Hello gals, hope your day improved. I had a good day and enjoyed reading all your posts, stuff happens to all of us. Sorry you are sick Tillie, good you got to be with your plants today, always makes me feel better.

Hello everyone,

Today we are in the flood watch. Bad weather in Northwest Indiana and a lot of roads closed due to flooding. Bad news for me in hopes I can get to the job fair to go job hunting. :(

I just hope the event can take place or I have to wait until next month on the 3rd Thurs for the event again.

Hope everyone else is in a better condition than me.
More mold will be in the basement due to a little flooding from the basement walls.
I have a severe mold allergy and the basement does't help. I'm so grateful I have a gas mask for mold to help me breathe without getting toxic mold to my health as I can help it.

Good day to all.

Good morning :)

I fed the cats their breakfast.
Have a load of laundry washing.

Need to water my trees and bushes.
Clean the kitchen.

But was up most all last night ill and if I even get dressed today I will consider the world lucky.
Might brush my hair.

Should fold up my bed. I sleep on the sofa hide-a-bed in the livingroom area.

Just going to lay here though and will probably sleep.

Have a good day everyone. :)

Dianne,

Take your time with the cleaning.

No one is ever in a rush/race to get done first...
Just take your time with a little time per day and it will get done. :)

The greatest accomplishment is getting any cleaning done and overcoming mental obsstacles.
I'm so glad to hear those wonderful accomplishments. It just takes a little at a time. :)

Hi Dianne :)

We can only do just so much in a day.
Consider it a great success when we get the number one priority things accomplished. The other stuff will just have to keep till we have the time and energy to get to them.

Thanks Dianne,
Don't get discouraged,
please keep up the good work.

I know you can do this. :)

Some newbies may also see this so please keep up the good work :)
Stay positive!

Thanks MayMay,
I made her promise to not do something so stupid again. So far I have to check her arm and see but I think that she learned her lesson but I still sense some doubt in honesty. She has a long way to earn our trust again.
I'll check out that site but am afraid to since I've seen some clean up site links on this website of what Cory does. I can only hope that I've gotten through to her emotionally of how much she means to me.

It's thundering now, wow the thunder does not scare, only lightning.

Hi Lynn,

I'm glad your sister was finally able to get home safely. :)

I hope your sister will be able to stop cutting herself.

I have suffered from depression and anxiety since I was 19 years old; because of it I also have a lot of suicidal ideations and I used to cut myself a lot. I stopped cutting myself a little over a year and a half ago after I discovered a new less painful way of dealing with my suicidal ideations; which is to look at pictures of suicide scenes. I discovered this new way of dealing with my suicidal ideations after I visited www.crimecleaners.com and saw some pictures of suicide scenes that Cory cleaned up. The pictures scared me out of wanting to kill myself.

Today I'm writing about what had happened on Fri night to Sat morning with my sister.

Before my sister had clocked out at work she called me and said that she was going to a former co-worker's house with a co-worker from work then come home. Then she called me a little later after she was on the road and I convinced her not to go with her friend and that it's not so trusting that late at night (around 11:30p/12:00a)around our neighborhoods. She then called me and said with her co-worker in the car (my mother's car) that she was going out for pizza. That was a lie. She then had her phone on silent so that she couldn't hear the phone. After I told mother she too had gotten worried that I couldn't reach my sister. My mother had then gone out to the pizza place which at the time we didn't know was closed for the night and my mom had called the police to fill out a missing persons report and sadly came home this happened around 1:30a. I had tried numerous times to reach my sister but still no answer. I was then buzzed on total adrelanine and feeling like a knife was in my stomach. I had called everybody on my former employee card with all numbers to try and reach somebody at Aztec but had known that everyone had left for the night. Then I had called BP Security which is the emergency number and he said that she had clocked out at 11:30p and had left the area and they could not do anything. I was trying to find out who my sister let in the car with her.
Finally after 3:30a or so my sister came in the door. We had asked her trageically where she had been and why did she lie to us.
She said that 4 people were with her at a bar and that she wanted to leave but her friend didn't and that she knew that she should've called. She said that she did hear the voices in her head but she didn't listen to them (the instincitive red flags). That night because of the pain that my sister was feeling she decided to start cutting herself with sissors on her arm length wise.

