The Pansies look so cheerful on the window ledge.

Your building has such amazing features, a real classic.

Your cleaners already know how much you need them.
If not for them you would not have a fresh clean house like you do now.
Remember, they helped so much helping you reclaim it after you decluttered enough to let them come in.

This sorting out of old papers is what The Gentle Art Of Swedish Cleaning is about.
Keeping what still has purpose or meaning, gifting others with some things you know they would appreciate.
Bringing down the amount to a well curated tidy little collection of what you want to bring into the future with you.


When Scooter first came to me he was so tiny and extremely ill, temporarily blinded by eye infection.
Not yet weened, undernourished and needing bottle feedings.
But he had such a life force!
He planned to conquer the world and destroy everything in it.
He quickly learned that I had what he wanted, food and understanding of his viciousness.

Going to bed now. Took an anti anxiety pill. Did a bit more shredding. Have the keepers put back. So much easier now. I still have quite a bit to get through or move before the cleaners. But they are used to me and they are good to me.

I was able to put my TP stash on the shelves in my closet!!

I wrote a number of cards tonight. I'm enjoying my mailings! Who distant like mail?

I shredded a giant packet of documents from when I closed on my mortgage in 2003. No need to keep. I have the discharge and it's been recorded so no need to keep.

Stuff from high school -cards, letters, poems- I shredded after barely skimming. Nothing to be done. I noticed I was loved and that felt terrific. I hated high school and was terribly depressed yet I was loved. Didn't find anything from any boyfriend, just stuff from girlfriends. I did have a boyfriend. I had trouble letting go when he dumped me. Then my family moved. He visited a few times but I don't know when or where our last conversation was. He was big into drugs and I had no interest. Today I'd walk away cleaner and with better clarity.

Okay off to bed. Thank you for your support. I'm so pleased with myself! Will have more to do but not now. Will take a break. Plus there are bits of shredded paper everywhere and once cleaners have cleaned, I'm going to want to keep everything tidy. I can work on donations and other things. Just not shredding. Or only enough to fill it once. It was the multiple transfers to the garbage bag.

I know other people clean for their cleaners. I like having my cleaners know that I need them.

Tilie I really appreciated having you here today. I didn't feel so isolated.

I love how your feral cat is so needy with you.

What sweet little memories you have been finding in Narnia. ;)

Hope those panic attacks leave you alone (((HUG)))
Meditation has helped me greatly, no more night terrors.

YEA! for all you bagged up there!
That donation bag can wait to be put in the car.

With all these places wanting to open back up I do believe donation centers will be taking in goods very soon.

It should be very safe to donate but I worry about too many people filling the shops.
People like Steven who have been suffering from not being able to buy at thrift shops to feed their addiction monkey.

I found it satisfying to window shop dresses online with no intention of buying anything.

That is so sweet the way you have been reaching out to people with your little saved mementos.
Keeps you connected in very special ways.
Especially precious during these trying days.

I went up to visit BF for a bit. A friend of ours sent him a card here. I took it up to him and hung out for a while. I started to panic and came home and called mom. I just had a delicious tuna sandwich on toast with pickles and if was very tasty.

Going to go back to shredding for a bit. It overheated earlier. I am amazed at how I feel.

I got a giant bag of recycling out. I have a donation bag but will hide it in the closet for now. It needs to go to the car but I was feeling overwhelmed and didn't want to drag it up there tonight. I wasn't feeling that great emotionally and felt I was accomplishing enough by getting the giant recycling bag out.

I found a letter from my grandparents on my father's side. What a treat. They loved me a lot.

My friend received that old fax I found and she said, what a hoot! See for the price of a stamp I'm having the best time. And then she can toss. I found some stuff from my second Japan trip so I may send that to the girlfriends I traveled with.

Did I mention I found the adoption papers from the cat my mom got me when I was 17? Fantastic cat. So I sent the paper to my mom and told her how much I appreciated that she got that cat for me. He was a good friend to all of us.

Yesterday the weather was nice until afternoon when the winds started raging through.
It got cold over night and is cool today.
Predicted lows this week are 40 degrees and highs of 70 degrees.

The winds are raging out there again today.

Hoarding is such a mind boggling disorder.
400 dollars a month just to keep things you did not use, need or even want but felt compelled to hold onto.
So very, very proud of how far you've come ((((HUG))))

And that's not just storage but your home, finances and lifestyle too.

It makes me so happy that you are enjoying the results even though the actual doing has been extremely hard.


Twinkles has one tooth LOL and he gets into relentless vomiting spells. He has very long fur and sheds even after I spend an hour brushing him.
Scooter is insanely wild and not at all domesticated.
He has always been a challenge and that's why I could not adopt him out.
People would not put up with a cat that hunts and attacks them, but we have come to an agreement.
He is very attached and dependent on me and would find it too hard to adapt to others.

As sad as it is, you will be doing the cats a favor. Believe me, no one would take my nearly 16 year old, nearly toothless, vomiting cat. And I don't want her going to a cat hoarder. So you are making the responsible and ethical choice

Tillie you won't believe how much I'm doing. It's all lifting off of me. I cannot believe it. What a gift.

Some of the checks stubs I was just shredding included the $ toward my storage space. Nearly 400 a month. Can you imagine? And I kept nothing. Nothing. And you all got me to that place.
And will you take a look at where we are going today?!? So much going on here!!!

Thank You Tatoulia (((((HUG)))))

I won't do anything with Twinkles and Scooter until I get fever and breathing difficulties.


WAY TO GO!
You are doing such a FANTASTIC job there!
I know all this decision making is hard
if it weren't you would have done it a long time ago.
So glad and relieved that the discomfort is lifted as soon as you make the decision.

It is very freeing, enjoy the feelings of freedom.

Tillie you are never a bother. And I love twinkles and scooter and I am glad you are planning for them, too. I know when I feel that I don't have long, all I worry about is my little one. Of course BF will take her but that's not the point. I either want her to be with him or not at all. She throws up and sleeps too much and the thought of her being abused or neglected makes me crazy.

I think you are planning. And I hope you aren't considering doing it right away but I will support you every bit of the way. You love them too much to leave them to suffer.

I love you too, Tillie.

I'm doing it. I'm getting rid of stuff. I'm not even reading all of the letters and cards. I'm just letting them go to the shredder. I have a donation bag, too. Stuff I don't want to get rid of but during fit into my life.

The discomfort during the decision making process is lifted the second the decision is made. This is fantastic.

I have way too much stuff.

Interesting: I have yet to find anything that I'm happy about finding. Nothing. Some of the things I'm a little worried where they will end up. But then I remember that's not the test for keeping something.

It's hard but I'm doing it

Good Morning?

WTG! Subclinical!
Wonderful work you did with that little one!
May she continue to grow straight and strong (((HUG)))

Enjoy your sunny rainless day.

Hi Tatoulia
How sweet the two of you talked about all the things you will do together when it's safe (((hug)))
Take care and don't over do. Chart your vitals and hopefully the doctor will be able to make a quick fix.

HELLO CriticalMass


Deep depression, overwhelming despair.
I may as well not even bother trying to not get sick since he is so hell bent on killing me.
As of yesterday the county has listed one more positive bringing the total up tp 6 positives.
Most all those people he was exposed to yesterday were from Reno where there are a lot more positive virus cases and they evidently aren't bothering to quarantine themselves.
Only bright spot in my life is that I did my Swedish cleaning and have made out my will and have it on file at the courthouse.
But what about Scooter and Twinkles?
Scooter is too feral and Twinkles has some medical issues, nobody would take them.
I will have to try to have them euthanized so they would not suffer.
I really should just keep this thinking all to myself and not bother any of you with any of it.
Sorry.

SubC thank you for forgiving my distracted self. Yay for the twins (goats, not people).

I have a 2:00 video conference today. I would like to see if I can get to the grocery store for mom today. It's bright and sunny and it would be good to get out. That said, thinking about walking these days makes me tired. I don't know if it's because I am wearing a mask or if I am having trouble with my heart or breathing. My oxygen level is good and right where it should be. But I'll continue monitoring today along with pulse and blood pressure so I have something concrete to discuss with dr.

Ok I have more papers to shred and I want everything out of here and away by the time the cleaners come tmr. I've done a lot and I'll focus on that instead of what remains.

Coffee clinks!

Good morning.

Tatoulia, that cake sounds delicious!

The kids I talked to yesterday were the ones I gave birth to. I only saw one if my students briefly.

Here is some happy news. I have been waiting because I was nervous, but one of my first freshers who is a great little goat gave birth to twin girls on Mother's Day! It was a difficult birth, late at night (which is part of why I was so exhausted.) I had to reach in around the shoulder of the firstborn and pull one of her legs forward so she could come out, and I think she had a minor injury to her other shoulder (mom pushed her out before I could reposition the other leg) so she wasn't able to get her head up at the right angle to nurse. I've been assisting her (another reason I've been short on sleep) but this morning she did it all by herself!

Finally sunny today. I'm trying to get a little work done before school.

Honestly Tillie. I don't even know what to say. I am so angry at him. I am really upset.

You seemed to bounce back. I too like looming at things and not buying them. Good idea to put a few cat things in your imaginary shopping cart!!!

Mom and I spend a lot of time talking about what we will do when we can finally spend time together. We know that first I'll get after her about the state of her place. Then I'll put it back together then I'll hold the kitty line she's a little potato bug and then we'll gossip.

