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Archive through February 09, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions: 2004 Aug - Oct: TVCH's Home & Life Organization (ARCHIVES): Archive through February 09, 2004 users admin

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Spinner
Member

11-21-2003

Friday, January 30, 2004 - 7:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I signed up yesterday with the Flylady--thanks, LK for mentioning it. The number of e-mails may get to me, but I get a lot already and I'm pretty quick at skimming and deleting what I can't use today. I have to say that I found it rather endearing that someone (even a bulk e-mailer; how pitiful is that, LOL!) would e-mail me and ask if I remembered to eat lunch. I'm one of those people who forgets to eat when she should, leading to much junk food at night. I've been known to get out food for supper and realize that I bought meat (like chops, steak; something that's sold singly) for my dear husband (and he is a dear) and forgot to get some for myself. So I appreciated the reminder. We're pretty clutter-free here; the anti-clutter-bug bit us about this time last year and our clutter areas (mostly the garage and a couple of closets) are in great shape now, but this summer there were three weeks in a row where we put so much stuff out for the trashman that he filled his front bin (huge) three or four times, dumping it into the back crusher in between. He says that usually he can do the entire long street before he has to dump even once. The effect on us both, to drive into such a neat garage, has been so refreshing!

Anyway, I downloaded and printed the sort of "basic information" from the flylady site and I think I can make good use of the routines. I work at home (develop and manage websites) so I know I'm not taking care of myself the way I did when I went out to work.

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 7:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Spinner: Good job!

I've been sitting here in tears most of the day. I know there is a lot to do around here. I know that Himself will not help with it. I know that I am supposed to do it as a blessing to my family.

And yet, as I plow through the stuff, I keep thinking that this shouldn't kept being thrown in my face for not being done.

I am, mostly, working very hard on this stuff. It does take time. I have fewer boxes than I did when I posted the picture, and I am gaining control over the areas.

Mostly, though, I think I'm just depressed. Himself was invited to a Superbowl party, even though we had planned on watching it here, and I was going to make Himself Mini Man Burgers from Good Eats Episode EA1G16: The Man Food Show. I wasn't invited as the couple as decided that I'm not social enough.

I wonder if FlyLady has something for that.

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 9:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just checking in to report that I have done nothing whatsoever to reduce clutter and/or get organized this weekend. I did print, corelate and staple 200 copies of a 30 (both sides!) page class notes for a seminar next week. I'm proud to report that there was ample space on the floor in front of the TV to park them until UPS picks them up on Tuesday.
notes

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 9:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
(((LK)))
Don't let the turkeys get you down, Sweetie. Hope you enjoyed having the house to yourself and didn't clean or organize ANYTHING!}

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 10:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Purple: It looks FANTASTIC!

I ended up preparing four red bell peppers for the dehydrator; setting up the dehydrator outside; starting the dehydrator; unloading the DW; putting the dishes away; reloading the DW; running the DW; cleaning out the fridge; unloading the DW; putting the dishes away; reloading the DW; running the DW; cleaning out the freezers; unloading the DW; putting the dishes away; reloading the DW; washing/drying/folding laundry; taking down 2 25-pound garbage bags to the dumpster; sorting through stuff by my side of the bed; talked to two of Himself's clients; trying to arrange a ride home for Himself when his ride was too intoxicated; arranged the ride, only to have Himself cancel it as his ride would be sober at midnight to bring him home; and then watching a movie.

Sherrie
Member

11-23-2003

Monday, February 02, 2004 - 12:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have my computer back!!! Hurray - it needed a lot of work done. I had a virus. I am ready to get back into it. I have been keeping things clean but have not been tackling any of the "extra's". I am hoping to find some motivation.

Laurie - I read about the show you watched and what kind of clues they would find in your home....that is one of the main reasons I got started with the flylady and here. After watching all of the shows on right now about detectives I looked around and was horrified. I also started thinking about what would happen if my family had to come into my house and go through my stuff. The horror of that thought got me up and decluttering!

I am so glad to see that others are finding their way here! It is fun to have a place to go and chat with others!!!

Regarding the emails from Flylady....I like them. They keep me focused and I can easily delete. I use the delete button as a reward. I can't tell you how many times the "Where is your laundry?" one comes and I have to get up to finish it. I am always so happy when it is folded and put away!!!

