Hello Tatoulia

Hi CriticalMass

Hi Subclinical
YEA! for getting so far along!

Tatoulia,

My condolences on your mom's kitty. Hope you, she, and BF are hanging in there.

=^_^= <3

Tatoulia, I kno w you are sad, but I hope you are ok.

The water came back on and I washed the shelf and mopped the floor. I am now ready to start setting up the long shelves on the wall. Then I will make the big mess in the center of the space smaller and ask dh about the rolling table.

Hello Everyone

Thinking about you two.
Hope Subclinical has had her shower by now.

Wishing Tatoulia peace.


I washed dishes, wiped out the microwave too.
Had another lightning storm but thankfully it was not directly over our heads.
Got a good little soaking of rain this time.
Might be more storms throughout the night.

Didn't do laundry, too humid and I knew there was a chance of showers.

My naturally curly hair has gone crazy insane with the humidity.
I look like Harpo Marx.

It's morning...

Hi Tatoulia
(((((HUGS))))) for you all.
Be extra gentle with yourself.
Bless you for taking care of everything for kitty and Mom.

Hi Subclinical
How horrible not to have water.
Since we are on a well, whenever they work on the electric power and need to shut it off, a man comes round to warn us in person.

Have a wonderful long refreshing shower soon as the water is back on.
(((hug)))


Last night a big lightning storm was right over us.
Lightning bolts that came down and lit up the entire yard.
Twinkles hid and Scooter was running around looking out doors & windows, he'd never seen anything like that before and was very concerned.
It rained a little bit but not enough to wet under trees or overhangs.
I had turned off all electrical appliances and only had on small night lights in case it hit the house.

When I lived in Tucson years ago I was once struck by lightening while I was in the house.
The bolt hit the evaporative cooler on the roof and I got zapped by some of that energy.
The metal electrical cooler was destroyed, all burned up.
I was ok except for some changes that eventually straightened out.
Some scientists from the university were doing studies on lightning struck victims and I agreed to giving them a blood sample for their studies.

I'm not afraid of lightening storms.
Just cautious about turning off all electric appliances and staying away from landline phones.

Your mom is going to be lonely without her kitty friend.

Would miss kitty ever go visit her, or would she be too scared?

I spent all morning cleaning stalls. Then I came in to take a shower and eat lunch. I have no water. I called and it is shut off from 10:00 this morning to 4:00 this afternoon for maintenance. Apparently they called yesterday, but our billing number is our answering machine free house phone.

Things I will not be doing:
Clay work
Dishes
Laundry
Cleaning in studio (next step is washing a shelf and mopping the floor)

Also, I stink.

She passed peacefully with mom, BF and me by her side. She hadn't been eating or using litter box and she looked terrible so I took her to Angell Memorial last night and the prognosis was poor-internal bleeding from a mass, likely cancer. After I gathered myself, I called mom and told her that we couldn't keep her alive so mom could come see her on Thursday and mom said, I'm coming up now, I'm getting dressed. (I had been with mom while she showered last night). So BF brought her up.

Very sad but mom's doing okay. Then I went to mom's and cleared the cat dishes and threw away the litter box, etc just to get that done.

Oh no!

Sending love to you and to your mom.

NO!

Oh no
I am so very, very sorry.

So sorry ((((((((HUGS))))))))

So much pain. I'm in so much pain. At kitty hospital with mom's cat. She's not going to make it.

CM - from the Mayo Clinic:

Iron deficiency anemia signs and symptoms may include:

Extreme fatigue
Weakness
Pale skin
Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath
Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
Cold hands and feet
Inflammation or soreness of your tongue
Brittle nails
Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch
Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia

I am not pale, but I am naturally tan.
I do not have chest pain, and my heartbeat seems ok.
I sometimes have a sore tongue - but I think it's from too much acidic fruit.
I have a good appetite.

But I have all the other symptoms.

Anemia can also cause anxiety.

Tillie, i'm Glad you had a good trip to town. I don't think you should praise me for overeating. My weight is not good and it doesn't make me feel well. It is a coping mechanism, not hunger.

Tatoulia, I am still crossing my fingers for the customer.

I still didn't get any playing done in my studio. I did my chores and picked beans and weeded and started some laundry, and then I was too tired to care.

Dh called me in the afternoon and he came home and I had to take him to go pick up his car, then he went to a dinner for work. I stopped at the grocery store for fruit and some essentials and dropped a few things off at goodwill. Then I came home and had macaroni and fake cheese (goat milk and nutritional yeast), my beans, and a peach for dinner. I did not go in goodwill, but not because I had willpower, because I was too tired to get out of the car again.

