frouf, that's why doyle was my favorite cousin till he married rhonda. (now she's my fav!) he is a teddy bear with an awesome sense of humor. i'm sure he kept you girls entertained at lunch. he's a joy to be around.

kathy, we're having lucy/ricky moments here today, too. i guess all of us have our times, don't you? i hope you don't have to do as much repair as we are.

here's our lucy/ricky episode:



saturday lucy was to do much needed laundry. she was only able to get 2 loads dried after hours and hours or "restarting." so she told ricky who immediately checked the filter. it was clean. so obviously they needed a new dryer.

$400 later on sunday afternoon lucy and ricky had a receipt and appt for a new dryer to be delivered tuesday am.

meanwhile laundry kept piling up higher and higher. lucy was anxious for tues to get here so life would once again be normal.


tues am the deliverymen got here promptly with the new dryer., unloaded it and tossed the kaput one into their truck to haul to the dump. however, all was not well.

after much turmoil ricky determined that the problem had not been with the old dryer. the problem was --------clogged ductwork between the dryer downstairs and the outtake vent upstairs.

here the story gets more complicated.


lucy and ricky used a shop vac to try to dislodge the crud. at one point part of the shop vac came loose and was lost to sight somewhere between the downstairs and upstairs between the floor/ceiling. two new holes now adorn the downstairs bathroom ceiling but the missing part is now found and back where it belongs.

ricky has gone to town (there wasn't a car smiley) to get new ductwork.

preview of the next episode:


lucy and ricky install new ductwork, repair damaged ceiling, and begin washing and drying mountains of laundry.

lucy and ricky , eat some core snacks , and kick back to watch television.

life is good.

or---will new pop up to cause more havoc?

turn in tomorrow to 3fc core board to find out.

Just popping out of lurkdom to say:

Sandra - you crack me up.

Frouf - I feel bad for you guys for some reason I've always liked the Senators even though I live in Det. I was rooting for them yesterday, but to no avail .

Tech

donna, glad you popped out of lurkdom. how about staying with us longer? we need you.

Sandra, you and Curtis sound like me and Jim! We are afraid to say what next?

No news from the Doctor. They closed at 5:00 so I guess we have to wait until Thursday morning now. Sigh.

vickie, is your doctor's office closed wednesday? i hate for you to have to wait. maybe no news is good news, though. i hope so.

Hi Everyone
Hope everyone is doing ok.
Well went to WW yesterday. Lost 1/2 lb for 2 weeks. Cause we didnt have a meeting last Monday. With it being the holiday. No much of a loss. But at least it isnt a gain.
We finally got some rain. Need much more. But I guess a little bit is better than none.
Not much going on here. Just havent felt like doing anything today. Just felt blah. Did wash 3 loads of clothes. But it took 3 hours to dry towels. And now on 2nd hour of drying jeans. I am thinking I may need a new dryer. Or need to get it checked to see if it needs a new heating element. OR what ever it takes to make it hot. BUt it feels hot. So dont know. Have probably had it around 10 or 12 years. So probably ready for a new one.
VICKIE Will keep you and hubby in my prayers.
ONTARGET Love your lucy story. Sounds like me and my hubby.
KATPO Will keep you and your family in my prayers also.
FROUFY How are you doing. Hope you are doing ok.
TO EVERYONE ELSE I am thinking of each of you.
Well am going to get off here and check the rest of my mail.
So have a wonderful evening everyone
coco

Hi All:

We arrived back home this afternoon, and I've read all the posts since we left.

I won't respond to all but have got to say what a cutie that Sarah is; still on my knees for you and Jim, Vickie; and, Kathy, the family visit by grown children sounds familiar! Also to Cindy.

We had a great trip. We flew to Ottawa, took a steam train to Wakefield, Quebec where we stayed in a beautiful inn, returned to Ottawa where we spent two days. Some friends joined us in Quebec for dinner, and we met Frouf for lunch.

Frouf did one for the Chickies....she could have stayed at home in warm pj's drinking tea, but she slogged out in the drizzle and cold and joined us for lunch. DH and I did go to the Parliament buildings. I want to tell you that they are exquisite!!! If you are ever in Ottawa, take the time to visit. They are stately and majestic. They are not huge or overpowering, but they convey a sense of seriousness and history. I've been to Ottawa about 20 times, and this is the first time I've been to the Parliament buildings. I think DH and I will go back.

My eating was not as OP as I had thought it would be, but it was not as uncontrolled as it could have been given the environment that I was in. Basically, there was food and good food everywhere! aaargggghhhhh. OK, then, tomorrow!!!

Have a good night everyone.

Rhonda

coco, check out those duct vents before you buy a new dryer.

rhonda, okay, i want to go to ottowa now. i have never been. it sounds like you had a great time. the train ride must have been gorgeous. and frouf! i'm so glad you could get together.

the lucy/ricky series continues:

as of 5 pm tuesday
one hole has doubled in size. ricky has fled to ace for more parts and pieces.

did i mention we're having a downpour?

ONTARGET
I will have hubby or son check out the dryer hose. We just have a vent in the basement wall. And then the hose is connected to it. THANKS!!.Will let you know what happens.
coco

Chicks....I'm crying here with relief! ENT called long after visiting hours. Said he didn't want Jim to have to wait with no news until Thursday since he does surgeries on Wednesday. The Technician or Doctor (whomever reads the reports) gave an all clear on Jim's CT scan. ENT says the Tech is top notch and he expects that the final conclusion will be all clear. The ENT likes to review the actual films himself. He's a really conservative, terrific Doctor. He'll look at the films after his surgeries on Wednesday and then he and Jim will talk again. The only weird news is that one of Jim's glands/nodes is shaped differently than the others? Apparently it was shaped differently already in March 2006 when he had the surgery. Jim wasn't clear on whether or not there had been any change. We'll know more on Thursday, but regardless, the ENT acted as if this was just information and not anything to do anything about.

Thank you SO very much to all of you whom have again held my cyber hand through my latest crisis. Your prayers and good wishes meant the world to me. I've given myself a headache and am looking forward to an early bedtime.

Sandra, I hope things get resolved and quiet for you and Curtis again quickly.

Coco....way to go....a loss is a loss!

Rhonda, welcome back! I'm glad you had a great trip. How lucky that you and Frouf got to visit with each other.

Whew, Vickie!! Let's all hope that Thursday's consultation verifies all of this good news!!!!

You'll certainly be sleeping better tonight, knowing that the tests were clear and that the ENT has enough confidence in the readings that he would phone you.

Night all,
Rhonda

wonderful news, vickie!!! thank you so much for sharing it with us. we've all been on pins and needles with you.

i am now doing laundry. we still have 2 huge holes in the downstairs bathroom ceiling, but who cares? we taped a large target over them. now is that appropro or what!

oh thank god Vickie,,,,I know how much this has been on your mind. Now you and Jim can relax...and enjoy that pool. Work off that stress on there.
Sandra tough about the dryer. Could you bring the new dryer back..or do you want to?
Coco that is a good loss...keep it up
Welcome back Tejas,,,,Id like to learn more about that train? is there a link somewhere..my dd lives in Ottawa. Glad you got to meet Froufy..lucky you.
Why are you lurking Tech?? come on out adn play with us...
Im off to the city again tomorrow..to help my friend with buying her flowers. It makes me laugh though. She will spend so much money on beautiful flowers and by the end of July they will be dead. She is lazy (and admits it) and will not water them. I wish she would just give me the flowers for my yard..haha. We do this every year....oh well its her money. I get to go to the city and will prob pick up a few more plants myself.
Will see you all on thursday..
be good!

Great news, Vickie! I'm not sure of his symptoms and the reason for tests (or whatever the doctor was suspicious of) ... still though, I trust the technicians because they see it ALL. I'm glad it all is going well.

Sandra, you are killing me with the story! We had a bad washer incident Christmas before last and Judd ended up pretty much rebuilding the whole thing. It's a good Maytag so I hated to scrap it; and he was very pleased with himself after the "remodel". It has gone strong since then ... but I also have experience with the stopped up dryer vent. We were just about to buy a new one and figured out the problem in the nick of time.

Our carpet in the bathroom has dried out and all is well in there. Fortunately, master bathroom is on the first floor and on a concrete slab.

Shaun left on time today and will spend the night with my third cousin who lives in San Diego and is picking him up. He'll report to the ship tomorrow but has to iron everything because he has to show up in his dress whites. I'm sure he'll get it all worked out. He came here with a little backpack and left with two huge suitcases of clothes. He had gone thru all the clothes that I stored in one of the guest room's closets and took some of them back. Good news is that he went over to the storage unit and said there isn't anything in it that he wants/needs. I'll call the mission to meet me there on Saturday and we will empty it out and that'll be the end of it.

My weight has gone out of control; tonight was 148. I know better than to weigh at night, but this morning was 146. There HAS to be a solution to this. Tomorrow's a new day but unless I make drastic changes, these 5-6 pounds will turn into 25-30. I am determined not to do it. I weighed 130-135 my entire adult life and gained with my first broken ankle and a summer of sitting in a wheelchair + taking steroids. After it was over, I weighed 177. I started WW, lost 40 pounds over the next year and a half and have maintained it for two years. This is uncharted territory for me because there's never been a big gain, big loss, and regain. I think 5 pounds is the most I've regained since this whole saga started ... and so that's why I'm pretty upset about it.

Well, anyway ... it's what I'm thinking about tonight. At least I didn't flood the bathroom again. Oh and speaking of that, I have grounded myself from the tub and will take showers for a month. Lord knows I love my bath because it's my "me" time, but oh well! Punishment is punishment and I'll surely live over it.

Rhonda and Frouf, it sounds like you had a great time! Rhonda, I'm so glad you had such a good trip.

Better get to bed now. I have to work 10-11 hours for the rest of the week to make up for short days I had today and yesterday. Oh and I'm waiting to hear from Chase Bank on my part-time job. I hope it comes thru because it'll pay Erin's apartment rent if I can get it. It'll just be 8 hours on Friday and Saturday nights (6 pm til 2:30 am). Might be hard but I need a little more help than financial aid is paying on grad school.

Nighty night!

Oh Vickie - what wonderful news - I am actually crying tears of joy with you - didn't realize how emotionally involved I was - glad you and Jim can now relax and take it easy!

Coco - congrats on the loss - it's in the right direction!

Rhonda - glad you made it home safe and sound - it was lovely seeing you again and finally meeting Doyle!

Patti - link to the train: www.steamtrain.ca

Sandra - I am enjoying your "Lucy' episode - guess the problem is for you it's real life! - hope "Ricky' is able to patch things up with no further problems!

Open invitation to all chickes to come and visit Ottawa - includes a personal tour by Froufie if requested - and yes I will even leave my warm and comfy froufie hutch to meet you for lunch/dinner/coffee or snacks!

Yes I had home made apple pie and ice cream at work today - yes I really enjoyed it - yes I feel guilty - yes I am eating like a piggy and must get control - stop the madness!

Frouf

P.S. Poor Ray just back from hawaii and got a call sat as he was heading home that his 14 yr old dog Buddy died! He is completely heartbroken - esp as he was not there - already visit the shelter and started playing with an alaskan malamut puppy which I think he might take home - of course as you know his pets are his 'kids' and he is so very attached to them!