Drink plenty of juice and get better Linus and Happy! Don't let those bugs that have gotten ahold of you win, drown the little critters :lol: Hot water bottle for both of you. Here is a new AB wp to give you a boost:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...a/1400f29f.jpg

Shad-So bugs are irritating you as well?! Glad they are the computer kind, although they are zapping your mental energy if not your physical sparkiness :^: Do your legs feel wobbly after all that time on the treadmill? By the sounds of work you need a big hug ((((HUG)))) frustration and aggrivation are just chicken feed to you, you will have them ship shape and organized, humming along in no time. They just need to listen to you... TALK LOUDER or use coloured paper for your memos to the big cheeses :p

Holly-So how much gardening did you do? Did you plant or weed? Has your hubby lightened up and shone a bit of sunshine on you?

Tig-How was the scenic drive? Did the rain hold off so you were able to have the window open?

Well I haven't sweated much this week. Have continued to do some plies and squats because it feels rather good to stretch out those leg muscles. Who knew they were so ceased up?! :dizzy:

Hiya all,
I had an email from Mel yesterday. She is feeling much better and is no longer using the 'keep me numb' patches and is down to 1/2 tablet at nighttime only when she needs it, which has been twice. She is being good with her food, but no exercise. Apparently the greatest pain now is in the hip - maybe we should suggest she stops sitting on her wallet?? But she is missing us all and is looking forward to the Dr's visit on the 12th for a check over and report. Reckons it won't be long before she is back. I look forward to that.

Work continues on it's weird and wacky way. Don't know what I would do if I ever got onto a project where everything goes smoothly, the place stays on budget, the system works properly and the people work smart not hard!!! I can dream.

The great South East has gone into winter mode. The temperatures have been a bit cooler lately - ie 17 - 26 or 27. (64 - 84/85) How they moan about the cold. It is - according to the pundits - going to be a long hard winter!!! I actually put a jacket in my bag this morning, not because I thought it was cold, but because the air con in the office gets a bit much around 2 in the afternoon. It's set for the suits.

No gym tonight - having a night off. I really should have gone today but I forgot about the footy tomorrow night and consequently didn't put my gear in the car this morning. Aah well, double session on Saturday and another on Sunday should see me right. Just got to keep a check on the food intake. Less because of no exercise.

Linus, sorry to hear you are sick again. This pregnancy is not treating you kindly. Get well soon. Good luck to Craig for his exams.

Meadow, just keep on with the squats, kneebends etc. Remember to ensure the knees do not stick out past the feet, stick the backside out and squat that way. Less pressure on the knees.

Tig - sure hope the trip along the coast went well and you had a chance to breathe deeply of the sea air.

Puss cat is yowing at me to go get her some more food. There is also a lot of bits and pieces for me to do before the tv show that I want to see comes on. So I had best go put out the rubbish, fold the laundry, do the ironing and sort out tomorrow. See you all

Meadow~ you make me smile.

I actually kept bugging DH to call the company who did our siding and basement cause the owner is VERY down to earth, a family man and he really respects Dh's ability and experience...So yesterday he called. The guy is putting together a crew for DH (hopefully) by this week and he could be building barns all summer!!! Everything crossed!!!!
My clothes smell like fresh air!!!!
Hung out the wash yesterday. This morning as I was doing the mad dash I kept smelling something glorious. I was sniffing at kids etc, couldn’t figure it out.It was ME!! Aaaaaah.
The family stuff is resolved for me.No replys but that is fine. It is not the biggest thing in my life but it one of the things that is underlying and “eats” me.My theory is if I let it out, face it, handle it effectively I will not over eat. It is definitely a thread throughout my life. At times it was the biggest thing. Dont give them that much of my personal power these days.
The positive stuff in the last few days have been huge. Has me smirking. The feedback and emails from fellow school council members on my parent handbook have been stunning and very nice to hear. They come from people actively involved in the community resources for kids etc..... very nice. I also had a nice visit from my co SS superintendant. I wrapped up the photo directory!! Looks just peachy.
My old rocker friend is stopping by tonight with her 2 kids.

I was down 2.5 at TOPS last night but that is still UP 4 from the end of FEB!

3 little guys here today. I should have 2 hours to myself this aft. Lots to do. I need to pick one thing. and veg abit too.
I finished Clara Callan( Richard B Wright). A must read. So incredibly enjoyable to read.
I am starting No great Mischief by Alistair Macleod. The first paragragh describes the route we take to go to Dh’s Bothers. I could picture every bit.

Sun is shining. Will get these kiddies outside and dig in the dirt this morning!!!!!!

Oh, weeding and transplanting at the moment. I had a shade garden and then we cut down a tree. It is going mad.Since we have graded the property I have a shade garden on the north side now. Moving stuff there. All the beds are like 30'X6' at least. All perrenials. 2 are quite developed(5 years) . I LOVE this. Gotta get the veg patch prepped too.

Holly-No Great Mischief will stick with you long after you have finished it. I think I actually had tears running down my face during a couple of parts of that novel. Glad things are clicking along and you smell so good!

Shad-ah, to have air conditioning! Guess your next pay cheque will be going towards a suit for yourself hmm? Get a dark purple to set yourself apart from the navy pinstripes of the mucky mucks. Thank you for the update on Mel. I hurt for her :(

Just a quick note to get us to the first page. I found us on the second page.

We have a houseful of company coming tomorrow! :dance: Our youngest son and his wife (whom we have never met), and our oldest son, his wife and the Thugs will be here. :cp: Our oldest son and his wife are going to stay at a hotel Saturday night. Not because we don't have enough room for everybody but because their anniversary is on Tuesday and we always take the boys so they can celebrate their anniversary.

