gtd organization

SuperFocus?

February 12, 2011 – 9:17 am

Someone posted in their YNAB journal (which I’d go find if I could get into the dang board) about using SuperFocus which is the newest iteration of AutoFocus by Mark Forster. I’ve come across it but was always baffled by all the versions and if-this/then-that on his site. (Which is funny since I usually love that stuff.) But since he’s just posted the ‘final’ (ha) SuperFocus rules (he doesn’t call it final, just me) it actually makes sense to me.

I was thinking that I’d just implement it at work and see how it goes. But since work is now over for 10 days (woo!) I’m thinking I’ll give it a go at home. But I don’t want my OF/GTD system to fall into disrepair. So I’ve been reading about how the two do and don’t work together. Here are three great posts (or part of them) from the GTD board on a thread about GTD and Autofocus:

From moises (who I suspect I’ve seen on the mark forster board):

I have taken the position, for a number of months, that a modus vivendi between GTD and AF is possible and desirable. One can do both.

There is one significant change. My NA list is replaced by my AF list. In my case, I have 2 AF lists: home and work.

My project list, which I created many years back when I started GTD, remains fundamentally unchanged. The calendar, tickler, and inbox likewise are unscathed. I still do a weekly review.

My view is that AF does not alter GTD very much. What AF does is give me rules for doing. So AF has a lot of detail in an area (rules for doing) where GTD did not.

My experience has been that the integration of the AF rules into GTD makes work into a game. This game-like aspect of GTD has increased my motivation manyfold.

GTD got me very organized. I like being organized. Being organized is good. AF got me accomplishing a lot more and procrastinating a lot less. I like getting more done. Accomplishing things is good.

From Rainer Burmeister

Currently I have two tweaks for my AF usage:

1) A closed list of next actions (not projects or tasks!), finished and written anew every day, with a workload of maximum 2 hours per day (http://litemind.com/will-do-lists/). This list is for work I have promised to do on that certain day.

2) A Someday list where most of my “dismissed” items go to, reviewed regularly. This list serves the purpose to keep everything that is not current (= this fortnight) off the AF list.

Appointments are written in the calendar, not the AF list, of course.

From ratz

(Here’s the take home paragraph if you are drifting off)

Simple apply most if not all of the techniques of AF to EACH of your context lists separately; read what Mark has to say; take the parts that you are comfortable with and apply them to your context lists. Try as much of the entire technique as you can stomach, the more the better. Just embed it right in your GTD system. Really it fits nicely in the system if you are good at GTD; you don’t have to give up you GTD habits. Oh and nobody but you will know, really we wont’ tell on you.

(End of take home paragraph. Missed it? backup and re-read it)

This makes total sense. I’ve said I work best off a paper list, but I want the historical data and manipulability of a database. I think I like it.

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gtd organization reflection

RTM vs. OF

January 16, 2011 – 4:07 pm

RTM: Really like tagging for shopping. Need to figure out if any other things need tagging. Maybe RTM becomes my shopping app?

RTM: Like the flexibility of the searching, but it would take time and effort to make really useful Smart Searches.

OF: Due and Flagged is great.

Maintenance in…

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gtd organization reflection

Not ANOTHER gtd/system/re-vamp type post…

January 16, 2011 – 10:32 am

I went through and tried to stick categories on (at least) any of the posts here that were GTD related. I need a kick in the ass.

I’ve more or less abandoned OF and have been ‘using’ RTM. I. don’t. look. at. it. That’s the BIG, BIG problem!!!111!!

I’m trying to figure out what the pros and cons are of RTM and OF (yes, I know I’m doing it as a way to avoid g.t.d.). I’m reading back through all the GTD categorized posts now.

8/09 –
Started over with OF (maybe in August, maybe in July) and liked seeing only one task per project.
Work best from paper (so I should take into account which ‘prints’ better (advantage RTM in unclutteredness, advantage OF in ability to print multiple things on a page).
Paper – easily carried, can print or write on colored paper/card stock.
Shopping – always more fun than doing other things.
Reviews – if you don’t do them, important stuff is locked away in your computer.
Timer!
Flags in OF – to make short list, printable too.
SA’s – biggest hangup, one big list? Separate lists?

9/09 –
Routines – PAIN when you don’t keep up (true in OF and RTM). Good run down of what worked how in OF with repeats.

10/09 –
Back to paper/steno books and folders.

3/10 –
TSD and GTD – I’d make it a sticky post if I could remember how. I think the theme I’m using doesn’t support it. Made it a sticky post, had to be public. Hope I don’t regret that. Revisit this nice list on time management.

6/10 -
Seems like I’m missing a first post, but on 6/7 there’s an AOF list. 6/8 has Curt’s lists from the OF forum. This is when I think I uber-foldered the system.

7/10 -
NEED to work from clipboard. Paper for GTD, software for reviews.

Big post with DA/GTD for dummies, GTD steps – “If I were to go back to paper” 7/24/10

12/10 -
Started RTM

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house yard

Front yard ideas

December 30, 2010 – 9:30 am

Two articles from Sunset that have some ideas that would work in our front yard. one with rectangles of color and texture from the December 10 magazine.

And one from April with a path that would work for our front, and also some nice texture.

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cooking dinner slow cooker

Slow cooker-1

December 28, 2010 – 2:49 pm

I’ve got a chuck roast in the new slow cooker I got for Christmas. I put in one sm/med onion chopped, then the roast (3# chuck). I sprinkled it with taco seasoning, then pourded a jar of salsa verde on and around it. I then put a big teaspoon of better than boullion into the jar and filled with water about 1.5 times and poured that around it. It’s covered about 1/2-2/3 of the way up.

I was reading the manual when setting it with the probe. It says 145 degrees for beef and it said 3-4 hours for that. I set it on low. It took a couple attempts because I missed the step where it told how to set the temp. (Actually, it doesn’t say to use the arrow keys, which it should.) After setting it, I thought ‘Maybe it said High’, so I checked. Yes, it was high. So shut it off and re-set it. Then I read it again. There were two columns. One for high and one for low. I have time, I’d rather cook on low. The 3-4 hour time was for low. So I reset it again. Now, having set it four times, I think I’ve got it down.

Result: It wasn’t ‘bad’, it just wasn’t good. It was an okay, but not seasoned enough, roast.

What we did: Cubed it and tossed it back in with the extra jar of salsa for about an hour. I used it like that and Matt browned and sautéed his with some stuff.

What I’d do next time: Do more research to get something shreddable. For a roast, a lot more seasoning and brown it first. For stew, something cubed, same thing.

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gtd organization rtm

More on rtm

December 28, 2010 – 2:45 pm

I’ve started using RTM. I don’t know if I like it better because it’s new or because it’s got more what I want.

Anyway, I’ve tried various things. What I’m writing now is to document what I’ve done thinking ahead to adding things via email. I have trouble finding help on the RTM site and have to hunt and hunt. I tried two different email adds. One just adds a task. The IMPORT email address lets you add a whole list of tasks. Here is where the help is on their site for this, but it’s not very complete. To add tags, you use the # (not the other shortcut.)

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gtd organization

A long break, and another new GTD system post

December 22, 2010 – 10:33 am

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve posted. But seeing as how no one is talking to me in the JJ, I guess I’ll go back to talking to myself here.

I gave RTM a shot after once again being frustrated with OF. I realized that the lack of tags may finally be a deal breaker and decided to give RTM a shot, at least for the ‘little’ stuff. I haven’t migrated to RTM entirely, but I used it for a bit a few weeks ago and am picking it back up today. I have a week+ left on my one month pro membership and I want to give it a good overhaul before I decide whether to move forward with more membership.

I’ve read and printed out two RTM/GTD references: one blog post and one forum thread. I’m going to read them and annotate them with what I think will and won’t work for me.

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blog design organization

Test of iPad app

August 21, 2010 – 2:53 pm

Testing the iPad app.

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gtd organization

Hybrid paper/OF GTD system

August 3, 2010 – 11:33 am

I wrote a big ol’ post on trying to figure out which things should be paper, and which should be in OF. I’ve realized that I like to work off of paper. I’ve realized that OF is really best acting as a reference for me. Something I use in my reviews (GEEZ I need to really do reviews!)

