Hugs & Coconuts! I knew it was funnier than cupcakes...

Hi errrbody!

I can't tell you how excited I am to hear Your big news, CM! And just in time for your birthday (and Easter) ! I am certainly glad I took care to tapdance sideways with eyes averted crossing my fingers so as not to jinx it. And I must say that sounds major and expensive. I don't know why I was imagining a much more minor repair. One of my friends just had en epic disaster/repair involving sewer lines and the price tag was staggering.

I just erased a whole paragraph there because I couldn't find a way out of it! 🤔🙃

Crazy weather here too yesterday. I left Aldi and rounded the corner and almost couldn't hang on to the cart. I think it must have been the biggest gust of wind I've ever been in. We are hosting for Easter but haven't done much to prepare. I just impulsively stopped there after my PT appt. I went from aisle to aisle thinking "Easter", "spring" and I think I covered most of the bases. Butter, potatoes, asparagus, green beans, frozen corn (because my son is hyper focused on "ham-corn") sad thing is I think he associates "ham-corn" with seeing all his cousins which he won't because they're all gone. Ohp. Just walked straight into another deep pit there. Dampit. So I decided I need to force myself to start entertaining more/again and start widening our circle. The family is shrinking instead of expanding, and what's left in the family is becoming more dysfunctional every day. So, up with neighbors and friends. This is a new phase of life and I need to reboot.

Ok, so now I think I know where I was going with that paragraph up there. So that friend who had the major repair has major mobility issues. Needs a hip replacement but can't get her weight down enough to get it done, I think that's what's going on. She has a fairly substantial corporate job. After the thing with her house she decided suddenly to move. She found a new place, bought it, and the same week cleared out her entire house. MAJOR PURGE. It was funny hearing her describe herself as a hoarder without actually admitting to herself that she was a hoarder. We are talking about power suits from the 90s that were moth ridden, garbage bags Of stuff being drug down from the attic and up from the basement, carried to the dumpster by high school aged kids of her friends, etc. She said "I guess I never got rid of anything and I have an emotional attachment to weird things..." and I know she only let one friend into her house. In one traumatic fell swoop she's rid of it all and getting ready to move into a new place. Fresh start. Curious how all the times I alluded to my situation she never let on that she had a similar issue.

Tatoulia, I love how you are embracing putting some finishing touches on your place to make it just how you like it.

Subc, still no garden here yet either. Normally, I would be up to my eyeballs in 8 trays of leggy seedlings. I am dead inside. Lol

Well, anyway, I should hang it up here. But once again CM, I salute you!

Hugs and (cupcakes?) & check the laundry, y'all.

Oh my goodness CM you have plumbing! Wow! How absolutely wonderful. Wow! So touched by your comment that Bean would've loved the trucks.

Happy Birthday, CM!

SubC the weather is crazy. Last Saturday I was driving and we had torrential rains, hail, then sunshine. So odd.

I did my friend's taxes tonight. She brought us Thai food. And we made some positive changes in my apartment.

Bf has a vinyl rug he's never used. So I put it in my office area. Then we took the one that was in the living room and we moved it under the couches and further into the room and everything looks so nice. The one that we moved was showing wear and also there was a rip from the cleaners and everything looks very nice and extremely well put together. While I did the taxes she pulled out my Easter things and they all look so pretty.

Road I am thinking about you and so very sorry about your medical diagnosis. Please make space to grieve a bit, should you need to.

Hugs and coconuts, Road.

I'm so sorry, Road. Hope you can have some success with treatments and healthy living and not be badly affected. And that the shock is giving way to hope and being able to make plans.

I just came to say thanks everyone for hanging in there with me, we did finally get the big repair made, on Tuesday of this week. And I am thankful. Also exhausted.

These two weeks have been confusing and draining, too much crammed into them. I went over a week ago to the bunny ladies' house to fill in for the daughter who was going on a trip. Helped the mom out with all the bunnies and some computer work. My brain was pretty fried with everything to get ready and get there and the sheer work load of it all. I wasn't too good cognitively so I just basically indicated to her to point me in the direction of a bunny and tell me what it was time to give that bunny, and I'd go do it and return to get what the next bunny needed, rinse and repeat.

Came back to where I live on Saturday evening, made it to church for Palm Sunday, took a nap but it wasn't as restful as I'd hoped. Monday was my (gulp) 60th birthday. How can that be possible, I feel like an overgrown adolescent still.

Monday was also when the HVAC guys came because the air conditioner unit was where the sewer guys would be needing to dig, so they unhooked it and moved it out of the way. It was really warm during the day on Monday, with a cold front that whammed into the warm, making storms in the night, but thankfully no tornadoes or bad hail.

Tuesday the sewer guys came with BIG honkin' equipment they could barely maneuver into the yard. And about four thousand feet of pipe. There were at least half a dozen men working. Honestly, I don't even know if the guy we had been trying to get to do it could have with just him and his two sons and would the machine they would've rented been a monster like the one capable of doing the job? We had the trenchless repair though, so they didn't have to dig the length of the yard. But the hole out by the easement was so huge that one guy was down there in it and his head was a foot or more below ground level!

SubC, your Bean would probably have been fascinated by the big equipment! ☺️

Anyway, it's done. HVAC guys returned yesterday to put the air conditioner in its new spot.

I'm just going to need a few days to adjust to all of this, and I wish it could've not been right during Holy Week, but of course I will take it just to have it completed. I'm trying to remember what Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday usually mean to me, and hoping I will experience at least some semblance of that meaning in my tired state. Today I did get out and about a bit. Weather is a little windy but not as bad as some days have been, and sunny, which gives me a little peace and renewal.

If I don't get back here before then, Happy Easter to you all. 🌄✝️☀️💐🐤🐇🥚🌷👒

Good morning.

Road, good job attacking the paperwork! I'm so sorry you got bad health news.

Lila, I am thinking of you also.

Very swamped here. Too much to do and not enough sleep.

