Wow! I'm home early tonight! It wasn't even 6:00 when I walked through the door! (5:44). I'll have so much time on my hands tonight, I won't know what to do with myself! I threw together some tossed salad with lettuce and baby spinach, tomatoes, red onion, some chick peas....not very imaginative, but by Wednesday night, my engine is starting to shift into low gear..... Anyhoo, dh is in the process of thawing and microwaving some pulled chicken to put on top, and once that's done, we'll be good to go. In the meantime, I get two and a half minutes to myself - so I thought I'd check in here. I'll just have to take a break to eat my supper. I am STILL on plan, and am beginning to see some difference in my clothes and such. I'm feeling much better about moi, but, oh, boy, I'm definitely under attack from pollen, or something that's blowing around in the atmosphere because I'm having sneezing fits four or five times a day, coughing at night, and eyes running at unpredictable times...several times, someone I work with has looked at me a little uncomfortably and asked if I'm alright (as in, they're thinking I'm crying). Lovely. Oh well, onward and upward (or downward, I guess, if we're talking scales and weight here...)
Oh, Lynn, I can't WAIT for our GG's retirement bash weekend!!!! Somebody needs to figure out an equidistant point that we can all get to and that's affordable for everybody! Would that be somewhere in the midwest? Kansas, maybe? I've never been there, and the only point of reference is from The Wizard of Oz, where somebody says to Dorothy? To Toto? "You're not in Kansas anymore!" I think it would be great fun if we all could pitch in and rent a cabin or house or something for a long weekend - we could have a marathon pajama party and talk and laugh and hug....
Mary, I'm thinking of you and your dh, and hoping and praying for a good result from that MRI. DO keep us posted! :hug:
So sorry to hear about your back flaring up, Rie/Val....hope you're in fine form for your pool league tonight!
Hi Darcy...I sure can identify with the time issues...been having some of those myself!
Hi Fitchy....enjoyed reading your bio; yours too, Darcy. :)
Thanks for putting the video up, PT. I watched it again and chuckled. Oh, I'm the same way with any kind of sweets - including those yummy fig cookies....they just trigger cravings, so I'm avoiding them altogether. Good that you threw the coffee grounds on them, Rosey - at my worst, I would probably just rinse them off and eat them, though!
Nice pics, Gayle. LOVE the crown! Omigosh, Rie/Val and Gayle.....I thought I was the only one who accumulated so much change in the bottom of my purse that carrying it around makes my shoulder ache! Funny, too, that it takes a while before I realize that that's what it is!
Glad to hear that your recalcitrant pup is finally eating properly, Marie...now we have to get Samcat to straighten up and fly right...
Missing you Nancy, but nothing is more frustrating than having to fight with your computer...I'd rather sit in a swing, too! Enjoy!
K3....looks like you got lucky...Irene missed you, right? (must've been all that off-key singing of "Goodniiiiigggghhhhht Irene, Goodnight..."
Freda, you are such a lovely woman...I know your grandchildren must just worship you!
Where are you vacationing, Lyn? (Don't most people go to where YOU live to vacation????) :?:
Hi MustangK...what's up, chica?
Okay, gotta go...have a good evening....hugs all around!
Z

Lynn, I listened to Sarah’s Key audiobook about 6 months ago. Oh my gosh, it was amazing. So sad. Desperately sad. I was so glad I listened to it.

Donna, I’m quite sure SamCat appreciates your devotion to his demands. It is a lot of work for him to come up with new ways to push you over the edge. It’s good you appreciate his efforts.

Mary, I’m so sorry about your DH’s eye problems. I hope all turns out all right. He’s lucky he has you so the double vision doesn’t get ignored.

Val, I hope your back calms down. Maybe you shouldn’t do my strength exercises for a while. See??? They’re horrible. They cause me pain, they cause you pain.

Zoe, get yourself to thy drugstore and by thee some antihistamine. You don’t want a sneezing fit at the wedding. No, no, no. BTW, Allegra is over the counter and my allergist said I could take two (and twice a day). Keep that thought as a back up if the sneezing drives you nutty.

I know I missed many so here is a blanket HOLA to all. I’m very happy we’re on the downhill slide to weekend. I did the presentation of the website I mentioned yesterday and it went all right. Not great, not bad. I didn’t hide my irritation with the company but I was semi upbeat about the long-term good it will do. So it gave me a headache and I cam home and dunked my head in the pool. Amazing what a quarter mile swim will do. Kai continues to be Ms. Eater and is doing well. Kodiak’s ear infection is doing better. Blizzie and Sasha are magnificent. DH’s father is in the hospital. He’s had loads of medical problems for decades but recently is failing physically. My SIL said he’s not enthusiastic about life either. DH has noticed that as well. I feel bad for him, I truly do. He was severely injured on job about 30 years ago and it messed up his quality of life. That said, my mother in law is an angel. She sounded so tired on the voicemail tonight. My heart goes out to her. I called DH at work and told him to call his mother right away. We live 1700 miles away but that doesn’t mean he can’t support her by listening. I’m tired so I will go onto my next project. Night all.
Marie

Good Morning GG's

We had quite the storm last night. No damage that I know of, just lots of high wind and rain. It was hot and muggy yesterday and you could just feel that something was going to happen. by the way, did you read that the zoo animals sensed that the earth quake was going to happen? I don't think that any of us were surprised to hear that, we know that our babies know when something (weather wise) is going to happen. Storm knockned by computer out. But it was fine today. I was afraid to get back on last night.