Superbowl is a tough day much like Valentines Day or New Years Eve. If you do not have a party to go to or people to hang out with it can be lonely. I watched my nephews so that my Sister could go to Vegas with her friends and My BIL could go to a party. As much as I love my nephews and enjoy them I really was surprised by how grumpy I was all day. I guess I felt like I was missing something. Laurie, it sounds like you put the day to good use and turned it into a positive. I, on the other hand, completely blew my diet and ate junk with the kids!!!

Happy Decluttering and Cleaning to all!!!



Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Monday, February 02, 2004 - 4:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I agree, Sherrie. I too like getting the emails from flylady. I'm finding myself a lot more focused, and getting stuff done around the house in small chunks that aren't taking up a huge chunk of my day in total. I'm especially appreciating the ones that remind me to eat and drink water.

I'm sure my husband wonders about these little bursts of cleaning/organizing, but I think we'll let him stay curious for now. <G> (We both work out of the house, so while we're together most of the day, most days, we work independently on whatever and don't keep checking with each other unless we're working on one of our joint projects.)

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Monday, February 02, 2004 - 6:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yeah, Spinner!!! Hope it works for you, too. You can have the emails changed to come once a day in digest form as well, if you rather not get one at a time. I don't even open them all. If I am busy the testimonials get dumped first, then I weed out the ones reminding me of stuff I have already done or don't intend to do. The rest I don't necessarily bother to open (the subject line tells me what it's about) but leave in the mailbox until it has been taken care of or until the day is over and I skipped it.LOL
Llkunkel, don't allow others to bring you down. You are slowly doing something you want to do for your family (If His Nibs doesn't appreciate it, well he can kmb), but the real reward will be the pride that you will feel in your accomplishments. Don't let anyone take that away from you.
Purple, it wasn't that you were just goofing off (not that there is anything wrong with that either. We all need a break occasionally). Flylady works for some of us, but I am not very religious about following her orders. I use what works for me and ignore the rest.
Congrats on getting all that work done and having room to park it all. That's a great start!
P.S. Hope you will be rewarded with a cute UPS guy tomorrow.
Sherrie, I am so glad to hear your computer is cured. Remember, babysteps. You'll be surprised how quickly those 15 mins etc add up to some real progress. When I started I had to rein myself in, so I wouldn't burn out and then give up. In this case, slow is actually a good thing.
Sassy, thanks for the giggle.

Sherrie
Member

11-23-2003

Monday, February 02, 2004 - 8:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I find that at the end of the day I have gotten so much more done by using the 15 minute game. I have been giving myself 15 minutes on the computer, 15 minutes doing something around the house and 15 minutes of exercise. It has really helped. I am always surprised at how much I can get done.
I have not opened it yet but I went to the site and downloaded the detail cleaning list. Of course I have not opened it because I am waiting for some inspiration. I found so much to do with the general cleaning and 27 Fling Boogies.

Spinner: I would LOVE to know what your husband is thinking......how funny that you have not told him!!! You have to share if he ever comments.


Sherrie
Member

11-23-2003

Monday, February 02, 2004 - 8:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele: You are so right about baby steps....in the long run you do get so much more done AND feel good enjoying it!

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 6:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Purple reporting in. I still haven't called UPS, but I have a three day window. I wouldn't want the boxes to get to the hotel too long before I get there myself, right? I did send DH to get the boxes at the box warehouse and I made them up, but not taped them. Must at least clean up the inky mess on the kitchen counter that came from refilling ink tanks a gazillion times. Sigh . . .

Catfat
Member

02-27-2002

Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 8:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LK-This is Wednesday and I hope you are not still all depressed and crying from what sounds like a truly humiliating Sunday. I haven't been reading this thread lately and here I find you are in this sad state. Your Himself sounds exactly like mine--whatever you are doing now, it is too little too late and why didn't you get this crap done last week/month/year. Never mind that you have crippling health problems, if you are able to crawl, you should be able to get to another box to sort it out. Grrrrrr.
What was so upsetting to me about your post was the fact that the two of you had planned a day together, and when he gets an invitation to go somewhere to which you are specifically not invited, he jumps at the chance and you are left at home alone.
If you are like most of us, you weren't even able to just sit and have a quiet, alone day, but you were fretting about getting more stuff done, because you can see that you are making a little progress, and wondering why can't I get on with this.
A very similar thing happened to me, only my husband went on a picnic with his soccer team. I managed to go out into my studio instead of plowing through any more boxes.
I also went today to our local wiccan store and bought a new batch of goddess candles for my altar. Also got a smudge and some tibetan incense twists. I really need to do a clearing in my space.
I'll feel better.
I have been working on my clutter 15 minutes at a time, then I have to sit down. Everytime in finish even the smallest task, I put a gold star in my control journal, from a packet of gold stars left over when I first started teaching in 1976, which I just found in a box of old school stuff that was stored in the barn.
You are braver than I am, I wouldn't have the nerve to post a phote of my heaps.
Hang in there, girlfriend. Baby steps.

