RiverTopanga

Hi, I'm Leslie. Below, is the saga that is my life - LOL 😄

8/27/23: current postage rates: First Class (under 1 oz) = .66 cents Postcard = .51 (if over 4x6, 1st class postage)

8/22/23: Great news! We are officially over covid. 😁
8/20/23: we are both feeling 98% better. I haven't had a temp for 3 days now (mum never got one). Going to re-test on Tuesday to be sure though. Mum hasn't coughed at all today. This is a huge improvement for her! She said she didn't cough last night either and had a great sleep. Oddly enough, I read that covid doesn't clamp on to porous surfaces...usually germ disappears in several hours. On non porous surfaces though (like a doorknob or tv remote) can live for days! Also, more likely to get from the air than a surface! Wouldn't you think it was the opposite? I'm still glad I sprayed my swaps well with sanitizing spray. Sadly though, can't do anything about the postal 📬 workers. And, bonus (not), heard on the news there is a new strain... it started in Michigan. 8/17/23: Think I have turned the corner on this Covid thing. Mum too. I have been sending mail the past few days. However, I've been spraying sanitizer on my hands, on my notes, envelopes, and on my ATCs. Unfortunately, the news says it is going around Florida again, and I'm afraid that a mail handler may pass it on. Hopefully, having been sprayed with sanitizer, it won't stick, or/and after things travel to their destination, the virus will be dead.

I see mum has some birthday wishes...THANK YOU! I will check those in soon too 😃

8/12/23: hi everyone. I am sorry, but my ratings will be a bit late. It seems that mum and I have finally succumbed to COVID. We've both had 3 injections, so we should be able to kick it out of our systems soon (it's been almost 7 days). That being said, I'm not signing up for anymore swaps at this time. I have 3 on my dash, and I'm thinking about them while I lie in bed coughing, achy, and napping. Please be patient. Contact me here if you have questions and I will try to answer as quickly as possible. Rest assured, I will get everything checked in, it may take a while. Thank you for understanding.

6/20/23: 🙋‍♀️ Hi all. Thank you for your support all these long months. I'm not out of the woods yet. But I am going to try to do some swaps. I'm so bored... need my crafts!! And, more importantly, my Crafty Friends...I miss you all! 🙂

April 2023: Sorry all, won't be participating in swaps for a while. I miss it terribly, but not having a deadline with erratic pain days - has been very nice. I'm going to continue this way until I see if I can resolve some of the remaining nerve issues. I Love you all - knowing you are all there for support is very comforting. Thank you all. 💖

4/23/23: finally tracked down biopsy results. Long story... but biopsy was INCONCLUSIVE. Still having nerve issues. Hope all of you are enjoying your Spring.

3/31/23 - I am awaiting biopsy results. This will determine if I will be able to carry on with swap and hosting. I hope life us going well for you all. Enjoy the coming spring. 🐰🐰

1/13/23: If I never saw another doctor for the rest of my life, I'd be a happy person! I saw 5 doctors this week. Each one takes 45-60 mins to get to the office, then wait around for them to call you, have the appt, then drive home. What a waste of time! And, to top it off, every time you go, they give you more procedures to have done.... it snowballs. Grrr 😬. That's how my week was. I hope yours was better.

12/9/22: UPDATE. Hi everyone. So sorry some of the swaps were rated a bit late. I've had so many Dr appts, and have had so much trouble sleeping at night (which causes me to spontaneously doze during the day). They have canceled the kyphoplasty for now, and are doing diagnostic spinal injections instead. So, I had another set of spinal facet injections yesterday. The second day is always wonderful! Almost no pain at all. Feel almost "normal". But last time, the pains started creeping in slowly each day... 🤞🤞 it won't be so bad this time. But, at least I had a REAL sleep last night 😃.

11/25/22: update: Ok.. Spent 6 hours at the doctor on Wed. I went for an 11 am appt. Left after 5 pm. Yesterday, I was all screwed up due to Wed. at the dr.. Between the freezing cold offices all day (my fibromyalgia hates the cold), and no meals, only "snack" of cheezits, cookies, etc... my blood sugars were all screwed up....thank goodness they had some snacks and water. I am scheduled for Kyphoplasty starting on 11/30. Check out the link: https: //biospine.com/ spine-procedures/minimally-invasive/kyphoplasty/. - I read that there should be some immediate relief. I am counting down to those days!!

11/17/22: Please excuse me from most swaps until further notice. I have a CAT scan and another major test, involving contrast and non contrast films coming up in Dec. I love you all, but I can only handle so much. Will keep you posted.

11/6/22: Hello everyone. I actually had 1 night of almost "regular" sleep. I woke up a few times, but got back to sleep in a short time! However, last night was back to horrible, horrible sleep. 🤨 I am not going to be signing up for many swaps at this time of year. I know I will be seeing my son, and I need to be stress free for the holidays in general. No matter how much I love to create my swaps, they can still be stressful - I know you all understand that! Thank you everyone for your love, caring, and understanding of my situation.

10/31/22: Hello. Thank you for checking my profile. I am having so much trouble with Pain. Somedays I barely get out of bed. Please be patient with me. I think I may end up going to the hospital one of these nights. I have to get back to some semblance of a normal life soon.

9/11/22- I had been given direction by my neurologist to start physical therapy. After each session, I would get no sleep that night. The pain was so bad. It is a very deep, muscle ache/pain. I even had to have my mother come in and massage my leg until I fell asleep...3 hrs! So, I have canceled therapy until I talk to the Dr at the end of the month. Leg still hurts at night, but is more manageable now. And, no, it's not the normal muscle ache/burn after a workout. I've done step aerobics, kickboxing, weights, the Body For Life program 2x. I know what workout aches and pains are all about. This is not the same.

9/9/22- It's sad. My mum didn't receive even one card or postcard for her 91st birthday. It's a good thing I didn't tell she would be getting well wishes from other places.

7/27/22- Hello all my dear Crafty friends.. My mum will be celebrating her 91st birthday on Aug. 25. In the past, a few people in a pocket letter group on another site sent have her pocket letters as RAKs (not on her birthday). On here, there have been a few very sweet people that have sent her letters and pcs- just because. I will say, she is not big on writing back...her eyes are getting to the "90 yr old weary syndrome", but she enjoys, loves, and is amazed when she receives a card from a stranger. If she shops with me (doesn't do this very much now she has serious hip pain and we dont want to expose her to covid), She loves to bring my swaps to the mailbox at the end of the driveway when I have some going out. She loves picking up the mail too, to see the pretty envelopes and interesting postcards. I was wondering, if it isn't too much trouble, or you find an extra postage stamp for the month, or you have an extra moment to write a quick note, would you mind sending her a postcard or notecard (store bought is more than OK!) with a simple Happy Birthday message? ... the rest of my family is scattered around the country, and will call to wish her a happy day, but we all know it's not quite the same as a physical piece of mail... we all get that! Thank you in advance, if you decide to do this.. Happy summer! Her name is Susan Coleman, and she does live with me, so address is same - 403 Seawane Circle, Auburndale FL 33823-5801

Regarding my pain issues- I found a little bit of relief since being approved for a medical mj card. Very helpful for getting to sleep on bad nights.

Please Note: I am taking a break from several groups at this time due to health issues. Thank you for understanding: I will update as needed

PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTACTED ME ABOUT A SWAP BEING LATE: THANK YOU!

1. 8/4/22: nothing has been received yet. Sent message on 8/2, it has not been read. This is more than a couple weeks late now. Will have to give a 1 rating very soon. Contacted 7/17/22: by howdyholly - Art Collab PC #104. She will send late.

Please be sure to rate!

