Sorry, ladies, the time got away from me last night.

I'm so glad you're getting your home computer back again, Bluet. And awfully sorry you're having to deal with the bully. That can be totally draining. Six above zero. Brrr! I won't tell you the temp here, but will say that I have to go to a consignment store in a few minutes to see if I can buy some T-shirts. I have mostly sweatshirts and long-sleeved stuff here at the apt., and the boxes in storage are so packed that I can't find the clothing box. March isn't supposed to look like this.

Hey, Willow, so good to see you here. I love that peony fragrance, which is strange because I don't particularly care for the peonies. Also got gardenia lily and I don't like gardenias. They just smell different as body lotion, I guess. My problem with Bath and Body is that I get tired of the scent about 3/4 of the way through the bottle and want something different. So maybe I should try the purse-sized bottles. Oh, greasy tallow on the roof of the mouth--yuck, yuck, yuck. We haven't heard from Fatpuss since July, but we're still ever hopeful.

Thanks for the pulse tips. Still can't find it, and the instructor has a hard time finding it. I guess some people are just harder than others. My neck muscles are so hypertrophied from my neuro disorder that taking it that way is pretty difficult. Not sure why it's so hard on my wrist--thick skin??

Charlotte, glad you're back, too. So. . .you were lurking! That's okay. Sometimes I get into lurking mode, too. You must have decided not to change your rheumatology appointment to an earlier one? As you can guess, I'm still praying that you'll hear some good news when you go see the doctor. Any new work on your house? Sounds like spring is springing where you are so hopefully you don't have to worry too much about the tarp on your roof. By the time the new roof is on, you just might be missing that special blue glow that only a tarp can give!

Look at those comfy kitties, SunnyD! Makes me want to curl up someplace cozy, too. Bet they love it when you turn the dryer on and make it all warm. My tuxedo cat, Arrow, is a big fan of the laundry basket, mostly when it's full of clean clothes. He's also good at jumping into drawers after I've opened them and turned my back for a few minutes. I go to put something back in the drawer and there's a big kitty sitting there looking at me. Cats can be so darn funny.

Yesterday we went to the DMV and became true Oregonians. I wish I could have kept my Washington driver's license photo because it's a good before photo and the new one is a good (almost) after photo. No more neck "rolls" and double chins. I was nervous about passing the written test, but I did better than I did on Washington's. I almost failed the Washington one, and my daughter did fail it the first time. It seemed to take forever to get the license and registration.

After we did that, I took an hour rest, and then we left to go to Eugene, Oregon's second largest town, about an hour south of Corvallis. My sister turned 55 yesterday and invited us to have dinner with her and her DH. I haven't seen her in over a year so that was nice. DH and I got some dry ice and one of those Omaha Steaks boxes that we saved and went shopping in the "big city." Corvallis doesn't have a Trader Joe's so we went there. Also can't find Boar's Head deli meats, but the one place in Eugene was closed so we still don't have any. Got a dozen bagels, too. Then we went to dinner at a place on the river. I didn't get back until around 9:00 pm and I was tired.

Today my DH got the news that HP is offering people voluntary severance, which means to cut costs they're trying to get rid of people voluntarily before resorting to layoffs. This, of course, is occurring right around the time we close on our new house with the largest mortgage payment we've ever had. My stomach is all tied up in knots now. *Sigh*

Hope you all are having a great Thursday, and TGI (almost) F.

Hello,

Well, Survivor was interesting, but I really didn't care who left on the team that lost the immunity, I like the other team better. DH thought I was being rather ruthless. He thinks I should be cheering for the underdog. But I happen to have liked the other team right off the bat, so that is who I cheered for tonight. After all they really know how to build a latrine, and I would be in an absolute panick if I did not have a latrine or shower. CSI was ok too, at least it was not a rerun, from what I could tell. Interesting how they dropped the Katherine-Warrick thing like a hot potato, perhaps they got mail. Gregg is having fun with the lab tech that replaced him too.

Well, Sunny glad you had a better day. It is nice the Sun was out all day for you. We were very cold with snow showers allllllllllll day, man I am so tired of winter. I am suppose to have the grandboys from Green Bay this weekend for an overnight. They are really looking forward to coming to visit the farm grandma and grandpa. I know I will be exhausted come Sunday night. I didn't get everything done at work this week either. (sometimes I think I am pretending they aren't there, so I don't have to deal with them) . I won't have time tomorrow, because Friday is always wrap-it-up day on everything else I do. Oh Well, make the best of it and have faith right? My computer's hard drive failed and it took Joe a bit of time to order a new one and install it and get all the programs back on the drive. I didn't loose the financial parts, I had a good back-up, but I am up and running, which is a good thing.

So Sheila, what are you up to? Are you over at the new house, painting and installing flooring and stuff like that? Miss your posts, I don't think you ever missed two evenings in a row, except perhaps when your were moving to Corvallis. Can we see a picture of your new home sometime and mabe a picture or two of those tulips?

Charlotte, has it stopped raining down there? We are still getting plenty of snow. My car was so dirty yesterday, I kept putting off getting it washed, because we had so much sloppy weather and roads of late. so last night I finally broke down and spent the $21.00 for a full interior cleaning and wash and wax, and what happens all day today it snowed and my car sat out in it all day Talk about a waste of money. Oh well, the inside smells nice and looks nice and clean. Have you heard anymore news about your neck and your thumb Charlotte? Just wondering how you are doing.

Willow, it is so nice to have you back on the thread. You love winter, but aren't you getting a little tired of it by now too? Did you ever resolve you hip problem?

Wonder how Diane is doing?

Have a good Friday everyone, you are all special!!!!!!!

Bonnie

Isn't this interesting, when I started my post, Sunny's was the only post, when I posted my post, up popped Sheila, Charlotte and Willow, according to the times, we weren't all posting at the same time. hmmmmmmmm. Well, Sheila you didn't go two evenings without posting, you didn't break your record after all. :-)

Good Night guys, I gotta get to bed, I was yawning all afternoon today.

Bonnie

All right! I got one right. I come from the first TV generation, I think, Willow.

Hopefully, Charlotte, the not hearing anything is at least somewhat good news because if it was an urgent problem, I have to believe he'd call. That's a bummer that you're feeling so bad these days. I thought disability came with some health care, too, like Medicare or something, although I guess Medicare doesn't have prescription coverage. Maybe a minivacation to Canada? When I went to fill my Actonel prescription, and we were in the insurance "gray area" when the new one hadn't kicked in, the pharmacist told me that the four pills would cost $95. Medication in this country is just too darned expensive. My friend had some leftover antibiotic (they changed the prescription)--I wish I could send you some. Are the infections from the lowered immune system because of the treatments? Every time I hear an RA commercial, they say something about being susceptible to infections. It's hard not to have high blood pressure when you've got so much darn stressful stuff going on.

Bluet, when I read your post and it said I'd been gone for two days, I couldn't understand why you said that. Then I read down further and discovered your other post. I wonder why mine didn't show up? Strange. . .

I'm enjoying the Greg/new DNA tech (what is her name?) interplay, too. Greg is often the comedy relief, which I like. Love his strange hairdo, too. I wonder how he wears it in real life. I wasn't communicating well about the tulips because they're at my old house in Seattle, and I won't be seeing them come up. My new house doesn't seem to have any bulbs, or at least I didn't spot any last week when I was there. There was some daphne in bloom near the door, though. I love the smell of that stuff. We aren't closing until April 1, so I won't be seeing the place until then.

Get this, though. HP is sending out letters that should arrive on April 1 to the people that they want to take what's called voluntary severance. So we won't know if my DH has been targeted until the day we close on the house, and probably after because the mail arrives late. We were talking about letting the house go and losing the earnest money and stuff, but we're going to be optimistic and go through with the closing. Even if he gets the letter, we'll have enough money to live off for over six months, although health insurance will of course be an issue. And a 54 year old guy finding a job will be an even bigger issue. Trying not to stress about it, but it's difficult. If I could work, I'd feel a bit better about things because I could go out and earn money while he's looking. I should hear about my disability by the middle of April, but I certainly can't count on that. Oh, well, things will work out.

My friend stopped by unexpectedly today. I was still in my pjs, and I was on the phone upstairs. I heard the dog barking, but since I was on the phone, I didn't do anything. He just wouldn't shut up, so I got up while talking and then heard someone at the door. She was just about to leave, too. We had a nice chat, although while she was there, the chain on the toilet broke (she's taking diuretics and had a big cup of coffee--three times to the bathroom in an hour!) and she ended up messing with it. Don't I treat my guests well?! Then in the afternoon, another friend and I went to a quilt shop. If my DH still has a job, I'd like to take a quilting class.

Dog show this weekend, along with a wine tasting event. I'm going to take advantage of wine tasting and appetizers for $5. Have a good time with the grand kids, Bluet. Hope you get some rest and feel better, Charlotte, and Willow and SunnyD, hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!

I'm here, I'm here better late than never.

It has been a gorgeous week weather wise and I have been enjoying being outside instead of in the house on the puter. The weather today is going to be in the 80's, but then a cold front is coming.

Enjoyed reading all the post glad you are feeling better Sunny, you sound so joyful. The old saying when we have our health we have everything is so true. I have felt nearly normal again.

Charlotte good to hear from you.

Hi Willow and Bluet hope all is well with you girls.

Sheila glad the house closed one less thing on your mind. I would be wearing my socks too, can't stand bare feet even in my own house. I am weird....I hope everything works out ok with hb job, that is scary.

Not much to report from here I am pretty boring but that is ok considering the alternative. I like a nice quiet life. Still fighting with my weight as yet I havent made a committment to lose but still working on it but in the meantime I am gaining. I am still going to Curve's but I am going to start walking also so maybe that will help.

Have a wonderful week end and thanks for being my friends....

[B]Hi Friends,
I guess the reason I don't get on here much anymore is because every time I do I have to make at least two tries because my computer freezes up on my first try and I have to re-boot it.

There is a place called Outreach that a friend of mine gets his meds and he only pays $5.00/month per prescription. He said his Dr writes his prescription for three months worth at a time with one refill, and he emails it in and they send his prescriptions through the mail. They don't have all medicines though. He said they have 50-some meds. He also takes Plavix which is like $5.00/tablet and he gets that free directly from the drug company that makes it. You have to meet certain income guidelines though.

Sheila, I hope your hubby's job is safe, but, really, when you think of it, whether you rent or buy, you have to make a monthly payment, so you might as well buy and own it in the end.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Hello to everybody. Gotta go. Have a wonderful weekend![/B]

Good Afternoon Ladies,

Grandkids are busy watching ShreikII, so I thought I would drop in for awhile. Those Shreik movies are really weird. I like my prince and princess to be gorgeous beautiful people, I am so out of touch with reality.

Well, another cold weekend here in the upper mid-north. Last night it got down to below zero. Everyone you talk to has just had it with winter. Last year Spring was really late and all the farmers had a window of three good days in a row to get all their planting done. Tractors ran around the clock in that race. I hope that does not happen again this Spring, whenever it comes. The grandkids dressed up warm yesterday and went in the woods with the men to make wood. They had a good time running around between the trees and sliding on the ice, they don't seem to mind winter.

Charlotte, I am sorry that you can't get all the meds you need. I am sure that sore throat and ear ache won't heal without an antibiotic. If I had some antibiotic you would find it in you mail box as quickly as possible. I am glad the weather is nice for you. That surely is something to lift ones spirits. Isn't that wonderful when the house is very quite and you can sit and meditate without interruption? It is like a slice of heaven.

Sheila, I think my DH was 54 when he graduated from Tech School and got his associate degree in electronics. As I have told you before he has a good job, where he is treated well. He also had your DH's fears about being 54 and not being able to find anything, but he prevailed and I know so will you DH. All will be fine. I don't know what Daphne is, I am going to go look it up on the internet when I am done here. All of my pereninals and roses are still under snow, which is where they belong when it is so cold outside. Hard to believe in a couple of weeks it will be Easter. You have a birthday coming up in April don't you? and Willow does too. So do I, it gets me a little closer to retirement. which as Martha would say "Is a good thing". It's a good thing I don't have many morning visitors, because with my naturally curly hair I am afraid I would scare surprise visitors away. My hair resembles a bottle brush when I get up in the morning.

SunnyD, now where are you girl? How are you feeling these days? Hopefully well. I still think about our chat on the phone the other night. It was so good to hear your voice. Thank you for caring.

Willow, I got everyone of your radio questions correct. So what does that tell you?.......I am old enough to remember radio pretty well and that makes me pretty old. It is too bad that you have so many problems coming to Fatchicks. I don't have DSL at home and the first page loads pretty slow on my home computer, but other than that I don't have many problems with the site. Keep coming back though it is so nice to see you here.

Diane, yes quite it good and safe and restful to the soul, I cherish my quite days. I am glad things are looking up for you, and I am happy that you come back when you can. DH was watching golf on TV today and the game was in South Florida. Everyone was walking around in short sleeves and no jackets. Man, can't imagine what that is like! Take care of yourself. Enjoy your good weather.

Well, it got pretty quite in the house, I better go investigate and see what's up. Have a good Monday everyone. Watch out for all the bullies out there.

Love.....Bonnie

Good morning!

Bluet, just consider the fact that you got all the radio questions correct another step toward retirement. Haven't seen the Shrek movies, but have seen the ads on TV, and have to agree that I like my movie royalty a bit better looking. In fact, I'm sure glad that Charles had kids with Diane and not Camilla! Okay, you're going to have to clarify something for me. How do the men "make wood"? Is that a midwestern term for chopping firewood or something this city girl just doesn't know? Hey, I didn't know that about your DH. I can't tell you how much better that makes me feel. We spent quite a bit of time yesterday researching jobs, and he found 13 in the area. Well, the area extends about 1.5 hours north of here, but I do know some people who make that commute.

Charlotte, sounds like your whole family is succumbing to the creeping crud. I hope your DH feels better soon, too. It's too bad your dr. can't give you samples anymore. I hope the place Willow mentioned will help. I've read a couple of things about RA and nutrition recently. Of course, I can't remember what they were, and by the time I sat down at the computer to mention them to you, I'd forgotten them. But hopefully you can find something on the internet--in fact, I'm sure you'll be able to. So what's in bloom around your house? The cherry trees had a pretty short blooming time around here. Just a couple of days ago, I mentioned how beautiful this one street was with all the cherry trees, and yesterday we went down the same street, and the blossoms were almost gone.

Willow, that's a bummer that you can't get on here easily. You're sure right about having to have someplace to live, although the rent payment here is about half of what the mortage payment will be. But I would feel better having my own house with my own yard to play around in.

Diane, 80 degrees--wow! That's getting almost too hot. How are the grandkids doing? I think changing your habits slowly is a great way to go, and the fact that you've committed to Curves is wonderful. Now that the weather is so good, walking sounds like a great exercise to add, too. Have you made any changes with your diet? Sometimes just making small changes like drinking diet soda rather than regular, or using skim milk rather than 2% can result in pounds lost.

We had quite the busy weekend, although lots of fun. We went to the indoor farmer's market and bought a little bit of artisan cheese, and some fresh greens for salad. Then my DH dropped me off at the dog show while he spent his $50 gift certificate at Home Depot. I saw a person I knew in Idaho and stopped her to say hi. The only bad part was that I couldn't remember her name. I remembered the kind of dog she shows, what she does for a living, and just about everything else except for her name. It was embarassing because she knew mine, and I had to ask hers. We then went to a wine tasting event in the downtown area. For $5, we got a wine glass, probably about three glasses total (about 1 Tbl. at each stop), and each business that had a winery rep had appetizers so we ate those instead of dinner. We did stop for gelato. I had never had gelato before--it's good!

On Sunday we looked for jobs, then went for an hour's hike up a nearby peak. I haven't been hiking in years--it was wonderful although painful. I don't know how often I want to do that, but it was great. We went to our friends' house for wine (I way overindulged in wine) and then to an art exhibit where they were serving appetizers. Another free dinner!

Have a great Monday everyone! I've got 1/2 hour to shower and get to my massage appointment. Yikes!