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Laura Dawson's avatar

FINALLY wrote 30,000 words - 1/3 of a novel. 1000 words a day, every day, till the thing is done.

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

A thousand??? A thousand words a day! Fantastic Laura!!!

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Laura Dawson's avatar

Back in the day, when David Black was my writing prof at MHC, I wrote 2 stories a week. This is a FUCKING RECLAMATION, and long overdue. I feel like Tillie Olsen, in a way - she took 30 years out of her writing life to work, raise kids, organize, and do a world of good before returning to writing and making THAT her career.

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

God bless Tilly! She is one of the touchstones of my generation!

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Laura Dawson's avatar

An absolute icon.

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Naomi Drew's avatar

Tille Olsen -- lucky girl.

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Fantastic! Fantastic, Laura!

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MLHE's avatar

Writing!

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Goddess (Torchbearer) Claire's avatar

Representing the Northern Nevada social service community,I carried the Olympic torch up the Las Vegas Strip in 1996. I have the torch hanging in my home to prove it. Growing up in Nebraska, I never could have imagined it.

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

UP

THE

STRIP.....

IN VEGAS!!!!

(I just re-read your comment and I must say, I have learned never to underestimate anyone from Nebraska)

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Goddess (Torchbearer) Claire's avatar

Yep. Up. The. Strip. I was an Executive Director of a nonprofit on Reno.When I first got the letter, I thought it was a joke. Then, my name was read on a report on local television. The joke was on me. An extraordinary experience.

Women can accomplish ANYTHING.

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Janice Bogeajis's avatar

What an honor!! I have the men's basketball warmup jacket from Atlanta Olympics! I always walk to wherever the torch is passing by, which is often in San Francisco. Even got to chat with Robin Williams walking back home once.

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Our torch-bearer! Claire!

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flo chapgier's avatar

Claire you are SO cute !!!!

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Jude's avatar

Well isn’t that the coolest! Yay for you!

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Jena Ball's avatar

How cool!!!!

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Dena Lefkowitz's avatar

Wow!! Post a picture if you can GoddessClaire.

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Goddess (Torchbearer) Claire's avatar

I did. Changed my profile picture.

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CarolineLeavittville's avatar

Not care what other people think of me--and You darling E. Jean are the cause of that because you are such a heroine! It's deliciously freeing.

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

If you actually pull that HISTORIC FEAT off, Caroline, it will be because YOU are CAROLINE LEAVITTVILLE THE STUPENDOUS, and not on account of old Eeee, although I'd lurve to take the credit!

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David Holzman's avatar

Oh, E. Jean, you're an inspiration to all of us!

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Ruth Ann's avatar

At age 77 I began dragon boating, a competitive team sport. Our club has a diverse group of folks aged 18 to 79 (moi!). I have won more medals with my team than most Olympians except maybe Michael Phelps. My joy in dragon boating is the same feeling you had doing the Folly. Good show!

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Hold on.

This is new to me, Ruth Ann......Dragon boating. . . . . .looking it up.....looking.....looking...... WHOA!!!!

Twenty racers! Drummers! Steerers! Dragon Heads! Of course I LOVE it!

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Ruth Ann's avatar

A great sport, lots of fun while burning up lots of calories though the camaraderie is the best part.

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Stiletto Posse with Cath's avatar

I need to check out dragon boating....🐉🐲

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Cherae Stone's avatar

Me, TOOO!!! Holy shit! And I wanna be a drummer!!

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Ramona Boston's avatar

I want to see this! A public event for spectators?

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Ruth Ann's avatar

There are dragon boat teams around the country obviously where there is water though not everywhere for sure. The sport is big in Canada and in other countries. We race at dragon boat festivals/regattas which take place during the summer.

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Dena Lefkowitz's avatar

You're a badass Ruth Ann. Respect!!

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flo chapgier's avatar

To a hiker !!!! 🥂🥂

During the Palisades Fire in LA we had evacuated as we lived next door, we were at my son's in West Hollywood for 12 days then they gave us access to start cleanup.. My hubby is overweight and has arthritis and to him nothing toxic exists, lol, and he lives on his computer anyway.

Even though I felt so useless, lol, I went and did the process you're supposed to do..lol

First you water your front-yard as water is back on.. then you take off your shoes ( toxic !) and wash then, then you enter your house holding them, then you go to the back yard, and put them back. You water the back yard and your shoes, lol. Then you come back in and now you can open all windows and ventilate your house !!

I was a little out of breath, lol. but then I thought of my daughter who was working hard in her office with her dog, in Century City, and staying in a hotel close by, so I went to her house, which was close by... and I couldn't believe ti but I had that huge surge of energy and I did the same thing for her house, lol lol lol

And that morning I had looked at myself thinking that poor little woman of 79 yrs old, with pathetic despise !! lol lol

so there by sunset I concocted a margarita because on the way to my house I had bought limes thinking perhaps I will have the courage to water the front yard.. and then put my feet up and drank a margarita to the firemen, my garden and plants' health !!!!

