[Shad]

Aaaah Sunday is not here, she is still giving the DS and Womble a hard time. I wont get her back here until I come home for good. She wasn't speaking to me last time I was over there anyway.
Teel, I'm sorry to hear that you aren't feeling very well. I don't know what to suggest to make it better. I know that swimming is really good for sore bodies - but you don't have to do laps maybe a gentle stroll down the pool - that's good for legs I know. One thing I do know - pigging out wont help (and the extra weight is just more to carry around and more to ache) - so stay out of the caesar wraps and the junk food stores OK!

Linus, I've been reading through your posts. My word, your family has been in the wars. Poor Dad. I'm glad the home help will not be back. You have enough on your plate without that worry as well.

Happy is in the Lone Star State celebrating and is about to take over from Scarlett in the South. I will have to think about travel plans to the south and east of Arizona next time will I? That's if I can get past the fingerprinting, voice scan, photo taking (that's a problem, never yet seen a photo of me that looks like how I feel I look so how are they going to match the real me with the celluloid frankensten monster mama?)

Meadow, Wishin' and Nae - how are you all going. It's Autumn now up your way. While we are celebrating Spring in Melbourne and the arrival of Summer in Brisbane. I say Summer because there are only two seasons up here. Hot and bloody hotter. The winters are magic, the summers are ****. Fortunately it is only three months of ****.
Okay I had better go. I'll go put the Memories of Melbourne on the website for you all to enjoy and come back and give you the addy.

Have a grand day/night and be good.

[Shad]

It took forever, but I finally made it back with the address for the Melbourne pics.
Here you go
http://community.webshots.com/album/197646081NpTBDd
Click on the View Slideshow down on the left side to set the slideshow up. You then have to tell it how fast you want it to go through and tell it to go.
Enjoy.

[MELODY525]

I Better Go And Clean All My Roomies!

Let's all have a group hug, some brekkie and a cuppa of whatever is your choice. I think that's as good a way to start the weekend as any.....except Shad has already DONE THIS!!! LOL
Hope you all have great weekends. Ours is a 3 day holiday as is Marie's. Funny we celebrate 2 different hols on the same day. I REALLY need to concentrate on cleaning the house! Crap is lying around everywhere! Looks like a garbage heap. So that is what my weekend will consist of. Cleaning and tidying up.

Linus~ glad to hear Dad is home. Hope he feels better too. There's no place like home. Poor Craig. sorry to hear he wasn't well and now you????!!!! Is it a virus? (((((HUGS))))
to the whole Linus family! I had no nightmares but Jen did. I think I was too tired for them! LOL I had forgotten I had my flu shot the afternoon before and for 2 days was saying...I'm just so tired and achy.... Well no wonder says Jen and reminded me! All are much better and the Happy Weekend is here!

Have a great day everyone and sweet dreams Miss Shad!

[Roseblush]

Hello Everyone, Welcome home Shad...it isn't the same without you here but am so glad you get a bit of a rest at home. enjoy it and thanks for taking the time to share your pics with us...love that!
.... ....... yeah it is Saturday and I am up already. The sky is a gorgeous pink and it isn't even that cold ...amazing fall weather. The deer are strolling by the house and in the yard on their way up to the hills to sleep for the day. I will do a few chores around the yard and more with my transfer of outside plants to inside. One of my patients who is and amputee has me dog sit for him...which I love to do.... so for payment he comes to my house when I am not here and weeds my lawn....sitting on his butt and moving around my yard that way....what a guy! Now his next project is putting in a hand rail outside on the steps to the house. He has gone to the woods and is peeling the logs and going to make it look like my log house....people can be so great!
The little filly that was born a few weeks ago is thriving...she is adorable and her name is Sassy Surprise....since no one knew she was even expected in this world. My enjoyment of watching everyday and seeing the loving attention her mother gives her is so fun!
Teel, I am so sorry you are in such pain.... there just aren;t words to tell you. Please do the things that are within your own power to make each day as bearable as possible. Take some time to just be calm and reflect trying to use your incredible mind and your own talent to bring some peace into the turmoil.
Linus, I am so glad your father is home and is on the recovery path once again. So upsetting for you and your family but you always seem to rise up and meet the challenges put in your path. I think of you often and hope you get to feeling better.
Happy enjoy the weekend and good luck with the move.... that is very exciting and I am sure makes you feel a hundred different emotions at the same time.
Meadow and Marie...it has been so fun to get to know each of you and enjoy the pics and stories...... I do believe Marie and I are the closest to each other in this world where we have found each other. I love Canada and enjoy the beauty it has to offer and the people are fabulous.
Well chickies.... hope the weekend finds us all able to pop in and share a howdy to each other.... Shad I technical question for you but don't feel like I should bug you when you are trying to rest.....
Take Care Everyone.....
Love Ya,
Nae

