Well, I survived through my midterms. Granted I had to cope with a box (yes, whole box) of those damn cookies. One exam was so screwed up by the instructor that she has already thrown out like 5 questions. Some she forgot to even include the answers in the multiple choices. The other exam was so far off the wall. I haven't talked to one classmate who feels good about that one. It's a good thing they are only 10-15% of the final grade. It's hard to get too excited about that. Especially after all the cookies!

My little kitten is just precious. I've decided to name her Thumbelina, but I'll just call her "Belle". I've had to kick her out of my room at night though, she just keeps trying to nurse on me, my nose, ears, chin, even lips. What a way to wake up.

I was going to post to everyone today, but I think I'll lay down and take a nap before work instead. I was up at 6 am today to go in and spend some clinical hours with the case manager, but it was soooo busy on my floor she told me to go home and rest 'cuz it looked like I'd be there late. Bless her heart. Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow. I plan on being off tomorrow, even though they need help, I need a day to myself.

Jen

Hi Everyone.

Gosh, it was a beautiful day today. Last I heard, we got up to almost 70 degrees. To bad I had to work. Oh well.

The threat of layoffs is getting worse. Because the union got a temporary restraining order against the state making us take a furlough day, now the gov is saying layoffs will start as soon as May 1st. I think he has totally lost his mind. I can understand why the union is resisting it but yet, someone has to give in this. Us state employees are stuck in the middle and have no idea what is going on in this battle except for the threats the governor is having printed in the news. To me, he is blaming us for the financial problems the state is in and its actually his fault, to much unnecessary spending. I've already made my mind up, I'm not sitting back while this is happening and being a stool pigeon. I want to know what is going on. I'm writing letters and demanding answers. that decision is the only thing that has made me feel a little calmer about this.

hahaha, my dog just got me to go in and shut the back door cause the noise from the wind blowing the door was scaring her. Don't ask me how I figured that out, I just did. Animals!!!!

Skeeter, what is wrong with your a/c? Didn't you say it was only about 3 years old? Doesn't seem like it should be conking out already. Well, we had a big window unit that we used 3 summers, and it went out. It was an off brand and I tried tracking down the company who made it and they changed names so many times I could never get the right place. We had an extended warranty on it but it didn't do us any good. You are lucky you found an honest repairman who actually helps you out and doesn't charge you an arm and a leg. Oh, I love that Silver Springs. We were there in the end of 81. It was very relaxing on the glass bottom boat. And thats where they used to film that Lloyd Bridges series, I think it was Sea Hunt, something like that.

Jen, cats love to knead on you, doesn't matter how old they are. I like the name you picked for her.

Tobey, yep, till we get the sewer problem fixed, dh wants to take the laundry to his moms. He does most of it which is fine by me. Its really not that bad, especially since we're visiting mil anyway, we just do a couple loads and dry it at home. Its still a pain at times tho like forgetting to throw the bath mat in with the towels and now I have to wait till we have another load of towels. We've got a ton of towels, so many we don't have to wash a load for a couple of weeks. Ewwww, I had my wisdom teeth out when I was 17 and its not fun. I wasn't awake during the actual extractions but it was still pretty painful afterwards. Plan on soft foods for awhile.

Sally, yep, dh is still working and its killing his body. He has pulled a couple of muscles since starting there. My back is doing pretty good lately although, I think I would love a long massage on just my back. Dh's idea of a massage is just lightly rubbing his hands across my back. I want to feel it in the muscles. One of these day's I'm going to a masseuse.

Marlana, What is it your building? I wish I was good with working with wood. I did get dh a new type of saw, well not really a saw cause its actually got a drill bit that cuts the wood. I'll remember the name and tell you the next time I post. I think I could even use that. He is trying to sell his scroll saw at a consignment shop for tools.

Well, I'd better get off here and figure something out for supper. Take care everyone.

Good Morning~~I'm breaking my on rules by being on this puter this early in the morning, but my body is so sore this morning I don't want to move. I spent the whole day building on the cabinet yesterday. I'll get it finished today I hope. Then I have to get into painting. I don't mind the painting so much, just moving out the furniture...and to where????? That stuff in there is the furniture I built to match a waterbed and it is very heavy. I went looking for wallpaper border day before yesterday with not much luck. OH I found some but can I afford it, that is the question. I'm going to take some pictures of that room before and then after. My food was good yesterday, I was too busy to thank about eating.
Tobey~~I sure hope your feeling ok today, if I read it right you had some teeth pulled yesterday.OUCH No running for you this week end girlfriend. I sure hope they didn't have to cut them out.

Sally~~Girlfriend I weighed more than 96 pounds when I started to school!!!! It makes me sick to look at a picture in my year book. What the **** happened to us? I didn't wear a size 3 when I was 3. I'd love to just get into a size 16. See I don't want much.

Skeeter~~I hope that AC holds up to. We get hubby's car back today, I hate to see what the check will be for. We are keeping that garage in business. Next my truck goes. I thank your weather doesn't have a spring either. Spring is my favorite time of the year, although its a busy time for me. It the river close to you as clear as the springs? Well when you come to my house you'll see that we both are wildlife lovers. When are you coming by the way? How for do you live from Kiss-a-me? I've been there, it was a long time ago, and a different man, but I was there.

Jen~~Your kitty is named after me...my middle name is Belle. Can you believe that, but then you are my kid!!!! It sounds like you teacher needs to go back to school herself. How much longer will you be in school?

Jo Jo~~ We had a really warm day yesterday, in the 80's, today in the 50's. It was a little too warm for working yesterday. Today will be just right today. It's always the worker guy that is the problem in government of any kind. In Tulsa they have a short fall of money and are going to get rid of a bunch of just the plain ol working people. But guess what they just gave the white collar workers a 50% raise. Can you believe that???? Sometimes I just want to stomp some people. I don't mean white collar worker like yourself, I mean the ones setting on the boards and able to vote themselves a raise. Well really they aren't , they are very bold about it. I'm building a corner cabinet for hubby's TV in he bedroom. I love tools. I bought all the tools I have, not hubby. He's not a builder. I'll be taking pics to show you.

It's going to be daylight soon and I want to get a early start, so it's time for me to have breakfast and feed the fishes and then out and at it. Have a great week end everyone. I don't have any idea what this attachment is, I just couldn't find anything on St. Patricks day, so wanted to post something since I was in there looking. Most of mine won't work here anymore.

Hey Everyone.

I wanted to get in here and say hello to everyone because I won't be here tomorrow. My friend reminded me that we have a craft show tomorrow. It sure sneaked up on me. Luckily, I only have to show up with my husbands sticks.

Marlana~Yes the water in our river is clear but the bottom isn't white sand like it is around the springs. That makes it look like it isn't clear in a lot of places because the bottom is so dark. Kissimmee is just south of Orlando. You can hardly tell where Orlando stops and Kissimmee begins in that area. It is kind of country where they join but is slowly filling in with people and businesses. Did you visit Gatorland while you were there? If things around here don't stop breaking, we will never be able to take another vacation!!!!! Our families are wanting a commitment about this year and I need to decide that soon. Since we have missed visiting them in the spring, I guess we will shoot for the fall. I am not going in the middle of the summer when it is so hot.

JoJo~I am glad that you are expressing yourself about the situation for your state employees. I hope the full picture is making the news so that John Q. Public is getting the whole picture. The a/c unit was installed 2 1/2 years ago but the guy that we had out to look at it says the thermostat was produced about 6 years ago. That means the unit could have been sitting in a warehouse for a long time. He also said that this brand is one of the worst for leaks in the coils because Japanese copper is used. He says it is inferior and breaks down easily. We are playing a waiting game now because he didn't test it for leaks. He is honest but doesn't have all the high tech tools. They also filmed some of the earlier Tarzan movies at Silver Springs. We need to make plans to go back before it gets too hot.

Jen~It must feel pretty good to be half way through the last of your studies. I sure hope that your instructors screw ups doesn't affect your grades. Hang in there, it will all be over soon.

Hope y'all have a great evening and weekend.

Good afternoon. I got a few chores done around the house and thought that I'd whip out a few lines before I study. What a great Friday afternoon, huh? I did my work out again today. I suppose even if I'm not doing great on the food plan, I'm at least getting more active. At least that's something.

Marlana- Well, I knew there was something that made me think we were related. I guess we just are. Now, I think you owe me some furniture. I really could use a nice bookcase! I'm hoping that when the weather straightens out and I'm done with school that I can get into some projects. I only have 2 months left.

