Hmmm...I wasn't aware that I was avoiding Thursday, (though I can't speak for Painty)...just hadn't gotten up yet. And before I'm accused of being a lazy cow for sleeping so late, I oughta tell you that I work nights. 11-7. So I try to catch a few hours here and there during the day...

Plus...I don't want to be a pushy newbie. (though I would have liked those homemade blueberry cookies...wish I'd gotten here sooner!)

Did you want to know anything about me?

Ok then, here goes...I'm at that quasi-peri-menopausal time of life...you know, still getting the monthly thing, but wishing it would just go away once and for all...and yet, desperately afraid of what may happen when it's gone...dried up old prune time?

translation=I just turned 46...I always say "just turned" so I'm still really only just barely over 45.

Married 20 years. 2 kids: 17 yr old daughter is leaving for college tomorrow. I've spent the last week being mad at her...I think it helps to alleviate how much I'm going to miss her. *sob*
12 year old son...going in to 7th grade...I'm not mad at him. He's not leaving me...ever

gee...what else can I say? Wellllll, I am fat. Way fatter than you cows. 248. But I was 266 earlier this year. So I'm working...s*l*o*w*l*y on that.

I guess that's it for now. I have to start packing the car. DD can't be here to help me because she's at the beach with the friends that she won't be able to see tonight because her wretched mother had the nerve, (the nerve!) to suggest that we might spend her last night here, together as a family.

Did I mention I was mad at her?

How rude of me!
 

First of all for not wishing Wabby a speedy post-op recovery despite the uncooperative dh (what is it about ailing women that makes men run the other way or go out and buy a boat or something?). Hope you're feeling like your old self real soon, Wabby!

And secondly for not even realizing that it was Thursday. If I had known I would have posted every half hour. Really. Instead I was trying to find a flight to Nova Scotia that doesn't cost 8 billion dollars. One of my most clever relatives suggested flying to That International Airport Close to Where Kiwi Lives to save some traveling time. Little do they know that it takes 16 hours to get there from here! Guess I won't be meeting Bagzie and Kiwi at the mall.

Cowpernia, your new house sounds divine. My sink gets rust stains too but they come off. Not to worry. I think you should post pics of the giant blueberry tree in your front yard.

Wow, Muffie, you've got some headaches going on. Good for you for just saying no and keeping out of it. Can't believe your kids are so big.

Hi to whoever I missed. Nice to see some new udders around here. I may not be of "a certain age" yet, but I sure feel like it. Did you know that perimenopause can start 10 years before real menopause? Ugh. Being 40 is really weird.

Sugar ... the blueberry tree is in Lush's yard. That was Lush posting. I forget the term for when one person's pushy spirit speaks or writes through another person.

KatyKow, you sound just like everybody else except me. Why are there no single cows for me to cry with? I have one son, 15, same age as Kiwi's one dd. He is fairly perfect unlike the rest of my life. I think it's good to be mad at your dd. After all, SHE'S the one who grew up and SHE'S the one who's leaving. It's all her fault.

Re: How rude of me!
 

Only flatter, eh? :cb: :lol:
Yes, I looked up flights between BGR and N.S. when you first mentioned it, and it looked like one of those "can't get there from here" things. :rolleyes: Good luck
I believe it. The first signs are the hairs sprouting in places where they have no business.

By the way, Kat, I'm in my mid-30s; 47 to be exact. Yes you read that right. 47 is in the mid-30s. And I generally think I'm 22 if I haven't looked in a mirror in a while.

:bravo: on your progress, Kat and Muffie! My progress is mostly backwards.

I'm sure Lush will be delighted to make those blueberry cookies for Wabbit. They will be a healthy addition to her diet. :devil: It was nice of you to offer, CowP.

It is unbearably hot around here again. Muggy, sticky. Yuck. I should go swimming.

Kiwi

Well, thanks for that, Peachbutt. Much appreciated.

Ya know, Kiwi...they say 50 is the "new 30," so your math IS right on the money...

I KNEW I liked you, Cowpernia.

BTW...was Muffie in jail?

helpppppppppp meeeeeeeeeeee
 

oh my bejeezerin jehosophats!!!!!!!!!such repartee on a sultry thursdee afta-noon!!!!!!!!! i must tell you that i did NOT want to go on the back of the Seadoo this afternoon at my friends boat dock------------and i certainly DID NOT want to ride on the zodiac styled torture boat that was attached to it by a rope----BUT!!! one of the little boys in the back was upset by all the BUMPSSSSSSSSSSSS and i had to switch with him and ride for ten minutes in the HORRENDOUSLY LARGE WAKE OF THE SEADOOOOOOOO I KNOW THIS MAY BE BORING TO YOU BUT MY NECK AND MY HEAD ARE KILLING ME--------- I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE TOMORROW----------------the only reason i went of course is because i won't allow ds9 to go anywhere without me and so i suffer through these events-= needless to say he loved it----------------kiwi----help me please oh kee wee---want to drive to NB and we can go to nova scotia and take sugar out for coffee at Timmy's????? hi muffbat---------- i too loved hearing about your darling babies--------remember when lil punkin used to sit on your knee when you were typing!!! and how is gramma???? glad to hear you are sticking to your guns with the ex----------no need to be co-dependent---that is always no win for sure!!! katy kow!! i have dd19 going off to university------seventeen is still quite teenish ----i find the extra two years matures them quite a bit!!!! hang in there sister---i feel your pain!!! my ds9-----------i intend to keep him forever as well------------- i have a dd17 who is going into Grade Twelve-----------AND i am forty six tooo!!!! when is your birthday~~!!!!! I HAVE TO GO TAKE A PILL SOMEONE HELP MY HEAD

My very recent birthday was July 3rd...so you see I'm just barely 46...dd won't be 18 til December 23...she's a very mature young lady...sometimes...often...WAY more than her mummy.

I've cried already a few times today. Tomorrow should be interesting. The cars are packed, so she's now out, saying goodbye, AGAIN, to her friends. We did go out to dinner all together, it was nice. I ate enough to sink a battleship.

But Bagzie........
 

She is not sleeping on my while I type, but she is giving me one heck of a neck rub!! I am entitled to a neck rub every evening when we pull into the driveway, and whenver she feels fit when I am on the puter. SHE LOVES HER MOMMA!!!!!!!!!:)

Katycow....I HAVE NEVER BEEN PUT IN JAIL!!! LOL It is all on Ms. Queen Cowpernia's imagination!! Notice I said Queen, as she is

But Bagzie........
 

She is not sleeping on me while I type, but she is giving me one heck of a neck rub!! I am entitled to a neck rub every evening when we pull into the driveway, and whenver she feels fit when I am on the puter. SHE LOVES HER MOMMA!!!!!!!!!:)

Katycow....I HAVE NEVER BEEN PUT IN JAIL!!! LOL It is all on Ms. Queen Cowpernia's imagination!! Notice I said Queen, as she is the QUEEN !!!!!!!!


I *heart* Cowpernia!!!!

OKAY, I am done kissing up to Ms. Peachbutt....hee hee...will look forward to regular posting. I think I have paid my dues!!! *wink wink*

Cowie... I want to go with you to the amVets happy hour with you. It sounds like a riot. looking for Bartenders friend(s).
Glad you didn't have to trade in any family members to ransom your car. You were BUSY today....

Wabbs... what an AWECOME to do list. I hope you enjoyed every minute of it.

Hmmm... How nice it would be to have a little boat and place to paddle. Though I'd want to choose how to spend the $15K!!! (ExGit and I had an olypic class sailboad that was about 4 generations past it's prime... I loved the wind in my hair... but backing the boat trailer around with ExGit screaming at me (rather than actually giving helpful directions), putting it on a hook and winch and swinging it over then lowering it into the water, and trying not to slip and fall on my *** (can we say ***) here.?), or end up trolling the babies off the back are aspects I don't miss.

