#41 FLOPPY DISKS
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
The box of floppy disks below represents what I removed from several old Apple computers I gave away before moving to Florida. The box is heavy. My objective is to go through each disk and transfer files I want to keep to my two-terabyte external drive.
The gadget below is a portable USB diskette drive that will connect to my laptop or desktop computer which will also be connected to my external drive. After inserting the diskette into the diskette drive I should be able to simply drag and drop the individual files into my two-terabyte external drive.
Then, upon completion of each task, I should be able to erase each diskette. I can then either give the empty diskettes away or throw them out. This project will require lots of time so it won't be done anytime soon.
_______________________
Even a small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#40 CASSETTE TAPES
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
I would like to keep the contents of all my tapes, but not the physical boxes. To convert all these audio cassette tapes (6 sweater boxes full) to MP3s will take me a long time! Yes, they fill a three-seater couch... or chesterfield if you're Canadian.
Some are music tapes I bought, some are music I recorded off the radio, some are phone consultations with former clients, some are my guest expert radio interviews, and some are talk radio shows I hosted. I may not convert all of them as some may be of no value to me. If privacy is a concern, I can simply pull all the tape out of the plastic cassette.
I could pay someone a lot of money (which I don't have) to covert all these tapes, or I can do it myself. Fortunately, I have the equipment I need to do the work myself (but not the time right now.) Below you will see my Victrola which, besides FM-AM radio, plays record albums, audio cassette tapes, and audio CDs. On the back are audio output ports so I can digitize my cassette tapes and record albums. The only cables I need are on top of the Victrola.
Not shown are my MacBookPro laptop, the Audacity software app, and my 2 terabyte hard drive – a 3" x 4" box – to store them all on.
A few years ago I purchased the cassette-to-MP3 converter you see below, but did not try using it. The purchase price was close to $60. If you can use it I will sell it to you for $25.00 (plus my shipping cost) and I'll throw in a set of earbuds (unopened package).You don't have to use it to digitize tapes... you can use it as a hand-held way to listen to your old tapes. I'VE SOLD IT.
________________________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#39 RED CROSS PINS
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
You may know that I inherited items from grandparents and earlier ancestors, some from before the US Civil War. These items must go now while I have the capacity to research what they are and what their value may be. My great-aunt Mercy (not to be confused with her niece who was my Aunt Mercy as well) left me 8 Red Cross pins from the time she was a volunteer nurse in WWI and WWII. I don't have family to give them to, so....
You won't know how much your things are worth if you don't do your research. The easiest way for me is to take photos and use Google's Lens. You simply drop each photo into Google Images then hunt for identical items to find out the official name, plus what others deem the value to be. I usually add up the dollar sum of the identical items and find the median dollar value.
Sometimes you aren't able to sell your items for the money you anticipate, but if you know there is someone who wants your items and will treasure them long after you're gone, that may be a far better reason to sell to them at a lower price.
I am happy to say someone has made an offer on these 8 pins that I can accept. SOLD
________________________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#38 OLD RECEIPTS
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
My community offers a free Shredding Day to members once or twice a year. The next one is mid-April, so I'm working toward filling as many totes as I can before then. So far, paper to shred has filled 2.5 totes, like the blue-green one below.
I'd already cleared out the files for 1999 through 2017 and the reduced files take up only one half of a clear plastic file box. I keep the federal, state, and local tax return, property tax receipts, Income Summary and Expense Summary, and bank/credit account summaries (not the entire statement) for each year. I don't need grocery receipts, gas and electric bills, etc., but the amounts are noted on the summaries.
It's wise to keep tax files for 7 years, and I found that keeping prior files as well helped me find answers to questions that have come up.
This week and next I'm working on eliminating unnecessary files from my years' receipts for 2018 through 2023.
After I purge 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, the remaining files will likely fill only one file box, not the 14 file boxes I would have today if I had not started to purge pages. Some years's receipts have filled an entire file box; other years, with bigger file boxes I've crammed two years in a file box.
I don't want someone else to dump all my private papers in the neighborhood dumpster for all to see, but I certainly don't want all those file boxes taking up space in my bedroom shelves, or to pay rent to store them one day when I no longer live in my house.
What you see in the two boxes above are 4 years of tax returns and receipts. Eventually they will fill only half a box. It's tedious going through each piece of paper, but I've come across a few little surprises that will serve me well later.
________________________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#37 SEWING NOTIONS
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
I used to sew a lot. (Couturier fashion and tailoring was one of my majors in university.) I don't do any major sewing projects now and prefer not to sew for anyone else as it's too time-consuming for too little monetary compensation. So I'm letting go of items I don't see myself using again, and haven't used for some years.
Going through my sewing tools, buttons, and threads I was able to consolidate two "sweater" boxes of stuff into one box. One day this remaining box of notions will go wherever my Janome sewing machine goes.
I'm currently offering these for sale:
Hemming Guide, $5
Pinking Sheers, $5
Knitting Needles (17 pairs), $30
Patterns, 3 for $5
Miscellaneous sewing notions, all for $5
Marking pen, pressing aid for velvet, embroidery hoop, buttonhole maker, pleating guide, magnetic pin holder.
___________________________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#36 LADDERS
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
When my neighbor moved to assisted living, her adult children gave me some of her tools, light bulbs, a 4-wheel cart, and a ladder.
The new, 4-step, folding ladder is not only lightweight and easier for me to carry but because of its size it will replace my 2-step stool and my heavy 12.5 foot telescoping ladder that I used only one time. At my age I should not be climbing ladders onto roofs anymore, anyway. This new ladder is perfect for when I'm ready to paint my walls, insert air filters in the ceiling compartment, and clean the roof of my van.
This much-used step stool is free to anyone.
This 12.5 telescoping ladder I'm selling for $100. SOLD
____________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#35 DVR PROGRAMS
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
One day my cable box, router, modem, and DVR will need to return to our cable company. It makes sense to keep the recorded programs to a reasonable number so nobody else has to delete them.
At one point, my DVR – a service included in my HOA fees – was 80% filed. Here it was at 24%. I've been able to keep it no higher than 32%. Each day I delete what I've seen that day, especially the 30-minute shows like Jeopardy!. Sometimes I record concerts, that, after a few minutes of watching, hold no appeal for me and out they go. I've decided I prefer to watch a concert, not a documentary of the group, and not a movie based on the band. I've been holding onto episodes of "Ghosts" (both US and UK) and also Season One of "Only Murders in the Building" which I've seen three times now. I have Hulu ($1.11 a month) so I can watch Season Two and Season Three of OMITB.
Of course, now I have 28 episodes of "The Twilight Zone" waiting for me.
____________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#34 JEANS
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
I've been storing Rubbermaid bins of jeans I'm not wearing. I tried on all of them to decide if any are worth altering to fit, worth selling, or worth repurposing the denim. As you can see I've written my decision on small notes and pinned them on each pair.
Here's what I decided:
A. Four pairs have hips and legs that are too big, but the waist is OK. I can take these in.
B. Three pairs have worn crotch areas. I can patch these... or just keep them as is and use them as my painting pants.
C. One pair has a waist that fits, but the legs are too long and tight. I'll offer these for sale or free.
D. One denim skirt fits well but I don't have anywhere to wear it, and it's heavy for Florida. If it doesn't sell I may repurpose the fabric.
E. Two pairs of light color (tan and pale blue) jeans fit well but I don't wear them because I prefer dark colors below my waist. I think dark colors on my legs appear more slimming. I'll sell or give away.
F. Three pairs are two small.I will either wait until I lose wait (wishful thinking) or sell them.
G. Four pairs have waist and legs that are too tight. I'll sell them because they are nearly new and have a fashion label.
