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. :D

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! :yikes: 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!!!! :no: 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! :rofl: 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 :lol: 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 :dunno: 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. :lol: 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 :lol: 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 :lol: 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 :lol3: Are you pulling all of your end of year, green and red seasonal things out yet. *I wanna say it, I wanna say it!!!!!* :lol: :lol:

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 :D

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.

:cofdate: 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 :rofl: 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!! :bb:


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. :hug: 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 :rofl: 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 :rofl: 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. :lol: 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. :hungry:

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 :wave:

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! :D 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!!

Laura...so sorry about your footie. Man can't any of these get anything right? What a PIA to have to keep messin with that. How hard is it to measure-correctly I might add- then make things according to specs. Probably won't celebrate DDs birthday till Sat the 6th, so you can come on over anytime and enjoy dinner with us, I will even have some white wine on hand just for you. What is your fav white wine?

Chelle...hope your storm was not as bad as our was. A couple of places pretty messy. THey are not sure yet whether is was a tornado or just straight line winds, either way it made a huge mess.

Lunch- Rigatoni w/mushroom sauce, still have tons of that left. Baby carrots with Yogurt ranch dressing, coke zero frozen.

I got called into CVS tonight. Another girls GP passed away and she cannot make it. So my schedule goes like this. CVS ..T, W, TH, Sun. Like the money hate the work for it part, lol

Okay....I'm officially freaking out with worry. My desk is right near the windows...and the wind is howling. Big, mature trees are being bent nearly halfway over. It's scary. I'm praying that my dogs are okay, and the house is okay, and if possible, all the trees are okay (in that order of priority). And the worst part is that it's not going to let up until tomorrow night.

I can't concentrate on work because of this storm noise, so, I'm going to catch up on your posts.

Shad - So sorry to hear that your still bored. I hope you got to enjoy some time with your DS's. I'm so saddened to hear about the wildlife killed in the fires, especially the adorable penguins....so so so sad.

Mel - I hope when you get these winds tomorrow, they won't be as strong. It's crazy here. That is too funny about Jen and Ritchie being Lucy and Ricky! I can almost hear them now! :rofl:

Happy - I hope your visit to the doc next week goes well. I've got appts with a bunch of docs in the next few weeks...hearing check, follow up visits for my back, etc. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the musical "Wicked". DH even liked it (not as much as me of course)...and he is SO not into musicals.

Annie - I hope Big O gets your tires/wheels fixed. And I definitely hope that freaky stalker dude doesn't show up at CVS tonight, tomorrow or EVER! The b'day meal for your daughter sounds SOOOO yummy. Would ya' mind sharing your recipe for chicken tetrazini? As for our storms...I hope none of the bad stuff got near my house. There was a tornado near Racine...but that's about 30 minutes south of where I work and 1 hour south of where I live.

Laura - Believe me, I would NOT want to have work email on my phone. Nor do I want a company Blackberry. I had one of those when I was in a different position at my company and I got called at ALL HOURS. I wanted to throw the thing through a wall. If I have to be reachable at home, I'll forward my work phone extension to my cell phone, and someone had better call me if they need me urgently because I don't make a practice of checking my work email outside of work hours. My work has a phone message we can call to see if the office is going to be closed due to inclement weather...and you'd better beleive I called. But no such luck. I may take my laptop home tonight just in case the weather gets worse, I may see if I can work from home. So sorry to hear about your foot problems. That a bummer that your new orthotic doesn't help.

Ceejay - I'm glad you're enjoying your vacation!

Well, I'd best get back to it. I'll try and log on tonight if we have power at home.

To everyone who is dealing with inclement weather...stay safe.

Love and hugs to all,

Annie - I like dry white wines, nothing sweet or fruity. For reds, I like merlot, shiraz, cabernet sauv. Reminds me - when I looked in the fridge last night for white wine, I saw I'd put the cab. in the fridge. Not sure why I did that - need to take it out. Oy, an extra day at CVS!! Like you're not busy enough. Boo.

Michelle - Hope everything is okay at home and work. I can't see or hear the wind here at work (except when I went outside at lunch), but at home it woke me up early. The dog didn't like it much either. I think the wind has dropped a bit - not sure the gusts ever got to 50 mph today as forecast. I think tonight will be better for us because it got chilly when the cold front went through and we'll have the windows closed.

As the boss sometimes says, I'm in my own little he!!. I'm working on something yucky this afternoon and I've had just about enough. About 20 more minutes until I call it a day and skeedaddle for home.

Have a good one ladies.

Hi ladies,
The doggies and house are fine (thank goodness). A large branch fell off the willow. And a sliding storm door came off the track after I got home and is laying (unbroken thank goodness) on the patio. I tried to pick it up, but it is too heavy so DH will have to do it. The wind is still blowing 40-60mph. 40-50 mph sustained winds all day, with 60+ mph gusts.