[teel]

Good afternoon to everyone!!
It was a gorgeous day here this morning but just after lunch (well....late lunch!) the sun went into hiding and now it is cold and grey and I have no inclination at all to take the hound even as far as the post box round the corner. The dog actually seems quite happy about tis and as I is fast asleep on the ottoman beside me.Lazy bones!

I have Eva Cassidy on the pc as I am I love her voice. Trouble is she gets to me that much I want to cry. Nothing new in that I hear you shout! At this moment she is singing OVER THE RAINBOW....you know the one...from The WizARD oF oZ....OOOPS caps button! Where the words go something like..." Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up when the clouds are far behind me....where troubles melt like lemon drops"....and so on. There. Now I can't see 'cos I have tears streaming down my face.Hang on a mo.

Ok. Thanks SHAD for phoning me last night. It was SO lovely to hear from you. And the photos are brilliant! Even Melbourne on a misty morning looks quite reasonable!! If you ever get so fed up with being an IT guru, I think you ought to take up freelance photography. I certainly think you are good enough for it.
I really loved the daffies! I totally forgot of course that you are heading helter skelter for spring and couldn't work out how come you had daffies already! Gosh I think my brain is diminishing at a far faster rate than I thought! Anyway I counted 60 varieties in that one shot alone and I really loved the orchids.
LINUSI am sorry to see that your family seems to be coming down with the flu. Hope you don't get it. I am pleased though that father is home safe and reasonably sound. Stupid home help!!! Heaven help us and preserve us from well meaning home helps that missed out on the grey matter.
HAPPY I do hope that you enjoy your weekend having a great non-sensible time with friends down in Texas. Have a wonderful time! When do you start the big move down to Tenersee?I must look it up on a map somewhere as I am quite sure I can't even spell it correctly!!
ROSEBLUSHhow are you? Getting your home ready for the onslaught of winter by the sound of it. You seem to have a very good, useful friend there...can you loan him to me for a month or so? And don't forget, we are still longing to know on this thread how you download such huge wonderful pictures...I cannot work it out!!!

I still have this huge lump on my neck. For heavens sake I hope it is a just a badly swollen gland. I really CANNOT put up with anything else happening to my body...much as I would like to leave it behind sometime! At this rate I won't be going near the swimming pool or the jacuzzi this week either and I suspect my support worker will have apoplexy!!!!!He he he he!!!! Still. I will wait and see what the Klaricid does.

Ok. Enough from me. I did post earlier but my pc crashed AGAIN
Oh and I have been a good eater today. A fruit and fibre cereal bar for breakfast and a tin of mushroom soup and an apple for lunch. Better than yesterday! I have a salmon fillet to cook for dinner and I want it with linguine but believe it or not I cannot find a recipie I like the look of!!!!!

Take care girls. Be good. Be careful.
Thank you heaps and heaps for all your support this week. Pity you are all miles away!!!!!

[MELODY525]

I leave and come back to find 2 posts by Shad that were not here this morning! I must be doing something wrong. Oh I bet I forgot to see if there was another page! OK I figured it out AGAIN!

