Morning all.

Mel - Nice you saw John. Sorry he's missing the people part of the job and I hope he finds another source of people contact - social groups, volunteering. LOL that you got into the decorating part of the season quite a bit early. But how could you help it if you were watching all those movies on the Hallmark channel!!! I admit to watching bits and pieces of several over the weekend. But I'm still wishing the media and retailers gave Thanksgiving its undivided attention, but we all realize that groceries are not enough profit potential for the greedy advertisers. Oops, sorry I got negative there for a minute.

Shad - Congrats on your free air ticket! I hope you can work it out w/ your job schedule to make a trip home to see family. So nice to hear you making your veg garden plans. Not that I'm ready to start a new one yet or missing the old tangle of overgrown tomato plants yet (not while I'm still awash in various ripe and unripe tomatoes in the kitchen), but I am looking forward to trying something different next year, especially greens. No, Coal (aka Puppy le Pew) still has the skunk smell when you get close to nuzzle him (but not from the usual distance). Thankfully the house no longer smells of it though. Yeh, having that scent as your sole means of defense is comical in a way. I'd rather be able to outrun, outfly or outclimb my predators...

Hello Amaranth!

Ceejay - I hope the roommate thing works out for your bff. Ugh, I hope the landlord sends out a plumber quickly!!!

Happy - The frame sounds so nice. I just saw a commercial this weekend by Prudential featuring people's photos on the first day of their retirements - a lot of sunrises. Naturally I thought of you. And the weather is getting to the point where throws are about to be reached for!! The idea of spending part of a winter day snuggled under a heated throw with a good book sounds heavenly!! What a nice gift. But packing first - wow, the 11th is thisclose!!! Better kick it into high gear so you're ready for the movers come Friday!!!

Hellos to Annie & Michelle.
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Weekend was nice and low key. Dinner Friday was tasty, but still expensive in spite of the gift cert! And the restaurant was packed - who says there's an economic crisis??? Sadly, I'm sure many of these people couldn't really afford this, but they were there anyway and the plastic took the brunt of it.

Sat. AM was the mammo and then a Zumba class. Rest of the weekend was lazy. Dog walk to the creek on Saturday. Sunday, we walked to the park and I decided to see if the tennis court was empty (yes) and if we could find a stray tennis ball (yes). So I threw the ball a couple times, but a little puggle in the adjacent set of courts (separated by a fence) was more interesting to Coal. The boy with his dog ultimately came over by us and after a test intro proved they wouldn't probably want to kill each other, we let them loose and they played for a bit. Nice and tiring for Coal, and it was good to get him playing w/ another dog. I told bf about it after we got back home and he scolded that I should get contact info when we meet dogs Coal gets along with so we can set up play dates, but I told bf that I'm not going to set up a play date with a 10-year old!! Nice kid though.

Okay, gonna get this posted and get on with my vacation day. I've got a dr appt (bp med followup) later in the afternoon, but that's it. I think I will do an exercise class after that tonight. Til then, I'm just gonna relax and hang out. Maybe some shopping - my fall/winter wardrobe is very sad.

Hey Annie, no I was MIA around here over the weekend, so you didn't overlook anything. Yummies for dd's bday!! Now I want to bake some PB cookies!!! You tell that little guy to get the lungs growing so he can be home for Thanksgiving!! So your son is another early holiday decorator in our midst!! Wow. I thought it was just the stores...and Mel, hahaha. I hope your high bp levels are temporary. I'm unhappy that I'm on the meds now, and I'm hoping that when I lose some weight I can get off them.

Laura....I was on BP meds before I had GB surgery, then lost all the weight and no longer needed them. Doc said this may just be hereditery so nothing I can do about except take meds. blah!

Good morning ladies,

Only been off a week and already I had to struggle really, really hard to think about what day it actually was. It's moving week !!!! We will lose our internet and TV tomorrow as DH said it's a long wait at the cable company to turn in the equipment and it will be too busy at the house here on Wednesday and Thursday to take it in there. So this will be my last post for probably at least a week - well maybe I will be able to peek in on Friday at the hotel if we don't get in too late. Not sure when DH has the cable and TV getting connected at the new house. Yesterday was a wild goose chase in the morning. DH can't find stuff and he gets all obsessive and hyper so I had to help him find some things. Spent my morning doing that and changing out the hotel stop on Friday - he said we should go to a less expensive hotel now that we don't need the pet friendly one. In the afternoon I started pulling things out of the garage to go through - wanting to trash some things as there is no sense taking papers and magazines and I was able to shred a bunch of receipts. The kitchen is a mess again and we have to put Humpty Dumpty all back nice and clean because the buyers are doing their final inspection tonight. DH and I have not decided where our last dinner here will be. I'm hoping he isn't thinking fast food!!!!! Anyway ... it's come down to this. Still doesn't seem like we are leaving but I'm sure it will sink in quickly.

