Good time had by all.
It was fun and relaxing. Got pleasantly drunk in the aft, laughed lots. Had a yummy free range grilled dinner(including caribou) with salads at 9pm,campfire, more laughter, in bed by midnight and had a peaceful sleep.
Weeded the veggie patch and then DH tilled it. Went to pick up DS, went to a garden centre and then for groceries, came home put groceries away and then went to pick up DD.
The 3 of us planted the veggie patch. They want to grow pumpkins and corn this year.
Apparently BIG is in the plan. Pumpkins take up a ton of space.LOL!
Tacos for dinner, baths and soon to bed( for all of us I think).
Hope everyone is having a great day!!!
Life is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

Antonio art, big, huge :D http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...templation.jpg

My husband, ever the optimist, put up the pool yesterday, it is overcast today, didn't stop the kids from hopping into the pool. I have a couple of dolphins you know ;) I thought about exercising today, looked in the mirror, said a couple of encouraging words, then sat down with a cup of coffee and watched a decorating show :?: Not sure what happened, tomorrow is another day! (twirls hair around finger and looks innocent)

Mel-good to hear you got outside and had a good run around town:spin: The neighbourhood was probably all abuzz about seeing you, were your ears burning :listen: Sorry that your allergies are giving you some trouble, fingers crossed that whatever is making them flare up will blow away soon :)

Shad-So you are going to be the poster girl for a bit of anarchy against the insurance people? How fabulous! I hope they lose a few customers! The buggers!! Mmmm, tomatoes :drool: That is really something, cooking for the week ahead. Organization, what a concept :p Is that my problem? :rofl: don't answer that, I have so many others higher on the list :lol3:

Holly-ah, doesn't your campout sound like fun. Caribou on the barbecue must have been delicious! Fancy you getting pie eyed and giggly, must have been some good company :lol: Hope the video camera was broken, you never want drunken conversation to come back and bit you :s: So you are working on the great pumpkin growing spree? Bag of manure and stand back, they are hungry little orange monsters, be afraid, be very afraid :fr: :yikes:

:coffee2:Linus-Whee! decorating!! Commiserations on the family argy bargy, feed them cookies to keep them sweet :yes: :T

Rose-:wave: Hope things are coming together and you are planning a nice bike ride somewhere. Don't try to tackle everything at once now, pace yourself...

Hello to all the readers who are silently tsking or nodding to our posts. Yeah, some of us get it and some of us are still striving to flick that switch in the brain that pushes our energy button to get moving :lol: :devil: Mine has a cookie overdrive which kicks in whenever I think too hard about just how far I have to go... got to disconnect that one ;) Just managing 10lbs a year is a bit disheartening by anyones standards :rofl: I'm so not good at this!

600ml down and counting.

That's water.

I've decided that my new month resolution is BACK TO BASICS so to that end, I have to make sure I move, eat properly and drink water. Yesterday I was extremely good and as a result got back some of the energy which has been lacking over the past couple of weeks. Yesterdays list was completed and I have already started on todays list. Today I also caught a later train in to work and have every intention this week of working less than 45 hours. Weight this morning was stable and holding - still bigger figures on the scale than I had hoped, but at least things are not getting higher and higher as they did last week.

My windows have had their first top coat of paint. Yahoo. By this time next week I may actually have some blinds in the lounge room. Don't know if I can stand the luxury but hey, I'll have a go.
My new toys are working well. I need to get some more fuel for the gizmo to finish off the hedge. It ran out about halfway through the job. I think there is some in the shed but didn't have time to go look yesterday. So I sanded, painted, pruned, trimmed, swept and washed and still had a bit of time to relax with my book in the sun.

Must get back to work. I have a mountain of it here in front of me and will never get through it today if I don't move it somewhat. Taking some time in the sun to read my book at lunchtime. I think I would go nuts if I didn't get out in the break. Don't dare go to the shopping precinct. I've spent more than I should this weekend.

Oh and by the way - apparently I can't get through to DB2 because he RAN over his mobile phone in his driveway and crunched the thing!!!!!! You gotta wonder!

Greetings chickies...
I thought after the beginning of this year, things would settle down a bit. Not so. It's been quite the busy week or so. Had some visitors to the house, some planned, some impromptu. Being on call wasn't too terrible, only 2 calls but once you get woken up in the middle of the night, you spend the rest of the week on edge :hyper: waiting for that phone to ring. So work and home life have once again kept me from posting here. Oh and we have a raccoon -- soon to be trapped and relocated in the farms of the next state if I have my way. Apparently the little beast is not happy to forage the bird seed in the yard, no.... he had to rummage through my tomato plants in the garden and ripped all the tomatoes off of 2 plants including a small tomato (my first) that was a few days from picking. :mad: :tantrum: :censored: :headache: :bomb: :hot: :rollpin: Finally, I did not heed Shad's advice about the sunscreen. Worked in the yard last weekend and got myself a nasty sunburn. It had been so long since I was out in the sun for any length of time that I completely forgot about putting some on even though it was right outside the door on a nearby shelf. Took 5 days before the redness eased up and now of course I am peeling. Me and the sun don't do well together. :nono:

So that has been my week...

Shad your latest orchid is just breathtaking! One person commented in your journal that it looks like a sunset - a perfect way to describe it. I hope it's very happy in it's new home. Enjoy your new tools and I'm glad to hear that you are trimming back on the work hours. I know all too well that they expect you to perform the impossible and then they won't pay you for it. Besides as we both well know, long hours at the office makes for shortchanging yourself in your personal life. I also like your back to basics concept for June. I may adopt that myself.

Meadow, I think that if your DH filled the pool yesterday and your children were in it already, then they are more penquins than dolphins! Brrrr. Water must be freeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzing! Brrrr. I think our water will be warm enough by the end of June. It's in the mid 80's here but it doesn't feel that warm. And it cools to the 60's at night so it's holding the water temperatures down. I'm thinking I should do like DH says and just dive in and do my laps. He says I'll get used to the water, I think not but it may make me put double the effort into getting those laps done quickly :lol:

Holly, your camping trip sounds like you had so much fun. Wish we could have been there with you. And talk about a BIG garden. Whoo hoo, I think you'll be having a mini farm with corn AND pumpkins. Fancy you'll be growing one of those 300 pound prize winning pumpkins there? Good luck and have fun tilling.

Mel, hope you got out for some fresh air, maybe a bit of listening to a good book and perhaps just a bit of an afternoon snooze. Has spring hit the Jersey shores yet? I watched the movie Jersey Girl tonight and thought of you.

Kirsty, good to hear from you though you always seem to be on the run - I think bump will be born with racing shoes if you don't slow down! You should be in the new house soon, eh?

Hellos to Tig and Teel and Rose too. :wave:

It's past my bedtime - way past it, so I'd better go find my pajamas. Tomorrow's a holiday for us in the states, besides a 4 day work week, I'm off night support call duty after 9am tomorrow - yippeee. Well at least for 6 more weeks. Thought I'd just pop my head in and say hello.

