Morning all. TGIF!!

Happy – Did you get any 3rd party references for that software? They might be helpful as to the software itself and doing business with the company that provides it. ----Too bad the tidying book wasn’t all that good. Thanks for saving me the trouble of seeking it out. The thing with the concept of losing the sentimentality of objects is this: easier said than done, as you experienced with some of your jewelry.---Re the cardio, with the potential for me to have asthma symptoms following workouts, cardio becomes less appealing from that standpoint. Re other benefits of strength training, having toned muscles certainly helps with balance, though developing/improving balance is a separate thing to be practiced through yoga, etc.---The trees are just starting to change, though I was surprised to see one tree a couple blocks from us that had completely changed color and had lost a ton of leaves already. With our mild weather, the process has been delayed. Gosh, can’t believe you had to go down 19 floors for a DRILL!

Hello everyone. Have a good weekend!
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Nothing much to report. I did a load of laundry and a BE workout last night. It wasn’t one of the better ones as for the types of exercises, but it was better than doing nothing. It was another show I recorded to DVR as I worked out to it playing on a VHS tape (since I didn’t already have it). The vhs tape quality wasn’t so good – audio & video even cut out in a couple spots - but it doesn’t impact my ability to work out to it.

Nothing special planned for this weekend, though I better shop for a dress to wear to a wedding we’re attending in a couple weeks.

I will take out the veggie garden this weekend, and probably move the mulch bags out of the garage.

I’m taking a vacation day on Monday and bf and I are getting massages from the woman who works out of her house. We’d bought a couple gift certificates last fall when she offered a special and we’re using those. I’m sure she wished we’d given them to someone else as gifts so she could have a potential new client or two, but oh well. After using those two certificates, I still have two more gift cards for massages that I received as gifts, so I will definitely be using one of those before the end of the year.

That’s it for me. TTFN.

TGIF and Good Friday...payday...

LAURA...I would gladly take that spa gift card off your hands. I love me some massages. Enjoy yourself. It is just never long enough. I lay there thinking how much time do I have left and then disappointed when it is over.

Gotta go, will try to get back this afternoon.

Morning,
It's Friday and I haven't gotten a whole lot done but I'm through thinking about retirement. I've felt like a victim of circumstance. It's my life and I have to choose what is best for me. I'm taking advice from a cousin and friend to work as long as I can. Social Security tells me I can retire at 65 but with a cut in pay. I'm waiting till I'm 66 to retire with full benefits. Yes that's next year but time has a way of flying by. Actually I'll retire in 2017 to get the full year of 2016. This will give me more time to spend with the uncles and then decide on whether to stay in Arkansas or move to Missouri.
I need to go pay my light bill then come back to finish cleaning house.

Annie - Yeh, massages are never long enough. I've told this woman we go to that she can shorten time on one body part so she can spend more time on another, LOL.

Ceejay - I just recently listened to a personal finance podcast about SS benefits and understand that unless someone really can't work any longer (i.e., poor health, etc.), or don't think they will have a long life expectancy, people should strive to at least work until their full retirement age or beyond (up to the max benefit level at 70 years old. ) So I get where your cousin & friend are coming from. Big decision for you. And disappointing if you really want to be retired NOW but know it might be financially wiser to work longer. But at least you know your options.

Hi kids,

Well we decided to purchase the software and now I am the new administrator "driver of the bus" and it's up to me to get everything up and running. By October 31. AND factoring in that my sister comes up October 24 for a week and I intend to spend as much time (or little) as she wants to see me. I think I can squeak by with the basics enough to satisfy the grant requirements and then put pedal to the metal in November. At least this ain't no SAP installation so I will not be in Shad's shoes losing my mind. I am far too smart for that, especially doing this all for free.

I am somewhat skeptical about all this talk about people delaying taking SS benefits and deferring to age 70. Although I am in the age group that is supposed to be grandfathered for benefits, I still don't trust that they will run out of money. And I can't see people like my niece paying into a system that will most probably never pay anything to her so I think one day there will be an overhaul and not in a good way. Angry that our so called politicians were able to somehow tap into the system they should have never been allowed to touch. And... there is flagrant abuse of it in some cases. If they'd actually look at who's claiming and kick the abusers to the curb, there'd be enough money for all. I am turning 62 in April and am in the process of deciding whether to file for early benefits. Yep, it's a big chuck I'd lose claiming early but then again I am weighing if there will be money 10 years from now which might cheat me out of what I'd get in hand now and there's always the old mortality factor of "how long will I live". It's a different kind of thinking. I am still on the fence, mulling it over like Ceejay.

