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Post by creativechaos on Jun 25, 2017 23:10:51 GMT -5
thank you,for your faith that i can conquer these lifelong bad habits, PerrinJade - it all boils down to committing to maintain things. dishes. clothes hanging/folding. papers. putting away what i use. i am glad i made the "long list" - it's there as a guide. now i think i need to make a list of "dailies" to help me get, and stay, on track. the computer thing; it's 12 yrs old and everything in it is obsolete; the RAM is maxed out, the OS is snow leopard (!) and the processor is ancient. i hope i can hang on a bit longer too. i am now "spoiled" - this is an i-mac; given to me about 5? yrs ago. i had never had a macintosh. i love it. i do not want to go back to using a PC, nor do i want a laptop; i like desktops. so we'll see. a friend knows of a place where you can get refurbished macs and i am going to look into that. if it were newer i would opt for a new graphics card or find a computer with one to swap out. ahem, H2H - yup - it is i who backslide - hence the thread. this thread only works if i work it. and though i committed to do the dishes (one of those "everyday" things that would keep the backsliding at bay), i did a structured procrastination thing with the downstairs storage shed. i had to pull a bunch of crap out of it to get my fan because it is HOT with no breeze. so 2 hrs later here i am - i "organized it," threw out 1/2 of a black bag of trash, a bag of recycle, and more will be going, now that i know SOME of what is in there. (i will never, ever in my lifetime, need to buy another pair of garden gloves again). the dishes are not done. i was invited to watch a movie at my neighbor's so the dishes will have to be done before bed - i will edit this post when i am done them - this i commit to MYSELF. it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks at this point. i need to learn to keep the promises i make to myself. dishes
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Post by creativechaos on Jun 27, 2017 18:51:32 GMT -5
okay; how shall i use this thread today? because nothing is getting done, i am avoiding, and there is tons to do - and not just in the gardens, where most of my focus and energy have gone. i think i am going to dance tonight, in a few hours. here is what i would LIKE to get done before bedtime, some of which i can do, or add onto the list, after i get home from dance: make a relatively healthy dinner clean up all dishes make inroads on clothes sorting and finish filling another bag of summer clothes to take to consignment tomorrow clean up shoes i want to take to consignment, and put in a bag - 5 3 prs bagged and ready to go!put away/hang up all stray clothing 1/2 hr on papers
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Post by grasshopper on Jun 27, 2017 20:43:59 GMT -5
Hi cc. I'm going to be on chat tonight if you can get on. I am also way behind and ready to do some challenging
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 1, 2017 16:55:26 GMT -5
thanks for the challenges we did on chat, grasshopper - that really helped me to get out of my slump. i was on another island yesterday and did hours in the garden today incl doing a favor for garden mate. now here i sit, sleepy, over-fed, and wondering what to tackle. there are always dishes to do... but then what. maybe a nap first and then post a short list here.
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 2, 2017 16:13:19 GMT -5
ok - never got back to that list so will try again today. won't all get done today - it's just a guidepost.
DONE - sort last piles of fabric, like with like. box up what fabric is going to storage. label all boxes going to storage keep filling donation box with more stuff put away fabric that is staying. water back balcony plants water front balcony plants and garden/walkway plants DONE -metta meditation at @4pm Pacific time make a kale frittata DONE - maintain dish washing put away/hang up clothes. sort anything that i don't want to keep. put away shoes - see about weeding out some more shoes 1/2 hr on papers and filing DONE -put up hook in entry closet so i can hang my lunch-siced "cold" bags on it.
