Hi

Temps here down, which is nice. Went out to storage just to get a few things. Every spring and fall for the last 3-4 years I've hoped that finally it will be the chance to purge and organize it how I want. I sooo need some nonjudgmental helpers and possibly money to buy some extra shelving. Only time will tell as this year hasn't been friendly to my finances OR my time and energy.

Well, if the big push isn't meant to happen, I'll keep on with the chipping away at it strategy instead. The calendar about to roll over to August brings us closer to fall and the kind of weather that would be conducive to a big cleanout bee.

If that chance does come, I also have to take into account fitting back some stuff that I've brought over to here because my rented room is too crowded. It's hard, because this is the stuff I use - my sewing and art and books for current writing reference, etc. I'm all for getting rid of excess knickknacks, obsolete papers, books I realize I'm not interested in enough to read, supplies for crafts I'm no longer into, etc. But I do know what I want to do NOW and I want to be able to organize that stuff neatly and safely and easy to find and USE.

Also, I'm tired of my van being overfull. I'd be okay for awhile if it held a few things I need to get to without driving to storage, yet that I don't want to bring into the house for fear of the cluttered room syndrome. A lot of the stuff in the van is sewing stuff, so I guess I need to get going again on my sewing and that'd pare that stuff down to a manageable level.

What I hate is that so many things are spread across different containers, bags, etc. I went and got one of those dollar plastic shoeboxes at Walmart a month ago just to put in the spools of thread that go with various doll clothes I was sewing (in several tubs) - so that I don't go and buy more thread in those colors. Everything's so scattered with all the moving and that aggravates me no end.

TL;DR - I just want to put the stuff together that goes together, get rid of the stuff I don't want, and it's so dang COMPLICATED trying to do so without the time/space/money/helper resources. I feel like I'm trying to drain the ocean with a teaspoon.

Sorry for the whiney tone; I'm still going to be positive, really.

Doing a very brief good morning. Going to do a visual sweep of my living room while coffee is brewing and before taking mom out.

Tillie and all--I think it's time to start a new What are you doing today thread. This one has gotten very long and I know (from experience) that Anony's reply button will show up again once we start next part. I can't do it from my phone because guess what--the buttons disappeared for me too today.

Could someone start the next WAYDT thread?

Thanks!!!

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Been getting up to 103 here daily.
Sleeping throughout the worst heat of the day makes sense to me.
You can't really do much of anything else anyways until it starts to cool off. 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Thank you (((HUGS)))
Many people thrive on the adrenaline that comes from trying to beat a deadline.
They do the marathon cleaning right before company comes, put off things until right before "time's up" to get stuff in the mail, wait until the very last minute to get to appointments or return library books, etc.
So, you are really quite normal in that respect. 😀
GREAT to hear you are feeling much better.
Take care of yourself and have a lot of wonderful times with the loaner dog. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Iced tea "Clink!" 🙂
Thank you for stopping by before starting your busy day. 🙂

Doing my usual daily stuff, as usual.
Wishing he would do something, anything around here.
He's off right now to thrift shops and yard sales. >:(
The carport could hold three cars but he has them so stuffed full that no cars can even get close to it.
To avoid getting deeply depressed today I will stop looking out the windows and doors at all this mess and escape into my fantasy world.
The cats and I will sing and dance and have lovely tea parties. ;D

The day is what we make of it...

***Happy Saturday***

105 degrees predicted for here! :O Yikes!

And 100 tomorrow. Then a cold front is supposed to set off some storms and lower the temps somewhat through the week to come.

Today I'm just puttering with loose ends here and there and in the afternoon I'm going to have an epic siesta. My brain has been mush with lots of things and I don't sleep well nights. Afternoons for some reason I can get a 3-hour nap that is of such good quality that it makes up for several days' worth of sleep deprivation. My brain is weirdly wired, what can I say. The sleep experts say not to sleep in the daytime, but for me it works.

Good morning!

Going to start my typical Saturday, which starts with seeing my brother.

Glad to hear from Diane & CM and everyone else! Please be safe on this heat and don't overdo.

Will post more later--just checking in on everyone before I get started on my day.

Coffee clinks!

