Hi all,

Ok, I am decompressing... the kid has eaten, the H is grilling, and I just finished making a large batch of salads for the week (and for dinner).

I tried to stitch a little while burning hours in the car waiting today but I wasn't able to get much done. Now all I want to do is climb into a hole for 12 hours but I have a few more hours to go tonight,

I love that quote too - the money was already wasted when you bought it - that is very freeing. In the "buried in treasures" book they address the "Over-value" of thrift and avoidance of waste and "seeing the potential in everything" all as contributing factors to having issues with holding on to too much. I tick all those boxes.

I was going through a load of laundry that hasn't seen the. Light of day for awhile and I found some stuff in there that probably needs to go. I don't have any big hang ups with clothes the way I do with other things but... anyway, I found this one purple shirt and I know I avoid wearing it because it's too short waisted so I put it in the "move along" pile. The shirt truly would make me mad when I wore it. Lol. Good riddance.

Sub c, sorry about the issue with your student. I know how nerve wracking that is when it happens to the H. I'm so glad your administrator backed you up on it though.

Hey Tatoulia, how do you handle your paperwork? Do you follow the typical formula for keeping or are you more strict with it? Just curious. I wouldn't worry about your friend. I'd be very happy to help anyone (Else!) put their stuff away.

We will probably be doing some house cleaning and returns tomorrow, i am not looking forward to it but it should be ok.

I've been shocked a couple times seeing the table peeking out in the back 40. It's so different than it has been for so long.

Everyone have a good night!

Oh thank goodness you and your son are home, Road. Thought about you a lot today. Very emotionally nerve-wracking. I'm sure now you worry about the results. We are here.

Everyone thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it.

I have laundry load three in the dryer and four in the wash.

I did jeans and sweatpants, which was a small load as I only have one pair of sweats and two pair of jeans. I did the sheets that the cleaners stripped off the bed earlier this week. I did my towels (in dryer) which includes my kitchen towels. I have a load of delicates going now. I still have a load of pjs to do but will do later. Once the towels are dry I'll get the delicates and hang them to dry.

I love the small loads. I cannot bring myself to combine them.

I'm glad you have a new sweet student, SubC.

Hey Lila and Road! Great job in detaching from clothes! We may have discussed this earlier but here's a weird lesson I had to learn. Sometimes when I'm getting something from a cupboard, I have to move something to reach it first. Tillie, who is a strong and most beloved member of this group, taught me that if I have to keep moving something to get at what I actually use, I either need the objects to switch places or better yet, get rid of the thing that I don't use other than to move it. It was enlightening.

I saw that quote in Instagram about how we lose money when we buy the thing, not when we get rid of it.

I'm enjoying my no spend January. It's easy to look around Etsy, pretend to buy something, then wake up in the AM and realize that I haven't purchased a thing. I still get the rush because I look at things and really hone in on what I want, then I don't buy. No temptation.

It's so fun catching up on all your posts. I feel like I am really getting to know you guys! Road, so happy you are home with your son now! Whew... glad that is done! Did your son have anything to say about the experience? Also, laughing about the shirt that made you mad! And the pants than made me mad! We all need to ditch the clothes that tick us off! There is some underwear whose ears are burning right now.

I had a really good day.

- my bed is made with freshly washed sheets and blanket. I can't wait to get in bed early tonight and read in the fresh sheets!

- I got about 6 pages of random notes re-written into my work planner where they belong. I took all those notes on occasions when I had meetings but forgot to bring my planner. Now it's all written in there and I threw out all the scraps of paper.

- I made a couple of phone calls and enjoyed talking to nice people.

- I washed my puppy. omg that was exhausting, it is a huge puppy. But he is clean and fresh. My son helped me and we took him outside and blow dried him too so some loose fur would fly off for the birds.

- Then I thought, I don't want my clean puppy laying on a dirty bed! So I took the covers off the 3 dog bed and washed them, dried them and my son put them back on for me.

That is a really productive day, right??

Lila, that is a really productive day!

Sleeping in a clean, comfortable bed is a huge zone one challenge! Hopefully it will make you well rested and make today easier.

And so nice that you cleaned up the doggy's as well!

Plus, you won't lose your notes!

Tatoulia, good job on laundry!

I did better on laundry last week, but I still have baskets.

I made my first two habits for the year yoga 3x a week and "daily reflection" I did yoga 4 days, and wrote in my journal and looked over my day every day - in the early mornings on school days. Some days I added a reading. I think I am going to add one habit this week (I'm going for an average of just under 1 a week) but it will be a big one - put away the dry laundry every day.