She is bipolar and suffers from depression and anxiety and is on medications for that.
We still believe that she probably is still willing to give her co-worker a ride in the car which she isn't supposed to, hence it's my mother's car. I personally own my own car, she doesn't. I only let people that I trust in my car and no one else.

She has to learn how to really listen to those voices in her head that say HALT, STOP, THIS IS NOT RIGHT,DANGER!! those ('red flag instincits'). I listen to those when they come up and never look back. I wonder how can she ignore those voices that cloud any thought in your head and you can't do anything else but get away.

I have never been on such a adreline rush for that many hours. That is why it took me so long to recover from the aftermath.

Of course when she came home my mom had to tell the police to cancel the car search in the couple of neighborhoods that were suspicious of where she could have been.

We are 34 but she still has to be responsibe for her actions and it isn't worth lying for.
I would like to get ebooks if they are availalble not just for hoarding but also to help those who are bipolar. I don't want to get a book that will take up space, I'd honestly prefer an ebook that way I can store it and read it anytime I can get on a computer.

OMG! Right now it's HAILING at my house!

The last time it hailed at my house was in back in the spring of 2011.

I doubt that anybody slept well last night. :(

Right after I saw the news I walked over to my neighbor's house.
Times like that it really is best not to be alone.

Another snow day here.

This is a good day to be especially kind to ourselves.
Reflect, meditate and heal our spirits.

(((HUGS))) :)

Well Tillie, good to hear you are feeling more positive today.
I spent all day with a friend going to all the adult foster homes in my area looking for a good place to move her aunt. We had a good day, just a long day, didn't get much done today other than that. Since focusing on friends instead of stuff, I did make progress today, very helpful to her. then I hear about the Boston Marathon bombs, and feel very sad. At one foster home I saw a nurse I know casually, she is my age and has always been really outgoing and robust, now with a brain tumor, she is skinny, and frail, didn't recognize her until introduced. Made me realize how short life can be and we really should enjoy each day, really shook me to the core seeing her dramatic decline in health. I am tired and emotional so will take a break and baby myself tonight, remind myself how well I did today, be kind to myself.

Well so much for getting out in the sunshine today.
Been snowing off & on all day!
LOL :D

Good morning :)

The wind has finally quit blowing and then it sprinkled and washed some of that dust out of the air.
I am feeling much better and more positive today.

Have lots of dust to clean up in here. Then we will all be able to breathe a lot better.

I will get to go out and enjoy my blooming lilac hedge today! :D

My To-Dos...
Cat stuff
Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum
Sweep sand dunes off porches
Get outside in the fresh air & sunshine

TTYL :D

Dianne thanks for sharing your life challenges with us on message board, sounds like you are being overwhelmed with responsibilities and a bit critical of yourself, take good care of yourself.
Yes Tillie, I had a great time at the Craft faire, met a friend there and we were both inspired to start creating again. Then to Costco, bought more than I should have since I haven't been in over a month, got home and thought, "you really messed up" then said, lets make this a challenge to find a home for all items, it took some rearranging, but mission accoplished, didn't want to mess ;up my clean kitchen with excess, so now all tucked away. I did buy a few craft items after being inspired at craft faire, didn't really need items, so was struggling "failure" thoughts" then I said lets just put these items with similar items, they will fit in their new home. Don't relish the idea of shopping again any time soon, it is truly my drug of choice.
Started on pile of clothes and crafts at end of living room,---finally----made progress, not finished, just took a break. It is definitely not as bad as I thought while procrastinating. This week is free debris pick up in my city so my focus this week will be to maintain progress I have made and look for items for debris pickup in yard and garage. It can be as much as would fit in a pickup bed, so should be able to find lots of stuff to unload. See you at 5, hugs

Mary-Ohio :)
Sorry that you have to take that not working advil. :(

Buying nothing is a success. WTG! :D

This morning JAVA popped up to tell me there is a new update to install and I have installed it.
Went to the chatroom site and it appears to be working fine. We'll see how it does when I am not all alone in there. ;)


Dianne,
(((HUGS)))
Let go of the guilt and be gentle with yourself.

