| Tillie | Posted: 09 December 2016 - 09:56 AM |
Good morning everybody 🙂 Great to read your posts on phase five! 😀 WAY TO GO!!! Everybody on every accomplishment, especially the little ones that really do add up and help make your homes the sanctuary of your dreams. | |
Replies (678)
| Tatoulia | Posted: 01 April 2017 - 04:09 PM |
I loved Rogue One--hope you do too CM. Truthfully I'm not a science fiction fan but Star Wars movies are something my brother enjoys so I go to all of them. I hope you have a nice time! Wishing you a happy birthday! I generally love my birthday but this year eclipsed by mother's health. So I'll celebrate yours, CM! Hello Tillie! Due to weather, I didn't see brother today so I took a nice afternoon nap! Anony have a fun time tonight--so funny what Tillie said about not having too much fun! Keep up the good work, Porter. I'm a slug today. So nice to relax. | |
| CriticalMass | Posted: 01 April 2017 - 01:59 PM |
Hi all, Happy April. It's my birthday month (bday on the 11th) so I'm kind of excited. I'm not the sort who always does get excited over birthdays, but sometimes I do over the ones that have a special significance. And this one does. It's my 55th, which marks my passage into official "seniorhood" - and discounts, LOL! I don't feel like a senior that much of the time. But with folks living longer, how "should" a senior feel anyway? It's like what's "normal" - a setting on the dryer! And I'm glad to be through with March. Last few days were crazy. I still have 2 more to go till payday, and I'm pinching pennies and trying to drive on fumes. It's not that I couldn't buy any gasoline but I'm so tired of ending the month with almost no money. So I'm being tight-fisted. The nightmares and stressful sleep, and daytime lack of focus and times of grumpy moods, have been with me off and on. It should be more on the upswing though. I'm going to go to church and go to Confession and unburden my soul! That should leave me feeling more peaceful. And next week there are some sunny days predicted, instead of mostly rainy ones. So I will have gasoline and a chance to work out at the storage unit. Later today we're going to go see "Star Wars Rogue One" at the discount movie theater. I was disappointed in "The Force Awakens" but Rogue One is supposed to be good. It might be good for me to fly to a galaxy far, far away for a couple of hours! Everybody have a good weekend! | |
| Tillie | Posted: 01 April 2017 - 11:56 AM |
Happy April 🙂 Hi Porter 🙂 Hi Anonymoniker 🙂 Beautiful bright sunny day here. | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 01 April 2017 - 08:40 AM |
Porter, | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 01 April 2017 - 08:29 AM |
Porter, there arent many life forms more obnoxious than a 17 year old human girl!!! Its in our DNA to rebel against our parents to keep our gene pool diverse! That is science. I know it hurts, but it is actually quite normal....what id give to have my parents 'on my case' again...(sigh) | |
| Porter | Posted: 01 April 2017 - 08:21 AM |
I don't I tend for this to come out the way so please forgive if it does. This little tread is a very precious place for me. So even though many things in my proximity are negative. All of you on the what are doing today thread are my rock. I grew up as the youngest of three boys, my dad was fireman and a cement truck driver. A Fred Flintstone type of there ever was one. My first job was in the furniture store where my mother worked. She was top sales person, very pushy ,but very good at room decorations. Not easily intimidated and could get her customers anything even in-store credit. She was respected. I was not. I was the backroom. Grunt. But no need to go into that. What happened was I started. Moving furniture around. The sales ladies would have me rearrange the roomlets. In favor of how the sales ladies liked it. It was interesting to me. I could clear furniture out and then put the furniture in. But it was the room accents that made a room personal. I never forgot that. But a room that has to much accessories is cluttered. So I feel like I'm high function hoarder. Still I remember those days as a furniture grunt. Staying home today. Playing games, listing to you tube music videos fro. The 80s and my daughter taking turns playing her music . And mixing in my wife's favorites when she's sits in with us. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 31 March 2017 - 07:22 PM |
Porter Teenage girls are a mystery. ;D (((HUGS))) | |
| Porter | Posted: 31 March 2017 - 04:50 PM |