Tomorrow I need to get feed.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
Yes, go look for those iron pills.
Couldn't hurt and just may be what you need.
Women do tend to become iron deficient.


Hi Tatoulia
Sounds like the guy is very interested and sincere about buying the cabinet and at the asking price too.

YEA! for all the cleaning and fresh sheets!

So sorry Miss Kitty (((HUGS)))
That is why I hated cleaning/vacuuming in my tiny room. It was the cat's sanctuary. The place they always felt safe.

Having been around firearms all my life and shooting them since I was 6, it was "beaten, not literally" into me to never even point a gun at anything I did not intend to shoot.
And there HAD to be a very good reason as to what I would point a firearm at.
Since my muther would leave me and my 2 younger sisters home alone all day and night whenever my father was working out of town, my dad taught me when and how to use the Colt 45 to protect us.
I was 8 years old at the time.

Had fun this morning wandering around in town.
Found what I wanted at the dollar store, YEA!
At the thrift shop I found 4 long strands of semiprecious gemstone beads, 2 dollars a strand.
HAPPY DANCING!!!!!
Also got a pretty pink cotton washcloth and found 3 unused pencil puzzle/word game books.
Hardware store was out of what I would buy if it were on sale.
There have been so many wasps/yellow jackets this year that all stores here are out of wasp spray & traps.

You all have me wondering if I lack iron. Sooo unmotivated and brain fogged. I have some iron pills around here, might try it.

Yo Badger...

Craig's list guy called. Can't get away from office. He'll cone this weekend. I've looked him up several times and I know what he does for a living and totally understood he couldn't get on today. So hopefully it will work out. Really want this sold.

Hello everyone! The craigslist person flaked out on me so I brought the cabinet back into the kitchen. Tillie I hope you enjoy your day poking around. I love a day like that!

SubC yes on the iron! We need you to feel your best. CM you are moving forward and doing great! I understand needing to vent and gripe.

I'm sitting in my bedroom on my chair. The cleaners are here and somebody is terrified. She's hiding behind the draperies. The cleaners cleaned everything from under my bed. Pretty nifty. And scary. For both of us.

Yes I changed my sheets over the weekend and yes, I had my ladies change them again today. Very few pleasures are as simple and as satisfying as clean sheets. Of course I'd prefer sheets hung on Tillie's clothesline.

Tillie I'm worried about the wildfires. Oh and I meant to tell you, taking away your guns is definitely not the answer. Canada has lots of guns and is thankfully not experiencing the problems we have here. I don't know the answer but this country needs the answer.

Okay going to check on my laundry. Cat is able to show her face right now, which is a solid improvement. Poor tiny cat.

Good Morning Everyone
"Clink!"


Hi Subclinical
So relieved that you have decided to take OTC supplements since you have the same symptoms as before.
I'd get pretty fast results whenever I would take the OTC iron supplement.

WTG! for watching videos, eating too much and having a nice cool shower after doing all that other necessary work around there!

Have a wonderful day today playing in the studio. :)


Have watched the sunrise several days in a row.
Today there is a 10% chance of rain and a 100% chance of wildfires.
Going into town today. Will see if I run into any acquaintances to talk to.
Going to leisurely walk through the 2 thrift shops, maybe I'll find something I need?
Probably not but looking at what's there might be interesting.
Will stop by the dollar store and see if they have the style of toilet brush I need.
Might stop by the hardware store and see if they have any yard/garden stuff I need on "end of summer" sale.
Today is just a get out of the house (jail) excursion with nothing that I have to get.

Good morning all!

CM, good job yesterday! Thank you for keeping the badger occupied.

I think putting money aside ahead of time is a good approach. Just don't loose your envelopes!

I hope you are using up some of your stash for all the bunny projects. Also, when you need to buy new things, it seems like the bunny organization should be able to give you some money - it is to raise funds for them, and you are already giving your time and energy.

Tatoulia! I would say a cab was a necessity in both directions! Please be careful. People die of heat!

Unless your savings pays more than 5%, you will "make" more money by paying down the loan.

Tillie, are you going into town today?

I folded yesterday. I did patch the fence, and I dug up two very little trees that were in the way of the grading and set them aside to transplant (very little, they are in a large flower pot together.) and I did run the dishwasher again.

But that is all. I watched videos and ate too much and took a cool shower.

There is a cool event at the pottery studio tomorrow night, but you have to bring a piece of work. I wanted to go, but I don't have the right kind of work ready. I had intended to try to push myself yesterday and get something done, but about halfway through the fence patching I decided just to give up on the event. I wish I had found out about it sooner.

