@Blueberrybook:

Thanks for writing such a detailed post about the therapeutic benefits of drawing. I enjoyed seeing your drawings, especially the one of the boxing gloves, such an unusual subject-choice of a sketch. You first foray into working with color is excellent. I think you'll really enjoy your new colored art supplies.

Thanks also for your inspiring story about ridding yourself of benzos. I just have five milligrams of valium to go, which is a tiny amount, but i still don't like being addicted. Thanks for pointing out that melatonin and valerian are all-natural options. I must look into them as i am averaging only three hours a night.

Thanks for being the "Mother Hen" here, especially when i am too busy to assume the duty myself. We all appreciate your thoughtful and courageous feedback.

Thanks for speaking honestly and directly to Mountiandewed, as i've also been uneasy with the amount of OTC stuff they take, and not acting in their own best interests, and enabling them here by entertaining their self-destructive behavior. It was very good of you!

@Blue_Bird:

Hope you are enjoying your break. The bad news of the world is a bit much, i agree. I don't watch news at all, because of that, and because i believe the media exists to keep people stupid, and not demanding economic justice, as i studied during my Mass Communications degree in the late eighties. Hope you are getting back to drawing, Blueberrybook sings it's praises as a therapy. Who is Papi? Is that a cat you have taken in on behalf of a neighbor?

@LadyShadow:

Love the hair! I sometimes dye my grey hair turquoise. It's a semi-permanent vegetable dye. I feel tho that it attracts too much attention, and i have to be mindful of the fact that my neighbors are mostly seniors, who disprove of hair colors of unusual shades.

I have currently buzzed my turquoise hair off, because of my neighbors, and because it was too overpowering, and hard to dress for as only black really went with turquoise, which is not really ideal. I wear a lot of black, but i like some color once in a while.

I'm enjoying my buzzed hairdo. I have some really eye-catching toques, including a black one with a band of black sequins, that i have decorated with removable flower accents, and a lovely blue-and-green tye-dye ball cap.

It's nice to feel pretty!

The buzzed hairdo is so EASY too.

Who has time for hair?

@Blitter2014:

You have such a compassionate and wise vibe, i am really enjoying you. You are such a nice addition to our MSF family. One piece of good new i got about the world might cheer everyone up is this: it seems the human race has passed the point of INCREASING for the first time in history. It's called "The Last Child" phenomenon. I feel this is terrific news for us, as many of our problems as a species can be traced to simple overpopulation. I was heartened to hear this news, and i hope you and others here are encouraged as well.

@Mountaindewed:

I tried to insert a fun gif for you to wish you happy belated birthday, but had technical difficulties. So you'll just have to accept my sincere wishes for a belated happy birthday in prose. H@pPy BeL@TeD BiRtHd@Y MoUnT@iNdEwEd!!!!!!!

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I am doing well. My one close neighbor has been having a hard time, so i had her over for a beautiful luncheon and spoiled her rotten. She loved it, especially the dessert of fresh fruit and warm fondant chocolate dip.

I was pleased with my hostessing skills and am planning a small luncheon for our Family Day holiday here in Ontario, on February 17. It will likely just be three to five of us. I asked for RSVPs by Valentine's Day.

I'll rest and relax until then because hosting even a small group will necessitate moving my sofa into my bedroom temporarily, which will require removal of the metal legs to fit it thru the door, so that will be a day's work right there.

I've been saving like mad for about ten or fifteen years now and have quite a nest egg. My sister said not to be afraid to treat myself. So i bought a gorgeous set of dishes in a riot of color that suggest a Middle-Eastern vibe, plus these transfixing iridescent purple-and-turquoise utensils. They're so cool and i will enjoy dazzling my guests with my tableware.

Well, i'll stop there, since it's been a long post, and thank those who have made it thru til this point. I love all the brave strugglers here, and know that i support everyone, even if i did not mention you specifically.