Yes that's better. Sure.

What do they do in Ireland on St. Pat's Day? Green beer? "Kiss me I'm Irish' tee shirts? Wear green or get pinched? I need to know.

Where is Shots?? ??

hello cows---i have decided to try to loooose the winter weight i have put on---around 8 pounds of extra fat have found their way to my aprongutasauraus reximus--it is very uncomfortable and my pants are singing----and the song is loud and ugly.so tomorrow i will go to yoga class cause i have to start out slow----i need to excercise but i have been such a slug that i have to do SOMEthing------------i am going to try to upload pics of the studio i go to===the bonus is----the instructor is a sweet 30 year old guy and he loveeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss me HAHAHAHAHAH---actually i think he loves my daughters but i don't mind if he gets to them through moi!!!!! {miss piggy} now,let me see if i can do thisssssssssssssssssssssssss

by the way,i forgot to mention kiwonkers great pics---i esp loved the door with the christmas wreath----that reminds me,i should take my garland down off the porch rails-----today it rained so that crappy snow is finally starting to disappear-----i want to say more but my shoulder is tired of typing.maybe acupuncture would be good.

Me. Back. Kiwi, it's strange thinking of your DD in the same city I work in. Dunno why. Just odd to have connected with you here in cyberspace and find out you have a CHILD here, and have been here visiting yourself. Oh, I know there's nothing odd about people coming to - and going to school in - Boston. Just feels deja-vu-ey or something. Or not, I guess. As far as remaining positive about my ex where the kids were/are concerned, you're absolutely right, of course, and I did my very best to do that although it took some SERIOUS will power, for sure. There sure were times when I wanted to just cut loose and carry on a really loud and nasty rant at him (or about him) and I'm glad I refrained although the frustration level was VERY hig, trust me.
Cowpernia, my desk and junk mail constitute a piece of dynamic, living, changing art. Someday it will be declared a national treasure and included in a time capsule for future generations to try and figure out. It will keep astro-archaeologists busy for years and years. It's quite beautiful, and especially so when a pile, all of its own accord, slides to the floor in a graceful sort of lava flow, and other piles fill in the space it left with new and awe-inspiring configurations. You don't "clean up" art. And 5'6 has worked well for me, too, except that to be height:weight proportionate, I'd need to be 6'5.
Bagzz, having only eight pounds to lose is not nice.
Oh, I hope your DD is enjoying her stay on the emerald isle. Makes me envision her running happily through a green, green field with lots of yellow flowers, and climbling castle turrets and singing Irish drinking songs at a wonderfully grungy old pub whose sign has hung since St, Paddy hisself was there.
Eventful day, here. Frosted my hair this morning. I CAN'T have a hairdresser do it. They're afraid of lawsuits - like if all my hair fell out, or something - so they NEVER use a strong enough bleach, and they NEVER leave it on long enough, and it comes out a gold color with little orange streaks here and there, which is NOT what I'm looking for. So, every so often, when I am totally fed up with my mouse-brown hair (I'd LOVE some nice silver streaks, but no luck so far) I drive myself over to the drugstore, pick up a frosting kit, and DH helps me pull the hair through the little holes in that cap-thingie. I leave it on long enough for silvery-blonde streaks, and then I'm happy for a while until it grows out again. It came out pretty well again this time. (Every time I do it, DH is waiting anxiously to see if it all falls out )
The kids came over again, and the resume seems complete. Tomorrow night they do cover letters. We had dinner, and they left about a half hour ago. I'm soooooo tired.
I lost TWO pounds. Tried to change my little chart-thingie, but now nothing seems to come up? (Just a little red x in a box). Oh, well. When I was in college, I could lose ten pounds in under a week. Age brings wisdom - and a recalcitrant metabolism.
Have a great week everyone!
Ella

Oh, don't worry, we've all had that feeling. That sort of uneasy, what if she shows up on my doorstep, what if she's an axe-murderer feeling. It passes. Actually I am a Mass. native, born in Salem, raised in Marblehead before we moved away when I was little; also I went to Tufts U. and lived in the area for a few years after college.
How lovely. I too am a sculptor of pressed cellulose.You have had an eventful day! I don't know if I would ever be brave enough to frost my own hair. I am a stick in the mud when it comes to my hair. There's a mental image, eh?

