*coughs* May I join? ;)

Be our guest Ms Extraordinary newiesara. Think I might just call you Sara. Welcome to you. I'm sure you will sort us all out shortly. We're generally a chatty bunch, but just now everyone is a bit shy. Well not Mel or Happy or Meadow or obviously me. Anyway, I'm just checking in to say hello, not much to report, too much work and not enough time, grusome gym session on the treadmill this morning. Looking forward to my rest day off tomorrow. I seem to manage to really wear myself out in the 30 minute sessions. Looking forward to weighin and measuring at the end of the month. I sincerely hope for Jason's sake something moves. Bl**dy torturer.

Mel, what can I say. I hope you can move tomorrow. And I hope there is no permanent damage or even lingering damage. Get better soon buddy.

Happy, your birthday card is going to be late - but then it will give you something to look forward to won't it? I'll get around to answering the emails and pictures soon, maybe over the weekend. I tend to not do much after work at the moment. I'll have to stop that and just work through the exhaustion. Mind you once I get into working with the new system - if I ever do - then I will relax somewhat.

Okay, off to bake a spud and eat with my previously roast spiced pumpkin and some roasted herby onions. I'm being a veggie tonight. See ya

Sara~ are you a Newfie in BC?? Very bi coastal of you!!!! I am plunked in the middle in Ontario. Welcome!!!!! Love your pic!!
Back later for personals.

No "Plans"!
Huh???
There is lots to do but no deadlines or commitments! I have 3 little guys today, all of whom nap.
Possibilities: Pay a bill, book campsites for Dh’s family reunion in July, buy hooks for shelving unit, clear off diningroom table,sweep/wash floor, sit on my *** watching mindless tv, read a brilliant novel, take a shower, get dressed.........
Apparently I will change a poopy diaper first.
Tomorrow night i am presenting my parent handbook to the Home and School Association. DD has dance photos at 5pm first.
I had a small( less than 1/2 cup) bowl of ice cream before bed last night.

Nothing too fantastic to say today. I slept 8 hours, exciting.
It is going up to 26C today. Very summerish for April. we need rain. It has been in the forcast but has not appeared.

Off to face the diapers.

Hollyhock-
Yup.. I just HAVE to be near the water, you see.. :-p
I used to live in Brantford, so I know what it's like to be smack in the middle of the country. *shudder*! And thank you for the compliment!! :D


Shad-
G'ahead and call me Sara. Or Sar. Or Sars. bwahaha.
So I guess I'll jump right in.



Last night I walked 26 blocks.. and when I got home, I found out that I had walked 3 km, or 1.8 miles! yay for me!!!

((((MEL)))):goodvibes:


Hey Sara, welcome to our little world of mishaps and goal setting! We rally and keep continuing to muster the courage to face each new day with renewed energy. I personally am just in an whirlpool, struggling for some purchase to pull myself up out of the body that I have eaten myself up to unfortunately my fat won't let me go :p I wrestle with it every day and I don't burn a single calorie, I think it is a conspiracy of some sort :s:

Happy- the garden sounds so fabulous. You need to pull off those black spotted leaves from your roses or it will spread to the other rose plants. Aphids usually look like spit on flowers with little green bugs inside, if it is really powdery stuff, it maybe powdery mildew which you will need to us copper spray to get rid of. Take an infected couple of leaves in a plastic bag to the garden center and they will give you the right stuff. Funny how different sections of the country have there favorite flavours. I remember being in Dallas once and having a pizza with jalapeno peppers on it, hoo! I couldn't get the water down me fast enough, that was spicey!! They even put hotsauce on their eggs in the morning! Take a seperate suitcase for all your cache of goodies, that way it can go straight into the kitchen when you get home :rofl: Hmm, pink calla lilies, do they smell? I love the shape of calla lilies, actually my mom used to make a desert which was called "Calla Lilies" it was a soft cookie which you pinched at the bottom while they were still hot and after they cooled you filled them with whipped cream :T: whoah! flashback :dizzy:

Shad-so Jason has you running on a treadmill? your poor knees, I hope you are doing your stretches so you don't suffer too terribly. Remember to drink your water. So work is really awful? or just really taking up alot of time? I hope you are feeling useful there and getting them organized :smug: Fingers crossed that it all comes together and you are smiling within it all soon :^:

Holly-put on your gloves and hospital mask before attempting diaper removal duty :rofl: Imagine you with free time on your hands? My suggestion is the novel, I have the new Sue Grafton which I am just itching to dive into, but after I finish my Oprah mag... isn't Oprah something? Her magazine is always chocked full of inspiring, thoughtful stories about people pushing forward through all sorts of trials and angst. I don't feel so bad about my little life when I read how others are living, some folks have had it rough.

Linus-how many people are touching your middle section while they ask their baby questions? Are you feeling that out of body, something is taking over feeling yet? Cool that you had the lounge pretty much to yourself, a little home away from home. I'm glad you were feeling well enough to get out. It is Spring and you should be inhaling deep of all that grand fresh air!

