I love, love, love reading the stories you all have written, and I hope you share more, especially about you and animals.
Dianne, is your live-out daughter interested in anything else in that room, or are you at liberty to discard? Would she be willing to come and work a little on the room? It might even be a bit of an adventure plowing through things. I so enjoyed your dog stories. More! And I agree about the big dogs. Love them but I know I cannot handle anything more than a docile couch potato now. The little pug who looks like an English Mastiff must be a treat. Thank you.
The best trained dog I ever handled was an abandoned, ungroomed and filthy Shih Tzu boy I fostered. He literally pranced when I got him a lion cut and a bath.
Dave, you write so well. Has that been part of your jobs or careers? Love the pointy feeling you described about the Dobie experience, and calling yourself "lunch." The two Dobie girls I fostered were docile as all get out, and one was just goofy funny.
Barb, you are such a welcome voice, I am glad you came back to meet with us.
Diane, I do know what you mean about this place being a sort of life-saver for a hoarder. It helps bring me back to point when I've drifted off. My tendency to leave things where they are first put down is back in full force so I'm having to work at combatting and overcoming that. You sound happy when you have a dog to care for. If you don't want to permanently adopt another dog, maybe you could foster a dog now and then or just borrow one. You have such grit, dear.
Tillie, I'm glad reading our hoarding woes and conquests helps you, too. You are so invaluable to us here, and so dear to tell your stories.
Hello to Karl and MayMay and anyone I might have left out unintentionally.
It is bitter cold today, although sunny with blue skies. I intend to avoid going outdoors except as I have to in tending the feral colony. I've been able to quickly pet three of them so far as they eat (forget about it otherwise). But they do interact with me in terms of expressing their desire for food or water, or looking for assistance with bully raccoons.
Did I say I put away all the canned cat food? One whole shelf of my upper cabinets is now full, plus now I have extra paper plates. I fear my hoarding cleaner was correct, though, and that I really ought to return to regular plates, as I tend not to go out and round up the used paper plates until they start blowing away and I feel guilty about neighbors. hehe
Got through another year of Lark Rise to Candleford. I get really involved in the characters and dread the end of season four. But then I'll find another BBC series to get involved in, I am sure.
Last night I had a long dream and I was competing in one gymnastics Olympics event..at my age. LOL
diane
Posted: 03 January 2014 - 10:24 AM
Dianne my windshield wiper broke weeks ago and the replacement I bought is still in the trunk, guess I will go out and put it on today, since you reminded me!!
diane
Posted: 03 January 2014 - 10:21 AM
Dianne, what a challenge going through that bedroom, I totally understand moving something to a safe place, and not remembering where that safe place is. Max woke me up several times last night, so am pretty tired today, and still so grateful he is here. And extremely happy my living area is so clean. Reading your post dianne, made me think of all the crap I have to deal with in other rooms. when boss was here she asked questions about hoarding. She asked about a 36 year old relative who has clean living area but everything else is a mess, bags boxes , no organization etc. It brought me back to my late 30's and how I had one messy room and over the years the hoard kept growing until it filled every room. It was very clear to me that my inability to make decisions was at the bottom of much of the hoard. Indecisiveness continues to be a big part of why it is taking me so long to get rid of the hoard. I need very little to survive, and thrive for that matter, so why would I keep all this stuff that gets in the way of me thriving?
Dianne
Posted: 03 January 2014 - 10:09 AM
It is bitterly cold here, wind chills down to -10. But the brilliant sunshine on the snow is beautiful.
Yesterday half the metal blade of a windshield wiper broke off while I was driving. Today I was a little obsessed about going in and getting it fixed. But I know that is just an excuse for not wanting to stay home and work on the hoard.
My live-out daughter's room is so bad. It's one of those rooms where I have just tossed crap and shut the door. She wants me to find a small plastic crucifix that my grandmother gave me when I was 7 and I gave to Buffy when she was 7. Now Buffy wants to give to her daughter when she turns 7 in the beginning of February.
So one of the bad consequences of hoarding is hitting again. I remember she had kept it on her night table for years and then I moved it to a *safe place*. You know what that means. It might not even be in that room anymore.
