Linus~ So glad the day went well. It was so nice to hear you even if I couldn't Understand you! I did a LOT better than I usually do!!! I have another friend in Australia I met in the '70's and she is back there now. When she came here for a visit this year I said WHAT? at least 100 times! I took it easy yesterday and you all are right....I have been rushing it and pushing it a lot. I'll be good I promise! LOL I'll send my bill to DH as well if he goes out on Xmas eve again!

Shad~ If you gals didn't have all these bloddy accents I wouldn't have to say WHAT???? I must say that i can understand you much better than Marie in Rydalmere! But I won't tell her cause she'll smack me along side my head next time! I was told that if a digital camera is getting blurry that it needs a new card....providing you're using one. They are like vcr tapes. Using them over and over again wears them out. So glad your Xmas was grand. I was glad to be able to share the beginning of it on the phone. Jen bought me "art explosion" with 300,000 images on 14 cd-roms! I of course have absolutely no idea how to use it! Frank in the office bought me "paint shop pro' studio version with 'photo album 5'. Also which I have no F*cking idea how to use! But I got them installed and the next thing I need to do is get more effing memory!!! maybe I should send the instruction booklets to you and we can start tutorials long distance!

Holly~ Loved the post and glad the families get along so well. Life is too short for arguing. The pork was delish but it came with rice, plantains and yucca. I forgot they were dining in their Spanish tradition! Very salty too! But their pork roasts are to die for. Wish I knew how they got the meat to taste that way. Sounds like your family had a great day!

My New Years Resolution(and I never make them usually) is a 2 parter.....one is to continue the fight for moderation. I lost track of it with the holiday. The other is to limit my time in the journals. For the people her, I will no longer write in their journals. You end up writing twice and the eyes won't take it and quite frankly, I don't have the time. Things take longer for me to do as the days go by and I need the time for myself. This year I felt I did more talking about "plans" than I actuall DID a plan!
So.....New Year, New Me is on track again this coming year. I feel much better today and a bit more energy. Bagged up all the edible goodies, let the kids pick what they wanted to take upstairs and the rest is going to the community room for the seniors to pick over at lunchtimes. I repackaged everything so no one would recognize their gift! I better get on with the day. I want to straighten out the house so it doesn't get bad again. Flylady says 15 minutes is all it takes! Have a Peace filled Sunday! Sweet dreams Shaddie........

Happy~ You were posting while I was day dreaming!! Have a wonderful trip and I will miss you very much!!! You leave and empty space when you are gone!!! good luck with the tagging and sorting and I will keep you in my thoughts and send as many good ones as I can spare! Hope the New Year brings you much love and laughter!!! Keep the smile!!! Love, Mel

Ok Miss Mel - I have come and gone and come back again and your egg is still on. Now go rest those peepers - do you hear me?????

Hello to everybody everywhere. I don't know about you but I am so glad Christmas is over, whew.........I am so tired today. We had a lovely Christmas, had the best time watching the adorable Grandsons, which by the way my attachment is two of them, the oldest and youngest. We had a tasty meal of Mexican food with peach pie and pecan pie for dessert. Of course I ate way too much , but there is always the New Year, right?

Glad to see you back with us Mel and feeling pretty perky sounds like. I know you enjoyed your phone call with Linus, nice Christmas surprise.

Bye bye Happy, be careful we will be waiting for your return.

Holly sounds like you have been busy, running from place to place.

Shad send more photos, sure enjoyed the others.

Hi Linus waiting to see your pics.

I have gotten the decorations and the tree out of the house. It has always been my tradition to get it all down if possible the day after Christmas. Now my room looks so unfestive... It is always such a let down to me that it comes and goes so fast and I seem so busy that I don't enjoy it like I would like too. Every year I think I will change the hectic hussle and bussle but I never do.

Hubby is gone for the week to go hunting, so it will be pretty quiet around here and the house will stay clean.

Have a wonderful evening my worldly friends and sleep tight.

MEL! you are back and sounding in fine form, strong, focused in your forward momentum and with new computer toys... Whee! I was mildly chastised for my huge AB posts so I will show you what I get up to with my Paintshop Pro program via a link http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ca/ab-wave.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../ab-hearts.jpg

Wouldn't want to get into trouble again

Shad-your sons are such fabulous guys! They take the time to try and trick you and surprise you, certainly done something right raising those little dears. How happy your family looks, were they all drunk?

Linus-glad your Christmas was full of good conversation and a bit of healthy ribbing. Got to keep the hubby on his toes

Teel-Yikes! naked phone conversations, you were a naughty lady. Did Santa bring you something grand anyway?

Holly-send the 3X over here Your husband sounds like a real card, I laughed out loud at the present out the window. Sounds like some good eating out your way too... Smoked salmon and liquor chocolates...yummy!

Happy-safe journey! Can't wait to hear all the new perspectives you will have about your Southern home

Diane-I'm so glad you posted your name. I kept thinking of you as Texas light, probably still will I'm slow to change

Rose-Holding hands in the mall with a younger man, hmm, what movies have you been taking your cues from?

My Christmas was quiet. We had burritos last night and will be doing the big turkey and stuffing route tonight I received some lovely cinnamon foot lotion and some face wash (Avon) and peanutbutter chocolates, have only eaten four so far, dangerous to have them in the sight line, must remember to put them in a cupboard. Can't feed them to the kids, they have their own chocolate Santas and jelly beans. My kids favorite toys were their new scooters and Boobah burping toys. Hope everyone is playing well with the relatives that appear, remember they are blood

Grab today and be happy all you Chicks out there in the world! I can see you

Oh LINUS you have dropped me in it again!!! I have to explain that it was so cold in the house whilst I was chatting to Linus that I quickly stripped off and got in to my pj's and under the duvet!! I should have learnt by now not to give any secrets away to Linus 'cos I know by the next day they will be shared all over the next post!!!
Oooh good oh! My smilie link is working today at last so beware!!!
It was so good to finally talk to MEL on the phone last night. I had tried and tried and tried all of Christmas day from about 13:00hrs my time and given up in the late evening and then started again yesterday at about the same time only to get the blasted engaged tone again and again and...and....finally at 23:15hrs my time I got through! I nearly fell off my chair!Good to talk to you, young lady. Next time (what next time?) I shall book myself an appointment!!! Glad you are feeling better! Keep it that way!!!
SHAD it was great to talk to you too...twice!!! Lovely that you had such a great suprise with both DS's turning up! Good that you didn't have rain and that the bbq went according to plan. I don't know that I could have gutted a fish....well done to you!!
Oh yes DF says thank you for finding out the telephone number...he did get through. I hope next time he will remember there is such a thing as International Directory Enquiries and that it doesn't involve me ringing up Australia! Nice though that it was to talk to you twice in one day!!! Great photos by the way!!
LINUS I must say it is a lot easier to talk to you on the phone as it doesn't involve working out time differences and as you are broadband if you are online I can still get through on the phone!! Even though you do let my secrets out!!!!
HAPPY I guess by now the computer is safely tucked up in its box and the desk dismantled so you will not see this greeting for a week or so! I hope and pray that all goes smoothly for your move down south and that you and DH will be very happy in your new abode.
SHAKER have you disappeared off in to the ether again?? I hope you too had a very happy Christmastide. :sball2: :sball: :snf: :snf:
I am sitting here listening to a new CD that I recieved as a gift from an old friend who is 4 days older than me. It is the JOHN RUTTER cd DISTANT LANDS which is mainly instrumental but with some choral bits in it. I have looked for it for a couple of years now and not found it so I am extremely happy to now have a copy. It is very soothing and I have copied it to my real player so I can have it playing on the computer without having to find the cd every time.
Hellos to everyone I have not specifically mentioned above. I hope you all had a super Christmas and are now gearing up for the coming year of 2005. I personally wonder whether there will be anything particular to get excited about. Hopefully I will be able to go on holiday again with my neighbour. I am thinking Germany.The thing I AM getting excited about is the forthcoming installation of gas central heating starting on January 10th.It will be so good not to freeze in the study when I am to you gals.
Well I think that is far and away enough from me for this morning! Have a good day. Keep safe and well and don't get stuck in any snow drifts!!!

Hope everyone is fine. I made it home early afternoon yesterday. It was a great drive. I saw about 10 bald eagles along the different rivers I travel by, awesome day. My youngest Jesse caught the flu from his girlfriend and I had to leave him not doing so well. I hope it passes me by!!!!
I had a great time with my sons and their friends. Jesse turns 21 on the 29th so they are reallygrowing up. They spoiled me a little bit and we laughed so much.
Well, now to rethink the coming weekend and decide what to do...My house is in need of some attention but it might have to wait til thursday.
Blessings to all,
Nae

As I type, I am turning !!! 22 degrees and 33 mile per hour winds. Thinking of taking a hot shower to warm up! Finished with the office reports by 10:30 so the day is all mine now. Going through the file cabinet and shredding 2004 is my agenda! I saw a bigwig on Thursday that will be coming in January. We discussed my withdrawal from the office on a permanent basis. He agrees with me about retirement. I am so happy he is coming here! One more week and freedom!! Hope I am not being too optimistic!