:wave: Tig and Nae and Linus and Teel must all be visiting each other!!! :wave:

Yesterday was great but so many people outside that the book tape never had a go! I'll save it for another time....maybe today.
I had my weigh in and I am down 1 lb....almost 2...to 171 and lost 6 inches. I knew I was holding water. I have some new lung exercises to do starting today and can try to drink more water BUT he gave me some warnins and I bought a measuring cup!:rofl: I'll mark it well so it doesn't get taken OUT of the bathroom!!!!:lol3: :lol3:

Happy~ good to see the old sense of humor is there despite the trials and tribulations of work and home and garden....and Rocky racoon! :rofl: This could only happen to you!!! Shad has her lizard and you have Rocky! I don't have any tomatoes but I have birds! Hope you get some time for yourself fit into the schedule. I know the feeling of being "on call". Once a call comes I lie in bed waiting for the next one......usually there never is! LOL Hope the week is a better one!

Shad~ glad the DB only broke the phone and hope all is well?!?!?
That was some load of work you did and I thought about your hammock while I was outside....and also Happy's poolside drinks. i could have used one yesterday with the throng of people out there. maybe it's a good thing you ran out of petrol or you'd have been working well into the dark hours!!!:lol3: Hope the week is going well and you DO work less!

Holly~ The day and the gardening sound great. Glad the kids get to pick too. Jen always wanted pumpkins and anything edible....not big on flowers then. :rofl: Continued peace at your house!!

Better get the day rolling and do the breakfast dishes so I can cook a bit today. Take care all and stay well.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!

HAPPY SPRING BANK HOLIDAY!!

Spring Bank Holiday?????? :?: :?: :?:

Geez, some people will do anything for a holiday :rofl:

Whatever you're celebrating, celebrate it well. I'm off to clean out the upstairs master bedroom which has become holding area number 2 for all the things we didn't know what to do with quite yet. Time to get ready for company - my family will be here in 4 weeks. I can't wait. Just as excited about visiting as Linus and Teel I'm sure. I have forwarded the on call cell phone to the next unlucky victim in line so I'm off support and the day is MINE!

Hope you enjoy yours too!

Ooops, almost forgot - congrats on the loss MEL!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance:

Happy-:wave: Nice to see you! Yes, my kids were bright red and as cold as ice cubes when they came out of the pool but they were smiling. They went right into a warm bath and all was well. Fancy a raccoon moving in, must have heard you were wildlife friendly and needed a few stones washed in your pool... he will be in it, they love water :p Sorry he was being a naughty critter and attacked your tomatoes, they are so michievious. You need to get a moisturizer with sunscreen in it that you put on every morning after washing your face, that way it is taken care of. Get out the aloe vera and be kind to your sore, red skin, ouch :^:

Mel-so the neighbours were out in force yesterday and talked your ears off? Hope your holiday has some outside time involved in it. Congratulations on your weight loss, that is terrific! six inches!! golly, do your clothes still fit? I'm going to drink more water, hydration, H20, go, go go!

MEADOW!!! I KNEW I FORGOT SOMEONE!!! And it was your post that gave me an idea too! :rofl: I have been wondering about my rosacea and read Shad's post about sunscreen but then promptly forgot again till this morning when I read about the kids.......so I went into the bathroom and got the new sunscreen out and put it on the chair I take for the rides. There will be no forgetting the sunscreen now!! Sorry I left you out! Hope the kids are not as pink or purple or you either for that matter! LOL Love the AB pic you posted the addie to. Is he sitting there thinking of us?!?!? Hope so!!! Good luck with the water drinking!! "Time to move, Time to make it happen!!!" <------your own words coming back!!!

Happy~ I am sorting the junk again too. Where in God's name does it all come from?!?!? :faint: More for the trash room/gargage man! Bet you're looking forward to the visit and hope you get time to spend with them!!! :rofl: good luck!

Well I finished cooking, finished Jen's short visit with kids in tow, and now need to clean and get ready for food shopping tomorrow.
Can't go out with a dusty chair!!! :lol3: See you all tomorrow and have a great afternoon.

The Ode of Remembrance from the Ode to the fallen by Binyon.

"They shall grow not old. As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them".
They shall not grow old..."

May Memorial day be special to you all.

Have a great day. Mine has turned from reasonable to lousy and getting worse by the minute. So I'll be back late tonight with the tales of woe and the weigh in from this morning as well - which wasn't as bad as feared. (That's the only reasonable part of today)

:grouphug: Shad,This has been a rough go at this job for you. Sending you peaceful vibes :cloud9:
:cheer: :twirly: :wave: Cheering everyone on and waving Helloooo!!!!

Oh Shad, this job has been quite the pits for you, hasn't it? I'm sorry you are suffering the trials of the imbeciles, but to be quite honest with you, hearing your stories makes me realize that my place is... um I guess ... "normal / typical / what you can usually expect" in the SAP world. Good God in heaven. :rolleyes: At least I know it's not me that's crazy and there's some small comfort in that.

And that was a nice quote. Very fitting for a Memorial Day. We await your day's adventures, while those of us facing the dark side of space dream of a peaceful night's rest :sssh: :faint: :cloud9:

Oooooh and tonight I tried some sockeye salmon - it was much redder than the artificially tinted pink atlantic salmon I usually eat. I've heard they recommend that you eat wild salmon now. Why? because it's twice as costly? Have they farmed all the nutrients out of the other salmon? Anyway it was delicious :eating2: the fresh brocolli was good, crisy fresh cold veggies and a bowl of strawberries and monster sized blueberries for dessert - with just a dollop of whipped topping. Umm umm ummm. I picked up some shorts for DH today and they literally fell off his hips. He said he has lost 20 pounds since we've moved into the house. I'm sure it's alot to do with all that sweaty yardwork he's been doing. Why can't it be that easy for us???

It's not so much the job that's the problem - or at least the work that I am doing, it's the weird and wonderfulness of the way the project is planned. They have been working on this for nearly three years. Sure it has to be right - tax payers, the Government, users have to be confident and happy. For three years they have been paying these tech heads big bucks, there have been two aborted attempts at go-live and now they still haven't got it right 5 weeks from the third go-live. What the .... have they been doing? And there is no money left in the kitty for paying overtime or printing manuals. Yesterday was supposed to be a day where the two main trainers were to sit together with an expert or two and figure out how we are going to train the main General Users course next Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Tuesday. So what happens. The first expert is caught up in data conversion 'bugs' and the second, third and forth experts arenot available because they have meetings all morning (yep double booked their calendars) and more meetings all afternoon. The other trainer is told that she must finish something by 9.00am and is given more 'extreme emergency' stuff halfway through. I'm left high and dry and wondering whether to start something else or not.
Finally they all show up (together) and whinge about having to sit around waiting for a trainer. That was about the time I lost it.
Funny thing about all this is, it happens on just about every project, but not to this extent. Usually there is a start and end date not just going on and on and on and on. Interestingly enough - I happen to think SAP is a wonderful program. I am probably one of it's best advertisers. Yes it is expensive, very expensive, millions of dollars expensive, yes if not used properly it is absolutely frustrating and more expensive. And what happens when the system goes live, the trainers finish up, the tech heads are still there, still getting big bucks and still not getting it right? Well we blame the trainers of course because they were supposed to train the system to the people! Now on Monday I have to say to these people. This will be your new system. Don't click this, it doesn't work. Yes the Activity Partner, the Business Partner and the account holder are all the same person - don't let's worry about conformity here. It's to see if you are awake. Let's not say the hyperlinks cause a major disruption to the Portal, lets not say, don't click the back button on the Intranet because it will freeze the system and you will have to shut down and reboot. Hello :wave: frantically - is anyone out there enjoying this lesson?

