Just dropping by to let everyone who might remember me that I'm still alive and kicking. Had a bad year with bi-lateral breast cancer with 3 lumpectomies and Radiation treatments, but so far, a year out, I'm still clear. Not fun but I have a great Surgeon. She even convinced the HMO to do all those DNA Genetic tests to see if my family history has any predisposition to cancer of any type. Turns out Nope. This is good to know, since I always told everyone that there was NO cancer in my family line. Well, my Sister somehow forgot to tell me that she had a small malignancy removed 2 years before mine was diagnosed. Would have been helpful if I knew that 3 years ago. In any case, I'm doing fine, won the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes... REALLY. Got $1000.00 unexpectedly. Nice. And then yesterday, I bought a California Lottery Scratch off, and I won $500.00! Surprised me so I took it to my neighbor to verify I wasn't hallucinating. It was real, and today I have a nice stack of 'emergency' cash in my desk. Sooooo thrilled. NOW to win the BIG one. I'd probably give a load of it away to friends and groups that save Feral Cats. Gotta spread the love. So just saying HI to anyone who might have been wondering what I was up to. Hugs to all.

Hi there, Sorta! I sure do remember you and have often wondered how you were doing and what was going on. So nice to see you here! That is marvelous about the five hundred dollar scratcher and the PCH money - it's good to know that somebody actually wins these things!

Very sorry about your medical issues but it sounds like you are doing well. I am sure it was very difficult, going through all of that, and here's to better days ahead. Big hugs to you, and thanks so much for keeping us posted.

Hi Sorta Blonde! Good to hear you are doing okay despite the health issues!

Sorta, you have been on my mind for the last month or so! I've definitely been wondering what you were up to. Sounds like it's not been a fun time for you at all, but SO glad to hear you are all clear for now!

Don't be a stranger!

Good to know Sorta Blonde that you are all clear for now! And Congrats to your winfall and make sure you spoil yourself with those winnings, you deserve it.

Sorta Blonde so nice to see you posting. Glad to hear you are doing well and clear of cancer after a year! How are you doing with your neighbors? Any new issues? How good of you to share your winnings to help care for feral cats.

Don't be a stranger!

Gerry

Good to hear from you. Glad you beat it!!! And WOW not one but 2!!!! Treat yourself well and love that you are thinking is sharing your good luck. 👍

I do remember you, and congratulations on still being cancer-free. That must be such an enormous relief.

Nice to see some of the 'old' guys still here. I'm doing OK and doing my part to make sure ferals, skunks, possums, and raccoons (all who eat at my deck table) are well fed. So cute to watch and ravenous of course. I'll check in occasionally. As for the 'neighborhood', all is calm. Got some awesome Tenants who have been here for 3 years this month. A few hiccups but it's never been so quiet and we are all happy. My other Tenant has been here since 2003 (20 years) and he's my best buddy. Comes up every night to watch TV and brings really good recorded stuff from the BBC. Next door neighbor is 93 this year and going strong. Guy across the street who has shunned me for 10 years now decided to stomp across the road when the police were towing away an abandoned car (I didn't call it in, my 93 yr old neighbor did) but the Shunner attacked me and blamed me for all the problems of the world despite 2 other neighbors trying to tell him I wasn't responsible for anything. I try to avoid him because he's so unpredictable. Scary guy. Can't even go out to my mailbox without him staring at me. Not a real problem, but just so weird. Didn't like the 'attack', but we are all chalking that up to some mental condition maybe. Other than that snafu, things are fine. Hoping all of YOU are doing as well. I'll be back occasionally to check in, hopefully more often.

Sorta, laughing at your " well-fed raccoons!" Had to close the horse rescue tonight and we are having major problems with the little critters causing havoc. They have videos of them climbing up on top of each other to reach the top of the door to the feed room! Grain is now kept in a room with a closed door. Several years ago when I was doing the night closing every night, I would occasionally find an employee had left a feed room door open. One night I closed it and unfortunately I closed in three baby raccoons! Who proceeded to have a PARTY! They tore open every bag of grain, trash was strewn everywhere and a general mess was made!

Hey Ho Sorta ... it's wonderful to see you and hear the good news ... congratulations with your winnings ... totally agree with your mindset on winning the big one as we would too ... take care and stay safe and stay in touch!

Ohhh Draclvr,

I had a raccoon major problem a few months back. Seems one or more of them tore open a screen to my laundry room, got in, tore open 2 bags of cat food, tore into my laundry hampers (canvas) ate parts of 3 paper towel rolls, left pieces all over the place, knocked over a load of little bottles and other things, BUT the worst part was: In the morning, I found wet, muddy, FOOT PRINTS coming out of my shower stall, into the bedroom, back out, and then back to the laundry room which is from the front of the house to the back. Little rascals were IN my bedroom while I slept. So scary. Finally found the torn screen area, and no more critters IN my house. Was a big mess. Now they just come to eat all the goodies on the communal feeding table as usual.Cute little hands grabbing stuff. I have raccoons, possums, skunks and of course the feral cats (3 of them about 7 years old all neutered, etc.). Everyone waits their turn and leaves food for the next species and SOME eat together after a bit of 'posturing'. Amazing to see a skunk and raccoon eating head to head on the same plate of food. Same with possums. They have learned that cooperation gets them fed. Same groups come back each season to have babies and then go away and leave the little ones and then they grow up and leave too. Critter cam is in the living room next to the TV and it's such fun to watch the action on the table at night. I have small step ladders for them to climb to the table top and it takes a while for each new batch to learn how to do that. So CUTE especially when a few are not so savvy and fall off. Don't know why I laugh, but they aren't hurt, just have to try again until they figure it out. Right now the count is 3 feral cats, 1 huge raccoon (probably pregnant), 3 adult skunks (grew from babies), and 2 adult possums with ONE baby. There were 3 babies, but the raccoon ate them. UGH. Actually saw it grab one. Yuk, nothing I could do. It was so small. Raccoon also uses the water dishes to 'wash' its food and leaves a real mess for me in the morning of its goodies. Unfortunately some of those goodies are unidentifiable remains of small critters. Yukky, but the circle of life goes on.

Sorta, great to see you back and have more of your fascinating and often laugh out loud tales of life !

Oh my SortaB ... you need to write a book ... the circle of life can certainly be savage at times ... have a good day!

Hi Sorta Blonde 😊

Nice to see you back here !!

Cheers.

Mad

I agree Lex and soot ...Sorta has a unique way of telling her amazing life experiences! Hats off to you Sorta!

Gerry

If I ever do write a book, you know you will ALL be in it somehow, someway. Could be a best seller. Yep.

I'm down with that, Sorta! LOL!

Go Girl! I'll be on the "hold" list for first addition!

Gerry

You could start by collecting together some of your old GB posts in a novella/diary/taster to be self published on Amazon, probably quite marketable for a few cents/pence, or perhaps even as a freebie to introduce yourself to a wider audience...

Good to see you Sorta, I would be one of the first to read your book.

Now thats a great idea Lex!

Gerry