[ceejay52]

I've decided to stay put in the journals for a while. I'll be lurking. There's just not enough time for everything.

Madcat--So good to hear that your sister and friend are doing so well.

Holly--It's been hot here also until the past couple of days. We've had some much appreciated rain.

Where's Suzi?

[Shad]

Afternoon all,
Carla - we forgot to tell the chickies about the Condor we saw hovering above the sea. When I first saw it I thought it was a hang glider but it just sat there working the thermals and every so often it flapped wings. It looked huge. We had no idea what it was until we saw the picture of one in a free paper at the lunch place.

Ceejay - we understand the pressures of time around here. Post as and when you can, but don't stay away too long.

Today I have walked up and down hills, through Chinatown, up Filbert Street - man that is steep, gone up the Coit Tower and seen the town and the bridges. Then I walked down Filbert Street, up Columbus to Lombard and then trudged up the 'Most crooked street in the World'. I was going to trudge down the steps again but a cable car stopped right in the middle of my photograph, so I hopped on and went down to Powell and Market and spent the afternoon browsing the ? floors of the San Francisco Pacific Shopping Centre. Bought one tee shirt but will be going back tomorrow to pick up some shoes for DS2. He wants Nikes but will get what he gets. I may even buy two pair if they are cheap enough. Now I just have to sort out the DS1 and G/F and I am finished shopping. Mind you I am going to Union Square shopping tomorrow. I'll need a credit card in each hand there!
Tomorrows agenda is Fishermans Wharf and the surrounding area and hopefully Golden Gate Park, harbour cruise and shopping later. Let's see how the feet hold out.

Don't let Carla fool anyone. She drove very well and the room was fine (apart from the absence of ear plugs apparently). I did just what we wanted it to - ie sleep - well I did anyway.
Carla - did you get home okay?

So I will now go and see if I can find a news channel and catch up with the world. It seems to be raining somewhere Georgia I think. Weather is great over here. Warm, Sunny, bit of a breeze.

See you all.

[happy2bme]

Hey kids,

Figured I'd drop a line or two. Very earlly start tomorrow, probably won't have time to post.

Sorry to see you go Ceejay. Understandable about the time committment. I have to scale back myself because as you say, other things to be done. Guess it will get rather quiet around here very soon.

Think I will pass it to our good neighbors up north to pick up the slack in July. I'm going to be spending some well deserved pool time (still haven't been in it yet).

Good to hear you are having fun in SF Shad. You trudged UP Lombardi street? I am not worthy to huff and puff in your shadow I can't wait to see your vacation pics tho it seems like it will be a while before they get posted

Madcat - good to hear that your sis and friend are holding their own for the moment. We will keep those good vibes coming at you. Take some time for yourself too, 'k?

Holly if we ever get any rain (tho not next week when I have a house full of company) I will send some extra up your way.

So Ruth, I have always wondered - what do you have to do moderating a board? Answer questions? Keep the cat fights to a minimum?

Carla - sounds like your tour of SF was quite on the run. I will have to keep you in mind as a tour guide since my hatred of driving is well known. You drive and I will keep you supplied with laughs and cool water I can navigate too!

Mel - I made you some grilled chicken legs, fresh green beans and Mom made up a salad but you didn't show up. Good thing I didn't pop open the bottle of TGI Friday's orange dream boozy knock you on your keester after one drink Orange Dreamsicle special. We'll leave the light on for you - but hurry, last one here has to sleep outside under the mombasa net and since both airbeds are accounted for and DH never did buy me that hammock - if you wait too long who knows what you'll get - a floating bed in the pool I think. You can help me clean out closets once the Mongolian Hoarde leaves here. We can play dress up - remember when we actually WORE clothes like this? Hope you enjoyed a quiet day to yourself.

Ok Chicks. Time for bed. Sweet dreams ladies.

[MELODY525]

BAD EYE DAY AND COULDN'T FINISH READING. SORRY EVERYONE.
MADCAT I DID READ YOURS TO CATCH UP WITH YOU. SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT EVERYTHING IS AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED RIGHT NOW. SENDING MUCH LOVE AND GOOD THOUGHTS Y=TO ALL OF YOU.

HAPPY THURSDAY AND I'LL TRY AND READ TONITE.

[MELODY525]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAE!!! HOPE IT'S A WONDERFUL ONE TOO! ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY TOMORROW!!


***TOMORROW IS NAE'S BIRTHDAY BUT JIC MY EYE GETS WORSE I AM SAYING IT TODAY!!

[happy2bme]

Thanks for keeping us up to speed on the calendar Mel

Happy Birthday Nae Hope it's a nice one for you!

[Roseblush]

Hey everyone, thanks for the warm wishes..... my life has been too crazy to even come here to read..... so Glad the trip is going well for Shad.... working two jobs is going to kill this ole lady..... going white water rafting today for the whole day.... taking a friend of mine Maria who does everything so welll cooking gardening pottery.... we will have a blast.... some big water in places.
My Love to all of you...
Nae

[Meadow]

We have lift off on the pool! The kids are officially peguins... they couldn't wait to get in. My sisters are coming up this weekend. The kids last day of school today.

Mel-be tender to yourself Is the construction dust drifting up to your window? I hope the A/C doesn't get clogged, summer heat needs cool air

Nae-Have a glorious birthday! White water rafting? My stomach lurched at the thought Hang on and wear your life jacket and scream loudly and with gusto

Shad-I bet SF is really good fun! Will you have fish and chips at Fisherman's Wharf? I've been reading Delia Smith's summer cookbook and have a craving for gooseberries, which I've never tasted but jeepers they look succulent and she uses elderberry cordial with them?! Never had that either, have you? Linus and Teel need to pop in and enlighten us.

Happy-my kids beat you into the pool I bet your water is about 30 degrees warmer How is the job? You haven't said much, is it old hat yet?

Madcat-Good to hear from you. I'm sure it is very stressful. Has your sister found a support group? Half of recovery is being able to dump all these emotions that bubble up. Good energy and healing thoughts : I hope the allergies lighten up

Ceejay-I understand. I don't get in here as often as I would like. I hope the journals give you what you need.

Holly-The town will not know what hit them, Go, go! So the kids are loose? Mine are as of today. I suspect they will not be up too early tomorrow and will be spending alot of time in their pjs until noon. Ah, the life!

Ruth-yes, please dish What is happening behind the scenes? Have you banned anyone for something? How many warnings? Do you correct spelling?

Carla-are you in the air? or still in CA? I've heard it is some sweltering back East just lately. Do you have A/C at your place? I suspect this summer is going to be a doozy.

[Shad]

Afternoon all,
I've just got back from walking and shopping. I now have two pairs of nikes to put in the case and the other DS wants some Adidas. Much easier to find. Niketown is up in Union Square and it is packed with shoppers.
Today I left here early (well just before 8am) and caught the cable car up to Hyde Street and walked around the marina there. Then I went down to the Fishermans wharf area and booked tickets on a harbour cruise and discovered how cool it was on land - the man selling the tickets said it will be much cooler on the water. I bought a fleecy jacket and man was I glad that I had it. It was still cold with it on out there. Thick fog early this morning but it shifted as we went out to sea and we got some quite good views of the BRIDGE even though the tops were still shrouded in mist.
Back on land I warmed up with a clam chowder in a bread roll and boy was it good. Love that chowder.
I then walked down the Embarcadero to the Embarcadero Centre and went to the Liz Claiborne factory outlet where I bought five tops. Then I walked down Market Street to Stockton Street where the Niketown was. From there I walked back to the hotel. Up hills and down dales - although I have to admit that it was not as hilly as yesterdays effort.

Happy Birthday Nae. You are on the same day as my sister. You must be a nice person!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...yBirthday1.jpg

Need coffee - such as it is and I'd better go get these shoes so I can pack my bags for home tonight. Tomorrow I would like to go to the Golden Gate Park for a while. It's a bit of a hike unless I can find a train or bus that will take me there.

See you

[happy2bme]

Morning ladies - at least to those of you still left. This will be my last regular post for a bit. Last day of work and the family descends upon the house tomorrow. I took mom on a Pee Wee's big adventure to find replacement sunglasses last night - that was a marathon run in which we didn't get home and eat until 9pm. But that's ok. She got a new purse, some toiletries she needed and the precious new sunglasses (she needs to protect her eyes from a medical condition) so all is well. There's not much to do around the house except for some minor tidying up. DH is supposed to shampoo the downstairs rugs tonight and mom said she'd dust - not that I want her to but she said she needs SOMETHING to do and if I don't give her something, she will get herself in trouble - you know how 80 year olds are

I have so much to do at work today. And it won't all get done and I can't stay late. Things are finally starting to sink in - at least a little bit. And then I will go on vacation and forget it all and come back dazed and confused next Monday to the extent that I have to write my password down or I'll forget that too The whole crew (including Mom) will be leaving early next Friday morning - I will probably log on from home just to try and catch up. I could use the extra vacation day back any way - still hoping DH and I can get a few days away for ourselves this year - even a long weekend. Time for us to start looking around at the next place to move too. Both of us are getting tired of Memphis. A few of the surrounding states are definite "no way" would we consider them - but there's some other places that deserve to be checked out including eastern Tennessee. Rhode Island is not out of the question tho we hate to get back to winters again. Too hard on the joints and bones.

But I babble here as I should be getting into the shower. Maybe that's why I'm so behind all the time

Shad, sounds like you're having a good time exploring the shopping options in SF. Can't believe it's time to pack one last time. Hope your bags aren't too overweight and that you had a good holiday here and about. Safe trip back home. You'll be back in the swing of things before you know it.

Madcat - still sending hugs and good thoughts to you, friends and family

Meadow - have fun around the pool. How nice to have the sisters to visit. No getting in trouble now

Hope you had a nice birthday Nae.

Rest those eyes Mel. Perhaps it's good we are quieting down for a bit - will give you're eyes a much needed rest. No temptations to peek in here. I promise to write boring posts so you won't have to read them

I need to get out of here now. Hellos to the lurking chicks.

[Shad]

This'll be the lost post for a couple of days. I want to thank all of you for making my holiday so enjoyable.
Happy it was great to see you and DH again. I did enjoy the Ozarks, the caves and the porched aigs.
And to Mel who must have gone through a lot because I took up a lot of her personal space, hijacked her computer and snaffled her daughter for the day. Not to mention my perfume which caused her some sniffles. Thank you so much
It was great to meet up with Holly and Madcat. Thank you for taking the time to come and spend a day with me. Really made Toronto come alive for me.
Many thanks also to Ruth and the doggage for their great 'real Ontario' style hospitality. Thanks for dinner also when 'handing over the parcel'.
And to Carla - you really put yourself out for me and I appreciate it so much. Sorry that I kept you awake and that you must now be worn out because you haven't posted since you got back. Thank you also for doing all that driving especially when you had to face those hills and cliffs.
I'm glad I managed to speak to Meadow as well. At least I can put a voice and a sort of a face to her now.

Next time I decide to come on holiday, we had better try to get all of us together in a place that is not to far to travel for most of us. Don't know where that mythical place might be, but we can work on it.

So now I am off to the great land of Oz. Well later tonight actually. I'm not sure what to do with myself today. It's a matter of timing. I'd like to go to the Golden Gate Park but it is a fair way off and I have to catch a bus I think. Not that that bothers me. It's the times of buses coming back in case I get caught up in a jam or no buses or whatever. I'm still mulling it over.

See you all

[Ruthxxx]

Oh my! Shad's great North American Tour is drawing to an end! Wasn't it fun following her along? I am very envious and need to assuage my travel urge soon.

Not this weekend, however, as I am very involved in getting the big Delta "Woodstock" off the ground. I've never seen so many panicky "organizers" in one place and am trying hard to remain an island of calm in the sea of chaos! This morning I tallied $65K's worth of beer as it got moved from the beer truck into the refrigerated trailer! How exciting is that? I also got to supervise the placement of the port-a-potties and hand washing stations.

The big news in the village today is that the Rideau Canal Waterway has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO! This will be a great economic boon to the area as it will bring in even more tourists. It's a good thing Shad got to see part of it before the roads get too crowded.

Next week when I get a breather, I'll dish on what the heck a MOD does. In the meantime, I need to go for the mail and throw together some healthy meals for the next three days!

[MELODY525]

OH I AM SO SADDENED THE TRIP IS COMING TO AN END.
IT WILL FEEL FUNNY NOT TELLING JEN ON THE PHONE WHAT SHAD IS UP TO!! IT'S LIKE A TRAVELING SOAP OPERA!!! MY ONLY REGRET WAS THAT I COULDN'T TAKE YOU SIGHTSEEING THE PROPER WAY. WE COULD HAVE DONE NYC BIG TIME. SIGH. IN ANOTHER LIFETIME WE WILL MEET AGAIN I AM SURE SAFE TRAVELS KAURANGI!! LOVE, PORANGI

HELLO TO EVERYONE ELSE. I AM GLAD HAPPY WILL BE SURROUNDED BY HER FAMILY ONCE AGAIN. MEADOW HAS HER PENGUINS BACK AGAIN. I WOULD BE ONE TOO IF I WERE THERE!!
RUTH WILL BECOME A TOUR GUIDE AND SEEL TICKETS!!
CEEJAY IS TAKING A BREAK.
NAE IS CELEBRATING A LOVELY BD WITH HER FRIEND!!

I WENT FOOD SHOPPING, HAD LUNCH WITH THE MAINT. MEN AND THEN WORKED A FEW HOURS. ALL IN ALL A GREAT DAY. EYES ARE SO SO. THE STORY OF MY LIFE. RAN OUT OF DROPS AND THE DR REFUSES TO REFILL TILL I SEE HIM NEXT. IT'S BEEN ALMOST 2 YRS SINCE I LAST SAW THIS ONE..HE'S THE HEAD. I'LL SEE WHAT NEXT WEEK BRINGS. LOL HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND. SHAD HAS A SAFE TRIP HOME AND WE ALL HAVE SMILES ON FOR NEXT WEEKS YANKEE HOLIDAY!!
TAKE CARE FRIENDS

[MELODY525]

HAPPY SATURDAY MORNING CHICKLETTES
IT'S A COOL 63 DEGREES IN NORTHERN NJ TODAY AND I HAVE THROWN OPEN THE WINDOWS WHILE THE DECONSTRUCTORS AREN'T HERE ON WEEKENDS!! LOVING TH COOLER AIR. WISHING FOR YOU ALL A VERY PEACEFUL WEEKEND. MINE WILL BE QUIET....I HOPE!

[Ruthxxx]

We're cool too at 58ºF but it sure is great to have all the windows open. This is Delta's Woodstock weekend. If I'm not back on Monday, you'll know I've become a Roadie or is it a Groupie? This is either going to be a wonderful and successful weekend or a complete disaster. Wish me luck.

MEL, rest and relax this weekend. Don't let the noise from up here bother you but be sure to look north Sunday night for the fireworks display for Canada Day!