Just a quick hello from the rainy north. My weeks of coffee and sweets are over, and I'm left with a caffeine-withdrawal headache and a couple of rebound pounds. Today will be day 2 of back to the straight and narrow, so there's still hope. I'm not going to change the tracker (help! it's going the wrong way! )until I've had a few OP days, hoping I won't need to.

Hmmm. Maybe the headache is actually from spending part of yesterday with my head in a stinky fume-filled oven... I hate cleaning ovens so much I long ago stopped broiling or roasting anything that would spatter. (Toaster oven and Look bags really help.) Anyway, my catsitters/houseguests seem to have had a week-long oven-fest, which they of course didn't clean up. One good thing: I'll remember all this next time I'm a guest in someone else's home, not that I don't already try to leave places cleaner than I found them!

I also have found the site really slow lately, although this morning it seemed normal. I was blaming the wireless connection at last week's hotel, but came back to the same problem here, so I really do think it's the site. Maybe we should try to limit the graphics sometimes, or move to a new thread immediately after birthday greeting extravaganzas? I don't know if Mel is the only one on dial-up, but it must drive her crazy towards the end of the month. Speaking of which, where are we going in May? The Manitoba Mosquito festival? Moscow madness? Manhattan with side-trips to Mel? The magic of Mongolia? Please!! Save me before I alliterate again!!! (Don't know if that's a word, but I guess it is now.)

Time to take this nasty head for a little nap. I'll try to get back before too long. Take care all!

PS Mel: Do not use that gift card for frappacinos!!! Or to treat anyone but yourself! This is an order!

Mel, I see your little egg shining.

HAPPY~ FIRST I DELETED ALL MY BIRTHDAY GIFS AND FOUND THE THREAD MUCH EASIER TO LOAD BUT THEN I WENT AROUND THE SITE AND STILL HAD VERY SLOW LOADING AND YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK MY DIAL-UP IS A PIA TOO. BUT I JUST CAME BACK AND FOUND IT MUCH FASTER WHILE SHADDIE IS WITH YOU PUT HER TO WORK IN THE YARD! WHAT???? ONLY 2 CARTS FULL???? YOU'RE SLIPPING MISSY!!! ENJOY YOUR DAY

SO WHERE ARE WE GOING FOR MAY? MADAGASCAR? THE MOON? MOZAMBIQUE? THE MAYAN JUNGLE?

CARLA, I AM LAUGHING AS I WAVE BACK TO YOU!! GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!! FIRST, LOOKING FOR A PLACE IN MAY. YOURS WERE HYSTERICAL!! AND 2ND, THERE IS A STARBUCK'S COFFEE SHOP THERE AND THE THOUGHT DID GO THRU MY MINE TOO FUNNY!!
YOU MUST BE THE MALL SECURITY GUARD FOR THIS TRIP!!!
I AGREE...WHEN I HOUSE SAT AND MY DAUGHTER DID TOO...WE ALWAYS CLEANED UP. EVEN IF WE WERE JUST FEEDING CATS AND NOT SLEEPING THERE. THE NERVE OF SOME PEOPLE TO MESS AND LEAVE!!
I BOUGHT A CONVECTION OVEN FOR THE COUNTER SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO THE FUME-FILLED OVEN CLEANING THING ANYMORE. BEEN HAPPY FOR YEARS!! A BIT OF SOAP, BRILLO AND THE JOB IS DONE!
HAVE A GREAT DAY

I thought we agreed - though it's entirely possible that I forgot to tell you - we're coming to my town for May (I will never be calling this place my hometown) - Memphis in May - and they have a huge BBQ contest and Music Festival next week appropriately called Memphis in May so we're just in time.

Yes, the graphics do slow it down. Probably a good point to start cutting down on them. Mine are links rather than embedded in the site but none the less it does slow them down.

Ok, back to cleaning. I made DH go out and plant because 1) he approved the flowers and 2) it's too hot for me - actually if I'm outside I get all tuckered out and I still have to take care of the laundry, shopping and cleaning. So we're splitting tasks.

I have been planning lots of garden things. I have some pampas grass that I have yet to pick a location for. Found out they have sharp edges to the grass blades so I guess they will have to go outfront and away from the play area where I had originally wanted them. Boy if I had the money I would rip out all the little green grass and put in the large wild ones. Perhaps over a few decades these three little plants I've bought will spread

Health wise I am going back to using apple cider vinegar for ph balance in my hair and face toner. The store products just seems too much for my skin, back to basics. Bought some almond butter to up my good protein input.

Breathing and enjoying the smell of the hyacinths. Planted tuber roses out front, fingers crossed they will scent the summer with their tropical top notes

Be well worldy chicks New month, new plans, new successes!

The sun is out, it's around 20°C (70°F), and I've gotten over my snit about the oven. I know there was no intention to be rude, just a little carelessness and different standards. I keep forgetting that while I'm much, much more of a slob than my usual neighbour/sitter, I'm still much more finicky than some people are. And the cats were very well cared for. End of story.

This afternoon I finally bit the bullet and took my boy cat out to the yard on his leash. He was so excited when he saw the harness he almost wet himself, wriggling about so much I could barely do the thing up. We were entertained by squirrels and a chipmunk, all at a safe distance, of course. I do wish I could find an invisibility cloak for myself though; I really just want to read and keep an eye on the boy, not make small talk with the neighbours. Maybe I should get a tent to hide in.

Happy, you may have told us we were heading to Memphis, but I can't imagine why you thought any of us would remember. Well, maybe some of the youngsters... It may be a challenge to find a themed avatar this time, but I hope to be up to the challenge. Do you have any interesting animals or wildlife down there? Apart from EP imitators, that is?

Gotta go. Bye!

Hello chickies.
I must hang my head in shame. I was well meaning and meant to come in on Friday and wish Happy a very Happy birthday. I even had the words written on the screen, but something happened and they didn't end up here. so Happy happy belated birthday! I hope it was superb
Ok just a quick one I better get some lunch. I am starving.

Hi all,
Am here, but no time at the moment. Will get back to you when I can.

SAYING A QUICK HELLO AND GOOD NIGHT
YESTERDAY I BENT OVER TO GET SOMETHING AND MY EAR FILLED UP. INSTANT VERTIGO. MY FAULT REALLY BECAUSE I FORGOT TO TAKE THE MUCINEX THE DAY BEFORE. NOW I FEEL LIKE I AM RIDING ON ROUGH SEAS.
GOING BACK TO BED. SEE YOU IN MEMPHIS!
HAPPY~ HOW CAN I EXPECTED TO REMEMBER MEMPHIS WHEN I CAN'T REMEMBER MUCINEX!!
THAT IS WHY YOU AND SHAD ARE IN CHARGE!!!

Happy Belated Birthdays... and Blessed New Year to follow to both of you!!!! Sorry this is late but better than never!
You two I know enjoyed yourselves and celebrate lives well lived!!!! Yeah!

I have been trying to catch up with all of you which takes some time. So fun to read about the adventures coming up for so many of you! Travel, enteretainment and spring is here for us in the northern climates. I just got back from a short weekend camping with my dogs and BF in he 5th wheel....wow never done camping in such luxury before! It was fun and we spent the days driving the mountains on a 4wheeler. Toby rode along and Darby and Teeka the old timers stayed inside and snoozed! It was beautiful weather. Where we stopped to have lunch at a look out soon became apparent the ticks were everywhere....crawling up our legs in vast numbers.....that soon left creepy feelings of them everywhere on you......saw lots of wildlife and spring flowers blooming or signs of blossoms to come.

My friend Gail is coming for the spring luncheon this week and I am very excited to have some company come to my house. I do want her to meet BF and give me her feelings. Nothing like a good friend who really knows you to be honest.

Teeka had arough night last night but seems better now. Hope it was just a little tummy upset. BF's dog Darby is having his 13bday on the 4th...he is so sweet but his hind legs just don't have the strength to hold him up to do stairs. He is so sweet and is very attached to me...... our dogs are getting old the sad fact.
Ladies have a super day and make it a healthy one.... thinking of all of you....waiting to have Memphis on my mind!!!!!
Peace,
Nae

Just in to say hello-

Mel-Is back in the bed. Wish I were but I'm at work.

Meadow--Loved the graphics.

Rose--Good to see you. Ticks, I hate them with a purple passion. They announced in church yesterday that one of our members has rocky mountain spotted fever from a tick bite. Be careful.

Took my first Actonel this morning and tried to stay busy for the next thirty minutes by sweeping and mopping the control room, bath room and lab floors.
So far I've had no side affects from it. Going to the gym tonight.

Yeah, Memphis in May. Maybe I'll actually go this year.

Yay!! Thanks to good old fat flush this morning was a happy weigh-in: , and no more need to change my trackers. So I'm feeling inspired to continue with the program for the next two weeks to see how far it'll take me. I really don't expect to lose 9 lbs again, and I do intend to be a little more generous with food, maybe an extra fruit a day. But this morn I put on a pair of skinny jeans I haven't worn in an age - still a little too snug at the waist, but that's why elastics were invented, no? In about 4 lbs they'll fit really well.

So it's off to see the Magnolia trees in Memphis? I guess I'll cancel my order for a Mongolian yurt. Can't wait for the bunch of us to descend on Graceland as a group...

Rose, good to see you back. I've always wondered about RV'ing, but would never be able to park one - or negociate tight turns. Of course the cats would like it. So far we don't have many ticks here. They sound awful.

Meadow, nice to see you drop in, and glad to hear you're fine in capital letters. Will you be able to see Shad when she overnights in Kamloops?

Mel, I have a feeling the Frappacino people slipped something into your tea to make you feel dizzy today. They want to make sure I'm not supervising when you go to spend that gift card. But I'll always be there, and don't you forget it!!! Meanwhile, try to enjoy your day in bed, and I hope the malaise passes quickly.

Ceejay, Shad, Suzi, .

Has Holly been abducted by aliens? by Avon? Has she preceded us to Memphis? Hello??

Time for my yummy lunch salad. I'm so !!! Big shrimp, lots of greens, very light dressing. Always a success.

Time to say goodbye to autumn in the tropics and head across the pond to springtime in the south.

It's 12:32am by my clock which means it's May which means it's time to head to Memphis.

Click here and the express bus will pick yah up!