I understand the cabin fever, Tillie! If I work from home too many days in a row I find my social skills suffer.

Well my role model Mary Tyler Moore has died. Everything's me I watch her show I stare at her apt and think, why can't I just have people over. She is giving me strength and motivation today.

Recycling out and I'm roasting a turke breast. For me. Generally I cook for others but I just want a turkey dinner tonight.

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
YEA! for napping after a hard day at work (((hug)))
Just checked before I posted and sure enough, you posted! :D
Happy you get to putter around home today.
WTG! for maintenance and making up another donation bag!!!

Hi Pain :)
Some people need to jot down plans. Some need detailed lists. Some just need a memo.
Having a solid plan, written down, can be very motivating because you can visualize then actualize what needs doing. ;)
WAY TO GO! for changing up your plan to doing something that was not so overwhelming at the time! :D
Making a staging area for sorting is a great idea.

Cold day, down in the 20s.
More snow the next few days too.
Been having a good time locked indoors, doing "stuff" and thinking a lot.
Getting "squirrelly" with the lack of human contact. LOL ;P

TTFN :D

Hello everyone. Cleaning out some drawers today to make a bag for donation. Going to step out for a walk in a little while. Need milk and cat litter.

Feeling better after lots of sleep. Doing some laundry. And clearing off dresser. Puttering in between work time.

What are you doing today?

Quick drive-by to say hello. Tense day at work so I came home & napped. I'll write more later.

Be sure to take care of yourself, Pain & Tillie.

OK
Since today is the actual trash pick up.
I wait until the truck is passed. I'm used to and will keep doing the stop in at the cars. Clear them out while the can is empty.

I got home early. Filled as many tubs as I could.
Felt a little disparage. It was a good stopping point. So took a nap. Working in the dinning room I felt very strong at first but I got sudden feeling of being overwhelmed. I tried to keep going but I just started unstacking and restacking. I got out the energy drink, but this time I just moody .

Too much time left to just quit.
So I picked out some things I could take to donate. And I sat on iPad making a plan . I'm an overplanner I know that's not a real word. But that's me.

So I ended up at the storage bin. I sat and looked if I could get more room. So I scooted it around d to make a row of shelving In the center. After I did that I felt charged up again. I went to a store that had totes on sale. So basically I increased my capacity by 30 tubs and another 90 shoe boxes...

I m back home and their making dinner.
I'm going to start with the items that have value, but we no lo get need.

New part of the plan.
Tomorrow I have a 10 foot counter top I have in the backroom hoard. I'm going to move it to the storage unit. And use it as a staging area for selling the hoard if the items don't sell that I post online then I will donate them.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
WAY TO GO! for filling the trash bags and making plans to rent a truck! :D
Doing as much as you can do by yourself would really give you some self confidence and help you to realize just how self sufficient you really are.
(((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
I do believe that in this day & age, mentioning our "unmentionables" is no longer taboo. ;D
WTG! FANTASTIC! the way you continue to work at maintenance and decluttering! (((HUGS)))

Hi Pain :)
I always reward myself with a long luxurious shower or bath after doing the dirty work.
Sometimes the reward after is all that motivates me to get the dirty jobs done. ;)
Happy that you are limiting the amounts and doing some easy sorting into tubs.
Not always pushing yourself to do whole areas at one time.
That's how I did it to get this place uncluttered.
Plus it gives the other people there time to adjust to the changes we make, along with keeping us from wearing ourselves out.


Managed to sleep in today.
Yesterday afternoon I got so sleepy, so I needed more sleep.
The sun is shining today but it's very, very cold and windy.
Thinking about planning some sewing projects after I do the usual daily mostly cat related chores.
Still just using up the food that's in the house.
Makes for some strange meals but feels good to empty out as much as I can before I replenish.
Throughout the day I jot down items on my grocery list of things I want to get next time.

Hope to hear from you all again soon and thank you for your posts! :D

Ok garbage out & I did a lot more shredding. It's arduous work, since I skim here and there before shredding the diaries.

Just took my shower and heading to bed after I restock kitty's bowls.

Goodnight All. Thank you for helping me through this. I'd rsate that I have only 8-10 diaries left to shred.

You are remarkable, Pain! Your plan to take a bath sounds like a good reward for all your hard work. I'm about to take my trash out since we are having storms and the darker/stormiest it gets, the less likely I'll get it out tonight. I tend to miss the early AM pick-up.

I'm writing a lot today because it is helping me. I need to keep posting. I've gotten thru more diaries.

Trash day.

I so badly want to work on the dinning room.
However since it trash day I'll do what I used to be successful with in the past.
Empty the fridge .
Take out the trash .
Clear the kitchen.
Clear the bathrooms.
Mop the floors .
Wash and sanitize the trash cans.


