Welcome and thank you! :)

Thank you for the kind words and well wishes everyone.

My grandfather and I very rarely had a true relationship. We lived states apart and often would only speak for a bit on Christmas. But there were two times in my life where I loved him not just as a person but as one of my people. Once for a time when I was younger and we visited him, and after this past holiday. We had a falling out over mutual hurt feelings a while back, but after I wrote him a letter we recovered and when I spoke with him this year on Christmas we both genuinely enjoyed the conversation and I asked if I could visit him after he finished moving into his new home (he was moving himself into an assisted living situation). He was so happy that I wanted to, and we both found a lot of joy in discussing the plan. Sadly, he fell ill and now passed before I was able to do that. But I am so incredibly grateful that in his last year he and I loved one another, and he knew I loved him and wanted to see him. Mourning him now feels ... strange. In some ways it's grief over what never was. It's sadness over who I loved and who I never got to love. And a weird hollow feeling when another piece of where I came from and who I am, a puzzle I don't know I can ever solve, is gone and only questions remain. It's also a strange feeling to imagine my father's grief. His relationship with his father was very complex, and his father was the last living member of his family (save my mother, myself, and my sister). My father wrestles at times with mortality, as I do. He was there with my grandfather, and now handles each step of the after passing work alone. Both my own grief and my sadness in knowing someone I love is hurting in a complex way that I cannot help with ... it's a lot that comes and goes in waves.

Thankfully I have plenty of things here that bring me joy, make me feel grounded / connected, and keep me busy. The loss is complicated, but not something that has made me feel broken like other losses have.

We fared very well in the storm thankfully. So many people have absolutely devastating outcomes. I am so grateful that was not us this time, and my heart goes out to them. We had minor flooding that was easy to clean up from. I actually went and picked up my client's dogs yesterday because her house was so badly flooding she had to vacate. Her pups were going to stay with me next week anyway, but I'm thankful that I was able to help her on the fly.

Thank you. ❤ Despite having watched the extended editions probably 50 times (and the Hobbit films many times too) I have never actually watched the whole thing with the commentary! I think I'll make a point of doing that soon!

Thank you ❤ I hope you're doing okay after the storm!

Thank you ❤ RS = restock. Here are the ones I am still looking for: Token Shop: Crystal Shop: Other:

Oh that note if anyone needs, I have extra of all the ones from Pete and can snag most of the others for anyone if need be! I also have some extras from Freylise and can usually snag stuff from there if need be for anyone too!

You two are cracking me up with your stories! Thankfully I've never almost whacked anyone, but I have been almost stabbed with a fork and almost punched by my Dad because I accidentally snuck up on him. And I've given many people an accidental fright by doing so too. The funny thing is I feel like there's no in between, I'm either very noticeable and loud or totally silent and I don't do either on purpose.

Yep, we all need those cookies too! :) Thank you for sharing. You touched on several things that rang true for me as well. I am happy for you that you were able to bridge the gap and forgive each other before he died. <3 On a side note, I love reading anything you write, regardless of the subject matter. The turn of phrase; the beautiful depth of expression; the lovely flow of thoughts; and the willingness to show and share your innermost self... It is just so compelling. Your words create vivid images and the mind immediately resonates with compassion and understanding. You have an amazing talent.

I have similar bittersweet feelings wrapped up in anger that will not be resolved anytime soon with my daughter. I really miss my granddaughter and son-in-law. But they are collateral damage from her actions and words that caused a huge rift in my family.

Are you ok after the hurricane?

I keep checking the token shop and frag shop, so if I catch a rs I'll ping the group! oh my gosh, I don't know how to express (ironic based on the compliment) how deeply meaningful your words are to me. Thank you so much for sharing those thoughts about my words with me.

I'm so sorry about the rift in your family. There are so many difficult and layered feelings in relationships, and grieving the relationship that was / the relationship you thought or hoped would be while trying to also make peace with what is is incredibly difficult. hugs

I'm glad you were able to repair things with your grandfather.

All I got was a bunch of rain and lots of wind. I live on the East Coast so I didn't get the worst of it. We were a little worried about rain getting through the front door and flooding. Luckily that didn't happen.

I'm sorry about not being close with your daughter.

