Well, gals I am exhausted today. I had to get less sleep because I had to go for my yearly appointment with my arthritis doctor before my insurance runs out again. Then since I was up anyway I went for one last hoorah at Michaels. Didn't get everything I needed but I did some damage. LOL I totally lose track of time in that store. I wander the aisles aimlessly, my mind a total buzz of ideas. I spent 2 HOURS in there. lol. I couldn't believe it. my boyfriend called me to make sure I was alive since my doctors appointment was at 2:15. I didn't get home until 4:30. He thought I may have been in an accident.. but no I was just in my craft zone. LOL. he laughed at me, but at least it jarred me out of my daze and I could get home since I needed to eat and get ready for work. LOL He even had the door open for me when I got home since he knew I would have a load of bags. He knows me so well. Anywho, I am hoping I can get off at 1:30 a.m. today. If we are not busy that is. with my luck I will be here all day. Uggghhh.

Susan: pepperoncini, pepperoncino (pep-per-awn-CHEE-nee) - Also known as Tuscan peppers, sweet Italian peppers, and golden Greek peppers. The Italian varieties, grown in the Tuscany region of Italy, tend to be more bitter than their Greek counterparts. The more popular Greek varieties are sweeter and commonly found in pizzerias tossed in salads for a crunchy, salty taste. They have a bushy plant that grows to 30 inches tall and producing sweet green peppers that turn red when mature. Usually picked at 2 to 3 inches long, these bright red, wrinkled peppers taper to a blunt, lobed end and are very popular for pickling. These peppers are mild and sweet with a slight heat to them, and are commonly jarred for use in Greek salads and salad bars. These are sooo good. I like this more spicy, but these do carry a pretty good kick. If you are Papa Johns pizza, or go to Olive garden and have their salad, you will get them. Yummy for my tummy. As for the honking, that is all I have time for missy. We would have to schedule a day to get together and invite marti and roseikate too.

Cristi: Those suitcase backpacks drive me crazy. While doing my prerequisite classes last year people were dragging those darn things around every where. I felt like yelling out ; " You missed your flight!!!!" They were clunking and banging all over the place and irritating as all get out. LOL But I will have something nice from Jana ( sweetie) and the extra weight will be like exercising. I am with marti, you should volunteer if you don't have to work. That always makes me feel good about myself.

Jana: Congrats on the good cholesterol!!! All that weight loss, good eating and exercise really paid off!!!! Mine was in the 200's last time I had it checked. yikes!!! Thanks again for your care package, I can't wait to get it.

SueTalks: Thanks for wishing me good luck. I must say though, you are never too old to go back to school or learn something new. Plus I am not a whippersnapper myself. I will be 30 in a year and a half. I think I will be sick just thinking about it. I am not going to be one of those people that handles it well.

to everyone else I hope your weekend is FABULOUS!!!!!! With a capital "F". tootles for now ladies

Brandon is doing awesome! He is about to try some applesauce for the second time. This time it will be in a jar for him. (he tried some at the sitters' this past weekend)

He changed his schedule around a little bit. Last night since we were on the road at his normal feeding time, he ate when we got home, which was 11:30pm. He went through the night, and got up at 7:00am this morning and has been going every four hours. It is almost 9:00pm, and I am about to try him with some applesauce. then his next feeding will be at 11pm and then off to bed. I am liking this schedule more because it makes things easier for both of us.

Well, our little smartie pants showed us something else he can do! Actually two new things that he can do. First thing is he can move the walker forward as well! Tommy put his shirt on the back of one of our kitchen chairs and Brandon was moving himself forward in his walker to get to it. And the other thing that he showed us is that he can turn himself around in the walker as well!! He was facing our kitchen table in our kitchen and then when I turned around to see where he was at so I wouldn’t spill the ice cube trays on him, he was facing me. I looked at Tommy and said “did you turn him around?” And Tommy goes “no, that is what I have been telling you all day.”

Marti~ My parents order from them I think every month. But with all the people living at home, who could blame them? I am so sorry to hear about your kitty.

