Just a note to say hello. Don't know why but I'm depressed.
My aunt who has been sick has been put into hospice care. She has good days and bad days.
Chicago has snow and I have turned on the air conditioner!
We have an insurance meeting tomorrow at 1 p.m. I think we meet one on one with the representative. I have a lot of questions.

Going to try and catch up now since I probably won't have time in the morning due to having to leave early for my shift at the thrift shop.

Ceejay - I'm sorry to hear about your aunt. Wasn't your uncle having issues too? Is that because of their advanced age? Sorry to hear you are bummed out but could it be the whirlwind of travel activity lately? Is your stomach settled down yet?

Laura - I have found that a good fitting black blazer dressed up with a nice work blouse and a better necklace or scarf dresses things up just enough. Thank goodness it's not full on suits anymore Thanks for the review on Cinderella - it's coming to the show next week - Tuesdays are cheap Tuesdays - I might go see it (by myself) - not DH's thing although maybe he can just go into another theater and watch an action flick My girlie buddies are out of town right now so no one to drag in with me. I do think she'd make an interesting Cinderella. 5 and a half inches of snow - shewee (as Annie would say) that's a lot! We may not escape it either - they are talking 3 to 5 inches of the heavy wet spring stuff Wednesday night into Thursday. We were supposed to go return some stuff back at Kohls, guess we will put that off to another day. Ok, now I'm going to have to look up a Divvy bike. I think I'd rather rent one at the lakefront (as long as the rentals have comfortable seats) rather than dragging my own bike on the back of the car on the expressway. Is there anyone you have in mind for the concert at Ravinia? I see that the Eagles are back on tour again. I could get good seats (for a price of course) but I'd have to go to Green Bay and I'm not sure I could stomach being in Packers Land. That's interesting about your Mom asking about you moving. That was my Mom's excuse for a while - us moving but then again, if she lived with us, she'd just have to move - same for my sister when she retires - Mom comes with. But I will say - the older they get, the more reluctant they are to leave and the more their home becomes a true refuge.

Shad - I am very sorry to hear that things have gotten really ugly at work to the point you feel you have to leave. You have a VERY difficult job. I do admire what you have to deal with. Be calm and do what is best for you, not worth the stress and grief at this point. Keep us posted. Here, have a glass of wine with me.

Terra - do you change up your exercises or do the same ones pretty much?

Annie - oh dear - I think I'd rather sit through that concert again than have to babysit 6 kids and all that diaper duty I don't think I'd be good with kids - I like to get them stirred up and then I get in trouble - fun stirred up I mean with playtime - I just don't realize how excitable they get. I'm glad DS is feeling better but geez, it sure is giving him a kick in the old balleens before all is said and done. Poor guy. I wish it was easier to tell from the paint swatch what the actual wall color would look like. I have been fooled many times. We need to get our big open area of the house painted this year No way we can do it ourselves - will require scaffolding to the 2nd floor with the open ceilings but DH said he can do it with a long pole. I just have no idea what color to paint it. It's the open part of the house that includes the kitchen, dining room, living room, stairway and upper loft space since everything "flows together". Also would like to paint the master bedroom which is a horrid dark turquoise that I hated from the moment I saw it. I can relate to the lack of ambition - if I could do things in 4 hours, I'd get everything done

Dee - thank you for the reference for the laptop. I am hoping we can put off getting computers until next year - we have a lot of stuff to spend money on this year and having decided the specifics yet, but I appreciate you thinking of us. How nice to get a surprise bunny from DH! Probably good that you limit label reading to 3 items that mean the most to you - honestly - if you try to go no sugar, no fat, no salt - most of the time you are eating a bunch of chemicals if the item isn't fresh out of the ground. My Mom drives us nuts because she complains about all the salt in low fat and packaged goods and I said - what do you expect???? It's PACKAGED for an extended shelf life, of course it will have lots of salt *bonks head*

Michelle - how did the interview go? That was nice of the ex to give you some referrals. Job hunting sucks. No doubt about it. But you have to have a ton more confidence about you now than you did a year ago!

Susie - aren't gel nails hard on your natural nails or is that just the gel polish? I'm glad to hear you are taking some time for yourself over the weekend and when you have time off. Balance girl, balance and only you can control that!

Danielle - hope you had a good weigh in this week!

Shoot - it's later than I wanted to be up. Been having trouble falling asleep - think I'm going to use my ipod with the relaxation and sleep music. Drowns out DH's snoring too Have a good Tuesday everyone!

Laura ~ Yeah it is too bad I cant do the work out dvd in the evening anymore but its okay just as long as I do some sort of work out then I'm good. Yes I love little smokies too but I dont have them very often.

Happy ~ I do the same ones, Maybe thats why I havent been able to get lower then 279.

