Location: A beautiful and peaceful place in the woods
Posts: 8,905
S/C/G: Stuck/Working on it/Good 2 Go
Height: Fun Size
Jaffa ice cream? Is that like the orange chocolate candies???? I'd be in trouble if they made that here.
Not much going on for me today - mostly work around the house.
I would be glad to pick up the reins of keeping in touch with Mel while you are travelling Shad. I sent a card to her - didn't want to bombard her with too much. If anyone wants to include an individual message to her, I'd be glad to group them together and send them along. I'm sure the slowness of the get better routine is in and of itself part of feeling down.
Glad you figured out the travel plans before you headed off early all for nothing Shad. Any particular reason why you are travelling out on a Tuesday for a change?
Yeah, much like the jaffa sweets but even nicer. It's expensive, delicious, very morish, not diet friendly, and comes in a fairly small package. I could eat the lot in one go.
Location: A beautiful and peaceful place in the woods
Posts: 8,905
S/C/G: Stuck/Working on it/Good 2 Go
Height: Fun Size
Good morning chicks,
Jaffa ice cream - oh that looks sinful I did find a recipe for it - with translations even - may have to give that a try in the summer time with the ice cream maker. No doubt expensive because of the ingredients.
Not sure what is on the agenda today. DH said he needs to run to Walmart for some stuff. It's pretty chilly out today even if it's sunny, part of me doesn't want to step foot out although another part is getting bored being at home here. (Ack - did I just say that? ) DH is going to help out with some Access programming work at the local natural history museum (where we saw the raptor lecture). It is voluntary of course but will be something to interest him. They asked if he can do some staff training and make some program improvements so hopefully that will work out well. I'm still debating about helping out at the humane society. There is surely alot of places here that are begging for volunteer help due to their very tiny budgets. I would rather lend my services to places like the historical society that won't take any government help.
I'm thinking too that we will plan a trip next week one day to the Lake Superior shoreline just to see what's up that way. I jammed my finger yesterday (waited too long to go to the bathroom and was in a big hurry to get my pants off and somehow smacked my pointer finger hard on the counter top. It's quite sore today and a little crooked but I looked at the other hand and that finger is a bit sideways too so I guess I'm just old - at least nothing appears broken.
Not much going on - so I guess I'd better get dressed and off with DH. Have a good Sunday ladies - enjoy your last day at home Shad - may it be a sunny or at least dry one for you
Happy - Yes, so far the winter here hasn't been bad. I don't mind the "real" winter weather if we're getting little breaks of mild weather in between. It's the long stretches of frigid cold that get to me. So after a mild Friday, yesterday was chilly & windy, and I think today is similar, maybe a bit warmer. But tomorrow will be milder. So nice you're already thinking about the volunteer opportunities where you live. Finally the time to do that!
Shad - Have a safe travel day tomorrow, and hopefully no/minimal snafus and irritations.
Ceejay - Did you go to the uncles this weekend? Good job with the fridge - did you get the oven cleaned too?? I hope what's going on w/ your local govt doesn't negatively impact whatever retirement decision you make.
Mel - I hope the additional tests and xrays help them figure out how to help you. Hopefully when you mention your full plate, you just mean your health issues and not anything else but that!! And for now, just focus on getting rid of this pneumonia, and the rest will have to wait. My thoughts and prayers are with you my friend.
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Back and shoulders are stiff from working at the dining room table. I did about 3-3.5 hours of work this morning. Not super efficient given that I had to e-mail a couple things to myself and print them off the pc to which our printer is connected. I'm validating the financial data conversion to this new software, and it sure would have been handy to have my trusty 10-key adding machine at my side, lol. But no more work for today. Not going to crank away all day on this. Might bring home the laptop more this week and try to get an extra hour of work for a few days.
Just brought in the mewspaper, but I'm not sure how much time I'll spend on that now that it's now after noon! I have more laundry to do, as well as some grocery shopping.
Yesterday I went to a Circuit class. After that was sorting and doing laundry. I didn't do any last weekend, so I have a good amount to do this weekend. Need to get back into the habit of doing a few loads during the week so I don't have to do it all on the weekend.
I ended up ordering the same wallet as my old one at an outlet type store online. I tried to use some gift cards to pay for it, but the site didn't accept AMEX, and the visa one I had wouldn't let me register it to my name. Apparently that's what you have to do if you're using one of those for online shopping. Although when I looked it up online, it identified me with my first name and last initial. Huh. Anyway, I noted it was actually called a debit card, so who knows if it can be used the same as the gift cards that claim they can be used just like credit cards. Anyway, I gave up and just used my credit card. However, good thing I went through that exercise because I discovered that the "debit card" visa expires at the end of this month and I think thereafter, a $10 fee is deducted each month. So I need to spend this thing, and QUICKLY!!
Last night bf and I met a friend for dinner. We enjoyed a nice Greek restaurant we hadn't been to in a while. My friend hadn't eaten much Greek food, so she enjoyed her combination platter. In addition to good food, there was also live music and a belly dancer!
Afterwards we went to a bar that had three bands playing. We missed the first. The second was AWFUL - just that death metal sort of music where the singing is actually screaming. But there was an entertainment value to it... However, by the time the 3rd band came up, we'd used up all our tolerance and even though they were better and a wee bit closer to our taste, we'd had enough, and left early into their set. When you try new things, you don't always like what you get... At least dinner was a success.
Okay, gonna post this and maybe have another cup o' tea.
Once again, the weekend is passing way too quickly. I cleaned and dusted and vac'ed our bedroom...still need to sort through our closet to determine what we're actually wearing/using and donate the rest. Spent yesterday afternoon in a allergy med fog. I had to take the meds due to the dust from the cleaning. My chest was pretty congested yesterday. Anyway, at least today DH and I are both breathing a little easier.
Today, my back has been bothering me, probably from overdoing it yesterday...so I'm taking it slow and only doing what's absolutely necessary. I've got some website work to do...but it's stuff that doesn't require several hours of focus at a time, so I can do it in the evenings after work. I also got my Teach Yourself Java book in the mail yesterday so I've been working my way through that. Right now, I'm finishing up the last load of laundry and then I'll be making some meals to freeze for during the week.
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Mel - I'm so sorry to hear that the doc is sending you back to the hospital for another xray and more tests. But at the same time, more tests mean more information which will lead to better treatment for a quicker recovery. Don't worry about anything else...just get breathing better and without pain. The rest can wait 'till later. Sending you lots of love and hugs. Bummer that the stuff in the building is a dysfunctional mess...but I'm really, really glad to hear you're continuing to rest. I know about the pain you have, it's quite frustrating and very easy to get sick and tired of being sick and tired. And I totally understand how the breathing gets worse with movement, stress or excitement. I've been there. Hang in there sista. Has the doc given you a peak flow meter (or does the nurse have you use one when she's there)? Keep resting and taking your meds, especially inhalers.
Laura - Glad that you were able to connect from home, but it's such a bummer to work on the weekends.I hope your back/shoulder stiffnes eases up soon. Validating the financial data conversion sounds even worse than online Java training! If you ever find a way to install a self-cleaning feature on rooms in a house, PLEASE let me know. Except I don't think I'd want everything reduced to a white ash. I've got some of those funky AMEX gift cards/debit cards or whatever they're called. And while most places don't take AMEX, I did find out that the major grocery stores in town take AMEX, as does Walgreens (and probably CVS), and gas stations! Glad you had a nice dinner with your friend, even if the after dinner entertainment wasn't that great.
Happy - Sounds like you had a nice day with your cousins. Bummer about the smoking in the casino. There's a Casino in Green Bay where they actually have a non-smoking section that has slots, table games, etc. I've only been there once, but it was nice to be able to have a good time and not reek of smoke. I'm glad the walleye fish dinner was yummy! Thanks for the kind reminder not to worry. The doctors/radiologists could say with some certainty that what DH has is not cancer. Thank goodness.