I worked from legal pad lists for a week plus. I found a page per day form that led me to revamp a form I’d made last March. Instead of one To Do column, I now have Priority and Want columns. I like that.

I had a Future page that I kept as a sort of short-term SDMB list and also kept shopping lists for further out things on it. Today, I split it into 3 lists: Shopping, Not Now but soon, and Before school starts (which is obviously not going to apply all the time).

I also kept a box on top which talks about today’s AOFs and what I’m going to do about them.

I like it.

I also added a Tomorrow and Beyond…box. I had an inbox at the bottom. I left it. I was sort of using the page behind as that, but I should just write, then evaluate later. (HEY, I like evaluate better than decide.)

I need to do a full scale review of my OF system. But I’m happy with today’s stuff.

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baking bread cooking

Bread attempts #1 and #2

August 3, 2010 – 9:27 am

Somehow I ended up at www.thefreshloaf.com and decided their lessons were as good a place as any to start baking bread. My initial thought was to bake wheat bread (which is what I eat) but somehow I decided baking good regular/white bread was where I should start (since that’s where the lessons start).

My first attempt – lesson #2
I liked the idea of more of a crust that was promised on lesson #2, so I decided to start there. I made that Sunday, 8/1.

What I did:
3 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour, if you do not have bread fl?
1 teaspoon yeast?
1 teaspoon salt?
1/8 cup sugar?
1 cup warm milk
?2 tablespoons butter?
1/2 cup lukewarm water

I put flour, salt, and sugar into the mixer. I measured ½ c water and temped it at 100 degrees. I put the yeast into it and waited a few minutes. I added the milk to it. I put that mix and the butter into the mixer and started mixing. After a while, the dough was creeping up the hook, and the butter was still floating around. I stopped it, scraped it down, and started it again. When I thought it was done, I tried to take it out and it was too sticky, so I added about ¼ c flour and mixed it in.

I put a little olive oil into a bowl and left the bread to rise for 90 min. As usual, I don’t think it rose enough. I took it out, put it onto parchment and formed it into a loaf and left it for another 45. It didn’t seem to be doing much, so I’m pre-heating the oven now.

Baked for 45 min. I think I should have baked it longer. It’s doughy and dense.

But it’s got nice flavor.

My second attempt – lesson #1
I realized that lesson one promised bread with more holes/bubbles/air. I decided that I’d do that, and that I’d also try some steam (which is supposed to help develop more of a crust).

I followed lesson #1 pretty closely. I proofed the yeast, so I included a little sugar. The dough wasn’t coming together, so I added a little milk while mixing. This time, it raised beautifully. I shaped it for the second rise, but realized that I didn’t have enough time to bake it before my hair appt. Kathy was here and she said to put it into the fridge. I did.

It baked okay, but it was salty. Not good flavor AT all. And it had risen, but it still got wider more than taller (proportionally). I was still using Active Dry Yeast.

Today…attempt #3.

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cooking dinner

Central Coast dinner

August 1, 2010 – 1:45 pm

Dinner Friday night consisted of:
Tri-tip
Watermelon Salad
Cornbread

Matt made the tri-tip. He used the jalapeno jelly from the SF Farmer’s Market in the marinade. I’m sure that’s what made it so super special-y good.

He also made the Watermelon Salad from Pizzeria Delfina. It was nice. He thought it needed more chili flake.

I made cornbread. I don’t have any muffin tins right now, so I just used a round cake pan. I just used TJ’s box and threw in 2 t ortega chilis and 1 handful cheddar cheese. It could have used a bit more cheese and double the chilis. But it’s probably a good thing I didn’t because it barely fit into the pan.

I shouldn’t make cornbread again until I get muffin tins. Much better that way.

And I’ll make it using the recipe from the Big Sky website. (The TJ mix is really sweet).

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bread cooking dinner

Making pizza #1

July 29, 2010 – 3:54 pm

With our love of Pizzeria Delfina, I’ve vowed that good, thin crust pizza is one of the things I plan to try to perfect. I took a pizza class with Kathy a few weeks ago. We spent all our time putting toppings on pizza. What I was really concerned with was the dough. Toward the end, he did either make some or talk about making some, but I didn’t really get what I wanted out of it.

So today I’m making it for the first time. In my typical anal way, I’ve got to strictly follow the recipe the first time, then in the future I’ll allow myself to deviate.

1 cup Warm Water (read elsewhere the temp…need to get this)
1 T Active Dry Yeast
1 t Sugar
1 t Salt
2 T Olive Oil
3 cups or 15 oz Flour

First, measure out the ingredients. In a measuring cup, dissolve sugar in the warm water and add the yeast and mix well. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add oil, salt, and flour to the mixer bowl. Turn on the mixer with the hook attachment and add the liquid; knead for 10 minutes (should be shiny). Place dough ball in a bowl and coat the entire surface with a little oil (doh!) Cover loosely with a towel or plastic and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about one hour. When the dough has doubled cut it into two equal pieces and re-form into a tight ball. Place each ball into another bowl and let rise again. Once the dough ball has doubled in size, it’s ready to knead back together and roll out.

Place pizza stones into the oven and pre-heat to 500 degrees.

    Issues:

  • Old-ish ingredients
  • I think I may have had the water too hot.
  • I read the cover the entire surface with oil to mean the bowl, not the dough. When I took it out, it was crusty on top.
  • I’ve read on double rising. It tends to make the crust easier to work with, more pliable.
  • If you’re going to leave it in the freezer, do it between rises.
  • You can let it rise in the fridge (cold rise), it can be in there for somewhere between 3 days and a week.

I knew I’d second guess whether it rose or not, so I took a pic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell from the pic whether it had or not. :?

Update: The texture was great. Matt thought the taste was off. I mostly blame the olive oil. But also, I think it could be the yeast. There is a lot of yeast in that recipe compared to others I’ve read. I will try one with less yeast. I also bought some semolina flour. I’ll use at least some semolina.

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gtd organization

If I WERE to go back to paper…

July 27, 2010 – 10:22 am

David Allen’s response to a request for GTD for Dummies (more or less):

I empathize with desire for the “GTD for Dummies” approach. I suggest just not letting the visual chart get in your way… it’s as simple as:

Write it down
Decide what’s next about it
Park that somewhere you’ll trust you’ll look at as a reminder
Keep your head empty and your list(s) current

Hope that helps.

My last post on this was Saturday. I made a list Friday and Saturday. Saturday, I didn’t work on things on the list at all. I started working on the back rooms. Sunday I worked on the back rooms until Matt worked in the kitchen with me a bit. Still, not much on the list. Yesterday the vinyl floor was installed in the kitchen. I could not get ANYTHING done. I just sat on the couch flitting around online.

I did spend time googling around and finding info on GTD and paper. The thing is, I don’t know what I want in a paper system and what I like about digital. I responded to a post on the GTD board about tickler files and said that I felt stuff was locked inside my digital system, so it wasn’t real. I got a response that pointed me to a site that described Visual vs. Camouflage types of people. I’m visual. I’m a piler. I don’t like drawers, I like stacks on shelves. Eureka!

So how do I reconcile this with GTD?

I have a gazillion 3 x 5 cards. I like index cards. I think 3 x 5 are too small for my writing for anything but grocery-type lists. I don’t have as many larger size cards, but I could always buy more office supplies. :roll:

But what do I want on cards? I looked at all the cool Hipster PDA pics. Some really great ideas. But…for what?

The answer to this question is why I copied DA’s quote to the beginning of this. What are the ‘parts’ of a GTD system? What parts would I want to change and why? How have I done each part in the past and how has it made me feel? Pros and cons time I guess.

  • Collect/Capture
    GTD for dummies…Write it down.
    I’m going to call this step…Record
    But for me, that goes for more than capture. I know that when I did paper before, I needed one page per project with it’s list of NA’s, and also lists of projects. And then there were random stuff that didn’t fit into projects. And SDMB and other lists.

    I liked writing the lists down. I didn’t particularly like physically shuffling the pieces of paper. I was never happy with their order in the binder. Maybe cards would be good for this? Easier to lay out to view at once and then stack up. (Just went to look around at Levenger…pocket briefcase, notecard bleachers…)

    “Write it down” applies to ideas, but the way DA’s list progresses, it seems to be referring to projects, because he goes on to…

  • Process/Clarify
    GTD for dummies…Decide what’s next
    I’m going to call this step…Decide
    This is the thinking step. Is it more than one action? What’s the next action? The thinking part is system agnostic.
  • Organize/Organize
    GTD for dummies…Park that somewhere you’ll trust you’ll look at as a reminder
    I’m going to call this step…Get it into your system

    As much as I started talking about Levenger and what I’d done in the past system-wise, I see now that HERE is the only real difference in systems. Yes, there’s some difference in the record stage. Yes, I can choose to put it into my iphone, a yellow pad, a steno book, etc. when the thought comes to me. But there’s a lot I can’t control like email, snail mail, etc. So I have some choices at the first stage, but there will be 100% chance that some will be digital and some will be paper.

    Similarly, if I look at DA’s “The Organizing Categories” diagram (MIAW p. 136), some will necessarily be physical and some digital. In fact, in many categories, there will be both!

      On the left side…

    • Trash: physical and digital
    • Reference: physical and digital
    • (Project) Support: probably physical and digital
      On the right side…here’s where the choices come in.

    • Outcomes:
      Here he lists all the higher elevations: Purpose/principles, Vision, Goals/objectives, Areas of focus, Projects, and Waiting for (I don’t get why this one is here.)

      I’ve already decided that these wouldn’t be in OF. I like them in OO documents (or some electronic document to review. I only need to call them up when I need them. It doesn’t bother me that they’re locked away. I wonder why not? Also, it would be very easy to print and/or post them if desired.

      • Actions:

      • Calendar:
        Can definitely go either way. I seem to be happy using iCal. No reason to change that.
      • As soon as possible by context:
        I JUST had a Eureka moment. I think. Maybe. I use OF as project support, but I’m not happy using it as my context list (thing to work from). I like to write lists. Maybe that’s okay. I think that with consistent reviews I should be fine using OF still. Maybe. I think. The biggest thing is keeping things in sync. Or does it matter?

        This is where more thinking needs to go.

      • Waiting on from others:
        This makes sense here, I think it’s a typo above.
      • Incubating:
        SD/MB and Calendared later starts:
        Again, I’m happy with OO lists and with iCal.
        • Review/Reflect
          GTD for dummies…I think he intermingles his steps here. There’s…you’ll look at as a reminder andKeep your head empty and your list(s) current
          I’m going to call this step…Work the system daily/weekly/monthly

          You set up a calendar…use it.
          You set up places to record things…do so.
          You set up places to move the things you record…do so.
          You set things up to require the need to remind yourself…do so.
          etc.

        • Do/Engage
          GTD for dummies…I guess it’s implied in keep lists current
          I’m going to call this step…GTD
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gtd organization

Back to (some) paper

July 24, 2010 – 4:59 pm

Today Matt is golfing with Rick in Hesperia and staying through playing poker tonight. He’ll be gone about 18-20 hours. I’ve been getting a lot done.

When I’ve taken breaks, I’m thinking about Getting Things Done (I even found the book while I was cleaning out one of the bedrooms). OF on it’s own just does not work for me. As cool as it is, I can not work off the lists. I need to write out a daily to do list. I think that I will still keep everything in OF and will do my reviews in it (when I ever get back to it) but I find I have to work from a clipboard and regular ol’ lined paper.

I’m using a legal pad. I am free-forming NAs by context. Yesterday, I made one big list. Today, I broke out some contexts.

I’m fine copying this each day or every few days. And I like carrying a steno book around with me. And I like using either it or the junior legal pads for around the house. This is my plan for now.

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house organization

Closet stuff

July 24, 2010 – 8:54 am

I started moving my clothes into the other room (at the end of the hall). I’ve never liked how the hanging closet is the one behind the door. And I’d like to utilize the drawers in the other closet.

I put all my clothes that are too small into my nightstand. I’ll retrieve them when I’m under 150 (more like 145).

I hung my skirts and jackets. I made a couple piles at the bottom of the closet, but mostly threw things down there. I’m going to clean out the other closet (with the shelves and drawers) and move things there after wearing/laundry.

I don’t know what I’m going to do with all those office supplies. :roll:

I also went through all the magazines I could find. I’ve got 2/3 of them slated to go to school. I kept at least one Sunset from each year and all of 2000 and 2001 (since we bought the house in 2000 and they were neatly organized. I’m threatening to go through the magazines before I part with them, but they will go to school. I may tear things out. We’ll see.

I’ve been working my way through the floor in the other room. I’m making progress.

later…

I found a box of receipts from 2000-2001!

I also found a paper bag with stuff from the first Workplay trip in August 2006.

It’s crazy that this shit just sits around for years. Inexcusable.

And I’ve gathered all my Silpada stuff. Not sure what to do with all of that.

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house maintenance

I fixed my toilet!

July 23, 2010 – 10:22 am

The fill valve on my toilet was leaking. I fixed it. Super easy. I should do this once or twice a year or so.

http://admin.totousa.com/Product%20Downloads/0GU032,%20DUAL%20FLUSH%20TOILET,%20OM,%20V.03.pdf

ETA: And then it started leaking again. I think I need to replace that assembly.

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exercise health organization

165

July 22, 2010 – 3:37 pm

Last night, we went out for my birthday with M & K.

This morning, I took them to the airport at 4am (they’re going to a wedding in Pennsylvania, they’ll be gone 10 days).

On the way home, I stopped and bought a box of Jillian Michaels stuff. It’s a Jumpstart box/kit. It’s 7 days of detox/cleanse, then some ‘return the balance’ type stuff and fat burner stuff.

I have exceeded the weight I was when I started Weight Watchers a year and a half ago. I have to get serious again. I need a crutch. It’s also the clean-out-the-fridge-and-cupboard day.

ETA: I have not done the kitchen clean out yet. I signed up for the 7 days free on Jillian’s website. It’s usually 4 days a week. I’m not too impressed. But I found myfitnesspal, which is free. I’m going to work with that for now.

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house maintenance

Windows, closets, and rooms

July 22, 2010 – 3:37 pm

We have four windows in our bedroom, 2 that are about 3 x 4 and two that are about 3 x 2. They all have ancient, metal miniblinds that have been sorely neglected. Also, the windows, like most in our house, don’t all close properly so the inside of the windows and the screens are also awful.

Yesterday, I cleaned one large window, blind, and screens (although I need to redo the screens, I just hosed them off, I need to brush them or something too). Today, I’ve done the other large window (haven’t done the screens yet).

We’ve ALWAYS got the blinds down, but open-ish (faces the front of the house). I don’t think we’ve ever raised them to ‘open’ them. I didn’t put the shade back up yesterday. We both really liked the increased light. Today, when the second shade came down, even more so.

I just put the first set of blinds up and pulled them up to the top. I think we’ll try to be in the habit of doing that during the day when we’re home. I don’t know how long it’ll last, but it’s nice and bright in there.

My breastbone area hurts from leaning over the edge of the bathtub, but I think I’ll still tackle the other two shades today.

:D

later:

One more blind to go. The small ones aren’t nearly as bad (both in terms of size and dirt). I’ll do the screens and the outsides of the windows when it gets cooler.

I’ve been waffling about how to use the two rooms at the end of the hall. I’ve also been putting off cleaning/cleaning out my closet, etc. clothes-wise. I also have no idea what we’re going to do with the ginormous amount of office supplies we have.

I think that I’ve decided that I’ll empty the two closets in the room at the end of the hall. One is a ‘hanging’ clothes closet. The other has six drawers and three shelves. The hanging clothes one has boxes that can go in the garage and can be gone through as time allows, plus a couple old printers, etc. to get rid of. The other one has office supplies mostly. We have a crazy amount of office supplies. I already have one or two boxes from the big desk that we’re getting rid of and from various other places. I’m just going to box up everything in that closet for now.

Clothes-wise, I’m going to do the ‘move things in as you use them drill. I don’t expect it to be a quick project, since it’s blazing hot, I’m not in school, and I’m up many pounds. But I’m going to set the room at the end of the hall up as my closet room, at least for now. The other room will become the junk-room, which makes sense since it’s the one that won’t be carpeted. I still need to straighten it to make room to move stuff in etc. But I’m spending all this mental effort trying to figure out what ‘the right’ plan is, I’m just going to empty the room that needs carpet, move in what makes sense, and hope to get the other room gone through before school starts (moving things back and forth as they make sense.)

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goals house reflection trips

Hello from an SF apartment

July 18, 2010 – 8:38 am

We’re staying at an apartment (via Airbnb) in the Marina District. We’re at 3737 Fillmore Street. It’s amazing. But also weird to be staying in someone else’s home.

We’re expecting the kitchen vinyl to be put in later this week. Kathy and I repaired the kitchen window that’s been broken for the past 5 years or so, and I cleaned the kitchen windows really well after that. They’re so much cleaner, the kitchen is actually brighter as a result. I’m also going to ask Mike to come over with his chain saw one day and get rid of that tree that I’ve wanted gone since we moved in. I think that will brighten it up was well. I’ve cleared off the counter tops on the stove/sink/fridge side of the kitchen. I’ve cleared off the big, banquet table. The rest that I want to get done before the vinyl is more cabinet cleaning (I’ve done a few cabinets and drawers in conjunction with the countertop clearing), clear off the top of the washer and dryer, and get a little pub table and chairs.

Actually, I’m sitting at a pub table now at the SF apartment that I think is one of the one’s I’m considering. It’s the 24×36 one that comes with two stools from BBB, I think. They also have a 30×30 one that supposedly seats four. I was thinking I could put this one with the 36″ side against the back of the stove and fit two stools next to each other on the opposite side, having the 24″ serve as the depth. I’m thinking that the stools won’t fit next to each other, so it’d either really be for one, and fitting the other stool in would be kludgy, or I’d have to turn it as this one is with the 36″ as depth and the stools opposite one another. The nice aspect of this one is that I’d have that choice. The other is a 30″ square. So no changing around the furniture.

Update: I’ve just moved the stool to the 24″ end of the table and it’s nice. I can put one under each 24″ end. I can swing one around to the long end if I want. Yes, this is what I want.

We’re expecting carpet next week or the week after. I still have to finish the blue paint, among other things. I still don’t know what I’m going to do with the back two rooms. My old office and my closet room. I’m actually thinking of using my old office as my closet room. I think the green/yellow room would still sort of be a junk room for now. It’ll be the only room without carpet, so it’ll be the cat room.

What I really came on to write is that something I read on the YNAB forums today struck me. I know that I’ve already realized this. And I know that I still want to have this conversation with Matt. But I’m not going to feel badly about not lowering our debt more (and most likely increasing it a bit) this summer. As I said, this is the year of the home, and it’s necessary. And I know that we’ll appreciate and benefit from what we’re doing more than we would have in years past if we’d just run out and done something. Everything we’ve done has been very considered. As much as being debt free is what many people on the boards are heading for, Matt isn’t. I need to be happy with a balance. One post talking about different PF books talked about the theme of mediocrity, and that that’s not good enough for them, they want to be able to do anything they want (something like that). Well, I want mediocrity with bursts of doing what I want. I like that balance. And the unknown of our distant future works well with that. I think. It puts us ‘somewhere in the middle’, which is kind of how we’re rolling.

Moving down the coast today. Leaving SF (went to Pt Reyes yesterday), definitely hitting Santa Cruz and then staying in SLO tonight.

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budget house reflection

The year of …

July 12, 2010 – 10:24 am

In my last post I said that last year was the year of finances and this is the year of the home. I’m going to plan that next year will be the year of the garden. I’m going to try to NOT get wrapped up in the garden at the expense of the house. I need the house to be to a certain point before I allocate time and money to the garden. I’ll upkeep. And I’ll finish the front planters. But I don’t want to get wrapped up thinking of walk ways, etc.

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