Betsi...he always gets on my nerves....LOLOL...don't think that will change for right now...lol. I did get to see old friends and aquaintences...that's why I go anyway.

Today I went to the bank for my son to see exactly what size home loan he can get. He's not going to be happy, so he'll either have to settle for a fixer upper or we could probably get him one. It's just not in my mid-range plan to have my name on another loan. Everything we have will be paid off in June of 2013...not too far off and I would rather it stayed that way. I need to watch out for myself at this age and time in my life for whatever decisions I need to make.

I do have to say that I am already sick of the Olympic news. It's on all the time. Now...I don't mind a special here and there or on the news, but this 24 hour coverage on TV is for the birds. Not everyone wants to watch it. Okay...here it is...I won't be able to watch Days of Our Lives until August 13th...lol. There!!! I said it!!!

I can't believe that it's almost time to start back to driving the bus. August 14th is our first day and I'm just not ready. ;)

I was wondering when your school started. I think that Dae Lynn has to start the 15th but the kids start the next week. Since she works at the school she has to go in for meetings and to get things ready.

I'm trying to get things around so I can drive over......not this week but next week. I'm not sure of the date because I'm driving Dae Lynn's car for fuel economy and she needs to get new tires on and have them balanced. She should have it done sometime this week......hopefully. Then I can come and visit before school starts and before she moves!! I hope that Linda and Lynne can meet us somewhere while I'm there!!

I'm sure Linda would love to if she can, if Linda cant make it down, maybe we can head her way. I know you'd love her. I know I just can't wait to see you, whether it's here or Illinois or anywhere in-between.

As you know, Lynne won't talk to me anymore so probably won't want to be near me either...her loss!

Ok....I have a date......August 9th I can leave here so I'll be there late that evening. As for Lynne......I'll invite her to come and see if we can all get together anyway. I would still like to meet her. Maybe we can meet on Saturday or Sunday somewhere. Does that work for you?

That works!! Glad you can come all the way, I was planning on meeting you, so whatever works best for you. I just want to see you, I don't care where.

Maybe Lynne will tell you what happened and we can all get together anyway. I know you'll like her.

How exciting Janet and Diana! You will lhave a wonderful visit, and it will be so good for both of you to have some time together! I wish I could join you!


Betsi, your neice has your beautiful blue eyes!

I really wish you could join us too. Oh heck.....pack the dogs and come. I wish everyone could come.

That sounds like so much fun!

Thank you Judy! I have 3 beautiful nieces with those same pretty blue eyes, which we got from my sweet Mom.

Yesterday I worked hard enough lolol...so today I'm not doing a whole lot. It's suppose to tie a record of 98 degrees today so I'm just gonna stay in where it's cool.

Our temps are running over 100* right now. Last night about 9:30 it was still 90*. Too hot!! We are so ready for some rain. We do have some small chances over the next few days so hopefully we'll get some and cool down a little bit. Our airdale, Mollee, has been in the house quite a bit. She's starting to show her age and the heat is really hard on her so we're putting her in the utility room with a baby gate. She goes right over and sticks her nose on the airconditioning vent!!

It's been crazy here lately!! Dae Lynn's been Miss Suzy Homemaker......she's been canning like crazy!! She has pickles going.....cucumber apple rings.....apple butter.....freezing grated zucchini and probably other things that I'm not thinking of. The garden's going like gang busters!! I think that she's going to quit soon so she can start packing.

Karlie had a friend come and play with her a couple of days ago. They mostly played in the horse tank!! Of course, Dean was keeping up with them every step of the way! We were surprised at how well he was doing with the extra water in the tank. We've kept it pretty low for him because we weren't sure how he would handle it. Anyway, Isis spent the night as well. She is a very sweet little girl and we'll probably have her back again. It was so cute because I think that Dean got a crush on her. Yesterday morning he was standing beside her when he turned his head and grinned. then he said "I love her"!! She WAS very nice to him.

I went to the beauty shop yesterday and got my hair cut. It was really long.....clear down passed the middle of my back.......longer than my granddaughter's hair......and gray!! Not very becoming!! Anyway I now have it highlighted and it's a little longer than shoulder lenght. It looks VERY different!!

We had a meeting last night for the Alley. It's getting ready to start again here in a few weeks. We went over rules and problem areas. I'm not sure that I'm ready quite yet but I do have a floating part. I just go where I'm needed so that's not too bad. Mostly my part is discipline which I really don't enjoy but someone has to do it. Believe me.....I can be quite strict!

I've still been swimming.....not quite everyday but close. The pond is down about 3 feet.....from evaporation and using it to water the garden. It fills pretty easy when we get a rain so it's no problem. The pond used to be 16 feet deep in it's deepest part but it's filled in some since we've built it.

Hi guys. I'm still in New Mexico. I'm on my phone today so it's hard to post. I posted some pix in Best Friends on FB since I can't post pix here with my phone.

I saw the pictures! It looks like you're having a nice relaxing time! I sure hope you're as relaxed as you look anyway. The mountains were beautiful as well as the little girl that was with you!!

You're missed on here but I'm happy that you're with family and resting.

I'm really loving the pictures Gayle. I never would get to see all these beautiful places if it wasn't for you and the other ladies here. Man....I need to get out more!


I am getting out of the house this evening for a little while. It's really hot...97 degrees so I may change my mind, but I'm planning on going to an auction this evening. There are some really nice things there that I wouldn't mind looking at and bidding on, so we'll see. I've really enjoyed going to the auctions here recently.

I am in Houston today with Mike and my sil, Teresa. Mike wanted to come to the big hunter expo, so Teresa and I came with him to hang out at the hotel pool. We swam all afternoon, ordered pizza to the room, and now we are all lying in bed watching the Olympics. Houston is about three and a half hours south of where we live, so that's not too bad. We'll go home tomorrow.

The pictures are beautiful Gayle!

That sounds like a nice, relaxing weekend, Betsi!

It is sooo hot here! The pool is nice, but it's just too hot at night. There is a heat alert for today. Jessie wanted the kids to sleep over anyway, but I said no. Kass has asthma, and last year when they slept over in a heat wave, nobody slept. They are coming tomorrow and I told them they can stay all day Monday too.

I'm having a party in a couple of weeks for my friends here. I was going to have steak, burgers and hot dogs, but I don't want to be at the grill all night. My friend Bob offered to barbeque, but I don't want him to have to do that. What nice people I have as friends here! I'm not inviting everybody. I'm just having the friends I'm closest with. I think I am going to check at the supermarket and see what they have. I like to bring ready made food in when I have a party. I will buy the liquor, and drink fixings, soda, etc. My friends are going to bring some side dishes and Lesa makes the best Key Lime pie I ever had! I am looking forward to it! I haven't entertained here yet, and I am always going to their parties. I really want to reciprocate, and I like entertaining anyway. I think it might be expensive, but it's only once.

Max is doing well, although he is still crated. He is used to it, and he has lost 2 pounds already!!! I have to keep his weight down according to the surgeon.
I think little Miss Sophie is in heat! I should post some pix of the dogs. I will get to it soon.

Judy, your party sounds like it will be very nice. Sometimes having it catered is cheaper and nicer than having to do the work...lol. A lot of people hear have hog roasts and there is a company that will deliver a whole, half or whatever amount you'd like. Sure wish I lived closer I would invite myself to your party... :)

Glad you posted about Max, I was wondering about him and kept forgetting to ask. AND YES....you do need to post some pics of them soon.


The auction just didn't pan out last night. The pictures on the website looked really nice, but it mostly looked like junk in person. Besides the fact that it was so freak'n hot I wouldn't have been able to stand it in there with all the people. I looked around and then just came home.

Today so far I've paid bills and watered some flowers and a tree I planted. It's so hot again today you can't hardly breathe. The weather guy is calling for some bad storms this evening and during the night. I don't care...I want rain and I want to stand out in it.

I agree! I would love to stand out in the cool rain! Sorry about the auction!

Well this evening....I got pi$$3ed. We haven't gotten any rain yet, but we did get quite a bit of wind. Wind took a couple more limbs off our willow tree. We really need to get it down soon before it does damage to our house during a storm. Anyway...Rick had been out in the garage most of the day...cleaning ? fiddleing! and drinking!

I thought he was walking a bit off, but it's hard to tell with him sometimes. Well Ricky was going to go out and take the large limb out to the back and asked his Dad to help him. He went out with Ricky and one of his slippers came off. He couldn't stand to get it back on so fell on the ground. Needless to say...I told him if it EVER happened again...he was out of here. He just looked at me...I honestly don't think he understood a word I said. I told him he'd better knock off the drinking or he's going to be alone. Asked him if he was proud of falling in front of his son.

Life sure is fun here...lol. Don't worry Diana....he won't be here over the weekend.

Hi everyone, I made it home today about 5:00. I had to take a shuttle van home today from the airport since I drove the Cruiser out to NM and flew back, I didnt have a car at the airport and had to take the shuttle van home. It felt so strange for Gary to not be there to pick me up. I didn't cry though when I thought about it so I'm making progress.

I've been watering since I got home. My yard looks pretty bad, but with a little water, it will be OK. We are not as hot down here as it is up north. It's only 100 here, not 110 like it is just a little way north. The AC at my cousin's in Las Cruces where I've been since Wed. was not working properly and it was 100 there too (but VERY low humidity). In fact one day it went off about 1:00PM and didnt start working again till about 9:00PM. Whew! It was pretty hot, but not unbearable like it is with higher humidity. It worked OK both Friday and Sat. The bad thing is that it is a brand new AC, just installed last Wed, but I think it was installed incorrectly and the installer went on vacation. What AC guy goes on vacation in Aug????? :mad:

I'm getting up early in the morning to go to Houston to get my baby boy dogs and see my sweet girls! I'll spend the night and then come home Monday. AND IM DONE TRAVELING! (for awhile at least).

Oh I forgot to say that Judy, your party sounds fun! I need to have a get together too for my friends. They've done so much for me, I need to show them how much I appreciate them.

Janet, I can only imagine your disgust with Rick. He was probably too drunk to comprehend what you said to him. I hope things get better for you soon.

The kids are coming to sleep over, so I have to make a food run. It was so muggy last night that I took a cold bath before I went to sleep, and need one now!

We are getting rain, so I cannot complain about the weather though. I also have a pool to sit at. If I had a/c at home, it would be perfect!

Oh my Judy, I didn't know you didn't have air conditioning. How warm does it get?

My house was 90 a couple of days ago! I don't have trees shading my house, so it gets hot. I am trying keeping the windows closed during the day and opening them after dark. It used to be that the mountains cooled down at night, and were sunny, but not muggy during the day. Now, with global warming, it has warmed up all over, and we are part of that. I guess I'll need to think about a/c soon.

At least we are getting rain! How are the rest of you doing without rain?

I have the kids today. We're going swimming and then I may make them dinner. They slept over, and we went swimming yesterday.

Oh my Judy...I wouldn't be able to survice without AC. I don't know how you do it even with a pool.

Well ladies....it didn't work out with the lady who took Brenna....so....she's home. She seems so happy and all the other dogs were going crazy to have her back. Not sure what I'm going to do, but I couldn't let her end up in the shelter.

Since Ricky is putting buying a house on hold, he decided he needed a vehicle that uses less gas. His S10 truck gets 18 to the gallon so he bought a wrecked Cavalier that will get between 26 and 31 mpg. This will take his expenses down quite a bit since he works in Lafayette. Once it's fixed he'll start saving up for a house, unless something else comes along...who knows.

Everyone has been soooo busy!!

Gayle, it's good to have you back home!! It sounded like you had a good trip.

Janet, I'm not worried about Rick. He was there last time I was there so it's no problem. Sorry that your auction didn't work out. It is too hot to stand outside for one.

Betsi, your trip to Houston sounds like fun!! My kind of trip.....pizza and a swimming pool!! LOL

Judy, don't make your party expensive. Instead of steak go for grilled chicken breast. You can marinate it in so many different things and it always turns out yummy!! Make your food ahead of time......and make plenty......you've already asked people to bring side dishes so Yay!!!! Buy paper plates, cups, and silverware (Sam's is the best place to buy silverware) so clean-up is easy!! Wish I lived close enough that I could come and help out......It sounds like fun!!!

The woman who is selling Dae Lynn her house had a garage sale on Saturday. Damon and Dae Lynn went over on Friday to help her get things all set out and she let them buy some things.....but she didn't charge them much and they felt like they were taking advantage of her so they didn't pick up any more stuff. It turned out that she charged EVERYONE too cheap!! Dae Lynn was upset at the prices that some of the things went for......but oh well, it was her stuff.

It was soooo hot outside on Saturday. I went to some other garage sales and bought some clothes. I've been putting some in the flea market with school about to start and may sell some on e-Bay.

I made some applesauce from some apples that we have by the garden. Mostly I've just been cleaning and doing laundry. Dae Lynn's starting to pack things up to move and so things are a little crazy here right now!!

Diana, you are a busy woman!

I had a busy day. I drove home from Houston, then proceeded to run MANY MANY errands. I've been gone 10 days and I sure had a lot of things to do! I've been putting things away and paying bills all evening. I need to go to bed, I have a full day at school tomorrow but for some reason I'm not very tired. I sure will be tomorrow though, I'm sure.