Here's to a calm, quiet, peaceful night for all.

Love you all,

Morning all,
I've taken today off work and will be doing things around the house and talking to the DS's and looking around the garden to see what L will do during the weekend. I need to prune the tomatoes :rofl: They are just massive and taking over the garden. Unfortunately there is a lot of green but not much fruit as yet. And what is there is not ripening.

So I have put the oven on to clean itself, filled the dishwasher and will shortly empty the fridge and clean it out as well. The DS's put together two big bookcases for me yesterday so I can fill those with all my books and things as well. Then I might have to check the local second hand stores and see if any of them want books. Whatever happened to the Book Exchanges of a couple of years back?

Michelle - so pleased to hear that there isn't too much damage from the storms and wind you are having. Leave that door for the DH. I'm sure he will manage it much easier and you can give the directions as to where it goes.

Laura - I'm a white wine freak myself. Don't mind fruity flavours but don't like it sweet at all. Hope you can sort out the foot soon.

Annie - back to work again. Well just watch out for that so and so stalker. He could turn out to be dangerous. I like the smaller pastas with the grooves or spirals, more sauce hangs on to them that way.

Happy - the world is round - you could end up here just on the other side of the country. Don't worry, I'll find beds for you all over there and then get you to my side without too much trouble.

Mel - I am sure the Penguins will come out on DVD when the series is finished
I'll keep checking and then the Penguins can do the rounds of the States as well.

Poo that oven stinks as it heats to very high temps. I'd better go see if there is a fire in there. I wanted to get it done early before the temps rose. We are up to 27-28C during the day time already although it is still pleasantly cool at night. If I can get the oven done, the fridge cleaned and the furniture in place, and finish painting the outdoor setting, today will have been a productive day. I like productive days.

Good morning girls,

Happy wedding anniversary to my sister - married twenty years today. I'm sure the time has flown for her. I keep thinking she got married 10 years earlier until she reminded me that would have truly made her a child bride. :lol: Not good with numbers and ages and things like that.

Yesterday I got my 10 year service award pin at work. A small tie tack with a tiny diamond chip. Didn't even get a lunch. That's ok, this is a milestone - I now get to keep my company's contributions to my retiree medical savings account and that's a good thing. Also a co-worker compared her husband's insurance plan to ours and they are paying about 1/4 of what we are being gouged for the same plan at our place. It appears that our company is pushing the bulk of the cost of medical down on our shoulders. I read an article online that said companies are starting to do this so that they can drop employee coverage altogether. Thanks guys. Way to earn our loyalty, eh?

Well we had a windy night before last and a windy day all yesterday - the yard looks like we had a tornado - but nothing like you guys got up north. It seems Wisconsin caught it much harder than Illinois did. My sister said the promised "storm of the century" never materialized.

Shad - can't answer your question of book exchanges but brick and mortar bookstores of old are quickly disappearing. I think we are down to one chain of stores and even they are in bankruptcy or near it. Like record stores (which have become extinct) people are ordering online or not buying at all. Kind of sad actually :( I look forward to a Penquin DVD. Good on yah for such busy cleaning there matey. ;)

Michelle- I hope the winds die off for you. How scary to sit at work and worry about the pups and the house. Glad nothing too serious happened. You sure get the storms up your way - I guess the rain too a break and let the wind take over for a bit :yikes:

Laura - I will take your sweet white wines - I'm a white zin girl and like Reislings too. No reds or drys for me thanks. I have a rather large bottle of some red you are welcome to. I asked DH to pick up a small bottle for a recipe and he got the giant economy size :lol: And my friend told me a red turns to vinegar quite quickly once opened so I'm looking for a thirsty friend to bequeath :rofl: Bad to be downtown with the high winds. They used to put ropes up by the IBM :censored: building for people to hang on to. I almost got blown into Wacker drive once. The wind got hold of my maxi coat and blew me like a sail. I had to grab on to a light pole and hang on for dear life. Windy city indeed :lol:

Annie - thinking about you GF and hoping last night at work was uneventful - no unwanted customers. :hug: :lol3: on the Toto remark - how appropriate :rofl: Ok, almost spit my coffee reading back about you driving the Big O tire van home. :lol: Would have been more fun if we were all packed inside peeking out the windows :wave: :wave: :wave:

Ceejay - squeeze every drop of fun out of the vacation.

Good morning Miss Mel - did you style your hair in a nice updo for the office? I think you should go in looking like Flo the waitress just to confuse them :rofl: Hope you are doing fine this morning.

