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Archive through December 01, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Home and Garden (ARCHIVES): TVCH's Home & Life Organization (ARCHIVES): Archive through December 01, 2004 users admin

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Catfat
Member

02-27-2002

Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 1:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Is anyone else here? Laurie, how are you doing?

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Thursday, November 25, 2004 - 3:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Looks like Laurie is still out of commission. Hopefully she'll feel at least up to enjoying her holiday dinner.
Geesh, it's quiet around here with all these Yanks tackling their turkeys.
Oh, I marred my freshly painted bathroom wall today with an aluminum handle. Could've cried, then DH reminded me of the Eraser and low and behold mars are gone.
Another neat product is Goo-be-Gone. Ever struggled to get rid of the persistent glue from stickers? This is the stuff to do it with. No fuss, no muss, just gone.


Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Friday, November 26, 2004 - 8:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lum, did you miss us Yanks yesterday? Think of all the fun you could have had on the board with reduced traffic levels!

I've told this story somewhere so I hope it wasn't here, but the other day when I was cleaning at my mom's (since I prefer cleaning and she loves to cook), I used her Mr. Clean thingy and basically used it all up. She was not happy...guess she was "saving" it or something. I just told her that it had died for the cause. But it sure did a good job on her sinks and counters, stove and teakettle, without causing me too much elbow grease.

We just found some knock-offs of the erasers at the dollar store so I am hoping that they are just as good. I'll let you know if they turn out to be.

Have a fun day, all!

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 9:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just reporting back that the knock-offs may not work quite as well, but they do work pretty darned good and for a buck compared to Mr.Clean's prices, I'd say it's worth it. So, if you have a dollar store near you, give them a try. The brand I bought is called "Scrub It" distributed by Greenbrier International, Inc. of Chesapeake, Virginia.

Getting the bed linens laundered today so we'll all have fresh bedding this evening...one of my favorite things! Other than that it's going to be a lazy day spent reading especially since the Clubhouse is still quiet as a church.

Have a good weekend, all!




Catfat
Member

02-27-2002

Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 4:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hubby said I could order a few hundred dollars worth of art supplies for myself for Xmas.
Hooo-eeeeeee. I didn't even slow down. Got on to Jerry's Artarama and ordered everything I am running low on before he changes his mind.
Hot damn, life is good. (Catfat purrs and hugs herself)
I don't even feel obligated to "buy something for the grandchildren" while I'm at it. This is just for me.

Biloxibelle
Member

12-21-2001

Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 10:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hiya clean people . Thanksgiving went off without a hitch here. Mostly thanks to y'all and flylady the house was already company ready so all I had to do was cook (my passion).

Vee, I haven't forgotten about the pictures. They are still hanging around in my camera. But on the upside I've taken some more LOL.

Laurie, I hope you are feeling better by the time this post hits the airwaves.

Lumbele, what a wonder idea for a pantry. I have 2 linen closets for one bath. Now I can turn one into an extra pantry for all my baking supplies.

Reader, Yay 8 or 9 bags is great you are 8 or 9 bags ahead of me. That first is the hardest isn't it? Even if it is a baby step it will get easier.

Schoolmarm, I just love seeing your posts. I guess I should confess that my travels come from reading about your travels. Being homebound as much as I am I have always enjoyed reading about the places you see.

Catfat, we live in an artist community here. Isn't it wonderful? Although I have to admit I know very little about art my favorite place to be on Saturdays is in downtown Ocean Springs. They just had the Peter Anderson Festival I never miss going to that.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 7:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Biloxibelle, how terrific to see your post this morning. You've been so busy with getting out of CHAOS that you've been MIA. I'm so glad to hear that Thanksgiving went off without a hitch because of your new-found babysteps, etc. Hope that you can use Lum's idea about turning a linen closet into an extra pantry...I'm still considering it myself and, with a lot of boogying, I could.

