Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Those wooden shelves would serve you so much better than the particle board ones you currently have.
Hope you can find a way to get them swapped out.

Overwhelmed and burnt out...
want you to shut the door and walk away from sorting out decision making for the time being.

Schedule in rest and recreation.
Read a book.
Take a bubble bath.
Go for a non shopping drive in the country.
Spend quality time with an animal.

WAY TO GO! For your Dh!!!

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for doing a tidying up!

That is called P.U.P.A.
Pick- Up- Put- Away.

Another dark cold rainy day here.
So cold I am back to wearing a long flannel nightgown and wool socks.
Hard to warm up the house because I removed all the plastic over the windows.
Thin single pane rattily windows.
And the one window is all set up with the evaporative cooler in it and the cooler vents just kinda/sorta close out the wind.

I ate breakfast and now my tummy feels a bit unsettled, but think it's ok.

I got an email this morning from the woman at school who is in charge of furnishings. There are two large, sturdy wooden bookshelves she wants removed from the office. She said if I bring my truck tomorrow she will have some young men avaiable to move them and they are mine.

I know where I want to put them - in the basement - but there is gridlock down there and I am not sure dh and I can carry them down. However, I am going to jump on the opportunity, because they are really well built and solid wood, no particle board. My hope is to remove several small particle board shelves from the house and have the books on the big shelves.

I was motivated to try to attack the basement, and I started for no reason at all with the bins of baby toys. I found about half a dozen I decided (after 20 years) weren't really worth saving and put them in the donate pile, but it made almost no space, And I got burned out quickly.

Another getting rid of thing I did this week was to take a few bits and pieces I had kept to school as bingo prizes, but again, the resulting space was tiny.

I must be doing ok though, because the weather is nice and dh asked if It would make me feel better to get out for a drive and we could stop at yard sales this morning. I am actually feeling overwhelmed enough that I declined.

Mjz!!! You are amazing!! Great work! So proud of you! What's on the schedule for today?? Check in if you can!

SubC I am glad you are enjoying the clear space your husband made! Clear space is so nice!

Tillie I'm going to do a quick visual sweep around the apartment to deal with anything out of place. I'm feeling great today. Must keep it going!!

Mjz, I hope that you got your bed cleared off last night and got a good night's sleep!

I am guilty if using beds for sorting, but my bed is only used for folding laundry - i either put it away or toss the rest back in the basket and rake it with me when I leave the room. The extra beds (we raised three children) sometimes remain covered for a very long time.

Last night I went to bed early and slept until I woke up naturally. My belly still hurts, but I think it is muscular from being sick. I am not hungry yet (I ate two slices of toast and a cup of rice yesterday) but I am enjoying my coffee.

I am also enjoying the beautiful clean space my dh made - he even cleaned the windowsills and baseboards. And he cleaned an old area rug I had saved and put it out in the transitional area between the old and new space. It looks nice and creates a visual "no dumping" zone for me.

He also used some of the baskets from my basket collection to better organize the kitchen.

I am ready to tackle the evaluations and maybe the stalls a little today.

I didn't do a final report on the teacher gifts, but except for the one pack of pens, they were all food or gift cards. I did save some tissue, gift bags, and a bow. My dil loves bows and reuses them on things she gives away, so I am slowly decreasing my bow collection by putting them on gifts to her. It currently fits in a giant washed out popcorn tin.

WAY TO GO!!!

How wonderful you have thoroughly cleaned the bathroom!!!

Best way to clear off the bed is to put things where they go.
If they don't yet have a permanent home because you need to straighten out the area where they go, then put them as close to where they will go for now.

It is extremely important that the bed is never used as a holding/sorting/staging station.
Only exception is if you are sorting there and will have it cleared long before bedtime.

For tonight just get the stuff off the bed so you can sleep comfortably.
Tomorrow you can work getting all those items sorted out and where they belong.

