Cat Tales with Laura and Inspirations with Laura

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date March 3, 2025
No Comments on Why Do We Collect Certain Items?

I Have Always Loved Cars

I instantly loved cars and toy cars since I saw my first little red Fiat on vacation in Canada. I started collecting Matchbox cars from a local toy store in town. I would save up my money, my parents would take me to the toy store, and I kept buying toy Matchbox cars. I love old antique toy cars and have collected some of them. Toy cars do not take up much space.

Toy Trains

I have talked to men who have a vast toy train collection. They always wanted a toy train as a child, but their parents could not afford to buy them one. Most of the collectors I talked to grew up next to a railroad track, and the train engineer would wave at them as they walked by on their way to school. When they grew up and could afford toy trains, they purchased the ones they had fond memories of as a child. Most of these men have a vast track in their basement or an outdoor building that looks like an operating town from years ago. They have miniature people, park benches, businesses, livestock, etc.

Toy Dolls

I knew an older woman who had one rag doll as a child. However, she made up for that in her old age by having an extensive collection of dolls dressed in fancy clothes. I think she had at least 100 dolls. She displayed them in her bedroom or stored them in her bedroom closet. One lady had a vast collection of dolls the size of newborns. She joined a club, and they sent her a new one every two months.

I Like To Collect Small Objects That Do Not Take Up Much Room

I still have a polished rock collection from years ago. I love the various colors, shapes, and sizes of the rocks. Years ago, I purchased a rock polisher on a vacation with my parents. I polished many stones over the years with that polisher. I liked rocks with quartz, agates, geodes, and ones I found naturally polished by water over the years. I have a few pieces of jewelry made from polished rocks that I wear now and then. I have a few polished rock eggs that I got on vacation. I have a few key chains: ink pens and cat figurines. Small items are easy to store and enjoy as you do not have to move something heavy.

Collecting Comes From Events That Happened In Our Lives

Most collectors collect something because it brings back happy memories of days gone by, and it is their way of recreating that moment in time again. Perhaps you find an old car, like the first car you ever had. You may buy it and fix it to bring that memory back to life again. Maybe you keep an old vehicle for sentimental reasons. Collecting may be our way of feeling young again and feeling extra happy. I was delighted when I found an old toy chicken that laid eggs identical to the one I had years ago that broke. I bought it and reflected on how happy I was the day my parents gave it to me as a Christmas gift.

Tags childhood memories, Collecting Things, nostalgia

Give To People Without Expecting Anything In Return

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date February 28, 2025
No Comments on Give To People Without Expecting Anything In Return

Even A Sinner Will Give If He Thinks He Will Get Something In Return

Give to people without expecting anything, and you will be glad you did. Giving freely will also bring you great satisfaction. Give to causes such as helping to pay for a girl’s education, as she would not have one if you did not help. Give the gift of food to a hungry family by giving it to a food bank or anonymously sending them a gift card. Giving to people should help them see how lucky and blessed you are that you can afford to help out those less fortunate than you are. Always give something useful to people that will help them. If you see someone in need, hand them a surprise gift certificate and tell them that it is a gift from God, which it truly is, as you were blessed that you can do so.

Service Gifts

If someone needs help with their pets, offer to babysit them while they are gone. All pet owners want someone they know and can depend on to care for their pets while away. If someone just had surgery, offer to stay in their home with them and cook and clean for them until they recover from their illness. If someone needs help fixing something, offer to fix it if you can. People who cannot drive or drive long distances love to be offered a ride to go somewhere. Take them to a scenic area, a place to eat, a day trip, a coffee shop, etc. Offer to buy groceries for an older friend as they may not want to walk through a large grocery store and wait in line anymore. If someone needs their furnace serviced and cannot pay the bill, help them pay a portion, depending on your situation.

The Gift Of Listening

People like to talk about problems they may not know how to solve, such as who to hire to cut down their trees or if you know a good carpenter. I tell them who I have hired, that I had good luck with them, and that I would highly recommend them. All of us need good advice that will help us out in life.

Surprise Gifts

I like to ask people what they want in advance, and then I look for that item and give it to them as a surprise gift. I generally like to give a gift on no particular occasion, as that is genuinely a surprise. I love to put a smile on a stranger’s face with a surprise gift or a friend’s. Time spent with people is a wonderful gift, as you can learn a lot from each other, which will take you far in life. Spend time with God; he will lead you on the right path to benefit most people. Love and help out all of God’s children; you will feel wonderful and warm inside, and so will they. Freely give whenever you can.

Tags freely give, Give, make people happy

What I Want In My Hotel Room

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date February 24, 2025
No Comments on What I Want In My Hotel Room

Clean Bedding And Clean Towels

My friend and I stayed in a hotel that had towels like sandpaper. One of the wash clothes was a dish rag, and the other towels were so old they were yellow. We asked about the towels the next day, and she said they were trying to save the environment by not using fabric softener and not replacing the towels until they had holes in them. The rooms were clean, at least. If I travel without reservations, I ask to look the room over before deciding to stay there. One time, it was a good thing we looked the room over first, as the bedding and everything in the room smelled of cigarette smoke. One time, the room had blankets they were still using that were older than I am. After we looked it over, we said we wanted to look at some more places before we decided. We were sure glad we did, as the next place we looked at was a suite that was fit for a king. One hotel had a sign-up to leave your dirty towels on the floor if you wanted clean towels the next day. We followed their rules to a T, and no clean towels appeared. And they told us they were trying to save energy. We told the manager we needed clean towels and finally got them.

I Want A Quiet Room

I was on a tour once alone, and our rooms were over a bar. I did not get any rest that night. They were playing polka music in the dining area at night. I also turned on the radio by the bed, polka music. As the night went on, I listened to the people in the bar getting more inebriated. The next day, I had a Red Bull to stay awake during the tour. One time, they were playing Elvis music all night until 2 AM. Once, my parents and I had the misfortune of staying in a hotel next to a race track we could not see as we checked in after dark.

I Want Soap And Shampoo

Sometimes, there is no shampoo in the room, and if you do not have room to pack any, you must use hand soap on your hair. I generally ask for shampoo and conditioner. However, if hand soap is occasionally not in your room, I immediately ask for some.

Plenty Of Pillows To Choose From

I like a medium-firm pillow for a good night’s rest, so I love it when there are at least four pillows. Once in a while, I may switch a pillow at night if the other one does not work out.

I Like To Have Books To Read About The Area And A Piece Of Candy On The Bed

The candy adds just the right little touch. I love it when the room has books about the area so I can plan what to see and do while vacationing there.

Friendly And Helpful Concierge

I love it when the concierge calls a taxi for you or gets concert tickets for you. They also direct you to a specific area you want to see and tell you the best places to eat. Some concierges greet you immediately in the morning and ask if there is anything you need or want them to do for you, which is much appreciated.

Tags clean room, hotel rooms, soft towels, Travel

Volume

How Much Volume Do Your Things Take Up?

If you have things stored everywhere, they take up a lot of space. If you have things just for the sake of having them, they take up way too much space in your life. I do not want to become encumbered with stuff I do not even look at, as life is too short to clean things that you may look at a few times and then forget about. If something takes up a lot of volume in your life, it can be not good. Some people get carried away in collecting something, which becomes an obsession. Do not waste a beautiful day chasing after something you will add to your collection. Collect in moderation so that you may enjoy the items and not have them stored away here, there, and everywhere, which will be a burden to someone someday as to how they will get rid of it. If you pay storage fees for things stored, get rid of them because if they were essential, they would be in your home and not stored in a storage shed. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, which is not always true. Junk is junk, and true treasure is time spent with those you love. Never live for material objects; after all, none of us have seen a moving truck following a hearse to the cemetery. Your possessions are not crucial in the scheme of things. God, family, friends, and pets are essential in life and should take up all your life volume.

Volume That Drowns Out The Sounds Of Nature

I never could stand to hear a radio playing music at the highest volume possible as it drowns out all the sounds of nature. I once was at a campground with an A-rating, and at midnight, they started playing Ain’t Nothing But A Hound Dog all night long. The noise drowned out the sound of the crashing waves, which had lulled me to sleep earlier. Once, I was sitting by a lake, and a car pulled up with the loudest music you have ever heard. The birds I had been watching flew off at lightning speed, and I left, too, as it ruined the area’s tranquility. I was sitting at a stop sign, and this car pulled up beside me, ramping up his engine constantly as if he was challenging me to a race. I did not even look at him, which made him mad as he drove off with screeching tires burning rubber. Next to the fire and ambulance department, a man pulled up behind me and put on a siren, and I naturally figured it was an ambulance until I saw no one else was moving. Someone like him could cause a horrible accident.

