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The Great Little Garage

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bczygan

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....and the roof is still leaking.
Winter is here.
Lets put on a roof....in the snow and rain, with a torn rotator cuff.
What did You do all summer and fall, when You could have been putting a roof over Your head?
Sorry, Bill, I just don't understand Your priorities.
But... I AM still pulling for You.

I foolishly wasted it, spring too. Avoiding the true priorities. Now I pay the piper.
 
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70Chevy

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So hard for me not to leave a negative comment, having seen this property in person and knowing that there hasn't been a worthy improvement. Just considering the living conditions by today's standards. A huge task for a husband and wife.

Are you really getting a REAL dumpster? I'm glad the city has inspired you.
 
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bczygan

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So hard for me not to leave a negative comment, having seen this property in person and knowing that there hasn't been a worthy improvement. Just considering the living conditions by today's standards. A huge task for a husband and wife.

Are you really getting a REAL dumpster? I'm glad the city has inspired you.

Yes.

And it IS a huge job for a 63YO man and a 70YO woman, both out of shape, and with hoarder mentalities.

It has taken a LONG time to see this mess with realistic eyes. It's almost all junk. Be lucky to rehab the house into livable condition.

BIG storm front coming through right now.

Hope we keep power.

Thank you for checking in.

We are doing it step by step.
 

xtremek

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Hey Bill, keep posting. I'm interested in what you're going through. I don't understand people like Kevin and the others who are bashing you. I've followed along your last attempt, and I too was disappointed to see you stall. But it doesn't directly impact me. And if I don't like what you have to say, I don't have to follow along.
My Grandpa tried to quit smoking every year starting when I was 12. Every year he would fail, and every year he'd try again. He did that until a year after he retired when he was finally able to kick it for good (after about 10-12 years of trying). Addictions are tough to beat, I hope and pray you beat yours. Keep up the good fight!
 

-Brent-

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....and the roof is still leaking.
Winter is here.
Lets put on a roof....in the snow and rain, with a torn rotator cuff.
What did You do all summer and fall, when You could have been putting a roof over Your head?

I foolishly wasted it, spring too. Avoiding the true priorities. Now I pay the piper.

The roof has had a hole in it since 2011. At least that's when we first heard of it. So, by now there's more damage than just patching and re-shingle.
 
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bczygan

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The roof has had a hole in it since 2011. At least that's when we first heard of it. So, by now there's more damage than just patching and re-shingle.

More accurately, the roof over the garage area was re-roofed, but there is a spot over the porch and vestibule and part of the garage, where it needs to be flashed and counter flashed where the roof meets the second story wall. This has leaked and caused damage to the vestibule ceiling and floor and part of the garage ceiling (Scratch coat plaster on metal lath). Driven rain gets through.

The second story roof has a hole. It is a hatch I cut and installed for easier access. That roof needs re-roofing. It has 2 layers of shingles and needs to be stripped. This work is long overdue as evidence of the board roof deck having gotten wet and discolored underneath. In addition, one fascia board is rotted and needs replacing.

I have a section of scaffolding set up and have the shingles for this.
 
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bczygan

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Monday Morning:

Hauled off two plastic chairs.

Removed another heavy trash can, full of stuff. Have another to go.

Plus piles of misc. stuff along the side walk.

Today I am going to haul off all the misc. items as well as all the bins of clothes that Julie wants to donate.

The rest of the small pile of lumber needs to be pulled out and hauled off.

Then I am looking at all the bins and boxes of stuff Julie went through.

Anything that she wanted to donate or put in a garage sale, is going out. No time to mess with it.

Windy today and getting colder.

Getting light. Gotta go.
 
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bczygan

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Disposed of the small sticks of trim and up to 1x3 boards,( one of those trash cans full).

Threw out ruined tarps including blue plastic boat cover.

Disposed of another trash can of books, material etc.

Disposed of 3 large bins of off sized clothing and 5 ruined cloth suitcases.

Threw out 2 trash bags of seed starter trays.

Went through some boxes and threw out most of the stuff and put the remainder in the empty bins we have freed up by throwing away other stuff.

The pile is shrinking.
 
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bczygan

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Gonna call the city today.