Dh and I have decided that my Dr. should not have taken me off the iron. I have been feeling tired a lot and everything is hard and takes too long and I am getting out of breath too easily again - all symptoms of anemia that I thought were depression and being out of shape last summer and that went away with the iron. I have the prescription container, so two days ago I put myself back on the same dose with otc pills.

Last time it took a couple of weeks to see results, but it is not as bad this time, so I am hoping I will feel better sooner. We will see how it goes - I would like to avoid going in for more bloodwork right now.

I have tentative plans to do clay work in the studio today. Also at least one load of laundry.

Good Evening

Hi CriticalMass
WTG! for not procrastinating on the banking and storage unit.

Putting away a little cash for those things is the best way to do it.

Good luck with all your plans. :)

Hi Tatoulia
Paying off that loan is also putting money into savings because you won't have that interest to pay any longer.

Do NOT push it!
You have absolutely NO tolerance for hot and humid even if it's not really all that hot.

Good luck selling tomorrow, stay safe, stay firm about the price.

SubC I am sorry about the car repair cost. What a terrible burden. CM some days go like this. They are tough and very unsatisfying. Tillie, my dear, good for you for parking your car where it is ultimately more convenient for you.

I had a conference today and although I took a cab there (trust me, this goes in necessity pile), I walked home probably three or more miles and it was really tough. I got sick when I was probably 1/2 a mile from my house. BF offered to meet me but I said no, I need to sit for a while. I probably sat for 20 minutes before I could come home. Then I tried to sleep but had nausea and headache. I finally felt well enough to take a TUMS and eventually I did fall asleep. Kitty (who does not sleep with me) came in and snuggled up again my stomach, which I really appreciated. A few years back when I was writhing in pain and sick beyond belief, she sat next to me for the entire day. I love it when she takes care of me, but not enough that I want to be sick.

It was the humidity. It tried to kill me.

The conference was excellent and the food was good and the speakers (save one) were good and the afternoon team activity felt right and appropriate and helpful. I am not going to Day 2. I generally only go to one day. I also didn't go to the reception afterward. I will similarly skip tmr's party, which is at a restaurant somewhere. I got sick at the party last year (heat related) and somehow I made my way to the office where I was wet and clammy and not making sense. A manager happened by and stayed with me until my color was normal and I could hold my head up. I've probably told you that story too many times but it serves as a reminder that I cannot attend summer parties. I drink plenty of water and I never drink alcohol. Even when I did drink I never drank at work or volunteer events because I view myself as still at work. But drinking is now 14 years behind me.

Okay enough about my giant heat intolerance.

I hope the NH person comes tmr. I'm prepared to say, I've priced it fairly so that a collector can get a bargain or a dealer has built-in room to make a decent profit.

Cleaners may overlap, which would be awesome.

Goodnight, dear hearts. Sorry to ramble so about my stupid heat and humidity intolerance. Today wasn't even hot, it was deceptively humid.

Oh! I saved $95 by not falling victim to Allbirds new shoe colors. I may have saved twice as much but for now am willing to add 95 to my 14. Let's extend the no-spend challenge for me to Sept 15. I'm enjoying it.

Also, I have an idea for what to do with the money, rather than saving it. I have a very small loan at a low (5%-not 29.9% like a credit card). I'm not sure how much longer I have to pay on it. I think I should take my savings when I don't spend and put toward that loan. Thoughts?? Or should I put it in my savings?

warning - some griping included but I'll try to keep it to a minimum

I will talk to the badger about taking a chill pill, SubC, or try to otherwise occupy him. Yesterday he got me to do a couple of things I was tempted to procrastinate on - deposit some cash in the bank so it wouldn't evaporate, and do a drop-off and pick-up at the storage. Didn't stay there long because it's HOT here. And muggy.

Badger's main job now will be to keep me on task with making the props, crafts, signs, food, etc. for the bunny event.

Yes, there is such a gridlock - the sewing table is the most likely space to get cleared first, because I'm going to have to sew beanbags for one of the games at the bunny event. And while it's cleared, after sewing, use it to paint and make bunny wooden crafts and glass bead jewelry and other stuff.

Roommate is back to work but really feeling the stress of working for an organization trying to do a ton of things with insufficient personnel.

I have an idea I'm going to start doing, since I'm poor yet involved in different endeavors that sometimes need supplies. For example, the bunny club. I am going to start making envelopes for putting a little money in each month toward the time when Easter bunny-themed merchandise that we could use for next year's August event is available.

