I'm going to try to get mom out of the house today. She wants to go shopping, which is causing me some anxiety. She wants to bring her walker but I know that has too many unknowns to be effective, so I'll bring her wheelchair. I just hope she can hold up for it. I'll have it be careful when putting the wheelchair in the car since I don't want to hurt my back.

Her handicap placard expired during the pandemic so I don't have it and she doesn't know where it is (understandable) so our trio is a bit complicated but I'll make it work.

We are going to go to the Talbots Outlet. So a drive. I pray it is a positive experience for her. I cannot imagine her holding up during this but let's be positive.

It's my kind of day, cloudy and fall-like. A little warmer than id like but no need to be a pig. It's still my kind of day!

SubC?yes I took it as a loving tease. I did the dishes before bed. This has been wired into me thanks to everyone here! I had made lunch then fallen asleep after work the. I ran errands. Come bedtime my motivation was gone. Then I remembered how great to have a clean sink when I wake up. Also, it takes me about three minutes to load the dishwasher. So I did both!

Just made my bed and getting ready to go to goodwill. I don't have a bag of my own but want to get the bag from mom's house donated.

Good morning!

What a nice group to greet me today! Lila, I still miss you.

Roadster, I grew up near a resort area, so we always started after Labor Day - the resorts needed the teens for labor. Starting school in August seems very strange to me, and I'm glad we start at a sensible time, even if my state does not.

I'm not sure what you are asking about composition? We are coed and group different ages together. My youngest class is 6-8 and my oldest is 15+. My biggest range is 13+

Tatoulia, maybe you should cut back on your cleaning ladies - I remember when the clean house would have motivated you to do the dishes. Are you getting too used to them? (I am teasing, not criticizing)

Mar, i forgot to cheer for your bed! I am a big fan of clear beds. I think a good night's sleep makes a huge difference.

CM, I am sorry about that dratted van. Always wanting attention! I am curiously awaiting your next update!

As for me - I don't feel well this morning. I don't know if it was doing too much in the yard yesterday or not drinking enough water or having a gin and tonic after dinner on top of a glass of wine, or a poor night's sleep - I had covid nightmares, or some of everything. I feel like maybe all of it ties back into hydration.. But my body is sore, my head aches, my sinuses are a bit stuffy, and my stomach is queasy. I wore my mask at class on Thursday night - as did all of my classmates and teacher, and my closest approach was a few minutes two or three feet from my teacher- she was standing and I was seated.

One good thing is that it is my bicep that is sore from the scythe and not my elbow, so perhaps I have finally corrected my technique.

A few developments this past week - I did some in my room with the dolls and misc., my van needed a repair and I will need new front tires. More home projects on the horizon.

First PT appointment today and I'm a bit of a hurting cowpoke but have had a Tylenol which is helping. I'm doing postpartum therapy after giving birth to my Alien Baby. 👽 Yes, there is an explanation for this and it's funny.

I'll leave it there for y'all to wonder about and get some rest for now, and post the elaboration as soon as I can. 😉

Hi!

How sad to find out that Tillie may no longer be with us :'( I'm sorry that she was so sick ...

Subc, I also try not to buy things with packaging, but sometimes it's inevitable.

Roadster, nice to meet you too!

Thank you, Tatoulia. Yes, she has been very helpful.

Hugs.

I miss Tillie so much. I pray she is with Nate and Mrs Nate. She deserved some peace.

Mar I love the things you are working on with your therapist! Good work!

I had three cleaners here this week; generally it's just two people (my one lady and then either her mother or one of her friends). Her mother thought I was looking slim so that was pretty nice. It was a quick clean with three people. I will keep them for now but it is expensive for me so I'll have to see how it plays out. It's just so enjoyable having my place cleaned each and every week. It helps me with the clutter, too.