I did not make my house better every day, but I did make it better the first four days, and I think on the sixth. The other two days were about average for me, and I think I am net better for the week. Not a lot, but some.

I am not doing no spend January (I support those of you who are doing it, but I don't feel like the spending is a challenge for me, and I tend to keep an eye for sales on things I have thought about.) so, I have to report that this week I added three comforters and two towels to my inventory. Our towels were getting worn, and I had been thinking about new towels for a while - I liked these and they were 75% off. Dh says they are too girly, so maybe I have two new towels and he has old towels that color coordinate anyway. (We have three sets of two matching bath towels that rotate.) I am going to get rid of the set that doesn't really match the bathroom. - Well, actually, I am going to move it to the dog towel closet - which also needs sorting out, but I did donate some dog towels back in Dec.

The comforters are for the guest beds. I have some beautiful old quilts from my great grandmother that I visualized putting on my guest beds, but two of my kids bring dogs when they visit, and the dogs sleep with them. I have high quality waterproof mattress pads on all of the beds, so I feel fine washing the bedding and having non dog people (like my parents) sleep there later, but the old quilts are a little fragile and can't be machine washed, so I don't want them out when the dogs are here. I have been using a hodgepodge of old blankets on the beds, some of them are the wrong sizes for the beds, and there really aren't enough blankets when it is cold and all three kids are visiting.

So, I saw nice, solid color down alternative (poly fill) machine washable comforters on sale for $25 any size. I bought two king sized ones for the queen beds and a double for the twin, and I am going to use them as bedspreads and lay my pretty quilts over them. Then I can enjoy my quilts, and when the dogs come, I can just fold them up and put them away, and the bed is still made, warm, and attractive. The not-right size blankets are going in a closet where there is space in case visitors need an extra blanket.

(Why do I have space in a closet you ask?) once upon a time, long long ago, I took everything out of that closet and said "this closet is for extra blankets and towels nice enough for guests." And I did not put anything else in it - and I don't have enough of those things to fill the closet. Which I really should, since sometimes I have as many as 8 guests! (But since most of them are my kids, they get the crappy stuff they are used to.)

Anyway, today I am washing blankets and making beds. And trying to clean up messes that date from Christmas break or Wednesday to give myself a good start to the week.

SubC, you are doing great with your habits. And I love your solution with the fragile quilts going over the comforter. Good thinking. My habits are not doing so well, but I am trying. I did one habit 100% and that is taking my vitamins. I guess actually I did declutter something every day, too. I started out with 12 habits so maybe that was too much. I am drinking more water (not something I am tracking, but I am doing it). Exercise has been avoiding me (haha) with the excuse it is too icy out, but it isn't today, and I have a stepper I could be using daily.

This should go on the declutter your waistline thread, but I am weighing every week and tomorrow is my weigh in. As of today I am down MAYBE a half pound (non digital scale) so I am trying to make today a good day, eating veggies and fruit and no junk, drinking water, and exercising. My doctor prescribed phentermine and I have hesitated to take it. He said the risk of me staying this heavy is a larger risk to my heart than taking it for a few months and getting weight off. I am going to take a half dose this morning and see how it goes. Maybe it will give me energy to get more done, too.

Good morning.

Yay for laundry Road! And for your son helping!

Bean comes Monday, but I get to visit him for about an hour tonight. The next class session is starting at the pottery studio. I signed up for a year membership that includes a class every session and his house is between school and my class. (Which appears to still be happening.)

I am just tired. Teaching takes a lot of energy and yesterday had a lot of extra challenges. I actually called my boss after I sent the second email (because she had contacted me for my version concerning the complaint - fortunately her tone was "wtf is this woman talking about?") and when she answered the phone she said "Hi (subC) you've had a day!" She didn't even know half of it.

And changing habits takes a lot of energy. Even small things like brushing your teeth (last night I was so tired I went to bed without brushing my teeth, which I have been trying not to do) or not leaving dry dishes in the dishwasher overnight (ditto)

Today should be a very good day at school (cross your fingers for no bad surprises!), but I am not ready for tomorrow yet, so my morning will be spent mostly on that and the house will not get better. But it has not gotten so much worse that I can't get net ahead on the weekend.

I got two more Christmas presents from students this week. One was a very useful tool for the class the student is in, and the other was a funny pair of goat socks - actually, that was from ❤️Dd via ❤️Gs's coat pocket and not wrapped, so I'm not sure it counts as a teacher gift. But she knows how school has been this year and I love that I now have socks covered in screaming goats.

Quick check in. Thinking of you and your son, Road. Big day tmr.

I kept thinking it was Wednesday today so that feels like progress only because I'm really happy it is Friday tmr.

Everyone is doing so well. My friend came over for dinner tonight. We did covid tests first. She was texting pictures of the process to a friend who said, don't waste the test. And I said, I want to have dinner with you, tell her that's not a waste of the tests, that's why we have them. We still ate apart; she at the desk by the fireplace and me on the couch. She then put away my Christmas stuff for me. Everything is fit into the closet like a puzzle.

Garbage is out and Miss Kitty has a clean box. I left the wreaths on my windows. I went back and forth but honestly left them so that they'll look pretty with the snow we are expecting.

I'm glad the Christmas stuff is away for the year.

I'm tired but must shower and wash my hair.

Tatoulia, glad you got that nice dinner in. I totally agree with you - that's as important as anything.

Funny coincidence with the home test thing - I invited my brother over to hang out and he offered to bring over lunch. It was a good time. When he went to leave I gave him a home test and kind of spelled out when he might use it thinking he'd never use it. Then 2 hours later he called and told me he started feeling bad and had a fever. I was like " errrr can you take that test? Because we need to know if we need to cancel his appt tomorrow." And he did and it was negative, but it just shows you... I don't know what it shows you. He's not working right now. He literally spends 10 mins in the grocery store once a week fully masked up. The only people he sees indoors are either myself or my parents - maybe once a week. How could he catch ANYTHING? Well, anyway, I don't understand these things.

Oh well, so we are all set for tomorrow. The H took tomorrow off. They are only letting one person in. I kind of want to be the one to go in to make sure certain things are communicated, but I'm nervous I will cry and upset my son. So I don't know, I will probably write a 3 point list in black sharpie on the H's arm or something... I'm trying to block out thoughts of what my son might experience before hand as I will do all I can to make it manageable for him and beyond that it's out of my hands. I feel pretty sure it will go well and then all we have left to endure is waiting to find out if something is wrong which I'm also trying not to think about yet because I am guessing I will have to wait a few days for that anyway.

As far as cleaning and stuff, I had a big trip to the grocery store, then it took forever to put it all away. Then my bro came over, then I picked up my son and we just chilled for a few hours. When the H got home he made dinner which was nice. I was starting to feel crummy by that point. Then after dinner we had an argument. This is one of those days where it's so bad with him I can't even talk about it. Earlier, I picked up the living room a little, started thinking about Christmas cleanup. Did a little googling trying to figure out some options for closet shelving, Nothing changed in the back 40. I think everything in my room is status quo. My main accomplishments were groceries, visiting w bro, playing with puppy, hanging with my son and avoiding thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow will just be about my son. Then this weekend, I may be motivated to put Christmas stuff away. I'm gonna try to put it away methodically so it's easy to set up again next year. I didn't decorate the kitchen or dining room with any/much Christmas stuff so the main thing is the tree and the mantle. That's about four large bins plus the tree. A pretty easy job. The harder task is the misc. detritus that accumulates. The garbagey gifts kids get that need to go somewhere or get discreetly "disappeared..." Then I think next week if my son is back in school I will take some time to reorganize and purge some of the Christmas stuff. Before it all gets shoved back in the way back of the basement. I also need to work on the porch. There are 2 large bins of stuff to get rid of in there and I've been playing chicken that that stuff won't find its way back into the house. Actually, a table cloth I had in there DID make its way back into the house.

I will DEFINITELY make an announcement when I start taking things to the thrift or throwing stuff out.

Hope everyone had a good day.

Good luck today Road, I hope it all goes well.

Tatoulia, I'm glad you got your dinner.

The angry woman pulled her child out of my classes. My boss is not upset with me. I am a little sad.

I think I will like my new class, but I am super tired and super not ready for today.

I did do some stuff on the house yesterday. I think it was better when I went to bed than when I got up, but not better than when I got up on Wednesday.

It is horribly cold here.

Awww, SubC, I'm sorry about the drama, but perhaps it's for the best in the long run. I want to use the phrase "Great Screaming Goat Socks" so maybe it could mean those times when people give us frustration over things that we don't even know why they are upset? Plus other occasions as well because it just is so much fun to say. 😉

GREAT SCREAMING GOAT SOCKS!!!

😂🤣😂

I needed that. Humor is one of my essential coping mechanisms.

We spent a delightful night Thursday with roommate coming down with stomach flu right when another of those arctic storms was hitting. This development led to me sleeping in the back room of the house on the hard floor on a pallet by the bunnies' cages. My iliotibial band on my right hip, which has been hinky since my college days, was not happy with the arrangement, and in all the surreality and sleep deprivation it didn't occur to me for some time to go fetch an extra pillow for my hips. I managed about three hours of good sleep thereafter, and whatever fragmented sleep prior. Roommate was feeling better by morning, so yesterday afternoon I went to bed in my actual bed and had a marvelous long nap. And I so far, knock on wood, have not caught the stomach bug.

So we're just sort of scratching and clawing our way towards what passes for normal functioning. I had brought my quilt project indoors Thursday but need to look at it and gather things for the sewing studio tonight.

I've been doing tiny tiny decluttering things. But they make me feel good nonetheless. Like this morning I located and gathered up all my prescriptions from last year - they had gotten scattered because some of them like Xanax I skip if I am feeling calm, so I had leftovers. Got all the pill bottles together and the pharmacy tickets, went through them keeping the current ones and recycling or shredding the old ones.

Just a small thing but a feeling of reducing some chaos in one little area. And I am on the lookout for more such quick and simple successes, thinking of it as links in a chain, one after another. It will lead to bigger things.

I need to go to Walmart and get a couple of my vitamin supplements. It'll feel good to get out after being cooped up.

Have a great day ladies! 😀

I did very little yesterday, but I made some homemade sweet rolls and watched tv with my teen. Made some phone calls and wrote work emails. Stayed in and rested.

haha on the tampon chat! I too have all the relevant parts gone so you know these supplies are old! Funny the things we find.

Today the ice is melting so I need to run errands and go pick up that shirt I ordered. Also, I had a big payment come in... the balance of that medical device I sold to make space! I am so happy. I was so broke I almost did not have enough for my house payment. There are some outstanding bills I can pay now, and there is enough money that in the past I would be buying a ton of little things on amazon and ordering food etc, but because of my commitment of no spend, I am only going to spend on the items I have been waiting for and need. My dog needs a kennel (this is a need, my dogs are big and I have a business trip in a few weeks (expenses paid) and the puppy will need a heavy duty kennel when I go on trips. The other thing I am considering, is couches. I have mentioned how ashamed I am of my literally broken, fake leather peeling in huge areas, couches. I have enough to buy cheaper new, but instead I am going to be watching online for used. If I find good couches for a couple hundred bucks I will buy them. It will literally change the whole mood of my life, since I spend a lot of time in the living room and am too embarrassed to have anyone over. But no little, wasting, or junk food purchases with this money. I am putting aside enough for next month's bills as well.

SubC, thank you for teaching 'our' children. I have so much respect for teachers and all the various people they have to deal with and pacify, while trying to connect with kids and shape young lives. I still remember small, kind acts of my teachers when I was a child. They were big acts to me. So thank you.

post 2 -

CM I know what you mean about little things. They count!! I felt so great when I got my prescriptions gathered and dealt with.

Road I am praying for your son's MRI to go simply and easily and for good news for you! Prace to you!

I am in a pretty good mood today but things just need to get done today. That record player is still sitting in its box in the living room. It would take like 10 minutes to get it out and have my son help me set it up. I will try and do that today. Again with the emotional avoiding of the whole records/music issue!

My kitchen is a wreck but I loaded the dishwasher and it is running. I will need to run it again today.

I want to wash my sheets today.

I need to work on financial stuff today, just going over all the accounts and tying up loose ends and planning for the next couple months.

I need to do some voluteer work and call a few people as well.

I found a restaurant gift card in my drawer for $50 so I can offer to take my son out to dinner for his birthday this week. Maybe we will go tonight.

Back later with updates. Keep going ladies. Even doing a small task is good. (Oh - I DID declutter something yesterday. After I washed my laundry and was putting clothes away, I folded up a pair of black pants that I really hate, but are fairly new, and put them in the donate box, because they annoy me whenever I wear them!)

Just a quick update. they're done a the MRIs and he's waking up now. there were some absurd issues with the orders and insurance but not until he was already in a gown with an IV drip. Eventually they got it sorted and went ahead. Very glad I was not the one to go in. glad that part is over. Thanks for your support, group.

Wow Road! Ride the wave!! You are getting a ton done! And your mention of cleaning the toilet base area inspired me that I may tackle that as well. It is a chore I hate but it is SO satisfying to see it clean when it is done!

Have you guys ever started to declutter an area you haven't looked at in years, and when you start pulling stuff out it's like you have all these little question marks popping up over your head? Like WTH is all this stuff? I didn't know I had this. Why are there 4 containers of cotton balls in here? Who needs this many q tips?? Why are there 400 batteries? How did this mouthwash expire in 2014? Who ever used tampons this big?

Anyway it was kind of an adventure but I pulled out everything from the other shelf in the bathroom cabinet. It was so weird. But I ended up sorting the batteries into these little plastic bins I had, that keep the ends from touching. Threw out all the battery plastic containers. Gave some items to my teen. Arranged things so they are easy to find, with like items together. Consolidated stuff. Wiped things off. Now it is very easy to see and find what is needed. Although I really wish there was one more shelf with this cabinet - it would make my life easier (space for towels). So that is done.

Doing that made me think I need to do the drawers in that bathroom, too. I try and work on my bedroom but when I can't, I will do a drawer.

Hey Lila, thank you and same back to you. Your action is definitely an inspiration. Yeah, I have a feeling I'm going to find 83 little office supplies hoards when all is said and done. and a lot of other nonsense. So far I feel like even though I am experiencing some frustration with myself and getting sucker punched occasionally with handling some emotionally charged stuff, I am also feeling positive feelings for having taken it on, having had some accomplishments, and for understanding that Even though I have a long way to go I am learning skills and building confidence. Today when I was handling all that stale paperwork I felt a little wave of dread but then I thought about how much I had cleared off my floor piece by piece til I was through it all. And this phase will definitely be easier than that. Bigger, longer, but not gross.

Just wanted to update that we got the Covid test done for the screening the hospital requires. That was no big deal. I think it took longer to park and walk to the building and back than the whole appt took. So that's done.

Also, spoke to the neurology nurse and she asked me all the screening questions which helped me feel better. And I got my ?s answered and that was helpful too. So he will have that mri done Friday afternoon and then I assume we will have to wait over the weekend to get info. Still feeling within normal limits today which is good. Yesterday morning was not good. Hope to not experience that again.

Alright folks, I will check back later

Cm, I'm excited for you about the Friday sewing time. I don't know if you're like me but I totally lose my place on projects. I remember thinking I would get into a habit of writing myself notes about where I was leaving it and what was the next step on a given project.

Any more news on the bunny front? Hey, you're a gardener, too aren't you? Do you do anything from seeds? I can't decide if I'm going to this year or not...

Hey guys, guess who started a load of laundry. Me. Guess who remembered to check it. My son.

Great Road, you sound better!

I am making bits of progress here and there today. I "decluttered" the fridge and freezer by pulling things out to put together a dinner: frozen homemade soup, frozen rolls and a frozen bread stick, and a bagged salad kit that I needed to use. That will make a nice dinner.

I also "decluttered" my action tub. You know those plastic tubs you can get at wlmart for a couple bucks in the kitchen section, that are meant to wash dishes in? I have one of those and it sits next to me on the sofa. It is full of all the things I need to get done, coupons, papers I need to read, mail, notes, etc etc plus my planners. It gets pretty full. I sorted most of it last week but it was still more than half full, so today I pulled it all out, sorted, threw out a huge stack, consolidated notes into my planners, did some action items, and put 2 older planners back on the book shelf. Now I know exactly what is in there. I still have a couple action items, and I have a big stack of notes for my volunteer job that I need to go through and re-write anything important into my volunteer planner. I will do that tomorrow.

Now I am relaxing a bit while the soup heats up. I feel good about what I got done today.

Yeah, I do have a list somewhere of quilts in progress and designs I definitely want in the queue for after those. Probably on my laptop which I get on less because of not having a private computer workspace since Covid and roommate working from home. Although I'm determined to find a solution for that dilemma in the new year.

But the good news is I found a quilt that I'd forgotten I started and that should be ideal for this Friday! It was in a bag in my van. I won't need my sewing machine at first because it still needs some cutting and a little design planning but there is a paper plan I'd made so I think we're good. Just need a quilt ruler, cutter, mat, scissors, and basic notions. It'll be good to keep things simple the first time.

Lila, I probably would've used those big tampons. 😅 Before all the relevant parts were removed. Some things one has zero nostalgia for. In one way at least, life is simpler.

I'm amazed by how many areas you all are tackling. Good energy and ambitions there. And don't worry if a few get carried over to the next day, you'll still nail them. I've been in slow mode but maybe soon I'll have my own ambitious lists too.

Yay for sewing projects, and progress and coping with medical things!

I have been happy to see all the posts, but I'm sorry I don't have the energy for a detailed reply.

It was a long day. I lost track of how many kids were out. I had to send two emails about significant problems to parents. One other parent sent my boss an angry email about me. I accidentally hurt ❤️Grandson's feelings in class. The house is not better than it was when I got up this morning, but I am tired.

I got one email from one student tonight that is keeping my head above water.

Tomorrow will hopefully be better.

Lila and cm, funny about the tampons. So nice to be done with that. At some point I threw away (yes that's right) the rest of my pads and after hearing me complain about wetting my pants 98 times my 84 yo mom finally said "Maybe it's time to accept that you need to wear a pad" lol. Need to put on my big girl pants to save my underpants...

Laundry in the dryer thanks to my son and my ace in the hole, subC!

I think Lila was in a pit the other day, then I was yesterday, and now subc are you in a pit? I hope not but if you are I am lowering down a ladder. And a snack. Just in case. When does bean visit next?

Ok I just scrolled through quickly regarding the tampon talk. Caught my attention. Years ago, I put all my unused supplies in the office services area. Everyone was so grateful. Pads, tampons, liners.

Tatoulia, glad things have smoothed a little with your mom. That must be a relief. And glad you found a few more of the cards, too. Your suggestion way back when of pairing some habits has come in and. Out of my head a few times... sounds like a good tactic.

Had a flurry of activity this am and got a lot done. First I talked with my bff and she talked me through the whole next couple days thing. She's great both for emotional support and also logistically she just knows a lot.

I'm gonna list some of what I did. I think it helps me (like Lila)...
- cleaned base of toilet and floor around toilet
- bathroom garbage
- bedroom garbage
Started working on standing desk clearing
Just started moving some things around and I think that got my momentum going... I quickly decided to just go for it and clear off enough space to start using it sitting down. After I brute forced the leg extension on that one leg the table seems to have settled into a more or less level surface somehow. The floor under there is still a nightmare. I'm not there yet. I decided to get all the rando stuff in one bin and all the paper work in another. So now there are 4 large, pretty densely packed bins on the left hand side of the table, and on the right, it's a clear surface, and there's the printer. I have two tables on either side of the "aisle". One is an old tiled kitchen table with a hutch sitting on top.shelves are full, top is full, underneath the table is full, and the surface is about 14" deep, including my grandmothers antique china clock which I now need to find a safer spot for. I decided it would be quicker to clear off half of the standing desk than the table.
- moved bulletin board to new desk,
-emptied another bin to move need to be sorted papers to.
- moved the bin lids that were in it and all the other contents to where they need to be or closer to where they need to be.
- moved laundry basket (still to be sorted from under bed garbage) to behind bookshelf where rando bin was.
That helped clear the walk way a bit. So in what should be the entry way/ walk way there's still about a cubic yard of Paperwork and misc. things that need to find a new home, but very little garbage now. In the back half there's now a 2x6' walkway where it's bare wood so I'm getting pretty close on that. I also thought that I actually have quite a few book shelf things that would fit in the closet for shelves if I want to do that but I'm thinking they're probably not deep enough for clothes.
- got most of sons school supplies in one place
- got most of the paperwork to sort in one place
- got most of the toiletries and personal items in one place
- cleaned a little under standing desk
- cleaned a little on tile desk
- finished breaking a cracked vertical file and trashed that
- washed the surface off

Funny, now the messiness is starting to bug me. Just the cluttered surfaces and dust and etc. so that's probably progress. Even though some of that paperwork I'm going to have to go through is triggery, by clearing that space which took WAY LESS TIME than this took to write, there is a Lot of Positive energy flying around in here I'd say. Just having that surface clear. Made me want to work on dare I say worky things...

Ok, gotta stop. Will stop back and see what you posted, cm!

SubC, wow. What a real piece of hope you wrote there. Thank you for that. And it makes me think we are all in the same continuum, in time and space. Like, there was a time I was waking up in fear of mouse droppings in the closets and moths in all the kitchen cabinets. I remember that very clearly and how it hurt me. In fact there was a time mice came into my bedroom. I would be lying in bed at night and hear them scurrying. It almost gave me panic attacks.

I am thankful I am out of that scenario now, so I know there is hope. It was a lot of work to make the changes.

Sometimes, I think I hear something in the night and I jump up in a panic. I get up the next day and move piles and look for evidence. I never find any. The times this happens are less and less often now. The sounds are just the neighbor moving something or the wind coming in the window blowing a paper. Not mice, not anymore.

I do hope someday I will be able to find things when I need them, and eventually I hope to be able to have people over for a visit again. And I hope someday my clothes fit again. I cannot buy a whole new wardrobe in size 2xl.

SubC that was really nice what you said. I have a funny smile on my face. It made me happy and proud and shy. Thank you!

Everyone, you are dealing with so much and getting things done despite the obstacles. Cm good that you have a place where you can sew. Your work is so beautiful. I think you'd enjoy Road's beautiful embroidery. I am envious of your talents.

SubC that's great that you had the frame, right there, ready for the artwork. Very sweet. Lila you got the shirt! Congratulations!

I worked all day. All day. It's significantly colder here today. I ran a few errands with BF and I read in the car. Then I came home and worked some more.

I got my garbage out but no kitty litter so I haven't cleaned the box. BF got me kitty litter so I'll change it tmr. The bag will have to wait til Thursday night unless I go to my car, in which I can use the garage bin for the kitty litter bag.

YES post daily accomplishments or challenges! Important!

I've done a good job of sweeping and wiping and I don't think anyone would believe the cleaners haven't been here in 2 weeks.

My temp became a full time employee today and I am excited! Boy it's cold and my house is so drafty. Cat is in her bed, which is on the chair, which is by the fireplace.

OH! Mom found three more of the cards I'd written so I am pretty pleased, as is she.

Tatoulia, yay for finding cards and cleaning your house!

I don't think you know how much of a support and inspiration you are.

Lila, what did you declutter today?

I took 8 paper grocery bags of recycling to the drop and tossed a plastic grocery bag of trash into the dumpster.

I also dropped off six full plastic grocery bags in the bag recycling at the grocery store. I have not done my chores or cleaned up today's dishes yet. I did do yoga this morning.

I survived my first half day back at school. I had 5 kids out today. I already know two will be out tomorrow. Tomorrow is a long day, for which I am not entirely ready.

I need to take the compost out, but it is dark and cold. Maybe in the morning?

Ok.

I took out the compost. I loaded the dishes into the dishwasher (but it isn't full, so I won't start it) I did my chores.

I did not finish my list for today, but I am tired. And I did a lot.

The house is better than it was when I got up this morning.

Hullo, people

Well, you guys didn't know this but I was hanging by my fingernails for a few hours today. I feel much much better now. Still emotional but not unglued. I assume this is an anxiety problem. I really did not have an issue with this til the last few years. Lately I just have this terrible sense of foreboding and the weird thing is my son and husband seem to, also. I have to be very careful when I'm near my son because he's an empath and just absorbs your mood. I feel like I could burst into tears with one passing thought or I feel the need to scream at the top of my lungs - but I don't. Actually I need to stop writing about it right now because it's affecting him. But I feel better now. Tomorrow is his Covid test for the mri with anesthesia schedule for Friday. If I feel like this tomorrow I'll be fine. If I feel like I did earlier today I might have to ask my brother to come with me which would be weird but which he'd do if I asked.

Anyway, I am focusing on getting all my paperwork back into the "back 40" which is the back half of my bedroom. Right now my bed is clear except for the one bin with my needlework and my clipboard thing I use every day. And my cloth bound pride and prejudice I was using like a security blanket for some reason this afternoon. Anyway, the point is the bed is clear which is very odd considering how few days it's been like that in the past few years... feels good. I put some more of the clothes away, set some aside to store or get rid of, and the rest are kind of teetering on a plant stand. I had planned on adding shelves to that closet and now I am actually in need of that. I don't know when I will get to accomplishing that but the need has caught up to the vision, I guess. The floor is a bit of a mess still with various things, but it's getting there. I'm really glad I took some time to de-Christmas a bit so it's more or less back to where it was before Christmas and a few things are Further along. Re paperwork, I think I figured out that a problem with having everything in back is I'm not walking past it. It would actually really be better to have the office up front and the bed in back. That might end up happening at some point. It's certainly more in reach now than it was when there was a foot of garbage on the floor. Did I just write that? Yes I did.

Well, this is turning into a journal entry again (which I still need to start! )

Tatoulia, glad your hiring thing went through and is done.

Lila, glad your project got delayed. That will hopefully give you a little breathing room.

Subc, The back to school is going well. My son is very glad to be back but I am worried about Covid. The H has some good friends at school and I overheard part of their text thread (where they can record voice messages to the group) and they were all very funny and also critical of the admin not caring about teacher safety. They are saying transmission at schools is not an issue but if this is 70x more transmissible than the last one then how can it not be an issue? This does not compute. Most adults around here are vaxxed, many kids, and some are boosted. We are. You go in a store and every one without exception is masked. Everyone keeps their distance from everyone. There may be someone with it hanging down off their nose but that's the exception. But you still see long testing lines everywhere.

Well,better hit send before I lose it.

Thought of something else,

When subc said some people don't have any spoiled food in their fridge and I chuckled and said, "well, that ain't me!" Because mine is always jammed with stuff And always about 1/4 full of stuff that's gone bad . But I have to say TODAY the bottom two bins are almost empty, I have a thing I'm defrosting in the bottom one and the next one only has a gallon ziploc half full with veggies. And I think neither of them has that mysterious "fridge tea" river running through them... And I washed the bottom floor surface a few days ago so if you only looked right down the middle near the bottom my fridge would look clean! Lol. Top four shelves are a nightmare though, haha. But it's good that the fridge has been more back on my radar again too. And the H actually commented on it.

Well, ladies, the kid has finally fallen asleep so I'm headed back to my room. Not sure what I'm going to do. Probably try not to go downstairs to eat something but will obsess trying not to think about it and then do it anyway,,,

Fridge tea!!! How I know that well! Not in my own house but growing up there'd be some oif that wow! I seem to recall that celery is a very good fridge tea starter!
I clean out my fridge every garbage day. Habit is ingrained. My cleaners will wipe down the refrigerator shelves when they are here.
I bought four lemons but only made two lemon pigs. So I donated the other two lemons to the community fridge. I also gathered up all of the candy canes and donated them.

I'm glad your bed is clear! Honestly, Road, I need a clean and clear bed. At the height of my hoarding and mess, I still needed clean sheets once a week. Floors were a crime scene but I had clean sheets.

I saw Mom tonight and she's definitely doing better. We are doing better. So that is good.

I have to go to bed soon. I worked til after 11 and here it is nearly 12:30.

No purchases. I haven't reported this because I feel like you just know I'm not buying anything.

Road, I'm thinking about your son. Sub I'm thinking about school and how much fortitude it must take to keep going in. Shout out to Lila and Cm!

Hey

Definitely on board with the "find a few little things to improve" idea. Otherwise it quickly devolves into Overwhelm R Us. That applies to so many areas right now.

I'm going to return to minimal mention of the plumbing situation. One of the hardest things about it aside from the problem itself is dealing with others' well meaning reactions since the whole thing is 100% out of my control. Our guy is, I believe and my roommate believes as well, not a dishonest person. But he is overwhelmed and has frequently had difficulty with the coordinating of his life and work. I believe he has either ADHD or PTSD cognitive issues from growing up with a mean drunk dad who he said used to beat him severely (or a combination of those issues). He has a good work ethic at the heart of it but seems to have difficulty structuring his workflow and communicating with customers when there are delays. And then there have been the bizarre instances of one thing after another with his luck and health and family, and some unknowns regarding when his sons are available to help. I don't want to say more than would be discreet.

I understand how it is to be a person who could benefit from structure and accountability in one's work life, yet who may also find it nearly impossible to conform to an externally imposed structure for various reasons. That's one of the main reasons I myself exited the conventional workforce and filed for disability.

I could go on, but this is already complicated enough, and has a tone of defensiveness that I wish it didn't. I am just so sick of things being complicated in bizarre ways. It feels isolating, like I don't belong in the world of people with normal functioning plumbing. If I allow myself to dwell on it, I spiral into despair and get stuck there. I don't want to do that anymore.

Rant over.

Moving on...

We've got another blast of cold weather supposed to come in tonight. Hopefully only a trace of snow this time though. The wind chill will be the main thing to watch out for if I need to go out to find a restroom for, erm, purposes beyond what our compromised facilities can handle. Otherwise I just stay in, and by Saturday the weather will be reasonable again.

After having the Pfizer booster a few weeks ago I had hoped there would be minimal concern about things such as going to a laundromat. But with omicron I dunno. There is this newer laundromat I like; it has at least twice the space as most of them, doors on four sides so hopefully good ventilation, and if I go during a non busy time it seems reasonably safe.

Hoping Friday sewing studio will be off to a good start; I'm pretty behind and unsure where to begin because when that other arrangement fell through in the summer and then the home repairs which had actually been progressing at that time started glitching, I kind of lost track of where I was. And there were two quilts in the preparation stages, but neither of them at a point where I can just pick up again easily. One needs to have embroidery designs drawn out, and the other needs rethinking because the panels I was designing around turned out to be printed so crooked they were not usable so I may do something different with the fabrics I'd collected for it. Starting an entirely different quilt is an option but I already have so many projects going, y'know? Well, I'm going to drag out my design notebook and quilt magazines and see if there's something easy I can do.

And the powerball jackpot is up and today I will buy a ticket. Who knows? I only do that once in awhile and I only buy one ticket when I do. If it's meant to be, one will get the job done. Money doesn't fix everything but some things it can certainly help!

I remember in the 70s the saying was Keep On Trucking. 🚛