If after all that IF I feel like doing more then I Will.

My logic used to play to taking a long cleansing bath on trashday. That way no matter how dirty trash day is get clean. That's does appeal to me.

A long soak with ice cream in cup.
Especially since all the towels and robs have been washed and put away.

Sorry really just making this up as write this check in.

Putting a frozen lasagna in oven.
I guess I'm trying to keep them out of the kitchen.
Oh well all's fair in love and war.

I'll limit working on the dinning room to filling three tubs. Just the easy stuff for storage.

Anony, you may not feel like you are doing well but by working in your garbage, you are doing well! I'm glad you are getting some respite from the sadness. Time will help you. Keep doing what you can and know that we are all cheering for you!

Tillie I've been shredding today. I may have been a little too personal when I mentioned the underwear. Sorry!!! Little red-faced here!

More diaries are going out the door in shreds tonight. I'm doing it!!!

Hi all! Im not doing good, but i do have some good moments. I also know if i could get my place nicer itd make a huge difference...im just so sad hes gone. Ive been filling a trash bag up almost daily & that makes a big difference for such little effort. My car needs work & this time i plan to rent a truck & get more loads to the dump & some new couches for my screen porch. I feel that doing it myself, rather than what ive had to go through with other people to help with their truck, may feel very empowering....
Y'all seem to be doing very well with good goals & achievements!!! ~♡~

Hi all! Im not doing good, but i do have some good moments. I also know if i could get my place nicer itd make a huge difference...im just so sad hes gone. Ive been filling a trash bag up almost daily & that makes a big difference for such little effort. My car needs work & this time i plan to rent a truck & get more loads to the dump & some new couches for my screen porch. I feel that doing it myself, rather than what ive had to go through with other people to help with their truck, may feel very empowering....
Y'all seem to be doing very well with good goals & achievements!!! ~♡~

Hi all! Im not doing good, but i do have some good moments. I also know if i could get my place nicer itd make a huge difference...im just so sad hes gone. Ive been filling a trash bag up almost daily & that makes a big difference for such little effort. My car needs work & this time i plan to rent a truck & get more loads to the dump & some new couches for my screen porch. I feel that doing it myself, rather than what ive had to go through with other people to help with their truck, may feel very empowering....
Y'all seem to be doing very well with good goals & achievements!!! ~♡~

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hey Tatoulia WTG!!!! :D
You are doing GREAT at the 30% reduction!
Trash day looming on the horizon can be so inspirational.
I used to do a race with the clock.
See how full I could fill the big can in just 10 minutes.
So happy you got the sleep you needed. (((HUGS)))

Hi Pain :)
You all are going through a very hard time right now.
Wonderful that they were sharing a happy moment together in the kitchen. (((HUGS)))
It's good that your plans include making a bedroom into a craft/hobby and recreation space.
Life is about so much more than decluttering, cleaning and storage spaces.
We must make the time to do the things we enjoy doing and that gives some inner peace.
Keep up the GREAT work you are doing with the solid planning and scheduled times to tackle it.

P.S. remember that all our suggestions are just that, suggestions.
You know what your home is like and sometimes our suggestions don't really fit into that layout. ;)

Cold days below freezing this week.
Rained all day yesterday but then started to snow in the evening.
Frosty, frozen winter white landscape. BRRRR
Moving slow today.
Have a short list of To-Dos.
Spent yesterday finishing making my rag rug. :D
This is a new craft for me and I have been thoroughly enjoying it, plus now I have pretty new rugs to use for many years to come.
Today I must straighten out my tiny little closet since I have just been putting things in there all willy Nilly this past week. ;(

Monday...
Lets all try to make this a great week! ;D

Ok I just culled the underpants herd. Down by 30%.

Today is clean and purge day. I am working from home & can do the usual laundry but I also can likely take a lunch and just purge.

It is garbage night so the motivation is high, knowing whatever I do can be taken out.

I got most of my recycling out yesterday but I have more. I need to keep working toward my 30% in January, which won't be met but which continues to serve as a solid motivation. I don't regret sleeping so much this weekend. I feel better because of it.

Hello Tillie! Glad you have gotten your task done and thank you, as always, for supporting my need to sleep!

Pain, how nice to awake to laughter in your home. Your ability to put resentments aside and focus on the important things is inspiring. You are doing a wonderful job of putting aside your anger and just trying to make a safe and clean and laughter-filled home. I've found this board to be a good place to celebrate, cry, vent, receive and give comfort, etc. it is a very good community of people.

