Holding tightly to joy in the moment today.

No. No. Not happy about the microfibre being a cat magnet. Sigh. Why do I even have cats? They knock all the small objects off the counters, throw towels on the floor, shed hair over all my black clothing, sing loudly for no reason in the middle of the night, and destroy anything that isn’t nailed down (and a few things that are). And then, just when I am ready to sauté them with a nice port reduction, they crawl into my lap and look at me with the big green eyes and purr, and I’m lost again. Alien mind control, that’s what I think.

Lovely looking day this morning. Think it’s going to be another warm one. I’m feeling slightly fragile today due to a patio, a lovely but too large meal, and an ill-advised bottle of white wine last night. It’s been a tough couple of weeks. See, Carla, it happens to us all, but you are right we can’t use these things as excuses. After all, the world is full of reasons not behave. Look at you following though. I vow to follow your example today.

Happy~ Yay vacation is here! Put aside the crystal reports and enjoy yourself. I guess by now our Lovely Lady of the Southern Hemisphere has arrived? You were probably up half the night and have only now gotten to bed. Have a great time. I went back and read your Shad vacation itinerary and it really made me laugh. Enjoy some blues music for me, will you?? Watching laundry fluff could be fun in the right company.

Ruth~ Hi!

Mel~ Stay in and stay cool, honey. I’m not sure what is happening with the weather. I think we’ve also had unnaturally warm May… but wait, it will probably become unseasonable cold just about the time Shad shows up. *crosses fingers*

Ceejay~ Keep up the good work. You’ll be reaching your goals in no time. Maybe we need to declare June official exercise month?

Carla~ lately I’ve been going out for a bike ride at the same time I usually leave for the gym. Somehow exercising outside in the lovely morning air is so much more satisfying than the same time in a stuffy building. We have so little good weather it seems criminal to waste any of it. I do sometimes bike to work too and change out of my bike gear into work clothes… but I don’t like starting the day all sweaty, so some mornings I bike to the gym, work out and then go to work after I’ve cleaned up. Depends. Any small movement I can fit into my day seems to help, I think. And you have sad stubble? Thank gawd that hair grows out. Did they at least make it an interesting colour? Why is it they can put a man on the moon but they can’t help us find someone who can do a consistently good haircut?

Holly~ Cute! Funny, I just went on a search for the lyrics and the ones I found weren’t the ones I remember singing in choir as a kid. I like this part in what I found:
Joy, daughter of Elysium
Thy magic reunites those
Whom stern custom has parted;
All men will become brothers
Under thy gentle wing. Our Joy’s magic seems to be doing some re-uniting or at least introducing.

Not to be a downer, and I’m trying not to dwell on bad news but it is hard. My friend is not doing very well and they have essentially sent her home where they are going to try to buy her as much time as they can. She is a fighter. I can’t wrap my head around it yet. Can I ask something of the chicks here? If you think something might be wrong go to the doctor, ok? It doesn’t hurt to get tested and anything is better than this. My sis’s biopsy report is due tomorrow. Hoping that at least will have a better outcome.

Ok, having sucked all the joy out of the room I’ll go face today. Tomorrow I’ll be out riding a 50k charity bike ride (if the rain holds off). Some days physical exercise is the ONLY thing that makes any sense.

MADCAT I AM SENDING MANY HUGS, PRAYERS AND GOOD THOUGHTS YOUR WAY. MY BEST ADVICE TO YOU IS NOT TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND IT RIGHT NOW. ENJOY THE TIME SPENT WITH YOUR FRIEND AND LET THE HEAD JUST "BE". THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME LATER ON FOR THOUGHT. PLEASE STOP APOLOGIZING FOR SHARING YOUR LIFE WITH US. GOD KNOWS I HAVE HAD MANY DOWN TIMES MYSELF. NONE OF US COULD SUCK THE JOY RIGHT OUT OF THE ROOM BY SHARING THE MORE FRAGILE SIDES TO OUR LIVES. THAT'S LIFE AND THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AS WELL.

