Morning all,
Went out to dinner last night with one of the roosters from the Townsville project. We had a giggle about the tfg and his cv. Dinner was Indian, very nice although just a little too hot for me. I didn't get on the scales this morning. Wine plus Indian food does not add up to clean eating.
The other rooster, whom I wanted to get on this project is now working in Sydney so the style **** left it too late for that. Don't know who I will get now. Us PM types are few and far between at the moment and many of the older trainers are moving into Change Management - they have had enough. There are a great number of projects going on at the moment so all trainers, good or bad are hard to find. Tfg being turned down for a job is probably a historical comment.

Holly - how can you beat yourself up about the skates and goalie gear? First the DH has been taking the kid to hockey classes - why didn't he know about it? Secondly, it is not you playing the game, why can't the child be expected to look after his own gear - cleaning, checking, complaining they are too small or too old or whatever. Sometimes we have to take responsibility for our own actions. Now is a good time to learn that lesson. I seem to remember that we had one reminder about a month before the start of a season to check things fit, were fit to wear and whether we were fit to wear 'em. Leave it too late, you didn't get to play for the season. End of discussion. My folks didn't have that much either, but they tended to budget for things for sport. I did the same for my two as well.

Ruth - :hug: Bet the gift of the book bought a few tears to the eyes. I didn't know they even did chemo on dogs!! Wish I lived closer cos I would be up there for some tomatoes. Nothing beats tomato sandwiches with fresh wholemeal bread and a dab of good butter apart from if you put some good cheese and avocado with the tomatoes. Oh bother, now I want, I want, I want.

Carla, I hope you took the opportunity to go for a swim in the lake. I see spring has sprung here. There's a place called Araluen out in the hills, and the tulips are out en masse there. This morning I noticed the azaleas in bloom on the road down to the office. The Red Wing azalea have been out for ages but now the delightful pink and white ones are out as well. And the primroses are blooming. So it will soon be time to go to the wildflower fields and take a look at the natural phenomena.

Speaking of phenomena, I see the Canadians got made the scapegoat for a local comedy company breach of security at the APEC meeting in Sydney. Apparently they dolled their vehicles up to look like a Canadian delegation (wonder where they got the authentic looking stickers from??) and got through 2 checkpoints before they got nabbed at the 3rd outside George Bush's hotel. One of them was dressed as Osama Bin Laden for heavens sake. All those millions spent on security and 2 checkpoints failed :faint:

Sad news also that the Singing Whale ie Luciano Pavarotti has passed away. Many years ago, I saw a tv special where he and his father sang together in a cathedral in Italy (Modena, Firenze, Milano????). Two soaring and glorious voices. And who can forget him singing the lead in Aida some years back.

Anyway, we have officially been given the message to get on with it and work harder and that we may claim overtime if necessary. So now I guess they may bring a port-a-loo to the end of each desk and expect us to keep on working!!!! Apparently we are at 22% done and should be at 56% done. However we can only do what we can do. I'll give it a shot, but won't be crying if it doesn't happen.

Better get on with it!

PS - Carla, great NSV there. Keep it up.

I'm feeling extremely satisfied with myself - actually got off the couch and went for that swim. :swim: The water is pretty chilly, but still acceptable on a hot day like today. This time I watched the time, and the same distance as last time was about 30 minutes without stopping. Not all that many calories burned - I don't crawl (freestyle), just breaststroke, sidestroke, and a little back crawl. I really should get some kind of floaty thing to take with me now the beach is "closed" and there's no lifeguard. Not that they'd save me anyway, swimming outside the supervised area. If all goes well tomorrow, I may get another (maybe final) swim in either in the morning or after I finish work. It's supposed to be another hot, humid day. :crossed: that it works out - no guarantees that the weather will be hot again after that.

Shad, is this your big chance to work so much overtime you can afford to retire on the proceeds? Or do you get straight time for OT and then have to give most of it to the feds in taxes like here? As for Indian dinner out, here's a :kickbutt: just like I gave myself after the sausage incident... The youngsters amongst us are counting on you to set an example. :drill: :rofl:

Youngsters? Youngsters? :lol: Ain’t no one here but we chickens!!

I’ve been working my butt off in the gym this week and I am pleased that I have only had pre-planned slip-ups as far as food goes. I have been recording everything in WW online and I feel pretty good - except that I still feel kinda dizzy and a bit out of sorts. I suspect it could be either allergies or I need new glasses. Or both. My head hurts most of the time, but I can live with it. Stupid ragweed. Enough whinging.

Carla~ good for you being out there and swimming. And you should probably wear a life jacket or some other flotation device if you are out there alone. But how nice that you get those last few strokes it. It amazing how quickly the water loses it summer warmth. And if signing up for a gym without having to go was enough there would be an awful lot of thin people sitting on their couches! :lol:

Shad~ The tech writing / training community is like that here too. Everyone knows everyone and the work is so plentiful that if you wait too long all the good people are snapped up. Just like we have always said – never piss anyone off because you never know who is going to be hiring next week. :lol: And he is an idiot to lie on a CV in a community that small. I’m glad you don’t have to put up with the twit on this project. I was listening to some of the Pavarotti coverage on the radio today. What a lovely voice he had. He will be missed. Yikes! To your schedule at least they are willing to pay for the extra effort. Good luck with it.

Ruth~ Aha what an evil way to get rid of tomatoes by using them as a thank you. Next you are going to be standing in dark doorways near a local high school offering them to students. “C’mon kid, it’s only one little plum tomato. One won’t hurt you…” Do you can things? Good luck with whatever you decide for Lucy.

Holly~ Doesn’t seem fair that the DH doesn’t step up and deal with equipping the boy for hockey. Seems like the easiest solution - but when are things easy? You can vent all you want. Parenting is a full time job in itself. Lousy pay but pretty decent retirement plan.

Mel~ Thanks for the song. Now its stuck in my head! I’ll have to think of a song to post. Fro a group that is supposed to be singing we are a pretty mute lot! Jen’s kitty sounds lovely. She could always just calculate how much a lb he’s worth now. And maybe he’s not stupid – just drawing her into a false sense of security. Have you ever seen the website with the pictures from the guy who hooked a camera up to his cat? They are really quite neat… lots of shots from under cars and looking up through tall grass.

Ceejay~ Good work on the gym visit.

