Back Where I Belong...

OK folks, so there you have it.  All six of the "newest" posts from the website.  All moved over.

I'll be working on the layout of the blog every so often. It is screaming for some updating - I'm sure Blogger has made a few improvements over the years. It's the least I can do for ignoring it so much.

Since I left you all hanging with the August Challenge 2017, let me give you an update.  It's not done.  I tried again this year and got a lot further, but there has been a lot of things going on here with fixing of things in the apartment causing us to move stuff here, there and everywhere to keep it out of the way and dust free.  Everything ALWAYS ended up in that poor room. Anyway, I'm slowly but surely going back in there and tackling one box or small area at a time. I have been able to take some things to the storage unit and brings some boxes back here for sorting, so I AM making progress. It just doesn't really LOOK like it.

Bottom line it lady! OK OK...  So I still don't have a clear sewing space BUT people are able to come and stay overnight without fear of being lost in a sea of boxes. I WILL put up some progress posts every now and then.

I still have not colored my hair again. I am keeping it super short. It looks better that way and helps me deal with the heat better as well.

The cat is now 3.5 years old and loves me, loves me not. She has very sharp teeth. I'll leave it at that.

I am now unemployed and currently in an online course that will hopefully help with that situation.

You should know the drill by now folks. Stayed tuned - but don't hold your breath!

Word up

The last week or so since my last post has been interesting.

Build new Ikea bed with a gabillion gazillion pieces on New Year's Day as planned.  Check.

Move furniture around to accommodate new bed.  Check.

Notice new dresser (also Ikea, built and positioned about May-ish last year) is wet on bottom, mold is growing.  Um NO CHECK!

Life in the Chaos in chaos since January 2nd.  Check.

Grateful for a TWO bathroom apartment.  Check.  Check.  Check.  Check.  CHECK.

Even more grateful we only had to make one phone call to get this fixed.  Check that for sure.

Even though we are not responsible for getting in the contractors to fix this mess or pay for it, our lives are disrupted just like any other folks going through a remodel.

It seems the shower base (some sort of stone thing original to the apartment - built in the mid 70's) was cracked and water was leaking through one wall into our bedroom and through the other out to the balcony.  Lovely.

Things are uncovered and recovered daily to prepare for the day's work, lots of other things were moved into the spare room and living room before work so that the contractors and maintenance crew could get in and out easily.  Plus I am paranoid of them dinging all our new furniture.  Most of the furniture in the apartment is brand new.  Redone shower should be ready for use by this Saturday.

Ramble ramble, check check check.

Seems the word for this post is CHECK.  That's not really what this post is supposed to be about, so let's reign this in a bit.

I read blogs.  It seems lately that reading them is a lot easier than writing on my own.  Any-who, with the New Year, there has been a LOT of buzz on the interwebs about resolutions etc.  I'm not into the resolution thing myself.  That has never worked for me.  Something new and different popping up this year (to me anyway) is the "word for the year".

I've taken to this word concept.  Pick a word, live the word for a year.  I like words.  Words can have many meanings as Honey and I are finding out.  We may both speak English, but the differences are there.  Sometimes confusing, sometimes funny, always educational.

Now for My Word...

I have chosen the word "Create" to be my word for the year.  I can create crafty sort of things, create calm, create chaos, create love, create change...  Create can be many things.  I will try to apply "create" to my life every day.  I have a feeling a lot of my creating will be personal and internal (thank you peri-menopause three years and counting) and I don't usually share those sort of things on the blog.  When I create crafty sorts of things though I will definitely post about it...with photographic evidence too.

"Life is what you make it" is how the saying goes right?  Create.

So there you have it.  Lots of words about Chaos checking and not nearly as much about the main idea of this post.

Today you guys get to decide if I've created entertainment or boredom.  Check.

It's the end of the year...WHAT????

OK, so I've been MIA for a VERY long time.

These last 8 months have just ZOOMED by...it just seems like yesterday that Honey and I got married.

...well it's just one blog post away anyway.  hahaha

I am my own entertainment.

A lot has happened in the time since the wedding.  Big changes, little changes, change in general.