Slim did more work on The Fort and got the boys nerf rockets for Fort Defense. Nana's rule: First Thug that shoots his brother with a rocket loses the rocket. Ditto for the second thug. ;)

It's a lot easier to go to work with a good attitude with a weekend like this in front of a body! :goodvibes

Tig~ your palns sound fabulous!!!! Enjoy every second!!!!

!
 

Tig it does sound like a wonderful family weekend. Hope you thoroughly enjoy it. The 'Thugs' sound wonderful. It also sounds like you are not really having a good time on the project you are working on. Some are not as good as others I have to admit. So just get right on your goat and yet others swim along happily if sometimes a bit haphazardly.

Teel - Glad to hear that the work is finally being done in the house. You won't know yourself once that is done. How about keeping in touch a bit more often too. We like to know what you are up to!!!!

Meadow - no purple suits for this little black duck. A) because they don't make things like that to suit me, and B) I wouldn't look great dashing round town in a flash suit and flat shoes. I like to walk as fast as possible, so I take the heels to work in a bag and wear the flat navy loafers around the streets, also some of the pavement is shiny tiles - look good however they are death to the heels and shoes of some people. I've seen so many slip and/ or go over because of those floors. You'd think the designers would learn after the law suits they've had, but apparently it is cheaper to settle out of court than to change the flooring or pavements. Go figure.

Had a busy, busy day today. I didn't get up too early - obviously I was tired from a long and busy week - 35 hours in 4 days plus travel. Anyway I went to gym at 8.00 and did an 50 minutes on weights, strength and resistance, then another ten on the treadmill, followed by 55 mins of Body Balance class. Stuffed is a good word for how I felt when I stumbled out of there. Tomorrow is another hour on cardio circuit.
Then I went to get the fruit and veg, and the big grocery shop of the month or more. I only go down to get the groceries and meat about every 6 - 8 weeks, fill up the freezer and the pantry and eat my way through it. So I ended up with chicken breast fillets, chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins, pork steaks, lamb chops, beef scotch fillet, salmon fillets, tuna steaks and swordfish steaks. I also got a few groceries like balsamic vinegar, bread, cleaning stuff and a couple of presents for a pregnant friend (She's due in June). I'm getting in early so I can see what to get for Linus later in the year. The whole shebang came to $269 - you what!!!! I'm not buying the flaming store you know.
So I came home to clean the kitchen, sweep and wash the floor, dust and sweep the dining room and lounge (since the sanding dust is still landing) and put the laundry on - still not hung out, but that will do as tomorrow mornings early job. After gym tomorrow, wash the walls down again, and then in the afternoon paint the walls and windows. At least one coat of primer/ undercoat - I think that is all I will have time to do. More cleaning tomorrow in the bathroom and bedroom as well and then the housework will just about be up to date. Weekends are just not long enough.

Okay time to go and drop Mel a line. I'll send all you best wishes shall I?

Good morning chickies, I am back from near death. This cold was far more than I ever expected it to be. Have been really, really REALLY sick this week. Good thing I went to the doctor's on Tuesday, I can only imagine the state I would be in had I not. Still not up to par but at least I can breathe - somewhat. The chest congestion is the worst of it. I thought I would not have to deal with this since I quit smoking but I guess when the little buggers invade, they take over. And I have barely eaten anything in the past week, drank rivers of water to stay hydrated and move the gunk out and have dealt with antibiotic induced stomach upset. Do you think I would have lost a pound, ounce or gram? :no: Sooooo frustrating! Oh well, all we can do is to carry on, eh? It's supposed to be a sunny warm weekend, I hope to get outside and catch some healing rays of the sun.

Teel, it is good to hear from you again. I know the feeling - that you feel you have nothing to say so you lurk - please just know that we'd rather hear babbling than deal with wondering where the lurkers are :?: :mag: That is so wonderful about your niece and nephew! They must be thrilled to bits and what a proud Aunty Teel beaming on them :goodvibes:

Shad, please send my love to Miss Mel. I hope she is able to join us soon. I can't seem to find my box of greeting cards so I need to go stock up this weekend. As for you, it sounds like you've really intensified the workouts. Congrats on the loss for the week. A hard fought loss I might add. As for the job, it seems to be the nature of SAP - reminds me of a bunch of ants marching marching marching - all busy - very busy but are we achieving any results? The sort of thing at times that makes you contemplate a career change - or is it just that the state of the work place has changed so much? I know my job beckons me to work long, long hours. So far I have resisted but I think I won't be able to hold out for much longer. Thing is, we have one chatterbox at work. Drives me nuts as he chats all day long to any and everyone. The sort of bloke who yaks just to make noise. :gossip: I am sorely tempted to remind him of my favorite Chinese proverb - "Empty cans make the loudest noises" :lol: But he wouldn't get it. Anyway they just love him at work - think he is the best. Sometimes I feel I just don't fit into today's workplace anymore...

Tig, enjoy your company - hope you had a good trip down the coast. Meadown, thank you for the jazzy flower. After that, how can you NOT get up and dance? :dancer: Holly :crossed: hope all goes well for DH and work for the summer. Ohhhh is there nothing so sweet (aside from a little baby) of the smell of clothes dried in the outside air? :cloud9: Can't do that at my house. Too many blasted birds. They sing sweetly but they also dive bomb the cars and chairs and anything else left outside. I told DH we're not going to feed them if they are going to use our cars as latrines. He said it's only the mocking bird that's doing it. We have a new bird that appeared this week - an indigo bunting - a beautiful shade of blue.