And congrats on the 2 lbs!! You will probably have to redo your weight-tracker. Sometimes they go flooey.
I feel your pain. Literally. I've been on the puter too much today. Ugh.

I have 3-1/2 more days of the single life. Most of which I will probably fill with sign making , but I won't say I haven't enjoyed it...

Night night
Kiwi

I WANT TO GO TO YOUR YOGA STUDIO, BAGZIE!!! Why do I have live so far away from evvvvvvvvvvvvvvverything.

Why isn't there a pouting smilie?

The yoga guy is too old for any of Bagzie's seven dd's so he MUST LOVE HER> Who wouldn't? I do.

Kiwi, I even have yoga availble here. It's at someone's house and it's serious stuff, more than I wish, but it's here. You probably have a yoga teacher out there.

The time changed. I need more a change than that though.

They have a yoga class at the high school. But I am not a student. I think they still have a yoga class through the hospital fitness program. But when I tried to sign up, it was full. There's no place you can just go to and say "I want to take yoga" and write them a check and go to class. You have to know someone.

I actually spelled "write" "R-I-G-H-T". I have become stupider and stupider. I blame the mentalpause. Did anyone see the Rachael Ray show today, with the lady who talked about being DAM? (for newbies, that's Dark And Menopausal) She made it sound exciting and fulfilling. Anyone want to come with me when I go beat her up?

I am still making signs. I took my puter files with me to the music office at school, and the band teacher was opening them up on her computer. She says, "Which file is it? The one titled 'Good God' "? It was. I was so stressed out with this project at one point that I gave that name to a file. She said, "Oh I understand. I got an email today with the subject line 'AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH' "

Kiwi

Hi Y'all. I'm near beautiful downtown Burbank... actually, I'm closer to Los Angeles Airport. Having a nice rest after trekking around Laguna over the weekend. Our motel there was halfway down a cliff and lets just say I hadn't climbed that many stairs in a long time. I am stiff in unpleasant places. Oddly, though, then I walk past the stiffness, I feel pretty good. No doubt that means I should do MORE strettching, stair climbing and exercise. Feh.
I'm happy enough with my signature for now... although I want to lose at least 2 pounds before I put up a weight tracker. I HAVE SOOOOO much to loose. There was a woman in USA Today today that lost 96 pounds. By getting up at 6 o'freaking clock in the morning and running a couple of miles. If I could run, I'd be in good enough shape not to have to. She's also 20 years younger than me, so I'm assuming her metabolism is more responsive.

While sitting on the beach yesterday I got tar on my butt. Actually on my new cropped work-out pants. It looks like cr*p. Really. I got 'em on sale and will either try to find another pair when I get home, or see if there are any miracle workers at the dry cleaners. I enjoyed the beach thougy.

Stay well y'all, and keep roaring.

Ella: Welcome! My ex found himself looking for a job in his 50’s—ended up in N. Andover smelling like a rose. Windows open when doors close, etc. My DD is in Providence, RI and my son teaches in Dorcester Hts/Boston. Where in CA is your DS? But I’m in I live in Texas, Boo Hoo. . I completely understand about suddenly feeling old and feeble, and also wondering if I get enough appreciation. Sometimes I just have to carve out time to GET IT FOR MYSELF. Other times, I’ve learned to ask.
Thanks for assuming we are strong and capable. We are definitely opinionated. Well, speaking for myself!
As for kids and selective advice taking… what I wonder is why I can’t take my OWN good advice: Like be gentle with myself. Forgive as soon as possible (without forgetting). Trust that what goes around comes around. My kids have (finally) developed a good relationship with their dad. He didn’t “get” little kids, I think. But they know I was always there for them. And they had the liberty to make up their own minds about him. They get that he’s, um, rather self-referential, and smart, and that he cares. They also know that he’s likely to have more money to bequeath… heh heh. They aren’t stupid.

Bagzz: Love your new avatar. Looks like the sun is coming up! Hope your DD enjoys the fireworks over the Liffy… or wherever she went besides Dublin. Boston has rather an amazing St. Pat’s celebration, too. But the pubs aren’t as much fun!
Does Yoga help you lose weight? Or does it must make you sore? I am really tired of sore.

Wabby: Doom and gloom is when there’s an uncertain diagnosis, the patient is crabby, and the prognosis is negative. Death and dying are issues we have a tough time with… so we automatically think of them as doom and gloom. If G P has had 94 years and is willing to undergo surgery, he’s got something going for him… He can be a role model for stamina if nothing else.
A. You have enough to deal with.
B. It isn’t “selfish” to say there’s no room at your Inn.

