Thank you Tatoulia 🙂

It really is a life saver for me to post here and meet people with too much stuff or squalor who really want their homes to get better.
It gives me a ray of hope.
I need that little bit of sunshine. 😀

As for my self care, until I feel like it
I am only doing things that I want to do
Like cat stuff and I have all the fixins for tacos
so I have been eating my favorite food daily!:D

The cats here are all being kind to me
unfortunately, not so kind to the garden lizards
so I keep running out there to rescue them. LOL 😀

You are not alone! You are much loved, Tillie. Please find even a small way to do something nice for yourself. I know it takes so much energy to live in your situation and then you expend so much on us. If I had the wherewithal, I'd be buying you a tiny house right now.

Do something for you, I will encourage you from afar. And if you need a break from being our biggest cheerleader, that is absolutely fine!!! Just don't disappear. You can post your struggles and upsets and feelings and emotions without having to address us each time, you know. You have complete AMNESTY. We all count on you and I often wonder if I'm being fair to you--as I've said in the past, I worry terribly that I take more than I give. But that's my issue, I am not looking for anything.

Lots of love. My cat also sends you love. And we've telepathically asked Marty, Scooter and the others to just "cool it," momma needs a break.

Just being here
listening to me
Keeps me from being so all alone
Makes all the difference in the world to me
((((((((HUGS))))))))

Very upsetting that the solution is to destroy three living things (you, pooping bird and tree) over moving garbage out of the garage/carport. If his stuff only gets better with age, then putting it outside should help it 'ripen' faster, no?

I am just so sorry, Tillie. Unfair. You don't deserve this. How can I help? What can I do? Let you know that you are loved and valued and as important as your tree and the birds? Mere words seem so hollow.

I have two dry shoulders if you need to cry and I'll make you a giant pillow if you'd like to hit it for a while. I will build you a place for primal screaming.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Sorry the humidity is back. 🙁
WAY TO GO! for keeping up with the routine stuff! 😀
That really makes a big difference in the overall picture.
Schedule in "ME" time for yourself and don't allow any outside forces to take it away from you.
"ME" time is very, very important for us all. (((HUGS)))

Hello Ghost ;P

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for that clear clean area under the awning!!! 😀

Well, I broached the subject of the poop mobile with him yesterday and his solution is to kill all the birds and/or cut down the beautiful apricot tree that I grew from a seed over twenty years ago.
I must admit that at that point I lost it.
Said the problem is not the birds or the tree,
"IT"S YOU!!!" >:(
He then went to sit in the garage for the rest of the day.
I spent the entire day and night sitting on the couch watching Russian car crash videos on Youtube.
Maybe today I will find some motivation to do more than just cat related tasks around here but honestly I wonder why I should bother.

Oh Well, back to our regularly scheduled program.

CriticalMass & Tatoulia, thank you both for your further insights & understandings of my handyman/mechanic! You are both spot on! Ive been so frustrated by it! Today i text him over the course of 4 hours asking him if the sulfer smell from my new hot water or the lines from it could be toxic or anything, and he kept on answering me with these scientific theories where i had to google mineral elements, etc. I kept asking him to just tell me if its toxic or what it actually means. Finally he texts its likely aluminium & toxic!!! I clearly just need to find someone else to work on these things!!!
One effect he has on me is making me far more driven to get my place fixed nice! He doesnt get im trying to improve things. Ive never been to his place, but he has hauled at least 10 tons of junk from here, and likely took a lot of that to his place! I have no doubt his place is filled with junk & everything is jerry rigged! Its almost a double edge sword cuz his insistence on doing thongs that way makes me want to improve my place more than anyone! ....well, except the love of my life that i lost at least partly cuz of my stagnant movement on this project..anyway, i got an area cleared & cleaned under the awning today!!! YEA!!! Next i am going to start looking for someone to hire for things to do with safety, etc.

☄🌙✨
🚀
🌎🛰

Oh Tillie--planning and plotting for Justin is so useless. If only your friend understood that you are looking for a life different than you know it! And your vision doesn't have room for Mr Case.

Painfully humid here all weekend. Cooler today but with high humidity. I bought a case of seltzer water while taking mom grocery shopping today. Really quenches my thirst.

I haven't done anything beyond the routine-- clean sheets and doing dishes and whatnot. Working from home tomorrow then at office rest of week. Taking Friday off to help someone who is having a dispute with the property manager at his apt--I will be able to smooth it over for him. Then I'll spend some time with him. Not my idea of a vacation day but I need to be able to keep him in his apt or he will have no place to go. I worked very hard to get him this place and he's been doing better. Mentally ill and has difficult coping and they have called him in for an angry outburst. I know how scary he can be and I don't think they are actually trying to kick him out/first outburst there. But he needs to see the seriousness of it too. Such a balance for some people. I have my own balance issues--like trying to find time for me and doing things for myself other than collapsing into bed after a long day.

Such is life. I will tomorrow assess the house. I think I need to add bathroom vanity to a maintenance schedule. Even once a week would be a large improvement.

Love to all.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
I think you are right about a lot of hoarders over complicating ways to tackle things.
I know mine does and also spends an exorbitant amount of time searching for the cheapest items to try to do it with.
Even when it comes to his health care and he wastes precious time getting the proper medical care he needs.
WAY TO GO! 😀
for catching yourself and having that great conversation with yourself. 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hope you are healing quickly (((HUGS)))
Yes, stores are wonderful places to keep things until you need them! 😀
If someday there are no longer any stores then we all will have bigger problems to deal other than going shopping.
;P

There is only a small space in the cluttered driveway for me to squeeze in the car to park.
The tree branches hang over this area.
For some reason the Doves have decided to sit in these branches and have a poop fest.
The car is now completely covered in bird poop. 🙁
That stuff dries solid and is not easy to wash off.
We have a carport that could hold three cars if it was not solidly packed full of random "stuff".
There is also a garage, but it's packed solid from floor to rafters with only a small goat path down the center.
The value of all the protected "stuff" is not as much as the value of the automobile.
Also, the car is extremely useful while all the "stuff" just sits there, never being used because he has no use or need for it.
Last time I asked him he said it was for "Justin Case".
"We could use it "Justin Case" the world as we know it ceases to exist. The stuff could come in handy for our survival."
I guess he is thinking ahead to the next Zombie Apocalypse. 🙁

Oh Well,
Time to get dressed and go wash the car, again...

Everybody have a wonderful Sunday and please let us know how you are. (((hugs)))

Good morning, everyone!

Thank you for the drive-by, CM, very thoughtful post. I do think for some people there's a connection between hoarding and having something that 'just might do the trick.' That made perfect sense to me -- helps to express creativity and uses problem-solving skills, justifies the hoard by reinforcing the 'this could be useful some day' and 'good thing I kept that'.

Lots to think about. When I did my major clean-out, I had an epiphany where I realized I don't need to warehouse stuff just in case--there are actually warehouses for stuff--called stores.

Coffe clinks!

A drive-by this will indeed be. Been needing to.

I get the thing about car repairs, boy do I get it. I'm blessed with a very conscientious and reasonable mechanic who knows how single women especially get ripped off by a lot of shops.

I wonder if some people's hoarder tendencies and jerry rigging propensities might go hand in hand. I know a guy, great friend, very serious hoarder and not even close to being able to confront or change. He likes to tinker, and a lot of things he does right, but if he gets to overthinking something, first of all it takes him forever.

Secondly, he's creative with solutions but might take many trips to various places to find materials cheaper rather than just get something at the usual stores and get going on the project. It's kind of hard to explain but I know I've done the same thing myself.

I think those of us hoarders with OCD (def. my buddy and I) and ADD (me for sure, him maybe, kind of hard to tell) tend to be that way. We can think of SO MANY possible ways to innovatively solve a problem we get bogged down in our minds. I have done it with my art and crafting for instance - seeing so many things I could do craft projects with - but always being in the state of lamenting that I have "no time" for doing art and crafts. I'm beginning to catch myself at it! 😀 And say "Uh-uh, don't even go there, put it down (or throw it away) and focus on your GOOD supplies, CM, and you will be headed toward actually accomplishing something!"

