Welcome Renee! Congratulations on your hard work! 1/3 of the way to a clean kitchen! That is remarkable! Keep up the good work. Post as much as you need to--sometimes when I'm super motivated I need to check in a lot! We are here and we are excited for you!

Good work SubC on getting rid of some books. I too need a paper calendar. Helps me see the month. Gives me context.

Tillie--in my excitement over Rene's progress I've forgotten what you are doing today. Well, hope it wS a good one and tell the cats I say hello.

My garbage is out. Oh! And I never noticed how dirty and cluttered the floor of my linen closet was and I got rid of some of the stuff from there. And several dustbunnies.

Hi Renee!

Welcome!

Several of us ar3 also trying to lose weight.

Today I took four books to sell to the book store and brought home a 2018 calendar. Dh thought we didn't need a paper calendar in the kitchen anymore, but it wasn't working for me.

I am mostly better. Still tired and a little drainage, but this is the first day i've Gotten to sunset without a stuffy head.

Hello Renee :)
Happy you joined us!
GREAT! plan starting on the kitchen first.
Soon you will be able to make a lot of healthier meal choices.
WAY TO GO! for all you have accomplished. ;D

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this. I'm starting the purge and decluttering which is 13 years of hoard after a breakup that shattered my life. BUT, I AM GETTING MY MOJO BACK!😇

For years I have not been able to fully use my kitchen, so eating Drive thru junk, or easy to microwave stuff. Gained 90 pounds and I know my hoard is related to my weight and vice versa. For these reasons I'm starting in the kitchen so I can cook and take good care of myself. I worked 45 min at a time with 15 min break for 12 hours yesterday. It's significantly
Improved, but only about 1/3 clean. I've worked about 3 hours today. I don't want to stop but I have to go run some errands.

I feel like I'm READY. I know I found this group for a reason. And this is the first time I've had peer support. But in the past, I'd make a tiny bit of progress, I'd get interrupted and lose momentum. Then I'd get Re-buried.

All this to say, thank you for being here. And listening.

More later, so I don't lose momentum. THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT! 😇

Hello Everybody :)

Hi Joan :)
I have every bit of faith that you will have a wonderful serendipitous experience in much less than a couple of centuries (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!! :D
Hope you are having/have had a lovey evening.
Yes, a set limit on how many hours you work at the office would improve the balance.
Help you keep work time separate from not work time.

Hi Subclinical :)
Oh, darn those clouds... :/
How are you feeling? All better I hope. :)

Puttered around all day today.
Worked (played) on the doll house.
Straightened my sock drawer.
Pruned the Mountain Laurels.
Clipped 2 rose bushes.
Removed the dried flower pods from a little bit of the Lilac hedge, will do some more whenever.
Did some beading.
Did cat related chores but didn't do any other kinds of chores.
It was a good day. :)

Oh Tillie! I was hoping you were sitting with the moon!

I went for a walk in the moonlight, but it dropped below the cloud line before the eclipse started.

Way to clean tatoulia!

Hi Joan!

Quick drive by (have theatre tickets)

Bathroom sink and vanity clean. Ditto toilet.

Need to wash up and meet up for dinner before theatre.

Want to do floor and tub. Very soon.

Am trying to go into office three days a week. I don't like it but I think I get a better work/life balance as I don't feel obligated to stay late on the days I go in.

Special shout out to Joan.

Tillie, you deserve a gift from the universe.

I'm happy for you, but just a little bit jealous.

Maybe my turn will come in the next few hundred years!

Oh Tillie I bet that was fantastic! And from the comfort of your chair!

Good Morning Everyone :)
"Clink!"

Hope everybody is doing well today (((HUGS)))

The super rare total lunar eclipse was fantastic!
Last time there was one like this was 250 years ago.
I got to see the whole thing, not a single cloud in the sky.
I did not plan to watch or even set an alarm clock, I just woke up right before it began.
It was fully viewable from the comfort of a chair in front of the livingroom window, so I didn't even have to go outside.
;D

I am watching the lunar eclipse right now! :D

Tatoulia
What a scary time!
(((((HUGS)))))

Very good that you have masks. ;)

Thank you SubC. Hope you are feeling better and better with each day.

Mom discharged at 2:45 AM. Not a blood clot. Heading to office.

Thank you for supporting me.

Oh tatoulia,
That is scared! I hope your mom is ok!

Wasn't feeling very well.

Numbness in leg.

Honestly autocorrect.

Mom called me an hour or two ago and she wasn't feeling working well so BF and I took her to hospital. I brought my own mask to wear (and one for mom). Hospital was overflowing with flu people. Mom had numbness and weakness in keg and suspects a blood clot. ER full up bit theh put her in hallway and got ready to order an ultrasound.

I washed my face as soon as I got home. I have mtgs at work tmr. I'll go in for my 11 o'clock then head back home to work.

Going to bed now. Trash & recycling out.

Hello Everybody :)
Green tea with lemon "CLINK!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! for the two clear counters :D
Sounds like you need a break from Monday (((HUGS)))
You don't have to clean the whole bathroom all at the same time.
Pick one little thing to wipe a bit, something that will make you feel better about things.


Well, today I cleaned the house.
Got it nice and sanitary.
Didn't dust the wood furniture but wiped everything else that I could with my bucket of wash water & rag.
Really wanted to quit all the time but kept talking myself through it all.
Days like today make me so grateful that this house is so small.
Now I will take a shower & wash my hair.
Going to check the weather forecast to see if tomorrow will be a good day to hang out laundry.
Going to sleep on clean sheets & pillow cases tonight in a clean house (except for Steven's bedroom).
Only 1:30pm now so I will have the rest of the day to rest up and write out my grocery list.

Good morning! Coffee clinks!

I wish I could get motivated to clean my bathroom. I have two kitchen counters clean right now and I'm being way to slow on picking away at the third one.

I've got a lot of work to do today and will try to fit in housework along the way. All I want to do is sleep but if I took a good look at things, I'm probably not even tired.

Hello Everybody :)

Hi Subclinical :)
WTG! for being picky about the handouts! :D
Hope today you are able to get some good rest.

Hi CF :)
So true, all change begins in our thoughts.
Before any action ever takes place there is a lot of thinking being done. ;D

Hi Tatoulia :)
I so understand about things being salty.
I never use any salt when I'm cooking either.
WTG! for kitchen clean up! :D

This morning I woke up feeling so much better!
I do believe this virus is finally over and now my asthma is even easing up.
Just waiting for my appetite to return now.
I cleaned up the kitchen, finally...
Tomorrow I am planning to really clean the house, not just kinda sorta wipe/swipe at things.
I will start with the bathroom and see how much I can get done with the rest of the place.
If nothing else, at least the bathroom will be done.
Then if all goes well I think I will go grocery shopping on Tuesday.
Then maybe on Wednesday Scooter and I can go outside and play together in the yard.
;D

I'm glad you are here too, CF!

I have baked the brownies, just made the frosting and frosted them. I didn't have butter so I used margarine. The duo sting tastes salty to me but because I don't cook with salt, even raisins taste salty to me.

I'm going to restore kitchen to cleanliness (you read that right) and then finish getting ready to go. Just need to put on makeup.

Good Morning all.
My inspiration for myself today:
"Remember: Change starts in your thoughts."
Next time I find myself kicking my own butt for not doing enough, which happens often, I will try to focus on this message and do some "internal work" if I am not able to be doing the external work.
Thanks everyone for posting, I am glad I found this group.

CM, i'm Sorry you are still having such a rough time.

Tatoulia - yay for your mom!

I picked up my last six pieces of pottery from my fall class when I went to the workshop.they also gave me a new tool. And I made three pieces that will be fired for me. And brought home some handouts. I was picky about the handouts though. I didn't just collect everything, only specific ones I wanted.

I remembered to take my own mug, but i forgot my fork, so I ended up eating from a paper plate with a plastic fork. I threw the paper plate away and brought the fork home to wash.