Well my love fest went aground. I was so bothered by it. I went to this old folks home with my daughter. I mean this is where there are so many people living there that it's like stepping into another world filled with only 70 s and up. I was there by mistake. Years ago. And people ,strangers pulling to there rooms asking me to move stuff. I told my daughter later in the car. I hope I never miss you as much as the old lady her daughter. I tried to be nice. She responded "whatever" Tillie only you know what needs to be done and what can be done. As much as I've wanted to leave in the past . I am so grateful to be spending what little time I have left with my little family. Even if I'm at my wits end annoyed. For so long I couldn't forgive them , but can't imagine letting them go without forgiving them. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 31 March 2017 - 10:49 AM |
Good Morning Everyone 🙂 Hi Porter 🙂 Many people in my "real life" don't understand life with a hoarder. | |
| Pain | Posted: 31 March 2017 - 09:49 AM |
Just watched a movie called. Fault in stars. Ugh, made me cry , made me grieve. Life is what we make it. | |
| Porter | Posted: 30 March 2017 - 07:24 PM |
If I had to pick only five tools for reclaiming living space. 1. Tubs because they. Because they can be stacked. 2. A big cart that can hold 8-10 tubs. so I can easily move stacks of tubs where the are best kept. 3. a comealong . It's like a solid rake. 4.Grabber helps to sort papers and clutter from trash. Or trash from clutter. 5. Vehicle for transporting trash,tubs,donations, and volunteers. Very quiet day , a lot to do, but don't feel like doing anything. It's been 27 years since I was last alone. So I'm just being quiet and enjoying the peace of us all being together. I've started looking for another place to live. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 30 March 2017 - 06:51 PM |
Hi 🙂 Hi Tatoulia 🙂 Hi CriticalMass 🙂 That's the insidious thing about hoarding. Today was a typical Spring day here. | |
| CriticalMass | Posted: 30 March 2017 - 02:54 PM |
Didn't realize I'd been away several days. They went by quickly because they were busy ones. I was getting my fitness time in and sitting for my elderly friend again. We are in the spring rainy season here. Glad to have the moisture but I'm going to wait on the storage unit. I can finish the spring cleaning of my bedroom here. I'm getting ready to have another nap. Slept horribly - by that I mean my body may technically have slept but my mind was tormented by the usual bad dreams. Daytime naps are my restorative sleep. I don't need one every day, just when physically exhausted or after too many nights with nightmares. The shyer of the two cats came in a bit ago and actually came up on my bed. I gave her a kitty treat and for awhile it looked like she might sleep with me. She has always been fascinated with my junky room! She likes to climb around on the stacks. She went over and climbed on top of a box that had a stack of clothes on it and stretched up to the TV on top of the chest of drawers. She likes TVs. Mine wasn't on, but last night and other times she gets up by the living room TV and bats at the screen. Tatoulia, so glad things are working out for your mom. I of course cast my vote in favor of pets for seniors! Porter, I like your methodical decluttering descriptions. I have similar attack plans, though perhaps a bit piecemeal now but I intend to implement ever more efficient strategies as I go along. Glad your inspection came out and best wishes for future resolutions. Hoping you won't have to be apart from your wife. Tillie, sorry his junk is such a problem. I hope and pray for better times, helpers, and any other needs to be met. Same for Anonymoniker, what a relief to get the plumbing resolved. The thing about housekeeping - I am so there. I feel like I got to the point with the hoarding where I hadn't realized how it had crowded out the simple pleasures of running a home. I'm a pretty domestic gal, and I miss being able to cook and bake and other basic homemaking things the way I used to. Even cleaning may someday be enjoyable when I no longer need to move clutter to do it! Looking forward to that time. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 30 March 2017 - 10:20 AM |
Good morning everyone! Porter forgive me I meant to tell you how pleased I was that your inspection went so well. Sometimes I forget what I was going to say and Tillie's post just reminded me! Good morning--I'm working hard doing work and then back to mom's tonight. Should be my last night going there. Bed frame just arrived. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 30 March 2017 - 10:14 AM |
Good Morning 🙂 Hi Anonymoniker 🙂 Hi Porter 🙂 Hi Tatoulia 🙂 Rain and hail this morning 😀 TTYL 🙂 | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 29 March 2017 - 10:45 PM |
