Holly is off on a holiday - 100 ft up the road. Think of the exercise you would have got walking up the road and carrying the stuff!!!! Food sounds good. Hair doesn't sound too bad either.

And Suzi is getting her hair done as well. Not long now Suz.... You get to Orlando around the same time as I start my new job. I wonder which will be the biggest circus???

Ceejay - lawnmowers can be such a pain. Mine will have to come out next week. I hope it goes as well. It's been a long time between mows. Grass doesn't grow in the tropics during the winter. Well not the type of grass I grow anyway.
Yes, I did get to the gym. And I got paid for a couple of weeks. I always shake my head in wonder when you mention getting a paycheck mailed to the house. I don't know of a company here that pays in cash let alone cheque. We all have our money direct deposited to the bank. In fact now a days you can get it deposited to up to three banks accounts, pay your rent or mortgage and be able to access the rest on the same day as it is paid in, which is usually the day the company pays it out. Beats the living daylights out of having to go to the bank to deposit.

Happy - ah the busy life of a worker these days. MMmmm I'd like to continue the life I have lived this week. Unfortunately I'd also like to get the money I got this week. Chase my tail, round and round and round we go. I meant I would probably come in the Northern Spring - always provided you are not flooding, freezing, or otherewise disastrous Still can't second guess Mother Nature so it will happen when it happens. Pity the meals just don't come on command - ah well, that's the life of a working person.

Mel, enjoy that ride. Maybe you will need a surgical mask to miss the allergens. Might look silly but the Japanese do it and avoid the worst of the colds and flu so why not us. Maybe you need to put messages on the notice board about drinking water instead of tea and coffee and drinking lots of it. My nose has been snuffy all week and it has annoyed me at the gym, but at least I am getting there.

Suzi, I know the problems with hairdressers. I have one here. She is great, but I get really jumpy when for some reason or other she can't do the hair. Even if she keeps an eye on the person doing the hair. However I find Stefam's chain great. Not sure if you have them down there. They are not cheap, but I haven't had a bad hair day from any of the girls there. Mind you, when you go in and state that you have no talent with hair and that you'll be back to haunt them by parading outside the shop for a week if it isn't easy to manage then they get the message loud and clear. My hair is thick, strong and opinonated (it likes to dictate the terms) so they approach with caution. It also has natural curl and will stick up at the sides if cut wrong.

Neighbour across the road is getting some work done on his yard. Must go and have a sticky beak. See ya

There's a typhoon headed towards The Thugs and their parents. The good news is that the buildings are made with typhoons in mind and they are hunkered down. Hope Carla is settled in, too, and ready for the storm!

Mel ~ we're all waiting for details.... tap...tap...tap... ahem....

I hope Suzi's all packed and ready for Florida!! Not much longer!!

Hello to all!

I’m sitting here feeling very pretty with a new do!

It’s so nice to have that feeling when you get out of the hairdressers!!! I found a good stylist....and they are only up the street very close to home. I have had a run of bad luck with hairdressers since coming to Sydney, everytime I find one they leave and then I have to start again. Today I found THE one. She listens and gabbed just enough without being annoying ( that sounds awful but sometimes they just talk too much!) My hair is just the way i wanted it and I am loving it. The price didn’t have me picking myself up from the floor either...very good all around. I have come to realise that it costs a small fortune to get my hair done but...it’s my one vice. Now I am all blonded up again and de frizzed! I have just the right amount of curl and bounce ...a happy camper.
My only problem is ...this cold! It’s come on with a vengence and I only hope I can shake it by Friday. I DON’T want to fly with a cold! Cold cold go away....I have tried all sorts. I think I need to cuddle up on the couch with vicks on my feet and a snuggly rug. Dinner is going to be organised by hubby....i just can’t stomach it. Lost my appetite and everything ...pooh!
I think a lemon drink is in order, must go as my head is heavy.
Suz

I SEE THE LAMISIL ADVERT IS BACK!

Yesterday was a bit of a strain as an apartment is needed by next Friday and nothing was done. YIKES! Made some suggestions and the men stayed last night and were also here before I even got up!!!
I almost lost my temper but stayed calm. Shocked even me. I could see everyone stiffen up and realized they were waiting for the tantrum. I began laughing and took them back to the maint. room and we all spoke calmly. We talked about changes we'll be making in dealing with each other. It was all very civil and we left with smiles on for a happy weekend. I know they want it like this now but it was a tough road to get here....battle of the wills. Not with me but with the other "women" they have to take orders from when I am not around. I really hope this method lasts because the boys are human also and deserved to be treated better and not like 2nd class citizens. Just because they are dirty is no reason to treat them like yesterday's trash. But the "women" are the real culprits. All too many office divas.
I really felt sorry for my friend. She was getting hit on all sides. sigh. Needs to get tougher but with the right people. Whatever happened to the flies and sugar vs vinegar theory????? WTF I will say that if this abuse continues after this I am talking to the Lord of Housing himself! He will fix it for sure.
Anyway....sorry for the rant such as it is. It was a lovely day ourt and I went for a walk with the guys just to get them away from here before they began. We walked around the block! When they got back they used the rear entrance and staircase to go past without notice
I bought some veggies, salad stuff, yogurt, fruit and water. 2 cases of it. jen and Richie are here for a weekend alone. another grandma has the kiddies. So we are having a smoled pork butt with cabbage, potatoes and carrots. Not the healthiest of meats but...............



Suzi~ I was thinking of you last night. I need to make a choice between the Mall or getting my hair cut on Monday there is only one bus so they can't pick me up after the cut and move me to the Mall
So glad you found a good stylist as they seem to be hard to come by nowadays. I would be excited too with the trip so close!!!

Ceejay~ Off to Paragould!! Have a good trip. Hope Aunt & Uncle are well and happy also. I have been taking the allegra with no success but it's not the "D" one. I can't take that one...heart palpitations and "head" problems Guess it's back to the Zyrtec
glad you got the help with the mower. Happy Cutting!!

Happy~ I would love something like that door to door but there is always a catch isn't there!! I just gave the leftover NS to a friends wife. she had the lapband surgery and is on a low cal diet. She was thrilled to get it all. I was sad at the losss of $$$$$ any new froggies jumpinn in the pool???? I still giggle over that. I think you were very brave!! I never liked swimming with foreign objects...not even my ex DH!

Holly~ Guess you have gone already....hope the R&R is refreshing and gets you some well deserved rest.

Tig~ Will send good thoughts the Thugs way for all of them. YIKES!! I was watching the weather channel and saw a glimpse of the forecast. Mother Nature must be reall pissed off at something or someone....maybe Bush!!! good luck. As a Mom I know you must be worried

Sending lots of and to all the rest.
HAPPY SATURDAY/SUNDAY AND HOPE THE WEEKEND IS ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE!

Questions & things to ponder in your spare time

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can you cry under water?



How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going?

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?


How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.

just things I think about
Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?
If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!
If Wiley E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride; he sticks his head out the window?
Do you ever wonder why you gave me your e-mail address in the first place?

have a good week end.

Ha ha, good one Mel. Of course I read through every question and tried to answer it. One of the paper companies I worked for invented the octagonal pizza box that one of the pizza chains uses - it uses less material than a square box and keeps the pizza hotter while it's waiting to be gobbled up. The company I now work for invented the screw top that's on the cartons of juice and soft drinks. Thank goodness for that - can't tell you how many cartons I've torn to shreds trying to get them opened. And yes, the power of suggestion - I did sing the ABC song and Twinkle Twinkle.

You are a good person to intervene at the building and get the boys focused on their mission and away from the divas. I have always been disgusted with people who try to lord it over others and treat them like they are lowly servants. Good think Mel is looking out for them. It's a shame you had to waste precious $$$ and give away all that program food. Smoked butt????? Gawd, I haven't had that in years and years and years. My mom would cook it in the pressure cooker and then roast it in the oven. It was one of my dad's favorite meals. Haven't seen any more froggies around, thank God. Have found a few cicadas though - but they just flop around and don't come near me. DH said he has found a mouse or two in the skimmer occasionally I feel badly for you with the sinuses - seems like everything you try induces another bad effect of sorts so even the home cures won't work

Suzi, sorry to hear that you are sick right before your trip. I think that deserves some extra pampering just to get better. If your head is still clogged, be sure to take a decongestant just before you get on the plane - that inner ear pressure can get excruciating! How nice that your hair turned out just the way you wanted it. How often does THAT happen? Did you tell the stylist she can't leave? Ever. Never, never.

Hi Tig, hope the family will be safe. I hear the typhoons are pretty strong out that way.

Sticky beak???? Threatening to parade in front of the shop??? Still giggling over those Shad. Although I have baby fine, stick straight hair that only sticks up when I brush it in the winter and static electricity does it's thing, I have seen DH complain for years about not cutting the hair properly along the natural wave and the trials and tribulations of getting it to stay down. Good thing you look so cute in short hair. I have always envied people with thick hair as most short cuts are best suited to having more than 12 hairs on your head. One more week off and then it's back to work. Enjoy it.

Have a good time camping Holly. I love camping but it's way too hot and buggy to do it here. Once it cools off appropriately, then it gets rainy. It's a shame because we have so much camping stuff sitting in the shed. Which reminds me, I'll have to check it out as the shed is open in parts - hope the soft stuff like the tents and sleeping bags didn't get all musty and ruined.

Ceejay - I guess I'm lucky but I just can't seem to enjoy the food at Sonic down here. I've tried a few items and they just didn't appeal to me. Of course I have found other equally not so healthy substitutes Happy mower shopping. Stop by a farmers market on the way to Paragould and get some nice fresh fruits and veggies to tempt you less. That reminds me, we should stop at the market on our way to the mall this afternoon. I love farmers markets.

Well, I was supposed to get up early and go out and weed and feed the garden - I still have some basil that needs planting I overslept, DH woke me up at 9, I checked out things here and then as I was finishing up and getting ready to go outside the phone rang. I had to take care of some business from the homeowners association. Now it's almost 11am. DH is mowing the lawn and when finished, he's going to clean up and we have to head to the mall. He's having problems with his new glasses and I need a note from the doctor that I have bad eyes so they can justify getting me a bigger computer monitor at work. Can you believe it? It's not like I need this humongo wide screen monitor - the screen is only 2 inches bigger than the standard. And there are plenty of young folks with perfect vision who have 21 inch monitors (those are BIG honkers). They didn't have to justify a thing. I told my boss that all you have to do is look through my glasses. Then after you shove your eyes back in your head and uncross them, you'll have no doubt my vision is bad. It's not so much that as having the bifocals. I have to crank my neck at an unnatural angle to see through the bottom of the glasses for the close up portion. That compresses the discs in the neck resulting in a great deal of pain. But yes, I will get my doctor's note. Just hope they don't charge me for an office visit.

So I guess the garden will wait until later this afternoon. I should have gotten up at 5am when I got up for a drink of water.

Hope you're feeling better by now Madcat.

What's Meadow up to at the minute? Looking for some new graphics?

I'd better get moving here. Hello to the rest of the chicks, have a fun Saturday.

Got up late this morning, but hey who cares. I must have needed the sleep. Got through with a fiar amount of sorting, chucking and cleaning yesterday. The wardrobes are still to be done, but there is only one room for a complete turnout left (the worst I might add) This will get done today, since I want to start the painting etc., tomorrow. Of course all that swearing, yelling, excitement, stamping and profanity watching the football last night probably helped. No doubt the neighbours wondered what I was up to! DB2 did not arrive. I suspect he was at a pub or club somewhere pressing the buttons and watching the game at the same time. He thinks I can't work out what he is up to. But it is completely clear. It's just like reading a book. Silences equal bouts of gambling. Visits to the family in a morose mood equal losses. Check out the bank account and you will see the withdrawals. He can't even tell me that these were necessary withdrawals. When you see 3 or 4 w/drawals of $200.00 from the same place within a short amount of time you can't put it down to anything else, particularly if the w/drawal is from an ATM in a pub or club. These should be banned IHO. Enough rant. It's his problem and he choses how to deal with it. He knows he has it, he just refuses to do anything about it.
By the way, the All Blacks won. Yeeeehaaaaaa.

Sticky beak = peek. A kiwi version of the London Rhyming slang. Sometimes only called Sticky. They actually use quite a lot of rhyming slang over here and in NZ. Must be something to do with the Colonials and colonisation. Apples & oears, porky pies, meat pies, trouble & strife, rubbity dub, frog and toad. Funny how so many of them have to do with food. Now how many of those did you manage to answer? Sorry to hear that you and DH are both having eye problems. Hope they all get sorted soon. Of course you need a new monitor/ screen. They wear out and go fuzzy after a while and changing the resolution doesn't always help. Have you tried changing the resolution by the way? I know it helped Mel some time back.

Ceejay - have a good weekend, drive safely.

Mel - Good on you for sticking up for the boys. If plant maintenance comes to a halt, then everything else goes to **** in a hand cart. I would suggest you politely tell the divas that unless they want to unblock their own drains, fix up the heat or the air, mop up the flooding and repair the boiler or the elevators, then they might try being a little bit reasonable. Being a bit dirty actually means the boys have been working!!!!! My main mantra with the miners etc is that without plant maintenance, the machines will stop. That means no production, no income, no support. I don't care how good the accountant is, without income he has nothing to count!!! Likewise the office staff will have nothing to bill, pay or otherwise interfere with the 'workers' - it's be kind to the worker day. You may need the plumber before this day is over.
I laughed at the list of questions - yes I did sing ABC and Twinkle, twinkle. Yes they are the same tunes! And the answer to number three is the extra penny is going in tax - particularly if you live in Aus and are considered above the average income and/ or the welfare society - of which we have a great number of people who are actually not needy at all. Don't get me wrong. I endorse the welfare state, there are those who desperately need it, but there is an awful lot of cheats as well.

Am I getting a bit grumpy this morning???? I should be starring on Grumpy Old Women - don't know if any of you have seen that programme. It's a hoot. British women, most of whom are well known for one reason or another - if you want to know what happened to the stars of those wonderful old Brit sitcoms (like Linda Robson from Are You Being Served) have a decko at the Grumpy Old Women - oh and of course, Grumpy Old Men.

Suz - not long to go now. Glad the hair worked out. Hope the cold gets better for you. Lots of lemon and honey, lots of vicks vapourub and inhalers. Lot's of warm - clothes, fires, thick socks etc. I'll try to ring you before you go. Might even leave a message for Tig when you meet up with her!

Tig - thoughts going out to the Thugs and the folks - they seem to manage their typhoons quite well up there. It always surprises me because some of the buildings look so flimsy - especially the older style (like about 400 years old).
Is this our Carla you are talking about - is she expecting a storm? I think she has dropped off the face - she doesn't seem to be talking to us at all at the moment.
I'm sure you will enjoy visiting with Suzi, if she gets there. I know the reservations she had about driving down the wrong side of the road. I have had the same problems myself. It's instinctive.

Hope Holly is enjoying the break. I guess it will do her and the family good to have some down time.

Well better push on. Gym awaits. Then breakfast and the last of cleaning. Sooner rather than later. That will allow me to get a bit of kitty time in this afternoon - although why I bother I don't know. She just managed to leave bits of white fur all over my clean lounge room. Grrrrrrr - let me catch that crittur! Purring won't get her off this time.

Shad~ Grumpy old women!! I am still laughing. We could be the queens of night time tv!!!
Happy painting. Is it hard to paint with Sunday draped around your neck? I can just see sunday climbing up the ladder when you get to do the ceiling!
Sorry about the DB but he's a big boy now and you gave it your best shot to help him. Thank God my addiction is food.....it's not cheap but at least i am not spending my rent money! Hang in there lil' Sis. i want you to know that I did not figure out ANY of those rhymes etc. I am clueless in NJ!

Happy~ someday I might go for a larger screen. Hope you get yours soon. Silly they just cannot get one without the hoopla but then how would businesses run without all the red tape! I always say that if everyone in the town would stop BSing, the whole town would come to a crashing halt!

Ceejay~ Have a great weekend too.....let's make the best of the rest of it! lol

I have started to take the Vick's Dayquil OTC for sinus. It seems to be working better than the scripts and with as lot less side effects. Think I will stick with this remedy for awhile. Now I need to clear up the eye! It's suffering from too much TV & PC.....I can't win!! If you ever hear on the news about a woman trying to "fly" her wheelchair off the Cliffs of the Hudson, you'll know the reasons why
The "boys" did a great job yesterday and worked over 8 hrs to get it done. Some final touches remain. Two of them said the office is jealous because they listen to me. I told them they better behave and listen to them even if they don't like the attitude. Their answer is "but you're one of us". I had no answer. My friend had better pick up the reins....they'll listen to her. More negotiating is needed on Monday either before I go to the Mall or when I return.
Now I must go and have brekkie and find something to do that does not involve or irritate eyes and sinuses
The only things that come to mind are sleeping and sex!
HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE AND HAPPY MONDAY FOR THOSE JUST STARTING OUT THEIR NEW WEEK!

PS~ The post I made yesterday was an e-mail sent to me by Hotcupojava....I see I forgot to put that on the top of the post

You girls have been busy again. I am sitting here putting off my sleep as it's not really happening properly with the head cold. I am sure I was awake much more than asleep last night.
Loved reading the post with all the ???...thought they were so funny.
I vote for the hair MEL you will feel so much better for it. After getting mine done this time I wonder why i take so long in-between and then i remember ...$$$$
Shad...it sounds as if you are in full force with your cleaning and painting top to toe, now what happened to that holiday of yours?? I know if you are anything like me and DH we love to get stuff accomplished in the weekends as well, it sounds as if you deserved a morning off....i can't believe that you made it home in one bout. YOu must have really wanted to get home, it's such a LONG ride. I knew exactly what you meant by sticky beak...but them I guess I am "in the know". The All Blacks did well last night eh? I was very happy to see some clever moves there....not so clever too but a good win regardless....lots of room for improvement. I would love to hear from you before I go...and I will pass on anything you like to tig ...except my cold!

Hope all the girlies on holidays are having a lovely time.

Now only 5 more sleeps...tomorrow is getting some $$$ from the bank and then starting to pack, it's good because we are packing opposite seasons, hope I won't need a rain coat. I know it can be very storny this time of year.
Hopefully the weather Gods are shining down on me.
Happy....i love the smell of Basil. It really makes me feel as if summer has arrived. Enjoy the garden. I might just give mine a lst minute look tomorrow depending on the sniffles. I am a little worried about the nose on the plane, hopefully better by then, it was a weird cold this time, it went and then came back again!

Must fly as the night time "night and day" is beginning to kick in.
Happy Sundays...and Mondays
Suzi

hello to all
Well the weather finally broke here late on during the week and now it is very windy and we have had some showers. Today I was driving back from church 3 miles away and it rained but it hadn't rained at all at home...

I am ashamed. Very ashamed. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist on Thursday and got on his scales..all because he said "have you lost some weight?" so on I got and.... I have put on all the weight I previously lost. ALL OF IT...ALL OF IT.
To say I am devastated is putting it mildly. So it's back to it. Here I am on day 3
I am quite suprised really as I am still wearing last years summer trousers (all apart from my black pair) but I knew I had put on round the stomach and tummy area. Will I ever get this right?I wouldn't mind so much but it could, as you mostly know, be the very death or life of me as far as needing a heart transplant goes. Aaaaaaaargh. I cannot believe it!!!!!!!
OK thats enough ranting from me for one night.

The world cup final is about to start...Italy v France.hmmmmmmmn.I wonder....?

Only 3 weeks to go till my holiday to the New Forest. Should be lovely.

Spoke to LiNUS late last week. She is still struggling with post-natal depression and is still not decided on the using of anti-depressant medication. I know it is not the be all and end all but they can help with the physical symptoms. Her sister is also suffering with depression currently so I think they are muddling along together.

Ah well. Sorry not to speak to anyone in particular but dinner is calling!! Turkey escalope with rice and ratatouille. Fairly harmless I think.

Bye all. Take care.

R&R has been had. Long walks, swimming, sitting around a fire having a few cocktails,bike rides, more swimming,more walks, cooking on the fire, chit chatting.........................

Came home late this aft and cleaned a bunch. Everything was tidied on Friday. We are all bathed and ready for bed.Looking sunkissed and squeaky clean.

Morning all,

Quick post as I am getting ready to go to lunch with DB1 and DSIL. We are going down to the Gold Coast. Might be fun. They like it down there. We will probably go to Pacific Fair and wander amid the shops and dine on the Rue Noumea - French style cafes and shop on the Boulevarde. I haven't been there for years - or at least not since Mooz49's daughter came to visit.

Went to dinner with DB2 yesterday. He seems to have received a bit of a shake up at work and is contemplating his future with the company. It seems that one of his co-workers got caught misappropriating funds (gambling problem) and the Sales Manager originally hushed it up and got counselling for the man - not only because he was nice, but because he couldn't afford to lose another driver, they were already one down. When the parent company (Coca Cola) found out, they immediately sacked the driver and reprimanded the Manager. The Manager has resigned. My DB has had a big fright - it could have been him. He tells me he faced up to a lot of truths that day and saw a bad fate in front of him. Let's just hope the fright lasts.

We had a Chinese dinner. I had a mixed entree and lamb sate and it was very nice and quite cheap but I notice there is no weight loss this morning despite a heavy workout and little food yesterday. Mind you there was no loss for the last 2 days even considering the exercise I've been doing. I guess patience is the key word but this weight sure does test the patience from time to time. I'll just keep journalling and weighing and exercising and hoping.

Clueless in New Jersey.

Apples & oears = stairs
porky pies = lies
meat pies = eyes or spies
trouble & strife = wife
rubbity dub = pub
frog and toad = road.

So now you will know what we are yakking about when you hear us say:
I'm off down the frog and toad to the rubbity. If the trouble and strife meat pies ya, porky for me willya?

Gotta go. Shower and shave time before the family arrive.

I've been to the aunt and uncles yesterday and part of the day today. I found out yesterday that there are coyote's in their woods. Remind me not to go out there, even with their grandchildren, alone. Also was told that the National Wildlife Association released some cougars out by the other uncles farm.

I had stomach problems today but think the above is what caused it.

Mel--Tell Java to come back for a visit. I've not thought about DayQuil.

Shad-- Will you come to my house when you finish your cleaning?

Happy- I didn't have to stop by a farmer's market. My produce came from my uncles garden. I may stop tomorrow night and get some watermelon.

Holly--Must have been nice to get to get away from the house for a couple of day's.

Suzi--Hope you are feeling better. Don't want you to be sick on your vacation.

Think I'm going to change the sheets on the bed and go to bed. I'm still exhausted. Think I've had to many trips and not enough rest.