AH a rose is a rose is MY rose! Thanks shad and I will go and check them out in the AM!! Sounds like a good visit and am looking forward to Italian "jokes"!?
I had a Friday like yours. Ruffled the feathers on 2 men and told 1 woman to get control!! Hope they do before I just plain walk away. Hope next week brings some peace! or will it be a continuation of this one ?!

Linus~ I'm so sorry to hear about Gran and send my sympathies. Scream away I say. We all do!! Hope you are feeling ok with everything.

Teel~ God Girl what can I say. I always feel at a loss for words when I find someone with overwhelming pain who is trying so hard to cope with it all. I try so hard to pretend everything is ok but of late the days are trying my patience! Hope the drug slide helps and you will get over the withdrawal easier. (((((((HUGS)))))))

Peacock~ Thank God I don't have any feathers in the flat. That's all I need is bad luck! I love the color as well and the greens it it too. One of God's beauties for sure. I got a big giggle about talking with people about pains etc. Once you get started the stories keep right on coming! You should hear them down in the lobby. I live in a highrise bldg that houses 100 senior citizens! I have learned a LOT from them and their case histories!! I feel like a walking medical journal or should I say rolling What problems have you got? Now I am nosy!!!

Happy~ Good to see you and I like mustard in my beans too. Just a tad though! Maybe if I had found a man that liked mustard and ketsup, I'd still be married like you! Hope your work is giving you a break and you have a great time at the party. Don't tease her too much. We want you to come home with all your hair still on your head! Have fun!

I am mucho tired again tonite. Hope you all have a good weekend and stay safe! I plan on folding and storing about 5 loads of wash that is clean but not put away yet! LOL I better get back on plan with my eating and drinking and exercise before the Shad police come and whack me in the back of my head!! Sweet dreams to some and top o' the morning to the others!

hi all thanks for everyones condolancies they were very gratefully recieved anyway ive vented my spleen on uk so you should all be safe from the tears hubby wouldnt let me go to ds school on friday morning as by the time we had last rights and then all the family came didnt get home until 11.50 then came on her and after hubby had crashed sat and cried for three hours so hubby sadid if i went to school id end up in corton vale{womans prison} for murder but will go next week family had a good giggle about me having to go back into the church as i stopped going to cofession when i started having something to confess {no i did not tell them i was snogging justin under the stage during the nativity play when i was six}sothey all think its going to collapse around my ears i said that would make a bloody mess of the funeral father cassidy was in hysterics and couldnt give mw a row for laughing so anyway just wanted to say hello
TEEL mums on oxycontin i cant have it cause it interferes with my anti inflamatries and by the sound of things im very glad of this
shaker you looked absolutly lovely why were you worried about the dress?
mel have a party everyday and you wont care about the weight
shad sort them out girl theyll think twice next time i hate bosses mind you all my bossess have been matrons
for anybody ive mised im sorry and ill catch you all soon

Linus you had me in stitches! Good thing the church didn't fall down or
father Cassidy would have never let you back in again! ;lol: for what it's worth, I think the hubby was right. Best to leave it for next week. You might have gone there and taken no hostages! Good luck and try hard not to hurt anyone! LOL

What a glorious day today and full of sun. even the birds are happy and sunbathing! I cooked all morning and prepacked my food for the week. I only have to grab and heat when hungry. I already finished some water and hope to drink more.
Monday is the skin Doc so I'll see what he says. I get the feeling I'm repeating myself? Just igmore me if I am The eye Dr is in April. Pills seem to be working albeit slowly,......pain left again. Hurray! I HAVE TO FOLD WASH!! I still have not folded it. Why am I so lazy lately!!! Probably all the sugar this week. I forgot!
Have a great weekend and I will try to cut a swathe to the bedroom and put all the clean wash away! i think I need a maid! Keep your sunny side up!!

I have to say that I think DH was right this time Linus. That's a bit unusual isn't it???!!! A man being right?! Doesn't happen often.
Had a bit of a giggle over the church Linus. It brought back memories of the last couple of times I went to church which I might add was a long time ago and in NZ. Once I went to St Johns in Wainuiomata to a Scout service. The troup was all there in their dress uniforms - including my youngest DS and they all went through the service. It started to rain heavily. It rained for the next week very heavily and we had bad flooding and trees down and mayhem everywhere.
The next time I went to church was with my Father. I forget what we were there for. I don't actually remember whether my Mother was there either, she probably was. Anyway we lifted up our voices in song and the whole church rocked with a big earthquake. Candles fell off the tables and the bible fell of the pulpit. It was a real corker of a shake.
I've not been back since in case I do something else to irritate the man upstairs.