She loved her tiny chocolate cake. It's covered in a very rich chocolate ganache so she hasn't eaten much of it.

Garbage out. Didn't get the recycling out because it started to pour. But I can get that out anytime.

Glad you spoke with your students, SubC. I bet that's fun looking at baby things!!!

Oh Tillie. I have no words. So much horribleness.

I like your shopping day. I have fun checking out my dd's registry. So many cute baby things! I am already thinking about what I will get for Christmas if she doesn't get it at her shower.

It was cold and windy and sleeted a little on my pick up today. Only one student, otherwise just parents. Didn't get All the things done I planned to do while I waited because I was so cold, but some of them.

I was so exhausted when I got home I took a nap.

Talked to all three of my kids today. Now I'm going to bed. Still really tired in spite of my nap.

Did something fun today.
Went online and window shopped dresses.
Saw so many pretty ones I would like to wear.
Did not buy anything, just looked.

Also made up a wish list/shopping list of all sorts of nice things.
I keep adding to the list as I think of things.
Totally frivolous things.

Scooter added a cat perch/scratch post to the list that he'd like to have.

Lovely, just lovely...

He went over to his dead friend's house and spent many hours there.
No reason on earth for him to go there.

Anyways...
The dead man's wife was fighting with the man's adult son who is the rightful legal heir and his wife and the 6 adult grand sons and the adult grand daughters and the 10 year old grand daughter.
The Sheriff was called by the dead man's wife who wants to have a yard sale and sell everything including all the dead man's family heirlooms.
She has no right to dispose of his items, they belong to the son.

So Steven was inside a house with ALL these people who were yelling at each other.
Three deputies I think brought the total number of people there up to 20.

Then after spending 7 hours there
Steven came home.
Came inside where I live and started ranting about everything that was going on there, touching things and touched Scooter.

He had NO reason to go there.

So now I consider myself "unclean" "Contaminated".

Thank you very much Steven. >:(

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Wishing you a pleasant and productive day at the school today.


Hi Tatoulia
Very sorry you are still feeling "off".
Happy you will be contacting your doctor.

WTG! and good luck with all your plans for today!


Since I have absolutely no faith in that hospital, I too am concerned about the accuracy of that covid19 test.
Steven gets black out drunk EVERY night out in his hoarded garage, has been doing that for well over a decade now.
He goes out there because I do not allow alcohol in the house or allow him to smoke in here either.
Out there he makes the rules.

I don't waste my time talking to or listening to drunks so he knows better than to try talking to me when he's been drinking.
So he must sit out there and cry all alone.

Really hoping that now without his main source of misinformation Steven might get a clue as to the reality of the situation.
This virus attacks the body in different deadly ways that science is just now learning about.
Without his friend, maybe Steven will not leave home as often as he has been and putting MY life at risk.
Statistics show that men over 60 with diabetes like his friend was are at higher risk of death.
Steven is over 60 with a whole laundry list of some very serious health problems.
His alcoholism is the main contributing factor for his prediabetes.
Time before last when he was released from hospital the nurse informed me that he had a diagnosis of heart failure with a life expectancy of 3 to 5 years.
He never follows doctors orders about anything, not even how to properly take his medications.
If it had not been for my medical background knowledge he would have died at home already many times over.
I am so tired, weary to my very soul.


Never mind...
Very cool morning here but expected to warm up as the day goes on.
But much cooler overall temps expected all the rest of the week.

Cats and I will go out and water the garden & grass when it is warmer out.
Lots of cloud cover today, couldn't see the sunrise.

Jack came by last evening and said he needed lots of pettings so I petted him lots.
Cowgirl came by later and asked for a snack so I gave her a cat snack.
Scooter has been extra affectionate and Twinkles has been excessively napping, says he's bored.

I do worry when people get drunk, Tillie. I get a bit scared for you.

SubC I know these are trying times for you. I do hope the drop off goes well for you.

Cm just checking in on you!

Bright and sunny here today. I still don't feel like myself so I am keeping track of my vitals and will get in touch with dr on Wednesday once I have some data for him. I'm not dizzy but I'm not quite myself either.

Well today is do or die on my paper project. The parts I e pulled out of the closet need to be reckoned with today. It is trash night. And I want to put my house back together before the cleaners get here on Wednesday. So I'll put some music on and get this done.

I'm have a pretty good day at work. Lots to be done. I am going to have blueberries on my whole grain waffle now. So tasty!

Tillie,

I am sorry. What an awful thing to happen. I am hoping that his test was not a false negative! I know Steven's coping behavior us unhealthy, but I understand it.

Tatoulia, I hope you are feeling all better now.

I go to school fir parents to drop stuff off today. Only three are supposed to pick anything up and they have been reliable, so hopefully they will come.

