Out and About – Week of January 15th

We are now half way through the first month of 2018. I’ve been lucky so far and have written “2018” on all the checks I’ve written. Usually it takes me a whole month to get used to writing the correct year when dating something. Perhaps I’ve taken my own advice and slowed down a little when doing certain things. When typing, my brain moves faster than my fingers, so I usually omit a word from time to time. That’s why I have two editors.

January, being the first month of a new year, means that it’s time to get your files in order, if you have a filing system. This task usually takes me a couple of months. My file box keeps getting filled to the point where I feel like I’m stacking building blocks. If I bump it, I end up with a mess on the floor. It’s a good idea to never let a huge pile build up in the file tray. This is easier said than done, believe me. Probably the best thing to do is set aside a special day every month to tackle the ever-growing stack.

I have three file cabinets in my office, consisting of four drawers. I’m not sure how well they’re organized, but they seem to work for me. I have plenty of file folders and dividers, so all I really need to do now is make the time to fill them. As I’m filing papers away, I’ve found it to be a good idea to weed out those papers that aren’t really needed anymore. If I haven’t looked at some of the older files for several years, I either put them somewhere else out of the way, or I destroy them. It’s a good idea to hold on to those tax files for six or seven years.

I apologize if what I’ve written so far seems boring, but I’m pretty sure there’s someone out there who might be just as obsessive as I am when it comes to trying to keep things organized. It’s what puts me to sleep at night and one of the first things I think about when I wake up. I really have to get a life.

Another thing about starting a new year out in an organized way has to deal with a daily or weekly planner. I don’t know what I’d do without it. I’ve misplaced it several times and am not very nice to be around until I’ve found it. I’ve tried to enter appointments in my cell phone, but it doesn’t seem to work most of the time. My cell phone and I don’t get along very well. I have too many apps, and I probably use only two or three. The biggest problem I have with it is that I forget to turn the volume back up after I’ve turned it off, so that it doesn’t ring during a meeting. This has gotten me into quite a bit of trouble. My father never had this problem.

Every so often I run across someone who claims there is nothing to do here in the Three Rivers area. Evidently, they haven’t taken the time to look very hard. We have a great library with plenty of things to occupy your time. There are computers, magazines, games, and even a few books available to patrons of all ages. Once the library has moved to its new location, there will be more fun things for children of all ages to explore.

The Carnegie Center for the Arts is another venue to check out. You’ll find all forms of art on display. Stop in and talk with a staff member. Perhaps they might have a class in the planning stages, which might interest you or your children. The last time I checked, there isn’t any charge for admission to either the library or the Carnegie Center. These are just two of the many attractions that can be found in historical downtown Three Rivers. Just wait until spring, when you’ll have the many parks, lakes and rivers available for your enjoyment.

Question of the day is this. Why do gasoline prices jump twenty cents overnight, then take two weeks to get back down to what they were? Why not set them a little high and leave them there? Boycotting would might work, but no one wants to participate. Greed is an evil thing.

“Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, the last elephant been killed, the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.” ~ Bob Marley

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

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