Hello Tess 🙂
WAY TO GO! planning on doing a few chores since you aren't going out! 😀
Hope your evening has been pleasant.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you (((hug)))
Yes, I did laundry today!
All caught up.

Keep telling yourself that it is just a cabinet and not a wardrobe leading into Narnia.
It has a limit to how much space is in there and you will eventually get to the end. ;D

I was outside dealing with the sprinkler this evening when Steven came home.
He stopped and civilly spoke to me.
Twinkles has an appointment at 3:20 tomorrow.
So by 3:00 I will have the carrier and Twinkles all ready to go.
Twinkles is so large that he does not fit in a regular size cat carrier so I put him in the carrier that I used for my Cocker Spaniel.
Alright, I could actually stuff him into a small cat carrier but he would be all squished up tight and going to the Vet is traumatic enough without that added indignity.

Hello everybody! SubC I'm so happy for you and your parents! What a wonderful, loving thing you did for them! Tillie I am so so sorry about Steven. So so sorry. I hope you were able to do laundry today!

Tess, keep up the good work! I like to stream pandora and start puttering. We are so glad you are here!

Very tired tonight. After work I fed kitty then napped. Now we are enjoying a glass of water together.
I am home tomorrow, which means I have to go into the cabinet. And finish it.

Hi everybody!
Reading all your posts is a mood lifter for me. And a motivator. It makes me feel good to see all of you doing so well.

I had plans with my guy tonight. I was hoping to have a talk, but he had to cancel on me. For legitimate reasons. That's ok though. It gives me a chance to get some work done at home. It's garbage night and I want to do laundry.

Hope you all have a good night!

That's so wonderful to hear Subclinical! 😀

What a wonderful happy success. ((((HUG))))

Mom is very happy. She is so proud of us. She says she was very worried about the project, but it was so much easier than she thought it would be.

Dad is absolutely delighted.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
FANTASTIC!
Job well done 😀
How is your Mom feeling about this?
Hope she is feeling relieved that she no longer has to risk going up into the attic ever again.
Have a pleasant rest of your visit there and a safe trip back home tomorrow.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
That's sweet, she made you toaster pancakes. 😀
That's wonderful that your repurposed clothes hamper is making it easy to help keep your bedroom tidy. 🙂
That's true, the cleaning ladies are a part of your support system.

The air is a tinge smoky this morning but might clear out in a little while.
If it does then I will do some laundry.
Need to water the lilac hedge today, that's pretty easy to do.
Steven has not spoken to me for days but I know he got my note about Twinkles needing medical attention.
I would discuss this with him but I am always reluctant to initiate conversation with him.
It is never pleasant and leaves me angry, frustrated and generally miserable.
If I leave another note he will become violent toward the note.
Screaming curses and slamming/throwing things around out there in the garage and/or his bedroom.
Dude needs some serious help...

Tatoulia, I think the cleaning people are a great support for you.

And I am glad you got all your brother's paperwork done.

Tillie, how is the kitty?

We took all the donations and empty plastic bags to drop this morning, and dad took all the burn stuff down to the barrel. All that is left is loading my car tomorrow and the dump run.

Tillie! Cooking all the hamburgers at once was a great idea! It reminds me of many years ago when I was in the hospital and when mom cane to drive me home, she'd made me pancakes. They were in a large ziplock bag and separated by wax paper. So I could just pop one or two in the toaster and have pancakes! Too bad the burgers can't go in the toaster!

The cleaning ladies are the way for me. Every two weeks ensures I'll have a clean home. I didn't have them work on bedroom since I need cat to have a place to be. I dusted the bedroom last night and will vacuum tonight or tomorrow. The thing in the bedroom which has made the biggest difference is the hamper. It's hidden behind my door and it is perfect. I use it faithfully. I've also learned to put my shoes away.

I did a lot of hard work and the cleaners are part of my support system.

Iced tea clinks?off to work soon!

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Of course you should keep that chair.
It's comfortable as well as sentimental.
Just make sure to sit there often. 🙂
Good job working on that paperwork.
WTG! for finding ways to flush that excess salt out of your system!

Many, many people need to have cleaning ladies in at least monthly.
Without this added help too many people fall back into hoarding, disorganization and other unhealthy living conditions.
The cleaning ladies not only keep your home clean but by being there regularly helps keep you honest about not acquiring too much or leaving everything just lay out, not put away. 😉

I cooked the hamburger tonight.
I cooked all the patties so I can just heat them up as I need to.
Just the smell of the cooking beef was so satisfying, more so than actually eating the hamburger. 😀
Hoping tomorrow will be clear enough to do laundry.
This afternoon was not very smoky bad at all, YEA!

