MMA :texasflag:🇺🇸💄

You know you not right

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MMA@freeatlantis-com.mostr.pub

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nprofile1qqsdsgm5h56f7vkuwppjjtgafa9hrzz60782z35vmn0zpj0ydw50zwgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsms90ml

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Last Notes

2026-03-28 03:38:23 UTC

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@nprofile…2vq9
If the profile is new and no feedback……nope nope nope! Of course, I’m mostly looking for vintage stuff. Those are safer transactions and for the most part aren’t what’s going to get you in trouble (well…..only financially).

2026-03-26 23:05:26 UTC

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@nprofile…2vq9
You DO have to be really careful w FBMP. There's been a few times where I terminated a meet up because the person was acting funny. You get a feel for this kind of thing. And also I always read ratings and go on their profiles to peep who they are.
I won't buy electronics or jewelry on FBMP. That's an Ebay buy for sure-there's no buyer protection with FB! That's why I pretty much buy only stuff for the kitchen and vintage furniture on FB, which is almost always sold by females.

2026-03-23 16:32:46 UTC

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@nprofile…huvp
There is no fulfillment in life outside of the saving Grace of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. I don’t really need anything else to satisfy me.
There was a time in my life when the Lord allowed me to lose my marriage, my home, my job, almost all my material possessions, and custody of my youngest (handicapped) son in just 4 months’s time. It almost broke me.
The Lord gives and He takes away. Blessed be His Name.
He’s restored almost all of them to me. I am blessed/highly favored.

2026-03-23 03:22:21 UTC

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@nprofile…xsde
How nice of you to say!. Thank you for those very kind words. 😃

2026-03-23 01:59:34 UTC

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@nprofile…2vq9
LOL you got jokes

2026-03-22 20:01:06 UTC

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@nprofile…huvp
What do you mean YOU blushed. I was the one who was horribly embarrassed, not you! I'd think you'd be laughing at me for what a complete and utter ass I made of myself.
I still go down the shame spiral every time I think about that episode, which is every time I go to my kitchen in the middle of the night. Thankfully those neighbors were renters too, and they moved long ago. And I have the common sense to wear a bathrobe these days.
You WOULD have to bring that up again UGH

2026-03-22 17:28:50 UTC

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@nprofile…34vz
Thank you sweet Katherine. I just know the first thing puppy heard when he crossed into heaven was my mom's voice to welcome him. She always wanted to pet him and snuggle closer to him, but he was an alpha and never would accept that from her even though she was part of the pack and he'd protect her with his life.
Somehow I know they are sitting together now and she's finally able to pet Hattori the way she always wanted to.

2026-03-22 14:43:22 UTC

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@nprofile…lkjx
Thank you -- these projects are like occupational therapy. They really help me process my grief. I'm still crying every day over losing my mom and my puppy, but not as long or as hard. Creating with my hands helps heal my heart so much. I have no idea why, but it works.
And as to your shout out to @nprofile…huvp ,
Bros before hoes LOL 😁

2026-03-22 14:15:19 UTC

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@nprofile…9sxf
Making lemonade from the shutdown lemon.

2026-03-22 13:45:37 UTC

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@nprofile…huvp
You are judging my intent and motivation entirely based on your own. The reason(s) you do things may not necessarily be mine.
I constantly am improving my living space because I'm wired that way. As an auditor I'm testing for efficiency. The artist in me craves beauty. The sensual part of me desires luxury and comfort. I tweak my rooms until the space works, is pretty, comfy and harmonious.
This house is too small for me. It's a challenge to make it work, but it's a fun one.

2026-03-22 13:35:02 UTC

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@nprofile…zjjq
Thank you Ms Rose! You should see how dirty my fingernails are. No matter how much I wash my hands, I still can't get the brown paint out from under them! Probably going to cut them all off and start over.
I am relieved to have the foyer back to normal again. When I finally am ready to buy my own home, I'm going to look for one with a 3-car garage. That way, I can have one of them function as a dedicated workshop for all these projects!

2026-03-22 13:16:58 UTC

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@nprofile…0ff5
Cabinet, schnabinet. I'm still thinking about the pictures of your sourdough bread! Pure food porn.

2026-03-22 13:11:41 UTC

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@nprofile…04su
Thanks Lori
This cabinet brought some much needed color to the room. I never envisioned red in my living room, but these blue and white drapes are so powerful that they needed some competition.
My base colors for my entire home are red, yellow, green and blue. I do that purposefully because it allows me to swap things out and still have everything match. I originally was going to use the gold pillows and throws I had with the blue sectional, but the couches are now beige so 🤢 🤮

2026-03-22 12:53:07 UTC

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@nprofile…huvp
I am an artist. Making things beautiful is what the Lord created me to do. I've been doing creative stuff with my hands since I was 4 years old.
My dream job would be to have a multi- faceted business that incorporates all the things I do best-- custom work, staging, teaching art, and listing and selling property.
Until then, I work a desk job that isn't very creative. I do my projects because I need to practice! I also flip a lot of my projects and make extra money.

