Good morning!

Tatoulia,

I hope you got to sleep at a reasonable hour.
Nice job on the leaving the internet and getting something done!

The pottery studio where I take classes is having a full day of free streamed classes on February 20. I asked Dh how he would feel about me signing up and being online doing pottery in the house all day (the studio doesn't have internet). He pointed to the big counter in the scullery, which is still buried under a drift of moop (burning man acronym for "material out of place") and said "I think that would be great, as long as you do it here." I haven't gotten brave enough to sign up yet.

I had one teenager come in for one class yesterday (complicated story) and afterwards I begged the administration for the rest of the class. I had a logistic plan worked out. They said yes! So I get that class back next week - a week early - and for sure. Nothing after next week is for sure.

Today I teach from home all day.

I also talked to the administrator who is doing the schedule for next year and it currently looks like I will not be full time - all day w/f (which adds two class periods) and only 2:15-4:30 tu/th, which takes two away. So, the same as this year if everything fills, but more compact. We are being conservative about enrollment expectations.

I think today I will also bake.
And maybe attack that moop?

Okay I wrapped up my packages! And I wrote two overdue Christmas thank you cards. And I wrote out a few postcards. So there you have it!

Of course now I'm fully awake so I'll have to pull it together to go to bed. It's nearly midnight here.

Hello everyone! Lila you are doing a great job of finding a way to cope with the gift cards. Plow through the pile! WTG for finding the Fitbit charger and the other Fitbit! I do have a tracker. I like it. I just don't leave my house anymore. Not the way I used to.

SubC I bet that was cute to see the baby! And he snuggled!

Mom is doing great. Someone else who was diagnosed on the same day as mom died today. Mom still no symptoms. Praying for everyone. Such a long and terrible time.

I'm running my dishwasher and I have clean sheets in my bed. Trash is out and I've cleaned the litter box. As I went to take my garbage out my neighbor said mill take it. He's a gentleman. Young, married. They are a beautiful couple and he's a first class gentleman.

I am working a lot these days and that is preventing me from doing anything else. I mean, it's not but it's my excuse. I did run to the post office today to get some supplies.

Hey why don't I put my music on and work on my packages right now.

Cory,

Thank you so much for trying to find out for us.

I am really grateful for this place and the people here.

Tatoulia, I am so relieved to hear about your mom! Thank you!

Lila, I strongly approve of focusing on grandchildren. Especially when they are so little. The whole world stops for Bean.

I'm glad you found your fitness tracker. I hope it helps you. I have a three part "fitness tracker" - my knees - which hurt when I am too heavy, my non- stretch jeans - which may or may not button, and the very long flight of stairs up to my classroom - which gets me short of breath and makes my legs sore if I am out of shape. Currently my "fitness tracker" is in the red.

Today the Christmas card my mom mailed dec14 finally arrived. Also one from an old friend mailed dec 10.

Also, I picked up my share of the bulk food order from sil and got to hold Bean while he loaded it in my car. I told Bean, "say bye bye Daddy." And he giggled! He was very close to nap time and snuggled his head into my shoulder. It was hard to hand him back.

Tomorrow - more online school.

I have lost momentum on all the things I started at the beginning of January. But it is ok. I will take a short break and regroup.

Thank you both for the kind words and insurance analogy. I can reframe it that way and try to let it go. What I need to do is pull out ALL the gift cards (which are mostly consolidated, but not all) and check balances and write them in sharpie on each good card and toss the bad ones. Then just use them up as needed. Honestly, back when I was hoarding the gift cards I was in an agnostic state... had some bad run ins with religion. The last few years my faith is restored and I am leaning on God and trusting Him to provide for me even if my husband does some crazy thing. I'm not afraid anymore.

Today I have my granddaughter here for the day and that is fun. She is playing with my son right now so I am taking a break. She is 2. What a joy. It has been rainy all day and I ate and was lazy, but I have one GOOD bit of news for today: I found my Fitbit Charger!! I cannot believe it. I thought I had looked everywhere, but you know how some bins, boxes and baskets become "invisible" when they've been shoved in a corner or in a room for so long? It was in a laundry basket full of random junk that's been sitting by the dining room table for like 4 months! In there, I also found one of my kids' old Fitbit and its charger too. That one is newer. So I have both of them charging now. I am going to probably wear them both tomorrow so I can decide which on I like better and want to keep using. Mine is a Fitbit One, which you can clip on your bra or pocket, and the other is, I think, a Fitbit Alta which you wear on your wrist. The last thing I want is attention from people about my Fitbit, so I like the clip better, but if the wrist one has more functions and better tracking, I know I can get an ankle band for it and wear it on my ankle so no one can see it. Do either of you have a fitness tracker?

I have so much going on, I have that "paralysis" thing where you have so much to do that you can't do anything. I am just focusing on the grandchild, my puppy, my dogs right now. Tomorrow I will start the Fitbit and watching my activity and intake. I need to clean.

That friend who was unkind to me is not answering my calls or texts and is very cordial in emails (for volunteering work). It bothers me because I have so few friends and she seemed like she had potential. But I am not going to chase her down... and even if she decides to be friends again, how can I really trust her anymore?

So write back to me if you have time. I like coming and hearing about what you guys are doing.

Cory thank you for the update and outreach. We are so grateful for our friendships here. Thank you for creating this safe space.

SubC thank you for your very thought-provoking post! I will keep your family in my prayers! My mother is absolutely fine. It's been three weeks!

Okay back to work!

Good morning all!

Hi Lila, I just want to hug you! I read your post and my brain was putting together an analogy about insurance or a fire extinguisher (did you know fire extinguishers expire?) but Tatoulia said it better than I.

When I started clearing out, I found so many things I bought and saved for things I wanted to do with my kids, and then never did because I lost them, or there was no space, or I was too busy managing STUFF. I cried a lot. And then I accepted that that time was gone and I didn't want to waste the time I still had regretting it and beating myself up.

I'm trying to do better with my grandson and focus on the NOW. but I have to confess that I just bought two adorable pairs of Christmas pajamas that are much too big for him because they were super on sale and I want to give him pajamas and a book as an early Christmas present when we go to get the tree every year. (So many unhatched chickens in that plan!) - two steps forward, one step back.

I also bought a book this week. And Dh ordered new Christmas tree lights for next year, but I'm not ready to completely get rid of the old Christmas tree lights.

Just now as I was taking the compost out, I thought about a couple of students who are worrying me because they are making bad choices about how to cope with things that they are struggling with, or can't seem to find the motivation and effort to make good ones.

And I realized I am also doing that - in some cases ironically in reaction to worrying about them. So I am trying to remind myself to get my own house (literally and figuratively) in order first so that I can be a help and a good example.

My cousin (to be more accurate that should say "sister and closest lifelong friend" - but by family structure she is my cousin) and her son have covid. I think they will be ok, but I am very concerned because her Dh - who is fine so far - has a compromised immune system.

Tatoulia, I am worried about your mom too, but afraid to ask.

Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Stay home as much as you can, and get your shot when it's offered!

Lila, first, I am so glad you posted!

I felt your pain as I read your post. I felt the nausea and anger and self-loathing. You did something because of your desperate situation. You did this to keep your family safe. And it's been at least five years and you haven't had to use them! Much like an auto insurance policy that you pay for and then you aren't in any accidents. That's all. Try to reframe it in your mind. You did it for insurance and some made sense and some ended up being just that-insurance you didn't need because thankfully no catastrophe occurred.

Another perspective is this: all the stuff I used to walk around and fill my closets and shelves and sit around in piles: that too was money once. The stuff that I would buy, in multiples, just to have that I ended up getting rid of used to be money. I was wasteful to the point where my house was embarrassing and awful and dirty. I didn't vacuum because piles of stuff on the floor. And those piles were once money.

Lastly, please throw away the defunct cards. They will be a sore reminder. Keep and use the good ones. Get rid of the defunct ones. Chalk it up to insurance.

Standing by your side and shoring you up. Your feelings are valid and very familiar.

Sending you love and peace.

hello again. I have had a hard couple of days but today I took the day and just stayed home and took care of things online like bills, insurance, appointments, emails.

I want to share something that is bothering me a great deal. It's something I am really feeling shame about. It is what I call "gift card hoarding." When my husband was being weird about 10 years ago, he would sometimes threaten divorce. He was the main income in the family and I felt terrified he would leave and I would have nothing. Every once in awhile he would get mad at me and "punish" me by taking away my credit cards or taking my name off of them as a user, so I had no money to buy anything. I got in this habit - every time I had a little extra cash, I would hide it. And every time he let me use the credit cards, I would hurry and buy a gift card whenever I went to a store. For example, when I bought groceries, I'd also buy a $20 grocery gift card. Or when I bought clothes, I'd buy a $50 or $25 gift card to that store. He ever looked at receipts so didn't know I was doing it. I would stash these gift cards all over in little hiding places. It made me feel like I had insurance, in a way. If he left and I had no money, I knew those cards were there so I could buy food, clothes, basics.

So I did that on and off for a few years. As I was cleaning last month and trying to declutter, I kept coming across gift cards all over the place. I decided to go ahead and use most of them now, since we are kind of broke. I found an American Girl gift card and that made me SO sad. My teen is too old for AG anymore. She would have loved to pick some things out with that when she was younger. But I went ahead and used it to get some things for my granddaughter. Then I found a Girl Scouts gift card and since she is not in gc anymore I was going to give it to someone else, but then found it expired a couple years ago. Then I found a Pet store gift card, called for the balance, and was told it expired due to 5 years of inactivity. And I found about $200 in ShopKo gift cards... and they went out of business. I called to see if there is anything I can do and found out I could have gotten reimbursed but missed the deadline. On and on. Yes there are gift cards that are still good and I am using them, but it is SO upsetting that I wanted to save money and instead just threw away hundreds of dollars.

Aside from that, for a whole week I have been trying to find 2 checks that I don't think I cashed, totalling over $450. I need the money!! And I can't find them anywhere. The other thing I am looking for is my FitBit charger. It is just nowhere. I have searched and searched. I wanted to use it to help me get fit. I am so frustrated.

Sorry to be a downer, but this just feels so awful. I will keep looking for the charger and checks. But will have to call and have the checks cancelled and reissued if I can't find them tomorrow.

Time for bed. Nearly 11:30 here. After work I walked down to Copley Square to hear Old South Church ring it's bell for lives lost due to COVID-19. BF joined me. The air was nice.

I'm showered and ready for bed. Big day in front of me.

Ps Cory is going to search for Tillie's contact information.

In the meantime Tillie we love you! Praying you are resting up and maybe even with Nate and Mrs Nate at this point.

Also sending much love to Joan, Diane, Dianne, Anony, LR, Betsy and Roxie. You all made a big difference in my life. I'm back to living due to every single person here.

Sending you strength and peace, SubC. I'm so sorry about the anxiety. Sending the same to CM. That is a pity about the washer. And the memories that are being triggered. I hope just a part!

I am just working today. Nothing more. All garbage was taken out last night.

I still haven't taped and addressed the packages. But I'm keeping up with everything else.

Okay enough of a break for me, back to work!

Today I decide to do one more cobbled together overflow laundry load. Machine fills, doesn't advance to agitate. Had to bail it out.

Last time I bailed a washing machine was on a Saturday in 2003 at my parents'. Dad went out Monday and ordered a new one, to be delivered on Thursday. He died in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. So... memories.

It may be just a switch that can be replaced. Hope not to be without a machine because we don't want to do the laundromat thing during the pandemic.

One thing after another around here.

I'd awakened at 4:00 a.m. worrying about my hoarding, all the stupid turns my life has taken, tried to pray as much as I was able, went in and hugged bunny, finally slept again from 6:00-8:00.

Anyone heard how Tillie is?

Struggling to get started this morning.

School is just such a roller coaster - I'm having trouble finding my enthusiasm. Low on energy and high on anxiety today.

Last night I dreamed I was shopping in a thrift store (no masks and that didn't cross my mind) but I couldn't find anything I wanted to buy. I finally found some blocks I thought might be good for the Bean, but then I decided they were overpriced and I left - at which point I realized my car had been stolen, panicked, and woke up.

CM, just keep moving forward! You know the drill: the more you do, the better you will feel,

OMG SubC that will be embarrassing! Your husband is such a romantic! He is so great and you are a great couple. But naturally I'd die. Glad you saw your grandson!

Let's see, I did a load of laundry, I bought food for BF and myself, I hung out with him a bit and that's about it, oh I brought out the printer and printed what I'll need to work on tomorrow.

Lila did you work on anything today? Or just rest up? Either Is fine!

I've showered and washed my hair and just had a quiche. So tasty. Broccoli and cheddar.

I left the printer out so that tomorrow I can scan what I do and then put it back into the closet.

Hello Tillie!

Had a great day with Bean! Poor mr. kitty is so exhausted he wouldn't even get out of his chair to sniff the soup bowl Dh put on the floor.

Managed to run a load of dishes and start a load of laundry too.

Tatoulia, I still haven't done my pajamas either.

CM, good for you getting your laundry done. Getting all those little scraps of paper done is good. They can build up until they are overwhelming, but if you just grab them when you have a few minutes here or there, it's not such a big deal and you feel like you got something done.

Dh has decided for tonight's entertainment he will sit by the fire and read the letters I wrote him when we first started dating. I was 17. This is embarrassing.

Doing laundry today.

Here and there dealing with and throwing out little notes jotted on bits of paper. Even though it feels slow and a little tedious, I expect this to pick up since my computer has been working better now.

For the time being may just work with that sort of thing rather than storage unit, until weather is consistently warmer. It's kind of annoying to start and stop with the storage. Whereas when I was able to have continuity with it last fall I did well.

Good afternoon everyone! I slept in and it felt terrific. I have a few things I would like to accomplish today including packaging up some things. I have some things to mail to two friends and I have my shredding to mail to the office.

I may take a peek in my closet and donate some things today. I still haven't gone through my pajamas.

So far so good in not spending in January. Not even tempted.

Lila keep taking care of yourself. SubC, I think you are seeing your grandson today! I hope so!

It's my trash night so naturally I'm pretty happy about that.

Lila, I agree that you need to rest. You did ok. Your dog toys are getting used. Did you eat any more diet food? Walking your dog is good exercise.

I am not good at relationships, so I don't know what to do about your "friend" except to say that doesn't sound like a friend.

My Christmas tree is in the goat pen! (The ornaments are packed away) I also wrote some class descriptions my boss needed for next year's registration.

Dh and I got to talk to ds and ddil on FaceTime for a while tonight - that was nice. He does tech support for hospitals, so he is very busy! She is still exhausted from her jab.

Best of all for me - Dd called and I get Bean tomorrow!

Lila I think Giuseppe are being too hard on yourself. You are getting over and illness and you are fatigued. Do not take this out on yourself.

Your friend was being a jerk. Sometimes that happens. But keep an eye on it; don't let it happen too often

I had trouble sleeping last night so I just lay quietly in my bed. I woke up not exhausted so it worked.

I met a friend for a walk today and it was lovely. A sunny day and windy and my coat kept me warm. Then BF and I ran errands. So it all worked out pretty well.

I showered as soon as I got home, I just had a bagel.

We have tomorrow off for MLK day. I have some plans for the house. I need to make a bag of items to donate.

Lila, again, don't treat yourself poorly. I hope you are enjoying the dog! I'm a cat person and cats are relatively easy. At lease with the dog you'll be able to walk a few times a day! And you'll feel better.

SubC, glad to hear that you and husband are getting back on track.

hi Tatoulia and SubClinical,

I was sick most of the week but by Thursday night felt mostly better. Fri and yesterday I was back to normal except I am so exhausted. SO. Exhausted. I can barely do anything. Of course I am taking care of a puppy and potty training him so that in itself is tiring. I have done nothing with my house, and seem to have lost 2 checks... one for several hundred dollars. That is stressing me out terribly so I tried to sort piles and look everywhere today, but no luck. I have a headache as well. I am gaining weight and eating junk, so feel awful and my self esteem is in the toilet. I also had a friend call me and berate me this week and that was pretty upsetting. She's done this once before but I thought we talked it through that time. She suspects things of me that are not true. I am just tired of it and think, who needs a friend like that? But she is in my circle, so I have to see her anyway so may as well make nice. Hard to trust though. Tiring.

I so want to fix my life, I really do but don't know how. My time management is so poor and I have no motivation. And in the spirit of sharing what I got rid of and what I brought in, I got rid of nothing all week. I bought several new dog toys. But they are getting used, at least. I feel like a failure in so many areas of my life. I've been looking at android phone apps for weight loss, and thinking about doing OA online, or counting calories, or walking. But I waste all my days and do pretty much nothing. I don't have any energy for anything.

Good morning.

Tatoulia, I'm glad your sleep schedule is better.

I didn't do much yesterday. A lot of emails related to the schedule change and a short time tidying and finishing up a couple of old school related projects in the studio. I ran the dishwasher. I read online a lot and I didn't exercise. I emailed back and forth with ❤️Dd a lot processing my frustration.

Dh and I are ok now. He reminded me that the Christmas tree has to come down.

I think I am ready to pull myself together and move on today. Send badger - he's been bored lately.

Checking in on Lila, Tillie, CM

SubC I am so sorry about your ups and downs at school. I know this is putting a terrible strain on you.

I am glad that your husband is trying to pull it together. How are things now?

I've enjoyed a quiet day at home. I was good and went to bed at a reasonable hour and didn't fool with the internet. I slept in today. I could hear the winds howling.

I am hoping to get the vaccine this spring. I don't know when it will be available to me. I am greatly cheered about hearing that people are getting vaccinated!

I am going to go visit BF for a while. Maybe do a crossword puzzle. He saves the Sunday NYTimes for me so we always have something to do together.

I'll report back later. Meeting a friend for a walk tomorrow.

This morning Dh is being extra nice to me. Probably because the first thing I did when I woke up this morning was pick up my iPad, which I left on my teacher email. So the first thing I saw was a message called "URGENT TEACHER MESSAGE" so I read it, and we are staying with last weeks schedule for two more weeks. They decided after I went to bed last night. And then I cried.

It snowed. The woods are pretty. I'm trying to learn to live in the moment. Hope is ripping me apart.

Hi Tatoulia,

I'm glad you are having a good day.

I'm super tired, but I made it through what I hope is my last day of online school. As in last. As in ever.

Dh and I never really resolved anything - he said he didn't want to talk about it anymore, but he is talking to me and he made me ravioli, so I guess we are done fighting. Food is his love language.

I have three students starting next week. I lost two when we went online in the fall, so that's up one net. And more evaluations.

I can't talk to Dh about school.

The student who added today makes 10 in one class. I emailed the administration that ten is all I can seat 6 feet apart unless I stick #11 right in front of the classroom door, and in minutes got back "closing it now." It is hard to be a teacher in this, but it has to be so much harder to be an administrator. They are doing a really good job.

Cases have gone down here just a little.

And my teacher ddil got vaccinated today. If the other Grammy and my Dd1 could get vaccinated, I would feel so much better!

Tomorrow I'll think about my house again.

Okay I'm having a good day!

I made a call to my mother's place about her cat box (the person who used to clean it has left), I dropped off a new litter box and some liners, I updated her chewy order, I wrote out two bills, I wrote a few postcards, I went to the post office to mail, I went to cvs abs I went to Whole Foods.

It feels so good to be part of the living again. I don't know what got into me but I'll have another good night sleep again tonight. No phone after a certain time.

SubC I am so sorry. Sending you strength and peace. Breathe, drink water, and have a well-balanced meal.

I was checking in to say I slept normally last night! And look where you are. I'm so sorry.

I showered and washed my hair and then I fell asleep for a bit. I got up around 11, brushed my teeth again, started the dishwasher, and went to bed. No fooling with the phone or iPad. So I am refreshed for a welcome change. It's sunny and I have opened my drapes to enjoy the sun. I may actually venture out today. Yesterday I felt weird when I put my coat on to take my garbage out. The cat not lived abs became agitated. When I saw what my hair looked like, I was scared. It was so dirty. I think I last washed it maybe Monday. I'd showered since then but not washed my hair. It is nine straight and in serious need of a cut.

Okay off to work! I'm brand new today!

Dd and dsil brought Bean over to say hi to me in the school parking lot after school yesterday. His hair is growing. I think it's light brown. Dd says blond.

Dh and I are fighting. I slept badly. This is my absolute worst thing and I don't have energy for anything else. I seriously considered quitting my job last night.

That is very good news about your husband's job, SubC. I'm so glad for the news.

I am working on my second load of laundry now. It definitely piled up on me. It is drizzly and grey but in the 30s. I have the fireplace going. I am exhausted. Finally got into bed around 4 AM. I need to turn this around! I'm just glad I'm doing laundry right now. Anything to look productive.

My post this am said I got the lamps in the mail. It should've said I bought them used in the last two years. My goal now is to get the lightbulb changed in my bedroom ceiling lamp. Not the easiest feat.

My house is so clean. These women are a dream. My only goal now is to get promoted and I only need to clear an extra 2000 a year to be able to have them once a week instead of once every two weeks. It's def a pain since when they are here since I'm home and my place is so small. But it's a luxury I really love. Cat has found her hiding place during the cleanings so we are all in good shape.

I have all my garbage ready to go tonight. Just need it to be 5 PM. I also need to figure out dinner.

I have stuck with not putting things in a rest stop area and it will hopefully develop into a habit.

Lol, I'm a carbs girl - French toast, croissants? Do you think if you stuck muffins in before you went to bed they'd still be warm when I got up? (My oven will turn itself off)

Good job on the lamp decision!

Half day at school today and then remote tomorrow.

Dh is in the office all week, but they are talking about closing his building and going to work from home only for the rest of 2021! Meanwhile I will be back fully in person starting Tuesday. I have two kids who have told me their parents are keeping them remote - in addition to the ones who were already remote in the fall.

The good news is he is not getting laid off at this point in time.

I'll report back if I get anything accomplished.

Oh my goodness! It's 2:30 in Boston and I'm up. And to think you'll be up at 5! Should I start the coffee in a bit? Anything you'd like for breakfast?

I'm glad you had a satisfying day!

I've decided to get rid of the lamps on my dresser. I bought them used in the mail last two years. They aren't doing it for me. If I changed the lightbulb in my ceiling fan, I won't need them. There's a decision I didn't see coming!

Tatoulua, I am sorry about your mom. I hope she has a mild case and recovers quickly!

Good job putting away your Christmas decorations! Mine are mostly down - just the tree and some bows left, plus a few snowmen I will leave out until March.

When I talked to my mom she said "now I have to put Christmas away. I didn't think it would be so soon."

I had a good school day and I exercised. I even started roughing out the evaluations (making blank copies for one class and filling in names and dates) and I unloaded the dishwasher. Since I left for school at 8:15 and got home at 5:45, I think that's enough.

I'm not sure about your sleep schedule. I think you're nocturnal. You went to bed two hours before I got up.

Okay Christmas stuff is away! I did it!

I also washed my wine glasses from Christmas and they are drying now. Look at me, actually doing something.

Yay for your parents getting vaccinated! My mother is due to be vaccinated on the 21st but we have a problem. The problem is that she's been diagnosed. So far still breathing okay. I've kept this information largely to myself, although, I did need to inform her other children.

Does going to bed at 3 count as progress or delay? I did shower around 2:30 AM.

I took my wreaths down today. My cleaners arrive tomorrow instead of today. I've been waiting because my carpet will need to be vacuumed due to the pine needles.

I have more to do here.

I guess they figured out the correct dates for the evaluations, SubC. It happens.

I'm on my planning period.

My parents got vaccinated this morning! They have appointments for their second shots in three weeks. I am so happy!

Also, somebody did some math and my evaluations are now due feb 15.

School went ok today. They kept their masks on and mostly stayed apart and worked on their projects. Nobody crowded my desk and nobody was less than 6 ft from anybody else for 15 minutes. The heat was cranked so high that I had all the windows open and a couple of kids peeled down to tshirts.

I got behind another teacher from my school on the way in and almost cried when I saw his car. I miss my school so much! I miss the way it was.

I put away some more Christmas decorations and hung up some laundry today and washed some dishes.

My teacher dil got to put her name in for the vaccine lottery today.

Tatoulia - go to bed!🦥

SubC I am sorry for the struggle of teaching in a pandemic. This is so hard and I see what a toll it's taking on you and your husband

It was still after 2 when I went to bed last night. Insanity.

My cleaners are coming on Thursday instead of Wednesday this week.

Good morning.

CM, good job on the table/shelf switch! Hang in there!

Tatoulia, that looked like a lot of whittling! I think you are doing well.

Lila, I hope thus week us better. I second the retest suggestion though. It is better to know if you actually have covid.

Don't worry about the house right now. When you are sick you need to rest so your body can heal. Volunteers are usually hard to replace. Especially enthusiastic ones. Especially in a pandemic. I don't think you should worry.

Several of us struggle with our weight. I don't know if the food/weight thing is directly connected to the hoarding thing, but I think they both are symptoms of the struggle with executive function. I have good days and bad days, but on the days when it is hard for me to make good decisions, it is hard across the board - I can't make myself clean out or exercise. Also some days when I have accomplished a lot in one area, my willpower is exhausted and I slip in another. I think the best we can do is work on strengthening those skills one good decision at a time.

A long time ago I acquired a box of little notepads with blank perforated sheets. My kids used to use them to make tickets or coupons or receipts in their games. I found two in my desk. Every day this year I have been writing down all the good things I do on a new "ticket" it is helping me to look back and reflect on my ability to make good choices and it motivates me to want to fill the ticket. (I haven't done that yet.) I write everything - even remembering to take my vitamins and showering.

Dh went to the office today. He has a new co-op and he has to get her settled in. I am going back to the school building. Cases here have only gotten worse since we decided to do a limited reopening and the rate of spread is increasing. All of this is insane.

Our governor is working with school superintendents. The 1b group is now defined as "employees of school districts committing to full time in person." I am not an employee of a school district, so while we would happily offer full time in person if we could get our staff vaccinated, I may not be on the list. Dh is really angry that I am going back. I don't know what I am going to do.

Cm great work! I hope that felt satisfying to get your table set up! I love getting rid of stuff!

I'm doing a dry January. No buying things til February 10th. Only necessities. I did well all through Christmas and no Christmas sale shopping. Not even the sale Christmas stuff. I also got rid of some decorations. So far haven't felt the pull, which is fantastic.

I have not whittled down my to do list. So far I've dropped the things off at mom's and the kitchen is almost there. All garbage and recycling out and kitty has a clean litter box. I did a load of cat blankets and I'm running the dishwasher. I have the Christmas stuff boxed up.

Lila, I am sorry you are ill! If you feel well enough, please get a second test.

I think that hoarding and the emotions behind it affect us in various ways. For me, cleaning and clearing out has given me peace. And that peace opens doors. Everything became easier for me as I started to clean out. So you may find that with dealing with your physical surroundings, you'll feel more able to deal with your physical self.

Okay good people, I'm off for now.

hi all,

I have had quite the week. I went out of town for two days and it was not a pleasure trip. It was exhausting. Made it home. Got my new puppy on Friday. Saturday night I came down sick. Sunday went in and tested negative for covid but my friend said since I tested early it could be a false positive. So I had to miss 2 days, so far, of volunteer work that I love. I have a position that I truly love and am needed... but I expect I will not be able to do my work this week at all and maybe into next week due to "covid like symptoms" and frankly I am terrified they will replace me. My volunteering is like... my life, what gives me joy and what I love, so this thought makes me very very anxious.

Meanwhile now I am stuck at home 24/7. I am trying to see a positive in that I have lots of time to bond with my new pup. However I have a bad headache and extreme fatigue also, so am getting absolutely nothing done. Getting more behind on everything. Piles are growing. I feel guilty. I just sit here watching tv and thinking about sleeping. But if I sleep in the day I wont sleep at night. Or when I lie down to na the puppy will howl and wake me up. Or one of my kids will wake me up. So I am just resting with my feet up, tea and hopefully soup if my husband brings it home. I asked him to get me some soup and some oranges. If he does I will feel better.

Do any of you feel like you not only hoard up your house, but also hoard up your body? I have a major problem with my weight. I overeat and snack all the time. I have tried so many ways of changing it. I've lost and gained a lot of weight. But there is something a little scary about being "skinny" to me. Like it is a lack, and being fat is abundance. It is not a rational thought but its how I feel. I want to eat and eat. Thus my body is about 60 pounds overweight at this point (I had lost all of that and more, but regained some over the past 2 years and then a heavy amount during Covid). I eat to comfort myself. I want to stop. I think about going to OA. I think about changing my habits. Yet I don't. There is always some reason or excuse. I see some new snack and have to have it. It just occurred to me that it is the same mindset as my house hoarding.

Channeled frustrations into getting the girl bunny's new table under her cage and the old rickety shelves she and boy bunny had out to the curb for whomever.

Good morning and coffee clinks!

I was still hanging around at 2 AM. Not good!

As soon as I got home from running errands last night I hopped in the shower and washed my hair.

You have a full day in front of you, SubC.

My goals for today are:
Clear kitchen counters and wipe
Drop off things at mom's (I bought her three primrose plants for her windowsill last night)
Garbage up and out/ditto recycling
Christmas stuff away. Away. Away.

That's a good list. I'll keep everyone posted.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, I hope you got to bed at a reasonable hour last night.

I made some progress on the laundry and put all but one basket away. - well, there is stuff hanging to dry...

I also got almost caught up on dishes.

I detagged my new bras, and washed one of them. Dh and I both cleaned out our underwear drawers (but I still didn't do pajamas) and I found three bras and a pair of underwear that can go. I also found some twin sheets that can go - a plain white flat sheet that I used to use with a printed fitted sheet. And the fitted sheet. I have enough sheets. And the twin bed may not even get used again until Bean is old enough to sleep in it.

Dd called very excited last night - Bean has a tooth! She is amazed at how sharp it is.

