ok, catching up! Notes to all:

Thanks CM. This week in my devotional was focused on fasting. I have struggled so much with this that I did not even try it. I thought about trying today, but thought it might be a bad idea while sick. I don't know why it is so hard for me. Food hoarding on my body, perhaps?
Another "poor" person here - I made $17k last year and am on medicaid for insurance - but I feel very rich in my life, in a job I love, with people around me I love. It's my choice to have this life instead of money. I could make far more if I was in my degree field. I am comfortable enough, and make do. And my kids are nice! (My son bought me the new phone! It's refurbished but nice!)

My dreads: getting rid of something and then realizing I need/want it back. Getting into a room to declutter and feeling overwhelmed and stopping. Having people pressure me to clean or declutter. Worrying someone who doesn't know the state of my house will stop by... like my boss or something... and I would seem SO inhospitable to not invite them in.

SubC, I hope your tea-bedtime-snack habit is sticking! I will join you on that one, starting tonight.
You would not like how my table looks. Yet, I have not put anything on the kitchen table. It is all stuff dil puts on it, from boxes to clothes to food to toys etc. If there is a place for it I put it away, but I don't feel like I can just grab all her stuff and move it... or ask her not to put things on the table. I dunno. I tried moving everything to one end but it just stays there.
Excited about your fence!

Tatoulia, you are still doing well at keeping your place neat. I think you are a kind and generous person the way you pay your cleaners. And how you have offered to send me your unneeded clothing several times - I am so touched by that, even though I am too self conscious about clothes to take you up on it at this point. I think I look terrible in anything, and worry I would receive and not wear, so I just continue on with my same old.
The mom stuff is very hard I imagine, not only in stuff factor but in quantity.

Other notes. The trip went very well, I feel like being in my job actually does some good in the world and lets me love people in tangible ways. Teen had a terrible meltdown after I came home, no I don't think it had anything to do with me being gone as they prefer me being gone - it was a response to a stressful situation they were anticipating. I will just say it was traumatic and police were involved, and an ambulance. I am emotionally exhausted, Teen is at my other son's for now. I am truly devastated at how much pain my child is in and how little hope there seems to be. It breaks my heart over and over, every day.

But I put it in a box on a shelf so I can have a life, and have some joy, and go on despite that tragic situation and pain. I am thankful for that, so I can still smile, and care, and do good.

Quick hi for now

SubC, I hope both Birdy and the new baby will be fine and healthy, and the rest stay healthy. That goes for all of us and our loved ones.

Lila, I'm glad the spiritual reflection resonated. My Lent has been a bit disjointed in some ways but I sure do like my Tuesday group.

Time itself gets disjointed, projects, planning, all of that. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just getting old and that's why, or if it will improve once I can get something rolling. It had a couple of months ago, then I lost momentum, recently picked up a little but wish it was a whole lot more so that I don't feel like it's so precarious.

We had our quilt bingo yesterday, my cousin ended up being called into one of her jobs so she could only get with me for lunch beforehand. I sat with some friendly people though, but was tired afterward, took a long nap, and had a migraine afterward. I need to be better about getting meals on time. There wasn't anything I could eat for a main course at the bingo, and I wonder if the nachos I did eat might've had MSG. Although not eating and overstimulation could just as easily explain the tiredness and migraine.

So today, I did do a load of laundry but otherwise am just trying to get my bearings. I am going to figure out something for a real meal here in a minute. I have difficulty stopping for meal breaks at the times most people do, because I'm just getting into the day's productivity around 11:00 a.m. That is due to my roommate getting up later, shared bathroom situation, misc. things that are logjams in the flow of mornings. Roommate and I have tried brainstorming but haven't come up with many solutions just yet. Maybe we will eventually.

It will all shift again anyway, as soon as spring gets her outside earlier in the mornings to do gardening stuff, so I may just have to wait until the shift happens and then figure out how to fit my tasks in around it. Those are times I would really like to be on my own, but I know I'm not financially or mentally ready at this time, so just have to make the best of whatever for now. In some ways even after a year and a half of her being retired after working from home during the pandemic, we're still feeling our way along.

well hello! I made it back. Worked a very long stretch, got one day off and was supposed to work another 7 day stretch but came down sick (go figure). So I missed yesterday and today, slept most of yesterday, and today am resting. Not sure if I will go to work tomorrow or not. The trip/retreat went very well.

