Thursday Thirteen #465

One man's trash is likely just junk. I have a 25 year old, 50 lb., completely non-functioning TV. Even if I was strong enough to lift it and hoist it into the dumpster behind my condo building, I wouldn't. It should be recycled. So I'm going to call a junk removal service who promises they will do just that. 

To make the trip worthwhile, I'm going to give the rest of the stuff in my home a good, hard look and see what else can go. After tooling around the internet, here's what I found we most often pay to have hauled away. 

1. Major kitchen appliances. Stoves and refrigerators.

2. Washers and dryers. Like stoves and refrigerators, these things are just too big for most homeowners to dispose of on their own. 

3. Countertop appliances. Non-functioning microwaves, coffee makers, blenders, and toasters. 

4. Home entertainment. TVs and gaming consoles become obsolete quickly.

5. Office equipment. Laptops, printers and scanners.

6. Heavy furniture. File cabinets, armoires, china cabinets.

7. Mattresses. Because of bed bugs, many municipalities have strict rules for disposing of mattresses. Hire a licensed removal service to avoid fines.

8 Glass-heavy items. Mirrors, table lamps, light fixtures and picture frames.

9. Exercise equipment. Treadmills, exercise bikes, etc.

10. Baby stuff. Cribs, playpens, strollers and car seats. 

11. Yard and garden. Patio furniture, grills, bird baths, above ground pools, lawn mowers and snow blowers.

12. Old rugs, carpets and carpet padding. These can be heavier and take up more space than you might think.

13. Debris from big projects. Like dry wall, paint supplies, bag after bag of yard waste.

I've got a lot of crap around here. I just have to get organized and get it together so the junk man can carry it all away.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

Gratitude Challenge: Day 3

I first took this challenge in November 2014 and I think now is a good time to revisit it. Click here for a list of the Gratitude Challenge prompts.

Day 3: Something I see every day I am grateful that, with cable and streaming, I have the opportunity to check in with Lucy Ricardo every day. She's on as I compose this post. To borrow a phrase, I love Lucy.

 

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Off the Menu by Stacy Ballis. I've been seeing Ballis' name for years. She's popular with readers who enjoy light, funny chick-lit. I've been reading dark, heavy books lately, so it seemed now is the time to give her a try.

 

Alana is a single fortysomething with an important behind-the-scenes job with a celebrity Chicago chef. Her job is all stress, but it's coveted within the foodie universe. She's vaguely dissatisfied with her life, but she doesn't have the time or motivation to change things. And then she meets ... HIM. (There's always a HIM in books like this.) 

 

It feels rather formulaic so far, but I'm not sure I care. I like how Chicago this book is. I also like that Alana dotes on her mutt, Dumpling. However, her banter with her BFFs hits me as less funny than cruel. Maybe I've become humorless. 

 

 

2. What did you recently finish reading? And Never Let Her Go by Ann Rule. This true story tugged at my heart. Ann Marie Fahey was the youngest of a big Irish-Catholic family. Her mom died when she was a very little girl and, as her older siblings got married and moved away, she was left home alone with a drunk, overwhelmed and heartbroken father who took out a lot of his frustration on her. This left her believing she was unlovable, that everything was her fault. She was working on this at church and in therapy. 

 

She had a good job, working for the governor of Delaware. She had a wide circle of friends. Finally she had a boyfriend she wanted to settle down with. And then she disappeared. It was when the police started looking for her that her secret life came to light: she'd been having an ongoing affair with a powerful older man.

 

That man was Tom Capano. He had a sonar for women like Anne Marie. He knew exactly which buttons to press: she felt unattractive, so he told her she was the most desirable woman he knew; she felt like superfluous, so he told she was the only one who understood him; she had trouble with money, so he whenever they went out to dinner he over-ordered to send her home with gourmet doggie bags from expensive restaurants. He was also controlling and jealous – rich because he was also sleeping with his wife (Anne Marie knew about this) and a long-term mistress (Debbie and Anne Marie knew nothing about each other). When Anne Marie gained strength and realized she wanted/needed/deserved more than Tom could give her, he killed her. The way he tried to beat the rap was breathtakingly cruel. I won't give anymore away, in case you want to read this book. 

 

Ann Rule did right by Anne Marie Fahey. She comes alive on these pages. I liked her, and I mourn her. 

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

 

  

 

 

Gratitude Challenge: Day 2

I first took this challenge in November 2014 and I think now is a good time to revisit it. Click here for a list of the Gratitude Challenge prompts.

Day 2: Nature I have lived with cats all my life and admire their spirit. Yes, they are dear and affectionate companions. But there's an untouchable core in every house cat that remains independent and wild. So I am grateful that I have nature inside my home, because I have Connie and Roy Hobbs.

 

Gratitude Challenge: Day 1

I first took this challenge in November 2014 and I think now is a good time to revisit it. Click here for a list of the Gratitude Challenge prompts.

Day 1: Home My allergies have been rough this year. The nasal congestion has left me tired, with a stuffy head. So Monday I just stayed home. I grilled myself a burger, had a cup of Bob Evans mashed potatoes, did laundry, and watched this week's movie group movie. 

This post makes me realize that Monday may not have been an eventful day, but it wasn't a wasted one, either. I like it here. I'm comfy here. It's a mess, but it suits me.