Empty another trash can and fill it again.

Dispose of more lumber.

Remove a bunch of boxes and bins.

Dispose of 3 tires - done

Dispose of 2 garden hose reels - done

Dispose of 3 wood screens - done

Dispose of green painted plywood - done

Cut up some more doors and dispose of a few whole ones.

Bring 5 bins of good clothes in - done



I want to get the side sidewalk cleared and get to the big pile of deck lumber.
 
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bczygan

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I'm back at it.

Hauled a bunch more stuff out.

Already this morning, I hauled 3 wood screens, 3 tires, 2 garden hose reels, 2 pieces of plywood this morning.

Filled and hauled the last 2 dumpsters and removed pile of small lumber (Wood trim).

Disposed of 2 very large but ruined tarps.

Brought 5 bins of good clothes up to the porch.

Took 3 large bins of donation clothes out.

Disposed of 2 plastic chairs.

Sorted some of the remaining boxes and consolidated a few.


This morning I would like to completely clear the side sidewalk. That means sorting the remaining boxes and putting the good stuff in the empty bins we now have. Then finding a place for those bins. Probably about 20.


Empty the last dumpster - Done and fill it with the junk and empty boxes.


Then I want to finish taking all the rest of the doors (6) out and cutting them up and disposing of them. This will require emptying the last dumpster and using it to haul things. Emptied the HF trailer and loaded the doors on it whole for disposal - Done

Then I can finish the small lumber pile.

After that, the big lumber pile of deck material.

For that, I am thinking of buying some of those concrete footing blocks and just laying them out and using the lumber to set up a deck. I will just lay the deck boards on the joists rather then nailing them.

This will give me an appropriate place for the BBQ's and smoker and plastic chairs and a table.

Next after that will be the long lumber that is leaned up against a shed.

Then the remaining things are aluminum greenhouse framing, greenhouse glass, 10 tons of limestone, 35 bundles of shingles, and a pile of plastic drain pipe., Plastic drain pipe loaded on trailer for disposal - Done

Pipe goes to work. Limestone will border planting beds, and shingles on the roof.

The aluminum and glass...haven't figured out yet.


That leaves 2 motorcycles and a few woodworking and metalworking tools, 2 kayaks and a pile of fluorescent light fixtures.


Motorcycles might go on a trailer.

All but 2 of the metal and wood working tools will go in the big shed. One of the others will go in the garage, but will be a chore to move. The last one,,,haven't figured out yet.

Kayaks will go on van and camping trailer.

Light fixtures in a neighbors garage.

Then I need to put OSB panels on 4 sheds to close them up.


That's the plan for the outside, in it's entirety.


Then there's the inside...
 
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xtremek

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Ok, I'm nosey. What kind of motorcycles? And what kind of metal working tools? Did you have to tie weights to you legs to keep from blowing away yesterday?
 

Riley

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Good Morning Bill,

Sounds like you're making progress.

A suggestion for you, I wouldn't take the time to cut up anything, trust me, it will fit in the roll off full size.

Focus on the high value jobs. My two cents.

Riley
 

Bronson

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Ok, I'm nosey. What kind of motorcycles? And what kind of metal working tools? Did you have to tie weights to you legs to keep from blowing away yesterday?

After sitting outside for who knows how long, the bikes are probably scrap. Parts. If they have been inside , but now will sit outside, parts.:sad:
 

polexican23

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This guy cant work for more than 2hrs at a time. Must have been a union worker before he quit. STAY OFF THE DANG PUTER and clean your home. Anything outside under tarps, TRASH. dont try and sort it. TRASH IT ALL!!!!
 
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bczygan

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This guy cant work for more than 2hrs at a time. Must have been a union worker before he quit. STAY OFF THE DANG PUTER and clean your home. Anything outside under tarps, TRASH. dont try and sort it. TRASH IT ALL!!!!

:lol_hitti

Worked so hard today that I can't hardly lift my right arm.

After this dinner break, I'm going back out.

Union rules say I get 2 fifteen minute breaks and a half hour for dinner...
 
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bczygan

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Good Morning Bill,

Sounds like you're making progress.

A suggestion for you, I wouldn't take the time to cut up anything, trust me, it will fit in the roll off full size.

