glad you are feeling better today, CM and glad you can find things to do without harming yourself physically.

I didn't do much today but was feeling better after cleaning up cat's food area and running dishwasher. I took out recycling and have plenty of garbage to take out tomorrow. I also got rid of a screen I couldn't seem to part with. My front windows don't have screens, so two decades ago I bought screens that fit in while window is open. Later I found better, taller screens which allow for better flow. But I kept the two shorter ones. Then ten years ago I got rid of one of the two. Today, I realized that Justin Case never happened and I threw it out.
Felt good.

Helloooo Tillie and I hope you are well. Anony, you can start phase Six of this so buttons will appear. I can't figure out the fields.

Hi everyone. I'm trying to be more positive today. Thanks for putting up with me! Greatly appreciated. I can do this!!!

Hi everyone, Hi Anony. If you make your screen bigger you'll see the tiny buttons. I was going to start Phase Six, which would cure the problem but I couldn't figure out how to fill out the fields. Tillie would you mind making a Phase Six?

Well I vacuumed the bedroom and cleaned two of the tables. I also started to purge heavily. My weight has ballooned something awful and I was upset so I started to purge things in my closet. Although I was panicking and upset, I do feel better.

I had a Christmas party tonight, just over a mile from my house and it was a nice brisk walk. I didn't overeat, which was a good thing. I had brought shoes to change into and the heels were too high and I was having trouble walking--kept me away from the food tables! HAH!

Had a very fun time at the Christmas Party. I get invited to a lot of parties through work and this is the only one I go to. It's always a wonderful evening.

I am feeling better AND motivated so I will work from home again tomorrow to hopefully find time to do cleaning and purging. Even 20 minutes here or there' helps a lot.

Thank you everyone for your support. Sorry to be in a foul mood. I try not to be so upset but it piles up. (Inadvertent pun/yup its all the piles around here that are killing me)

Hi Tillie, Hi CM.

GIANT HUGS! Group hug!

CM, now is not the time to beat yourself up. You are recovering from surgery and rest is the best thing to do for yourself. It's easy to start with the self-loathing (raising my hand here) and we need to break out of it! I too am completely disgusted with myself. We own too much stuff. But taking care of ourselves needs to come first. Baby steps. I don't know re go-fund-me, as people are seemingly fatigued from all the go-fund-me requests. I live in an urban area and work in a big company and there are a lot of accounts out there. Not trying to discourage you, just trying to set some realistic expectations. If I were near you, I'd help in a minute.

Tillie oh boy. New kittens in the house. It is scary that the shelters get full-up. I guess it happens with people shelters too but it's always so shocking to me.

So it looks like the three of us are headed to a nervous breakdown. I am sick over the mess here. Sick. Yet am I doing anything?

Okay, I'm working from home today. I'm actually going to take a lunch for a change and DO SOMETHING. I'm yellling at myself here. I got one bag of recyclables to donation center but other bag broke. I will report back soon to you all. I feel so blah and terrible. I think anything I do will be an improvement in my mood and house.

Hello :)

Hi CriticalMass :)

Hi Tatoulia :)

Been running ragged here.
Finally caught the kittens and have been trying to find some "no kill" shelter or foster home that will take them.
They all claim to be all filled up, no room.
This means they are in this tiny house with my 5 indoor cats who do NOT want them here so they are acting up badly.
Well, Twinkles likes them a little and I have him baby sitting them as I write this.
Anyways...
I feel on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Another day, another time to try making more phone calls.
Please wish me luck. :D

Not too much to tell . . . I am facing some discouragement right now with the storage unit and other things. I've been out there looking for specific items, which I can never find, but there is no shortage of STUFF. Which bugs me no end.

My poor tortured postoperative digestive system did some minor acting up this weekend. I'm not sure of the cause. I can think of 2-3 possibilities. It wasn't really bad, just odd, but I get nervous when anything starts to get hinky, fearing that it means something's going wrong.

Today it's better. The fluffy kitty has come in and slept with me these couple of nights. Don't know if he just feels sorry for me or really likes it on my bed!

