Kerry, I will keep your neighbor in prayer....how sad.

Evening...
Wow, Kerry, what timing for that kind of news. Not good.
Robyn: In a toaster? That sounds like what I used to do in the inner city! If it didn't fit in a microwave or couldn't be cooked on a single burner in a cast-iron skillet (that being the only skillet I'd let us use because it was too heavy to get knocked off the silly burner!), we didn't do it! Instead of cookies, we made rice pudding! ;) Or we did no-bake cookies.
Summer: I'd be (wait, this does happen to me!) livid over new kids starting at that point, but it happens to me all the time. I've gotten new kids just show up in my classroom with no warning at all.
Ginny: :( Guys do suck a lot of the time.
As for me? I took a co-worker/friend home, got lost trying to find my way out of his neighborhood (he lives in a bad one in the city, and I made several wrong turns because of creepy creatures on the corner), so it took me more than an hour to get home, and because Ig ot lost I missed the gym. Oh well.
I was good at the bake sale: 1 of my own brownies, and then the Hanukkah Harry/Secret Santa party: some chips and spinach dip, and 2 small oatmeal cookies. :) Of course, now I don't want dinner! I hope I ate enough at the party to cover the meds. We'll see. A co-worker that works with the guy I had saw me as she was leaving and said that he LOVES the CD... I was worried because Amazon didn't include a gift receipt like they were supposed to, so I told him if he didn't like it or if it was one he already had to let me know and I'd try and get the gift receipt from Amazon so he could exchange it. I apologized to him and said that I didn't know much about that kind of music, so I hoped it was okay. And thanks to all of you who suggested, since it seems he really likes it.
I don't know what I got, though it turns out that I was right about who my person was... Ultimately, I didn't guess her though because she's friends with my TA and I asked my TA, but my TA managed to pull the wool over my eyes!
Tomorrow is an on-campus fun-day, and I'm in charge of quiet games, with my TA... which is right up my alley. I love playing Uno or dominos with the kids. :)
And the kids get pizza for lunch, and muffins/juice/doughnuts for breakfast. I wish they'd give them bagels and some fruit, but... the kids probably wouldn't eat it!
G'night, all... since I missed the gym, I think I'm going to treat myself to a nice long bath and finish one of my books.
I hope somebody gives me a gift certificate for books or music... my wish list at Amazon is growing again! I hope that doesn't sound greedy... I found a new musician that I like, she played the song on the Brooke Ellison movie and its really nice.
:mouse:

Mouse- yup guys do stink a lot of the time. I am glad that your gift worked out (the CD) and I do so hope that you got a gift card for Amazon,Barnes &Noble.....something like that. I am dangerous with books too! Sorry about missing the gym- this is going to be a tough week for all of us getting good eating in and workouts. Do the best you can!!!
As for me, I went to WW- and really blanked out with what I am wearing......the lady at the scale asked me (before I even got on!) if I had a t shirt under this heavy tunic sweater that I have on.....of course I do not.....so I weighed in at .8 heavier. When I got home, I jumped on our scale....sans the stupid sweater, and found that I had lost 1.5#. So, my true WI was crummy, but sort of a bogus reading.
Gotta go pick up Ds from practice, and then finish (PLEASE!) this darned shopping. I am so tired.........have a good nite
Ginny

Here I am, posting two days in a row...wooo hooo hooo!!!

The principal decided against us going to the movie today. Instead, we will go tomorrow. It worked out better that way for me except that we will only have one hour in between the movie and the pageant, and we have to fit in two lunch waves. Somehow, we have to clean the cafeteria, set up the benches, and put the red bows at the end of each row. Like an idiot, I decided at 1:30pm that the kids needed Santa hats for the pageant. Since my pockets are nearly empty, I started making them. I just finished, and I know they will be excited to have them tomorrow. It will be a whirlwind of a day.

The administration tried to stick me with another student today. For Pete's sake, can't these people wait until after the holidays?! I lied and told them that I was full. Technically I am, but I have a child leaving this week. I didn't tell them that I will have an opening within days. Why can't people start their children in August. What is it about the last week of December that makes them think it is time to start school?!


Robyn, it really is weird that the teacher can't find an extra credit project for your son relevant to his IEP. Oh, and I'm coooooold too!!! It got up to a whopping 9 degrees today. At least the winds died down. I can't believe we didn't have a delay. The roads were an icey mess.

Mousie, have fun playing games with the kids tomorrow. I'm glad the CD choice worked out. Which one did you end up going with?

Kerry, I'm really sorry about your neighbor. I will pray that God relieves her pain and gives her a feeling of peace.

Ginny, just think, when you go for your next weigh-in without the bulk, the scale will look really great! Sorry about your DD's broken heart. It looks like she will be needing some extra TLC.

Try to enjoy our last two days of school for 2004. Enjoy the sweets, the music, the spirit of the holidays in all of those excited little faces. Remember how fortunate we truly are, no matter how stressed out we are, there is always somebody who has it worse. Feel a hug my friends.

Evening Ladies,
Sounds like we are all doing great. That must be because we see the end is in sight. I plan on not doing a whole lot over my break. Reading, catching up on my sleep, working out and visiting with family and friends.
We had our gift exchange in my room today. The kids loved the gifts they got. My Down syndrome little feller was so cute. He opened his present of puzzles and I told him to tell my only girl in my room thank you. He blew her two kisses. It was so cute. He then had me put his puzzles in his bookbag, so he wouldn't forget to take them home. Seeing the smiles of joy on their faces was the best gift I could have gotten this Christmas season.
I went to TOPS long enough to wi tonight and lost another 1 1/4. So I am now a whopping 203 3/4 pounds. I am getting closer to being 200 pounds. I know I can do it. I hope to reach that goal by the end of this year. Then I think my next goal will to be 175 by my birthday in May.
Summer, sounds like you are going to be very busy tomorrow. I hope all goes well for you. You will love Polar Express. We are going to the movies again tomorrow and to Pondersa with the 5th grade classes. So it is going to be a fun and easy day. Glad to hear that you got your hats made. How many did you have to make? So are you working you TA to death this holiday season?
Mouse, sounds like you had a wonderful day at school today. Bummer about not making it to the gym. I know how that feels. I love that me time and then feel guilty and lost without it. Glad to hear that your co-worker loved his CD. So what book did you finish? I have finally slowed down some with work and home life that I have been able to pick up a book and get interested in reading again. I hope to atleast finish one or two books over break. Enjoy your quiet games tomorrow.
Robyn, did you finally warm up any? I hope you were able to make it out of the house this morning with everybody taking the right stuff back to school. Sounds like it was a little hetic around your house last night. Just think that should being calming down here in a day or so.
Ginny, sorry to hear about your WI at WW. Too bad you didn't have a t-shirt on under your sweater. You will do better next week. Remember to wear that t-shirt. LOL Hope this didn't bum you out too much. Your next wi will be a bigger and better loss.
Well I better go and get ready for bed. My kids arrive in the morning at 8:15 and at 8:30 we are on the bus headed to the movies.
Talk to you all later.
Have a great Wednesday!!
Kerry