Must have been the weekend for peanut butter cookies. I made some too I found in the freezer but cooked them 2 minutes 2 long and they are quite "crispy".

Laura - last night I saw the Prudential insurance commercial with the retirement sunrises. I told DH that HE would be getting up early next Sunday to take one After all, he's up first anyway. I'm glad Coal is a little less "ripe". Ooh boy, I don't know what's worse - that he smelled of skunk or was eating it. uke: Bet he rolled in it too! what is it with dogs? That's nice that Coal found someone to romp with - bet he got a good workout. BF has to understand that boy's mom might think it a bit wierd if some grown up stranger lady wanted to make doggy play dates But maybe you will cross paths again. Enjoy your day off.

Annie - if you have sustained high blood pressure over 140, it might be a good thing to go see a doctor. Don't want to risk anything happening to you - baby Jake needs grandma to have 2 good working arms to hold that little peanut! I can imagine that they are reallly missing you at CVS - especially with the busy holidays coming up. Congratulations on you and Curtis becoming roomies. This will be the acid test to see how the relationship works 7 x 24. I'm glad happy days are back at your house again. Did DS get a real tree this early? Geez by Christmas it will be a Charlie Brown tree We will do our artifical tree this year and I'm hoping maybe next year we can do real again although DH said we have a yard full of Christmas trees we don't have to cut down and one right off the deck that is perfect to decorate. But you don't get that great smell Christmas tree smell outside - wrong kinds of pine trees. Happy Birthday Sissy Tell her not to steal the baby's thunder when birthday time rolls around

Ceejay - sorry to hear about the sewer. Ewww. Hope it wasn't too bad. I agree with the others to stay out of the middle of a 3-some. Never turns out good. Glad you got to see some of the colors. For such a dry autumn we've had, there sure is alot of red this year - but the trees are stressed I think so the leaves are not staying on long.

Shad - that is wonderful about getting the complimentary plane ticket. I know you aren't that fond of the Christmas season but how nice to be able to get back to spend time with the family again. Is this work contract about to wrap up or did you say they wanted to extend you again? My cousin can't wait to meet you- he's not sure you are coming and I told him if you said you will, you will. So save up your pennies and I'll get the guest room ready

Mel - I'm glad you were able to stay out of the fireworks around the building. How nice that you are all decorated already! I know you love the season and anything that makes you walk around smiling is a good thing! I think Jen had an ulterior motive there :s I could use your help packing but we'd probably just sit there and laugh and talk and nothing would get done!

Michelle - hope the weekend wasn't all work and you had some fun.

Hi Amarantha

Well time's a wasting as they say - lots to do and I'd better get at it. Will check in later.

Oh to second the BP advice. I was hoping to get off them too once the stress stopped and I lost some weight but the nurse at work said that I had a strong family history of BP problems so it's possible that the stress kicked it in early but I might have eventually wound up on the meds anyway. So as Annie says... might always need them. The important thing is not to up and stop them without doctor's approval. The results can be devistating.

Hi everyone -

Due to system unavailability early on Monday mornings during the holiday freeze, my boss asked if I'd be willing to adjust my hours on Mondays. So for the next two months, I'll be working from 8 to 5 on Mondays. I prefer to get off work earlier...but it's only 1 day a week and only for two months.

Anyway, I'm trying to get my morning squared away...which seems harder to do at 8 am than at 6:30 am. I'll try and check back in later.

*************
Happy - I just saw your FB post about not having TV or Internet starting tomorrow until next week. I hope that somehow you can either text us or call us that you're doing ok. You know how we worry. I'm sending you TONS of : and to help you get everything accomplished with little or no stress. I love ya', sista.

Talk to y'all later chicas,

Love and hugs,

Happy....safe driving...and may St. Christopher be with you in your travels. (Patron saint of travel). Remember to breath the next few days. Don't stress out, it is what it is.....tons of hugs!! BTW...following docs orders on the BP meds....she upped it by another pill a day. Me doing the DASH diet is something I decided to do...doc didn't even say anything about it. I am also down 6 lbs. Go figure!

Annie
As happy said bp problems can run in some families and mine is one of them. Glad that you are taking control of it. And yeah on those six pounds lost. Let them stay to the curb.

Happy
Happy trails as the old song Roy Rogers and Dale Evan's used to sing as they left their show. We will miss you as you travel. Be careful.

Laura
How did you like the Zumba class?

Michelle
Those extra two hours can make a lot of difference.

