Good morning chicks,

DH is not into reading stuff so I am doing as much research as possible in regards to what this job cut really means. The more I read, the more it's not good news. He's been there long enough to retire. He can get insurance as a retiree. It appears that they charge 3 times the premium under the retiree medical program for a very crappy insurance plan as opposed to what you get for an employee. So 80% yes I said 80% of his monthly pension would go to insurance premiums. Doesn't leave enough left over for food. Guess we will switch over to my plan at work - not as good of insurance and more than we are paying now but still not as bad as what he'd get. I am still digging up bad news. My stomach hurts.

Today marks Earth Hour. It has already started in Sydney so you'll probably miss it Shad. Between 8:30 and 9:30pm your local time you are asked to turn off all unneccessary lights in support of environmental greeness and being aware of energy conservation. The thing that blew my mind is that they are turning off the lights on the Las Vegas strip tonight. The hotel /casino interiors will stay on but the lights on the strip as well as the Welcome to Las Vegas sign will go dark for an hour.

Today I have a neighborhood ladies luncheon to attend which I'm looking forward to. I have tiny cookie cutters and cut shapes like stars, hearts and flowers out of various melons. Made fruit kabobs with grapes, the melons and blueberries. They look cute if I must say so myself. I was going to arrange them into a flower pot as a flower arrangement but I made a vow to start learning how to live more cheaply. I said I'm going to make something for the luncheon with ingredients on hand. I have the flowerpot but not the foam insert I would need so I just made skewers and they look just as nice - easier to lift off the dish too. I am also making a chicken casserole. It's a bit dangerous to make something for the first time that I've never tried before but I got the recipe from Southern Living and it was given 5 stars by most of the 89 reviews. The lowest score was 3 and even those said they loved it so I hope it works. It was VERY hard not to run off to the store and pick up extra stuff yesterday I'm not going to take to thrifty living easily

I'm sorry that I don't have time for personals right now. Got to get the casserole assembled and in the oven and then hop in the shower. I'll be back tonight. Enjoy your Saturday.

Annie that is so awesome about Tony's son's hb. What a hero!!!!!!!

Not much going on here. rained again last night.

Annie
That was being a hero tog go into a burning house.

Michells
feel better soon.

Morning all,
It's Sunday morning and all is well. Yes we did have Earth hour last night but I didn't notice too much extra darkness around my way. I don't think there were too many people home in this complex since it was dark and quiet for much of the day. The local big building seemed to be as brightly lit as ever and certainly the bay area was not taking part.

I guess that soon the noise will begin again for the grand prix. It was very noisy yesterday, I may just have to take a tram to somewhere and walk back to get away from the noise.

Next week there is a garden and flower exhibition here in Melbourne. It's a big show, similar to the Chelsea Flower show in London. R and I will be going to that - at least it will be quieter than the GP

Happy - I don't know enough about redundancies in US so can offer any suggestions. I presume your DH will be looking for work and these chicks have a record of wishing people into employment. If I hear of anything, I will let him know.

And that is about it for the time being. Fruit and yoghurt are eaten. Coffee is drunk. The latest news is done and is still not better than yesterday. So it is time to move along and go see what is around town this morning.

SORRY FOR THE ABSENCE MY FRIENDS BUT JEN IS NOT HERE AND THE EYE REMAINS STUBBORN. AS THE DROPS WORKED THEIR MAGIC ON THE "RED" AND IT FADED, IT REVEALED SOME CYSTS. WHEN I CAN SEE WITH LIGHT I WILL BE BACK. IN THE MEANTIME I AM OF GOOD SPIRITS AND DOING OK. HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE TOO SENDING OUT GOOD THOUGHTS AND MANY BE BACK SOON I HOPE.

Mel
(hugs)

I'm workiing for L. today.

I'm getting bored with the "diet thing". I'm going to take a leave of absence
for awhile.

howdy chicks,

Yesterday's neighborhood luncheon was nice. A little of this, a little of that. Took care of some homeowner's assn business too. It's been quite a disruptive weekend. I had so many plans to do other things. It's also cool and very dreary out. We got a ton of rain and everything is flooded and soggy.

