Melissa, can you leave early today? Maybe your boss will understand?

BTW, I'm off to do those 40 minutes now. Thanks for noticing! Just me and the Gilmore Girls for the next 40 minutes!

Oh sorry, I had to pick myself up off of the floor from laughing. No, there's no chance of leaving early today. In fact, today I have to work late. But thanks for the suggestion. I wish that was an option!

Good work on the exercise! Have fun with the Gilmores.

Melissa - just do the best that you can! I don't think anyone ever feels ready - or like they've got everything done before they move! You are lucky even to be able to paint ahead of time (and I"m sure the bathroom can be done quickly?) Good luck and try not to stress too much - before you know it you'll be hanging pictures and enjoying your new home!

Vickie - congrats on getting that exercise ticker moving - you are definitely motivating me to join in! (and get my froufie hopping thru the grass!).

Also thanks to everyone for the great gardening tips and warnings - I have passed these along to dh who now thinks he may just dig up the topsoil and get rid of the grass underneath? (or do the newspaper thing?)

Kathy - where r you? Hope you had a good rest - got some food - and are feeling no pain!!!

Saundra - your dinner sounds scrumptious - I have never been to Il Primo but have frequented other italian places on Preston (our 'Little Italy' area).

Sandra - please let us know what dr says! Hope you are healing well.

Angela - many congrats on going down in the right direction. I am also starting to suffer from allergies - so early in the season. We have been keeping our windows open when possible - but it will soon be time to batten down the hatches - close all windows and turn the A/C on! (hard to tell cuz it's @#$#@$#$ cold out today!)

Well drove to work crying all the way - what a great way to start the day! I have been thinking this but finally came out with it - told dh he was only here cuz of the money - cuz he was scared of being poor and sleeping in his car and I was just a meal ticket! I can't imagine him wanting to stay with us - he is constantly unhappy, complaining, miserable, yelling at the kids - where is the man I fell in love with? I can't find him anywhere!

When asked why he was 'here' and what he was getting out of the marriage - he claims it is for the 'companionship'!!!!!!!!!!! Is he for real? Companionship? LIke what do you mean? Likes when we go out to a movie together.

So let me get this straight - you are here because you like my companionship - which means once a week, for approx 3 hours we go to a movie theatre, sit in the dark not conversing? This is it??? Oh ya he also likes going out for dinner too. So what about ALL THOSE OTHER HOURS???? (7 x 24 x 365 days? less 3 hours per week?). Ya that's the problem he says. If only we could go out all the time!

I told him it was all those OTHER hours that mattered - and not the 3 hours when we can go out (I guess he sees it an escape). I just don't understand what's going on.

I was crying by the end of this - (sitting in my car in the driveway) but went to work as I have lots to do today before the handoff (I take over as Acting Manager of the division tomorrow til June).

Oh ya he also pointed out how he 'fixes' things around the house and helps out in that way - okay so I just need to basically hire myself a handyman who comes in a few times per week and problem solved??? I think there should be more than this???

Frouf

Who needs a handyman? I'm sure you'd gladly exchange all of the chores he does around there (although I never knew he did all THAT much) for someone to love. He is like Judd -- only happy when spending money or going out. The regular routine is just too boring for him and he also doesn't like dealing with kids. Most of the time if things are going well, we can breathe easily. If not, we all walk on eggshells around him. It's like a bi-polar household.

I slept until about 11:45 and thankfully there were some sirens in the area or I wouldn't have woken up yet. I am just wiped out. Judd will be here around 1:00 to pick me up for the doctor.

I'll be back later to update and continue reading but meanwhile ...

Angela, enjoy your garden! It sounds awesome, and I like the addition of the greenhouse. You didn't have that last year, did you?

Melissa, I'm glad it's Friday for you! Just think: if you can make it thru the day, by Monday morning you'll be sleeping in your new house AND will have earned a gazillion activity points!

Vickie, your dragged out celebration is a good idea. No need to wear him out! I haven't gone to a movie since the Christmas break but there are finally a few that I'd like to see also. And thanks! GO, RANGERS! (It won't last long, believe me!) And congrats on that treadmill work!

Saundra, the Italian section of town sounds good and I'm glad you had a nice dinner with Adam. Your food sounded delicious!

Keeping my fingers crossed for a good report. See you in a few hours!

Hey Chicks! I just got back from the Dentist with Jim. He has his new guard and it fits well. Need to call the Specialist tomorrow for Jim to see how often he should wear it. He doesn't want to call. It's a service I provide! I got some groceries and now have supplies to make meals for the next two days. I don't have to worry about meals again until Sunday. Woo Hoo!

