I'll have to post something later....I'm just reading now because I'm way too tired to post.

We are having fun, Betsi, but we haven't even thought about taking pictures yet!!

We got up this morning and went to church. I really liked Janet's church. It was a lot like the one I attend. The people were pretty friendly too and Janet ran into several people that she knew.

After church we ate Chinese food and then went to Wal-mart to walk some of it off. Chinese food bothers me so I made several trips to the bathroom! I hate that! I bought some cans of spray paint to paint some shelves and things for Dean and Karlie's rooms. I'm really excited about getting things ready for them! I have some great ideas!!

Right now we've just been on the computers while watching TV and taking naps once in a while! A nice relaxing afternoon! Rick and Ricky have been mowing the yard and straightening up outside!!

I'm heading home in the morning. Janet has some things to get done before she goes back to work on Wednesday and I'll have time to relax before I have Dean and Karlie on my own on Wednesday. It's so hard to believe that it's time for school to start already!

I'm so glad you're having a nice, relaxing day! Don't forget to snap a few pictures before you leave, and have a safe trip home:)

You have been so busy, Janet and Diana! I think this was a wonderful way to begin the fall! I can just picture you, laughing about the 19 cents, and rummaging around the flea markets. What a fun time!!!

I hope Mike's sleep test goes well Betsi.

I hate to sat this, but I am bored!!! I love when my friends are here, and I sure love summer, and the pool, but doing the same thing every day is getting to me! I really need to take a day or so every week to do my own things! I feel like a slug, spending my days lounging on beach chairs, and gossiping at the pool! The heat wave really made me feel like a slug too. Glad that's over!

Also, my group of friends are drinkers, and it seems to have evolved into drinks being brought to the pool, and drinking beginning at around 3 or 4 PM. I get there late, so I'm not sure that they don't start earlier! The older kids are also allowed a little booze when they are here. That's usually on the weekends. I don't like all of this drinking, and I sure don't like giving kids alcohol! My Mackenzie comes, and is dying to become part of this group too! So far, she hasn't bonded with them, and I can't imagine that she will if they drink! She is so innocent. She has just been allowed to drink coffee, and has never been kissed by a boy yet! (Not for lack of wanting to).

I hate for the summer to end, but it is going to end soon, and I will have some time for myself. I do love these people. I just don't connect with their drinking, and I feel bad for Mackenzie when she comes over.

My party is this weekend, so that will keep me busy. Now one of the group has been arguing with another friend, so I hope she will be coming!

Jessie came over to the pool with the kids on Saturday, and it was lots of fun!

Oh Judy, I love having a beer when I go out to eat now and then, but to be around people who always seem to want to drink is not for me either. Living with an alcoholic really turns me away from people who drink alot.

Diana left this morning around 10. She did take a couple of pictures of us right before she left, but I won't be able to see them until you all do. I'm sure after she gets home and Dae Lynn moved she'll post them.

We hit so many little shops and garage sales that it wore me out...lol. I ate like crazy while she was here and didn't watch at all what I was eating. Got on the scales and lost a pound. I was so surprised.

After Diana left I had to go to the school to have my picture taken for a badge they like us to wear while driving the bus especially on trips. Once I got home I started laundry, made out my weekly deposit for tomorrow and paid bills. I also put the wastebaskets in the bus and did assign seats by grade. I like for the young ones to sit up front and the older ones to sit in the back. I called my students to see if they were still riding and needing picked up. Some have their driver's license now and some were not riding the first day, but riding on Wednesday. There were quite a few not home so I left a message. I bet my phone will be ringing off the hook this evening.

I'm really not ready to go back to driving, but there's not a lot I can to about it. The sleeping in was so nice...lol, now it's back to rising at 5:40. I hope my bed doesn't miss me too much in the morning...ha!

I made it home about 9:30. It wa s looooonnnnnngggggg day of driving.....12 hours. When I did make it home the only one here was Damon....the rest were at a swim party. When Karlie and Dean got home they both made running leaps into my lap and showered me with hugs and kisses!!

This morning I gave them a little wooden train set that I bought at one of the flea markets. It's was a huge hit......with both of them fussing over it most of the day!! It's a good thing that there were 2 little trains in the box!!

Karlie said to let Janet know that she liked the little yorkie purse!!

While I was gone we had some friends from church that had a stillborn baby so this morning we went to the funeral. So sad. The baby was due in just 4 days before it died.

Then I went to help Amy at a movie for the kids. We made popcorn and gave out a can for free pop as well. She usually likes for me to be there because I get onto the kids for being out of their seat. I'm a pretty good bouncer!!! Bossy!!!