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Told my super this morning that it felt like Christmas. He brought me two new "toys". One is a fancy squeegie and the other is a drain snake that I can use more easily on the lime pipe. You ladies would not believe what I do around here. I told him I wished for a drain snake last night. My sewer problem wasn't as bad as it seemed. The bathtub water didn't have any where to drain to so it came back under the commode again. UGH had to use four towels to mop up the water. Then this morning there was more in the kitchen. I did call the land lord this morning.

Just to pop in and say thanks for the welcomes!

Would say more but need a nana nap and a coconut water desperately right now lol!

Hope everyone is havin' a great start to the week! Woot!

Finally got to thinking about the market rhyme so I looked it up. Nothing like the internet hey?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_mark...market#Origins

There you go, now make sense of that.

The attached is a picture of the great niece who came around today with her granddad (my DB2). Poor wee thing has a rotten cold and is all stuffed up. DB2 doesn't mind looking after her. Reckons she is easy to have around. But then she only has to point and he goes running.

It's late in the day and I haven't had a good day workwise. Guess I should buckle down and just do it, but I have other things I would rather do. Took to the vege garden again this morning and pulled out everthing gone to seed or looking seedy. Once I get the hedge finished, I'm going to try transplanting some of the stray lettuces germinated from seed and also the rhubarb, baby bell pepper and the parsley. I'm sort of thinking about putting all the permanents and herbs down one side of the garden. That will save me from a lot of digging around things.

Ceejay - seems there is always some sort of problem round your place. Landlord should be doing more maintenance by the sound of it.

Happy - happy trails. Hope the move goes just fine and dandy for you. See you on the other side. Hope the phone and internet are all hooked up for you when you get there. I will be there when I get there and there is nothing decided yet. Just warm it up a bit will ya.
Contract goes to the end of April. Had sort of hoped for a spring tour this time and be in London for the Chelsea Flower show. But I don't think I will make it somehow. Maybe the year after.

Laura - hope the mammo went off okay. Must be due for one again as well. Maybe it is next year since they come around every two years and I haven't had a letter this year. I have had one for a pap smear so guess I have to get that over and done with as well. Never ending.

Michelle - civilised hours. Whatever next. You won't know what to do with yourself. Take some advice - get up at the normal time and do a half hour decluttering before you go to work. You will be surprised at the results it can achieve.

Mel - hope you haven't worn yourself out on those elections. Seems they go on all the time over there, and now we hear that there are 355 days to the next US presidential election - groan. Yawn, grumble. We get enough of our own pollies. No idea why we have to get to hear about all the foibles of yours as well.

Annie - seems lil monkey is growing in leaps and bounds. The breathing will happen eventually. Can't force em along. Good to hear that the BP is going down nicely and you are losing weight.

Amarantha - coconut water?? Does one drink that stuff. I just cook rice in it. Give it a good flavour.

Anyway, best get off and get this grumpy cat some dinner. Very verbal at this time of the day and I am sure it is not nice whatever that is that she is saying. See ya

Good morning ladies -

DH and I had a busy weekend. I worked out in the yard planting over 100 bulbs in the new planter areas, mulching the leaves with the riding mower and getting a good start on getting the gardens/patio ready for winter. DH worked on getting the cars ready for winter (oil change, tune up, antifreeze change, etc.). We still have to clean out the gutters, but we're waiting until the tree in the front yard starts dropping leaves. That dang tree holds on to its leaves until late November.

I hate to talk about the "w" season...but with all the "s" (and I don't mean poop) that Mel and the East Coast a week or so ago, I know it's inevitable. In fact, a few days ago, they had the "s" word in our forecast for today...but thankfully, it's going to be all rain.

Since I haven't been around much (my apologies), I forgot to mention that I lost 3 lbs last week! I don't expect that every week, but if I can at least keep the scale going in a downward trend, I'd be thrilled. I am watching the portions and adding more activity. I'm walking further at the office, taking the stairs more, gardening, cleaning, going to the gym when I can.

Okay...I'm having to go back a few days to see what y'all have been up to. I need better time management skills so I can keep up with my Worldly Sista BFFs!

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Laura - How is BF's mother doing after her cortisone shot? At first the shots helped me for a few days...but after that...nothing. But they are very effective for most people. Sounds like a very nice weekend. Don't worry that your fall/winter wardrobe is "sad"...mine is nonexistent. I need to lose 5 or 10 pounds to fit into my fall/winter shirts/sweaters...and I don't like anything in the stores...even if I did want to buy new stuff in a larger size. How did the doc appointment go? I was on BP meds for awhile...then the doc cut back my dose by 1/2...and a couple months later took me off the BP meds entirely. Of course, I'm still on two cholesterol meds, asthma meds, pain meds and an low dose antidepressant.

