[Sparklerose]

Thank you for the warm welcome.
Sorry, I haven't been here last 3 days. It is a rare occasion when I get online on the weekends.
Did well for the most part with eating, except for some frozen yogurt yesterday at a restaurant.
I get weighed in this afternoon. We'll see what happens.
It is going to take me time to get to know all of you and respond to your postings. Please, be patient with me.

[slavika]

Hi Everybody

Ann it was me that said we should take "bets" as to how long it would take your DH to clean Smoky's litter box......hee hee I knew he would. congrats on the weight loss this week.
Karen I didn't know that SIL was sort of "gone" I had thought it was a holiday she was on. It seems that she just goes from pillar to post, but I think it will be much easier for you, DH and Sprout to just be on your own.
Maria I am glad that you told your son you would be happy to help out with Matilda from time to time but that you didn't want to be tied down to a "regular babysitting routine". There is nothing wrong with them placing her in daycare if your DIL does not want to be a "stay at home Mom". Children do very well in a daycare setting. Speaking of grandchildren, our little Princess wanted to go to the hospital with DH and I on Friday for his pulmonary frunction test, so we took her with us. The fellow that did the testing let us watch and she was very interested in what was going on. On the way home we stopped and got ice cream cones and she said it was a perfect day.
We went to the lake on Saturday morning and watched as our grandson amazed us with his water skiing abilities. He's just like his father was at that age....nothing to it. Starts off with two skiis then drops one and goes around the lake on just the one.....and waved as he passed us sitting on the dock as we yelled and cheered It was my birthday on Saturday and our friends had my family over for "poo poo's" and wine My family gave me a lovely sterling silver locket with the grandchildren's pictures in it. Around 8:00 we a had a lovely dinner that my friend cooked, sat and talked and went to bed around 11:00. We came home yesterday around 4:00. LOL LOL last winter I was showing Trudy my jewelry
which I was keeping in a BIG tupperware container. Trudy said when I brought that out she knew what she was going to give me for my birthday this year.......a jewel box, and she did, a lovely one. I have gone through my jewelry and put my "better" stuff in the nice new box and all the beaded bracelets and stuff like that are still in the tupperware. I already had a jewel box but it was far to small to hold all my stuff, and that was why somethings ended up in the tupperware container. I don't know why I never bought myself one, I guess I just didn't think about it.
Glenda I'm sorry about your friend's husband who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The nurse that is in charge of the stem cell/bone marrow transplants told us last week that 1 out of every 3 people will have cancer in their lifetime. That is really sad...
Hi Lily hope your foot is getting better. You sure are having lots of HOT weather.
Hello to Gloria, Sparklerose, and Peggy what's new with you gals?
Talk to you all soon.

[LilyG]

Ann: Congrats on your loss! Thats awesome!

Maria: I dont think you are being mean. I agree with Glenda and Ann. Dont volenteer. Its time for you now. Not taking care of kids all the time.

Foot is almost all better. I figured out it was the Canvas shoes I was wearing around the house. Soon as I changed shoes it started getting better. Sac as the shoes were comfy

Best get back to work Hi to everybody else!

[nanacas]

Hi Everybody! It is still warm but not hot and I am enjoying it. Today Moshup, DD#2's chocolate lab, went home. The family returned from Martha's Vineyard yesterday and they were all pooped. The weather on the island was not the best, only 2 real beach days. That meant that they had to entertain the kids, their 2 and 2 friends, for the rest of the time. There are no matinee movies on the island so it was shop, ride the merry-go-round and eat. Now that the dog is gone I must get my act together and start cleaning. Tomorrow I will start with the kitchen floor (was it me that thought white was a great color for the kitchen?)....couldn't be. DH did say he would vac the rugs and that only leaves me with dusting, baths, and I am sure I will find a dozen more items that need attending. It is amazing that such a short haired dog to produce so much hair.

By the way we ate the shark the other day. I marinated it for about half an hour and then grilled it....almost as good as swordfish.

Maria: I agree, don't get tied down with a steady baby sitting job. Retirement is for the retiree and you & DH should be able to get up and go whenever you want. With the GK's getting older the babysitting problem is not so great for us. We will watch the kids occassionally but not as a regular thing.

Slavika: I can just see your little Princess absorbing all that was taking place in the hospital. It just may inspire her to become a Doctor some day.
Belated Happy Birthday Glad you had such a nice time.

Lily: It is good that your foot is feeling better. I am very careful what kind of shoes I wear. Had bone spurs a number of years ago and don't want to go there again!

Ann: Great news about the weight #'s. That's a great loss.

Karen: Bet it's nice to be back to 2 + Sprout. An extra person, no matter how loved is still an extra person. As I said to Maria being retired should mean that you and DH should be able to do what you want when you want.

Sparklerose: Good luck with WW. I've been here since April and I am still learning who's who. It takes a while.

Glenda: Are you still having that midwest heat?

Trudy: We miss you...haven't seen you in a while.

Gloria

[flaggies]

G'day all,

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you Slavika

Nice to hear that you also agree with not looking after Matilda on a very permanent basis. I am coming to terms with it and I am starting to feel less guilty
How nice that your princess wanted to come to hospital with you, it must have been a nice distraction for you both and good for such a young girl to get an appreciation what being seriously ill is all about and how it can be overcome.

Lily pleased your foot is getting better, there is nothing worse than sore feet from someone who knows that all too well

Sparklerose good luck with your weigh in, hopes it goes well.

I have a busy day doing all sorts!

Have a great day all,

Cheers
Maria

PS well great minds.......Gloria we posted this simultaneously, it is 8.30 am Tuesday at this end of the world!
Nice to read your post.

[survivor]

Slavika, I am so glad you were feted for your birthday! We all need to be pampered and made to feel special on our birthdays. And how sweet that your GD loved coming with you and was interested in Papa's treatment. That sweet, caring side must just be genetic in your family. This will be a good year for you. Funny too about the tuperware bowl as a jewelry box. I have everything I own kind of in a mess on a jewelry box and everyday sort through what I want to wear. There must be a better way, but I think it involves planning and forethought, things I am weak in.

Maria, I think you will only get support from those of us on this board about regular babysitting. This is your time. And occasionally I am just amazed by the thoughtlessness of my children when usually they are very concerned about our welfare and feelings. Just chalk it up to being young and unable to put themselves in our place.

Sparkelrose and Ann, you are both doing so well. We are going on vacation tomorrow and will be back next Tuesday. Then I am going to get with it. Have just had a summer where I didn't care much one way or another. But I think I got the BP under control and the medicine I have been taking has not made me sick. YEA!
Glenda

[LilyG]

Happy Belated Birthday Slavika!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trudy]

I have been reading the posts, but haven't posted anything. My life has been a series of Doctor appts, medical tests, dental appts, and physio. My summer has been a downer. The 1 root canal turned into 2... tomorrow I see the Periodontist for a "crown lengthening" (which means she is going to cut back some gum tissue and shave some bone)... I am so anxious about this already. 4 to 6 weeks later I can have the crowns put on. It seems that a lot of my jaw pain is from Trimengel Neuralgia, I know the Myofascial gives me jaw problems too. I have not been a happy camper lately. I am going for physio on my ankle. It started to hurt me the beginning of May, after an x-ray and a bone scan I was referred to a physiotherapist. I have had 3 sessions, and the swelling seems to be less, but who knows??? it is still a bother. The Gastrointestinal specialist wants me to have a CT scan on the pancreas, that appt is in Sept. So... OY VEY.
There have been some good days too. Spending time with our DD is always good. We jump at any chance we get to baby-sit. But I must say Maria, that we would never consider doing it on a regular basis if my DD wanted to work full time. A couple of times she had to attend a workshop on her days off and we had to be at her home at 8:30 am. and stay there until she came home at 5:00... they were very long days. When I put her down for her afternoon nap I told her that Grandpa and Grandma were going to nap too, and I wasn't kidding. When my cousin/neighbor's children were young, she wanted to go back to work and asked me to be their baby sitter on a regular basis. I refused her and she was a little distant with me for quite a while.
Slavika and I managed to get together last week and we had a really good visit. We don't see each other that often anymore, but manage to talk on the phone and e-mail each other a lot. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't phone her with my delima's, and have her put her funny spin on everything. I am sorry I didn't post her Birthday on Saturday. I had intended to do that, but as it turned out I didn't put my computer on over the weekend.
Well I have gone on and on, but before I sign off I want to welcome Sparkle Rose.. looking forward to getting to know you, and I hope Glenda is still hanging around, have a great holiday.

bye for now...

[flaggies]

G'day all,

I found doing this new survey very interesting and so far no real surprises other than there were a lot of similarities.

We had a very windy, rainy night Pleased with all the rain as I have transplanted a few plants and a good soak of rain will do them the world of good.