The room is mostly filled with clothes, shoes, purses, stuffed animals, decorative pillows and everything she ever had as a child. I really hate to start shoving everything in bags and dragging it to the storage unit. But I don't want to make decisions either. So it's major avoidance.
Dianne
Posted: 03 January 2014 - 09:54 AM
Thanks Barb, for sharing about Trooper. He sounds like he was the very best of what you can have in a GSD. That says a lot for you and your husband as owners.
Dave, your assessment is a pretty good one. A lot of poor breeding and handling can mess up those dogs. And you sure don't want to be around a messed up, large, aggressive dog. I am very cautious around strange German Shepherds. Their owners adore them but it is a foolish person who says "my dog would never bite". I loved your story about the Dobie. You, my friend, have good receptor skills in doggy communication. :)
Diane, my fuzzy eyesight first read ~ Well Max the hoarder dog is here......for a split second I envisioned him piling toys in his bed. You did a great job of prepping for his owner to come and well deserve a break. Congratulations!!
diane
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 09:49 PM
Well Max the loaner dog is here, and I am so happy he is. I was so exhausted from cleaning all day, but it was worth it. When she was here I felt ok. Don't plan on working at all tomorrow, this was a long week preparing for visit today. Do plan to take pictures tomorrow. Cleanest it has been in years.
Dave
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 08:13 PM
I suppose I'm going to get into trouble here! My experience with German Shepards as a door to door salesman is that they are by and large mean, nasty, vicious animals. There was one who, even though I was talking with its owner in a calm voice, over a fence and the owner had not given it any verbal clues I was aware of, was barking and lunging. The owner told me that they often even had to lock it up when their daughter visited.
Fortunately for me, I did meet some friendly ones too. I pulled up in one farmyard which looked deserted, hopped out of my car and headed for the house, when around the corner of a barn came a herd of about 6 or 8 of them. I thought my new name was "lunch". They just gathered round and gamboled happily with me up to the house. ( I can't remember for sure, but I think the lady of that house was outside around the corner hanging up laundry so that potential threat got a little more under control fairly quickly.)
The best trained dog I ever met was, I think, a doberman pincher. I pulled up in a driveway. There was an old? dog lying on the porch. It didn't appear to show much interest so I got out of the car, went up the porch steps leaving the dog alone and reached up to knock on the door. I suddenly noticed the feeling of little points on one of my lower extremities. I put my hand back down by my side and the points went away. I backed up and turned to look at the dog. The dog just sat there and looked at me. I decided we both knew who was in charge and went back to my car. I wish I had been able to meet the dog's owner to compliment them. No barking, just did what it was trained to do. That was the most carefully controlled animal bite I have ever received. (Much different than trying to drag a cat out from under a car! :) )
Barb
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 03:02 PM
Dianne, Thanks for posting about your German shepherds. I miss my Trooper. He died shortly before Christmas two years ago and was my husband's dog. They had a very close bond. German shepherds are a very special breed of dog. They are very intelligent and don't tolerate stupid or indecisive people very well. They are not for everyone. I always knew Trooper would lay down his life to protect me but would "stand down" if I said so. He had a sixth sense of who could be trusted and I knew to trust his judgment of people. One afternoon, we started out on our daily neighborhood walk when he suddenly stopped and insisted on turning around and going home. When we got back, a strange car was in my neighbor's driveway. She was not home. Trooper led me around the house. A strange man was trying the back door and looking in the windows. He was trying to find a way to break into the house. How did Trooper know that something was wrong at home? I don't know. But I always felt safe with him around. My Miniature American Shepherds will bark loudly if someone comes to the door and they are a lot of fun. But there will never be another Trooper.
Dianne
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 12:35 PM
Roxie, yeah my guys are purebred, the grandparents are German and Czech all Schutzhund trained to the 3rd level which is most advanced. The breeder here had an accidental breeding and put out a sign on the road. I took the largest male for protection and a few weeks later she talked me into taking the runt who ended up growing as large as his brother but has multiple problems.