Well now that I got the trash all collected and ready for DH to take out, guess I'd better get to the humping part of the day. Wait ... what? Not THAT kind of hump day???? :o Never mind then :rofl:

:coffee: GOOD MORNING CHICKLETTES
I WOKE UP OVER AN HOUR LATE AND THE PC TOOK OVER 1/2 AN HOUR TO LOAD AOL!! :faint: HAVE TO RUN. GOING TO THE OFFICE. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

morning every one
Had a fun day with my sis yesterday despite the wind. My sister and her dh have a willow tree and it was in full motion. It turned colder over night.

My nephew's wife is an actress in the show at Silver dollar City and brought us a couple of tickets but it's suppose to be in the 40's before morning. The show is outside and I'm a little leary but I do want to go. I did bring my winter coat. and if we go shopping again today I might buy some ear muffs and gloves.

My sis had to get in some kind of continuing hours yesterday so I went with her and afterwards went to Hobby Lobby. I bought some things, and we came across the puzzle's. To my suprise they had another nephew's puzzle's in stock so I bought two of those. We may stop at Walgreen's to see if they have anything.

Michelle
Thought about you yesterday with all this wind blowing. It was fierce here.
Things seem to be on the calm side this morning.

To all the rest :wave: Hope you all have a good day.
My sis thought she would have to do clinical's Thursday but she has enough hours. She's getting to take off all week. yipee.

Hump/Trash/Find stuff that blew away day.......

CVS was uneventful. Stalker did not show up. He has tonight, Thur, Sat & Sun to find me tho. I think he got the message loud and clear. No one else has seen him in the store either. What is it about me that attracts all the idiots. All I am asking God for is just ONE decent man to date. How hard is that?

We had 6 confirmed tornados in Indiana. All were in northern Indiana, the closest one was in Kokomo which is about 30 minutes from Humana and about an hour from where I live. They tore a lot of stuff up, but no fatalities.

Ceejay...what? you may stop at WALGREENS?....I mean what the heck is up with that? I am sure you meant to say CVS. Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry. Have a great time with sister and family.

MELLIE...I know you are not running to the office. You might roll extra fast, but that is it. Don't give too much of yourself to them...

Happy...congrats on the 10 year anniv. at work. That is saying something these days. Most people only make it about 5 years before getting the boot. I, like you, love the sweet crisp wines, but can make myself drink the other. It is just too dry and bitter tasting for me.

Shaddie...enjoy your day and don't accomplish too awful much cause if you do that means you worked too hard and didn't relax enough. We have half price book stores that take donations but darned if they are not picky about the donations they accept. How rude!!

Chelle....glad everything was ok at home. Especially the doggies. Do they have storm anxiety? Big O did get the alignment correct this time. All is good. No Big O vans to drive today. I will post the tetrazini recipe shortly...

Laura...I put all my wine in the fridge. I just don't like room temperature anything to drink, including wine. I figure I live by myself and that is the way I like it so who really cares. My SIL gives me a raft of crap about refrigerating my wine.

Well I have a slough of renewal letters to get out for dental and vision. I best be getting at it. Thank God for mail merge.

Have a marvelous, peaceful, calm day that Chelle spoke of.

Love and Hugs

Good day ladies -

Thank goodness it's Wednesday! And even better that I'm leaving early for a PT appointment. It's still crazy windy outside. I heard on the radio yesterday that some people in Chicago were referring to this crazy wind storm as a "Chi-clone" (pronounced "Shy Clone"). At least it's not hitting us with rain and/or the "s" word. They're getting the "s" word in Northern WI. Too dang early in the year if you ask me. But tomorrow the highs are supposed to be in the mid 40s, with lows well below freezing! :brr: We're going to have to bring the outdoor potted plants indoors.

Shad - How nice of your DS's to put together a couple bookcases! DH brought in the door...and he'll have to try and fix the aluminum frame that the wind bent a bit.

Happy - Sending your sister Happy Anniversary wishes! Congrats on your 10 year anniversary at work.

Laura - You, Shad and Happy can have my share of all the wine. I'll take brewskis and mudslides (not mixed together - LOL). After many years of enjoying white and white zin wines, and breaking out in a head to toe rash after one glass...I realized I was allergic to wine (okay, so I'm really slow). Beer doesn't bother me, so I enjoy it. :drool:

Mel - Bummer about slow AOL. Don't work too hard today.

Ceejay - I'm enjoying reading about the nice times you're having with your family!

Annie - The wind's been so bad, the garbage companies told people NOT to put out their garbage yesterday or today. I saw the TV footage of the tornado damage in Indiana! I didn't know your state got hit so hard. Glad to hear you are safe. The nearest CVS is about 20-30 minutes away, and there are Walgreens on every street corner, so I, unfortunately, usually go to Walgreens. But after the first of the year, since our mail order maintenance meds pharmacy is CVS Caremark, we will be able to get discount maintenance meds at any CVS store, so we don't have to go through mail order, which will be nice. My doggies do have storm anxiety, so I worry a lot about them.


Gotta get ready for a 1:00 meeting, and then it's on to PT and then to home.

Love and hugs,

Yikes Chelle...hope my trash bin did not get blown away today. That would be the second one in a two week span. I will go in debt buying trash bins. lol

Oops, day got away from me! Must be the wind, LOL.

Another windy day here, but no rain, so I did ride my bike to the train station. This might be the last week of cycling for me. DST doesn’t end until next Sunday, 11/7, but still, it’s getting dark early and I just don’t like cycling in the dark. Especially when people rake their leaves into the street for pickup and I have to go around the piles AND avoid cars.

Yesterday we took doggy for a short walk - too windy (and dark and chilly) to take our usual walk. And bf had a hard time picking up after the dog because the plastic bag was being blown around, LOL. After that I did a BE workout. There was a pushup routine, so my chest was sore first thing today and ab soreness came along this afternoon.

Last night I got my music and podcasts onto my phone’s ipod - yay. I also learned the phone didn’t need any updates, contrary to what the guy in the phone store told us.

I also booked flights for bf and I to use my expiring frequent flyer miles. I haven’t flown anywhere for quite a while, so they were expiring due to lack of activity w/ the airline. I feel sort of guilty because bf’s sister had asked if she could buy some from me a while back and I honestly didn’t even think I had enough miles for a flight, which is what I told her. Then I get an electronic (recorded) phone message last month saying my miles expire at the end of Oct. So I go online and see I had enough for one ticket and part of another. So I booked one flight with all miles and another with part miles, part cash. Unless we change our minds, we’ll be going to the Pacific NW in May. This is an area of the US both bf and I have always wanted to see, so I’m sort of excited about it and glad I booked the flight even though it felt very seat-of-the-pants for me.

This morning I woke up and realized that even though my foot is hurting and the elliptical might not feel so good on it, I could exercise using the upright or recumbent stationary bicycle. Duh. Not sure why it didn’t occur to me sooner… Anyway, I will haul my gym gear to work tomorrow and go to the fc for a cardio workout.

Okay, I took a photo of the grocery bag holder I sewed this past weekend and managed to e-mail it to myself. Not the best photo - just took it where it currently hangs next to the door of the 3-season room.

I'll catch up and do personals tomorrow. Everyone have a good day/evening! :)

Morning all,
Back at work again. Early meeting at 8.00am this morning. And not much has changed here. I'm not sure which is worse being here to hear the excuses or being at home now the DS1's partner has arrived. Still I will adopt Happy's mantra - out with the grumbling and in with the gratitude. Nothing lasts forever.

Yesterday I had a fairly good day. I got all but the placement of one piece of furniture accomplished and also managed to prune the tomatoes and roses and help DS2 build a block wall and mix some concrete. DS1 went to have lunch with a friend and then he and I had some together time when DS2 went to tennis in the evening before he had to go pick up DP1. He was late leaving and was probably in the sh*t for not being there to scoop her off the plane but I went to bed before they got back so I don't know for sure. She sure is needy.

Happy - congratulations to your sister on the years of married bliss. Must be something in your family upbringing.

Annie - have fun chasing the rubbish bin down the road. Watch out for stalkers on the way.

Michelle - Glad the damage wasn't too bad for you and the house during the winds.

Laura - got blown away by the day huh? No wind down here. Isn't it amazing what people in phone places will say to get new business. Always pays to try before taking that advice. I just give thanks for an IT DS - even if he is rabbiting on about virtual storage and an IT bloke who fixes the stuff I break.

Ceejay - I hope you had fun at the outdoor theatre. And that you wrapped up well

Mel - busy little bee. Hope you are behaving yourself out there

I'd better go and sort out a few things. The management company I use have invited me to a drink and nibblies night on the river tonight, so I can't go home early. I'll be back

:cofdate: GOOD MORNING CHICKS
ANOTHER MORNING ON THE RUN. WOKE UP LATER AGAIN. IF THIS KEEPS UP I'LL HAVE TO BUY AN ALARM CLOCK!:rofl:
I WILL TRY AND CATCH UP WITH YOU OVER THE WEEKEND. TODAY AND TOMORROW IS THE OFFICE AND TONITE ARE THE MONTH'S END MEETINGS. MY EYES AREJUST FEELING TOO GRITTY TO READ SO NO PERSONALS RIGHT NOW.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!:moped:

Hi there chicks,

Happy Thursday as we 'round the bend through another week. I think the winds have finally died down - big mess of leaves to pick up but plenty more still in the trees. We are getting a touch of color down here - some reds but I think it's going to be a rather dull season because everything is so parched from lack of rain.

