Marti - glad you had such a good time with James. I've still got sooooo many strawberries! I like them w/o sugar now, and don't usually eat shortcake with them, either. However, I did make strawberry pies for the cookout yesterday, and had a piece of that. Yum! Are you off today, too, since it's a holiday?

Cristi - oic about the move! Your patio will be so nice when it's finished. Hope you aren't too sore from mowing. You're right - it's great exercise. Not that I would know that from first-hand experience, lol, since it's been years since I mowed with a walk-behind mower. I did learn to use the riding mower last year, and have to say it was kind of fun! Glad Vince has lots of days off, and hope you have lots of fun!

Angie - what kind of flowers are you going to buy? The annuals sure brighten up a yard, don't they? Are you having a party for Brandon, and am I invited, lol.

Susan - I saw and loved the movie Stepmom. The movie came out not too long after my sister died from cancer, so parts of it was really hard for me to watch. But I especially liked the part where Susan Sarandon told Julia Roberts no about the concert, then got the tickets herself for the girl, lol.

We had a great time with Neal's brother, Paul. I ate too much, and feel sluggish because of it. He wants us to meet up in Nashville, IN, and meet his girlfriend later this summer. I already know that I like her because she makes him happy.

Today I hope to just veg out. We don't have any special plans, thank God!

Hope you and yours have a great day!!

Hugs to all the soldiers who continue to keep the USA free!!

Jane you snuck in.... i forgot it was a holiday in the states... hope you are ll having fun!

Good Morning,

Beck is watching Gaby and I am going to sneak up to Starbucks for some coffee and pick up donuts!

Gained this weekend,,,,,,,154 - yikes!

Anywho,,,,,,,I will get it back down.

Susan Sarandon is so beautiful and I noticed they dressed her in a lot of shades of oranges - so pretty with her hair.

Thanks Terri my ex husband did that a lot also when I was with him. Just a sign of someone trying to keep you under their control - total BS and Mike ended his air time with me.
We can't get through a conversation without him making a dig . So, if he wants to talk about Gaby - great.
Otherwise I will be hanging up the phone on him.

K- better get! Busy weekend with the kids and I was up at 4 am going over my budget. lol........high finances here.........NOT.

lol

Have a safe holiday!

Hi Ladies,

Long time now talk, I know. What with the holiday in Canada last weekend things were extra busy at work. I work in the electrical industry and we sell those garden lights so everyone is wanting them for their gardens. PITA I tell you but what can you do.

Last week was also particularily horrid both food and exercise wise. If it wasn't nailed down I ate it, and if I could I rested on my butt as much as possible. I've been feeling particularily BLEH due to the arrival of TOM, so hopefully my mood can only improve.

Anyway, I took out my journal again last night and started to write again. (don't know why I stopped to begin with) It's time I started to be more accountable again. I've also started to read Dr. Phil's book again. I know I need the extra boost right now.

Anyway, I did read all the posts from last week so I think I am pretty much caught up.

JANE How was katy's party? Everything went well I hope?

SUSAN You know what hun? I seriously agree with TERRI. I think you need a more professional lawyer. It doesn't seems as if he/she? is very professional. They should be communicating with Mike's Lawyer for imformation. As for Mike not having to let you know where he is going? Ummm YES he DOES. He seriously needs a slap upside the head. The guy is psycho. The stress he causes you is terrible. JMHO. for what it's worth.


ELLEN Hang in there Hun. HUGE HUGS!!!

KAREY Welcome. I too have a year old baby girl. Her name is Joycelyn (pronounced Jocelyn) and she turned a year old in April. When is your darling angel's birthday?

Well ladies, I gotta go. Time to get back on track. The LEATHER COAT is waiting for my return this fall. LOL.

Anita

Good afternoon and Happy Holiday to you all. I hope you are all enjoying nice sunny weather and having a fun day.
I have been doing the normal Mon. wash and iron chores. No holiday plans for us. It looks like rain, so I am going to go weed for awhile before it either rains or the sun comes out hot and bright.
I will be back tonight.

Mike doesn't have a lawyer Anita - I am just going to stay away from email this week and enjoy Gaby. Not going to care about car seats or custody evaluations........I am exhausted.

Time to enjoy Gaby and the other girls. Gaby is a delight. We spent most of teh day in the yard.....walked , played on a tire swing. It was fun for a change.

Going to do laundry now.......yay, tomorrow we can go back to work!!

Evening ladies--

Had a busy day. I spent a couple hours mowing and weeding the yard. Then I've been messing w/my extra room trying to make a space for scrapbooking and crafts.

I was just watching Opration Reunion.....and I had to get away. Tears were just flowing down my face!! Anyone hear of that show? It's about family members being reunited w/someone who is stationed in Iraq. Very emotional. It's still on, but I needed a break.

Angie--I liked Duplex. It was funny. It was also very irratating!! But good. Sure hope your allergies are getting better. I've heard that the pollen count is very high. Try and get some relaxation before you start another play! Maybe you ought to take another vacation soon!!! Tell your family that if they need you, you'll be in the tropics getting pampered by the Cabana boys!

Susan--I've seen Stepmom. I thought that was a good movie too. They both played a good part and it was an emotional movie. Couldn't keep the tears in towards the end of the movie!

Jane--Glad you had a great time w/your BIL. Always good to visit w/family. So when are you and Neil going to Nashville? You can always tell when someone makes a perfect match for someone.....when they're both happy and just can't talk enough about each other! I had this one girl ask me how long James and I have been together, and when I told her it's almost 7yrs she said: Wow, the way you talk about him I thought you haven't been together long. Made me smile!

Terri--We didn't have any plans for this weekend either. I did manage to get my yard work done and half of the office room done. Tonight I will be tackling it to finish cleaning it up! So as long as we got stuff done that needed to be done, that means we can relax more right???? (probably not but it's a good thought anyway! )

Ellen--Hugs to you!! Just know, that even though you may not really know this girl yet, that she may be the best thing that has happen to your son and your son being the best thing that has happened to her. And a beautiful baby to give tons of hugs and kisses to!! I hope things all work out just fine.

Anita--Good to hear from you. I haven't been doing so well w/the eating department myself. But it's more like....I need to eat I know I do, so why aren't I? I had gone to the dentist last week and ever since then, it's been painful. Plan on dragging my bike out of the shed soon and start riding it. Good exercise!

Sue--I hope you don't get much rain as we did on Saturday! We had a thunderstorm and boy, the rain would not stop! So I was really surprised to see any sun today!

Hello to everyone I may have missed.

Ok....I'm going to go tackle this room I'm sitting in. Go out to the patio and enjoy the weather while it's still nice out and do some laundry. Not necessarily all in that order! You all have a good night!

I did some weeding and got my walk in ..after attacking the laundry and ironing. It never did rain, just got cloudy for awhile.
My eating (or not eating) is going great so far. The exercise....well, lets just say that I started off gung ho and have slowed down some, but I am still walking every day. I lost the 5 pounds I had gained, which means I am back to square one, but that is better than being over square one, so I am not complaining.

Marti, Yardwork is not my cup of tea, so I am glad I don't have to do much of it. Good exercise though. I might be asking your advice on some scrapbooking issues. I have never done it and plan to start....going to Hobby Lobby to look at supplies this week. I'm sure I will be lost.

Anita, I think I will get the Dr. Phil book. Let me know what you think about it. I don't journal, but I did write down what I ate last week and it helped me alot. Actually at lunch I even wrote down what I was having for dinner. It seemed to keep me on track.

Susan, Hang in there. I just thank goodness you got away from a controling man. Look how far you have come. Glad you got to enjoy the girls.

Ellen, You hang in there too. I say congrats are in order for your first grandchild!! Things have a way of working out!

Jane, I hope you got to veg out. You deserve it after all you have done the last few weeks.