Please allow the repairman in to fix that air conditioner.
Without it it will soon be too hot to do anything inside.
Do not worry about what some stranger thinks.
We know how hard you are working to get things straight and we know how very difficult this is when doing it all on your own.

Yes, chat does move very quickly. By the time it's over I am exhausted just from trying to keep up.
We all honestly do not mind when someone is a slow typer. But we do tend to chat a bit while waiting for the posts.

I really like this messageboard.
Here we can take our time and share our emotions too.
Sharing like this helps. We are not alone.

(((HUGS)))

Physically doing ok. New regulations in our state mandate drug testing for drug levels. Insurance won't pay the $600 and doctor won't prescribe without them. So been taking Advil not working as we'll.
haven't been shopping so thought I would browse. Went to three of my favorite stores and boughtNOTHING. Success or depression.
Hubby leaving for out of country for a month. Hoped to declutter while he was gone. Life getting in the way. Went house hunting with son and DIL and saw nice staged homes and a very clen but clutterd. That started to motivate but right now depression sinking my mind. Not acting on other thoughts at all but really debated purpose for holding on to things and life. Hope Java works tonight. Helping to support others helps me.

Diane,
Hope to hear that you had a wonderful time yesterday. :D

Hello everybody,

I must shake this terrible depression.
He has not done any decluttering AND he brought home MORE stuff yesterday.

I can't do the things I was planning to do around here because his stuff is in the way.

Anyways...
Today I will give the cats food & fresh water.
Scrub, scour, sanitize & refill the litter boxes.

Cook food.
I have this idea and ingredients all ready & now just need to assemble the dish & bake it.

Washed all his clothes in his hamper last night. They are still out on the clothes line.

The grocery store was completely out of many of the food items that are a staple of my diet. Like almond milk. We only have one grocery store now in the small town that I live near.
Oh well :(

The wind was blowing about 30mph yesterday so the house is totally covered with thick dust.
I will wait to see if it will be windy again today before I bother to undust this place.

This is Sunday so remember the ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP is tonight at 5:00pm PST.

OK everybody lets get some "happy" today. :D

MayMay
Quit making excuses and clean your closet!

Today I told my boyfriend about how my boss told me that if I don't have my closet and room clean by the time I leave for Hawaii then him and a bunch of his firefighter buddies are going to come in and clean it while I'm gone, and my boyfriend totally agreed with my boss.

Even though after he told me that he agrees with my boss, he also said that he kind of hopes that I won't have my closet and room clean before I leave for Hawaii; because he thinks that if I don't clean my closet and room and the firefighters do, then my closet and room will finally really get cleaned.

Dianne, hope you enjoy putting things back in order today, so great you are able to take the time today to put your progress back on track. You have made so much progress, and have to deal with other things during the week, just don't want you to feel discouraged, you really are doing great.
Tillie, so happy lilacs are blooming, mine have buds but have had temps in mid 20's at night so not sure if they will bloom, I am hopeful. I can visualize your your hubby out there moving his junk and you cleaning deck, hope you don't wear yourself out.
I am in slow motion today after my 3 week marathon of cleaning. Going to Spring art fair, supposed to rain this afternoon, so need to go soon to avoid bad weather, wind is picking up.
Yesterday finally took paint in to recycle, went to bank, took stuff to thrift store and went to a class on communication, and bought some groceries.
Tomorrow at 5 is what I am looking forward to as well as reading this board daily.

