14 replies to this topic

[rptraut]

What a hell of a year! It started in January, when my mother passed away, and the rest of the year hasn’t really ever picked up speed. I usually consider myself to be a fairly lucky person, but this year hasn’t really followed that trend. It’s almost felt like death has been riding on my shoulder. You might’ve read in my journal about the sickness that affected many of my colonies this summer with the loss of a number of them and the needless death of a lot of ants. This fall has been particularly rough as my dog Rusty passed away and my daughter’s dog Arthur passed away. They were as precious to us as family. And, I got Covid for the second time. For an old guy with no immune system that has smoked a lot of things in his life this can be a life-threatening thing. I realize that I need to do the best that I can while I’m here.

I’m ready to help anybody with questions or situations that they need help with. But it’s hard to know if the advice given on this forum is useful or appreciated or anything like that. There is really very little feedback. It is a little bit frustrating, really, for someone to spend time actually writing something and taking the time to think about it for you and come up with a really satisfactory answer and there is no response. You don’t say thanks, you don’t say what happened. All you have to do is give the response a like or disagree. You know a little feedback positive or otherwise would be very nice is what I’m saying. I need to know that it is worth my time to give you an answer. We all need to do the best that we can while we’re here.

Just one more thing. While I was lying on the couch I discovered that this device has a dictation function and if I ever get it to understand what I’m saying so that I can post stuff without having to type it then these journals could get to be fairly lengthy so you’ve been warned!
RPT

ps
Merriment, Love and Happiness of the Season to All
and a Better New Year to Everyone

[ANTdrew]

I pray that 2024 brings you much better things. Please continue helping to elevate the quality of the forum with your insights.

[antsriondel]

I am so sorry about your losses. May 2024 be a more fruitful year for you. 

[100lols]

It’s been a hell of a past two years for me as well. We lost my dad, my granny, and two cousin. My cousins who passed were involved in two separate freak accidents. I have found myself feeling the weight of it all recently, along with the weight of supporting my family as well. Christmas time is beautiful, but a time for reflection as well.

Praying for a better 2024 for all of us.

If it’s any consolation, I look forward to your long posts and appreciate everything you put out here on this little forum. Thank you RPT! You’re a role model of sorts on this platform. Cheers brother.

[bmb1bee]

Hope next year brings better fortune to you! Just know that we're here if you need anything, and do appreciate what you've done for us on the forum.

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone, and we hope for a better 2024 for all!      

Edited by Yourbasicantkeeper, December 14 2023 - 3:52 PM.

[JesseTheAntKid]

May Christmas bring many more things for you. Happy New Year 2024!

[dspdrew]

2023 has been the worst year of my entire life. Similar story here.

[JesseTheAntKid]

2023 has been the worst year of my entire life. Similar story here.

 

Dam, sorry to hear that! I hope things go better for everybody. The year hasn't been the best but we've just got to hold on. There WILL be better days, I promise!

[rptraut]

2023 has been the worst year of my entire life. Similar story here.

So sorry to hear that, better luck to you next year.
RPT

[ZATrippit]

To everyone who's had a rough year in 2023, here's to a way better 2024.

[T.C.]

I feel where your coming from, I've spent quite a bit of time in a type of hell now. Deaths, Health, Debt, and Broken Relationships hit an all time high for me and seemingly wouldn't let up.  Life has sucked plain and simple and turned me into a negative person with a negative attitude and outlook. I know how it feels to wake up with the empty feeling of loss and depression.   I can say i have spent the past couple months now working my a$$ off trying to combat each issue, find solutions and get back to how I used to be.  My best advice is to develop the mindset of refusal and not bring your issues into the new year.

Edited by T.C., December 15 2023 - 4:38 AM.

[Ernteameise]

Oh no.

I keep my fingers crossed that things are looking up for you in 2024!

[Mushu]

2023 was one of my worse years also. Making the best of your time is all we can and should do. Cherish the simple fact that we’re alive and can enjoy a great hobby.

I enjoy your insights rptraut, you’re on of the most thorough and descriptive when it comes to your posts and they are very helpful. Sometimes when your post is so thorough, there’s no feedback needed, which is not a bad thing. I know I’d rather read one post than scroll through a 2 page thread to find something 😃.

I normally don’t lurk in off topic of any forums but here’s to hopefully a great 2024 for everyone.

Edited by Mushu, March 20 2024 - 7:16 AM.

[rptraut]

Hello Mushu and Everyone who responded;

Thanks for all your positive feedback. I’m pleased to know that my posts are helpful, it makes the time and effort that it takes to write them all worthwhile. We’re almost 1/4 of the way into 2024 and life is going much better for my wife and I. No deaths, no sickness, and my ants are doing well in their winter quarters. Right now we’re vacationing in Mexico (this year really is starting off much better) so I’ll take my ants out when I get home. I’m looking forward to much better things for them this year.

To improve my ants health, I’ve basically gone through all my equipment and supplies, cleaning and disinfecting, to help ensure there’s no carryover of the disease that plagued my ants last year. I’ll also be following a more vigilant disinfection routine while feeding and tending them in the coming season. I’m very optimistic that their health will be better this year.

I hope everything is going well for all of you and I wish you the best of luck with your ants in the coming season.
RPT

ps.. you might be interested to know that right now it’s 34 deg C where we are in Mexico and 34 deg F at home with snow squall warnings! I’m hoping spring will finally be there when I get home in a couple of weeks.