Volume Has Its Limits

Take things slow in life and take time to smell the roses, so to speak. Do not let volume control your life or your actions. Keep your volume of things at a managed level. Never let someone drown out your moments of tranquility with their volume.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, tips, too much stuff

We Long For Fast Service

Waiting On The Phone For Service

I cannot stand it when I have to wait on the phone for hours. I called a business I had been dealing with, and they said I was number 29 on the query. After a three-hour wait, I finally got through after they had hung up the phone on me three times. I was very flustered with them when they finally answered my question. They took ten dollars off my next bill for my extra long wait on the phone. If something you bought is brand new and not working right, you want answers immediately on how to get it working again. I had to call one business at least forty times before they gave me my money back for a defective item they had sent me. The top of the item looked like a forklift had crushed it. I had sent pictures and emails to them to no avail. I finally got a copy of the memo from the delivery company to prove my point, or they would have kept my money. The older workers at the delivery company would not help me, but a new young worker sent me the necessary paperwork.

Waiting For Appointments Of All Kinds

After I had waited for twenty minutes, I began to get impatient. If I stay at a restaurant for over fifteen minutes and no server has come, I get up and leave and go to a different restaurant. My time is just as valuable as theirs is. Once, I had to wait 2 hours for an oil change as one of the mechanics had called in sick. They should have called and told me their situation as I was a regular customer. If they are running late, they should tell you why, and then you would be more understanding. All of us have a family emergency now and then or a health issue, and we don’t expect people to be on time then or to keep their appointment with us as family comes first.

Service Is Not What It Used To Be

Years ago, we had fast and friendly service, and the serviceman had all the necessary parts. I had a man come out without the parts he needed to repair my furnace, and he charged me for another service call. I said I would not pay it as he should have had the parts with him because I told him the particular parts he needed to have with him. Some service people will try to put old parts in if you do not watch them, so you will need another service call. The old phrase the customer is always right does not apply anymore with some businesses. They don’t seem to care if you are happy with their company. They should think about word of mouth as it travels at lightning speed. Tell the company you are working with that you are dissatisfied with their service if they let you down or try to take advantage of you. Always talk to the manager, or your grievance with your product or service will get lost in the shuffle. Always ask to speak to the manager or owner of the store.

Tags Quick Service, service after the sale, tips

Try To Be Helpful

Help Others

If someone is carrying something heavy, hold the door open for them. You may see someone drop something, try to pick it up for them, and hand it back to them. If you find something in a store on the floor, bring it to the customer service desk so they can return it to its rightful owner. Remember, it is not always finders-keepers until you have taken every measure to return the item to its rightful owner to no avail. You may lose something you hold precious someday, and I am sure you would like to have someone try to return it to you. Helping someone out only takes a little bit of time off your day, and you will put a big smile on their face by the end of the day. God helps us every day of our lives, and where would we be without God’s help? We would be in dire straights indeed. Please share your knowledge with others willingly and help them grow and make an impact on the lives of others. Never act like a know-it-all, for no one is except God, our creator. Learn how to improve yourself every day and leave a positive impact that will help future generations that will come after you. When you help others, it also makes you feel good that you helped make their life a little brighter and better today.

Helpers In Our Lives

We depend on firefighters to protect our homes and property from fires and to save our loved ones and pets. The police break up disturbances and help protect us from harm. If we did not have people that we could call when we had emergencies, we would be dead or in horrible shape. When you call an ambulance, they get you to the ER ASAP, where a few minutes can be a matter of life or death in an emergency. Thank goodness we have trained surgeons and ER workers who work on keeping us alive and making us feel comfortable, as we may be in horrible pain after an accident. Without these trained and caring workers, we would be destined to die from accidents, illness, and diseases. I have been blessed to have the right people at the right time. Praise be to God. When a big cleanup project comes your way, and you are not prepared, it is terrific when friends step forward to help you as you feel overwhelmed by the task.

It Cheers People Up To Have Someone Help Them When All Seems Lost

If you have gone through a flood, tornado, fire, hurricane, or another horrible disaster you had no control over, it is heartwarming to have someone help you regain anything you thought was lost forever. If someone finds a family heirloom miles away and returns it to you, you feel like there is hope again. First responders, after a disaster, bring aid in food, clothes, housing, and cleanup. They will help with temporary housing costs as churches may sponsor a family or other organizations. God and caring individuals will help you get back on your feet after disaster strikes. Never lose your faith; faith in God will uplift you in all areas.

