My ign is still there. I think I'm getting paranoid.
Hope every one has had a good day.

Morning all,

Everyone has been getting the message. Last time that happened to me a whole bunch of servers had died on the farm (what tech heads call a bunch of servers in a room) So I'm picking the same thing has happened here.

I've been painting in the other house this morning - whats brown and green and splattered with white spots??? A shaddy wearing her green painting gear. I've also swept and cleaned and tidied up - is that DS untidy or what. Now I am home for my second shower of the day and to watch a bit of tv before going on to the grouting. I have a couple of things to go out and buy and I think that is the end of my day.
DS2 is thanking his lucky stars. I went out and got the top coat paint for the house and put them in his ute when he went around to the house two days ago. He forgot they were there and drove them to work and home, to tennis last night and back to work today.
The heat has been pretty full on and when I texted him to see where he had put the paint, he dashed out to the ute and fearfully took a peek inside the cover expecting to see 'Ringlet" coloured paint all over the place. The tins were intact but badly dented and misshapen. I don't know whether the paint will be any good but we will check it out, after he gets home, if we can get the cans open. I'm really surprised there hasn't been an explosion.

Ceejay - need to curb that paranoia friend. Otherwise you will be jumping at shadows and mistaking waving trees for marauding men :rofl: Hope you watched those calories at Thanksgiving.

Happy - good thing about the weight, bad thing about the foot. Does this mean a day or so off work?? Hope you watched those calories at Thanksgiving.

Annie - How is Mum going? I have been thinking of you this week and hoping that everything is going along as well as it can. Hope you watched those calories at Thanksgiving.

Michelle - Is DH back on his feet and getting on with life again? Hope you watched those calories at Thanksgiving.

Laura - Don't need to tell you to watch those calories until the time when you get around to having Thanksgiving dinner.

Patty - Sorry I couldn't get back in to wish you a happy birthday. :hb: Hope it was a good one for you. Glad to hear you are with family for this important holiday time. Hope you watched those calories at Thanksgiving.

Mel - No need to tell you about the calories either and you probably wouldn't listen if I did. I hope the dinner deliveries with the mayor went well. Send my regards to the mayor next you see him. Tell him I am still going weird places and meeting weird people and still not afraid to do so.
Mel's Mayor expressed some degree of horror when I appeared on the scene a couple of years back. He didn't believe that two women would meet up and actually managed to get on when they only knew each other from the internet. Took some talking to get him to understand I had had the axe confiscated by Homeland Security. I don't think he really approved. :rofl:

Right so I had better get off to the shower, clean up and plan for the rest of the day. I have 6 more bags of horse poo to put into trenches in the garden. Jeez it stinks. Let's hope it does miracle things for the garden and doesn't give me a whole new crop of weeds to deal with. And there is always the grouting. Nearly finished, but I'm doing a go slow on it. Back later.

:comp: BY JOVE...I THINK THEY FIXED THE WEBSITE. NO MESSAGES TODAY! :lucky:

NOTHING NEW HERE. ALL IS QUIET ON THE EASTERN FRONT. WE HAD A NICE EARLY DINNER TOGETHER AND I DID NOT GO NUTS. YOU SUFFER TOO MUCH OVEREATING AND I HATE THE "PAIN" OF IT ALL. BLOAT ETC. THEN LAST NIGHT THE KIDS WENT TO A RICHIE'S COUSINS. JEN COULD ALWAYS USE 2 DINNERS. RICHIE AND I NEED TO WATCH WAISTLINES. :preg:
:rain: THE WEATHER IS DREARY AND ALL EVERYONE WANTS TO DO IS SLEEP. SO IT WILL BE A QUIET WEEKEND FOR SURE! :carrot:
HAPPY FRIDAY/ SATURDAY :moped:

CEEJAY~ GLAD YOU FOUND THE SIGN IS STILL THERE!! WHERE WAS THE FEAST? AT WORK? HOPE THE TRIP TO PARAGOULD WENT WELL AND THE UNCLES AND AUN T ARE FINE.

SHAD~ WHEN YOU AND RICH MET, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY SAW HIM SPOEECHLESS. HE JUST KEPT SAYING TO ME "I can't believe you would do that"...SHOCKED I WAS "MEETING STRANGERS FROM HALFWAY FROM ACROSS THE WORLD". AND OF COURSE EVEN MORE SHOCKED YOU WOULD COME HERE BY YOURSELF AND DO IT!! :yikes: HE MADE ME LAUGH FOR THE LONGEST TIME ABOUT THAT. HAPPY HORSE POO-ING AND GROUTING!! I DON'T ENVY YOU EITHER TASK!!

HAPPY~ I AM GLAD THE COLD SEEMS TO BE LEAVING. WILL BE THINKING OF YOU ON MONDAY WITH THE CYST REMOVAL. GOOD LUCK AND HOPE IT HEALS QUICKLY! :hug:

LAURA~ SO SORRY TO HEAR THE BF'S MOM IS SICK. GET WELL SOON MOM. I HAVEN'T BEEN FAITHFUL WRITING DOWN MY FOOD INTAKE EITHER. I DO SO MUCH BETTER WHEN I DO...THEN I AM NOT JUST MINDLESSLY EATING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT! :rofl: HAPPY JOURNALING:write:

ANNIE~ HOPE THAT MOM IS DOING OK. STAY STRONG AND KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL THINKING OF YOU :hug:

MICHELLE~ WHEN YOU AND DH GET THE DECORATIONS UP THEN YOU CAN COME HERE!!.

:hb: PATTY~ HOPE THE BIRTHDAY WAS A GOOD ONE!! DID YOU PICK A COLOR OUT YET?? :lol3:

Hi all,

Mel I see your little light on :wave:

Site is still a bit slow.

I sort of blew the day away - online shopping. About to go for a pedicure and pick some meat up at the store. 2 places that won't be a madhouse today.