Now that the bathroom is clean and tidy it will be easy to keep it that way if you spend just a few minutes every day tidying it up.
Removing things that don't belong there and a quick wipe up shouldn't take more than five minutes.

I DID IT!!! Thank you! I cleaned my bathroom! I started a little at a time like you said. except, does it count that I took everything out, scrubbed, mopped and rinsed and placed only the restroom stuff back inside? because now my bed has the left over mess.

I know I have to clean it up so I can sleep tonight, but I do not know where to start. I have paperwork, toys, craft supplies, hardware stuff, clothes...

It's helpful that no one is home but me.

You used to be so miserable in the Summer & humidity because you hated your home so much.

So wonderful those days are gone!

You will still get hot & muggy but at least your home will still be an inviting sanctuary.

So happy the kitties have you to love on them. ;D

YEA! for taking Mom past the Common, must have been packed with people.

Haven't done much of anything today.
Scooter stole my sweater again and is all curled up in it on the couch, sleeping.
Been so cold and dark today.

There's a certain type of weather that makes me wistful but I cannot describe it. It's the calm sunny weather you have just before the tornado warning (I'm showing my midwestern roots here).

I just got in from my walk. Showered and in jammies. The kitties downstairs are very sweet and the black one (long fur, heavy silver undertones/never seen anything like it) is a total lap cat. She kept hugging me. And rubbing her face against mine. Very, very dear.

I drove mom past the Common today but I'm not sure if she could see the flags. There were a lot of people out.

I am working on my closet and will hopefully have more time tomorrow. Today I just wanted to spend time with BF then get mom out.

My allergies are in an uproar from the cat hugs.

Tomorrow night is trash night. The building filled up with people today. I did most of my laundry on Saturday but would've liked to have done a delicate load of darker clothes. Wednesday works for that. I just prefer smaller loads.

I'm really happy that I've been maintaining the house. It is such a relief. Plus I have the cleaning fairies. I don't have to dread the summer and think about how much I hate my house!!!

I also want to put the bedspread on to see what I think and see what you all think.

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi mjz
Have you found some motivation to start?
The restroom is a good place to start since it's smaller than other rooms.

What most always helps is to do just one thing.
Motivation follows action.
Work at it for just five minutes then stop.
Or, fill one small bag full of simple obvious trash.
Then when you see that you make a good start that will help motivate you to do a little more.
Good Luck! ;D

Hi Subclinical
I absolutely agree with your Dh.
You are detoxing.
Take it easy, rest, sleep, eat & drink.
Let your system adjust. (((HUG)))

Hi Tatoulia
I hate it when this cyber room echoes.
Honestly thought I had posted this morning but must have dreamed it.

I suppose weight maintaining is like housekeeping maintaining.
As long as it stays the same, No Harm/No Foul.

Those two kitties are so sweet sitting in their little beds.

Hope you have been having a lovely restful day. 😉

Been busy today puttering about.
Went through my slips & camisoles and decided to let two slips go since I never wear them anyways.
Tried them on and think I just don't like the way they feel on. "shrug"

It's been kinda/sorta raining off & on all day.
As much as I love the rain it's making me melancholy.

Hello and welcome, mzj! We are glad you are here! Have you started on the bathroom yet? Yes a nap can be tempting!

SubC I am so sorry you are sick! It sounds like stress sick to me too-sometimes it just can catch up with a person. And you go-go-go all the time. And it's been an emotional and stressful time. Hope your headache is better. When things catch up with me it's usually headache accompanied by brutal stomach issues. I do hope you are feeling a bit better now.

I have gotten some walking in today and some errands with mom. I am also fighting the urge to nap right now. I still need to get more walking in today. I've set a minimum expectation for myself and also, my legs expect at least four miles a day. They feel so good afterward!

I may read and nap now followed by another walk. Since there's a touch of humidity, I may go to the mall and walk the stairs.

Greetings mjz!

Hello Tatoulia.