Perhaps a one-babe row boat and a pond full of waterlilies. Or I can just imagine it while I'm on the rug using the weight machine. :lol:

... and I wasn't boycotting Thursday.... I usually post on message boards very late... and do journal responses during the day as I have time. I really hope I don't have to tell flylady or anybody else how much time I spend on line. Yikes... no wonder I haven't gotten much painting done!

KatyKow wrote: [COLOR=crimson]Married 20 years. 2 kids: 17 yr old daughter is leaving for college tomorrow. I've spent the last week being mad at her...I think it helps to alleviate how much I'm going to miss her. *sob* [/COLOR=crimson]

During my DD's JUNIOR year in HS, I was so freaked out about her leaving that I got back into therapy. It was really a help. (What didn't help was her evil step mother and my ex-best-friend being instrumental in the college selection process. I couldn't help it that I didn't have oodles of frequent flyer miles to take her all over the place. I felt SO guilty (and poor). Thankfully, we'd had plenty of practice separating and re-joining (and having fights to make it "easier" -- during many years of joint custody)... and by the time she left, we didn't have to get so nasty to each other. It wasn't until much later that she confessed how frightened she was of her new journey... and how strongly she believed she was "supposed" to have it all under control.

Ah, the memories.
Where is your DD daughter heading off to?

a couple of things--------as a maritime canadian it is my patriotic duty to say "arse" but we will accept "***" from any yankees or confederates----------sometimes i say "***" if it suits better.......but when someone is bothering you around here ---we say they are "picklearsing" you----the other thing is---painty---- i have a small business where i sell handpainted trays and "lazy" susans----needless to say,the time spent on this machine cuts into my work-------i am indeed a Lazy Arse-------katyk0w!!good luck today!!!

Oy
 

I feel your (past) pain with the trailer-backing, Painty! There is no possible way that a person can give helpful directions to another person backing a trailer. DH and I used to shout at each other all the time (didn't matter which one was trying to give the directions) when we had to do that. Finally figured out that you have to do it by yourself and the other person needs to shut-up! I became so good at backing a trailer that I once showed up my brother the trucker by backing his boat up without a second thought. He was amazed. Just takes a lot of practice.

We used to have a trailerable sailboat too. It was nice to have one that could be moved around to different places, but it wasn't comfortable to sleep on (not enough head/hip/shoulder room for me), so we ended up getting a bigger one that has to moved by a giant rig twice a year and kept in one body of water (no more lake hopping).

Here's the most economical way to enjoy a boat: get a friend to lend you their kayak that they don't use, keep it out back, drag it into the water whenever you want (ah, that's luxury to me)

I'm totally up for a maritime journey, Bagz, if I'm not all booked up with something else! When's your visit, Sug? Will you "taking callers"? :lol:

We're off to the fest. I'll eat lots of junk food for you all. Ta

Kiwi

So everyone ELSE boycotts on Friday?

Had head relieving thunderstorms here today... (only problem is that now the cable TV station is going off about every 20 seconds.... DH is most annoyed.

Got paperwork done, happy lunch with two girlfriends.... Especially happy about "small increase in size" of TH's tumor. Especially when she reported that her MD says they usually double in size every 3 months. They gave her 4 months to live 14 months ago. Her first novel is due out soon... She expects to get the galleys in the mail by Monday.... And her son just got invited to present his web/data management tool at a conference in Marseilles (He hasn't finished college yet... kind of a "free spirit"... but obviously is working hard and doing well at the things he chooses.)

That was very good news.
And then I stopped at bookstore and sketched and colored.
Heavenly.

Don't know how in touch I'll be before Monday... Have great and successful days y'all. Yawl for the maritime set. :D

good news about your pal paintercow!!! how wonderful that she is sending off her book!!!!!!! AND of course i am jealous that you are more commited to your artwork---------i am reading a motivational book to try to get me off me arse --see yawl!!!!!

I am impressed by how many boats there are in this group. Most impressed, though, by Bagzie. I keep invisioning her in a wooden washtub with the butcher and baker being pulled along by a thick hemp rope. She looks cramped and unhappy.

Spending money that doesn't exist I bought a Weber today and a TI83 calculator that ds is required to have. Yikes. Books are free. Laptop is free. What is this thing?

