Tillie I didn't see your most recent post. Will read and respond later!

Looks like Tillie and SubC will enjoy some clean sheets tonight!

Tillie the cleaner sent me a picture with a ferret in the cat bed and she said, all of the animals are enjoying it! So much fun! What a good thing that she was asking me about cat beds! I am enjoying the extra closet room!

Well I have to run back to the office. I ran out to get my nutritious and delicious salad. AND someone had given me a gift card to the place so on top of it, I got today's lunch (and my next lunch) for free!!! Birthday gift!

They all tease me at work re: my salads. Good thing to be teased about.

HAPPY PI DAY! ;)

Hi Subclinical

YEA! for fresh clean new sheets!
Enjoy your fancy jam :)

More rain and still no new boots. :(
Wishing you much success in finding them soon.


Clothes line is filled with wash.
Looks like it will be a lovely day here today.
Tomorrow is predicted to be even nicer so I will be able to hang out even more laundry.
YEA!
So satisfying to finally be able to catch up on laundry.

Hi!

Running the dishwasher.

Sheets came and are in the washing machine.

Enjoying my jam.

Pouring rain here. Still no boots.

Hi Tatoulia

What a lovely long post and two more too!

Geraniums and petunias sound so pretty.
Hope you are able to get some this year.

Sounds like you have a very good financial plan with the future plans considered too.

What fun that would be, Europe, Paris, Japan.
I love meeting and getting to know people from far away places.

WTG! for finding a bed-less kitty to give the extra bed to.
YEA! for the jacket return.
I am so anxious to bring out my Spring & Summer clothes.

Hoping your panties stay up LOL ;D


I am doing some laundry.
Sheets, pillow cases and kitchen linens tonight so I can hang the out first thing in the morning.
I would wash all the laundry but the clothes line has only just so much room and I refuse to bunch things up on it.
Tomorrow night I will wash the rest.
Unless the weather report changes again.

I'm back from making my return and from buying two classic tops for Spring. I stopped at the grocery store on way home to get some cat supplies.

Hello everyone, or as Tillie would say, Anybody! ❤️

Oh! And a bit of good news. One of the neighborhood children had given the kitty a bed for Christmas. It's quite nice and the colors go with my apt. I had struggled with what to do with her other bed so I washed it and covered it and put in closet. Today one of the cleaning fairies wanted to know where I got the one that was out, and I ran to my closet and gave her the other one. It worked out so well for me!!

I just finished eating the lunch they brought me.

Hello everyone! I did need to recover a bit from so much socializing this week. Between that and time change, I've been a bit of a wreck. Luckily my cleaners came today and my house is pretty and clean. They are so good to me. I gave the main woman the bags of clothes and I pulled out a Coach bag for the little woman, the one who can't fit into my clothes.

CM we will stand by your side as you sort through your storage unit! And yes you are the most precious thing in there! So you must be safe! SubC I am so proud that you have seats for people to sit on! When I bought my first car, I decided that I would never be a person who'd have to move things off the passenger seat to have someone sit. Baby goats st school! I am dying.

I am very tired. I slept as soon as I got home last night. Tonight I'm forcing myself to make a return of a jacket I bought. I have a gift card to the store so I might buy a couple of tops too. We have this reward program work and I've never before cashed in my points so I cashed in a few a couple of weeks ago and received $50 to one of the clothing stores where I shop! And I also had 60 in another work rewards program and I cashed that in for a Visa card, so I used that over the birthday to buy a few things. Putting the spring wardrobe together. I also have a large gift card to Macy's so I might stop there for on way home tmr night. Not to be too personal but I'm down an underpants size! This is terrific news!

Tillie you are so good to kitty! Sometimes in the fall, when I bring my window boxes in, I let kitty play in them before I put them out back for the trash collector. She frolics. I haven't had window boxes in two years because first the neighbors had scaffolding which covered one of my windows and then last year was our scaffolding. Looking forward to having them again. I'm thinking white geraniums with maybe light pink petunias. Or just the opposite. I would love to see the hyacinths popping up! Sure sign of spring.

It is something that I know so many people overseas. I do think that we will end up in Europe, probably Paris, or the Middle East when we retire. Meanwhile I am hankering for a trip to Japan.

Operation Debt is a go. I have borrowed from one of my 401k at a low interest rate. I could have taken more and for a longer time but instead I did just enough for a shorter loan period.

The discover card will never be used again. I don't even have the physical card anymore and if a new one comes automatically for whenever the expiration is updated, I will shred it. I won't close it because that will affect my credit rating. I am also paying off visa, which I will keep the card but not in my wallet. My AmEx is always up to date and I can carry that without fear. It has a tiny credit limit. I have searched deep within myself and I can trust myself.

So here's something true that needs to be repeated and repeated and repeated: if the best thing about something is its price, don't buy it.

Good Morning Anybody

Today is very cold with lots of wind.
But the extended forecast looks like it will be a good time to hang out laundry.
YEA!
I will keep checking the forecast since they have to keep changing it all day long.

Steven still believes he just needs to organize to get everything to fit in the garage and carport.
He now has those two huge metal shelves but he can't fit them into the garage.
He came home yesterday with two more plastic tubs and they are out in the driveway with the shelves because they don't fit either.
The garage is HUGE and like an old barn with a loft.
More square footage than the house.
The 2 car part of the carport that's still standing easily could hold two trucks with plenty of room around the sides.

How much stuff does one person need?
Why keep things you never use or even know how or have plans or the need to use them?
Does he think he is going to live forever to have the time to use all that stuff?

Wouldn't he rather spend his time doing enjoyable activities instead of constantly churning stuff?
Why doesn't he want to make his life easier on himself?
He just continues to go out and gather more to add to this already out of control mess.


Anyways, I will continue to enjoy the clean and tidy areas I have made for myself and watch my garden begin to wake up to Spring. :)

Been having a good day today puttering around.

The wind has been raging so it has blown all the storm clouds onto the mountain range that's to the East of me before it could drop any rain or snow here.

Scooter has been having GREAT fun today chewing and shredding paper doilies.
He was always going into the cupboard after them so I pulled them out and let him have them.
He is soooooo happy! :D

Tidied up the fridge & have eaten all the chicken salad I made up the other day for sandwiches.
The kitchen got all cleaned up again too.

Swapped out the drapes in my room to something a little lighter.
It is actually a real silk sari of forest green and deep cranberry, embroidered with gold thread that I bought at the thrift shop for a dollar several years ago.
It's in perfect condition and looks so pretty draped over the curtain rod.

There are 8 Hyacinth poking their heads out of the dirt now. :D

Good Morning Everybody

Hi CriticalMass

WAY TO GO!!!to you & roommate for doing such a good job on the garage!

Happy you found sturdier shelves for the storage unit.
They will be much safer for you to work around.
Last weekend Steven bought 2 large heavy tall & deep metal shelving units.
Since there is no space in the garage he has left them in the driveway.

Must be so nice to be able to set things out on the curb for people to pick up for free.
Out here it wouldn't work, not enough traffic down this rural one lane dirt road.


Hi Subclinical
The baby goats get to go to school!
WHAT FUN!!!

WAY TO GO!!!
Having all the pottery supplies easy to find and reach!

Darn those shoe shops for not having what you need.
Frustrating that you finally get to have new boots but can't find them.

Good luck this week with keeping things from escalating (((hug)))


Almost 10:00am and I'm still sitting here in bed.
Sun is shining, sky is clear but the forecast says 90% chance of rain so no laundry today.
Will putter around doing some of this & that and maybe even get outside too.

CM, good job on the garage!

I hope you are keeping your bed for yourself and not spring it with momentarily.

Please avoid collapses!

Tatoulia, you gave such an interesting life! So many friends from different paces!

Good luck on your debt plan. I don't know how many ccs you have, but have you thought about cancelling one (or more) once they are paid off to avoid temptation?

I would love to have you come visit. It would also be really nice to have company that would be proud of me for having empty chairs instead of appalled at my counters! We could even make pottery molds because as of yesterday I can reach all the supplies easily!

Tillie, good for you on the clocks and the adjusting.

I am not adjusting. My body does not like getting up at 4 in the morning. Dd1 used to tell people that I do not do daylight savings time - so I get up too early in the fall and then "in the spring we are late for everything for a few weeks." But now I have a job, so I can't be late.

I did fix the clock in my car - it is easy. Dh does the others. Fortunately the thermostat does itself.

I took my library books back yesterday and got new ones and tried (and failed) again to find boots, and bought food.

I figured out how to load ecoupons onto my shoppers card and saved $5.25 on stuff I was going to buy anyway.

The rest of my week is very busy! Today: Lots to do around the house this morning, pottery to trim, need to pick up feed, and then class to teach, open house for the high school kids to present classes for next year, swimming, which I will start an hour later than usual, chores, and bed!

Tomorrow I have to bake pie after I teach all day because I won't have time on Thursday, and Thursday I have my class (must gather molds!) teach, and have a social event at the studio to which I have invited dd1 and sil.

Then, Friday the baby goats get to visit school!

Basically for the rest of the week i'm Just going to try to keep things from getting very much worse. If you don't hear from me, you know why! But know I am reading.

Just finished a long busy day. Annual straightening of the garage in preparation for termite inspection. So proud of my roommate - she is letting go of stuff too! I carried things out by the curb and they're already gone. We also made a trip to the thrift store to drop off items more suited to there.

After this busy bunnysitting week, weather permitting, I'll be starting a serious push on my storage unit. Got another set of the sturdy chrome wire shelves and casters. It will replace two other shelving units that are less stable and not as deep. It'll be nice to not worry about wobbly 6 foot shelves falling over and damaging a bunch of stuff, especially if I might be part of the stuff that gets damaged!

I think this idea was inspired partly by Tillie's carport situation. Thinking about possible collapses. Back when I was at the old storage unit, I had even worse shelves which I've gotten rid of. So the ones I intend to discard now seemed okay at first.

But I have really come to like those wire kind. They don't sag and they're adaptable. They will go fine with my ultimate goal of a minimalist aesthetic someday, too. Especially since they're uniform. Goodbye hodgepodge, hello style, little increments at a time.

Hi Tatoulia

WTG! setting 2 clocks and a watch!

Wishing you all the best with your financial plans
(((hug)))

Going to Kuwait would be so exciting!
Something nice to dream about turning into a reality.

Very happy you have been enjoying your company and getting to know each other better. :)


The weather forecasts keep changing all day long.
The weather is too unstable/unpredictable to get an accurate read on it.
So the laundry is still waiting. :p

Quick check in

CM I am so grateful you have clean sheets on the bed! Do your best on clutter free bed. You will be grateful. Good luck with the bunnies. I know how much they will appreciate your love and care.

Tillie! All three clocks! I have so far my stove and bedroom clock changed and one of my watches. It's a start.

My friend is taking a lot of my time. I didn't really know her well before. We'd had dinner with her and her daughter and then BF and o went to the museum with her once, maybe three years ago. This time she and I became very close. Tonight we had dinner then went back to her hotel room and talked. She is very dear and very sweet. She will be back in May/June. She wants me to visit Kuwait and I would love to do so.

I'm implementing my debt reduction plan. More on that in about ten days. I've found a way that will work only if I don't run up my cards again. So I have to look deep within myself. I know on the biggest card that I will be safe. I just need to put the effort in and make the decision. If I'm satisfied with my circumstances, then I will proceed.

SubC I dreamt about pottery molds last night. It was like a little visit with you.

YEA!!!

I got all 3 of my clocks changed!
The digital one is always a booger to do.
The one on the stove and on the dash in the car are easy.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
YEA!!! for clean sheets!
That would be scary and frustrating
having the whole mattress slipping off the box springs.
Sure hope that "grippy" stuff holds it down.

Please, please, please
make the bed a No Clutter Zone.
Not even momentarily.

I know you will do a wonderful job baby sitting the bunnies because you genuinely care about them. (((hug)))


I'm not doing well at all adjusting to the time change.
Still going to sleep and getting up on the same old time schedule.

Lots of sunshine this morning out of the East with dark serious looking clouds slowly moving in from the West.

This sure has been one wet & wild Winter for everybody.

Need to do the math before I order my ceiling tiles.
Square footage of an 8ft by 8ft room, should be easy enough.
First I need to choose the pattern.
I get so nervous buying things online, going through all the check-out procedures.
Then there is the waiting and tracking the package so I can bring it in right away.
Then inspecting it to make sure I got what I had hoped to get.
I much prefer to do my shopping in a brick & mortar shop.

But the roof needs to be fixed before I can do anything to fix my room.
Then I need to also fix the ceiling in the hallway.
It's his responsibility to fix the falling down ceiling bits in the bathroom. :P

The sheets are finally changed out on my bed. I had hoped to delay it just till next week, but the mattress had slid so far that it was threatening to come off the bed. I got the non-slip grippy stuff between it and the box springs, so I hope that cures the slippage problem for good.

Unfortunately, this all meant the books and other items parked "momentarily" on the bed had to come off in a less systematic way. The good news is I had gotten some off already.

We went yesterday to see what we'll be doing to take care of the 20+ shelter rabbits on the mornings of Wednesday through Friday. It's a lot. And has to be coordinated with other scheduled goings-on. I'll enjoy petting and feeding the bunnies; it's just keeping track that scares me. Don't want to leave anybunny out!

There is an evening shift of volunteers too, so it helps to know we have backup and hopefully if we miss something they'll catch it and vice versa. One of the bunbuns is an elderly lady who has been maybe going to die for several months now but keeps rallying. We hope she will be able to hang on till her momma returns at least.

It may be awhile till I get to read and reply to your posts, but have a great week.

Hi Subclinical

Those new sheets will be lovely to sleep on this Spring.
The plum jam sounds tasty. :)
Your DH is right.
Owning a bottle made by someone you know is a fine acquisition.

Disappointed they did not have your size in boots.
Hope tomorrow you find exactly the right boots at the right price.


Snowed off & on all day.
Managed to do nothing even though I thought about doing things.

Hi all,

I was spendy today.

Ordered new sheets and some lunch containers for dh online. Also ordered some class materials.

Then dh and I went downtown to an arts fair - bought some fancy plum jam and while I was talking to a potter acquaintance, dh decided we needed one of his bottles, so we bought that too.

Ate dinner out on the way home and tried to buy new boots, but they didn't have my size.

Need to go out shopping again tomorrow.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
What a wonderful way to enjoy your life! :D
Have a great time today too.
Very happy you chose to take a cab that time of night (((hug)))

Sugar.
What a good topic.
So addictive, hidden in everything and very bad unless in moderation.


This close to the Sierra Nevada mountain range the weather can be very unpredictable.
The forecast was for some scattered light rain.
Woke up this morning, opened the drapes to see a beautiful white Winter landscape.
About 3 to 4 inches and it's still coming down.
Perfect timing to water in the grub treatment thoroughly.
Won't be out in the yard treating trees today, LOL.
Cats are sitting at the window giving the snow raspberries.

The snow is the kind that makes good snow balls & snowmen.
Maybe I will make a small snowman today?

Good plan on the grub treatment, Tillie. Let nature do the watering!

Ugh. An old container to add to the landscape. So depressing.

I ended up being with friend til 10:30 PM last night. We sat in her beautiful hotel room and talked and talked. I took a cab home even though she's a few minutes walk from my home. I'll see her again today. We are going to attend a webinar on sugar that my nutritionist is doing. I had asked my nutritionist is I could invite a friend before I told my friend about it and she said that it would be great!

I have to get to pharmacy today and I need to do mom's grocery shopping. I am behind on everything but for good reasons-I'm enjoying my life. It's snowing/sleeting here.

Good afternoon :)

Was thinking...
that grub treatment said to apply it Spring or early Summer.
It's so close to Spring I figured "close enough" for me.
It said to water it in good.
Right now we have a lot of rain & snow.
My outside faucet is still all wrapped up tight in insulation to keep it from freezing and the hoses are wound up and stored away.
Figured I would allow the wet weather to water it in for me.
By next week it may not be raining & snowing any more.

Bugs are starting to come out here already.
I have seen some flying insects and spiders.

Next nice day I can feed the trees and treat the Ash trees to save them from those killer bugs.

Also have to rake everywhere again before I can use the manure compost mix.
These strong winds have blown stuff all over the garden/lawn.

My kitchen needed some attention.
I did NOT want to wash dishes but I did them anyway.
Now the kitchen is all back to being clean, again and I am happy that tomorrow it will look nice when I get up.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
Hopefully Spring will bring you loads of fresh grass for them to eat.
Already here I see random patches of grass popping up.

Wonderful day you had in school!
Wishing you many, many more (((hug)))

YEA! for your plan to bring a big box of interesting shapes to pottery class!
Great way to look for things to declutter and look for trade items for pie. :D

Good luck getting in over Spring break to over hall your classroom.
I remember how satisfied you were with the results last time.

Hi Tatoulia
When my son was tiny I put up those glow in the dark stars, comets, moons & planets on his bedroom ceiling.
I have/had the ceiling in my tiny room painted sky blue.

Have a WONDERFUL time visiting with your friend!
I totally understand how laundry can be an excuse to only do the laundry.
You are busy doing something constructive while at the same time doing nothing constructive. ;)

Too much chance of random rain/snow daily for me to risk hanging out wash.

Last two Summers I had a problem with grubs eating all the roots off the grass and other plants.
While I was at the store I found a 20.00 bag of grub treatment reduced down to 7.00 and bought it.
I am so looking forward to spreading this!
Also found a reduced bag of evergreen food for only 2.50.
And a bag of grass nutrients for 5.00.
I'm so anxious to get out there and use all this fancy stuff!

warning, frustrated rant coming...
The section of carport is not repairable and needs to be demolished.
YEA!!!
But he is now talking about getting one of those huge ugly old metal shipping containers brought onto the property.
I swear that if I see men trying to deliver one here I will run them off at gunpoint as trespassers.

He complains he needs more storage space.
I keep telling him he just needs to get rid of all the excess, damaged, broken, unneeded, unnecessary stuff and he would have plenty of storage space already here.

And because of the derelict trucks and cars blocking the front, he keeps parking the truck in the driveway behind my car, blocking me in.

Tillie!!!!!! Great news on the insurance/roof front! I love the idea of putting up ceiling tiles! I do hope you can find what you like and within your budget! Your room project reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in years: when I had my apt before this one, I put up the glow in the dark stars on the wall above my closet. I feel so comforted by this memory.

Beautiful and sunny here today. I am resisting the urge to do laundry, for two reasons. One, my house is out of control messy. Mess everywhere. Two, I am meeting our visitor to spend the day with her at noon. she has moved from the campus to a hotel right by my house. I am thrilled to be spending time with her!

Sometimes laundry is a mental excuse for not doing other things. So I'm going to resist the urge and work on the mess. Will report back later.

Keep up the good work, everyone. SubC I like that you can bring in a box of Found Objects! Cm, what are you doing today? Joanie sending you much love.

Good morning!

I have slept long and hard! It was a busy week.

Going back, in answer to the goats - there may be one more kidding at the end of the month, but at the moment I am doubtful. I think that one didn't take. The other babies are due in May or June. I delayed most of my breeding because I was warned about the hay.

CM, I forgot about your frog.

Thank you for the information. With this family, there is a good chance he was fasting, which would make me feel better, unexplained fainting is a bit scary.

You will know when it is time to fluff your clutter. ;)

Tatoulia,

The museum trip sounds lovely! I would love to do something like that with my mom. She would like it too, but there are no opportunities where she lives, and she never visits without my Dad, who would hate it and ruin the trip, but can't be left home alone either. (His intellectual facilities are fine, but he has the emotional resilience/self regulation of a 4 y.o. I would come home to a messy kitchen in which everything sweet or fatty had been eaten, an empty bar, and a drunk sick father from his attempts to comfort himself in her absence.) "I got lonely." Or "I got bored."

Tillie, I hope that Steven brings you your compost. It would be nice if he shopped for something useful!

I am smiling st the thought of you in an ivy twined bower.

I had so many great moments with my kids yesterday, I still keep smiling. I also found out that the girl who got excited about me offering an English class is being recommended to it, and I had a great conversation with the mom of a boy I really like who wants him to take it. He has never had a formal English class (just tutoring) because the writing load is too hard. I have him in science this year and he is doing great - I let them take pictures of the board on their phones instead of notes if they want - so that they can focus on listening and participating in the discussion.

On the hoarding front - I took four plaster molds from my home studio to class on Thursday and gave them away. Next week we are doing "found objects as molds" and the teacher told us to bring glass or plastic items from thrift or dollar stores that had interesting shapes and we might not normally think of as molds. I said "or don't buy anything, because I will have a big box."

Super clean out of several problem spots coming up! "But it has such an interesting shape" being one of my catch points!

Now I will think "I can trade this for pie!" 😄

I am also getting fed up with my classroom. I am going to ask my boss if I can get in over spring break (week after next) to do a big cleanout and organize.

Hi Subclinical

Happy you got almost everything you wanted and the other things are just mild inconveniences.

Nice you have a baker in your class, YUM!


Thank you (((HUG)))

I have started online researching decorative Styrofoam ceiling tiles.
Home Depot has better prices than Amazon but fewer selections.
They both deliver but Amazon will let me pay with Discover credit card credits.
My favorite design so far is on Amazon and it looks like ivy.
I am partial to nature designs.

Hello all!

Didn't mean to keep you in suspense, i've Just been swamped.

My class was good. One of the students is like Tatoulia - she likes to bake, but doesn't want to eat it all. She brought us a yummy coffee cake. She said we get chocolate chip pie next week in honor of pi day.

My schedule came out really well. There are a few changes i'd make if I had complete control, but unfortunately I have to integrate with the rest of the program. I did get the 50% increase. And my plan block is first bell tu/th, so I can go in late those days if I don't have a meeting.

I want to respond to everybody, but i'm on a short break, so i'll just say - Tillie, I am so glad insurance is going to help and I hope the roof gets fixed ASAP!

Good Morning Anybody

Was laying in bed thinking about maybe starting some Spring garden chores.
Got up and opened the drapes to discover everything covered in snow.
Oh well...

Have no plans for today except cat stuff and vacuuming up the ceiling off the carpet floor in my little room, again.

If he gets out of the house I want to sort through all my dresses.
Make sure they are ready for wearing when/if the weather warms up.
I know of one of them that I want to do a little hand sewing on.

Also been thinking about how I want to re-do my room.
Maybe paint it a different color?
Maybe put up embossed decorative ceiling tiles on the ceiling to hide all the imperfections that will be visible after I repair it?
Wouldn't cost much because the room is basically only 8ft by 8ft.

Hi Tatoulia

We cross posted again. ;D

A Boston jewelry exhibit sounds fascinating!
I'm sure she will get a lot of pleasure out of the book.

YEA! for steak and a veggie tart.

Sounds like you had a good day.

Enjoy your nap with Cutie snuggles.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
YEA! for scrolling past Barbies!

Chipping away at small do-able areas is a very good way to start the bed declutter.
Boy Kitty will have to deal with it and find other ways to amuse himself.
But you need a clear clean comfortable place to rest and sleep.

WAY TO GO! sorting fabric during Star Trek time!

Having fewer crazy dreams seems almost worth sleeping in two shifts.


Well, he finally moved the truck and I was able to get to town.
Got food and all the fixins for my corned beef & cabbage concoction.

Put 6 bags of manure/compost on the cart.
Got to the checkout and paid.
Was having a heck of a time trying to push that heavy cart out the door so a nice young man (employee) came to my rescue.
He pushed the cart to my car and loaded all 6 bags into the trunk.

I need more than 6 bags but that was a lot more than I can physically manage.
I showed Steven the bags that I unloaded and stacked by the garden cart.
Asked him to please fetch me the other 6 to 10 I need and he said he would do it tomorrow.
Showed him the receipt and told him we have to hurry before they are all sold out because for some reason this year they cost 75 cents each instead of the usual 2.50!

Then he told me the insurance adjuster is giving us 3000.00 to 5000.00 to have the roof fixed, cost depending on the work needed.
He is a private roofing contractor out of Reno and I guess he personally doesn't think a hoard is any reason to cancel our insurance like all the other insurance agents have done in the past.
HAPPY DANCE!!!

Steven said he is researching which roofer to hire.

Hey hey! Thanks for all the lovely birthday wishes! Slept well last night then went to the Museum of Fine Art with mom. She couldn't see the Boston Jewelry was exhibit so I described each piece and I bought her the book, which has large, full-color pictures. Our lunch was truly delicious. She had steak and I had a delicious vegetable tart. It was so very tasty.

Now I'm home and ready for a nap. It's probably nearly 7 which is late for a nap. But nap I shall.

Cm I trust your judgment on not re-fluffing the clutter til you can deal with it. Tillie I hope you got out today, as planned. SubC I'm curious about your schedule!

Someone tiny is really cute next to me.

Hi again

Slept in later than I intended. That happens some days since I have changed my getting up time to 5:45 to feed the rabbits and cats their kibble so my roommate can be less rushed and stressed getting to work. She does the greens for the bunnies and pets them.

Meanwhile I've either gotten on my tablet or gone back to sleep. Being as I'm a night owl, it's kind of a split shift with the sleep, which is why it sometimes overshoots in the morning. The pattern is no worse than it was before though, overall. And sometimes the new schedule makes for fewer crazy dreams. I'll take what I can get. It may be interesting when we set the clocks forward this weekend - but that's the spring break week so I'll have a little wiggle room.

SubC, the Catholic Lenten practice is abstinence from meat on Fridays for age 14 and up, and fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for ages 18-59. It's said that you eat one regular meal and two smaller meals that don't add up to the regular meal. But that's for each person to discern; I don't usually eat huge "regular" meals and I don't think it's expected to be overly scrupulous so I just eyeball the two smaller ones.

So, if your student was doing the fasting - and some people may decide on their own to be even more strict than the guidelines - that may have been why he fainted. A teenage boy's metabolism, maybe too much activity, maybe a condition such as hypoglycemia, who knows. Persons who are pregnant, nursing, diabetic, have to eat to take medicine, have any health concerns that make fasting not a good idea for them, are exempt and can choose a different penitential practice such as extra prayers or something. Even those who have strenuous physical jobs can do that.

Well, as far as my general life goes, I'm thinking about how best to use the afternoon. I got some more fabric sorted while watching Star Trek last night. I need to do computer and other paperwork but my brain is fuzzy. I may go to the library to do some of it. But no stopping at stores! I'm serious about this. I won't even go down the non-food merchandise aisle at the grocery, I scrolled past Barbie doll ads on my Facebook sidebar! Etc. So far so good.

I do want to resume the reclamation of the bed from clutter, but it may be too close to the whirlwind of spring break to get started now. If I fluff the compacted clutter out then fail to get it dealt with, I could easily make a worse mess. I may find ways to chip at small manageable areas of it. Boy kitty is going to be unhappy when the clutter pile is no more. I discovered he's been using it to climb around on at night and get up on top of the chest of drawers or stare at the frog.

Living La Vida Loca, in my unique way... 😂

Good Morning Everybody
"CLINK!"

Hi Subclinical
Fingers crossed that the schedule is all you hope for. ;)

Upsetting the boy fainted AND broke his wrist.
Hope it was nothing but one of those things
that happens, will not happen again & that the wrist heals fast & properly.

Good luck with all your Nanny goats and the milk yield this season.
Have all the expected babies been born by now?


Sunny warm day here today with rain/snow mix later this evening.
I want/need to go into town but he has the car blocked in again with the truck.
I'll get dressed and ready anyways and maybe by noon he will move the truck and I can leave.
It's just 9:00am here now.
Have a big pile of stuff to drop off at the thrift shop and want some fresh produce too.
Also need to pick up compost/manure mix before it's all sold out.

Perhaps kitty just wanted a birthday snuggle.

CM, I do not fully understand the giving up for lent thing, but it definitely sounds like your universe is aligning. I know that your religious observances are central to your life (that I understand), so I hope that this will be a great way to help you focus and draw strength!

Another vote for brownies here! Brownie a la mode is one of my favorites! - one more week until I have fresh milk and can make ice cream!

I keep hitting refresh, but the schedule is not up yet! I think it will either be 7:00 or 9:30. My English classes are for sure, and on college has already sent out letters recommending my class to some if her students next year. She sent me a copy of the letter, but she didn't tell me who the students were!

One bad thing happened yesterday at school - one of my boys fainted during fencing class and broke his wrist. CM, Do people fast on Ash Wednesday? I am concerned about the fainting.

HAPPY
BIRTHDAY

TATOULIA!



That coat sounds adorable :)
WTG! for the weight loss and new size.
So wonderful that you have that nutritionist guiding you.

Brownies are good, really, really good, YUM
No way would I ever vow to give up chocolate.

Tillie the spring coat is absolutely adorable. I'm excited. Nice fabric and good styling on me. Navy with white polka dots. Fantastic in every way. I didn't buy just to buy today, either. I tried on many things, many of which were acceptable but nothing that was helping me build a wardrobe. The jeans were like a gift. They had the petite sizes and straight legs and I generally can't buy jeans alone or ever since I have a massive meltdown each and every time. The woman who buys my jeans with me is going to feel left out. Or majorly relieved. She was going to take me jean shopping for Christmas but I wanted to be down another size (which I am as of today) and then I had found two pair that she and I had purchased a long time ago that fit

I have a big bag for the cleaners next week. They were here today doing neighbor's house but I needed to be free today.

Did I mention that I wasn't prepared to make the almond cake since I hadn't set out two sticks of butter to soften? So I made brownies. Bf is bringing me vanilla ice cream. I won't be bothering to frost the brownies. I'll have one brownie ala mode tonight then slice the brownies and take to work on Friday. BF gave up chocolate for lent.

Hi Tatoulia

I'm sure the restaurant will have some sort of beef steak, even if it's chicken fried. LOL ;D

WAY TO GO!!!
for the license renewal!!!
Of course the photo is terrible. Why should you be so special as to get a glamour shot for your license.
Nobody else does.

Thank you for thinking of me when having that shrimp Po'boy.
Great! one in & one out on the jeans.
You are lucky to find a nice pair that fit right.
Maybe soon you will get to wear the new Spring coat.

Miss Kitty probably just wanted to snuggle and since you were on the bed she joined you there.
She may have enjoyed it enough that she will now snuggle in the bed at times.

The weather has been dreadful all day.
Dark, cold, raining and the wind was terrible.
Just been doing some of this & that around here.
But didn't do any housework except cat related tasks.

Joan I am so glad to read your posts and to learn more about your work. Like SubC, I'm glad to know that you are sitting with us.

CM! That's a great goal/challenge in recreational shopping. I like it. SubC I'm eager to hear about your pottery class as well as what your teaching schedule will look like! That was a thoughtful gift from your mil.

Tillie, I had a good day today. Saw my nutritionist who helped me on some issues, then she recommended that I go to the AAA center to renew my license and it took only a few minutes. The picture is dreadful.

Then I did some shopping and bought myself a pair of nice jeans that will allow me to get rid of one of the two pair I have right now. I also bought myself an adorable spring coat and a pretty t-shirt dress for my mom. A really good day. I cane back and spent a short time with BF then picked up a grilled shrimp po'boy (i pretended you were here, Tillie), then kitty and I read til we napped. Kitty even came into bed with me and snuggled, which isn't like her. At first I thought she was being sweet to be but then I worried if she's feeling okay. Then I fell asleep. She's snuggling with me now on the couch, which is more of our thing.

Thank goodness for the dry climate, Tillie. I'm just waking up and thinking about baking an almond cake.

thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes. I sure know how to stretch my birthday into multiple days! Will be at museum with mom tmr. Then hopefully the museum restaurant will have steak because I know she's craving beef.

Hi CriticalMass
Wonderful to hear from you! :D

Sounds like "Devine Intervention" that your decision to curb recreational shopping and the radio program mentioning it too.
Like it is exactly the right thing for you at the exact right time.

My best wishes go out to your roommate for being your non-shopping conscience.

Thank you (((HUG)))
I'm not too worried about mold since we don't usually have moisture here in the desert.
Things tend to dry out rather quickly and mold needs moisture to really bloom.
My dream would be one of those tiny homes set up here on the property with a tall thick lilac hedge all around.
But I would insist that the tiny house had regular plumbing and be hooked up to the septic system.
The cats and I would be so happy there. :D

What fun!
Baby sitting all those bunnies!
Lots of general daily cleaning but all the bunnies to visit with. :D

Sorry you worry about things we can't control, like Winter storms.
But what we can do is everything to prepare to work around them.
Mostly by making contingency plans. (((HUG)))

A blessed Ash Wednesday to all who observe it. Mine really has been. I'd been in a stew last week over the winter storm predicted to coincide with Quilt Bingo. I was doing better by the weekend - I tend to worry more far out then accept things as they are so close that I don't really have a choice (like I did anyway - lots of things are out of my control).

Anyway, I'd been brainstorming ideas for Lent, and you'll never guess what came to me: I'm going to give up "recreational shopping," both real life and online. I've enlisted my roommate as my accountability person. We may have to go get things for the bunny club for instance, and in those instances we will go together to the dangerous crafty places. If necessary, she will bring a cattle prod. Hopefully not necessary, LOL!

I was on my way downtown to the cathedral for noon Mass, and I listen to the Catholic radio. The show was on things people had done for Lent in the past that were helpful. A woman from my own state called in to tell about herself and some other moms giving up recreational shopping! Even the same wording! I do not believe that it was coincidence that that came on the radio during that time of driving.

Joan, good to hear from you. Very wise to deploy your resources in the most needed and effective way. Pop in when you can and we're always thinking good thoughts about you. And yes, it's difficult to deal with hoarding on so many aspects. For me at first, once I committed to it, finances and vehicle issues threw up roadblocks. Those are more resolved but I still have to keep my motivation up, hone the decision making skills, learn not to acquire extra things, etc.

Tatoulia, hope your birthday was good. Glad you didn't let the discouragement keep you down.

SubC, I feel ya on the "When does it end?" angst. I can only reiterate keep plugging along. Coming here and having a thing to share helps. Today I've been going through a box of scraps of fabric and cutting them into squares for future quilts - and finding scraps that really are too small to keep. Mind you, the squares are practically postage stamps: 1-1/2" that will sew into 1" finished size.

Tillie, I wish I could win the lottery for all of us and have you a brand new house built across the road and Steven could keep the old one! I'd have them make a privacy fence to block the sight of his hoard. I'm wondering about the roof leak in your room and hoping you stay safe from mold. If nothing else maybe get some of those buckets of moisture absorber from Lowe's or Home Depot.

I'm going to be hopping for the bunny club this month. Next week the mother and daughter who run the shelter in their home will travel out of state to take the husband/father's ashes to where he grew up. So club members are taking turns doing bunny care for close to two dozen rabbits. So it may be hit or miss for me posting here. But I'll be thinking about everyone.

about 12:50PM.

Thanks to all for the replies.

I do not believe this forum is "harmful". I believe it is helpful, mostly on the emotional levels. That is why I participate from time to time. However, I do not believe it is curative. I believe it helps one to live with hoarding. It does not enable one to stop hoarding altogether.

I had a feeling someone would bring up CBT. CBT may appear to help, but it is my steadfast opinion that it does not. The problem in the system that creates the hoarding symptom is much bigger than the hoarding itself. Once the problem is addressed, all aspects of life do change.

The goal of non-hoarders is to get hoarders to behave like non-hoarders. This is both an inadequate definition of the problem to provide any real relief to hard-core hoarders, and an inappropriate goal to set.

I know we disagree on this. I reiterate that the resources to undertake the kind of work I am talking about simply are not available at present. I essentially had to create most of the resources I needed as I went along my path. The system clean-up and restructuring involved is nontrivial. It takes years at a minimum, working 24/7. Since no-one else that I know of has even investigated this option to treat hoarding, I am at a distinct disadvange in describing it.

Lastly, for those of you "mystics" out there, the problem for the majority of hard-core, lifelong hoarders is not in "the brain", the emotions, the physical, etc. It is in the higher self. This directly contradicts ALL of the spiritual teachings that I know of on this planet, which all assume that the higher self is intact. That is where the phrase, "We're all human" comes from. Because we all have a human form does not mean that we all have an intact higher self embodying that form, nor that every human, living form has a higher self AT ALL.

I wish all of you the best.

1:06PM. 1:10PM.

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
Good luck with the new schedule!
Hope it is everything you wanted and not too hectic.

Have a BLAST at that pottery class.
Hope they will teach you lots of new techniques.

Hi Joan
Good to hear from you.

There is a proven method that works to help people with hoarding tendencies.
It's called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

That is basically what we are doing here on the message board.
As the person slowly works to declutter we address the emotions involved.
We take our time to think about all our feelings, good and bad.
We do not push anyone to go farther than they are mentally & emotionally ready to.
We pay close attention to how we are doing physically.
Are we tired, sick, injured? If so that becomes a priority and the person is urged to rest until better.

As we slowly work together here people become aware of their mind set.
Since they want a change to come about in their homes, work towards that goal at their own pace.
We do hard challenges for no shopping/buying except for food & essentials that help people see where their acquiring weaknesses are.

Here it's all about the person, not the stuff.
When we help each other with the mind set, reframing our thinking about the possessions,
the decluttering, cleaning and organizing happens more naturally.

It's hard work and takes time doing this all on their own.
But this is the way they want it.
They do not want other people coming in.
They want to do it themselves.

Slowly doing the evaluating, decision making and decluttering is how they learn about themselves and gives them the tools to make the lasting changes they want.

If they are finding something that is giving them great stress we encourage them to stop and move on to something easier for the time being and come back to the difficult tasks at a later date.
Like Tatoulia and her "closet" ;)


So anyways,
it really does get easier in time.
But it is all at the person's own time frame, when they are ready and not a moment sooner.

I highly recommend reading "Buried In Treasures".
It is based on using CBT. :)

Hi Joan!

Thank you for responding to me! it is good to know that you are still "sitting" with us even if we rarely get to hear your voice.

This forum is the extent of my "therapy" so I expect it is unlikely to be harmful. I definitely feel like I am working on me more than the stuff.

Tatoulia - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I am glad you got your license and a hug from your bank dad. He sounds sweet.

I have a full day today - teaching and some errands I hope to fit in. Then tomorrow I start a new pottery class I am taking (my mil paid for it fir me fir Christmas) and our schedule for next year comes out! I am like a kid before Christmas - I know what I asked for, and I think I will get it, but....

Joan!!!!! Wonderful to hear from you!!!! You are never far from my mind. Keep doing what you are doing-I believe in you!!

SubC, I heard your question and I have to reply.

I respect everyone's opinion on this forum. I am acquainted with how difficult a hoarder's life is. I know that we all want to support each other in our endeavors.

My answer to your question "is it just going to be hard forever?" may not be an answer that you like. The answer is that it depends both on you and on how much you can access that is helpful within your own circles, how much really useful stuff is actually out there. Right now, in my opinion, there is nothing or next to nothing.

ALL that is done in ALL efforts to address hoarding difficulties is really to address the hoard, not to correct the hoarding behavior. Correcting the hoarding behavior requires making modifications to your own system so that your system no longer hoards. Period. This is not addressed primarily because hoarding is not properly understood by non-hoarders. As a result, the modes of therapy, etc., used to assist hoarders, are at best inadequate and at worst harmful.

In order to correct your own system you must go in a completely different direction that that taken by mainstream culture. You must focus on yourself, not the hoard. The kind of assistance that is mandatory to overcome hoarding is not available at all, in a practical sense. This concerns me greatly, but especially as I am still working on my own recovery, there is nothing I can do about that for the present.

It will be just as hard as it is now, unless you can correct your system.

I cannot post here often. I need all of my resources to continue on my path towards eliminating my own hoarding through the rebuilding of my system. It is my hope that at some future point there will be more insight brought to the treatment of hoarding. I am looking forward to watching the new season of Hoarders, which I believe begins tonight.

My best to all - Tillie, Tat, SubC, Anony, CM, and anyone else I've forgotten at the moment.

The cats have been behaving very well in my bed but sometimes things do happen, usually just when someone is sick.
So extras do come in handy when accidents happen.
I remember when you donated the bedding to the fire victims.

That is so sweet about the bank guy.

So scary that those men slipped and fell!

OK, you found your birth certificate but forgot your wallet. LOL :D

Good luck getting the license renewed and have fun with the nutritionist!

Last time I renewed my license I tried to do it online but couldn't because they wanted me to take their eye test and get a new photo.
Fortunately they didn't want any ID other than my current driver's license so I can not get access to some places like Federal courts that require more back ground info on the ID.

Very sad state of affairs, Tillie. You are so dear.

Funny that you mentioned about towels and sheets. I now have two sets of sheets and four bath towels, four or six hand towels, and multiple wash cloths. I used to have a lot more til you all helped me pull it together. I have two bath towels for my house guest and I have one set of sheets for the fold out. That's all I need. When she comes this summer, I'll have to buy more pillows and comforter for her. I donated mine to fire victims last year. I have no place to store them and I'm comfortable with buying a pretty twin sized comforter (the size of my fold-out) then immediately donating. Ditto the pillows.

I have to keep more sheets at mom's because there are frequent accidents. I think she has four sets and a few weeks ago they were all pressed into duty. Ditto her two duvet covers. The poor thing. I don't know if it was her or her cat because they each pointed a paw at the other one.

I walked to and from work today, all very slowly due to terribly slippery sidewalks. I saw two different men fall on my way in.

Yes I found my birth certificate! I'd already decided I wouldn't get upset no matter what. I have five watches in there. At some point I'll get rid of them.

The old guy at the vault remembered me and even my box number and even what I keep in my second box (mom's sterling). And he told me how proud he is of me and other things and for a minute, I had a dad. I was surprised how much he remembered about me. He was the one who told me to put my sister on my boxes. I put a girlfriend on the boxes and sent her my cards probably ten years ago. I didn't tell him at the time that it wasn't my sister.

So it was a good experience today. I had a nice, kind, happy, healthy dad. And I hugged him for too long.

This is not a slam on my own father. He's been gone so long and was sick and blind and non verbal for many, many years before he died.

Tomorrow is a big day! My nutritionist and then getting my license together. Followed by maybe some shopping. Or baking. I couldn't shop tonight because it turns out I forgot my wallet today. So the deli said I can pay them on Friday.

Good Evening Everybody

Been cloudy & raining all day but the wind isn't blowing and it's not too terribly cold.

Got my hair washed, finally.
He totally monopolizes the bathroom.

Did some tidying up and washed all my clothing.
It's hanging inside on the rack & hangers.

The falling ceiling in my room has been very motivating for me to thin out all my possessions in there.
Also, if the roof gets fixed??? I will need to repair, plaster & paint.
So I have removed some things from the walls and do not plan to rehang them.
If the roof does not get fixed everything in there will get ruined so it doesn't really matter anyway.

I knew you would ;)