Inside Out!

THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS!

Ah --- and I thought getting out of the house would solve everything.  Even pictured myself on the road back East within 2-3 days of vacating the premises!  Hmmm, another lesson learned.  You see, there are all these pesky little details to be tended to before I can actually leave. 

• Where is the mail going?  Really didn't want to have it forwarded, but it has to go somewhere.
• Utilities:  The utilities all needed to be terminated.  Some could be done on line.  Some had to be done in person.  Things such as cable TV boxes and the internet modem had to be turned in personally.
• Banking:  My bank of many years here in California is not national.  And a number of my clients bank at another institution which IS national.  So it seemed simpler to open an account at that bank so they can deposit their checks to me instead of mailing them --- since I won't necessarily be in one place for lengthy periods of time.
• Medical Records:  Not just for myself -- also for the dogs!  And I suddenly realized my grrrlz were not on heartworm medication as it wasn't required here --- but it's a serious problem were we are headed initially back East.  So that required testing.
• Auto licensing:  I plan to get rid of this vehicle in the next few months --- and it spent several months inoperable as it required a new transmission.  Suddenly tags had expired and needed to be replaced.
• The non-profit I founded has always used my home address --- why pay for a post office box when we get so little mail.  Suddenly we realized we would need a replacement address --- but the secretary did not want her home address on the website or adoption contracts.  That was understandable.  So we had to acquire a post office box for that and notify the appropriate people and facilities of the change.

    The list seemed endless.  Every day something was added --- I had started a list such as this several months ago --- but somewhere in the midst of recent rushing around, the list had been forgotten.  I've now spent the better part of 10 days trying to work my way through it all.

The Computer is Where???

    Another issue which also caused me grief was the realization that my PC Shuttle, which I thought was going to travel with me, ended up in the trailer of things which arrived back East last weekend.  That caused me a fair amount of grief as my personal calendar and contacts are in that computer --- as well as software which I needed for several client jobs during this transition period.  It took a number of calls to locate a friend with a copy of the necessary software --- all the time trying not to alert my client to the problem as it is software we seldom use and she was already under a lot of pressure from jobs that were stacked up.  I had not loaded it on my laptop as it takes a lot of space.  Since I planed to have my PC with me, it didn't seem to be a problem.  But telling her I'd be unable to work on her project for lack of the appropriate word processing software (which she required for a newly acquired client) was NOT going to be pleasant.  I doubt that even Martha Stewart could have turned THAT discussion into a good thing.  Fortunately a friend came to my rescue.

And They Laughed At My Labels!

    All in all, this move was not my finest hour --- certainly not one of my better moves.  As friends discovered when they sorted boxes from the garage rafters --- my last move was much more organized.  All the boxes had computer generated labels which were numbered and which listed the contents.  If I ever have to move again, I will most certainly make every attempt to revert to the overly compulsive person who printed all those labels (which my ex-husband laughed loudly about at the time!).  Frankly, I'd rather have someone laugh at my organizational proclivities then to have a rerun of the fiasco I've just completed. 

A Good Thing --- True Friends!

Thank goodness for excellent friends -- who dig in and help without being critical.  If they survive seeing you at your worst and remain good friends, you know they are worth walking over hot coals for.  I wish you ALL at least 1 such friend!

Today's Assignment: Make a list of bank accounts and financial institutions, doctors, lawyers, insurance carriers, etc.  Be sure to include their names, addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, and what function they perform in your life.  Keep the list up-to-date; keep a copy on your computer and a printed copy in your file of important papers.  When a life-changing event occurs, appropriate notifications will be quick and easy.

TIME'S UP!

Well, I'm out of the old house --- what a job that was.  I won't sugarcoat it --- this was NOT one of my finer moments.  Without the help of great friends, I would never have made it. 

As I look back, there are many things I wish I had done differently.  Work got in the way.  Emotions got in the way.  And my body got in the way.  Over the coming months I'll share with you some of the things I learned.  For now suffice to say that it was a learning experience and I am glad it is over.