Focus on the high value jobs. My two cents.

Riley

Advice noted and taken. Saw put away and doors loaded whole.

I am just pulling out all the things that are under tarps and disposing of them. Even things I had plans for. Can always pick them up later.


Thanks Riley.
 
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bczygan

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Ok, I'm nosey. What kind of motorcycles? And what kind of metal working tools? Did you have to tie weights to you legs to keep from blowing away yesterday?

83 Honda CB1000
? Honda CB500 Nighthawk Black

Sears Table saw

3PH 30Gal Horiz. 2 stage compressor

Bridgeport base

H Press HF

Sears Radial Arm Saw

Anvil

2 Workbenches

2 SB lathes
 
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bczygan

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Just went out and retrieved 2 more abandoned trash cans without wheels or lids.

Filled one and put it out at an unoccupied house a day early. Filling the other now.

Around here, some people leave their trash receptacles out 24/7 for decades. Guy at the other corner said his has been on the street for 26 years. :shocking:

Dumping the trailer in the morning.
 
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bczygan

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Another cleanup hint and trick:

We have so many trees on our corner lot, that you can't see the house in the summer. And that is a small 40x100 city lot. So, of course, we have tons of leaves. The recent storm blew them all onto my corner, but wet them down on the street and paved areas, so they are most easily pushed into piles with an aluminum show shovel!
 
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bczygan

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Late night report.
Unloaded the trailer and got rid of 6 doors, dozens of pieces of vinyl siding, 3 valences and dozens of pieces of drainage pipe.

Tomorrow is time to fill a couple more trash cans to put out and start on the big lumber.
 
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bczygan

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Another early morning wake up.
Panic attack. Miserable feeling. Can't breathe or sleep.

Today I have an empty trailer and 1 1/2 empty "trash cans" that I can fill.
The rest of the small lumber pile goes.
Selected parts of the large lumber too. The rest gets put away.
I put the car top carrier on the van.
2x4x10's go in the attic shed.
2x6x8's get used up in a deck.
Big shed gets cleared out and all but 2 machines put in there.
Kayak gets put on pop up.
Roof rack gets put on van.
Also the day to put out a few "trash cans" for pick up.

Etc.

More than enough for a day or two.

Maybe snap a couple progress photos.
 
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bczygan

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How are you going to move the big stuff? Keep up the good work.

Quick breakfast break.

This morning I:

Filled and put out another trash can for pickup.

Toted off a cedar chest.

Pulled out the rest of the small pile of lumber, preparatory of loading it on the trailer. Put it on a table by the sidewalk for easy loading.

As far as heavy stuff goes, I brought everything in. I should be able to move everything out.

Now, I WAS a younger man when I toted things home.

But I am older and can use a few tricks. Besides, anything going out, I don't care if it gets damaged.

The heaviest things by far, are the Bridgeport base and the air compressor.

Bridgeport base gets levered on pipe rollers, all the way around the corner to the garage.

Compressor gets a come-along until in the right spot, and then building built around it.

Everything else is piece by piece. Stone, granite, bricks, shingles lumber etc.
 
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bczygan

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So I talked to the inspector, and got the skinny. We are going to work together on this. I will call her when it is ready for some critique.

No doubt this house and yard need a lot of cleanup and clearing and repair.

She wants it to "Look nice", whatever that means...

She did say that lumber, stacked neatly and 12" off the ground, is OK......Aaaaarrrggg!
I just finished disassembling the biggest pile of lumber and removing it!

Oh well, needed doing anyway.

Now to make the rest "pretty", while discarding what I should have, a long time ago.

Except for the fine, I really should be thankful that this occurred.

Back at it.
 

Bull

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Bill,

What percentage of the total amount of accumulated stuff in piles, bins, sheds, garage etc. is worth keeping, and what percentage is life-sucking, leaden, burdensome trash?

Can you get to a point where your yard only has buildings visible and perhaps a small handful of assorted "things" like a lumber pile or wheelbarrow or something?

I sense the power of your struggle. But, love and time are the only commodities we will wish for more of when the curtain begins to descend in front of our eyes. The monetary or practical value of all these items, whether real or imagined, does not at all justify keeping them in your life if constantly managing them is preventing you from having the time to do what you love doing. I highly doubt you love moving objects about.
 