I had been attacked by a GSD about 25 years ago and it took a very long time to even be able to look at my own dogs' teeth without having to turn away. They were Belgian Groenendaels who look like long-haired black wolves and have a tendency to *smile*. Belgians (there are 4 coat types) are not for inexperienced dog owners and I'd had Border Collies so the breeder said I'd have no problem getting used to the Schutzhund temperament characteristics.
Boy was she wrong! The Belgians had less tolerance for stupid humans and were higher energy but the size and aggressive tendencies of the Germans were a lot more than I could handle at first. The European GSD's have that heavier head and are much larger than American bred lines. No elegance about them but they are stunningly handsome. My guys topped out at over 100 lbs. The sheer size and intense look will deter anybody.
Because of the behavioural problems I had (including 5 bad attacks by the so-called runt on other dogs) there was a complaint in 2 counties, the one I live in and the one I worked in where they went to work with me, to have them declared dangerous dogs. I took care of the counties' GSD police dogs at the kennel/emergency vet where I worked and was extremely lucky that contacts pretty much made the complaints go away. But I had the top cop trainer come out and work with me and them. She actually wore a full coverage protective body suit. Jackson really hated that suit.
So I learned that Schutzhund isn't just about a training style it's about having the characteristics that make for a highly trainable working dog bred into it. I learned never to help someone by taking a couple dogs off their hands just because they suddenly had to many to handle. I learned that those dogs are my last big dogs ever. When they were young I frequently had to go into the red zone myself and pin one down by the neck to break up a fight. I just don't have that strength or intensity myself anymore. I learned what a pain in the ass it is to have to have such a rigid schedule to keep Dakota from killing our smaller dogs and cats.
Jack did turn into a big, old oafie boy who loves his girlfriend Teeny Tiny Tina, a runty Pug who looks like a tiny English Mastiff. And the boys are amazing companions for Laura and my grandkids. And Kota turned into a great dog for helping us with physical tasks. Although now that he's blind and losing his ability to walk with his hind legs he just gets to have fun. He should be able to go into a wheelchair and learn it easily this spring. And he dearly loves *killing* his squeaker toys and gutting them. Also I don't worry about our safety at all anymore. Jack can still take somebody down and he hates men. Dakota follows his lead. :)
I love, love, love all my babies and could go on all day. But the rest of the day I'm taking in Christmas decorations from outside, seeing my shrink to ask about adjusting the meds, and starting to make inroads into Buffy's old bedroom.
That is a true hoarded room, in some areas over 5 feet high of stuff.
Tillie
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 12:16 PM
Good morning everybody :D
So good to read all your thoughts. That even though you struggle you keep working at it. You are all so much stronger than you realize and have overcome so many obsticles. This is what keeps me going, to hear how very hard you all try.
BIG WAY TO GO!!!!! to all of you! :D
Wish my hoarder would find the motivation to just "try".
Today I am cleaning up inside the house. The usual weekly general cleaning. Bathroom, floors, vacuum, dust, generally straighten. Sun is shining, sky is clear and blue. :D Have 3 loads of cat blankets out drying on the clothes line.
Keep up all the GREAT work! ;D
Barb
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 11:59 AM
Hi, Dave, Thanks for posting your thoughts yesterday on letting go of stuff. I just read "To Lead is to Serve" on Kindle. I have been a volunteer since my early Girl Scout Days and find it helps balance my life. Since I retired from my job Dec. 20, I want to keep volunteering regularly one or two days a week. As an extrovert, I need to get out of the house and socialize with others. It also fills my own need to be needed and appreciated. Your insights and analogies from the book give me a new attitude in letting stuff go. Many of we hoarders have suffered great loss. We hold on to stuff to fill the void. I am posting a quote from Shar McBee's "To Lead is to Serve" on the Encouragement Quotations page. It is on "Sacrifice".
diane
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 11:09 AM
When I got up and saw more clutter I missed last night, I wondered if it will ever end------then read your posts and felt so comforted, without you I would be in a very dark place. Thanks for reminding me of the progress I have made. It is a process, seeing more areas that can be improved. My mind goes to what areas are still bad, have to focus today on progress. The SUN is out today, hooray! Dave did you remember to take breaks after 15 minutes, that seems to help when I remember to do it. Roxie you express your self so well and are so kind. they brought out tons of potatoes in huge boxes. Most were good, maybe 3% were damaged, we got to pick through, any soft ones were given to cows. I cooked some red ones and they were so delicious. Dianne, always enjoy your posts. Barb, so happy you are here Tillie, read all the antenna stuff, thanks. Hope 2014 is a cleaner year for us all!!
