Parent just showed up with the troubled boy. They have made a commitment to bring him here consistantly and to not get upset when I need to talk to them. I told her that Hubby and the kids and I would rather be friends with all of them than have a business relationship and not be friends. We will see.
Part of the issue is that he was scheduled to be here full days all summer long and has ended up going to Grandma’s or they have taken holidays and he has only been here 7 half days total.The kid needs structure. AND i am out $1200 income.

On to happier things......... hubby had message about the cabinet maker job; called back about the job and left a message there.
It is 16C/61F out right now!!!!!!!!wooooooooooohooooooooooooooo Clear, sunny, low humidity!!!!!!!!! Garden here i come!!!!!!!! 5 kids til 1 pm. Then my 2 have swimming at 4.

The house is reasonably tidy. Feel okay to putter in the dirt.It will be cool enough for the kids to be outside today too!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and I lost 1.2 lbs!!

Thanks ladies for the support. I must recant about not getting any support or help. I am getting some which is much nicer than none.That has changed a lot in the last few months.Particularily with hubby but also DS. He goes out of his way to tidy up and help. DD is only 5, working on her.

Carla~ my mom is oblivious, even when others question her or point it out, like some cousins last weekend. She was bragging about all the theatre and travel she and sis have been doing. One cuz asked why didn't Hollyhock go. Mom replied, oh, she is too poor to do theatre. Cuz stood up for me. I calmly said. I just wasn't invited to go. End of convo.

Again, hubby is supportive.Not complaining at all!!! If he lands this job it would 1) change our income status by doubling it!! 2) build his self esteem in a huge way. It is a shop manager position. He can do it. He needs to believe. Lots of me telling him he CAN do it and I believe in him.

HUGS!!!

Holly-Hope that resolves the problem child. and congrats on the pounds lost.

shad--I know the feeling of wanting to change jobs. I've gotten so used to this income I'm not wanting to let it go.

My trip to Blytheville yesterday was successful. Purchased a new electric lawn mower. I'm tired of dealing with the gas and oil. The neighbors will not be using this one because it will be under lock and key and I'll have the extension cord on the inside of the house. The yard was mowed but I'm still needing to weed eat.

Don't know what went down in Blytheville but police cars with sirens (I counted 7) pulled into a small shopping center. My first thought was robbery, but I don't know for sure.

Hey hey it's Saturday and I am up and at 'em already. Managed to update the siggy last night - not that it looks good but hey it is a start.

Got a million gazillion things to do today so since I was awake early, I figured I would get started asap - but not before coffee. So while I drink the coffee, I'll chat here.

Holly - so good to see you sorted the problem with the kid and his parents. There is not a lot you can do when they decide to save money and send him to the grandparents, but at least it is out in the open. They should not commt to an action if they are not going to follow through.

Ceejay - new lawnmower, woohoo. I like nice new toys.

Carla - dropping shoes is better than dropping clangers I guess. Hard luck on the cottage at the lake but at least no one is hurt and the cabin is now repaired. That was quick!!!! Send some of the builders my way. Could do with a couple of sturdy lads with good hammer skills. (Notice I did not say quick hands - I was thinking it)

Suzi, that health club sounds pretty good to me. I would have expected it to be very expensive, however I guess they save costs on less people and more people doing e-training. But how do you rant and rave at a bl**dy machine and tell it that it is a sadist, torturer etc. etc.

Hiya Madcat - same reasons that I became a contractor. This project is getting at me because it is so BIG and so many people and to find anything. any scrap of information, any piece of vital information you have to go knocking from door to door and get passed on from person to person. Eventually you either figure out what you want to know yourself or you find the fountain of knowledge and all is well. It really is quite daunting but is getting better the more people I get to talk to. I think that when the pretend and awfully HR type stuff ends (how to train the participant nicely)and the real world begins the week after next (with my 4 x 2 and nails) I shall quite enjoy myself.

Okay, it is supposed to be windy today, so I'd better go hang out some washing. Maybe burn a few more old papers before the wind gets up and then get off to gym. After that I'd better sort out a list of 'to do's', 'to take with me', 'to pay', and finally 'to **** with it' Footy is on tonight. Not my All Blacks but it is still footy. I'll be there with a glass of Spanish red and something from the fridge to start the cleanout of food. Pusscat is starting to get a whiff of something happening. She's getting a little wary.

Get on with it Shad

Hubby didn't get the interview. Not enough inside experience.

There was a posting for a parttime library job. I would love it. I can do it too if hubby would do all the house work, laundry etc here. He keeps telling meI dint need another job. um , well, some one here does......cost of living goes up in leaps and bounds or income does not....we lose everything we have worked for...................if our living expenses keep going up $200/month each year like they have for the last 4 we wont make it.

I so wish I had a windmill and solar power and a hydrogen car.

Good Morning Chicks of the World
Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.
Yesterday got away from me and spent too much time "working" and also did some food shopping. The day seemed to last forever. John seems to be making a habit of taking Fridays off. Making his week shorte and my weekend longer
Did you ever have someone deliberately ask for your help, give you the "reins" and then have the nerve to complain about the outcome? Not because the job wasn't done but because she actually had to participate? Women!! I would rather work with men. They're less vocal......at least the ones I work with. I still feel sorry for my friend.
Anyway that kind of treatment won't be happening again anytime soon. ......and she knows it. Sigh.
I read everyone's posts but feel a bit frazzled to answer. Sorry. I just don't have my happy face on today.
The weekend is a mixture of things. A bit of work, some time with Jen and the kids and catching up with Shaddie! (talk to you later)

Happy Saturday and enjoy

The house is finally clean.

I'm getting ready to go to Paragould. I called the aunt and uncle yesterday and he told me laughingly that my aunt really wants to go shopping today. My goal is set for 11.30 a.m. which will put me at around 12.30 p.m at their door step.

I tried the 1200 calories yesterday and will be boosting it back to 1500. This is where I feel is the best for me. Have not ridden the bike the last 2 days but will try to get on my uncle's bike later this afternoon.

Holly--Sorry your hubby didn't get the interview. There will be other job openings. If I wanted the job at the Library I'd at least apply for it. Things usually work out at home.

Mel--I know the feeling of your complaint. L is that way all the time. I'm going to start speaking my 2 cents worth each time she starts again.She wants me to do her dirty work of going to the boss. I'm not her advocate.

Gotta take my shower and get out of here if I make it by 11.30 a.m.

Morning - well almost afternoon ladies...

I have wasted the morning sitting here at the computer doing nothing of any real consequence. Gotta stop that. I have a dreaded summer cold. Thought at first it was just bad allergies but it's the real thing. I keep sneezing alot. Big, strong, LOUD, and frequent sneezes. The record so far was 11 in a row last night. They are just air sneezes - like a response to an internal tickle but after 7 of them, your throat starts to get a little sore. I have scared the cat and the birds several times in the last 2 days. I am drinking tea with honey and having some soup.

Mel - regarding your comment about people asking for help and then criticizing - well it happens too often. After a while you learn to run fast from those kinds of folks. I think you need to push back on helping before they suck you into 7 days of support instead of just 3. Beware the creepers.

Carla, good to see you back again. My friend had a cabin at the lake she would let us use. Had a fierce storm up there and a tree fell and crashed into the cabin, took out the deck, damaged the roof and destroyed several items in the yard including a beautiful hand carved wood swing. It was a good thing no one was there at the time or someone might have gotten killed. Big trees are pretty but there is also some danger associated with them. Glad your friend is ok.

Shad, I need you to come here and boss me around You are so organized. I am always ashamed when I think about your get busy and get it done style. I woke up at 5am too this morning. But I went to the potty, got a drink of water and headed back into the bedroom instead of the coffee pot

Ceejay - enjoy the shopping trip.

Suzi - that gym/spa/workout place sounds FABULOUS! Wowie Kazowie!

Holly - Hugs!

Thanks for the happy chick Meadow!

Madcat, did you opt for the long weekend? Hope you're feeling better. I think this hot weather has all sorts of irritating funk in the air.

to the occasional visiting and missing in action chicks.

Best go take my cold pill now, wash my face and get busy around the house. There are messes to be sorted and cleaned up. And I need to stop rubbing my itchy eyes before I rub them off my face.

Home from market.
Not a bad day. Having the beautiful weather!!!!!! Ds made more money at his yard sale table than me. He bought licorice and is banking the rest. he even shared with DD. My little entrepreneur. Makes my heart all fuzzy.

Need meds, forgot this AM. Having a wee sit down and some lunch and then out in the yard for this chickie!!!

Great article I read in Yahoo! Health today -

How to Be Hot
Posted by Gabrielle Reece on Tue, Aug 01, 2006, 10:39 am PDT

I've tried esoteric and philosophical ways to get you to eat better and encourage you to do some form of consistent exercise. I give. In this entry, I'm not going to talk about how "healthy it is for you" or "how good it makes you feel." Forget it. You want to look your best, be thin, and have nice skin and hair? Well then, I'm going to list some things that cover the bases. I mean, why mask it in all this heady dialogue? I should just write my blog entries and title them "You wanna look hot?" You all are probably like, "Thank God, just let's get down to it." I will oblige.

Eat Real Food: Avoid fast food and frozen stuff that you microwave. Try your best to eat whole food that doesn't have a long shelf life. Watch your portion sizes: Eat three small meals (don't skip on breakfast) and a couple of healthy snacks. A bagel is not a snack. Try something like a turkey and cheese roll up. Easy. You take the piece of meat and slice of cheese and roll them up together. Voila. Protein and fat. Functional and satisfying.

Drink Water: You want that skin to glow? Skip the flavored drinks and stick to the H2O. Boring? Add a lemon or a splash of your favorite juice. It's just a habit. Sweat 4 days a week minimum (I don't mean by sunbathing either). I'm not going to tell you what kind of exercise to do-I'm just saying sweat 30-45 minutes per day, 4 days a week if you want to have a flat tummy and toned butt. I didn't even mention it giving you clarity or more energy. Just a better butt and tummy.

Keep Stress to a Minimum: Back to the flat tummy. Wanna get those washboard abs? Chill out. Stress contributes to the body holding on to fat. It's not about the quality of your life or healthy living, it's just about giving yourself the best chance possible for being thin, so relax on the reactions.

Do Resistance Training: Twice a week, do some resistance training. This could count as one of your 4 sweat days, but if you want to get that hard hot body, then you have to do some resistance training.

Stretch or Do Yoga: Keep that body pliable. It helps avoid injury, and if that's not motivation enough, the breathing is helpful in staying young looking. Oxygen.

Find Some Happiness, Laugh and Smile Regularly: This is connected to what I wrote about stress. Happiness keeps your thighs thin.

Go to the Restroom Regularly: This is a big deal. A lot of people have issues with this. A good diet and water will help you keep things moving. Going to the bathroom is especially good for flattening the lower ab area. Not to mention (I'm committing the ultimate sacrifice here) it will lower the number on the scale. It's been said that we walk around with 8 to 10 pounds of crap (literally) in our system. Move it on out.

To recap: If you want to look your hottest, then eat well, get moving, stretch it out, calm down, drink enough water, touch your toes, control your portions (but make sure you are getting enough calories), unload the waste, and smile. I guarantee this formula will have you glowing and thin in no time. I mean after all, what other real reason is there to be healthy?

Ok, I've weighed and measured today. Let's just say I'll keep it my little secret - not as brave as the rest of you to publicly post yet.

I have lots to improve on. One pound at a time.

SHAD I HAVER PUT THE COMPUTER BACK ON SO YOU GET A BUSY SIGNAL. THERE IS ANOTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND I WAS JUST CALLED. I HAVE TO WAIT WITH THE TENANT FOR THE FAMILY TO ARRIVE. TALK TO YOU NEXT WEEKEND. I AM SO SORRY!!!! MAYBE BY THEN YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABPUT TOO!

Morning all,

Time for a quick catch up before I go to gym at 8.00am. Worked like a little slave yesterday and got the house reasonably spic and span. Just the laundry and the kitchen to finish off this morning and the floors to be washed. Oh yes and the lawns will have to be mowed as well. And somehow I need to catch up with DS1 who is racing around madly trying to get things done for his move today. He has been having the floors in his house done. Not the bedrooms - they were done a couple of years back, but he is getting his new kitchen shortly and wanted the lounge, hall, kitchen and diner done before all that happened. Then I need to catch up with DB2 and instruct him in computerese for his bank account. I am having trouble with accessing the internet when I am not in my desk in the city from my work account. It will only get worse as we go to Weipa and I don't know if there are any internet cafes in Weipa.
And today is the last day I can procrastinate on the dreaded taxes. I'd better fax those in tonight to have any hope of signing on the dotted line before I go away. I'd like a nice refund like I got last year. It would do the travel fund the world of good.

Sorry about the DH's interview Holly. I think you should just apply for the Library job. If it is going to pay the bills or at least some of them, someone needs to do something. I can remember when my ex was in a blue funk about not having enough money and me earning more than him, and our accountant told him that because of the way the world was changing, it was going to be much easier for the woman of the house to get jobs than it was for men no matter how highly qualified. He obiviously never lived in Aus. but the point is that who cares who earns the money as long as it is there to reduce the debt.

Got your message Mel, s'fine. We'll try again. I tried Happy instead but she's out too. Maybe because she's sneezing, she didn't hear the phone!!!

Happy - that is a good article. I'm with her on the Eat Real Food rule. I know how crappy I feel when I eat rough these days. Not that I don't want to and would love to from time to time but because once the smell is gone and the meal is finished, I don't feel as good as I should. Aaaah well.
I'd be over to boss you around but unfortunately I have to go to Weipa. - Weipa/ Tennessee, Tennessee/ Weipa. Now there is a choice.

Ceejay - enjoy yourself at the relations place. Drive safe.

Right time to go get dressed, if I can find where I put everything. I cleaned out the wardrobe yesterday. Don't seem to have got rid of a lot, but the worst stuff has gone. No more hobo look for the Shad. Can someone tell me why I can't find a pair of navy blue office type shoes for love nor money??? What's navy done to be out of fashion for sooooooo long?

DD was the first one up(usually the last) and the boys are both sleeping still. I had coffee out on my porch swing.Not too hot,not too buggy,not too wet.............just right!!
I tried to watch the 2nd Trading Spaces last night but fell asleep. A great rest!!! I woke with a todo list forming in my head...ha....dont have to go anywhere or have any rugrats coming here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Same for tomorrow.

I got 6 hours of yard work done out front yesterday. About 2 hours more and it is all done.!!Feels so delightful to be in the dirt.

Thanks for the support. If hubby were to ask his current boss , who is a great guy, for $1.00/hour more, it would be over $200.00 a month, that would help.

I am grateful for the new sunrise and a brand new day Thank God Saturday is over. "ALL" the kids will be gone by morning, hopefully the buildings problems will settle down and Mel will be back on track......IF I ever was on track In between relatives, alarms and medical emergencies~ I sorted out the winter clothes and tossed stuff that was unusable or just hung there never being worn. I have a box filled and today maybe sort a drawer or two. Jen asked why I was keeping a lot of stuff she has never seen me wear. I guess the reason was because they were presents So I boxed them up and Fran is taking them to a women's shelter that we've used before.
Everything else is status quo except the face and eyes are at it again. ROSACEA. I hate that word! I guess it's the coffee again Gee....I just can't have any fun
Have a great day

Ceejay~ hope the shopping with Auntie was good. And shall we christen your new lawnmower?????

Holly~ sorry about the DH interview. Good luck if you go for the library.

Happy~ Had a laugh at your advice...creepers. For that is exactly what is going on here. Too many people jockeying for vacations in a small office setting. Thanks for the reminder! Hope you feel better soon! More Take care our Southern Belle!

Shad~ Just as good we did not speak!!! I had lots of complaints! Your ears didn't need to hear it before leaving!!! Wishing you well on your journey and classes etc. Stay well my little sister

Carla~ I am glad your friend was alright too. And YOU as well!! You do give me a chuckle though from time to time. Hope your week will be a happy one and you take good care of your lower half!! Stay well!!!

Meadow I loved your little cheerleader chick!!! It cracked me up but gave a good boost!!! Hope you are doing well also

Madcat~ I thought of you the other day.....the new condos across the street are still under construction but people are moving in. Next thing you know I get a call....the place was surrounded by big trucks!!! All of which were red and had flashing lights:yikes... somehow a fire broke out and I never saw so much equiptment in one place so fast!!!
BTW, how goes the riding this summer????? Has it been too hot to travel on your 2 wheeler? I can lend you a 4 wheeler and make it much easier for you! Hope you feel better too

Where is Nae and Teel and Linus and Tig?????
WTF happened to Raven and Painter???????
I will go and take a shower and put on some good smelling toilet water and deodorant and see if they will come back.
And another thing....how can TIOLET WATER of any variety smell GOOD???? :rofl