The best laid plans of mice and men...

I have had the Uhaul truck and tow dolly reserved for over a week and received an email confirmation.

Just now, I got a call from Uhaul that they don't have a tow dolly available. (Now you tell me?)
Oh and the 15-ft truck you reserved is not at the location where you want to pick it up. It's at a different location that does not open until 10 am.

He managed to locate an auto transport trailer (flatbed) and will rent it for the same price as the tow dolly... but it is not in Rapid City. It is in Spearfish at the north end of the Black Hills.

So I pick up the truck Monday at 10:00 and leave my Jeep there. Then drive up to Spearfish and pick up the trailer. Drive back down to Rapid City, load the Jeep onto the trailer and then I can go home and start loading the truck around noon or later.

He apologized for the inconvenience and gave me an extra day rental on the truck and trailer at no charge.

This just might work out. Now to inform my helpers that we won't start loading until Monday afternoon.
< sigh >

It's all good. 😁

Great! We have several to add.

Thank you, Danielle. Calm is always, always my goal. My mother and I have a wonderful relationship, but she has a very narrow view of the world. I learned a long time ago to be myself and to share that self with her in a calm way. Still, it won't be easy.

More than anything, I think I hate the idea of bringing pain into her life. I think she could pretty easily come to accept me as I am, but the more difficult part will be dealing with her friends and other members of our extended family. That will all be uncomfortable for her, and I'm sorry that I'll be putting her in that position. But I will be.

Happy Birthday to all of you and Happy Birthday, America!

Quote from: Faith on Yesterday at 06:12:44 AMI am back home, healing progressing normally.

Hooray for progress!

QuoteI can't do much yet, no sitting 😩 and I can't stand for long periods. Reclining is my only relatively comfortable position.

Sitting was nearly impossible for a week, and improved to being unpleasant in a month. No problem now, except when she over exerts mowing, carrying something heavy, or getting too tired.

QuoteCleared to work from home the next 2 months. Lets face it, even discounting the pain & healing, could you imagine dilating anywhere except at home? 😱

Enjoy! 💝💖💕❤️

It's great to hear that you are getting positive responses. It's often difficult to guess how people will react.

Love always - Jesssica Rose

My wife probably sent her final 2 coming-out letters. We were increasingly nervous about the apparent hostility toward trans people, as proven by court cases and decisions and legislation. We felt like sitting ducks in a very red and dangerous county. She decided to rustle the bushes to see what might attack us.

The letters were to our closest neighbors. One hasn't responded, but we understand that she would be progressive if she thought it was safe around here. The other left a shocking voice mail:

"Hi -- this is -- I just wanted to let -- know that we got her nice letter today and -- and I both appreciate her explaining what she's going through. I am very glad to know that and happy that she is happy. You're great neighbors and we just want to continue that and I would have called her directly but I dont have her phone number but please convey our thoughts and I'm glad things worked out for her and that she's happy with her decision and it doesnt change any reflection on us. We're just glad we have great neighbors.  So thank you. Let her know that we really appreciate the letter. Thank you and hope to see you around. Byebye"

Wow. We didn't dare hope for such a marvelous response.

So, now she's entirely out, except to cousins whom she has lost touch with. We're feeling euphoric freedom now. She is more beautiful than ever as she feels free to be her authentic self. We're sad about the people who haven't responded to her letter, and delighted to be more clear about how surprisingly wonderful some people are.

We're protesting with our local Indivisible group every week. We get many kind comments on our trans and non-trans signs. She's feeling more confident as she realizes that everyone is reading her as a woman, whether she's holding a trans sign or flag, or not.

We're amazed that we're faring so well during such a politically horrendous time. We wish the same for all of you who want it.

Trans books banned in children's library sections

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trans-books-banned-in-children-s-library-sections/ar-AA1HXzEb?ocid=windirect&cvid=9a54b69be183417aeea6fe6b05da550e&ei=68

Story by Michael Keohan - BBC Kent, Political Reporter (4 July 2025)

A council has removed all transgender-related books from the children's sections of its libraries, its leader has announced.

In a post on social media, Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran said the books were to be removed with immediate effect in a "victory for common sense in Kent".

Paul Webb, Reform UK's communities portfolio holder who oversees libraries, said the move came after a "concerned member of the public" contacted him.

The Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition, Antony Hook, said: "It is bizarre that the leader of the council is making announcements on social media, rather than to the council."

It is unknown how many books are to be removed or how the council will classify transgender-related books.

The authority runs 99 community libraries and five mobile library vans.

Defending the decision, Webb said: "In our society, children are quite rightly and properly protected from items and actions that could cause them harm – for example alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.

"My fellow Reform members and I believe that our young people should be protected from exposure to potentially harmful ideologies and beliefs such as those held by the trans lobbyists."

Quote from: CosmicJoke on Yesterday at 11:20:46 AMYes! Definitely. I have a collection of perfumes. Lately I've been wearing this Ariel inspired fragrance mist from Bath & Body Works. It's from their Disney Princess line.

I also have been wearing Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel. It's on the expensive side but smells really good. I recommend sampling it if you can.

I LOVE Bath & Body works. Japanese cherry blossom is my favorite scent from there.