Good morning.

Yesterday I took the destroyed rug back and threw it away. The building manager was delighted to see my truck again. She cleared out a storage closet and sent me home with - 1 giant log tripod, a patio end table, a shoe rack, five "portable" folding tables (they are heavy) a strange thing that might be a little table or a bench, two rug remnants, and a rolling hanging file cart. I put the patio table on our back porch, the logs in the yard, and the rest in the garage until I decide if they are useful here or donations.

My inner squirrel is very excited, but I am concerned about my decision making.

Today I am traveling to the other side of the city (outside the city) for an arts fair of regional crafts people. There will be demonstrations and shopping and hopefully inspiration. There is a resale store nearby that buys vintage clothes and I have a small bin (already counted out) that I want to take on the way home to see if they want them. I am less worried about getting any money for them than I am about giving the clothes the opportunity to find someone who will appreciate them. They are really nice quality but not appropriate for the place that gives people clothes for interviews or fancy enough for the free prom store.

My Dh is back. I slept much better yesterday.

Good evening!

I got lost both on the way to the recycling and on the way home. Saw some new parts of the city.

I LOVE the reuse shop! I got the carpet squares and wallpaper I wanted and some stone tile for the dragon cave I want to make next to the bookshelf where there is a hole in the wall, and corks with pretty wooden caps to add to some of my pottery bottles for the Christmas show, and some display corner pieces from a framing shop that I think will make really cool little wall shelves (I only bought 4) and ideas for a bunch of projects that I did not buy the materials for, but I can in the future. My total was twelve dollars and change, but I gave them $20 because they run on grants and donations and they are taking my recycling. I was really stingy because the tip fee on the truck would have been $50 and the stuff would have gone to landfill. But they only take cash in the shop and I had a 20 and a handful of change.

I also brought home the rest of the school rugs that hadn't been thrown out to wash and donate, but one is completely worn out and I am taking it back and throwing it in the dumpster tomorrow.

So that was my adventure. I have no idea how to count all that.

I think I have also resolved the dehumidifier problem, but I won't be sure until my card is credited back. I am least have a name and direct email of a person now.

SubC -
Good Luck!
with the recycle and the dehumidifier

Good morning!

Ok Messi, where is the first place you looked for the gloves? Put them there.

Both of your ideas for tackling jobs are good ones. Lately I've been telling myself "you can do anything, but you can't do nothing." Meaning, if I am just consuming electronic content, I need to stop and do something in the house or yard (even just walk around) or go to bed. I do allow myself some time to read or post online, but video or "window shopping" is a no unless I am also eating or cleaning up. (I like to put podcast type YouTube's on while I do dishes for example - my mom always had the radio on when she cleaned.)

I'm really sorry about your lost books and papers. My dehumidifier has actually become a new headache. FedEx smashed in the side of the box and damaged the dehumidifier. The company said that because it is "B stock" I can return it, but they won't replace it.

They told me to replace the damaged packaging as best I could, and they would have FedEx bring a label and pick it up between ten and two this past Tuesday. Fed ex did not come. Then they also sent me an email that said I needed to print a label and drop it off at a drop off location within seven days - it is too heavy, and the integrity of the box is questionable.

I was gone for work during their service hours yesterday, so I have to call them again this morning. If they don't pick this up by the end of the day tomorrow and refund me, I am going to open a dispute with my credit card company.

Nothing is ever easy.

My plan for today is to work around the house in the morning cleaning up and gathering recycling, and then drive the truck into the city to the big recycling/reuse hub. I have made the trip twice and gotten lost both times, so wish me luck!

The other two trips I just dropped off, but this one I am going to let myself shop their reuse store. All construction based items (carpet squares, wallpaper, tiles.) are 25 cents a pound. Everything else (fabric, containers, egg cartons, jars, flower pots, craft supplies.) is $1 a pound.

I am looking for some carpet squares and maybe some different wallpaper to work on the basement, but I will be rewarding myself for bravely driving into the city by wandering around the shop and brainstorming possibilities presented by their materials. I've never been in the shop before. Drop off is by the entrance, the store is on the third floor. I think they want to discourage people from spontaneously picking up items they don't need - lol!

Ha ha, Yes, the rubber gloves showed themselves just as i was getting ready to move the last yucky item, dontcha know, a few feet from where i was working. 😉

This was a yucky job in the basement, moving and removing things in preparation for plumbing work or JUST NEEDING TO BE DONE. It included getting rid of some valued books and papers that were put down there before I understood that it was somewhat damp and not suitable for storage. I'm valuing your dehumidifier, SubC.

Sometimes I'll have a list of things that might(!) need to be done and one tactic is to choose a small thing just to get myself started.

Another tactic I've been trying recently, only when I have enough muster, is to start with the one I put off the most. This job was like that.

Sometimes you just have to put it off til later or the morning so you have more energy and sunlight, and sometimes you have to do it so you won't have to face it in the morning.

but now i'm up too late... lol

I can't find my rubber gloves to do a cleaning job. I'm sure they'll turn up someplace goofy as soon as I'm done, using these thin food-prep gloves, lol.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, it is good to see you!

My weight has been up and down, but seems to have settled in the range of about half of what I wanted to lose gone. Dh has been pushing me to start some (gentle) weight bearing exercises. We did them together before he left yesterday and I hurt my knee. I told him they will have to be modified. The reintroduction of many stairs when school started wasn't bad this year, so I have made some progress. Like the house, but by bit.

Lila, I forgot to say, my farm sitter always cleans up. Not just after herself - she leaves everything more cleaned up than I cleaned it up for her. It makes me feel bad. I asked her to stop, but she said "I don't mind, I don't have that much to do." I told her to read a book or lie in the hammock and watch her kids play. But she still does it.

Lila, I am thinking of you and your aunt and your cousin.

Messi, thank you for your kind words.

SubC, that is amazing about the rug!

I'm trying to work on my weight. I am not committed and then I begin to hate myself for it. Vicious cycle. Went to the Y on Saturday. Had a full physical on Friday and then went to the Museum of Fine Arts on my way home. Had a late lunch and then went to a few of the galleries.

I'm keeping up okay here.

Getting excited to see Bf in December and really must be in better shape for the trip. I owe it to myself to be healthy, now that I do not have any responsibilities and I can finally enjoy myself. Messi, my long term romance turned into a Long Distance Relationship when he moved overseas for work in 2023. I saw him last year in December and we are meeting up again this year in December.

Lila, I hope you had something to wear that you like.

I spent the weekend mostly relaxing with my Dh because he left for the week for work this afternoon.

He'll be back Friday night.

I have the boys tomorrow, but Tuesday I am on my own schedule - which means I can jus5 putter about and snack when I get hungry.

I do have some th8ngs I want to get done this week. Staying on a reasonable bedtime schedule will be the hardest part.

I'll update if I get things done.

Thank you Messi! It is over and I got lots of compliments and kind words! It was actually great once I got there and was doing it. It's the lead-up that gets me all stressed out. I am so exhausted now I feel like I could just sleep!

But the dogsitter person is coming over in 45 minutes and I am just sitting down for 5 minutes between all the picking up.

I got all TotsFam's stuff taken downstairs by TotsDad.

I wiped down the really awful looking kitchen cabinets so now they look 80% better.

I had TotsDad clean the upstairs bathroom last night, so that is done, and my other Son scrubbed the rest of the stove and took trash out and is mowing the lawn. And he vacuumed.

I just need to quick dust the flat surfaces. This means I am doing a stash and dash, taking a large box and throwing everything from the doom counter into it and putting it in my room until I get back from my trip. I just need it to be a cleaned counter so the dog sitter doesn't say NO WAY.

There's other stuff to be done... wipe counters one more time and such, but I will do what I can.

If she is not comfortable staying (it is pretty decent but if she is used to a perfect house, well...) then I would be happy to pay her the same amount to come over 2-3x a day if she is willing.

Wish me luck. Once THIS is done, all the high stress stuff is over for now.

Lila,
I don't know which day your presentation is/was, but I hope getting finished reduces some of the stress. Your post rang so many bells for me. Dogs, house sitters, clothes, presentations... Last weekend I went through trials on those issues with the wedding I participated in. Safe wishes for your trip to see your aunt. So glad you will see her.

yeah that makes sense SubC. I feel pretty stressed over that stuff. One of my commitments is a public speaking thing. I am fine, usually, with short things or trainings or winging it or walking about something I am super familiar with. This is a longer one, with a bit of pressure to do it well, will be streamed and recorded, and I have to do it twice. So I have been working and re-working on it, doing practice runs at the venue, getting feedback and then editing... I need to just do a final edit, read it out and time it, and call it good. I also had to choose 4 more people to give brief spotlights of their experience at a course, so I had to pick, talk to them, wait for them to send me what they want to say, decide on any edits, time them, and put it all together within my time frame, plus work with another friend who is speaking briefly before me... so yeah.

Add to this that I am still fat, and very self conscious, have like 6 shirts that fit and almost all are not very nice (I have good winter clothes but it is hot here) and I was trying things on and getting major anxiety at how it clings to my belly etc. So today I know you can guess what I did. I went to the store to get something to wear that I feel confident in. I chose a store I have a gift card for, but when I went to check out after an hour trying on clothes, the gift card wouldn't work. So I paid cash and have to call about the gift card.

Anyway I will try the whole outfit on tonight and look in the mirror and see if I feel ok. If not I will return it tomorrow and go to another store. I am stressed out enough without having to feel like a spectacle in tight clothes!!!

I am not getting enough cleaning done but my sons will help me tomorrow.

Well Lila, if it were me, I would be really stressed because I had commitments to fulfill, someone I loved was dying, and a stranger was coming to stay in my house. Ymmv, but you being stressed is totally reasonable!

update 1 -

- watered the front plants/trees
- took out some trash
- 2 loads of laundry in the wash
- washed off one counter and the stove

Why am I so stressed???

hi SubC and Messi,

I caught up on reading and hope things are going well for you both this weekend.

I will be leaving in a few days to go see my aunt. She is in the hospital now but more stable at the moment. So I just need to get through the weekend and things will be calmer. I have a speaking engagement in a couple of days that I am working on, and after that, one training, and then I can leave for 6 days. I have to come back for a big event the day after I get home.

Also I am having a new dogsitter come over tomorrow to meet my dog and visit. It turns out my son will be gone on a different trip while I am gone, so I need someone to walk my dog etc and it is cheaper to have them house-sit. Which means, I have to clean the house before they come over to meet us on Sunday. So how do I get things in order? I have to clean and get the place decent or the sitter might decline house sitting. Any suggestions on how to get it in order quickly? I can't box things up and put them in the small bedroom because the sitter may be sleeping in there.

Hi Messi,

I teach ages 6-18 this year (1st grade up) I used to have kindergarteners, but they have been integrated into our preschool program which is Montessori accredited.

I have to tell you guys about some other things that happened yesterday. I've been working really hard on clearing out and letting go over the years and I am now able to get really stuck into this basement project.

You know I rescued the one green rug from the school dumpster, but I have been looking for a second, larger area rug. The basement also needs a dehumidifier.

Yesterday when I went to drop off the recycling at the city park, someone had shoved a rolled up rug into the top of the recycling dumpster. That is a contaminate, not a recyclable. The outside of the roll looked clean, and the edge of the rug had shades of blue. I yanked the rug out, unloaded my recycling, and threw the rug in the back of my car, thinking "worst case, this is going to have to go in the school dumpster and I will offer to pay for the disposal"

This morning I unrolled the rug. It is beautiful! It smells fresh. It is not exactly what I was looking for, but is really close. I have not been able to find exactly what I want, and the cheapest "close" is about $80. I have vacuumed it and the canister was almost empty. I think it is clean enough to just put down, but I am going to power wash it anyway, because I have a power washer and that will remove any doubts.

Then, last night I found exactly the dehumidifier I want, on sale as "new, open box", from a dealer with a 30 day satisfaction/return policy at 15% off the cheapest price I have seen, free delivery!

I slept on it, and when it was still there this morning, I ordered it!

I feel like the universe is rewarding me with good things for making space in my life to recieve them.

SbC - I posted before seeing your post about your first day. What ages/levels do you teach?

SubClinical - I hope you had a great first day at school. and a great second day. What you do expands those lives you are changing. (-:

Goid morning!

Messi, the important thing is that you did the job. Even though conditions were no longer optimal, you still did it! Extra points for pushing through!