I'm so tired. I think that the weekend is starting to catch up with me!!

That is a long trip, Diana! Rest well!

I found out why my friend Debbie is drinking so much. They were quite wealthy until her husband lost his job a couple of years ago. Then, they had to catch up on their taxes, and have no savings. Her hubby is a big spender, and was waiting to make a big commission to pay the back taxes. Bad idea! She told me yesterday that they have to be out of their (rented) house in 3 weeks. She is looking for another right now. I feel so bad for them!

It was a dreary day. I went party shopping, came home and fell asleep.

Yesterday was our first day of school. Can't say I was looking forward to it..lol..I really enjoyed sleeping in just a tad later. Those days are gone now so I have to make sure the alarm is set and that I have a back up..just in case.

It was good to see the kids, I have quite a few new ones. The two brothers I wanted to move did...lol...to Canada! I'm glad I won't have to deal with them this year. Now if I can get just one more to move.

It was great seeing most of the other drivers too. I've missed them. Seems like the school year is starting off in a bad light. There have been articles in the paper and people moving their kids out to other schools. I had no idea all this stuff was going on. I will be continuing my pursuit of another job. Hope one comes along soon.

Dae Lynn's first day of school is today so I have the kids home with me. The train set is still a big hit but they're fussing a lot more over it today so I may just put it up and make them go outside for awhile! I'm getting really tired of the fussing.

The teachers start a week earlier than the kids so they can get ready. So I have Dean AND Karlie for a week then Karlie will go to school too.

Dae Lynn and Damon are signing papers on Friday.....Nancy is moving on Saturday.....and Dae Lynn will be moving on Sunday, I believe. She's taking off Monday and Tuesday so she can get things settled since she's not actually a teacher that has to get things ready. Dae Lynn has been busy while I was gone packing up things and getting ready to move. I don't think that the actual moving will take too long. I'll probably be in there with her the two days she has off to help get things in place.

Tonight we're having ice cream sundaes at the church. This has been "Slammin' Jammin' Kids' Week"......we do different activities with the kids before we start the Alley again. Monday was swimming......Tuesday was a movie.....Wednesday is ice cream.....and Thursday is making a craft.....Busy....Busy!!! Plus Dae Lynn's move......Really Busy!!

Hi All, busier week than I anticipated. I had a couple of hard days, in addition to being busy. I received a reminder letter from the VA saying that Gary had a dental appt on Tuesday. They ask that you call of you won't be at the appt since they can give it to another patient and the waits are usually pretty long. So I called on Monday to cancel the appt and they said that I needed to bring a copy of the death certificate to the clinic. Of course everything is already settled with the general VA, so I was surprised that the regional office needed his death certificate. But I took it out to the clinic before I went to work because I didn't want it hanging over my head as a task to be done. When I got to the VA clinic, I didn't expect the emotional response of walking in to where I have been with Gary so many many times in the last 10 years. I had to sit in the parking lot a while and cry before I could drive.

Then on Tuesday the daughter of one of Gary's closest friends had a baby. She called Gary "Grandpa Gary" and he had been at the hospital when her other 2 babies were born. She came to visit Gary in the hospital and they made plans for him to be at the hospital for this baby too. She was scheduled for a C section so I knew that Tuesday was the day Gary would have been with her. And, there is a really BIG AND, she named her baby girl Garynn (like Karen with a G) and she named her that in honor of Gary. So when she texted me that she was at the hospital and she knew Grandpa Gary was there looking over her, well then I just lost it again, and then once again when she sent me pictures of baby Garynn.

So, it's been a hard week.

BIG HUG, Gayle. What a hard week you are having. I know that you never know when things will hit you. You've been in the hospital soooo many times with Gary that it's understandable that it hit you........but how special that the baby was named after Gary!! It just shows how special he was to this girl!!

I was cleaning things out of the basement a while back when the girls were helping me.....I came across a Avon silver set.....salt dish and a few other pieces. I never use them and really don't even care for them.....but my Dad gave them to Glen and I for our 25th wedding anniversary. I started to put them in the garage sale box but then I just started crying so I ended up keeping them. Of course, Amy had no idea why I started crying but she understood when I told her. I never thought that it would hit me like that so I'm sure you're going to have moments like that.

I'm here.....give me a call!!! Hugs!!!!!

I am so sorry you had such a hard time Gayle. I wish I could give you hugs in person!

I am just feeling awful. I have been stressed to the max with work. I really love my job but I hate all the crap that comes with it. Last-minute projects suck and the managers don't understand how much stress it puts on me and my coworkers.