Kevin54

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My thought would be that at 63 years old and 70 years old, it's time to quit playing with trash, and enjoy what years are left. Almost three years has been pissed away, by rearranging trash. And Bill, I've said it before, you are a very intelligent person. You admit that you have hoarding tendencies.. I think at times by what I see you do and post is that hoarding becomes an excuse that you can hand to other people to garner attention and also use that to cover up laziness. You go out and work for an hour or two, then jump on the computer, then MAYBE a little more work, then back on the computer. The thing is, just because you post on THIS thread every couple hours, a lot of people don't see that you are posting on other threads in between. Maybe I spend a lot of time on the computer, but there are days my arm hurts so bad I can't do things. Other days, I get up about 4:00am, get coffee on, spend a couple hours on the computer, then not get back on until I take a break at noon, and then not get back on until evening. But you seem to be addicted to it, to a point that you can't get anything done.

And for the life of me, I DO NOT understand how a couple can live without the basic necessities, like for instance.....RUNNING WATER!!!

You have basically pissed away a small fortune. What you bought, you let it get ruined. You've taken a house and a lawn, and turned it into a shithole. You take things and just toss it down. Just like drywall......anyone KNOWS you cannot store drywall outside whether under a tarp or not. I also think you find yourself Jonesing for items. If someone gets a deal on something, then you think you need to go out and buy something to compete, compare, or brag about your score. Just like when you started to clean your garage a couple years back, you found tools you didn't know you even had, yet you buy more. You have a Bridgeport and a lathe, yet you leave them out in the weather until they are basically ruined. Most people would love to have a mill and lathe, but you don't want to sell them, but yet you let them get ruined. And in your mind, and I know you can do it, is face the fact that the **** you have outside is trash. You sort through tubs of clothes that have been stored outside, and still drag some of that **** back in the house. They are NO GOOD AT ALL. You won't wear them, Julie won't wear them. If they had any value, they wouldn't have been stored outside in the first place.

Also, weren't you going to talk with someone about your problem a few years back? Then you joined a site of other like people so everyone could give everyone encouragement? What happened with that? I believe you gave up because it took away from your other time of basically doing nothing. What you post about doing, or your hour by hour updates, really don't amount to ****. "I drug a door to the sidewalk, I cut up a door, I filled a trash can"? You may be able to pull the wool over some newer peoples eyes, and you say that you need to do it for you, to keep you motivated? It's not for the motivation, and I think you realize it. It's for the attention it draws and that's what you feed on.

Personally, if it were me, I honestly would be totally embarrassed to let people know how I lived on one hand, then on another hand brag about what you bought. For the money that you've spent on what....a new laptop or two, some cameras, then the tools, and whatever else, yet on the other hand you tell them about having to tote water to the house, and how the city has come down on you and give you a ...what would be to me, a huge fine, and how you completely let the water and basement situation go because in a nutshell, you were too lazy to do anything about it?

So how about this Bill.....Today's Wednesday...how about staying completely off of the computer until Monday. It's just a few short days away. By that time, you should have everything cleaned off of the sidewalk. Maybe you'll have a roll-off by then. Spend the next four days getting rid of the trash. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then post up Monday as to what got accomplished. You don't need to post every hour for encouragement, as I know you are aware of. Get some of the neighbors that you helped all of the time, to maybe give you a hand. I'm sure most would be glad to see things cleaned up. And while you are tossing things, throw away the pipe dreams or the ******** that you are feeding people. It looks good on paper as to all of the intentions you have planned, but you know in reality that they will never happen. The only intentions that you should have is getting things cleaned, and getting the priorities fixed like water and roof. A couple of years ago, they could have been fixed and you refused. You made excuses and it never got done.
 
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bczygan

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Bull,
Your comments fit perfectly. Thank you.

Kevin,
I know you care, or you wouldn't post.
A couple of things. I do post the same thing on both groups. To get encouragement, suggestions and to keep track of what I want to do next and what has been done. Also to make myself responsible to the group, to accomplish what I say will be done.
So no, I won't stop posting.

