Location: A beautiful and peaceful place in the woods
Posts: 8,905
S/C/G: Stuck/Working on it/Good 2 Go
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Mornin' all,
Shad that is very sad news about Innisfail. Much like New Orleans last year. Makes you wonder what is going on with the world with such destructive weather. Myself, I think Mother Nature is saying enough of the greed mankind, time to start paying attention to what you are doing. Hope that second storm looses its steam soon.
Ellis, thank you for the cool links. It never occured to me Shad, but yes, people can post their favorite places - sort of a thread themed "let's find places for Shad to holiday at". Those locks are magnificent. We have one lock in Chicago which keeps the higher Lake Michigan from emptying into the lower level Chicago river but that is nothing compared to the neat looking "steps" in that picture. And that Skateway, hey - it's ALMOST worth putting up with winter to use that. I imagine on a clear blue day, with the Parliment in the background that it's a gorgeous thing to behold. Thank you for the tour!
Speaking of skating - ** whooosh ** there goes Linus on a fly-by. Hi Linus.
Madcat, hope you feel better. It's spring here and with all the stuff in bloom, Kleenex (facial tissues) is the accessory of choice. Too bad they only come in white. And why is that? Hope all goes well for TB on the job front.
Hi Holly, Hi Mel. What's on the agenda today?
Training started off with a bang yesterday. They are easing me into it, thank goodness. Thought I'd have to hit the ground running and start writing code immediately. But we started out in review mode - thank goodness, I needed that.
Back to bringing my lunch and eating healthier (smaller portions too). Yesterday it rained like crazy so no wallk outside around the pond. Today is supposed to be continued cold and wet. How erratic the weather is. A warm shower sounds good right about now...
I have been walking to get the mail which is about 1 1/2 miles round trip, some uphill, better than sitting The new dog has chewed a hole in the front hall carpet. He attacks the cats and is liable to get an eye gouged out but he doesn't stop until I distract him with one of his toys. I guess he needs a battery operated toy that talks and jumps at him before he will back off from poking his kitty sisters.
Shad-yikes about the storm, glad you aren't in its path. Awful days for those who are. Are you in your new apartment? or has the old one just giving you loaners of kitchen appliances? I think I missed something. Did you get a DVD to exercise to? Do tell which one you chose?
Ellis-did anyone get to skate on the canal this year? I heard it never froze over properly or didn't last as long as usual. I've always thought that was one of the coolest things about Ottawa, free ice-skating for miles
Happy-did the review spark anything? Totally fun getting to learn new things and especially great because it is stuff you will be able to apply. No hurry up and waiting Any bulbs popping up in your garden? I can see the green tips of a few in mine
Linus- I hope you are getting some smiles during these trials that life is putting your through. Come vent to us and we will lift your spirits
Madcat-Ew, sinus headaches hurt like the dickens congratulations to your fellow on his new prospects, great to have some regular cash coming in.
Holly-isn't it nice to have the kids back in school? mine sure missed it, I tried to be entertaining but I just don't hold a candle to dozens of children with energy to burn.
Mel-so are you going to visit your planetarium? Nothing like it for taking you out of yourself. They often have show times, maybe a nice little excursion for others in the building? Could be a field trip Butchart gardens has a huge fountain in the sunken gardens, that shoots way up in the air, fabulous vision, they have coloured lights at night that make it look wow too. [img]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/Skylarkca/Butchart-Gardens-Fountain.jpg[/img]
I found a 360 link which needs quicktime which my computer refuses to play but you might have better luck seeing it http://www.storyphoto.com/quicktime%...rt_Gardens.mov
Hi Ceejay, what are you doing today?
Hi Meowee, how are things on the East coast? Seen Alan Doyle of GBS lately? Give him a big hug from me Nova Scotia isn't that far from Newfoundland is it Have you ever been to Rita MacNeil's tea house? What is it like?
Lots of links to go and spend time browsing pictires. Thanks everyone!! Taking a break. lots of food shopping, visitors, bookkeepers and auditors today. Back on my plan and the wash is getting done too. What more could I ask for Maybe warmer temps!!!! We are still freezing our butts off!! But things could be worse. I could be living in storm torn Innisfail or New Orleans and have no electricity!!!
Ellis~ Thanks for the links and I will go and check them out. We are a happy bunch
Ceejay~ glad you like the new home. We miss you!!
Madcat~ Hope you put in enough work today to get a check!!
Happy~ Glad it's working out ok with the job and going well!!
Holly~ good for you and hiring help. Hope it all works out.
Meadow~ when I saw the Spring gif it reminded me of my journals!!! Thanks for the good spring thoughts and I will check out your links also
Shad~ Words fail me as I watched the news this morning. I will say one thing....maybe the USA could learn better plans for evacuation from your country and we could have saved more people. Seems like you guys had a great plan. I cannot believe my eyes when i saw the entire roof taken off an apartment building and all the rooms were full of furniture like a giant dollhouse. Very sad. thinking good thoughts and sending prayers their way. Even though that storm was worse than Katrina, they were better prepared. We need to learn a lesson from this. I saw the other storm tracking late last night and was horrified. They are hoping it will turn around in a 1/2 circle or so the say. Keeping our fingers crossed.
Hi to Ceejay . I think you might find the site a bit better at the moment. So hop on and see what happens. Leave off the smilies and graphics and just post a few lines. See if that works.
Mel, we are fairly well versed in rescues around these parts. In Aus it is cyclones and fires and floods, in NZ it is earthquake, wind, snow avalanches, floods and landslides. We are geared for it. We have specialist teams in each State(Aus)(State Emergency Services) and province (NZ) which train local people to react to local emergencies, share experiences and learn from each other - they were the blokes and blokesses you saw in orange jackets and hardhats. They work closely with the police, fire and ambulance people. And - most of them are volunteers believe it or not. They give time freely and willing. Bless 'em all. Then asap the army comes in luckily for Innisfail, they were just down the road (350km) at Townsville where there is a huge army base and airforce base.
Australia is a big un-populated country. If Innisfail had been the size of New Orleans, there may have been a different story ending. Thanks to the weather bureau, people who were in the low lying areas were evacuated before panic set in and sent to the local church (undamaged - one of the few that were).
One thing about last nights news really set me off. I don't know if you saw it over there. There was a little girl, dressed in pink, who was waiting for her Daddy to come home. She said "Daddy will fix it. The fence is broke, ..... everythings broke." Poor little mite. The rest I gawped at, that I cried over.
But Innisfail is essentially a country town. The butcher is putting on barbeques to use up his meat rather than let it go off and have to dispose of it, the fruiterers pitch up with fruit and vege, the CWI makes the salads and platters with the produce, every one shares what they have. It's how they have survived for years. The State of Queensland will donate money and clothes and bedding, the rest of the States are organising tarps, bedding, shelters, transport, medical people and supplies. It'll work again I have no doubt.
As of this morning Cyclone Wati was hanging out to sea about 630k and doing a right hand turn to the north. Let's hope he just keeps going around because otherwise it will be too bad to contemplate. If you wish to have a look at its tracking - click http://www.bom.gov.au/, click on Queensland (Qld) and check out cyclone tracking 2. It will show you the path, strength, position and tell you when the next update is due.
Meadow, shift into my apartment tomorrow - Thursday. I'm going up there at lunch time to check over the inventory and put a few bits in there. I'm officially the 'tenant' about now.
Better go do some work. I'm behind. Everyones behind. It's a never ending story - even tho I worked a total of about 14 hours yesterday I'm not catching up any.
Ha Ha, talking about all things Canadian!
Went to the canteen to grab a bite to eat. They have been producing meals to fit with the Commonwealth Games now being held here in Melbourne.
Today's Aussie meal (always an Aussie meal) was Meat pie and chips (typical). The opposition is Canadian Maple Syrup baked chicken and roasted veg. The bits of chicken were HUGE. Maybe it is something to do with the springs on the feet of the Canadian spring chickens???? I got there just in time for a Canadian lady to say.... tell me all aboot how you cooked this chicken. And then an Aussie lady say - yeah tell'us abart th'chook! Such is the differences between the English languages of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Wonder what they will put on for NZ day - if they accept that it exists! Put money on it - it will be lamb of some description. I should go and ask for puha and pakeha. That'll shake 'em up.
Hello to all... I crossed the shores safe and sound and my what a feast for the eyes! HAPPY The pics are devine. It really makes me really want to come but maybe i just just sit with you all for a while.
I can't believe you are all talking about Christmas MEL...shame on you!!!
Actually i think it's lovely, maybe you are all pining after your lovely long white winter???
Autumn is definitely in the air now. I actually felt a little cold at 21 degrees C this morning and I pulled up the blanket.
SHAD I didn't know that you were coming up to Sydney...i would have loved to had you over for coffee. When you are here next please sing out. I would love to meet you and a fellow kiwi.
I am glad to hear you are getting all the "stuff" organised from your wallet.
It is a right pain...I believe what goes around comes around.
HOLLY your little trip out with DH sounded nice. it is good to get to that stage where you can enjoy others and each other. Good for you are being brave with the sitter. DS has jsut turned 14 and is able to legally babysit now. I love to just duck off and have a few moments. It makes you feel very normal again and makes me realise just how much I love my Dh's company!
Talking of DH, he has been very sick with a bug that I hope he doesn't decide to share with us all. He never takes time of work and just had to with high temps and just no energy. I don't want it at all. Poor thing though, you do feel sorry for them. He just goes down with a crash!
This week has been relatively quiet compared to last week. I still have great ideas to change everything but I will pace myself as I was a little pooped from it all. i do love the energy though and of course the results!
I'm just a little worried at the moment. My lil DD came in and cried saying she had put on weight. I am not sure what is going on. Her body is naturally changing and she has never been one to be overweight, if not a little under. She is slight with a ballerina figure but has grown a lot in the past 3 months and so her weight and body are showing curves. I really want her to have a healthy perspective on weight. I think everyone at school is talking about it at the moment and it she is listening to 10 yr old stuff....just thinking aloud girls...hope the thoughts are not too jumbled.
Thinking of you all....I think I will go and look at that beautiful garden for a while
I have just found a whole two pages to read. I will still post this and re read the rest. You girls have been busy.
Suzi - I come up to Sydney Airport every Friday to fly home for the weekend. And I'm back there again on Sunday night. But there is not much time for socialising then. In a couple of weeks I will be here in Wollongong for the weekend and maybe I will drive to Sydney to go to the markets at the Rocks or Paddies or somewhere (I do like the Chinese Garden in Darling Harbour) - always presuming they are still there!! We will make the opportunity to meet before I go home from here.
That would be great SHAD. The gardens are still there, after being in Sydney for 2 years we still haven't been inside. i have always meant to but always had kids in tow. It's a little dear for all of us. I do enjoy a look around Darling Harbour though, the Rocks are a must!
When you come up for that weekend there is the most divine little cafe in the Rocks called the Gumnut that do the most delicious scones with Jam and Cream...strickly no calories of course! ( light as air!)
So you are commuting to Woolongong every week! ?That's huge. How long for? That's even worse that you lost your wallet away from home! Uggg.
I got the woolongong thing a couple of weeks ago but missed the fact that you were there on assignment.
How did the day go for everyone? I just watched Aus clean up in the 400mtres in the Commonwealth games. I have a sneaking suspicion that the fellow was originally a kiwi, he looked and sounded very kiwi. The Aussies sure are shaking their thing! They LOVE their sport.
Have pleasant dreams everyone. i'm off to bed. The boys are off to the Mall at 12.01 to purchase the Xbox 360!!! everyone is very excited. Us girlies will be zzzzzing.
Shad~ I did not see the little girl in pink but cried all the same. It must be terrible for the small and the old....
thank God your country is organized. Good luck with the new apartment and don't forget to put something in there to maye it YOURS. that was too funny about the food. Especially the lingo of everyone. I'd be saying WHAT every 5 seconds!!! Have to drag you along as full time translator!!
Suzi~I feel as you do about the DD. Maybe a good talk about growing bodies. Some libraries have books onm the subject. Nip it in the bud if you can as they say. My Dd is VERY thin and has been made fun of for years. It still bothers her when people comment. Weight is an awful issue no matter which way it goes and kids and senior citizens are the most vocal and the absolute of cruel. good luck
Today I MUST get back on plan and get my but in gear. Just because I did some exercise doesn't mean I can go off plan. I really need to have a good talk with myself.
Better keep busy too and move it to lose it before LindaT comes and gives me the old prod. Not for lack of exercise with the body but for too much exercise with my jaws!!!
Happy Wednesday everyone and enjoy!
Hi all! Just wanted to check in. I haven't had much time for commenting due to "other commitments" but I must say that I have been enjoying the conversations very, very much. I love coming here and just seeing what is going on. It makes my mornings.
I lOVE maple anything, Shad. LOL about the dialects. I said a lot of "pardon" in the Scottish Highlands.
Suzi~ This is an important age for self esteem and body esteem that can follow a gal her whole life. Keep it positive. Evrey body is whole and beautiful!!
DS on the bus and off to school.
Need to tidy kitchen and feed DD. The girls are glitzing up with sparkle make up at the mo.
Must vacuum and do filing and get my darn taxes done!
Good Avon order in last night. On a roll.
Mel~ I am doing a new Leadership Program with Avon that is multilevel marketing. As i sign up new reps to mentor I also get a percentage of their totals. Right now it is about $20 a campaign BUT if I have about 50 reps signed it would be a $100 every 3 weeks.Cool!!!! I have 8 rep under me now.
It's another grey Wollongong day! Raining too. Never seems to have two blue days in a row round here. Not used to this.
Going home early this week - DS2 changed my flight for me and paid the difference last night - so I will be in Brisbane at 9.00am tomorrow and he will pick me up from the airport. What a good kid!!!
I'm going to fight with the Licences and Health departments. At the very least I should have a drivers licence by the time I am finished.
Today I need to see if I can get power on in the new place. Without a credit card it could be difficult. But I'll make the time to ring them today.
Ceejay - good to see you posting again. Keep it short and sweet and I think you will avoid the problems. Graphics too seem to upset it somewhat - although you would never know that from Mel's posts.
Painterwoman and Yesican are yet to post from the old thread days. Where are they????
Holly - good going on the Avon stuff. Keep it up.
Mel - one translator coming up, even if she is partially deaf and getting worse these days.
Suz - that 400 metre bloke was originally South African. Born somewhere in Johannesburg I think he said at the interview. A very brash, confident and arrogant young man, that one. Still I suppose you have to have ego to succeed in the competition. I've been trying to catch up on the netball - which I am picking the Kiwis to win, but thanks to Channel 9 we only get the Australian events and then only if they are likely to win. They didn't even cover the Sevens final. #$&&^%$%^% The Aussie netball team were playing Jamaica last night but when it looked like they were in danger of losing we went to the track events instead. In the final event it was a drawn match which the Australians will not be pleased about. I'm not that excited about the games, but tune in from time to time to see what is going on.
Todays menu is Aussie - pumpkin, potato and chive soup (sounds good) and a lamington (cake thing - day old sponge cake soaked in melted chocolate and rolled in coconut) and the opposition is Indian - beef vindaloo (how Aussie can you get - the Indians don't eat too much beef - sacred cows and all that jazz). I asked what we got when they get to Scotland (Haggis???) and NZ (Puha and Pakeha) but I think they have run out of ideas and tomorrow will be the last day of mealtime competition. However you have to give it to the girls of the canteen - at least they tried to get some fun into the place.
Right - better move on again. Lots to do today if I don't want to have to work the weekend as well. I'm trying desperately hard not to have to take the computer home with me.
Those locks are magnificent. We have one lock in Chicago which keeps the higher Lake Michigan from emptying into the lower level Chicago river but that is nothing compared to the neat looking "steps" in that picture. And that Skateway, hey - it's ALMOST worth putting up with winter to use that. I imagine on a clear blue day, with the Parliment in the background that it's a gorgeous thing to behold. Thank you for the tour!
Hi Linus. 
The new dog has chewed a hole in the front hall carpet. He attacks the cats and is liable to get an eye gouged out but he doesn't stop until I distract him with one of his toys. I guess he needs a battery operated toy that talks and jumps at him before he will back off from poking his kitty sisters.
Any bulbs popping up in your garden? I can see the green tips of a few in mine
I hope you are getting some smiles during these trials that life is putting your through. Come vent to us and we will lift your spirits 
congratulations to your fellow on his new prospects, great to have some regular cash coming in.
Maybe warmer temps!!!! We are still freezing our butts off!! 
But things could be worse. I could be living in storm torn Innisfail or New Orleans and have no electricity!!! 
