Oh what a wonderful gift!!! I just love nostalgic things. The picture is just lovely - I know you will treasure it and the memories from looking at your grandparents house! It was a great day, wasn't it!

Shada, what a wonderful thing to find! I love the picture, and it really is such a treasure! Enjoy it!

Gayle, well, even sideways, I like the bird pix. Everything looks so nice in that corner. I just love your table and chairs too.

I did nothing yesterday. I ended up not feeling good - some kind of stomach virus. It was so beautiful out too! I have been trying to get ssome things done that I let go over the summer. I have some things to sell on Ebay, some floral arrangements to make, and so on. I am slowly getting them out of the way. I plan on doing them over the winter when the weather is bad....but, maybe it woh't be that bad, and I will never get them done! I would rather be outside!!!

Some of my email is not coming through, so I have to call them tomorrow...yuck...time on the phone being talked through the process. Has to be done, but it sure takes too long.

The dogs need grooming, so I called for an appointment. I need groceries, and a planning to go to Jessie's today.

Here are some pix of Kassidy at her soccer game yesterday. She is so tough!!! Look at those long legs running. I think she is just the cutest little girl! Sassy Kassy!

Oh my gosh, Judy! She is just adorable!!!

I hate to be on the phone with any electronic/email/internet problem too. Sometimes it can take forever. When I got my new iPhone a couple months ago, I was on the help line for an hour and a half - YUK! I hope your problem gets solved soon. Fortunately, I was able to set up my new computer without any help - YAY!

Thanks for the compliments on the kitchen decorations. It always takes me a long time to decide on house things. I have no decorating sense at all, I have to see it in a pic and then think, "Oh, that would look nice". Then I have to find it and I usually end up taking some things back and forth till I get the right style/color/etc. I don't have much time for that, so I put it off. But with Gary gone this weekend, I have been able to shop a little bit. I think I'm done for a while!

WHOOO HOOOO!!! We got some rain today and it looks like we might get a bit more this afternoon or evening. I had an inch and a half in my rain gauge - not a drought buster by any means, but very very welcome. This is the first rain I've had at my house since last March. WHEW!

Went to a new church that I really like. One more to try and then settle on one. Laura and her bunch came by for lunch and hung out for awhile. Now, I'm on my couch, listening to the glorious rain and thunder.

I have a 10a doc appt and need to go by the lawyer office, so I might play hookey tomorrow. I'm hoping the plastic surgeon will release me tomorrow. Carol is out the rest of the week, so she can struggle through one day without me.

Janet, you look so happy on the 4-wheeler!!! I think that you and Ricky should do that more often!!!

Sandy, I'd be doing some talking to this woman and let her know that she needs to get it together. When she cancels something and you make other plans.......then you're going to honor the plans that you've made!!! She needs to get more organized!!!!

Gayle, I'm glad that you're doing better. I know that sometimes I put bleach on poison ivy. It dries it up too.....but smelling like bleach isn't fun!!! However it does work well.

I had such a good time this weekend!!! The Women's Conference was so much fun!!! They did all kinds of things to make us feel pampered!! There was a large tiered table when we walked in the door filled with all kinds of candy and cookies!! Of course, I couldn't have anything except a few plain almonds but it was still a nice touch!!! The bathrooms were decorated and there were little things in there that you could have as well!! Vendors were set up in the hallways with jewelry, purses, and other things!! The services were wonderful!!! I had forgotten that Amy was going to be a speaker on prayer.....I went to her session and she was so good!!! My Mom had tears in her eyes when it was over because she was so proud of her!!!

I signed up to work at a project on Saturday morning and I ended up at a church bleaching baby toys. It was a pretty easy job but I did do a LOT of toys!!! I was with a couple of other women from our church so after we got done we went and ate quickly then went shopping for a little while!! I got some shirts and a pair of slacks on sale. The shirts were a little tight so I gave them to Dae Lynn but I'll get them back when I lose a little more weight!! I had such a good time!!! I can't wait to go again next year!!!!

I played hooky today. Actually, my allergies are out of control after the awesome rain we got, but I could have suffered through at work. I had my work laptop and did log in and do a few things. Went to the plastic surgeon and he wants to see me back in May to look at taking taking a little off the right one that's noticeably bigger.

