Tig: I sure do. I can't believe after all these years they are still there. The corner has exploded so much now with BK and MCD's and I think there are new gas stations too, aren't there? You need to try something sometime with your sweetcorn. My daugter did it for us last time we grilled and boy is it good. You take fresh corn, melt butter and fresh crushed garlic together, rub over corn, wrap in foil (or I bet just cover back up with husks) and BBQ for 30 minutes turning about every 10 or so. It brings out the sweetness of the corn. It is delicious, not strong or anything and it didn't even need more butter or salt, both of which I tend to drown corn in!

SEMO: You do feel kind of accomplished when everything is clean, BUT in my house, it takes less than 24 hours for dh or pets to muck it up! We have this white linoleum in our kitchen, bath, and laundry room and I have begged dh to get going on putting something else down as it stains really easily and the cat takes hunks out with his claws when he is jumping around on cabinets. I want to put down Pergo in the kitchen and laundry and already have the new tile for the bath and entranceway for us to get down. Oh well, I guess I am just going to have to start it myself and then I know he will do it!

Jello: Do you have someone who knows what they are doing that will be taking over for you so you don't come back to a huge mess? Whenever I went on vacation, I was the only one that knew anything about the litigation files and everything involved with it and would come back to huge piles of work to try and catch up on. Hope your hair turns out gorgeous!

Well, gotta get my butt up and get over to the pool while it is still quiet over there!

Faye

Jello - Bring on the water bottle indeed! I was just reading an article this weekend where some obesity specialist said that in addition to the 8 glasses everyone should drink, overweight people should drink an additional glass for every 25 lbs. over their body weight. I have never heard this before.

[for those that want the technical info: this is because when the kidneys can't remove all the waste because of not enough water, the body relies on the liver to break things down further, which hinders the liver's ability to metabolize fat properly] interesting.

Bright - I'm decluttering right along with you. I'm finding it harder because the major areas are clear - the things I have to get rid of now are things I need to pull out and sort through... Hard to get started with that. What I did this weekend was instead of sitting down to do something I just pulled open a drawer and threw 1 thing away, pulled open the next one and likewise. This is in my bathroom.

I went shopping on Friday night all by myself and had a lot of fun! I found great stuff on sale. I bought 3 dresses and 3 twinsets that coordinate (so I can wear a little sweater with my dress or wear both pieces with pants) and 2 pairs of earrings... for $200. YAY! DH is doing a little work on his school break so I was thrilled to be able to shop. My summer wardrobe was needing a major overhaul. I can't tell you guys how sad I was when I pulled out summer clothes - nothing was suitable for work and a lot of it was worn out or stained (wondering why I put it away at all?) So between my little spree and the pants I bought a few weeks ago I'm VERY HAPPY. Now I need to go in with a vicious hand and throw all the old junky stuff away, quickly! I almost feel like something as simple as a bunch of new clothes shouldn't make me this happy. But it sure does!

SEMO - you deserve to be princess for a day. I'll be one of your bevy of maidens - except I'm no maiden, but never mind that. Maybe a maid would do... but no windows.

Faye - I love your story about the mice! You are a brave lady doing all of that, I'm proud of you. I'll bet your self esteem grew like a weed during that time. We need positive experiences like that, I'm so glad for you that you did it.

OK, it's Monday, and work is piling up. Better get at it. Short week for me, I'm heading out of town on Thursday for a long weekend. It will be a busy time, but good, going to a 3-day religious seminar which we do yearly. It will be fun to stay in a hotel and NOT think about the mundane things of life for 3 whole days. But it's also a lot of people and a lot of instruction so I'm generally tired by Sunday afternoon, too. Only 3 days of work this week - yea!

Wahoo! more posts to read, it took me so long to type my book.

Tiger - congrats on your loss! Hey a loss is a loss... I like that carrot idea. Anything to get the remodel DONE!

Only 4:00 and the big proposal is done. Whatever will I do with myself for these last 30 minutes. Oops. Shouldn't say it or I'll jinx myself.

Cafe, congrats on the shopping success. Don't you just love those twin sets? I like to shop alone sometimes. So much easier to go exactly where you want, spend as much time as you want, get what you want. (Anyone sense a theme here? )

Faye, I've been doling out my work to several people for the past couple weeks. And yes, I fully expect to come back to a big mess. Hoping that nothing really huge comes up while I'm gone. Well, boss is a big boy. He'll just have to handle it.

Yeah, right.

Tiger, hope your DH gets to get his new pc soon! (As in, hope your downstairs is done soon.) Always nice to have a reward waiting. Hm, just like with weight loss! BTW, I'm just getting my hair cut. Don't think it needs a recolor just yet. Hairdresser says a cut will "show" the color more. Touch up due next month I think. Although, I think I'm going to give her permission to take a least an inch or two, not just the little "endies" off.

Oh hey, did I mention who's visiting me right now? Came to call late Saturday afternoon and has made herself right at home. It's Aunt Flo!!

