Howdy everyone! Pot of coffee is on and cups are cleaned--why not have a seat and chick chat for a while?

Today is a busy day for me--packing/sorting/laundering/cleaning/last minute gardening all in preparation for our Niagara trip! So I guess this is my last post on the daily till Friday when I come back!

Sounds like you're all having a great weekend my American friends, we unfortunately don't have a holiday today becasue we had ours last weekend. Gee, wouldn't it be great to ahve another holiday? LOL

Have a good one, wherever you are!

Good morning, Pooky.

The local American Legion Hall is having it's annual Memorial Day parade at 10:00 this morning. While my kids all want to go, they are griping about having to get up and get dressed (and miss their cartoons) on a "holiday" from school. DH and I reminded them that this day is in honor of those who served to give them their freedom. It's not just about having the day off from school/work!

Little DS had the option to march in the parade as a Tiger Cub Scout but declined. He's really not into walking too far. If there had been a float to carry him, he would have gone in a heartbeat! Next year, participation in the parade is not an option -- it's a requirement -- so I let him have his way today. No point in having a cranky, pouty six-year-old marching with the honor guard.

Went to the gym yesterday for the second day in a row. Just did the treadmill for 15 minutes and then 15 minutes of swimming/water exercises. Then enjoyed the jacuzzi! (Best part about the gym!)

Planning on going again tonight for the swim class (7:30-8:30). They just posted the new schedule that takes effect in mid-June. Man -- I'm going to have to have a talk with someone. I joined because of the aqua aerobics classes. They currently have one on Monday & Thursday nights and one at 8:00 on Saturday morning. Starting mid-June, they are dropping the Saturday class! How am I supposed to get in my minimum 3 days exercise?!? They are offering a Level 1 Step class on Saturday but it's at 10:00 in the morning which will just shoot my day to h-e-double hockeysticks! I know I probably can't get them to re-instate the morning class -- but I can at least vent a little and (maybe) make them think twice about how they schedule things next time.

Well, that's it for now. Hope all are well!

Hi Pooky and Jo and all to come!

I've missed you guys! Haven't even had time to do much lurking -- how PATHETIC is that???

As those of you who know me know, I've been MIA for a few weeks -- travelling some w/dh and doing the Mommy (Dearest!) thing. Kids are home from college and both brought home truckloads (no, vanloads!) of stuff that we finally had to rent a storage space to contain (it was that or me moving out for the summer!). It's been chaotic to say the least. Love 'em. Love havin' 'em here. But -- the challenge is to remember that that's what's really important!

Worse than that even -- we're trying to find the "perfect" car (for pretty much no $$) for the boy. I'm not even going to get into how stressful it is to please me, dh, and ds... Three type A's w/pretty much different ideas on what's great, good, ok, and acceptable. HOWEVER, the one who writes the check gets the final word which does simplify the decision a little!

I've been getting ready for the Write to Publish conference in Chicago. Leaving in a week and am feeling more than a little spazzy/nervous about it. May be talking to some of the biggest publishers in Christian publishing (and can't decide it that's a good thing or a bad thing!). Has helped me get a little more focussed on the writing stuff -- but it's the business part of publishing where my pathetic inexperience is the most obvious (to me at least -- and while I'm home safe and sound in my hidey hole -- no one else can see it!)... But biggest of all on my list of fears is DRIVING IN CHICAGO!

I caught a few words that you guys are planning a chick party out east w/out me! Can't believe that stuff! I think I'll just go out west and visit Chicadee to soothe my wittle feelings...she loves me (except during the holidays...). I'm pretty dang jealous of you all getting together beak to beak! Have fun and pinch Raul for me!

Gotta git!

Love you guys,
Cherie

ps For all you "new" chicks I haven't met yet... Nice to meet 'cha... and looking forward to getting to know everyone better!

but one think i can't understand... why didn't you move out for the summer?????? let the kids have the room!!! you can have a break!!!

wait... i just realized what a dumb idea that could be. what on earth would you find [or not find!!!] when they left for college???

so much for the idea of a break!!

good luck at the write to publish conference. you'll find your niche.. just remember you can't be all things to all publishers. you shine when you stick with your specialty, but after you get your feet wet and establish the relationship, you can experiment with relative abandon, and they'll pay attention.

parade day!!! hope you all enjoy it, and maybe your son will get inspired, jo. mom just left to go to peachie's and they'll all walk down' peachie's street to the parade. i am supposed to be working on a freelance assignment, but am posting instead!!! <sigh> i'll get to it later.

and have a safe, wonderful trip, pooky. of course, you could just keep driving and end up in joisy!!!!

Good morning Girls.

It's been almost a week since I last checked in, I broke my darn foot!

I have been hobbling around in a cast since Thursday morning. It really sucks. The baby just does not understand why I can't carry him. and DH is going to have an aneurism playing Mr.Mom all day and still working at night. Oh and we leave for a long planned visit to my MIl's on Wed morning for a week. So I have a zillion things to do and broken foot or not laundry and general house cleaning and packing needs to get done.

I lost few more pounds though! Yea!
I'm down to 209. So that's 26 pounds since March 1. And I am eating more calories now than I used to. Infact the sitting around with my foot propped up and eating turkey sandwiches for a week, seems to have been good for me.

So, Hello everyone, and Jiff- BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your job, I am so glad to see good stuff happen to good people. It's Kharma baby!

I have to run (or limp) now and start my long pre-trip packing oddyssey.

Oh, and other Mamas out there. I'm leaving my 5 yo DD at her grandma's for a week and it's the first time we have ever been away from her... Sob.
I am just not ready to let go of her not for Grandma not for kindergarten starting in 10 weeks... not ready.
Any advice?

Love
SunDrop

I am back to my usualy chipper self. Amazing what a good night's sleep and 2 pots of coffee will do for you. Any ideas on how many chicks it takes to peck someone to death, Ruth? Maybe we could just maim him a little I'll stop, I promise.

It's just me and mama and dd today, sis may pop in for her usual 2 second visit. Perhaps I'll even find the inspiration to cook something! Usually we eat out for holidays, but this year I'm feeling creative.

Ya'll have a good Monday, I'm off to read all these new posts! It sure was lonely around here most of the weekend. Sooner! It's good to see you again!

Literally, Horse racing is the one thing my family (married son 35, single son 34,DH and me) all enjoy, but we can't afford to go too often, so We go the memorial day weekend, as the boys birthday present. (bd's are 5/27 & 6/6).

I;m thinking of putting my WOE on hold today, as I can just taste the hamburgers adn Margarita that the sell at the track. The only problem I see with that, is if I can do it this time, it will be easier to do next time and there goes my determination. I'm my own worse enemy.

Hope everyone has as great a day as I plan to.

Good evening!

Just a quick check in. We went to the parade (but didn't march in it).

Then the boys & I went to the gym to swim. They talked me into using the outdoor pool (it's heated). One hour in the sun and then another 1/2 hour in the indoor pool. Man am I tired! Skipped the class tonight (didn't have a sitter for little DS as DH was taking other DS back to MA). I MUST remember to wear sunblock next time we use the outdoor pool! Knowing how badly we all burn I can't believe I forgot that important item. My face is still very warm and very red. Luckily, the boys appeared to have escaped unscarred.

Gotta go. Little DS thinks I don't know it's already 1/2 hour past his bedtime.

I'm back from the track and I'm proud of myself. DH orderd a roast beef sandwich, He ate about a third of the meat then gave it to me. I ate the rest of the beef, the slaw, the pickles and one slice of the tomatoes. I chose wine over Maargaretta's and the only cheat I really did was to eat a couple of handfuols of DIL popcorn.

Could have been a lot worse!!!

Way to go Barb, that's the hardest thing to do--go out somewhere and not cheat!

you did GREAT, barb. you deserve a treat... like a manicure, a bubble bath. a massage....

and thanks, sun drop. it's been a long, nasty haul, but things are finally falling into place.

and now, for you, you poor limping, hobbling person. be sure to take some calcium!!! it takes energy and calcium to heal a break, and you need all you can get!!! how did you do this, anyway????

finished most of my freelance. don't want to look at the rest of it until tomorrow, though.

We can cry on each other's shoulders. My baby will be 5 in July and it's off to kindergarten this year, also. Boo-Hoo!! I deliberately kept her out of 4 year old K because I wasn't ready to let her go!

She spends the night away from home with grandma and it's so hard, I have separation anxiety! I tried the whole weekend once but I had to go get her on Saturday afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore!!

Does this mean I'm overprotective? How about obsessed??

Ya'll have a good night, and a happy Tuesday (gonna feel like Monday to me, though!)