Ceejay - So sorry to hear that stuff is going down in the city, and that it could leave you without a job. Not good. Hang in there, dear sista.
Well the laundry is just about done...and I'd better get started cooking.
Much love and many hugs to all (and lots of healing energy and prayers to dear Mellie),
Not much to report here - ssdd as they say. Back in the office although I will probably leave at lunch time. Then pack and go back and see if I can hack the hedge some more. The rain stopped long enough for me to hack the sides, but I will need to go back and pretty it up shortly. Looks a little sad and I have to do the top before long as well. If only I could find the top trimmer. It like much of the other tools is hidden under a tarp on the back lawn waiting for the castle to be finished.
Happy - at the toilet saga. Serves you right for hanging on too long. I'm glad the DH has something to do to showcase his skills. It will be good for him and could lead to other things.
And no it is neither sunny nor dry here and won't be according to the forecast for the next couple of days. Hopefully it will be better in Central Queensland although their forecast is not the greatest either.
Laura - so annoying when you can't attach the plug and play printer to your work laptop because of IT restrictions. Doesn't make for time and motion greatness. Sometimes those gift cards are a curse. You don't want to just splurge them away but then again they have that time limit. I haven't heard of the $10 fee over here, but they will catch on no doubt - generally they just pocket the money and say thank you very much. Lot of fuss going on here over gift cards.
Michelle - 15 minutes at a time, rest, 15 minutes. I know it is painful, but it may stop your back from seizing up due to bending and stretching. Once all the dust is done you will be better. Shame you don't have an extractor fan with a filter. Dust is a doosey and you have to keep at it.
Haven't heard anything back from Mel but then I guess we won't until after the x-rays and tests are done. Had a note from Carla (remember her?) - she who lurks - who is keeping up with the news as we speak.
Okay - February arrives in a couple of short days. I don't want to use the obvious word, so we will have to think up something particularly obnoxious without being rude.
With that I had better get out of here and get some work done.
Shad
Thanks for the updates. Sounds like Mel could be on the mend. At least you are a day ahead of getting some things done for your trip.
Laura,
Yep got the fridge done but not the oven--couldn't get the cap off the
Easy Off. Good job on the exercise.
Happy
Ouch on the finger. What a way to jam it too! I had to smile.
Michelle
Sorry the dust caused the congestion. Did you wear your mask while cleaning?
Got back from Paragould a few minutes ago. Had a nice visit with the uncles. I'm going to ride out the storm and hope things blow over. They usually do.
Hate to say it, but glad to be back to work. ... If I heard "All Rise" one more time...I think I would puke. Haha...no not really...it was very interesting, other than the downtown superbowl traffic and paying to park, it was a good experience.
Sooo...here is the scoop on the case....
Plaintiff vs. Dr. Piatek and the Piatek Institute-west side of Indy (diet doc and diet center)...better know as a pill mill...you can google them. The plaintiff already had a thyroid problem and was on synthroid. Piatek prescribed/filled on site, at his "institute", two scripts...Adipex and Amourthyroid (keep in mind he has NO PHARMACIST on site...a normal pharmacist would never fill these scripts). This made the Plaintiff on two types of thyroid (when blood tests revealed she was already in the normal range with the synthroid) and then the adipex. The combination of the meds gave her a reaction you would not believe called TENS (abbreviated name) (Google that one). SOOOO horrible and most die from it. The pictures alone of her body were almost unbareable to look at. There we 4 doctors that testified for the plaintiff anywhere from 2-6 hours each, then 3 docs for the defense, anywhere from 2-6 hours each. We the jury only had one late day on Wednesday. Normally 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, however Wednesday was 8:00 am to 6:45 pm. This case had been going on since 2003 and just now came to Civil Court. The jury chose in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $225.000. The doctor has already had his license sent to the medical review board and slapped on the hand...now it will go again....we will see what happens.
Gotta get busy...first day back...140 emails but only 12 Vmails. Yeah!! Mail stacked high. Trying to swim above it all....
Location: A beautiful and peaceful place in the woods
Posts: 8,905
S/C/G: Stuck/Working on it/Good 2 Go
Height: Fun Size
Good morning ladies,
Guess we are going to get some icy drizzle tonight which ruins our plans for a day trip tomorrow. We are going to go pick up some milk (which I forgot at the store yesterday) and some deer corn and then hunker down for the next 2 days.
We're getting lots of birds feeding on the porch. It's nice to sit in the window and watch them - chickdees, nuthatches, a gold finch and some juncos. DH hollers at the squirrels and blue jays.
Nothing special going on at the moment - guess I'd better go get dressed if I want to go out with DH. Will come back later today and let you know how my attempt at making "the very best" fried chicken turns out.
Another busy day for me. Today's training was about the Software Development Life Cycle, which I understood at a high level, but was unaware of all the different models and prototyping methods. Enough to make my head spin. I will have to keep this short to get back to more training, but I wanted to at least say "hi".
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Shad - "ssdd" indeed. I can totally relate. I hope you can find the top trimmer under the tarp. Thanks for the wise advice about 15 minutes work/15 min. rest. We do have really top notch HEPA furnace filters that are supposed to pull out all the dust/allergens. I guess they don't work 100%.
Happy - Sorry, but I had to LOL at the toilet saga. I do hope your finger feels better soon. I sometimes find myself trying to hang on too long...but I was cured of that habit when DMIL was staying with us. With three of us in the house and only 1 bathroom downstairs (and sometimes there's not enough time to get upstairs), I learned to go when I needed to and not procrastinate. Bummer about the freezing drizzle messing with your plans. We're having really mild weather down here (knock on wood). High today was in the upper 30s, and tomorrow's supposed to be in the low to mid 40s. Positively tropical for January in Wisconsin. My DH doesn't have to holler at the squirrels...our dogs do it for him. They go crazy when they see a squirrel in the yard, and then they demand to go outside so they can chase the squirrels up the trees. What is "the very best" fried chicken? Is it fried or baked? Recipe please??
Ceejay - Yes, the dust caused the congestion. I wore a mask...but not 100% of the time. I've learned my lesson. From now on when I'm cleaning, the mask stays on! Maybe with the mask, I could be the cleaning superhero...but no, that would be our Miss Annie.
Annie - What an awful doc!! What an incompetent, irresponsible !! I googled Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS). How horrible! I can't believe that the defense was able to find doctors to testify for Piatek. His license should be revoked! Are they waiting until his actions actually do kill someone?
Talked to my boss/friend this morning about the events that have been going on outside the work place concerning the light bills. He said that I was doing the right thing by refusing to go along with them. Maybe my stomach will now settle down.
Happy
I know I'd rather have snow than the icy mix. Did you get the errands ran?I'm with Michelle on the recipe for the chicken.
Annie
I wondered about TENS, now I know. Dr's like that do not need to be practicing.
Michelle
How much longer do you have in training?
Shad and Laura Happy Monday.
Carla
Come out come out whereever you are. We miss you.
NOT GOOD NEWS TODAY.
THE EXRAYS ARE UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON.
I AM SCHEDULED FOR A CAT SCAN ON WEDS MORNING.
EVERYONE IS STUMPED BECAUSE MY GENERAL HEALTH IS IMPROVING
BUT THE EXRAYS SHOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
NO ONE WANTS TO VENTURE A GUESS AT THIS TIME SO I AM A BIT UPSET.
IF WEDS MORNING SCAN DOESN'T CLEAR THIS UP THEN THEY ARE DOING A BODY SCAN WITH CONTRAST.
I JUST WISH THEY WOULD SAY WHAT IT IS THEY THINK THEY SEE.....BUT THEN AGAIN MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO KNOW UNLESS I REALLY HAVE SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
TRYING NOT TO FREAK OUT AND JUST KEEP BREATHING.
TOLD THE ONE DR TODAY THAT IF THIS MYSTERY CONTINUES,
THEN I WANT SOME OXYGEN SENT TO THE HOUSE!!!!!
MAYBE WEDNESDAY WILL BRING BETTER NEWS.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
THE OFFICE IS FREAKING OUT ALREADY. YOU CAN IMAGINE.
THE TENANTS ARE TOO.
I HAVE NO STRENGTH OR TIME FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
I SAW THE PLUMBER TODAY THAT HAD THE FLU....HE WAS APOLOGIZING LIKE A BABY.
PEOPLE TOLD HIM HE ALMOST KILLED ME. POOR SOD.
I FELT SO BAD FOR HIM AND TOLD HIM IF I DIDN'T GET SICK AND GO TO THE HOSPITAL THEN I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE NODE IN MY RIGHT LUNG.
MY DR SAID MAYBE THIS WHOLE MESS WAS A GOOD THING....BOB LEFT FEELING BETTER!!
WE ARE HAVING CHINESE FOOD TONITE. I AM STARVING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS ENTIRE MONTH. GAVE THE KIDS MONEY AND SENT THEM TO THE RESTAURANT.
SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR CARDS.
OK....NEED A REST SO I CAN FILL UP MY BELLY!!!!
LOVE YOU, MEL
So, not great news but she doesn't sound as bad in this mail as she has previously, not sure whether that is good or bad.
Back in Blackwater and sitting in the office with the butterflies doing their thing outside the window. Different lot this time. Black mainly with a bit of orange and white. Will have to try and check out what they may be. Actually now I come to look closer, there's more than one variety out there. Hope we are not getting mixed marriages out of this lot.
Okay, well I need to get out amongst the folks. Plenty of rain water around here and I just hope that the predicted storms this afternoon don't leave us stranded out here or even in town. I need to be back home tomorrow.
Good Morning Everyone...this will be short as the hotshots from MI are do to arrive at any time this morning and stay through Thursday. This just baffles me as the media reports there are no hotel rooms available in Indy within a 50 mile radius. They must have some type of connection. Blah!
Curtis has been in bed with the flu since Saturday night. Fever, stomachache and diarreah. He tried to go to work yesterday but was back home in bed by 10 am. I have been sleeping on the couch as I do not want any part of it. I had a flu shot, so hopefully I am safe.
I have to put my one night in at CVS this Thursday, kind of looking forward to it. I miss my fans...hahah.
CHELLE...more and more training, more knowledge and education and I am sure you are being compensated for it salary wise...haha..not. Anymore the more we know the less we get paid around here. I would imagine that is the only way Piatek gets his license revoked is if someone dies...kind of like when they install a new stoplight...only after many accidents and a death at that stop do they finally take action.
SHAD...thanks for the updates on MELLIE. I hope and pray the lung thing is nothing. I have a shadow on my lung that always comes back alarming to the docs til I remind them it is just a shadow, if it were more I am sure I would be dead by now as I have had it over 20 years. Hopefully, Mellie has something like that...far fetched..but hopeful. I would do nothing but stare at the butterflies outside my window if I were there. ENJOY THE VIEW!!
CEEJAY....hope you get the whole light bill thing straightened out. Boy if it is not one thing, it is another.
HAPPY...OMG BLUEJAYS....my parents had a nest of the lil b-tards outside their front door...everytime you tried to go in and out, the BJs <---haha would dive at your heads. My son put on his football helmet and went after them, destroyed their nest...there were no eggs in sight btw. Good for DH for yelling at them and the squirrels.
LAURA...are you getting this warm weather we are having down here in INDY? It is good for the superbowl activities, which I am sick of hearing about already. What is the next movie you are seeing?
MELLIE...love, hugs and prayers sweet sista!
Not much else going on...lil man is laughing out loud and cooing up a storm. Too cute.
What a week to be back at work...h*ll week...everyone have a healthy, happy, splendid day..
Meeting with my new boss this morning to discuss my progress on the training and my transition to my new "programming" role next week. This afternoon, the entire team (from the VP on down) is going on a team outing to go bowling. I love bowling but haven't even tried since I hurt my back...and am not too keen on trying now. I do NOT want to risk re-injuring myself now that I feel pretty good most of the time (except when I do stupid stuff like cleaning - LOL). It might be a fun outing, but there's one big reason I don't even particularly want to go...it goes until 5 pm, and I normally leave at 3:30. And even leaving at 3:30 causes Mischief to get her medicine several hours late...I'm not thrilled about giving it to her even later. Maybe I'll get a migraine or something and be able to skip out on the event.
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Ceejay - I'm glad you talked to your boss about the events that have been going on. So nice that he was able to ease your mind by saying you're doing the right thing. I hope this eases your stress. I'll probably be doing online training for the remainder of this week, when I'm not working on my self-review. Ugh...what's the lesser of two evils there?
Mel - Sounds like you're in the same boat as my DH. Something going on, but no one wanting to venture a guess as to what it is. My DH's CT scan that he had last week was with contrast. I hope you and he both get answers very soon so you can be treated and have a complete recovery. Getting oxygen sent to the house may not be a bad idea. I'm keeping you in my prayers, my sweet sister. I can imagine that the plumber feels a bit guilty.
Shad - How lovely to be able to watch butterflies (even mixed-marriage ones - LOL) from the office window!! I sit near the window, but in order to look outside I'd have to slide out of my cube. I hope the rains behave themselves. Stay high and dry my friend.
Annie - When you mentioned the TENS disease in your post, I immediately thought of the TENS device I use on my back - which is a pain relief device and is completely different from the disease. So the hotshots are coming in this week and not staying for the Super Bowl? Is it totally crazy and crowded in Indy now that Super Bowl week is here? Or are you able to steer clear of the crowds? Ooops, I just got to the part in your post where you're sick of hearing "Super Bowl". Sorry. So sorry to hear Curtis has been ill. I hope he feels better soon. You're wise to sleep on the couch and stay away. Too funny about the compensation for the training...well, I am "on the clock" while I'm training, but the main compensation is that I get to keep my job. So adorable that the lil monkey is laughing.
to Happy and Laura.
Time for me to get prepped for my morning meeting.
I did find a recipe for it - with translations even - may have to give that a try in the summer time with the ice cream maker. No doubt expensive because of the ingredients. 
) DH is going to help out with some Access programming work at the local natural history museum (where we saw the raptor lecture). It is voluntary of course but will be something to interest him. They asked if he can do some staff training and make some program improvements so hopefully that will work out well. I'm still debating about helping out at the humane society. There is surely alot of places here that are begging for volunteer help due to their very tiny budgets. I would rather lend my services to places like the historical society that won't take any government help. 
and somehow smacked my pointer finger hard on the counter top. It's quite sore today and a little crooked but I looked at the other hand and that finger is a bit sideways too so I guess I'm just old 
- at least nothing appears broken. 
So nice you're already thinking about the volunteer opportunities where you live. Finally the time to do that! 
Anyway, I gave up and just used my credit card. However, good thing I went through that exercise because I discovered that the "debit card" visa expires at the end of this month and I think thereafter, a $10 fee is deducted each month. So I need to spend this thing, and QUICKLY!!
My DH doesn't have to holler at the squirrels...our dogs do it for him. They go crazy when they see a squirrel in the yard, and then they demand to go outside so they can chase the squirrels up the trees. What is "the very best" fried chicken? Is it fried or baked? Recipe please??
!! I googled Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS). How horrible! I can't believe that the defense was able to find doctors to testify for Piatek. His license should be revoked! Are they waiting until his actions actually do kill someone? 