I'm back in town from Thanksgiving and the little trip we took to attend a wedding. My husband and I decided to start eating better and getting back to working out. I cleaned the refrigerator and stocked it with good food. Had a bit of a moment of weakness and pulled everything out of the kitchen cabinets so I could arrange it the "right" way. Maybe not the best decision to give in to that urge? But it looks nice and it made me feel better.
Today I want to clean out the fireplace and vacuum the living room. I've let the chores pile up so there are lots of things that need to be done. I guess I'll just start there and then reassess because otherwise I fear I won't do much of anything.
Big hugs to everyone reading and trying to make their own plan for the day. I'm in your corner!
diane
Posted: 03 December 2013 - 01:51 PM
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! First real snow of the season. Happy I have plenty of firewood. Grateful I went to store yesterday and have plenty of good food. I had some pictures printed yesterday of the dog I borrowed. I took pictures of him with a santa hat on in between Christmas stuffed animals to make a christmas card for my friend that loaned him to me. I am so happy I did that and today I can make the card, so pleased when I think of something clever that will be an unexpected pleasure to someone else. I have had a very lazy morning, looking on computer. I would like to figure out the connection to tv/vcr today so I can watch some commercial free stuff! Have plenty of old movies etc. just never took time to enjoy when was out compulsively shopping. This will be my first winter with out clutter in living area in many years. Tillie, I like that you sit and enjoy your life and treeless window, gives me permission to lay low this morning. Guilt and anxiety have run my life long enough. Think I will put a pot of soup on the wood stove, love to cook on wood stove, and no Molly to worry about knocking it off. Enjoy your day everyone.
Tillie
Posted: 03 December 2013 - 10:51 AM
Good morning :0
Been snowing since sometime around dark thirty and continues to snow. Dark gray day, bitterly cold. Cats are all "starving" to death (their words) and trying to find suitable places to hibernate till Spring. Even a dirty cluttered outside hoard looks good and fresh & clean when buried deep in snow. :D So happy that tree is gone and not threatening to come down on me from the weight of the snow. Planning to do the "Daily Tasks" then get right back into all the hard work (playing). Doing some sewing projects, doing some doll house projects, thinking about baking. Been spending a lot of time already today just watching the swirling snow flakes falling in the garden. :D
Roxie
Posted: 03 December 2013 - 01:12 AM
Good morning. I slept for a couple hours, and can't go back to sleep yet, so here I am.
Tillie, I was so excited to read about your getting him to accomplish so much! Way to go. Love it when you get tough. And thank you for adding the link so we are reminded to be careful re: possible fire situations, esp. those of us who tend to have piles of flammable things.
Diane, I'm grateful to have a home of my own that actually has heat in it, to have food in my refrigerator, to have the company of my two cats without which I'd be lonely.
I did a big sink full of dishes yesterday and wiped down some of the counters. Today I need to go to the pet food store and stock up. I've been putting it off. I might order more online later, too. Stock up for winter icing over, which keeps me home (though it doesn't often happen).
The cats know they don't get canned food until the sun comes up, although they try to convince me otherwise. :D
Woke up before the sun was up, rolled over and slept in till 8:00. :D
Hi Diane :) Good luck fixing the tarp. Sometimes I get like that, spilling stuff and believe that I just need to slow down a little and be more aware of what I am doing, not running on automatic. Yes, chat was really good last night! :D I am grateful for this site and all the wonderful people I have met here. (((HUGS)))
Hi Roxie :) As I told the folks in chat last night my telling him to show respect for the housework I do in here worked GREAT! He removed his shoes every time before coming inside so he did not dirty my freshly washed floors. And, he did a lot of GREAT work in the carport. He can now get the front end of his truck under there AND he also gathered up a LOT of stuff, put it in his truck and will drop it off at the charity thrift shop today!!! :D
Hi Dianne :)
Hi MayMay :)
Hi everybody else here :D
Winter storm blowing in today. The wind has it warmed up to 40 degrees right now but that will soon change. Swapping out my lighter weight bedding for the warmer Winter stuff today. Right now I have the light weight blankets and comforter all washed and out on the clothes line drying. Then I will store them away till Spring.
