Good morning ladies! It is BRRRRRRRR here this morning. We actually closed the windows last night.

Jean: Sounds like you had a real round of it yesterday. Sick family and bouncy kids! I hope you all had a good time being together.

Maggie: Thanks for the tip, Maggie. When they started the tickers, you could go in and change your number because I used to do it. I am not putting them back up then as that is a pain to be starting over and over all the time. I've done the lowdown couch too and feel like a pregnant woman trying to get out of them. One of the worst for me is my fold up chair we use for the soccer games. The seat sits low to the ground and with it being on uneven ground and not sturdy like a couch or whatever, Jack has to help me up every time! I don't embarrass particularly easily, so it doesn't bother me.

How's gas around your areas? It is really coming down here. We are at $2.51 about a mile from the house, across town it was $2.43 on the way to the commissary yesterday and I met a lady at the commissary who lives in Mississippi and she said it was $2.36 in Olive Branch. We rented a Trailblazer SUV for Thanksgiving so I hope it continues to drop. It is always horrendously expensive around Chicago (good ole Mayor Daley has to get his cut! ) so we always try to make sure we have enough gas to sail through Chicago. Jack was telling me that his sister, who lives in Lubbock, TX went to Las Cruces on their yearly trip to get green chiles and gas there was a whopping $4 a gallon! I mean, I know Las Cruces is far from everything, but that is ridiculous!

I have snacks and drinks for the kids at the soccer game tonight and found the cutest thing at the commissary. They were graham cracker "Scooby Snacks." They are shaped like dog biscuits! I hope Thomas is not going to be mad at his ole Nonny. I said to him on Saturday, "Thomas, I need a kids opinion." He said ok and I said that I needed to know what kids like for snacks after the soccer game (I was going to make those caramel apples, but one of the other mother's just did that last Monday.) He told me to get Pepperidge Farm Goldfish. Then he said, "Only get cheddar cheese. Remember, only cheddar cheese!" Well, the commissary didn't have little bags of goldfish so I had to go with something else. He did clue me in to a great lowfat snack and those are the little goldfish pretzels. I like pretzels for a snack and these are pretty good as long as you just give yourself ONE serving and not the whole bag!

I have chores AND carpet shampooing to do today so I guess I better hop to it! Have a good morning everybody!

Faye

Good morning...this is going to have to be quick...but I am here!

My weekend went by so quickly. It started off like any other weekend--going to the grocery store after work on Friday evening. However, I received a phone call from my youngest daughter telling me she's on her way home from the children's hospital. Robyn's elbow popped out of it's place and my sil drove her to the ER there. Once it was popped back into place all was well. Of course, now she's prone to having it popped out again. Saturday was exceptionally rainy day and I met oldest daughter at the mall--I hadn't been to the mall like that in a long time--browsing and shopping. I came home so tired that I fell asleep while knitting. Sunday was very nice. Wayne started painting the living room in the afternoon. We grilled steaks outside. Then about 2:00am, DH wakes me up, upset, complaining of a headache he can't get rid of. I finally found something to give him for it and of course I didn't fall back to sleep until 5:30 this morning. And now I sit here at work feeling very groggy. I need a nap.

I'll be back later after I've read the posts since Friday...

Hello all! I am not feeling o good today and the last couple of days. I have kidney pain. I am wondering if I have not been drinking enough water. I am really guzzling it today.

I think another part of my problem today is that I got word that my cousin in Washington tried to commit suicide. He is 60, lost his long time job 2 years ago and can't find work. Plus he has progressing cataracts and they don't have enough insurance coverage to get them taken care of. Plus his unemployment has run out. He is a nice guy. We were raised fairly close as kids. I sure hope he gets the help he needs.

Jean, you are right about they must not think my son is an emergency. He sure sounds cheery when I talk to him. Friends of ours tht came in for a visit from Missouri also though all of California is always warm and sunny. Trust me, it is not. 2 hours from here we have the Sierras and plenty of snow. Around Yosemite it is snowy. You go far enough North and you have plenty of cold weather and snow.

Maggie, I have never liked Chuckie Cheese. I will go for the kids, but only when needed. Thankfully the kids don't want to go there often.

GMA, I am sorry to hear of the death in the family. Even at the age, it is hard to take. I so sympathize with you about not being able to get up. I am so careful about where I put this body. I am terrified of embarrassing myself and getting stuck.