Right now I have a sink full of dishes and zero motivation to do anything about it

Beautiful sunny and cool day today. I was in heaven. We got out of work at 2 and then I napped. Later, BF and I ran some errands and then after that I ran some alone. The city is teeming with people. The students are back. I forgot how crowded the city gets. It's been a long pandemic.

We had rain and wind here but not the type of flooding that NYC was seeing. What a nightmare for this whole country.

Good to read your posts, sub c and Mar and Road and CM.

I got nothin to report so I'll just say heya!

Sub C, what's the composition of your students? You guys start late!

Mar, nice to meet you! Usable beds - yay for us.

Tatoulia, last I heard you were expecting torrential rains... we've seen all the horror on tv. I hope you were not affected by that insane weather...

Hope everyone is well!

Hi Mar,

We don't actually know what happened with tillie, but she was very sick, and then she stopped posting. Cory tried to email her, but she didn't respond. I'm afraid we've lost her for good.

I try not to buy things with packaging because of the recycling build up, but dh isn't on board.

Hi everybody!

Yes, you will get an update! 😀

I've seen a new psychologist, she's helping me to set goals, for example, I choose a number of pieces of clothing, say 3, to put in a bag during the week with the aim of donating it later. Or I tell her what space of home I will work on. I report my progress when we have our video-call. But my pace is sooo slow!
Also, items for recycling continue accumulating faster than I can get rid of them, the same occur with wrappers and other packaging. Then my home looks like no progress is made.

But now I remember the biggest improvement I've made recently: recover my bed to sleep on it! It was covered of stuff.

I also have anemia, since two years ago or so.

By the way, what happened with Tillie?

Good morning!

Shout out to Lila, mar, CM, and tatoulia!

Roadster, I hope things went well for your Dh. Poison Ivy is my nemesis. I get it so badly that it is like a second degree burn and has to be bandaged. I have scars.

It's good to respect your limits. I struggle with that often.

Yesterday Dh and I finally got back to yoga - I am stiff! And I started a pottery class I am taking. Got home very late (it's an evening class in the city)

I went to my classroom one last time before my class and it is pretty much ready for Tuesday. I made note of a few things I still need to bring in - like my towel, and hopefully our box of rubber stamps is in my home pottery studio. But if I don't find it, I just remembered another place it could be in the classroom, and we can also get through the first day without it.

I don't feel ready, but then, I never feel ready and what usually happens is that I have so much planned for the first day that we don't get to half of it.

Dh decided to play golf, so the new robot will arrive while I am at school on Wednesday.

Apparently I put my laundry soap on auto reorder, because it arrived yesterday.

SubC, I know. I opened up the package and I was like - yep, weather beaten and splintery just as advertised! 😂

I miss my tomatoes so much but I am struggling with what I have so I know I made the right decision this year. Next year though!

The H picked up a bad case of poison ivy on his arms which he can't get rid of. Probably doesn't help that he keeps changing tactics and isn't reading any labels. He has an ortho appt today stemming from an old Achilles injury that was also the site of his DVT that turned into his pulmonary embolisms. I hope they are able to figure out something definitively. Unlike me he's pretty good with medical follow up and doesn't seem to have any trouble making appts and stuff. I'm struggling right now to remember what I did do health wise that I was patting myself on the back for. I know I did something but can't remember what it was now. Good lord.

Which reminds me it's time to get out my daily thing and my master list and check in.

Tatoulia, I'm hoping things are not too crazy weather wise and everyone still has power, etc.

Roadster, I'm glad you are taking care of your health.

I have to tell you though - I think this is the first time I have heard someone complain that when they received an item it looked just like the picture.

I think that the throw pillow cover is a good reward if it will help you not put things on the bed. Sometimes we need rewards to motivate us. Here is a balance challenge if you want: When you are ready to get the throw pillow cover - look around and see if you can find any throw pillows or covers that are not loved or not being used. If you don't want them on your bed, but instead want the new one - donate them. Then the new cover is progress and not increase!

Thank you for the PSA.

I have 15 tomato plants, but they are not producing well this year except for the cherry tomatoes.

Yesterday I filled the dehydrator with tomatoes again, changed the sheets and put away a basket of laundry.

Dh says he wil, start back to doing yoga with me 2x a week this morning.

Ah, I got interrupted with a totally unpleasant convo w the H. Oh well. Anyway!

Came back for two reasons: plans for tomorrow and flash flood caution PSA.

- cleaned off my bed to try to let the puppy "sleep free" (on a leash) on my bed, but after several attempts, settled for crate on bed. So now my floor is looking binny and piley but I am envisioning an empty bed. Maybe if I can get this situation settled for awhile I'll treat myself to a silk Ikat Throw Pillow Cover I've had my eye on... Is that hoardy thinking ? Might be. I also peeked under the bed... that took a little courage. Good news is it's not as disgusting as the floor was, thank goodness.

Plans for tomorrow: field trip with bestie, make some more progress on health tasks. Enlist bestie to help me determine next steps... reclaim floor and check nightstand.

So: PSA. when I was a kid, our family narrowly escaped getting killed In a flash flood in the mountains. About 150 people lost their lives in this event. We were lucky to turn around and get out of the canyon just in time. So now I am a flash flood PSA-er. Don't drive across any roads with any amount of standing water, especially if you're not familiar with the road. Use extra caution near streams, rivers, lakes, oceans... cars can get swept away in very little water. Roads can get swept away underneath cars... just have your radar way up with crazy weather / rains and don't drive in it if you don't have to go out, 🙏💕😘

Everyone have a good day tomorrow!

Tatoulia, I'm with subC on the cleaners... it sounds like that service brings you a lot of happiness... maybe now that you know what it does for you it might be worth keeping the weekly frequency... I can't believe it's Labor Day already. We are lucky here tonight. Perfect summer evening weather so I opened the window and am enjoying the sounds of the tree frogs...

Sub C, how many tomato plants do you have going? I only have two volunteers this year but they are just not ripening up.

The thing I need to deal with this week are the grapes. Every bunch has a range of ripeness. I can't wait for them all to ripen or they all end up on the ground. Not sure how it's done in a more sophisticated outfit.

Today my stitching projects oozed all over the bed again which was kind of stressful actually. (Is she getting used to seeing less clutter?) I wrote myself a note the other day to talk to my bestie for help with my health care to dos. When my ptsd or whatever disables my brain I can lay it out for her and she can tell me what steps to take to make some progress. So I hit her up on a couple quick things today and then I will ask her tomorrow if she has a couple hour block of time to help me next week. But just with the five or ten minute convo today I was able to get the wheels turning on at least two tasks and got half way through one of them already so I feel good about that progress.

I've had a couple "serves ya right" hoaardy karma experiences lately. I bought an anqtique embroidery hoop on eBay after shopping for some over the past month or so. This is a brand I use and like but a size I didn't have which I'm trying to get a few of. People are selling them for $25 a piece, which is kind of outrageous, but it's kind of a specialty item and I'm at the stage where I'm done trying things - I know what I like so I just want what I want... anyway, I got this one for around $15 including shipping, but when I got it it looked exactly like the photos... it looked like it got wet and then dried out... the finish was gone, like it could splinter, and all the patina of it was gone... in short, I don't think I'm goi to be able to even use it.

Do you reality *have* to cut down?

I don't have the new robot yet. It's supposed to be delivered this weekend, but Dh wants to play golf, so he might reschedule it.

Good morning everyone!

Road you are doing great! SubC, glad you have a new dish robot! Yay for bringing the plate to make sure you can use the dishwasher! I like that, a lot.

My cleaners are supposed to come today but I haven't heard from them. I am still using them every week and yes I have to cut down but no I don't know when. I originally said September but I'm a bit hooked on the lifestyle.

I have papers to shred before they get here. Mail.

We are supposed to have torrential rains today and tomorrow.

And in a blink of an eye, it is Labor Day.

Good morning!

Yay for the paperwork progress!

Sometimes it just takes outside events to give us a push. Always good when they aren't a crisis.

First the floor, then the nightstand, now - look out bed!

I did not do anything on lesson plans yesterday. It didn't actually rain until 5. I worked in the garden weeding and harvesting and cutting things back. - a lot of general cleanup, it had gotten wild. I was still picking tomatoes when it started to rain. So many had split or dropped from the dry and then wet weather that the chickens got an entire 5 gallon bucket.

I made dinner because Dh was tired and can't work in the kitchen when it's full of produce. Produce is supposed to be processed in the scullery, but my counter is completely gone again. I filled the dehydrator with tomato purée and cherry tomatoes to dehydrate, put the dish robot to work, gave the coffee robot instructions, and went to bed.

Lila how are you? How did things go on the h's return?

Mar, will we get an update?

CM, how are things in repairs land? And quilting?

Tatoulia, I hope you are getting rest.

I'll report back later!

Hi all, just popping in to post some progress. I finally tackled the paperwork bin on my bed (the first of 824)... I got a call from a neurologist to reschedule my sons appt and I was so confused by what she was referencing I was forced to dig into the box and find the records I was looking for. So far I just separated everything by my health, my sons health, to dos and passwords written on random papers, paper work that can wait, and trash. Next step will be to go through the health pile and see if I can make sense of any of it and maybe schedule some appts. (For me) this would also be a huge accomplishment. I have some medical ptsd so dealing with anything having to do with drs appts presents itself as a concrete mountain I must dig through. Speaking of unhelpful delusions, just getting that bin off my bed made me feel like finishing my bed is totally within reach. I was also able to finish organizing the floss/needlework situation today at least enough to get it contained again. I have a bit of a challenge with regard to important paperwork. If I put it in the office area, it's still too cluttered over there to be practical and I think I would just forget about it. If I put it on the wall by my door I won't forget about it but there's a good chance my son will mess with it... need to figure out a temporary solution...

Hope everyone is having a good week...

Good morning all!

Hi Roadster! I mean, arthritis "flares up" I was wondering what anemia does. I'm still taking my iron, but wondering if I should increase it or change when and with what I take it.. (Currently twice a day with food and other vitamins)

I'm sorry you have so many adult behavior issues in your life! (The puppy will outgrow them. 🙂 )

You are making progress! You got stuff off your bed and started clearing out a new area. The fact that you are still using your bed for sorting doesn't make it not progress!

Good job on the floor and the folding!

I really wanted to make progress on the garden today, but it is going to rain. I slept late because I was so tired and am getting a slow start which is bad. Everything is wet from last night's rain and the dew, but there is a short window before today's rain. I should do something.

I also have this interesting idea of going to bed each night this week completely ready for the classes I'm going to teach on that day next week - we'll see.

Pernicious anemia ?

I had an issue with regular old anemia a few years ago and it can really knock you on your butt. Took a lot longer to recover from than I thought, too! Hope you figure out what's up. Every time I start taking vit D again I am always amazed at what a difference it makes.

So hi all, I lost my last post somewhere in the frenzy of making dinner and putting out fires on the home front. These fires are of a behavioral nature... (the H, not the kid) and I am soooooo sick of it. Aye carumba.

I brought puppy upstairs for bedtime tonight. Shes a 5 month old maltipoo- mostly poo. She's been barking and yipping for about ten minutes and finally stopped, thank goodness. She seems to be through the worst of the teething, and the nipping has all but disappeared. Still having potty accidents when she gets loose in the main part of the house or when the person who's supposed to be watching her closely gets distracted. But most of the time she's able to hold it for a few hours. I think she will be cuddly but she's still kind of hyper. She's a little aggressive with older dog but older dog is schooling her rapidly. She is the softest, cutest, sweetest little thing. I feel so bad her early days were kind of chaotic and lonely but there was so much going on - it was crazy when we got her.

Went to my parents sat night for dinner. My dad did some jerky. Control freak stuff with my mom but he was generally "ok" and we were able to have a normal "old days" side conversation after dinner. Then yesterday we met for a bday dinner for my little nephew and watched him open presents. Then they came over to our place. He was cute wanting to play in the backyard. I had him pull a carrot out of the ground. He had no idea what was happening. He wanted to know if it was yellow because it still needed to grow which I thought was a pretty good question. He didn't think the leek smelled like onion, and was fascinated by the grape arbor but refused to actually taste one. I was like " this is the original sour patch kids candy! Except it's sweet and then sour". He didn't believe me.

All these life updates... but what I really came here to say is that I did catch up a bit on maintenance today, checked the floor, tidied up the nightstand, and cleared off the bottom of the bed. I've since messed it up again with a floss reorganization project. Not making progress but holding my ground and am therefore making progress after all. I folded lots of undies and shorts... i didn't get the shirts put away due to doggie napping in the closet doorway. I read the intro of the Marie kondo book. I think even though some of her strategies or whatever will not work for me due to the scale of the clean up And my inability to do a marathon session of anything, I will still learn a lot and I have already read enough other sections of the book to appreciate the philosophy behind it.

I was also working my way through the "master to do list," and using the "daily" Form helps remind me of what I should be doing and keep the train on the tracks. I was a little dismayed that some of the stuff on the master list that I wrote just a couple days ago I'd already kind of forgotten. I don't know what is wrong with my brain but I know it is sure not helping me out of this situation.

Tomorrow I will try to reel in my stitching acquisitions and starting frenzy, and get some loads of laundry done or work at my standing table for a little longer.

I will try to back track on posts tomorrow,

Over and out

Tatoulia,

I'm sorry you've been tired.

I am right there with you - although I have reason to think my anemia might be, um, acting up? What do you call a small increase in chronic anemia?

Anyway. No groceries, no garden, we gave Bean back and then Dh made me go choose a dishwasher (the one he fixed is getting louder and louder because of the customized part and he's afraid it will fail.)

I hope I will like the one I picked.

We were probably the weirdest customers the poor kid had ever had. I just wanted my plate to fit (I brought it) ten inches of clearance somewhere (milk pail) a flexible lower rack (I actually found one with literally a grid of straight posts), a removable top rack, and the ability to turn the heated dry off. Everything else was negotiable. Dh was entirely technical specs on materials and decibels. At one point the salesman started explaining about the availability of different colors and Dh asked me if I cared what color it was and I said no. (It will be stainless steel. Current one is black. One before that was cream.)

Points to the guy for saying (as he processed the sale) "so you're installing this yourself."

Anyway, then we are dinner and I had a glass of wine and I am now trying to reach into the depths of my soul to find the energy to go do my chores.

Imagining rabbits starving in cages (really they are fat and I know they have water) and I'm off..

I'm very tired these days. I don't know why. Despite being nearly 4, I'm making myself s cup of coffee. I also need to shower.

Thankfully it's garbage night. I love getting kitty's box changed and getting my trash out.

I also want to start a bag of donations. Maybe I'll run to mom's tonight and get her bag out of the house. Will free up space.

I'm dieting, too. So far so good.

It was. He slept until 5:40. Since I usually get up at 5, I slept in.

We had a nice leisurely morning, but popovers instead of pancakes, because Dh also slept in and I didn't want to supervise a baby and a hot griddle.

I got out of the supervision duty at school that I didn't want. (And I still get to keep my shelves)

My plans for the rest of the day are
return Bean (he's napping)
Quick grocery run for a couple of things I need
Pick whatever from the garden before the tail end of the hurricane soaks us for days.

What a sweet surprise, SubC!

good evening.

I got more stuff put away at school and open house went well.
just as I was leaving I got an sos call from dd (one parent dealing with non-transmitable health issue, other parent exhausted). When she found out I was only ten minutes away and in my car (she forgot open house and my job is much closer to her house) she asked if I would just come take Bean.

So we had dinner and play time and bath and story and Bean is all tucked in asleep. I'll take him back to her at the end of the work day tomorrow as usual. I think I'll make pancakes in the morning since I can skip the morning commute. He likes pancakes.

Good morning!

There are no lesson plans on my couch.

No progress was made on garden produce.

I need to accept that in September the garden stops being a productive, managed system and becomes a wilderness from which I can scavenge food.

I got a few things ready to take with me when I go to open house today. Ran the dish robot and both laundry robots - more work for them this morning.

Had a good time with Bean, and his daddy made us all a yummy dinner.

I hope things are going well for everyone!

Welcome back, Mar! Glad you are back!

Thank you, Road and SubC, for sharing your stories. CM I'm glad you will get some PT for your core. Swimming is so nice; I miss being at the Y. Of course I haven't been there in more than ten years but it was so nice.

I did work on mom's place a bit today including moving her bed and a table, and I got rid of the contents of a bin. Her place looks nicer with just those two small changes. We went through round 3 on the bread maker, she got someone to get it off the shelf and for the third time we had to discuss getting rid of it. Not easy working with her in this but we are getting closer. The bread machine was supposed to stay in the old apartment as trash but someone brought it up. I've bought yeast and flour and other things for her for the last five years without her ever making it. She used to make bread frequently when I first got her for her. She used it for years. But now it's just an aggravation for me. It was a Christmas gift maybe 15 years ago.

I have to shop for her groceries now. Bf and I ran some errands this afternoon. It is so cool out and lovely. I wish it would snow. It is definitely feeling a bit like fall. I was going to do mom's groceries but I got home and wanted to do some laundry to soothe myself. I should go check on it. Then I'll change my clothes and go to the store for her. I'll be walking so can't buy too much. And the dress I wore today isn't warm enough. Who knew it would be so nice and so cool?

Definitely getting darker out earlier.

Hi! Welcome back!

The progress is in you even if you can't see it on the outside.

Whatcha been doingL

Hello all!!!

Glad to "see" you again. I'd like to come more frequently and read all of your posts.
I hope don't disappear again for so long.
I've some little progress, but it's still imperceptible.

Good morning!

Dd sent me a note that they won't be out until afternoon.

I survived meeting with the fence guy. I am very bad at interpreting tone and body language and my brain works differently. Because of that I tend to approach strangers like stray dogs (actually, I'm more comfortable with stray dogs because I can usually read their body language) I'm never sure if I'm going to say or do something that will be seen as weird or inappropriate (somehow I'm ok with kids, but I think it's because the classroom provides a more controlled and scripted environment) and I always feel at risk of "being bitten".

Anyway, I have more energy today, so I'm going to try to get some stuff done.

Roadster, the basil will flower and then drop all the leaves if you don't keep cutting it back. The part that was turning brown on me was what was already cut and in the fridge. It should have been in my salad spinner, but I ran out of space.

What kind of dog is your puppy?

It can be really helpful to process our backgrounds, and you don't want your sister here anyway. I thought about telling my sil about this place because I think she would find it really helpful, but then I would have to think too much about what I share. You don't go to AA meetings with family either.

When I had my third child I had a lot of arguments with my doctor because I kept refusing prenatal testing. I finally told him "look, if there is something you can test for that you can treat prenatally or be better prepared medically at the birth - we'll do that. Otherwise, I'm going to have this baby and then whomever they are, I'll figure out what they need." The anxiety disorder would not have shown up in the prenatal testing..

Clean under your bed - wahn-wah.

Tatoulia, it's good to see you again!

I looked up the designer. I bet it's a cool chair!

Congratulations on your weight - it's always good to get that initial bump. I'm still grinding mine down by ounces, but the needle is working it's way in the right direction.

Ok, back to my regularly scheduled disaster. Dh asked me to start by getting all the lesson planning off the couches.