Help! Help! Im addicted to GW!!! Is there a 12-step program?

14 years ago

It started out innocently enough. I began planning my K/B remodel late last summer and was looking for reviews of appliances Â at least I think thatÂs what it was. Then I found my first GW post. Soon enough, anytime I Googled a home remodeling topic, up popped GW. Then I realized I could go directly there and all these great people were helping each other remodel their kitchens. And the pictures!! OMG! Now I canÂt stop Â hours every day. First thing in the am, before my coffee even. I know itÂs early, but hey, IÂm on the west coast Â you east coasters have had three whole hours to be posting! I sneak peeks during lunch hour at work (OK, sometimes when itÂs not lunch hour). I have no life. Even my cat is mad at me. "Why donÂt you pay more attention to ME?" she meows. And the late nights! You should just see my sleepless red eyes. (Oh lord, it was quite late the night I found the widget thread; I had not laughed so hard in years Â tears streaming down my face, ROTFLMAO!)

Well, I know the first step is to acknowledge you are powerless, so I do and I am going to stop lurking. Anyway, my project Â K, B, laundry and powder Â is about to start. (The worst is yet to come, right?) I mean, how long can I go on planning? Last week, I woke one day with this horrible thought that I was doing it all wrong. My layout is no good Â thatÂs not where the frig should go!! And why am I getting white cabs? What about a nice light wood? Then I saw this fab modern kitchen in a design mag. Oh no, I thought, my plan is too traditional! Is it too late to change? Help, oh help, does everyone go through this??

IÂm going to post some questions so I can get all your input on what I have already picked and tear my hair out some more when you all tell me I picked wrong. I already asked my BFF for her opinion on two things and then I rejected what she said both times. So, of course I have waited until now to join GW, so I donÂt really have to do what anyone else tells me I should do because I know I stubbornly want to make my own mistakes. (IÂm scared to tell the painter I plan to paint the kitchen purple. I know heÂll think IÂm nuts. My GC already thinks IÂm nuts for several reasons.) IÂve had to be my own designer because I have scared away several KDs when I say things like "No, I really donÂt want to take down the wall between the kitchen and dining room and open up the space." I mean, their eyes roll. Some of you too Â your eyes are already rolling, right? OK, IÂll explain in the next post.

I feel a little better already. And maybe a teensy glass of wine will help. Sorry I babbled on.

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Comments (16)