2026-03-22 06:06:41 UTC

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@nprofile…0phu
Thank you sweetie

2026-03-22 05:47:07 UTC

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There is a perfect vintage rug that I want for this room but it's in Virginia, and I'm not sure if a) it will still be available b) I'll be able to afford to travel this summer to get it.
I got hit with a huge tax obligation for '25 when I took out some of my retirement to travel to Virginia last summer for the service after my mom passed. My TSP withdrawal pushed me into a higher tax bracket. Now I understand why people post Go Fund Mes for these expenses: So they don't get hit with taxes!

2026-03-22 05:33:57 UTC

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Because these were custom made way back in the 80s and the fabric was a Waverly long since discontinued I ended up finding scraps of fabric to complete the remake on ebay to finish the job. Their workmanship was very good. I extended both treatments by attaching additional board to each side. It took a 30-inch eextension for the bigger one (and 18 for the smaller one) before they would fit my living room windows. After adjusting the swags, I refolded and repositioned the jabots.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/179/061/618/815/original/2981f3afe3a19884.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/179/508/893/012/original/f747d0ed066b4308.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/179/170/676/469/original/7754b164601cc23b.jpg

2026-03-22 05:25:34 UTC

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@nprofile…yxqg
Like everythjng they were on FBMP. They were in a bedroom off the garage. The owners were moving to a bigger mansion (!!!l) and they put them up for pennies on the dollar. I picked these up at night in November so it was too dark to see much but I KNEW it was a great neighborhoodand that the house was palatial and very Old Money. When I looked up their address on Zillow the next day, I was astonished. 4.5M-5.8M!

2026-03-22 05:20:39 UTC

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And here are a few close-up pictures of the details, since it's hard to see them from that far. The light is dark since it's very late when I'm taking these.
I'll see if the cabinet looks much different in the morning light, and will update the pictures if they are better.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/126/527/192/471/original/548f7d5efaa0d429.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/128/947/309/109/original/0348755fb006d46e.jpg

2026-03-22 05:08:10 UTC

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After I finished painting the gold glaze over the trim, I painted over the golden areas with a crackle medium so that a mosaic of lines would develop in the glaze.
It takes 24 hours to show the lines. If it doesn't crack to my satisfaction, I'll go over the trim again. Meanwhile I put the table where it was supposed to be, so I could enjoy it. Here is my completed cabinet!
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/091/725/935/684/original/334596580f93c98d.jpg

2026-03-22 05:03:46 UTC

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The pourable acrylic was very runny and was not meant to cover like a regular paint would, so it was a good choice. The glaze distributed the shimmering gold further apart in its medium, so the application seemed a much lighter gold. And the glaze gave off a beautiful pearl nacre, which contrasted with the matte effect of the red and ivory paints.
It was very easy to paint over every ivory- painted area. The gold covered the trim, but it didn't change the color. It just enhanced it.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/075/307/056/780/original/a1e054a5fc9d7083.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/075/344/662/561/original/f3bc77e79b9ea240.jpg

2026-03-22 04:53:29 UTC

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I wasn't done yet, though. The cabinet needed more dimension! So, I rummaged through my paint inventory and pulled up a "pourable acrylic" paint in metallic antique gold, and an unopened jar of pearlescent glaze I bought years back. I poured equal amounts of both into a ramekin and mixed them together with a tongue depressor. I left some of the glaze on the wood to dry so I could preview the effect. What I was trying to do was gild the trim, but without it looking like solid gold paint.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/035/311/370/455/original/57fd61997ee8161a.jpg

2026-03-22 04:46:41 UTC

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When I completed this step, the cabinet did not have as strong of a contrast between the ivory and the red. The brown was a bridge that harmonized the colors.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/271/008/251/828/044/original/1b174791620c01f7.jpg

2026-03-22 04:43:18 UTC

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The ivory paint looked much better after I washed the brown over everything. The accents came to life once the dark color was worked into the lines and spotlighted the cabinet's details. I made sure to work the brown into the red paint too, because there were many other lines that needed contrast. The texture of the cabinet grabbed the brown paint and held it beautifully. As I wiped, I left a lot of the paint in the corners and on the surface for an antiquing effect.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/994/229/190/360/original/bdb05545734296a9.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/994/242/230/892/original/0b6ff030856c4806.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/994/249/166/826/original/5f76269a7941e4f2.jpg

2026-03-22 04:36:04 UTC

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So I did some very bold things to mute the color contrast. I mixed brown and black paint and began applying it to the surface: I painted lines with small brushes and I swept a larger brush over the decor accents and the framing. My goal was to force the brown paint into every crevice, mute the ivory and make it look aged 100 years.
The brown paint was latex and dried very quickly. As I applied it, I wiped it off. I had to work one small area at a time so it didn't completely dry.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/966/081/005/845/original/a2386f94ff9b7ee4.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/966/086/846/340/original/2b3bd855dbba58d4.jpg

2026-03-22 04:27:10 UTC

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I started to worry a little because the decorative accents and the framing on the doors was looking like a blur of white with no distinct details. And I couldn't keep the lines straight for anything!. The contrast between the colors seemed to highlight every mistake I made in painting straight edges.
It took 3 days to do the base painting. I had to lean the cabinet back to get the bottom parts painted without making mistakes.
It wasn't perfect. And, there seemed to be too much contrast.☹️
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/923/769/009/594/original/9f78225a4d7df6df.jpg

