Good morning! It's 12:59 a.m. and I can't sleep! Rick is snoring so loud. But that means he got the boat home safely today so I'm happy about that. And the visit w/the accountant wasn't as painful as I thought it would be . Well, just thought I'd pop on and say hello. Chat with ya more tomorrow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!!!!

Hey ladies, it's HUMP day... I tried posting yesterday but my computer froze up and poof--the post got eaten.

Julie, I KNEW your b-day was in September...I just didn't know when exactly. So HAPPY BELATED B-DAY JULIE . Didya reach the Big 3-0 yet? Probably not You don't look a day over 18 anyway. Hope it was happy.

Angie, good luck with your family therapy I don't know how I would deal with it if Brit were my kid, I think you guys are doing awesome by her even though she's being rotten. You take care.

Kempy, I am praying for a quick sale of your house so you can move into that other gorgeous place. I am a little jealous (ok, a lot!), but you guys deserve it.

Anyway, gotta get more filing done. Rick promised to help me clear out the office so I can re-paint it. It's looking a little dingy so I want to add some color to freshen things up again, plus I'm getting a new desk. It's funny because now that I'm almost all caught up again, I actually wanna work. Weird! Have a great Wednesday

Okay, I am scared of what will happen when winter comes. I could NOT talk myself into working out inside today so I just went for a walk in the rain. I absolutely hate having to walk on the treadmill or ride my bike. I will always put it off for half the day then complain the whole time because it seems to drag.

Okay enough whining from me today. haha

Hey Angie. I just got back from Office Depot and buying me a new desk chair. It is so awesome, almost like a freakin' lazy-boy type chair. I don't even wanna lean forward toward my desk to work--it's so comfortable to sit back in

I gotta give you kudos for going out and walking in the rain. I'm sure you wont' do that when it's snowing though--and then you'll be hopping back on that recumbent bike you like so much--you do! you do! You just gotta psyche yourself out about it Like my elliptical hasn't seen me for almost a year! Even if it had eyes it couldn't see through the stuff hanging on it

All I can do is offer my prayers for a turn-around for Brit's attitude. I really don't think she wants to spend the rest of her teen years in a juvie facility. Your day at the beach w/your twins sounds like fun--so does the vacation.

I gotta go and deliver some parts to Rick over at a job site. I'll pop back in later. and YEAH ALL YOU LURKERS, come out and post.

Hey Noelle, I could use a new desk chair too. Mine is all old and the seat doesnt really have any cushion to it. Now I can see you relaxing at your desk.

I am dreading the snow. It will make working out so hard. I guess I will have to go sliding with the kids. I am planning on going snowmobiling with Jay sometimes too. He has always wanted me to ride along but I have never went. What can I say the cold sucks!!

Kempy, I love your house and the new one as well. Come back and chat with us. Wjen are you moving?....I have all kinds of questions.

Julie, I hope your birthday was a great one.

Dips, How has your first week at school gone so far?

Where is everybody else???? Come out and chat. Where did Red go?

Wheeew Chile'

This school thing is no joke! Books are so damn expensive! As if 10,000 dollars a semester isn't enough, I gotta kick in 400 bucks for the books?! There had better be a kick-*** job at the end of all this.
Anyways

Angie- I can't imagine the frustration that you are having where Brit is concerned but you are more patient than you realize. She didn't get the way she is overnight so we can't expect to cure her overnight. Stick with it, Babe, it will get better.

Noelle- It seems the stress is going all around, huh. Glad things are smoothing out for you though. Your neice is doing bootcamp in the same spot as me. My bootprints are all over fort jackson! She's way braver than I was. I would never join during wartime

HAppy belated Birthday JULIE! Time flies like a sonofagun doesn't it?

Okay I am going to turn in early because I have class all day tomorrow. My ex actually called me last night wanting to come over. I might have let him if school and work didn't have me so exhausted. (terrible, I know) But gotta relive stress somehow. I just have to find an activity I won't be too tired for. So sad

Later Babes, YAY EDUCATION!!

Just a few more weeks and we'll be on fall break. I am soooo looking forward to it. Of course, I can't believe that this quarter is almost over already. Really...where does the time go????

Angie: I'm so proud of you...going out and walking in the rain. We've got a thunderstorm going through right now and I'm so enjoying the sound of the thunder in the distance. Our monsoon season was supposed to be officially over today, but I love the rain whenever we get it. I'll get those pics out of our new floor as soon as I find the cable to connect the camera to the computer. I always put things away so I won't loose them....then I forget where I put them. I've decided that 'organized mess' shall always be my way.

Noelle: Glad to hear that Rick made it back safely. I can just imagine you kicked back in you 'Lazy Boy' with your feet up on the desk and dreaming of Las Vegas (or anywhere else) Maybe I should go check out some chairs at Home Depot. How does Michael like school this year?

Kempy: Noelle sent me the email about your new house. It's incredible...how lucky. I'm with Angie; I have lots of questions. Post soon.

Julie: Happy belated birthday. I hope you had an enjoyable time.

Dips: I hear you about the cost of an education. I want to start taking courses for an endorsement on my certificate, but it's too expensive right now. Good luck during this semester; I know you'll do great.

Hello to everyone else. Please come out and chat.