I'm also going to start funds for things like the deductible in case anything ever happens to my current van, veterinary care for my bunnies, and bigger ticket purchases for me such as a new computer. Even a fund for event admissions like Comic-Cons or Steampunk festivals or doll shows (including a small amount of "mad money" but not too much).

And a bigger fund for eventually getting my own place, but I know that is more long term. There are advantages to where I am and I must remember that; sometimes I focus too much on the disadvantages. It's a house in a modest but decent neighborhood, so there's a yard, and I'm not crowded up in a building with a bunch of people like I might be in an apartment. Especially any apartment I might be able to afford.

And I need to do some soul searching again, some prayer, some thinking about whether there's any type of {shudder} job I could get. It's not work I dread, it's the people, the stress, the driving, odd hours, sometimes itchy clothes, anxiety/PTSD/ADD triggers - all the junk that made having a job so draining before. But I could SO use more money. Well, I have Holy Hour at 3:00 p.m. so I can do some praying there! ;) Trying for starters just to have some sort of basic faith that there is a solution to this poverty dilemma.

And to the clutter dilemma - I believe that I'm learning what to do there. It sometimes feels like one step forward two steps back.

Like this week. Roommate's event was done and her health was better. So she takes her dog out to walk yesterday morning and it was awful because a stray young dog followed them and her dog was going bats--- plus we wished we could've caught the stray one. I could've figured out a way to get him to the animal shelter. But he was skittish. Hope he found his people.

This morning before I got up, she said that Boy Cat was guarding the hallway where 3 bedrooms and 1 bath converge, and Girl Cat had to flee into the bathroom. The stress made her barf her breakfast. So Cleanup on Aisle 10 for roommate, which didn't improve her mood much.

Then I go to church for quilting and I'm almost there when this dumb old geezer on a bicycle zips by about a foot in front of my van on the sidewalk while I'm looking for cars. This whole Go Green thing in my town isn't working out too smoothly - the city has rental bikes and now zippy scooters, they're talking about narrowing downtown streets... but people here aren't used to all that. And some of us for whatever reason are still going to need our cars. I don't have the answers, but it just seems like the bike, scooter, motorcycle, pedestrian etc. crowd act like just because they have the legal right of way they don't have to use common courtesty and sense.

Okay. Rant over for now. Time to get into a holier headspace... Lord help me!

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
So sorry the car repair will be very expensive.
Good that you don't have wall to wall carpet throughout.

Happy to hear you went to your class and then went swimming.

Darn boy goats! Escape artists.
Guess the grass and weeds on the other side of the fence look greener.

WTG! for running the dish washer!
Yeah, marking for grading is priority since you have been having so much rain.


Today I'll water trees and lilac bushes.
If he will move his truck so I can get the car out of the driveway, I want to go into town tomorrow.
Just to get away from here.
Then I will park the car out by the road so he can't keep blocking me in.
That will make him angry. :p

Ug. Hot.

No stall work, no fence patching. Dh asked me to put out marking stakes for some grading we need to get done. It is FINALLY dry enough. So I did that.

Dishwasher is running. If I run it again later I will be caught up on dishes.

Tillie,

I am so sorry. I want to fix it, but I am sure there is no approach you haven't considered. Remember you can always go to Nate. If it gets too unbearable, that is your out.

Tatoulia, good luck on your sale!

The car is going to be terribly expensive. I may not be vacuuming for some time. Fortunately we have area rugs, not carpet.

Yesterday morning was a struggle, but I made myself go to my class and it was good. Then I made myself stop working at class and go swim. And that was good also. I did spend about half an hour sifting things I have removed from the studio yesterday, and I decided to take about half of our paints to the reuse store.

Today is a staying home all day day, and I am not sure how I am going to structure it. It is supposed to be nice out until about 9:30 (a.m.) so I should use that time to do my stall work, but morning is my most creative energy time too, and I am running out of time to finish work for my class. I also finally found the new hole the boys have been using to escape their fence, so I should patch that for sure - it will simplify my days if they stop escaping.

Good Evening Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Hi CriticalMass

Hope you all are sleeping peacefully right now.

Hi Tatoulia
That salad looks so yummy!
Granma and I always made macaroni salad with tiny shrimps summertime out at the cottage.

That would be perfect if the buyer came while the cleaners are there.
Be strong, don't come down on the price no matter what sob story he comes up with.



Did just the bare minimum today.
Just so depressed and defeated.
Been thinking bad thoughts.
Fantasizing about vandalizing, but he probably wouldn't even notice the damage.
The place already looks terribly vandalized.
I want to retaliate against the squalor and property neglect all around me.
Worst thing is all this means that I am completely and certifiably SANE.
The situation is what is insane.