Dave
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 09:00 AM
Diane, Wow! Really great progress!
Karl, Sounds like a lot of hard work, congratulations on working through all the choices.
Dave
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 08:57 AM
Roxie, just a note. That book has nothing to do with hoarding, or really even the ideas I expressed. I took a little nap and those thoughts popped up as a synthethis of that book and some other things I've read. The actual book is about managing volunteers in voluteer based organizations. I am having to find new ways to think to attempt convincing myself to do things I have no desire to do.
Roxie
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 08:03 AM
Good morning. Karl, WTG on getting the patio cleared.
Dave, that book sounds interesting, and seems to have Native American tones to it. Part of me has adapted my own variation on the "honoring" you outlined, but I call it gratitudes. Thanks for the reference to the book.
Barb, love your living like a dog idea. hehe Welcome back, and congrats on early retirement and time to do what you really want to do now, and jumping back into the decluttering and cleaning.
Diane, they could not sell the potatoes but they don't go bad after freezing? I could practically live on potatoes, so it must be that bit of Irish in me. You have done remarkable amounts of work in the past couple of months, not to mention the whole year.
Dianne, I can just see the GS pajama party. Do your GSs have the real GS look (mine was a mix so only did in color and pattern). Handsome dogs.
Tillie, I love your tending to nature as you do. That's in my heart, also. I have not done much this year in terms of tending to the song birds, but I will get back to it. When I first lived here, I would see whole flocks of cardinals or bluejays. Amazing sight. Cats never seemed to bother them.
Put dishes away, put all the canned cat food away, and took some things to the garbage bin, and sorted some mail. I made a last-minute donation online to Carolina Wildlife Rehab, and to Big Cat Rescue (Tampa).
I started watching on youtube "Lark Rise to Candleford." Amazingly absorbing. It is four seasons worth of videos. I finished the first season, which was a total of about 10 hours!
Hugs
Karl
Posted: 02 January 2014 - 05:58 AM
The apartment management recently sent out fliers, one of which said that they're planning to do "power washing" of this building January 2 and 3, and everything should be removed from the patio. So I spend some time tonight moving the busted electronics over to the dumpster area (I don't know if I can actually dump them there, or if I'm supposed to contact e-waste recyclers). I moved my bicycle and related stuff over to a fence in a public area that should be out of the way for now.
I had a few other items on the patio that were clearly trash; everything else is now down to three or four boxes, some of which are probably just boxes of containers, and one chair. I'm currently in the process of rearranging my room so that I can put that stuff inside.
Housemate says she's already cleaned her own stuff off of the patio, but I see there's still a couple of unopened sacks of potatoes (likely inedible after this much time), a case of bottled water, a tray of kitty litter (just in case she ever gets another cat), and a card table. Maybe she'll be able to deal with that stuff once mine is out of the way.
diane
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 11:55 PM
Well I finally took some stuff and hid it in the bedroom. Tomorrow I will vacuum everything, make sure all clutter is out of entryway, deck and living areas and bathroom. Funny I spend days stressing over a visit that will probably be less than an hour. The positive is that it forced me to really organize living areas, and tomorrow they will be totally clean. I am more aware of the importance of daily maintenance and really completing an area. I was making rooms "neat enough" and now I want them to stay organized like they are now. For the first time in 20 years, I can see the possibility of having a comfortable living area, that I am not ashamed of. I see that as I live in a clean area I will be able to see what I need and what is extra stuff that I do not need.
Dave
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 06:36 PM
I read some chapters in a book called To Lead is To Serve today. So it strikes me that a [reforming] hoarder could lead space and things by serving them.