Teel-I'm sorry your time away had a cloud over it with your buddy getting miffed when she couldn't reach you. I bet you "did" give her a scare, she must really care a whole lot. Give her a hug next time you see her and tell her you are sorry she worried. Take the high road. Sometimes a little communication and listening does the trick and smoothes the biggest riffs over. I'm glad you are back too :D Hope you are enjoying your day :)

I have nothing much to say about my weight issue today. I haven't been exercising, eating is soso. My mind set is positive in a resigned, could happen sort of way. :?: I know, I know... I'm working on it.

OH MY GOD MEL IF ITS GONNA HAPPEN ITS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU !!!!!!!!!
oh your poor fanny :shrug: :yikes: im sending you lots of fluffy clouds to perch on {delicatly} :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: oh hunny rest up and get well and take lots of pain meds no feeling brave and trying to do without :nono: :nono: :nono:
HI SARA and welcome to the madhouse :rofl: :rofl: actually were not that bad ....welll not all of us :o :o im on a dieting break at the mo as im now 17 weeks pregnant {bit of a new years accident :rofl: :rofl: } but good luck on your trip
well folks got some great news today ,the down syndrome and spina bifida tests are absolutly clear ,perfect,no further action required :cheer: :encore: :encore: :grouphug: :dancer: :flow2: so very happy chickie here ,craig is still behaving and conner ...well conner is still very much conner :dancer: :yikes: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: andy has started nesting :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: organising cupboards and painting dooor frames ,poor mans knackered
ROSE ,ROSE HELLO WHERE ARE YOU ??????
SHAD im getting very hormonal and will willingly sort out jason the barbarian for you hunny :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: keep up the brill work i just dont know where you get your energy from
HAPPY your garden sounds wonderful ,i love magnolias you have to take lots of piccies for me ,i also adore lillies ,tiger day,calla i love them all
MEADOW youll dig yourself out hun {hopefully real soon} i miss the bright bubbly you ?? and antonio too {i really mean that honest :rofl: }cheer up chuck
HOLLY thanxs for the poopy diaper flashback :faint: :censored: :stress: :stress: flashes of things to come :?: think ill pass that particular duty on :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
SUZI where are you hun ???? camping,decorating ,???????
right folks im going to wash the dishes and take me doggys out for a walk catch you all later and have good ones
kirsty + bump

Just popping in to see if dear MEL has posted anything in here since she horrified everyone with her Journal post. Lots of good thoughts, prayers, vibes, and crossed boobs are wending their way to Joisey.

Linus :D and for anyone else who likes Antonio Banderas here is a compilation of a few of my wallpapers
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...w-animated.gif

Meadow, does Melanie know about you? :s: :s: :s: :s: :rofl: Great pics! Good advice about clipping a few rose leaves for examination. I think I will do just that, thanks for the suggestion.

Welcome Newfie Sara :wave: You do realize that now that you've spoken up, we expect you to keep talking :gossip: I always like to see a new face around here - relieves the pressure for me to keep talking all the time.

Mel, I hope you are feeling better today but I sort of think you are feeling the brunt of the fall today. Rest up and I hope some of the people you always look after are looking after you these next few days...

Linus, I tried to retrace my steps to find the house with the beautiful calla lillies and we wound up walking all over the hills and vallies of this area but no lillies. I'm sure DH will remember the exact spot. It's supposed to rain the next 3 days - next chance we get we will be snapping a picture for you. And I'm glad little bump has passed all the healthy tests. Whew, what a relief for you I'm sure...

We did a 25 minute walk yesterday and today DH took me to all sorts of new streets that all seemed to end in a dead end not once but several times so we did alot of back tracking. Got almost an hour's walk in. Then I had to water the front flower beds I'd spent so much time, money and hard labour putting in. We don't have a water hose in the front so I made several, many - well actually lots and lots and lots of trips with the watering can. They are talking rain here but I just know if I rely on that, it will rain across the street and not on my house. I didn't get done until almost 8pm which is way too late to have dinner. Warmed up some chicken and grilled veggies to nibble on. So I'm doing good this week on the eco challenge for exercise and water and so so on the food. I am really fighting the temptation to nibble on something late at night - around 11 when I should be heading to bed instead of thinking about food. This is night number 2 where the only thing I've allowed in my mouth is big gulps of cool water.

Guess that's enough for me for the night. Have a great tomorrow all...

Hiya,
feeling too tired to do much tonight, so I'll write this missive and go sit on the couch and watch some tv. If I go to bed now, I will be awake around 2.30am and that is a useless way to go.

Mel, I hope you are resting up and feeling better than you were, although I would pick that you have a very sore toosh. You poor old thing.

Happy, good stuff on the walking the neighbourhood. Sounds like a good way to get to know folk around the place.

Linus how good to hear that 'bump' is developing as she should. I'm having lunch with a friend next week whose baby is due in July and it is called jelly belly!!! I ask you.

Sara, glad you came back for a second helping - hope you manage to find your way back again.

I see we have even had a visit from Ruthxxx of the crossed boobs fame. Hiya Ruthie.

