5 Random Things

[hrj]

1. Picked up my new glasses(es) (how do you pluralize glasses?). The old prescriptions haven't been working well for a while, but it's always a bother to make the appointments (and remember to keep them). I decided to try something different for the glasses themselves. The graduated lenses -- while nice when I first started using them -- have become less useful now that I have dedicated computer glasses. So for the "driving glasses" I went to plain bifocals, which gives me a much larger close-reading field at the bottom even though I also went for a smaller (and lighter) lens overall. They're going to take a little getting used to. Even though the lower field has the same general focal length as the graduateds, the sudden change makes me more aware of it. The computer glasses are much the same (except for the prescription update, of course) but a little smaller and sitting higher on my nose. This means that it's easier to do close reading underneath them, if necessary. (This is useful when, for example, I'm doing hand sewing and watching tv at the same time.)

2. My goal for today is to cut and set up a holiday tree (plus various housekeeping activities necessary to make this possible). There's a nice trunk on the volunteer redwood that I intend to use -- the last hurrah for my home "Christmas tree farm" since the main trunk has now gotten tall enough to touch the phone wires and with that and the upcoming marketing of the house it's time to take it out. This isn't particularly tragic: a redwood tree that takes up root in the 1.5 foot wide strip between the sidewalk and the retaining wall is doomed from the beginning.

3. Among the various pre-marketing projects for the house (hmm: my "house projects" tag is going to get a lot more workout in the next year) will be scheduling the arborist to come in and do some major pruning. I'm also planning to get someone in to do major "garden staging". The yard is a major part of this place's curb appeal and I'll want it dressed its best.

4. My first staging-preparation project is going to be making drastic cuts in my fiction library, as well as packing up the stuff I'm keeping. Given that the second-hand fiction market is essentially non-existent these days, any suggestions for what I should do with assorted sf (more fantasy than hard science fiction) and historic mysteries dating back to the '80s? I have local library sales to fall back on, but other recommendations are entertained.

5. It's being an interesting exercise to decide what to keep. Obviously anything that I do regularly re-read. Also things that I strongly expect to re-read. Series runs that I'm still following as they come out. Works by authors that I'm particularly fond of, whether or not I'm specifically fond of the particular book. By the way, the fiction sifting has been a leftover project from the "life cleaning" of several years ago -- it isn't specifically related to the impending move.

Comments

3. garden staging

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

I recommend Siobhan of Cloverdell if you get along with her.

[aastg.livejournal.com]

Re the library: if all else fails, there is the "free shelf" at the El Cerrito recycling center. You can leave unwanted books there, and they go to new homes pretty fast. (Or so we found when a couple of our books went there by accident.)

[joycebre.livejournal.com]

see if there's a high school near you that still has a library - they might take them.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

RE: #4, unless there's too many, post a list here, I'd probably be happy to take a boxful off your hands.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

There are about 1000 items in the "to be deaccessioned" list. If people are interested, I can post a spreadsheet of them someplace accessible, but if I do put them up for "dibs" it will be purely on a "first date-stamped email, first served" basis.

[hyperparasitoid.livejournal.com]

1) "x new pairs of glasses" :)
4) ducal prize?

[sue-n-julia.livejournal.com]

Talk to some of your local shelters for women and families or the Ronald McDonald's house and see if they are interested in the book donations. Goodwill also often takes books for their stores. And for all three, the value of the books is a nice tax write-off.

S

[eowyna.livejournal.com]

I plan to send some of my old SF and action-adventure paperbacks to Operation Paperback, which will cost me about $5/box to mail them to service-people overseas.

[kahnegabs.livejournal.com]

"(how do you pluralize glasses?)

Pretty much the same way as you pluralize scissors and pants. LOL

The Good Will and St. Vincent de Paul appreciate used books.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Purging books gets harder and harder. I have had to be brutal with myself over the years. "How long has it been since you even contemplated re-reading this?" ... that kind of thing. I don't like it, but ... it's necessary. I've been doing another run and have bags of books in the garage now.