Box #18–Living Room Closet--2012

Banker’s Box

1. Baseball hats

__________________

House--Living Room

_________________

Okay, I have to comment here.

Why do we have a box full of baseball bats? This is definitely a box we must cull through: save what we want and get rid of the rest (sell or donate).

But, for now, hello living room closet.

Box #17–Living Room Closet--2012

Clear Container with Clear Lid

1. Scarves
2. Mittens and Gloves
3. Hats

_____________________

House--Living Room

Box #16–General Stuff/McDonald Happy Meal Toys--2012

Some From From Old Boxes 2003-57
Clear Container with Clear Lid

1. Railroad Stock Certificate: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Nov. 10, 1896, 1

2. Donald Duck Figurine (Mint in Mickey Box, 1

3. Flutes, 2 (1 reddish brown wood with silver spots, I yellowish wood)

4. Coin Counter in box: “Armored Card,” 1

5. Sandeman Snifters, set of 6, in yellow box (Yugoslavia, 1988-89), 1

6. Small Rakija Glasses, blue, set of 6, in red box (Yugoslavia, 1988-89), 1

7. Bird, New Zealand Carving (Marked: “Carved in Rotorua”), 1

8. Green Avon Pitcher with stopper and bowl, 1

9. Folk Art Airplane (Wood)–I think it’s homemade, 1

10. Metal Toy Plane (“Made in China”), 1

11. Small Wood Vase, 1

12. Magic Brain Calculator, Silver and Red, Made in Japan, unopened in plastic, 1

13. Small silver-plated bowl, footed, 1

14. Furby Key chain, yellow and black, 1

15. Florida Coaster (Metal), 1

16. “Flicker Top” Spin Toy–Made in USA, Pat. April 27, 1920, 1

17. Radiometer, the Scientific Toy (Near MIB), 1

18. Space Gyro, “The Modern Toy” (in box, which is slightly worn), 1

19. Small Pewter Footed Bowl, 1

20. “Cranky,” Windup Creature, MoMA (New in plastic box), 1

21. Silver Dish (Small), 1

22. Silver Cup, marked “Baby,” 1

23. Sponge Duck (in shoe box), 1

24. 8-ball, 1

25. Orioles Desk Figurine, 1

26. Mark McGwire MVP cards in blister packs, 10

27. Filled in with McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys and other small stuff

______________________

(Shed, 2012)

Box #15–Disney and General Stuff--2012

Some From From Old Box 2003-7
Clear Container with Clear Lid

1. BOX A: Donald Duck Gum Ball Machine in Box, 1

2. BOX A: Scrooge McDuck Gum Ball Machine in Box, 1

3. BOX B: Donald Duck Projector, 1

4. BOX C: Donald Duck Choo Choo, 1

5. Knitted Scarf (Pink)

6. Handkerchief, with lace edges

7. Large Silk Scarf, white, blue, and pink

_____________________________

(Shed, 2012)

Ugh...Tossing 20-Plus Years of Old Receipts and Tax Records

I have been spending the past three days going through six or seven boxes of old tax records and old receipts for shredding.

Why, o why haven't we kept up with this task? It would have been so easy to do this as a yearly task, for example, tossing tax year 1998 in 2005.

Did we really need old receipts and tax records from 1998?

Of course not. However, the attic had been so full that nearly everything behind the first rows were not accessible.

And old receipts and tax stuff had been buried deep.

Finally, I was able to find these old records and papers.

So there's good news from Hoarderville: while the attic is still messy and full, everything is now located according to type and easily accessible for future culling and inventorying.

I have been at this job since October 2011, so I wonder how these hoarding TV shows can clear out an entire house in three days. Perhaps it's because I'm a lone person without a team of enthusiastic tossers.

In any case, I'm not sure I would want a "team" helping me--there is a psychological component to weeding and inventorying that needs to be recognized and honored.

For example, you would not think that tossing bills would bring back memories, but it does: we were so young and poor back in those early days of marriage, and I cannot tell you how many overdraft and dunning notices I found, particularly in the first two years of our marriage, when my better half was taking care of the bills (or not taking care of them). That was a painful time for us, a helplessness caused by a lack of sufficient funds and being seriously in hock to Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, our mean surrogate fiduciary parents.