I stopped at a furniture store and found the exact sofa, chair and bedroom suite I want. I was horizontal most of the afternoon and have tinkered around a little.

I had a HUGE scare this afternoon!!! I went to go get parts at another town for Glen and when I left home I have to go across a low water bridge and I came across a man that had turned his 4-wheeler over on himself. I ran out of my car while calling Glen to come immediately. When I got to the other side of the 4-wheeler where the man's head was he was alert. He asked me to push the 4-wheeler a little bit so he could get out from underneath it. He let me know that his wrist was broken and there was no doubt when I looked at it. We talked for a while as he layed there. Glen finally showed up and he and I turned the 4-wheeler up right.

I felt so much better once Glen was there!!! I can't tell you how scared I was to walk up on the accident because he was just laying there!!!! It ended up that a friend of his showed up and also my son, Feyn. The guys eventually helped him into his friend's pickup and he drove him to the ER. I got a call later from one of the nurses wanting to know what he was like when I found him. He kept repeating himself and I wondered if he had a mild concussion and the nurse, who is a friend of mine, said that they were wondering that as well. The hospital was running tests to check him out. What a scare!!! I shook so badly.....and I thought that I usually handled things well......but not this!!!!

WOW! Diana, my heart would be pumping!!! Even though I am a nurse, I never liked working in the emergency room and I don't like to see injured people outside the hospital either. For some reason, after they are in the hospital, in hospital attire, and attended to, I can take care of them - but it always bothered me to see injured people in the ER in their regular clothes - weird, I know. LOL!

I'm still having trouble with the poison ivy around my waist. It is spreading!!!!! :mad: I guess since I can't see it glaring at me on my face, I haven't been as diligent in taking care of it - clearly I have not since it is getting worse and my face is getting better. Diana, I may try your bleach. I've read that lots of people use it. I've got to do something. And I will only be able to wear my slacks/jeans once - and they will have to be washed or dry cleaned every time I wear them in order to help stop spreading it. I already wash my bedsheets, pajamas, and pillow cases every day. GRRRRR! This is causing me a lot of WORK! :thumbdwn:

He is so lucky you showed up, Diana! You probably saved his life! How is he now, do you know?

I would be as scared as you were for sure! Have you stopped shaking yet? It might take a bit for your body to calm down. You need a hot bath, and a relaxing day!

I ran over to my pottery workshop teacher yesterday., Some of my stuff was ready to take home, but I have more pieces to glaze than I realized! I decided to stay and glaze three pieces. It took hours! It was so nice in the studio, and the sun was just right. I worked really slowly. I had forgotten all of the steps, but I enjoyed myself so much. I really liked working by mself too. She was in her house packing for a trip.

I would like to take some pieces home with glazes to work on here. She said it would be fine. Someone else is doing some work there, so I left her my phone number to let me know which glazes I can borrow. I'm a little nervous about carrying these unfinished pieces back and forth. They are fragile, and I don't want anything to break. I'll get bubble wrap.

Then, I took Max and Annie for a long walk. We have some trails so I took them there. They had a lot of fun, but Annie is too little. She got stuck in the leaves in the ground, so we left the woods.

Today, I am going to town to Walmart to do a big shopping. I am going to take my camera because it is so beautiful here right now, and I keep forgetting to bring it. There's a TJ Maxx there too!!! Exciting!

What a horrible incident to come across Diana. I'm usually great in an emergency, it's afterwards that I crash...lol. I know someone has to keep their head and I'm usually able to do that. After it's all over....I just cry and cry and shake, maybe get sick..etc.

How did his friend know to show up? And Feyn? I'm curious to how he is doing too. Did you know him? Isn't that bridge on your property?

Gayle...I was hoping your poison ivy was just about gone.....not spreading. I've not heard of using bleach before, but I sure hope it works for you. I've got some kind of rash under both my arms. Not sure what it is and don't remember ever having it before. If I raise my arms above my head...the rash starts midway between my elbow and shoulder and then continues down beside my breasts. I'm thinking maybe a heat rash or something, but I would have thought I would have had it earlier in the summer when it was really hot. So...I'm just not sure. The spots do have little whiteheads so I don't know what it is.

