Yesterday I couldn't do much. I spent most of the morning in the dentist's chair getting one of my back teeth drilled and a temporary crown fitted. The whole left side of my face was numb and I was tired. I had not slept well the night before worrying about the procedure. It went much better than expected, but was still tiring. I could not eat solid food until 7:00 p.m.
Like most of you, I do not have dental insurance. But my dentist is good about letting me pay for it in increments.
I am a little anxious today. My vacation is coming to an end. I start back to work at 7:30 on Monday morning.
As usual, I had overly ambitious plans for cleaning the clutter over my vacation. There is still a lot left to do.
But I did get to the dentist and eye doctor. I did get the kitchen and bathroom really clean and have kept both rooms clean. I have stayed current with laundry (clothes, underwear, towels, etc. that I need for every day use) It feels great to have a clean, well-organized kitchen to prepare meals in and eat in. It feels good to be able to take a shower and brush my teeth in a clean bathroom without clothes all over the floor.
My first priority is to keep those rooms clean and uncluttered. My second priority is to do all the daily and weekly tasks of laundry, cooking and cleaning, garbage removal, and vacuuming.
This weekend, I will review my goals and try to set realistic expectations for maintenance and decluttering each week. There are little projects that need to be done--like caulking the shower. There are big projects that I need to hire out to a plumber, electrician and drywall specialist. But I can't hire them until there is room for them to work.
All this can be overwhelming unless I break each task down into small increments. Procrastination is also a big temptation.
I really like this forum. It helps me focus on the plan. It keeps me moving forward. Instead of climbing back in bed and pulling the covers over my head, I can get one thing done. Then another. Even if I only get a few things done, it feels so much better than falling backwards.
I'll check back in later today and let you know what I accomplished.

Sorry for the confusion. That last post was supposed to be from me. I meant to put Kari's name in the reply box, but it ended up on the name box.

Congratulations on your progress! We celebrate with you.
And congratulations on your courage and openness to plan a party and invite friends in. I envy you.
I used to love having people over but haven't been able to ask anyone further than the front door for months.
You give us all hope.

Enough guests have replied that I've decided that the dinner party is on. There's so much to get ready, though -- yikes.

This afternoon I dealt with more magazines, and started to deal with laundry. I stripped the bed, rotated the mattress, stored a couple of quilts between the mattress and box spring (Tillie's idea, I think? Thanks for that!), and left myself a reminder to start the laundry on getting home. I left for dinner and board games, and tossed the dirty quilt into the washer; it's in the dryer as I write this. I'm not sure if I'll try washing anything else tonight -- it's already 2am here.

Oh, I'll need to take the trash out to the curb tonight. That would be the fireplace ashes, and probably some assorted recycling -- I don't think I have any significant amount of other trash, this week.

Thank you MayMay, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things today, feeling some better.

Hi Tillie,
That's cool. Yeah if I ask the guys at the fire station, if I could ever ride along with them to a call, they would probably let me. But I don't know if I could ever do a ride along with police officers; unless there was some sort of program or something that would allow me to do it. Which I don't think there is one where I live. 🙁

Thanks Mare,
GREAT JOB TODAY! 😀

In the CLEANUP section there is a new post from Shannon in regard to help needed for his aging father, I am hoping some of you with more experience here than I have will go in there and help him please.

I finally caught up with everything here, what a pleasure to see so many posts! So tired today, but trying to push through or it will only get worse.

So tonight I am doing something every time I get up to do anything, such as when I make coffee or let the dog out, I do a short chore of 5 - 15 minutes. I took out the trash once, need to again so I will do that next time.

Cleaning the kitchen floor, fed the dog and let him out twice so far.

If anyone comes in tonight I would be up for a chat, too... will check back to see.

How wonderful to see all of these posts and I am busily reading and catching up!

Roxie, yes it was a thrill to see Cory, he is such a kind man and so devoted to helping us all, and others of course.

Dianne it is always so great to read your detailed posts and I always feel spurred on to get rid of unneeded things while feeling alright about keeping a few sentimentals. I know what you mean when you say "creepy". Wow you did some massive stuff too.

