Today has been one rainy day let me tell you! I went to another retirement luncheon (in my honor) today. It was given by my lunch group that I've been meeting with once a month for the last 15+ years. I am the last to retire in the group and it was so nice to be able to sit and enjoy my lunch and chat with the girls and not have to keep checking my watch.

Maggie, yep...I'm retired and lovin' it. DH will retire in seven years.

Faye, I'm sorry to hear about your step-aunt. I'll certainly keep her in my prayers. Heather's baby is due May 14 (day before my oldest granddaughter's birthday). I will start a baby sweater soon. I need a simple pattern. I may have to email/PM you for support/direction! Congrats on your new grandbaby--we'll be typing in blue and pink around here soon! My DH has always eaten pretty healthy and he walks on his lunch hour at least 3-4 times a week (maybe more). We plan on walking together in the mornings just as soon as the newness of my retirement wears off. I'm sorry to hear that your husband had to go through all he did. My DH's father was in the hospital about two years ago for his heart--they replaced an aorta valve near his heart--it just about killed him. It was touch and go for awhile. But he's back to being his self again doing all the things he enjoys doing. When you don't have your health nothing else matters! I've started my Christmas shopping as well--actually started last month. I've made a list and when I see it on sale I buy it! Now to wrap the stuff. I hate those doctor/hospital bills. It seems we always have to re-submit everytime! And when I had this last colonoscopy we had to re-submit. I'm so glad DH has an insurance rep at his job so she can help us out with re-submitting.

Susan, what a great idea--DH and I need to start having a date night! I'm glad to hear your DH is doing better than what he has been. Glad to hear that you're getting better as well. You'll have fun planning the Christmas party for work--I love spending $$ that is not my own! I just noticed your weight loss--CONGRATULATIONS! Wow. And I mean that with sincerity--WOW.

Jean, you work for a school so you'll probably get a pension when you retire...right? I get a pension and it starts on November 30. But the pension $$ is nothin' like a paycheck that's for certain. The position I retired from was in a different department at the university. I'm a true believer in things happen for a reason (whether we know it or not). FOUR grandchildren! That's great! I don't know if I could deal with smart-a** teenagers. With the things I see on the tv news these days it can be dangerous!

I'll get in here tomorrow sometime...take care...

You were typing away the same time I was Maggie! I remember when DH, the kids and I were living in the country in Virginia and we were a ways from EVERYTHING! But we got to look at beautiful mountains every day and when we did shop it was really fun because it was a whole day away from the trailer we were renting at the time. THAT was a loooooooong time ago. My girls were 3 and 5 years old at the time and now they are 31 and 33. Thank you--I'll be looking forward to the snail mail. Good luck when you weigh in tomorrow. I weigh in three times a week--at LA Weight Loss. Remember Sharon? She's a member and I was so impressed with her success I joined. I love it. Reminds me of the old WW programs decades back when there were food exchanges. Plus, I'm hooked on their nutritional bars (which I get two a day!). I lost .6 of a pound since Monday morning.

Good morning ladies! It is so much fun to see all of you post and have so much to read and catch up on now! I think I bored Jean to death half the time! :lol:

Jack has a dr appt with a regular dr today so he can get a referral to the allergist for next week. Problem is, he has no swelling and wasn't ever seen by a regular physician for swelling so it will be interesting. He tried to get in to the regular dr when it got bad one day and got a snotty call back from the triage nurse REFUSING to see him because he hadn't been in since May. I hate this practice but the only other ones available in our network are more than likely the same thing, they handle tons of Medicaid patients and Medicare and so they treat you like crap. Jack has only been off the steroids since Wednesday so they would still be in his system and he wouldn't have the swelling coming back yet anyhow.

Gail: I am posting a picture of the set I made for the new grandbaby and you can let me know if you like the sweater pattern. The only thing is the sweater is not a newborn, but since the baby is due in May it may not need a sweater until fall anyway. That was my thinking when I made this one, which is a 6-12 month size. I also changed it up a bit by putting on buttons and loops instead of the ribbons like the pattern calls for. If you want the pattern, pm me and send me a home email address because the only thing I have is your school one. The sweater is made in one piece knit from the bottom up and I found that fairly easy to follow as it was my first attempt at a sweater. I made a different pattern of a one piece sweater for my grandson too and will enclose a pic of it. It is a size 6, but I haven't blocked it yet so it looks a little goofy still. I am buying him a white turtleneck for under it and it has his initials on the collar. I used the same yarn for both because I had a skein that was messed up and took it back to Michael's and they exchanged it then the company that makes it sent me FOUR more when I emailed them about that lot in case several were messed up. I now have tons of this color! :lol: I am almost finished with a brown and orange patterned sweater for Thomas also. All I have is to make the other sleeve and sew up th seams and it is done. It was my first foray into a piece sweater and I did better than I thought I would. Glad you like LA Weight Loss and hope it works terrific for you!