I survived the first day of school. I think it went well. I do have two students who are going to be difficult. One is just very young and immature and will hopefully grow with support. The other one needs an attitude adjustment. I'm hoping he is just stressed about being in a new place and not showing his best side. I talked to the director about him after school and if he keeps interrupting, attempting to redirect, and complaining while I am talking to the class, he's going downstairs to talk to her next week.

I accidentally assigned a homework online to a section of a class that hasn't met yet as well as the one I had today, and two of those students have done it already!

After school I stopped at the offsite craft storage (reuse shop) to pick up some brushes for school (20 brushes, 1.66 including tax!) and made it over to the city studio for a lecture they offer twice a year that I keep wanting to attend. Last time I tried Dd interrupted with a need for emergency childcare. This time I managed to make it through the whole thing. It was good. Then Dh called and invited me to meet him for dinner at our favorite food truck by a park. Good day, but very tiring.

Today I rest, do some things at home, and prepare for my first day with my Friday kids.

After an emotional weekend and holiday, and a day of beautiful weather, this evening I waited til it was dark and starting to rain to pick up some brush trimmings and put them in the garbage can, the day after collection. Lol, the rake I was using had a label on it that used to say, "True Built", but some paint got on the letter "B" to change it and when I looked down at it, it says, "True Guilt". Could be.

Lila, I am thinking of you and your aunt and sending best hopes. Stay with the love - for your aunt, for your cousin, for yourself. Be safe, especially if you travel.

Oh Lila, I am so very sorry about your aunt.

Don't worry too much about your schedule. People are the most important.

I had almost never missed a day of school, then Buddy had his operation and Bean needed me, and we got Covid, and I missed almost three weeks. And the world didn't end. It took a couple of weeks to get everything back in order. That was all. So now I remind myself that I can miss three weeks of school and the world won't end.

Take the time and space you need and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised to discover how much of what you do is not critical.

Also, take care of yourself. It is ok to spin out and indulge now and then, but remind yourself that you need real self care. Your friend subc would like you to have a glass of water and a fruit, or maybe even a vegetable. Walk, read, pray, talk with a friend...brush your dog. Take care of yourself.

hi guys,

After I posted I worked on my bedroom a little more. Only one item in the donate box, but it is one item.

I got derailed when I got a text saying that my aunt is not well. After talking to my cousin, I called my aunt who sounds like she could die any moment. She could barely get words out as she could not breathe. Her lungs are bad, she is barely eating, she just got put on hospice a few days ago. My cousin said she thought she is not long for this world. Before I called her I had booked a flight for late Sept, planning to go see her one last time. After calling her and getting more details, I booked another flight for next week. I have 24 hours to cancel one of them... probably the later one.

This made my cry, made me stressed, and it felt like it scrambled my brain. After I spent all that time carefully organizing the whole month in my planner and figuring out when I would need to work, suddenly it feels like all the organized things got dumped into a pile. Kind of like when those flat magnetic shapes are built into a castle and then someone knocks it down. I can barely process it along with her impending departure from this world. Will I make it in time?

I had just started to feel relaxed a bit and comfortable about upcoming courses and classes and leadership roles and public speaking. I am trying not to let the scrambled brain turn into anxiety and chaos.

Anyway, instead of finishing my list, I ate candy and ice cream and pizza, binge watched tv, and scrolled the web. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow along with an event, so, hopefully I will get some sleep and wake up with a clear head.

Messi, you posted while I was typing. I didn't see your post.

You cleaned things out of your car!

How was the dog walk? Did you do any laundry?

Some days you just need to rest.

I did chores, put the second load of laundry in the dryer, loaded and started the dishwasher, set up the coffee maker and now I am going to bed.

Good progress on the desk Lila!

My planner is not ready, but I have tomorrow because classes start Wednesday. Tomorrow is my first big work day for bringing it all together. Today was vacation.

I did stop at school, empty the kiln, discover somebody slipped in a piece made from the wrong clay and now I have a shelf to grind, leave some things in my room, and make the copies I need for the first day (mostly, I might need a couple more welcome letters, but I can do those quickly Wednesday morning.)

The boys are home and I am sitting with a glass of wine listening to the light jazz Dh has on. He was great today! He did a building project and drove RC cars with Bean, and took him for a ride in the rowboat. He also helped me take both boys swimming and helped with baths afterwards. Even played with them while I got a shower,

Then when I left to take them home, he vacuumed up all the crushed Cheerios and made dinner - which was waiting for me when I got home!

Even though we fight sometimes - he's a keeper!

Besides having a great day with my boys and my classroom stop, I've run two loads of laundry and emptied the dishwasher. There is plenty to fill it!

I did have one diet soda, and some cookies. (Plus this wine.)

O my. You all have been doing all kinds of things! I needed a litte inspiration and now I have it. Great, Lila! Great, SubC! Keep healing, Tatoulia!

I thought today I would get some things done that I don't do on a work day, but...not. (yet?) Very tired, somewhat foggy. It was a busy, emotional weekend that took more than I thought it would. today was more unplanned-for people time. (good thing) which required cleaning out some things in the car. (good thing)

So with a few hours left in the evening, I needed a little inspiration and focus.

I will walk the dogs
Do some dishes
Wash some laundry
Fold some laundry

first thing, put shoes on for dog walking...

Progress report:

- wiped off the desk with a microfiber cloth
- put away things on the desk that go elsewhere
- scrubbed inside the toilet in my bathroom and disinfected/wiped down the outside of it
- disinfected/scrubbed inside my bathroom sink and faucets
- threw away some trash

Hey it's a start! Take a brief break, then will work on it some more. But it is MUCH better, that needed to be done!

Aw man, Tatoulia, I hope the infection continues to clear. Thank you for checking in! I need to go back and read the scriptures again. They are good for getting in the right mindset!

SubC, the alone time sounds very nice! I am enjoying the quiet here with the grandkids at their counsin's. But I miss them too and it will be nice when they get back.

Today I slept in, made coffee, eggs, and toast, and spent time with TotsDad. I spent time reading on the deck with my pup.

I also asked TotsDad to change a light bulb in my master bathroom that has been out for... maybe 4 years?? It has a cover that I was not sure how to open, and I am short, and I just put it off because there is another light in there. Well in no time flat he had it changed, I washed the bugs out of the light cover, and he put it back on. It is so much nicer in there! I can see everything! This will make it more attractive to keep working on that bathroom and making it nicer.

I finished writing out my home planner last night. Happy September!! New things in my planner:

- a section where I will write what I spend
- a section of health things I am working on
- improvements to my health/a habit tracker
- defined goals for each month
- a list of projects and things I have delayed for months or years, to try and do a few each week

Today's goals:
- eat better (I am thawing salmon, will have with vegetables)
- take a walk
- organize my meds and supplements
- 10 items decluttered
- work on my bedroom and bathroom
- wipe off the desk
- brush the dog, trim her nails, and wipe out her ears

Anything beyond that is bonus. If I get 75% of that list done I will be pleased.

Oh dear Tatoulia, I'm sorry about your infection. That sounds awful! Glad you are on the mend.

It's funny - I don't live alone, and I am really looking forward to Dh overseas work trip next week. I will have time all by myself from Monday night to Wednesday morning and again from Wednesday night to Friday morning. The only thing better would have been if he took the trip before school started. How I would love four straight days alone!

Lila, you did something.

I always tell myself I am going to get extra ready ahead of time and I never make it. Maybe this can be the year for both of us?

My dad has high cholesterol. There are only three options - reduce fat and sugar in your diet, exercise more, and medication.

(Well, there is also drink a lot of alcohol, but do not recommend. That reduces your cholesterol by damaging your liver. My dad tried that years ago and he would joke that he had fixed his diet and he was maxed out because he couldn't run any more and still find time to drink, and he couldn't drink any more and still run. It would have been funnier if he was drinking less at the time. But he's good now.)

The boys spent the night. We had fun and will hopefully have a good day today but I am tired. Buddy was up from midnight to one.

Carry on!

Everyone, I'm only a third of the way through the posts. The Bible verses were very sweet, SubC. I enjoyed reading them.

Was derailed last week with an infection that covered about a third of my face including one eye and my cheek. I am much better now. Had a telehealth on Monday and then an in-person Dr appointment on Thursday. I WFH all week, which was both good and bad. Good because I didn't have to take sick time but bad because I felt alone.

Going to go clean the cat boxes. It's always something.

Lila, Messi, SubC keep up the good work! You are doing great!