Just spent a bunch of unproductive time playing phone tag with different city departments to finally get a 30 day extension, rather than a 14 day one, for a $20 fee. Ended up talking to a lawyer............VERY FRUSTRATING!......THEY DO NOT TALK OR ACT LIKE HUMANS.

So some sunshine wasted. But back I go.

Have talked to the inspector and hope to have a good relationship as we complete this.

Still have to go to court, and could still have 1K fine. Out of my control. All I can do is clear and clean.

And yes, Bull, I can get the yard bare (Besides sheds), except a couple motorcycles and a deck with chairs and BBQ's and smoker and chairs and table.

Will take some serious work with the 2 big machines.

Dealt with the big lumber pile today. Also pulled out the last little pieces of the small lumber pile. Yard is getting clearer, but far to go.

Must work every day, with just breaks.

Tonight hope to put out a few "trash cans".
 

-Brent-

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Here's the reality, Kevin and Bill. Now that the city is keen on this situation and is to the point of issuing a fine, it's only a matter of time before this situation gets more dire. This is how people lose their homes, first a fine (or multiple fines) then a lien, then they lose the home. Then what? What comes after your home being condemned? I'm afraid of that answer.

I really don't want to see that happen TO ANYONE, especially someone we've followed and gotten to know. It's frustrating to me (I'm not sure why, exactly) to follow. I want to see you succeed, Bill, but I see a lot of language that you use that shows this is just another horse-and-pony show. The city isn't going to tolerate lack of integrity surrounding your word.

Look at it from their point of view. This house has an occupant, it's not like those burned-out and abandoned homes where they need to pay a skip-tracing service to locate debtors. They don't have it in the budget to do that. With you, it's easy, there's someone they can come after, bug, and attempt to get results. It's easier to deal with you since you're living there and not likely leaving. So, you can be sure they're going to be like flies on a cow's ****.
 
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bczygan

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Here's the reality, Kevin and Bill. Now that the city is keen on this situation and is to the point of issuing a fine, it's only a matter of time before this situation gets more dire. This is how people lose their homes, first a fine (or multiple fines) then a lien, then they lose the home. Then what? What comes after your home being condemned? I'm afraid of that answer.

I really don't want to see that happen TO ANYONE, especially someone we've followed and gotten to know. It's frustrating to me (I'm not sure why, exactly) to follow. I want to see you succeed, Bill, but I see a lot of language that you use that shows this is just another horse-and-pony show. The city isn't going to tolerate lack of integrity surrounding your word.

Look at it from their point of view. This house has an occupant, it's not like those burned-out and abandoned homes where they need to pay a skip-tracing service to locate debtors. They don't have it in the budget to do that. With you, it's easy, there's someone they can come after, bug, and attempt to get results. It's easier to deal with you since you're living there and not likely leaving. So, you can be sure they're going to be like flies on a cow's ****.


I guess I don't get it...what language? What dog and pony show? Please tell me. If you were here, and all my posts should put you right here, you should see the rapid progress.
Just came in from pulling another load of lumber out of the yard. It's on the sidewalk, waiting to go on the trailer and be hauled off. A certain number more of those and it's all gone. Yard space is opening up by the minute.
I'm doing exactly what the city wants, and even more.
Yes, when we started, about 10 days ago, we went slowly, sorting everything. That was Julie. She's not at the same point, at least with her things.
My mindset is that I'm pulling it out and disposing of it, unless there is an overriding reason we HAVE to have it right now.
Just cleared about a 10x10 area. Need to rake it.

Maybe you don't see it because I haven't posted photos of the before and after of cleared areas.

This evening is going to be a sweat fest.
 

-Brent-

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I guess I don't get it...what language? What dog and pony show? Please tell me.

I'll quote you below and explain how I've read it...

So I talked to the inspector, and got the skinny. We are going to work together on this. I will call her when it is ready for some critique.
...

She did say that lumber, stacked neatly and 12" off the ground, is OK......Aaaaarrrggg!
I just finished disassembling the biggest pile of lumber and removing it!

Oh well, needed doing anyway.

Now to make the rest "pretty", while discarding what I should have, a long time ago.

...