I took a few more books out to goodwill and I also took the sheets. I went through one of the Christmas bins from brothers house and was able to get rid of a bunch of fancy boxes, some napkin rings (have never been a napkin ring type) and other odds and ends. Glad to have those things out of my life.

Now I'm thinking about dinner and what should I do tonight to keep moving forward. I'll keep you posted!!

Slept in a chair after lunch.
Woke up to wife and daughter laughter in the kitchen . Got me choked up because I haven't heard them laughing in the kitchen for so long.
Well the mess they made would make any one cry if they had to clean it up.
Wife cut up veggies , it was like watching a hallmark movie moment.

I am taking you're advice and relaxing.
It's hard I almost don't know how to be calm.
I see the big picture though. I can come here and vent if I have too. AND FOR THAT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

Tillie I think it best to take the big table out .
In the plan the backroom or the last bedroom will have room for crafts. But could double as a gaming or guitar hero for my daughters friends.

So I'm motivated to hear her and her friends "girls" laughter again. I want her to have friends for support. But the hoard has kept most away . So she's been doing community things. But I know she likes have friends over to room occasionally lime her friends do.

There is a small 4 person table in The kitchen. Do there is still family dinner time there. But they like eating in front of tv anyhow.
-----
This I will share .
Years ago on radio an interview. I listened to two poets tell their story about how one of them was dying. About how the got everything in order , even to what would be said at the final services.
Then the days came when weakness took over , and loss of dignity came and finally the passing.

If only I could express the beauty how they spoke about each other I would not want for another word.

I see it coming , there's nothing we can do about it. I look around and see how ugly our home is.
I am just putting aside all the blames and resentments and piece by piece putting it all together. I forgive them . And I forgive myself.

Caffeine and sugar gets me started . But a dinner like we had today is enough to see it through to the last of it all.

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Wonderful that you are getting so much sleep!
When we don't get all the restful sleep we need
our brains have a hard time thinking straight.
Good that you didn't respond in like to your brothers verbal abuse.
Saves wear and tear on you that way. (((HUGS)))
I have "cat sheets" too and a pretty table cloth that I drape over their side of the couch.
Keeps me from strangling the little vomit machines. ;P JK

Hi Pain :)
WAY TO GO!!! for everything you have done and for your great future plans! :D
But I wish you could get more sleep and rest.
I do understand that you feel driven to tackle this but we don't want you to get burned out and quit.
Love that you enjoy making model homes and plan to do this again soon.
Could one of the upstairs rooms be converted into a craft room where you can enjoy this hobby?
Could your big dining room table be moved into this former bedroom and used for model making?
If so, then you could still enjoy dining at the table upstairs too.


The wind is blowing like crazy this morning.
Dark cold and rainy too.
I was supposed to defrost that freezer in December, but remember I got sick?
So happy that task is now off my back! :D
Today I plan to just rest & relax and day dream about Spring and getting outside in the sunshine with all the cats. :)

Wishing you all a pleasant Sunday :)

Wow! You are doing this! Your plan is solid and you are so industrious! Congratulations! You must be exhausted in so many ways. Thank you so much for this! I don't have unusable spaces but I have too much stuff and you are helping me immensely! Please remember to take good care of yourself. I love the idea of the big meal on your table!!

Living room is clear ed except furniture.
All hallways including the stairs are cleared and vacuumed.
Kitchen is complete.
Bathrooms are sterilized.
laundry room is complete.
Storage isn't a pile. It's organized with retrieval
I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep

--------
slept for 4 hours ,but couldn't get back to sleep. worked on putting into words my most positive outcome.

the dinning room is a large hoard. it is the biggest hurdle and is the hub of all rooms.
I will spend Friday,Saturday and Sunday's until it is cleared and cleaned.

I also have a storage room .it's in the back of the house. it has most of my tools and holiday decorations. and clutter that is clutter.

I believe if I clear the dinning room It can be switched with the living room. or even take the dinning room table to storage. it's my pride possession.


my wife is so ill she can't get up the stairway anymore.
however if possible I want to stay in the home till June for daughter to complete 8th grade.
so if I switch
the living room into my wife's bedroom .
the living room Into where dinning room was.
the tool room into a guest bed room.
mother in law can stay with wife Monday -Thursday
I'll be home Friday -Sunday

leaving the upstairs to my daughter and I .
I can clear the wife's room.
move daughter into wife's room.
clear the daughters room .
I'll move into daughters old room.

my old room is easy to clear.
I'll make the extra room upstairs either the guest room or a storage room.

either way I want to bring the tubs back into the home. only downsized and better organized. .

I believe this is doable on a weekly basis.

I lose a dinning room but it was lost for years anyway.

I think I'll have a big dinner on the big table one last time with no regrets. I'm not going to seek approval I'm just going to do it.

Overslept and doing some laundry before getting mom out for the day. Going to putter for a while and get back to you.

Have a great day, everybody! Check in even if just for a minute.

Hi everyone! Good to read your posts.

I slept, slept, slept & felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. When I woke up (nearly noon) my brother started texting me and had started in with the dirty names and other meanness. It's been a while and so I kept calm and didn't engage. I did end up seeing him and other than a moment or two, he kept it together.

I changed my sheets and am doing laundry. BF went home to have dinner and do laundry and catch up on other stuff. I'm going to work on something/not sure what.

I got three sheets (two fitted & one flat) in a donation bag and I still have two sheets to use for kitty in summer. I have to keep couch covered due to vomiting. So I have two sets of sheets for my bed, one for the fold-out & two for kitty. That's plenty. Fold-out is different size from my bed.

So I will figure out what's next for tonight.

Tillie- Great idea cleaning the freezer when it's freezing outside.

Agree with you words for personal happiness. Took me awhile to know what happiness was. Especially when I was neglecting my inner happiness and only seeking it from others. Believe it or not having clear and space isn't as much a happiness ,but a sadness. I'm not feeling sad about y livelihood, and kitchen , and I feel happy In Those rooms.
So yes I need not become verbally aggressive when their neglect . Cause my sadness to creep back.


The kitchen is complete.
It's a huge sigh of relief as the Monkey is off my back. I no longer feel I'm neglecting our food .

task1. I'm going to purge the bathroom completely , take a nap,wake up drink coffee then task2. clean the restroom.
I intend to let them do whatever they want in the kitchen. as long as I they soak any dishes. they get out.
task3. I will clean the kitchen. and ask daughter to participate in putting dishes away.

Before bed I will update task4 my priorities list.
I will make 7 major steps to cleaning the laundry room. 1 for each day. I want to get task5 first step done tonight. Saturday. hopefully the easiest too. task6 folding sheets, blankets, and towels.

WILL go out tomorrow and do some shopping. Nothing major. Just a trip to art store and dollar tree for supplies. I love to make model homes. But haven't in years. It'll be a mess , but it doesn't have to stay that way.

Heavy trash day is this week. Just putting out the trash bags and see if he takes it.

I'm moving planning too much.
But my wife need to move downtairs permanently.if I make some adjustments I think I make the Dinning room like a second family room with a couch and oversized automaton. That it could be much better for her to be on same level as her car.
A little work in the laundry and I could make a simple place to shower.

Well I'll just keep on keepin on . 1 week to reclaim 1 room .

Good Morning Everybody :)

Hi Anonymoniker :)
We all have to do the things that make our lives good and whole for no one but our own selves.
I clean for no one but me, I deserve to live in a clean house, so do you.
No one else can make us happy, we must decide to do the things that make us happy.
We deserve to be happy.
Please decide to live the life you want and make it happen for no one but you. (((HUG)))

Hi Joan :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Hope you get all the R&R this weekend that you need. (((hug)))

Hi Pain :)
Very, very good plan you have outlined.
Not waiting until the last minute to sort and organize possessions will save you a lot of frustration if & when the move occurs.
Your detailed description of how you are decluttering, sorting out, organizing and cleaning is FANTASTIC!
Very good! :D
It is very aggravating and frustrating when we get down and dirty into clearing out and cleaning a long neglected area.
Even more so to have to re-clean an area we have already done.
Keep up the great job you are doing and remember to be kind to yourself.
Don't work until you are exhausted, don't lose sleep, don't skip meals.
Find some way to get out for a while and reward yourself with some enjoyable past time.
:)

Today I will be defrosting the small upright deep freezer that lives in the pantry.
I am the only one allowed to use this freezer so it's not overly stuffed.
He has exclusive rights to the large freezer on the fridge that he has jam packed.
Fortunately, that one is frost free.
It won't take long. The food will be put in a box on the back porch where it is freezing cold right now.
Once the ice has melted I wipe it out and then let it air dry completely before turning it back on and putting the food back in.
This is an only do once a year task. ;D

Have a GREAT weekend! :D

I didn't get much done after posting. I slept alot and stayed in the kitchen after dinner till there was no food mess left to be cleaned.
I did get the six tubs filled up.

it's my way of dealing with what little stuff accumulates. there are 6 big rooms downstairs. each room has a large tub.
I try to walk through the rooms in fill mode.
I go into a room start in one corner and move clockwise putting clutter that doesn't belong in that room.
there are three other smaller tubs that stack near the stairs. they are lable for the bedrooms.