Hi everyone. Dog took me for a walk, which was great for both of us. He is such a good boy, except for barking at cats. Going to be hot for days. I paid my DMV renewal online last night, still have to pay insurance, changed credit card so have to redo the auto pay. Did not take things to library. Yes they have 7 day grace, which once I found out, I usually wait until grace is over to motivate me, silly, I know, like other things, wait to feel pressure to take actions. Such as waiting until visitor to come to put away things.
Did very little today. Which is ok. Antibiotics are helping so much, cheek only has a small area of infection now.
Tillie, I agree, you are so great to keep this group going and offering so much wisdom and comfort.

Hello all,

Not too much to add today, staying in to beat the dangerous heat. Yuck. Worked a little on one of my blogs, which I've been neglecting. That felt good.

I have enough money to mail in my renewal of tags for the van. A little here, and I may have some cat sitting still to come. Thankful!

Somebody needs to come up with Spammer Spray. PFFFT!
Problem solved!

Like several of you, I find it best to just get rid of stuff quickly and without mentioning it to others who might impede the process. There are some exceptions, but in general it's quicker and less fuss just to get the stuff GONE.

Re prescription bottles - I'm lucky in that the ones I get have labels that peel off pretty easily and then I just wad them up with the written part on the inside, and the sticky side compresses into a ball which no one would be able to unfold, and bang into the trash it goes.

Some labels are printed by printers that have toner and even if you cross through them with a black marker you can still read them. Might be that if you can't use my peel-off method, you could get some sandpaper and use that. It ought to go fairly quickly and then the bottles can be recycled if they have a number in a triangle (it can be tiny and hard to find but usually they have one).

Happy decluttering!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Happy that the antibiotics are working and helping you feel better. (((HUGS)))
YEA!!! for a loaner dog! 😀
I haven't watched "orange is the new black" even though it's on Netflix.
Is it any good? Would I be able to relate to it?
I don't often watch dramas, too dramatic for me.
Most things I watch have zombies, werewolves or some other sort of monster. 😉
Libraries used to have "forgiveness" days where they would forgive the late fees, they just wanted their books back. 😀

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
My plan is to try to just ignore that POS spammer and hope it will go away. 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you (((hugs)))
You all help me so much more than you will ever know.
You keep me from just giving up and laying down.
With all your help I have the motivation to keep on trying to maintain this little bit of home life I have made for myself in the middle of all this chaos. (((HUGS)))

My To-Do list for today...
water grass & garden
make egg salad
take a shower before bedtime

That's it. 🙂
Beautiful cool morning. Been cooling off daily right about sunset so nights are good for sleeping.
Think today I will work on the wind chine I am making.
Thin slices of agate make a beautiful sound when the wind blows.
This will be the third wind chime I've made.

TTYS 😀

Tess, I was so tired last night that I only skimmed the posts. Congratulations on your progress--how wonderful that you are getting your place cleaned and that you no longer feel the dread when walking into your place. I am so pleased for you!

Diane, glad to hear from you. Take it easy. Isn't that amazing how far you've come!!

Tillie, you are a special person. Thank you for helping us sort through our possessions, emotions, guilt, etc.

I am grateful for each of you.

Hello everyone. Thanks for remembering me, and yes am feeling better today. Worked in yard for awhile, dishes done, put away little things in every room, that started to grow roots away from their home base. Dog arrived a little after 6pm, so motivated me to get things put away, dogs owner always needs to use bathroom when she drops off dog. I feel better having dog here, and having cleaner areas, even though it took a visitor to motivate me. It was hot today so watched the rest of season 3 of Orange is the New Black, overdue to library as usual. I will return it tomorrow, nice having hours of dvd's to distract myself from teeth. Library late fees are a good way to support my library, I tell myself! Happy to read your posts

Hi Tess 🙂

WAY TO GO!!!
Happy dancing!!!
How wonderful 😀
I am so proud and happy for you! (((HUGS)))

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
"Amnesty" is for you to get rid of things in the fastest, easiest and best way for you to do it.
We also do not need others opinions or approval to do whatever we need to do for ourselves. (((hugs)))

Hi Diane 🙂
Please let us know how you are doing whenever you get the chance.
((((HUGS))))

Spent the day puttering around here.
Did a little mending and some other easy repairs around the house.
Got all my hot glue sticks better organized. LOL 😀
Nice to be all caught up on all this easy stuff.
Watched a few movies while I puttered.
Found my laser pointer and have been getting Scooter to chase the little red dot all around the house.
It got up to 103 degrees outside but we were comfy inside.

Nite nite 😉

.....um, i dont know how the rest of y'all feel, but im really hoping that that SPAMMER lady isnt gonna cause our posts to be delayed like last time? To me, id WAY rather just ignore her posts than have to wait for Cory to sift through our posts before they each appear....how do y'all feel about that?

Hello everyone and welcome to the newbies! Glad to have you here.

I am exhausted. After work went to mom's, then just hung out here all night n got a burst of energy and vacuumed the living room and library, did all dishes, took the filter out of the vacuum and washed it, scrubbed the kitchen sink and gathered up the garbage/cleaned the cat box.

Just out if shower and Now going to bed. Will write more later--very pleased to ready your posts. Thank you for giving me the strngth to work on my house

Re donating--don't bother if it's going to get in your way. You need to look out for you and the peace of your home. Do not worry re donating at this juncture. Just move forward. Re pill bottles--I soak in water and then scrape off the pertinent info including bar code. Not practical if you have more than a few.

....oh, great...that spammer is back...now we're gonna end up having our posts delayed again cuz of her....#@*x!!!

Tillie, you are right! I will never do that again, except on this site! That was such an unexpected blow! As a matter of fact, it made me decide to skip asking the one friend if shes ok with me getting rid of her deceased aunt's clothes that she lugged here for me for a job i needed them for, that i will never wear! I dont know why i dont want to mess with donating...somehow it seems like itd hinder progress or something?
Tess, i am so happy for you! What an awesome feeling! I am going through that same shift! & i love it!
SueB, i couldnt afford to have trash taken out for several years. I did barter/trades to keep a few cans empty for actual garbage. I also took small bags around to different convenience stores trash cans.
Mortified, welcome! Ive come to the conclusion that im more of a lazy slob than a hoarder...i dont know which is worse...ha ha

Hi everybody!

Today I had such a HHM (happy hoarder moment). I was dragging when I came home. I think I have a bout of depression coming on. Anyway, walking up my steps I felt the usual dread. In the past I would work all day, come home stressed and mentally exhausted, open my door and come face to face with mess in every direction. Then I'd tell myself to clean just one area. Then I would say I'll start right after dinner. After dinner, I'd promise to start after I read a few chapters. After a few chapters, I'd promise to spend 15 minutes cleaning in the morning instead. Morning would come, and I'd pull the covers over my head until it was time to get ready for work. That was my pattern for years. Sigh. Well today, I walked up those steps, pushed open the door (with more strength than necessary because in the past there was always stuff in the alcove) and actually stopped mid-step when I saw how clear it is. Granted, it should not be a surprise since I've been working on it for over a month. But today is the first time I've really absorbed how far I've come. It felt great. Of course I still have a ton to do, but it all feels so manageable now. And I think I would willingly allow people in without having a mild heart attack at this point. That's a huge win in my book!

More later. I need to run back out.

Hi SueB:)

WAY TO GO!!! on all you have done! 😀

Don't tell anyone, shhhhh...
but we do the sneak it into the dumpster thing at his place of work on the morning of pick up day right before the garbage truck arrives.

So much can be freely gotten rid of with recycling.
Make sure to check into all recycle companies in your area to find out what all they take and where the drop offs are located.

When doing any decluttering it always looks a lot worse before it starts to look better.
Just pulling everything out from where it's stored to sort through makes a big mess.
Once you have done an area remember to keep looking at that nice clear and clean space you have made. 😀

Hi Mortified 🙂

I just did a web search on disposal of those pill bottles.
Since there is so much personal information on the labels they recommend all sorts of time consuming tedious methods to remove or cover them.
Personally, I would first ask a pharmacist what they think should be done.
If all else fails I can think of few methods...
The hoarder I live with has millions of cans of old paint. I would submerge the bottles into the paint.
He also has hundreds of cans of old spray paint.
I would line them up on newspaper and spray the labels.
Another thought I have is to mix up a large bucket of water and laundry detergent and soak the bottles until all the information is illegible, weeks or months perhaps.
But he is a true hoarder and even though he has hundreds of empty prescription bottles he plans to keep them all just in case they come in handy some day.
🙂

Hello! I made progress today! I filled a couple bags with garbage, have quite a few boxes of paper in the recycle bin, shredded a bunch of stuff (my long gone grandparents' checkbooks? Seriously?),started a box of old, but decent tools for Habitat for Humanity, and have a box started for Goodwill. Although my dad wasn't a hoarder, 3 generations worth of stuff is a lot! It looks like I haven't accomplished anything. 🙁
For those here who really are dealing with hoarding, you have my utmost respect! Keep going!You can do it!

Not sure what to do with all the trash. I'm broke, and we have to pay for garbage pickup.I'm thinking about taking a small bag with me every time I run errands just to use public garbage cans.
How do other people handle it?

Hi Tillie & everyone!
I just started on this site yesterday - am so thankful I found this group of people who truly understand! I don't know if I'm a hoarder or just a lazy slob - but I am in counseling and am trying to get my house in order.
I would appreciate advice:
I have LOTS of empty plastic prescription bottles - can I safely put them in recycle? A friend says I have to use a marker to cover all the info on the labels. That is overwhelming. I got a lot done yesterday :>) but the house still doesn't look any better:>(
Thank you for any replies about the pill bottles,
Mortified

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
We love hearing from you no matter what you have been up to.
Writing up that list sounds like a very good project. Could really help to streamline trips to the storage. 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
All my life I have found it to be a bad idea to tell anybody about what I am getting rid of.
They never want me to do it or even try to understand why I no longer want things.
They try to sabotage all my efforts and make me keep everything because they say that some day I will regret not having everything I have ever owned.
Well, they are wrong and I have been much happier by living with only the things that I use or truly value/appreciate. ;D

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
With your car parked so far away, just taking donations to it is like a workout at the gym.
You are doing a FANTASTIC! job of maintaining your clear and clean areas.
WAY TO GO!!! (((hugs)))

Hi Diane 🙂
Hope the antibiotics have helped take most of the pain away.
I was afraid for you that it would end up being something major to repair.
So sorry. (((HUGS)))
Keep getting out and enjoying meditating on the clouds.
Try to find nourishing things to eat and sleep whenever you can.
Take care of yourself. (((HUGS)))

Have no plans for today. Nothing pressing that I need to attend to.
Sure, I could do all sorts of cleaning like washing windows or weeding the garden but everything is
"GOOD ENOUGH".
So today I will just live in the moment and see where I end up. ;D

Lovely to "see" you all. (((hugs)))

Oh dear Diane. Please take care of yourself. I hope your shower helps you sleep better. I generally take a quick shower every night--I like to get the day off of me. In the AM on days j go into the office, I shower and wash my hair. Since I worked from home today, I'll just take a quick one before climbing into bed. Congratulations for keeping up with the dishes! I find my life is so much easier now that I've committed to the dishes.

Anony, thank you for all of your support. Just toss the clothes and if anyone asks, they've all been relocated to a nice farm where they can be happy and free. (You know, that nice farm where all my childhood pets & my grandpa went). 🙂

It is tough keeping up with everything and I still have pockets of my house that are in dire need of cleaning. Tillie, I used to love making lists and checking things off! These days, it is much more satisfying to post my accomplishments, allows me to feel better about myself. I didn't do half of what I said I would today. But I did do somet things

Indoor Challenge, part 2
Have garbage ready to go out tomorrow
Emptied and put away shredder
Swept a little where I was using shredder
Dusted the tables by my bed
Dusted the chair in my bedroom
All laundry folded and put away
All dishes in dishwasher
Took out the two recycle bags, as I said I would

Ttyl. Thank you everyone! We are moving ahead!

Diane, wow, youre getting all that done while going through such horrid pain?!! That, in itself, is really beyond the call of duty! Isnt there a school with a dental department nearby, with students learning, that you could have the work done for cheaper? We have several where i am. Also, there are several hospitals with low income programs here. Spending all your savings may not be necessary? It may be worth looking into? Im so sorry youre going through that?

Nice you are posting so much. Went to dentist yesterday, have to get infection under control before can have root canal etc. It is front tooth of a bridge, so will be very expensive for all the work that has to be done.
I actually had a difficult time getting rid of my bedazzled bra type top, that I never wore, and at my age, would never wear it.
Dishes are all done, and in general it has become a habit to wash regularly. I have not done much else. Yesterday after dentist I drove out into country, up a hill, laid in back of pickup and looked up at clouds and mountains, so quiet and beautiful. Tried to focus on all I have to be grateful for, and not on the thousands I will be paying for dental work. I am low income but do have savings, so am able to pay for it, grateful for that. Hopefully my energy
will come back soon. Pain is much less with decreased swelling, so have hope. When I write a to do list, I get anxious, afraid I will fail, so now I prefer to write what I have done after I do it. Took garbage out, laundry, hung, brought in, folded most of it. Made bed. Took a shower, washed hair. Cleaned up small area of yard.

