| Tillie | Posted: 27 January 2019 - 09:48 AM |
Due to Godzilla Badger attack... LOL 😀 | |
Replies (1770)
| Tatoulia | Posted: 15 June 2019 - 05:58 PM |
Hello. I'm with my cat sitting cats. Someone's on my nap and it's just so sweet. I did get downtown today but then BF was having an issue at one of his businesses so I needed to get there fast. I took the subway and was there very quickly. I've run some more errands this afternoon but still want to walk more. I'll see what the future holds. I dropped off sheets and will pick up tmr. It's easiest for me to keep the laundry train moving. I am doing a load of pjs and underthings right now. I can hang them to dry in my bathroom. I got the lightbulb changed in my bedroom closet and o gave to do the one I'm the ceiling fan above my bed. It's been out a long time. Oh so hot and sunny today. I can't wait to shower. I am also having my own personal summer, so to speak and it is absolute misery. But no humidity here. Cm great work in the storage! I'm sorry you have the hot sticky weather. That's when I used to get so disgusted with my house. I have to keep pairing down my possessions. They are there, just waiting to be set free. I will talk to you later. I have a cute cat hugging me and I can't stand it. I may shower and lay down for a bit. Will hopefully get up later and walk some. The walks are so good for me. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 15 June 2019 - 04:54 PM |
Hi CriticalMass YEA!!!! Yes, please keep working on setting up those Dr. appointments. I hate how the mugginess makes us feel. Keep up the great job you've been doing with tasks and all your obligations. ;D | |
| CriticalMass | Posted: 15 June 2019 - 04:25 PM |
Hi, you are all a bunch of busy bees, and I've been trying to be one as well. Went to storage unit and got what I could find for church sale. Need to wipe dust off and price it. Missed today's morning drop off but they have more times Monday through Wednesday. I'm aiming for Monday. The lady I sit for has a gal from the senior place coming on Mondays now so I have the day open. I'll also bite the bullet Monday and get the medical appointments set up. The one, I'll leave a vm for them to call me. The other one I had had to cancel and they didn't have a vm option; I think I'm going to have to have my primary care doc re-fax the order with a note explaining. Then the imaging place will call me. When in Rome... While I was at storage, I also did a small amount of rearranging, and small though it was, it got some like with like that had gotten separated, and the beginnings of opening up a logjam area. So that felt promising. Weather here is very sticky and muggy - storms last night and a promise of more tonight. I was reaching my limit how long I could stand to be out in the humid heat. But I had done well in a small amount of time. It felt so good to come home and shower off the sweat and grubbiness! I hope there'll be some drier days before it gets too hot, so I can get more done over there. It's feeling less intimidating, so I want to roll with it. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 15 June 2019 - 04:09 PM |
Good Afternoon Everybody Hi Subclinical That messy pile in the basement is getting better. Isn't it wonderful that we can visit each other's worlds through the magic of technology. Your cousin sure has her hands full. Hi Tatoulia Eating "simple" is a very good plan. Tried to post this morning but the internet was acting too wonky. Got up early and watered the garden and Apricot Tree. Still not done doing stuff but it's not hard laborious. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 15 June 2019 - 10:03 AM |
Hello everyone! Another stellar day here. I am going to quick shower then get started on my errands. I'd like to see my friend but the day is filling up quickly and I cannot have any pressures on me right now. So that said, I'm taking my laundry to be done by the fluff and fold service (sheets only) then I'll see what's next. I need to see progress. I also need to walk a minimum of 4 miles. I got 7 in yesterday. I need progress on my house, body and soul. I'm doing okay with eating as I'm keeping it simple. Keep up the good work! SubC you may see the progress as slow (and God knows, it is a slow process) yet I see the shift in your thinking and mindset. And that is terrific! We all benefit from a new awareness and a new perspective. Will do a quick hop in shower now. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 15 June 2019 - 05:29 AM |