Tutai, tutai, tutai.

Anyway, I'm over it now. Went out at lunch time and gave the plastic fantastic a bit of a meltdown. Bought myself a new ring. Gold filigree with peridot and citrine. I'll try putting it on the scanner tonight and see if I can show you my latest bit of jewellery. Now I really will have to start pulling my financial wings in if I want to go on holiday next year.
Went to DB1's place last night and introduced him to the joys of the internet. He really is enjoying himself with his new computer and good on him. It's nice to see such enthusiasm and yes I suppose one could call it glee - old fashioned word, but he is really happy. Won't be able to stop him soon. He's already talking digital camera and scanners and printers etc. His photos of his orchids will be all over the net. Just watch out.

Best go prepare my running sheet for Mondays lesson. There's a few things that need changing around, a few more exercises to go in, etc. Not feeling so good this morning, thought I was getting cold or flu yesterday - today the lungs and ribcage hurt but I can't afford to be sick until 9.30pm on Friday and then only until 7.30am on Saturday. It's all the down time I have at the moment.

Oh yes, weights and measurements

Weight 71.5/ 72 Up .5kg
Upper Chest 36/ 36 Same
Bust 40.5/ 41.5 Up 1 inch
Lower Chest 33/ 33 Same
Waist 32.5/ 32 Down 1/2 inch
Upper Hips 39.25/ 38.5 Down 3/4 inch
Lower Hips 39/ 39 Same
Top of Arm 12.25/ 12 Down 1/4 inch
Top of Leg 20.75/ 20.75 Same

All in all considering the bad couple of weeks, it's okay.

Back to basics challenge for June - to lose 2kg (4.4lbs) Anyone want to join.

Thanks for the vibes, hugs, and cyber sympathy. It all helps.

Happy-sockeye salmon, my favourite, it is expensive here too but probably not quite as dear as in your area. Bit of dill and lemon, tummy is so happy. Lucky hubby with the shrinking waist, yes, it isn't fair at all ;)

Shad-:goodvibes: Yikes! Disorganization to the nth degree or what?! Do you have one of those stress balls to squeeze while you are trying to communicate with these people? Wow, I don't understand it all but I get the idea that things are going backwards instead of forwards and that everyone is scratching their heads and wondering why :p sigh, you can only try:D

I rode on the bicycle for 20 minutes or so while watching House Doctor last night, that Ann Maurice is a hoot! The way she slaps beige and neutrals all over the place and stages the homes, fascinating! For a clutter bug like me she is like an preying mantas going to chomp me up :rofl: I think drinking water/herbal tea and staying hydrated helps me exercise, maybe my brain needs to be drowned out before my body can move :lol3:

:wave: Hey all you chicks in the world, how is the weather? It is buckets of rain here and not due to let up till the weekend. Isn't that a cheery notion?

Yum. I like sockeye salmon too!!!!!!
Cant wait to see the ring Shad!!! I LOVE semi precious stones. My wedding ring is garnets set in gold.
Meadow!!!!! Great riding!!!! Beige is NOT a colour.LOL!!!
Happy~my DH needs to eat up to 4000 cals a day to MAINTAIN 140 lbs. ARG!!

OUr weather has been 20C and sunny with a light breeze for 2 days.Pretty much perfection!!!

Ended up with 5 kids today and spent the whole morning outside. Did some digging and weeding.
DH worked late. He got a call from an employer from 10 years ago with an awesome offer. 3 weeks ago would have been perfect,sigh. He is really happy with his new situation. The other may have more of a "future" but it is all a crap shoot. He decided if it aint broke, dont fix it.
Puttered around. Quiet night here.

Shad~ Sending love and hugs to get you through the week and the "cold".......it should only be that simple huh? Maybe some day govt. agencies will listen to KNOWLEDGABLE people and save some time, $$ and aggravation on the rest!! Good luck and hope it gets done! let us know if DB posts his orchids and you your ring!!! Wear it in good health....you deserved a treat!

Happy~ My DH was the same way. He'd go out and mow the lawn and lose 10 lbs! :rofl:Happy sockeye eating! :faint: can you tell I'm NOT a fish eater! LOL

Meadow~ RIDE?!? Did I read right??? LOL Good for you. I just got an idea....I could tape the Designer Guys and watch them while pedaling.

Holly~ Don't it stink when offers come in after the deed is already done?? Life and it's little jokes. glad he likes the new one so much! good luck!

It's dark and dreary and I feel like going back to bed. The new exercises were too much for me. Had to go and get more xrays. I'll be glowing in the dark soon. Nothing was wrong and 8 hrs later they said I could go!!! :yikes: Now I'll do it my way and start off one at a time and a LOT slower than they suggested. What do they know anyway?!?!?......they're not IN this body of mine. Feeling good but could use a nap.:rofl: got up around 6ish cause the cops needed to get into a womans apt. She had fallen.
She's OK but i lost my dream time!!! LOL
Happy Wednesday!!

Hello everyone, I'm back :dancer:

Not too much time for personals, so just an update on what I've been up to (shamelessly copied from another thread for those who don't hang around there, apologies if you do :o )

Very very good holiday. Summary, to be split into the good, the bad and the cheese...

The good:

Our studio was in a typically Greek village on a cliffside. This meant lots of steps, hills, a nice walk to the main town along the cliffside (downhill going there, very much uphill on the way back). Boy did that work my legs. :tread:

Walking up volcanoes. Also good for working the legs. I was one of the first of our (big) group to make it, and very proud of myself. :tread:

Ditto walking up to mountainous headlands to see ancient Greek remains. :tread: Admittedly we parked at the end of the road and only walked the rest, but that's because I was with my mother. I was up for walking the lot, but I can't kill her off just yet. She has many medical conditions and wasn't exactly as keen on the exercise as I was (she didn't do the volcano either).

My thighs. Not even the tiniest bit of rubbing on the days I wore skirts and dresses. The first time I've escaped that on a holiday since I was about 12. Admittedly I mainly wore shorts if I was walking a long way, but one day I must have walked for over an hour without any rubs. And I swear that when I looked in the mirror they almost looked as though they didn't touch under my skirt.

The bad:

Beer. Ouzo. Wine. :beach: I went with a vague idea of only drinking in the evening and drinking water until then. Well, that didn't work then. My resolve crumbled within the first 24 hours. Oops...

Not drinking enough water. See above.

The size of the swimming pool. I say swimming pool. I mean jacuzzi. We were on a cliff side. Just about the only thing they had space for was a tiny little dipping/jacuzzi pool. You could touch both sides at the same time. Not exactly going to get me much exercise. In truth, it wasn't really swimming weather. Lovely and sunny, but more walking around sunning yourself rather than needing to cool off every 30 minutes. So my idea of swimming lots while I was over there kind of didn't happen.

Birthday cake. :hb: Not a Greece thing, although it was my birthday while I was over there (cue Greek birthday cake). But this morning I had to do the buying cakes for people at work thing. Why did I choose cakes I really like? It struck me later that the sensible thing to do would have been to buy cream cakes which I don't really like eating rather than little chocolatey bite things from M&S. Then I wouldn't have been eating them all day.

The cheese :hungry::

My nemesis. Feta cheese and bread (my other holiday nemesis) for breakfast. Peppers stuffed with cheese for lunch (well, at least there was some veg there...) Fried cheese (saganaki is one of the most wonderful foodstuffs on earth. Shame it's essentially fried cheese in batter :nono: ). Baked cheese. We went to one taverna quite a lot (mainly due to the quality of its saganaki :hungry: ). They noticed we liked cheese (my mother would have cheese sauce on her meat. I wasn't that bad). So instead of the little glasses of sweet wine at the end with the bill. They brought us a slice of cheesecake. This cheesecake was seriously the most delicious cheesecake I have ever eaten. Ever. And I've eaten a lot of cheesecake. :hungry: So we had a few more slices over the course of the week. I think I ate more cheese in a week than I have done since Christmas. A lot more.

The damage:

2lb on this morning. I'm quite pleased with that. I reckon I must be retaining some water as I've been drinking nowhere near enough of it (trying to persuade myself that anyway!), so I'd steeled myself for about 2lb of fat and a bit more water. So no worse than I expected, and possibly a bit better if there is some water there. And I trust myself to get it back off again, which is why I let myself do what I want in the first place rather than trying to diet on holiday.

Madcat, Hollyhock and I have a June challenge called Back to Basics. What we want to do is to accept that to lose weight we have to eat within our range, exercise frequently and drink the water. That is what helped us before and no doubt will again. If anyone else wants to join - you'r welcome - I'm up to lose 2kg this month.

The stress here at work is not helping however I am just going to have to rise above the madness. Afraid things are a bit awry with the good folks in this asylum and as a consequence I go home eat and go to bed and am letting myself talk myself out of exercising and eating the good stuff. So it's time to get tough.

I looked at my contract last night and can't get out of it before September or there will be penalties, so I might as well relax and go with the flow. Ultimately, it won't be me that suffers, it will be the system users, so why should I care - probably because I was reared with the saying that if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. I'm too old to change my ways completely now. I can accept the new and it is not all bad, just to my way of thinking not good enough for the working people. I've said it before and now wheels are starting to turn in the back of the brain. It may be time to move on to something completely new.

YP - good to see you back and so glad you had a great time. I'm with you 110% on cheeses. I just love them. I would (if I could) have them with every meal. But.......

Hiya Mel and Holly and Happy and Meadow. Where are Teel and Tig? Evening Linus + bump


Gotta go. Have a test this morning to see if my training is going to be good enough. Better figure out what I am going to read from the OnDemand board. One no longer has to know ones subject - just read it from the online screen documentation and then get the good folks to do the same. Should get plenty of practice on the enter key.

Catching up!
 

I was in Tucson, Arizona last week for a conference. I learned that I don't like Tucson. I have cactus allergies and they were in full bloom. I did wake up at 5:00 AM and go running so that was the saving grace of it all from the weight standpoint.

This past Saturday was a 5K and I came in third in my age group. It was an extremely hard race for me - hot and humid after getting home from the dry desert. I ran only the first mile and then ran and walked the second. The third mile I walked more than ran. My slowest time in a very long time. Drat. Still. I got a medal so No Whining accepted. Reat.

The weekend was great overall. Slim and I went for a ride on his Harley and had a great time. We went to a Harley Art event in the local park one day and felt very Bikers. ;) We went for a ride down the beach highway another morning and had breakfast at a new place. I love breakfast. And we went to the movies. Twice! We saw the new Star Wars and the Kingdom of Heaven. Great weekend!

Hurricane season officially starts today so Slim went to the store to stock up on batteries and water. He also replaced some of our ailing gas cans. Hopefully we won't need them as frequently this year as last. Every area has its challenges. Arizona is too hot for me. Maine is too cold. Kansas has too many tornados and California has too many mud slides. And that's just the USA! :D

The thugs had a glorious time. Slim had evidently painted The Fort the appropriate camouflage. The thugs buried each other in the sand box right before they were supposed to leave to go home. I hosed them down before leaving. Of course, one of them thought he might return the favor and hose me down. He forgot that I raised his father. The water line was redirected to the other hose. :lol:

Shad ~ I so much commiserate with where you've found yourself on your project. I've grown so weary of the project that I am on and the daily nonsense and posturing. You can do it until September, though. Keep pressing that <Enter> key. Use whichever finger is appropriate.

S'Mel ~ aka GlowWorm ~ you are right that you are the one that knows what you can do. Take care, Dear One. Don't make me come up there! :rofl:

Holly ~ it is so hard to know what to do when the 'Awesome Offer' appears out of the blue. Okay, I'd take it. But we're all different! And so are our circumstances. Actually, I am in awe when I read about all the kiddos you have at your house. I'm good with kids, but not when they outnumber me QUITE that much!! :lol:

Meadow ~ House Doctor? Beiges and neutrals? For real? I actually have no style sense at all. I can make beiges and neutrals clash. :encore: Oh, and about AB. Isn't there a new movie coming out?

happy ~ there is something about farm salmon having PCBs, I think. We were supposed to stick with farm salmon because the wild salmon were being fished out, but now the farm salmon has chemicals. Whatever. I love salmon. My favorite sushi is salmon. My favorite dish that Slim makes is Thai salmon. Yum to salmon.

linus and bump ~ {{{{HUGS}}}} Keep well. Stay well.

teel ~ Glad you had Bob the Builder to work on your shower. Now, I've just read that sentence. No comment. Are you all packed for traveling?

blush ~ glad the van's back on track again, so to speak.

Yp ~ Congrats on all the hiking! It will definitely make a difference in the pounds (and not meaning money) department!

FINALLY caught up. If I left anyone out, please forgive Old Age and the Failing Computer Battery.

Miss Tig! So good to see you here again. sorry about Tucson! I would have come and picked you up in the race with my :scooter: We could have ridden the last mile! :rofl: If you do come up....bring the marmalade! :lol3: glad the thugs liked the fort. They can defend it every time they come!
I just heard about the huricane season over the weekend! 5 tornadoes the other day! Welcome home!

Shad~ Too bad about the contract. You know things could be worse.....I could be one of the students! :rofl: :lol3: Hope it all goes a well as possible. I have great faith in your abilities as yuou know! LOL Hang in there. Good luck with the back to basic thing!!! Me too!!! :lol:

YP1~ Welcome home to you also! glad the trip was so nice for all that hiking. Loved the post. so informative and made me hungry too! :rofl: do you have any photos?!?!? I am always asking that question.....I'm an armchair traveler! :rofl:

Well chicks.....I did the food shop but it was a quick one. Seems I had a cyst in my eye and it broke. Never even knew it was way up under the eyelid!!! :rofl: Is this NOT my year?!?!? so much for the Year of the Effing Rooster.....must not be my animal!!!:rofl:
I feel fine now after the drops and willy came inside the store and checked my groceries and packed them on the self serve. Getting all kinds of attention!!! Loving every minute of it too! :dance:
I am gonna do some cardio and pedal for awhile. I am in a challenge today for a POP day. also joined Shad and the rest for Back to Basics!!! Hoping to lose one lb a week and do all my assorted exercises:D Nothing too aggressive....just the basics!!!Have a great night to all!!!