7/2/22- Hello! Please note that I will be rating late for a while. It's hard for me to sit with my back against a chair, it sets off all the nerves in my back. Please be patient. It will just take a little longer.

6/17/22- Hello my friends. Tonight, my heart is breaking. My beautiful, darling Kohi passed away. My mother and I went to Olive Garden for a late lunch, when we got home, she was on the bottom of her cage, wings spread, and unable to sit upright. She was fine when we left. And has not shown any signs of illness. Sadly, that is usually the way it is with our avian friends.. healthy one minute, and Not the next.. I was able to hold her for 2 hours, give her "head rubs," and keep her warm. At the last minute, she jumped out of my hand, and flew to the floor. This was her "Rally". She passed one minute later. She was 15 years old. A great age for a cockatiel.

4/22/22: have been having several health issues on top of my back issues. I have developed a trigger thumb which is very painful - even with a brace. I have also started having falls. My leg is buckling under me, and I crumple to the ground. There is no warning. I fell in a restaurant, and at home yesterday. I may have broken my big toe. Please forgive me if I rate or respond to ratings a little slower than usual. I promise I will get my swaps out on time as usual, or notify you if there is a reason I can't. I hope everyone else is having a wonderful post-Easter experience. 😀🐰

1/23/22: UPDATE - This year has been difficult to date. Several bad things have happened. A. Several friends in the next community came down with COVID. B: The grandson of a friend was sentenced to jail time. C: My sister's husband passed away. D: A friend of 26 years passed away. E: Found out one of my cousins is in stage 4 renal failure. F: Another cousin has brain damage from a car accident last summer. G: A 3rd cousin has "LONG COVID" H: My Fibromyalgia is giving me trouble, and I am having a lot of trouble sleeping.

My swaps have Not been affected.
I am still on target with all send dates.
This month, I have been a couple days late rating at times, but I am up to date on all ratings at this moment.

12/28/21: my son and his g.f. had 3 flights out of Florida canceled in 2 days. Needless to say, I'm behind in my ratings of received swaps...honestly, haven't opened mail in about 3 days. Please be patient. I will get to it as soon as we have seen them on their way 😲 Thank you! 🙂 they are home and ratings are up to date.

11/15/21: I have officially hosted 100 swaps! Isn't swapping great? I've met so many new friends, it's fantastic!

10/18/21: Amazing! I have completed 1001 swaps as of today.... WOW!

I LOVE 🐌🐌 mail! Finding something other than a bill in my mailbox, it really makes my day!

If you have not received a swap from me, please let me know before you rate. I have not missed a swap deadline to date, and will always message you if I think it will be late. In fact, I usually have swaps ready to go a few days after they are assigned. I will wait, however until a few days before swap deadline to send if you have not sent yours to your partner. When putting outgoing mail in the mailbox, I will not mark sent until the postman has picked it up.

PLEASE, if I owe you postage, let me know.

Colors: I love all shades of purple, Jewel Tones and bright colors. Not fond of pastels.

Sadly, my beautiful Kohi passed away. There is not a day since that I do not think of her. --- I have a beautiful Cockatiel named Kohi no Karemu. Coffee and Cream in Japanese. She is a beautiful buff color as opposed to the normal white. She has the orange cheeks and some gorgeous yellow tail feathers (see my Avatar). Unlike females of other bird species, the female cockatiel cannot talk or imitate other sounds (like whistling tunes). This does not keep her from letting me know what she wants! If I am cooking or crafting, she has to have her nosey little beak right beside me to let me know if she approves or not 🦜. She also loves it when I bring her cage out to the table on the deck for breakfast. If it's raining, she makes a stink about not going out. She also greets us vocally before we even come in the door, if we have been out. She is a great companion, and cheers me up immensely when I am down. 💜 I wish I could put a vest on her and make her my companion animal.

I was a Lead Investigator in a paranormal group in Nebraska (Great Plains Supernatural Investigations) for several years before I moved to Florida. We all loved doing investigations, and listening to the evening's recordings can be tedious, but when you find something... WOW!