Hello Tatoulia

Please feel all better.
Hoping that water is the best medicine (((HUG)))

Maybe eat some bananas for the potassium.
I've been eating 2 a day since I went grocery shopping and still have 2 left for tomorrow.

I've been drinking a lot because I have been hot and it's so dry here.
But with the cooler working now I no longer have to be hot. :)

I think I drink almost a gallon every day.

Bet your Mom was tickled to receive her gifts. :D

Steven is crying and getting drunk out in his hoarded garage.

I did not expect that ending. Oh how terrible. That is absolutely terrible. I'm so sorry. What a very said story.

I woke up today and the room was spinning. I'm wondering if I didn't drink enough water yesterday. I also felt very dizzy this afternoon and slept after I streamed the broadway Mother's Day concert. Then I had a good hour-long talk with a friend.

I dropped off mom's new nighties and her chocolate cake and a few other goodies today. Sunny and cool.

I'm forcing the liquids tonight. My oxygen is good and my blood pressure is also good. I generally drink an ungodly amount of water each day and I'm just not doing it. I'm hoping that is all it was. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Happy Mother's Day to all. SubC I am glad you had some visits and some goodies. I keep wondering if I truly quarantine for two weeks If they'd let me visit my mom. I know the answer has to be no. I just want a few hours to putter in her place and play with the kitty and watch tv.

Well one more glass of water and I'm off to bed. Back to work tomorrow for me.

Well...
Last week Steven's friend had a fever and general aches.
His wife does not drive so she called an ambulance to take him to the deadly little hospital here.
He was there only one day, diagnosis pneumonia.
Was given meds and released to home.
His covid19 test was negative.
He and Steven talked daily and saw each other often.
Yesterday he was feeling well enough to do a little weed eating and made plans with Steven to get together today and BBQ some steaks.
This morning he was feeling feverish again and took an ambulance into the hospital here at his wife's insistence.
She is known to local authorities for being overly hysterical and delusional.
He forgot his phone and arranged for Steven to bring it to him so Steven did.
Steven spoke with him on the phone, he sounded good.
Nothing more than being irritated at being in there again.
A 70 year old man with diabetes well under control, no heart issues or other known disorders.
Well...

He is dead now.

I told you all that that hospital kills people.
People young and old.

Steven is really broken up and lost, he's just lost his best friend.
So suddenly and it does not make any sense.

Was doing a few little tasks, going in & out the back door then the front door.
After I took the trash out I came back in through the front door and there was a very HUGE Bumble Bee wanting out of the house NOW!!!

Almost knocked me down as it rushed past me.

Have no idea when or what door it came in through.

Scooter was hiding but peeking and keeping an eye on the Bumble Bee.
He looked scared but fascinated by it. :D

And that's the highlight of my day...

Subclinical
I am so very proud of your Mother for doing the Swedish cleaning.

Doing mine has made a huge difference in my life, not really physically but mentally emotionally.

We all have things and the longer we have lived the more we seem to have.
Seasons change and so do we.
Letting go of the things we once wanted, needed and used but have no use for any longer frees us from the obligation to care for/store the things and allows us to pass them along to others who could use them now rather than getting them later.

The Swedish cleaning is a joyful process and leaves us free to go into the future with a glad heart.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
Your flower boxes sound lovely :D
When I grew Pansies before I found the more I picked the blooms the more they would develop more blooms.
Had little Pansy bouquets all around the house and still a flower bed full of blooms.

The gifts you gave are so much more special than anything you could have store bought to send.

Keep playing the music and dancing the clutter away (((HUG)))


Hi Subclinical
Yes, the weather has been crazy in a lot of places.
Sorry for any lost plants.

Happy you had a distance visit! D:
Enjoy all your nice yummies.

Two weeks of not golfing would be such a small price to pay for admittance to hold the baby.
Rain, rain, rain please rain!

What a wonderful sight you had of the Deer :D
I noticed while Deer hunting that the Deer would just stand on one little hill unafraid as I stood on a hill right next to them.
But again, I never shot Deer and they seem to know. No need for me to get one since my father and brothers got us enough meat.


Stayed up late last night watching "Dark Shadows".
Slept in this morning.
Last night I washed 2 loads of laundry and hung them on the line.
This morning I brought it all in nicely dry, folded it and put it away.
Had also washed a load of my clothes and hung them in my room. Put them all away this morning too.

Been so nice today turning on the cooler when it gets too warm in here and then turning it off once the temp gets down, keeping it at around 74 degrees.

I would love to go shopping/browsing just to get away from his insane conspiracy rantings when he's here.
But I will stay home and behave.
Won't even internet shop/browse.

Hi Tatoulia,

It sounds like things are going really well for you. It makes me smile. And you are not only lifting people's spirits, you are helping the post office. The post office is very important to me.

