Stuff

[PennyMac]

Delia, I'd love to help but with all my dogs..... I think it would have a very short life expectancy at my house!

[lynnzop[$]]

phoenixx said

I know what you mean here, Wormie. Want to know how I solved the problem? It's pretty ingenious, if I do say so myself.

It's a two part solution. Part one is ongoing, and will last forever: ask people to take a special picture for you on their travels instead. We repeatedly tell people we'd rather get photos than kick knacks on any gift giving occasion where the intent is to create a memory for us and let us know they thought of us somewhere. On all other gift giving occasions we ask for gift certificates or photos as well. We have to repeat it a lot, but it sinking in.

Part two is to create a special album of photos for the things you get from people (which will hopefully already be photos as they get used to the request). Take a good photo of it. Write down in scrap book style what it was, who gave it, from where, why and how it made you feel to receive it. Then give the item away as a charitable donation and write down where it went and who benefitted. When the relative asks where the suchandsuch is, take the album out and show them.

I also have a separate photo album for my own memories. I take a picture of what I am keeping because I feel it holds a memory. I write about the memory. I add them both to the album, then I toss/donate/ebay the item.

Leslie, you are a GENIUS. I'm going to use this system in the very near future!!!!!

[phoenixx]

Thanks. It makes for a bunch of photo albums, but albums stacked on a shelf are easier to take care of and keep room open for than a mazillion knick knacks given with good intentions

[theworm[$]]

Penny - little Spikey would never break anything!!!

Leslie - remind me not to mention how many photo albums I've already packed!

[conradd]

Stuff. One of the reasons I haven't moved in 25 years.

[theworm[$]]

AHHHHHH!!!

Boxes are everywhere. Everywhere I say!
A realtor is showing the house tomorrow morning. WE have to move boxes and clean up the mess fast!!! Oy!!

[MrsNormanMaine[$]]

The only sure fire ways to get rid of stuff are:

Move across the country

Burn down the house

At the moment, Tommy and I are doing a major remodel on the house and even that, despite having to essentially move out for three months, isn't making much of a dint. We have discovered what to do with the unused furniture: give it to local theatre companies for their props departments.

Kisses,

MNM

[theworm[$]]

We're only moving halfway across the country!

Theater companies are a great idea for donations! I would never have thought of that! Thanks MNM!

[hadassahchana[$]]

Delia, I know my memory is awful, but I can't remember too much stuff at your house. And I get seriously overwhelemd if a house is filled with fiddly things- your stuff is definitely not like that.

And MJ, I love your stuff!