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 5, 2017 1:52:19 GMT -5
was gone all day the last 2 days. just got a potential date for inspection - either this upcoming Monday the 10th, or Mon. the 17th. will carryover above list. time to really get cracking, which means being home more and getting things out to storage so i can start cleaning. i'd like to get this accomplished in the next two days: (Wed/Thurs) maintain dish washing water front balcony plants and lower landing plants water back balcony plants water house plants put away shoes put away clothes put away fabric that stays in apt. box up fabric that goes to storage for now label and tape up boxes start a new donation box make a frittata take a load to storage take some things to the thrift - only two bed pillows so fareat salad greens - i am letting them rot and go to waste! corral papers. file what i can. box up rest of papers with date... put in downstairs storage? take some stuff from downstairs storage to paid storage unit. call the cavalry! see if young art teacher friend can help before Monday or before inspection - she is scheduled to come Sunday if i need her.broom-sweep rugs where exposed laundry i guess our check boxes are gone so excuse my creative emoticons indicating "done"
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 7, 2017 18:10:01 GMT -5
countdown to inspection! still no word on exact date but could be Monday! today's list: keep boxing up stuff going out - still working on the fabric! label and tape boxes - decided not to tape for right now - may be mistake if mice are still in storage unit. load car with boxes going to storage take stuff out of downstairs storage that can go to big storage take a load to storage turn in prescription to drug store - can't find it! meet with social worker 5 p.m. go to art opening after - maybe. ETA: well it's almost 1 a.m. and i'm done-in. social worker is coming here to the apartment tomorrow? list for when i wake up and for the remainder of the day: put whatever else is ready into front seat of car take what's in car to storage water big gardenwater gardens at apt finish watering houseplants find prescription!! take to drug store (they'll have to order) pack up more boxes label boxes keep putting away clothing (cull what i can) put away what shoes will fit in the places where shoes go. box up rest of shoes - storage for now? box up books into very small boxes so i don't hurt myself lifting them box up stray papers (put in downstairs storage maybe?
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Post by hollyhock on Jul 8, 2017 5:11:50 GMT -5
Hi CC. Wishing you lots of luck in your clearing. Good job on boxing up that stuff.
I'm going to make another suggestion here - which may or may not help. You keep waiting for an inspection date, and acting accordingly, but know one is looming. My suggestion is DON'T wait for a date. Pretend it's Monday anyway. Just get ready for it to be Monday - do as much as possible now. Then if it doesn't happen Monday, you are still pretty ready for it,can maintain what you have done, and maybe even do a bit more. Waiting for a date allows you to procrastinate on it. Assuming it will be Monday gets you ahead of the game.
Re the books - where are these books going to go? Are they being donated, or moving to storage, or to your downstairs storage? Actually my idea could work for any of these. At one point when I moved from my old house I had to box up many books to donate - but my concern, like you, was the weight of the boxes of books. At that point my car could not park at my door, it was in the townhouse parking lot, which was 100 steps from my apt. (Yes I counted.) What I did was put the empty (or almost empty) boxes in my car, and then I took out armloads of books, and packed the boxes in my car. That way nothing ever got too heavy for me. Yes I had to make more trips - but I didn't have to do them all at once, and I didn't hurt myself. And once I got to the donation place, the guys there unpacked them from my car - and I never used large boxes anyway. (Because I was moving I bought 'book boxes' from Uhaul, and they were just a perfect size and sturdiness for books.)
I hope your weekend goes well.
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 9, 2017 13:21:45 GMT -5
what a great idea, hollyhock, about the books! i mostly pack them in very small boxes that i can carry - ridiculously small sometimes - especially heavy art books. once i get them to the library (the ones i am releasing), they do all the lifting of any boxes i have for them. i did get rid of 1/2 doz books yesterday in the 6 boxes of stuff plus sewing machine plus tray of CDs. i am plugging along slowly but steadily today, trying to get things consolidated and boxed up so i can get them out of here. i was pretty exhausted emotionally and physically so i didn't get much done and instead went to downstairs neighbors' for dinner - her dd and granddaughter are visiting from back east. i am making SLOW but steady progress today. i hope to have all the boxes that are going out of here, out by tonight. but i have said that for weeks. i know i *should* act as if inspection is THIS Monday - it's a logical thought, except - for this hoarder it throws me into such anxiety i go into trauma mode. instead, i am just looking at one thing at a time. it's all i can do but if i face doing it, it will get done. not perfectly, but done. Not by tomorrow; even the social worker yesterday said this is not possible to do by Monday, even with his help. but i can at least get the crap out so i can clean up somewhat and keep on. forget lists right now, they aren't working for me. just working on things, is.