Also literally swamped with heavy rains and standing water everywhere. I really want to get my garden in. It is late. But also we have a freeze predicted for Saturday night. Enough already!

Hi all,

I don't quite understand how these waves work, but today was a day where the $#!+ finally hits the fan and I have to sit down and plow through the paperwork pile til I get to the very bottom. And then I look back and wonder how I managed to block out all that was not getting taken care of. Like today I wrote up all my PT appts, reviewed some notes from my last appt, researched seizure disorders, Shopped for accent chairs for the living room, wrote the SLP an email and included about an hour of work to gather up a bunch of names and photos... I figured out the prom info and wrote The check for that, a spring play we can go to, shopped for discounted broadway tickets (didn't buy any), registered my son for summer camp and summer school, and all the normal stuff of drop off and pick up and doggy care and making dinner,and bath and bedtime... but the more I dig into the paper work I realize how much hasn't been done and how much more there is to do.

I had my first PT appt yesterday. (Did I say this already?) nothing new exactly as this is basically what I've been dealing with for a long time but with a nasty case of sciatica thrown in,,, I forgot to do stretches this time but purchased a tracking app this am and did a short seated yoga routine this am. I just found out I have kidney disease which was something I always worried I would develop given my medical history, but which multiple doctors completely blew off. I had my physical last week and for the first time? Some labs were off, we discussed a follow up lab and a kidney u/s, but it wasn't til I got home and read through the summary did I find out I had already been diagnosed w kidney disease. This was never discussed. I was absolutely rocked because it's not a reversible condition. The best you can hope for is that you manage the disease and then you will only have x number of years. If you screw up or are unlucky, you get even less. Well, anyway, I can't overstate how shocking it was and how incensed I was with this doctor sending me home without saying anything. But I've had a few days to adjust to it. There's a remote chance it's a false positive but I will know more after these follow up tests this month. In the meantime I am trying to make sense of the kind of odd dietary restrictions and trying to move forward without having to deal with this doctor again.

So (changing the subject)... dads bday is this week and we are hosting Easter but I have done minimal planning so far. Hopefully I can hold it together emotionally and try to keep things simple for Easter. I talked with my bro today at lunch and brought up the tracking app (lose it) which he used a number of years ago to lose 150+ and he the alluded to getting his elliptical set up again as part of the major push to get his house under control. I was so happy to hear him say that. My goal in using it is to get a handle on this new diet, not to motivate him, but I know if I keep at it he will be drawn in for sure. And if we both do it, we might hook my sister in...

Better close out but I hope everyone is doing well or at least hanging in there. Hugs & coconuts. That was sort of an auto correct but I loved it so I left it.

I concur, sub c... we should all be so lucky to have a Tatoulia for a daughter. When you do your best the vast majority of the time you have bought yourself the freedom to "not be there" on occasion with absolutely zero guilt!

I'm sure seeing things like that is a particular neurological / dementia issue so if that's the case all you could do is humor her basically. If it is possibly real, there are mousetraps that are fully enclosed. More humane and safer for cat than poison, and relatively humane without the horror of aN old fashioned mousetrap. Unless you think putting some out would make it worse for her mentally.

Lila, you're on my mind!

Will check back after I catch up.

What a sweet thing to say. Thank you for finding the time!

Tatoulia, you are a wonderful daughter! I can only hope my kids will take care of me as well as you take care of your mom!

You also get to have your own life.

I don't really have time to post, but I had to say that!

Hello everyone

Mom just called to say there are two mice in her place and she wants my BF to go over and get them. I have no idea what he's supposed to do. I'm not sure if there is or isn't a mouse, let alone two. We cannot put down traps because of the kitty. And she goes through these periods where there are tons of mice and I'm not sure if it's real or not. It's real to her, and that counts for something. But I have never, ever seen a mouse dropping in her house.

I sometimes get weary from taking care of other people's problems. At least I don't have my brother to tend anymore. That really drained the life from me.

I don't know if BF should go up there and pretend to scare them off. I asked the woman at the desk at mom's to pretend to do so. I'm sorry I'm not taking her as seriously as I should. Her eyesight is very bad and some nights she sees bugs everywhere. And one night she said the personal products I purchased were loaded with bugs and I asked her how many and she said hundreds. And that she closed the container. So I called the desk and told them to send an aide. When the aide arrived, I asked mom to let me talk to her and mom kept saying no. I finally talked to the aide and there were no bugs whatsoever , which I knew. But I had to cement that there were hundreds because otherwise she would try to save face and say that they ran off.

I feel sorry for her. She said she's sleeping downstairs tonight. I have no idea what that means. We will see what the woman at the front desk comes up with for a solution

Since I live in s brownstone, there are fifteen steps to get into my building. My mother cannot walk fifteen steps on flat ground so she cannot do the stoop. There is no way for her to come here, which is a blessing in its own right.

I'm sorry that I'm a bad daughter. I know if I had gone to visit her tonight that her mind would not have invented this.

Goid morning.

Here I am again - start if the "school week" after a "three day weekend" exhausted, behind and overwhelmed. Why do I do this and how do I stop?!

I ended up taking Bean all the way home yesterday because his daddy messaged that he wasn't feeling well. I may have worn Bean out too. Poor little guy fell asleep in the car and I woke him up taking him out of the car seat. The minute he saw his mommy he started crying and grabbed her and she said that pretty much continued until she put him to bed. Hopefully he won't get up early today.

I'm guessing I'm not invited for dinner tonight.

Road, I am glad you found a solution that involves using something you already have!

My impression is that you have been reducing the hoard and also moving it to the garage - so you will have it all in one place - which will allow you to truly see the extent of the remaining problem. But remember - you did reduce it on the way. If you can recover your house it will be a win, even if you have to play bin Tetris to keep working on the garage. Just keep reminding yourself not to bring stuff in.