I read this as not doing anything more than you need. This isn't a solution, really. If you knew it could have all been stacked (and not thrown away) it'd still be in your possession and there'd be limited progress. I applaud you for not going back and retrieving the wood.

Another early morning wake up.
Panic attack. Miserable feeling. Can't breathe or sleep.

Today I have an empty trailer and 1 1/2 empty "trash cans" that I can fill.
...

I get you. This is an overwhelming situation. It's akin to a paying back a million dollar debt in a month after building up the amount for 20 years.

The true cost of what's happening is great. It *****. 1-1/2 cans and a 4x8 trailer aren't going to accomplish much. Even though you may feel as though it is.

The same way you find cash for a blast cabinet could be the same way you afford to have a dumpster delivered. I know that it's not really about money, though.

Heck, a few of us members have offered them to you. A member offered one up just recently. People like helping those willing to help themselves... accept it. It'd probably be pretty cathartic to accept help.

Just went out and retrieved 2 more abandoned trash cans without wheels or lids.

Filled one and put it out at an unoccupied house a day early. ...

This is more of what I refer to by "language." Sure you write it as though it looks like it's adding to your effort but this isn't going to do much. These aren't even your cans. It's irresponsible and a waste of valuable time to be rummaging the neighborhood finding abandoned cans when you could have a container dropped at your curb.

The reality of having that container there is probably another source of stress. There's probably a huge source of stress in realizing it's meant to be filled with stuff, your stuff.

I once heard someone say "no one will change until they realize the cost of their behavior - and that will be the impetus for change." I've thought about that when I've seen people leave their families, lose their jobs or possessions, or their health or worse, their life - because they were committed to behaviors that lead to those losses.

For example, both my parents smoke cigarettes. My father has been smoking since he was 8 years old, my mom since 22. They won't quit because the cost isn't great enough to them. It already effects their life but when it leads to something that can cause finality, it'll be too late. They don't see it. They don't see it shortening their lives, their time with my children, their time with my college-age brother, their time with each other, etc. They want those things but in the present there's no cost to their behavior - that they can see.

I see this with you. Small steps are steps none-the-less, I get that, but you've been here before. You haven't taken the next BIG step to get where you say you want to get. And, so, I see that as language that isn't really going "all in" and taking charge of your life.

You, quite literally, need to live like a different Bill - not the Bill that put you in this situation.
 
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Brewsterg6

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I don't even give a **** about the finished job... I'm just cheering to see a photo of a filled roll-off ready to go to the dump!
 
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bczygan

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DETROIT! Arsenal of Scrappers
I'll quote you below and explain how I've read it...



I read this as not doing anything more than you need. This isn't a solution, really. If you knew it could have all been stacked (and not thrown away) it'd still be in your possession and there'd be limited progress. I applaud you for not going back and retrieving the wood.



I get you. This is an overwhelming situation. It's akin to a paying back a million dollar debt in a month after building up the amount for 20 years.

The true cost of what's happening is great. It *****. 1-1/2 cans and a 4x8 trailer aren't going to accomplish much. Even though you may feel as though it is.

The same way you find cash for a blast cabinet could be the same way you afford have a dumpster delivered. I know that it's not really about money, though.

Heck, a few of us members have offered them to you. A member offered one up just recently. People like helping those willing to help themselves... accept it. It'd probably be pretty cathartic to accept help.



This is more of what I refer to by "language." Sure you write it as though it looks like it's adding to your effort but this isn't going to do much. These aren't even your cans. It's irresponsible and a waste of valuable time to be rummaging the neighborhood finding abandoned cans when you could have a container dropped at your curb.

The reality of having that container there is probably another source of stress. There's probably a huge source of stress in realizing it's meant to be filled with stuff, your stuff.

I once heard someone say "no one will change until they realize the cost of their behavior - and that will be the impetus for change." I've thought about that when I've seen people leave their families, lose their jobs or possessions, or their health or worse, their life - because they were committed to behaviors that lead to those losses.

For example, both my parents smoke cigarettes. My father has been smoking since he was 8 years old, my mom since 22. They won't quit because the cost isn't great enough to them. It already effects their life but when it leads to something that can cause finality, it'll be too late. They don't see it. They don't see it shortening their lives, their time with my children, their time with college-age brother, their time with each other, etc. They want those things but in the present there's no cost to their behavior - that they can see.

