Hi Ceejay - Sounds like you're enjoying your vacay. Have fun w/ your grand niece. You know we'd love to see some pics! I thought Braum's was an ice cream parlor... hey, I'm all in favor of ice cream for dinner every once in a while.

Hi everyone -

I'm a bit tired today as I stayed up later than normal to watch the Packers beat the Vikings! Wow! What a close, nerve-wracking game! DH would've finished fixing his truck if Mother Nature had cooperated, but it rained all day Saturday and Sunday morning. So he took today off to finish it. I mowed/mulched the leaves on Friday, but didn't get to the gutters. I really hope to do that before it gets cold and frosty. Nothing worse than wet, freezing cold leaves that you have to practically chisel out of the gutters.

I went and got my eyes examined and ordered new glasses. And I've scheduled an appointment with an audiologist to get my hearing checked as I find myself saying "What?" a lot, and I have great difficulty hearing if there's background noise or if someone's in the other room.

Lots to get done today...so I'll have to do personals later.

Love and hugs,

Hey ladies,

Monday again - oh boy - aren't we happy!!!! My cubemate is sitting here loudly crunching something and chewing with her mouth open so that we get the full effect. Not sure what's worse - that or the gum snapping which is sure to follow. Those of you with office doors - APPRECIATE THEM!!!!!

Laura - DH had such a good time in WI that we are leaning towards that. We have family up that way and we like them and it's close enough to visit my Mom and sister - well actually as far away as we are now. But when you are retired and you don't have to try and space out your precious vacation and can pick up when you want to go... Anyway, I'd rather move to a place close to someone I knew than chance having a repeat of this situation here where people keep totally to themselves. DH saw the neighbor across the street at the grocery store and she never said a word. Other neighbor next to her was pregnant, had a baby and we never knew. I swear I have only seen her (from her car at that) about 4 times in 6 years we've lived here. We wave to each other but that's all. Did I say that I CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really wish I could fast forward time as it is really dragging slowly now.

Ceejay - glad you made it to your sisters just fine and dandy - seems like you are having a great time. Enjoy every minute!

Michelle - the Packers won?? Oh poop! About the hearing - I went to the ear doctor last year or maybe the year before because I too was concerned about difficulties hearing the television, really having a hard time when others were talking (ie. restaurant). My hearing was fine. The doc said that as we age, we lose the ability to filter out other background noises - which made perfect sense. He said we need to adapt our surroundings - he said he can't go to a place like Chili's anymore for dinner, instead he found more quiet restaurants. I thought that was interesting. DH and I go "what did he say" alot on the telly. Sometimes we roll back and catch it, other times we laugh and say it wasn't that important Hopefully all is well with your ears. You need a break with the body parts there girlfriend.

Laura - don't as in DO NOT get work email on your Iphone unless you are paid the big bucks to be on call 24 x 7. Because you are right - they will expect you to be there always. My cell phone does not work at home so I don't give my cell number out and I have been chastised on more than one occasion because I was not reachable after hours. But hey I'm a flunky now - those rules don't apply to me - call someone who gets a bonus I hear people putting down the Iphone but they sure are selling alot of them. Heard they would have sold more last year but they could not keep up with demand. I just can't see paying $100 a month for cell service with Internet access - our phone and cable costs are already enough to support a small 3rd world village. Do let us know how you like it. Are you going to be getting a protective skin/cover for the phone?

Annie - OMG you made me laugh. I have a bookshelf above my kitchen desk crammed with cookbooks and slips of paper and small books with recipe samples from appliance how to manuals. It seriously needs thinning out and like you, except for the breadmaker, I go to the Internet to find recipes, yet can't get rid of these books I am glad to find a kindred sister although the time is coming to clean, clean, clean. I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time getting kick started with the weight loss again. This time of the year is hardest I think as it gets colder - soups and stews sound sooooo good - but maybe you can make some healthy compromises - for sure with the veggie soups and such. In honor of you last week I put a dash of red pepper flakes into everything I cooked Hey - what are you going to do about stalker guy? I am thinking of you (and a bit worried too). Please be safe.

