So I downloaded the free Windows 10 offer which expired yesterday. And now I am busy trying to find everything. It also appears to have lost my browsing history so loading up new websites is a right pain in the proverbial. I usually have to try at least three times, then log out and come back and try again. Once I get the site working then it isn't too much of a problem. I thought I had lost all my favourites as well, but did manage to stumble on them eventually. Pain, pain, pain

Tonight I am going to a cocktail bar with my landlady. She's been wanting to go for ages and I haven't taken any notice of her because I have been busy with friends and other things. This weekend tho' I thought I had better get on with it. I have a few more friends to catch up with as well. That might need to be next weekend. I'd better check up on where they are and what they are doing.

Only a couple more weekends to go before home. No one has spoken about extensions or anything yet and I see I am down to go to Wagga Wagga the week after I finish. That should be interesting.

Happy - so sad that people who should be working together for the benefit of a common cause must always seek to dominate. It's so stupid. Closed minds and all that. You have enough other things to worry about rather than that - although I must admit the bingo sounded hilarious. What a shemozzle. Such a pity you are not getting out in the ATV or the boat while the weather is warm enough.

Laura - losing a pet leaves a great gap in your day. You suddenly realise that in other times, you would have been taking the dog for a walk at this point in time, or that the cat needs cuddles in the evening. It's never easy, but you did the right thing by Coal and he is now out of pain and resting peacefully.

Ceejay - don't you just hate it when you lose a post? Sounds like your retirement organisation is now well underway. Good for you.

Dee - Good on that doctor. What a little gem. Hope the DH takes some notice of her and her advice. No need to treat those who love you with criticism and sarcasm.

Annie - after the year you have had, it is no wonder you have a heavy heart. Baby steps, little joys to savour, progress on health, wealth and happiness. Doesn't happen overnight, it does happen so seize those moments.

Susie - At least you didn't gain in the weigh in. Hope everything is working out at work now. Did you get some help or a removal of some of the work you have to do?

Not much else to report from round here. I suppose I better go and get ready for this outing tonight. Might need to do a fair amount of panel beating and spray painting to get myself into shape for the world

Morning all
I realize that it's Saturday but I'm at work. Counted up yesterday that as of today I have approximately 33 days left in Arkansas. We have been having mechanical problems lately. I come in to work this morning and we are operating on two filters. ugh. One of my bosses called me half asleep to see if they had fixed the filter. I told him no.
I have started to pack my things for the move on August 31/September 1. I need to get some bubble wrap and some more boxes. Didn't realize how many DVD's I had. Guess I need to watch some of those when I move to Missouri.
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Shad
You are busy as ever. Thanks for mentioning the land lord. I need to write a letter to my land lord to give him a 30 day notice of moving.

Happy
I'm glad you are going to walk away from the Thrift Store. Seems like there was always some kind of drama.

Annie
I hope the boys are feeling better.

Susie
You have been doing well with sticking to your weight loss goals. I'm putting mine on the back burner until I get moved. To much stress on getting things done.

Hi Dee

Good morning fine chicklettes,

Happy weekend to you.

May have stumbled upon the problem with the door. Our entryway faces due east and gets lots and lots of sun exposure. One of the construction guys yesterday (they do all sorts of remodelling and carpentry work) was talking to DH about the door which was banging and rubbing something awful yesterday. It's a vinyl door. Apparently vinyl heats up and expands when warm and that's why there is such an issue. The carpenter had a temperature thingy and the door frame was 85 degrees but the center of the door (where the rubbing occured) was 145 degrees - hence the swelling and rubbing. Said we would not have that issue in the winter - possibly the opposite with it shrinking and potentially letting in cold air due to fine gaps. Carpenter guy said this is why they discourage people from getting vinyl siding on the house. It expands and contracts alot - and leaves gaps for the millions of asian beetles we have up here to make homes. Our new siding is a sturdy wood type structure. So the answer is to get a wooden door. I would not get a steel door because we have one on the back entry and believe me, in the winter that door gets very cold and because of it, it actually puts a chill in the room and we already have cold from the upper windows. This wonky door was almost $7,000. A wood door would cost about twice that. :faint: DH said we might be able to keep the frame with the existing permanent sidelights but I said if we do that a vinyl frame and a wood door would never match colors and that would make me nuts. So after we finish our coffee, we are headed to town to look at door options at the lumber store.

Yesterday we went to our favorite Italian restaurant. I had fabulous eggplant parmesan and DH had his favorite swordfish. It was sooooo good. Last calorie heavy meal for me. I start strict on the diet come Monday the 1st of the month. Hard to believe another month has rolled by already.

Shad - I was sort of glad that my BIOS would not allow an automatic update of Windows 10. If this laptop stops working, I will switch to the Mac book I bought 6 months ago and never really used. The shop's computer forced a Windows 10 upgrade and I had the same problems you did finding things. VERY AGGRAVATING! :rollpin: Did you have a nice time with the land lady? I suppose it helps to keep on good terms with people that you may need from time to time. Ladies, Shad tried to scare me with Hu Hu bugs yesterday on Facebook - just want you to know that. It actually made me smile and think of Mel looking up on the computer all the new things you introduced us too and then making typical Mel funny remarks about them. :cry: Do they have you scheduled to go to Wagga Wagga AFTER your existing contract RUNS OUT??? :dizzy: We will get out in the ATV again - probably more next month when the colors start to bloom in the trees. I don't care to go in the height of the tourist season - too many unskilled dummies driving way too fast and dangerous. Tourists should drop off dramatically in about 3 weeks as the kiddies return to school. We will get a few more boat rides and ATVs in before the snow flies.

Ceejay - I think you may miss all the excitement and routine of running the plant for a while after you retire. Down to a month of days - it's going to go quite fast. I think as you start to pack you will find that you had alot more in the apartment than you originally thought. At least you know what you are moving to and what will fit in the new place and what you really don't need.
At least you won't have to do quite so much driving any more. Is the weather going to be different or similar to what you have in Arkansas?

Annie - I hope you have fun at the party but I can understand your reluctance to sleep in a hotel. If we are driving I tend to bring my own pillow and blanket with me. You need a break and some smiles - hope you get them on your trip. :hug:

Laura - I too loved your story about Coal's baby teeth. I didn't realize that dogs had baby and adult teeth like humans do. And I agree with Shad's post - you will no doubt notice sad moments when you'd do things with Coal or things remind you of him. It's a shame that our beloved companions have a shorter life span than us. I smiled at your comment about getting your hair styled and then going to weed the garden. I don't think I ever managed to coordinate a hair appointment with a side by side event so I could go looking nice. I do get my hair styled because that's the best I'll look until the next appointment :rofl: I can never get it looking like they do although I have been paying attention on how they do the blow out now that I can see what they are doing! Congrats on being down 2 pounds this week!!! :yay: To your question about the pet meds - I think those are shrink wrapped standard medications and I do believe the shelters will take them gladly. You can call and ask too. If you want to give away toys and leashes, remember thrift shops. We have groomers who come in and buy extra stuff cheap for the volunteer / pro bono work that they do for the community.

Hi Dee and Susie :wave:

Coffee cup is empty. I need to get out and get back home - it took all day to send out email reminders for the fundraiser and I still have about a dozen to go yet. Then I have to do follow up phone calls to remind people to READ their email and remind people who don't have email at all. Will be a busy day. Then I can relax tomorrow. Have a good weekend everyone.

A very Happy Saturday to everyone :dancer: I'll be back later today for personals.

Chelle :hug: If you've been here to read & no time to post, pLease will you leave us a quickie post :smug:
I'm not on Facebook, so I don't have a clue if life is treating you good or you need anything :?: Hugs little sister & I hope you are doing awesomely :D

If anybody knows how she is doing I hope you will post it, thanks.

