Good evening.

Lila, I have enough to go in my freezer without 99 cent hit dog buns. I'll never remember they are there. Truly, once I stop seeing the buns I will forget about the veggie dogs.

Good day at school today. Made it through parent back to school night. Actually have all my lesson plans (but not all my prep work) done for both tomorrow and next Wednesday.

You don't really have to clean the kitchen for the work guy. He just has to have room to work.

I am tired. I say that a lot.

Dh is out late tonight. I have a staff meeting at lunch tomorrow - we are meeting in my room because I volunteered it. It is my birthday tomorrow, but I don't think anyone knows that except my 1:00 class. I was going to buy a cake at the grocery store to take to the meeting, but grocery store cakes are ridiculously expensive! So I bought two box cakes and plan to take them both - for the staff meeting and for my kids. I just have to make them...

Chores to do. Dark comes earlier these days.

Hello friends,

Tatoulia, it is hot in the day here and cold at night right now. I have no heat or a/c the last 2 months but getting it fixed soon. I'm sorry about your mom. You are handling it better than I could.
I hate being cold, so years ago I got a heated mattress cover. It is the best thing ever!! Much better than a heated blanket, imo.

SubC, I feel you on the junk food. Even being vegetarian I sometimes crave junk. You can freeze the buns! I do freeze meals sometimes, but this time it was a pan of vegetarian meatloaf I bought a long time ago that I wanted to use up. My son was not impressed. We ate it though. I need to cook him some meat to make up for it, lol. Oh, maybe take some benedryl, and/or rub some benedryl cream around your eye area. I hope it gets better.

I am exhausted. I literally worked 12 hours yesterday except for one hour at home mid day and a half hour running my Teen places. I do not get paid for all the hours but most of it. I took this morning off and have sat here drinking coffee and doing calls and paperwork. I am about to get up and try to do a few things. I also have a couple hours of work I need to do from home. Then late this afternoon I have to go in and work an hour and probably go to a class I don't want to miss.

Urgent: the guy is coming to look at my stove tomorrow!!! Yes it is cleaned under and behind it, but the kitchen is in a dismaying state. And the table/counters!! AHHH. I am overwhelmed thinking about it. I need to just get a large box and stash n dash the table and counter, throwing out anything I can along the way, donating anything I can, and leaving the sorting for later. That way, I can wipe down the counter and table and at least it will look nice. I need to wash drips off the cabinets and clean the appliances and stuff also. I don't know how much I can get done today but I will try, after I get my actual work work done.

What are you all doing today?

I did have a nice meal with my family. I could not get the table cleared in time so we ate in the living room and that was fine.

Good evening.

Tatoulia, I hope you like the new pants.

I stayed after school an extra hour for open house. I had one parent come by my room. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I almost got my counter cleaned off before I left this morning. Probably won't finish it tomorrow, but maybe Thursday.

I am almost ready for school tomorrow - one small thing to prepare - in the morning when I am feeling more creative.

I brought home my free teacher copy of last years yearbook. (In the interest of disclosing all the things that I add to the house)

Hi SubC. No it's not realistic that I'll be able to wear my clothes into the fall and winter. I have two pairs of jeans and one pair of pants. I do have some cardigans. It is already freezing cold here. I ordered another pair of pants although I'm not sure how they will look on me. Those will be enough in the short term. I may wish to buy corduroys but honestly I buy a pair every year and end up hating them and donating them. I don't know when my clothes will fit me but for the first time, I have hope.

I was so cold that I slept with a long sleeved t shirt last night. I cannot remember the last time I was that cold. I've been cold all day, too. I wanted to go up to BF's former business because I have some packages there but it's rainy and cold right now. And so dark.

SubC I am dismayed to hear about your friend. What a terrible, terrible thing to lose his father in that way. Really awful.

Good morning all!

I seem to have some sort of bug bite on my eyelid and the lid is puffed up and swelling shut. And so of course we have back to school nights this week and I will be meeting the parents of my students. Also, it itches horribly

Tatoulia, I am sorry about your mom. I'm wish her illusions were limited to singing cats.

Is it realistic that you will lose the weight in time? Maybe invest in a warm neutral toned sweater so you can wear it over your more summery stuff for a bit? I find being cold and miserable a bad influence on my eating choices - not a motivator, but ymmv.

Lila, I hope you were able to relax and have a nice time with dinner with your family.

Do you put meals up in the freezer, or are you buying frozen meals in a quantity that feed many people?

If it is the second one, maybe examine the why and how in relation to your budget? (I'm not saying it's a bad idea, I'm just saying if it's a habit decide if it's a good one.)

We found out last night that a dear friend lost his father in the hurricane. (Changed my mind about posting someone else's personal details on an open board)

I feel so sorry for him. On top of his loss he has difficult family relationships, multiple insurance issues, and the clearing out of a family home complicated by flooding.

Back to school today and I am not ready. But it is the fourth day of the month and so far I have only added food (and food related packaging) to my house!

Oh - food - Lila, I really just want a junk food hot dog. Dd2 left behind mustard and buns when she moved and the buns won't be good much longer. I will make a bread pudding maybe.

Somehow I feel like my house got worse yesterday although I don't think that can be true.I think it is because I added to the counter again. That is definitely a hotspot for me. Indecision and unfinished tasks.

Off I go..

Hello everyone! You've all been extremely busy! Well done!