Rating: please be thoughtful when rating. If your partner sent you 3 things pertaining to a swap theme, when they only needed to send one, or sent some extras that your profile says you like, be kind...rate with a heart. Don't you want to to make someone's day?? 💚

POSTCARDS: if you want a 🧡 from me, please write more than a word or three on a postcard swap you send to me. I would like to hear about you - your likes/dislikes, your day, the weather in your area, your pet, your craft faves, fave TV or movies, your fave quote,, anything that's on your mind.... Sending me a postcard that only says... "Happing swapping" or "Have a nice day" for example, will not prompt me to give a heart rating.

My 92 yr old mother lives with me. She still has her license (but doesn't drive here in Florida), and makes friends easily.

My son and his girlfriend just moved to NY City! Hooray!!! Now we are on the same coast!

For Crafts, I am a long-time stamper and scrapbooker. I used to make full size Pocket Letters - I rarely do those now, they are very time consuming.

I can do most crafts, however, I have not yet been able to get the hang of sewing, crocheting, or knitting... but I would still like to learn someday.

PHOTOGRAPHY: I am an amateur photographer. I use a point and shoot camera, and have gotten some great pictures! I mostly photograph nature. Plants, birds, dragonflies, butterflies. People are okay, but to me, they spoil a nice scene more often than not!! That includes pics of me. I'm not a selfie fan, and I usually don't want to be in a pic when I'm traveling...I know what I look like!! I want to remember where I've been 😉

I have found my inner artist from being on swap sites. It's exciting to be challenged like this!

My all time favorite books...

1. Martians Go Home

2. The Disc World series by Terry Prachett

3. The Harry Potter Series

4. A book from childhood... The Diamond in the Window.

5. Little Men by Louisa May Alcott (any LMA book, truth be told)

6. The Golden Compass trilogy

MUSIC

I really love almost any music. Depends on my mood as to what I listen to.

Classical: Rachmaninoff, Bach, Schubert 40s-80s Grateful Dead John Denver Jimmy Buffet - RIP 9/2023 🙁 Lulu Bread ELO Schooner Faire Recently found : Fishermen's Friends Big band (wish I had learned how to Swing dance when I was in High School!)

Favorite Movies... hmmm So Many!

I love old movies: Examples: Singing in the Rain, Bringing up Baby, Oklahoma, Carousel, The Philadelphia Story, American Graffiti, Back to the Future (the first is the best! and yes, it IS a classic!), Dirty Dancing... and the list goes on.

If you like classic movies check out this website... http://www.omahafilmevent.com. My friend Bruce puts on these events, and before I moved, I was a volunteer at the bi-annual events. A fabulous, fun, and tiring evening!

TELEVISION:
I am addicted to older British Sitcoms - in particular: Butterflies, To The Manor Born, and The Good Life (Good Neighbors - in the US), Monarch of the Glen.

Not British, I loved The Last Man On Earth ... and was so upset when it was canceled. I feel they need to do an anniversary show to let people know what happens.

2 Broke Girls, MASH, Scrubs, Peak Practice (British), New Amsterdam, and The Resident (hmm, theme emerging!). Outlander, Lucifer, Sabrina (original tv show), Don't Trust the B in Apt 23, Ghost Whisperer, Cheers, The Big Bang Theory, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Mare of East Town, The Mentalist, and so many more. The key is, I like to be entertained, and like shows that don't talk down to me like I'm 3 yrs old. I also don't like gore for gore's sake.

Please, do not feel you need to send me anything from below...however, if you have some of these, please use them to create your swap! Or you can send some if you absolutely insist! 😉😉😉 lol.

I love all things Dyan Reaveley/Dylusions. I took classes from her in NE. I used to use the Dylusions paints and inks in a lot of my Swaps (now they are packed in abox and I can't get to them. The colors are so vibrant, and the Dyan Reaveley stamps are so funky and fun, I love them! So receiving anything you create with these would be fabulous!

