This was the weirdest email request to date- but here is a thread that will soon be all about Mahi Mahi.
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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Everything is totally normal and fine!!!
I desperately hope that, yet again, I am wrong.
Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.
Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.
If West Virginia and San Francisco had a love child.
Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.
Israel is using food as a weapon of war. Unforgivable.
Please don’t feed the bears.
It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.
The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.
If you are in line to indict donald trump, stay in line.
GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.
Black Jesus loves a paper trail.
Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.
I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.
Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!
Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.
You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.
The frogs are rarely mistaken.
The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.
If marriage is the equivalent of selling yourself into slavery, women with self respect should reject the offer.
Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.
We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.
AhabTRuler
Yes, well, I need suggestions…not like you ever bleg for preparation tips.
And, for the fans!
Brachiator
Odd. I’m on my way out to dinner, and was thinking about having Mahi Mahi.
Lyle4
I just read this article about recent racist comments toward the Obama’s, specifically the little girls, from the Freepers and now I feel like vomiting.
AhabTRuler
Plus, it’s not like I had my hand on your inner thigh the entire time I was asking you for the thread. How weird can it be?
Ash Can
@AhabTRuler:
Hee hee! Actually, she sort of looks like a kitty version of Sally Rand.
Violet
What mahi mahi needs is a fine mango salsa with a bit of lime juice. Outstanding.
AhabTRuler
@Ash Can: I was totally unaware of my inadvertent punnage, but you are indeed correct. If you look at this photo, taken a few seconds afterward, you can see how the “fan” was just a lucky and momentary fall of the crap(TM)curtains.
and, as to Sally Rand: Hubba! Hubba! Ah-oogah!
John Cole
I made sliced tomatoes with red onions, basil, blue cheese crumbles, and balsamic, and an orzo salad with artichoke, and then grilled a piece of beef.
Can’t wait until my plants start cranking out tomatoes, it will be all I eat.
steve s
i have a bunch of IQF cod in the freezer. Very bland. Just had some with creole seasoning and some balsamic vinegar. Still no good.
Crusty Dem
Odd, I was going to the local seafood market to get some fish for a blackening party. Mahi mahi is an expensive option..
freelancer
Off topic from gamefish,
TAM7 being livestreamed from Vegas, so there goes my weekend.
magisterludi
Tonight it’s sauteed squash, corn and tomatoes and onions (from the garden) on some coucous.
Try some brown sugar in the balsamic on tomatoes. Umami heaven with blue cheese.
Alan
I love eating dolphin. One of my favorite fish.
JR
My dad, his buddy, my wife and I were all going out on my dad’s boat this morning. He and his buddy were going after dolphin, and my wife and I were going to snorkel. We got about a half-mile out when one of the motors conked out and we had to turn back. So tonight, the Mahi-Mahi rejoice at their temporary reprieve.
Englischlehrer
http://www.wpfk.org
streaming a live black crowes concert from kentucky right now…
gex
@AhabTRuler: That is a very nice looking cat you have there. Beautiful!
Comrade Kevin
I’ve got a tri-tip in the smoker, should be done in about an hour or so. mmmmmm.
Ash Can
@AhabTRuler:
My grandfather saw Sally Rand perform at Navy Pier during the Chicago World’s Fair. My grandmother, surprisingly enough, did not approve.
A few years ago, the local public TV station did a historical retrospective of Chicago during the ’20s and ’30s. They included some video of one of Sally Rand’s Navy Pier performances. I tells ya, that girl didn’t have a stitch on.
shep
Mahi is a great-tasting fish; not as good as Wahoo but much easier to catch.
DarrenG
Pan-sear it, then make a simple sauce in the pan with soy sauce, green onions, ginger, garlic, and mushrooms (shiitake, if possible).
A little white rice, some field greens, and a nice crisp white wine and you’re set.
CynDee
The Mr. had canned mushroom soup and I had cheese and pickles. Can I still post here?
P.S. The soup was organic and the pickles had NO high fructose corn syrup . . .
steve s
that’s very similar to what i do with chicken. chicken, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, garlic, and lots of red pepper.
General Winfield Stuck
@CynDee:
Yes. I had a bowl of Hillbilly Caviar, otherwise known as soup beans.
Lyle4
Reading these open threads with all the recipes always makes me feel depressed.