Food this week has been a bit weird. I've been feeling so tired that I haven't really bothered with structured meals. Some I've even left out altogether. I probably haven't drunk enough water either. Hope I get used to this job soon. Then things will start to settle down. I think I am doing okay, but there is so much to figure out and so few people to help me out. I have to sort a lot of it out more or less by myself and since much of it is legal, it is a bit hair raising. Still, I've sorted the portal (which is only a web page with a link back to a program). I personally find it a bit frustrating but can understand that it cuts costs and the purchase of further licensing etc.etc. Many companies are doing the same thing.

Anyway, my cuppa is ready and I'm off to sit in front of the tv and blink occasionally. It's tonights exercise.

Raining!!! Just started. A nice ground drenching steady rain. Farmers will be happy. They started to manually water wheat yesterday and they planted corn on Sunday.
My flower beds need it. The ground was too hard to dig weeds out.I went to the church board meeting last night. Interesting.
I couldn't decide what to do with my planless day yesterday so I did an hour of painting(stairwell-yellow), placed 4 patio stones,raked for an hour and then took care of the kids in between. It was enjoyable.( Not exactly relaxed Girlie, LOL)
Errands today.
DH is home so far today-waiting out the rain.
Dance photos tonight at 5:15 then drop kids at home and then I am presenting my handbook to the home and school.
I came back to read last night but once I sat down I was too tired to type. I am thinking of you all and am enjoying your springy posts!!!!

Off to run the errand loop. Hope the little guys sleep!!! ( first I have to change poopy diaper) LOL!!! Get ready Linus!!!

Thank you all for the wonderful welcome :D

I.am.so.sore.today. For the past two nights I've been doing a 3k walk at around 9pm. It takes me half an hour (which floors me, I thought it would be longer), then I come home,drink some water, and get in bed and talk to the boyfriend over Audio chat.

And, as I'm finding it very hard to wake up, I think I won't fight it any longer and crawl back into bed. *yyyyyawn*

Sara - geez you are getting up some speed there. 6KPH is very good and must be doing the power of good for you. Well done.

Holly hope the presentation of the book went okay and DH is not whingeing and grumping about the weather or the job! Get him to change the poopy nappies! He'll be out of the house long before you've noticed he has gone!!!

Feeling much more perky tonight - surprisingly - since I had less sleep last night than the previous two nights, but hey who is complaining. Not me. I might even get some work done around here tonight. I've pulled out the cherry tomato plants and there was a lot of damaged fruit on the vines, so I cut of all the buggy bits and put them in a big bowl added onions and salt and will be making chutney tonight. Not exactly diet friendly food but it's nice with a bit of cold lamb or beef in sandwiches. A bit is not going to make much difference. Bit being the operative word. The house smells of cooking vinegar and tomatoes and onions. Yum yum.
This weekend will see me pulling out the roma tomatoes as well. There is a few fruit left on them as well. May have to think about pulping them for sauces etc. They will get frozen.

We have a long weekend coming up this weekend. No work Monday - yahoo. Will be able to sort myself out around here for a change.

Oh yes I had a mail from Mel. Here it is. Word for word.
FORGIVE THE CAPS. MOVING IS STILL A CHORE. DIDN'T TAKE AS MANY PAIN PILLS AS THEY SAID I COULD. THEY MAKE YOU FEEL SO STUPID AND CONSTIPATING. LOL
MOVING MY ARMS AND TRYING TO HOLD MYSELF UP IS FUN. LOL I FEEL LIKE I NEED TRACTION BUT THEY SAID JUST LIE DOWN. THEY WON CAUSE THEY SENT ME HOME WITHOUT IT. LOL I HOPE TO BE BACK BY THE WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK. I ACTUALLY NUKED MY OWN BREAKFAST AND WASHED MY HAIR AND ANSWERED SOME MAIL BUT IT'S TIRING AND HURTING SO I WILL GO BACK TO BED AND SEE ALL YOU GALS IN A FEW DAYS.(SIGH) I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED. I AM SO BORED CAUSE I WAS JUST SICK LAST MONTH. WTF
ANYWAY, MY SOUTHERN FRIEND TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF LITTLE SISTER AND I WILL BE BACK TO BE A PITA REAL SOON. LOL LOVE, PORANGI.

For those wondering about the Porangi. Mel found this word in the Maori/ English dictionary and it more or less means Madwoman. Actually literally translated it is a derivative of Porangahau - meaning the mad wind. Hau being wind and pronounced somewhere between how and hoe. End of lesson.

Okay, that's about it. Day is almost over and there are things to do, places to go and people to talk to. Catch up soon.

Shad~ I roasted my plum tomatoes and then froze them.
slice in half lengthwise-place in roasting pan-toss in some garlic clove halves and diced sweet onion-toss with enough olive oil to coat-roast uncovered at 300 until the edges start to brown-cool- bag and freeze-YUMMY!!- goos in sauces on meat- by themselves.............