CM, I hope that you get your van fixed. It is ok if you don't work on the storage unit for a while. You have made progress in the house, and if you just keep focusing on the house, the storage unit will be easier when you do get to it because you will have space to put things.

Tillie, I am so glad you have your cooler set up now. And your roses to enjoy.

We had another hard frost Friday night - so crazy!

Yesterday Dd1 and dsil came out to walk in the woods with the dog again. They left me "Mother's Day" cookies on the porch. :) ds and ddil mailed me brownies, So I have many goodies to eat today! I also have a package to open from dd2, but she said not to open it until today, so I will do that soon.

I did not send my mother anything because there is nothing that she needs and she has been Swedish cleaning the house during quarantine. My brother sends her flowers, but my father is a gardener, and In spring and summer, her house is always full of beautiful flowers.

I will call her later and ask her if my brother remembered to put my name on the flowers this year. It is a running joke.

When Dd was here yesterday we had a nice long "standing far apart in the yard conversation" she says that if I will ACTUALLY quarantine for two weeks after the baby is born, then I can come over and come in the house and hold him. But I can't go into the school building or pick up pizza and Dh has to work from home and not play golf. Dh says that he has to play golf because He signed up for golf league and they play every Tuesday and if he skips his team will lose. This is going to be a fight. I complain about the rain, but right now I hope it will pour every Tuesday in July and August.

There is a small ravine in my yard. Right now I am looking out the window and two deer are standing on the far side staring back at me.(The ravine is too big for deer to jump, so I think they feel safe even though it is close to the house.)

8 more days of video school.

Ps bought two window boxes already planted with purple and yellow pansies. They look really cheerful.

In a few weeks I'll swap out and plant geraniums or petunias. Or both.

Thanks, Tillie! I am a great deal happier when accomplishing things! The things sent to friends and family were basically pieces of paper or pictures, so nothing that will burden them. The gift to a coworker was a pair of gloves. A little late in the season but maybe not? It's been pretty cold here!

A cookbook to someone who wanted a good recipe for falafel, an article for someone who wants to buy a cheap piece of used furniture and upgrade it, etc. that sort of stuff. Great fun to pass it along.

I am going to climb into bed now. Laundry folded and put away, dishwasher is humming along.

I have more to take care of tmr. Tillie if I just put the music in, it is magically motivating for me.

Hi Tatoulia
You sound like you are doing really good :D

Happy, content and doing fun things like gifting people with lovely gifts.

WAY TO GO! keeping on with those papers!!!
There will be an end to them someday. ;)

Your dinner sounds delicious and very healthy too.

Your Mom will be so pleased with the cake and new nightgowns.

Please stay happy (((hug)))
YEA! for doing dishes and laundry!

Hello everyone!


Cm it must be so frustrating to wait on the mechanic. I'm thrilled about the good news for your roommate (meaning getting her treatments and appts) and for your cousin. I hope you'll be able to get back to the storage place. I understand the terrible sleep. I've been better lately, thankfully.

I had an honest to goodness decent dinner tonight. Bf and I went to my favorite grocery store downtown and I got salmon and squash and green beans. What a satisfying meal I just had. We picked up a little cake for Mother's Day for mom. Also two of her nightgowns came in and I'll have those for her tomorrow.

Yay for the cooler!!!! Yay!!!

Bright, sunny, very windy today. I worked on papers and got together multiple envelopes and packages to send. We went to the big post office at South Station. We waved to my office building as we drove past.

I may have mentioned that I found something from a European trip I took in 1990. I was in grad school and I always took summer classes. So I took my exam and boarded a flight to Paris to meet up with my girlfriend and her mother. Well I mailed the souvenir to my friend and she said 30 years just melted away and that it took her breath away. I told her I have two so today I sent her mother the other one. I had settings me clippings for other friends and a gift I'd gotten for a co-worker to celebrate her birthday. I also found some things about my grandparents which I sent to my sister. I found the world's funniest fax, which a co-worked once stole off the fax machine (circa 1999) and which had provided us endless amusement. She's retired now so I sent it to her in Florida. So I was getting rid of stuff and shredding and writing cards and notes. All in all, I mailed about 17 things today. One of the envelopes that I reused had a 1980 postmark on it.

I am getting through my papers!!! Look at me!! And I'm brightening people's days!

I'm running the dishwasher and I'm doing some laundry. I should do more paperwork but not sure I will. I'm very happy about all of this.

Turned the cooler on.
It works.

Had left the plastic coverings I put over the vents last Autumn on to help keep the dust contained while I ran the cooler this first time.
Then I turned it off, removed all the plastic coverings.
Then I removed and washed the vent covers, they were quite dirty.

He evidently went grocery shopping today because he just returned with some grocery bags full.
He never asks me if he could pick anything up for me or even says goodbye, whatever.
So when I was at the store last week and saw somethings he had been complaining he could not find, I did not buy him any.
The fresh corn on the cob was one item. (evil grin :)
He always insists on shopping at the safeway that is dirty and dark and stinks of old seafood and dead mice.
Most all the items on the shelves are outdated too.
Many here believe safeway sends all their unwanted rejects & expired things to this store.
I go to the clean well lit WallyWorld that doesn't stink and has lots of fresh produce and items in date.

Hi CriticalMass
Glad you got some sleep and wish you many more hours without bad dreams.

With Roommate's unknown schedule and restrictions it is impossible for you to make any big plans right now.
She may need you right there often until this is all over with. (((HUG)))

Please tell that mechanic why you need to have your van fixed NOW.
That you NEED it to take care of her and do everything for the both of you NOW.
Maybe he will have some compassion for the two of you.

You stay safe and please be easy on yourself (((HUGS)))

Hi

Hope the cooler works well for you, Tillie.

I got extremely sleep deprived, frazzled, moody, and cranky this week. Cumulative stress no doubt. Last night I finally got a longer stretch of sleep, though some of it was marred by the usual icky dreams. But it's a start. If I can get some more solid sleep like that, I may transform back into a human being from a she bear.

Did I tell you that my cousin got into rehab and is doing PT, OT, and speech therapy? Hopefully this means the scariest parts of her experience are behind her.

We still have several rainy days ahead. Not an uncommon pattern for May here. My roommate can't lift over 10 pounds for 5 weeks, so that puts a dent in her yard work. Her sister and I the other day had started clearing out overgrown weeds and volunteer trees in the garden beds. I'm going to finish that up.

Also I go along evenings to hold the leash of the dog when he needs walked. He has been good about not jumping and lunging; we'll manage. Seems like it's been easier now to avoid run ins with other dogs. I think that one time we had trouble, "everybody and their dog" was out - spring fever maybe.

I honestly don't know if I'll lose this entire spring for putting the storage unit to rights or not. It is sad even to think about it. But there may be time to do some, so I won't try to come to a premature conclusion. I may be willing to endure the summer heat if that's what it takes. I could get one of those big camping jugs and fill it with ice water.

Next week we should know more what roommate's timeline with treatments looks like. And dare I hope I can get my mechanic going on that gasket! I haven't wanted to call him until Monday or Tuesday because the doctor appts and my holy hour resuming are those days.

I get so stressed and irritated when he promises to have work completed by like an hour before I have to be somewhere, like my holy hour! I hate being on pins and needles. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it's that we don't need to let people and situations put us in a bind like that if there's a strategy available to circumvent it.

I would like to have it done, and paid for so I know the cost. And so the oil leak is fixed before it worsens. But a few days is not going to make or break.

Everybody stay safe and I pray we'll have calm and peace of mind.

Good Morning

Another cool morning and will get into the 80s by this afternoon.
Nothing pressing or time sensitive needs doing today.
Once it warms up a little I will turn on the cooler and see if it really works.
Then wash the vent covers.
My allergies are in full force now with the dust and blooming pollinating things.
The evaporative cooler tends to filter the incoming air and will help.

Cats and I went out and watered this morning.
Scooter behaved and stayed in the yard.
Collected more yellow Rose petals to add to the pretty bowl.

I made my 3 bean salad but used 6 different kinds of beans.
Cleaned the kitchen.
Finishing up watering the grass right now.

Tomorrow I will check to see if he really did get the cooler all set up.
If so I will wash the vents after I let the cooler run a little to blow the dust out of the mechanism.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

50 degrees in here this morning but should get up to about 80 later today.

The cats and I plan to go out and water a few things when it's not so cold.

Looking forward to feasting on fresh produce throughout the day. :D

Need to wash some dishes and run the vacuum.

Since this whole pandemic started
my county has only done those 248 tests.
And only on people who had a fever, cough or the sniffles.

It will be so interesting to see the results now that they will test 42 people Tuesdays and Thursdays.
People who just want to be tested even without any symptoms.

Seems negligent that this county has not had more tests available before now.

Hi Subclinical
Thank You

Great tentative plans for getting and delivering the crib. :D

I am relieved that your administration has communicated with you.
Not knowing anything is stressful.

I would like every place to keep the safeguards in place even if they do reopen the counties/towns/cities.

Distance from other people, fewer people in any place at any one time, curbside pick up and most of all wearing face masks.
I want to continue doing this.
But I hold out no hope people won't gather together in crowds or violate our personal space when we have to go out.
Like what happened to Tatoulia with that creepy pervert.

I could not do curbside pick up because I had no idea what the store had and some produce was not very appetizing so if I ordered it I may not want to eat it.
Last time I had shopped I just bought whatever they had on the shelves, making substitutions and trying things/brands I never ate before and I was able to last a month on it.

Soon, very soon the farmer's markets should be up & running with all their fresh fruit and vegetables.

This is today's entry on the county's public health website...

May 7: 248 tests, 212 negatives, 31 pending. The 5 previous positives are broken down as: 2 positives, 1 death and, happily, 2 recoveries. No new positives as of this date.

Tillie,
I'm afraid that when people see how many more people are sick than they thought they will say "see, it's not such a big deal. Lots of people have it and they're fine. They don't even know they are sick."

I am glad you were able to get so well supplied so safely!

CM, glad for your goid bees.

I too would be happy to see the lockdown continue. Ironically my state will be almost completely reopened the day before my classes end and I finally get a chance at reduced demands on my time. I hope the grocery and feed stores will still offer curbside pick up. The crib is also curbside pick up. Delivery is extra and Dd and dsil won't want the people coming into their house. But we can get it loaded into our truck for free and then park it in the barn for however long. Then we can drive it over and either unload it for them to wherever they want, or let them unload it so we haven't touched it.

Tatoulia, knowing you are out there improves my faith in humanity.

My administration sent out some of the information I've been wishing for about finances and logistical planning today. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I'm glad to know.

((((HUGS)))) Thank You CriticalMass :)

That's wonderful Roommate has an appointment Monday!
Good news, good news. Very relieved for her.

I don't mind the lock down, just not being alone here or with someone who respects it too.
I believe it will be a long time before we should relax our protections like masks and lots of washing/wiping and social distancing.

That's good news that your Cousin is able to go to the rehab now.
Prayers are with her that she gets well and stays well.

I am up to episode 770 of "Dark Shadows" today.
I have it running as background diversion while I do things. It's easy to follow. ;D


I watered the Lilac hedge and ate some lunch.
Gathered some yellow Rose petals and have them in a pretty bowl on the table.
After all the excitement this morning I feel like taking a nap.

Tillie, I'm so glad you were able to get Lysol and anything else you need.

He seems determined to commit slow suicide but if he takes you down with him - my blood boils. 'Nuff said. I'm glad you have a plan and sweet Tatoulia for backup as well, and all of our love, good thoughts, and prayers behind you.

Some good news here. My roommate got an appointment on Monday with the new specialist for the cancer treatment, because of a cancellation. This is relieving in itself. And the surgeon told her the specific type of cancer and it's the one with a high cure rate, and hopefully without even too arduous a treatment. Yay!

She's been coughing and croaky though, from surgical aftereffects and spring allergies. It's cool and rainy here today. Several rain days ahead.

I would honestly rather the lockdown last longer for my selfish reason partly, as the not having to have a schedule (and mine wasn't even as full as most folks') - it has been nice. Now at some point I'll have to oil my rusty brain cells and plan, remember, go places on time, etc. Bleh.

But I'm going to hang onto some of the positive changes, for safety reasons and for time to really apply my efforts to achieve neglected goals.

I think my cousin will be being transferred to rehab today or sometime this week.

My roommate and I embarked on watching "Dark Shadows" last night. I'd not done the math on how many episodes there are! It's fun to see the storyline as I'm older now by 50 years LOL, and can follow the plot better and pick up on subtleties. It's a diversion, and we all need those.

SubC, I think if you get the crib delivered, you can let it set for a week or however long to let virus die off, then disinfect for backup, and it should be okay. Or if you have it sent to daughter's place, they could do that. I sure hope you get to enjoy seeing and holding the sweet little guy somehow. 💙

Good Morning Again Everyone

Tatoulia
You are such a sweetheart (((HUGS)))
Thank you for the offer. I have a secret nest egg hidden away so I could get to Washington state to Nate. I'm OK (((HUGS)))
So shhhhh, don't tell anyone. ;)

Went to WallyWorld about 8am after the morning rush, they open at 7am and when I was there, there were hardly any shoppers in the place!

Every employee was wearing a mask.
There were many "personal shoppers" filling orders.
There were very few customers without masks.
They had the aisles marked "one way" but with only one customer or no customers in each aisle it didn't matter.
The shelves were well stocked!!!
I have fresh fruit & veggies and enough almond milk that I can start drinking my "Instant Breakfast" again.
They had eggs and butter and there was a lot of beef too.
They had lots of beans all varieties and rice.
I was able to get everything on my list except molasses and ginger snaps.
The self check outs were open and only one register open because there was no long line to check out.
There were 2 cartons of chocolate ice cream, I got one. :D
They had Lysol disinfectant cleaner and spray.
I think I can go another month without shopping again, spent 155.00.

I believe the "hoarders" are finished buying up everything and the store is able to start getting fully stocked up again.
YEA! :D

10:30 and it's still nice and cold, 65 degrees inside right now.
Think I will find some things to launder just for the heck of it.

Tillie I know you have plenty of $ but I've built up quite a bit in savings and have only one small loan that I am paying off. If you ever need emergency $$ I can send to Cory for you. I can send whatever you would need to get over to Nate's. Not an issue. I know you are self-sufficient and well prepared but I am a natural caretaker and so I offer freely and without strings. Just put that in the back of your mind.

SubC this virus is causing us all torture for us all, mentally and physically. I see the struggles you are going through. You have great integrity and your worries are valid. It's okay to do what you have to do right now. It really is. If you need a crib, the workers will be glad to have a sale. One of the grocers thanked me recently, when truly all the thanks go to them.

Okay back to work for me. Let's have a good afternoon and I'll report back soon!

Good Morning

Some good news.
My county is finally going to start testing some symptom free people.
Every Tuesday and Thursday they plan to test 42 people at a drive up test site set up out by the fair grounds.
There is a phone number to call to make an appointment.
So far they have only been testing people with symptoms who go to the little hospital or one of the clinics.
Plus our health department has been notified when anybody from here went to Reno or Carson City hospitals and got tested.
Most people here do NOT ever go to the deadly little hospital here, they kill too many of us.

Now we will be able to see how many infections there really are out here.
How many people who have it, spread it but aren't sick themselves.

Maybe now some disbelievers will start believing this threat is real.


I'm still thinking of going to the store today and getting enough food & disinfectant to last me another month of quarantine. :D

((((HUGS))))
Thank you Subclinical

I have been using a Lysol spray cleaner that kills 99.9% of viruses & bacteria on EVERYTHING I think he may have touched.

This is such a tiny house.
But he spends his time out in the garage where he cooks & eats and drinks alcohol and smokes.

He no longer touches my kitchen, fridge or dishes.
He only comes inside when he needs to poop. He pees into bottles out in the garage hoard.
He seldom showers. And NEVER washes his hands.

He travels through the length of the house to get into his bedroom, I spray Lysol into the air after he passes through.

I need to buy more Lysol.

Yes, they have been saying the counties are going to be hit hard.

My prayer is that he just drops dead out in the hoarded garage.
Especially now that he refused to have his bloodwork done and won't be able to get meds refilled.

I don't want EMTs, deputies or the coroner trudging through the house.
I will refuse to tend to him if/when he gets sick.
He has never done anything for me when I've been sick except to curse at me for inconveniencing him.
If/When he gets covid19 it will be his own fault and no one will shed a tear.

If I get a fever, cough or anything I WILL let you all know.

Oh Tillie, I want to bop him on the head!

Stay away from him. Try not to touch anything he touches and wipe your surfaces before you use them. Keep your door closed and open your window. And please, if he gets sick, don't take care of him. Let him take care of himself until he can't get out if bed and then call an ambulance.

I wish they would not let him in the stores.

Buy some food you can keep in your room and eat cold.

I think you should call Nate every day. Because if you get sick I want Nate to know. I'm afraid Steven won't do anything for you.

It is spreading into the country, and it's going to be so much worse. Because the city people took it more seriously.

Steven was gone all day today.
When he returned this evening he was proudly telling me about his day.

He went for an appointment check up and bloodwork at the clinic.
They refused to allow him inside without wearing a mask.
He refused to wear a mask, had rude words with the people there and left.
He is on blood thinners and bloodwork is necessary to monitor and the Dr. won't allow prescription refills without the bloodwork.

Then he said how he went to the stores.
Dollar tree, family dollar, smoke shop, safeway and then went visiting friends
and that everybody in the stores were wearing face masks, many also with gloves.
He called them many rude things, mostly stupid sheep.
He ranted how everybody and even medical personnel are all falling for this BS.


I looked at the county message board a little while ago.
They do not give tests unless someone has symptoms.
The most tests given in one day were 10 to 12
usually less.
Today they tested 40 people.

Thinking I should go this week for food because by next week it may be even more dangerous.
But then again, with Steven here I don't stand a chance of escaping this.

But we know. We know this thing is out there, and we know it kills people

My grandfather went off to work in military field hospitals in Germany before he knew my father would be born. My grandmother moved back in with her parents, found out she was pregnant, and had a two year old before she saw her husband again. My father spent those years sleeping in the open bottom drawer of her dresser.

I tell myself if the store is open, then the people are there. And if I choose the crib online and pay and pull up to the curb and have them load it in my car, all I am doing is making them be outside instead of in the store. Which might be better. They are not actually exposed to me. They have to touch the store doors.

Then I think about all the steps to restock the crib....

I can stay home and eat foraged and gardened food and never buy anything if I can just get to June. If I could get Dh to do that too, we could hold the baby.