Shad - just when does this contract end at the current job? Sounds like they have nothing for you to do or is it that they are just so far behind they are not ready for you? How was your riverside outing last night?

I called my sister to wish her a happy anniversary. She had us both in a fit of giggles over stories of trash bins chasing her and getting run over in the street with the winds they had up that way. It was like the movie "Night of the Living Dead" but starring trash bins instead "I'm coming to get you Barbara..." :lol3: One thing my sister and I can do is get each other laughing until we are crying and coughing and wheezing.

Ah Laura - wish you had asked - best to visit the Pacific NW in August - least amount of rain. They get a heavy mist instead of rain. It's beautiful up that way - am sure you'll enjoy it. If you get the opportunity take a trip up to Victoria, British Columbia and go visit the Butchart Gardens - breathtakingly beautiful. Shad and I have vowed to meet up that way one more time before we settle into our respective corners of the earth. And Birkenstock makes some closed shoes - not many of them but they do have a few styles. Zappos.com is a good place - very liberal return policy if you don't have a Birkenstock store nearby. Your grocery bag is adorable!

Michelle - you cracked me up with your FB comment this morning. :lol3: I think I will grin about it all day. My cousin got some of that cold white stuff up his way - storm knocked the power out for a couple of days too. I hope the winds have blown off by now - poor puppies. Wish I could give you some advice on the inversion tables. I think one of my friends had one - but maybe that was someone at work and now I can't remember who :dunno: Is your shot taking now?

Annie - glad you got back all the stuff that tried to blow away and that the winds have apparently blown away the stalker. You comment about one decent guy from God reminded me of a story in one of those emails you get from friends. Something about a couple hearing that Jesus would visit. They were hurring around preparing when a homeless man showed up at the door, said he was hungry and asked for a scrap of bread to eat. They were very annoyed, were rude to him and threw him out as they were busy preparing for a king. You can guess the rest - the homeless man was Jesus. Now I'm not saying God sent the stalker as the answer to your prayers :yikes: but maybe someone you might overlook might be the one he sent. Yah know? I guess you have to be most specific in your prayers :lol: Anyway I hope a good one comes your way soon... :hug:

Ceejay - did you get to the outdoor show? Brrrr a bit too cold and windy for me I'd think. Hope your vacation is going slowly.

Good morning Mel. Hope you PC comes up quicker. We miss you :hug:

Ok I have to get running - be back later chicks.

Good Morning Good Morning.....

Didn't have to chase the trash bin to far but did have to pick up oodles of trash up outta my front yard. My house sits just perfectly for the trash to accumulate on the SE side of my house up against the backyard fence. I even had a huge shipping box that a shotgun would fit into and a pizza box (empty) that is now taking up space in my trash bin. Had to do all that in my 45 minutes at home between jobs. Bella stood on the opposite side of the fence barking at me, don't know what she was thinking. lol Went in, thru on my CVS clothes, spruced up my make up and hair and away we went.

Stalker Update: He came in the store last night. I could tell he was particularly p*ssed at me. Didn't say a word, purposely walked past my register counter, looking at me, and checked out at Lilly's register. I was thinking, great, do that, not hurting my feelings one bit. Turned to walk out, looked at me and grinned, then left. That was about 8pm. No sign of him when I went home, no cars followed, at all. I think he got the message. Too WEIRD for me.

Out of the past 11 days, I have ate healthy and OP for 9 of them. Pretty good for me. I am down from 169 to 163.5 this morning. Only about 13 lbs to go. Just that little bit of a loss, my clothes are fitting much better. Todays breakfast...cottage cheese with tomato (out of garden, picked green) carrots with Yogurt ranch dressing, string cheese. I have worked at CVS the past 4 shifts with NO snacking. I feel better already.

Happy...yes, I know that bible story. If jesus came to my house smelling like alcohol and cigarettes as the stalker did when he came into CVS, I probably wouldn't let him in either...lol just sayin' Our leaves have almost completely turned and half on the ground. Starting to get that brown, wet, winter like look. Makes me sad. However, good news my sista friend....only 144 days til spring.

Shaddie...glad you made it to work on time to do a whole bunch of nothing. lol Sounds like you and DS got a lot accomplished yesterday, good for you. and let's face it, are there really any girls out there good enough for our sons...I think not. How old are your sons??

MELLIE....Ok, they are working you too much in that office cause you cannot post your great humor which I miss enormously. Besides that, I think you and I click in a sick minded way. lol

Laura...Way to go on the exercising yesterday and riding the bike to the train station. I don't want you riding in the dark either, so park it baby. We just had a cop get killed while riding his bicycle at dark. Not good. The trip sounds awesome. Come on May.