2026-03-22 04:19:45 UTC

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Next, I applied the red. The red is darker, but it's not as opaque as the ivory because of its base. A white-base paint is thick and heavy, like woolen socks. Pigment for dark paints have to be suspended in a clear base, not a white one, or they would go pastel. So, they tend to be sheer and cover lightly, like panty hose.
Dark paints usual require several coats. This was true for me, especially when I edged the areas I first painted ivory. It took 3 coats of red to cover.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/902/366/209/057/original/a8e2e0fc88efb1a7.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/902/365/336/866/original/9660f1732fd2e5f0.jpg

2026-03-22 04:12:10 UTC

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I was very happy with my $60 investment. I had Chinese red oil paint left over from another job and I decided to use it on this cabinet.
The manufacturer used a texturing technique to give the cabinet the appearance that it was old and had been painted many times. Its rough surface made painting the straight lines very difficult! I had to use a small painting guide to keep things aligned.
First I painted the trim a vintage ivory. My fingers were aching from holding the brush so precisely.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/872/879/347/147/original/0b1a3c28e7b9686f.jpg

2026-03-22 04:03:19 UTC

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It turned out to be a nice replica that probably was from a place like Ashley Furniture? or a little better. Tag on the back said "Made in Chy-na" and manufacturer date was 2014.
Interestingly, the FBMP algorithm captured those images and another cabinet, the exact same one, showed up in my feed yesterday. This seller was slick, though. He asked $500 then that joker raised the price to $650! He had people interested too!
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/836/910/632/445/original/0cd3014bd78e341b.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/836/924/889/471/original/44656bb649b8fda7.jpg

2026-03-22 03:56:05 UTC

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I have been home with the shutdown so there's time on my hands I wouldn't normally have. I didn't think it would go so long, TBH.
Anyway, I had another angel drop on FBMP, which was an unusual cabinet. It grabbed my attention immediately! It is pretty versatile, I could see it iworking n a foyer, in a bathroom, in a home office, or even as a sofa table because it isn't very deep. And it was just sixty bucks!
I literally bought it sight unseen, prepaid at once and picked up that afternoon.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/809/198/952/996/original/011b64e497386b64.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/809/203/476/741/original/5af71e6774f09556.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/116/270/809/203/880/354/original/756904d4b49da4df.jpg

2026-03-22 03:47:58 UTC

Hey everybody
Checking in
I have been working a lot with my hands to try to get myself to a better place emotionally. It is what I do when I'm feeling overwhelmed. That, and purposefully expressing gratitude.
My living room has morphed into a different kind of space because of the repurposed drapes I got out of a mansion, back in November. They are so elaborate and a blue/white Chinoiserie print which dominates the room. Now it needs way more color than my neutral biscuit- gold couches.

2026-02-27 18:06:57 UTC

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@nprofile…79zq @nprofile…t8xs @nprofile…4jra @nprofile…mr5j @nprofile…pzcx
I literally just tossed all my voter materials!!

2025-11-25 16:35:32 UTC

https://open.substack.com/pub/vigilantfox/p/how-mind-control-ruined-thanksgiving?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=wtfmi

2025-10-21 04:11:57 UTC

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It’s solid mahogany and in 3 pieces. It is structurally okay but needed some work. It was dry and faded and the connector bolts, adjustable feet and shelves for the two smaller sides were missing. I’ve had to make a template (horribly tedious) to cut new shelves, order hardware, and re-condition the wood. I soaked the wood with an entire bottle of Old English and let it just absorb the oil. Then I used paste wax inside and out. I’m still working on it as we speak. I’ll post more pics soon!

2025-10-21 04:06:32 UTC

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@nprofile…sjdt
Yes, the doors could also be glass, but since there are drawers behind them the mirrors hide that. There is another configuration of this piece that has four doors and just shelves inside, no drawers. The bottom is also storage shelves behind four doors. I loved that and wished I could afford it, because I needed something in the dining room that stores my serving pieces but hides them away so you don’t see the boxes etc. I settled for this instead:
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/410/179/640/705/992/original/d0551899a514314b.jpg

2025-10-14 20:40:45 UTC

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Here it is, so you can compare the Before to the After!!
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/374/446/431/477/917/original/cd5ab5a76f3287b7.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/374/452/683/267/951/original/33475b5744ac0e58.jpg

2025-10-14 16:25:03 UTC

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So what I did was to cut thick Manila file folders to size and slip them between the lattice work and the mirrors. I wish that I'd found plastic ones but I had to make do with what I had. For the most part, these worked just fine. The only difficulty I had was removing them once my project was finished. It took an ex-acto knife and razor blades to cut the file folders out in pieces; I was not able to remove them easily.