1 pound to go until I see a new low I haven't seen in 2 years. Fingers crossed :crossed: Had a good lunch of a cup of veggie soup, a low fat wrap with yesterday's turkey, cranberry mustard, shredded lettuce and cucumber. Then the doorbell rang and my oranges from Florida were delivered. Sugar sweet - yum had one for desert. :T

DH and I went for a 30 minute walk in the forest area yesterday. We'll go again tomorrow. He thinks I may have given him my cold. Hope not. It's still hanging around after almost 2 weeks WITH medicine.

When I come back this evening I have to tackle the back room and organize. Or try and get Christmas cards out - I haven't sent them out in 2 years. Bad me.

I'm just trying to make sure I don't blow this long weekend away.

Hope you are all having a good time.

Mel - stay warm and get some rest.

Shad - stay cool and take a rest.

Annie - love and hugs for you and Mom :hug:

Laura - stay dry - I hear it's wet up your way.

Ceejay - I'm sure people like to mess with signs. Don't get nervous. And it's cold here, isn't it?

Patty - hope you had a nice birthday.

We had some new people move into the neighborhood last week. Their grandson and 2 other boys thought it would be great fun to go up to people's houses, ring the doorbell and run off. Unfortunately for them, they picked our house and DH knew exactly where they came from. We were just going out so we followed them to their house. DH went to the door and had a talk with them and grandma. She's an over the top, bible thumpin', the environmentalists are ruining everything, ruby red republican "Bush was great Obama sucks" and this government is just letting the terrorists in everywhere - let us all pray for deliverance. Everyone is evil except of course that her michevous grandson causing trouble less than a week after they arrived is REALLY a very good boy. DH and I are so out of place here it's amazing.

Got to make a grocery list and get out of here before I get all riled up. Talk later...

:wave: HELLO MISS HAPPY :hug: HOPE YOU AND DH WILL GET RID OF WHATEVER GERM THIS IS...SHOULDA GAVE IT TO THE GRANDMA TYPE-BIOTCH :rofl: I AM HOPING I DON'T BLOW THIS WEEKEND AWAY EITHER. SO FAR NOT MUCH GOT DONE HERE. I'LL SEND YOU MY LIST AND YOU CAN DO MY CARDS AS WELL :write: HOPE THE WEEKEND SEES YOU MOVIN' & GROOVIN'!!! :cb:


TODAY FLEW BY. THAT'S 2 DAYS I DID NOTHING. UNLIKE HAPPY, WE'RE NOT SENDING CARDS THIS YEAR. I HAVE THE CHAIR TO THINK OF ETC. THEY'RE STILL LOCATING PARTS BUT FIND MORE EACH WEEK THANK GOD. WONDER WHERE THE ESTIMATE WILL END :faint:
MAYBE TOMORROW I'LL GET MY LITTLE TREE OUT. AT LEAST I CLEANED UP THE BEDROOM AND PUT WASH AWAY. BIG DEAL RIGHT??? :rofl: :rofl:
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT :cloud9:

Btw happy....congrats On The Scale And I Will Keep My Fingers Crossed Too!!!

Hello to all. Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, and Shad, hope the horse poop shoveling is done now!

Bf's mother saw a doc in the box and was diagnosed w/ the H1N1 flu, poor thing. Can't be around anyone for a while. BF and I ended up going to a friend's house - the entire family is like his own family (but better, LOL) because he's known them so long. The meal was good and I had a full plate, which translated to a full stomach. But that was one day, that's all. Still not back to logging my food, so I better watch my step and tally in my head or on paper.

Shad - how did the paint left rattling around in DS's truck end up? Hope it's usable.

Mel - Glad to hear you had a nice quiet day. I'm hoping not to blow this weekend either. I'm on day 3 of my 6 day weekend and haven't been all that productive (yet). Let's stop that mindless eating right now!!

Ceejay - Glad the sign was still there. Hope you had a nice day in Paragould.

Happy - Hope your cold is outta here by now and that dh didn't catch it! Congrats on your weight loss! Sorry about those new neighbors and their bratty grandson.

Hellos to Annie, Michelle, Patty and Rose!

Yesterday I exercised (and I'm sore today!), did a load of laundry, and whipped up a corn casserole to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. In the evening after we got back home I finally uploaded some pics from our visit w/ bf's niece and e-mailed a few to her. Today my biggest achievements were to change out the screen insert for the window insert in the back storm door, take a doggy walk, and go through the accumulated mail. I might make a trip to Home Depot to replace our two rakes. Tomorrow will be the last raking of the year! :carrot:

Our block's holiday party is only two weeks away now, so I'm anxious having realized it's coming up so soon. We're hosting the dessert portion of it at our house. We'll need to decorate inside and out and clean house and stock up on desserts and booze. Other people on the block are supposed to contribute, so I hope the calls start coming! Bf complains that the senior folks never contribute anything, but drink like fish... I half-joked that we should limit booze to wine, beer and one type of specialty drink, like punch or some sort of mixed concoction. But I doubt we'll do that... On the bright side, once we've done this, it'll be a while before we need to host it again.

Okay, I'm rambling, I'm going to get this posted.

Morning all,
Nope, not finished with the horse pooh yet. The smell limits my sinus' to a couple of bags per day. I have 5 left.

Today is hot and steamy. I was going around to the house. May still do, but I am delegated to waiting for the electrician to give him some money. Since he was supposed to arrive last night, I could be waiting a while.

Happy - have my fingers crossed for you and the pound. I'm down too today, but nowhere near my lowest ever. The walk in the forest sounds nice - however I don't envy you the new neighbours. They sound somewhat weird. But then, I saw some strange neighbours in the Mike Holmes program on NO when he was building a house down there. The lord will provide - yep but only if you help him out by working at the problem.

I'll be sending out my usual Christmas on-line letter soon. I'd better get it written this weekend - but probably no cards. I don't seem to get that many any more anyway. I think I still have some I bought some years back that I haven't sent out yet if I get any this year. Where they might be is a good question.

Mel - glad to hear that they are sourcing parts for the old chair, although the cost must be spiralling! You may have to say goodbye to the chair one of these days.

Laura - hope you get some help with that block party. It's very expensive to have to provide the booze too. I might just show up for it if the desserts are interesting. What are you going to have??

