Hello all!

Was just starting my good morining post and said to myself...

" You know what, why don't you take the day off...." so... I did...

Just as a gift to me....

Tra laa...

and believe it or not, my goal is to clear things away down my entry hall as its been too long...still have things in boxes from the previous job that have been sitting there nearly 2 mos...

so...
*******

Thought of the day :

"The only bad mistakes are the ones we make twice."
--from the cover of the Toastmaster's Magazine Aug 2004

Question of the day :

"If you had to name a smell that always makes you nostalgic, what would it be?"
----From IF (2) by Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywel

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eydie-your big hound sounds so cute, and of course smart. i'm sure i would like him!
i did have a restful weekend, thanks. finally got some rest today too after my very long day yesterday.

ceara-hope things went ok at the eye doc and that whatever had showed up on that eye exam is not serious. i bet it must be so much fun to show dogs, ceara. i obviously have dogs on the brain today! there is a really sweet dog that belongs to someone in the building across from me, and i always enjoy running in to her---so very soothing.

kaylets-congrats on making your 10% goal! speaking of clearing out boxes, i am trying to soldier on with my organizing around here too.

morrigan-i like that louisa may alcott quote.

empress amarantha-salutations! always so good to hear how you are.

hello anagram, wildfire, arabella!!! good evening!

late last night, i wanted to jump off the wagon-probably because so tired-but i held fast and was pleased about that. it sure continues to be an uphill battle, and a very steep one at that, but very worth it. well, hi to all royals, mentioned and unmentioned. take care.

Hello All!

WSW- I can RELATE! Just scraped by the edge of a chocalte pudding incident... couldnt find it and decided yogurt w/ fruit would have to do... and as I took the first spoonful, saw the chocolate... and nearly went back to make the choc but saw your note ... and realized that I really don't need it ...
especially since my plan was to eat the whole box....
Not that I didnt have a great dinner...
I am sure its the fat cells thinking they are in danger of starving....
So...

thank you, ma'm... you helped me come back in from the ledge...

Hello all!

How's everyone doing??

Thought of the day :
"Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first"
--Frederick Wilcox

Question of the day :

"If you had to describe yourself to a child in one word, what would it be?"
------From IF (2) by Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywel

Still thinking about my near chocolate pudding binge last night..
amazing to me how I had mentally made a deal to " go ahead and use up all your Flex points...'

DH found a nursey w/ some "cool weather" vegetables that I am excited to go onto the next step of " cool weather" crops... Didnt find leeks but maybe I can get some seeds quick...

Time for a nap!

Wish I had flex points, if I did, I used them all last night. Spent the morning in the garden - it is almost hopeless after a month of neglect. We slept outside and watched the Perseid meteor shower last night, it was beautiful. The northern lights are supposed to be out later this week.

kaylets-those rationalizations/deal-making sure are easy to do. glad my post last night was in any way helpful. i know how much all your posts and support help me to stay the course even when it seems hard.

a friend of mine found out about someone in the area who does pet therapy and is willing to come and visit me next week. i am really happy about this, since it is a golden retriever, my favorite kind of dog. i spoke with the woman today and she said she has volunteered at nursing homes and hospitals, but had never visited in an individual home before, but that after speaking with my friend, she said she would be happy to bring her dog over. she said that if i was someone who inspired such caring from her friends, then how could she say no. it made me feel very good. she is a social worker in private practice working with the elderly. she got the dog after it had been living in a nursing home for 2 years (in a program trying to normalize the living conditions for the residents as much as possible), so she said her dog, mack, is very used to being around lots of different folks and is very gentle and affectionate. as much as i am looking forward to this visit, you would think i am actually getting my own dog! anyway, the visit is scheduled for next thurs morning.

i treated myself to some nice lotions (toner and rosemary/mint foot lotion) today. i haven't done anything like that in quite a while and i was reminded how relaxing they are to use.

ok, off to bed i go. take care, all.

Hello all!

Charley is really making me nervous as my folks live near Tampa... I am pretty sure they have gone to a shelter already... The last email from my mom said that was their plan... Its just very strange to call their house and only get the voicemail....

Well... I took 2 days off and now am going in to see what my desk holds... I know I wasnt feeling myself and am feeling more rested now....
but who wants to go back on Friday??


Ah well... it sure beats wondering if a hurricane is going to flatten your house....


WSW-- I don't blame you for being excited about your 4 legged visitor!!
Sounds like great fun!


take care all..
.
Thought of the day is a little different...



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Thought of the day :


THE FIGHTING OF TWO WOLVES




An elder Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life.

He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me... it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."

"One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

"The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."

They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied... "The one you feed."



**************

Good mornin' all 's of the realm!

I had posted yesterday but it got lost in Microsoft's error system and I had no time to repost! Lesson...control c before you send.

Had a great day yesterday...feel like I got a lot accomplished...and am heading off to do the same today. Gonna hang out at home for part of the morning and then go to lunch with my Gram....gotta catch her after breakfast though...did ask her last night but she is not the brightest bulb at night...and has likely forgotten that I called. The perils of 96!

So I would rate yesterday as an A+++.....ate well, floated in water, did my walk...fast...sprayed weeds, bathed a dog, saw the vet, worked and got my ears candled last night....successful in many ways. Oh yes and 1 load of laundry. So...

Here's to another....glad you guys are doin' fine....Wsw, goldens are great dogs..Morrigan, did you see satellites too? We used to lie on the hood of the car and do that...not all night though..a little hard...Kaylets...2 days off!?! Wow, hope you cleaned out that hall....something I should do. Clean Arabella! Hang in there...Eydie, are your laughing cow wedges the 45 cal ones, that taste kinda like cream cheese? I too like those on Ryvata (I think) crisps. to all other Royals....

Ceara

Good thing I Control C'd.....Microsoft...gotta live with it!

Hello!

I think the scale is broken because I weigh 9 pounds less than I did last week. I just don't think that's possible....either last week's reading was out of whack, or this one is. Guess I'll have to break down and buy a new one. I was doing so well not using it, though....

Turns out I had/have a dislocated wrist. The doctor tried pulling it back into place on Monday...thought she was going to pull my hand clear off...but as soon as she'd let go it would pop back out. So it has been wrapped in a tensor bandage for support and to limit my range of movement because the popping/crunching/pain is kinda gross. She x-rayed to rule out any fractures and there were none. Wednesday I woke up and felt like I'd been run over by a transport truck in my sleep. My mid-upper back, neck, shoulders are killing me...feel like they are on fire...and there was the weird crushing pain at the back of my head....and the constant twitching in my right eye that has just about driven me completely MAD! So I went back to the doctor yesterday morning and she told me I need some time off work. She thought I had already been off work since the accident. She suggested a week or two, but I agreed to three days because after that I'd have to deal with short-term disability payments and that can be a pain. So I go back to work on Tuesday. She gave me some drugs, told me to apply heat, and since I have access to a hot tub at the gym to take advantage of it, twice a day if I can. I know the MPD boss won't like this at all...but I should have done it sooner.

My car is being repaired. Estimated repair bill is $7200.00 and it will take 2 weeks. In the meantime I've been given a freakin bus to drive....a 2005 Pontiac Montana. I have requested that as soon as a car is available that the rental company call me so I can switch. Good that my car is being repaired...having JUST paid it off a month ago I really didn't want to start car payments all over again.

The guy who owns the car that hit me (his girlfriend was driving) has been avoiding calls from my insurance company. He was quite insistant that we settle privately...but once there are injuries (and I was taken by ambulance!) the option to settle privately isn't there. I was informed yesterday that as we suspected, he had no insurance, and the darling cop who was with me in the hospital went over to charge him. Driving without insurance here is a $5000.00 fine, plus my insurance company will sue him for all the damages/injuries benefits that they have to cover. I feel bad that this kid was so STUPID to have a car on the road with no insurance and he let his girlfriend drive it....she was ticketed at the scene so her record is screwed, too...but what if this accident had been more serious and they'd killed someone? They have no right to drive a car without insurance....the rest of us have to follow the law, why shouldn't they?