2025-10-14 16:24:18 UTC

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The lattice work on the doors was a particular challenge because it was over mirrors, not wood. I did not relish cleaning up the mirrors with a razor blade! The corners were tiny squares, especially tight to maneuver with a razor and therefore difficult to scrape clean. I could not remove the mirrors from the doors because they were sealed with a rubber gasket to keep them from shifting. I knew that I'd never be able to get back those gaskets back place neatly. I needed a good solution!
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/444/005/627/152/original/39e1e09f3627b944.jpg

2025-10-14 16:11:04 UTC

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The latex dried much faster than the oil paints, so not a few times I was caught off- guard and had to correct my mistakes. This was not difficult to do; I just dipped my spine in some water and smoothed off the mistake and tried again. Some artists use a spray bottle; this technique does not work well for me so I erase and reapply a new coat instead.
Here's a picture of one of my "oops!":
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/391/556/325/177/original/fdf31b064bd9749c.jpg

2025-10-14 16:07:46 UTC

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The first accent was a lighter yellow. I brushed this on with an almost-dry paint sponge, again going with the wood grain. What I wanted to do was soften and mute the deep yellow so it would give off almost a glowing effect. The mustard color by itself is very stark. It would have been fine in a minimalist environment but I needed it to coordinate with my existing furniture, not dominate it. I also chose a satin finish rather than a high gloss for the same reasons...harmony and subtlety.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/375/935/976/266/original/9f8ae1a8767dca14.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/377/051/790/795/original/948114cbf90e2e84.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/379/215/114/531/original/696551d95f3094b1.jpg

2025-10-14 16:00:09 UTC

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Painting the interior of the top cabinet was the worst. I had a migraine after doing this part from all the chemicals! It pushed me back an entire day because I had to rest and get past that.
The second coat went on much faster. I was happy to close up my oil-based enamel and move on to accent colors. These were all latex-base paints. I didn't need a lot, so I just got paint samples! These weren't available at Home Depot when I first started refinishing furniture and could have used them!

2025-10-14 15:45:01 UTC

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I took my time and very carefully painted the pieces, making sure that both got lots of those authentic brush marks. The oil paint was a dream to paint with but I can see why it's not a big seller. It's really stinky and it gets you high and not in an enjoyable way. I had to open windows and put a fan in the foyer window to pull the smell out of the house. Puppy went upstairs to escape! I had to soldier and suffer through but I left the house frequently to get fresh air. We took pups with!

2025-10-14 15:35:23 UTC

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The reason deep colors require a sheer base is to prevent the colors from going pastel on you. For instance, if you put any red into a white base, you'll get pink paint as the result. So the darker colors like navy, red or black go into a base that's mostly clear so the color isn't lightened by the white.
I did not expect this yellow to need a deep base, but it sure did! Once I started to apply it onto the door, I could see how rich and intense the color was and I understood a lot better!
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/249/730/561/377/original/42674df4755328c1.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/249/765/270/086/original/72bae730977159b4.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/250/493/452/059/original/780da8339fc519d8.jpg

2025-10-14 15:28:36 UTC

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I love to apply the first coat of paint! For this project I got myself the top of the line brush, a one- inch angled one. Ooooooo was the color magnificent! Back in the day when I was a homemaker raising my kids, I worked part- time at Home Depot in the paint department to make ends meet. So I know paint! And, I was so surprised that this yellow required a deep base rather than a white one. When you have a deep base it's mostly pigment in the can, in a sheer medium to deliver the color.

2025-10-14 15:23:58 UTC

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Now I could start on the base coat! I got a ton of paint samples and looked at them in natural lighting to get the best shade. What I wanted was to do was match these pieces as closely as possible to my own vintage bedroom suite, which is also painted. The in-vogue color of that time was a yellowed-ivory kind of thing. When I looked closely though I noticed shading, and stippling, and even scraping was used to artistically age the pieces. I chose 1 base color and 3 colors to accent/age.

2025-10-14 15:18:32 UTC

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So many folks do not take time to do this because they figure that paint will be covering the primer anyway. This is a mistake! The brush marks show right through so you want to have everything as aligned with the wood grain as possible. It only took one quart to do both pieces. Just as I suspected, the fretwork did get a lot of drips... so it was a good decision to go with the oil based primer.
After my primer set, I went over both pieces again with super fine sandpaper and wiped clean.

2025-10-14 15:17:03 UTC

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I decided to use oil based primer and paint, a first for me. The reason I choose that medium was the extended drying time. I suspected that the liquid would pool in the fretwork regardless of how carefully I painted, and it would cause drips. I wanted to be able to go back and smooth those areas again without causing the surface to gum up.
The priming was only one coat, which I put on very carefully and brushed with the direction of the wood's natural grain.
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/179/478/181/140/original/6419c1401a6b03ff.jpg

2025-10-14 15:15:27 UTC

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The dust that this created was horrible! I have an aversion to masks because of COVID (!!!) but trust you me, I put one on for this work. I did not know what kind of chemicals were used in the original coating on the piece so I wanted to be safe rather than be sorry. (I also put the dog outside, because YOU try to put a mask on an Akita) It took a full dozen tack cloths to get all the fine debris off the pieces before I could begin painting.