We're going to 2 county fairs, so silly to have them going the same week when they're about 35 miles apart. I gotta keep in control of my desire to buy another pet until we sell our house & buy one with at least 2 acres for a: pool, hot tub, horseshoe pits, bocce ball court, pickle ball court, Zen garden, veggie garden, fruit patch, firepit ring, shade trees. Having a deck or a patio depends on the yard's water table, I have almost $800 in Menard's rebates saved ;) during the last 3 years from jobs.
I want about 200 sq.ft. for 6 hens, a henhouse & play yard :D no more roosters, our last one was a jealous :( bully & he tried to stop us from holding our hens, he'd peck them & chase them away from us & our visitors. Many people have portable fences to let them eat insects & fertilize their lawns, just remember to have a dish of water in the fenced area, then take them back to their coop before dusk. Hens are nice pets for adults & kids too.

Happy, yes you can leave your hens for many days, you simply have a couple of feeders & waterer's in their pen & when you return home after being gone over 48 hours throw those eggs away, the warm temps make them unsafe to eat. Just do not put the fancy breed of chicks with other breeds because they will get bullied by the other hens pecking them :( Dh & I enjoy having chickens & we just gave ours to a family with 3 kids & after we're settled in a new home we'll buy chicklets next year building a new henhouse & play yard. If you ever decide to get chicks, you can buy coops/henhouse at some farm supply stores & there are hundreds of coop/henhouse plans to build yourself. The lowest maintenance pets we've ever had & they feed us natural, healthy, delicious eggs.

:wave: Hugs to all :hug:

Happy
That would make sense about a vinyl door as they do heat up quickly. My first response as I walked up to the front door of my new house in Battlefield was wow a heavy door. The door I have now is very flimsy. In fact it looks like a mobile home door. I may be wrong but I don't think I'll miss this job, just the people and some of the people I will not miss. The electronics person is supposed to come tomorrow to get things sorted out. The plant is 15 years old. It's time to start replacing things.

Dee
I want a meditation garden when I get moved to Missouri. I asked my sis about it and she said of course. The back lawn is big enough for a small Zen garden and that's really what I want for the meditation garden.

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I'm fed up with the neighbors. They have been driving through both my back and front lawns. Think they may have gotten stuck during one of the down pours of rain cause there is a rut in the lawn. I'm calling the land lord to have him check for a leak in the yard but I've been having good water pressure. Don't think it's a sewer leak cause it to far over.
Sometime today I need to write a letter to the land lord giving him a 30 day notice of the move.

Hi Everyone. I skipped church this morming. We had the nephews last night while my brother and his partner went to my brothers 30 year High School reunion last night. We didnt get home until about 1 am.

We took the nephews to see Finding Dori and then dinner at Olive Garden. The rest of the time was playing video games, watching Hotel Transylvania 2 at home, walking the dog, and bathtime. I loved every minute with my little guys.

DH is actually working today. They have a big job in the works. He was going to work yesterday but he left the keys to the shop at home and didn't
realize it until he got there. So he just came home and did his normal grocery shopping guide and such. I dusting, cleaned my makeup box out, reading and napping.

I will come back later to post personals.

Hi everyone :smug: It drizzled rain yesterday while we were at both county fairs :( So our day was short. But it gave me more time to bake for a bridal shower held today. 36 mini cheesecakes & a 18" rustic tart with sliced plums & peaches :p that I baked on a pizza stone & I used a pizza peel to set it on a glass wedding cake platter I decided not to sell. I also baked samples for us to do quality control :D

Happy... You should've had yourself cloned before you became 'Retired', so that one of you could take a day off, while the other you is on the go-go 16 hours a day :dizzy: Congrats :hug: on deciding to let the thrift shop look for 'several people' to try doing the same work that you've been doing Alone for years. I hope that you won't let them manipulate you into working more jobs, when they see you cut back. Your bingo story was crazy, the last time I played was over 10 years ago & the prizes were holiday season food & table settings; frozen turkeys, bags of fruit, etc & everyone was happy for the fellowship & everyone left with something. I won a forest green linen tablecloth & a bag with cranberries & oranges. Now I just donate prizes, pies, etc. I don't think people should get their hopes up to win cash or get mean otherwise they shouldn't play bingo. I sure hope that you can return the door that won't work & get a refund or a store credit for the door you need because you were given bad advice.

Ceej... Do you have new neighbors right next to your new home, I hope your yard is big enough to give you the privacy that you want. I misspoke when I said Zen garden yesterday not a Zen, thanks Ceej for saying 'meditation garden' that's what I meant. Like a peaceful Japanese garden with a small waterfall or a bubbling fountain or a small pond with plants & fish to watch that will keep it clean & a couple of comfy chairs to read & relax & a fragrant perennial flower bed that I can cut flowers from & take indoors. You & your sister will have wonderful times putting your new home together :smug:

Susie... What a wonderful weekend you got to have with the kids :smug: Having family nearby is wonderful! Thanks for reminding me to clean my makeup cases, I need to check the expiration dates on my eye makeup. We haven't seen Finding Dory, but we loved The Secret Life of Pets. Last Friday I took a hike in our woods & when I saw that my Fitbit had 26,086 steps I was surprised, no wonder my legs were so tired. That was my farewell hike alone, hopefully we'll have our home ready to list with a realtor in a week. I'm nervous about strangers being in our home with our personal possessions, so I've been trying to store them out of their vision but we aren't able to store everything for every viewing, what a PITA this is going to be :( I wish we had $ to have our new home now to move our possessions into & this house was empty. August begins tomorrow, at least you got to be at K.I. this summer for the rest of us ;)

:wave: Shad, Laura, Annie & Chelle :grouphug:

Back for personals.

Happy: that makes sense about the door. Did you guys go look at some wooden ones this weekend?

I saw that you said come Aug 1 you were on a sticker weight-loss plan with your food.

I need to be a bit more structured with everything in my weight loss plan. I dug out a program that really helped me when I first started TOPS and will start using it again. It is a 51 day journal plan which outlines the exercise, food and such. The food will be hard as we just aren't cooking much in our house these days and I don't see it changing for about another month or so. However, I can plan my meals better, even with what I'm choosing we eat out. The exercise plan is a good one and I can stick to it. So that is my plan for Aug1.

Ceejay: just over 30 days left in your job, your current home....a lot of excitement but I'm sure it feels stressful at times. It's going to be a wonderful thing for you though!

Shad: How did the time at the cocktail bar with the landlady go?

I am still working a lot but not as frantically as I did. My new Director doesn't seem to create a lot of "extra work". My former Director was connected to everyone and always had to have his hands in this and that.

We don't have anyone hired for the vacant Admin position in our Org so just two of us handling things right now. The other Admin and I did split the duties of the Admin who left.

My AD asked me on Friday if it made sense for the other Admin to support her right now until the replacement comes in and that person will then support my AD as well. The other Admin is not having to support anyone other than those who are not management level. My answer was that it was a thought and it would be up to her to decided that and most likely talk it with the Director as he will dictate who is doing what in the Org. So we will see what happens.

Dee: Those cheesecakes sound wonderful! What a nice walk you had through your woods. I can understand how difficult it would be to sell your home and once it is listed have to deal with people coming through all the time. Hopefully it will sell fast and you will find your new home soon.

Finding Dori was cute. I enjoyed being able to take my nephews to the movies and out to eat and them back at home with them for a bit. DH and I saw Secret Life of Pets a few weeks ago....it was really funny!

This coming Saturday we are going to see the new Jason Bourne movie. I'm looking forward to seeing it. It helps to have something fun planned for the weekend...makes the work week go faster!

Annie: I understand what you are saying about hotels. When we go to one I won't even take my luggage in until I go to the room, open every drawer, inspect the bathroom and pull that mattress away from the wall and look at it with the curtains closed and the flash light. I also like the most hotels are not using bedspreads or comforters anymore. I also pull those off the bed and put them in the closet until I leave. I just want the sheets and blanket changed every day and new towels every day.

Laura: I hope your weekend was a good one.

I need to get off here and do the checkbook and pay the bills. Then I plan to watch the "Bachelor Tell All"show and get caught up on that.

Ok kids, the new thread for August is set up. Since we are all up for a good challenge in August ...

Click to go to The Worldly Chicks Kickstarting Plans in August


Don't post here anymore. See you in the new house.