Good Evening, Flowers!
I am heading off to bed! I spent the day at school and came home with such a headache! They are tarring (?) and putting a new roof on the school and the smell was so strong. Our room is hot from the morning sun and the hot tar smell just made it seem so much worse! They have taken up half of our staff parking lot with their "stuff" and hopefully will be done by October 1st. They didn't start until the end of June; we were out May 29th . . . what's wrong with that picture? I got as much done as I could today so I'm not going back tomorrow; will go on Thursday for the staff meeting and see what there is to do then.

"Gma" -- Thank you for the "congrats" and the cute little people! We are just so thankful she is here and healthy! Beth's bp went way down today, 88/43, so they are watching her closely and filling her up on iron. It has come back to 100 and hopefully will stay on the upswing. If not, they will give her a transfusion before she goes home, tomorrow she is hoping. Glad to hear your car light was taken care of so easily! I panic when any of those lights come on!

Bubbles -- Your best wishes are just as special! Thank you! We saw River Dance when it came to Sioux City and they are awesome! I know you will enjoy it.

I am heading off to bed! Have a wonderful Wednesday! I plan to fix a casserole and go visit the newest member of our family!

Jean -- from Iowa!

I'm beginning to feel a little lonely in the flower patch!

I spent the morning looking at new doors and sidelights, fixing food for DD, and cleaning up the kitchen. We went to see Miss Madaline this afternoon ... she never did open her eyes but guess we will keep her anyway!

I have to be at school by 8 tomorrow morning for a staff meeting. I hope the tar smell is at the other end of the building!

Have a terrific Thursday, Flowers!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Good afternoon flowers!

Jean: Hope today's school day went better than yesterdays! You should see Memphis! They have half the exits tore up redoing a lot of the interstate and the loop and instead of doing one at a time, they do three and the traffic tie ups are horrendous! This is supposed to take about 4 years! Besides the fact that the people here drive like total nutsos which of course causes accidents all over and that doesn't include the screwballs who can't seem to unscrew the cellphone from the stupid ear! Jack says they are being born with them attached already!

For the rest of you, I hope all is well! Gloria hope things are getting back to normal being back home! Bubs and Maggie, hope you have a nice weekend!

This Saturday is Elvis Death day UGH! This place will be a mad house. Every hotel here is booked solid on this weekend. Thank goodness I don't live anywhere near Graceland or I would be moving! We usually have any where from 50,000-200,000 people here that weekend. They start the candlelight vigil at around 8pm and it goes all night with the nuts boohooing over his grave! (sorry if any of you are died in the wool fans, but I think it is ridiculous) I mean the man, was a good singer, but for heaven's sake he was a drug addict when he died and he wasn't Jesus Christ or something he was an ordinary man! I find this weepy stuff over the grave totally stupid and infantile! They sure make the bucks over this weekend too, which I find SICK SICK SICK! "Hey, let's sell T-shirts of the drug addicted dead guy for $25 each." Ok time is through! My sil birthday is Saturday and we are going to there house clear on the other side of town thank goodness to have cake and ice cream. (I remember his bday because of the date Elvis died! Part of the reason is I was pregnant with his wife and I remember being in the living room and they broke into the program I was watching.

When I came in from shopping a few minutes ago, one of the neighbors was into it with this guy that is doing the electrical work on all the condos to bring them up to code. Sounded like the electrician was trying to charge more or something. What makes me mad is that dh could do the work because he does electrical, but doesn't have his license. BUT, the state of Tennessee does not require a license unless you are building a new house etc. The condo association is requiring us to use their contractor and having the work signed off on by this guy! Can you say KICKBACK?! We are waiting until the very last minute to get ours done because of it. They aren't even using the best method to do the work! Oh well, that's condo life!

Better scoot ladies!

Faye

GOOD EVENING MAGNOLIAS

First and foremost I must say CONGRATULATIONS to JEAn Your now a Grandma twice over. That is wonderful and it is good to hear that Mom and baby are doing well. Now you have a little girl and a little bit bigger boy. They will have a great time growing up as cousins.
Your school is just starting and they decided to tar the roof...of course that is par for the course. Hope that job is done soon.

FAYE, so you too have construction problems in Memphis. I thought it was only Boston that was torn up. We have been taking down the Central Artery...an overhead highway from North to South straight thru Boston...in favor of an underground road. This has been going on for about 5 years and they are just opening the North bound under ground road but now they are taking down the overhead road. It is called The Big Dig....and that is just what it is.....dig, dig, dig. Glad we have metro transportation so I don't have to drive thru the construction site.

MAGGIE, Congratulations on your latest loss. Keep it up girl! As for your yellow Mustang....DH had an opportunity, while in Minneapolis to take a ride in a two seater, red Porcshe convertable....there wasn't room for me! Our host took DH to see a condo complex he is involved in on the Mississippi.

We are back to normal now and except for the heat and humidity things are well....tomorrow we are to expect a break.....I won't hang by my thumbs...those weathermen are often wrong.

BUBS, Hope your 'puppy' is getting better trained as he gets older...it will happen eventually.

Gloria in MA......waiting for a change in the weather.

Good Evening ladies,

It is so hot and sticky here it is gross. Thank the Lord for AC!! We took the window units which were here when we bought the house in '83, out after about 5 years, because we never used them.........man, how the times have changed We now have central air which I installed maybe 5 years ago, and don't know what we did without it. Having said that, this is the first really hot weather we've had, and we could be in the NE without power. Gloria, were youall affected by that Black Out? What a mess........and what a thrill to see the city folks acting kindly toward one another. I'm sure after 9/11, this was a walk in the park for them........that would sure put things in perspective for you in a hurry.

Annie was 4 mos. old yesterday.........that means the next two will be ****, according to the training books. She's discovered the litter box, so DS suggested we move it into the hall closet and put a chain lock like they have in motels on the door. With that, the cats can get to it, but the dogs can't. Of course, our coats may smell a little rank, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Tomorrow's the last day of Family Camp, so all my summer sisters will be leaving on Sunday. I don't know where the time goes.

Tomorrow night we're going to the Fair to see River Dance, or an off shoot thereof. My buddy Tom has a box, and has given me the tickets for it. I"m pretty excited about it. My friend and I went down there this morning to watch the Horse Pull........those Belgians are so strong, and so pretty. My friend was raised on a farm, and her dad had Belgians he used to compete with. I'd love to be able to ride one. There's an auction next week of some Belgian/quarter horse crosses........I've heard they're really fun to ride and have great dispositions.........that's what I need, is another damn animal

The boys in the white jackets would be looking for me for sure.

Off to bed with St. James beside me in his crate, and one large yellow cat at the foot of the bed..........Faye, you'd be catatonic after a week here with all the animal hair and dog toys everywhere. Your little Yorkie is a piece of cake! I've always preferred big dogs, but those little guys are looking better every day.

Have a happy and healthy Sunday.
Bubs

Good Evening, Flowers!
Since I slept most of the evening, in front of the TV, I wanted to check in here before heading off to bed. It's been a long day; I was up at 4:45 when DH left for his Canada fishing trip!

Here is the link to see Miss Madaline!
http://www.growingfamily.com/webnurs...lID=1W0G1H3Q4O


"Gma" -- The humidity is climbing so the school building was stinky, hot and sticky again today. I'm hoping the weather will break before the 650+ students come on Wed. If I don't have any traffic and hit the green lights, I can make it to school in 7 minutes. The biggest traffic frustration I have is maybe having to sit through two red lights at the main intersection; that's because some residents (the ones without licenses and insurance!) in this town won't pull out into the intersection to turn left. I can't imagine the traffic you have! Condo living does have its advantages and disadvantages, that's for sure.

Gloria -- I plan to visit Madaline and her parents this weekend. So far I haven't seen her with her eyes open. Ian is working on his two top teeth so he is giving his parents a run for their money this week. One minute he's his usual charming self and the next he is whining and clinging. I feel sorry for the little guy! I think I would be nervous driving underground! There is a tunnel in CO that goes through the mountain and flammable trucks are supposed to go the long route around. People drive way too fast, as far as I'm concerned, and don't have a chance if someone ahead goofs up.

Maggie -- CONGRATS on another great loss! I am hoping that Madaline will like dolls because my mom and I both loved them. Beth was sort of in between but I have saved her Cabbage Patch dolls and Barbies. My mom made lots of clothes for them.

Bubbles -- I hope you enjoyed the River Dance show. Why do dogs go for the litter boxes? YUKKO! Speaking of yellow cats, mine is curled up by my feet waiting for me to go to bed. He will follow as soon as I turn the light off.