Tuesday night I was just feeling very weird and very off. I had a stressful day at work, and then when I came home I was exhausted and I started getting these awful stomach pains. It was like a big cramp that just wouldn't go away in my left side. I ended up staying awake all night and I don't know if it was the cramps or the tiredness but I couldn't stop feeling nauseous. I finally fell asleep just before the alarm went off and decided I am taking a sick day and sleeping it off and relaxing. I fell asleep for a couple of hours and when I woke up, my throat was swollen and painful! By mid afternoon my head was getting stuffy, and by bedtime I was sneezing and coughing like crazy. I drank some sleepytime tea and took a Gravol to make myself go to sleep last night. I did go to work today but it has just gotten worse and worse! I had a nosebleed this afternoon in the office, and again tonight. Because the day was so stressful and there's another deadline tomorrow, I brought my laptop home and here I am, working the night away again. All I want to do is lay in bed and not get out until I'm feeling better!

Yuck Lindsey, it's no fun at all feeling sick and having to work so hard. I sure hope you get to feeling better soon. You've been under such stress for a long time now (albeit good stress - getting married!) so your body is bound to demand some down time, it's just bad when it comes at a time like this! I hope you feel better soon!

I was awakened by two dogs under my chin at 5:30 this morning. When I got up to go to the bathroom, neither of them got up which is highly unusual. They are always so eager to eat that whenever I get out of bed in the morning, they jump up and are at my side. So I knew something was wrong. Then I heard the "smoke alarm" chirp, but the chirp was followed by a voice. I had to go stand in the living room and listen for it to happen again (and no I was NOT accompanied by two little dogs - great protectors I have, huh). Since we have only lived in this house a year and a half, I'd never heard the low battery warning on the smoke alarm - which of course what this was since the voice said, "low battery". So I changed the battery and all is well but the dogs still seem to be very cautious!

I'm glad it's Friday, this has been a busy week. I have a meeting today with some of our community partners (hospitals, clinics, etc) and I always enjoy that. Plus it is a lunch meeting :D Then I may take my mom lazy boy chair shopping. She wants a new chair, I'm not sure she really needs a new chair, but oh well, she will enjoy it.

I'm not sure what I'll do over the weekend. I don't have any definite plans. There is a home and garden show in town I could go to and there is a festival in a little town not too far away - but it is so hot I'm not sure how long I could stand to walk around. I enjoy the farmer's markets on Saturday mornings and many of them have arts and crafts booths too so I might just do that. It's too hot to work outside and I'm still itching a bit from all my skin rash stuff from last week. I might do a little cooking to have some lunch/dinners for next week or to freeze. IDK, this might just be a lazy weekend!

Gayle I'm so sorry you had such a bad day. They come when you least expect them to sometimes. I know I'll be fine and then a picture, a song, something...will throw me for a loop. This month is a bad month for me because both of my parents died in the month of August. Dad...13th in 1973 and Mom..29th..one year already, can't believe it. I need her so much. I know Diane probably got sick of me mentioning Mom all the time, but I miss her.

Sounds like you are really safe with your two guard dogs huh? LOL Our alarm just beeps, it doesn't talk. It would probably freak me out.

Your weekend sounds like my kind of weekend. Being able to do whatever I decide to do. Home and Garden shows are so nice. We just have to go to Indianapolis when there is one and usually there is no one to go with. Most of the time I would rather go alone or with a friend, but Indy is so big and I'm not use to driving in big cities...makes this old girl a little nervous.

Ricky has to work and wanna be cowboy is going on a shoot Saturday so I'm planning on going to an auction. I haven't seen this auctioneer in quite some time so I'm hoping to get to visit with him for a few minutes. There haven't been any auctions advertised for him so I'm hoping he is in good health. There is suppose to be a lot of everything and a lot of things in oak. Don't have anything else planned so that will most likely take up most of the day.

Finally called the Vet this morning. I can get the cats in next Thursday to get them spay/neutered and declawed. Also, Skeeter will need his shots and Kitty...well, we think she's pregnant again so they will terminate the pregancy. Next thing is to get Joey his shots, I may just take him with me and hope they can work him in. I'm changing Vets because the one I went to when I was breeding is just too darn expensive. For the two cats the cost will only be $276 compared to over $375 at my former Vet. Good move I think.

It sounds like you girls have a nice relaxing weekend ahead of you.....not me! Dae Lynn and Damon are signing papers on the house this morning and Nancy will be moving tomorrow.....and Dae Lynn and Damon are moving on Sunday. They have several guys lined up to help with both moves so things should go quickly. Nancy has a lot of things but she's been working hard and I'm sure she'll have everything boxed and ready to go. And Dae Lynn's been working on stuff here as well. Of course, her furniture and most things are still boxed from the last move.

