Shoot hit post too soon,

$50.00 Gas Card
$10.00 Menards Card
$50.00 Mastercard GC
$25.00 Best Buy GC
$50.00 Walmart GC
Coffee Mug that says "Whatever"
2 Cactus Margarita Glasses

Not too bad.

TODAY WAS FILLED WITH LOTS OF HOLIDAY LOVE AND SPIRIT. THE CLOSER IT GETS TO CHRISTMAS THE HAPPIER THE BLDG. THAT'S FINE WITH ME. THE TOWN AND OUR OFFICE HAS CANCELED THE XMAS PARTY THIS YEAR. FUNDS ARE LOW AND SO IS EVERYONE'S POCKETBOOK. LOTS OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES OUT OF WORK SO THEY CALLED THE CELEBRATIONS OFF. I FIND IT SAD. THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A POTLUCK OR COOKIE EXCHANGE. ANYWAY....
INSTEAD....LET ME THINK OF SOME OF THE GIFTS I RECEIVED THIS WEEK: A LOT OF CANDY & COOKIES OF WHICH I GAVE TO THE KIDS OR REGIFTED, LOTS OF SOCKS...PEOPLE THINK MY FEET ARE COLD (ROFLMAO), LOTS OF KNICK KNACKS, PJ SET, A SWEATER, SCARF SET, PANETONE (ITALIAN FRUITED BREAD), SCENTED CANDLES, BURT'S BEES PEPPERMINT SCENTED TOILETRIES. THE HOUSE AND I WILL SMELL GOOD THIS YEAR. WONDER IF THAT'S A HINT!! A FEW SCENTED GIFTS WILL END UP IN JEN'S HOUSE. THE SENIORS LOVE TO HANG PRESENTS ON MY DOOR HANDLE!! THEY DO IT WHEN I AM DOWN IN THE OFFICE...LIKE LITTLE SECRET SANTAS BUT WITH NAME TAGS ON THEM. THEN LATE AT NIGHT, I PUT HANDWRITTEN THANK YOU NOTES ON THEIR DOORS. THEY CAN BE SO CUTE.
THERE IS A LOT OF JOY IN VOLUNTEERING WHEN YOU SEE HOW LITTLE STUFF LIKE THIS MAKES THEM HAPPY AND SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES. (SNIFF, SNIFF)
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BUT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO "FALL" ON MY WATCH, HOPEFULLY THE WEEKEND WON'T BRING THE 6-18" OF SNOW THAT IS PREDICTED. EVEN THAT SMALL AMOUNT CAN CRIPPLE THE CITY FOR AWHILE. THERE IS NO PLACE TO SHOVEL IT TO THAT'S NOT CONCRETE!! LOL
WISHING YOU ALL A WARM AND COZY WEEKEND. ENJOY.
I PROMISE TO READ & ANSWER YOUR POSTS OVER THE WEEKEND

Mel - Sorry to hear about the senior that passed and those that went to the hospital. Sounds like a stressful day. I hope the blood sugar is where it should be now and that the day ended more serenely with the kids and movies. Hope you don't get too much snow! We're getting some snow right now, and we'll get some tomorrow, but nothing major I don't think. Sounds like some nice swag you received! I've never tried panetone - our Italian produce market has a bunch in stock right now and every year I wonder what it's like. Enjoy!

Annie - Employee of the Month - congrats & make sure you put that in your self eval!! Nice gifts your secret santa gave you! Enjoy the shopping w/ dd.

Ceejay - good buy on the winter jacket! Mmmm, brownies. Glad the meetings weren't too bad.

Michelle - 4.2 pound loss - big congrats to you!!! More than makes up for your last WI. I dunno, I just would NOT like weighing in during the day or evening. I prefer dioing it first thing in the morning, in my b-day suit, and after I've gotten up 2+ times during the night to visit the bathroom, LOL. Enjoy the lights. We didn't get out last night to see ours - maybe this weekend. How was the party?

