G'day all,

I knew it, I knew it...just another confirmation how much we have in common.
I also recently saw 'Meet the Fokkers' and could barely raise a smile. We got it on DVD so I am pleased we did not pay excessively to see this so-called comedy

Karen sounds like you had a great birthday, many happy returns

Glenda that will be quite something looking after Makenzie for 5 days. You might need a bit more than an aquarium dvd
I cannot wait for Matilda to get old enough to take for walks down the beach, collect shells, come home and paint the shells etc. etc. I was telling my d-i-l and she said yes and teaching her to catch a ball... I told her the ball catching is their domain, I will teach her the finer things of life

Trudy I can so relate about dentists. Whilst here the dentist office rang to remind me that it has been some time since I have been. I MUST go when I get back home. I find it very difficult to make myself go when I think all is well.
The Baby Einstein DVD's sound interesting, I have never heard of them but I will keep an eye out.

It is the first day of winter here, beautiful day...still no rain and an expected temperature of 21 degrees.
There is some panic starting to set in with the water situation. The dam that supplies Sydney's water is now down to 38% capacity, the lowest it has ever been and stricter water restrictions are going to apply as of today.

Have a great day all,
Cheers
Maria

Slavika: Thats is such great news!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! So did he have his last treatment?

Ann: Congrats on your loss! Woo Hoo! Sorry to hear of the puter Problems. Happened to me. I have a Friend in Finland. We call each other on Skype (its a free telephone chat) She called me once and it took my Norton out. Fixed it tho. Pain thats for sure.

Trudy: Sorry you are having problems with the root canal. I hope they can fix it for you sounds like alot of pain for you. Looks like they did. Hope its better now.

Karen sounds like you are having alot of fun being crafty now! At least you have time to do what you like now And Happy Belated Birthday!

Glenda: Have fun with Mackenzie. Im sure you will spoil her

Gloria: The weather has been the same here. Its driving me nuts! Rain all the time. We had no Spring what so ever. Now its summer and we shall see. Was nice for a while. Hope it holds!

Peggy: Just attach the Pictures to an email. Not sure which Email you use. But its Under Insert on IE. On Firefox (Netscape) There should be a Picture of a Paperclip on the tool bar to attach it. Just click and then locate on your puter and attach it.

Still crazy here. Still waiting for my Bushes to be pulled out so I can continue with the backyard. With all the rain it has put them behind. ALAS. Kinda at a stand still right now until its done.
Do have some good news. Hubby got Hired back Full time no stipulations as to a year contract. He got a huge bonus to on top of it, so Hawaii here I come!

Later! Will check in when I can!

Lily good to see you.
I am intrigued what you said about Skype, I use it quite regularly and have never had a problem. I do use McAfee, perhaps that is the reason.

Hawaii sounds good!

Cheers
Maria

Lily it was great news that Hubby has his JOB back. Will you be able to slow down now? Hope so. Great to see you.

We DH's surgery is set for next Tuesday. We saw his doctor today and he was very optimistic. So now we just have to get through it. It does involve an overnight stay in the Hospital. But that is a good thing. I feel most of the time they send them home to soon.

Been raining the last two days here. And is supposed to rain some more tomorrow. Then it will begin to clear up.

SIL is leaving day after tomorrow. So then we will be just 2 and Sprout. This will be a welcome break.

We not much more going on. so see you later.
Karen

Hi everyone;

Lily: Nice to hear from you, and so happy for you both that your DH has his job. It must be a relief. We too are having a lot of rain, so it is hard to do yard work. Tomorrow is weigh in again, and hope I didn't sabotage myself from the Memorial Day celebration.

Karen: I pray that all goes well with the surgery on Tuesday. And I know what you mean about letting people go home too soon. And then they end up having to back again. We have a friend who had similar surgery as I had, on a Thursday, and they sent him home on Monday, and on Tuesday he had to go back into the hospital. The Dr. said " I guess I called that one wrong" DUH!! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY belatedly. It sounds like you had a great celebration. Is SIL going to be leaving for good, or just going on a visit?

Maria: Hard to believe that you are starting winter, as we are going into summer. I imagine you are getting 'antsy' to get back home, and to work in your garden. And get closer to your Mattie:

I had read all the posts but couldn't get to post since all the computer troubles and solutions took out my password and connection, so once again I had to contact Suzzane to get re-established.

Yesterday I spent the better part of 7 hours with computer techs again to get straightened out. And all from India, and mostly hard to understand. And once again had to re-do tne Symantec product. But I guess finally things are okay again. I do think that the 1st tech made things worse, because I called originally because I couldn't get my email, so I wanted help with Outlook express. and had me do a lot of stuff, and then she had to get another tech who was more familiar with Windows ME. The first one's mistakes also knocked out Internet Explorer. And then the next one put me through more diagnostic stuff than you can imagine.
And then the worst thing, in the 3rd session, which started at about 8:15 in the evening,we were about nearly completed with the download, and the power went off, so lost the whole thing and the connection. He didn't call back, so I had to start all over with another tech.

Thanks once again for letting me vent my frustration. :

Slavika: Hope you had a great time on your little side trip. I too 'hate to get old'. :

Glenda: I bet you are having fun with your granddaughter. And getting tired too. But they grow up so quickly.

Trudy: I sure hope you have found some relief from your tooth pain. And that you can get some sleep.

Peggy: Hi. hope things are okay with you.

Gloria: Your little restaurant sounds like the kind of place we like. We won't be gettin our usual fill of New England sea food this summer.

"See" you all later if the computer stays healthy. Ann

Ann aren't you going North this year?? And SIL is going for a visit won't be back until we come back from Minnesota. Sorry about all the computer problems. Hope now that you have been put through the ringer it will work right! I think I may have thrown the whole works out the window by now so to you I give a Good luck on weigh in today

Slavika what are you going to spend the $750.00 prize money on???? ( Don't mind me I'm just nosey)
Also this is my happy dance for you and yor family thanks for giving us the great news

Karen

June is busting out all over!!!!! At least today....finally sun and warmth.

We got my container herb garden planted this weekend and as long as we do get some sun they will be growing. I just have containers because I am too lazy to start a big garden and since I am the only one who would work on it...why begin what I don't want to finish.

Going to a neighborhood HS graduation on Sunday and it should be a good time. It will be the first gettogether of some of the neighbors that have been housebound all winter and this wet spring. The mom of the graduate has been working like the devil to get her yard and house ready....as if it wasn't always up to snuff. It should be a quieter neighborhood this fall as her 3 boys will be away at college and the two boys directly across the street will be away as well.

What will be left is a lot of little kids and that makes me wonder what this place will be like when they get to be teenagers.

Slavika: Wonderful news about David. It will seem like a long time but the end will be worth it. $750 is a nice win....enjoy it

Lily: That is great news that DH has his job back. I hope it relieves the pressure of you some.

Ann: That's too bad you won't be up this way this year. But.....it leaves all the more seafood for us...... I, too, had 'puter problems earlier this year and it is very difficult to understand what the people from India are saying especially all that tech stuff.

Trudy: Hope that root canal has quieted down and you can get on to the post and crown....and leave the pain behind.

Karen: Good luck with DH's surgery...we will keep him in our prayers.

Hi Peggy, Glenda, Maria.....hope I haven't forgotten anyone.

Gloria......going out to sit in the sun for a while.

Hi Everybody

Hi Lily great news about DH getting his job back. My DH will have his last chemo treatment tomorrow. The next time he has chemo will be just after they remove the stem cells from his blood, in preparation of the stem cell transplant and that will be the high dose chemotherapy they will give him that will actually temporarily cripple his body's immune system. He will be very susceptible to infections for a few weeks after that. All patients are instructed to avoid fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and cut flowers since these items often carry bacteria that could cause a serious infection. He will not be allowed to see our grandchildren, as they have to be over the age of 12. I told DH that our son could bring the children over to our place when he is home and he could wave to them through the window. That I think is the hardest part for DH, to be in the hospital, in isolation for 2 to 4 weeks or so and then another month at home and not have the children able to visit. My dil and the Princess were over for about an hour this evening and they both just make him feel so good.
Karen I hope all goes well with your husband's surgery...I'll keep you both in my prayers.
Gloria I have been trying to convince DH to buy something for himself with his $750.00. He had been talking about getting a 20" flat screen TV for the bedroom. We have one in there now but it's a small 13" and he only watches it if I am watching something in the TV room that he doesn't like. He said he thought he would buy our grandson a new wetsuit since he has out grown his old one. I'll let you gals know what he decides to buy.........this could take a VERY long time. hee hee
Ann way to go on the weight lose...how did you make out after the Memorial Day holiday? Sorry about the computer problems. My brother bought a new Dell computer and had to call the "help line" and he also got a chap from India. Now my brother's hearing is not very good, and the fellow had such a strong accent, I think he told me he was on the phone with him for 2-1/2 hours.
Glenda will you be taking time off work to care for little Mackenzie or will you be on holidays? I'm sure you will have tons of fun with her.
Maria those Baby Einstein video's are just wonderful and it's amazing that such young babies watch them and love them and also how much they learn from them. Trudy told me that her "little angel" had the video called "Baby Beethoven" that her Mommy often played for her and one day in the Mall the same Beethoven piece was playing over the speakers and her little head was looking all over for the video as she had recognized the music.
Hi Peggy I don't see a post from you on this thread and of course I have forgotten everything from the previous threads. What are you up to?
Well gals, I think I will call it a night. I didn't sleep well last night so I am very tired. Night all.

