We got 7/10 inch of rain today and it was cloudy most of the day. Kind of dreary. Then after supper the sun came out and was pretty nice--- outside temp. was 85 and the pool temp. was 89--- needless to say it was very nice and relaxing. The kids are still in Colorado but will be home this weekend. Hoping that they get jobs fairly quick and will be able to put money away for a place of their own. Don't get me wrong --- love having them here and it is so much nicer than them being in Florida ---but I just want them to be able to get on their feet. They did say that they weren't going to be bringing the boxer pup back here with them. Her Dad in Colorado fell in love with her so they are leaving her there.. that will be good. Make it easier to find a place to rent to them.

We are having Marian Days here in Carthage this weekend. It is a religious type celebration where there are about 70,000 Vietnamese who come from all over the world to the Mother of CoRedemptrix campus here in town. They set up tents everywhere and that is about all you can see on the campus that is about 20 acres!! That is a lot of people and a lot of tents!! I will try to get over there and get pictures if I can.. Wanted to today but it was rainy. Here is a little story about what it is all about! Pretty interesting. We live about 7 blocks from all of it and hear all the music in the evening.

Have a great night..

Carthage preps for Marian Days
By Alexandra Nicolas
[email protected]

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Anymore, the brothers at the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix don’t try to keep track of how many people flood Carthage for Marian Days.

“That’s the question every year,” said Father John Tran, who handles public relations for the CMC. “At about 60,000 to 70,000, we stopped counting.”

From Aug. 5-8, Carthage will be host to one of the country’s largest Roman Catholic festivals as Vietnamese Catholics from across the country — and some from around the world — gather at the CMC campus for four days of music, food, conferences and prayer.

Every year the CMC must get the necessary permits for the festival and prepare to meet the needs of up to 70,000 people living on about 20 acres. Tran said the CMC had begun adding free-standing structures to its property, such as a performance pavilion, to save time and labor preparing for the annual event.

“We build the new stuff to make it more convenient and we’ve built permanent stuff so we don’t have to take it down,” he said. “We add more restrooms every year, this year we are building another one with 20 some restrooms and 20 some showers, and it’s never enough. We still rent portables.”

While many of the pilgrims visiting Marian Days camp with their families, some arrive in large groups by charter bus and stay in one of the 90 large tents that, according to Tran, sleep anywhere from 50 to 70 people.

Though the majority of people visiting Marian Days camp, some stay in hotels and many purchase gas, food and other essentials while in Carthage.

According to Wendi Douglas, executive director of the Carthage Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, it’s difficult to measure just how much economic impact Marian Days has on the Carthage community.

“Of course, it is very significant,” she said. “It’s a big economic impact and I really couldn’t attach any numbers to that.”

Marian Days also involves a year’s worth of planning for city officials such as Carthage Police Capt. Randee Kaiser.

With six police agencies involved, planning and preparing the community for Marian Days takes meetings and the pooling of resources. Roadblocks must be manned, cameras set up on the grounds and refreshments and communications between officers arranged.

The department also notifies neighbors of the upcoming festival and makes note of who is and is not willing to have pilgrims camp in their front yard.

“People who camp in yards have been doing it for several years, so it’s kind of a neat relationship that the visitors have with our residents,” Kaiser said.

Tran said the community has always been supportive and understanding of the work involved in preparing for Marian Days and noted that people of other denominations “welcome the pilgrimage very well.”

“At the beginning we start feeling like it’s all this work,” Tran said. “But then all those people come and everybody comes and gets something out of it, friendship, or the religion.”

Jess - no I'm not yet on antibiotics...been drinking a lot of water and cranberry juice. I think I am better tonight but if I still have symptoms by tomorrow, I will go into the clinic and give them a specimen. I also have my regular doctor appt in a few days so even if the symptoms go away on their own, he will check me then. Thanks for your concern.

