That has been probably the most helpful to me, especially the idea of not expending all my energy all at once.

Yeah, that part of it definitely rings true to me. With us, having the cleaners come once a month means that at least once a month, we pick stuff up, and it's way easier to get the house looking neat when it's an ongoing thing, rather than a panicked scramble.

it's also for things like the new roof I'll need eventually.

Just in case no one has ever pointed this out - there are times when you have the savings to afford something like this, that it is wiser to take out the loan for it anyway. I had friends who inherited a modest amount of money and were going to use it for legal fees for adopting a child. They decided to leave the money in the bank and take a loan for the adoption fees (using the money as collateral - on the grounds that if the adoption did not work out, they could pay it off fast and try again. Whereas if they had used the money in the bank and they had to try again, they would have to take out a loan but would have nothing for collateral.

I take vicarious pleasure in people getting rid of stuff. To a greater degree than pretty much any other third party life event. When my office moved last year after 20 years in the same place I practically stroked out with joy at co-workers confronting years of pointless accrual. So, bottom line: get rid of stuff! You will make ME happy!

I've hosed off the porch, prepped the deck furniture for staining, in the middle of a load of laundry.

I'm thwarted in trimming the bushes because the battery is dead.

And A & I acquired a power washer from a neighbor who overheard us talking about renting one, and he lent us his!

At work I'm still slowly getting rid of things my late boss had collected over 40 years. I have to keep it gradual just because my crew can be sentimental over some pretty odd things sometimes.

At home, I just pulled a dozen old textbooks that I sometimes referred to when I was teaching. I've found someone to take them so they're not gone yet, but they will be. What I really need to do is organize and cull from my storage locker in the basement enough that I can put boxes of old files down there. I've got some things that I could eBay, but I've never dealt with that before. How much of a hassle is it?

Buffistas with no particular allegiances in this year's NCAA basketball final may find this compelling reason to pick a side

That's kind of delightful.

I have a headache that is not a migraine but definitely hurts less if I sit still, so I've done nothing today. So it goes.

Brunch, check. Lamb (curry) in slow cooker for dinner, check. Bidding farewell to Megan Walker and msbelle, check. t Sob , check.

-t, taking care of yourself is not nothing.

I did pilates yesterday for the first time in yonks. I expected to feel it in my abs today, and I do a little, but I didn't expect my upper back to be uncomfortably tight. I wonder if a walk would help loosen me up.

I was glad that the nursing home had lamb for lunch (aka Sunday dinner -- they usually do something lighter at night), but am actually hoping to find ham at the Easter dinner my mom and I are going to. (But I always hope for ham!)

I've got some things that I could eBay, but I've never dealt with that before. How much of a hassle is it?

When I started eBaying Hubby's gaming stuff, I decided not to worry about how much I would get for it. If it covered shipping, all well and good, my primary goal was to get this stuff to people who wanted it, and the best way to judge that is to make them pay for it.

The most annoying part is taking pictures. You'll need good light and a good background, or enough savvy to edit the pictures down. I don't worry too much about salesmanship in my descriptions, I state what the thing is, give its formal name, a run down on condition (making sure to possibly be more honest than necessary), and how old it is.

I'm working with desirable merchandise, old collectable pieces in a game that still very popular, and I've sold probably 95% of what I've put up. I've been at it long enough that I don't get hit with posting fees, so it's no biggie if an item doesn't sell. eBay does get a percentage of your selling price.

There is a degree of bookkeeping, getting mailing addresses together, nudging people who haven't paid, making sure you've got correct packaging, making sure the correct item goes in the correct package, schlepping it to the post office. I've only had one jerk so far, a Norwegian who ignored my No International Shipping statement and who argued that he shouldn't have to pay extra shipping to get the item ($3 shipping domestic turned into $42 shipping to Norway). He didn't get the item.

Like I said, I'm not in it to make money, though I'm always delighted when a bidding war breaks out for some particularly desirable item, I'm doing this to make sure the stuff goes to appreciative people.