Busy day planned and it is already Thursday again

Have a great day all,

Cheers
Maria

[Lizziepie]

Just a quick Hi:

Happy Belated Birthday to you Slavika. It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend. And I agree, your Princess may just go into the medical profession, with her interest in he Poppa's treatment.

Trudy: Good to hear from you, and I am so sorry that this has not been a good summer for you health-wise. Having a sore mouth is no fun. I hope you will soon be through with it all.

Lily: glad you found the source of the sore foot. Now that I have had to go down two points in my Flexpoints, I have found i have to use my Flex points a bit more while I am getting used to the change.

Maria: Don't feel guilty. I agree with Glenda, that our kids are often thoughtless, but they do get better as they get older. And sometimes it takes a little tough love, to help them get the idea.

Sparklerose: Glad you came back. We'll all get to know you, and you us, as time goes by. Good luck with your weigh-in.

Tomorrow DH and I are going to go to Seaworld. He's going to try and do some walking and if that is too difficult we may rent an electric wheel chair thing. I don't think I could push a regular wheel chair all over. Although it might be really good exercise for me.:

Hope you have a lovely vacation, Glenda.

Hi to Karen, Peggy, Gloria. Hope I haven't missed anyone. Time for bed. Ann

[painter5]

Hi All,

Sparklerose welcome to the group. I love your screen name-I love roses. I need to e lose about 25lbs and I need to get busy and just do it.[Do you think it is possible by the 27th? lol We have a wedding.] Good luck with your weigh in. That is a lot of grandkids. Maria and I have just had our first.

Maria don't feel guilty about the babysitting. I have a friend whose kids in my honest opinion take advantage. She babysits every Weds and Thurs for her youngest dd's 6 year old twins and a very active 18 month old. Anytime one of them calls she sits. I think she is freaking nuts. I used to babysit my nieces 2 little ones on Saturdays before they moved to Kentucky. It wore me out.

Ann good job on the weight loss. See you have a new kitty. I used to havSme a dog named Smokey.

Karen I didn't realize that sil didn't come back to live with you. Now you can start your real retirement and have some space.

Gloria I hear you about the dog hair. We seemed to have dogsat most of July. Our dog doesn't shed much but yikes my son's big spinone sure does. I am still finding dog hair all over.

Slavika Happy Belated Birthday. It sounds like you had a nice one with friends. A new use for Tupperware??? Who woulda thought. Glad that Trudy got you the real thing. I am also happy that things are going well and moving along for the big hospital visit. That is nice that you can bring things in to make it more homelike[if that is possible]for him.

Trudy I do not envy you all that dental work. It sounds so painful to me.

Lily it so nice to be hearing from you more often. Take care of that toe. I fell up my neighbors steps last week and have a huge scrape on my leg. It is so attractive.

Been hot here again and dry. Hope to get some rain tonight. Nothing exciting is going on. I am going to be a paid sub in the cafeteria this year. Sure hope I don't have to cook. I would probably burn it.

We had a cookout over the weekend for friends. Made the Barefoot Contessa's brownies. If you ever want a fattening brownie let me know and I will send you the recipe or you can google it. It has a lb of butter. They are good but only for special occasions. I sent the leftovers with my son for him to take to work.

[LilyG]

Peggy sorry to hear you fell. Hope it wasnt to bad. Whoa those brownies sound deadly! Yumm

Ann: I always use my AP points. Least when I earn them. It does make it eaiser when you go down in points.

Trudy: Sounds painful with the Dentist. Sounds like you are going thru alot of tests. None of them fun. So you dont know whats wrong with your ankle?

Did survey will send when I get home.

Later!

[Karen L]

I just had an nice long message for you guys and messed around and accidently pressed the Esc key and it dissappeared just like magic. I'll write it again later. Hi to all!
Karen

[Lizziepie]

Well, now I am with Karen. I had my post already to send when the power went off, and because of the thunderstorm, I just pulled the plug. Now I am off to line dancing, so will get back later. I'm so upset, since I had some messages for everyone, and now I won't be able to remember what I said. Will just have to start over. Maybe that's a part of the 'senility'. : Ann

[flaggies]

Just a thought to Karen and Ann......

In the past when I lost messages, I would write the message in Word, I would have both windows open, 'Word' and our message board, write the message and then just 'cut and paste' from Word into here.
That way if the power goes off Word usually still recovers your last document.
I do the same when I start a new thread, that way I can still see what everyone has written.

Weekend is here, hope you all have a good weekend.

Cheers
Maria