Nope, the WI did not bum me out at all......I was totally encouraged by my scale at home, and realized that the sweater was all of the extra weight.

Summer- thanks for the cyber hug.....I needed it badly. Emotions are high here, tempers short....Dh is a crab and Dd depressed(sobs on the phone constantly, and now wants me to call His mother to get the story straight, because obviously I am stupid and can't possibly figure all this out- in her mind!) Dh is angry/irritable and of course taking it all out on me. No, I do not wish this on anyone. BTW- congrats on finishing the santa hats. You are some lady!

Kerry- another big weight loss week for you !!!!! I am so happy for you!!! Wow!
I think your next goal sounds totally reasonable......especially with warmer weather in the spring to encourage activity. Hang in there, you will get to 175! Hope your trip to the movies is a good one......enjoy.

Well, I am physically and emotionally toasted.....tired of being Dh's verbal battering ram, tired of raw emotions. But as Summer so wisely put it.....we have much to be thankful for and I will reflect on that. Think I need some rest....see ya tomorrow.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
I am free! I am free at last for 12 days. It was a very long day at school today. I am tired from my fieldtrip and then working the afterschool program until 6. I was able to go workout earlier tonight since I got to leave about 10 minutes earlier from school. So I was home at my house by 7:15. I tried to watch a movie and ended up falling asleep. So I just took it back to the video store and will have to get it another time. I am planning on going to bed early and sleeping in the morning.
I hope you all had a wonderful day at school today. Was today your last day or do you have to go on Thursday?
Well I will talk to you all tomorrow.
Take care,
Kerry

We had a pretty nice day at school today. The fun-day went over well, but we had a minor incident. My TA and I were re-assigned to support the Level 1 students. These are students who aren't progressing on the behavioral program for a variety of reasons, including attendance. They aren't permitted to attend the fun-days. They must do work provided by staff in their classrooms. I don't mind as long as I don't have to come up with the work at the last minute (I'm typically assigned last minute). My program that my homeroom is in only had 3 students out of 50+ students, so that's really good. The other diploma track program had 4 students, and so our program said that we'd put the 7 students together (knowing that most of them wouldn't show up!) and staff so we'd be good to go. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! The staff from the other program found out who our 1 student was (the other 2 didn't come to school today), and had a fit. She refused to take him. But before that, my TA went to her room and said that she was there to support her, and the woman refused her help! So my TA comes back, and we go to the cafeteria to get the scoop... and what a mess! We wound up taking our level 1 student in my classroom, and my TA stayed with him until he left early about 10:45. I gave her a break at 9:30. But the person who planned the fun-day for the other program tried to talk to this other staff member, and got the same attitude from her that my TA did. And somehow, I have no idea how, she told MY supervisor that I didn't communicate! I wasn't even THERE. I was the one who said, "fine, its not worth arguing over, we'll just take him to my rooom, and do things there." Oh, geez, I just don't understand some people! I don't get it!!!
The good parts of the day were getting to see part of Shrek 2 with some of my kids, and playing Trivial Pursuit (which another team beat mine, but it was because we got the weirdest questions!).
We still have tomorrow, which is a regular school day for some strange and silly reason... I have no idea how many kids will show up. My whole homeroom said that they weren't going to come to school, but I'm not sure if that is true.
I didn't get my gift certificate. Along with my not understanding people... the lady I had knows me. She knows how much I read. She knows that I drive my TA nuts listening to Broadway show tunes or other "strange" music. And she had to go in Barnes and Nobles to get one of the small gifts (a bookmark), and part of the final gift (a mini-cat calendar?). And what does she do? Goes ACROSS THE STREET (I know where she lives, so I'm pretty sure where she went) to the Pier One (a store I can't shop in because they perfume the air so badly now, shame, because I used to like their picture frames and baskets) and buys me a safflower colored mug (light yellow). The mug is huge... its one of those "Friends Style" huge coffee mugs. I love the mug, no doubt... but its not microwavable, so I can't use it... I always make my tea in the microwave. And, really, she WAS IN Barnes and Noble! Oh, don't I sound just awful? I sound unappreciative and greedy. But one reason (sad as this is) that I do the Secret Santa every year is because I'm pretty much guarenteed to get a gift certificate for a book. I always put that on my list, a gift certificate for software/book/music... I love my mother, but she doesn't ever get me a gift certificate for books. My father always does: I always get a gift certificate from Amazon from him. So, bad as it sounds, I returned the two gifts and picked out a book. The line at the store was too long though, so I'll go get my books tomorrow.
:blush: I really am embarassed, but I just don't understand!
I'd better go to bed. Its nearly midnight!
:mouse:

Morning Ladies,
Boy do I feel better after getting some much needed sleep. Now I have the engery to tackle the accounts dept. at the local hospital. They turned into my insurance company, my dh's ex's cat scan and it is not covered under my insurance plan and I have this feeling that the hospital is going to try and make us pay the $700. Which we will not and I tried to talk to his ex and she was just like I don't know how that happened and I will take care of it. Knowing full well that she wouldn't take care of it. She has our insurance number because of the kids. IT was not given to her for her own personal use. Plus I have to get my mil something for Christmas. My dh is not any help on this matter. So I think I am going to be going out and braving the cold weather to get all this stuff taken care of.
Mouse, I don't blame you for feeling the way you did. I would have returned it too. I understand if you fill out the papers with your likes and dislikes then the person who got your name should get you something off your likes list. I got a gift the other night at my TOPS meeting and it is a big stuffed moose with a Christmas tress and a welcome sign. That is just not me. I might just save it and give back as a gift next year for our Christmas party. Hope you have another good day at school today.
Summer, Robyn, and Ginny I hope you are surving this little cold spell and crappy weather we seem to be having. I hope your kids are not driving you nuts yet.
Well time to go and get ready to go run my errands. Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