Happy - Hope you get some sleep tonight. I always get so crabby with late night pre-trip packing. Have a wonderful trip, a safe trip, and if we don't see you hear - a very Merry Christmas!! I have to get our dvr set for some of my Christmas movie faves. I like It's a Wonderful Life, and I also like Christmas in CT.

Shad - Nanna, LOL. I know you'll be loads of help to these folks in their journey into SAP or whatever new system they're venturing into. Half-day Fridays - awesome!!

Well, we're off to a party shortly, but bf started on replacing the humidifier filter (whole house apparatus) and he disconnected something without shutting off the water supply first...yup, a geyser in the basement that he had to clean up. Not sure what he's up to down there now...

I went to the doc early this AM - 7:20 am appt - real early for me! I took pulmonary function tests and I'm borderline asthmatic. Got a couple inhaler samples and have to go back in 2 months. I need to get back to my cardio to get the lungs working better and see if that helps. To the gym tomorrow!!

Rest of the day was rather lazy and nice, but I've been nibbling all day.

Better post before bf comes upstairs and says it's time to go. Have a good weekend all!

Cheers!

Hi Ladies,

Last check in for me for a week as DH wants to get up at 5am and out of the house here by 7:30 I am still telling myself that I will NOT have to pull and all nighter I have the Christmas letter done and printed. Mom said we can do cards at her house and get them out by Monday. Shad - will have to e-card you before New Year's if you don't mind. I am fervently hoping the snow stays small up that way. Supposed to get some for Christmas eve and day too but maybe not too much. Where are my blasted boots?

The few presents I have are wrapped and ready to go. Have a few more at Mom's but most of the stuff that came was for me. I haven't gotten out to the store - good news for DH as I didn't spend that much but I feel like I don't have enough either.

Laura - do you get a pain in your chest when you exercise or walk fast? Michelle clued me in that maybe it's asthma. I always associated that with wheezing which I don't have. Just a tightness. And I take it that working up the cardio will help the lung function? Do share more if you don't mind. I'm interested... I hope you don't have a skating rink in your basement after the BF's oops! What a great idea to stock up on the favorite Christmas movies. I like the Bells of St. Mary's and Going My Way with Bing Crosby. Toorah loorah loorah... Have a good Christmas yourself girlfriend.

Mel - I'm glad to hear that the seniors appreciate you for all the grief you take during the year. Sounds like you got a sack full of stuff. Hope you can keep some of it with your sensitivities. And I certainly hope you don't get that blizzard they are predicting tho it looks more like it will hit bean town. Protect your canned goods!!!!!

Annie- -wow girl, you did gooood!!!! And I'm sure you can put it to good use. Enjoy the bounty! My niece just broke up with her BF - I told her the lengths guys will go to not to buy presents I am bummed for both of you. But as I told her, there is still alot of joy in your life to be found if you look. Enjoy your days with DS. Oh and :congrats: on making Employee of the Month - I'm sure you deserve it with being helpful to one and all.

Ceejay - I'm with you - this is the biggest "un-Christmas" I can ever remember. Hope the uncle mends well. Hope you don't get snow either - that is unless you want it

Michelle - hope the salve works for your eyes. That would make me crazy seeing through waxed paper. But you probably needed an extra boost to help you along. I'll bet the Christmas tree lights look VERY pretty Thanks for the good travels vibes, will need them. I see some pink (ice) through middle Illinois tomorrow. Sure hope not. Did you have a good time at your Christmas party?

Shad - hope you get a bit of a rest into Saturday morning and find something fun outside to amuse yourself. We expect a report as we travel vicariously through you.

Ok folks, the clock hands are spinning quickly and if I stay here any longer I WILL be pulling an all nighter. So, to my friends have a wonderful and Blessed Christmas with peace in your hearts and exactly the sort of weather you wish for. I'll be back on Sunday. Safe travels to us all Merry Christmas.

