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Good afternoon, gang, hope everyone's day went well, and that y'all have a good evening. Work was crazy today, we got lost and confused several times...one of the cooks was pulling a double from third shift, and he kept getting lost, lol. I finally convinced the bosslady that she REALLY needed to be out there with them, and as long as she was there, she kept the other two in line, but she just wouldn't stay with them...grrrrrrr. Oh, well, it's over, thank goodness.
I'm feeling better today than yesterday, so that's one good thing, anyway.
Pag, Mouse pretty well described me, except for one thing she forgot to tell you: I am gorgous, absolutely gorgous...just about the prettiest woman you'd ever want to see...snicker!! Actually, I look a lot like the little granny avatar I've been using, lol...glasses, hair in a bun, and I'm short and fat. I don't think that I had lost my height when I first met Mouse, which is why she says I am tall. Anyway, we'll hope that Kim has the pictures, ok?
Stacey, a road trip sounds like a good idea. Leave the kids with Keith, and just take off for a couple days. With a van, you can just pull in somewhere and catch a nap...or, if you can afford it, rent a motel room...at a place with a pool and room service!!!! And Mouse is right...one reason we're here is to encourage each other and help lift each other's spirits. look how many times y'all have listened to me whine, and given me sympathy and the warm fuzzies, y'know?
Mouse, I am mega-impresses with Michael's choice of subjects for the year. If he comes out of those classes with A's, he's one of the smartest people I've ever known. Ok, so I don't know him, but you know what I mean. I remember taking a quarter of trigonometry in high school...ugh. All I remember now is sine and co-sine, and don't ask me what they mean, please. I also took an anatomy class about 20+ years ago at Atlanta Area Tech, and I aced that. What is analysis, tho? Can you give me an idea of what he'll be, well, analyzing??
Well, I thought we were going to leftovers for dinner tonight, but E. just got home, and had been to Food Depot...bought a package of Swiss steak, whatever the heck that is...looks like really thin pieces of meat...I guess a quick sear in some butter should do it for them.
Guess that's it for now, hello to everyone, have a good evening, and all that good stuff.
__________________
Joyce
"If your life seems to be all tangled up, stop struggling...sit still...God will untie the knots." __author unknown
We went to the bottom of the mountain by the pool today for a fiesta. It was a lot of fun with some really good Mexican foods, a couple of pinatas for the kids, t-shirts from the mountain and gift certificates from Wal-marts. Lacy won a gift certificate for $10.00 and got a bag of candy. I wanted a t-shirt but didn't win one. Then the kids swam for a while. This one lady made the best salsa I've ever eaten, I begged for the recipe but she is thinking about selling the stuff so she wasn't giving out the recipe. I will buy some for sure if she decides to sell it.
Joyce how tall are you? I said you were tall cause everyone nearly looks tall to me. I'm 5'3". Michael said Analysis is different kinds of math like Calculus and such. Why don't they just call it math? Anyway you wouldn't have caught me taking it in high school. I think he will do well with the Anatomy because he loves science and anything about the human body, he enjoys math a lot also. I have been trying to talk him into going into a field that involves both science and computers but he is fairly convinced he wants to be a programmer and has already started learning C++ and different languages. He has written several small programs for school which is a good start I think.
Sorry work was so crazy but glad the day is over for you. And big time glad your feeling some better.
Pag I'll keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't rain your way for the next few week-ends. We got some rain here today, after we got home from the fiesta.
Jerry and I had meatloaf sandwiches for dinner and the kids had pizza, so nothing fancy here tonight. I love meatloaf sandwiches thought. I put mayo and Velveeta cheese on my bread, melt the cheese in the toaster oven and heat the meatloaf and then put it all together. Yum.
Sharon, Pag and Joyce, very cool on the Secret Sister picture. I really like the little picture you get. You get your sisters on Monday so as the month goes on let us know what you think and how you like it and maybe some more of us will sign up for next month.
I believe Mouse and Joyce were correct in stating that Kim brought the camera. It wasn't me, I didn't do it,.....
Stacey, I am not sure that I have a pic of just me. DH and I went 2 years ago and got pics of just the 2 of us. That was the first pic that we have had taken since our wedding. Our last family group was in 1994 when youngest dd was just an infant.
Pag, we live really close to Little Creek Navy Base and Independence.
Mouse, we TRY real hard to have a family game night with our girls every week or 2. DDs are learning to play spades. We also play trivial pursuit, skipbo, cribbage, uno and uno attack. The next game we are going to teach them is canasta. It is nice to be able to toss in math lessons while they think they are just having fun.
Ladies, I wish I could take a road trip now. What a relief it would be to throw a bag in the van and hit the road! But, with all that stuff going on with Keith at work, I just can't leave. Plus, he's been in a major snit the last few days & when I asked him what was wrong he replied that he was ticked about the house being a mess, like duh! when isn't our house a mess?!!! I know it's just smoke screen to cover his mounting anxiety about what's coming up for him, plus he's got this soldier that's a total idiot & Keith can't stand him. Keith has to work in about 10 feet of space with him daily, which is enough to drive anyone over the brink. Knowing all this doesn't make living with him any easier unfortunately. Also, I am thinking it must be male PMS season in general anyway. My landlord, the nicest man you will ever meet, has been in a rotten mood lately, too. I think it's because his crops aren't getting enough rain, but I feel like he's mad at me every time I talk to him. UGH! Men stink sometimes. In fact I bought a t-shirt today that says and I quote, "All men are idiots and I married their king!" Ok, it's not nice, but danged if I don't feel that way right now.
Speaking of shopping, I got the girls clothes for school today. I got each of them 4 outfits & an extra shirt. Most of the things I bought them at the beginning of summer are still ok to wear to school too, so they should be all set. I just have to go and exchange a pair of pants for Emma. I also bought myself an outfit & a purse (both things I desperately needed). All I spent was $120! I think I did fabulously!!! I am NOT buying new underware & socks for them though. Every year I do that & we now have so many tiny panties & socks floating around here that I could make a rather unusual king-sized quilt if I was of a mind to. I am sure my mother would be appalled by this as she thinks it is a requirement of school. As for shoes, those are going to have to wait until the 15th. I just bought the girls new shoes in May & frankly they can be polished and worn for a week until they get new ones. Ok, I am just trying to assuage my guilt for not getting them new ones now, but with Emma's upcoming dental appointment I am a tad worried over money.
Pag, I am sending dry thoughts your way! I bet it's exciting getting all that work done on your home.
Joyce, your work stories always exhaust me. I have no idea how you do it. I salute you & the mad house that waffle house is.
Navywife, just e-mail whatever you have, I'll crop if necessary. And, everyone else, please send a pic. I have something in mind & I'm not telling.
Ok, it's 3:30 in the AM & I am not tired, but I think I'll get off this computer & go clean something. Have a good Sunday y'all.
__________________
Stacey
"Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear."
Good morning, everyone... I think I can safely say that it's been a hectic weekend, without my even leaving the house! Mike is recovering nicely, though he's drugged up, for the most part, on painkillers. He's doing fairly well following the doctor's orders (neither of us want those tubes growing back together!) but he's not happy that he can't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. (Which means he DEFINITELY can't hold Aleck ) Weekends are normally my "down" time, when I can give over some of the care of the kids to Mike, so this has been an adjustment for me, that's for sure! I'm being run ragged...and today is going to be more of the same. I have church in a couple of hours (which I normally leave Aleck at home for, so he isn't left to scream in the 3 year olds room), then off to Kroger or Publix to pick up Grey's meds. Yay! After that is Grey's Open House for school Monday (at the same church), then later in the day choir practice. All with 2 kids in tow. I'm sooooo looking forward to it! Mike's going to stay home from work Monday and Tuesday, and I'm really hoping that he's recovered enough by then to help me out more with the boys.
The pizza went over well on Friday night. Grey, my little stick, ate 2 entire slices, while Aleck, the chunk, didn't eat at all, and passed out in the bedroom (we're at the "no nap isn't enough, one nap is too long" stage). Then last night I made spaghetti (here's a tip for all of you: NEVER ask a drugged man how many spaghetti noodles need to boil. Mike made enough for an army, plus 1. ) and zucchini (since we're trying to get the boys to eat more vegis than green beans and corn). I overcooked the zucchini, but oh well. Trial and error, right? Grey, of course!, says "What are those green things?" and decides, right off the bat, that "they're icky". I told him he had to at least try it. He didn't HAVE to eat it, but he had to at least make the effort. To his credit, he did. And he didn't. Okay. No more zucchini. I'm all right with that.
It was a real battle to get my husband to agree to put Grey on ADD meds. My husband is ADD as well, though he was never medicated, so he's got a different perspective. I finally overruled him by telling him that I COULDN'T deal with what I put up with last year. (Constant temper tantrums, highly emotional, never listening, notes home from kindergarten, etc.) It got to the point where we were eating dinner with a rubber spatula on the table, to ensure proper behavior. I couldn't do that anymore. And I have seen a difference in his behavior. I mean, he's still 6, but he's not through the roof hyper and over-sensitive. Now, it's just the normal "kid stuff". I can deal with that.
Well, Aleck just took off his diaper (he calls them "pee pants" ), and is wandering the house naked. I think I should go take care of that...
Have a lovely day, everyone!
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~Shanti
Imagination is more important than
knowledge ~ Albert Einstein
Shanti, I am linnea... it is nice to meet you. I don't post as regularly as the others but I love all of the gang. This is a wonderful group of women and I feel blessed to have run across them! Hope your husband is better! I will keep Becky in my parayers.
Joyce, Do you realize how wonderful you are??? You are a mountain of strength for all of us here and you are both loved and respected!!!! Hope things are better. I am thinking of you. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Stacey, I am so sorry about dh going to Iraq. I can only imagine how you must feel. You did great with your shopping. Where in the world did you shop?? I have to go there. We went to Walmart for school supplies, etc yesterday and we spent $180. We all got new socks and undergarments as well. Dh is a teacher and gets no money for his classroom so he bought pens, markers, pencils and paper for his students to use. We also got a few other things. It doesn't take much for it to add up.
Navywife, Glad you had a good trip. You covered a lot of ground!!! I think it is great that the ekids don't go back until after Labor day! Our schools start this coming Friday. Ally is non too excited. My baby is also turing 10! I can't be that old!!!!????
Mouse, glad you had a god trip. Sorry about the cabin and the keys. Isn't it great to run across someone like the people who got you a key. It restores your faith in mankind. I am sure they could tell what great people you all are.
Patti, please send some of your energy to me!!!!! Your yard is goign to be so pretty. I love working in my flower gardens and yard when I have a chance.
Mouse, I am with you. Staying home is sometimes the best.Life gets so crazy coming and going all the time. At times, it is great to just slow down! Congrats in the weight loss. I think your weight is leaving you and coming to me. I have been so stressed and feeling poorly that I haven't exercised a lot and my diet hasn't been the best.
My friend's father died and I spent three day at her father's house helping with food, cleaning and babysitting. It really wore me out. My fibro is in a rage and I have had no energy and am in pain most of teh time. I went to my rhuematologist in Brunswick last week and he gave me shots in my limbs and gave me another med and raised another. I am supposed to take a nap every day. DH and dd went with me and afterwards we drove to Kingsland and stayed for the rest of the weekend to have a mini fmily vacation. We went to a water park, The sun felt great on my muscles!!! We swam at the hotel pool and did some sightseeing. We made friends with the lady in charge of the front desk at the hotel & Ally with her daughter. They were staying at the hotel for the weekend as their house was being remodeled. It was great for her to have a playmate for the water park and swimming! They had so much in common. It was a nice weekend.
I need to go to see my family in Tenneessee and haven't felt strong enough to go. I have tons of guilt inside of me for not going again before school starts. I hate to disappoint people.Lat night I talked with my dad and he seems most concerned with the fact that I need to take my sister in law my babybed( crib) for her to borrow. She isn't due until Sept!
Sharon, Why are you having so much company?? You should just open up a bed and breakfast!! Hope you aren't too stressed and all is going well.
Sorry to burden you all with my problems!!!! Hope you all have a great day and I missed yall.
Margaret YOU are suppose to use all of us as a sounding board. You are a strength to us too you know. I just got back from church and a quick stop at Dollar General which happens to be on the way home. Needed Pull Ups for IMP so he does not wet the bed at nite as he is not dry all nite sometime more than just one time and he does not wake up but in time hope so. He comes from a long line of bed wetters. Also needed dog food for Sam so picked it up and did not notice they had put in a "cold" thing so saw some popcicles AFTER I had already written my check but would not write a check for just that little bit SO my ministers girl friend heard me tell Joe I was mad because I had not seen them earlier the dear lady went over and picked up 2 boxes and would not let me pay or let Joe pay for them. And I have never met her till today. She is from the Silver Springs Congregation (MD) and she sees my son David all the time, tho' he is a minister in Baltimore, MD Congregation. Our ministers travel around and if all goes well one of the next Sundays of this month David and family will be down here to ours. I am going to take my digital (Gina just gave me) with me next few Sundays so I can get up to date pix of David, Tracey, Lauren and Rachel. The children grow soooo fast.
Adam's Dad showed up just as I got home and right after him the heavens opened up so no more siding put up today GRRR!
Well, have rattled on enough for this time. Got to eat a bite of lunch then one of those popcicles. Which of course will help me lose weight right . Martie am so happy for you in the weight dept keep up the good work. God bless all
__________________
Thought for the Day
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream;
Not only plan, but also believe.
linnea you know I care a lot about you. So that is why I am going to say this. You are a trained counselor, you have to take the same advice you would give your clients if you were working in that field which would be TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST. You can't let guilt over other peole's expectations make you sick. You have to make yourself happy and do what you feel your health will let you do. Right now you have to quit taking care of others (your extended family, not Ally) and take care of yourself. I use to try to be a pleaser and I was never really happy cause until your happy with yourself first, you can't really be happy. I know you care about your parents, brother, sister, etc. but if you get so down you can't even get out of bed then you will feel even more guilty. Parents have a way of putting guilt trips on their kids, even their grown kids. My dad use to make me feel terribly guilty about not driving to Texas every holiday and summer. Now we do what is right for our family and they are just grateful to see us in Texas when we show up. I know you are a very giving person but sometimes you have to give to yourself first. If your S-I-L isn't due until Sept. why can't your brother come pick up the crib from ya'll instead of you making that trip right now. PLEASE take care of yourself and your health. Do what the doc says and take that nap.
This time, the theme is going to be autumn/Halloween so your stories need to use smilies to express as many words as possible and your story should be focused on anything that has to do with autumn or Halloween.
Members will be allowed to submit one story pertaining to a Halloween story and one story pertaining to an autumn story. Please click here to enter!
Special thanks to RobertaD for sponsoring this contest. Be sure to visit her Avon website!
Our last family group was in 1994 when youngest dd was just an infant.
Men stink sometimes. In fact I bought a t-shirt today that says and I quote, "All men are idiots and I married their king!" Ok, it's not nice, but danged if I don't feel that way right now.
) Weekends are normally my "down" time, when I can give over some of the care of the kids to Mike, so this has been an adjustment for me, that's for sure! I'm being run ragged...and today is going to be more of the same. I have church in a couple of hours (which I normally leave Aleck at home for, so he isn't left to scream in the 3 year olds room), then off to Kroger or Publix to pick up Grey's meds. Yay! 
Mike's going to stay home from work Monday and Tuesday, and I'm really hoping that he's recovered enough by then to help me out more with the boys.
) and zucchini (since we're trying to get the boys to eat more vegis than green beans and corn). I overcooked the zucchini, but oh well. Trial and error, right? Grey, of course!, says "What are those green things?" and decides, right off the bat, that "they're icky". I told him he had to at least try it. He didn't HAVE to eat it, but he had to at least make the effort. To his credit, he did. And he didn't. Okay. No more zucchini. I'm all right with that. 
It's time for another smiley story contest!
