Happy Friday!!!!!

I am having technical difficulties today...just got back from the Y, had to DRAG myself there, but got in 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Planted petunias in my window and railing boxes last night, we have a ton of wrought iron railing so I got some really funky planter boxes you hang over the railing....DH got home early yesterday and did some serious yard cleanup, it looks great!!!!

My parents come today(hencethe cleanup), why is it we want to impress our parents no matter how old we are???



I am very glad it is Friday. It has been a stressful week at work. My boss is hateful. One of our other employees is going to the new company(totally unrelated to me) and she blames me. I attempted to straighten her out yesterday but she I could tell she did not believe me.

But she is gone all next week and then I am gone

Well I must go dry my hair and prepare for another fun filled day!!!

Aaah Scooby, doesn't surprise me that everyone is jumping ship--with a boss like that who would stay?

As for me, well, I'm just a busy beaver today. Spring is in the air, lovely and mild this morning and I have yellow, white and purple crocuses all over my front flower bed! Nothing makes me happier. This morning I'm going to be doing some raking and general yard cleanup. I have a few more seeds to get started so in they go this moning and this afternoon I am packing dd's bag to spend at grandma's for the weekend. Dh and I will be finishing the kitchen and doing more yardwork all weekend. Lucky us!

Hope you all have a great day!

Gorgeous meadow morning! Nothing is in bloom or leafed out but there is a faint perfume of something from the woods. Must check it out later. There may be a redbud up on the cliff.

The fence lads worked away yesterday and have the posts set in concrete. They will be back on Saturday, weather permitting, to start building the privacy fence. Today I will do some garden cleanup and maybe move a few plants. DH has made me promise to work in only 1/2 hour spurts so I don't screw up my arm. That is going to be hard to do for me as I am nuts about gardening.

Friend Art (the farmer who comes for breakfast) dropped by around 5 last night and he and DH did it up with the Scotch. I finally asked Art for dinner and they shifted to wine. Of course, I had to help them out a bit. Things are pretty quiet around here this morning but nobody is admitting to a hangover!

Lucy and I are off on another training walk shortly - downstreet for the newspaper. Hope everyone has a great day.

Morning!

Pooky, sweetie....I ditto the use of Tippy's comments ...very effective! Don't let them get to you sweetie...they do appear to be clueless little....wenches (?) Play and have fun in your garden today!!!

Scooby, counting the days? I am glad your outta there soon!

Hey Ruth! Sounds like a pleasant evening!

Today dh will be taking a final swipe at the taxes...we owe so he is not happy and lucky for me Jiff and I are going out to get our nails done....getting out of dodge so to speak.....BUT HONEY IT IS ONLY $8!!!!!

Jiff, what time are you picking me up?

I get to watch the Yankees today!!! HOT CHA! Jo? are you the red sox fan? Always fun to watch them play....see, how nice I am being Chickadee?

later!
peach

Hi Girlies,

Its kinda cloudy out right now but the sun is supposed to poke his head out later.

Ruthie, lots of stuff in bloom here in NJ. Trees with lovely flowers, daffodills, hyathcins and other little flowers (and I can't spell )

Boss is gone until April 22...yahoooo !!!!! Got a ton of work to do but at least no one to pester me

We're going automobile shopping this weekend. Need a bigger car to fit the stroller and my legs We're going to look at the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Oddessy...does anyone have one and do you like it ?? We're also going to have a steak dinner tomorrow....just me and the hubby...Sis is babysitting. We haven't been out in over 9 months

Peach, Pooky, Scooby and everyone else to come, have a wonderful day !!!

Love, Leens

Morning chicks --

Crabby-gray day so far -- but the prognosis is good...sunshine by afternoon. I'll take it.

Well, my hoped-for quiet time hasn't been as quiet as I anticipated. Lots of distracting phone calls and IIIISSSHHHHH OOOOO'S! ( PP). I've been trying to sort out what's my responsibility from what's not -- and wonder of wonders! I've actually been praying about it before I'm smack on my butt in the middle of a big mess I helped create! Since my first reponse to almost any kind of emotional pain in those I love is to try to FIX IT ASAP (for purely selfish reasons -- if I don't, I have to wrestle the maniac of uncontrolled guilt) -- developing healthy boundaries is becoming more and more important for my well-being as well as for those whom I keep trying to rescue. I know in my knower that if I always fix it, they don't learn how to do it themselves, which is not a good thing. But knowing when (or even if) to step in and how much to do can really baffle me. I must have missed that class Healthy Boudaries 101!

Gotta work today -- and put all this ya ya aside --

Wishing you all well and op!

Sooner

ps Liz and Sherrie -- my heart goes out to you both. I wish I had words that would make it all better...

pssssssst Sooner....give them the line and let them learn how to fish for themselves. (unless it is me and then I would like a piece of salmon )

peach

Bet none of you have ever seen me post before 9:00!! Well here I am!!
Scooby, I can top your parents visiting! My good friend from Nova Scotia arrived yesterday, and she brought HER MOTHER!!!
Although I love her dearly, shes already driving me batty!! She hasn't been out of Nova Scotia much, and very rarely out of Canada, except to Orlando. So Texas is a big trip. Last night at 8:30 she decided she needed a Texas flag. Sounds easy here in Houston. Well, not if your not from here!!!! I did find her one, and was able to get home and eat dinner before 9:30!!
Today I thought I'd let my DD stay home from school to play with the little friend that came (its my friend, her DD and her mom) Now I only decided we would let her do that if it was worth it. Now the Grandma wants to go shopping all day! Well she can't miss school for shopping....I thought Space Center or something, but shopping??
Heres the topper, my mom flies in from California to join in on the fun tonight!!! Oh my
Anyway, probably won't have much time to post this weekend, but hope to check in and "hear" from you all!!
Have a lovely one!!
Stacey

Morning,
Relax Stacey and go with the flow. i have tons of visiters and they all like to do different things so I plan a little and do anything they want. Enjoy it I love estrogen weekends!

Grandma goes to BIL and SIL this am. It was helpful to have her here but I really have not slowed down much. The stiches are itchy and it is not the prettyest thing to see my hand down my pants, My little one and I look like a sight together....lol.
I took Grandma to Sears yesterday to get undies, then we all went to the park to meet friends and out to dinner. I ate too much, but I did share my meal.

Older boy is star of the week and I brought Munchkins and one of the dogs to school for show and tell, Aunti, who works for a comany that sells promotioal goods bought key ring calculators for his class. He loved it and felt like a million bucks this morning.

Long weekend here in Mass. Patriots day Monday and the Marathon...translation, NO SCHOOL!
Kids are off to Movie night at the Karate studio and Older boy has a sleepover tomorrow.

Little man and I are going car shoping for DH this am. I have an 11 year old Mecedes wagon that is loosing the electical system fast. He has a monster truck to trade too. I hate what he picked so I will go out and look today and see what we find as a compromise. I want a sadan as I already have an SUV ( sorry no mini van for me Leens). and I would like something smaller. I would like to find a newish used car. We will see.

Ok off for the day. Have a great TGIF.
-L

Hi everyone!

I am so glad it is morning and I can go to bed! I worked nights last night and it was so boring and to top it off I had a gall bladder attack most of the shift....I don't know if I will last until the 23 which is when I intend to eat a high fat meal, land in the ER and refuse to leave until they operate on me....going about things the other way is getting me no where.....I have been having attacks since July! Enough already!

Anyhow dd 4 is at gramma's and dd 10 is at school so off to bed I go....have a great day and weekend everybody and hang in there! Liz

Good Morning to All--It is a gray gloomy day here today--they are promising sunshine, but I am skeptical. It was a beautiful spring day here yesterday--sunny and 78--spring fever has set in at home and here at school. My son's track meet went well--he finished 2nd in long jump for Varsity so he was very excited about that. He did a respectable job in his other 3 events so I think he was pleased. He has another one tonight and it doesn't really look like it will get cancelled so I guess I will be track meeting it and not banqueting it. My principal said he will pick up my "marble apple" and certificate for me--and of course he will behappy to pick up my check if I should win I feel bad about not going, but would feel worse about not going to the track meet. I did pretty well OP yesterday-but didn't get my exercise in--am hoping to do that tomorrow. Compared to the last couple of days--it was better! My DS wants to go visit his friends at the hospital tomorrow--they have been moved to rehab are accepting company now. Wish us luck!!

Pooky--Phht to those girls---Want me to send the "boys" up to have a little "chat" with them????? Take care!

L--enjoy your long weekend

Stacey--OH MY!!

Sooner--I am a "fix it" person too---if you figure out how it works ----PLEASE share!

Leens, have fun car shopping and enjoy that steak dinner--YUM!

Peach, hope the trial run of meds works out for little guy. Good luck with your taxes and enjoy your afternoon with Jif.

Ruth, sounds like your fence project is really coming along great!

Scooby, just keep repeating--"I'm almost out of here" over and over---thinking of you~~~

Liz, take care of yourself.

Hello to everyone else today!!!!

Wow! Why is it that it always feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? I have been so far behind since we got back and I sincerely apologize for not posting. Please bear with me as I start rambling!

So, I have been op, and I got my Pilates machine which looks SOOOOOO easy and IS NOT!!! My abs are so sore (think coughing all day/night sore). But, I think it will work with helping me limber up. I am already noticing that I'm not nearly as creaky in the knees!

I have been busy with planning our trip cross country, finding out about how to have something invented, eBay, girls, family, cleaning, banking -- the list is endless. But, at least I am busy and not running to the pantry every few minutes looking for something yummy to eat!

Scooby - I am so pleased you get to get away from meany boss. You have to wonder how in the world ignorant people get leadership positions? Or if they are they owners, how they make any money being mean to employees. I've had both and it is not pleasant.

Pooky - have fun in your garden!

Ruth - I'm a little late, but I'm glad to hear your arm is feeling so much better!

Peach - Have fun with Jif while you get your nails done! I adore manicures and pedicures. Everyone needs a little pampering!

Leens - Good luck with car shopping! Mini vans have a ton of room and I'm sure you'll find the perfect auto!

Sooner - ((HUG))

Stacey - Wow! That's gonna be a housefull. Sit back, enjoy the ride! How is your training going?

L - Car shopping, too? Have a great time. Sedans are so variable -- please let us know what you get!

Liz - Sleep tight!

Annie - Congrats to your son! I hope the sun definitely shines for you today!

I hope everyone here and all those to come have a great day! I am off to the treadmill (gotta take a break from the Pilates today -- don't think I can I suck my stomach in today).

See ya later!

Hi!
Here's what's been going on in my head lately: I think I'm not living up to my potential. At almost 44, I think it's time for me to do whatever it is that I'm supposed to do to make me feel like I'm fulfilling my destiny. Okay, so that all sounds kind of cosmic, but do any of you ever feel like there's something else you should be doing? I just got off the phone with a friend who's having some very similar thoughts, so I suspect this might be something that happens to women when their children get older and all of the sudden the "mom" thing isn't as time consuming. There you sit, a little useless, kids out doing their own thing and you're kind of left behind, wondering just who the heck you are. Welcome to the inside of my head! Pull up a chair, wander around (there's a lot of empty space some days!)

Soonie (Not sure where that name came from, but it's kind of cute, don't you think?) Respect those boundaries! It pains me not to be able to fix everything for everybody, but there's also some relief in being able to let it go and let people handle their own responsibilities. This has been a big issue (or ISSSH UUUU!) at our house this week too.

Salmon Girl (Umm, that's you Peachie) What's with this being nice crap? I say if there's ever a reason to be passionate and obnoxious, one's baseball team of choice is definitely it! In my case, miserable losers can bring out the best/worst in me. I can bash my boys, but nobody else better start in on them and their incredible inadequacies! that's my job. You have it easy my sweet. If you need to develop some character (which is definitely not a problem!) ditch the Yankees and become a Rockies fan. That'll put some hair on your chest! Maybe you can have it removed while you have your nails done.

Scooby I say you go and kick some *** today! (Can I say that Ruth?) I think your boss and co-worker sound rotten and you've taken enough from that job. Want me to come help you out? I'm feeling feisty today!

Pooky There's a lawn in town that has crocuses (croci?) poking out all over. It is so pretty I have to stop and gawk every time I drive by. I think I better put some bulbs in my lawn so next spring I can gawk at my own house!

Liz Why is it taking so long to get surgery? It seems like you've bene suffering forever with your gallbladder. I hope your plan works.

I have to go and get some real life stuff done, but it sure is nice checking in with you all. I'm pretty sure it keeps me from going completely over the edge.
Chickadee

not much to say... no sleep and on our way to our 3 week well baby check up... (our first appt was at 1 week since she'd been in the nicu...)

Just wanted to tell leens that we are a happy toyota family here... hubby has a Rav4 and I have an Echo. we love them both and have had no real problems with either of them. Have to say after driving a minivan for years (I bought the van I learned to drive in from my parents--it was a Plymouth Voyager and well overdue for the minivan heaven when the snowbird plowed into me and totalled it) that I would definitely go with an SUV over a mini van unless you really need the 3 extra seats. That said, I've heard good things about the Sienna, and a friend of mine bought an Odyssey a few years back and seems to really like it. But like I said, we are a toyota family so if it were us that's probably what we'd end up with. Although Consumer Reports does choose the Odyssey over the Sienna this year. So my advice is to test drive them both... and Talk to the people who are sitting in the waiting areas of the service department... a good dealership is important too... if they hassle you over getting warranty work done you wont be happy in the long run.

Now I've written a book and I have to run...

Lara

Hey Lara,

Boy its good to hear from you, I was wondering how you and the baby were?

I hear yah on the Toyota, I also love my little Carolla but like I said its not big enough, my knees almost hit the steering wheel haaaaaaaaa....I'm a tall girl and Grace is on her way to being like her mom. Thanks for the advice, yup thats what we're going to do test drive them both. Personally I want a Camry but hubby really wants a vehicle with lots of room.......OY lol.

Where is everyone in chat.....boy my boss is out, I can play and there's no one to go digging in the dirt with...booohooo.

Love, Leens