When this winter storm blows in the temps will be below freezing day and night. :( Fortunately, I have 2 cats who love to snuggle in bed with me and they generate a lot of heat. ;)
Have a lot of fun activities planned for this week and hope the electricity doesn't go out while I am sewing. Oh Well. LOL
Get out there and look for the FUN in all you do today. :)
diane
Posted: 02 December 2013 - 11:17 AM
Roxie, what a great family, heart warming reading about the love you received, perhaps that is why you easily share love with us. I have lots to learn in that area. Only .26" of rain last night and my tarp job wasn't angled enough so there was a huge amount of water ready to crash, so I have been out there getting water down, and showered with cold water. Will be great to have that section re roofed. Guess I will have to work on it today so doesn't fill up again. Often best to do it right the first time!!!! Today went in big bedroom and there is so much still to do. And here I sit avoiding starting. Going into Bend today to pay for my new insurance, and grocery shop. Tried to pay online but will be overdue before it gets to them, so today is the day to pay. Ice and snow starts later today, so need to go soon, while still over 32 dergrees. I will do dishes first, have done most already. Just knocked over my coffee on living room carpet, blotted with towels, last night knocked over grapefruit container in kitchen, what is the deal? Cleaned up after Molly for months, don't want my spills to continue. Gratitude is so helpful, need to make list daily and make it a habit. I am grateful for the chat group last night, lots of great participation. Grateful for having time to organize, and the support here to make changes. Grateful for Tillie and Steven and Cory and all the chatters on here.
Roxie
Posted: 01 December 2013 - 03:35 PM
I just woke up, must have slept about 15 hours this time. I know I woke up at 3am and managed to get myself back to sleep. I know this time when I woke up I really wanted to go back to whatever I was dreaming, but it was lost...
MayMay, darling, don't wish anyone dead. Bad juju for you, too! I didn't get in trouble for the crashes as nothing was too noticeable except sliding an entire display about 2 feet further along. LOL Anyway, I managed to push it somewhat back. If someone discovered me, I'd have just played really really helpless. Smirk.
Dianne, "doing gratitudes" does wonders for our disposition, our karma, and our entire attitude. It opens our heart, lets our brain look for good things, etc. Do it nightly before sleep is my prescription.
Tillie what can you do about making him clean up his own messes? (((Tillie)))
I guess I'm blessed in that I had wonderful childhood memories of extended family, on my mother's side. My grandma was wonderful. My mother had three sisters and one brother. Him we didn't know well because he lived too far away. He dressed in Western clothes and looked a LOT like Clark Gable. hubba hubba
The rest I grew up knowing because we'd vacation travel to see them. They all maid me felt loved, except for my father's sister and her husband. They had four girls and wanted sons so I think they coveted my brothers. Any rift was well hidden by the adults.
They are all gone now and I miss them so much. My favorite aunt committed suicide many years ago. I was so mad at her for doing that. The other two I visited as an adult as often as I could so my son would also have good childhood memories of extended family. Then I linked my son up with my first husband and his family, so my son now has very extended family, with half brothers and sisters. He's developed relationships there, too. My second husband had two more sons when he remarried and Erik has tried to bond with them.
It's Sunday so there is not much to watch on tv tonight but I'll watch that new "reality" show about people leaving the FLDS. Cults interest me as I cannot understand how people get mixed up with them, especially such bizarre ones.
Later
Tillie
Posted: 01 December 2013 - 10:04 AM
Good morning :/
Today I plan to do the general house cleaning stuff. Clean bathroom Wash floors Vacuum carpet Dust Cook some food Clean the kitchen
He has been home from work a LOT lately using up all his paid days off before the year's end. Use it or lose it. He will still be home a LOT this month too. He has done nothing productive with his time off and has been making big nasty messes & leaving them for me to clean up. I am at the end of my rope.
Anyways.... Hope to see you all in chat tonight. :)
MayMay
Posted: 01 December 2013 - 02:05 AM
OOPS! I just made a major TYPE-O!
I accidentally forgot to put the word "cousins" at the beginning of the second sentence in the paragraph in my last post. :o
What I meant to say was... "My cousins on my mom's side of the family are nice"
MayMay
Posted: 01 December 2013 - 01:54 AM
Hi everyone! :)
Hi diane, Thanks. Yeah being alone can be good sometimes. :)
Hi Dianne and Tillie, Yeah on my mom's side of the family, it's mostly my grandpa that causes all the drama. My on my mom's side of the family are nice; but I hate how my grandpa is constantly comparing me and my cousin Abby. In his eyes, my cousin Abby is perfect because she graduated from college and she's a super girly girl; and I'm the black sheep because I work at a bar and I mostly hangout with guys and I am a total tomboy. I hate to say this... But I can't wait until my grandpa dies. Once my grandpa dies, I think most of the drama will go away... Because that's what happened on my dad's side of the family. On my dad's side of the family, it was my grandma that caused the most drama. But then after she died, all of the drama went away; and now there is absolutely no drama on my dad's side of the family at all. We all get along great now.
Hi Roxie, Oh wow! LOL. Luckily that has never happened to me before. Did you get into any trouble after any of the crashes? :)
Dianne
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 04:27 PM
Roxie, that's a great idea to open my heart with gratitude that I had something to give. :)
He is fortunate enough to have family who could take him in. Just not the dogs. But they did go to a home together on a farm. An aunt made a 5 hour trip to get the dogs there.
Tillie, we do what we have to, to protect ourselves emotionally. You may not like your family but it sounds like you have wonderful memories of your grandma. :)
Roxie
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 01:12 PM
Diane, I forgot to mention that I also had some minor crashes with the motorized cart at the store. I nearly knocked over a whole display. Sometimes those aisles are not so wide. :D
Roxie
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 01:10 PM
I was up at 3am after sleeping about four hours. Went down for a nap about 9am and just got up. I do sometimes enjoy a daytime nap.
Tillie, it made me feel really sad that you don't like any of your family. (((( ))))
Dianne, thank you for giving the gifts to that boy. Sounds like he may have had a terrible childhood given his parents' problems. Did he have to go into the foster system? So many strikes against him. Maybe to open your heart more you can give some gratitude today, including the fact you had anything to give? :)
Onto the internet I go...
Tillie
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 12:55 PM
Good morning everybody! :D Wonderful to read all your posts. Got me thinking about the very last time I attended a family gathering. :/ Xmas 1985. Parents were planning to sell the house we grew up in and down size into a condo. Father kept bugging me to come down for the very last xmas in that house. Finally I agreed to drive 1000 miles from the San Francisco bay area all the way to Tucson. The visit was pure hell on earth and even more. I do not like any of those people. 2 brothers & their wives, 2 sisters, mother & I barely tolerated my father. Over the years since then my father kept asking me when I was going to come back to visit and my answer was always when hell freezes over, and frankly it doessn't ever get that cold in Tucson, but if it does freeze over I will come and bring my ice skates. :P
Anyways..... Been up since before sun up and got a lot of stuff accomplished. Pondering what I want to do the rest of the day. Never did make that ginger bread that I wanted so bad. Maybe I will bake. :D
Dianne
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 12:13 PM
MayMay I'm glad you didn't have to spend too much time in that atmosphere of negativity.
Every family has it somewhere. In mine it was some cousins. In my ex's family it was everyone! haha
Some were deliberately mean I think while most of it was just ignorant and judgmental. They probably thought I was pretty bad too. Eventually I began cutting them out of our lives. I really didn't want my kids being exposed to value systems that were so different from mine.
All of us here could swap some good stories I bet!
I just finished wrapping some gifts that Laura will be taking to a holiday party today so out of the house, yay! It was mostly books, some new clothes with tags still on (minus price) and some things I gave up with reluctance. One was a really nice pewter keychain of an Australian Sheepdog head and paw print.
There's a kid (15 yrs) who lost his father to a drug overdose a few years ago and his mom just passed from alcohol related problems a few weeks ago. Ok so I felt bad for him but the clincher that tore my heart out was that he had 2 Aussies. Bad enough losing your parents but then to be told you have to give up your dogs too ~ the only thing left in his life that could give him comfort? That was too harsh. Had to be done but still......