Ceejay - if you only have one year to go and as Laura says - barring any issues of stress or physical limitations, I'd agree to try your best to push through these final months until your full retirement age. (I'd be waiting 4 more years for me). Sounds like you are still debating the merits of where you want to be. There might also be the option perhaps of maybe stepping down to a part time position your last year of service? Can't hurt to ask. y friend who is a nurse and is dealing with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis went from 5 days to 3 or 4 a week and said it helped her.

Annie - hahahaha - laughed at your remark about time left on the massages - I do that too. Same with getting your hair washed in the salon. Why do good things go so fast and yucky stuff extends forever.

Laura - no I didn't go into getting references. I could have but we are bumping against a time line. AND I am coming to terms with myself that sometimes I take excessively long to do something and that excessive time really doesn't matter. IE - if I spent an extra week playing around with the demo database, would it change my recommendation? No, probably not. So just get to the point already. I can be an excellent procrastinator and diddler. As far as purging goes, I think when you have a sentimental attachment like I do, I need to pair up with someone (for the love of God NOT DH :P ) who will help me toss out things - wrench it from my cold, bloody hands. Actually I am being mindful, tossed a bunch of stuff from the refrigerators last night. Being honest, no I won't use this up and ignoring the nagging feeling that I wasted money. Just promising myself that I will not buy so much the next time. And I returned the boots that I just bought that I liked a lot but didn't really need. We have a few really pretty single trees in red or orange that are gorgeous but they too are losing leaves. We are going for a drive and an ATV ride Saturday and Sunday - looks like the colors are popping more so I hope to see more in the way of color, especially around the water. Enjoy your vacation day and the massage with BF, yes that's the chance you take as a business offering discounts - if she wants new clients, better to offer your services at some of the health fairs that are happening this time of year.

Geez it's almost 2pm. We usually go to dinner around 5 and I haven't eaten yet (REALLY BAD habit of mine although I was going to have cereal and DH finished the milk). Need to find something light to eat as I am getting a headache.

Hellos to the rest of the Worldlies have a good weekend.

Laura ~ I did enjoy my classes, Thanks! The chicken and noodles didnt have much flavor but the canned carrots and dinner rolls were good.

Happy ~ I'm gonna start walking outside, I dont think we are gonna get anymore 80 degree weather, At least I hope not, I hope it stays in the 70's for the rest of the month. I got my new Zumba Beginners DVD so I'm looking forward to trying it out.

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Been having a good day today. I'm looking forward to trying out my new Zumba DVD for beginners. I cleaned the bathroom. I'm about to go do the dishes. I have to pull off all of the tabs on the pop cans and then put the cans in a bag and throw them over the gate to the back yard. I pull of the pop tabs for ronald mcdonald Charities. My mom and I are taking one of my friend's to go get her car license today. We also need to go pick up Scott's med's but we will probably do that after 2 p.m. tomorrow. I'm gonna start going to school 3 days a week for now on starting Monday. Monday I'll have cooking class(Healthier food hopefully) Wed. we have DA4A Lunch and Bingo and then Thursday I have Music and Movement class. I'll have to pay more for my bus passes but thats okay I'll already budgeted for it for next month and for Dec. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday. Take Care All.

Good morning everybody,

Yesterday we completed the paperwork to purchase the Animal Shelter software program so now it's all up to me to get trained, do all the set ups, figure out how we want to use it in what capacities, do the initial data entry and train the other staff. All by the end of the month. AND I want to have as much free time as possible for when my sister visits October 24. AND I need to get my house in order. I am trying not to be overwhelmed and set priorities. Oh and I promised DH I'd do some things with him too like take a few drives and ATV rides to enjoy the colors which seem to have popped over night.

So I will be doing far more reading that posting for the next couple of weeks. Will check in when I can and forgive the lack of personals for the time being.

Morning all,
I'm sick of the sound of silence and talking to myself does not give me the company I need so I am just finishing up with my bacon and egg breakfast and then I will go to someplace which has people around.

The go-live is going very well. Minor problems and a couple of major ones (which fortunately have little to do with me apart from affecting the system capabilities) I have been doing floorwalking and scooting from one place to another trying to sort out why somethings just don't work. It is normally the human error, but ............ My other thing is to help them find things, look at ways of making life easier for them and fortunately that is my thing! I'm not called short cut Sally for nothing. I work at it. This coming week I am shifting to nightshift. That will be fun -Not!!!!!!

I'm afraid I haven't kept up with a lot of the posts. Been flat stack and also because I forgot my charger, it's been difficult to do much on the computer. I now have a charger. Bought it yesterday - along with a whole range of new clothes because I seem to have changed shape over here and all my trousers were falling off me - hitch, walk, hitch - some worse than others. So I have bought several new pairs in a smaller size. That works for me. I also bought some more summery tops - on the presumption it will warm up here in Auckland at some point. Or maybe not.

I bought a top in shades of blue, turquoise and green, with a bit of lemon thrown in. It looked good on and I love the fabric On the way out I see that they have matching skirts so I may well go back on Monday and see if the skirt looks good as the top did - maybe a new complete outfit that wont be trousers??? Also I got another top which is a sort of silk ribbon knit. The colour is called Paua - a paua is a New Zealand version of Abalone - not sure if you have ever seen the shells, but the inside is a sort of mixture of iridescent blues, greens, olive, pink, purple. Then again on my way out, I find it has a matching jacket. Might need to look at that too!. I'll see if I can find a picture of paua shell that will show the colours. After that I can't spend anymore since I will have to then get another suitcase to bring it all home in!!

Found a picture but apparently it can't be uploaded since it is too big. One problem I have with Windows 8.1 is that I can't always find how to edit things. It is not simple like the previous version and always refers to one note or the cloud - neither of which I have the time to devote to learning properly. Argggh. Soon as I sort the picture, you will see it.

Anyway, if I want to do something today, I had better go get on with it. I may be back tonight with the days doings. If I get to do something. It isn't very springlike or summery out there - back out with the winter woollies again.

At last Paua - or abalone - call it what you will.

Shad
Glad that you are buying new, smaller clothes. Wish I could say the same thing. Ugh on working the night shift.

Happy
Yes, there is a lot of concern about retirement especially if one is dependent on ones self. I don't like the fact that SS counts their year from January to January, but it is what it is. I wanted to retire in August of 2016 but now I have to work till at least 2017. I can do it. I've been thinking about asking for an 8 hour per day job. I'd even take a cut in pay, but as in the past they want me where I am. I would love to help B in the lab.

Laura
I've talked to an SS agent who gave some good advice. And I'm healthy enough that I can make it till next year. I am the type of person who wants to please even if it's a hardship on me. In fact I had an appointment with her again for the 29th but called and canceled. I can file the application on line.
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I mulched the leaves and pine needles yesterday on the front and side lawns. There was a black kitten following me around and playing with the cord on the mower. It's an electric mower. When I had to moved the cord out of my way the kitten jumped 2 foot off the ground. This still makes me smile. Got in my 30 minutes of cardio by doing this.
Fixed stewed potatoes instead of potato soup to go with my baked pork chops. They were so good.
I've scheduled several goals on my Fitbit but I'm having a hard time keeping up with everything. Thinking I may be a bit OCD on this. Today I'm going with water intake and 30 minutes worth of cardio.
I've been getting boils/cyst type things. The doctor says it's from stress and I'm beginning to think my food and fluid intake may have something to do with it also. He's recommended that I take fish oil to help clean the blood. I'm tired of taking antibiotics.
Back to work today. My co-worker has put in for a vacation day on the 23rd of October. She's scheduled for a court date. I didn't ask why.

Good Morning Chicklets...

Shuweee what a busy weekend. Let's see...Saturday...meeting, grocery, laundry, made a meal to take over to a neighbor who both the mom and dad was in a very serious motorcycle accident. They have 3 small children. Our neighborhood set up a on a sight "Mealtrain.com" to take a meal a day to them. So far we have meals clear up to Thanksgiving for them. The mom was in ICU for a week then in a regular room for a week, the dad came home in about 3 days. She has to have OT and PT for severe head injuries. Anyway, on to my weekend. Made dinner for C and I then went over to Sissy's to drop a few things off that I got for the kiddos. C play tag in the front yard with the G-babes and several of the kids from the block. When it was time to leave, Jacob said, "Papaw who is going to tag us if you leave" Too cute. We went home, watched a movie and went to bed.

Sunday was church, then my brother Michael met us at Olive Garden and we bought his lunch for his birthday. He made it to 64. Then C and I went to see the movie Martian. What a great movie, we loved it. Highly recommend. Then we were off to my nephew's house for a cookout for Michael's (nephew's dad) birthday. Chicken wings and legs on the grill, raw veggies and blue cheese dressing, sauteed mushrooms with homemade horseradish sauce. YUM YUM YUM...Jello poke cake for birthday dessert. Home again, watched a movie, folded towels and off to bed. Was asleep in about 30 seconds.

Will come back for personals...my day has gone to hello.

Annie
Sounds like you have had a good but busy week end. That's a special thing to do for the family on your block.

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Nothing special here. Light office was very slow in changing over the phone. Finally called my boss. There's two lines and both of them were switched to here. hmmmm. I'm wearing the fitbit on my shoe today. Not sure if that will help but we will see.