Good morning, thank you for all the Encouragement! Tatoulia, you are doing great! I really enjoy your instagram pictures. I realized I could make a bookmark and now I can stop by whenever I want. I also love tillie's garden. Sometimes I feel like I live in mr. roger's land of make believe, with tillie's garden and tatoulia's city and CM's bunny rescue and quilting group right around the corner. Dd1 came by last night. I showed her the basement and she was gently encouraging. She also brought me half a ream of white printer paper. I did not ask her why, I just said thank you. I went down already this morning and found four plastic cups and another coffee filter to go in the donate box, so I am up to 15! I told my mom that I think if I fill my suv all the way up six more times and take it away, the pile in the middle of the very messy side of the basement will be gone. But I don't know if I can do that. My mom says my cousin headed home with her car stuffed full from her parents' house and that their garage is full of things "for the yard sale" my aunt is planning in the fall. We'll see how much creeps back.... The full car is because she decided to just start taking anything she was told "that is yours" or "we're saving that for you." I don't think she'll be keeping much of it. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 14 June 2019 - 11:06 PM |
Good Evening Hi Subclinical Yes, things with faces are the hardest (((HUG))) WAY TO GO! talking to your Mom and letting them go! 10 things is FANTASTIC! Hi Tatoulia You are so kind to the cleaning ladies. Your new linen blouses sound adorable. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 14 June 2019 - 10:09 PM |
Hello hello! I took today off and it was wonderful. Sunny and cool. I walked down to meet a friend for lunch and he and I had a great time. I then stopped and to get a manicure and do other things. Was home by three and took a quick nap. Then I fed the downstairs cats and met my visiting friend. She's here from the Middle East. She had picked up roasted vegetables as well as some quinoa and chick peas and we had lovely salads in her hotel room. After leaving her I walked through the malls thoroughly then walked home. So I feel great. SubC! Hearty congratulations on not taking the furniture and for finding some things to donate! Great job! That's interesting that things with faces pose a problem. I hadn't thought of that before and I get it. BADGER Cm! We need you to be healthy! What a shame it is so difficult to get your appts scheduled. Tillie I love hearing about your garden. If I close my eyes, I am there. Today I was assessing my lightbulb situation. I have several that are burned out. I didn't realize that I'm out of lightbulbs so I'll have to get some tmr. So my last three meals have been salads, and two of those salads had grilled shrimp. I'm feeling strong and healthy. Today was garbage day and I did get kitty's box cleaned and changed. I haven't done much more around here but I've been keeping up really well. Our dryer vent is being fixed on Monday. I've decided to take my sheets to the laundromat for fluff and fold service. By the way, my new hamper is doing a solid job. It looks adorable and it is holding my laundry. I need to take more pictures around the house and post them on Instagram. It will help keep me moving and cleaning and clearing. I shall see you all tomorrow. Tillie I loved hearing about your criteria for buying things. Since I have such trouble with heat, I have recently purchase an open weave linen sweater and two linen tops. The tops are casual, probably not for work but maybe on fridays. They have three quarter length sleeves and are essentially a polo shirt. One is medium blue and one is darker blue. I bought them based on the fact that they are linen and I'm tired of being miserable. I have washed them but not worn them and they are adorable. I also should have photographed the two large bags for the cleaners. While they were here I wrestled with a few pieces of jewelry and decided that as nice as they are, I won't wear them again and that I'm not going to drive all over the place to consign them for what? A $10 check that they'll make me pick up instead of just mailing it? I know my ladies will get more than $10 enjoyment out of them. The one lady was again wearing my gold hoops with diamond chips. I think she wears them everyday. And they are so pretty on her. So I'm getting there. One headband, one belt, one silk scarf at a time. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 14 June 2019 - 05:57 PM |
Good afternoon! I love beeswax candles. I cleared a bed and planted my little cantaloupe plants out. Cooled off in the basement and found a doll and a tiny bear to get rid if (things with faces=hard!) I had to call my mom about the doll. She was plastic and made in Hong Kong, but my mom brought her back from Hawaii for me when I was six. We decided that I did not need to be guilted into keeping the doll just because my mom was guilted into buying it. (she left me with my grandparents - I had a great week!) So, that is ten things. Also, dh path is clear again and I kept part of my space. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 14 June 2019 - 05:36 PM |
