Thing 4 - Complete!

4. Change the passwords for all of my important online accounts

Completed 5 July 2011

I actually hadn't planned on doing this just yet, but when LulzSec released those 62,000 email/password combinations, I was one of them. Granted, it was my junk email account and one of several junk passwords I use, so it didn't actually affect me in any serious way, but I figured it was time for a change anyway. So they're all different now, and I can cross another Thing off the list. So, um, thanks, LulzSec. :P

Thing 4 - Complete!

4. Change the passwords for all of my important online accounts

Completed 5 July 2011

I actually hadn't planned on doing this just yet, but when LulzSec released those 62,000 email/password combinations, I was one of them. Granted, it was my junk email account and one of several junk passwords I use, so it didn't actually affect me in any serious way, but I figured it was time for a change anyway. So they're all different now, and I can cross another Thing off the list. So, um, thanks, LulzSec. :P

Thing 48 - Complete!

48. Attend 5 write-ins

Completed 1 July 2011

My dear friend just_the_things is holding weekly write-ins for the month of July, and our first one was my last one to complete this particular Thing. (I'm still going to attend the rest, of course.) I was remarkably productive, completing not only a writing challenge for a new group I'm in but churning out an entire short story in response to that challenge (which was not required). So I'm quite chuffed with myself, thank you very much. :)

Thing 48 - Complete!

48. Attend 5 write-ins

Completed 1 July 2011

My dear friend just_the_things is holding weekly write-ins for the month of July, and our first one was my last one to complete this particular Thing. (I'm still going to attend the rest, of course.) I was remarkably productive, completing not only a writing challenge for a new group I'm in but churning out an entire short story in response to that challenge (which was not required). So I'm quite chuffed with myself, thank you very much. :)

Thing 15 - Complete!

15. Clean out huge bin in closet

Completed 4 July 2011

I bought this bin in autumn of 2007, which I only remember because it was shortly after my husband's foot surgery. I'd hoped to use it as something for him to sit on in the shower, but it wasn't sturdy enough. Instead, I went through some random other storage places and filled this thing up. It fit perfectly in my closet, but over the years it's become a bit of a dumping ground: I peek into the closet, lift the lid, and just toss stuff in. I didn't even know what all was in there anymore.

To make matters worse, last summer I was invited to a bridal shower for a dear friend, and we were asked to send in old photos of the bride. My photo albums are all inside the huge bin. Rather than pull the entire bin out and go through it, I just lifted the lid and reached in blindly, hauling out albums (which were on the bottom, natch) at random, then tossing them back in again when I was finished.

I don't know what I did, but I do know that the lid no longer closed after that.

So anyway, the other night I decided to get brave and haul the stupid thing out. I knew it would be a Big Job, probably lasting most of the weekend. But I was determined.

This project ended up being part of a larger purge resulting in 1 overstuffed recycle bin, 1 overstuffed trash can, 4 bags of additional trash, 4 bags for Goodwill, 2 boxes of books and magazines for the Book Thing, and a fair number of other items to sell individually (such as a sewing machine and a region-free DVD player). The bin only contains about half of its former contents (which are photo albums and diaries, so it's not light) plus some additional (lighter) stuff like a big comforter and my diploma from graduate school.

It's weird the stuff you save. I found a bunch of extra wedding invitations - my own wedding, that is, the one I had over five years ago. It felt weird tossing them but what am I going to do with them? Likewise with the random little plastic toys. I don't know how I amassed so many as an adult, but they're just dust-catchers to me now.

The closet is far from done, but at least the bin and surrounding area are all taken care of. It was long overdue.

Thing 15 - Complete!

15. Clean out huge bin in closet

Completed 4 July 2011

I bought this bin in autumn of 2007, which I only remember because it was shortly after my husband's foot surgery. I'd hoped to use it as something for him to sit on in the shower, but it wasn't sturdy enough. Instead, I went through some random other storage places and filled this thing up. It fit perfectly in my closet, but over the years it's become a bit of a dumping ground: I peek into the closet, lift the lid, and just toss stuff in. I didn't even know what all was in there anymore.

To make matters worse, last summer I was invited to a bridal shower for a dear friend, and we were asked to send in old photos of the bride. My photo albums are all inside the huge bin. Rather than pull the entire bin out and go through it, I just lifted the lid and reached in blindly, hauling out albums (which were on the bottom, natch) at random, then tossing them back in again when I was finished.

I don't know what I did, but I do know that the lid no longer closed after that.

So anyway, the other night I decided to get brave and haul the stupid thing out. I knew it would be a Big Job, probably lasting most of the weekend. But I was determined.

This project ended up being part of a larger purge resulting in 1 overstuffed recycle bin, 1 overstuffed trash can, 4 bags of additional trash, 4 bags for Goodwill, 2 boxes of books and magazines for the Book Thing, and a fair number of other items to sell individually (such as a sewing machine and a region-free DVD player). The bin only contains about half of its former contents (which are photo albums and diaries, so it's not light) plus some additional (lighter) stuff like a big comforter and my diploma from graduate school.

It's weird the stuff you save. I found a bunch of extra wedding invitations - my own wedding, that is, the one I had over five years ago. It felt weird tossing them but what am I going to do with them? Likewise with the random little plastic toys. I don't know how I amassed so many as an adult, but they're just dust-catchers to me now.

The closet is far from done, but at least the bin and surrounding area are all taken care of. It was long overdue.