... and gave the crazy puppy a bath! Wow. What a mess! Before and after the bath! 🤨🤓

Just a little update - I wrote up my plans for the shelves... I think I could either do a lip on the shelf or I could use some shallow bins. I did find some that would work. Then I went out to the garage. ( aka Bin headquarters No. 2 ) bit of an unpleasant reality check. It seems so much more full than last time. I am hoping this is partly due to cleaning... motivated to go through things and purge but the initial challenge may be finding room to move around. Boo. But there is a bookshelf that would work instead of building shelves. Ironically it is the one I already. Moved out of here. Different purpose though. The H said he's willing to help w shelves which is nice.

Then I hit aldi for the Easter candy and fruit and misc. then I picked up my son and we came home. Now he's scream-singing his heart out to something downstairs.

Lila, thanks again for the info on marketplace awhile back. There are so many things I'd happily put out on the curb Or on marketplace if I could be sure the person who gave them to me wouldn't see... but good to know if I list my dads dog trailer he gave us he won't see it...

Over and out for now.

Hi,

Hey subc, we visited some goats this weekend... they had a little shop on the side of the barn and were selling all kinds of fresh produce, soups, meats, and baked goods - all produced there. It was out of our price range but we still b ought some stuff. My son and the H fed the goats. I was in agony with my sciatica or whatever is wrong with me. I do have a PT appt scheduled for later this month so I will hopefully get some help for that. Your bean stories are always appreciated. The trees are still sleeping buddy... 🥰

Tatoulia, good thoughts on living life. Lots there to ponder.

Lila, thanks for the update. Sending good vibes your way::::

I am not feeling particularly productive this am so I think I will draw out my plan for the closet and write up a list of supplies for that project. Kind of get the wheels turning. I had visions of tackling the toiletries and bathroom closet this am but I am walking back that idea... prob good to do a room reset though. That usually leads to some productivity. I hate to start moving around and agitate the restful state of the mini pack of sleeping doggies. Puppy is on my bed and the older dog is crashed out on the floor.

Back with an update later,

Good morning (still, barely)

My day has not gone at all as planned.

Bean woke up at 4:45 yelling "Grammie walk!" I explained to him that it was dark, the trees were sleeping, and we could not go for a walk, but he had no interest in going back to sleep. He was kind enough to entertain himself with the bin of plastic eggs for over an hour while I drank my coffee.

Yesterday I was promised cloudy skies all day but no rain, but this morning we barely got the chores done before the rain chased us inside. No gardening as it is supposed to continue like this all day. He is currently well in to a very early nap (gee, I wonder why?!) and I may take him to the library this afternoon for a bit before we meet his daddy for hand off. Between we'll probably make biscuits.

He was a bit annoyed with me this morning because I won't let him milk the goat himself. My youngest milked a cow for the first time when she was two, but it was a very well behaved cow. He is a bit younger and I'm afraid he would get kicked.

I really should try to make good use of this time, but mr. kitty has curled up on my lap.

Thank you for the recipe! I appreciate it. I have almond extract and that sounds very tasty.

Lila, I am sorry. I'm so sorry you are going through this.

I have had this beautiful Cherry dresser since I was a kid. I remember when my mother bought it for me. I love it and the giant oval mirror. I'm thinking of having it painted (professionally). I know it will be expensive and there was this side of me that wonders if I'm ruining it but then I remember, it's just me. It's me and the dresser I've had for over 50 years. So this ties in with you, Lila. Let's live our lives now.

We don't have to live our lives with this thing or that thing being valuable today or tomorrow or for this one or that one. Let's live our lives today. It's okay not to save something for someone else. It's okay not to keep something because it might be valuable. It's only valuable if someone's willing to sell it and someone else is willing to buy it.

I'll be having my dresser painted.

Lila,

I didn't ignore you - I just took a long time posting because I had to measure my pan.

I hope the blood work just hasn't cleared up yet. Not really the way anyone wants to be motivated, but if you can channel it for good, I am glad.

Tatoulia, be gentle to yourself.

Bean has two friends, and a cousin on his daddy's side. They mostly just look at each other, but Bean is always happy to see them. Today after his friend left he told me "(friend) find egg. (Bean) find egg."

He also wanted to show his friend the goats.

The poundcake is pretty big. You need an extra large Bundt or angel foid cake pan - my angel food cake pan is 4.5" tall and 10" across. You have to either leave the butter out overnight, or warm it without melting it.

Bean's poundcake:

Preheat oven to 350F and grease pan.

Cream 1lb butter with 3.5c sugar (the original recipe called for 4c)

Slowly beat in a dozen eggs, one at a time.

Add 1t nutmeg and 2t almond extract (you can sub vanilla if you don't like almond)

Mix in 4c all purpose flour.

Pour (scoop - it's a little thick to pour) into pan and bake for one hour uncovered. Then cover with foil and bake for another 30 minutes.

Bean is sleeping - I need to do chores and get to bed myself.

hello all,

now I want pound cake. Sounds so good. I used to make pound cakes. I've always wanted to make the old fashioned, traditional recipe with a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, a pound of eggs, and a pound of flour. But I never did it.

Dr was a decent visit. They think they got it all but he referred me to another specialty surgeon to get his advice. Also am getting a CT of my old innards this week to check for spread. Blood work was done and did not look good. I don't know what that means. I see another Dr next week after the scan. I have started to tell a few people, but not many.

DH has mostly moved from room 1 to room 2, he says. I have not gone down to check recently but I heard him running a hand vacuum down there for a long time today. I have not seen bags of trash going out so not sure where it all went. I've been too preoccupied to really look. I will go check it out tomorrow or when he goes to the store. I am sure there is stuff still in the family room, but I am going to move it into his room as soon as I get a chance, whether he likes it or not.

I am going to be super busy this week. But I am also highly motivated to get rid of anything that would be trashed if I passed away. This dx has really made it real, to look at all this stuff, wonder who would get it if I am not around anymore, and would they even know where anything of value is? Things suddenly don't seem as important.