More Ikea furniture - we are actually having a build-a-thon over the New Year with what we hope are the final pieces.  I sure hope so, I've become hooked on Ikea's "Chocolate Overload" cake and really need to have a piece when we go.  It's bad enough we have to stop by the cafe for some meatballs.  Very bad for our waistlines, but oh so good in the moment.

Just for the record, Honey has done most of the building - so credit where credit is due.  I keep teasing him that I'm going to rent him out for Ikea assembly by the hour.

Anyway, we're still settling into the Chaos and I'm still trying to rearrange my things, get rid of a lot of my things, find homes for what is left of my things.  Most of it is sitting at the warehouse where I work.  Boss has generously let us store stuff here while we get things settled.  More on what I'm doing later as I do more of it.  I promise there will be photos.

I hope to blog more about my organizing attempts in the New Year. With all the new organizing I hope to be crafting much more so stay tuned for stuff I make.

I'm looking forward to a creative year in 2015.  I think 2014 was the year of "barely making anything" and that hurts my inner creative bits.  Oooh!  I started dancing again, so you'll probably read more about that.  I promise no photos of that hot mess.  Trust me, it's a mess but I do it anyway because I like it.

See you on the other side, and I hope you all have a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

What happened to February and March?????

I've been meaning to write this post for a while, just short of a month to be specific.

Honey arrived as planned on March 5th.  I nervously waited for him to appear on the tv monitor in the arrivals lobby.  Once he showed up on that, it was mere seconds for him to walk through the door.  It seemed like I waited forever, and almost broke down in tears thinking he hadn't made it through immigration but there he was...

Once he arrived we pretty much hit the ground running.  There is a LOT to do to prepare for the next step in getting him here permanently.

He arrived on Wednesday.  By the time Sunday was over, we had added him to the lease, opened a joint banking account, got a marriage license and bought a car.  That was an exhausting few days.

Monday it was back to work for me and time for Martin to try and settle into the Chaos.

During the next two weeks, we dropped some money at IKEA for new furniture, Honey assembled it all, and we made some more steps forward into getting him even more settled into the Chaos.

Now it was time to finalize the wedding plans and for Honey's parents to arrive.  They've been here 3 days and are still dealing with a little jet lag, tons of rain (they thought they had left that behind!), and the American way of life.

I have the next few weeks off.  My side of the family arrives Thursday and Friday.  We get married on Saturday.

HOLY CRAP WE'RE GETTING MARRIED IN 7 DAYS!!!!

There, got it out of my system for now.  Everything is set, we just all need to show up now.  The wheels are in motion, we just have to go along for the ride.

Now for the boring stuff.

Makeup:
No makeup except for something on my lips.  I've come to the conclusion that my perspiration and tears are comprised of acid.  I've given up trying to find makeup that won't run down my face - even though it says it is waterproof or "bulletproof".  As far as I'm concerned, it does NOT exist!

Hair:
I FINALLY found the size of sponge rollers I've been looking for so now my hair is done.  I tried hot rollers, curling iron, all sorts of hair products to keep it in place, etc etc etc.  Not one bit of that stuff worked.  I decided to go all old school and try the sponge curlers like my Mom used to curl my hair with when I was little.

BINGO!  Roll up all hair into sponge rollers except the front.  Sleep in them.  Take them out, run my fingers through my hair, pull it all up and back in a pony tail elastic.  TADA!  Hair is up and with the super curliness I got from the sponge curlers, I look like i have a high bun made out of curled ends.  NOT ONE BOBBY PIN NEEDED.  Just one lonesome hair elastic and lots of hairspray.

Dress and shoes still fit - barely.  Note to self: stop bloating for crying out loud.  Just. Stop.

Think that is all I've got for now.  Honey arrived safely, we've been busy, his family just arrived the other day, my family is coming in a few days.

Now if the weather could just make up its mind that would be good.  Thank you.

Crazy Time

There's been a bit of knitting.

Lots of rearranging, cleaning, sorting, worrying, stressing, sleepless nights, anxiety, surface of the sun hot flashes...etc etc etc

There has not been enough knitting and way too much of the other stuff.

But...I managed to color my hair so at least when I look in the mirror every day, I don't see a woman who looks as old as she feels.