In other news - Dh helped me hang my bulletin board in the basement and I have 65 evaluations to do. Far fewer this year because our enrollment is down and classes were cut. If I start on them today they will not be a big deal. (So of course I will probably put them off another week). Also, they are actually due on the last day if the semester (someone didn't do the math right) so I may turn mine in late for the first time ever. If your evaluations are late, they hold your paycheck. But they are due on the 5th and we don't get paid until the 28th. Really though, I will probably do them all and just review the ones from each class and submit at the end of the last day.

Today I am going to actually get ready for the school week and also put some Christmas stuff away. It's supposed to be below freezing almost all day.

Good afternoon! I slept a lot yesterday. My sleep is upside down. I'm have to pull it back together.

I did a few loads of laundry yesterday and I also had a zoom visit with a girlfriend. Today I also overslept but I made it out to get food and in a bit, I'll do mom's grocery shopping

I took a donations bag up to my car.

It's getting dark so I'll head out soon.

I'm sorry you won't be able to see your grandson in a while SubC. That is so sad. And he'll miss you too!

That's the news from here. I still haven't made my pj donation pile. Must do that.

I have been sticking with the plan of not putting things in a rest area-I make them go to their proper ola es with no stops or layovers on the way.

Good morning.

Hello Tatoulia, CM, Tillie, Emily, Lila, Tessa, and readers unknown.

Looks like it is a hard time for everybody.

I did not work on anything for school yesterday. I did do some laundry and dishes, and I exercised. I reassembled the daybed I had moved to the barn loft, and I identified two old, worn decorative pillows that arrived with Dh thirty years ago that can go.

I ordered my garden seeds and some replacement chickens. Unfortunately, the chickens won't ship until the end of May.

So they won't lay until 2022! I'm going to do another hatch in my classroom as soon as I can get enough eggs., but that will probably still be March.

The sun came out, so I bundled up in my old barn coat and heavy gloves and jeans and worked on clearing some brambles. It's a job that has to be done every year, and every year I wait until spring and it's hot and there are other things that need to be done, and the poison Ivy gets me.

So, points to me for better planning and time management.

Stay home, stay safe, keep making better choices one day at a time, and check in when you can!

...and then some other stuff happened....

We didn't do the pajamas, Dh begged off. Haven't done much of anything productive. I did turn in my class proposals for next year. I requested full time. I still don't know if that is a mistake.

One of every 1,000 people in my county was diagnosed with covid yesterday. Not by yesterday, on yesterday. One of DD's team was also positive this week. She says I can't see Bean anymore in January. Maybe February. Maybe March.

Currently my state says teachers will be able to sign up for shots after Feb 1.

Our board met this week and adjusted the return plan. My 1st and 2nd graders will be in the building on Tuesday/th this week. My 3/4s will be there on Wednesday. We will all be at home on Friday. Then everybody comes back on the 19th.

My teens are starting to believe that they will never come back. One of them isn't even allowed to get his supplies. His parents have bought a bunch of food and nobody goes outside. I am going to ask them if they will let me mail him some stuff. (The office has home addresses, but teachers don't.)

Anyway, I will be in the building all day tu/w/th because I have back to back older classes and younger. I will teach remotely from my classroom. I am trying to figure out what to do about my mask, because I have never taken it off in the building. I wore it the day I went to the empty building to fire the kiln because I had no way to know when someone was last unmasked in the boiler room. I can imagine the maintenance guy in there coughing away for hours. I guess I will wear it in my empty room while I teach my online classes - I don't see how we can have the windows open....

And there is all the big stuff that is happening...
One student who has been struggling was back on Thursday
Another was out Thursday because he was too physically ill to attend online. (Not biologically sick)

Today I need to start my evaluations and distract myself with my house. One day at a time, maybe just this week - I need to be as prepared as I can for this week.

Hello! It's late and I need to go to bed. Garbage and recycling out. Week has gone by fast. Will try to email Cory tmr.

Good morning!

I don't think Tillie will mind. I'll email Cory. I'd emailed him about something else recently so will reach out on Tillie.

Cm channel your energy! It'll be a win-win. You'll work off the energy and you'll get some decluttering done!

I think you answered the question accurately, SubC. It's a process to reopen school and you are reinforcing that it is a process with various considerations. I think that's a good lesson,

I haven't done a thing today except work. I have to change my sheets and I definitely have to do some laundry.

I have to write and send thank you notes and some postcards to my ?people'.