OMG! I have just read up on Hoarders High. At least nothing come into the home apart from my vision.

thanks for the update Janie, I was wondering how you are doing. I understand about the horror of a cleaning person seeing our mess. I am impressed that you are maintaining downstairs, congrats. Good girl for buckling down and studying.
Yes, my dog has been on Canine C/D prescription food for kidneys for several years, so I assume it is kidney shut down. What was the progression of your dogs decline, if you don't mind sharing. She has been drinking a lot of water for a few years, and urine is almost clear, as you described. She doesn't appear to know she is peeing, usually asleep when it slips out, she awakes with a start and looks around to see what woke her up, then tries to lick it up, poor girl. Thanks so much for sharing your dog story.

Karl, sounds like you are really ready for inspection, so great
Tillie, sorry to hear you are ill, happy to hear from you.
Roxie, sounds like such a nurturing day.
Ok, so I woke up and decided to clean out the final section of the garage, not that the rest is organized, but is painted. This area has not been seen in 20 years, great layer of dirt. Got it all cleaned and painted this morning, looks great, took two coats, bare wood. Now have to figure out what goes where, and not just stuff things. Will be so nice when things are where I can find them. Wastes so much time looking for things.
Now to mouse patrol. I broke down yesterday and set traps for mice. 3 greeted me this morning.
There might be hundreds for all I know, been so long since anything out there had been moved.
My dog continues to pee on couch, day bed, and outside lounger when she falls asleep. Checked her urine again, no infection, no sugar in urine, so don't know if it is just being 14 or needs vet. I did put plastic on daybed, now have lots of towels on couch. today was first pee on couch. Any ideas? Thanks

I'm glad I double-checked the calendar last night -- landlords are arriving at 11, not 10, so I got an extra hour of sleep. Living room and kitchen are both looking good, I think. Some last-minute touch-up to be done yet.

It's Sunday, my favorite day to sit at the computer with a cup of coffee and "visit" with friends.

Although I got up earlier than usual today, I'm very slow to get going. Later. Much later. Need to go get lots of supplies. Need to order prescription refill. Scoop litter, brush teeth, go get the week's mail and the Sunday paper, do dishes. Later. Much later.

Last night two smaller racoons showed up for dinner, and I think they are babies nearly grown. One is quite feisty, growling and spreading his little arms across the plate so no one else dares approach. He also has a big wound on his forehead so I presume he's quite willing to fight about it!

My little feral colony of cats seems to tolerate the racoons and vice versa.

Hugs to all. Please update.

I expect I'll be short on sleep again when they get here for inspection. Stove is cleaned off, but I need to wash the floor, and that will take two sessions since I need to move the table from one side to the other. I'm not feeling very motivated at the moment, but I'll get out some ice cream...

HI :)

So much has been happening here. No time to rest.
I have been sick but had to keep on keeping on.
Marty (the cat) is sick too and needs a lot of care.
The other cats need to be taken care of especially with the temperature at 112 degrees.

Wonderful to finally have a chance to sit still and read the message board. :D

Looks like Marty is improving and I am doing better.
I went grocery shopping this evening and only celery looked good to me, so I got some and some cherries.
I don't think that's enough to last me for two weeks. lol

Hoping things settle down around here now and that I can get some much needed sleep tonight. :)

Where are you Tillie, keep hoping to see something from you, hope you are not under a pile somewhere. Also hoping Steven is being sweet to you, I miss seeing your posts, hope you are ok.

I'd previously RSVP'd "probably yes" to a Saturday lunch meet, 11:30 to whenever, but last night at 4am I posted a follow-up saying that I'd probably be running late. Indeed, it was 12:35 when I woke up, and I had to get ready, and it was 20 bicycling minutes away. I didn't back out, though, and the group was still there.

Normally I'd be going to a board games group this evening. Although I have an offer of a return ride, I'd have to use a combination of public transportation and a kick scooter to get there. Since it's likely to run late, and the inspection is tomorrow morning, I think I'd better un-RSVP to that one and dedicate the time to making sure the living room and kitchen are both at peak cleanliness.

Thanks AnneW! :)

Hi everyone! :)

Lately I've just been working and trying to stay cool. It is sooooo HOT where I live! One of the things that I've been doing to try and stay cool in this heat, is swimming. I've gone swimming everyday this week. I've also just been walking around in my swimsuit a lot. Today I actually went into work wearing my swimsuit. Lol. :)

Karl- I was just rereading old posts & saw your rescheduled inspection is Sunday - look fwd to update! (I'm sure it will go well as a result of all your hard work :)

I am frustrated with bedroom hoard. Thought I had most of-the junk out of bedroom---surprise so much more. Wish I could organize a hoard, but tillie says no way. So this means I have to make many more decisions which are so difficult for me when it comes to clothes and crafts. I just have to let it be ok to wait until the morning to continue. I am tired and frustrated. Just when I was seeing progress and so happy, there is a huge pile of stuff to deal with, that can't just be stuffed in a bunch of bags to deal with later, it doesn't work, I tried today, doesn't feel complete until I get rid of it, darn.

Karl, lack of sleep is my downfall also, sorry your week wasn't great, what I have noticed about you is that you bounce back, and will get back at it, you can, you have before.
Dianne, sounds like a nice balance in your life, even tired body is saying, yeah, you did alot.
This morning I went directly too big bedroom, bed is now made with all clean linens. Started going through stuff and made a big mess. Guess will have to sort in living room. I need to clear junk out so I can start sleeping in there with 96 degree weather all week. That window now has air conditioner. It was too hot to sleep in my little bedroom last night, so feel motivated to make room livable. After an hour or two, had enough and went to garage to see what else I could toss in garbage before it was picked up, did find another bag full of stuff to make cart all the way full, and then it was picked up, and now get to start all over again.
I told a friend I would go camping Monday, but with 96 degrees all week I don't want to. When I leave this place for a few days, it gets so hot, takes hours to cool enough to sleep. She always has to schedule things in advance, which is not great for me, since weather affects what I can do comfortably. I want to camp when it is in 80's and I can, so that is what I will do. I do feel guilty even writing this, she will be ticked off. She has a beautiful home, well insulated with heat pump air conditioning, so she really doesn't understand why I can't just leave window air on. With this old wiring, I only want it on when I am here, plus don't have homeowners ins. Have to do more research on who will insure old trailer with wood stove, most I called will not. I had one for years, then when I rented this place out, they cancelled me. so if it burns, I have nothing, one way to get rid of the hoard, I guess.

It's been a lousy week for the most part.

I still haven't gotten caught up in sleep, and cleaning has been on a slow backslide. Tuesday I noticed a skin injury, and wondered if I'd encountered poison-oak someplace, but I later decided it was a burn that I'd ignored at the time it happened.

Wednesday I had to go in to work, had a bad day there, missed my return train and had trouble correcting for it, finally arriving at my dinner location on time but sweaty -- with cleanup options limited to what I could complete with a paper towel in the restroom, and a change of shirt. (I did plan for that part.) I arranged to bum a ride from a friend when our group finally broke up for the night.

I got the trash out in time for Thursday's pickup, but I didn't have much this time. I ran a couple of errands on Thursday, then got home and got a phone call from a friend who wanted to go out and do some sport activity -- after that, I made dinner and got caught up on email and online forums. I think I was supposed to try to get some cleaning done at some point.

I don't know if we're still doing regular early meets on Friday -- do we still have a regular in the UK? -- but I'll plan to be there.

sorry, didn't mean to post last one two times

Hi Janie, work does take a lot out of most people, and I think getting the certificate is important to you and your future, does this mean you can hire help? Just a thought. Even if you had a person come in for a few hours and clean the kitchen and bathroom every week, and what ever else you want. When I worked, I had a cleaning person, and it made all the difference, couldn't leave messes all over because cleaning person was coming. Good you will keep posting your small progress successes. It is hard when working, just the way it is, and we need to support ourselves. I wish you the best.

Hi Janie, work does take a lot out of most people, and I think getting the certificate is important to you and your future, does this mean you can hire help? Just a thought. Even if you had a person come in for a few hours and clean the kitchen and bathroom every week, and what ever else you want. When I worked, I had a cleaning person, and it made all the difference, couldn't leave messes all over because cleaning person was coming. Good you will keep posting your small progress successes. It is hard when working, just the way it is, and we need to support ourselves. I wish you the best.

Tilie, I can imagine living in a bus was so free, especially since you had everything clean and tidy. I am so tickled about your creativity with the tiny little house, would love to see it.
Made another run at getting rid of stuff, went through a huge bag of halloween stuff, kept only a package of bags. One more giant bag of junk gone. Anne, you motivated to make one more attempt, thanks. Dianne, thanks for the update.

I also haven't figured out on my system how to open a second window so I can read and respond to each person as I go. I can just hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings making them feel left out?

Diane, I have to laugh at your poor dog's haircut adventures. They do look embarrassed at times, don't they? When I rescued a ShihTzu he was a pitiful dirty mop of hair. I got a professional cut job done, lion cut, and he was so happy and so cute! And he was the BEST behaved dog I ever met. I cannot imagine what his owner was thinking to abandon him at a high kill shelter like that. He got adopted to a perfect home from my house.

And with your progress and air conditioning installation you can now expand your living space. WTG!

Dianne, I totally get it about your sadness or distress over the divorce. I've now been divorced twice as long as I was married and there are still times of pain, anger, grief, etc. I just try hard not to dwell too long in those places because it just doesn't help. Not denying the feelings, just not emphasizing them. I don't know how to entirely let it go still.

Meanwhile, you have great plans for your home and I encourage you to keep trucking. It is for YOU.
And a life well lived is the best revenge. hehe

Tillie, you seem to have lived a most interesting life, with your various abode choices. I admire your tenacity and spirit so much.

AnneW, you are doing very good work. Let us hear from you, okay?

Janie, thinking about you. You do a tremendous amount of work so in my mind you are, oh, say, 30 forever? :D

Yesterday I slept most of the day. I brushed my teeth and hair, opened and dealt with mail on the spot (I love shredding mail), and cleaned up the two remaining of the 3 framed pictures I had set aside months ago. These two are actually framed (and glassed) samplers hand done by my mother years ago. Those two I will keep. I think I'll donate the old print landscape, though. I have dozens more paintings and framed/glassed prints to clean and decide about.

Here's to today, friends.

Been out in garage all morning looking for things to fill garbage can for tomorrow, still have a little room, so will look inside, too hot out for me now. I got quite a bit done this morning. Air conditioner is running in dining room and big bedroom, yep, 2 window air conditioners going, big spender I am, the old one still works and new one works great. It is so different having two going so don't have to just live in one room.
I got 2 more cords of wood delivered on Monday and it is all now stacked, did it in evenings. This load wasn't as good as last load, more rot and spiders, but still very good compared to some I have had delivered by other wood people, and full honest cords.
Cut my dogs hair, usually do it with scissors but takes 1 to 2 hours, so finally used the electric shaver, well she looks like an alien with the mange. I gouged several spots, and cut hair on head a flat top and it is supposed to be rounded, she is so embarrassed, said she will not go out in public, if she has to go camping, not leaving tent she said. She really dislikes haircuts, as do I.
Dianne sad to hear that you are feeling pain about your lost marriage, and happy to hear you are going to get lots done this week.

Good morning :)

Hi Roxie :)
Thank you and WAY TO GO! on all you got done! :D

Hi AnneW :)
WOW! you did great!
Working and doing all your maintenance and eating well and 15 minute sessions! WTG! :D
Planning to spend more time decorating the doll house. Have lots of plans and ideas.
My tiny dollhouse has an itty bitty doll house and I used some wood scraps and made an even tinier itsy bitsy teeny weeny dollhouse to put in the dollhouse dollhouse. :)

Hi Karl :)
Sorry I missed you in the chatroom. Thank you for the offer to help. :)
I really appreciate it.

Hi Diane :)
So happy you had a chance to go to the lake. :D
WAY TO GO! you are amazing! Making decisions keep/toss/donate, doing maintenance and cleaning! :D
I have only ever gone tent camping. It can be enjoyable as long as you don't wake up buried under 4 feet of snow with your shoes frozen to the floor, a dog huddled in your coat for body warmth and after digging out your car finding it has a flat tire. ;P
But I lived for years in a converted bus on an island reachable by ferry boat and that was heaven.
Then I lived one year in a camper on a truck. No bathroom. But had all the freedom in the world.
Hope you are ready for our next heatwave this week. How is that new A/C treating you? :)

Hi Dianne :)
(((hugs)))
Great plans for the days!
Keep us posted on all you are doing. Are you going to tackle the bathroom deep cleaning?
Remember to schedule in regular breaks for eating, sleeping and just putting your feet up. :D

Now that the neighbors are back I don't have to watch their house, take in their mail or water their plants.
This will give me some quality play time. :D
Have my paints ready for painting in the dollhouse. Have fabric scraps ready for fashioning some linens.
Other than grocery shopping this weekend I only have a bit of daily maintenance to keep me from playtime. :D

HI EVERYBODY! :D

The people who's house I have been watching for months arrived home today.
I have been busy socializing and getting them caught up on what has been happening aroung here.
Busy busy day for me and it's not over yet. :)

To open two windows.....
When I first turn on my computer I have to click on "launch internet explorer browser".
This brings up my home page and from there I can access any site on the internet.

To have two windows open I only need to click on "launch internet explorer browser" once again.

The two sites are visible at the bottom of my screen.
Switching between the two I only need to left click on which one I want to read.

Please let me know if your computer system is the same as mine and if you understand what I am trying to describe. :D


Gotta run TTYL :D

Thanks for the support Roxie!! You did get some work done yesterday, amazing how you rallied, good work.
This morning I emptied 3 more boxes in garage and put away and threw away. I will have to donate some of the books I kept, just first run through. It is getting better and better
Watered stuff outside that hadn't been watered in awhile, vines and one tree I forget about. It is going to be hot here all week and I am going to splurge and run air conditioner all that I want.
I organized camping stuff in garage this morning. Think I may go back to East Lake and camp in tent. Really think I should sell RV, just too expensive. So want to do trial run at tent camping to see if I enjoy it. So easy with RV, bed bathroom, stove for coffee.
RV now has a leak dripping oil? on gravel where it is parked, so am procrastinating taking it in. Not knowing is worse than just taking it in and knowing what is wrong. Main fear is not knowing where to take it, want good honest mechanic, have mechanic for car, don't work on RV's. Any insight into this?
I am going to list some stuff on July challenge havent been keeping track of some of stuff giving away. Got rid of stash of favorite summer clothes that will never fit again, emotional on many levels. Youth is gone, thin athletic body gone, all then dates with wonderful men in those clothes were brought up, just a lot of missed opportunities due to addictive personality.
What I know today that I am in recovery from hoarding and a bunch of new experiences other than shopping and shameful hiding are in my future for next year. I so much appreciate this chat and the support, only people experiencing the problem in some way, can understand. I look forward to your comments and your progress every day, so happy this board has become so active. Thanks to each of you. Tillie, not sure how to have two screens at same time so I can respond to each person. Please describe the process of looking at previous posts while this window is open, when you have a few minutes. Also Tillie, so good you post all that you do, never really learned what is necessary to maintain etc. so thanks.

So I did some stuff yesterday after all. I brushed my teeth, ran an errand in the car, wheeled the big garbage bin to the street for pickup, did a load of dishes, wiped down the stove top and counters, and cleaned one of the framed pictures I've had set aside for two months now.

I haven't yet been to sleep, so you know my sleep cycle is upside down again. I'll probably crash in a few hours so might not be real useful to myself today.

Janie, you're doing very good work, especially adjusting to work schedules, etc.

Tillie, pink underwear. Did you dare? :D Great work on the floor cleanup!

Diane, sorry for your misunderstanding but you can be forgiven as can she. S*_*t happens, right? I'm so glad to see you are building in social times to offset your immense amounts of work! I myself am a "fun challenged" person (can't figure out what's fun).

Karl, you seem good about attending the meetings, so it must be good for you. Do you plan to keep doing 15 minute cleanup/clear out sessions still?

AnneW, I am impressed with the work you are accomplishing! Way to go! And I'm so glad to see you posting.

Dianne, thanks for the idea on the litter boxes. I need to prioritize litter box habits soon here. I'm so glad to see you moving ahead and also posting. Hang in here!

I spent a couple hours tonight reading old message board threads and began to wonder: whatever happens to those who come, post, then disappear? Why? I wish they'd all come back and update us.

If I left anyone out, just blame it on my brain fog. Hugs all around.

I had a great day at East Lake yesterday. Took my blow-up boat and paddled out in lake with my friend. It was a perfect day to be at the lake, and wasn't crowded at all. I wanted to go back up and camp.
Today had a miscommunication with a friend, and it was difficult, still bothering me. I was sure of what time we were going to meet, so I went to Lowes, and she was calling my house, she thought she was supposed to call at 12, I was sure we were to meet at 12. How do these things happen?
This morning I watered yard and worked in garage for 3 hours. The disagreement zapped my energy, so have just walked in circles this afternoon. Finally remembered it is time to quit when energy gone, so here I am. I loved reading all that you are accomplishing and the goodness in each post. Tomorrow I will stay home all day and work here, I am happy I can work without interruption tomorrow. Really want to make progress on big bedroom. thanks to all of you.

Yeah, if you're going to paste something here, it's probably best if it's plain old 7-bit ASCII encoding. Unfortunately, as somebody who doesn't use Microsoft software, I'm not the person who can tell you how to force Microsoft tools to do that.

Speaking of techie stuff, Tillie, if you're around and would like to try some practice postings to see what the deal is with clickable links, I'm in the chat room right now and could try to walk you through it.

Oh, and I might be around for the first few minutes of tonight's chat, after all; I'm not sure how soon my ride will be picking me up.

Thanks all!

Tillie, I've actually been looking into possible socks or slippers that are designed to scrub as you walk. So far I've found some that are designed to dust the floors and pick up pet hair. Those might be useful but I still am concerned with the effort of scrubbing.

Using my wheeled desk chair is certainly worth a try! After all, when I tire it is sitting down I have to do if not laying down!

WAY TO GO!!! Roxie :D

Some people have managed to do a pretty good job washing floors by sitting in their desk chair, dropping a soppy wet rag on the floor then using their feet scooching the rag around.
Then sopping up the water by scooching around a towel.


This is just a suggestion and you are free to simply ignore it. :)

Oh, I am so grateful for my rally days. Yesterday I brushed my teeth and hair, I thoroughly cleaned three light bulbs that were filthy and fly specked (they've been sitting on my chest of drawers staring at me and complaining),

I cleaned off the vacuum cleaner (ugh, so dusty and dirty). I vacuumed around my desk and a chest of drawers. I changed out all my trash bins and put in fresh bags, took the trash to my outside bin.

I finally unloaded the large and very heavy box that was delivered weeks ago and contains the parts to build (put together) the cat tree I'd ordered. It's been sitting there blocking my kitchen steps. I hauled all the parts inside (cats immediately investigated the cube part) and stacked them in one place. Then I broke down the box so I can put it in the car for recycling.

I broke down the remaining boxes indoors and took them to the car for recycling.

I brought in a case of canned cat food and actually put the cans into the cupboard and broke down the cardboard carrier for recycling.

I sat on the back steps and broke down more cardboard boxes. One has those big metal fasteners that are a bear to undo. Still working on that one. All will go into the car to recycle. I think I'll have to go to the recycle center later this week or early next.

It felt very good to get all this done. I found I could do a lot of it while I'm sitting here at the computer waiting for it to do various things for me. I even vacuumed by sliding around in my desk chair on wheels...whee! One way for a disabled person to get something done. It's a start.

Dirty kitchen floor still whining at me. And the litter boxes calling me from outside: "wash me, wash me, NOW."

Each of you inspire me each day. I'm grateful you are here.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!!! :D

Wonderful to have so many posts to read with my morning tea. :)

Just have a few cat chores to take care of and some general tidying up to do here today.
Have no idea what I will do today but as always, I will find things to do.
Maybe reward myself with a pedicure. Watch a movie. Plan a fun project.
I love being all caught up and having my free time. :)

Hope you all get a chance today to just enjoy summer time. (((hugs)))