Mel - sounds like Jen and I are about the same color. I'm loving it. Yes, the temper is "to the moon Alice". But I don't think it's all that much to do with the red color as much as the abundance of stupidity. I hope your day is quick and quiet. I go see the lung doctor next week. I'm not sure why. He said last time the body will continue to try and attack the fungal, even after it is long dead. Talk about kicking a dead horse Are you pulling all of your end of year, green and red seasonal things out yet. *I wanna say it, I wanna say it!!!!!*

Shad - do you go see plays? I see that Wicked (the untold story of the witches of the Wizard of Oz) - a hugely popular play here in the states is going for a run and will be in Brissy in January I think. I would go to see it if there were other women going but DH is just not into that sort of thing. I did think of you however.

Ok, I have to get back to work. Had a bowl of cream of broccoli soup with a bit of cheese. It is expanding in my stomach and putting me to sleep. The fact that I had a very bad night and hardly got any sleep at all is not helping matters. Nudge me if I doze off, will yah? Thanks

OK Happy...I am poking you, wake up deary....broccoli tears my tummy up, therefore I do not eat it altho I really like it. No can do....hmmm, I have not worked since the incident with the stalker. Hopefully things will be fine when I return to work Wednesday nite. Maybe I made him mad enough at me he won't be back or maybe he will be back to raise H with me. Don't you worry, I can run very fast, especially if someone is chasing me. I do fan the streets with my eyes a lot more when driving around, you just never know.

Chelle...resting is part of the healing process. You NEED to rest that back of yours. When we get older we have selective hearing, unfortunately it focuses in on the agitating noises instead of the things we NEED to hear. You hearing is probably fine. Q-tip? lol

Ceejay...having fun on vacay...gotta love those babies. I think I mentioned on here before that I kissed my kids so much when they were babies they smelled like bad breath. lol....

Lunch: 3/4 C Rigatoni with Mushroom sauce (the sauce was more vegetable stock and not creamy)
Apple slices with 2T of peanut butter for dipping.
Frozen Coke Zero...I am hooked on these 0 count things.

Well let's see, it is 2:21 pm and I am ready to go home now. I am not in the mood to be here.

Girls just wanna have fa-uunnn!

RIGATONI WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE- 6 servings

1 lb rigatoni pasta
2 T olive oil
2 shallots, I used green onions cause I had them
1 garlic clove
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lb assorted mushrooms, cleaned sliced
½ cup white wine
½ cup vegetable broth
1 Cup (8 oz) mascarpone cheese, room temp
½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated

· Bring pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta, cook til tender, 8-10 mins
· Heat oil on med high heat. Add shallots, garlic and season with salt & pepper. Cook about 2 mins. Add mushrooms, cook, stir occas. 5-7 mins, Turn heat to high add wine; cook for 3 mins or til wine evaporates. Add broth and simmer til slightly reduced.
· Remove pan from heat, add mascarpone cheese, stir til melted.
· Drain pasta, place in large serving bowl, (reserve one cup of water),
· Add parmesan to mushroom mixture, mix well.
· Add mushroom mix to pasta, mix to coat pasta, if too dry, add reserved water a bit at a time

453 cals, 13.6 fat, 59 carbs (yikes), 3.5 fiber; 20.8 protein

Yum, the recipe looks good. And we just happen to have some mushrooms to use up...

Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored.
Get the picture. I'm going home at lunchtime because this is becoming just too ridiculous for words. I may not even come in tomorrow. I'm sure I can find something better to do at home with the DS's

Mel - I think that what you heard was to do with the sub-prime mortgage rates. This is the thing that has caused untold heartache over the past few years. This is the thing that the government of the day would not let our banks do. I have no idea of what the problem might be in 2011 except that maybe the sub prime rates are due to expire or reduce or something. I have no idea who the politician was or where he went, but for sure he probably isn't in parliament anymore because he probably took the brunt of the banks greed and frustration and resigned for health reasons. Otherwise I might recommend that he set up a company in the States to organise the banking sector. I don't know much about the sub-prime rates except that they were bad for the health of pretty much everyone except the banks.

Ceejay - glad to hear that you are enjoying the holiday and cuddling the littlies. I'm sure you'll have a great time with the family.

Laura - do not become the company slave. Unfortunately in todays world the companies seem to think they own you because they pay you - sometimes pitifully. Keep the i-phone away from the IT geeks.

Michelle - Mother Nature tends to get up our noses from time to time. Rain comes when we least want it. And never when we do. Hope the DH gets the vehicle going today and a normal timetable is resumed.