2025-10-14 15:14:04 UTC

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So I decided to paint it, which is not normally something I do with vintage furniture. This time though, it was necessary! I took my time and very carefully filled in all the damaged areas with wood filler and smoothed the surfaces with extra fine sandpaper. This took a lot longer than you'd think! Some places I just needed to sand carefully.
After repairs were completed, I prepared the cabinet for priming. I took medium- fine sandpaper and roughed the entire surface of both pieces.

2025-10-14 14:47:04 UTC

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It needed a LOT of work, which is probably why the couple who I got it from never did anything with it. They told me they'd had it over 10 years and all that time, it just sat in their garage! The amount of work it required was intimidating: huge chunks out of one door and chips to the finish. It also has very intricate woodworking with lots of crevices. I could see immediately that it was too difficult to strip and re-stain the pieces because of all the wood filler needed, and the fretwork.

2025-10-14 14:43:39 UTC

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I never mentioned to mom that her time was drawing nigh....I just made every opportunity to facilitate those connections. I didn't look at the cabinet at all during that last month other than shifting the furniture out of the foyer into my bedroom so we could get the cabinet inside the house . I figured that I would work on it later, in that space. And so, it sat there ....from June until yesterday.
Once the government shut down I finally had time free, so I started restoring the piece.

2025-10-14 14:42:37 UTC

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My mom went downhill literally the day after we picked up that piece, so I never got the chance to show it to her. It just seemed frivolous and out of place with all the more compelling issues we were dealing with. Mom's energy was limited and her focus was narrowing down to family and food. I got her her favorite foods to try to keep her eating, visited every day, and helped her FaceTime with family.

2025-10-14 14:41:56 UTC

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Finally in June their house sold and they told me that the new owners wanted the cabinet if I wasn't able to get it. My mom was nearing death at this point and sleeping most of the time. So I got up at 3 am and hit the road to get the cabinet. We got to San Angelo at 8 and were on the road again by 9. We got home at 3 and unloaded the cabinet on the front porch and then went to see mom as always. She never even knew we went out of town on a day trip.

2025-10-14 14:40:37 UTC

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It was about 200 miles from me but totally worth the trip. In February I was about to get it when my mom had a series of health issues-- she broke her hip, then she got a UTI, and then she entered hospice in April. I had been communicating with the corps who were selling the piece and trying to arrange a convenient time. They were so kind and understanding and never even asked for a deposit. Here it is ....I hope you can see why it was worth the wait!
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/035/035/551/337/original/b7ceb3aac62ca44b.jpg
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/115/373/035/375/781/819/original/cedbb66e9b047563.jpg

2025-10-14 14:38:04 UTC

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I wanted to get away from thinking and do something with my hands because that's how I recover emotionally. But there's no way that I could take on a fun project at THIS stage of the audit. So I was actually happy when we shut down. I was told that I am not allowed to do any work so that released me to finally stay one of my projects!
Back in January, a beautiful cabinet caught my eye. It was in horrible condition but I immediately saw is potential!

2025-10-14 14:37:06 UTC

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We take a draft of the report and use end notes to reference everything in each of our sentences, even if we say "auditor conclusion". And even auditor conclusions say something like, "auditor conclusion based on B.3.PRG, Details 1 through 4 and Conclusion, 2" where we point to our analysis of section of the audit. It's a lot of very tedious work! I like this kind of work but I've been "in my head" a lot with dealing with everything up to and after my mom's passing.

2025-10-14 14:36:04 UTC

Hey y'all
I am furloughed AF and I'm feeling actually relaxed and at peace. I was working 70 hour weeks up to the point where we shut down because of report writing. My audit report is due to be published in January, so there's a ton of things to do to get it ready for publishing on the agency's website. Because our report can be FOIA'd, it must be absolutely accurate. It also has to be supported perfectly with documents to show where we got the facts and the numbers and the background.

2025-10-14 11:23:10 UTC

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@nprofile…fzeh
We praise G-d.

2025-08-19 02:23:58 UTC

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@nprofile…7j28
Milder is better. What about a cream cheese ball blended with blue cheese that you roll, freeze, dip in eggwash, roll in corn flakes and then deep fry right before serving with all your dippers?

2025-07-30 02:58:34 UTC

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@nprofile…p58g
O how I hate to write this, but for me the practical implication of DEI means that when i go to the doctor, I'm picking a straight white or Asian guy every single time because I know they are openly discriminate against so they had to be brilliant to even get a shot at med school after all the spots were taken by the women and minority tokens.

2025-07-30 02:53:25 UTC

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@nprofile…7j28
Why not just call it Cream Cheese Buffalo Chicken dip?
Blue cheese in there or not? What are your dippers... celery is not one of my faves.
I WOULD eat that dip though if it were served warm, and spread on crostini !

2025-07-23 11:43:31 UTC

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I hate that my mom's not with us any longer for ME, not for her. Mom is fine now having the time of her life and enjoying perfect health. But it's a big adjustment for us.
Even though I have more time on my hands, and my anxiety level has dropped considerably, I'd rather have my mom here. But like she was before the strokes, NOT like these final years. It was a very long decline and I'm happy she's no longer suffering.
I will now be able to visit friends in VA more often, and I will.

