UpDate

Don't think I can quit yet; but at least I can get into the storage room. There is still a lot of things that belong to my kids. There are things of mine that I want to get rid of also. Its like this: I don't want it or need it but I wouldn't want to give something away without giving my boys a chance to say "I wouldn't mind having that."
Yesterday even after we did over 200 pounds in the morning I got busy and we took 4 bags up. I put them in my car and my son came along after I talked him to taking my car. We went to refuse place and then to another town's hardware store. I need string for my weed eater and that is where I bought it. We bought the string and headed home. John fixed it all up and then proceeded to do
the area that needed to be done. He raked the area also. I think he was happy to be outside in fresh air and he knew that it was something I needed done.
It was a good couple of days. I had time with my son and We accomplished things.
It sometimes gets to me when I see things that need to be done and I can't do them.
God I love my sons.

200 Pounds

Just a little over 200 pounds of trash were taken up today. It seems like alot but I still see more I think can go. I have said more than once I would like to reduce the things in my house by half. I don't feel like I should be on the program called 'HOARDERS'

Work Day

Well, my son came up and I can't believe the amount of purging we did. We are going to borrow a truck tomorrow and get rid of some more things. It wasn't all work and having time with him is great. I found more pictures. Some I kept and some I did throw away. I am beginning to see an ending to this chore.

Good TV

Tonight I watched some good tv. It was on the Discovery Channel. It was all about animals all over the world and how they adapt. It is called Life. It started last Sunday and it is going to be on next Sunday also. I don't agree on the evolution and dates given but all the strange animals I saw tonight and their ways to do what is necessary for survival. After that program there was one about a man catching a Demon fish that lives in the Congo River.
I enjoyed and learned a few things tonight. TV isn't always worth my sitting and watching but tonight I did.
My two sons that were coming up tomorrow is down to one son. The other son is sick. I hope to get some more things done tomorrow.
Have a great week and God Bless

Bank Robbers NOT

Did you hear about the two bank robbers from Conn. that were arrested by the police at the bank.
Robbers were not coming out of the bank--they were going into the bank.
The idiots called ahead and said they would be there in 10 min. and have the money ready.
Now really give me a break!

Junk Day

It is cold this early morning but as the old saying goes--I am hot to trot. I have to get the garbage out for the garbage men to pick up around 8:30. Then get all the stuff-- bags and bags of stuff they don't take ready for my son coming up from Green Bay sooooo the two of us can load his vehicle up and go to disposal place and GET RID OF IT!! I felt that my name should have been changed to Emelda Marcos when I went thru my shoes. I am getting rid of alot of shoes. When you pack shoes away it is just plain dumb on your part because you won't or can't wear them again.
Throw them away or donate don't pack them away.
Sometimes when you throw away you get a feeling that your life wasn't so bad if you have this much to get rid of.
Monday two more sons come up and take their things. Then I can peruse what I have left and get rid of alot more. One more son to get his things and then blessed relief I can dispose of more things without regard if its something I am storing for some one.
Someone told me yesterday I am doing my kids a favor by going thru this now- I can't accept that.
I am doing it for me. I want my house back and don't want or need all this stuff to feel secure.
I am blessed and I know it. So here I go!

Nice Visit

This afternoon I had a great little visiter. It was my little great grand son Calvin. He is 4 months old. I haven't seen him since he was less than a week old. It was such a nice surprise.
When his mom called and asked if I wanted to see him I was so happy. I didn't have to go upstairs I could stay downstairs and enjoy the baby leaving the work upstairs. I did go up later and found a few more surprises. But I am tired and don't want to go upstairs and deal with things the first part of my day every day.

History & More

I didn't realize all the things I would find when I started to clear out my house. I have so many things that bring me back many years. Baptismal certificate from 1938 for my mother,my sister,my younger brother and myself. Birth announcements- one for my son from 1963 and then one for his daughter in 1985. Pictures of people I haven't seen for decades. I am reliving many things these last few weeks. Not everything I find is good but it is history.
This is some project I started. I didn't have to do all that I am doing and my upstairs does not look better right now for all the time I have spent up there. But the memories keep flooding my days and my mind. My brain is really getting a workout trying to fathom what and how I feel.

Treasures

I have to make correction. Newspaper article was for my grandparents 60th anniversary not 50th.
When I put it in a protective cover I saw my error.
I sent my niece a letter that came from her parents with pictures of her and her siblings that was sent to my parents on March 20,1973. Almost exactly 37 years ago. I received a call tonight that she received them and was surprised. It felt good to share.
I shared some pictures with my sister and she received them today also. There was a picture of her that my dad carried in his wallet. She remembered the suit she had on.
This has changed my attitude a little bit. I have always said "stuff" is just that "stuff" Things don't have value as much as people and memories. I guess I was wrong.