Where's my sissy?

Okay...the child is tucked away at school. She's really not all that far from home, the drive takes less than an hour. She's at Wagner College, Staten Island, NY...Her dorm has a lovely view of the NY harbor, can even see the Statue of Liberty. Although, the roommate, who moved in the day before, glommed the bed right under and across the length of the large window. My daughter's bed is shoved in the corner, with her head at the end where the roommates feet are. I don't like the roommate.

It was SO friggin' HOT yesterday, and HUMID, that I really didn't have the time to even think about crying. .I just wanted to get back to the nice air conditioned car. .All right...I had already shed quite a few tears that morning, alone, in the shower. They all thought I was going to be a basket case or something... I showed them! Besides, I was too dehydrated to cry. Did I tell you there are a LOT of hills to climb on this campus? Not to mention that her dorm is on the 6th floor. I got tired of waiting for the elevator, so I took the stairs down...to the first floor...which ISN"T the main floor. that's on the 3rd floor. Do I really have to tell you how many times I went up and down the stairs, trying to figure out how to get out? I tried to follow people who were also trying to get out...they were even dumber than I was. Needless to say, I got my exercise in yesterday.

I did forget that I had been mad at her though. She and I drove up together, (dh and son went in the other car) We sang the entire soundtrack of "Little Shop of Horrors" together the whole way up...LOUD...you can't be mad and sing well. Not that we sang well! Actually, we're going to see that very show in Sept, so we'll drive up to her school and take the ferry over to Manhattan. So I'll see her in, like, 4 weeks....I suppose I can now devote some time to my poor son, who's kind of taken a back seat to her with all the college prep stuff going on.

time's up for me...I have to run around now and make it look like I've done something productive around here today...

Bagatelle-- reading a book doesn't make as much HAPPEN as removing self from arse! I oughta know, I've read about a gazillion motivational books and nothing happened from that. When I stopped reading and DOING stuff... stuff happend!!

Cowie -- my boat is a USED TO HAVE... along with exGitH. It provided several interesting stories to tell, though.
Aren't those TI calculators AWESOME. Wait till she knows all the stuff it can do. And to think I was excited when Mom and Dad got me an abacus back in 7th grade. :D ichi ni san .....

KatBGood-- glad you survived DD drop off with grace and aplomb. DS is probably nervous AND glad to be the new center of attention! I think Mothers and Daughters really DO have more and different issues to resolve than other family combinations.

Depending on where you are in NJ, Staten Island may be worlds away! Would love to have that kind of adventure again... knowing what I know NOW, of course. :)

Cowie-- have put bovine paintings on back burner... trying to make Key Lime pie look artistic... oh, and a martini and an Oreo cookie, too. Can you tell I'm painting a series on Comfort Foods?

Painty, just what can a calculator do? I was under the impression they just did math. Why it is awesome? Convince me it was a good way to spend $124.

DS is my son. I don't have a daughter. I won't tell him you said that though.

What did you do when you removed yourself from your arse? I need details. I want to remove myself from arse too and need someone to hold my hand.

What has happened that Sissy is quoting football people?

Sissy, remember all that math we learned in school? That is what calculators do today. All of it, not just square roots. When I was in school, that would have been worth $124.00 to me, but not to my mother.

I have to do housework. DD is doing well. She did her own exercises today, she did not need help.

I have housework to do. YUCK. DD has been living in DS13's room while she is recovering. His room is on the 1st floor and hers is on the 2nd. They both want to go back. I must clean. YUCK. I will not burden you with my lists...unless you insist.

Katrina, I'm in South Jersey. We're practically neighbors. Painty, when did you live in NJ? Isn't it wonderful not to live here anymore. I married a New Jerseyite. I'll probably die in this Godforsaken place. (Though where I live is very pretty)

Personally, I like to swear. I don't do it very much so it is ten times as much fun.

And Muffie was in jail. There's one in every family.