WOW! SubC, you and Mom SubC and Dad SubC are amazing! I am awed and humbled!!!!! Wow!!! Congratulations! I want to echo Tillie's comment that you made great choices of which items to keep. Great, great work! I know my mom has my dad's baby shoes and I will take them some day. I have so little of his. Nothing really. Just two things that remind me of both my parents. In fact, despite my designer friend's nudging, I am keeping my parents' chair and even sat in it tonight and I was reminded how comfortable and perfect it is. It is all wood, made without nails, and so comfortable. My mother could sit in only this chair after a terrible accident when I was an infant. That's why when I need a new mattress, I make mom go with me. Her terrible and poorly healed fractures guarantee that I'll get the best mattress.

Tillie I didn't realize that the other cats were brought in by Steven. I hope twinkles is ok and I hope he'll get the vet appt soon.

Thank you everyone for supporting me in the brother's paperwork. I actually got all the info I needed today during a phone call, and I have all the paperwork I need to fax tomorrow. So a very successful, and painless, endeavor.

I am envious that your jeans fit, Tillie! I didn't get to weigh myself this AM due to cleaners' arrival. I'll check it tomorrow. The sandwich was delicious but so salty! I just had a delicious plum. So tasty. Last week I took your suggestion and had carrots and green beans to help reduce the salt.

Missing ANONY,CM,TESS,MAR and everyone else. If I missed your name, unintentional.

I feel like I'm cheating by having cleaning ladies. But let's face it, I'm never going to keep up. They are my best defense against clutter creep. And dirt. And they are lovely and fast and thorough.

I'm haven't checked the upper shelf of the cabinet. I'll go take a peak and see what's there. I'm much stronger today.

WOOHOO!!!

HAPPY DANCING!!!

What a wonderful job you all did! 😀

You are a real treasure for your parents Subclinical.

((((HUS))))

Tatoulia, it's great that you are adapting to the cleaning ladies!

The attic is empty!

We will have to take my car to goodwill tomorrow or mom will have to take two loads. Dad has two truck loads to burn and a dump run to make (no trash service) my car will be full going home but little will stay at my house.

I am tired. My dad is cooking. I sent my brother a photo and he sent back a thank you note.

Good Afternoon Everybody 🙂

HELLO ANONYMONIKER 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Hope today has been enjoyable.
How wonderful to be stuffed with your Dad's home cooking.
Hope those cookies are leaving you alone. ;D
WAY TO GO!!!!
Getting Mom to let go of some of those things from your childhood!
I can understand you wanting to hold onto your Grandfather's tiny boots.
Maybe someday one of your kids will want to keep them too.
Your other treasures are scant and practical. (((HUG)))
Good luck with all your plans.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YUM! That sandwich sounds delicious! ;P
WAY TO GO!!! for a successful cleaning ladies day!
((((HUG))))
It will be so nice when they clean the fridge, making it so fresh and bright in there.
I will be doing mine completely next month, regularly scheduled task after Summer heat passes.
Is that cabinet all sorted out?
If so, then we can start doing a second pass on the cupboards and organizing them better to put cabinet stuff in so you don't ever need to open that cabinet again. ;D LOL

Was able to get some well needed sleep this morning but that meant waking up late and having to scramble to keep on schedule.
Today I am slow watering the laurels and trees.
Takes an hour for each tree, six of them, three laurels = one hour total.
Meantime I have been ding lots of other little tasks that really needed doing.
Tried on my jeans today to make sure they still fit.
They did so I am all set for next Winter. LOL

Steven needs to make the Vet appointment and take Twinkles.
I used to always take the cats to the Vet but Steven would always rant and rage about the cost of treatment.
So I quit taking them and make him take them.
This way he cannot rant and rage at me about the cost and I will not let him constantly tell the cat how much it cost.
Remember, I have one cat.
All the others are here because Steven insisted on keeping them.
All are rescues that I have to care for in all ways.
There would be so many more but I had to get seriously ugly in stopping him from doing this to me.
I love them all but there are only so many that I can properly care for and give attention to.

WOW SubC! SubC's Mom and Dad! Wow!!! Oh boy you are doing tough, tough, tough emotional and mental work. Actually caused me a bit of anxiety! Great job! Great job. Let your mother and father over feed you just this once. It may be a coping strategy for them. WOW!!!

Tillie I'm worried about you and Twinkles. Keep me posted as I say a prayer for both of you. I have NO laundry to be done. Well maybe cat laundry.

