Happy birthday Bitsy! 🙂

It's kind of cool to read about all these fearless bat and snake wranglers we have here! I'll stick to my bees though, thank you hehe

Happy to see so many making progress! Every step counts. I am inspired by you guys to make sure I at least begin working on my paper sorting project tonight. I have to laugh at myself because I have been so productive the last few days doing anything and everything before getting around to these papers. While I'm happy I've been getting things done I know I need to face this thing!

Once I start it won't seem so bad. Once I start it won't seem so bad. Once I start it won't seem so bad. *deep breath*

Oh also, I'm a resume machine these days! I've applied to tons of places and am starting to feel pretty good about it. It used to give me anxiety and dread to even think about opening that word document but now I'm staying positive and going for it 🙂

Good morning everybody 🙂

Yesterday there was a 4 foot long gopher snake in the pump house keeping me from turning on the hose to water the flowers.
They get in there from under the house where they live and hibernate.
The clutter all around the property causes a large mouse population and the snakes are here because of all the food.
There is now also corn snakes and even black racers.
Saw a baby black racer on the "goat path" in the garage.
The snakes are actually a blessing. There is hantavirus in this area, they eat the deer mice that carry hantavirus.
The desert pack rats living here are vegans so they don't eat the snakes and the adult rats are too big for all but the largest snakes to eat.
Rattlesnakes don't like to enter areas with another type of snake population already established.
But honestly, it gets on my nerves, never knowing when or where there will be a snake that I could have accidently stepped on.

On the other hand, there are cotton tail rabbits who nest in the clutter too and there's almost nothing cuter than a tiny baby bunny. 🙂

Thanks for your encouragement, Tillie and Tatoulia. Tatoulia, congrats on opening the door to the D.C. !!! (And for the coat donation, too.)

WAY TO GO!!! LR2014 😀

Roxie, did you go for that ride? 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Fantastic! job donating a coat! 😀

LR I thought of you on Friday. I still haven't finished The Dreaded Closet (from a year ago) but I did open the door, take out a coat and donate it on Friday. Unbelievable. 1. I still haven't cleaned it and 2. I actually opens the door to it.

Congratulations on the vehicle progress! And hello to everyone and their pets!

Made some good progress today on my vehicle clean-out project, finally. Yea!

I'm still very far behind in reading posts, but I did see that I missed bitsy's birthday.

Happy belated birthday, bitsy!!!!!!!!

Yes, thanks, Tillie, that's the bat lady I subscribed to. She's been posting for three years so there are a lot of videos (mostly quite short, though). Love to see the bats and cockatiels.

Happy 4th. of July! 🙂

youtube link "Megabattie"

Bitsy, happy birthday, dear! Yes, we do seem to have similar issues and affections or interests! This year I turned 66. Oh, my. One thing I can say is that probably the best exercise for anyone is walking, walking, walking.

Coffee clinks.

happy birthday dear Bitsy!!!

Roxie
Thanks for posting . I'm always glad to see your posts because you are dealing with some of the same medical that I am now. And dealing with Medicare HMO is so confusing and scary. I had to have a bunch of tests, ultrasound, and CT scan.am now having to see a vascular surgeon and getting another medication. I am anxiously waiting verification of what HMO pays on CT scan.

And I am so excited for you guys getting a bat box. So few people appreciate bats, bees, garden spiders, garter snakes, earth worms, etc.

Well, today I am 71 years old. Another year has flown by. Still struggling with my hoards. Still watching my hard saved money dis-appear. The best gift for my birthday was the sight of a pair of large dark brown and blue butterflies flitting around the yard.

Have to fix my medicine holders for next week, (I don't know why I do this on Thursday), and then sort through the mail.

Hi to everybody else. Keep up your efforts.

Hi Roxie 🙂
"clink!"

Bats, I love bats!
This time of year, periodically, a large colony will fly through here at twilight.
I know they are here when all the Robins and other birds roosting in the trees start yelling.
I go outside and stand in the yard with my arms outstretched to the sky and enjoy being surrounded by all of them flying all around me, but they never touch me.
This colony has hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny red furred bats.
After they fly through there are thousands fewer flying insects.
They sleep in old barns, caves and any undisturbed old roof/eaves.
The local agriculture office has free pamphlets on how to build bat houses and other ways to encourage bats to visit your yard.