Oh SubC I know that feeling!! It is so terrible. Frustrated, upset, cross, feeling useless. I get if. I've had a touch of it lately too. You just have to live through it, I'm afraid. I'm so so sorry.

Someone is coming to look at the vitrine on Wednesday. I'll love it to the hallway and I won't let him use bathroom. He used his work email and so I've done some checking on him. I think it will be okay. My cleaners will be coming that day.

I hope he doesn't try to talk me down. I've already discounted it by 1/2 so it will sell. But of course you'll know I'll sell it. And I know he must be pretty serious because he's coming from NH. So I'll try not to blink. I'm willing to shave 10 off but not much more.

I made a nice shrimp salad today. So tasty. Picture has been posted.

Good Morning

Hi Tatoulia
Thank you ;)
I try not to deviate from my shopping list except in the fresh fruit and veggie aisles.
Like with things like cherries because you never know just what they will have and if it's in good condition or not and if it's a good price.


Hi Subclinical
Your pottery studio goal is perfect.
So sorry you are feeling frustrated and all stressed out getting there.

The school work needs to be done.
The general usual housework is piling up.


You have DONE so much on this project.
A really great start.

Continuing to work on it when you are all frazzled is too frustrating.

Stop.
Work on the school projects.
Put in a load of laundry.
Wash a dish or two.
Have some lunch.
Step away from the studio project for a bit.


It will get done, finished and finished soon.

I know that frustration of wanting it all done and over with yesterday.
But remember that you are only one woman with many other obligations.
(((((HUGS)))))

CM, you will get there.

I want to send the badger back. I am feeling driven to finish the studio and not in a good way. I feel jittery, i'm Having trouble sleeping. I know this is a long project, and I need to stop and finish work for my class and lesson plans and syllabi, and I need to do dishes and laundry, but I just want it to be done. I want something to be done. Because I know that if I just leave one little thing to finish later, it will collect friends and there will be creep and I will not maintain it, and I will end up right back in the disaster I started in.

The goals seem so simple:
Nothing in the pottery studio that is not related to pottery and used in the studio.
Everything has a place.
Everything gets put away in that place when I am done with it.

Coffee clinks!

Will catch up soon. Just wanted to check in and tell you all
that you are doing great!

Ice cream on sale is mandatory, Tillie. You will enjoy it. I can go to the store every day; you don't have those options so yes, a necessity.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
Badger is like Santa Claus, magical and can be all over the entire planet in just one night.

Sounds like you have a "log jam" with stuff in the way of getting stuff to where you want it.
Once you start moving the things to where they all belong it should get easier to move things around...

YEA! for cutting 4 bunny's nails and getting to make plans for the 18th.

Have a very pleasant visit tomorrow. :)

Hi Subclinical
First the car and now the vacuum. :(

WAY TO GO! turning the corner!!!
You are doing fantastic working on this project.
Good luck figuring out this other stretch of wall.


Hi Tatoulia

I cleaned the toilet, watered some stuff and did a few other things.
Could've done more but I didn't want to. ;p

Quick Sunday evening summary. I am going to bed early because this afternoon I got a text asking me to sit with my lady tomorrow early.

It's going to be a busy couple of weeks. Bunny fundraiser luncheon event the 18th. Bunny Mani-Pedi today, only 4 bunnies but it gave us humans a chance to touch base on event plans, food etc. More doctor appts on Thursdays.

Since I swam, then got contorted by the medical scan techs this past week, my back, hip, and leg are being rebellious. I hope I'm not getting a herniated disc. Dr. Google seems to think it's a possibility. But now that I plan to exercise more, if I can drop some extra pounds that should help, along with supplements, nsaids, etc.

Room and other places I hang out are bad, clutter wise. Containers that were purchased to hold specific items are in the way till I can swap out the old rickety containers. Hated to do it but I stuck a big new tub back in the van MOMENTARILY... And I've been intending for a couple of weeks now to drop things at storage and pick up bunny club event items from it. Sigh...

And yet I know other things have gotten done - do we need to recruit more badgers? Like a whole army of them? Maybe the one has just been so busy at y'all's places! I hope he's a magic badger that can be more than one place at a time.

And I wish people would stop taking out their issues by shooting other people. 😢

Corner is done - three shelves along the back wall, one full, one mostly full, one mostly empty. Two shelves along side wall - one mostly full, one empty..

I'm not sure yet what goes on each shelf. Which is a problem, because I am running out of space to put the things I take off the shelves, and I have two more shelves to empty before I can clean along another stretch of the side wall and put up the board shelves dh suggested.

I do know what is going on the board shelves, so I can put some of that away and have more space to sort and organize the rest in to see what I have and make decisions about what to keep and where.