Good morning :)

Yesterday afternoon my lilac bushes started to bloom! :D

My To-Dos for today...
feed & water cats
scoop litter boxes

Try to motivate my hoarder to move his stuff away from the back porch.

That porch needs a good scrubbing after the winter and I want to hose it down.
All his stuff will get wet.
Hope the fear of it getting all wet motivates him to move it, preferably to a thrift shop or the dump.

Planning to wash windows and screens this coming week and want to tackle that porch then to.
Unless we are still getting snow and rain. ;P

It's Saturday! YEAH! :D

Hi Dianne :)

That happens to all of us.
Outside forces taking up all our time and our home maintenance being neglected.

Clean when you can and remember that even doing just 5, 10 or 15 minutes of maintenance here & there will help.

Decluttering is very hard work and takes all our physical & mental energy.
That is why it is important to schedule in days or times for catching up on maintenance.

We also need to be kind to ourselves, we can't all be perfect like the people in the magazines and those mothers in situation comedies from the 1950s. :)

Sounds like everybody had a busy day. :D

MayMay,
They will keep what they want and toss what they don't like. You may not like the results. ;)
Clean your closet! Pretend you are helping out a hoarder clean her closet.

Diane,
My house gets dirty very quickly. The "man" is a very dirty messy person who does not tidy up after himself at all and can trash a room in minutes.
Plus my house is very small.
The main room consists of the kitchen, living room and dining room.
This room measures 33 feet by 16 feet.
When any one area is messy the whole place looks messy.
Also, I live in the desert where the wind blows a lot and our road is dirt. So dust and sand are constantly getting in here and that makes the place very dirty.
Then there are the cats. They shed and vomit and their toys get scattered all around.
I grow cat mint (cat nip) and they beg for fresh sprigs of leaves and that gets scattered all over the floor and beds.
When I have any of my items out like my sewing box or papers or whatever, I have to put them away when I'm finished because anything left out looks like clutter.
When I am unable to do my daily maintenance this place goes to heck very quickly. :D

Dianne,
Sleep well. :)

I just got home from work and am really really tired. So I think I am just going to go to bed now. :)

Tomorrow I am supposed to start cleaning my level 3 hoarded walk-in closet; but now I'm kind of thinking about not cleaning it. Because today my boss told me that if I don't have my closet and bedroom clean by the time that I am supposed to leave for Hawaii, then him and a bunch of his firefighter buddies are going to come in and clean it while I'm in Hawaii. And I'm not going to lie; the thought of a bunch of firefighters cleaning my bedroom and closet while I'm gone is kind of sexy. Lol. :)

diane,
It sounds like you got your decluttering muscles nice and strong...
It gets easier as time goes on. :) Great job!
Keep up the good work :)


I can't wait until next week or so to get a call for an interview. I hope all goes well.

Maymay one of my least favorite things is washing dogs, good for you to take on washing 2 dogs. What else do you have planned for the day?

hello everyone. Tillie when you do your tasks regularly, is it really a mess today or just a few things out of order. You took needed days off, hopefully you won't work too hard today.
Today I did 3 loads of laundry including rugs. Cleaned the floor in front of washer and dryer before putting rug back. Did dishes, felted sweaters that have been sitting there for over a month. Cleaned dog food out of recliner that the mice hid there, it has months since I discovered but thought it was too disgusting to deal with. When I cleaned it out today, I laughed, it is like a declutterer has taken over my body since being on this website. I am grateful every for what you are teaching me. Thank you to each of you. Hugs

Good morning everybody :D

My big orange tabby does not let me brush him so he gets hairballs this time of year.
This morning he threw up in my slipper. :(

Oh well... lol

The kitchen is a mess.
The floors need sweeping.

My plans for today are to do all the cat tasks and if I have any energy left I will tidy up around here.

Wishing everyone a pleasant and happy day. :)

Right now I am getting ready to give Cory and Matt a bath.

They just came in from outside, where it is raining; and now they are soaking wet and covered in mud.

Great job cleaning the kitchen diane. :)

Hi Tillie, happy to hear you are feeling better and that you are taking another day to make sure you stay well.
Thanks for info on cleaning under appliances. Today I did the other side of the kitchen, it was really filthy, had no idea how bad it was, but there was no counter available to make food so decided to clean it, took all day to clean counters, shelves and appliances. Didn't clean out all cabinets. Did clean dirt off doors of cabinets. Amazing how long it takes to clean areas thoroughly. I really didn't know how dirty the area was, looks so clean now, and fewer germs for sure. I have a bucket of stuff I still have to go through that were in kitchen that didn't belong there, like sunglasses, pens, mirrors, you name it---going through the small stuff and making decisions is difficult for me still.
Rewarded myself with being in the yard for 2 hours. Tomorrow I hope to finally take paint to recycle etc. Really felt it necessary to clean all of kitchen and get rid of a few million germs. It is so encouraging knowing this message board is here to do my report for the day. Thanks to you all.

Good morning :)

Slept like a rock last night, didn't even hear it rain.

Stomach ache and head ache are all gone now. :D

After the cats are all taken care of I plan to still take it easier today.

I have some mending to do.
Then I need to make my grocery shopping list.
Grocery shopping only every two weeks is great for saving money on impulse buys but takes a lot of thought to make sure I do get what I need to last the two weeks.

TTYL :D

Tillie, so happy to read you had a great day. Thanks everyone for the well wishes today, it was a tough day dealing with certifiable squalor, and now that it is clean, I feel so much better about it. Cory I didn't know others had dirt under refrig. And yes, tomorrow will be fun day since today didn't go as planned.
This uncluttering feels like a full time job that will never end but every day I look at my nice living room and can see floor, it reminds me I am making progress and can maintain it. Every day I wake up with hope now, thanks to all of you. Tomorrow I will do todays list start in living room then some fun, take paint to recycle etc.

Hi! My April weekends into the first weekend of May are tied up with our local outdoor play, Ramona Pageant. It is in it's 90th Season and we are very proud to be a part of it. I am trying the Message Board since I cannot do Sunday evenings but honestly am googly eyed. I mentioned last Tuesday I would be in chat now and tomorrow since there were School and City Board meetings last night *exhale* buuut I forgot a lecture at the museum tomorrow. Sooo I am only in chat now *crickets* ................ WHAT AM I GETTING DONE? Hardly anything! ;-( Rarely home, again! Defending space as best as possible! Okay, I'm going to send this errrr post this aaaaand see what happens. (sure wish my teenager was home to tell me how to do all this tee hee) ;-)

HI Everybody :D

Spent most of the day outside enjoying my garden and watching all the birds gathering up bits of stuff to build their nests.
Did not do any chores, work or tasks.
Maybe I got a little too much sunshine, my nose is pink. lol

Hello Cory

I didn't forget about you either ;)

Hey Cory,

YAY! I always love it when I'm able to make a sexy man blush. ;)

Diane,
sounds like you raised the bar by getting under the fridge..
Great job! Not everybody gets to do that. What a great way to help reduce allergies.
Great job! Keep up the good work :)

MayMay,
It is great to be back...even though you made me blush a little ;)

Diane,
If it makes you feel any better, we all have filthy floor under our refrigerator! Maybe not quite as bad, but you did it and it is done. You can get caught up on your to do list later today or tomorrow. Sounds like you need to do something fun now :)

Thanks Cory, sure wish you would have been here when I pulled refrigerator out and started crying!!!! It is clean now, years worth of dirt gone.

OMG! The Stud Muffin of extreme cleaners is back. ;)

Hi Cory. :)

Dianne and Diane,
It sounds like you are both doing excellent at making progress! Definitely keep up the great work on your homes and yourselves. I am sorry we have some people not feeling well today. Tillie, get your rest so you can enjoy the beautiful spring weather in NV!

I am so happy to see you all interacting so much on here. What a great thing you all are doing with one another :)