I came back and search my name so I could first read anything said directly to me in my absence. Thank you for remembering me! CM, I liked what you had to say about the idolatry question. I think you are leaning into the grace of God - he is not frowning down on us with our clutter. He wants us fully present, but knows we aren't perfect. We do our best! I am working through my feelings of putting things before God, and learning a lot from my Lenten devotional reflections.

I am going to grab some lunch and then sit and catch up on the other posts. I thought about you guys the past week! Will be glad to read about how you all have been.

Yes Tatoulia, there is not much point in going to goodwill without a bag. I don't think you want to shop right now.

I have let the counter of doom build up a bit over the weekend. Mostly recycling and donate items found/generated by Dh as he worked on various things and snacked.

He is still rearranging furniture in the house. The disruption makes it hard for me to get into any decluttering or organizing project because I am already unsettled.

I started all my tomatoes and did some pottery yesterday. Also caught up on laundry and dishes.

Today is a Bean day - it will be sunny and in the 70s (wow!) so we will work outside. This evening I will take him home and go to my pottery class.

Hello everyone!

That's a good list to be proud of, SubC!

I did not make even one goodwill bag. I saw my friend and her mother for lunch and since I had a car, I stocked up on seltzer. Sister arrives Thursday. I have a car Thursday so I'll go close out mom's bank account and will go to goodwill. But I need to make a bag, right?

I got in touch with the guy about selling my art. Only the extra stuff. Am getting an appt for April or May.

Slower lazier day than I intended. Read a little, did some word puzzles, did chores, watched a short video, wrote a friend, made two flying pigs, put away the laundry, cut Dh hair, found the grow lights and set up one, potted up about half the ridiculous number of willow tree starts. Am now showered and thinking about what to wear to go out to dinner and a concert with Dh tonight.

Things I am proud of:
Did some clay work, if only a little
I am using the potting soil and saved pots that I had stored
I am not behind on starting seeds

I ran some errands and took out recycling. Will lounge and then get to work on donations.

Fantastic news on the little one! Thank goodness!

Sounds like your night was fun and a success!

I'll let you know my progress. Haven't done a thing all night but I have a car on Sunday so time to get things donated.

Good luck with your bins!

Ddil texted - they got him right in today. diagnosis, breast milk jaundice - the only easy option (special formula for a week)

Much relief!

Just got home from the play - 7 of the ten in the children's chorus are in or have passed through my classes! I'm a little hurt no one else invited me. (Not really) they were amazing!

Need to do chores and get to bed before I turn into a pumpkin.

Hi SubC yes googling the possibilities brings terror. Sending you peace and many, many good thoughts. We love your family!

The chemical smell is gone now that they have dried and I febreezed them. I just don't know what to do. The pretty silk dress would be nice for a friend and I may ask her. The crazy pantsuit and the other dress may go to goodwill. It is a lot of work to describe the outfits and post on Etsy. Then again, nothing ventured, nothing gained. The one brand of dress, Suzy Perrette, goes for a lot but again, I'd rather sell in person than do a deep dive into condition.

I know an area of my closet that I will clean out. There are two big bins that Emiko filled and they are on a shelf in my clothes closet. Whatever is in them, I haven't seen in a few years. So unless there's something magic, should be able to clear those out this weekend.

Anything for less stuff.

Oh dear Tatoulia, smelly is a problem.

For me, Febreeze is also a problem. Can you try washing them again? Baking soda maybe?

If you try to sell them online, just be sure to be honest about condition and include clear pictures of any concerns. Do you have any kind of vintage shop you might be able to take them to?

I teach today. I hope it will be a good distraction. I am feeling sick to my stomach with worry for Birdy and his parents. His poor mama was in tears yesterday just over the initial blood draw. She is smarter than I am and has not done the stupid thing I did and googled the bad possibilities.

I also have a ticket to a "local" play tonight that one of my much loved students is performing in. I will get home late, but the little girl asked me to come and our drama teacher told me that it should be quite a good show (it is not children's theatre). My own daughter was in a play with this troupe once - the auditions are fairly competitive. (It's on my way home, so I will plan things to do between work and home to fill the four hour gap. (The first hour of that is usually used up with after school tasks, and there is half an hour of driving)

Got through a bag of stuff here but nothing for donation yet. Mom's stuff came out a little smelly. One dress is so perfect. Silk, peck and peck, brightly colored, with a bubble skirt. So lovely. I think bubble skirt is the right term. Very elegant. Don't know what's next. Everything is hung to dry. I sprayed febreeze to help.

I don't know how to sell these because they are not in pristine condition. So hard to know what to do.

I am praying and sending positive thoughts to your family, SubC. We are here for you.

I just put in a load of my mother's vintage dresses from Peck and Peck. Let's see how they clean up using water and mild soap on the gentle cycle. Then I can see what is worth trying to sell. Two dresses and a crazy pantsuit. Time will tell if dry cleaning was the way to go.

Now I'm going to do a little work and sort through papers.

Sending much love to our little birdie.

I made the blanks, and then right before I got in the shower I got a text from ddil with some additional information from birdy's appointment. It is scary because it is either basically ok - easy to treat, or very bad. She has to schedule testing tomorrow.

I just want all the people I love to be ok and to not have to worry.

Anyway, I did shower. But I didn't build a fire.. and I don't have energy for this clay.

I like your plan for tonight. I think the cola is okay. It's a 20 oz so not very big and I'm only drinking it for the pick me up.

I cannot overemphasize how much it's bothering me to have this much stuff.

I'm thinking of trying to wash a few mom dresses. I am doing a lot of laundry tonight

Good luck and strength Tatoulia! Isn't the cola flat by now?

I lost momentum around lunch time and gave two and a half hours over to eating and reading and watching videos, but I pulled it back together. I have not done all of the things I wanted to do today, but I have done a lot. And I got the calendar stuff together so that I feel less out of control.

Dishes are caught up, laundry is much better, the toys are put away, and I reclaimed the previously cleared section of counter plus another inch. That doesn't sound like much, but the counter is 2.5 feet wide, so that is 30 square inches of clear space. I am going to get there - one inch at a time.

Birdy went to the doctor for his 2 month check up today. He has moved up to 20th%ile for weight and 28th for height, and his motor skills are "advanced". (Brag, brag)

I never made a fire because it had gotten warm and I had moved outside by the time I got that far, but I brought in new fire wood.

I think I am going to go out to the studio, make some quick little pig blanks to work on in the house, shower, get in my Jammie's and start the fire. I've got about an hour and a half before Dh gets home.

Happy Leap Day!

The cold and wind blew in here starting yesterday, CM. Great news on the baby's development, SubC

I need to get rid of stuff. It feels urgent. I have so much mom stuff still here. I hung her etching, finally, today. I have my bag of stuff to sell. I will have a car on Sunday so I need to make some bags to go to goodwill. Also, sister comes next week so the clutter needs to go.
Wish me luck and strength!!

I'll take another sip of the cola!!

Good morning!

Happy February 29.

I have big plans for today as far as getting cleaned up and organized, although I have already slept in a bit because I am tired.

My excellent news for the week is that dd1 had an ultrasound and the baby is growing and developing normally with a strong heartbeat. Her chance of miscarriage has been downgraded to the statistical norm for her age and race, and we are looking forward to a third grandchild in September!

Also last night Birdy rolled over for the first time while I was watching him on a video call!

One of the things I need to do today is some calendar planning, as March is starting to feel overwhelming. I have promised to milk the farm sitter's cow for a few days, We will be making a long visit to Birdy, my new pottery class is starting, Dh and I have three evening commitments, I need to do the lion's share of work for my spring sale, I need to get most of the garden started, I have two grape vines to move, my new fence should arrive at the end of the month, I need to make a decision on this buckling and possibly arrange pick up, and my in-laws have announced that they will be visiting us the first weekend in April - arrival and departure dates unclear.

But I am going to start this morning with picking up, dishes, yoga, chores, and the new additions to the counter of doom from the week. And building a fire, because after a few days of borrowed spring/summer it is winter again.

I'm happy I'm starting to get stuff done too. 🙂 Long may it continue. Hoping too that the pace picks up. I think it will. We had a crazy cold front come through yesterday. Windy, and about a 60 degree drop as we'd been having record highs. But it has passed through and things are calm now. Bunny girl is doing well; I'm being a helicopter bunny mom to make sure she keeps on doing okay. I was glad that she was doing better enough that I felt safe leaving her to go to most of quilting yesterday morning and then Bible study in the afternoon. Also glad Monday's laundry was easy to put away.

My cousin is planning to go with me to the quilt Bingo on Sunday. I'm so glad to be getting together with her. She has such a demanding schedule. We are kind of different - a dutiful hardworking Hufflepuff, while I'm a Ravenclaw (and a dreamy Luna Lovegood one at that). But it's amazing how much family bond and common outlook remains strong between us even though we haven't gotten to see much of each other since our teens. I'm not close with her husband so basically I only see her when she has time free to meet with me, a lot less than I had hoped when she moved here. But I treasure what time we can get, and perhaps in a few years she will retire and we can have more.

Tomorrow will be swimming day, and Friday will be my payday with its attendant errands, then getting ready for the weekend, baking or buying goodies to take to church. I think - I hope - next week will be more free. I want to do some more things like I've been doing plus start on some more ambitious things.

Tatoulia, I've heard caffeine can do that for people who aren't habituated I've never actually experienced it because I started drinking coffee when I was 8.

Bean went to the grocery store with me, and he tried to convince me to put the soda back, which was kind of a hard moment, but I bought it anyway, because there will be a time when Bean is not here, and I will have a soda instead of something that's worse for me. And that is all the willpower I have right now. He picked grapefruit for our snack and corn and spaghetti for dinner.

CM, yay for fixing the fan and the bunny! I'm so happy to see you getting stuff done!

Bean and I cleared a lot more garden space today. I cut brambles and he cleared weeds with his bulldozer. We also put the grape arbor posts in (well, I did, he "held the ladder" - it's a folding ladder, I was two feet off the ground.) and laid down cardboard. Then we filled the wheelbarrow with loads of mulch and I dumped it and he spread it out with his hoe all by himself. He did a beautiful job. He needs a new hoe. The handle is getting short for him. (Or maybe he's growing?)

House is a mess. Likely to get worse the next couple of days, but I'm fine with that.

Congratulations on fixing the fan, cm. I love that. Like the old days before everything was disposable. Love it!

I got my recycling etc out and changed the kitty's box. About to do the dishes.

Speaking of soda, SubC, I never drink it myself (I drink unflavored seltzer) but I had a coupon for a free raspberry spiced coke and a I a few sips this afternoon and my focus is incredible. As to my review of the taste, it doesn't mean a thing to me and I wouldn't order it on purpose. Did not turn me into a soda drinker.

I made a list of things to do and I'm going to work on them now.

Today has gone well overall, despite one small glitch which is now resolved. My bunny was not wanting to eat her morning greens and had a gassy tummy. I had been just about to start the laundry but I took time to care for her. She seemed stable enough in a short while that I went ahead and put one load in and sat back in the room with her. Within a couple hours she bounced back and right now she is finishing her morning pellets. I was able to start a second load.

It's a beautiful warm day. I ate lunch. Late, but not ridiculously so. I have difficulty sometimes with fitting in lunch on busy days, because it's hard to figure out where to break in the middle of tasks. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it will work out. And then I eat very late.

I also got my vitamins and supplements taken with lunch, which is another thing that is too easy to skip but then I pay for it. My supplements are a carefully curated selection of stuff that helps my brain be less squirrelly and my temper more even. Plus they help my energy level. Definitely can tell when I skip or forget them too many times in a row.

I got my fan taken apart, removed the hairball and lint in it, squirted some WD-40, reassembled it, and it works a treat! Really glad to get that done what with the warmer weather seasons approaching. Next "been meaning to" task is sewing those jeans pockets on two remaining pairs.

Wanted to spend more time outdoors but it is already getting on. Had planned on reading my Bible study book, which I'd gotten behind on right out of the starting gate but was catching up. Tomorrow I hope I can make it to quilting later in the morning. Helping roommate the early part. The other ladies had been sick so we were on hold with it.

The quilt Bingo event is this coming Sunday. I'm hoping my cousin can come to it. And Friday I want to figure out a dessert to take Saturday for the setup, even if it's storebought because I'm not on speaking terms with my roommate's oven. It overbakes my cakes on the outside and leaves them undone in the middle, no matter how many tricks I try.

This week's schedule is a bit fuller still but not insane.

Tying that back to the official topic at hand - I think the structure of our society contributes a lot to hoarding issues. Financial and housing insecurities can make you hold on to things both for a feeling of security and "just in case" fears.

Also, things we don't need - like plastic toys and fast fashion - are so cheap and easy to get and heavily advertised, while things we DO need - like medical care, healthy food, safe shelter, and transportation, are expensive.

Today is a working outside with Bean day. I'm not sure which tasks we're going to get into, but I expect to use up some of the stored cardboard and get lots of exercise. He will be busy with his Tonka trucks. (The real metal kind, bought well used at garage sales for my ds who is almost 30.)

We also need groceries. I have a list. I am buying some sodas both for me and Dh, but the rest is produce, dairy, and a loaf of bread because I haven't gotten back to baking yet.

Benefits in this country are difficult. In my opinion and my opinion only, there isn't enough of a safety net for people. Living in a city, I see first hand the issues facing people. I don't have any answers or solutions, but the lack of true support, starting with housing and food, is so painful for me.

I used to belong to a parenting site where one of the women once said how much her husband appreciated being included because he didn't have many friends in real life "because real life doesn't have an edit button". It was funny, but I also get it.

Here, sometimes the typos drive me nuts and sometimes they are funny.

And sometimes I serial post when I would otherwise edit.

My dream of corner cabinets was short lived. Dh hung some insulation we had in the basement in the corners and it made very little difference, so he has dropped the idea. (And put the insulation away)

CM, the whole "disqualification" thing just makes me crazy. People talk about people not wanting to work, but it is not that black and white. Nobody wants to work when the work would put them worse off or effectively pay them a couple of dollars an hour!

My farm sitter has a really complicated family situation. She has two little sisters who were not legally adopted for years because her mom couldn't afford to stay home with them and give them the time and attention they needed if she gave up the foster care money. She has three kids who are legally fatherless because rights were terminated for abuse and so there is no child support - the state gives her benefits for them, but they can't garnish the wages of the biological father the way they would with a man who just abandoned his kids but wasn't dangerous, and on and on...

I wonder if you could barter some of your sewing or computer skills for some of the things you would like to pay for.

Yes I feel supported here! You all keep me honest even when it's hard.

Thr cleaners have been life changing for me, and they were on,y possible because of everything everyone here has helped me to accomplish! I cleaned out my storage, I cleaned out my house! I paid off my mortgage and I got out of debt. Once I took care of the hoard, it allowed me to take care of other things in my life. And it's been a group effort! We did this!

I'm glad you have the fencing decision made and ordered!

Okay, SubC, I'm relieved to hear I didn't put my foot in my mouth! 😉 And I do think the fence is such a very useful thing, it will add value to your property, and of course it's not frivolous in the least. It's a wise investment, and making wise investments in upkeep is part of being a property owner.

You do have a point that sometimes writing is better - and in many ways I prefer it - the tricky part with this particular website is that once a comment is made, it can't be deleted or revised at all. (I learned that on Reddit there's even something called a "ninja edit" where if you edit a comment within three minutes of posting it doesn't show it has been edited, which I don't know if applies to what I'm thinking about or not, but sometimes it would at least be convenient for catching typos I make, like hoping no one would see a really goofy typo and I could fix it.) And in some life circumstances, like phone calls, I can really get in a snarl because I can't think on my feet verbally. So I guess there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Liked your responses re "The Dreads." The struggle is real! And I don't consume a lot of decluttering media these days because so much of it is geared toward those with homes or at least apartments, and speaks of one's various rooms - well, all I have is the bedroom and parts of other rooms. So some of the info is just not applicable, and some of it gets me feeling discontent about not having a place of my own. Who needs that when they're trying to feel positive and energetic and ready to tackle decluttering. If I can pluck a handy tip here and there out of such materials, well and good, but otherwise... meh.

And yeah, those people who say you can't have something if you don't have the container - they make me angry, and I would get defensive some years back and that's why my hoarding remained entrenched for awhile. Now I am willing to be flexible, but I think it can still be a discernment process rather than just forcing oneself to ditch something because of some arbitrary decluttering influencer's rulebook. It's not one size fits all.

I also used to want to punch the computer screen when I'd read those ADHD decluttering articles that say to just hire someone to do the tasks you find hard. AS IF! Hellooo, not all of us have the money for that, Karen!

Tatoulia, I think it's great that you can afford the cleaners - and if I did win the lottery you have no idea how many employment opportunities I would gladly create for multiple people, haha! A personal assistant, accountant, secretary, cleaning crew, bunny nannies, management people to run the various companies and nonprofits I'd start - okay, Earth to CM...

Meanwhile... SubC, you are right, at least I don't have that awful decrepit van. I do want to keep my current one in good shape, and sometimes it's a challenge to find the $$$ for routine stuff. I hope that improves. I'm working on frugality in nonessential areas. And who knows, I will turn 62 in April, and I do want to talk to some people at the senior center and perhaps other places as to whether, if I got a very tiny part time job just to put a little back in the kitty here and there (because I don't want a big stressful job unless I feel like I could handle it), if I wouldn't have to worry anymore about getting kicked off disability. I know at 67 I will for sure convert to regular retirement and be home free, but it'd be good to be able to bring in a little these next few years.

Lila, I imagine you're busy and traveling and working a lot but we'll look forward to seeing you when we see you! Take care!

Yes Tatoulia, I was agreeing with and supporting all that about your cleaners!

I love hearing about all the people in your extended "family of choice."

Dh is rearranging my house for acoustics again. He wants to put some sound panels in the corners of the den. Currently those corners are just unused open space ne t to the bookshelf. I am negotiating for small built in corner cabinets with sound panels as the fronts. He could totally build that himself. We will see where this goes...

I got some work done outside today, but now I am tired from the wind. Big plans for more outdoor work with Bean tomorrow.

DANISH BREAD! I'd forgotten but now I'm chuckling all over again.

The cleaners are money well spent for me. They perform a service that I will never, ever do. Yes I'll change my sheets and vacuum but honestly at this point it is the best money I can spend. And I'm thoughtful about it, meaning that if I'm sick and have to cancel, I still pay them. It's budgeted and therefore I pay them. And I've told them that if they are sick, I'll still pay them.

I got a bag out of the house and another bag and a bin to goodwill. The person who is getting the car took me. Actually his daughter is getting the car. I told him today that if the cost is XXX I'll pay it. He's really happy about that. I've known his daughter since she was a little girl and I am getting ready to get her set up!

I am going to run a few errands and then I have an etching of my mother's I need to hang up. Also I have a few things for my sister (who comes in about two weeks) so I want to make sure I have her things ready. Have a lot I'll bring to her in the spring but some smaller stuff her that she should take on the bus with her.

Good morning!

I can't believe how late I slept!

We had a really good time with our friends last night and I am feeling rested and human. (And also fat - there was much food)

CM, I am also proud of you for getting the lightbulb taken care of. I was struck by the fact that you were able to go to the store, get what you needed, set up the ladder, and take care of the thing. There was a time when there would have been too many obstacles in your way - objects, van, cash flow, time, even the challenge of finding the correct light bulb. You have come a long way!

In response to your "dreads"

1. When the stuff "fluffs."

I also hate this. You feel like you have made so much progress, and then you go to put the things back and sometimes not only do you not have leftover space, the remaining items don't even fit! It is discouraging.

2. When I'm going along pretty well and suddenly my energy bottoms out.

I think this happens to everyone, but some of us (me included) are more likely to be surprised by it and have it be really dramatic. I know Dh will realize he has had enough of a project and stop and clean it up. I will keep going until I literally just can't, and then I walk away from everything exactly as it is and it sits there overwhelming me for weeks.

3. When something gets knocked over creating a bigger mess than before.

Makes me want to just scream, or cry. Especially if something gets destroyed that I had been meaning to get to. I want to beat myself up for not taking care of it in time.

4. When I'm just not sure what to do with something that I do want to keep, whether short term or long term, but it does not have a "home" and I can't figure out how to find or create one in the available space.

This is also really frustrating. Every time I see anything by Dana k. White about the "container concept" it makes me angry. "If it doesn't fit, you can't have it." well, that is lovely if you have reasonable options, but when you are limited in space or negotiating with other people, it can be a bit like telling someone they can't have their medical treatment because it's "elective" and they can't afford it - yes, I can live without this, but it is going to have an effect on my quality of life.

I watched a video by another organizer who says there are only three kinds of items in any space - trash, things with a home, and things without a home. She was talking about cleaning up when you have limited time and energy and said that most things were going to be the first two, so just focus there. So it turns out that I am an excellent housekeeper, because aside from my counter of doom, almost none of my mess is the first two!

So, I have energy, it is sunny, there is nothing specific on my calendar today, and it will be warm later - off to conquer the world!