Not quite a horder - decluttering
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Ditto Teka's message, with the caveat that I haven't a clue as to what type of professional could possibly help them. Maybe start with your state agencies?
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Hoarding has been classified as a mental disorder. Start with a mental health agency and/or a social worker. They will know what is available in the form of help. In Seattle, there's a hoarding support group for hoarders and another support group for those living with them. I don't think she'll ever leave if getting the bed in is a prerequisite. You might also contact the fire department. They are very concerned with hoarding and may have resources. There were 2 deaths in separate fires here because the firemen couldn't get inside due to hoarding.0 -
A week late, but here is the image for the indian.
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My brain is still on the other time and it is 5:30 am on a holiday and I am laying here in bed playing on my laptop instead of sleeping in.0 -
We went to the LA convention center Saturday to the "CHristmas" Cash & Carry sale. Nothing for Christmas there to speak of. I wanted to get some shopping done early.0 -
I went shopping on Black Friday once. I would be willing to tell my family Xmas was cancelled rather than do that again. Although I might show up at 2am if I could get a new sofa for cheap.0 -
I spend Black Friday at home putting up the Christmas decorations.0 -
In years gone by the day after Thanksgiving was when the fruitcakes got baked. But right now my kitchen is all torn out, so no fruitcakes this year.0 -
Stir Up Sunday is an old tradition when the Christmas pudding is made - akin to our fruitcakes. It is the last Sunday before Advent. I know Wikipedia is not the best resource but for things not absolutely life threatening I use it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stir-up_Sunday
By my calculations Stir up Sunday would be the Sunday the 24th b4 Thanksgiving since Thanksgiving is so late this year. I know just what you want to do is whip up a few fruitcakes along with Thanksgiving preps.0 -
I would rather stick a fork in my eye than go out shopping on Black Friday...
Last May, DH and I finally bought an RV. It's been at the dealers all this time, having various warranty issues repaired. He brought it home on Friday, and we cleaned that sucker from top to bottom. Seriously - I washed the ceilings, walls, cabinets, and scrubbed the floors.
Right now I have less enthusiasm for going camping than I do for the fact that this is just a big Tuff Shed on wheels.... all those things we've been gathering "for the trailer" have now been shoved inside (not put away) and the RV has been hauled back to the storage space.
I know it will mean more work when we're ready for our first trip, but I'm SO glad we got all those piles of stuff out of the garage!0 -
Teka - for years, we've talked about traveling across the country to visit family and friends. But then life got in the way. DH's kidney disease, my BC.... finally, this year, we just decided to go for it. Having the travel trailer actually accommodates both our health challenges more than staying in dank motels and eating in greasy diners.
Our first overnight trip will be in our driveway! That way, we can make sure everything works, and if there is something that we need to go in the house to get, that item has to go on our "MUST HAVE" list.
Anyone else here have an RV?0 -
My uncle bought a travel RV and loved it. They would go to Mission, TX in the winter and spend the summer visiting people they'd met down there. When he got older, they bought a house in Okla near her sons. She was 15yrs younger. He had lymphoma and the chemo destroyed a lot of nerves. He ended up in a wheelchair, then bedridden. She was an absolute angel taking care of him.0 -
We bought my parents' travel trailer 6 years ago. The first year we used it a lot, the next year not much and now that the price of gas is so expensive, it isn't cost effective to use. DH is not a camper. His idea of camping is parking the trailer at a campground at the beach and then driving around the coastal cities during the day, sleeping in the trailer during the night. I came from the woodsy type camping ideal and was looking forward to "wilderness" camping. The trailer has turned into a tough shed and I have asked DH to get rid of it. I may have to buy him a real tough shed to spur him on.0 -
Teka - Sounds like your friends have a sweet arrangement - the best of both worlds!
Wren44 - That's why we want to travel now, while we are healthy enough to do it. Who knows what the future will bring? At least your uncle had good memories of his time on the road. Sorry to hear about his illness, but glad he was so well cared for.