Lobaloney------good for your darling dd--hopefully she will remember how sweet her mother has been through all her trials and be sweet to you forever!!--i want arse removal cream as well----i get your point paintcow and i do agree----it is the only way:^: :^: :^:

Ahhhh! now I know what the problem is.... I neither read motivational books or get off my arse. Still getting better, but it doesn't produce much to talk about. Unless you would like a recap of a wedding story, a baby story, a makeover story and a personal story from the learning channel for the last week. Oh, and lets not forget Dr. Phil and Oprah. I may have to get one of those tivo machines when I go back to work, which is yikes!! tomorrow. So much for lazing around.

Time for my nap.

Bagzie, have you developed a website to sell your beautiful trays and lazy susans?

gotta go.

Lushoni, my family is originally from South Jersey. Salem County. I love it, but then I haven't lived there since 4th grade.

Hey!
 

You're going back to work tomorrow, Wabbit? I think that's too soon! Are you up for it? Personally I would cadge at a least couple extra weeks, but that's just me.

Okay, I have lousy rotten news (for me, none of you will really care)--my only 3D friends within driving distance are moving away this fall. To Oregon! They couldn't go maybe a state away, they had to move across the country. That means I will be even more depressed than usual. I have figured out that only friends are able to get us out of the house and doing stuff that's worthwhile. Left to ourselves, we will do nothing at all.

But on the other hand, maybe I will get to visit Wabby someday after all!

Very interesting about the college situ, Kat. Didn't realize you were in NJ (cuz :doh: I couldn't actually just look underneath your name and see). That sounds like the perfect college parent scenario to me. She's not right in Manhattan but you can go with her to stuff in the city. Cool. I suspect for me, it's more than I can hope for, for DD to go to school within easy driving distance. She's so independent I can't really expect her to hang close to home. Although you can bet we will be looking at all the schools in Maine first!

You know, Cherry is into that Artist's Way thing, or was. Have you read that, Bagz?

By the way the folk festival was really fabulous. :cb: :cp:
I saw a hilarious Punch and Judy Show, listened to weird Chinese instruments, lots of blues, bluegrass, cajun, country folk, klezmer, Russian balalaika music, various guitar styles, various vocal styles, various accordian styles, electric dance music from the Congo, drumming from Korea and even some yodelling! Great stuff! :encore:

Kiwi

Cowabunga--
Calculators (of the ilk my kids had to have) would do GRAPHS of quadratic equations... so you could 'see" what the math language was talking about. You could store formulas so you'd have them for reference without having to have illegal crib sheets. You could write little programs and see them march across the screen. It was just cool. (maybe I had too much association with techies. Please apologize to SD for sex change.

Re: Arse Removal. It was Removal FROM Arse, not Removal OF... (Sort of the opposite of freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion -- although I could name several religions I would like to be free FROM... but no doubt that belongs on a completely different forum. ) sometimes just moving one's arse is sufficient!

Lo (and Cherry Cow) -- Didn't actually live in NJ.... inlaws and exGit was from Hammonton. (Have no idea what county it is) Former MIL is still there... and assorted outlaws are mostly in Egg Harbor. On my first visit they were excited to show me where the local "don" lived... He had the big estate with the video cameras (back in 71, that was... but he was "away"... turned out he was in PRISON!) And it is pretty there... and sort of agriculturally paced... (Plants'll only grow at their own speed.... so the stress that hits manufacturing tends not to happen.) And S. Jersey and the Pine barrens are not at all like the chemical factories on the turnpike. and I was positivey addicted to those big blueberries frozen and taken out and rationed all year long. We lived in Putnam County in 1978... (the dark ages) It was the first time I lived outside California... had left best job ever, delivered DD while exH was preoccupied with first postDoc job. Prettiest location and MOST LONELY I've ever been.

