Shad
I had thought about bed bugs but I try to be nice lol

Ruth
Oh my gosh, be careful and get that check out as soon as you can.

Melody
Just do a little each day until you are done with the house. Don't push yourself to much. We don't want you to get sick or hurt yourself.

Annie
Oh a thousand things came to my mind that you could have said to him but I won't type them lol.

Di
It is going to be pretty nice here this weekend too in the 40's and rain rain rain lol. Guess that means I won't go and sit and watch the eye candy at the local car wash this weekend. Darn, I don't remember them growing boys like that when I was a kid lol.

Happy
I understand about good fat and bad fat but one can still only have so much fat. I happen to like walnuts from time to time. Think I am going to make animals and rice tonight. I could eat that stuff everyday lol.

Rennie - the people at the Humane Society said you can't call it animals and rice anymore - lol

Please do pass along the recipe Shad. Always looking for something new - just no funny Oz veggies and metric measurements :rofl:

I'm sure someone has said what animals and rice is, but I've forgotten, and with all this talk of creepy-crawlies my mind is taking me to some pretty nasty places.... :eek:

carla
Animals and rice is rice and what ever animal you want to toss it in lol. I happen to use pork, beef and chicken.

Happy
Just about anything tastes good with a little open pit covering it lol.

OHHH ANNIE...MY HEART BROKE READING YOUR POST. I HAVE HAD DAYS LIKE THAT...:hug: WHAT CAN I SAY BUT SEND MORE :hug: HOPE YOU ARE FEELING MUCH BETTER TODAY. WTF KIND OF DAY WAS THAT? RIP IT OFF THE CALENDAR AND TOSS IT IN THE TRASH!!:cheer:

MICHELLE~ HAPPY TYPED SOME OF THE BOOK "100 DAYS TO WEIGHTLOSS" IN LARGE PRINT ...IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT....AND MAILED IT TO ME ALONG WITH THE DOWNLOADED/AND SHE PRINTED THE 117 PAGE JOURNAL THAT IS THE COMPANION TO THE BOOK! :faint: I COULD NOT THINK OF ONE PERSON I KNOW OFF THE NET THAT WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR ME...WELL MAYBE ONE. I AM STILL BLURRY EYED A BIT AND WE WANTED TO GET STARTED....SO HAPPY TOOK MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS. :dance: GLAD YOU HAVE A NICE VISIT WITH THE MIL COMING UP. AND I AM SEEING SIGNS OF SPRING...THE LANDSCAPERS WERE HERE TO ASSESS THE WINTER DAMAGES!! !:rofl:

HAPPY~ I SEE STORMS OF HUGE PROPORTIONS HEADED AND ALREADY IN NASHVILLE :faint: BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES MY FRIEND. I WILL BE THINKING OF ALL OF YOU SOUTHERN BELLES THIS WEEKEND. I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES LAST NIGHT WITH ATLANTA!! THEY EVEN LOST PARTS OF 100 + YEAR OLD BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN ALSO. THEY HAD "PANCAKE" EFFECT DAMAGE WHERE THE TORNADO FLATTENED DOWN THE TOP FLOORS! :yikes: I WAS GLUED TO THE TV TILL WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT! WHEN I WOKE AND LOOKED AT THE 3-TING BINDER I MADE LAST NIGHT...I WAS TOUCHED ALL OVER AGAIN BY THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR TIME SPENT DOING THIS. I ALSO READ THE BEGINNING QUICK START!!! :dance: I AM EXCITED BUT A LITTLE SCARED. I THINK IT'S THE THOUGHT OF "CHANGE". GOTTA GET A GRIP MEL!! :lol3:

I tripped on the dog's dish and twisted the blasted knee so am sitting here with ice on it!_ OMG!!!! RUTH,
I AM VERY SORRY TO HEAR THIS AND PRAY IT IS MUCH BETTER THIS MORNING!! NOW MAYBE WE SHOULD WRAP YOU UP IN MY BUBBLE WRAP UNTIL THE THE HEALING PROCESS IS OVER WITH!!! :hug:

SHAD...I WISH HAPPY HAD SENT CONTRABAND :rofl: :rofl: BUT MAYBE IF YOU BELT ME ABOUT THE EARS I WILL BEHAVE BETTER!!
AND AWWWWW...HOW CUTE THE DS IS WITH HIS LOVE OF HIS MUM!!! :love: THEY ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO SURPRISE THE CRAP OUT OF US!!! I HAVE TRIED TO WATCH A TAPE OF THE PARROTS OF AUSTRALIA BUT THE GRANDSON GOES WACKO EVERY TIME I TRY. EVEN WHEN HE'S ASLEEP HE CAN HEAR THEM!! :rofl: AND YOU ARE RIGHT.......

15 MINUTES OF ANY KIND OF EXERCISE....AT LEAST!!!! THAT'S NOT ASKING TOO MUCH OF ANY OF US!!!

RENNIE....I'M BEING GOOD MOM...I PROMISE!! :dance:

CARLA....DID YOU HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION??? NOW I AM SEEING YOUR AVATAR MIXED IN WITH THE RICE :yikes: GET READY!!! WE'RE GOING ON A JOURNEY!! SO GAS UP THE TANK :scooter:

:rain: IT'S ALREADY RAINING. THE POOR WEATHER MAN HASN'T BEEN RIGHT ON TARGET IN WHO KNOWS WHEN. TODAY IS THE SENIOR'S BIG EASTER PARTY!! YAY!!! ONE QUIET BUILDING COMING UP!! THEY WILL COME HOME WITH A SUGAR RUSH AND TOO FULL BELLY, GO TO SLEEP AND DRAG THEIR SORRY BUTTS TOMORROW AND SLEEP ALL DAY! AND THE ACCOUNTANTS HAVE CANCELLED AS THE MEETING IS POSTPONED. :dance:
I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME KIND OF ALLERGY ATTACK. I LEFT THE WINDOW OPENED A WEE BIT LAST NIGHT AND WOKE WITH THIS. MYUST BE ALL THE BUILDING SUPPLIES THAT GOT DELIVERED BESIDE ME. THEY ARE ACTUALLY MAKING THE FIRST FLOOR NOW. GUESS IF I WANT FRESH AIR, I'LL HAVE TO TURN ON THE A/C :faint:
I NEED TO GET MY OATMEAL. ALREADY HAD ONE SMOKE ALARM THIS MORNING. THANK GOD FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES :cb: :carrot: :cheer2:
HAPPY SATURDAY/SUNDAY!! HAPPY WEEKEND :moped:

RECIPE #48.

Beat eggs in bowl, then stir in crumbled goat cheese and chopped tomatoes; scramble as usual. Serve on buttered toast.


SHAD HERE THEY ARE:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...0px-Ruskie.jpg

PIEROGIES: "a pierogi is a thin layer of dough wrapped around a filling" USUALLY CHEESE AND POTATO OR ONION AND POTATO. SOME COMPANIES GET FANCY. MUCH LIKE A RAVIOLI BUT HEAVIER DOUGH.
A BIT CHEWY.

KIELBASA~ POLISH SAUSAGE THAT IS LESS THAN A FOOT LONG AND USUALLY CURVED.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-Kielbasas.jpg

Morning Ladies! NOt much going on here today...DH has some work to finish up and Choir practice at church. I am going to try to get my mom out to the mall, DD1 wants her ears pierced for her b-day, and mom offered to get them done. I will have to get back on the horse soon, I need to get my butt to the gym, but that will have to wait until Monday (maybe Sunday, but I don't want to press my luck).

Mel~It is gray and dreary here. Hope spring comes soon for all of us. Hope there are no more smoke alarms in your day!

Shad~what a nice thing for your DS to say. hope you both enjoyed your drink!

Ruth~take car of your knee and call the Doc soon to let him know. Wouldn't want something small to derail your recovery.

Michelle~take it slowly, a whole house can overwhelm you! LOL

Happy~I never weigh in after Chinese food, too much salt, always makes me retain water. but I still can't avoid the occasional treat. I want to get my hair colored again, but I don't have the time/money for it right now. I have very sensitive skin, so doing it myself would not be good. Hope you like your new 'do!

OK have to run and call mom. Also can't forget market day pickup. off to shower.

A Good March Morning to you all
 

Hello everyone...... spring is suppose to be coming with the two nice days last week I had all this horrible energy from distress that I started to oil my logs outside .....now it is snowing every day so that project will have to wait. I don't know if I reported that my nephew had his first child....a little beautiful baby boy....so I am a Grand Aunt for the first time.....it is very exciting for all of us. The situation with my oldest son is still unresolved but he seems to be taking appropriate steps to find the money he will need......I am just grateful that his wonderful girlfriend is standing beside him. It has brought the fued between my sons to a close also...... so that gives my heart some piece of mind. I think being a mother is more difficult once the are older.....not when they are still guarded in your nest.........
I have been so enjoying my birdies on my deck....more are showing up all the time and it keeps me entertained.
I have been working on my treadmill but a few evening have been so nice that Toby and I have been going to an old track and making the rounds...... I am so convinced that watching that scale slows down motivation so I am not going there for a while..... just trying to sweat like Shad told us too!!!!!
Nice to see so many faces here.... always make me smile.....
Take care everyone and have a great weekend........
Happy St. Patty's Day......
Peace,
Nae

Stormy weather....

Howdy chicks. Lotsa weather out here today. Bad storms just north of us but very close. Like if I got in the car and drove 10 minutes north - BOOM! It's getting very dark and gray at the moment - scary so, better turn on the weather and check. After last month's tornado, I am taking this spring weather a bit more seriously. Just heard a crash of thunder. We were supposed to go to the Humane Society today but may put it off until later this afternoon.

Congrats on the new baby Nae.

Ellen, my scalp is usually irritated after coloring too but I found that if I don't wash my hair the day of the coloring and I wash it the day after that helps. You aren't supposed to wash your hair the day you color it so that it doesn't wash away the natural oils which protect your scalp. I also find washing it the next day helps get some of the lingering irritating residue off. I also had to give up the lighter blond colors which are much harsher on the skin. When I had that fabulous red one time, my scalp was so irritated that I had to use some special oil the hairdresser gave me. Doesn't look too cool when you are walking around scratching your itchy head constantly. And for me, I just don't want to walk around gray. If I had enough gray that it had a nice frosted effect, well maybe.

I have Valerie Bertinelli's biography "Losing It" sitting on the desk here. She has such fabulous hair. I was watching her on Oprah and she was showing pictures of her younger days and she said - boy, I'd kill for hair like that again. Oprah looked at her because there she sat with this beautiful mane of hair and she laughed, touched her hair and said - oh this??? This is NOT REAL and started laughing. I need to get me some of that fake hair. I also read that 50 percent of the people in Hollywood have hair extensions to fluff things up a bit.

Ooh Mel - those pierogis and Polish sausage look good. My mom used to make homemade pierogis but hasn't in years. It's too much work to make just a few and they are not diet friendly and DH won't touch them so I guess the know how on how to make them will end with her. Sad. Love that fresh Polish sausage (as opposed to smoked sausage). Have to go back home to Chicago to get the good stuff. There's a little mom and pop store next to where we used to live when we first got married. The actress Jenny McCarthy worked there when she was in high school. The butcher who must be as old as Yoda has been making fresh Polish sausage every Wednesday since the beginning of time. It is the best. I went there at Christmas to pick up some for dinner and although the neighborhood is Hispanic now and the store is owned by Hispanics, the guy told me that he still employs the butcher to make sausage every week. They don't sell much in the deli counter any more and pretty much stopped selling fresh cuts of meat but they probably make half their income from the sausage. And at four dollars a pound, that's alot of sausage to sell. But I digress. Good stuff - and since I only get it twice a year, I don't feel badly about eating it.

Mel - you be careful too. Nasty weather headed your way I see. I was glad to type the materials for you, and no, I don't type fast - even with a lifetime of typing on a keyboard for a living. Just easier to backspace and correct mistakes on a computer rather than a typewriter. I am eager to get started on the 100 Days program. Mel and friends will be my partners in crime to keep me honest and sticking with things :D I even told DH about it when we were out walking last night.

Shy - I have to agree about that darned good Open Pit BBQ sauce stuff. Memphis is supposed to be the BBQ capital which makes for good meat but I have not found a sauce I like down here yet. Learning to eat the stuff with just a dry rub seasoning which I guess is probably better since the BBQ sauces contain so much sugar. Probably why they are so tasty.

Shad - that's so sweet with the DS. Has to be sort of sad being a mum when they get old enough that they feel wierd about being affectionate. And it wasn't a diet stir-fry - it was healthy eating. Even young strapping men need to learn to eat healthy.

Ruth - take care of that knee. :yikes: Always one of the dangers of trying to heal up is those little slips and bumps that we take for granted that happen in everyday life and can be devistating otherwise. Hope you feel better soon.

Michelle- your hair to to your waist? Wowie girl - that's some pony tail! LOL. Glad to hear you MIL is coming back out. I know how much you enjoy your time with her. That's good to hear your calves are toning. It seems like some body parts - like hands and calves would never get smaller once they puffed up but that's good to know. Myself, one day I would like to have a straight up and down leg. :lol:

Annie - I am still laughing over your story. It's a mixture of laughing because you just have to while you are also empathising and :hug: the person because oh man - can it GET much worse - :lol: I do appreciate you being so forthright in describing your post surgical life. I have heard alot about WLS and know 3 people who have had it. What I didn't know was all the little things that you have to deal with even years later - like taking the vitamins and having levels of things checked on a regular basis. Most of the info we hear are the immediate post surgical stuff. I always wondered, as much as I failed with dieting, would I be able to make and maintain the adjustments needed to address a totally new lifestyle that brings. Like no Coca Cola ever again. :cry: The folks I know all said it was worth it - even the one who has had 5 additional surgeries to repair things or fix problem issues. But anyway, I'm glad you were able to make it through with a :D and see the humorous side of it.

Well DH is getting hungry and mentioned that today would be a better day to go and do our volunteer work. Last week we worked another section of the cat area where the cat "condos" are. They are stacked 2 high and the kitties on the upper side were sticking their arms out of the cages reaching out to us for attention. *sniff, sniff* - how CAN you ignore that kind of thing? Motivates me to make time to go there each week.

Must be too that it's going to storm all day because our cat who were normally be out running the chipmunks out of the yard is instead all curled up in her blanket sleeping the day away.

So it's off to make some lunch and go pet kitties. Have a good weekend ladies.

morning chicks.

Happy- Sunshine is coming your way. It's here now at my house.,
That was so sweet of you to do this for Mel

Annie
I would have gone back home, and called in sick.I do keep some extra clothes just in case though. I never know when the diverticuli are going to act up.

Ruth
Ouch on the knee. Be sure to call the doctor by tomorrow if it's not better.

Madcat
hope the dh is feeling better.

Mel
Take it easy on the cleaning and don't over do

Nae
Good to see you again.

Hello to the rest.

My work stress has gone. It took two sessions at the gym to do it. I'm talking to the boss Monday about how to handle some issues.
Also got my hair colored today. I'm my natural color again, brunette. Happy I don't like the gray either. Makes me feel old.

RUTH~ THANKS FOR CHANGING CEEJAY'S FONT!! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING BLIND LAST WEEK! :yikes: :rofl:

CEEJAY~ HOPE THE BOSS TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS. WE WILL ALL BE HAPPIER IN THE SPRING! :encore: SO HANG I THERE!!!
http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/img/...ere-kitten.gif

HAPPY~ I LOVE ALL THESE FOODS!! WHY CAN'T I LOVE THE ONES THAT ARE GOOD FOR ME?? :faint: TURKEY KIELBASA JUST DOESN'T CUT IT!!! :tantrum: I WISH MY HAIR WAS THICK AND LUXURIOUS TOO. MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL GET SISTER WIGS!!! :belly: CAN'T WAIT TILL MONDAY. NO CAFFEINE IN THE HOUSE...I AM READY.

NAE~ GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE BOYS. TOO BAD IT TAKES SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MOVE THEM. GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS! HOPE THE DS GETS THE NEEDED $$$$. KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED. ENJOY THE BIRDIES!

ELLEN~ HOPE YOU GET TO THE GYM...I AM WATCHING YOUR LITTLE XXXXX'S!!!! HOW DID THE DD'S PIERCING GO??? OUCH!!!!

CAME BACK TO CHECK ON CEEJAY. WONDER HOW PAINTER IS DOING IN THIS STRANGE WEATHER.
STAY SAFE MY SOUTHERN FRIENDS :hug:

Morning all, not much weather here. A few showers but nice and warm. If what you lot are getting is a typical spring, then you can keep it. I'll stick with the two seasons we get here - hot and wet and muggy or warm and dry and sunny.

I've been to the gym this morning, did a full body weights work out and I can feel it in the arms and butt. I've really pushed the exercise over the past two days and I can certainly say there are bits of me not up to snuff.
I've been sitting here eating my breakfast and reading the posts and now I guess it is time to move things along. I have to go source my oven and cooktop today or tomorrow. I may as well start today. I think I know what I want, just a matter of price now. The cooktop will be one of the induction models since we don't have gas. I could get it put in I suppose but the savings will be a long time coming. I do like gas for cooking tho' so quick!!!

Happy - so kind of you to take the time to help Mel out. But then you are that type of person who gives their all and goes out of their way to help friends and family. You will reap the rewards I am sure. Maybe it will just be to keep you out of the cola bin - but the rewards will come. Good going on the walks with the DH. Keep up the sweat.
Stormy weather - now you will have me singing along for the rest of the day. Thanks. Happy playing at the Cat Sanctuary. May they all get homes soon and be loved.

Mel - thanks for the explanations on the pierogis and kielbasa. Think I might stay well away from those. I haven't seen Kielbasa here - at least not under that name - but I have seen things very similar to the pierogis. My life is complete without them.
Shame I don't have to come over and beat you about the ears!!!! I could just do it anyway!!!

Ellen - sounds like fun taking Mum to the mall. I used to lose mine in there. She wasn't very tall and shrunk as she got older and because she was nuts, she found all sorts of interesting places to hide. I won't mention the tantrums she threw because we found her!!

Nae - congratulations on the new baby grand nephew. Hope the DS learns from his misdemeanours and that the truce lasts between the boys. My two speak to each other regularly - more regularly than I keep in touch I think.

Ruth - how is the knee??? Did you see the Doc or talk to him/her at least?? No - why not??? We want you back and joining in the challenges doncha know?

Ceejay - well done on working out the stress.

Gotta go. Don't know whether to hang out the washing or not. Yes I am a washing hanger outer. I love the fresh clean smell of clothes that are not shrunk to half the original size or smelling of Fluffy or Softly or some artificial stuff. It's looking a little dismal out there, but I'll cogitate over that conundrum in the shower. Then off to shop till I drop or something (more like - I'll have that, that and that and then come straight home.) See ya

I'll stick with the two seasons we get here - hot and wet and muggy or warm and dry and sunny. ~~ AND JUST WHAT KIND OF "SEASONS" ARE THEY??? :rofl: I WILL TAKE YOURS ALSO!! HAVE YOU DECIDED ON AN APPLIANCE COLOR? HAPPY SHOPPING!
I LOVE GAST RANGES ALSO...GET ONE AND I WILL COME AND STAY!! :dance: THE GRANDSON COULD USE SOME NEW FRIENDS. NOT SURE ABOUT SUNDAY THOUGH :yikes:
TO TELL TRUTH...I COULD PROBABLY DO WITH A GOOD FLAP ABOUT THE EARS :rofl: :rofl: I AM A WELL SEASONED WASHER HANGER OUTER. I MISS THE FRESH SMELL. IT USED TO GIVE ME GOOSE BUMPS JUST TO GET INTO BED AND SMELL CLEAN SHEETS. ALL THOSE SMELLS REMIND ME OF MY GRAM. SHE USED THE OLD WRINGER WASHER AND HUNG EVERYTHING OUT TO DRY.
WELL LITTLE SIS I MUST FINISH THIS AND GET MY OWN DAY STARTED WHILST YOU DREAM AWAY :cloud9:

THIS PLACE IS LIKE A SILENT MOVIE. THE ONLY NOISE IS THE CLACKING OF THESE KEYS! LOVING THE DARKER WEATHER AND RAINY SKIES. EVERYONE, INCLUDING MY OWN LITTLE BROOD, ARE QUIET AND SLEEPING IN.
WE WATCHED OLD EASTER CARTOONS AND ATE ITALIAN FOOD. I DID NOT HAVE MUCH AT ALL. I FIND THAT NOW I AM BEGINNING TO FEEL I DON'T "NEED" CERTAIN THINGS. THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH DRAMA GOES ON...THE SUN STILL SETS AT NIGHT AND RISES IN THE MORNING. WITH LESS CAFFEINE AND NO ARTIFICIAL SUGAR, THE ANXIETY LEVEL IS LESSENING. I WAKE UP NOW WITHOUT THE "DREAD" OF A NEW MORNING BEGINNING. FUNNY HOW JUST ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING AND NOW 3 YEARS LATER IT'S ALL ENDING. I MIGHT ACTUALLY BE GOING BACK TO THE MORE LAID BACK, OLD MELLIE MEL :dance:
LIFE IS GOOD AFTER ALL.:sunny: :beach:
HAPPY SUNDAY/MONDAY :moped:

Good morning chicks,

Thanks for sending the sunshine Ceejay - it finally got here, tho it is a bit overcast. Tomorrow is supposed to be out and out gorgeous. Figures, it's a work day and we'll be huddled inside.

Spring is in full bloom here. The Bradford Pear trees just popped. Gorgeous white trees all over. The yellow forsynthia is in bloom too and the purple tulip trees popped their blooms too. Spring in the south is a riot of Easter colors - yellows, pinks, purples and whites.

Mel - I don't know why we love those foods that are less than good for you. Even as we change our eating habits and our tastes, we still go after the stuff we shouldn't and then later on chastise ourselves for eating it. It never tastes as good as we thought it would and it makes us feel icky afterwards. Still we eat it. :dizzy: I am starting to make myself a list of things that made me feel really bad after I ate them, just so I can remember the next time I'm tempted.

I love the smell of fresh air dried laundry but DH has NEVER allowed a clothes line at our houses. Perhaps he was traumatized by ropes in the yard or something. :lol: Best I can do is to put the pillows and blankets out on the patio furniture in the yard to freshen it up. Still gets a good smell to it :cloud9:

Shad, I miss having the gas stove also. Most everything down here is electric, including the clothes dryer. Electric has always been more expensive to run too. The thing I miss most about the gas cooktop is the ability to set to a low simmer. I just can't seem to get that properly with the electric stove.

We did wind up going to the Humane Society yesterday afternoon. The cat cages needed cleaning and so I spent half the time scooping and sweeping and straightening out. Darn cats. With several of them I cleaned their pans, they came over to take a sniff and immediately made a new deposit. Thanks guys! I tried to visit all the kitties yesterday. Besides the cat condos and pens, there are 3 rooms that have bunches of cats in them. Although there are windows in the room for them to look out at the world, I guess they get bored because when we walked into the rooms, all the cats immediately ran to us like we were made of fish. At one point DH was crouching down and said hey guys, I don't have enough hands to give you all a bit of attention. I know I can't take any more cats home, but I do feel sorry for the poor guys. As I told DH, at least we can give them a bit of loving once a week.

I woke up this morning with a start. Work is insanely busy and there is way more to do than I have time to do it. Regrettably I will have to spend part of my day today working. I woke up this morning dreaming about everything I am behind in! And the day is almost half over already. Time to flip the first load of clothes and go find some nutrious breakfast/lunch thing.

Hope you all have a good Sunday :wave:

Ruth
Thanks for the font change. I'm hoping it lasts. I thought it was the new laptop. Now I can see the post without squinting. How is your knee?

Mel
Thanks for caring. It was stressful last week at work but hopefully part of that will change tomorrow.

Happy
I need to be doing some kind of community service. I may call local animal shelter.

Shad
I've decided that I'm going back to the gym, but I'll have to go after work. Sometimes I wish I had a punching bag.

Hello to all the rest. Now that I'm home I need to plan for tomorrow.

My uncle had back surgery Friday. He went to church this morning and out to eat but he went to bed soon after we got home. You could tell he was tired. He had some fever yesterday when I got there but none this morning. The surgeon just made a two in cut. He siaid it was just sore but there was no pain. He was ready for it.

Morning all,

Seems most people are sleeping in and why not since it is Sunday and apart from Ceejay and Happy you all seem to be having atrocious weather. It's cool and overcast here at the moment. Cool is relative compared to say Carla's cool. Most people here rush out and buy winter woollies when the temp drops below 19C (70F).
The cat is sneaking around the computer room. I think she has figured that I am going out and she was too visible where she was so she will hide somewhere until I am gone. Another sign the seasons are changing - she is constantly hungry. One packet of food and a handful of biscuits just doesn't cut it any more. It's not as if she is putting on any weight either. This cat should be Jen's cat. We all whoop and holler if she puts on a pound.

Mel - we only have two seasons - hot and hotter. If you come over, come in the winter (our winter) because it is warm (day time average 22 or 74, dropping to ten or 11 at night or 50 overnight) and sunny and dry for most of the season - at least until global warming catches up with us again. We are threatened with rain right through until July which is unheard of previously.

Didn't go get my oven yesterday so that is task number one on the list for the day. In fact I will go when I finish here. I did some research on the net last night but all the features I wanted didn't feature in one single oven so I will have to go check out the features I think I need most. I want self cleaning and automatic features most followed by easy moveable racks. I could put gas into the house and have a gas cooktop, but somewhere between 400 and 600 $ for installation of gas pipework just for the cooktop and the price of the cooktop is no different from the induction ceramics so the savings would be few and far between. Apparently the induction ceramics are quite good at simmer point. We will see. Certainly I can't get the flat elements to simmer. But maybe it is the cooktop I currently have.

Ceejay - you Uncle is doing very well to have had surgery, be home and up and at 'em already. Well done him.
I think a punch bag should be mandatory in all office buildings and basements. There is plenty of folk I can think of who would line up to relieve the stress and frustration.

Speaking of stress and frustration - where is Carla???? Come on out. Stop skulking around that bottle of wine and get back here and let the frustration hang. Crikey - if you can't whinge here, where can you whinge. Do you need me to ring you and make you get on the bike??? I find the end of summer here so frustrating. The last of humidity and bugs and flies really begins to grate, the fact that I can go out and mow the grass and it grows back the very next day, etc.etc.etc. I would guess that you people feel exactly the same come the end of winter when you just want to get out of hibernation and get on with life.

Okay - having said that. I'd better start running before Carla comes after me with a taiaha (if she has one of course) and beats the living s*** out of me.
Gone shopping................. but I'll be back

I wanna watch. Not the beating of course. Just the running around and chasing each other :lol3:

First we gotta find that Carla!!

Didn't Carla say something about snowdrifts up to her balcony?

Do we have to hang a keg on the St. Bernards and send them up her way?

But then again, maybe they will get distracted and play with Hershey.

Good talking to you tonight Shad. Thanks for the check in :hug: (And she did ask me if I had taken my walk for the day :s: so watch out ladies - this one has earned her hat :drill: - :rofl: )

And I am hanging on to it. March, march, march, march - insert music here from the pen of de Sousa - :running: :running: :running: :running: :running: :running::running: :running: :running::running: :running: :running:

Hup two three four, hup two three four.

All right already! Sheesh. A person can't take a break without being harried, harangued, and harassed. Then again, it does seem to work, so....

Contrary to what the evil Shad would have everyone think, I have not been awash in wine. Perhaps a little too much coffee cake at a coffee morning yesterday, but no close encounters with the demon rum. In fact, the last three weeks on WW have been quite successful, down 6 lbs and almost back to where I was last August. A shame I wasted the months since then gaining instead of losing or at least maintaining, but as long as I stick with it this time I'll get there some day. And despite missing spinning :ebike: last Monday, I was there on Friday for the 90-min class.

The city is finally removing some of the snow clogging our streets. They would normally just leave snowbanks on the side streets, but it got so bad there was no room left for emergency vehicles to get through. I have no idea where they're piling the stuff up, but I do know I'll be paying lots extra for it in next year's municipal taxes (rates)!

Yesterday I had a chance to visit a friend who was looking after someone's two little Maine Coon kittens. Soooo cute - it was love at first cuddle! It's a good thing I have my two ungrateful wretches already or there'd have been a kitty abduction for sure. Happy, I'm impressed that you go to the shelter to volunteer with the cats. It's so tough to see them all waiting for a home. I get depressed about it just going to the pet store for food! So kudos to you. One good thing here is that the pet stores only carry cats from the shelter, not from breeders, so they get a better chance of finding a home. And most of the local vets accept the no-profit spay/neuter vouchers that come prepaid in the fee for the shelter kittens, although I had to pay an extra fee for the good stuff like IV rehydration and so on. All the adult cats are fixed before they can be adopted.

Madcat, what a scary end to your trip! Ouch!!! I guess it was just as well the flight was delayed, or he might have been in trouble up in the air! Good that you're both home safe and sound. :hug:

Mel and Happy, I think we have lift-off tomorrow, right? I keep reminding myself that the book says you don't have to start all over if you miss a day, which I'm afraid will probably be a good thing. Rather scary to think that I'm only 100 days from perfection!! :rofl: :rofl:

Shy, no time to chat right now - too busy chowing down on apples and planning my next peeps raid. :lol3: :lol3:

Ruth, I hope the knee is okay, and that you're not back in hospital with it! Or trying todig yourself out of a snowbank somewhere.

Ceejay, good that things are improving at work. Sounds like some days you get to be the human punching bag yourself! I hope your uncle continues to recover quickly from his surgery.

Annie, you seem to have such a healthy attitude to life's problems, and considerable presence of mind. A good thing, with some of the fun things our bodies do to us sometimes! :grouphug:

:wave: :wave: to those I've missed, like Shaker, Michelle, Rose, Painter, Holly...

PEEPS PEEPS have to love them :) Oh it is good to be back home. I have one more load of laundry to finish and I am done for the night. That is all I have done all weekend is cook and clean and run. She can't do it for her selfs so I go every couple of weeks and do it for her. At least the kids didn't destroy the house while I was gone.

It works, it works. :running::running::running::running::running:
:running::running::running:

I'll have to see if it works with the other recalcitrants. However all this mind reading and transpacific thought transference has given me a large headache. I need to go lie down for an hour or so. Now where did I put the #$%^&^ panadol?

Shopping aim achieved. I have a new self cleaning, automatic, fan forced oven and ceramic cooktop with soft touch controls. They should be delivered on Wednesday.

Well Shad :coach: if you didn't spend so much time using the old :frypan: :kickbutt: :drill: routines on people just minding their own beeswax, quietly trying to practice their meditation, you wouldn't give yourself these headaches! :headache: ;) Hope it goes away soon!
Congrats on finding a stove/cooktop that fill the bill! :D
And now to bed.

Congrats on the 6 pounds down Carla - that is FAB :yay:

Congrats on the new cooktop Shad - DH wants to know what you'll be serving us up when we come to visit :hungry: Hope your headache subsides...

Good of you Rennie to go back and help out that less than grateful woman.

And now I am off to sleep with visions of Marshmellow Peeps dancing in my head. Tis that time of year when everywhere you look are those ooey gooey sugar overload candies. Good thing I don't like them at all.

I'm blaming Rennie - she mentioned peeps in the first place :rofl:

http://bp2.blogger.com/_0cdMhnz1_IY/...erriot-007.gif
So I've been painting. And groaning. But less than before. The MD's have allowed me to stop taking 2 meds... and at least some of my hip/leg pain must have been side-effect related. (but I bet my BP shot up after reading Shad's warning about her friends Dad. Unfortunately, I CAN imagine that happening to me. Do. not. want. to. go. there. and my condolences to Shad and Chris)

DH was in an energetic mood and cleaned out the garage today. What a sweetie. There's a truck-bed full of cr*p to take to the city recycling center in the am. I hope we get it there before our forecast rain. (with hail and T-storms to follow. Oh, and RAIN)

Tomorrow I'm going to make a map and spread sheet telling where y'all are. My old brain is good enough for crossword puzzles, but not this irregular learning/retrieval stuff!

1day-- I hope that the post-op results confirm that the MD got all of DB's tumor. Cancer is not fun.

Mel-- Sorry I missed your birthday. Again. :eek: But how cool to have a large print version of the book/journal stuff. Let us know how it works. My painting helps some because if I eat, I'll have crumbs in the turpentine. Reading your recipes late at night makes me hungry. Maybe I need to shift my schedule. Hope the sun is shining bright!

Ruth--You are good to drop by. It makes me feel I can show up without being overly ashamed. I hope my cat doesn't trip me... all I need is for my knee to need re-reaming! My daughter's dog has contracted(?) 2 kinds of worms... and she's REALLY challenged taking care of him. It's not so much getting him through snowbanks, but up and down three flights of stairs in and out of her apartnment. Is there someplace we can see your quilt tops?

Shaker-- hope things are friendlier at work. I'm not sure that "just" and "personality clashes" can ever appropriately appear in the same sentence. I think I might like petting kitties.... but they'd have to not need chasing.

Upswife- You are one impressive exerciser and repairer. Wow. And I like the longhorn on your avatar... The Texans I know seem to think the only longhorns in the world are in Texas.

Hollyhock-- The photographs of the snow were beautiful! I suppose that since we had two snowy days and no real accumulation, it was easier for me to get sentimental about them. Yarnharlot has been blogging about spending time in a cabin North of Toronto (I think) and how the snow is up to the eaves. And how the plow hadn't been there, so she had to trek everything up the unbelievably long "drive".

Carla49. Thank you for making me laugh... 1st about Mel getting the legger to pose, and then "just 100 pounds from perfection." I'm going to steal that line. It makes me feel so much better.

Happy: If you get a tattoo you can put something about your vengeful attitude towards bugs. My mom used to get 'em on sheets of paper and fling them into the patio, too.

Diyana-- Way to go on your exercise and eating changes! Congratulations.:carrot::cp::cp: I'm interested in knowing what meds you were taking... I'd love to help my DH stop taking his.

Shad-- Thank you for the MESSAGE OF DOOM.:stress::fr::fr::fr: And the good example, of course. At least I can relate to your love of orchids, roses and your son. I haven't had orchids for a while... and I need to do something about the weeds choking the flowers, too. I wish my DS was close enough to share a drink with. Too many miles at the present... plus, I haven't seen him drink in several years. I think he has a really hard time stopping "soon enough" and he heard so many horror stories about his grandparents... I have to give him credit for some prudence.

Madcat--Glad you and DH got home safely and all in one piece. He was lucky to have you to keep him company. I hope your insurance comes through. I keep trying to remind myself that money is "only" money. HA! Ask me on April 15. (US Taxes due)

CeeJay-- Manage that stress!! Sorry that things have been so challenging...Did you get any of the storms that hit Atlanta?

Annie175--So glad to know that your DD came through her surgery OK. Is she "out of the woods?" I need to figure out how to not worry (so much) about BC recurrence. Glad your Mom is doing well.

Shy Moment--Glad to hear that some women actually get caught up once in a while. I must hang with the wrong crowd. Congratulations on the shrinking pants size.

Roseblush--Hang in there. I have a friend whos grown son has gotten himself in deep you-know-what and I just don't know what to do for her besides listen. I think he and his wife colluded in some denial so that when it all hit the fan, they were extra embarrassed and ashamed-- and deeper into it than they absolutely had to be.

I think I'm caught up. But yikes, look at the time. Later!!

And this is the thanks I get for trying to be concerned and caring - Quote:

Well Shad if you didn't spend so much time using the old routines on people just minding their own beeswax, quietly trying to practice their meditation, you wouldn't give yourself these headaches!

Well okay then. Shift yer sorry a*** back here girl and let us know what you are comtemplating on the meditation. Or is it that the apples are having a huge effect and you can't get back here!! :rofl:

I'm off to bed now. I slept most of the afternoon and feel distinctly off colour and have huge indigestion (caused by interrupting the meditation and contemplation of various navels no doubt). Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow. Dentist time again = guaranteed to give me a real headache and then the new stove arrives Wednesday and on Thursday I have a job interview. More about that later. I may not get to Groote after all. Friday I will stay home and cogitate or paint the ceiling, or plaster the walls or something. Or maybe not as it will be Easter. Today was St Patricks day and for the first time in my life I did not drink a green beer. Drat - another tradition broken. Happy St Pats to you all.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
The sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand

Yes well something like that anyway.

And here is a joke a heard today that really amused me. It should wake you up laughing.

A nun hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take her to an address. The cabbie said to the nun : "Sister, it's always been a dream of mine to have a beautiful nun like you give me a real big kiss on the lips. Will you fulfill my dream?"
Oooh giggled the nun. "Oh alright but only if you are Catholic and unmarried"
"oh yes I am sister" said the cabbie.
So the nun gave him a real smoochie smacker right on the lips. It went on and on. When finished the nun leaned back in the seat and the cabbie broke dpwn in tears and much weeping and wailing ensued.
"What's the matter?" asked the nun.
"I have sinned, sister" said the man. " I lied to you. I am married and I am Jewish"
"That's all right" said the nun. "My name is Kevin and I am on my way to a fancy dress party" :lol3

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZ = shhh, sleeping Shad

I hope you feel better fast, Shad. You're such a healthy bugger most of the time - or do you lie? No, I did not go to the doc - it was the weekend! I may give my PCP a call this week about the swelling though - enough is enough.

As usual, I have time to read but not to comment. The damned South Beach Forum and Garden Website are really hopping. If we ever get rid of this damned snow, I may get some enthusiasm. I really, REALLY need to see a robin or hear some Canada geese.

Time to tackle no-moaning Monday!

Morning chicks,

Happy St. Patrick's day :goldpot: :luck2you: :cupgold: - we're all Irish by default today - must remember to wear the GREEN not the Orange. May we all have luck and good fortune trailing us around our day today.

Painter - I see you are up at the wee hours of the morning again. Take care - saw some nasty storms headed your way today. Don't blow away on us. Glad to hear you a getting a tad bit of relief and that you're painting again.

Ruth - somehow I get the feeling you'd chose the Garden forum over us :rofl: Take care of that knee - you only have 2 ;)

Shad - cute joke. Thanks for starting the day with a laugh. Now wake up and start painting :lol:

And it looks as if I've caught up. Great because I shouldn't be sitting here anyway. I have a meeting this morning that I am not prepared for. Need to find a way to stop the clock and catch up.

Today's the day Mel - you ready to get crackin'? I am.

And with that - I gotta run. Have a good one chicks. :wave:

Morning chickies!!! Today I have gotten started pretty well. Got the kids off to school, then took DH's car into the dealership to get fixed. Was going to walk home, but the weather did not cooperate. Took the shuttle instead. Since I can't get to the gym until I get a car back, I did one of my Firm video's...I thinnk I may work it back into my regular routine, because I had a really hard time keeping up. Have to make lunch for the girls, then will do my yoga too, to help complement the rest. After that not much, just laundry, dinner is already cooked, only have to heat it up.

Happy St. Patty's day!!!!

Poor Shad, I hope you're not spoiling for anything nasty. Maybe it will make you feel better to know I woke up with a nasty head myself, and I hadn't done anything fun to deserve it. :( Is the job interview for work at home, or will you have to travel away again?

Ruth, I did wonder at all the innocents suggesting you see your doctor on the weekend. I wonder what medical utopia they live in? And taking a knee to ER would be an exercise in futility. I take it you're getting pretty fed up with the whole damned thing, not to mention this damned winter. :rofl:

Nothing new since yesterday, just trying to check in regularly enough to prevent Shad from coming after me with a pointed stick... ;)

Just a very brief check in....I hope you all are doing okay. I had a busy weekend and am really busy at work. Will try to check in later or tomorrow.

Hugs to all of you!

Painter
I am caught up everyday lol. I have a to do list that includes exercise and I am not done for the day until the list is finished. lol

The kids are complaining. I never get sick. Everyone else in the world is sick and not me lol. I told them I was sick everyday for almost 8 years. I have been sick enough for my entire life. I now don't get sick lol. Sinuses are my big thing. When you are allergic to everything including rocks, that is how it is lol.

How strange! After all the advice from you Worldlies, my "real" doctor called me this afternoon! I love that guy! Of course it helps to know his parents, grandmother and kids! Dr. Jack was wondering how I was doing since I saw him two weeks ago and assured me that the swelling was from using the leg! His advice is to keep on keeping on and stay active. I told him I've been feeling a bit down about life and wondered about post-op depression. He said "You're not the type!" but to come and see him if I don't perk up. That call and the sunshine perked me up quite a bit and I even skipped a PM nap!

Now I need Spring!

Trans Pacific thought transference - that's what it was. Nice to know it works better on your doctor than you.

Off to gym. I'll be back with the news of the world later. Well news from the computer room in Crestmead anyway. It's damp out there again. I guess stupidity will rule the roads once more, better get on my way.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL
HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL DAY. I GOT SIDETRACKED WITH HANDING OUT IRISH SODA BREADS AND HELPING OUT FOR THE HOLIDAY DOWNSTAIRS. SOMETIMES THE DAY JUST FLIES BY! SENT THE KIDS OUT FOR A VERY EARLY DINNER AND THEY BOTH LOOK MUCH IMPROVED. THEY NEEDED TO GET BACK INTO THE LAND OF THE LIVING. AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WORKED. :cb:
A NEIGHBOR SURPRISED ME WITH SOME HAM AND CABBAGE. HER FAMILY'S TRADITION. NOW I DON'T HAVE TO COOK EITHER! IT WAS NICE OUT SO I SAT WITH JOHN FOR AWHILE BUT STILL COOL. FELT GOOD TO FEEL THE HEAT OF THE SUN. ALL IS WELL OVER HERE! I READ MY LESSON FOR THE DAY AND DID MY WORKBOOK LAST NIGHT. AND KEPT ENFORCING THE THOUGHTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY! :dance: OFF TO A GREAT START!
HAPPY MONDAY. TOMORROW IS FOOD SHOPPING SO SEE YOU LATER ON. :moped:

HAPPY~ JEN WOULDSTART A POUND ALL HER OWN IF WE LET HER! :lol3: YOUR KITTIES ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AND DH WHEN YOU GO THERE. JEALOUS OF YOUR WEATHER!! DON'T WORK TOO HARD!!! HOW DID YOUR FIRST DAY GO??

CEEJAY~ REMEMBER THOSE BLOW UP CLOWNS THAT HAD SAND IN THE BOTTOM TO WEIGH THEM DOWN? MEAYBE WE SHOULD ALL GET ONE OF THOSE!! GLAD TO HEAR THE UNCLE DID SO WELL AND SO FAST!!

SHAD~ THE NEW STOVETOP SOUNDED NICE. TOO BAD ABOUT THE GAS. THE CABBIE JOKE CRACKED ME UP!! :rofl: SENDING A HUG FOR THE DENTAL HEADACHE :hug: HOPE IT WASN'T TOO BAD!!

CARLA~ HOW DID THE 1ST DAY GO?? ARE YOU DUG OUT YET?? CAN YOU WALK RIGHT OFF THE BALCONY ON TO THE SNOW??? :rofl: I WAS LAUGHING AT YOUR POST....I AM SCARED I WON'T REACH PERFECTION IN 100 DAYS!! :rofl: :rofl:

RUTH~ GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE SWELLING AND THE DR CALLING!!!

RENNIE~ GOOD OF YOU TO EVEN GO BACK THERE AND HELP OUT!

PAINTER~ THE LAST RECIPE IS TODAY!! SO NO MORE HUNGER PANGS!! :rofl: GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE PAINTING! I AM LOVING THESE TWO BOOKS ALREADY! WILL KEEP YOU POSTED IF THEY WORK FOR ME!
I KNEW YOU WERE HERE IN SPRIRIT FOR MY :hb:


WAVING TO ALL THE REST. I AM HUNGRY AND NEED A SHOWER. :

Hey Painter Woman!
 

My friend Em has been messing around with Paint on the PC. Look at her stuff - and no clean-up either! I may try it.

Morning all,
Well I've been to the gym, just had breakfast and thought that I would sort you all out before getting on with the day.

Carla - sorry to hear that you got a headache too. Mine has gone as has the indigestion, nausea and whatever else I was suffering from yesterday. Is is now 99 days from perfection????
The oven and cooktop are both Fisher and Paykel, it is a brand I have had before, has a good reputation and I've always had a good run out of them. The stove has all the bells and whistles that I wanted - self cleaning, automatic, fan forced etc. and has child safety locks so if I sell on or rent the house out, it is a feature. The cooktop has soft touch controls - no knobs to clean around and is has quick heat elements. Also has child proofing as well. I am broke but happy at this point of time. Bring on the new kitchen I say.

Happy - tell the DH that whatever his heart desires - I will cook on the new gear. Witchety grubbs, Huhus, Kangaroo steaks, crocodile stew. Just name the poison and I will cook it.
Yes ma'am. Painting it will be, just as soon as the phone stops ringing and the dentist is done. This is the beginning of the warrant of fitness year. Teeth, blood tests done today, hearing sometime next month hopefully, skin check too. Then comes the boob squish an the even worse pap smear. Then I think I am done. Yahoo.
The phone is ringing because someone wants to give me a job. I told him to stand in line. DH better get down here and grab some of the big money while it lasts. Seek.com is going nuts with advertising right now.

Painter - good to hear that some of the pain is moving away. That can only be good news.
Dear DH - good of him to recognise that there is junk in there. I had enormous trouble convincing my ex that the place was drowning in clutter and junk.
I'm pleased that your DS has enough prudence to recognise that he can not drink. I do wish some of the youngsters around here could see that far. Binge drinking is becoming an new epidemic over here. I can't see the point, but I had to go and rescue a young bloke and my DS the other day because he got done DUI (not my son, but his friend) and DS couldn't drive either. I was surprised at the DS, normally he is forever telling the driver to abstain or whatever or stopping his friends from driving under the influence and told him so as well. Both of them were fairly hangdog for a while. Then I had to go back and pick up the young blokes 4WD because it would have been stolen or stripped left where it was. IDIOTS.

Ruth - I do feel better thanks. Yes I am generally healthy. Nothing much goes wrong apart from the sinus. If doctors relied on me for a living, they would be fairly poor. However I had to go for blood tests this morning. What's the betting the doctor will send me a letter stating he needs to see me in the next two weeks - he always does and the reason is that he always finds a cholesterol level 2 points above normal or sugar a couple of points above normal. I am supposed to thank him for this. FOR ME IT IS NORMAL - hasn't he figured that out yet???
Drs here provide a service over the weekend. My own health place is only Monday to Saturday but some are 7 days. They whinge about it, but the hospitals tell them to shut up and get on with it. They don't want or need the riff raff filling up the Casualty or ER.
Nice Picutres by the friend by the way.

Mel - good on the kids, have they given up looking after the father?? or are they allowed out on good behaviour. Tell Jen to eat a double dinner - she needs another two pounds on that gut.
Thanks for the e-mail. I'll get to it today sometime. Meant to yesterday, however life got in the way.

Same for Carlas mail.

Hello to everyone else. I'd better get on with my day. I need to try and get some washing out shortly, but it keeps showering. Hope the clothes dry off soon.