So, I turned the corner literally, but not figuratively yet.

Bad thing - my vacuum died and dh can't fix it. (Well, he could fix it, but the parts are as much as a new vacuum.)

The vacuum he just bought is only for hard floors and doesn't have any attachments.

Now is not the time - we still haven't heard about his car.

WTG! Tatoulia
For getting things all sorted out and back in place there!

That's great that your "designated key place" is working so well! :D

I was not going to buy ice cream today but many flavors were reduced to 1.50 so I bought butter pecan and rocky road.



One thing I know is that taking away my guns will NOT solve this problem.
That would just leave me helpless against evil doers who prey on country folk and also give me no defense against rabid coyotes and rattle snakes.

Anyways...
The solution begins in the cradle.
A whole new ordering of values and ethics.
Being "popular/famous/infamous" is not a goal to strive for.
The murderer's names should never be spoken ever again, their memory completely erased from existence.

These shootings are sickening. I've been in touch with my colleagues in El Paso. I just can't imagine what is going on and I don't know the answers but I need to see people doing things, working toward a goal of making us safer.

I'm back from taking mom out. My house is starting to look like my house again. It was terrific walking in and putting my keys on my table. I haven't lost my keys since I got this table and designated the dish as a key holder.

I have my tools and other things back under my sink. I have four things to re-home and I know where they will go. I have one thing in donation bag. Feeling strong.

SibC you are doing a fantastic job! So proud of you!!!

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical
WAY TO GO!!!
You are doing fantastic sorting out, cleaning and making so many hard decisions.

Of course your real job is rewarding and makes you happy.

Once you take care of this years long backlog it will be all done and over with once and for all.
Honest!
With just a little daily, weekly, monthly and annual maintenance it WILL stay done too.


Hi Tatoulia
Good Luck!
Stay safe when vending alone.

Have a pleasant Sunday. ;D

Did you get a litter scoop?
How do you like the new litter?


Decided to take my life into my hands this morning and went into WallyWorld early this morning.
Figured any mass shooters were all still in bed.

Wanted more kitty litter and needed more kitty snacks.
Bought more cherries too.
Was running low on TP and didn't want to risk running out.

Good luck Tatoulia!

Another hour. Glazes are boxes up, station is broken down, floor is swept but not mopped and I have another shelf to clean.

If I can get the floor mopped and that shelf clean, I can set it and another shelf that is already clean up and have my starting corner completely clean and organized/ready to put things away in.

I have been tossing a few small things in the trash. I want dh to come home and see them, because they are hard, depressing things - like a grimy game piece to a game I got rid of because it was missing a piece... I want him to see because I want him to know I am doing it (Instead of say, washing the game piece and tucking it away for some imagined future use, or taking it to the reuse store, because, I don't have time to wash game pieces right now!) also, I want him to see it so that I don't take any of the stuff back out - refer back to game piece....

Meaning I'm not holding out for maximum money/I want it out.

SubC you are doing great and inspiring me! I desperately need motivation or discipline to get things done today.

I've listed my vitrine on Craigslist. Wish me well. I priced it right, below value by about 1/2. This is about selling/decluttering and nothing else.

Going to work some more. Seeing mom in about an hour.

So far I have spent an hour this morning on plaster molds. I found eight I never got around to washing back when I acquired them and was washing the dirty ones. They were hiding under/behind some other stuff.

I washed six of them and set two large ones aside to be thrown out - I will have to take them to school and throw them in the school dumpster. I'm ok with that since they are part of a haul that my class is benefitting from - free to the school and I invested free labor.

All the clean, dry molds are put away on clean, dry shelves, and the six are drying on a towel in my driveway. I can't get my car out until I put them away.

I am highly confident that there are no more plaster molds hiding anywhere, but there is a big mess, so who knows.

Next I am going to disassemble the glaze area, box up the glazes, and clean the empty space.

Dh looked at me last night and said "I think you are happier when you are working." I said "you mean doing work or my job?" He said "your job. I've been watching you the last week and you just look beaten down."

I told him I love my job, and he may be right, but that also what I am doing in the studio is incredibly hard and exhausting.

He thinks he gets it, he talks like he gets it, but i'm Not sure he actually gets it.

Setting aside the amount of money you would have spent will show you how much you spend on things you do not need.

So for today you would put $14 in the savings account?

I think that's a great idea. It will help you save, and your account will slowly go down just like it would if you were shopping, so you won't look at the balance and think you can shop more.

BF and I went to an art show this afternoon then we went to Lord & Taylor. I was shopping the sale rack, found a very nice white top, went through the entire sale rack, put it back where I found it and then met up with BF in the men's department. Good day. All I could think was, I'd rather have the $14.

One thing I'm thinking, as an experiment: for the month of August, transfer the $ of what I normally would have purchased abs put it in my savings acct. thoughts?

I'm downstairs with neighbor's cats. They are so dear. I have a little one in my legs. So very sweet.

After L&T BF and I split a sandwich then we picked up a few groceries. I'll drop off mom's milk in a little while. I wanted to take care of the kitties first.

Nice work Tatoulia!

I took a nap.

Then I made myself go out to the studio, clean the floor, and get two clean shelves into place.

Unfortunately I have now realized that this process is going to involve every shelf and cabinet in the studio, meaning I will be moving every single item at least once. Twice if I keep it.

I wonder if I will finish before Christmas....

Hello SubC! I have changed my sheets, done four loads of laundry, swept the hallway and put the vinyl rug back and I've just gotten out of the shower. With the exception of the laundry that's hung to dry on the rack, the clean laundry folded and put away. The trash/recycle receptacle is out of the living room and back in the kitchen. I have put a few more things in my donation bag. Dishes are all in dishwasher now. Kitty has clean dishes and a clean placemat.

I've made myself a small tuna sandwich so I have some protein in me.

I think thundershowers are on their way. Going to see BF In a few.

So Tatoulia, what did you decide to do?

Dsil and I had a good time. The houses in that area have such cool architecture and yards!

He got an ice cream maker, and I got doilies and little bowls for press molds for my classroom and a dotted line maker for me (for clay - I do not know what it is supposed to be for - making your own crackers?) we both got chocolate chip cookies from a little girl.

Dsil also gave me a set of plastic drawers for my classroom. But after I left him, I stopped at some more sales on my way home and bought two weird textured balls for claywork at home and five new cookie molds. The cookie molds are a weakness.

I spent $11.50 including the cookie.

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Hi Subclinical.
Have the most wonderful time today! ;D

That's what's nice about recently going through our things.
We know what we have and the condition it's in and can use that knowledge to help us make the best acquiring/non-acquiring decisions.


Hi Tatoulia
Yes, those silly installers wanting access to the plumbing.
Who would have thought. ;)

YEA! for making up the bed with fresh linens!

Good luck today straightening out your home, getting everything back to where it belongs.

Under my kitchen sink I keep a small/very small plastic tub with one dish soap, one cleanser can, one can of Bar Keeper's Friend, the silver polish.

When I buy another dish soap or cleanser, etc.
I put that on a shelf in the pantry.
Just to keep under the sink at a minimum of items.

Also under there, double sink, double doors with tiny side doors...
I have a "tidy Cat's" plastic bucket for the trash and another one for things for the burn barrel.
Tiny door to the left is where I have the tiny bin of cleaners.
The tiny door to the right is where I keep my dish drain when I am not washing dishes.
The kitchen area is so small that keeping the dish drain out all the time makes it look cluttered.

In the pantry I have a small shelf where I keep all the household cleaners like furniture polish and Murphy's, etc.
My tool tote is also in the pantry.
I love having a pantry. Makes having a tiny kitchen manageable.

Hello everyone! I too chuckled at CriticalMess!

Have a great day, SubC!

Tillie under my sink is one of those areas that I cleaned out last year and made functional and put up a curtain rod to hold my spray bottles. It is also one of the areas that needs to be part of my Cover Old Ground, as it has gotten full again. So I will need to make choices before putting anything back in. It has my tool basket, my cleaners and my trash can liners. That's all that should be there. Today will let me know what else migrated there and what else I can get rid of. The installers removed everything. I foolishly didn't know that I would need to do that. So now I'll see what needs to go. Not moved. Leave.

I have started my sheets, just stripped the bed and put in the laundry. I will put new sheets on the bed now, so I feel that something is accomplished.

I will do a second pass on the kitty plates but that may prove to be lower on my priorities today. Or it could be a quick pick me up. Time will tell.

Ooo! Now I want the 4" shelves. I can picture them, they would work in my little room...

Mr. kitty is a minimalist. He has one bowl. He drinks out of the fountain, the pond, or the goats' water buckets.

Under the scullery sink I keep a wastebasket, dish soap, a mouse trap, and the peanut butter jar I use to bait the mousetrap.

Under the kitchen sink we keep a wastebasket and a bin of dh coffee roasting equipment.

CriticalMass, I am glad your tire is on the rim. I didn't understand a thing you said about computers, but have fun? Please take the badger with you. I do not want him along this morning.