Bagzz: Great idea for the arse removal cream... We could have two strengths... one to remove your own arse, and the other to get ride of the arses around you. You do the formula, I'll come up with a label. :D

Oh, Kiwonk... I am so sorry your best friends are heading West. I absolutely believe that someone new will show up. (maybe not as fast as you want, but pretty fast.) One of my daughter's best friends was "recommended" to her by her PE teacher in 6th grade. I'd known the teacher when she was at a different school and mentioned that DD was new in her school now... and teacher said, well, you might call so and so. I did, on the pretext that DD wanted to take a babysitting class at the Y, could her Mom help drive, and maybe they'd like to take the class together. It worked! Of course that friend moved back to Israel soon after... but if they hadn't been such good friends, DD wouldh't have gotten to visit the Holy Land 2 years later... What I'm trying to say is maybe someone that you sort of know knows someone you'd really like.... Whew. Longwinded.

Artists Way is one of my favorite "motivational" type books. It's got so many provocative questions and suggestions, you can hardly ignore it... even if you want to!

What would YOU do if you had 5 alternate lives you could be living?

:D

Our puter has a small problem so we're taking it to the puter guy who built it who will fix it free because he's sweet and loves us. He mentioned to me last night "I heard Herbie has a new girlfriend. Did you hear that?" Of course, I didn't. And how does it make me feel? Kind of sad and kind of like it's really time for some arse removal. I lost a coupla pounds last week ( for a day) and felt so much better. Arse removal and leg toning is my prescription for all woes.

I don't find quadratic formulas marching around the room to be worth $124. I didn't learn that in school. While you were taking nerd courses, Sissy, I was protesting the war. Peace.

there are ants walking across the concrete slab at my back door .. crawling under the door ... up the wall .. across the counter. I shooed them off yesterday but they're back. They also need arse removal.

And to you Sissy "ROLL TIDE"

Re: Hey!
 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Not fair! Soon the whole world except me will be there.

Used to take me five hours total, including a one and a half hour ferry ride to get to and from university (which seems like it was only yesterday instead of being back in the 80's when life was good) so I didn't see all that much of my parents. I don't remember them getting teary when I left (hmmmmmm...) but they probably did. Guess I'll get to experience it when my two want to get out on their own.

Down to 152 lbs. more due to midlife crisis than to diet and exercise. Just don't feel like eating much. Must start exercising to release endorphins in my tiny brain.

I've heard that if you put a line of baking powder where ants are, they won't cross the line. Or I guess you could leave a bucket of honey in your back yard so they go there instead of into the kitchen.

Thinking about your dd today, Lushani. Poor darling

Enough blabbing. Must go iron.

Ah yes, I can picture it: Little Peachie in her peace sign headband (don't make me show that picture) and little Lushie with her button-down oxford shirt and pocket protector. There's an alternate universe for you.

Where did you go to school that required a ferry ride, Sugar? I think that sounds like a great place to send my kid. Must have been harder to get into trouble there than, say, a quick bus ride from Boston like where I was.

If your ants are orderly, Cowpeach, you can wipe down their trail with ammonia, vinegar or window cleaner and they won't like going there anymore. Or of course you could have numerous ant traps all over the place like we do. I hate having them because I always think I'm going to find a cat playing with them, but so far they have left them alone.

I'm going to go think about 5 alternate lives.

I'm at work, so I'll be posting non stop again due to boredom. Trying to figure out a new surgery so I can take a vacation again. Just kiddin'.

It's so darn funny watching these guys around here try to avoid eye contact with my boobs. :lol: My ds finally broke the ice by saying "hey, my mom's got little boobs now!" which was much better than everyone trying to avoid the subject.

I'm envious of everyone's talk of sending their children off to college (university for you Canadians). Neither of my kids took that path, but hopefully they will still end up happy and self supporting.

We had an ant infestation a couple years ago. They were not the sweet orderly little ants who could be scared off with a little vinegar. These were monster ants, that required extermination and lots of nasty chemicals.

Kiwi! wouldn't it be wonderful if you came to Oregon to visit your friends and decided you never wanted to leave and we could be neighbors? You could play bunco. We could sit on the porch and drink margies. We could b*tch about the DH's together. What fun.

Lolo, I like to curse too, only because I don't very often and the shock value is something to behold. Like when DH was whining about the new and improved chest size and I told him if his f*ing back was hurting every f*ing day and night I would be happy for him and not be a whiney baby when it was finally fixed. He has a long way to go to get back in my good graces, can you tell?