Ceejay - I can relate with the boredom of "dieting". Sometimes you have to take a break from it. I think we can focus too hard. Step away and re-find your motivation.

Mel, sorry to hear about the eyes. You take care of those pretty blue peepers. We'll leave the light on for yah

Shad - the flower show sounds nice. The grand prix does not. I find the older I get, the more loud noises tend to bother me. And like most people, we lose the ability to filter out background noises as we age. Getting very hard for me to hear someone talking in a restaurant with lots of other people talking around me. Same with the car noises. My ears shut out the cars and everything else.

Annie - hope you found a good movie to see. I heard that they were panning Duplicity. I looked up a review on that other horrid movie you saw a while back and yuck, I think I would have walked out on that one. Does it seem like the quality of the movies has gone downhill? We hardly ever watch them anymore. Don't rent from Blockbuster. Might only watch 4 per year on pay per view. And some of the actors that we liked have been in duds of movies like Will Smith and Legend. Glad I don't date anymore, would be lost for things to do on date night

Michelle - did you get your shot? Feel better? I know what you mean about the frustration of the pain keeping you from pushing your self on the exercise and the Catch-22 about the weight and the exercise. Surely there has to be an answer! I think the most frustrating part is that for every "treatment" be it medication or otherwise, there is a compromise and a side effect. I am still stunned that steroids can advance cataracts. And so many issues with anti-inflammatories affecting the liver too. Geez I do hope you are feeling better. Hang in there, only 2 more months of cooler weather. I'm sure once it gets to the upper 60's temp wise, you will also be feeling better.

I am still on the fence about this heart cath on Friday. Don't have much more time to back out. On one hand, the insurance is as good as it's going to be for the next 3 weeks. Regardless of whether we cut to my insurance or stick with DH's - the coverage will be much worse and the premiums will cost us more. So part of me says to take care of as much as possible in the next 4 weeks. Another part of me says that if something goes wrong (always a possibility), it's going to be a hassle to say the least. And then there's always the do nothing although I constantly have twinges and can't really tell if they are digestive in nature or what.

I really much prefer it when I can slide through life and not have to travel the beaten path

Oh well - not getting anything done sitting here. Might go make breakfast and get on with the day. You do the same.

anyone else having trouble with this site lately? It seems to hang and not respond, sometimes it says I have duplicate posts too.

Back at work - oh the joys - but it is better than sitting listening to silly bumblebee cars going around the tracks and banging into tyre walls and each other. I can see that any day of the week just looking out the window and watching the motorway traffic go past.

The weather is definitely cooling off - I spent most of the afternoon with a jumper on. Mind you the flat gets no direct sunlight which is probably nice in summer, but isn't great going into winter.

Happy - get the procedure done. It may be frightening and worrying, but at the end of it, you will have some sort of answer - either a yes or a no. If it is a no, you have nothing to worry about. Yes, well you will be seeing more of the GP. It's life.

Mel sorry to hear about the eye. Hope those cysts clear up really soon. I've left a couple of lights on to guide you on your way.

Ceejay - we must all do, what we must do. Dieting, exercising, being good all becomes boring after a while. Just watch things while you are away and don't let too much slip. I did and I'm having terrible trouble trying to get it all off again.

Spreadsheet calls. I'll be glad when I have this finished.

Hi everyone - quick check in. The site is really slow for me and doesn't even open most of the time.

Anyway, after a day or so of soreness from the shot, my back is doing better today. We got a few inches of snow last night and this morning, so I spent most of the day cooking and relaxing and watching dvr'ed episodes of Grey's Anatomy.

Happy - I agree with Shad. You should do the procedure and get the answers. My philosophy is that I can handle anything, as long as I know about it. Sorry to hear about DH and the retirement pension stuff. At least you can carry the insurance.

Shad - I hope this week goes well for you.

Ceejay, Mel, Annie, and everyone...I hope you all are doing well. I'll write more tomorrow...hopefully the site will be behaving better.

Love and hugs to all,

Good morning girls,

I give up. Wave the white flag. I don't think it's possible anymore not to be aggrivated or stressed out. Just when you talk yourself out of stressing, something else comes along. That just occured to me last night as I was thinking of belly fat and stress. It was my last waking thought before drifting off to sleep. No wonder I woke up tense and unwilling to dig out from under the covers today

Several people have been commenting on problems with the site here lately.

Thanks for the encouragement about the heart test. It's the 52% of how I feel also.

Michelle - hope you are feeling better and were NOT out shoveling snow yesterday. My nephew in Kenosha got 6 inches of the wet sloppy stuff. Isn't it supposed to be spring????

Shad - as warm as it can get sometimes, I prefer a sunny house/apartment/flat. Mine is on the shady side of the street too and I think at times it's too cool. Both of us were wearing jumpers yesterday so for once we were in sync

Ceejay - I hope your leave of absence was to the diet thing and not to us because we will miss you if that's true.

to Mel and some cool compresses for the peepers.

Not sure what else to say at the moment so I suppose I will get on with the day. Have a good one!

Happy Monday ladies -

I had such a fun relaxing weekend, I didn't want it to end. Did I mention that the hockey game/Styx concert was AWESOME! Those guys sound as good as they did in the 70s/80s! My low back is a bit sore today...don't know why as I didn't do much yesterday except cooking yesterday. Oh well, hopefully it goes away soon. I want to feel better so I can exercise more, get fitter and stronger and lose weight.

Annie - The shot in my back isn't as painful or scary as it seems. In my case, the shot doesn't go in the spine, but rather in the SI (sacroilliac) joint (which is where my pain stems from). No risk of paralysis or anything really bad. Did you get snow on Sunday? We got about 2-3" Saturday night/Sunday morning which was a lot better than the 7" they were forecasting. And by Sunday afternoon most of it had melted. So neither DH or I was out shoveling. Yay! Wow! The half brother truly was a hero! I hope his burns, and of course the baby's and baby's father's burns heal quickly. Sending healing thoughts their way.

Happy - A friend of mine's job was recently cut after 22 years with the same company. He got the job right out of college and has been there ever since. It's been a very difficult adjustment for him, as I'm sure it is/will be for your DH. I'm sending you both and : Has your DH thought about consulting jobs? With his extensive experience, that might be a good opportunity for him. And Shad is right...us chicks have a great track record of wishing people into great jobs! It's good that you can go on to your insurance. I've been carrying the insurance for both of us since we've been married. I've always had the better insurance. As for the heart cath - I think you should have it done, especially while you have good insurance. For me, it's always better to deal with the known than the fear/worry of the unknown. DH and I didn't completely observe Earth Hour, but we had almost all the lights off in the house while we were at the hockey game/concert. I understand what you're saying about medication/treatment and side effects - steroids can advance cataracts and decrease bone density, my asthma meds can increase the risk of glaucoma. But when it comes to my respiratory meds and steroids for my lungs...breathing in the short term is more of an urgent concern for me than possible long term effects. And with the shots...if they can improve my quality of life and allow me to exercise and live a full and active life...to me, they're worth the risk. I'm glad you had a nice time at the luncheon. BTW, I'd love the chicken casserole recipe.

Shad - You are so right. I've just got to get this weight off. And I know it won't come off overnight. I just wish it would come off faster. Of course, patience is not my strong suit. Sorry to hear about DB2's appliance problems, but much better to have those than gambling problems. Good on your DS2 for letting you know about your DB2. Good on you for getting to the gym and the pool. The garden/flower exhibition sounds like a wonderful time! I wish we had big garden shows here. Our home/garden shows are more home improvement and landscaping shows...not a display of gorgeous plants.

Ceejay - You got rain, we got snow. And we'll be getting more rain and snow later this week. Arrgh...enough snow already! I understand the need to take a break from dieting. Just do the best you can.

Mel - I hope your eye gets better very soon. I'm glad to hear you're doing okay otherwise and are in good spirits.

Well, this chick had better get some work done.

Big hugs and lots of love to all,

Hello and Happy Monday....NOT....

Aunt Flo has shown her face on Saturday. I had cramps and a migraine headache yesterday and today, just cramps and major flooding. I am now commando with a pad in pants and tampon. This has too end soon, I will be 49 before too long. SHeesh.

Shad....I cannot ever pass on cheese. I love cheese. My first job as a teenager was at Hickory Farms. Dinner of steak and salad sounds delish, I will be right over.

Happy....OMG lights out in Vegas, I am surprised there wasn't loitering. We went to see the movie 12 Rounds. It was ok, not bad really, but predictable. I would wait till it comes out on DVD and rent it.

Hi ya Ceejay...hope all is well with you babe.

MEL...good to hear from you and dang the ole eyes anyway. Feel better.

Michelle....glad to hear you are feeling better. I love Styx. I have the some of their first stuff that came out. We did get a tiny bit of snow flurries, nothing stuck, the sun decided to shine late into the afternoon. We just had rain to beat h*ll. Wind and noise.

I guess I am having Easter at my house. Both kids will be home. One brother and wife will be over and my parents will be over if they are feeling up to it. I told everyone I was not serving much to eat as it is always crazy with leftovers no one wants.

Didn't make it to Curves on Saturday, however called them and have an appt tomorrow night at 6:30 to check it out. I am kind of excited about it. Hope it lasts and hope it tightens some of this crap up just a bit. I figure any tightening would be better than nothing.

Hey to everyone I may have missed.

Here is a shout out to Miss Hollybelle.

Much love and many hugs,

Annie

Hi Annie - Aunt Flo showed up for me a week ago. Sheesh, I'll be 47 this year. I hear ya' - enough already. Enough Flo, enough snow! Good for you for checking out Curves tomororw night. I need to lose and tighten too. I would have so many more clothes options (already in my closet) if I had could just lose a couple inches around the middle.

Happy
I'm with Shad on having the procedure done. It would take a lot of stress off of you finding out that everything is okay. We want you to be healthy.
No, I'm not abandoning the chicks, just the diet.

Michelle and Annie
I surely don't envy you two right now. Even at 58 I still have the cramps and spot but I'm talking to the gyn onmy next visit.

Mel
Hope the eyes arer better soon.

Shad
Have "fun" doing those spread sheets. Are you making them easier to understand?

Not much going on in my little corner of the world. Could not sleep last night due to caffiene after 3 p.m. I'm had to keep busy today. I've caught myself dozing.

I don't think much will come out of the spreadsheet Ceejay although I have found a few strange things and we are working on fixing them now. Easier to understand??? Well they are colourful at the very least. I think I have just found $700K of their missing stock. Wonder if I can claim a percentage. The spreadsheet makes interesting reading, but it's real bedtime stuff. I slept in this morning. First time I have done that for a very long time.

Poor Ceejay, Michelle and Annie - still getting visits from Auntie Flo. Thank heavens for small mercies, after making my life **** for the best part of thirty years, she departed this body at age 44. I haven't stopped dancing about that yet. Talk about freedom.

Y'all should come on over. No problems with the site from here!! But I suspect that is because we don't have the population stream. There are never very many people lurking around when I am on here and you lot are in the land of nod. If I check through the posts now, there are no little eggs - sorry happy - aigs aglow that I can see. Time here 1409 and the time in Memphis 2209 and in Indianapolis 2309 - Annie should be in bed. I might see Happy from time to time, since she is the last of the sleepers.

Finished my spreadsheet yesterday. Looked up from my desk to see that the entire company had gone home. WTF. Oh no its nearly 1800 hours. I'm doing overtime now at the other end as well.

Starting to look forward to going home for Easter. Just less than a fortnight to go. I have lots to do and think about. I had a recruiter ringing me for a job in Brisbane coming up at the end of May. If I don't get renewed here I will be gunning for it. End of May, whats going on??? Is someone actually planning for the project as far as personnel go??? Wonders will never cease.

Okay - I'd better get out of here and go to the ladies prior to some meeting that will drag on and not give me any information that I can understand. I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with the Indian accent.