I can tell I am doing better because last night when I was excited and I said "[dsil] and I are going to go out and get into trouble tomorrow" dh gave me a stern look, but it was a pretend stern look. Then I said "I mean, we are going to help each other make good choices!" And he laughed.

I haven't been to a yard sale for a long time. I used to go with my mom a lot and we had such fun! I think I am very prepared. In the last few weeks I have faced the messes in my classroom, studio, and basement. I am very aware of how much I have in my favorite categories - books, projects and art supplies, fabric, yarn, toys for my grandchildren....

I have been meditating on all I have left to do, and also reminding myself of the treasure trove at the newly redesigned st. Vincent's, and the huge bargains at the reuse store, just waiting for me any time, so i don't have to buy now if it is something common.

I will have fun with dsil. I wasn't honest when I said we "never" do stuff - we go to teacher workshops together, and once he was my "date" at a clay studio party. Dd was supposed to come too, but she stood us up. Everyone thought he was my bio son, which I enjoyed.

His mom is kind of a mess. She came up to me in the middle of the wedding reception and said "can I leave now?" I told her it was up to her and dsil, but it was nice to meet her. (We actually met at the rehearsal) what I wanted to say was "yes. Go. He is ours now!" He says she was different when he was a kid.

Ds's in-law family is very different. My dd2 lives near ds's mil, and whenever ddil goes home to visit, dd2 ends up doing stuff with ddil's family. Dh was looking at pictures of them all at a festival yesterday, and he asked "why does [ddil's] family keep taking [dd2] places?" And I looked at him like he was crazy and said "because she's [ddil's] sister."

Once upon a time I hoped dh's sister would be my sister - I never had one, but that did not work out.

Anyway, I am excited about my adventure today. When I get home I will clean the corner in the studio.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi CriticalMass
Thank you

Don't think the 4 inch shelves would fit in my dollhouse, there is already 2 hutches, a china cabinet and 2 shelves in there.
But I would try hard to fit them in. :D

I have seen ads for that "Inkscape" and it looks like a lot of fun.

WAY TO GO! getting all those important things done and especially for getting that spare tire!


Hi Tatoulia
Ask Miss Kitty how she feels about using fewer daily dishes.
Here, the 2 boys tell me that the 5 bowls are not enough even with me handwashing between meals.


I am not worried about your place being a mess.
I know that as soon as you have the free time and are feeling well enough you will put it all back together.


Just how much stuff do you store under the sink?
What kind of stuff is stored there?
I try to keep under sink stuff down to the bare necessities.
This way it is easier to be on top of any leaks or bugs or mice or (?).
I never store paper products there because they would be ruined if there was a leak or mouse or bug.
One big problem I have with under the kitchen sink is Scooter.
Open the door and he will sneak in unseen.
Close the door and he will be trapped and try to dig/scratch his way out.
The door just easily pushes open but he can't figure that out.

BTW did you get a litter scoop?


Got the tea I ordered. The girl was surprised that I was right out there to receive the box.
I said I checked the internet and saw it was coming today, no big surprise.
Kitchen is clean except one cat bowl.
Everything that needs watering has been watered.
Even hosed all the dust and bird poop and little bits of apricot off the car.
It was nice having all those apricots for the birds to enjoy this year.
They liked them so much that they almost finished the whole apricot, not just a little peck in each one.

I'm dying because I went to type my username and started to type "CriticalMess"!!! 😂😂😂 Oh dear! Laughing so hard tears are coming out.

Freudian slip? I hope not!

SubC sounds like you're coming up with creative ideas for organizing. Badger loves cupcakes even more than sno cones apparently.

Tillie, stay cool and I will hope against hope Steven improves. But you are still in the game even on the hard days and that's what counts the most.

I thought about SubC's 4" bookshelves and how they'd be perfect for your dollhouse!

Tatoulia, hope the soup kitchen volunteering went well.

Today was payday for me so busy with bills and mostly necessary purchases - picked up Rx's, bought cell phone card, withdrew $ for rent, and (thanks to Badger) went ahead and got that spare tire I've had mounted on a rim - no procrastination till mid month and then wondering if I can afford it.

Haven't gone on Instagram but I will soon. Need to fix those pix on mine that weren't sized correctly. I enjoy learning how to do photo and graphics software. I use GIMP (like Photoshop) which I taught myself to about intermediate level. It was a steep learning curve.

Today I signed up for a free class at the public library for Inkscape which is vector graphics. It'll be nice to have help getting started. If I catch on quickly, I hope that will enable me to create a logo for our bunny club.

Well, need to go feed and bed down bunnies.

CM Mass not Mess, I hope...