- Happy birthday, sweet friend! I hope the champagne you had at the tip of the Eiffel Tower tickled your nose. :D ❤

- ❤

- OOOf, I hope no one actually got hurt. I never mean to hurt my hubby when I hit him, it's a complete gut reaction to him sneaking up on me. Then again, he says I hit like a girl. :/ 😂

Oh good, I'm glad it wasn't worse for you! It's so wild how the last storm was a tropical storm and we got so flooded, but this time a cat 4 skims past and we had almost nothing! But last time we had downpours daily for at least a week leading up to the storm, and it sat and dumped on us for at least a solid day. Just another factor that dramatically impacts how different areas are effected by each storm!

I'm a born and raised hurricane state gal. I'll always remember how the day we brought home my childhood pup Nugget was the night one hit! We slept under the dining room table with the puppy while my parents tried to keep the water out (it kept coming in the front door). What a night that was!

Bonjour from Paris! -hands out macarons-

Just got back to the hotel! Had a lovely day and birthday in Paris. Had my sip of champagne on top of eiffeltower and saw loads. Walked it all,my poor feet! Off tobed now almost midnight and early morning again with a half day Paris and back to home. Miss my cats lol silly me

Happy Birthday! Rolls eyes in delight and munches on macaron. Glad you are having a good time. :)

Thank you. Glad you didn't have any damage. :)

Glad you didn't have any damage either. What you said about relationships is exactly right and well put as always. :)

<3

- Glad you're ok. :D

- Your poor feet indeed but I'm betting you've got some wonderful memories. I'm glad your birthday went so well. Can't wait to hear all about Paris! :D

- ❤

I am so glad you're having such a good time!

Lol yeah, I've had no injuries but many a shared laugh when I accidentally scare someone and their reaction makes me jump too!

CW Wolves If anyone likes wolves, just released four new colors of their wolf companion CW! They can be found here and are thankfully unlimited! Also if anyone has the older ones that were capped and wants to trade / sell please lmk because I totally need them all! is obsessed with wolves

Cookies Still no RS in the token or crystal shops as far as cookies go (that I've seen) but I'm keeping my eyes peeled and will ping the group if I catch any!

Does anyone need anything from the current token shop RS? I have tokens if someone needs :)

Pirates If anyone snags an extra Dripping Ruby Comb please lmk! It's the last one of the set I need and I'm having trouble catching it in a RS! Thank you so much! Anyone looking for anything specific (other than books, those seem to be popular lol). I'm happy to try and snag things for folks!

(when did you change your name?) and the rest

Bonjour! -points at HA-

Home from Paris, somewhere around 2 am this morning/night. Cuddled the cats and went to bed. Woke up at 10am.... with 3 ctas laying on the bed with me. Guess they missed me.

Had a lazy day today as i am so tired. I did do some washing and a trip to the supermarket, other then that couch potato. Back to work tomorrow.

I saw the eiffeltower (and been on top), Louvre, Notre Dam, Champs-Élysées (busy and pricey street!!), Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Cœur, many shops and cool disricts and good food. Walked it all, my poor feet. Had crossaints, macarons,, champagne but no snails! Still did not seen it all, good thing to go back to one day...

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and gifts!

Soo... what did i miss here?

Changed it on September 24th :)

So awesome for you! I'm a bit jealous. lol

Thank you so much about the wolves! Love them. Couldn't resist the white one and really want the brown and gold one. But will have to wait a bit. :)

seems i missed that, sorry. Nice name.

thanks, don't be jealous you will have a nice trip someday to.

Work was early this morning and my poor body is still so sore.. Glad to be home again. Hot shower and comfy food.

It's okay :)

- My kids do that to me. They try to sneak up on me and scare me but it always ends up in torrents of giggles. 😂

- You walked the whole thing? Ouch, your poor feet! Shame you didn't get some snails to try but maybe next time. I'm really glad you had such a good time. :D ❤

Hi! Hey, thought you should know - spells her name F a u n e. Just noticed you are pinging another user. You doing ok? How's the knee and stuff?

I can't imagine trying to walk all over Paris. All over anywhere actually! I have heard its a very expensive place to visit, but I guess most places are. But it would still be really something to go. :) I would really like to go up the west coast from Northern California through Canada to Alaska. Maybe someday, who knows. <3

Hello all, hoping everyone is safe from Helene and had minimal damage.

yes i did, walking is faster the waithing for the underground and i am a good walker. But after that so tired.. still am. Yuk no snails next time.

Paris is not pricey some areas are but not all. I found it do-able. And we here in europe walk to loads of things, normal here as things are close to walk to. And i don't mind.

lucky i live in the neterlands so no Helene. We did had rain.. really fall weather