I was pretty wiped out by the end. I think I would have skipped out on the last class, but my son in law had signed up for the program too, and we were in class together.

Hi Everybody :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
Sorry about those winds there. :(
One Spring we had constant wind every day, all day & night for three months straight and I swear the wind can drive you insane.
So scary what your van did! Hope the fix isn't too painful. (((HUGS)))
You aren't weird, I drink iced tea all year round. ;D
My fingers are crossed that within a week it will all be smooth sailing for you and yours.

Hi Tatoulia :)
WTG! for all you have gotten done!
Your dinner last night sounds like a lot of fun. :D
Have a wonderful time tomorrow with your friends!

Didn't do diddly squat today.
Just so tired, no energy but not sleepy all day.
Got enough sleep last night.
Was actually hungry today and asked Steven to fetch me home a hamburger and he did. :D
So good after just toast and maltomeal all week.

Cm! Thanks for stopping by! I am sorry about your van troubles. That is upsetting. I hope you and your roommate and boy bunny continue on the road to recovery.

I am home tonight. Harrowing time with brother today. Then went to see mom and got her (and her goodwill bags) out of the house I'm fasting and feel a bit grumpy. I am on third load of laundry. I do my light and dark unmentionables in separate loads. A lot of dark things this time of year due to wearing tights with my skirts. . Have music on and am puttering. Cleared out a bedroom closet drawer and added to my donation bag.

Kitty is all snuggled in. She doesn't exactly snuggle with me but her bed is next to me on the couch. And she is so cute all rolled in a little sleeping ball.

I have a lot to do tomorrow including I need to go to office to get my computer, I need to fill out and send brother's food stamp renewal, I need to bake brownies, etc. we are going to have an early dinner with some friends who live about an hour from here. We are bringing appetizers and dessert, and they will make a salad with chicken on it. My BF hasn't seen their daughter since she was an infant and she is just so cute. Their little boy is growing up fast too.

Last night I had dinner with three women friends from work. One is an actual friend, the other two are lovely women who happen to live near me, so I impromptu invited them to join my one friend and I for dinner. We had a great time/ate at a local bar with very delicious homemade food.

I'm going to continue to putter here-- making progress.

Flyby in my Tardis

Time has certainly had some strange effects on the side trip we took to Planet Flu and environs this week. My roommate had the real deal. I had some wimpy annoying allergy thing from Kansas's version of the Santa Ana winds (i.e., they come at any time of the year and blow till your last nerve is fraying, merrily bringing with them all manner of dust and who knows what allergens - blech).

My van was starting so great when the starter & solenoid were replaced, till Thursday when I went to make an essentials run. It started - but then it wouldn't QUIT starting! The ignition switch is mucked up, and I like to never got it to turn off. Scary. And so will be the bill, but I suppose it could be worse. I'm really working on not letting these things upset me, and in any case I don't have the energy to make much of a fuss.

The clutter mates and multiplies amongst all these adventures - I had just been going to really tackle it this week but "the best laid plans of mice and CM" and all that...

Bunnies are doing okay except for the little old guy, still on meds for his respiratory thing, and reluctant to eat. I've had to hand feed him still. We were able to get out today and get his meds refilled. Cats are very loving and snuggly. Dog is a little cuckoo from not getting enough exercise but hanging in there. Hoping by this time next week we'll all be well on the mend, van included. I'll check in sooner than that if my health and the Tardis allow!

Midwinter iced tea clinks! (I know, I'm an oddball.)

Good Morning Everyone :)
"Clink!"

Hi Porter :)
Even when you say you haven't been doing much, you are still doing a LOT of planning and preparing for your future. ;D

Hi Subclinical :)
WAY TO GO! for just taking good care and pampering yourself. (((HUGS)))
Don't let yourself get overly tired today.

