Grunge Garage

[bczygan]

Today he is posting **** about Channellock tool giveaways...

Got an email about it when checking my email for responses on my CL ads.

After filling 7 trash cans for last Thursdays trash day I was busy with holiday family gathering **** through Monday.

No substantial progress since, unless you consider clearing out half a spare bedroom that was filled to the rafters, clearing and cleaning a bathroom and a linen closet. Oh, and setting up and cleaning a pop up and putting it up for sale.

I'll post when big progress is made.

Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

Photos:
(Linen closet has since been cleaned out and even though you see a lot of stuff still in the bedroom, more than that was removed, and the remainder will come out tomorrow)
Bill

 

[Riley]

Keep after it Bill. Sounds to me like a solid step further down the path......

Best wishes and good luck.

 

[reddog289]

Keep plugging away at it Bill, I know your feeling. Not that overwhelming of a feeling. I have to figure out how to post picutures myself. I was feeling pretty good 2 weeks ago myself when my daughters car went away for good. I thought now I junk the recently "dead" Sable, Pull the remaing parts off the Mark 8 parts car and set up my outdoor **** and have fun.
Oh but Hell if that happens. One Chevy goes, One shows back up, One Mercury is on it's way out, Another one says , 'I'M BACK". So much for me spending my time after work this week working on my Garage, House, Etc.
Once I get the kids cars fixed then I will be able to see progress. Need to get on the wife too about cleaning her Sable out to scrap it. Just keep plugging away at it Bill if you don't feel happy wacking at the deal with the BFH.
AND REMEMBER, To not let it get that way again.

 

[crazytrain]

Wow Bill, Good for you coming to terms with yourself and realizing you needed to make a change in life and making it. Good work and keep it up, I'm rooting for you!

If you haven't sold the Pop up already you may want to try posting it for sale on http://WWW.popupexplorer.com or http://www.popupportal.com Both sites are devoted to pop up campers and people looking for pop ups. Good luck.

 

[Kevin54]

Keep plugging away at it Bill, I know your feeling. Not that overwhelming of a feeling. I have to figure out how to post picutures myself. I was feeling pretty good 2 weeks ago myself when my daughters car went away for good. I thought now I junk the recently "dead" Sable, Pull the remaing parts off the Mark 8 parts car and set up my outdoor **** and have fun.
Oh but Hell if that happens. One Chevy goes, One shows back up, One Mercury is on it's way out, Another one says , 'I'M BACK". So much for me spending my time after work this week working on my Garage, House, Etc.
Once I get the kids cars fixed then I will be able to see progress. Need to get on the wife too about cleaning her Sable out to scrap it. Just keep plugging away at it Bill if you don't feel happy wacking at the deal with the BFH.
AND REMEMBER, To not let it get that way again.

Why you gotta clean it out just to scrap it? Just drag everything to the scrapyard.

 

[civhatch90]

Why you gotta clean it out just to scrap it? Just drag everything to the scrapyard.

My guess would be he means to remove their belongings from the car.

Bill- you are doing a good job here. yes yes you could be doing it much faster but who cares? as long as you are NOT bringing new **** into the house and you are getting rid of stuff.

Some people suggested you should leave the house behind and start fresh, I don't think that would be of much help since what you are doing now is not only fixing the house but also slowly fixing yourself. If you moved to a new house you would fill it up with **** in again in a short period of time.

Set yourself goals. Keep moving forward. Do not bring any new **** into the house.

 

[NickTheNut]

My guess would be he means to remove their belongings from the car.

Bill- you are doing a good job here. yes yes you could be doing it much faster but who cares? as long as you are NOT bringing new **** into the house and you are getting rid of stuff.

Some people suggested you should leave the house behind and start fresh, I don't think that would be of much help since what you are doing now is not only fixing the house but also slowly fixing yourself. If you moved to a new house you would fill it up with **** in again in a short period of time.

Set yourself goals. Keep moving forward. Do not bring any new **** into the house.

I agree - Bill is making progress. Many others who have really pushed and tried to help him along may be discouraged by the pace, but hey, he's still making some progress. Which is great.

From the looks of the house though, I'd be really concerned that even after a cleaning it wouldn't be habitable. Some of the pictures seriously look like an abandoned house, especially the kitchen ones. It almost seems like taking it down to bare stud walls would be necessary at the end of the cleaning...

 

[-Brent-]

...as long as you are NOT bringing new **** into the house and you are getting rid of stuff.

Which leads me to ask, Bill, what is the last thing you brought back and put into the house or garage and when was it? I'm not talking from one room to the other or put outside and brought back in. I'm talking about a "new" item.

When is the last time you and your wife went out to hit the yard sales?

 

[bczygan]

Which leads me to ask, Bill, what is the last thing you brought back and put into the house or garage and when was it? I'm not talking from one room to the other or put outside and brought back in. I'm talking about a "new" item.

When is the last time you and your wife went out to hit the yard sales?

Too recently! Wife had a half off coupon at the resale and bought some fancy clothes for her new more auspicious position at work end of Mar. Spent $25. I looked at everything and was disgusted by it all. I've bought all that stuff. I have it all. I'm throwing it out every day.It's mostly junk. I've got a lifetime supply. Don't need it. Bleh! Don't care if I never go back!
No yard sales this year.
Even CL is looking kind of pukey lately, to me.

 

[Bronson]

Bill, CL IS kind of Pukey......
As Bronson says:" Hang in there! " You are making progress!

 

[road]

Bill you are an inspiration to many keep at it.
I am attending a work shop on Tuesday for the psychology of hoarding through my work. It's called "Buried in Stuff", I'm looking forward to it.

 

[bczygan]

Bill you are an inspiration to many keep at it.
I am attending a work shop on Tuesday for the psychology of hoarding through my work. It's called "Buried in Stuff", I'm looking forward to it.

I would be VERY interested in what you find out.

So would some others here, I suspect.

I've joined a hoarding group and their acceptance of me and support for each other is helpful. I think I am ahead of some of them. Some are having problems with getting started on clearing a shelf or throwing out one item off of a pile. I empathize though. Not too long ago there went I.

 

[cowboy73]

Good job on joining the support group! They can be very helpful. Keep up the good fight. Remember to keep tossing stuff out everyday. You CAN get your life back!

 

[Homerr]

I would be VERY interested in what you find out.

So would some others here, I suspect.

I've joined a hoarding group and their acceptance of me and support for each other is helpful. I think I am ahead of some of them. Some are having problems with getting started on clearing a shelf or throwing out one item off of a pile. I empathize though. Not too long ago there went I.

Excellent news Bill! Props to reaching out.

 

[reddog289]

Good for you Bill,Seems like you have come a long way since I started reading this. As for the wife's old Sable, Well Her Ex and I looked at it a couple days ago and said the same thing about it. When I can move it it's gone.But we have got a few parts from it, So it serves it's purpose for now.

 

[Nighttrain]

Good your seeking help for your horading issues from a group (not GJ) that understands it. You need to get your wife on the wagon also or its never going to work. Keep in the fight Bill.

 

[bczygan]

Good your seeking help for your horading issues from a group (not GJ) that understands it. You need to get your wife on the wagon also or its never going to work. Keep in the fight Bill.

Julie just spent the last 3 hours sorting and organizing bins in the linen closet, cleaning off her dresser and cleaning an picking up around the bird cage.

She's getting motivated to the point where she is daring ME to match her in work.........now THAT is something new. Usually we both lay around on the weekends (Except running errands).

Just signed us both up at the local city recreational center. They have a half Olympic sized heated pool. And free membership for seniors. Time for fun and exercise combined!

 

[mithrix]

Bill,

I am still here and lurking on occasion. I want to remind you of your goal for Thanksgiving this year... and in order to do that this new-found motivation will need to be converted into resolve and determination. The clock is ticking, don't pretend it's a long way away because time has a way of sneaking up on us all.

You are making progress, and that's good to hear, but keep on pushing yourself and Julie.

Regards,
-C

 

[Doug B]

Any update, Bill?

 

[Kevin54]

I'd be interested in some updates also. You doing any good Bill? How is the Support Group doing?

 

[road]

hey Bill,
Sorry I've been busy.
the seminar was great lots of good info.
"hoarding" can have ocd tendancies but not always,. the issue is problematic acquiring of items generally to the point of what is known as "Clutter Blindness" that the hoarder does not see the clutter or the situation as a problem. I personally work with 4 people that have hoarding issues.
Up to 1 in 20 have some level of hoarding tendancies and each at different stages of progression.
What contributes to problematic hoarding or atleast, triggers for it ?
These can be past personal issue that have never truely been addressed or dealt with on a mental health level.
The sudden loss or disconnection to a person or item in ones life can be a trigger for example.
Even the dis-association of family can result.
There are many theories on the topic in the mental health field.
(NSGCD) NATIONAL STUDY ON DISORGANIZATION has a web site
[email protected] for a fact sheet for info.
there is another site messie.com also a good place for help and hints .
you seem to have a good grip on your goals for recouping your life.
you are also showing alot of progress , the fact is it is all based on habits and inner thought process.
Have you tried to find a CBT ( Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ) group in your area ?
This may help you re-think your organizing as you do it.
Also: one of the best ideas is to start in one corner point in the room and keep going in a clockwise pattern to avoid jumping from one spot to another. It takes alot of time out of your progress.
Use boxes to sort
one labelled garbage ,
one labelled keep
and one labelled sell
One of the worste things to do is pick up an item and move it with out thinking about what your doing with it. Just moving it to another location is not correcting the habit you have learned.
You may need to think about an item or even say good-bye to it and thats ok .

You can succeed your on the right track .
dont forget your personal support network, lean on them to help pull you through those hard times and dont forget to have fun !

sorry I will stop rambling now...
oh and good for you with the swimming!!!!!

 

[klaw]

Use boxes to sort

one labelled garbage ,
one labelled keep
and one labelled sell

Pretty similar to a system I try and use called FAD. Its base on when you try and organize and you pick a item up you have 3 options

File
Act
Discard

 

[burlybrute]

Maybe he is busy stripping the copper out of the house next door, the one that had the squatters in it.

 

[bczygan]

A quick post.
Thank you ROAD and everyone.
Yes, I am making good progress.
The group I am with uses CBT and has helped me with that.
We aare each different but a large number of the symptoms are the same. I found that I do almost ALL the things that all these other people do.
And I am finding the techniques that they use help me as well.
Today (A few minutes ago) I finally sold the big Apache pop up for $450!!!
So happy!
More later.
Burning daylight and I've got a room I MUST finish clearing.

Thank you all again,

Bill

 

[Bronson]

All right, Bill! Now that $450 is not for CL!!!!!!

 

[Fueler]

collecting money is a good hoard technique and it's more fun.

 

[70Chevy]

Hoarding money....that'd be a good problem...huh?

 

[bczygan]

It's not for CL. It's my new dire emergency fund. Not to be touched. Gives me a little feeling of security.

 

[Phxphenom]

Pics please...You asked to be held accountable.....

 

[bczygan]

Pics please...You asked to be held accountable.....

Very good.......

I won't give photos of the spare bedroom until it's complete......and it's very close.

Here is the linen closet and bathroom vanity before and after and a pic or two of the sold trailer.

Just finished sweeping the street where the pop up was parked.

Just cleaned the bathroom floor and spread out some bathroom throw rugs I found in the spare bedroom.

Thanks to GJ, I had a pipe wrench and a 1 1/2" SK combination wrench (That I got for a buck at a garage sale) to help change the trailer ball to the right size for the buyer.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Not to be mean, but that is gross, and unsanitary. Your health, and that of your wife, is in dire jeopardy if you do not get that clean fast, and disinfected!

Glad to see you are making progress, I just hope it is fast enough!

Jim

 

[novaboy009]

That apache is actually pretty neat. I think just one instead of 17 is the right number!!!!

Keep cranking Bill.

 

[rydeshed]

I have found this thread very interesting and encouraging. I can relate. Go Bill!
Dave

 

[RVDan]

Not to be mean, but that is gross, and unsanitary. Your health, and that of your wife, is in dire jeopardy if you do not get that clean fast, and disinfected!

Glad to see you are making progress, I just hope it is fast enough!

Jim

Because their mess was created gradually, their bodies have built a very, very strong immune system.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Because their mess was created gradually, their bodies have built a very, very strong immune system.

You could be right, I hope so!

Unfortunately there is a lot of potential for mold, and there is no immunity to that. I had a friend of mine's husband die of infection from mold, and she nearly did. They never saw it coming, and it wasn't until too late that they figured it out.

Jim

 

[cide1]

Bill,

I have read your entire thread, and feel an emotional roller coaster just reading it. I couldn't imagine what it must be like to be in your shoes. I have almost posted several times, and decided not to. Reading about selling your trailer tells me you are really in this for the long haul.

I have a home with a very modest shop in an attached 3 car garage, a motorcycle, and a travel trailer at a permanent campground. Along with my day job, my wife, the yard, and our one dog, I sometimes wonder how I'm going to get everything done I need to get down, and how I'm going to pay for all the parts / maintenance / wanted upgrades. I can't imagine the burden of having so many different things, and the grief that must come from not being able to take all paths you want to take.

I helped a family member go through a similar situation a number of years back, and I was shocked at the difference in what she perceived as valuable as opposed to me. I had known this person outside her home for many years, and knew her as a loving, generous, kind person. Only when I was brought in did I realize how bad it was, and gain respect that it was a true disease, and like any other, it could be fought and beaten if the person was willing. My reaction wasn't embarrassment or to harass her, but it was to help as much as possible. I have wondered while reading this thread if your family would have the same reaction. I know we helped her tremendously, and if anything, it strengthened our relationship.

I think selling the trailer, and pocketing $450 for an emergency fund could be a big turning point. $450 can solve a lot of problems that crop up in life. You could do this 15 more times. $5000 from selling all the trailers could solve most problems that crop up. It would also be enough to replace your furnace when the basement is clean.

Keep at it. I've been praying for you, and I'm guessing maany others here are as well. Strength comes from above, and it is clear that God has opened your heart to fix this, and bring you and your wife happiness. Rejoice in such a wonderful blessing.

 

[bczygan]

Thank you all for your encouragement and helpful suggestions and prayers. They are all welcome and needed. I am in the process of retraining my way of thinking and living. I can tell a marked difference already, in my thought processes and attitudes and actions. I know it is visible here.

I am just about to begin disgorging the living room of it's contents. A little finish up of the spare bedroom first with photos to come.


Bill

 

[vartz04]

I about puked last night watching hoarders...cockroaches everywhere, period blood stained pads/tampons all over the floor, jars cans boxes garbage everywhere and insulin needles tossed in with the garbage...Oh yeah and a nest full of black widows....fix this bill you don't want to end up like that lady.

 

[Toolman12]

Keep it up bill you are winning. This addiction you have is a horrible one as bad as any addiction i have ever seen but it can be subdued and conquered. good luck i will keep reading your progress because it helps me to remember my own addiction. it's a long slow road but there is an end to it and the beginning to your freedom

 

[bczygan]

Well, I said I wouldn't post until the spare bedroom was finished. It won't be tonight, but it's close enough for a peek. And Sunday night is a good time to take stock of the week's progress and plan for the coming week. So here are some almost finished photos of the spare bedroom. Remember when it was full to the ceiling and out the door? I think it's major progress for this room. What say you?

Bill