My husband is going to the Dr. on Thursday. He's been having this horrible cough that keeps him awake until the early morning. He gets to coughing so bad he can't breathe or spit anything up. The other night he said he just about came and got me to take him to the emergency room. Does a little better when sitting up, but lying down is bad. He had that cowboy shoot on Saturday and said he almost came home....he was so embarassed because he said he coughed the whole day. Not sure what's going on there, but his dad did have lung problems and was on oxygen. I think it was emphysema. Rick did have fluid taken off his lungs one time so I don't know what is wrong with him.

Judy...you know you need to post pictures of your pottery pieces don't you? :)

As soon as I saw him I started shaking!!! He was just laying there and I couldn't see his head because it was on the other side of the 4-wheeler. I can't tell you how relieved I was to see that he was awake. After I called Glen he called Feyn to come and help because he just lives a short distance on the other side of the bridge.

No, Janet, we don't own the bridge. Glen's brother owns one corner beside the bridge but it's been a place where they've played all their lives!!! It is the one that you drove over to get to the house. You probably saw the trails all over the sides of it as you drove by.

Victor's wife is a friend of mine and went to school with one of my kids.....I also know her mother. She called last night to give me a report and to thank me for stopping and helping which I thought was really nice of her. Victor's wrist is broken in four places and he's had trouble with it before so is having surgery today with a specialist.....it's bad enough that they're hoping the specialist will do it. The doctor kept him over night for observation. She said that Victor got worse at remembering while he was in the hospital and they were worried about a brain bleed but they didn't find anything in the tests they ran. I guess that he had just bought the 4-wheeler a month ago but he didn't even remember that he had one.....he kept asking her over and over what had happened to him so something was going on with his head. I'm glad that they kept him.

The friend that showed up was going to ride 4-wheelers with him. I don't think that he knew that he was coming but must have mentioned that he was going to go sometime in a converation. We knew the friend as well, slightly.

By the time Victor was in his friend's pickup and headed to town I had stopped shaking so much. It was mostly when I came up on him because I was worried that he was going to be really hurt bad.....I tell you I couldn't get my phone dialed fast enough to get some help there!!!!! I wasn't even that scared when we ran over Dean!!!!

I enjoyed yesterday, so I stayed home again. I have never done this before. I'm kicking myself and know that I must get up and deal with this manager. I need this job and know that this shall pass.

Gayle, I've had something going on with my jaw for a couple weeks. It's been stiff to open. This morning I yawned, it hurt like heck and now I can't bite all the way down. Go to doc?

Yeah, it's time to go to the doc - if it were going to resolve it would have in 2 weeks, instead, it has gotten worse. Are you sure it is not a tooth/teeth problem, in which case you'd need to go to the dentist. At any rate, it is time to find out what is going on.

Oh great, I have divorce mediation tomorrow afternoon, so ill get an appt for Thursday. it could be my teeth because they're all crooked, but I don't think it is. I've wondered if it's in with the stiffness in my neck. I'll go get it checked.

My Abigail's rabbits won grand champion at the show this evening. She's a natural.

Hope whatever the problem is Sandy, that it's nothing serious. Congrats to Abigail!!

Good luck with mediation tomorrow Sandy. And congrats to Abigail and her rabbits. My daughter had rabbits too when she was in high school.

I hope the jaw pain is easily solved. It is possible that you are clenching and grinding your teeth at night, especially now with all the stress of moving, your boss, the divorce, etc. You might just need a night time mouth guard.

Oh my, rashes, poison ivy, jaw pain!!! I hope all of these go away very, very soon! Sandy, Kassidy has TMJ. They made her a mouth guard, but it didn't work. They went to the drug store for a home kit mouth guard under the dentist's directions. It is probably from stress. You have had quite a bit!!!

Janet, you should check that rash out. I get all kinds of skin rashes, but I have a couple of tubes of really good medicine that works. The only thing that is hard to get rid of is excema, because I don't apply the medicine as often as I'm supposed to.

Poor Gayle!!! Did you try the bleach? I hope it stops spreading!

I keep forgetting to finish my posts on this thread!

I went to Oneonta yesterday, to TJ Maxx, and got 3 tops. I went to another store in the mall and got another top. I was going to go to Walmart's for food, but it was late, so I decided I will go today. I want to go get my nails done, and there is a nice, little Walmart in that town.

I need groceries for a few weeks., I am going on Tuesday to have the bags under my eyes fixed. I trust this doctor, but this is surgery. I have never had any real kind of surgery in my life, much less plastic surgery, and I am really scared. Not of the surgery, but that it will not look natural. I don't want to look like all of those women on TV who all seem to use the same plastic surgeon. They all have the same lips, the same nose, the same eyebrows. I'm also worried that it will change what I look like.


Of course, I don't have to do this. So, why am I? This is my last big thing I am doing, and, for some reason, I am going through with it. It's expensive, so I will pay it out over a year, with no interest.

So, I need to stock up because I don't know how I am going to feel afterwards. Or, what I am going to look like for a while. I really don't want to go shopping with bruises under my eyes. That just makes people think "abuse."

Jessie is driving me on Tuesday. They will never let me live this down!!!

I'll be praying that all goes well, Judy. I'm sure it is scary with all of the bad things you hear about......but there has to be more good that comes out of it or the surgeons would be shut down. You know that we'll want pictures after you're all healed!!!

Sandy, with your neck being stiff I would imagine that it's stress related. Like Gayle said you're probably clenching your teeth when you sleep. I have TMJ as well but I don't necessarily have stiffness in my jaw. I don't chew gum hardly at all because it seems to make it worse. You should probably go to the doctor and have it checked out.

Congratulations to Abbigail on her rabbits!!!!

This morning after I ran the bus route, Ricky and I went to Mom's to mow her yard. We let it get just a tad too tall, but it looks really good now. After we mowed, I swept the front porch and Ricky used the weed-eater.

After that, we just came home and did what needed to get done. Ricky tinkered in the garage and I did laundry...lol.

My older brother called and said he had rec'd a check from a life insur. policy of Mom's. We had signed the policies over to the funeral home so while I was looking up the number to call them, our mail came and I too had a check. I assumed my younger brother rec'd one too so I called and sure enough...the insurance company made a mistake and was suppose to send the checks to the funeral home. So we have to take the checks we rec'd and give them to the funeral home so the services can be paid.

Ricky and I were going to take mine back this evening, but they had a service going on so we went to Dairy Queen....lol. I had been craving ice cream for a couple weeks so it was soooo good. Ricky got a banana split and I got one of those bowls of ice creams that you can eat the bowl....oh yum yum yummy!!!

Tomorrow since Ricky has 3 days off, we are going to a Toyota dealer in Lafayette and let them buy Mom's car. She leased it, but this dealer is interested in buying it since it has less than 3500 miles on it. They would pay off the lease and then sell the car at a profit. We would just be rid of the car. I like it, but we can't afford to make the $211 payment every month for the next two years. I would love to have a new car, but I just don't want payments...lol. Ricky has to go too and drive another vehicle so that I'll have a way to get home if they will take it.

I also had the Chaplin from the hospital Hospice call to see how I was getting along. It was so nice and so thoughtful of her. Me....I cried and cried. I felt so bad for the lady, but she was wonderful. I still have a hard time....like yesterday....I wanted to tell her the good news about Ricky and even though I know she knows.....I wanted to see her face light up. I'm not going to be able to see that ever again and it hit me really hard.

I'm okay now....in bed and ready to call it a night.

Janet, you really had an up and down day, didn't you! I hope you feel better in the morning when you wake up. You get so much done in one day, I don't know how you do everything you do! You are so wise with your money - I'd probably keep the car and then regret it!

I've had a terribly busy week at school. Tomorrow is my class day and I'm really not ready to teach, so I think I'll conduct the class by seminar and let the students answer the discussion questions in small group work. I need to help them get started on the paper they need to write so I'll use the rest of the class for that which again, won't require me to prepare a formal teaching lecture. Graduate students like seminar better than lecture anyway, but some topics do not lend themselves to seminar. I'm glad the one tomorrow does!

My mom is having problems with one of her legs. I'm so worried that she is going to fall or have some serious mobility issues. It is the oddest thing. She has pain in the front mid thigh area - no joint involved. It's been there about a month. I took her to her orthopedic doctor a couple of weeks ago and he couldn't find anything wrong. He told her to take Aleve and use her walker (she usually walks with a cane only) to take the pressure off the leg and let it rest more. She did that and it got better but only for a few days and now it is worse :(. I made another appt with the ortho doc, but she can't get in till next Monday. The doctor at the assisted living center called me today and is going to get an X-ray of her spine tomorrow - the ortho doc only x-rayed her hip and knee. She is also going to give her a very mild pain pill, some topical rub, and she ordered some whirlpool therapy. I imagine the ortho doc will need to get a scan or an MRI. Mom is 89 and has never had any health problems to speak of. She has had both knees replaced, one 15 years ago and the other just a couple of years ago. Otherwise she is as healthy as a horse. However, if her mobility goes, that is very bad for someone her age. I guess we will know more next week.