Shad~ Poor Sunday will think she has a new home! Been adopted by a new family. I did not get to webshots yet but got sidetracked with cleaning. Going now though and taking the dusty pedaler with me! Have a great day to yourself and enjoy the time home.

Teel~ Wish there were things we could do for you to ease all the pains. There are many times when I too wish we lived nearer one another. Real hugs are so much nicer! Take care and hope the relief comes soon!

Nae~What a wonderful neighbor you have and he does too...in you! amazing how people can adjust to their circumstances. Good for him that he is so active. I find it hard to sit still myself!
glad the deer are around to keep you company!! Does the doggie like them or you have to keep them separated? I can't imagine what it must be like to live inside a "real" postcard world. Logs and all. Must be grand.

I need to keep going with the cleaning. Jen's bird is starting to give me dirty looks when the vacuum is on! He doesn't like the feather duster either!! wonder if he knows where they come from. did I ever tell you all that when you cook turkey or chicken he goes crazy.....not in fear as we thought .....but because he wants to eat it!!! One day he flew to Jen and started doing his "hungry" dance. so she made tiny bits for him and he wolfed them down!!!
You should see him when a turkey is in the oven. He drives us all mad till the dang thing is done! OK I best get outta here and see ya later!

[Wish'n]

Okay I don't post for two days and I spend half my Saturday morining catching up! For the next three days Ty and I plan on cleaning out his room, under the stairs as well as my craft room....then on Monday we are having cornish game hens, stuffing, and a veggie...and apple pie for dessert...In know not on plan but..but...but

Hi Melody glad to hear you are resuming a normal life, as well as could be expected from the past couple of days ...Poor Jen with the nightmares, how aweful! As for your feathered friend, "a carnavour"?

Linus do hope you and your family are getting better, I hate when Im sick!

Will have to post a bit later, Ty is up and hungry! (as usual) wants bacon, eggs, toast, and tatoes! could you imagine eating all that for breakie? although he is growing, he is also and growing ...

See you later!

[linus]

hi all ive got 5 minutes in whats turning out to be a hectic saturday got up at 7.30 this morning didnt want too but body decieded that it couldnt stay flat any more so got the kids up at 9 as they wanted to come up town with me i really didnt feel like going but need must my trainers had split right across the sole and dh threatened to lynch me if i did not but myself a new pair got on the bus and after about 5 mins we were level with the police hq when a helicopter flew 5 minutes above our head and the police where stopping us from going any further for the moment turns out it was our "illustreous" prime minister mr blair flying in for the state opening of the scottish parliament id completely forgot all about it i nearly got off the bus and went home there and then but didnt BIG MISTAKE all the buses had been re-routed and we ended getting shunted to the other end of princes street from where we wanted to be and had a mile walk to get to st james shopping center
got my trainers and craig got his hearts top and conner got his new pokemon game then we headed to leith and the boys got there haurs cut and craig got zig zags this time shaved in to his head freinds been up all day phones never stopped and i havent done a jot of housework and im in agony
SHAD the flowers were great had a good peek at them last night and ill echo the sentiment glad to have you home
TEEL how are you today?? a bit better i hope speak to you later on
MEL saw something the other day and instantly thought of you a fireman calender i was going to buy it for you and post it out but as i explained to teel one of the firemen had nothing on apart from a face cloth and his helmet and the rest of them didnt have much more and didnt want to be the cause of you being carted off to the a+e so didnt but if you wont pass out let me know and ill send it post haste{bought one for myself dh said if i put it up **** use it for a dart board}
NAE having some work done on the old pile sounds interesting youll have to get a piccie for me i know you dont have a scanner but just take a normal photo of the place and ill send you a s.a.e and you can post them to me
MEADOW you must be out enjoying the weekend well catch you all later
MARIE yeah we do tend to talk a lot youll get used to us and soon will be just as bad
HAPPY your away enjoying yourself well have all the details later
right ladies i must go and at least attempt to do some housework as the place is in a state so im off and ill speak to you all tomorrow
kirsty

[Shad]

Morning All,
Another beautiful day coming up in the Great South East (well that's if you live in Queensland) - from Mel's point of view we're the Great South West. I got up specially early to get my taxes sorted out and have now faxed them across to the Accountant - I know it is Sunday but she will get them Monday - spent ages looking for something that I needed only to find it was in the Tax file all the time (poop, poop, poop). Next year I swear I am going to do this early

Next on the list of things to do is to collect up the exercise tapes and take them back to Melbourne with me. I am not getting enough cardio and although the weight is not changing, I think the battle between muscle and fat is being lost.