Have a nice weekend, Flowers! I plan to stay inside where it is cool!

Jean -- from Iowa!

It's HOT here in Iowa today . . . at least in my corner of the state . . . 95 degrees!

Here is the hospital link for pictures of Madaline. They are good; we used a disposable camera and the pictures didn't turn out very good.

http://www.growingfamily.com/webnurs...lID=1W0G1H3Q4O

Hope you are are keeping cool and having a nice weekend!

Jean -- hoping for in Iowa!

I couldn't resist putting this sweet little face of Baby M here.

Jean: She is so absolutely gorgeous! Eyes all bright and skin so beautiful! I know you guys are just so thrilled. I would love to have another grandchild, but it may not be meant to be! Hope school cools off, nothing worse than hot grumpy kids and teachers. In this day and age, that could be BIG trouble!

I found something great to drink that is pretty good for you too and is EASY! You have to be a tomato juice lover, but I bought a big bottle of the spicy bloody mary mix and I just pour it over ice. It is only about 35 cal a glass or something like that. It is nice and nippy and satisfies when you are hungry!

We had a quiet weekend except my beloved Cubbies lost Sat and Sun! I am so looking forward to going to the last game of the season next month for my birthday. I sure hope the weather holds and it doesn't get too cold. We have plans to go to the Museum of Science and Industry (my favorite when visiting Chicago) and the Brookfield Zoo which is a huge zoo and even has a dolphin show. I am hoping my behind will fit into this new pair of jeans that has been hanging in my closet for ever!

I better go and get a shower before my skin starts itching. I did 75 minutes in the pool today! Woohoo. Sure wish I could do it year round.

Faye

Good Afternoon, Flowers!
It's 92 degrees and sticky hot here! There is a slight breeze so that does help a little. I cringe to think what my electric bill is going to be. Oh well! I went into school early this morning and came home early this afternoon. Tomorrow is our district meeting and then a building meeting in the afternoon. The troops come on Wed.

Maggie -- Thanks for posting the picture of Madaline! She has even changed a bit since that was taken last Monday. I went to visit them yesterday and it seems that she prefers her bottle to her mother and is very vocal about it. I thought you and Will were scooting back to Iowa this fall. If you ever figure out why some days/weeks are hungrier than others, please let me know!

"Gma" -- We are supposed to go back down into the mid to high 80s by the end of the week. It's been so very hot and humid that it will take many days and nights to cool down the brick buildings. I have my fingers crossed for early dismissal days. That is a real rarity here because certain parents make no arrangements for their younger children to have someplace to go. It doesn't matter that they run the streets all sumer long; the school is responsible from them during school hours. GRRRRR!

I need to pick up a little. With DH gone, I get lazy!

Jean -- from Iowa!

Woohoo guys do I have some news! I am just beside myself with excitement! I got a call just a few minutes ago from our son (he is almost 30 and single). He is going to ask his girlfriend to marry him! They want to get married next spring. I have been sworn to secrecy because he hasn't officiallly ask her and no one but his dad and I know (who did the Sanford imitation of falling on the floor and clutching his heart saying "I'm coming to be with you Elizabeth" when I told him). So, I guess my statement of my earlier post MAY not be true after all!

Maggie: Where you going in New Mexico? You know my husband is a New Mexican. I love it there even though it is hotter than blazes where he is from (Las Cruces).

I have to go girls, just wanted to share my news!

Faye

Good Evening, Flowers!
It's been another hot and humid day in my corner of the world. We did have a little rain but it didn't cool off at all. I had all of my stuff done so came home an hour early . . . our room gets no breeze and it was miserably hot. I couldn't see sitting there and watching the clock go 'round when I had things to do at home.

"Gma" -- That is exciting news about your son! What would he think if he knew you had "shared" with all of your cyber friends? That is exciting! Keep up posted on the wedding plans!

I need to go and water my neighbor's flowers and tomato plants; they are gone and I sure don't want anything to die while I'm in charge!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and think of me sitting with a bunch of stinky kids who don't want to be in school any more than I do!

Jean -- in Iowa!

We got out "early" today . . . it's 88 degrees, 70% humidity, and a heat index of 95. They did tell us to plan on a full day tomorrow though. It's only supposed to be 85 and rain is in the forecast.

I am off to take a shower and put on fresh clothes!

Keep cool and have a nice "rest of the afternoon!"

Jean -- from Iowa!