Norms Bait and Tackle

OnLonelyMountain · September 28, 2025, 10:52:02 PM

Good evening everyone,
Its been a tough month for me. I got notice from the last lawyer at the last minute that he wouldn't be taking my case because of "Oregon's Right to Farm and Forest Act." Which is uninformed on his part. It said right on the Depart of Ag's website (pesticide ) practices are not protected if they harm people, neighbor's crops livestock, etc. But you can't make anyone take your case. I pivoted to trying everything else I could think of. No good. I made sure I stocked up on every herbal, homeopathic and supplemental remedy that's had efficacy. The timber company was due to spray the following week. I postponed my doctor visit, as he couldn't get here in time, and Ron and I decided on the plan with the best chance of surviving, with the least amount of damage: I precipitously moved everything in the RV into the unfinished Tiny House. Normally it take me 2 weeks to move into or out of the RV. I feverishly managed it in 2 very long days. Ron heroically jury-rigged power, sewer (Rhino's), and water (50 gal. Garbage can with a lid, and a battery powered pump). He bought and plumbed a laundry-tub for a sink, built a platform and mounted the RV style toilet, wired in lights and switches and ran 30 amp wire from the RV pedestal, in the same 2 days. The dogs and I are incarcerated, only going out briefly for them to do their business morning and evening. Then we decontaminate when we come back in. Its been a pretty sick, debilitated time, but it's been far better than I hoped for. The Tiny House is sealed far and away better than the RV, and its insulated (plus vapor barrier). We're camping.

We're through the initial exposure, I think. I don't know if we've seen the worst of it yet. It continues to volatize for 5 weeks or more depending on the chemicals. We have 4 weeks to go. We are expecting a week of rain, starting tomorrow. That may wash it down into the watershed -

At least Rosie has regained control of her bladder and bowels, and is keeping her food down again. The pesticide gave Kato some monsterous headaches, which caused a return of periods of aggression. He's doing better, though he's tired of staying inside. There is not one system in my body that is not smitten. I'm thankful that I'm currently clawing my way back. We just have to stay in as much as possible and not add to the damage.

Enjoyed reading your posts. Hoping to respond to them tomorrow.

Marilyne · September 28, 2025, 11:08:18 PM

Patricia, I don't know where her house is located - which side of the city? She lives there with her husband, and I know they have been married a long long time, and have always lived in AK. Early on, I remember that they lived "off the grid". I've met her when she comes to visit her family here, but have never seen enough of her to know her well. I'm friends with her sister, Charlene, who lives only a few miles from me. As I said, her Dad, is married to my dil's Mother, so I know him well.

I enjoyed reading the funny quips about Alaska that you posted. Plus, I learned alot from reading them!

Marilyne · September 28, 2025, 11:13:32 PM

OLM - Just saw your new messge as I was posting the one above to Patricia. I'll read it thoroughly, and probably respond in the morning. Good to see you back in S&F.

CallieOK · September 29, 2025, 12:20:06 PM

OLM, I'm so sorry you're having health problems. Thanks for letting us know.

Patricia, your description of Alaska reminded me of living for 14 years in Leadville, Colorado - altitude, 10,200 feet above sea level.
The highest peaks in the continental USA were visible from our windows - Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive.

Noone had air conditioners and furnaces were turned on all year.

Although we didn't have salmon - we did have trout! When I told my mother (in Oklahoma), I was cleaning out trout from the freezer, she exclaimed, "You're going to throw out trout!" (I told her that was like catfish in Oklahoma; we got tired of it)

When we moved here, our sons were surprised when they had "snow days" with no school and our lawn was never covered. They thought they would be able to get their skis out. It was because of "black ice", which we didn't have in Leadville. I had forgotten about that and was surprised when the car slid out of our sloping driveway when I was starting to do errands and had to go back in for something.

Oldest son was on the high school basketball team in Leadville and here - and was amazed that the team was going to spend the night after a game 100 miles away.

When I was in Alaska in June, 2004, the flower baskets on the streets reminded me of Leadville. We don't have those in Oklahoma!

Wishing Everyfriend a Wonderful Day!

patricia19 · September 29, 2025, 02:08:51 PM

Good morning, Callie, I've never been to Leadville, my relatives were always in the Montrose area, but I know exactly what you mean. Black ice is no joke.

Denali National Park, enclosing Denali, with a summit elevation at 20,310 feet above sea level. It is the tallest mountain in the world from base to peak on land, measuring 18,000 feet. Everest starts at a higher elevation.

The mountains are visible from my balcony and, as you know, only 100 miles from here. It's one of the seven summits, which is a popular challenge among mountaineers, to climb the world's seven tallest peaks.

I'm happy to know someone who understands that distance is relative.

One of my hobbies is looking at real estate, and I'm amazed at Las Vegas listings where their mountains are listed as ones where entire families can hike as a day trip! But again, it's relative.

My aunt, uncle and cousins grew up and some still live in Oklahoma, and we often visited in the fifties.

Marilyne · September 29, 2025, 02:26:15 PM

OLM, You're on my mind this morning, and I'm feeling so bad for you. It's a dilemma, that seems to have no answer? Have you considered getting away to another environment, until you are feeling well enough to return? I know that's easy to say but hard to do, when you have two dogs and other personal considerations.
I saw on the news this morning, that the rain has started along the Oregon coast, so maybe that would a place to consider, until you can all return to your Lonely Mountain?

The wind has been blowing had here in Northern California for two days, so the air is filled with all sorts of pollen, and dust and debris from almost six months of rainless weather. The rain is supposed to arrive here tonight, which will help with the allergies. You are scheduled for rain in in your area also, so I hope that will be helpful for you, Ron and the two dogs.
Keep us posted! ❤️ 🙏🙏
\
More later to Callie, Patricia, and others.

CallieOK · September 29, 2025, 04:02:54 PM

Las Vegas listings where their mountains are listed as ones where entire families can hike as a day trip! But again, it's relative.

My aunt, uncle and cousins grew up and some still live in Oklahoma, and we often visited in the fifties.[/size][/i]

Found this online: "Mount Elbert and Mount Massive are the highest and second-highest peaks in Colorado, respectively, located near each other in the Sawatch Range. Mount Elbert is the tallest in the Rocky Mountains at 14,440 feet, with Mount Massive slightly shorter at 14,429 feet."
Both have "walking" trails and my husband took both sons to the peak of Mt. Elbert. Pictures of Leadville were spectacular.

Where did/do your relatives live in Oklahoma? I grew up in the southeastern part of the state, moved to Texas when I graduated from college in 1957 and then to Leadville in 1962 and back to the Oklahoma City area in 1977.

patricia19 · September 29, 2025, 04:34:02 PM

It's been a while, but I believe it is originally Midwest City and some now in Garden City. My uncle retired from the air Force at Grant.

I'm not sure on mountain conditions, only what I've read. MT. Sheldon is the smallest in the Alaska Range at 5,686 ft and a summit rise of 3,100 feet, but you certainly couldn't walk it as a day trip.

I looked it up and found this, https://rockymountaindreaming.com/mount-elbert-hike/

I was surprised at this description; "At 14,439 feet, Mount Elbert is the highest peak in the entire state of Colorado. It is also the highest point that dogs are allowed to summit in the entire United States. This fourteener trek offers incredible views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. It is a good idea to get acclimated to the elevation before."

Basically, I had not thought such a climb or hike was possible. I was wrong. It is possible under certain terrain.

I still, after looking at photos of Las Vegas mountains and trails, find it hard to see them as more than rocks, crags or a type of separate foothill.

But, as with above, I've been wrong before. It does keep one humble. 🤔

Marilyne · September 30, 2025, 12:00:21 AM

Callie and Patricia, You two really know your mountains! Geography was my favorite subject , when it was taught in school back in the 40's and 50's. Now no longer taught in public school here in California. At that time, Mt. Whitney, here in CA, was the tallest mountain in the United Sites. Then when AK became a state, that honor went to Mt. McKinley. (now Denali)

My favorite mountains to visit here on the West Coast, were Mt. Hood in Oregon, Mt Rainier in Washington, and Mt Shasta here in CA. Lots of folklore and mystical stuff about Shasta. Pilgrimages there year round, by off-beat religious groups from around the World. My Great Aunt, (grandmothers sister) belonged to a Church in San Francisco, called I AM. They had their own Saints that they worshipped. The religion was centered around Mt Shasta. Wish
I could remember more.

OnLonelyMountain · October 04, 2025, 11:49:14 AM

Good morning Marilynne, and all,

First off, I thank you for the compassion, sympathy and empathy! Its the greatest gift that people can give us.

I have searched and researched. Its something that every person that suffers with these types of toxic injuries considers. Its in all our literature, research papers and the testimonies of 10s of thousands of individuals that have spoken out through blogs and forums over the decades.

Unfortunately, toxic substances are ubiquitous in our world. There is nowhere that is safe for us. Doctors send people to this or that place, only for the person or family to have sold everything (at a loss), moved there, and discovered after buying a new place, that that location is no safer. Or it could be worse... because most doctors don't know. The guess, they hope. I have read the stories, the research papers and spoken to many in my capacity as a counselor and Education and Awareness Director at the 501(c)3 that I volunteered for, that have chased that dream into bankruptcy, homelessness and painful, excruciating death. My beloved friend, the founder for the 501(c)3 was one. There is no safe place. The best we can do is a "safer" place, and that we have to fight for, and for our Civil Rights. Its not just one, or one type, of toxic substance. When you get Toxically Injured it damages your immune system so that your ability to breakdown toxic substances of any kind is impaired. They accumulate in your tissues. Every system is damaged. Your health gets worse with every exposure, and so do your sensitivities. Its not just one massive injury like I got. Its can also be from long term, repetitive, low dose exposures. So here's a broad (and partial) list: pesticides, petroleum fumes, products and by-products, solvents, paints, stains, cleaners, detergents preservatives, inks, fixatives, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, anything ending in "-icide" or beginning with "anti-," food additives and processes, natural poisons like alkaloids, mold spores and plant compounds, fluorescent lighting, cell towers, electro-smog, magnetic fields and synthetic fragrances. It gets worse with every exposure. The doctor who diagnosed me told me the only thing you can do is "avoidance." He told me to go home and avoid ALL..." He gave me 2 months to 2 years to live because "Nobody who has what you have survives past 2 years." The reason is because its nearly impossible to avoid all those common poisons. I researched my brains out. I still do. I searched for every scrap of information, every location, every suggestion. Then I searched every MCS community, and living arrangement in the surrounding area that my family would still come see me. Basically the PNW. Then I narrowed it down to a 2 hr driving radius as my husband refused to throw off his business and his friends (to start over in a new lication), and thats as far as he would travel to keep me supplied. He doesn't live with me. I actively searched and researched safer properties for 5 years before finding this one. Trust me when I say there is no place safer. I've looked. Its definitely not the coast. USC Davis Air Quality Research Station says that "On any given day 1/3 the air pollutants in Los Angeles come from China," and "There is a smog band that comes from China that covers the entire Pacific ocean," and "Anything that is dispersed into the air circumnavigates the globe in 3 weeks." The winds coming off the ocean aren't clean. Trees clean the air. Global timber companies have bought up nerly every piece of forested wilderness property, and spray the shit out of it to create a monoculture farming practice like what is destroying South American captured rain forest land. This region is sprayed less than most (at this time). Urban areas have 10x more pesticide per cubit foot than agricultural areas, in addition to the fragrances, road fumes and chemical dispersal. I looked at Wyoming and Montana, because law enforcement was more supportive. One sheriff told me if anyone in his county applied pesticide where it would harm me I had the right to shoot his tractor. Because he recognized its a lethal weapon to us. The problem with those states was, volcanic activity... They have active sulfuric fissures open up randomly and suddenly. He'd personally dealt with ranchers who'd lost whole herds of cattle to them. Fine one moment, then hundreds lying dead the next. There were people that had died from it, too.

Its definitely an overwhelming picture. But its my (our) cross to bear. My motto: just go forward. I share info so others can save themselves pain, debility and grief by pro-actively making safer choices. Number one is go fragrance free! Decades ago the research said every synthetic fragrance contained 500-700 (most likely more now) ingredients; on average 200 (again, most likely more now) of which were known toxins (i.e. poisons) from the EPAs list of toxic substances. These include insecticide, or you'd be swarmed by bugs, including the biting, stinging kind (like bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets...), addictive substances (excitatory neuotoxins), skin sensitizers, to make your skin and blood brain barrier more permeable so the addictive substances can get to your brain, chemicals to volatize the fragrance and others to make it last longer. The second thing is "don't put anything on or in your body that a 3rd grader cannot pronounce and doesn't know what it is, or you either. Allopatic medicine, and its pharmaceuticals/chemicals is a subsidiary of the same chemical companies that make the chemicals that make you sick. Allopathic medicines business model is not to make you well. Its to keep you as customer for life. Behind closed doors they've said so.

We did get rain. Pesticide bonds to dirt and dust particles, so those were washed down. I'm still getting chemical burns to what little skin/eyes that I can't cover when I take the dogs out, so I know its still present, but it is less. I'm glad the rain you got is helping you.🙂

I pray you all stay safe and well, or improve if you suffer with health issues.

patricia19 · October 04, 2025, 03:55:59 PM

Marilyne, I looked it up as I was curious and found that the IAM church is an offshoot of Presbyterianism. I'm always learning something new.

The mountains are a big part of my life, as the city I was born into is at the edge of the foothills that border the Alaska Range, which is a continuation of the Rockies. We are close enough, only one hundred miles, to watch the heliopters that take people on sightseeing trips and are often on emergancy missions.

The Interior is a plain, and is totally surrounded by mountains with two ways out by land, highways that skirt the foothills. They, the mountains, often have moraines and glaciers, sides are sheer and jagged with year around ice and snow.

The Interior is covered as well as the rest of the state by arboreal northern forests, thirty-five percent of the state is forested, the largest in the US. The plain is crisscrossed by rivers and hot springs.
The other Alaskan regions, North, South, East, and West, are on the other side of those mountains and foothills.

They each have separate climates and terrains. There are three mountain ranges, with accompanying foothills, that surround the Interior plain. They each have different names in other areas but are all part of ranges that skirt both Alaska, Canada and the US.

I believe, don't have the facts to back it up, that Colorado and some other western states have similarities to a lesser scale, only because their borders are smaller.

Marilyne · October 05, 2025, 02:15:29 PM

Good morning OLM. Hoping that today is one of your better days, and that you'll be feeling well enough to work around your tiny house and start getting things ready for the long Winter ahead.

It's a shame that people don't do the research that needs to be done, to learn about what is going on as far as our food chain/food supply is concerned. A couple of months ago, I brought home a big bag of Russet potatoes, from Safeway. (plastic bag of course!) I noticed when I opened it that there was a CAUTION printed on the bag, telling consumers to wash/scrub the potatoes both before and after peeling, in order to remove pesticide and fertilizer residue. Of course I've always washed potatoes before cooking or peeling, but had never seen a "reminder". I did some online research, and I was truly shocked! Seems that potato farmers in Idaho, and other potato growing states have used so much chemical fertilizer and pesticides in the soil over the past three or four decades, that there is no natural soil (meaning plain old dirt) left on those farms! The sad part is, there is no way to clean the soil and get rid of the toxicc stuff. Many potato farmers have given up their farms, because there is no way to clean the soil! So that's why those who are still planting crops, now have to label all bags of potatoes. And I'm sure other root vegetables as well?
Imagine soil, so contaminated, that it will NEVER go back to normal!

The sad thing is, that people don't care! The MSM doesn't post stories like that, and it's not an issue that's discussed on TV talk shows or Facebook! I don't think people (the general public) want to know about things like that.
We all make jokes about BIG PHARMA and BIG FOOD, but we're helpless to do anything about either one. As soon as someone in government speaks up and points to serious problems with food, or with pharmacy products, it's immediatly squelched by the MSM. What do people want? Don't they want foods and drug products to be made safer? I fear for the generations ahead.

Okay, end of my rant. . . on that subject anyway. I hope that you're feeling better today and will continue to forge ahead, to make as normal a life as possible, for you and Ron.

MarsGal · October 05, 2025, 04:33:42 PM

Marilyne, you reminded me that my sister told me the other day that she saw that if the potato has any green on the skin (and I think, starting to spout), to through it out. We grew up and all these years have been cutting out the green and the sprouts, but never to throw out the potatoes. I haven't looked into it yet.

patricia19 · October 05, 2025, 08:50:52 PM

Callie, I'd forgotten about this one until I saw it on the local news site;

I believe we have more national parks than any other state.

https://local.newsbreak.com/alaska-state/4273501037654-the-overlooked-alaska-national-park-thats-a-great-spot-for-your-next-winter-adventure?s=dmg_local_email_bucket_16.web2_fromweb&emailId=568He6J&uid=345046565

Winter in Alaska isn't for the faint of heart, but traveling to the remote Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve offers a wondrous adventure of mountainous snowscapes, glaciers, copious wildlife watching, dramatic lighting, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The cherry on top would be catching a magical display of the northern lights at night. This 13 million-acre national park (billed as the country's largest) isn't the most accessible (even in the summer), so adventuring here during the winter makes for an even more remote experience. But the rewards are as unique as they are beautiful.

Winter temperatures in the awe-inspiring Wrangel-Saint Elias National Park range from -50 degrees Fahrenheit at night to 7 above during the daylight hours. Speaking of daylight, it's not much, but the effect is stunning. Taking a winter holiday to this wonderland will provide a photographer's dreamworld of almost constant alpenglow. This is because the sun barely peaks above the horizon for its short 5-6 hours of average daylight in december.

The Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, is another perk of visiting in the winter. While stunning images of glaciers, mountains, and snowcapped evergreens are abundant in the park, keep the camera out after the sun goes behind the mountains. If the skies are clear, getting perfect pictures of the aurora borealis dancing across the night skies is a bucket-list-worthy experience.

The park is located in South Eastern Alaska, America's Largest National Park

Wrangell-St. Elias is a vast national park that rises from the ocean all the way up to 18,008 ft. At 13.2 million acres, the park is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! Within this wild landscape, people continue to live off the land as they have done for centuries. This rugged, beautiful land is filled with opportunities for adventure

OnLonelyMountain · October 06, 2025, 09:49:05 AM

Marilynne,
Most excellent rant! All true. The skinny is that no matter what the pesticide companies say, if its grown with chemicals, they're in the plant, edible parts and all. Most notably glyphosate. You can't wash it off. Eat organic. And one of the industry's biggest secrets is fertilizer, comprised of a low % active ingredients and the rest filler: the "filler" is comprised of the waste products of chemical manufacture. Its poisonous, and carcinogenic. They want to avoid having to sequester the billions of tons of toxic waste in lined landfills ($$$$$$$$$) so the have consumers broadcast it in fertilizer products. Including the ubiquitous "weed n feed" that home owners, golf courses, school grounds and parks saturate theirs with.

Marilyne · October 08, 2025, 02:42:10 PM

Greetings, to all those who look into Bait&Tackle today! Hope we hear from some of you soon?

Patricia, I Googled some of the I AM sites online, but didn't see any reference to it being related to the Presbyterian religion?? It was founded by a married couple, in the 1930's and is definitely more of a sect or cult. It's fascinating to read about the things they believe and the Saints they worship. Lots of fascinating reading, and art work to look at on many online sites! The connection to Mt. Shasta is explained. I remember when my Aunt would visit us in Los Angeles when I was a child, she would always bring her posters, and tape them up on the wall over the bed where she slept, in my room. As you can imagine, I was fascinated by all the brilliant colors, and the style of art!
There is an I AM cemetery at Shasta, at the foot of the mountain. My aunt's only request was to be buried there when she died. I don't remember if her wish was fufilled or not? I have one cousin still living, who would know the answer, and I plan to send her an email and ask her?
https://www.saintgermainfoundation.org/i-am-teachings

OLM, Hope you're continuing to feel better, and have made progress on your tiny house? I try my best to buy organic, and always read labels and ask question. Whole Foods Mkt., is the only game in town, and I try to shop there as much as possible. Yes, it's expensive compared to Safeway, Lucky's, Albertson's, etc., but if you believe that it's important, it's well worth it. I feel fortunate that my generation, born in the 1930's, is the last one to be raised in a world without pesticides and fertilizers. Overall we're a pretty healthy generation, I do believe.

patricia19 · October 08, 2025, 08:52:54 PM

Marilyne, now I can't find it either. I apologize. I'm going to have to save these headings with copies so I can refer back. Perhaps what I saw or thought I saw was part of the teaching were part of or similar to Presbyterian? I don't know.

OnLonelyMountain · October 10, 2025, 09:56:45 AM

Good morning Marilynne and all,

I once read a paper about how much money a person saves in health care costs by eating organic. Of course that was before Obamacare mandated insurance and the obscene rise in premiums and deductibles. Since I don't have insurance, I can't access typical healthcare without being harmed, they can't help me, and the insurance companies don't pay for the care I need, my annual healthcare cost are pretty low. Since pre-Obamacare I paid $5000/year, thats a huge savings just to start. Added to that there are other huge benefits. If anyone wants to realize those, look at papers that compare the average person's health with corresponding groups of the Amish.

I'm improving. The night before last I slept through and woke up without kidney pain or encephalopathy. It was great!!! Unfortunately, I did not have as good a night last night. However, the kidney pain is less, and no encephalopathy. That's good too.

I order a lot of my organic staples online, either from Amazon or a handful of other aggregate sellers, or direct from the manufacturer. Of course I compare prices, and buy when there's a sale or coupons. That leaves the fresh food. Ron gets that from Safeway or Fred Meyers. Sometimes from small local healthfood stores. My dream was to have dairy sheep, chickens and a garden to provide those for myself.😊 That doesn't seem to be materializing in a timely manner. But, one step at a time!

I once wrote a paper about the cost/health benefit of switching from commercial home cleaning products to homemade cleaning products. Commercial cleaning products are super toxic! They're also expensive. You can replace a bunch of cleaning products with a simple home made spray solution of 1 part alcohol to 4 parts water with a few drops fragrance free dishsoap. If there's heavy grease or grunge I mix a little dishoap in my hand with baking soda and a few drops alcohol, apply the paste, give it a few minutes and scrub it off. Did you know that really nasty, stinky , toxic oven cleaner can be replaced with sprinkled on baking soda and kept moist with the spray solution for an hour or so and then wiped off? It will take up all but the most stubborn baked on stains. Repeat and those are removed as well. Another excellent scouring powder to replace toxic bleach infused commercial one's is simple borax. Borax is also great for cleaning petroleum stains. I once cleaned my mother-in-law's pink recliner, that my brother-n-law had grunged with motor oil and filth until it was grey, with a solution of a handful of borax and squirt of dish soap in a mop bucket of water. I wiped it down with the moisten rag repeatedly. It took a couple of changes of "water," it was filthy. The point being that for pennies on the dollar you can have effective, healthier cleaning products that don't cause problems that send you to the doctor. Borax, sprinkled over the carpet, and broomed in, left an hour or so, then vacuumed out takes out the odor, and much of the dirt that doesn't get removed by regular vacuuming. Freshens both the carpet and the vacuum. Depending on your monthly expense for cleaning products my group of subscribers (to my holistic website) reported a savings of $500-$1000/year. Not counting the health savings. Just a few thoughts...

Marilyne · October 11, 2025, 12:54:33 PM

Good morning everyone. Hope that all those looking in will have a nice Autumn Saturday. A beautiful day ahead here, and also tomorrow . . . but looks like we might finally get some real rain on Monday! Hoping the predictions turn out to be correct this time.

Some beautiful and interesting new pictures this morning in Photos Old and New, taken by Bubble's daughter Illy, of their trip to New York City. This trip is Aviv's Bar Mitzvah present. (Illy's son). Lucky Lynn, got to go along as well. She's already done a lot of traveling for a two year old!

OLM - Thanks for the tip on using Borax, for carpet cleaning. I'm going to try it today on a section of carpet in the bedroom that has an unpleasant odor. I have no idea what was spilled there, or how long ago?
Younger daughter was here yesterday, and did some shopping for me at Whole Foods Mkt. Lots of fresh organic produce there in the store on Fridays, for the weekend. Still some nice heirloom tomatoes available from Southern Cal. Avocados now only available from South America? Not sure about those? No stickers or information on the packaging?

OnLonelyMountain · October 11, 2025, 09:13:51 PM

Marilynne, be sure to let me know how it goes!😃

Marilyne · October 13, 2025, 01:57:51 PM

I woke up sometime during the night, to watch/witness, the release of the twenty young Israeli hostages, who were kidnapped two years go and held captive in the dark damp underground tunnels of Gaza. Seeing the love and happiness on the faces of the men and their loved ones, as they were reunited, was an emotional and uplifting experience for me. Twenty other Israeli hostages, did not survive, but will also be returned.

I have other things to mention today, so will return later. Hoping that the start of this new week is a good day for you and will get even better as the week rolls on. So far it's a Happy Monday.

Ciaobella · October 14, 2025, 11:09:46 AM

Good morning, all! It's been a bit since I last posted, seems the days and weeks just fly by especially since my grandkids are back in school and their sports and activities have kept us on the go, along with our church book club and Euchre beginning. Anyway, it's good to read through your posts.

OLM, I am so sorry you and your dogs are going through the reactions of the pesticides. I pray you get rain, and things will get better.

Marilyne, I watched the release of the hostages yesterday and my hubby and I were so emotional seeing them hug their loved ones for the first time in two years. This is historical not to mention Biblical.

Reading about healthcare just gives me so much pause...I went to the ER last December with what I am certain was food poisoning, yet for some reason they decided to do a scan and came back and told me there was a very small scarring at the top of my liver. After them asking me all the questions that would give reason for this and determining there is nothing in my diet or lifestyle that falls under reasons that would cause any damage, they put on my chart cirrhosis of the liver. I also have never had any history of high blood pressure, yet they sent me home with a script for high blood pressure telling me it would probably be discontinued. After taking the pill each morning, I was experiencing light headedness and feeling faint. I reported it to my GI doctor's nurse practitioner, and they cut the dosage in half. My primary care physician was very perplexed when I went to him for a follow up stating there is no history of high blood pressure and no symptoms or reason for liver disease. The GI doctor is doing scans and scopes to monitor but the only treatment has been an anti-reflux pill in the morning.

After talking to my sister who was head of a hematology lab for over 25 yrs., she told me not to question it because that it is common for a diagnosis to be put on a chart for insurance approval of payments. I was talking to my neighbor, and she said her doctor put congestive heart failure on her chart and when she questioned him and asked point blank "Do I have congestive heart failure." He refused to say yes or no but it was explained it's for insurance purposes. Talking to other friends and family members around my age (73) or older, I am learning more and more are telling me the same story. So, needless to say I am becoming very skeptical where healthcare is concerned.

Here in Ohio, it is a beautiful sunny Fall Day, so we plan to go to a local park and enjoy the color changes.

Marilyne · October 14, 2025, 03:14:38 PM

Ciaobella, So good to see your post this morning.
I remember you telling us about your trip to the ER last year, and your unexpected diagnosis of liver scarring? I agree that cirrhosis is out of the question for you, and I'm wondering why they put you on BP meds? I've had some bad reactions to meds, so I always question the doctors when they prescribe something new. I had an allergic reaction to my first Covid shot, (Moderna) and went for well over a year before Novavax became available. So far I've had that vaccine in 2023, 24, and will be getting it this year as well. I'm thankful for no reaction whatsoever.

Yes, watching the hostage release was an emotional experience! The massive crowds of welcome, were something that people can't relate to here in the USA, in our comfortable little bubble. However, those of us in the oldest living generation, remember the excitement of the public gatherings, when WWII ended. Also large gatherings as the troop ships pulled into port, and as the trains and buses arrived in cities across America.

I enjoyed hearing from you, and I'm hoping that you continue to post, and keep us informed on what's going on in your life.

OLM, My message to you today, is one of THANKS! Your suggestion to sprinkle Boric Acid on the mysterious carpet odor worked . . .just as you said it would! We followed your directions, left it on an hour, and the vacuumed it up. No more bad smelly carpet! Also it looks clean and the whole room seems to smell fresh. Hope you're feeling much better this week?

OnLonelyMountain · October 16, 2025, 01:14:35 PM

Good morning Ciaobella, Marilynne and all,

I too welcomed the hostages release and the peace treaty in the middle east. I am not Jewish, my great grandmother was. I've always had a heart for Israel. Their persecutions hurt my heart, as do the persecutions of Christians. It is an amazing, and Biblical time.

I'm glad you were able to post Ciaobella, and share whats been been happening in your life. I'm not surprised about the medical insurance fraud. My sister, who ran assisted living facilities, discovered it was rampant. She also found her residents were being over, and inappropriately, medicated. Dr.s get kickbacks for every Rx they issue. Its terrible. The Bible tells us they will make merchandise of us. This is one area they do.

Thank you for your expressions of sympathy. Things are getting better. One more week and it should be safe enough for me to resume outside activities. Yay!

Marilynne, I'm so glad it was effective! Also yay!🎉

I am improving. I'm treating the damage with homeopathic remedies. This is the first year I've tried this. Its so much better than allopathics I've used in the past.

My biggest issue at present is heat. It was 25°F outside this morning. 48°F inside on rising. Ron and I discussed it this morning. His comment was in effect, we've jury rigged every other system, how about we jury rig the wood stove? Well, he'd figured out how to do that (safely and that won't mess us up for later). So Saturday, I'll have my wood cookstove installed. I'll have heat and cooking thats not dependent on electricity. That will give me plenty of electricity for lights and charging devices. And I will be warm and not damp. Yay!!! 💃🏻🥰

patricia19 · October 16, 2025, 01:48:40 PM

Michael wants to preserve only the active S&F postings

Your thoughts? Proposed board reorganization

Quote from: Oldiesmann on October 15, 2025, 10:08:02 PMI noticed that some boards aren't used much these days and am thinking of rearranging/reorganizing things to clean up the clutter some. Let me know what you think.

"Talk About Photography" and "Computer Art" - no posts in either board since this forum was restarted in 2018. Delete these since nobody is using them anyway

Rearrange other boards based on popularity - currently they're in alphabetical order in each category but some are more popular than others. "Computer Store" hasn't seen any new posts since 2021 but "Village Clubhouse" sees new posts almost daily.

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Marilyne · October 23, 2025, 11:43:50 AM

Good Morning to all who look in today, , and all others as well. Same old California weather here. Dry and sunny every day, but the days are short now, and seem to go by much faster. We rarely get frost or rain before Halloween, but I'm really looking forward to it this year. Lots of allergies here, so we need rain and wind to clean the air.

I'm wondering if Daylight Savings will continue on per usual this year? There have been lot of news articles extolling both the pro's and con's?
The present Administration likes DST, and wants it to be year-around, so I suppose that will happen in the next couple of years? I prefer Standard Time, but I know I'm in the minority.

This week has been busier than usual. Tuesday we went to the pharmacy and got our Covid vaccine. Both of us got Novavax this time. Today I have a dentist appointment for a filling, so that will take up most of the afteernoon.

Special Hello to our regular posters - Ciaobella, OLM, Patricia, Callie, MarsGal, Rick, Jackie, and to everyone else who happens to read this message! Hoping to hear from all of you.

RAMMEL · October 23, 2025, 01:55:26 PM

Quote from: Marilyne on October 23, 2025, 11:43:50 AMLots of allergies here, so we need rain and wind to clean the air.

Rain, OK --- But (IMHO) the wind just stirs up the allergens.

OnLonelyMountain · October 23, 2025, 05:32:30 PM

Marilynne, I just wish they'd pick one and stick with it. The time change is ridiculous!

Vanilla-Jackie · October 23, 2025, 06:07:28 PM

Our UK clocks go back an hour this coming Sunday - 26th October

RAMMEL · October 23, 2025, 06:53:00 PM

Quote from: OnLonelyMountain on October 23, 2025, 05:32:30 PMMarilynne, I just wish they'd pick one and stick with it. The time change is ridiculous!

That's my feeling too. Pick one or the other, we can learn to live with it.

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