Tell Mackenzie "Happy Birthday" from me!!! She is such a talented young girl!!!!

"The Alley" was interesting last night!!! I ran through the kids in a bathrobe and slippers and a gray messy wig on my head......while singing to a song called "Where is my hairbrush"!!! I had kids get up out of their seat like I was looking for my hair brush and had everyone laughing!!! Even the adults!!! When I couldn't find my hair brush I licked my fingers and tried to smooth down my hair!!!! One woman was about to split her side!!!

Then one of the games was for 4 kids to put makeup on Dae Lynn and I while they were blind-folded!! My team didn't even try to put it on correctly!!! I had my neck powdered on both sides........eye shadow on one side of my neck.......blush on the other side of my neck and one cheek.......then the lipstick.........I had scribbles on my forehead with dots....then down to my chin......later he came back and started with lipstick at my jawbone and went up to the top of my head through my hair!!! I was really worried about the red staining my hair because I just had the highlights redone last week but it did wash out!!! WHEW!!!!

I love working with the kids and I love being goofy for them!!! You'd probably be shocked at the things I do with the kids!!! However I do expect them to behave and I did have some problems that I had to address.

Today.....no kids and the house is pretty clean.......so I'm just chillin"!!!!!!!!

Tell MacKenzie Happy Birthay from me too! She's such a beautiful young lady.

Diana....sounds like you all had a great time. I could see it all in my imagination and you were a sight....lolol. I'm glad you have so much fun with them.


This morning I got a haircut at 9:00 and Mom felt good enough to get a manicure at the same time. It was her very first one professionally. She picked a beautiful color and it looks really nice. She is so proud of it. Then we went to town around 11:30. A friend of hers called to tell her there was a campers meeting at Ponderosa Steak House at noon. My parents joined a campers club many many years ago and Mom had continued to go. There are not many of them left and most have their adult children pull and park the camper for them now.

When we arrived we saw a very dear friend and Mom and her hugged and Mom started crying. We spoke for a bit and then I needed to get Mom in to where the meeting was being held. She hadn't been for a few months and when everyone started coming up to her she started crying again. She was so glad to see everyone.

I didn't really feel like driving to town and I don't care for the restaurant, but I kept feeling this urging.....I know it was God.....so I took Mom to see her friends and so glad that I did. It really warmed my heart.

Now we are back home...lounging around like a couple overstuffed pigs....LOLOL. We had a good time and Mom's nails look great!

Diana - I know you had such a good time! And the kids loved it too, I am sure. I'm pretty shy at doing things like that, I have a really hard time, so I really admire what you can do with the kids.

Janet, what a wonderful story!!! I know your mom just loved seeing her friends, I'm sure it gave her a boost. My mom gets her nails done every 3 weeks, like clockwork. Her nails are beautiful - mine on the other hand are NOT! I dig in the garden too much to have a pretty manicure!

I have to drive 500 miles for my mom to see her friends - and I'm going to do it in September. Her old school (which has been turned into a museum) is having a reunion in September and I told her I would take her. It's a long drive - but we can make it. We could fly, but we'd have to change planes once, then rent a car and drive 130 miles after we arrived, so it's not hardly worth it. It takes as long to fly/drive as it does to drive it all. I need to take a couple of pieces of furniture up to my cousin who lives along the way, so it will work out well.

I'm going to Houston tomorrow to see the kids, so my day has been filled with a little bit of work, some washing, and now I'm trying to get packed and organized.

Gayle If you're close to greens point on i45 north, honk at me,

I had a regular day and worked in a couple of margaritas in this evening. Don't get out much any more.

Gayle, I'm surprised!! I figured that you didn't mind getting in front of people since you teach!!!

Okie Dokie! I won't go by today because I'm taking the Sam Houston toll (beltway) all the way around the city to the east. I'll be hitting Houston about 5:30 and the beltway is much better if I go east at 290 AAALLLLLLLL the way around Houston to the east and then south and then hitting I45 south of Houston. The evening traffic is wayyyyy better with that route - as I'm sure you know.

Have a safe trip, Gayle and enjoy being with the kids!

Diana, that sounds like so much fun! No wonder the kids love you so much!