raehelen
14 years ago
Well, I can't answer the question about the 12 step program... but I'm in my bathing suit on the way to the hot tub after a grueling 10 hour day working in the garden and cleaning house- getting ready for my first visit from my sister since we started the renos- hubby is downstairs trying to fix the leak before he turns the plumbing back on- but of course I needed to check GW before heading outside- right? :>)
remodelfla
14 years ago
I bring my computer outside and sit around the pool AND enjoy GW simultaneously. Now I have my DH referring to himself as DH and he has found his own kind of GW... it's a wood workers forum called Lumberjocks. So I'm not alone in my obsession!
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I can tell you what will help. Xanax! If this doesn't work,or if your friendly doctor doesn't agree that you need this, then I will post pictures of the 1000+ pots that I've got full of 5 year old seedlings that must be sold next Spring or I will have to beg Miracle Grow for a permanent spot of their board of directors because I have bought enought soil and fertilizer since July to become the board president!!! Those lovely little not quite round seeds grow and grow and grow. They out grow the red cup stage quickly. Then here comes the one gallon stage. You can fool them into staying in these only about a year, maybe 2 if you ignore the fact that when you water, it doesn't even slow down in the pots because it is so full of roots. Now, when you go up to the 3 gallon size, you get smart. 3 fans can fit in this one pot. Yeap! They can but guess what?? These 3 become 6 in a good year and more in some cases. Now, you've already repotted these things 3 times. Are you getting the picture of just how much soil you will need for these babies? Maybe God blessed you with good soil and you can actually plant the seedlings into the ground. I can only imagine how much room you will need to plant out say, 500 seeds that are now 500 big size seedling??? OHHHHH my aching knees, back and feet. I'd be digging in my clay soil til Moses toots his horn. Plus all these wonderful in ground plants draw grass to the beds that has to be pulled out and out and out. I hope I have painted a picture bad enough for you to say enough!!! Enjoy what you have. I just love waiting for the first little tip of green to poke up out of the soil. It's a natural high, and legal too!!! There is nothing, short of the birth of a grand child, that equals seeing your first seedling bloom. Even if it's a dud, you'll love it. Then you will get good ones and you are flying so high!!! I have spent the last 3 months repotting over 350 pots. Most of them were a roots tangled up mess. I got as many as 12 fans out of a 5 gallon pot. It took over 4 hours just to untangle and clean the roots and get them repotted into 12 single pots. How that much was in one pot is unbelievable. The 350 pots that are complete are now in a little over 1000 3 & 5 gallon size pots. Like I said, it's taken 3 months to do this many and I have over 500 more!!!! I'm sure they will give me atleast another 1500 pots. I won't finish these this year. I just don't have time, money or will to do that many more before the weather starts getting cold. I'm fixing to start planting seeds myself. Seeds that I grew 4,3,2,and 1 years ago. I'll not get them all planted because I don't have nowhere near the space to keep them inside my small greenhouse until spring. I also would have to start the repotting game with my new babies and I'm NOT going to have that many to do again. I cured myself of the buying game. I bought about 10 small auctions this year. I only got these because they were some that I realllllly wanted. Believe me, when you see all that green in 2 years, you will cure yourself. It is fun! It is a great feeling to think about what a beauty you may have from that one little seed that you only paid $3 for and you can dream of all the things you will be able to do when you get extra money from growing a little seed. I have read several forums where the bigger growers grow out 2000 seedlings and end up with 2 registered plants from the 2000. That's a scary thought to me. I understand, now. But it doesn't stop me from growing. It over whelmed me for 2 years. That and a few really hard life lessons during that time. So now, I'm doing a lot better with over 1000 pots out there to be sold if I can sell them next year. It's been HARD work to get them in good shape and expensive. I have enjoyed it though. I may be out on the side of the road next year when they start blooming trying to sell some of them. But, I even look forward to that. I spent several hours today watering them and cleaning out dead foilage. They really look beautiful now. Most of the fans are HUGE!!! I discovered alfafa pellets when I read and read all the information I could find about giving my seedlings the best when I repotted them. It has made such a difference. The color of the fans is a deep blue green. I've counted the leaves on some of the fans and there is a few that has 24 healthy leaves on one fan. Alfafa pellets work. I'm anxious to see if they will improve bud count and scape count per fan. Next year will be a learning experince in a lot of ways for me. Well, I've written a page again. I send out my love and best wishes for many blssings to be given to you by our wonderful God. Only God can create the beauty we are given in our gardens on a daily basis. Blessings to all, Mona
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Buehl
14 years ago
My remodel, for the most part, was done late last summer....and I'm still here! Yup...reading & posting every day. I tell myself I'm "paying it forward" so I have to do it... Right. Maybe I'll convince myself that's the only reason if I say it often enough.

Yes, "paying it forward" is part of the reason, but I find that I like talking about kitchens. I also learned so much during my 18-month remodel journey that when I see/read about people who have the same misconceptions that I had or are about to make the same mistakes I did (or managed to avoid b/c of GW), I want to chime in!

And I admit it...GW is one of the first things I check in the AM and last thing I check at night. I also check it whenever I need a break at work and during lunch if I don't go out.

For me, it's a great break from the computer-related items I'm dealing with all day at work...requirements & testing, primarily. Oh, and all those Lead administrative issues too!

So, if there is a 12-step program...well, not interested...I like it here!
morton5
14 years ago
I think my DH is planning an intervention. So, if I suddenly stop posting, you can assume I'm at the detox ranch.

Googling 12-step program to see what's next after admitting I've got a problem...
morgne
14 years ago
Speaking as a child with 12 "steppers" on every side I can tell you from experience what the next step after admitting you have a problem is ....

Coffee and pie. A lot of Coffe and pie. So much coffee it's unbelievable. But it only works if you drink it in the rec room of a church or prison.
PRO
puertasdesign
14 years ago
Oh, detox....

I thought you meant:

Step 1. Make coffee
Step 2. Log into GW
Step 3. Browse new threads
Step 4. Check for new responses on threads you commented on
Step 5. Research new material/manufacturer/gadget you learned about on GW
Step 6. Sketch up new kitchen plan based on the research in step 5
Step 7. Go make bottle for 11 month old who just woke up
Step 8. Shower & Get dressed
Step 9. Get 4-year old dressed
Step 10. Make breakfast
Step 11. Check GW for new posts
Step 12. Get a little work done

Rinse & repeat ;-)
buffalotina
14 years ago
I SOO know what you mean that it is not even funny.., But, OP, yes, I think I am finally kicking myself into gear and saying how long can you go on planning for goodness sake! I have finally been forced into action because I am ordering Brookhaven cabinets and they have a sale on to the end of July and, with the lead time, unless I order now I will not have a kitchen by the holidays. If I put it off I will be remodelling next spring and I honestly don't think I can take another year of my cooking appliances which drive me crazy.

Best of luck,

(crazy) Tina
jaksopcam
14 years ago
Count me in as one of the addicted. It is 20 minutes past midnight and DH went up to bed an hour ago. "I'll be up in a minute, honey. I just want to check something quick." And here I am on GW. The funny thing is DH used to make fun of me when in the early stages of our remodel and planning I would tell him that I would check out GW for any questions that would come up. Now he has actually asked me to "see what GW has to say" about this or that. I've converted another one. Oh, that's the other thing. If someone mentions anything with remodeling or a simple question about an appliance, I am all over them about GW. So not only do I have an addiction, but I am also a "pusher".

Do they sell GW t-shirts? 'cause I would totally buy one!
donnakay2009
14 years ago
This is my first post, and I already know I am in the same boat!! I've thoroughly enjoyed coming here every day to get inspiration, see what's up with white kitchens (we are just finishing up our plans, and contractors come next week to give bids) and I realize I have issues with compulsive GW visits. I've also told my KD about this site, as well as the guys at Color Tile and the specialty lighting shop I'm using. I have bought my appliances, sinks and faucets. I know which granite and marble I'll use (thanks to boxerpups for all the postings of pics!!) and I've got a start on lighting and flooring. I'll see you soon---Can't wait to tear out the kitchen and formal dining room and get rollin'!
jenswrens
14 years ago
LOL!

OMG - this post is perfect. It describes me to a "T" - or, er, is that a "TKO"... I'm so addicted I didn't even realize I was addicted until crzyktchnlady enlightened me. I thought it was just life as normal. Rob's list is very similar to mine with just a few differences. Some people check stocks or sports scores... I'm checking GW. Any chance I can sneak onto a computer, anywhere.

I've been hanging out here for (oh my!) seven years now. I've finished one kitchen and am working on another.

Now that I've seen the light, if there is a GW 12-step program, I think I should be the first one in line to sign-up! As a bonus, we already have our own support group built in - right here on GW! Oh wait, I guess that defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
slc2053
14 years ago
I totally agree with Buehl...I don't want to enter a 12-step program...I love my GW addiction. I've been here over 3 years and am on GW at least 3 times a day...I truly wish the Bathroom forum was as active as the Kitchen form as that is where my next project is taking me, but I'm still happy on "Kitchens" lurking, admiring, remembering, and offering advice whenever I can!
cotehele
14 years ago
This morning I found myself on GW on my Blackberry before I got out of bed ;-P Can you get more addicted than that?
sayde
14 years ago
Um yep, you can. So glad I'm not alone here . . . .
rjr220
14 years ago
Well, being on GW doesn't cause us to have altered mental status, does not (directly) increase caloric intake, we're not flying to Argentina to see anyone "special", and it isn't porn (comes close when people talk about petting their counter) -- and it doesn't cost $$. In fact, at times these folks help people save $$. So, I agree that a 12 step program isn't needed. Just embrace it!
cawfeegirl
14 years ago
LOL! Great post! I, too, am addicted. Checking the threads everyday, frustated when there's nothing new....loving the ones with pictures!
Dont feel bad....I made ONE post to this forum and practically everyone rolled their eyes! HA!
Looking forward to more posts from you!
marilyn234
14 years ago
Wow you summed it up, there should be a 12 step program. Right now I am supposed to be working, which by the way has a deadline of 3 o'clock today, but no here I am checking things out on here. I am so addicted!! I wish so much I found this site sooner because I would have made some different decisions with my kitchen remodel, but am grateful I finally stumbled on it.
When I think back, poor Buehl, I had no idea what I was doing and would email her directly with all my questions. She was always so kind and responded everytime. Finally figured out how to post( which was so easy), but I was in a mess with a leak that cuased the whole remodel and in a real hurry for answers and didn't take the time to figure it out.
SORRY BUEHL AND THANK YOU!!!!
Love-love-love this site......

Help! Help! Im addicted to GW!!! Is there a 12-step program?

Comments (16)

raehelen

remodelfla

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