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Post by rainbowgoddess on Nov 30, 2008 17:22:03 GMT -5
My name is rainbow and I live in squalor, somewhere between second and third degree (I can still find my furniture and appliances, but there is rotting food in the kitchen and there are cat feces in the bathroom). I don't even know why.
I don't normally call maintenance to fix things in my apartment because of the squalor, but a few months ago I had to have someone come in to fix my toilet. He reported my squalor to the landlord, and I just got a letter yesterday threatening eviction. I have two days to clean this mess. No idea where to start or how I'm going to get it all done. I'm disabled, and my friends are disabled. My partner is helping me but it's too big a job for even two people.
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Post by messyang on Nov 30, 2008 17:33:54 GMT -5
Hey, welcome! If it is really bad, start throwing stuff away. I know , our mothers told us not to waste, but nasty dirty dishes can be thrown away, because you can always get more. If you don't have time to wash curtains, take them down, and get some more. Hide things in the oven if you have to, or closets, just get the place "presentable" Make sure the cat poop is picked up. Don't worry, too, because you are safe here. Just today, I shoveled cat poop up off my laundry floor with plastic knives. You can do it! You are among friends here....big hug for you from Florida!
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Post by crazycatlady on Nov 30, 2008 18:27:26 GMT -5
Welcome, RainbowGoddess. I have to agree with MessyAng-get that kitty poo scooped up and removed. Just get started. Anything you do at this point is good. We have quite a few members who are disabled, and they will be able to give you good pointers about overcoming.
Take breaks, and drink plenty of water! Check out the Listzilla "Working in Threes" thread. Let us know how you are doing.
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Nov 30, 2008 18:45:33 GMT -5
"Just today, I shoveled cat poop up off my laundry floor with plastic knives"
Proof you have finally found the right place!
We all understand here.
Try and just get as much trash as possible into bags. You can move a chair around with you, and just sit in that chair and pick up all around you.
Every time you get up to go to the bathroom, pick up as much as you can on your way there, on your way back, and anything that is around you as you are in there.
Timers set for fifteen minutes are wonderful motivation too. You would be astonished as to how much you can do in just fifteen minutes.
Salvation Army will pick up donations, if you have any useful items you want to get rid of. You can go online, and possibly schedule an appointment still for Monday or Tuesday. Just google it.
Maybe there are local organizations that you can call that will come and help you?
You can rent a dumpster if there is too much trash to fit in your cans.
Maybe you can buy large storage boxes at WalMart (or store of your choice!) and just throw as much clean crap as you can in them, and get the trash out.
Welcome to the board. Please stay even after the crisis is over. It really is possible to stop living like this!
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Post by notsomessyshell on Nov 30, 2008 18:57:32 GMT -5
Welcome! You can do this. Really. Just starting is a major step. Getting the garbage out is a great start. A little bit at a time adds up. 15 minutes at a time really does make a difference. I know it doesn't sound like it but it really does. If your landlord sees that you have made progress it may even stop the eviction and let you have more time. But you have to make the effort to try to make it better. You can do this. We are all with you! We understand.
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Post by lilith on Nov 30, 2008 19:34:27 GMT -5
Welcome! First, what city are you in? Maybe one of us is close enough to help.
When is your deadline? What can you do? Can you bend over?
Go for obvious trash and things that smell. Feces freak people out. You have complete amnesty to throw away ANYTHING: tags still on, heirlooms, recycling, expensive, never used, someone might need it, books, magazines etc. You can get free boxes from a grocery store, put stuff you are keeping in them and put against a wall. It looks better. Can you put dirty clothes or something else in your car trunk? Can you afford to rent a storage?
Keep writing with specific needs. We can help you!
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Post by rainbowgoddess on Nov 30, 2008 20:02:32 GMT -5
I live in Victoria, BC, Canada.
I can walk and pick things up; bending over is a bit difficult due to chronic back pain from an injury ten years ago, but can be done if necessary. Don't have a car. The storage locker that I got with my apartment is unfortunately full and I don't have the cash to rent anything. Closets are unfortunately getting rather full too.
My deadline is Tuesday morning at eight o'clock. I have to be at school from one to five in the afternoon on Monday. I won't even be able to do my homework tonight because I'll be cleaning all night and probably won't get much, if any, sleep tonight or Monday night.
My partner is, unfortunately, a perfectionist. I told him that I doubt they're looking for perfection and they won't care if there's a small food stain in the corner of the microwave oven, for example, but he insisted on going over it completely and re-washing it after I'd washed it. I want to clean the most obvious things; he wants to clean everything, even stuff that probably won't be looked at.
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Post by notsomessyshell on Nov 30, 2008 20:29:43 GMT -5
No time for perfection. He has to get it "good enough". Perfection is impossible in this small amount of time. Tell him perfection can be yoir goal for the future. Right now lets just get it presentable. Another big hug for you both.
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Post by lilith on Nov 30, 2008 21:23:54 GMT -5
Just my two cents, but I would skip school. If you don't have a place to live school won't matter much.
I remember someone here once saying don't organize your sock drawer if your up to your ankles in stuff. That always stuck with me.
Try posting on the main board that you are in B.C. Maybe someone could help you tomorrow for one day. Don't be ashamed. When I am really desperate I play "just keep moving".
I just walk around and pick up trash. When I can't do that anymore I move to dishes or laundry. I don't have to finish I just keep moving. For instance, I'm doing the dishes and I start this circle of thoughts in my head," Why do I let it get this bad? If I had just ran water in this pot yesterday I wouldn't be going through this. I am such a loser. What is wrong with me?
When I get to there I know it is time to move on. I just keep doing this and a lot gets done. It is just one way. Do whatever works for you. Just do anything. It is very tempting to think it impossible and so not do anything. Trust me-you are better doing ANYTHING than nothing. If they are kind they will see some improvement and that may be enough to keep a roof over your head.
My best to you. I'm in Arizona or I would be over tonight.
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Post by mallery on Dec 1, 2008 13:35:40 GMT -5
I'm thinking about you, rainbowgoddess, hope things are progressing ok. Keep us posted!
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Post by heylady1 on Dec 1, 2008 13:57:18 GMT -5
Welcome Rainbowgoddess!  You've gotten some excellent advice already, but I'll second (or third) the advice about picking up obvious trash first. It's easy enough to do and it will often have a big impact on a room. Using the chair is a good idea too (even better if you have a chair with wheels and the ability to scoot around on it). I've done that myself when my back has been bothering me... Good luck!!
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Post by lilith on Dec 1, 2008 23:24:42 GMT -5
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Post by Vivre on Dec 2, 2008 2:44:54 GMT -5
just checking on you
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Post by rainbowgoddess on Dec 2, 2008 3:37:16 GMT -5
Well, the apartment is still messy, but it's no longer dirty. All the trash and cat poop and everything is cleaned up. All the papers left lying around have been tossed into the recycling bins to cut down on possible fire hazard, and everything is in piles in the corners, so at least you can walk through the apartment without tripping over things.
I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed the floors because the mop wasn't doing a good enough job, and my boyfriend did the vacuuming because vacuuming aggravates my asthma. Unfortunately the vacuum cleaner broke, and he had to go all over town to find a replacement part, only to have a different part break once he had fixed that part. Fortunately I was able to borrow my friend's vacuum cleaner.
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Post by notsomessyshell on Dec 2, 2008 3:41:32 GMT -5
Great job! When do they come to check the place? My thoughts will be with you.  |
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