Karl I had a hugely tired day I think it is for a combination of reasons, one being the huge high I feel when I come here but that can be draining. My initial posts and reads gave me such gratitude and excitement over finding these boards, and I over-did it but now I will even out a bit and be alright I think. I do hope you do the dinner party.

diane I am with you on feeling glad to see everyone being here and posting so much, I am behind now hahaha. Heat is hard to fight, here in NC we have been having some unseasonally cool weather which has been nice.

Wooooooooow Tillie YOU are doing fantastic and so positive with all of us, what a blessing you are!

Karl thank you for the pictures, I found the levels chart on the Insititute site and it was very helpful, I am a level 2 almost 3 but it gave me a lot of hope and more awareness.

Hahahahahaha Tillie!!! I love THE INCIDENT!!!

Kara you are doing so fantastic and I love the cleaning-to-the music idea, I could do that!

Barb you reminded me that I need to go to the dentist too... having some problems getting out of the house lately but am working on it... so difficult.

I went to see my therapist today and she was so excited for me that I have found all of you and that I am being active here and really reaping some huge rewards, thank you all so very much again.

MayMay you aare such a love!

Please forgive me if I missed anything or anyone, man this is great, all this activity.

My qualifications to do this were my education in emergency medicine and a desire to see how all the agencies worked together.
There were legal forms to fill out too in case something happened to me.
It was well worth the risks.

Hi Tillie,
WOW! Speeding down the road in the other lane with oncoming traffic coming at you?!... A guy shooting at police for no reason?!... Sounds scary! How were you allowed to do all those ride alongs?... Was it something you did for work?... Or was it just something that you signed up to do? 🙂

It was more fun than anything ever!
Speeding down the road in the other lane with oncoming traffic coming right at us.
Idiots not pulling over even though we had the lights and sirens on.
Responding to traffic accidents and other incidents.
Getting calls to check out citizen's complaints.
One guy called to report he had been robbed. He was soooo high on drugs it took us forever to figure out what he was robbed of. Drugs lol 😀
Cruising around just after dark and coming upon two men getting it on in a public park.
Scary was the crazy guy that called for police help just so he could shoot some cops. 🙁
Only the crazy guy was hurt that day.
When riding with the police, every time the fire department or an ambulance was called we would respond to help out, mostly with crowd and traffic control.
A call to report a dead body in a parked car. Turned out that the guy was extremely drunk and not really dead.
Call to report a dead body by a fence. That guy had been dead about three days.
Most of the time we just drove around town waiting to get calls and looking around for things.
Pushed a stalled car out of an intersection. Stopped a street fight from progressing.
Found a little kid wandering around and his mom soon showed up.

It was more fun than Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney land and the "Cops" show on TV put together. 😀

Hi everyone! 😀

Hi Tillie,
WOW! I'm sooooo jealous of you! I've ridden in fire trucks and ambulances before; but I've never ridden in them to an actual call before. That's so cool! Oh and I definitely have to ask you this question... What was it like riding along with police officers?... Did they arrest anyone while you were with them? 🙂

WAY TO GO Kara! 😀
I love that song! 🙂

Hi Roxie and Barb! 🙂

I'd love to get the Zumba cd's so maybe I'll put that on my list. I'm not sure I could DO the program but it'd be fun to watch/hear.

Good morning 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
I've been picturing you sitting out by the lake.
Hope you get there! 😀

Hi Karl 🙂
Tuesday night chat is for hoarders and messies only. I am not allowed there.
WTG! on moderating the chat session! 😀
I watch the time from when the poster starts their turn then at 15 minutes I say
"Times up" and name the next person who's turn it now is.
There are a few more posts to the poster and the poster then thanks everybody as the next poster starts to write.