Linus, hope you are feeling better - these have not been an easy few months for you, have they? I'd say you are overdue for a little sunshine in your life :sunny:

Ok, I'd better get moving here. DH went to the store a while ago, don't want him to return to find me still sitting here drinking coffee at the computer. :o

Hello's to Nae and Suzi who we seem to have lost and virtual love to the fabulous Miss Mel :encore:

For those Mums of the thread and for those non-Mums, soon to be Mums, surrogate Mums, single Mums, Mum's of pets, houses, horses or gardens, these early bloomers from under the Poinciana tree are for you

are those YOUR orchids? Breathtaking and gorgeous! Happy Mum's day to all you fine ladies. :encore:

yep all mine. Tennozan on the left and Blue Boy on the right. Blue Boy is just new, which is why he is flowering at this time. Tennozan I have had for 6 - 8 months or so and this is it's second flowering. Must like it there.

Beautiful Shad. We can only grow orchids in pots inside here.hard to imagine them outside in nature.

HUGS and HI!!! to everyone!!!

The sunlight is streaming through the trees and the dew on the grass is twinkling.Yellow tulips are smiling at me.Kitty is rubbing against my legs.All is quiet and peaceful and my coffee tastes delish!!!!

It has been an emotional few days for a few reasons. I am doing okay tho!!
I have decided that the time without the boys has been a gift and I need to to receive it. DH was gone over night and Ds was out all aft and eve.
DH left mad as heck but I called him a couple of hours later and he was chatty and calm and then he called me at 9pm to tell me where he was at. He is in a better place and was hanging out with an old roomie we haven’t seen in a couple of years.I chatted with him too.
DS went 4 wheeling and hung out at the crick and tried to catch minnows and crayfish. Happy little man.
I have the house tidied and well sorted ,dusting and vacuuming today. DD seems better.
Church this morning. Then hopefully some gardening!! Raking at least. It is exercise too!!
I loved sleeping alone with kitty, just like the old days. I wonder if kitty was thinking wow this used to be so cool! LOL!
I set my alarm for 6:30 to be up and alone.Kids will sleep til 7:30.
I ate most of a frozen pizza for supper last night. It was enjoyable but too much. The rest of the day was okay.
Because DD was sick, it was the first time in 9 years I only cooked for myself.
For the 15 years before that I only ever cooked for myself and the 5 years before that I cooked all the family meals at my parents house. I just did the math. I have been cooking dinner for 29 years. Yikes. I love doing it. I actually dont remeber ever feeling like I didn’t want to do it.

I cant wait to see the cards the kids made at school. Much sneaking and hiding has been going on.
I sent my Mom an e card. I will call later, I suppose.

Have a wonderful day dear chicks!!!!!

Holly, I think no matter how much we love (or sometimes tolerate) the people around us, it's always nice to once in a while have an evening to yourself. Sounds like you enjoyed it to the hilt!

Shad, if and when you have time, you have to take some shots of the yard and post to webshots or here. It sounds like your yard is just fabulous. Haven't seen much of it since it was mostly under construction. I am in awe of the wide variety of enchanting things you can grow there.

There is not a lot of colour in the garden right now. The roses will be coming back to bloom again soon, the bushes mostly have a lot of buds on them. The bigger ones have been through a flush and are mostly finished. The orchids will flower on and off for the next 6 months or so. There are some nice ones there and they survive on vast amounts of neglect followed by a bit of cossetting when one comes into flower. I miss not having daffodils, jonquils and tulips. You can get them to grow but very weedy and only last one day at the most.

Feeling a bit worn at the moment. Work doesn't give up - I'm also mediating between two strong (male) personalities and only ended up with more work. I guess I will survive.

So I'm off to bed pretty soon. Had gym again tonight. Getting slowly stronger in the upper body, but it is not a painless exercise. Just hope it delivers the promise of less inches and less weight! Jason is confident.

Can't think anymore. Will dream up a lovely long post while snoring! Manana amigos

Mother’s day was nice. Kids were happy. No squabbles.DH was happy. I was happy. Church was nice. I raked,weeded and seeded 1/2 of the front lawn from 10:30-4. It is looking lovely.
The work felt good. I am sun kissed and glowing.

Quiet evening.
I just heard a kiddie coming down the stairs. Now the work starts.

My monthly morning weigh in was 228.....still up 3 from Feb but down 1 form last week. The right direction!!!!


Called my Mom yesterday. She was all cheery, telling me about her perfect little weekend,after a half hour I asked if she got my email. she said hesitantly ,"well, yes.
I,I,I, I dont want to be involved. It has been this way for 5 years.There is nothing I can do to change it.” My Aunt did call her accusing that she had told my parents 3 years ago about some work that was needed to be done. Never asked for help tho........ My Dad apparently asked my Mom what he should do and she told him to just forget bout it. I may call my Dad. It is his Mom after all.He does care.

Anyhow I have a philosophical discussion going on in my head about the intent and energy something is done with. My grandma is very well cared for. If the care is done with negativity and bitterness is it a good as if it is done with love and affection?
My feeling is no but the rest of my family disagrees.

hello my very good freinds
how are we all?? good i hope ,were all fine -well so so :lol: i had to get anti sickness tablets from the docs sometimes they work ,still has not brought my appetite back yet =but the doc has said not to worry about it the baby is growing well and is very active so not to worry about it so i wont :) Craig sat his chemistry exam today said it wasnt to bad so :crossed: connnre is just fine just his usul cheery self ,we got his report card on saturday morning ,very plaesant kid pleasure to teach would be even better if he stayed awake :yikes: :rofl: so im not looking forward to parents evening .andrew has a very strange skin compl;aint at the moment very very itchy and covered from head to toe in spots docs arent sure what it is maybe an allergic reaction so the whole house has had to be cleaned beds changed towels,cushion covers,shower curtains you name it if it can be washed its washed and if not its been anti bacterial wiped :?: im now knackered so im off for a well deserved shower and bed
peace and reat to all
kirsty+bump

Reat??!!! Must be a Scottish word?

Save me from the chocolate!!
 

?Reat? thee merry chicks of the world and nothing to dismay for there is chocolate everywhere and one peice will not with pounds pay... I think I added a beat there :p

Hugs Shad, icky male energy swirling around you making you volunteer to do more than your fair share to keep momentum and peace... you can't keep that up! Tell the winey buggers to pull themselves together and get the work done and their traps shut. Should put the temperature up a few degrees in the office :rofl: :spin: My snowball tree is in full bloom right now, it survived the infestation of the vebernum caterpillars that devoured it last year and is shoving all its energy now into putting out the pompoms :)

Holly-good that your mother's day was pleasant. My sisters gave me two boxes of peanut butter daises and a 12 pack of peanutbutter fingers from Purdy's chocolates. Will I eat them all in one sitting "NO" will I eat them all eventually? "YES" I will have to share a bit with the kids so as not to make myself too guilty for the indulgence :D Hugs for your family merry go round of accountability and distance, it isn't something you can force, people either want to help or they don't. You can only do what you feel is right and allow them to do the same.

Linus-good news that your little passenger is active and lively and growing well! Sorry you haven't gotten an appetite. It should happen to me and an overwhelming urge to exercise like a champion gymnast :lol: My daughter had a reaction with spots all over her body to an antibiotic. Has Andrew been taking anything new? Have you switched fabric softeners? I know some of that stuff can really cause a reaction too, coats the clothes with something. Vinegar is much better to get all the soap out and make the clothes smell fresh. Congratualtions that your kids are doing so well in school. Which class did Conner sleep through? If it was history I wouldn't worry, I daydreamed through most of that stuff myself, all those dates :rolleyes:

:wave:Cloudy and sunny here. My daugher opened a tin of kippers and the entire house smells like a cannery so I have opened the windows to try and get it back to its normal dusty, stale, general skanky smell :rofl: :coffee2:

Quick post for me today... it was a very sad day for me at work. One of my teammates - a truly wonderful young guy in his mid 20's was shot and killed in his house on Saturday. They don't know all the details, they think perhaps he startled an intruder or burglar. He leaves behind a wife and 2 very young children. It's so hard to believe, here we were laughing on Friday, playing tricks on one of our other co-workers. I have email from him, he's on instant messenger tho not logged on right now - how can he be gone? And did I say that he was just a heckova nice guy - that I really enjoyed working with even tho I didn't know him for very long. I'm stunned...

Happy, I'm so sorry to hear about your workmate. What a horrible thing to happen. You must be feeling very down right now. The whole office must feel awful. Please just take it easy and breathe deeply.

Meadow - love the description of that viburnum. I always wanted one of those in the garden, however they don't flower so well up here. Short season and buggy as well. Your sisters weren't that kind to you for Mothers day were they??

Linus - good to hear from you and good to know that all is well - apart from the DH's strange rash that is.

Holly - good to hear that Mothers day was good for you. My DS2 came whizzing in, dropped off the bed that he borrowed, shot off in the van again and then came screeching back, sticking his head out of the window yelling come 'ere. He then proceeded to give me a cuddle and a kiss and wish me happy Mothers day. Strange kid.

I got this joke today from my friend Chris in Japan. (Sorry Happy, know you are not feeling much like laughing at the moment.


Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new wives duties.

Terry had married a woman from Croatia, and bragged that he had told his wife she was going to do all the dishes and house cleaning that needed to be done at their house. He said that it took a couple of days but on the third day he came home to a clean house and the dishes were all washed and put away.

Jimmy had married a woman from Australia. He bragged that he had given his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes, and the cooking. He told them that the first day he didnt see any results, but the next day it was better. By the third day, his house was clean, the dishes were done, and he had a huge dinner on the table.

The third man had married a New Zealand girl. He boasted that he told her that her duties were to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didnt see anything, the second day he didnt see anything, but by the third day most of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye enough to fix himself a bite to eat, load the dishwasher, and call a landscaper.
God Bless New Zealand Women!

I have a Kiwi friend in Arizona that is just going to love that one.

DS1 just rang to say that he has downloaded a program to his PC which allows him to make phone calls from the PC to other PC’s across the world and talk to them for free - the owners of the PC not the PC - as far as I know he is not yet into talking like a hi speed rattle. There is a bit of a time delay, but no worse than some of the overseas calls I have made. The upshot is that if he goes on with it and finds it okay, then I will put it on mine as well and I know my friend in Japan has it on her PC at school. Let you all know how it goes.

Work ontinues to get more and more hectic. I’ll be going in at 5.00am tomorrow to try to get away from the social chit-chat and gossip that goes on. Some of them don’t seem to know what work is. Something that I was a bit worried about before I took the job. Govt. Departments don’t seem to be known for dedication to the job - that’s a generalisation, not a total hard fact, so those of you who are departmental workers please don’t get on my case. I just wish that they would freeze the system so we could get the final material ready, but hey let’s not think about how the trainers feel. Jeez I feel grumpy.
Anyway, I took a peek at the training schedule today and darned near fell off my chair. I have days and days and days of it 7.5 hours a day of it. Stretches through most of August and some of September. I’m going to need a rest after this lot.

Was going to the gym tonight, however I figured that it might be a good idea to give these shoulders and arms a rest. Geez Jason, I’ll end up with knuckles brushing the ground at this rate and I am already vertically challenged.

Haven’t seen my garden in the daylight for 2 days. I went out with the torch tonight and the new tomatoes are taking off, it won’t be long before the baby beetroot is ready. The Coriander is ready to run away to seed and the herbs are rowing wild. Spinach is coming along as well. Might have some good veges to eat soon. The lettuces are ready and will be overdone if I don’t get to eat them soon. Such is life. These veg grow well in my wee patch.

