Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! (Happy St. Patrick's Day!)

Tonight Inside Edition is airing the update on Kevin McCrary's eviction from his New York apartment for hoarding. This makes me so sad.
I have a childhood friend whose husband went to school with Kevin. My friend talked with Kevin last week. He was living on the street and not doing well.

I was working outside and lost track of time and missed chat, first time in a year I think. Thanks tillie for the reminders. I came in and was too hungry tonight, so was great seeing your note. It was really windy today, but warm enough to get work done outside. Supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow, so will plan to do dishes and cook tomorrow. Need to vacuum from all the dirt tracked in from going in and out of here so much past few days. I bought a head set to plug into phone so I can take phone calls and keep working. I realized I was not calling people back because I would have to stop painting or whatever I was doing. I have taken a few phone calls using headset and it makes a world of difference. Opens a whole new world. I was resentful when people called and I could hear them cooking and doing dishes etc. as I sat holding the phone to my ear, now I can listen patiently, because I can continue doing what I am enjoying while they talk. Today I took 2 hours and met a friend in the park by the river, we went for a nice walk along the river, my first walk in ages. I wrapped my toes in tape so I could walk, still damaged from frost bite. It was so great enjoying nature, I realized how important it is for me to go to park more often, wonderful nature and few people along river. I felt so grounded being in nature.

Good morning :)

Hi Jess :)
WAY TO GO!!!
For everything you wrote about!!! :D
Having a great time on your trip and decluttering the old stored bins and making that offer on the house!!! :D

Hi Diane :)
WAY TO GO!!!
with keeping up with all you have been doing! :D
Remember to take regular breaks and to eat and to quit before you get burned out. (((HUGS)))

Hi Karl :)
WAY TO GO!!!!
getting stuff into storage and for decluttering that box! :D

Hi Roxie :D
Hi Sandy :D
Hi Dave :D
Hi Barb :D
Hi Dianne :D
Hi Cory :D
Hi everybody :D

Busy day for me today...
Outside to do some yard work then back inside to do some house work then need to figure out how to get the bluray player to play now that it's on a different internet connection thingie.
Looking forward to Sunday night online support group. :D

Today I finished painting the walls of the trailer and add on that surround the big part of the deck. Since I had to sand some of it and remove globs of caulk from around the windows, it took lots longer than planned, it is done and looks much better. There is still plenty of stuff on deck that is disorganized and needs to be moved or given away. I was able to fill one trash bag with lots of stuff I had to talk myself into tossing today. I was aware of my usual thinking, I can use it again, mentality. Had to tell myself, it is used and time to go into trash. I did get frustrated when I was trying to organize, then I said, you can not organize a hoard, time to make decisions. Lucky for me, it got dark before I got it done. I was tired and will do better in the morning.

I'm back from my trip! Had such a great time with the kids and the rest of the family. I'll have to do some reading to catch up with everyone.

Couple things:
While I was home I cleared everything of mine out of my parents house. They had bins of mine stored in their basement and I figured since I was making progress I should tackle that. I am keeping one bin and donating the rest.

We put an offer on a house and it was accepted! Currently waiting on the inspection report and the appraisal and all that. Could close as early as May. *Head spinning* It's exciting though, even though I'm terrified haha

Hope everyone is doing well. I missed seeing what you're all up to!

HI :)

Something went bad that makes the internet connection work.
He finally found the "spare" thing out in the garage and got that hooked up but then my computer had to be told about the "new" thing.
Anyways.....
I have my internet again. :D
Hope this "new" thrift shop thing lasts longer than the last "new" thrift shop thing.
He is always buying old, used or not working electronics saying
"maybe I can fix it."

Read all your posts and am wishing you all peace and comforting embraces. (((hugs)))

Karl,

I just read back through your recent posts. I am sorry you didn't get the place with Landlady Anna. Do you still have the option with Landlady Susan? I am praying for you that you find a great new place to live.

Today my daughter and I will go to a funeral that should not be happening. A boy who went to school with my daughter was killed on Wednesday after he and his cousin found an unsecured gun in the home. The cousin fired the gun, and the 11-year-old was killed instantly. I think adults must never ever leave unlocked guns where children can find them and use them. This is such a tragedy. This boy will never get the chance to grow up and live a wonderful life.

Dianne,

I really understand the grudging feelings about letting things go that way. (Just for grins, if you want to, make a note, and post back in a week how you are feeling about those things.)

Several years ago a niece was at my parents house. I told them she could go through my closet (which still had a little clothing in it) and take whatever she wanted. She took a cowboy hat and a necktie. The cowboy hat was something I had bought on a visit to a college friend, I think the necktie was a wide, brown velour number with multiple colored polka dots. And I was going grump, grump, grump to myself.

I had forgotten about that, your post reminded me. As I write; the grump, grump, grump residual is still there. However; for the humor of today, if I had those items in my hands right now...

