November Survivors - week1

[papmom3]

November Survivors - week1

Yea Shue!! Please stay awhile!

yep-LM comes up with worms and rabbit poo. I'm sure she gets some grubs too-I just don't see those!

Brrr it's cold this morning!! time to get moving!!

[Lavande]

November Survivors - week1

Good morning friends,

Frosty in the neighborhood this morning :H

Papmom, those grubs Matilda comes up with are huge -snack size & disgusting looking.

Greetings Shue & everyone!
Pushing myself out the door to Curves, then back here for work. Kids coming for dinner & to hang out with me while their Mama kicks butt in karate class

Wishing a great AF Monday for one & all!
Lav

[shueaddict]

November Survivors - week1

Lav, you are an inspiration with your Curves dedication!!!!

Pap - how are the furry ones? I must admitt I still have a heavy heart after giving up my dog (many many thanks for holding my hand through that terrible time).

happy Monday, folkes!!!

[ladybirdheart]

November Survivors - week1

Happy Monday. Just back from swimming and a good start to the day at least after the cat threw up his entire breakfast along with a hairball the size of a Volkswagen while I was serenely in the midst of dawn Tai Chi. Caused a bit of an avalanche during "Daughter on the Mountaintop". Not much going on for me today but that is how I like it, I feel so fortunate to just be able to take care of small things. So much can shift in a heartbeat. I like what you said Star about scaling back as we get older and how it is really a choice that can be embraced rather than something we are flung into because of health or finances. I am surprised by how little I actually need (be it "stuff", food, interaction, or stimulation) and how much more dear or beautiful life appears when the excess is eliminated. In particular, the space that alcohol used to fill is gradually becoming my friend. Love, Ladybird.

[papmom3]

November Survivors - week1

Hang in there shue.you know you did the right thing and that he is in a great home. When the time comes you'll get a smaller less reactive dog that will fit your family like a glove. :l

I've heard from chill and all is well.she just got internet back today and is loving her new place.she and Elle are all settled in. She'll be in touch with details soon.

[Jolie]

November Survivors - week1

Good chilly evening everyone!

Kas - wherever that is, I want to go! Beautiful! We are planning a trip to the Grand Tetons/Jackson Hole Wyoming in June of next year and I hope to see some sights just like that! LBH - just picturing the whole cat thing had me laughing! There's nothing like the sound of a cat getting ready to puke:H Lav - is there any way to break her from eating those nasty things? They disgust me. Pap - rabit poo??? Does anyone else seem to have a ton of rabits around? Every morning when driving to work I probably have at least 4 or 5 darting across the road on my gravel lane - good thing I'm not driving too fast! Hey Shue - sorry you had to give up your dog - that had to be hard. Okay - I know it's only 6:00 but I'm already settling in with my sleepy time vanilla and plan to be in bed by 8:00 - I'm beat! Have a great evening everyone!

[Lavande]

November Survivors - week1

What is it with dogs eating rabbit & chicken poop and/or rolling in something 'dead'? :H :H
My dogs are gross, no two ways about that!!!!

Jolie, are you ready for the Nor'easter coming at us on Wednesday? I don't know about yuo but I didn't sign up for another weather assault so soon

I sent my grandsons home at 9 pm. The youngest was feverish & listless ~ likely coming down with the viral illness his older brother had last week. Oh, the joys of winter!!!

OK, I'm off duty now & ready to chill. Wishing a good night to all!

[Chillgirl]

November Survivors - week1

:waving: hello my fellow Survivors, how I have missed you! :l

I dont know where to start to tell you whats been going on and I apologize in advance for the long story. I honestly dont expect you guys to read all this and respond but as usual MWO is my therapy and writing this down helps.

The amount of abuse I have put up with over the last 2 months is incredible. An endless tyraid of emotional blackmail, manipulation, taunting and worst of all being on the recieving end of anger that I have never experienced before. I was in a state of constant stress and tension and I became quieter and more withdrawn in the hope of not setting him off. For those who know me, Im no shrinking violet and have astounded myself at what I put up with. Its only since I got away and could see it from a distance that I realized how bad it had been. Unfortunately I was in an area where I had no one I could run to. In view of my lack of finances it was difficult to find an affordable home, especially one that accepted pets and most rental agents wouldnt entertain a tenant who is not in full time employment. So I felt so stuck....:upset:

Anyway one day I just woke up and knew enough was enough or I was going to lose my mind. I called a few agents and arranged to see the properties which accepted pets. I instantly fell in love with this one! The agent having met me was happy I was respectable and the tenancy was agreed. It couldnt happen quick enough and the last week of tension nearly killed me. Then I had the task of packing up single handedly all my worldly goods, having them transported and them soley unpacking them again. This took a huge toll on me physically and my body was screaming in pain which meant I couldnt sleep even although I was exhausted. Mentally I hit a wall too as I realized I had been in "Survival Mode" and the relief of being free was emmense. Over the weekend I had complete rest and by yesterday was back to being physically fit. I keep having waves of intense gratitude and relief and its incredible how a taste of unhappiness makes us realize just what we have to be grateful for. Because I was staying with a friend in Birmingham before I moved to Suffolk its been since last March since I had my own space and its SO wonderful! No more having to do things someone elses way, I finally get to do them my way!

