Hello Everyone,

It's amazing how little I post right now. I'm really sorry. After 'working with words' and talking all day, I feel I'm just used up and I don't feel like communicating. Of course, hubby only wants to talk and talk and talk....
and so does Ashley.

I was just getting caught up on the posts. I love reading them.

Angie: I would send you some sun, but it's not really that warm here. The high for the next few days is supposed to be between 60 and 75. It does warm up during the day, but it's pretty cool in the mornings (by Phoenix standards) We have tomorrow off from school, but have to go back on Friday; isn't that crazy?? We also only have Thurs and Fri off for Thanksgiving. My sister has the entire week off. That's a bummer.

Kempy: Good luck on your new job. I'm so proud of you. Let me know again when you'll be in CA. I may be able to go over to meet you.

Cherie: You are a great inspiration. Reading your posts makes me want to go buy a treadmill also. I saw the news earlier this evening and they were showing some pretty wicked weather in OKC; even a tornado. Hope all's well there. I'm planning to take Ashley to see Polar Express in the next week or so. In fact, I tried to get tickets on the Polar Express train, but they are completely sold out for this year. The Polar Exprexx train is the Grand Canyon Railroad that goes from Williams, AZ to the "North Pole" (about an hour from Williams). At the North Pole they pick up Santa and he meets all the kids and gives them a jingle bell ornament; they have cookies, hot chocolate, and they all read "The Polar Express" story. I know Ashley would love it, but we'll have to wait until next year to do that.

Noelle: The picture was great. I showed it to Ashley and she got excited. She remembered you because she said "That's Michael's Mom". I look forward to seeing some of the other pics. I'm going to try to have my pictures put on cd so I can send you some. I have a good one of you, your neice, and my sister on the roller coaster. I will call you soon about getting a snowglobe from Hawaii for my neice. She collects snowglobes and she's working on getting one from every state.

Summer: You are a travelling girl!! Take care of yourself. Hope the news is good for you.

Julie: Hope things work out for you.

I was reading the posts about possibly meeting up in Las Vegas. I haven't been there in ages, but I'm game. It's only a 4 hour drive for me. Kind of like when I went to Disneyland to meet Noelle. Again, I'm all for it. I would love it if we could all get together. Talk about a 'slumber party' to end all slumber parties!!!!!!!

Hello to Holly; come out and play.

Cal

GOOD MORNING!!!!

Summer, I wished I could love my In laws. Aint gonna happen. It isnt that nice of a family. Luckily Jay is so normal I wonder how it happened. haha I am hoping everything comes back okay for you Friday.

Noelle, Jay loves Volcanos. He has to watch every show on them. haha I am pretty sure that when Rebel dies we will be making a trip there so he can see them. I dont care where we all meet up just as long as we get to do it. We have been hanging out for going on our third year. I feel like you guys are here with me even though none of us have ever physically met or talked on the phone. How was the Incredibles? It looks like it will be funny.

Julie,How is your son liking school? How is the potty training going? getting any better? What are you up to today?

Cherie, I am only 5' 2" too. This is a short group of women. Right now I resemble the blueberry girl on Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Can you find out what kind of rates your sis could get for us? If it is doable maybe we could all plan something together.

Cal, My kids have to go back to school tomorrow too. I figured it would have been a teacher worksop day or something. That is what they usually do. I am not complaining though. Oh can you just imagine the fun we could all have? I bet we wouldnt get any sleep. I can see us all now just sitting up all night talking.

Good Morning girls. Ok.. I didn't do any treadmill stuff last night at all. I was all dressed for it.. I got my water, set up my computer and even got on. I went about a minutes, and decided my foot was not feeling right, and promptly got off and laid on my bed and watched the Bachelor. I also didn't think I ate too badly yesterday, but obviously I did, cause I am up a pound and a half this morning. Tonight, I won't be working out because Steven has the girls and I am going over to see my friend Alan, but I have already decided this is going to be a catch up weekend for me where the treadmill is concerned. I am definately showing my age. It's NEVER been this hard for me to lose weight. I wish there was a place where you could go and they could draw some blood, run a test while you wait and tell you exactly how many calories you need to eat and how much exercise you need to do to make progress. Then sell you something that you can stick into your food where it shows you exactly how many calories you are eating, so you know exactly what you are putting in your body. Maybe THEN once I figured out that delicate balance, I would be able to lose weight and not get so frustrated. You know! Ok.. not venting anymore.