OK, time to catch up on some work. Bleehh.

hi cows...

Give him ****, Wabby! Nothing like a few choice expletives to get 'em to sit up and take notice! I'm fond of cursing too. Though not as much as the cashier at the Stop n Shop yesterday, who carried on the filthiest conversation with another worker as I waited to write my check. A manager walked by and I thought, "Oh good, here comes trouble..." She didn't say a word. I am no prude, but there is a time a place for everything, including cursing....dammit.

Lohani...are you a Piney? Have you seen the Jersey Devil? South Jersey is a whole different world from North Jersey. I am somewhere in between...Monmouth County. Central coastal...we are close to Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook, which is the northern most tip of the Jersey Shore. It's not bad here, if you don't mind over-developed suburbia. We are close to everything...NYC, the shore, Philly...AND we have no refineries in our back yard...which is a good thing.

But I'd LOVE to move to Maine...can i come be your neighbor, Kiwi? We spent 2 weeks there last summer and I just fell in love with it. I want my own little cove to go kayaking in when the spirit moves me. We stayed in a house in South Harpswell, right on a pretty little cove...fabulous sunsets every night...ahhhhhh....we are going back next summer...call me, we'll do lunch....or maybe a folk festival...

I'm going to enjoy my freedom for a bit...getting used to it. My son is off to Great Adventure for a birthday party...I have the place to myself...what the **** am I doing inside hunched over the computer? I think I'll go do some dead heading...

...the petunias, of course, not Jerry Garcia~

Katycow, he's trying to make amends, but hey, he's a guy. What can I say?

So is it true that New Yorkers and Jerseyites all talk like truck drivers? We are so polite here, your grocery clerk story wouldn't happen here. The only problem is that where I shop they are the absolutely opposite, which is ok on days when I'm feeling perky, but some days when the clerk is sooooo flippin' cheerful I want to smack him when he say's "wellll-l-ll miss, how is your day going today?" I want to say "I'm not a Miss, buddy, haven't been in years. I'm a woman "of a certain age", a dark and menopausal woman who has to check every morning for chin hairs. Not that I ever would, because I like to carry on the fantasy that I could possibly be mistaken for a Miss. ;)

I've called a cleaning service. They are coming tonight to give me an estimate for bi-monthly cleaning. DH was totally aghast when I told him they don't do dishes, laundry or pick up personal items. Apparently he thinks that's all there is to house cleaning. Supposedly this is for my recovery period, but once I get the cleaning ppl in the door, I'm not letting them go. :s:

Whooo-hoo for you Sugar! It doesn't matter how you lose it, we can be miserable and look good just as easily as miserable and fat. And sweetie, you're too young for a midlife crisis. You're our sweet young thang. If you're having a midlfe crisis, well, that would make the rest of us ..... old. :yikes:

Wabbit, you are certainly in high spirits for someone of a certain age :lol: -- glad you gave a bit of lip to DH for being such a poop. I'm sure he can't help it, but hey, this is not his recovery period.

Kat, I totally agree. Maine is the best. The coast is so gorgeous in the summer. Our area (inland--lakes, rivers, mountains and trees. Lots of trees) is great most of the year. I love the snow, I love the autumn, I love the cool summer nights and not too horribly hot (most years) summer days. Don't like the black flies and mosquitoes, but nowhere's perfect, eh?

Peaches, dear, your email address is not working!! I got back an Undeliverable message, so I sent another, and same thing happened. Did you change it?

Pete Sampras has officially retired. Bummer. Such a great smile.

Kiwi

Ants apparently secrete sticky smelly stuff that only they can feel/touch/smell... so If you wipe off the paths, they won't make a bee line to wherever they're going. I think boric acid is good too, but maybe that's for silver fish or roaches.....

I didn't protest the war.... I was toooooo sheltered and obedient. I missed most of the fun. Went to foreign films with guys who were so nerdy they didn't even try to kiss. (Well, mostly). And that was a big deal.

Congrats on those of you who lost.
I came home mid day and did a 45 minute workout. Yay for me.