I'm glad my tummy is better today and pray it continues to be! The storage unit, though, feels like a small corner of hell . . . I know I'm behind because of losing weeks of time to recuperation. Trying not to fear it's going to be impossible to ever get where I want to be with all of it. Wonder how much it costs to hire minions and if I could do a GoFundMe . . .

Hoping everyone has a happy day; I'll try not to be so gloomy next time, but I needed to get it off my chest . . . thanks for being here . . . life's ups and downs, you know.

Kitties!! There little tails are so cute! Nice work in keeping them fed, Tillie. graat work.

I slept all day. It was my day and I decided to sleep and it was great. Now it's nearly 6:30 PM & im still in pjs. I may get dressed and take the recycling out.

I am still working to get rid of stuff. It is difficult. I have to get my donation bags to the center. I am taking tomorrow off yo spend with Mom to do some Christmassy stuff together. Not shopping, just going to enjoy a few things

I am keeping up with laundry but not much more. I think I will get some music on and get going. Music is the most helpful thing when I need to putter.

Quick drive by. Going to climb into bed--clean sheets!

Good to hear from you all. Tillie, CM & KC.

I always copy my posts so that when they do not show up I can paste them and re-post.
Posts not posting is a very common problem with this message board.

Hi KC :)

Hi CriticalMass :)
YEA! that you plan to join in the December challenge! :D
Very happy to hear you are recuperating well and also taking good care of your health in general.
(((HUGS)))

Went grocery shopping.
Have food again. :)
Been looking for a "cat perch" for a while.
WallyWorld finally had one that would work for my lardass cats.
Assembled it, rubbed it down with fresh cat nip and the cats say they like it ok.
So maybe now they will cut me some slack being cooped up in here day after day during the cold Winter months.
Yeah, right :P

KC, I see your post from today. The site has been a bit hinky lately though. I've had some double posts as you can see. Next time you post, put a code word in for the next poster. Like, say, "today's code word is 'banana'." And if your post shows up, let the next poster type "banana" to show that yours posted.

My posts aren't showing up?

My posts aren't showing up?

Happy Weekend!

Tillie, I like your December challenge idea. And I'm sure I can find at least ONE thing I've been procrastinating on (ROTFLaughing Mah Butt Off!).

So I'll decide what it's going to be and post it later and then post when it's done. Or maybe both at the same time.

Yesterday I had my followup appointment with my surgeon, finally. He noticed my weight loss, which I am so pleased with, but he was worried that maybe I was not getting enough nutrients to heal, especially protein, and that the muscles would suffer.

I told him I have been conscious of protein as being important and have been incorporating it. I asked how many grams a day he recommends. The number sounded like eating a side of beef a day! But I'll work towards it if that's what my body needs. Certainly don't want to mess up any of this. Also asked about when and what exercises to do.

It's good to have all this concrete information - I don't do well with vagueness and guesswork on stuff like this. So I'm going to sit down and make lists of foods I like in the various food groups (I know it really doesn't all have to be meat - beans and stuff are good too) and how many protein grams are in the servings, then I can keep track of my intake.

After my appointment I went out to the storage unit to pay the rent and I looked in my unit. This time it was discouraging - I saw the disarray and the things stacked precariously, I saw how much there was still left rather than the progress. I've also been backsliding a bit on "acquisitions" - I think being free to drive again and having been cooped up tempts me into that "hunter gatherer" frame of mind, on the prowl for shiny objects.

But - I'm aware of it and working on the self talk and the "one in, one out" concept. Hoping today to get out and do errands for supplies. Weather's not great, but passable, and if I can get pet supplies, groceries, etc. then I will be needing to go out less and less. During the holiday traffic and crowds time, going out becomes less and less appealing the closer it gets to Christmas. So that should balance out the restless urges. And I have so much to do at home, particularly laundry. Also much catching up on my blogging.

I've said this before, but it bears repeating - we who struggle with hoarding urges are often such creative people with many interests, and have trouble choosing just one, and we love "gear" for any new pastime we take up. This gets us in a lot of trouble! This TED Talk about "multipotentiates" describes me to a T. If you're interested, watch it and let me know if it describes you also:


Emilie Wapnick TED Talk - Multipotentiates

Hello! :D

Hi Joan :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
YEA! Tatoulia!
Thanks for joining in the end of the year challenge!!! :D

Since we have rural route USPS mail delivery and the box is out across the road from my house
I kept an eye out for the letter carrier so I would be ready to go out and get my delivery this morning.
Nice that there is the online update for parcels so I know when they are being delivered. ;D
While waiting I went through all the items he has in the freezer on the fridge.
He has it totally packed with food and some of it was dated 2014.
I took the liberty of tossing that and some stuff that had lots of freezer frost on it.
He won't notice.
I use the deep freezer for my stuff and he has the whole fridge freezer for his stuff.
He buys meat that is reduced for quick sale because the use by date is up.
Then he puts it in the fridge freezer and never uses it anyway.
After it's two years old I toss it because the freezer on the fridge is not a deep freeze and doesn't preserve foods forever.

:D

Hi Tillie. Hi Joan. Quick drive by. Need to leave for work. Like your ide Tillie--what can I shed before end of year--what nagging thing do I want to see gone!?!

There is a great yoga pose for resting your back, called "shavasana". Lay on your back on the floor, with blankets underneath you and on top of you, and something comfy under your head. Then put your knees, shins, and feet up on the seat of a chair. Quite addictive❗️

DECEMBER 1st. already!

Hi Tatoulia :)
Thank you (((HUGS)))
My blind cocker spaniel used to sit under the clothes line waiting for her blanket to dry.
WTG! for getting errands done even in the cold rain. :)

December, the last month of 2016.
I challenge you all to do one small little thing that you have been putting off so that you don't have to carry this task into the new year.
Not talking about any huge major complicated thing.
It can be as simple as straightening out your sock drawer.

The cupboards in my kitchen do not go all the way up to the ceiling.
I have lined the tops with newspaper to make dust clean up easier/quicker.
I have a few items displayed up there.
This month, sometime, I will get up there, remove the things and papers and wipe down that area, wash the displayed things and put them back up.
It's an easy area to ignore so I spend a lot of time ignoring it. ;D

You set a great example for us, Tillie.

Kitty was so thrilled when her main blanket came out of the dryer WARM. She was pretty cute.

Despite the cold & very rainy day, I did get to mom''s and the pharmacy.

Time for bed. GREAT work, Tillie! Relax your back. And mind and spirit. You need some relaxation time!

Great job in the pantry, Tillie! So glad to hear no critters found their way in! Nice to hear from you CM! Great work on the storage bin! I too am very tired these days. I need to face the fact that less sunshine really does mean less energy for me. For you, the surgery is for sure taking it out of you. I concur with Tillie's suggestion to schedule in some fun time.

I am working from home today. Am washing kitty's blankets and she has her nose out of joint.
I need to force myself to go to pharmacy to get meds today and I need to drop some things off at mom's.

Have a good day everyone!!

It took me a bit longer again than I meant to to get back here. Probably would've posted on Saturday but a sudden change of plans (not initiated by me) got me in a bit of a snit. I had gone to the storage unit and done a bit of good there - being as careful as I could not to overdo any lifting due to my recent surgery.

It'd take too long to go into the details of how I got all off track that day, and it doesn't matter anyway since I'm now getting back on track and yesterday I got the stuff I pulled out of storage off to the thrift stores. Sadly, the centralized thrift bookstore isn't making it and will close soon, but they said the thrift stores will still accept books. I know I'll have more books I want to get rid of. The library also maintains a sale bookstore, so I can also donate them there.

I'm going through some clothes as well, and other miscellaneous. Just bit by bit as my time, energy, etc. permit. I've been kind of tired and I don't know if that's long-term surgery recovery, a touch of winter blahs, or what. I want to work on creative projects as well as decluttering, but my mind is unfocused. Hoping a bit more rest will fix that.

Welcome to the gang, KC - I love your motivational goals - that's the way to do it! Sometimes we can feel like we're trying to drain the ocean with a teaspoon, but we just gotta keep going! I noticed in my storage I can now get from one end of it to the other - it's a narrow, jagged path, but last year I could only get about 2/3 of the way before running into the "Pile from Hell"! LOL! So that is encouraging, and you'll discover similar victories as you go.