Hi MayMay 🙂
Remind me never to mention to you all the times that I have ridden as an observer with fire departments, police departments or on ambulances. ;D

Hi Kara 🙂
Since the wardrobe is useless due to mold
you need to make other arrangements to store items that need to be put away.
I have a portable clothes rack to hang clothing on. Could you use something like that?
Also, I have a chest of drawers where I fold my blouses, night dresses, frocks, etc. and store them in that.
You can temporarily use plastic totes, stacked by one wall to store the clothing in till the mold issue is taken care of.
Hard to make suggestions without being in your room with you. 😉

Hi Barb 🙂
WAY TO GO! going to the dentist! 😀
Yes, beating ourselves up over things not done only makes us even more sad.
Every day is a fresh new day to start over. 😉

Today I need to tidy up a little.
Sweep floors & porches.
Wash a few dishes & wipe the counter and stove top.
As always, scoop litter boxes, put down fresh water & fill kibble bowls. Already fed them their canned food breakfast.
I have a few things that need to be glued and plan to do that today.
Will probably just wander around in here doing little odd jobs today. 🙂

Oh Yeah baby.... Dancing to Katy Perry song FIREWORK whilst de-hoarding. GO GO GO girl. Oh what fun I'm having. We should a have disco night in the chat room and do 15 mins de-hoarding to music.

I love your idea of cleaning to Zumba music!
I use plastic bins to sort clothes on the bed. If I put them in piles, both dogs and the cat run through them or make beds in them getting pet hair on them so they have to be washed again.
You can stack them on the floor when you are ready to go to bed..

I'm on my way to the dentist this morning. It's not my favorite place to go, but I need to take care of myself. And it is good to get out of the house.
Yesterday I had big plans but did not get them done.
I am learning to take the slow-going or non-productive days with the good without beating myself up.
Today is a new day.

I am de-hoarding with Zumba music. Oh boy what an experience. A double workout. I think I have finally got rid of the depression. At least whilst the sun is shining during the summer.

Question: Where does one put clothes without taking up surface space?

Hi everyone! 😀

Thanks Mare,
I always love telling that story. I always refer to the story as "THE NIGHT I FELL IN LOVE WITH FIREFIGHTERS!" My mom, on the other hand, hates it whenever I tell that story. She always refers to the story as "THE INCIDENT!" LOL. ;D

WAY TO GO Roxie! 😀
Yeah my boyfriend and I laughed about falling in the toilet for hours. LOL. 😀

GREAT JOB TODAY Dianne! 😀
That's hilarious that your daughter used to do that to her Barbies. LOL. I never did anything like that to my Barbies when I was younger. But one time, when I was like 6 or 7, my dog chewed off a bunch of my Barbies heads. I called that little incident "THE BARBIE MASSACRE!" LOL. 😀

WAY TO GO Barb! 😀

GREAT JOB TODAY diane! 😀
I wish I would be called for jury duty one day. I love watching trials on tv. I want to be on a jury so badly.

Hi Karl! 😀

Hi Tillie! 😀

I hate thieves too! I hate thieves and stalkers! I've never really had a problem with thieves; but I have had some problems with stalkers before. Like my ex-boyfriend; after my ex-boyfriend and I broke up, he stalked me for like 2 years. 🙁

Great chat session tonight! Thanks to all who participated.

Isabelle, check out the hoarding-level pictures to get an estimate of your level.

Tillie, sorry you weren't there tonight, I was hoping to see how you did the time limit protocol, but I was able to wing it as tonight's moderator.

Thank you Tillie, exactly right on the thief taking a sense of security, last night locked garage and gate. I usually leave unlocked hoping someone will take hoard, but it scared me that someone took that big metal carrier off RV probably while I was home, since I rarely leave, why do they take something I actually use? Yes, thanks, need to go camping, summer is slipping away, put $75 gas in RV on way home from mechanic. Need to put water in tank, plug in to get refrigerator cold, and hit the road, depending on weather, sounds like lighting is on way this week. Nice Cory dropped in to say hi.

Hi Roxie 🙂
WTG! on all you accomplished. 😀 Soon you will be brushing your teeth AND scooping that litter box every day. Practice makes perfect. 😉
I have no medical insurance so no medical care.