Definitely colder here and I do not have any clothes to see me through fall and winter. Hopefully I'll be able to lose some weight just so I can make it through the fall.

My no spend continues to help me. I'm so happy to have more money to work with. Also, I'll see a big jump in my paycheck in March because three years ago I took a loan from my 401k and the payments come out of each paycheck. I may decide in January to pay it off completely. The plan does not allow for me to add extra each month but I can pay off in full whenever I want.

Mom had another upsetting incident today but I'm working with her. We are trying to do it together. I told her she's safe and secure and that the two of us will be fine. She thought a man came into her apt last night. Stole the cookies. It took me a while but I found where she'd hidden the cookies. She hides everything these days because she thinks men come in at night to take her food. I checked with the woman at the desk and there were no men at the place overnight, as an added way to assure her.

So here we sit.
So cold. As a New England resident, I try not to put my heat on til November. Not sure I can do this but we shall see. I'll use the fireplace while I get another hour or two of work in.

My house is absolutely too big. Bad market to buy a smaller house, though. Such a big house yet so cluttered.

SubC good job on the laundry :) Oh and google vegan carrot hot dogs. It sounds weird but they are so good my family will even eat them. On a bun with usual condiments they are great!

I mopped under the table (son vacuumed), the dog bed covers are in the dryer, I picked out a meal from the freezer and will put it in soon. I got the dog pen moved. I need to vacuum the dust bunnies in my room. The table is covered in junk. I will clear it when I put the food in the oven in a minute, but it's going to just be a stash and dash into a box. No time to sort. AND did not get my work done today, UGH.

Lila,

That is much more sensible.

I am glad you moved the dog pen away from your closet.

Bean's family has a three bedroom house - but the bedrooms are not large. One is very small - twin bed, dresser and bookshelf will fill it. That is their upstairs - three beds and a bath. 1st floor is living room, dining room, kitchen, plus screened porch. Underneath is basement "bonus" room, utility room, and one car garage. They are very diligent about only keeping things they need. Also they store stuff here.

I got all but two baskets of laundry put away today. Part during Bean's nap, part with Bean's help.

Stopped at the grocery store when I returned Bean. Miracle whip is ridiculous! Need to reduce that in my diet - scrambled egg sandwich instead of egg salad! Better for me too I'm sure.

The store also wants me to stop drinking soda since the store brand diet was gone - again! and I'm too cheap to buy name brand. Also I apparently don't need veggie dogs or salted almonds.

Did manage to get flour, yeast, raisins, and tortellini.

Dropped off the trash and the plastic bag recycling.

I keep getting distracted. I have no priorities so I start a task and don't finish anything. Coming here to try and prioritize.

Must get done today:
3 hours of work from home
prep dinner for family coming over
Get table cleared off so we can eat on it
Mop under the table after son vacuums
Wash dog beds and put them back for dogs
Brush dogs so they don't make the beds all hairy immediately
Try the 'fixed' computer
Move the dog pen

Wow that is a lot, and in between I was trying to do yardwork, clean my room, clean the kitchen, work on other things. No wonder I was scattered. Now I can see there is NO way to do all of this plus 3 hours of work since family is coming over. But now I have a list to focus on.

update:

I picked up son.

Took the covers off the 3 dog beds and put them in a basket to wash as soon as I can get back up.

Took everything off the dog pen in my bedroom, which is big and in the way of the closet. It has to be in there for now because my boydogpuppy is not calm enough to be out when there is company. I decided to make a spot for the pen under the far window in my room, so it is not in front of anything and he can get a cool breeze. That means I had to move a bunch of things and vacuumed in that area. I am going to scoot that pen over there and then I will have room to work on putting my clothes in the closet. I will try to find something to donate, too.

I have WAY too much stuff but why is every item, when I look at it, something I need??

I wonder how people survive in normal houses. Surely they don't have all the stuff I have.

LOL SubC, I figured out the bread one, but was imagining you and Bean playing with Pirates on the floor... :)

I think that will be this board's new slogan: the dog ain't gonna stop shedding!

I took my son to an appointment and went to a drive thru and got an iced energy drink. I KNOW I was not going to buy anything. I have done better. I really wanted a cookie too, and a sub I had a coupon for, but I stopped at the drink. I don't drink them often, not healthy, but thought maybe it would help me power through some more cleaning.

I loaded the dishwasher and cleaned the dog's ears.

I get to work from home today so I need to set aside about 3 hours to work. I like the flexible schedule.

I haf sipped about half my energy drink and I think I will have to go pick my son back up soon. I think I will walk around the house and try to gather 10 items to put in the donate box, plus grab a trash bag and start tossing things in there as I go.

Will report back - hope to hear what you all are doing to make your circumstances better!

Oh man, I need to proof read!

We dug potatoes, not Pirates.

Also we did not fake the bread. We baked it.

Lol Lila,

That seems like one of those down home sayings.

"Good lord willin an the crick don't rise."

"That dog don't hunt."

"Slow as molasses in January.

"The dog ain't gonna stop shedding."

That list is too long!

As for the sweet potatoes, I mostly just bake them and eat them with some butter. Sweet potato biscuits are good too. And you can slice them super thin and make chips in your oven (I dehydrate mine)

Bean is sleeping. We vacuumed the main room this morning and dug some Pirates. Picked a lot if peppers too. And faked two loaves of wheat bread.

I've got the dishwasher and the washing machine going - stripped the sheets.

Now I need to put some laundry away! The dog ain't gonna stop shedding. Lol!

It never ends, SubC. I think that's what is frustrating to me. I put in all this work and then turn around and there is new mess. Fact of life, I guess, but the dog ain't gonna stop shedding!

Do you have any recipes for sweet potatoes? I have lots myself, and no cool place to store them long term.

Tatoulia, sorry about your mom.

I had a nice but late visit with friends at their house last night that was refreshing. My boss got sick and took this whole week off! Which takes at least 2 or 3 meetings off my schedule for this week and gives me more time at home and flexibility. I am sorry he isn't feeling well but happy to have more time to get my house in order.

Goals for today, and/or by Thursday:
- finish cleaning the stove (mainly the front)
- get the kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom clean enough for the guy to come over to fix the stove
- get rid of enough stuff to fill the large-ish box in my room to donate
- finish the front yardwork
- try to get some to finish mowing and vacuuming today so I can mop
- brush dogs, clean ears, trim nails
- figure out where to put the clean clothes piled and strewn all over every surface in my bedroom
- try to have some positive time with Teen
- make appointments
- make a nice dinner and have the grandTots over

It's a lot but has to be done

Good morning!

Tatoulia, good job on the sweets!

I am sorry about your mom, but maybe it is better for her if she doesn't notice?

Good luck with your new hire.

Lila, excellent job on the stove! That was a big job! I hope you are able to get enough cleaning done to feel ok about tge repairman. It sounds like you are really making progress!

The thing about working outside all day is that I wake up in my house which has somehow gotten messier. MORE baskets of clean laundry to put away (I guess that is technically less messy, but it feels messier) more dishes, more dirt on the floor, more items on the counter..

There is a possible frost on Saturday, so Bean and I need to get sweet potatoes out. (It's Bean day today)

Sweet potatoes, baking, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, food to eat and toys to play with... we have so much to do!

SubC. Sorry to hear your husband wasn't feeling well. You got a lot done! Hard work!

Lila, another hard worker today! Wow! Thanks for considering my furniture suggestions. You'll feel a lot better with the end table out and moving the coffee table. Don't keep the recliner just because it's newer. Keep it if it is used and useful. Can you move the printer and the filing cabinet to the guest room or just the printer?

The nurse called me from mom's today to say that my mother had a lot of disturbing reports. I guess he hasn't seen her in a while because he was very shocked. I was not. She does have a neurological workout end of the month.

I didn't mention that the nurse called me but I asked her if she notices cognitive changes and she does not. She is not open to the possibility. She was in the past but not today. We watched tv together. I got her groceries today.

Still not eating desserts and sweets. It's like a lightbulb switched in my brain.

I did a lot of laundry today. Back to work tmr. It was good to have four days off in a row. Oh! I just hired a new professional after several months of a search. I hope he works out for us. I am having a harder time hiring an intern. Two people I've made offers to and neither accepted. Hopefully the third one's the charm.

SubC, hopefully the fence guy will be available soon. Sounds like a break until then is a good idea.

Son and I ran out of steam and took a long break and then I asked him to pull the stove out and help me clean. The stove guy is coming to fix it and I did NOT want HIM to be the one pulling it out... yikes! It was bad back there. And if food spills on the counter it falls down between the stove and counter. There were all kinds of drips and grease and junk down both sides of the stove and the walls. I used my kitchen scrub daddy and Dawn power spray or whatever it's called and scrubbed the top and one side of the stove while son swept the foor where the stove was and cleaned it with dawn spray and paper towels and did the walls. I sprayed the other side of the stove and then burned out and son is in there finishing it. We need to wipe down the back, but it's just dusty. Also need to clean the vent fan but ugh I am too tired, and going to a friend's for a little meeting/social thing. I often skip it but need to go tonight.

Then thankfully I can send the stove info to the stove guy so he can order the part. I will have to do some major cleaning of the kitchen/dining room before he comes to do the repair, because he is a friend and I can't deal with him seeing my grimy home.

Lila, you are making good progress!

Outside work needs to be done too.

Good thoughts on rearranging and getting rid of some unneeded large pieces!

I am about a third done with the fence removal. But, I am as far as I can go without moving the goats to the new field - which currently has no direct run in. Dh thinks we should leave them for another week since we have not heard from the fence guy yet.

Still haven't vacuumed or put away laundry.

update -

Went outside with Son and we trimmed more branches, picked them all up, cut them to fit in the 'green bin'. I mowed a little bit more and cleaned up some dog poop. Son and I worked on cutting down a small volunteer tree in a bad place. He is out there sawing off the base. He also sawed off 3 thicker branches I could not get. Now the green bin is about full and he is going to finish the mowing. I am sooo tired!!

I'm not so sure I can also mop today, but I'll ask son to vacuum if he is not too tired.

hello! Yay, people!

SubC, good work! The Scrub Daddy is a round smiley face sponge and it is some kind of foam sponge material, but has no chemicals on it. Just plain. But, when it is wet and cold, it is firm, but when it is wet and warm, it gets soft. It is a great cleaning tool! I think I got them on amazon. They work great for scrubbing pans and the stove too. I got the 3-color ones and have a separate one for kitchen and bathroom, plus one extra.