No shrimp po' boy! BF made turkey and mortadella sandwiches on wheat with mayonnaise, mustard, cucumbers and tomatoes. Delicious.

I had been awake for two minutes (no exaggeration) when cleaners arrived. They did a great job. They love working and are so cheerful. In two weeks they will do inside of cabinet and my fridge. My fridge doesn't have any excess or rotten food because I keep that up pretty well. It's cleaning the shelves, etc, that haven't been done since my friend was visiting a few years ago.

I'm waiting for the floors to dry so I can check on laundry. She took the covers off the cushions of my small couch and threw them in the laundry.

My nerves held together! Not upset while they were here. And they are cheerful. The main cleaner is so grateful for the work.

Tess I echo what the others have said. You are doing great and we are proud of you. And we are here for you.

Hi Tillie,

I hope twinkles is alright and the smoke isn't making him sick!

My parents are over feeding it me. Dad makes delicious, healthy, but huge meals, and mom has filled the house with cookies and fruit set out temptingly.

I did go up and down the ladder a lot yesterday though. Today I am a bit sore.

My "treasures to keep" include two boxes of canning jars, paint brushes for my classroom, a pottery tool, a book (to read and pass on), and tiny pair of leather boots that my grandfather wore when he was a small child. She couldn't bear to throw the boots out, and no one will ever want to use them, and they are a thing I felt sentimental about.

My biggest accomplishments yesterday were getting her to part with MY baby shoes and to throw a bunch of art I did when I was a kid into the burn pile after taking photos.

Today we are going to go through the excessive supply of pillows at the bottom of the linen closet and hopefully get the rest of the empty boxes out of the attic.

HELLO ANONYMONIKER

YEA!!! Subclinical! 😀
That's great that you have been able to accomplish so much!
WAY TO GO!!! Subclinical's Mom!!! 😀
And WTG! Subclinical's Dad for helping out too!!!

So, what kind of treasures besides the quilt did you get? ;D
Bet you sleep well tonight.

Hi Tess 🙂
WAY TO GO!!!
Yes, it was me asking. That was an impressive list.
You should do all this just for you and nobody else.
You are the most important person there and deserve to have a nice home.
Plus, when your home is in order you are free to socialize, entertain and date to your heart's content. ;D

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Yes, it is magical communing with the bats. 😉
WTG! for keeping up with the usual tasks.
What kind of sandwich? Did you get to have another one of those shrimp Po'boys? 😀

I didn't cook my hamburgers today but will do that tomorrow.
I washed my clothes and hung them on hangers in my room.
Can't wash sheets, towels, etc. yet because if I hung them out they would be smoky smelling.
Not too much in the hamper since I was able to hang out laundry one day last week.
Twinkles is sick and needs to go to the Vet. Some sort of oral infection I do believe. He doesn't want to eat and spends too much time sleeping.

Hi Tess!

Good job on getting through the list! And getting back at it after being sick.

Tatoulia, what great progress on the cabinet!

The cleaning people will see how much easier it is to keep up with what they did last time and see that you just need some help to get back on your feet. They will probably be happy that they are helping you. I am proud of you for being able to have them come.

Mom and I are making good progress. There will be a lot in my car, but some of it is for the kids.

We have a suitcase the size of a crib mattress full of stuff for goodwill (i'm Afraid goodwill will have to throw out a few things, but with this load, that is the price they have to pay for the good stuff.)

We have put some things away downstairs in the house.

The trunk of her car is half filled with plastic bags to recycle at the grocery store, and there is a big pile of cardboard my dad is taking down to the burn barrel.

I don't know if we will finish, but honestly, it is so much better than I had dared hope already.

WTG Tess for your accomplishments! Keep moving forward! It is a good feeling when you've mastered an area. I'm sorry you've been sick and I'm sorry you have that sinking feeling re the new relationship. Oh just reading your words brought me right back.

The Mothman Cometh! That put a pleasant spin on it! One of my neighbors has named it. I offered my condolences since I'm pretty sure that Bruce has passed. I hope the workers tomorrow get rid of it.

Tillie, I love hearing about the bats and other creatures. That must be so magical to have them flutter around you.

I am doing a final load of laundry. I took my recycling out and I went to BFs for a sandwich. I will empty the dishwasher and look forward to having the cleaners here.

Shout out to Mar, SubC, CM, Anony!!!

Hi everyone -

Someone (maybe Tillie?) asked about my list last week. I made it through. I've been doing a pretty good job of keeping my main surfaces clear. So it's an easy job for me now. Now that it's a habit, I need to expand to some new areas.

