Chinese huh ... reminds me of The Christmas Story. They didn't bring you a goose with it's head still on and sing Deck The Harrs with Barrs of Harry, Far Ra Ra Ra Ra, Ra Ra Ra Ra, did they? :D I do so love that movie. Watch it at least once every Christmas. A 48 hr marathon of it just ended on TBS. We watched it last night while we baked the cake and made stuffing. I tried to watch a little of it again today but hubby wasn't having any of that. He isn't as fond of it as I am! ;)

We had a good Christmas ... all the kids were here and hubby's parents. I made turkey and ham and all the trimmings. Pumpkin pies and Milky Wonder Cake. We opened gifts after dinner and all the little kids got everything they wanted. The boys got air soft guns ... they were happy campers. It stopped raining long enough for them to go out and shoot them for a little while. I think the dads like those as much as the kids. We got them the ones with big guns and pistols, too. I told them we did that so they all four could have one. Hubby said what about me. :p He told them he'd just take his shotgun out there. They said no way, that's not fair you'll blow the target away. :devil: I got jewlery, a gift certificate and money ... best gifts a girl can get. Also, a soft, fleecy robe and a glass coaster set with the kids black and white pictures in the coasters and a fiberoptic crystal angel on a rotating base. Hubby and I were going to go to Nashville and do a little shopping, eat dinner out and take in a movie tomorrow but I told him tonight after everybody left that I think I'm just too tired. I think I'd rather stay home and rest. We got $150 in restaurant gift certificates for Chistmas ... and $95 that people have given us as a couple in money. We may still go out to eat and go to a move here but I'm sleeping in tomorrow. I left him a note and told him I took a Flexeril ... for him not to call me, I'd call him. :p I deserve a break!

P.S. Joanne ... we need to see a picture of the new puppy!

Sounds great Meme. We had a good time at Mike's -filet mignon and crab cakes and everything else-And toms of dessert. Nice to have a chef in the family-he plans the dinner all year. We don't go crazy giving gifts -got some gift cert, Suzanne forgot mine at home from my other son. But it sure was fun watching Evan-2 and a half is a wonderful age-he just looked at what Santa brought and was amazed. He just likes everything. Al got a new mattress from other grandma and some bedding. Best thing for me was the Christmas Eve service and my daughter came and liked it-she seemed afraid of the Baptist church. That church rocks!! You would love it guys!!! We did go to my church in the morning-soloist sang Mary Did you know-I was waiting all season to hear that song.
Hubby is going to get me a surprise this morning because I pickedout my own present. Dropping Suzanne at the airport this afternoon-we had such a nice visit and she mad a lot of points with Brad by going to church with us.
Doc tomorrow-I can tell him about my stomache. Bye for now-have a restful day-and yes, I want to see the puppy!!!!!!!

Mima, I think a couple friends and I are doing Chinese tomorrow for lunch. I'm glad Suzanne was with you for the Christmas Eve services. I love Mary Did You Know.

Meme, I bought that movie for my hubby a couple years ago for Christmas so he can have his "fix" whenever he wants it. I took a Flexeril last night about 6, and I was in bed before 10. Felt good to sleep!! It sounds like you received many nice gifts.

We had a very quiet day yesterday with just the 3 of us. Bob bought me headphones so I can listen to my music while he is watching tv. It will be nice for both of us!! He also gave me a couple Ted Dekker books from the Martyr's Song series. Tim gave me a new spoon. The one we've been using had a loose handle, and it was driving him crazy. He also gave me a nice ornament and a nice cover/carrier for one of my Bibles. Very nice.

Hope everyone else had a nice Christmas.