😂😂😂😂😂

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Talk about a SURGE OF ENERGY!

This is ATOMIC energy, Flo!!!

The step-by-step actions required to clean up. I never realized it till reading you!!

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flo chapgier's avatar

Lol atomic I don’t know lol

It’s funny how we start to do things and the energy seems to surge like you can’t stop lol

Nothing like action lol lol lol

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Naomi Drew's avatar

I love you E Jean, and I can't believe you hiked the whole thing which I assume is quite an incline! And you are putting me to shame. I was always such a kick-butt woman, but lately I've been giving myself a pass. Needing some time to mourn the dismantling of our democracy by a motherfucking disgusting prick who doesn't deserve to breathe even one more breath of life, along with his disgusting, vain, greedy, nefarious ass-kissing sycophants. I think I have covid so I'm letting my butt be kicked for a little while before I get back on the trail, so to speak. SO glad you are here to cheer us all on and inspire us. You give me strength, and I can't say that about too many people these days. Keep being they ass-kicking sometimes fraidy cat, yet always amazing and brave woman that you are. We need you!

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Naomi! Naomi!

Yes! Yes! You ARE a "Kick-Butt Woman!" Just read your

own adroit and compelling blast of words here.

You are NOT a woman who gives herself "a pass." I suspect, you may, indeed have a virus, or a cold, or covid. Take your temperature. Let us know.

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Naomi Drew's avatar

Thank you so much, E Jean. I just found out it's not covid (YAY), just a miserable respiratory infection. I am holing up with meds, liquids, texts from friends, chicken soup and the intention to recover sooner rather than later. My withered little body (yup, I'm pushing 77) has been in the activism fight for decades, and one of the hardest parts of all this is witnessing the degradation of almost all things good and life-affirming at the hands of a morally bankrupt piece of shit. I've spent much of my life writing books on peacemaking, conflict resolution, and anti-bullying (HA!) for parents, teachers, and kids, and now the vision of a decent world for kids to grow up in is being jack-booted into near non-existence by Nazi-wannabes with red hats in place of swastikas. Your book has been one of the few things that's given me a dose of hope during a time that I've dubbed The Summer from Hell, which, aside from the impending fall of democracy, started by being side-swiped by hit-and-run driver as I walked to the No Kings rally in Princeton on June 14. Luck was shining that day, because I wasn't run over and was able to call 911, report the license # to the police, and even have a martini with fellow peaceniks after being released from ER. Then I crashed. The pain and PTSD started soon after, and it's still not gone. A family heartbreak hit next, and I'm still reeling from that. Right now, my withered little body needs to take a pause. I know that I'm lucky. Very lucky. The accident could have been deadly. Plus, I can only imagine what this all might have been like if I were an immigrant, or an impoverished mom about to lose Medicaid and the SNAP benefits that feed her kids. I have health insurance, thank God, and a good shrink! Meanwhile the felon/rapist defiles the People's House with gold-leaf baubles, pillages the treasury, and blows Putin in Alaska. But your columns give me a boost of much-needed energy every time I read them, and an incipient desire to once again fight starts peeking out from behind the haze So, thank you for being there. Thank you for listening, thank you for your intrepid spirit, and thank you for whooping trump's ass!

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patti sepich's avatar

Take care Naomi. I feel you. I may be you. We can do this.

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ROSEMARY SCHLICK's avatar

Managed to connect my new cheap too cheap printer to my beatup laptop when the monsters inside the instruction video said I coudn't because blah blah blah. Well, I did it. Now their little robots are probably spinning wildly . I did it. My printer works. BFD Tomorrow, I will venture into my tiny forest and forage. I love you, E. Jean. You inspire me to be more courageous every day

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

This

can

not

be

done.

This

thing

you

did.

So....This is, your realize, Rosemary, an out-an-out miracle. I am calling the Vatican. You have just taken your first step to sainthood.

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ROSEMARY SCHLICK's avatar

I thought so too.St. Rosemary says we can do it.

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David Holzman's avatar

Be sure to ask for the new Pope, Pope Leo, from Chicago, E. Jean! It's high time someone who's both an American, and a woman, should be sainted! And with an American Pope, I think we can get this done!

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Naomi Drew's avatar

I'll nominate him and I'm not even Catholic!

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patti sepich's avatar

Okay, Rosemary. You officially ROCK. You may be a wizardess. Yes, I made that up.

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Lesley Turner's avatar

Love love love this oh so timely post. I was feeling a bit fetal-ish position today. Overwhelmed and exhausted with life and the news. Worried about people close to me in DC, LA and Florida with ICE raids and national guard. And then I saw your post and it LIFTED me 🆙.