Ok, I better get out of here and get some stuff done. I’ve been thinking I really want to work hard and see if I can get back into the 160s by my birthday in late October. That would be nice. We’ll see how it goes. Night ladies present and missing and missed.

Music, you want music??

Para bailar la Bamba
Para bailar la Bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia (note 1)
Una poca de gracia, por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere

Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba

Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero
Soy capitan, soy capitan, soy capitan

Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba

Here's the Spanish words to La Bamba and if you want to sing along, click thishttp://www.musicalspanish.com/bambasample.htm

I had to google this and I will not be dancing--it gave that too
I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, I'm happy again
Yes it finally rained today. It was a beautiful sight and the sounds of thunder awesome. We got over 2 inches.

Madcat--It's kinda hard getting into the swing of things of this challenge but once that happens you'll begin to see a difference in the way you feel except for the allergies. Here it's both the farmers arial apraying and the rag weed. Golden rod is ready to bloom. I'm repaired. I've restocked the allergy meds. Not that it does any good.

Holly--Hubby should be taking your son to the hocky practices and getting him geared up. You do well.

On a good note the scale said 179.0 this morning. It's been a 85% day for me. My water intake was nil, drank diet 7 ups, weights were not done and over on fat grams due to the blueberry muffins. I couldn't stop at just one. Exercise was done at home on the bike for 30 minutes.

Shad-you came in at the same time. Nice song Are we going to do the rumba to?

A much better day today. As far as first week transitions go this one has been the best ever.
Had a great School Council meeting after work. Today went smoother for the Goalie Clinic. The positives about last night were- When I came home hubby had made his own supper, cleaned it up and ran the dishwasher. a year ago he would have sat for 4 hours in front of the TV , beer in hand. And when I came home and expressed it was not a great experience. He did not get defensive or go on the attack. He apologized to DS and was supportive to me. Monumental changes.

it went up to 32C here today and humid.Allergies are brutal.

Working 9-3 tomorrow and there is a family pizza party in town. Hockey Sat and Sunday. I will make some salsa. Food has been okay but i did have a small slice of pizza, no sweets or salty snacks tho.

Yesterday I got the word that Lucy's cancer is a particularly aggressive one. It is in the nose and bones near the eyes and has destroyed the bone between the nose and the brain. I'm very sad and crying but she seems OK, aside from sleeping so much. I'm hoping for a gentle passage for us both and plan to make her life as good as possible for the time she will still be here.

I am going to go to town next week to talk to the vet (oncologist) to discuss chemo but am not hopeful.

Most of you know how attached I am to this darling, bratty, eyeglass-eating, charming furkid so I know you'll understand. Hershey, her DogMum, seems to know what's up and is doing a lot of ear licking - dogs don't lie about love.

Oh Ruth, I am so sorry. Our furbabies mean so much to us. Be gentle with yourself and look after our Lucy.

Give Hershey and extra special cuddle from me too. Now I am sitting here in tears as well.

Thank you, Shad. I know you understand.

Ruth - so sorry to hear about Lucy. :hug: Hope she won't suffer, I know it must be horrible for you.

Got back into town at 4am yesterday. I'm so glad we were able to make it up there even if it was a rather whirlwind trip in 48 hours. It was supposed to rain yesterday all the way through our trip home so DH decided to take a nap after the funeral and we drove through the night. It was actually better that way. Came home to find that I had a flat tire - big old nail sticking in the back tire. So it's off to the dealer today to replace all 4 tires that have worn rather quickly for only having 27,000 miles on the car.

There's lots to catch up on but we're taking the car in at 7 and I'm still sitting here in my pajamas so I'd better get moving. Love to the chicks...

:cheer: YAY CEEJAY!! I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TRY AND CHASE AFTER YOU INTO THE 70'S NOW!! :running: A BOG CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'RE ON THE MOVE NOW! GOOD NEWS! GLAD IT FINALLY RAINED FOR YOU :rain:

MADCAT~ GOOD FOR YOU AND THE GYM TOO! BEEN FEELING OUT OF SORTS TOO, VERY BAD SINUS WEATHER ALL OVER THEY SAY ON THE NEWS. MUST BE THE GLOBAL WARMING THING CAUSING ALL THIS.:faint: HANG IN THERE!

SHAD~ INDIAN FOOD!!! NOW THAT I AM SURE DESERVES A BOOD BOOT IN THE BUTT FROM CARLA! :rofl: TOO BAD I DON'T KNOW AND COMPUTER STUFF! WE COULD HAVE TRAVELED TOGETHER!! BUT THEN WE MIGHT NOT HAVE STAYED FRIENDS :lol3: :lol3: HOPE YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER PM NAME TO DRAW OUT OF THE HAT!

CARLA~ :rollpin: WHO'S GOING TO BE POLICING YOU????
SAUSAGES??? :faint: YOU AND SHAD MUST BE TAKING LESSONS FROM EACH OTHER. AND HERE I THOUGHT MY LIVERWURST ON A HARDROLL WAS BAD. OH DID I MENTION THE CAN OF PEPSI? :rofl: THE CHECQUE WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK NO MATTER HOW I SPELL IT! LOL YES THE GRANDSON WILL REMAIN WITH ME. POOR OLD BIRD. RICHIE SAYS THAT HE'S A DIFFERENT BIRD HERE. QUIET AND ALERT. I SAID THAT'S BECAUSE THE TV ISN'T BLASTING AND HE'S NOT BEING NICOTINED TO DEATH!!:tantrum: SO HE'S PLEASANTLY REIRING AT NANA'S HOUSE. HAPPY SWIMMING!! :swim:

RUTH~ A FRIENDS CAT HAD CHEMO AND YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT. THEY SAY SHE KEPT RUNNING AROUND AS USUAL....ALBEIT SLOWER BUT NOT MUCH CHANGE. KEEPING MY GOOD THOUGHTS HEADING YOUR WAY.
GET THEE TO THE KITCHEN YOU WENCH AND CAN THOSE TOMATOES!! GOOD IDEA ABOUT GIFTING SOME OF THEM AWAY!!

HOLLY~ MEN CAN BE SUCH DICK HEADS. MY HUBBY USED TO TREAT JEN LIKE AN ANGEL AND BUY HER EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED. TOO BAD HE SMACKED ME AROUND AND I GOT DIVORCED :rofl: HOPE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR SETTLES DOWN A BIT FOR ALL OF YOU!

THE LAXATIVE WORKED AND THE HARDROLL IS GONE!! :dance: SO NOW I CAN SING AND DANCE AGAIN! :belly:

SOMEHOW MY COMPUTER DECIDED TO POST THIS WITHOUT ME HITTING THE BUTTON! :rofl: I HAVE A REMOTE KEYBOARD AND THERE ARE KEYS THAT MAGICALLY DO THINGS WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED! OR MAYBE I BUMP THEM! :lol3: NOTHING NEW HERE ANYWAY. DOING SOME BULK COOKING AND GOING TO MAKE SURE I DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY AND COOK FOR AN ARMY. ADIOS CHICKIES!
HAPPY FRIDAY :moped:

"Besame Mucho"

Besame, besame mucho,
Como si fuera esta noche la última vez,
Besame, besame mucho,
Que tengo miedo a perderte, perderte despues [twice]

Quiero sentirte muy cerca mirarme en tus ojos verte junto a mí
Piensa que tal vez mañana yo ya estare lejos, muy lejos de ti

Besame...

Quiero...

Besame...

[English translation]

Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
As if tonight were the last time
Kiss me, kiss me a lot,
For I'm scared to lose you, to lose you afterwards

I want to feel you very close, see myself in your eyes, see you near me
Think that maybe tomorrow I'll already be far, very far away from you

(((((ruth))))))

Oh Ruth, I'm so sorry to hear about Lucy. Dog's love doesn't lie indeed. I hope she remains happy and comfortable. It's so sad. {{Ruth and Lucy}}

Yes, I'm very sad but the good thing is that Lucy is nearly herself. She sleeps more but still seems happy, loves treats and ate the crotch out of a pair of panties this morning! I just can't get mad at her. :lol: Thanks to everyone for your good wishes for me and my fur baby.

Mel, did you not chew that hard roll? The liverwurst should have helped ease it through.

There are no more tomatoes in my kitchen! I'm done!

I've been to the gym and Linda aka the Slave Driver added some abs stuff to my routine. I measured yesterday and my tummy is bigger than my hips. :yikes: Donna is coming to clean this morning and I'm going to go to town for some painting and quilting supplies. I WILL NOT EVEN THINK OF THE CHINESE BUFFET!

It'll be a quiet weekend around here with lots of petting and couch time.

Ruth, :grouphug: :grouphug: to you, Lucy and Hershey. So sorry to hear the latest news is bad.

Ruth--What horrible news for Lucy. (((hugs))) for the both of you.

Mel--I'm determinded this time to get heart healthy. Plus my doctor will be checking my cholesterol 2 x's a year now. You may need to be on my high fiber diet.

Happy--Glad you are home safe and sound. Sorry to hear about the flat tire. Thought about you the other day while I was sitting on my uncles front porch. The humming birds were swarming the nectar and could hear the chirping. Even saw one of them light on a tree. Didn't know they did that.

Carla, Madcat, Shad and Holly--:wave: Hope things are going good for you.

Mowed the yard a little later than anticipated today and the rain caught me. The radar is showing more rain. Yeah. Talked to Lisa at the grocery store a little longer than normal or I would have gotten through. At least the tall stuff is down. This is counting as my exercise for today plus some cleaning.

Morning all,
Saturday and I'm here at work, still in tears for Ruth, Lucy and Hershey. I almost pulled an all nighter as I was wide awake at 1.pm this morning and couldn't back to sleep. Didn't go to bed until 10.30. At 2.00am I got up to watch the Rugby World Cup opener and dang me days if Argentina didn't beat the French in Paris of all places. Shock/ horror in the Rugby world. By the time that finished it was five am. and I went back to bed and read for a while, then got up, had breakfast and came here. I'm determined not to stay here all day and I need to do some shopping later in the afternoon - foodstuff and veges. I am indeed not being good at the moment. However I haven't yet resorted to eating knickers like Lucy.

Ruth - The gym can do that to you. For the first time in my life, my top half measures more than the bottom half. It aint fair cos I wanted to get rid of all of it. I am going to find a gym here and go a couple of times a week because I really am missing the weights. The rest I can do from home. How come all those personal trainers at the gym are totally masochistic and sadistic. How are the abs feeling?

Happy, good to see you back safe and sound. Sorry about the tyres. 27K doesn't seem much but then you are talking miles so lessee........thinking.....no that's about 40000Km and that's about all I get out of the front tyres on my car. Back I can get to last a bit longer. Poor DH is probably going to need another nap now. Hope he hasn't strained his back or anything.

Ceejay - you seem to be going well on this challenge. Go you. Can't agree about the rain tho'. They love it here. I would like it someplace else.

So, tonight I am back into the rugby matches. NZ is playing and so is Australia so I will be able to watch those two games. The rest I will keep up with via the computer and the newspaper. I should have got cable when I had the chance. Too bad how sad. Had a rent inspection on Thursday, don't know whether I told you lot. They say the place is perfect and I passed with flying colours - oh yeah, well I've been there before. And I was only a really good housekeeper while I was renting. When I wanted to leave, the place was filthy. Do I have a lot of faith in Real Estate agents?? I think not.

Off to the pile of goodies sitting on my desk. I'm determined to whittle this lot down asap. And Mel we could have travelled together, I'm sure we would have gotten on fine just as long as we co-operated and did things my way!!!!

Since we ARE supposed to be singing our way through Spain...
 