Hidee Ho's to Chelle and Ceejay.

Gotta get busy, I have a line at my cubicle...

Love and hugs,

Went shopping yesterday at Marshall's and Kohl's. I purchased to long sleeved tops at Kohl's and one top at Marshall's.
Our plans may change since it's getting colder to go to the ampetheater. We may go to Branson Landing instead. I've never been to either of them.

Annie
The reason I want to go to Walgreen's is to look for puzzle's that my nephew has out. He also has calendar's for 2011. If I can't find them I can order those at Amazon dot com. I know his line of products are at Walgreen's. Was shocked when I found 2 at Hobby Lobby the other day. I was doing the happy dance.
Can you make an excuse to go to the bathroom when the stalker comes into the store? Do they have puzzle's in CVS?
Congrats on the weigh loss.

Mel
You sure are working alot these day's. Don't over do it. The extra sleep is good even though you may be an hour late.

Shad
you are alway's doing something around the house. I think you are my motivator in getting things done at home.

Happy
It is great to see a marriage last as long as 20 years. Congrats to your sis. My sis and I have laughed alot this week also.

Laura
Good for you in booking a vacation. I don't fly that much so I don't have frequent flyer miles. But my oldest sis and her dh fly a lot and they use their miles for vacation's etc.

I feel like I've missed some one so if I have I'll give a :wave:

Just a quick hello. I'm off to the fc for a workout. :wave:

Happy Thursday ladies -

It was a chilly and windy morning here...but thankfully not as windy as the past couple days. I have a follow up appt with my ortho surgeon after work, and hopefully he'll write a letter recommending that I get an inversion machine. I posted on FB to see if any of my friends (or their friends) had inversion machines, and if they could offer any info or recommendations. Talk about ask and you shall receive! I got some great info which is helping me make an informed decision about the one I want. Tomorrow, I'll be working from home and I have a morning appt with an audiologist.

I'm going to go to the gym tomorrow after work to do the recumbent bike or recumbent stepper. Believe me, I will NOT overdo it. I'll probably stop at the library first so I have something good to read.

Shad - I hope DP1 isn't too much of a PIA to be around. Hang in there, worldly sister!

Mel - You take care of yourself and your eyes. Don't you work too hard.

Happy - We still have plenty of leaves in the trees here too, despite all the crazy wind. Now you have me wondering what FB post cracked you up. :dunno: As for my shot, I've gotten approx. 65% relief. The pain is not constant, and it flares up much less frequently. I occasionally still hit the max pain level. What I want to achieve is to be able to be as active as most women I know who are my age. I'm WAY TOO YOUNG to be this limited - not be able to even walk for more than 15 minutes or stand for more than 5.

Annie - I hate it when the wind (or the raccoons) spread the trash all around. Glad to hear the Stalker didn't wait for you to get off work. Congrats on the weight loss!! YGG!!!

Ceejay - Thank you for shopping at Kohl's! :lol: Glad to hear you're enjoying your vacay!

Laura - I LOVE the grocery bag holder. :) Thanks for the mention about DST. I thought that ended this weekend. How exciting to be going to the Pacific Northwest. I used to live near Seattle with my ex. :bravo: for going to the Fitness Center!! Good for you for thinking of other exercise options you can do despite your foot pain! The top of my foot as hurting so bad yesterday that when I went to PT, I mentioned that my back pain was about a 2 or 3 (pretty low) but my foot pain was a 10. The PT examined it and suggested I get it x-rayed which is in the same building and since it's a company sponsored wellness center, is free. My PT called me last night to let me know the x-ray came back normal. Yay! So she suggested Rest Ice Compression and Elevation, which I was doing anyway. Today it feels much better.

But as I was laying in bed yesterday evening when I was still not sure if it was fracture, I was wondering if I'd EVER get to Zumba again. And I got p*ssed off because I HAVE to get this weight off. Which means I HAVE to get serious about my eating! And I HAVE to burn calories in whatever way my body lets me, even if it's a boring and much less fun way compared to Zumba. What also got me fired up and further p*ssed off is I was telling DH that I'd like to go to a Haunted House this year where they have actors dress up and scare you. He reminded me that I can't walk, I can't bend, I can't crawl (yes, some require that), and I can't stand in line. I HATE being told I CAN'T do something. And I'm frustrated with these stupid limitations that my back is imposing on me.

Gotta run as I have a meeting to prep for.