I'm glad you understand, Kerry. I was really feeling guilty!
But I am so glad the day is over. The kids were just absolutely off the hook. I was ready to kill my 4th period guys. They're typically horrible anyway, but today they were just REALLY REALLY bad. Nothing I did, nothing my TA did made a difference. We showed a video, and they acted horrible all the way through it. I had to get out something to fiddle with so I wouldn't even LOOK at one. As soon as I looked at the kid, he started acting like an absolute donkey. By the end of the period, he invited me to lick his youknowwhat! :P :rolleyes:
My other strange one, with the parent who swears she believes that her son is truthful when he says I locked him in a van and tortured him, gave me a gift today. Victoria's Secret body lotion. Uhm, is that what most teenage boys give their female teachers? Actually, he gave it to all of us, which struck me as incredibly odd. Oh well, at least it didn't blow up in my face! My TA gave me an Eeyore sweatshirt, which is a great gift for me, since I just love Eeyore. :)
I didn't get my swim though: I went to the gym, talked with the pool manager for a bit then started to swim and the biggest flash of lighting I think I've ever seen indoors. I thought a light had blown or a flash had gone off at first, but then I saw the lifeguard look around and up, and look at me. I asked if he'd seen it too, and he pulled everybody out of the pool. One of the other lifeguards/swim teachers was there too, she has a leg injury similar to my ankle injury, but far more extensive. She pulled herself up out of the pool and hit her leg, so I helped with that. I felt really bad for her, and am just thankful that I have never hurt myself that badly in public. I hate asking for or getting help.
Then when we got back in, I did 13 lengths, and we had to get out again for more lightening. I gave up and came home.
Going to go to sleep now, and get up tomorrow to swim, hit the grocery for some stuff I forgot to buy last week (really some stuff for the holiday weekend: some steamed shrimp, but also some miracle whip and I'd like some eggplant or squash to go with dinner, and probably something sweet), and get the baseline bloodwork the endocrinologist asked for last week. I did the first test (cotton chewing), now the bloodwork (fasting), then more bloodwork after I take some pills for her.
:mouse:

Good morning!!!
I skimmed the posts......Mouse, I do not blame you one bit for returning the mug!
I would have done the same thing- as a matter of fact did already returned a gift from a student on my bus that is so not my taste- I have store credit now, and can deal with that.

Kerry- glad you got some rest and are attempting to relax a bit.....

I have survived the last day of school- the trip home had on the edge of my seat- it was so windy and torrential rain (the kind that makes you want to pull over because you can't see)- plus it was dark with all the clouds.......and the first part of my route is all "crossers".......I held my breath and prayed for each one as I sent each one across- hoping that any incoming traffic would stop ( the one road I take kids home on is rural- full of windey turns so that the road can look free of cars and then some moron in a high performance car flies around the bend slamming on the brakes... a bus drivers nightmare!) But, praise God, they are all home safely. Now I must deal with my own crew.....heartbroken Dd....oh well.....
My Bday was rather uneventful, Ds had a basketball game, and we went to that as a family. Lots of Dd's friends were there- we tried to encourage her to stay for the varsity game but she came home anyway. Oh well, at least a start for her. She got out without her ex bf.
Gotta go.......see ya later!
Ginny

Hey ya'll! :)

Been busy.... had a ball last night taking the kids with family and friends to see the Polar Express at the IMAX! I was worried that THEY had ruined one of my favorite books...but I'm soooo glad to report that I was nearly as thrilled by the movie as my youngest! My niece went as well...she is 3....had never been to a movie before and evidently her mother, my sister, and her father didn't tell her WHY she had on the funky glasses.... The poor child nearly jumped OUT of her skin right at the beginning! It was so cold outside that when we were all pushed out of the theater like cattle, she called me on my cell to tell me "Aunteeee, that was the most awsomest thing I've ever seen in my whole life!" (Not a bad review from a 3 year old, huh?!)

I came home, left the family and then went to THE only store open in my lil podunk town all night...WALLLLLmart! I was there for stocking stuffers....and bumped into my dearest NEW friend from my new school..... AND well........we played in Walmart for literally HOURS.... I got home at 4 a.m........ WHAT a great time we had! All the kids and husbands were asleep...the stockmen were very nice...we got the absolute LAST of our shopping done...and we laughed and giggled and had a WONDERFUL time.... the cashier told us that we were the "most fun customers" that she had checked out in nearly a month! You know...if you've gotta be out there doing THAT...at least be out there doing THAT with a friend! hehehe....

I slept all morning and got up in time to put a roast in the crock pot and to bake another variety of cookie (for my daddy for Christmas!) I've got 1 more kind to bake...the kitchen floor to scrub and get everything under the tree... and viola..I'm done! (We don't use wrapping paper...we use cloth bags.....with ribbons...VERY easy to get stuff thrown into and UNDER the tree! AND there is no pile of trash on Christmas morning!)

Belated birthday wishes, Ginny! (and that guy who dumped your daughter right here near Xmas needs his butt kicked! What a jerk!)

Ya'll take care....I'll be back! Thanks for reading my babble!
meeee

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I will catch up with all of you on the 26th.

Merry Christmas to all of you too........ok, Mouse, no I did not forget that you do not celebrate Christmas!
Still trying to get thru today.....just a wee bit of wrapping to do and I am done. Today I got some cleaning done and a whole lot of wrapping - straightening up. This week was difficult with 2 days of half days for some schools and not for others- so I drove a lot. This evening we went to my SIL/BIL's house to celebrate with Dh's family, which was strained (normal). But not awful. I got to sneak out early with both Dd's (who elected to come with me) to go to Christmas eve service, I was the preservice music (me on flute, accompanied by Dd's former piano teacher). I needed that.....have for many years found flute playing a wonderful way to burn off some emotions. And the service itself was exactly what we (older Dd) and I needed. Helped us get things in perspective after all that has happened this week. Plus, Pastors message was perfect- he is not known for great sermons (he is a very good shepherd, but his sermons can be weak......not tonight however!) and we finished singing Silent Night with candle light only. My weary soul needed that.......sorry to bore you with the details.

