Diane, I forgot to mention that I also had some minor crashes with the motorized cart at the store. I nearly knocked over a whole display. Sometimes those aisles are not so wide. 😀

I was up at 3am after sleeping about four hours. Went down for a nap about 9am and just got up. I do sometimes enjoy a daytime nap.

Good morning everybody! 😀
Wonderful to read all your posts.
Got me thinking about the very last time I attended a family gathering. :/
Xmas 1985.
Parents were planning to sell the house we grew up in and down size into a condo.
Father kept bugging me to come down for the very last xmas in that house.
Finally I agreed to drive 1000 miles from the San Francisco bay area all the way to Tucson.
The visit was pure hell on earth and even more.
I do not like any of those people. 2 brothers & their wives, 2 sisters, mother & I barely tolerated my father.
Over the years since then my father kept asking me when I was going to come back to visit and my answer was always when hell freezes over, and frankly it doessn't ever get that cold in Tucson, but if it does freeze over I will come and bring my ice skates. 😛

Anyways.....
Been up since before sun up and got a lot of stuff accomplished.
Pondering what I want to do the rest of the day.
Never did make that ginger bread that I wanted so bad. Maybe I will bake. 😀

MayMay I'm glad you didn't have to spend too much time in that atmosphere of negativity.

I didn't give away those things with generosity in my heart. And I don't feel all warm and good. I kind of regret it. But I needed to exercise some mental/emotional muscles in not just giving away stuff I could easily part with. But to let go of the things that I want to grasp in my greedy little mitts. It ain't easy but I hear exercise and eating well are hard at first too but get easier with practice.

Maymay, enjoyed your family fiasco. I dreaded going to moms drama filled feasts. I often think everyone but me has a good fun filled family feast, good to hear being alone is more fun sometimes.
Roxie, enjoyed your stories about noodling on couch and riding scooter. I used scooter after surgery, a friend took me to target, aisle were too narrow for this driver, clipped a few end displays!! Costco has better aisles for new drivers. I have a CDL for driving school buses so when ran into aisle got a good laugh. thanks so much for all that everyone posts

Yesterday I worked in big bedroom for about 4 hours, yes there is still that much stuff in there, sun was shining in, so was having a good time. When I decided I had done enough for the day, went outside and enjoyed the sun, then the clouds rolled in. I actually went from happy to gloomy, amazing how much the weather affects me. then I started regretting I had been indoors when sun was shining, had to talk myself into saying it was ok. I was at a loss to figure out what to do. Then decided to try to figure out how to transfer pictures from camera to computer, again. I got totally involved in the project and no longer felt sad. I actually was able to figure it out . In past months have had to take camera in and have pictures put on disc then put disc in puter. The camera is the one I got from a friend, it is 10 years old but a very good sony that takes great pictures. It has old sony pro memory stick that doesn't fit in computer, so have to use wires to attach. I came close to going shopping yesterday when felt bad, thank goodness I worked on camera instead. Nice reading your comments.

Hi everyone! 😀

I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving. Mine was ok. I'm so glad it's over though. My boyfriend and I spent thanksgiving with my parents and my mom's side of the family. I'm not going to lie. I can't stand my mom's side of the family. They are all annoying, mean, judgemental people and no one ever gets along with each other. All they do is fight. Thanksgiving got a lot better though once we left my parent's house and went to the bar to meet up with the guys. 🙂

WAY TO GO Karl! 😀

Hi Tillie! 😀

Hi diane! 😀

Hi Roxie,
I love riding those motorized carts in the grocery store. Sometimes my boyfriend and I will race each other with them while we are at the store. It's so much fun! We are total kids at heart! LOL. ;D

I just got back from a run to the grocery store. I used one of those motorized carts in the store this time and that helped. I was out of dry cat food and receiving protests from my little feral kids.

Good morning. Got so much stuff done yesterday, felt good to keep busy and get things done. It is hard to know what to do with Stevens crap, so he may need suggestions on where to move it. Tillie, nice you are going to help Steven see the benefit of having windshield free of ice. It is sunny this morning, supposed to be cloudy today. It is 18 right now, in a few days will be 0 degrees at night, glad I have plenty of firewood.
I did not do dishes yesterday so will do that today for sure {I hope} I did finally pay bills last night. Have 2 phone calls to make regarding health insurance change, really dread it, then it will only take a few minutes, and I will wonder why I wait and fret.
Today I noticed I still worry about what others might think of the way I fixed living room, then I remind myself, it is comfortable for me and not to compare to my minamalist friends who only have the minimum of everything. I love having 3 comfortable places to sit in here, from 3 angles, when I only really need only 2. With no dog to please, it is really new to think what I really want and what is comfortable for me.
Had a sweet chat last night in chatroom, so grateful for this site. Today I want to practice relaxing, always feel a sense of anxiety about things that need to be done. Grateful I am not in a store getting great bargains that I do not need.
Just ran out and put garbage cart out, thought would be Saturday because of holiday, heard truck and ran out. Hope all of you had an OK day yesterday and were able to think of lots of things that you are thankful for.

Good morning 🙂
My plan for today is to try to encourage my hoarder to clear/clean out part of a carport
so that he can park his truch under there and not have to scrape ice off the windows every morning before work.
This would make his life so much easier.
Can't understand why he is so resistant. LOL ;D
Other than that my to-dos are the usual...
cat stuff & tidying up
then back to playing

Hope you all have a fun and productive day. 😀

Great job Karl! 😀
Happy that things are getting finalized for you.
(((hugs)))

Congratulations Karl!!! A huge job accomplished! 🙂

I spent the whole day packing boxes, along with the one person who'd agreed to help. We took a break for food at an Indian restaurant that had a special Thanksgiving buffet.

It was just past 1:00am when we decided we'd done enough packing/decluttering. Then I finally remembered that I still had a load of laundry to get done before the movers pack the washer. I still have a few dishes to wash by hand, too, but I'm going to guess that I'll have a chance to do that in the morning, while the movers are dealing with what's ready for them.

Bouncing (okay, tripping) back in the door to say "hi" to all after a long nap. That felt so nice, to tuck under a blanket with both cats smack up against me like personal little heaters.

Good morning everyone! 😀

What wonderful and beautiful posts to read. 🙂

Been meandering around this morning, lost in thought and a benadryl fog.
My list of To-Dos for today are.....
cut & file my fingernails
brush the Pooh kitty
scoop litter boxes
put down fresh water & fill kibble bowls
play with my toys
watch stuff on Netflix
Already fed the cats and they have all gone off to take naps.
I'm planning to get dressed, brush my hair, wash my face & brush my teeth soon as I finish drinking my tea.

Everybody have a wonderful day. 😀

Diane, I love your list! Yes you have much to be grateful for!!

Hey Roxie,

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! We're going to our daughter's house, she's a good cook. Special hug for Diane as you grieve for Molly - you are not alone

brrrrrr fire went out and it is so cold in here, fire take awhile to get going and warm this old place up. Tanner was so happy to see his owner yesterday, and now I can move on with no dog here. It was a good buffer to have him here, and a reminder how much focus I put on entertaining dogs. Now it is time to focus on my life for real. I did take another load of stuff to thrift store yesterday. He did not go home until 5pm so didn't get paper sorting. I will wash dog dishes and put stuff I used for him in garage today, vacuum, do dishes and sort papers. I am looking forward to making a list of things I am grateful for, guess I can start list here.
I am grateful for each one that post on here. Other things i am grateful for: Having a place to live that I own and the security that provides me. having the time to sort and orgainize things. Guidance on this journey to clean. The ability to make friends when I am ready to. Savings account. Good health insurance. A deck with a view. quick wit, learning to keep going when I want to quit, Cute comfortable living room, and now know how to keep clutter out of it, most of the time. A comfortable bed to sleep in, heating pad in bed. Safe neighborhood. Privacy.Enough clothes, food, crafts, firewood, to make winter warm. TV, telephone, radio, car, RV, enough money to pay for insurance, taxes, utilities etc. Indoor plumbing, 2 toilets that work. I am so grateful for my health and the ability to haul in firewood, chop kindling, repair most things, paint walls any color I choose. really grateful that I can sleep in a dark quiet room without interruption now. I am grateful for this website and the comfort it gives me. I am grateful everytime someone posts their progress, also grateful when they posts slips, and then pulls it together and gets back on track to recovery. Any self pity I woke up with this morning about being alone and no family and only a few friends (that are in couples)is gone now that I focused on the abundant list of things I am grateful for!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hi all around. I must have slept a few hours, now cannot sleep, so I'll make some coffee and hit the internet a few hours until I feed the cats and can go back to bed.

Hi Tillie! 🙂

Sorry I forgot to say hi to you in my last post. 😮

Hi everybody! 😀

Hey Dianne,
Thanks. I've been super busy lately. Nothing too crazy has happened lately. I should have lots of stories to tell after tomorrow though; because my mom's side of the family is coming down from Michigan for thanksgiving tomorrow; and they are all CRAZY!

Hi diane,
Sorry Tanner had to go home today. 🙁

Hi Cory,
Aww! Your post is so sweet! 🙂

Hi Karl! 🙂

Hi Roxie! 🙂

Wishing everyone a Warm, Happy Thanksgiving!!

Oh, and I told the storage folks to cancel the truck, since the movers will handle that. I guess I'll still have to get from new-home back to old-home for the cleaners and the walk-through.

I've decided that there's way too much work to leave to the volunteer team (which anyway looks like it will be just myself and one friend, who's disabled). We'll do what we can on Thursday (and then go out for T-day dinner). I'm hiring professionals to do the move-and-haul on Friday, and I'll ride with them to get to the storage unit and my new home.

A friend was going to give me the contact info for her maid service, but she never got around to doing that, so I'm going to hire someone from the Web to come in either Friday afternoon/evening or Saturday morning, and then the landlords will do a final walk-through sometime Saturday.

Diane said it best Cory.

Thank you so very much. 🙂

Thanks for that warm, kind, heartfelt post. You have given us the best gift, a place to connect and help each other have hope that life can be better. I am truly grateful for so much, especially this group and website. Thanks again Cory, you are a blessing to all of us.

woke up at 5:30, and could not go back to sleep so thought I will make the best of it, sad Tanner goes home today and I have to deal with being alone again. I was so pleasantly surprised at all the post on here today, makes me feel like I am part of a group, holidays have never been fun for me, just want them over with. Having all of you makes it so much better.
I am going to pay all bills today, online bill pay.
There is a bin of papers to toss or file, and want to make a can of pumpkin into something to eat with lots of cinnamon. Living room is not going to be a sorting area today, want all the crap out of here. I plan to only do maintenance the rest of this week, no messy sorting in here. I need the space to relax and maybe even do some crafting, just tired of working daily. I still have too many clothes, and if I get in the mood may put some in trunk, already have more donations in trunk. Plan to put one string of white lights up, just make it warm and cozy and cute in here. Thanks again for all the posts and especially for the kindness you have given me. Want to have a meeting tomorrow, 5PM PST?

Good Morning Friends!

I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. Remember, now matter what position you are in there are always others that would look at you and say I wish I had that life! We create a lot of our own future by the decisions we make today. Use this holiday to remind yourself how fortunate you are and be thankful for what life has given you. Just make the best decisions and choices you can and learn from those that don't work out so well. You have a ton of friends on here for support and I am so happy to see you all using this board to be open and honest. Letting go of the emotional baggage is such a huge part of healing. You are all doing great work, even with backslides, your strength and support of friends will continue to lift you up. Have a wonderful day tomorrow no matter what your plans are. You are all very special people!!!

Your Friend,
Cory Chalmers

Good morning Everybody! 😀

Wonderful to see so many posts!

Hi Dianne 🙂
Keep looking up at those stars! 😉

Hi Karl 🙂
GREAT! news about the truck and storage! 😀
Good luck with finding helpers, my fingers are crossed. 😉

Hi Diane 🙂
(((hugs)))
Wonderful that you have nice home made soup.
I will be basically alone too tomorrow but I will be with you in spirit. 🙂

Hi MayMay 🙂

Hi Roxie 🙂

Hi Jess 🙂
Drive safely and have fun. 🙂

Hi to all who read and didn't post! 😀

Another sunny with partial cloudiness cold, cold day.
Cats want to be fed but I will feed the fat little butter balls when I am good & ready to.
Woke up at 6:00am and have been reading the interwebs & drinking tea.
Have some granny smith apples and thinking about making an apple crumble.
I am still refusing to cook that small organic, free range, chemical/antibiotic free, humanely killed turkey he brought home. He is making plans to cook it himself on his big gas BBQ grill out side. ;D
Going to make myself some stir fry veggies with brown jasmine rice.
Hope everybody has a great anti-shopping spree and stays safe & warm.