I’m about to put a frozen pizza in the oven and pop a nice can of Coke.
cleek
pan-fried flounder with citrus salsa and jasmine rice (well, left-over rice from Indian take-out), and sweet corn. with a viognier.
citrus salsa = orange, cilantro, red onion, chile, rice vinegar, EVOO.
Just Some Fuckhead
woohoo, I’m eatin with lyle
steve s
But what kind of frozen pizza, lyle? are we talking junk like Totinos, mediocre like Red Baron, or Teh Hotness like California Pizza Kitchen?
The next-to-last samurai
Does anyone have any good pollock recipes? Also, we decided to unload all unneeded possessions, aka junk, and I frankly do not know where or how to start. It seems as if a million decisions await. Suggestions? (Flylady is out; her program is for stay-at-homers, and I have a day job. My son does stay home but is not mentally able to organize a big job.)
Mike G
The banner ad at the top of the page now reads “GothScene – the #1 Alternative Dating Community”.
Not sure why I got targeted for this ad, but it’s a big improvement on FREE NEWT! and ANN COULTER — now FREE! (of rabies)
Fencedude
@Lyle4:
Doing better than me. I’ll be microwaving a Healthy Choice pizza for dinner.
ronin122
With all the Saturday night blogging–and I don’t doubt that it extends to most of us here, esp. me–me thinks John needs to get a date. I am sure with his faboo gardening and cooking skills he can easily woo a nice gal.
General Winfield Stuck
@Fencedude:
Whenever I see the Healthy Choice label on any food, I think heart attack in a box, or can.
apikoros
No fish for me, just burgers… rosemary smoked on the grill with my first Cherokee Purple tomato of the year and some onion and mayo… heaven!! Side is beet greens, stir fried with smoked chicken skin, garlic and onion. Desert is a Camel and a Yuengling :-)
When I do fish, while I love dolphin (Flipper for dinner? YUM! :-), I prefer pompano. Almost unknown, firm and velvety flesh with excellent flavor. Grilled with lemon butter or dill and butter, nothing more and sometimes less. If I can get it *live* or from someone who I *know* caught it the same day, I also love blues, but I can’t buy them commercially, as they have about a 12-hour shelf life.
bh
grilled good for fish tacos
AhabTRuler
@ronin122: Sometimes his commentariat drunkstalks him, even, also, too. It’s gigglesuperwaycoolawesometothemax!
Just Some Fuckhead
@The next-to-last samurai:
Nope, just jokes.
feebog
Going to a neighborhood party shortly, so don’t know what I will be eating. We will be bringing my wifes famous seven layer dip, a six pack of Negro Modelo, and a very nice Argentine chardonnay. Been hot here in So. Cal today, high 90s, but golf out near the coast was very pleasent.
kommrade reproductive vigor
We forgot to take the leg of lamb out of the freezer so we’ll wait until tomorrow to attack the giant stand of rosemary and mint.
Poopyman
Mrs. P & I just finished leftover Chinese, which is pretty typical for Saturday night as we’re pretty pooped from the day’s chores.
And I’m kinda bummed that I lost the yellow squash plants and potatoes. We had been having plenty of rain and then this week – nada. I didn’t get the garden watered until too late. At least we got about 10 pounds of squash before they went.
Showers and thunderstorms are dying out before they get across the Potomac, so it looks like another day of watering.
The Saff
@AhabTRuler: What a goregous kitty. I love the look that says, “of course I’m being cute. I’m a cat for goodness sake.”
Lyle4
@steve s:
It’s definitely junk. A Tony’s For One, WOOHOO!
steve s
in terms of a calorie / dollar ratio those things are hard to beat.
monkeyboy
We like ‘Hopping John’ – black eyed peas, onions, hottish peppers, and bacon.
My son doesn’t, so when he is around I fix ‘Hopping Squanto’ in which kernels of fresh corn cut from steamed ears is substituted for the black eyed peas and maybe some fresh diced green beans are added. Of course Squanto is barely cooked compared to John.
Is there an official name for ‘Hopping Squanto’?
TX Expat
What goes well with mahi mahi? A nice ocean view, preferably from a beach side restaurant in Maui with a very chilled bottle of pinot grigio.
For my money ahi tuna sashimi is the way to go, but only if you live in a place where you can get it fresh. YUM!
Unfortunately I live no where near either place so I had lemon/pepper chicken with stuffing (yes I realize we are months away from stuffing season but it was what was handy in the kitchen cabinets).
Jeffro
Hey The next-to-last samurai: if you are ready for major-league purging of useless household clutter, I can give you a few tips (we just had our pre-moving garage sale today, all went well)
1) Be prepared for several rounds of “disbursing” – nobody does it all at once (well, not if they want to do it well, anyway)
2) Any clothes you haven’t worn in 2 years, max, put them in a pile for Goodwill (and then save the receipt for the HUGE tax write-off)
3) Any kitchen equipment you haven’t used in 2 years, ditto (and NEVER keep more than 1 set of dishes other than your everyday set)
4) Any books you probably won’t read again – you won’t. DVDs that you probably won’t watch again – you won’t. CDs – import ’em into iTunes, if you really gotz to hear them again. And then Goodwill all of it.
5) eBay anything really valuable or collectible.
6) See if there’s any furniture or appliances that you could live without; either put a (hopefully free) ad in a local paper or save for your garage sale.
AND THEN – whatever else is left, the trinkets, the weird stuff, the uncategorizable – have a garage sale and be willing to deal!
(And have fun!)
Demo Woman
@John Cole: Today I picked two large baskets of tomatoes and tomorrow morning, I’ll blanch them and remove the skins and seeds. Last year I made enough sauce to last through the winter but this year, I plan on just freezing the tomatoes whole. The peppers, squash, herbs and tomatoes are all producing. I lost my bean plants and beets to the bunnies, though. Next month I plan on trying beans again and I’ll probably plant some broccoli. There are some advantages to living in the south. You can plant again in August.
Comrade Kevin
Mmmmm, my smoked tri-tip was good.
General Winfield Stuck
My favorite fish food next to Sockeye Salmon is Ocean Perch. Dunked in Olive Oil and liberally doused with Garlic and Onion Powder.
Fern
Today I baked the best bread I have ever made in my entire life – using for the first time my carefully-nursed-along sourdough starter.
So I basically had a loaf of bread for supper.
Also some of this:
Chickpea Salad
1 15 oz can of chickpeas
1 medium russet potatoes, boiled, peeled and chopped into small cubes
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 medium seeded and finely chopped tomatoes
1 green chili seeded and chopped
About 1 teaspoon thinly sliced fresh ginger
2 tablespoon finely chopped mint
2 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon oil
Salad Dressing:
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon ginger juice
3/4 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon roasted ground cumin seed
Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
Heat the oil on medium high; add chickpeas and potatoes stir-fry for about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Mix beans with the chopped vegetables and herbs. Mix all the salad dressing ingredients together. Mix the salad and dressing and let the salad sit for about 10 minutes before serving.
CynDee
@ The next-to-last samurai
I was finally successful after 25 years of trying. I’m sure it won’t take you that long.
The thing that helped me most was paying real attention to WHAT I WANT, not necessarily what “should” be. That is, I looked at the place and asked myself what I wanted it to be like. Then I looked at items and asked if that item was going to help my place be what I wanted it to, and how.
Discuss these values with the other members of the family. What does each of us want our home to be like?
There are personal items and common items. It’s fine to listen to the family’s ideas; they may inspire you. But don’t let anyone pressure you to get rid of personal things that are important to you; you’ll be mad at them and yourself later.
Mainly I wanted ease of movement, a lack of clutter, and ease of access to the things I use.
For ease of movement, I realized I didn’t want anything — furniture or object — that I can’t move by myself. That meant getting rid of the big ugly TV, and cutting down my desk to fit me and fit the room better, with fewer components to it. That’s kind of an extreme undertaking but that alone really helped. I became very aware of putting items in a space proportional to them — no crowding. I had too many bed coverings not to my taste but given to me by loved ones. I bit the bullet and gave a couple of huge hard-to-manage comforters to the Salvation Army store. Now someone has the use of them. By the way, in many communities the Salvation Army will bring a truck and take away big items. We got an extra but still useful old dresser out of here that way.
Also, get creative, I had silk flowers in boxes under the bed and stuck into spare spaces all over the house. It must have driven my husband nuts to be coming across them every time he opened a door or drawer. It was driving ME nuts. I like to put a few flowers out during the time of year when the real flower would be in bloom, like irises in the spring, sunflowers in the summer, and I don’t want to be spending money on new ones all the time. The ones I have are gorgeous. I got rid of any that I don’t just LOVE.
I also had a rather large lampshade I plan to use way later when I can afford to recover it, but it takes up shelf space. I turned the lampshade over on its upper closet shelf and put all the flowers in it like one big vase. They look neat, I can get to them easily, but they’re out of the way. In the freed-up space under the bed, I put boxes of items I would sort later, and just pull one out occasionally and go through it.
I have some things I really love that serve no actual purpose except I like to look at them because they cheer me up. I considered how I could keep them available without junking up the place, or if I should just get over myself and dump them. I knew I’d be sorry if I did that. I put some of them on a rack inside a closet door, and I’m really glad I didn’t just chuck them.
Some things I realized that I’m just sick and tired of shifting around.
Just look at the stuff and ask yourself what you want out of it. Then either do what it takes to store it and keep it available or give it away or throw it away.
Also, don’t keep sinning. When you’re thinking of bringing something home, first ask yourself what you’re willing to get rid of to make room for it.
You’ll love yourself for any progress you make.
Alan
@Demo Woman: I wish my garden produced like yours. I’ve practically given it up to the bugs. At this point I’m not a huge fan of “organic.” I’d be happy to take a bit of insecticide for vine ripened produce. But, frankly, i don’t know what poison to use…or when. Hopefully by next year I’ll learn a thing or two about controlling the insects.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Demo Woman:
You and me both, I lost most of my brassicas to some sort of beetle, no idea what, I will try again in the fall as well as another lettuce planting.
bago
Wait until the next round of Civony ads make the rounds. They don’t even try.
General Winfield Stuck
@Demo Woman:
You must live pretty far south to have mators right now. Though we are south here in SW NM the elevation causes frosts to occur up to the first week of May. This year I had the bright idea of growing mator plants directly from seed, and it took forever for the them to get going. They have reached their peak in foliage, but are just now making tiny bulbs. It will be another month before they’re ripe. On the upside, the KY Poll Beans are ready for picking.
Linkmeister
How odd. I sautéed some Mahi last night (we’re lapsed Catholics, but we still like fish on Fridays). $5 for about 0.75 lbs.
Skepticat
He already has a nice gal–Lily. And with Tunch, who could ask for more? Or have a schedule with time for anyone else?
After a day of mowing an acre and a half twice (once with the wheels high, the next run with them low), I could barely find the energy to put ice cream and ginger ale in a glass–that’s dinner. Everything y’all are cooking sounds great, but not great enough to take the time to emulate. Perhaps tomorrow…
Just Some Fuckhead
@Poopyman:
I lost six yellow crookneck squash plants, then six more. So I replaced all the dirt in that particular box and planted three more. They appear to be doing well.
Fern
@Jeffro:
My brothers and I have been going through this process with my parents over the last year or so. They have lived in the same house for 40 years, and it shows.
We’ve done four major purges of their basement, and probably still have one more round to go while they still live there, and then yet one more when then move out of the house – whenever that is. We have not yet touched the main floor.
And now I’m going through my own stuff – focusing on books and files right now. I have things I have moved at least four times since the last time I read them.
Demo Woman
@Fern: When I moved last year, everything went into storage. Since I did not want to pay for an over sized unit, I unloaded 30 boxes of books among other things.
The next-to-last samurai
CynDee& Jeffro, thank you from the bottom of the laundry room! Great plans! Will report back in a week if anyone is interested.
Fern
@Demo Woman:
Yikes! That’s a lot to let go of all at once.
Litlebritdifrnt
@The next-to-last samurai:
After Hurricane Floyd flooded our house I came to the realization that for the most part “stuff” is just “stuff” me and the DH and the animals survived and that really was all that mattered. I have become quite ruthless when it comes to “stuff” since. Clothing and shoes that I have not worn for a year goes to the thrift stores, (from whence it all came anyway so it is just going home), as for other “stuff” I tend not to buy it, unless it serves some sort of purpose. Recently I have been buying candle sconces and candles(from the thrift stores), to put on the walls all over the house, while they look pretty, here in Eastern NC when the power goes out when a squirrel farts, they actually serve some purpose. I have to admit to being a “bedding” addict, and I cannot resist a pretty comforter if it matches the decor of one of the bedrooms (burgundy, green or blue), however I love “space bags” to store said bedding when it is not in use for the off-season (I have two sets of seasonal bedding for each bed in the house winter and summer, one for use, one in the process of being washed and dried – seeing as I dry things outside on a line and not in the dryer). I think you just have to be ruthless and look at something and say “do I really need that?” says she, who ten years after his death still has her father’s pipe in a drawer.
AhabTRuler
Momo is quite aware of how cute she is, and she exploits it at every opportunity. Even the assistants at the vet’s office were charmed by her.
RandomChick
@The next-to-last samurai:
I highly recommend Freecycle. Check to see if you have a Yahoo group in your area. Awesome idea for donating your “too crappy to keep / too good to toss” stuff.
And believe me, whatever you are getting rid of, there is somebody out there who will take it.
I’ve personally received a desk for my office and given a web cam I wasn’t using.
SiubhanDuinne
Seems like several of us (I certainly speak for myself) either have clutter/hoarding issues or are married to or are children of people who hate to get rid of Stuff. I know part of it for me is being a member of a spoilt and acquisitive generation and living in a consumer culture that absolutely encourages those behaviours; but I also know that I personally have a lot of emotional challenges whenever it comes to decluttering my environment. I know a ton of organizing tricks, and I get how self-defeating it is to live surrounded by so much shit that I don’t use or that doesn’t serve me — but all those tricks and all that intellectual awareness is pointless if it doesn’t motivate me to do something about it. I really admire and envy all of you who are neatniks by nature or are willing to tackle these major clean-up tasks.
Sorry for the whine — I’m usually more cheerful and optimistic than I sound in this post. But if anyone can wave a magic wand to provide a jump-start . . . .
ice9
It’s all just fish. Species is a distant second to how well it’s handled. And dang it only the Mauiians can call it mahi, which is a silly market name for dolphin or dorado.
Though I will second the shout-out for pompano, though again it’s a hot water fish–I catch them in NC but only high summer, like upper 70’s water temp minimum, more like low 80’s. Right on the ice, or it goes mushy. So not very viable commercially since they’re mainly taken by gillnets or seines and the warm water means poor handling.
As for pollock, like haddock and cod: fry in oil as close to 400 as you can get it without burning down the garage. Tempura mix, very cold water, thin enough to run off the spoon, add pepper. Dip, scrape, fry no more than 6 ounces at a time completely immersed, have courage to pull it early and eat it smoking hot. Wait for the oil to heat up again before the next flight. Serve with malt vinegar in a cone of newspaper with hand cut sweet-potato fries and a heavy beer.
ice
Fern
@RandomChick:
I often just put decent stuff out beside the dumpster. Always gone by the next day. If I have a lot of stuff I call Canadian Diabetes or the MCC thrift store, and they will come and pick things up.
Cat Lady
Butterfly a whole chicken, and cream butter and homegrown fresh French tarragon together to stuff between the skin and meat, and slowly grill the chicken skin side up. On a grill with three elements, keep the middle one off, and slow cook it in the middle. Knowing how to grill a whole chicken perfectly is a wonderful gift to share.
Can you go OT on an Open Thread?
Just watched the movie Bab’Aziz – the Prince Who Contemplated His Soul, again. This is the most beautiful movie I’ve ever seen, maybe ever made. Plot: Current day dervishes on a pilgrimage to a Sufi gathering held every 30 years, filmed in Tunisia and Iran. Princess Bride meets Walkabout meets Siddhartha, with dunes and ruins as backdrops to a whirling dervish World Beat soundtrack and interwoven love stories.
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/movies/08aziz.html
You’re welcome.
That is all.
Betsy
@CynDee:
One of the single best donations you can make to a homeless shelter or other charity that serve the homeless is blankets (or better, sleeping bags). I worked at a shelter for a year, and the minute blankets or bags came in, they went to someone who REALLY needed them. I don’t know if this applies to comforters, since they can be bulky (not ideal for someone who needs to carry it with him/her all day, or stash it somewhere safe), but if they don’t go to a homeless person that just means that a family with a roof (or car to sleep in) but not much else can afford to buy some warm blankets from Salvy. So, you should feel great about it! :D
Francis
On fish in general:
Try to eat sustainably, please. We humans are doing a bang-up job of destroying one fishery after another and it’s to the point where things are getting pretty scary.
Thanks.
Poopyman
JSF:
That’s what I’ll probably do too (at least the replanting). I think we have enough growing season in Southern MD to get another squash harvest in. But I have to save room for the fall brassicas and winter carrots.
Betsy
And, while I’m at it, public service announcement:
Things homeless shelters can always use:
Blankets, sleeping bags, pillows
Socks, preferably thick, (NO holes please)
Sturdy shoes
Jeans/cargo/work pants (sturdy, no holes)
New underwear/boxers/undershirts
In the fall/winter/spring: coats, sweaters, flannel shirts or other work shirts, long johns, gloves, hats, scarves
Mini toiletries
If the shelter takes women, then tampons, pads, pregnancy tests, bras
Reusable water bottles
Depending on the shelter, they often welcome donations of books
So, to those of you doing a cleanse, think of your local shelter! But for the sake of the staff as well as the guests, please don’t donate anything that’s dirty, unwashed, smelly, or torn beyond reasonable use – you wouldn’t believe how many disgusting bags of clothing I had to go through when I worked there.
Betsy
Deleted, now that my other comment is out of moderation.
Max
@Betsy: The Salvation Army is very anti-gay. IMO, Goodwill or locally run shelters are a better cause.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Poopyman: Not too far from you in Virginia Beach. Everything did real well this year except the squash. My watermelon plants went apeshit and now I’ve got five tiny little watermelons out there. They’re so cute ya just wanna coo at ’em.
If I can successfully grow, harvest and consume 30 watermelons, my summer gardening enterprise will have paid for itself.
Poopyman
Since the odds are that the watermelons will all ripen in the span of a week, I’m hoping you really like eating ’em!
2th&nayle
@Comrade Kevin: ComKev, you are merciless!! Great pic though!
FlipYrWhig
Just kind of throw it on a flat surface from far away. Splash it around, really messy. When it’s extra drippy and shapeless, it’s done. I learned it from this really pretentious painter guy.
Davebo
Mahi Mahi…
The fish so nice they named it twice.
And you’ve gotta love a fish that goes from 4 pounds to 15 pounds in 2 years!
I need a fishing trip but I hadn’t realized it till now.
Screw you John!
Davebo
People actually eat pollock?
Talk about a bad economy!
Steeplejack
@steve s:
Must put in a plug for DiGiorno’s new “crispy flatbread” pizza.
Since breaking my jaw a couple of years ago I can’t handle really chewy pizza, and I have always preferred thin crust anyway. After extensive research I had settled on California Pizza Kitchen, but the new DiGiorno is da bomb (much better than their regular thin-crust). They have a mushroom one, one with fire-roasted peppers and one with Italian sausage and onions.
cleek
couscous
Anne Laurie
I grew up with 5 siblings in a 2-bedroom NYC apartment, so I’m totally unreasonable about protecting My Shite, mine mine MINE DAMMIT. The Spousal Unit, on the other hand, is the offspring of a man who actually kept a spare warehouse for stuff that ‘might come in handy someday’. Add in multiple cats & small dogs, and you can imagine how spare & organized our house is NOT… especially since we’ve been in it for 15 years now.
Best mantra that worked for me: Start with ONE shelf, ONE closet, ONE tabletop or corner. Clean off / declutter / purge that one target, step back & admire your hard work, then quit. Don’t start another project for at least 24 hours, or even a week or two. Keep your newly decluttered area sacred, clean & sparkling, even if this means using the godbottle on the cats (or your human roommate). Having an exemplar I could admire really made a difference for me, generally improving my mood when I thought about tackling the next project. BUT — always one project at a time, and make it clear to the housemates that those projects are sacrosanct!
SiubhanDuinne
@ Anne Laurie:
Thanks, that’s not only good advice, it’s do-able. It’s tough for me not to be all-or-nothing, and even tougher to quit mid-project, so my usual pattern is that I end up with a bigger mess than I started with. But yours is a gentle, forgiving, yet productive approach, and I thank you.
CynDee
@ the Next-to-Last Samuri:
I AM interested, and have more to say on the subject; will post it here later today, and check back and see how you got along.
I’m thrilled if you got a boost from my little saga, appreciate the really good tips from others here, and I’m betting that you’ll come up with some solutions people will be glad to know about.
People are very individual about the material things they need and like. We can learn a lot about each other by our approach to our physical surroundings, and families can affect each other by good or ill. Home is where people can either build each other up, tear each other down, or just tolerate each other. How we manage our space and belongings is a powerful factor and useful tool in our lives.