I have been BUSY!!!! I just read through everyone's posts but I'm running short on time to comment on them all!

Last week was so hectic at work. Wednesday we had a deadline and I was taking over the project that same day and ended up working until 11 at night!!! Luckily, Scott was able to catch a ride home with a woman on his ball team from our town. I drove home in the dark, following a black truck with no working rear lights :mad: I couldn't pass because the highway was so busy. I slept very little that night because I had to be at work bright and early in the morning again!

The next day I had to leave work early because a guy was coming out to quote us for installing a new sprinkler system. He was supposed to be at our house at 3. I took my work home with me so I wouldn't lose hours. By 3:15 he wasn't there, so Scott called the company and got voicemail. He tried probably 10 times between then and 5:00 and he left messages and never heard back. The guy never showed up. The next morning he called the company and got the receptionist. She said she couldn't say why he wasn't there, he was supposed to be. She said maybe something came up. She doesn't know why he didn't call. She doesn't know why Scott's calls didn't go through to her, because she's there until 4 pm. Yes, she did get his voicemail. Then she says "So do you even want anything to do with us now? You sound pretty upset" Well, duh.... She said the guy would come out Monday and do the quote without us around, and he would call Scott to discuss it while he's there. Yesterday was a holiday, and we didn't hear anything from him. Oh well.

We went to visit Scott's parents on the weekend. We spent some time at the lake, and some time in the city. I am looking forward to this weekend just staying home. I am going to have a very hectic week at work :(

We had our primaries today so I went in and voted. I'll be glad when elections are over......I'm so tired of getting calls and things in the mail.

I have to go in to the swimming pool tonight and help pass out cotton candy to the kids. It's National Night Out tonight and the police are sponsoring a free swim at the pool and other things will be going on as well. We'll also be telling the kids about the Alley starting back up again. I believe that they have things planned for tomorrow too but I'm going to be packing that day to go to Janet's.

I'm so ready for the rest at Janet's!! The kids have been awful!! Dean is so whiny when Dae Lynn's around and Karlie doesn't help things. He's learned to scream whenever Karlie is around him. I won't miss that part when they leave......which is less than 2 weeks away!!

I am looking really forward to getting my house cleaned up and having it stay that way for awhile!! My living room needs to be shampood again......and I just did it! Oh well.......

Today I cleaned carpets and did some laundry. Also did some other odds and ends around the house in preparation for my special guest. I'm so excited!!!!!

Diana, will you be keeping Dean when school starts? I think I remember that Dae Lynn will be working at the school?

Yes, I'll be babysitting Dean! I think that babysitting until the end of my life is what I'll be doing.....bummer!! It's my fault for having my kids spread out so far!! LOL It will be alright when I just have Dean. It's when I have BOTH kids that things are hard!

Well....we did the National Night Out.....and it was fun!! We made cotton candy for the kids. The police had their cars there......the fire department was there.......and the ambulances were there as well as a helicopter. It was one like Dean rode in when he was ran over last summer.

The kids got to swim at the pool.....eat free hot dogs, chips, and drinks.....had cotton candy....got to see all the vehicles.....and then there was a drawing!! One of the prizes was a Kindle Fire!! I would have sure loved to have gotten that one but it was alright that I didn't since I already have a Kindle Touch.

Gayle I hope you had a good vacation. I loved the pics. Diana you make me tired just reading about the kids. Hope you and Janet have a great visit. I am sure you will. Have a safe trip. Everyone is just so busy. I just tried hoeing the garden. I just gave up. The ground is so hard. My tomatoe plants are dying too.
I have 4 and have only gotten 10 tomatoes so far off of them. Need to figure out
what is wrong with my soil. Can't seem to grow much except weeds. Then when my plants do grow either deer or groundhogs come in and eat them all up.
I can only hope next year will be better. :

I'm planning on leaving early in the morning. It takes about 11 to 12 hours to get there. Linda, I'm hoping that we can catch up with you somewhere. I may be there until Monday or Tuesday.

Today's been hard.....the kids were awful. I'm so ready for some time away. I've done pretty good until lately and I think that I'm ready for some time to myself again. Plus.....Dean's well into his Terrible Two's!! He's becoming so independent and into sooooo much. Everyday it's a struggle!!

Keep us posted on your visit, Janet and Diana! Have a safe trip, Diana! This is so nice!!!