Good morning ladies,

Had a nice weekend. The colors have peaked and it was sunny and got up to 80 degrees yesterday so it was far too nice to waste. We all knew it was summer's last hurrah. With the warmth came a billion Asian beetles. They look like ladybugs but they are their mean cousins. These things are flying all through the air like those little white whisps of dandelion weeds in the spring. They are looking for a warm place to winter so they are covering the house - screens, doors, everything. And the little turds BITE when they land on you. And they stink when you smash them. My window sills are filled with bodies. They crawl through the outside window via the little drain holes in the screening.

Saturday we took a car ride all over just looking for color spots for pictures. Yesterday we took the UTV out and were gone for 6 and a half hours which was wayyyyy too long. We took to the trails with average speed about 20 mph which is why it took so long even though our dune buggy can get up to 100mph. That would SCARE me as even 45 seems unduly fast. DH took a mess of pictures but has only posted a couple. It's getting to the point now in my opinion that he is getting overly fussy with the pictures and insists on post processing or tweaking each one. That takes time and never gets done. He also discards a tremendous amount of pictures that I think are just fine. Oh well, ain't my hobby.

I did manage to get some housecleaning done in between things. I thought we were having company tonight but instead we are going to our friends house which I am glad about. They are leaving next week for 6 months in Florida to spend the winter and she is cooking up a big meal to clean out their freezer and refrigerator. The thought of emptying my larder would make me shudder. I might enjoy 2 weeks on a beach in February but I don't think I would like maintaining 2 separate homes or living in 2 different places for extended periods of time.

Today I have to run into town and pick up some supplies for cookies to make for tonight, I should get them a housewarming present for the new place and there is Mt. Washmore to be tackled - seems I can never quite catch up with that. I am continuing to purge things, pay bills and if I have time I will start on the orientation and training for the new shelter software. If I don't get started on that today, for sure the rest of my week will be devoted to it. I am even giving up my stint at the shop for the next couple of weeks.

Oop - phone call I gotta take. Back later.

Hi ladies....

Sorry I've been MIA. Work has been insanely busy. And my "free time" has been anything but free. But I'm having fun...and enjoying myself a lot with friends.

Tomorrow through Friday, I'm house and dog sitting for my friend K. And another friend of mine asked me to house and dog sit for them during Christmas week. My friend over Christmas week wants to insist on paying me for sitting...but I told her I'm doing it to help out my friends and to get to spend time with their sweet doggies. Plus it gives me a little break from my roommates.

Tomorrow at 4 pm, I have an interview for a full-time "permanent" position as a web developer with the Humane Society. I don't think the pay will be as good as I'm getting, but it would be a little closer to home. Wednesday, I'm going running with Mark.

This Saturday, I've signed up to do a 5K...but if I'm not feeling over this cold, I might skip it. I'm still feeling run down and like the beginnings of a cold. On Sunday...I'll be meeting up with other Packer fans at our Packer bar hangout.

I hope you (and your loved ones) are all doing well.

Much love,

Michelle
Sending good vibes for the interview. And hope you feel better soon.

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Talked to my boss this morning about my continuing to work. He's all for it. Like he said it is all a mind set. Think he was happy. At first I thought I would be happy in retirement. But I'm not one to set around and twiddle my thumbs all day.
Called my eye doctor and cancelled the appointment with him for January. And made another appointment with an eye doctor in Jonesboro for Thursday. I'm feeling good.

Evening all. I think I might need a massage after my massage - my shoulders are sore.

Friday the big boss let us leave at 4pm so we could get home in time for the Cubs- Cards playoff game.

Saturday I pulled out the veg garden & took down the little fence around it. I also went to Aldi & Walmart. Dog walk, then out for a Thai dinner. We saw a gorgeous sunset on our drive home. Wow.

Sunday I met my friend D for breakfast. She's doing so well after her knee surgery. Afterwards I went to our produce market for a few things. Puttering, watching the end of the Bears game & a dog walk after I was back at home, then went to the middle eastern joint for a late lunch/early dinner.

Today bf & I had our massages. On the way back home we picked up bf's contact lenses. We also stopped at the boutique from where I had a gift card to use. Too bad they're not open on Mondays... Back at home I prepared a batch of rice to eat with my leftover Thai for lunch. Ate some chips AND crackers while I waited, then a large portion of the Thai, and then a cookie and some ice cream after that. What a binge! I think skipping dinner last night & breakfast this morning brought that on. Can't believe I'm getting hungry for some dinner... Even though I was soooo full after lunch, I took doggy for his walk & brushed him afterwards in the yard. Yet another gorgeous fall day, even though it's been quite blustery today.

Been reading & watching TV (watching the Cubs game as I type this). Yup, played hooky from my Pila-tes class.

Okay, gonna sign off & watch the rest of this ball game. Back for personals tomorrow...