Flying Fast Past

My upstairs has my mind going thru years at a speed I have trouble comprehending. I pick up something and I am looking at a newspaper clipping from 1947 about my grandparents 50th anniversary. I pick up another piece of paper and it is from 1926. It was my parents marriage license. A brief time later I am looking at pictures of their 50th anniversary celebration that I gave. Then I am looking at Christmas pictures from 1966 of my boys first Christmas with out their dad. He died in september of that year. I am looking at pictures from January 1967 when my son had his first birthday. More pictures when my sons were older. High school year book of mine from my junior year 1950.
It is a little hard dealing with all of this coming at me so fast. I have set myself down on the top stair and just sat more than once.
They say you can sometime see your life pass before you before you die. I'm seeing it now without any thing bad happening to me.

Memories

Going thru things that you have stored has an advantage. You can find triggers that bring back memories of the different times in your life. Yesterday I found a stash of recipes of my mom's;
some handwritten and some cut from newspaper. My mom cooked some good meals. She made a good fruit cake and she and my dad canned some great relishes.
I also found the program for my high school graduation almost 60 years ago. Then I started to think about where I have lived. I thought of all the places since birth. Each house brought back a memory. And I can state that they were mostly good. Not all were good but thats expected out of life.
I will be happy to finish this work though because it is work. Some of the boxes are heavy for me. My back is complaining.
Have a great week and if you start feeling bad go to your memory bank and think good thoughts and thank God for them.

Fog

Do you have those days when you feel like your in a fog? They seem to be coming more often for me. But the state has been having those days lately. Friday there was a 31 vehicle pile up with another short distance away 7 cars had a pile up. Today when i turned on the TV I saw schools in many places were starting 2 hours late. I first thought it was a snow day and couldn't figure that out. It was fog. There are places where visibility was down to less than a 1/4 mile. They could not see across the street.
I am trying to deal with my foggy days and I think and rethink what I am doing. Concentration is the way and means for me. Sign of old age I guess.
But what does the state do?

What Did I Start

Well once I got started I can't quit. I have gone through drawers with a vengence and I have shredded all kinds of records,cards,and old banking papers. I am not done yet. I am staying in because of the weather so I am not sure when I will stop. It is a good thing because I can't think of my kids or grandkids going through my stuff. Also when I am done with papers other
things will be going out. This has been needed for a long long time. I work for awhile, stop and then start up. This morning I started to shred before I even started breakfast-without a cup of coffee even. I hope this continues because I want my house the way I want it and that is a house with alot less stuff in it.

No More Paper Work

This morning I shredded papers from when I worked. I had made copies of a few reports that were not for the general public as they had names in of people I dealt with and worked with. I made those copies for me and as I don't think I need them now or want anyone to see them they are gone.
That machine worked pretty hard today and will work again tomorrow when I do another drawer. I am getting a big bag full of shredded paper. I quit that work and did other . I had to take something up to the lab at my doctor so I got the sample and my laundry. I did those two things plus picked up light bulbs and a few groceries. It was a busy day.
I have only one question- with the large size of my car door why do I bang my head on the car when I put the laundry in or take it out?
Have a great week. It is cold and we may get snow tomorrow so no adventures just some more exploring here in my house.

Why & What For

I am feeling over run by stuff. I'm asking why have I this in my small house? What is it good for?
Do I need it and how do I get rid of it when I can't find a reason to keep it?
Example: June/82 report of training 24 hours. Did I keep it out of necessity-no or because I received a 95% grade. It was needed training for my job Physical Intervention. Don't need that now. I have other things I want gone. Clothes that I won't wear. Things that belong to my kids.
Pictures of people that I won't ever see again and haven't seen in more than a decade. If I could empty out my small house I would be so happy. Even if I get all this separated how do I get it to a refuse place? The back seat of my car isn't big enough. With all the time I am spending in my house I want it cleaned out. I don't want to live in a storage unit anymore!!!

Such A Day

It was an "old timers" morning this morning. First thing was, I left work I wanted to do last night and went to bed for a quick nap. I planed to get up and set up my meds for the week and vacuum the front room. Had the vacuum setting in the middle of the front room waiting and the meds sitting on the table in the kitchen. Plows woke me around 4:30. I went back to sleep and had some crazy dreams.
So when I got up I put bread in the toaster started a pot of coffee. I concentrated on getting my meds set up for the week. When I was done yikes the pot was not under the grounds and coffee was running all over the cupboard. After I cleaned up that mess I took the cold bread out of the toaster and ate it and drank some of the coffee. I then vacuumed the front room. Last nights work was done. Life is funny sometimes and I know there isn't going to be any quick naps at night for me. I did make a good lunch with no problem and supper wasn't bad either. I accomplish a few other things to. Just have to remember to be fully awake before I start my day.
Have a great week.

Weekend News

On saturday my son Bob came up for a few hours. I could go where I wanted to go and do what I wanted to do. He didn't bring any of my greatgrands so I had no restrictions. Did I do everything I wanted to do-No. I pooped out-no big deal but when you stand around figuring out about something I get tired. I have been thinking about a cell phone for quite awhile for safety sake. The plans and which way to go took alot of time. Did I make the right decision maybe not but it is made and I am satisfied with it. We had a good time together,we had a great meal out and I called a halt to the trip not Bob. I got a few things to celebrate Valentines day with my greatgrands. Bob can deliver them. It was fun to run with someone. I don't get a chance to do that like I used to. My neighbors are good about taking me with quite often but they need time alone since they still have grown children living with them.
I have always been afraid of being the third leg or third sleeve on a pair of pants or a blouse.
There's my weird way of looking at things again.
Saturday night was not a good night for sleep so I didn't get up today until after 9:30. No plans for the day. We will see what happens. Have a blessed week. Oh and if you celebrate it--
Happy Valentines Day. Isn't it great that we have a day to celebrate love?

Haiti Stories and Me

Yesterday I read about a couple that was adopting a baby from Haiti. They had gotten their child and gone to the hotel in town to spend their first night as a family. They were found in the ruble huddle together the next day after the earthquake.
I felt so sad by this story but also so blessed. Here I sit in my warm house with only a little snow on the ground and all around me people are hurting.
I need to thank God for my blessings more. When my kids do something I can't understand I can't complain I should be thankful I have my kids,and grandkids and great grandkids.
Is my life exactly like I want it NO. BUT- Thanks be to God for what I do have.
If your day isn't going like you want it to go remember to thank God that you have the day at all.
We have so much plus the promises of God.
We don't always understand the "Whys" but we will someday.
God Bless

Productive Day

Today was a productive day. A neighbor inflated the tire that has a slow leak while I was sleeping. When I saw that my tire was okay I thought "Gee I can check my mail. Its only been 5 days," Now to get the car started and running right. Battery seem down. Went and got my mail; there was enough. Took it home and decided to take a run up to the store so the battery could be charged and I could get a few things I needed. While I was up there I decided to take time to get my hair cut. (It really needed it) I headed home with my groceries and a balky car. It was running but not smooth and carburetor was backfiring. Nine miles from home I checked where I used to wash my clothes and they had opened up again. I came home -got my clothes and headed back. I still hadn't looked at my mail. Oh well, I could read it later and while the car was sort of running I better go. I washed my clothes and came home. I was happy but tired. I don't know if it was the stress of the car acting up or the fact I had been going for quite awhile.
But this old lady got things done and can sleep tonight. I decided to make a good supper tonight with some chicken I had cooked. I cut it up added some things and rolled it up in tortillas. Baked them about half an hour and enjoyed.
I had no plans to do anything when I woke this morning. LOL

One Of Those Days Again

It has been a few weeks since I posted. I'm not saying it was dull but I could not find two keys that were important after my trip on the 22nd. I went from friends car into house and I had my keys at post office. I was given them 2 blocks away from my home and I put them in my pocket. I looked and looked could not find. Moved two loveseats turn them over and checked their cushions.
Tipped over my lift chair and looked. Moved all my grand"s toys to see if they fell in them. I had bought food and I looked where I had put the food when I put it away. I even looked in freezer. How could I walk from car to house about 20 feet and lose my keys. I finally called after a few days and asked my friends to look in their car. They were there. I was beginning to fear I was headed for a home.
Today my friend and I were going to have girl time. I had to go to doctor appointment first.
I was there an hour and a half. Our morning was shot. I found out I was suppose to have blood work last week so I have to get it done as soon as I can. i had to have a flu shot. I had to get some meds after I left the office so that was more of our time gone. I was good as far as doctor but had such dry skin needed to get the meds.
While I was waiting for my meds I found a new electric blanket on sale. Mine has been acting strange and I don't want it to start on fire. I came home and found my kitty cat left me an unwanted gift just by my bedroom door. IT WAS A GOOD DAY. I am tired to the max but I have gone thru a couple of days that make me happy to be alive. No chance of feeling bored like I was the other day after days in the house.