I am going to get my hair done, and then I'm free for the day. I just called my massage person. My neck is killing me! I went 2 weeks ago, and have to have another treatment. I think it's a sleeping position thing because it's worse when I wake up in the morning. I laid down again with the heating pad this morning, and it feels better. I am sleeping on the couch because Max is crated downstairs. I will have to figure out a different sleeping position, or carry the crate upstairs, which is not making me happy! It's too heavy to carry up and down!

I am hoping she will do just a half hour massage to save me some money!

Wish you could come too Judy...and everyone else too. We would have so much fun together.

I hope you are having so much fun Janet and Diana!

Scott is almost an hour away playing ball this weekend with his office team, so he decided to just take our tent and camp there last night instead of driving home late and being there again early. So it's just me and the pups until tonight!

I am really energetic for some reason lol. Last night I cleaned the kitchen and prepped veggies for cooking today with my new food processor we got as a wedding gift. I LOVE it!!! Best invention ever.

Overnight, we had a huge storm. Kash woke me up at 2 am because he is scared of storms and he was trying to snuggle right between my neck and my head and he kept stepping on my throat lol. So I got him all wrapped up in my arms and then I thought of Scott out in his tent! So I texted him and said I hope this storm isn't heading his way. He said he could see lightning in the distance so he packed up the tent and went to sleep in the car! I felt a little better knowing he was at least safe in the car. The wind was so strong I could feel the house moving on the second floor. I even checked my phone for any wind or tornado warnings! But there weren't any and I fell asleep again. Kash woke me up again at 4 and the storm was still going! Poor little guy is so scared of storms but it makes me feel so good when he wants me to protect him :)

I finally got out of bed around 9 this morning and so far I have homemade chili in one slow cooker to be put in the freezer for meals, spaghetti sauce in another slow cooker to also be put in the freezer, AND three dozen homemade burgers ready to be frozen. Look at me be a good little wife :D I think I'm going to start on laundry and tidying up the house again. It's kind of nice not having Scott around sometimes lol!

Enjoy having the house to yourself, Lindsey!! You won't get to enjoy that very often....especially after you have kids!! You're just becoming Miss Suzy Homemaker!!!

Janet and I are having a good time......lots of laughing and chatting!! I tell you.....I have to keep putting Janet in her place!! Ha!! Ha!! Ha....Janet!!!

The weather has been so nice here!! Such beautiful days! When I first got in the area there were tornado warnings and storms all around!! UGH.....Then my Garmin didn't take me to the right house so here I was driving around in pouring rain with tornoado warnings all around......and all Janet could do was laugh!! It ended up that I actually wasn't that far and found my way......stinkin' Garmin!! I finally named my Garmin.....his name is "Idiot"!! Ask Janet.....it fits him!!! LOL

We've been to flea markets and garage sales and have just been having fun! We've talked about how much we would enjoy it if we were all to get together!! What fun we'd all have!!!

I'm going to head back home on Monday morning. Dae Lynn starts work on Wednesday so I need to be home to take care of the kids. Then school starts the following Tuesday or Wednesday. It's so hard to believe that it's that time already.

BTW....Janet and went to the school and she got to drive her bus home!! She does Ok driving the bus and she's really looking forward to the little brats that she....OOPS did I just say that?.....has to drive around!! LOL

Diana made me go to flea markets and garage sales yesterday and today. You all know how I hate that! She even made me scramble her two eggs for breakfast and fix her chicken breasts for supper....now come on, you all know I don't like cooking either. I was really trying to be helpful on our way home today and since she was kind enough to drive, I pointed out the cheapest gas we had seen for two days. Well, she filled up and then when we drove another block and it was a penny cheaper and BOY!!! did she give me a hard time over the 19 cents she could have saved.

I didn't sleep well last night and she drug me around everywhere today.....now guess what she's making me do tomorrow........GO TO CHURCH!! Geez.....I just want to rest!

:sidesplit::sidesplit::sidesplit::sidesplit:


You know....on the gas price.....I could have saved a WHOLE 19 cents!!!! It was a penny cheaper!!!!!

Janet, I think you owe Diana 19 cents!! You girls are having too much fun:D Be sure to take some pictures!

Yesterday I went to the Lake with my brother Jim, sil Teresa, and their kids and grandkids. They have a pontoon barge that we spent the afternoon on. We swam and they took turns riding the tube. Mike didn't want to go, so I just left him at home, lol! We has so much fun laughing, singing with the radio, and just acting dumb in general!

Mike has a sleep study done tomorrow night, so we can see if he has sleep apnea. His cardio doc ordered it, so hopefully if he gets a cpap, he will have more energy during the day.