Good morning all,

Guess I am the first one in today. It's Thrift Shop day so I have a bit of time here before I have to run out. Yesterday I kept telling myself to be FOCUSED and accomplish at least one thing completely instead of my usual flitting around. I got most of the laundry room organized - it looks way better. But I have a pile of heavy bedding and some bathroom rugs which need to be taken to the laundromat. I also need to schedule some time to use that hotel's pool pass(es) I purchased because before I know it, the tourists will be rolling back into town and I'd much rather have a quiet pool to myself. That's probably why I still have 2 pool passes sitting here that I bought 2 years ago good thing they don't expire!

I talked to my sister for quite a while yesterday. Poor thing - Mum is driving her batty. My Mom is really regressing into a very stubborn ill mannered child. My sister put out some chips and dip and my mom was "double dipping". When my sister brought it to her attention, my Mom got all pouty and said she was not full of germs like a dog's mouth and gave my sister the cold shoulder all evening. My mom also wipes her face on the common dish towel and one of her other "stunts" was when my sister was washing dishes, Mom decided at that very minute she HAD to have a drink of water from the kitchen sink - for some reason it was too far to walk the other way to the bathroom. So Sis stopped what she was doing, left a bunch of cutlery in the drain basket awaiting rinsing and gave Mom her drink. My Mom took 1 SIP. Yes, 1 sip for a person who was beside herself with thirst and then promptly took the cup she drank from and tossed the water all over the clean cutlery my sister had in the drain rack. Not off to the side, but all over the cutlery. I thought my sister's head was going to spin off her neck. She said the thing that gets her the most is that my Mom does stuff that as children, we would have been reprimanded for but with Mom ill manners are totally in vogue. I think it's time I scheduled a visit to give her a break. I will fly down the end of April and I am hoping 2 friends who live up here will be travelling back down to Chicago over the summer so I can get back a few times for shorter visits. I really don't want to be away from home for 3 weeks like I have done in the past. And Mom is just too frail to come up here any more.

Susie - I hope you were able to get on track again. I would have been there with you resetting the alarm. I always chastise myself when I short change myself on sleep - don't do it on purpose, the time just creeps away and I always promise myself I will get to bed earlier that night and never do. The doctor asked how long I sleep and I said about 6 hours. She asked if there is anything I can do to increase it and I said no, I wake up naturally after 6 hours no matter when I go to bed. The only time I sleep longer is if I have either done a string of days where I'm getting about 5 hours or I am getting sick. It takes me a day or two to get back on track again but I prefer to have a day like Easter where I can enjoy myself and take a break from always fussing about this calorie and that. Some of these people at WW are crazy fanatics and I could not live like that. I think too once you get in the mindset of eating more carefully - you never really drive off the rails when you go off plan. I have no interest in excessively indulging in anything any more, what about you? Are you getting a chance to enjoy wearing your new spring clothes and shoes?

Laura - when I was in TN, the gyne's there were really pushing the beauty treatments to an excess. I felt like I was going to a spa and kept thinking to myself - you are ignoring the "southern part" of the body you are supposed to be focusing on ladies They'd push vitamins, wrap treatments, chemical peels - apparently there's lots of money in that. I thought they looked freakish. Abnormally smooth skin that was so shiny I could almost use their face as a mirror. It didn't look right. That's when I think I switched to having my GP take care of the lady bits. As you get older too, don't need as much of a focus there anyhow. Maybe that's why they are pushing the spa stuff - kind of like a dentist who loses interest in you once your mouth is full of crowns and dentures - no more natural teeth to make money on Great score on the Reader Digest music collections. I always feel you're getting more for your money since they have alot of good music by various artists. Glad you got the car sold quickly.

Annie - 400 pages to print for closing. Holy Guacamole!!!! That's alot of standing - no wonder your foot hurts. My knee still hurts but I don't seem to have quite the intense all over body pain although I have only taken one Vitamin D pill so far. I find that with vitamins, I can't say they make me feel better as much as when I STOP taking them, I notice it more. Does your foot feel better if you have it more securely supported like in a sneaker or does it not make a difference? I'm sorry you didn't get to see the kids at Easter I guess it's hard when you have lots of family to see and still want your own time with the kids. Or so I hear I saw on the internet some Humane Societies had Easter Egg hunts for dogs. They drilled holes in plastic eggs and put puppy treats in them and the dogs went looking for them. Maybe next year for Sassy or is she above that? I also saw a cute commercial where the mom had the child "plant" jelly beans and on Easter, the plot was filled with (artificial) flowers and colorful eggs. The kid was astounded. I thought that was really cute.

