[linus]

im so very sorry for not being in family issues ,neighbour problems,internet downs and a general lack of energy
SHAD A VERY HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU im so sorry hun our internet connection died sunday night and i couldnt send the ecard and by the time i could i forgot i wish for you a complete lack of idiots and hassles and strife in your life for this year and the strenght not to hit the ones that appear
MEL glad your feeling a wee bit better hun thanks for the picture but i wish i looked that good she doesnt have bags under her eyes or stretch marks that resemble our motorway system kep resting and be well
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO for you i wish you peace harmony and blooming wonderful roses
HOLLY i wish for half your energy im severly lagging now
MEADOW my rooms too lol
NAE glad your home now come out and speak to us all
now im realy knackered so im off and ill be back tomorrow
kirsty+bump

[Shad]

Evening all,
Not a bad sort of a day all up, although I figure that the work I have to do at the OSR is double what it was originally going to be, so it will be bum up for a while and some long hours to get it all done. One thing that never fails to amaze me is the fact that most of these places 'forget' to give you all the gen on what has to be done. This place doesn't even seem to have a standards document - so what I do is different from what young G does and that's different to what P does. Also nearly fell off my chair today when the business person suddenly realised what he has left to do - that he didn't think he had to do!! It seems that nothing is made clear! D'oh.

We've had some very heavy showers over the last couple of days. Very welcome they are too. The lettuces have got to picking stage and the beetroot is literally leaping out of the ground. I even have a couple of green capsicum (bell peppers) on the plants (first time ever I've managed to get them to grow well). I need to go to the nursery to check out some more vege plants and I guess some more tomatoes as well.

Linus - sorry to hear there are more family problems. Hope they get sorted soon. It isn't Craig is it?

Meadow - just love that birthday card again. Such artistry.

Mel - I've just decided that as sh*t happens frequently I will not become a victim. I will take all precautions and care and I will learn from this, but I will not let this affect my life. It's just another nuisance factor in today's nuisance factor lifestyle. This too shall pass.

Anyway time to go. Bed calls.

[MELODY525]

Shad~ Our hearts just ache for you and all the rest of us lately!! I wonder if this forum is an example of what life is all about??? Maybe we could start a new TV series REALITY LIFE instead of reality tv glad the shed is secured now. doing positive things makes all the difference but I wouldn't expect any less from you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY

Happy~ I am sorry I was a day early with the birthday!!! I blame everything on the drugs now!!!! Might as well while I'm taking them!!! Hope your REAL birthday today is a glorious one!!! I hope the little man isn't too tired to jump back out of the cake again today!

Holly~ the house and kids sound great but I still thing you should have left the "troop" at the market glad they like the new room!! Enjoy the space!!!

Linus~ Sorry to hear the load of things going wrong!!! Better put your seatbelt on cause it sounds like it's gonna be a bump-y ride Hope things straighten out!!!

I finally fell asleep last night without any pain medication. The first since last Monday. I'm still using the patches from the friend during the day cause it hurts to sit up still. will this ever go away?!?!?!? Not a PATIENT patient! I turned my head and my neck "cracked" the way it used to when I got up....that's a good sign that the muscles are starting to "correct" themselves again. so all in all there is improvement and I just will have to wait till it's over!
Well the patches are starting to work and I want to clean the bathroom sink and such. Have a great day/night!!!

[Hollyhock]

Mel~ I do think this forum is a reflection of real women and families and how life is.
To me it shows that people are just people no mater where we are from and we ALL face adversities and experience joy.......
It is a blessing to have a place to talk it out and receive support when needed and cheers for the successes!!!!!!!
Linus~ HUGS and energy flying across the ocean!!!! When I was preggers I couldn't function after 5 pm. That is why we have 2 kids and not more. DH didn't think he could handle the load. I was TIRED all the time and sick. Most of a year is a LONG time to be sick.

Dinner last night was more nostalgic than sad. It was warm and fuzzy. S’s 3 childhood friends, another family and us were there for dinner. The kids played in the basement and has soooo much fun. Lots of laughter and good conversation. we left around 9. Late night for our kids.They slept til 7:30 but have school today. I hope they are not too grumpy.
i just have 2 little guys all day. I am still feeling peaceful.
There are mountains of laundry to do and the kitchen fairy has not been appearing over night. Must speak to her( or HIM). I am tired of washing the pots and pans for some reason. Today I will get the kitchen spic and span.

What is PLEASURABLE besides eating??
Painterwoman’s journal post got me thinking about what I would do instead of eating.I realized i was thinking of the things I did before I was a wife and mother and gained 40 lbs. AHA! There is not really time or space for me to do the things i love but there is time and space to make a glorious multi layered fatty sandwich and sit in front of the tube yet be available for the kids.
With the basement finished( almost) and the kids are a bit older maybe it is feasable to set up a craft/painting/photo album spot somewhere for me to get at and work on. Hmmmmmmm.......

