Dianne, WELCOME HOME As you can tell, you were sorely missed Sounds as though your trip was everything you hoped it would be. At least you tried the snorkelling....while I love to swim, I can't do that! Something about breathing underwater, it seems unnatural. The cruise sounds awesome, I'm so glad you had a good time.

Terri, too funny about Brits! I can just imagine her horror when those words slipped out!! I don't like the older guy who was made leader of the young group....he picked out all the good looking young ones...the first time he lets them down in a physical challenge, they'll probably all turn against him. Brains over beauty better win!

Am going to spend the day at my aunt's....have to do some stuff around here first.

later,
Jen

Zoe,
COngratulations girl. 9.8!!! You Are awesome!!!

DIanne
Welcome Home? I asked you this before, but I don't remember the answer, what Cruise Line was it? I love to snorkel and love scuba diving even more. Camen Islands is the best diving I have ever done. I'd go back there in a heartbeat.

Es,
Sorry about your heel. Hope it is feeling better. I have begun walking with my ankle again. I am not going as fast or as far as I used to but at least I am moving again.

Terri,
You and Brit are too funny. I have never seen any of those reality shows. One thing I would like to see, but can't because we don't have cable, is the Sopranos. Everyone says that it is a good show. DO any of you gals watch it?

Ruth & Jen,
How's school? I'm sure that you're both doing very well.

Hugs to all,
JanieD

Hello my buds


Thanks for the welcome back. Its actually good to be home. I had today off and am looking forward to going back to work tomorrow (NOT!!!)

ZoeGirl - I'm sooooooo sorry about the 9.2 lbs. - that was "my bad". Your'e darn tooting every ounce counts, sheesh, I left off .6 ounces, that's more than a 1/2 lb. Forgive me, please???
You are doing great girl! By the way, it was Ocho Rios that we were in also - not too great.

Jen - I'm with you about breathing under water - it ain't natural, unless you're a fish, I like my way better. How are Brandon and Matthew doing? And did you get to spend some time with Aunt Ginny? How is she?

Terri - that is tooooooo funny about Brit She must have wanted to "rewind" her tongue I'd like to rewind my tongue sometimes too. Oh you were right, Jessa did put her arms out to me and was a permanent part of my hip for the rest of the night - OMG, I could eat her up!

Es, mi amiga - How is your foot? Did you see a doctor - could it be "spurs"? If it keeps hurting, you should check it out. How's work? And how's little Karinna?

Janie - We took the Carnival "fun ship" cruise on the Paradise, which is the first totally non-smoking ship which is very cool. The cayman islands was great. The water was sooo beautiful. Maybe next time I'll do the "real" snorkeling. I watch "The Sopranos" - I love it. I can't believe it was off the air for over 1 year and so glad its back.

Ruth - how are you girl? How is school?

Well, gotta go and get ready for bowling - I missed the first 2 weeks and I'm anxious to get back to it. I'll talk to you's tomorrow.

P.S. I just noticed today's date (I never remember the date when I'm on vacation) - I would have been married 30 years to my first husband today - YIKES!!! Some dates are never forgotten I guess.

Hugs,
Dianne

Hi

Terri, Brittany must have gotten so nervous after she said that to you. She's so cute. I never got into the Survivors. I'm too much into my soaps.

My heel pain was gone the next day. I don't know what happened. All I kept thinking was having to give up my treadmill I would have hated it.

Dianne, Jessa must be so cute. Karinna is fine except that she's teething. Still don't have any pictures of her. I'm such a bad Titi. It's funny that you mentioned about your ex cause I thought of mine on May 27th. It would have been our 30th also.

Janie, good going with walking again. Don't push yourself too hard. I watch the Sopranos sometimes. I usually fall asleep. It is a great show.

Jen, were you visiting aunt Ginny? I know she must love having you around.

Well buddies, Pete should be calling soon so I better sign off. He started a new shift. Now he starts at 3:PM till 11:PM. Back to sleepless nights because of his SNORING! I'm going to get him that snoring spray & see if that helps. I saw it somewhere.

Goodnight

Hugs,
Es

As I write this, I'm wrapped in my down throw it's only in the low 40's this morning! It seems waaay too soon for this!

Had a great visit with my aunt yesterday; she is such a sweetie, very savvy, well-read, goes online daily. The time flies by when I'm with her, seems we can never stop talking!

