BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 03:47 AM

Sorry to hear about your parents and auntie, open mike/Laurel. Sometimes it seems a lot easier to go through stuff like that with a good friend or supportive relative in tow. Good luck to you.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: open mike
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 03:16 AM

o.m.g.--it is exhausiting just reading the messages- but it could be the best thing that ever happened to me-especially because my parents both died recently and i just arrived with a 20 foot truck full of their stuff.= (and a 15 foot one last year, too!--yikes!!) and a couple of pick up trucks from an auntie' who recently passed away--as well. a definate lesson in "you can't take it with you"--you just send it with someone who has a truck--namely moi--now i HAVE to de-clutter in a big way!! sheesh--attachment....

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 05:46 PM

Actually, throwing away 27 things is easy -- start with 27 pieces of mail that FlyLady deposits in your in-box in less than a day ... ;-)

Seriously, it's a fun and inspirational site and I think it'll really help me keep on track in declutterification around the old homestead. Been working on it for awhile -- throwing stuff out, giving stuff away, selling other stuff -- but I still can't see a difference (although friends claim they can).

But the amount of e-mail is really incredible!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 09:47 AM

Last night when I got home I threw away 27 things. It really isn't that hard. I will probably do it again tonight. (I have a lot of things that can be thrown out - mostly old mail & stuff like that.)

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 11:02 PM

artbrooks...that's what I do. I gather stuff in plastic bags or boxes, then they get set out or put in some closet. Eventually, we haul them out to the car and make a trip to one of the thrift stores. I like the Native American "giveaway" tradition and would do more of it, that way, by inviting people over to take what they could use/need/or want, but don't live in a community where that would be understood in the way I would like. Still, it feels good to give it all away AND, while I like going to yard sales, I hate having them!*bg*

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Mudlark
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 10:06 PM

Thanks for this thread! My idea of housekeeping is to never, ever move anything, in which case the dust is not so apparent, especially if you can keep from drawing pictures in it. I don't know if I can go the whole 9 yards but I'm committing to keeping the sink (and surrounding counters) clean, and decluttering for 15 minutes every day.

But I don't put on shoes for anybody!

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: artbrooks
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 07:18 PM

One of last week's suggestions was to forget about having a garage sale "someday"...just pack all the crap up into the car, give it to some thrift store, and take the tax deduction (the last part might be my addition). I've been trying to get that to happen for a while now...maybe Jenn will believe the Flylady and I can have the garage back!

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Morticia
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 05:00 PM

I have to grin/grimace reluctantly and say, in just a few days, it is making a housekeeper of me.....place hasn't stayed this tidy in years....kids keep wandering in, thinking they have the wrong house and wandering out again.....thanks Pat.....I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Kim C
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 03:11 PM

I'm trying to find stuff I need that I lost in the house! Maybe it will turn up when I start de-cluttering.

I now have a timer, and I'm not afraid to use it.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 02:09 PM

I've also got a Yankee's reticence about getting rid of stuff. Never know when you might need it. (Okay, okay, I've only been in New England for 32 years -- but Tom assures me I was born a Yankee.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 01:42 PM

Yeah....That one's fun!!! Get rid of some really fine crappola!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Kim C
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 01:35 PM

Allrighty, then, I'm all signed up, and I'm going out to buy a timer. I can get into most of it - except the part about getting dressed to the shoes. That's not what does it for me. If I have my face and hair fixed, that's plenty enough, shoes or no shoes. Shoes in the house are an inconvenience, except for Fuzzy Slippers.

But I digress. When I get home this evening, I'm doing the 27-Fling Boogie. :-) In my fuzzy slippers.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: MMario
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 01:20 PM

*grin* none of the guys in my family were "house-husbands" but all of my married brothers had to teach their wives how to diaper a baby!

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 01:19 PM

The e-mail is a part of it really as you get specific "missions" etc., but a lot of it is encouragement, jokes, reminders, and general cheerleading...Again though, it takes but a couple of minutes to scan through it and delete/save what you want. I know it's weird but the damn thing is really working for us.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 01:01 PM

Well I'm glad I'm not the only person whose house is in a permanent (but different all the time) state of complete shambles. I've long ago figured out that the cat hair protects the furniture and floors from dust and my basic theory of housecleaning is to make all the stacks neat, shine a few shiny surfaces and rely on the fact that if you've got a bunch of interesting things to look at, nobody notices the house is a mess. (That is, if anybody can get in the door past the piles of stuff in the entryway.) And I generally can't find the table for the stuff piled on it or the guest room, for that matter. Oh, my other housekeeping theory can be summed up in one word -- tarps!

But this sounds interesting. I have a delete key in my e-mail program. I think I'll give her a try!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Kim C
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 12:46 PM

Spaw, I was just reading about Flylady in Reader's Digest. I'm going to go check it out. Mister and I have lived in the same house for 12 years and it's somehow gotten smaller...

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 02 - 12:18 PM

Yeah the e-mail is unreal, but Karen clears it and "keeps me posted."

Celtic Soul.......Karen and I made the decision about the time Tris was born that one of us should stay at home and frankly, Karen had the job with the best benefits. I had made a lot in sales but we could have budgeted better for down the road because everything is a stretch now....but with all of my medical bills on the other hand, it was the right choice. Karen doesn't "love" her work, but she really likes being out of the house and working so it's been a good decision that way as well. She "needs" that other part of her life and I didn't. She was thrilled with the idea of me being the stay-at-home parent. Don't misunderstand, she's a great Mom....this works out well.

It's been very weird at times as we have an almost completely inverse relationship to what other families have. Add this to the fact that we are both "old" parents and it is different for the kids too. The schools are always addressing things to Mom and it doesn't make sense to Michael. He has grown up with Dad doing the cooking and most of the household stuff.

It took some getting used to as "men work" and "women are housewives" tends to be the dominant thing in folks' minds and I know they look at us as very strange at times, especially living in a small and conservative little town. Both of us are secure enough in who we are as people and as a couple to not be bothered by the role reversal. Sometimes it's really fun too.......Jacking with the teachers and all. By now thought they are all used to it too. Karen has friends at work who are "envious" as their husbands work and do nothing else and many would love to have Karen's situation. I just wish I was a better housekeeper!!! I am blessed to have a partner who helps out a lot....and many traditional couples don't. Overall, it's a lot of fun and has worked well for us both. A few years ago, Karen was recruited by another hospital as lead tech in the histo lab and they moved the production workload to nights. Karen makes more, but the night shift really works out too. She goes to work about when they go to bed and gets home about the time school starts. She sleeps days and gets up when they get home. The boys get the best of Mom instead of a Mom who's tired and frazzled after a tough day.

When we were still doing foster care it was pretty humorous at times. At one point we had 5 kids in diapers!!! I'm the fastest diaper-changer east of the Mississippi! But it also gave me time to work with the agency and develop training courses and the like too.

I don't have any great stories but this role reversal works for us!!! BTW CS.....Was this it?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: JennieG
Date: 16 Jun 02 - 02:20 AM

I tried, I tried, I really did....but the volume of all that extra stuff in the inbox defeated me....I am now working 4 days a week in a paid job and don't have time to clean out my inbox!
The kitchen sink is OK though......
Cheers
JennieG feeling very virtuous because I have just cleaned the bathroom

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 02:59 PM

I subscribe. I am a terrible housekeeper..I delete her repeated messages..I don't really follow her but I do some of the stuff. It is excellent for many people. What you really have to do is be willing to get rid of cluttery stuff..then it will really work. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Morticia
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 01:50 PM

Okay, since you recommend it and nothing at all to do with the fact that I can't even find my kitchen sink, I'm in.....progress report or gin-fuelled rant in the fullness of time.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 10:23 AM

Nice going, Spaw. Now none of us have an excuse for living in chaos...I think it's time to find you a job! Come to think of it "Merry Maids" is hiring.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 15 Jun 02 - 10:16 AM

Wow! While I do not have any problems in the area this addresses, I do have issues getting other things done. My house is usually only an hour away from emaculate at any given time, but I can't seem to find the time to do things like get to the spa, use the waterpick, or use all the neato stuff I bought to wash my face with (I'm gettin' old...I need to delude myself that I am making a difference there).

I looked at the suggestions...do you think they'd adapt well to other areas beyond housework?

And Spaw...you're a househusband? Did you do the stay home Daddy thing? I'd love to hear the stories of raising kids/tending home full time from a mans perspective.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Amos
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 11:39 AM

Gee, Pat -- you're finally gonna find that G-string from 1994 youbeen looking for on alternate Thanksgivings!! Yahoo!! :>)

Good on all of you for biting this bullet. I applaud you. I am all for it.

In theory, I mean...

:>)

A

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Jun 02 - 11:04 AM

LOL! I guess this means I can't go around in the nude all day anymore? **BG**

Spaw, glad this has helped. I know the feeling, esp. with all of the pet hair added to the stuff! With our minimalist approach, at the moment, with everything in storage, I'm doing pretty good, BUT I do like the idea of the 15 minutes per day as I have several plastic crates which I need to sort through and consolidate...a lot of papers, mostly!

Anyhow, good for you and Karen and THANKS! I'm gonna get dressed and make my sink shine!!!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: Helen
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 11:08 PM

CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

Oh, is that the proper name for it. And it's a syndrome? Well, that makes me feel better, much much better. You mean I'm not the only one in the world who tries to actually look 10 times larger when I'm answering the door so no-one can see through to the mess behind me. And I'm not the only one who breaks into a cold sweat when someone on the phone says: "How about I come right over to your place."

Even worse when I was working from home and had a client or corporate appointment to set up. "Uh. How about we meet for coffee somewhere? Uh. What about the local library, in one of their quiet little reference room areas?"

All right, I'll check it out 'Spawman. But if this doesn't work, or even worse, if it means more mental clutter/complications dealing with daily "messages" that I have to read or delete or whatever, and the ROI* isn't tiptop then I'm coming right over there and doing my worst! "Confiscated! No more Vegemite for you, my boy!"

Helen * ROI = return on investment

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 07:04 PM

Herself has been doing this for about three weeks now. She even reads the messages sometimes. I came home just now and there were 12 new ones since this morning. We are obviously not totally bought into it yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: CarolC
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 06:59 PM

You going to the Fly Fest there Spaw? Sounds like a lot of fun. A housework festival. That's what I need to go to. Yeah, that's it.

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: C-flat
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 06:32 PM

Well Spaw, all I can say is I'm going to have to keep this site a secret from my better half! I can guarantee that if she finds out about this then I'll end up on the "programme". I'm fairly confident I can match you pound for pound in the junk stakes but it's taken me YEARS to collect and one day some of it may even be useful! Maybe we can get a bigger place.........

Subject: RE: BS: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:26 PM

I guess not......

Spaw

Subject: Anybody Else Do **THE FLYLADY** thing???
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 01:23 PM

As a househusband, I'm barely adequate. Karen also feels obligated to do her thing around the house and both of us feel guilty for not doing more and finding that no matter what, the place is still a wreck.

No more!!! No more I say!!! About a month back, Karen and Connie (who has the same problems) discovered "The Flylady." My first thoughts were along the lines of, "Yeah right...another dumbass 'Get Organized" thing" and we'd do it for a short time and lose interest.

WRONG

Folks, the Flylady has it DOWN and that ain't no shit! You start with "baby steps" and the kitchen sink. When I first heard that we had to keep the sink clean and polished 24/7 I figured this was the ultimate crappola. Somehow, it all makes sense after awhile and our kitchen sink sparkles all the time. And after clearing all the "Hot Spots" in the kitchen, the place feels about three times larger! Everything is done in 15 minute segments and only a few a day!!! You get a ton of e-mail with "Missions" and other stuff everyday. It's friggin' unbelievable, but our house hasn't been this clean in forever and there's still a lot to go....But it gets done as you go along with new rooms being added and such....but still in 15 minute chunks. I swear to you I cannot believe how this works so well, but it really does! And I am one who has always resisted this type of thing!!! We started just about the time of FlyLady's "Super Fling Boogie" and got rid of 500 POUNDS of junk from only doing a few rooms!!!!

If you have CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), you need to check out The FlyLady.....I still can't believe it, but the program really works...because it's EASY!!!!

Spaw