Hi Subclinical :)
So happy your layover is pleasant! :D
Wishing you a great trip.
I'm glad your skunk is a sweetheart. My skunks are always well behaved and a joy to observe.
They like my compost pile where I toss all organic edibles and sometimes I will place a perfectly good egg out there for them.
I suppose I would feel differently about them if they were able to roam free inside my house.
Although I have had friends with pet skunks and they always behaved inside.

Steven removed the manure bags from the trunk because he wants the car again tomorrow.
The drive to Carson City is a long one and the extra weight makes a difference.
When he is only driving in town here I do not allow him the use of the car, he has to use his truck.
Had he not needed the car again he would not have helped.
He won't even carry in the heavy kitty litter & 22 pound bag of kibble when I grocery shop and he gets nasty if I even ask him to.
His truck is always completely filled up with random "stuff", including garbage.
It's filthy in there too and it would take me a whole day to clean it up enough for me to want to sit in there or drive it.
When he uses the car he fills it up with lots of "stuff" too but I make him empty it out.
He never gets all the stuff out though and I have to remove that and wipe down the inside & clean windows & clean the upholstery and carpet.
I don't understand how one person can make such a mess in just a few hours. :P

Tillie, we cross posted.

It soundslike Steven is doing a tiny bit better these days. I hope so.

Made the first leg of the trip. Our next flight is delayed, but we found a nice place to relax and eat dinner.

Tatoulia, sometimes I smile at our different lives. In my life "service provider" means something like "phone company"

Good job on cleaning out your car! That is one I really have to keep an eye on or my car becomes the repository of "stuff that is not important enough to move"

Tillie, did you clean yours out too?

Anony, I think skunks are smarter than cats. I have a little fat skunk that lives in my barn and I love him. Once he bit a raccoon for me and I gave him a piece of chocolate. I wish your skunks were better behaved.

Hi Everybody :D

Hi Tatoulia :)
This time of year busy people all get behind on housework.
Most people have at least one room closed off where they are sticking wrapping paper, bows, random boxes, wrapped gifts, newly received gifts and any other clutter gathered up from other, more public areas of the house.
Your Mom will surly appreciate your BF's gift. :D
Those small inexpensive but thoughtful gifts are always the best to receive.
Shows that the gift giver has taken the time to truly get to know you.
GOOD LUCK! and the BEST OF WISHES for your plan to tackle that troublesome task!
(((HUGS)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)
I guess the skunk is too smart for the trap.
The cats still go in because they know you will come and rescue them.
Marty goes into the cat trap, eats the bait and sits patiently waiting for me to let him out.
Marty will also climb into cars and hope he gets to go for a ride some place other than the Vet.
He acts more like a dog than a cat at times.
WAY TO GO! getting stuff done in anticipation of having your friend come by to help you!
(((HUGS)))

I haven't flown in a big commercial jet airplane since 1982.
I did fly in a small private plane in the 1990s.
We flew all around the area and I got to see my house and everything around me from the air.
That was fun even when the fighter jet from the Naval Air Station tried to engage us in a dog fight.
The TOP GUN pilots all practice out here and in the movie they used actual aerial footage from here.
Sometimes when I've been out in the desert the jets will fly low overhead, circle around and do it again.
I always wave to them and they tip their wing, the way they say "HI" :D

Anyways...
today I have been doing some sewing.
Had a large rectangle tablecloth, heavily embroidered and showing a lot of wear on the sides.
The embroidery is perfect and beautiful and she also embroidered her initials and date on the edge.
She did this for XMas 1929.
It's still rectangle but I cut it down to remove a lot of wear issues.
Machine hemmed it and also salvaged the signature and reattached it to the new edge.
Now I can happily use it in many different places around the house. Bought it for a dollar because the needlework is just so beautiful and vibrant.
Now I have been working on altering a Summer dress.
Problem with this is that I need to remove my warm clothes, put on the dress and do my measurements and markings.
The bathroom where the full length mirror is, is only 57 degrees.
It is all the way up to 67 degrees in the living room area, finally.
So anyways I am sorta dragging my feet right now. ;D

Steven wants the car again tomorrow to go to Carson City for their annual XMas party.
He told me this as I was putting 2 manure bags into the garden cart.
Said he wanted the bags out of the trunk.
He then dumped 4 bags into my cart, rendering it impossibly hard for me to pull it.
So I went inside and he was left to unload the car all by himself. :D
He even stacked it in the spot I had cleared for it in the carport.

Thank you for the kind words, Anony!

I'm home. I just put everyone's stockings together for Christmas. I need to sort out if there's anything left that needs to get wrapped. I need to finalize my gifts to service people such as drycleaner, hairdresser and florist. I also need to see if any small office gifts need to be wrapped or labeled. I don't do much and I beg people to get me nothing. So far this season I've received two boxes of Godiva chocolates, both of which I passed to other departments which don't receive as many gifts as my department does, I gave away two dozen cookies, another box of chocolates and a lovely piece of luggage a vendor sent me. I don't re-gift, I just say, I received this would you like it. And my colleagues know I don't want gifts.

I'm waiting to see how my turkey comes out. Another hour I think. Meanwhile, I'll be puttering. Tomorrow is garbage night. Need to get as much out as possible.