Tatoulia, those are thought provoking suggestions. I notice how uncomfortable I get when considering giving anything in the living room up. I feel so uneasy about it. BUT, my thoughts:
I bought the stereo a few years ago. It has a record player so I can play my grandparent's old records. It has a dubber so I can make copies of some cassette tapes of my dad singing (he passed away). The tv, everyone watches, that stays.

I hate the coffee table being in the middle of the room. The way my sofas are now, it can't go closer (narrow room) but I am going to think about a rearranging so it is not in the middle of the room. Good idea. would make space.

With your prompting, I've decided I can get rid of one end table. It is big and heavy, but just decorative metal legs and a glass top so really very little function, gets dusty, very heavy to move. I will put it online and see if I can get any money for it, and if it doesn't sell in 3 days I will give it away.

I also thought, hey... maybe I can move the printer into the guest bedroom. I only print a couple times a month and I could just take the laptop in there when I need to print. I will do that. Then the lamp can go on that end table (it is on the one I will get rid of now).

I looove the chair with the ottoman but I don't really care about the recliner in the dining room, even though it is like new. I am considering giving it away. Maybe. Will decide once I rearrange, get the coffee table out of the middle, and get rid of that big end table and move the printer out of here. (It's too big for the bookshelf).

I just came home and don't feel great, but son is up and willing to help me shortly so I am going to try and get some things done.

No concert, but making good progress on deconstructing the fence, and Dh has moved all the dirt tgat was left in piles from the sidewalk project to low spots.

He's going to help me move posts next.

Progress washing laundry and dishes, but not putting things away.

How is everyone else's day going?

Goid morning.

I am barely noticing the cold this morning, but Dh was up coughing horribly at 3 a.m. we have a matinee concert today and I am hoping he will feel up to attending.

There is stuff on my scullery counter and I have not bern keeping up with the ten items. One of my housekeeping goals for today is to have it completely cleared off again at some point.

Also to vacuum and put away the laundry.

Yesterday I added a small kitchen storage container to my donate pile.

Oh dear Lila, I don't want you to be lonely!

I was very busy with Bean and my crew!

Fantastic job on the mopping!

Also good job taking care of the unpleasant phone call.

I'm afraid I can't help you on the living room. I love built in bookshelves. Would the printer go on the bookshelves?

Is a "scrub daddy" treated with anything or was it just the scrubbing and the barkeeper's friend? I would love an easy way to get the toilets really clean!

I did some laundry but didn't put it away, and a load of dishes. Played with Bean. Took down some of the old fence that needs to be replaced.

Bean's daddy came out after his workshop and the kids got half a new (permanent) roof on the shelter out by the pond. Dh got some work done with the tractor. Bean got to ride along on some of it. He loves the tractor so much! (That was when I did the fence)

we all had dinner and the kitchen isn't too bad. I've got a fresh loaf of tea bread in the oven.

Hello, All!

SubC sorry you have a cold. I keep feeling like I'm coming down with something. Be sure to check with good will about textile recycling. My goodwill definitely does not want things with rips. I think I told you that at our hazardous waste day, there is a station for textile recycling.

Lila, here are my furniture suggestions, in no particular order.
1. Who, if anyone, uses the stereo? Is it time to let that go? I have a very nice wireless speaker and use that for music with my iPad. What does the stereo consist of?
2. Who, if anyone, watches the tv? Do you need it? If no one uses it, it might be time to let it go.
3.. Move the coffee table so it's not in the middle of the room. Put it closer to the sofa.
4. If the end tables' purpose in life is to hold junk, get rid of them. I would ask myself if I'm keeping them for a dream that will never happen (what if I have fifteen people over and they need a place for their beverage) when deep down I know that I'm not having 15 people over, ever. If they are junk holders, get rid of them. If you want end tables, try to find nesting tables. It will have the footprint of one table and yet can pull out a few extras when company comes over.
5. I'd get rid of one of the recliners. Much like the end table analysis, if your current needs don't include that many seating spaces, let a recliner go. Or the chair with the ottoman. OR even just the ottoman. You have a lot of pieces that allow people to put their feet up. Do you want that many people putting their feet up in your home? (You can laugh. I do not want people to be comfortable in my home. They can feel welcome and fed but not comfortable. They need to remember they have somewhere to be comfortable, namely, their home).

Your thoughts? Just shaking things up on a Saturday!

It's the Lonely Lila show today, but I am trying to be accountable and believing someone will read this at some point.

- did the cursory mop of the entryway and threw away the old dirty mop head
- mowed a patch of grass in the yard. It was overgrown and the bag got full and I am too tired to empty it. Will get son's help.
- made that phone call I was dreading, and they are going to call me later to discuss.

TIRED. But still plugging away because when I get a burst of motivation, I can't waste it.

REQUEST FOR SUGGESTIONS.

I have too much stuff in my living room and it has become a problem. Can some of you give me insights/suggestions? My brain is frozen on this.

When I got new (used/donated) furniture for my living room it seemed perfect. But now a recliner is shoved into the dining room because the baby swing got brought out for new grandTot. I don't feel like I can get rid of this nice, like-new recliner because 1) the baby swing will be back in the garage in a couple months, and 2) I want enough seating in the living room for when people or family come.

Living room is about 25 by 12, weird long rectangle with stupid built in bookshelves at one end and a fireplace at the other end.

