Official Announcement
Spring is definitely arriving in Eastern Ontario!
My yellow crocuses are in bloom along the side walk, the geese are flying and I heard a robin when out with the dogs. Most of our snow is gone. Last year the snow did not leave until April 8. Boy, am I ready for spring!

Got X-ray results yesterday - have a burst bursa and pulled tendons in that shoulder. Might as well have broken it as the recovery period is gonna be 8-12 weeks and will need physio. I guess I will need to get garden flunkies to get my beds in shape. I wonder if Raoul knows anything about gardening. Probably not!Well, it could have been a leg which would really screw up my life!Right now I am just going to deal with pain without going nuts and screaming at poor DH and the dogs. I think I'd be better if I could get a good night's sleep.

You chickies are SOL re the Ukrainian egg decorating! So sorry - class is full. Anyhow, I could note cope with MamaJ and Peachie blowing eggs at each other. Today I need to get stuff like refreshments and table coverings organized for Friday as we must drive to Ottawa tomorrow to close on the condo sale. I am planning to drive as I don't like DH driving my car - he is from Montreal and drives that way. Later today I will go to the Office to sign some cheques - the arm still works for writing and using the computer.

Have a good day and remember to click a banner ad or two!

Morning Ruth and all to come!

Ruth! Very sorry to hear about your arm. A terrible time of year, not that any time is really good but I know you have a busy time coming up with all your gardening.

I called the dr's office at 9am yesterday concerning the little guy's meds. His regular dr is out for the month of March, (how nice for him)and another dr called me back at 8pm and basically blew me off and referred me to the psychologist. So today I call my handy dandy family psyche doc, who does not tell me that I am nuts. BUT! the kicker is that he can suggest meds but can not perscribe them! So...in the meantime I will get the little guy's regular meds refilled and talk to his teacher to arm me with more info. Nothing is without complications! AND perhaps I will discuss my need to blow eggs!

Comlications? Goomba, along with the presents and cake and stuff....may I come to the party? I'll bring a bean salad!

Still Trying? are you doing low carb and ww? I am and having pretty good success with it.

off to hit the showers!

peach

Mornin' All!

Goomba, you are truly a blessing to the foster industry. The strength it must take is far more than I can even imagine! I know the stress that possibly taking in my cousins son causes and I can't believe for moment that isn't compounded by each additional child! You are truly an

I am feeling very insecure lately. Lots of childhood issues that seem to have jumped in to my luggage as an adult. Can't seem to unload it properly lately. Usually I just file it in the back of my brain and deal with it occassionally, but this has been a little overwhelming. I am wondering if it has to do with getting ready to move across the country and leave my family & family

Today I am banking. Fun stuff! Wish the rain would stop and I could see the beautiful little flowers in the garden and then I could ask Ruth what they are!

Kind of depressing this morning; I am sorry. I do hope you all have a fabulous day! Right now I need to make breakfast (although what we are doing up at this unknown hour is beyond me)!

Well,
i am off to MN with the big kid for a week. I will check in if I can but looking forward to visiting friends and going to the mall of America to do some damage on the credit card and play at camp snoopy with the kids, 2 8 year olds and a 2 and 3 year old. Should be lots of fun.

have a great week friends and be well,
-L

Morning Ladies!

Just a quick post. Beautiful morning here. Sunny and in the 40's when I went out at 6:30 -- supposed to be close to 60 degrees today. It's a GOOD THING!

I've got some flowers poking up also -- my naked ladies (very early for them!), daffs, crocus, and just the first hint of my purple flags (I can't think of what they're called to save my soul...brain fart!). Anyway, it gives one hope to see it all starting over again -- just like it's supposed to...especially this year, I think, w/all we've been through. But what I don't understand is how things are blooming in Canada when I'm about a zillion miles south and mine are just coming up?

L! Mall of America! My favorite! If you're looking for a wonderful dining (or lunching) experience, try the Rainforest Cafe. If you think you want to eat there, you'll need to go over early and put your name in -- there's usually a couple hour wait after you do (especially if you want to eat at normal meal time)! Enjoy Camp Snoopy! I'll be with you in spirit!

Well, DH is on the road so I'll be spending some time writing today. Yay! Also, have to start thinking about what I'm going to fix for lunch on Friday for 7 or 8 of the boy's college friends. They're going to be stopping by on their way to Chicago for St. Patrick's Day (first weekend of spring break for the kids)...ought to be big fun for my small town boy...he'll be back on Monday to spend the rest of the week at home. Looking forward to that!

Well, chickies -- have a great one! It's a gift!

Cherie

ps Kudos to our poets! You guys crack me up!!!!!

Slept most of yesterday away after working nights and my 11th shift in a row...now I will be burning the candles at both ends trying to get house and packing ready for the trip...times like this I wish I had a butler, nanny and housekeeper...what am I talking about, I always wish for that....anyhow have a great day everyone and hang in there...Liz

Testing, testing, Second time I wrote for an hour and when I was finally ready to post I was "disconnected" by the system. I am now trying something new. Please bear with me...
ST

OK, now let's try this again. Can I still say good morning? Yes, I guess I can, though if feels like half the day is gone. I will not be able to take my usual walk, since it is raining and dreary. Just as well, I'll spend it preparing a special dinner for DH who has a big day and has been low carbing for a few days so that his pants will be nice and comfy. Weight is not an issue for him but you know how it is: we women can wear the same clothes over a span of 30# but if they gain a pound and the waistband is juuuust a bit snug they want to throw out the pants. So, he has earned lobster tail and cheesecake for his big day.

Janice, it was such a nice surprise that you even noticed me. I never expected to be mentioned in your touching tribute to your friends, though by the time of your next creation I will be flattered if I belong enough to merit such attention. If I had actually managed to post my FIRST narrative yesterday morning, you will have seen that I appreciated your poem and printed it out so I could familiarize myself with the characteristics, gifts and charms of your lovely friends.

Peach, I do not follow WW. I tried, back in the 80s and "borrowed" into the year 2008! You know, I'll eat this today and have less tomorrow…I did Atkins about 3 years ago and since then have learned appx. How many carbs/cals I can eat and still lose. I like it this way because nothing is off limits. Maybe LOW limits but not off limits. I got a point finder on e-bay over the weekend and am looking forward to receiving it so I can use an additional tool that helps so many people do so well. I do not plan to follow the "portions" of different food groups. OK, OK, you forced it out of me; I hate fruits and vegetables. I eat them but I hate them. Well, I eat vegetables but minimally. With the fruit I justify it by telling myself that it has too much sugar.

Now about your little guy. If I am not too intrusive and it is not too tedious for you to repeat what your friends probably already know, is the MD who "blew you off" the covering physician? Are the meds your son takes ones that are regularly prescribed for him? If so, the notes in his charts should indicate what his MIA MD intended.

Ruth, sorry to hear about your arm. It is so disconcerting to have to stay away from favorite or necessary activities due to injury. I hope that the healing time will not be as stressful as you anticipate.

Well everyone, during my first attempt I addressed all who posted by the time I started this, 2 hours ago, but now I am running out of time. Know that I am thinking of you and if I get this system down I will get more covered.

Have a good day and will try to catch up again soon.

ST

I just thought I'd pop in and say hello! Am still scaping the big double-hung windows. At least I[m not going to have to do all 28 of them. Yes, we have that many windows in this house!

I've been kind of quiet lately. I'm still dealing with some childhood issues too. They never go away...they are always there. My DIL from **** wrote me about a month ago that there are no victims. Can you imagine what that statement can do to a sex abuse survivor. It all came back! Damn! Fortunately, I will never read another word that person writes and if I ever see her again, I want to back hand her! And she knows it! And I will!

It's a wonderful day here. The sandhill cranes are back as are thegeese and redwind blackbirds. Every year, between March ninth and eleventh, the crames return. An old gentleman told me that and we've watched and listened and it's true! Neat, huh!

Am off to do some sewing and some scraping and maybe some vacuuming!

You guys are right. I do need to post more often. I have been having a hard time trying to get on line fighting the kids and all.

Dd want to home school for a while. she was looking into it for over a year now. She does not like the school environment and is not into the social event. the teachers spend most of the tiem getting the kids to pay attention and not in taching so that ends up leaving her to teach herself. some of her teahers teach her wrong and can not figure out how to do problems so she is wanting to learn for herself and well the counslor we talked to today was very encouraging.

Goomba I give you soo much respect. that poor girl I would have farted and said WHOOOPS very loud!!!! then sucked a whole bunch of air then burped the alphabet!!!

To all the others HI!!!
Ruth!!! what a horrible thing to happen. I wish i lived closer so I could help. I can send the boys over to do all your work!! they will be on the train!!!

Still, Trying I given up on addressing everybody it owuld take me 2 hours just to reply!!! and i have cable connection!!!

Ok, maybe a small party in honor of Friday being right around the corner. Not TOO many patio drinks as tomorrow IS technically a work day.

I can't say enough how many wonderful ladies we have on this board. I feel so at home with some of the wackiness that takes place here some days.

I want to share something with you guys, not too many people know about it, but I need to get this off my chest and maybe hear some advice. Ok, here goes. My daughter is almost 5 now, and her father (I use the term loosely) is absent. The reason is because he is in jail. And has been, off and on, since she was 2 weeks old. He's lived with us for a total of 4 months in the whole time Tommie has been alive. Now, that's not to say that he's been locked up the whole time, but just absent. I used to take her up to that damn jail EVERY SINGLE Saturday and Sunday for a 10 minute visit, I had to stand in line for about 2 hours to see him. I did this because I wanted him to know I hadn't deserted him. Well, in March of 2000 he kissed us goodbye and left for work. And never came back. He has escaped from 2 different work release programs and lived God knows where in the time that he's been gone. Now he's back in our local county jail and on his way to the big house. He wrote me a severely NASTY little letter that I got today, that I have kept HIS daughter from him and I will pay for it. I am so angry right now I could scream. He never was around to be her dad in any of the ways that count, and he never EVER sent one penny of child support. Even when he was working and living the high life. I have applied to go to court with this jerk, but so far have heard nothing.

The thing is, she knows who he is, she remembers him, she has nightmares about him, and she sees his parents every now and then when they decide to take an interest in her. I have been debating about changing her last name to mine, instead of his. This letter has just about made up my mind for me. If I could get him to relinquish his rights to her, I would do it. Am I being too hasty? Should I allow her to keep his name (and the reputation that goes with it in this town) or should I change it to mine?

You all are so smart I know you'll give me some great advice. This is a big decision for both of us.

Thanks for reading this novel! Have a wonderful evening.

Evening ladies....just made it in.....

Oh Sherrie, my heart breaks for you and your little daughter. I say dump the loser and don't look back!!!! It is unfortunate for her and for you that he is nasty, but you can overcome it and so can she.

Ruth, sorry about your arm/shoulder, if I was closer I would help in your garden!

Tippy I am sorry you are having such a hard time.

Goomba-you are a wonderful person and there is a special place in heaven for you!!

Peachie-I hope you get the little guy squared away.

Nothing happening here. I must say that I feel very fortunate in my life right now, I had been feeling sorry for myself for a variety of stupid reasons but you all have made me realize Iam pretty lucky. Once again, Thank you all for all you do!!!!

Oh Sherry ~~ First and foremost ~~ <<<HUGS >>>> to you and your daughter. Secondly, I am so glad that you chose to open up and share. Our real life issues can be bitter battles, especially alone.

I would hate for your post to get lost on the daily. But I must admit that I want to put some thought into my reply. With so many of us who deal with childhood and life issues, kids, SH's, etc.. I am going to try real hard not to respond out of emotion and DEFENSE of my lc friend.

Sherry, please hang in there and let's think some things through, ok?

Hugs to you hon. Warm thoughts and prayers, too.

Janice

OK Rachel ~~ You gave me the go ahead! That was also my immediate thoughts! Dump the jerk and put DD in a more positive environment and screw the jerk (definately not in a physical sense) and the weekly Pain In the A** stuff. HE IS KEEPING HIMSELF FROM HER! Ok, now I will try to go back to being a bit more thoughtful and cool my head.

This is such a great place to come to when you want to keep your fingers out of food.

Sherrie, I don't have any advice for you...just hugs and know that you can let things rip any time ok...we listen even if we don't have anything to say!

Scooby, Hey! I love when nothing happens! Thanks for your words about the little guy! We will get there!

Susan...you SHOULD post more often, but sometimes life gets in the way! Hang in there!

Tippy, still sending good hugs and vibes your way! I have been waiting for the red wing black birds, have seen the robin tho! Neat about the cranes...reminds me of the...what are they that come home to Capistrano or something like that?

Hey! Still Trying! Thanks for asking about the little guy! He is currently on the generic form of ritalin and doing very well but it has been suggested by a very trusted source that perhaps he would do better on risperdal. The covering doc just chalked up the whole thing to a "behavioral issue" which to the untrained eye (hers!) it may very well appear to be, but according to the pediatric nuerologist, and the psychologist he is an aspergers kid. I have no doubt that this doc is a good one, for the main stream type of kid...she just doesn't have a clue as to his special needs. Of course it did not help that the little guy answered the phone and told her not to stick that thing down his throat ever again(referring to the q-tip thing for strep! just another instance of how he does not get the social niceties of life...I am not sure he ever will
I enjoyed your post ST!

Liz, I hope you have a great time on your trip... I want the nanny and housekeeper and butler too!

Sooner...you got naked ladies in your yard? REALLY???????

L...have a great trip!!!!

jenniwookie? Would journaling help you at all? Getting it out and down on paper? Just my 2 cents but I don't know nothing about nothing!!!!

Jenny, thanks for telling me about that little girl! I bet her parents just beamed from ear to ear for her!!! The little guy has preformed in his Christmas show and I bawled my eyes out. He still can not handle the sounds in a gym so I have never gotten to seem my big kid wrestle He still has difficulty in some stores that play music but he is moving along and we are so proud of him....Wished you had moved to N.J....but I know your home is where you are!

i think we have had enough Chickadee free days don't you?

Hey to all who come while I am posting and after...can't believe I got this done...wanna bet I lose it when I press submit!

peach

Hey Sherrie.....what scooby and janice said!!!!

Dottie hang in there my friend!