That should have said two quick loads of laundry. Our washer takes about an hour and a half. But there's a quick wash feature which is closer to half an hour. So I did two quick laundry loads and everything is folded and out away.

I found all the Easter cards I bought and BF and I wrote them out and mailed them. I shredded a bunch of paper and I did some errands.

I'm not following no spend April. I'm failing miserably. I bought a bracelet yesterday. I did agonize over the bracelet and called BF twice about it. He said he'd take the money out of the register and give it to me, but it still wasn't the best move on my part. Today I bought Easter candy, as I normally would but I went to the chocolate shop and bought the expensive cute stuff. They make little bunnies by hand and other cute stuff. I bought BF an Easter mix that has a few of the bunnies and some marzipan and a few other little things. Then I went to the grocery store and now I have to go visit mom. I feel badly that I let the whole day get away without seeing her. Oooh she just a called. She perked up when I mentioned I picked up hot cross buns for her.

I brushed the cat until she wouldn't tolerate it any longer. It's hard with older cats. They tend to get a lot of matting. I'm not sure what to do other than to try to keep her brushed. I can only do one side at a time and she will never let me near her tummy. But I'm trying. Even her tail is looking a but mangy. She doesn't smell, luckily. She's just an 18 year old cat.

Bean has a friend!!!

I bet that pound cake smells wonderful. Would you be willing to share the recipe?

I changed my sheets, doing two wpquicj loads of laundry. PJs in the dryer and darks in the washer. I have started to sorting the mail. Will start shredding soon.

Road, it sounds like you have a good plan.

House is a mess.

Poundcake in the oven.

Bean coming in two hours for an Easter egg hunt. He is bringing a friend.

Yes it says bug and not big. It still works!

I didn't change my sheets this week. The cleaners do it on Wednesdays, and I had to cancel them this week due to covid exposure. I didn't change them myself due to laziness and this AM I realized I have to change them. I am so used to every week of clean crisp sheets. So I'm changing them now. I'm up early (for me) again today.

My house is a bit of a pigsty so I'm going to shred my mail and take a look at what else needs to be done.

Cannot waste my life on the internet. Wish me well!

OH before I go, someone on Twitter mentioned that she had four loads of laundry that needed to be folded and put away and I thought oh please let me take care of that for you. I also wanted to make the bed for the person who never makes her bed, although I've always been a bed maker, it was this site that got me to fold and out away laundry. Before, it would sit in piles. It would intermingle with dirty laundry and fall and then the whole thing would be a bug disgusting hoarded mess.

Hi guys, nothing here to report, just checking in.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Xoxo

Praying for everyone's peace and good health.

Road, I buy percale sheets. They wrinkle more but they have the crisp feeling I like.

I did not have my cleaners this week due to covid scare. I'm negative. Am trying to turn over a new leaf. I was in office before 9 on Thursday, and before 8:30 on Friday. So far I don't mind having people in at office.

Lila, how was the drs. ? What did you find out?

In very mundane news, I have a plan for. My closet.

I think I am going to install some shelves like I did in my pantry I'm so proud of, just larger scale. I'm going to install shelf brackets on the side of the front and side of the back and then run shelves from front to back on the left hand side of my closet. There's room for 3 but I think 2 will be enough to hold my shorts and pants folded. There will still be room for a hamper on the floor and hanging clothes. I think if I put a little lip on the edge to keep things from sliding. The shelves will be about 10-12" deep and run the depth of the closet.

I watched the latest episode of the new Julia child show. Really good, and interesting to learn about some of the things they pioneered with the show... then I was inspired to cook and instead ended up making pickled verge and marinade for chicken for banh mi .

Headed out now for lunch w bff. Will check back later,

Hi all and hugs to everyone.

Lila, limbo is the worst. Hoping for the best possible scenario and a plan you can embrace.

Cm, I lost my last post but I know I was alluding to mentioning your situation *but* only while tap dancing sideways with eyes averted, fingers in ears singing "lalalalalalaaaa" so as to avoid jinxing your situation...

Tatoulia, that sounds like a good goal (sheets)... ironically I did just have to throw one away. No sooner do I mention having two sets to start than I am down one. But I will go into an actual store and buy a set. The last sheets I can remember enjoying were vintage. Not sure how they are made that's so different than now but they were amazing. Might still have some of those - just flat, not fitted. But still I think its a good step for me since I do keep stuff piled up on the bed. This would make me deal with that every so many days. But for now I think I probably need to focus on closet to solve the clothing storage situation and get that resolved.

Sub c, what's next, I would say the closet shelving... I am in kind of a crashed state right now though due to some stuff with sons health and school. Then I had my drs. Appt weds and got through that ok but then when I got home I noticed something on the paperwork that was a diagnosis that has never been discussed with me that is very serious. Furious at this dr. And myself. I am still processing it but will share more once I get my head wrapped around it.

Good news is my son got an award (basically like a citizenship award) which, imho, is the best possible thing to be acknowledged for. Very proud. Award ceremony, Photos, certificate and giant cookie pop Made for a memorable day.

Back later once I get the guys on their way...

All, thank you so much for the good thoughts and kind words.

SubC, thank you for the prayers at your Holy Hour! That means so much to me. I know the power of prayer.

Fingers crossed for you, CM.

Doctor tomorrow morning. I just want to get it over with. I hope that whatever they want me to do - any scans, blood tests, or treatments - I can get done really really soon. I hate waiting.

I got a lot, tons, or work done today. Worked almost nonstop from 9 to 6. But that project is DONE aside from training a couple of people to do the job I have been doing for 2 years (just one project, not my main stuff). It will be so nice to let some other people take this over so I can focus on my other work.

Also I signed that contract, and told the finance office that if it as too high priced I would pay the difference out of one of the accounts I am over. They seemed happy with that so I think all is well.

Lila, I hope the dr. Can give you reassuring news. As for falling apart - that is why your friend is going. If you didn't need support, there would be no point in her coming along.

CM, I will not jinx you by mentioning anything but I am sharing hope!