Cristi~ Thanks for those nice words. I haven’t talked to my MIL in about a week now, and I am happy!!! I do however have to see my BIL Tim, but we are going to watch him bowl, so it will only be for a couple of hours! And thanks for the words on the WIC issue.

Jana~ I am going to be taking that advice from Cristi soon! Thankfully my parents gave us I think 47 cans of formula. And the way things are going that should hold us for a month or two. We are going to be putting him in his room full time, nothing new is being added to it. I am okay with the idea of trying for another. I will find out soon, if we actually succeeded or if AF will come into town. Man, I forgot to weigh in…..I will have to do that on our home scale on Friday.

Suetalks~ I know exactly what you are talking about! I have been dreading him moving into his room, because he will be so far away from me! And I don’t want him to grow up soo soon!!

I need to get going. It is almost 3:30am and I need to hit the sack!

It's Friday!!

Laura - I have mistakenly been leaving you out of my "hellos" and I am oh-so-sorry about that! I had listed your name in the birthday list here, but forgot to add it to the printed one I use to keep track of the JLs. Please forgive me.

Sue - well, look at it this way: at least you are still down the 4 pounds, and with the walking increase, you'll probably keep it off. How soon are you going west? Did you say after the election?

Cristi - what did you find out about the quilt? Hope it's on the way. I have terrible dark circles when my allergies are acting up, and so does Mary. Now, with these non-glare glasses, they really show up! Thank goodness for cover stick!

Susan - did you west coast girls ever get together? At Flannigan's or something like that? Waaa.... I wanna come, too!! I once had a boss like the one you have now. Makes going to work not so bad! I'm proud of you that you're learning all the new stuff.

Jen - bet you're glad that the transfer is out in the open now! Re my testing - I'm ecstatic with the numbers! Makes me wonder what they were this time last year.... I asked about your dbf only because he is an important part of your life. Will the fact that he doesn't like cats be a problem someday?

Marti - once again, I am so sorry about your cat. It hurts to lose a part of the family, and that's what our pets are to us. If you haven't read the poem Shanna posted to Jen, you ought to. It is very touching. Yay for James cooking!

Shanna - how'd things go with the arthritis doc? I know what you mean about stores like Michaels. There is a Hobby Lobby in Evansville and they have stuff for every craft imaginable, and home decor, too. Lots of vases, picture frames... you get the idea. I always spend too much money and time both in there, but, dang, it's fun!!

Mindee - awww, it's always sweet when babies learn something new. My dgd Madison has recently learned to count to 10. The twins just turned 2 in June... anyway, it's really something to hear her! Her twin, Makenzie, is the most loving little girl, and will always stop what she is doing to hug & kiss me if I ask her to.

Angie - hope you get your computer back soon!! We miss you!

Hi also to Sue, Katy, Katiecat, Kathy, Barb, and Julie.

Mary has a meeting this morning, so I will be babysitting for a little while. I'm going to dig out my barrette how-to books that I used a long time ago and refresh my memory on that. I have spool after spool of ribbons and cutesy little decorations and might as well use some of it.

Toodles,

Good morning?? I'm working on my pot of coffee before I make all of my fun-filled phone calls today. I've gotten myself some amaretto cream, boy is it yummy!

Jana - It's not so much that dbf doesn't like the cats, he doesn't like all the shedding, the hairballs, etc. I don't think it'll be a big issue someday. He knows I couldn't stand to live with any pets. He said he doesn't want either of us to compromise too much, or we'll end up resenting each other. Him putting up with it, or me giving all of mine away. Plus, we are both content with the way things are right now....It would be interesting to see how your numbers improved from last year. You've come a long way baby!

Shanna - Turning 30 is not that bad. What is bad is that I remember when my mom was my age! YIKES! I went to Michaels a couple weeks ago, but apparently they were having a huge sale, because the store was full of people. I can't stand that. I tried to walk through, but I couldn't even browse, so I just left.

Marti - Glad your day at work went well. What a nice surprise to have dinner ready when you got home! Oh, poor mama kitty. It would break my heart to see the babies without her. I had a litter of kittens (well, I didn't have them, one of my cats did!) in April, only 1 survived. It was hard to watch sick babies, but it was harder when the 1 was old enough to play and there was noone to play with.

Susan - I am so happy for you for having such a nice boss. I'm hoping that my next one is better, heck how could it be worse?! Is there any chance the resident coordinator position will be available in the future?

Well, gotta go. On top of my phone calls, it's payday Friday, which means there are bills to be paid!

Jen

Good Morning!!

Get to work the day shift. Boss went to Las Vegas to gamble and play golf with his dad and brother. His dad sends them the airfare to meet - cause daddy is from Denver?? Yep - I think that is it- some annual thing they do.......how did I miss out in being part of that kind of family?? lol
If we meet it would be at Goodwill to shop.........lol

Jen- Possible about the resident coorinator coming open in the future. The whole program is up in the air but the lady that works here must make $20 an hour--- which right now looks like a good sum to aim for......

Mindee- Brandon sounds like a dream--- always wanted a little boy. Any plans for the weekend.

Jana- Happy babysitting!!! My mom is watching Gaby for me this morning. I was going to go get her on my lunch and take her to the ex's until 5pm.
Pretty good time management huh?? lol
Waaaaaaay too much driving around. It's Friday though so maybe I can relax at home some and catch up on housecleaning???

Shanna- *pout*!!!!! Ok-
Honk if you must..........going to meet you one of these days if it is the last thing I do!!
Pepperoncini sounds sinfully wonderful..........Papa John's???? hmmm, with a Margarita??? lol

I better get busy. Just had the assistant property manager call wanting to take our radio and give it to another area of town
*GASP*.....
That is our radio! We need it to communicate. I just said talk to my boss on Monday- he might not like that idea- so she said ok......doesn't make any sense......how would we contact our workers in case of an emergency??? We have the second biggest building in the portfolio.....suppose to go up and down the friggin hallways looking for them????
I think not...........

lol

ttfn

Good Morning.....

I've been cleaning up around the house, did some laundry, dishes, sweeping and all that fun stuff. (ok...not really fun, but needed to be done)

My computer is going through a stage....so I won't be on long. I don't know what James did with it this morning before he left, but I seen that it was downloading a new program.....and now my virus protect isn't on and the computer is slow....and that makes me nervous so I don't want to be on long.

I'm tired already and I haven't been to work yet. ****sigh****

Next week is three mornings and two nights. Now how am I going to get used to a sleeping schedule?? I'll live I suppose.

See what happens when I get a job girls...I complain to much!

Ok...before something pops up.....I'm going to logoff. So I will chat when I have James fix this computer.

Take Care

Ok - I'm back I completely missed chat last night - so sorry ladies. I like chatting with whoever shows up, but last night just got too busy and I forgot. James had a playdate and by the time he got home, it was dinner, cleanup and the our favorite show, SURVIVOR!!! We live for that show around here.....that and the Amazing Race. I had another busy day. It was Leigh's first official day of preschool and she did great. I think I was the one with the separation anxiety. I scheduled a PT during school, so that took my mind off of things. She must have sensedhow much I was missing her because when I picked her up from school she said, "Good Job, Mommy" - my heart just melted - how do kids know just what to say? she's right, I did do a good job

Jen - hooray on your new position - I'm so glad this is all working out for you and you can escape the nutball boss.

Mindee - so, you really want a baby with a crazy toddler running around?! My friends who have had them close together say that it's a real intense couple of years, but then they go off to school around the same time frame as well, so it gets easier. I put five years between mine on purpose. James was quite a Tasmanian Devil and I thought I wouldn't have any energy left for another, then he turned 4 and mellowed out enough for us to reconsider. We have been SO happy with two kids. I know things happen for a reason, but sometimes I wonder what I was so worried about. As my grandmother says, the sun rises and sets on one child and the sun rises and sets on 5 ( that's how many kids she had) - It's all work no matter how many you have, lol!
Do not let the MIL influence your decision on WIC - that program is meant to be used and it is tax dollars well spent, IMO.

