My Mother In Law is Still Sitting Between Us...

Two Web-Based Studies on OCD / Hoarding

2012-02-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

Hi, Dear Readers.

I was contacted by Amy Przeworski, a researcher in the psychology department at Case Western Reserve University. She asked if I would post about two online studies on OCD and hoarding. For more information about Amy or her work, please go to http://psychology.case.edu/faculty/przeworski_amy.html.

The purpose of the first study is to gain information about the relationships of individuals who have OCD
and / or hoard:

OCD and Relationships Study - Approximately 1 hour to complete.

The second study is for significant others or children of those with OCD and / or hoarding:

Romantic Partners' and Adult Children's Views: OCD and Relationships Study - Approximately 30 minutes to complete.

If you choose to participate you must be at least 18 years of age, your name and contact information will be kept confidential, and you have a chance to win a Target gift card.

I know some people love taking quizzes and completing polls, and you just might learn something about yourself or your loved one. You WILL hopefully be helping improve the treatment for those affected by OCD and hoarding.

Thanks, Amy!

My Exciting Weekend

2012-02-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

I won this in a contest by lip synching to Whitney Houston.
R.I.P., Lady Whitney

Wow. Greg came home to Burbank Tuesday evening, and we had our ups and downs.

I got lots of sleep, and lost lots of sleep. I named our poltergeist "Mookie." Greg, and our friend Alison from NOLA, were on TV spreading the word about children trapped with mental illness and hoards.

My one friend secured employment with my other friend, and I have BEAMING texts from each of them about the other.

I look forward to watching the BAFTAS and the GRAMMYS Sunday evening. And I am fortunate to have many warm, caring people in my life to give me hugs and smiles throughout the week.

Oh, and I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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On TV in San Diego!

2012-02-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

Greg and Alison are so brave to share their stories.

Thanks to both of you, and to Marianne and Rory for making this happen.

Dinner and Friends

2012-02-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

Marti via

Every time I talk to a different person about hoarding (YES, I'm THAT annoying loudmouth.), I am reminded of another personality layer that can be involved in the disorder.

Last night I talked with someone whom I've been acquainted with for years but run into infrequently. I don't know how we got on the topic. Perhaps he asked how Greg was doing.

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What shall I name my Poltergeist?

2012-02-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

Image via

Earlier this week, I wrote about discovering all the lights and the radio were unplugged in our guest room, and I blamed it on our poltergeist.

Now I want to name it.

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Poltergeist Strikes Again

2012-02-08T00:24:00.000-08:00

You: "Sidney! You go to bed early every evening that you can. Why are you up at midnight on a night before work?"

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My Exciting Weekend

2012-02-05T20:05:00.000-08:00

Greg was half home and half in San Diego this week, and we had a bumpy ride. I had a great week, nonetheless, working, celebrating my birthday, and watching the Superbowl, so YAY world!

Oh, and I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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Update - Aw Yeah...

2012-02-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

Image via

It's my birthday.

Not a milestone. But it's my birthday!

I'm somewhere between those two images this weekend. Okay, I'm nowhere near Fifty Cent, but I also don't have Jake Ryan gazing lovingly over a cake on a table.

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My Exciting Weekend

2012-01-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

via Article below under Hoarding & Organization

Image via

Greg came home to Burbank Wednesday afternoon, and we were NOT in synch. Saturday was better, thank goodness. Oh, and I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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What Started it All...

2012-01-24T09:19:00.000-08:00

Image via Inheriting the Hoard: Greg's Story

Well, other than the hoarding, of course.

Today Greg and Alison, whom we met at the New Orleans Hoarding Summit, are interviewing with a San Diego news anchor from NBC39 at his parents' house. As soon as I get a link, you can be sure I will share it with you, Dear Readers.

But before that, it was Hannah.

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Boo Hoo

2012-01-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

Image via

I reckon I'll regret this later, but...

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My Exciting Weekend

2012-01-22T10:01:00.000-08:00

Image via

Greg left for San Diego Monday and has made great progress this week. He's tackling his father's study, and is learning lots of things about Mr. M. I'm still waiting on pictures, but I'd rather him keep chugging along than stop to photograph everything.

There has been a definite theme to this week. I saw the movie The Artist and loved it.