Laura had gotten him a really nice Under Armour hoodie but she really wanted to give him my keychain too. Damn I feel selfish to think that I had to think about it. But hopefully it will give him comfort and I hope he'll be touched that she wanted to remember him in a more personal way. So I looked for other things that were hard to give away but someone else will enjoy them more than me keeping the things in a drawer just to hang onto them.
I didn't give away those things with generosity in my heart. And I don't feel all warm and good. I kind of regret it. But I needed to exercise some mental/emotional muscles in not just giving away stuff I could easily part with. But to let go of the things that I want to grasp in my greedy little mitts. It ain't easy but I hear exercise and eating well are hard at first too but get easier with practice.
diane
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 10:13 AM
Maymay, enjoyed your family fiasco. I dreaded going to moms drama filled feasts. I often think everyone but me has a good fun filled family feast, good to hear being alone is more fun sometimes. Roxie, enjoyed your stories about noodling on couch and riding scooter. I used scooter after surgery, a friend took me to target, aisle were too narrow for this driver, clipped a few end displays!! Costco has better aisles for new drivers. I have a CDL for driving school buses so when ran into aisle got a good laugh. thanks so much for all that everyone posts
diane
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 10:07 AM
Yesterday I worked in big bedroom for about 4 hours, yes there is still that much stuff in there, sun was shining in, so was having a good time. When I decided I had done enough for the day, went outside and enjoyed the sun, then the clouds rolled in. I actually went from happy to gloomy, amazing how much the weather affects me. then I started regretting I had been indoors when sun was shining, had to talk myself into saying it was ok. I was at a loss to figure out what to do. Then decided to try to figure out how to transfer pictures from camera to computer, again. I got totally involved in the project and no longer felt sad. I actually was able to figure it out . In past months have had to take camera in and have pictures put on disc then put disc in puter. The camera is the one I got from a friend, it is 10 years old but a very good sony that takes great pictures. It has old sony pro memory stick that doesn't fit in computer, so have to use wires to attach. I came close to going shopping yesterday when felt bad, thank goodness I worked on camera instead. Nice reading your comments.
MayMay
Posted: 30 November 2013 - 12:52 AM
Hi everyone! :D
I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving. Mine was ok. I'm so glad it's over though. My boyfriend and I spent thanksgiving with my parents and my mom's side of the family. I'm not going to lie. I can't stand my mom's side of the family. They are all annoying, mean, judgemental people and no one ever gets along with each other. All they do is fight. Thanksgiving got a lot better though once we left my parent's house and went to the bar to meet up with the guys. :)
WAY TO GO Karl! :D
Hi Tillie! :D
Hi diane! :D
Hi Roxie, I love riding those motorized carts in the grocery store. Sometimes my boyfriend and I will race each other with them while we are at the store. It's so much fun! We are total kids at heart! LOL. ;D
Roxie
Posted: 29 November 2013 - 04:24 PM
I just got back from a run to the grocery store. I used one of those motorized carts in the store this time and that helped. I was out of dry cat food and receiving protests from my little feral kids.
Did my usual chores, and put away most of the groceries. Still need to finish putting away the rest plus putting away the rest of the dried dishes. I bundled up kitchen garbage, just need to run it outside. I hate going outside when it is chilly.
Congratulations, Karl, on getting yourself ready to move. Looking forward to hearing how settling in is going and what the setup for you is.
Tillie, hi, and any luck on lighting a fire under cave butt?
Diane, I was smiling at your novelty of only having yourself to consider in terms of making your home. I remember how bemused I was after my (now ex) moved out. It took a while to organize things the way that suited me. And after my foster dog Lovey left, took awhile adjusting again.
