Mission Organziation HELP?

Ooh, I can't wait, I have a half empty room just ready to fill up with...no no no, I will behave! I do want to go! When is it again? Rachel

Blooms Rachel, and Janis I am a packrat and have just been trying to detach myself from my mother's things. She died 26 months ago and it is so hard to remove that stuff.
Last year I paid a friend to take everything out of my "craft" room and containerize and sort it all.
It is floor to ceiling clear plastic storage bins on one side of the room. I still need to do a couple of hours in there.
It's just too easy to pile it with a "reason", of course.
That $$ was well worth it because The phsycologicaly overwhelming nature of the job.
sidney

Paying someone to do that for you was a GREAT idea!!

Sugarweed isn't it hard to detach ourselves! I still am having a hard time (Mom passed away April 2003) So much I can't part with because I can remember her using it etc. I brought home all her Santa's which she collected and I wouldn't trade them for the world. They take up space but as Flylady says if you don't love it or use it...well I love em! :)

Ok confession time. My house is presentable because I've been stashing stuff in boxes and taking them up to the attic for almost 15 years. It's not all stuff that I don't use though. Sometimes I go looking for something, send a box up with a kid, the boxes get pushed around, and now I can no longer walk through my attic.

My goal this year is to organize my attic, possibly clean it out, which is going very slowly. It's not heated or air conditioned, so I won't work up there when it's very hot or very cold, I don't always feel like it after work, and forget weekends. All valid excuses, right? So far I only took about 5 boxes out. But you guys are all so encouraging that I dragged down another 5 boxes of stuff after work today. I separated anything salvageable for the scavenger truck that usually drives around before garbage is picked up. Just finished going through those boxes and hope to do more this week before garbage day! Not all the boxes are so easy to go through, but if I do one box a week it'll still be progress.

Sidney and everyone,
I too am a packrat. I lost SOOOOOOOOOO much stuff when the basement flooded, and when the ceiling fell in in the back room. Some of the stuff had been in boxes since 1999. Some of it was pictures. Some of it was irreplacable, like the handkerchief my GGM gave me on my 13th birthday that I carried down the aisle. I lost all mine and my kids winter clothes, and all the bacy clothes I had kept for them hand made stuff. I have a recliner in storage tht is more than likely ruined but the thought of throwing it out causes me to cry. It was my GF's and my GM gave it to me when he passed away. It is broken and probably moldy. If it isn't moldy jeff has promisedc me that we will try to have it repaired. That and 2 other things are all I have of him. One thing is a piece of metal, not even sure what kind of metal, that he practiced envgraving on. The other thing is a hand made stainless steel ring, made out of a stainless steel nut that he made for my mom as a wedding ring because she is allergic to every other kind of metal. The only thing I have of my biological fathers is his belt, the one he should have been buried in. We won't get into that.
When the basement flooded and the ceiling fell in, I got rid of truckloads of stuff that was ruined, and I bawled. I yelled, I cried, I whined. My heart was just broken. That is what made me realize that if it was that important to me then it had no reason to be in a box or in storage. If it is important enough to cry over when it is lost, then it ought to be safe, not in a box or in the basement.

Now I do NOT use my good china, I have a set of Haviland Bavarian China, that is for my daughters. I have it in a china cabinet, (its under the bags of seed starter in the dining room) It has a beautiful marble top that you can't see :(

I will have a hard time getting rid of anything that my GM gives me, but I have gotten most from her that I will get until she passes. Then I hope to get her dining room table and buffet, she has hinted but I'm not sure. She bought the table for $8 in 1942, and it was old then, the buffet for the same price. She told me $8 was 2 weeks wages for her then.

One of my biggest problems is the fact that I really am LAZY. I would much rather sit on my a$$ than clean. That is why I asked about buddies..... cause if I have someone spurring me on, I do better. Me and another flybaby did a rescue today, me 15 minutes on my desk and her 30 in her office. The difference was amazing... I wanted to show what I could accomplish in "just" 15 minutes. She was amazed at what she had done too I think. It felt really good to look at the before and after pics, hers and mine.

Letting go of "stuff" is hard, especially when there are memories attached to them. You have to be happy, tho. Would you rather have the stuff weighing you down or the memories of whatever? That is how I'm trying to look at things. When I start to declutter I get really ruthless, and start pitching stuff. I do send some to goodwill, but I don't have a car alot of the time, and the stuff for goodwill gets stuck in my basement then ruined. I probably had 30 garbage bags of clothes for goodwill when we flooded. Lately my mom has been taking stuff with her to take to good will, and I am on free cycle now so that will help.

Ok, my 14 DS is spending the night here and I want to spend some time w/ him :)

hugs to all, and remember BABY STEPS :)

Janis

Oaky, fessin' up here. My Living room... piled with boxes of books. Photo taken standing behind the couch.I have a scab on my shin from walking into the boxes after being asleep and then waking to go to the bathroom in the dark.

