Hey ladies! Sorry I have been MIA again. My mom passed away in September, and I have been having a rough time. I feel like I was hit by 2 ton of bricks, one when my husband did what he did, and another when my mom passed.

Needless to say, my diet has been non-existent. I am considering buying stock in Brach's candy corn . I truly believe I am a sugar addict.

It's getting colder up here . Highs of 60.....Blah! Think maybe I'll fly south with the geese for the winter!!

I'll write more later!

Hope everyone is well!!

Good morning girls, happy Monday happy Monday happy Monday happy Monday....I'm thinking if I say it enough times I'll start to believe it??? I am suffering from the Monday morning back-to-work-need-another-vacation kind of blahs. I spent the last half-hour planning my next trip to Vegas for New Year's eve . This time we are bringing our work crew instead of giving them a cash bonus. Leaving the kiddos at home this time so we can have some alone time too I am wishing i was at home so I could do some laundry. It's Columbus Day but a lot of people are working here, so I guess I should too.

Holly, I know your mother was ailing for some time. I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine being without my mother so I know how devastated you must feel right now. If you need to talk, you know where to find us, PM me if you like. Maybe you need a Hawaii vacation? Take care girl, we miss chatting it up with you around here.

Julie, did you get some good sized pumpkins? I like to carve pumpkins too, not so much for the smell, but for the therapy effect--gripping that knife and just gutting that poor gourd hahaha. I must sound a little crazy about now. I remember one year Rick and I went out at the last minute to get a pumpkin for Halloween. THe only ones left were these huge, like 20+ pounders (that's huge for us). He ended up grabbing my mom's Betty Crocker cookbook (I kid you not) and making pumpkin pies from scratch! I was so amazed, and proud of him. THey tasted awesome too. Did I already tell you guys that story?

Cherie, that is so great about Hannah, I know she will excel in the G/T program. You have every right to be proud of her. Feeling a little down these days? I always get a little blue right before all the fall holidays--I mean, I enjoy them and all, but there's something like too much pressure with having them all roll one after the other...Do what you have to do to get yourself through. How's your work week going so far--or are you a lucky one that has the day off today?

Angie, don't be a stranger lady--we miss you around here. What's happening in Guilford these days?

Kempy, thinking about you and how things are going in your town.

Dips, is it mum's the word? Top secret military stuff and the like?

Cal, hope you are enjoying your fall break, I know I enjoyed mine.

Hello All,

I am enjoying my break so far. Yesterday I had the day to myself. Ashley and Alberto were at school. I cleaned Ashley's room (a feat I still haven't finished.) I have a conference with Ashley's teacher this afternoon. Conferences were last week, but they were during the same time as the conferences at my school.
We're not going anywhere for this break. We're saving for next summer's trip to Europe.

Holly: I'm sorry about your mom. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you always.

Angie: I hope everything is well with you. We miss you.

Noelle: I'm glad you had a good time in Calif and that you got to spend some time with a friend. Thanks for the postcard. I had thought about going to CA during this break, but we will probably go in Dec.

Kempy: I hope you can come back online soon. We miss you.

Cherie: Congrats on your daughter. She will do very well. When is the cruise?

Dips: We miss you as well. Let us know how things are going.

Julie: We don't have any fall colors here, but it is starting to cool down. This morning it is about 60 and the high is supposed to be around 85-90.

Take care everyone.

Cal

Hi girls

Noelle we did get some pretty nice pumpkins. Go Rick baking those homemade pies. I can't wait until Thanksgiving to eat some pumpkin pie. Isn't so hard to get back into the swing of things after a vacation, I hope you are having a nice Tuesday at work.

Holly I am so sorry about the loss of your Mom. Sending prayers your way. Feel free to come and chat whenever you have the time.

Cal have a nice rest of your vacation.

I went to the dentist today and my mouth is hurting. I am going to drink some ice water. I just can't stand the smell in the dental office, it gets me sick to my stomach. Anyway girls thats is it from my end. Not to much to report. Anyone hear from Angie? I wonder where our girl is. Take care everyone. Bye for now.

Pulling us off the 2nd page....what's happening girls? Cat got your tongues? Hope everyone is doing fine and enjoying life. I don't have much to report here. In the news though, didya guys hear about actor Josh Holloway (Sawyer?) on Lost was robbed at gunpoint in his Hawaii home? This guy lives in a posh neighborhood now, on the east side of the island (i live out on the wild wild west ) I know it made national news. I don't watch Lost much, but I do know a good looking guy when I see one. Apparently the robber guy went into Holloway's home when he and his wife were in bed (it was early morning) took some of their valuables then drove off with his Benz. That just sucks. To liven things up around here, here's a pic of Mr. Holloway.

Hi Noelle. I did hear about that. Scary. He is a good looking man!
I LOVE LOVE your quote. Awesome. Well just wanted to pop in and see if anyone was here. Gotta run ds is getting out of school. Hope to see more of everyone around and hello! Check back later

Just popping back in after dinner. It sure is getting slow around here. Come on out everyone. Not much to talk about without everyone here. Miss chatting with you all. It seems like everyone including myself is busy I guess.
My dd started dance class this week. She looks just so cute in her little outfit. It is a tap/ballet class. Also I went on a field trip this week with my ds to a pumpkin patch. We got a nice little pumpkin. My husband suggested we go on a trip this winter. Either to a ski resort or maybe Disney, if we can save up. This winter heating costs are going up 70% from last year around here! That is just crazy.
Well girls that is about it from my end. Hope to hear from all of you. Take care. Hi Noelle, Cherie, Angie, Kempy, Cal, Dips and Holly

Hi All,

I sure miss everyone. I agree with Julie that everyone must be really busy. I know the holidays are creeping up on us and I look forward to the support from everyone during those trying, but joyful, times.

Yesterday was Ashley's 8th birthday. She is so excited about being 8. Her dad wanted to spend some time with her because he doesn't get the chance very often, so he took her at about noon and they went off for some Daddy/Daughter time. He took her to the Science Museum and out to dinner. I enjoyed some alone time and then spent the evening with both of them.

I feel I'm really getting some rest now. I have one more week of break and I'm sure I will be ready to go back by then. Ashley is out of school yesterday and today, so I do get to spend some time with her.

Come out everyone and tell what's been happening.

Thinking about and missing everyone.

Cal

Cal, please let Ashley know that Michael, Rick and i wish her the happiest of birthdays. Wow, 8 years old already, a young lady! Glad she got to spend some quality time w/dad too. Enjoy the rest of your time off!

Today is sunny-but-drizzling. How am I supposed to get the laundry done without the sun??? Ha, who am I kidding, i love throwing everything in the dryer. Anywho, it's a month of birthdays for our family here. It's my #2 sis' b-day (45?) and I got her a Victoria's Secret Love Spell shampoo and conditioner set. It's my nieces 17th b-day on Sunday, then my #3 sis b-day on the 20th--she'll be 44. My two sister's were born 1 year and 6 days apart. My mom was busy huh? and that's just the #2 and 3. She had #1 to take care of too. 3 kids in 3 years then 4 more to follow!
We'll have a combined b-day party for the lot of them so we don't end up having to eat cake on 3 different occasions.

Anyways, just rambling

Julie, you guys surely deserve a vacation somewhere warm--when you say Disney, you mean "world" right? That's obviously closer to where you are. I don't know if it was the travel channel or what but I was just watching a segment on Disneyworld where they showed all the hotels they have in FL on the Disney properties. Some are the exact same thing as in CA, which is kind of neat. In fact, aren't most of the parks anywhere in the world almost an exact replica of the other? I love Disney, hope you guys get to take a vacation there.

So hey! Angie, Kempy, Holly, Cherie, Dips....anyone else I may have missed, come out come out wherever you are. Have a good day everyone.

Okay what is going on here? It is just plain lonely around here. Angie, Cherie, Kempy do you have a new computer set up yet? It is hard to keep the thread up with just a couple of us. Miss you all girls.

Hey everyone... I've been missing in action... just that non motivational crap going on... I've been busy with the girls... girl scouts and such. Tonight, I have a meeting at Hannah's school. Because of her recent aptitude test, she has been admitted unto the gifted and talented program with our school district, so I am very proud of her. Tomorrow night will be a roller skating party for the girl scouts, so I'll be taking both the girls. This week I have payroll to run (that is what I was running last week too) and when my work is done on Thursday, I'll be gone til the 31st on vacation! Alan and I and the girls are leaving Friday morning to drive down to Houston. From there, I drop the girls off at Natalie's and Alan and I will spend the weekend at the bay. On sunday, we pick up our friends from the airport and our ship leaves out of Galveston Bay. Well be back the following Sunday... I am taking my camera, so I will take pictures.. I gave up on trying to lose weight, so I am fitting nicely into my 12s. Not quite the 8's I wanted, but I am not going to stress over it.

Alan and I are doing fine. Still don't get to see him as much as I would like.. but we might get too much of each other this next week!

Steven's family had a memorial for him this past weekend. Hannah is still having a very hard time with it.. we just take it day by day. They are looking forward to going on "vacation" too.

Oh.. I traded in my old civic for a newer used car. A 2001 Subaru Outback. I love it. The girls love it.. it's great. I got a bike rack thingie for it this past weekend, so now the girls and I will be able to take our bikes to the park (and I'll have room to take them down to Houston for them as well).

Noelle.. thank you for the postcard! I hope you had a great vacation! Could you email me everyone's addresses? I would like to try and find something like that while we are on the ship! my email is: [email protected].


Cal.. Happy Birthday to Ashley... :-) Wow.. 8 yrs old. Hannah's will be here in two weeks... I can't belive our babies are growing up so fast!

Julie.. sorry I went missing on you... :-( I feel bad... I hope you are doing great.. and I second.. you need a vacation! Some place really fun!

Angie and Kempy.. how are you girls doing?

Dips.... missing you too!

Well, ladies... I need to get off here... I just wanted to say hi... I don't know what I let my depression get the best of me sometimes.. I really do miss you guys! I have vowed, that Nov. 1st... I am going to get focused.

(((((HUGS)))))

Cherie

Cal, Happy Birthday to your sweet Ashley.

CHERIE....nice to see you. I am so excited for you going on vacation. I think this is just what you need. You deserve it. Go Hannah. What a smart girl. Congratualtions.

We went out of town last weekend to my Dad's on the lake. The weather was beautiful as well as the colors. We took a boat ride and got some nice pictures of the leaves. It was refreshing. I needed to get away.
My dd has dance this afternoon and I just put her tights on her and realized they are footless! So I have to find a thin pair of socks to wear for tap. Ballet shoes are okay without, but not tap shoes. Dh bought them. Got to give him credit for even picking them up though .
Tomorrow is conferences. I hope to hear good things. They are bringing up autism again. Which I have been going through a very hard time with that. So they are going to do some testing. I don't personally think he has it. Whatever though, I will do what it takes to help him throughtout life and school. I just love that boy so much and want the best for him and to be happy. He is such a great kid. So smart and caring personality. This is just weighing heavy on my heart. In my eyes he is perfect. Anyway ladies I will check back soon!
Take care.

Hi girls, just checking in. I have been running around this morning, first dropping off the pup to get spayed and then bringing Michael to school. I can't find my Costco card to go and get some gas so I'm kinda pissed about that. I have it in my wallet normally, but because I went on vacation I took all the unecessary things out...I don't know what happened to the little baggie I put it in . Gas prices here have finally come down to just under $3 for regular. That sucks! It's supposed to come down even further next week but I dunno about this stupid price cap law we have. It's not helping my piggy bank. anywho, just had to get that gripe off my chest.

Cherie, of course I'll send you the addresses. I'll do that today when I get into the office. What I did before i went on vacation was to just make address labels for all the people I wanted to send a post card to. It makes it so much easier--just peel and stick, and voila! You soooo deserve your vacation, and it sounds so wonderful too. Let us know what you thought of it. My sis is trying to get a group together for a cruise to Mexico in April 06. Well, don't stress too much this week and enjoy your time off.

Julie, I loved those pictures of the fall colors, absolutely breathtaking. We do not have anything of the sort here, it's kinda just the same all year round, except for some rain during the winter. I'm not complaining though. Yesterday morning as the sun rose, the sky was a bit orange and the clouds had an outline of pink against the blue. That usually happens when there's volcanic activity, awesome sunrises and sunsets. Hope you got in as much relaxation as you wanted. How did your ds' conference go? I don't want you to worry too much about a "label". He is a happy, loving, well-adjusted boy and he'll do just fine with your support and the support of his teachers.

Angie, hey! What's up girl??? You abandon us? Were you affected by the flooding that happened last week? I hope you are safe and doing well.

Dips, any word on your recall? Did you hear about how a certain percentage of reservists or those who were recalled to duty did not report, and the military is not going after them? I'm not suggesting your just dis the call, but... Hope you're doing well.

Kempy, miss ya girl. Are things settling back to normal? I hope so. If you need anything, holla!

Cal, are you back to the trenches yet? Enjoy your day.

Hugs to all who need them. Have a good one!

Holly, how are you doing these days.