((((Everybody))))
diane
Posted: 29 November 2013 - 10:18 AM
Good morning. Got so much stuff done yesterday, felt good to keep busy and get things done. It is hard to know what to do with Stevens crap, so he may need suggestions on where to move it. Tillie, nice you are going to help Steven see the benefit of having windshield free of ice. It is sunny this morning, supposed to be cloudy today. It is 18 right now, in a few days will be 0 degrees at night, glad I have plenty of firewood. I did not do dishes yesterday so will do that today for sure {I hope} I did finally pay bills last night. Have 2 phone calls to make regarding health insurance change, really dread it, then it will only take a few minutes, and I will wonder why I wait and fret. Today I noticed I still worry about what others might think of the way I fixed living room, then I remind myself, it is comfortable for me and not to compare to my minamalist friends who only have the minimum of everything. I love having 3 comfortable places to sit in here, from 3 angles, when I only really need only 2. With no dog to please, it is really new to think what I really want and what is comfortable for me. Had a sweet chat last night in chatroom, so grateful for this site. Today I want to practice relaxing, always feel a sense of anxiety about things that need to be done. Grateful I am not in a store getting great bargains that I do not need. Just ran out and put garbage cart out, thought would be Saturday because of holiday, heard truck and ran out. Hope all of you had an OK day yesterday and were able to think of lots of things that you are thankful for.
Tillie
Posted: 29 November 2013 - 09:48 AM
Good morning :) My plan for today is to try to encourage my hoarder to clear/clean out part of a carport so that he can park his truch under there and not have to scrape ice off the windows every morning before work. This would make his life so much easier. Can't understand why he is so resistant. LOL ;D Other than that my to-dos are the usual... cat stuff & tidying up then back to playing
Hope you all have a fun and productive day. :D
Tillie
Posted: 29 November 2013 - 09:43 AM
Great job Karl! :D Happy that things are getting finalized for you. (((hugs)))
Dianne
Posted: 29 November 2013 - 07:27 AM
Congratulations Karl!!! A huge job accomplished! :)
Karl
Posted: 29 November 2013 - 06:18 AM
I spent the whole day packing boxes, along with the one person who'd agreed to help. We took a break for food at an Indian restaurant that had a special Thanksgiving buffet.
It was just past 1:00am when we decided we'd done enough packing/decluttering. Then I finally remembered that I still had a load of laundry to get done before the movers pack the washer. I still have a few dishes to wash by hand, too, but I'm going to guess that I'll have a chance to do that in the morning, while the movers are dealing with what's ready for them.
Roxie
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 05:51 PM
Bouncing (okay, tripping) back in the door to say "hi" to all after a long nap. That felt so nice, to tuck under a blanket with both cats smack up against me like personal little heaters.
I'm enjoying reading your posts. Hi to (hope I don't forget anyone): Tillie, Diane, Dianne, MayMay, Karl, SusanL, Jess. Loved your long gratitude list Diane. Wish I could stop by for a cup of coffee, or you here. Dianne, sometimes when you write I swear you are writing about me. hehe I too used to go all out for holidays, especially when still married and son was young. Now, I could pretty much care less, just another day. And I'm fine with that. Okay, sometimes I get annoyed because there's no mail.
Doing my usual two: teeth and meds, plus feeding cats. Put away a few dishes. Mostly was a veg today, but that's my own way to celebrate.
Hugs
Tillie
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 11:49 AM
Good morning everyone! :D
What wonderful and beautiful posts to read. :)
Been meandering around this morning, lost in thought and a benadryl fog. My list of To-Dos for today are..... cut & file my fingernails brush the Pooh kitty scoop litter boxes put down fresh water & fill kibble bowls play with my toys watch stuff on Netflix Already fed the cats and they have all gone off to take naps. I'm planning to get dressed, brush my hair, wash my face & brush my teeth soon as I finish drinking my tea.
Everybody have a wonderful day. :D
Dianne
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 11:30 AM
Diane, I love your list! Yes you have much to be grateful for!!
Dianne
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 11:19 AM
Hey Roxie,
My sleep schedule is off with being kind of sick. I find myself so sleepy, take a nap and it ends up being hours. Then up for hours. So last night I watched Gone With the Wind including commercials. It was long but so worth it. A lot of food for thought with that movie. I was surprised by how much of it I had forgotten. It was on AMC and today will be the Godfather movies which I'd like to revisit.
But Laura and I are going to my brother's. There will be 7 of us. Buffy and her family always spend Thanksgiving out of town with her in-laws so I don't get to see my grandkids. That' ok.