Es, that's great that the heel pain went away! Let me know if the snoring spray works...going back to what was said here last week....I can see why some couples get separate bedrooms except I'd definitely miss the cuddling.

Dianne, the boys are great. We're celebrating Brandon's 7th birthday on Saturday by taking him to Chuck E. Cheese...just kill me now at least they serve beer.......

I've got about 10 hours of homework facing me that I have to finish for Wednesday. I'll find out how I did on the exam last week.

see you later,
~Jen

Jen, wow, so cold! It's chilly here too but somewhere around 60-ish, maybe more.....but it feels cold after the hot summer months. Fall is just around the corner.....(is it next week?? or this week?? I forget...) I am looking forward to the cooler weather.

Greg is going to be out of town tomorrow and Thursday so I'll be 'home alone', watching the new shows. He said that I'll need to tape Survivor for him......maybe.

Have a great Tuesday you's guys......

Me <><

Hi guys!!!!!!
You tape that show Zoe!!!!

Jen,
It is chilly here and I am LOVING it!!!!!! This is my favorite weather.
I am so glad you had that great visit with your aunt.
Oooh a Chuck E. Cheese party. Bradley has a had two of those. Drink that beer and stay away from the BIG MOUSE.
I can't believe Brandon is 7 already. Tell him Happy Birthday!
Good luck with your test scores.

Es,
I am soooo glad your heel feels better.
Too funny about Pete's snoring.

Dianne,
So glad you are back. I told you she'd put her arms out.

JanieD,
My husband loves the Sopranos. He missed the first 2 years and so he rented the DVD's for the first 2 years. He is all caught up now and was excited about the new season. Next year's season
is the last. He also likes 6 Feet Under.

Well, I am going to get Tanner and go for a walk. He loves it!!!!!!!

TTYL,
Terri

Hi Girls

Terri, I remember when you first got Tanner. He was cute then & I bet he's cute now. They truly are a man's/woman's bestfriend. I absolutely adore my Susie. I must give her 50 kisses before I leave for work. She sees me coming & she rolls over cause she knows what's coming. Adorable.

Jen, it's not that cool here yet. Like Terri, I love the Fall.
Your aunt sounds like such a sweetie. OMG, Chuck E. Cheese. I useto leave there with a headache! I could just imagine taking the twins there! Have fun. Happy Birthday to Brandon.

Zoe, first day of Autumn was yesterday. Enjoy all the new shows.

Well, gotta go.

Be back later.

Love,
Es

Es,
Glad your heel is feeling better. I went to the club this morning and did 30 min on the cycle. It felt so good after that that I said, "hey, I'll try the treadmill too" After 10 min it was starting to hurt. I guess I need to slow down on the weight bearing stuff. It was nice to know that I can use the bike though.

Terri,
Happy BDay to Brandon!!!
I can't believe that Ellen is almost 9. Tonight is girl's night out. I can't wait.

Everyone,
Well, my parents left yesterday. It was an interesting visit. A real awakening for me. I finally came to accept in my heart that my mother is emotionally abusive and all the guilt and anxioity, along with the physical illness I feel when she is here, is not my fault. All the fattening food she cooks for me and buys and leaves in the fridge after she leaves on the one hand , and then tells me that I am fat on the other, is just one example of her abusive nature. Realizing it and knowing how to deal with it are 2 different things though. I have a lot of baggage I have to work though. I took today off from work to decompress a little. I think i really needed this mental health day. Sorry to dump on you guys but I haven't told anyone about this stuff except Steve. It is very embarassing to admit that you were/are an abused child. I know I can trust all of you. We've been though so much together.

Thanks for listening.
-janie

Janie,
You are such a wonderful woman, in spite of how your mother has tried to make you think otherwise. Abuse is meted out in so many ways, and it's difficult to understand how someone you love can do so. I think you've done a marvelous job of overcoming what your mother has heaped on you...be proud of that!
Ellen is so lucky to have you as her Mom. We are all here for you.

love,
~Jen

Janie, here's a HUG. I agree with Jen about you being a great woman. You are a wonderful mother, intelligent & I know you're beautiful. Last but not least you have faith. Sometimes I look at my sisters, my brother & myself I believe our hangups go from way back. My dad had a lot to do with that. WE love you kiddo. Never feel embarassed because you turned out to be one **** of a lady. Have a happy time with Ellen tonight.

I feel so fat today!!!! Even my face looks bigger. I sure hope it's water! The scale hasn't budged. I'm not giving up I just feel FAT!!!! I would like to lose at least 5 lbs. by October 6th. Karinna's christening is that day & I want to buy a new outfit. I think I can, I think I can.............

Hi Terri, Dianne, Jen, Zoe & Patti

Hugs,
Es

Hey buds:

Janie - Sometimes things that happen in your childhood actually make you a better person - in your case a better mom. I know from experience - my mom left us alone when we were young to run around - finally my grandmother came to take me out of my home when I was 7 years old and raised me. My sisters and brother were sent to foster homes. So, I know about child abuse too, but I have to say that it made me a better mother to my kids. I learned from my mother the kind of mother NOT to be. Until the time my mom got sick this year, we hadn't spoken in about 7-8 years. And still I went to the hospital, etc. and I wouldn't do anything different if I had to do it all over again.

The relationship you have with Ellen says it all. That's what I have with Alana and my sons and in a weird way, I owe that to my mother - she made me realize how much my children meant to me because we didn't mean much to her.

Anyway, let me get off my soapbox, I'm just trying to say you're not alone in the way you feel and don't, whatever you do, feel guilt over how you feel. You are a great mom and Ellen is very lucky.

I just had to respond to your post, cause it hit me right at home.

Hi to everyone, will talk to you's tomorrow.

Hugs,
Dianne

JanieD,
We love you. I am so sorry that you had to go through that. I am so glad that you are realizing it isn't your fault. You are a wonderful woman and I am so glad that you see how she is and broke the cycle cause I know you would never do that to Ellen. You are a great mom. If you need to talk we are here.

Es,
I know you can, I know you can, I know you can...
My baby will be 2 in 2 months. He still is a puppy. Susie sounds adorable. I will get a small dog when the kids are bigger.
I watched the season opener of Smallville with the kids. Britts is in love with Lex Luther and Clark and Johnathon Kent (John Schneider - AKA Bo Duke). They are cute. John is still a doll. He is 41.

Dianne,
I am so proud of you too in that you broke the cycle!!!!!!!!!


I watched that new John Ritter show called 8 rules to date my teenage daughters. Or something like that. I couldn't finish watching. Those girls would have gotten slapped if I were there. They were so mean and they weren't corrected. They made Roseanne's daughters look like angels. It was to over the top for me. I taped Persidio Med. I will watch tomorrow. Did anyone see it? Is it good? I can't wait until ER.
Until tomorrow.
Terri

Hi Guys

Terri, I'm getting ready for work so I have to make this short. About the John Ritter show, I watched the 1st episode & I knew I wouldn't watch it again. I was sucking my teeth throughout the whole show. They are so nasty with their dad! Their teeth would have been on the floor. Like the kids today need to see that.

Gotta run!

Love you's

Terri and Es,
I watched the new John Ritter show, and agree with both of you totally....those kids were way too smart-mouthed. What a terrible way to portray a family. It's a shame, cause I've always liked him and hoped it would be a good show for him. I'll never watch it again. Watched NYPD Blue, one of my favorites, can't believe it's been on 10 years! Wish Jimmy Smits was still on it, what a hunk.

Autumn is my favorite season also, just seems like it comes quicker each year! I made good use of the fireplace last night, don't want to turn the heat on yet.

Janie,
Dianne and Terri said it so well. How was your evening with Ellen?

During the summer I stopped taking the HRT I'm on; while I was off it, my appetite decreased and I was able to lose a few pounds. Due to some side effects of not taking it, however, I went back on it two weeks ago. My appetite is totally out of control! It's not in my head, I've been tracking and journalling the effects it has had on me. Now I've got to make an appt. to discuss it w/my dr.(I never told her I went off of it, she'll probably read me the riot act).
I was put on it the day of my hysterectomy, and told to just take it, for the rest of my life. Well, I'm not enthused about that, so we'll have to go back and rethink the whole thing. I do know, however, that the 2 years I've been on it I was definitely experiencing weight gain.

Have class tonight, more homework to finish.

The Chuck E Cheese thing.....we never took our kids there....took Brandon when he was about 4 for lunch. Brandon wanted to sit up front next to the stage....I sat there reading a book while Joey and he played games...little did I know that huge mouse was going to perform every 5 minutes!!! On Saturday we will sit far far away from him.

later,
~Jen