Hello Tillie! Poor Marty. Tell him I totally can commiserate with mouth and lip problems right now. Glad he will take his pink medicine without too much of a problem.

Congratulations on getting enough done that you can relax today!

Glad you at able to notice the peacefulness that comes with cleaning up and clearing out, Anony. I so enjoy the serenity of my home. I need to keep st it. I have some big projects for my Indoor Challenge Plus. Hoping to start soon.

So hot. So humid.

Take care, everyone --Tess, Diane, CM--any chance for a drive by? Pretty please with sugar on top??

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for car being fixed!!! 😀
Wishing you thousands of little pleasant surprises at how far your home has come. (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
OH! (((HUGS))) hope your lips are better now. 🙁
I found "Carmex" to be very good when I have cracked chapped lips.

Diane
Where are you? (((HUGS)))

Well, Marty (the cat) has two mouth ulcers.
Has not stopped him from eating those big scratchy green grasshoppers though.
Lady doctor gave him some of that pink amoxicillin liquid, all the cats like the taste of that.
Yesterday I was up and moving all day long.
Got a lot of little things done that I had been putting off.
Today I can relax and enjoy being so caught up on most things.
Still have to do a lot of weeding but my back is not up to that yet.
Time to get busy here. Washing my blankets today. 🙂

TTYS 🙂

Hello--nearly 9pm, just getting home from work.

Walking home the other night I forgot to put the sunscreen lip balm on and now I have terrible painful lips and some blisters are starting to form. I don't know what to do. I'm using AQuaphor and trying not to lick them. I iced them for a while at work.

So painful.

Tillie, so how did Marty enjoy his vet visit? Glad the car is fixed, Anony.

Everyone, take it easy in this heat. Diane I hope you are okay and staying cool.

Hello, happy hoarders(soon to be ex hoarders!)!
Im glad to see that yall are taking it slow and resting in the heat. That is important! And having those sporatic areas of order & serenity throughout the house & yard are so calming & encouraging! That is what is helping me the most! They are like pleasant surprises all throughout the day when i walk them! Ive gotten a few more areas cleaned up and i realize, most every area is just a few steps away from being beautifyed(?sp? maybe thats not a real word?). Anyway, my car is now fixed, and even tho my frustrations with my mechanic are understandable, i did realize what was freaking me out so much: my car seemed to be spiraling down the same out of control path that my home did....on multiple levels! That became obvious when it drove me to the city & i got calmed down and looked at it objectively. Wow.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
So nice that your home is a peaceful sanctuary for you. (((HUGS)))

Last few days I have been getting up early and starting to catch up on all the little things that I ignored when it was so darn hot and I was under the weather.
Slowly but surely some things are getting done, mostly all outdoors.
He is taking Marty (the cat) to the veterinarian this afternoon because he says Marty has bad breath. OK.
Marty has been dining on a lot of those big green grasshoppers these days and he never flosses or brushes. ;D

Thinking of you all, missing hearing from you. (((HUGS)))

Quick drive/by. Miserably hot and humidity so thick you can practically see it.

Happy to come home to a living room and dining room area that are clean, clear and not upsetting.

Will continue to chip away, but for now, must turn onAC and lay down.

Sending my regards to everyone! Thank you for helping me live in a more peaceful and much cleaner home. Some chaos and some upset in my life these days, but I can sit here calmly and happily because the whole place isn't a filthy mess, just parts of it.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Thank you.
It is very frustrating waiting when people don't seem to care that you are waiting. (((hugs)))

Hey Diane 🙂
How did today go?
How is your mouth?
(((HUGS)))

Congratulations Tatoulia! 😀
For graduating to having
"The Usual Daily tasks"! 😀
WAY TO GO! for all you're doing tonight! 😀

Indoor challenge
Cleaned bathroom sink and vanity. Changed out soap and soap dish. Really thought about how I need to clean the tub and the floor.

Going to gather up garbage now-a night early--because I want to empty out vacuum before putting it away.

Good night, unless I do something awesome that requires me to come back! It's okay to laugh.

Indoor challenge:
Cleaned toilet
Vacuumed LR and desk area

Not going to include taking out recycling, doing dishes or washing laundry anymore since those are routine events now. Going to go beyond the routine and post those things.

Now, raise your hand if you'd like me to clean the sink and vanity in the bathroom. I see the show of hands and I will do that right now.

Good night, dear hearts.

Tillie, im so sorry your worries are waking you up. I am also getting very rattled with this car fixing project. Its gone on for a week & im ready to just have it towed to the car shop in town. One thing i will say from this, is it shows me how frustrating waiting on someone else that is dragging their feet can be! I may be seeing myself a bit in this and i dont like it...maybe it will get me moving more on my own stuff...i dont know why else id be reacting this way....AAAAACK?!?!?!

Good morning, everyone! Coffee clinks.

I had s solid night's sleep, despite my many worries. That happens so rarely for me. What a gift a good night's sleep is.

I am home today, working and trying to expand my maintenance horizons. I noticed that despite being emotionally spent and world weary last night, that I still said to myself, once I do the dishes, wash my face and brush my teeth, I'll be ready for bed. Yay!

We have had better weather here but I understand the the rest of the week will be humid.so I'll need to vacuum tonight and sweep and do the other things that keep me from hating myself once it gets humid again. Clearer the house, the better I'll fare and it's all in my control.

Anony, I can understand your frustration re the car. When it comes to things like that, I like it done right.

Tillie, I hope you have a good day. So cute that Marty was ahead of you! And already napping!!That is just like a cat--when I had an outdoor cat, I would call him in, only to turn around and find he'd be watching me, ftom inside, the entire time.

Diane, hope you like your new dr!

Tess and CM--hope you are doing well--stop by when you can!

Hello everyone!

Good morning everyone 🙂

Been awake since about 4am.
Too many worries on my mind disrupting my sleep.
Anyways...
Once the sun is up I'm planning to get out and do some weed pulling.
Love these cooler mornings 😀

TTYS 🙂

Hi Everybody 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! For cleaning the yard! 😀
GREAT! that you had your say about buying new parts!

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Not creepy a all. ;D
I love you too for being the sweet loving caring person you are. (((HUGS)))

Got up early this morning, did stuff around the house then went into town.
Wandered around, went here & there.
Came home around noon and finished doing stuff around here.
Went to neighbor friends house, took in their mail, watered the house plants and refilled the humming bird feeders.
Marty (the cat) always comes over there with me to "help".
The other day he wasn't around to walk over there with me and when I got to the house Marty was already there napping on the porch.
🙂

Diane 🙂
Wishing you the best tomorrow when you see the new doctor, (((HUGS)))

Please no one get stranded out there on the road in their car? That is exactly why im trying to get the guy working on my car to take me seriously...it can be very serious!!! Do not take a chance with that, if you can at all avoid it!!! Yes, please take care!!! ~♡~♡~♡~ ...but if youre out there stranded under the night sky in the next few nights,check out the awesome meteor shower...ha ha

....ok, i finally told the handyman, if a day is spent with you messing with a part i can buy for the price of a day's pay for you, then id rather buy the part than waste the time....i got through to him in a new way....i hope its ok to say, but that glass of wine got me to just #@&#!@# say it!!!

Tillie, honest to God, I love you. I am sitting here with tears running down my face after a hard 24 hours and then there you are, worried about me getting stranded. I honestly love you, I hope that's not creepy, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

.....there is this part of me that keeps craving a man around to help with fixing my place up...i simply am not good at it...then, when i imagine him insisting on doing everything his way AND being here ALL THE TIME & me never having my own space, i go back to thinking that struggling on my own isnt so bad...maybe....i want my cake and to eat it too AND to throw it out....(sigh)

Hey there? Hello to all! Im pleased to have cleaned up the front yard! It didnt take that much effort to make a huge difference in how it looks! I dont know what my problem was with just doing it....i wish itd been like this when my ex was last here..it was all a mess cuza the water being hooked up for the washer...i gotta remember how easy it is to improve areas... Mantra for my mess: ~Clear~Clean~Color~
Yall sound like youre getting lots done, but enjoying life, too! ~☆~Awesome!!!~☆~