I just love it when I am right!!!!!

This is a Shad loving session. Tune out if it gets too cheesy.
Yesterday we had a session where the trainers had to put on a demonstration in front of their peers. Demonstrating the training strategy.
Trainer numero uno (by his own admissions) took centre stage and executed a flawless performance if you were an accountant - the one that was there understood everything - no one else understood a lot including me. Sure it was easy enough to do because the training tool took you through it and if you didn't know an answer you simply hit enter and lo the answer is forthcoming! But no one could do the transaction in real life - apart from the accountant.
Then another trainer came in and hummed and hahhed his way through the transaction but - at least I understood what he said and we could do the transaction in the system with the aid of the training tool. Then oh blessed sound, the fire alarms went off and we all had to evacuate the building by the stairs - from the 12th floor. So down 12 flights of stairs we went and then had to hang about while the fire person got his breath back (yep totally out of shape, sorry MEL) and told us we were too slow getting down the stairs. Considering the Fire Wardens were in the front we had no choice about the time we took, they dictated the speed. Most of us could have gone a lot faster. Then it was back up in the lift to carry on. Unfortunately we had run out of time. Oh how sad. So the boss trainer decided that since I was the 'least' experienced I still had to do mine. No problem. The HR people had gone. The big bosses had gone, I'm left with a proper training class and a bunch of trainers. So I went through my spiel, had a few jokes, made them do things they didn't want to do and for my pains scored the highest marks of the day. 5's all round (top mark is 5). So there put that one in your pipe and smoke it. Management has left me an email this morning asking me to do it all over so they can see what I did. Sorry no can do, tied up with meetings most of the day and going over my running list so that I can do the real thing properly on Monday. Don't have time for posturings and criticisms - I might yet get to like this contract.

Good to hear from Tig again. Sorry you had an ordinary trip to Tucson. But good that you kept up the running and exercise. Maybe I was lucky in Arizona, I went to Chino Valley and didn't find the heat too bad at all. My sinuses went somewhere else and I could breathe. Oh happy day. Maybe I should move there. They aren't performing too well here at the moment either.

Weekend will be busy again. Painting, sanding, cleaning up, etc etc. The roses are coming into bloom again and Mr Lincoln is outdoing the lot. Lovely red rose that. I'm about to go look at my time sheet for the week. It should be around 40 hours. I've just been packing up and going home regardless at 4.00pm. Next week will see it rise again no doubt.

Back to basics is working okay but I've run out of food in the house so will have to shop after the dentist tomorrow. Today's food will be bought (very carefully) in the shops. I've decided that gym will be 2 nights on and 1 night off as it becomes very hard to do a full days work and a work out every night of the week and it is tough on the body. Maybe I am getting old.

I owe, I owe so it's off to work I go. See ya

hello my freinds ,sorry to be an absent poster but life is just mayhem just now and something had to give ......and the computer was it !!!!!! if you are looking for a nice cheery post dont read any further.................... well dont say i didnt warn you !!!!
i have the house ,we veiwed on wednesday ,its lovely a bit small but bigger than what weve got ,i have a large back garden {well big for here}its 20foot by 35 foot at least ,the dogs will love it ,cleos been in the bad books all week !! we are chipmink sitting for mum and cleo has decieded that they are breakfast :o i am hoping that she will still have beasties to come home to {at this rate she wont} and there is at least 2 dents in this very large{4ft/3ft/2ft}and very expensive cage with the dog trying to headbutt her way through the bars :mad: ,andys going to try and knock them back out ,benjy is going to have to go to the dentist for a dental ,he hates having his teeth done and gets very upset when i brush them ,so i think hes got at least one to come out ????
craig has finished his exams :cp: amnd now we just have to wait 10 weeks for the results ,hes lined up a summer job though so he is trying {very trying actually} andys still not 100% hes still got this very strange rash and is having problems with his asthma just now too {boy have we picked the wrong time to move}
me well ???? im still being really sick all the time terrible heartburn and still not sleeping ,and ive spent a week shouting at people without actually solving things !!!!!! my sisters are all still at each others throats ,but one has gone to blackpool with mum and step dad and her kids so im getting a mini reprieve ,ive spent 2 days arguing with the council about the new house and the electricity and gas supplier ,they wanted to leave me with no gas and electric for 2-3 weeks unless i wanted to pay off the previous tenants debt in the token meters and use them till they could come and replace the meters :fr: :stress: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: i wont repeat what i told them its not for delicate ears so after 13 phone calls and numerous telling them to go take a flying f*** and then telling them to shove there house i will have gas and electricty for monday ,now all we have to do is buy a new fridge and seperate freezer and a new kitchen and well be fine :tantrum: :censored: :censored: :censored: :censored: :faint: our new kitchen has one sink unit ,one top unit and 4ft of worktop????? at the mo i have 7 base units 3 top units and 20ft of workspace ,so we need to knock down some built in cupboards ,and get under worktop fridge and freezer and hubby is putting me in a new base unit 8ft of workspace and 2 top units ,so that i have a kitchen to move into :wizard: , so all andy has to do from monday is too >>>>>>> paint the livingroom,lay the laminated flooring,put up the new light fittings,curtain poles and curtains,paint both bedrooms,lay the carpet in both bedrooms,put up curtains and curtain poles in both rooms,demolish the built in cupboards,bulid and site the units for the kitchen fit the work tops ,and move us in ...........all in 6 days :wizard: :tired: :tired: :tired: :censored: :censored: :censored: :censored: :faint: :faint: :faint: ill let you know how far we get lol
but for now my nice warm comfy bed and c,s,i {las vegas } is calling so ill pop back as i can and keep you all posted and every one keep well till i get back
kirsty and bump
ps ,holly you had me in fits ,reading your post i was flicking through and thought youd wee'ed on your garden :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: made my wek thanxs

Linus!! Glad to hear all your news. Sounds like it will be well fixed up for you!!
The kids and a shop cats piddle in the garden regularily. I usually make it to the bathroom.
Shad~all 5's is not news to us!!!! Good for you for showing them!!!!!
Oh Mel~should we fast forward to 2006 and get it all over with?? 205 days til Christmas!!
Tig~ nice to hear your news too. It is nice how much you enjoy the Thugs!!

Oh guess what - just got presented with a huge bunch of very sweet smelling flowers, thanking me for all my efforts. Not just me but.... all female trainers got flowers, men got cuff links.

When I got back from food shopping my left eye went bananas. Dry eye, rosacea all over the lower lid and allergic conjunctivitis all in the course of one hour Where were the warning signs? Or was I just ignoring them? Mama Mia! I am sick of being sick!
You must get tired of hearing of the Perils of Pauline<-----gonna change my name now!
The good news is that THIS TOO SHALL PASS AND..................
Today is eye drops and indoor sports. It’s crappy out anyway. Very dreary out today and tomorrow so it fits right in with my plans! I'll have to catrch up with you all another time. Stay out of trouble!!
Happy Friday!!!! and I will be back Monday(hopefully)

Woohoo Shad!!