Kiwi: That processed food stuff is dangerous, isn’t it? I don’t understand why senior engineers don’t command more respect. I guess lots of corporations want genius that only has a LITTLE experience so they don’t have to pay much. They get what they pay for is what I say. Is he the sort that would/could teach? Consult?
I have a dear colleague whose hubby was in the same boat. And he’s hugely overweight… which must have made it hard for him to get second interviews, etc. Now he’s working for a big local government contractor (THE only UPSIDE to the war that I can think of). They’ve got a back log of bills, and she just switched to a FT job, in spite of wanting to be a full time mom. I know she’s considered leaving him. If you want hints on how to “speak your truth” I totally recommend B. Blanton’s book called Radical Honesty. It’ll grow hair on your chest and make you brave. Maybe some strong talk will relieve the stress you are under.
My DH wants to retire ASAP and then make things out of wood in the garage. Love the glitter version of YOU.

Cowper: There is nothing more aggravating than an EX who won’t get with the program. I hope that DS sees the light AND that he understands that it isn’t YOUR problem any more… and that he understands that soon. 17 ornery pre-schoolers is probably almost as bad as an aggravating EX. Too bad you can’t handcuff them together in pairs. They’d HAVE to figure out how to cooperate… eventually.

TTFN

ooooooo I want ot beat up Rachel Ray. Or her guest. either one.

My yoga classes are free. My teacher is spiritual and does not believe in charging people for what she didn't pay for.

My a/c is out in my car $900 to fix. What should I do? Can't afford a new car but should I pay this? Must have a/c. Florida.

I have nothing to say. I am a bore.

Yo Painty! Southern California! Sounds fab! The beach seems like such a foreign concept to me at the moment.

I have a faux yoga tape that is just about all the yoga I think I'm up to. It's some old-ladyish thing by Dixie Carter, more "yoga-like" than actually yoga. When I've tried more standard yoga exercises, they seem awfully hard. But they are supposed to be so good for stretching and strength.

You're quite right about corporations who would rather hire inexperience cheaply than pay for older proven workers. It really worries me that DH will never get any of the jobs that he applies for because of that. On the other hand, he really enjoyed the job he had for a year and a half helping the displaced workers in the area retrain and get rehired. He's also said he would be interested in teaching. And he's also looked into a lot of self-employment ideas. So he could carve out a second career for himself, if he just would. Frankly I think there is a part of him that just doesn't want to work again, and a lot of this piddling around with geneology, guitar lessons, making dvd and photo albums and crap is him "trying on" retirement. It's ridiculous for a healthy 50 year old to be thinking that way. I honestly think if he keeps it up he will die before he's 60. I mean before he headed out of town, he was spending all day every single day from early morning until dinner time scanning photos onto the computer or fooling with them on the computer or messing around with editing video on the computer. Now I spend too much time on here, but nothing anywhere close to that! You know, I read that several years ago and really liked it. Perhaps I should read it again. I'm actually getting around to the point where I know I will be making some changes. I'm not planning to dump the old fart, I mean the old dear, but he'll have get on board or I may run over him.
Preschoolers in handcuffs!! What a concept!

Kiwi

Good Lawd, Kiwi! I wasn't imagining you on my doorstep with an axe in your hand at all!!!!! I mean, you hear some creepy things about people getting involved in relationships on the internet, and then THEY turn out to be axe murderers or complete fruitcakes, or 20-year old hotties turn out to be 50-year-old-not-so-hotties-anymore, but YOU with an axe in your hand? I can't imagine that! I'm sure you'd find a MUCH more sophistocated way to kill me and steal all my valuables.
ANYWAY, I'm thinking to try yoga, too - your video, or whatever it is, Kiwi - the yoga-LIKE thingamabob that doesn't push you too hard sounds perfect for me! I'm going to go find me one for the elderly tomorrow after work.

Hey! I met Brad Blanton at a whole health expo. He was there with his SO doing a workshop, which I actually took, and it was good, if I recall correctly, although I don't recall why. I draw the line at honesty when it requires that you attend a session in the nude, though, and that's what I understand they have to do in those week-long seminar thingies that he runs.

