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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Sunday, May 23, 2004 - 10:57 pm
There was one about the strainers, but I wasn't the one who wrote it. I sent in the story on May 19th...so, I'm thinking that perhaps we're thinking of the other lady's strainer issue--which also involved HER hubby. Vee: the thing with the shoes is part of the "always ready" motto. It will also stop you from dropping knives while unloading the dishwasher and stabbing yourself in the foot...not that I have first foot experience of this. I tend to put on my tennis shoes for my zone work, and then switch to my moccasins when I am "off the timer." BTW, I am NOT at home. I decided to make DH happy, and stay over. I did insist that we go back to the house to feed the cats, and we should be home tomorrow by 9AM or so.
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Purplecow
Member
12-08-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 12:19 am
Re shoes: I keep a pair of clogs by the front door in case I need to make a quick getaway. I haven't worn shoes at home, inside or out, since my family moved to Florida in 1951. For me it's wa-a-a-y too late to start. We don't have a dishwasher and DH does the dishes so I don't have to worry about the knives. Okay, Sherrie. You asked for this. I warned you. Years ago DH and I were very active square dancers. I, and many of the women and one of the men, made all our dresses and skirts and most of DH's western shirts. Since we danced so much, most of our circle of friends were people from out square dance club. One day one of my friends called me and said that she's bought a bunch of fabric with cows on it very cheap and the cows were pretty silly looking. She was making herself a skirt and did I want her to make me one, too. I said, "Sure." So we both wore our cow skirts to the club one night and a couple of our friends loved the skirts so she made skirts for them, too. Since we now had 4 couples in cow regalia we always danced at least one tip each night (if we were wearing our skirts) as a cow square. We 4 couples began socializing outside of the club, having dinner at one another's houses and such and each one of the women always brought some little cow item for everyone. Cows were very trendy at the time and there was lots of stuff around. Eventually 4 more couples joined the cow group so that we had 2 squares and we 8 couples got together about once a month and even traveled together from time to time. Once we all drove down to Ft. Lauderdale to see Phantom of the Opera and we took 3 cruises. Okay, so I began to have a couple of little cow things around, a potholder here, a pencil topper there, a mug, stuff like that. People in my family saw the cows and thought I was collecting cows so they began giving me cows. Mind you, I wasn't collecting cows, I just happened to have some. Before long I had 2 cow pitchers, a cow canister set, cow sugar and creamer, cow message board . . . three of my grandkids even gave me a cow at Build A Bear for my birthday a couple of years ago and we all went and made it together. Each one put in a heart, so my build-a-cow has 3 hearts. Little bu little I became fonder and fonder of my cows The kids and grandkids would give my Mary's Moo Moo's for holidays and birthdays because they were affordable gifts. I had vowed that the cows would stay in the kitchen, but they're started bleeding out into the rest of the house. There are 3 in the front (guest) bathroom, a mermaid cow, a cow on a tropical island, and a Mama cow giving her children a bath. I like to think of that one as a Grandma giving her grandkids a bath. These are my bathroom cows:
So that's how it started and that's how it has continued. I've got cow placemats, cow napkins and napkin rings, a large folk art cow by the fireplace and a barrel full of stuffed cows in the closet in the sewing room but the Cow Parade cows are my favorites.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 3:17 am
Thanks, Purple and Lk, for your input regarding shoes...I'm inclined to think Purple has the right idea for me. I don't have a dishwasher either so the knife issue isn't a big problem...not that I haven't dropped one before and pretty danged close to a toe. Love your cow story, Purple. Do you still enjoy square dancing? It must have been twenty years ago when I noticed that my aunt had a few cows hanging around her kitchen. We even painted some cows once. Whenever I visited her, I took her something new in the cow department. Once when I was visiting, a friend of hers, whom she hadn't seen in some time, stopped by and asked her if she collected cows. She said that she didn't, but her niece thought that she did. Yikes! My daughter started with the bears, moose, and pine tree theme in her living room. Now I see they are "bleeding" out everywhere, too. My daughter-in-law had a bee theme going in her kitchen and I was delighted because it seemed easy to think of something to give her, but she packed them all up last week. Now what will I do? No e-mails from FlyLady yet, but it is early. Great to hear that you ventured way out of your comfort zone, Lk. Hope you'll let us know how it is going. Sherrie, thanks for the welcome. Have a great day, everybody.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 3:25 am
Did I say no e-mails? Silly me! I don't know how I can delete without reading though...I'm way too curious for that...maybe in a month of this. By the way, I obviously don't know what I'm doing because the first point up asked if I were dressed to the shoes! Nope, not even close, but I'm heading there right now. Now, really, have a good day all.
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Purplecow
Member
12-08-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 4:46 am
Does a 27 fling count if it all came out of the fridge? Vee, if the mail is overwhelming, you can switch to digest form. If you want the hourly reminders, though, that wouldn't work for you. We haven't danced in about 7 years, but we gave 11 years to it before that. That was when my home business unexpectedly took off and I didn't have the time or the energy anymore. It's also when I went from dancing 5 nights a week to sitting in front of a computer 18 hours a day and gained 80 pounds, 35 of which are still around.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 8:17 am
Purple: It most certainly DOES count.
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Purplecow
Member
12-08-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 8:54 am
Well I've had an excellent day so far then, LK. There are no outdated products, stale bread, containers with mysterious contents or beer that was left here long ago by a house guest brought a 12 pack and didn't finish it before he left. Filled 2 grocery bags from the fridge. Anyone know how long eggs last? I've also done an hour in my office, filling 4 bags. It's coming along . . .
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Sherrie
Member
11-23-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 11:26 am
Purple: What a GREAT story!!! I am glad I asked for it!! How fun that you and your husband found an enjoyment in Square Dancing...I have always secretly wanted to have a partner to share something like that with. If I had rhythm and if I could trust myself not to hurt my partners feet I think I would lean towards swing dancing. I think your cow collection, both the way it started and has grown must bring a rush of warmth to your heart every time you look at one of your pieces - no wonder they are a part of your heart!!! I also think that using your bathroom must be fun for your guests!!! Your pieces are unique and fun!!! Thank you so much for sharing! I am chuckling about you cleaning the fridge only because I thought mine was done but recently was very surprised that some things eventually expire - I am afraid to ask people if they have ever gotten sick after leaving my house...YIKES! Vee: Just another view on what Flylady means about putting on your lace up shoes every morning is that it is a subliminal message to your brain that you are up and at it, dressed to tackle the world. Some people do not need that and others do. Lk: Now I am not sure if it was your story or another's similar to it so I guess we will have to just wait and see.
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Purplecow
Member
12-08-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 11:37 am
Sherrie, when I have houseguests, I tell them to make themselves at home and avail themselves of the groceries, such as they are, but to be sure to check the expiration dates. Even Coke expires (and tastes NASTY).
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 12:36 pm
Purple: Eggs can last up to a month depending on how and where you store them in the fridge. Sherrie: Indeed, I think that is the whole shoe thing. Now that DH and I have a set place to put our shoes, we know where they are, and do not run around trying to find them, I am not as prone to wear them around the house. I am finally home. I came home to an apartment that had had a power outage, at least one sick cat, but my sink was still shiny. FBP#1's wife is coming over tomorrow around 12 to help me out on cleaning up the craft area. It was suggested that perhaps I need help of someone who has a craft area totally organized. (I refrained from pointing out that she has a room LARGER than DH's and my room for her craft stuff; she doesn't have fibro or arthritis so she never has to play "will my body cooperate today?") But, that's fine. I won't mind the company, and, once that room is done, I'll be able to finish off the others quickly. I just want to finish it by Friday.
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Spinner
Member
10-27-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 12:42 pm
Coke expires! Wow! Not that we'll ever have that problem here! Nobody but DH drinks it, but he steadily works his way through a case of the stuff and it's sure not going to go stale. Who would have thought it? Wonder if bottled water stays safe? I think I read somewhere that so long as it wasn't opened that it was ok. It does seem that everyone has flung quite successfully today! Me, today I'm flinging files on my computer into the trash; more specifically, files on the websites that I manage that I don't want online anymore. I'm bad about remembering to delete out-of-date material--I have to remind myself via calendar e-mail to do it at least weekly since Flylady hasn't seen fit to add this to her to do list. <G>
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 12:55 pm
Bottled water can develop a stale taste (which is why the best by dates are on the bottles). However, the bottle I have in front of me says the production date was 04Mar09 and it's best used by Mar 2006. So, roughly 2 years. That's about the only flinging I am doing today. I'm so tired, I can't see straight. ETA: hmmm, I'm actually working on my MCL and catalog wish lists, as well as dumping stuff next to the bed.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 1:01 pm
i've been on this board for awhile. but have ventured into this thread a little at a time. having been the cleaner of the house since i was 10, i was always a little obsessive about it. my cousin still remembers visiting me and watching me iron my money so that it was neater in my wallet. i had an alphabetized room (bed comes before closet and dresser). well... i did the wrong thing. i married a pack rat. and then... i had an adhd child. very chaotic household. when i developed fibromyalgia i soon discovered i couldn't handle some of the things i used to be able to do. other than my own personal bedroom and bathroom, my house DOES LOOK like a house from clean sweep. want me to take pictures and post them? i spent an hour each morning on my daughter's room while she went to science camp just to figure out where her floor was. i finally said today...I AM TAKING OVER! i signed up for flylady, and am hoping to learn by her advice. we are moving in a month from an apartment to a house for the first time in 17 years. i'm not taking this mess with me! and these two are going to learn how to live where i can invite people over. a journey has begun!
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Spinner
Member
10-27-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 1:18 pm
Wishing you the best, Landi! I think you'll be able to make your move a lot more successfully once you start "flinging" stuff, but please remember that your house didn't get this way overnight and you may not be able to get everything sorted out before you move. And that will be ok; you'll be changing your attitudes--it's amazing what a difference that will make. One attitude I've changed is to realize that everything I should have around me is stuff that I've chosen because I love it and need it and it's my pleasure to get to take care of it so it'll be with me for a reasonable time. If I'm "taking care of" something and hating doing it, I think about whether I want to have this item at all anymore and that's helped me decide what to pitch. I used to be obsessive about cleaning too--when I got around to it I was obsessive, there was so much to do!--and the idea that I'm only going to do 15 minutes or I'm not going to take out more than I can sort or put back in an hour has really helped, too. I put off much-needed painting a bathroom because I just didn't want to work on it all day, then I realized that I could just block off and paint what I could do in an hour, and gradually, it's getting done, and I'm enjoying it. What's more, because I'm not rushing to get the dratted (because now I'm sick of it!) project done, what I've painted looks better than my painting usually looks--no drips, no paint on the floor and on my shoes, etc. The other attitude change that's really helped, and it took awhile to get it, is that now I save a lot of time each day and prevent unnecessary work (time that can be used for fun!) by not making such a mess as I go. This too was happening because I was hurrying too much to get too much done in the time I had but now I remember to put the cooking spoon on a plate, carry a damp wipe in my waistband so I can wipe my hands before I get my food-laden hands on the refrigerator door handle, pouring out liquids into a bowl that's on a plate in case it splashes--that sort of thing. I really don't need to clean the kitchen nearly as much because I'm not dirtying it up so much. So, I guess what I'm saying is to not go at FLYing the way you used to clean--working till you drop, determined to get done in a ridiculously short time for the size of the project, trying to always be perfect--you'll burn out again. Baby-steps really work in the long run because you change your thinking about all this. Please let us know how you're doing. Everybody here has helped me so much with their stories and their support; they'll do the same for you.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 3:32 pm
Landi: Welcome aboard. We're here to help, support, or guide--you have but to ask. If you want to post your before photos, go for it. I posted them of my living room stack. Soon I hope to be able to present the finished photos. Today I am so wiped out from last night, that I haven't done that much:- Cleaned out and organized one shelf in the kitchen pantry--1 down, 3 to go)
- Cleaned 1/3 of two shelves in the hall linen closet, and put the bottles of soda and water in there to get them out of DH's office
- Stripped bed; washed, dried, and replaced mattress pad (two of our felines opted to leave us not-so-pleasant gifts on our bed and on my robe)
- Made bed with clean sheets
- Washed, dried, folded and put away sheets
- Sorted three more loads of laundry to wash when the power restrictions are lifted. (I figured I violated them washing the mattress pad and sheets; I don't need a totally out of control electric bill
- Responded to various messages on various boards
- Worked on my MCL List
- Unloaded, reloaded, and put away dishes from the dishwasher
- Rescued a friend's plant by repotting it
- Worked on pages for an embodiment altered book/journal round robin
- Cleaned out the floor by my bed
But, I did/am doing all of these things slowly, in 15 minute increments. It's not all or nothing. Consider it a program of grays--not black and white absolutes.
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Melfie1222
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 5:51 pm
Hi all, I haven't had a chance to read back through all the posts yet, but I just signed up on flylady.com last night. This evening when I got online I had over 20 flylady emails. Holy guacamole! Is this a regular thing or do you get more emails at the beginning to catch you up or something? I feel like my inbox is very cluttered. 
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 6:18 pm
Melfie, What you mostly have are reminders of things to do during the day. Those you can delete quickly. For example, do I know where my laundry is? Yup, in the hallway, waiting for me to start working on it.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 6:54 pm
When I got the message about the 27 Fling Boogie, I was shocked...couldn't imagine that I had that much around that needed tossing. Then I checked in here and saw where Purple mentioned tossing refrigerator stuff... most of problem solved. To round it off, I found a wad of expired coupons so I made it to 27 and then some. What a sense of accomplishment! I wonder if deleting e-mail would count? By the way, I had an electrician coming to the house for 8 a.m. this morning and he came 20 minutes early. I should have been dressed! I was definitely not wearing my shoes, but I was wearing a towel...thank goodness. I am going to learn to get dressed first and to lock the porch door!
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Melfie1222
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 7:05 pm
Thanks, Lk, once I started going through them I realized I would have known that if I had read the very first one. My inbox is clean now, ahhh. I haven't started in the zone thing yet. I was off work today and spent a few hours just tidying up in general. I also concentrated on dusting and organizing my CD shelves. Tomorrow I am going to pull out of one of my closets the 3 or 4 big shopping bags full of gift wrapping supplies and finally get them organized into the Rubbermaid thing I bought a while back that has been sitting empty. 
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 7:21 pm
Vee: I anticipate that by June, I will be hard-pressed to do a 27 Fling Boogie daily. At that point, I'll likely do a Fling once a week--newpapers, envelopes, etc. BUT, that said, I have over 21000 emails in my Personal Filing Cabinet on AOL to sort through. Melfie: At this point, your Zone work consists of doing 2 15-minute deluttering sessions--not Zone cleaning. Babysteps, m'dear, babysteps.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 8:05 pm
we (my dd - holly) and i, each did a 27 fling boogie, we were getting rid of winter stuff that needs to be donated. 27 was easy for both of us. i'll remember the fridge idea though. we also did her drawers and closet! i'm going to do my best along with working a full time job. i did order the control journal. hopefully it will be here soon.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, May 24, 2004 - 8:36 pm
Landi, it will be: her shipping is pretty quick. I'm still working on my control journal.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 4:41 am
Oh so much to learn and so little time...I know baby steps. I am dressed this morning...before 7 a.m. too, but that's because the electrician was here working at 6:30...I'm sure my neighbors are going to love me for this. Control journal? Wow, that really appeals to my conrol freak nature!
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 6:16 am
Flylady calls it a Control Journal, I call it my Household Notebook. Everything that has to do with the care and maintenance of the apartment, DH, or the felines is in my notebook. When I am gone, DH has a smaller version to keep him sane.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 9:22 am
I have to spend 15 minutes in my bedroom? Hmmm, that bed is going to get awfully tempting...I've already weeded out the books for last weekend's book sale. I'll find something to do I'm sure...taking the feather duster with me. That journal idea sounds great. I've always wished for a place to say where I put the screens or the fan or whatever. That would be perfect for it. Landi, imagine if everyone in the house got into the fling thing? It sure would cut down on the clutter quickly. You're doing a great job to teach your daughter all the good tricks.
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