Anyway - I'd better get on with the day. I need to sort out some boxes to take around to the shed at Ds2's house. I think the paint is okay. That will get a work out tomorrow. I hope the colour comes out okay. Now I will be doing the same thing as Patty - hoping for miracles.

I'll be back later

THE WINDS ARE HOWLING OUTSIDE. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD, IT WOKE ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SOUNDED LIKE A FRIGGING FREIGHT TRAIN. :brr:
GOOD THING I DON'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE AND THE RADIATORS ARE WORKING. :flame: NOTHING NEW. WE WERE WATCHING BEDKNOBS& BROOMSTICKS LAST NIGHT BUT BY 9:00 I WAS FALLING ASLEEP SO WE CALLED IT A NIGHT. BETTER GET SOME BREAKFAST BEFORE I GO BACK TO BED AND CURL UP AGAIN!
HAPPY SATURDAY :moped:

:hohoho: PS I FINISHED CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ONLINE. :dance: I ONLY HAD 2 PRESENTS TO GET AND I BOUGHT THE KIDS BURT'S BEES TRAVEL SIZED KITS AND I AM STUFFING CASH INSIDE THEM. SO BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING WAS SHORT & SWEET!!

LAURA~ I REMEMBER THE BLOCK PARTY. WE USED TO HAVE STUFF LIKE THAT IN THE BLDG BUT THE IDEA FADED! LOL I HAD A LAUGH AT BF ABOUT THE SENIORS. THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING HERE...ONLY A FEW WERE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING. BUT THEY SURE CAN PACK THE FOOD AND BOOZE AWAY! SO SORRY TO HEAR IT'S THE FLU FOR MOM AND HOPE SHE FEELS BETTER SOON. THIS FLU IS TERRIBLE. :hug:
I'LL SEND YOU MY WIND AND YOU WON'T NEED TO GO OUT AND BUY NEW RAKES! THE LEAVES WILL BE IN THE NEXT COUNTY BEFORE YOU GET HOME!

SHAD~ I LOVE MIKE HOLMES :love: MAYBE IT'S THE MANLY WAY HE TAKES CARE OF PEOPLE. AS FOR THE CHAIR...YOU MUST BE READING MY MIND. I JUST SAID TO GENE..AM I CRAZY FOR TRYING THIS AND JUST JUNK IT?....HE SAID THE NEXT TIME HE MIGHT JUST HAVE TO TELL ME THAT!! :lol3: BUT HE IS SURE HE CAN GET ENOUGH PARTS THIS TIME. 5 MORE BAGS OF POO! :yikes: SOMETIMES WHEN I READ YOUR POSTS, I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE IN THIS CHAIR!! :lol3: :lol3:

Howdy chicks,

Up 2 pounds this morning. Not too concerned, as the salt in the veggie soup will do that. Besides, I get near to a new low and my body boomerangs a bit and then settles down and accepts the new number. I got a pedicure yesterday so my feet aren't scary for surgery Monday and picked up some meat at the market next door. Planned all the meals for the week and duh - what a revelation - if I do this, I can actually count WW points ahead of time. Of course, sometimes it comes out to too many points LOL and I have to switch things around. But it's good to plan. DH and I are going out to check out another store for flooring, and it's a nice day out so we are going to try another walk in the woods. I can do about 30 minutes before the foot acts up. I guess I could try wearing my Crocs - loose shoe but the trail is uneven and I'd rather have a shoe that fits my foot better. Oh for the days when life was less complicated!

Mel - your chair is starting to remind me of restoring a classic car like a GTO :lol: I know, it's like a comfy shoe - you hate to give it up. I hope they can find parts for you. We'll have to have a bake sale to raise money for the repairs. Sounds like it's a good day to stay inside, warm and snuggly. I love your new avatar and signature! You're making me festive so quit it woman :rofl:

Shad - hope the electrician shows up soon. Sounds like a steamy time for you. Did you get the garden tilled over? I have Christmas cards from 2 years ago and stamps at the time. And last year I had to buy add on postage because the raised the rates and this year I think I need another penny to add to it. I am hoping to get cards out this year just because I want to get them out of the attic! An email is good too - there are many people I only hear from once a year and it's nice to keep even that thin line of in touch.

Laura - sorry to hear about the flu but it sounds as if you made the best of it. Better I think to go to someone else's house for the holiday - then you don't have to face the leftovers the next day. When I lived up north, 2 things I tried to put off as long as possible - it was if I could hold off the onset of winter by not doing them - that was turning the furnace on and swapping the screen in the door to the storm window. :lol: I do like your idea of limiting your drink menu at the party - unless of course you have some old booze you'd like to get rid of. It always seems like someone gets stiffed at these parties - there are the generous hosts and the stingy guests. I'm the kind who brings way way more than I ever consume. But having a party is good incentive to get everything spiffed up.

Time to go make some eggs for brunch and try one of the Florida grapefruit that came yesterday. Then reluctantly head out. (I really need to stay here and organize, once I leave the house I'm done). Enjoy your weekend everyone.

:wave: Patty, Michelle, Ceejay

come back Annie - we miss you :hug:

Happy
My body hangs on to the sodium as well. The walk in the woods sounds good. I may do that next week end at my uncles.

Laura
Good job on exercising. I need to get back to it myself. The corn casserole sounds good.

Mel
Stay inside where it's warm. Today is beautiful here so I'm going to go window shopping so to speak in a few miniutes. I need to do some leaf raking also.

Shad
I hope your weather now is not an indication of what our will be next spring/summer. I hate the waiting game.

The ADT installer came and went yesterday. It took him around 2 hour to install the whole thing. It's up and running. I had a good night's sleep last night for the first time in a couple of weeks. This one talks to you. I open the door to let my neighbor in and it politely told me the front door is open. I left the door opened just a bit and about 10 minutes later it told me front door is open. It has a remote that I carry when I go out and it alows
me to disarm and arm the system.

Brought out the stepper last night. I know I'm outta shape because I did 10 minutes and I thought my heart was going to explode because it was pumping so hard and fast. I'm doing more tonight I've got to get into better physical shape.

Patty, Michelle, and Annie you are being missed.

Had some sort of an intestinal bug last night. I'm down another pound from it.

Happy Saturday ladies -

Sorry I was away for a few days due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Internet was ghastly slow for me (and I even have a high speed connection) the past couple days. I think online shoppers were taking advantage of the busiest shopping days of the year. So it's not just this site that's having problems. Most retail sites had problems on Thanksgiving and yesterday.

We're having a "warm" weekend here, it's nearly up to 50 degrees. Yesterday we only got up to the mid 30s, but the sun was SO bright and it actually felt warm...perfect for Black Friday shopping. We also took our Doppler to the vet yesterday to have his teeth cleaned. They had to pull several teeth as well, poor ol' boy. They gave him pain meds and antibiotics and he's eating canned food for a few days. He's doing better today and getting back to his energy level.

Today, it's decorating the lawn day! I've already done about 45 minutes of stairs and weight lifting (bringing up many, many penguins from the basement). I'm resting my back (and lungs) now and DH and I will be heading out in an hour or so to place everything on the lawn and plug it all in!

I went to the gym on Wednesday, they were closed on Thursday, but I was active doing stuff around the house. Friday was spent shopping....lots and lots of walking. Today, it's the Stairmaster (aka, basement stairs). I will hit the gym again tomorrow though. And get back in the groove of going to the gym most nights after work.

As for the weight, I forgot to weigh in on T'giving, and I was too afraid to weigh in yesterday....but today's wasn't too bad. 221.5 (up 1/2 pound

Annie - I've been thinking of you often and sending you hugs.

Mel - I love your new avatar!! Hope you're having a relaxing weekend with the office being closed!!

Laura - As for Chicago, DH and I are more interested in Christmasey stuff to see/do. We've been to Chicago before to do the zoos and museums, but if there's anything special for Christmas, we'd love to see that. Your suggestions are great! I don't know if we'll get to Lincolnwood or not, but the rest of it (minus the ice skating - we might go to watch, but DH can't skate with his bad knee). When we go to Chicago, will it be safe to wear a Packer jacket or will we get beat up? As for pizza, the one pizza we've had is Lou Malnati's, and it is SOOOO good. Nearly 50 points for a couple slices, but soooo good. Thanks again for the suggestions!! Sorry to hear about BF's mom. I hope she feels better soon.

Shad - I did not know that Andrew Lloyd Webber is in the hospital. He's such a musical genius! Thanks for describing your garden so well! I can almost smell the lovely aroma! Though I can only imagine (and cringe) at the smell of horse poo in hot and steamy weather! :yikes: Loved your joke about brown and green and splattered with white spots!

Ceejay - DH and I are going to Chicago next weekend to get together and shop and look at the Christmas decorations with a friend of ours. Chicago is only about an hour and a half or two hour drive from where we live. We go down there a few times a year. Glad your ADT is finally installed. Good on ya' for doing the stepper!!

Happy - I hate the traffic in Chicago! It's just crazy! Bumper to bumper ALL THE TIME!! I would NEVER drive down there myself...I always let DH do the driving. I think the drivers in Chicago are crazier than the ones in San Francisco or Los Angeles, and that's saying something!! I can't compare to NYC as I've never been there. Anyway, I think the plan is for us to go to our friend's place in a nice suburb to the northwest and take the "L" train downtown. Sorry about your foot pain. I hope the removal goes well on Monday. Congrats on doing so well on the weight loss! YGG!! :woohoo:

Well, DH is ready to go out and decorate the front lawn. Gotta sign off for now.

Love and hugs to all,

HAPPY~ ORANGES AND GRAPEFRUITS...NOW YOU'RE MAKING ME FEEL POSITIVELY SUMMERY !! :beach: GOOD LUCK TOMORROW AND I WILL BE THINKING OF YOU :hug: YOU ARE BETTER OFF HIKING WITH PROPER SHOES. I LOVE MY CROCS BUT CAN SEE WHERE YOU COULD SPRAIN AN ANKLE WITH A MISSTEP. OUCH. GLAD TO HEAR YOU HAVE DINNERS LINED UP. THIS WAY YOU CAN GVE THE FOOT A GOOD REST IF NEEDED. GOOD LUCK!

CEEJAY~I AM GLAD YOU HAVE ADT AND PEACE OF MIND NOW. VERY HAPPY FOR YOU. HOPE THE STEPPER GETS YOU FIT AS A FIDDLE. GOD EXERCISE FOR THE UPCOMING COLD DAYS.....BUT NO EXPLODING HEARTS PLEASE! :rofl:

MICHELLE~ HOPE THE DECORATING OUTSIDE GOES WELL. NOW FOR YOU AND DH TO STAY HEALTHY OVER THE HOLIDAYS. KEEP THOSE LUNGS WELL RESTED! I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS SAY THE INTERNET WAS WONKY OVER THE HOLIDAY BUT FUNNY THAT MY DIAL-UP WAS OK. JUST IT'S USUAL SLOW!! :lol3: :lol3: HOPE YOU HAD FUN OUTSIDE.

Good Morning
It's raining this morning. But I"m dry as long as I"m on the inside.

Yesterday was a good day also. Got lots done even raked the leaves to the curb. That was my exercise for the day. I brought my step to work with me today also. Food was not bad either.

Happy
I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Will you have to be off work for an extended period?

Michelle
Week end's are always busy for me. Poor Doppler. The one thing I enjoy doing during the Christmas holiday's is sight seeing for Christmas lights.

Mel
Have a good week end.

Good morning ladies,

Well day 4 of the long weekend. Did I get done what I wanted to? :no: But I started to make some inroads. Also did some things (like take a walk with the DH a couple of times) that I hadn't planned on but was good for me anyway. And I still have a good part of the day today to make more headway. Food is planned for the week - just need to look up and insert WW points and tweak if needed. Decided since I'll be sitting around tomorrow that would be a good day to do the Christmas cards. Still hovering around the magic number on the scale. Will have a good weigh in for my Monday WW weigh in, hope to sustain it during the week. I'm feeling good. A little nervous about tomorrow but when I get that way about something I just think that 24 hours from now, it will be all over.