Once I took over the bill paying, our financial situation changed for the better, but, unfortunately, I tend to be paranoid about what to save and tend to save everything.

I need to rethink that model.

Slowly, our financial situation improved (tremendously--we owe no one and have money in the bank), but it took setting aside money for various purposes (paying off existing debt, saving for the future, setting up a car fund, vacation fund, etc.) and sticking to that plan. I also paid ahead on our mortgage, at first, only a few dollars a month but eventually up to few hundred.

We paid off our 30-year mortgage in 17 years. It helps that better half has a good job with good raises. So I recognize that this exact plan might not work for everyone, but, with discipline, living within one's means is attainable.

Enough, already, with the financial planning lecture.

Our next task:

Old suitcases, which, in our house, seem to reproduce like cockroaches, some of which I will use for storage of my old dolls.

Box #14g–Posters and Prints–2012

Large Cardboard Tube

1. Grateful Dead Metal Poster, Metal Lithograph Art (Still in Package)

2. Envelope (Small Posters Not Rolled Up):

–Side 1: Ravens Michael McCrary (2000); Side 2: Ravens, Jermaine Lewis (2000)

–Brian Roberts, year unknown

–Side 1: Orioles Jimmy Key; Side 2: Orioles All-Stars (Baltimore Sun), year unknown

–Side 1: Rafael Palmeiro; Side 2: Roberto Alomar, year unknown

–Old print (House on Lake)

–Foil Print (Flowers around Lake)

–Posters:

*The Twelve Dancing Princesses

*Season’s Readings

*Uncle Vova’s True

*Scribner Literature Series: Author’s Map

*Scribner Literature Series: Literature Throughout the Ages, 1880-Present

* Post Card: 1990 is International Literacy Year

3. Small Picture Mat (Mauve)

4. Painting on Bark, Colorful Bird, unsigned

5. Plastic Orioles Fans Sign (Oriole Bird–not cartoon– on Diamond: Parking Only

6. Mom’s (Anita S.) Farmer/Wife Painting (in Frame)

7. Jen’s Melanie Painting in Frame

8. Mom’s (Anita S.) Artwork:

–Canvas Board: Lake Scene (Abstract)

–Water on Paper: Fruit Bowl

–Water on Paper: Colorful Parrot

9. Skopje Jazz Festival Calendar (Skenpoint)

10. Repro of an Old Print: View of Shockoe Creek Valley, Richmond, VA

11. Place Mat: Treasure Island at the Mirage

12. The Myth of the American Historical Ignoramus Poster (Guy with His Head Up His A$$–No Kidding–Where did we get this, anyway?)

13. Seite Aus Der 42 zeiligen Bibel Gutenbergs –Mainz 1452-55 (Repro page from the Gutenberg Bible???), rolled in square gray box

14. MASN Poster (Orioles) #15

15. 1996 Calendar (Cal Ripken)

16. The American Spirit (2001), Cal Ripken, Jr. With American Flag, October 6, 2001 (Outside Pitch), 2 copies

17. Las Vegas Poster (The Street with Lights)

18. Silver Picture Frame (Hallmark)

19. Star Trek Comic Book: Operation Assimilation, April ‘97, #1 (4 copies)

20. Comic Books: Peter Parker Spiderman, Oct ‘97, #84 (2 copies); The Spectacular Spiderman, Jan ‘98, #253 (2 copies); The Amazing Spiderman, Oct ‘97, #427 (2 copies)

21. Comic Books: The Avengers, May ‘97, #7; Iron Man, June ‘97, #8 (1 copy each)

22. Oil Painting: Winter Scene. Bare trees, ice-covered road (By Anita S.)

23. Mini-Posters: Toni Morrison, 5

24. Mini-Posters: Fiction of the Indian Subcontinent, 5

25. Passages North Cover: Vol. 14, No. 1, Summer 1993

26. Passages North Cover: Vol. 14, No. 2, Winter 1993

27. Passages North Cover: Vol. 15, No. 1, Summer 1994

28. Passages North Cover: Vol. 16, No. 2, Winter 1994

_______________________________________

(To be placed in Shed, Currently in House, under coffee Table: 2012)

Box #14f–Large Posters and Prints–2012

Large Black Garbage Bag–Behind Bookcase in Front of Bar

1. Oil Painting, Deep Palette Knife, yellow adobe buildings on yellow street

2. Goddard Print

3. Wood Cutout templates from dinosaur models

Also some flattened boxes behind Bookcase

________________________

(Family Room: 2012)

Box #14e–Large Posters and Prints–2012

Large Hess Bag–Behind Bookcase in Front of Bar

1. Secret Lagoon Print
2. Clinton-Gore Poster
3. Large Georgia O’Keefe Poster (24 x 36)
4. Large Beatles Poster (24 x 36), Framed
5. Some Large Pieces of Flat Cardboard, one poster-sized piece

Also some large flattened boxes behind Bookcase, but not in Hess Bag

____________________

(Family Room: 2012)

Box #14d–Posters and Prints–2012

Clear Container with Red Lid

1. Envelope:

Calendar: Japanese Art Prints, 1990

Calendar: Georgia O’Keefe Prints, 1992

Calendar: Citizen’s Bank, 2003 (With personal info and events)

Calendar: Citizen’s Bank, 2004 (With personal info and events)

“Dog Days,” A Sioux City Journal Ad Done by Bird, July 26, 1990

Welcome to Oxford, Mississippi, Historical Tour

Gallery Guides, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York

Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York

Facsimile: The Miami Herald, May 15, 1948

Anti-Underage-Drinking Posters, 2: “Forever Grounded” and “Underage Drinking is Really Cool...Isn’t It?”

2. Envelope, Jennifer’s Artwork

Watercolor of a Young Blonde Man (Kind of creepy)

Ocean Sunset

Water Color: Winter Scene, 1972 (Framed)

Squiggly Artwork (Also Scanned)

3. Envelope, Jennifer’s undergraduate Diplomas

Associate of Science, 1980

Bachelor of Arts, 1982

4. Envelope

Jeff B.’s Drawings of 1992 Interdisciplinary Writing Class Students

The Fantastiks Poster, Cecil Community College (I think Mark S. was in this production)

Print: African American Girl (Pencil), by J. MacDonald Henry

Small Beatles Poster (or Large Photograph) in Sepia Tone, Early Days

Hieronymus Bosch Poster

Fake Currier and Ives

Prints:

Oskar Kokoschka, 1886-1980, “London, Large Thames View,” 1926

Joan Miro, 1893-1983, “Carnival of Harlequin,” 1924-25

Jean Dubuffet, 1901-1985, “Devidoir Enregisteur,” 1978

Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973, “The Artist and His Model,” 1964

5. Envelope

Hungarian Print, Striped Cat with Wings, Painter’s Name Unreadable, 1983, 15/100

6. Small Tube:

Print signed by Paul Hart: Piccadilly Circus “Regent Palace Hotel”

Brugge Print signed by A.M. Mouton, three different views of Begijhof

Brugge Print signed by A.M. Mouton, “Boterhuis”

7. Small Tube

Print signed by Paul Hart: “Tower Bridge” (London)

8. Mapplethorpe (Art book in slip cover)

9. Paul Delaveux, 1897-1994 (Blue Art Book)

10. Hallmark Bag: Painting by Anita S., 1915-2006, Lake with Cottage

11. Envelope: Painting by Anita S., 1915-2006, Bird in Nest Against a Brick Wall

12. Print by John Burt, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, 1976

13. Print by John Burt, The Church of the Holy Trinity, 1980

14. Belgium Tapistry, Made in Belgium, Acquired in 1997 in Brugge

15. Envelope: Jennifer’s Artwork

Water color of a brown-haired girl

Unfinished oil of a man in a turban

Ship at Sea, Mixed Media

_________________________________

(Shed: 2012)

Box #14c–Posters and Prints–2012

Large Cardboard Tube

1. Star Trek Movie Poster: “Insurrection,” 1998

2. Joe Di Maggio Poster: A Tribute to a Yankee,” Gallery E, June 9, 1999 to July 9, 1999

3. Dr. Phil Posters, 2

4. Dracula Poster (Velvet), Used to Hang on Jerry’s Office Door

5. Garfield Poster

6. Fulbright Poster: “Fulbright Showcase of Fulbright Alumni”

_________________________________
(Shed: 2012)

Box #14b–Posters and Prints–2012

Long Clear Container with Green Lid

1. Tube:

Author’s Proof: “Zlatni Medvjed” (“Golden Bear”), by Josip Generalic, 1985

2. Tube:

Print/Etching: “Skopje Pred Zemjotresot,” by S. Stojanov, 1988, 56/80

3. Tube:

Yugoslavia Posters, many of them travel posters. One from Lake Ohrid, All from pre-1989

Budapest Poster

Skopje Jazz Festival Poster, from 2004 (Inside Budapest Poster)

Edward Hopper (1882-1967) Poster, Automat, 1927

Peter Paul Reubens Poster, “Prometheus Bound” (Detail) Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1976

4. Tube

Vincent Van Gogh Poster, “Outdoor Café,”

Paul Delaveux (1897-1994) Print, Girl Waiting for a Train

5. Tube:

Paul Delaveux (1897-1994) Print, a Naked Lady

Building Europe Together (An EU Poster, circa 1997)

6. Tube:

Paul Delaveux (1897-1994) Print, “Trains”

7. Tube:

Brooks Robinson Poster, “Thanks, Brooks!” 1977

8. Not in Tube:

“Setting Up Your Computer” (Early Artifact of the Digital Age)

9. Not in Tube:

Skopje Jazz Festival, 2

_________________________________

(Shed: 2012)

Box #14a (Marked “Box 14”)–Posters–2012

Long Clear Container with Green Lid

1. Tube:

Two Mark Twain Posters

Serious Farm

Cal Ripken, Jr., “American Spirit”

A Dog Story

Shy Charles

Call of the Wolves

Is Your Mama a Llama

2. Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story

We the Kids

Seen a Good Book Lately?

Watch Out for These Weirdos

Jake Baked the Cake

Georgia’s Literary Heritage

3. History Teaches Us:

Shrek: Overachiever, Pass It On

Captain Underpants

The Great Tree of Avalon

4. Life Size Poster of Cal Ripken, Jr. (Purple Background)

Sleeptime, 3

Dirty Little Boy

September 11 Poster

5. Tube:

Open Wide, 3

Uptown, 2

Quinine Blue, 2

Curious George, Happy Birthday

Signet Classic, A Portable Library of Literary Masterpieces

Pig and Crow

Milos Hat Trick

Signed Sammy Sosa Print, signed by artist (not by Sosa)

6. Tube:

Giants Poster, 1992

Ripken Poster

Downtown Vegas

Marty Cordova (40), Orioles

Censorship Causes Blindness

Escher Poster

7. Tube:

Signed Everett Spruill Poster (Jazz Poster Bought at Epcot)

The Greatest Show on Earth (Circus Poster)

America

Maya Angelou

Woody Guthrie

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

The Boy’s King Arthur

The Mitten

Will’s Mammoth

MacDougal, Littel English

Georgia Literary Heritage

Spelling Method Study

8. Tube:

Beanie Poster

9. Orange Plastic Wrap:

Thanks, Cal, 2

Ripken, 1

______________________________________

(Shed: 2012)

Box #13–Costume Jewelry, Quilt Top, Batting with Ring--2012

Clear Container with Clear Lid
Small Clear Tubs:

1. Shell necklaces

2. Faux Pearls

3. This and That: Locks, Necklaces, bracelets, and rings

4. Necklaces

5. Hair Combs

6. Necklaces

7. Faux Pearls

8. Badges and Buttons

9. Hospital Bracelets and shells

End Tubs/Begin Tins:

10. Yellow Tin: Miscellaneous jewelry

11. Blue Famous Dane Cookie Tin: Bracelets and Miscellaneous Items

12. Gold Tin: GIFT Stone Bracelets

13. Pen Sets in Red Box, 2

14. Souvenir Spoon “Boone, Iowa”

Quilt Stuff:

15. Quilt Top “Wedding Ring” Pattern

16. Quilt Batting

17. Quilt Ring

____________________________________

(Shed, 2012)

Box #12c–Jen’s Book Promo Materials (2004) and Empty 3-Ring Binders–2012

Also Clear Container with Blue Lid

Book Promo Materials (Jen's Short Story Collection):

1. Posters, 9

2. Green Box:

--Business Cards

--Book Marks

--Post Cards

--Framed Promo Flyer

--Promo Flyers

--Book: Become a Published Author

3. Various Papers and Forms

4. Two Plexiglass Frames

5. Laminated Poster

6. 3-Ring Note Book Binders with Zippers:

--Black, 2

--Green, 2

--Aqua, 1

--Blue, 1

7. Black Vinyl Notebook with zipper (no rings)

8. Black Vinyl Attache Notebooks (no zipper and no rings), 2

Copies of Jen’s books are in the house!

___________________________________

(Shed: 2012)

2012--Box #12b–Jen’s Memorabilia (Dee Dee’s Flag) and Various Newspaper Articles

Clear Plastic Container with Blue Lid

1. Various Newspapers: Three Mile Island and Stock Market Crash of 1987

2. Dee Dee’s Flag (Harley S., January 1901 - March 1974)

3. Dee Dee’s Black Turtleneck

4. Life Magazine, February 1984, The Beatles 20 Years Later

5. Newsweek, April 14, 1975 (Evacuating Vietnam)

6. Old Valentine Books (Cutout Cards), 2

7. Yugoslavia: Sample of Toilet Paper (Pink)

8. Valentines Day Balloon, deflated

9. Old Cards

10. Rosaries (in Green Box), 2

11. Jen’s Old Green Bank Account Book

12. Address Books, Red and Brown), 2

13. Cheap Necklaces (White Box)

14. Flat Blue Plastic container (small), Contents: Mummy Pin and 3-D Batman Card

15. Gold Box of Book Plates

16. Tarot Cards in box

17. Broken Glasses in Case

18. Jen’s Hair, circa 1994

19. Eric’s hair

20. Rain Hats that Belonged to Mo, 2

21. Leather Wrist Purse (Tan)

22. American Flag on pole (small)

23. Cancelled Stamps

24. Various Souvenir programs and Ephemera, also Jen’s various report cards

25. Pom Poms (Made by Mo)

26. Various Childhood and Teen Ephemera, including letters, clippings, cards, etc.

27. Glow-in-the-dark Rosary, Acquired at The Grotto at West Bend, Iowa, circa 1963-64

28. From German Pen Pal Hans: Booklet “Auf Du und Du Mit Essen”

29. Reel to reel audiotape, unknown contents

30. Jen’s First Communion Booklet

31. Tiny Brown Leather Boots, from Hans

32. License Plate–Pennsylvania 608-00G (1970 Sticker over several previous stickers)

33. Large Birthday Card from Sadie J.

34. Jen’s Hair, circa 1970's

35. Decoupage: Little Girl, given to Jen by Robert S., age 5

36. Jen’s Childhood Drawings, from very young to about 8th grade

37. Alfred E. Neuman “Portraits”

38. Scoop Jackson Scrapbook, 1976

39. “The Story of Silent Night,” Handmade Book by Jennifer (Satin Cover–Lilac), about 10th grade

40. Antique Brush (wood with metal design)

41. Two Castanets, Red (Acquired in Panama, Summer 1967)

42. Reel to reel tape, I think from Fred M.

43. Eric or my baby shoes (Kinda femmy for a boy, though)

44. Small wooden figure with lots of hair

45. Patchwork Hot Pad, made by Mo (Olive S.)

46. Eric’s T-shirt (Blue and white stripes), circa 1971-1972

47. Eric’s Training Pants, circa 1971-1972 (Really?)

48. Brown Canvas Bag, made by Mo

49. Time Magazine Parody, Harvard Lampoon

50. Jen’s Wedding Corsage (I think to Jerry), 1984

51. Gold Turtle, marked “Studio”

52. Jen’s cancelled checks, 1984 (Sun Trust – Gainesville)

__________________________________


(Shed: 2012)

Box #12a–Jen’s Beatle Memorabilia (1964-1969) and College Awards–2012

Small Opaque Blue Container with Blue Lid

Beatle and Other Memorabilia:

1. Gray Scrapbook: “Clips and Snips”–Filled with Childhood Stuff–Bad Shape

2. Light Blue Scrapbook: Filled with Beatles’ memorabilia

3. Book: The Beatles, A Cellarful of Noise, by Brian Epstein

4. Book: The Beatles in “A Hard Day’s Night,” by John Burke

5. Book: The Beatle Book

6. Two Manilla Envelopes: General Beatles’ memorabilia

7. Magazine: Best of the Beatles (Manilla Envelope)

8. Magazine: For Teens Only, July 1965 (Manilla envelope)

9. Beatles (U.S.A.) Ltd.

10. The Gene Pitney Show Program (some autographs)

11. Hollywood Bowl Ticket Stub (August 29, 1965)

12. Red Dress with black ribbon: Worn at the Beatles’ Concert on August 29, 1965)

13. Gold Key Comic Book: Yellow Submarine, 1968 (missing poster)

Jen's College Awards:

14. The Spartan Award, 1981-1982

15. Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 1981-1982

16. Society for Collegiate Journalists, April 28, 1982

17. Student Senate Recognition Award, 2, 1981 and 1982

18. Departmental Honors, May 15, 1982

19. Senior Honor Society, November 19, 1981

20. Service Above Self, 1982 (Pewter Bowl with Ceramic Center)

21. Pennsylvania License Plate: 4Y8-164

22. Pennsylvania License Plate: 449-89H

23. Space Shuttle License Plate: Kennedy Space Center (Florida)

24. Jennifer Semple’s High School Diploma

25. Jennifer’s 1988 Reunion Booklet

____________________________

(Shed, Upstairs: 2012)

Box #11b–Pictures in Frames–2012

Banker’s Box 1. Robin and Jesse Graves, circa late 1970's

2. Scene (Don’t know what or where)

3. Eric B. (about 9 or 10) with Baseball and Bat, wearing a Phillies shirt

4. Eric B. with a Black and Yellow shirt, about 13 years old

5. Eric B., High School Graduation

6. Henry and Anita S., 1970's?

7. Eric B., about 14, school picture, B-I-G H-A-I-R (LOL) 8. Jennifer, mid-1970's 9. Print: “Conles Demamere”

10. Print: “Marchand de Lanterne”

11. Blank Frames, 2

12. Eric Baby Picture (Scanned)

13. Eric, about 2, with Aunt Betsy (Minerva M.)

14. Mark, Missy (with ‘fro ;=) ), Jeff, and Carrie, circa 1982

15. Victoria, About 7 or 8

16. Water Color by Jennifer
___________________________

 (House, Family Room: 2012)

Box #11a–Picture Frames and Photos in Frames–2012

Banker’s Box
1. 8x10 Walnut-finish Double hinged frame

2. 5x7 Silver frame, 1

3. 5x7 Wood frame, 1

4. 5x7 Orangish Frame, 1

5. 4x6 Orangish frame, 2

6. 4x6 Silver frame, 1

7. 3.5x5 silver frame, 3

8. 2x3 silver frame, 3

9. Small Superman frame (In box)

10. United We Stand, 4x6 Silverplate frame

11. Leather and Wood Frame with heart-shaped viewing area

12. Tiny metal Frame

Photos in Frames:
13. Jennifer with Scoop Jackson and other members of the Democratic Party (color, 1976)

14. UPI Photo: Jennifer kissing Scoop Jackson on the cheek (Black and White, 1976)

15. Jennifer in Dover, Harriet Brown’s (color, circa December 1970)

16. Jennifer, age 4 (Winter 1955)

17. Jennifer at Indian Steps (Pennsylvania), circa 1974-76

18. Mary Lou S., about age 15 (Jennifer’s Mother) (Black and White, circa 1946) (Oval frame)

19. Jennifer, about 1974-75

____________________________

(House, Family Room: 2012)

On the Edge of Hoarderdom...

Just to break up the tedium, a personal essay...

Perhaps you can relate, perhaps not, but it is what it is...

After watching a few episodes of Hoarders, I realized that we were quickly going down that road of Hoarderdom.

It started in the mid-1990's with Beanie Babies, which, at this posting are not yet listed here. Before that foray into stuffed beanbag critters, we had a lot of stuff, but it was mostly books, magazines, VHS tapes, old papers, and too many clothes. A good sweep through the attic would have pretty much taken care of the problem. But, no, those hot Beanies started filling up the house, then eventually tossed willy nilly into boxes and stuffed into the attic.

In 2001, shortly after 9/11, I started going to auctions--I can see now that 9/11 affected me in ways that are just now becoming apparent. But, make no mistake, the tendency to hoard was there long before 9/11. And I don't want this to be a whine about how difficult 9/11 was for me; I lost no one and I didn't live in New York or Washington, D.C. I'm just saying that the auction scene tipped me into dangerous hoarder territory.

For me, auctions fed my addiction even more. Admittedly, I made some good buys, but we were fast running out of room, with no place to display my new treasures. More boxes going to the attic.

In 2002, I started bidding on ebay: Disney stuff and costume jewelry. More stuff and more boxes. The attic was absolutely stuffed full, and some of the stuff was starting to pile around the house, unorganized. Meanwhile, I was still collecting Beanies, although I was slowing down as the fad faded out.

In 2003, I realized that bidding on ebay was not a healthy habit, so I abruptly stopped and made a lame attempt to organize. Before packing things into boxes, I inventoried the items, handwriting the list and marking the boxes, but failing to transfer my lists to my computer.

Then we rented a storage unit (this behavior seems to be a natural progression into full-blown hoarding); we placed these inventoried items there and then promptly forgot them until 2011. Then I just stopped with organizing; the attic was still stuffed full, and I was still collecting, although I was slowing down.

In 2009 and 2010, I again made some wishy-washy attempts to organize.

In 2009, as I was preparing to live abroad for a year, I had difficulty finding books and files that I needed, so I went through my papers and weeded out those I didn't need, but it wasn't a very serious attempt. I was too busy getting things together for my big move.

While overseas, I lived in an apartment that was clear of clutter, and I loved it! To keep it that way, I regularly weeded through my stuff and kept the keepers organized. Before leaving my adopted country, I gave away a lot of stuff. Still, we came home with seven suitcases (I had left the U.S. with four, but my husband had arrived later with about four or five).

In 2010, it was disconcerting returning to the chaos of our house, so I made another attempt. But with nowhere to put stuff, it was a hopeless task. By this time, I realized that the storage unit rental had been a HUGE mistake, and I wanted to get rid of it altogether, not store more stuff in it. I kept thinking about all that stuff there, and, by this time, I didn't even know what the stuff was.

But I did work on our living area, clearing out expired food and medicines. I also cleared boxes from the living room and our bedroom, and I did some light weeding--again, papers and magazines. I worked on developing new habits, such as keeping the dishes washed and dried and food put away, my clothes picked up, laundry kept after, etc. I'll never be a cleaning freak, but at least I can walk through my house unimpeded.

By 2011, I figured out that we had spent over $7,000 storing our stuff, renting a unit that was giving nothing back in terms of equity.

That had to end.

So we had a two-story shed built on our property. This may seem counter intuitive, perhaps encouraging even more hoarding, but nothing was going to happen unless we had a space close by to put our items as we sorted. However, I was determined that nothing would go into the shed unless it was inventoried and neatly packed in marked containers.

In January, 2012, my son helped me clear out the storage unit, I settled up my bill (I owed $1.00), and we placed the items (the handwritten inventory) into the new shed.

I felt so light after that, a huge weight lifted from my shoulders.

Since then, I have repacked some of the items into better containers, some I left in their original boxes, but most lists have been updated and added to my hard drive. My plan is to send a lot of the items to auction--perhaps to SELL on ebay--but I figure I will have a better chance of getting an auctioneer to take my possessions more seriously if I can show him or her inventory lists and easily accessible items.

I still occasionally buy something; I'm particularly weak when it comes to jewelry, minerals, and rock specimens. And just last week, I bought a squawky Donald Donald. Still, such buys are fewer.

So it's evident that I still have some emotional work to do...

Since October 2011, I have packed up and inventoried well over 100 boxes and donated 20-30 bags and boxes to charity. I have also tossed bags and bags of stuff.

The attic itself still needs much work, but it seems to be at the point before I started collecting Beanie Babies (1995). A lot belongs to my husband (one box is from the 1970's, an artifact), but a lot belongs to me as well. Two clutterbugs does not make for a neat space.

When it was still cold out, I did do a rough sort of the attic, but there are still some hidden boxes that I can't access.

Meanwhile, I'm still organizing, selecting boxes that are readily available. For now, the attic will be tackled last.

I believe a large Dumpster will be involved.

:=)
In another article, I will reveal how I have approached this major task and how my system has help me not to become too overwhelmed (although some days have been difficult).

One day at a time...

Do you have a hoarding or near-hoarding story?

Feel free to post it in the comment section (although posts with spam and live links will be deleted).

Box #9–Jen’s Memorabilia from Childhood Through College–2012

Clear Container with Purple Lid
1. Photographs of Eric and Jennifer–3 photos, one large, two medium (scanned)–1981

2. Old Spartans (1980-1982), some drawings from that era, and two copies of ESP Literary Magazine (Brown Accordion folder)

3. Journalism Conference (1981), two envelopes

4. Misc. Disney postcards from 1981 trip

5. College mementos, 1978-1982 (mostly 1980-1982)

6. Auntie’s estate papers, 1980-1981.

7. Tomorrow Show Stuff –Wow, stalker girl...

8. Childhood letters received, some from Auntie

9. Mournful letters to Jerry, never sent, 1980.

10. SIGNED Harry Chapin program (from York College concert). He died shortly
afterwards.

11. Sample of my hair (dark brown), year unknown

12. Gainesville newspapers, 1983

13. Old checkbook and cancelled checks from 1980-1983.

14. Books: God is With Me, My Religion Book 8, 1960; At Church and at Home, 1957; The Christian Home, 1934; Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), 1963; St. Jude Thaddeus, 1951; The Pocket Dictionary of Art Terms, 1961-1962.

15. Brooks Robinson: “Thanks, Brooks!” memorabilia.

16. Childhood drawings

17. High School Reunion (1968-1978)–also 1967-68 student Heelan Handbook

18. Magazine: The Best of Weight Watchers, 1974 (Pretty wild).

19. Old York Bank bank books, 2

20. “12th Annual Siouxland Cookbook” (Published by Sioux City Journal), March 21, 1971

21. Cookbook: 200 Dishes for Sunday Night Suppers

22. Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary, Section 1–A-AST

23. The Columbia Encyclopedia, A-ASH (Huh?)

24. Stoney Drawing (1969)–SCANNED!

25. Sandpaper Drawing, 1969–Scanned

26. Rings Drawing (1969)–Scanned

27. Heelan Graduation tassel, 1968

28. Mo’s teeth (bridge) and my teeth (2)...I know, I know, it’s lame...and I blame my better half for such silliness...

29. Brown Oven Mitts, Made by Mo (Olive S.)–“Very Mo-ey” ;=)

30. Silk Scarf, Purple, Blue, Yellow, Modernistic Design

31. 1984 Cloth Calendar, Still in Package, “Home Sweet Home”

32. 1984 Cloth Calendar, Still in Package, “Spices”

33. Sioux City Art Calendar, Summer 2005 (Features Twig House)

34. Turkey Hilda Photo, Facsimile Signature (LOL), in Manila Envelope, 2

35. Painting

______________________

(Shed: 2012)