(((((((Pauline/Mel))))))))

I did yoga yesterday and now I am achey. I guess I woke some muscles up.
I will do it again today.
Allergies are quite bad. I am very bleary in the mornings til the meds kick in and then by 9pm I am grumpy. sigh.
I had an Avon meeting yesterday with my supervisor. She adores me , lol! My sales are so good I will be receiving a $100 product bonus!!!!!!! Weeheee!!! She was also looking for a place to hold training workshops. I recommended our church.The church is in desperate need or income. Lots of back scratching going on and everybody is happy.I rock!!
I bought frozen FF yogurt cause I am craving icecream. I ate 3 serving throughout the day. Sigh. It could have been much worse but I promised myself I would have 1- 1/2 cup serving and that is it.
Bowling/pizza party for SS tonight.
No “plans” all weekend!!!!!!
We will host a 30th Bday party for a friend next Friday night.
House is tidy, bordering on clean??!!! Madness. Not sure what i will do with myself.
Soak in the tub for starters. Then yoga.

Have a footloose day.

Weekend!
 

So I have riden the bike twice, watched "Once upon a time in Mexico" the second time, AB eye candy, so I rode for a good 30min ;) Been out gardening a bit, pulling weeds, my hands are all dry and sore now and full of slivers from who knows what! My daughter's class came to our backyard today and released two butterflies which they had watched grow from caterpillars, very well behaved bunch of grade oners :D

Mel-:goodvibes: Jeepers, it just never stops! I wish I could give you a hug, it must piss you off bigtime to have your body thwart you this way. I hope you have a beautiful weekend and some lovely scented lotions to pamper yourself with.

Shad-aw, flowers, how divine! Don't you love acknowledgement of your efforts? You are such a star!! I don't care how many other people got stuff, you are the one that deserved it the most :) The lady with the power to connect the dots and cross the "t's" You are the trainer with the mostest!

Holly-aren't you the lady with all the connections?! People are going to expect it of you and come to you from now on when they have a dilemma that needs fixing. Yoga huh? I tried the Raquel Welch yoga tape, I couldn't even do the head arched back breathing thing, so I don't watch that any more :p Good for you if you can do the stretching and reaching and deep breathing, bet it feels good when you do it right.

Linus-Congratulations and how wonderful that you got the better of the power company, what shiesters! How are you managing on so little sleep? The little traveller must be enjoying all the awake time :smug: I hope all the fixings get done, sounds like a rather exhaustive schedule of activities, I can't even get sinks moved :s: I have bad builder karma :lol3:

Tig-nice to hear from you Biker chick! How early did you start your ride if you were stopping for breakfast? Aren't you and hubby a couple of early riders. The "House Doctor" program is on the Wnetwork up here in Canada, I think it runs on the BBC-America channel too down in the USA. She is a home stager from San Francisco who is in Great Britian to neutralize all personality out of their homes so that buyers can "see themselves" living in the homes and not just the bad decor choices of the current residents. It is a very funny show, the host Alistair Appleton is a blue eyed cutey with a fabulous wit and the chemistry between him and Ann Maurice "the house doctor" is hilarious. They are often comparing the way Americans do things, with the way the British do stuff. Like my favourite how do you say "mirror" the British pronounce every sylabble where the American pronounce it like "meer" They go on about silly stuff like that all the time and it is just too cute!

Dentists + my bone structure = big money
So I go to the dentist today to begin the root canal work on my poor little stubby tooth (which I might add I broke while eating chocolate - dangerous stuff that).
He gives the injections etc. He lays out the instruments of torture and puts a mouthful of steel into my mouth and a rubber sheet thingy that was supposed to keep out the bugs and then asks if I am okay. uh uhhh uhhh hooo says I.

He drills, he prods, he pulls, he pokes and he can’t get through the calcified layers which my body has laid down to protect the top of the tooth to find the second nerve. Yep I have two on this tooth apparently. So in the end he has to fill the hole and recommend me to a specialist who has the different levels of torture - uhhh sorry equipment. At this point in time I am trying to understand what is going on and end up with a couple of choices - a bridge, an extraction, an implant. The extraction is the cheapest but leaves a gap in the mouth, the bridge means that I can also get the tooth behind it done if I wish which would mean a stronger couple of teeth (might last 20-50 years and not 5 or 10. Looks like I am up for a couple of grand for the bridge or about 4k for the implant (which is about 97% successful)

So at the very least I will probably get a bill for around $600 for the specialist consultation. Here we go again.

Following that, I did the shopping, found the DB2, made arrangements to watch footy together tonight and here I am. Washing is done, I’ve made a big batch of pumpkin soup for lunches etc., and a big bowl of fruit salad for breakfasts, not much in the way of housework though, and my trip to the gym will need to wait until tomorrow. Food hasn’t perhaps been the greatest, but water was okay.

Go Holly - the Ding Dong Avon Lady calling - isn't that the slogan??? Yes, the product mostly sells itself, but it has to be out there in the marketplace before people will buy it. I don't know of anyone who actually goes to the trouble to find an Avon lady.
Good on you too for the Yoga.

Meadow, 2 days on the bike - well done. Do 2 days again this coming week. You're on the way again.

Linus - I need your new address so I can post this parcel over. That way, it should get there around the same time as Teel does, you can open it together.

Talking of Teel :genie: get back in here woman!!!!

Mel, I knew that red eye was going to mean something - too many comments, that's what did it!!!!! We did try, Madcat, Raven Toy and I.

DB2 came over for the footy tonight. The bloody POMs beat the BOP boys. Teel will be pleased.

Hellooooo!!!

Sorry I haven't been on site for a while but with the study filled up with everything that is usually in the back porch, its been very difficult to get to the computer desk!

We are at the painting stage now so one wall is a lovely bright "lemon tropical!" colour. Its going to look fab when its all finished. Bob is also going to hook up an electricity supply to the garden shed so I can keep the scooter in there.. :scooter: and my utility room will really be the utility room it is meant to be.

Oh the rain has just started to pour down and the sky is black...:rain:

Sorry to not talk to everyone specifically but hello to you all!!

Dp you like my new siggie??

Yahoo Meadow!!! Keep riding sister!!!!!!
Well hello Teel!! I am very fond of yellow!!!!!It will always brighten your mood!!
Shad/Meadow~ I LOVE yoga and it scomes naturally to me. I dont go for the bouncy cardio stuff although it is what I need more of. Yoga is good for the soul too.
Gaiam has a good series Meadow, you can get them at walmart, there are 20 min beginner tapes.

