I've been doing pretty darn good at staying focused on the things I really need to do. I did not bid on what is possibly the most beautiful wallpaper I've ever seen. A friend of mine won it and she lives near me so I'll be getting me some even if it takes a little aggression to acquire it or bribery. Whatever works. I'll figure it out :).
I've heard from lots of other hoarders and received some good advice. Both Sarah and Michelle suggested Freecycle which has groups all over the U.S. devoted to recycling and reducing the amount of crap that goes into our landfills. Be sure to see if there is a group in your community. Of course there isn't one in mine. I considered starting one, but felt like that would be taking this healthy-level-of-collecting-and-discarding thing a little over the top. Who am I kidding? I'll never be that mentally healthy. Laura (if you have a blog Laura, let me know) suggested donating to the school. DUH! I can't believe I didn't think of it myself considering I spent 3 years volunteering as the art teacher's helper and am aware of how much they need ANYTHING. BTW, I'll be volunteering again next year when Jackson starts kindergarten. Can't wait. I learn so much from those young people and their art. Kim suggested selling my extra stuff on ebay or etsy and donating the proceeds. Great idea and makes me realize I also have a greed problem that should probably be addressed, but I think I'll get my new wood floors and my studio finished before I deal with that little problem. Candice says cleaning the work space every day when you finish is called "equalizing" by the professional organizers. I've been doing it since I did the big clean out and it's a HUGE burden lifter for me. Tim Holtz does it every day. Well, every day he's creating in his studio and not jetting all over the world!
Candice also said I should go ahead and schedule the installation of my wood floors in order to force myself to get it done. Brian and I discussed that this morning and that's what we plan to do. However, what Candice doesn't realize is I need to first paint the entire interior of the house, minus the kids rooms because they are done, and Brian and I had planned to do the painting ourselves. It's this plan that is keeping the whole project on hold. So, we decided this morning, we will hire someone to do all the painting. We will schedule it and be forced to get the house prepared for the painters by a certain date. After the paint comes the wood floors....then the DECORATING!! Brian doesn't begin to have time to do the interior painting anyway and we aren't really all that good at it. Much better to call in the professionals. I HATE taping off and caulking.
My through-thick-and-thin friend William, says he loves me just the way I am. Thank you my precious enabler. I love you too. Finally, it's clear that me, Jeanne, Cerri, and Heather are just plain screwed up. I did buy two things from ebay yesterday, but they were cheap and I need them. Really, I do. Oh! When the mail came yesterday, I spotted John barreling up my drive and thought, "what the hell is he doing pulling in??? I don't have that much stuff coming." Well, this and one other box is what he hauled in.
I told John I must have been drunk when I ordered it because I had no recollection. Of course I don't drink much at all so I thought maybe my xanax had kicked in. Anyway, I opened the smaller box and put away the contents (already can't remember what it was) then I was ready to see what was in this HUGE box and try to figure out where the heck I was going to put the stuff. Then I saw them. The words Media Mail. Awe....a cookbook lot I got for William. Not my clutter. Relief. Kendra's problem not mine.
I'll wind this up by saying I am so very glad my dad was a pack rat. My mother was little-miss-perfect who never knew a day of clutter in her life, but Dad, oh my.....the King of clutter. If it weren't for him I would not have the old wood burning stove from Grandma and Grandpa's farm. The South Place where my mom was born. Who, I say, who would throw away something that dates all the way back to The South Place???? Mom and Grandpa that's who, but NOT Dad. He carted that thing home to our storage shed and now it resides in my storage shed :). Where it should be. I mean it is from The South Place. I also wouldn't have this gem if it weren't for my dad.
My grandparents first telephone. "Sarah, would you get me the diner?" (you've got to be an Andy Griffith fan to get it). Honestly, though, who wouldn't want this?? It weighs just about a thousand pounds. Brian was afraid it might take our wall out if we hung it. It didn't.
Okay, I've got lots more to say, but I'll save it for another day. Oh....I'm putting these little flocked packs in my etsy shop.
Just two for now. See if anyone is interested. It's an assortment of 12 patterns each 5x7. Thanks to all of you who have commiserated with me on the hoarding issue. Hopefully, they are making strides in finding a cure :).