E. Jean, your ability to read the “room”, which is the entire country right now, is spot on, darling!

Sometimes it’s all just too much and I just want to give up. Instead I will pull myself together and instead of flopping on the couch and binge watching yet another couple episodes of whatever, I am going to actually cook dinner. Nothing crazy, but no dialing it in, no takeout, even though technically it’s pizza night. I am actually going to pick up some ingredients, slice dice and cook dinner. Bc of your magnificently appreciated and beautifully inspiring post. Thank you for resuscitating me once again. Much love dear E. Jean. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

"Fetal-ish". I am thrilled with this new word, Lesley.

P.S. Of course, we are now all dying to know what you cook tonight!

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Lesley Turner's avatar

Glad you asked. Here it is:

From Dr William Davis 30 min (or less) Cookbook. If you’re gluten free, this is the cookbook you’ve been looking for (if you don’t already have it!)

Seared Salmon over Sesame Spinach. Serves 4. So leftovers! And you only need one large skillet so clean up is minimal. Past experience… if your skillet has a lid or you have a splash shield, helpful, though not required.

First make miso sauce (pg 37):

Miso sauce (it’s good so double it and have it ready to go for another night). I try to keep some on hand at all times. Very versatile.

Whisk together in a small bowl :

1-1/2 tblsp miso paste

2 tblsp sesame oil

1 tblsp rice vinegar

1 tsp wasabi

powder(optional )

1 tsp fresh minced ginger

1/2 tsp garlic

(1 clove) minced

1 tsp onion powder

2 tblsp sesame seeds

1/4 cup water

Now for the salmon (pg 172)

1. Heat tblsp COCONUT OIL in a large sauté pan or skillet on medium high. Cook 4 x 8oz SALMON FILETS or STEAKS (both work)with prettiest side down (skin side up) to start for 5 minutes.

Salmon should release easily and have a nice golden crispy sear on it. Flip salmon.

2. Top with 12-16OZ PACKAGE OF FRESH SPINACH (I like baby in a box, but 2 nice sized bunches of the grown up kind also work). Pour 1/2 cup MISO SAUCE from above ( although I have been known to use one full cup… I like sauce) over the spinach. I like to put a lid on top. Cook for 3 minutes or till spinach is wilted. And that’s it. The miso sauce was the hard part (not that hard).

3. Plate. Serve the spinach with the salmon on top and drizzle with the pan juice. Or eat it out of the pan if spiraling and just can’t take another dirty dish. Just kidding, if you’re spiraling you must plate bc it will be GORGEOUS and after you eat it you will spiral no more.

Left overs can be reheated or even served cold it’s delish.

If the sauce is ready to go, dinner literally takes 10 min. And it’s pretty enough to serve a guest.

The fabulous sauce also works with chicken and pork. I’ve even used shrimp. But the chicken recipe is on pg 159 and swaps out the spinach for 8 oz shiitake mushrooms and 4 scallions. Or leave the spinach in for a medley. Chefs choice.

Thanks again, E. Jean and all who follow. What a lifeline your substack is. Yours and Mary Trump’s!

Thanks to you I made dinner and there’s still time to kick back on the couch and binge an episode of whatever while snuggling the Yorkies. The pan is soaking and can wait til after tomorrow’s yoga class. Namasté and have a great night!🧘‍♀️☮️🪷love♥️🕊️

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Naomi Drew's avatar

YUM!

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Dena Lefkowitz's avatar

Cooking dinner is a win. Good for you, Lesley.

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Naomi Drew's avatar

I'm inspired!

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Annette's avatar

Pushing through some rather intense pain to get range of motion and strength back into my busted up shoulders today at physical therapy today… I’m proud of myself!

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

And old E. Jean is proud of you, Annette!

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Jude's avatar

Atta girl, that is not an easy ongoing process, at least for this while until she be gone, ya, ya. Give’er between rests.

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Naomi Drew's avatar

You can do it, Annette!

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Carol George's avatar

Just an 82 year old gimpy gal in need of knee replacement doing 24/7 caregiving for my 98 year old husband with dementia. You give me hope to CARRY ON! After he’s in bed, I click on your fabulous book and listen to FABULOUS YOU. A big blessing of joy to end my day. THANK YOU. 🩵🦋

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Carol! You just filled me with elation!!

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Naomi Drew's avatar

Here's a hug!

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Susanne Smith's avatar

The most recent thing I can think of is sedation fail during outpatient back surgery and feeling each stitch as the dr pulled it. Being opened from spine to side wide awake is not something I choose to do, but I did it! Not sure if 3 requests for more sedation mean I wasn't brave - or if I even got them - BUT 8 days of begging the incompetent surgical center and dr office who said dr called in medication but didn't, I finally have post-op pills today. Yes, I agreed to the surgery, but...