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Woke up at 2:00 a.m. this morning and I feel pretty awake so I doubt I'll go back to sleep like I usually do if I get up really early in the morning. Today I plan to do my 40 min. chair exercises at 11 a.m. and then go outside and walk for 30 mins to an hour at 1 or 2 p.m. today. I hope everyone has a lovely day today.

Good Morning...

Just realized I didn't answer the questions about the explosions downtown in the last post....yes, it was gas build up, explosion then caught the power lines on fire. Underground explosions with underground fires. Funny, yesterday when I trotted off for my chopped veggie salad at Subway, everytime I passed a manhole, I would walk wayyyyyyyyyyyyy out around it and very quickly past it. The manholes that exploded up in the air tended to go about as high as a street light then come down at any angle. FUUURRREEEEEAAAAAKKKKYYYY!!

Last night was supposed to get hair colored (Sissy), however my head had been splitting since Saturday so I didn't think I could stand it. Just rested and made beef veggie soup for dinner. I had veggies and beef left over from the roast/veggie I baked, so into a soup it went. Added a can of diced tomatos, beef stock and a little tomato juice, basil, garlic and pepper. Tasted mighty good and have plenty leftover. Hope it doesn't bother Cs issues. C goes for his colonoscopy on April 1st. Maybe we will find out more what is going on with his pooper.

C brought his box truck home from work last night. We took our "extra" fridge from the garage over to Sissy's house for them to use. Their fridge constantly leaked water from the bottom, has no handle and is as old as dinosaurs. I think between Chris' divorce and Sissy, the single life with 3 men roomies played havoc on the old fridge. Anyway, now they have a new "used" stove from his fam, a new "used" fridge from us, and a new "used" stainless steel dishwasher that Chris got from one of his job sites. The stove and dishwasher are already installed by Chris. I suppose the fridge will go in any time. The fridge we gave them was only 7 years old, energy efficient and about the same size as the one they had.

Have not seen my boss this morning nor heard from him yet. Hoping he comes in tho as our staff meeting is this afternoon and I do not want to host/run it. Not my bag and I stress over doing it. The meeting is not all that difficult, just don't like doing it or anything that I have to be THEE ONE!

Will come back later for personals....boss just came in and wants to meet.

TERRA...so nice you can get outside and walk, makes for a more exciting walk.

HAPPY...yes, at least we both like the color of the bath even tho it is not what I had in mind. I will try to take a picture of it. As much as I dislike painting, can't imagine having to paint all that you have in front of you, even if you sub it out. DH has no business trying to do that himself. His back, shoulders and neck will give him fits after. Tell him I said NO...lol. I will go with to see Cinderella. Not Cs cup of tea either.

LAURA...black is my "staple" in the closet also, brown comes in second with pink being the accent color. I have no red, greens, yellows, purples or oranges, just not my color. Creams and blues work for me also. I usually accessorize with necklaces rather than scarves as things around my neck drive me nutso. We didn't get any of that nasty white stuff here in Indy. It all stayed north of Indy. Amen. Hopefully it will get to 65 tomorrow as predicted. This up and down of temps is really annoying.

CEEG...hope you are not feeling so blue today. Maybe because all the excitement of vacation is over you are a little sad/ depressed. Hugs to you sister. Hope you Auntie and Uncle are doing better also.

SHADDIE...Wow, I guess the sheet hit the fan so to speak. Don't make yourself miserable over it, if resigning makes it better then do so. May the force be with you. Nano Nano.

CHELLE...how did the interviews go? Is this the same headhunter as before that you used? Glad xh could give you some leads. Hugs and Prayers.

Hello to the rest of you sweet cheeks.

Hugs

Morning all.

Ceejay – Sorry you’re depressed. Maybe it’s the fact that your trip is over and done with, and/or the fact that you have a long workweek. Wow, you’ve got the AC on??!! Our weather’s gonna be a roller coaster this week. We’re supposed to get rain overnight, and tomorrow is forecast to be in the 50’s. I hope it melts all the snow we got yesterday.

Happy – I think you’d enjoy Cinderella, but DH wouldn’t, no surprise there. Send him to another movie while you watch Cinderella. The Divvy bikes are all over, BTW. For Ravinia, I ordered tickets for bf and friends for The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, and for the band Chicago for bf and I and another couple. Re my mom, I’m not sure I see her moving right away. She has my brother’s dog and is enjoying having him around and wouldn’t give him up. So there’d have to be housing options that allowed a large dog, just to make the search even more difficult. I also think that the urgency has faded – she’s gotten past her minor heart attack and her fractured hip. I see this move dragging out over a long period.

Terra – Wow, 2 am is an early wake up time!! Wonder what time you will need a nap, LOL.