😀

Just stopping by to say hi and let you know I am thinking of each and every one of you. I'm tired but need to get ready for a follow-up appointment with a nurse practitioner regarding the stents they did this last time. I do not notice any real changes since then, but it's been worth a try. At least the blood is flowing again in that area, which has to be good.

Hugs and coffee clinks.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Critical Mass 🙂
Love reading your insights.
Change comes from within. First we think and ponder about things, explore our inner selves, then act on our newfound truths & realities. 😉

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
So happy that the inheritance sorting is going well and your "new" items are making you so ecstatic to have them! 😀

Hi Roxie 🙂 "clink!"
Wishing you good luck sorting out the hospital billing. (((hugs)))
That is always such a confusing mess.

Hi Jess 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! keeping up with the maintenance!
Remember you can break down those other daunting tasks into smaller bits. You don't have to do them start to finish all in the same time.
Yes, posting in weekly task might help keep you accountable to us and yourself to get started on them. 🙂

I had just kept plugging along, doing whatever needed to be done around here.
Unfortunately, this unrelenting heat day and night, day after day finally got to me.
An evaporative cooler does not work well when there is humidity and we have lots of that right now.
Been 108 outside and 80 inside during the days, fortunately it does get down in the upper 70s in the early morning.
All the cats look like melted wax candles and I have heat exhaustion.
We are taking it easy now, only doing the absolute necessaries.
Staying inside, hydrated and taking naps.

Wonderful to read all your posts this morning! 😀

Take care 🙂

Hi everybody!

CM, I love reading posts that detail the thought processes the poster is having. It really does help me to concentrate on why things are difficult for me. When I started on this journey of healing I had very little awareness of my own issues that I've had to do a lot of reflection and analyzing. It has helped a ton. Thank you for sharing!

Lately I feel like I've done a lot of work keeping up with maintenance chores, the stuff you have to do over and over. Clean kitchen, clean bathrooms, wash bedding, do laundry, blah blah blah. That plus my job search, taking care of the doggy, and minding the garden and bees have left me feeling like I've done a lot but certain things are never getting done.

There's another category of things that keep getting pushed off. Like organizing all my papers, doing the wedding album, breaking down boxes and recycling them, etc. So I guess I'm saying that I'm keeping things relatively clean but I'm slacking off on tackling clutter and let's face it, stuff I don't really want to do and rationalize as non-essential. Bad Jess! 😛

Think it's time to go back to posting in weekly task!

Tat, CM, Tillie and all, coffee clicks and good morning.

Hugs all around.

Hi, Tatoulia and everyone,

Tatoulia, glad you enjoyed my account of my dialogue with myself! I know my posts are lengthy - one thing I don't hoard is words, because there are plenty more where they come from, LOL! Plus I like to write, majored in it in college. When I had my big epiphany about my hoarding, I thought of doing a blog. I'm currently undecided about that, but consider this as a way of dipping my toes in the water while I decide.

I am also a pretty introspective type, which in the past I think I allowed to become navel-gazing at times. Now I'm trying to make it more geared toward true self-improvement and more direct and practical in everyday life, if you see what I mean. I figure sharing those insights into my own thought process might help others who struggle with the hoarding temptation.

Well, time to wrap up on the computer and get going with the day, so this post will actually be of a reasonable length.

Congratulations, CM! I know all those feelings so very well--good to hear your thought processes--not much different from the ones I felt a year ago when i was in the midst of my big clean. I had to remind myself that these things exist in the world and that it needs to be enough for me--no more hanging on to things for other people. I also tell myself that this thing or that thing has been loved enough me, time for someone else to love it. It's amazingly helpful to have a dialogue going during the process! I appreciated reading about yours!

I am sorting through a recent inheritance and it's going well. Essentially getting rid of my things and keeping the newly inherited. Two of the pieces came as quite a surprise--furniture I had loved and admired for more than 30 years. I had no idea that someday these things would be mine and I keep pinching myself. In the process of getting rid of the things I already had. Have taken care of all but my big coffee table--it has a new home already, just need to deal with the paperwork (sitting on the table) and call the person to come get it.

Keep up the good work and hello to Tillie, LR, Bitsy, Roxie, Diane & everyone else!

Checking in . . .

Lagging on the room some - but roommate and I have been on projects which will benefit us both space-wise so that is worth it. I'll admit that's not all the reason for my lagging - lethargy and indecision are always lurking. 😛

However, what I was able to do on the storage unit the other day is helping point me to what I need to do with it next. I also, during that outing, gave some stuff to the DAV, and I have to tell you all about that because I know you'll relate:

It was some miscellaneous items that I had decided to let go of even though some were kind of cool. One was a box of miscellaneous vintage Christmas cards I'd bought a long time ago, somewhere, I forget where. I'd thought over the years of doing various things with them - selling them on Ebay, giving them to others who might want to send them out, or even sending them out myself. But of course, bet you can guess, I dithered and did nothing.

So they were one of the items in this box. I parked in the DAV lot, killed the engine, and sat with that box of stuff. There it was - the "TUG": That last-minute doubt. That "Well, y'know, I really could give these to so-and-so for her scrapbooking, and I'm going to see her next week." So I pull them out of the giveaway box. Then I pull out a magazine and think "Well I should donate it to the library shop rather than here, it'd be more likely to be bought there."

And then I caught myself. And made myself just put the items back in the box and march in there and give them to the clerk and LET GO.

I admit to a 5-10 minute wandering around the store. Sometimes doing this can be therapeutic as I'm beginning to say things to myself such as "See? There will always be (item)," or "Someone thought this was the last word back in the 80s, but truth be told it was ugly then and it's hideous now." But then there is also the "Now this really would be useful" temptation that can arise. Right now, though, fact is I am broke so I couldn't buy anything so that settled it. Talk about a blessing in disguise! 😉

Bottom line - I'm more inclined in future to keep with the newer practice of just dropping off the donations and going right back out and driving away. And if it begins to be a struggle, I might start asking someone else to take the things away for me. But I'm on my own a lot, as a single gal, and I created this problem due to lack of discipline. I would like to think that I can retrain myself - with accountability, support, and prayer - to form better habits and ways.

Guess it's a juggling act - I want to do what I can myself to atone for my past bad judgments in this area and to stretch my brain's capacity to "rewire" itself from the dysfunctional ways. But I know I also have to be on guard against pride - clutter is a sort of an addiction and if it's a matter of being in danger regressing, and asking for help would prevent that, then I will ask for help. 🙂

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Critical Mass 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! on making some progress with the storage unit! 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
FANTASTIC! that you have been able to keep things in maintenance mode! 😀
I know how hard it is to sort out inherited things. 🙁
Take care. (((HUGS)))

I've been trying to keep up with things here but with the heat it's been hard.
Not sleeping much so I just get up and do things during the night while it is cooler.
Have to watch out for snakes and skunks when I am outside working in the dark.
Mr. H is almost all healed up and should be going back to work very soon now.
Will be so nice when he is not here 24/7 and no more home health nurses coming around 3 times a week.
I really need my "alone Time" back.
Time I need to recharge physically, mentally and spiritually.

Today I am writing up a To-Do list for this week so I won't forget to do important things.
So far, I have 2 things on the list but will keep adding to it as I see and remember things I need to remember to do.

Check in here when you can.
You all are never far from my thoughts. (((hugs)))

Checking in--sorry I've been unavailable. House is a mess due to inheriting some things in the past month. Know exactly what to get rid of but need to work on it. Have some unexpected time this AM and will use to my advantage. Keeping bedroom clean and clear -- Have kept up with weekly maintenance there and am pleased. Will now work on something and will check back in.

Much love to All-- have been thinking of you but slightly overwhelmed lately. Need to desperately get back on track.

Coffee clinks!