Angie... I can try to find out some rates but just to let you know, I am not sure how far in advance I can book. I am thinking only about two weeks or a month in advance. But just for example... last time I went to branson, MO... I got a full one bedroom condo (1000 sq ft, full kitchen, washer/dryer, living room w/sleeper sofa, enclosed balcony, king bed and whirlpool bath) for 50 a night. So if they have a two bedroom.. it's would probably be about 80.... but it depends on the location. I will let you know. What time of the year are you we looking at?

Cal.. yes we did have alot of tornados yesterday. It's weird driving home in November, and hearing the sirens go off.... and you have to roll down the windows to make sure you are hearing what you think you are hearing! None of them were close to me, on the other side of town, and I really don't think any caused any damage... but I do live in the epicenter of tornados! :-) Just something you learn to live with.

OK.. well I need to get back to work. I hope you all have a great morning! Talk to you guys soon!

Good morning girls. I am so green with envy. I just dropped my sister off at the airport for her flight to BKK. I have serious shopping envy . It is so much fun to hang out with my sisters and go shopping all the time over there.

Summer, I pretty much say word for word Angie's sentiments about her in-laws. My feelings for my in-laws are the same as Angie's for hers. You are lucky to get along with yours.

Angie, the Incredibles movie was hilarious. It's a good family movie. Are you guys planning on doing different things on your FL trip this time? Like going to different amusement parks and things? I like when I can return to a fun vacation spot, you can try all the things you didn't get to do the last time. The blueberry girls name was Violet Beauregarde, I think--the one that chewed the gum forever? You do not look like her! But, I think I look like fat Aunt Marge on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (when she floated up and away into the sky ) Did you hear that Johnny Depp will be playing Willy Wonka in a new remake of the film? Yummy!

Cherie, those are some awesome room rates your sister can get. Is it a time share thing? Have fun on your date night tonight. I hear you about getting older and having more trouble losing weight. Ten years ago I lost about 70 lbs in 5 mos, kept it off for only a year, but man, those pounds melted off fast. Now it takes me 3 mos to maybe lose 10 . Have you ever tried WW? I like their flexpoints program, it really works if you follow it. No food is off-limits, you just keep track of your daily alotted points. Maybe you're not eating enough calories for the amount of exercise your doing?

Cal, I will be looking out for hawaiian themed snow globes. I'm sure i can find one somewhere, it's not a problem. Were you able to download the pics? I sent them yesterday. I have a lot more from the electric light parade, but didn't want to slam you with all of them on one transmission. I DO remember the picture you're talking about on the roller coaster--the one where I was screaming my head off in terror in the first 5 seconds of the ride? That Polar Express train ride sounds wonderful!

Kempy, are you hard at work today? Have fun.

Hey Julie, how're you doing today? Anything special planned for this Veteran's Day holiday?

Well, I've got to take Michael for a haircut before the school sends home a note. I'll be back later. have a good day all!

Hey guys. We had a DU banquet in another city last night to go to. We went to help them out plus we got a free prime rib meal. I couldn't turn that down. I was at work all day today. I got one person on the book for next week so it was worth sitting up there all day.

Angie we are required by law to wear gloves. I am uner Health and Hospitals so we have to follow some strict guidlines. That is good though.

Summer Mandeville is about 15 mins away from me. How cool is that. That is where my grandmother lives. In fact to drive over there to shop at Target all of the time. I would much rather spend the time in the car to get nice things from there.

OK, I can't stay long, I am pooped from doing something different. I will check back later after I eat something.

Hi Girls, GoodEvening....

How is everyone today? I had a pretty busy day. Dd and ds are getting over their upteenth cold and now hubby is sick as a dog. But I am feeling fine, so that is good. Gotta have at least one healthy person in the house! You guys my eating is so bad, I swear I have gained 10 lbs in the last week just by the feel of my clothes, but I am not stepping on the scale, until I feel I have lost some. My boobs, sorry tmi are killing me and my period is not due until a week from Sunday. Yuck, I can't believe I have to feel so icky every month, its like i only feel good a couple days a month and then the hormones take over, my gyn is going to get an earful at the next visit . We had chicken parmesan for supper. It was good, I made it with low carb pasta, but I would rather have the real stuff and just do portion control, yeah right . Did anyone watch Wife Swap last night? I felt so so so so bad for those military kids....they were like robots. The mom was so mean. I could never talk that way to my kids yet alone have a damn whip hanging on their bedroom doors, that was just nuts!

Kempy glad you wear gloves for your safety! I bet the prime rib was great.

Noelle nothing planned yet.....