Seems there is drama everywhere lately, plus a visit from Honey, Spencer finishing out the quarter, and the annual apartment inspection (today actually).

I felt a brief moment of "down-timeness" this morning on the way into work.  I was cruising on the leg of one of the Chili Socks and everything just felt all nice and chilled out.

That lasted about 5 minutes.

Tonight I am hoping for more chill time.  All I need to do is wash my comforter, sit back, relax, knit and see what's on TV.

That's the plan anyway.

The Change Begins

So the work that was supposed to happen in Spencer's room a few Saturday's ago finally happened this past weekend.  Well, most of it anyway.

Finally started in on washing all the linens as well.  I ran out of fabric softener and then had issues with soap and not enough quarters and well, I'm lucky I got my clothes washed a few weeks ago.

There was finally a trip to Jo-Ann's for the last of the fabrics I need for the quilts I'm about to start up.  Doggie quilt needed one more color, Spencer's quilt needed two more colors and I needed some cotton thread.  Once I get all the tops made, I'll be back at the store for some batting and backing for Spence's and Sis's quilt.  Mom had already bought the backing and the batting for Doggie's quilt, so all I needed was thread.  I've got a cute idea for the Doggie quilt so hope he enjoys it when it's all said and done (like he cares, he just needs a new blankie because current blankie is about to fall into even more pieces).  I'm sure Mom had just the basic quilt in mind with the pattern fabric for the top and a plain fabric for the bottom, but being a quilter, I just had to add another color, cut it all up and then put it all back together.

Sounds crazy, I know.  One of these days I'll take some photos of the quilts I have here that I've made.

OK, now for the room (it's about time, right?!?).

Here we have the room "before", with the bed against one wall, all the stuff off the wall and everything else out of the room.

And here is the room "after", with the bed moved to a different wall.  After of course having vacuumed the nightstand, the lamp, the mattress set, the frame, the ceiling, the wall, and the floor.  Nothing like a nice cleany clean room!

Tomorrow night I vacuum the drapes, clean the window, vacuum out the closet and start bringing stuff in!

Need to get moving with getting this set up because I need to get moving on all those quilts.  Can't wait to get the sewing machines all set up with organized stash shelves, and everything in its place.

It will be my first dedicated sewing/craft area ever!  It will be nice to be able to leave out my machines and not have to worry about clearing off the table and putting everything away when I'm done for the day.

I've been finding a lot of small quilted items that I've got all cut out but need to be assembled, so I just might have to set something up to sell all this stuff.

Well the ones upstairs are done exercising and practically bringing down the ceiling, so it is my turn to make noise and fire up my NutriBlast blender thingy.  Need to get breakfast ready for tomorrow.

Room Redeco, Step 1 - Yarn Stash Wrangling

After several false starts and just plain ignoring it, the yarny organization portion of the closet re-do in Spencer's room is almost complete.  Only thing left to do is to go through all my needles and notions and knitterly what-nots.  Most of those are going in a special box on the shelf, directly above the hanging thing.  The rest will go in organizers I hope to make and hang off the side of the hanging thing which has some very handy dandy pockets and straps along both sides.  First I need to see what I have.

Here is a photo as promised.  This is all of my yarn.  Yes, ALL of my yarn.  If it doesn't fit in this hanging thing, it does not stay or come into the apartment.  If you are a non-knitter, you will think, "Wow, that is a LOT of yarn!"  If you are a knitter, you'll think, "Oh that poor thing, she's STARVING herself, absolutely STARVING herself!"

I have plenty of stash, seriously, I do.  At the rate I knit, this should probably last me about 5 years.  A different way to look at it is: one sweater (that's the denim yarn on the bottom shelf, yes I found it!), a dozen or so cotton cloths, 11 definite pairs of socks, 5 shawls/wraps, 1 scarf, and what could be either 6 wraps or 6 pairs of socks.  Oh, and half a T.A.R.D.I.S.

Whether you are a knitter or a non-knitter, you are thinking, "Wow, that's a shitload of knitting."

(Some of you are thinking, "What the heck is a T.A.R.D.I.S."  Google is your friend.  Watch the Doctor and learn my friends.)

Anyway, yes, it is a LOT of knitting - especially for me because I knit when the spirit moves me, and it takes me a long time to finish something. Most of the time I start something, get pretty far in it, then decide to take it apart and make it into something else.  It's just the way I knit - and I enjoy the hell out of it.

By the way, not included in the hanging stash is the sweater I already have on needles and a shawl I'm also working on...the sweater lives in my project bag next to Chair and the shawl occasionally travels with me.

Next up is the sewing stash.  It's a bit too heavy for a hanging stash keeper, so I'm going to have to come up with something else.  I have been looking at various web pages about organizing such things as fabric, patterns, and thread.  I have shelf space, various nice boxes, and a creative mind.

Onward and upward.

Getting used to things...

Mainly, I'm still not used to this new blogger layout.

Worst part about it is that I didn't actively change it.  Instead of doing that, I just ignored all the notices that popped up every time I logged in about a "new blogger coming" and then one day last week, there it was...

The "new" blogger...

And here I am trying to figure it all out.

I will, eventually.

One other thing I'm not used to is anything Spencer related.

Not used to:

1. Not texting him at the end of the day to ask his opinion on that night's dinner.
2. Going into his room and doing stuff - that was his domain, I hardly set foot in it.
3. Doing the dishes, thankfully, there is only me, so there aren't that many now.  He somehow dirtied every dish every day - or at least that is what it seemed like.
4. Not having 3 loads of laundry a week.  I'm down to 2 every other week.  Now THAT I like.
5. Cleaning BOTH bathrooms, once again, the hall bathroom was his domain.
6. There are many little things I come across, too many to list or remember but they cause memories and twinges of missing him.

I'll eventually get used to it all and I really do miss him, but with email, texting, facebook and Skype, I can keep in contact way too easily for his liking.  Bwahahaha.

I was going to take a photo of the first part of my closet re-do, but forgot, so that'll happen soon.  I've got a bit of a hot mess on the last few "shelves" of the hanging thing for yarny goodness, so I should figure out what I'm going to do with it before I snap any photos of the 'finished product' anyway.  I have been sorting through lots of things and moving other things around and still haven't found that other box of yarn, but I know it's in the apartment somewhere.  I'm missing some very cool denim yarn that my sister gifted me a LONG time ago. I KNOW I still have it.  The bottom-shelves-hot-mess may need to be donated to make room for it.  No great loss since it's been that hot mess for 2-3 years now - I obviously have no feelings for neither that project nor that yarn.

Tomorrow morning is a wash-a-thon of linens.  Stripping both beds, washing everything, seeing what linens stay, what linens go.  My donation pile will grow exponentially tomorrow morning, I'm sure of it. 

I have 4 rolls of quarters.  Bring it.

And so it begins?

I have made a few decisions on what to do with Spencer's room.

First I thought about going to a smaller space, then decided against that because I didn't want to pack to move, didn't want to pay to move, and didn't want to be bothered with moving in general.

So now his room becomes a craft/storage/bedroom room.

It's still partially his room, only I'm arranging it the way "I" want it to look.  His part is the bed.  Oh and he has a bit of the closet still, but not very much.

I've decided to store all my decorations and craft supplies in the closet.  I know the craft supplies will fit, but I'm not so sure about the holiday decorations.

Here's my plan:

Each craft and holiday is designated a certain amount of space.  It does not increase. 

First up: knitting/crocheting and all things yarny.

I hit Ikea yesterday and bought this and this for my knitting.  So far so good.  I had already thinned out a LOT of my knitting stash, so things are fitting perfectly just where they need to be.  I have a sneaking suspicion that there is another box of yarn lurking somewhere and that will throw my whole plan into chaos, but I'll cross that bridge when I find that box.  I have another shelf of the hanging thingy available so things just might fit.

Photo proof available soon.

I had the idea for the knitting in my head and it needed to come out and come into being NOW, so had to get that out of my system.  Now I can get back to concentrating on stripping the bed, washing everything, getting new sheets, and dealing with the corner of boxes that Spencer left behind.  Then I can move the bed to the wall I've always wanted it to be against, and start moving things in and out once I've given the room a thorough vacuum and cleaning.

The Chaos will truly be Chaos until the dust settles.

