Holly, you're right, I can't make it to TO as I'm working the Mon/Tues /Wed. I'll be there in spirit, of course. And via webcam if someone down there has one too. Mine is cheap and will be very unflattering but as long as you've all braced yourselves with a glass or two of something fortifying, you should survive the horror.
Was it Ruth that had suggested Shad visit the "real" Ontario? If so, I might be able to spend an evening with them a lot closer to Otty (if I'm invited, that is).

Ummm from memory, I'm in TO from afternoon of 10th June to afternoon on 14th June or could be 15th June. I will get the completed itinerary posted when I get home from Tville on 13th May. I need to get all the flights in and collated so I don't miss anything vital. I'll PM the Canadians as soon as I get myself sorted. I know I have to give dates soon to Ruth since she is such a busy lady. Carla if I do get kidnapped by the 'real' Canada, I'll let you know. I'm sure the ransom won't be too much for you all.
Heard from my friend in New Mexico, so it looks like I might be doing some driving in AZ and NM.

Happy - we'll be glad to do something for the new month. I'll do some research when I get home about the J's and sort something.

Since we're working on itineraries, save Saturday afternoon June 2 for a 3FC southern get together with Ceejay. Haven't heard from Painter although it's a long drive from Dallas to Memphis. The rest of the days I think we'll do one touristy thing per day which will give DH a chance to work on his guitar homework while driving the "Miss Daisies" around Think I'll "sort out the bits" as Shad would say over supper now.

It all sounds like such fun!!!!!!

I AM ALIVE AND WELL AND UNABLE TO READ JUST YET.,
HOPE YOU ARE ALL WELL AND HAPPY!
NOTHING NEW HERE. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WEATHER. WILLY TOOK ME TO THE STORE FOR WRAP AROUND-TYPE SUNGLASSES. I AM GOING TO TAKE STOCK OUT IN THE KLEENEX COMPANY!!! LOVE YOU ALL.

Ooooh check out the cool chick in our midst - who's that lady with the Foster Grants?

Do they even MAKE Foster Grant sunglasses any more? And why were they cool? Sorry... 70's flashback here.

Hope the glasses help the peepers Mel. My mom and I have sensitive eyes - her especially and she loves the wrap around sunglasses. I need prescription ones and unfortunately, I can't get the bend around kind tho I do envy them when I see them in the store. Take care of yourself and get some extra soft Kleenex.

Shad, is this the buddy you were waiting to hear from when you were planning the U.S. leg of your holiday? I admire you for driving here - you are far braver than I.

Well I have a busy day at work - having a training session on the new job and an interesting meeting this afternoon. Not much time to post - 's ok because there isn't much going on down here.

Happy Tuesday - no wait, it's Wednesday isn't it? Thank goodness for calendars and watches that have the day and date on them.

Nothing new here.

Happy--Don't get me confusd again. The dj I listen to on the radio driving to work said it was Tuesday. I had to ask when I came in the building what day of the week it was.

Mel-Take care of the eyes.

Hello to the rest, Carla, Shad, Suzi, Holly and Madcat.

Quick hello to bump us up. Very busy, rather tired, not much to report. Will post on the weekend.

Mel, take care of those eyes of blue. I can picture you now, a woman of mystery in her sexy wraparounds.

Hi Honeys – we’re home. Made it back safe from New York City. What an interesting city that place is! We ate too much, walked until our feet gave up, and never made it out of midtown. The Boy liked it enough that he is already talking about “next time”. We left a few things undone, just in case. The only bad thing is that I gained back 2 of the 5 lbs I had lost before I went. But I’m back on track, ready to pay for the play.

Arg! I just clicked a link to some pictures a friend took last night. I hate to break it to everyone but I am fat. Crap.

Howdy Ceejay and Holly! Carla, ahem, “real” Ontario? Maybe we should find a surreal Ontario location for Shad? Mel, are we going to have to rename you “Natasha” to go with your new woman of mystery personae? Congrats on the new job, Happy! How exciting it sounds. Shad, we can talk closer to your arrival. I’m good any day(s) you are here (the joys of contracting and having a cool boss). Speaking of contracts, you must be counting the days. Hey where is Suzi? Hi to everybody else too.

I have to wander off again. I’ll make it back soon.

Morning all,
Well today is another day, just like yesterday where the training database is not accessible due to some @#$%%^& idiot from our outsourced IT section having decided to move a server. Well hello, did you not think anyone might be using it? Did you even check? Why couldn't it be done over the weekend? Or next week when our training is more or less finished?
They reckon it might be back at 11.00am - well it is now 11.33 and I'll give it another half hour and then go home and do something productive. I am definitely not going to be productive here!

Sorry about that. Just had to vent the frustrations. Who care's - well maybe I do!!!
Two days to go on a project and they pull the plug on the computer system.

Got most of my packing done now. The big suitcase is already in the car. All food is gone from the apartment. I will have to eat out for the next couple of nights. Breakfast and lunch ditto for Friday.
Went out to dinner last night with a friend and had a lovely meal, good company and lots of giggles. He was good value.