I went to bed after ten last night and woke and started being sick around 1 a.m.

So far i've done minimum morning chores, slept some more, and am trying really hard to finish my second cup of coffee to avoid a worse headache. My goal is to stay out of bed until 9:30.

Dh did lots of housecleaning - the vacuum/sweep/dishes kind.

He thinks I am detoxing from the stress and exhaustion of the year. I do not have a fever.

Hi. So today so far besides making my smoothing, i've done nothing. My goal today is to clean at least my restroom, then my whole bedroom. Both quite a mess and cluttered. I'm just having hard time starting. Want to take a nap instead. I know I need help, which is why i googled Motivation To Clean.

Hello!!! (Hello hello hello). Nothing but echoes today!

I've had a short walk today. I visited with BF and now I'm heading to mom's.

I'm up, having coffee. Going to take mom out once she calls me In the meantime I'm going to read and relax. I'll walk later.

Tillie you read my mind! As I was thinking, you can freeze pumpkin pie? You explained how! WTG! You are amazing!

I have been hankering to make some pumpkin bread. I'll treat myself to that after my doctor's appt. bear in mind, he is very happy with my weight (although he'd like to see me drop some more), it's just I've been st this weight for a while and I know it's because I've been indulging. Not overindulging, otherwise I'd be putting on the pounds, just indulging

I went for my walk and I picked up raspberries! I bought a large container and just ate half. So lovely. I did pick up a few more things too so I got the walk and the fruit I wanted!

It felt good to drive again. I was happy to be in the car and to get the things off to the donation center.

I spent some nice time with the very lovely and loving cats downstairs. Tmr I'll have some coffee with them and read a book. They are very lovely cats. I'll post a picture.

My bed is clean. I washed the thin white quilt for good measure, even though I have a recollection of washing it recently. I did it again because I wanted to add borax to give it a boost, so I washed it today. I'll do pictures of bedroom over the weekend when we can debate the date of the white summer bedspread.

Tillie clear skies here. Beautiful day.

Well you could just go out for a walk and pick up some raspberries along the way and grocery shop some other day.

WAY TO GO! for getting donations donated!

True, those organization tips show how to organize way too much stuff.
Just because you can make boxes/baskets/bins look color coordinated doesn't mean you really need to keep everything.
So many people are into collecting and attractively storing different types of craft items.
Trouble is they seldom if ever do any of the crafts.
Keep only what inspires you to create these crafts.

Scrap booking is a big very expensive one.
The items are colorful and fun to look at but if you are not into scrap booking, do not buy the stuff, just look and pass it by.

The kitties will appreciate you stopping by and spending a little time with them.
Kitties I have baby sat have always waited by the window or door for me to come by and looked forward to the lovins.

One time at the thrift shop they had a very nice tall & narrow "lingerie" chest/dresser.
I looked it over and it was excellently made and they priced it so cheap.
As much as I enjoyed looking at it I knew that I had nothingto store in it.
I could have gone and bought lots of things to put in it but I didn't need lots of new useless things.

So nice that your newly organized linen closet is helping you keep it from becoming the catch-all that it used to be.

There is a peace that comes when things are "just
So".

Today is sunshine then big clouds build up and rain down then back to sunshine, rinse & repeat.
Wanted to get some canned pumpkin out of the pantry that I bought back in the Fall.
So I made two pumpkin pies, used up some other ingredients too. They are cooling now.
Will chill, cut, wrap and freeze a lot of it to enjoy later.
The secret to freezing pumpkin pie is to thoroughly chill it before you freeze it, then no separation occurs.

Absolutely gorgeous day here! I ran up to see BF and brought my donations for goodwill. Bag of clothes and the trash basket (very pretty) that i had been using as my hamper. Then I left my stuff there and ran to post office to send something to a woman who is a shut-in. I sent a reusable tote bag I'd purchased at the Museum of Fine Arts. I like to send her something, a note, a card, about once a week. I always send her the Boston Globe the day after the marathon. Just something so she can look forward to the mail.