In the room:
couch, loveseat, chair/ottoman, rocking recliner - All are staying!
Coffee table in the middle, hate it but need it.
3 end tables piled with junk. One has a printer on it or I would get rid of that end table. The others are too small for the printer.
Dog crate which takes up a lot of space but he needs to be in it when I'm gone or at night, and there is no where else for it.
TV on stand.
Tall lamp, and a smaller lamp on the end table. (opposite ends of room)
Tot's toybox
baby swing
File cabinet in the corner with a stereo on it
A couple toys, and containers of toys.

Plus that recliner in the dininer room that should be in here.

I would rip out the built in bookshelves if I could. Maybe someday. Help?

Serial post for accountability -

I got out the mop and bucket. The bucket was so dirty I had to wash it first. The mop is pretty bad as well, so I rinsed it out. Flled bucket with disinfecting floor cleaner and did a "cursory" mopping of the itchen/dining area. The bucket of water was dark brown.

I did not get under the table very far or move anything. I just mopped what I could see without worrying about edges etc. My son said he will vacuum when it is dry, and take the furniture out of the room.

Then I will throw away the old, dirty mop head (has not been changed in years, just washed a few times, so is gross). I found a brand new mop head I will put on it and use to mop the WHOLE floor with fresh water and cleaner.

Then entry also needs to be done the same way... cursory mop first, then clear things and vacuum, then a good mopping.

Honestly though I may wear out and do some of it tomorrow if I have to. I hope to get it done though.

omg!!! I have to share! I found the secret!!

I scrubbed the toilet 4x with various products - comet, Lysol bowl cleaner, Kaboom cleaner. Still the brown stains persisted, no matter how hard I scrubbed.

Then I cut a strip from a Scrub Daddy (smiley face round) sponge, sprinkled it with Bar Keeper's Friend, and it literally scrubbed the stains right off with almost no work!! The inside of the toilet bowl looks BRAND NEW! Wow! I am going to do this on the other toilets which have some minor stains.

I feel very accomplished now! I'm going to clean the outside of the bowl next, which should probably be fine with regular spray cleaner.

SubC, I'm happy the Daddy sheep is such a great little help!

The police sent me a letter, which said I had 7 days to comply, and to call them. I called and told them the appliance had been picked up a week ago, and the weeds are not on my property. I would go pull the weeds for neighbor, but it is beyond what I can handle. So I will go over today and let her know what's coming, to warn her, as she is a nice neighbor.

I LOVE your mom's way! omg, bringing her some gloves so she can come help me pull the weeds for the neighbor, hahaha, what would be great. I have to admit my first thought was like your dad, and in fact, I looked up all the codes thinking the second she has a code violation we could all start reporting her! How that would fix her wagon! But, that's not a very kind thing to do, so I probably won't, unless I see something blatant on an exceptionally grouchy day.

Now I have:
- went outside to try and mow the lawn but it was wet
- picked up all the dog poo in their area, which was a lot, because I have not done it. Took it all to the trash.
- fetched with my boydog. He liked that.
- got my clothes out of the dryer and folded, laid them out to hang up and will put them away soon.
- send son a text telling him I need his help with a few things when he is off work.
- scrubbed the toilet again but there are some kind of hard water? streaks. My tank is leaking slowly into the bowl and I don't know how to fix it, so that's probably why. I will look for a tough cleaner and scrub it again.

I think I will feed the dogs next, get myself a bite to eat, think about what to do next.

I meant this to be a 100% day off, but there is one stressful and unpleasant type call I have to make. I am dreading it but HAVE to do it today, before it's dinnertime.

What are you all doing today to make your situation better?

Thanks Lila,

So far the cold is not too bad.

The big Daddy sheep has been on several adventures today. Bean's Daddy is at a workshop, so the Big daddy sheep is helping him process that separation.

I really think I would invest in some locks for my kitchen cabinets. But you have to do what works best for you.

How did the police handle the weed complaint?

I think whatever I did would probably be the wrong thing, but I definitely would attempt to avoid her because I have no fake nice in me.

My mom would probably decide she is lonely and needs companionship and something to make her feel useful and productive, and then my mom would go over with brownies and invite her out to lunch and invite her to clubs and activities and service projects and drop by until the woman either got too busy to bother anybody or started avoiding my mom. (Including not reporting people because that would just bring my mom back.." Hey! The smiths had a complain about their bushes. Let's go over and trim them for them! I bought you gardening gloves! I hope they fit!")

My dad would start researching all of the regulations pertaining to the neighborhood at length, with the goal of reporting this woman every time she stepped out of line. He would also contact all of the neighbors that had been cited so that she would get six complaints called in ever time her trash can fell over or the bumper of her car overhung the sidewalk, or whatever. He would also try to learn all of the really annoying unsightly things that were legal so he could add one every time he got reported.

But then my mom would stop him and take the brownies.

I am more like my dad.

I wish I could come help you. It sounds like just sweeping, wiping, and vacuuming the spots you can reach would help a lot. The toilet is a good start! Just some clean spaces to rest your eyes on.

SubC, I hope your cold is mild and quick. The overalls for Bean sound sooo adorable! And I am happy he got the big sheep.

When I have clothing with holes, I take it to Goodwill, because it is said they actually use these for something. I can't remember what. I take good stuff to the small local thrift stores, as it feels like donating to a good cause.