Janet, what a wonderful thing you did for Mom! It's good that you followed your instincts! She must be so cute showing off her nails too!

Have a great trip Gayle.

Just thought I'd post a couple pictures of Mom's first manicure......



Attachment 6672 Attachment 6673

Gayle, my apt is on beltway, between 59 and i10.

Janet, love the nails.

You are right Sandy, I drove right past it! When you get settled in your new digs, we'll have to have a meet up!

It's so good to see the kids. Everyone looks happy and healthy. They are adapting to Houston. My 14 year old granddaughter is already involved in many activities and she has made lots of friends. She says she loves it here but misses her old friends. With cell phones and computers, she stays in touch with them though.

The 4 year old Emma, did not stop talking till she went to bed. LOL! She looks like she has grown in just a month. She is so happy to see me!

Where are the pictures, Gayle? How wonderful that they are happy!

Janet, Mom's nails are really pretty!

I have been so tired lately. I think it is allergies and the humidity. I was so used to a/c in NYC. I do have the portable a/c. Maybe I should start using the dehumidifier function more. I really do not want to pay for the extra electricity.

Maybe I should stop worrying about the extra money, and more about my health.

On the up side, I went to the pool yesterday. I was all by myself, laid out on a lounge chair, listening to an audiobook. It's very sunny up there, and the pool was delightful for cooling off in.

Today, I am going to Oneonta to get my eyeliner tattoo checked. You have to go back after a few weeks when you first have it done. There are actual stores there! I am excited!!! They are building a TJ Maxx, and I am hoping it is open!!!

Gayle, it sounds like the kids are doing very well with their move and making new friends!!! I'm sure that they were glad to see Grandma!!!

Janet, your Mom's nails look great!!! I love the color!!! I've never had my nails done professionally either.

Judy, laying out in the sun by a pool sounds heavenly!!!! It's starting to get so hot here that I'm afraid that laying in the sun won't be too much fun......but it is time to check the pond and see if it's warm enough to swim!!!!

As hot as it has been, the pond should feel so refreshing.

I went to my plastic surgeon appt at 11 and didn't go back to work. Ate Chinese buffet, came home and crashed. Feeling like going out for a margarita now.

Unfortunately, I missed the bank mortgage guy's phone call while driving. I left him a phone message but he didn't call me back. Applied for a loan to get the little house. I can't make an offer until I have proof of funds.

Good luck Sandy!

I went to Oneonta yesterday. Got the eyeliner touch-up. She does a very good job! I am so glad I decided to do this in a doctor's office. It is so clean, and I feel safe there. It may have cost more, but I am not sure about that.

Shopping was boring. The JC Penney's is very small, the mall is not very exciting, and I really did not buy anything. I did save money though.

Old Oneonta is very interesting. It is a college town, and the shops near the college are fun, and have interesting stuff. There are nice bookstores and cafes. I just don't shop like that anymore. Boutiques are nice, but stores like TJ Maxx, Homegoods, etc., are so much better for prices. Cafes are okay, but only with company, and a cup of coffee just is not worth $3.50.

I am getting old, I think! Wiser, but old.

I did buy the dog potty with the fake grass. Max has decided that he can go anywhere he wants in the house. He also marks in certain spots, although he is neutered. I do have him trained to go pee on the pads when I ask him to, which is great. I am waiting for belly bands for the marking. The poop is a problem. If I let him out, or on the deck, he will poop out there, but he will not go out in the rain. I also leave them home alone for long periods of time, relying on the pads so they don't go all over the house.

I called a trainer in, and she laid out a plan, which I am trying to avoid like crazy! She suggested putting him in an ex pen when he usually poops, twice a day. I tried it, but he has no idea what I want him to do in there. He pooped as soon as I took him out! I am supposed to leave him in there for as long as it takes for him to poop, and them to give him treats, do the dance and songs of joy, and so on. I do not want to do this, and I am also not home all day now that the weather is nice. I can't always be around the catch him and give him positive reinforcement. Anyway, I am hoping this potty thing might work. Wish me, and Max, luck!

Good luck to you and Max!!!