Okay, time to go and get on with the evening. So much to do, so little time.

Happy im so very sorry to hear about your very sand news :sorry: :grouphug: its always so sad and so senseless when the young die so needlessly
:woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :dancer: :dancer: :dancer: :flow2: :flow2: :high: :high: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :high: :high: :encore: :encore: :encore: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :stars: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :lucky: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :goodvibes :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I GOT MY NEW HOUSE I GET THE KEYS IN 2 WEEKS AND WILL BE IN BEFORE TEEL COMES
and now im just so tired :faint: :headache: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: :tired: goodnight and hope all is REAT with your world
kirsty+bump

There's that word again. Must be the scots for right

Evenin' Chicks,
I clicked on here twice today and got sidetracked by a kid. I finally got to read through.
Happy~ I am deeply sorry for the loss of the man you work with.It IS senseless and so hard for the wife and children. HUGS!!!
Shad/Meadow~ I planted 3 viburnun 2 years ago but no pompoms yet(ever).Maybe I need to fertilize.Ours dont bloom here till June.
Linus~ so glad everything is working out just reat in your world!!!
Shad~ DS sound funny and sweet!!!!
How is dear Mel?????
Rose??? Suzi?????? Tig popped in last week didn't she??

HUGS and LOVE!!

Yahoo, it’s payday. Some money in the account. Makes it all worthwhile.

It’s been a rotten week weatherwise, not raining enough to make the umbrella worthwhile, and too wet to go out and sit in the fresh air at lunch time. Bah humbug.

Things have relaxed enough at work to manage a few jokes now. However that will all change by the end of the month when I have to know the business enough to be able to train the troops. These people have been stuck in an electronic time warp for the past 20 years. It’s not going to be easy for them to change now. I have a couple of documents to write and that’s it for this implementation release.

Went to the gym tonight to do a cardio workout - 10 minutes on the machines and the warmup. I did only three of the machines - bike, eliptical, stepper and used the treadmill for warm up. Now I feel all sweaty and smelly so had better start thinking of a shower and some quiet time. There is a tv program I want to see shortly as well.

That means - see you later. Have a good day.

Linus, yaaaaaayyyyyy!!!! *jumping up and down excitely for you* :cp: :cp: :cp: So very glad to hear you got the house! It's about time you got some good news in your life. So will you be having a big housewarming party with Teel?

Shad, the more I observe, the more I think they should rename SAP - "Chaos Reigns". I sit next to the trainers group and I don't envy you a bit. All I can say is that your suffering seems universal. :grouphug: Now I'm even in more awe of what you do. Makes my job seem not so bad afterall :rofl: Hang in there... loved your joke too. It's one to pass along. :lol:

Good heavens, the heat has hit. In the 90's and it's only May - :sunny: when I got home from work, I found DH lounging in the pool. After all the work he's put into it, he deserves it. Water a bit too cool yet for me tho with temps this warm the next 2 days, water should heat up enough for me to stick a toe in. I'm actually looking forward to swimming laps - a pool was my main reason for joining a health club in the past.

I've done better on the food this week. Water is pretty good. Still recovering a bit from the cold last week. Lungs still congested, blasted coughing about to make me insane already. I don't tolerate being ill for too long.

Busy day ahead. Fun with Crystal Reports - yet a new thing to learn. Everyone says it's simple. Today I go into my other office - my home base. I imagine it will be pretty somber there. Apparently they found someone who might have been a witness to my coworker's murder and they have at least a minimim description of a suspect to go on. Prayers that they find the @#$%#( and bring them to justice.

Holly, I hope you have a day of a calm DH and happy, well behaved children. Hugs to the rest of the clan as we march through the day :dancer:

Happy~ I actually thought for a moment wow it's May down there already....huh...need more coffee. It is May here too I guess. Bit of a blur!

I sat down and couldn't get up!
That was me last night. Everyboby and their brother has been cutting grass out here since the weekend. Lots of pollen floating around.My head is foggy!!!
Good day yesterday. Took the kids bike riding in town after supper. Met another family and the Mom and I walked. There is no place to walk or ride here so I toss the bikes in the van and go to town.
I sat down to watch Idol and didn’t get off the couch till 11.It was restful to say the least. I did gather the trash for this morning.
Finished the revision on the handbook but my printer bunged up, arg! Council meeting tonight.
Only 3 little people today. All of them nap in the aft!!!!!
I ate icecream last night.
It was steamy and humid all day but we didn’t get the rain. I wanted it for my grass seed. Sunny and clear today.
Might do some weeding.
I will do yoga!!!!!!

Have a funky day!!!!

Cloudy but the sun is trying
 

Linus-Finally! a new house for you:) Alright!

Shad-you mean people in government offices know how to smile? They tell jokes? Gosh :p Good that you get a breather before the heavy duty brain thumping begins :lol3: Hopefully the weather will clear up down there and you can take some beautiful deep breaths of air to invigorate you. Just reading about your workouts make my arms ache, I can't imagine how your limbs must feel.

Holly-Cool, three viburnums, they get huge you know, I hope you have them "FAR" apart :D How are you liking "No Great Mischief"? I've just finished a Sue Grafton "R" one and am starting an Elizabeth George novel.

Happy-Mint juleps for you! 90 degrees? That is just outrageous. Are you wearing more white since you moved to the South? Has silk become your fabric of choice? Do you have a portable, battery operated fan for use between car and buildings? Is an air conditioning failure cause to evacuate offices? :p I live in the North so hitting 75 up here is like a heat wave :rofl:

The peanut butter fingers are all gone, I ate 10 of the twelve over three days. I hid the two boxes of peanut butter daisies in my husband's sock drawer, I should forget about them soon. I can't even give them my kid's teachers because of peanut allergies. I could throw them out but that little voice in my head says, you might need them for comfort during the big move this summer :tantrum: I hear twilight zone music :p

Meadow~ We are on an acre, i planted 30 bushes across the back. They can get as big as they want. I did mostly purple leaf nine bark and a few mock orange and viburnum. I am loving No Great Mischief. An easy read.
How is the house coming??