We have an opportunity to see the International Space Station. I saw it on an Internet article the other day. It was in the sky (brighter than Jupiter) on Friday evening. I went to get a pedicure and had to wait and was running late. Then I needed to stop at the store. I was just pulling out of the parking lot when DH called and asked when I'd be home. I told him 10 minutes and didn't realize he was outside waiting for me to come home and tell him when and where to look for the Space Station - he vaguely remembered when I told him earlier. I got home and missed the darn thing by 5 stinkin' minutes! He said it was very bright and low in the sky and was really, really cool to see. He was just scanning the sky and caught it since it was already dark outside. It's passing through again around 5pm tonight but dang, we have rain today so that's out. :( Then it switches over to early morning viewing for very short shots (a minute or less compared to 5 minutes visible on Friday). And it will be in a different part of the sky which is more tree covered looking from our driveway. The thing is with nature and such - sometimes you just have to be there at the right time.

Mel - do you like oranges and grapefruit? I ordered a mixed box thinking it would be a few grapefruit and mostly oranges but it's 1 tray of each. Grapefruit is ok, I'm much more of an orange person. I told DH he'd better eat up his half of the box - can sneak some to you too :lol: Did the weather clear up or are you just hunkering down? I'm making chicken soup and noodles today - will express some of that to you too along with a loaf of homebaked bread. Good vibes in a box :rofl:

Ceejay - I was off work several days with this dreaded cold so I'm hoping that I only have to be off one day for the foot surgery. And that one day is more because you do get anesthesia so I'll be more loopy than usual. And I'm a little behind in my work so I need to get cracking. 3 weeks and we'll be leaving for Christmas. Do you have one of those little pedal stepper things? You and Mel can pedal in tandem :D When you said you brought it to work, I was thinking one of those big, stand on steppers and I thought - amazingly strong woman there! :lol: That's a good thing to do tho - my friend brought her dumbells to work and when she was on the phone on customer support - she would do curls and such. Get it in any way you can! Glad you're getting peace of mind from the alarm system - if I lived alone, I'd get one too.

Michelle - sounds like you had a great weekend so far. Glad you are feeling good and getting lots done. My buddy in Chicago posted some pictures on FB from a trip to Marshall Fields (I will NEVER call it Macy's :( ) and it looks like some of the office buildings have decorated their sidewalks ajacent to the front windows with trees and holiday decorations. This is in the immediate downtown area - not specific to Michigan Avenue or State Street - but it looked pretty neat. Maybe Laura knows more. And then there was the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave) Lights Festival last week. It was a parade but I think it also marks holiday decorations for the storefronts. I thought that the Museum of Science and Industry used to do an exhibit - trees from around the world with all kinds of decorated trees. But that's a cab ride from downtown. Taking the train is a good idea - hope you have fun.

Hey Laura - did they tear down the old Sun Times building across from the Wrigley Building and Tribune Towers? I thought Donald Trump was building a new mostrosity - um I mean luxury office building on that site.

Well - I'd better get a move on here. DH is ready to go looking at some other flooring options. See yahs...

:elf: I FINALLY MOVED MY BUTT AND GOT THE 4' TREE OUT. IT'S ALL DECORATED AND THE TINSEL IS ON! :tree:
I LOVE TINSEL. SEEMS LIKE NO ONE ELSE DOES ANYMORE. NOW ALL I NEED IS A LITTLE SNOWFALL OUTSIDE :snow4: AND I'LL HAVE MY STORY BOOK DECEMBER. :ginger:
ALL OF OUR ONLINE ORDERS ARE ALREADY IN THE MAIL. WE GOT CONFIRMATIONS ON EVERYTHING.
I EVEN DID SOME COOKING. RICE, VEGGIES, BROILED TRADER'S SAUSAGES, AND BAKED A SPINACH, EGG, FONTINA CHEESE QUICHE/PIE THING. NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS BROIL SOME CHICKEN BREASTS AND THEN I AM ALL SET FOR HEAT'N'EAT WEEK.
NOW I AM IN A CLEAN & TOSS MOOD. HOPE IT LASTS BECAUSE IF I DO IT TODAY, I WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE TOMORROW!! :(
THE KIDS ARE ZONKED OUT ON SUGAR AND SALT. VERY SLUGGISH. TOLD THEM THEY BOTH BETTER DRINK A LOT OF WATER :rofl: WE HAVE HOUSING INSPECTIONS THIS COMING MONTH SO WE ALL NEED TO HOLIDAY CLEAN. I THINK MAYBE SOME SOUP TONIET AND TOAST. A LIGHT MEAL AFTER THE TURKEY DAY GOODIES.:hun:

CEEJAY~ I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE STEPPER TO WORK. GREAT IDEA. I FORGT TO SAY I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE REMOTE FOR THE ALARM AND HAD A LAUGH ABOUT IT TALKING. IS IT A HE OR A SHE?!?!?

HAPPY~ LOVE CITRUS BUT MY FACE DOESN'T. I SNEAK A GRAPEFRUIT IN THERE EVERY NOW AND THEN. HOPE YOU GET TO SEE THE STATION. SORRY YOU MISSED THE BRIGHT ONE. BET DH HAD A GREAT TIME!! WHAT A SIGHT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN. STILL KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE FOOT AND NOW FOR THE WW! :hug:

Morning all,

It's a bright sunny morning today, better than yesterdays storm which dumped 4cm (nearly and inch) of rain on us in less than 15 minutes and the blew winds of 115kph and give us hail to rip through car windscreens and shred gardens. However I think we may get more of the same today since the humidity is building once more.

