Wow, I just OK'd 8 new members today. That's great.  It would be nice if our new members to send a little message to the group telling us a little bit about yourselves - what part of the country are you in? what made you want to join this group? Is there anything we can help with?

 

And for us veteran members, how are things going? Tackled any of your projects? Making headway? Or, like me, realizing I am starting to backslide in many ways. Lots of unfinished projects, for example. I am in the habit of taking in bookcases missing shelves or that need a new back, tables that need to be stripped, and the latest -- a huge bird cage that needs to have rust scraped off and then repainted with nontoxic paint.

 

Also, my mother and an aunt I haven't seen for years are supposed to come to see me in a couple of weeks. It's funny, when I know someone is coming over, it's like I suddenly really "see" my apartment and how much clutter has accumulated everywhere. aaarrggghhhhh.

 

On the other hand, I had let my kitchen table pile about two feet high with newspapers, files, books, and other debris and it was making me feel really bad about myself. So, I spent a Saturday morning doing nothing but sorting and tossing. It is now mostly clear, and I have been careful to check it everyday to remove anything that is piling up again... On Fly Lady (a great group that helps think in an organized way about cleaning, decluttering, etc but very structured) -- Fly Lady calls these kinds of areas "hot spots" and reminds members everyday to clean hot spots. The group also advises you to "make your sink shine" -- this sounds a bit goofy, but what it means is make sure you do the dishes and clean the sink. As small a task as this might (or might not) be, it actually does have a positive psychological effect, and has the practical benefit of making that sink available when you need it for other things.

 

So -- how are things going for everyone else? -- Brenda (group moderator)