Posting will resume in November 2025
Holiday Decorations
Many years ago, a neighbor asked me to removed a 4 foot autumn scarecrow, (overalls, shirt and hat) because her husband was terminally ill, and it reminded her of death.
I removed it within the hour. I didn’t question her or try to change her mind. The scarecrow was a yearly display other residents enjoyed. Nobody complained to me when I took it down . Those that approached me were as sympathetic as me.
PTSD. You don’t know what might bother you or even understand why. Even if you don’t have PTSD, anyone can be bothered by something. That may be simple to other people or feel silly, but to the person triggered, the discomfort, to varying degrees, can be severe physically and mentally.
Unfortunately for me, a particular display I don’t like, that makes me uncomfortable, has been put outside where I see it every time I walk out my front door. In other places, it doesn’t bother me.
I didn’t ask that it be removed. I asked that it be hung elsewhere, facing away from my front door, and/or not hung until 2 weeks before Halloween. It has been up since at least mid September.
My requests have been denied, as expected.
So I found a way to deal with it. My discomfort decreased until I arrive home from an errand today and see somebody positioned the display in such a way as to be in my face even more than just hanging there. I sent another email to management to ask that the display be hung without gestures.
PTSD. About the bothers. When a trigger happens, it does not go away quickly unless it can be stopped or removed. The discomfort can take a long time to subside. The episode is a painful time for a person with PTSD. It is in many ways similar to adjusting your life to avoid panic or anxiety attacks.
If you are confronted with a situation that bothers a person, with or without PTSD, try to reach a compromise, be compassionate, and fair. Please, don’t laugh or be dismissive towards the person suffering.
Adding. Non visual disabilities are often difficult for people to grasp because they have no evidence to help them identify, to understand.
Non visual disability persons have to speak up for others to learn. However, that can mean explaining more about their condition than a person should need to. Reactions differ. I don’t use my PTSD condition. I believe a person voicing their discomfort should be enough.
Laughter and anger aren’t good reactions in response to anyone voicing their discomfort.
Day 297 of Week 43 October 2025
Hello to the last weekend of October 2025. Can you believe we are already at the door of November? It is wild! I'm happier about November than I was about October.
The first couple of weeks of the 10th month, I was not feeling well. News, Allergies and digestive issues put me in a slump of blahs. I kept going as tasks piled up, stuff went undone, missed opportunities blurred like a bird in the corner of my eye flying by the window. That was only a week ago, but it feels like a year ago.
Age is not the issue. Young people can have slumps of blahs as well.
For all ages, I believe, that eating right and exercise are the keys to the city of better health.
I do calisthenics along with a few other exercises, (when I remember to do them). This morning, I discovered the reason I have lower back strain so often is that I hold too long/tighten muscles before the release. Duh on me.
In winter, being smart, lotion is my friend. Dry elbows bug me. They have to be smooth and well cared for. If I was on a blind date and saw a crackly old ashy elbow, then I would have to make an excuse to leave. It wouldn't really be a lie because gagging would be an issue.
🐦🐻🍁
Last week I put out a small amount of bird seed. My deck is a bird's food source. As soon as the temperatures drop, the birds are there looking around. I wait until a hard frost or few just in case there are bears roaming around.
Have a Smooth Weekend!
Bake a pumpkin
Make homemade soup
Browse colorful scarves online
Tell a maple leaf a funny story
Draw a forest with a full Moon
Shop for a new house plant
Sing to your front door
Rainy Autumn Thoughts
The early hours out my window here in Vermont have been mostly dark with rain clouds. A few minutes ago, I saw blue sky. Now, I need to put a lamp on. Outside it is windy and raining again. Once the blustery episode passes, blue skies will return. 
I hear thunder. The moody atmosphere builds. I take another gulp of hot chocolate and glance out the window. Most of the trees are at peak while a tall maple shows only the first tinges of gold. I will miss the gray sky when the blue returns.
The mood of the daylight darkness stirs thoughts of Edgar Allen Poe, a cozy corner on the sofa, hot chocolate, and a good book (or film). Escaping into the creative literary world is the umbrella we hold over our souls to keep our feelings from washing away from lack of attention. Care for me, whispers to us as the chill, we know is out there, makes us shiver.
More thunder. The sky is clearing, lighter, less gray. Branches wiggle instead of sweep through in the air. There is a steady drip sound on the patio. The weather radar says, Hold on there just a minute.
Search Frustration for Health Care
Many may have read in the news that Medicare* supplemental health insurance search windows are open in Vermont.
In the news, two Medicare supplemental health insurance providers are pulling out of Vermont as of 2026, Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Healthcare. Easy to find and read information.
That is not the case finding the answer to the question of what carriers are still available for Vermonters.
Every search result I clicked on requires information such as zip code, full name, and some, birth date and phone number*. None just list the carriers available in Vermont. The Medicare website requires having an account.
Get a Quote and Talk To An Agent, mean to me, phone calls I don’t want and weeks or months of emails.
I only want the name of the carrier, read about their policy online, search reviews online, and that’s it. No calls. No emails. No texts. When I decide on a carrier, then I will apply, talk to an agent so they get the credit.
* The Medicare 2026 booklet that comes in the mail, has carrier information.
* Note, in less than a half hour, I’ve received 2 medical robo-calls. Duh on me for entering my phone number when I first began searching online.
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| Autumn Afternoon Sunshine |
Autumn Photograph: Rain clouds
The prettiest skies are in the fall when trees are full of color against a dark gray sky.
Making the Most of October
Making the most of a season requires taking in all the parts that make you happy, inspire, and/or thrill you. Create rituals like going to a special location in the woods or a favorite diner or both.
October Suggestions:
- Embrace pumpkins ~ Hunt for the best ones, make pumpkin pie or cheesecake, cook roast pumpkin soup, wear a pumpkin tee shirt, paint a field of pumpkins, carve a pumpkin, decorate with pumpkins, attend a pumpkin chuckin’ event
- Watch Scary Movies ~ Both Hocus Pocus films are #1 because they are fun without much gross stuff.
- Read Scary Books ~ Stephen King reigns here as Salem’s Lot, is the scariest book I’ve ever read. I have yet to watch the entire movie without leaving the room.
- Nature ~ Be outdoors as much as possible being a leaf peeper hiker walker person. Bring along a thermos of hit mocha. Have picnics outdoors. Plein air paint.
Seasonal Issues
There are days when my thinking slides into reality like slipping on black ice. Listing the positive and negatives of life for review is a good thing to do. It forces me to yank out good things that I’d rather brush off as a fluke, not really meant to be.
But they are.
We are all meant to experience good.
Dwelling on the bad times is not good.
Feeling that life has too much negativity is normal.
Having it be the truth is a problem.
What to do about it varies. I'm sure talking to a trusted love one, friend or therapist is positive start. Then comes the work we have to put into ourselves.
Presently, this time of the year putting away summer and bringing out winter things can be a mess of indecision, clutter rising, and let's go outside to look at the leaves instead of box up this crap. Everywhere I look there are small areas of stuff needing attention. The pressure to get it all done makes me want to go out to buy potato chips.
Anyway, I won't buy them. I'll buy a candy bar* instead.
😎
* Bought a Nestle’s Chunky 😎
Day 290 if Week 42 October 2025
What a week of chilly this has been. Leaf peeper season is on the down side of peak for some areas in the lower elevations.
The no kings refers to America’s freedom to not be ruled by a monarch. It is a protest of the authoritarian rule taking over American’s government. The brazen erosion of democracy in America must be addressed.
The No Kings protest is Americans exercising their US Constitutional rights as stated in the First Amendment.
No Kings Protest is Americans lawfully and peacefully being Americans.
Have a No Kings Weekend!
God Bless America
Brrr Season
Cold weather is here!
After I wear a jacket two days in a row, it is officially winter to me. That is my signal to put a shovel and my collection of ice scrapers in the vehicle trunk. With deicer and gloves by the front door, and boots where I can find them, I feel blizzard ready.
What about the negative attitude towards winter? Where does that go to help me through the season?
Turn those not good feelings into thinking of winter as the season of I love soup, hot toddies, hot chocolate and Oh! How pretty !
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