It took me a bit longer again than I meant to to get back here. Probably would've posted on Saturday but a sudden change of plans (not initiated by me) got me in a bit of a snit. I had gone to the storage unit and done a bit of good there - being as careful as I could not to overdo any lifting due to my recent surgery.

It'd take too long to go into the details of how I got all off track that day, and it doesn't matter anyway since I'm now getting back on track and yesterday I got the stuff I pulled out of storage off to the thrift stores. Sadly, the centralized thrift bookstore isn't making it and will close soon, but they said the thrift stores will still accept books. I know I'll have more books I want to get rid of. The library also maintains a sale bookstore, so I can also donate them there.

I'm going through some clothes as well, and other miscellaneous. Just bit by bit as my time, energy, etc. permit. I've been kind of tired and I don't know if that's long-term surgery recovery, a touch of winter blahs, or what. I want to work on creative projects as well as decluttering, but my mind is unfocused. Hoping a bit more rest will fix that.

Welcome to the gang, KC - I love your motivational goals - that's the way to do it! Sometimes we can feel like we're trying to drain the ocean with a teaspoon, but we just gotta keep going! I noticed in my storage I can now get from one end of it to the other - it's a narrow, jagged path, but last year I could only get about 2/3 of the way before running into the "Pile from Hell"! LOL! So that is encouraging, and you'll discover similar victories as you go.

Hi Tillie--thanks for the description of your cleaning process. Very helpful for me to visualize and adapt to my own life. You are so hardworking.

I am tired from the office today. Although only 8:30 here, I'm ready to wash my face and call it a night. I took my two large bags of garbage out tonight and a large bag of recycling. I did one load of laundry. So much more to be done but I'm tired. So o will take care of myself for tonight.

KC I hope you had a good day at. work.

Ps all of my emails today were from people trying to get my cyber dollars. No thanks/I'm opting out this year. Just want to be with my loved ones. But really it was disgusting how many businesses tried to get my money today. Absolutely disgusting.

Great work KC! Superb! I wish I could say my kitchen is clean. But I'm getting there. Right now it's the least cluttered it's been. Let's do this! You are helping me a lot, KC! I am leaving for work soon too. We can do this.

I'll see you after work tonight! Tonight is garbage night so I'll feel a sense of accomplishment once the bags are out.

Tillie, thanks for the cheers. You know this goes so much better for me when I'm posting. I have to go get ready for work. Just enjoying a cup of coffee after my shower. I'm tired after so many days off! Hope you have a wonderful day! Let us know what you are doing today. Hello to Marty & Scooter and the other cats.

I cleaned my front bathroom toilet and the counter and sink. And set alarms to call and make apps tomorrow for eyes and dentist. I go to bed feeling a little accomplished. Tomorrow I need to do at least 30 minutes of work. I work 10 hour days and don't get home until almost 7 pm. Getting supper ready is a chore. So, maybe just finishing the bathroom. And doing one chore in living room. See u ladies. Still have to tackle the family talk.

Well I got my clothes hung up and put away and did my two loads of laundry. Waiting on 2nd to dry. Kitchen is clean. 2 bags of trash taken out. 2 donation bags. Thank u so much for helping me. I like how this works. Keeps it fresh on my mind, even when I'm resting. See u guys tomorrow.

2 donation bags & two trash bags. Shredded mail, cleaned cat box. Doing one last load of laundry before calling it a night.

Thanks for the help KC & Tillie.

Checking in--didn't nap but I did eat. I'm doing another load of laundry and puttering in kitchen. Have a bag of recyclables together and one bag of trash. Just cleaned kitty's placemat and dishes. Have dishwasher ready to run later. Am working on donation bag.

Just threw out my container of condiment packets. At first I sorted and was only going to keep a few, then I tossed them all,

Cleaned one kitchen counter. Going to putter some more.

Hey KC something I had to learn: throw out/recycle boxes. No matter how cute, how good, how strong. Another thing I've learned: Sometimes it's more important to just throw out than getting to donation center. This is your/my/our sanity at stake here.

Yay! Congratulations KC! Congratulations Tillie!

I am back from getting mom out and I'm tired. I may nap a bit. I haven't eaten either, so I'm torn what to do first.

