I am back to knitting. I still have some shoulder pain, but it is a lot less than it was. I put a pillow under my left arm and that seem to have helped a great deal so I can knit now. I have Susan's, Jean's and half of Gail's slippers finished so I am rolling along. I am anxious to see what they look like when felted because they look a lot different felted than as regular knitting. I need to get to Joann's and get some cute buttons for all of yours and my girlfriend's pair and the other pair I did. Maybe I can do that sometime this long weekend.
I guess I didn't tell you that the mayor backed off the holiday pay thing and sent out this lie of a letter to the employees and to the media saying he felt that maybe it was too much of a burden to do it that way so was giving the employees a straight 4.6% pay cut. Truth is, the union has a signed contract that was signed by him before the budget was even finished that says so holiday or regular pay cuts. They are taking him to court I guess as he is still going to cut pay. If we have to go that route at least now I can adjust my budget. The sad thing is that 50 people lost their jobs yesterday and none of them are white collar workers of course. None of his cronies got axed either.
Maggie: Thanks for the offer, but I have read all the Jack Reacher character books and I am trying to keep from having actual books accumulate as we have no where to put them. I am putting everything on my Iphone that I read as Amazon stores them for me after they are read. I like the Mickey Hailer character as much as I do the Harry Bosch character of Michael Connelly's. I also like Robert B Parker's Spenser novels (though he passed away late last year so there will be no more of those) and Stuart Woods Stone Barrington characters except that his novels have him in bed with some woman more than anything else anymore so I quit reading them. I am a huge fan of DicK Francsis who passed away a year or so ago. I think his son is going to write his books now as they collaberated on his last two before he died. He was in his 90's I think though when he passed away. I am a fan of character books and read Sue Grafton's books, Janet Evanovich's books, Sara Paretsky, Edna Buchannan and I could go on and on. Oh and I love J D Robb's "In Death" series which if you don't know is a female detective set in the future New York and they are really good.
Jean: Michael Connelly books are considered mystery/thrillers and I have to say out of the bazillion authors I read, he has yet to get boring and rehash plots. He does bring in previous books but as a reference point not because he can't think of anything new to write like a lot of authors do. If you like novels that lead you on a red herring chase you will like him. I can almost always pick out the killer by the middle of the book, but he throws you a curve all the time and it usually isn't who you come to expect. His writing is top notch and if you can, go to www.michaelconnelly.com and look at his books link and read them in order either his lawyer character or his polic detective character and a couple of the later ones bleed into each other, which was fun. They won't let Jack have it all done close together because it lowers his resistance to infection too much so they have to be done one at a time and his hand replacement needs at least 12 weeks. He doesn't know what the schatski's ring surgery would cost him, but his knee surgery will almost wipe out all his saved sick time.
Susan: That is exactly why I do because I tend to lean forward in the chair as I knit. I don't know why I didn't think of it before as I used to put a pillow under my left arm, which is my knitting, and throwing hand when I had the old recliner. It lifts that arm up just enough to keep from putting stress on that back muscle and the arm and elbow and wrist. I keep telling him we just need to cut him off at the neck 'cause for the most part, the head is still good!
He told me the other day he wasn't too sure about the head anymore. Poor guy is at the point in his life where he just wants to retire and stay home. He has 4 years to go and he is just worn out. You know in our parents generations and before folks retired when they were around 40-45 with a full pension to live on. Now folks have to work until they drop dead to have enough money to live on. If he hadn't had two full careers each with a partial pension, he would have to keep working. We will still lose about $1000 a month with the medicare adjustment over our premium insurance and the pension only funding 35% of his finally salary for the year he retires.Gail: I hope this weekend you will be able to do something fun or get to enjoy the grandkids or something!!! Can't wait to finish all you gals slippers and ship them to you.
Have a good weekend all of you. Faye
It's a beautiful morning in my corner of the world -- a cool 75 degrees and sunny. I hope the "cool" lasts over the weekend. I never made it to the store yesterday so that is next on my list. Will have a couple loads of laundry to finish also.