Meece - DH is the "wilderness" (camping and fishing) guy in the family. I don't pee in the woods. I think we will focus primarily on places that have full hookups, before we venture into "boondocking", or dry camping in a remote area. We do actually have a Tuff Shed in the side yard - it's 8' x 10', and we love it.0 -
del
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That's a sweet thought.0 -
woah. Good category for me. been working on clothes, books, tools. all kinds of things to go through and get rid off. tired of clutter. and like bunkie, i am also a food, what did she say, not compiler, but... stockpiler! thats me. 3 jars of capers, and lots of knorr leek soup mix. too many socks, and some have just outlived thier usefulness. i have sworn that i will not buy any more art supplies, until i use them up. got rid of all old magazines, though, and have gotten better at not dragging home books, since i read on iphone & kindle. food is another thing tho. i just browse n buy way 2 much. working on it tho, and much better at dealing with mail immediately. have to go thru make up, fingernail polish, and give wigs away, just keep a few good hats n scarves. Clothes. ugh. too many. like thrift stores, but think i am getting ready for a yard sale. Must. be. ruthless!!!!! we are so rich in this country, even when we are poor. some girl somewhere would probably love just one lipstick. bet i have 20.0 -
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Teka - I was going to ask you about your pretty avatar.
Is that your Teka? Is she a big girl? All the Maine Coon cats I've known have been, well, substantial....0 -
I saw an article about obese cats with a picture of a huge cat. Someone wrote in and told them it was not an obese cat, it was a Maine Coon and that's the size they are. They're really sweet.0 -
Wow this has been a busy site!! Teach me to get sick and not check in. Kidney stones and adrenal issues but doing ok otherwise. Just need a new body.
I have no idea why I buy so many of the same items.
Teka- I have dumped so many spices. Just do not use them like I did. Montreal Steak seasoning, Natures seasoning and Mrs Dash seem to be my staples. I do have a small drawer with some extras for holiday baking etc but that is all except my Tuscan Salad seasoning. I bought out all the sealed tins of that company when they stopped selling it back in 05. There are 16 tins left.
kathec - Yup it is stockpiling. Learned that on a Hoarders show on HGTV. You will be happy to know I have downsized the stockpile in the kitchen by about 50%. Then I went to the basement. 6 bags of Marie Callanders cornbread...that is an addiction. Trader Joes brownine mix...a dozen. OMG there was so much. It is almost gone. Most of it was outdated especially the Williams Sonoma stuff. They go bad fast. Back in the summer I thought I was wheat/gluten challanged so I bought a bunch of thier GF stuff. Well 3 mos later it is out dated. So much for them helping me stockpile!!! I have stopped using so many packaged foods and that includes mixes for chili, spagetti etc so I dumped the big package drawer out. Went through the freezer I kept and got rid of all the frozen stuff I tried but hated. Even some frozen dinners. That is my last fight to try to get healthy. Too many frozen dinners....Lean Cusines. Healthy Choice. I fighured they were safer than Burger King but after looking at ingredents I doubt it.
Keep up the good work everyone.0 -
hey all! didnt throw anything out today, but did do a little organizing. it is just that he and i do live in a pretty small place, and when stuff is left out, not picked up etc, it is really noticeable. but we have watched hoarders, and go ewwwww! we are on our way! so it was good for us to see.0 -
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Bunkie - That's our challenge. I buy GF food, thinking, "Oh, I'll have to make this" and then I never do, and it expires. Fortunately, we've thinned the pantry down to the bare bones, and it's easy to look for expiration dates, now that we write them on products with a Sharpie marker.
kathec - Yup. Watching "Hoarders" does it for me every time. I used to watch all the episodes, but now I find it hard to stomach some of them (human waste, dead animals, etc. in big piles inside the house....) We're cluttery but not dirty. As Peter Walsh once said on one of those cleaning shows, we're "Surface Abusers"... in other words, if there is a flat surface somewhere, we'll stack things on it.
Teka - a kitty that plays fetch... how fun...
CCFW - Congratulations on your one year anniversary. May you continue to heal and feel better every single day.0 -
Ooooh... pretty!!!!0 -
TEKA,that is so beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing.0 -
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Teka - beautiful iceberg pic!
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Well, DH got a burst of energy and brought down all the Christmas decorations from the attic today. Surprise!!! (insert icon of rolling eyeballs here....)
But what was nice was the fact that there is so much less now that we donated almost 2/3 of the stash to the hospice thrift store earlier this year.
We have just enough to decorate the house, and maybe even donate some more.0 -
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Congrats CCFW and Blessings on your major victories and to anyone else who has managed to get rid of something.
Small kitchen victory: I organized all of my cupboards and can easily find things!!
My next task is to tackle my shoes and to get rid of any that I have not used for over 2 years. If they are in good condition, I will donate them (and I have lots of really nice shoes that are in great condition but do not feel good to my post chemo feet so I never wear them). If they are not in good condition, I will toss them. I am hoping to get this done over the next week.
Hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving and/or Hanukkah had a great holiday.
Hugs to all.
Mandy0