My angels are outside taking kittens for rides in the wheebarrow!!
What can I say.....another perfectly beautiful day!!!!!!
No plans at all.
Ds got up by himself this morning, made a toaster waffle, put on cartoons and let us sleep in. He was VERY pleased ,as were his parents!!!
The bowling/pizza party went on til 10pm. Both kids had a blast and were actually well behaved. Hubby was at a friends. Both kids went to bed without problems.
I unfortunately was asked to bring home leftover pizza, so I ate it!!! ARG!!
I just has veggies at suppertime so I could have pizza later. I did NOT need the extra.
I farted around the house and the read til 1. Slept til 9:15!!!!!
The last week or so I have been experienceing these bursts of euphoric happiness. Like walking to the mailbox, feeling the sun on my face and hearing robins sing and I just about burst with joy!!! Last night the little kids were playing tag with the minister. My daughter ran up and smacked him on the butt. I laughed and again felt pure joy.
I am just plain happy, all day, every day. Delightful!!!!

Sunday is a day of rest........
 

At least it will be one day when all the renovating, gardening, building and fixing is done. At about the same time pigs will begin to fly to the moon, and all weeds will be eradicated from this world.

I went to the gym - before I could find enough words to change to my mind and talk myself out of it. I’ve done treadmill, stepper and bike. I shed loads of sweat and worked out my daily tasks while stepping it out. So this post is being done while I drink my breakfast cuppa (ginger and lime herbal tea) and eat the last of my toast (Sunday is always big breakfast day and normally I don’t bother with lunch because breakfast is big and late)

Today I’m up for :
Cleaning the bedroom and changing the linen
Painting the ceiling of the front hall
Painting the window surrounds in the lounge
Plastering the ceiling in the lounge.
Trimming some more of the hedge
Doing the linen laundry
Ironing
Visiting DS2
Getting my lunch and breakfast ready for tomorrow and packing the gym bag for tomorrow as well.

That should keep me busy for a while and that will just about be my weekend done.

I think I will have to do some budgeting for a new lawnmower. DS2 tells me this one (the communal lawnmower) is just about on its last legs and will not be able to be fixed too many more times economically anyway. So I’ll just have to go and buy a new toy. Drat. Maybe it will last until after the teeth - maybe not. Maybe I need to hire a horse for a week.

Neat siggy Teel and good to see you back and posting. Don't leave it so long next time ok?

Okay, hello to everyone else - probably snoozing their way through the night. It's okay, I'm not going to ring anyone to find out. It's time to hit the bedroom, change the bed, sweep the floor, dust anything else that stands still (the cat is down there trying to blend in with the bed linen (bright blue and gold - don't think so somehow) See ya

Howdy chickies,
Sorry I haven't been around. Family will all be here in less than 3 weeks so there's lots to do. I have to make like Shad I guess. Hmmm :chin: and she has time to do all that AND post so what's my excuse :dunno: Well actually I do admit to proscrastinating in front of the computer when I really should be doing other things. And I've been tired lately so I don't sit up late at night and post like I once used to. :comp:

They said we'd love April and May here. And it's true. Was in the mid 80's temp wise but you'd never know it with the low humidity. Well come the first of June and I walked outside and BAM! we're living in the bloody tropics here! All I did was go out and weed the garden a bit and you'd thought I ran a marathon. At least it's now warm enough to go in the pool. I have started doing laps yesterday and will continue to get some exercise in.

Not doing too badly on the Back to Basics Challenge. I am watching food carefully, trying to get my water in but need to step up the exercise. Must have been the week for fire drills Shad as last Monday we had one too. Guess I can't complain as I only had to walk down 10 floors, not 12 like you. And I did feel it in the calves for several days. So the rest of the week I played a game. I'm on the top floor of the building and I would ride the elevator / lift as usual. However, I would ride as high as the highest floor button pressed and get off on their floor and take the stairs the rest of the way - except of course if I was loaded down with purse, laptop, carry bag and lunch bag. Been lucky as the most I've had to walk up is 3 floors so far but it's a good habit to get in some extra exercise I think. And I always park at the far end of the parking lot. But with this growing heat and humidity, walking will have to be done in the cool indoors.

DH is going to buy a pellet gun today. The blackbirds are invading the feeder and chasing off the other birds - bird gangs we call them as they travel in packs. Also we bought a trap yesterday as the raccoon has ravaged my garden once more and for the last time. We put bacon in it as suggested and saw the devil last night reaching into the case - not stepping into it to set off the trap of course. Twice he was successfully able to get the bacon without entering the cage. (We both think the trap tho sized for raccoons is a bit too small.). Not about to spend $100 for a larger trap. Fun, fun, fun.

Love your new signature Teel - it's very colorful, very you. Sorry to hear about the dental work Shad, I know where you're coming from, we just paid off the dental bill for me. Ouch for the work, ouch for the expense! Good on yah for showing them just how training should be done. Holly, I like the Gaiam series exercise tapes too. I like Susan Deason for yoga and Ana Cabon for Pilates. Just dug those out last week as a matter of fact. Pedal away Meadow- you can have races with Miss Mel who is pedalling her way across the map to visit each and every one of us. :ebike: How's those peepers doing Mel? Tig I hope you have a quieter storm season. After last year I'd be freaking over the words "hurricane season". Hellos to Nae and YP1. Guess I'd better get running, DH is calling and I promised to unpack at least 5 boxes today.

Enjoy your day... and Teel, I've sent you an email (thanks Shad for the message).

Good morning 3FC and a sunny morning it is. I was doing well over the weekend but was on the pc yesterday. Jen fell while up at the trailer and they e-mailed me all day. Guess the eye couldn’t take it and we’re using the phone now! My eye looks like ground beef this morningand is killing me. I’ll be back next week hopefully. The Drs see 5 fractures in her arm but cannot make up their minds whether they are old or new We’ll know more in a few days. Take care and stay out of trouble till I return....I wouldn’t want to miss anything

Healing thoughts to you Mel and for Jen. The poor dear.Take care!!!
Hi Happy~ we have many critters here too!! The shop cats actually help keep many at bay.
Shad~ my days of rest are much like yours! Hope your work week is positive!!!
Ding Dong!
I entered my first Avon order last night. It’s over $400. I will earn 40% of that!!!!!!
Not bad for 2 weeks as a rep and I have spent a total of 2 hours working at it.
Yesterday was purely delightful!!!
SS was nice. When I got home I finished the last part of the basement floor.
Dh and DS went fishing. DD watched a show.
DH went to town to watch a race with the guys. The kids and I went to a bday party.
I love our friends in town. There were about 10 kids and all their parents. The kids swam, bounced on the trampoline and played ball.There was much laughter and festivities. it was 31C here and humid. I had a few beers. It was sooooo relaxed and lighthearted. We are all sunkissed!!
5 kids today.Another hot one!! I will get the sprinkler out.

I am wearing tshirt from 2 summers ago when I was down to 226. Last year I popped back up and felt gross. My XXXL tshirt is falling off my shoulder and looks like a tent. So I am in 1X and 2 X tops!!! I feel pretty good.
DH cut the grass in the eve and then we had a wonderful summer thunderstorm. This morning everything is twinkling in the sun and bright green and fresh. mmmmmmmm

Have a grand day!!!

My aplogies for lack of comment lately ladies - we have begun training at the lunatic asylum and the inmates are in deep shock!!! Seriously. yesterday was the kick off for training in the new system to be implemented July 4 and although I was already working 9 and 10 hour days, yesterday turned into 12. Don't know who dreamed up this course I'm doing but the timing is way, way out. Such fun!!!!! Not.