Jojo- Yeah, our gov is a real piece of work. Get out there and make some noise. Ssshhhh, don't say much about the wisdom teeth pain. I still need to have mine pulled.

Skeeter- I really like those all day shopping trips, but when it's done I feel like I've wasted a whole day. Your Silver Springs, glass bottom boats, and wildlife make me want a vacation!

Tobey- I've got to get my butt in gear at the dentist. You're about done, I haven't started. You had a good run home from work? Isn't that like 13 miles? These March winds are killing my running schedule. I do get on my stepper when it's too wicked outside.

Sally- Now that you mentionit, I remember something about the Hemmingway kitties. I'll have to look into it. She still wakes me up every night. Just like a baby I guess. I was a size 3 one summer, about 3 years ago. I was about 125, on my 5'9" frame. But I felt alot better than I do now. I'd be very happy 130-135.

I guess that's about it. Some laundry is ready to be folded. Then I'm gonna try to get ahead on this paper writing ****.

Jen

Hi Everyone

I'm just trying to get myself moving this morning and not doing a very good job of it. I just can't wake up. Later on dh's mom is having corn beef and cabbage so we're going over there. I love the cooked cabbage and really load up on it. Dh is marching in the St Pattys parade this morning with his veterans group. If I'd had someone else to go with, I'd of gone to.

I've got to run out and get something for my little nephews 5th birthday tomorrow. He doesn't need toys, in fact, we were begged to not buy toys, so I'll find him a summer outfit or two and maybe a book.

Jen, oh, sorry, getting your wisdom teeth does not hurt in the least. Right!!!! If your conked out it doesnt. I wouldn't have it done any other way. I'm just too chicken and I cant stand the crunching sounds you hear. Gives me the creeps thinking about that.

Skeeter, I hope the craft sale goes well. I'm kinda feeling the urge to do something crafty although I'm not sure what. Probly something with beads. I'd love to learn how to bead on clothing. I've got a letter to go to our state rep but you know, I'm so scared to put my name to it. I'm still battling with that. I have to think on it some more.

Marlana, I will never understand the crap that politicians pull. How they can do things that totall affect peoples lives in such a negative way and they think nothing of it. I just wonder how it makes them feel if they truely thought about what they did. But I guess that could be said in all aspects of life. I'm just trying to go on and do my job the best I can and hope for the best. I swear our governor has no concience. He just wants to let the union know who is boss and the union is taking a strong stand against him.

Well, its 12:30 and I need to get dressed and go do some shopping. Take care everyone.

Howdy gals. Looks like everyone is busy with St. Patty's day celebrations. I have to work this weekend, so it doesn't matter to me one way or the other. I'm not Irish either, but I do enjoy some Irish creme in my coffee. I guess I reallly don't have much to report since yesterday. The sun is shining today, so I went out for my run. It was right after I went to the tanning booth (I know, I know) so I was still hot and the cool air felt really good. I think I did about 2 miles today! There is a website I want to check out for a "vacation spot" this summer. It's not a big deal, only about 90 minutes north in Galena, IL. They have a great resort, Eagle Ridge. It's a bit pricy, but you can rent a townhouse or 3-8 bedroom house for a few days. There are some decent package deals I'm looking at. They have hiking paths, bike rentals, swimming tennis, golf courses. Just sounds like a nice relaxing few days. Plus the town has some great little crafty shops. Boy do I need the break!

Jojo- Looks like it's just you today. I'm thinking that I'll have my teeth pulled this summer sometime. That way I have an excuse to lay around a couple days. I am going to be out cold. That's for sure. I don't eat beef, so I'm out of luck for the corned beef. I do like cabbage though. I usually buy a bag of the cole slaw mix and cook it up with some other veggies. Have you ever been to the shops in Galena? Since you're feeling crafty, you should check it out!

I guess that's about it. Have a good weekend.

Jen

Good Morning~~I guess we've all been busy as can be for a couple of days, I know I have been. I'm so very tired this morning and I have to hit the road running. Got to go and pay house insurance first rattle out of the box. Then I'm having all kinds of problems with my building project. First of all I've got to add a trim board that I hadn't planned. I painted all day Sat. and I don't like it at all, so I better go back to 0 with that one, no since in leaving a paint I don't like. I like the colors I put together but when I put the bedspread on it didn't do anything for it. The mistake I made was I took a new piece of cloth from the spread and the spread it's self has faded some. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Oh well. Boy do I have a problem in the works with my outlook express. It's been giving me fatal errors, it just gave me one and knocked me off line, lord only knows what else I lost. How ever I didn't lose this post. But I better get in gear and get it done.

Skeeter~~I hope the craft show went well. I've been to Orlando too. And I remembered that the name of the other town was St. Cloud. About all I remember about it is all the orange trees there. Yes I did go to gatorland and seen the big gaters.

Jen~~I don't thank I can take on building anything for anyone else, I'm having a big enough problem getting my own done. The older I get the harder it is for me. However if the weight was lower it would be easier. I bet you will be over joyed when your through school. Going to school would be a night mare for me. I didn't like it when I was young. I don't read books to learn nothing, I just jump in. I guess that wouldn't work for medical things.

Jo Jo~~ST. Pattys day come and went for me, I didn't even get a stationery made for it. I just have too many pokers in the fire to get anything done right now. Next week end fishing starts. I've got fishing gear out all over the place to get sorted out and new line to put on my rods. Hubby did his, but he don't do mine anymore. Can't hardly wait to hit the water though. Politicians for the most part are lawors, they have no heart. They are in the money and don't even come close to understanding how the working man lives. I don't like um!!!!!!!!!

Well ladies I have a long row to hoe today, so I better get busy. I hope all had a nice week end and will have a great week. I lost 2 pounds this week, I worked it off. Adding 2 more paper clips to my string. OH...I just found out I didn't get knocked off line, I thought that was strange, since it was outlook express that had the error. My little puter screens are gone from the task bar.

Hello Everyone;

Where you all at???? Must of been a nice St Patty's weekend for you. Yesterday was a very lazy day for me. I didn't even get dressed. On Sunday afternoons I like to watch the Animal Planet channel.

I did not have a good weekend for sleeping. I just kept waking up during the night both nights. This morning I could hardly drag myself out of bed. I am planning this Friday and the following Monday off from work and looking very forward to it.

Marlana, thats aggrivating when you can't get the paint color correct. Have you thought of doing a paint effect on it, hmmmm, like maybe thinning down some white (very thin) and brushing it over and then wipe most of it off? Just an idea. It kinda gives it an old look to. I did that with a picture frame and really liked it.

Jen, I have a recipe that has cabbage in it, you saute chopped up cabbage, how ever much you wish, in a tablespoon or two of olive oil, but I imagine you could just use cooking spray to. Then you add a can of stewed tomatoes and pour that over some cooked pasta shells and mix it all up and then sprinkle some parmesean cheese over it. I'm going to make some tonight or tomorrow night. Its good heated up. I like the cabbage on the crunchy side to. I've never been to Galena. Maybe we'll have to check it out this year. Dh is bugging me to make a trip to the boat in Peoria. I'd love to go but I don't want to let go of the money.

Oh, I did pretty good with the food today. Still not wonderful but getting better.

Take care everyone else. I've got to go finish supper.

Hey Everyone.

It has been a very busy last few days for me. We had the craft show on Saturday and only sold one stick which was just enough to pay for the space. I bought some plants so we ended up in the hole. It was 90 degrees that day and we were wet with sweat but we did have a really good time. We shared the space with our friends and joked and laughed all day and our other good friends showed up and joined the fun. Then on Sunday when we got home from church, we discovered our a/c was not working again. I called the guy that worked on it last week and found out that he was scheduled for cataract surgery on Monday. Hubby went to Wal Mart and bought 4 electric fans so we could try to stay cool. This morning the guy changed his mind about his surgery and came here and found the leak and fixed our a/c. It's too bad that these events weren't reversed because we could have sold all those fans instead of the walking sticks!!!!

Marlana~I sure enjoyed talking to you on the phone tonight. I have been so busy and was going to send you an email but decided that I could talk a lot faster than I could type. I'll send you an email tomorrow with all the things that I forgot to tell you while we were on the phone. That picture that I sent to you the other day of me and my husband was taken standing in the middle of a circle that the trunk of that palm tree makes from growing strange. It's supposed to bring us good luck to have our picture taken in that circle. I haven't decided if our a/c breaking was good luck or bad luck. Maybe it was better for it to break now when that guy was available to fix it or later in the middle of August or September. It is so hot in the late summer here that fans wouldn't even help much. I hope that you get the color worked out on that cabinet. That sure is frustrating to work so hard on something and it doesn't look like we imagined it would. I have faith in you getting it perfect though.

JoJo~There just wasn't very many people showed up for that craft show. There wasn't very many tables or booths either. It's a good thing that we went more for fun than to make any money. Our friends came over today while the a/c guy was here and the guys stayed outside and the girls stayed on this computer. It took a long time and a phone call to a tech with the company that covers my service plan but I think that we might have fixed a lot of stuff that has been going wrong on this computer lately. We also downloaded a new driver for my new printer. It just wasn't working right and now seems to be working great. All that stuff is very time consuming though.

Jen~I like the Irish Creme without the coffee. I think tomorrow is going to turn into another all day shopping trip. Hubby has a check up with the doctor and to see how the test for asthma turned out. Then we have a list of all these little stops that we need to make at a lot of different stores. We do most of our grocery and hardware shopping at Wal Mart but they don't carry everything. I need some Clinique moisturizer which I can only get at the mall. My parrot only likes a certain kind of food which is only carried at one pet store. I also need some medicine for one of my fish and it is too expensive at that pet store so I will have to stop at another one. My turquoise fish has developed a problem that looks like a fungus. I sure hope that I can save him. Anyhow, it will be one of those long days that makes you so glad to finally get home.

I'm not sure if any of this makes any sense. I'm tired and think I will go to bed. Y'all take care.

Good morning gals. I'm still working on my morning coffee, so if I sound a little off, I am. I had a weak moment and worked an extra 8 hr shift yesterday. But I do get an extra $50 bonus for it. I guess it's not all bad, and it wasn't too crazy at work, 2 of the cardiologists are out of town this week!

I've been working ahead on some of my assignments for school. I've got 3 major papers, on for each class, due 4/17, 4/24, & 5/1. I figured the weather will be too nice then to sit inside and work on them. I'm about done with one. I'm just waiting for some journal articles to get started on the others. I've ordered them through the University Library.

I need to call the guy who put in some windows for me a few years ago, and have him put in the rest. I also want to have a new deck built this spring. I think he does that too. And depending on how much fencing costs, I'd like to finish the back yard. 3 sides are done already. Then I could just let the dog out and not have to worry about her. We'll see. I'm getting spring fever really bad. I also can't wait to get my garden in, plant flowers. But at least the garden will have to wait until mid-May, make sure it doesn't freeze.

Skeeter- I think you are lucky the a/c broke now. It would be heck trying to find a repairman in FL in August. I hope your hubby's appt goes ok. I really need to do another shopping day, wal-mart and groceries, but I just don't have time. Maybe Thurs or Fri before I work at 7pm.

Jojo- Your cabbage recipe sounds pretty good. I may have to try it. I bet it's just as good on rice, potatoes, or rutabega. hmmm, I'll have to try one. I haven't been sleeping well either, but it's that darn kitten, licking my face! I think you would enjoy Galena.

Marlana- Oh what a time you are having. I hope you get the colors all worked out. You know, I can't wait to be done with school. I can't wait to just work. 40 hr weeks sound like a vacation, no papers to write, tests to study for...

I guess that's about it for today. I hope everyone else is doing well.

Jen

Hello

Hope you've had a good day today. I was just busy all day but I'm on schedule with my work.

Dh is at his veterans meeting tonight and I'm piddling around on the puter. Theres really not much going on here at all. In fact, I'm bored.

Jen, I bet you are tired working a double shift yesterday. I think I'd whimp out on that, even for a $50 bonus. Gosh, sounds like you'll be really busy with all your assignments. I'm kinda looking forward to prettyfying my yard with flowers to although I don't really consider myself much of a gardner. I'd like to do some kind of setting in my yard but I don't know what and I'm just not good at that kind of thing.

Skeeter, least you had fun the day of the craft show even if you didn't make any money. Can you take any of the fans back that dh bought? Maybe you ought to hang on to them just in case tho. In the summer we turn the a/c down at night and run fans on us. I like the noise from them anyway cause my ears ring so loud. During the winter I play a music cd in my personal cd player till I get so sleepy i don't notice the ringing so much. I almost wish something would go wrong with my puter just so I could call a tech before the extended warranty is up this October. Just to go over it and make sure everything is working ok.

Well, I'm going to get off here now and watch a little tv. Take care everyone. Tobey, Sally, Marlana, where are you all?