Hi Subclinical WTG! your DH! You have been doing GREAT working on the basement! Good luck and the best of wishes with your 50 items in June plan! | |
| Tillie | Posted: 14 June 2019 - 05:31 PM |
Good Afternoon Everyone Got the 6 trees watered. Used up the last of my beeswax sheets today, rolled it all up into candles. Since Steven was going off to the thrift shops, to drop off a donation he said, I asked him to go by Burger King and pick me up a hamburger, no cheese or bacon. Tomorrow I will water the garden and grass again. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 14 June 2019 - 11:12 AM |
Good not quite morning anymore here. 🙂 Dh decided we should stay home because the weather is so nice. He is working in the woods clearing trees that fell across paths over the winter/spring. I did not want to work outside because the grass was still wet, so I went back to the basement. Moved many things around, Nate a big mess, emptied a medium sized shelf that definitely must go. And found two books for the donate bin. Now it is after noon. I am thinking about June - so far, two sweaters, two pairs of boots, two books, a picture frame, a shelf. I think some other things, but let's call it 8. I am going to try to get rid of 50 things in June. That is less than that three things a day for the rest of the month, and since I am going to finish my closet, it shouldn't be too hard, right? | |
| Tillie | Posted: 14 June 2019 - 09:46 AM |
Good Morning Anybody Peaceful quiet cool morning here. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 08:44 PM |
Hello Subclinical YEA! for saying "no thank you" when offered the furniture piece! A day at the museum and then Farmer's market sounds like a very pleasant day. Buying clothing and linens and what-not at the thrift shop is basically guilt free. Large corporations and manufacturers can't count your purchase as a "vote" to make more of the same and manufacture more of the materials to make them, nor do they get your money. Name brand manufacturers also find ways to sell their wares as "responsibly sourced and assembled by well paid and well treated workers, when they really aren't. They only way I can feel alright with buying clothes, linens & etc. is when it is recycled through a charity thrift shop that's really a charity in my own community where I can see where my money goes. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 06:03 PM |
Dh and I spent the day at the art museum. Then we stopped at the farmer's market, and now e us making dinner. And I ran into two of "my" kids at the art museum. 🙂 Because the museum is air conditioned I wore long pants and a short sleeved sweater. I found two short sleeved/sleeveless sweaters for the donate bin while I was getting dressed. I am trying very hard to only buy clothes in natural fibers, but sometimes I make exceptions at the thrift store or because I have to have a thing (like a green dress for my son's wedding) or for waterproofness, or because it was made from recycled bottles..... also, the environmental impact of cotton is so high.... My cousin sent a picture of a small piece of furniture that was my grandmother's that she is trying to remove from her parents' house, and I was able to very easily say "no thank you". Doesn't help my cousin, but good for me! | |
| Tillie | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 05:45 PM |
This is a list of the criteria that any of my clothing and linens I buy must meet. #1 must be the correct size #1 must be cotton, linen, hemp, silk or a combination of cotton, linen, hemp or silk #1 must the right style #1 must be in very good condition, nothing sad looking #2 color doesn't really matter too much but I don't buy brown cause it makes me look sickly # 1 Since I am all sorted out and organized Right now I need a few long sleeve Tshirt type tops since the ones I wore all last Winter finally wore out. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 04:13 PM |
Good Afternoon Everybody Hi CriticalMass BADGER Good luck scheduling that routine but necessary medical stuff. When it comes to decluttering books, methods and other media Got groceries today. | |
| CriticalMass | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 04:09 PM |
Well, I tried calling both places. There's an hour of my life I'll never get back. I hate voicemail. One of them had the option to leave a message for them to call me back. But they'll wait until I don't have my calendar with me, or have my hands full, am on the potty, etc. I envy all those other customers they were helping... everybody in town from the looks of it. | |
| CriticalMass | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 03:00 PM |
Basically everything Tillie said. Especially to Tatoulia to take good care if herself and don't apologize for it! The Badger agrees. SubC, your method of deciding what stays or goes is good too. I use anything and everything that works in terms of strategies, and set aside or discard what doesn't, or doesn't right now. I need to make two phone calls to schedule routine medical stuff. I've been procrastinating. So I need the Badger myself. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 09:24 AM |