Jazzi and Reuger are pretty good about not going in the house, but the marking is another thing. Everybody has dogs and when another dog comes around he starts marking again but after a while it gets better. I have a little hallway next to the living room that goes to two bedrooms and a bathroom......very small but out of site.....and I have problems with them peeing in there and the bedrooms so I bought one of those things that you usually use with babies that block off rooms. I just keep it propped up there and the dogs don't bother it. If I put it in the doorway then it's hard for the kids to get to the bathroom.

I hope you find something that helps because having them go in the house is very fustrating.

Oh, and Reuger and Jazzi either go outside or into their kennel when I leave so they are peeing in the house while I'm gone.


Your shopping trip sounded like fun......but another person would have made it much better. I'd love to sit in a coffee shop and visit with you!!! Next time go in and buy a coffee then give me a call!!!!

Good luck Sandy on the loan approval. I hope you get the house you want.

Judy....I would like to go shop with you...but I like cheap....LOL Real cheap!!! I still have problems with my 5 at times going in the house. I hope it gets better for you. Emilee will always pee on the pad...but poos in the kitchen or outside. Joey...poos anywhere he can, don't have to worry about marking...he wears a belly band. Gidget..poos in the kitchen or pad and pees on pad or right beside it....grrrrr, Ozzie...wears a belly band too, and poos wherever. Brenna....she always does both on the pad. She's such a good girl. And Penny, our Golden...both...always outside. When we sleep or are gone...they are in their crates. I get so tired of picking up poo it's ridiculous. I can have them outside for 45 minutes or longer and they will come in to poo. I guess we both just need to be on them more, but I (like you) have other things to do besides watch these dogs. When it's not too hot.....I just leave them all outside.

Sandy, I sure hope you get good news from the mortgage co!

Judy, I have a marker and he will never stop. Fortunately his fave spots are on the tile. But he does mark in places on the wood floor but it doesn't seem to cause any harm. I go round to the usual spots every couple of days and wipe them up. I watch when walking through the house and I can often see the little drops when they are still wet. We have a doggie door in the sliding glas door so they can go out even when we are not here. I've wondered if he would use an indoor grass potty, or not, or use it and then mark his usual territory :confused:

After seeing that all of you have the same problems, maybe I will just relax and leave it be. Max will pee on the pad if I tell him to, and a belly band should take care of the marking. He only poos twice a day. I was telling Jessie I can really live with that. I just don't want Max to be smelly from the belly band. Maybe I should not have gotten yorkies! Never! I wouldn't want any other dogs

I'll let you know about the fancy potty thing.

Thanks!!!

I think that all the time....as much as I love them (most of the time), I sure wish I would have picked a more quiet and easier to potty break breed.

What is it about Yorkies??? After I got mine (sigh) I learned that almost everyone has problems with them pottying in the house. Oh well, I wouldn't trade my boys for anything, but it is annoying to have to put up with the marking.

To be fair, my daughter had a male boston terrier and he marked inside too. But my mom's doxy NEVER went in the house. :rolleyes:

I've had quite a few different breeds throughout my life and the Yorkies have been the only ones that I couldn't get house trained. I do have a couple that I could part with, but won't because they are my son's favorite.

Annie is trained so well! I don't even remember how I trained her, but she always goes on the pad. Maybe she doesn't know that she is a yorkie!

The trainer told me that Max is not fully trained. I have tried to "retrain" him so many times! I had him tethered for a good 4 months after he was neutered and still marking. It worked....for a while. Then I retethered him. I don't remember what came of that. When I got Gracie, I just gave up. The smell was in the carpet.
I think she used the pad more than he did. Anarchy!!!

When I moved here, I took out the carpeting, and thought that would help, and it did. I'm just thinking, how many hours have I spent trying to get Max to go where he is supposed to? Don't I know when to give up?

He did poop on the potty thing this morning though! I'm not sure it wasn't a fleeting moment though.

I have the kids today, and overnight. We spent the day at the pool, and they all got too sunburnt. I packed up my suntan oil and sent it home with them last time by mistake, and only had a little stick of oil for today. I hope they feel okay tonight!

The 2 little ones were quite a handful today. Kass is 9 and Brandon is 10. They have a lot of energy! I sent them outside to play. Mackenzie is so good! She went out to watch them.

They are bouning a ball on my newly painted house. I better go outside and stop them!