I'm going to be in a big mess tomorrow because I have a dirty little secret. All my Christmas things are stored in my bedroom...under my bed or behind it...yup, I have a big old antique bed so I created a little closet of sorts behind it. No more! I am not storing the junk of the ages any longer so tomorrow, when we get out all the holiday things, we are boogying all that extra stuff. It's either going in a box for the kids to paw through and grab what they want or it's being donated to the Salvation Army store. This is the worst thing to face...some of it is going to the dump! Think of me!

Catfat, I remember that you are an artist. Do you think that your dh is gifting you with art supplies because he is delighted with your progress through the house? I wouldn't be a bit surprised. I bet you have lots of plans for your supplies...would love to see them one day...the results that is!

Hiya, Lum, Schoolmarm, Reader, and all you flutterers out there...

Laurie, you're still very much on my mind and in my prayers. Hurry back as soon as you can!

Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
After seeing some things on TV recently and reading a bit, I am beginning to wonder if I have Adult-ADD. I am living in chaos emotionally, spiritually, and physically, and this has gone on for the 9 1/2 years that I've been married.

Vee, your post about your Christmas stash parallels what I did this holiday weekend in terms of trying to deal with my Christmas hoard. I have one average-sized closet in each of the four corners of our bedroom/living room (it's the same room, *sigh*, which is a lament for another post--or a dozen--)and one is devoted to clothes the children have yet to grow into AND my Christmas gifts and wrap.

I've been driving myself crazy since 11/25, since that was the expiration date on my download of Norton Internet Security 2002 (yes, it's two years old, but I've updated it twice/renewed it via the 'net) and I was POSITIVE that I bought NIS 2005 at Wal-mart two or three weeks ago. I checked everywhere that I might have stashed the software and then finally tackled the dreaded "Christmas closet." (saga to continue...)

Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
In emptying the "Christmas closet" in my quest to find the errant NIS software, I double-checked the contents of four large Rubbermaid totes full of clothing for the kids, found my winter coat (won't that come in handy pretty soon?), found the "extra" birthday gifts that I held back from my kids in Sept/Oct because they had enough and were acting greedy--and they're already wrapped, which is a bonus! and a couple of small items I had bought for my husband for Christmas/his Xmas-Eve birthday, and chose from my stash of goodies some gifts appropriate for our family gift exchange, my step-grandkids, and was able to finish wrapping everything I've bought to date for my husband and kids--and for everyone else on my shopping list.

The point of this post is that I've discovered a couple of things about myself:

I hold onto too much junk, which contributes to the clutter in my home. I keep scraps of wrapping paper in addition to the new rolls I have, I keep all my gift bags and ribbons/bows--even though I don't very often USE ribbons/bows on packages because they're so easily crushed. I have to let some stuff go.

Last year I trashed all the shirt boxes that I normally hoard like an obsessed squirrel, so I didn't have that mess to contend with for the past 11 months. I bought several packages of nice, crisp NEW shirt boxes at the dollar store, 2/$1 of the big size and 3/$1 of the small size and spent only $5 and had plenty of boxes for the gifts I needed to wrap.

See, I've been so tight with money for so many years that I've been cluttering my house with stuff so I won't have to pay for anything that isn't "necessary." Wow, it was an eye-opener for me with the shirt boxes. God only knows what else I might be able to part with! I have lessons to learn, ladies. Please share your wisdom and advice with me.

Thanks for bearing with me through this long, rambling post.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 12:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Glad everyone (hopefully Laurie, too) had a great Gobble Fest.
Yep, Vee, if it were up to just us Canucks to keep this site going, we'd be in big trouble.LOL
Will be keeping an eye out for those knock-off erasers, too. My frugal little self is also irked by the price of the Mr. Clean variety, especially considering how quickly they disintegrate. That's why I have been saving mine for those special jobs(and then not thinking of using them for what they have been mainly intended like marks on walls.LOL).
Will be thinking of you tomorrow while you dig out from under all those Christmas decorations.
Yay, Catfat, atta girl!!!!!!!!! A smart woman doesn't give a man the chance to forget his generosity, and the grandbabies are gonna clean up at Christmas time anyway.
Biloxi, isn't it grand not to have to exhaust ourselves before holidays with major cleaning? Now we can just jump into the fun stuff. Yippeeee!
Can't take credit for the linen closet/pantry idea. That goes on Flylady's account. As dismissive as I first was of the idea....it sure worked out nicely.
Sia, I left a "hello, Stranger!" message in your folder a while ago. Guess I should have "refreshed".
Sounds like you are stuck in quite a few holes - again - still? It's so hard to make the initial step to change what we don't like, isn't it? These last few days I've been wondering whether I ought to have my head examined, because I got mad at how I was feeling and decided to tackle some demons. Hope I didn't bite off more than I can chew at a time, but am still glad I started to steamroll myself. I sincerely hope you will find a way to take a stab at improving your life and decluttering works for the mind as well as for the house, I have discovered. Babysteps!!! - the ever appropriate mantra. You know where to find me for an ear/shoulder. Hang in there!

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 12:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
"...if it were up to just us Canucks to keep this site going, we'd be in big trouble.LOL" And vice versa, Lumbele! Can't imagine life without all my good Canadian buddies.

Oh my, there's lots of good stuff going on in here today and, once again, it's Lum to the rescue with her delightful words of encouragement. Babysteps is the best word in the world...use it all the time...believe in it to the nth power...think it is possible to accomplish anything one baby step at a time!

Sia, I love your story about your Christmas stash...especially the part about finding your winter coat! LOL...thank goodness, eh? Sometimes everything comes together at just the right moment, especially if we're trying. Your insights are invaluable because they will lead you just where you need and want to go. I truly believe this. Please keep us informed about where that may be!

Lum, are you not sharing what you're up to on purpose? Because, you know, curious minds and all that... Your head, by the way, is just fine! Really! This is Dr. Vee speaking and she knows these things.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 1:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh no, not on purpose, Vee. It just seems lately I am constantly busy with "fix Lumbele" errands and chores.
When my back was so bad I decided enough and called the chiropractor. First 3 times a week, now we are down to twice and he is getting rougher, so I must be getting better. Wish someone would inform my spine of that.
Then I decided to quit smoking. That comes with a whole lot of woes and changes and bitchy moods.
When I got the go-ahead I made an appointment for a massage (first time on Friday, goooooooooooooosh that felt goooooooooooood). Then, thanks to all that candy sucking, I ended up with one goin'-to-town pair of pants that would still fit. So I bullied Mr. Chiro into letting me do more than just stretching/relaxing exercises. Got an appointment with Curves on Tuesday. Just wait til they see how out of shape I am. Yikes! Get ready for the "oooooooooh, I hurt all over song".
But dear old Mum came to the rescue. During our weekly chat I told her I was busting out of my clothes and was down to one pair of pants. Didn't an 80-y.o. woman drag herself into town, bought me a pair of pants and airmailed them. (I have a hard time getting clothes here that fit well. Apparently North American butterballs are short-legged). Friday morning I noticed a car in the driveway at 6:30. Was still in my jammies, so I had to wait for the car to leave to see what business it had at our house. Found a parcel with new pair of pants, so I gave them a good shake and put them on to go to town.LOL
Now this guy who is starting the Ha-ra distributorship for Canada is after me to sell the product. Haven't said "no" yet, but not "yes" yet either. Still mulling it over.
So, Dr. Vee, you just may have to revise that diagnosis after all.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 4:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Nope, no revisions!

Wow! your mom is going to renew my faith in mothers everywhere. How wonderful is she?!

Sorry to hear that you are not the "standard" North American butterball. Omigosh, that made me howl right out loud. Sad to report that I am your standard version, but I'd like to try your problem, if I could, to see if I like it any better than my own! Don't you wish that ladies' clothing came in waist and length measurements just like men's? It sure would make it easier.