Just a quick Hi to all. I want to report for my short week from Sat. to Thurs. I had lost .2 Not much, but the numbers went down and there was Memorial Day.: So I was happy. The next test is for the full week coming up now. We have had 4 days of rain. The gray skies get depressing after awhile. But I went out and walked this a.m. carrying my umbrella, and of course it didn't rain then. Then went to Curves and when we came out it was starting to sprinkle. Everything is really green and the lawns need to be mowed almost twice a week.

Have any of you tried the WW frozen fudge bars for one point? They are delicious.

I am happy to report that everything seems to be working okay with the puter, finally. But they told me that in another year Windows ME would be considered obsolete. Whatever that means. Anyway I had to pay $35 for all that frustration. I guess I shouldn't complain tho' since now we are in business again. Do you all have Windows xp and do you like it? I am wondering if I will need to upgrade. All you clever computer people - what do you think?

We have to go to a Memorial service this p.m. at 5:00. That seems like a strange time to me, but I think they had had to wait for one child to get here from Thailand.

Karen: Because of DH iron infusions we will probably not go north this summer. And two of our kids are coming down. So we will wait and see what the Dr. says in his next evaluation.

'See you later' Ann

Ann I love the Cookies and Cream one from WW. They are 2 points I think. but are in my book excellent. .02 pounds down is way better than .02 pounds up! Good job! I'm with you Ann the gray is starting to get to me. At least the other 3 days the sun finally came out in the late afternoon. But very damp.
Karen

G'day all,

Another 19 days before we leave.......

Karen how nice for you to just be 'two' again for a little while. Hope all will go well with your dh's surgery.

Gloria As I am hopefully going to be home for some time, the first thing I will do is plant some herbs. I like to have them in containers, some herbs become absolute pests (rosemary and mint just 2 that spring to mind)
I bought a new cookbook (Australian) with some great recipes but most of them require herbs and of course fresh is always much better.

Slavika It will be very difficult the isolation bit. I was in isolation but 4 days, for some serious radioactive treatment. I found it quite hard but with your dh having to be in isolation for a number of weeks perhaps you will be better prepared. It will still not be easy but the expected outcome will be fantastic.
That is a good idea having a larger TV in your bedroom. We have one mounted on an arm in the corner of our bedroom, very comfortable when there is a conflict as to who watches what or if I get sick and tired of SPORT

Ann pleased your computer problems are settled. As far as Windows XP, I have been using it for about 3 years and there have been hick ups, so much so that I went back to Windows 2000 for a little while. However the last 18 months I have only used Windows XP and have found it to be fine. It is a little getting used to because it is quite different but once you are used to it, it is fine.
I am always very concerned about virus's etc. attacking my computer and no longer use Internet Explorer but Firefox instead for that reason. I still have all my firewalls, virus detecting software on etc. but now surf the net with Firefox. Again took a little (very little) to get used to and it is also worth keeping in mind that some sites do not display well in Firefox and in those cases you can be forced to use Internet Explorer.
Hope that makes a bit of sense.

It is again a very sunny day here, similar temperatures as Vancouver I just happen to be watching the world news last night and noted that the day and night temperatures in Vancouver were identical to us....we are in winter and Vancouver in summer

Hope everyone will have a great weekend...wonder how Glenda is going with little Makenzie?

Cheers
Maria

It has been an interesting day!

Saw the eye dr. today for a 3 month check up on the Glaucoma pressure that I have been taking eye drops for and he said it hasn't dropped that much so I will try a different medicine. In passing I mentioned that I had a 'floater' in my eye that I hadn't noticed before and he asked if I had flashes of light in my eye....Yes! He immediately checked the back of my eye and said I had a Retinal Tear. He scheduled me for an appointment with the Retinal Specialist. I looked it up on the internet and it can be corrected with Lazer surgery on an outpatient bases. I will see the specialist in two weeks and will know more then.

DH's knee is in remission...no swelling and no pain. At least he can put off his decision about surgery for the time being.

It was beautiful out today but after the drops I had at the DR. I could not go out in the sun as my eyes were dilated and the sun hurt them even with extra pair of sunglasses. Oh, well, tomorrow is suppose to be a good day and I will enjoy it.

Ann: I have Windows XP and after a bit of learning I don't mind it. Knock on wood....don't want to jinx anything.

Maria, Karen, Glenda, Peggy, Trudy, Slavika....hope you all have a great weekend.

Gloria

Hi All,

You all have been busy. I have to go back and read and catch up. Today is finally hot and humid. I still have a cover over my ac so I think that might be coming off today.

Lily how wonderful for your dh to have his job back. That has to be a big relief to you all. It is so good to hear from you.

Maria look for those Baby Einstein videos. The babies love them. My dil has a few. I bet you are counting the days to go home. I hope you get to stay awhile this time. I was listening to the radio the other day and Paul Harvey had a commentary about the water shortage in Australia. It doesn't sound good at all.

Karen I take it that sil is gone for a while. Enjoy your alone time. You have earned it. I picked up a Pricilla Hauser painting book today at a yard sale. A nice big hard back one. I love her painting. There are a lot of free painting patterns on the internet. When I have some time I will look them up and send them to you.

Ann I can only imagine how frustrating your computer problems were. My nephew's wife is from India and visiting here. I can hardly understand her when we are face to face.

Slavika it must be fun to decide to what to spend the $750 on. Bet your dh spends it on the grandkids instead of himself.

Gloria hope your eye apt turns out the way you want. Glad that your dh's knee is in remission and I hope it stays that way. How is your little herb pot garden going? I love herbs-they smell so good when you brush by them.

We are going to see the little one later today. I probably won't get much holding time with him since the other grandparents will be there also plus a few others.

Have a good weekend.

G'day all,

No-one has been posting for a while
I hope everyone is well.

Gloria I thought with glaucoma the treatment was an operation perhaps I am thinking of a different eye ailment. Good you are keeping a close check on it, eyes are so important. I hate the fact that I can see very little close up without reading glasses.

Peggy the drought is really becoming very scary. A city 2 hours from Sydney has only enough water till maybe christmas. I noticed on the news that my hometown Adelaide has a temperature of 24 degrees and its WINTER , another town near Melbourne is also 'dying' because of the drought.
I now wonder how my garden is surviving as I turned our automatic water sprinkling system off, I expected that we would get some rain.
Australia is the third largest water consuming country (USA and Canada are ahead of us). The other interesting fact mentioned this morning that people living in apartment buildings use more water than a normal house and garden. It maybe that people in apartment buildings are not that conscious of saving water and figure they do their bit anyway because they have no garden.

I have been doing a lot of tidying and packing. Only 2 more weekends

Slavika I loved the 'have you ever been this tired' email, great photos.

Cheers
Maria

Hi Everybody

Well PEGGY, did you get to hold the little one at all. I just love the smell of babies and their skin is so "new" and soft.
Gloria I got a notice that two email things I sent to you .... were not accepted because they said it was being recognized as "spam". Sorry you are having trouble with your eyes, but that should be fixed up soon.

I have my appointment to have my eyes checked on June 13th. I am trying to get all my appointments out of the way because in July, DH and I will be busy with his pre transplant stuff. He has lots of appointments in July for more chemo, neupogen injections and blood work. On July 4th, we will be at the hospital all day for his tests including, chest xray, EKG and I don't know what else. We even go to the hospital on SATURDAY, July 9th and SUNDAY, July 10th.
On July 13th, we have to be at the hospital at 8:15AM and likely will be there for 10 hours. He will have blood work done, another Neupogen injection and this is the day that they have scheduled for the collection of his STEM CELLS.
The Neupogen injections are the ones I told you about that I have been giving him at home. In July, I will give him the first three injections at home and then we have to go to the hospital for the next 5 injections because they also want to test his blood each day. The Neupogen injections is one of the most commonly used man-made growth factors in transplantations that stimulate a type of white blood cell that fights bacterial and fungal infections. It is also used prior to stem cell harvest to move stem cells from the bone marrow to the bloodstream because I think it is easier to get that way then from the bone marrow.
Ann, I didn't do too well with the Golf game you sent us, I got an 94 the first time and 72 the second time. My grandson was over today after school and he played three times. Par is 48 in that game and he had 49 twice and 50 once. Hmmmm Ann .2# is still a loss..good for you. Maria, I know you are anxious to get home....too bad about the water shortage that is going on.
Trudy is having a bit of computer trouble and she is hoping that her sil can fix it for her tonight.
Tomorrow I am hoping to see Trudy for Tea. One of the gals is having therapy on her back and the other is working so it will just be the two of us. I haven't had tea time for a long time, so I am looking forward to it. Talk to you all soon.