I flip over my calendar and what do I find? This passage...
"Choosing to live reactively and passively, instead of taking the ititiative to discover and actively live true to your authentic self, cheats you, the world, and everyone in it. It particularly cheats those with whom you directly share your life."

I'm getting messages everywhere I turn and they all go together like a puzzle!:lol:

So how was/is everyone's Bank Holiday/Picnic day????? Just see that too! :D

hi all welcome meadow i must have seen your name somewhere as i recognise it will look forward to the quotes as most of mine have curses :censored: in the middle MEL too late went and picked up my new COMPUTER case and got some wallpaper samples for the livingroom as i wont take dh with me cause it really pi**es me off when he just stands there and goes "thats fine if its what you want" ultimatly ill be papering so i pick but its nice to make him think hes got an imput and before i forget yes the sorcerors stone is the philosiphers stone they changed the title for american readers dont know why ??? and hows the toe? beter now i hope so comps not overheating now s this ones got an even bigger fan on the case but for some strange reason its quieter so after i get the kids clothes for going back to school i just need a new cooler and a bigger hard drive as my 10 gig blew and at the moment im running off 7 gigs and its a pain in the backside as i can only have one game on at a time so im off to take my washing out of the dryer as i had it all hanging out the backgreen but weve had fog all day that has steadily gotten worse so lots of semi-dry washing and ill pop back on later for a chat
kirsty

Morning all - yet again. Another morning rolls around and we have had some much needed rain in the Great South East (as my bit of Queensland is known) Not enough tho and it is starting to clear now, but at least it was rain and not 10 drips then back to brilliant sunshine again.
Been to the gym, ran again and some more and now I have had my shower and breakfast is ready it is time to catch up with you all and plan out the day. I'm feeling a bit stiff and sore, yesterday I upped the weights for the upper body. Still don't feel able to up the leg press weights yets. Anyway the upper body, apart from the vertical press lift is up to 35kg. It seems to have moved a few muscles and things that I wasn't aware that I had. The run this morning has compounded the general ache in the thighs - only wish that something permanent might come of it. Well maybe it will.
Where is happy????? When was that interview supposed to be? I should go back and have a look. She maybe flying off somewhere that we don't know about but wish to know about.
Linus, sounds like you are having the same sort of fun that I had with my old computer a while back. I think I have got everything off it now, but it will stay as it is for a while until I am satisfied there is nothing else that I want.
Hope everyone is having a good day. Mine is about to begin and I have made a huge mess in my bedroom cleaning out some of the tools and things that have been stored in boxes. So the first part of my day is clearing the mess and chucking the junk. Mind you, ds2 will probably tell me in 6 months time that it was not junk at all and he now requires it. Tough cheese kid, you should have put it away properly then. I also have some magazines to go through and decide on keep or chuck - mostly chuck one suspects and of course there is always some work to be done on the house.

Catch up later.

Puff, puff, huff, huff... 'ello Chickies and welcome to the fold Meadow. Couldn't have found yourself with a nicer bunch of people if you tried. We'll corrupt you soon enough if you don't watch out. :rofl:

It's been several days in a row of those too many durn things to do. I have one interview secured for late Wednesday afternoon and am waiting for a confirmation of the second out of town one - probably in 2 weeks. For the local one tho, since I have no sense of direction - spin me around 3 times in my own back yard and I'm lost - tonight DH and I took a ride out to the interview location. That is after I had to run and get groceries and fix us something to eat. I had bought a new necklace yesterday - nothing fancy but decided it looked nice with my shirt and wore it to the store. As I was putting the groceries in my car, I noticed the main part of the necklace was missing - so I had to walk all throughout the store, up and town all the aisles hoping I'd find the bauble on the floor. I was almost ready to give up hope and thought perhaps some child picked it up when I found it laying in the pet food aisle. I then had to rush home, fix us some quick sandwiches and eat fast. It was dusk when we left and I wasn't sure there would be enough light to see where I was going. We started one way and then opted for another route - DH was trying to find the best route for me knowing how I detest driving. We found a route on the way home which is only a few miles extra beyond the most direct route. I had to come and draw my own map - turn at the gas station, turn at the exterminators, etcs. It's horrible having no sense of direction and night blindness too. I wish there were more jobs downtown so I could take the train again but most of the businesses seem to be pulling out of Chicago. So here it is almost 10pm and I am still on the run for the day - I put the perishable groceries away but now have to finish the fruits and veggies and cleaning the counter. And take the laundry out of the dryer.

I paused for what seemed like a short bit of time and here it is 2 full hours later. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Shad, in regards to your question on what to eat, I picked up a magazine just today that talked about that very thing. I haven't read it all yet but will summarize tomorrow. I find myself that eating protein (eggs or a fruit/yogurt/protein powder smoothie) for breakfast helps to stave off the hungries longer than cereal. But everyone is different. Hopefully there will be something in the article of value to you.

I had better get to bed now, sweet dreams chickies and a good afternoon to you Miss Shad.

morning all just a quickie while im trying to get my legs to behave {i will not be ill again} happy meet your partner im terrible for directions totally hopeless when i used to have to go to job interviews and such i always took a taxi or i would never have gotten to them and a couple of times i had to take a taxi home because even though i was positive id memorised enough of the landmarks to get to the nearest bus stop alas no so im off to see if i can get my body to behave and ill catch up with you all later
kirsty

:coffee: Good morning to everyone!
I couldn't get back to you all last night as my computer kept saying "cannot find server" :devil: so after three times I gave up and went and did my favourite....not.....task...THE IRONING!!! And at this present time it is a point worth making that there is nothing in the house at all that needs ironing!!! Yee Hah! :cheer:
The dog and I are tired this morning.:tired: Don't know why the dog is...she didn't get out to play with any hedgehogs last night!
Well here we are on day 3. How are you doing, fellow challengers? Here come yesterdays menus...
Breakfast: yoghurt and pineapple with melon chunks.
Lunch: ready made rocket and bacon salad (just a few shavings of bacon) with coriander and chilli prawns.
Dinner: White basmati rice with vegetable skewers baked in the oven with olive oil, and a peppercorn beef steak.
Snacks: White grapes and before bed, four slices of Chinese flavour boneless skinless chicken fillets. This was rather unecessary as I was not hungry and don't really know why I ate them.:rollpin: :devil: :nono:
And so here I am on day 4. Not a terrible wonderful start. I was up late and couldn't be bothered with breakfast so I have a mug of black coffee with sweetener and 1 1/2 fox's cream biscuits.:drill: :coach: :rollpin: The dog had the other half...:T
You would think that having a heart condition where the ultimate treatment is a heart transplant I would be going all out to get back to a weight where I will be allowed on the transplant list, but ****, no, I seem to be on this path of self destruction.
Linus how are you? Did you have to go to the hospital yesterday?
Happy I am glad you found the bauble from your necklace. We'll have to call you Miss Beedy Eyes from now on! :lol: I always hate it when one of a pair of favourite earings breaks and can't be fixed. That happened recently when I had to throw away a pair that a friend had specially designed whilst he was in Tuscany. A beautiful drop light blue earring...I think he ought to go back and get me another pair made!! :rofl: :lucky: good luck with the ensuing job interviews my friend. Will be thinking of you.
Shad I hope the bedroom is back to being a bed-room again! And I do hope that DS doesn't suddenly think in a few months time that he REALLY needs that tool that he hadn't used for at least three years before you sent it on its merry way :lol:
Mel, what are you up to today? Mind any rogue disposable razors lying around! How is your body this morning? Behaving I hope as I think you are probably still in slumber land!! I still get confused as to what time everyone is in comparison to me, time wise. It has taken me an age to remember that Shad is 9 hrs ahead. Wakey wakey!! :wave:

Morning All
 

Hi Everyone and welcome to Meadow...... this is a lively bunch of gals who are so talented and funny and sweet and will support you and give advice with the warmest hearts around the world. Hope you like it here and feel free to express yourself. I worked so hard this weekend and the weeds are still winning the battle..... hand mowing and pulling 5 acres is not my cup of tea but it has to get done. I also made some head way on my office project and am feeling like maybe it can be completed..... My best talent is procrastination......wish there was a way to earn money!!!!!!! Solve lots of my problems.
My ex brother in law lost his battle this weekend and I am saddened he isn't here any more. He was a good guy and we continued to have a friendship after my marriage ended.... he always said to me Nae you can divorce my brother but you can't divorce the family. I thought that was sweet. My ex is causing so much turmoil in their family it is so sad.....he isn't welcomed in their homes any more and I dread the events of the weekend for them with him present at the funeral. Oh well, not my problem any more but I do feel the effect for my two sons. enough of that!
My son Jesse was forced into using his emergency medical skills this weekend. On a late night walk home with his girlfriend a car crashed into a parked truck and car right behind them when they were on the sidewalk. So he took care of the drunk lady driver...thank god those cars were in the way or else they would have been hit by her. He said they never even heard the car approach just the crunching of metal.......
Looks to be a nice day here today and I am hardly able to believe that summer is almost over....boo hoo........ok enough of Nae's whining or what do the english say...wincing.... of something like that.....
Hope all of you are enjoying the day!
Later,
Nae

So sorry to hear your news, Roseblush. It sounds like you have a bit of a challenging time ahead of you, especially with the funeral. I do hope that the atomosphere is better than think it is going to be! Funerals are funny things. They can either make or break a family..:grouphug:
And, Missy, what do you mean "summer is almost over?!" It is ONLY the third day in August!!! :lol:
Lucky that DS was able to help in the accident over the weekend...good for him :cheer: Thank the Lord he wasn't hurt as well :stars:
Roseblush I have sent you a rather lengthy p.m., you had better get yourself armed with a stash of coffee whilst you read it!! :coffee: :coffee: :coffee:

evning ladies how is we all good hopefully me im in the falling apart at the seams bit again i didnt have to go to the hospital yesterday as i had been feeling better but today im awful i think the weathers to blame its clammy muggy damp and foggy and to boot its starting to thunder so the pressure must be high so hence the cant move as its very painful kids are good so is dh and the dogs cleo has been really clingy as she seems to know when im sore she follows me around even to the loo i think thats because if im sitting on the loo she has a captive audience to get scratched and rubbed she really is a big sook anyway i have to go online and do some shopping and ill pop back later
kirsty
ps sorry for your loss rose and your probably right you are better off out of it say thanks to your ds for me every life saved is a life made better

Sorry to hear of the BIL Rose, and I'm well aware of how the poor family will be placed now with the funeral and your ex. My ex's family was a family constantly at war. I really don't understand all that as I come from a family which is not physically close, emotionally we are all tied together and happy about it. May not see each other often but heck it is fun when we do. Anyway, my ex's Mum died last Christmas and the ex and his brother who are never even much civil to each other fell out big time. I doubt very much whether they will ever speak again now that the only thing that was holding them together is gone. In a way it is sad as my ex now has only himself and one very close friend. He has managed to alienate the rest. Of course he has his sons, but they are very good at calling a spade a spade and not a digging implement and they tell him where to get off. Then he gets pouty and says no one loves him. Shucks........... get a grip. You are not always right and just because you have age on board, doesn't mean you automatically qualify for respect.
Anyway, I didn't mean to ramble about my ex. I was trying to express sympathy for you as you obviously got on well with your BIL.
Linus, I hope you get some relief soon. It's getting serious that this is not clearing up and letting you get back to being Linus again. Sometimes life deals out some cruel blows.
Rose, congratulate your son. It's not everyone who would know what to do in the case of an accident. Wise man acquiring life skills such as emergency medicine and first aid. Wish I had been there to make some very rude noises about the drunk driver. I have absolutely no patience with drink driving stupidity at all. I even frown at people who smoke while driving.