this way when I find clutter that belongs in someone's bed room or their personal belongings it goes to their tub. Instead of filling the other common area tubs. So I try to fill all the tubs then start over and purge the tubs. I used to have a tub for donating. but now I just put it in my backseat on the driver side. when I pass the donation center to just stop in and unload.
I haven't been doing this system for a long time . and it feels good to be doing a little everyday again.
the problem is purging my wife's things. she simply won't purge. over the years my system had made small differences. with her illness she doesn't care anymore. she has no intention of putting anything away. even if it's an impenetrable hoard.
I used to get mad and yell at each other about it. she's not well enough to ever do anything about it. she doesn't care that I'm cleaning up the place either . the storage garage with photographed tubs numbered and shelved in sequence. the tubs are single layer. I mean nothing is packed on top of each other . so when take the photograph everything is easy to see . This seems to be tolerated by her .
I get a little attitude about how annoying it is to go to a storage unit to get "HER THINGS", But my stress level is much lower with the family room and kitchen cleared.
I know we ate going to move . the plan was to wait until daughter completes middle school.
but my wife's health May not last till June.

I'm doing this two fold . one I'm spending time on the hoard. reclaiming living space . secondly I'm already moving the valuables out of the hoard . a place for the secondary possessions . a place where wife stuff is separated from daughters and my stuff separated from theirs. It will be easier to move . well I don't know that for sure. but I believe moving and or downsizing one of us at a time. will be easier if it's all separated by person.

there are four hoard rooms left.
wife's bedroom, daughters bedroom, my backroom storage. and the dinning room.
I guess I could count the laundry. but it's getting manageable by each time I pass it on iT to restroom . I spend ten minutes separating wife's and daughters clothes. daughter started throwing out what doesn't fit . I would donate it. but considering the hoarding I'd rather her practice purging into the trash can .

OK I've drank an energy drink and I'm going to clean the oven... and then mop the floors.
I'll be done in the kitchen. when done.

I'll go to laundry room tomorrow.

to everyone else
Remember good times don't last long, But neither do the bad.

Hi everyone. Good to hear from you Anony. The trick is to respect your own time & space, then whoever you meet is attracted to your strength and confidence in being yourself. When BF. & I first started dating we had tickets to an event--lecture--and it coincided with an unexpected & exciting sports game and he was all sixes or sevens over it, and I said, do the sports thing I don't mind going alone and he so wanted me to find someone else to go and most people were interested in the sports thing and he didn't know me well enough to realize, I honestly don't mind going alone & there's no hidden punishment waiting for him. He ended up joining me, we had a blast, & we got home in time to finish up the game in TV. Today he'd have more comfort in just sending me off. If you are comfortable with who you are, and you put a premium on your own time, trust me, the rest will follow. A "I just need a day at home," or "I had planned to spend some time doing my own thing tonight" shouldn't engender moping or resent.

I left work early tonight, walked home then took dinner to mom's & fell asleep. I just needed to get some sleep after a hard week.

Pain, thank you for a description of your day. Very useful for me. Tillie, my dear, always good to picture you going about your day. Nice to hear from you Joan. You too CM.

Anony, I am so sad to hear that you are doing poorly.

You definitely need more community support thsn you have been getting. This board is great, but you also need people that live in your area. I wish I had more I could offer you.

Hi all. Im not doing so good. Ive been trying to do 3 small projects a day & that is helping me feel better. Im also trying to realize he wouldve never been there for me. My fantasy wouldve been for him to have just said, 'ok, honey...i hope you feel better soon...let me know if i can help..im here for you'...but no. He had to break up with me since i wasnt up to coming over from a detailed horrific dream that is a very scary & real situation.
Tatoulia, i think about having a boyfiend like you that truly does honor & respect my space. Someone that doesnt have to be the center of attention all the time. If yall knew what he did for a living youd see what i mean...ha ha...but it was his need to make everything about him in our relationship that bothered me....
Im finding i dont have that much to toss out anymore....its more just cleaning & fixing up.....i really dont have the desire to live that long anymore, tho....i wanted to be with him forever.... :( :( :(

Hi all. Im not doing so good. Ive been trying to do 3 small projects a day & that is helping me feel better. Im also trying to realize he wouldve never been there for me. My fantasy wouldve been for him to have just said, 'ok, honey...i hope you feel better soon...let me know if i can help..im here for you'...but no. He had to break up with me since i wasnt up to coming over from a detailed horrific dream that is a very scary & real situation.
Tatoulia, i think about having a boyfiend like you that truly does honor & respect my space. Someone that doesnt have to be the center of attention all the time. If yall knew what he did for a living youd see what i mean...ha ha...but it was his need to make everything about him in our relationship that bothered me....
Im finding i dont have that much to toss out anymore....its more just cleaning & fixing up.....i really dont have the desire to live that long anymore, tho....i wanted to be with him forever.... :( :( :(

Hi Tillie and others.
I'm in the my kitchen today.
There are four walls .I'm moving in a clockwise motion. First removing all things that don't belong.putting them into storage containers that ate photographed.