I've got a jam packed day today. The washing is nearly done and hung out, then I'm off to do some shopping for food and timber mouldings for the bathroom - I can't find what I want at the hardware store, so I am looking in the picture framing places now.
Then I need to go to the DS2's place to sweep and clean the lounge room so we can wash down the walls and start painting in there. I need to catalogue the contents of some of the boxes due to be stored in DS2's shed. At the moment they are either cluttering up my bedroom or cluttering up the lounge at the other place. I got some into the shed yesterday. I have too much stuff so some of it is about to go.
After that, I need to come back here, clean the kitchen down and generally dust and tidy. I've been hanging some of the pictures that I have had stored while I renovated here. It's good to see them back on the walls.
Then I might just sit and do nothing for a while. Or did I just jinx my time out. Usually happens.

Happy - hope that foot goes okay for you tomorrow. Good to hear that the food is sorted, planned and measured. Pity you missed the sights in the skies because of it though.

Ceejay - by stepper, I presume you mean one of those box things that you step up on to and back down again? Can't imagine taking a machine to work

Mel - your winds are howling. Ours were, probably around the same time. Both are normal occurences for the time of year. Isn't it strange to think that the same breeze ? :rofl: blows over both of us.

Michelle - Just keep plodding along. All that work in the yard and sorting the penguins should give you a fair amount of exercise. Herding penguins is great exercise since they never do what you want them to do. Where I used to live as a kid, we got herds (flocks?) coming ashore. The local farmers dog used to try to gather them up and herd them up the hill. Naturally the penguins didn't want to go. And the look on the dog's face when all his flock disappeared one by one into the earth was priceless.

Annie - How is it going? Did you get Mum home for the weekend and forever?? Hope it is all going okay. Saw you on facebook yesterday and thought you might be back here soon.

Laura, Patty. Hope your weekends are going well and you haven't overindulged too much.

And with that, I'd better remove myself from here and get on with my day. Early shopping means a close park and better veges.

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SHAD...I THINK CEEJAY MEANS SOMETHING LIKE THE ABOVE. GOOD EXERCISE AND VERY PORTABLE TOO. HOPE YOU FIND EVERYTHINGON YOUR SHOPPING LIST. OUR HOWLING WINDS WERE WARMIS SO MAYBE THEY WERE SENT BY YOU!! :rofl: JUST MADE THE TEMP SEEM EVEN LOWER. :brr: JEN HAS WAY TOO MUCH STUFF SO I'LL SEND IT DOWN TO YOUR DS'S SHED....SHE CAN MAKE MONTHY PAYMENTS!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY.

I CAME BACK CAUSE I HIT PAYDIRT. GET TO FILL IN A BIT IN THE OFFICE STARTING TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER CHECK THIS MONTH. EVERYONE WANTS TIME OFF FOR SHOPPING SO I AM THE GIRL OF THE HOUR!! JEN TOOK MY LIST FOR SHOPRITE GROCERY STORE AND I AM GOING TO DO THE TRADER JOE'S LIST ON THURSDAY FOR ALL OF US. I HAVE WILLY TO HELP ME. NOW FOR A SHOWER AND SOME FOOD AND TV. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. I WILL TRY AND GET ON SOMETIME TOMORROW.

PS TO HAPPY....LOVE THE AVATAR!! :hohoho:

Hello everyone! Down to one day and some of this evening left of my 6-day weekend. Not extremely productive, but some stuff got done. Friday evening I did buy the rakes and yard waste bags. Saturday we got the backyard all raked out and the leaves bagged and in the garage (forecasted rain did happen this morning). Pickup will be Wed. (or is it Thursday?). After the raking/bagging, we picked up our new dining room light fixture which bf will install tomorrow since he didn't get around to it today (he's napping on the recliner as I type). Went to Target for a few things after having a cup of Brunswick stew (bf had gumbo) and splitting a bbq platter at a bbq place (Happy, it's in that big strip mall across from Hersey HS.) This morning was some reading, a couple loads of laundry, unload/reload the dishwasher. I spoke to my mum who told me she had fallen and hurt her hip last week and is finally getting to the doc tomorrow. (Of course she wouldn't think of calling with bad news.) She was in pain, but apparently not enough to risk the ER (due to a bad past ER experience). Aaargh. Even though the fall wasn't on stairs, I'm hoping she will now think seriously about moving out of her too-big 2-story house into a ranch house or condo. This afternoon was lunch, 3 grocery stores for not many groceries at all, and making peanut butter biscuits for the dog (unsalted peanut butter, whole wheat flour, baking powder and milk).

Tomorrow I will return a pair of shoes to the Lands End outlet store and make lasagna. Two small pans, one for us, one for bf's mum. I will also exercise!! I'm feeling like I might have gained weight over this long weekend, but of course I'm too chicken to get on the scale. In general, portions have been reasonable and snacking hasn't been horrible, but the types of food haven't been particularly light. Thankfully, whenever I open the "snack cabinet" there isn't anything I really want, and I resolutely did not buy anything snacky at the 3 grocery stores we shopped at today. Of course while I was baking doggy's PB biscuits, I thought some homebaked PB cookies would be quite yummy, but I didn't follow through on that thought.

Mel – Sounds like you're getting a lot done this weekend – shopping, cooking, cleaning. Love that Burt's Bees stuff!! Nice you'll be filling in and earning some extra cash. Stay warm!

Shad – Hope you don't get more of those heavy rains and strong winds. Too much stuff syndrome- that seems to be a problem most people suffer from.

Happy – Sorry you missed the space station! Great job w/ getting all the meals planned, and knowing those points in advance will help tremendously I'm sure. I still have to take a look and see if I have Christmas cards to send or if I need to buy some. Hope the foot surgery goes smoothly. Yes, the Trump building was built in the spot of the old Sun Times building. Fancy restaurants, and obscenely expensive condos, and a hotel too, I think. Oh, yes, the Museum of Science & Industry's Christmas Around the World exhibit. Great idea for Michelle! Makes me want to go see it again. It's been many years - I remember bf & I saw the exhibit with an old friend of bf' and a woman the friend had just started dating. Since that time, they dated for about a year, got engaged, got married, had a son, and got divorced. The son's about 12 now, so I estimate it's been about 14-15 years since last seeing that exhibit. But I'm happy to say I'm good friends with the "the girlfriend", lol.

Ceejay – Yay for the security system and a good night's sleep!! Good idea to get your exercise at work (but it sounds like you already get a lot of steps at work, don't you?). The corn casserole is an extremely delicious, but extremely fattening dish (regular corn, creamed corn, corn muffin mix, some sour cream and two sticks (!) of butter for a 9 x13 size casserole), which is the reason I last made it 5 years ago. I had my reasonable portion, and was glad everyone seemed to enjoy it and that someone else took the leftovers home. But then bf and I did take home some of the very delicious cranberry jello dessert…

Michelle – Another worldly chick having a very productive long weekend – shopping, decorating, exercising. Good for you! Poor Doppler. I think 2010 will be when our doggy gets his very first teeth cleaning. In addition to the Christmas Around the World exhibit, another Christmas event you may want to check out is the Christkindlmarket, also in Daley Plaza w/ the big tree. Also, here's a link for some more Chicago holiday events: http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chica...day-events.htm. Hope the link is visible.

Waves to Annie, Patty and Rose. :wave:

Well, it's after 8 pm and I don't think we'll be having the pork chops I thawed for dinner. I might just have some soup and let bf continue to snooze.

Good morning chicks,

Well today's the day. A little nervous but things should be ok. I'm missing my morning coffee but will be able to have all I want in a few hours. Gotta go hop in the shower, will catch up with y'all later.

Happy Monday!

Morning Chicks....tried to get on the site a couple of times but had trouble. So just waited till today. Hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving and weekend.

First off, thank you all for the love, thoughts, and prayers for me and my mom. She is holding her own, no support sytems. She cannot sit up by herself. I sat next to her on her bed and she leaned on me. I kept whispering stupid stuff in her ear till she finally gave me one of her, " Rita Anne, shut up". She had a blood transfusion during dialysis on Saturday as her platlets (sp) were too low. She almost refuses any kind of therapy or "trying" to get out of bed. Can't say that I blame her. We are in week 7 of this mess.

Ceejay...glad your alarm system is in place. I feel better about your peeping Tom.

Shad...mom did not get home for Thanksgiving or for good. She is still in the hospital in the PCU (pre-intesive care unit) at the hospital. She will have to go to rehab again after being released from hospital. That date is unknown, however we finally talked my dad into the better one we wanted him to put her in the first place. Westminster is very nice and it is new too. Clean doesn't smell "funny" and the nursing staff is A1.

Chelle...glad your TG was good and enjoyed it. Glad Doppler is doing ok after the dentist vet visit.

Happy...sorry you missed the space station, not like you can catch it at another time..goodluck at WW.

Laura...too bad to lose weight that we have to eat like pigs, we would all be skin and bones. lol

MEL...you and Christmas, peas and pods, Forest and Jenn-nay. I don't like tinsel so yes, you are in that boat by yourself. THanks for the loving thoughts of mom.

Work at CVS was a madhouse and I must say I earned my pay and then some. People were just down right rude to each other too. It is a heck of a lot easier to be nice than to be mean. and OMG let someone cut the line to pay....yikes, I tried to stay out of those fights. I just stood back behind the counter till they had it resolved cause there is not one thing in CVS worth my well being to get involved in that fight. Stupid, mean people SUCK.

Sunny and 55 today....34 by Thursday and possible snow showers. Bring it is what I say, I am ready for that battle too.

Decidedly Daring to Dump-a-lump in December

Much love many hugs and lots of thanks for my worldly chicks.

I'm made it to Monday, but no time to post yet. Busy, busy busy morning! Gotta go! I'll check in later. Luv y'all!

Morning
Happy
Good Luck. Your foot may be sore for a little while.

Annie
glad you spent some time with your mom.

Mel
My step is the old fashion kind.

Last night I wanted to try out my new dvd player so I popped in Leslie Sansome walk away the pounds dvd and completed a mile. Then viewed the 30 day shred by Jillian Michael. I like this dvd also but I have to modify the jumping jacks and jump rope moves. She combines both muscle groups and alternates cardio and strength. I gorged myself with a pizza last night.

Laura and Michelle :wave:

More later.

LAURA~ YOU HAD A JAMMED PACKED WEEKEND. SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF SATUFF TO ME!! MAKE THAT 3 TRAYS OF LASAGNA AND I'LL SEND YOU MY ADDRESS :rofl: I SURE HOPE YOUR MOM WILL BE OK AND SEND HER A GET WELL HUG :hug: STAIRS ARE OF THE DEVILS MAKING:devil:

CEEJAY~ OK...I THOUGHT YOU HAD SOME KIND OF PORTABLE NEW FANGLES STEPPER. JEN HAS THE OLD FASHIONED ONE TOO...LOL I REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO WANT ONE AND HER BF IN THOSE DAYS MADE US ONE!! AHHHH MEMORIES! PIZZA!!! AND YOU DIDN'T CALL ME???:hun:

ANNIE~ GOOD TO SEE YIOUR SENSE OF HUMOR IS STILL INTACT EVEN WITH ALL THE AZZHOLES OF THE WORLD AT CVS AND YOUR MOM IN THE HOSPITAL. JUST KEEP MOVING THOSE FEET OF YOURS FORWARD. SENDING GOOD THOUGHTS FOR RENEWED STRENGTH FOR BOTH YOU AND MOM....AND OF COURSE LOTS OF SPECIAL HUGS :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

:wave: TO MICHELL WHO JUST SPED PAST ME :scooter:

FOR OUR MISS HAPPY~
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:rain: WARMER AND RAINY TODAY. LIKE ANNIE, WE EXPECT A DROP IN TEMPS LATER ON THIS WEEK. BUT FOR TODAY IT'S IN THE 50'S. THAT'S OK WITH ME :beach:
MY DAY TURNED OUT TO BE A LAZY ONE. MY BOSS IS OUT SO I DIDN'T GO DOWN. WE PLAN TO MEET TOMORROW AND HELP EACH OTHER WITH SOME STUFF...AND ME OF COURSE WITH THE SENIORS CHRISTMAS TREE. SIGH. NOTHING NEW HERE. HAVE A GREAT DAY :moped:

Morning all,
Short post this morning and I will be back with personals when it gets too hot to do anything else. At the moment the temps in here are 25C which means that it has climbed at least 2 degrees in the last hour. I can see we are in for another hot one today. We are supposed to get storms but can't see that happening anytime soon.

Today will be another busy one - so long as I can maintain the momentum. Been slipping a bit when it gets hot. I've some more boxes ready to take to DS2's shed and have to finish washing down some walls in the house. I also need to do some housework here. I think I need a wife!!!! I also have to sand down some plastering that I did yesterday and do some more plastering as well.

I think I have a job. Well they have told me when I can have Christmas leave anyway but no contract so far, so no start date or finish date. It will be a case of wait, wait, hurry up and start no doubt. Anyway more on that later.

Good to hear from some of the missing chicks. I'd better go get some of this stuff done before it gets too hot.

SHAD...SO GOOD OF "THEM" TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BUT NOT WHEN YOU START! :lol3: :lol3: GOOD LUCK!! WILL IT BE FAR AWAY FROM YOUR HOME? :scooter: WHATEVER WIL DS2 DO WITHOUT HIS CONTRACTOR????? I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU TO SEND SOME HEAT THIS WAY BUT THAT'S JUST TOOOO HOT :fkame: LIKE AFRICA HOT!! :flame:

:cofdate: GOD MORNING CHICKS. I CANNOT MEET MY FRIEN FOR BREKKIE. MY EYES ARE ON FIRE. MUST BE ALL THAT ROOTING AROUND IN THE DUSTY CLOSET AND UNDER THE BED. I TOOK THE ZYRTEC WHILE DOING IT.
MAYBE I NEED A BETTER PROTECTION!!http://www.emofaces.com/en/emoticons...l-emoticon.gif

NOTHING IS ON THE AGENDA NOW. :rofl:
HAPPY TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY :moped:

Um, hey all chickies...it is December...who is starting the new thread. I am too blonde to do it.

Worldlies...Don't Do Desserts in December....

Hey Shad...best get your work at home done, hire a wife, cause it is back to work for you sista.

MEL...Next time wear safty goggles when muggling in dust. Silly girl, you should know better when it comes to your delicate eyes. Spank Spank! lol

Hey to all the other chickies..

Love and Hugs

Hi everyone -

Work was CRAZY busy yesterday. I work for a retail corporation, and as such, the weekend (and subsequent week) following Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for us. In fact, it may very well be insanely busy right through Christmas. (At least that's what I'm hoping. Busy is very good at this time of year, when retailers make the bulk of their money.).

So I didn't get to the gym on Sunday due to a migraine and didn't get there yesterday due to exhaustion. In fact, food was pretty lousy yesterday too.

But, it's December 1, and I'm on the 21-Day Challenge thread, so if I jump back on the wagon and stick to my challenges, I can get an entire round of challenges complete before Christmas, and a second round complete by mid-January...which should see me through the holidays with a loss. BTW, speaking of weight, I am not expecting a good weigh in on Thursday. I'll probably be up by at least a pound or two, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed :crossed: for less.

I've missed out on all the Worldly happenings for the end of November. Time to get caught up.

Happy - I hope your foot surgery went well and that you're not in too much pain. You're doing so well with meal planning and staying within points. Sorry you missed seeing the Space Station. Unfortunately, we missed it too. If you're express shipping chicken noodle soup and homemade bread, send some my way please! Yummy! As for Chicago, we are really looking forward to it. I really enjoyed the Museum of Science and Industry when we went there a couple years ago (not at Christmastime). Don't know if we'll get there this trip....but we'll see. Thanks for the great suggestions.

Mel - We'll be purchasing our tree this week and putting it up this coming weekend. And I'm getting into the Christmas spirit, at least more than I thought I would be. We're not big on tinsel...just because of the doggies get to it and eat it....well, let's just say it can knot them up pretty bad internally. As for snowfall, it's been so lovely here and relatively warm for this time of year (upper 40s), I wouldn't mind having a green Christmas. :lol: I haven't had one of those since we moved here from CA 8 years ago. Good that you're picking up extra hours in the office...but DON'T WORK TOO HARD young lady!! :rollpin: And steer clear of the dusty spaces, okay? You should definitely get goggles or something for when you're cleaning and decluttering. I often wear a mask over my mouth and nose when I clean, especially if my asthma starts flaring up.

Shad - Yikes, those hail and wind storms you had were fierce! You are so right that herding penguins is hard work. I can just imagine dogs trying to herd penguins! That's way too funny! DH and I just have to get to Australia and NZ to see the penguins there "in the wild". I hope you find a good woman to be your wife since you're so busy with all the renovation work! Congrats on getting the job!

Laura - So sorry to hear about your mom's fall. I hope she's doing better. Could you please PM me the recipe for the peanut butter dog biscuits? My doggies love peanut butter biscuits. Wow, with your high praise and recommendation of the Museum's Christmas display, we just might have to add that to our list of things to do. We're definitely going to the Christkindlmarket. Thanks for the link!!

Ceejay - I'll try and get a photo of our front yard lit up, since you like Christmas lights. Good for you for doing the Sansome DVD! Pizza might not have been the best way to "reward" your efforts, but I'm sure it was delish!! I LOVE me a good pizza, as opposed to the faux WW or Lean Cuisine pizzas.

Annie - Sorry to hear that the CVS shoppers were so mean and rude. Where's your holiday spirit, people? Sheesh! I hope your mom continues to get better. Sending love and :hug: and :angel: to you and to her.

Patty - I hope you and Blackie and your family had a great Thanksgiving!

Well, time to get back to the insanity! I'll try and check in later.

Love and big hugs,

Ask and it shall be yours...
 

:rofl: As a former blonde sister, let me help you out. Goodbye Mr. Turkey :thanks1: Hello Santa Baby :hohoho:

New thread ready and waiting - Worldly Chicks Dashing Past Those December Desserts

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