Have a WONDERFUL visit with your parents! 😀
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 😀
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! 😀
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. 😀
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! 😀
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! 😀

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!!! 😀
OK, count me in on your challenge! 😀

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! 😀
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.