or both?

Is the party at her house? If so, I might have them delivered the day before. That way, they are not another thing to deal with on the day you have people coming over. And then you know in advance that you have pretty flowers for the party.

The party is not at her house, so the flowers would definitely be for her actual bday (next Thurs). This is stupid, but it feels hard to buy her a little something, because she's kind of snobby and also mostly blind, aside from having everything she needs, after 89 years! So a book doesn't work, costume jewelry doesn't work, etc. I'll see if I can come up with something.

I don't have a lot of clothes, but unfortunately I have even less closet space so I do need to clear out a few items every year. My clothes sorting method usually involves asking 1) do I still like it? 2) does it still fit? Sad to say, most of my clothes are not well made enough to justify keeping them if I don't fit them.

Jesse, I say go for the flowers.