Madcat, so sorry to hear the sad news about your friend.
Never hesitate to share the bad as well as the good. That's what friends are for.
Biking 50 k while feeling fragile? What a woman!! Oh - just rechecked and that's tomorrow. So rest up a bit, rehydrate, and get those electrolytes back in balance. And enjoy!

Today is day 2 of the new regime, slept better than I have in a couple of weeks. Hmmm, now what was different? Could it be all the cranberry juice, or is it this short visit to the land of the abstemious? Tomorrow is hiking day, going with a very fit friend The woman will wear me out and drive me to exhaustion, a little dynamo. Fortunately she also likes to talk, so may not notice too much that instead of chatting I'm gasping for air. If I never post again you'll know I'm in jail for indulging a homicidal fantasy or else the blackfly and skeeters got me.

Mel, we're having the weird weather here too. Hot, humid, lots of thunderstorms. At least last night's storm will have rinsed away some of the pesticide my idiot condo had sprayed on our back yard. Yes, green grass looks nice. But why pollute the environment? Why make it unsafe for me to take my cat out on his leash? What about the cute little bunny that was out there the other night? All to kill off some poor dandelion that wasn't hurting anybody. The worst part is that our super and his family live right beside the lawn, the kids play on it, his wife has MS, it's gotta be doing them no good at all, and yet apparently he's the one who wants the lawn sprayed. Go figure. End of rant.

No sign of life from Happy and Shad yet today. Either Madcat isn't the only fragile one or they're still at the airport trying to explain Shad to Homeland Security. (No, officer, she didn't say she had a bomb, she said the meal on the flight cost a bomb. Well, no, I've never actually met her before, but... Why do I keep calling her Shad when her name is actually Joy? And why does she keep calling me Happy? Code names? Well, no,you see we belong to this organization - no, not a cult -with a website for worldly chicks, and... No!!! Not a porn site, you idiot, how dare you! Put away those handcuffs!! Somebody help!) As you can see, I have a rich fantasy life...

Ceejay, good for you on that treadmill! I'm always amazed by those who find the incentive to actually get to the gym, especially once it's warm out. You'll get to your 20 min goal in no time if you keep it up. Shad can take you out for a brisk forced march while Happy slaves in the kitchen - assuming they're not in the airport slammer.

Ruth, congrats on the kitchen reno being finished. I need to get mine done, but always manage to put off even finding a designer and contractor. I have a million ideas, and just as many excuses. But no million dollars to make it all go smoothly... Ideally I'd get one of those house flipping guys from tv in here and have him do a pretty but half-assed job in the space of 3 days.

Enough chit-chat. I really must start my day. Hello to Rose and Holly and anyone else I've missed.

Memphis will not be happening today. Happy and Shad my apologies I just don't feel up to the drive. The allergies have gotten worse, watery eyes, sinus drainage in the back of my throat and a slight temperature.

Howdy chicks,

The Shadster has landed. Walked right past her in the airport, focusing on trying to hear her voicemail message on my cell phone. Good thing DH was on the ball We sat up late and talked about SAP. It's a hazard when you're both in the same business.

Sorry that you couldn't make it Ceejay. Perhaps another time. Ok? Hope you feel better.

Things are going well. I need a sit around day to recover from marathon cleaning that went well into the night and ended at 10:46pm right before we left for the airport. Nice to know I won't have to do it again for another year

I'm glad you mentioned about the wine. There are 2 bottles of blush chilling in the refrigerator and a bottle or two of red in the liquour cabinet. Might just break them out tonight - a perfect way to cap off vacation, don't you think? And we have some nice nibblies too - tho right now we are quite full from a lunch of tasty roasted chicken sandwiches. We were really hungry so we took comfort and joy in our lunch.

Oops, just realized I forgot to ring up Mum yesterday. Better do that before she gets on me.