G'morning, g'morning....Friday at last. Couldn't come at a better time. (Well, actually not true..it could've come yesterday, after all...) We've been a bit busy this week - after work, I mean. Running about picking things up and dropping them off, etc., and then LAST night, "Art in the Park",
http://www.necn.com/08/02/10/Art-in-...86&feedID=4214 - which was pretty cool. Nice way to unwind after being confined to an office all day. We trudged around, checking out all the installations, and then went home and had a real, actual sit-down dinner with DS & his fiancee. DH had cooked a big pork roast and baked sweet potatoes before I got home from work, and I had made apple-cranberry sauce the night before, so all we had to do was microwave some spinach, slice up a loaf of multi-grain boule, and we were good to go. DS & DH both took roast pork sandwiches for their lunches today (DH is out at Old Sturbridge Village on Fridays, of course).
My eating has not been stellar this week. I KNOW I have to get back on track, but I'm having a very VERY hard time doing so. No desire to see the pounds start to pile on again, though, so I haven't got a huge lot of choice in the matter.
I'm counting the days to my next vacation, and it looks like I'll be working straight through for the next few weeks, and THEN will have 17 days straight off from Aug. 21 through Sept. 6. We haven't really made any plans as of yet - I don't expect that we'll try to take any long trips or anything, but we might take a few short road trips, and certainly spend some time in Newport on the beach, which is my favorite place to be. :sunny: THEN, my sister will be up for a week in mid-September, so I'll take a few days off then...and then we'll be into October...and then it'll be winter again. Time sure does fly when you're having fun (or, more accurately, once you pass 50!)
Karen3 Thanks about the new pic....I ALWAYS look twice as good (maybe 3X as good, actually) once I get a little color in summer. I know that we're supposed to be limiting our exposure to the sun and all, but that, I think, like anything else, has to be applied to your individual condition and genetics. My dad always tanned up like crazy - he was always outside working in his gardens after he retired - and never had any skin problems, and I seem to take after him in that respect. Rationalization on my part, maybe, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ;)

PT and Freda, oh yes indeed. Fall is by far the best of the seasons. Close to perfect, in my opinion, anyway. I just can't wait to get out to the apple orchard to do some picking with the kids and grandkids and then come home to bake pies and crisps and sauce and what-have-you. Such fun! We all pick, and then we all come back to my place for the peeling and baking.
Bobbi, after he retired, and when he wasn't working in his vegetable or flower gardens, my dad was watching the birds come and go, and your story was one that he would've loved. (I did, too). Speaking of peaches (Bobbi & PT), I would have to say that I have maybe had TWO in my entire life that were huge, sweet, juicey, and everything a peach should be. AND I remember both occasions vividly - one when I was a novice social worker back somewhere in the vicinity of 1974, and then once more about four years ago when DH and I were riding around rather aimlessly, happened upon a roadside farm stand, and they had ONE peach left - one big, juicy, perfectly ripened peach - which I ate, and savored every last bite. And that is the sum total of my experience with GOOD peaches. I've had dozens of less-than-great ones, and have even made some pretty slamming peach cobblers with some of them, but when it comes to just plain "eating" peaches, there have only been those two that were memorable (and they were REALLY memorable!)
Mary, cranberry juice, cranberry juice, cranberry juice! Oh, lordie, how miserable those UTIs can make a person! BTW, I usually like Kellerman - and his wife - as well. I haven't read anything by either of them in quite some time, though. Right now, I'm still working on South of Broad by Conroy. It isn't the easiest book I've ever read, but I'm about 2/3rds of my way through, and am now pretty invested in the characters and anxious to know what's going to happen. Have you been reading it, PT? Glad, Mary, to hear that your husband is continuing to progress well.
Rosey, you know we are all very proud of how well you're doing - you'll be ready in no time for that surgery, and then it'll be all downhill from there!
Karen31 - sorry about the rain. We've had some thunder storms, but they pass quickly and then it becomes hot & humid again. Very tropical, and not a bit like typical New England weather. (Can anybody say.....global warming?)
Lynn, I hope you're doing better. Any more travel plans? Or any more discussion about moving next door to your DD?(BTW, you don't happen to have Isabella's email address do you? )
Gayle, I can't get on here every day myself, but make it my business to check in at least 3 or 4 times a week. I could never stay focused with out my GG support system. Just knowing that others are struggling right along with me to get their weight under control, or to STAY where they've managed to get down to - is very helpful to me. You might want to consider making a habit of checking in here - it might help you with staying on track. Or NOT, of course - your call, but I promise you that we're a lot more understanding than your DH will be, and that's the truth!
Omigawd! Inappropriate gifts from husbands! Mine (my EX, for obvious reasons) once bought me a riding mower for my birthday. Like I was going to mow the lawn! I guess he may have thought I might if he bought that for me. Ummmm. I don't think so. My current DH knows better, trust me.
Okay, time to skedaddle. Have a great weekend, y'all!
:grouphug:
Z

Good Morning, no time to gab. Here's a good article on the benefits of eating apples.

Good Morning Everyone,

Still having the UTI problems. Took antibiotics for a full week - then switched to a 2nd antibiotic that made me VERY sick. Today, I start another course of the first antibiotic.

Only good news is that I am down to 154 lbs. Of course, as soon as I start eating again, that will change.

Hope everyone else is well.

Lynn

Hi Zoe,

Unfortunately, no, I do not have Isabella's contact info.