I see this with you. Small steps are steps none-the-less, I get that, but you've been here before. You haven't taken the next BIG step to get where you say you want to get. And, so, I see that as language that isn't really going "all in" and taking charge of your life.

You, quite literally, need to live like a different Bill - not the Bill that put you in this situation.

OK,
I get it. I smoked too. 3 packs a day for 19 years. Quit when the C word was used.
 

Bronson

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
12,708
Location
Texas panhandle
Bill, first let Me apologize for the negativity of My posts in this thread.
I got too vested in the last thread, and find Myself really annoyed and frustrated that You are still in the same sinking boat. I want to help You bail out that boat, but at some point I am jumping over the rail to avoid the undertow, if that makes any sense.
I have to wonder how Julie feels about the renewed urge to clean up and fix up. Is her heart in it, or is she dragging her feet?
Seems it would be really uphill, if she is not helping You pull the load.
 

Brewsterg6

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
69
One of the things that would help is to limit your computer time. We are heading into winter now, and you are losing your daylight hours. Commit yourself to not posting or checking the forum until 5pm. Going in for lunch and "checking up on posts" is just robbing you of work time.
 

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
OK,
I get it. I smoked too. 3 packs a day for 19 years. Quit when the C word was used.

Personally, I really thinking that you are missing the whole point as to what Brent is saying. It's not about smoking, it's about not looking at things in the long term sense, because at the moment, things are still fine, although in your case things have to be stepped up at a little faster pace. Long term would be to ultimately doing something about it Bill, but you are living in a short term World, and only doing what is necessary to keep the dogs off your tail.

You have pipe dreams that you will never accomplish. Sidewalk work, putting pavers here, putting flagstone there, build this, have a workshop, make that, and the list goes on with the pipe dreams. But you really need to look at reality. You have stuff stashed that you don't even know what you have. How full is your hangar that you are paying on? What about the place where you have the 13 or 18 or how ever many campers that you own? A couple of years ago, when you could have had the water fixed, IIRC, you picked up another camper or two.

So in the present, and doing what you are doing, is just enough to keep the hounds away, and to satisfy the city. When the snow starts blowing, are you going to be out there sorting things? If I was a betting man, I'd bet NO!!!

There has been so many excuses over the last couple of years. Yet what is outside under tarps, was the same stuff that was out there two years ago and maybe had more added to it. I guess I don't understand why you find things so hard to throw away, yet are so afraid to start over fresh with a clean slate. :headscrat You have bought and ruined so many things, plain and simple. There is no way that I could cart bucket after bucket of water, because your water is not hooked up, but then go out and buy other things just to lay them down or lose them in the midst of other piles of stuff. It's not like you liver out in the middle of nowhere and there is no water at all. You take it upon yourself to shift priorities around, and just not fix it.

Like I said, you are only doing the minimum to keep the hounds away. Next year at this time, it will be the same old thing and just be another repeat of what you are doing now. You've already stated before that you had to clean out rooms again, that I am assuming were the same rooms that were cleaned out two years ago that you were so proud of doing.

And one other thing is the making up of excuses.

I guess I don't get it...what language? What dog and pony show? Please tell me. If you were here, and all my posts should put you right here, you should see the rapid progress.
Just came in from pulling another load of lumber out of the yard. It's on the sidewalk, waiting to go on the trailer and be hauled off. A certain number more of those and it's all gone. Yard space is opening up by the minute.
I'm doing exactly what the city wants, and even more.Yes, when we started, about 10 days ago, we went slowly, sorting everything. That was Julie. She's not at the same point, at least with her things.
My mindset is that I'm pulling it out and disposing of it, unless there is an overriding reason we HAVE to have it right now.
Just cleared about a 10x10 area.

Without going back through, but you said the same thing a couple of days back, that you cleared a 10x10 area. That is the same size of my bathroom. It should not take anyone all day to clear out a 10x10 area. Items stored outside for years is worthless trash. Most people could have something the size of your yard cleaned out in one day.
 
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