Oh! I didn't get bag together for goodwill. . Instead I cleaned out the trunk of my car.

.....i personally think that anyone that is NOT afraid of being hurled through the air a mile off the ground has a screw lose upstairs!!! ;D

.....ooops? I just realized i got yall mixed up. The flight happening is SubC, not CM..?!? Im sorry?!? ~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

~♡~Happy Holidays To All My Internet Loved Ones!!!~♡~
Joan, im so glad you have a health care/Dr. that can actually help you! I agree with your caution & suspicion in dealing with the very backwards Medical Mafia. You are very wise! :D
CM, im sorry about your accident. I worked for an insurance company as an investigator & they do not like to cover claims! I havent flown since the early 90s. I was a complete basket case on every plane i flew on during my many years of travel. I found out that its a federal crime to alarm the other passengers by getting hysterical...ha ha
Tillie, thank you so much for the internet family invitation! I accept with open cyber arms!~♡~
The skunk wont go in the trap. The sad thing is that my cats kept going right back in the trap, back when i was getting them all fixed?!? Are skunks smarter than cats?!? ...i dont even want to know...ha ha
Tatoula, you are such an amazing daughter, sister & person!!! You are filled with such LOVE!~♡~
Im doing good in getting stuff done! The pressure is perfect! Ive already gotten a lot done just in preparing for my friend to help! YEA!
~♡~I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH & AM GRATEFUL FOR EACH OF YOU!~♡~

Happy Sunday!!!

SubC I too am fearful of flying but luckily have managed to go to a lot of places, including Asia twice and Europe multiple times. Sometimes I hold the hand of the person next to me. When I was recently flying to St Louis, I reached for the woman's hand next to me and she just held it and never lost a best while talking to her husband. I am a believer that people are kind and I ignore the mean people as much as I can. I understand your fear and I'm grateful you have your daughter.

Joan I hope you consider me family, I certainly think of you and all of our other friends as family. I am grateful you have a reliable, skilled health care provider. I worry about you so--yet I have faith that brighter days are ahead.

Oh that bored feeling, Tillie. I hate it. I hate it most when I know all I have to do is put in a little music and putter--but your chores are done.

CM, Anony & everyone else--let us try not to let things out of our control detail us.

I'm making a turkey breast in my slow cooker today. I am also getting ready to go see Mom.

My house is a mess and it is causing me stress. Oh dear, the singsong nature of that statement belies my disgust. Yesterday had a good full day with brother and then afterward BF and I did Christmas shopping together. He bought himself a lot of things (oh boy) and he got a nice gift for my mom. Small, inexpensive yet very thoughtful and useful. I will have a bag for goodwill before I leave house today and I will drop off while out with mom.

Will check in later. Taking tomorrow off to take care of one of those things that is causing me giant angst--will be able to check off one of my challenge items!

Good morning...
8:25am here.
I am bored and lonely.
16 degrees F and everything has frost on it.
Pretty when the sun shines on it but terribly cold.
There are a few dishes that could be washed, later, maybe after I eat breakfast, if I eat breakfast.
Only a few items in the hamper so no need to do any laundry yet.
Later today I need to go outside and clear the space where the steer manure is to be put and then using the garden cart remove the bags from the car trunk over to the clear spot.
This is going to make my back hurt.
Not at all looking forward to it.
Sometime in February we always get lovely days where it's nice enough to work outside getting the garden ready for Spring.
Pruning and spreading fertilizer and generally cleaning up the area.
By then the cabin fever is so bad that I really look forward to getting out there and doing the physical labor.
But right now I need the car trunk empty because I will soon need to go to the store and buy another 22 pound bag of kibble and about 35 pounds of kitty litter.
The cats have been really pigging out, eating twice as much as usual.
Scooter has developed a really big butt.
Funny because he is the most active cat, playing and running around so much every day. ;P LOL

Have a WONDERFUL visit with your parents! :D
So happy you will have your daughter along side you on the flight.
Hang in there, you CAN do this (((HUGS)))

Did you know that Cory Chalmers is also afraid of flying and has had to fly many times during the making of "HOARDERS"?
He still has to fly a lot with the Steri-clean business.
I haven't asked him lately if it's gotten any better for him or if he still needs a little liquid courage. ;D

Figured out why I have been so tired and foggy and anxious feeling...
I'm sorta getting sick, like a cold type thing.
Drinking a lot of green tea with fresh lemon to try to drown it. ;P

Tomorrow I fly on a plane.

I get to see my mom (and dad) but I have to go on a plane and that terrifies me. My oldest child is shepherding me on the flight. We bought tickets that don't have seats assigned and my dh asked her if she thought we could sit together. She said "yep. Whomever is next to Mom will switch."

I last flew six years ago. Alone. I cried most of the flight. Quietly.

Good Morning Everybody :D
Tea "clink!"

Hi Joan :)
Of course you are a member of the internet family!
Happy the remedies are working for you.

Hi Subclinical :)
WAY TO GO!!! dropping off all those donations! :D
A fireplace poker holder is a good thing to have.
I fashioned out one outside by the burn barrel to help keep the long poker from getting lost and now it's always right where it should be.
Peppermint foot soak sounds so refreshing.
Hope you pamper yourself to a relaxing soak. ;D

Hi CriticalMass :)
Yes, you did say your quilt will be quilted soon. :D
Good luck getting started on your bedroom straightening up.
Break it down into quick easy tasks that only take 10 minutes.
Little by little it will get done and you shouldn't get overwhelmed.
(((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker :)
How's it going?

