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Prolific Scripted writer Betsy Stanton describes the ins and outs of her lifestyle as a freelance writer in the Pacific Northwest.
It's a still a gray dawn here in the Pacific Northwest, but the phone on the windowsill moves and makes a tiny chiming noise. It's an email alert about a Specialist assignment – I'll have to move quickly if I want a chance of snagging it.
I find my reading glasses and scan the job rapidly. Are the guidelines clear? Will I be able to write the job? Yes and yes.
I click to take it AND … nope! It's disappeared. Fair enough: Someone else was quicker on the draw.
A Balance of Uncertainty and Freedom
Freelance writing is a lot like going fishing; it requires the writer to stand back and trust that more jobs will materialize.
I get peace of mind by staying a few weeks ahead of the bills, so I don't worry if the jobs thin out for a few days.
I then head downstairs to feed cats and light the wood stove. Making breakfast, I listen to lesson 56 in a set of French language-learning podcasts. One of the incredible perks of being a freelance writer is the ability to work anywhere. Next spring I'll be living in Paris for two months and the freedom still takes my breath away.
Later, I settle in to do some background research for an article — which turns out to be super-interesting — and toy with the idea of going to a conference on it, just to learn more. One of the other perks of this work is learning crazy new stuff and seeing sides of society you'd otherwise never even know existed.
How People See You When the Couch is Your Office
The phone rings. My elderly neighbor wants to consult with me about his cat. I try to explain that I'm not an authority on cats just because I have four of them. Really.
"You need to take it to a vet," I repeat. But of course since I'm home, people assume I'm not working. Maybe they think I just chat on Facebook all day.
The doorbell rings. No, I'd love to come on a walk with you, but I have a 5:30 deadline. I put a sign on the path to my door that says, "Working. Please Do Not Disturb."
The ones who do understand that I earn a living this way are prone to asking things like whether I could show their unemployed 16-year-old how to do what I do online so they can start reaping the benefits of freelancing.
As a freelance writer, you're sometimes treated as having a marginally legitimate career. You aren't necessarily perceived as a grown-up professional when you work in your living room with cats on your lap. I let the doubters doubt all they want, though – I take comfort in the freedom my profession affords.
Dangling From the Interwebs
Finished with the assignment, I click "submit" and get — nothing. The internet has gone away. While it's exciting to be able to earn a living far from urban centers, there's something to be said for city conveniences.
Out here, a rogue wind or — who knows, too much rain? — can wipe out my tenuous internet connection. The right tools matter profoundly in this work. My daily bread depends on delicate technological threads. I pack up my computer and bike to the home of a neighbor on the waterfront, using their Wi-Fi to submit the job ten minutes before the deadline.
I promise myself not to push it that close again.
Night falls, bringing the intense dark of off-the-grid countryside; owls call. I turn on the computer again — no internet needed now — and switch my mind to a different setting. Working on my own poetry, the luxury of sculpting words for non-commercial use.
I live by words, shape them into products, give them weight and heft. They travel invisibly to clients; payments magically appear in my bank account. Those of us who choose this work don't have the security of a full-time gig, but what we earn in exchange for living on the edge is freedom and self-sufficiency. Most days, It feels like a pretty good trade.
To Read More From Scripted Writers, See Below:
Mary Barbour: Prolific Scripted Writer on Work-Life Balance and Freelance-Funded Vacations
Lauren Ireland: How Poetry Informs Content Writing [Interview]
My Story: How I Became a Freelance Writer


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Welcome to the home of Rhythm Junction London – a celebration of live vintage music and dance presented by Down for the Count Festivals.
The next Rhythm Junction London will take place on Saturday 14th April 2018.
Get your tickets today!
A night of live vintage music and dancing, presented by Down for the Count Festivals.
Welcome to the home of Rhythm Junction London – a celebration of live vintage music and dance presented by Down for the Count Festivals.
The next Rhythm Junction London will take place on Saturday 14th April 2018.
Get your tickets today!
Rhythm Junction London is a celebration of vintage music and dance presented by Down for the Count Festivals.
Reviving the glamour of the Swing Era, Rhythm Junction London puts live swing music centre-stage and offers dancers and music fans an unmissable vintage night out on the town.
On Saturday 14th April 2018 we'll be hosting the sixth Rhythm Junction London at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill. It has been described as "the next big thing on the swing music and dance calendar" – so put the date in your diaries now and join us for another great vintage night!
Rhythm Junction London is sponsored by Vivien of Holloway.
Check out the line-up for Rhythm Junction London 2018:
Vintage dancer Nikki Santilli will teach you a solo jazz routine at the start of the evening. You'll love this class, whether you've been dancing for 5 minutes or 5 years! Whilst the lesson is optional, it's suitable for complete beginners so there's no reason not to get involved.
Nikki Santilli is a professional vintage jazz dancer who performs, teaches and choreographs for arts venues, corporate events, schools, weddings and adult evening classes.
A familiar face on London's swing scene for over ten years, she has also appeared on TV, film and the London stage. Nikki specialises in Jazz Roots and Balboa.
As always, Rhythm Junction London features The Down for the Count Swing Orchestra – one of the UK's most popular swing bands.
Renowned on the vintage scene for their unique sound and energetic performance, Down for the Count have been described by Twinwood Festival as "a breath of fresh air on the swing scene." They are a "mini big band" and bring the sounds of the Swing Era back to life – they swing just like a full-scale dance orchestra but are not afraid to try something new, keeping audiences on their toes!
As much fun to watch as to dance to, Down for the Count have performed at The London Swing Festival, Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Jazz Club and Hideaway Streatham and put on a great show that is guaranteed to get you dancing.
Between sets, we're delighted to welcome back top swing DJ Pat da Kat who will keep you dancing with a great selection of vintage classics.
With an eclectic mix of big band, trad jazz, jive and rock'n'roll music, there is something for everyone in each of Pat's sets – and whilst you're welcome to sit and enjoy the evening's proceedings, we defy you to stay still when Pat is on the decks!
The venue for Rhythm Junction London is the glorious Tabernacle in London's cultural Notting Hill carnival district.
This incredible space is used for film, theatre, television and live gigs – and now swing dancing!
Dancers will love the wooden floor close to the stage, whilst the seats in the balcony provide a great view of all the action.
Downstairs there is a bar and cafe serving great food – so arrive early to eat dinner before we open the doors to the dance hall at 6pm.
Huge Kudos to Down for the Count for putting on a great festival – Rhythm Junction London seemed to be a great success. Thanks guys.
A huge thank you for such a fun and enjoyable night at Rhythm Junction! I can't remember the last time I got so hot and… er, glowed from so many crazy fast, crazy silly, daft and dizzy dances. THANK YOU to all my wonderful leads. Every dance a winner.
Tickets are available as follows:
Advance ticket: £15 plus booking fee, available until 6pm on the event day
On the day: £20 plus booking, available on the door or online
Available now via DesignMyNight
If there are tickets left on the night, they will be available on the door for £20. However we often sell out so advance booking is strongly recommended!


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As you may recall, for just over two years our family was TV-free. This doesn't mean that we were screen-free, though, since we still had three computers and a couple of smart phones. I still watched TV shows online and my kids watched DVDs on the computer.
For the adults in the house, not having a TV meant that we didn't watch TV "just because". We didn't channel surf, or use the TV as background noise. But I made up for my decreased TV viewing by spending a lot of time online. My blogging and blog commenting picked up a lot when our TV died. I spent more time on Twitter and Facebook. I guess you could say that I replaced channel surfing with internet surfing.
Two months ago, we joined the ranks of families with TV again. And it's been interesting how having an actual TV has shifted our focus.
My husband, who bought the TV to watch sports on, is using the TV to (wait for it ….) watch sports. He sees more than he used to, but I would still say he clocks in at an hour or so most days. I have stopped watching TV on the computer, and instead I watch it on the television, but my viewing hasn't actually picked up. I can't watch TV when my children are awake, and when they're asleep I'm often working, so the TV doesn't really play a large part in my life. My kids, on the other hand, are a different story. While we maintain strict limits on TV viewing, just having a TV somehow opens the conversation in a new way. They may not watch more TV, but they talk about TV a lot more.
When 2-year-old Jacob wakes up in the morning, he asks to watch TV. When I decline his request (as I always do at that hour) he asks to play on the computer. And failing that, he tries to sneak my iPhone out of my pocket. The child is in love with screens, just like his big sister Hannah. I have never seen Hannah walk away from a TV that was turned on, which is why we limit it so much. Left to their own devices, I'm pretty sure my kids would stare at a screen most of their waking hours. To say I'm less than thrilled is an understatement.
I have to be honest with myself, though. Much as I talk the anti-screen talk, I am pretty addicted to screens myself.
I spend a good portion of my own life in front of a screen, in fact. I write blog posts and read other people's blogs. I check my email and tweet pretty constantly. And when I'm not on the computer, I'm often futzing around on my iPhone. I am a screen addict, even if I watch as much TV in a week as the average North American watches in a day.
If the idea of putting my phone away somewhere for a full day makes me twitchy, and I am constantly staring at a screen, what can I expect from my kids? I have to be willing to walk the walk myself if I expect them to. Right now, I am clearly not walking the walk. It's true that my work is entwined in my online presence, so I can justify it. But I am kidding myself if I think that every minute I spend staring at a screen is productive and necessary, or somehow benefiting my life.
I am making 2011 about space. The de-cluttering and organizing and schedule-clearing have come fairly easily to me. But there is a big part of my life that could really use attention, and it's my computer use. The idea of cutting back makes my palms sweat, which is probably (definitely?) a sign that I need to ask myself some hard questions in this area. I need to streamline my technology use, cut back on my screen time, and set a better example.
I don't want to be constantly tied to my phone and my computer. That means that I'm going to have to make a conscious effort not to be. This is not going to be easy for me, so I need some help. How do you streamline your computer use? Do you set aside dedicated time to tackle email, and then avoid checking it the rest of the day? Do you set limits on your Facebook and Twitter use? How do you maintain connections online without letting it take over your life? I'd love to hear!


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Geoffrey Beene Sorbtek Pants - Wrinkle Resistant, Flat Front (For Men)
Item #4794N
About Geoffrey Beene Sorbtek Pants - Wrinkle Resistant, Flat Front (For Men)
Closeouts. Tailored from a luxe microfiber that's virtually wrinkle free, Geoffrey Been's Sorbtek pants rise to any occasion with their full dress make, traditional fit, and discreetly ingenious bands of elastic at the waist to ease the fit.
- Geoffrey Beene is a visionary American designer known for superbly tailored menswear that marries comfort and luxury
- Luxe microfiber fabric is wrinkle and stain resistant, moisture wicking and washable
- Traditional fit
- Flat front
- Expander waistband
- Quarter-top side pockets
- Button-through welt pockets in back
- Made in Viet Nam
- Visit our Men's Dress Wardrobe Guide
Specs about Geoffrey Beene Sorbtek Pants - Wrinkle Resistant, Flat Front (For Men)
- Pant style: Flat front
- Curtain waistband: Yes
- French fly: Yes
- Closure: Zipper
- Fabric: 100% polyester
- Total weight: 1 lb.
- Care: Machine wash, tumble dry
- Made in Viet Nam
- Visit our Men's Dress Wardrobe Guide
Do you own this product? Write a review and help others with their buying decisions!
4.483870 5 Overall Rating: 4.5 Based on 31 reviews
Most Helpful 5-Star Review
Good Buy
Verified Buyer Reviewed by Jer from Leland, NC on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Expandable waist and true to size.
Your search for "" returned reviews for Geoffrey-Beene-Sorbtek-Pants-Wrinkle-Resistant-Flat-Front-For-Men
Dress it upVerified Buyer Reviewed by Tropical Thunder from San Juan, PR on Thursday, February 5, 2015Matches the description perfectly. Waist and length are what they say and the material has a slight sheen that give them the dressed-up look.
versitile, classy, bit tight in the nether region.Verified Buyer Reviewed by Jeff Jeweler from NYC on Tuesday, December 30, 2014Good pair of pants. Light and breathable material, washes easy, doesn't really wrinkle. The waist was to fit, as was the in-seam. Only downside is the room it gives you in the seat, which is not very much. My family business is often uncomfortably compressed every time I sit down (I wear low on the waist). I got used to it, but still leaves me a bit sore at the end of the workday.
Pants fit and feel greatVerified Buyer Reviewed by Ronbo from Mississippi on Tuesday, August 19, 2014Good product. Good fit. Good price. Elastic waist band is well hidden. The only problem is the color (natural) is a little lighter than on the screen and catalog. Would have preferred a truer khaki or tan color.
Good valueVerified Buyer Reviewed by Montana Mac from Montana on Thursday, August 7, 2014Bought them for fall and winter golf. Nice fit. good drape Excellent value.
I bought a couple, then bought a couple moreVerified Buyer Reviewed by Mike from California on Saturday, August 2, 2014The first two (black and navy) were great for three weeks in Europe. I am surprised at how well they keep their fresh look even after multiple days between washing. I actually took these to a laundry for cleaning and had to work hard to convince the lady that they did not need dry cleaning. She was certain they were a rich, fine material that should not be washed but they really are wash and wear. Thankfully, the label's symbols convinced her.
As soon as I got back home I ordered two more. Now I have four colors. I'm clearing out my closet of all the other pants that require more care just to look OK. They are great for travel and I'm now using them for office work and social events.
Beautiful PantsVerified Buyer Reviewed by Happy from Colorado on Wednesday, April 30, 2014These pants were true to size and look great. Great purchase.
Nice office pantsVerified Buyer Reviewed by Pastor Dave from Oowa on Thursday, April 24, 2014These pants are made of 100% polyester so they hold their crease beautifully and have a bit of a sheen to them. I like them as daily office pants. The hidden elastic stretch band ensures a good fit.
Nice pantsVerified Buyer Reviewed by Rob the rocker from Massachusetts on Friday, April 18, 2014Bought two pair of these pants. They fit well and look fine. I plan to wear them as casual or golf pants. I think they will wear well.
Well worth the cost.Verified Buyer Reviewed by allycat from fl on Thursday, April 17, 2014Very nice product and the size was perfect. Fabric weight is a little bit heavier than I expected, but still not bad.
Very nice pantsVerified Buyer Reviewed by Ray from Texas on Saturday, April 12, 2014I purchased one to try it out and purchased 3 more. They are nice built light pants for summer. It being golf pants and an expandable waist I expected generous cut so I ordered 34 where I normally wear 36. I am glad I did since it was just right. I wear 30 to 32 inseam and 30 inseam was a good fir for me. Have not washed yet to test the wrinkle free feature but overall I am very pleased.
Question & Answer
Questions about this product? Get answers from community and staff experts.
"how much stretch in waist"
It stretches quite a bit. I pulled from each side (not wearing) it stretched about 2 inches. I normally wear 36 but purchased 34 on these pants. I hope this helps.
Stretch in the waste is good, due to the flexibility of the microfiber fabric... you shouldn't have a problem.
About an inch. I find the pants to fit very well
About a 2" stretch (1" per side). Plus the pants are a generous cut. I normally wear a 38" waist in most brands, and 37" in L.L. Bean and Land's End "comfort waist" trousers. I am now wearing 36" with these pants and the stretch band is barely expanding.
Not a huge amount of sttrech in the waist but it hasn't been an issue. I do think there would be ample give if needed. I like the way these pants fit.


text: Darlingtonia Small 207×320 Medium 414×640 Large 663×1024 Download TIFF Original 1554×2400 | (837.1 KB) Description Illustrated is a young plant of darlingtonia. It is a pitcher plant. Keywords Darlingtonia, Pitcher plant Galleries Flowers and Shrubs: D-E Source: L. H. Bailey Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture (New York, New York: The MacMillan Company, 1917)


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TORRANCE, Calif. - Aksys Games, acclaimed localization studio and leading publisher of interactive entertainment products, is proud to announce that Jikandia: The Timeless Land is now available for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system as a digital release via PlayStation Network and UMD.
In Jikandia, you must travel through dungeons in search of your friends. You can set the time limit for each dungeon yourself. Dungeons are altered in several ways according to the time limit you set, so no adventure is the same twice. The longer you spend in one, the more likely you'll come across rare items and treasure chests... but you'll also face more monsters and difficult traps. Also, by meeting certain requirements, you can unlock specific events and cause legendary items to appear. Activating the "Focus" mode will make you stronger, faster, and more powerful. Obtain magic orbs to customize your hero's skills as you wish. Up to four PSP systems can be linked to play in the Jikandia Coliseum timed stages, where you can battle against your friends and dodge traps to win with the highest score.
For thousands of years, the people of Jikandia were happy and peaceful, utterly ignorant of the concept of time. Then one day, uncountable hordes of dangerous creatures appeared, bringing chaos to Jikandia and setting the wheels of time turning once again. Plunged suddenly into this newly-temporal reality, the people of Jikandia fell into confusion, terror, and anarchy.
- Set your own time limit: Take control of the clock and play at your own pace. You can spend as little as three minutes on a quick speed-run, or up to half an hour scouring a dungeon for rare treasure.
- Unlock story events: Play through the game multiple times to unlock additional events. Since the layout and size of each dungeon changes depending on the time set by the player, it's possible for the player to never have to explore the same dungeon twice.
- 4-player Coliseum mode: Up to four players can enjoy Jikandia together using the PSP system's ad-hoc mode. Challenge other players in a wide variety of settings to determine who will emerge from battle victorious.
Jikandia: The Timeless Land has been rated 'T' for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). MSRP is $29.99 for both UMD and digital release. More information about Jikandia: The Timeless Land can be found at www.aksysgames.com.
About Aksys Games Localization, Inc.
Founded in 2006 in Torrance, California, Aksys Games Localization, Inc. is a localization studio and visionary video game publisher specializing in the Japanese-to-English translation of games and committed to publishing unique, multicultural, high-quality interactive content for all current-generation platforms. The company is known for releasing acclaimed titles such as 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors and the BIT.TRIP, Guilty Gear, BlazBlue and Hooked: Real Motion Fishing series. More information about Aksys Games and its products can be found on the company's website, www.aksysgames.com.