Honestly the holidays are not that big a deal for me as I get older. I'd just as soon stay home. I try to work up some enthusiasm but it's just another day. I look at all the creatures outside and it isn't special for them. They're probably happy anyway. A pretty day here with sun and refreshing cold but a regular day.
Gratitude is something we can celebrate everyday in smaller ways without a major pig-out. It was nice when the family/friends group was bigger and the kids were young and I was all into being Martha Stewart. But times change and so do our ways of celebrating. Sometimes I miss it but then I remember the stress and.....not so much. I'm good with the way things are now.
I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends or the pleasure of just your own company. Instead of stress and frenzy I wish you peace and a simple spirit of gratitude.
SusanL
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 11:15 AM
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! We're going to our daughter's house, she's a good cook. Special hug for Diane as you grieve for Molly - you are not alone
diane
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 10:50 AM
brrrrrr fire went out and it is so cold in here, fire take awhile to get going and warm this old place up. Tanner was so happy to see his owner yesterday, and now I can move on with no dog here. It was a good buffer to have him here, and a reminder how much focus I put on entertaining dogs. Now it is time to focus on my life for real. I did take another load of stuff to thrift store yesterday. He did not go home until 5pm so didn't get paper sorting. I will wash dog dishes and put stuff I used for him in garage today, vacuum, do dishes and sort papers. I am looking forward to making a list of things I am grateful for, guess I can start list here. I am grateful for each one that post on here. Other things i am grateful for: Having a place to live that I own and the security that provides me. having the time to sort and orgainize things. Guidance on this journey to clean. The ability to make friends when I am ready to. Savings account. Good health insurance. A deck with a view. quick wit, learning to keep going when I want to quit, Cute comfortable living room, and now know how to keep clutter out of it, most of the time. A comfortable bed to sleep in, heating pad in bed. Safe neighborhood. Privacy.Enough clothes, food, crafts, firewood, to make winter warm. TV, telephone, radio, car, RV, enough money to pay for insurance, taxes, utilities etc. Indoor plumbing, 2 toilets that work. I am so grateful for my health and the ability to haul in firewood, chop kindling, repair most things, paint walls any color I choose. really grateful that I can sleep in a dark quiet room without interruption now. I am grateful for this website and the comfort it gives me. I am grateful everytime someone posts their progress, also grateful when they posts slips, and then pulls it together and gets back on track to recovery. Any self pity I woke up with this morning about being alone and no family and only a few friends (that are in couples)is gone now that I focused on the abundant list of things I am grateful for!!!!!!!
Roxie
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 04:06 AM
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hi all around. I must have slept a few hours, now cannot sleep, so I'll make some coffee and hit the internet a few hours until I feed the cats and can go back to bed.
No real plans for today. I might choose to watch a movie, or just noodle around online. How about the rest of you?
MayMay
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 01:42 AM
Hi Tillie! :)
Sorry I forgot to say hi to you in my last post. :o
MayMay
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 01:40 AM
Hi everybody! :D
Hey Dianne, Thanks. I've been super busy lately. Nothing too crazy has happened lately. I should have lots of stories to tell after tomorrow though; because my mom's side of the family is coming down from Michigan for thanksgiving tomorrow; and they are all CRAZY!
Hi diane, Sorry Tanner had to go home today. :(
Hi Cory, Aww! Your post is so sweet! :)
Hi Karl! :)
Hi Roxie! :)
Dianne
Posted: 28 November 2013 - 12:29 AM
Wishing everyone a Warm, Happy Thanksgiving!!
Karl
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 10:11 PM
Oh, and I told the storage folks to cancel the truck, since the movers will handle that. I guess I'll still have to get from new-home back to old-home for the cleaners and the walk-through.
Karl
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 10:09 PM
I've decided that there's way too much work to leave to the volunteer team (which anyway looks like it will be just myself and one friend, who's disabled). We'll do what we can on Thursday (and then go out for T-day dinner). I'm hiring professionals to do the move-and-haul on Friday, and I'll ride with them to get to the storage unit and my new home.
A friend was going to give me the contact info for her maid service, but she never got around to doing that, so I'm going to hire someone from the Web to come in either Friday afternoon/evening or Saturday morning, and then the landlords will do a final walk-through sometime Saturday.
Dianne
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 10:16 AM
Diane said it best Cory.
Thank you so very much. :)
diane
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 10:03 AM
Thanks for that warm, kind, heartfelt post. You have given us the best gift, a place to connect and help each other have hope that life can be better. I am truly grateful for so much, especially this group and website. Thanks again Cory, you are a blessing to all of us.
diane
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 09:59 AM
woke up at 5:30, and could not go back to sleep so thought I will make the best of it, sad Tanner goes home today and I have to deal with being alone again. I was so pleasantly surprised at all the post on here today, makes me feel like I am part of a group, holidays have never been fun for me, just want them over with. Having all of you makes it so much better. I am going to pay all bills today, online bill pay. There is a bin of papers to toss or file, and want to make a can of pumpkin into something to eat with lots of cinnamon. Living room is not going to be a sorting area today, want all the crap out of here. I plan to only do maintenance the rest of this week, no messy sorting in here. I need the space to relax and maybe even do some crafting, just tired of working daily. I still have too many clothes, and if I get in the mood may put some in trunk, already have more donations in trunk. Plan to put one string of white lights up, just make it warm and cozy and cute in here. Thanks again for all the posts and especially for the kindness you have given me. Want to have a meeting tomorrow, 5PM PST?
Cory Chalmers
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 09:48 AM
Good Morning Friends!
I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. Remember, now matter what position you are in there are always others that would look at you and say I wish I had that life! We create a lot of our own future by the decisions we make today. Use this holiday to remind yourself how fortunate you are and be thankful for what life has given you. Just make the best decisions and choices you can and learn from those that don't work out so well. You have a ton of friends on here for support and I am so happy to see you all using this board to be open and honest. Letting go of the emotional baggage is such a huge part of healing. You are all doing great work, even with backslides, your strength and support of friends will continue to lift you up. Have a wonderful day tomorrow no matter what your plans are. You are all very special people!!!
Your Friend, Cory Chalmers
Tillie
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 09:21 AM
Good morning Everybody! :D
Wonderful to see so many posts!
Hi Dianne :) Keep looking up at those stars! ;)
Hi Karl :) GREAT! news about the truck and storage! :D Good luck with finding helpers, my fingers are crossed. ;)
Hi Diane :) (((hugs))) Wonderful that you have nice home made soup. I will be basically alone too tomorrow but I will be with you in spirit. :)
Hi MayMay :)
Hi Roxie :)
Hi Jess :) Drive safely and have fun. :)
Hi to all who read and didn't post! :D
Another sunny with partial cloudiness cold, cold day. Cats want to be fed but I will feed the fat little butter balls when I am good & ready to. Woke up at 6:00am and have been reading the interwebs & drinking tea. Have some granny smith apples and thinking about making an apple crumble. I am still refusing to cook that small organic, free range, chemical/antibiotic free, humanely killed turkey he brought home. He is making plans to cook it himself on his big gas BBQ grill out side. ;D Going to make myself some stir fry veggies with brown jasmine rice. Hope everybody has a great anti-shopping spree and stays safe & warm.
Roxie
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 06:47 AM
Good morning, all. I haven't been to sleep. I thought I had a full garbage bin and wanted to be up early enough to wheel it down to the street. It was empty. Pffft. I put in two bags of garbage and a couple of crushed boxes, but I'm not going to wheel it down.
It's cold this morning.
Jess, one way to think of those gifts: supposed someone had donated to some charity in your name, instead. You could look at some at least of those gifts the same way... see if there is any organization collecting donations for the holidays for families with nothing.. then donate those items. Less guilt. Good cause.
Hugs all around. Later.
Dianne
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 01:55 AM
{{{Diane}}}
MayMay, Jess, good to see you youngsters back! :) MayMay I've missed your cheerful posts and funny stories.
Roxie, getting my day/night mixed up here too. It's 2:45 a.m. and I'm wide awake. Fighting a nasty cold, was so sleepy by 8 p.m. knew I wouldn't make it thru the night.
Karl, you have lots of good things going on. That's great that the storage place provides a free moving truck. Are the landlords giving you a few more days to tie up loose ends?
As long as I'm up I'm going to go thru some papers and toss.
I hope everyone is doing ok with weather.
Karl
Posted: 27 November 2013 - 12:56 AM
I made a reservation at the storage place. It turns out that they provide a moving truck for free -- I hadn't expected that. I'm supposed to visit in person Wednesday afternoon, and fill out the paperwork; but since the truck's not ready yet, I'm thinking that I might reschedule that visit for Friday.
I posted to a mailing list, updating my status and asking for volunteers to come help. Since I don't know what will work with anyone else's schedule, I ended up scheduling three events with MeetUp: Wed, Thu, Fri. Thursday seems least likely to work out, but I figure that there might either be people who will come early and then leave to spend time with family, or people who have no prior plans for the holiday and might enjoy an excuse to not be alone.
All of the above took somewhat longer than I would have guessed. But I still had time this afternoon to get two boxes packed and taped, and moved to a staging area in the living room. I'm running the dishwasher now. I hope there's still enough hot water to do laundry as well.
Jess
Posted: 26 November 2013 - 11:47 PM
Hi everybody, I'm back!
Really felt like I needed to come on here and read to try to stay grounded during the holidays. I get really bugged out by all the traveling and the stress of trying not to buy things I don't need. Also, I get a lot of gifts from people I love who are wonderful and they mean well but they have no idea how difficult it is for me to deal with these gifts. The last thing I need is more stuff. I feel crushing guilt when I get rid of the things people give me.
I haven't been doing a great job cleaning since the tornado. Today though, I put back some things I didn't need when I was at the store and I made sure to do the dishes before work. If I can be really productive tomorrow I'll be in good shape for the traveling I have to do Thursday morning.
Roxie
Posted: 26 November 2013 - 11:10 PM
Good to see everyone posting. Karl, so happy you found a place.
Diane, I will be home alone on Thanksgiving. I don't mind at all, but I'll check on the board in case you post and need a reply.
Everybody else, I'm reading, just not physically up to posting a bunch. Days and nights mixed up, lucky I even know what day it is.
If you must shop and do not have a problem with acquisition hoarding, I myself prefer shopping online. I hate crowds and refuse to be among them. The only thing that could make me happy in a crowd would be a flash dance entertainment.
Hugs
MayMay
Posted: 26 November 2013 - 09:50 PM
Hi everyone! :D
Hey Dianne, That's hilarious!... I had no idea that some stores do that on Black Friday. On Black Friday, what I always like to do is, have the guys arrive at the stores in the fire truck and then run into the stores with all of their firefighting gear on and yell "FIRE!" And then all of the people will run out of the store; and then we'll have the whole store to ourselves. LOL. ;) JUST KIDDING!
Hi Tillie! :D
Hey diane, WAY TO GO today! I'm glad tanner is keeping you company. Are you maybe thinking about getting another dog? :)
Hi Karl! :D
diane
Posted: 26 November 2013 - 09:35 PM
Molly died one week ago today, still feel sad and hollow. Everyday the pain is a little less intense. I still have Tanner he has to go home tomorrow. It has been great having a "fill in dog" to help me get over the pain. His owner dropped by today and he really wanted to go home with her, She said she will take him home tomorrow for sure. I was so relieved he is here one more day. Today I got the clean clothes off all the doors and walls, i hang them up after I pull them out of dryer, hang to finish drying, then forget to put them away, nice to see the walls and open the doors again. Then I cleaned off the end table by stove. Worked on more insulation around living room windows. Did dishes. Made soup and actually ate it, haven't wanted to eat this past week. There is plenty of soup for the next few days. Thanks for the kind words, this has been a difficult 7 days. I am worried about being alone on Thanksgiving.
Karl
Posted: 26 November 2013 - 01:57 PM
I got caught up in non-productive stuff last night, and didn't get to the packing I'd intended, nor did I have time to start the laundry. I did get a couple of board games put away properly, and I finished off some leftover food.
I'm going to start a 15-minute timer when I'm done at the computer; let's see how much progress I can have done before tonight's chat session.