Jana- great news on your blood work. I was reading a newspaper articel on cholestrol lowering meds and the jist was that so many people turn to these drugs too soon and they are very expensive. By too soon, I mean that they should be working harder on exercise and nutrition and weight loss, but because they think these are "magic" pills, they think they can take a pass on the lifestyle changes. You are proof that healthy living is the way to go.
Thanks for asking after the kids in your previous post. I must say, this year's transition to school has been very hectic, but so far very smooth

I glanced at the Core changes, and I just kind of take all that stuff in stride. Some of that is the whole WW culture - seems like there are always people who have a tough time with something new and WW throws alot of new stuff at people on a regular basis. The Core is not really all that spelled out like the flex plan is, that's for sure. But I look at that as making life simpler - but that's just me. For folks who like their Skinny cows, they have to change the way they think about them, that's for sure.

Cristi - hope your allergies are lightening up. I'm so glad you are on this board with us - hope you are getting the little boost you need from us. You ARE always here with a kind word for us, so just remember you are deserving of all good things, too!

Marti - CSI -you know I have to confess I just see a bunch of gross-out commercials for this show when I watch Survivor or the Amazing Race. I've never seen any of them becaue I'm a big wimp and they look way too gory for me. My inlaws say it's their favorite show. It's about investigating crime scenes - and it looks like there's alot of lab work, which reminded me of your new job. So sorry about your mama kitty - always hard to lose a pet.

Angie - if you are back online - thanks for the postcard! Cuba looks like where I want to be for sure. Oregon is wet and soggy right now.

Hi to anyone I missed - Laura, Katiecat, Shanna ( sending you good "back-to-school vibes) Sue, Susan (good call on the job, IMO - too bad Mike can't co-parent, I hope he grows up before Gaby does - he will miss so much)

Later!
Katy

Good Morning Ladies~

Had to check the time, yeppers it is still morning! LOL I always want to put good morning, not sure why. Of course it may not be by the time I finish this post.

Anyway...

Marti~that is so sweet DH having dinner ready when you got home. And the chicken casserole sounds delicious. I wish someone around here would do that! Yeah, right! I'm glad with the weird hours you and James has that you still have time to spend with each other. Hopefully that doesn't change when you do get your official hours.

Jana~enjoy your time with dgd's. Barrett making sounds fun and I bet the girls would love them. Haven't heard about the quilt yet. I emailed them yesterday and will give it a couple of days before I call. I need to find my copy of the order for the order number.

Jen~did dbf know you had cats going into the relationship or did they come after? Just curious. My cousins husband refused to go in my Aunt's house because she had two cats and he felt she didn't clean good enough for him. He was a jerk anyway, but the few times he did go in he wore a mask the whole time. They always cleaned and vacuumed before he came over and would put the cats in another room. I would love to have a cat but ds#1 has allergies and a cat would kill him.

Susan~sounds like Mike is definitely playing mind games. I don't understand people who do that. Glad you see through it. It's sad though because of Gaby. An excel class would be good, and you can do it online. It's so cool that they have so many online classes now days. Or you could just go buy a book and learn that way. Your boss sounds like a sweetie! Too bad he's taken.

Mindee~Brandon is such a sweetie. I miss when the kids were little and all the new things they learn everyday. Hey, that's great about the formula, 47 cans-what a lifesaver, not to mention a lot of money!

Shanna~you are making me want to go to Michael's! Yeah, I agree about the suitcase backpacks, but they are a lifesaver on your back and shoulders especially if you have a lot of books to carry. I would enjoy volunteering and did a little last year, but I am wanting to work and make some money. I always had my own money and I feel a little odd not having any now. I mean Vince isn't complaining but I would just like to have my own money and feel like I am contributing, and I want a new car. LOL But I want to pay for it myself. Does that make sense?? And I hope it doesn't sound like I am greedy as I'm not.

Well, HI to everyone else, Angie, Sue, Kathy, Katie, RosieKate, Laura, Julie and I am sure I missed someone, sorry.

Went to Wal-Mart this morning for my weekly shopping. Man there was a lot of people there for some reason. Glad I didn't have much to get. Bought some mums for the porch and will get it decorated for fall now. Was going to get some pumpkins but decided against it. Too many get taken off porches and smashed in the street. I am going to wrap some fall leaves around the flag stand before I put it on, a scarecrow flag with some sunflowers on it. Then I have a fall wreath I made a few years ago and a scarecrow to stand behind the mums and a fall welcome thingy for the door. That's what I am doing today, should take a whole ten or fifteen minutes! After that not sure what I will do with the rest of the day except pick V up from work at 3. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! See ya later...

Edited: Hi RosieKate! Guess you posted as I was writing this novel. Thank you for the kind words. I am actually feeling better today, maybe just getting out of the house. But I actually feel like doing something other than sleeping. I have to say CSI is my favorite show also. The original CSI. Don't care for the Miami one, or the Navy one and now they are coming out with CSI:New York. I will stick with the original which I think the new season starts next Thursday. YIPPEE! Kids are funny. I remember when DS#1 started kindergarten and I was all sad and teary eyed and he looked at me like you can go now. You don't have to walk me to the door. He wanted to be a big boy. And he didn't want me to kiss or hug him! I would do it before we left the house so his friends and the other kids wouldn't see. Of course he always acted older than he was, still does. People think he is my husband or boyfriend when we go out together. Anyway, have a good day.

Good Morning Marti- Katy & Cristi.......

I agree...........VERY sweet that James made you dinner last night, Marti. I went to the central post office last night and the Union Station is right across the street.....is that where James works??? Are you ever coming up with him?? You should ..........we could meet with Katy for lunch.......
Sorry again about your mama kitty...........going to offer again my tabby....she loves to be loved.

Leigh is already in pre-school??? Wow.......I was aiming for 3 or 4 for Gabrielle. Aren't the girls the same age?? Gaby is 3 in Feb.
Still need to hook up sometime! I took Rebecca to the ortho yesterday - picked her up from RG and she said " I love you mom".....made my heart melt......didn't know she liked me so much. lol- She has a rat now in her bedroom and her whole wardrobe is pink.....lol

Cristi!! already went to Wal- Mart?? wow......course it is later there.....
The story with Mike is he is technically 17 ( if that...lol) he has had a long history of drug abuse. The story is he has been "clean" for 2 years now. He is extremely irresponsible and a smooth talker. .....can make anything look good on the surface.
His mother knows all this and she is a very sweet lady. She seems to like me......I don't usually bad mouth him to her but I am not going to lie about how wonderful he is either..........hate secrets- part of the addictive personality.

yikes..........gotta go.........

ttfn

Hiya ladies,

Jen - hope you got all your phone calls finished. Is the weather as nice in IL as it is in IN? We have had the most beautiful fall day - a nice breeze and temps in the low 70s.

Susan - good for you not letting anyone take off with your radio! You'd have to get some roller skates to go find the guys when you need them, lol. Rest up this weekend, ok?

Marti - hope you also get some rest this weekend. You don't work, right??

Katy - glad Leigh had a good first day, and her "Good job" comment was endearing!! So how's the PT going?

Cristi - your decorations sound nice, and somewhat similar to what we do. Neal always fixes an area with a scarecrow, bales of hay, and pumpkins. Had to get a new scarecrow this year. The old one looked like he'd been on a toot, or something, lol.

Found a second-hand rocky horse today for the DGKs. Well, it's the kind with springs at the four corners - you know what I mean? Although it's in really good shape, I cleaned it up, and it's in the play area, waiting for the kids to come out after dinner. Not sure who will be more excited, them or me, lol.

BBL,

I would love a rocky horse.........for Gaby, of course.....lol

I will try and rest. I am exhausted already. I drove to Milwaukie, where my mother lives and picked up Gaby on my lunch break, It is about 8 miles away. I got there in 20 minutes. Gabrielle was sitting there with just her shirt on ......*rolleyes*
I NEED her dressed!! lol
I only have 40 minutes to get back to work......so we quickly dress her and I get her in the car.
Head over to the ex's. Go through Sellwood and over the bridge - wind my way to his place. About 6 - 7 miles......
Get there and now only have 15 minutes to get to work.

Gaby is happy as a clam.......she waves good bye. It was nice to see her mid day....

Drive towards Hillsdale HWY and swing into Wendys because I really want some chili.....so , I buy that and wind my way up to HWY 26 and back over to PGE exit and to my area of town........amazing because I was only 1 minute late!!

YAY........I am sure RK will be able to appreciate this,,,,lol....since she should know the roads I mean....

Thanks jana--- I hid the radio.....the gull that they would think we can work without a radio.....they would have to pay me a heck of a lot more to roller skate...lol

talk later..........

2 more hours and I am out of here!

I'm back - for a minute, anyway
Susan - Leigh will be 3 on Halloween. She's in a co-op preschool that has a Nov. 15 cutoff date for their 3s class. So she's a young'un in there, for sure. We need to get these girlie-girls together to play sometime......

almost forgot
http://qotu.typepad.com/journey2fitn..._watchers.html

This is a blog I came across that I thought some of you might be interested in reading. A rather upbeat approach to Core....just a little FYI for y'all
Katy

Her latest " I am the captain of my own ship"

Jana - I just realized that on one of her pages, someone has posted the food list for Core - so I don't know if my link can stay in this email because of the website rules on posting WW info.

So everyone- If Jana needs to delete, PM me and I will get the link to anyone who wants it
Katy

We did a weight comparison. Well, actually Tommy did, and according to our scale here at home, Brandon is about 16 pounds!! He is getting so big so quickly!!! Tommy tried to give Brandon a bath……until Brandon started to pee in his bath. That startled Tommy, then Tommy jumped, well freaked out. Then that startled Brandon so I had to get Brandon calmed down, then we had to refill his bathtub cause it was “contaminated” as Tommy called it. Then we got back in business and he was all done.

Jana~ I know what you mean. Brandon has become more vocal when he gets mad. He will sit where he is at, and go “mom” and then if I say something like “I’m right here angel.” He will try to turn to where I am at.

Susan~ I have always wanted one of each. Now that I have my little boy, I won’t care if I get another boy. But I would be secretly hoping for a little girl. No special plans this weekend. Tommy has to work Saturday morning. Do you live in WI? I have family there!

Katy~ Well, two of my sisters have their children spread out by two years and they managed, so I am sure that I can. LOL Thanks for the comments about my MIL.

Cristi~ That is exactly what my hubby said! He has been worried about money for bills, groceries, formula, diapers, and the rent. But when my dad IMed me, I saw some relief come off his shoulders. When did they come out with the CSI: Navy one? I don’t remember that one!

Good morning, ladies!

Let's see... who's been here since I checked in last night??

Susan - unlike most of America, I've never had Wendy's chili, but I hear it is good? Have fun this weekend with your girls.

Katy - no, I won't delete unless I get a PM from Jennifer or Suzanne. Since you posted only a link and not the real list, it's very doubtful that anyone cares. But thank you for the consideration of it.

Mindee - just wait til your little guy poops in the bath water.... hope Tommy is around for that one, lol.

Hi to the rest of the bunch!

My sister, the one I usually talk to on Sat. mornings, is out for breakfast with another sister. They invited me, too, but a sit-down breakfast is a hard meal for me, since I normally spend only 5 - 5.5 points on breakfast. Speaking of which.....

I lost 2 more pounds, which is pretty good since I celebrated my birthday and our anniversary during the past week. It's odd to think I've passed the 70 pound mark - almost unreal, you know?

Not sure what I'm going to do today other than clean the house. Oh joy.

What're your plans for the day?

BBL,