Angie potty time is well lets say we are working on it . My son is adjusting to pre-k very well. I think he will do just fine next year in kindergaten.

Cherie can you believe he let Cindi go? I thought it was going to be her and Mary at the end. Now next week is the stupid tell all week....I can't wait for the last show! It better be Mary. They said it was the most romantic proposal of all time ! Woohoo! Have fun tonight! I hope you get to relax. PM me if you want and tell me the name of the resort in Vegas if you want, if you don't thats okay!

Hi Cal and Holly and Summer! Have a TGIF tomorrow! Julie

Btw Cal I wanted to say you are so lucky being so close to Vegas and California. You can take a beautiful vacation whenever you get the time and you want. I would love your temps too! Julie

One more thing I forgot to ask....Kempy did they ever hire a replacement for you at your old job? Have you seen the boss man since you left? Just curious? Well I have to get to bed earlier, 12:30-1am last night was way to late. I had talked to my fil last night and he told me exactly what happened to my poor baby and it just broke my heart. I took out pics of her and cried. I have to realize she was a 10 year old lab and she probally only had a year or two left. It just upsets me to think about how she suffered so much.

Good Morning girls!! My vet was supposed to come over this morning to give all the animals their shots. They had to cancell because something came up. Jeepers!! I have been trying since the beginning of Oct to get them done but than I got sick etc. etc. I have to at least get the dogs done for Florida so I guess I will go buy another cat carrier and take them all over some morning.

I have to work for the next few Saturdays making donuts for the freezer for the accounts and the MIL bakery while we are gone. See, I can only have a vaca if there are still something for donuts for everyone. It is a huge pain in the ***. I can not wait until the kids are grown so I can afford to stop doing this for a living. I dont care if I have money as long as my kids had enough while they were growing up so I do this because I have to. Seriously though can you imagine not being able to take any time off? I cant do anything during the summer so those have all been a waste since the kids were born. I know I dont work long hours so that is nice but I still have to be around because god forbid someone sell out of donuts. It would be the end of the world ya know!!! okay, enough whining from me, I didnt mean to do that.

Cherie, WOW, 80 bucks wouldnt be bad. I bet we could all swing 10 bucks or so a day to have a nice place to stay and meet up huh? Oh, It would be so much fun.

Noelle, Hubby owes you a trip since he just took one with his brothers. *wink* haha I am not sure what we intend to do this time. I cant wait to go back to Seaworld again though. I loved it there. I could go there everyday and have fun. We rented a minivan so we can go sightseeing with the dogs too so they arent left alone to bark all day. Last year the backseat of the car was cramped with the kids and the dogs. This year they will all have room to breathe. I am happy to get up and go see the armadillos in the mornings and just hang out all day though.

Kempy, Is electrolysis like a needle? Yeah on getting a client booked. It may take a while for word to spread but I bet you will have a great business. Does anyone in your town do it besides you?


Julie, I can totally relate to the cold issues. I remember we never had colds until the kids got old enough to go to headstart and than we were all sick all winter. I watch videos of all the holidays and we were all coughing and sick. I keep hounding the kids to wash alot and dont touch anyone etc. I dont want us to keep getting sick for vaca. I am a germ phobic anyway. I hate public bathrooms and I have hand sanitizer on me all the time.

Good Morning everyone. It's been ONE OF THOSE MORNINGS... already. It started out yesterday, afternoon to be exact, around 4 PM.. only I didn't know it until it was too late. See... with Steven being ill, he isn't working, so I am not getting any support from him at all. This whole year, I have only gotten 530 dollars from him in support for the girls. The last was in August. It's November now. So that is one issue. I am trying not to complain, he is ill. So, if he can't help out finanically, the least I need is some time off every now and then. Well, issue #2, with him taking his treatments, he is physically weak and fatigued all the time. He has problems taking the girls for more than a few hours at a time. I MIGHT get one night a week off.... but usually, I have to pick them up that night, and bring them home and put them to bed myself. So... I really look forward to that one night a week, were I am not driving, I am not working and I am not stuck in my apartment taking care of the girls. I love them... but I am drained when it comes to being a responsible mom. Last night was supposed to have been my 3 hour break for the week. Steven said he would pick up the girls. His truck is not working right, so I had to beg him to do that... or else it would take an extra 40 minutes or so for me to go pick them up and take them to his place. Well... I had a feeling I should have called daycare... but I didn't. I tried calling Steven's cell phone to make sure he was picking up the girls.. but I just got voice mail. Second time it went straight to voice mail in a couple of days. In Hindsight.. I am thinking he had his phone shut off.. but not sure, didn't ask. Well.. I do have time to get to my friend Alan's place last night... he is making me dinner... baking me some bread... and we are going to watch The King and I... I talked him into buying the collection of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals.. We have a nice spaghetti dinner with some wine.. no bread yet cause it's still baking.. and we sit down to watch the movie... at about 6 we decided to get up and he is going to make me a chocolate souflee... I have never had one, and so finally he is going to make one for me. Together we whip it up.. and place it in the oven, and my phone rings. It's about 6:15. Girls are still at daycare, I am going to be charged for late fees... yada yada yada.. So I grab my shoes and purse and run out the door.. I am at least 20 minutes away... I'm upset, I'm being selfish... because my night is ruined.. and to top it off.. I have to pay $40 dollars in late fees.