Lots of love,

Shad – Glad you had a good productive day off work. I was wondering if tomato plants could be/should be pruned. Mine got totally out of hand this season and even the jumbo tomato cages (which I never got around to purchasing) wouldn’t have handled them. Nice of ds to assemble the bookcases for you! Did you enjoy the drinks and nibblies last night? :cheers:

Happy – Congrats to you and sis on your respective anniversaries. :congrat: We’re at exact opposites on the wine spectrum, LOL. Yeh, I have a vivid memory of a tornado-force windy day years and years ago down by Navy Pier (for work) having to hang onto a pole for dear life! These past couple days weren’t like that.. As for the Pacific NW – I believe I can change the ticket dates without cost, so we’ll consider doing that. I’ll be doing my research. I would love to see Vancouver and/or Victoria, and Butchart Gardens. We have a Birk store in Wilmette at Edens Plaza, or whatever they now call that shopping area at Lake Street & I-94/Edens Expressway, so that’s not far at all.

Mel – Is this day #2 at the office? Don’t work too hard lady, and take care of those peepers!! Hope the meetings go okay tonight. :blah:

Ceejay – Nice your sis has more time to spend with you this week. Sorry the weather isn’t the best…I’ve been to Branson Landing – on the river right? (or is that just a funny-shaped lake, I forget) It’s nice there, and that cool fountain.

Annie – I just made 15 years at my job this past August – not sure how. Glad the stalker stopped, and hope he doesn’t start up again. Congrats on your loss!!! You’re doing awesome. :cheer3: I weighed in this morning at the same weight as a year ago. Sigh.

Michelle – I beat you with bringing in the potted plants – did that about a week ago. Not that I’ve watered them or anything since then though. I feel bad for them – they suffer in the basement all winter with poor lighting and neglect from their mommy. Poor babies. I’m sorry your foot was hurting, but I’m relieved it’s not fractured and glad that it’s feeling better today. I know you’d just love to be able to Zumba away the weight, but unfortunately, eating is the bigger part of the weight loss equation, especially when you can’t spend a LOT of time exercising like, say, those Biggest Loser folks. I totally get you being frustrated that you can’t do physical activities. I’m frustrated with this foot pain and I’m hoping it’s going to get resolved. If it’s still a problem when I take my vacation, I’ll be ticked…but I’ll probably got to the foot doc and demand a pain shot!

Last night bf had already taken doggy for a walk by the time I got home, so I just did my BE workout. Lots of sore muscles today after 3 days in a row. Oh, and Annie, I did a couple minutes of hoola hooping and was thinking of you while I did it. ;)

Another busy morning. The fundraising stuff continues, and I had a meeting this morning about it. I’m sort of annoyed at the current activity that I let myself get roped into. I won’t get into it here, but let’s just say that I haven’t sent any of you a solicitation for a charity donation like some of my other friends and family have, LOL. So I spent a bit of time working on that e-mail. Then another meeting on real work. Then I went to the fc and did my cardio - 30 min. on the recumbent bike. Ugh. Something about that isn’t comfortable to me. Next time I’ll do the upright stationary bike. If I don’t care for that either, I’ll give the elliptical a go and see how the foot feels on it.

Wow, almost a novel here. Let me get this thing posted. Everyone have a wonderful remaining Thursday/Friday!! :)

Morning all,
Drinks and nibblies last night was very nice. I'm glad I wasn't footing the bill tho'. DS1 and I were perusing the menu for the place online after I got home and nearly fell over at some of the prices for mains (nothing less that $35 and up to $50). And the drinks menu was something else as well. $7000 for a bottle of Krug champagne! :faint: :faint: Roll on up my friends, I'll shout you a glass. And yes you did read right $7K a bottle.Would need to be some celebration!

Anyway, got home and was completely stuffed. Funny how doing nothing can tire you out. Got into my pyjamas and was watching some mindless tv with a cuppa when DS1 and DP walked in. They had a Hells pizza each and some champagne with it. Funny combination. And then DP decided to channel surf for something interesting to watch - Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Celebrity Rehab, and some really mind numbing American thing about some one who swallows flames on a stick and is looking for fame and fortune. So I tolerated this for a while, then stacked the dishwasher, checked out facebook and went to bed. DS2 was out playing tennis. Probably what I was watching was just as ridiculous to her anyway so I shouldn't complain.

So back at work for a Friday stint. I may just take more Wednesdays off, I like the idea. And next Wednesday I have a check up at the skin cancer clinic and since I also have a pain in my left leg, and my left hearing aid isn't working I might just schedule a me day and get sorted out.

Mel - I have a spare alarm clock here. If I can find where I put it, I'll send it over. Don't work too hard.

Happy - contract ends December 26th. There are some constitutional problems which are setting back deadlines and such. I think some could be alleviated by giving the product to the UAT (User Acceptance Testers) and let them make any suggestions for change (usually they don't) but others have a large HR involvement and will mean some changes to Job Position descriptions and names and Role positions as well. As we all know, that is a huge job and it must be done properly for any project to have any chance of success and if HR are involved all things must be aligned by the stars or something. Would be nice if all levels could agree on something though.

Laura - Seems like a beautiful part of the country on the NW seaboard. I'd like to see more of it. Maybe next year or the year after when I come over. I know Happy said 2013 for their move, but I might be old and decripit (or moreso) by then. Trouble is most of you lot live on the other side of the land mass. *sigh* we are all so contrary to my plans

Annie of the Trash Bins - exercise is exercise, no matter how you take it. All that bending and lifting.
As for girls being good enough for my sons, I would really love to see them settle down and start their own piece of family history. I have no worries and no problems about them moving on. I just wish they would (well one at least) stand up for themselves and move on from a relationship which is quite frankly going nowhere, costing money, and keeping him from finding a fulfilling career path. Years from now, this will fester in a very bright brain and he will realise he has wasted his productive years. We get old all too soon in the IT industry. Enough.

Ceejay - sounds like that holiday is going well. Hope time doesn't fly too fast when you are having fun.

Michelle - Sorry to hear that the pain is still in the leg. My left calf has gone out in sympathy with it - it that helps. Good that you got some advice on the inverter thingy. I can arrange for you to helibungy and leave you hanging upside down above a mountain lake in NZ for a while if you like. The scenery will take your mind off things for a while.

So I had better go and see if I can make some sense of these flow charts - grrrr - and see if I can add to my Powerpoint presentation today. That might keep me busy for all of 15 mins or so. Maybe a tad more.

Good morning ladies,

Happy Friday :yay: Another week closer to retirement. It's pretty chilly out there this morning. Turned the furnace on to take the chill out of the house. Good sleeping weather though. I woke up about 15 minutes before the alarm, was hoping it was about 3am and I could roll over but no such luck :(

I think I'm going to try and get out of the house a little early today so I'm going to forego posting and will catch up with you at lunch. Have a good one!

:tantrum: I OVERSLEPT FOR THE 3RD TIME!!!!!!
WTF IS WRONG WITH ME. NOW I'M ON THE RUN AGAIN.
I'LL HAVE PLENTY TO READ OVER THE WEEKEND FOR SURE. I WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN UP TO. THE MEETINGS WERE FINE...WE HAD A GOOD TIME IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT...
SENDING MY LOVE TO ALL OF YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY:moped:
PS: I work Monday and Tuesday as well...so PLEASE pray for me:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Busy morning...just stopping to say hi and that I'll try and check in later. I got the orthosurgeon to fill out the form for my inversion table, so I'll be ordering that today. I'm heading out in about 1/2 hour to go to the audiologist.

Hope you all have a great Friday!

Luvya,

Happy Friday all!

Shad - Taking Wednesdays off is a good way to break up the workweek, but I still prefer to take Fridays and/or Mondays and create a longer weekend. In fact, I have quite a bit of vacation days left for this year and I'll schedule some long weekends over the next couple months...and still have some days leftover. I get how fancy restaurants and bars can justifiably charge more, but sometimes it's just out and out ridiculous! $7,000 for a bottle of champagne!!

Happy - Lately I've been waking up during the hour before the alarm goes off. Like you, I always hope it's a lot earlier, but usually it's not.

Mel - Hey, you're working a lot - why are you surprised you're sleeping more/later? :D Working again Mon & Tues?!?! Aren't you supposed to be retired??? Don't overdo!!

Michelle - Glad the doc authorized the inversion table!! Hope it brings you relief.

Hellos to Ceejay & Annie!!

Nothing much to report. Got home last night just as bf was leaving the house to take doggy for a walk. I put away my bags and joined them. After that I was a couch potato, then went to bed and watched more tv. Slept well, but I keep waking up before the alarm. Something is disturbing my sleep. I think it might be my neighbor, because he leaves the house at 5:15 am. Maybe I'm hearing his garage door opening and his pickup truck (unfortunately, our bedroom is next to their driveway). What's really annoying is that he rolls out their garbage and recycling bins each week before he leaves for work and the wheels make a noise. Why can't he do that the night before?? BTW, we call him Dr. Noise. He's always working on a car, motorcycle or something.

Nothing planned for this weekend - yay!!! I need to tear out the veg garden and then take down the fence around it. I'm sure there's plenty of twigs and tree limbs to pick up in the yard. As I predicted, our trees didn't lose many leaves during the windy days this week - and I'm surprised because not many of the trees in the neighborhood did either. So 3 of our 4 trees still have their leaves. Boo. Oh, and speaking of Halloween...need to buy some candy this weekend.

That's about it. Everyone have a great weekend and a good Halloween. And now I will close with all the Halloween emoticons, LOL.

:frank: witch2: :spid: :dracula: :ghost: :witch: :haphal: :badbat: :bat: