I usually take someone with me but didn't yesterday. I sprained my ankle stumbling off the back deck and couldn't move for a while. Looks more like a baseball today than an ankle. Anyway made me think, if I broke a leg or something worse could be laying around for a while in a vacant house.

Oh my, how scary and painful. It's hearing stories that this that makes me realize how important it is or should be to take someone with me on the interiors. Get better soon.

Oh noes

Carry a cellphone. Let people know where you are going. Send an email to yourself where you are going. (Tells us where to look for the body! You will be missed.)

The thought of taking someone with me went through my house the other day, when I was climbing up a ladder onto a 2nd story balcony in the snow to get into one of my listings (looooong story)

I hope you get better soon Margaret!

You guys won't believe this, but early one morning, at about 6:30 am about 20 miles into a rural area, I went out to do an interior and broke an arm and a wrist slipping off a wood deck during a driving rainstorm. I did go back in and finish the work. By the time I got back to town it had swelled up to the size of a watermelon.

After two months after the cast went off, I got another interior order on the same house, and, knowing my plight three months earlier, slowly and carefully walked across the damp wood deck, bent down to get the key out of the lockbox, felt something hit my neck. Looking up I saw the largest wasp hive I have ever seen...about eight inches in diameter. Being allergic to stings, I ran and jumped off the wood deck, got my body ahead of my legs, lost my balance, fell face first into a mud puddle in the dirt/gravel driveway...braced myself with my camera and hand and prceeded to distroy my camera and broke my wrist and two fingers of the other hand.

Believe it or not, about in about two more months, I received a call to list the house and told the asset manager that I would never go back on the property as it was posessed by evil spirits of the past owner.

Someone should always know, or know where to find it, your schedule of where you are going.

I do carry my concealed handgun so I don't worry about some things, but I am living proof that you can have problems even if you are the only person within miles.


I have a friend John who is now in a wheelchair who for his reseach on a Friday was out by himself collecting seeds out of a pine tree about 20 to 25 feet off the ground. He fell out of the tree onto his back and broke his back. He couldn't move.

He was single, but a friend and him was going to do something on Saturday morning so when John wasn't home on Saturday morning nor responded to his cell phone (in his truck) most all of Saturday the friend started to do a little calling. Finally, after about ten calls he finally got a hold of someone who thought they know where John went friday morning. While hurring there, the friend Caled the local police of the town 70 miles away. By the time the friend got there, the local sheriff had found John still lying under the tree half eaten up by fire ants.

He was lying there about a day and a half.

He survived it all, but is in a wheelchair.

Someone should know your general schedule or at least know where to find it in case of emergencies.

Wow I knew I was being a bit of a baby over a twisted ankle but geeze! Can't believe you went through all that. Of course I carry a cell phone but in most our rural areas cell phones don't work. My husband might start missing me around dinner time but that's usually after dark and by then the mountain lions would have me.

Auburn you oughta stay off the ladders when you are by yourself. One of my listings has an attic. Took my husband with me. Maybe I'm getting overly cautious but I don't like falling much anymore! Seems to hurt a bit more when you get over 40.

Oh, then I have nothing to worry about! I'm still a spring chicken! 13 years to go 'till 40!

OMG talk about having a bad day - breaking your back and falling into a nest of fire ants for a day and a half.

::knocks wood::



(edirted cuz I can't splell)

Gig em, that is the saddest. I always try to let someone know where I am going. The great thing about having a partner is that we may not always be going in the same direction but we always know where the other is. In this business, you can never be too careful. dd

Every time I begin to haved a "woe is me" pitty party I think of John.

Have another friend who is a quadriplegic who types with a pencil in his mouth and eats eveything with straw.....and what problems do we have?

Is John for real or did you just make him up?

He is for real...why would I make it up?

It happened many years ago, and here is the only blurb referring to the incident I could find on the web.

"John Robinson was seriously injured during pollination season in 1980 when the top broke out of a second-generation selection he was attempting to pollinate. John was confined to a wheel chair after the accident, but the strength of his character made for a remarkable mental recovery if not a physical one."

He went on and worked for about 25 more years.

Should I get a DNA sample?

wow. sorry to hear of your friend, even if it was quite some time ago. that is one crazy story about you though!!! wow, i don't really care for interiors as it is, but now i really don't want to do them! it is just like me to trip or something too..

I used to volunteer at a local university here that ran an Art program for disabled children. One of their many mentors is an artist, Doug, who is a quadriplegic also. He also draws with a pencil in his mouth and makes the most beautiful drawings I have ever seen. His affect on the children was truely outstanding and I do the same thing...when I am feeling down and having a little pity party...I always think of Doug...and my Dad, who was physically challenged as well, and went on to be a great swimmer and gymnast.

I knew you were gonna rub that in! Oh to be so young again! Edited cause it's midnight and I was too dumb to quote. The above is in reference to Auburns comment about being 13 years younger than me.

I always take my cellphone on interiors just in case I fall down the cellar steps. Haven't done that yet but got locked in an old filthy smelly house when the deadbolt did not open from the inside anymore and the back door was boarded up. Took a while to get out but I had my trusty cellphone in case I was stuck past suppertime. And I'm no spring chicken but an old hen of 66 come Sunday. But this beats a boring retirement just pruning roses and knitting. And I get to read these fascinating postings of online colleagues that keep me involved with the world. Thanks for spicing up my day!

I was stung by a wasp showing a property once. I am also allergic, though for me it goes sytemic and I was sick for about 3 weeks because of it. That incident made my husband and broker force me to get a cell phone, just in case. The problem is I am in the hills and mainly rural areas. Cells don't work everywhere I go. If I am heading in a certain direction, everyone knows I will be out of touch for hours, so it would be a long time before I was missed. Prob'ly around dinner time...

Bring a large German Shephard! It helps!!