Oh Mellie Mellie Mellie! What are we going to do with you? You poor old thing. That was not a nice thing to go and do to yourself, especially as it was not your fault at all, m'dear!!! Are the painkillers helping now? Are you getting enough sleep to start off the healing process? A big [[[[[HUG]]]]] to you although I suspect more of a gentle squeeze is in order :grouphug: It brings back memories of my wheelchair accident last year when in London when I got tipped backwards in my chair and ended up smacking my head on the pavement and gazing up at the evening sky, shouting "GET ME UP!!!" I do feel for you, my friend and I will try and give you a ring over the weekend sometime.

:sunny:It is such a gorgeous day here in Suffolk. Blue sky and nice and warm, too. It has been this good for a few days now but as usual the weekend is supposed to bring rain :rain:

Welcome to "newfiesara"!! I expect you have guessed by now that we are rather a mad lot on this thread. Loving, but mad!!Well done for your evening walks! Awesome!!

Happy, your garden sounds absolutely wonderful!! Try not to exhaust your body too badly with the gardening!! Oh and CONGRATULATIONS!! With the non-smoking!! $2,500 is such an awesome amount to have saved from not relying on the weed!! Enough for a couple of hundred rose trees, I guess!! :smug: :queen: :encore: :cheer: :cheers: :wizard: :dance: :cp: :bravo:

Shad, be careful with those treadmil excercises!! Jason is working you very hard!! Mind those knees!!

I closed the previous reply off rather quickly as I suddenly had an error report come up which said Microsoft had encountered a problem and was about to close...don't know what all that was about!! Anyway here I am back again!!

And in the meantime Holly has snuck in a post! That recipie sounds delicious, by the way! I think I might just put that one to the test.I always end up with a really boring sauce for putting over pasta and it would be lovely to try a new one.

My neighbour is still very depressed about her situation now she has resigned from her job at the local private hospital. She is still reeling from the last few weeks' events. I will go and see her later and see if she has any further news about it all.

It is good to talk to Linus most nights. Even more exciting to imagine "bump" growing more and more each day. And the time for me ton actually meet her is getting nearer and nearer! Must only be about 9 weeks now!! Better check my passport...I know I am still in the U.K. but if you are doing even only a domestic fight...ooops flight, I mean!!! they will not let you on the plane if you have no I.D. with you.

Ok thats is all from me for now...and I mean it, this time! Take good care, all of you and start winding down for the weekend...and for those of you lucky enough to have Monday off as well, make the most of it!!

Bye bye! Love from Teel

just a wee quick post ,as im knackered my little sister is 8 weeks pregnant !!!! yes the one that had a depression fit when i fell so kinda glad shell be due in december ish hope everyones well
kirsty+bump

Hi everyone. Quickie post for me as tomorrow I am flying home to pick up my mom and bring her back for a week's visit. I'm so excited - PIZZA Ok, I will try and control myself. And I'm really even more excited to see my Mom and Sister... and my very talented nephew. There is an old head bangers song from the 70's by Deep Purple called "Smoke on the water". Well you ain't heard that song until you've heard it played on the TUBA. He also played Kumbahyah but Smoke on the water had me on the floor. Perhaps I will bring hubbie's harmonica and we can do a duet. Anyway, this will be the first totally fun weekend in many, many months and I am really looking forward to it - except that it's 84 here and it's 45 in Chicago. Brrrrrrrr. Where did I hide my snuggies????

Anyway there's a ton of things to do tonight and this is traditional couch potato TV night for me so I will be multitasking big time.

Linus, that's great that little bump will have a cousin about the very same age to share things with and be a good playmate! Teel, good to see you posting again. Don't worry about the Microsoft error report - it happens every once in a while - just proves that Microsoft has not worked out all the kinks in their programs. Holly, thank you for the recipe - I will try that myself as it sounds very yummy. Shad, thanks for the update on Mel, I must try and find my greeting cards so I can send a note off to her. Maybe I'll scratch out birthday and substitute "get well soon" :rofl: I'm sure she wouldn't mind. I'm jealous that you have a 3 day weekend.

COULD IT BE THAT YOUR BIRTHDAY ON MONDAY IS FINALLY A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY?

Just in case I don't get back here in time - Happy early birthday Shad! May you have the most wonderful day!!!! :hat: :gift: :balloons: :cheers: :hb: :cb: :cp: :cb: :cp: :cb: :cp::cb: :cp:


Ok, I really have to run and get busy now... hugs to the rest of you I didn't get to and I hope you all have a good weekend. I'll be back on Monday night - hopefully.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy ~ Your mom has the right temperature direction for a visit, as I'm sure you know! It doesn't take long for the blood to become accustomed to the warmer southern temps.

linus ~ Hurray for Bump-er cousins! Your Night Out sounded like fun - and you deserve some time off for good behavior.

teel ~ We do expect a full Bump report, you know. How exciting - only nine weeks left. I need a green emoticon for envy. :p

holly ~ your recipe had me drooling. I admire your willpower if you roast those 'maters then freeze them without eating the lot!

shad ~ I really miss my vegetable garden. Slim would plant the garden for me and then the kids would pick tomatoes and peppers and I'd can salsa and tomatoes while we dined on fresh tomato and mayonnaise (FF, of course) sandwiches. Nothing tastes or smells like a real garden tomato. :hungry:

Newfie Sara ~ :wave: Congratulations on your dedication to walking!