Never Been to Spain ------Three Dog Night

Well I never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there (think they were writing about us? ;) )
And they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can't refuse it

Well I never been to England
But I kinda like the Beatles
Well, I headed for Las Vegas
Only made it out to Needles
Can you feel it
It must be real
It Feels so good
Oh, feels so good

Well I never been to Heaven
But I been to Oklahoma
Well they tell me I was born there
But I really don't remember
In Oklahoma, not Arizona
What does it matter
What does it matter

WELL I CAN ONLY SAY THAT I WISH SOMEONE WOULD COME OVER HERE AND EAT THE CROTCH OUT OF MY PANTIES! :belly:

RUTH YOU KNOW ALL OUR LOVE IS HEADING YOUR WAY :hug: HOPING LUCY STAYS HAPPY. SOMEHOW I NEVER SAW YOUR POST OR ALL THE OTHER GALS, I MUST HAVE MISSED A PAGE. I AM SO SORRY. I KNOW TH GIRLS ARE YOUR LIFE. :hug:

CEEJAY~ I MUST GOOGLE HIGH FIBER AND TAKE A LOOKSEE. AND TO THINK I USED TO COMPLAIN WHEN I HAD THE RUNS :rofl:

HAPPY~ I AM GLAD TO ALSO FIND YOU HOME.SAFE AND SOUND. THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPENED WITH THE TIRE!!! :yikes: AND I AM GLAD YOU FOUND THE NAIL. A NICE QUIET WEEKEND IS JUST THE THING FOR BOTH OF YOU. :hug: I USED TO LOVE 3 DOG NOGHT :cb:

SHAD~ WHEN I READ RUTH'S NEWS I THOUGHT OF YOU. :hug: "DID THINGS YOUR WAY"...ROFLMAO TOO RIGHT!!! GET SOME SLEEP! OH RIGHT...YOU PROBABLY ARE ALREADY! :cloud9: HOPE THE NEW WEEK GOES SMOOTHLY FOR YOU.

FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS I FEEL LIKE I HAVE MENOPAUSE ALL OVER AGAIN ON AND OFF. IT SEEMS TO COME AND GO THESE LAST 10+ YEARS. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DR LAST TIME, SHE SAID IT'S COMMON. I HAVE LOTS OF HORMONES LEFT ACCORDING TO THE LAST TEST I HAD. YOU WOULD THINK THEY'D GIVE UP BY NOW! :tantrum:
NOTHING NEW. GOING TO DO SOME COOKING. BETTER DO SOME CLEANING TOO. GETTING LAZY THIS WEEK!
HAPPY SATURDAY :moped:

Good Morning all
 

Mel you are up bright and early today. How are the eyes doing? Good Morning to everyone and hope all is well. Our hearts and prayers are with Ruth and Lucy. I just had my 12+ yorkie Teeka at the vet and she has some good things still but other things failing.... all 3lbs. of her. I am trying to decide if I should kennel her and Toby when I leave this tuesday. decisions decisions.
I head for Minniapolis on tuesday for the P.E.O. convention and of course have nothing to wear....but I had better throw something in that suitcase. I am sure it will be a fabulous time...never been that far east.
It is cooling off here a bit but the fires continue to burn and crazy people being arrested for starting some of them...so sad. Lots of baby deer around my house in the mornings and toby trying to chase them to the hills.... sometimes he just tries to ignore them too because they don't always run from the little guy.
Hope everyone is doing ok.... I set up my treadmill in the front room and walk walk walk whenever my brain wants to watch tv......
Went up to the Flathead last weekend to see my mom...she was so tired but doing good on her heart recovery and then on wed. afternoon just getting up off the couch she broke two bones in her foot..... oh dear..... she is in a boot for 6 weeks......
Well chickies I love to come here and check up on all of you when I get a chance....
Blessings to all,
Nae

Good morning chicks,

Woke up to rain this morning. Supposed to rain all weekend on and off. We surely need it. The temps dropped to the point I can open the windows and get some fresh air in. Big sniff... ahhhh :cloud9: Got the new tires on the car. Sure does drive alot nicer. Doesn't slip starting up from a stop on the wet pavement either. Funny how you don't know something was amiss until you change it. This weekend will be spent catching up. I do have to spend a few hours working on job related stuff but I also want to spend some time decluttering. Sure would like to have the garage cleaned out of extraneous boxes by the end of the month. Guess I'll try and catch up with y'all now...

So hard to believe that people would intentionally start fires Nae. Especially in big country where they can spread out of control. Geez :rolleyes:

Mel, I almost spit my coffee out at the computer screen reading the first line of your post :rofl: I went to clean out the pool filter last week and there was a dead froggie stuck in it :cry: I felt bad, haven't been swimming in almost 2 weeks and I thought - maybe if I was in the pool I could have saved him. I guess you are going to have to come over and be the "frog guard" or is it "toad guard"? Be glad you still have hormones left- even if you do have to put up with the occasional twitch or flash. They really do help to keep you younger. My mom was on HRT well into her 70's. She looks wayyyyyy better than her younger sister who is about 12 years her junior. They see the same doctor - he said alot of it had to do with hormones (younger sis could not take them). Anyway have a fun weekend Missy. Lay off the fraps, 'k? Awww on Jen's kitty. Touches my heart :val1: I'd say give her a petting for me but that would probably NOT be good for you.

Shad - the tires were rated to last twice as long as they did. But then again they lie about everything they make once they get your money ;) Hope you didn't spend all Saturday at the job. Get to the market woman and get some fresh fruits and veggies for that kitchen of yours. Are you about transitioning into spring there? Is there a change in foods? Seems now that the stores import foods from all over the world, there aren't seasonal changes in foods like we once had. Except for watermelon. It's really only good here in the summer. Everything else we get year round which sort of takes the thrill away to anticipate the first peaches of the season and so on. I have the original 45rpm record of Ritchie Valen's LaBamba upstairs in the attic. It was the "B" side of his song "Donna".

Ruth - I would have taken your tomatoes. Gladly. Mom sent me home with about a dozen from her garden. Thing is, she didn't want them to go soft so she only gave me one ripe one. The rest are green - oh don't worry - they will ripen up quick she said. I hope so. Been looking forward to them. Hope all is well with Lucy. She is Hershey's daughter, isn't she? Why is it that the Chinese buffet never seems to have the healthy Chinese stuff like chicken and broccolli? Seems most of the stuff they have on the plates is fried or full of sauces.

Ceejay - the hummingbirds sit all over the place. One keeps guard on top of the shepard's hook where he's staked out "his" feeder. Others sit on tiny twigs of bare branches in the trees, I've even seen some staked out on the rose bushes. They seem constantly in motion but they do sit for a while. It's hummingbird swarm season - I imagine there's about 2 weeks left before they thin out considerably. Was sitting on the patio after dinner last night. We had just changed the feeders which they completely drained in 24 hours. We have 7 feeders out and the birds seem to pick a "community" feeder which most go to. It was the one nearest to me and I saw as many as 10 swarming the feeder waiting their turn to drink. It's hard to count them because they dart about so quickly. DH was in his glory because he walked out with a feeder, held it at arm's length and 2 hummers came by and drank while he was holding it. He would love to hand feed birds.

Holly - yikes on the expenses for the new hockey stuff. Hope you can recycle the skates. My co-worker/cube-mate is a single mom with 3 young kids. She's obviously on a tight budget and tells me of the expenses in keeping her kids in after school activities - and they aren't many but boy oh boy what a financial drain. Not to mention that the schools are hurting for money (just WHERE is this lottery money going to??? ) - and the parents are being asked to contribute supplies to keep the classrooms running. I do feel for you parents...

Madcat - I'm proud of you for doing good on your challenge. You are an inspiration to us. I guess you'll be feeling the allergies until the first frost hits, won't you? I heard the ragweed was about to bloom. Feel better!

Carla - do be careful swimming in the lake by yourself. Especially with chilly waters - don't need a cramp to "cramp your style" :D Congrats on the jeans NSV. Isn't that a great feeling?

Painter - are you back to painting again?

Hello Meadow :wave: I think I'll have a cup of tea with you.

Speaking of which, I'm hungry. I have been doing the "should you REALLY be eating that" thing which has helped avoid most temptation. I'm looking forward to restocking the refrigerator and doing menus tomorrow. I think I am going to add no eating after 8pm to my challenge. I am a night nibbler. Not much but it has turned into a bad habit and that seems to be one of the worst to un-do. I'll start at 8pm and work my way to 7pm as the days get shorter and the nights longer.

Guess this is long enough. Have a good weekend. Do something fun and productive - not necessarily the same thing :lol:

Today's song
 

DH and I met at a dance club. This was the first song we danced to.

Saturday in the Park
---- Chicago

Saturday in the park,
I think it was the Fourth of July
Saturday in the park,
I think it was the Fourth of July
People dancing, people laughing,
A man selling ice cream
Singing Italian songs
Can you dig it (yes, I can)
And I've been waiting such a long time
For Saturday

Saturday in the park
You'd think it was the Fourth of July
Saturday in the park
You'd think it was the Fourth of July
People talking, really smiling
A man playing guitar
Singing for us all
Will you help him change the world
Can you dig it (yes, I can)
And I've been waiting such a long time
For today

Slow motion riders fly the colours of the day
A bronze man still can tell stories his own way
Listen children all is not lost, all is not lost, oh no, no,

Funny days in the park,
Every day's the Fourth of July
Funny days in the park,
Every day's the Fourth of July
People reaching, people touching,
A real celebration
Waiting for us all,
If we want it, really want it
Can you dig it (yes, I can),
And I've been waiting such a long time
For the day

Binged big time yesterday and no I haven't taken the hoddia in a couple of days. Gonna ask the doctor about this binging when I go back.

Been rearranging the living room furniture. I'm a bit sore. I've broken up the sectional into a sofa and love seat arrangment. It's different. The weather changing makes me do stuff like this.

Mel--Happy is right about the hormones making one look and feel younger.

Nae--Sorry to hear your mom broke some bones.

Happy- What's for dinner? I'm hungry too.

Well ok. **hands on hips** - seems the more I am determined to eat clean, the more I am tempted by not clean things. So... maybe I'm just going to vow to eat junk for the rest of this challenge and maybe then my twisted brain will be craving for steamed broccoli :lol:

The last of the cashews are gone. So is the small carton of Chinese noodles. No matter what, I am not buying ice cream tomorrow - not even for DH. I am threatening myself that if I can't stick with the diet on my own next week, then I will torment myself (and it will be torment) to follow what I have heard other ladies do - eat the same breakfast day after day after day. Eat the same lunch day after day and maybe only vary my evening meal. That would be torture for me. I'm not even sure I could make an entire week on that regime. Someone come tape my mouth closed, will you?

Enjoy the rain Ceejay. I see there are some boomers up your way today. We passed by your town earlier this week on our trip but were pressed for time and just zoomed by and waved.

Goodnight for now, just had to vent.

Happy--Thanks for the wave. I'm with you on the clean eating thing. I fell off the wagon this week end big time. I've weighed again this morning and am up again to 186 pounds. Some of this is fluid. I've not taken the meds either.

Having said this to Happy I'm recommiting myself to a some what different clean eating progam. The high fiber is staying but I can use a product called Fiber Sure. Exercise is staying. My main goal, however, will be to stay on my eating schedule and take prescribed medications.

It's really a good day to sleep in but today it's back to work. I'm praying that the phone stays quite.

NAE~ SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE FIRESTARTERS AND I HAD HEARD ABOUT THEM ON CABLE NEWS. VERY SAD THAT PEOPLE CAN BE SO DESRUCTIVE. SENDING GOOD THOUGHTS TO YOUR SONS. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME AT THE CONVENTION. GIVE YOUR DOGGIES A HUG FROM AUNTIE MEL :hug: AND ONE FOR YOU TOO :hug: THE EYES ARE SO SO BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE STORY OF MY LIFE :rofl:

HAPPY~ GLAD YOU GOT THE TIRES ON THE CAR AND WILL BE SAFE! SATURDAY IN THE PARK....LA LA LA CHICAGO IS MY MOST FAVORITE BAND OF YESTERYEAR!! THANKS FOR THE SONG. I WILL SING ALL DAY LONG! I CANNOT HAVE HRT SO I HAVE HAD TO TOUGH IT OUT BY MYSELF. BUT I LEARNED HOW TO IGNORE IT LIKE THE WHEELCHAIR :rofl: I AM GOOD AT DENIAL!! POOR FROGGIE!!! I COULD HAVE FISHED HIM OUT!!
THE DAY AFTER DAY ROUTINE KEEPS ME MORE ON TRACK...I THINK THAT IS WHY I GO BACK TO BASICS AND ALSO USE THE MT PLAN OVER AND OVER. KEEPS ME FROM GAINING. VENT ALL YOU LIKE!!!

CEEJAY~:hug: HUGS DEAR FRIEND FOR THE EATING. WE ALL GO THRU STUFF LIKE THIS FROM TIME TO TIME. OLD HABITS ARE VERY HARD TO BREAK. REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD DAYS YOU HAD!!! AND THEN GIVE YOURSELF A BIG OL' PAT ON THE BACK! :love:** i see your new post. hope the day at work is quiet :dance: good luck with the clean eating!!

:wave: TO ALL THE WORLDLY CHICKS!
LOOKS LIKE THE STORM FIZZLED OUT AND WILL NOT REACH NJ...THANK GOD! :rain:
SUN IS OUT AND IF I WANT TO GO OUT IT BETTER BE NOW. THE HUMIDITY IS ALREADY NEAR 81!! IF I HAD AN OXYGEN TANK, I'D TAKE IT WITH ME!! :lol3: :lol3:
WE WATCHED THE OLD ROCK HUDSON DVD AND WHEN WE TURNED IT OFF THE MOVIE WAS PLAYING ON CABLE! :rofl: I LOVED IT...SO I WATCHED IT AGAIN!
RUNNING LATE. I WOKE A BIT LATE AND WATCHED AN HOUR OF TRAVEL SHOWS. REALLY HAVE BECOME ADDICTED TO THEM. THEY SHOW GREAT VIEWS, BIG ENOUGH FOR EVEN ME TO SEE AND THEY TALK AND I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER! ALTHOUGH I DO TALK TO THEM FROM TIME TO TIME CAUSING THE GRANDSON TO QUESTION MY SANITY :rofl: :rofl:
HAPPY SUNDAY!! :moped:

Good morning chicks,

Seems we're getting a nice soaking rain today. We so need it. And a gentle soak, not this stuff where the sky just opens up and the buckets fall so hard on the dry hard ground that most of it goes into the sewer! Good day to stay inside and clean. I frittered away most of the day yesterday. Dumb, dumb, dumb. So today it's laundry, back to planning meals - I am looking forward to some soups and go get the groceries. The house is tidy, just an hour of some quick tidying and that's finished. The temps are dropping into the 80's during the day now so that's a given that it's time to close the pool. Cold water and constant leaves falling in the pool and clogging the filter are pretty much the signal that summer is over. Looking forward to fresher air and cooler temperatures. We're going to the Smokey Mountains for a long weekend next month - REALLY looking forward to that.

Mel - sorry to hear that the eyes are just a constant pain in the patooty for you. :hug: I guess it's just a forced way to keep you on plan. I am noticing the same about sugar - it's just getting to the point that it's not worth the hassles it brings. You should be heading into cooler, cleaner weather yourself soon. Fortunately hurricane season (tho not over yet) has been quiet up the coast by you. Pretty soon it will be time to dig out the got-chees (sp? ie. long underwear) :lol: And hey, talk to the TV all you want, maybe the grandson will learn some new words. I like to watch the Discovery channel for the same reason - so many new things to learn. DH and I look at each other and go... gee I didn't know THAT. :) Here's to a quiet day in the building so you can spend the day with Rock. :love:

Ceejay - wishing you a quiet day in the office too. And clean eating. I really like the FiberOne bars for fiber. They don't taste like sawdust, have lots of fiber and I can fit them into my WW plan. (which I am going back to today). I like the peanut butter and oats flavor, didn't like the chocolate one tho' my friend is nuts over that. I thought of you and the exercise and remembered you were counting steps which reminds me that I need to go and find where I put my pedometer. I think I took it out of my purse when we had company (could that have been last JULY?) Oh boy... 10,000 steps is 5 miles a day. That's a pretty lofty goal. I can just make 3 miles on the treadmill which means I have to find alot of extra steps during the day to make up the extra 2 miles. Guess I'll have to use the ladies room that's in the farthest corner of the office 1/4 of a mile from where I sit :lol:

Better get on with the day. :hug: to the rest of the chicks.

Sunday's song
 

One of my favorite Earth, Wind and Fire tunes. Great for doing the stepper too :exercise:

September by Earth, Wind and Fire


Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the mind of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away

Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing.
As we danced in the night,
Remember - how the stars stole the night away, yeah yeah yeah.

Hey hey hey,
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day

Ba duda, ba duda, ba duda, badu
Ba duda, badu, ba duda, badu
Ba duda, badu, ba duda

My thoughts are with you
Holding hands with your heart to see you
Only blue talk and love,
Remember - how we knew love was here to stay

Now December found the love that we shared in September.
Only blue talk and love,
Remember - the true love we share today


Hey hey hey
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day.......there was a
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - golden dreams were shiny days

Now our bell was ringing, aha
Our souls were singing.
Do you remember every cloudy day - yau !

There was a
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day.......there was a
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - golden dreams were shiny days

Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya
Ba de ya de ya de ya - De ya..... (repeat twice)

CARLA'S INPUT: I HAD TO SHARE THIS. AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE LAST ONE.
Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)

For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.

If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.

Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.

If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

You should not confuse your career with your life.

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

Never lick a steak knife.

The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant until she tells you.

There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above average drivers.

Your friends love you anyway.

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER....LA LA LA

I'll be alone each and every night
While you're away, don't forget to write

Bye-bye, so long, farewell
Bye-bye, so long

See you in September
See you when the summer's through
Here we are (bye, baby, goodbye)
Saying goodbye at the station (bye, baby, goodbye)
Summer vacation (bye, baby bye, baby)
Is taking you away (bye, baby, goodbye)

Have a good time but remember
There is danger in the summer moon above
Will I see you in September
Or lose you to a summer love
(counting the days 'til I'll be with you)
(counting the hours and the minutes, too)

Bye, baby, goodbye
Bye, baby, goodbye
Bye, baby, goodbye (bye-bye, so long, farewell)
Bye, baby, goodbye (bye-bye, so long)

Have a good time but remember
There is danger in the summer moon above
Will I see you in September
Or lose you to a summer love
(I'll be alone each and every night)
(While you're away, don't forget to write)
See you (bye-bye, so long, farewell)
In September (bye-bye, so long, farewell)
I'm hopin' I'll
See you (bye-bye, so long, farewell)
In September (bye-bye, so long, farewell)
Well, maybe I'll
See you (bye-bye, so long, farewell)
In September (bye-bye, so long, farewell)

HAPPY~ IT HAS BEEN SO QUIET HERE I OPENED A WINDOW TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOISE OUTSIDE!!
I BEGAN TO FEEL ;LIKE I WAS THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH! :faint: JUST ME AND RICK STEVES! :rofl:
I HAVE TRIED TO TEACH THE BIRD MY FAVORITE SAYING....WTF.....BUT HE REFUSES TO USE FOUL LANGUAGE. SILLY SOD.
HOPE YOUR WEATHER CLEARS UP AND YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK. I LOVE THE INTERNATIONAL DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND WATCH IT A LOT. LOTS OF PYRAMID STUFF!
THE UPCOMING TRIP SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU CAN BOTH REALLY USE TO RECHARGE! GREAT TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO DREAM OF!

I MIGHT GO TO THE MALL IF IT'S THE ONE EVERYONE SAYS IT WILL BE...BUT I'VE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT BEFORE! :lol3: I'LL FIND OUT FOR SURE IN THE MORNING. JIC....HAVE A GREAT DAY TOMORROW.:moped:

Mel-hope you do get to the mall and have a wee splurge on yourself. I liked the being in the garage doesn't make you a car one... I'll have to use that on the kids one day. Got to have a pocket full of zingers to keep them off balance and in mommy awe :lol3:

Shad-oh, intrigue... the tfg has been submarined? I'm sorry about the not sleeping. I hope you got a chance to wander and get some good stuff in the fridge. Congrats on passing the inspection... no unruly dust bunnies snuck out from under he bed? ;)

Happy-steamed broccoli, yum! I've been considering making veg. beef soup from scratch because the canned stuff is so dear. The fall is a great time to have a batch of soup in the fridge to dip into. Poor froggy. Our pool is coming down today, there is a real nip in the air in the mornings....even though the sun is shining now and it is quite warm.

Ruth-I have been extra huggy to my dog. Lucy sounds like she is a character. Is she the one that was trying to get into Shad's suitcase? I hope you are doing alright. :hug:

Ceejay-was it busy at work? Did you pack a good supply of apples to keep your fiber up? The gala apples are fresh in the stores up here now. I can't wait for all the different varieties to show up from the orchards. Rearranging furniture is always good fun, feng shui and all that, gives you a lift to see things in different places and enhancing the flow of energy.

Nae-have a lovely trip! I hope the baby deer stay well away from those fires. Is your yard the safe zone? :D Your poor mom, I hope she doesn't have anything else happen to her :hug:

Carla-are you travelling? Swimming? Dodging kitty paws?

You ladies realize with all this 70's music has made me want to listen to the digital 70's station on my tv so I could join in :p Dr. Hook anyone ;)


Sharing The Night Together Dr. Hook

You're looking kinda lonely girl
would you like someone new to talk to? Oh Yeah . Alright
I'm feeling kinda lonely too
if you don't mind can I sit down here beside you
Oh Yeah . Alright
If I seem to come on too strong
I hope that you will understand
I say these things 'cause I'd like to know
if you're as lonely as I am
and if you mind
Sharing the night together
Sharing the night together
Sharing the night . . .
We could bring in the morning girl
if you want to go that far
and if tomorrow finds us together
right here the way we are
would you mind
Sharing the night together
Sharing the night together
Sharing the night . . .
Would you like to dance with me and hold me
you know I want to be holding you
Oh Yeah . Alright
'Cos I got a feeling like I do
and I see in your eyes that you're liking it
and I'm liking it too
Oh Yeah . Alright
Like to get to know you better -
is there a place where we can go
where we can be alone together
and turn the lights down low
and start sharing the night together
Sharing the night together
Sharing the night together

:wave: to all be well and smile often

Morning all,
Was going to post earlier, but I have a new person to add to my team. She seems okay so far. Bit bossy but then South Africans always sound arrogant and bossy, but are generally okay. So that makes 2 kiwis, a Malaysian and a South African in my team. Spot the Aussie!!! :rofl:

Meadow - Lucy is the dog that wanted to eat my treats, get into the suitcase, beat me up the stairs (she won that one) and generally trip me up outside. Hershey was quieter and a bit more stand offish, but she was friendly to me. Slept on my feet a couple of times.
I managed to get some fruit and vegies in my life. I'm getting there, but since I feel a bit under the weather, it's not been easy to get the right stuff in. Went back to exercise this morning, and I huffed and puffed about 3/4 of the way through the exercise then gave it away. I'll try for the rest tonight after the ironing and the cleaning chores are done.

Mel - dang that Carla is good. I look like my passport photo! Can I come back?
But the one I like best is:
Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world. Now wouldn't it be loverly!!!!!
By the way did you ever get the second of my parcels sent from Butchart? I know you got the screensavers.

Not much more to say today. I'm not feeling the greatest thanks to those who come to the office full of cold and flu germs and with great patience and aplomb proceed to give it to everyone else around them. I have now got a tickly throat, a full blown sinus infection and the biggest headache ever known. It's taken 6 panadol to dull it to an ache rather than acute pain.

I'll be back.

Mornin’

((((Hugs))) for those who need them.

I will definitely be aiming to keep my Monday Marvelous.
Last week was brutally busy. My stress level was high. I did get some rest on the weekend. Hubby has been helpful.I journalled a lot on the weekend to sort out my head and stocked up on lots of good groceries.

To Do
-feed kids
-write notes to teachers
-pack lunches
-launch kids
-walk
-shower
-do hair and make up
-put ribs in slow cooker
-sort and pack some Avon stuff to take to work with me to work on
-clean kitchen
-clean DR and LR

Work from 12-6 today. I work alone on Mondays. I dont have anything booked for the later time slots so potentially could get lots done for Avon.

Evenings look like this-
Monday-home
Tues-DS has therapy and then we have Meet the Teacher night
Wed-hockey and then Rush concert
Thurs- work til 8pm, kids have piano at 6:30, bookclub( haven’t read the book and will miss most of the meeting but will go to say hi)
Fri-work booth at Western Fair for Avon
Sat- AM- hockey, PM- 40th Bday party, both kids have sleepovers
Sun- hockey and church

I will have to let bookclub go for this year.

I used to play many of those 70's songs on the piano when I was a kid.

I HATE THIS MALL!! IT'S IN A TOWN THAT IS FILLED WITH UNEMPLOYMENT AND WELFARE. I HAVE BEEN ON BOTH BUT NEVER TREATED ANYONE RUDELY BECAUSE OF IT. GEEZ. THEY STAND IN YOUR WAY AND WON'T MOVE UNLESS YOU ASK. IT's "THE MAN BEATS WIFE, WIFE BEATS KID, KED BEATS DOG" SYNDROME..... AND I AM THE DOG.. AND THIS MALL JUST CRAWLS WITH THEM BUT I WANTED TO LOOK AT AIR CLEANERS! :tantrum: HAD A CHANCE TO LEAVE EARLY AND TOOK IT. THERE ARE THUNDERSTORMS HEADED OUR WAY AND THE HUMIDITY IS THE PITS. ANYWAY....NOTHING WAS ON SALE AND NO IONIZERS TO SPEAK OF THAT I LIKED ANYWAY. :rofl: BUT THEN I WASN'T IN THE BEST OF MOODS ANYWAY FOR BROWSING! :lol3:
SO I AM HOME AND WALLET IS INTACT!

SHAD~ HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON AND WISH PEOPLE WOULD KEEP THEIR GERMS TO THEMSELVES!! I'LL BLOW THE BED UP JIC. :rofl: HOPE THE GROUP WORKS WELL TOGETHER AND JUST GETS THE JOB DONE!!!!

HOLLY IS BUSY RUNNING HITHER AND YON!

MEADOW~ THE CAT IS TOO CUTE AND I LIKE THE SIGGIE TOO. I AM AT PRESENT TRYING NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE "HOWS" EITHER :dance: I CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST TAKE TO KEEP ONE STEP(OR SEVERAL) AHEAD OF KIDS TODAY!! THEY GROW UP SO QUICKLY NOW!! :hug:

:wave: TO ALL THE CHICKS OF THE WORLD WHO MUST BE OFF SINGING THEIR WAY THRU THE STREETS OF SPAIN :cb:

(((Mel))) that stinks.

Be still my heart -Kalan Porter Last week on Idol and Jon Bon Jovi this week. happy sigh.

1 hour, 5 min til Idol.

A good day today. got lots done at the shop- for the shop and for Avon. Both kids have homework. :P

Need to clean the kitchen and watch Idol. Oh, and get a library book.

Morning all,
jeez, quiet lot over night, we must all be busy with life.

My headache appears to have disappeared, likewise the acute pain in the right sinus, but the throat remains sore and tickly and I have a cough. Wouldn't ya know it. Still, this too will pass and I did manage to get through the entire Jillian Michaels dvd this morning. Yayyyy for me. I ate well yesterday and drunk the water like it was going out of fashion, but was up 3 or 4 times in the night to get rid of it all again. Sorry if there was TMI there.

Weather is quite nice out there but it is not supposed to last and we should have more rain and wind later in the day. Probably just in time for us to go home. Usually the way.

Happy - I meant to mention. I was in the lift the other day and there was a girl in the with a black tee shirt and Elvis Presley written in silver on the front. So I made a comment on it. She said that someone had bought it in Memphis and given it to her. So I told her about our trip to Graceland. She was hanging off every word. I didn't dare diss the decor. She tells me she is saving up to go asap. I told her to come see me in the office and I would show her some pictures of the estate and mentioned the tacky souvenir shop but she was drooling by that time.

Holly - sounds like a typical working household. I can remember that blur of places to go, times to be somewhere and then somewhere else. It seems like it lasts forever at the time, but believe me it doesn't and then you wonder what to do with yourself.

Work has gone from the extraordinarily busy to extra-extraordinarily busy and 10 - 12 hour days are common as are Saturday or Sunday. It would be nice to be able to work from home but as I don't have the necessary equipment and I'm told it will take 2 months for a phone line to become available, working from home is not going to happen.

So having said that, I had better go sort out my arguments for the troops. Tell them what day it is and please start picking up the pace. Then I have to go sort out the team leads meeting and let them know what is what there.

Geez I hate middle management!!!

Mel - I didn't see you there, guess I forgot to turn the page. Rotten life in the big apple eh? Well it is everywhere, although I do have to admit that I thought the trip to Statue of Liberty was full of just rude people. (No I'm not talking about Jen and Rich - they are alright guys). The headset people, the people in the gift shop, the people in the cafe thingy - not a smile among them, no thank you, just the ubiquitous have a nice day - not looking at you, and not listening to you. Who cares - not them certainly. Chinatown in SF was similar (50c) to take a photo of the people in the fortune cookie store!!!! - I think they are just all touristed out!!!! I do wish you could move out to the country because I'm sure you would find life easier (but probably more boring) there.

Ok, no 70s music for me, so I bring you all a bit of Gypsy Kings instead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNg8Fj1YY5g

Ah Spain! Ole!

I had a good weekend and I am down 3 lb for the week at 180. :carrot: I did see 179 yesterday but this morning is the number that counts. Went back to the lab to have more blood drawn. It took 2 tries but they did manage to get a vial out of my tiny veins. I asked the nice lab lady what they were testing for and she said it was an enzyme test. Hmmm. Not sure what that means but I'll know soon enough. Not much else happening here except I've been coopted into a really stupid project at work. :barf: Oh well - this too will pass.

Shad~ Glad you headache is fading away. Darn germs. I always find drinking lots of water does seem to help flush stuff out. Maybe a bit TMI.

Holly~ Happy watching! Heck I used to sing a lot of those 70s songs.

Mel~ I’m sorry that you got entangled with the general rudeness of the world. People are really highly overrated sometimes. I think there is a difference though between people who are uncommunicative because they live in tight quarters (like a big city) and people who just have no thoughts for anyone else. It’s lack of empathy, I think! And on that note my favourite quote from yoru list was “A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.” It is completely true.

Meadow~ Extremely cute cat in your sig. Oh, man, Dr Hook! There must be something in the air on this thread!

Happy~ Don’t be too hard on yourself somedays you need to fritter a day away. Maybe what you need to do rather than eating the same thing for breakfast and lunch each day is to pick out 4 possible breakfasts and 4 possible lunches and then just pick one of those four to have. That way you are planning your food but not getting bored having the same thing all the time. I tend to have the same breakfast every day (more or less) but I almost always have different lunches. Enjoy your cooler weather and some moisture. I think we all need it.

Ceejay~ Good for you for adjusting to meet changing requirements. Keep with it and those pounds will be gone again in no time.

Ok, I have to go off and do some stuff. Everyone have a great night and I’ll talk to you later!

Just checking in to keep my worldly status. Not much to say at the moment - worried about Lucy, of course, (vet tomorrow) and getting caught up in too damned much community stuff... Opening Doors at the Church Saturday and the International Ploughing Match all next week. Oy!