Great to hear from you, Anony! Yay for hot water & help from a family member! Porter, great advice on cleaning. Mom's house is in great shape. The cleaning lady will vacuum under bed tomorrow and then I have one closet left to organize. The new bedframe comes tomorrow and I'll set that up. I don't know what I've written since I'm so jumbled but mom's bed is too high and they want me to lower it. Her bed is a beautiful antique but she'll have to do without in the short term. Her house is almost perfect right now. Very little left for me to do. Porter, we don't have any mice problems at mom's house--she's a clutterer and a touch of a hoarder (so much yarn, fabric and other stuff) but she has cleaning lady once a week, her laundry and sheets are also done once a week, and her meals are generally eaten in the dining room (she lives in assisted living and has her own efficiency apartment with own bathroom). I wish I could make the argument that the cat is there for mice! Her physical therapist doesn't want the cat there due to tripping hazards and other physical reasons. I've promised mom that once she's settled in, the cat will come back. I will also bring kitty over for visits as she is a very good companion. Tillie, Her cleaning lady has been taking care of the litter box for years now, so it's never soiled or unusable. We've been lucky that way. My mother is very kind and very sweet so she generally is treated very well. Anony I hear you on the soothing properties of pets. My mom's cat is very good company for my mother and the two of them are generally sitting together. Very cute. The cat has definitely improved her quality of life these last ten years. My house is not as clean as I would like it, but I can definitely have a dinner party at mom's if anyone wants to join me! | |
| Porter | Posted: 29 March 2017 - 08:29 PM |
I would think having a cat would around would keep mice from gaining a foot hold. For your moms house. When I cleared my nephew's house. I knew I could count on him someday to help return the favor. It also helped me develop some clearing and reclaiming skills . That when I finally pushed to completion. I was Confident in making things happen. Today the property management showed up at. They were hard nosed . The house is so clean the only thing they had against me was the 30 day notice. I won't sign a lease . It's weird they were really looking for something to claim to invalidate the condition of the house. But ;0 I've been on it! Anony Make a path. I personally have work in a clockwise motion from the door of a room all the way around. Wether I'm purging or just saving everything unsorted for another day. Resort the remaining cutter. But if I dont do the overall . Clockwise motion. I tend to unstack and restack clutter from one pile to next and rarely reclaim space. I find reclaiming. A single room to the point of being reset. More liberating than reducing the hoard. So I judge my success 1 room at time . After going through it only a few times . I realize I have spent almost as much time maintaining as unstacking and restacking. My property management , is going to determine Wether my wife goes to her mother's ,and her and I will live in separate homes. I'm sad. | |
| Anonymoniker | Posted: 29 March 2017 - 03:04 PM |
Hello, all! | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 29 March 2017 - 11:13 AM |
Tillie just thinking about the tiny hummingbird families makes me smile! I also am envious of being able to hang laundry. Please watch out for your back! It is a terrible shame that you don't have help or support at home. Wish I were there to help you. Heading up to mom's soon--just for a quick stop in. Ttyl! | |
| Tillie | Posted: 29 March 2017 - 10:12 AM |
Good Morning Everyone 🙂 Hi Porter 🙂 Hi Tatoulia 🙂 Going out to hang laundry on the line soon as I am done posting. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 29 March 2017 - 08:46 AM |
I have no idea what "ugh this" was supposed to say in adt my night's posting. Her apartment is looking good. I brought home mom's laundry last night so I can do it here. I will take her dryckeanung out today. I have to clean out under the bed tonight. That will be a chore. So I don't know if I mentioned this Tillie, but they want me to keep mom's cat. I know they mean permanently but I pretend to misunderstand and say the cat can stay here while mom acclimates to being home and being in wheelchair. Mom is being cooperative with everything--except the cat. I told her I'll bring the cat by for visits. Trust me, everyone wants the cat to go home! (She's great company/just don't like the occasional outbursts between the two cats). Tillie, what is up for today? I hope you still feel better. Porter, where do you find the strength and time in the day? | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 28 March 2017 - 09:17 PM |