Mary, I'm praying for your DH. I hope everything is ok. I know how hard it is to wait for answers. I just got a book from the library "Glycemic index cookbook for Dummies". It might be something you would find helpful.

Z, I hope the antihistamines help you with the allergie symptoms. They can make you pretty miserable.

Marie, I read Sarah's Key when it first came out. You're right, it's very hard to read. But I learned from it too. I had no idea that the French helped the Natzi's in the war. I haven't seen the movie yet, but Lynn said it was very sad. It is on my "to see" list. Glad to hear that your DD (darling dog) Kai is still eating well. We do worry about our babies. My little Benny was so stiff this morning he could hardly walk. That's ok, I can help him.

Donna, Got shut down yesterday. Didn't want you to think I was just being rude. How is the job going? How is Granny/mom doing? Don't over do on the house work. Liveable is my motto.

Rosie, I hope the diet for DH helps. Thankfully, they make so many things glutten free any more. One of the women on "The View" Elizabeth H just wrote a book about her ordeal with diet and how she changed things. I think it's also a cook book.

Lynn, I hope you had fun at your luncheon, lovely lady.

Rie, Take care of yourself and take it easy for awhile. I have a bad back too and have to back off exercise for a few days from time to time. But I do think that exercise strenghtens my back and I have fewer back problems when I do exercise. Rest and ice or heat. Which ever makes your back relax.

Nancy, It was good to hear from you again. We'll think of you sitting in the swing, light breeze blowing through your hair, reading a great book. But do come back and let us know how you are doing. As far as housework goes, it gets done. Nuf said.

Hi Fitchy, Just read your Bio. Looking forward to getting to know you.

Darcy, Read your Bio too. Hope you get more free time so you can visit us often.

Gayle, I loved the Hat. We always make them too, with much thought and preperation. My DGD has so much imigination and loves crafts. Our Grands would do well at Rosie's house, wouldn't they? ha! I think relatives just know how to push our buttoms. too bad they think they need to. Families should be the "soft place to fall".

Everyone have a great day,

Freda

Just a quicky...have a hair appt in an hour. Had the Cscan this morning. New antibiotics seem to be working. Change that Heck yes they are working. Last time I was at the Imaging Place I could barely walk from xray room to the lobby stopping to breath 2-3times. Today I was standing at my car door when I realized I had walked a normal pace all the way thru the whole place and wasn't short of breath. Yay!

Keep singing Ladies....Irene is going further out to sea. Need to blew her off Cape Cod for Lyn and Zoe. That's Good Night Irene goooooood night...off key is okay.

DS told me last night that his 2nd book has been sold with excellent royalities and good advance. Ended the email with "thanks mom for teaching me to love reading." ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Be back later to do personals k3

ps gonna type in working title on 2 pages.......The Turtle Girl

from Pukapuka

Hello everyone! Sorry I havent' been around to say much the last few days! Things have been kind of busy. We are going to "Booktown Days" this afternoon and won't be home until around midnight!! I can't beleive that I will be out that late!! But Diamond Rio will be playing and they don't start until 9:00pm. It is $10 at the gate to get in and that includes all the entertainment---you have to pay hgh dollar for the foods there! But everything is going to help out Joplin! Ty Pennington was in Joplin yesterday and they are going to do several home for people that lost theirs in the tornado-- I heard rumors that it was 7 homes in 7 days!! Don't know for sure!

Then we have decided to leave the last of Sept. to go to Colorado with the fifth wheel. My Aunt is going with us and then her daughters and granddaughter are taking her on a cruise to the Bahamas the first part of Oct. So it should be be a fun trip out there! Tim said to pray for him--- two women and three dogs in a truck across Kansas!! LOL!!!! She has a little Yorkie. We are going to split up the trip and make it two days out there. Just a little easier. After we have visited in Colorado we plan to go on down to Albuquerque for the hot air ballon festival.. His sister lives there and we can visit her and the family there. So have lots to do to get ready to go and am really looking forward to it.. Don't know for sure about Tim....HAHA!!

We just got back from running errands and I need to go adn fix some lunch. I have everyone in my thoughts and prayers!

GOOD NIGHT IRENE GOODNIGHT!!!!

Be back later.

Hi...all kidding aside this storm is getting to be a monster. It is in the Behamas East of Miami and we are seeing the first cloud bands off of the outer rim. Feel like hunkering down and ducking. (Miami is like 9hrs south of us) Our dearest/oldest bestest friend still live on the Eastern Shore of MD. Called them about evacuting to Toledo.

They are worried about Ocean City where I have so many friends. The storm surge could flood the whole town. Guess I spend the next 3 days watching the weather channel. Mike Seidel better get his home stuff right. k3

Stupid Irene! How dare she interfere with our vacation plans! We are supposed to be leaving the cape Sunday am and driving north to Montreal. We may have to try and leave Saturday, but I fear if they declare an evacuation of the cape we will be stuck in unimaginable traffic.

Keep singing, please.."Good night Irene"

I am very discouraged as I have gained mucho pounds this summer. After this trip it's back to healthy eating. My swimming just isn't hacking it.

I have just read the latest posts...don't have time to do personals. Love the idea of a retirement retreat, though.

Lyn

Well I've had an interesting week, I was down to have a breast reduction in the next two weeks, but I've decided to delay it until I lose at least 20kgs. Reasons? Many, but with diabetes, live dysfunction and my lymph nodes not working properly I decided having any surgery was probably risky. Hopefully I will be able to get my weight down and get rid of these gigantic boobs (i cant believe people actually pay to make theirs this big!):o

Well, we made it to Boomtown Days and had a good time.. And back at home before 11:30!!! But this "Golden Girl" is pooped--not used to the "Late Night Life" anymore! Diamond Rio was fantastic and I took some pictures.. don't know if they came out very good or not but will post some tomorrow if they did!! Hope everyone is doing fine--- GOOD NIGHT IRENE!!!

Donna, still have the house on the market. There are still a few that are listed for sale that we would be interested in IF ours sells... so will hang in a bit longer... Still think we will be staying right here though. Things just don't seem to be moving like they were when we first listed it.

Chat more tomorrow---

Good morning GG's,

Last day of my stretch of days, then off the weekend :carrot::carrot:

I have been fortunate enough to have several days of getting out on time.

It was not quite as hot when I left work last night ~ 89* instead of 103* That was nice.

Go away Irene (not as in further north ~ go out to sea!!!)

Guess I'd better finish getting myself ready for work.

Hope you all have a nice day.

Good Morning, haven't had time to catch up on the post, will do tomorrow.
Welcome Avimen, have to agree with you on why people have breast implants! I'd love to have a breast reduction...would like to be so small that I wouldn't have to wear a bra.
The following is about chickpeas, I forget about how good they are.....especially baked with spices.

Lyn, I have the utmost confidence that you will get back on track after vacation. I hope Irene leaves your plans alone.

Donna, give SamCat a kiss for me and tell him I'm in awe of his abilities to wrap his mommy around his little paw. I am glad that GM is getting better but I do get why she wasn't patient about waiting for the suppository to work. When we're uncomfy, nothing works fast enough. Bet next time she'll use more caution. Maybe. Hopefully.

Avimen, good luck on your journey and maybe some day we can go together to get rid of the big boobs. I'd love a reduction. I, too, have never understood why anyone would want big, uncomfy watermelons hanging from their chest. They hurt the upper back all the time.

KarenMO, glad you had fun at the concert. I'm surprised your late night left a moment to post. You're silly. Next time wait until morning.

Gayle, you and I will enjoy our weekend off. I'm counting the hours. I know my post yesterday said I'd have a cold today but alas, too much work and a conscience that won't quit. So I am working. Of course, not at the moment...

Val, I believe you need a vocabulary lesson... MODERATION - Being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme. So applying moderation to you is DON'T do an hour of aerobics when your back is healing. Perhaps an easy 20 minutes. That seems reasonable. 60 minutes is for after it is healed. Ok off my :soap: I actually didn't walk the dogs today. Today is DH's turn. Since he's on swings, we alternate days because it is so much more work to walk 4 huskies than 2. One could apply math here and say it is twice as much work but it is about 20 times more work. The difference from 2 to 3 was twice as much. 3 to 4 was ridiculous. It took a year of behavior therapy with Sasha to be able to walk her with the other dogs by myself. She's difficult. So, we alternate so neither of us go nuts. Instead I did the elliptical and had a good time. I was engrossed in reading on the iPad and ellipticalling to high energy tunes, I didn't realize when I was done. I can't say that has happened too often.

And Val and Avimen, nope - losing the weight did not shrink the girls. Same cup size, just the band size changed. I'm quite sure I'd need to be a 70 pounds before my body would delete the fat cells from the girls. So Val, I am envious yours are shrinking. I'm thinking a scalpel will be the only method.

So update on the rant email I sent our new webhost provider. They apparently don't like angry customers and finished the designs for the schools. It's not completely done but I made the site live yesterday. Maintaining two websites with the same info is frustrating so I just did it. Here's a link to the new site and here's a link to the old site. Keep in mind the new is a canned, limited design type of thing for dummies. The old was authored and designed by me. I just did a redirect on the old's home page to the new page so if you play around and then click home, it will bring you to the new site, not the old one. But alas, that irritant is significantly less in my life. Now just normal back to school stuff. Oh and training everyone how to use the new site. Yuck!
Marie

Hi everyone. the sun is out :carrot: no rain. i had coffee on the deck this am and watched the chicadees on the feeder.soooo peaceful. i,m enjoying the me time between shuffling puppies.still cant have them both loose at the same time as sadie thinks gizmo,s a squeaky toy and shes to rough. daisy tolerates both and then hides behind my recliner. gizmo has learned to ask to be held.he whines for my attention and then when hes got it he backs up and launches himself airborn like a furry ball and most of the time i catch him all wiggely and proud of himself. sadie has learned down and sit.shes a handful but so sweet,i use a spray water bottle and a loud no to get her to mind.its working.ive been working on amandas quilt and reading john sandford mystery.imagine the weekend will be more of the same :D hoping yours is as peaceful (((hugs))) rosey :wave:

Hey GGs,
All this talk on the news, about hurricanes, has got me all nostalgic. Now, y’all are going to think I’m a little strange (oh wait, y’all probably already knew that!), but I’ve always sort of liked hurricanes (KarenFL, don’t smack me!). But, what you’ve got to remember is, all my experience with them was when I was a child, living in FL. The first one I remember anything about was “Donna”, when I was about 4 yrs. old. We were staying at my great-grandparents’ house in central FL, & it wasn’t expected to come that far inland, but it did. There was a lot of damage, & the power was out for several days, but we kids had a ball! Many big old oak trees were knocked down, including one that fell across the street in front of the house - leaving a big gaping hole in the sidewalk for us to play in! And, we got to play in the road!!! (Of course no cars were able to drive down it with the tree there.) A couple of big oaks were also knocked down in the vacant lot behind the house, & the trunks of those remained there for years. In our imaginations (back when kids had to use those!) they became horses & trains & spaceships, etc., etc., etc……, & many happy hours were spent playing on them. I even remember my sister & me tripping up & down them, wearing some of Mom’s discarded high heels, pretending the tree trunks were a beauty pageant runway (how did we keep from breaking our necks?!). When I was a little older, we lived in south FL, a few miles from the coast, & approaching hurricanes could mean schools would be closed for a day or two (our version of a “snow day”, I guess). What kid wouldn’t love that?!! I remember one time, when I was in the fourth grade, school was closed a whole week! I guess that hurricane kept changing direction - they were expecting it all week, & it didn’t get there until Friday night! And, I remember it was such a nice week, all breezy & cool - quite unusual for that time of year in south FL! So, for me, hurricanes inspire fond memories. But, I’m sure it would be different if I were a homeowner living in their path!

While I’m wandering down memory lane, I just had to scrub a broiler pan, & was thinking “thank goodness for Teflon!!!” Don’t you agree?! And, I have no idea what brought this to mind, but I was remembering when TV stations used to go off the air at night, & they’d play the national anthem first. I always HAD to get the TV turned off before it went to static!, & was TERRIFIED that I wouldn’t! I have no idea what I thought would happen, but I sure was scared! Then, years later, I saw the movie “Poltergeist”, & thought “Ah ha! I KNEW something bad would happen!” Guess I wasn’t the only one that had that fear?

On an entirely different subject, yesterday I went to a Salvation Army thrift store that I just discovered about a month ago. It’s a little over 20 miles from here, so I’ve only been there twice before. Both of those times, SO was with me so I couldn’t look as long as I liked. I was determined to get back there on my own, because they have one whole room with about 12 tables of clothes, all sizes, & men’s, women’s & children’s, all jumbled together, and everything in there is just 25¢ each! I spent 2 & ½ hours in there, & that room’s not air conditioned (though they do have ceiling fans) & it was hot! I ended up getting 36 things for me ($9.00!) & 10 for SO ($2.50!), & I got some really great clothes! I was soooo happy! I just looove getting bargains! Five of my things were “rejects”, & two are a little tight, so I put them away “just in case”, but still 29 wearable items of clothing for $9.00 ain’t bad! All of the clothes are in really good condition, almost new, so I don’t know why they were only 25¢. I don’t know much about brand names, though I do recognize the ones from Kmart & Wal-Mart, & two or three things were from them. But, several things were from Talbot’s & Chadwick’s, & the tag in one blouse (long-sleeved, red with black dots) said “Oscar de la Renta Expressions”. I think that one was a pretty good buy for a quarter! Hopefully I’ll get around to taking some pics of some of my favorite “50¢ outfits” to show you, but here’s one of my “la Renta”. It’s a little big on me (don’t know the size, someone must have cut that label out), but I plan to wear it anyway - maybe with the pair of black “skinny” jeans that I got yesterday.

Ok, trying to write a book here again! And I know this has been all about me, me, me! Sorry! I did read all of your posts, & I am thinking about all of you, you, you! Does that count? Two things I have to comment on. Much as I hate to say anything good about DSD, she is the one that got me to try hummus. And I love it! Good to know it's so healthy (& not too bad calorie-wise). Thanks Bobbi. And about "the girls" shrinking - mine have. I was a "C" cup from the time I was 11 yrs. old, but now I'm a "B"! I think that happened somewhere between 155-145 lbs. That was actually the one part of me I didn't want to shrink! Oh well. I really do have to go now. Have a Great, Great Weekend! And watch out for Irene! (Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene!)
NCNancy

Hello....I am proud of you all. Singing worked. Just checked and Irene has been poked in the eye. It's gone. It is still a hugh storm about 400 miles wide and when it comes ashore will push alot of water around. Right now it is East of Charleston SC and we still have cloud bands from her passing by. I try not to get caught up in the weather channel hype.....actually there is another storm forming....Almost Sept.

Went to the BIG Bridge Game today. Have to say am sooooo weary, but guys we came in 2nd. Second.....and it was computer hands composed by a troll under a bridge in Memphis. These hands are being played all over the state at the same time and eventually they will post state wide overalls... Later tonight I hope. I can't begin to tell you what this has done for me....The foggy brain is gone even with the antibiotics. I played one hand like I was brainless and after apolgizing to my partner I played the next one for a top. I whispered to her..."I'm Back." The whole room erupted in applause.

Need a nap .......BBL hugs k3


PS Nancy I said awhile ago we all talk about hurricanes like they are crazy old aunts of our. I remember Donna and before that Hazel.....

Rie and Nancy ~ your memories of the storms remind me of my mom and dad telling about the big snow storm they had in the begining of 1978. The power was out ~ I don't remember for how long. They had a fire place and some of the neighbors didn't have anything like that, so some of the neighbors came over and stayed ~ people were spread out on the floor in sleeping bags. They cooked beans in the fireplace. It sounded like a fun time ~ despite being without power. :)

Oh My Goodness-- these storm stories are so neat! Gayle, like you, we were living in Colorado and had a bad snowstorm like that. My parents had a fireplace and we invited the negihbors in and kept a pot of beans on in the fireplace too!! Had a tea kettle setting on the fire and we had cocoa, coffee and what ever we could think of. That was about a 3 day storm for us! We had people sleeping everywhere--- it was a tri-level house so our bedrooms were upstairs but the fireplace downstairs. People just huddled up and slept where ever they could find a spot. I remember it with fond memories and even though times were hard during the storm and adults had to be stressed to the max--- I can't remember ever hearing any arguing...

Another thought that struck me ~ how it felt different to be going through a storm once I got to be an adult/parent. I was home visiting my parents in Ohio. The kids were little. It was daytime, but the sky got black ~ was just like night time. Lots of wind. A couple big trees came down (thankfully not on the house). We grew up with stuff like that ~ I don't remember being scared too much as a kid. It wasn't that I was scared now, but this time it was different ~ as a mom now ~ and knowing I was responsible for keeping my kids safe.

It was a good day with good news...the MRI came back negative for aneurysm! AND even before we learned that, when we were driving to the gym, my dh told me his vision is much improved! He is seeing clearly most of the time now, but occasionally still has double vision but only briefly...he blinks and it is gone. Yea!! The doctor was quite impressed! So we are praising God and hoping/praying for a complete healing soon.

It was also a good day because I had a chance to talk to my oldest dd who I rarely get to talk to. It was brief but pleasant and I felt hopeful about our relationship. She has always been our "difficult" dd but I love her dearly.

It was also a good day becauseI used my Kindle at the gym and it made the time go so much faster on the bike and treadmill. I am so glad I bought it now. :-)

Rie - I winced when you talked about the cows dying because of mastitis! I breastfed four children but with one I had it. It was awful...not only did I have this one swollen, hot and throbbing breast but I also had flu-like symptoms. And of course, it happened when dh was in PI, I was too sick to drive so had to have a neighbor drive me to the hospital, me throwing up all the way...he was a young guy and I don't think he was very comfortable. ;) My doctor was a 7th Day Adventist and was called out of church to meet me in the ER as it was a Saturday. I continued to breastfeed both this child and another (our youngest dd) but I never had any more problem except I never felt I had as much milk for him after that. But I continued and then got pregnant with our dd and breastfed both of them for a while, until I got too tired so made him stop, so I could just feed one. He was 18 mo anyway.

Nancy - Enjoyed your stories! Wow you are a smart shopper GFY for getting the bargains!! Sorry about the B cup but that's really not bad and you may be glad as you get older. Not as much to sag... When I lost weight before mine didn't change much but then I carry most of my weight on my torso and even with a 33 lb lost I didn't lose that much above..but my legs got very skinny.

Karen3 - I'm glad that storm didn't hit you and I'm glad you're BACK!! Yea!!

Rosey - Poor little Gizmo, the squeek toy! Oh, my! :dizzy:

Rie - Hope your back is better now. Marie is right...moderation in all things. LOL I'm one to talk ...I can only seem to be moderate with food about four days and then I'm back to overeating...gotta get control..gotta get control..sounds so simple...I mean just keep my goal in mind, and just say no, right?

Karen31 - I saw that you posted pics on FB of your fun day! I haven't had a chance yet but will go look at them soon.

Hope you all have a golden evening!

Hi Everyone,

People in my area are getting hysterical about this hurricane. Long lines at gas stations and no bread in the stores. I have my protein bars and protein drinks & could last for at least 3 weeks.

I really believe that TV LOVES to stir everyone up. We'll see - maybe I will have to eat my words, but I do NOT believe that we will see major problems in my area - about 60 miles west of the ocean. Most likely, if anything, we will lose electricity.

Monday is the LAST DAY of my course! YEAAAAAA! I will be able to get back to reading and posting regularly. I miss you all when I cannot.

Take care everyone,

Lynn

Good morning! Everything is slow this morning---- ok maybe it is just me!!! Needing to start thinking about winterizing the pool. Don't want to leave it open when we are gone. But I don't want to close it up to early and then want to swim for a few more days before we leave.

Rie, I have been meaning to ask you about your Walk It Out--- I have tired to find it and I have had no luck. Where did you get it? I have checked on Walmart.com and several other sites but can't find anything about it. It sounds like something that I would like to have.

Hello to everyone else this morning and hope everyone is staying safe! Need to get some lunch going and then I want to get to the store--- Rocky Ford Cantaulopes are in!!! LOVE THEM!!!

Be back later....

Oh my gosh, I really need to read all the posts daily. I had about 45 minutes to read all 3 pages of post and two bio's, now I'm out of time to post myself. I made and froze (7) 12oz contaniners of applesauce as one of our apple trees are starting to drop the fruit. I also shredded a dozen zucchini's and froze that in 16oz bags. Thankfully we're getting our second round of raspberries, should be ready next week. We don't freeze these at all, just pig out on them and the strawberries.
DH wants Omelets for supper and I saved some shredded zucchini to fry with sliced onions and tomatoes to put in the omelets, top with cheese. I thawed out some ground turkey and mixed in the sausage seasoning to make sausage patties less the fattening pork. Easy enough for a tired old gal like me, my feet start to ache when I spend that much time out in the kitchen.
Time's up, gotta head back out THERE...
Happy week-end everyone.

I just got this in an email from a stationery site that I like-- I thought that ths is was interesting and you could actually have your medical info. on this and in case of an accident everything would be right there. Just thought that I would share it.
http://thundercloud.net/sale/2011/do...acelet2011.htm

Karen - http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Out-Ninte...rec_03_04_t_lh

I actually bought mine at Game Stop. It is like a video game and walking program all at once

Hellllloooo GGs

Just to let you know I'm still around. Last Sunday, I finally carved out some time and spent hours typing a GG post and for some reason it didn't take. Since then all has been hectic, and I finally have some time this evening to write a post and something bizarre happened to my Word document and it's all gone. Grrrr. Suffice to say, even when I'm not posting, I'm thinking of you all and hoping you are going OK. Especially for of you in the path of Hurricane Irene - stay safe.

I hope to be a bit less frazzled this week, and post more regularly.

Lots of rain and wind. No electricity. Lots of roads closed. Other than that, fine.

Lynn

G'morning, all...finally have a chance to sit down here at the computer and say hello. Friday I had a meeting in Boston at 10:30 AM, and decided to take the rest of the day off when that was over with. I've had a couple of nearly sleepless nights during the week - getting only 3 or 4 hours of sleep, for some reason - and have been pretty zombie-like as a result. So, on Friday, I'd about had it...headed back to Worcester, and thought I'd stop down at the lake for a little vitamin D, plus I had a book in the car, so I figured an hour or so reading/snoozing in the sun would be good medicine. And it was - sort of - but was still feeling pretty out of it, so headed home, thought I'd get into my PJ's and lie on my bed until dh got home from Old Sturbridge Village. Well, I ended up sleeping for fourteen hours straight - except for a brief few seconds when dh woke me up to ask if I was okay. Me: "Yuh-hmmmm....fine...tired...snuffle." Him: "Okay - get some rest." At which point, I went right back to sleep - slept from 5:00PM to 7:00 AM, and was reluctant to wake up then, to tell the truth, BUT yesterday was dh's birthday, and we had a lot to do, so I got up despite thinking I'd just as soon spend all day Saturday sleeping as well. HAD to grocery shop for the week, which we did in the morning. No gift to buy, thank goodness - I got him a deluxe membership in the Worcester Art Museum with a Groupon a couple of months back - 50% off a $200 "friends of the museum" membership. But we had a bunch of other errands to run, which we did, and then at 4:00, I took him out to dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant where we had a great - make that GREAT - meal (I must've consumed about 2000 calories between the steamy rolls dipped in spiced olive oil and the chocolate hazelnut crostata - which we shared - for dessert.) So <shrug> I made it my high calorie day (with happy thoughts of Nancy's weekly "pigging out" throughout all of her months of weight loss) and enjoyed every last minute of it. I'd told dd3 that we'd go by her house at 6:00 - they were planning cake & ice cream & party hats and gifts for dh (he didn't have a CLUE: we usually celebrate his birthday and dd2's together because his is August 27 and hers is the 31st - I told him that everything was a little disjointed because of the hurricane coming and all...and nobody's schedules seemed to be coming together, so we were all going to do cake & ice cream for him and her on THURSDAY after work) and so I had to see to it that we didn't leave the restaurant ahead of time; thus the dessert...whew...trying to choreograph these things can be stressful...so, anyway, we were ostensibly stopping at dd2's to drop off diapers, and he was VERY surprised - YAY! Oh - and I weighed myself in the morning before all of this, and have...(tah-dahhhhhh!) lost 14 pounds! If I can manage 2 more this week, I'll be feeling pretty okay for the wedding next weekend. NEXT weekend? Oh, MY! I can hardly believe it. Still kind of tired, though...got home at 9:30 last night and went right to bed. Up just a half hour ago or so, so plenty of sleep again; I sure hope to catch up on some of what I lost during the week. I am taking tomorrow off from work - personal day - but there's a chance that the offices may be closed anyway because of flooding. We've had heavy rain since yesterday afternoon, and apparently, it's going to get worse before it gets better. I just watched some footage of flooding conditions up the coast, and it looks bad. The whole of Massachusetts seems to be right in Irene's path. Oh, joy! I hope Lyn got off the Cape yesterday and is in Canada by now! Lynn, it looks like ole' Irene has been through your area, but I'm not hearing much about inland PA...hope it skirted you! Oh..I see you just posted and are okay. Good.
Omigosh, MustangK! Thinking of winterizing your pool already???? Too soon! Too soon! You KNOW you're going to want to hop in again before you leave on your trip! Yikes! MustangK without her pool is a fate too frightening to contemplate!
Your ramekin dessert sounds dee-lish, Rie/Val! I think I would like just a pinch of cinnamon, too. I do an apple crisp very similarly, minus the rhubarb, and with some original Fiber One cereal added to the oatmeal. I also throw in some dried cranberries. That probably adds the tang that the rhubarb gives to yours.
Mary, my oldest dd is the one that I have a strained relationship with, as well. It's only been over this past summer that we've spent a little time together - she and dgd stayed in our guest bedroom when dd2 was having the baby earlier this month - and seem to have found some common ground. I'm glad that we are at least communicating pleasantly together, but I suspect that there's a bit too much water under that particular bridge for us ever to be as close as I am with the other three chicklets and their families. She was always the rebel, always critical of whatever move I made - or didn't make. Turns out, I think, that she is simply way too much like me for us to get along as well as we might.
Gayle and Mustangk - and Rie/Val - in January of 1978, we had the worst blizzard to hit Massachusetts before or since. My dd2 was only 3 months old, and I had just gone back to work - I was working as a social worker at the time for the state Dept. Of Social Services - so she was with the nanny, and my older two girls were in school. Ds wasn't even thought of yet! Anyway, it hit with unexpected fury and the snow mounted up at an unprecedented rate - there had been no thought that morning to shutting anything down or canceling schools, so everyone was caught trying to get home from wherever they were. The plows simply couldn't get the roads clear, and a lot of people were trying to walk through the storm. It's lucky that I wasn't commuting like I do today - my office was probably 4 miles from my house - and a bunch of us actually flagged down a taxi driver who was adventurous enough to try to get us over to the other side of the city, at least. He got us about part way, and I walked the rest with snow practically blowing me over at every step, and having to climb through 3 or 4 foot drifts. The schools had let out early, and when I'd last spoken to Nanny, the two older kiddos were home safe. I hadn't heard from dh (ex) but that was par for the course with him, trust me. So, I made it home finally, got thawed out, and the kids, nanny and I camped out by the fireplace (the electricity and phones went out later that night) all night. The snow was still falling the next day, and I'm pretty sure the day after that. dh (and in this case you can be sure that the "d" stands for something other than "dear") made it home sometime over the next day or so, and the whole city was out of commission for an entire week. The volume of snow was incredible. It went all the way up the back of our house, and had the whole front of the neighbor's house across the street covered. Our house was split-level, and the garages were at the bottom towards the far end, so that our driveway was sort of below the level of our main living area. It was filled with snow right up to my kitchen windows, a whole floor and a half above ground! We did the beans - and soup - and hot cocoa in the fireplace, too. Luckily, we'd had a big ole' wood stove installed in our basement the year before, and vented throughout our heating system. We had plenty of wood in the basement, and so we stayed warm despite having no electricity to run the furnace.
We ended up with several neighborhood families staying with us - by the end of the week, our living room floor was a dormitory, covered with sleeping bags!
Welcome back, K3!!!!!! So happy that Irene left you alone! She's pummeling us, but I think the coast has gotten the worst of it. We'll see where things stand later in the day around here.
Smart shopping, Nancy! Love the blouse!
Those puppies sound very entertaining, Rosey. Me? I'd take the novel and a glass of iced tea, with a purring kitty cat curled up next to me. I'm lazy like that.
Marie, your losing track of time while ellipticalling sounds like a concept so foreign to my nature that I can hardly imagine it. Clearly, I need something to read - and some way to read it - while I am attempting to exercise. Must I buy a Kindle? Or do you think that a technophobe like me could learn how to use an Ipad?
PT? Wherefore art thou, woman???? Hi, Freda - <looking around> is that all of us? Oh, I see you over there in the corner, Koala...Hi to you as well. If I've missed somebody, it's because you're staying too well hidden...come out, come out, wherever you are!!!!
Have a good Sunday, all!
Z

Oops! Hi Bobbi!!!!!! :o

Good morning GG's,

Nice sunshiney day. Only 81* so far. Yesterday it got up to 107*

Zoe ~ your January 1978 blizzard sounds like part of the same one that hit my parents in Ohio.