Jim didn't want a birthday cake but instead opted for Nestle's Tollhouse Cookies with pecans. They are his absolute favorite and he only gets them once a year at Christmas unless he requests them at his birthday time. I'll be making them today or tomorrow and trying VERY hard to resist. These are one of my favorites too and homebaked cookies in general are a passion for me. I'm guite a good baker (if I don't say so myself).

I feel real proud of my self for getting my exercise done. Didn't want to with the sore throat and all but I forged ahead. I could only walk 2.0 mph if I wanted to stay on for 40 minutes. I made it until the end and I've also had 6 eight ounce glasses of water already. Problem is that it is almost 1:00 and I haven't had lunch yet. I need to go cook my veggie burger. I'll be back.

Frouf, what on earth is wrong with your DH? I understand why you feel the way you describe. If he's not a good roommate by contibuting to the finances or helping with duties and all he does is complain......what are YOU getting out of it. He's got a good thing going. I'm surprised he doesn't keep his yap shut. I feel sorry for you. No woman should have to feel this way. You work hard to make a living. It certainly sounds like you have some hard decisions to make. I wish I could help.

Kath, I hope your appointment goes well. We could use some good news around here.

Did I mention that I just finished my 7th glass of water? Thanks, Patti!

hi,chickies. i went to the doctor today. he told me i'm lucky i didn't get my incision infected. he doctored it and is keeping a close eye on me. i go back next wed. he told me to take it easy--no yardwork, etc....so i'm being lazy here.h (and i was afraid i had over-reacted.)

vickie, you've really been hit with a lot of illness the past few months. i hope you get over those allergies fast. i remember having them for 3 months at a time when i lived in texas. (cedar trees--cedar fever)

melissa, i'm anxious to read about your fantastic weightloss next week. you're burning those calories, girl.

frouf and kathy, my heart goes out to you both. such sadness in your lives. i've been there and know your pain.

vickie, be careful around those cookies. the smell could get you.

i'm going to do a test with the transfer pencil. ya'll have a good day.

Frouf, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say except take care of yourself.

Kathy, you too!

And Sandra! Take care of that foot girl.

Vickie, You need one too. Good luck with those cookies.

It's getting close to the time that I can get out of here. I'm sure I probably won't be back tonight. I'm going to do as much as possible. I think I'll leave the painting until tomorrow morning though. I have to be at the house all day because the cable guy is coming and the fridge will be delivered sometime, thank goodness! Have a great evening friends!

I'm cooking dinner and popped in to say Hi! I won't be back until morning. Need to spend time with Honey Lamb.

Sandra, I'm glad your appointment went well and that your incision isn't infected. That's important!

Melissa, hang in there. You make it to the finish line. I promise!

I'm still enjoying seeing movement on my exercise ticker. Have a great evening. American Idol tonight. I think goodbye to Paris.

GOOD NEWS! The doctor said I was doing GREAT! The bone is healing and everything looks good. He said I could start putting a little bit of weight on it, but still have to wear the fracture boot and use crutches for balance. Also, I can go back to work a week from Monday (the 15th, which is Kate's birthday) and start therapy tomorrow. For the first month, I'll do home therapy. Tomorrow I go to an appointment where they show me everything to do and send me home with a kit of all sorts of bands and apparatus. We'll see how that goes and if I improve on my own, I won't have to go for regular therapy. He said if my range of motion doesn't come back, they'll have to do the big pushing and pulling on it to force the ligaments to cooperate. Uh, yeah.

On the way home, we went to Cracker Barrel and had pancakes and bacon. It was great! Then we stopped by the post office and while there, Kate called and said she and Devan were at the house. We came home, Judd went on to bowling, K/D went to the storage unit to see if she could find the pots and pans and GF grill that I had been saving for her. Now I'm relaxing in the chair waiting for them to come back.

American Idol should be interesting tonight. I know of course that Chris is safe, and probably Katharine is the other one. Other than that, it could go any way. I liked Taylor's second song last night (didn't really like any of the first songs) -- the boy just LOVES to move, doesn't he? Soul Patrol! Anyway, I hope it's not him going home. Judd thinks it might be Paris because of her bad song choices. Her second song last night could have been much better.

Okay they came back and then left to finish their errands and go home. I don't have to cook dinner since we already ate, and Erin had LO BBQ from last night. I'll have to get back into the dinner-cooking mode soon though. Judd said his weight loss is stalled because we've had to eat so much fast food and take-out and frozen dinners. We need fresh vegetables!

Kathy, congrats!! I'm so glad to hear that you're doing well. And I know what you mean about needing veggies!

Vickie, have a great night!

I just got home, but now it's time to get busy!

Kathy - I am SO THRILLED about your good dr report! Thank goodness everything is healing as it should - I was so worried about it! Have fun learning your 'exercises' - I sure hope you can work on your range of motion - that pulling and pushing sure does not sound like fun!

Glad you got out for a bit and had some FOOD!

Vickie - I am very proud of you for exercising despite not feeling that well - good for you. Those cookies would definitely do me it - I love home baked cookies and the only nut I can eat is pecan - so I would probably inhale them as well. May I suggest chewing a strong flavored sugarless gum (e.g. dentyne cinammon, or ice spearmint) while baking cuz I do find that helps!

Melissa - I sure hope you don't have to work too late? I agree that all that moving and unpacking will gain you lots of activity points.

Sandra - glad you got some good medical advice from your dr - STAY OFF YOUR TOOTSIES TIL THEY HEEL! (just reread that - pun intended - ha ha ha ha ha)

Saundra - what are you up to today? Drove by dow's lake - tulips are in full bloom and amazing and it seems they are starting to set up for the tulip festival which starts this weekend I guess?

Busy day at work - and leaving early for dr appt w/ dd's therapist did not help! Had a 'handoff' meeting w/director and current co-worker/acting manager - and I now have a HUGE list of stuff to do - one of which is like due tomorrow at 10:30 am - nothing like getting ample notice.

Funniest thing is I have scheduled a meeting with the team to go over a few things (we call it a smith: standing meeting in the hall) - and I titled the meeting "under new management" - ha ha ha

Had a good "dump' with the therapist as I relayed my most recent battles w/dd - and how even I was fed up w/her behaviour. She did explain how dd thrived on negative attention - and has trouble handling some of her emotios - she agreed that she was not always acting at her age level (ya like all the non stop whining and complaining).

Dh did get a word in here and there - and mentioned our little disgreement of this morning - indicating that we did talk about splitting - she asked how often and how serious - he says depends if it's a good day or a bad day - ya that's what I live with! I told her about how I am the go-between/referree and as he is constantly complaining about everything the kids do - I am kept very busy - so instead of him fighting w/them - it is me fighting w/him - not a good situation.

She asks dh if he knew about this? He replied 'I don't know?" to which I replied "do you hear me and are you listening"? Well having said that - she decided she needed to review what the plan or strategy is w/Emily - needs to find the most stable relationship (and she has obviously just been made aware that it is NOT the one between dh and I) and will call me back w/her advice. She also told us we need to get out more often - together - to get rid of some of the stress - just what Mr. Movieman wanted to hear!

Seems there was pizza on the menu - before I got home - so I avoided that like the plague and did not feel like cooking - had a small container of this amazing eggplant salad (from Farmboy - Saundra - you gotta try it!), with 6 mini-pita breads and a sliced tomato - seemed to do the trick. Still did not have my fruit salad, or banana or apple today so will have those if required!

Cleaning lady was here so house is clean - cold day ended up being beautiful and sunny - wish I could feel the same way!

Frouf

melissa, i can feel your excitement. makes me smile.

i'm using this "non foot" time to work on the embroidery. i have one picture traced with transfer pencil. i'm going to iron it on in a few minutes. (i hope) if it doesn't work, i'll prob go back to linens n things and get the less fancy tea towels. they look more like what you embroider on.

vickie, i'm proud of you for exercising. i go back to the doctor next wed. maybe i can start after that on my exercise bike. enjoy your evening with jim. curtis and i are going to watch "texas ranch house" on pbs. (and ai, of course)

kathy, that's the best news i've heard (read?) in a long time. i am soooooo glad you got a good report and things are improving for you. what a relief that must be for you! i'll be sneaking peeks at ai tonight. we'll be watching pbs. (we're old, aren't we?)

frouf, i hope what the therapist said will help. your salad sounds good. is farmboy local or a chain?

Whew, Frouf, what a day! I'm sure that therapy session was some ordeal but needed to happen. But what planet has he been living on???? I can't believe he doesn't know (or pretends not to know?) !!! That part nearly did me in! Well, thank goodness that your house is clean anyway and maybe you can relax a little tonight. The eggplant salad sounds good. I wish we had a store near here like that, or at least something like Whole Foods. It's on the other side of the next town about 30 minutes away, closer to work than home. Sometimes I'll go there and buy pita bread or supplements that I can't find elsewhere.

And Sandra, your foot! OMG, girl, I missed that the first time around! You'd better take it easy -- can you imagine the trouble you'll be in if it gets infected?

Vickie, I'm excited that you're getting so much exercise in! It seems to be the key to your losses so I'm expecting big news from you on Monday!

I can't wait for AI!