I had a staff meeting yesterday. We're apparently having an art show may 4 - which was a surprise to the art department, and they said they are going to start paying us for a time consuming task they have been expecting us to do for free (I'd say "as part of our job", but we are paid hourly and only for time that is spent actually in the classroom with students - plus one planning hour if you work enough teaching hours.) after my last experience with benefits, I'll believe that after the money shows up. It would be a nice bonus if it does.

Road, what is next?

Tatoulia, let us kniw if the chairs are up!

Praying and keeping my fingers crossed, CM. Also for Lila. Lila we are here for you.

Road, that was arduous work giving us a tour of your bedroom. Thank you! I need to know what you have and what your circumstance is. I know you can do this. I don't mean to be silly and petty, but would you be able to set and stick to a schedule to change your sheets? I want you to have the nice feeling of clean sheets fairly frequently. I swear it will help you find the strength for the other stuff.

Back to office for me tomorrow. I workedmtoday at home. I logged on 1-1/2 hours earlier than I usually do and what a difference! I got a lot of work done and was focused.

Would love to get into the office at a normal time tomorrow.

I will post pictures of my chairs! Good idea! I love how they look. You'll probably all laugh at me when you see what a nothing job it was. And you'll wonder why I put it off for so long.

Again wishing I could hug Lila through the screen. What I can do is take you with me to my Holy Hour at church today, and pray 🙏 for good options and for peace of mind. So that I will do.

I want again to catch up more thoroughly on everyone's posts. Looks like a lot happening. I want more to be happening with my clutter too. This has been another unsettling time, and the weather and schedule and other things keep throwing plans back. But it's early in the season, so hopefully will get into a rhythm.

Random - just had to smile at Bean and the matter of the least fuzzy rabbit. I have weird sensory quirks, and tend to prefer petting smooth coated animals over fluffy ones. My roommate is the opposite; for her, the fuzzier the better. Her two former dogs were long haired. And one of the cats is a foofball. She interprets long fur as softer. My skin/tactile sense finds fluffy fur to be dry and tickly. Also, smooth fur picks up less foreign matter and mats less. Anyhow, I'm glad there was a bunny that Bean could enjoy.

Tomorrow afternoon I go to help out at the bunny house while one of the ladies goes on a trip. Things to do to get ready today and tomorrow morning. If I have down time over there I can post more. Because it seems like there's just so much going on I can't even delineate it all.

Especially given the following. Buckle your seat belts.

Okay, this is big, and scary to write because I have a hard time not being superstitious after all we have been through with this... but it looks like the big plumbing repair is going to finally happen. We are moving the ball down the field. Instead of the guy who keeps having delays, we have initiated the process with a professional company, recommended by my friends, a couple who have used them for several of their own residences and rentals. The AC unit will need to be relocated, and my friends also recommend an HVAC company.

Fingers crossed... 🤞

So from my bed "at 6 o'clock", the door on the left Going clockwise... The room is an L shape with the door being the lower left hand corner of the L if that makes sense. There's one continuous line of storage from wall to wall floor to (close to the) ceiling

At 7:00, there's an antique cabinet w glass doors that holds antique collections of antique folk dolls, antique books and China. (Did I mention it was antique? Lol) door is broken, odyssey to fix it. Sad face. Might move downstairs. Not actively collecting. This is just displaying existing collection. Sitting on top is artwork, a lamp not working... too much clutter.

At 8:00, overstuffed book shelf at 45 degree angle. 2/3 books, 1/3 fragile decorations. If I remove 20/30 books, it could be neatly arranged. This is a quick project I haven't prioritized. But could make a big impact quickly. On top are some oversized fragile things.

On the floor in front of these two pieces is the last remaining big clutter/mess in the front half of the room. There's a basket of toiletries that need to go in my closet (but no where to store them there yet) or bathroom closet (which will lead to reorganizing the bathroom closet and is a large project). This might be where I could create a. Stitchy space so that I'm not using my bed and aggravating my pain situation... there's stil 2 or 3 cubic feet of crap on the floor, various fans, garbage, and misc. to deal with there.

At 9:00
Behind the angled bookshelf is another stuffed bookshelf. Some books, some binders, genealogy research, and craft stuff. Will prob keep top shelf for personal binders and son's current school stuff, 1 or 2 shelves for genealogy, and bottom half is all negotiable.

In front of this is a 4' pile of crap that all needs to go somewhere other than my room. Some garbage, mostly gifts that never got returned or were never quite delivered to their intended target. Sad face.

At 10:00 there's a tower of half empty elfa storage (2 stacked units) contents totally negotiable.
On the floor in front of this are some of my old vision boards.

At 11:00 is my desk... old tile kitchen table with hutch on top. Currently unusable, jammed with office supplies and sorted paperwork. Hutch could hold 3-4 cubic feet with room to breathe, prob need to get rid of 3-4. Under the desk is prob 7-8 cubic feet of stuff. Blanking what it is right now. Oh, there's a bin of stitching stuff down there.

At 12:00 is the end of the straight path from the door way. There are several baskets deep of my sons school supplies mostly. This is the next category going to the garage. That wall has two windows so no floor to ceiling storage there.

At 1:00 is the far corner of my standing desk. This has 3? Bins still stacked on top. Mostly my officey paperwork and some school stuff and some school supplies. Underneath is more Of the same and some trash. Nothing gross thank goodness... previously this had a bookshelf with binders sitting on top of it which basically broke the table. That shelf and all the contents have already moved tothegarage. Under the desk there's an access door to some under the eaves storage. I *think* there are several bins of photos and stuff in there.itsbeenawhile.

At 2:00 close side of the standing desk. When I get stuff cleared out underneath I can fix the table so it's standing height again. I definitely want to keep this table but needs to be fixed. Crap underneath mostly needs to go. I have piles of current paperwork and my printer on this half of the table. Everything Here has been touched within the last week or two. More vision board stuff to the right of the table.

At 3:00 is my dresser. It's a small scale thing from the 30s? From top to bottom, fragile stuff on top (messy), top drawer jewelry, then cabinet section has baby keepsakes, etc., then underwear, then socks, then tee shirts. Then the room just out to the foot of the "L" and that's my closet. Between 2x3' and 3x4'. Need to install shelves. And probably repair plaster. Just moved 5 bins from closet to basement (the H) and another bin full of old school paperwork th@5 had been on the floor at 7:00.

At 4:00, 5, 6 is the other window , my bed, and needlework bin on bed and clean clothes on bed, and art work on walls. Between bed and the door is my nightstand. Might try to put an in basket by door to keep boys from dumping stuff in my room...

NOTHING under bed or dresser!!

Hi all,

Tatoulia, nice job on the chairs! If you feel like sharing post on IG.

Lila, Re: health situation, I was just going to ask what the timeline was for next steps, but looks like you are already there. Share here if you're up for it...

Bean, haha! Omg I just called subc Bean! 🥰 I am charmed with Bean and am seriously considering one of the neighborhood littles to have some bean fun myself.

I like the new line you found, subc, about being conscious of what you're doing in relation to your ultimate goals.

Tatoulia asked about furniture. Might have been Lila you're thinking of as I remember there was a discussion about furniture pieces. My room is jammed with too much stuff of everything *except* clothing storage. So I have to get rid of everything else but get a little more clothing storage. I have gone from dirty clothing on garbage piled floor and clean clothes in bin on bed to dirty clothes on clean floor, half clean clothes in dresser, and half clean clothes on bed. Extra clothes also on bed. Mostly empty closet. Want to get rid of a basket of clothes and make my closet fully usable for storage. And get rid of volume in my room that's craft supplies, decor, and my sons school stuff. I'll break it down in a separate post.

Tatoulia, my clean, soft, warm sheets are light tan/beige color, and they are made of bamboo fiber. I switch from cotton flannel to bamboo many years ago and I love them! I used to get too hot in summer with the flannel. These are perfect year round. I just thrown a blanket or two on top. And yes to the top sheet, sooo cozy. I love a clean bed too. I slept better... and, the reservation is (I think, hope and pray) resolved. Place 1 backed out totally. Place 2 sent me a contract. I signed it and sent it in. Our finance person is in tomorrow to pay the contract. So I just hope they don't have any issue with what I have done, and approval just goes on through.

Congrats on the chairs!

SubC, so nice about Bean. Especially about the bunny. I so want to my Tot over here but I feel unwell. Headache and very tired. Hopefully soon.

I see the doctor later this week to get the lowdown on treatment options. I am just sick over it all. I have only told a handful of friends. One of them today offered to go with me to the Dr. Unlike my usual loner self, I said yes to this. I am afraid and hope I won't freak out with her there. I usually end up sitting in my car crying after stressful Dr appointments, and this is top of the stress list. In fact I feel frozen with distress. I did basically nothing today but care for dogs. I did not get enough sleep, ate a bit of junky things and sat on the couch watching tv all day. I feel worse doing that so will do better tomorrow. I have to work in the morning anyway.

Goals for tomorrow -

I can't even do it. I guess my goal for tomorrow is to get something useful done, eat healthier, and feel better.

Tatoulia, hooray for your chairs! That has been a long time coming! You must be really happy about it!

Bean was a good little helper with the morning chores. And he asked me to take the least fuzzy rabbit out of her cage and he pet her! Bean has some sensory issues and he is afraid of fuzzy things.

We just played inside in the afternoon. He was very cuddly and wanted lots of stories. We did find two of his balls that had gotten lost under furniture. He was excited about that.

I went to the library after I returned him and checked out six books. I have a (slightly adapted) line for everyone from the pasture management book: Always ask yourself "what is the purpose of this action or input? Does it (move you toward you goals)..what did it accomplish? Is there a cheaper or more effective way to accomplish the same thing?"

School this afternoon, class tonight.

We did the chairs! They look great! I'm going to ask my cleaners to make me one matching pillow for my desk chair.

Ok to the office tmr. Everyone will be there, which I am not excited about. But I'll mask up and make it through.

Have been shredding mail today. Cleaned kitty's box.

Good morning!

Everyone was busy this weekend!

Lila, I hope the work thing works out. And be gentle with yourself.

It is good that your teen cleaned up. They are trying.

Tatoulia, good luck with the chairs!

Road, good luck with your deadlines and appointments today. You got a lot done over the weekend!

Bean is still sleeping, but likely not for long. He was so tired last night that he was saying "nap, lie down" during his story. But he also still wanted his story. It is supposed to rain most of the morning, so I don't know if it will be dry enough for us to work in the garden this afternoon.

The kids finished putting a temporary roof on the shelter by the pond last night, so that project is done for now. Eventually it will get screens and a real roof.

Today - dishes, laundry, play with Bean, bank after I drop him off.

Lila, tell me about your clean sheets! What color are they? Do you use a top sheet? I am such a fan of a nice clean bed. Did you sleep better?

I'm sorry about your teen but that is terrific progress that they cleaned up! I hope that tmr someone gets back to you regarding the meeting space.


Going to go to bed soon. Saw BF for a while tonight.

Nice to see your serial posts, Road! Interesting comment about dysregulation. I'll have to look that up. I got yelled at again today and when I disengaged I heard glass being thrown and breaking, but I stayed out of it. Then I heard them cleaning it up. So even if there is another hole in another wall, it is progress that they cleaned it up.

I am so exhausted all the time. I assume this has to do with my health. I took a walk down the block and back yesterday but won't get one in today... too windy. Will try again tomorrow.

DH has moved a significant amount of stuff into his room. I am hopeful he might actually see the benefit of throwing away some of what's left (trash and old mail).

I did manage to put the clean sheets on my bed last night, out of necessity, but it was really hard for me. I had to sit down in between.