FOR THE LAST TIME!!!!!! Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!! Can't wait to send that gal packin'.

And on that fine note, I think I'm going to close up my desk and head on out to Curves. BTW, they said I could take a temporary "leave" from them. I just have to let them know on my last day there (probably a week from Friday) and then come back whenever the nice doctor man says I can. I'll miss it.

Gotta run. Talk to you all later!

Good Tuesday morning!

Yesterday I had my 2nd carpel tunnel release(had one done one month ago), so i won't be on much this week. Typing with only my left hand is frustrating

Semo; I think it was you who mentioned the sugar busters book-that is sort of what i have been following although i read an article yesterday in a magazine about the south beach diet-and this is more along the lines of what i have been following although i didn't know it had a name!!

Well hope you all have a great week i may pop in in a couple days, other than that i'll just be soaking up the rays!

sassy

Good Morning.
Semo, anxious to hear what you think of the Sugar Buster's book. Read fast.

Sassy, hope you are recovering nicely and having some nice weather to enjoy.

It's raining here this morning so I'm going to continue with my little cleaning frenzy. Strange how the mood comes and goes. Gotta ride the wave when it strikes.

Sassy, I thought of you yesterday. I thought you had said you were having some hand surgery. Hope it's feeling better soon. I have problems with carpel tunnel too but it's not too bad with my little wrist rests that I had to fight the company to buy for me. Cheapskates! Anyway, hope to see you in again soon even if it's only to say wibnw['=baOWNohcmcs. Sorry. Just had to tease you just a little.

Cafe, forgot to thank you for the info on drinking water. I know that it's good for me but sometimes it's nice to know WHY.

Semo, let me know what you think of the sugar-buster book. Sounds interesting.

Well, girls, cooked up some chicken breasts with BBQ sauce on the grill last night. Also grilled some zucchini and tomatoes. So tasty and so good for me. Then ruined it by having some ice cream that I didn't even really want. Dummy. Someday I'll learn.

Curves was really crowded last night. It was only the second time since I joined that I had to wait for a free space in the rotation. Wasn't too long a wait though and well worth it. Best thing is that after the work out, I walk home. Gives me 10-15 minutes of quiet "me time" to just walk and think. I like it! Then I have all this energy when I get home to do fun stuff like, oh, the laundry and the dusting. Oooh. Ahhhh. What a glamorous life I lead. But I got a lot accomplished last night. Almost finished cleaning our computer room. See, I knew there was a floor under there somewhere!

Gotta run. More paperwork from the company prez. We just bought him his own scanner so he'd stop bothering me with his petty little documents. Now someone's just got to teach him how to use the thing! Man, who ties this guy's shoes in the morning!?

Later!

Good morning to our jolly little group!

Sassy: Hope your surgery fixes you right up! You take it easy.

Jello: Men are basically useless creatures God put on this earth to help us be patient! One of the things I like about the water aerobics is I can think think think while being in the pool. EXCEPT, today I was thinking about how many lbs I could lose by next spring and lost count of how many rounds of my routine I had done so I did an extra I think! I have decided to use the little thing a ma bobs (buoys) that keep the rope that separates the shallow from deep end. Since I am always in there by myself, I am going to use the rope sort of like an abacus and move one buoy for each round of routine! It is crappy getting old!

Tiger: That is what I am doing today is cleaning (oooh big surprise!) I can't believe it is time to clean the upstairs again, sheesh! I thought of you last night when I was online at www.copykat.com which are recipes from restaurants etc. They have this section that is just recipes submitted by people and they have this kitty litter dessert and I thought of your boys! This thing is disgusting and I bet kids would love it. I make dirt dessert which is crushed oreo cookies and chocolate mousse and layered in a plastic flower pot with the cookies as the top looking like dirt and gummy worms sticking out of the "dirt" and a plastic flower stuck in it, but this is some kind of crumbled cake and stuff in a kitty litter box with a scoop and they use warmed tootsie rolls, ummm you get the idea. There is a pic on the site if you want to see it.

Cafe: Oh my gosh, I would have to ingest an extra 7 bottles of water on top of the 4. I would be floating away. Might as well put me in Depends and I don't think they make Baby Huey size!

Hope everyone has a great OP day!

Faye

Good Morning Ladies.

Faye, You are so funny, yep it's not fun getting older and getting forgetful. We just have to REMEMBER to laugh at ourselves, just do it in private or they may cart us away. I said that I would take the pills for memory, if only I could remember to take them.

OMG, check out the new smilies!

Sassy, hope you're doing well, and get on here and peck away when you feel up to it.

Jello, got an email yesterday that they mailed my book, hopefully I'll get it my Thur. And you know what happens when I read....I fall asleep. I'm reading the Vanishing Man that Faye recommened, and Oh it's good.

Cafe, I've read that about the water too, I don't have a problem in the warm weather with getting enough water in, but when it's cold, I can't do it.

Tig, I'm watching you clean. Okay so I have to work in somemore new smilies! Making a list of everything that I need to do at home.

DNW, We're missing you!

Back to work for me........... Not long until

SEMO: That is a "gotcha" book so be prepared! I wasn't and he totally surprised me! I loved it though. When he e-mailed me he told me he loved doing all the research on magic and illusion. He was very sweet.

You guys, I am screwing around instead of working! I don't know why, I just am. It only takes about 45 minutes max to clean up here, all I have to do is get started. I guess my starter is in stall mode!

I think the new smileys are fun too, but they took off a couple like the sheep and piggy. They changed the one that winks too. It has wide open eyes now instead of he little black ones.

Well, enough is enough so I am going to go and get to work!

Faye

what cute new toys we have

Faye, I'll have to check out the kitty liter recipe. That is such little boy humor. They'd love it. Maybe I can make it for DS's bday in Sept. My youngest will be seven.

I went to the BMV today with everyone else in the county. Had to get new plates for my Urban Assualt Vehicle. Just how many cars will look good with pea green colored plates? Gotta wonder what they were thinking.
Jello, how Rich's UAV's window? Fixable?

Dryer buzzZZZZzzz, duty calls.

Tiger: Here you go recipe and pic. Don't everybody gag at once!

Kitty Litter Cake

Ease of Cooking: Beginner

Notes:
This is another fun one for Halloween, or the kiddos.

Ingredients:
1 Spice or German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 White Cake Mix
1 Pkg. White Sandwich Cookies
1 large pkg. Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
Green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Rolls
1 *new* kitty litter box
1 *new* kitty litter box plastic liner
1 *new* pooper scooper



Preparation:
Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans). Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in blender, they tend to stick, so scrape often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup.

To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix using a fork or shake in a jar.

When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. You probably won't need all of the pudding, mix with the cake and "feel" it, you don't want it soggy, just moist; gently combine.

Line new, clean kitty litter box. Put mixture into litter box. Put three unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls and bury in mixture.

Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly over the top; this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.

Heat remaining Tootsie Rolls, 3 at a time in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with cookie crumbs. This is my addition--only: spread 5 of the remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top; take one and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box; sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs.

Serve with a *new* pooper-scooper.

that's even worse than I imagined. Kids would freak out. Especially if I kept it a secret that I was making it. We don't have a cat anymore...that would really add to the drama.

I got a new Vera Bradley purse. Is anyone into her bags? They are addictive. Pretty new colors available for fall.

I'm in the middle of putting together a little pinetree from Terry's Village. Cute little spindley thing. "Rustic Charlie Brown" Hope DH thinks it's cute. He's pretty agreeable as long as he doesn't have to do anything.

Baseball tonight, supper in the crockpot. Ahh, what an exciting life.

OMG, Faye, that's awful!!!!!!!!! It looks so real, ewwwwwww. What, you just decided to whip one up since we were talking about it? I would imagine that little boys would like it, mine would have at that age, that's one cake that I wouldn't have a problem passing on.

SEMO: Gosh, NO, I took the recipe and pic from the website and just posted it for Tiger. I think it is disgusting and could never make it! We have a cat and I have to clean the litter box, so ain't no way I want to make a pretend one! It is awful isn't it!

Tiger: I am bigtime into handbags but I haven't heard of Vera Bradley. Do you get them in upscale department stores, like Ayres? We have Goldsmiths here that might have them. I lovvvvveeeeee handbags and have about 60! Just down the road in MS is an outlet mall with a leather outlet and ALL their handbags suede or leather are $19.95! They have some really cool stuff, but dh has a thing about me buying handbags. He thinks one is enough! MEN!

I watched Oprah today and she had on people from that "What Should you do?" show and darn if she didn't hit Memphis (robbery and abduction) and South Bend (rape)! I said to dh, "What they going to show things happening in all the cities we lived in? Now I really feel safe!" It is definitely not safe here. I mean, I don't feel threatened, but the murder rate is horrible and gang violence/drugs are really bad. Some poor lady in her 60's was murdered over the weekend in her home. The guy had been watching her and broke into her home and beat and strangled her just so he could take her car! Gosh, he should of just ask her as I am sure she would have given him the keys! He got caught thank goodness, but her daughter didn't find her until last night I guess and it was pretty devastating. She couldn't understand why her mom's car was gone I guess and walked into the house and her mom was dead. I try to not ever be out by myself at night like shopping or anything. The first attack/murder for Walmart's was here in Memphis and I am not sure they ever caught the guy. That was a few years ago.

Tiger: Speaking of the above, have they ever found that woman who disappeared from the Walmart parking lot there in Plymouth on 30 several years back? My elderly mom used to work at the Wendys right there in front of Walmart and was working the night that woman disappeared I guess.

Well, I need to go and get some work done this evening. I have been goofing off all afternoon and then went over to the pool with dh and goofed off some more!

Faye