Glad you enjoyed the photos. They were fun getting and fun putting up so, someone HAS to enjoy them.

Nae, just ask the technical questions, I may not answer straight away, but you will get an answer in due course - that is if I can answer the question.

Teel, it is good to hear you sounding just a little bit brighter, even if it is bravado on your part. Sometimes it is important for the brain to convince the body to just get on with it. Hard facts in a hard world. Wish there was something I could do. But other than bi-annual jaunts to the UK with the resulting hugs, then there is not much I can do except listen, send cyber hope and love, and cheer and chastise from the sidelines. Hope that lump on your neck is nothing too serious and it goes away quickly.

Marie, times come when you simply have to go off plan. The trick is to compensate somewhere else. So when the big tidy up comes about, fling things with force to move those muscles. Run up and down the stairs a few more times than normal, keep extra busy and when the day comes, put your feet up and enjoy it. Life is to be lived through, not controlled by things you cannot have.

Hiya Mel, sounds like a busy time coming up for you, cleaning etc. That's bird is a problem, although many birds have cannibalistic tendencies. It is probably not that good for him though. Tell him to eat apple instead. I'm glad to hear of your little journies out and about in the new chair. It has released a new spirit in you - thank you lord.

Linus, why on earth didn't you get the bus driver to drive straight over the limo - oooops didn't see it there officer!

We had elections yesterday, seems like another 3 years of Howard and the gang. I would have thought the other mob would have done better. But since Aussies hate change, more of the same is probably the theme. Don't really know - since I don't vote - haven't taken out citizenship. And I am not keen on the way the voting is organised here, it seems to me that the ballot paper is slanted towards the big parties and the distribution of preference votes the way the parties want them to go. Bruce my brother was saying that if you didn't vote for the party, then you had to number off in the order of the way you want your vote to go through about 50 names. No one is going to stand in the booth and number that many - (can they all count that far???) they'd be there all day. I don't think I have put that well. Hope you can understand it. Should go something like this.
If you want to vote for this party - tick here
If you want to vote for that party - tick there.
If you want to vote for an individual and specify your preferences then mark off the names below in the order of your choice. 50 names follow. Don't get it wrong or your vote is disallowed.
Yuk, Yuk, Yuk. Politics are a necessary evil and at least we don't have to listen to them for a year like the Americans do. No wonder the US is sometimes considered 'strange'. It's all the hot political air wafting through their brain.

Teel, Happy is going to Tennessee - she is about to become a Southern Belle. It's probably going to be a bit of a culture shock from Illinois. But change can be good and I am pleased for her because she was so worried about work and no job etc. etc.

Happy - one thing confuses me. What is DH up to? Can he work at the same job and from the new place or will he now be looking for work as well? Also how do you go with the schooling - can you still do that cybernetically with the same University etc. Inquiring minds need to know.

Okay, time to get off here. Hope I haven't forgotten anyone. But the day is wearing on and I need to be out of here by 3.30 this afternoon. The list is not getting any shorter by me sitting here and blabbing.

Happy Thanksgiving to the whole of Canada and specially to our two Canadian friends. Have fun and a wonderful holiday weekend.

I'm off to see the wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz - actually he's out in my shed. Teel's got me singing now.

[Meadow]

My children decided they wanted to play at the dining room table last night. It was covered in the folded laundry from the past week. They very cheerfully said they would put it away. I thought nothing of it till this morning when I went into their room to find them some clothes to wear and none of that clean gear was anywhere near! After a bit of a hunt I found all that "folded" laundry shoved into their closet in a big messy pile!! Mommy was squishy faced this morning and it took breakfast and a cup of coffee before I felt kindly toward the little tricksters again. ARGH!

Mel-Yikes! some trauma for the neighbourhood!! I'm glad you were tagged to help the folks keep calm until the cause was found. Sad day for that gentleman who perished, gasoline :shudder: Hope you are finding some quiet and refective time for yourself, these sorts of things take a tole on everyone. ((((Hugs))))
Watch out for the raccoons on your travels, they can be very aggressive if they think the squirrels are getting more than their share



Shad-I loved those pics, the "unique" daffodil is going to be on my search list, how fantastic was that? The pic was huge when it first appeared and then shrunk but it was cool to see all the names of the different varieties. Do you feel relaxed and content to be home? Are you taking time to breath and enjoy the atmosphere?


Happy-Whoop! Congratulations on getting the position, you are on a journey to some exciting new things. New job, new surroundings, this is going to be so fabulous for you. You never know what is arround the corner. Lots of work moving though, very stressful, take it easy and make lots of lists

What A Southern Belle Does NOT Do:

Never wear white shoes or carry white handbags before Easter or after Labor Day.

A Southern Belle Never Curses beyond -- Dad-gum-it and Fiddle Dee Dee in public.

Let a gentleman know what she is thinking. If she suspects he may know what she's thinking she must then change her mind.

Take out the trash, mow the lawn or change the oil in the car. Belles simply do not acknowledge these chores exist.

A Southern Belle would never dream of doing something
today that she could think about tomorrow.

A true southern belle never lets the man she's "after"
see her first thing in the morning

Never eat large amounts in public... they only nibble and say that they aren't hungry.

Does not call men on the telephone.

Never sweats.

Never blows her nose in public. In fact she might not EVER blow her nose!

Never has a single gray hair until they're darn ready to have one!


What A Southern Belle Does Do

They use the word "audacity" in everyday conversation

They can chug-a-lug 3 Mint Juleps in one sitting.

They swoon and then faint when a Daddy Long-Legs spider comes within 25 feet of them

The can be in complete control of any given situation and still respond "Why Suh! Whatevah do yuh mean by that?"

Is always soft spoken

Is witty and charming

Is a bit mysterious

Is kind, considerate, and always a lady

Loves being a woman and uses her femininety to the utmost power

They call their father "Big Daddy".

They teach their children to call him "Big Daddy."

Everyone else calls him "Big Daddy".

Keeps the parasol industry in business.

Nae-how lovely your neighbour sounds. He must be a very charming sort of fellow for you to trust him with your garden. Great name on the little foal, Sassy Surprise, sounds like a strawberry sundae


Teel-big hug for the pain you are experiencing. It is difficult to function when moving gives you such agony, I dearly hope you are able to find some relief. Long, warm showers, good music that lifts your soul rather than wraps you in tears :tsk: I suggest the bands "Matchbox Twenty" or "Great Big Sea" my mood lifters


Linus-Holy mackeral about your father and his caregiver, what a waste of space that woman is! How horrible and worrying for you. It is unacceptable for anyone to leave him in the state he was in, callous if you ask me. Lets hope this never happens again. Getting diverted miles away from your shopping due to government interference Hope you treated yourself to something special for all that and charged it to Mr. Blairs expense account Time for a soak and a cup of tea


Marie-Happy Thanksgiving! How is the weather your way? Rainy and wet down here on the coast.

[Tig]

Mel told me she'd moved this way so I thought I'd take a peek. Hello to all from the 'Other' Melbourne!

I ran 30 minutes on the beach this morning. The Florida humidity and temps are finally leaving the summer range, along with all the pesky hurricanes. 30 minutes is the longest stretch I have run outside without having to throw in a minute or so of walking, so that was a major milestone for me. I'm 'in training' for a 5K on October 22 - Pumpkins in the Park. Then the next race I'm registered for is Creaky Bones on October 30 - a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. I'd pretend like I'm being noble and running for good causes, but I'm really in it for the t-shirts!

[MELODY525]

Tig~ I almost ed when I saw your post! I am very glad you peeked in to say hello!! Welcome. I like the names of the races....Pumpkins in the Park and Creaky Bones! LOL Let me know when they get to Squeaky Wheels and I'll fly down and join you! I'd go for the t-shirt too! thanks again for the support. I wondered where you disappeared to! So glad we found you. How did you do during the hurricanes?!?! I hope everything was OK! Hope you keep right on peeking in on us!!!

Meadow~ Still laughing at the pics and how cute they all are. Haven't seen any Rocky Racoons yet! what do they eat! I really loved the Instructions for Happy and hope she sees them when she comes home! You really should send them to her in a PM!!! the laundry story was funny but I guess not to MOM!! LOL KIDS!

Shad~ Will see you during the week. I got sidetracked this week.
In fact the whole week seemed to slip by so fast. sorry to see you go so soon and have a good trip. Guess we won't see you till 2 weeks again?!?!? I do feel like a new spirit is coming upon me! Thank God and Shad! You were the encourager to break out of the "shell". You said if you could just teach one American then you would be happy! Well you did and you better be!!!

Linus~ Naked firemen! Sure, send them on!!! I'll hang the calendar on the back of my chair and show the office and the seniors!!! Well maybe just the office! Sounds like a nice trip except for the 100 mile walk to get to the right stores! God bless Tony B!!! I do love his face though!!! I'd vote for him if he ran over here! Send him over too!! So sorry you are in agony!!
Hope there is some relief for you soon. (((((HUGS))))))

Marie~ Poor thing works so much she can't keep up. Don't let it worry you. Just come and say hello! I know it's a tough road being a single Mom and working overtime! Hope you enjoy those cornish hens! Haven't had one in ages. Maybe we should do that for our TG dinner next month. Hope you get some of the 3 days off to rest and enjoy the family and not just cleaning! LOL
Have a great day!

I have talked too much here today. I think I'm using it as an excuse to stop cleaning! Have a great night/day and see you all tomorrow! Sweet dreams! TTFN Sunshine!

[Shad]

Ha Ha Meadow: We should dare Happy to do some of those things. She wouldn't make it past the first hour or two or three. Why dang it dh, its called co-operashun, so why can't the critturs just shut up and do it muy way!

Tig, how nice to see you down here in our thread. Welcome and peek in anytime you like. From the warming up Melbourne, to the cooling down Melbourne - have a good one. Nice going on the running too. Running on the beach!!!! in sand? for 30 minutes?? those legs must be something to look at!

Okay, okay, I know, I am out a here.

[Shad]

Meadow, went to the daffodil growers site (addy below) - you may be able to get information from there as to where Unique might be found in Canada. He's a very approachable bloke and loves to chat (and sell bulbs I might add) but is also very knowledgeable.
Have fun looking at the beaut daffs
www.daffodilbulbs.com.au/

[linus]

morning all
due to some arse**le cleaning out the empty flat upstairs at 9am im up due to cleo decieding that she didnt like the noise and trying to dig through my head and yes being the lovely person that i am i went into the stair and told the men that if they "make one more noise i would string them upm by the goolies " its gone very quiet guess i shouldnt have gone out to the pub last night im a ***** if i dont get my sleep only went to bad at 3.30 and was up at 6 and then cleo woke me up at 9 so im not a happy bunny
SHAD i would have had the bus driver run him over but he arrived in the helicopter
MEL one firemans calender coming right up#
TEEL ill catch up with you later on
MARIE lovely pics as usual the turkeys going moo creased me up dh actually thought it was safe to come out of the bedroom he soon found out different
TIG welcome to the madhouse im not usually such a *****
and for the rest speak to you all later cleo has now decieded that the noise level is normal and im going to wake her up if i dont sleep neither does she
kirsty