Hiya Painter! Thanks for the welcome! MY SIL teaches in Dorchester (Boston) too!!!! My son is living in Los Angeles. He drives a bright red Mazda RX-hmmmm. RX-SOMETHING - that sports model with the back doors that flap up instead of opening like they're supposed to??? If you see him bopping by, give him a holler for me. Tell him anytime he's ready to start making his own car payments, It'll be terrific! (I just love that child so much, but that car was SUCH a big mistake!)
Yep, we're being very optimistic about this likely change in employment for the DH. He found some good openings online, all of which would be much shorter commutes for him. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and haven't even started choosing the carpeting for our new cardboard box home out beneath the overpass. (I'm figuring I'll give it until next week...)
If I were unemployed for any length of time (which I never have been, except to have four babies and stay home for @ six months with each one before heading back to work) I think it might be very easy for me to kind of give up after several fruitless interviews. I mean, it must be pretty hard on the self-esteem. I actually think that men identify themselves more with their jobs than women do, too, so without a job, for a professional man who has always been in positions of authority, etc., etc., it's got to be a real double-whammy. And about the only solution, unfortunately, would be for him to GET a job, you know, so it's a bit of a catch-22. In our case, the cost of living in the Boston area is so awful, that without both our incomes on a steady basis, I'm afraid we really would be up the creek without a paddle. Can you believe the price of GAS, again???? DH drives an hour and a half to work & back every day, and, depending on traffic, I'm on the road anywhere between an hour and a hour and a half each way, PLUS I pay @ $25 a week in tolls, and they're supposed to be going up next month! I'm actually thinking about retiring in another six or seven years to North Carolina, where you don't have to pay the kind of money we do here for a simple danged house! My sister lives right outside Asheville in Hendersonville, and paid $150,000 for a house that would go for three quarters of a MIL up here! It just doesn't seem fair, yanno?
Well, I guess that's all for now. (I guess I got carried away again. SOMEBODY oughtta shut me up!)
Good night all! Sleep well!

Ella

I used to have that Dixie Carter yoga tape. I hated it so much I gave it to the library. As I remember, she seemed to be playing the character from that tv show she was in. Southern lady who can do the splits.

I also have a worse one. Jerry Hall doing yoga, swinging her long hair around through the air as she moves from one pose to another and an Indian woman, who could probably do the stuff better, explaining what Jerry is doing.

Yep, the Jerry Hall sounds about as bad as the Dixie Carter one. The worst thing about the Dixie Carter one, I think, was the awful shiny lounging-wear she had on. Oh yeah, that and the vile quips. She has that borderline seamy way about her. A little too creepy to be sexy, you know? Smarmy? Oily? I just figured she actually was that character, in real life. I've had that video for, well, at least 15 years I'll bet. DD came across it a year or so ago and used to do the workout sometimes. I think she found it entertaining.

Wow, it really costs you guys a fortune to go to work, ellabella! Have you ever wondered if you could actually save money by not working? We looked into that in detail years ago, and discovered it was well worth my staying home. At least that's my story and I'm sticking with it....

Speaking of celebrities making money doing things poorly (yes, we were), have any of you tried to read a book by Maria Shriver called "One More Thing Before You Go"? My mother gave it to DD and me last year before DD graduated. It's supposed to be inspiring for mothers and daughters when the daughter's going away to college. Neither of us could bring ourselves to open it--it's all pinkish--so it's been sitting on the kitchen table for a year. I finally moved it -- into the bathroom, where I've been reading a bit of it. Self-indulgent claptrap.

I love being judgmental. Of celebrities, anyway.

I'm still doing signs. That's why I keep posting; I can't seem to help myself.

Kiwi

I have met many, many fine people from t'internet (just not you cows yet ) and have yet to be axe murdered. In fact I'm takin' another train trip this Friday to meet old and new friends and eat Mexican food. I'll be sleepin' on an inflatable mattress and taking allergy pills because of the cats. Doesn't that sound like fun? It better be - someone is even flying in from Albania to be there.

Birthday boys excitement is over and I can rest until MY birthday.

Smooches to you all. I'm so discombubulated lately that I just sit and start into space not knowing where I should start to get anything at all done. So I get nothing done and then it's bedtime, and then I can't sleep thinking about all the stuff I didn't get done, and then I'm too tired in the morning to even think about doing it. Some day I'll get a life.

I guess I could make a list though.