I have pictures....

http://friendpages.com/pages/writers...00/photo30.jpg
http://friendpages.com/pages/writers...00/photo28.jpg

Oh, and I never did post the picture of Arabella and I...

http://friendpages.com/pages/writers...00/photo31.jpg

So, that's the news from my corner of the world.

Where the heck are Punkin and Cerise and zadie??? And it looks like anagram is on the missing list, too?

Arabella it might be a good thing that your editor's daughter was leaving for another continent. I think I would have killed her!

wsw, that's so great that you are having a four-legged friend come to visit! You'll have to give Mack a scratch from us, too. This woman might be a good resource for you to find out about getting a Dog Guide or companion of your own.

Kaylets, congrats on the near miss with the chocolate pudding! And did I see a 10% goal?

I've sat for about as long as I can...time for some drugs and some breakfast. Hope everyone is well and anyone near the Florida storms are safe!

Good Morning, Perky Palace People! Not missing, thanks, Wildfire, just wandered away a bit and took me a while to find my way back. The leisurely three day weekend and a day trip this Wednesday have relaxed me and I'm feeling great but oh so lazy!!!!

What an awful ordeal and I'm so grateful things were not worse with the accident. It is hard to believe that people can be so shortsighted. I know I HATE to pay the insurance costs myself but I'm just too chicken not to (or too darn sensible). Hope the pain eases and am happy you're taking at least the three days off. You're right, you should have done it before. I understand making the effort to go in but it's one of those things I think are seldom appreciated.

And Kaylets, I applaud your wisdom in taking some time off too. It is really life sustaining sometimes just to sit back (even though you be working your tail off clearing up the entry) and just do something a bit different sometimes.

wsw, how inspiring that your efforts are recognized and what a nice lady Mack's Mom seems to be. Perhaps two new friends for life - Mack and Mom.

Ceara - enjoy Gram and your outing w/her. 96 and able to go - that's an inspiration. I too enjoyed your leisure description - wine, pool, plants - ah! And Morrigan, I envy your night vista. When we came back from the bus trip Wed, it was 1:15 a.m. Thursday, a time I'm usually sound asleep. I enjoyed just being outside in such a quiet time on such a balmy evening. I think I miss a lot sleeping ;-)

Eydie, as usual I enjoyed your visual about your workouts! You're always such an inspiration for me to contain the cals as well.

Wood Nymph - How apt to make that slip in a psych class! Glad things are straightening out a bit. I have to do that "fake it 'til you make it" thing a lot and it does help. And I'll never be done organizing but I have been doing some in a most unorganized way. I'm fooling myself into thinking it's not work (hehe!) and I'm gullible enough that it's working.

Empress, glad you checked in - I'm following your trail occasionally but always like to know you're back in the palace too.

Kaylets, will be keeping Mom in my thoughts. Looks like it might be nasty and am glad if they've gone to a shelter. Our weather here this week has been bad enough - I can't imagine what facing a hurricane would be like.

DD and family have been at Bethany Beach this week and are leaving a day early (today) to try to beat some of the storm coming up north. While we were on the day trip a terrific storm broke out while we were in Inner Harbor - fortunately we had just made it to a pavilion when the rain started and it stormed away while we were eating and stopped just as it was time for the bus. When we got to Wolf Trap (for the Boston Pops - just great!), it was most pleasant. DS lives not far from there and he later emailed that his yard looked like a tornado had touched down with things thrown into neighbors yards and trees damaged etc. Such touch and go stuff - Some near us had five inches of rain yesterday and we were fortunate to have had only an inch or so and didn't seem to be in the middle of anything though we could hear thunder all around.

Off to the pool for the third time this week. Also had a really good day yesterday despite late hour the night before. Hope to manage it again today. Good weekend all. Punkin - IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Love the picture from the "meeting". I just feel like I could slip in the booth with you and start talking as though I've known you all my life. I put Wildfire on the left and Wood Nymph on the right. Is that the way it is?

Quiet here tonight. we came in on the right side of Bonnie and only got about an inch here where others about 45 minutes away got 5. And it's beginning to look like Charlie will track east of us but we're still due for another 1-2" and things are so saturated already. Better than being further south, I guess. Kaylets, is your Mom ok? It hit a bit below them but I'm sure it was still really strong in her area.

Went to a band concert in the park this evening. Warm when we got there but then rain threatened and it got pretty cool. Really nice despite that.

Today is a "save" day, I think. I think total calories will be ok but not the best choices. A lot of days like that lately. Managed pool exercising for an hour today and that was the third time this week so doing ok there. Definitely doing better at the "fun in my life part". Hope to keep that up.

Wishing all a good weekend.

hello all!

Yes, spoke w/ my mother... when the storm shifted and headed south of them, they went to my Aunt and Uncle's place instead of the shelter.
So rather than a big school gym or whathaveyou, my folks have a big house, pool, jacuzzi, to themselves as my Aunt and Uncle are in AZ. They lost power for a short time but to quote mom "We are absolutely fine" and expect to go back to their "park" today providing power is back on. If you're not familiar w/ the modern Florida Retirement Mobile Home parks its hard to use the word Park as most the stereotypical "trailer park" so often comes to mind....

So... we are under hurricane warning too but forecasters are not hysterical.. the expectation is that the storm's force will lessen the longer it moves north on land. Might get interesting though.

So...
Tomatoes are coming in... the cherry and grape size taste terrific but the big "beefsteak" size are disappointing... lots of folks around have a tomato fungus which I don't have but seems as though there has been so much rain.. tomatoes have a "watered" down flavor...
hoping if I keep picking, the next fruit will be better...

Can't wait to check out the pics..

Wildfire-- so sorry to hear you are so banged up... didn't realize...
ouch! And yes, the same type of situation is effecting things in my life too..
although it wasnt my car nor was it myself or DH driving...but the irresponsible behavior root...

DH picked up some "cool weather vegs" for me to try... 2 types of lettuce, red cabbage, and plenty of broccolli. It's an experiment... hoping to extend the growing season w/ a simple coldframe too but first need to get the new vegs planted. I am going to use window boxes and pots as everyone tells me it makes it easier to move in and out of a cold frame or to protect from snow ...

*****
Here's a thought for today:

"You will become as small as your controlling desire;
as great as your dominant aspiration."
--James Allen

Question of the day:

"What is the worst weather experience you've ever had?"

*****

Time for tea... sun is brightening some...
maybe a perfect time to garden..

There is a lot to keep up on here. That really sucks about the kid having no insurance. We have laws against that here, but almost everyone I know that has been in an accident, the other guy didn't have insurance. Most people don't have health insurance, let alone car insurance. I can't imagine going without either, even when we weren't covered at work I paid up the ying-yang for private insurance.

I am having such a hard time eating this week. We have concert tickets for last Thursdy, Fri, Sat, Sun and this Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun. My parents put out this enourmous spread of food and wine and I just say what the heck, eat, drink and be merry. Last night was Buddy Guy, tonight is a Cajun band, and tomorrow is the Grand Finale Symphony Orchestra doing a salute to the Olympics. I am going to be so glad to be home in the evenings cooking my own dinner after this.

We did see quite a few Satilites and the Space Station. It is much bigger and brighter and faster than the other Satalites.

I am having weird Capitalization issues this morning. There is an arts and crafts festival at the City Beach today, should be fun.

Food wise: I have been holding steady at 197 and not losing anything. I really need to get some kind of impetus going.

have a good day everyone