The relationship....idk if it's going to work out. He's been distant for the last few days. I know somebody from his past has been poking around. He might just be super busy, but I don't like the way I'm feeling right now. I have been disappointed all weekend. However, I am not giving up on him or the big clean. I'm doing this for me as much as for my future relationship goals. As for him, there is definitely a big talk in our future.

I got sick last week, so I didn't do much after my post. Today I've been walking around with a garbage bag picking up little things here and there, changed my sheets, and getting ready for the new week. I'm certainly hoping this week is better than last week.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂

WAY TO GO!!! 😀
WOW! bottom shelf is ALL DONE!
Happy you & your Mom have your groceries
and a cookie treat too for Mom! ;D
Sounds like you are all ready for the ladies tomorrow.
They are very happy to clean your home. They do not mind cleaning and they can buy food and pay their bills by cleaning homes.
Win, win all around.
Just think how much freer you will feel once this cabinet is done, no longer always in the back of your mind.
WAY TO GO! (((HUG)))

So sorry that "The Mothman Cometh". ;P
It's kinda like "what now!?!"

I love all the tiny bats that live around here.
They are reddish and have a cute bat face.
At twilight in the Summer I enjoy going out in the driveway, holding my arms stretched out and having the tiny bats fly all around me, never touching, as they eat mosquitos and gnats. 😀
At times the air is filled with hundreds to thousands of bats.
I would put up bat boxes to attract bats but it is not necessary here.
Neither are Owl, Falcon and hawk nesting boxes.

hello!

Mom's grocery shopping is done and I put everything away for her and took back my tote bags. I also changed her sheets and gathered up herbgarbage and took it out. Fed the kitty and gave mom a cookie. So funny. She was so happy with the cookie.

I put my meager groceries away and started a laundry. I also snuck in a load of delicates while I was waiting to go grocery shopping. Some Sundays out laundry room is absolutely crazy but today, despite the rain and gloom, it's free.

I can see the end of the cabinet and it is not terrible at all. The upper shelf has yet to be explored way in the back. The bottom shelf has been gone through completely.

There is a giant moth stuck to the inside of our house wrap i didn't know they could be so large. BF tried to get it to move but it may have died in place. I thought it was a bat at first, which actually would be preferable. Very prominent right where we walk down the stairs. Disgusting.

So, what are you doing today?

Ok I'm re working my mindset. I'm happy they are coming tomorrow. My house will be nice and fresh. Kitty can hide under the bed.

I went back in cabinet and have made more decisions and have gotten more things into donation bag. I spoke with BF and he said he'd take me grocery shopping for mom if I'd like. I had called him to say I'd be walking to grocery store and could he pick me up afterward, when he said he'd take me both ways, if I could go to the store he likes to use. Naturally that's a yes!

Thank you Tillie. You are very loving and kind. I'm shocked how rattled the cleaning ladies make me feel. Oddly enough when the ladies are here I stay away from them, so that is a small blessing.

I am going to think about the imagined scenarios observation. My friend from overseas also gave me insight into that. Thank you!!!

Okay I'll shower, do mom's groceries and then look at the cabinet some more.

All they are doing is cleaning. And they are nice. I should be looking forward to this not nervous. They did the worst last week. And this week will be mountains easier for them. They are so nice. I will look forward to this.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
Very sorry you feel sickly. 🙁
Any dust, pollen, mold, chemicals, smoke, animal stuff, etc. will aggravate symptoms making them worse than they were to begin with.
Good to hear the kitties are doing well! 😀
I sure do understand the tendency to want to escape and do more enjoyable activities.
Rather than to stay and deal with hard, frustrating work.
You have dreams and plans for a way to be able to do your passions like sewing and photographing your creations.
We all want you to be free to do this too.
Remember not to look at EVERYTHING all at once, it's too overwhelming, but to simply concentrate on just one small area at a time.
((((HUGS))))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Badger, badger...
I know you have just been a bundle of nerves and overwhelming emotions with the cleaning ladies coming in.
You feel very vulnerable, exposed, naked and helpless.
This is why you misread our conversation the other week and felt upset thinking we were dissing you. (((((HUGS)))))
That scaffolding and covered windows is not helping right now at all.
There is a whole lot of new emotions going on here.
But you have been so very, very brave and worked your way through them with intelligence and logical thinking.
You CAN do this!
You can ask for the cabinet to be wiped out with bleach.
You can get used to allowing the ladies in to help you.
But be kind with yourself. Don't put yourself down.
Don't borrow any imagined scenarios.
Breathe...
It will be alright. 🙂
((((HUGS))))

I have one bag recycling and one bag donations. I hate it in there. Still more to go. Stuff I didn't know existed is in there.

I hate it. I definitely need to live through having one cleaning cycle before I get someone to scrub it. There doesn't seem to be anything dirty in there. Maybe someone can bleach my memories.

Cleaners coming at 8. I'm happy about that.

OH I folded my bed covers down by the foot of my bed today instead of automatically making it. I was shocked when I walked in my bedroom and the bed wasn't made. (Have since made). So I'll go back to the other school of thought, which screams, make your bed.

I'm going to shower soon. I'm not done with the cabinet but I'm so skeeved out. And honestly I'm not sure why. But I am.

Ok cleaners coming tomorrow! I'll try to have cabinet ready for them. At a minimum, I'm going to have it cleared out for us. Us?all of us. The only things still in there are things I'm keeping. BOLD promise. I just don't know if I am up for having a day where they are in there. I'm talking about my nerves. I'd rather have them clean house and then in two weeks spring a gross project on them. Let them have just s regular day with me.

This is my nerves speaking.

Iced tea clinks!

Badger badger! I am about to put on some Music to Be Badgered By!

Everyone is doing lovely work. I am impressed and in awe.

After I woke up this AM i opened the drapes to one of my windows and with the building wrapped, there is no sunshine coming through. Just a weird glow. I shall adapt! My BF said I need to just get up when the alarm rings. Way too simplistic.

SubC good luck with mom today. Keep her hydrated and we'll-fed (you too!). If her blood sugar drops, then all will be shot to hell.

Tillie that's interesting about your sudden meat cravings. I know since I have merely cut out sweets (as opposed to your more thorough avoidance of refined sugars), I crave vegetables and fruits and protein in ways i haven't before. I have this desire to nourish my body instead of just eating.

CM I am sorry about your throat and coughing. I wear surgical masks when doing gross stuff. Like the cabinet.

I haven't heard back from the cleaning lady yet. I hope to hear from her soon. There is another woman who does a lot of the apartments here. I would actually trust this woman with my keys. Eventually I'll need to be on a schedule. I would adore every week but my wallet would not.

Hi

Thanks for the words of encouragement especially about the quilt.

I only have this week till the "bunraiser" event. We got the bouquets of gift cards made. That was Friday, and when I got a dusty box of supplies out of storage, my throat started to hurt. I always have a hard time determining whether I have a cold or allergies. I'm kind of thinking I may have caught the virus for the former, then the dust caused the latter, and was the straw that broke the camel's back.

It's more annoying than really sick sick, though. Should be fine by next Sunday; if I have a cough I just won't let them put me on food service duty, for everyone's sake.

The kitties are doing well, the girl has never been a wet food aficionado but after tomorrow the wet food won't have medicine mixed in, so that should help.

I just want to start - or continue - chipping away at the gridlock of stuff here at the house, and when I am recovered from the crud start on the storage - with a mask or bandanna over my nose if need be.

The Barbie addiction is running its course - I know with so many of my creative obsessions, I would do so much better if I had the space and was more mentally settled to proceed to the creative part - in this case, designing and sewing, and photographing cute displays. But when there's too much clutter and I'm not sure how to begin to tackle it - or frankly some days just dread it - it's so much easier and more fun to shop for more, in this case more dolls.

Frustrating when I know exactly what I'm doing but still do it! 😛

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Hope, hope, hope all those good plans you have are realized!
Maybe she is thinking that some random younger children may come by and wants to be ready for them with toys.
I do remember knowing other older women who even without any grandchildren always kept a few toys around "Justin Case".
WTG! for scoring a quilt! ;D

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
I figured there would be scaffolding but didn't know it would be too spooky even without the workers up on it.
YES! I remember you telling us about your Mom's friend in China. LOL 😀
That's a GREAT one "BUNRAISER!"

I agree with BF.
You doing this paperwork is the right thing for all involved.
Without this income he would be worse off and take it out on anyone within range.
WTG! for texting to schedule the cleaners!
You need that cabinet cleared out so you can bribe someone to bleach it for you. ;D
badger, Badger, Badger, Wolverine!

Tatoulia, scaffolding. I see. That sounds much more complicated than I was envisioning.

My mom and I looked at her storage areas and her attic and made the beginning of a plan. She is willing to part with some cardboard and we are going to get all the yarn and fabric out of the attic and ask dil if she wants any and then donate whatever doesn't fit in her big empty drawer. (I doubt this part), we found a place in the closet for some toys she wants to be able to reach when children (? My youngest niece is 11) come to visit, and we are going to try to bring down her crate of scrapbooks and her wedding box. Nothing has actually moved yet.

I have a new quilt to take home.