SOPA / PIPA were the talk of the tubes this week. We need to protect artists' rights, but I personally don't want Big Brother. Perhaps we could find a happy medium to keep things fair for everyone.

I attended the Affordable Art Fair at L.A. Live and saw so many wonderful things.

Had lunch with my friend from kindergarten, Sam, and took him to Hyaena Gallery to pick up a painting I had bid on. We had a quick tour of our home which I'm so proud of, and showed him the custom work other artists have given me.

For the first time since I started this blog, I fell ill with the famous artists' disease: Writer's Block.

And last night I attended an opening, also at Hyaena, and fell madly in like with one artist's work.

What was the theme? DECLUTTER, PEOPLE! Just three things, and keep on smiling.

Also, I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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Is this Writer's Block?

2012-01-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

Sid Vicious via the Affordable Art Fair
My nickname in college. Really.

Hi, Dear Readers.

Last night I couldn't sleep. Well, I could, but at odd intervals. Slept from six to eleven. Then awake from eleven to three. Then more sleep from three to eight. That's still ten hours, right?

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My Exciting Weekend

2012-01-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

Image via

Greg was with me in Burbank again this week, and we had more ups than downs.

We were contacted by a news anchor for a story on Adult Children of Hoarders, and I had a phone interview with her. We'll see what happens.

As always, we interacted with our Burbank friends at our favorite restaurants, and wished Greg's goddaughter Happy Birthday via a teleconference during her bath. (It wasn't perverse; she is still a little girl.)

And an Oklahoma friend of mine from kindergarten, whom I've gotten back in touch with through social media, will be in town from New York next week for the first Los Angeles Affordable Art Fair. I can't wait, and I hope you can check him out, too.

Oh, and I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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Hoarder House fire in North Hollywood

2012-01-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

I hope the woman wasn't hurt too badly, and lands somewhere very safe and loving.

And I am so thankful that none of the twenty-one plus emergency workers were injured in her hoard.

One clip I watched today had a neighbor criticizing her family, whom I do not know, for their not checking on her.

In defense of the family, hoarders often blame their family for their own behavior and yell / blame / accuse them when they offer help to clean up.

Please always watch your persecution; I do try to.

Stages of Grief

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Image via

Once again, from the with express permission from the board administrator, and attribution to "Son of a Hoarder from the COH Yahoo Group":

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The 5 stages of finding out someone you care about is a hoarder.

Denial - This can't be happening. I'll just clean this up, somehow, and no one will ever know.

Anger - How could you (the hoarder) let this happen????

Bargaining - If you'll just throw away a trash bag every day, this will take care of itself. Okay, how about I come in and throw all this stuff away?

Depression - This is hopeless. I'm going to be stuck with this when they die. Is it safe for my kids in there? Can they ever see grandma again?

Acceptance - Okay, so they're a hoarder. How can I take care of me?

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Please, please, please keep your eye on the fifth stage.

I love a Parade

2012-01-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Greg and I visited the Burbank float entry in the 2012 Rose Parade.

Burbank displays their craftiness each year for a few weeks for those who weren't able to camp out New Year's in Pasadena, endure the crowds and cold, and enjoy the floats upon their debut.

We're sharing some photos, despite technical difficulties, but to do it justice here is Burbank's website on it.

It takes a lot of hard work and passion to design and construct one of these; our friends, the Three C's, participated, and my high school chum, Mr. Pasadena, has been involved in the entire event for twenty-something years.

Greg and I are STILL watching the Rose Parade on DVR.

We have commitment issues...

My Exciting Weekend

2012-01-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

Yeesh! Recovering from the holidays, still.

Although I had some very good times with friends this week at Tallyrand, Olive's, and Hyaena's latest opening, sad things also happened.

Friday, I learned a friend of mine had lost her job, and of course I popped into her cubicle unawares, immediately after she had received the news. At least I could offer her a hug and sincere, hopeful words.

Saturday, I learned an esteemed teacher of mine lost his battle with cancer.

Next week will be better, right?

Greg was with me in Burbank this week, and we had our ups and downs. We are STILL watching our first run-through of the Rose Parade on the DVR. Oh, and I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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Got a Pen?

2012-01-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

This pen works just fine, merci beaucoup.

De-cluttering inspiration, courtesy of Liz Goldmann

I pulled a pen out of my purse,
It would not write, so then I cursed.
I found one 'neath the sofa arm,
It would not write, to my alarm!

Poke it Up!

2012-01-03T08:58:00.001-08:00

So my buttons were pushed this morning.

It's easy; I wear them on my sleeve, close to my heart.

It is bowl game time in America, and a conference peer, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, had an awesome season and earned a bowl game berth.

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My Exciting New Year's Weekend

2012-01-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

Image via - READ THIS!!!

We returned from a lovely holiday with my sis, BIL, parents, and nieces. Let it just be said that Unkoo Gweg is a cwazy bear, dwagon, and monstew, and should "Whatch-it, Gweg." Simply ask Sophia.

Greg was home this week, but we were on different schedules.
And different pages. I am still glad to have him home.

The Sooners won their bowl game and I attended a comedy charity event at Burbank's Flappers Sunday night, sponsored by The Laughter Foundation. In addition to the talented comedians, The Cactus County Cowboys performed and they featured a stand-up base, guitar, banjo, a Bavarian fiddler, clarinet AND a saxophone.Thanks for the heads-up, Jimmy Lee.

And, sigh, it is eighty-three degrees today. I'm not bragging; I wish it were cold.

I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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Churning

2011-12-31T14:12:00.000-08:00

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From a friend on the COH boards:

"Recently, the Mental Health Association of San Francisco hosted a talk by Dr. Randy Frost on "Hoarding and Clutter. ....

"...The third aspect of hoarding and clutter is the inevitable disorganization that results. The ability to categorize, sort and prioritize is fundamentally an executive function.
Without that ability fully engaged, managing the acquisitions and saved belongings becomes futile.

"Despite heroic efforts, the attempts to cut down the clutter and put things away may never work. Part of prioritizing is knowing what is truly important. But with ADHD, the salience of what is in front of one's nose always increases.

"So as a pile is "excavated", each unearthed object triggers the plans, hopes and memories associated with it. These then swamp the other priorities in one's life.

"Given that surge of significance, whatever the object is, it is not likely to be discarded.

"But it is not likely to be dealt with either.

"If it is dealt with, well, of course the day's organizing project has been derailed. More likely though, that object will be placed in a "special place" where it won't be forgotten again.

"The creation of "special places" leads to a proliferation of "places that will never again be remembered", or at the very least, new piles. As soon as that object's special disposition is complete, the next object below it is exposed, with a similar result.

"After creating numerous new piles, the result of a great deal of effort and anxiety will be the 'churning' of hoarded belongings."

"The same procedure as last year, Madam?"

2011-12-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

I liked this better in 2011/2012 than last year. I must be getting older.

Image via germany.info

A lovely article from Slate made me trip across the tiger head of this rug.

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Merry Hoarding Holidays! (Lengthy and worth it)

2011-12-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

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And you thought your UNCLE getting drunk made your holiday bad...

I belong to a COH Yahoo group. Greg and I each do. COH = Children of Hoarders. I'm glad they let me in the group since I am simply a significant other of a COH, and a granddaughter of a hoarder.

It's a place to safely share horror stories, coping strategies, and vents. There's definitely some good venting. And support. And laughs, believe it or not.

This was one post which blew my mind, and then Greg's. And sadly, it's not uncommon; just one which someone was brave enough to share.

From the COH group, reprinted with express permission from the member:

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My Exciting Christmas Weekend

2011-12-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

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This Krampus video made me happy and horrified at once. - Bourdain

Be GOOD for goodness' sake!

This week, I bought new tires and other auto repairs. OUCH.
Got an estimate for some ductwork repair. Still OUCH.
Wrapped presents, sent last minute holiday cards, and bought liquor for a Christmas Eve-Eve champagne toast.

And please call this Claremore, OK dairy; my mother grew up on their milk, and my maternal family sends these cheeses to one another every year. Mrs. M was even impressed with them, and she was from Wisconsin! I'm calling them tomorrow for a wicked order for my wicked self! I love their pepper jack and their sharp cheddar.

We spent Christmas with my Sis, BIL, two nieces, and my folks in Vegas, and had a lovely relaxing time. The prime rib was amazing, Mom.

Greg was working hard in San Diego this week, and he has a few findings and progress to share with you; I have some findings to share from the interwebs.
(All attribution can be traced back through links. Please go visit them.)
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