I tried really hard to have a good positive day, but my problem girl at work blew it for me. I am lead admin in my group, over 5 girls. They are great and we've done after work drinks several times. My problem girl happens to be the one who trained me when I hired in with exxon over seven years ago. Then gave me a job she thought she was getting. Now, seven years later, I'm her lead and she hates me. She brings out the worst in me. And, she doesn't get along with the other girls, so I'm constantly listening to complaints and fixing messes. No, I can't fire or transfer her.

I got several loan offers ... Until I told them the divorce isn't final. Texas is a community state blah blah blah. I'll wait for the better house that should come, if I don't get this one.

Do you know when it will be final? Hopefully soon!

No, he's controlling me as long as he can. He's been served, got a lawyer and filed an answer. Shouldn't be much longer.

I had one of THOSE days! It started out OK, but then I took my iPad to the Apple store cause I was having an issue with my apps when I started to upgrade it. I knew when I went that I would probably get a new iPhone - I've had my iPhone for a couple of years and the battery life is bad and it is very very slow now. Apps won't open or suddenly close for no reason. So yes, I went ahead and got the new iPhone. Now let me tell you NOTHING ever goes easily for me with the iPhone, EVER!

So, I bring it home, plug it into the computer and get ready to download all my stuff from the old phone onto the new phone and the computer says I haven't synced my (old) phone since 2009 - NOT TRUE! NOT TRUE! I synced it last night. Sigh.

So, I called tech support and guess what - THEY COULDN'T GET MY STUFF TO DOWNLOAD EITHER AFTER 1 AND 1/2 HOURS!!! This is completely typical for me, I must say. Usually though, Bryan fixes everything but he is in Houston........

We manually transferred everything over to the new phone except I couldn't get my school email set up right, but I will tomorrow. No problem. However, the manual transfer of my apps, didn't bring my information within the app with it, so I lost 2 weeks worth of "Lose It" data, lost my note pad data, etc etc. The good news is that my contact list got transferred YAY! My calendar didn't make it but I think when I get my school email set up tomorrow it will all be there (the calendar is part of the email program). If it isn't, it's no biggie, since I don't have too much on the calendar this summer. The good news is that the old phone still works (not the phone calling/receiving part) through wifi here in the house, so I can get my school email on it and retype my notes, and other things.

My eyes feel like they are about to fall out of my head since I've been staring at a computer or the iPhone all day!!! I've got almost everything updated and entered the data I want into the apps. I'm sure I'll find things that I used to have but don't, but I guess it's nothing I can't fix or live without. The contact list that WAS transferred was definitely the most important!!!

Ha ... We share the luck. Did you get the iPad fixed?

I haven't had the heart to hook it up yet!!! I found out what SHOULD work, but you know how that goes. I'm just trying to update it and for some reason the apps that I have purchased may not transfer in the update. They told me what to do in case that happens, so we shall see. Maybe I'll take the plunge here in a bit.

GUYS! I just found the most delicious flavoring for water. It's called a water enhancer - maybe you know about it, I sure didn't. Since I've given up sodas and I really don't care for plain water, I've been searching for flavored water.

This is called Mio Liquid and it is found in the area where they have the powdered drinks, e.g., koolaid, and Crystal Lite. I got the sweet tea and also the berry pomegranate. You just put a squirt of the liquid into plain water and the flavor is so intense. I can see where you could get too much!!!

My daughter says Walmart has it and our regular grocery store (HEB) has it too.

It's really GOOD! I'm going to take some to school to squirt into the bottled water I keep in my fridge. YUM!

Oh Gayle....I would have been so frustrated. That seems to be the kind of luck I have. I still haven't got my IPad2 updated, but I think I know what's wrong so I'll check it out tomorrow. If not...I'll take it to the store one day this week.

Sandy I hope everything works out the way you want in the divorce. I know it has to be hard...that's why I'm still here. My husband would make it extremely hard for me. We've separated before so I know how awful it will be for me.

Today I really didn't do a whole lot. No ambition. This afternoon I did run to town to make a deposit and then to Wal Mart to pick up just a few items.

About 4:30 my brother Brad came over....grrrrrrr!!!! He had texted and said that when he wanted to see Mom it would be to take her somewhere else to visit...not at my house. Well...he came and brought his B_____ wife with him. I didn't say a thing...just walked on down the hall to my room. I didn't want to cause a scene so I stayed there till they left about 50 minutes later.