Hey There
 

I wish I had a way to put a picture of Christie on for you. She is a pug, Fawn. Not quiet house broke yet. Very lively. In to everything. Found herself in the wall mirror and thinks she has a friend to play with.She is going to be spoiled.Maybe I can get Eleni to put a picture on for me. Otherwise you all will just have to come to Tarpon Springs and see her.
I got a lot of clothes ,a bracelet,sweet soaps, and things to pamper myself with. Gift Certificates.
Today is our 53 third wedding anniversary. We got a couple gift certificates to go eat out. Maybe that will be what we do..
Nothing more annoying than eye problems.. Hope things are better Mema.
I thought I was going to just need reading glasses after the surgery. That is not the case,I will have to wear them all the time because they couldn't get the vision for distance perfect. I have astigmatism. But what the heck. At 73 I guess That is no problem. 90 percent is good.I think I miss my glasses anyhow. I have been wearing them since I was 29 years old..
Hello Everyone...Joanne

Joanne - I have astigmatism, too. So much so that they have to curve my lenses ... a lot. If they don't get the curve just right the doors and door facings and even the edges of the walls are curved when I look at them. And anything round, like a bowl or plate, looks oval. They've had to remake my lenses many a time because they got the curve wrong ... and after I reminded them to write it on the Rx to get it right. They tried to get me to take them home and try them for a week a couple of times ... I told them I didn't have to ... I could look at my hand and see that my fingers were not that short! :p

We went to see Casino Royal tonight. Good movie but I liked some of the other "James Bonds" better than Daniel Craig. He was OK, though ... just not as good or as good looking as Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan or Roger Moore ... in his early days. (Those were my personal favorites - in that order.)

Sounds like you all had a good Christmas. We are all so blessed! Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday. It has turned really cold here. Don't do cold well!

Well, we had fun watching the flight schedule for Suzannes' plane=it kept gettin later and later-she finally left at 6, instead of 3:15. I was much relieved!!!!She has to go to work this morning,
I didn't tell you about Aison's gift-she hand painted a flower pot for each Grandma-Mine had a scripture verse and a cross-you could tell how much effort she put into it!!!!We have been asked to babysit New Year's so they can go out with Al and stay late. We are in bed by 9. Sounds like a plan-we don't have anything else to do!!!!
Going to doc's this morning. I have been a little better. Brad got me a toolbox for my paints-gas-x , Maalox, and a pair of twin dolls-each with a pair of shoes for me-joke. Glad he only wasted a dollar on that.
It's gotten much cooler, Bye for now Mima

Joanne, that is too funny about the puppy finding the mirror! Happy Anniversary to you and your husband!!

Meme, Tim and Jessica went to see that movie before they came home for break. They enjoyed it. I'm a Sean Connery fan myself.

Mima, glad Suzanne got off ok especially since she had to be at work. The flower pot sounds nice. It makes it even more special that she did it herself. Sometimes we make it till midnight on NYEve, but most of the time we don't.

We're taking off for Michigan in the morning. We'll be back Saturday. There are little shops and an outlet mall calling my name. lol

Hi everybody. Glad to hear that you all had a good Christmas. I had a great time as well. Christmas eve at my daughters, celebrated in Scandinavian fashion, and then Christmas Day at my sons. Everybody was at both places. Then on Boxing Day, we had a gread Spaghetti dinner. Tastes really good after all that turkey and ham.

The kids went shopping on Boxing Day (that is like your day after Thanksgiving). Sales everywhere. People line up hours before the doors open, even if it is 30 below outside. This year was warm, only -9 or 23F. I don't do that. Nothing that I need that badly.

I have Ashley home with me until the weekend, so I have watched movies, played with the Biggest Little Pet Shop and just enjoyed myself with her.
Such a good kid to have around.

I am tired after the weekend and I do have to go to work tomorrow and Friday, but hoping for short days. Ashley will go to work with Grandpa. She can watch DVD's and play with her gameboy and "help" Grandpa.

Enjoy your weekend Tammy. Sounds like fun. It is snowing like crazy outside today - hopefully it will stop by tonight.

Meme - hope those eyes get better soon. That is terrible.

Hope you are having a good day, everybody.

Joanne and Mima , did those storms get anywhere near you?

Everyone is having fun-good. No, those storms weren't near here-so sad for people.
Now I have to go to dermatologist and get a biopsy-then have that cell removed-squamous cell carcinoma-sounds a lot worse than it looks-it's only a small dot,I can show the doc my other little rhings.I have always questioned.
Doc told me to try probiotics-I will go in that direction since nothing else works.
Middle son called in a panic-his computer is broken so I had to look up cable modems and the telephone number for the store-he is lost because he does everything on the computer, including fix controls from his house for huge buildings far away. What an age-that and you can track a plane in flight!!!!!!!!!
A day home today. Need to pick up the house. It's busy when you have company.
Hey Chris-how are you doing???
Be good everyone, Mima

Hey There
 

The storms were about 60 miles north of me.. We got a pretty good rain though. We needed that.
I looked out the window today and there was the turkey eating in the yard. He has been gone about a month..I was sure for good.
I forgot what it was like having a puppy. Work! House training keeps me busy...
Joanne

I was thinking about getting another puppy ... thinking really hard ... I even picked up some papers and started searching for one ... then I started thinking hard about having to take it out in the rain and snow of winter to potty every hour or two and I rethunk it all! ;)

Our office building came today. It's so cute ... I love it. We went to Lowe's and picked out Berber carpet for it tonight and hubby got all the electrical suppies he needs to put in the lights and plugs this weekend. It already has pine walls and the walls and roof are all insulated. I'm not sure if we'll put in a baseboard heater or something else and this summer we'll need a window air conditioner ... it has 3 windows. If the sun is shining tomorrow, I'll try to get a picture of it. Also, my cousin sent a picture of me cutting cake at the wedding from last August in my Christmas card ... although my fuchsia dress actually looked more red in the picture, I'll try to scan it for you.

Mima ... that is what my son does ... all that computer stuff. He is a computer engineer. He networks bank computers and he puts Fidelity software on bank computers. He actually works for the Fidelity Finance Comapany and has about 30+ guys under him in 2 states. He has 4 or 5 computers at home between him, his wife and the kids. We bought his 9 yr. old her own computer desk & chair for Christmas because older brother didn't ever want to share his computer with her and our son had just gotten her a computer through his work and cleaned it up for her ... he didn't pay anything for it ... it was a cast off that he reworked and said it was like new after he got through with it. He takes care of all our families computer problems (when we can get him to!) :p I love having a computer genius in the family. Then, SIL is a RN so he answers all our health related questions. Pretty neat! Although he has a masters in administration and actually is over all the security (computers once again) at the hospital instead of the nursing end. Our daughter used to work at the hospital in administration, too, but now she has gone back to school; she's taking classes to become a massage therapist. She worked on my shoulders Christmas Day ... ummm ... heaven. I can't wait until she gets her own place! She told me, Mom, just think, free massages the rest of your life! She becomes certified in July. And DIL is a teacher. She quit her job at a private Christian school last year to be home with her kids but has been doing privite tutoring. I'm proud of my kids but they are down to earth and pretty level headed, too. They both have nice but not too elaborate homes and aren't squandering their money, thank goodness.

Speaking of squandering money ... I did a bit of that today. I took some of the money hubby gave me for Christmas and bought a Bluetooth for my cell phone. Can't wait to try it out but I have to charge it first. The girl that does my nails has one and it looks so easy. I waste so much time on the phone with customers and stuff it will be good to be able to have hands-free talking and it will work well while driving, too.

Anne, Christmas makes me tired, and having the grandchildren makes me even more tired. I try not to keep mine much during the Holidays unless I just have to. Tammy ... that goes for traveling, too!!! After Christmas I want to just 'hunker down' and stay close to my bed! (And have plenty planned for hubby to do so he'll leave me alone!) :p Between the new building and buiding me some bookshelves for the basement with the new mitre saw I got him for Christmas, he has more than enough to do this week! :D

Your building sounds great, Meme. We want to see it.
My son wrote a program, sold it for a quarter of a million, and then got it back but got to keep 10,000. He had bought some land at a country club and had to sell it. They are in a modest ranch but Have a remodeled accessible kitchen and bathroom. The middle one is the one who can help me-and he lives in MA. And daughter works for an insurance co-don't fake an injury or she'll find you out. They are good kids.Considering what they went through growing up-it's amazing. God is good.
Have an appt to have that spot on forehead removed. Auntie said it wasn't a problem. She had one.
Tammy is shopping or that was yesterday? Where are you Chris? Hi Joanne and Anne. I'm thinking that the puppy is really good for your husband, Joanne.
We are goiing to get some more veggies at the flea market today. And some Avon age defense cream for Jill-she said mine made me look younger so she wanted some.
Bye for now Mima

I am here. I have been reading everyone's posts. Just been busy with the step kids. Step mom taxi has been in full swing all week. I will be so glad when the kids go back to school.

How is the ex doing? Still in the hospital or is she home now?

Mima ... I was thinking about getting a juicer with some of my Christmas money. I don't eat enough veggies. I read in my Arthritis Today magazine that juicing was one of the best things (food things) you can do for arthritis. What kind of spot do you have on your forehead? I must've missed that. Hubby had an abscess removed from his cheek yesterday. A plastic surgeon did it. Now I can tease him about having plastic surgery on his face! ;)

Yes the ex is home. She came home a week ago yesterday. Her sister has been staying with her. BUT I have been the one to run the kids around here and there. My taxi service has been in full gear and has racked up the miles. Half of her staples were taken out yesterday. She is able to drive now...so hopefully I won't be on the road any more with the kids.

Been there, done that and know how taxing it is-punny ha!!!!! The spot has been there for 2 -3 months and just won't go away. Doc put a nedle in it-ouch-and took a biopsy. Have to go back in 2 weeks and have it removed, if needed or nothing.
Wow-a juicer-I hardly eat veggies but do take a multivitamin every day,Some of the veggies are too gassy and some have too much roughage. That sure is something to think about. I can eat carrots-winter squash and sweet potatoes. But not anything else-what about v-8 juice, although the tomato isn;t good for inflammation.
My stomache is better-is it because I have been taking the antibiotic, or the digestive advantage with the lactobacillis or-door number 3-the stress of Christmas is gone???? You only have one vote.
Brother and sil are an hour and a half away-love that!!!!!!Hubby's doc told him to walk to get his sugar down!! Yeah-we started last night!!!! Can't say you can't walk down here =it's so beautiful.
Bye for now-Mima

Anne, I'm so glad you had a nice Christmas with your family. And to have Ashley spending some time with you makes it extra-special. Enjoy!

Glad the storms missed you Mima and Joanne!

Joanne, enjoy the puppy!!

Mima, I buy Avon all the time. Maybe I need to get some of that cream that you use. And I vote for the stress of Christmas being gone!!!

Meme, can't wait to see how the building works out for you! It will make such a difference I'm sure. I had to chuckle about the travelling. Tim and I did some shopping Friday morning, and we headed back to the hotel about 2 thinking we'd take short naps. We slept 3 hours!!! I guess we shopped till we dropped. lol

This morning we hit a couple more shops then headed home. We take turns driving so the passenger can sleep if needed. Tim slept quite a while when I drove. When we got home, I hit the bed for about an hour.

I haven't read my new Arthritis Today. It came in the mail while we were gone. I really enjoy that magazine. It gives me hope.

Chris, good to hear from you. Glad to hear things will be back to normal soon for you.

Anyone having a wild party tomorrow night? Tim's girlfriend is coming for the evening and is staying overnight. Her home is only about 25 minutes from here, but there will be some crazy drivers out. I said I'd feel better if she just stayed here. Her parents agreed. We'll probably have a toast with wine at midnight, but that's about it. Bob will drink some beer during the evening. I'll have my Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke. Tim and Jess will have Coke. We have a cheeseball, crackers, summer sausage, shrimp, and some chips to pig out on. Really sticking to my WW program, right???

It.s just one night, tammy-go for it. Daughter is having a chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas and rasberries. We are going out to eat and then bring Evan back-we will probably be in bed by 9.
It's getting busy again-need to stay home. I had to shop yesterday and carriage got too heavy for my back!!!! Ouch.
I have been massaging my legs-remembered a masseuse told me that tight muscles make your back hurt.I also bought some gel sneakers-my foot was turning the wrong way-hip pain.
Church at 8=then Sunday school!!! Bye Mima

Happy New Year Everybody.

Starting a new thread, so don't post here.