Recent Posts

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by sKePTiKal on December 01, 2025, 08:38:39 AM »

Lighter, did it take awhile for your vision at any particular distance to sharpen up? I'm blurry at mid-far distance and beyond. And my close vision is good enough for most things I do, without readers. I'll ask doc which sacrifice I chose (do I remember correctly?) at followup today. I'll probably need a driving Rx. Unless this improves.

On another note, I'm noticing people's cheese sliding way off their cracker. Probably pre-existing tendencies becoming increasingly unfiltered by the anxiety that seems to be taking over some people. I suppose the holiday has something to add to that, too. Altho, it seems strange that what's supposed to be an easy happy time, is turned so upside down/inside out in reality.

Are all your renovations on hiatus now? Regrouping and resting, before the next phase?

Hops, how are you handling all this cold? Brrrrrrr! We're supposed to get sleet & freezing rain tonight, at a minimum. I'm not sure they're taking the temp differential in various places into their forecasts - just the average temp. And I still have to get out & gather greens for my yule festive decorations.

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by lighter on November 29, 2025, 03:04:17 PM »

Amber, I say go wherever you want, for Christmas, and leave the baking for when your eyes completely heal.

Or not.

Whatever you want to do.....embrace it. 
Mine it for all its joy. 

Remember to dance.

Sometimes I forget to dance.
:: nodding::.

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by sKePTiKal on November 28, 2025, 12:41:14 PM »

Well the stew was YUMMY! It's freezing cold here (thanks Canada) and big ole fat snowflakes are flying around. S'posed to get maybe 3 inches on Tuesday. I am going to wait till it warms up to collect the greens for Yule decorations.

Thinking about baking for neighbor cookie boxes again this year. Kids kinda nixed my biscotti; they said most people just aren't 'dunkers' and you can't eat it unless it's dunked. I like the hazelnut, almond taste though... so might look around for a cookie instead. Lebkuchen are definitely on the list; maybe a double batch because they last a good while. Don't know yet how much I want to be trapped in the kitchen, though.

Eyes.... are good some days and not so good, others. The left eye is two weeks behind the right one. And I surmise that there is some time & practice involved in "training" my brain to clarify what the eyes are relaying. The close up vision is better than I expected! I darned a black pair of leggings with a single strand black embroidery floss (yep; I know all the needle threading tricks) and Holly said it looked good enough that she didn't even notice. So maybe it's just a matter of being patient. I ran out of antibiotic for the left eye and had trouble getting ahold of doc's office - office got flooded; a big mess I was told - so it took me a bit to get the refill. I'm catching up now. But I think it's the anti-imflammatory drops that are the most important... and I have plenty of those. Follow up appt is Monday, so maybe there will be glasses involved still.

B and I are good. We still have one project on the books - the mudroom - but there is no rush. His part will be done after he cuts/caps a drain pipe through the floor. Then Hol & I will tackle the beadboard. So, I might revisit the idea of going somewhere for Christmas. Just haven't decided yet WHERE. And so that would kill my baking plan... hmmm. Pondering.

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Play Hookey

« Last post by sKePTiKal on November 28, 2025, 12:19:47 PM »

Sometimes, a haircut, a splurge on some new clothes - at least new to you - can be real self-care.
That's my story & I'm stickin' to it!

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Play Hookey

« Last post by Hopalong on November 28, 2025, 07:51:31 AM »

I hope mother's email was an apology for what she'd put you through. Maybe there's hope?

But I know hope is the small thing with feathers that raptors go after, sometimes.

I felt like a fox in a holding trap when I was in my most dead-end jobs; I understand.

I like hearing of you having a long weekend and treating yourself to some hair care. Bravo.

And meanwhile, peace to you, dear. From wherever it may come.

hugs
Hops

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Play Hookey

« Last post by Meh on November 27, 2025, 02:30:40 PM »

Mother emailed me yesterday. First time she has contacted since she tried to pretend I was insane and called all the what is it called... public mental health check or whatever. I haven't even opened the email only read the first line.

I have sick time built up at work I am thinking of calling in sick Monday again. Have strategically looked over our assigned tasks for the week. I think calling in sick on Monday would make my coworkers the most miserable because they would get the full load of the work I usually do. They will not be over staffed that day to start with. My boss oddly likes to overstaff the office sometimes. There is one day next week where she has this young guy coworker scheduled the full day to do barely anything. He spends his days on the company chat application bullshitting with coworkers, doodling, and trying to leave his desk every five minutes.

I think I might get myself a nice haircut this weekend and buy some hair goop. I got good feecdback from a customer on Friday and deliberately told my boss about it... my coworkers were simultaneously screeching and fighting over a "favorite" pen. All my boss said was "it's nice when WE get compliments" ....

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: I met DD24's bf's parents

« Last post by Hopalong on November 25, 2025, 04:22:30 PM »

You're very welcome, Lighter.
I confess that sometimes I skip past extremely detailed renovation or cooking stuff, but I just tell myself, this is Lighter's diary...no comment needed!

One (June 5th) thing did jumped up for me: "easy to worry....when solutions and action are required."

My instant response internally was, "required of WHOM?"

They will fly when they get to use their own wings/minds/intelligence to fly around options, rest in their own independent nests while they think over solutions, and decide while soaring OR CRASHING what actions they are going to take.

I think that will make the empty nest a lot more peaceful, and their new independent nests feel more free and joyful. They will crash. That's how we learn.

hugs
Hops

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: I met DD24's bf's parents

« Last post by lighter on November 24, 2025, 07:23:25 PM »

Stew sounds comforting, and delicious, Amber.

DD25 chipper and upbeat today.... she'll be spending 2 nights and 3 days, with BF's family, over Thanksgiving.  They still have Grandparents.....I don't mind celebrating early. 

DD24, and I, will be hanging out together on the 27th.....likely delivering a meal, to a neighborhood message board family, or two.  Publix is matching donations to Manna right now, so that's a no brainer.  Will have beautiful leftovers.  My stock is beautiful.

I'll sweat onions, celery and shallots in butter, for the stuffing, tonight.  Brine the chicken overnight.  Dinner will be in the evening....when bf gets off work.  I'm feeling like decorating a bit .... I'm in the holiday spirit....happy to be in the cool evening air, finishing up shopping....feeling very present.  Less bothered by the hiccups....the COWs.

Lighter

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: I met DD24's bf's parents

« Last post by sKePTiKal on November 24, 2025, 10:00:57 AM »

And this is why I ordered venison, to make a savory stew for B & I. IF Hol doesn't go to her other Friendsgiving, she can hang out with us; or not - as she chooses. She declaims frequently that "it's just another day" to her.

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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025

« Last post by sKePTiKal on November 24, 2025, 09:57:16 AM »

Another forum I'm on (thousands of members) has also started having issues. Apparently, AI bots are absolutely drowning access for members - who are getting error messages or the site simply won't load.