Well, yesterday I stopped by my storage unit and did make some progress there. Didn't have time to do the bedroom but it's on today's docket.

Stay cool, everyone - Tillie, 105 - Ugh! I feel for you! And the kitties!

Hi 🙂

Internet service was down this morning but is back online again.

Hi Critical Mass 🙂
Good Luck with your bedroom project! 😀

Hi LR2014 🙂
Wishing you Good Luck with the vehicle project! 😀

Hi Karl 🙂
How's the laundry coming along?
Hope you find a way to get the air moving through your room and still maintain your privacy.

It is 105 degrees right now on my back porch which is always shady & cooler than other areas of the property.
Brought all the cats inside earlier to keep them cool.
I don't do much during the hottest time of day.
We do have lots of popsicles. 🙂

Yay, the cooler weather came in - and some rain along with it! My roommate is home on vacation and I want to move my computer into my bedroom so we can each have our own spaces to do our respective computer work. That will force me this afternoon to deal with the half-completed bedroom decluttering so there's room to set up the computer table. It should be entirely doable if I don't get interruptions and lose track (ADD hey look a squirrel etc.). Guess I should also allow for mini breaks to avoid burnout, eh? Anyhow, wish me luck on it all!

It's hot in my room. I can open the window and the door to allow air to circulate, but then one corner of my room would be visible if my housemate walks by. That bothers me.

I also need to get laundry done. I'll make that a goal for tomorrow. If you see me in the chat on Friday, ask me if I did it.

Haven't read many of today's posts yet, but I did read the suggestion that I check in. Iced tea clinks, Roxie.

If all goes according to my plans tomorrow, I intend to spend a significant amount of time working once again on my "vehicle project." I hope to be able to report some significant progress by the end of the weekend.

Happy evening to all.

Hi everyone,

Tillie, that's a good idea about the computer browser. Less hassle than composing in Word. Thanks!

There really are too many decisions to make at once - moving just increases the number of the ones that already existed because of the hoarding problem.

Another thing is uncertainty. For instance, we have a large item to give away and someone who wants it, but will have to round up help, etc. He's also super busy, has lots of folks who depend on him. So we'll set a time and then wait. And if he gets held up it's usually in a way that keeps him from calling to inform us.

I'm one of those who just wants things like that settled - now! And yet, I paradoxically have trouble using the waiting time. I'm going to find something here though, and since I haven't been able to reach the friend I'm going to assume today doesn't work out and go on with my day. Why that is so hard to do, triggers such a cascade of indecision, is beyond me. But there it is.

"CLINK!" Roxie 😀

Yes, lets sit together today and watch nature.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Jess 🙂
Way To Go! 🙂
For sticking with routines and also getting things (big or little) accomplished.
Yea! for bees! 😀
What a nice hobby.

Hi Roxie "clink" 🙂
Fantastic! getting the books ready for donation! 😀
So sorry to hear about that infection. 🙁
Rest and recuperation are your priorities. (((HUGS)))

Hi Critical Mass 🙂
I open another window/tab and switch back and forth between them in order to reread and address everyone individually.
No way could I remember it all otherwise. 😉
When we have too many decisions to make at one time, we get burned out on the process and start "churning",removing items from one box and just putting them into another box to decide on later.
This is when it helps to have a trusted friend there to help talk us through the decision making process.
But since most all of this sorting out is being done all by ones self, we tend to get bogged down and just "churn" after a while.
A good way to combat churning is to stop, step back, take a breather, drink some water and breathe.
Tell yourself that now you only need to pick up one item to make the decision about.
After making that one decision walk away from the project.
Return to sorting after a while and make only one more decision about an object.
Repeat this procedure as needed...
This will help you get unstuck and help you keep a more positive attitude about this task at hand rather than really dreading it. (((hugs))) 🙂

Today is going to be over 100 degrees here but this morning is cool and would be very quiet except for all the birds. 🙂
The air is full of wildfire smoke so the sunlight has a deep yellow tint to it.
I am taking the day off from doing any chores, all caught up on the important stuff.
Thinking about getting out the sewing machine and having some fun. 🙂

TTYL 😀