That's how we roll in The Chaos

OK, so my friend Antonella gave me these awesome covertible fleece gloves last Christmas in a most fetching green.  Fingerless gloves with the tops off, put the tops on and you've got warm mittens.  They even have zippers on the top to hold money, an ID, your bus pass, or a key or two.

I wore them every day when I got them until the weather changed and I didn't need them anymore.  They were set aside and that was that til the next winter.

Well the next winter is here.  The temps dropped last week and there I was going through all my winter accessories and lo and behold, NO GREEN GLOVES.

I look night after night. Sound familiar? Yeah, I was also looking for my knitting needles.

So The Chaos was torn apart, put back together and torn apart again.

The needles were found, but not the gloves...until last night.

Also found with them were a few other items (from top to bottom as they were pulled out of where they were):

• two organic face towels that have been earmarked for a special project
• a large freezer ziplock bag (empty)
• Ms Cow's knitted sleeping bag (I was wondering where that was too)
• the gloves
• a small ziplock bag containing the leftover yarn from Ms Cow knitted sleeping bag and two sets of dpn's (which I noticed were missing from the ones I found the other day)
• a small silk pouch with my best set of zils
• my favorite veil (used mostly in dance class)

Quite an eclectic collection of items, wouldn't you say?

Oh, and Donna, where DID you happen to FIND all these items?

Ummm...wellll....

They were in a small tote bag sitting innocently next to a shelving unit in my bedroom.  I ummm never bothered to look in it because I thought the whole thing was full of the face towels that were the top layer.

I just so happened to accidentally knock it over as I moved the shelving cabinet to see if my gloves had fallen down behind it.

When BAZINGA all those diverse little goodies spilled onto the floor.

Of all the things I manage to lose in my apartment, I really do miss my sanity the most.

Well...it's been a few weeks, hasn't it?

And still the Chaos is in the same place.  There has been no forward movement on moving.  I'm pretty much stuck in a loop.

Search ads online...call poster to set up appointment...go look at disappointing apartments.

Good grief, you think I have looked at hundreds, don't you?

There have been only 3 so far.  Three.  It seems like I have already looked at hundreds.  I think it's just because I check the adds about 10 times a day.

Once something gets posted you have to jump on the phone, so whenever I get a chance, I am checking to see if anything new has shown up.

I'll be honest here and say I did actually see an awesome place.  That very first one I went to see after work.  I did not get it.  Disappointed to the max, but there are lots of people out there looking for the same things I am and at the same price points (lowest possible of course) that I am.  it's tough out there.

The last two were awful.  I'm am not a picky person by any means.  And for me to say they were awful...well they just were.  The last two apartment buildings were "born" in the 60's - just like me.  I think I'm holding up a lot better than they are, and that's really not a compliment.  Not at all.

Cracked and peeling formica on the counters, peeled and warped under sink areas (can you say water damage?), one washer/dryer for a floor of 13 apartments.  Really?  Those poor overworked machines looked older than I did.  A pool that hadn't been cleaned in MONTHS, probably longer.  An exterior that probably hadn't been painted in 20 years.  Carpet older than the hills, cabinets that didn't close, moldy caulk in the showers.  And these places were "ready for immediate occupancy".  The musty/mildew/moldy smell was unbearable in the last one I saw today.

It's really a shame too as these places have such potential.  Too bad the owners won't put out the money to do a few necesary repairs and upgrades.  The managers mean well and can only do so much.  I just can't see myself living in a place like this and don't really know how others do it.

The worst part?  Large closets, fireplace, ROOMY living areas, kitchen with a ton of cabinets and EXTRA CLOSETS.  O.M.G. The storage possibilities in all these places were amazing.

I'm just very very bummed that they won't work for me. :(

So...when I publish this post, I will check the ads again and see if anyone did any late night posting.

This is going to take some time...sigh.

On a happier note: Things going out from the Chaos.  LOTS of things.  The Chaos is shrinking.  Now if I could only get my waistline to shrink as easily and quickly as the Chaos!

A New Beginning for the Chaos

Along with everything else going on round here, The Chaos might be moving.

Donna and Spencer of The Chaos are tired of commuting. We're tired of the heat.

Things are being donated, recycled, and thrown out.  Just in case.