Did a bit more on my itinerary last night. I'll get it up to date tonight as far as possible and then finish it off when I go home. At least you lot have the dates for my flights. Or most of you do anyhow. We'll get the stuff sorted this week.

DS2 is in trouble again!!!!!! Went out mountain biking over the weekend and fell off - one broken wrist (right) one broken finger (left hand) Geeez he is good.
Company says they will keep his job open for a short period of time. Medico says 4-6 weeks off work. Such a clever kid. He wasn't going to tell me except that I rang on a different matter and asked how his ankle is going.

7 minutes to midday - still no system.

Mel - sorry to hear about the eyes once more. Gotta be something causing this problem. Hope they improve soon.

Happy will put the 2nd on the itinerary tonight.

Better go and see if I can lambast someone. I feel an urge to hit something coming on....................

Shad,

I'm going to have DH make us reservations for the Blanchard Caverns tour - probably one day during the week Monday - Wednesday. Just so you know...

Blanchard Springs Caverns has a constant year-round temperature of 58°F and nearly 100% relative humidity. You may want to bring a lightweight jacket. The paved trails tend to be wet, so you should wear low-heeled, nonslip shoes.

Hmm.. some of my sneakers tend to be slippery and the last time I wore my trail shoes they gave me a blister. Guess I'd better think about breaking a pair in.

We also have the Graceland tour, a walk downtown along the Mississipi River with a stop on Beale street - must check out the blues music. That leaves one day open to fill yet. Plenty of time in between for laundry, sitting in the yard and chit chatting. Darn how the bugs come out once the weather warms up and gets muggy.

Enough for now - have to go finish up the last few pages of my book - book club is tomorrow night tho there are only going to be a few of us. Night all - will catch up later or tomorrow.

Hi Carla--Your egglight is aglow.

Still nothing exciting to report. Unless work counts--The newest employee is an instigator. I'm trying really hard to stay out of it, but I may have to put my two cents in and tell her to shut up. I'm not being sucked in once again to be the mediator, that's Tim's job, he's the boss, not me.

I'm going outside to cut the grass. This is going to be my exercise for the day.

Afternoon all,
Well here we are - last day in Townsville. I'm finishing up here shortly. Have to pack up the car, get an early night and leave first thing in the morning. You won't hear from me again until Sunday night or Monday morning - depending on the state of mind.
It's finally finished!! Right - I am out of here.
Happy, I will be back to you - thank you for those details.
Mel I hope you are okay!

‘Morning! It’s Friday! At last!

Last night I was supposed to go over to a friend’s place to help her put together a piece of furniture. She’d been having double vision for a week or so and had been fast tracked to see a neurologist but she said she would call me once she got back from the appointment. I was getting worried when I hadn’t heard from her – turns out the neurologist looked at her and had her admitted to the hospital for some more tests… something about a possible aneurism on one of her cranial nerves. Not sure what that means and I’m waiting to hear more. Poor dear, this is just the latest in a bunch of crappy health things that have happened to her lately. I hope she’ll be ok.

Shad, drive carefully and we’ll see you when you land at home. Your poor DS. Hmmm, do you think he should perhaps take up a few less active hobbies? dancing with you. It’s over! It’s over! No better feeling.

Ceejay~ I still don‘t understand why some people feel that they need to stir things up. What do they get out of it? You are right to stay out of it as much as you can.

Happy~ Good work on finishing your book! The Memphis activities sound really fun.

Howdy to all the other lovely ladies here! Mel, hope you are back among us soon.

I better get a move on. Managed a temporary fix on the back wheel of my bike and hopefully it will hold long enough to get it to the bike shop. I miss biking, but it is unsafe to ride as is. I’ll take it in and have the bolts replaced and then have them do a full tune-up on brakes and other parts. And then I’ll be wheeling happily along. Looks like a beautiful weekend. Time to get it started.

Good morning chicks,

Oh my on your friend Madcat. Prayers and good wishes for a speedy recovery. How scary. What fun with the bike - glad you're getting it repaired. I remember how much you enjoy riding. It's that time of year for perfect early rides. Enjoy.

Shad - oh happy day. I can feel your excitement all the way over here! Nothing like walking out of a job to put a whistle on your lips and a spring in your step. AND this means that holiday/vacation starts too. Whooppee

Ceejay - don't you just wonder why they can't hire a nice, normal person who can be a good buddy and a dependable co-worker? Sorry to hear about the new one - good thinking to keep to yourself.

Carla - pull together those last few ounces of energy - the weekend is upon us (well almost). Hope you get some re-charge time for yourself. Awaiting your return.

As we do yours Mel. How are the eyes doing? Of course you can't answer because YOU SHOULD NOT BE READING THIS, RIGHT? Thinking of you...

Hellos to Holly, Meadow and the MIA Painter and Suzi - is she lost in the bush somewhere? Or did she hang around Elvis' basement to play a few games of pool at Graceland? We didn't even do the Graceland tour yet...

I have my foot in both jobs now. Have to be careful I don't get buried over my knees. Looking forward to the weekend myself. Later ladies...