I am getting nowhere with the work issue, have heard nothing back so I guess I will send one last email asking if the cheaper place might work out. I have to make a decision tomorrow one way or the other.

I don't have it in me to clean or organize today. I hope to find time tomorrow.

Yay for clean sheets, Road!

Road, refresh my memory, you have a lot of furniture in your bedroom? And I once suggested that you consider getting rid of a piece? This is an honest question. I keep wondering who I had that conversation with. Please don't be offended. I sometimes have to stop and sort out everyone's situations. I would love to see you get some more room in your bedroom.

I ask because I was glad to hear that you put a piece of furniture in your closet. Is that because it will be easier to use there and now that is the furniture's new home? Or are you trying to do something else with it? In any event, if it is something you can eventually get rid of, that might be good. Make a little space for yourself. But no pressure. And no judge mental. 😀

I did three loads of laundry. All folded and out away, except some pieces are hanging to dry. Really have two more loads to go but one would need to be hung and I'm out of space.

I wasted the day. Wasted it. Now it's dark out and I may go visit boyfriend for a bit.

I am also going to get rid of my old makeup. Even stuff that isn't actually old but now that I have the nice stuff from the UK company, I don't want to go back to the other stuff. So why have it junk up my closet. The UK stuff is light and weightless and so nice.

Me again... serial posting!

More excitement over here...

- took everything off the bed (omg that was a lot)
- stripped the sheets
- put on new mattress cover
- put on clean fitted and flat sheets
- ejected a pile of my sons clothes he threw in here.
- put small dresser in the closet (had to empty it out and then move it etc bit of a project.
- folded more pajama pants, shorts, etc. and put away.

I think if I can deep clean and primer the closet (and maybe add one more shelf or something) I will have enough clothing storage. I hope.
- purged two shirts. One is too small and one is ugly.

I seriously worked up a sweat and my head got hot!

Oddly, my room looks way worse than it did before... but I know I am making net gains.


OK now this is truly bizarre but if you're still reading along and I don't blame you if you're not, but I had a long rant last post about being better than the hoarders who buy unnecessary stitchy stuff, and I immediately tuned into a new video and one of the people I had in mind (who I totally love btw) said they had had a. Large Household repair expense And she was now going to be reasonable about her buying. And she had given it a lot of thought and framed it in a way that was healthy and mostly positive... It was amazing! It was so weird that I had just been visualizing them and then she did a 180.

Anyhow. Ok, I'm done. :)

Hi again,

Big flurry of activity since my last post.
- consolidated two partially filled toiletries bins into one.
- emptied out the closet of the last of the bins. Next step will be emptying out the corner and left hand side of standing desk of all of my sons school stuff per my plan...
- Swept all. Laundry and garbage out to hall
- sorted out garbage
- laundry to basket
- started folding laundry & put away
- paired more socks and put away
- *** significant trigger *** packed up the two baskets that had speech Stuff (the afore mentioned "ream of paper"and old ieps into a bin and they are ready to go to the garage. I will eventually need to toss 96% of the contents of that bin but for now it will not be sucking my soul in my room and cluttering up my walk way.

HURRAYYYYYYYY ! (I'm pretending to be excited but it is a big deal.)

Purchases from the other day - the long anticipated needlework shop field trip ! I probably maxed out what I could reasonably spend but I rationalized it because I was annoyed that we didn't go anywhere for spring break. #justthetruth
- book
- chart
- about 20 new flosses
- couple other little accessories
- 2 new pieces of linen

They charged one of them twice so I sent them an email. Hope they are not a. Pain to deal with.

I. Did feel slightly self satisfied that I have not fallen for some of the big money pitfalls that some people do - hopefully all these people have more money than me and not less... what I'm talking about are the other "unnecessary" needlework accessories like needle minders, Floss drops, project bag and floss drop jewelry (not kidding), fabric project bags, and chart collecting and collecting of all of the above. I feel like after I turned around my fabric hoarding I'm less likely to fall for new collections. That's what these things really are for people who buy and buy and buy. They're just collecting. They can't possibly use all of that stuff. See how judge mental I am? I love how auto correct broke that into two words. Haha ANYWAY! I. Use the clear vinyl project bags with zippers (a couple bucks a piece vs. $50 a throw for fabric project bags) and I purchased two needle minders awhile back and quickly realized that was all I needed. The linen is expensive and I basically don't buy any til I have run out of it. I only buy charts I can't resist. I don't collect them. I could buy fewer. But I only want to compare myself to people who buy more! Hahaha. But I do use mostly silk floss whereas many people use cotton or overdyed cotton so that's a bigger expense. So anyway, I'm wrestling with myself on that but nothing too out of limits... much bigger issue is proceeding with getting rid of all the crap in the garage and basement. Volume wise the needlework stuff is very compact so not a big deal other than Keeping it within what can I afford to spend... and still being able to afford to do other things like go on vacation,

Did I mention I was thinking of trying a financial app again to try to focus on saving for vacations? I think that might work. I hope it works.

Drs. Appt for me tomorrow. Well, lab work tomorrow, drs appt weds. The lab work is almost no anxiety for me but the drs. Appt is already making me jittery.

Also have a big summer recreation registration deadline tomorrow for my son that's kind of a black cloud hanging over my head and I'm not sure why.

We had 4th shot appts Friday but they cancelled because they set up appt slots and didn't have any vaccine. So I gotta go through that whole scheduling rigmarole again which is always a big stress tornado for me.

Ok, I better stop rambling. Back later

Well I didn't get far but Lila, I am so sorry I missed that post from the other day when I wasn't checking in. My son has had stuff like that too. I can't even count how many times I've been clocked over the years. He's so sweet sometimes I block out that he's done that but ... I rely on a Down syndrome specific behavior board on Facebook for ideas. Great give and take on that board. I have several friends who have kids with autism (wide range of cognitive abilities) who have put all the holes in all the walls, etc. So I send you my support 💕💕💕... even though you know it may be beyond them to control it's still happening and when some of it is directed at you it still is a bit of a trauma that you have to process.