Teel~ How nice it was to hear from you! But I think some foot fetishes were involved in our discussions if I am not mistaklen. So glad the naked bits were with Linus! :LOL3: GERMANY SOUNDS NICE. jUST DON'T FORGET THE CAMERA!!!

Nae~ Glad you are home safe and hope you left the flu where it was!!! Sounds like the trip and Holiday were good ones! We have been seeing some eagles here but not sure what kind. They hang out at the cliffs......which is really the Palisades on the Hudson River. I only see them when I travel by bus that way. Lovely wing span. They play in the air in the current over the river. What a sight to be that free! Thankls for the good thoughts too! They worked!

Meadow~ I will check out the bookmarks. I am on another site and they collapsed from the use of pictures. I think they may make a rule that you can only upload from your own downloaded files. No more cut and paste or dragging. Then the 2 sites are linked together and they support the gif/pic instead of us. At least that is how it was explained to us. Feeling much better thanks and I got rid of the junk food to the community room! Lots of spanish food this holiday

Happy~ I did get off when I came back and read your post!!! Made me laugh too.

Diane~ Glad the holiday was a good one and our trees stay till 1/6!! My daughter hated to take them down so we got into the habit of leaving them up! The kids are very cute! Congrats on the grandchildren.

Well kids I have been in the sandbox long enough! Better give someone else a chance. Have a great day!

Good Afternoon!
I am sitting for a bit to recharge. DS is in a hockey tournament for 3 days. He played a game at 9:30 this morning.
We had a great day at the in laws on Sunday. I am all turkey-ed out!
It was a lovely Christmas all around. Not too exhausted for a change.
Time for a tea and mindless television!!!

Gosh, I am worn out. I had my tea, watched AMC and still cant get motivated.
Lots and lots of tidying to do.
DS has 2 more games tomorrow, a Bday party on Wed and then both kids are going for a playdate on Thurs. I will be home alone( happy dance) since I am not babysitting this week.
Oh Mel!! Congratulations!! I hope it all works out! Happy water colour painting!
Nae~ how nice to be spoiled. Glad it was a good time and trip went well!
Teel~ enjoy that central heating!
Meadow~ my DD is in love with the barbie princess carraige.For DS it was all about hockey gear, shirts etc. Glad it was a nice time for you. I am trading that shirt in for a 2X ,sorry.
Candlelady~ adorable grandsons!

I really must put away some laundry and come up with something un-turkey-ish for supper. That's a start anyhow.
Hope everyone is having a good day.

for all who dont want to be depressed switch off now------i did warn you i need a major moan fest why is it when you think everythings going great some ba****d will come and rain on your parade yip im smoking again and guess what ive gained 26 llb craig put the scales in the bathroom and i had to get on ive had it i was having a great xmas dh went and naffed off to the pub to watch footie yesterday at 1pm i fealt really dreadfull my back is in serious spasm and i was really really fed up i got more and more stressed out during the day and by the time i fealt like i was going to spend the rest of the day in tears i sent craig for cigs {20}and boy did i need them
i got fed up waiting for dh by 10pm and phoned him to come home and home he came and wrecked my living room and world war three erupted craig couldnt handle it as i was in tears and walked out of the house at 11.30pm and said he wasnt till dh left i eventually persuaded him to come home at 11.55{via phone god bless mobiles}and we spent lots and lots of time talking things over a sort of peace and quiet is reigning at the moment but im still smoking and now regally pi***d off about my weight
okay moan over
kirsty

Hello to all and special after Christmas Hugs!
I'm going to post quickly here before i lose my window.! I've had the craziest time with my computer. The darn thing is sending error reports left right and centre and not letting me continue. I have finally found a way around it and hopefull can keep it up for a bit.
WOW! What a busy few weeks. It's so nice to just sit for a bit. I still keep feeling as though I have forgotten something...I guess it's just creating these new traditions.
I am so icky today...tummy feels sore but it's my own silly fault. I am going to make sure that I get on track today!
((((hugs to you linus)))))) Thinking of you I hate those days. I hope that you can rise above it and set yourself some goals that you want. ( that sounds so trite...it's not meant to) Just thinking of you
Mel retirement ? Is that possible I can't imagine you ever doing that. YOu will always have a busy life. I hope you do find some down time for you.
Holly...Your Christmas sounded devine! JUst picture perfect.
I must get on with this day of mine...DH is home and wanting to get cracking ...no leisurely posting for me.
Have wonderful days chickies. will check back here later and TRY to catch up.

Holly! glad the holiday was so great and you have some time off! enjoy!! Sounds like a busy schedule for the kids though!!
Hope you find something un-turkey!

Linus~I send my love and (((((((HUGS))))))). Believe me I know how you feel. Families can be tough at the best of times. Hang in there and feel free to b*tch anytime you choose to!! As for the ciggies.....you and your body will know what and when to do it. Just mellow out a bit. Remember..it's YOUR decision as to when! (((((((MORE HUGS))))))))))

Suzi~Hope your day with DH home is a great one! I know I will always be busy but I won't have to be the "boss" anymore or so I hope.....much less responsibility. AND it wasn't like I was getting pay for it either! Good luck with getting on track too!

Morning all - or nearly afternoon really. I sort of missed yesterday - it was hot and humid and storming so I just veged out for most of the day. Seems like Christmas is playing happy families again around linus' place. Poor linus - I well remember the sagas of the old bull and the young bull around this place for long enough. Kids are not as they used to be and the DH hasn't caught up with it yet. So you started back on the cigs again. Finish the pack and be done with it. It's a slip up. You can rise above it again. The 26lb is more of a worry because the more weight you are carrying the more your back and joints will hurt. Wish I was there to give you a big hug. Looking at my watch you should be well asleep by now or I would ring you. I may try later tonight, but don't stay in just because I might. Anything could happen here - we are going shopping shortly - this is the DS that luuuuuurvvvvvvvvvvvves to shop.

Back to work tomorrow and I haven't achieved what I wanted to this break, but hey, it's not every day the DS comes to stay. So stuff it.

Candlelady - Diane - great grandsons you have there. Hope they and you all had a great time over the festive season. Good family times are precious memories for later.

Happy my friend. You will be on your way to the big new adventure and wont get this for a week or so. Hope everything goes your way and great new things are on the horizon. We wait to hear how things went.

Teel, the joys of international phone calling. You must be getting expert at it now. No more dialling the zip codes!!!! It was good to have you on the phone twice - even if you were looking for addresses and phone numbers in Adelaide the second time around.

Meadow, no we weren't drunk on Christmas day. The DBs had some distance to drive to get to the next venues and the DS's stuck around mostly drinking coke (not the same as what it was in my day!) We are a fairly happy lot in each others company. We don't disagree often - mostly they co-operated and do it my way! Glad to hear that your day went off well. I haven't been to your link yet but will do either today or tomorrow.

Mel, retirement???? Should these two words be put in the same sentence? Ah well we shall see what we shall see!

Holly, no more turkey??? Yes you can get sick of it. It's the reason why I don't buy them. DS1 is vegetarian, DS2 doesn't like it, so if I want some it is best a buy a leg or a breast or something.

Suzi - good to see you back. Silly ol' computer. Sounds like you have some sort of virus or worm in there. Might be timely to take it to a comp hospital to be sorted out.

Rose: What a great drive that sounds like. Will have to save some pennies and go do it my some day. Have a carefree break.

Okay, better go do this shopping and so what if anything is worth buying. DS1 is taking a DVD he got for Christmas back to the store because he already has it. And as luck would have it, the store is way over the west side of town near where Kiwi Annie used to live.

Catch up later. Journals can wait too.

Oh darn it. No smilie link working today. I thought yesterday was too good to be true!

LINUS what can I say to help at this precise moment? Probably nothing except that I too, think this is only a slip and you can finish this packet and then continue on the road to a smoke free zone. No you won't be having to start again...you just did a little detour. HUGS to you. We are all here to help from across the seas and lands. Holler and we will hear you!!

It absolutely tipped it down last night with rain but this morning we have sunshine and blue sky. Lovely. No plans for today though. No plans for the rest of the year as far as I know!!
Nearly time to put up all the calenders...I bought one from Salzburg and my mother bought me a Thelwell one, then DB turned up with 2 New Zealand calenders...I haven't worked out yet where to put them all! At least I shall always know what the date is even if one day I seem to be losing my faculties!!!

No Christmas is but a recent memory I feel as though I should be taking down the tree and the trimmings, especially as I have the gas board installing from the 10th January. I hope they don't create too much of a disaster scene and there isn't too much to redecorate afterwards.

I hope everyone is ok.Keep away from the winter ills that are around.
Love from Teel