View of the LR from the kitchen dooeway. There really is a couch (futon) and a coffee table under all that junk!

My sleeping area is beyond the couch. Cannot sleep in the room designated "bedroom" for all the mold.

what kind of mold Darius????? That is really bad for your health. We had black mold, boy what a mess I know your health isn't the best just from reading posts, please take care of yourself.

I see puzzles in those piles.. I have an entire shelf full in my closet, that is what I do in the winter usually

Janis

Yep, lots of Springbok puzzles I had hoped to get my money out of. Not much money, mind you, maybe $5 each.

The mold in the BR that I could see is black, Who knows what's in the wall cavaties. This house was empty for 7 years, no heat and on an abundantly flowing creek. Mold abounds.

Are you renting? any chance of getting it inspected? Black mold can kill you, it causes neurological damage, and breathing problems Not trying to scare you but we dealt with it, its scary stuff :(

Janis

Yes, I rent... and I'm dealing with mold via 2 dehumidifiers set at 35% humidity. Mold won't grow below 45%. Both rooms with the mold are mostly unused... storage in the wannabe bedroom area, and walk-in pantry in the other. But, the pantry was scrubbed down to cement block and sealed (by me, last fall) so I'm okay with going in there daily if briefly. I keep both doors closed to the main living area and deal with it best I can.

I live on a very active creek 15' from my door, which is wonderful but keeps the humidity up.

I was in the hosp. several times since last fall with breathing problems but my financial situation won't allow me to move. (just Social Security and NO savings nor assets).

I'm working on change but it comes slowly. My breathing problems are compounded by a heating system that's unvented propane and puts a film over everything within 5 days. (including my lungs)

Oh, Darius, I wish your landlord would make things right! :(

Me. too, GW. But he's a skinflint in many ways, and lives In Mississippi.

How is that even legal?!

I can't believe someone would rent a place in that condition.... Bad karma if you ask me. (which you didn't :))

its not Melissa but people that dn't have anyplace or any means to go put up with it, that is what we did.

Darius I'm so sorry :( Wish I could help but you are in my prayers I understand hte situation completely

Janis

I understand. I grew up in a FUNKY rental, just wood heat, no tv or phone till i was 13, almost no water pressure. At least we had water, my best friend growing up had an outhouse and they used to come to our place for baths and to fill water jugs. But we were only charged $45 a month so that made it ok.

Just in case you all think i'm 80 from the outhouse bit, i'm only 35.

Darius,

My thoughts are with you. I hope you landlord grows a conscience. Or you win the lottery :) Seriously, mold can be very bad! Do take care of yourself.

Melissa

We have hijacked this thread but I'm sure BetsyBug won't mind. I DO appreciate all the concerns for my health. I'm just between a rock and the proverbial hard place for the nonce. Trust me, I AM working on it. I just don't see a solution soon.

I have one of the cheapest apartment rentals around in this tourist-dominated area, $475 for 900 square feet.

Janis have you thought about starting to buy plastic bins to put your stuff in? I've (over the past tow years) got rid of all the boxes and moved to the "rubbermaid" tubs and I love it, they stack since they are sturdy and they don't allow water in. I've put in a little dehumidity sack (can't remember the name but I got them at Wal-Mart) the type tubs I bought have the locking lids so they don't open even if they tumble.

Darius I'm sorry about your mold problem, we had the same type problem at our old apartment and couldn't get the landlord to do anything. I slipped into a deep deep depression that I really think the mold egged on.

Also ahh if you need help de-cluttering I'll just take those vases (bowls) on your coffee table. Those are so neat looking, what are they and where did you purchase them?

Darius, It really alarms me about that mold. They take it pretty seriously here because of the constant humidity. After the hurricanes the push was on to get the schools cleaned up, which they did, but schools opened up two weeks late. Then they had kids gettiing sick so they had to go in and tear out walls. The mold was inside the wall, unseen. They finally had to demolish one whole wing of the middle school.

I have two places that leaked and had to let the water marks stay until the insurance adjusters could get here....a month later! I washed it down, but every morning I have a sneezing fit when I sit down at the computer. Who knows whats INSIDE the wall.

I really hope you get that propane problem taken care of. Your health can't fight propane AND mold.
Pati

Sigh... Yes, Pati, I know. I'm doing the best I can with no money to move elsewhere.

Araness, those are gourds on the coffee table, part of my craft work... and a vessel made over twigs out of gourd pulp paper.

Neat...I am so uncrafty it's not even funny.

But you can cook!

There is a show they air on either discovery or court tv about the toxic mold it was on a couple weeks ago. it is about this house that is in the 5+MILLION dollar range, that had a leak behind the refridgerator, and the mold ended up causing the child some permanent breathing probs, the the husband neurological damage.

The house is sitting abandoned bacuse by the time the insurance CO did anything they entire house weas comtaminated, they even had to leave their furniture and clothing behind, just walk out and move on.