Annie - The way I feel right now, wine for breakfast, lunch and dinner might be a good idea. I often put a slosh of whatever I am drinking in the spaghetti sauce or the gravy. Slosh it in and wait for the miracle is my mantra for test kitchen cooking.

Happy is back to red again. Sounds nice. And please do not wish time away like that. I'm old enough already.

And with that I am out of here. Have I missed anyone. Sorry if I have.

Oh yes and while I think about it. I have sort of been watching the TV program called Penguin Island which is where our Worldly lives. It was very sad last week when it covered the heatwave that lead to Victoria's deadly bush fires last year and many of the little penguins died because their burrows were not adequately protected from the sun and heat. People were scooping up penguins and putting them in wet sacks and taking them to the sanctuary for treatment. It was the same for all the wildlife on the island as well. Koala fell out of the trees and a couple of snakes got cooked when they found a shallow pool of water and thought they would be cool and safe there.

Anyway, time for me to go and cool my heels doing something else.

I AM ON THE RUN. SORRY IF THIS WAS SHORT. THEY NEED SOME HELP TODAY. GOTTA WASH THE HAIR AND GET MOVING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.



LAURA...SOMEONE JUST SENT ME THIS ADDIE AND SAID THEY HAD AN APP...I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS TILL YOU JUST POSTED I'LL PUT IT HERE IN CASE IT'S ANY GOOD.
**FOR SOME REASON 3FC WON'T LET THE ADDIE POST. BUT IT WAS MY FITNESS PAL
TOO BAD ABOUT THE DVDS. HOPE THE NEXT ONES ARE BETTER!! WINDS ARE EXPECTED HERE TOMORROW TOO SO I CALLED DOWNSTAIRS YESTERDAY FOR THEM TO MOVE THE LAWN FURNITURE OUT OF THE WAY!! GRREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!


ANNIE...I HAVE BEEN WISHING THIS WEEK AWAY..NOT SURE WHY. MY BREKKIE WAS 1/2C OATMEAL, 1/2C APPLESAUCE AND 2 EGG WHITES. YUM ON THE GRAPES!!


CEEJAY....SOUNDS LIKE THE FAMILY WILL BE KEEPING YOU BUSY WHILE YOU'RE THERE. HOPE THE NEW PLAN WORKS OUT. GOOD LUCK!! HOPE YOU GET MORE BABY TIME IN TOO!!


MICHELLE...YOU GOT A LOT DONE OVER THE WEEKEND! GOOD LUCK WITH THE HEARING GUY! I WAS GLAD THE PACKERS WON TOO ALTHOUGH NOT A REAL SPORTS FAN.


HAPPY...KEEP US POSTED ON THE DR VISIT. THAT IS STRANGE HOW THE BODY FIGHTS IT. HOPE EVERYTHING LOOKS GOD WHEN YOU GO. RICHIE CALLS JEN "LUCY: AND SHE CALL HIM "RICKY". THEY SOUND FUNNY IN THE LOBBY AND THE SENIORS LAUGH THEIR HEADS OFF. HE SOUNDS JUST LIKE DESI ARNAZ HOW NICE IT WOULD BE FOR YOU AND DH TO BE CLOSE TO THE FAMILY AND YET NOT FAR FOM MOM EITHER. HOPE YOU GUYS FIND SOMETHING IN WI WHEN THE TIME COMES.


SHAD....WISH WE HAD THAT PENGUIN STORY OVER HERE. MAYBE ONE DAY IT WILL COME. THOSE POOR ANIMALS. THEY HAD PICS OF ALL THAT OR JUST THE STORY. NOT SURE I COULD ACTUALLY WATCH THE SHOW THEN...I CRY TOO MUCH!!! HOPE THE JOB FINDS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO BEFORE YOU GET ON YOUR HORSE AND TAKE OFF!! I CAN JUST SEE YOU SITTING THERE WITH THE ANTSY PANTS PLANNING WHAT YOU COULD BE DOING AT THE HOUSE WITH THE BOYS!!!

Good morning girls,

Looks like there is an incredible line of storms sweeping the country from tip to tip and it's going to blow us all over to Mel's side of the coast Too bad we are headed in the opposite direction of Shad.

Mel - that's too funny about Jen and Ritchie - I don't know them but I can picture in my head the two of them doing the Lucy thing. Put the brakes on your chair so you don't blow into the Hudson today!

Shad - that was sooooo sad about the poor animals on Penquin Island. I felt so badly for them. Poor babies. I hope you found yourself something to keep busy at work.