A Couple of Thoughts to Share: 

1. We all should clean out our places periodically so that we don't allow the collections and piles to go on endlessly.  I call it the 5-Year Rule!  Pretend you are moving every 5 years and clean out each room as though you are going to move in 30 days.  I'm convinced that would have saved me a tremendous amount of grief.
2. Have your children go through all the childhood memories (toys, etc.) and pick out what has meaning to them.  Box those, mark them appropriately, and turn them over to the appropriate family members for their care and keeping.  The days of living in the same house for 50 years are long gone.  Having to store everyone's memories in a storage unit is not only time consuming, it is expensive.
3. Do consider health issues when you are preparing for a move.  In my case I had a closed head injury as the result of an auto accident back in 1990.  When I am overly tired my brain plays tricks on me.  What is in my head does not translate into my speech.  I knew about this from past experience, but in recent months --- between work and moving plans --- I had simply spaced it.  What I did NOT know -- but learned was that this symptomatology, when taken to the extreme, virtually immobilizes my decision-making abilities.  It is a mistake I will NOT make in the future. 
4. Consider what your children would face if you died or were disabled tomorrow.  Would you really want them to go through all those boxes and draws and closets in your house?  Sort things down to a minimum so your family will not have to do it for you.  Not only is it unfair to them, it may well destroy some wonderful memories they have. 
5. Put all your important papers and treasures together into one place.  Pretend you are preparing for a fire.  Have things set up so that if you have to leave quickly, you will know exactly what you want to take with you in an emergency --- no second guessing or trying to round things up in a hurry. 

The 5 Year Rule . . .

When we live in the same place for many years it is easy to collect things --- to stash "stuff" and never give a thought to sorting and dumping.  We accumulate untold piles of things.  Stacks of mail "I'll go through later."  Remember, we get billed every month for most things --- another bill will come next month.  Most accounts can now be checked online if we have a billing question.  And a call to most businesses will yield copies of prior billings --- even for utilities.  So why hold onto all those old bills and invoices.  If you pay online, use a sweet little program called Cute PDF to "print" PDF copies of your payments to a file on your computer.  The program is free and it's the easiest way possible to turn most anything into a PDF.

Some Things Family Members Don't Need To Know!

Don't leave a mess for your family to clean out if you are incapacitated.  Not only is it unfair to them, what they find may unintentionally destroy a family relationship irreparably.  What may seem like something small to us, may explode into a family feud when it ends up in the wrong hands.  So clean out everything ahead of time --- view it as your family would if they had to go through things.  If you must leave something controversial, seal it carefully and mark it clearly to assure that it gets to someone you know will handle it appropriately.  This small step may save family members from many years of grief and allow you to remain a beloved memory to all of them.

Give Health A Priority During Times of Stress!

As we get older, health issues play a larger part in our ability to perform.  For some of us it may simply be the inability to do everything we were once able to do physically.  For others, medical conditions or other injuries may seriously impair your ability to function under certain circumstances.  Do NOT discount the importance of these limitations.  Nothing is to be gained by denying reality when it comes to moving and/or organizing.  It is physically and mentally draining.  I can tell you from personal experience that if you do not make allowances for these conditions, you will ultimately pay the price.

My inability to remember the names of my 2 birds when I awoke in my motel room yesterday morning sent me reeling.  As I sat here in a mild state of panic, wondering if I was having a stroke, I suddenly saw myself over the last few days --- unable to remember words, unable to decide between A and B until someone made a suggestion --- it was suddenly very clear --- my brain was worn out and I had simply pushed it too far.  I had a serious auto accident in 1990 --- hitting my forehead on the passenger dashboard (I was driving) and breaking the gear shift and steering wheel in the process.  Yes, I had a seatbelt on; no --- the airbags did not deploy.  For 3 months what came out of my mouth was generally not what I wanted to say.  Since then, whenever I am overly tired, I experience the same side effects --- I mean one thing and say another --- I can't remember names or words --- it's a painful feeling knowing you can't communicate in a way that makes sense.

What I did NOT know was that when driven to the extreme, my decision-making abilities would become nearly nil.  For all intents and purposes, I would become immobilized.  In retrospect, I experienced this side of things frequently over the last 2 months.  However, I was apparently able to continue functioning at a certain level, so I wasn't really aware of the depth of the problem.  Yesterday, as I analyzed and re-analyzed recent weeks and the wrong turns I'd taken in preparing for this departure, I came to understand the extent of the problem.  It is a mistake I hope never to repeat.  The Point:  Take your health seriously!

Let Your Friends Help . . . 

I have wonderful friends.  They fed me and made sure I ate.  They helped me make decisions and carefully helped me pick through things and determine what was important and what was not.  They have given me emotional support beyond what anyone has a right to expect.  Initially, I fought them tooth and nail.  Had I let them "in" sooner, I would have suffered far less and the move would have been much easier.  If you are alone, you simply must have a support network of wonderful friends if you hope to survive.  If they are true friends, they will understand your situation and will not judge you by what they may see or find.  Without them, you may well be up a creek without a paddle.

Know Where to Hire Good Help . . .

I've recommended this in that past, but can't say enough good things about hiring help through Hire Patriots.  In recent weeks I've had several wonderful Marines over to help.  This past weekend Tara and Joey worked 12 hour days that I never could have imagined.  They never hesitated to do what needed to be done.  No request was disregarded.  They were an incredibly strong team.  They amazed all of us with their abilities and willingness.  Both will leave the Marines in August and head for Texas (Tara's home state).  We all wish them well.  As one friend said ---- "It's wonderful knowing that young men and women like these 2 have our back militarily." 

That's all from me at the moment.  I hope you will continue to follow this blog in the coming weeks as we take a more detailed look at getting organized.  Working with dogs as I do I can tell you that old dogs definitely DO learn new tricks and THIS one has learned a lot in recent weeks.  I hope you'll learn from my experiences.

Today's Assignment:  Buy a file box and label it "Important Papers."  All the important papers for your family should go into this box.  When you walk out --- you should be able to grab that box and go.

THE BIRTH OF A COUNTRY

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

As I work at transitioning into my new lifestyle, I am ever more aware this 4th of July of the challenges faced by our forefathers when they built this country --- and of the freedoms we enjoy individually as a result of it.  Their willingness to fight for what they believed in never fails to inspire me.  And this year, with so many of our loved ones engaged in battles around the world, the true value of our 4th of July celebration remains bright as a new coin.  Our freedom comes at a price.  Others are not as fortunate.  Remember that wherever our men and women serve, they pay homage to our Constitution and to the many brave souls who have died through the years in order to preserve those freedoms.  Take a moment to cherish this holiday, courtesy of the U.S. Army and its public domain website.  Wishing you all a safe and wonderful 4th of July with those you love.

[Members of the Old Guard Colonial Color Guard and Fife and Drum team march the colors off at the 'Let Freedom Ring' event held in Philadelphia on July 4, 2004. (photo Army News Service army.mil by Jackie Garrelts)]

How the Fourth of July was Designated as an "Official" Holiday

The United States observes no national holidays, that is, holidays mandated across all 50 states by the Federal government. The United States Congress and/or President can only legally establish an "official" holiday for its "federal" employees and the District of Columbia. States and municipalities are free to adopt holidays enjoyed by the federal government or to create their own.

This can be accomplished in several ways, either through enactment of a law issued by a state legislature or by an executive proclamation, that is, by order from a state governor. As an act of confirmation, it is possible as well that a city may enact an ordinance regarding the celebration of the Fourth of July or any other holiday. As stated in theWorld Almanac (1998, p. 315), however, "in practice, most states observe the federal legal public holiday."