Mel - my roses are not perfect. If you blow the Just Joey photo up you will see all the flaws and even a green spider on the outside centre. I love them because they look pretty as long as you don't look too close and my garden is basically organic, I try not to use sprays and chemicals. I'm not perfect, and I don't expect my garden to be either. But it brings happiness so for that I am grateful.

I too have the washing to fold and put away. There is a mountain of it on my bed. And I have to hang out the DS socks. Yesterday I soaked them in Napisan because they were very, very smelly and then I went and grabbed every sock I could see in his room and added it to the pile in the machine. So they soaked all day and I washed them last night. A job well done. That might keep some of the flies out of the house.
Shad the dog is looking very sadly at me. He has not yet had his walk. Mother was very lazy this morning and stayed in bed reading. Better not mention that on the journals hey!

I AM DOING THE HAPPY DANCE!! I LEARNED HOW TO UPLOAD A NEW AVATAR!! THERE IS NO STOPPING ME NOW!! I'LL HAVE A NEW ONE EVERY WEEK Shad, thanks so much. I am surprised I could read AND UNDERSTAND my notes!! And Happy, thanks for the gif!!!! Oh it seems so silly but I am so excited about this. I have conquered another PC problem!!!

Well Done MELODY. I'm surprised I did not miss out a vital step in the instructions

I about jumped out of bed to make sure my wheelies were still here and it wasn't a dream! Yes the little things make me so VERY happy! I hope you all have a great Sunday and .................
HAPPY SPRING!!!!!

Morning ladies, and back to Monday morning which has dawned bright and lovely.. On Sat/Sun we went back an hour so that is the end of our daylight savings.. Dark at 7pm again yuk.. Anyway we had a lovely w/end and I have a bit of sunburn around the shoulders as DH had thier softball finals and it was cold in the shade and hot in the sun, so tried for a bit of both.. lucky I put sunscreen on or could've been worse and the kids didn't seem to get burnt.

Shad good explanation about JAFA and you were very close with Tirau but the place I am from is Tokoroa.. close!!!! The bride was the one that swore at us.. cause the music had started and we hadn't moved to go down the isle and then yest I looked at the photos DH had taken and he had one of her coming down the aisle big smile on her face.. am sure I saw an evil demon on her shoulder!!! I guess you try hard not to make their day stressed but it is very hard and taxing on my tender nerves, they all need a bit of a reminder that I am a grown lady not a kid anymore. Well I think I am over it now anyway and will file the photos and move one.

I did manage to get the delivered on Fri arvo so I am pleased about that, I went on it on Sat for 30mins but that was all, back into it tonight, i have done nothing but eat since the wedding so have to stop now and revert back to the good ole habits!!!

Mel you are getting to be one computer savvy lady - good on ya!!! I don't have time for the avataar stuff, hence my worm or something??.. that is not cause I like them but more cause I like books???...

Teel I hope you are going to have a better week of this one - I love your avataar!!!! Happy thanks for the compliments is lovely what they can do with hair and makeup.. when I got to the hairdressers my hair was a brassy green colour.. oh was tragic... I had trusted my hair to a young girl in Akl and she wasn't to confident on what she was doing.. eeekss!!!!! Needless to say they fixed it for me.! I have to go and do some work now, hi to eveyrone and I will try to be more regualr cause I am missing all the posts and jokes!!!

hey all how was mothers day good i hope ive just got my little angels in bed im feeling a little bit less weeepy todat {must be why people are talking to me today} ive finaly worked out how to do attachments so ive sent you some pics of my horrors so you can see who im always moaning about anyway must go a very importana game of settlers to play
speak soon
kirsty
the tall one with the piper is my youngest
the two on the far left are dh and ds and the one on the far right is ds

Shaker~ welcome back. Good thing you didn't go ahead and smack the bride! LOL
Weddings can be very trying on so many people it's a wonder there are any!
Glad the treadmill (?) came and hope it helps. Especially with winter coming. Sounds funny to say that as we are wishing ours is over! In the dress I wonder that anyone could even think of you as a kid!

linus~ Nice pics but I need my magnifier!! Glad you're not so weepy today. I know it must be tough. (((((HUGS))))) I think I've heard of settlers but I'm not sure. Sounded familiar. Maybe from my friend in Rydalmere or her Aunt. Have a good time.

Well kids I leave for the skin Dr early so I will see you all tomorrow night or Tuesday sometime after shopping. Hope he has some answers. Not getting my hopes up. But the eyes have been behaving themselves for the last few days. So that must be a good sign! Have a great Monday morning!!!

Hi ladies I'm back. I had such a great weekend with my mom. I realized that I have to make a committment to spend more time with her. We laughed and talked and she was so happy that I went to church with her The church rumbled a bit on it's foundation but held up - had a good laugh Shad at your story of the earthquake last time you were in church - 'tis my fear too. Been a long time since I was in church. I still have my faith, believe in God, say my prayers and try to be a good Christian but I feel distanced from organized religion. My church is in my heart. I felt really sad at one point as we were talking at home when she said she doesn't get much company any more. She said she knows we are busy but it made me almost want to cry. We talk on the phone several times a week but I guess the face to face is important too. So I will make a better effort to get over by her more often. I tell you though, it's a good thing I don't live at home anymore or else I'd weigh 400 pounds for sure. Every hour she was pushing food at me. Want some soda, tea, coffee, juice, milk? How about a sandwich, piece of chicken, orange, bananna, apple, piece of pie, ice cream, chips? MOM we just ate an HOUR ago! She does love to nibble she does. We took a walk down the road to a new fruit and vegetable store and of course I went hog wild - my vice used to be clothing, now it's grocery stores I picked up lots of tasty fruits and veggies so I can get back on plan and work off the sinful eating of the weekend.

DH was so sweet - he drove me there and when he came to pick me up he had washed my car for me - all nice and shiny again!

Linus, we celebrate Mother's Day in the states the second Sunday of May. But Happy Mother's Day to you! I can't seem to open your pics up to enlarge them. I will have to borrow Mel's magnifying glass I think. It looks like a lovely family photo, just can't see the details on it.

Mel, good luck with the doctor and your eyes, hope they have something to give you relief. Nice to see your new avatar - now don't be hunting the Internet looking for pictures each week - take it from one who knows, it takes too much time.

Well Shaker, green hair might have been a fair touch for St. Patrick's Day but certainly not for a wedding and might have clashed with the blue of the dress. Good to hear you have a treadmill again - you and Shad can have running contests! I did a fair bit of walking with mom, sorely reminded me I have to get on the treadmill myself or at least go walking outside again even if it is cold, gusty and rather unfriendly out there.

Shad, you are a wonderful mom to soak all of DS's socks though I imagine it was as much for your benefit as well as his. I guess you are always finding something to do around the house, aren't you

As DH was driving into the city to come get me today, he stopped at the butterfly garden. There's a whole crop of new breeds we haven't seen before. I should have parts of his website up in a few weeks and then I'll be able to show you some of his pictures. He is all excited, a new digital camera is due out in 3 weeks and he is going to get it as soon as it's available because he'd like to take it on vacation with us. We will have the opportunity to get some great scenic shots while we are along the coast in California. He was also making some plans of what we will do on vacation. Kayaking - renting a tandem bike along the coastal drive taking a hike through the giant redwood forest - seems he forgot he's going to be dragging along a rather tubby, out of shape, non athletic wife on his adventures. I think hitting the walking path and lifting weights again is a number one priority starting tomorrow. 4 weeks to get in better shape and build some endurance.

Teel I hope you are feeling better with the medicines the doctor prescribed and are not feeling so edgy. And hello to Peacock.

I'd best get to bed now, tomorrow's a work day...

So pleased that you had a good weekend Happy. Gee your Mum sounds like mine used to. We ate breakfast, then morning tea and then elevenses and after that lunch. Then it was afternoon tea and dinner and finally supper. All of this in about 14 hours. No wonder I am the shape I am. She was a great cook and always put on a performance like she was cooking for the eighth army in full marching mode!!!