Maggie: I got tickled at your way out in the country restaurant when you are wayyyyy out in the country so this place must be in the backwoods! Of course, I am making an assumption that you went to a restaurant and not to another friend's home for lunch I guess. Good for you on your program. It can be a GOOD thing when the grocery store is too far away to just pop over and buy junk food, huh? That way you stay OP easier. Thank goodness for pensions! Jack has to work 8 more years to retire with the city, but he is going to try and work 2 years past that so he can come in under the SS law and work and draw full SS with no penalties. We want to get our little candle and bath product business going and this will help with the start up money for that. We just plan on traveling around to the local craft fairs and such and selling our wares. I have some cool ideas for making up "baskets" with soy candles and bath products having the same fragrances and using a unique packaging rather than a regular old basket.

Jean: You be careful at school. That kid can hurt you if he gets you alone somewhere especially if he fixates on you as the person who has caused all his troubles. I guess gone are the days of the worse thing a kid does in school is get caught chewing gum! You know, what are parents "NOT" thinking these days! The kids run the show at home and expect to do the same everywhere they go! How did bell practice go? Are all you tinklers :o ready for your performance????? :D I figure the first thing that will happen with the Democrats in control is our taxes will increase for sure, UGH! I apologize to poor Kolby! I guess because he and Zowie were born practically together and the spelling of her name is so unusual, that I remember her and forgot him! When I think of you having 4 little ones all under 4 running hither and thither, I just have to chuckle thinking of grandma trying to chase them all down!

Susan: Boy, it is good to hear that Stan if finally coming around and getting healthy again. Hope you can get him the prothesis and he can become more mobile. I sure hope they can get you straightened out too! We sure did worry about you while you were gone. I don't know if a cruise to Tahiti is my style, but I have always wanted to go to St Thomas. Jack was there several times in the Navy and really liked it. I think a week out on the ocean would be enough for me, though with all these cruise ship mishaps lately I think I will stick to going to sin city every year where all I have to worry about is getting hit by a flying casino chip! :D

Gloria: I saw that good ole Ted Kennedy was re-elected. They might as well pickle him when he dies and stand him up in the corner of the Senate! I am not a Democrat, but I did admire his brothers when they were alive. He on the other hand is a complete scallywag!

Let's see, I have wasted a whole hour fooling around with you ladies so I guess I need to get out of this chair and get the rest of my cleaning finished. Not much left, just the vacuuming and dusting upstairs then I am done with the weekly cleaning. I seem to always have something to do though!

Have a super Thursday gals and stay warm or cool depending!

Faye

Good Afternoon Cyber Friends
 

Just got in from my WW meeting and am glad to say that I am one pound lighter. We heard a bit about the new program which is much of the same but better ~ so they say. Guess we get all the material starting sometime in December. I am waiting until the first frost to get rid of these pesky flies.:p They must think it great sport to come in here and buzz me. :D I get em.

GAIL Your luncheon sounds like fun. I like those get to gethers. So Wayne can retire in 7 years. What are your plans, if any, to do then? Any traveling in the plans? Yep I remember Sharon and that weight loss plan worked great for her. CONGRATULATIONS on your loss. Every bit adds up for the downward move down this road to thin.

FAYE You had me rolling with that remark about pickling TK. What a hoot, I even broke out laughing midway down the road to attend WW. Will got a kick out of that too. Your candle idea sounds like a neat venture. They should be a good seller because most folks like neat things such as that. Your sweaters are nice looking ~ I haven't knitted in so long ~ is it like learning to ride a bike ~ you never forget how?

JEAN How are you fixed for cats lately? The gal whose property we are staying at has two cats. Ragg Mopp wants to play with them but they don't get it. They stay clear of all the dogs. When we were over at another friends there was a batch of kittens that loved Ragg Mopp. They would cuddle him and let him toss them about. That young man in your school that you speak up is in training for the big house.

EVERYONEHave a lovely afternoon.:wave: