9. Old Computer

With the new computer set up and running well, I don't need the old computer. But... my temptation is to hang onto it "just in case". But I've got all my programs up and running so... there is not excuse really. But, what to do with it? There's the monitor and the cpu and the mouse and the keyboard and tonnes of cables. Time to let go of it. I didn't want to go through the hassle of getting a drive-wipe-out program, so I just openned up the computer, took out the harddrive and attempted to disable it with a little sledgehammer. Those things are tough!! Encase in steel with a screw that uses a weird shape (not slot, not hex, not roberts, not phillips)... so it's dented and rattles on the inside, which is good enough.

Now, I know that I can take the stuff to the electronic recycling depot or to Staples, so I just need to do it. I was reading an article today about rare earth metals, and how they are in practically everything technological nowadays... everything from cell phones to catalytic convertors, to windmills, to computer hard drives. And pretty much all of the world's rare earth metals come from China and questionable mining practices. So recycling all those computer parts is a good thing... recycling rare earth metals.

8. Declutter Box of House Repair Thingies

There is this paper box that has a variety of miscellaneous things for the house. I have separate boxes for electrical, plumbing, painting, etc. But this big paper box has all sorts of things: plastic zip ties, tub caulking, steel wool, serious duct tape, curtain hooks, picture hanger wire, rolls of that rubber anti-skid stuff, bales of string, plant hooks, etc. etc. Quite the hodge podge...

So today I sat down and went through the box and was actually surprised at the things I was able to let go of. First off, the curtain hooks... haven't used them in years... and I can always get them cheap again at Value Village so... Also the plant hanger hooks. These are the ones that go in the ceiling and I had about 20 of them. I think I picked some up once at a free garage sale or something. Anyhow... I kept 6 or so and let the rest go. Some of the tub caulking tubes as well. They're probably dried out in there anyhow... and we have a bone coloured tub, so white tub caulking isn't going to work!

So, it's only one box but... it makes a difference. I now have about 4 boxes of stuff sitting downstairs that is destined to go out the door and that is 4 boxes worth less of stuff in the house. Every little bit helps!

Truth and Beliefs

I read another book the other week which brought up an interesting point. If something is true... for example, that the earth is a roundish... then to say "I believe the earth is roundish" doesn't make it true. To say "I believe the earth is flat" doesn't make the earth flat.


To say "I believe in God" or "I do not believe in God" does not alter the truth that God exists or does not exist. So our beliefs are really quite irrelevant to the order of the world. If something exists or is true, that is that. If something does not exist or is not true, then no amount of belief is going to alter that.

Which makes me wonder... with so many world religons out there, all professing to have the truth, all believing that they have the truth... what is the point of all that? What is the point of fighting over our beliefs? Beliefs that can change from one minute to the next, or from one year to the next or from one century to the next. We all think that our beliefs are the truth... but what if they aren't? Beliefs have defended slavery. Beliefs have defended the Holocaust. Beliefs have defended terrorism and mass murder. For what?

That's where we then claim to have the truth and know the truth. Because if our beliefs don't convince things... then we will say we have the Truth... and know the Truth... But do we?

Being Wrong

I've started reading a book called Being Wrong, all about this whole human thing of erring and making mistakes. The author says that making mistakes and being wrong is actually one of our greatest gifts. It's how we learn things... it's how we make different choices. I'm only in the early stages of the book, so it will be interesting to see how she comes to that conclusion!!

So often, we see mistakes and errors as abject failures on our part. We castigate ourselves or others for mistakes and failures. We have a heck of a time admitting that we have said or done something wrong. In fact, we like to believe that we are right pretty much most of the time. Apparently that is the tricky thing with being wrong... you never know you are wrong in the moment... but always after the fact. At the time when you are making a mistake or error... you always think you are right... Our recognition of it as a mistake or as something wrong is the moment where we see what we've been doing.

Which makes me wonder... even if we know something is "wrong"... when we do it, we still think that it is the right thing to do... Otherwise we wouldn't be doing it. Do do the wrong thing, knowing it is the wrong thing and believing it is the wrong thing... well, that would be kind of crazy... Which means that we are master justifiers... we can justify pretty much anything. We can convince ourselves that black is white, or at least a fetching shade of grey... Amazing actually...

So, ultimately, how do we really know that we are doing is right? And we're not talking about moral right/wrong... although that can get swept up into the whole things as well. What we're talking about is making a decision or a choice... and having it be the right one.. Can we ever know? And does it even make any difference if we decide wrongly?

Birds

So I figured out what that robin was doing outside the office window... It was building a nest in the big spruce tree outside! Drove thec cats nuts for a while and was like television for them. They would sit on my desk for hours and watch the robin bringing in twigs and grasses and fussing with its nest.

Alas though, we had a week of torrential downpours and I don't think the nest location is ideal for keeping any little birds or eggs dry. So far, it seems like the nest is abandoned but... you never know... so we'll see how it goes.

For now, the cats are highly sensitized to anything that goes "bonk" against the window. This morning, there was a loud bonk from the living room and Rascal and I both ran to investigate. There was a little sparrow lying outside on the stones, kicking its little legs. Another sparrow was hopping around it. I went outside and picked up the little guy and tucked him against an old patch of cat-mint, hoping for the best. Twenty minutes later, I went to check on him, and he was gone... Much to Rascal's disappointment! Both cats were very interested in the smell on my hands though!

By the way, still decluttering, but needed a break from blogging about it!

7. Declutter Box of Framed Pictures in Basement

There were maybe 8 framed pictures in this box, little ones mostly... and I got rid of 3 of them. Which is pretty good I figure. A couple are going to a friend of mine, if he wants them. One is going to Value Village. And I'm keeping the rest for now... we'll see... Maybe I'll keep the photographs and ditch the old IKEA clip frame... We'll see. But there we go, another box gone, or at least a half box.

I'm not sure why I hang onto all these things for so long but... I do. And now is a great chance to let go of things. The other day, I read about a condo complex that had a sewer back-up. Twenty units had up to 50 cm of sewage water in their basements. Now, that's a forced declutter!! Far better to let go of things voluntarily... and then I don't need so much space to store things... and there's less to worry about!

Things do create worry... and concern... we have to care for our things and insure them and protect them. But for what? Especially the things that we don't use or love anymore... like these photographs. Good question...

6. Declutter Basement Binder Box

This actually turned out to be two boxes, which is a bonus! I knew about these boxes... they had been sitting in the basement for a few years now. At one point, when our humidifier over-dripped, they even got splattered by calcium-rich water and ended up looking like they were snow-sprinkled.

So, today, I sat down there and pulled them out and looked at them. There were 5 course binders with notes from my theology degreee. To keep or not to keep?? That is the question. Have I referred to them in the last 8 years... no... am I likely to refer to them... no... Can I let go of them??? Ahhh!!! So I phoned a friend who basically told me exactly what I already knew... and with that little bit of encouragement, I was able to open up the binder rings and happily pitch the notes into the recycle bin.

The second box contained some extra framed pictures and photographs (more on that in the next posting)... and underneath them... two more binders!! These were the infamous Lay Formation binders that I've been looking for for months and months. I figured I must have already pitched them and yet here they were... It didn't take long to let go of them as well.

Seven thick (2.5 to 3 inch) binders are now empty and going off to Value Village as well. And I am 20 lbs lighter... maybe more... or at least my possessions are that much lighter. It feels good to let go of that stuff... and it only took 20 minutes...