Grunge Garage

[Kevin54]

Time for some pictures updates I think!

 

[Need4racin]

New week Bill, Keep on going through that stuff and throwing the unusable junk away.

 

[bczygan]

OK,
Didn't get to the sidewalk til this evening. Was unconscious all morning like someone hit me with a hammer (Maybe Julie did!).
First photo is after moving some bins partway in. Second is the bins stacked in front of the shed. Third is showing what needs to still be done. A lathe table and table saw need moving and under the tarps are the parts of the Bridgeport.

 

[rickairmedic]

Bill I gotta say if it were me I would open each tote and look inside if all I saw was clothes I would load it on the trailer for a trip to the dump or goodwill . I count 30 plus totes there taking up valuable room and I would bet 3/4 of them if not more are full of clothes .

Rick

 

[bczygan]

Bill I gotta say if it were me I would open each tote and look inside if all I saw was clothes I would load it on the trailer for a trip to the dump or goodwill . I count 30 plus totes there taking up valuable room and I would bet 3/4 of them if not more are full of clothes .

Rick

Rick,
All of them are full or partially full of current clothes, especially Julies winter clothes which she will need soon. Most are even labeled. But I needed maneuvering room inside to clean up the bedroom and spare bedroom/ dressing room. I will be bringing some of them in and putting clothes in dressers as soon as they are cleaned out. That can be done in the cold, but I need the back walk cleared and these were in the way back there. Focus is on access to the basement for pulling out trash and getting access to water. In the morning I will move that table, the table saw and bring in the Bridgeport head and ram.

 

[rickairmedic]

Bill once you have running water and heat . You will be able to put a washer and dryer down there in the basement . Then Julie wont need 30 totes full of winter clothes . I have enough clothes to pretty much last me 2 weeks without having to wash anything and honestly even that is more than I need . Janette on the other hand has WAY to many clothes . I mention to her regularly that if she gave half of what she has to goodwill she would be able to find the top of her dresser .


Rick

 

[bczygan]

Rick,,
They WILL be sorted and reduced. Right now they are her one luxury. Well, one of her luxuries. I DO get it......no one else on the block has 30 clothes bins in the back yard!

 

[Phxphenom]

Keep on going, Bill.....

 

[markviii]

You're on track getting the back walkway cleared for access to the basement. The clothes being in tubs will protect them as well as keep them out of the way. Keep it up!

Cold front coming through (so 50% chance of rain) on Wed-Thurs. Fifties during the day most of the week. Sunny next weekend. That should be a motivator to get that access-way cleared. Getting to the water and heating repairs are top priorities and clearing that walkway (and the rooms in the process) seems to facilitate that work.

Chris

 

[Kevin54]

Bill, I pretty much am giving up on this thread, or at least giving my opinion anymore. I've said it in the past and I'll say it again. YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP. Period. You can come up with more excuses for not throwing things away. Nobody in their right mind has 30 frickin' bins of clothes in the yard, let alone your block, let alone almost anywhere. All you are doing is rearranging and not really doing anything to get to the root cause. Rat ****, mouse ****, no running water, sewage problems, and you are screwing around moving clothes into the backyard for craps sake. Clothes belong in the house. Appliances belong in the house. Tools go into the garage. Rats and mice go to an exterminator. Then the problem with your health. You complain about dental work needed, you state that you have no health care, yet the both of you just spend, spend, spend. ReStores, Rummage sales, Garage sales, Craigslist, EBay. C'Mon Bill WTF!!!! Spend some of that money on your mouth. You've had offers of help yet you have the excuse the phone is dead when someone repeatably tries to call you. Other people have mentioned sending you money for a rolloff, yet you either don't respond or have an excuse. You opened up to us for help. We didn't go searching you down. I'm beginning to think it is all B.S. just to gain some Internet attention. Sort of that feel sorry for me. I'm sorry if I said some things that you don't agree with, but for god sakes Bill. Put on your big boy pants. If you want help, get help. If you want help that is offered, accept help. But remember. It's almost into November. You have clothes in the backyard, no running water, you go to the laundrymat once a year, borrow water from the neighbor, sewer problems. I guess I'm not going to ask or even want to know about showering, bathing, or brushing your teeth. Just remember Bill....What you are doing is not solving anything, and it sure as hell ain't normal.

 

[70Chevy]

As Bill said, I came by on Saturday afternoon for the tour.
I'll comment on my lunch break to share my thoughts - but I can tell you right now, with what I've seen, it is going to take more than 2 or 3 guys. It will take a "team" - I'll get into what I have in mind later.

Brian

 

[Phxphenom]

You're a good man, Brian. Let me know how I can help.
Marc

As Bill said, I came by on Saturday afternoon for the tour.
I'll comment on my lunch break to share my thoughts - but I can tell you right now, with what I've seen, it is going to take more than 2 or 3 guys. It will take a "team" - I'll get into what I have in mind later.

Brian

 

[bczygan]

Kevin,
I'm sorry to hear that you've lost interest, but I'm not surprised. This is not a thread with amazing transformation for the readers to enjoy right away. If I had gone through the whole process before starting the thread I could have the whole thing to present as a fait acompli. This will drag on because it is just a big job. In addition I have not been doing as much as I should have since returning from the camping trip. You are right about help of all kinds, but the focus right now needs to be to race the weather. I will take any help I can get for the water and heat goal. Everything else is irrelevant for the moment. I won't be posting much for a while because that takes time, but I will jot a note each day or two of progress. Right now I'm burning daylight, so gotta go finish clearing the walk and start on the basement.

 

[70Chevy]

To those of you who are losing faith in Bill, understand that this is a monumental task. I don't believe 2 or 3 guys will be able to help - it will take a team of 6, 8 or 10 guys to get through this in a timely matter. I've asked Bill to focus on clearing the walkway from his back door out the gate to the street for now. Moving those 30 or so plastic bins that he has just pictured is part of that path, so he is making progress. He needs to finish that and then fill those 5 garbage dumpsters by pick up day - I think he said Thursday. You don't walk through Bill's house - you shuffle sideways. He seems to be ready and willing to do the clean up, but I'm not so sure about his wife. The stuff is stacked from floor to ceiling, wall to wall - making it impossible to do any real housekeeping. The conditions that I saw are unhealthy and need to change very soon.

I have a friend whose son owns a company that specializes in water damage/mold mitigation - I am waiting for a call back from him to answer my questions - and hopefully get his company involved.
Order of events that need to happen as I see it:
-Path from basement to street
-Dumpster delivered to house and parked in the street by back door
-Several people come over and act as a human assembly line handing stuff from one person to the next from the house to the dumpster (These people will need to be wearing protective clothing, goggles,gloves and breathing masks) Everything on the inside of the basement door needs to go away.
-Kill mold in basement - checking heat ducts for mold and other stuff before repairing furnace
-clean up water drainage systems and water supply
-replace furnace / water heater
-start clearing our the kitchen and then the rest of the house

Bill - Everything on the other side of that basement door needs to be thrown away without discrimination. Also, a dump truck or a dumpster is the only way this is going to happen in a timely matter. We also need to get your wife on the same page so all this can happen.

Some people have PM'd me asking how they can help out. I'm not sure yet - I need to talk with the professionals first to see what they can do. I might be asking for manpower or I might be asking for donations - maybe both. I'll do my best to lead this project, but understand, I work 6 days a week myself and have busy weekends coming up myself.
Stay tuned.

Brian

 

[Nighttrain]

Brian (70 Chevy) Thank you for helping a fellow GJ out. It is well "above and beyond" what you are doing.

 

[NWphotog]

Hi Bill

I just read most of this thread and I want to say you are a very courageous person opening up all of this and doing your best to deal with it. I have both a procrastination and hoarding tendencies. So far I have kept them in check but I have a list of projects and maintenance work that needs to get done. Unfortunately my progress is turtle like. In any event I wanted you to know if there is anything I can do help let me know. Keep up the great work. We are all pulling for you!

Dave

 

[Phxphenom]

Thanks for everything, Brian. There really isn't much more to add unless both Bill and his wife are fully 100% committed to making the change and following your lead EXACTLY as you present it. There is no more time for dicking around and going through each article piece by piece.

I stand ready to help any way I can.
Good Luck,
Marc

To those of you who are losing faith in Bill, understand that this is a monumental task. I don't believe 2 or 3 guys will be able to help - it will take a team of 6, 8 or 10 guys to get through this in a timely matter. I've asked Bill to focus on clearing the walkway from his back door out the gate to the street for now. Moving those 30 or so plastic bins that he has just pictured is part of that path, so he is making progress. He needs to finish that and then fill those 5 garbage dumpsters by pick up day - I think he said Thursday. You don't walk through Bill's house - you shuffle sideways. He seems to be ready and willing to do the clean up, but I'm not so sure about his wife. The stuff is stacked from floor to ceiling, wall to wall - making it impossible to do any real housekeeping. The conditions that I saw are unhealthy and need to change very soon.

I have a friend whose son owns a company that specializes in water damage/mold mitigation - I am waiting for a call back from him to answer my questions - and hopefully get his company involved.
Order of events that need to happen as I see it:
-Path from basement to street
-Dumpster delivered to house and parked in the street by back door
-Several people come over and act as a human assembly line handing stuff from one person to the next from the house to the dumpster (These people will need to be wearing protective clothing, goggles,gloves and breathing masks) Everything on the inside of the basement door needs to go away.
-Kill mold in basement - checking heat ducts for mold and other stuff before repairing furnace
-clean up water drainage systems and water supply
-replace furnace / water heater
-start clearing our the kitchen and then the rest of the house

Bill - Everything on the other side of that basement door needs to be thrown away without discrimination. Also, a dump truck or a dumpster is the only way this is going to happen in a timely matter. We also need to get your wife on the same page so all this can happen.

Some people have PM'd me asking how they can help out. I'm not sure yet - I need to talk with the professionals first to see what they can do. I might be asking for manpower or I might be asking for donations - maybe both. I'll do my best to lead this project, but understand, I work 6 days a week myself and have busy weekends coming up myself.
Stay tuned.

Brian

 

[bczygan]

I'm preparing her for the idea of basement removals this weekend. There is a residue on the floor so I use those yellow rubber boots to go down there. Haven't been down there in a while (Months). Will check it out tomorrow.
Moved table, edger, Bridgeport head,slate chalkboards, 2x4 frame, cartop carrier, column, rotors, skylight, misc. stuff from walk. Still have table saw, some frames and a skylight, the Bridgeport ram and base. There is access but I want to make it better by moving the skylight, motor, ram, table saw and some stone. Tonight and tomorrow. Need to get tanks and Bridgeport head from back hall to garage. Progress. Photos tomorrow.

Bill

Thank You Brian

 

[Rusty32]

If you get the water and heat fixed its a win win you will have what you need and less money to spend on more clothes which will help your cleaning progress. Your thread also helped me get rid of things ive been holding onto for years. Was considering building another shed to store stuff. But after whatching this thread from day one I went out and if I didnt touch it in 6 months it got tossed. It sucked at the time but the next day I felt so much better and now have more room to move.

 

[fergus]

Need to get basement cleaned out. You can't wait any longer. Go down there. Get it started. Do whatever it takes. Dont stall by moving anyhting else around my friend. This is your only priority.

 

[Bull]

Sounds like you are poised to be a hero here. My hat goes off to you.

To those of you who are losing faith in Bill, understand that this is a monumental task. I don't believe 2 or 3 guys will be able to help - it will take a team of 6, 8 or 10 guys to get through this in a timely matter. I've asked Bill to focus on clearing the walkway from his back door out the gate to the street for now. Moving those 30 or so plastic bins that he has just pictured is part of that path, so he is making progress. He needs to finish that and then fill those 5 garbage dumpsters by pick up day - I think he said Thursday. You don't walk through Bill's house - you shuffle sideways. He seems to be ready and willing to do the clean up, but I'm not so sure about his wife. The stuff is stacked from floor to ceiling, wall to wall - making it impossible to do any real housekeeping. The conditions that I saw are unhealthy and need to change very soon.

I have a friend whose son owns a company that specializes in water damage/mold mitigation - I am waiting for a call back from him to answer my questions - and hopefully get his company involved.
Order of events that need to happen as I see it:
-Path from basement to street
-Dumpster delivered to house and parked in the street by back door
-Several people come over and act as a human assembly line handing stuff from one person to the next from the house to the dumpster (These people will need to be wearing protective clothing, goggles,gloves and breathing masks) Everything on the inside of the basement door needs to go away.
-Kill mold in basement - checking heat ducts for mold and other stuff before repairing furnace
-clean up water drainage systems and water supply
-replace furnace / water heater
-start clearing our the kitchen and then the rest of the house

Bill - Everything on the other side of that basement door needs to be thrown away without discrimination. Also, a dump truck or a dumpster is the only way this is going to happen in a timely matter. We also need to get your wife on the same page so all this can happen.

Some people have PM'd me asking how they can help out. I'm not sure yet - I need to talk with the professionals first to see what they can do. I might be asking for manpower or I might be asking for donations - maybe both. I'll do my best to lead this project, but understand, I work 6 days a week myself and have busy weekends coming up myself.
Stay tuned.

Brian

 

[bczygan]

Somehow got Bridgeport ram skidded up the sidewalk and onto a dolly. Dropped it twice and twisted my bad knee but it is on the back steps ready to go in the garage. Still need to move the head and torch tanks from the back hall into the garage. Skylight and table saw still next to back walk and Bridgeport base is on the walk but can go around it. Some work tomorrow and the walk will be almost totally clear and access to the basement good and removals will start. 2 dumpsters full and a bunch of piles of leaves to pick up. Dogs are wondering what the hell is going on. They haven't seen me work like this in a while. Time for some aspirin. Progress!

 

[RCH99]

Progress!

 

[markviii]

Don't overdo the aspirin. A bit of ice on the knee tonight would be good, too. Wrap it tomorrow so you don't re-injure it. Keep up the good work!

Chris

 

[70Chevy]

Bill - I'm glad to hear of the progress and that you are keeping your word.
How did you get that Bridgeport base there in the first place?

 

[70Chevy]

Sounds like you are poised to be a hero here. My hat goes off to you.

Not looking to be a hero - just helping a someone that needs some help. I appreciate the kind words regarding my help, but I haven't done anything yet and don't plan on doing it alone.

Most friends wins - right?

 

[Bull]

Not looking to be a hero - just helping a someone that needs some help. I appreciate the kind words regarding my help, but I haven't done anything yet and don't plan on doing it alone.

Most friends wins - right?

Perhaps I worded my praise incorrectly, as "hero" is a bit hyperbolic.

I'll put it this way: helping a fellow man when he's in a bind, and a stranger to boot, is the sign of a pretty virtuous character.

 

[rickairmedic]

Bill be carefull manhandling that Bridgeport around you and I both know that puppy isnt light even in pieces .


Brian thank you for stepping up on this one . You mentioned replacing the water heater and furnace . The water heater most likely . The furnace will really depend on how high the water got . Once you guys get in there get me some good pics of things especially the water line on the furnace . As long as the water didnt get up into the heat exchanger / gas valve we may be able to save the furnace .

Rick

 

[Need4racin]

Damn man you spent a lot of money on junk. I hope the majority of your hoard was free.

 

[rickairmedic]

Damn man you spent a lot of money on junk. I hope the majority of your hoard was free.

Ya know theres constructive criticism and then theres why did you bother to post ?


Rick

 

[kirk.g]

Hey Bill dont kill yourself,but keep up the good work I dont know what a bridgeport is(machinery?)..............Was thinking that if you get a crew in there, have you decided what you need to keep?.....Not want but need,.....you dont want to be dealing with this on the day when help arrives.....I pm. you yesterday but Im sure youre getting lots of pm,s.........thanks Kirk

 

[tinbender 66]

Ya know theres constructive criticism and then theres why did you bother to post ?


Rick

Wow. I just came back here to say just about the same thing. Some people. Well put Rick.

 

[Red Leader]

Bill,

I am really pulling for you. I want you to conquer this. I feel that standing back, I can see both perspectives (from a distant interview viewpoint) I get excited hearing about all the progress you are making and how it seems that in each post you make some real positive steps.

On the flip side, let's be real - we are almost 700 replies into this thread (with a large chunk of them being yours) and you haven't rented a dumpster yet and there are still mountains of junk and you are still buying things. In the updates the pictures seem a little sparse as well.

I think it is totally awesome that you are getting help with the heat and the water stuff. It is also cool to see a lot of folks step up and offer help, either through moral support or financial support. I will say this, though. Please, please honor their offers. It would be a shame to see you accept free help to get basic necessities and then read more posts about you spending money on more stuff. I think it will be very important to have integrity with that, and I think the purchases will have to stop. Again, this is a monumental task, and shouldn't be done alone. I echo others when I say that it would be a very brave and huge step to get the right kind of mental health help for it.

Most people tend to be a little scared of anything involving the word 'mental' but I graduated with a degree in psychology so when I hear that people are in counseling that excites me D) because it means they are bettering themselves. Its not the loony bin. It is doing what others are too fearful of and just cowboyin' up and doing it. I think having that perspective can make it much more approachable.

I think any money that would have been destined for ebay/CL/estate-yard-garage sale/etc purchases should instead go towards some things of much, much more value:

1. Help/Counseling to make sure that once things are clean you won't regress
2. DUMPSTER
3. Beer for all the folks wanting to help you

 

[RVDan]

This is a fantastic thread. It has let me know I'm not alone.

I'm not quite in the same situation, I don't have the amount of space you do, or the amount of stuff you do, but I've been three months straight of every day after work and all day every weekend sorting and processsing 35 years of my parents hoarding.

Every day, I find something that suprises me. Its not like I didn't know my Dad had a problem, but still its a suprise every time I find yet another box full of old doorknobs, or yet another box of 100 brand new drawer slides, cabinet side only, not the drawer side.
Every starter, alternator, and distributor from every vehicle thats ever been on the property, we've all pretty much been end users of vehicles, and learned from my Dad that when you get rid of a car, you strip it down to every single last nut, bolt, and piece of wire and store all those parts because one day you might need to replace a windshield wiper motor, fan switch, or dome light assembly.

I bought my parents house, they moved, and couldn't afford to move everything, every month they say they're coming at the end of the month with a moving truck to take the rest, but it never happens. I've hauled 16000 lbs of stuff they considered valuable up to their house so far (800 km round trip). I've sold over 8000 lbs of scrap metal (the aforementioned car parts). Spent almost $1000 in dumping fees so far for the stuff considered garbage (all the plastic parts of a car that can't be sold as scrap metal, and hundreds, literally hundreds of kitchen cabinet and clothes dressers that were stacked up everywhere, full of stuff). Removed four truck and trailer loads of tree branches that were simply overwhelming the yard. And scrap lumber. Scrap lumber like you wouldn't believe. I'm really not sure how my Dad got it all home, he never had a truck for a very long period of time, he would get a truck, take it apart to every last nut and bolt, paint and polish every single part, lost half of the parts, and never put it back together again. Finally I'm down to one load of scrap lumber left.

I estimate six months to get everything that was left behind processed.

Good luck to you. I know what its like. One day at a time. Don't give up.

 

[bczygan]

Red leader,
I am far from afraid of counseling. I have had may share and voluntarily seek it when I feel the need. It is good to have someone to share your difficulties with. Right now I am too busy doing this. When the emergency items are taken care of, I will seek some out. Here in MI there is state supported counseling, but they only cover 50%.
Learning to find satisfaction from other activities, rather than buying things, is something I am trying to do. I successfully avoided buying that pop up in WI. My wife still talks about it, but I am past the idea and very relieved we didn't get it. The other day I saw a Parker vise on CL for $30. Even arranged to go get it. Parkers are my favorite vises. I called the lady at the last minute and cancelled. Now I am thinking of the list of things I can sell on CL.
A dumpster may be needed, but I have to get a look in the basement. I am not against using one if needed. But I can literally put out 20 dumpsters a week by refilling and putting my 5 dumpsters out across the street on 2 sides (I'm on a corner).
It is scary accepting help. Besides dealing with my wife's strong resistance, there is the danger of neighbors finding out what a mess there really is behind my fence. And the loss of control from having others involved is difficult. And I find that there is a loss of pride. It feels shameful to have to do this. I always felt I was totally self sufficient. You feel less self worth if you can't just do it yourself. I feel a strong urge to get it all done by myself before anyone gets here. But there is just a bit too much to do.
I am deeply touched by the offers of help. I know how busy people are. I appreciate these offers more than you know or I can express.
This is a long thread and I have tried to post often enough to respond to people. I know there aren't enough photos. I know there hasn't been enough progress on the work either. I want everyone to know that many times it is your individual posts of encouragement that have helped get me going for another hour or day. Even the most critical posts have been helpful. I appreciate the time and effort and heart each of you have put into this effort. Posts by other people going through similar things have been particularly touching and inspiring. My wife asked me last night why it was that the people on GJ were able to get me going, when years of nagging by her hadn't worked!
After all of this, I can't do anything but go on. I am hoping to make it a daily habit to work on making things better here. Just a part of my daily routine. Even after the main things are solved, there are projects to do. Piles of aluminum to scrap. Piles of limestone to use or dispose of. Sheds to disassemble and their contents and materials to use. Trailers to sell. Bikes to sell. Clothes to dispose of. The goal is a normal house with normal amounts of things. Meanwhile I have a self imposed moratorium on buying. CL is only for selling. I actually felt a moment of excitement (And fear) thinking of these things!
Anyway, it's morning and time to go to work downstairs. I'm burning daylight. Later...

 

[csp]

And I find that there is a loss of pride. It feels shameful to have to do this.

There has to be a loss of pride and some shame involved to make a change.

Instead of focusing on that, think about the end result and getting your pride back when you can step back and not be ashamed of the mess that has owned you for so long.

 

[Nighttrain]

Bill,

Your quote "My wife asked me last night why it was that the people on GJ were able to get me going, when years of nagging by her hadn't worked" made me laugh.

I agree its hard to ask for help and that you want to do alot on your own. Even witha small project around my house I would rather do it by myself.

I think you are nailing the problem by putting a moratorium on buying stuff on CL. Have you thought also about the barter section on CL? I have seen a lot of adds on there for folks asking a trade for dental work for stuff. Hey a Bridgeport for a bridge barter. You never know there may be a dentist out there that needs something like that. Just a thought! Get to selling some stuff and see how it makes you feel.

Keep in the fight!

 

[bczygan]

This thread is more of a journey through the mind of a hoarder than the cleanup of just a garage as it began. But photos tell the physical story. So here are a few of the back walk cleanup of yesterday which is not yet complete. Raking leaves out of beds also. Photos show Bridgeport parts and torch tanks moving inside and walk passable and mostly cleared.

 

[JSBriggs]

After all of this, I can't do anything but go on. I am hoping to make it a daily habit to work on making things better here. Just a part of my daily routine. Even after the main things are solved, there are projects to do. Piles of aluminum to scrap. Piles of limestone to use or dispose of. Sheds to disassemble and their contents and materials to use. Trailers to sell. Bikes to sell. Clothes to dispose of. The goal is a normal house with normal amounts of things. Meanwhile I have a self imposed moratorium on buying. CL is only for selling. I actually felt a moment of excitement (And fear) thinking of these things!
Anyway, it's morning and time to go to work downstairs. I'm burning daylight. Later...

Keep it up Bill. I understand you plan of attack and it sounds great. The only thing I would add is that you make the most use of your time by handling things as little as possible. Turn it into a motion efficiency game. Try to do it in the fewest possible steps. Keep the trash cans close and throw things directly into the can. Don't feel compelled to 'look at it in the light' just toss it. It burns valuable time to shift, then resort etc, and at this point its better to over purge than under do it. I find that by focusing on the efficiency of my work, it keeps my mind positively distracted.

Godspeed,

-Jeff

 

[bczygan]

Seeing the progress I made on the back walk I am very encouraged that this is a finite and doable project. Up to now I have been hitting some here and some there around the house and yard. Now I can access my back yard from the side gate and walk through the house from front to back. I have access into the spare bedroom and can walk through the garage and most of the living room. The stair is mostly clear. There is space on both sides of the bed and my clothes are in a dresser. This is a minor transformation. Before there was no access to any rooms and only a very narrow path upstairs and the working fridge was on the front walk. We've come a long way baby. But lots more to do. I have a picture fixed in my mind of nicely painted rooms with walk around room everywhere and just the bare needed furniture. Ready for photos you could send to mother.

Too much talk. Not enough doing.....Back to it.