GOOD SATURDAY MORNING CHICKS OF DECEMBER. HOPE YOUR WEEKEND WILL BE A HAPPY ONE.
SO FAR SO GOOD OVER HERE. UNUSUALLY QUIET. NO SNOW YET. GOOD THING WE GOT SOME GROCERIES IN THOUGH. JEN AND RICHIE HAVE OPTED FOR SHOPPING ON MONDAY RATHER THAN FIGHT THIS WEEKEND'S CROWD AND THE STORM. GOOD THINKING.
I HAVE ALL THE MAKINGS OF A GOOD WEEKEND. CHRISTMAS MOVIES, MUSIC, THE PANETTONE AND MINT HOT COCOA.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.

HAPPY~ I AM WAVING A BELATED GOODBYE SORRY I MISSED YOUR DEPARTURE. HOPE DH HAS FUN WITH HIS FRIENDS. SAFE TRAVELS AND HAVE A GREAT VISIT IN THE FROZEN NORTH.

CEEJAY~ GLAD THE MEETINGS WENT OK AND YOU GOT SUCH A GOOD PRICE ON THE COAT. HOPE IT KEEPS YOU WARM AND COZY. WISHING THE UNCLE A SPEEDY RECOVERY. SAFE TRAVELS. BROWNIES YUM!

ANNIE~ SPEND GOOD MOMENTS WITH YOUR SON AND CONGRATS ON THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND ALL YOUR PRESENTS!!! YOU CAN GO ON A SHOPPING SPREE AND CHEER YOURSELF UP SENDING GOOD THOUGHTS OUT TO YOU AND MOM TOO.

MICHELLE~ CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WEIGHTLOSS!! WAY TO GO !! HOPE YOU LOVED THE LIGHTS. THAT IS MY FAVORITE PART. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND WITH DH.

LAURA~ I AM SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE LUNGS!! HOPE THE INHALER HELPS. SENDING A OUT TO YOU. NOT NICE NEWS BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. AS FOR PANETTONE: IT IS LIKE A GIANT MUFFIN-SHAPED BREAD. A YELLOW BREAD. SOMETHING LIKE THE JEWISH CHALLAH BUT NOT AS EGGY. THE FRUITED ONE HAS RAISINS & CITRON (LIKE THEY USE IN FRUITCAKE BUT NOT SUGARY) SPRINKLED IN BEFORE BAKING. THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER TYPES TOO. FOR SOME REASON I GOT ADDICTED TO IT LIKE I DID ALL MY ITALIAN BOYFRIENDS OF THE PAST YOU CAN EVEN TOAST OR WARM IT....THE BREAD I MEAN NOT THE BOYS! HAPPY WEEKEND!

SHADDIE~ 1/2 DAYS ON FRIDAYS IS NICE!! WHAT IS PLANNED FOR THE WEEKEND? HOPE IT'S A GREAT ONE...TAKE NOTES AND KEEP US POSTED. ANY WINE TASTING SCHEDULED?

AND THERE ARE ONLY 6 MORE SLEEPS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!

A YEAR OF SLOW COOKING:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Morning all,
I'll get this done before I go do anything else today, otherwise it will be like yesterday and the day is gone before I know it.

Yesterday, I went shopping for the few gifts I actually buy these days. Since I hadn't thought much about what I wanted to give anyone, I gave myself a whole parcel of grief. I went down in the train to a place called Ringwood - nearest big shopping centre. It was crowded beyond belief.
There's no give or take in these places anymore and everyone must fend for themselves. So anyway I wandered around and finally decided on some stuff, then bought myself a new pair of trainers and some socks and came home. I really ought to get more organised about this time of year AND DO IT IN OCTOBER! So now it is more or less done.

I have a Christmas dinner with some friends today, so shortly I will be going to get showered and changed and get on with the day. I need to pack a bit of stuff to take with me. I have Champers and a cheeseboard for this lot. I have another Christmas dinner on Wednesday night and then the real one with my friend Ruth on Friday. Then I fly home to do it over with the DS2 on Boxing Day with maybe the DB2 and/or one to help out.