Hello to the rest of the chicks who have probably been typing while I was dawdling here. I booked a week's trip to Chicago the first week in May. Will be there for Mother's Day - Mom will be happy. I won't have alot of time to get around as I have some things with my sister that we need to attend to - am hoping to get back in June for a longer visit.

Anyway - have a good Tuesday ladies. Today is the best weather day of the week up here - going to try and spend 5 minutes in the sunshine.

Laura - you have to have really loose soil for carrots. As they are growing, any little clump of dirt or rock they touch (doesn't have to be really hard) will cause them to knot and bend. They say the cooler the temperatures, the sweeter the carrot. You could try the stubby short variety. I grew them in a huge clay pot one year with a mix of 50/50 sand and loose potting soil. DH said they tasted like "carrots should". I was not impressed myself. I would grow them again for him if he wanted. I am happy with my farm purchased carrots.

Annie - probably a good thing if you can sell C's house. HOpe you don't have to soak too much money into it. Give them a partial allowance for the roof maybe???

Gotta get ready - see you chicks...

Laura - you have to have really loose soil for carrots. As they are growing, any little clump of dirt or rock they touch (doesn't have to be really hard) will cause them to knot and bend. They say the cooler the temperatures, the sweeter the carrot. You could try the stubby short variety. I grew them in a huge clay pot one year with a mix of 50/50 sand and loose potting soil. DH said they tasted like "carrots should". I was not impressed myself. I would grow them again for him if he wanted. I am happy with my farm purchased carrots.

Annie - probably a good thing if you can sell C's house. HOpe you don't have to soak too much money into it. Give them a partial allowance for the roof maybe???

Gotta get ready - see you chicks...

Man this site is being a REAL PAIN trying to post.

Oh Holy Cow~let's just say I didn't make it to the restroom here at work in time and now I have to go back home and change pants. Plus it is report day, so I may not make it back in here today to post.

Yikes,

Morning all.

Happy – Did you pencil in a day to go to the pool? I hope you can get in for a session before the tourists descend on your town.--- Wow, sounds like your sister was being sorely tested by your mom’s behavior. Good of you to get down here and give her a break. I wish we could get together while you’re here, but it sounds like it’ll be a quick and busy trip with little free time.---Yeh, my gyn’s practice also includes a “medspa”. That’s a turnoff for me.—Re the carrots, I think I’ll give the farmers’ market carrots a try first before trying to grow them myself. Plus (as you know) we have the opposite of loose soil here in the Midwest – dense clay. Would definitely need amendment. Your idea of growing them in a pot is smart.

Annie – Hope the trip back home doesn’t set you back too far with your reports today.

Hellos to the rest of you! Hope you’re all having a good week!
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Bf was on the phone with his mom this morning. The check for the car sale posted to her account for the sale amount, however, there was a reversal of a hefty $495 with the description of “ATM error”. Huh? After looking at the image of the deposited check online, it turns out the dollar amount in numbers on the check was correct (10,500) but the amount written in words had been written out incorrectly as “Ten thousand and 500/100”, which means $10,005. Aaaargh. Can’t anything just go smoothly??!! On the positive side, it means there will be no back and forth with the bank. But bf’s mom will have to get another check for the $495 difference from the buyer (it was actually his mom who wrote out the check, so I guess she will write another check). Thank goodness this is a close friend of bf’s mom (they go all the way back to HS!), so this shouldn’t be an issue.

I didn’t work out last night, but I was inspired by Susie’s morning workouts and got up with the alarm this morning and did a 25 min. Body Electric workout.

That’s it for me. Off to post.

Morning all,
Don't know where the time goes these days. I guess much of it is taken up with putting the house and garden to rights and taking the ODDU for his morning walk. Seems I end up with a fair amount of the responsibility for him, but if I don't want him digging up the lawn or the garden or destroying plants, shoes and garden tools, then someone has to wear him out. So we charge off early in the morning down to the local bush where I madly throw sticks for him to fetch and let him run free for a while. Then he is more amenable to leaving the cats alone and sleeping in the yard - at least for the rest of the morning.

The kids don't seem much closer to sorting out their lives, but I leave them to get on with it - any discussion or advice will be ignored anyway - although the DS2 did manage to put a budget together which may mean some sort of orderly progression. I'm not betting on that tho'. They both earn good money and should have something put away for contingencies, retirement and expenses, but they don't seem to understand that too well much of the time.

I'll be back. Walkies!!!!

I had a good drive back home. Still Spring scenery to look at. I took the northern route home which means I was in Missouri instead of Arkansas most of my drive. I will be going to my aunts funeral visitation tomorrow night and funeral on Friday which will be in Paragould.
Went outside earlier this afternoon to the mailbox and low and behold one of my bosses waved at me and then the whole crew was behind him. They evidently had fixed a water leak as they had the backhoe out too. Usually its a fire hydrant down the road from me.
Text with my friend who is in Mountain Home, Arkansas last night. She's going to come back to my town to hopefully sell her store building. She has an offer. She may stay with me while she is here. It will give her a much needed break.
My sis from Dallas has been in California visiting with her daughter's family and her dh got sick enough to go to the emergency room.
He had a gall bladder attack. They did surgery late yesterday and got to return to his daughters this morning. Sis said he had one large stone and a lot of small ones. He should feel better in a few days.
I had lost my Fitbit and had come to the conclusion that I had left it at my sisters condo in Branson. I checked my pants pocket twice before I put them in the washer this afternoon but as I took the clothes out of the dryer it fell out of one of the pockets. It's still working!!!
Pooh, just got a tornado watch from the weather app.

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Annie
I feel for you as I've been in the same circumstance, as a matter of fact it was Saturday.

I will be back as I want to check the weather map.

Dang this site! I typed a long post, forgot to copy it, and then it said I wasn't logged in. I was and so I logged in again and my post wasn't there

I just don't understand why it keeps doing that. I re-registered and even that didn't take care of it.

Annie: sorry to hear about episode and having to go back home. I have had that same experience as few times. So a few years back (about 3 now). I dont' leave the house without a panty liner on or even a thin long pad. I also keep them in my purse. In case I would need to change something. It always happens when I sneeze, even if I cross my legs. Not a lot but some.

Happy: you are so busy! How was the thrift store today?

Laura: I hope the check issue is resolved quickly. Good for you for getting up early and working out! I find that way I am sure to get it done.

Shad: Some day those kids will look back and say "mom was so right about saving". It is good they have a budget drawn up...at least they are thinking about their money.

Ceejay: It sounds like you had a nice drive back. I'm glad to hear the fit bit was found and it works! I thought I lost mine today but I found it. I have washed mine before and was sure it wouldn't work but it did--and that was almost 2 years ago....and still working.

I'm headed to bed...see you all again soon!

Good morning ladies....

Met up with a friend (from HS) for dinner last night. I had a cup of french onion soup and a salad. Was quite tasty, not the best I have had, but tasty. I drink water when I am out as unsweet iced tea is my beverage of choice, but cannot fathom paying 3 buck for a glass of iced tea, which cost pennies to make. Got home around 7:30. Just in time to finish up a load of laundry and hit the rack.

Made it through yesterday without any more mishaps. Just kind of threw my entire day off. Busy to say the least with other silly requests from my RSM and DSM.

CEEG...glad you made it back safely and had a good time to boot. Sorry to hear about your aunt, my deepest sympathies. Hugs, dear friend.

SHAD...good to wear out ODDU, at least for a bit of rest from him. Kids, eh, mine don't listen to budget advice either. They will get it one day when they are about 45 to 50, fingers crossed.

SUSIE...(and others), I have not had any trouble with posting on this site for a while. Probably just jinxed myself. Anyway, I log on through Google Chrome, if that is any help. Yikes a panty liner would not help this situation. So bad I just throw the undies away in the trash.

LAURA...glad to hear it was MIL that wrote the check wrong and that a friend bought her car, otherwise I would question the buyer. Good for you getting up and working out in the morning.

HAPPY....We have already started the process and turned Cs roof into the insurance. We will see if it flies.

Hello to all, got to get busy and wrap up yesterday so I can start today's business.

Hugs

Susie
I just had the same problem but this time the whole sight closed on me! It's good to know that the Fitbit will keep on ticking. I thought I checked all my pants pockets before I put them in the washer. I was surprised that it still worked. It was a day behind but I can handle that. It seemed okay this morning.

Annie.
I did keep an extra pair of clothing at work in case I did that at work and I did once. I need to prepare myself again for that problem just in case. Glad you had a nice outing with your HS friend.

Shad
It's good that you take care of the ODDU. I actually told my sister that I was going to get a dog when I retired. I had to ask if I could have a house dog. She said yes.


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It sure rained last night and today we are under a flash flood warning till 5 p.m. I dread driving not knowing what to expect on the road way but I will not repeat will not drive through water. I've done that once and will not again. Turn around don't drown.
I was going to go talk to the insurance people about rolling over my insurance but I've decided that I'm going with either AARP or Humana as a supplemental policy to help out Medicare. I can roll over my 401k which has a different title since I work for city government next week.
I need to get off here and go fix some breakfast then clean up the kitchen.

Very quick hello. I have a meeting with the boss about my goals for this year. Bleh. Be back later.

Afternoon all. I’m taking a vacation day tomorrow, so this is my Friday. And it’s payday. HR wants us to use up our previous year’s carried over vacation by the end of the first calendar quarter, so now I will have done this – just one day late. I had the goals talk with my boss. Ugh. I think I need just a fraction of the tremendous drive that Michelle has for seeking fulfilling work to get my butt in gear and DO IT. Send it over to me sister!

Nothing much to report. I was tired last night and did nothing except dog duty – feed, water, medicate, treat, and let in and out. Bf had his braces adjusted yesterday and was in pain most of the night. He has a final exam tonight for one of his classes from the last session, but he’s already in position for a good grade, so it’s not a stressful thing. On the other hand…Before he sent his old laptop in to be repaired/replaced, bf backed everything onto an external hard drive. He received his brand new replacement laptop last week and last night loaded his programs and files back onto the laptop. The files were okay, but the programs didn’t load properly. Now he’ll have to do it manually – many hours of work ahead of him. Ugh.

Tonight I’ll be going to a nearby Hyatt to get a drink or appetizer or something to earn some points so I can keep my Gold Passport membership active and not lose my points (already have enough points for several free hotel nights, don’t want to lose them). Of course today is the deadline to do this, and of course I waited until the last minute. Before I do that, I need to gas up the car and pick up a dvd I have on hold at the library.

Tomorrow we’ll take doggy in for a self-service bath. There’s a place right in the neighborhood, or we might try a place that’s near bf’s mom’s apartment.

==

Shad – LOL re “walkies” – reminds me of that old PBS show featuring the British lady training the dogs. I’m sure the need for savings for a rainy day and retirement must seem soooo far away to your son and his partner at their ages… Hope they wake up and get with the program before too long/too late.

Ceejay – My condolences to you for your aunt’s passing. Is this the one who was getting treatments for a brain tumor? I’m glad you had a good drive home from MO. Wishing a speedy recovery for your Dallas BIL. Good news that your fitbit made it intact through the washer AND dryer! Safe travels to you.

Susie – How maddening to lose your post! Re the check issue – the amount that actually was posted was enough to make the car loan payoff and that’s been done. His mom’s friend apologized for the wrong check amount and will be writing a check for the remainder. I’m pretty sure there won’t be an issue.

Annie – The dinner out sounded nice.

Hellos to the rest of you! I hope you’re keeping out of trouble!

Laura
Yes this is the aunt who had the brain tumor. It was fast growing. At least the goals review is over and an extra day off.
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The last couple of rounds of extremely hard rain is finally over and across the river. My boss brought my pay check to me because the area where the water plant is, is flooded. I called and canceled my hotel room reservation for tonight. I'm hesitant to venture out this afternoon. Too many bridges to cross and some of the roads are beginning to cave in. It's really not safe. Wish the funeral was tomorrow afternoon to give the water more time to recede.
I've been snacking this afternoon because of the weather situation and traveling, but I haven't been going over board.

I need to b cleaning house but not in the mood.

Morning All.

Prayers for my brother. He called yesterday to say he can no longer work for Curtis as the cancer has gone to his back and he is in tremendous pain. My heart is hurting and all I do is cry.

Turned the page to a new month - CLICK ME to head to the new April Thread - Worldly Chicks Reflecting in the April Rains.

DON'T POST HERE ANY MORE.