Just A Quick Not To Say Hello And I Am Off To Help Some People Get Ready For The Inspection Tomorrow. Poor Old Souls Get A Bit Scared And Just Need Some Calming Down Mostly. They Just Don't Like Strangers In The House....neither Do I!! Rofl
See You All Manana!
Have A Great Day!

THANKS RUTH FOR THE POST. I AM SORRY THAT HOLLY HAS LOST HER GRANDMOTHER. WHAT A GREAT RUN SHE HAD THOUGH! Y SYMPATHIES TO HER AND THE FAMILY.

RUTH...FUNNY BUT I BOUGHT A SMALL RACK OF ROSEMARY SEASONED LAMB (tiny is more like it) AT TRADER JOE'S AND WAS GOING TO HAVE IT WITH THE IMPENDING ICE, LOW TEMPS AND STORMS HEADED OUR WAY! WE WILL EAT THE FATTED BEAST TOGETHER!!
WILLY AND JIMMY GAVE ME TRADER JOE GIFT CARDS FOR XMAS AND I SPLURGED! EAT HARDY MY NORTHERN CHICK!

Good Tuesday morning ladies -

Not much new with me. We got a few inches of snow overnight, and it's chilly this morning with bitter cold on the way. But the roads were good driving to work, which was a blessing.

Shad - The weeds and gardening do count as exercise, but I'm with you on wanting/needing to get back to the gym. Enjoy your time outside. Wish I could come visit and work in the garden with you - anything for warm sunshine.

Hollyhock - My deepest sympathies on the passing of your grandmother. Take comfort in knowing she had a good long full life. My grandmother lived to be 94. It blows me away to think of all the things she saw and all the changes in the world during her lifetime.

Ruth - You're smart to stay in when it's that cold. You've got everything you need to have a nice, warm, cozy Happy Birthday.

Mel - You are so sweet to help others prepare for the inspection. Don't let yourself get overtired. Enjoy your lamb dinner...so nice of Willy and Jimmy to get you gift cards to your fave store!

Annie - I hope you're doing okay. I'm sure Tony will call you. Maybe he just needed a little space after visiting his father, or maybe he's still worried about his job and doesn't want to burden you with his worries/stress. I hope you're doing well and staying warm.

Ceejay - I'm sure you're looking forward to your vacation and some relaxing time off.

Happy - I hope the blood test went well. And I hope you have a great day at work today.

Love and big hugs to all,

Happy
I read a few post back that you wanted to go to the diamond mine. I'd love to go to and have heard that after a good rain is the best time to go.

Ruth
Thanks for the word about Holly's grandmother. It's suppose to get cold here Thursday.

Mel
Inspections, ugh. I know you will say comforting words to each senior.

Shad
Wish it was warm enough to get outside and dig in the dirt.

Michelle
Be careful while out driving on the snow.

I've decided that my vacation is going to be at home as planned for some me time. I'm calling my uncle Thursday and telling him that the weather is to bad for me to be out and about. I'm not completely over this crud I have. Infact this morning I was more hoarse than last week. It feels like it's moved down more deeply into my chest area. The cough is deeper also. It's back to the doctor for me tomorrow.

I'm leaving the chemical drums for Brandon to do. I'm just not feeling up to it.

Ceejay - Good for you for taking some me time. That's too bad that the crud has moved into your chest. Take care of yourself and rest a lot, that's the best way to get rid of this junk. I'm glad you're going back to the doctor. I hope you feel better very very soon.

Pack up your stuff ladies, I found us a job. I think a "team" approach would be much better - particularly for blogging. Shad can be team captain as we need someone with an accent, someone who speaks the language and someone who won't shreik loudly at the size of all critters that come across their path. I will interview in my Aussie apron if that will help

==================================
Best Job In the World

Tourism officials in Australia are describing it as "the best job in the world".
They want someone to work on a tropical island off the Queensland coast.
No formal qualifications are needed but candidates must be willing to swim, snorkel, dive and sail.

In return, the successful applicant will receive a salary of A$150,000 ($103,000, £70,000) for six months and get to live rent-free in a three-bedroom villa, complete with pool.

Feeding fish
Anthony Hayes, Chief Executive, Tourism Queensland, said: "It doesn't sound too bad does it? We are looking for someone to tell the stories of the Great Barrier Reef and we have come up with what we think is the dream job." The post is being advertised as "caretaker" on Hamilton Island in Australia's Whitsunday Islands.

The new recruit will work for just 12 hours a month. Duties include feeding some of the hundreds of species of fish and collecting the island's mail.

They will also need to prepare a blog, a photo diary and video updates to attract tourists to the area.

"There are hundreds of islands scattered along the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Hayes told the BBC. "We are looking for someone who can go and explore all the different islands then report back to the world on what they see.

"We need a special person. They are going to be pretty busy having a good time."

Hamilton Island, where the temperature is warm all year round, is the largest inhabited island in the region. It boasts blue skies, crystal water and pure sands.

Thousands of applications
About two million tourists visit the various islands each year, but most stay on the mainland and visit only on day trips.

The job is being advertised around the world. Candidates have until 22 February to submit an online video application.

In May, 10 shortlisted candidates and one wildcard, voted for by visitors to the Tourism Queensland website, will be invited to the islands for a four-day final interview process. The successful candidate will start the new job on 1 July.

Mr Hayes says he is expecting thousands of applications: "I'm having to beat my staff off with a stick at the moment because most of them want to apply too."

*************************************************

I'm betting the winner will be one of those good looking but empty headed blokes Shad is always talking about.

Hello Ladies,

Annie - Just listen to all the good advice. I'm thinking he probably got lots on his mind, his dad, his job etc.

Mel - Painter lives about 25, 30 minutes away. I have not met her. I don't think she's been on here lately and hadn't had a chance to touch base with her.

Hollyhock - My deepest sympathies on your loss of your grandmother. Definitely one heck of a dash. I'm sure you have wonderful memories of her.

I'm at work right now... will post more. To all of you who are getting hit with this artic air... keep warm and safe.

Sorry I didn't get here this morning. I woke up feeling quite horrid - brutal, almost migraine like sinus headache which even made my teeth and tummy hurt. I had to stop at the pharmacy this morning and pick up some sinus headache pills as well as some saline nasal spray and a hot/cold pack to boot. Got to work and sat with the cold pack on my face for about 15 minutes. I took a handful of Motrin as well as the sinus pills and am starting to feel human again. Still can't stand the lights - shut off my cube lights and I would unscrew the florescent lights above but I can't reach them.

Holly - my deepest sympathies on the loss of your beloved grandmother. She lived a long live and what better legacy than to be loved by all? You have a heartful of memories to comfort you.

Ruth - thanks for the update. Happy birthday - 70 - wow - I can relate to feeling like you are much much younger. Hope you have a great inside celebration. -40 degrees :yike: I ... can't... even ... imagine. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Worse that brrrrrr. cold.

My boss is in Antartica right now taking pictures of penquins. I'll bet it's cold there too.

Ceejay - thanks for the tip on the mines. Guess we can't plan too far ahead if it's best to go after the rains. DH said it's a big open field. Is he telling me that because he knows I won't go in a cave??? Please take care of yourself and rest up. It seems like this is one of those cold/flu seasons where the same crud keeps coming back over and over and over again. Sorry to hear you are staying put on yet another vacation but you know what's best for you.

Annie - don't fret about Tony. I'm sure he has other things on his mind right now. Cut him slack and he will be back. Sometimes guys just turn into themselves without understanding the female logic of "just let me know you are OK, huh?" I'm sort of torn between do we not go to work when it's below 20 degrees (and stay out of the crummy weather) or do we not go to work when it's sunny and a glorious 75 degrees and therefore not waste a perfectly good day inside?

I have a bracelet on with a magnetic closure. It is catching everything including my id badge. Very strong magnets.

Michelle- I hope you don't get the blizzardlike conditions they are talking about. There is a big piece of me at the very moment that is really glad I am not in Chicago. I would love to buddy up with you and anyone else who wants to join forces and help us get back up and stay on the wagon. WW has a kick start program right now - you pick some tasks to get back in the good habits again and I'm finding that useful. I am thrilled that one of my coworkers is joining WW at Work with me. But I will take any and everyone who wants to join me. Oprah has some good stuff on her website right now too.

Mel - good luck with the inspections. I'm so glad to hear that people wised up and got you TJ cards instead of candies and perfumes and things you had to give away. Enjoy that lamb. Just enough to savor I imagine.

Shad - I think weeding and gardening in the hot tropics always counts as exercise. Bummer about the sugar cane trickery. I have learned never to buy top soil for the same reason - loaded with germinating weedlings that make such a mess you just want to back hoe the yard. When you talk about exercise you don't seem to be walking as much as you used to - your hiking skills always amazed me. Not that much to walk to now or just not a good opportunity lately?

My lunch is over so I'd better go prep for my next meeting. Stay warm chicks - unless you're with Shad - in that case keep your cool

Patty

Morning all,

Holly - so sorry to hear about the death of your beloved grandmother. I know how much you adored her and you will miss the closeness the pair of you had. She certainly had a long and interesting life. Now she is at rest and you are left with the legacy of how she is remembered. She leaves a lot to live up to.

Happy - No the person who will get that job will be a lissome blonde who looks great in a bikini and who has enough toughs to be able to handle the empty headed good looking bloke she has with her and the very demanding tourism board who will be expecting 100% results within seconds of her landing on the island. I've been to Hamilton Island and believe me the novelty of living on an island wears off very fast when you realise that the cost of living is two to three times higher than on the mainland. You can't just dash off to the doctor because he/she is on the mainland and there is only a ferry twice a day if you don't have your own boat. Your own boat costs approximately the same as a small house.
On the up, the weather is great 9 months of the year - the other three months you have cyclones (hurricanes) grey heavy skies, humidity, rain and insects bigger than you have seen before, not to mention crocs and goanna that are as big as the crocs.
It can get horribly boring after 4 days - same ole, same ole.
You might gather I don't like the sound of the job - but don't let that stand in your way to applying!!! Funnily enough we haven't heard of the job vacancy here in Queensland. Job like that is usually commented on in one of the current affairs programs. If it was available, then I suspect that the guy beating the staff off with a stick will also be doing his best to get it, unless of course he understands the above rant. There may well be a reason for the fact that most tourists only visit on a daily basis!!
As for the gym or walking. It's too hot to do much outside unless you go at 4.00am and I am being lazy about the gym probably because I know that when I get the next job I will not be here again. So I'll stick with the hot and sticky weeding until it is finished and then try the videos and dvds I have here at home. I will need to my own *** to get motivated. And I really do need some motivation at the moment. That might do it.

Ceejay - Happy holidays. Use it to make yourself well again. Don't do anything that you do not want to do. That is what good holidays are all about.

Annie - Hello

Patty - Have a good day

Mel and Ruth - hope the lamb racks go down well. I love a good lamb roast. actually we had some quite yummy lamb steaks for dinner last night. Happy Birthday to Ruth again. Mel take care!

I'm nearly done with the back yard. Should be close to finished today. After that there is no further excuses for not exercising. DS2 went out the back yesterday and told me I had done well. Now I have a pile of junk for him to take to the dump for me this weekend. I will have to nag to get it done no doubt.
DB2 came around for a chat yesterday. Still full of woes but at least he is staying close to the straight and narrow at the moment. I can see problems arising into the future with the nephew however. I hope I am wrong but even DS2 commented on the fact that there will be a full blown family crisis sometime in the near future. I can't wait for that! NOT!!!!

So I had better go and get on with life in the garden. Happy would not be happy to see the Rhino beetles around the joint now. She might run screaming to Ruth in -40 because no Rhino beetle would live in those temps.
Have a good one.

OK Michelle, MEL, Shad and all the others that have more sense when it comes to guys......Here's the scoop. It had nothing to do with me. Yes, you are all correct. ....

Tony got stinking drunk at his dad's house on Saturday night. (I am thinking too much worry about kids, jobs etc, but still no excuse). He was violently ill on Sunday from drinking. Puking, pooing, headache, nausea, etc. Couldn't get out of bed at his dad's house. His phone was in his truck. He didn't get home until 10:30 pm. (Still no reason not to call me) Didn't go into work til 8:30 am yesterday, normal start time is 6:30 am. He called me at 5:30 pm yesterday to tell me this. Apologized up one side and down the other, promised never to do that to me again. blah blah blah....I said, that his actions of not calling was unacceptable and he could not do that again or there would be consequences. (of course that will kill me if I have to do it, since I said it) After the marriage I had and the experience with the cop, I cannot take that kind of disrespect. I get freaked out. However thank you girls for keeping me sane. Does any of this make sense?

Had my yearly this morning, she said everything looked good. Got my B12 shot, and they drew labs to check my levels. My mammogram is scheduled for Feb 19.

Holly....I am sincerely sorry about your grandma, however she is in a better place now and having fun!

Hello to everyone!

Love nd Hugs

Sure it makes some sense Annie. Next time you see the man, tell him that you have no objections to him going out on his own, no objections apart from the health and safety issues about getting drunk (he could have done it at a bar and got mugged or killed at the same time), no objections to him going to see his father - etc., etc., but because you are a worrier, you want to know he is okay at least once in the weekend, preferably after the debauchery. You might also gently remind him that being late for work will not help his job prospects!!!
Okay - I'm off the soapbox. Glad to hear he is okay and you are still speaking. Please no ultimatums. Often there are extenuating circumstances and you really don't want to break up a good relationship because you feel obliged after what you said. I think a frank and open discussion is in order - for both sides!!!

Shad...you are so wise...thank you for your support.

Happy
Yes it's an open filled. prepare to get dirty.

Burrrrrrrrrrrrr, Baby It's Cold Outside....

Tomorrow's high will be 0 degrees. With windchills, making it way below zero. I am not much liking this cold weather. Can't drink enough water to stay hydrated and skin soft. Probably drank 100 oz yesterday. Have already downed about 25 oz this morning and going to fill my 32 ozer up here in a minute.

Hello to everyone, stay warm or cool if need be.

Love and Hugs