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

WoW!!!!

The pain must have been nearly unbearable....but you are a champion and over came it-----though Gawd know how, Susanne.

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Naomi Drew's avatar

Wow! Can't even imagine! Brave girl.

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Brenda Morrisson's avatar

Driving a straight truck, interstate, and as a shuttle driver. I will resume when I'm ready...

Bless you, Girl ♀️🌤☕️🧸⚖️

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Yeeeee gods, Well done, Brenda!

But I am wondering if your "straight truck" only dates other straight trucks.

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Brenda Morrisson's avatar

Hmmm.

'Gotta check on that...😉

It's the size of a large U-Haul truck, where the cabin & trailer are on the same frame.

A bobtail would be one with the cabin as the motor unit (tractor) equipped with a 5th wheel, where the trailer is attached.

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Jude's avatar

Hahaha M

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Naomi Drew's avatar

Impressive!

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Elizabeth Grey's avatar

I didn’t just write a book—afterwards I wrote a damned book proposal which was 10X more difficult.

I thought it would kill me. And yet I live.

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Swear to Gawd, proposals are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY MORE DIFFICULT.

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Elizabeth Grey's avatar

Oh THANK YOU for concurring.

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Naomi Drew's avatar

Book proposals are the worst, and you did it! Okay, y'all are inspiring me to finally go back and redo Chapter 1 of my MG novel that's been rejected a zillion times. I think I need to shoot for a zillion and one.

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Stiletto Posse with Cath's avatar

I have had 4 back surgeries with cages, rods and screws starting in my lower back on up, losing all feeling in my lower left leg due to an overzealous orthopedic surgeon too close to the myelin sheath of my spine (UGH!). This happened 20 years ago when I was a nurse and I had the help of my best friend, soul mate and husband of 40 years. We worked in tandem to create a beautiful home, children, many four-legged kids in those 40+ years. Bob was my caregiver whenever I needed and vice-versa, for November 12th it was discovered that Bob had lung cancer with the tumor firmly attached to his pulmonary artery and now more than ever, I had to pick up the torch as his caregiver. Every day was filled with positivity and new procedures along with chemotherapy once a week and radiation therapy everyday which Bob conquered with the zeal only he could exude. Bob lost his fight before he could start his immunotherapy. I have felt like every day is like climbing a never-ending mountain, sometimes I feel like I am in one of those crevices. One of our last conversations we had was that I needed to pull out those stilettos and soundly kick that tangerine twatwaffle temperamental toddler's ass into oblivion for him and the women he assaulted.

So I have to asked, who is fired up & ready to go take back our democracy?

P. S. Auntie E if I need bail money can I call? XOXO with ravishing regards. 😉🙃

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Oh, Cath! I know how Bob loved your pies....any pie you baked....all your pies!

He was a very lucky man-----and because he KNEW he was lucky, he led a wonderful life!

P.S. Yes. Give me a call when you need bail money, Cath.

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Naomi Drew's avatar

I'll kick the twatwaffle's ass with you. Haven't worn stilettos in years, but kicking his sorry ass would make it well worthwhile! So, so sorry about Bob, Cath. I know it's hard. Been there in a different way. You can do this. We know how to do hard things. In fact, we specialize in hard things.

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Kathleen Whiting's avatar

Cath - You are Superwoman. Cherish those memories of a man who actually deserved the title Best Friend.

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Perfectly Imperfect Lynne's avatar

I hate asking people for help. My job has me having to ask people to answer a survey at the end of a call, which I struggle with, as I hate bothering people, but by not asking, I am holding myself back from possible extra bonuses. With the inflated cost of living, I am finding myself saying those words, there is a short survey at the end of this call and it would be much appreciated if you would do that. Have a lovely day/evening/weekend ahead. I also never thought I’d be selling pet insurance for dogs and cats, but here I am, a licensed bilingual insurance agent by day who has a passion hobby of social media maven. Perfectly imperfect Lynne, in action!

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Stiletto Posse with Cath's avatar

I always feel sorry for anyone that is required to ask us to take a survey.

P. S. I always take the survey though I usually thank any representative that helps solve a problem or inquiry. Have a phenomenal weekend Lynne 💐🙃😉

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Perfectly Imperfect Lynne's avatar

We need to get a certain amount of surveys answered per month. Last month, I had all perfect scores on the surveys filled out, but only 4 out of a possible 60 surveys requested were answered. Nope, I don’t ask on every call. We can’t force people to answer them either. It is a voice prompt system and it doesn’t always work well either. Had I gotten more surveys answered, my bonus would’ve been quite a bit higher. Oh well. I tried. This month I am trying harder.

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Flower Child's avatar

I just love you! You’re such a joy and inspiration!💖

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E. Jean Carroll's avatar

Awwwww, Flower Child! You give me much happiness!

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