Everyone else,

I keep a contact list - names, addresses, phone numbers, & email addresses. I do not share because some folks do not want their info made public. However, if you want to send me your contact information, I will hold onto it and be able to get in touch with you in case of ????

By the way, a while ago when the 3FC site went down, this enabled some of us to keep in touch.

Lynn

Hello all,

Thank you for the encouragement. Day 2 on WW ~ on my way back down :carrot:

Lynn ~ sorry you have not been feeling well ~ hope the medicine works. Sorry about the loss of your friend.

Jess ~ like your new picture and that list of things you posted ~ enjoyed reading that.

Bobbi ~ thank you for the articles and helpful info you put on here to help us. Thank you also for the encouragement ~ don't worry ~ I won't quit ~ I can't ~ I fall off the wagon and it takes me a while to get back on sometime, but eventually I will get my act together :o

Zoe ~ like your new picture too ~ glad you will get to go again to the beach ~ enjoy :)

Maryea ~ glad your husband is doing better ~ congratulations on your weight loss :)

Karen31 ~ sounds like you had an enjoyable time with your family. Glad you all are having fun times in your pool.

Karen3 ~ sorry I missed your birthday ~ hope it was a good day ~ sounds like your DH did a better job of finding you a gift this time :)

Rosey ~ glad you got to enjoy some family time ~ congratulations on your weight loss :)

Freda ~ hope you have been able to get caught up on your housework and stuff and that the food is going better for you. Hope you get some time to relax and enjoy yourself.

Wilma ~ Welcome ~ always glad to have new friends ~ great group of friends here ~ jump in and enjoy ~ we look forward to getting to know you :)

Hello to anybody I forgot ~ sorry

Well, better get this posted and do some other stuff. Hope you all have a good weekend

Take care

Evening all...Have had blasting hot sun and hugh thunderstorms all day. 2 days ago lost water for hours and today power. Must be construction somewhere in the neighborhood. Which means we have to boil our water for drinking. I just open gallon jug. Grumpy cranky day....It took me 2 hours yesterday to figure out what the atty's assistant had screwed up on the audit. Bank and I agreed and have for down to the last penny. Glad I researched online and knew how it was to be listed. Had left $750 out from distribution to pay electric bills and taxes next winter....per accountant's direction. This fool wanted to put the $750 in my acccount......boy that sounds illegal to me. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....after everything is paid I will send each of the 10 heirs 10% of what ever I had left of the 750.....and I have spent 172.20 of it already. Must be this new age of 70! BUt I do not tolerate fools at all. Told her she could fool around with Uncle but I am not gonna. And we have get this done before taxes and insurance in due in Sept. Yeah, I can hear my friend Nancy scolding me.....maybe her ghost can kick some a**!

OMG, made the best dinner tonight. Not a new recipe but something I forget about doing. Marinated chicken in Italian dressing then baked. Made stacks of tomato/cuke/fresh mozarella with drizzle of lime basil dressing. Now have enough chicken cooked for 3 more meals. Thinking chicken articoke casserole or chicken salad with oranges or chicken bLt pizza...hmmmm...will get lazy and have cold chicken.

You all are talking about how close it is to fall....gesh that happens down here in December. We are just starting prime hurricane season. They keep predicted big season with 18-20 named storms. But every year we had that many by now we'd have had at least 5 storms. We've had 3. Jess, I think the weatherfools just like getting airtime standing out in the wind/rain looking manly.

My DD sent me a cartoon yesterday and have laughed myself silly over it. Will try to posted it. It is really not me or dash, but close.

Off to try...hugs, karen3

ps is not the cartoon...lost everything darnnnnnnnnn k

Happy Weekend everyone!
Yesterday for supper I made some crab cakes out of zucchini. Since I live in the middle of the country (counting Canada), I'm as far away from any coast line as I can get. Therefore we don't have the privilege of eating fresh seafood unless we pay through the nose. I've never had real crab cakes but all the reviewer that made these on the allrecipe.com site raved so I made them...We liked them and the calories were pretty decent.
It's raining today and my mom always baked on rainy days. We have the first of our apples falling off the tree so today I WAS going to make Apple pie. (I finished my first David Baldacci book last night and started 'Ghost 'a la Mode by Sue Jaffarian) First chapter they were eating hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream so of course I wanted some. Then my common sense took over and I knew the pie would be calling me all day until I'd eaten most of it. So I'm going to look up some recipes for Apple Betty or Apple strudel. Pie crust is soooooo fattening. Now that I've wet your appetite for something sinful, I'll shut up.
Have a great week-end and use YOUR COMMON SENSE!:carrot:

Hello all,

Checking in. Hope things are going ok for you all.

Was eating a peach today and was thinking of the post that mentioned the delicious juicy peaches. This one wasn't quite as tasty as I had hoped, but have them and now gotta use them up.

Maryea ~ reading about your son made me think about mine. Does yours listen to reason some of the time at least ~ or just not that time because he was upset. Mine ~ oh my ~ he makes choices and is miserable, but sadly doesn't listen to his family and friends who try to help him. He is unhappy and it makes my heart ache that he is and that he maybe wouldn't be if he would listen to people. Guess all I've got left to help him is to pray about it.

Corbin and my husband are going to the American Idol Summer Tour concert tonight. Corbin was really "into" it this year, so I am excited that he can get to go.

Took a vacation day today ~ Sara and Maddie came over ~ that was fun. Maddie was dancing around and almost looked like she was break dancing. She is something else. Love getting to spend time with them.

Happy weekend all

Take care

It's been a busy last couple days. After the tree was removed we were left with a large pile of mulch from the grinding of the stump...so I have been shoveling and hauling it out back to our garden area. A neighbors teen boys helped me do some of it. This am I leveled out the rest and wet it down. Now it will set until spring when we will lay down some top soil and plant again. The yard is a mess where the tree fell. We will also need to replant some grass. I enjoyed the work though and feel real good after doing it. Was afraid I'd be sore. I also watered all the plants.

Gayle - My son has a lot of stress due to relationship issues and finances some his own fault and some not so much. I try to be understanding but he gets SO upset sometimes and there is just no talking to him at those times. I have learned to let him talk but not say much then call him back later when he is hopefully more calmed down. Usually works. I do think he is VERY slowly learning from some of his mistakes. And yes, I agree with the prayer...I do a lot of praying for him (and the other kids too!). God has answered my prayers for one of them and I think He's working on the other three! ;) but some times things have to get worse before they get better if you know what I mean....

Bobbi - yum...apple pie sounds SO good...but then I'd want ice cream on top..couldn't one make just a small amount of crust and then the rest of the pie?...well guess that would probably BE a betty or strudel as you already mentioned. ;)

I was up about 4 lbs maybe due to fluid retention with this darn UTI even though it seemed like I was spending a great deal of time running for the bathroom! This am, I was back down...well, not quite to where I was last Sunday but to 159.2. Last Sunday I was 158. Don't know that I will be that low tomorrow now but I am trying to be careful today if I don't blow it tonight.

I started bleeding yesterday so went to the doctor and am now on antibiotics and already feel much better. Thank God for modern medicine!! I was getting awful tired of cranberry juice. I am also very amazed (and thankful!) by the strength I have had to do all this yard work despite having the UTI! I would never in the past thought I could do it.

My dh is doing so well. He walked about a block and back plus all around the yard and organized cupboards in the garage plus checked something in the car. The garage who did the oil change the other day said the battery tested low but my dh has one of those meters to test with and it says it's good, not sure what's up with that. We have always thought this was an honest garage. Anyway after doing all that he is tired tonight. Doctor told him he might start hurting a little more as he does more...mostly it's fatigue he feels but he has complained of a little more aching the last couple days too. Mostly when he sits though.

Hope everyone is having a good evening!

ETA: Lynn...meant to ask...are you feeling any better. I remember you have a UTI too!

Hey all....Did it! My old brain needs to sleep on a problem and comes back without me knowing anything and just does it. Should try that at the bridge table. This cartoon just tickled me so much. Looks exactly like Dash and my new car.

Sons...I love mine dearly but his phone calls are strange. Must admit with caller id both Dh and I wait for the other one to answer. You have to take notes to figure out what he wanted. His goals in life are so far from what he was brought up with that it makes it hard to be objective. His memories of growing up were of a deprived childhood (try 3 dirt bikes 4 go carts best school in state followed by a jeep and the '65 mustang convertible ) Not bragging just noting.

Wonder if there is a UTI season like the flu season?

I have a question. Have developed pinkish blue cicles under my eyes. Hate them. Research says they are caused by thinning skin and to use a moisturizer with vitamins A,C,E,.....what brand? help please

Weekly grocery shopping...be back later with personals....hugs, karen3

Hi Mary,

Feel somewhat better in terms of the UTI symptoms. Still in the bathroom about once an hour. Antibiotics are making me feel crummy. Hoping they will be able to knock this out soon. I see the urologist on the 13th.

Still not eating very well - mostly carbs. The thought of meat/fish/veggies makes me feel sick. Drinking LOTS of water/herbal tea/cranberry juice. However, because I'm not eating much, I'm holding at 155.

Lynn