What does your dh say about the Ha-ra distributorship? Could be opportunity knocking. (I'm leaving that line wide open for ya 'cuz I know you can use it!)

Sounds as if you have taken yourself on as a project...and why not? Who deserves it any more than you do? You just keep taking good care of yourself and don't let anyone talk you out of it. Curves, here she comes!

I tried a massage last spring and loved it that day. Ached like crazy for the next week so haven't thought about getting another one. How have you been since the massage? (Just call me the "set-up" gal!)

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 4:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh, you are not supposed to tempt me like that, Vee.

Yeah, Mum is a pretty good egg most of the time. I felt so guilty though knowing how hard it is for her physically. In future I'll have to be more careful about what I say.
Having longer legs doesn't improve things one bit. Someone ought to invent clothes that you can pull into whatever shape, width and length you need, male or female.
DH is supportive in whatever I decide, although I suspect he wouldn't mind being rid of me occasionally, esp. right now when he is walking on eggshells. Without her his wife does bite, dontchaknow.
The massage was great. She said I was one tight knot from head to toe, even my face. Guess I've been gritting my teeth too much lately. That evening I was a little sore, but that was all. Will go back next week for seconds.


Catfat
Member

02-27-2002

Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 11:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oo-oo-oo lots of nice long posts from lots of people.
Sia, I am sure I have adult ADD, and I am 62 years old, been married for 44 years, and STILL can't get it together. But I am making tiny progress, little bits and pieces at a time. But I have been holding on to this junk for the whole time. We moved from Arizona to Washington and I didn't sort any of it, just boxed it up, hauled it up here (took three huge U-hauls to do it) put it into paid storage for 8 years, never looked at it, build a huge barn to stack it in, never looked at it---and on and on. This mountain of muck controls my whole existance.
I have finally started scratching the surface, thanks to Flylady.
Which brings me to the reason for this letter--boxes and boxes of Xmas stuff. I could never find my Xmas things (paper, tree deco, lights, etc.) so I would just go out and buy more and then stash all that, including used bows and ribbons and even tags.
The point being that I, too, hold on to too much stuff because I am always afraid I won't have the money to buy more. I still have all my pre-Y2K boxes. I keep saying I am going to give it away to the food bank, but most of the food has expired by now. It actually causes me physical pain to throw "good" things away.
Hubby also bought me a couple more rubbermaid bins so I can put all the good Xmas stuff in those and haul the rest away.
Baby steps.
Its so nice to see everyone one this board chatting away, maybe we are all feeling a little better this time around.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 11:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yay, Catfat!!!! You're getting into the groove!
Your extra Christmas stuff may be appreciated by different non-profit clubs for their decorations or a soup kitchen, those kind of places. Their budgets usually don't allow for much in the decor department.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 3:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Still in a muddle of Christmas lights...it's general chaos and confusion around here. The sink is still shining however! I'll be back tomorrow...I hope!

Catfat
Member

02-27-2002

Monday, November 29, 2004 - 7:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good idea, Lum. We have a gatheringplace for teenagers here called The Boiler Room. They are always looking for useful deco, dishes, art supplies, etc.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 8:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay, add me to the list of adults with attention deficit...I've got something and it might just as well be that!

My dd was just recently diagnosed with this so she is feeling a lot better now that she has been prescribed some meds and is doing counseling. She was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, but we had no idea that the adult ADHD diagnosis would come about because she functions at an extremely high level...she is the schedule manager for an entire factory of over 500 employees on three different shifts. It's quite the feat of logistics to get everyone where they belong doing the job they do best, etc. But at some point, she became aware that she was not coping as well as she felt she should, hence the diagnosis. I'm so proud of her for not slipping into denial about it.

She has always been so darned good at spinning plates that I never had a clue, which makes me feel awful that I didn't recognize this when she was a kid. She is like me in that she can't stand chaos...it just makes her feel worse. So that's what leads me to believe that I probably could get the same diagnosis. Interesting to see how it manifests in different ways.