Gail, I am so sorry about Waynes headache. How is he feeling now? My daughter has had one for a while. She is finally going to the doc today. She thinks it is either sinus or neck. She types all day, and probably does have some neck problems. Did they wrap Robybs arm? You would think they would want to keep it still for a bit. I remember taking Mike to emergency once for a dislocationa and the first thing they asked is if he had been jerked around. Another words abused. Of course, he had not any more than Robyn, but they really jump on that type of thing. Good luck staying awake. Your day is almost done at work.

I am going to put my feet back up. Talk to you later.

It is a dark and gloomy day as I sit at my computer and wait for my dryer to ring. We are having a N'oreaster today and part of tomorrow but it is better that the people in Fl or Cancun. Should have a good portion of rain & wind but it held off long enough for us to go into Boston yesterday to get DH a temporary disability placard. This will be a help on the trip when we can park closer to hotels, etc. He made a zillion calls yesterday to reschedule some Dr's appts. he needs to see his reg dr. and the heart dr. within 30 days of his scheduled operation date. Lots of fun with the medical runaround. Bottom line he got everything re set up and we have the placard and are all set.

Jean: Now that your school is all set with only high achievers and not problem students, live will be boring.... Isn't if funny how people can not see the trees for the woods. After being around the type of students you have how can they expect a change without a top down change of attitude. Last of my sermon.

Sharon: Hope the water helped. I usually find if I don't drink enough water I can tell in my hands and feet. Hope your cousin can find the help he needs. There is a lot of help out there but sometimes it is not easy to find.

Gail: Hope Wayne's headace is long gone. It is tough when you are woken in the middle of the night and then can't get back to sleep. When either DH or I have to get up in the night for a bathroom run we try to be as quiet as we can but inevitably the other person wakes up. Yes, the ER will challange any kind of bruising on children or women as abuse. A neighbor got bit by a spider and went to the ER with her face swollen and her eyes completly red. She is less than 5' and her husband and son are big people. Naturally, even before they diagnosed the spider bite they had called the police and everyone was questioned. It wasn't until another dr went by who had experience with this kind of thing that it was determined....no abuse....spider. I guess it is good that nurses etc are alert but they must realize not everything is bad.

Maggie: You are doing so well with your points that you will soon be a shadow of your former self.

Faye: T is sure a delightful kid. He will always keep you on your toes. There is nothing wrong with spoiling him. I always love to spoil the gks because then you can send them home.

Gloria in MA....there goes the dryer. Have a good day.

Good mornin'....figured I'd get in here bright and early before I get swamped with work.

First of all, I'm going out to dinner tonight after work. I'd say it was a "girls night out" sort've of thing but we'll all be home by 7pm at the latest. A few of us at work are getting together. It will be fun. I plan on making healthy choices when ordering.

Wayne is feeling much better. Scares me when he gets ill as he just doesn't very often. I can't tell you the last time he was sick.

The grandkids came over for a few hours last night. Robyn is doing fine--running around all over the place and not paying any attention to the arm that was injured. Maggie, I don't imagine they gave her any pointers at the hospital. She will be 2 years old at the end of January. However, the doctor did tell my daughter and sil that Robyn's arm will be more prone to pop out now. So all of us are a little more careful in how we play with her. No more swinging her around or rough-housing with her which she does not understand as she's a little tomboy.

Maggie, the last time I saw a fig was when I was a little girl at my grandmother's house! I remember picking them and eating them fresh. So...you got thrown out of Chucky Cheese?! I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time though. Goodness gracious!

Sharon, I hope you're feeling better. I know you're worried about your son--what mother would not be! Your cousin is in my prayers at night.

.....trying to remember what I wanted to say...

GAS! I bought gas (regular) for my jeep last Friday night and I paid $2.47 a gallon. Gas prices are coming down. Faye I have to keep remembering to buy kid snacks for the house for the grandkids--fruit snacks--they love those. I buy those small bags of cookies too. Of course when they leave my house they always want a "parting gift". It doesn't matter what it is--box of raisins, small bag of cheese crackers--love the goldfish.

Jean, was that lunch good? I always throw a load of laundry in as soon as I walk in the door in the evenings. Once I go downstairs I forget about everything--I'm settled for the night!

Okay, I've been typing this little bit for over an hour now--I should click the post button!

Hi Gloria! My daughter was told by the hospital personnel that Robbie's injury is very common. The reason why my sil took Robbie to the children's hospital because he knew they would take her right away w/o him having to fill out insurance papers. He was afraid her arm was broken and all he could think of is that if it was he wanted the best specialists for her. He had forgotten the diaper bag and all he did at home was scoop her up in a blanket and rushed in--they took her right away. The hospital personnel took x-rays because at first they thought she might have broken her shoulder. They even had a neurologist there. He said they were all very good to them.