Okay, I told Marti I was starting a scrapbook. I have decided to make one of pictures from my sons life and add a few pages of family pictures. This I will give to...guess who? My son has called me and told me he is in love. He is probably going to get engaged this summer. We are excited and pleased for him, as he just sounded so darn happy. The best part, the girl is an old friend of his from here. They "hung out" in school, but never dated because he went with one girl all through high school. He and this friend called and e-mailed and then visited. Love blossomed! She even came here to see us the other night. A real sweetheart. We couldn't be happier for them. The timing isn't the greatest as he has 2 more years of law school, but things don't always happen at the right time. I wouldn't have him miss these feelings for anything. Soooo, now that I talked and talked, I was just going to say the scrapbook is for her. Do you think that is a stupid idea?

Sue--Stupid idea?? Absoulutely not! That is a perfect gift and I would have LOVED to have one of James if his mother was into that sort of thing. I think she'll love it and cherish it! So I think it's a wonderful idea. You'll have fun creating it too...it brings back so many memories and you get to be creative. Any questions you have, I hope I can answer. Just have lots of fun!


Just wanted to check in. I went over to my friends this evening and chatted for a couple hours and had a glass of wine. So much for cleaning up my office room! Will have to tackle that tomorrow or maybe do a couple things it bit.


My tooth is aching so I doubt I'll do much cleaning...I think I'm done for the night.

Have a great night ladies!!

Hugs to all!

ARGHHHHHHHHH!!! I had a long post and lost it!! &^%$#@&&^%!!!

Let me try this again <sigh!>

Ellen - at least your dd is not far away, and you'll be able to see her often. About the other news - how wonderful to have a baby on the way! Your DS and the mama can work out the details, but regardless of what they do, you'll still have a sweet grandchild to love and spoil. Hopefully they will stay together - that would be great. When is the little one due? Now that you have all the extra room in your house, maybe you could make a nursery for when the baby visits you. How soon until we know if you'll need to buy pink things or blue things? Oh how exciting this is!! There is NOTHING to compare with being a grandma!!

Terri - hope your storm wasn't too bad! We were supposed to get rain here, and need some so badly, but never did get any.

Susan - Vincennes got a new Starbucks a couple of weeks ago. Katie and her friends hang out there sometimes, but I've never been. I get my java fix from Neal, lol. He's the coffee maker around here, lol.

Anita - Katie's party was great! We had lots of fun. YAY for you getting back on track. Makes you feel good to be back in control, doesn't it?

Sue - I love the idea of a scapbook for your future DIL. Like Marti, I would've loved something like that from my MIL. Do we know when the wedding is yet? Oh wait... I think you said they aren't officially engaged yet, lol. Let us know, ok?

Marti - Paul is going to let us know which weekend is best for him. He's going with a group from his church to do mission work in Africa, so we will have to work around that. Glad you had a good time with your friend. I'm going to have a lunch and invite several of mine over at once, since I've been neglecting them. Seems like I've just been too busy! So sorry about your tooth! Didn't you just go to the dentist?

Neal's first ballgame is tonight. Here's hoping he has lots of fun and will make a point or two for the team while he's at it. I'll be sitting on the sidelines - his personal groupie, lol.

Take care and I'll yap at ya later!

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE
I just wanted to pop in for a few minutes, and say hello, I am trying to get things done here, I feel a little unwound with so many changes.The baby's due date is jan, 21 and we should know if its a little boy or girl in a couple of months, so you girls will be the first to know. I have been thinking of turning one of the empty bedrooms into a nursery, I would really enjoy that, its been a long time since I had a baby to hold,and I know it will fill my heart. I guess I was unfair,making judgements on their relationship, who am I to decide whats right and wrong.if they are happy I am happy , thats all that matters.I have been under so much stress the last 8 months,I don't know what to feel anymore. A baby is a blessing and one I look forward to. My daughter seems to have settled into her new house and life fine, they are both very happy, and I am happy for them. I talk to her online , when she has a moment at work, and she came for lunch yesterday.The house is quiet a night, and I haven't slept well for the past three nights. I have to find a way to get things pulled together, life doesn't wait for you to catch up does it. I hope everyone is doing well, I will try to do individuals tomorrow,the coffee maker is calling my name, and a paint brush needing to brush, so I will talk to you girls later, Have a wonderful day.

Hi ladies,

Hope today is being good to everyone! I had a fantastic workout this morning. It really does set the tone for the whole day. I have to go though, work is super busy and we are one person down today.

Anita

Afternoon my friends!

Jane--I did go to the dentist. And instead of a cleanup, they poked and prodded to get an idea of what kind of work I need on them. I need the one tooth that is broken looked at by a specialist, and I need my wisdom teeth (3of them) pulled and a couple cavities filled. I must have been a dentists nightmare! But ever since I was there, my wisdom teeth have been bothering me and they haven't bothered me for quite some time!! Really irratating. What a great thing to have a luncheon for your friends!! I told James that we need to get a couple of our friends over for a BBQ this summer. Figure out how to manage a day off for the both of us and his friends. Wouldn't it be great if you could do it up like one of Oprah's luncheons!! Sure wish I was on her invite list!!

Ellen--Jan 21st is my neices birthday! Mine is the 19th and my nephews is the 15th! (I say she should try for my birthday!!) You know, it is totally understandable that you felt like you were making judgements on their relationship, it's new and now there is a baby on the way. You just want whats best for your children. A very understandable thing. And you can always let them both know that you'll always be there for them if they need you. You're going to be a wonderful grandma!! And the nursery idea sounds wonderful!! If you do, make sure you take pictures so we can see how it turned out.

Anita--I'm so proud of you and getting in your exercises this morning!! If my arms weren't so numb....(what an excuse!) I would do my gazelle. But as I look at this room I'm sitting in, I know I need to work on it before work. I'll be moving and rearranging. That will be a workout!

Hello to everyone else!! I hope you're enjoying your day!

As I mentioned, I need to finish up this room and get some of the clutter cleared away. So I best be getting.

Have a great day!

I wrote this in my parents group. .............





Coping.

My parents never taught me coping skills. I struggle now with that.

No surprise. I chatter, chatter to get my thoughts and feelings out.
Sometimes though I think it would be a good thing just to be still.

As a child I ate, and as an adult I eat, still ,to cope with stress.
To shove food down my throat to hide the pain and stress that life
brings.

My oldest daughter who is 13 is "superficially" taking a razor and
marking her arm up. That is really a private thing and I wonder why I
bring it up now????

Because I think I have taught her how to cope when I really haven't.

The thought of my baby screaming for help makes me feel like a
failure, makes me feel I forgot to show her a piece of lifes puzzle,
makes me feel like a fool.

Makes me realize how can I teach her something that I haven't learned
myself?

So,her father and I took her to the doctor this morning and she told
us while we waited for the doctor that she did it again last night.

That she hates hearing us argue ( like we did yesterday) and we do it
in front of her.....and she hates that, and the stress is too much
for her.

That is a fine "how do you do."

I would love to type that it is all her fathers fault. He sits there
and treats her like an adult. But come on Susan......she is your
baby....where is your responsiblity in this mess??

What steps can I take in changing my life???? When I think I am
growing up it is a b&^%$ to realize I am nowhere near complete.

So, the doctor hooked her up to counseling and she really wants to
start using the treadmill for exercise.

Her father and I...........no, he told me that I am to just stay away
from his home.
He has a lot of anger towards me. It takes my breath away.I have a
lot of anger towards him too.

I was sitting in church yesterday and looking for peace about Mike
and I heard......a feeling....a thought ....from God? Who knows but
it was "treat him like a human being."

ahhhhh, but he is such a ding bat!!! Treat him like a human being.

Chatter.......... treat him like a human being. How hard can THAT
be??? Kind of hard God,,,,,lol.

I will try though.

Chatter,,,,,,,,,,,gotta go to work.