Hi Dianne 🙂
FANTASTIC! Job you did with the furnace room! 😀
So happy you are getting a new system installed. 😀

Hi Karl:)
If I were giving a party I would serve...
cold cuts
cheese
assorted types of bread
potato salad
my family favorite jello salad
iced tea
cookies or a cake

Lime jello salad...
2 boxes of lime jello
celery cut in about 1/4 inch bits
carrots diced
scallions (green onions) sliced in small circles
peas fresh, canned or frozen (uncooked)
Make the jello as per instructions on the box
pour it into a 14 by 9 inch pyrex cake pan
add the fresh raw veggies and put in fridge to set
Use as much veggies as you want in it. Add any others you may like in it too.
Serve with a spoonful blob of mayo or Miracle Whip on top of each serving.
This is a summer time favorite of mine. 😀

Hi Diane 🙂
Sorry the smoke is there. 🙁
Hoping you do go camping at the lake. Summer will soon be over and I don't want you to miss out.
WTG! on all you have accomplished! 😀
I hate theives. 🙁
They steal more than property. They also steal our peace of mind and feelings of security.

Dianne, so happy you reported all that you did and your thoughts about it. Really helps me to read the process your mind goes through, especially throwing out stuff you could have cleaned. I spent the past 3 evenings washing stuff in the yard, had so much, dirty storage stuff, tools etc. Now I look at it and think I wasted too much time on it, need to practice throwing dirty stuff away, was doing that for quite awhile, easier than washing, then having to haul to thrift store, if I don't need it.
Yes we all have down days and just look at the hoard, churn and feel defeated. Now I know that is time to stop and do something else.
Smoke is really thick here today from fires from lightening strikes, so didn't ride my bike to get rv, a neighbor was driving by and I asked for a ride, this was a first for me, never ask for help, was so great. This morning talked myself into selling RV, then when I picked it up, and drove it home decided I love it, so much fun going to lake in. If smoke is this bad tomorrow, may just drive up to a lake, and stay overnight with Molly.
Sure will miss the cargo carrier, it was a big rectangular metal thing, held all my gear. Can try to see if my bike rack will fit on RV.
Dishes are done finally, now have to clean off counters. I watered all the shrubs, trees this morning, finished washing rest of the storage stuff in yard, worked lots of hours already. I got jury duty notice that I have to get in the mail today, it is overdue. I was on grand jury in January, and do not want to do jury duty again so soon, plus will be working. Today is hottest day of week, plus smoke so I am going to lay low the rest of the day.
Happy so many of us are on here regularly, great being part of positive change.

Good work, Dianne! Wow!

I was up late last night (5am), and got up just past noon. I noticed the date on the milk was looking dangerous, but it still smelled OK, so I used up the last of it for whatever meal this was. (I'll call it breakfast.)

I still haven't figured out what to do about the dinner party; I told one person I was planning it, is all. I've been having trouble with motivation lately.

I've gotten a big chunk of the furnace room done. Some stuff I moved to other rooms but I did get out a lot of trash.

Still no washing machine but at least I'll have safe, clean water. 🙂

Hi, all, Seems like a long time since I was here.

How wonderful to hear Cory dropped by! 😀

My household trash situation...
I use one of those sturdy plastic 25 pound "Tidy Cats" litter buckets as my only trash can.
I keep it in the cabinet under the kitchen sink.
A plastic grocery shopping bag fits it it perfectly. I line the bottom of the bag with a mail box store flyer in case something put in it is drippy.
Every day I remove the bag and take it outside to the big wheelie trash bin.
Sometimes I take it out more often depending on what has been put in it.
I never allow food garbage to remain in the house over night.
This helps keep bugs and mice from coming in to eat. 😀

Good afternoon Barb and Tillie so nice to hear from you both.

What a productive day you had Barb, yes, very inspiring for me... I have the same experience with bags and use the plastic wal-mart bags most of the time, a tall kitchen bag when I have more than that.

I hope you get your strength back Tillie and have a good day of rest.

I am in the same boat, so taking it easy as well, doing small tasks during the day but nothing too much really.

Cory stopped by the chatroom earlier and he may be back, I hope others will come in and see him there.

Tally Ho!

Good morning everybody! 🙂

Had a lot of plans for today but need to rest.
Still have to water stuff outside but other than that today will be quiet sitting down activities and a nap after lunch.

Hope all your plans for today are easily completed without any surprise interruptions. 🙂