2025-07-23 11:37:16 UTC

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I gained five pounds and felt like a VIP with all the invitations to breakfast, lunch and dinner. I think we were taken out to eat like fifteen times!
We had Mike's American grill 2x, Coastal Flats 2x, Artie's, breakfast (First Watch & Metro 29 Diner) fish and chips, had Ledo's pizza and few times, and of course we went to Stella's.
I tried to bring home a small mousse cake with us but somehow the melted ice seeped into the carefully wrapped plastic bag and saturated it. Epic fail.

2025-07-23 11:30:45 UTC

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The guests were mostly older folks who battled over two hours of terrible traffic to get there. They needed to get back and have a rest and I was pretty much at my end, too. I had to make the gift bags, design a program, pick the songs for the service, write a biography and a tribute to my mom, order flowers, and make a tribute video in less than 2 weeks. I was plumb tuckered, as they used to say.
Thank God for good friends. They chipped in time to help me make everything and extra $$.

2025-07-23 11:26:07 UTC

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The bag contained
A foil- lined sandwich bag with 2 fried chicken wings
Mini bottles of hot sauce
A container of pasta salad with grilled vegetables and poppy-seed dressing
A bag of Utz Crab(Old Bay- flavored) potato chips
A can of Coke
A slice of white chocolate mousse cake from Stella's Bakery
A handful of Tootsie Rolls
Two gold forks
A gift tag with mom's picture.
I was happy with the service. At first, not having a luncheon bothered me but it turned out to be better. Everyone was tired.

2025-07-23 11:20:07 UTC

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So, that's that. I did my duty to tell him.
The hospice chaplain attended via the link and he messaged me that it was a great service. He told me I did the right thing by going back to the DMV to have it there.
I'll bet my brother never does his own service for her. Even small ones take planning, effort AND money. He never did any of those with mom.
The church was too small to have a luncheon so instead, I gave all attendees a purple gift bag that I filled with mom's favorite foods.

2025-07-23 11:13:57 UTC

Good morning all
I returned to Texas last night. The service for mom went great. I don't for one second regret returning to VA to honor her memory. Many of mom's prayer fellowship were there, plus old family friends, and her sister was able to come. It was not a funeral; my mom didn't want that. It was a memorial tribute to her and it was mostly an acknowledgement of a life well- lived.
We live-streamed it. I sent the link to everyone invited. My brother never even opened the email.

2025-07-07 22:39:51 UTC

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@nprofile…dlcq
It is an on and off thing, this grieving. It seems like I am doing okay, for a bit, but then I'll dissolve into tears.
I knew this was approaching and honestly I didn't want my mom to continue to suffer the way she was, but I didn't want her to go, either.
In terms of eternity, mom is good and better than she's ever been. But for earthbound me, it's difficult. She's in perfect joy, but I'm surrounded by memories of mom everywhere I turn.
I know time will help. I'm coping.

2025-07-07 03:06:21 UTC

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@nprofile…s20w
I will make it because y'all are praying me through. My friends have always been more of a family to me than my own.
Thank you for the encouragement and support. It's made all the difference in the world to me.

2025-07-07 02:58:55 UTC

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@nprofile…s20w
Thank you dear.
Just so you know, I'm just like you. I'm fine with not having a relationship with a sibling or a parent. And I respect that my daughter doesn't want one with me, even though I'm hurt by her choice.
I had to tolerate my bro for my mom. And I'm going to honor her by praying for him. But I'm not going to have him in my house. He's done and said some things to me that you wouldn't believe, including punching me in the face when we were teenagers.

2025-07-07 02:53:18 UTC

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I have no issue with not caring for a person in your family. But be up front, be honest, and then be DONE. That isn't what he's doing.
I'm hurt because he's a phony and acts like he wanted to have a relationshipbut not really any of the responsibilitiesthat go with it. His offense and anger is the excuse to justify deliberately shifting all mom's medical expenses onto me when he knows I'm not in the greatest financial situation.
This memorial service is his last act of disdain for her.

2025-07-07 02:48:18 UTC

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Then he launched into a diatribe about his whole relationship with her and how he offended at how she's hurt his wife because she still keeping a relationship with his first wife (mother of her niece and nephew). My mom is confused, crying and really feeling trashed.
There was no dinner, of course. Mom drove the 75 miles back home from the airport, upset and with a monster headache.
My bro made his point
I've found six such emails in her Gmail from him.... all.on the same theme.

2025-07-07 02:44:40 UTC

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He asked her to come to the airport so he and his (2nd) wife could take her to dinner while he was waiting on his connecting flight.
She eagerly jumped in her car and drove 75 miles to BWI airport. (I refused, because I'm like you, I don't like that mofo, and I won't pretend, so I wouldn't go. )
She gets there and he's waiting alone. She asks where his wife is and he tells her that she's in the lounge. Mom is bewildered and then he tells her that he has to protect her (from my mother).

2025-07-07 02:40:34 UTC

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@nprofile…s20w
I am sure you have your reasons for the relationship between you and your mom and I fully support you in establishing your boundaries.
It's a little different for me. My brother is not nice to either of us. He hasn't been his entire life.
I appreciate that you are HONEST about your feelings. My brother is passive- aggressive about his feelings. He would draw my mom close to bludgeon her. Cut instance, he came into town on a connecting flight and called her.