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! Tatoulia's Mom!!!
She is blessed to have such a loving and understanding daughter. (((HUGS)))
It would be hard to toss out a beautifully made ginger bread house.
But those definitely do have an expiration date. ;P

Still working on getting better. I see a little improvement everyday.
Scooter is really taking advantage of my tiredness.
He is being destructive and acting out terribly.
Plus, he has a very bad attitude issue.
Tell him "NO!" and he says "Scooter don't care!" and continues to misbehave.
Hoping I can get to washing up dishes today, we shall see.

SubC! Your husband is very loving! It's a nice feeling to be taken care of. I'm excited to hear more about kidding. Sometimes I forget you have a farm! You have such s full life. And it's wonderful for you to share it with us. And little by little, we are all having less full homes.

Joan! Always glad to hear from you. I think of you daily and send you healing thoughts and prayers.

Tillie--three loads of laundry. Love that feeling. Well I am super late to go see brother. Coffee clinks everyone.

Big news: mom has TWO full bags for goodwill. I had given up on trying to get her to do stuff--I don't want her to be alone and thinking about how I'm mean. I do gently ask when we buy new things if it means that she could get rid of anything old. But I'm gentle and careful and accept her answer.

I am going to make her get rid of our gingerbread house this weekend. BF also needs to throw out the one I made for him.

Hi again.

I did stay home yesterday. I made myself sit around and just read and watch videos and talk to people on the phone. - rest.
No setting up kidding stalls. Maybe tomorrow.

Tatoulia, don't worry about me. I have a husband who takes good care of me. Last night he drew me a hot bath and closed me up in a nice steamy bathroom to decongest with relaxing music before bed.

I am still stuffy today, but definitely on the upswing. I'm going to go to an all day teacher workshop I signed up for. It's a really good program, and if I start to feel crummy I can always just leave.

Porter, it sounds like you are doing well.

Tillie, I hope your poor nose is better and you sleep all night tonight!

Lost a post,

An important survival skill , is to keep trying to improve ones situation everyday. Don't just sit, or accomplish nothing.
So every week , I trying either buy or repurposed something to make my home more complete or comfortable.

This week ,
Netflix ,
nervage nasal cleanser,
better lightbulbs in the sleeping room , not so bright.
Better shoes.
.
Paying off a theater chair, buying it's match , was using poker profits , but that as all stopped.
Trying to have 6 theater chairs in the living room ,
At Christmas I bought a 65inch flat screen tv.
Now all four bedrooms have a 50"or bigger and the living room is just perfect in my opinion.

I still plan to ave poker part ties , because they generate new furniture , what happened is a friend has started having the parties at his house , well the gus who have money to gamble. I keep trying to improve my environment for such events.

I really like my cat, but after so many other long lived pets in the past, i forget how long it can take for a cat to fully trust.
She's ready for spring, I'll let her have one litter then have her spayed. No mice this week. Which is a first time in five years.Jackie and I look for them together everyday. Then reward with tuna, and then lots and lots of love till she sleeps.


I've made my decision on which house to build, if I get the opportunity . At 50 it's not too ambitious , where I want to put my ambition is on reaquiring a sailboat. So I can live in it while a build a house. I have 19 years left before I can get social security. So I'll keep working towards building and paying off a hybrid of adobe wall and foam core panel home.
In a pay as I go path to completion.
Features incude, roof top water drain into cistern overflow into pool. Solar water heating. Solar and wind energy , septic system. Roof top green house vegtable garden for 6000 calories a day.

I got my bike. It's everything I hoped it could be, it's very simple to use. I'll keep it unchanged for at least the first year. So now that I have the house design decided.

I can focus on the hovercraft , even though it is only hobby, a creative outlet , I'll pursue it as if is a possibility .
I just won't have the budget to create it with getting investors , but I'll keep working on the concept. Snapping a hydrogen motor bike to a hover vehicle. Unsnap at lading point and bike the rest of the way.


This week, I fast 1 day. Ate fish twice had salad 6 times
Went to gym once. I can do better. I'm waiting until 10:30 am sat morning before I can eat. So I'm not going to gym until later today.

I only cleaned my living room , bathroom, kitchen, and car this week, but the trash bin was totally full and went out as scheduled.
That's my week ,

Will post later to respond to your posts.

AWWWW thank you Tatoulia (((HUGS)))

Hi Joan :)
we were typing at the same time but I saw your post before I posted this.
Thank you (((HUGS)))

My symptoms are starting to ease up.
Only woke up 2 times last night.
Periodically coughing rather than constant coughing.
My poor nose should heal up now that I'm not needing to use so many tissues.
Taking a lot fewer aspirins.
Really starting to feel optimistic that I will survive! :D
LOL

Did 3 loads of laundry this morning since I was awake at 5am any way.
They dried very nicely even though it was bitterly cold all day.
That's all.
Did not do anything much else.
Wanted to wash dishes but took a nap with Marty instead.
Now I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. :D

Ditto what Tat said.

I hope you are both feeling better soon, Tillie and SubC.

I like a good strong echinacea tea when I am sick.


Oh, also, yes, the captchas are often very mesningful. I almost posted about that a couple of years back, but decided to let others draw their own conclusions.

CM, hope your spirits improve.

Porter, I think you are very creatuve!

Take care, everyone.

SubC and Tillie I've been worried about you! I'm glad you could finally find a way to have someone(s) cover for you, SubC. Everyone has been sick this year and it is sticking around. I was sick over Christmas but nothing like you two have had. Wish I could change your sheets and air out your bedrooms for you. Anything to make you feel comforted and loved, SubC and Tillie.

Glad twinkles has seen the vet. Glad Stephen took him.

Will write more later. Just wanted to check on my patients

Twinkles vet appointment went well.
They shaved the fur off at the base of his tail, cleaned the wound and gave him a shot of antibiotics to help prevent further infection.
I gave him lots of lovins and cat snax when he got home and he is all back to his happy lovable purring self. :D

He's one of those really large cats with really long fur and he's 50/50 orange and white.
He's the same kind of cat my "Baby" was and I had Baby for 18 years.
Baby was a champion mouser and could say several words.
Milk, cheese, mama, no and yeah, all at the appropriate times too.

Twinkles and Marty were both abandoned out in the country to fend for themselves and were just days away from starving to death by the time they made it to my porch.
Twinkles is a big time talker when he has something to say.
He told me all about the sore abscess he had and that's how I found it.
Now that's been resolved he just mumbles and purrs when I talk to him. :)

Hi Subclinical :)
GREAT that you have people to take over at school for you.
Please don't push yourself to work when you really need to rest. (((HUGS)))
YEA! for new classroom shelves! :D

Think you may be right about it being influenza rather than the common cold.

Steven just left for the Vet with Twinkles.
Has a 3:00pm appointment.
His abscess drained well all on it's own and Twinkles has been eating, purring, feeling good and being frisky all day today.
Probably doesn't need the vet any more. LOL ;P

Tillie, that is sounding like it might be the flu. I hope you will take yourself to the "vet" I& you need to.

I got new shelves in my classroom today and am very excited to set them up when I feel better.

For now, I managed to patch together 3 subs to cover my day if I need to stay home tomorrow.

Good Morning Everyone :)
"CLINK!" cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze...

Hi CriticalMass :)
Hope Boy Bunny gets over his territorial issues soon and you all settle in.
Hope you can get that food stamp problem taken care of.
May only be 15 dollars but at times that's enough to make a difference.
Never give up on tackling that clutter/squalor monster.
Little bit by little bit you can defeat it. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! for finding homes for things and putting them away! :D
Congratulations on your new volunteer positions. :D

Hi Subclinical :)
Kidding season is no time to be sickly.
So much cold hard work all night long (((((HUGS)))))

I feel like I'm fixin to die.
When I should be feeling better by now, I'm worse.
My allergic asthma is not helping either.
Anyways...
the house is a pig sty and I don't care.
Need stuff from the grocery store but am too sick to go get it.
Twinkles needs to go to the veterinarian because a cat wandered into his yard and bit him on the butt and caused an abscess.
Twinkles caused the fight by being overly territorial and attacked first.
Finally got Steven to agree to take him to the vet today.
Well, back to laying down watching things on ROKU while my whole world goes to heck in a hand basket. :/

Still reading. Sick is winning.

Living on soup and tea, trying to do the minimum every day and still making it to class.

We have no subs available - everyone is sick!

Kidding season starts next week and the barn is not ready and the temps are still going to be dropping into the teens.

Also, I need more sleep, not less.

Hello everyone.

Sorry it's all such a chore, CM. If you can, I encourage you to get the food stamp renewal done. I try to keep my brother's up to date because it is more of a chore to apply all over again. He's let his lapse in the past and sometimes it requires a visit to the office. But if you cannot, I understand. You are being hit with a lot right now. I wish I could do the paperwork for you. Please do what you can to take care of you, your roommate and the bunnies.

Tillie I've been working st putting things away. Things I leave out that I don't need to be out. I'm trying to look at my apartment with a more objective eye.

I have a lot of demands on my time right now. One of my volunteer positions was supposed to end last year but they haven't found anyone to replace me. Meanwhile I applied for two more positions at other organizations to replace this one. Well, I got both positions so now I have three volunteer jobs in addition to my career and everything else. Im tired but definitely enjoying myself. And I'm proud I received these positions. And frankly, I'm managing my time better with more to do.

Ok, need to finish up my workday. I've started a bag for goodwill and a bag for consignment. Im putting things away. Im trying.

Hot tea clinks.

Hi everybody,

clinks of tea I keep watering down, because I'm not focused enough to make fresh, and that's sort of a metaphor for how life is right now.

This'll just be a bulletin on how I'm doing and I'll make another thorough post later. Just hit the highlights now.

I'm inching back into my routine life after the holidays and cat sitting, and vehicle repairs. Some things are going better. The cat sitting friend and I are breaking the ice a little after the difficulties communicating; I know sometime we'll have to deal more in depth, but I don't want to attempt that with only these two or three lonely brain synapses functioning at the moment.

Went to quilting yesterday for the first time in awhile; enjoyed it. Had to skip today though because my roommate is home sick, and one of her bunnies is sick. He's been on meds, and I'm trying to tell if he needs a vet visit today or just TLC and observation.

I'm trying to tackle the sort of paperwork that must be done but I hate paperwork. My food stamp app - which I may just let run out and then reapply in a couple of months - what has been happening is I keep getting the renewal app in late December and then they want it like on New Year's Day! That's ridiculous. So I wonder if I just waited a couple of months and shifted it to a warmer month. Unless they're all due at year's end, in which case I may still let it go because it's only $15 a month and getting it done is a stress.

The other one I may be able to do online - it's for my student loan to lower the payments based on income. I think that one is actually not as hard to do online, I just have to look at my notes. My brain doesn't do well at all with things you only do once a year. Too much time to forget how to go about it.

What else - oh, yeah, I am fostering a new girl bunny. She is very sweet. My boy wants to charge at her, but I stop him before he can reach her (usually - he nipped her butt once or twice). I'm giving him lots of snuggles and positive talk. He is hard to read, so I don't know if he is still grieving for his first wife. Wouldn't blame him - I miss her too. :(

Anyway, all the clutter and things to do seem like they come in so much faster than they get dealt with and go out. Did this just happen gradually, or what? I feel like I'm never going to get caught up - and yet I can't afford to indulge that thought or I'll throw in the towel and just nest in my squalor. Aaack! :P

Good Morning Everybody :)
Chai masala "CLINK!"

Hi Subclinical :)
Great job drowning out that virus!
YEA!!! WTG!!! wishing you and Finn many happy journeys together! ;D
Since you are going in to teach, you are relieved of any other decluttering/organizing projects until you are all over this virus.
Your duties consist of animal care and getting all the rest you need. (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO! for clearing off the bedroom chair! :D
So, what else did you get up to yesterday? ;D

Yesterday I didn't do much of anything.
Wish this cold would leave me alone.
No plans really for today, just see what I feel like doing.
There aren't really any dirty dishes or much laundry but the carpet could use some vacuuming.
We shall see. ;D

Hi everyone. I've been reading.

The sick is getting worse, but I am throwing vitamin c and hot liquids at it like snow in Boston. Going to bed early, but still getting up early.

I also rode the stationary bike this morning because I think exercise is also good for me as long as I pay attention to my body - I did a slow ride so I wouldn't get out of breath.

I'm going to teach today. I don't have a fever, so I meet the guidelines. And if I don't work, I don't get paid.

And I now have a car payment. Because I bought a "new" car. It's a 2012 Ford Escape with 85000 miles on it. I like it better than the old car (I mean obviously, because it runs!) but I like it better than I liked the old car when I got it. It has A/C, which my other car didn't, so that will be really nice in the summer. And the thing where you open the door at night and the interior light comes on works too! Dh says I am not picky.

It also has a computer that tells you how far you can drive without running out of gas - which will really reduce my stress on those mornings when I am tight on time to get to work but not sure if I can drive straight there.

Anyway, I am supposed to get a raise this month, and it will cover all but $12 of the car payment. (Good credit, long loan, less expensive car) my first payment isn't due until March, but I don't get paid in June, July, or August, so I will need to set extra money aside for that. More motivation to not buy stuff!

I named the car Finn because he looks a little like a stormtrooper, but he is a good stormtrooper. Dh says you don't name cars after men.

I finished all my extra January paperwork for classes and am looking forward to getting back to the basement project. I'll keep you updated.

Good morning! Water clinks!

Brother and I ended up just getting together yesterday and visiting my BF. We will do movies next weekend. It was about 50 degrees out so I took him for a ride then we had coffee with BF. Then I watched tv and just hung around.

Today I'm working from home. I have laundry, as usual, and I'd like to make some progress here today. I did clear off my bedroom chair, which had started to gather socks and other odd bits of clothing. I will keep you all posted.

Good Morning Everybody :)

None of the predicted rain/snow came my way. :(
The air currents are moving it all around this area bypassing us.
Have absolutely no idea what I'll do today.
Not like there isn't about a million different things to choose from.
Still dealing with the tail end of this cold virus so if nothing much gets done, so what?. ;P
Not going into town until I am 100% better.
Nothing I absolutely need, have enough of what I do need right here.
So glad that I stocked up on Kleenex!
;D

Hi Porter :)
Living on or by the water is cooler than being landlocked.
Most times a little breeze or fan is all you need to be comfortable. ;)

I forgot to mention a factor feature , is my vehicle is a kia soul. When put the back seat down and air up a twin air matress. I can sleep in it. No it's not a perfect situation.
But a sail boat isn't air conditioned the way a car can be.
So in extreme heat , or extreme cold . I won't be stuck just trying to survive with heating or cooling.
A sailboat can be easily heated ,but cooling it problematic. Where a car can easily handle cooling, and charging internet devices, clocks and batteries.

I suppose I'm in a conservitive cycle.
Using and doing things that don't me money.
I don't know if it's being frugal or just cheap.

But I do most of my cleaning during the day when light from outside helps see things well, especially cooking and dishes.

And at night I use the smokeless lamps I used to have on my boats. Bed room, hallway, bathroom. Plenty of light to see , not very much heat , but just a little.

So I keep the furnace off on days above freezing temps.

Use rain water to flush toilets.

Once a month a week before rent is due, I empty and unplug the refrigerator . And when I pay rent, I go to store and plug it back in. .

In one of the rooms upstairs , I separated all my camping and survival equipment. On the nights it's above freezing, with the furnace off. I have a tent and a small heater that turns off and on by thermostat. It's on a large glass table , but just the glass so nothing near it s flammable . But I stay very warm at 73º and it rarely turns on. The tent is rated for internal heating.

For now though , the furnace is on about 12 hours a day, but not when I'm at work. I turn it off when I wake up. It's set to the lowest temp 55º and I just heat my everyday bedroom with a small heater too.
This keeps the cost down for December to $67 , 1/3 of last years at the other house with everyone there.

I use gas buddy , so save nickels and dines on gasoline as I commute 92miles round trip to work.

I shaved my head , I have terrible hair anyway, Pattern baldness. This way I save on shampoo and hair cuts and is easier to get ready if running late. Still it's about a savings of $60.


May will be here before I know it. When my lease expires.
I see an opportunity to buy a sail boat to keep near a lake , near my work. .
So if I buy it May 19.
I can start putting all my $ towards paying it off in six months.
Except moving my things into storage.

This will help by having a back up home. The sailboat must be aroumd $5000 and can be water tight and have an extention cord port for electric dock. My commute would be 7 miles . So I could add on the savimgs of gasoline and not run my car into the ground. .

I believe I could appy $1250 a month towards paying it off. more if I work overtime. I can stay out there on the dock until November 5th. The dock fee is $850 for the summer.

When I had a boat the last time not so long ago. I used the boat as a storage space.mostly my summer clothes. And survival equipment.

What I'm trying to do is just attempt to be in a position.
To build an adobe home. , and use the sailboat as the on site living space while it's being constructed.

I've been thinking about it, but the way I feel about it , breaking silence with y'all . I feel like I don't want to do anything else. The only glitch is my car can't haul a boat, but I could just rent one. And I'm looking for cheap land near the car plant. So that renting a truck to put the boat in the lake will be less than $100. in spring and fall. This way I'll have electricity to charge tools , and enjoy living on a lake about three years. After that a the structure should have some basic features like septic system and either electric connection or a solar panel grid. To heat and cool.

But for now all I can do is try to save every penny .

Yes! On Murphy's oil soap! Good idea! I have some too!

Thanks--perfect solution.

Good morning Tatoulia :)
I would suggest that you use Murphy's Oil Soap to clean the stagecoach.
That's what I use to clean the doll house and wooden furniture.
I have even used it to wash pearls with no damage done to them. HaHaHa ;P
Museums use a special cleaner/conditioner and preservative for leather bound books that might help restore the leather bits.
Can't recall the name, been so long since I worked at the museum, but the curator would probably be happy to tell you.


* Those pearls were beautifully strung and knotted but had a smell to them that was imbedded in the string, making them unpleasant to wear.

Hi Porter :)
You didn't sound argumentative or defensive to me at all. :D
I was just thinking about carrying around large quantities of water and how badly that hurts my back.
We have a private well but Steven has always refused to allow the installation of a filter.
Our well water always tests perfectly clean to drink but because of the tree roots down in there the water has visible bits in it.
I am fussy and won't drink water that I can see stuff in.
So, I have some 5 gallon water bottles that I fill up at the Water Depot for fifty cents per gallon.
But I can not carry 5 gallons of water so I only put in 3 gallons each bottle.
That much water is still enough to make my back ache.
And I can no longer lift the bottles up onto the water dispenser.
The Water Depot is easy because you pull your car right up next to it so no long walk with a filled bottle.
But once home I have to carry them to the pump house to store because in there is room for them and they won't freeze.
Since Steven never drinks water, this water is only for me so I can go a long time before I need to refill all the bottles but prefer to fill only 2 or more at a time when I am in town anyways, instead of filling all 7 bottles at one time.
But then again you are a man, younger and bigger than I am so I suppose you can manage hauling water easier than I can. ;D

Quick drive by--

Sorry about the car, SubC. Sorry you are getting sick-- Please drink plenty of fluids and rest! Resting early generally staves off illness for me. what a great day you had!!! Wonderful!

Tillie I need to advice I have a beautiful stagecoach my grandfather made and it was stored in an outside shed. It smells and is dirty. I know I'll need q-tips and other things to "detail" it. It's probably 18" long. The doors open. It's all different materials The leather will need to be replaced and there's also metal and some sort of plastic he molded for the parts. What's your advice re cleaning? Dawn dishwashing? Let me know what you think. I have it boxed and bagged up til I can figure out (and get the motivation) to clean.

Have a great day! My phone (landline) isn't working but internet is.