I had 3 glasses of wine last night and dessert. It was good and I dont feel I over did it. It was part of the celebration.
I need to think about breakfast and tidying the darn kitchen.

HUGS to all!!!!!!

[happy2bme]

Good Morning everyone,
Thank you so much for all the good birthday wishes. Thank you too Meadow for the special card - loved the expression of the cats It's a positively glorious day today - a bit cool but sunny. The most important thing is that I have the day off!!!! Going to spend the morning in the yard - I have the last of the flowers to plant in pots around the pool and I have to get my tomatoes into containers. They are madly sprouting all over. Should do a bit of clean up on the roses too.

The hummingbirds have found our feeders! I love watching the little buggers tho they are a mean, agressive little bird. One feeds and then flits over to the dogwood tree where he keeps watch and stalks anyone else who might want a drink.

Mel, glad to hear that you are feeling just a teensy bit better. Sounds like you couldn't have done worse if you took a spin in the cement mixer. Owwwwwww. Rest up and pamper yourself, think healing thoughts.

Shad, I found that my pepper plants like mulch and did better when I put some grass clippings underneath to keep them slightly wet and warm. Of course perhaps they flourished because I hate capsicum and only wanted a few for DH, instead I always get a bumper crop. Thank you so much --- your package came yesterday. Both of loved our gifts, I have the perfect place for the print - you must come over and tell me if I hung it straight!

I am pleased to report that thusfar Mum and DH are getting along fine. **big sigh of relief from me ***

Time to run, the back yard calls to me. And I want to take Mom out for lunch and a bit of shopping around.

Love and hugs to you all!!!

[teel]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HEAR HAPPY...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOO YOUUUU!

I do hope you are having a lovely day and are so pleased all is going well with DM's visitation!!

[happy2bme]

Thank you Teel... my you have a lovely singing voice!

[Meadow]

Did some weights. Putting some thought into getting up earlier and doing a bit of working out then instead of later in the day when the onslaught of life distracts me and I'm unable to focus on myself. I have been at this consciously for over a year now and haven't made any progress to speak of in the downward numbers department. It has to click sometime right? As good old Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself", so it is up to me.

Mel-patches for pain relief? that sounds interesting, so it is applied direct to the site where you have the ache? Is there no whirlpool/hot tub facilities anywhere by that you could utilize? You need a good soak in some warm moving water to ease all the strain your body is under from your fall. Do you have a hot water bottle? Heat is a great relaxer and calms any muscle spasms. Thanks for you kind words in the journals. I'm a dust laden headcase but I'm blowing some air to clear it up there Should I post you another AB pic to help warm you through? How about AB as a fireman?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ab-bombero.jpg

Holly-send that kitchen fairy over to my place after she gets done on yours please, my pots just never get as clean when I do them The night with you friends must have been a tender time, was it full of nostalgia or did you shoot the breeze about current events instead? My pleasure besides eating is Antonio Banderas, although I think about eating him too I'm not the only one though, the author Isabel Allende wrote about dreaming of him naked in a tortilla slathered in guacamole and slowing devouring him He affects some people that way I probably will not be journalling as a regular thing. I use it mainly as a kick in the pants to myself to put it out there and to deal with myself and my feelings. Don't ask me why but it always seems to work. If I post a journal entry, it stays with me and I rehash it in my head and I "do something". It is my confessional but I have to have been really bad before I feel the need to confess Clear as mud right, don't worry, I don't even get me most of the time

Shad-so work is getting busy now? How scary is the picture? Are you going to enjoy the progression? Yeah for the rain! I know you were feeling the heat bad. I picture you in your garden often, puttering around picking the weeds and surveying your harvest I hope the long hours you will be putting in at work will not derail you on your new routine, it sounded like Jason had found the right combination this time

Happy-how goes your special day? What a grand bonus that you have the day off! So you are mucking about planting tomatoes and admiring your roses? Sounds like a beautiful day outside that you have planned. Is you mom coming up with some good plans on decorating the house? Are you two heading out shopping? Will there be fabric swatches and maybe a home department store to ponder some new items in, maybe furniture, maybe curtains? I hope you have many smiles and hugs surrounding you today, after all it is the anniversary of your arrival here amongst us

Linus-family problems? Didn't they read the memo about when mom is pregnant nobody is to do anything, at anytime that will upset her? Do they need the "super nanny" to step in and shake them up and give them the rules? I say you pack up and move to a spa until the baby arrives. You can't be under all the stress (hugs) Iceland looks cool, why don't you see what is available, they should be almost to 24 hours daylight, such fun! The best solution to neighbour problems is to plant trees, lots of BIG trees

Teel-what are you up to? Is the weather nice? Are you taking walks? Have you been exploring? Are you packing up your suitcase? Time is ticking by, will not be long now

it is a beautiful sunny day here in the rainforest. High fluffs of cottoncandy clouds and so hot the kids are burning their feet on the back deck. Thus they are inside watching Dave the barbarian instead of being outside... they didn't head out till 6:30pm last night when it cooled down, probably the same today

[happy2bme]

Hey Meadow,

We have blinds all through the house but no window dressings. I was thinking of doing some valances at the very least - just a bit of decorating. Got all my planting done, mom was content to sit in the yard and chat. I'm glad - she doesn't really need anything particularly from the dollar store. Sister and I agreed that we'd rather she keep her money instead of getting us more clutter stuff - tho we always appreciate the gesture. We all went to dinner tonight and to the local ice cream place for dessert. It was a nice day and evening. Very relaxing. Best part is 2 more days and it's Friday again!

Meadow, I hope you can find the time to get up early and exercise. I've heard it gets the metabolism fired up and running all day long and you get more bang out of it. I have the same problem with putting it off at the end of the day. I'm just out of gas and not that enthusiastic about it.

I am wayyyy past my bedtime. Better scoot before Mom hears me banging on the keyboard and yells downstairs to "get to bed NOW". Yes, MUM

[Shad]

Hola!!
Hey it's Thursday night - coming up for another weekend and guess what? It's yet another long weekend here in the Great South East. Yup, this time it is Labour day. Of course Mothers day has to be in there somewhere too I think - or is that the following weekend. I can never remember whether it is the first Sunday or the 2nd Sunday in May.

Put in a very long day today - 10 hours, there is more of these to come as well. So I am going to have to rethink gym times again. I have to try to work them in around the travel times. I have been going at night after work, but it is meaning that I don't get home until nearly 7pm after leaving home by 6.00 in the morning. Maybe gym after work Monday and Tuesday, then Saturday and Sunday put in a couple of big days. Thought required here.

Meadow - whatever works - if the journal works to beat you around a bit, then go for it. It sounds like a clever idea. You know, you are right about the confessional. It just works, lets not question it. I spent years nibbling round the edges of weight loss. Everytime I get serious, really serious I can lose some weight. Problem is I don't get serious enough, often enough.

Happy, so glad to hear that the DM and DH are getting along okay. The garden is sounding really nice too. Hummingbirds are nasty? And here was I thinking that they are so cute!!! Now I am devastated. We don't have them here at all. What we do have at the moment is a large family of very rowdy Kookaburras who insist on having a great laugh at 5.30 in the morning.

I'm doing a Happy here - it's way past my bedtime. Nighty-night all

[happy2bme]

Originally Posted by Shad

Everytime I get serious, really serious I can lose some weight. Problem is I don't get serious enough, often enough.

Hmmm truer words were never spoken. That's my problem too, much as I hate to admit it. It's hard work, concentration and consistency. I have difficulties with the consistency. Tho I was just thinking last night, if I don't get on and stay on the bandwagon, I am headed for serious health problem simply because there is too much weight around. Shad you asked what my goal for this year is - I must say it would have to be losing the extra weight gained after I quit smoking - finding what little bit of my metabolism is left and giving it a good kick.

I admire your determination to find a way to do the gym and keep up 10 hour days. The best route seems to be to go first thing in the morning. Does the gym open at 3:30? Trouble is, that makes for a life in which all you seem to do is work out, work, eat and sleep. Rinse, repeat as you say.

Why can't we be independently wealthy?

Time to rise, shine and go forth and make a living. Have a good one ladies. Gloomy rain and storms here for me today.

[MELODY525]

Meadow~ LOVED AB in the uniform. It's true he was a fireman?...I read the printed part too. Hmmmmmmm
I recently read also about exercise in the AM jump starting the metabolism and getting more bang like Happy said. good luck.

Happy~ "consistency" is my problem with EVERYTHING!!! LOL I think I should make that MY goal this year before it's over!
Thanks for the good thoughts and I don't know why I never thought of an e-card. We also don't have your new addie!!!

Teel~ Your singing was very impressive and I can hardly wait to hear some xmas carols out of the UK!!!! :merry:

Shad~ let's see here is a list:
Friday is Holy Friday(Orthodox)
Sunday is the last day of Passover and also Easter for the Orthodox
Monday is not only Labour Day for you but Early May Bank Holiday for Eire and the UK!!!
So we have a whole weekend full of HOLIDAYS!!!
LET'S CELEBRATE

Holly~ glad the dinner went well and the kids had a good time. Hope you have a bit of "HOLLY" time this weekend just for you!!!