Next after I go all the way around the room I'll reorganize it again. I reorganized it yesterday but wasn't optimized. I took more time yesterday on the fridge. I got so frustrated I started cussing . I just emptied it all out. My wife can't see well anymore. She's been feeding us expired food on poorly washed plates.

I'm in take over mode. I cleared the fridge. And bleached it. And let it air dry. Then went to the store and replaced much of the staples.

So today I've basically grounded myself to the kitchen . It's not so bad as yesterday. I have Cinnamon and vanilla candles . The counters are bare. The Cupboards's are sterile... I'm purging all my drawers right now. First I emptied the all in about 5 minutes. Used a sweeper to vacuum the drawers, now I'm waiting g for the bleach wipes to dry , before putting anything back in.

I had to throw out 5 bags of expired canned food and muffin pans that were never washed. Bought three new muffin pans that should be easier for me clean. After my wife's fake heart attack. We went back the bed bath and beyond for the new pans. There was drama , but I just stayed the course . There was tension until I pulled into the grocery store. We went and bought baking supplies.
I gave daughter the choice to learn how to make banana walnut bread or help clean up.
But after I cleaned up I had her mother prompt my daughter to help put the clean dishes away.
It took two minutes.

So I'm still in the kitchen today Tomorrow and Sunday.
Meanwhile almost all the laundry had been washed and put on hangers. Moving most of the cleaning g supplies to the laundry. Will be camping in there next week.

If the president came in we'd all be embarrassed.
If child service came , I'd make them come back in five days.
I'm not ins huge hurry. The videos explained I must spend time dealing with hoard. So I plan to stop watching TV entirely. Until the first level is cleared , and sanitized . 1 room per week.

I'm up to 42 trash bags out. 60 storage tubs ready for shelving in storage. I do want to downsize the tubs. But living space first.
Mom and daughter are upset about moving their things to storage. But I made them give me 24hrs to retrieve whatever is the the photographed tubs.
Thing is its an attachment issue for them . Most of had been literally burried and untouched for at least two years. But now they are upset because it's out of reach.

My ultimate plan is sell most of it. But put put the sales into gift cards. When my daughter becomes of age. I'll give go rebuy that stuff.
Mom. Well -she won't be taking much of it with her.

So plan is be Finished by March 1st.
I turned off the Wi-Fi . If they won't help then in my opinion. They shouldn't just turn up their tvs to block out my clean up noise. We should all be doing this together. But I don't feel they should be rewarded with high speed internet for not helping. But after 8pm I reconnect it.

Hi Everybody :)

Anonymoniker
PLEASE CHECK IN! :(

Hi CriticalMass :)
WAY TO GO!!! for unloading the tires! :D
Very happy that the meeting was a positive one.
Your bunnies appreciate what you do for them. (((HUGS)))
Sorry the mechanic is not moving faster on this. :(
So frustrating.


Hi Tatoulia :)
Maybe find some easy restful things to sort this weekend.
Something that can be done sitting down.
A few quickly finished areas like a drawer or shoe box.
Maximize resting after such a hectic work week,
(((HUG)))

This morning was chilly but not raining or snowing.
Storm blowing in tonight.
The roads were good, no snow or ice on them.
Went into town to return the cat carrier and did some shopping too.
Went to the dollar store and some thrift shops.
Found 4 yards of fabric to add to what I already have for the next rug so now I have enough to make it the size I want, medium.
Over the last 10 days I have thrown out two pair of socks that were so old they would not stay up any longer.
Today I found five new, tags still on, really nice pair of socks at the charity thrift! YEA! ;D
See, the universe rewarded me for tossing aggravating old socks. LOL
Dollar Tree dollar store carries "Lime-Away"
toilet bowl cleaner that REALLY works to remove those ugly brown hard water stains.
No scrubbing, just squirt it in, swish it around and after just a few uses all the hard water deposits are all gone!

Sleep well. (((hugs)))

Of course your pets still love you, CM!

I'm dismayed that the mechanic hasn't called you. I am so sorry.

I am home from another hectic day and I'm back in office again tomorrow. At least on Monday I can work from home.

I'm tired and feeling drawn. Hello to all. Tillie I'm exhausted and can't wait for the weekend to keep working in the 30% plan.

Got rid of the tires.

Haven't heard from mechanic. (See previous post.)

Doing okay otherwise.

Nite!

Good morning, hoping this finds everyone well.

Pain, welcome to this part of the board. :) Always nice to have new people join in.

I went to my clutter club meeting yesterday and was glad I did. I picked up a good tip - and then forgot what it was. Hope it will come back to me! But overall the meeting was good anyway, just to catch up on how everyone has been, and there were some new faces. It felt motivating to be there, so I hope to do something to further my progress today.

Called Mr. Mechanic last night and this morning. I left short, hopefully cheerful sounding voicemails both times. (I don't always like leaving voicemail - it feels like "oh, now I wonder if they'll call me back and if I'll remember to monitor whether they do," etc. I definitely hate not having closure on a matter. Often I just won't leave a message, and will wait and call back at a time when I'm focused and hope I catch the person. It drives me crazy like, with the doctor's office, they don't have anything BUT voicemail anymore. Bleah. Modern life! I like texting better, too, because you have a record of what was said. My auditory memory stinks.

Oh well, we'll see what happens. Mechanic was also supposed to have some voucher thing from the county so I could take the tires somewhere and dispose of them free. They are riding around weighing down the back end of the van and my soul. But since I can't get hold of him, I grow impatient. So I tried searching online for that county voucher - no luck, couldn't locate the link - but I did find a place that will take them for 3 bucks apiece, and though I'd prefer free, I'm thinking it may be worth 12 bucks just to have them GONE. It's like Tillie's trees, it would be such a relief! And who knows, it might make for less danger of the old shock absorbers giving out before the replacements can be installed.

I have a lot of areas of my life I want to make forward progress in. My bond with my bunnies has been impaired by the fact that in this house they are way at the other end of the house than my room, and it didn't work out to try and give them an outdoor pen. I used to do that at the place I lived before, I'd carry them out and bring my book and tea and it was fun for all of us. Now their running pen is inside and small. But I'm going to start sitting in there on a small stool and at least that way they'll come up to me for pets and we'll be better connected. I'm sad that things have been so hectic I didn't commit to this months ago.

The boy kitty has been coming up on my bed early in the night but not staying long, which was making me sad until I realized he sneaks back in in the night and sleeps at my feet! I wish he'd come back up on the other pillow but I guess he has to make that call himself. At least I know he still loves me.

Well, off to climb mountains of clutter and conquer worlds. Ciao!

Hi Pain :)
Wonderful to see you here! :D
Being able to post here and meet these lovely people has really helped to keep me sane.

I understand how those hollow apologies fall flat when they don't even try to make things right.
(((HUGS)))

WAY TO GO! for doing such a great job cleaning the kitchen! :)

We have to choose our battles.
We have to do what is best for us and fighting all the time is very bad for our health, physical and mental.
Somethings we just must let go.
I prioritize and only fight over the number one issue, letting all the other things go for now.


Hi Tatoulia :)
That's fantastic that your sister got the same wonderful offer.
My neighbor friend used to work for the power company and had he known this he would have told me years ago.
He knew how I struggle with getting trees down, it's expensive.
But his work was as a mechanic keeping the vehicles running.

Pain and I have been talking on the "Clean Up Help" message board.
We have a lot in common. ;/

Tomorrow morning I need to go into town to return a cat carrier I borrowed when I had three kittens and only owned two cat carriers.
May as well do some shopping while I'm in town.
The veterinarian wanted all kittens in separate carriers even though all three fit easily into one.
They liked being all together and never cried when I had them together.
A soft, warm kitten pile. :)

That's great news, Tillie. My sister lives in a rural area in another state and she has the same experience last summer and she got rid of perilous trees and had tons of wood to stack for her wood stove!

Pain, welcome. I don't know if you've been on here before but a giant welcome!

Took everything off kitchen counters .
Bleached the counters.
Cleaned everything I put back on the counters.
Woke up to the smell of good food in kitchen.
Walked in on a milk mess from hell.

Believe it or not . Just knowing I could post here kept me from blowing my top.

I'd be more accepting of their apologies if they would just help.

Hi :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
WAY TO GO!!! For bunny maintenance! :D
So, How was that meeting?
Hope it was good and motivating.

Hi Tatoulia :)
Hope your day was not too busy or stressful.
:)

Very cold and wet and dark day but a fun day to play around inside. ;)
Man from the power company came by to let me know that soon they will be trimming the tops off our trees under the power lines again.
He told me something that nobody ever told me before.
The power company will, at no charge to me, cut down the trees and treat the stumps to prevent them from growing back.
Chip up small branches and cut the larger wood into 18 inch lengths and neatly stack the wood where ever I want it.
I said "where do I sign!"
I filled out the authorization papers.
These five trees have needed to be cut down for many years, they are old, dangerous and drop branches all the time.
YIPPEE!!!!!! HAPPY DANCE!!!!! :D

Oh boy Tillie, no hanging laundry out for you today!

CM let us know what you learn at the meeting! I need lots of help and tips here! Congrats on the bunny cleaning!!

Just working today. Doing some laundry but not doing much more. Too busy.

My friend should be by to pick me up for the clutter club meeting in about an hour. Meanwhile, I must do a little boast that I got the bunny litter boxes and cages dealt with awhile ago. I don't think my girl bunny approved of my getting rid of all the hay and dirt and fur of her "nest" but she can make a new one - and she will! She will also go in and mess up the boy bunny's cage during playtime. She takes after her "mother," LOL!

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
Thanks for the drive by! :D
Hope your meeting is rewarding and you gain a lot from it.
Fingers crossed that your vehicle is fixed in the next day or two. (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Please check in, we miss you.

Hi Tatoulia :)
Sorry about the stressful days and poor sleep.
Take naps when you can, be kind to yourself. (((HUG)))
Just checked and you have posted as I wrote this post! :D

Weather forecast changed last evening and today we are having rain/snow.
Weather changes quickly as it comes over the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
That's what happened to the Donner party. ;P
Nothing very pressing that needs to be done except cat maintenance.
Planning on giving myself a nice little pedicure today.
Maybe work on a craft?
I dunno :/ ?
Good day to bake cookies but I still have cookies.

Hope you all have a great day! :D

Good to hear from you CM! I said a little prayer for your car repairs.

Boy I waste too much time at night on the internet. I need to cut it down and spend the time doing things I enjoy more.

Cold & rainy here. I like it. But then I'd like a nice day tomorrow.

Full day with work, dinner plans and then a lecture tonight.

You asked for it, you got it - a quick drive by.

Anony, I don't know if you've ever read any decluttering books by Don Aslett, he was one of the early pioneers in the field so to speak. He has a section where he mentions "clutter on the hoof," meaning dysfunctional people who you need to let go on out of your life. I can't tell you what to do but I suspect ex-bf is possible clutter on the hoof. Anyway, do take care of yourself and keep building your own identity and come at the question of whether to "keep or toss" him from a position of strength, OK? ;)

Well, tomorrow I'm going back to my clutter club meeting for the first time since last summer, along with a buddy who also has been away from it. We'd gotten kind of bored with it for awhile, but we decided we want to go again, and I think I'll enjoy seeing if anything new has come along. Wouldn't it be something if there's a new community program to help hoarders like me who are motivated but need money and personnel? Well, that may be dreaming big, but anyway, I think just going to the club meeting will be motivating, so I'll be sure and tell you how it went. :)

Oh, and, say a prayer about my vehicle repairs - I'm going to call Mr. Mechanic tomorrow and see if maybe it can be done this week - it would sure be a relief if it could.

Tillie--what a nice story story about the diaries. You did the right thing to protect her privacy. I bet they were fascinating.

I'm glad you can get some laundry hung and dried. I worked all day at office/bit of a stressful day. It's raining and cold, which is actually weather I enjoy (in moderation) and I'm glad to be home.

I will do laundry and other things tomorrow. Have hectic days and nights coming up. I'm not sleeping well/I never do/but it's different these days. Not necessarily better or worse.

Anony & CM--would love even a quick drive-by!

Good Morning Everyone :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
Thank you for acknowledging my suffering too. lol ;)
Wonderful that you have good water pressure even if you don't like the style of faucet.
WAY TO GO! on shredding diaries! :D

Little story about my Granma's diaries that I inherited.
Way back in the old days before unions were established in Detroit, Granma started to write down what she did daily in her diary.
Granma & Granpa were a young couple who were best friends with the Hoffas.
My Grandfather did a lot to get Detroit unionized.
Anyways, I read through all Granma's diaries and then burned them all.
I could have made a fortune had I turned them into a book but what was written there is nobodies business but my Granma's. ;)


Today I plan to clean the bathroom, wash the floors, wipe down stuff, dust & vacuum, etc.
After 9am now so I best be getting started.

TTFN :)

Poor little scooter!! Poor little guy. (Poor Tillie who has to administer the medicine).

Tillie I'm glad the fabric is readied for rug-making. I'm so envious of your talents!

Cleaned sink, vanity and toilet. Have not yet done floor or tub. The soap dish/fish will go in there soon. I hate my new faucets but great water pressure from sink and I will eventually find better faucets. At $100, though, I'll need to get some time in with them. I couldn't find what I wanted and so I went with the least offensive/most likely to match other bathroom fixtures.

Shredded another eight to ten diaries. My head spins from skimming them.

Thank you so much for believing in me and encouraging me. I'm very excited these days.