H. Two pairs of lightweight dress trousers have legs that fit well but the waist it too tight. I may wait and see.
I. Three pairs of men's khaki shorts don't fit me. The waist is too small. I'll sell them.
____________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#33 ANTIQUE TEXTILES
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
This framed baby shirt came to me among my mother's belongings after she died. My mother was an antiques dealer but as far as I know she never had it authenticated. It could possibly be 256 years old.
The following were handed down to me from my father's side of the family. His New Jersey family wasn't great at preserving things – photos and letters, too – but when I was 12 years old I was able to keep my father from tossing these and other things in the trash. Sadly I have no idea to whom some belonged or how old they may be.
This lace collar was worn by my grandmother, Florence Helene Koller Reynolds, circa 1906, (117 years old). This could be tatting. (I inherited my red hair from both grandmothers.)
I don't know who in my family wore this silk blouse but it appears to be sewn entirely by hand.
Note the fagoting.
This silk, monogrammed handkerchief was likely carried by one of my grandparents in their 1906 wedding.
This bonnet is discolored and extremely fragile, and split in some areas. I could have steamed the bonnet and ties to lie flat but was fearful of causing more harm.
Some tatting and one baby bootie (for a boy). 
An unused piece of lace and the waistband I removed from my grandmother's wedding dress (1906) so I could wear it in 1981. I sold the dress in the mid-80s.
An auction house for textiles was recommended to me and I will contact them to see if they can evaluate the worth of any of these items and perhaps auction them for a profit for me. Even though my first degree was in Clothing and Textiles (Kent State U.) and I took grad courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NewYork, it hadn't occurred to me to consider an auction house dedicated solely to textiles.
____________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942
#32 MY CONDO + TAXES
© Copyright Andrea Reynolds 2024
I'm often asked: "Andrea, have you sold your condo yet?"
FYI, I repainted my front door myself.
No, I haven't because reducing most of my belongings will require more months of effort, and renting a storage unit is not in my budget. Most of those asking are real estate agents who see my condo as a source of income for them... not understanding that selling my condo will render me homeless. Is that really what they want for me? The others who ask give me the impression they want me out of their community. Do they regard me as an undesirable? Hmmmm.
When I do sell, the proceeds won't allow me to buy or rent even cheap accommodation. I must invest the income from the sale and live off the interest. Later, the principal will cover my nursing home care in my final years. The years in between the condo sale and my institutionalized care will be spent living in my van. I will have, at best, $800 a month to live on.
So, I want to avoid real estate agents who will take no less than $6,000 away from my paltry "retirement" income.
All the photos and details - to be updated later - of my condo are on my website: www.AndreasEstate.com/condo.html
Next....
This week (January 10) I completed and filed my 2023 US Federal income tax. And after, I purged last year's receipts, and created a file box for my 2024 receipts. I'm glad that's done. But... did I acquire another credit toward Social Security benefits? It's not likely this year, either. I still need 10 more work credits. :-(
____________________
Any small amount of monetary support helps me acquire credits toward Social Security benefits. With your help I may be eligible by age 80.
If you have an interest in following how I am accomplishing this enormous house-emptying task, I invite you to support this project with a monthly contribution of $5 or whatever amount you're comfortable with. I hope to write two blog posts weekly, more or less.
The benefit to my patrons is you get to ask me questions about my project, and your projects, too, which I may answer in this blog: crisiswriter@gmail.com
PayPal: www.PayPal.me/AndreaReynoldsIntl
Venmo: www.Venmo.com/Andrea-Reynolds-79
FacebookPay: https://www.Facebook.com/andrea.reynolds.90
It's possible Facebook may only allow you to send money by an app on your phone, not Facebook Messenger.
Zelle: Use my email: crisiswriter@gmail.com or text: 656-227-1130
Cash App: Use: $AndeBitanga
Cash: Best delivered in person to be safe.
Shipping is extra: Priority Mail… or for books, I ship by less expensive Media Mail.
I'm happy to receive checks in my mailbox to cover whatever time period makes sense to you. My mailing address: Andrea Reynolds, 1902 Andover Street, APT 194, Sun City Center, Florida 33573-5942