Tags cheer someone up, Inspirations with Laura, lend a hand

Negotiations

Agreeing On A Price

If you do not like the price of something you are trying to buy, try to negotiate on the price. Remember to make a reasonable offer and not a lowball offer. I was trying to sell a couch for $100.00 once, and a party asked me if I Would sell it for $20.00, and I told them I would be losing money on it. They told me they would talk to their friends about it, and I told them to please do so because I don’t want them in my store anyway. If you ask for 10 to 20 percent off, that is within reason; anything more is not. Stores have to make a profit to keep their doors open and their shelves stocked. When buying a big ticket item, always negotiate on the price as there is some wiggle room there.

Call Different Dealers To See What The Type Of Vehicle You Are Considering Buying Is Selling For At That Dealership

If you walk into a car dealership with no idea of what the car is worth that you are considering buying, you will be taken to the cleaners. They can size you up quickly and think we have a greenhorn here. I called several dealers and found the best price to avoid getting taken. Please do your homework when it comes to buying a new car. Once you have agreed on a price, make sure you have every little detail in writing, such as the vehicle’s serial number, year, motor size, and any extras you may want included in the deal. You are out of luck if something goes wrong and it is not written down in the contract.

Buying A Home

If it has been on the market for over 6 months, you most likely will be able to negotiate and buy your dream house at a reduced price. Don’t get too greedy on your end, as you may make the seller mad, and he will not work with you at all. Ensure you have the house inspected, as you do not need surprises down the road that will cost a lot to repair. The roof and the foundation are the main things in any home. Without a solid foundation, you are on sinking sand, so to speak. A leaking roof will destroy your home rather quickly. If you want something fixed before you buy, have it written in the contract.

Don’t Get Taken On Negotiations

Make sure you entirely understand what you are negotiating. If one party thinks you want new windows in a home and the other party writes down new awnings, there will be a significant problem. Read everything twice before you sign on the dotted line. Unfortunately, people are always waiting in the wings who will try to take advantage of you on deals. Understand what you buy and all the terms and conditions involved in your business transaction. Always have someone with you when you purchase big-ticket items. If something should go wrong, they can back you up if necessary. I hope you have happy and safe negotiations.

Tags bargaining, buying a car, buying a home, buying tips, sealing the deal, tips

People Will Show You What They Truly Are

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date February 7, 2025
No Comments on People Will Show You What They Truly Are

You Cannot Hide The Real You From Others.

You cannot pretend to be something you are not. People will soon catch onto one if they see you in action doing something that does not fit into the way you want people to see you. If you say you are generous to a fault, and then the next minute, you are trying to keep the best for yourself, you are not generous. If you do not want something, others won’t like it either. Some people will re-gift an item because they did not like it. Giving something to someone you do not like shows disrespect to the person you passed it off to. Be yourself always and consistently put yourself in the other person’s place.

God Knows What Is In Your Soul

You cannot hide one thing from God, as he watches over you and observes what you do daily. God notices how you treat people and pets. God knows if your intentions toward someone are good or bad. I have observed some people trying to do a soap job on people. They will say their product will cure the common cold, which would not help anyone as it has no medicinal quality. Years ago, a peddler came to my parents’ house and said he had vitamins to sell. My father opened up the container full of sawdust. I had a mechanic tell me my transmission was going out on my car when I had him fill my car with gas. He had put transmission oil on a rag and told me it was coming from my car. I told hFatherFather would look at it, and my car was fine, just as I thought. I wondered how many women he had tricked and had him fix or repair their transmission that was fine from the get-go. God knows what is in your soul, and you will not be able to get by with something without God knowing all about it, and everything will not be good with your soul.

The Inner You Will Come Out In Its Full Light

Some people will do something good to get Brownie points. I wouldn’t say I like that type of person. I hope you have a genuine and pure heart and do good things for others because you are kind, good, compassionate, loving, and caring for the needs of others. Over the years, people have said I will help you, and they never have. Do not promise something that you never tend to deliver. I would hope that you realize your children are watching and learning from you how to treat others. I had a little boy hold a door open for me the other day, and I thanked him for doing so. Another woman told the boy’s Mother you bought him to respect and help his elders. I have had excellent tenants over the years, but some were nasty ones. The bad ones tend to show you what they are when they move out of your house and leave all of their garbage behind and damage your home. One tenant painted the bathtub black and stuffed the cold air registers with newspapers, which I removed ASAP as they could have started a fire while running the furnace. I hauled five large dumpsters out of a small two-bedroom home with a garage. I am so glad I only own one home now. What you leave behind in this world will be noticed, and somebody will hold you accountable.