Mel - got the e-card this morning. Haven't opened it yet but will do so soon. Stay warm and safe.

Laura - Maybe the b/f is frozen into the water on the floor of the basement. You need to go down with a blowtorch to set him free. Sory to hear about the lungs.

Annie - nice load of loot you got. Hope you find a really good place to spend it all.

Happy - even thought I know you won't be reading this for a while, have a great trip. Drive safely, enjoy the family time.

Ceejay - glad to hear the meeting wasn't all bad. Interesting that they should call a meeting to discussing the MSDS. Most people don't read them anyway. Ho Ha, I know what this chemical is, I know what it does, I don't need to read about it, Ho Ha, ooops - owwwwwww - help, I spilt it on me and I don't know what to do - it's burning me - help!!!!

Right, so I better go get the exercise out of the way. It's very quiet out there this morning so could be a good time to go. Then I need to pack all the stuff and get myself down to the station. The biggest difficulty is what to wear. I can never judge the weather down here. 4 seasons in one day. You go out dressed for all eventualities. Thank heavens for layering. See you later.

Happy - hope you had a safe trip up here. We got several inches of snow/slush, but nothing major. Just messy. No, I don't get chest pain. Mostly wheezing, some chest congestion/heaviness, and I'm not sure specifically of the cause, but I've experienced wheezing after a long bike ride on the forest preserve trail, after sitting around a fire pit, after having colds... It's mostly noticeable when I lay down to go to bed, but it's not a regular thing and nothing that keeps me from doing anything. Yes, the exercise was suggested to get lung function stronger - after I brought it up to the doc. I've been to several of the docs at this group in the past and haven't been all that picky because all I really did was get my allergy med rx reupped, but I'm not sure I "clicked" w/ this particular doc. Aside from giving me a questionnaire about "how controlled is my asthma" and doing the pulmon. funct. tests, he didn't really go into much about asthma except to give me the inhaler samples. Maybe because my tests came out borderline?? I'm not sure I want to see him again in two months, so I might switch to another doc in the group. Sorry I don't have more info.

I didn't see some of the old Christmas movies I like in the tv listings, but It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story will certainly be broadcast.

Mel - Hope you're having a nice quiet weekend with your movies. Did you get snow? The panettone sounds tasty - I was afraid it was like fruitcake, LOL. That 365 days of slow cooking looks like an interesting website. I'll have to check it out on a regular basis. I think bf and I are not the best candidates for slow cooking because it seems like there are too many leftovers and they just sit around. We need to learn to freeze them and then not forget they're in the freezer!

Shad - You've a lot of Christmas dinners coming up. Hope you enjoy them! Sorry you had to battle the masses to finish the last of your shopping. I did very little shopping so far, but thankfullly don't have too much more to finish it. Don't miss the shopping part, AT ALL. Is champers an abbreviation for Champagne? I saw some sort of almond sparkling wine at Trader Joe's that I want to try for New Year's Eve - something different. A lot of people at the party we went to on Saturday were drinking prosecco (Ital. sparkling wine), including me! I really liked it because it was dry.

Hellos to Ceejay, Annie & Michelle!

Bf got the water cleaned up - his doing, so he did the mopping! Our new humidifier and air cleaner filters are now in place. Friday's party was very nice - a lot of people, but thank goodness we were spread between two floors (apartments) and the basement too! Late night for us. Woke up late Sat. (9-is) and spent the day lounging around, finally finishing my book while the snow fell outside. Very pretty. Fell asleep early last night and got up sort of early today. No exercise yesterday (just a short dog walk), but today I'll get over to the gym for a cardio session. Bf intends to join me, but I'll believe it when I see it. :smirk: I think he's motivated now - yesterday, we heard that our friend with the 4-month old baby was in the hospital with chest pains! This is a guy w/ heart trouble in the family who has high bp and has been told by his doc to exercise, but he doesn't! He better start taking care of himself!