For the tie, I would have to say that it is totally useless to me as anything I would wear now (and probably was the same the day I bought it).

For the hat, I would have to say that I never wear a cowboy hat (except for an old beat up one I use for summer yard work) and I can't remember any more about that old friend with it than I could without it.

I would have to put them both in the donation box. :) :) :)

And that, in a nutshell, is the story of many many "valuable" things I've saved for more years than I'm going to tell you!

Thanks Barb.

It seems that I have once again sort of pushed against the boundaries of the site. Please forgive me if I have already been offensive in some way.

I know that to turn and start discarding, rather than continuing to gather, is very difficult and I commend you for the progress you have made.

I pray that you will continue to have strength, vision and insight to enable your continued progress towards your goal of a clean, clear and pleasant place in which to live.

Dave:
Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I have a mental health counselor I know and trust. She and I meet regularly to discuss all of the emotions and issues and how to deal with them.
I use this site for peer support. Being able to share daily and receive encouragement for my efforts and progress is priceless.
So far, we have not tried to analyze, judge, or criticize each other. It is a safe place.
Let's keep it that way.

Good morning! :D
So wonderful to read all your posts! :D
Time of the year when I start swapping out Winter stuff for Spring stuff.
I go through all linens, blankets, comforters and gather up the stuff that has seen better days and get these things bagged and off to the animal shelter.
Doesn't matter if the stuff has tears or rips or stains, the animals really appreciate having a blanket to sleep on.
Old dish towels, wash cloths and bath towels are used there too. Lots of daily washing up goes on there.
Due to the generous people who donate to the charity thrifs shops in my area I am always able to find lovely replacements for that which I have let go.
I have discovered that the universe does keep things in balance.
By letting go, sharing, I always receive.

Barb,

After reading one of your yesterday posts, I think I see something that is being one of the barriers to you getting where you want to be.

I am hesitant to speak to it because it is a personal thing and this is a public forum.

Knowing that, if it's something you want to pursue a little, let me know and I will try to think of a gentle way to touch an edge of it for you.

(but probably not today because I need to be on to some other things at the moment.)

Whoohoo, Sandy. I am so happy that you got the main living areas of your house uncluttered and manageable and that you were able to calmly and rationally deal with the authorities.
Your progress gives the rest of us encouragement.

Dave: Scott contacted me by email this morning wanting to know where I am in the process as he is scheduling cleanup appointments. Last June, I put myself on a rigorous weekly schedule and was able to get a lot accomplished. I want to do what I can on my own before I have others in to help.
I have 8 weeks before I go on vacation. At the end of the 8 weeks, I will evaluate where I am in the process and whether or not I will need help to get this knocked out.
Giving up control and having others discard my possessions is going to be an emotional and anxiety provoking experience. My counselor has said she will not participate. (This is because of guidelines for patient contact mandated by her employer.)
My family is unwilling to participate. I really do need to find someone I know and trust to be here on cleanup day.
I have yet to take pictures. I am procrastinating to avoid looking at the situation as it really is and to avoid sharing it with others.

Barb, forgive me if I'm mixing you with someone else. I don't know where to look to find the posts I'm thinking about.

As spring is approaching, have you done more consideration about renewing the approach to Scott for help?

Sandy,

What a marvelous change in your life and what an encouraging story for us.

Thank you for taking the time to post.

Good morning to all. I have not posted in awhile. I have some good news. I am a hoarder, and for the past 6 months I have been working steadily on cleanup. My efforts have paid off. I moved my daughter into her new room upstairs two months ago and she had a nice sleepover birthday party with her friends in our house. By that time my entire house was clean and uncluttered except for my bedroom and the extra back bedroom, which I have been using for storage. My bedroom is usable for me, but it is still cluttered, as is the storage room.

Then a week ago I got a knock on the door. A lady from child protective services said they had gotten a call from someone saying that our cats are a potential danger to my child (12 years old). I was worried that she would say we had to get rid of our cats, most of whom live in the back yard inside a cat fence with the garage as their shelter. They are all spayed and neutered and are well cared for, but someone obviously thought they were a hazard. The protective services lady seemed not very understanding about cats and skeptical of my explanation that they are not a danger to my child and are not a problem. She made an appointment to come back and interview my daughter and me and look around the house. The house was already clean, and I hired a house cleaner just to make sure. The cleaner made the house look great for her appointment.

The lady came for the appointment this past Monday, and she said at the start of the interview she was not going to be convinced that 10 cats living in the back yard are okay. Then she interviewed my daughter, and from this interview she was in fact convinced that our 10 cats are okay. My daughter explained to her how the cats live, how we live, how clean the house is, how much she loves the cats. The lady left saying that the house is clean and in good condition, my daughter is obviously cared for and not neglected, and the cats are not a hazard. I gave her the number of a man who runs a local spay and neuter clinic who can explain the care of feral cats and the practice of trap, neuter, and return. The lady said she would call him just to learn more about this topic. The whole experience was a great success. The lady never looked in my bedroom or my extra storage room, which she might have found unacceptable, though my child does not use these rooms. The lady was interested in the overall cleanliness of the house, whether we have heat and food and running water and a functional bathroom, and whether my daughter has a clean room of her own. She was impressed.

I am so glad I made a big effort to clean out the house months before this happened. My house used to be somewhat hazardous, I think, because it was cluttered. But my cleanup efforts have eliminated most of the clutter, except from those two back rooms. I will have to stay on top of the cleaning, of course. I may have a clean house, but there is still a hoarder inside of me. And with the cats living in the yard, I think I am always at risk of having child protective services called again and having them come back. Plenty of people do not like cats and may think my back yard cats are a danger, which they are not.

Virtual piece of pie to all in honor of pi day.

Hi Darci,

I know finding that right little trigger to pop out of doldrums can be difficult. I am glad you found something that worked for you.

I pray that your illness will soon abate and you can be back on task turning the pictures in your head into cleaned out reality around you.

My last reply didn't appear to go through, so I am sorry if this is a duplicate. Am in a crunch and trying to staying positive. I am renting out yet another bedroom to make ends meet and needed to clear out about 100 boxes in order to make that happen. Completed 31/100 in the month I had to accomplish this. Kept "falling out" emotionally and physically. The renter called and said he was delayed another 30 days for his move in.... so some reprieve. Needing motivation, I started coming back here, to the chat, personally connecting (thanks Dianne!!) and watching re-runs of Hoarders. Got the "oomph" I needed and ended up bedridden from my illness again. :(
So, here I am barely able to stand for more than 30 minutes at a time and no physical support system within 1000 miles. Trying not to be overwhelmed.... so as I write this, I try to look at the positive: that at least now I can purge without impacting the main living areas, that the main living areas are kept very, very clean and uncluttered, and that after a year of renting out rooms to become debt free that the house will be really spacious after I can reclaim those bedrooms. just have to keep this positive vision alive in my heart and head...

Tillie,
Congrats on yard work. I don't get to do some outside stuff until I complete some other chores.

Hi :)
Finally got the little patch of grass out front all raked.
The sun is shining but it won't get warm till later today.
So many thoughts running around in my mind. Trying to figure out a new plan.
I need a new plan.
One week till Spring! :D

Today is sunny here. We have had rain, wind, thunder and lightning, and more snow. It is still very cold.
I didn't get a lot done yesterday. The power went out with the storm right in the middle of my cooking lunch. I quickly got the food into the frig and had leftover cornbread instead. There was enough daylight to sort and do other tasks, but I always have difficulty switching gears when my plans are disrupted. I couldn't run the washer, so I have that to do today.
Trash pickup was this morning so I have an empty garbage toter to fill again.
On my breaks , I am reading ebook The Hoarder In You by Dr. Robin Zasio. She writes from a personal perspective with examples of people who have successfully dealt with this. I am finding it both insightful and helpful.
Have a great day everyone, whether you choose to do a lot or a little. Take care of yourselves.

Sounds like you have already patched the frame.

Years ago a friend told me about Durhams -I think it is Durhams water putty. I found that very useful patching on an old house we used to have. If you've not used it, take a look at it sometime when you are in an appropriate place. It hardens well and can be sanded and painted. I cant remember if I ever used it outside, but I think I did use it for cosmetic filler over some light rot in more sheltered areas.

Always nice to find a needed something "in stock".

Yesterday was mostly this board, dishes, laundry and feeding myself.

Once again have consumed most of the morning on this board. Must do work in garage today. No time for hamburgers I'd planned on-lots of toast today.

Hello everyone, loving the sunshine right along with you!! Amazing how much more energy I have when the sun is shining.
I don't use the door to the deck, junk in front of it. So yesterday I got rid of junk and found that the door frame does not fit and water had rotted some of it. It is an add on to trailer and certainly was done by someone with skills like mine!!! I took all the caulk off from and around door and the massive build up of caulk where trailer joins add on area. I painted the whole area and patched it. It was amazing that in my hoard I had the exact piece of flashing to put between the two. I felt so happy I was able to sit and think through it until I found what would work to make it better. There is a gap between door frame and add on that I almost have fixed. Working on the roof where trailer and add on join last night until it got dark. Will tackle that as soon as it warms up. This morning worked in here on some possible fixes. Doing dishes and vacuuming before I get to the fun stuff. Yesterday I had so much fun I did not want the sun to set. I rarely feel there are not enough hours in the day, but fixing these things to prolong the life of my little old trailer gives me hope. Working inside before I head out is my way of feeling I am not neglecting my living space.

Yeah, I'm having a bit of trouble there too. How are things going with landlady Anna?

Dianne,

What a big step for you! and a confidence builder for Laura.

I'm glad you are being able to work together like that.

Hi :)