The Chaos Nest is down-sizing.  Whether it moves or not.  Spencer is applying for colleges and financial aid.

I'm in denial.

I go tomorrow to my first open house.  I'm putting together my folder with anything and everything I think I might need.  Can't forget my checkbook either.

I'm excited, scared, and all sorts of other emotions I can't even identify.

It's just too much right now, but it has to be done.

Life goes on.

I was going to say if you don't hear from me for a few weeks it means I'm busy moving, but, well, um...that's usually the status quo here.

I'll keep you posted. Promise.

In the meantime, light those candles, send the mojo, say your prayers, or rattle your beads... I really like the place I'm going to see tomorrow after work.

Wish me luck.

Could have caused so much trouble...

...with the title I wanted to use.

It had to do with the fact that I'm on my own a lot lately - Lonely.

It's at least a zillion degrees outside - Hot.

I don't see my son a whole heck of a lot lately - Mama.

I'm needing something to drink - Seeks.

Preferably something tall and cold - Tall One.

Which could have gotten me a lot of hits.  It still might.

Anyway.

I made this**:

A big pitcher of cucumber, lemon, and mint water. Although there is no mint in it at the moment since the grocery store didn't have any mint. Mmmmm...hits the spot.

Spencer drank half of it when he came home before he took a shower and went back out again.

I've become a pit stop/diner.

Thank God I don't have a washer/dryer, I don't want to be the laundry-mat too.

Besides, his Dad would never see him if he didn't go there and do laundry every so often.

There has been a lot of knitting going on during the Chaos Commute.  Not much happening at home lately.

Too. Damn. Hot. To. Knit.


**Recipe:
1 cucumber, sliced
2 lemons, sliced
5-10 fresh mint leaves


Add all to glass pitcher, add water, let it set for a few hours in the fridge.  After a day, you can take out the slices and leaves if you still have some water left.  It's very refreshing on a hot day.  Ours usually doesn't last that long, cos it's just so darn refreshing.


If you have a camelback water system, drain the water thru a sieve to get rid of slices, leaves and seeds before you put the water in it.  Tastes so good when you're out running or riding.

Gee...almost a month between posts!

Hey, I'm on a roll...

Sorry no postie. I've been really busy at work. On a computer and sitting all day equals total aversion to sitting down in front of a computer at night.

I've been sitting, but not with the computer.

I've done a few rows of knitting here and there. I've been reading. I've been listening to someone else read (books on CD anyone?). I've been playing Xbox (yes, I do). Mostly tho, I've been collapsing on the couch after dinner and falling asleep.

I've started a Pilates class on Wednesdays at noon. Unfortunately I'll have to stop that after this month. I just can't keep up with it financially. I am going to get 2 good months out of it, so hopefully can continue on my own.

Been on the bike a few times.

I voted. Ms Cow wrote in Cow for Parks and Grasses Boss. Wonder what the vote counters thought of that. :)

Found a great hairdresser. Got great new color, went bold on a new, shorter cut. Lost a great hairdresser. Went back for great new color and to maintain cut. Color worked, cut, not so much.

Growing out hair...and will most likely go back to coloring my own hair again. I can color my own hair in an hour as opposed to 3 hours at the salon. And will still save money over getting it done at a school. As for cuts, I can go to the corner and get a quick trim for $10 with a coupon. Bim bam, I'm outta there! No more wasting an entire Saturday morning or afternoon sitting in a chair smelling chemicals for 4 hours.

It was good while it lasted. The salon folks were very friendly and really listened to what I wanted to do with my hair. I just can't do it any more. Sigh.

I really do like my new cut, but it's a pain. It grows out way too quickly. I can't pull it back and still look nice - it takes about 8 clips to hold it back cos it's so thick. I look like I was having something done at the salon and had to leave in a hurry.

If I leave it down, I get hot. Really hot. Especially when riding my bike. It's like wearing a really really thick woolly hat that dips down over the back of my neck. All the time.

No thanks. I like the option of either putting it up or wearing it down or wearing it half up or whatever.

So I'm going to let it grow back. I miss my biking braids too. :)

Went thru an episode of Kitty not sleeping and MEOWING all night long. Is why I've been so damn tired. No sleep will do that to you. She's sleeping again now, but I'm still not. Sigh. I'm getting better but I swear I still hear her MEOWING even tho she's sound asleep at the end of the bed.