I don't want him here....so...I'm going to send an email to let him know I expect him to follow through on his promise. I truly don't want any more to do with him. Also...when/if he comes to pick Mom up and take her someplace....I will no longer tolerate him just dropping by unannounced. This is MY home and he can not come and go like we have no say so or plans.

Tomorrow I'm planning on starting in on the closets and get them totally cleaned out and done. I've got one done, but I'll probably check it out again just to be sure. I want stuff out of here...I feel cluttered...lol.

Gayle, I had seen the commercials and almost bought some at cvs, but I'll def take your opinion and try it now. I'm tired of the crystal lights.

Janet, I'm lonely, but actually enjoy only having my own closets to clean.

We're always here for you Sandy. That's another reason I'm still here....afraid of being lonely....wondering if it could be worse than where I'm at. You're in my prayers Sandy.

Well I FINALLY got everything up and running on my phone - WHEW! It took hours, I tell ya!

I got some work done today in between trying to get the phone right. I feel better. My class starts July 11th and I think we are going out of town the week before the 11th, so I needed to get things finished up with the course.

When I got home, Gary wanted Chinese food, not so good with my diet, but I ate chicken chow mein without the noodles, so it was OK.

Now I'm home, chillin' - well as much as you can when it is 98 outside. We "may" get some rain tonight or tomorrow. I surely hope so! I think Sandy got some this morning!

My apt got some rain. I spotted and got me some Mio and a small watermelon. Good evening.

I don't see anywhere that I have to update my ipad. How do you know when to update, and why do you need to update it? I don't have any pictures or music on it. I never transferred things from my pc.

I want to take these things off of my computers. I walked into a new computer store in my daughter's town, and spoke to the owner. He was great! He told me to just use my 8 g flash drive. He said that will hold all of my pix, music and documents that I really want to save! I have had too many computer crashes, and don't want that feeling of panic whenever the
computer acts up!

Kassidy was playing a game on my ipad on Tuesday. She told me she had to tell me a secret, so we went and sat on the steps. She said she thought she had bought 100 brains on a zombie games, and that they were very expensive. She was going very fast when she got onto the game, and then found out how much they cost, and got scared! She was so cute! She is honest, and very bright, so I was pretty sure she did see how much they cost after she clicked on to buy them. I checked my credit card, and there it was. $89.23 for 100 brains!!!@

I got on the phone, with Brandon whining in the background "when are we going to the pool?" I was ready to really let him have it, but he is only 10, so I just yelled for a second. They shut up real fast, because Grandma never yells at them.

The most annoying part of this whole thing is calling Apple!!! You have to respond verbally and if he said one more time "I'm not sure if you said yes or no. Please repeat the answer," I was going to jump in the car and go to Apple headquarters yelling my head off! It turned out that iTunes doesn't have a customer service phone number, and that I have to email my issue to them on a form. Okay, I filled out the form, and got a nice response yesterday that my money will be refunded, a once in a lifetime event! OMG! The letter also explained that there is a problem with some iTunes apps, and how to prevent this from happening again. Very nice, actually.

So....we went to the pool and had fun.

WHEW! What an experience Judy and yes, it is a very good day when you get a nice refund without causing a scene! Apple is usually a great company to deal with.

You only update your iPad when a new operating system comes out. Yours is new so no need to worry. I need to put the new operating system on my iPad - well it's been out a few months and I just haven't done it. Some of my apps are not running well and I got a new app (free) last week that won't run at all and I'm sure it is because the app was written for the new operating system.

To update you hook your iPad up to a computer that has iTunes on it - not sure if PC's have iTunes??? When you connect the iPad to the computer (with the cord that plugs into the wall - the cord comes out of the big block and hooks into a USB port on the computer. When iTunes detects the iPad, and there is a new operating system available, it will ask you if you want to upgrade. You can call Apple and they will help you with this the first time, if you want.

Easy peesy!!!

I'm going to get dressed to go to Mackenzie's Middle School graduation! She starts high school next year. OMG!!!

I am very excited for her. I can't wait to see my grandkids! I just sent them home yesterday, but I am still excited!