Janis

Sounds like a real disaster. I'm trying my best to find another place but I live in Tourist Country and homes rent for as much as $1,000 a WEEK.

My sister had to move out of her house after the hurricanes last year. They eventually gutted the entire house, drywall, insulation and all, cleaned it with some commercial product and they re-insulated and new drywall... walls and ceiling.

Well, I'm thinking of you, I now it doesn't help, but know that I care ok?

We thought our rent here was bad LOL it is high for where we live but WOW

So how is everyone doing today? I'm gonna go sort clean laundry!!

Janis

I certainly do not mind a hi-jack! Aren't we suppose to be supporting one another? Then we're doing a great job. Okay - I'll take some pics and post them tomorrow.....since others have been brave - and I feel like I'm in such good company!

Speaking about detaching ourselve from loved ones things - why my Mom did in 1990 - and I still have all her sewing stuff and cards people gave her...all kinds of things.

Cheryl_IL - having a big walk in attic myself - I know what you've been doing - same as me - put it in the attic. NO one will see it there = including me!!!! LOL. After I get the house presentable - then I'll start on the attic.

Darius - you know how I wish I could help you find some place else - but all I can do is support you in spirit. I would come help you move though, all you have to do is ask.

I've had a couple of bad headache days yesterday and today - so haven't done much cleaning at all. Hopefully I'll get back to it tomorrow. I'm also the librarian for our community chorus and we start back next week - so the guest room is a disaster since I'm getting the music folders ready.....CHAOS abounds! LOL

More later - I promise I'll post pics....

Martcia, emotional support works just fine! (But I may ask you for physical help IF it comes to that!)

Darius - you just let me know when and feed me - you got a deal! LOL

Thanks, but I doubt I would ask you to drive all the way across TN unless I were in dire straights!

Are you kidding - a chance to get away and see a part of the country I never have? That's not a burden that's a gift! I'll be there if you need me and you don't have to be in dire straits!

Me too, always looking for a reason to drive somewhere I haven't driven lately or never. Of course I'm more than one state away. LOL.

An influx of big money has changed the rent situation for our town. No more little cheap places. Even a trailer is 500 or more. They've priced poor people almost out of town.

Watched it happen in Breckinridge, drove all the poor working stiffs over the top of the mountain to Alma. Well seems like some of ours just doubled up on occupancy, some left town altogether, and some moved 30 miles to La Sal. If I didn't live in my daughter's house I'd be in Darius' position exactly. If not actually a bag lady. Like the grasshopper I never saved up for a rainy day. LOL

Yeah Blooms... I'm a heartbeat away from being a Bag Lady! And, I am like the grasshopper too. Don't know why I didn't save any when I had an extra dollar or two. except there weren't many, LOL.

As a waitress, carpet cleaner, window washer, and lastly house cleaner... I didn't exactly have many extra nickels. And when I did, I used 'em on something pleasant.

"We're here for a good time, not a long time." old time axiom to live by.

This message was edited Aug 17, 2005 8:50 PM

Will trade gourmet meals for window washing, LOL!

Deal. stopped at the diner after the PO run today... Had their bbq spare ribs [1/2 rack] beans, baker, salad and roll. I'm still stuffed. And that's as gourmet as I get. LOL - but I love doing windows and anything someone else cooks.

Actually, I got some new windows today... replacements for some that had broken the seal and become opaque. I don't have photos of the new ones yet (camera was charging) but you can see how bad the old ones were. The new ones sure emphasize I need to wash windows, LOL.

I can wash the insides of my windows, but not the outsides. The only that aren't nailed shutor have a storm removable screen, have holes in the screen and wasps nests in them. Its nasty. I do wash the inside of them. We need all new windows. Someday.

right now I'm focusing on laundry and how to keep the clumping cat litter off my bathroom floor :( We have no place else ot put the litter box ATM and the floor up there gets so gross :(
I ought to take a pic of the living room, the towels are folded and put aweay, and the rest of the clothes are sorted into baskets, according to who they belong to. You can see my (ugly) loveseat now LOL

Haven't done much today, my son is still here and spent most of the day refereeing :( All 4 kids have fought and yelled all day long, it gets old really fast. the 14 YO has had a real attitude with me since he came home last night too, told him he is gonna knock it off, or he'll move back in here and see how miserable life can be.

Gonna shine my sink before bed tho :) I have been really good about that I'm proud of myself :):) Tonight is 7 days in a row. Gonna print out the FACE journal on flylady.net tonight too, and start to get our bills straightened out. We have no credit card debt, except my computer on credit from Dell, but we are playing catch up on everything, I have had to made payment arrangements with the utility companies, but at least we still have all services..... I really want to get caught up tho, especially since heating oil is OVER 2.00$ per gallon now. we usually go through 700-1000 gallons depending on how bad the winter is. I did apply for a budget plan, where they come fill the tanks and you make monthly payments... keep your fingers crossed. We are trying.

Well, gonna go catch up my email and stuff :)

Hugs,
Janis