Hi Tatoulia :)
Hope you had a great day at work yesterday! :D
Wishing you a wonderful & happy weekend. ;)

Yesterday I was scatterbrained and in a fog.
Didn't accomplish anything much except cat related tasks.
Did cut my toenails. When they get a little bit too long it starts to hurt wearing shoes/slippers all day long.
I asked Steven to stop on his way back from his eye appointment in Reno and pick me up 12 bags of composted steer manure.
He surprised me and did do it and he brought me exactly what I asked for.
YEA! ;D

Thanks CM.

My doctor doesn't mess around. That antiviral tincture he mixed up for me has several potent herbs in it. The homeopathic remedy hit the spot. There was immediate improvement last night. My eyes have almost stopped hurting at all, and are not oozing any more. My back and horrible stiff neck are much improved.

I am continuing with the protocols he gave me.

Good luck with your car/insurance issues. Many people gave you good advice here, so I have nothing to add.

Have a good weekend, everyone: Tat, Tillie, Anony, SubC, and anyone I've firgotten.

Feeling better today. I appreciate all the tips on insurance matters. I wonder if my own agent could help me out any as a go-between with the other company. It's already down on the police report no injuries either party, and I haven't felt any (other than psychological stress!).

My mechanic did say they'd contacted him about the costs of repairs, so I guess at least some gears are slowly turning.

It's a 30-year-old "Don't laugh, it still runs" vehicle, no comprehensive on it.

Well, I'm going to just chill on the whole thing over the weekend. Wish it would at least get settled before Christmas, though, to have closure. But whatevs.

Today I got a few loose ends on the computer - joined a concept art forum which I hope will be helpful in honing my art skills. And I moved my laptop into the back room, since my roommate's going to be home for two weeks; I can go back there and have some privacy and also not be underfoot for her. And my bunnies are in that room, so I can take bunny petting breaks as needed. :)

My big mess in the bedroom still awaits my attention. Having roomie home may go either way on being able (to say nothing of motivated) to tackle some of it. I won't have to give her dog potty breaks so I might have more uninterrupted time, and that may be a good thing. Though I'll most likely need to pull out an armful or so and take it somewhere for sorting (like the bunny room). Otherwise the dog and cats and navigating around the furniture may hinder the process.

Did I mention that my quilt at church is going to be going into the quilting frame probably next week? That's exciting. I'm taking a break before starting a new quilt so I can focus on other creative areas. And I may just do blocks and let someone with more space assemble them into quilts. We'll see. No hurry to decide.

Six days to solstice and eleven to Christmas, and 19 till payday. Who's counting? LOL!

Again, thanks for the support and helpful things. Joan, glad you got a diagnosis and are seeing some improvement. Do you have elderberry juice? I like it for immunity - I mix a teaspoon or so in a small cup of water along with that Emergen-C fizzy powder (raspberry's my favorite) and drink that down. It can sometimes keep small respiratory issues from becoming big ones. Good luck!

Joan! Terrible diagnosis, great doctor, fantastic attitude! And you are feeling better! Cannot say enough good things about you! Brave Inspiring!

SubC good tips. I hadn't thought about any of that. Agent is an advocate! Very good tips!

Wishing everyone well. I have a full day at office in front of me. Got garbage out last night.

I am bringing a few gifts to office today just to get them out of my house. For the mailroom and help desk.

Good luck everyone today! Let's make it a great day!!!

Anony, good luck cleaning out with your friend!

CM, my dad was an insurance agent. Insurance is state regulated, so everything varies,but one thing that remains the same - YOUR agent is supposed to be your advocate if you were not at fault and need help with the other company. (Hopefully yours is good) also, if you were in the car when it was hit - most companies will try to lowball repairs, but get worried when you start talking about your back.

Dh was rear ended and when we had trouble with the other guys insurance company, my dad told him to ask them if the truck and injuries had to be settled at the same time because he was still having trouble with his back and had another appointment next week and didn't really know how much this would cost. They immediately offered him a quick settlement with a lump sum for injuries.

Joan, I hope you keep feeling better.

Yesterday I stopped at goodwill and dropped off a BIG box and a big shopping bag. All the fall holiday stuff plus more.

I went inside and bought a rack for the poker that lies on the floor next to the wood stove. I'm going to give it to dh as an early Christmas gift because he keeps saying "we need to do something about the poker" and early so we can hang the poker up before company comes.

Other "ins" (teacher gifts) cute socks with goats on them that I will definitely use, "peppermint foot soak" in a mason jar, $10 coffee card and two pieces of candy.

Today is our last day before break.

Count me in on the "internet family". Sounds like a better way to spend the holidays than the family I was born with.

I have been lying low due to problems from a spider bite about a month ago. Yesterday I saw my doctor, who happily had an opening. Turns out I have a viral meningitis. Thank God I stayed away from the hospitals‼️‼️‼️ They would have made the problem much worse with their crazy procedures. Also, they have no way of treating the illness.

