Welcome to Saturday ...

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Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief. ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero


Beautiful Saturdays randtntx and janis b; thank you, and deep thanks to all of you for your condolences, dividing the grief. Upon returning and reading the OT's, tears dropped and i felt at ease, at home in this lovely community of kind hearts. I love you all, you've taught me much, gentle guides in a sea of madness at times.

As you've experienced, these challenges, changes in life bring reflections, memories, good and bad and then the government red tape rises to entrap one in a process not easily accomplished without lawyers,--intentionally so designed--an overwhelming landscape of things to do overshadowing a finding of peace. Were it not so and covid's complicating the maze of clerk's differentiating answers to the same simple questions, slowing progress.

Not comfortable in the world from which i came, the travel down the mountain to the heat of the Piedmont to the shell of the little mill town, which treated us so well in youth burdened me in many ways, much of which i'm struggling to understand: no one's wearing masks, the good people still living and i grew up with openly discuss their disdain for Black Lives Matter saddening my heart; "it shouldn't have evolved this way;" why and am i responsible?

My dearest cousin from down there has been a blessing, spending hours on the phone assisting me. Thank you, brother.

A growing awareness of my selfishness unnerves me as it always has, feelings of inadequacy, i suppose, the underlying culprit.

Anyways, it a pleasure to be back to c99 and a better sense of well-being waits, i know this, too. i'm a fortunate man to be here.

Thank you all for being here, too.


Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing. ~ Benjamin Franklin


~~~

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Comments

Lookout's picture

Sorry about your trials, but glad you are wading through them. I find that seeing others severe troubles makes me feel fortunate to have my little challenges...
No matter what there is someone who has it worse.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXqMQfpNSes]

It was hot this week, but not as bad as usual. We've had several showers keeping things pretty comfortable. Next week it is only highs in the 80's. That is mild for Alabama midsummer. Garden is kicking it and keeping us very busy.

Well take care and have a good week!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

smiley7's picture

@Lookout

i don't fit in down home anymore, i'm too direct and not easy in their ways. Have to spruce up the old house for sale and it's going to be a slog as i've so little money to work with and
not up to the task health-wise. I took a plastic patio chair out to trim hedge bushes, working a little and sitting down to breathe; an old friend was cutting the lawn and brought a ladder up for me to use. Did some work and then cut the extension power cord in half, an old habit of mine with those electric trimmers. But the next morning, i went out alone to carry on the trimming and fell off the ladder onto our concrete walkway; bruising and maybe breaking ribs. That was last Saturday. I've recovered with sore ribs and right shoulder.

A wake-up call as i probably ran out of O2 on the ladder and lost balance. Having to depend on people and dealing with this sales process of real-estate are not my expertise by a close shot; really despise this complicated process.

On the other hand, income, provided i succeed in selling the place is sorely needed to cover debts and rest a little easier and hopefully help my son.

But i am won't to complain, especially in the heat down there and the old AC unit gave up working years ago, so staying there is miserable in summer and dangerous to go out to grocery store in the unmasked paradise.

Stay cool and safe.

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Lookout's picture

@smiley7

...or perhaps offer for sale 'as is' at a discount. Any realtor connections you can tap into? Anyway wishing you the best!

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8 users have voted.

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

smiley7's picture

@Lookout
realtor, have to find out and search from a distance, wading in process.

Thanks for the positive vibes, and btw, wish you could the red-grape, wild variety vine, the size of a two-car-port and loaded with grapes; thrilled me to see its growth in my absence, also have some puppy coyotes around, i encountered one in the back yard, cute little fellow.

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10 users have voted.

Sounds like an uphill battle.
You've a lot of momentum behind you.
And us too.

Good luck my friend.

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smiley7's picture

@QMS

Tea for the Tillerman's packed with me for years. Smile

Feeling better by he moment.

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6 users have voted.

@smiley7

Have an over-abundance of C99% hats
fire sale, would like to send one or two
PM me your postal address
caveat: they only come in green

thanks

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7 users have voted.
smiley7's picture

@QMS

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magiamma's picture

Welcome home. May you find the help you need. Sending good thoughts.

Nothing new to speak of on the left coast. Well, not down in our neighborhood anyway.

Take good care!

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

smiley7's picture

@magiamma

lifts my heart to be here. Not much going on here either and i'm tuning out most MSM news, the soap-opera, trying to break that habit.

May your garden fill you plate and onward we go.

Be safe.

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6 users have voted.
enhydra lutris's picture

the stream of additional troubles incident to the loss of your loved one and the culture clash between you and the town. Also sorry to hear that you got injured. You have to always try to remember, through all of it, that your health has to come first; always stop and think or all of the potential risks, stresses and possible trauma that can befall you, your body is not what it once was.

We missed you, for the record. Do try to take care of yourself, especially when deling with the continuing house project and the treks down and back.

be well and have a good one.

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10 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

smiley7's picture

@enhydra lutris

i feel so close to you guys and so far away from so many.

In peace, let's keep on trucking and thanks, i learned a lesson on that ladder Smile

Be safe.

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7 users have voted.

Sorry to hear of your problems as you try to fix the "old place" up for sale and the town you are working in. Your thread this morning is helping to solidify some of my thoughts about my place here in Texas. Old, in need of work, no longer a young spring chicken and my knowledge of how to repair and actually repair ....and the list grows on.

The people in this community are not for the most part very open-minded, of the "freedom from mask" variety and other issues like this. Realistically, it is 70 miles from Austin so from a medical point of view not the best situation. Of course the place is a block off the river but you have given me some food for thought.

Hope you continue to be safe and stay off ladders and good luck as you move forward. Agree your safety is the most important thing! Have a good weekend.

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5 users have voted.

Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.

This ain't no dress rehearsal!

smiley7's picture

@jakkalbessie

Know what you say, choices ahead, been lost in them until an hour or so ago, but think a relocation is in the cards, closer to my son or the coast, wherever it's affordable when all this work is done, not so far as to lose Chapel Hill doctors or find their great equivalents.

Love you, good friend.

Be safe.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

I missed you. So happy you are back. Let me know how I can help ease your burden.

Change Is
Change
is happening
quite rapidly.
Allow the change
to occur.

You like to keep things
the same, but
the more you hold
on to something,
the more it wants
to be free
and scratches you
for release.

Let it go!
Let it go!
Let it go!

Keep saying to yourself
I’m letting go
I’m letting go
I’m releasing
I’m surrendering
I’m going to enjoy the ride.

Allow yourself
to observe things,
to look at things differently;
have a different perspective
on the things
you usually look at.

Look out the window
see everything changing,
see humanity changing,
everything on the planet
is changing.

Resolve to have
a different perspective
about everything around you.
Look at what you have
not noticed.
Create a new world.
Train your brain
to think differently,
create a new society.

Let it go!
Let it go!
Create the new!

Spread love to every corner. Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

smiley7's picture

@Raggedy Ann
and your poetry.

The more you hold
on to something,
the more it wants
to be free

Feeling good inside, thank you for this lovely work.

Be safe.

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6 users have voted.

to see you back smiley.
What a beautiful view in that photo, I could sit on those stairs for a very long time and just look at that sea.

You are in a very different spot right now and it is just a hard place to be...with

an overwhelming landscape of things to do overshadowing a finding of peace

None of this is easy but I hope you can find a way to make it as easy as you can. I notice in the above comments someone suggested selling the house "As Is". That is what we did when my grandmother passed away. I think that may even be a legal term, or at the very least a real estate term. The couple that bought the house was very pleased to get it. They knew they had work to do on the house, it was all 'above board'.

Please don't climb on ladders,
thanks- your friend Rand

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8 users have voted.
smiley7's picture

@randtntx

Yeah, cheers for understanding, it's been a brutal two weeks in mind and physically. On the other side, now, feeling home with my friends here on Saturday.

love, peace and music ...

Be safe.

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9 users have voted.

@smiley7 , good on the being on the other side. I just sat down to answer your message but it looks like we may have a pretty good storm heading our way. I'm going out to batten down the hatches and would not be surprised if we loose our intertube connection. I'll give you a shout later should we not loose our connection Smile

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@smiley7 @smiley7

good choice on the yo-yo ma
if this describes your feelings
can definitely relate
intense
thanks

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smiley7's picture

@QMS

a fire waits
for no one
water in drops, they say, works
we know who's on first

love you

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janis b's picture

Your warm saturday welcomes have cultivated such a fine and loving spirit. I’m happy that we can provide some nourishment and comfort for you in return.

I wish you as smooth a ride through the process as possible.

[video:https://youtu.be/yvHC4szZfKA]

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smiley7's picture

@janis b

let's keep on trucking,

love you

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4 users have voted.
Unabashed Liberal's picture

you got my message(s). I didn't leave you a comment at the OT, because it was a week or more, before I saw Janis' OT saying that your Mom had passed away. Mr M, Kaity, and I are keeping you in our thoughts, and sending beau coup positive karma in your direction.

Also, I'm so sorry to hear about your accident--please, be careful. I've gone round and round with Mr M about getting up on a ladder to replace an outdoor light--that we don't even use. (he's delaying hip surgery, and, I don't trust him to be stable enough to take the chance to balance on the top step.)

Hope that you'll get to see Gilbert soon--and, your son and his family, of course. Can't think of anything better to lift the spirits than being around a Pup! Biggrin

Good luck with getting all your affairs in order. Been there, done that. I wouldn't rush--it'll all be there tomorrow. So, pace yourself, and try not to worry.

Gotta run Kaity out before a thundershower comes through. After all the complaining (I've done) about rainy weather (winter and spring), wish to heck that we'd get a shower every now and then. Most come up suddenly, and, last for only a few minutes.

Shout out to those C-99'ers and readers who're in the path of Hannah (TX) Godspeed!

Take good care of yourself, mi amigo. If you can post/upload one, would love to see a pic of Gilbert.

Stay safe, and be well.

Mollie

"The leaders of this new movement are replacing traditional liberal beliefs about tolerance, free inquiry, and even racial harmony with ideas so toxic and unattractive that they eschew debate, moving straight to shaming, threats, and intimidation."
~~Matt Taibbi, The American Press Is Destroying Itself, June 12, 2020

"I know, I know. All passion; no street smarts."
~~Captain West, 1992 Rob Reiner/Aaron Sorkin Movie, A Few Good Men

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.”
~~Will Rogers, Actor & Social Commentator (1856-1950)

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5 users have voted.

Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

janis b's picture

@Unabashed Liberal

you are such a love ; )

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smiley7's picture

will talk later, Gilbert has a belly rash, like all pups do. Smile

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travelerxxx's picture

Wonderful to see you back here. Your Saturday musings always make me shift into an easier gear; kind and thoughtful.

I'd also like to second what others mentioned – best to stay off those ladders. Just accidentally missing a rung can have a nasty outcome.

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5 users have voted.

Cheers smiley7, even though it is Sunday I am still smiling for your return. There's a little one inch button on a backpack right next to the kb that simply says BREATHE, black on white. It reminds me of you and to think calm thoughts and "really put some love in the air", a good practice. Thanks and right on. Healing thoughts now, mended ribs await. And after that comes {hugs} and pain free laughter again, when grief subsides.

time passes
here still
peace and love

P.S. At least a dozen people have eyeballed my new CAUCUS 99% chapeau down in the dirt patch, plus more at the grocery store. It is great! Thanks QMS
edit: And thumbs up to all! Forgot to say out loud it is currently somewhat difficult for me to type and click with these wooden paddles at the end of each arm, but inside my head I clicked every comment. thumbs up thanks

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