By discarding broken things with gratitude for their service, one can honor the people who made them for their work, honor the things for their service, and one's own space by allowing it to contain useful things.
By giving away useful things that one is unwilling or unable to use, one honors the things and the people who made them by granting the things an opportunity to serve someone else who requires their services.
By removing broken and unused things, one honors one's space by giving it the opportunity to display beauty and tools useful in supporting a person's requirements for daily living.
diane
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 06:12 PM
T,hanks for posting, so great hearing all that goes on in your life. Thanks Tillie for antenna info. Got up and got to work on cleaning, then at 9am sue called and asked me to go with her to go an organic farm that had a bunch of potatoes freeze and were giving away free organic potatoes, since could not sell the good ones because exposed to bad ones. It was miles out in the country where I had never been. We got lots of good little red and gold potatoes. they are out on towels drying off now, Leave dirt on and store in dark place, they were a little damp so have to dry before putting away. Wasted lots of time laying them out and flipping. Gave some to neighbor today, will give some to Sandy when she brings Max tomorrow. Still have tonight and tomorrow to finish cleaning. I love my living room now. Have to take a picture so don't start leaving stuff around again. I like the colors in here, great art, nice job putting things together that are pleasing. It is really self care having a clean living room that I feel serene in, thanks to all of you on this journey with me. Took all the donations to thrift store today. Went to Bimart and bought lots of the old type light bulbs since they can not make them anymore. I love those bulbs in winter because they have heat, then use the newer ones in summer that don't make heat. They were almost sold out so I was happy I got them today. They did not have 100w, which I like to use to help prevent depression in winter. 75w is ok. Is it true the new kind have mercury in them, just heard that today.
Tillie
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 02:52 PM
Dianne :) WAY TO GO!!! for recognizing your triggers and going so far as to leave the store with the minimum. Stores spend MILLIONS of dollars to set up merchandise to work on our subconscious. Having to go back to get the rest of your list is a small price to pay for breaking their hypnotic hold on you. Keep up the great work and you will begin to become immune to the psychology.
(((HUGS)))
Dianne
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 01:07 PM
Tillie, my mom used to make a big corned beef and cabbage dinner every New Year's Day for the Irish side of our family. My dad's Scottish tradition was to wrap coins for each of us with our names and the outgoing and incoming year on them. Leave them outside on a windowsill on New Years's Eve and bring them in on New Year's Day for prosperity all year. Between the two traditions we always had enough. :)
Barb, I love to take lessons from my dogs too. Such basic common sense they have.
I went to several stores this morning with specific purchases in mind. As usual there was way too much calling my name. So I got what I can't make ~ milk, apples, green peppers ~ and some dry goods and came home before finishing my list. I was kicking myself for wasting the time and gas to make two trips since I have to go back out but I needed to break the *buying trance* that was coming over me.
Barb
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 12:21 PM
Happy New Year All! I love starting a new year. It always seems so full of promise, new beginnings and possibilities. I used to try to write resolutions with lofty ideals for the year. No more. I am learning to live like my dogs---one day at a time, one moment at a time. They know how to live in the moment without the burdens of the past or fear of the future. I wish for all of you peace and good health in 2014.
Tillie
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 12:03 PM
Good morning :D
Hi Diane :) When the dog gets there just have wonderfully doggy type fun! :D
Hi Roxie :) WAY TO GO! for all the things you have accomplished! :D
Hi Dianne :) Doggy sleepover sounds so cute. ;)
Sleepy today. Gunfire & fireworks got the cats all spooked and it took a while to get them all back in bed. Have laundry hanging out on the clothes line under clear blue skies. :D Tomorrow will be a BIG cleaning day for me. Mr. Hoarder finally goes back to work, YEA! So whatever I clean will stay clean for at least a few hours. :D Wish I had corned beef & cabbage. Supposed to eat corned beef & cabbage new year's day. Oh Well. Rather than buy expensive beef, instead I bought a 3 pack of new undies for me. ;D
read these links and if you still need more info just search "grounding roof antennas" for more info. :)
Dianne
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 09:22 AM
Hey Roxie, was wondering how you were. I was hoping for quiet here too but the inevitable fireworks went off. I thought big explosives for private use were illegal in Maryland but we're in a rural area so it must be who cares? But part of me thinks it's pretty cool too because the next door neighbors are building really amazing family memories for their brood with all the activities they have going on there.