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There are many stories of animals as healers. Research shows that simply petting a cat or dog can lower your blood pressure. Therapy animals who visit nursing homes and hospices bring peace and joy to patients who may not have smiled in months. There are stories of horses who help people heal emotional and psychological issues, stories about dogs who can somehow sense cancer in people, even before doctors can find it, and dogs who can tell when a person is about to have a seizure. At one time or another, all pet owners have experienced the comfort of having our pets close by when we are sick even with something minor like a cold or the flu. Research has even shown that the frequency of a cat's purr can aid with healing of bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles as well as provide pain relief.
I've met a number of these healer kitties during my years of working at veterinary clinics. They would work their magic in various ways – by curling up next to a recovering cat or dog, by cuddling up to a worried client in the waiting room, or by comforting a staff member who had just assisted with a difficult case or a euthanasia. But none of these cats was more of a healer than Buckley, the subject of my book Buckley's Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher.
Buckley would do all of the things mentioned above while she lived at the animal hospital. After she came home with me, she became my assistant Reiki practitioner. Reiki is an energy therapy that originated in Japan. As a Reiki Master Practitioner, I transfer energy to my client by placing my hands either directly on or slightly off the body. I work with pets and with people, and I've found that animals, especially cats, are incredibly receptive to the Reiki energy. Some even say cats invented Reiki. While that may be a little far fetched, cats seem to intuitively how to utilize the energy for their greatest good.
Buckley loved being in the Reiki room while I was giving treatments, and as long as the person receiving a treatment liked cats and did not mind Buckley's presence, she was allowed to stay. But just being in the room was usually not enough for her—she became an active participant in the healing session. She would get up on the Reiki table and often curl up next to or on top of the client. I realized after a few sessions like this that she intuitively knew where extra energy was needed, and the client would often report an added feeling of heat or pulsing in the areas where Buckley had been situated during the session. I often skipped the areas Buckley laid on during a session and concentrated on others instead. I knew my little healer kitty had it covered.
I think she also transmuted the energy in the house in general. All cats do this to some degree. Cats are sensitive to energies and have the ability to change negative energies into something peaceful and calming. Buckley seemed to be a master at this. More people commented on the peaceful energy in my house after she came to live with us than ever before.
Animals bring a spiritual component to healing as well. Buckley's intuitive knowing during a Reiki session about where the energy was needed came from a spiritual dimension. It takes many human Reiki practitioners years of practice to achieve that level of intuitiveness.
How have the animals in your life helped you heal? I'd love to hear your stories.
101 Comments on The Healing Power of Cats
My cat Albert is an amazing healer (and friend).
My roommate several years ago was having a really bad day. She was pregnant at the time, and feeling really down and sad. When I got home that evening she told me Albert had laid with her the entire day on the couch, not getting up even once, and it made her feel so much better and not alone.
Several years ago, we lived next to what would be considered a 'halfway house' where about 6 guys would be there at any given time after being released from jail and were in treatment for drugs or alcohol. One of them in particular was very gentle and kind, and told me on a day he was feeling very lost and depressed, questioning his life and contemplating suicide, Albert walked straight over to him up on the porch and just sat with him. He said it completely changed his entire outlook and he felt so much better afterward. He knew Albert came to help him.
This was very informative to read. I have been trying to research it some. I'll start out with saying I had been a cat-hater most of my life, I had never owned any but anytime I met cats they seemed like they wouldn't make a great pet. Anyhow, I would never turn down any animal in need. One day I found a female cat that got tossed from a car and abandoned. I knew nothing about cats but took her in. A few days later she gave birth to my surprise.. 4 kittens! I was shocked and nervous about raising them as it was my first time even holding a cat.
As time went on I grew very fond of cats. But I realized there were some strange things going on since I had taken her in. I have CPTSD, it's long term and has been hindering my life since I was a child. I cannot remember a single week, month, year in my life to the current date at the time, that I hadn't had horribly cruel lucid nightmares and hallucinations whenever I closed my eyes. They were some of the worst that my therapist has heard of. The first night I had brought this cat in, I had one of my usual night terrors, I woke up with my heart racing and my mind in a state of fear and panic. This cat jumped up on my bed immediately, and just sat beside me staring at me. I calmed down and she stayed beside me till I fell back asleep. After this incident, I realized my nightmares and hallucinations when I slept, were gone.. it's now been 4.5 months since I found her (Maya, she got her official name after I decided I couldn't part with her). My nightmares have still not returned. It's baffling and insane, I keep trying to figure out how this is even possible. There's no way those nightmares should have stopped, and not instantly like that. The only thing that changed was having Maya in my life. I keep trying to find an explanation, but there is none. She wards off my nightmares flawlessly. Even if I can't explain how.
The unlikely rescue became my best friend and healed some of the most traumatizing damage that has been done physiologically to me. I've now got a "Cat Dad" sticker on my car and spoil Maya like she was my child. If you had told me at the start of this year that I would have a cat and a changed perspective on them, I wouldn't have believed it.
I'm so thankful for these animals. They can heal us in ways I could never imagine.
Me too. I posted my story on this forum a while ago. I can't find many research on this subject matter. I am glad I am not the only one.
I had brought in a ferrile kitten who was very skittish and kept her distance about a year ago. weve never been really cose. shes not one to be picked up and held and only comes around when its convienent for her. But since the day I came home from my hysterectomy surgery she has been right by my side and meows at me or anyone who comes close to me when she is layin on me. in which she has never done since the day I brought her in. she curls right up on me either in the side of m arms if my lap is full or right on my belly. Ive been having problems with my belly button healing up bc there were points i should of been resting but i was very active. Im not one to sit still lol But she has also came up to my belly and put her head by my belly button as if she were checking it out through my clothing. and she is ever so gentle while climbing u on my belly watching where she steps…. Im happy to say I believe my once ferrial kitten has become my bestfriend/healer kitty <3
I recently pulled my left chest wall muscle and it took me 2 weeks to heal. My cat Fenix has been sleeping at bottom of my bed those days and I can feel my pain was getting better and better. Today I suddenly had a anxiety upon waking up and my full chest was very intense plus a bit pain (maybe was because of the pulled muscle). I went for my Monday routine with this pain and went home around 3pm for a afternoon nap. Just before I fell asleep, Fenix came to bed and stepped on top of my chest (He did it only twice since he moved in the house), and stayed on my chest for about 20 minutes. We were both just falling asleep. Then I felt he jumped away and walked to the window. When I woke up after the nap, the chest pain was gone… it was GONE… I thank my cat for that. He is my angel.
Whenever I'm on my period (I'm a transman) my youngest cat Luka will always be clingy,sit or lay by the bathroom doorway and meow if whimper or something,and always rubs against me.
My other cat,Tiger will lay wherever pain is and meow until you pet him,and after a while the pain will go away
i found this page from googling "why does my cat hold so much power over me" i do suffer from depression and my ponyo has been good to me over the years. but i'm typing this from the very edge of my couch because ponyo is sat right in the middle. no way would i think of moving her for my own comfort. if i did thou she would forget 2 min later and sit on my lap. so why do i sit here so unconformable while she snores and twitches?
My cat Becker usually minds his own business and doesn't particularly enjoy cuddling. But when any member of my family is feeling sick and goes to bed he lays on top of them. He even lays on the spot that is hurting or affected: stomach, chest… Once during a very bad headache he curled on the pillow resting his back on the side of my head. If someone had told me this I wouldn't have believed it. It's amazing.
I have been having a particular hard time with an autoimmune disease Ulcerative Colitis. I think it was something additional this time with like a virus. My cat Bambam instinctively laid across my abdomen and purred. He did this until things settled down and I was able to get some sleep. He did this exact thing a couple years ago, also when I was having a particular hard time. It's amazing, and my symptoms today have decreased substantially. I had to do a search and see if others had experienced this type of healing by their cat. I am very happy to find out about Reiki cat, and other stories. Gods creatures are amaaaazing.
I started noticing something was wrong with me when I started having pains in my abdomen and pelvis . My oldest cat Leon would start massaging the areas that were sore or hurt really bad. He would lie on my stomach and start purring like mad. That's when I had my ultrasound and found out I had ovarian cyst that had ruptured which was causing my pain. I also had noticed that Leon was massaging my foot where it had really hurt . I really do believe that my cats sense when there's something wrong with me!
my cat lilbit has always been a little healer for me, i got her when she was 4 weeks old. i bottle fed her every 3 hours and then i taught her how to go to the bathroom by rubbing a warm wet wash cloth on her bottom… and through out her 4 and a half years she would lay on my chest and purr so hard i felt her vibration throughout my body.. i can now do this on my own.. make my body vibrate.. but what happened a couple of days ago has me wondering… i have bad bones all over my body, the pain is intense.. my hips have been hurting so bad it is hard to walk now.. but a couple of days ago, i was laying in bed and she came up to me, laid down next to me and started to purr and knead my left hip.. i kid you not, i got up to get something to drink, … my hips dont hurt!!!! its day 2 and still no pain!!! i wish she could do this for my lower back where my hips meet.. that pain is intense, it goes from my lower back up my spine and down my legs… i am so grateful for the pain gone in my hips.. i know she healed my hips.. i know this sounds crazy… but cats have a way of knowing how hard to purr to heal.. i love my baby so much. and i had just taken her to the vet last week to have her checked for diabetes she is way over weight, but i am working on getting her back to being healthy too.. i got food that isnt filled with all the things that can harm a cat.. and she had tons of mats on her back from not being able to groom herself.. so maybe this was her pay back.. from the relief..
Cats actually have the ability to strengthen bones, heal them, along with muscles, tendons and ligaments. It's absolutely amazing! My cat, she was abandoned, and found us about a year ago. I have severe nerve damage, along with pain up and down my spine due to degenerative disc disease. I was told that the damage down my right leg would never heal, and I'd never get the feeling back. Well, Natalie, our family cat, has been sleeping next to the leg, purring immensely before falling asleep, and my nerve endings started firing off where there used to be partial paralysis. Just after a few nights of her doing this, I have more feeling in that area than I have had for years! I hope your lilbit continues to bring you relief as My Natalie has given me!
My cat hope hasn't left my side for the past six weeks the night before the surgery she wouldn't leave my side it was like she knew I didn't wake up for about two days I'll never forget the look on her face when I woke up though she is the greatest cat you'll ever meet but most of all she's My best friend
I was searching the Internet trying to make sense of how my cat seems to know about my leg injury. I hurt my knee a year ago and she started insisting on lying and purring on that knee. She wasn't being gentle enough (the nerves are hyper sensitive), as soon as she saw me wince, she started treading lighter. The knee was healed but there have been complications that affected my quad muscles, without saying a word she's changed where she lies in me (modifying her treatment). My acupuncturist refers to it as my pur-apy sessions.
My cat just died this past Thursday, 4 days ago, from breast cancer. She was 14 1/2 years old. It was heart wrenching to watch her suffer the past few months and the night she fell extremely ill which left me in pieces. I am a very spiritual person, I see things others can't, kind of how cats and babies see. While "baby girl" was hiding her pain, I've been going through bouts of my illness. Since Christmas, I've been having Colitis flare ups and was hoping they'd go away on their own without having to make an appointment to see my specialist. Every single time, I'd hit the bathroom and have "issues." "Baby girl" would tuck me in at night every night, she's always done this and knead my belly like she would do for her birth mother to access milk. Last Tuesday night, was the last night that she did that. I was up most of the night on Wednesday because she went into respiratory distress and I didn't have too many options while caring for a newborn and a very sick cat. I made her comfy and put all of her favorite things around her. I had to take a nap so that I could wake up to feed an infant in the morning. When I woke up, I found her and she had just took her last breath, the rug where she laid was still warm. I cried and completely broke down, she was my "baby" and my world was completely crushed. After we gave her a proper burial, I noticed within the next two days, that I wasn't having any more "issues." These "issues" cannot be healed without medication and proper treatment. I was having those "issues" daily, sometimes more often than I wanted. I miss her dearly but I really wonder, was she saving her healing powers for me, her cat mommy?
I was chosen by my cat. When my boyfriend's grandmother passed away unexpectedly, we were the first to the house and I being allergic to cats, knew I was in for a Benadryl day. When we went in to look for important papers we also had to look after her pets, a dog and 2 cats. Well 1 cat ran away and didn't come back but the other one was so vocally crying under a ladder and wouldn't let anyone near her. I walked over to her and I said I know I'm going to really miss her too and this cat came straight to me. I needed up taking her ho e and other family took the dog. I had just been injured at work with what seemed like a minor injury at the time and thought I can take Claritin everyday and I will keep the cat for company. She would lay on my injured foot and just sleep there. I ended up having a major injury and surgery and permanent disability but I swear it is because of this cat that it doesn't hurt as bad as it could and that it healed as much as it did. She still sleeps on it and it makes me feel better. I love this cat with my whole heart and dread the day she decides to leave. what an unexpected friend for life.
My cat of almost 17 years died on April 1, 2016. The energy in the house has gone flat and there just is no sound in the house. My cat Finn was very quiet so it is not as if he made sound but he must have been making a sound frequency I could feel. I am so lost without him. Do you think his energy was filling the house? I feel it was and it is missed deeply. He was my friend and my heart.
I noticed the healing power of my cat not from a single event but through gradual realization. I used to have regular nightmares at least bi-weekly. My nightmares would shock me up in the middle of the night and give me a bad start of a day. Since I got my cat about a year ago, my nightmares decrease significantly down to once in a few months. When bad dreams occur they are not as scary as before. I feel calmer and less angry on day to day basis. I noticed that I relax naturally and ready to sleep whenever she is on me. I believe my cat is healing and patching up my weakness, whatever that weakness may be. I am yet to read about anyone who share similar experience of their cats "absorbing" the nightmares.
Also came here looking for some insight on cat's sensitivity or mystical awereness. I had this cat once that, she was white and grey, beautiful and a true companion, she followed me everywhere around the house, very playful nature. Just was a great mother also, always having her litters under someone's bed around the house, because she knew I was gonna protect her and not taking them outta there until they could cat walk on their own. But one intriguing thing, she never entered my bedroom, even if the door was closed, I've always found my bedroom a sacred place for rest, no tv, no radios, no plays, just rest and sleep. So she unfortunately had a tragic death, hit by a car which made me not having another cat since, and I was raised around cat ever since I remember. I was 26/27 back then, that was 8 years ago. The night before she died, she went up to my bedroom, sneaked before I came in, hid herlsef under the bed and waited for me to lay down in the bed, and then she went up to my pillow and sitted there till I fall asleep. I woke up she was still there in the same place next to my head. I thought that was strange but didn't care, I let her stay. The next day she was gone, I found this very peculiar, cause I think she was there in my bedroom to say goodbye.
I mean even if the door was openned *
I came to this site because i was looking for an answer if really cats have mythical powers. I was convinced. It happened last night. I decided to let my 4month old Korat cat to sleep in my bedroom. I was just going to try if she is going to behave when I'm sleeping. But the thing is, I was suffering from cold which just started yesterday. I have an itchy throat, clogged nose, coughing once in a while, and hiccups. I suffer from hiccups every time I have a cold. It usually last for 3 days. Anyway, it was hard terrible hiccups. I was lying on my bed, trying to sleep it out. But it just getting worse. Then I saw my cat went up to my window deck, looked at me. So I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Still hiccuping, she slowly approached me. Then kissed my mouth quickly and walked away. I kid you not, the hiccups abruptly stopped!! I could not believe it. I waited for the hiccups to come back which is funny but it did not. Until this time I'm writing this, its totally gone. Still have a cold though but it's better than yesterday. It's weird. I had a goodnight sleep last night and woke up feeling better. I love my cat more now.
This is so true. Sometimes–most of the time–when healers work on me, i see what they see (I will tell them what I see, and they verify that I am seeing what they are seeing when they transmit the healing energy). Usually this is a combination of lights and clouds… most commonly there is a cloud that I see in my mind's eye, and there is a open center in the middle. The other day I was cuddling with my friend's cat and I started to fall asleep. And I saw an energy very similar to what I see when someone is doing reiki on me , but instead of it being centered, the "center" was off to the right and moving around a bit… so it was like reiki energy but less focused. Totally trippy! I asked the cat's owner about it, and she said that she would not be surprised to learn that he cat had healing powers. Wow! I don't know that all cats can do this…. but it was a magical experience.
I'm not sure if this qualifies, but after reading the posts on your site I'm compelled to share a recent experience with you. During this long winter I came down with the flu. Had all the symptoms; fever, cold, cough, nausea, and some hallucinating. Had not yet gotten my flu shot so I wasn't too surprised when I became ill. I live in an old house with a space heater in the living room, which is the only room which really stays warm on cold nights, so when I'm not feeling well I sleep on the sofa in the living room. Well on this cold night I wrapped myself in a thick blanket, took some cough medicine to help me sleep and proceeded to pass out. The next thing I remember was waking up the next afternoon about 2pm feeling exhausted, but much better. No more fever, nausea, my cold was less pronounced, and coughing was minimal. I put it down to the meds and didn't think much more of it, until my roommate came home from work that evening. He approached me laughing with a picture of me sleeping on the sofa wrapped tightly in my thick blanket; and all my cats sleeping on top of me. That's 7 cats. Some large some smaller. I don't recall this, but the proof is in the picture. I honestly believe my cats which I love considerably, must have sensed I was ill, and proceeded to heal me. Crazy. Maybe, but I have never recovered from a flu this fast. Just thought I'd share this. Thanks.
I'm a 45 year old male with three cats.
– Buster, oldest, male (b/w tabby)
– Sasha, middle, female (russian blue)
– Lexi, youngest, female (calico)
Sasha, in particular, I have called my "healing cat". Whenever I am feeling down, either physically, emotionally or mentally, I will go to her. During the day when I'm always awake she is on the bed sleeping on her spot where I've set up her own blanket just for her.
When I lay beside her, making sure my head touches hers, then with my right hand on her mid-section, the healing begins. That's also when her strong and soothing purring begins. She always stays still until I have calmed down and/or feel rejuvenated.
I then thank her verbally, kissing her on the face and then stroking lightly at the bottom of her tail (bottom of her back) which is a natural pleasure trigger for her. She always begins to lick me at whatever part of my body is closest to her face, that usually being my face or shoulder.
My oldest cat Buster, male, will cry until I pick him up. That's his way of saying "I want attention". I pick him up and gently rub the bottom of my goatee against the top of his head, which he loves profusely. Many times when I'm on the computer he will come right up and lay on my lap even while I'm typing.
Then there is Lexi, female, calico, the youngest. She is THE most vocal cat I've ever had. She is also the friendliest and fearless. I can have ongoing "conversations" with her, if you know what I mean. Many, many times when I'm watching TV she will jump right up on me and lay on my tummy with her face facing mine allowing me to pet her. She usually stays until I have to get up for something. She is also a "shoulder cat". When you pick her up and hold her against your chest, she will often climb up onto your shoulder and perch, much like a parrot. She will even walk behind your head to the other shoulder and do the same or just stand on the shoulder having a look around, meowing.
But Sasha provides the strongest sense of healing for some reason.
I have had pets in my household since the time i could talk and speak! Today at the age of 53 i live with 2 Traditional Persian cats naned "Matahari" and tomcat "Matata" along with India's most famous Alexandrine parakeet "Mittoo".After the demise of my parents i live with my pets and my house care-taker Ms Sabina.Dias , the pets being the life of the house.I work from home and travel a lot, a blog writer by hobby.My pets help distress me from "WRITERS BLOCK"" as well as the isolation of living alone.To date, everything seems physically normal as far as health is concerned and even the drastic drop of the Indian rupee and collapse of the "Stock Market" has not increased my "Blood Pressure" or made me susceptible to "Heart Attacks".Reasons,my pets keep me active and make me forget temporary business worry's.
So many wonderful stories! My little rescue cat Narni comforted me throughout my 2 pregnancies. Times when I feeling emotional or very tired or unwell she would lay above my head as I was in bed and purr very strongly, which would calm me to sleep. A few nights a go I was unwell with an illness and also feeling down. As I lay in bed to go to sleep she lay above my head, her chin touching my head and purred loudly. Such a beautiful little soul. She will rarely go to anyone else and is quite an anxious and shy cat so it makes me feel very special that she trusts me and wants to be my little healer.
I have a 5 year old cat named Lexie. She has always healed whatever my issue has been, knee issues, bronchitis whatever was bothering me she would lay on that portion of my body. Last night was totally amazing however.. As I go through divorce proceedings my emotions run the gamut… Last night she laid on my chest for a period of time until I felt an electrical charge run through my body ending with tingling in my fingers and toes. Soon after that, my cat jumped down and began to vomit, then jumped back up and laid in the same spot and purred me to sleep.
We lost our beloved Rusty, a chow/retreiver in November 2012. We have two cats, Morticia and Lily. Morticia would constantly want his attention from him for her 6 years of life…..Lily was interested, but distant. Rusty was 18 years old, we had rescued him 9 years ago, bringing him home from our local animal shelter.
As he started to decline in activity and health he fought to stay with us. Lily decided that it was her duty to care for him. He was constantly chewing at his legs, getting sores, we would get a good start at getting his sores healed and they would just start all over. Lily, one day found her way to laying on his side. We would put a towel on him as he was cold, and with the sores felt it protected Lily also. She would lay on him for hours as if it were here sole responsibility to care for him.
I would clean and apply ointment to his wounds and cover so he wouldn't chew and lick.
Two days prior to his death, I had constantly checked him, as the usual, but to our amazement, the day he left us, the sores were all healed. There were no signs of the deep wound on his leg and the others also gone. I talked to our local shelter owner and she said that Lily was healing him……..I never thought this was possible.
Our Rusty unfortunately didn't live but I feel that Lily was his healer. Lily, the cat that would go near him but not close, only randomly, was the healer of his sores. Little Lily spent hours with him at the end. Morticia, the one that constantly would lay next to him, rub his paw with her head, stayed away.
Lily was visibly showing sorrow, like she was mad because she couldn't save him and seemed very depressed for days. Morticia would look for Rusty. We have his ashes and Lily continues to want to rub against his canister, while Morticia is interested but doesn't get as close. She will look, but nothing more
Reading everyone's comments are touching, knowing that others do have experiences……..I have become a believer in healing powers of cats. Lily seems to care for us when we don't feel well, laying on the area of pain and will lay for hours if she can.
When I went through a tough break up, my now-pet, Fluffy (actual name crazy-daisy) started just turning up in my garden. She was terribly shy but just started to appear each day and get closer and closer. I was in a very low state and looked forward to her visits and her theraputic company until she started staying the night. When I saw signs on lamp-posts I was absolutely devastated that I might have 'catnapped' her – only to find she was a severly abused rescue cat in need of re-housing. She moved in and has been there to help me through some extremely tough times. I feel like she knew I needed her and is a guardian angel. I am due to start studying Reiki soon and since I made my mind up to do it she has been more in-tune with me than ever. I have always called her my healing moon cat. I love her to pieces and I'm looking forward to doing some reiki on her to return the healing favour!
Hi Ingrid, I just came across your site. My partner and I just adopted a 10 yr old tortoiseshell female kitty, cee cee. I am 28 yrs old and am waiting to have major surgery on my hip. Ive been through lots of stress, pain and negativity (and im a pretty positive person)
Im pretty much bed bound until surgery. And it could be awhile… Healing time is 3 months post-op.
As soon as ceecee came home the vibes changed. I felt my stress melt away. Ceecee is very calm and soothing and purrs a lot. When she sits on my lap in bed I feel my pain melt away. I havnt felt this way in a long time. Its great to just watch her do cat things.
She loves to eye gaze with us, ive never had a cat that did that too much. She gives me hope that I am able to heal and regain my energy. She is a healing kitty 🙂
Just got a cat MIA she so special i been feeling down lately and worried about things and she just knows how to comfort me she lays on my chest a lot then she will touch my face with her paw as if telling me that everything will be alright
We have two male cats ( brothers) who are Norwegian Forest Cat & Birman mix. Both of them are amazingly affectionate with each member of the family. They follow my teenage sons around the house and love to be in the middle of the action when friends come over. Cruz is the smaller of the two and rarely hesitates to be picked up or cuddled. His cheerful demeanor and warmth radiates pure joy to our household. If anyone is feeling sad or stressed , he'll surely sleep on their bed that evening. His larger brother, Flash, has a calmer and more reserved nature. He observes everything going on around him with a wide open, yet serene regard. Flash loves to come close to me if I am meditating or doing yoga. I have come to see that he is the embodiment of the sparkles, flashes of light that we can see and or feel in meditation. His healing gifts are amazing. When a family member is ill, he gently climbs on to the person and moves around with care until he settles precisely on the part of the body in pain. Last night I was sitting on the couch with my partner when Flash came for what I thought would be a cuddle. First he investigated me, sniffing the tear ducts on the inner corner of my eye. Then he moved on to my partner and used his entire body and outstretched legs to give him a full body embrace. His paws touched his heart center and face. Flash then inched up his chest to position himself like a collar on the front of my partners neck and jaw. They both remained still for some time. My partner felt soothed by the cat on his infected throat and congested head despite the awkward position the cat had him pinned down in. I was smiling as this was the first time Flash has never done this with my partner before! I was so happy that my partner could experience this first hand after he had heard from me that I believe Flash and Cruz are healers. These cats and the others described on thus page are sharing amazing of healing love with us.
Just wanted to let you know, our last cat (before Mimsy and Pansy) was such a lovely girl. After my husband died, Kim was always there for us, Whenever any of us were feeling sad she would come and sit on us and purr looking straight into your eyes with a concerned face. She knew we loved her and she loved us simple as that.
Lucy, my 17 year old Maine Coon would always lay with me. I went thru a phase where I couldn't do much more than lay on the couch. She would fight to get right up by my head and wrap herself around my head and purr in my ear. I'd push her down by my tummy and she's fight her way back to my head. We went several months this way and I was diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer, a tumor in my brain. After I had my brain surgery and the tumor was removed, she never tried to get by my head to sleep again. She was incredibly in tune with my feelings too. Whenever I cried or felt badly she was right on my lap putting her paws on my face and licking the tears from my cheeks. She gave great kitty hugs!
It's hard to say whether her attention helped my healing, but when Roseanne was just a kitten, I had a serious bronchial infection which lingered for several days. I ran a high fever and really had very little energy for much of anything. Roseanne was perhaps four months old, very aloof and private the way some cats are. Somehow she realized that things were not right with me, and two or three times a day she would come up, get in my face, and feel my cheeks and forehead with a sheathed paw, sort of like a worried grandmother. For those few days, she stayed where she could see me. Usually on a chair or on the edge of the bed, but she stayed close by. Early one morning, the antibiotics must have kicked in, because the fever broke. Near daylight, she was up on the pillow, feeling my face. It was cool, she jumped down and I didn't see her for several hours. I've often wondered what she thought she might do about the situation. She's now enjoying the big can of tuna in the sky. I miss her when I recall events like this.
I broke my femur and hip in an equestrian accident. Kitty rode on my walker seat (which I had to use for months) all around the house. Even woke up and rode in the middle of the night to watch over me. Can you just picture that?
She made me laugh and laid with me while I healed.
I have a friend who has had a complete Hysterectomy and she swears that my cat (Rudy) takes her hot flashes or as she calls the Power Surges away. I have noticed when your sick and running a fever when he lays by your head you can feel the fever going away. And to be honest I think he has been with me in many of my past lives plus twice in this life time. My childhood cat was Tiger. They look exactly alike; in fact, many of my family members call call Rudy, Tiger.
I have had a couple of unusual cat experiences. A few years ago I was having quite a bit of pain in my knee. One of my cats at that time came up and layed across my knee. He had never done this before. A few hours later and the pain was gone. On another occasion a couple of weeks ago I took a skillet out of a 450 degree oven. Without thinking I picked up the skillet burning my hand. I jokingly told my wife I was going to let the cat heal my burn by petting him. Strange, but later that evening the pain was gone and not one blister.
My daughter has a beautiful new kitten. They absolutely adore each other and she sleeps each night in my daughters bed.
I developed a dreadful cough last week which has been getting worse. The last two nights I've had hardly any sleep.
I noticed the other night the kitten slept with me, right next to my chest. She did the same last night and I had this thought that maybe she was with me because I was poorly, hence why I did a google search and your site came up!
Tonight if she does the same I shall make sure I curl up with her as I'm definitely getting better!
I've had the flu lately, with terrible sinus pain. Last night one of my 2 cats, came and cuddled with me, and let me softly lay the my forehead on her side.. I noticed that within a few minutes, I was not only no longer in pain, but had reached a state of bliss. It was amazing, I still feel it today. She has a natural ability to transmit healing and blissful energy directly into my brain. I am very lucky to have 2 beautiful cats who love me, keep my apartment free of pests, and kiss and cuddle me constantly.
My ex husband had prostate cancer. My cat is always sitting on top of that area on my husband's and I wonder if she is healing him as I find it strange to get there… I love cats and understand their behavior.
Amazing! Because my friends laugh when I tell them about my 2 healing cats and how they have been working arduously to heal my back for the past few months. Punkin and her son Panther are both sweet barn cats that I rescued, now they are indoor kitties who receive a ton of loving. I ruptured a couple of vertebrae 8 months ago and developed chronic sciatica. I have 2 areas of severe pain that feel like the size of silver dollars perhaps larger. The major pain is in my ischial tuberosity(my butt) and then around the ruptured disc in my lower lumbar is the other pain location. Punkin performs this procedure on my back 70% of the time, and Panther 30%. All together between them they have done this over 100 times so this is no bizarre coincidence here. Many time I fall asleep while Punkin is giving me Catupunture, and wake up hours later only to find that Panther has taken Punkins place as Catupunturist extraordinaire.
Punkin never got too close to me before my injury typically she likes to sit near me but she is not over cuddly. Except when I am in pain then she gets affectionate and closer I have to move slow and be very gentle with her or she freaks. When the pain is terrible Punkin rests her hind end against my butt and then she applies some pressure…..exactly at the point of pain. She will lay there for hours and not move an inch healing me night after night. Now Panther is doing it too they work in shifts it is unreal! Thought I was going crazy and like I said nobody believes this story. Punkin and Panther are very accurate too within millimeters I swear when it comes to pin pointing the pain exactly. Now get this here is the most amazing part…..Punkin has a new method of healing my back….She takes one rear paw and presses it against the pain in my butt precisely in the center of the silver dollar size pain area EXACTLY! The other hind paw she places on the left side of my ruptured disc…again exactly at the epicenter of pain. Note: Disc is ruptured on the left side. Then she applies pressure and I call this "Catupuncture" She will hold the pressure with the muscles in her legs for periods of up to one hour, her claws slightly embedded in the skin, without letting up. Very loyal and dedicated and if this is not real love then I do not know what is. They heal me every night and it is working I am getting much better, I am back to work and my cats are healing my injury and easing my pain. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is their intention completely…too heal my injury and subdue my pain, and perhaps even reduce inflammation I strongly suspect. All I know is that some how some way they know exactly what they are doing, they know precisely the location of my pain, and they are both absolute masters at the art of healing.
My sweet, smart, healing Fe-Lions! Punkin and her little Boy Panther. Master Catupunturists!
This story is absolutely amazing, yet it doesn't surprise me! Cats are magical angels & I just love hearing how incredible yours are!
i know my cat named momma always knows when i sick, i had her for 17 years. when i dont feel well. she balls up on my chest, and like this morning. i ate something bad. she came up to me and like felt around amost like a medicine doctor. and usually when im half aleeep, oddly its obvious she is doing something to help me. its so unusual..almost like medicine man doing his magic, she tend to use her paws and feel around, sometimes in a feeling it out kinda way, after she did all this i went to the bathroom for a while and felt better. maybe cats are natrual healers. and we just see them at pets.
I am so thrilled to come across this site with all these stories! I too have a cat that is out of this world & amazes me time & time again! His name is Odin & we saved him as a kitten – he had a horrible infection in his sinuses & he eventually had to have surgery to clear it all out but lost some hearing in the process when they went in through the ear canal. The vets always love to see him & when most of the cats that have been in our lives have been scared on the exam table Odin will be purring so loud that they can't hear his heart beat lol! He has unusual white, gray, & black markings & the softest fur that any who pet him are amazed & say he's as soft as angora 🙂
The most amazing part of him is this: I have had years of health problems & he has been by my side through it all. I have what was finally diagnosed as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after many surgeries & years & years of excruciating pain. He has always known when I am in pain & insists that I get in bed or sit down by pawing at me or nipping at me till I did so. He then gets by my side,on my lap, or right above where my pain is purring & comforting me getting up every once in a while to give me kisses & rubbing my cheek, chin, or nose 🙂 He's always there to comfort me with my heart aches & when I am sick, many times not leaving my side to even eat my mom having to bring his food to the bed so he would eat something.
Odin has also gone to my dad's side when he's had heart surgery & other health problems.
I see a massage therapist & reiki practitioner who says I have a natural energy that boosts the healing she does & she's taught me some ways to help myself. Odin will always be right there when I'm doing so & it does feel like he's putting his energy in too to help. He insists on being on my lap or by my side when I meditate.
What else can I say? This little kitty with a big name & heart is my own heart & I don't think I would have survived through all the years of my pain without him! Infinite Love & Gratitude to him forever & ever!
That's a lovely story, Diane, and it reminds me of our own poor Simba who we lost last January about this time. We are very happy with our 2 new kittens though. They are over a year old now and they are so loveable in that undemanding Cat way! Missy and Mossy are no particular breed but seem to have some Persian and possibly even a touch of Scottish wild cat. (We live in the Highlands of Scotland). Missy is the one who has the gentler, more caring nature whereas Mossy is more of a character! I don't know if anyone knows the artist Louis Wain, who painted cats? When Mossy stands on her hind legs to play or tap on the window, she is just so like one of Wayne's cats! We notice that the cats' personalities are changing as they mature. Mossy is gradually becoming more affectionate. Her funniest trick is to swipe at my alarm clock before it goes off in the morning; evidently trying to wake me up to get her breakfast.
I also had a cat named Simba a number of years ago that helped me when I was in a lot of pain. I hurt my back so bad that it was hard for me to breathe. I was flat on my back on my bed. Simba came up and laid right in the crook of my arm near my shoulder. She put her paws on my shoulder and purred loudly and stared right at me. The next thing I knew the pain was gone. It was an amazing experience.
Hi there. I've so enjoyed reading about the healing cats. I too have had experience of this. We recently lost our darling ginger Tom cat, Simba, who grew up with our children and was for 19 years, one of the family. He could always sense when we were ill, particularly when we suffered from trauma, grief, depression etc. He would come up and sit on my or my husband's chest and just absorb the pain. He didn't purr usually when he did this; the healing didn't come from his purr but from his weight. He wasn't normally the kind of cat to sit on your lap. Another time, when I had a sore eye, he stretched his paw out and gently placed his paw on my eyelid and kept it there for a long time, till I fell asleep in fact. Shortly after Simba died we adopted two little sister kittens, who are now 10 months old and adorable. (Missy and Mossy; grey, fluffy) I am absolutely astounded to find that Missy does the same thing as Simba used to do! I had a tooth out this week and went off to bed during the daytime. Missy was very interested and made a full investigation. She first of all laid herself across my neck and snuggled in. Then a few minutes later, she made her way round to the side of my face where the tooth had been extracted and actually laid her pawws on my cheek and began to massage (as they do) but ever so gently. It was amazing! I ended up shooing her down to my feet though as I was worried about infections getting into the gum. The fact that a second cat was acting in this way makes me wonder if certain humans are more receptive than others. Perhaps cats 'tune in' to people who are on the same wavelengths as they are. Dying to know what you think!
There's just something about Buckley's look that would probably heal me from whatever ails me. She has a look that melts me. Thanks for continuing to share her. BEAUTIFUL!!
I've often wondered why some cats are more natural healers than others. My cat Merlin knows exactly when I need healing, but his sister Coco not so much.. When I used see aromatherapy clients at home, I had many clients who would insist the treatment could not begin until the cats hopped onto the massage table!
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My cats name is Boo Boo I have a serious stomach ailment with excruciating pain. This is the 3rd time now he has gotten on my stomach in the area of the pain with his front paws and started kneading (with claws in)for several minutes He had an unusual look of contentment on his face. Well the pain and cramps were gone!Thank God for my healer kitty.
My question is do you think when the cats heal,that they take on the illness inside of them.My cat Ashley,we called her a human passed away 3 yrs ago.She was 18.I was obviously devastated as she passed in my arms.She was always laying up to whoever wasn't feeling good.And would not leave until they were better. At the end,I took her to vet they took an xray.Only the right side of her was all these white,grey shadows, which they said cancer. But the left side had not a spot!!I thought about it and my conclusion is she absorbed all the sick!!Thoughts?
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- Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd: Jose Mourinho involved in bust-up after Ross Barkley saves Blues
- Gwenno 'sparks record numbers' in Cornish exams
- Anjem Choudary: How dangerous is he?
- Deaf dance troupe House of Krip seek to change perceptions
- One culture, two generations: Learning my mother tongue
- Prince Harry climbs Sydney Harbour Bridge
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After the RB, they have to do a small task to open the black chests and to carry the blackboards. Whatever ...In the Hungarian leg, Gus & Hera never catched up to the other teams because they were last in line. This small task acts as an equalizer. If the last team finishes fast, they can catch up with the first team. Or if the first team do badly, they'll end up last.
I'm still having problems with the Kar/Lyns !To put it nicely I think Lyn is the " smaller " one ?
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Cows Crash A Beer Backyard Party
Talk about being a party animal. Cows on the loose showed up just in time to crash a beer backyard party.
Talk about being a party animal. Cows on the loose showed up just in time to crash a beer backyard party.
Chinese scientists bred 300 cows that produce human milk. Milk is still in testing phase but it is planned to find its way to the shelves in three years time.
The miniature panda cow is the result of 44 years of genetic manipulation
The minuscule cow named Swallow with a taste for contemporary music measures roughly 33 inches (84 centimeters) from hind to foot.
Mercy For Animals released this horrible video showing a dairy worker chopping off a young's tail and burning off its horns without any anesthesia
Remember the mad cow disease? By now we forgot everything except that it's scary and that we don't want to catch it
Air-quality rules in to stop burning methane to produce power.
At an experimental government farm in the western Amazon's Rondonia state, researchers analyze grass seeds under microscopes, shake soil samples in test tubes, and measure the milk production of a new breed of cows.


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If you are having dental pain, don't ignore it! Pain in your mouth is often a symptom of a potentially serious issue, and you should take the time to have an appointment with your Cincinnati area dentist.
Relax and Let Us Eliminate Uncertainty
At Anderson Dental Care, we know that dental pain can be scary. What if treatment is expensive? What if it hurts even worse than letting it be? Don't let fear and uncertainty about your treatment prevent you from coming to us for an exam. We have sedation options available if you're anxious about your dental care, and we have multiple financing options available as well. We will be happy to work with you in order to resolve your dental discomfort.
When you come into our office to address your dental discomfort, we will perform a thorough exam, complete with Xrays to ensure that we find the source. We will then discuss treatment options with you and be sure that you are the one making the decisions about your dental health.
Our friendly staff is here for you, and comprehensive oral health is our mission. If you are in pain and need to be seen, please call us at (513) 231-7755 or fill out our online appointment request form.


text: Haiku celebrating the diversity of edible plants native to the Americas—blueberries, chocolate, prickly pears, pecans and more. Each spread includes an informative paragraph explaining the probable origin, history and some trivia for the plant described in the poem. (The word pecan, for example, comes from a French word meaning, "nut to be cracked on a rock.") López's vibrant, folklorish illustrations make the book a visual feast, but the haikus are uneven. Some (Chiles: "Dad bites green mouth-fire / laughs when tears fill his eyes, sighs / 'Mmmm! This heat tastes good' ") evoke the essence of their subject; others (Potato: Underground magic. / Peel brown bundle, mash, pile high. / Salt and pepper clouds) are just confusing. More interesting as social science than as poetry, but visually gorgeous. (Nonfiction/poetry. 7-12)


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Last week on 12 March it was National No Smoking Day, a day dedicated to help smokers quit their addiction for good. Since the campaign was introduced in 1983 the proportion of smokers in the UK has dropped from one third to one fifth. Despite this impressive decline, there are still around 10 million smokers in the country, and 100,000 of them die every year from their addiction.
The implications of smoking on health are widely known and include increased risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, blood clots and premature ageing – not to mention bad breath, gum disease and a rapidly emptying bank balance.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) organise No Smoking Day and believe that there are two factors that are essential for successful cessation:
- that you are ready for the change
- that you realise you needn't do it alone.
There are several different routes you can take to quit smoking including medication and nicotine replacement therapies. The key is finding out what works best for you and not giving up at the first hurdle.
The BHF have the following hints for those looking to quit smoking:
- Make a note of your personal reasons for quitting and keep it somewhere you will see it every day.
- Set yourself a date to quit. Having a clear plan of action will help you devise strategies for the day.
- Tell your friends and family. Making the commitment out loud will make it more real, while the support of those around you will be invaluable.
- Visit your NHS Stop Smoking Service for further help.
- Plan in advance how you will cope with the temptations to smoke. Make a note of your triggers and have an action plan for trigger scenarios.
- Keep a log of how much money you're saving to keep you motivated.
For some people, hypnotherapy can prove helpful when quitting. To find out more, please see our hypnotherapy to quit smoking page.
View and comment on the original Express article.


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For most companies it is no longer a matter of 'if' they will become a victim of a data breach, it is a question of 'when'. With the likes of Target and TalkTalk suffering significant data breaches in the past few years, it is no wonder that the market has turned its attention to cyber and its impact.
Impact on financial lines
Cyber attacks have now overtaken economic weakness as the main cause of concern for UK banks. Directors and officers are increasingly being pursued in relation to data breaches and cyber hacks as the pressure to protect consumers' information increases, resulting in D&O and financial lines (FI) policies (that are not built to respond to such threats) becoming triggered.
A lack of regulation in Europe in relation to response to cyber breaches, compounded by a general lack of understanding of cyber risks, has meant that standalone cyber policies are not popular in the current UK market. This has left other forms of insurance more exposed to these large losses.
EU Regulations
The landscape is changing, as the European Commission (EC) attempts to bring the European Union up to speed with the United States regulations on data breaches. On 15 December 2015 the EC reached agreement on the European Data Protection Regulations (EDPR), which are due to be adopted in spring 2016, coming into force in spring 2018.
Companies will be required to make mandatory notifications of a data breach to consumers and regulators on all cyber breaches (currently companies are only required to notify serious breaches). Listed companies must also notify the stock exchange.
The Information Commissioner's Office can currently issue fines for breaches of information of up to £500,000. However with the EDPR in force, companies could face penalties of up to €2 million or 4% of the company's turnover (whichever is the greater).
Future exposures
D&O and FI policies will typically respond to investigations and regulatory proceedings that may occur following a cyber breach. With increased scrutiny of cyber breach by regulators, could we see more claims of this type attaching to these policies? Further, could such activity be compounded by increases in fines and penalties, leading to large exposures in cover?
Policies may also include extensions to provide for public relations expenses, reputation protection expenses and pre-investigations costs. While these extensions are unlikely to cover expenses surrounding the new requirements of notifying consumers of any and all data breaches, significant losses could be incurred if these extensions are not sub-limited appropriately.
Third parties that are affected by a cyber attack are also likely to bring a recovery claim for any losses they have incurred in respect of a company's data breach. A good example of this was in the Target data breach. Visa and Mastercard brought claims against Target in respect of Target credit cards that were issued by Visa and Mastercard. The third party loss was the cancellation and replacement of all the credit cards provided by Visa and Mastercard on behalf of Target.
However, it seems the biggest exposure is to shareholder actions and securities class actions from investors and shareholders holding the companies and/or their directors and officers accountable for misinformation about cyber breach policies, procedures, and notification when there is a breach. Ultimately, such exposure is likely to lead to losses resulting from a resulting fall in the share price or the value of that investment because of cyber attacks.
On the other side of the coin, the EDPR could see a rise in popularity of stand-alone cyber policies, in order to provide comprehensive cover for third party liability, breach response, remediation costs, business interruption and fines and penalties. Whilst there does not appear to be a trend in cyber exclusions within D&O and FI policies and cover remains fairly broad, we may see companies obtaining cyber policies in addition to these policies purely for the advice and expertise available from data breach coaches on how to respond when such incidents occur. This would leave the D&O and FI policies to do what they were intended to do.
Related item: EU data protection: regulation awakens


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Jared Sletager, who played in local bands Pregnant and Elphaba, and also helped Adam Paysse co-found Rome Plow Records, passed away Sunday night. He was 29. In October the vehicle he was driving was struck by a drunk driver, putting him in a coma for a number of weeks. "He fought incredibly hard to live," says his friend and bandmate Matt Doctor, "but after many complications his body began to shut down and the decision was made to let him go. He was surrounded by many friends and family at his passing."
Elphaba was a great band, and Jared has been a proud supporter of the local all-ages music scene for many years. It was partly because of them that local label Rome Plow ever existed (and went on to release albums by the Assailant, Helms Alee, Blues and more). In an Underage column in 2006, Paysse said: "I had no intention of starting a label, but after hearing the songs Elphaba had recorded, I just couldn't stand by and let a record that brilliant go unreleased and unappreciated. So I offered to put it out."
Rome Plow has since stopped releasing records, but Paysse is bringing back the label to release a limited vinyl run of Elphaba's last record, a record that the band never got to release themselves. "Jared was particularly proud of the record and sad it was never released," says Matt.
Friends are also organizing benefit shows to help his family cover the costs of the funeral or to donate money to one of Jared's favorite charities. The first one is December 5th at the Black Lodge with Navigator vs. Navigator, Stres, and Happy Birthday Secret Weapon. The others have yet to be confirmed, but I'll definitely post details once they're worked out.
This is an incredibly sad story, and sincere condolences go out to his friends, family, and bandmates.
RIP, Jared.


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$ 1,685.00
Whether you are trekking, sailing, on stage or in the studio, the Blackbird Rider carbon fiber travel guitar performs. The resonance-driven design features a proprietary hollow neck and head sound port, one–piece carbon fiber construction for a full and balanced tone with strong bass, clear mids and crystalline trebles as well as uncanny sustain. Leave your nice wooden guitar at home because the Rider is nearly indestructible, unaffected by humidity, light and compact— but has full-size loudness and richness. We are not currently taking new orders for Rider steel strings and Here is why. Some dealers will have them through 2017. We are still taking orders for Rider nylon string models and have you seen the Savoy? Savoy is a bit larger with a cutaway, made of our Ekoa composite and sounds tremendous!
The Rider steel string includes a custom soft case, and strap buttons.
Questions? Please use our online contact form, or call us at (415) 625-0977.
[powr-faq id=092dbfaf_1456945042795]
|Carbon Unibody
|High-Modulus Carbon Fiber
|Fretboard Width at 12 Fret
|1.75 in (44.45 mm)
|Fretboard Width at Nut
|1.75 in (44.45 mm)
|Neck material
|Carbon Fiber
|Side Markers
|5, 7, 9, 12 & 15
|Bridge Material
|Neck Shape
|Low Profile, Hollow
|Neck Reinforcement
|Carbon fiber, non-adjustable
|Bridge String Spacing
|2.125 in (53.975mm)
|16 in Radius/Compensated/Graphtech
|Nut Material
|Micarta 16" radius
|Tuning Machines
|Gotoh SG-381 Mini-Tuners
|Hollow With Head Sound Port
|Carbon Fiber
|Recommended Strings
|Ballistic Nylon Gig Bag
|Optional Mi-Si
|Scale Length
|24.5 in (622.3 mm)
|Medium Stainless Steel
|High Gloss Polyurethane
|35.5 x 10.5 x 4.25" (90 x 27 x 11cm)
|3 lbs (1.3 Kilos)
|Number of Frets Clear
|Number of Frets Total
Sean K., Australia
Just received my Blackbird Rider Guitar in the post here in Australia. Sounds and plays great! Thank You.
Oyvin S., Tanzania
The Blackbird Rider Steel is my most trusted and reliable tool for communication - everywhere! Here we are at the Irente School for the blind in Lushoto, Tanga Region, Tanzania, overcoming all barriers of language, culture and other abilities/ disabilities.
Bill S. la Jolla, California
I have had my Rider steel string for a couple of years now and still love it. I can't imagine a better sounding or playing travel guitar. I almost always take it with me on trips and have never had a problem carrying it aboard an aircraft. It is unobtrusive and usually fits in the overhead directly in front of a carry on suitcase. Because it is carbon fiber, no worries about damage in a soft case either. If I didn't have the Rider I probably wouldn't take a guitar on my travels.
Scot B.
Really appreciating the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into your guitars. I just got the Rider and it is quite elegant, easy to keep close at hand - and it sings. Here it stands next to my other elegant guitar, both keeping each other's good company!


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Your physical reality is a reflection of your inner reality. If your mind feels cluttered and overwhelmed with too much to do, and you find it difficult to experience joy in the moment, chances are that your lifestyle is following suit. Spring is a season of renewal therefore it's a good time to tackle those areas of your life that are not aligned with your personal goals and dreams.
Warning Bells of a Cluttered Mind
- Frequent negative emotions and moodiness
- Continuously putting things off/procrastination
- Strained relationships
- An empty feeling/lacking purpose in life
Which often go hand in hand with:
- Incomplete projects
- Messy/cluttered surroundings
- Misplacing/losing important items
- Continuously arriving late to appointments
- Forgetting to respond to timely email messages and follow up on voice mail
- And more…
If the bells are sounding, it probably means that it's time to spring clean your life! Take the time to work on your mindset and inject fresh energy into your life. As you do this, your life will begin to take the shape of your dreams and you will find yourself accomplishing things that are fulfilling and meaningful.
Start with cleaning up your mindset and organizing your thought process.
Do you remember the last time you cleaned your home from top to bottom? Did it take effort on your part? It's quite possible that you finished the job feeling as if you had just completed a challenging workout! Spring cleaning your mind takes the same conscious effort that it takes to clean your home. And it might be a little tough at first. Yet the outcome is worth it!
The first step to spring clean your mind is to be aware of the bad habits which are creating the mental clutter. As soon as you are aware of the weaknesses and personal habits that don't truly serve you, you are then in a great position to do something about them!
Procrastination: the Biggest Baddie.
In order to spring clean your mind, you will need to deal with the procrastination in your life. This habit alone is enough to keep you stuck in "limbo" and feeling like you are not getting anywhere. You see, incomplete tasks begin to pile up in a mental "to do" list which drains your energy. Putting things off creates higher levels of stress, sending stress hormones coursing through your body. As long as there is "unfinished business" on your mind, you will be in a state of agitation. And we all know what too much stress does to our immune system!
Have you ever noticed how amazing you feel every time you take action on and take care of something that has been on your mind?
Take action every day. Dream it. Say it. Do it. If fear is stopping you from taking action, feel the fear, and do it anyway. Write a statement of intention and write out your top three goals, daily. This will put the mind power behind your action, which will catapult you towards your goals.
Remember, ACTION is the key word here.
Food for thought:
What's the best thing you could be working on, and why aren't you?
This question rocks a procrastinator's world! I came across it in an excellent article by Paul Graham. Read the full article here.


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My sister Kelsey is a very pretty woman. She also has a heart of gold. There should be a fucking Disney princess made for her. I was shocked the first time I heard her say a girl from our sorority, Allie, was a "mean bitch." I can't blame Kelsey though; I think Allie is a shit-stained coochy rash, but whatever.
The point I'm trying to make is Kelsey is pretty damned perfect, at least in my book. It takes a lot to put up with my shit, and she's been there for me through it all. I love her and would kill a fair amount of people to keep her safe.
All that said, she's never had a boyfriend. During one of our day drinking sessions (we went through some shit with our sorority that ultimately caused us to petition to go alum early, and we drank when things were particularly bad), I asked her what she wanted in a guy. I was curious if she was just super picky. She listed only three things:
- He has to be nice.
- He has to like her.
- He can't be a "raper."
That's it. As the night progressed I kinda picked up on why she didn't pay too much attention to men. I saw why she feels more comfortable drinking when there are only women present, and I try my best to accommodate her (she's usually designated driver, and I have no qualm with that).
Anyhow, we have the same birthday (February 11th) and I have every intention of spending the day or weekend with her. I'm gonna see if she wants to party with the crew team and the sorority sisters we like.
An update. Fuckin' A.


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A chilly April Saturday found me and several other parents, along with some teenage boys, standing behind tables in the midst of a giant yard sale to benefit our Scout troop, which needed additional funds for summer camp.
As we perused donated items in hopes of finding a bargain ourselves, a Scout approached a table filled with kitchenware, knickknacks and miscellaneous items.
"What's this?" he asked, picking up a curious looking metal object with a keyboard.
"It's a typewriter," his friend said.
I interrupted the conversation, recounting how I had used one just like it during my college years to painstakingly type every paper and essay.
"How does it work?" the first Scout asked.
There was no power cord.
"But how do you know when the ink is low?" he asked.
I chuckled inside. There are no ink cartridges. And unlike a computer, a typewriter has no alert window that pops up with a "low ink" warning.
I pointed to the black, inky ribbon, explaining how it moves from one spool to the other, and that over time, the letters appear lighter on the paper, signaling the need to purchase a new ribbon.
"I wonder if you can even buy those anymore," he said.
They examined the machine closely, reacting with awe as they discovered that the shift key manually lowers the entire carriage to create capital letters.
They also were amazed at how the margins are set by using the mechanical tabs on the carriage, and how the entire carriage, paper scrolled inside, moves as you type.
"How does it know when to go back to the left side of the page?" one of them asked.
On a typewriter, a small bell rings to let you know you're near the end of a typewritten line. As I started to explain, they located the carriage return lever, which, when pushed, moves the paper down one line and back to the left.
They were fascinated by the mechanical marvel.
"I'm going to buy this," the first Scout said.
"What for?" the other asked.
The new netbook he had received at school that week wasn't working.
"Maybe I'll take it to school on Monday instead of my netbook," he joked. "It has about the same functionality."
Actually, it had slightly more functionality. The typewriter worked; his netbook didn't.
He paid $2 and put his new purchase to use that same day, typing a speech for church -- the old-fashioned way.
The decades-old portable Royal typewriter was just one of the many unwanted household items and pieces of used clothing sold that day.
Some big-ticket items were sold as well, including an automatic-shifting bicycle, dog cages and a pair of child car seats.
Despite the overcast skies, temperatures in the mid-40s and 16 mph winds, the Scouts managed to reach their camp fund-raising goal.
And for those who have been waiting for warmer weather, the yard sale season can now begin in earnest.
Here are some ideas that helped us have a successful sale:
Yard sale tips
- Choose a location. One next to a heavily traveled road will bring more prospective customers. You may want to combine with other families for your sale. Be sure to advertise that fact if you do.
- Get a permit. Some cities require one. Be sure to check with your municipality.
- Advertise. Put your ad in The Chronicle and on the Internet at mlive.com. Spread the word via email and Facebook. Post fliers at local grocery stores, your church and other public places where permitted. Post signs on the day of the sale.
- Prepare for the weather. It can still rain even if you plan your yard sale for a warm, clear day. Can you set up in the garage? Under a large canopy? Do you have tarps to protect items from rain?
- Create your own tables. A couple of planks or a large piece of plywood on top of a pair of sawhorses, covered with a sheet, makes a great display table.
- Price all items. Use small stickers. Or if you have several items selling for the same price, say $1, put them on the same table with a sign reading, "All items on this table $1." That will save you the trouble of attaching a sticker to every item.
- Price items to sell. Be realistic. You may have an emotional attachment to your ice-fishing shanty, but does someone else really want it for $25? Would you rather get rid of shirts and blouses for 25 cents each or take the trouble to load up all those unsold clothes to haul to the thrift store?
- Set up for success. Put your large, big-ticket items -- like bicycles, skis and child car seats -- out front to attract passersby. Put like items together.
- Put children's toys on the ground. Display toys in a kiddie swimming pool or in cardboard boxes on the ground where children can see them.
- Don't forget change. Keep coins and small bills handy.
- Don't leave money or valuable items unattended.
- Food is good. Even if prospective customers don't buy anything else, they might purchase a cookie or some lemonade -- in localities where it's permitted.
- Use plastic grocery bags for bagging sold items.
- Grab bags. If you have many items remaining as the sale nears its end, consider offering grab bags -- everything that can fit in a bag for one price.
- Clean up. Pack up everything that's left and donate it to a charity or thrift store. Some charities will even come and pick up your unsold items. If you keep good records and get a receipt from the charitable group, you'll be able to deduct the value of items you donate on your federal tax return.
- Share your yard sale tips and humorous yard sale stories. Click on "Comments." Or e-mail your tips to Stan.
- For more home improvement tips, gardening ideas and recipes, go to Been There, Done That.