Good Morning Everyone Hi CriticalMass Hi Tatoulia Hi Subclinical OK, time to get moving while it's still cool. | |
| Subclinical | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 08:20 AM |
Tatoulia, right now is a time for you to be very focused on yourself. We want you to be taking good care of our friend Tatoulia. Sometimes when you have been stressed and worried, the tired falls on you like a ton of bricks afterward. Just rest and focus on yourself. I'm really glad you set boundaries with your sister! It's good to hear you are doing fun things and that your bf and cleaners are taking good care of you. I bet your car friend would be really happy if you borrowed her car sometime for a short little trip. It feels really good when you feel like you can repay someone who helped you. But I understand if you would not want the responsibility. Poppies always make me think of the wizard of oz because one of my children was obsessed with that movie when they were kids. Tillie, I think you had a typo in one of your posts. I'm sure you meant to say "Jack is now my cat." Tillie and CM, thank you both for your thoughts on the basement and my article. I am just at a hard point, knowing what I have to do and trying to accept it, but not fully there yet. And then there is so much doing - but when I started swimming laps, I could barely do an 800. And then I got up to two miles, and I swam the distance from my (childhood) home marina down the river and across the Chesapeake bay in one school year. So, 27,478 steps, one at a time. The feeling of wanting that space to stay empty was new to me. Usually empty space just feels - empty. I have tried to do the choosing what to keep approach - but I choose to keep too many things. I think they assume that you will choose the best thing and then the next, and at some point you will feel like you have enough or the remaining things will seem unappealing. But I just pick up each thing and think of a reason to keep it. So setting a standard the item must meet to stay would help, I think. I am going to have to use the "house as a container method." And stop when my container is full. Of course, my container is probably going to be full like when I pick strawberries and I have to stop 7 times on the way back to the register to pick up the ones that fell off the top of the baskets, but even that is a start. CM, nuts are a good snack. They give you protein and an energy boost. You gave to feel safe before you can exercise, so I think talking to the staff is good. They should gave a plan in place that they can share with you. It sounds like your dream might have been triggered by your friend moving and then you working on your bins. I think it is smart to take a break while you still want to do more - it will make it easier to get back to it. Yesterday was a very busy day here! Dh mowed the fields in the morning - he almost mowed over a turkey nest, but the mother turkey spooked and alerted him, so he mowed around it. Then he took me for walk to see after he was done. We spooked her again, which I feel badly about, but I got to see that she had 9 eggs. Now we will stay away from there for a few weeks so she can hatch her poults. I may check on her with binoculars. I also had the last baby goats of the season. A nice little boy and FINALLY a girl who is a keeper. They are very cute. So out of 8 babies I got one replacement doe. Not a great return, but no hard decisions at least. And, dh took me to a minor league ballgame in another city. my dd2 met us there and we had a good time. I got home really late though. Today it's supposed to rain all day. Dh says we are doing something downtown. Sorry this is so long, but you guys posted a lot I wanted to respond to! | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 13 June 2019 - 07:44 AM |
Off to work. I'm taking tmr off. I was originally taking off to spend with friend from MiddleEast but instead we are having dinner. So I'm still taking tmr off. Will meet different friend for lunch then go get bloodwork at hospital. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 09:28 PM |
CM, I've always said that safety is a personal issue. You need to feel safe. For me, I can't use a restaurant bathroom if the bathroom is on a separate floor. I don't know who's lurking in the bathroom or who is waiting to go in behind me. And with the noisy restaurant being upstairs, no one will hear me scream. Yes this could happen in a restaurant where the bathrooms are on the same floor but there is less opportunity and less isolation. So I make my date go with me. When I was traveling home from a long drive from NY, the bathrooms were downstairs at the rest stop. So I kept BF on the phone with me. It was terribly embarrassing but I had to use the restroom and I was afraid. It's a funny thing, I know, but it's my personal sense of safety. I have two terrible stories along those lines and I was tangentially involved with both. So please, make no excuses and get the assurances that you need. I was tired during my walk tonight. I needed a water. I had one but when I was feeding the cats downstairs, one took my water bottle cap and was so cute and then they were taking turns playing with them. I didn't have the heart to pick it up and wash it so I went for my walk without my bottle. I'll get it tomorrow night and wash it and reunite it with the bottle. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 08:13 PM |
Please forgive me for not being more focused. I care about each of you. I'm just not focused. I hope I don't seem selfish. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 08:12 PM |
Out for my walk right now. I'm sorry about your dreams about stuff, CM. I have them occasionally. I generally feel suffocated. I know it's the final game for the Stanley Cup but walk I must. And I'm tired. | |
| CriticalMass | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 07:14 PM |
Hi all Bit of a tireder day earlier for me. Trying to figure out if I did too much physically the previous two days, or it's just my whacko sleep cycle. I had another insane "stuff nightmare" - this one about a move and a million things to go through, pack, discard, whatever. There were friends in it. It may have been a vicarious "memory" of the time recently when my one friend was in the hospital and our other friend, her husband, and helpers cleaned out her apartment. So I woke up and fed animals and then got so drowsy I took a nap from 11:00 to 2:00. Still felt kind of slow getting going. I was looking up some articles online and a couple of them were behind paywalls so I got motivated to come to the library to access them. On the way I did stop at the grocery (more about that in a minute). One was in the Boston Globe and I was shocked to learn about the shooting of Red Sox player David Ortiz. I'm glad it wasn't fatal, and they're tracking down and arresting the perps. SubC - I liked that "From Hoarder to Minimalist in 27,478 Insanely Hard Steps." Lots I can relate to in it. And as I was Googling the title, I see there are more sites and videos and such with the tags of going from hoarder to minimalist. Makes me feel like I'm not the only one and the idea isn't impossible or crazy. I was beginning to wonder if I should give up on the minimalist goal, but now I feel emboldened. Your account of the basement path and the ladder and so on - and that need to acknowledge what we don't feel ready for - I get that, too. It seems to work to just acknowledge that we aren't ready for something but that we want to be ready. I think we'll get there. The idea in the blog post about comparing things against the things you like the most: Tatoulia glad you got that reassurance from your doctor, and hope it gives you much peace. Tillie, what is Jack's opinion on whether or not he's your cat? Have you asked him? LOL! Poppies make me think of my maternal grandfather who fought in World War I and the poem "In Flanders Fields." I got a few things at the grocery store on my way to the library. So that was good, because doing that is something I really struggle with motivation for. It's just too darn complicated! Between having a tight budget, wanting to resume my weight loss, living with difficult cooking conditions in this crowded house, being a picky eater, going through my summer appetite slump when nothing I do like even sounds good - you get the picture. I ended up getting some nuts. I'm going nuts! LOL! Just something for protein nibbles. I got other items too, and I remembered a stash of canned goods at home that I need to bring forward now that the shelf is less crowded. The way I changed my eating pattern to lose weight late 2016 after my surgery is something I'm trying to recapture - but it's not quite the same during regular ordinary life. Like the tiredness I felt earlier - nutritional needs may also be playing a part. That's why I thought of the nuts. It might rewire my brain from some of the carb habit. I'm not one of those Atkins or Paleo or Plant Based fanatics, nor do I intend to become one. But I'm okay with switching things up a little when I've been feeling so dissatisfied with the status quo - and no weight has been coming off. I don't know if I mentioned this, but right when I might be able to start going to the YMCA to exercise again, in my town they've had two incidences of sex crimes. One was a worker abusing kids in the kids' program; he was arrested and of course fired. The other was a guy who molested two teenage girls and assaulted a third. The Y lets people in community programs like mental health organizations use the facilities, and they do an offender registry check - but if someone has never been convicted, they wouldn't be on the registry. I want to go talk with someone about what steps they've implemented to keep people safe since these incidents. There were things mentioned in the news such as more security cameras, but I want to talk with someone. And of course I'll be very vigilant and ready to fight back if anyone bothers me. I know I'm more paranoid than most people, but it's okay, we all have different responses to that sort of thing. Well, I better get home - may even go with roommate to walk the dog just to stretch my legs a bit. It may be off and on rainy - today was the last of the cool nice days, so I feel sort of sad I didn't go to the storage unit, but also I was concerned if I went a third day in a row when I was tired, I might get burnt out. Hope I made the right call on that. If I can just get anything I can think of that I want to donate to the church sale, that's the main thing. Saturday is when they start accepting stuff. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 05:28 PM |
P.P.S. Jack is not my cat ;P | |
| Tillie | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 05:26 PM |
P.S. | |
| Tillie | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 05:25 PM |
Hi Tatoulia Hope you laid down on your freshly made bed and took a nap. So nice you have someone to pass things along to. Your evening out sounds so nice! Very decent of you to offer your sister the car and I am so RELIEVED that you didn't and won't offer cash money and longer. (((HUG))) YEA! for your friend who is finally able to finance a car! Please follow your doctor's orders and don't stress about your health. | |
| Tatoulia | Posted: 12 June 2019 - 04:25 PM |
The poppies remind me of my grandmother. I'm glad you and your cat, jack, were able to enjoy some Quality Time. Cleaners did a great job and while they were here I wrestled with a few more things to put in their bags. Yes I had two bags for them. I was able to add a pair of earrings, two skirts and a necklace to the two overflowing bags. I also had a tiny bag of jewelry. I'm so grateful to have the ladies. It is much easier to clear out when I know how much they like my clothes. I'm really happy about it. They loved the white bedspread. I had them change my sheets. Yes they were just changed on Saturday but I really wanted them to do that for me. I don't feel like walking now. I feel like laying down. I have neighbor's cats to feed and I'll go feed them in a bit. Last night I went to the Boston Pops. The first half was dedicated to the moon landing and we even had an astronaut in and she read a bit about space exploration. They also had our nations first Youth poet laureate and my goodness, she was strong, compelling, smart, talented and lovely. In the second half Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester from Glee) was belting out American Classics and she was funny, entertaining and lovely. I had wanted to go when I first heard about the program but I waited til the last minute to buy seats. Generally if I'm going alone I wait it out. And sure enough, on Monday there was an email and I was able to get a table seat for $20 vs the $96 price others had paid. I enjoyed my table mates immensely and I had tasty little roast beef and Boursin sandwiches and treated myself to a lemonade. Great night. Im tired now. I'm not sure why. Spoke with dr yesterday and he was very clear that I shouldn't be stressed out about my health and he even sent me a text telling me not to stress about it. He's so sweet and such a good dr. I'm proud of everyone's hard work. OH. I heard from sister today who said she is depressed and I told her I know how it feels and to just fight it. She sent another email saying financial problems and that there's no light at the end of the tunnel. She sent another saying too many deaths (I'm pretty sure she's talking about celebrity deaths) and I told her I had noticed that she feels them deeply. I said, anytime you want to visit mom and me, just let us know. Then I found out she hasn't had a working car in a month. So I said, if you want my car, you can have it. Just transfer it into your name and take it. She was touched by the generous offer and said she'd get back to me. She won't, though. She can't make decisions. But I offered and I was sincere. I am no longer supporting people with my money, so I didn't ask what's wrong with her car or anything that would make her think I'd be offering any money. I just offered the car. The woman who has been driving my car just got her own car. So I no longer have to worry about having a car here for her. And she was so sweet-took me for a ride in it the same day she got it, and said that if I get rid of my car, I can borrow hers anytime (very sweet but I won't-she is paying monthly on it). So that's the news from here. I'm still tired | |