I have taken classes from Dina Wakley, as well. She is a beautiful, warm, talented woman! I learned how to use a gelli plate, and I love it! Never thought I would want to learn something else, but Gelli printing is awesome.. try it if you have a chance. Loved, loved, loved the Dina Classes!

I love Tim Holtz products too. He is so creative! I don't own a lot of his things, but someday, I will.

And, I really love Smash Books. They are what I have been using on my trips for the past few years.

Swap On!!

..Thank you!

TEAS: please DO NOT send me teas. I have enough tea to last me 2 years. I also have several allergies that prevent me from drinking certain teas. And, I have received back teas that I sent to people. So best not to send any all!! Thank you for understanding.

SCENTS: SMOKEY OR STRONG SMELLING ODORS. I have Severe allergies and any smokey, moldy, musty or other strong smelling odors (including perfumes, and candles). They actually make me physically sick. Sadly, I have thrown swaps in the trash before I even open them due to the strong odors. 😫

PET PEEVES:

People who won't give a 💜 for a postcard they received. Postcards require thought too. If there is a nice note, or the pc is profile related, your partner is trying to connect with you by sending a special pc. Why withhold a heart ❤?

People who don't rate.

People who rate 1 without contacting their partner first.

If I am participating in sock swap.... partner, please note- I take a size 9-11. I wear crew or short crew socks (above the ankle). I am unable to wear ankle socks any more due to a failed ankle surgery several yrs ago, and experience pain when things touch my ankle. Thank you!

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING SWAPPING WITH ME: If you are going to be late, PLEASE NOTIFY ME.
Not notifying someone that you will be late is just plain rude, and subject to poor ratings ... I will contact you if I expect my swap to be mailed late.

REGARDING QUESTIONABLE ENVIES: Please note that I am a responsible and reasonable swapper. I always try to bring questionable envies to the post office, but sometimes one will slip through and need extra extra postage 🙁 PLEASE, if I owe you postage, let me know. Also, I have been receiving a growing number of POSTAGE OWED envies. I am now telling my postman to return these to the sender. I have been burned by people not paying me back. Once in a while the postman will pay the extra postage and I will pay him back. I will ask you to please return the money to me by unused postage, postal check, or cashiers check. Please note, I have no control over when he does this!

*NOTE: Since the move to Florida, I have been mailing most of my swaps from the mailbox. If your swap has a post date on the item that is one day later than I sent from the mailbox, I apologize. I always hit the sent button after the mail has been picked up, not when I put it in my mailbox. Unfortunately, it may take the mailman (yes, it's really a man!) a long time to get it back to the post office for sorting and mailing. And, I regret that the postal service may have issues if I tell my postman to get the items to post office ASAP ... and darn the rest of his route!! Lol. 😉 I do usually send swaps out ahead of the swap date, so it should still be in compliance.

I can't believe that I actually have to put this on my profile: Swappers that owe me postage:

***Speedy Found Image #16 - $2.68 UPDATE: 9/7/23: still have not been paid.
1/22/20: I was told by a member of the Swap Bot Flakers that it could be a problem at my end of the postal system. I should go and talk to my post office. So, I did. Here is what they told me: PO stated they would never let an envie that size, with a tracking number, be mailed for $1.10 in stamps. The Post Office will give out piles of tracking numbers to people that mail a lot of items (who knew?). She had to have put the tracking on herself and mailed it. So, when I got home, out of curiosity, I Checked USPS website, here is what it says for the tracking number on the envie: "Label Created, not yet in system A status update is not yet available on your package. It will be available when the shipper provides an update or the package is delivered to USPS. Check back soon."
If it had been mailed with the PO and they put the tracking number on it, it would be in the system as having reached its destination at my house. And the proper postage would be on it.