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 11:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thursday:
1. Boxes picked up by cute UPS guy.
2. Inky mess on kitchen counter cleaned up.
3. Dry cleaning needed for Tuesday taken in.
4. 3 pints of black ink ordered.
5. Hair appointment made for tomorrow.
6. Hair dresser's telephone # entered in PDA so I never have to tear apart the house looking for it again.

Can I play now?
image

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 1:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
ptParty Time, Purple!!!!!!!

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 3:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If only . . . there's still that laundry that's been in the washing machine for a week . . .

Electrician coming tomorrow to hang a new chandelier and put a new fixture in the kitchen. These little crisies are GOOD for me, right?

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 4:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sherrie wrote: "I also started thinking about what would happen if my family had to come into my house and go through my stuff. The horror of that thought got me up and decluttering!"

That's always my fear too. I hate the idea of anyone looking through my stuff and saying 'Wow, Laurie was a pig, wasn't she?'

Spinner wrote: "I'm sure my husband wonders about these little bursts of cleaning/organizing, but I think we'll let him stay curious for now. <G> (We both work out of the house, so while we're together most of the day, most days, we work independently on whatever and don't keep checking with each other unless we're working on one of our joint projects.)"

That's about how we work here too. What I have discovered, tho, is that it is often the case that I am working and DH is playing a game on Netives. I've done his last five assignments, and he keeps asking when I am going to get the rest of the write-ups done. I thought about telling him I would get them done when I got them done, but decided that sounded hostile.

Lumbele wrote: "don't allow others to bring you down. You are slowly doing something you want to do for your family (If His Nibs doesn't appreciate it, well he can ), but the real reward will be the pride that you will feel in your accomplishments. Don't let anyone take that away from you."

I'm trying. It's just so hard. I'm also trying to be nicer to him--since I keeping hearing how bad I am to him.

Part of me wonders if it is me...or if it is mostly him...or, if indeed, it takes two to tango.
Part of me considers leaving him again, but it wouldn't really change anything. I wouldn't be able to financially make it on my own, so what's the point?

My therapist long ago told me I can be as happy as I allow myself to be. Maybe that's the problem. I don't see any reason to be, so I'm not, and it just feeds into everything else.

I dunno. Mostly, I'm just sad.

And yes, Purple, you can play now.


Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 5:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Catch22, Lk. Make a list of what would make you happy. Start with the more mondane things. Then work out how you could accomplish those things, put blinders on and go for it. Gradually you just might make yourself smile and heaven forbid that could become contagious. Babysteps, one foot in front of the other, remember?

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 6:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LK: Stop doing his work, you are already handling the house and stuff that came from the previous house. From what you have said he is not puttin in much effort, and yet you are blamed for a lack of progress. I must say I just want to slap him bald headed, don't listen to his negative comments and tell him to get up off his butt and finish his own write ups.

Okay, none of my business but I had to post.

Purplecow
Member

12-08-2003

Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 7:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LK, I can't imagine what it must be like to be a messie with an unsupportive husband. I can't even offer any advice. What you describe sounds so much like spousal abuse that I want to come grab you out of there. (((((LK)))))

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Monday, February 09, 2004 - 2:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sorry I haven't been here; I've been busy getting my Control Journal organized. <G>

from Sherrie: "Spinner: I would LOVE to know what your husband is thinking......how funny that you have not told him!!! You have to share if he ever comments. "

Who knows what he's thinking! I'm enjoying speculating; thus not mentioning it. We now have a very clean (at least for me--don't look too hard in the corners!-- house, and no clutter-spots, unless you look in the cupboards in the upstairs hall, but everything there's in identical boxes, I just suspect that some boxes could be empty and no one would ever miss the contents and I'll get there, but nary a word from the dear soul. I think over the years he's just become accustomed (resigned?!!) to my casual housekeeping; when I married him 40 years ago, he used to set his books in the bookshelf using a ruler to make sure they were all the same distance from the edge and wipe the children's fingermarks off the staircase walls as he went upstairs. Now, I can't really get him to dust his part of our media room--both of us believe it's safest if we clean around our own computer hardware that's in there. He'll do it eventually. Not everything has to be done today.

But he's certainly not the unsupportive type! He's just hasn't noticed, but that's ok; I'm doing this for me, not him. I'm looking forward, though, to finding out at what point the house looks so different that he will notice, and if I said anything now he'd start saying nice things even if he couldn't see any difference. We dealt with the clutter big-time last summer and we're both still commenting on how nice it is to have a neat garage and media room cupboards, but with no routines for cleaning it it's been pretty much feast or famine for the rest and while there was no CHAOS as in clutter that showed, it definitely fit the FlyLady's definition of Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome. Until I started flying, I wouldn't remember to dust for just ages! (hanging head in shame) We're in pretty good shape now, for only a week or so at this and it hasn't cut into my workday as much as I thought it would. I'm still deciding what needs to be done on a routine each day; for only 2 people we have a big house.

I'm not using the 15-minute system as much as I'm using the routines; those are really working for me. I'd prefer to keep going until a job is done and I'm pretty good at knowing what I can do in an hour, say.

LK, I'm concerned for you and hope things will soon be better. I would be very frustrated if I did have your problem. And I'd be sad, too. I hope this group can be some support for you. Your support is what got me started on this FLY business. And thanks, everyone else, for the kind messages.

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Monday, February 09, 2004 - 3:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm here. Congrats on the Control Journal, Spinner.

Just spent $175 at the doctor to get $270 worth of medication and orders for a Complete Metabolic Profile; Arthritis Profile; Lipid Profile 1 (Cholesterol Count); T3, Total; T4, Total; and TSH (All various thyroid tests). Gotta love not having insurance.

I also had a long talk with Himself. Pointed out that I wasn't going to be here a whole lot longer if the crap didn't stop. He freaked and we had a long talk about what it means--to me--to be married. We came to some conclusions and compromises. I know that he loves me, and we are going to work on our relationship a lot more.

So...fingers crossed and moving forward on the STUFF.

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Monday, February 09, 2004 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sounds like you're taking control on all fronts, LK. Congratulations and I hope it will all work out well.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Monday, February 09, 2004 - 6:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yaaaaaaatyyyyyy, LK! Fingers and toes are crossed for you.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Monday, February 09, 2004 - 9:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
yeah, LK, glad to hear that you have opened up and had a chat about your needs.

Spinner, I am in the same boat trying to figure out some routines, but I am happy to say the 15 minute thing is working really well for me. I am amazed at what I can get done in 15 minutes, and I don't feel like I am being punished.

Taking out 50 pounds of stuff tomorrow morning, some is trash, but I am donating a lot of old sheets and towels to the local animal shelter.

Everyone keep up the good work!!!!

Spinner
Member

10-27-2003

Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 12:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Dipo, this summer when we did our big clutter-thing in the garage (which later spread to our overstuffed downstairs closets) we hauled out so much that we had to bribe (well, tip sounds better!) the trashmen to take it all. The stuff filled up the entire parkway area in front of our house 3 trash days in a row--it looked like the junkiest Clean Sweep ever had moved out to our front yard--and this was after we took was was decent to the Goodwill or put it out front ahead of trash day with a FREE sign on it. But it sure looked good when we were through and we've been able to keep it that way now for almost a year. So good for you, hauling all that out; I'm sure it will be satisfying when you're done.

I know I'm going to have to add some more to the routines, but I'm starting small, figuring I'll get faster and can add a bit more. I don't think I usually work for more than 15 minutes, but I've not felt like keeping track--I've just quit when I was satisfied for the moment. My "satisfaction level" is pretty low, and after a break, I notice something else I'm then willing to clean. I'm also trying to develop routines that don't require lugging heavy equipment more than necessary--we have a 3-story house and only one really heavy-duty vacuum for example, so I'm trying to work on one floor in one routine and move on for the next one.

Imagine me, having any housekeeping tips to share, but I've discovered that those "chlorox-wipes" that come in plastic tubes and you pull one out of the top at a time (I get them pretty cheap, in packs of 3 at Costco) make great wipes for the kitchen sink-shining routine. I can use one for wiping out an already-clean sink and then use it to wipe down a counter or stove-top before tossing it.