Annie – Yeh, I’d be giving the manholes wide berth if there had been explosions in them the week before!! Yum, the soup sounds tasty. No barley, right? I don’t like barley. Nice of you to give the kids your extra fridge. We have our old fridge in the basement and it’s pretty darn old (left by the previous homeowner and we’ve been here 15 years – heck our “new” fridge is at least 12 years old I think), so I sometimes wonder how much electricity that thing hogs. And all for a nearly empty fridge and a few things in the freezer. I feel guilty when ComEd sends those inserts in with the electric bill offering to take the old-wasting fridge away…not gonna do it yet. Glad the boss showed up and you don’t have to run the staff meeting. I agree about walking outdoors – so much nicer than a treadmill or indoor track. Glad you didn’t get the snow. I don’t mind the up and down temps, better than just only the down temps!! I still consider March to be winter, no expectations of spring.

Shad – Hope you’re hanging in there with the project until you just say “No more!”

Michelle – How did the interview go?

Hellos to Dee, Susie & Danielle.

**
Nothing much to report. Movie night was moved to tomorrow night for this week. I don’t have yogalaties class tomorrow, so I could make it, but there’s nothing I’m too excited about seeing on our list of choices this week. Nothing I can’t wait to see until it comes out on dvd, that is.

That’s it for me. Feeling blah about this week. I think I need a day off!!

LAURA...I don't usually put barley in anything, most people that eat my cooking do not like it so I forego adding. I like a good beef barley soup, but have to be in the mood for it. Taco Tuesday was great. Sis brought the boys and two of her babysitting boys with her. Today was an easier day than the rest of the week was/will be. These two boys are 7 and 8 and are very good. Jacob was the little brat at lunch, would not eat and raising h*ll about not want to eat, she had to take him to the restroom for a "talking" to. He came back a different kid. She also had to tap his bottom on the way to the car, he didn't want to hold anyone's hand because the bigger boy's did not have to. He then held my hand very nicely. lol I used to tap my kids bottom for things when they were little, but it just kills me when she taps her kids. I try to run interference.

It's a beautiful day and I'm cooped up in this building. I'm still a bit depressed but it's slowly going away. Think Laura hit it on the head. I miss being around every one.
I've got the guys out looking for a leak, which may be in a different town that we have been supplying for over a month now. We're pumping as much water now as we do in the summer time.
The t.v. news last night said that a package from FedEx wouldn't arrive to someone in Mississippi county, where I live, do the fact it had contraband in it. I hope it wasn't my Zumba DVD that I ordered! I haven't gotten it yet.
I'm glad of one thing, I didn't have to go to the insurance meeting.

Annie
Nanna's seem to have a way with little ones.

Shad
Hugs. Hang in there.

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Hello's to the rest.

Hi ladies,

Sorry I've been away...so busy with the job search stuff. I've been on the computer for about 12 hours each day. I finally have my resumes 99% the way I want them, but they (and the cover letters) always have to be tweaked to present my skills exactly the way the employers (or recruiters) want them.

Tomorrow, I have to go up to San Francisco to meet with a recruiting agency before they'll submit me to any of their clients. A long trip on BART (our rapid transit train) plus a 1/2 hour drive to and from the station. I will take whatever reasonably good job I can get, but the biggest downside to working in San Francisco or Oakland is that I might not be able to take Santa to the dog park on weeknights - only on the weekends...and I'm noticing that no matter how crappy my work day is, an hour at the dog park is such an excellent attitude adjustment.

So I'm not sure if I'll be back here tomorrow...depends on when I get home from San Francisco and the number of job phone calls and emails I need to return.

I hope you all are doing well.

Much love,
Michelle

Annie ~ Yeah I love it when its nice enough to walk outside

Laura ~ Yeah 2 a.m. is early to wake up. I took a nap at noon yesterday

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Woke up at 4:00 a.m. Its now 5:00 a.m. I went to bed at 9 p.m. so I got 8 hours of sleep last night so I'm up for the day. My plans for today are to do my 40 min. chair exercises and then walk outside for 30 mins to an hour. I've been in the house since last Friday so I'm really ready to go to school tomorrow for cooking class. I hope everyone has a lovely day.

Good Morning Chicks!

Nothing much happening here. Last night Sis colored my hair. Home again, home again, jiggity jig. I rented the movies Annie and Dumb and Dumber To-yes TO is the title. I liked Annie but didn't like D&D2, didn't think I would as I did not like the first one. C wanted to see it and that is the only reason I rented it. I just did not think it was funny more stupid than anything, IMO. Dinner, dishes, bed, T-storms, sleep. Yeah!