Just don't overdo and aggravate the pain. It will be interesting to see how the city lawsuit pans out in court. I'm surprised the mayor can make the paycut decision on his own, or does he have the city council behind him? I did look up Michael Connelly after I posted yesterday. I will have to look and see if his books are in our library. I used to buy lots of paperback but they are so expensive and I got tired of looking at my "read" pile. They all went to the SOS store so someone else could enjoy them.
from Iowa!
Life is good. It is called the CucinaPro Tortilla Press. I also have an old WW recipe for flour tortillas that are 3P+ and one from them for corn that is 1p+. I also have a recipe that has corn and flour in the same recipe for 3P+. I like to keep the points as low as possible and have them still taste good and not break when you roll or fold them over. I don't eat much bread at all but when I do eat it I want it to be real good and worth the points+ I am spending. I have known tortilla since I was a wee little tot. You can wrap most any food up in a tortilla. 
I didn't know there was such a thing as a tortilla press! 
We went out to eat at Whiskey Creek today and I had one of their "diet" meals. I was pleased to see that half the plate was filled with steamed broccoli which I squeezrd lemon over. There was a butterflied chicken breast that had been baked then lines burned on it sitting on a bed of rice. A green salad of spinach leaves, argula, purple onion rings and grape tomatoes ~ without the crutons and cheese ~ served with ff ranch on the side. I am calling it 10p+ because they only gave stats for cal, fat & fib. I ran what I ate though my program and that is what I came up with plus added a few points due to the fact I really don't know what was on that chicken or in the rice to make it taste so good. The calorie count gave me a clue it may have been butter. It was quite filling and tasted great and I didn't leave the place feeling stuffed plus it fit nicely in my program. 
They have other program friendly offerings on their menu that I will be trying in future visits. 
I bet your little one could use a doggie door like this one for it is so easy to open ~ just lean on it a little or a little push with his nose or paw. If he leaned on it he just may roll out on the porch. That is just the vision I saw in my minds eye. I sure like it for it is clear and easy opening. They can see what is out there before going out. I do remember those Heckle and Jeckle cartoons with those two black crows. They were a hoot. Hope your aches and pains have lessened this day some more.
We are going to have roasted garlic and parmesan asparagus with it and a baked potato. 
HAPPY & Safe 4th
Our tomato plants are losing their blossoms at the top edge of the plants but the ones down further are still intact. Just too much heat for them even though we are keeping them watered. We are just doing the best we can. Can't ask for any better than that. I did lose a pound at weigh in this day so that is good for me going in the right direction. I made the best biscuit thingies to eat with the chili verde last evening and they are a definite do again. I will put the recipe here for you so you can make them if you wish.
You are down 4 big ones! 
: 
you go girlfriend. On down the road to thin. That asparagus sounds yummy. Some folks have been shooting of lots of fireworks for the last two days here. Bothers Ragg Mopp and he sticks like glue close to me. Doesn't phase Beanie. He is a bash on regardless type of dog. 
I am so thankful that Will does the laundry is what this is all about. Sometimes we just need help don't we. 
I do remember the buzzard cartoon! 
I can't imagine how clutzy I would be on crutches. 
Just trying to do my part and try my best to not buy the stolen merchandise. 
I like to make things that are different 
than I have made before and can tell if we will like it by reading the recipe. Times are rough everywhere. I heard on the news that the middle aged folks that got laid off may not ever get their jobs back. What a shock for some folks who are not prepared nor have made plans for retirement yet. I feel so sorry for those folks. Those who have jobs should be ever so thankful and hang on to them tightly. Aren't you so thankful that Jack has a job. OH 
Hope you have success on it. 
I can't use one but I can walk .
They don't start until 10:30 up at Okoboji. We have fireworks over the Labor Day weekend, on Sunday night. Thanks for explaining the tea bag fix for a nail.
I hope it is not so hot and humid if you are out and about.