SMelly ~ Gentle healing hugs for you, Dear One. :grouphug: Get well soon! I'll have to send you Slim's old motorcycle helmet so we won't have to worry about you when you go out.

Meadow ~ I absolutely LOVE DO Exercise. It motivates me every time I see it!

Tomorrow Slim is going to meet our oldest son "half way" so the dearest darling Grandsons, also called 'Thugs' by their father, can come visit us for the weekend while their parents paint. Now I feel like I should put paint in quotes. :rofl: We'll go out for pizza Friday night then the four of us are going to the Flamingo Run 5K on Saturday. Slim has been working on their fort - he put in steps to take the place of the ladder.

Slim took his motorcycle class and test this week, so he wants me to get up at Oh Dark Thirty to go with him to breakfast so he'll be first in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles. He wants to exchange his Temporary motorcycle license for a PERMANENT REALLY TRULY motorcycle license. The motorcycle blessing on Monday was a hit. Everybody had a great time. Our 6'6" next door neighbor, who owns two Harleys, looked in the cooler and said to me "You don't drink beer, do you?" Guess I had a miss on the Biker Beer. :rofl: Although when I sat down to the table with cole slaw ON my BBQ pork, he decided I was ALL RIGHT after all and stayed to eat. Of course, everybody else was grossed out. I thought EVERYBODY put cole slaw on BBQ pork. Just like vinegar on turnips greens.

Speaking of the darlings or maybe unique tastes, I need to get Slim busy on some HoneyDew projects before tomorrow. No, none of them require riding a motorcycle up and down the road looking cool...

Great post Tig. Nice to hear your news. Hope you are having fun with the thugs. When you roast a bushel of tomatoes they lose their charm.
I hvaen't been here much to read. I missed that Shad has a long weekend and a BIRTHDAY!!! coming. Enjoy dear friend.
Healing vibes to Miss Mel.
Teel~you sound well.
Happy~ hope you are haivng a blast!!!
Linus~ give that tummy a rub!!
Rose~ how are you????
Meadow~ how is spring in BC these days? Should I ask about the house?
Sara~ how's it going?

I had a few very bad eating days but have pulled it together yesterday and today.
I actually didn't eat supper tonight before gymnastics because i just wasn't hungry. I ate whe we got home and I was hungry. It felt good.

I am already trying to figure out how to use my time to it's best advantage this weekend. I had been thinking gardening but snow and rain are forcast. DD has been asking for a big girl room. I think I might switch her room for the spare room.
Totally relaxing tonight. Everyone else is asleep.
HUGS to ALL!!!!!!!

The Good, the Bad and the #$%^#@$% Ugly
 

Been a couple of days since I posted and all sorts of things have gone right and wrong since then.

The good?

- well eating has been okay. Not brilliant but even with the bad and ugly it’s not been bad. I’m pleased about that.
- I did nearly two hours at the gym this morning. 1 hour on the weights circuit and 1 at Body Balance. Apart from one exercise, I’m getting along with this new workout okay. Let’s not tell Jason or he will up the weights.
- it’s Saturday, first day of a long weekend!
- Rang Mel this morning and had an long chat. She’s feeling sore and sorry for herself and it sounds like she is lucky that the damage will probably not be permanent (it will take a long time for her to sort this out) but is still laughing.
- Gotta love this weather - not hot and not cold.
- met up with a fellow contractor whom I haven’t seen for yonks at the Shopping centre. We will meet for dinner with other friends some time in the coming weeks.


The bad
- I messed up on my appointment at the facial at the shopping centre so have to go back next week and try again. Bah humbug. That sucks. Especially considering I was there at the right time but was convinced it was half an hour later - so went and got some food instead.
- the food was bad! - well not off bad but not tasty and not good. Serves me right I guess.
- took longer to find a carpark at the shopping centre than at the police station. Too many people, too much noise, too many rude people, too many screaming kids - god I’m getting old.

The Ugly (and boy is it ugly)

- some time between Wednesday night and Friday morning, some low lifes got into my shed and stole around $2000 worth of my garden tools. Gone are the DS’s chain saw, my new petrol driven edge trimmer (only bought it 3 months ago), my almost new petrol driven hedge trimmer and the high pressure water cleaner DS & I bought together 3 years ago. &$^#^ B*stards. I just wish I could catch up with this dreg of society and have my edge trimmer back - I would put on the brushcutter blade - which they failed to steal - and turn it up to full power, raise it to around just above hip height (I’m short) and walk slowly towards the cretin. Listen for the screaming!!! How satisfying!
So this morning I spent nearly an hour in the Police Station explaining all of the above (apart from the sadistic tendencies toward homo sapien corruptus) to a very nice man who was very sympathetic and absolutely clueless about garden tools. Now I have to see if I have kept any information about the serial numbers of any of these tools. I suppose I should be grateful that our lame brain chummy did not try to get inside the house - thats where I am presently keeping all my power tools for building and renovating. There is another couple of grands worth in here. &^%$#%^&&^%$$#

Can you tell I am not happy???

Shad, that is absolutely horrible news about your tools. I wonder if the instruction booklets might have serial numbers on them? A long shot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...a/bb2b909e.jpg

Don't allow the criminals to ruin your good time. Kick up your heels and have a ball!

I'm Back...how is everyone?
 

Hi Ladies,
I am home from my trip and am having a tough time getting back into the groove.... will share little things over the week about my trip.... Missed you guys.... I have lots of reading to do to catch up with all of you!
Teeka spent the time with my mom and Andy and she was about at her limit
of being away from me.... I even had a dream she needed me so I came back to Montana a few days early to get her..... she is doing great now....
I just wanted to pop in and say hi so glad to see new friends joining this terrific group and sharing joys and sorrows and woes of life..... and how is bump doing???????
Take good care all.
Peace,
Nae

Happy to see you safely home Nae!!!!
Meadow~ you have a real gift with your collages!!!
Shad~ a complete drag!!! You must be soooo disappointed. A quadruple ARG!!!!!!!

NOW!! you MUST enjoy your Birthday in a special way just for you!!!!!!!!!!! I will toast you with a lovely glass of Point Pelie wine(local Canadian fare).

Teel~ how nice that you got to chat with Ms Austrailia and Ms New Jersey!!!!

I just unplugged the fireplace from the generator cause I was going bonkers with out journalling!!!
The hydro went out yesterday at 3ish, came on for a wee bit in the evening and has been out since. It seems to be a 50 km range. DH just went to the city for more gas for the generator.The sump pump has been going staedy so no flood.
Yesterday ROCKED. We moved the rug and 2 chairs to the basement lounge area, and a shelf unit and a bunch of toys. It looks wonderful. The kids love it!!!
WE have a few inches of snow. It has been steady since yesterday morning.
DH and the kids and I throughly cleaned the entire upstairs and we switched DD with the guest room.Windows and walls were washed.Much sweeping and vacuuming. DD’s new room is an absolute delight!!!! This is the first time in 5 years that every room upstairs is reno free and functional. I was more than exhausted when I went to bed. Between feeling excited about the house and the power outage I didn’t sleep much. Church was cancelled.

To keep me humble and not convinced I am super human, I am having a super allergy flare up from all the dust. Headache is just clearing. TG for antihistamines.

I will unplug the the computer, plug in coffee maker, and then plug the fireplace back in. I really want to do more cleaning( more like sorting things away). I have a load of stuff for the thrift shop and to put out in the dump pile.
Best make the kiddies lunch. They were bummed about missing Sunday school so I did my lesson here at the kitchen table for them.Funny.

Have a glorious day dear chicks!!!!

Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes and messages and the raising of glasses (yum sounds nice Holly). Lorraine I loved the card, such pretty roses. Think I might take a seat in the chair for a while and smell the flowers.

As Teel said, I am still very angry and upset about the burglary. It seems they did try to get into the house. I don't think they succeeded. There is one thing I can't lay my hands on. However to get to that they would have had to know what and where it was and they would have bypassed all my cameras, jewellery and a lot of loose change in a money box jar all of which are fairly visible. Nothing else is missing. I suspect in the clean up of all the filing and paperwork, I have filed this thing under something else. If it has gone missing, then it is someone who is in the know. I'm going to have to train this cat better!!!! I don't care too much, what I do care about it the fact that someone has seen fit to invade my space and take things that I took time and care and hard work to accumulate. I've now ensured the shed will not be broken into again, and am in the process of working on securing the house. I hate the thought of having to live in a prison like situation.

It was lovely to talk to Teel last night and listen to her plans for visiting Linus + bump. I am envious - wish I was going too.

Yesterday was fairly busy, I dug and mulched in the garden. Perhaps today I might venture out and find a few more vege plants to replace the tomatoes. Holly I tried your recipe of the roasted tomatoes yesterday. I have now to bag them up and stick them in the freezer. There wasn't that many in the end as the bugs had got to them and most were full of wormy things. Bl**dy bugs. Still I should never plant tomatoes in summer. Silly me.
I also sanded the ceiling and one wall of the lounge room. Horrible job. The original painter was not much of a tradesman and all the existing paint must come off the ceiling otherwise the new paint will bubble and peel. It's a long, slow and boring job. However I have got enough off now that I can plaster, resand and put the sealer/binder/undercoat on the walls and windows. Preparation is a pain, but must be done to achieve any sort of a reasonable finish. Today I will do a little more sanding. Fill in a few holes, give the walls a bit more of a sand and then maybe, just maybe I can undercoat the area. I want to get these timber blinds up and give myself some privacy in the living room.

Mind you all the above may not be achieved today as no doubt the family will either ring or come around and upset the plans.

I'm feeling a bit sore today as well - from that marathon stint at the gym on Saturday. So maybe the new form of torture is working again. Hasn't done much for the weight. Up to 72.5 again this weekend. Mind you I don't think I am drinking enough water and am certainly not eating enough veges and will have to up the act. The lack of veges is certainly causing a problem or two in bodily functions. Sorry, TMI there.

Okay, well I guess it is time for breakfast and to get on with the day. Thanks to you all for the birthday wishes - have a good day - and carry on with the glass raising. I do enjoy a good wine.

Happy Birthday Wishes For Shad
 

:gift: :hat: :dance: :flow1: :cp: :cb: :hb: :joker: :dancer: :wizard: :balloons: :bubbles: :encore: :cheer:


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUHAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SHADHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU


:wave: Dear Kahurangi~Hope your Birthday is a delight and you enjoy every minute of it!!!! Love Porangi :D

Thank you all for the lovely birthday messages and wishes. I am spoilt. I'm also now very tired. The phone has rung non stop all day and I have been trying to burglar proof the house. This requires thinking as a crim and my brain is sore. I've had phone calls from the UK, the States, NZ, Japan, South Australia and local. DB2 called with card and scratchie card and my friend Chris from down the road brought me a lovely bird feeder/planter that I can hang from a tree.I am truly blessed. I had bought myself some aquamarine and diamond earrings and DS 1 will go halves with me for them. Even the ex gave me a call.

So this day is done. I am tired. There isn't much on the TV so I will have my cuppa and go to bed and read for a while. Tomorrow is back to work and I am going to try the gym in the afternoon instead of the morning. Let's see how that works.

What do your rooms say about you??? Try this!!

I did an “exercise” a few months back where you sit in each room and describe what you see and feel. Then you replace the"room" with “I am” for a good look at yourself.
at the time it showed me that I was in better shape psychologically/emotionally than I thought but it also showed me where I needed to do some work.
I thought about this again last night. Everyone was in bed by 9. I wandered around my home. For the first time in 5 1/2 years. EVERY room in our house is CLEAN all at once and all of our belonging have a proper place. I am sooo excited by this.

We knew it would take 5-10 years to get this house in a good place. But living through the day to day in hard sometimes. There has always been at least 1 room under construction or full of stuff meant for other places etc.
With all the purging of “stuff” DH and I have been doing there is now a home for the few things we have left that are keepsakes. Each of us have only our own belongings in our closet.There are coats in the back hall closet...........
The kids have been playing a LOT in the basement!!! Which creates more peace if you want to just sit in the livingroom and watch the tube.
I am going to paint the livingroom soon. I picked a colour called garlic bud and that is what it looks like. With the light wood furniture and cream curtains it will be very Zen.

The “ exercise” April 2005: Our room- warm,cozy,soft,comfortable,very me
DD room- light,airy,fresh; DS room-cozy,safe, memories; spare room- country chic, old fashioned, cozy, gentle; bathroom- 1/2 done
computer room- light,bright,family,comfy; diningroom-bright,clean, warm ; kitchen- busy; livingroom-almost a grown up space; toyroom; bright, cheerful,sunny, fun,crafty;basement- fun,exciting, invigorating,sporty

These adjectives are a HUGE change from a few months ago. I feel so excited. I am not sure I believed it was possible to feel like this. I am absolutely certain of who I am and where I am headed for the next while.I am confident.
The old adjectives were a “lot of clutter, unfinished,dark,choas, nothing is mine”......

woohoooooo!!!

SHAD~ I AM SO SORRY THAT I FELL ASLEEP!! I took a pill and that's all I remember!!! I hope the day was a great one. And BTW, I caught a heck of a Trade Wind in my "sails" on Monday but not sure that's what Mr. Twain meant!!! :faint: :rofl:

Welcome to Sara!!! Hope you can put up with all of us!

I just read the last few pages.....well scanned them anyway.
Can't answer all individually yet for awhile. I have may 12th appts with several drs. They are trying to give me time to heal and also 2 are on vacation now. I won't bore you with all the details like I did to Shad and Teel:rofl: But this is going to take a lot longer than I hoped. So I must dig my heels in and just deal with it. I am also glad the loaner chair didn't break when this happened cause it was a big help reclining all week:dance:

Have a wonderful week and let's move some and lose some! (this coming from someone who cried all week:lol: )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHAD, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHAD, HAAAAPY BIRTHDAY TO SHAAAAD, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Best wishes for a happy and lovely day for you birthday, my dear friend, I hope you have a great day and can forget some of the traumas of the last few days!! :smug: :gift: :dancer: :grouphug: :cloud9: :high: :queen: :bubbles: :cofdate: :cheers: :sunny: :lucky: :wizard: :twirly: :flame: :goodvibes :dance: :dance: :goodvibes :hb: :spin: ;)


With love from Teel xxxx

I just read a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote "we become what we think about all day long" So you realize I am about to morph into Antonio Banderas at any moment ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ab-thinice.jpg

Holly-if I did that room thing I believe I would be so depressed I would never come out of it. Kid droppings, animal fur, general mayhem and disorder. ICK!

