Where you goin’ now Homeslice???

Wow.

In classic fashion, despite entire blog posts on the subject, I am now doing everything *but* selling.

Yes, as those who know me know, this is normal. Its how I ‘Get it done,’ apparently.  I have decided that *now* is the time to finally digitize that big-ass box of cassettes I been hauling around with me for the last ten, wait no, twenty(?) years.  (Hey, at least they ain’t 8 trax yo!)   My rationale: “Gosh, I sure don’t want to move those *again.* But really… now???  You’d think that’d be enough distraction, but no, I also endeavor to scan a full two crates full of old memories, and this *after* scanning of all the old VHS and 8mm videotapes.  It intrigues me that this seems to keep happening.  No good, hard deadline seems to be complete in my world, without a monumental, yet essential thing I ‘Gotta do first.’

Hey, I’m prone to the ‘big last-minute push,’ I can’t deny it.  There’s something about the adrenalin, and the deadline… its like my own whale to land, my own storm to weather — yargggggh, I can DO IT! Drama rules on the high seas and I am in the fight again.

But wait.  I think I am on to something…

Just as I’m about to go far into the wind, and out on the high plains of this here blue planet… I am again taking a guided tour of ‘Where I come from.’

And then… The Question…

Where you goin’ now Homeslice???

Well, dammit, as soon as I leave the analog tape realm behind, the future, or something, well…  awaits.

As I listen, and process the sounds and sights of yesteryear, I am grounded in where I come from, and set up to go forth in style. And yes, some of you are even getting a shout out — a random facebook post, email or other ‘What’s up?’ across time.  Don’t worry, you were always my friend, even in my silence.

Maybe this is more important than selling.

I didn’t plan it — it just happens.

And from here, where I’m scanning, I recommend.  Go visit where you came from, and say hi again to some of those still-friends.  It’s awesome!

Its also a fantastic way to procrastinate, until the  narwhal breaches again.

Cheers from yesteryear, ’cause I ain’t gettin’ dickety-shit done today!

HMR

You know what I'm talking about.

 

 

 

 

 

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So out of touch that I’m inviting you to Paradise

I regret being so out of touch with everyone as I have and continue to immerse myself in all of the planning and execution that needs to get done, but I’m hoping to change that over the next couple of months — I guess this here blog is the first step, but really I’m aiming for more personal.  In my dream, you’d find yourself on an exotic trip, the kind of which you’ve been wanting to take for a while… the kind which you won’t ever forget…  the kind that might just make your spirit sing… hmmm… say… to Bali this spring?

Then we could get *really* real!

 

Well, consider it a seed planted to do something great — fertilized with the following blog post that I found especially inspiring.

19 Best Things About Being A Bali Expat

My absolute favorite phrase from this blog posting is as follows:

… in dreams begin responsibilities. Execute and come to a place where you are (finally) without reasons why you can’t act , today, and you will find if you are worthy of this dream of yours, and all the effort that it took to get you here in the first place.

As someone who has been nurturing quite a few dreams, this one hit me square in the chest, and helped immensely in getting my lazy ass to start the selling that’s now in full swing.  Any of you got big dreams?  I’d love to hear ’em.  Hell, if *I* know about them, you’ve got someone else’s back burner working away to help *your* dream, should serendipity provide the raw materials — which it is highly prone to doing, I might add.  I’ve got a fancy new email address you can hit me on: homemade -a-t- homemaderules -dd-00-tt- com.  Hopefully you can figure out my code-talkin’ on that one.

Of course, short of a full ex-patriation, with an over-the-top-dream-realization, a simple visit would be eye-opening, mind-expanding and fun, that is, if you like sunsets on the beach, or pina-coladas, yes yes I’m sure there’s ‘making love in the rain’ there too.  Its a song, yo, so its got to be true.

over and out, its dreaming time again.

hmr

A Fancy, Good-Fer-Nuthin’ Website

Today marks a big ol’ milestone for HomeMadeRules! The official website has launched.

Its over there…

http://www.homemaderules.com

Go check it out!

Click the link at the bottom, to see the *real* good stuff! Wasn’t that fun? And now the answer to the question on everyone’s tongue…

Why, yes! I did make that!!!

In less than an hour, I went from nuthin’ to sumthin.’

Even better, you can do it too!

Repeat after me…

Home. Made. Rules!

 

now, dot com.

HM

Sell, sell, sell!

Well, well, well.
After much procrastination, the sell-a-thon begins. Blam – hot tub! Blam – drum set! Blam – La-Z-Boyeeeee! (Well, listed, at least, not sold just yet.)

Yes, folks, this is the first time I will ever downsize from a 3 bedroom house all my own, to um… as small a storage unit as I can get it down to. To all you doubters, let it be known that I have in the past, ‘chucked it all’ before — successfully, if not without difficulty, downsizing from a 1000sq ft warehouse space to an 8×10 storage unit, and a simple life next to an Australian surfing beach. Ahhhh… But, this time there’s furniture.

I fantasize about being free of my stuff again, and yet in all truth I don’t enjoy this process. In reality, apart from a couple of high-value items, I’m not trying to get rich, so what’s my deal?  Where is this resistance coming from???  Well, here it is… I really don’t like buying.  As I sell, I dread the next round of buying down the road, having to “replace all these things,” rather than the selling itself.  But the thing is, down the road, I really don’t find myself looking back wishing I hadn’t sold <that thing.>  Not usually at least.

I am fortunate this time around, that I know from experience the benefits are just around the corner.  My past experience reminds me that living out of a suitcase is so simple, and freeing. Selling is not “losing value,” see, it is in fact “gaining freedom.” That’s right, Less is the new more! I am always stunned that people seem so quick to snap up my old stuff, to manage it themselves.  After perusing craigslist to weigh up my competition, and set my prices, I will now repeat the following phrase until it becomes a mantra… “Never. Buy. New.”  There is so much good stuff out there, for c.h.e.a.p!

And so, I sell…

Let it go.

 

 

As I begin to free myself from my attachments to these things, I feel myself regaining energy. It is a really good feeling.  I’m thinking about an estate sale.  I like the idea of doing that before I’m dead.

Any of you minimalists, zen-monks and non-packrats have any tips on staying light once I get there again?  It is on.

 

Sell, sell, sell…

 

Mr. Thrifty’s new meal plan…

T-minus six weeks (ish).

The clock continues its countdown before I ‘go mobile’ (fully move into a storage unit), with but a backpack on my back.

I’ll admit it, I am not looking forward to all the packing, selling, and donating ahead of me, but worst of all, will be throwing the rest away.  It just seems so wasteful.  My kitchen in particular contains all sorts of things that won’t survive in storage.  Hell, a glance into the cupboards reveals they are full, and yet, surprisingly, I can’t find a damn thing to eat!

Well, good thing for me, Mr. Thrifty stopped on by to help.

He thought it’d be a good idea for me ‘use everything up,’  — somehow finishing my time at the house at the exact moment I eat the last morsel here. His reasoning — this would save me from wasting anything, or having to pack any food.

Wow! That sounds great.

Well, Mr. Thrifty, your plan sure makes for some interesting eating!  Over the past week or so I have surprised myself with what I have had to pull from the cupboards and eat.  Did I actually buy that???  What is that???  Usually, mind you, not before checking every cupboard and thinking ‘Sure wish I had some fucking food here!’   But, every now and again I have been able to pull something off — to make something that actually tasted good (and no, I’m not talking about eating straight condiments (yet)).  You see, under Mr. Thrifty’s watchful eye, in fact, my cupboards are in fact ‘full of food!’‘

Today’s surprise: Strange, infernal, not-so-Mexican, mozzarella ‘quesadillas.’

“But wait, mozzarella??? Isn’t that for pizza?” You ask.

Welllll… yes.  First off, I couldn’t believe I actually still had cheese and tortillas.  Psst.. quiet down Snip-Snap or Mr. Thrifty will hear you!!! Besides, ALL cheese is good, so it can only improve the dish.  Not to worry that there is no rice, no beans and no salsa around, lots of onions, jalapenos and hot sauce will have to do.  Now my mouth is only **FIRE**, with the pleasant feel of queso.

N.u.m.m.i.

Somehow, I’ve done it again.

As it stands, I’ve made it a good two weeks longer than normal with no food shopping.  The cupboards are thinning way out.  What a joy it is to eat with you Mr. Thrifty!

Happy New Year, y’all.

HR