Love to the chicks. Oh and those Jaffas are wonderful

Evening all,
This is me masquerading as Happy. So if I say something wrong she gets kicked off the site and not me

Happy's DH and I sorted each other out while she was whizzing around worrying that I hadn't caught the flight or something and there we were just chatting when she came whizzing back saying she couldn't see me anywhere. Hey am I that skinny that I am invisible??? I think not!

Nice to see that you have all gotten on happily sorting out a home for the month of June. I wonder what the collective creative genii will come up with for July. You really are a crazy bunch - but as Benny Hill would have said - I may be mad but I am completely lovable - fits you lot to a T.

Happy is making the salad, DH is firing up the grill - poor man is worn out, he needs to go to bed early tonight. These late night forays are for the young and fit.

Ceejay - you should have just come on over and we could commiserate our various sinus ailments together. I landed with a huge headache and a bloody nose last night. The headache wasn't completely gone this morning, but I'm fine now. Remind me never to send my sinus' to Arizona. A bit of humidity is a great healer.

Mel are you ready yet? I have my dancing shoes, we can do the tango around the Statue of Liberty together. Whaddya mean - no way?

Tomorrow we are off to the zoo. I hope the three of us manage to make it home and none of us get picked up as an escaped animal!!!

That bottle of wine Happy was threatening me with is calling I think. Best go see what it wants, however I am no longer capable of drinking 4 of them. One will do.

See you tomorrow.

This is Happy being Happy. Why you ask? Well we've uncorked the wine.

On a serious note - Madcat I am very sorry to hear about your friend. Love and prayers to her

Yippee for Shad and Happy!! it is really quite exciting.

(((Mrs Mad)))))

I am printing the church newsletter and baking Granola Bars. Feeling quite content with my life. It's been a long while. Less chaotic and things have settled into a routine of sorts. Kids and i had a great day. Soccer, running thri the sprinkler, I went for groceries and gave my Grandma a perm, back home for supper and more frolicking, hubby is at a friends. Finished reading Charlotte's web to the kids tonight. We read a chapter a night.

Well, best go check on the bars...nighty night.

HAPPY AND SHAD WILL BE OVERSLEEPING IF THIS CELEBRATING CONTINUES! THE DH WILL BE PRYING THEM OFF THE FLOOR OR OUT OF THEIR BEDS TO DO THE TOURIST THING! HAVE FUN!

CARLA~ THE WEED KILLER IS UNREAL. HAVE WE ALL LEARNED NOTHING FROM DISEASES? I CAN SYMPATHIZE
WITH THE SUPER'S FAMILY. I CANNOT BE GOOD FOR HER OR THE KIDS OR THE POOR BUNNY!!!!! WHEN I BUY SPRING SALAD THE DANDIES ARE IN THERE
GREAT DIURETIC! LOL GOOD LUCK ON THE ABSTINENCE TRAIL!!!

CEEJAY~ SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT FEELIN BADLY. HOPE YOU GET WELL SOON. THE ENTIRE WORLD IS SUFFERING FROM SINUS ISSUES OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER. FEEL BETTER

HOLLY~GET READY....SHAD WILL BE MOVING IN YOUR DIRECTION SOON. LOL

I AM RESTING UP A BIT FOR THE NEXT TWO BUSY DAYS. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM AT ALL.
PLEASE DON'T THINK I GOT LOST OUT THERE IN THE CEMENT JUNGLE IF I DISAPPEAR FOR A DAY OR TWO.
THERE JUST MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH TIME TO POST.
MORE RAIN AND CLOUDS SO I WILL DO THE INDOOR THING!! LOL TO BE HONEST, THE AIR QUALITY IS NOT GREAT FOR ME RIGHT NOW. I CAN FEEL THE STRESS OF IT. NOT MUCH BUT IT'S THERE. OK I GOTTA GET CLOTHES READY ETC SO I CAN STAY FOCUSED ON MODERATION THIS WEEK.
HAVE A GREAT DAY AND HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

good morning chicks,
A hot, sunny day ahead. Maybe a trip to the zoo. DH is trying to avoid a migraine. Must have more coffee before we can be coherant. Back later...