I have been sidelined from Christmas decorating by having Christmas tree lights fail. Went out to buy more last night and one of the new sets failed also. Must be a day to spend at the Clubhouse in that case!

Did start a box on the porch, which has several boogied items going somewhere as long as it's not here. My sis has put up some complaints to which I simply replied, "If you want that stuff, even though we are not ever going to use it, you can store it in your room because I'm not storing it in mine." That seemed to work very well.

I can hardly wait to get my hands on the rest of that stuff behind my bed. It's actually giving me a rush to think about it...better than booze, eh?

Have a great day, Catfat, Lumbele, Biloxi, Marm, Reader, Laurie, Sia, and all you lurking flutterers!



Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 3:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yay, good for your DD, Vee! Unbelievable how she has coped all this time, isn't it. Don't beat yourself up about missing the symptoms, she obviously learned to handle things very well despite the ADD.
You, little devil you! Scaring your poor fluttering sis with clutter for her room. Devilish, yet effective. Wish that would work around here.LOL
Hope you'll see light at the end of your bed soon. One disadvantage though - now you'll end up having to vacuum back there. Still, a much cheaper and healthier high than booze.
Speaking of healthy, I am slated to "curve" my first round on Friday.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL, Lumbele! I can always count on you for a chuckle!

Hope to get to the rest of those ornaments out today...then get my vacuum cleaner going for sure.

Have any of you been reading any of the testimonials from FlyLady lately? They have been very good.

Also noticed that Marla is suggesting shopping early because they are shutting down December 17 or something like that. I have actually been debating whether some dusters would be too offensive a gift for some of my folks this year. I know that Marla suggests that no one give her book Sink Reflections as a gift because she feels it has the potential to hurt feelings. Any thoughts about this?

Happy fluttering everybody!

Biloxibelle
Member

12-21-2001

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Popping in before starting the next project. I decided to go with the pantry idea and give it a twist. I have a ton of crystal that belong to my mom and grandmother. Not to mention my DIL to be works in the high end retail store at one of the casinos here so she get me great dishes, silver serving pieces, stemware and so on. I have it all tucked here, there, everywhere. So I am going to turn my linen closet into a crystal and such closet. That will free up a lot of room in my kitchen.

Vee, I'm glad you checked in, sorry about the christmas lights I hate those things. I use to work on them forever now I just chunk them.

Lumbele, you come up with the best idea for things . I will also be looking through my Christmas stuff and will give some to the soup kitchen and the church and the Home of Grace.

Sia, I am so glad to see you checking in. Don't beat yourself up you will get it done all in good time. I used to save all that stuff to but I am learning. It will all come together for you.

Well, off to the linen closet for now. I will check back later.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Glad to be of some use, Vee.
Testimonials I haven't read in months, just don't have the time/patience to read them when there is stuff going on at TVCH. I got my priorities straight, ya know.
If you approach it from the point of wanting to make life easier for Aunt Hilda so she doesn't have to twist herself silly to dust or so short stop Cousin Beulah won't need a ladder, I don't think it would be considered offensive to give the ostrich feathers. They'll be kissin' your feet after using those gadgets for a few weeks.

Yay, Biloxi!!! Just think, now you may even use it on special occasions since you'll know where to find it. Yippee, a Chrystal Christmas at Biloxi's!
Now that's what Germans have their wall units (Schrank) for. All those good dishes, glasses and other stuff that doesn't have a place. Ours has had to move across the Atlantic and from coast to coast a couple of times. The stress is showing, but I am not giving it up for all the tea in China!

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Did all the fonts at the Clubhouse just change?

I'm looking up "Schrank." Having trouble imagining what that looks like.

Lum, you're absolutely correct. There may be initial shock, but once anyone has used that feather duster, there won't be any problem with why it was given. It's like having a favorite tool and just wanting to share it.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think I feel like an idiot. No, I definitely feel like an idiot (or dumbkoff as my German professor used to fondly say). You're about to see why!
s s s s

So a "Schrank" is the German word for "cabinet"?