I used to be a boredom eater. I would eat whenever I felt alone or sad or depressed. I never even remember what I ate or what it tasted like. I just remember getting stomachaches. It took a while for me to stop, but what did it for me was just thinking "why am I eating this? Do I love it?". It's been sort of the same thing with my hoarding issue. I have so many clothes and books and I just have them; I don't read them or love them. No wonder they always say overeating is also linked to hoarding. It's an escape but it only makes things worse.

My family is all about the 'it is worth a lot!' mindset. Most of them see shopping as a hobby. So they have to believe that shopping is really a form of investment, otherwise they just have a bad habit. Antique doll houses, Star Trek memorabilia, Hallmark ornaments, Barbies, Match Box cars, comic books - the amount of money spent on this stuff (and the money spent on storing it all!) is astounding. Since I am the youngest, I am the person they come to when they need to sell stuff when they realize they are broke. It breaks my heart to see how little money they get, compared to what they spent.

It was important to me that ds do things on his own. When project time came around, first we'd see if we had any books on the subject; if not, we'd go to the library. I'd spend a lot of time talking about the subject so he'd get a good grasp on it. One time, his SM wanted to help, for the first and only time - solely bc the project was on a country that speaks the same language as the one her company is based in. I digressed. Ds went there for the weekend, but said they didn't work on it. The next time he'd be there was Tuesday night, and it was due Wednesday. So SM did it, all ds had to do was glue things on the posterboard. As if that wasn't bad enough, he got a lower grade than usual because she missed several required points, and he can't tell you a thing about this very important country except that there's a goofy museum there. I was so pissed!!!

I don't think it's that big of a deal. Lots of families run businesses together. As long as they act professionally and follow legal guidelines I don't see an issue. My former neighbor was a Dr and his son was too, in the same practice, and somebody's wife ran their office. And my first job was a legal secretary for an attorney whose 2 daughters also were attorneys there, and his wife did their books. So I think it's pretty common practice.

It can be a big deal to block someone's driveway, even if you think it is only a little. When I was in college, I drove a huge 70's car/boat, and I was constantly dealing with cars that made it so I couldn't get in my driveway. Which was a real problem, since I worked 3 different jobs at odd times, and would often only have 10 minutes between class and work to drop off books, change into uniform, and eat before I had to take off again. Being forced to park 5 minutes away meant I had to choose between food and getting written up at work. Please realize that what seems like no big deal to you could be a huge deal to someone else.

First off, it’s called sarcasm. Secondly, I don’t GAF about sociology books. You might as well tell me to go back and read my 8th grade history book or better yet, the Bible....,you know those books that so accurately depict life.

Since this is the work channel, I have a question that has to do with work. For all my bookkeeper peeps out there, If you are managing "books" that have lots of errors that go back a decade, how do you clean up your QB file? Where TF do you even start? Or do you start with a "fresh set of books" and methodically bring stuff over?

I don't keep books. I don't see them as valuable. The content is the value and it is in my heart and mind, once I have read it. To me, they are just paper and ink. I know some people who have boxes filled and nowhere to put them. That is just ridiculous to hold on to, taking up space they need.

I went to my sister's new vacation home for Christmas and it was nice but everyone - my other sister, my nieces, my cousins - dive and I don't. I was invited to come back but I didn't - stomach problems then pink eye. It is two hours drive for me which includes a bridge that petrifies me. I don't like going out on the boat and that is their main thing. I love the beach and go at least twice a week but hate open water and there is no beach there. Last time I went they all left me alone swimming with the boat, no ladder to get back up, seas four feet and I was scared. So I think I made up physical reasons not to go when it was really mental. And that's okay with me. I love my family but fuck it, I stayed home, read books, made movie plans with my friend. I really hate open ocean and see no practical reason I need to change.

My mil never got me Blue Apron, but she did send me over 30 cookbooks because she said I can't cook. Lovely woman. The queen of passive aggressiveness.