I've been trying to organize and get rid of about half of what I've got in this place before Honey and Cow arrive. Less than 40 days now and the place is not quite where I'd like it to be. I've got lots of things that need to go away and now need to find a way to get them away.

Getting a few items from a very generous friend that need new homes and I really could use here, so need to get back to work. They are arriving tomorrow.

Before I forget again...

Happy Biking Anniversary to me and my pretty pretty bike. Three years last month (Oct 16th) and still going strong. Really wish I could get myself in your saddle a lot more often.

Time to sort, organize and pack up give-aways!

My Post Counter is Wrong

Wrong I tell you! I've been posting and posting and jabbering on and on and the count is still in the 550's...I swear it's been that way since the beginning of summer. I KNOW I've posted more than 10 times since June. Gah.

Whatever, time for some more jabbering.

I miss knitting.

I tried with the Tunisian Hook last night - no dice. Even that was too much. Regular crochet doesn't work either.

Neither does sewing, making jewelry, or any other sort of crafting.

My consultation appointment with the wrist doc with the "New and Improved" MRI is tomorrow morning. I'm SO FLIPPIN' TIRED OF WAITING.

The wrist REALLY hurts. The damp and cold IS NOT HELPING.

There has been a whirlwind of sorting and organizing activity here in the Chaos.

My apartment complex is getting inspected by the City on Friday morning. Nothing like an "incentive" to get you moving a bit faster.

The only storage areas left for sorting are the big, useless dining room closet and the smaller, but still as useless hall closet. Those will have to wait until after the inspection. Boxes and whatnot that have already been sorted but don't have a home yet will be marked appropriately and put wherever there is room - need to get them out of the way.

I've made so many trips up and down to the recycling bins and dumpster that I should have buns of steel.

I've made 2 trips this week (so far) to the thrift store with a very large metal cart full of donations each time - on the bus - it's been quite easy actually. The big cart is now sitting full in the corner waiting for another run. Can't go tomorrow cos of doc appointment and Friday I'm expecting a package delivery, so I guess I'll start up with the thrift store runs again next week.

My doc appt is tomorrow.

I've been doing some culinary experimentation. It sounds a lot better than its been tasting, trust me. It's been fun tho - and I can usually salvage most of it, so we haven't been starving.

My doc appt is tomorrow!!!

Back to work putting things away. I've done as much sorting as I can, now just to get it all back under the bed and in the closets and tucked away til after the holidays. I will do more as time and wrist permits - don't think I'll have it all done before the Holidays and I really do want to decorate for Xmas. So....everything goes away, clearly marked and mostly in their permanent homes.

After New Year tho...it's back at it full force!

I got a new exercise DVD today from my DVD swap club. I'm so excited. It's Core Conditioning and what not, but uses belly dancing moves. I watched it thru while eating lunch today (yeah, I know) and I think I just might be able to actually do this one and keep on doing it - I like belly dancing and the instructors aren't annoying and my body is familiar with the moves - and it's very low impact.

I'm going to the doc tomorrow.

Cunning Plan

Latest news from the Chaos...I've been sorting stuff!

I know, wonders never cease.

I have had a plan in my head for a long time about where I would put stuff that I'm keeping. I would sort thru a box or two...either recycle, toss or give away whatever and then move to the next box. That sounds like a good plan, right?

Well, the only problem with that is that the stuff I'm keeping does not have a home - yet. So things are added to other boxes in no particular rhyme or reason and I end up taking two steps forward and one step back. Sometimes two.

I get rid of one box here, one box there and the next thing you know I'm creating another box of stuff that will eventually need to be sorted thru again and so on and so on.

Well, enter the latest cunning plan. As I was sorting, I started putting the things I'm keeping in their actual "future homes". It was working, but not so much.

A few days after I started that, I decided to "map" out my storage plans. I spent about an hour or so thinking, listing things and then drawing out an actual "map" of the final homes for all my precious stuff.

Let me tell you, it's the best thing I've ever done as far as all this organizing stuff goes.