Annie - thanks for the recipe -that looks fabulous. I may try it on the weekend.

Don't have much time this morning for posting - got to get out before the storm hits. Hi to Ceejay, Michelle and Laura - catch up with you later

Good Morning Chicklets.........

Shad....hanging witht he DSs sounds better than anything today. I thought this time around that work place was supposed to have work for you to do and be a bit more organized??

MELLILE....don't let them work you too hard, my dear and don't blow away.

THe winds are very high here today...even the water puddles from yesterday's rain has white caps on them. We are under a tornado watch till noon. Weather does not bother me, bring it. Just don't like cold.

Well, took my car back to Big O Tires after work yesterday as it still pulls to the right. They checked the alignment it is ok, so they rotated the tires and it is now worse. So they kept my car and I drove the BIG O TIRE mini van home. I feel like such a geek driving down the road with all the advertisement on it. Too funny. I will find out more today. $$$$$ I hope not.

Dinner last night. 4 crab stuffed portabella mushroom. Two bites of Rigatoni with mushroom sauce. Two glasses of wine.

Breakfast...cottage cheese with tomato. 10 grapes.

Hey's to all,

Love and hugs

Happy...you are the sneaker inner today. Have a marvelous day also and don't blow too far away....xoxoxox

Happy, I think the next time I make this recipe, I will use smaller pasta of some sort. I don't like how the rigatoni swells up to mammoth size. Just a thought.

Baby girls BD is Nov 5 she will 25, the age I was when I had her. She wants for her birthday meal...Chicken tetrazini-easy peasy-momma's homemade apple pie vanilla ice cream and tossed salad, could it get any easier.

Happy Tuesday ladies -

It's gonna be a crazy day today due to the nice weather report: severe storms which will turn into high winds, gusting to 60 mph. Should last through Wednesday night. Possible school closings, airport delays, power outages, and warnings about driving, etc... They say to compare the storm to a hurricaine on dry land. Literally. This should be fun. This is expected to be the worst storm Milwaukee has had in 13 years.

Auntie Em Auntie Em....where the F is Toto?

Hi everyone!

Shad - Sorry you are bored. Hope you enjoyed your afternoon w/ the ds's. How sad about the wildlife killed in the fires. No hurry for me to get the co. e-mail settings loaded onto my phone. It would, however, come in handy to have access to e-mail via phone instead of lugging home the laptop. But then again, I can access co. e-mail via the internet on our home computer. No hurry. Don't want to give the boss the idea I want to be reachable at all times. If I do it, I'd do it on the down low.

Mel - Thanks for the info - I'll be researching the diet/fitness apps to see which one I will download. Bf mother said her village was making calls warning people about the extreme wind.

Happy - So far, the wind just sounded worse to me than it actually was, but I hear it'll be getting stronger. The bridge over the Chi river this morning was okay, hope it's not too bad when I go home...

Annie - Sorry the car is still pulling. LOL about you driving around in the big O tire van! Mmmm, dinner sounded good. We had tilapia and potatoes last night. Oops no veggies. Good thing I ate my baby carrots on the train home. No wine - I didn't have any white wine in the house. November 5th for the dd bday dinner - I might just pop up on your doorstep for that.

Michelle - I heard that this storm's winds are worse than those in the storm during which the Edmund Fitzgerald freighter was lost on Lake Superior. Our neighborhood is full of old trees - I hope falling tree limbs don't cause any injuries, power outages, or property damage in our area. The wind sounded so strong when I was in bed this morning I checked my e-mail to see if maybe our office might be closed...Just like a kid hoping for a snow day, LOL. No such luck.

Hello to Ceejay!!

Nothing much to report. BF and I walked doggy last night, then I did one BE workout. I did NOT bring my gym gear to work today. My left foot is hurting again, but it feels like the pain is in a different spot now. Sigh. I will be making an appt w/ the podiatrist, since I have to deal w/ the orthotic anyway. I just feel slightly guilty because when I realized that the new inserts were not better, I just went back to the old ones and didn't really give them much of a test run. The good news is that there is a Birkenstock store in our area, so I will probably go there this weekend. The Birks have been the most comfortable shoe for me since all these foot probs began, but I need something I can wear in the winter.

Not going to the movie tonight, so I'll do another BE workout.

That's about it for me right now. If you're in this wind storm, be sure and hang on tight!!