Tonight after the asylum, I go to the DB1's place to give some more instruction on how to.............. Tonight I think we will look up things on the internet, install Quicken and Office and run through Word in a hurry. That should paralyse his brain for the coming week.

Gotta run. Try to find some more time tonight or maybe during the day as I am not expected in the training room until 10am (beats 9.00) and should be able to finish around 5ish hopefully.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :cry: :nono: :listen: :fr: :fr: :fr: :stress: :stress: :stress: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: :tantrum: that just about sums up my day
take care all
kirsty+bump

HUGS Shad!!! Hope all went well.

Linus!!! dear Linus. I am not sure a hug is quite enough!! I will send one anyhow(((HUG)))) and peaceful, harmonius energy flying across the ocean!!!!

Linus, better start doing yoga or something before you squeeze "bump" out from the sheer frustration. See what happens when you have to endure 9 months of no beer or a glass of wine to calm the world down... Tell the family to be nice to you, just for one day... Hugs to you...

And to you Mel of the tender eyes. :cool: Hope Jen will be ok. 5 fractures - sounds like quite the tumble. Owwwwwwwwwwwwww.... stick with the phone, rest the eyes and try not to be too worried. Yeah, right, huh?

Holly, holly, holly - yeah for the smaller shirt sizes, yay for the great Avon order. Sounds like things are looking up for you! :cp: :cp:

And my poor friend Shad - 12 hour days :yikes: thought they were limiting you on the hours? Sounds suspiciously like the government to me... When I was between jobs I took a temp job working for the 2000 Census count. I was doing all the coordinating and much of the training for the whole regional area. It was a job that was a minimum 65 hours a week at least. More as we got into the actual census operation. But being the government they planned late, delayed with red tape and stopped paying you after 40 hours. Took a miracle of God to get overtime approved. They play on your sense of duty and responsibility to get the job done without proper pay. Don't burn yourself out, don't give away all the milk for free either. Sounds like you are in the jaws of the lion right now.

I've not been sleeping well myself. More than half my daily water seems to be at night and we all know what that means **sleep walking down the halls every hour it seems***. Feeling achy too. I'm going to try cutting out sugar as I suspect that might be the culprit. Easier said than done. I like my sugar. Even if it's just sugary fruit like watermelon. I guess I am a carboholic after all...

Ah, washing machine has finished the cycle, pop the load in the dryer and I'm off to bed. Sweet dreams and happy Tuesday to you...

Mel gave my daughter an eye infection :p She is on Polysporin eyedrops today and tomorrow, if it doesn't clear up... off to the doctor. She was at a free for all birthday party yesterday which is where I think she picked it up, a place called Crash Crawlies where the kids run riot in big cages while the parents sip coffee in the lounge below. Not me of course, my heart is in my throat desperately trying to keep track of mine as they travel from one end of the building to the other in the rafter cages :dizzy: Not doing much, had barbecue chicken and burgers for dinner, scalloped au gratin potatoes. Nothing beats chicken done on a barbecue, slurp, so tender :eating:

:goodvibes:Mel-Good golly I hope Jen isn't in a cast and imbolized. Your family needs to get a exorcism done on your space to stop all these bad things happening. When you are out and about go light a candle at the local catholic church, I always see people in Mexico doing it and it seems to make them feel protected from evil. I like rituals anyway, I would like to take a little bit from every religion and just revel in it all. I like the budist thing of lighting candles and incense and chanting, omh. Fingers crossed for your eyes feeling better soon. My daughter says her eye feels hard and is sore. I guess yours is much the same :hug:

Shad-what are you going to do with these people? Do they honestly think you don't have a life? How can you work 12 hour days? that stinks! eight hours is enough for anybody! you negotiating for time and a half? I'm sorry you are being put through the wringer trying to get everything clicking over and helping these people function at a useful level. I bow to your great patience and intellect which must surely dwarf all!

Holly-wow on the Avon order and your cut! Do you get money or Avon products as that 40% Great to hear about your twinkling days and sun kissed bodies, I may have an AB pic like that :p I am jealous of your smaller t-shirt size, but then you have been putting in the exercise where I have not. Note to self "just do it!" :lol:

Happy-how is our resident mermaid feeling today? I bet the flowers are blooming a treat around your southern climes. I'm sorry the water intake is giving you nightly up and downs, best have that bottle hooked to your hip starting first thing in the morning with a sipper straw so that it isn't all concentrated into the evening or maybe go to sleep later :^:

Linus-OH! that post looked scary... have they droven you around the bend? are you off to the spa for a rest? Tell the buggers you are pregnant and are not to be upset. Tell them to take their bad energy elsewhere, you and the little bundle of joy must be relaxed and happy. Tell them to stay out of your space if they can't behave. Tell them you are going to pack up and not come back till after the baby is born if they don't smarten up and back off. Tell them you are a woman with raging hormones and they better stop messing with you :D

Teel-love your new siggy, too divine! I hope the weather has cleared and the paint has dried. Phone Linus will you, the buggers are getting up her nose and she needs a good vent ;) :dizzy:

Meadow~ your post make me incredibly happy!!! I am not getting a lot of extra exercise.I never quit moving on most days. I am eating a LOT less and I am happy and sleeping well. That is the difference!!!
Happy~ get that water in early!!! I have realized I couldn't work out of the home cause I pee constantly. I drink 2 coffees in the morning and 20 oz of water. Then I have another 60 oz throughout the day.Needless to say my plumbing in clean.

The 40% is cash profit but I do get a $100 product bonus for having a first order over $400!!!!!!!!! I am dancing in the street and everywhere else.
Have I mentioned I rock at networking. It is so effortless. I feel so ME!!! I basically earned $80 an hour for 2 hours work!!!!!!!! yeehaaa. DH thinks he is going to retire soon.LOL!!
I am getting boring with all this good cheer!!
Yesterday was marvy!!!
I put on my brown shorts from last summer that were tight across the belly and crotch and now they are baggy right outa the dryer. Weeeheeeeee!!!!!!
My weight loss is very slow BUT if you compare back to last summer there is a noticable difference in the right direction!!!!!!
I made 2 salads last night.
I am “catering” the school council dinner/ meeting tonight!!
We were going to go out for dinner but not enough funds so for $6 per person to cover costs I am making pastistio, greek pasta salad, cucumber salad, broccoli salad and cheese herb biscuits. A Dad/friend is doing desserts.We actually make an awesome team. We have done this before.
I had an annoying exchange with Mom through email. She got a couple of snotty digs in.I have cut out the weekly phone calls. I thought a weekly email would be okay but it still hurts me so it looks like I will go biweekly for now or just wait it out and let her do the contacting.
There is a 2nd cousin getting married this weekend and it would seem the folks and the aunt are hosting a bunch of family. No one has talked to me for a month so i didn’t know. Hence the snotty comments. Apparently besides being beautiful and clever I am psychic also. Whatever.
4 toddlers today. Lots of cooking happening to get ready for tonight.
We will also be doing a close to final edit of the parent handbook. I have received wonderful response from the kindergarten teacher!!!

Have a spectacular day!!!

Hello everyone. Busy, busy busy!

Still losing, still exercising and eating well, and still running round after family who keep on coming to stay with me.