I got an early start today and plan to prep for the next blast of cold coming in. The wind chill temps will be in the low single digits and other than quick potty runs we'll all be staying indoors.
So I'll head to the grocery store and get in some stuff to cook, Petsmart for cat litter, bring in enough water jugs so they don't freeze, and wash all the animal bedding. The laundryroom has been layered wall to wall with layers of fleece bedding for the German Shepherds. They look like they are having a doggy sleepover when they go to bed. Big silly goofs with their squeaker toys. :)
I tossed out some cheap cat food for my crow family of 5 and will set out some finch food and a little something for the squirrel friends. Hopefully their bellies will be full and they can hunker down the next few days. Mr. Fox gets the bigger leftovers and can eat anything. I try not to get them dependent but in bad weather they seem to know there will be food, shelter and warm water here.
Roxie
Posted: 01 January 2014 - 07:20 AM
Hi, my chatty friends. Miss one day here and look how busy you are. It's great to see.
Happy New Year! I had a quiet one except for people shooting off guns or fireworks (at least that's what it sounded like).
Monday I went and stocked up on cat supplies, then to grocery store, then to get gasoline in the car. Put away all the groceries, but still have to put away the canned cat food.
I washed and put away another sink full of dishes, took things out to the garbage bin, sealed up some recycle bags that need to go into the car for recycling center.
To each of you I wish you a happy and prosperous year to come.
diane
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 11:17 PM
Thanks Cory, we all appreciate this site so much. Tillie, funny girl, yes the dog will appreciate all my work!!!!!!!! Actually, as soon as she leaves the dog and I will go play in the yard and get as dirty as possible. Thanks for the laugh. Thursday at about 4pm, I will be stashing and dashing, actually should be ok by then. Is the wire aluminum or steel that goes to ground? Thanks for input.
Tillie
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 10:55 PM
Happy New Year Cory (((hugs)))
Cory Chalmers
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 10:47 PM
Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all have a safe night and here is to an incredible 2014 for each of you. Keep up the hard self work, and keep using this message board to find the support that we all need through life. I wish you all the best in everything you do. You are all my friends and so happy you found this site :)
Cory Chalmers
Tillie
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 10:29 PM
WOW! so many posts to read! :D
Hi Barb :D Great to catch up with you and hear how you are. :D Looking forward to working along side you this new year. The grocery store was pretty empty of people and I only had to wait 2 minutes for my turn to check out. Perfect timing.
Hi Diane :D WAY TO GO! on all your tidying up! Hope the dog appreciates all the hard work you have done for it. ;) lol I don't know if being in a tree is good or not for reception. My antenna has a long wire on it that goes to the ground and is attached to a grounding rod that is driven deep into the earth. So, if lightning hits it the bolt will be directed safely into the earth. (((hugs))) we all have occasional melt downs, no need to apologize. :)
Hi Dianne :D You have a wonderful way of saying things. (((hugs)))
Hi Karl :D
Hi Dave :D So very sorry you got that nasty paper cut. ;) WAY TO GO! dealing with that paperwork! I think papers are the hardest thing for people to make decisions about. Even I have a hard time deciding what to do with papers so I just throw them all away which tends to not be the right decision at times.
Unclutter your life in one week? The only way that my hoarder could accomplish that is if he hired Cory's company. ;D
diane
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 08:42 PM
sorry it is going so slowly Dave, glad you keep at it, in spite of frustration
diane
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 08:39 PM
Pressure of having unwanted company Thursday really kept me moving today. Things are looking better. Took donations to garage, then realized have to load car. I cram-packed the car with donations. No wonder garage looked so bad, had so much to donate. I was waiting to have a pick up, so just kept gathering stuff, then today, just loaded it into car. Did not go to store, just worked all day. Nothing like company to put the pressure on to clean. I attached a cable to the huge antenna, it is about 10 or 12 feet tall with really long arms. It is so big, I don't want it to be visiable so I stuck it in a big aspen tree. Not sure if that is ok. I will try it on tv tomorrow. When tree leafs out, will I still get signal? Is it dangerous for lightening? Hurt back while tying it to tree, so resting now. If it doesn't work, it may live in the tree! I cleaned more stuff from deck and entryway today. she is coming between 5-6pm with dog so at least it will be dark so she cant see my hidden stuff. Tomorrow will continue to focus on living area where she will be. It is looking better, still need to finish some areas.
Dianne
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 06:15 PM
Barb, that book is on the main page of the unclutterer site I mentioned earlier.
Yeah one week, wouldn't that be sweet? :)
Dianne
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 06:12 PM
Karl, I moved my answer/question over to your Techie thread.
Dave
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 05:29 PM
Diane, I have, last night and today, learned what you are really coping with that I really haven't recognized. I don't have the time right now to make that make sense, but I think you are showing strength, flexibility and resilience in the things you are doing. 1 comparison thing, I spent over an hour today, even with some help, dealing with 14 pieces of paper, mostly receipts. (I also whined at great length when I cut my finger digging around in the recycle bucket for an envelope I wanted to reclaim. :) .
I hope you are able to continue doing your good work.
Dave
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 05:20 PM
In my area, Big Lots had 8gb ones, for, i think, under $10.
Karl
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 04:26 PM
OK, Dianne, next question -- do you have a small portable drive with a USB plug on it? This is sometimes called "thumb drive", "flash drive", "data stick", or "pen drive"; the Wikipedia entry has a picture and more info. If you do have one, do you know how much storage it contains?
It's not critical that you have one, but one suggestion I found online was to boot your computer off of a thumb drive instead of the hard drive's operating system, and then wipe the hard drive from there. Since thumb drives have even made an appearance in the impulse shopping rack at supermarket checkouts, I figure there's a reasonable chance that you've encountered one.
diane
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 04:09 PM
great book title Barb. After many months I must be doing something wrong, better read that book so can finish in a week. I worked too long today, and started feeling anxious so took a break, realized had not eaten yet, already feel better reading your posts on here. Dianne, "crazy" has been a word I fear being called, so glad you enjoyed trip to crazy ville with me. I like the idea of focusing on the area where people will be. Have to get locks for other doors!!! Imagine if they peaked in and fainted, hit their head and we had to call paramedics
Barb
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 02:39 PM
I just had the ad for the book Unclutter Your Life in One Week pop up on my screen. HaHaHaHaHa! What a good laugh! Oh, if it were only that easy! Anyone who can clear out all the clutter in one week doesn't really know what clutter is.
Dianne
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 02:02 PM
Barb, each year I have the same goal for the following Christmas and every year I fail.
But I like what you listed ~ just the rooms you actually need to entertain. I could do that. I don't need every bedroom done or the whole basement. Just the rooms that people will be enjoying themselves in.
Good goals. :)
Dianne
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 01:56 PM
Diane, that's what I call taking a ride thru Crazy Town. :)
Things build up, we flip shit, the top of our heads pop off and steam clouds shoot out of our ears like a cartoon character.
You have such a gift for ripping the cover off what is bothering you, looking at it in the face and dealing with it. Like telling your boss you feared she would judge you for the remaining mess and asked to meet elsewhere. That's huge. I would have been a coward and made an excuse.
It's that kind of strength that has helped you with every miracle you have accomplished this year.
And here's another miracle for you to celebrate with us ~ you had the strength to expose that ride thru Crazy Town with us and show us that it is just a bump in the road and so much good can come out of it!
I'm very happy that you trust us that much.
When we think we least deserve it is when we most deserve support.
I'm also happy that you're ending the old year with such a burst of productive energy!
Dianne
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 01:28 PM
Found an interesting website a few days ago.
unclutterer.com
Sorry I don't know how to do links. There are dozens of categories to check out. I just started reading their section on books which is a huge problem area for me. Good info on how to sort thru and what to do with books you get rid of.
Their hoarding section is stuff we probably already know.
It's more a site for getting things organized which might be helpful to those here who have already managed to get a fair amount out and need ideas to keep things neat and accessible.
The category Inherited Clutter has good info.
diane
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 01:28 PM
Barb, I am so happy you are seeing such great progress and that you know today you are tired and need to slow down. Nice you can give yourself permission to take it easy, I am still learning that. I wish you continued success
diane
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 01:26 PM
Thanks Tillie, when I am out today I will find a long cable of any old type then, excited about attaching that huge old antenna, now that know I can use any old thing. Actually saw really long cable under the house that the last people left, I will try that first, looks extremely old. Goal continues to be use the stuff already hear before buy anything. MIRACLE REPORT: Sunday after my turn in chat I asked for more time and discovered the terror I was having thinking of my boss/friend coming here thursday to loan me her dog. I burned the terror in my fire yesterday, and today I got up with a new attitude. I know others must look for feelings under anger/terror/fear etc. and I was able to do that for myself this morning. I also know when mad etc I get, it is time for a change. I looked at my living area with new eyes, as if someone I respect was here to help me. I cleaned up several areas. The bump in the road could have sent me shopping, but instead I have now used all that energy to make a huge impact on living area. So the miracle is not being paralyzed by negative feelings but to look at them and see what I could do to make it better. reading Diannes post and tillies, made me know it was time for a huge attitude shift. Sorry I dealt so poorly with it last week, and thanks for all the support when I least deserved it.
Barb
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 12:49 PM
Hi Tillie, It's good to sign on to the post and find someone in a great attitude. I wouldn't bet on the grocery store being quiet today. People have the day off and are out shopping for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day party supplies. I finished completely cleaning and sanitizing my refrigerator and freezer compartment yesterday. (The power outage had made quite a mess in there.) I went to the grocery last night to restock the basics. The clerks were all quite busy at 8 p.m. and I had to wait in line at the check out. I would love to jump in again today, but I am tired from yesterday and my legs hurt from getting up and down off the floor. Part of getting older is trying to learn to pace myself. I need to do laundry and catch up on the dishes. If the optometrist is open, I will pick up my glasses which are already paid for. That may be all I get done today. I am planning a quiet evening at home to see in the new year. My goal for 2014 is to be able to invite people in by Christmas time next year. That means having a kitchen, entry, living area, and the bathroom clean and clutter free. I can do this! Have a very pleasant day and blessings on you in 2014. Barb
Dianne
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 12:32 PM
Tillie, you said it beautifully!!!
Happy New Year everyone!
Tillie
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 11:37 AM
Good morning :D The sun has finally burned through the fog!!! :D YEA!!!
Planning on going to the grocery store today. Should be fewer people now that all those after xmas sales are almost all over with.
My wish for the new year. With so much hatred, suffering and tragedy going on in the world... My wish is for everyone to find inner peace. Acceptance of other's differences. Forgiveness even for the unforgivable. Walk in peace. (((hugs)))
Tillie
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 11:28 AM
Diane, We had a huge antenna on the garage connected to the analog tv with a cable. When he bought me a large flat screen HDTV I attached the old antenna cable to it. Using the huge old roof top antenna I get great HDTV on the new tv. Plus now I get 27+ channels rather than the 3 fuzzy ones I used to get.
diane
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 10:27 AM
Karl, with new HDTV can you use any cable to connect to antenna, or does it have to be a new cable just for HDTV. Don't know if cables are all the same or if they are different for cable vs antenna. Tillie, how is white death? still foggy brain? Did dishes and put all away. This morning plan to finish papers in living room, then tidy up living room and dining room. then for reward will do whatever I feel like outside. Today have to go to town and pick up prescription, go to store and buy food and also more board insulation for opening in skirting.
Dianne
Posted: 31 December 2013 - 10:00 AM
Thanks, Diane. One of my favorite childhood memories is the smell of burning leaves.
Karl, I turned the computer off and on and it said Windows 7. I looked at the pictures (thank you so much for doing that!) and the computer I have now and the last one are like the first picture. Not that I can see those plugs now but I remember them from when one of my brothers set them up. The second picture looks familiar and I saw it next to one of the outlets in the first pic.
