Shannon We can always start over here, even you . Many of us have, more than once. If you don't feel like writing your posts just put up a bunch of smilies.




Dagmar (all of the above smilies right now)

Morning all,

Work has finally hit that time each spring when it goes from "normal" busy, whatever that is, to . Despite that I have told myself this year I can't let that interfere with life, with vacations with my family and spending time with friends and loved ones. I don't get paid enough. I've also missed a lot of yoga in the past few months due to being away for work work meetings and I'm trying to get back into weekly practice.

BF and I hope to go camping this weekend as an early birthday trip for him. He's worried about potential stormy weather Saturday and having the boat tied up, so we'll look at the forecast and decide tonight or tomorrow. We could both use a break, him especially. His sister is causing him a lot of stress right now and has told him she's disowned him. He is very hurt and stressed, and really worried about her kids. I've posted about this before, though I haven't really gone into specifics. I just wish I could make it better, or at least shield him so he wouldn't be so hurt by her.

Hi Shannon! Glad to see you.

Hi Ahna! Welcome!

Jessica, there are a lot of fitness pants (even ones called compression pants specifically) right now that are very form fitting, and fashions are such that most go up to or close to the belly button. Maybe a pair of those would help. I got some from Old Navy last year that were affordable and better quality than I thought they would be.

Jen, oh those poor babies. Yeah, I've gotten that look from mine a few times. Pitiful, just pitiful. Haha.

Allison, I'm terrible with names. It's bad in such a small town because I'll know I know someone's face and end up in conversation with them. They clearly know me. My doctor's office has a picture of each patient in their file. I sometimes think I need to carry something like that around. "Phyllis. Met at Richard's party in October. Has 2 dogs." Or whatever. Is there an app for that?

Have a good day all!

Good morning, peeps.

Megan - if there isn't an app for that there should be. Snap a quick pic of the person, make some notes, call it up as needed.

What a phenomenal idea! I'd totally buy it! I'm terrible with names and I try so hard to remember the kids names at my school-- we have almost 1100 kids! I keep trying....

It would definitely have to include face recognition software. It would let you covertly snap a photo of that "familiar face" you see and compare it to your database. Bing! The person would come up. I need a computer person to partner with and I'll make my millions.

Won't that come built-in to our Google Glasses?

Look at someone and their name appears on our screen along with their SO's name and conversation triggers to avoid.

Wasn't that what the bad guy was wearing in Sherlock's last episode of series 3? Some Google Glass kind of thing. That would be awesome.

Oh, and the SO name is a great add. I can't tell you how many times I've been identified by the XW's name places.

Mudpie is belly up on our front porch, looking like she's been dropped from a great height and just splatted. It's sunny and warm out there, and she has shelter from passers by. A guy with 5 dogs in tow just passed and the Pie didn't twitch a whisker. I will leave her to sunbathe while I shower.

Poor Mishi is cowering inside. Even treats don't lure him out any more. Poor little man - he so used to enjoy relaxing in the garden. I put the weight bench near the back door so he can hide under it but he's not interested.

Dagmar

Love that app idea. A former student of mine and his friends wrote feathr. Like feather, but no er, just r. Anyway it sounds sort of like what you explained. The idea was when you go to a conference and you meet people, you can get each other's info using the app, including a picture. It's sort of to replace business cards. He and his friends would go to young entrepreneur meetings and no one would have a business card, so that's how it came about. But, I don't think it has face recognition in it! They have been given a lot of investment money the past few years but not sure if it is profitable or not. But I like what you have suggested better, it's simpler and seems like would be needed by many people. I just don't know anything about face recognition software.

I'm trying to finish up an app I started about a year ago, it's a puzzle game for ms/HS kids. I have no idea how I have had time to work on these since I work three jobs, teach at a HS, teach one night a week at a college and teach online for another university! When DD graduates next year I'm going to probably just work the HS job and work on apps! We are getting her through with no debt. DH is a financial planner and refuses debt! I agree with him, but she ended up at a very expensive school. The school gives us a lot of financial aid, but we still have a lot to pay. She is very frugal though and has worked the whole time and summers and I'm amazed at how little she spends on food each month in NYC. Thank goodness she's getting a tech degree because if she was getting something where it would be hard to find a job, I don't think we would be doing this. My DS is not at all frugal, but he was in state and had a full scholarship so it wasn't too bad but I swear he spent 2x as much as she does each month on food, allegedly.

Anyway, once I release my first app, I have an idea for a second one and then I'll be able to partner with your great ideas!

Wow Cal Counter! That is amazing re: your college kids. We haven't been so frugal and our dd's both have/will have a pretty big chunk of debt to repay. We got zero financial aid and they both went/go to very expensive schools. We help as much as possible and they do work but we can only do so much. My older dd is now working (as a Special Ed teacher) as has started to repay her student loans. My younger dd is a sophomore in college now. I have an elderly uncle that always said he'd help with college for them but I've never asked. We are well off financially (just not well enough off to afford all the college!) so it doesn't seem right. I know I'm in his will (and he is well off) so eventually we may use whatever I inherit to help the girls pay off their debts.

I just want to give a public hug to Allison. She knows why. What a sweet friend that I've never even met.....

On the subject of friends..... I have a "friend" at yoga. I'm 47 years old and I want to see about extending the friendship beyond pleasantries at yoga. I laugh at myself because I'm so awkward knowing how to do that!!! She is also a teacher and we've emailed a few times so I had her email address. I finally bucked up and emailed asking her if she wants to get coffee after yoga on Sunday. She said yes and seems excited! Hooray!

Books rule, Michele!

I don't know if I've ever shared this with you but when my kids were little and were invited to a birthday party the rule was that they could give the child anything they wanted to AND a book (which I usually chose). My DD especially has a love of books like I do. DS, if he finds the right book, also loves to read but isn't a voracious reader like DD and myself.

And thanks for the hug!

You're welcome. I love that "rule"! I've been known to give books for just about any and all occasions and my girls did often give books for birthday gifts. While they are both voracious readers, my eldest dd is much more so than my youngest. When my youngest finds a book she likes, she will sit and read it in its entirety (and she is a fast reader). But, she may not pick up a book for a month. My eldest dd reads every day and will reread old favorites over and over. I'm kind of in between. While I love reading, I do it all day long for my job. I tend to take breaks from at home reading but read a lot during the summer and always on trips. I'm already planning my cruise/airplane reading and debating how many books to bring. I have one for my book club that looks boring but I'm thinking I should bring it over some of the ones I really want to read or I may not get it done.

I love books. My mother used to make me stop reading and go outside when I was a kid if I got in trouble, otherwise I would read all day. LOL

CalCounter - I just looked up Feathr, I may give it a try. It looks cool, even without face recognition.

Dagmar - Is Misha having trouble with the new house, or had he stopped going outside before that?

Michele - I get the worry over inviting your friend to coffee. I hope you guys have a great time!

I exercised last night, ate a moderately healthy dinner from a portion standpoint, though it was takeout I picked the better of the options. Have to move boxes in our work storage unit and shred the contents of some 70 or so of them today. I'm going to call that exercise I think. DH has been on vacation this week, and has DSS at our house today, then he is with us all weekend.

Popping in to wave hi. I gave in a took the dog to daycare for her exercise yesterday because I knew I wouldn't give it to her, though I did go to my yoga class. By the time I went to class, then to the store, then spent an hour making a Greek salad and dressing (because I'd gotten the idea into my head and wanted one) I was tired and it was far too late to start any schoolwork, which is what I should have been doing last night.

Sigh. Treading water here and not moving anywhere.