Is everyone Here familiar with the term "disregulation?" This is part of what causes someone to punch a hole in the wall and yell and scream at someone, and also (I think) What causes us to be triggered and have one bad thing sabotage a whole day. Learning how to recognize when we are getting into that state and strategies for getting back into a calmer, peaceful ( or "ready to learn" as the teachers say) state is the key to many things in life I'm thinking... I will be back again,

Ack I missed 3 days. Be back after catching up...

On today's radar:
To donate pile:
3 books
3 magazines

Found another one I was about to duplicate... thereby averting that whole thing.

The H let me know we had extra queen sheets and brought the bin to me so I grabbed some. Will try two sets for now and don't have to buy any.

Floor was getting pretty bad from dirty laundry and puppy shredding Mahem. Swept out most of it and sorted out tissue & polyfill shred from laundry.

Right now my bed is full of clean clothes, needlework stuff, and assorted books and cords, etc. so I need to deal with all that stuff to change my sheets...

When I change my sheets I'll try to savor the experience like Tatoulia does. ☺️ Back in a bit.

Good afternoon!

Lila, that is a stressful work situation! Let me know how it is going. Good work yesterday! Making soup and stripping the bed, etc. excellent!

I am getting up a bit later today. I'm not sure what I reported on yesterday but while at mim's, I noticed a leak in her kitchenette and the maintenance guy came up. She won't have water in the kitchen area until Monday. But bathroom still works. Glad I was there to manage that for her. The maintenance guy mentioned what a sweetheart she is, so that was nice.

After mim's, I took a shower then took a nap.

Had dinner out with my friend last night and it was so delicious. Beautiful walk to and from the restaurant.

It's April and it's no spend for me. No buying little extras and everything that I see that is cute. No buying on sale, etc.

Today is laundry and shredding papers day. I'll report back.

Oh! My friend said she may come Monday to help with the chairs. I may try to do one myself today, so then she need only match the other one.

post 2 -

I feel exhausted, but I am trying to do some things.

- took sheets off bed, washed, and they are in the dryer
- went outside and cleaned up some of the dog poo in the dogs' area
- made vegetable soup from veggies that needed to be used up in the fridge, which is very good and is helping me feel better
- washed the blender and a few dishes

I have something from work that I am 100% responsible for that is hanging, and it is making me stressed. I thought it was solved but then got an email from a company backing out, with decent reasons, but left me in a bad place since I got approval for that company and that price, and not my supervisor is on vacation, and the other options I've been frantically researching are 4x the cost or more (due to a steep discount because of a relationship with the first place). And then the first place said they felt bad and were going to go to the board to see if they could accommodate, but then one of the other places offered a 25% discount... but that is still 3x the cost... and I have no one I can get approval from. But if I don't take it, I might lose it and then the first one might not pan out and a whole bunch of peoples' plans will be messed up!!! Argh... praying that I get an answer from the first one, either way, so I can firmly decide.

SubC, I love the soft petting badger imagery. Thank you. Thank you also for the words of understanding toward my child. It helps me to be reminded of it being the pain they are in and not really directed at me. I even thought, maybe teen had this rage outburst because 2 days ago I shared my new diagnosis with the kids. Maybe it is as overwhelming to them as it is to me. But it hurt me deeply that when I most needed caring and kindness I got an attack. I don't want to hold it against them. They are acting normal today and I will be compassionate.

Yes, it's like you get the momentum going and them something happens and everything screeches to a halt. Like I had to go inside my head and cope, instead of working on anything. I feel less upset today so will try and get done what I had intended for yesterday. I hope you enjoy your date night, and time with Bean!

Thank you for the hugs CM... hugs back. I can share the badger.

Tatoulia, I understand what you're saying. And I am biting my tongue NOT to say things like that to teen, or anyone else. It was always drilled into me as a kid, you are responsible for your own feelings. "No one can MAKE you mad or sad" etc. Although I do know things and people affect me, and I say things made me mad... but I won't verbally blame someone. It's something we all have to learn, I think.

DH update: he has been moving things into his new room! He did some stuff I didn't like, such as took apart the whole bed and put the mattress on the floor (it was my mother's bed), but, I decided to let it go and let him handle that. I am happy to see he moved his dresser into there and his cabinet. There is a LOT to keep moving and it is rather shocking to see the new room looking like it's getting filled up, but the old room looks almost the same, aside from one corner. You guys were not kidding when you told me about the hoard "fluffing up" when you start messing with it! I am really hoping he does not try and put part of his hoard in some other area, but I have a low tolerance right now. So, if he goes out again, I'm going in there with a trash bag to "help."

Will be back to share what I get done today. I hope you all will be posting too.

Lila, I am so sorry. We will stand by your side and shore you up.

I like what SubC said about your teen. It's hard not to take it personally especially so on a day when you have had very bad medical news. I am so sorry.

I used to let one bad thing ruin my day. But I come from people who do not dust themselves off. I don't want to say anything bad but I've heard, "I was happy tilI saw you" or "I was happy until this and now my day is ruined" a lot. And it was so off-putting and manipulative. To be candid, I probably was bratty or mean but the constant pushing me to be responsible for other peoples' days helped me to let things roll off of me better. NOT that your medical issue or upset with your teen is something that should roll off of you. I was responding to your general philosophical question.

I've had something work-related in my mind since Thursday. It's causing me stress but I am able to mainly put it away and not let it be responsible for my happiness. I used to brood and let things ruin my day; now I am much more selective. I'm still me, however, a Champion Worrier.

Actually woke up early today around 8:30 AM. BF and I ran some errands. I'm going to go take care of mom's groceries. I'd love to get a load of laundry in; I'll go check the status.

Having dinner out with a friend tonight. A bit nervous to be in a restaurant but it's the place that BF and I used to go frequently pre-pandemic and we went twice for my birthday. I'll be back later. I got a scissor sharpener and have sharpened my scissors for the fabric project.