Ha Ha Ha at the enthusiasm of DH. Walking in the Redwoods sounds nice. It is something that I would like to do or actually wanted to do when Chris and I first mooted a trip to the US - which I didn't get to go on due to pressure of work. So it is on my list of must see, must do for next time - along with the coastal highway (not on a bike) and Oregon or is that Washington State - anyway from top to bottom along the coast and all the bits in between. I aint biking it but!!!!!!!!

I'm a little concerned about our Teel. Haven't heard anything in a couple of days. Give her until the end of the week and then clog up the phone lines again

Back in the office again this afternoon. I took a long look at the schedule and went blahhhhhhh don't like this. So went to find out what the story is. Turns out they want me to reformat a whole stack of the Microsoft stuff I wrote so long ago. I laughed and said that I came into the company writing MS stuff and now I am about to go out of the company writing the same stuff. Does anything ever progress? They looked a bit shocked and asked if I was leaving and I said that as my contract is up end of April and I am back doing what I have done before I may very well move on. I also reminded them that although everyone else has training scheduled in May and June, there is nothing there for me, so maybe they intended me to go. They have a problem with straight speakers in that joint and they haven't yet worked out whether or when I am joking. Enough of work, they will work it out and I really don't care whether I stay or go.

Mel I hope the eyes are okay and they can find an answer to the stabbing pain. Isn't it typical that the peepers clear up the day before you go to talk to the eye man.

Linus, those photos look great but too small for me to see so I am going to take them back to my system and put them on my photo software to try and enlarge them a bit. Shaker got hers to be thumbnails that could be enlarged by clicking on it. Don't know how she did it though.

Where is Peacock? Hope she is okay. Has she been back since they sandpapered her chest?

Okay time to buzz off and go back to my paint brush. I have to paint the trims around the doors in the hall (they are going to be white). We have been having an argument about the colour for the hall - DS fancies a sort of deep ochre yellow/pumpkin shade and I fancy something a bit lighter. Buttermilk or something - not a cream but a creamy yellow. I think the darker shade will be too much because it will cover a fairly large area - ie the hall, lounge and diningroom/kitchen and also the entry. We can tart it up with colour as in pictures and furniture. Anyway he is moving out - I think.

you no i got a row from hubby as i shrunk them and then posted them instead of compressing them im having a lesson so ill try later{at least he didnt get the kids to show me }so shaker if youve any tips i would be very grateful talk more later im going for a shower before another person jumps in

HONEY I'M HOOOOOME!!!
Got 2 creams. 1 for the face and another for the inside of my ear! Apparently 2 different conditions are existing on one face! And another one on my shoulder blade! A pre-cancer which they froze and will watch.Gotta go back in May. They had no ideas about the eye pain and said to talk to the eye Dr in April! They are not happy with the specialist I saw in Allergy who criticized everyone else. Neither am I so I'm cancelling his appt and keeping the eye guys and this new skin Dr from today. And then there were 2! They think the eye pain may be stress and blood pressure and told me to start keeping a better journal and gave me some ideas. I started a food journal again yesterday and will make daily comments about life in general and see if they are right. I feel good, of course skin and eyes looked great! But they know the conditions exist even if they look invisible to me. They did give me a good piece of info by telling me to watch for certain things cause the rosacea is being sneaky and not turning red when it's progressing.

OK that is probably more than anyone wanted to ever know about Mel's dilemma
Somehow todays visit made me feel even more determined to get on with it, no pity party and stick with Shad's and mine 2004 goals. He thought the 31 lbs was terrific and I said I think it may be 27 AGAIN!! Weigh in is next Thursday! But I'm strong . I am invincible , I am WOMAN!!! Have a great night. I will read your posts later!!!

SHAD~ I couldn't find a good w.chair avatar so I sent 3fc the one from the forum. I tried to get one off your journal but I could only get boxes and red x's. There were some cute wchairs with girls in them on your journal. Don't even know if they would have fit! LOl But anyhow I can't get to them so I sent in Happy's wchair she posted here. Maybe I should have WAITED!!! But I wanted 1 thing to be good news today!!! if you can ever e-mail me one.....I'll e-mail 3fc again and beg them for HELP!!! LOLOL