Tatoulia, i cracked up over you buying your kitty a computer cover of her own...ha ha...cat lovers are a special species, for sure!
I have been backsliding on the closet cleaning...i should have kept my mouth shut...one of those friends is now saying that its ok to throw out clothes if theyre moldy or something irreparable. She is also trying to imply that she would wear midriff tops! In the nearly 30 years ive known her, she has not ever shown any skin besides her forearms! ....and her hubby is an extreme 'collector of crap'and most of her time goes to trying to clear that stuff out! Last time they visted, he dragged a bunch of junk back to my place that he found in a neighbor's junk pile...he actually thought i should be grateful for his finds?!! The lamp was perfectly good, it just needed a new cord & shade bracket & cleaned up....grrrrr...ok, rant over...sorry! 😀

Hi everybody! Glad to see you posting and thinking of Diane.

CM glad you are back. When I don't post, I really don't do. It's great when the board is active!

Tess I am getting a meow box subscription for my little buddy for Christmas. I'm pretty excited about that! I may have mentioned here that she loves my laptop cover, loves it, even ruined one by vomiting on it, so I got her her very own laptop cover for her "birthday". She adores it.

Tillie your desk with side hutch sounds so pretty. How nice to have your treasures there.

Good to see you Anony! Just get rid of the clothes. If the person who wants them can come soon, let her take them, but give her a deadline. No need to store them for her!

Indoor challenge
Fix slat in bed--while doing it, went ahead and changed sheets since I had to tear bed apart
Doing laundry including dresses for work.
Bag of papers GONE. And really gone. Everything gone. Filled up bag with old dresses that don't fit--hard to say goodbye but I am 40 lbs overweight and I need the closet space.
Took that bag and another donation bag to my car--my parking garage is several blocks from my home
I have two recycle bags ready to take to the bin.

Will write more later. I enjoy every word of your posts.

Hey, Happy hoard of hoarders? Its neat that everyone is posting so much! I think its really good for all of us!
Tillie, your suggestion of hanging that bedazzled bra on the wall is an excellent idea! I have done that before with things! I also have clothes i love but never had the nerve to wear. Displaying those things is a great solution!
Well, in partly proud conversation, ive told 3 different friends how im finally clearing out clothes im too old for...what a mistake that was...in their efforts to think they are comforting me, 2 of them insisted im not old & keep those clothes, the 3d one wants them & she will be 70 years old next week?!! ha ha....sigh

Good Day everyone!

I'm going to post more frequently again. I guess I thought that since I wasn't doing the big projects and had gotten kind of behind again, I didn't really have much to say, but that's not true.

After I posted yesterday, I did think of something I can do even if I can't get out much. I had started a list of the things in the storage I want to keep and the things I want to get rid of. I could work on that, and that way when I go there I'll remember to look for the items.

Also, good news in that my roommate's odd work schedule ends after tomorrow; that has made it harder for me to get a rhythm to my days. I'm more used to it than at the beginning of the 7 weeks, but will not be sorry to have things return to the normal schedule!

Well, everyone stay cool and keep on keepin' on! 🙂

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tess 🙂
Nice! that you did those things and then rewarded yourself with a self pampering evening.
WTG! 😀
You should hang that bedazzled bra like a picture/artwork on your bedroom wall, at least that way you would get to enjoy seeing it. 😉

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA!!! for better weather for you! 😀
Been nicer here too, cooler mornings and evenings.
Good luck with your plans and especially tackling that big bag of papers. (((hugs)))

(((HUGS))) and well wishes to everybody.
You are in our thoughts.

My To-Do lists start out with only 2 maybe 3 items written down on them.
Then if or when I do something more I write what extra I did on the list so that I can then scratch it off.
Makes me happy...

My indoor challenge for today is to do my secretary desk.
It's one of those antique ones with the glass enclosed display case on one side.
In there I keep my most treasured antique glass pieces from my Great Grandmother and Grandmother.
I worry about breaking something as I take them all out and wash them.
Even with being behind glass they do get dusty and it bugs me to see them not shining.
Since today is a quiet day with no other tasks to do,
I'm going to get it done!

TTYL 🙂

Hello everyone!

I worked late last night and didn't do anything when I got home other than make dinner.

Working from home today and good news-weather is much improved. Cooler, no humidity. So my work breaks today can include hopefully vacuuming. I need to dust too. I also want to get rid of the last remnants of the bag of papers.

Okay, big list. I'm much happier writing the completed items.

Will write more later. Glad to catch up with you!