KC,let me tell you, you have come to the right place. Something I've found to be true is if I slip and don't do anything, I don't post. And the less I post, the less I do. So post whether you have something to "report," or not. Glad you are here. Great work today!

I put my groceries away and I have some stuff to put into recycle bag. I will do this as I ponder whether I should nap or eat. I think I'll make a quick bite then nap

YEA!!!
WAY TO GO! KC :D
Great start.

I have vacuumed & straightened the dining room area because I need that space to put the stuff as I take it out of the pantry.
Worst of it was ALL the darn cat toys.
I made 3 equal piles out of all of them.
One pile for the trash, one pile for the poor kitties in the animal shelter and one pile that they can keep.
Scooter says I'm mean. ;P
It snowed again but now the sun is shining.

Just so I meet my goal and end on success, I will hang up clothes from the love seat. Wash, dry and put away 2 loads of laundry. I've already cooked and put dishes in dishwasher. Just being able to speak openly without being judged is such a shot in the arm. I will put 2 bags of donations in my car and two bags of trash to trashcan. Than u so much. I have someone in my corner!

Good plan. I bet it was beautiful outside with the snow. I'm going to get dressed now and take mom out.

I have done one load of laundry and emptied the clean dishes from the dishwasher and refilled it with more dishes. I am going to hang laundry and call mom.

KC! TILLIE!

let's do this! I will modify for now so that we are doing it together! I will gather up TWO bags of garbage and TWO bags of donations and I will do it today!

KC you've come to the right place! What is reasonable for you to do today?

Tillie that is a lot of work! Keep us advised of your progress!

KC
I once was where you are now.
No kids but a totally cluttered and filthy home.
The hoarder man would not stop accumulating or clean up his mess.
What I did...
I started small, the end table beside the couch.
I bagged up everything on it, under it and surrounding it.
Placed the bags in his bedroom or garage.
From there I slowly worked my way around the living room bagging all his stuff and putting it out of my sight.
I then cleaned the area and defended it vigorously.
Anything "new" he dropped there was immediately removed and put in "his" areas.
I called my areas "NO CLUTTER ZONES".
Eventually the inside of my home was clear and clean.
I have not allowed him to re-clutter my "ZONES" but he can clutter his bedroom, garage, carport and yard.
It's hard living with someone who does not value a clean home but we must stand up for ourselves with something as important as this.

My house is getting the best of me. I'm so overwhelmed that I rarely get much done. I have teenage kids that often add to the mess and a husband who is constantly bring more stuff in and making his own mess. I've read books, watched shows but I'm stuck. The condition of my house is not only dirty and cluttered but now major work needs to be done on it. I just need to set some goals and get busy. I would like to start in the living room first. I need to clear the floor of dirt, trash and stuff that doesn't belong in here. Hang up clothes that were dumped on the couch. Clean and vacuumore the furniture. Vacuum all spider webs up. And sweep, vacuum and mop floor. And dust. That would be an awesome start. I get little support from my family. I don't do a good job of asking/demanding either. Just tired of not living normal and hiding from friends and family. My kids never have friends over. I send them to their friends houses. Is this a place that can help me?

Hi KC! So glad you are back. There are a lot of different threads here, The Daily Chat is by far the most active.

We post our successes, our struggles, etc here. Sometimes we have a challenge, which is voluntary, such as pick an area to clean or post what you've accomplished. For a while we did an Indoor Challenge, where we would post what we took care of indoors. Sometimes we have a monthly one. I find if I post, I get more done. What do you need help with? Do you know where to start? When I first came on here everyone cheered me and helped me get rid of my books, books, books and other treasures I really need another Cleanout and would happily join you.

I could honestly stand to get rid of five bags/boxes to goodwill. What are your thoughts? You'll see that Tillie recently wrote me a post discussing paring down items. I found it very helpful

There is also an online support group--press the red button on the right, which I think meets twice a week. I do not partake in that as it doesn't fit me as well as posting here does.

Still trying to figure this online group out. Got to figure out how to bookmark on my phone. Need a buddy to help me get motivated to clean. I had heard it's a good accountable way to accomplish cleaning and decluttering goals.