Zoe and Mary ~ I can identify with the "strained" relationship thing. Mine is with my youngest child (daughter ~ Jennifer). For me it is not that she is too much like me ~ just the opposite ~ she is so different than me. She is uppity and thinks quite highly of herself. I have heard the word entitled used ~ that fits her. I don't understand why she thinks she is so much better and so much more deserving than her siblings or other people. She will ask about her brother ~ then make unkind, cold comments. (She is entitled to her opinion, but she could keep that to herself ~ because it is hurtful to have to listen to her snotty comments.) She made the comment once that she was the only one trying to make something of herself. Probably part of the problem was that DH (in this case the D is not for Dear) played favorites and she was the favorite. The other two (Jason and Sara) were going through that rebellious teenage stage and my husband couldn't deal with that ~ so lavished all his time and resources on the "easy” one. Thing was that she was doing some of the same stuff they were doing (sneaking out, smoking, joy riding in the car) but was a better liar than they were. When the other two were confronted with being caught ~ they would fess up, she would stand right there and keep lieing to my face like I was stupid. That is in part why the strain between us. It made me furious that she would be caught and continue to lie. It made me all the more want to catch her in her lies. If she would have confessed like the other two did, I probably would have felt I should go easier on her, but had a hard time to do that when she treated me like I was stupid.

I told my husband that he didn’t accomplish some great thing because Jen had turned out ok. I felt like I had been of more help to Sara and Jason ~ by not giving up on them even though they had gone through a difficult time. Jen was the only one who went to college. She got her degree Psychology and Political Science and ended up working as an insurance adjustor at Nationwide. Jason never finished HS, but I feel like he is successful in his own way ~ he is a very hard worker (has won the employee of the month award a couple times) and even though it is not some kind of glamorous job (warehouse work) ~ he has held down that job for 8 years now. Sara went into banking and has done well there ~ branch manager, then Assistant Vice President (she brought in one of the largest accounts in the history of her bank) and now the head of a department. So, Jason and Sara have “made” something of themselves ~ Jen needs to get down off her high horse. I’m sorry to have vented ~ that topic just struck a sore spot. Thank you for listening.

On a more positive note ~ the last couple times I have talked with Jen ~ we have actually had nice visits. Maybe there is hope.

Guess I’d better get off and get some stuff done. Hopefully I’ll get back later and get some personals done.

Hope you all are having a good day. To those of you in the path of Irene ~ hang on tight ~ stay safe.

Hello again GG’s,

Rie ~ way to go on the 12,500 steps ~ awesome. Hope your back is on the mend. Hope you sleep better tonight.

Donna ~ sorry you are having an achy head and feeling blah, blah, blah. Rest yourself up. Hope you feel better.

Zoe ~ sorry you were pooped out as well. Glad you were able to get a nice long rest. Congrats on the 14 pounds ~ awesome.

Lynn ~ glad you are weathering the storm well. Not having power is not much fun, but thankfully that is all and nothing worse.

Koala ~ glad you checked in ~ don’t you hate when you get a nice long post and then lose it. Hope your next week is a little less hectic.

M-Karen ~ did you get some of those cantalopes? And your Sunday with the family time ~ did you all have a nice time?

Bobbi ~ always busy ~ I admire all the cooking and things you do. Your creations sound yummy. Now rest your feet a little :)

Mary ~ glad you got good news about your husband’s tests and eyes. What a relief. Glad you are enjoying your kindle.

Karen FL ~ how are you doing? Are you continuing to heal and feel better? Glad you had a good time at Bridge the other day.

NC Nancy ~ nice job finding all those bargins. You put together another nice looking outfit.

Rosey ~ your time out on the deck with your coffee and the chickadees sounded heavenly. Hope Gizmo doesn’t get squeeked by Sadie ~ LOL.

Marie ~ hope you have been having a nice weekend. You needed a break from the frustrations at work. I finally got it about your cold ~ don’t know where my brain is sometimes ~ LOL.

Freda ~ when I’m off, you’re not ~ hope you have had a good weekend at work. Was that cookbook ~ Glycemic Index cookbook for Dummies a good one ~ thinking I might try to see if my library has that.

Lyn ~ did you get off on your vacation before Irene came knocking? Hope so and that you are having a nice time.

Welcome Avimen. Hello Tea granny, Sherry, Wannabe, Teati, Fitchy, Dancer 41, MomTCS, and Puneri ~ hope you all are doing well.

Well, I’d better go get some more stuff done.

Take care all

Just a quick check in only for now as I have to go do my bargain shopping...usually call it GG (for Grocery Game) shopping but that would be too confusing here! LOL Joe's eye is about the same, it goes back and forth, but at least that is still improvement, so we continue to have hopes it will heal in time. I think it's probably somewhat of a strain on him as his eyes look tired to me. Just today I was remembering that his eyes have been looking unusually tired for some time now, I just thought it was his age or the fact that sometimes he doesn't sleep well, but I suspect now it was this. Otherwise we are fine. Talked a long time to my son's gf yesterday. He is away on a military training for three months, so they are both lonely. He has also been sick but texted me today that he is better and was actually going out...something he hadn't done even though he's been gone almost a month! Perhaps I'll get back here later on today.