No gym for me today. It is rest day and I sorely need it I think. On Monday which was weights day, I upped the upper body weights by 5kg. It was getting all too easy. Anyway the shoulders, upper arms and upper back muscles have been protesting ever since although not so bad today. Yesterday I ran and boy were the legs had it after that. I did what Brendan suggested in that I didn't push myself so hard as to speed. He reckons that too much raising of the heart rate doesn't always do what you think it might. So he suggested that I leave the speed down where it doubles the heart rate but not any more than that. As soon as I can do it fairly easily up the time and later up the speed. Don't rush it he said - don't be the normal bull at the gate mother I know and love and wish to have around for a bit longer. Keep moving and just do it, oh and stop moaning about it when you get back too. If you hadn't let yourself get this way, then you wouldn't have had to do it!!! Yes Sir :drill: :drill: :p :p :p
Yesterday, I found the engineering solution I had in the bathroom is not going to work. Enter solution 2. Actually it is ds2 solution, so since he made the initial cockup, it is best that he brings about the solution as well. I will disappear down into the wood pile at the timber shop this morning and get the aforementioned solution and since he is home today, we may bring about the miracle. Poor kid had a badly infected ingrown toenail. He is prone to them as is DS1, runs in my family. Anyway after a week of antibiotics the dr has taken away half the nail. Kid was not happy last night, and I have just gone to wake him to go back to the dr to have the dressing changed this morning. I suppose I should be a good mum and take him down there instead of letting him drive himself. Speaking of which - hang on a tick - he's gone back to sleep again, time for a more rousing type of rowsing if you now what I mean. This kid does not do mornings gracefully. :rofl:
So another day of searching the job boards, carefully sending of applications for jobs and just as carefully not getting a lot of answers. There is some soul searching going on down here and I am wondering whether some further training and therefore trying to get the Austudy allowance for the training may not go astray. Could be China yet again.
Okay, time to go. Breakfast is calling. It's fine but windy out there today and I have a yard full of newspapers again. The weeds will be sprouting after the rain and so there is work to do out there. This wind will undo most of the good the rain did. Blah, blah, blah.

Morning, afternoon and evening - wherever you are in this glorious world.

I copied and pasted from my journal. I just couldn't write it twice as I am so saddened.

"A man I would like to think of as a “friend” died Sunday all alone. They found him yesterday. He was worth over $100,000 and never got to enjoy his $$. He had no friends and all because he came home from the Korean war spiritually wounded. Poor old Joe was never the same. This once hopeful NY University student went to war and came back to end up as a street sweeper. His family always tried to have him committed but never won. A few years ago when Joe couldn’t handle the battle himself any longer I got involved. We got him a lawyer and I made sure he had lunch every day. I delivered it myself for a year. That’s how long it took me to get him to trust people and come back to the lunch room. That Christmas he called me by name in the hallway for the first time and wished me a Merry Christmas. I cried so much I could hardly answer him. He told me we were the same. Both disabled. Joe was a lot smarter than some of my closest friends , probably knew me better too and I will miss him terribly. I used to get so excited if he would let me hold a door for him. You see he was afraid of doors and elevators etc and wouldn’t go in or through them with anyone. Such a recluse too, but he used to have a great smile and I always wondered what he was thinking. sometimes the smile was devious and I knew he was laughing at people inside. Poor Old Joe is in a better place I hope where people cannot hurt him anymore. This probably isn’t the place to be putting all this but somehow I had no where else to go. Weight didn’t seem to be on my mind today. Funny how something like this can put things back into perspective. Sorry about all this doom and gloom but I loved him as much as he would let me. I hope he knew that. "

Nae~ I am so sorry to hear of your loss too. Hope the funeraal is not as bad as we think it could be! do you go too? thank god the son wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time!!! Nice of him to help. why!!! do people still drive drunk?!?! I will never figure this out!! all my sympathies for the BIL. Hugs.