The apartment (photos to follow) is a modern loft above some garages and is totally detached which is great as I have no attached neighbors. Its in a new estate which has been designed in a village style with lots of green areas, cycle paths and walk ways. Its just 10 minutes from the market town of Newmarket, famous in England as the home of Horse Racing. The surrounding area has nice villages and lots of stud farms which makes a lovely environment. Its about 15 miles away from Mr S and far enough that we are not going to run into each other. He has been sending texts and emails telling me how sorry he is and how if I give him another chance it will all be different..... yeah right! :H

So sorry for the long tale but now Im back, stronger, happier and ready for whats next and most of all im "Chilled" again

[Kaslo]

November Survivors - week1

Thanks Pap, Jolie, Lav and Shue and all others who commented on the photo from one of my study areas. it looks nice but that blue pinkish mountain side has had the crap burned out of it and the water is a reservoir, lol! but its still very striking in places. That grass you see in the foreground is a plant community I am measuring the effects of inundation on. Its dominated by a very pugilistic weedy grass called reed canary grass. How to get other species to outcompete it in the face of annual flooding events is a challenge. In answer to your question, anticipated....it was seeded in by engineers in the 1980s hoping to control dust. Prior to that it was sand and silt and in the windy summer days, dust. And before the dams, it was forests and farms, roads and little villages. Mostly I work on toxic substances, but also on severely damaged vegetation and soils and wildlife habitat. Occassionally poisoned animals. Explosions. Releases. Spills. Icky and scary. Sort of like what drinking does to your metabolism and physiology.

I had to laff at the mental image of yogic bliss interrupt by horking cat. Too funny. The writing on this thread is superb. Its a series of vignettes from lifes influenced by recovery and finding a normal life.

Shue I was very glad to see you here. I hope you will post here more often. I have found the calm presence of Dill, Chillgirl, Ladybirdheart, Rustop, Rusty, Cyntree, Stargazer, Jolie, Pap and Lav and the others who post here to be a breath of cool gentle fresh air.

Well I have a day ahead of me. Im going to the smelter towm of the south to have coffee with a client who used to be a coworker and who can not be predicted as to whether she is going to be a pain in the Astilbe or sweet as sugar. Then Im going to be helping the yound adult daughter of a friend here learn the latin names of the native plants, for her college botany course, which I am actually looking forward to doing. And supposedly selling my 300m lens to a buyer who is coming to the house, not crazy about that. And a haircut and then Curves at the end of the day.

Love to all on this fine November day. Kas

[Kaslo]

November Survivors - week1

Cross post Chill, SO GLAD to read that you made it out of there in one piece. Everyone was worried he was going to lose it and hurt you physically. Thank goodness it was only physical pain from moving stuff around. (I couldnt do that now myself I am sure). Your spot sounds lovely, and I do hope you will post your photos. Rest well. k

[Lavande]

November Survivors - week1

Good mid to late morning friends

I was called out for babysitting duty at 7 am ~ swell! But it truly is nice to be able to just get in the car & go.....no morning foggy head to deal with, etc

Chill, so happy you are in a better place now!
Everytime my mind wanders into that 'I'm feeling a bit lonely territory' I yank it back to reality. I am happier living without the tension & bullshit produced by a chronically unhappy man :H
I'd love to see your pics when you have a moment.

Kas, I figure if it's green & it's growing then it's better than mud even if it is an undesirable invasive species of something
Have fun tutoring today

I went to the polls on my way back this morning to cast my vote. I've never seen this little place hopping on election day like it was today. I think all of the farmers were there including the one who showed up & parked his hay wagon in the parking lot :H
The good news is my favorite out of state gas station is about a mile or two away from the Township building & gas was $3.44/gal. That's the cheapest gas I've seen in I don't know how long.

Greetings to Papmom, Dill, LBH, Star, Jolie, Nurdl & everyone stopping by today.
I have an appoint to get my B/P checked & a flu shot at 2 pm - oh yay.