Hot and sunny here too! Just back from Church and have to share this:

It was Hershey's day to attend Church. She was sleeping soundly under the pew when I went up to the altar for Communion. When I came back, she was gone. There she was at the back finishing off the banana cake with cream cheese icing that Frances had brought to have with our after Church coffee! Not a crumb was left or the oblong cake which Frances had cut up and put out on paper plates. It's a good thing our congregation has a sense of humour!

I'm off to finish laundry and maybe work in some gardening although it's darned wet out there. My lane still looks like a construction zone. A lad is coming to pick up part of the old kitchen cabinets and counter which will help a bit but still.....I don't want Shad to think she's visiting a hurricane struck area.

Have a serene Sunday!

Morning all,
This is not Happy, c'est moi.

We've made the decision on todays activites. We're off to the Zoo and butterfly house. Sounds like fun.

Nice warm sunny day where we are. We've set the world to rights and belittled the politicians and just about everything else. Yakety yak blah blah blah blah.

Madcat - so sorry about your friend. Hope the diagnosis on your sister is way better than that. Rant and rave, sometimes it is the only way to get around bad news. Throw things if necessary but be sure to open the door or window first.

Ruth - my house is in constant renovation. I don't have a problem with cabinets in the lane or loos out in the barn or the kitchen sink in the home paddock - it's normal.

Okay, maybe we are now all ready. One was, the other two weren't then another was but the other now wasn't. Life gets tricky don't it.

Shad--Life isn't normal at my house either and there is just one of me. What does that say?????On second thought don't answer that.

Mel--We understand but some of us may forget where you are. Sometimes there isn't enough hours in the day.

Ruth--To funny about Hershey. The journals are extremely quite today.

Happy--You and Shad have fun today at the zoo.

Morning darlin’s. Taking a day off the gym since I am still a bit sore from the 50K ride yesterday - mostly in my back, shoulders and my, ahem ,bits. We have a rainy day today. I can hear the sloshing sound of the cars on the wet road. It should be fun working in the big tower in the sky.

Ceejay~ Normal is highly overrated.

Ruth~ Oh my. Hershey was obviously thinking of the waistlines of the whole congregation. What a funny girl!

Shad~ Hope you had a fun time at the zoo. Hopefully they let you all leave at the end of the visit and didn’t think there was an item missing from their Oceana exhibit.

Happy~ Hope your DH was feeling ok. Enjoy your rambling with the Shad-ster.

Melody~ Good luck with the election madness. Hope the air improves for you. I wonder if there is anything we can do to compensate for the poor quality of air? I’m ok as long as I don’t breathe deeply.

Holly~ Glad you are having a nice time in your life. Can I come run through your sprinkler? Did your children like Charlotte’s Web? What did they think of the ending?

Ok I better go shower and get this day started. Thank you all for your good wishes for my sister and my friend. I am trying to approach this by my friend’s philosophy in that sometimes people have to live in the day since we have no idea what tomorrow will bring and no amount of worry and anxiety will change what will happen. As she says: “Every day is a gift. Every single day. Good days, bad days. And what you do with gifts is spend them.”

Hi to all the chicks I missed!

THE DAY BEGAN AN HOUR AGO. LOTS OF PHONES AND DOORBELLS ALL WEEKEND AND IT BEGINS AGAIN TODAY. I WILL RETURN WEDNESDAY.
SHAD~ WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE IF THE CAR WILL BE HERE. IF IT IS I WILL CALL HAPPY'S. I MUST CHECK ON YOUR ITINERARY TO SEE WHEN YOU LEAVE THERE....OR CAN ONE OF YOU POST THE TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM HAPPY'S HOME. DON'T WANT TO CALL AFTER YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE!!
LOVE TO ALL. READ THE POSTS. LAUGHED AT HERSHEY'S CAKE. HAPPY ZOO TIME! CEEJAY GET WELL SOON.