As it was, I left my cozy doctor's office at 5PM last night with two brown bottles costing a whopping $20, one with a homeopathic remedy and one with an herbal antiviral tincture. He also gave me instructions to eat garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables, all of which have antiviral properties.

So this morning I am already starting to feel better, and we expect the problem to be gone by Monday motning.
YAY‼️‼️‼️

Blowing internet kisses to all -

Should read: do not be discouraged and do not give up.

Love you all so much.

i can help with the insurance.

1. Is it a police report or an operator's report? Two different things. If just an operator's report, then who cares. Just be sure to complete your own operator's report and focus on the accident. Put forth your facts and don't respond to her "facts".
2. Has the van been appraised? Get s copy of the appraisal.
3. Get information, in writing, from her insurance company. You need claim number, name of adjuster, etc. then write to person asking for time frame.
4. You can also reach out to witness--ask him/ her to provide a statement so you can get vehicle repaired.
5. If you have collision on your insurance, get your insurance to pay for now (they will then go to other driver's for reimbursement). You'll be charged your deductible but only until they determine fault and assuming it all goes in other driver, you will get the deductible sent to you at a later date.

Look this is just general information. But I hope it will help you to sort your thoughts. This shouldn't take any time at all. Do. It be discouraged and do not give up.

Hi CriticalMass :)
All insurance companies are in the business of making lots & lots of money and then never paying any of it out.
Case in point...
Steven had a 5 centimeter brain tumor removed.
The insurance company agreed to pay 80% for the surgery
BUT...
refused to pay for the days spent in intensive care after the surgery.
They said it was not necessary!!!
He had a huge hole in his head, experienced seizures and his heart/vital signs kept setting off the monitor alarms constantly.
Anyways...
we kept fighting their decision and refiling the claim until they finally agreed to pay their 80%.
You may have to contest the case.
The police report should hold up your claim as to what happened and the bitter nasty woman's lies should be dismissed since they do not pertain to the actual facts of the incident.
The insurance companies want us all to just roll over and go away when they first refuse to pay and unfortunately too many people do just that.
You are owed the money to repair/replace what that woman destroyed with her carelessness and I want you to be prepared to fight for it.
((((HUGS))))

Hi Anonymoniker :)
When I was forced to use a big rat snap trap
I made sure to check the rat for it's sex and had it been female I would have inspected the teats to make sure there were no nursing babies.
It was a boy rat so I didn't have to crawl under the house looking for any kids.
Once an intelligent animal is caught in a live trap they always remember and you may as well consider that it will never be fooled again into entering one, even a different model.
Good luck with your clearing and cleaning plans.
I would love for you to have all that useable & fun space to start the new year in.
((((HUGS)))
P.S. you do have human family to share holidays with.
Last I looked, I am human and all alone too.
Steven stays in his hoarded garage all the time except when he sleeps in his hoarded bedroom.
He rarely speaks to me. He wouldn't notice if I died for at least a week or until the cats dropped dead from starvation.
But I think the cats would eat me eventually.
Anyways... you and I are internet family and will hold each other in our hearts OK?

Hello all.

It's good to be able to come here.

Tatoulia, my condolences on the loss of your friend. Glad you were able to prepare for the service with other things taken care of.

I'm a little discombobulated today. The insurance company of the young woman driving the car my van was in the collision with finally called me today after I'd left a message yesterday after not hearing from them. Turns out that the claim is not resolved! The young man at their HQ said they were still waiting on the police report! And that they had left messages for my witness but he hadn't called back.

I explained to the claims guy that that wasn't what I'd gotten out of our conversation last week. He did not make it clear that what he was saying then on the amount was not a done deal. These young people talk so rapidly, and they know what they mean, but that doesn't mean they communicate it clearly. I don't generally do well with information over the phone - yet I'd thought I understood.

At this point, I'm getting kind of burned out on the whole business. If they decide not to pay, I'll just have to eat the costs of repairs and I guess my van wouldn't be totaled? So that if Heaven forbid anyone else hits it, I could still file a claim? Does anyone speak "insurance-ese"? My mom worked for an insurance company before she met my dad, but I never understood much of it. Mom had a much more linear "left brained" thought process than I'll ever have.

Like I said, tired of it. Let them sort it out and inform me of the results. I admit that if they decide against me, my pride will be a little hurt because I try so hard to be a good driver. And the other driver, I learned when I got a copy of the police report emailed to me, was trying to make really wrong nasty insinuations about me. She spent most of her writing time on that rather than on the description of what happened with the vehicles. Yet will the insurance company deny me so they won't have to pay - which may not imply that they believe her, it may just be about the money. And I'll never really know, and I'll have to let time fade the whole thing away till the bad feelings are gone.

I'm impatient. I want to have it resolved and feel like I can move forward NOW. And I wish it weren't so near the holidays; I was trying to be positive about them. I'll keep trying to be anyway, yet this makes me feel so unsettled.

~Good Morning & coffee clinks to all!~
Tatoulia, im so sorry about the passing of your friend. Im glad you were able to focus on that & not be plagued with previous commitments or duties.
Tillie, i love the way you did Christmas with the tree decorations being food for wildlife when they need it the most! That is beautiful! I have such a hard time with most of these holidays, not just the reminder of not having a human family, but so much of the indulgence does not go with the sentiment of the holiday, either.
Last night i again heard what id thought were mini skunks fighting over territory, and it dawned on me it might be a batch of baby mini skunks. They arent supposed to have babies this time of year, but nature here breaks their own rules regularly, so it could be...i hope not, but...plus, the mom skunk(i hope its not!) wont go in the trap cuz it escaped that same trap last month..i gotta wait till it hopefully forgets, then use the other one....geeez, i hope there arent babies...
My friend is coming next week to work(help clean). I think im gonna focus us on making my living room an open space. Keeping undecided stuff & just dusting & cleaning, but creating room to dance, do yoga & martial arts & playing my sitar, once i get the new string put on. Itd be AMAZING to have it for that!!! I also realized how much of the room is filled with obsolete stuff, like shelves of video movies...and now, my precious cd collection, which i cant play...im facing having to go digital..... AAAACK?!!? Either way, this time next week, there will likely be a HUGE improvement in my home! :D

Good Morning Everybody :)
Tea "clink!"

Hi Subclinical :)
YEA! for eating the brownie! ;D
I had a small rack that didn't work where I needed it to work. Tried it in other places but it didn't work there either.
Just when I decided to give up I tried it in a bathroom cupboard where I keep cleaning supplies and it works perfectly and makes getting things in & out so much easier than before.
WAY TO GO! for only purchasing the necessities!
Excess wrapping paper is great to use as shelf paper and it's easier to just toss the paper rather than to have to scrub the shelves.

Hi Tatoulia :)
My condolences on the passing of your friend.
((((HUGS))))
Nice that you are caught up on time sensitive matters and can attend the funeral without feeling pressed for time.
WTG! for gifting BF with the extra wrapping paper!

When I had a child I used to do the whole XMas thing because I didn't want him to feel deprived when seeing how his friends celebrated.
To avoid the rush of XMas shoppers I would always
have all shopping finished before thanksgiving, except for food.
I knew the man who owned the toy store and would have him keep the toys/bike I bought in the back room for me until XMas eve.
When school let out we would make cookie cutter & decorated sugar cookies, fudge and chocolate covered cream candies together.
We would go fetch an evergreen tree that had already been previously murdered and decorate it inside the house.
Then I would have him help me string all sorts of wild bird & other animal treats on thread.
Then we would take all the animal treats outside and decorate the living trees.
Right outside in front of my house is a huge evergreen cedar where I feed the birds and other critters all through the Winter but put out especially nice treats on the Winter Solstice.
Eating suet and other fat helps the birds keep warm.
I always feel like making them socks when I see them standing in the snow bare footed. ;P

Tatoulia, i'm sorry for your loss. I'm glad you are in a place where you are able to do what you need to do though.

Yesterday I stopped at goodwill and bought two little racks and some cookie cutters. The racks didn't work for what I wanted, but I am going to hold onto them just a bit to see if I can use them elsewhere rather than just write off the $2 immediately.

Also one of my students brought me a really nice scarf for Hanukkah. Unfortunately it's 80% wool and i'm Allergic. I will either regift or donate it. Another student gave me a brownie. I ate it.

Hello everyone!

Busy with work these days. Then today I learned a very dear person has died and I'll be at his visiting hours tonight and his funeral tomorrow. This leads me to say that I am grateful I didn't procrastinate on mailing that box at the PO. It gives me the freedom to go tonight and tomorrow without wondering how I'd get it mailed and why did I wait like that.

Bitterly cold. I will take a cab tonight and will drive tomorrow. I do not want to drive after dark to a place I've never been to before.

I will write more later--just keeping the dishes and the laundry done at. this point. Will see how I feel tonight re whether I can make progress. About half my gifts are wrapped and shopping is long done since I don't buy a lot and I collect all year. Have BF's present to pick up but since I know what I'm getting him, it won't feel like shopping. I have enough boxes of chocolates and mittens and gloves should I find I need a last minute gift or stocking stuffer. I didn't have to buy anybwtapping paper again this year and in fact gave about five rolls away to BF for his use.

Reading, thinking positive thoughts, overwhelmingly busy and treading water on the "stuff"

Just buying food and gifts. Except yesterday some wrapping paper. 5 rolls, probably too much.

Hello...
Nice echo in here ;)

Slept from 8:30pm to 5:00am.

Been doing a little of this and a little of that today.
Got 2 loads of laundry hung out on the line freeze drying.
Will bring that in in about half an hour, before it starts to get dark.
Otherwise just been trying to get & stay warm and warm up the cats.

Good Afternoon Everybody :)

Hi Tatoulia :)
WAY TO GO!!! :D
OK, count me in on your challenge! :D

Hi CriticalMass :)
WONDERFUL news on the insurance!
Good thing about dozing off during Dr. Who is you can reset the Tardis and relive the time over again. LOL ;P

Hi Anonymoniker :)
Sometimes I have a hard time distinguishing coyote poop from skunk poop.
The two poops look remarkably similar at times.

Sleepy today. Hardly able to move or do anything.
Stayed up too late last night searching for a complete episode of "The Walking Dead" mid-season finale.
Spoiler alert...
I knew Carl was Walker bit last episode when he battled the Walkers with Syed.
Been wanting to get rid of the furniture. Not all of it, just most of it.
Unfortunately every piece is getting used and there is a need for it.
Good thing is there is not really much furniture just a very small house so any piece takes up space.
I have just been imagining how easy it would be to clean if the rooms were completely empty. LOL

.......one down, at least 2 more to go....i really hate it coming to this, but i have to take my space back...its the law of the jungle.....

Hello everyone!

Furnace! Congrats! Glad to hear that the insurance co on the car damage is moving quickly!

Laundry done here. Folded and put away. Started a new bag for goodwill. Getting good work-work done too.

Yes it was a nice weekend. Brunch on Sunday with girlfriends, made a gingerbread house, theatre with BF at night. Saturday was snowing. I saw brother and we did some window shopping together. Then I came home and slept.

Probably going to go to PO around 2:30/3:00 today & get sister's package out. That will take a weight off of me.

HEY I'd like to do three things before the end of the year that will take a weight off if me. I'll think them up and let you know. ANYBODY WANT IN?!?

P.S. Insurance company of other driver from my accident of a week ago called Friday. They totaled my van and after buyback, paying my mechanic for what he did and a little more that will need doing, I should get a few hundred "profit." Waiting to hear from them on the details of processing the claim paperwork, when to expect the check, etc.

Still tired from all of last week's drama. In the evenings I start to doze off - even DURING DOCTOR WHO! Serious sleep deprivation going on. Today I let myself sleep in till 9:00. But then I pay with even less time to get things done in the daytime. Counting down - it's 10 days till solstice and the days starting to get longer again. Can't wait!

Weather here is mild - 62 supposed to be today. But that means I can do house painting, which I wish I didn't have to put aside my decluttering to do. Sigh. Hoping it won't take too long, and it might not. Must be optimistic!

Did I post that we FINALLY have a working furnace? We do! It's lovely.

Anony, thanks for mentioning doing small projects; great minds, I'd thought of that this morning. Right now doesn't seem to be conducive to tackling big things. So I'm going to figure ways to break it down. Good luck dealing with the mini skunks!

~Good Morning to all!~♡~Coffee clinks!~
Tatoulia, im glad you had a fun weekend! That is a fantastic reason for your house being a mess! I wake up to whats like a night of wild parties that i missed, cuz its skunks & raccoons thatve been partying!!! The raccoons stay outside, but they mangled several new cat toys last night! Im almost done fixing the one trap & the other is set. My goals for now is to evict all skunks AND im gonna get the bedroom cleaned up...the skunks are partly to 'credit' for this motivation...ha ha
I also have a hard time remembering what each poster wrote to congratulate on goals & achievements. I often write it on a piece of paper first.
Im going to spray synthetic wolf pee around my perimeter today for kitty protection, cuz ive seen some fresh coyote poo. Its also warmed up a lot, so im gonna work on my staging area some, too!
~♡~LOVE TO ALL!!!~♡~

~Good Morning to all!~♡~Coffee clinks!~
Tatoulia, im glad you had a fun weekend! That is a fantastic reason for your house being a mess! I wake up to whats like a night of wild parties that i missed, cuz its skunks & raccoons thatve been partying!!! The raccoons stay outside, but they mangled several new cat toys last night! Im almost done fixing the one trap & the other is set. My goals for now is to evict all skunks AND im gonna get the bedroom cleaned up...the skunks are partly to 'credit' for this motivation...ha ha
I also have a hard time remembering what each poster wrote to congratulate on goals & achievements. I often write it on a piece of paper first.
Im going to spray synthetic wolf pee around my perimeter today for kitty protection, cuz ive seen some fresh coyote poo. Its also warmed up a lot, so im gonna work on my staging area some, too!
~♡~LOVE TO ALL!!!~♡~

Good morning everyone! Coffee clinks from my Let It Snow coffee mug!

I have read your posts but working from a phone, I won't keep everything straight so a big Way To Go to everyone who's been accomplishing! Glad you are back, KSD. Hope you are feeling better, Tillie.

Anony I think you are the friend with the car troubles--keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Well I have my sister's package ready to mail. Yes she is mean to me but I have to be comfortable with my choices. I will go to PO this afternoon.

My house has fallen apart a little so I will work on that today. I had lots of fun stuff this weekend so it's suffered a bit in here.

Have a great day, everyone! We can do this!!!

Hi KSD :)
WAY TO GO! for keeping up with the bathroom cleaning!
GREAT! that you got out with people 3 times.
Even though you can't have them over to your place yet it's still really good that you got out and socialized.

Hi Anonymoniker :)
WTG! for completing your daily goals! :D
Good luck with the traps.

Not even 5pm here yet and I am so ready to go to bed.
Seems soon as the sun sets I want to turn in. LOL ;P

....and just to clarify on my earlier commitment with the staging area table. The table is now clear, with the live traps sitting on it. One is waiting to hopefully get fixed & the other will hopefully work with that tiny amount of weight. Im actually doing good with completing my daily goals lately. For me, the trick is making the goals fairly easy & small......ok, at this point i might be procrastinating...ha ha ;D
~♡~Love to all!!!~♡~

~Good Morning & coffee clinks to all!~
Tillie, im glad your headache is gone & youre feeling better today! I cant imagine 11 degrees being normal!
Today i need to focus on the mini-skunks that think its ok to live in my house. I have to try to repair a trap. The mini variety have no fear & are loud! Aside from complete disgust, im amazed how theyve been affected by evolution. Its not that different from humans, really. Ive never seen a lion back away from one, but id bet it would?! They are the true King of The Jungle, at least from what ive seen. Im gonna work on that today.
I think my place didnt bother me as much when i was struggling more financially. It seemed more understandable or acceptable somehow.
Im still trying to decide about having that friend come help with the inside. I guess trying it for a day would gleen insight...in all honesty with myself, im wanting a saviour, not just a worker...

Thank you everyone for the welcome back. I am reading your posts and taking courage from them.

I cleaned the bathroom earlier this week and I have decided to clean it AGAIN today. Part of my efforts to keep it up.

This week, my plan was to get out and see people I had not seen in a long time because I had some time off of work. And I did it - three times!

But that just leads back to not being able to invite them over.

So, there it is - can't have people over.

I realize I am thinking of my new efforts as "return to the world" so I am going to keep reading and posting.

Thank you.

Good Morning Everybody :)
"Clink!"

Hi Anonymoniker :)
My fingers are crossed that you can find the right replacement parts and fix your car.
About cleaning & organizing when worrying...
It truly does help when we do what we can do while worrying about the things that we can not control in our lives.
It lets us feel in control of some aspects of our lives in this chaotic world.
(((HUGS)))

It's cold here, 11 degrees this morning.
I want to wash my hair but not until we get a few more degrees. ;P
Maybe this morning I will go out and light the burn barrel.
It always gets nice and warm around the barrel as I add more random dry branches to the flames. :D
Best to do this before hair washing because I always smell like wood & paper smoke afterwards.
My headache returned yesterday so I didn't do much of anything.
This morning I am feeling so much better. :)

~Greetings & green tea clinks!~ :D
My car needs another transmission & im terrified they wont be able to find another one & ill be faced with having to buy another car. Ive had this car longer than most relationships with living beings. Its my life cartner! Plus, the expense would be difficult...making me worry about money again & whether or not i can afford any building projects, hiring help, unexpected health cost, etc, the fact remains that itd cost almost nothing to clean this disgusting place & i know that....(sigh)....as long as i dont live to be too old, i can survive on what i have...i hate being scared about money...why cant i be like other virgo risings & clean & organize when im worried? Geeeez....that is clearly what i need to do..i just need to get set up & just do it....rant over...ha ha
~♡~Love to all you lovely friends!!!~♡~

Good Morning Everybody :)

Had so many plans for yesterday but woke up with a headache that will never go away.
It's not so bad this morning and I hope it continues to fade.
So very cold here, wish it would snow at least.
Been far too long since we had any precipitation.
I think this cold dry dusty air is the reason my nose keeps bleeding.
Time to start crocheting, bought that yarn this past summer and holding it on my lap now would feel nice. LOL ;P
Problem is the cats would like to have the yarn project to burrow into and the ball of yard to string all around the house.
And Marty insists that my lap is for him only and not for computers or any kind of projects.

So, what are you all up to?
Any plans? Any holiday stuff going on there?

Happy Afternoon! :)
Green tea with fresh squeezed lemon "clink!"

Hi Tatoulia :)
How did your puttering go? ;D

Hi Joan :)
Wishing you great success with this new remedy.

Been doing a bit of cooking today.
Mainly to warm up the house with the oven on.
Made brownies & butternut squash & sweet potatoes & sautéed mushrooms & sautéed zucchini with parmesan cheese.
Next few days I won't have to cook anything, just eat. :D
Cleaned up the kitchen.
I keep up with it by washing up as I work so it doesn't all pile up.
Makes it easier.

Hi Tat!

I am happy Thanksgiving is over. With less than a handful of people that even know my name, most of them health-care providers, the holidays make me very Grinchy. As if I weren't already. For some years back in the 90s, my outgoing voice mail message was, "You have reached the home of the Grinch. The Grinch has been known to BITE those who leave messages. Leave a message at your own peril."

Today the future is looking brighter. I stumbled onto a remedy that helps with the biting a week ago Sunday. The remedy is especially effective for those who "hate people". HAH‼️

My house is really getting difficult to live in. If my improvement continues, I am hoping some of it will clean itself up. When my mind clears it happens spontaneously. If my mind doesn't clear, I do the minimum to survive. Biting makes it impossible to do anything, so if I have biting, may as well be as comfortable as I can be.

Enjoyed all the posts, Tillie, CM, SubC.

CM your long post was like a visit!!. You are certainly weathering the storm of your car damage--good for you to stay calm. I love the story of the friend staying with you. You found time!!! I hope this matter can be settled easily and swiftly. I know what it is like to be on a budget with razor thin margins! Congrats on your quilting progress!!

Tillie! You and the kitties had a Wild Kingdom moment! Wow!!!

Anony, SubC, and everyone else--I am thinking of you! Special shout-out to Joan, who is never far from ny thoughts!

Recycling is out. Going to put on some music to putter by!

Forgot to tell you all about a wonderful thing that happened this morning.
A band tailed Hawk caught a Quail right out front in full view of the living room area window and Scooter and I got a front row seat to watch her eat her breakfast.
I love my sweet silly little covey of Quail but I do not begrudge the Hawk her meat. ;)

Hi CriticalMass :)
Thank you for the lovely long post filling us all in on your life. :D
What a wonderful friend to come sit with you while you waited after that accident.
Mark Twain said something like he was always expecting the worst so he could be pleasantly surprised when it didn't happen.
I too have to wear cotton clothes, I know the misery of synthetics.
It is very easy to insert a pocket into whatever dress you like that doesn't have any pockets.
Budget wise, all my dresses come from the thrift shop and at most cost me five dollars.
WAY TO GO!!!! for that quilt being done to the point of being quilted!!!
YEA!!! :D
The new bunny is very lucky now to be in a good home.
My kitties that were starving before I got them have never gotten over needing the reassurance of a constantly filled bowl.
Even when there is still some kibble in the bowl, if they can see any part of the bottom of the bowl they start voicing their concerns very loudly. LOL ;P
Happy the cats are cold enough to still snuggle at night. Mine are too.
I too have a cataract starting. Lets both not worry about it until the ophthalmologist tells us to.
Remember to check the cost of new eye glasses at Walmart. So far it's the least expensive place I've found and my frames are sturdy and the prescription lenses always correctly made.
OH YES! you MUST make that gingerbread Tardis!!!
Please, please, please! :D
A good way to process fears & worries is to set aside a small set time where you think only about the worry/fear.
Like meditating, but only thinking & pondering whatever is troubling you.
When the time is up you go about your daily business knowing you have dedicated enough time to senselessly worrying about things you have no control over. ((((HUGS))))

Hi Tatoulia :)
YEA!!! WTG!!! for cleaning the bathroom and doing the laundry 100%.
Good luck with the never ending stash of recyclables. ;)

Hello everyone! This may be a long post.

It's good to be back though. Some new and some returning people - hi there KSF & Theresa! *waves*

Monday after the van incident I was pretty wiped out. It had been such a shock. And a wait for my mechanic to get to me from the opposite end of town. One of my friends came and sat to keep me company awhile; that was nice. She's busy like me and we'd been talking about finding time to get together, LOL! We didn't specify the circumstances.

Today the adjuster from the other gal's insurance came by and looked at the van. I need to call the person at the company HQ also, which I shall do upon finishing this post. It's possible they total my van, and I'm able to pay for basic repairs - cosmetic not necessary - and even have a little to keep. That's best-case scenario. In my life, I'm learning to keep my expectations low, because I don't deal well with disappointment. But we'll see. It could all work out.

I've very little money at the moment due to having to pay part of my mechanic's cost to pull the fender/bumper out from by the tire. So if I get a settlement it will make this a much better month. And he is also our repair guy so progress is finally about to happen on getting our furnace fixed - there was a part that had a recall because it was unsafe; one is coming from a different manufacturer. That was the holdup.

I did get a chance to read back through posts - Tatoulia, sorry about the mirror but glad no one was hurt and it wasn't one you treasured. And WTG on the dishes! :)

Tillie - sounds like a nice wardrobe of dresses you have - not too many or too few. I am a blue jeans gal and a sleeveless top/shorts in the summer type. But I have been thinking since my weight loss if I might want to get/make a few dresses or skirts. I overheat in any type of synthetic fabric, and I MUST have pockets, so I may have to sew to get what I like. We'll see what the time and budget permit.

Anony, wishing you all the best with your family. It's good to be proactive as you are doing. I've heard that with difficult families it's a good idea to have an exit plan if you go to their territory. If they come to yours, do you feel confident you'll be able to eject them if they outstay their welcome?

And isn't it great to have that staging table. They help so much. I'm going to be pulling clutter from my room and doing a card table in the living room sorting place to deal with it. It'll take more than one session - the room has reached (wait for it) Critical Mass! LOL! Seriously, I am tired of how it is and how long a delay I've had. More stuff piles up if I don't keep on it.

I did finish my quilt marking. Did it yesterday afternoon, alone in the basement with my music - a good way to relax and unwind after Monday's drama. The quilt stays at the church now! One less thing to keep track of at home - Woohoo!

This past week has been so full. It's a week since the bunny died. The next day I went to the eye doctor. Found out I have cataracts starting. My parents had them but I didn't expect them this soon. Not time for surgery or anything though. Got an Rx for glasses, now have to find the funds. My current glasses look they've been through the wars.

And on Saturday my roommate adopted a successor (not replacement) bunny. Her boy bunny was so forlorn without his sweetie. The new bunny had been found loose at an apartment complex. She has that food scarcity thing going on. Eating is her main goal in life. Hopefully we can help her relax and realize that we will always provide her with plenty to eat and drink.

The cats have been as judgmental as always, but lower their standards enough to sleep with us inadequate humans at night.

Well, with less money for gasoline and zero desire to get out in the holiday traffic anymore than absolutely necessary, perhaps I'll find time to do a little baking. Gingerbread - oh yeah - I just might! Saw a picture online of a gingerbread Tardis . . .

It's all gonna be okay . . . I can hear Judy Garland in my mind singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - that bittersweet song of hope through troubled times.

I echo Tillie's advice. I was well on my way before buying a few bins. I'd done massive, massive clean out and only needed five small plastic bins when it was all said and done. That's it!

I cleaned the bathroom sink, vanity and toilet today. All laundry done and put away.

My overseas friend has asked me to wait before sending her package as she has some unexpected surgery coming up. It's a small box and not in my way.