Monmouth County is nice.

Off to TV/news/beddy bye.

boric acid worked. Last night maybe 200 ants. This morning, 5.

Okay then, all wise and powerful ant killers...what about the anthills in the yard?? Boric acid there too? Someone told me to cover them with oats, that would smother them. ...well, that sure doesn't work, apparently they ate them all up, get real fit and heart-healthy and reproduced like rabbits, judging by the many ant hills I find outside. ...at least they don't come inside which is darn nice of them.

Wabby, I don't think all the NY/NJers talk like truck drivers...just the trashy ones. We have nice people too...no, really!
Good for you, getting a cleaning service! I say milk that recovery time for all it's worth! I used to have someone twice a month , when I was working full time. But I always had to clean before she got there...and really, once the crap is all picked up, how hard is it to dust and vacuum? (HAH! Ask my kids!) But I loved having the floor washed and the bathroom sparkling...hmmm...I wonder how much she's charging these days? And does she do windows? Although, I have been doing them one room at a time...a la flylady...it's not bad at all to do them that way! I used to dread that chore...

I have to sleep soon. I've worked the last three nights, one more to go and I'm off for 5. We're going sailing for two days...actually we're taking the sailing course...I'm starting to dread this. I should have been studying my book the last 3 weeks, now I'm cramming. That's Thurday and Friday...Saturday we have tickets for Bruce Springsteen...I'm gonna need more time off to rest from my time off.

still pondering my alternative lives...one would definitely be as a kept woman. I'm tired of working.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE BRUCE~!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO JEALOUS!!!!-AT FENWAY?????LUCKY KATYKOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! [I SAW HIM IN TORONTO IN MAY 2000!!!!HE IS FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi kids

One more day until school starts here. DD will be a sophomore. Does this mean she will start telling sophomoric jokes? :rolleyes:

I drove her into town a few minutes ago to meet up with a friend and I wasn't dressed yet :lol: -- just wearing a t-shirt and pj shorts. I am the definition of lazy.

The work prospects for DH are starting to heat up. He applied for 2 jobs in NH, then a local place he had interviewed at a long time ago called him about applying for a job that was opening up. Then his old boss called and wanted to talk about a possible project that he'd like DH to work on (that would be maybe a year long thing). Both of the last 2 possibilities would mean we wouldn't have to move :dance: Of course that also means I will never get my new house, but DH has really been working on the house a lot this month. Maybe we'll actually get to the point where we can see our way to renovating this place.

I just got an email this morning from one of my alternate lives (i.e. What if you married that one instead of this one?). In that alternate life, I would have spent 10 days in Greece this summer and attended about half a dozen rock concerts. However I would definitely have to work. Most of my income would be spent on therapy.

Kat, what kind of sailing course are you taking? Will you be staying onboard the boat? What's the name of the school? I went to a 5-day sailing school in Key West several years ago--J World, it was called. That was just day sailing. My DH did an onboard school one time, plus he's taken several other courses too. I had a great time at mine (I went with 2 other women), but how can you not in Key West :dizzy: ! I will say that the terminology, if you aren't that used to it, will drive you nuts. Hope you have good weather and a great time!

Bagz, you don't have a computer virus, do you? There's a nasty one going around, and I think someone I know has it :eek: -- I just don't know who yet!

Later cowies.
Kiwi

Well Katycow, of course I know that.... you're from NJ and of course our lovely miss Lohani! Even though I talk big, I'll probably only keep the cleaning service for a month or 2, until I'm back to 100%. Unfortunately, I have a cheap streak, and I hate to pay out that much for something that doesn't last for more than a day around our place.

Kiwi, wonderful news about the DH job prospects. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have him back to work by the time DD is back in school. All those wonderful solitary autumn days!!! Oh, I just read DD will be back in school tomorrow. Well, then soon after DD is in school, the DH will be back to work, and you can hang on the puter in your jammies all morning!!!

Painty, lucky woman to go see the Boss! He is soooo cool. (even though I don't think anyone says cool anymore)

Cowpernia, what color did you end up having the house painted? What are your decor schemes????