Morning gals! Whew I have had my exercise this morning shampooing the living room rug. That puppy is heavy for one thing and pushing it all over then pulling it back to suck up the soap and water gives you are real workout, but the two downstairs carpets are done for another 3 months. They are so old ugly and stained from previous owners that I try to keep them pretty clean. We hope to replace all the downstairs sometime next spring. $$$$$ Sure can't get the stuff cheap can you?

Gail: Glad the little one is ok, but she will probably have trouble off and on as that is the way stuff like that goes. Little as she is though, everything might just tighten right up and never give her another bit of trouble. Have fun with the girls! I miss being part of a group like that. I used to go out with the legal secretaries at the law firm I worked at once a month and that was a lot of fun. There is always tons of gossip in an attorney's office, let alone 75 attorneys! Thomas doesn't come to the house much, but he has a table and little sitting cube in the living room with all his games in it and he has an M and M machine we bought for him at the M and M store in Las Vegas last year and that MUST always stay full! Jack tends to eat the things and not tell me then he comes over and boy oh boy am I in trouble! When we went on vacation this year, his mom checked on our cat for us and brought him on a Saturday and his machine was empty. Kelly said he was pretty mad and sure enough when we got back home I was told in no uncertain terms that his machine was out of candy! He is such a sweety though and pretty well behaved for an only child. He and his mother are exactly alike so they butt heads a lot but other than that he is good. I never have a bit of trouble with him when I keep him.

Sharon: CRANBERRY JUICE, girl! It is the very best thing for kidneys and bladder. Hope you get to feeling better. Nothing like being in pain to get you down. Sure hope your cousin can turn it around. I feel for him as we know what it is like to lose a job through no fault of your own then try and find another one. Age has a huge amount to do with it. Our prayers are with him.

Gloria: Batten down those hatches girl! I saw on the news this morning the hurricane is already up the coast so that is probably what you are getting. I talked to my son this morning as they are in Florida on vacation and he said they got some heavy rain but nothing else. he said it was really windy today though. Thomas is just a funny kid. Some of the things that come out of his mouth amaze even me. Not nasty or anything, just so grown up. He takes his clothes very seriously and won't ever let his mom pick anything out for him. He told me once he had "fashion sense." I am sure he heard that somewhere.

Jean: Listen well so you can make that school of yours tip top! Nothing like asking for miracles is there? Did that snow of yours stick? It has finally turned the fall corner here I think. Now as soon as my knee decides to behave itself I am going to get out and walk. I also need to attack those leaves on the deck again. Wish I could figure out a way to bend the tree over to the nasty neighbors yard. It already looks like a trash dump so why not add my leaves?

Maggie: I don't care for figs much. What are you going to make with them? Well, let me take that back, I like Fig Newtons! When I was a little kid, I was the only one my grandpa would give any of his cookies to because I would eat Fig Newtons and none of his other grandkids would. Funny how you remember things just out of the air like that. I don't mind a white Christmas as long as we don't have another ice storm like last year. Boy, that was scary getting stuck at the casinos. I am hoping it won't snow on Thanksgiving though as I don't have a winter coat and want to wait and buy one up there. It snowed about half an hour before getting into town last Thankgsiving and there was snow most of the time we were there. Guess it saw us coming!

Well, girls need to get me some lunch.

Faye

Now I want a fig newton! I haven't had a fig newton in a long time. Thanks Faye! Wait a minute...these cookies are GOOD for you...right?! Looove cranberry juice--I had a glass of it this morning with my toast. I buy the "lite"--1/2 the sugar. Wayne and I went to the M&M Store in Vegas when we were there 3-4 years back (I lose track of time--seems just like yesterday). We loved that store! I had never seen silver or gold m&m's before. Downstairs, Wayne made a separate room where my treadmill is supposed to go. It's not down there yet--still in my bedroom. Anyway, this weekend, he's going to mount a 19-inch tv we have high up on the wall in that room. Plus a DVD player. That room has become a play room for the grandkids. Last night, Wayne said we should get some beanbag chairs for that room too. I wonder if I can buy thouse at ToysRUs--child size? I'll find out! Faye, those of us that are meeting for dinner tonight, we all knit so it will become a "show and tell" too. And of course, we'll "discuss" what's happening in the college!