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Post by hollyhock on Jul 9, 2017 15:20:32 GMT -5
I'm sorry this inspection is causing you so much stress, creativechaos, and I hope I am not adding to it. My suggestion would be to first look at it per management's interests. Here their first priority is fire safety. So I would make sure all exits can be safely reached. That includes windows. No doorways blocked. Make sure your smoke detector is working, if that is the law where you are. (Our supers test every 1 when they do an inspection. This year he also brought a stool around to reach it, and took it apart and looked inside. I realized he was looking for the date of it - since they have an expiration time of about 10 years - and the battery too.) So make sure it can be reached, and it works. Make sure there are no fire hazards, like flammable items too close to flames, the stove. etc. Nothing in contact with heating systems. My supers were also looking for damage - once she told me how some people had had leaks, but hadn't reported them - so they were checking ceilings for water damage from the apt above. And lastly they were looking at housekeeping. I'd say the main point is no bugs, and no bad odours. So make sure ccat area is clean. And no garbage lying around. Then the rest is cleaning up. If your laws are like here, even if they give you an eviction notice, they have to give you a certain amount of time to improve/ correct it, before the eviction takes effect. So if I were you, at this point I would look at it with that in mind first. If safety conditions are met, and it's only 'bad housekeeping' that they are looking at, I hope you'd get a warning of a future inspection. (When my supers came through, except for taking the smoke detector apart, there weren't here more than 1-2 minutes. Oh - and items that could include breaking your lease - like here we cannot have satellite dishes - so if they saw one they'd have to tell the tenant to remove it. (My supers also mentioned to me that everyone leaves it until inspection to request repairs - which is not how it should be handled. Here we are supposed to write up a request on forms available in the laundry room. So don't request anything while they are there, that could just annoy them. They are just trying to do their job too without a lot of interference. (I wouldn't even apologize if its not how you want.) One more thing - my supers just have to notify you when they are coming (and why) - usually a day and a timeframe. They pre-warn people and ask to make sure they can get in and that pets are caged if necessary. In other words they are prepared for people not to be home. If it is too nerve-wracking for you to be there when they come around, plan to do something else during that time. (Talk to the guy you like beforehand, tell him you won't be there, and ask him to let you know how it goes.) I'm cheering you on from the sidelines. Wish I was there to help. But know you are in my thoughts. I hope it goes well. I'm glad you got out for dinner with your neighbours yesterday - a reward (and no cooking!) after a busy day.
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 9, 2017 21:14:46 GMT -5
thanks, hollyhock. i am doing better today. slow and steady, like the tortoise. i didn't water the garden this morning and i just opened a letter from social security that i'd been dreading so now i need to call them first thing and straighten out the MESS they made of my review. they said i have $2500 in my checking account ongoing - what a joke. i had a settlement a few years ago but basically i live on under $700 a month and my sick cat took the rest of the settlement so my average is more like $1000. they cut you off if you have over $2000 in the bank - I should have opened the letter sooner! the ten days from the letter date are almost up - hope they factor that in (time taken to mail and receive). yes, the upper level management gives us notice of two days (or less) but local mgr usually knows a bit sooner than that. they look for all the things you said. they manage over 200 apartment complexes in two states! i don't know how that guy manages to come up here 3 or 4 x a year! my bed is covered with boxes in various stages of being packed. nothing's really ready to go out to the car. darn.