Quick Hello ~ more later
 

Ha Tig - nice one. Quiet around here isn't it. Sorry can't stop, these 10 and 12 hour days are beginning to bite. Deadline today for documentation. Should be able to relax and enjoy life a bit more by next week. What am I talking about - what's life??

WOW, you could hear a pin drop!

HUGS Shad!! Wishing you quiet moments on the patio with a nice glass of wine, while you enjoy your garden!

Busy, busy with kids this week. $$$$$$$$ We need it too. d\Did some edging around flower beds yesterday. School council meeting last night, worked on revisions today.Actually vacuumed upstairs! Yippee! My life is way more non existant than yours Shad.
TGIF tomorrow. 1 little person, big kids are all in school.LOTS of tidying to do and maybe some actual cleaning!!
Allergies are quite bad. I lose steam as the day goes on. My evenings are pretty disfunctional.
I am actually feeling hungry for supper. Wow. Now ,not to over eat would be brilliant!!!

HI CHICKS, hope everyone is well.

Just numb
 

Just a rant ahead, don't read if you are feeling chipper, you will just huck something at your computer :p

Comfort eating, double fill oreos, marshmallow puff cookies, I am feeling a complete ***. Of course it isn't "MY" fault, I'm blaming Oprah. Here boot camp show today just made me feel terrible and I sought out cookies *they were supposed to be for the kids :stress: :cookie: Why does watching people who used to be fat giving advice on how to do it make me want sugar intravenous injections? Heck if I know, it just makes me feel like a complete jerk for not getting there myself. I have to start exercising on a regular basis, I know the cookies were just a temporary blip, I'm not going to be stuffing that calorie laden garbage into my beautiful machine again anytime soon. Why can't I hear the fiddle playing, the church bells, the grand sound of that soul touching music that motivates and carries me forward to a thinner, more conscious woman? Do I have to be hospitalized before I get it? "Insert mass amounts of swearing and punching things in here" I feel so stupid, I have been attempting and failing at this for so long and it is a ***** that others are doing it and I'm just treading water. :ebike: :dunno:

Big hugs for you Meadow. We have all been there at one time or other. You should have heard me swearing this morning!

I'll be back later with some sage advice (well I try to have some sage advice)

Happy I am so sad to see your terrible news about your workmate. How terrible for all concerned who knew him. Big hugs for you all. May you all find in each other the comfort you all so badly need at this time. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

It's good to see Linus's news, isn't it?? I think, looking at her post, that she may be a tad excited!! She certainly gets the record I think for the most smilies in 1 post!!! I just had to count!!! I made it 84!!!! Gone for sure are the days when we were only allowed 21 or so...I forget now exactly how many !!! :D :lol:

Sorry I haven't been in this week. I have had the builder/handyman in all week plastering and cementing the floor and the walls and so of course all the furniture that was in the way has been moved to "somewhere out of the way"!!!!i.e., in front of the computer desk!!! :( So today I have at last managed to push some of it away so I can actually get to my chair and turn on the "on" button!!!

6 weeks and 5 days till I go to see Linus!!! :D :dance: :wave: :smug: :dancer: :woo: :cheer: It'll be so good to see her in her new abode!!From what I hear, DH is already packing boxes!!! :dizzy: :lol: That'll take his mind off his rash!!! Do you know what it is yet?

My friend in Derby rang yesterday evening...he has just got a headship!!! Oh my goodnight!!! Alan's a headmaster from September! Heaven help the children of Derby!!! :judge: (sorry, this smilie will have to suffice! Its the only one who looks vaguely like a stern headmaster!!!) I don't think he can hardly believe it yet himself!!

Hugs to Miss Mel when she gets in to read this! :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I do hope you are healing up fast and life is getting back to near normal for you, my friend.

Meadow I feel for you right now my dear. Take heart for it will all come right in the end. We don't know why some people manage to lose weight fast and keep it off at the drop of a hat whilst the majority of the world has to work so dar

Meadow~ HUGS...This is my journal from today.
LindaT seems to get to the heart of things, so what am I stuffing down???
I have been eating things like icecream mid aft and again before bed.I made roast beef, potatoes and gravy the other night. Definitely comfort food. As with anything it is never simple or any one single thing. Physically it is allergies. This is the worst time of year for me. Meds help but I drag and I get a little down. I just plain dont have my usual energy. In the evenings all I can do is lay down and rest by about 9pm.
I feel frustrated. I think I am craving carbs for the energy. If I was thinking I would grab some fresh veg!
It makes me sad that my family does not value me. As a parent I can not imagine not going all the way no matter what it was my kids needed.I dont make it about me and as exhausting as it is I never dont want to be the best parent I can. My son is a royal pain in the ***. I cant imagine thinking, saying or behaving as if it was too hard to be his parent. That was my childhood. AND i was not as difficult as my son.
Breaks my heart.
So 40 years into this life I still have underlying feelings of ......... something. Loneliness. Disappointment. Why am I so hard to love?......
The upside is that I am true to myself, totally love myself, deeply loved by hubby and my kids, loved by the friends who matter......................it is good balance.

Anyhow those are today's thoughts. I will give them wings and not eat icecream for lunch today!!!

No icecream yet although I just ate a bologna sandwich that tasted like 2 more and I am sittng here instead and then I WILL cut up and eat a yellow pepper!!!!

Have a good day chicks!!!!

Peers out from her cocoon of fat and tries futile efforts to let the butterfly inside break free :p I was working on an AB picture and that came to my mind. :s:

Holly-Are we both in the same young kids/mommy cycle or what?! We are vamping along the same lines in all this for sure. What a trip, eh? Sometimes I think I am stuffing myself to oblivion but for pete's sake I need better coping skills. This sugar and crap isn't making me happier, just more frustrated and angry that I haven't grasped the fact that I am my own worst enemy in all this. I need to change this voice that keeps saying "mmm, cookies" to "mmm, exercise" Sweat feels so good, stretching my muscles, getting stronger. That is what I want. I have to get this. "Insert stomping and swearing and general head banging" GAH! I doubt a psychologist could help me figure out where all the food=comfort stuff started back whenever it all began. It is me, here, now, that has to go forward and make it right today!!

Teel-I'm so glad you were able to tunnel your way to the computer and let us know how things are going in your part of the world. Thank you for your sympathy and encouragement, I need it. I'm kind of letting you all be strong for me and I'm hoping some of your good energy will rub off :smug: My personality at present is very tight. Probably the prospective move and all the upheaval, having to think about that, changing the kids school/registering, not knowing what is ahead. I'm not an adventurous persona and this is going to be a HUGE change.

Shad-waiting patiently for what you have to say :devil: ;) :) I'm sorry you had a swearing session this morning. What has shaken your calm core? Here is the AB picture I was working on to make me feel better about being the cookie monster yesterday. I think I need a new picture in my posts huh? I'm taking on the wrong message from the blue dude :rofl:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ndsprayer1.jpg

The week has thankfully finished. I’ve done 50 hours on the job and only managed two gym workouts. It seems sleep was more important. It’s been a case of work, eat and sleep. Makes Shad a very dull old lady.


We nearly made our deadline - there is one more screencam movie to make and several documents not yet reviewed. Apart from that the documentation is done. This is only in the CRM neck of the woods, I have no idea what the others are doing, have done or will do. And whats more I don't care. There's too much on my plate to worry about anything but our small section. We are already carrying one person and another of the guys is going on a tour of England in another week or so, needless to say although he is trying hard, his mind is not on the job.

Food hasn’t been too bad apart from a blip on about Wednesday/ Thursday. Then I felt the beginnings of the usual lack of bodily functions because of the lack of water and took the time to remedy that before I got into trouble. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Had a look at the garden this morning - first time in 5 days that I have seen it in daylight. What I have been doing at night is to go out, grab a handful of leaves from somewhere in the vicinity of the lettuce patch and bring them back in to see what I have got for dinner. Some interesting combinations have been had - including one that only had one lettuce leaf and the rest was basil, coriander and parsley. Tasted darn good even if I say so myself.

I must have slept funny last night as I have woken with a pain in the neck and between the shoulder blades. It may be that I was cold and got all scrunched up while sleeping, so will put the doona on the bed today and declare the season to be winter.

Actually the weather has been totally unseasonable around here this week. We’ve had gray skies and rain for the entire week, its been cool for here, under 20 most days and down to 12 at night, and last night got a drenching that was good for the garden but not great for the idiots out on the roads. Normally Autumn is cool at night, warm during the day and blue, blue skies. I have a weeks worth of laundry to process this morning and had better get to it shortly. I’m almost out of towels but luckily have enough clothes to last another week or so even if some of the underwear has seen better days.

Weight has been static - as I would have expected from the week that I have. I can’t say it often enough, no exercise equals no weight loss and the more the long muscles get working the more the metabolism rate rises and the more energetic one feels. The best part of the whole exercise thing is that one can actually eat a little more and enjoy some of the good things of life more than when one sits on the couch and whinges about not losing anything - and yes I have done that too. So for the Eco Challenge this week, I am back up to 72 from 71.5. Next week WILL be better. I will be taking my lunches again and organising proper meals for nightime since it won’t be so frenetic at work. I’ve had enough of this weight and am so ready for the rigours of maintaining. Since I seem to have proved I am really good at plateauing, I think I should be good at this! Famous last words.

Meadow, I'm trying to think what to say that will get you going again. It's a personal thing and we each have to find the one thing in this world that will provide the necessary inspiration. In the meantime my suggestion is that you give yourself permission to maintain - not to gain, maintain. This means that you plan meals, get a good shopping list going, fill up on fruit and veg and try to limit severely the cookies. Now the children can do with less cookies as well. It's great to say the children are not dieting so they should have what they like, however if this is what they have, then at some time in their life they are going to need to look after their weight. So try different treats - things that either don't have anything to do with food, or try nuts, dried fruit, ordinary fruit and yoghurt. Keep food put away and out of sight. It's usually the sight or smell of food that gets me going and then of course there is my old saying - if you feel hungry, drink a large glass of water. If you still feel hungry after 20 mins eat. Later you can amend that to 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 1 hour. It's like exercise, up the intensity when you are feeling good about the current intensity. Keep journalling here and tell us what you are up to and how you feel. If it is written down, you can often see a pattern emerging. Once the pattern is visible, you can do something to change it. Yes moving house is stressful, yes having kids is stressful, being a mum is stressful, but it doesn't get that much better as they grow older. I've had to teach myself to contact my two only once a fortnight. I have this fear that more than that, they will feel I am an interfering old mother!!! No matter how old they get, they are still my babies, but I can't tell them to do things, I can only advise.
On the other hand, it is no good saying I will change things, I will lose weight when all this stress is over - it's never over, something else always comes up to take its place.

Teel, good to hear from you. The house must be starting to look good now! You will be pleased when it is all over and you have the place to yourself again - oh yes you and Holly. Sorry Holly.

Linus, a NEW place, good stuff. Now the strain of packing, keeping, throwing and deciding what goes and what stays. Take it easy now, let the others do the hard yards. It's a great opportunity to get rid of a stack of junk.

Hey that's three of us on the move this year - Happy, Linus and Meadow. The addresses, they are a changin'

Been trying to ring Mel, she isn't answering the phone. Aaaah well, try again later and see what gives. Haven't even had an e-mail this week. Hope everything is alright with her.

Gotta go. Lots to do.

Hey chickies,

Teel, so good to hear from you again. It seems that you will be seeing Linus about the same time my family comes to visit me. So there will be at least 3 happy little bunnies here as Shad would say, come the end of next month. I am excited for your friend from Derby tho I admit I have no idea what you were saying :?: I take it that he's getting his own ship - a captain or something of that noble honor?

Holly, I hate to say it, tho I always loved my mother dearly, I did not really learn to appreciate or EXPRESS appreciation until well into my adulthood. I'm sure that while you feel unappreciated, taken for granted, you are loved. I myself have never had children but my opinion is that kids today were given way too much in the way of material things and not enough gentle loving cuffs on the head when they crossed the line of "you've gone too far". We have to get back to teaching people that they are not the center of the universe and we are here to help one another. Our next door neighbor is a nice woman. She is single and has what appears to be a lazy, sullen teen aged son living with her. She said she works long hours. Occasionally you see her in the yard but the only time you see the son is when he's trotting from his friend's car to the house and back. Occasionally you can hear the strains of a garage band in practice. There is a huge mangy magnolia tree of hers which borders our driveway. There is also a huge round bush of some sort at the end of our driveway. I told DH the bush must come down as it is a horrible blind spot and I live in fear that even tho I go slowly down the driveway, I will someday hit a passerby or dog walker because I can't see them. This very morning in fact I almost hit an elderly gentleman driving slowing down the MIDDLE of the street - 5 seconds earlier and I would have banged right into him - darn bush! Anyway we saw the neighbor in the yard the other day, she was trying to clean the mess of tangles under the magnolia. DH offered to clean under the magnolia for her and asked if we could trim the round bush a bit (should have asked permission to cut the bloody thing out of the ground). DH worked all day cleaning under that tree. He left 3 huge piles of brush that needed to be picked up and bagged. It sat there for 2 days before he got to it again. I told him that it's nice to be a good neighbor and if she needs something electrical checked out, he should lend a helping hand. However, I have a problem with us becoming the gardeners when there is an able bodied young man wasting his life away in the cool comfort of the house. And don't beat me up all you moms but I do blame her for raising him to be that way. My own mom or dad would not have had to tell me more than twice to go out and help - otherwise dire counsequences would follow - whether I was 8 or 18 years old. And it didn't make me a bad person... Anyway I will get off my long winded soapbox now. Hope I didn't offend anyone. I just don't think we do right by ourselves or society when we teach our kids and young adults not to pull their own weight.

Meadow, I agree it is a vicious cycle and I can't give any better advice than Shad's words. I don't have the magic answer as to why enthusiasm for cookies (even if they give us heartburn, guilt and pimples later on) is higher than enthusiasm for exercise. The more I back away from things, the lower I sink. It comes down to I just have to purge the things from the house because I can't be trusted to handle treats in reasonable doses. My other nudge is to start making a list and make sure I at least do one thing when I get home. And I build on that. I find that when I start to gain a sense of accomplishment, it helps me get back on track again. Don't compare yourself to others, don't think well if I lost 30 pounds I'd still be a :moo: Draw your strength from resisting the immediate in favor of the long term. It's hard I know, that's why we are all here to cheer each other on.

Shad, my sympathies to you and your long, long week. Is this temporary to get your through the next wave / release or does it look like the writing is in the book for the duration of this contract? Nothing worse than leaving when it's dark and coming home when it's dark. And then you try and catch up on everything on the short weekends. Aha, that cramp in the neck sounds familiar - if I could go back to prior year's posts I'll bet I see a pattern of cricks, the onset of winter and the need for the doona. Stay warm and rested my friend. And relish the joy of another work week down the drain and one week closer to retirement :D

As for me, the week recaps as follows: I have survived the horrid cold from #$%@!. I am still suffering from the after effects of the antibiotic that was strong enough to kill the infection in my chest and sinuses but wreaked havoc on my digestive system - and yes I was eating yogurt all week to help rebalance things. Just as all the doctors here will tell you - my allergies which have set dormant for 5 years have bloomed along with the spring flowers. And I was never allergic to pollen - everyone has told us that you WILL develop allergies within one year of being here. I did go in the pool this week - water was 78 degrees which is still quite cold for me. I was in waist deep and did some leg exercises to keep warm. I will really enjoy it when it heats up a bit more. We had a neighborhood association meeting this week - I will now be responsible for writing the association's newsletter. DH will use his digital camera to take pictures of all the broken sidewalks that need repairs. Does this count as community involvement? I was distressed to hear that one woman I have made fast friends with at work and who makes being there bearable is leaving to return to her home town in another state. I am not only deeply saddened that she won't be around for moral support but I am also concerned that since we do the same type of work for 2 different businesses, that I may be saddled with her work also. I can't keep up with what I already have ** bangs head against desk *** And finally I went to the doctor to be tested for sleep apnea. They did some tests, I don't have apnea enough to do something about but the doctor was kind but stern in insisting I do something about losing some weight. So here I come humbly again, swearing to start anew and keep my intentions for longer than 1/2 a day...

Boy if I could burn calories by typing, I think I'd have dropped 2 pounds after this severly long winded post! Enjoy your weekend ladies. Linus, do you need me to send you empty moving boxes? :rofl: