[jb829]

OMG, there is just so much going on on the Porch here today that I odn't know where to start, lol. So, I guess I'll start with Linnea, if nobody minds...kinda tough if you do, huh?...snicker....

Linnea, Mouse and Pag are right. You have got to take care of YOU, period. There's an old saying that sort of says, "I can't please everybody, so I'll please myself. That way, at least ONE person is happy." And that's pretty much the way it has to be. Sometomes even Ally and Steve need to come second. If you do not take care of yourself, give back to yourself, eventually there is nothing left for you to give. Don't just take a nap, take a few minutes, every day, just for you...read, watch a TV show, do some crafts, whatever, but make sure it's *ME* time. As for the baby bed, a newborn baby does NOT need a crib, if he/she has to, they can sleep in a dresser drawer with a firm pillow in it...they are that tiny. My younger son slept in a bassinet for the first three months...believe me, he never knew the difference. I will accept the love and respect with a big grin and a "Thank you," but believe me, I am NOT a mountain of strength: I break down and cry and get depressed just like every one else does. I draw a lot of my strength from you and the other ladies here, and I pray a lot. I'm not strong at all, but God is, and I lean on Him a LOT, believe me.

Stacey and Shanti, I'm sorry, but your posts make me SOOOOOOO glad that I don't have small children...makes my Waffle House look easy, lol. I don't know how y'all do it, I really don't, and my heart goes out to the both of you. It's all Eve's fault, y'know...if she hadn't screwed up way back there in the Garden, we'd all still be sitting around naked, not having to work, enjoying life to its fullest. Well, ok, it's Adam's fault, too...just because he couldn't say *NO* to a beautiful, naked lady....

Ok, Stacey, like I said about life in general, I get thru the WH because I pray a lot. Period. And they're good to me, don't expect too much of me...I get to sit when I need to, don't have to work too many days in a row, etc. Sometimes, tho...like today...another day of total pandemonium, and mostly all caused by one waitress. She came close to being seriouslly hurt by at least three of us, lol...inclluding one of the cooks, and believe me, the last thing a waitress needs is for her cooks to be upset with her!!! You can't imagine how they can screw up your tips, lol. I'm sorry Keith is being such a creep right now...and I love your new t=shirt. Just keep telling yourself how much you're going to miss him when he deploys, and yes, I would imagine that he is very worried about it...at least, I know I would be. Iraq's not a nice place to be. And you KNOW what I'm going to say bout the house, I know, lol: FlyLady. Flylady. Flylady. I'm on your side all the way about the underwear...as long as it's clean and doesn't have holes and worn=-out elastics in it, then there's nothing that says you have to get more right now. Same with the shoes...polish 'em up, and let the girls wear 'em. The more you can teach your girls about using...and being satisfied...with what you have, the better off you'll be, and, in the long run, so will they. And I love the idea of the king=sized quilt, lol...go for it...snicker.

Shanti, my heart is with you and your drugged up man, it really is. Just remember, "This, too, shall pass," ok? And order more pizza, you've got enough on your hands rather than trying to cook more, I think. Good job with the zucchini and Grey, btw. Wait a while, and try it again, tho...sometimes kids' tastes change. We like zucchini fried with yellow crookneck squash and onions...a LOT! Y'know, I"m hearing about more and more children with ADD, and have been thinking about it quite a lot. Seems like it has really been an issue the passt ten years or so, and I have a couple theories about it. The first is quite radical, so y'all can laugh if you wish, and I won't mind at all, but I think there may be something in the air quality now that affects the kids...there also seems to be a rise in the number of kids with asthma, and even more adults are dealing with more sinus and lung problems than ever before...I think. My other theory is that today's foods have way too many chemicals and additives in them, and that the children today get way too much sugar...it is in just about every food item you can buy!!! I remember that when my kids were little, if I coulsn't afford to buy cookies, candy, or other sweets for a while, all of a sudden their behaviour was a LOT better!! Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot that any of us can do about either of my theories...big companies aren't going to stop putting crap into the air, none of us can stop using our vehicles(personally, I HAVE to use vehicle, as I can't walk much any more), and I don't think the majority of us have either the money or the time to cook with only fresh, unchemicalled(ok, I just made up a new word, lol)foods, so we're pretty much stuck. Times are pretty scary right now, and especially for kids...Iraq, Sept. 11th, and even just the nightly news...I HATE to have to listen to the news, it scares ME, for cryin' out loud. I'm just glad I'm not raising kids in these times. Again, you and Stacey have my heart.

Pag, that's so cool about the popsicles, and believe it or not, I don't think you'll gain much weight from eating them...aren't they mostly water and flavorings? And orange popsicles are soooo good, aren't they???? Lol, Pag, now I'm craving an orange popsicle!!! Or a strawberry one....

Navywife, I love Trivial Pursuit, cribbage, and spades...really, really really love spades! Family night sounds like a lot of fun. when I was in high school, jsut about every night was family night, because we didn't have...*GASP*...a TV, so if we weren't doing homework, we were playing games of some sort. There were seven of us kids, mom and dad made nine, so we even could play baseball...sort of, lol We also had badminton, croquet, an archery area, bikes, and since we lived on the Saco River, we also had a private swimming area. Across the road from us was a field with a HUGE frog pond in it, and we could skate there every winter, plus we had sleds, flying saucers, and a toboggan. We never missed the TV at all, seriously.

Mouse, that party sounds like so much fun. Sorry you didn't win the t=shirt. What was Lacey's gift certificate for? K=Mart, Wal-Mart, something like that? Nope, I wouldn't take the classes Michael is taking, either...beyond my scope of understanding, I think. Even tho I got the A in anatomy, I had to work really, really hard for it, and wouldn't want to take it again. Oh, duh, I just re=read your post...it was from Wal=Mart. I think I'm about 5'6", but when you met me, I don't think I'd started to shrink, and would've been about 5"8" or thereabouts. Funny thing is, my legs still are as long as they ever were, it's just my upper body that's shorter. The only good thing I can see about this is that now women's shirts are long enough for me, and I don't have to shop in the men's department for shirts, lol. And, just for the record, I love meatloaf sandwiches, too, altho I don't like cheese on mine...just cold, and with lots of mayo. And yes, I will let you know if I enjoy the Secret Sister thing or not.

Wonder where Kim is? Suppose she's looking for the photos, lol? How about Doris? Sharon, Martie, hope y'all are having a good week-end. Anyone heard from Elizabeth lately?

Ok, ladies, I ahve rambled on and on and on....oh, wait, there's more, lol. Men really do have a PMS time...they have monthly cycles just like we do, without the external crap that we deal with...you know what I mean, the Kotex and Tampax crap...and they can be just as moody as we get, believe me. And just like us, they go thru a sort of menopause, it's called the male climacteric, and after that, they mellow out somewhat, jsut like we do. I like Mouse's idea of hitting them with a brick.......