IrishRed

Notes:

March 2014: Because of the pneumonia with my COPD flare-up I am still in the hospital on oxygen, antibiotics, steroids, and breathing treatments. I WILL send out my swaps when I am capable. Thank you SO MUCH for your patience and understanding. I appreciate it very much.

February 2014: I am having low oxygen again so I'm on oxygen and monitoring in the hospital.

January 2014: I have pneumonia again so I'm in and out of the hospital.

12th December 2013: My insurance company has dropped me due to my recent healh issues. I am filing an appeal and filing for a different insurance company now. They not only canceled my coverage, but they also have denied coverage for ALL of my NEW and recent conditions, treatments, hospitalizations, medications, etc. I have to back pay approximately $100,000 in medical expenses. I will not be financially able to support swapping via swap-bot for a long time. If I can join postcard swaps since I have postcards and stamps already bought I may do that. I have never been in a lower place in my life...

11th November 2013: I have been diagnosed with COPD. I don't know how to deal with this, especially since I have never smoked. I am seeking a 2nd opinion, even though I saw my test results which were extremely clear that I do not have asthma at all, I have a chronic pulmonary disorder, which has been diagnosed as COPD. I am still in and out of the hospital at this point but at least I have a diagnosis and can seek proper treatment from this point forward to keep my oxygen levels up and my illnesses (bronchitis and pneumonia) to a minimum.

1st November 2013: I am having another asthma attack and I am back in the hospital. My lungs never healed from the first asthma attack he said and the cold weather and my cats made it flare up. I am so stressed beyond belief and so sick of being in the hospital and sick of being SICK! I am so depressed and I'm supposed to start a new job on Monday. I can't handle all of this. I'm too young for this. It makes me wonder what my future will be like. :( And I am letting down all of my swappers. I promise I will make it up big time to each and every one of you! :D

17th October 2013: My intestinal surgery yesterday went well. I am having pain and nausea but hopefully these symptoms will subside before my next surgery. : \

13th October 2013: I am having yet another intestinal surgery this Wednesday October 16th. Should only be one more surgery for now, after this upcoming one, let's hope so anyway.

19th September 2013: I have been experiencing complications (internal infections with painful and aggravating symptoms) from my surgeries and have been in and out of the hospital the past few days, which is not over. I am seeing one of my 3 surgeons again on Monday. I am sorry for any delays. I appreciate your patience and understanding.

9th September 2013: I have finally returned home from the hospital this evening! Let's hope I don't end up back in again. I have very strict diet restrictions as well as physical activity restrictions which is a real bummer since I love hiking so much. Ugh, it will have to wait. I'll miss my birthday on Wednesday and my 10 year high school class reunion this weekend because of this. Oh well, who wants to be 29 anyway? :P I will send out my swaps as soon as I possibly can. I sent out some from the hospital already with the help of my family.

5th September 2013: I had another surgery this morning. I had more stones removed from my pancreatic duct, bile duct, and my small intestine as well as large amounts of sludge. I also had stents placed in my pancreatic and bile ducts. I have also developed Pneumonia in my right lung from my hospital stays (lack of activity plus numerous surgeries and treatments and medications) as well as other complications. Because of the 2nd operation and the Pneumonia I will be in the hospital longer than expected. My dad is checking on my kitties every day, whom I miss so dearly and can not wait to make this up to them. I will have my dad also bring my mail to me tomorrow so I can at least catch up on rating my swap partners. I mean, what else am I going to do in this hospital bed? :)

1st September 2013: Believe it or not, I am admitted to the hospital AGAIN, and so soon! I had an emergency Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) and had several pancreatic stones removed this morning. All while I'm still recovering from my severe asthma attack. Luckily this part of the body heals faster than the lungs do so even though there was invasive surgery involved I should mend fairly quickly. My surgeon said he has been removing about 115 gallbladders a year for many many years and he has never seen one ruptured this badly with so many pancreatic stones while I'm still alive. A team of surgeons observed my case and my operations, how exciting. God definitely had a hand in this and I am forever grateful. My mission on this Earth is not complete and it's time to start living my life for Him more now than ever before. I'm listening God, I'll spread the word! :D I should be in the hospital through the end of this week and will send out my swaps as soon as I possibly can. Thank you again for your understanding. I REALLY appreciate it! :)

27th August 2013: I have caught up on swaps from my hospital stay for my severe asthma attack. I am so glad to be home again with my precious kitties but full recovery will take some time. :D

18th August 2013: I am currently admitted in the hospital for chronic bronchitis and severe asthma (I'm not even a smoker--not that I judge, I grew up on a very dusty farm though). I may be late on rating received swaps. I have personally informed all swap partners & swap coordinators. This serves as a reminder. Thank you so much for your understanding.

I live in Southern Illinois in my spacious new home. I really love the outdoors and spending time with friends and family. I grew up out in the country on my family's 300 acre farm, the simple life. I graduated high school with 35 classmates, whom I am still in close contact with. I wouldn't change a thing.

I have lived here all my life but I plan to do a lot of traveling soon. I'll settle back in the Midwest when I feel I've accomplished my mission.

Crafting has been a Godsend for me, it's a fantastic stress reliever from my job. Swap-Bot has been SO MUCH fun and I love hosting and participating in various types of swaps.

If you do not receive a swap from me in a timely manner, please let me know and I will most definitely be happy to re-send your swap package! :D I only send brand new items, items that always match my swap partner's profile, bonus items, and always a letter or note included. I have had some FANTASTIC and very grateful swap partners! :) Additionally, I have had some really AWESOME swap partners from whom I have received items. Some swappers really know how to warm your heart!

LIKES:

• Flavored Green Teas - LOVE LOVE LOVE it! :D

• Regional/Local flavored teas (regional to the departure country)

• Loose teas

DISLIKES:

• Pomegranate flavored teas

• Mango flavored teas

• Caffeine-free tea {herbal teas are ok--herbal is not actually a tea leaf at all (it's natural herbs). Caffeine-free tea leaf teas have chemicals which I do not like the taste of}

I will absolutely LOVE any bonus items received, such as extra ribbons or charms or beads! Some things in particular that I love:

• Sheets of fabric (no smaller than 12 or 18 inches, the bigger the better!)

• Headband embellishments

• Jewelry-making pieces/parts/charms

• Necklace/bracelet threads, leathers, metals, etc. for the actual neclace portion

• Beads

• Earrings, or earring parts

Of course I appreciate any gifts received, but these are pretty common sense no-no's that I'll mention:

• Political themed items

• Celebrity themed items

• Junk mail

• Kawaii themed items

• Scrapbooking scraps (cut up pieces)

• Tiny unusable shreds of paper

• Loose/Single playing cards

• Dark themed items (skulls, death, blood, etc.)

• Broken charms, beads, gifts, etc. (I don't mean broken in transit, that is completely understandable!)

I like the following styles:

• Green is my favorite color, in any shade that doesn't remind us of being sick (you know what I mean!) such as olive green. I like kelly green, turquoise, lime, seafoam green, you get it. All but olive or other icky brown-toned shades of green.

• Bold bright colors (Really anything that has a great color combination, like teal/pink and brown, or red and black, or purple and blue, etc.)

• Nature themed items

• Outdoors themed items

• Bohemian themed items

• Animal themed items (my favorities are cats, birds or giraffes but I love all animals)

• Beach themed items

• Whimsical things

I absolutely LOVE receiving postcards in the mail, it's my new fave here on Swap-Bot. I especially LOVE receiving the following types of postcards:

• HANDMADE! Anything that you have drawn yourself, your own art work, your own crafty creativity, anything you have done yourself will be much more appreciated than a store-bought card.

• Well decorated postcards. Even a store bought card can be spruced up with all kinds of deco such as glitter glue, foam stickers, regular stickers, deco tape, ribbons, use your imagination & above all have FUN with it!

I have 3 cats: a 12 yr old medium-haired tortico (Calico/Tabby mix) named Muffin, a 12 yr old tuxedo printed Maine Coon named Diamond, and a 7 year old Ginger Tabby named Clawdia.

Diamond is SUPER playful and SUPER needy for attention and SUPER talkative, like an ADHD kitty. Diamond is more like a dog in personality because of his Maine Coon breed. Diamond has survived 2 house fires with his sister and littermate Moonshine who lives with my dad.

Muffin is also playful but on her own terms, she sleeps a lot but loves cuddles and brushings and belly rubs. Muffin's markings are incredibly beautiful. I tell her every single day. :)

I just got a third cat named Clawdia. She used to be agressive and unfriendly in her old home with 3 young and rough boys and another independent female cat. Since she's been in my home with my 2 peaceful kitties and my quiet home she is a complete 180! She is super sweet to people and plays with my cats as well. She is in a home where she is loved and cared for and has her own privacy at the same time. She is SO happy here :)

All 3 of my kitties get along very well. They like to look out the same window together. They like most toys, especially long fluffy or string-like things or anything with a rattle or catnip inside.

I also have 1 millipede named Lily. She hides under her substrate 99% of the time but will come out to climb for visitors :)

I also have lots of freshwater fish including a few different breeds of Bettas and a school of piranhas.

I had several hermit crabs until last week when the last one passed away. I plan to get another one soon. I also had several Avicularia Versicolor Tarantulas in college (or Antilles Pinktoe-- that's the common name for the breed). I have had 5 of the same breed, as they are absolutely gorgeous and change colors throughout their lives.

It is very unfortunate that a community set out to be fun and happy has come to this, but it is only fair for other honest and fun swappers to be forewarned before they are burned by these flakers or swappers who rate poorly or complain when you go above and beyond and over-the-top to provide a personalized perfect swap package for them.

• @pippelotje

• @Raziel (now suspended)

• @NorthernBorder

• @Mikabay (now suspended)

• @craftybarbie (now suspended)

• @hg08

• @Tanika

• @marsbar

• @YankeeUnicorn (now fully suspended from Swap-Bot AGAIN and will probably create a third profile to scam us all some more)

• @ginnyocity (now suspended)

• @preetiakhil (now suspended)