I'm back at mom's, now working on aesthetics. Physical therapist came by today--I was not here, and was very happy with all the clearing I'd done. She said I did a very good job of it but it still looks like my mother's place. Now I'm working on some other rearranging and organizing. Cold rainy. Ugh this. I love nights like this. Hello Tillie and Porter. | |
| Porter | Posted: 28 March 2017 - 07:46 PM |
.I'm glad you have a cleaning Lady. I find myself waiting to her Show, and while waiting I try to get the rooms she doesn't clean cleaned. And after she leaves I focus on the living room . I'm still struggling with laundry , but I've made the chore down to 1HR. I have to be present while it agitating, empty , rinse and spins. Or it'll just keep going forever. I'm considering bringing her hoard back. 1 tub at a time. And as the washer starts deal with her stuff at small steps everyday. I estimate it's possible to help her go through each tub . 1 a day until we move. And some don't need moved from storage at all. So I'm on a very good path. Not full purge to minimalist, but a full sorting of the hoard. If I may just think out loud. After my wife passes it will be my daughter and I . I want to buy a boat and live on a boat instead of paying rent. With my survival skills I believe I may enjoy the solitude and the adventures of sailing along the pacific coasts. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 28 March 2017 - 02:05 PM |
HELLO 🙂 Got a good night's sleep and woke up in a much better mood today 😀 So, what are you all up to today? 😀 | |
| Tillie | Posted: 27 March 2017 - 09:22 PM |
Good Evening Everyone 🙂 Hi Porter 🙂 Hi Tatoulia 🙂 Woke up in a very bad mood this morning. Anyways, I am sorta kinda back to normal again. P.S the cats have forgiven me. 🙂 | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 27 March 2017 - 08:51 PM |
Hello everyone. I ended up having to take a half day from work in order to start in on mom's place. I made four large bags of trash, took two large bags to good will and have two bags for drycleaner and one for laundry. I moved furniture and got rid of hampers and got rid of random dishes and Tupperware tops and the like. I threw out cake pans and other stuff. I combined boxes, moved stuff, cleaned under chairs, etc. very hard all around. I felt alone so I emailed a friend overseas and she called me to talk me through it. That was very helpful. I'll have to do a few more hours tomorrow night. The cleaning lady helped me for a little while and told me to just pile up the trash and she'll take it from there. Good work today, Pain! You get so much done in a day. It's really amazing. Hellooo Tillie, CM, Anony, Joan, et al. Would love even a quick drive by. | |
| Porter | Posted: 27 March 2017 - 04:55 PM |
Kitchen day for me. The second laundry load is the kitchen towels and other cleaning linens . I'm trying to adjust to how things work and flow. Because I'm no longer just stacking and restacking my hoard and calling it cleaning. I'm actually cleaning and I'm not used to it. I struggle with the feelings like its clean enough and just want to sit somewhere. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 27 March 2017 - 10:01 AM |
Oh boy. Have my work cut out for me. Got off phone with mom's therapists and I need to greatly reduce her things to make room for wheelchair. They have assessed her space and need me to get this done before Wednesday. I took my vitamin b. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 26 March 2017 - 04:24 PM |
Isn't that a good feeling, Tillie, to admire our hard work? Glad you can see the cleated spaces. CM yes slam dunk the junk. I have zero sports knowledge dso can only enjoy it as a hoarder would!! Cleaned out mom's fridge and her cabinets. Her food cabinet was filled with expired stuff. Her dish cabinet I rearranged and put her disposable stuff at eaay reach. Her cleaning lady said she'd freshen up the apartment before Wednesday. I have more work to do there and will try to fit in a few hours tomorrow. I haven't taken vacuum over or the carpet cleaner. Will have to do tomorrow. I then visited her at hospital. I'm going to head to grocery store now. Get a little walking in. Keep up the good work!!! | |
| CriticalMass | Posted: 26 March 2017 - 02:01 PM |
Just a quick note before I take a nice afternoon nap. 🙂 I saw this sign at a car dealership on my way home from church and just had to share: SLAM DUNK THE JUNK It is no doubt their attempt to link college basketball March Madness with the idea of buying a new car. But for us it has a different meaning! ROTFL! Happy Sunday! | |