The first "official" state celebration of the Fourth as recognized under resolve of a legislature occurred in Massachusetts in 1781. Boston was the first municipality (city/town) to officially designate July Fourth as a holiday, in 1783. Alexander Martin of North Carolina was the first governor to issue a state order (in 1783) for celebrating the independence of the country on the Fourth of July. In 1870 the first federal legislation was passed giving federal employees a "day off" from work, but without pay. Fourth of July Celebrations Database. (courtesy U.S. Army).

The Bald Eagle - Our National Bird

The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, when it was placed with outspread wings on the Great Seal of our country. It appears in many government institutions and on official documents, making it the most pictured bird in all of America. The eagle appears on the president’s flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, military insignia, and billions of one-dollar bills.

The bald eagle first appeared as an American symbol on a Massachusetts copper cent coined in 1776. Since then it has appeared on the reverse side of many U.S. coins, notably the silver dollar, halfdollar and quarter, as well as the gold coins which were christened the eagle, half eagle, quarter eagle, and double eagle.  For six years, the members of Congress held a bitter dispute over what the national emblem should be. It wasn’t until 1789 that the bald eagle was finally chosen to represent the new nation. The American Bald Eagle

[Fort Knox, Ky. "The Star Spangled Banner" (Palmer, Alfred T., photographer).]

The Flag & Our National Anthem

In 1814, about a week after the city of Washington had been badly burned, British troops moved up to the primary port at Baltimore Harbor in Maryland. Frances Scott Key visited the British fleet in the Harbor on September 13th to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes who had been captured during the Washington raid. The two were detained on the ship so as not to warn the Americans while the Royal Navy attempted to bombard Fort McHenry.

At dawn on the 14th, Key noted that the huge American flag, which now hangs in the Smithsonian's American History Museum, was still waving and had not been removed in defeat. The sight inspired him to write a poem entitled Defense of Fort McHenry; later the poem was set to music that had been previously composed for another song by a Mr. Smith.

The end result was the inspiring song now considered the national anthem of the United States of America. It was accepted as such by public demand for the next century or so, but became even more accepted as the national anthem during the World Series of Baseball in 1917 when it was sung in honor of the brave armed forces fighting in the Great War.

The World Series performance moved everyone in attendance, and after that it was repeated for every game. Finally, on March 3, 1931, the American Congress proclaimed it as the national anthem, 116 years after it was first written. Star Spangled Banner


[Photograph of fireworks going off in the night sky by the Washington Monument, during ceremonies celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence., 07/04/1951.  Location: Harry S. Truman Library (NLHST), 500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, MO 64050-1798]

We...solemnly Publish and Declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States." - Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted these words, and a new nation was born. This new nation promised to secure the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for each and every one of its citizens. "In order to form a more perfect Union...and secure the blessings of liberty," for itself and its posterity, the United States of America established a government of democracy to fulfill that promise. Today, America continues to uphold its ideals and is a symbol of freedom and democracy for the entire world.

And From General Washington:

Head Quarters, New York, July 9, 1776.

* * *

The Hon. Continental Congress having been pleased to allow a Chaplain to each Regiment, with the pay of Thirty-three Dollars and one third pr month--The Colonels or commanding officers of each regiment are directed to procure Chaplains accordingly; persons of good Characters and exemplary lives--To see that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and attend carefully upon religious exercises. The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger--The General hopes and trusts, that every officer and man, will endeavour so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country.

The Hon. The Continental Congress, impelled by the dictates of duty, policy and necessity, having been pleased to dissolve the Connection which subsisted between this Country, and Great Britain, and to declare the United Colonies of North America, free and independent States: The several brigades are to be drawn up this evening on their respective Parades, at Six OClock, when the declaration of Congress, shewing the grounds and reasons of this measure, is to be read with an audible voice.

The General hopes this important Event will serve as a fresh incentive to every officer, and soldier, to act with Fidelity and Courage, as knowing that now the peace and safety of his Country depends (under God) solely on the success of our arms: And that he is now in the service of a State, possessed of sufficient power to reward his merit, and advance him to the highest Honors of a free Country.  . . .

George Washington, July 9, 1776, General Orders

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!