2025-07-07 01:49:12 UTC

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There's no excuse for him not attending. He hasn't contributed even a penny towards her final expenses or the memorial.
I don't know how to feel about this. I want to be angry at him for not loving our mom, but I think my mom would rather have me pray for him because this is pretty indicative of his heart's condition and I know this was a source of anxiety for her. She knows I'm okay and we'll see each other again. But him... not so much. Deep inside, I think she knew his heart was hard.

2025-07-07 01:43:43 UTC

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Oh.... one last update
My brother is not coming to the service.
He just RSVP'd.
I am trying to be charitable. That means that I'm not trying to judge him or be bitter about it.
It is his choice. I think that it is a poor one, and an abysmal example for his children.
This is difficult for me to accept. Your mother's memorial service is a big deal. So big, that the military would send you home from war to attend it.
As retired military, he can even fly space-A within CONUS.

2025-07-07 01:27:17 UTC

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My mom was not in pain when she died. I asked her, countless times, and trust me, she would have told me.
The nurses all told me that pancreatic cancer is extremely painful. My mom did not exhibit that pain at all. She cried out once, when her sheets were being changed, because she was so thin and the movement hurt her. But she was okay after a minute. She never asked for morphine.
So although everything looked like cancer, I can't say for sure.
Maybe the Lord spared her that pain.

2025-07-07 01:23:29 UTC

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that the weight loss was profound and not like when Oprah lost weight, where she looked like a bobble- head. This looks like cancer, where mom was skeletal and her flesh melted away.
I had one final photo of my mom that I took a week before she died, for my aunt. (She tried to snap a picture during their last FaceTime but it didn't work so she asked me to take a picture.) I just looked at it and that's when I realized how bad my mom deteriorated.
There's only 1 reason I'm not sure about it.

2025-07-07 01:18:55 UTC

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It took mom exactly one year of nursing care--where she was off the Joe Tippens protocol --to finally die. She weigned less than 130 when she passed and her official diagnosis was "protein-calorie malnutrition ". My friend who runs a hospice told me it's a bullshit diagnosis when the doctors can't be certain exactly what's causing the patient to decline, except her weight was plummeting.
It's been 12 days since mom left me. And, as I've been going through these photos of her, I've noticed

2025-07-07 01:14:17 UTC

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However, I lost control of her meds after the final stroke that put her in rehab. She never got well enough to leave the nursing home. SInce they controlled her meds, wouldn't give her anything except from FDA approved, labeled bottles , I couldn't get them to give her the off-label fenbendazole. Mom lost too much executive reasoning to self-administer the meds, or I would have sneaked them in to her. I could get one dose in for sure, during my daily visit, but the protocol is 2x a day.

2025-07-07 01:07:18 UTC

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Her nails were always bitten to the stick from the stress she was under at the brokerage firm. After she "medically" retired (no job for her to go to, anymore--plus, nobody would hire a 76 yr old woman) her nails grew. So we thought the weight loss was from her not stress eating.
She was diagnosed with a pancreatic mass 19 months ago during a hospital stay. We elected to not biopsy or treat her for it. I started her on the Joe Tippens protocol, which I did for about seven months.

2025-07-07 01:02:07 UTC

As I am trying to get this memorial service for my mom together, I'm going through a lot of pictures of her. I just got a bunch from her sister, of when she was younger.
I've been with mom almost every day, for the last 17 years. Then, she was about 300 pounds. The last 6 years mom battled mini strokes and type 2 diabetes. She was losing weight the past 5 years or so, which we attributed to her not having her stressful job anymore (she wrongfully got fired after her first stroke).

2025-06-27 05:37:00 UTC

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So I am praying that we will have a good service that honors mom and that somehow my brother will attend.
After that, I am free from my obligations to my mom and I will put up my boundaries again.
My friends have always been more my real family than my own. In my book, family is as family does.
My FAmily is part of this circle of support, which I have really needed!, and I want you all to know just how much I appreciate your kindness to me, and my mom, and my son. I thank and bless you all!

2025-06-27 05:32:02 UTC

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With that understanding, I've tried to be compassionate and think of her, not myself. He's been in my house only because of that. I don't like him and tolerated him only because of our mother.
Because those rules still apply, even after mom's death, I hope that he will come to the memorial service because our mom would have wanted him there.
I think he's trying to cause a family fight because it would be a convenient way to excuse why he didn't attend. So, I won't let him pull me into one.

2025-06-27 05:27:49 UTC

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I'm not a glutton for punishment and I won't tolerate abuse from anyone. I avoid my brother because he has the personality of a meat-ax and is like a bull in a china shop. I wouldn't have him in my life at all, if my mother didn't live with me. He is the only person Hattori has bitten in defense of me.
I only was around him these past 4 years for my mother's sake, and every occasion was hard.
I understand my mom's longings because I'm a mom too and my relationship with my daughter sucks.

2025-06-27 05:21:34 UTC

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He was never there for her during any of the hospitalizations and surgeries that resulted from her health issues-- lobectomty, triple by-pass, DVTs, diabetes, stroke, and finally pancreatic cancer.
I admit I've struggled with contempt over the years and even --jealousy?‐‐ as my mother continued to overlook his obvious disengagement and long for his visits.
I moved to TX, in part, so my mom could be closer to him. He never made an effort to come to DC. That worked, but it took a toll on me.

2025-06-27 05:15:54 UTC

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My relationship with my brother has been acrimonious at best for over 40 years. This bruhaha over our mom's memorial service is just the latest iteration.
My mother wanted my brother to be close to her, and she treated him as if they were. She always was prone to fantasize about how good a son he is. I am realistic and that's partially why a great deal of the problems between us were about the way inconsiderate he's treated our mother since we were kids.

2025-06-27 05:01:33 UTC

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There are family tensions a-brewing, so I ask you to keep me in prayer. My brother did not want to have a service in DC, he wsnts it to be in Texas. He is very angry that I'm moving forward with my DC plans.
Scripture teaches us to not let a bitter root spring up (inside ourselves) because it can defile many others. This is so true!
I am practicing radio silence to starve this off (no oxygen, no fire). I don't need to defend myself, and I won't. And I am praying that he will attend.

2025-06-27 04:50:22 UTC

Dearest FAmily, thank you for all the kind words of comfort you've sent to me. I am so overwhelmed with love from my friends its unreal.
Right now puppy, my youngest and I are on the road. We're heading back to DC for my mom's memorial service, because we have connections there that go back 40 years and more. I need to be with my peeps! Brisket just isn't enough at this time.
I am planning a great celebration service for my mom and a luncheon afterwards with all of her favorite foods.

2025-06-24 18:08:53 UTC

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When I realized mom was gone, I went to hallway to ask the nurses to help. L Two of the nurses went into the room to check. And at that moment, all that strength left me.
They closed the door, and I put my hands over my ears like a child because I didn't want to hear them calling my mom and her not answering. When they came out of the room, one of them went to the linen cart and pulled out two sheets, and I knew why and I burst into tears.
I am so glad I was with my mom.
Glad she is Home.

2025-06-24 18:04:18 UTC

My mom is safely with the Lord. She slipped away peacefully this morning around 9 am. I stayed with her until the morning, holding her hand, kissing her forehead, and softly touching her to soothe her. We listened to praise music all through the night.
I thought I did not have the courage to be with mom when she died, but the Lord came through and He gave me the strength.

2025-05-23 02:44:03 UTC

Good evening all
My mom is still with us, but she's retreating further every day into whatever mental world she inhabits. She seems...dazed. It takes effort to get her to realize that I'm there to see her.
She no longer calls me. She has zero interest in my life (she does still smile when she sees her youngest grandson).
She cannot engage in mutual conversation any longer. Her mind is solely on her meals. So, I bring her treats.
I am serving my mom. It is all about her now.
I grieve.

2025-05-20 02:36:38 UTC

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@nprofile…z0kz @nprofile…hdjj
It was crazy last night! We got 4 phone alerts and three phone calls to take shelter. We encountered similar weather near Louisiana a few months ago so I knew I didn’t want to mess with this one bit! I woke my son up and we went to my walk-in closet downstairs to wait for the warning to lift. We could see the wild winds and lightening through the house windows—like a scene from Twister! It was hard to get puppy in there with us but bacon did the trick. We’re fine!

2025-04-18 01:48:53 UTC

I wanted to let everyone know what's going on and why I haven't been posting much of anything these days.
Many folks on FA just faded into the sunset and we never heard from them again. I always wonder how they are. I didn't want to be that girl, myself.
So.....my mom is dying, we're in her final days. I'm struggling to finish up an audit that's late because 3/5 of my team took Elon's Fork. My son is still having breakthrough seizures from anxiety.
It's a lot.
I covet your prayers.

2025-03-31 23:35:42 UTC

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@nprofile…jkmw
I'm not touching that one with a ten- inch pole.

2025-03-25 04:47:32 UTC

https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/114/221/255/963/773/110/original/a878dc1ad61144d3.jpg

2025-03-16 17:27:53 UTC

https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/114/173/284/994/150/947/original/fa19b6f62bee5372.jpg

2025-03-16 15:51:54 UTC

Shopping on Macy's for some sheets in a cherry blossom pink, and up pops THIS in my search.
Does this strike you as vaguely pornographic, too--or is it just that I have a dirty mind?
https://files.freeatlantis.com/system/media_attachments/files/114/172/907/143/843/880/original/ad318be3098e5da0.jpg

2025-03-13 21:13:57 UTC

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Plus.... there's something sneakily satisfying about spouting off gibberish that's not only politically incorrect but would be totally considered racist

2025-03-13 21:10:55 UTC

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@nprofile…dkwa @nprofile…v5lw @nprofile…6kya
Also, I found a go-around that almost always works when your call is answered by a voice-recognition system. When the stupid computer asks what the purpose of your call is, speak mock-asian gibberish. The prompt will respond "I didn't quite catch that".
Repeat the stream of gibberish. You may need to do this 3-4x.
You will be transferred to a live person every single time. No way that the voice-recognition system can understand you to block you from the agents!