Oh, God, I need help and encouragement. I’m so far behind on my cleaning I want to cry. I was ill this past weekend and didn’t hit a lick, and it shows. Kitchen is embarrassing. Livingroom has clean laundry all over it. Bedroom looks like a tornado hit it. And we’re supposed to be going out of town Friday. 
I have to grocery shop this evening, but I think I’m going to stay up late and clean.
Thanks, danceswithcats. I will no doubt have a few more books for the book exchange, as I really didn’t get rid of as many as I’d hoped. And I got rid of half my books! I also didn’t get rid of as many cookbooks, maybe only a third of those. Still, it’s a start.
TroubleAgain, I completely understand where you’re coming from. My movers show up Friday, and my house still looks pretty lived in. I’m cranking on my thesis, but poorly, and so I’m being nearly ineffective at both. The key, I think, is to just keep doing it, and acknowledging 1) when you’re a bit overwhelmed and 2) when you’ve accomplished something, even if it’s small. I spent two days unable to write a word on my thesis. So when I got three sentences out yesterday just before my moving/packing help arrived, I was still happy. I’m not going to lie, three sentences out of this last at least 5 page chapter isn’t much, but it’s better than the last two days. Today I’m going to get more done on it.
As important as cleaning is, don’t make yourself ill again to do it. Your living room has clean laundry. Start there, I’d think. Maybe you won’t get as much done as you’d like before you leave (three sentences, for example), but any progress is important, especially if you allow yourself to acknowledge it as such. The last thing you want to do is say, “I only got X done.” That’s just disheartening.
Good luck! I’m back to my thesis.
Here’s what I have in my camp kitchen box (note: I camp cushy):
[ul]One pasta pot with straining lid. . No separate colander needed. Not only is it good for pasta, but for browning ground beef - brown, put on the lid and pour off the grease.[/ul]
[ul]A solid lid which fits your straining pasta pot would be awesome, but when camping I just wrap some aluminum foil over the straining lid to cover the holes if I need a solid lid for simmering or boiling.[/ul]
[ul]One 10 inch skillet with lid. [/ul]
[ul]A liquid measuring cup[/ul]
[ul]Set of dry measuring cups[/ul]
[ul]Set of measuring spoons[/ul]
[ul]Aluminum foil[/ul]
[ul]Freezer gallon sized ziplocs[/ul]
[ul]One solid cooking spoon, one slotted cooking spoon, one whisk, one pair spring loaded tongs, one spatula (pancake turner) and one spatula (rubber scraper)[/ul]
[ul]Can opener[/ul]
[ul]French chef’s blade knife[/ul]
[ul]Cutting board[/ul]
For a minimalist home kitchen, I’d add
[ul]One 2 quart saucepan with lid [/ul]
[ul]One paring knife[/ul]
[ul]Vegetable peeler[/ul]
[ul]A few ice cube trays[/ul]
[ul]A three or four sided box grater[/ul]
[ul]A few wooden spoons and maybe another solid bowl metal or silicone cooking spoon[/ul]
[ul]Some reused to-go containers or Tupperware for food storage. [/ul]
[ul]One cookie sheet, one 9X13 baking pan and one 8X8 baking pan[/ul]
[ul]Mixing bowls are nice, but non-essential (you can always mix in your pot or in a ziploc bag) - if storage space is a premium, look for mixing bowls with lids, so they can double as your leftover storage containers.[/ul]
After that, we get into Toys Cooks Love, like citrus reamers, egg/mushroom/strawberry slicers, spaetzle makers, waffle irons, etc. - things that are convenient to have, but only if you use them. As a learning cook, I wouldn’t bother with those things until you learn your cooking style and what you’ll use. But definitely, defend that stand mixer!
I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! Well, actually, hopefully I can get up. But I’ve fallen off the cleaning wagon as far as my target area. I haven’t been back in that office to clean since I last wrote.
However, I did just clean out one of my kitchen cabinets. And the other stuff I’ve been doing is good stuff. So maybe having fallen in that area isn’t so terrible.
But I’m still thinking about it every day, thanks to this thread. BlueKangaroo, thanks for keeping it going. I hope the move goes well for you.
WhyNot, that looks like a great kitchen list. Not that I would know since I don’t cook, but I love kitchen stuff all the same.
Thanks, WhyNot. I have some of those things, both on your lists and in the “nice to have” area. It’s odd what you end up with when you’re breaking down a household.
Heffalump and Roo, thank you. I’ve been keeping up with this thread, but I haven’t been sure I’ve been doing much good for me or anyone else. As for your office, it sounds like you just needed a productive break from it. That’s what I try to do with the thesis/moving combo, but I don’t always succeed. I’m in the realm of hating my thesis (but not yet my advisors and committee, so I’m pretty sure I’m not done yet), and the move is draining as well. I wish I had more “get up and go”. I have very little motivation right now, though I’ve gotten even more done on my thesis today than I had before. It’s still not enough to reward myself with my bribe, but I’ll get there.
I may switch over to looking at the edits one of my advisors gave me. I’ll find that more soothing than dealing with this third chapter, which may well be the devil himself, in paper form.
I did get my dresser all packed at this point, and there’s a load of laundry in the washer. The pantry is empty, though not washed out, and some things are just sitting on the counter. I need to empty the big freezer tonight, so we can put it outside to defrost. I’m not sure how to tell what items are worth keeping and what aren’t, though. Grrr!
Those are called WHAT now? :eek:
Oof. I have gotten extremely morning sick, am tired most of the time, and feel dizzy. I can just about do one piece of housecleaning every other day. I did the laundry today. It was a big, major accomplishment.
I’m sure everything will be better in about a month, after the first trimester ends. I hope.
Probably it will, Lissla, but it’s not guaranteed. Does that make you feel better? 
I’ve been coasting a bit, but doing OK overall. I have recently folded a bunch of laundry, cleaned a ton of junk out of the kids’ room (they are amazing at junk-collecting), and done a lot of general tidying. I’ve kept up on the dishes and counters, pretty much. So while I’m not spectacular, I’m not terrible either.
Oh, a juicer. I don’t speak your crazy chef-talk.
Thanks, BlueKangaroo. I’m not actually in danger of getting ill again as far as I know. I’ve fought off whatever cold or flu was trying to get me. I’m just really disheartened right now and needed the boost. Thanks. I will definitelyl get the rest of the clean laundry out of the livingroom and maybe get the kitchen done tonight. Tomorrow night, well, we’ll see.
See, when I hear “juicer”, I think JUICER. A reamer’s just a little thing for getting a few tablespoons of juice from a lemon or two. A juicer’s a big powerful machine for people who like to eat grass and thistles.
I didn’t believe you about the grass until I clicked on the link. W. T. F. Mate? This is why I don’t brag about my kitchen skillz. I can make food to live off of. Nothing fancy. Nothing that requires special tools. Just dinner. Food Network will not sink its claws into me!
Well, in terms of my move, today was very productive. It was okay productive on the thesis, but still not enough to attain my bribe of myself.
However, in the land of the move, I finished the bedroom, finally, got the linens sorted and mine packed, cleaned out the refrigerator and two freezers, got rid of some clothing and shoes, put the freezer out to defrost, and got a few boxes into the car to be taken to my friend’s house. We also got rid of a lot of trash, reclaimed several tupperware, did some generalized organization, and didn’t collapse in a heap.
Movers come Friday at 9am. Mostly, I’m hiring them to move the heavy furniture. However, I’ll have them take as many boxes as possible too. There are still plenty of moments when I feel like there’s no way I’m going to be ready for them. However, today feels pretty good.
I haven’t done anything with the bathroom, but it’s a small room, probably a ten minute job. I need to finish the kitchen, and pack what few fragile “dust collectors” are out. I need to pack the cookbooks, as they’ve only been sorted, and deal with the last of the randomness on the table. After that, it’s mostly just random items that need to be safely packed.
This took several hours to complete. Maybe three? Two or three, of solid work. Now if only I could crank like this on my thesis.
Okay, one last bump. Tomorrow’s a new month. I don’t know if it’d be better to bump this one or plan to start a new one, but I figured I’d bump this one, and then start next month with a clean slate. So to speak.
I have emptied my old house of all but frozen/refrigerated food, two large pictures and one large plant. The fridge needs to be cleaned out, but that won’t take too long. My ex still has a few things in there, but he has said he’s coming tonight to get them.
Thanks to GingerOfTheNorth, my new place is already somewhat homey. I think I’ll also be able to keep it clean, but we’ll see on that. I guess that’s what next month’s thread is for. 
My cat currently hates me, but I suspect she’ll get over it.
My thesis is mostly done. Two of three chapters are done, and the third is maybe halfway there. Of course, the half that’s left is deadly, but I expect I’ll be able to get it. I hope so, anyway. The defense is in just under three weeks, so I’m down to the wire. And, of course, scared out of my mind. I don’t hate my committee yet, so according to at least one member of said committee, I can’t possibly be done with my thesis. That also scares me. Technically, I’ve done enough to allow me to bribe myself with the two skirts I’ve been wanting, but now I just want to get it written. I guess the bribe can wait.
I’ve gone through a few boxes of stuff, and started labeling things to go away. I still have a tendency to not want to get rid of things that still have some use, and I’m not sure how to deal with it when I suspect it’s something even freecyclers won’t want (a ceramic unicorn statue with a broken and missing horn, or a shower pouf on a handle for back washing, for example). Still I managed and will manage to get rid of a lot more stuff than I thought I would, and some of it pretty weird. I do love freecycle.
I hope everyone else is also doing well.
I’ve been keeping an eye on these threads. I just needed to pop in here and say that all I did was unpack a few boxes and make the bed.
We’re going to have to start paying you - The GingerOfTheNorth Packing & Moving Service.
“Tell all your divorced friends!”