I get there... Hannah and Megan are a little upset... questioning me why Daddy didn't pick them up, saying that I WAS late.... etc.. doesn't help my mood. I run through McDonalds.. pick them up some dinner.. and when I get to my apartment.. Steven is waiting for me. Seems... he left at 5:15.. plenty of time to drive up to pick up the girls.. but unfortunately, around 4:00 PM... a van exploded on NW Expressway, and a man died, and they shut down the highway. My ex thinks this is the ONLY FREAKIN ROAD that he can take to get to the girls. (OK.. so he has only lived on this side of town for about 3 months) and he didn't have his phone on him.. and he doesn't have my number in his wallet... and he had NO WAY of letting me know.. and he wonders how I got there before him (I never hit that road except to cross it to get to daycare so I missed the whole incident) etc etc etc. Whatever.. I am upset, I now have to PAY late fees... My one night to see Alan in two weeks is screwed up... and the girls were upset cause I was upset with their dad. I just hate having to deal with things that are out of my control. Had I known, I would have picked them up earlier. Sigh...

So this morning.... its my same old fight with the girls. I get up at 6:20... get the girls up... I lay out their clothes on their bed.. tell them I am going to take a shower, please get up and get dressed. This is ALL they have to do, take off their night clothes, put on the clothes I lay out. Get a pair of socks out of their sock drawer and put them on, put their shoes on that are in the closet, brush their teeth and bring me the brush and a rubberband so I can pull back their hair. 5 Minutes, 10 minutes TOPS. Instead, I take my shower, I get out, Hannah is STILL using the bathroom (been on the pot the whole time I take my shower, every single DAY) Megan is still in bed, I yell at them to get up and get dressed. They bicker and fight amongst themselves... I yell... Megan gets her shirt and pants on.. I tell her to go get her socks and shoes... Hannah needs help unbuttoning her jeans... I help.. I turn back to finish drying my hair (I take a shower, I brush my teeth, I put on my makeup, dry my hair, get dressed, and I'm ready to go in 30 minutes). 4 minutes later I look out and Hannah is JUST NOW putting her first leg in her pants. I take away her stuffed animal and her doll.. charge into the bedroom and yell for megan.. she pokes her head out of her closet, and her pants are OFF and she is trying to put on white HOSE. I yell at Megan. I finish getting dressed... Hannah is brushing her teeth and I brush her hair. She is finally ready, shoes on, clothes on etc. I tell her to go gather her school things. Megan has her pants on.. has her tennis shoes (not the ones I told her to get) and a pair of socks. I tell her to put them on. I look at her once.. and she has her left sock on, trying to get her right one on. I go to the kitchen to get some milk to take to work.. look back at megan.. and her Left Sock is OFF and her right one is ON.. I yell at her again.. she tries to put on her shoe on the foot with no sock... I yell at her again... I finish getting my stuff together... and look at her and BOTHS SOCKS ARE OFF... I lose it... I pick her up and I spank her bottom. Hannah decides to go turn out all the lights without me having to ask for a change... I am telling her I am leaving... I turn around.. and Megan STILL doesn't have her socks on... so I have to do it. I am trying hard to control myself, when all I want to do is throw her out the freakin' window. How HARD is it... to put on socks???????? And this is EVERY DAY. Today was a little worse, but I mean.. its something I have to deal with every freakin day..... and after last night... I was in no mood.. I just sat down and started crying this morning... wondering why God has to test me so damn much.

Anyway.. at least I didn't have to fight idiots in traffic today like I had to yesterday.... I paid half the late fee this morning... and I will have to pay the other half tomorrow. I have 50 dollars to my name right now, I need to make sure the girls have food this weekend. I sat aside 200 to buy Christmas Presents for them... and now that will be down to 160 by Monday.

I am sorry I am whining... I know I have a great life with two great kids.. I am able to provide for them and keep them warm and happy... AND I am not the one with Cancer... so I should be very thankful.... I am just selfish sometimes... and I have my pity parties.. so I am SORRY..... THANK YOU.. for letting me vent... It really helps.

Anyway... I am going to get back to work.... I am thankful for this job... and I have to owe this to God Himself... and I am thankful that it's Friday, and I get to spend the new two days with the girls... So things are good... I just needed to feel sorry for myself some and cry. Thanks for letting me.

OK.. my next post won't be so bad nor so long. I promise.

{{{{{CHERIE}}}}} Hey girl you can vent all you want to. You are having some very very tough issues that you are dealing with I dont blame you one bit. I can not imagine the stress you are going through. If I lived closer I would help you out all I could. I hope your day gets better.

Cherie, hugs also, I do too wished I lived closer. Your girls could come and play with my kids for the day so you could have a day to yourself or with Alan. You are under a huge amount of stress right now. It is so hard to be a single mom, work full time, and get the kids out the door at a certain time and have money being tight. I know because my mom did it with me and brother. All I can say is come here and vent. It always feels better to talk with friends. Julie

I forgot to say hello to everyone else.

Angie don't work to hard either. I bet you just can not wait to get to Florida. I am also a germ phob. I hate, I mean hate public restrooms too. There should be more laws on keeping those things cleaned !

It is freezing here. I think it got down to 20 degrees last night. My skin is all ready dry. How about yours Angie? My poor ds face is raw from wiping his nose, when I tell him blow your nose he wipes his whole face , and it does not help with the furnace running now. Okay enought about cold weather! Whats everybody's plans for weekend? I am not sure yet. Maybe buy a few Christmas gifts.

Hi Kempy, Noelle, Cal, Summer, Cherie again(hope your day gets better), and Holly. Julie

OK.. I am back. I am in a better mood. SORRY EVERYONE.... for my rant. :-) I went to lunch downtown, took a long lunch break and Alan met me and bought me lunch. Thanks for all the hugs.

Julie... sorry to hear about the cold and all the dry skin. If you start to have problems with your nose being dry and sore from a runny nose, Clinique has something called a "Moisture Stick". It looks like a stick of lipstick, but it's a moisture based product. That is the best thing that I have EVER found for a sore, cracked runny nose.. It's starting to get cold here.... BRRRRRRR... I am not a winter person. I am not sure what the girls and my plans are this weekend. Probably dig into our movie collection and find something they haven't watched in a long time... pop some popcorn and have a movie night. I've got some lunchables that they don't know about, but they will be excited, cause they LIKE those things. Tomorrow, sleeping in, and I will try to take them for or routine Saturday Koloaches. Then, we are cleaning the house, doing laundry and the OU/Nebraska game is on tomorrow night.

Angie.. I talked to my sister yesterday, and she said she can book me something two weeks in advance. However, she said Las Vegas is always nearly full all the time... so go look at www.efairfield.com and see if there is any other destination that we might look at. Look at the ones that are Fairfield Properties. I can get into those.. the others they have showing are affiliates, and she can't book those. I hope you can get all your doughnuts made... I never thought you would freeze doughnuts... little I know about the baking industry!

Kempy... glad you had a good time at the banquet!!!! And Congrats on the new client! Hopefully word of mouth will start spreading!

Noelle.. I thought about you watching The King and I last night.. it was set in Bangkok. (Is that how you spell it????) Anyway.... I hope they have a great time, and I hope next year you will be there with them!

Julie... about the bachelor... you should go to www.realitysteve.com and read his recaps on the show.. they are so funny. Especially about the weird kissing motions of Cyndi and Byron. Talking about how two of those blow up things that we had as a kid that had the sand in the bottom.. you could hit it.. and it would fall down, then come right back up.. He said they were like two of those.. I thought he got along better with her on this past episode.. but since I have heard spoiler info, I wasn't surprised that she wasn't picked.

OK.. back to work here... I need to get my stuff done so I don't have to worry about it anymore. Talk to you girls later!!!

Cherie

Cherie, I am glad you are feeling better now. We dont normally freeze them but the glazed and raised shells freeze okay and MIL can unthaw them and glaze or fill them. This way I can leave guilt free. I have to freeze them for Sundays for her or else we would have to work 7 days a week. I dont know why she cant close for a day.We do 6 days a week now except on Holiday weekends than we usually have to work the 7. I wished I could find a better skill.