My poison ivy is really not any better - well it is MUCH better on my face, but not any better on my waist and side. Someone at work today told me to get some OTC topical medicine that they SWEAR will help. I sure hope so cuz I am TIRED of this. It's amazing how a little rash can create so much havoc. We are going back to the deer lease this weekend and I am not concerned about getting more poison ivy - I'll be very careful - I'm concerned that it will be warm and I will be sweaty and sweat and poison ivy DO NOT MIX

Oh Janet, I know what you mean about wanting to tell Mom about Ricky. I still want to tell my Dad things, or ask his advice. What I would give to have him watching out for me. I talk to him anyway. I think he is watching over me, and is listening.

I'm sure Mom is listening to you too, but I know how it feels to not be able to have her right there.

Gayle, get that OTC stuff! I hope it works! What if you - this may sound weird, but it might help - took off a few days, and covered the rash loosely, and leave the clothing off? Okay, I said it. I'm sorry if this is too invasive an idea, but I am just trying to help.

Judy, you read my mind! I'm not going into work tomorrow, I can work from home. I'm going to run by walmart today and get a moo moo type dress/robe and then run around tomorrow with very little touching the rash.

I did get the OTC stuff yesterday on my way home and it actually LOOKS better today, but doesn't feel better yet. I'm hopeful that since it looks better, it will actually feel better. The guy that told me about it said it would take 3 days to work.

Problem is that we have to take the trailer out to the deer lease on Sat. I'm concerned about wearing jeans around my waist and sweating (it will still be about 85 degrees). So I tried on Gary's overalls and I can wear them with the legs rolled up. I will look like I am dressed for Halloween, but no one else will be out there and it is way in the country so I am safe! LOL!

Today Ricky and I drove Mom's car over to Lafayette to the Toyota dealer only to be told that pay off is like $18,000 and they are only willing to pay $17000. It was suggested that we put it on Craig's List in the Lafayette area. She said the overseas students come to Purdue with a checkbook and we probably won't even have it listed 2 days before it's sold. I just wanted to have them buy it and not worry about it anymore.

After all that we stopped by Wellbound (Mom's kidney center) and took back used syringes that they will dispose of and then all of the supplies that were unopened/unused. It was good to see them and of course I cried.

Ricky and I then went to Denny's for breakfast. NEVER again...lol. For both of us, it cost $22....can you believe that? Ricky got "The LumberJack" and I got "The GrandSlam". I had coffee and he had orange juice. I couldn't believe his little more than 8 oz juice was almost $2.50. It was really good food, but not $22 worth of good....lolol.

Then we came home for an hour or so and then I ran the afternoon route. When I got home we headed into the funeral home to return the check I had recieved and then to Mom's. I decided to bring her plants home before they died. She had one that was from my Dad's funeral in 1973...a climbing philadendren (sp). It's looking kind of puny being all alone so hopefully it will grow better here with us. She also had a couple of African violets and a cactus.

Also brought the big wall mirror home that I had wanted. Then we headed to Wal Mart....for all things.....a cat bed..lolol. Ricky decided the cat needed a bed out in the garage so he found a real nice one for only $5.00. He can find better deals than I can... :)

Gayle, can you wear the moo moo type gown to the deer lease? I wouldn't want anything to confining until it's gone, especially if it's going to be hot. AND I sure hope and pray your Dr. can figure out what is going on with your Mom's leg. I would worry about the falling too. It's so scary.

Tomorrow I get my hair cut. That's all I have to do besides make some phone calls. Yay...the weekend is almost here.

Sometimes Denny's has some good specials, but generally it is pretty expensive. I like to eat there sometimes though. That sounds like Gary and my breakfast this morning. I had cherry crepes with bacon and he had a pecan waffle. I also had coffee and he had a diet coke. It was $24 - I agree with you Janet, that's too much!

WHEW! I made it through a very long day. I had to go get fingerprinted this morning. No, I'm not a criminal :D it's required now for renewal of your nursing license. They are doing background checks when you renew. It's a GOOD idea. Anyway, my appt was at 10:00, so I really couldn't go to school and then go back and get it done so Gary had to go to the lab for blood work and it had to be fasting. I said that I would take him, then we'd go out for breakfast, and then it would be time to go get printed. He told me to wake him up in time to take a shower - which should have been about 7:00. He was up at 5:30 :eek: taking a shower. I thought he had lost his mind!!! I asked if he knew what time it was an he said he did and that he got up because he couldn't go back to sleep. Well, I sure could have gone back to sleep. This was my late day, I had class till 7:00PM so getting up at 5:30 is not what I had in mind. But I survived! :D

Wow!! You guys have been sooo busy!!!

Gayle, I hope you can get your poison ivy cleared up soon. I know that it's miserable!!

Janet, I hope you don't have any trouble selling your Mom's car. I'm sure that they probably know about the students buying cars so I'd give it a try.

On Tuesday Jaci and I went to another town to watch Karley (our oldest granddaughter) play volleyball. It was nice to get out and away from the kids for awhile!! Then on Thursday Jaci and I went to another town to watch Kiley run cross-country!! She ended up in 16th place.....which was really good....and first place for Fredonia!!! It was really different going to a cross-country meet!! We had to walk....quickly to be able to watch them from different places!! She ran for about 20 minutes then was done except for giving out the awards!!! It's good to see the twins in different sports......they each have their own personalities so it makes sense for them to be involved in different things now.

Dae Lynn got home from school and isn't feeling good......she thinks maybe it's the flu. I sure hope not!!!!

We have a nice quiet weekend coming up!!! Hopefully a few garage sales and not much else!!!

Oh....our town had some really bad news today. Our main business in town which is a cement plant is going to shut down next March. This will really hurt our town and a lot of people we know. I really, really hope that it's not true but I've heard it from several different places and I haven't even left the house today.

Today....I didn't do much of anything.... :p Oh I made the phone calls I needed to make and that was it. Ricky and I did get our hair cut and we just look adorable.... :D

Tomorrow I will be on my own. Have to be in town so a guy can come and work on a gas thingy at my Mom's and then hopefully I'll be able to make it to Applebees with a school friend and her mother at noon. If not...that okay because I'll be at her mother's birthday celebration next weekend. I will probably end up at the town garage sale at our 4H building too, not really to buy anything, but to see if I know anyone there. :)

Once I get home...I really need to give the dogs a bath. I just haven't been as good as I use to be in keeping them groomed. It shouldn't take near as long though, because they are cut shorter except for Brenna, so just need to trim their ears, feet, private parts and toenails. Awww...maybe next weekend...LOLOL

I took Max and Annie for haircuts yesterday. They look nice, and they don't smell!!
Their fur was too long, and they were so dirty from rolling around in the wet leaves out front. I don't know how to trim them, and Annie is hard to even brush, or I would do it myself. You are lucky that you know how, Janet.

Wendy, their groomer, gave them both a free flea bath because her yard is full of fleas. I wish I would have know, so I could have carried them inside. I have to Frontline them. Does anyone know why I have to wait 3 days after they are bathed to Frontline them? Doesn't make sense to me.

I was going to get a manicure today, but I am cancelling. I'll go tomorrow. This house needs a good straightening up, and the laundry has to be done. Annie threw up on my blanket and my sheet, so it is derinitely a laundry day! I have to go pick up their dog food too. I have been feeding them raw food and dry, so I think I'm going to make this the last time I get the raw. I already ordered it, so I have to go get it. They don't need both kinds of food. I give them Wellness reduced fat dry food, which I think is fine. I'll have to add a drop of something wet because they love it. I can put a half a spoon of cheaper wet food in.

I'm like the two of you....I haven't kept up on Reuger and Jazzi's grooming. They both need baths so badly and Reuger needs to be groomed before it gets much colder. I've decided that I'm going to keep him short through the winter because he just gets so shaggy by the time spring gets here.

Today I'm determined to get my room straightened. It's been a mess since Dae Lynn moved in because I moved several things in there that I didn't want in the basement......Well, guess what........they're going to the basement!!!!! I have several things that I want to sell on e-bay so I'll leave them there as a reminder. I'm so ready to have things back in order!!!

Dae Lynn came home from work yesterday not feeling well and was sick in the night. I sure hope that the kids don't get it. The flu has been going around......already. She's not too sick because she still got up and is getting some things done and is taking Karlie to Damon's sister's for the weekend (It's been a tough week with Karlie.) Then she's coming home to crash. I hope she's better soon!!

I'm not really noticing mine smelling too bad, but they look horrible. I'm keeping them all short for winter, but not near has short as summer. Brenna is still in long coat so she's in for a big surprise...lol.

Today I met with the guy that's going to put on an extension and new valve behind Mom's gas stove. I asked Jerry to come and he did. The man's name is Wayne and he did a lot of work for Mom. He said he would be glad to do it and will come on Monday around 4:30, that gives me enough time after my afternoon route to get there. I think Jerry is going to come too.

After Wayne left...Jerry and I sat and talked for about 90 minutes before I had to leave for Applebee's. It was really nice...just talking and not about Mom or the auction. Just normal things.

I met my friend and her Mom for lunch and another girl that we graduated with was the bartender. She wasn't busy so sat with us quite a bit and we had such a good time. The food was so good and so was the conversation and laughs. We were there for a couple hours. My friends mother will be turning 94 next Friday so I'll be going to the nursing home to share in cake and ice cream. Her mother also played the organ I our wedding.

After lunch, I went to Wal Mart and bought some potting soil, African Violet soil and a couple pots to replant some of the plants that I brought home from Mom's. I'll probably do that tomorrow sometime after giving the dogs a bath...maybe before.

Guess that's about all for today. I really need at least one more day for the weekend, two days just aren't enough to get everything done.

Karlie is a pistol Judy.....I hope you can handle her...lol. Really.....she is so cute, but I can see where she can be just as Diana describes at times.

I've been going around in my little circles. Mediation went ok, divorce should be final on the 21st, so that will be behind me. My emotions have gone crazy, he's asking for 6 more months, but I said no more tries. Jaw is better and I realized that I was bearing down really hard on my teeth in stress. I have my 19 year old niece with me for the weekend, hanging out, relaxing.

My doggie needs grooming really bad, wish she'd learn to bathe herself!!!!

I bet you've been going around in circles. You NEED this divorce to be OVER! Yes, STRESS will do that to your jaw, I'm glad you know what is causing the issue, NOW I just want the issue to be OVER for you so that you can relax! Take care of yourself.

My daughter Brooke called yesterday and said, "If y'all are going to be home this weekend, the girls and I are coming up". And the answer was yes that Gary and I had decided not to go to the deer lease this weekend. Gary was really tired from being in Oklahoma last weekend, and he had worked hard (well he had been busy running around :p) all week long, so he said he was just too tired to take the trailer to the deer lease. Plus, I think he felt sorry for me with all my poison ivy and he knew having to be out in the warm temps (high 80's) I would be miserable. So on Friday, we had decided we wouldn't go anywhere this weekend.

The reason for the girl trip from Houston was that Abigail wanted to go to a haunted house here in Austin. It's one she's gone to with her friends for several years - sort of a tradition. Bryan was going to work all weekend and Brooke thought it was a good time to come on up.

We were delighted to have them, except my housekeeper has been on vacation, so I had to scurry around and get the house cleaned up a little bit. It turned out to be fine and the house looked better when they got here, but now it looks like a tornado went through! LOL I'm glad the maid is coming on Tuesday! :D

We had fun, we went shopping for a bit yesterday afternoon. Then we went out to eat at a local restaurant, and the food was really good. Then Brooke left with Abigail and the other girls going to the haunted house. Emma, Papaw and I stayed home and we had a fun evening!

We will go out to eat this morning and then they will head back to Houston. I'll be able to get the rest of my errands done, and so it will have been a busy, but fun weekend!

Gotta love those busy fun weekends with your babes. My niece and I had fun doing nothing much but catching up, talking. I think I have her talked into getting into college. She's very smart but has no aggression, like her dad. Got my laundry done and am about to go chill on the porch.

Let's have a gooooooood week.

Sandy, I know that you're so ready for the divorce to be done. At least you have a date set now. Hopefully things will slow down for you after that.

Gayle, I know that you've enjoyed having your daughter and granddaughters there for the weekend. I always have to tell myself when the kids are here that the mess cleans up easily when they leave!!! I visited someone once that the kids would bring out toys and when they went into another room to get more she would have the first bunch picked up!!! I swore that I would never be so picky!!! Like I said.....it all cleans up easily AFTER they're gone!!! I do know that you don't fret too much over it. I'm sure that the girls are growning so much!!! I hope they're liking where they're living now.

We had a church dinner after church. It was nice because I brought a couple of dishes that I can eat on my diet but was concerned that I might not get any because I tend to go through the line last but the lady in charge allowed me to keep them in the kitchen so that those of us on the diet could eat it. There were a couple of other things that we could eat but it was nice to know that we were being thought of.

After Glen and I got home (Dae Lynn and Dean stayed home because she's still not feeling well) Dae Lynn and Dean left to go and pick up Karlie. It's been such a restful weekend with her gone because she tends to be loud and Dae Lynn gets on to her a lot. I got to watch tv and be on the computer with NO interruptions!!!! Yay!!!!!

I did get my room straightened and some stuff taken out.....that still needs to be taken to the basement.....but I still have some stuff to go through and organize. It feels so much better though than what it did!!

Didn't do much today either, just laundry. Kind of been a down day, but I know they are to be expected. Missing Mom alot today, just wanting to talk with her.

Tomorrow I meet the guy who's going to fix the gas line and then on Tuesday, Jerry and I will be going back to Toyota. I'm not good at bargaining with people and he is....so...we'll see what will happen. Hopefully we'll come home without Mom's car.

The kids left about 9:30 this morning, a little earlier than they planned, but Brooke woke up with terrible congestion, so they decided to hurry on home.

I got the house picked up and back to (almost) normal. I also had to work on the travel trailer a little bit. When I plugged it in for Brooke and Emma to sleep in, I turned on the hot water heater - but the LP gas detector went off, so I knew the pilot on the hot water heater didn't light. So I turned off the gas - they really didn't need hot water, they were just sleeping out there (we only have a twin bed in the guest room and our other bedroom is our office). So, this afternoon I went out and turned on the hot water heater again. This time, I could hear the pilot light fire up and I could hear the burners (or whatever they are called) were lit. In just a bit the water was hot, so I'm not sure what was going on. Anyway, I'm glad that everything is OK since we plan to take the trailer out to the deer lease next weekend.

Then I went to the grocery store and also to the nursery for an aloe vera plant. The poison ivy on my abdomen looks like a burn now, rather than poison ivy. So, I thought aloe vera might help it heal faster - who knows. I am still having tiny spots of poison ivy pop up in various places. All the poison ivy information says it CANNOT be spread but I think that's a bunch of bull. It says the only way it can spread is by the original poison ivy oil. I have taken a shower every day, sometimes twice, I wash my clothes and bedclothes everyday in HOT water - I do not think it is possible for there to be any more poison ivy oil ANYWHERE - yet, I'm still getting new spots. Anyway, the huge area on my abdomen doesn't itch or burn anymore, so that is good. My face looks really good, the rash/redness is almost all gone.

Now, I'm just vegetating and watching TV. I have to take mom to the orthopedic doc in the morning - she is not walking at all now, just scooting around in a wheel chair. I'm afraid something bad is wrong with her leg, and I hope we can find the problem. Gary is going to help me take her since I will have to take the wheel chair along to get her into the docs office. Sigh. I sure hope we can find out what is wrong.

I've heard people say that poison ivy can't spread....but it does!!! I have to be careful when I have it because I'll end up with it all over. If I get it on my leg then I'll soon have it on my face!!! UGH!!! I have also gotten it off of Glen's clothes after he's been in it!!!

The last time I had a little spot on my leg I was using a little tube of Benedryl that you dab on and it started spreading because it got on the dabber. I had to throw the thing away!!! So make sure you're not using something like that to treat it!!

I don't usually get it under my clothes but I imagine that with it not getting air circulation it's making it harder to clear up. I do hope you get over it soon and before you go to the deer lease!!!

Janet, I hope that Jerry can get a good price for your Mom's car. It will be one less thing to worry about then.

Went to work, three of my girls were out, came home and started priming the paneling. Life is good, except Carol comes back tomorrow!!!!!