Good morning from the skating rink. We have freezing rain happening so once again I may be canceling my long awaited lunch with a friend. Cheryl and I have the same birthday and have been planning to lunch together for two weeks now - Old Man Winter keeps interfering! I've known Cheryl for years - she's the dietitian at the Clinic - and we really need to get together to discuss the Food Bank and Good Food Box projects. We may have to do it in a proper "meeting".

Assuming he's not iced in, the furnace lad comes this morning for the annual cleaning. I hope to get some of the basement crud shifted around a bit before he arrives - IF he arrives. I guess it depends on where he lives and how brave he is about driving on ice!

My sister was here yesterday for a while and was absolutely shocked at my fabric collection. She is a very organized person and gave me lots of advice about sorting and organizing. "If you don't love it, get rid of it!" I have put together 12-15 "kits" for future quilts and may pass (some of them) on to the quilting biddies next meeting. If I keep up with the organizing, I may even be able to show Cottage my collection when she comes to visit.

Time to crank up the day, whatever it brings. How does your TGIF look from over the coffee mug?

Ruth, I sincerely do not know how you do it re: winters up there. Ever tempted to snowbird?? Today it is supposed to be around 60 degrees for us here! I wonder what the groundhog will say next week? An early spring could be an allergic nightmare, though.

Tomorrow we go to see my parents. These visits are becoming increasingly uncomfortable for me, and I feel badly about that, but will try to do my best to have everyone feel comfortable. Families!!!

Hope everyone has a great day today.

My coffee is only mediocre this morning. I'm out of the good stuff. How did I let that happen???

One of my very favorite authors is Janet Evanovich. I'm a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum series. Today, "One for the Money" comes to theaters. Several of my Bunko buddies and friends are going tonight. I am WAY excited.

I'm having a *talk* with my director this morning. It's time to clear the air. I've practiced what I'm going to say. Hopefully I can keep from crying, because I will lose if I cry. Wish me luck!

Don't worry, Ruthie, I promise not to bring you any more fabric. I hope you and Cheryl can get together for your celebratory lunch today, but be very careful with that ice.

I'm drinking Pumpkin Spice coffee this morning, but going to the store for more K-cups is high on my priority list for the day. I love a good, strong cup of coffee to start my day, and this stuff just isn't cutting it! Other than that, I really don't have any special plans for this very rainy day. I don't have to clean the house, since Andrea has been taking care of that.
I just may hole up in my bedroom with my laptop and watch several episodes of Doc Martin this afternoon.

Matilda, we're supposed to get up to 60* today, too. I wonder what the rest of this winter will bring? I hope your visit to your parents' tomorrow is a pleasant one.

Chelby, I'm sending you a helping of strength and calm to get through your meeting with your superviser. Breath slowly and focus on what you have to say, and you'll do just fine. I haven't read any Stephanie Plum yet, but I've heard good things about them. I hope you enjoy the movie!

Good luck Chel! It's so important to say what you need to. Hopefully it will help.

I'll be back after morning meds to catch-up

Good morning.

Chelby - I'm a fan too. I saw Evanovich on TV with Katherine Heigl, who is playing Stephanie. The showed some clips and the actors just didn't match the people in my imagination so I may not want to see it. Let me know what you think.

I have my workout with my mom and trainer today. Will run errands on the way home including grocery shopping. And I will get back on the indoor bike again. So not enjoying that! I'm having email issues today similar to something that happened last week so am just waiting to call my internet provider. Last time they had a hugeeeee hold queue so I gave up and it eventually resolved, so I think it is indeed an issue on their end. But again!?

Have a great day, all. BBL

chelby - wow, good luck! At least you have great plans tonight, which will probably help your frame of mind today. Let us know how it goes!

Ruth - hope the furnace gets cleaned out today. Be safe on that ice!!

Cottage - Mmmm...pick up some strong coffee for me! Pumpkin spice would be perfect for a cold afternoon.

MMCK - families...I hear ya. I keep joking I need to get my "cat" an Rx for xanax. LOL.

Karen - that's awesome you workout with your mom (and a trainer!)

Cyndi - you rock. Have a great day!

I'm off to work, then flying out to see my parents tonight (we won't actually see them until tomorrow since we arrive so late). Oh, I am so apprehensive. Dad is in really bad shape, and probably not long til he passes. Most of you know that "JoePa" passed away this week, and we live in State College, where Penn state is. It is hitting a little too close to home (even tho I don't really watch football), since I know it won't be long til it's my daddy's time. And things are extremely tense with my mom (and even worse for DH and her), so it's going to be a rough trip. I'll try to eat pretty decent, as I can. Oh, boy.

I'm back There's still some coffee in the pot, it's my latest Vermont roasted find. Anyone need a cup?

Ruth - You almost make me want to start sewing again We have the freezing rain here too, yuck. For once it's worse up north. We live in the river valley and get more than our share of ice, something about the valley staying cool longer.

Matilda - good luck this weekend.

Chel- I shared the Auston story with DW yesterday. She cracked up

Cottage - You and I share coffee preferences. I know that light is supposed to be stronger but my brain really believes dark is stronger. I also just like it better.It's bad, I've gotten used to having an entire pot in the morning and I just know that one of these days Julie is going to reclaim her 2 cups.

Karen - I have a spin bike and just can't warm up to it. I do use it alot because it's in front of the TV and if I haven't worked out by evening it's convenient, but I just don't love it.

Twynn - Hey friend will be sending you huge this weekend. I'm better at saying this than I am at remembering it myself, but eating plenty of protein and veggies and staying away from the sugar and processed carbs really will keep you in a better head space. (in my brain that morphed into, eat lots of cheese, cheese makes everything better. Do not listen to my brain )

Another day at the recovery hotel, nothing too exciting happening. Yesterday we made the decision to start using some blenderized real food instead of all the cans of nutrient slurry. It's using all my meal planning skills and my lovely VitaMix but I'm hoping for good results.

I've got work to do for the 2/4 conference and then need to get focused on the 3/31 conference. That should keep me busy. I'm also planning a trip to a nearby co-op for coffee for me and papaya for DW (good for digestion). It will be nice to shop at a co-op after using the small local grocery for so long.

We have three days with no appointments, so lots of naps for DW and some downtime for me.

Happy and safe Friday!

Have a safe flight, Tywnne, and I hope you have a nice visit. JoePa's passing has struck too close to home with my family, too, with my mother having lung cancer. It's very sad.

Karen, good luck getting your email issues resolved! I always dread having to deal with internet technicians over the phone.

Hey there, Cyndi. Just saw that you're back.

Good Morning

I slept in again....too much stress yesterday. The meeting with our board was even worse than I would have imagined. Oh, well. I have a fun appointment today after pool time which should help me relax. I got some organic tomatoes and zucchini on sale yesterday so I think I'll make a fresh marinara sauce to go with spaghetti squash. If I do it now it will be ready for lunch.

Ruth, take care today. I remember the ice very well from my Alaska days. It sounds like a perfect time to be going through and organizing your fabric.

Linda, nice that Andrea is doing your house cleaning! I hope you get to hole up this afternoon.

Twynn and Matilda, sending supportive thoughts your way as you both visit "the parents".

Karen, have a great workout! I hope your internet is fixed for good!

Cyndi, see you after meds.

Chelby, I hope your meeting goes well. I called the pres. of our board last night and vocalized my discomfort with her attitude. Sometimes someone needs to say something.

Ok, off to get some marinara going.

Jenne, hope your doing ok. Life sounds stressy right now.

I need a brain transplant! I just called Cheryl to postpone our lunch date and it's NEXT Friday, not today! I wonder how many other brain farts I've had lately.

The furnace guy did show despite the ice. Once he's gone, I have the day ALL MINE!!!!!! I need to get dog food but maybe my angels will be happy with eggs, oatmeal and some antique hamburger.

good morning,

Ruth - enjoy your day.

Matilda and Twynn - hoping that you can get thru this weekend with love and peace.

Cottage - I got all 4 seasons of Doc Martin and have been watching them besides watching season 5. Just love that series.

Chelby - hope you get to say all you want to say.

Karen - hope all works out with your internet.

Cyndi - glad to hear you are settling in and DW is better.

Debbie - Lunch is going to be yummy for you. Enjoy pool

I am so frustrated because my weight is stalled. I finally figured out that it must be because my thyroid medication has been lowered and metabolism has slowed down. I just so want to get rid of the weight I gained during Christmas holidays (3lbs.) Going to make a cover today for my DH's kindle.
take care
Sophie