Anyway.....Robyn- your midnight shopping trip to Walmart sounded like a real hoot. Wish I could have shared it with you! Love your Polar Express story.....in IMAX yet!
Must have been something special. Thanks for the bday wishes, Dec 23 is the official non birthday......but I am rather used to it.

And as far as Dd's former bfriend.......well, ok I can't really attribute this to divine intervention...... but Mr Wonderful had his car smashed open by some thugs and everything of value stolen (yes, there is a big smile on my face!, not very Christian, I know). And if I ever bump into his mangey little personage these days........well, it will be hard to maintain some semblance of maturity and sanity. Hard to hear your daughter cry herself to sleep each night over some creep. And I guarantee that the creep already has another girl on the line- he has one of those sickola male ego's that need constant feeding.
Ok, I have crabbed enough.....thanks for listening.

Summer, Robyn and Kerry have a Merry Christmas. Mouse- wishing you a very well deserved week off and lots of time to recharge your batteries!
Ginny

Merry Christmas to all of you. :)

Ginny, thank-you for the card... I saw the envelope and I'm downstairs chatting with our front desk person going, "Gee, I wonder who this is from? I don't know anybody..." And then I opened it.

:mouse:

Morning Ladies,
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I was fine until I got sick last night and threw up. So I am wondering if the food didn't agree with me. I feel fine today. Just really tired.
I hope to get some form of excerise in today sometime. I didn't get any in yesterday.
Well I better go and get my shower. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Hi!
Just a quick hello......have to clean up from the last tornado and get the house ready for this evening when BIL and SIL are coming over......maybe I will get to stop and relax sometime in the next decade.

Mouse- thanks for the Christmas wishes... glad the card got there (took a long time I think!) and sorry that the cards were not great....I somehow ran out of the cards I was using and had to go into some spare cards I had. Oh well, the thought was there.
Hope you are enjoying your time off.

Robyn- hey girl......buy some cards for me!!!!!!! Are you one of those who get out the day after to shop the bargains?? (I am too much of a burnout to do so!). Hope you had a great day with your family!

Kerry- hugs! How are you feeling??? I hope that whatever made you ill is a fast mover and you are feeling better. Go easy on the excercise.....maybe a short walk or something like that until you feel stronger. How was your Christmas?

Summer- how did your Christmas go???? Hope to hear from you as soon as you can get to the computer.....but it can be tough to post with everyone home.

My Christmas was busy........so what else is new! The day went fairly well, but I am tired. Wish I did not have to do all that cooking.......but it went ok and is done. My mom came up, she is doing ok, but the years are really starting to take their toll. (she will be 80 next July). She has the next round of surgery for the basal cell on Jan 4 (I have the afternoon off, 1/2 personal day). Maybe once that is done she will get some of her energy back. And Dd is still moping around about her crummy former Bf.....may he stay away forever.......but he did call her yesterday....don't know if that was good or bad. She said she would have been even more upset if he had not called. What a creep......
Guess I'd better go clean....the house is quiet for the next 1 1/2 hours until they all get home, so I can straighten up a bit before the next onslaught. See ya!
Ginny

Hi Ginny,
I am feeling a little better. I did a 2 mile walking video and that seemed to help with my burst of engery. I am feeling alot better. I am wondering if it was something I eat yesterday that didn't agree with my stomach. Once I threw up last night and got some sleep, I felt better. I just think that I got too much sleep though. I went to bed at 11 last night and got up this morning at 11. Oh well that gives me an excuse to sit and read some this afternoon.
Talk to you all later.
Hope you are all relaxing after a day of family get togethers.
Kerry

Holey MOLEY....
Woke up to the whole place white with snow. First off.... I am in Virginia. Snow and Virginians does NOT mix. The weather people were calling for overnight "winter mix" with no accumulation....well... It is NOT accumulating STILL...... It is WELL over my ankles! Sunday is my usual grocery day....and well....GUESS WHERE I went earlier today?!

I started out by myself...slid sideways 3 times...came home and told my dh IF he wanted to eat..then he would have to drive me to the store. He lived in Maine for years, laughed at me and took me. The roads have not been touched. No plow, no salt, no nothing.... It is well beyond my ankles and heading towards my knee WITH nothing done to the roadways.... SEEEEEEE...... Virginia and snow just don't mix!

I came home and am spending my time wrapped in my new twin sized electric blanket (like I said he is a Mainiac and NEVER gets cold!) reading the newspaper and books. Now I'm wrapped in it at the computer! The boys have FINALLY gotten outside to fight in the snow! They will be good for about an hour before they will be back inside melting all over everything!

I'm eating my weight in crap on the hour....... soon the crap will be gone and I won't have a way to get more! This is THE only good thing about the snow that I can think of!

Gotta run.....I hear them on the steps! What was that?! 14 minutes????? Geesh!
will return!
take care,
meeeeeeee
....................did my new siggything work?.......................................

Awww, Ginny! I didn't say the card wasn't appreciated! I hope you didn't think that! I just said I didn't know who it was from. The card itself was GREAT!!! I LOVE snowmen! You have no idea. I was just standing with our front desk lady (I had to take her the gift I'd gotten her... lots of little things because her birthday is next week too!), chatting when I was opening my mail and saw the card. I was surprised, because I couldn't figure out who it was from. I don't normally get anonymouse mail (yes, typo intended!); I'm usually really good at figuring out who everything is from!
This has been a BUSY, BUSY weekend for Red Cross. Unfortunately. :( :cry: What an absolutely horrible way to spend your Christmas weekend. We've had a lot of fires including one huge one today that burned a house to the ground. There isn't anything left. And if that weren't bad enough, we were told the house was unoccupied by all the officials in officialdom. And then I started getting calls from people who said they lived there! They're trying to straighten it out now. I need to go call the one person back, but I was hoping that one of the officials would call me first so I'd have some good news for her. Its bloody COLD out there; I hate the thought of some poor innocent having nowhere to go because we can't prove she lived in the house!
But we can't provide services to people in a fire situation without proof of address because we have so very many homeless people in the city illegally staying in abandoned buildings, and setting lots of them on fire. The majority of our fire calls are for occupied homes damaged because they were next to abandoned homes... During a natural disaster, we can and do provide services to everybody... but if we provided services without some type of verification... at least in a major urban city, we'd go bankrupt in hotel fees. :( :( The Philadelphia chapter bought, renovated and opened a shelter that they use for fire clients and then if they have space they let others stay there on a referral basis. But the Philly chapter is HUGE in terms of the number of little chapters that feed into them and in volunteers. We're just not that large.
:mouse:

Morning Gals,
It is very cold here this morning. I didn't want to get out of bed. I could have snuggled with my dh a little more. But the stepkids are suppose to be here any minute now. We are watching them during the day this week, while their mom is at work. I hope she remembers to pick them up early tonight. My dh and I are celbrating our 1 year anniversary today. We will probably go out to dinner and then rent a couple movies to watch together tonight.
Mouse did your Red Cross work with the family from Hanover, Maryland whose house blew up on Christmas Eve? That is my best friend's uncle's family. I guess her uncle and aunt are still in critical condition with burns on 30% of their bodies. Sounds like you had a very busy weekend.
Robyn, are you surviving the snow storm? That is so weird that your area got dumped on with all that snow. Good for you for making your dh go with you to the grocery store.
Ginny how was your family get together last night? Hope everyone appreciated all your hard work. Today are you going to take a break and rest.
Summer I bet you are so glad that Christmas has come and gone. You were sure busy over the month of Dec. I hope you are now finding the time to rest.
Well the munchkins are here. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Evening!
Hey, Robyn, your snow storm is on our local news. You guys really got hammered!
Kerry: Probably. It would have been our Anne Arundel disaster team. I was with them when I first moved to Maryland (and then moved away and came back) in 1996. Good people. I'm currently with the Baltimore City/Baltimore County team, because you usually work with the chapter that serves the county where you live. I did see Anne Arundel was almost as busy as we were, but I don't know the zip code for the house you're talking about, so I can't be positive.
I am watching the local news, and see that there is a 2-alarm fire in a group of homes in the City. The news is saying they are vacant/abandoned, and I'm going to pray that they are. Not just so people don't lose their homes, but so I don't have to send any of the teams out in this cold weather. I feel for the firefighters as well. Its below freezing, and has been for 2 days, so it'll be really hard to keep the sidewalks and streets clear once they hit them with the hose. That makes fighting the fire much, much harder.
I changed the bed linens and flipped the futon mattress (that is a CHORE: the mattress is all dead weight and it doesn't slide the way a regular mattress does!), did one load of laundry and hit Trader Joes.
Got some nice stuff at TJ's: portable little cartons of soy milk, vegetable tempura, artichoke risotto, baked eggplant, lots of edamame, some of their roasted corn... some new burritos (red beans, rice, no fat). I started to buy some other stuff, too, but didn't. They've really raised the prices on their sushi, though. Which bites, because their low-fat sushi is awesome. I also bought some little kid drinks (white grape juice) for when my friend comes on Friday; she is going to bring her daughter with her. Oh, yea, some low-carb tortillas (which are really good!), and lots of my soda. Root beer, ginger ale, orange and black cherry! No calories, no aspartame.
:) Oh, and some sparkling apple cider for the new year! :) Yea, you all REALLY wanted to read my grocery list, didn't ya?
:mouse:

Evenings ladies,
Mouse sounds like you had a busy but relaxing day. Did you get any swim time in? If you would like to read more information on my friend's uncle's house go to www.wbalchannel.com and click on the fire in Hanover, MD. Hope you are staying nice and warm.
Robyn, did you weather the storm okay? The news is all about the snow storm in the South now. So what books did you read so far on your vacation? I am reading one called Beachcomber by Karen Robards. It is really good so far. I hope you are keeping nice and warm.
Ginny so when do you go to WW this week? Do you think you will have a loss? I am hoping tomorrow night when I go to TOPS that I have a small loss. I have worked out a little more this weekend so I don't feel guilty about eating a few cookies and a pieces of pie on Christmas. Today I went to Curves with a friend and then came home and did 1/2 hour on my gazelle and a 1/2 hour on my excerise bike. I rewarded myself with a piece of sugar-free apple pie at dinner tonight. I was a good girl and got two boneless, skinless chicken breasts, a salad and a baked potato for dinner tonight. I only ate one of my chicken breasts and saved the other for tomorrow. Plus I didn't even touch the bread that came with my dinner. Here's hoping that we both have losses this week. Is your dd doing better without her boyfriend?
Summer, I bet you are just loving the free time you get to spend with your dd. What fun exciting things have you been doing with her?
My dh and I had a nice time at dinner. Then we stopped at the video store on the way home and got I, Robot. It was a good movie. Very interesting and ended differently than I would have thought. Did any of you see it? Now he is parked in front of the TV watching football. So I decided to play on the computer. Atleast we got to spend a couple hours together uninterupterd. (sorry about spelling).
Well I better go and see if my sister emailed me back yet. Talk to you all later.
Have a wonderful duty free Tuesday!
Kerry

Good morning!
Just a drive thru visit today.....Dh is basically standing over me and not much time for anything. We are trying to get some errands done today- as we did yesterday- stuff that takes up a lot of time during the week especially with work.
Great to hear from everyone......Mouse, sounds as though you have been one busy lady. (me and my big ideas for you getting some rest.)
Kerry- hope your WI is great! Glad you have been so busy and gettingyour workouts in.
Robyn- so it was you who ordered the snow!!!!! (had to get a jab in).
Summer- enjoy your down time.........!
Oh, brother......Dm is on the phone gotta go.....sorry for abeing terse.
Ginny

Snow. Snow! SNOW! UNCLE! I've had enough now! Enough slipping. Enough sliding. Enough wet clothes. Enough red faced wet / cold children! Enough time in this house!

For the last two days, I've written lenghty posts that I've not actually posted as they were NOT postable for various reasons.

Anyway. I'm reading _The Secret Life of Bees_ . I'm going to take down Christmas today. It is in my way...and no one is REALLY loving it this year...so viola...no one will notice that it is gone. SAD.

enough...see why I haven't been posting?!
take care.

me

Afternoon Ladies,
It must be the day for dh's to be a pain in the butt. I got up this morning and did a 2 mile walking video with my stepdd. My dh had to keep butting in on our time together and tell her to move faster. It really ticked me off. About an hour after doing my walking video, I called a friend and asked if she wanted to go to Curves with me today. After I got off the phone with her, my dh starts complaining about how the laundry needs to be done and a few other things before I can go workout with my friend. I called her back and told her that I would be going later in the day. I got the damn laundry started and then swept the kitchen floor. He came in and said that I didn't need to do that. All I needed to do was to do the laundry. I told him that I had planned on doing that after I got home and took a shower. But I guess that isn't good enough for him. I enjoy having time off from school, but I also hate it because it is not really not my time off. I have to do all the normal stuff that I can't get done during the work week and weekends. He threatened me again with not going home with me and I told him that at this point in the holidays I don't really care if he ever goes anywhere with me again. It is like I have to bend over backwards for everyone's needs and put my needs on hold until everyone else is happy. I am tired of putting myself last. I think that is how I got in the shape I am in now to begin with. But oh well, I only have 5 more days of vacation. Then it will be back to grind and I can be back in a normal scheduled routine. I got so pissed off that I ended up taking the Christmas tree down and have it all put up and back in the storage closet. With no help from anyone. It felt good taking the tree down and wiping away another crummy holiday without my family but with his. Then he tried being all lovely dovely with me when I was done with the tree and said that he didn't say to take the tree down. That he was just putting away the kids stuff so it was not laying around anymore. In family, when you put your stuff away, it means that it is time to take down the Christmas tree too. I am so upset right now that I don't think I can eat anything. But he made lunch for the family. So I guess I better go and get atleast something to eat. Maybe that will calm down my stomach. I am hoping that here in another hour or so I can go workout at Curves and burn off this feelings of anger. Thanks for letting my vent. I will check back with you all later. I will share my TOPS results with you tonight after I get home from my meeting.
Hope your day is going better than mine.
Take care,
Kerry

Ok, I am going to make some of Mouse's cyber brownies and send lots and lots of hugs to you Robyn and Kerry. SOOOOO sorry that the Attila the Hun virus has spread even more quickly than the flu. Gosh, men can be such creeps!!! I am glad you both vented, though (makes me feel better too, as you both know I have days just like yours!). And Robyn, unless you really went off the deep end, no worry that we will judge you here.....you have 3 solid shoulders to cry on here, as far as I am concerned.

Anyway......here's a story about the Atilla the Hun virus and a minor victory over it. Well, money is tight (gee, root canal, 2 car accidents, Christmas....can't figure out why?!). But the van really, really needed 4 tires. And the "new" truck (ok, it was a bargain!) needs at least 2 new tires too.
So Dh and I went to Sam's and got the tires for the van. It was supposed to be an hour......so we shopped in Sam's, got only what we needed, killed the hour and checked on the van. Not done yet........so we walked across the street to Lowes and got a few minor things we needed from there. Back toSam's......and the van is just being finished. Ok, Dh had to do his share of bellyachin about the extra time and what creeps (his language was a wee bit worse than that ;) ) they are. I went to get the keys, and the girl hands me the key, the paperwork and tells me to go to Customer Service for my refund.
REFUND???????? Huh??? Well, Sam's policy is if it is over an hour to install tires, the installation fee is refunded. So, I mention this to sceptical sam.....and he squawks about standing on line for the refund. That line was about 5 minutes, and yes I was not sure of this whole deal until I got there and they hand me a credit for $38! (hehehehehe :lol: ) To which Mr Humble (who wanted me to leave without getting the credit) says.....gee, that will pay for over half of a tire for the truck, guess I will go up tomorrow am and get the tires for it. So, I smiled......tried not to rub it in too much (it was hard!) and shut my big mouth. So there are good days...... Tomorrow will probably be awful!
Hang in there my friends.....try to find some special moments for yourself.....and at least you are not running around like a looney (as we all tend to do when school is in session!). Kerry hope the WI was good and you got your workout in......still trying to squeeze on in here.
See ya tomorrow.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
My weigh in went great. I lost another 1 1/2 pound. So I am now 202 1/4. I only have 2 1/4 pounds to go before reaching my mini goal of being 200 pounds by the beginning of 2005. I was this week's biggest loser, so I got the weigh-in money. That is $3.00 I didn't have. So I put it in my little bank and I will use it to treat myself to something nice someday. Plus I was the monthly loser with 4 1/2 pounds lost. There was only 2 other people who lost weight tonight. One lady lost a pound and another one lost 1/2 pound. We had a gain of 21 pounds. So everyone seemed to enjoy their holiday treats. So for the year in TOPS, I lost 14 1/4 pounds. That makes it more than I lost my first year in the group which was last year 12 3/4 pounds for a total overall loss of 27 pounds. I think that is good for two years.
Well my dh has loosen up some. He was trying to be nice to me this afternoon and I blew him off. He couldn't say that he was sorry for me missing out on time with my friend. But I did ask if it was okay that I went tomorrow morning with her. He said that he didn't care what I did tomorrow. We shall see when tomorrow gets here.
Ginny sounds like Atilla the Hun is coming out in all males. Why is it when it gets cold out and the weather gets bad they have to be big pain's in the butt? Glad to hear that you stuck it out and got your refunded. It is kind of funny when us women can outsmart and get results in front of our men. Don't you just want to look at them and say I told you so? Hope you were able to get your workout in.
Mouse, Robyn and Summer how was your day? I hope it was a nice relaxing one.
Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Hi Gals,
Just testing out to see if I figured out how to put the signuature weight tracker correctly. Talk to you all tomorrow.
Kerry

Hey, Kerry... like your tracker. Looks vaguely familiar. ;)
And hi to everybody else. My father threw me into a panic tonight: they discharged him from the rehab part of the nursing home today and he went home. And has called 911 two times since he got home. He's scared and I understand that, but there isn't much I can for him 75 miles from his house. I can't sleep at his apartment, and I can't stay there very long because I can't bring my cat with me. He needed somebody to help him get around the house, which I can't do either. I can't move him on my own, he's pretty big. I'm not small myself, and I know that, but... I feel guilty for not going up there, but I can't DO anything for him. I can't even stay at his apartment, so I'd basically be staying at my mother's which is 10 miles from him.
I tried for a few hours to find somebody to go with me, even asking my friends in Virginia, and they were going to come with me, but its not fair for me to ask them to drop everything and go with me. I do still feel guilty... Like I should go up there.
:o
:mouse:

Well, my friends, I am taking my first breath (and only for a few seconds) since I came home from school at 5:45pm on December 23rd!

Christmas Eve day, DH took DD ice skating for the first time to get her out of the house so that I could wrap. We continued to bake and decorate Christmas cookies. Another first was to take DD to the 11:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Amazingly enough, she stayed awake. All should have been well, however, a few annoying things kind of messed with my Christmas spirit. We got to church one hour early to get seats in the third row. Then a choir member layed her coats down to save seats for her family. No biggie, right? Well, they came a little after the service began, and they tried to stuff ten people in an area that would normally only accomodate six or seven. So, I had a smelly old lady practically sitting on my lap throughout the service. Then an old man who should probably have been on zithromax and in bed sat behind me hacking up his lung. I have long hair now, and I kept imagining his cooties and sputum on my back. And, the person who normally solos "Oh Holy Night" is now a paid performer, and our church apparently didn't want to shell out any cash. So instead, a horrible soloist destroyed one of my favorite Christmas songs. I don't mean to sound so negative, but I had everything in place, and a few strangers kind of f*cked it up. Before bed, DD and I sprinkled reindeer food on the front lawn to attract Rudolph!

Okay, Christmas morning was great. DD really believes, and she was soooooo excited. Our time at home was harmonious, but then we had to venture out to my DS house. She is an alcoholic and also dabbles in prescription drugs. So, her personality can go from fun and loving to cruel and depressed. Well, she decided that she was the Queen, and the family (peasants) were all there to do her bidding. Now her in-laws made light of it by calling her, "Principessa" and making jokes. Unfortunately, my DH has a bad history with DS, so he took her ordering around and criticizm to heart. He was miserable, and nearly bit his tongue right off! We were only there for four hours, but it seemed a lot longer and really put a damper on things. So, DH suggested the next day that we "get the h*ll out of here" next year. My in-laws live in Florida (near Orlando) during the school year, so I think we will end up spending Christmas with them next year. This gives him incentive to deal with our finances so we can afford to go.

On the 26th, we went to a party at a work friend's house. She lives in a magnificent "museum-like" home. She even has an English Pub-like game room in her home. The home is Victorian with the most intricately stunning architectural details. Nobody else from work was there, so I exercised my small-talk with strangers muscle. We ended up staying almost six hours, and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. That helped to make up for the lousy day at my DS's house.

I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and grocery shopped on the 27th. Yesterday, we had a play-date all day with DD's and my best friends. DD's friend stayed for a sleepover. We took them to the movies to see "Christmas with the Kranks." It was good, but basically all the funny scenes are in the previews. We won't be buying the DVD. Then we asked the girls if they wanted Italian for dinner. They both said, "Yes." Both of them. Not just one of them. Well, we drove to a really yummy restaurant, and as I pictured the linguini with red clam sauce, DD's friend said, "I DON'T LIKE ITALIAN FOOD." I said, "Sure you do. We have pizza at your house all of the time." She said, "I only fake it that I like it, but I really hate it." So we sat there and tried to figure out where to go as the snow came down. Since the streets quickly became treacherous, we chose to go home and order Chinese delivery. Needless to say, DD's friend didn't actually like the food she asked us to order for her...the kind of Chinese food she always gets. This kid is soooooo high maintenance. I couldn't get her to agree with me on anything, and I was torn between being the mommy/teacher who doesn't take any crap and the friend of her mother who wants her to be happy sleeping over our house for the first time. So, I compromised and let her have her way when it was something small, and put my lead foot down when it really mattered. She is still here tearing up my house. I will be driving her home soon and then we will have a play date up at her house. I can't wait for tonight when I am free of her!!!

I will come back tomorrow to read all of your posts and catch up with everything. I am gonna start a new thread for the new year in a few days. P.S. I can't get any of the smilies to appear onto my post. I also can't get the font, color, or size to change. Is anyone else having a problem with that?

Morning Ladies,
I am happy to say that I am having a great day so far. I was able to sleep in a little bit this morning and then go workout with my friend at Curves. So things are looking good for today. I plan on being lazy today. I think I will curl up with the book I am reading and try to put a major dent in it. Plus I have to go to the library to renew my books. So I think I might just check out a few movies to watch this evening while everyone else is busy watching football. I made a pact with my friend who doesn't really like to go shopping, that we would go shopping for a new outfit in smaller sizes around my birthday in May. She has fallen off the bandwagon and I am trying to help motiviate her again. She did really good losing some 40 pounds and then she had surgery and gained back 20 pounds. So she is feeling really low right now. Hope I can help spur her on to lose the weight and then some. Wish me luck!!
Summer sounds like you are still running and never really stopped. Sorry to hear that your Christmas Eve service was not a spiritual moving experience for you. Sounds like your whole Christmas was not a pleasant one. Hope you have a nice time with your friend today. Sorry to hear that your high maintance houseguest was a picky eater.
Ginny did your dh go and get his tires today? Are you going to be able to squeeze in a wi this week? Did you get your workout in last night?
Robyn, are things going better for you? Did you get your Christmas stuff put away?
Mouse, I didn't even realize that we had the same tracker until after I checked the posts. You know what they say about great minds think alike. That was the only slider that caught my eye. Sorry to hear that your dad is stressing you out. Isn't there any home health care agencies that your dad could contact to come in and help him until is well enough to be on his own?
Well I think I will go and ride my excerise bike for a while to get some me time. Talk to you all later.
Have a wonderful day!
Kerry

Hi!
While I still have some sanity about me, I thought I would get a post in.

Summer- catch your breath Hon! Soo sorry about the Christmas Eve service, I too have had that happen. Several years ago, (our church has 2 services the "contemporary" music service and then one with mostly hymns) we went to the Easter Service. And that year the praise team did the whole thing.....they are pretty good if you like that kind of music, but I for one get sick of them (seem to play forever, and I am there not for the music but for Pastor's message) and did not really think their music was appropriate for Easter. Anyway.......we came out of church disgusted....totally. That is too bad about O Holy Night.....and I know how it hurts to have your favorite song butchered. Has the playdate of torture ended????? The party on the 26th sounds like it was fun.....glad you got out for something pleasurable! (and should you get to Orlando next December, sneak me with you!)

Mouse- please do not beat yourself up on this situation with your father. It is so sad.....and I know that this must be awfully hard for you. Perhaps there is some visiting nurse service that can check up on him- or a responsible neighbor...maybe even the local JCC (is there one where he lives?)- someone who might do that. I know here the local Temple has a few indivuduals who take that kind of volunteer work on. You have and are doing all that you can.
Try your local office of the aging too...or a senior center....keep calling, gosh there has to be some help somewhere!

Kerry- Woo hoo!!!!!!! :D Hats off to you you big loser!! Congrats on being the biggest loser of the month, in a month that is tough on many of us to lose! Keep up the good work! I am so happy for you. Glad that Attila has retreated a wee bit and is not giving you such a hard time. You are right, there is something about the male gender, cold weather (they can't be with their outside toys....whatever they are) and not being at work (noone to boss around or a way to burn off that testosterone). My Atilla has actually been pretty sane today.....I am thankful for that.

Robyn- you perking up?? I hope that you are having some fun this vacation....and enjoying your book.

Me? Well, I did not get my walk inlast nite (kids wanted to play Clue, so I did that....not too many years that I will be able to keep all 3 of them happy with a board game). I did get a walk in today (3 miles) and am going to grab the TV now (Ds finally gave it up!) to get a WATP tape in. Gotta get myself back on track. My eating has been not too good.......but today I am doing well. Probably no WW meeting for me, and if I do go, I will use the no WI coupon. Just a wee bit too much stress for me and I know I did not get many walks/workouts in.
Gotta go......see ya later!
Ginny

BTW, I love the trackers.....don't know if have the nerve to put one on for me though!
How do you add one (in case I get the nerve up!)

Oh bother.....I figured out the tracker thing......lets see if this works......(why did I do this????)
Ginny

Figures, I would be the only moron to set up a tracker and it does not show up!!!! (keep smiling, Ginny) I will try again.

Ginny,
On the last page of the tracker site, all I did was copy and paste my tracker to the signature page. After I copied it, then I went to edit signature and pasted it on there. Hope this helps. Getting ready to sneak out the house with my one stepson to get a slice a pizza. I have been craving pizza for a couple weeks and decided to give into the craving today. Before it really gets out of hand. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

I going to work backwards here:
Kerry: cheese pizza, with thin crust, is a healthy choice. One slice is between 140-160 calories. Some places do whole wheat crust, which is fantastic, and most places use part-skim mozzarella: it melts better.
Ginny & Robyn: Thanks for the support. I can't call any agencies: I don't have power of attorney nor do I want it. I think I've mentioned before that he and I don't get along very well. He won't listen to what I tell him to do, and has never listened to me before. He LOVES to brag about my degrees and that I'm working on my doctorate and that I work for a major hospital system at a rehabilitation hospital's school program (because that IS what I do, I just don't usually phrase it that way because it sounds egoist). But when it comes right down to it, he won't listen to me. Last night I told him he needed to call the following agencies this morning: Veteran's Administration (which he refused, saying they aren't accepting new patients, and I reminded him that he is an established patient because he gets his eyecare there! So then he said he couldn't drive there, and I reminded him that the local Red Cross chapter has drivers that drive people to the VA hospital!), Meals on Wheels (because he can't cook or grocery shop for himself, and there are no grocery delivery services in my hometown, because I think he could handle microwave meals), Office on Aging (to find a home health care aide), his primary care physician (why is he having all these issues suddenly? Is there something else wrong?), and perhaps a lawyer. He's going to let the surgeon who operated on his knee twice already do another one next Thursday. I don't think he was a good candidate for the procedure anyway: I do not at all believe that he has lost 50 pounds in 8 weeks (that is more than FIVE pounds per week??? If he HAS lost that much, I want his metabolism! Because he hasn't been exercising beyond ordinary PT!), and now weighs less than 300 pounds. NO WAY! And my understanding of the procedure is that it is proscribed in patients over a certain weight, and over a certain age. I also found out that they didn't do any type of physical therapy or exercise program prior to surgery. That would have been my FIRST stop: I would have started with aqua therapy with him given age and weight.
Okay, enough of that. I think I'm going to find somewhere to hide this weekend.
:mouse:

Evening Ladies,
I got my slice of pizza and it did the trick. That should do me for a few months or more. I even went upstairs while my dh, his twin boys' and his brother were watching the Ohio State vs. Oklahama game and rode the excersise bike for a half hour. Got through a really good part in the book I read while riding the bike. I could have ridden a little longer if my butt was not getting sore and I wasn't so thirsty.
Mouse, I am so sorry that your dad doesn't seem to want to listen to any of your suggestions. It must be heartbreaking to offer advice and it go unwanted or used. But he sure seems to want to pull you into his life. Hope things tend to get easier for you. What are your plans for this weekend?
Ginny, I hope you can get the tracker to work for you. I had to mess around a few times before I got mine to work. Good for you to get your workouts in too. Sounds like your family had a fun time playing Clue last night.
Robyn, so have you warmed up from your winter weather? The winter weather has seem to skirt around my area of Ohio. It sure did hit the people in Columbus which is an 1 or 1 1/2 hour away from us depending on traffic. They are still without electric in some places a week later. It bad weather hit close to 25 miles from our house. We just had some ice on Thursday morning from the rain we got last Wednesday. That was it plus some really cold temps. over the weekend. It has been in the 40-50's here the last few days.
Summer, hope your playdate went well over at your friend's house today. So do you have big plans for the New Year's weekend? My dh and I are going to go visit my parents for the weekend. I am hoping to squeeze in a visit with my best friend. I don't know if my dh and I are going to go out Friday night or not. Or if we might just order take out and spend the evening at home with my parents. My dad has bronchitis really bad right now. So he really hasn't been out anywhere for a week. He did go to the lung specialist today and he upped his one med. and gave him another med. to break up the junk in his lungs.
Well I think I am going to go look up something for my TOPS group about Open House Ideas and then go to bed. Talk to you all tomorrow.
Have a great Thursday!
Kerry