Shad~ Poor son's toe!!! Seems to be a lot of TOE going around this month!!! Jen dropped something on one of hers! OUCH! Does the govt. have retraining programs or is this just the China thing??? Is it very expensive to call china??? In quiring minds want to know!!! How goes the bathroom and the new idea????
When you toss all DS's stuff out what come in??? New things for Shad??? Maybe I can rent his room!!!:rofl:

Linus~ I should have known I was already too late!!! You're another Johnny Jump Up!! :rofl: Hope the legs are behaving better and there is no need for a hospital visit!!! How is the new case?? Everything working better? Since I saw your post, ZI have pulled my pc out and dusted it and left it where AIR can get to it!!! :rofl: I don't want it to :faint: right under my nose! Or fanny as the case may be! :rofl:

Happy~ Good luck with the interviews and hope you FIND THEM!!! :rofl: Should I send you my map????? Keep us posted!! What ever happened to the tree and what did you put around it??? Was it a bench?? I never saw the answer if there was one! :lol:

Teel~ Hope day 4 and 5 are goo ones!!! Cream biscuits??? And which diet are these allowed on?? I want a copy of that one. I think Shad might want one too!!! I want one where firemen come and serve breakfast in bed!!! Maybe with no shirt on and their suspenders!!! :rofl: Bet I would lose a PLOT of weight then!!!

A funny thing happened today with Joe's apt. A supervisor came to me later and handed me a bag. Said it was from Joe's. I opened it and found lots of brand new RAZORS!!! All in their origingal wrappers. There must have been a sale and he bought out the store. Of course it was a joke and the men were all laughing cause of my toe!! So I spent the... AFTERNOON HANDING OUT 10/PKS OF GILETTES!!:lol: :rofl: :lol3:

Well this is long enough and I best get a shower. sorry for all the saddness above but I don't know anyone else that would understand Joe as much as 3FC would. Sweet dreams and good morning Sunshine:flow2:

Was checking the job ads when I saw you had posted MEL, so sorry to hear of the loss of a friend. I think I said it all in the journal. There will be more Joe's around at the end of Iraqi involvement as well. Let's hope they all stumble on someone as loving as you.

The job ads - oh yes! I found one, I think it was the same one as applied for a month or so ago, where they were still studying my cv. Anyway a different agency. I applied again and I pointed out that the closing date on their ad was June 22nd but I was applying anyway. That is probably not the way to win friends and influence people. Sod it!!!!

:grouphug: to Mel and Nae on losing friends in this life. May you meet up again someday and enjoy each other's company again.

I can't stay on long - we are getting frightful storms out this way tonight. Great scary flashes of lightning and thunder so loud it rattles the windows. I thought we were over the worst of it but apparently another storm is making it's way through as the lights are dimming and the latest clap of thunder - clap is an understatement - almost made me cry out loud it startled me so. I'm not too comfortable leaving the computers on when it's this bad out.

Shad, I hope something comes of the latest agency. Sounds like your job situation is much the same as here. If only things were clear cut and the path ahead well lit. I will use your motivational saying as encouragement myself. Time for a change, it will be good. If only we could figure out the logistics of that soup and salad restaurant!

Teel and Linus, hope you are feeling a bit better. Mel, I think your legacy will be a razor now as it keeps coming back to bite you. Ha ha, I made a funny :rofl: :rofl:

Meadow did we scare you off or are you more comfortable just hanging around quietly at times?

Lights are dimming, I'd better log off. Take care ladies, have a great day ahead.

A sackful of hugs needed...
 

First things first. :grouphug: to Mel and Roseblush.MEL I think I heard of Joe in your posts in the past. What a sad ending to life for a man who did so much for his country and showed such ambition in his early life.. Gee, we never really get to hear what happens to armed forces members when they come home from fighting for king and country. When is the funeral likely to be? Don't forget to take time to yourself and don't feel you have to be there for everyone else. You, too need some peace and tranquility... :bubbles:
SHAD I hope DS's infected toe gets better soon. Anything to do with toes causes SO much pain! Has he thought about having it removed? The nail, I mean! :lol: Not the entire leg!! Have fun playing in the timber pile! Don't forget to come home again! Good luck wishes continue for you in your job hunt. I really hope you get what you are looking for very soon. Have you heard from Japan Chris since she had her holiday?
I have at last finished fiddling with my holiday photos...only to find I have duplicated some. :devil: Goodness knows how. I am sure I had only edited 2 out of the 3 c.d.s.Sorting that out will have to wait for another time...
LINUS I really feel for you in all your pain at the moment. I wish I was there with you! I know I can't run around doing the housework but at least I could keep the kettle boiling and cook... ;) Please try and take it easy, you know, one minute at a time, not 30 minutes all crammed in to one!! :dizzy:
HAPPY for you too good luck wishes are winding their way for a new job that you will enjoy and doesn't perhaps mean you upsticks and move away.Afriend of mine is about to leave his job too. He was relocated to an office 45 minutes drive away and has not been happy there at all in the 3 months he has been there. He has decided to resign 'cos he was so miserable and the job satisfaction did not equal the unhappiness. I don't think I have ever known 3 people to be out of work at the same time....:grouphug: to you all.
MEADOW where are you hiding? Like Happy says, have we scared you off our thread? I will post a picture of a meadow about 5 minutes by car from my house in the hopes it will spur you on to come back to us! :wizard: :wizard: :mag: :genie: :genie:
As for me...I have revealed how the challenge is going in the journals so I won't bore you all and repeat it here. I suppose as it is just past 11:00hrs and I am being picked up at 12:00, that I should go and put some clothes on (it's ok! I am wearing a LARGE towel!!!:lol3: :lol3:
Bye for now. Try and have a bit of quality individual time, everyone!!

Morning All
 

It is a sunny warm morning here and I didn't feel like getting up so I hope my :coffee: does it's magic for me this morning. Mel, I am sending warm thoughts your way. It was a blessing for your friend to have known you Mel and how much you must have meant to him. I am sorry for you loss. It is always a difficult reality to know we will never see a person again but we must take some comfort in that they are no longer in pain. I won't be attending the funeral for my BIL because my ex would pitch such a fit it would be to no one's benefit. I have talked to my boys and theya re so much in the middle of their season Idon't think they will take the time off to travel so far. My BIL would rather they enjoyed a good day of fishing somewhere and just had great memories of him.
Thanks to all of you for your support and kindness here. Teel I was so glad you wrote to me and informed me a little bit about yourself. Thank you and girl you are amazing in that you are still rising to the challenges that have come your way...... your energy and ability to rise above is so admirable.
SHad thanks for sharing with me about your ex..... it is like theyare stuck in an emotional warp of about 14 or something and they fight tooth and nail to ever have to go a the place of realizing that maybe they made some mistakes and humble themselves enough to apologize or just recognize the wake of pain they leave behind them. So sad, mine has just recently done some other terrible things to his sister so I know at the end of that funeral there is going to be some ugly stuff happening and I don't want my boys exposed to the foolish mouth of my husband in front of people they love.
I do hope the job hunt goes well for Happy and Shad..... it is scary I am sure but keep the faith that something great lies ahead for both of you. Linus I am so sorry you aren't feeling well. Ido hope you get some rest and recovery. Your stories about the necklace were so enlightening and fun. Think of when he is in his twenties and he looks back at his life and we will probably of lots of fun stories to share with his future wife and kids..... I am looking forward to showing some videos of my kids to their children someday it will be a hoot. So please get to feeling Linus.
Take Good Care everyone today and thanks for your tender thoughts and expressions.
Peace,
Nae