I think I better get out and finish my shopping today. Bf and I generally don't buy anything big for each other, which makes it fun to buy a few smaller fun things. For some reason he's wanted an Ove Glove the past several years, LOL, so I think I'll finally get him, not one, but two, so he'll have a pair. I also need to set a date to get together w/ my SIL and nephews while they're in town for the holidays, as well as my sister. It'll be hard - we're still getting through all the "firsts" since my brother passed in April.

Okay, off to fetch the paper off the driveway. I need to train doggy to do that for me!! Have a great day everyone!

Cheers!

YESTERDAY TURNED OUT TO BE A NIGHTMARE. I HAD SOME KIND OF HYPOTHERMIA ATTACK AND COULDN'T TALK RIGHT OR STOP SHAKING. IT HAPPENED SO FAST LAST NIGHT THERE WAS NO TIME TO GET TO A WARMER PLACE. SCARED ME. I CALLED MY BOSSA AND TOLD HER I WAS HIRING RICHIE FOR THE REST OF LAST NIGHT AND TODAY. THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO PAY THE POOR SOD. I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS FAST AND FREAKY. RICHIE AND JEN DID A GREAT JOB. HE CLEANED THE ENTIRE PROPERTY'S SIDEWALKS AND PARTS OF THE DRIVE FOR THE AMBULANCES. I FEEL BETTER TODAY BUT SHAKEY A BIT STILL INSIDE. GOING TO CALL HIS HIGHNESS TOMORROW AND HAVE A LONG TALK. THERE IS GOING TO BE NO "NEXT TIME". OUR SNOW WAS ABOUT A FOOT WITH DRIFTS AND HORRIBLE BLIZZARD LIKE WINDS. COULDN'T SEE CRAPOLA!! TODAY IS BRIGHT AND SUNNY THANK GD.
HOPE YOU ALL BE CAREFUL DRIVING OUT THERE IF YOU'RE IN THE SNOW COUNTRY!!
HAVE A GREAT DAY...I AM GOING TO SIT AND BE STILL!!

LAUURA~ GLAD THE BF GT THE WATER UP AND DIDN'T FREEZE IN THE BASEMENT LIKE SHAD THOUGHT HOPE YOU GET ALL THE SHOPPING AND VISITING DONE. IT'S TOUGH THE FIRST YEAR AFTER SOMEONE'S PASSING. RICHIE'S MOM PASSED LAST YEAR AND IT'S STILL TOUGH. SENDING A HUG YOUR WAY

SHAD~ GOT THE NOTE. DATES ARE GOOD. HOPE YOUR WEEK WILL BE A GOOD ONE. GLAD YOU GET TO GO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT LEAST. CHAT SOON. SAFE TRAVELS!! ENJOY THE TIME WITH FRIENDS AND THE DS!!!

Laura~ I Forgot To Say: I Am Sorry To Hear About The Young Friend And His Chest Pains. Hope It Is An Awakening For Your Bf....and Maybe For Me Too!!! Maybe He Will Get To The Gym With You After All!!

I've been to paragould and back. Wasn't going to go but my aunt called yesterday morning and asked me to come. My uncle is doing a lot better. He starts physical therapy tomorrow. His first session will last 3 hours. He's already turning himself over in the bed. He complains about soreness in his back which is normal and the foot pain is from nuropathy. He has good health care.

Saw an awesome sight yesterday on my drive to Paragould. There were a huge flock of some birds -they were white- could have been geese that were landing in a harvested field. They circled around like a tornado while landing. I stopped the car to watch. I wasn't the only one who had stopped.
Then further down the road another flock of birds had already landed. They were so white it looked like snow had covered the ground.
Today I thought I saw rain clouds but it turned out to be around 5 formations of birds. They were heading South. This is usually a prediction of snow. We shall see.

Mel
Your hyothermia must have been an ordeal. Try to stay warm. Sounds like Richie did a good job.

Laura
Thanks for the e card. Very cute. That's sad about your friend with the chest pains. Remind him he has a family now. Let's hope it's not his heart. Sending him good vibes.

Annie
Congrats on the employee of the month and look at all those rewards. How was your mom this week end.

Happy
Hope you have had a safe trip.

Shad
Sounds like you will be a busy person this week.

Michelle
What did you do to keep busy this week end.?

My goal this week is not to go overboard with food.

LAURA~ LOVED THE PM BUT COULDN'T OPEN THE LINK. THIS PC OF MINE HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE THE CRASH.

CEEJAY~ WHAT A SIGHT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN. WHEN I LIVED DOWN IN CENTRAL JERSEY WE USED TO SEE THE BIG FLOCKS FLYING BY IN THEIR V-SHAPED FORMATION BUT NEVER LANDING. THEY WOULD ALWAYS BE HONKING LIKE MAD. BUT THE LANDING MUST HAVE BEEN SPECTACULAR. GLAD THE UNCLE IS PROGRESSING AND SENDING HEALING THOUGHTS HIS WAY.

I HVE TO DRY MY HAIR AND THEN MEET WITH MY FRIEND. I AM GING TO PUSH EVERY BUTTOIN I KNOW AND THEN MAKE A CALL MYSELF. SAD THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THIS DRAMA ON CHRISTMAS WEEK. BUT IT CANNOT WAIT LEST WE HAVE ANOTHER STORM BEFORE THE HOLIDAY ENDS AND I AM ALONE AGAIN NEW YEARS WEEKEND AS WELL. PUTTING MY SUIT OF ARMOR ON AND GETTING READY
HAPPY MONDAY/TUESDAY. SAFE TRAVELS AND STAY WELL

Happy Monday ladies -

The weekends always go so fast. I got a lot of stuff done, but not as much website work done as I wanted. That's okay, there's always this coming weekend. I'm looking forward to being able to go to the gym again at the end of this week. The pink eye infection is too contagious and my doc wants me to avoid the gym for a bit longer. So I've been using the Wii Fit, which is fun but not as intense a workout as I get at the gym. Of course, I'm still learning the Wii Fit...so hopefully I can find some more intense cardio workouts on it. I gotta say though that the balance exercises/games are TOUGH! But in the interest of full disclosure...some of the other games (non-workout) are really fun too...so I've been playing those as well. BTW, we drove through Candy Cane Lane which is a neighborhood just outside Milwaukee where every house decorates their yard! It's a marvelous display! And this year was WAY better than it's been the past two years! People drive or walk through the neighborhood enjoying the lights, there were carolers walking along and singing! It was wonderful. At one of the intersections, they hand out chocolates and ask for a small cash donation that goes to support a local children's cancer charity.

Ceejay - I also dislike large enclosed crowds. At our Division Christmas party on Friday, there were about 600 people in a room. Too crowded for me. But it was fun anyway. A comedy group performed, and they were really good! A great time was had by all!! Glad to hear your uncle's surgery went well. Yes, rehab is a MUST for surgeries like that. Congrats on the discounted winter jacket!! I wish you hadn't mentioned the brownies...you had me craving them all weekend. I think I'll have to dig out my recipe for 2 pt brownie cupcakes which are made with Low Fat Brownie Mix and All Bran cereal. They're really pretty good and just have 2 pts each. The flocks of birds must've been a lovely sight!

Annie - on making the Employee of the Month!!! You rock, sista!! The cheeseball and braunschweiger ball sound yummy. I love Menards...such a nice variety of stuff. So nice of your bro to pay for the Christmas Eve groceries!! Sheesh, girlfriend, you got a heckuva nice Christmas take from work! YGG!! As for my weight loss, I wish I could bottle it up or repeat it somehow, but I have no idea what I did. I wish I could stay home with my pink eye, but that would've meant, I'd miss 2 weeks of work...and there's just too much to get done. So I just don't touch any common surfaces unless I wipe them with a Clorox wipe afterward. Enjoy your time with DS and DD.

Mel - So nice that the seniors leave you presents and that they appreciate all you do for them throughout the year! As for the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day snowstorm it sounds like it might hit us or it might hit you. Personally, I hope it misses us both....or that it's a lot milder than predicted. What an adorable cat nap photo! Thanks for the slow cooker recipe link...you know how I love to use my slow cooker!! Hypothermia, Mel???!!! That's so scary!! Were you outside too long or was it just too cold in the building? You should not be out in such a storm or even anywhere there's a draft with such winds blowing. So sorry you got so much snow and cold! Hopefully, the storm predicted this week will spare us both. Stay warm, sista! Have a Mel-iday and enjoy Christmas movies and music.

Laura - Hope you had a nice time at the party after DS cleaned up the geyser in the basement. Glad to hear you got some inhaler samples. Make sure you take your inhalers to the gym with you...nothing worse then having an asthma attack and NOT having your inhaler...believe me, I know. You got snowy/slush this weekend? We just got a bit of flurries...nothing more than a dusting. I hope it stays that way through Christmas. So sorry to hear about your friend. I hope he's doing better now. It's a good reminder for all of us to get and keep moving.

Shad - Sounds like you had a lovely weekend with the Christmas dinner, and three more this week! Sounds like a blast!! Good for you for getting your shopping done. I really dislike crowds, but I enjoy the decorations in the stores and malls this time of year.

Happy - I hope you had a safe and uneventful trip up north and that you're enjoying time with your family and friends in the Land of Lincoln. As for cardio improving the lung function...I can't speak for everyone...but I know for me, that when I'm working out regularly I get a lot less winded (and sometimes not winded at all) doing normal day to day tasks (like bringing laundry up from the basement). I've never seen the Bells of St. Mary's or Going My Way. I'll have to search for those. As for Christmas lights with gooped up eyes...yes, there's quite an aura around them! What's funny is that...just in case my eyes aren't blurry enough from the ointment, the ointment gets on my eyelashes and then on my glasses...so I don't know if it's smudgey glasses or smudgey eyes!

I've got to get to work...lots to get done during this short week! I'll check back in later!

Lots of love and big hugs,

Happy Monday all...

Shue weee what a weekend.

Mom Update....Spent Friday evening with her. It was funny cause it was just mom and me. I pulled my chair over to her bed and sat on my knees then leaned over and put my head on her chest. We both started crying and we cried like that for an hour. I told her all the things that had been bothering me the past 9 weeks that she and I have not really connected. I feel so much better even tho things are not really better. She actually squeezed me with her good arm and patted my arm. I did the same to her. It was so neat.

Saturday....picked DD up after I got off at CVS at 3:00 pm. We went to eat at Bucca DeBeppa (Italian), it was ever so delicious. Then shopping for the next 6 hours. Yikes. I was plum worn out after that. We had a great time and LOAO.

Sunday...picked DD up at 10:30 to go visit mom. The aids got her in a chair and the longer she sat there the more unresponsive and incoherent she bacame to the point we called an ambulance. She is back in the hospital. While she is laying down she is mostly "with" us. Nods head, 1-2 word answers, moves her arm and leg (the good ones), etc. The hospital/doctors agree there is something causing the disconnect when she is sitting upright. They have not figured it out yet. She also has a uninary track infection. Bless her heart. I love her so. Finally left the hospital to do grocery shopping for Christmas eve. My brother bought all the food as I am cooking it and having eve at my house. That was the deal. Stayed at my brothers till 8 last night watching the movie "State of Mind". It was very good. I liked it.

Laura...sorry about the borderline asthma. Get some exercise/strength going and get those pounds off that will help a lot. I know, like duh you didn't already know that.

MEL...more and more people are regifting. You can bet I am NOT regifting my gift cards. lol. Girl that hypothermia thing sounds scary. Sounds like when I have a anxiety attack.

Shad...yeah, the rude people when shopping. I don't know how many people I told, "Merry FN Christmas" under my breath when shopping with my DD Saturday. LOL

Chelle...hope your weekend was wonderful.

Ceejay....wow you must be in bird country.

Hidee Hoes to everyone!

Have a great Monday all.

Much love and many hugs,