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 11, 2017 11:34:52 GMT -5
Well, yesterday was kind of a bust but i did some necessary things involving social security and trying to keep my benefits and correct the review and fax them the corrections. had to be done; there was a time deadline. i did nothing until evening, when i went onto chat with grasshopper and we both got lots done. thank you grasshopper! today i was going to water the garden but i did some the night before last and we have had a few blessedly cooler days. yesterday was cloudy all day. so i skipped this morning - and will have to water either later this afternoon or this evening. my young artist/teacher friend is scheduled to come at 1 pm tomorrow! i need to be ready for her, and with a plan! today's and tomorrow's chores consist of: shower (why do i resist so long!?) continue boxing up unload buckets of tools from car load car with latest boxes and bags to take to storage take these things to storage. take some time to work on the blocked paths in the storage unit so i can keep doing work in there. reset and re-bait mouse traps just in case (may have to wait to tomorrow) see social worker at 1 pm more work in the apartment on boxing up. if i can stay focused on these things, i think i will at least have the traffic areas cleared. next will be reducing pile heights on flat spaces like tables, desks, and getting more stuff off the floors wherever possible. and kitchen - it's a mess, although i am keeping up with the dishes KITCHEN BRAIN DUMPERS LIST: fridge needs cleaning out (old food) clean fridge inside and out clear stovetop clean burner pans and stove top clean worst in oven clear floor clear sm counter reduce pile height, big counter
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 12, 2017 11:16:21 GMT -5
and yesterday too was another bust. i had to do stuff in the garden and tweaked my back last night. all i got done was see my social worker and record a "tapping" session. friend is coming at 1 today so i better get busy boxing-up. the biggest help she will be is helping me lift and take boxes away to where they are going - storage, donation, downstairs storage.
friend just emailed me that she is coming at 2:30, not 1 - but that she can stay at least 3.5 hrs if i need it. woo hooo! i am working slowly on the floor piles in LR and bedroom, putting like with like so at least when i label and open boxes to sort, i will be able to make swift decisions. since i have been given the grace of extra time to do this, this system works best for me for now. i am definitely NOT the "OHIO" (only handle it once) type!
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 16, 2017 14:41:17 GMT -5
i've hardly any time today and am gone or occupied from about 4 pm to very late tonight, so i will try to make these few hrs i have count. inspection, far as i know, is still set for Wed. will state what i did if i have time or inclination. maybe that will help me get out of fear and dread. tired - exhausted in fact. not getting enough sleep. it will be another late night. i think i need a nap and i hope i will have enough energy tomorrow and Tues to do what i have to, to pass inspection. so far done today: big garden; some weeding, some planting, watering-in of new plants all indoor and outdoor plants and garden around the apt watered emails read; required responses sent dishes took a tiny dose of my adhd medication, which seems to be helping me string a thought and some focus together removed old recycle wire cart - it was falling apart and the rubber covering was chipping off the steel replaced my former tea cart with a metal thing that holds more teas - ugly but practical. replaced old recycle wire cart with smaller wire cart that held my teas spot-swept and washed the floor where the recycle shelves were, then moved the cart there. cleaned old rotting food out of fridge gathered trash from receptacles and fridge, and put that into dumpster put aside some things in a stack that are going to my storage unit worked on community mosaic tonight... it was only me and another adult, my friend's dd who is visiting and is going home Tuesday. we had fun and got things done!
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Post by creativechaos on Jul 17, 2017 16:42:42 GMT -5
hoping that my adhd med can help me again today. i am frozen. i got much clarity and focus yesterday but sometimes on the 2nd day i just feel sleepy. will list accomplishments again...
took adhd med. it helped me focus a bit, although not as focused as yesterday. did some challenges with seashell and serendipity; that helped keep me moving and motivated.
done: 2 hrs in garden watering, weeding, thistle cutting, planting zinnias took more stuff to storage washed and dried another load of laundry dishes washed cleared more floor in bedroom fed bunny this evening - the owner is coming home tonight (she has helped me countless times, so glad to do her this favor) cleared much of the excess stuff from front balcony
there's more. i can't remember. i am exhausted and in pain. i'm having some chronic bodily issues. i think i have a severe groin pull or something keeps going out of joint. it's been going on a long time and is affecting my hip. chronic pain now much of the time. i'm logging off early and just going to try to relax for the rest of the night, and go to bed early-ish.
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