I am thinking about going back to brunette hair color, which is really what I am with the white instead of gray that has taken over parts of my hair. I don't know if I want to fight the white showing when the color grows out or not. Sis says I can't be a blond forever as once I get older people will know that I am not really a blond. Really, I think they know now. We shall see. She has always liked my hair brown and favors that color for me. Anyone want to put in your thoughts on this???

TERRA...You need to get out, being cooped up in the house for that long can make you go stir crazy. Whats for dinner at school?

CHELLE...don't worry about us, do what you have to do for you. That is what is most important. Get that perfect position for you!! Long commutes suck, hopefully something will come through that is closer to home. Goodluck, my sister! Good vibes coming your way.

CEEG...stop and smell some flowers along your way, perk up sister, retirement is just around the corner. Hugs and feel good endorphins coming your way.

Hello to the rest of ya's.

Make it a great Wednesday!!

A new Sunrise Cafe opened around the corner from work today. Several of us went for lunch. Yum. I had the chicken valencia salad. Lettuce topped with valencia oranges, shredded chicken, toasted almonds, green onions, sweet vinaigrette dressing and chow mein noodles. So dang good. That's all.

Morning all. Temps are up a bit today. Feels better – yesterday we had temps of around 30-ish, but wind chills in the 20’s. I hope the majority of the snow is melted today.

Annie – Glad you enjoyed Taco Tuesday in spite of some brattiness from J. Sometimes a swat on the bottom is what’s needed to get a little kid’s attention. Listening and reason aren’t instilled yet at that age. I don’t think I ever saw the first Dumb and Dumber movie – I’ve never been fond of those types of movies. Re the hair color…I think whatever your natural color is, that’s what will be flattering for you. I think you'd look great as a brunette. Once I get to a certain level of gray and a certain age (not sure what age, just not yet), I'd like to let myself “go natural”. Bf’s mom has a gorgeous full head of white hair, of which bf is jealous because he is balding… My mother still colors her hair and says it’s because she never went all gray and doesn’t care for the salt and pepper she would have if she didn’t color. Bf’s nutty aunt colors her hair with unflattering colors – yellowish blond, bozo red. I guess I don’t object to coloring one's hair at any age (all these women are over 80 years old), but just be tasteful and do a decent job of it. You're lucky you have a pro to do it for you for cheap/free! My mom does her own coloring and it’s always some shade of reddish brown that’s turned brassy/faded. She’s a frugal person, but I kind of wish she’d treat herself to a salon color every once in a while (or even a beauty school color). When I get to be 80, I hope I feel confident enough just to let my hair be whatever color it is. Right now, I feel like I’ll probably have to color my hair until I retire.

Ceejay – Gosh, hope your fedex package isn’t held up too long. And I think doing Zumba would perk you right up!

Michelle – Wow, that was a lot of work on the computer!! I hope your meeting with the recruiter goes well. It would be really nice for you to get a position near home!

Terra – I can see why you’re looking forward to going to your class tomorrow. I get stir crazy if I don’t get outside.

Hellos to the rest of you! I hope you’re all having a good week. (Shad,it’s your Thursday – did you submit your notice yet?)

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Nothing much to report.

I mentioned in a previous post that I got overwhelmed by Target’s extensive selection of water/beverage bottles and ended up buying nothing. So I did a google on that topic and found a rather detailed review for water bottles. I found a water bottle there that’s very similar in design to one I have at home. I’ve said more than once that I wish I could find that bottle somewhere so I could buy another. It was a sample bottle being sold at a past company “garage sale” by the marketing department of our company. I guess they get samples of products they might decide to customize with our logo and use as giveaways as customer events. I think I also bought a couple logo-less ball caps for bf that day…Anyway, glad I read the article and found that bottle. It’s sold on Amazon and I’ll buy a couple of them. I need to add another item to our order to get free shipping…have to think what I need to order. I’m sure I could come across any number of things by browsing, but when it comes to thinking one up on my own, nothing comes to mind, lol.

The dvd “Fed Up” came due and I never watched it. Sigh. I’ll have to check it out again.

Okay, I have a webinar to "attend". TTFN.

I checked on my package and it is coming UPS not FedX and should be at the house when I get there this afternoon. Whew!
My aunt that went to hospice last week passed away early this morning around 1.30. I know she is in a good place. My mom's brothers are between 80-87 years of age and most of their health problems are due to age. My uncle is doing better as is my aunt who went to Texas to live with her other daughter.
Checked some things out on my insurance provider and found that they will help you get to your weight loss goals. I took the assessment test and only rated a 71. That's not good and of course most of it is due to being over weight. I wear a pedometer but they would like for you to use a fitbit, nike, or a couple others that can be synced to their web sight. Think I'm going to do this.
More later.

Shad - you ok?????? Haven't seen hide nor hair of you in a few days. How is it on the work front? I hope they do not have you captive...