barb, kat is right you do have someone you can turn to. each and everyone of us are here for you. you are right, one thing at a time is more manageable than everything all at once. your family is in my prayers and i am sure everything will work out.

Hi Everyone -
I am feeling a little better now and thought I'd pop in with a happier update! :) DH and I have talked a couple times today and we are communicating a little better. We're hoping to spend some quiet, quality time together tonight. We have scheduled his urology procedure, he's got the oral surgeon appt. tomorrow. He's scheduling some vacation time at work so that his boss will not realize that he has more appts. and will hopefully not give him a hard time. He has already brushed off the arguement this morning. I can't forget things that quickly - and he knows it. However, things are much happier now.

I finally ate a bit since I was too upset all morning and I am mustering every bit of motivation in my body to go to the gym on my lunch break. I am going to put on my workout clothes now so I have no more excuses.

Catch ya later!
:)Barb

barb i am so glad you are feeling better. sounds like things are definately on their way up.

:grouphug: Oh Barb.... {{{HUGS }}} :grouphug:
You have been through a lot lately. No one is questioning your happy marriage. We ALL have been through trying times with our significant others and can relate. Sounds like your husband has a LOT on his plate too. FEAR can drive a person crazy... and it is normal that he is so fearful. He is going to need a lot of extra support right now. I am glad you have some support here with us. I hope everything comes out okay for both of you.
Just saw you two are already on the road of mending. I am so happy for you.
Just remember we ALL need support.. so feel free to share your stress here.
You guys have certainly helped me heal from stress and emotiona pain many times. {{ HUGS }}

As they say... When it rains ... it pours
:grouphug: HUGS !!! :grouphug:

Kat... I have not seen "The Vagina Monologues" but my daughter has .. and she says it is GREAT !!
I am so glad for you to get a longgggggggggg weekend. ENJOY IT !!
It sounds like you have a very happy healthy daughter and I congratulate you. I think you should be proud of not only her... but YOU too. :yes:
Audrey... you always pop in to give support to all of us. :thanks:

MARY !!!!!! I loved your long post. :dancer: See ... it wasn't too hard. ;)
Sorry to hear your son is sick. Hopefully the doctor will be able to help him today.
I am 'fish challenged' so I have no idea of what your fish look like. Can you post photos? The name 'Neon' certainly sounds pretty. And while you are at it.. post a photo of your new do. :D
And add me to list of people who want to see a copy of your column. How cool we have two published writers. :cool:

Terri... Fajitas are wonderful without the tortillas. :T There are some restaurants I can handle their chips on the table... but there is one restaurant that I literally LOVE the dipping sauce so that leads to too many chips.
And for American Idol .... I was sooooooo glad that last night singers were so much better than last week.
But I still think the first group had the most good singers.
Do you vote ... or just watch????

Okay... gotta go. I am feeling even better today so I am going to catch up on a LOT of needed housework. I promise I will not overdo.

Our paper is online my they donot put my column on the website I need to ask about that. I'll try to post one

Hi everybody! :wave:

It's WEDNESDAY, do you know where your ThinThinker was?????

Awwww, you guessed it! :strong:CURVES!!! :strong: WooHoo! :cp:

I'm having a very laid back week. Just a little job here and there. It certainly has made me lazy. Well, except for the little conversations :gossip: with myself about how I cannot put off doing something a little different in my quest to get healthy.

It's amazing how easy it is to put it off and put it off. It's one thing when you use the excuse that you're too busy, but what about when you're not busy at all and you put it off. Well, this week, I had absolutely no good excuse not to get back there, and even so, I had to argue with myself to go. But.....I DID IT!!! And now I feel very accomplished. :yes:

2cute: I'm so glad that you're feeling better. But please don't overdo too soon, just because you've been housebound for so long. You do not get over that kind of illness with a snap of the fingers. You may feel some better, but a relapse is just around the corner if you don't pay attention. [[[hugs]]] * That's really great that you got the dress for your granddaughter at such a GREAT price. I'm soooo happy for you!!!

Mary: The "neons" are really beautiful. They will add that special shimmer to your tank. *I guess I didn't realize that your son got injured on the job. The last I knew he got laid off. (or at least I thought he did :o ) * I'd love to read your articles. I have an uncle in IN that is really into geneology. He travels all over to research stuff and actually writes a newsletter, I want to say quarterly, that he sends all over the country. * STAY AWAY FROM THE FAST FOOD!!!! :drill:

Audrey: I'm so glad you "showed" yourself. It's nice to know that at least people are still "lurking" and we haven't lost them, but it's even better when you post (hint, hint!). We love to hear from you!

Barb: I just want to reach out and give you a BIG [[[[HUGS]]]]. I'm sure that you and hubby must be sooo overwhelmed by everything that is going on in your lives right now. I certainly hope that you can take some time tonight and just re-focus on the yourselves. Try, and it will be hard, to just block out the rest of life and reconnect. Both of your STRESS levels have to be at an all-time high. I'm sure he's worried about his job, now that his boss is being such a jerk. Men aren't real fond of anyone messing with their "manhoods" so I'm sure the biopsy has been on his mind. The baby, and finally having a family. Maybe even the expense of it all AND NOW the whole mouth issue. And you've got your own set of stressers, some of which may even be the same. It doesn't help that you've spent so many nights alone lately. Every marriage has times like these and I know that you two will be back on track in no time at all. Just take the time to pamper each other now that you have an evening that you can spend together. [[[[HUGS]]]]

Katrina: No apology necessary! (but I was curious if anyone got them :lol: ) * How cool about your daughter being in the play. I bet you're going to have a great time. How very proud you must be!!!

Terri: You are AWSOME!!! You are not going to let a little broken foot keep you down! :eek: My goodness. You are certainly an inspiration! Hope it's feeling some better. * Sounds like you and hubby have a nice evening planned.

Andria: Gosh it is good to see you!! You are one very busy lady. I guess I'm in the dark as well about what your second job entails. I think the last time you wrote, it was more about what a jerk the other boss was and how happy you were to get him to call you back so you could ditch that job. Either that, or I missed it AGAIN! :o Are you still trying to work shows too? I want you to do alot of them so you can come in April!!! :D * How 'bout some strength training while at work. Hand weights :barbell: won't take up much room in your desk and you can certainly be quiet while you use them. :)

Jen: I'm really impressed that you are so conscious of having to make different choices for your different children. It would be very hard to tell your son he can have an extra helping and your daughter that she cannot. I think you're right on track with trying to keep her occupied in lew of eatting. That's so what we have to do for ourselves sometimes too. I don't think that most of the time we're hungry, I think we're just bored, or stressed, or depressed instead. Once we can overcome all that, we can get healthy. Good luck.

Barbg: You haven't been here since before your birthday. I hope you had a great day and will stop in soon to let us know what you did with your BIG day!

Well, I think I'm caught up. We sure have a bunch of folks MIA. If you all are lurking, I sure wish you'd check in and at least say "hello". You can't be a member of our family for more than a post or two before you become one of us where we worry about you when you're not here. And those of you that have posted with us for a long time and are MIA, remember we love you and that we have no idea if you're ok or have fallen off the face of the earth when we weren't looking. Please just let us know you're still alive and kicking.

I'm headed out for now. Being Ash Wednesday, the local church is having a fish fry. Yeah, I know, "fried", but that's what we're having for dinner tonight and honey's on his way home, so I've got to run out and get it. See ya all later. Love :love: ya bunches.

Just to sum up the evening with DH: Men are dumba$$es. They can't help it. It seems to be a genetic thing. But that doesn't change DUMBA$$.

Here is this weeks column. Let me know what you think.



Roots and Branches
Using public libraries to find your relatives.
When you decide to make a trip to your families’ home town make a stop at the local library. Ask if they have a genealogy or “local” history section. The genealogy section might include “family histories”, books, or others items that may help in your research. If you’re lucky there will be a genealogical society in the area. The purpose of your trip is to find out everything you can about your relative. In the records you might be able to find at the library is.
Birth date and birth place, Name of parents and grandparents, Death date, place and town, Marriage date, place and spouse, and Occupation.
Forest Public Library has an excellent genealogical section and a staff willing to answer your questions. They have census records on micro-film for Scott County from 1840-1930 as well as some from some surrounding counties. The library also has a large collection of family histories and files for your searching pleasure, as well as books pertaining to various other counties in the state and out. The library is located at 210 South Raleigh St. between the post office and the fire station.
Scott County Genealogical Society also meets at the library the second Sat. of each month. The meeting starts at 2:00 but the back door opens at 1:00. They are always happy to get visitors and new members. [email protected]
•
February is Black History month, so in keeping with that theme I am highlighting an extinct black school. Ike Crudup Jr. provided me with several.
Crudup Bottom School
The Crudup Bottom Schoolhouse was a one room school for blacks in Forest MS in the early 1880s. The school was located on the property of Wash Crudup, allowed his old house to be converted into a school. The school was located on old hwy 35 between the area of Forest known as Frog Bottom and the Mars Hill Church area, thereby giving the school its name. About 40 students from these areas went there.
The school was taught by MS. Edith Butler, who divided the students into groups to teach the three Rs to grades 1-8, with the older students helping the younger ones. There were two recesses per day plus lunch. Each grade was given a day to cook lunch for the school on the wood burning stove. The government provided (commodities) powdered eggs, powdered milk, large cans of pork and beans, flour, etc.
The school was described as a wooden plank building about 40 to 50 feet long with a plank roof, plank floor and plank shutters for the windows. The school had a wood heater with pipes going out the side of the building the school had benches and tables on which to sit and work on.
The department of Education closed all community schools including the Crudup Bottom School in the 1940’s. The students had to go to the Scott County Training School on the present site of the Head Start Center in Forest. The students who could not walk there had to stay with relatives who lived closer. The new school went to grades higher than the community schools.
Some of the students and families that attended the school were the 10 children of Wash Crudup, Annabell and Marzell Currie, the Anderson family, the Youngbloods, Moores, Harpers, Ida and Alexander Crudup, Ike and Martha Harper, Frank Battle, Hattie Watts, Duke and Rosa Robinson and Pattie Robinson Ward.
(Correction on last week’s column: Berryville was located southwest of Forest not south as I stated)
Send your queries or tidbits to: Roots and Branches, P.O. Box 128, Forest, MS 39074 or e-mail [email protected]

Hello, again! :wave:

Terri: My, my, but that didn't sound like you had a nice evening out! :rollpin: What happened?

Mary: That's really a great article. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Gonna run. Playing with another e-Bay auction and my time is up. See ya later.

Good evening/morning ladies. I have decided I am just WEIRD. Here it is nearly 1am and I am wide awake as usual. I can't force myself to do a darn thing during the day.... but let it hit 11pm and I am full of energy. :rolleyes: Since 11pm I have washed 3 loads of clothes... washed a dishwasher full of dishes and Three sinkful of pots and pans. I just sprayed my oven with cleaner taboot. :eek: I have put up many sackfuls of grogerys. Gee... I know there is MORE. I keep telling myself that Einstein was a night owl too. :lol:

I am so excited about my flowergirl dress. The seller sent an email that she had matching shoes. They are not my favorites... but my granddaughter will love them. They have fake diamonds and a pretty bow on them. She is SUCH A GIRL !!! My other granddaughter is more rustic and daredevilish. I bought her a dress for the wedding for her birthday. She is too young to be in the wedding. Her dress sort of matches the bridesmaid dresses.
We joke that if the older granddaughter won't walk down the aisle in front of all the people... we only need to tell the younger one there is something to eat at the end of the aisle and she would be there within 45 seconds. :lol:

Thin... I soooo enjoyed your post. :yes: I don't know exactly why... but I just did. :yes:
I know I have to be careful ... but my timetable is all screwed up. :dizzy:
Actually I don't think it is as messed up as just "different" from the norm.... but is norm for me.
I am soooooooooo PROUD of you for going to curves. :bravo:
Pat yourself on the back.

Terri... I sure hope my husband didn't rub off onto yours. LOL
Did I send you the "Her Diary vs His Diary" via email ???
I will try to remember to send it. Men live in a totally different world than us.
:grouphug: {{{{{ HUGS }}}}} :grouphug:

Mary... I really enjoyed your article. It makes me want to go and search my great great grandfather. I think I told you all about having his painting over my fireplace mantel. I would like to know if he was a professional artist or a talented amateur. ?????

I must say... I am very sorrowful that so many are MIA.
I hope you all post again soon.

Sandy.... do I need to go into relapse to get you to come back ??? I will you know. :p

Lucky :lucky: ... I MISS YOU !!!!!

Amanda .... You come and go so quickly. I am even doubting that I read a post from you not too long ago.

Steph... you didn't think we forgot you ??

All of our J-Ann, JoAnne, Joanne .... lets all post together so we can get all confused again. LOL

Susie... I know you have been hanging around for as long as me... but not nearly as often.

Pat, Duckie, Tina, Joyce, Tracey, Rhonda .....Please come add your 2 cents.

Carrotstyx/Carol ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY today !!! Come give us the gift of your pressence.

Andria, Michelle, Kat, BarbPA, Barb.g , You guys have posted ... but it would be great to hear more from all of you.

I am sure I have forgotten someone... I always do. :o
I am off to go wash the sheets from the guest room. I have been sleeping there because I coughed sooo much and soooo hard I was keeping my husband awake and he gets up at 5am every morning and needed his rest.
-----------------------------
Had to edit to add this slogan... or motto .. whatever. LOL
"If you are having a "treat" every day, then it is not a "treat"... it is part of your daily diet." - wise words from tessa

Good morning ladies,

I'm still mad so I might as well vent. WARNING - long, *****y post ahead.

A little background info. DH is of a particular political persuasion. I was raised in the other. I tend to keep my political views to myself. DH tends to think his is the only correct view and doesn't understand why ramming them down my or anyone else's throat is not cool. He loves talking about politics and its not one of my interests. I don't mind the occassional discussion - but hate it when he gets in what I call "lecture mode". He just doesn't get it.

So apparently, all this political campaigning and the controversary over gay marriages has him really worked up - he watches too much TV in my opionion.

Last night, we were having a pleasant drive over to "On the Border" for a nice evening out. Somehow it got onto politics. Everything was fine until he just kept going on and on and on and on without even really listening to what I was saying. When he does that, I shut off. Which makes him irritated. When we got to the restuarant and before we went in, I told him that it irritates me that he rams his opinion down my throat, how he won't listen to me because he can't wait to jump in and tell me how I'm wrong. If he would just shut up, he would hear that we believe basically the same thing - just in different degrees. I thought all was okay. So we get inside and there is a wait. He heads right to the bar. He gets a margarita and I get a diet coke. We were having a nice conversation again and there he goes with the politics but this time, he brings up my dad (who has passed) and my family and how come they vote the way they do. He didn't say anything directly but he has this superior tone about him (which he doesn't comprehend that TONE speaks louder than words said) and I said something about putting my family down. Then he got really mad and was an A$$ the rest of the evening. How I don't listen to him. How he can't have an opinion. How can I be with him since I won't think like him. How DARE I stick up for my family over him. YADA YADA YADA. (Single life was looking pretty good at that point - and I gave it up for that?) I don't even know who that person was because that isn't how he acts normally. It was pretty much silent the rest of the evening. He was asleep on the bed by 8:45. Which tells me he had too much alcohol. I will jump his A$$ about the alcohol. That is not acceptable behavior.

Here's the other reason I'm mad this morning. When he turned off the TV last, he threw the remote over by the wall instead of laying it beside the bed. Well, the battery cover came off. I came out of the shower to find that the dog had found it and chewed it up. I'm mad at DH and at the dog. That will cost us because its for the digital cable and not ours.

2Cute - Yes, I loved the diaries entries. That is so true about how our minds think such wildly extreme opposites. Good score with the dress and shoes on ebay!

Barb - How are things today? I really wanted to post right after I read yours but was at work and we're not allowed. If they could just communicate their fears instead of bottling them up and turning them into fights about other things. You guys are going through some tough times. Just don't take it personally and let it hurt you. Remember that when he reacts like that, he his reacting to something else and the fight isn't really about what he's fighting about. Let him cool off - then ask him if there is something else that is on his mind. Usually there is. Take care and be strong!

Okay, since everyone in my household is on my shi$ list, I will go to work and not even whine about it. I have to write performance objectives for 7 people and do my own self-appraisal. Hope no one crosses my path today! :lol:

Have a great day ladies!

Good Morning to all my Favorite Ladies! :sunny:
Thank you all so much for your love, support and encouragement yesterday. I really needed it and it helped to have you all to talk with. It's amazing what a difference a day makes. We went out for dinner last night and then spent some time together playing a game to take our minds off everything else. Then we snuggled up in bed and talked before falling asleep. It was a great way to end an otherwise horrible day! I slept well last night and things look so much better today. Well, for now -- DH has his appt. with the oral surgeon today at 4:00. Hopefully he makes it - I very nicely reminded him this morning. And, hopefully the Dr. thinks it's nothing major. :crossed:

Terri - I am so sorry about your rotten night with DH. I can understand why you are so upset. Maybe work will be a nice break today, even though it sounds like you have a lot to do. :dizzy:

2cute - You are such a night owl. I was sound asleep by 11:30. :faint: I hope you don't have to wake up too early!

Thin - Yippee! Great job getting back to Curves yesterday!!!

Mary - I honestly haven't had a chance to read your article yet, but I'll come back later when I have more time.

For now I need to go grab breakfast and get to work. I have a meeting in a couple hours with my boss -- not looking forward to it - they are questioning the need for one of my co-workers who is a part-time employee that backs me up. I feel so bad because she is also a very good friend of mine and it's hard for me to say that she isn't an integral part of things. I feel very torn between being brutally honest and trying to protect her job. Wish me luck!

Love you all!
:)Barb

I"m glad things look better this morning, Barb! You and dh are in my prayers.

The show last night was excellent! It made us laugh, cry, gasp, commiserate and think. The girls did a fabulous job. My daughter's part was to describe being a witness to childbirth. She was so good! Of course I'm a wee bet prejudiced...but she really was! :yes: All proceeds from the shows will go to a local women's shelter...I like that...entertainment with redeeming social value!

So tonight, my sis and I are taking the train into the city...off to Madison Square Garden to see Rod Stewart...this should be fun. Two middle aged bags off to check out an even-older-than-us rocker! Woo hoo! :cb:

So...have a great day, kids...I know I will!

Oh yeah...AND I appear to be back on track. I gave up gluttony for Lent!

Hi Ladies -
I'm stopping in for my usual lunchtime hello :wave:

I had the meeting with my boss this morning about my co-worker(friend). I am left with the horrible decision of whether or not we should keep her on the payroll! I HATE this! One thing I have always loved about my job is that I don't have to manage anyone. Now I have to justify her job and possibly put her out!!! :( I am hoping that I can convince them to keep her on in some way - she has worked for this company for 15 years!!! Luckily I know that she does not rely on the job as a main source of income. It's more or less play money for her and her 2 kids. This is tough! :^:

Kat - I am so happy to hear that your daughter's play was a success! What a proud mommy you must be!!! Tonight sounds like a blast!!! Have fun and update us tomorrow!!!

Time to run to a meeting! Catch ya later on!!! Don't forget - it's the best TV night of the week.... Survivor!!!! The previews show one of the tribes being disolved. Interesting.

Have a Happy Day!
:)Barb