Cal

Good Morning girls!! I just walked Alicia to school and there is this house right across from the elementary school that has a pittbull(he is freaking huge!!!! but he doesnt bark at me) and a Rottie. I dont like to walk by when the Rottie is out because he freaks out and barks and runs to the end of his rope etc. Well, This weekend me and Alicia were walking up the hill with this girl and her dog and the Rottie started in and I was looking at him and he is tied out to a LEASH tied to a chain!!!! I am shocked because if he couldnt just break it(which I am sure he can do because he is a big boy) he could very well chew through it. Judging by his actions I think he would like to eat Rebel. So anyways, he was out today so I had to walk back home the Main Street way because I refused to walk back up the hill by him.

Dips, I am so happy to hear from you. Sorry you are so sleepy. You are the hardest working girl I know. I am so proud of you.

Cal, haha, I always put things where I am sure to remember them too... I never do!!! I usually find it a few months later while looking for something else.

Well, I should clean the house or something. I will check back later

I am down 1 pound this week!!! YEAH!!!!! I am headed to Old Orchard Beach right now so I will check back later

Angie!! Hi! I never lurk but for some reason I just called up the thread and was glancing through (NOT lurking ) and saw you asking about me! Thank you! I've just been so busy, no time to stay caught up and involved with this busy thread. I can barely keep my challenge thread going..well, actually it's OK now because there aren't that many people...but, yeah, things are busy...big promotion at work and that's going into effect from tomorrow in a transitional state and then full-swing (if all goes well) from Oct. 1. God, it's going to be tough...but I think I'm up for it....Well, no time to really read now. Thanks for thinking of me and a big hello to everyone!

Heh, I DID just read a bit back and I'm really sorry to hear how hard things have been for you Angie with your daughter. I don't know what happened (stabbing?) but it sounds hairy. Like Dips said, it sounds like you've been really good with her and patient and, yes, things will probably get better. Best of luck to you!

Good Morning girls!!! We had so much fun yesterday!!! I needed a day out so bad. We got up early and headed out and decided to stop in Augusta to go to Dennys for breakfast. We couldnt find it so Jay decided to stop at a gas station to make sure we were headed the right way. While he was inside Alicia looks down the road and sees Dennys!!! We laughed so hard.

We then got to the beach and it was awesome outside yesterday. It warmed up and hit 80. So we walked along the beach for a few hours and I took some pics of the twins playing. I also played with a baby JRT. We left Rebel at home so we could relax so I had to get my puppy fix in.

After we left the beach we went to York Zoo which is at the very tip of Maine. We drove 200 miles one way yesterday. The zoo also has a little amusement park so we looked at tons of animals and they got to ride fair rides. We stayed there till 6. We went to check the animals again before we left and the tiger was pacing like a madman. He actually had me nervous because he looked crazy(earlier no animals were moving) but at 6 they were all going crazy. It was feeding time. They all knew it and was very excited.

We got home pretty late(for us ) I ate so badly yesterday but I am still OP, I just dont have too many flex points left for this week. I enjoyed getting out for a day and doing something fun. We want to go to Salem Mass. for a day when it gets closer to Halloween. I have always wanted to go there but never have. It is only about an hour further than we were yesterday.

Now back to reality. Britt's court date is tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Red, Hi. I was wondering what had happened to you. Good luck with your promotion. I hope all goes well for you. You sound really happy.

How are your kitties doing? Good I hope.

Hi there! Angie, it sounds like you had a great day! I'm glad you found your Denny's. Your walk on the beach sounds wonderful! You know, they're over here too, Denny's. The cats are doing well for now but I thought I was going to lose one a few weeks ago. He couldn't walk and was holding his head far to one side. It looked like brain damage. The vet said they couldn't tell without scans, which I wasn't going to do. The guy is old and needs shots every month to kill the pain of inflamed gums that the vet says can't be cured. This is probably the next stage. After his shot, he made what seemed to be a miraculous recovery. I don't know if it's related, but I think it must be because it seemed to get progressively worse, not all of a sudden like I think it would have had he fallen or gotten knocked on the head and suffered temporary brain damage.

Yeah, well, I wouldn't say I'm "happy" about work at all. The place is a total mess and we don't have the resources to do much but I'm being asked to help turn things around. A kind of losing prospect I think. It's a managerial position and I don't like the work. I'm not good at encouraging people because I'm a self-learner and disciplined myself and I don't do well around people who need to be prodded to improve themselves or learn new skills. We have a lot of people who wouldn't hack it outside of Japan...probably a big reason they're here and then we have lots of Japanese whose English is the pits but they think they can write stories! It's not pretty and yet they get pretty big heads on 'em because they see their names in print after their stories have been TOTALLY reworked by native speakers. Sigh. I will try my best. The only thing I will focus on is what I can do to help others (readers, causes who can use the coverage) and myself as I am hoping I can at long last get some money behind me. Wish me luck, please! And I wish you the best with your court date.

Happy(?) Monday everyone.
Just wanted to post a quick hello.
Angie: Good luck with your meeting today.
Red: So good to see you again. We were worried about you and missed you.

I'm off to school. Have a meeting with 8th grade teachers and parents of an 8th grader I had last year. We're thinking of putting him back into 7th grade. He should never have been promoted.

Have a great day everyone.

Cal