I have also been keeping myself concentrated on ONE AREA AT A TIME until it's all sorted out. That has been the hardest thing to do as far as all this organizing stuff goes. Every storage place and area in the Chaos is a hodge podge of anything and everything. There is no organization. And yes, I have higher concentrations of some things in some places, but there is a little bit of everything all over the place. Sigh.

Mapping example: I have two units of metal shelving in my bedroom. Glamorous I know, but I needed heavy duty shelves and they were the most affordable best bet at the time. One unit has been designated as the new "crafting stuff" home. So now as I am sorting thru stuff from each shelf, one at a time, from the top down even, I only put back on that shelf the "craft" stuff. If it's not tossed, recycled, or given away, I check my map, see where it is supposed to live and go take it there.

Sometimes things get tight in the "new" home, but when that happens, the items are put into a bag, basket, or box and left as close to the new home as possible. The box or bag is also marked as "already sorted and waiting for space in the permanent home".

So far, this has been really working for me. I have been sorting a shelf per day since the weekend, so the first unit is almost done. YAY!!!!!!!!!

So far, I have tossed and recycled quite a bit of stuff, so the whole moving it to it's new home has been kept to a bare minimum. Which is good, cos the more stuff I get rid of the better off I'll be.

As I move from area to area getting rid of more and more stuff, it should become easier to put things in their new homes.

Having that "map" is the best thing ever. I have it taped up on the mirrored wall in my hallway. It really really helps!

Next up is the second metal shelving unit in the bedroom. I am starting with the storage areas in the apartment. Closets, cabinets and shelving units. As I go thru all the storage areas and get things started in the "new home" scenario, it will get much much easier to go thru the boxes all around here and get things put away properly.

My goal of having things more organized for Xmas is looking like it just might happen after all.

And that is a good gift to give to those of us who live here in the Chaos.

Updates

Still recovering from the fun of the wee hours of this morning. I didn't sleep at all.

Maintenance men have been going in and out all morning and the carpet cleaner will be here "sometime today".

Kitty is in hiding. With all this coming and going of strange people, I don't expect to see her for at least 2 days.

Pumpkin pie is actually pretty good. Especially after sitting overnight. The real test is when the pie expert tries it tomorrow (that would be Spencer).

Pluses and Minuses at 1:15am

Minus - a hissing noise which is obviously water running, but where? (12:15am)

Plus - I had just climbed into bed so it's not like I was sound asleep

Minus - I can't find where it's coming from...it's not any of the toilets, I didn't leave any of the faucets running.

Plus - I found it...

Minus - the hot water valve under the bathroom sink is spewing forth a wee bit of water

Plus - this apt complex has on-site 24/7 maintenance, who are now getting a call

Minus - I just stocked up on all sorts of toiletries, especially the female sort which are now getting soaked cos the wee bit of water is now rivaling Old Faithful and just as hot

Did I mention it was the hot water valve?

Plus - the female toiletries are super absorbent

Minus - EVERYTHING is getting WET while I frantically pull out the rest of the stuff under the sink.

Plus - Maintenance dude shuts off water to my apartment

Minus - water is flowing into bedroom at this point

Did I mention it was HOT water?

Plus - Maintenance dude brings wet vac and sucks up the water.

Minus - lots of things are VERY WET and instead of doing what I had planned for tomorrow (oh yeah, today), I get to dry everything out. Except the female things, there is no hope for them. Altho I think I can salvage the ones in the box that only got a wee bit wet from the first trickling of water...

Plus - he fixed it

Minus - he has to come back tomorrow (umm...today) with more sucking machines and a carpet cleaner and yeah

Plus - I have water, in all the right places

Minus - I'm WIDE AWAKE.

Plus - I don't pay for water or for the gas to heat it.

Thank you Maintenance Dude - I really wish this could have happened in the middle of the day - and thank goodness I was home when it did. It's now past 1:30am and he's still putzing round in the bathroom and here I sit. WIDE AWAKE.

Telling you all about my super absorbent female toiletries, oh and the flood of hot water in my bathroom/bedroom.

Haven't seen Kitty for a while. She's pretty much traumatized, the wet vac was pretty damn scary. Don't think I'll see her for a few days except for litter box runs and occasional munching. Sigh.