We got a new neighbor down the street, a lady in her 60s, and she has been walking around the neighborhood reporting everyone for code violations. Small things, like someone's landscape bush died last month and they have not cut it down yet. Or someone has a weed in their yard over 6 inches high. Or if their trash can tipped over, she reports it for trash on the ground the same day, before they even have a chance to clean it all up. She reported me for having an appliance in my driveway for one week. I was waiting for the recycle guy to come and get it. Then reported me for some small, but spreading weeds that are actually on my neighbor's property, not mine. Our neighborhood is pretty well kept but not an hoa or anything. She needs to chill out. Maybe offer to help? Or give it a LITTLE time before reporting it to the police? Not sure how I am going to handle it but I met her the other day before I knew about this or who was reporting everything and she acted all innocent and nice. Do I stay the nice neighbor pretending I don't know? Tell her that's not how neighbors act? Tell her what a jerk she is? Probably not the latter because I bet she would look for even more ways to cause me grief.

hi Tatoulia and CM! Screened in porch sounds wonderful!

So far I:
- put my clothes in the washer
- took some trash out
- gave the master bathroom toilet a starting scrub, then doused it in Lysol toilet cleaner and let it sit. I will go scrub it again.
- Unloaded some of the dishwasher and put most of them in my bedroom. I hate doing this.
- washed a few pans and cookie sheets, washed out the sink

Then instead of making a fast food run, which is always a temptation, I cooked myself a nice, tasty breakfast of an egg, toast, homemade hash browns and coffee. I feel a little better.

Going to scrub that toilet.

hello friends. How has a week gone by again already? I don't like this pattern. I want to be stopping to think and act on my environment daily, not just on my day(s) off. I find it helps me to re-center if I come here, read, share.

It was a very busy work week, with lots of emotional drama that ran me into the dirt. I am past it now for the most part. I am taking today to be home and drink coffee and do things to make my life better. I even turned off my phone.

My home is in shambles. I don't know how it becomes so cluttered and dirty when I try hard. I have had a couple of bids on air conditioner repair this week, and as I had several men into my home to give the bids, I was very embarrassed and hyperaware of my home's condition.

Little piles of dog hair everywhere.
Every surface cluttered and covered in dust.
Walls have the grime of hands touching certain high touch areas.
Tile floors, entryway, kitchen laminate all have many dirty spots, spills, probably the worst it has been in over 2 decades.
Bathrooms terrible, master bathroom toilet embarrassing.
No clean dishes, broken stuff on the floors downstairs from Teen rages, windows dirty.
Fridge packed with food, probably 1/4 is no good anymore.

I need help. I would pay anyone, if I had enough money, to come in and help me. I would pay large sums to have it be someone who understands, won't judge me. I don't think there is anyone in my circle I could ask, and I don't trust professionals. I have almost begged my son to help me and he does some minimal things but is always working or sleeping. Teen does nothing but make huge messes and will not clean any of it up no matter the consequences. I stopped buying the foods they were making a huge mess with and they just moved on to some other thing to spill, leave out, waste...

Okay. My goal for today is to get something done and feel better about my situation by the end of the day.

Good morning!

Bean gave Dh a cold last week.

Dh gave me the cold.

Bah.

Late slow morning, but Bean and family are coming out to "do big works" on the farm.

Update later.

Dh and I went shopping.

He needed some fittings for a line on the tractor.

I got a new barn coat! (The old one is 13 years old and has rips through both the outer layer and padding and I noticed that it was definitely less warm this last spring.)

We also bought a pair of sturdy work overalls for Bean (they will need to be cuffed because we bought them sized up for two years of wear) and ...the big daddy sheep.

The guy running the register ran his hand over the overalls and said "Man. Nobody ever bought me carhartts when I was little." If they last as well as my coat did they should make it through half a dozen grandchildren. Wonder if I will have that many.

Now I have to figure out how to get rid of the old barn coat.

The screened in porch sounds so lovely! I'm sure you are looking forward to having that finished.

I have another day off. I haven't done a thing. Just the usual of getting the kitty box cleaned and the recycling out. On my third load of laundry. Just hanging out. Last night was nice and cool and I slept with the windows open and ceiling fan on, so that was really nice.

Nothing else to show for my day and I am in favor of this.

Hi CM,

My digestive system is functioning fine, it's just that all the musculature associated is sore.

Hopefully the doggies will respect the screens.

Good day at school.

Lots of positive interactions at the clay studio when I went to get glaze for my classes. I also bought a bag of dry glaze for myself (think cake mix) it was a fantastic bargain and I like the color and will use it.

SubC, do you have a good probiotic? Or maybe you get plenty from your homemade yogurt. I know that before my surgeries I went and got a bottle of the pricey kind with oodles of different types of probiotics in each capsule, and took them before and after. Because of what unspeakable things they required me to do to my poor innocent digestive system in preparation, need I say more. I wanted to give my system a head start rebuilding the GI biome.

I'm sitting in the living room with the computer listening to the sweet music of power tools on the porch. There has been painting going on, or will be soon. Doors are up on both ends, no screen yet. Roommate got both doors with doggie flaps, but the bewildered dog looked at it like ??? and just went out the front of the porch like "You humans be crazy." The animals are used to our shenanigans by now.

The cats are so opposite. Boy kitty is under the bed and that's that. Girl kitty likes to watch what's going on, and if we were to let her she'd be right out there with the guys and into everything.

I will get to my clothes soon, I promise. This morning I dressed summery and then went outside and decided I needed a hoodie! In between weather that changes over the course of a day is always a challenge. Right now, though, there are the guys coming inside to use the restroom and this and that, and my bedroom is right next to the tiny hallway, so I feel like if I tried to start a decluttering project in there (especially since I haven't solved the problem of where things are going to fit or what) I'd feel quite distracted and self conscious and probably end up making a bigger mess. We don't have too much longer to go on this project, I don't think.

My poor roommate went out earlier to walk her dog and got ANOTHER fraud alert text and has had to cancel, I think it was, the 5th credit card that she just barely got a chance to activate! This is getting ridiculous. They keep making charges on "a job search website" which when she called the credit card hotline they said it was Indeed. I don't know if Indeed is in on some scam or not. The lady also told her that somewhere there are lists of newly issued credit card numbers. We think maybe hackers are getting ahold of this list, since it just keeps happening repeatedly to her newly issued cards? I don't know if the FBI or who would be able or interested in pursuing this. Don't know if it's small time operators, or part of some bigger thing. Check your electronic banking frequently, ladies.

Once again, never a dull moment around this joint!

Good morning!

Coffee clinks!

Yay for a day off Tatoulia! Do you have any plans?

It's usually me. If someone lets students do things they apparently aren't supposed to do, but there wasn't a rule, and then we get a rule, it's usually me. Sometimes the kids ask if they can do something and I give them an answer like "I don't have the power to make that decision, but I can tell you that if you ask (director) she'll say no."

CM, it sounds like your house is coming together! I'm pleased by the idea of you having a nice screened porch to sit on. I know the new computer is shiny and exciting, but don't forget that you still have to live in the physical world. Find your clothes!

I ate normally yesterday and this morning my digestive system feels battered.

I had 5 kids out yesterday with the stomach bug and it's astonishing how unconcerned I feel about that. No big deal, they're just at home feeling horrible. They'll be back in a few days.. Pre-Covid I would have been preaching health and hygiene in every class. Now I'm just like - if they don't have the health and hygiene down by now, there's no point in bothering.

Hi Lila! I hope the work/life balance is improving!

Hi road! We miss you!

Well, at long last we have the bones of an enclosed porch on my roommate's house! The existing support beams I guess you call them - vertical wood pieces, will be the front, and the existing porch roof the roof, which now has a finished ceiling inside with a fan. Electrical outlets are in place. At either end is now the framing and doors of the ends. Each end has a door. Screen may get attached by tomorrow, making it officially enclosed.

There were some glitches as usual; our guy had two flat tires Monday and that day was a wash. But he and his sons have made good progress yesterday and today.

I've been working with my laptop some more, just at home. The library would be more ideal but I've made do. Discovered a thing or two about Windows 11 and Microsoft's insistence on trying to get you to login with a Microsoft account in order to do anything. I prefer the privacy and self containedness of a local user account. So what I'm doing is, I created a throwaway Outlook email just for this computer, and it doesn't even have my name on it.

But then I made a further discovery. I made the new account the administrator, and demoted the original account, and was going to just delete that one - but as it turns out, the file directories and the software weren't accessible to the new admin account! I mean, okay, I guess I can sort of see it re the files - but the installed software? 🤨 This is just new to me.

However, I was able to fix it with not too much trouble. Luckily I was still able to log back into the old account, copy the directories to my external hard drive, and then log into the new account and copy them there. Then go back and delete them from the old account. Also did these steps for my music, and my downloads (software).

It's a good thing I hadn't done more the other day at the library - not that it would've been an insurmountable problem, but it would've taken longer to redo. As it was, I had made my streamlining and reorganizing changes to the directory, and deleted many junk files. If I hadn't been able to copy the new version, I might've had to go through the process over, which would've been an aggravation.

Soon, though, this stage will be behind me, and I'll have such a slick, efficient computer that will be an absolute joy to work on. 💫💻💫

Yesterday I did a deep cleaning of the bunnies' cages, tiring but satisfying. The weather here looks to be steady in the 80s for awhile, unless the hurricane in Florida affects us. I hope my relatives and friends there, and everybody else, will be okay. In any case, so far the weather here is still what I consider plenty warm enough to keep wearing shorts, but I do need to start planning ahead to the time when I'm going to need easy access to my jeans and cooler weather clothes. Given the state of my room, that will pose certain challenges. 😬 At least I'm thinking of it ahead of the need. Too bad my new laptop doesn't have an app for that!

That's a sweet story, SubC. And I got a chuckle about the "this time it wasn't me."

I have tmr off. I'm pretty excited.

Good job tatoulia!

I agree those would be hard to resist!

Such a small amount of shredding, you could probably just toss it in with kitty's bag..

I keep making plans for my evening and not having the energy to follow through. I had a good day at school though.

And then I forgot to take the bags in to the grocery store to recycle and I forgot to buy Mayo.

Three things on my list:
Diet soda
Mayo
Almonds.

Diet soda was out of stock, I forgot the Mayo, and I impulse bought a more expensive bag of mixed nuts instead of the almonds because I was hungry. Managed to pick up several other items bringing me to $35.

Arg.

My director sent out a note to all the teachers asking them to contact the front desk if a student shows up to their class who is not on their roster. "Students should not be attending your classes if they are not on your roster." That wasn't even me this time!

I am still laughing about the former student I talked with this past summer. He is doing well in college. I told his "partner" (I'm old fashioned enough to want to say girl friend) about how he used to come to my room and play the guitar for my class when he didn't have anywhere else he needed to be - he was old enough for unaccompanied release and I just assumed he had a space in his schedule where he could leave for a long lunch or something if he wanted. I did ask him the first time "are you supposed to be somewhere?" And he said "no."

So I finish telling her this, and he blushes and says "actually, I was supposed to be in math." I said "(name)! you lied to me?!" And he said "sometimes I just needed a break."

I'm home from work and showered. Nearly 9PM. Stopped by for just a minute to see mom and drop off a turkey dinner for her.

House is so clean.

I'm trying not to be stressed at work.

I'm going to relax a bit. I resisted my downfall tonight. Brownies ala mode. I was at my favorite store (where I got mom's dinner) and I looked at their tasty brownies and I looked at the ice creams and I resisted.

Ps the amount of shredding is less than a shoe box so I don't know why I am carrying on so. I think I'm feeling overwhelmed with not having my own shredder. This is easily rectified.

Good thought process, SubC, although I am sorry you were upset. It's important to step back and remind yourself that you were dealing with an adult. Good angry work with canceling the subscription.

The papers come from a bag of papers that I don't know how it was gathered. And I tackled it. It's almost done. I have the pile with my taxes to go in my filing cabinet and some things of mom's. Not a big pile in the grand scheme of things, yet big for where I am now in my hoarding.

Have to get ready for work. Have a good day, everyone!

Good morning!

Tatoulia, what is the source of all this shredding?

I had a conflict with a classmate last night that upset me and made me come home a little early. I felt badly about whatever I had done to contribute to the situation. I talked to a friend on the way home who said that my words and behavior were not out of line. But I still wished I had kept my thoughts to myself. Then this morning I woke up with clarity - He is a grown man. His response was completely inappropriate. Full stop. I spend too much time with children.

I did not clean anything up yesterday unless you count taking some things off my shelf at the studio that I am unlikely to finish glazing (at least there, at least soon). Since they are currently in my car headed for my home studio, that seems unlikely to count.

I also remembered to get my pickle jar out of the staff fridge at the studio. And to cancel a subscription that I have not been using lately. Unfortunately all of those things are more a reflection of me being upset than of me being competent.

I did drop off the recycling.

My new sidewalk looks very nice.

I am almost ready for school today.

Hello, all.

I logged off my computer at 530 today. I had dinner at a friend's new place and he walked me home afterward. Really nice meal. Love his apartment. He used to live downstairs from me, many years ago.

Well I did some of what I'd hoped to accomplish with my coffee table. I'm shocked at how much shredding I have to do. Next shred day is November but I think I can go to the shred day at mom's bank. I do have some stuff to take to the office tmr.

I dont think the office shredder is as good as my old one. I think it does strips and not cross cuts and certainly not the microbursts I am used to. I'll take another look at it tmr. We have a shredding company for the work stuff but I'm not sure I should be using the bins for personal things. I'll make an assessment tmr.

I didn't see mom tonight. I'll take her the new phone tomorrow. I hope this one works. The last one didn't, and she's currently without a phone that works.

Time will tell.

Quick check in. I am home today, then in office tomorrow. Cleaners come tomorrow. I have a lot of papers on my coffee table. I need to find them homes or get them ready for shredding.

Sounds like you had some fun times with your grandson. I'm sorry your husband is working so much. Before BF sold one of his businesses, he worked 7 days a week til 11 PM. Just this AM he asked me if I could remember when all he wanted was one day off.

Very quiet here yesterday.

Bean and I did not clean up our toys.

I go back to school today, and find that I do not care. Nor am I currently prepared. I wish that I could just stay home and have Bean here again to see the concrete. He had such a good day yesterday. When I put him in his car seat to take him back to Dd, he said "no, no, no." And then he wrapped his little arms around me and wailed "Grammie wants to keep (Bean)!"

I told him Grammie always wants to keep Bean, but mommy and daddy miss him and want him to come back to daddy's house. (He says he and Dd live "at daddy's house"). He was fine once he actually saw his mama.

I didn't sleep well last night. Dh and I are on very different schedules at the moment. Also his current work schedule is awful. He worked from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. yesterday with just a few short breaks. He ate his meals at his desk while he worked.

His whole week will apparently be like this. He does get overtime pay currently (that comes and goes at his job) so he says this will help pay for the tractor/sidewalk, but it is not sustainable!

I am going to try to remember to drop the recycling off today.

Serial posting.

Sidewalk is laid out and ready for concrete tomorrow.

Unfortunately Bean will miss that part.

I did work a tiny bit in the basement. I put a handful of bits and pieces in the trash can. I also found some really old canned food (jam we didn't like) that got hidden in the pantry cabinets- like 11 years ago. Actually, I think I've found that before but forgot it before I finished feeding it to the chickens. I'll try to do better this time. It still has to go a little at a time to keep their diet balanced. Anyway, 4 jars in the dishwasher.

Good morning!

Bean woke up before six crying because he thought papa was driving the big orange tractor (without him).

I convinced him that papa and the tractor were both sleeping, but he wanted to get up and play with the train. We have Irish tea bread in the oven. He will take an early nap!

I did my ten things last night - there are hundreds of little bits, but for now it is a start.

I might work in the basement while Bean naps today.