starting up...

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies!

Found a boarder strip for Darren’s room yesterday, and to my delight it matches the paint, curtains, and theme perfectly. Only thing is I have never hung wallpaper or boarders ever in my life. I have taken down my share, but never put any up. Any tips from all you talented gals out there would be greatly appreciated. It is not self adhesive, I have to put the glue on the back.

And what is with my dh/sh, I really think I do a great job on painting rooms, can he ever give me a compliment, no! For Darren’s room his comment was “dark colors make the room look smaller.” And for the all-sport curtains, “Kinda busy print.” When I painted the boys bathroom in a jungle motif, with hand painted leopard spots making a boarder at the top, “What makes you think the boys would like a jungle bathroom.” I could just strangle him. All my friends like my work and the kids love it, but him, no.

MamaJ hope you are holding up ok, sending hugs your way.

Jenni, gee thanks now I will have the “Welcome Back Kotter” theme buzzing through my head all day long

Hope everyone has a great op day!

Jenny just ignore that hubby of yours, he's just jealous you had the idea and not him, lol. I cannot give you any tips on the hanging of your wallpaper, bless his heart, my hubby does all that, I supervise.

Not a busy day planned, just need to continue getting my house back in order, my son's were here while we were gone. My middle child, Joey, does not believe in running the vacuum (sp) what a mess the floors were. I could have made a new dog from the dog hair floating around on my floors.

Enjoy your day
Debbie

Hi Jenny! Hi all you sleepy heads to come!

It's gorgeous here this morning. Not too humid, sun is shining and rain is predicted.

I am getting ready to take dd to camp and other dd over to her friends to play. She is doing a LOT better with being home along with me now that we are on week 3!

Trying to get motivated to get the very last bit of laundry done. Everything in the house was washed - there are 3 loads left for a grand total of 68 loads! OMG! Can you believe it? EVERYTHING is clean tho!

I have managed to stay op - thank God! I haven't been on the scale on weeks and weeks (since way before we moved) and I am not going to do it -- I am going to go by how my clothes feel. I think this will help me break the scale addiction once and for all!

Have a great day ladies! I'll see you later!

Morning chickies...... where's the coffee???

Anyone who has experience w/home repairs: I need help/advice. We have an upstairs deck at my house (used as a deck/entrance to an apartment -it's a mother/daughter house). DH is on vacation this week and planned to use this time to do some repairs.... several of the boards on the deck need to be replaced, the railing on the steps needs replacement, etc etc etc. Well, when he started, he noticed that the deck looked to have "sunk" at least 3" on one side. Then he noticed that the bolt on that side (where the deck was attached to the house) WASN'T - bolted, that is. Rather, it was "bolted" but not attached to anything. It seems that the header to which it was attached (the header being the thing that holds up the 2nd floor of the house!!!) was gone!!! It was either rotted away from water damage, or eaten away by carpenter ants. Either way, it isn't there! Now, of course, we all know what this means: the deck must come off, the siding must come off, and the whole side of the house must be re-built! It seems to me that this is gonna be at least $20,000 at a minimum. Thing is, how do we go about finding a reliable, reputable, GOOD repair contractor? I know that we can check with the county to see that the person has a valid license, but what does that prove? NOTHING! In the meantime, dh called someone who repaired/replaced a large section of our roof a couple of years ago, but shouldn't we get more than one estimate? I think the guy is coming today to check it out......, and I know he was fine for the roof, but still........ I'm feeling very confused (not to mention AGGRAVATED!!!) over this whole thing! Of course, it couldn't have happened at a worse time..... dh isn't working full time, and neither am I!!! Oh well, I guess if ever there was a time to get a home equity loan, this is it! Doggone it! We really didn't want to have to do that.... we've been in the house 18 years, and our mortgage payments are really pretty low (it's a couple of $ less than my dd is paying for a 1 bedroom apartment!!!) Anyhow, suggestions greatly appreciated!

not quite sure what to say this morning. didn't go walking. i'm kind of cruising to an exhausted crash, so i need to limit activities today. especially since my boss has invited me over to her house for dinner tonight. what should i take her? some godiva chocolates? flowers?

probably the chocolates... now all i have to do is find some QUICKLY!!!

the talk at the orientation meeting went well. at least people laughed at the right places!! and i really DID keep to 5 minutes.

and my surgeon congratulated me for breaking through to the two's!! he's such a dear.

terrible news about mamaj's experience. hanging is too good for those little creeps.

not much else. a gorgeous, cooler, less humid day in joisy land. and it's wednesday, so the weekend is close.

have a great day, ya'll

Jif.. don't go with the chocolates..... how about a pretty little "tchotchke"... like a candy DISH or a small bud vase or something? If it were me and I brought Godiva...... I'd have a real hard time getting the box to her INTACT.. actually, I'd get the box to her ok, but there'd be nothing left in it
I'm glad your talk went well..... altho, I can't imagine that it wouldn't, not from you!!

Good Morning Ladies,

Happy Hump Day !! Nothing new here, SOSDD. Work is so hectic I can't even think straight (good one huh lol ) Seriously, I need another set of hands.

But other than that things are going good. I did great yesterday eating wise and hopefully today the same.

ITS HOT OUT THERE !!!! this is the only time of year I wish I could wear a tank top but with these huge flabby arms there is NO WAY. If a strong wind went by all I would hear is applauds and I'd be the only one there. Enuf said.

You know I seriously need to get serious with losing cause my one knee is hurting (yes its arthritis) but the weight don't help and my back is just in agony....... blah complain nag whine blah complain nag whine LOL.

Have a wonderful day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Leens

Samsgrandma~check with your insurance. Maybe the repairs are covered.

I've been having bad body aches, Leens, so maybe there is something going around. Humidity seems to aggravate joint pain for me too, so maybe that's what's going on.

Nothing much else new here. DH finally had a reality check concerning remodeling the kitchen and he is letting me organize. MEN!

MamaJ, remember that God doesn't send us anything we can't handle with his help. Corny, but true.

Am off to the sewing room for a bit. God bless!

Ok, I have a good one--last night while lying in bed around 11pm I hear a "click" coming out of my neck and I can't move! I suffered in painmost of the night and I finally woke dh to massage my neck. We think we worked out the big kink but now I have a stiff neck and I have to go to the dentist today! When it rains it pours....

On a brighter note, I was elected as Secretary of the board of directors at the meeting last night. two reasons really--one my main focus is to have another baby, and two what I really wanted to do (fundraising) is far too time involved and labour intensive for me to make that sort of commitment. All in all I am pretty happy with my commitment.

Jenny, when applying border to a room you have to make sure that the wall is VERY clean first or you won't have proper adhesion. I use TSP (I can't remember the long name) and it removes all the dirt, grease, dust, what have you on the wall. now that the wall is prepared, you have to get glueing the border. Since you have to use paste for yours, get a wide bristle brush--not a good one, an old used one since it's going to gt all mucky. Do about a 3 foot section at a time and then you fold it in half on it'self so the glue sticks to glue. This is called booking and it makes the glue activate and work better. And don't use TOO much glue, you don't want a goopy mess! After all your border is "booked", put it in a garbage bag for about 15 minutes. the garbage bag keeps the glue tacky and speeds up adhesion time. Now starting from a corner, put your pieces up and even with the ceiling (or chalk line if you wanted it low on the wall) Use a damp sponge to apply it initially, making sure to get all the bubbles out. Then you use a scraper looking thing to smooth it. Cut off ends with a utility knife as you put it up becasue it's harder to cut them off when they are dry. And voila! A new border! Same technique is used for wallpaper.

samsgrandma--I would check with insurance first, most often they have an "approved" list of contractors and can recommend someone to you. Failing that route, talk to your neighbours and find out who they used for renos or work and find out how satisfied they are with them. Failing that, there has to be some sort of board managing contractors in your state--these tend to be legitimate businesses and guarantee their work. Hope these tips help!

Hope you all have a great day!

samsgrandma~My dh is a general contractor. I'd first suggest what's already been said....check with your home insurance. Perhaps it may be covered and they should have an approved list of contractors in your area. Also, check with your local better business bureau. I would obtain at least three three written proposals. Check apples to apples from the proposals to ensure that they each are offering the same detail of work. Along with the proposals ask for a list of customer references and proof of their general liability insurance. We provide these for our residential and commercial customers. I'm afraid your right on it being pricey-unfortunately material costs our outrageous. Thank God that you discovered this needed work before someone was injured. Good luck and if you want dh to look over those proposals - just fax them over!

Jenny~I wonder why men are like that? They seem to find the voice they lost for compliments when it comes to criticism! I'm sure the room looks fantastic! And just think of the warm fuzzies you'll enjoy with your boys reactions!!

Pooky~Ouch! Hate when that happens! Have you ever tried a product called icy hot? It sure helps make my stiff necks more bearable!

Leens~lmao! Hon, I'll stand next to you and we'll "applaud" together!

Tippy~At least your dh will let you organize it! Having a builder for a husband means I've not lifted a paint brush or wall paper scraper in many, many years! Can't ever do a job good enough!
Glad you're arm and leg has mended!

jenniwookie~68 loads!!! Oh my! Have you managed to rid the house of the skunky funk? Glad dd has settled down for you!!

Debkay~I had to grin when I read your post about the non vacuuming boy! My friends are taking bets on what dh and ds's will do (or should I say NOT do) while I'm on my trip! Of course Susie has threatened dh if they destroy this house! lol What a friend!

Ok, if I missed anyone it's cause I've taken so long to post this~

Obviously a sleepless night. Today will be trying to figure out how to get a state valid photo identification immediately. That with some office work.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day~ ya'll are the best!

J

So my damned ISP picks the past 12 hours to be out of commission and I could not get in for my "fix" last night or this morning!

This Board is sure rocking!

MamaJ - I am just fuming over those little *******s - censor me, if you like! WIsh I was closer to let them suffer the Wrath of Ruth.

Picked up my rental yesterday and dropped the Focus off at the dealer for the Insurance guy. It will be there the rest of the week. DH went with me and managed to buy himself a new Escort wagon! Actually I'm pleased because the Sundance was having motor problems and also needed body work and a new paint job. He is pleased as punch with it - nothing like a new car to boost your ego.

Pooky, I need you! Lucy has stripped off pieces of my kitchen wallpaper and I need to do a repair job. I probably should re-do the paper but I love what I've got now - "only" since 1994! I do have more paper and will patch it later in the summer.

I gardened for three hours first thing this morning - so great to have cool weather! I deadheaded the front beds and also trimmed some trees in the lane. Numb Nuts Norm has just cut the grass so we are looking rather spiffy! However, the riding mower is now broken - there is always something with the damned machinery around here! I also have a swarm of bees in the plum tree which means I have a lad coming to get them for his honey business. Free bees! Naturally NNN did not cut to within 20 feet of the tree with the bees despite all my reassurances! Oh well, I'll do it later.

Sorry I don't have time to reply to everyone - need to slosh off in the bath before I go to the dentist for my cleaning - and usual lecture!

Happy day, everyone.

Just want to say a quick hello! I am home early tonight, so it's nice to have some time to get caught up and see how busy the board is!

Work is crazy, and we are laying off many staff as we down-size some areas. Tensions are high and everyone is looking over their shoulder! I am fairly secure, but no one is really ever completely safe! I can't afford it, but I sure am having some nice collecting unemployment fantasies! LOL

Eating pretty good. Back to logging food on fitday for the last 9 days, very helpful.

Stay well- thinking of you all,

dottie

Dottie, nice to see you!

Ruthie, I have no pearls of wisdom for shredded wallpaper short of ripping the whole thing down and starting again!

Jenny, you're more than welcome!

Janice, I took your advice and I stuck on a cold patch ( I guess the same thing as icy hot) and its starting to work slowly. I can move my head a bit farther but not by much.

What really broils my tuna right now is that I can't go to the zoo tomorrow becasuse I can't turn very well to see for driving and the zoo is 2 hours on the highway. I would also have to push the stroller since going to the zoo involves a lot of walking! My SIL was sad and so was I but there's alwasy next month.

Have a good night everyone, I'm going to lie down now.

You guys are amazing! Remodeling, driving kids around, cleaning, cooking, gardening. All I ever do is work! Too tired for the fun stuff.

Went to dentist today, root canal. Uggggggggghhhhhhhh!! Shuddering just thinking about it. I did not have a Valium beforehand, however, and I did live through it. Had to pry my fingers apart at the end, but it was ok. Hate parting with that much $$ for something so dang painful!

Ya'll have a good evening, I'm off for some mushy not sticky supper! (Mashed potatoes, anyone? Don't tell!!)