Shad-I hope the creeps get caught and that they are old enough to get some real consequences. I'm sorry you have this to worry about, maybe the workout this afternoon will give you some endorphins to kick this cloud away like a cool breeze on a sunny, spring day:D

Mel-I ache for you and I'm not even sure what all is wrong! How awful that you have all this going on. I'm sending you some positive energy:) My snowball tree in the yard has just put out some little green pompoms which should be full, white snowballs by next month:happy:

Teel-I hope your ear isn't getting all flattened out with all the phone calls :rofl: It is great that you are able to contact each other and have a bit of a natter and cheer each other up. I'm sure Mel and Shad really liked hearing all the news and sharing with you.

:wave: hey everybody! What is going on in your part of the world? It is sunny and warm here, splendid blue sky and birds chirping and swooping everywhere:D

:cheers: :cheer:

Happy Birthday Shad

Let's disregard the fact if you don't mind that it is already the 26th as I post this - at least on your side of the world - here it's still the 25th and my intentions are honest. Have been thinking of you all day long and sending cheery thoughts and then I caught up on posts and I was horrified to read of your burglary. What an awful thing. I can see we must rally up the troops to hunt down and deal with the thugs.

:rollpin: :rollpin: :rollpin:

There's so much you have to deal with already and now this ... it's no way to mark an occasion. :grouphug: to you.

Sorry I can't stay, today was a kicker. I'll try and get back tomorrow to catch up although it's going to be another less than stellar day.

Sleep well chickies. :yawn:

Happy Birthday Wish For Happy
 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HAPPY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!


Wishing you all the best birthday thoughts for the day!! Blow out the candles and make your own wish!!

Happy~ I left a better view on the journals. These thumbnails don't do "him" justice!!! LOL Hope you have a wonderful day!

Teel~ I still envy you the chance to see Linus and Bump!!
I would be packing and repacking in my excitement!! Give Bump a pat for Aunt Fannie!!

Shad~ Jen and I were talking about the robbery. I still can't believe it. We were asking each other...when is safe, "safe"?
Pretty soon we will all be living in cages and the criminals will be roaming around free:faint: I say you rig up the "nut-cracker" in the shed so that when they open the door they get the surprise of their lives! :rofl:

Meadow~It's been cooler, sunny/cloudy and rainy on and off. Very strange weather. Our trees are flowering and look gorgeous. They are Tulip trees and dogwoods I thing. Everything is looking green and summery! Thanks for the gopod vibes. I am badly bruised up on the "inside" and general muscle sprains to already strained muscles. Makes inflammation on top of inflamation. Time is what I need....or so they think. Me too. But we will see. How goes the exercise?????? :strong:

Holly~ My rooms can talk for themselves and say "There are too many CHAIRS in these rooms, what happened to our friend Mr. Sofa, and please paint me!!!"

Nae~ Did I say welcome home here? Are you too busy with Teeka to come here???:rofl: How's the animal population and is that woodpecker back yet???? Inquiring minds want to know these things!

Sara~ Have we scared you off?!?!?!

Tig~ Thanks for the good thoughts. Glad the blessing went so well and hope it sticks!!! Got the "real" license yet!!! :lol3: Men and their machines!!! Gotta love them. Happy beach walking!

Linus~ I found a pic of you and Bump!!!

Today was shopping day but I passed it up. Still to sore to go bouncing around on the bus. Maybe some light dusting. This whole situation is getting on my last nerve :mad: :stress: :bomb:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY!!!!!!!

Mel~ glad you decided to stay home, silly girl!
Meadow~ enjoy the sunshine!! Rain, snow, and grey skys here!
Hi and Hugs to everyone!!!!!

I have been super tired since Sun night. Yesterday was nice. Took 3 kids to storytime and 2 went home at noon and then I took 1 kid to walmart for a couple of hours.3 big kids came home. They played in the basement. DD had dance. Put the monkeys to bed and watched 24. Went to bed myself. Had a great sleep but it feels like I could sleep til noon. I am reading Clara Callan by Richard B Wright. Highly acclaimed.
7 kids all day today. 3 of them nap!

Today is the first anniversary of Ben’s death. We are going to his home for dinner with another family’ S and the boys. I am making a ground beef, mexican casserole.

Not much going on. I have been getting a headache late aft. Might be allergies or the weather changes. The snow has melted off the beds and I still have daffodils.

I need to get groceries for tonight. I might have to transport 7 kids and do it. YIKES!! ( Mel thinks I should take the kids and leave them there, LOL)

HUGS chicks!!!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...bday-happy.jpg
I hope your day is full of smiles and good energy:)

Happy, Happy Birthday Happy. Hope all goes well and the wars of the In Laws are being kept in check. Wish you a quieter more peaceful year this year. Mind you, you did have a stellar achievement last year - giving up the dreaded weed. What are you going to do to top that this year.

Gotta go. Back tonight.