Mel - I'm so glad Willy was the driver to TJ's so that he could help you. So nice that John was there to help you bring all your groceries upstairs. I'm sure he must miss the people contact. That wasn't wise of him to try and get a raise by threatening to retire/quit...it rarely ever turns out well when people do that. Good for you for getting stocked up. Too funny about the autumn color in the upscale parking lot! You've decorated for the holidays already? Well, if it cheers you up, why the heck not? I'm waiting until DMIL is here (probably a couple days before Thanksgiving), because she has so much fun putting up the holiday decorations with me. Good luck with election day today. Don't work too hard, okay?

Annie - I love hearing the updates about Baby Jake. I hope the little guy starts breathing regularly so he can be home for Thanksgiving! Saying prayers for him. Bummer about having to cut out all that yummy food to lower your BP. It's amazing how sodium sneaks its way into just about everything. Congrats on Curtis moving in with you!! That's wonderful! I'm so happy that you've found such a good man who adores you as you certainly deserve all the happiness in the world! Sounds like you had a very nice weekend with Sissy, Baby Jake, Curtis and your cousin. Please wish Sam a belated Happy Birthday for me. Congrats on the weight loss. I'm so glad you're following the docs orders on your BP meds...don't want to mess around with that.

Ceejay - I hope your two friends who moved in together are able to work things out. I agree with Annie...listen with a compassionate heart, but DON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE. I hope you had a nice visit with the uncles. That's awful about your sewer backing up. I hope your landlord got a plumber out there by now.

Shad - So nice that you got some gardening in this weekend! So nice that Qantas is footing the bill for your Christmas flight to NZ. Keeping my fingers crossed that your work schedule permits time with family over the holidays. I hope that your flights from now on go off without a hitch and that you and your luggage arrive together at your desired destinations. How ambitious that DS2 wants to build an extension on your house! Your great niece is adorable. So nice that she and your brother came around for a visit! My civilized hours are only one day a week..but I like your idea of getting up at the usual time and decluttering. Yesterday, I was just really tired so I slept in.

Happy - I hope the memory foam mattress works out well for you and DH. We couldn't afford a memory mattress...but needed something to cushion our 10 year old bed...so we got a memory foam topper and we really like it. Kohl's sells XL Twin sheets online, but not Wamsutta brand. So nice of your friend to give you a heated throw and a lovely glass frame. I'm sure the sunrise photo will look lovely in it. I hope you can find a Stardust Ballroom up north. If not, you may just have to settle for stargazing without light pollution, and enjoying the Northern Lights. Keeping my fingers crossed, sending : and saying prayers for a smooth packing/moving time and a very safe travels.

Amarantha -


Okay...spent enough time catching up...now it's time to do what they pay me for!


Love and hugs to all,

Hidee Ho this morning....made it to vote first thing was the 35th voter. My place to vote has paper ballots, when you stick you vote into the machine, you are counted. I got my red, white and blue "I vote, I count" sticker. lol

BP was 120/73 last night....yeah! Made meatloaf and cut up potatos and baked them, salad, very simple dinner. Made the meatloaf pizza style. Very yummy and brought leftovers for lunch.

Lil Monkey was 4 lbs 7 1/2 oz yesterday when I visited. He also got his first real bath. Tolerated it well and didn't cry. He is such a sweetie. He is up to 38 mils of breast milk at each feeding (every 3 hours). 30 mil is an ounce.

SHADDIE..I love gardening, I will be right there to help you out. The lil niece is just adorable. The curly hair is so cute. She will probably hate it when she is older. We always want what we don't have.

CEEJAY...Merry Christmas to you, however I think the landlord needs to be a little more attentive to his houses he rents. You should not have to do ANY maintenance on a rental. Just sayin'

Hello Amarantha!

Hi to all ya'll have a great day!

Loves and hugs

CHELLE...congrats on the 3 down pounds! Yeah! You sound so upbeat and positive. That makes me smile. Man you got a lot of stuff done over the weekend. Good for you and DH...Excited DMIL will be arriving soon...Hugs sista

Annie - for voting! Good on ya'. I always say..."if you don't vote, you don't get to beotch about the way things are". My polling place has paper ballots too. I'm so relieved to hear your BP has come down!! I love meatloaf. Yummy! Yes, DH and I are very excited that DMIL will be here in a couple weeks...and it means I can spread the housecleaning out over two weeks. My back (and my website clients) will appreciate that!

Ceejay - I agree with Annie. When you're renting, you should not have to do any maintenance. That's the landlord's job.

My landlord does do the maintenance repairs. I was talking about work. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I saw a hole that had been dug yesterday. They are probably putting in a clean out for the sewer. That drain snake was for me to use here at the plant for some lime pipes.

Michelle
You are getting a lot done. I love to be outside. congrats on those 3 pounds lost.

Annie
Yum, the meatloaf sounds good and yeah on the bp. I don't think we voted on anything yesterday.