Lav

[ladybirdheart]

November Survivors - week1

Glad you are securely on your own, Chill. I spent most of my life living without other people in my house and have always been most comfortable with species other than my own. I have made an exception in recent years for Lord Bird Heart but he is low maintenance, low impact, zero drama. Even when he had two genetically determined large heart attacks several years ago it didn't seem to faze him, we make a joke that he doesn't really need his heart as much as other people as he has such a sturdy soul. I hope if you choose to add someone to your life one day, he will have a bit of Lord Bird Heart in his constitution. Kas, that is such a drop dead gorgeous photo. Your work sounds intellectually intriguing and emotionally scary with regard to how wrong things can go in exquisite fragile places. I have a marine biologist friend who used to head up environmental impact studies in an area where enormous developers had more money than God, the corporate intrigue was the stuff of movies and I kept fearing somebody might actually kill him. Now he just takes people diving and lets the world go by. I just came in from cutting the plastic ties holding political signs to my picket fence so that when the polls close here I can easily remove them and join in letting the world go by at least for a while. It is still warm here, I have soft roses creaking open ever so slowly, more my speed. Love to you, Lav, Pappy, Cyn, Dill, Star, Jolie, Rusty, Rustop, Nurdi, et. al. Ladybird.

[Rusty]

November Survivors - week1

Hi Everybody!

I am still in Louisville, KY....my flight back to Chicago has been delayed so I thought I would pop in.

Wow, reading all the posts about cat barf (gasp....as you would say, LBH), and dogs eating poo, I hereby proclaim that our monthly thread will be renamed the "Feces and Emesis Thread.":H

LBH-I about died laughing when you were describing having to pee in the desert and finding a pencil whilst midstream. Yes, you can say "pee" on this thread.:H What you did is known as "popping a squat," as my unpolished former client used to say. I have done the same but have found no pencils in the process.

Chill-I am SO glad you are away from that abusive and potentially dangerous man. I pray he stays the hell away. Would love to see pics of your new place. Like LBH, I've lived alone most of my life....well at least, HALF of it.....and I prefer it that way. When I want company, I go find it. I'm sure this disastrous experience with Mr. S. will cause you to be a bit cautious as far as moving in with someone again. I'm just glad you're safe.:l From now on, I will be pre-screening and conducting thorough background checks on all your potential suitors.

Jolie-Forgive me for my memory lapse....but what do you do for a living.? You have probably told us before but I can't remember.

Kas-that was an amazing picture, and wow, how lucky you are to be able to pursue work in such beauty....which must seem utterly magical and whimsical now that you're AF. Your work fascinates me and I never tire of hearing about it. I hope your tutoring session goes well. I wanted to tell you, though....minutes after telling you that I had no signs of short-term memory lapse due to my concussion, I forgot my purse in the grocery cart in the store parking lot! SIGH.

Lav-I hope your day of babysitting does not have to last until late tonight.

Pap-how are you doing today?

Welcome, Shue!

Speaking of the polls....when I was in the airport restaurant a little while ago I heard the waitress tell a customer that in Kentucky they can't sell booze until after 6:00 p.m. on election day. Isn't that bizarre?

Yawn....I fly home tonight and then I have to turn right around tomorrow and fly to Tennessee and then Missouri. Mississippi next week.

My schedule can be a nightmare at times but I can handle it....as long as I'm AF.

To everyone that I missed: Rustop, Dill, Star, Nurdle....hope everyone enjoys the comfort of an AF night.

[Lavande]

November Survivors - week1

Good evening all,

Watching election results is kinda boring.....did what I could at the polls this morning

Rusty, hope you are feeling OK with all the travel right now. Do you have staples in your head or is that too personal to ask? :H
My babysitting lasted all of 15 minutes this morning, my son walked in right after I got there which was OK with me.
Hope you are home safely by now. Good thing you have no plans to come east this week - big storm on the way again tomorrow.

Dentist at 9 am tomorrow then staright to Curves, bank, maybe supermarket then babysitting from 11:30ish until 8-9 pm.
Better hit the sack. Good night all!

[Stargazerlily]

November Survivors - week1

Good morning to all..

It's been all about the election and I am so glad it is OVER. The President's speech was gracious and filled with hope. Our country needs a steady hand.

Chill, so happy to hear you are safe and in your own place. I think that the abuse happens over time and the next thing you know, you are in it. You are so right to not respond to his texts, as he will not change. Whew. Would love to see pictures if you get a chance. Thinking that being AF is what made it possible for you to get out and start over. Thanks for the post, it was not too long.

Rusty, what a schedule, hope you keep feeling better.

Lav, busy, busy, busy.

LBH, I too live with a man who is easy going and kind. Most important to me. Interesting, I have never lived alone. Guess that is why I appreciate my time alone so much.

Kas, loved your picture, especially the mountains. Your work and day sounds useful and varied. Agree with you about all of our posts, vignettes of the AF life, dealing with all types of things the best we can. So glad you are part of this thread.

I am so grateful that my negative mood has lifted. After vacation, I always go into an emotional hard time, it has to run its course. Can't believe Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, I want to really downsize the holidays, make it about relationship not material things. Is that possible?

Happy the election is OVER. Also, with the results, a great relief to me. I was afraid to get up, laying in bed this morning, not knowing the results. OK, to all, have a great day.