Tags actions speak louder then words, Inspirations with Laura, tips

Boxing Up And Moving Items

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date February 3, 2025
No Comments on Boxing Up And Moving Items

Finding Boxes

Finding good boxes is not as easy as it used to be, as most packages are crushed in stores’ crushers. However, I have found a few stores that still save their boxes. You can buy boxes at a moving company, Staples, and a few shipping companies. Do not try to package your things in a lightbox, as the bottom may fall out. I put a lot of plastic packaging around breakables or newspapers. To make your boxes sturdy, put more packaging tape on them.

Write Down The Room From Which The Items Came.

Writing down the room where the items should be placed saves you a lot of time when setting up your new home. You can put the things marked in the living room in the living room and continue with all the rooms. If you use your head, moving items around a third time is unnecessary.

Furniture

Wrap up all your furniture with moving blankets so it is not scratched when it arrives at your new location. Take the drawers out of your chest of drawers when you are moving them, as this will lighten your load considerably. Remove mirrors from items and take the legs off your furniture so you will not have a broken leg on a valuable piece. Be careful not to pack your items too closely as they may move around, and something might be ruined. Tie things in place if at all possible.

Beds And Frames

Moving beds up and down steps can be a nightmare, especially if you have pie steps. You have to be able to perform miracles to get the bed lifted just right around the pie steps. It will take several attempts if you have a queen—or king-size bed. Wrap it well with blankets so it does not get stained or torn in transit.

Dishes, Glasses, Breakables, And Kitchen Gadgets

I wouldn’t say I like wrapping up dishes, but I ensure they are perfect before I move them. It is a good idea to place a paper plate between your words to cushion them and prevent them from getting scratched or chipped. I also put newspapers around the edges of the box they are in. Put large kitchen gadgets in packs of their own. Wrap up your glasses at the top and have several layers of paper around the stems so they will not get broken off. Wrap figurines and other breakable items with several bubble wrap or newspaper layers.

Large Appliances

Ensure they are secured and tied well in your truck so they do not lean over the edge when you turn a corner and get dented. I once saw a refrigerator fall out of a truck, which was dented all over.

Lawn Mowers And Snow Blowers

Make sure you have them fastened securely in your truck. I once saw a snow blower fall on the Hi-Way as they did not have the tailgate latched securely. Be extra careful when you box up and move anything to a new location.

Tags boxing, moving, tips

Appearances

Never Think You Know A Person Just By How They Dress

I was shopping in Fareway one day, and a former classmate approached me and said things must be going badly for me. I thought, why would he say that? Then I realized I had my paint clothes on while working on one of my rental properties. I never said anything to him, as I did not think he would have believed me anyway. I read about a wealthy man who dressed badly on purpose to see how people would treat him. One day, one of his employees approached him and said what a disgusting-looking bum and walked away. She had not realized he was her boss, and he later fired her for how she acted. Just because a person does not dress like you do does not mean that he is loved any less by God, and you should act like God does. One businessman spent his vacation on an island in old, comfortable clothing because he was tired of always being dressed in business suits. His business associate did not recognize him, and his associate asked why this luxury resort would take people like him. The business owner heard every word he said and told him he did not know why he had ever taken him on as his business associate. Another friend got hired to fill the associate position.

Appearances Are Not Everything

Some people love to appear as know-it-alls or holier than now or that they are the cats meow. None of us are perfect; the sooner we accept that, the better off we will be. We all fall short of being perfect, as we have sometimes sinned or misbehaved. God knows our actual appearance, as no one can deceive God. God knows what is in our inner soul and if we use it to make the world a better place or if we cause trouble in the world. All of us are born with some defect, and some are more noticeable than others. Never make fun of anyone; your defeat will be much larger than theirs. If someone mentioned your defects, I think you would not like it and feel bad and sad. I have a cat with the tip of one of her ears frozen off, and I love her the same as my other cats.

Homes

Some homes may not look good when you drive by, but their house is immaculate when you enter. We prioritize what we must fix first according to our finances. Also, some homes look lovely when you drive by, but the inside needs lots of work. People are like homes; some look lovely on the outside but not so much on the inside. Make sure you look good inside, show people the inner you, and spread peace, joy, love, and hope to make the world a better place for you having been here. God wants people to have an appearance representing one of God’s followers.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, Judgmental, never judge a book by its cover