Lots of pain and discouragement here today. No sympathy please. It might make me cry. It's from dusting the house and folding things. I got tired of just "sitting" around....quite funny when you think of it! Everytime I say it someone laughs! but I know you gals know what I mean even if we giggle!
The new chair parts arrived yesterday so the chair got put back together and will arrive today sometime! I am excited and Jen just called and is on her way down....so gotta run. Will let you know if the chair arrives in good working condition!!!

[teel]

No Meadow, I haven't started packing yet! But in another couple of days I shall be able to say "next month I am off to see Linus"!! Yipee!! I am getting quite excited as I start to book up day tours from Edinburgh so I can pay for them early and not have such a big bill to sort out when I get back again...

I am quite pleased with my healthy eating plan at the moment... I am only ...(only!!!!) 4lbs off having lost 2 stone which I sincerely hope to do and more before I fly. To this end I have tried a couple of new recipies, one of which I hope you do not mind me sharing with you here. It is called, "ROAST SMOKED SALMON SUMMER SALAD"!!What a mouthful! I tried it out for lunch and enjoyed it enough to try it out again. Its a bit of messing about but worth it when you get round to eating it!!

Roughly julienne or grate 2 carrots into a bowl.
Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a small pan and add 1 teaspoon poppy seeds and heat until boiling, then pour directly over the carrots.
Add the finely grated jest of 1 orange then skin the orange and cut into segments, adding them and any juice to the carrot mixture.
Season with salt and pepper
Add 1/3 cup chopped pistachio nuts and some fresh coriander or parsley
Toss well and finally add roast smoked salmon flakes.

As I said, rather a lot of preperation invoved, but very well worth it!! I do hope someone will try it and give me feedback!!

It's a grey old miserable day here today, but no rain...yet!
MEL I am sorry you are still in a heap of pain. Don't go doing too much on the computer or you'll get sore and even more miserable! Nice to see you posting a bit though. I do hope that the new chair arrives in good nick tomorrow and you will soon be up and around and able to use it.

Shad it sounds as though you are working hard at the moment... I hope you had a good long weekend. Not too long till the next one!

Happy I hope you had a lovely day too yesterday. How's the mum's visit going? Sorry for my spelling mistake on my previous post....the h on the keyboard is nowhere near the d !!

[Tig]

We slid to page 2 so I felt obligated to move us to the ForeFront. I read the comments about exercising in the mornings and felt obligated to hit the dreaded treadmill this morning. My weight has been creeping up on me and it is nobody's fault but my own. If I exercise, I lose. If I don't, the dratted pounds creep back on. Slim moved the treadmill to the garage for me because the grandkids were here last weekend, and we're going to have kids and grandkids visiting from now until July so we really need the space in the bedroom we'd designated as the Exercise Room. I went to the garage this morning and felt so energized that I ran for 30 minutes instead of just walking. Not as cramped as the bedroom so I felt less claustrophobic.

This Saturday is the 8K race - my first race longer than a 5K. I am hoping to finish in about an hour. Less than would be thrilling!

Slim offered to take me to the beach for a walk and then to a beachside bar for a glass of wine, but I was feeling cheap so we sat on the patio and listened to the birds and neighbor kids garage band. After the 'concert' we walked the yard and Slim showed me all the fruit trees with flowers and tiny fruit. Doesn't get any better than that!

[MELODY525]

I need a "Slim" in my life!!! Guess I'll have to settle for Chilly Willy the bus driver! speaking of which....I spent lunch time with him and the girls cause I heard he has more forms to fill out and is feeling pretty bad still. Next week I'll spend more time...he has a 3 day weekend with the DW and kids. Maybe he'll feel better getting away from here. Jen and I think people are "taking sides" and making comments about the "accident" within his hearing. You know haow people can be mean and do this. So I will make an effort to show my face next week. It won't kill me. The wheelchair got here late, the man didn't know what he was doing, after watching him struggle for 1 hr, I finally helped him myself! We got the seat put on the right way finally and he left at 9PM!!!!! I was exhausted, took a pill ate a bit and went to bed! Feel OK today but a bit sore. I expected it though. The chair is charging and ready to go soon. Where I do not know! going to have a "do nothing" weekend and I think I will make better progress. Hope you all have a wonderful one! Shad's will be starting very soon!!!

Tig~ when I read someone as contented as your post sounds, I feel good for the rest of the day! Have a great race and a wonderful visit!

Teel~ I'm getting excited too listening to you and the countdown I can hardly wait for your departure!!!
(sigh) Keep your feet on the ground till it's time to go!

Well girls I best get on with the day of Tv watching and idleness!!! Have a great weekend and take care.
Meadow, Nae-where are you?, Holly and linus & Bump!!!