Then I went back to BFs and headed off to goodwill. I had, already in the car, a bag of work shoes, a bag of suits, and miscellany from when I cleared out my linen closet. Speaking of which, the linen closet is completely functional and I have zero temptation to fill up the spaces. In fact, every so often I'll have something in my hand and as I think about putting it in the linen closet, I remember that the linen closet has a new look and it isn't a garbage can.

I worked more on the bedroom closet this AM. BF is having work done on his house and I told him last night he can move in here for the summer. So I need to make room for him. I said that we will just have the cleaners come once a week instead of every other week. He knows how fond I am of the cleaners and how much I enjoy having them.

I'm relaxing for a few. Debating whether to go to the grocery store. I thought that tmr I'd take mom so I'm not sure if I really need to go now. It's more that I want the walk. But I'd also like some raspberries.

I'm trying to lose 4 lbs before my dr's visit.

I did three loads of laundry today and could still do more. I think I'll read and relax. I haven't visited the kitties yet. He had someone doing the AM and I'm doing PM feeding. I don't know him very well but once I found he had cats, I was all over the situation. I'll go down at feeding time and then hang out with them. He's close to the laundry so I'll probably do some then.

Tillie, the organization tips on Instagram are really selling a life where everyone has too much stuff, but it's labeled and done in pretty colors. I look at it and think, who needs that much stuff? See how we've managed to change my perspective?

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Subclinical
Hoping you are getting in some rest breaks between everything and evaluations.
Has you weather dried up any?

Hi CriticalMass
Hope you are safe and dry.
Yesterday afternoon here the emergence "flash flood" warnings started.

Hi Tatoulia
That's pretty funny about the bird!
Happy to know it was eventually rescued by the FD.

Yes, it's very sad to see how much you neglected yourself.
But so wonderful to know that now you are taking such good care of you.

Have fun baby sitting kitties!
I really miss my old neighbor friend's kitties & puppies that I used to sit for.

More rain predicted for today but right now the sun is shining.

Hi Tillie. That is hysterical about Marty trying to dump Scooter. I was once Marty.. Many, many years ago, I worked with a woman who lived in the city, not too far from where I am now. Like most converted brownstones, there were no screens on the windows. I hated her bird, esp since she let it fly around the apt and I was so upset so I used to make a Vanna-like sweeping motion toward the window and oh how we laughed. I wasn't there when it happened, but one day my friend came in to work and said the bird flew out the window. I lived on Beacon Hill at the time, and I was walking to what was then a grocery store and I saw a sign at the firehouse. They'd found her bird.

Im still a little stressed about yesterday's closet thing but trying to put it out of my mind.

I'm excited about my new glasses. They are different than my old ones. My everyday ones are very pretty, my other ones are a huge departure for me and the sunglasses are my typical big frames. The dr mentioned that she could tell that I must wear sunglasses a lot because there is not the type of cornea damage she generally sees on someone. I am feeling a little selfish that I bought three pair. But I'll show them to you once they are in. I'm looking at it as a medical device and also, I was never able to go get my eyes checked because I couldn't afford new glasses. Pretty pathetic to see how last I put myself and my life.

Beautiful and sunny. I'm washing some bedding. I'll post pictures later.

I'm the only one in the building today, probably the whole weekend. I'm taking care of neighbor's cats. They are beautiful cats.

Hi Tatoulia
I am VERY proud of you for taking care of that whatever that was in the closet.

(((((HUGS)))))

It's in the past now.
Lets just leave it there as we move on into the future.

Thanks for the sorry...
The cats all know/knew the rule about staying in the yard and to never jump the fence.

When Scooter was very tiny, Marty lured him over the fence and ditched him there.
Marty was trying to get rid of him.
It was pretty funny.

Good thing you had the credit card with you.
Are your new frames very different from the old ones?
Sometimes I think about getting a different style just to shake things up, but I never do.

Enjoy your walk tomorrow and getting to see all those flags!

Good to read the updates. Cm many thanks for checking in When I get driving anxiety I want to close my eyes, and it's just terrible.

Tillie good work gluing the cat may back on. Sorry Scooter is being such a bugger.

Work closed early today and I had an eye appt at 2:30, so it was perfect. I chose new glasses and they'll be ready in a week or two. My eyesight hasn't changed too too much, which is a miracle because it's been five years. It feels good to take care of myself. I popped my credit card into my purse this AM and good thing, since they no longer take checks. I've already set up the payment on line, and the credit card is back in the drawer.

Although I walked through the Common on my way home, I wasn't in the part where the flags are and purposefully didn't go over to that side so I'd be sure to get a walk in tomorrow. Anything I can do to trick myself into walking more!

Last year when they were up my artist friend was here We were getting ready to embark on changing my apartment and it was an exciting time for me!

I had to deal with something tough in my closet today. I did it quickly in the AM so I could take it out to the garbage. I'm still feeling regret and a bit of self/loathing.

Good Afternoon

Hot glued the sisal back on Scooter's cat perch scratching post.

Cleaned the kitchen cupboard doors and changed the paper I line the top of them with.

Was nice and sunshiny so I went out and let Scooter come along too.
That horrible wretched beast jumped the fence and went on a 2 hour walkabout.
I called & called & looked & looked, but no Scooter.
Then he sashayed home after I had given him up for dead.

My Lavender plant looks worse than a drowned rat from all the rain.
Maybe it will pull through?

Good Morning Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
Good to catch up with you.

We will be inundated with mosquitos this year too.
The West Nile virus already hit here some years back and I hope we don't have too much of that again.

Today should be a little break in the downpours with just scattered light showers.
Then the downpours are expected to start up again Saturday.
Nice to see sunlight this morning.
Maybe when the rain stops that man will come fix the roof and then I can fix the ceiling?

All the garden plants, bushes & trees are looking very good.
The cold temperatures haven't been so low as to freeze them and they love the rain.

The cats are totally disgusted with all the outdoor wetness and not being able to sit out in the garden.

Plan for today is to hot glue some of the sisal back onto Scooter's cat perch scratch post for him.

Hi everyone

Realized it's getting time for another update.

My friend is still in the hospital till tomorrow. It has just been a matter of things taking awhile to coordinate. She has a bed in the Salina facility waiting. Cardiologist wanted to do a couple more tests today. But only one got done so the other one will happen in the morning.

I will probably cry saying goodbye... and that's okay. And I will brainstorm some way to visit, a driving phobia workaround.

Our mutual friends arrived midafternoon. We all watched TV footage of all the flooding, tornado damage, etc. in KS, OK, & MO. Wonder how much longer all this will last. Rivers and the flood control here are filling up. Can't wait to see how many mosquitoes all this will breed. *sarcasm*

Joan, what wonderful news about your mental health healing! So happy for you.

SubC, I don't mind the animal stories. I'm sorry the sad things happen, but it's how nature works. You're keeping it real. I've dealt with the untimely passing of rabbits and past cats and dogs my own or friends', and volunteering with rabbit rescue. My friend's grandson lost some chickens to a possum recently. There are happy times to balance the sad. I'm starting to hear Elton John singing "Circle of Life" in my head aboug now...

Anyway, everybody take care and be safe with weather, holiday weekend, etc.

Good Evening Everyone

Photo on my news feed showed thousands of U.S. flags planted on Boston Common.

When I had an actual bed that remained a bed all the time and never converted into a sofa, I always kept a quilt on it like a bed spread.
But then I also had to cover my quilts with kitty blankets or sheets to protect my quilts.

So much rain fell again today!
The hail today came down fast & furious, deafening on the corrugated metal carport roof.
This is more like the Spring weather from before the drought.
I remember how it was back in 1988-1990.
When I was moving into this house it was raining daily that April.

Thank you for the insight, Tillie. I was thinking just do the thin white quilt and get rid of the bedspread. I'll do comparison photos for you!

SubC good job not crying. I do hope that one student turns in the work.

The weather is wacky and worrisome. We had another beautiful, cool day today.

I'm tired and having trouble focusing.

Oh try Instagram.com/Susie.7010

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
I like that white bed spread, I like the thin white quilt, I liked the red comforter too.
If the bed spread goes, what would you do?
Go without a bed spread or find a new one or just use the white quilt?
Anyways...
What I like does not matter at all. LOL ;p

It can get very hard deciding what quilts & blankets to keep.
I just thinned out some kitty quilts & blankets.
I'm satisfied with what I kept and what I let go of but someday I know I will go through them again and donate a few more.

Hi Subclinical
Good decision making on what you keep concerning the cards.
WTG! cleaning out your classroom some more!
After the evaluations is the perfect time to take care of the closet.
Right now you have important "Have-Tos" to tend to.

Hi CriticalMass
Worrying about you and the dangerous weather going on. (((HUG)))

Another dark cold rainy day here.
I could be doing more inside stuff during this time but I don't wanna.
Been going out between rain/hail/snow showers checking on my garden plants.
So far they all appear to be very happy.
Sad for the snakes & lizards because they need warmth and sunshine in order to function.

Tatoulia, I had to clear my cache and I can't find your link anymore. I am still in awe of the way you keep considering things you are actually using!

Hi Joan, good to hear you feel a sense of progress and are thinking about enjoying your shoes!

I didn't cry yesterday. Which was really good. I said goodbye to more kids and had an emotional anniversary activity with my oldest Dd.

I went in a shop I like and walked around and admired and touched things and made some mental notes about possible future gifts for people and then I left.

Teacher gifts have started. So far food and gift cards and one package of cool colored pens. I'm keeping them. Also keeping two sweet notes. I have a file folder where I put notes from former students that make me feel like a good teacher - to reread when I need them. Cards that are just signed, or say generic nice things, I recycle.

I have taken care of all my issues with my boys except one who owes me the citations for his report. He will turn them in by tomorrow and get a B, or he will not and get a C. It is his call, and I already wrote the evaluation with the C. (I can edit)

I got my coworker who is leaving to bequeath me his awesome storage case so I can have a changing display of my kids' work next year.

I cleaned out my classroom a little more - filled the trash can. My friend is still leaving me empty plastic bags. 🙂

Dh walked into our closet last night and asked "what happened in here?" We have set a goal of "after evaluations" for me to clean it out.

Lovely cool night tonight. The party was very nice and it was outside. Everyone was cold but me. Roundtrip was 3 miles so I got my walking in! I stopped at pharmacy on way home to pick up ex and I came in, checked the board and Tillie reminded me re cat litter. So I went back out

I was working on my closet today and I was trying to figure out if I still want to keep my white summer bedspread. It's only a year or two old. I've been going back and forth because I do like the thin white quilt with the smaller quilt at the bottom of the bed (as shown in the pictures). The white quilt is a year round layer that in the winter clocks in at layer two of sometimes five. Anyway I have been giving the idea a twirl when I thought, why don't I put it on the bed this weekend and see how I feel. look, Tillie, I'm thinking like you!!!

I have a little one asleep next to me, and I think I'll go to bed soon

Thinking of you all.

Good Evening Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
HaHa 🙂
You plugged it in!

Hope you were able to get in a walk and get some kitty litter too.

Good you took along a hat.
I burn terribly too in the sun even with lots of sun screen.

Internet was terrible all morning.
Afternoon it still was no better.

Another cold day of intermittent rain.
Twinkles insisted he wanted to go outside so I let him out.
Then he sat on the back porch and cried until I let him back in.