The kids are about to drive me crazy again this mornng......especially Karlie. I don't know what's going on with that girl but she's been annoying for the last couple of days.....more than usual. Maybe it's the move and everything that's going on.

Last night for our kid's night at church we did a craft and it was so cool that I made one for myself!! It's a tic-tac-toe game made from a piece of wood.....the game pieces are marbles and there are little holes that they sit in on the wood. Then on the side there's a little door that is screwed in the middle......there's two holes drilled in the side to hold the marbles and the door covers them. So cool!! Everyone's turned out so neat!! I was in charge of spray painting....with Jaci....and we both ended up with painted fingers. UGH!!

I need to go to the grocery store today. Dae Lynn's stopped getting groceries, I guess, and we're low on several things. I'm not used to shopping because she's been taking care of all of that!! And cooking!!!

Plans have changed!!! Nancy had so much help moving out that they were done by noon!! So....Dae Lynn and Damon are moving today! When they came home and we started packing up I got teary. It's hard having them leave. Dae Lynn is so easy to talk to so it's like losing a girlfriend. At least it's not that far away.....it's just the empty nest syndrome AGAIN!! I'll survive!!

Yes you will survive and will remember how much you enjoyed having the house to yourself.......and Dean...lol. So glad they get to move sooner, Dae Lynn must be thrilled.

I am so happy for them, and you, though it is a little sad letting her go, you will get used to being quiet at home again. I think you will settle into a great pattern, having the kids lots - then waving them off again.

For whatever reason I had a lot of energy today and got several things accomplished. I had soooo many errands to run and I was able to get everything done. I picked up around the house and cleaned out my closet floor and vacuumed. It had gotten cluttered and dusty. I baked a veggie lasagna to eat on for a few days.

I have a friend coming to town next weekend to attend a wedding in a town just north of Austin. She wanted to meet for dinner before the wedding and I didn't know any restaurants in the area so I ran up there and found a quiet little Japanese place.

I have a charity donation truck coming on Wednesday and I need to go through some things to donate. Maybe I'll get that done tomorrow.

Diana, I know it is bittersweet for Dae Lynn to move out. I felt the same thing when the girls were here a year ago. I was glad to have my house back, but it was sad to see them go.

I hope everyone had a good weekend!

So quiet today!! I was going to go back over to Dae Lynn's today but naptime called my name!! She's off of work the next couple of days so I'll go over then and help. Mom and Art are here waiting for church this evening. Art's watching tv and Mom's crashed out on the couch. The house is a mess but, oh well.....it will eventually get cleaned back up!!

Wow, Gayle!! You do have a lot of energy!! Doesn't it make you feel so good when you can see that you've got a lot accomplished?

What a nice act to donate things to charity!! I'm sure that there are people who can really use some of Gary's things. We have a thrift store run by one of the church's in town. They mostly take clothes and sell cheaply. The money goes to missions so I don't feel bad donating to them. Then we have a man who will take your things off of your hands after a garage sale.....then he has a garage sale and the money goes toward something.....I just don't remember what. Both are really handy.

We have a wedding next weekend too. One of the girls from church (who hasn't been there for some time.....but is very sweet) is getting married to a neighbor boy that Glen knows. We weren't planning on going but the Mom asked me specifically to come next weekend so we will probably go. Things will have slowed down by then and maybe it will be fun.

I've had a really good weekend. Yesterday I went to an auction. There was so much beautiful glassware and since I love it so much, I bought alot and only spent $24. I just love the cut glass, I think that's what it is called. They had 3 rings going most of the day...that's how much stuff there was. Never been to one that huge before, but it was fun. The auction started at 9:30 and didn't finish till late afternoon. I left around 2:30 I think it was. So many nice things but they hurried the auction because of the size so everything went really cheap. Spent the rest of the day at home cleaning the items I bought and put them in my hutch and china cabinet.

This morning I went to the first service at church. I think I like the second service best because there are many more people, but I do like going early and having the rest of the day to do whatever. I guess I'm just not really sure which one I like best...lol. The preacher is young and really good, holds my attention. After church I was able to go get some groceries. We just haven't had the extra, but this week I decided I just didn't care. Tired of seeing an empty fridge and freezer.

This afternoon I am doing laundry and I mopped the kitchen floor. This week I have to take the cats to the Vet to get spayed, neutered and declawed...at Ricky's expense. He wants them, he pays..lol. They'll have to stay overnight and I'll pick them up on Friday. She sure looks pregnant again, so I hope it won't hurt her to have them aborted.

Hi Guys,
I just wanted to say that I have felt more like myself this weekend than any weekend since I lost Gary. I've been busy, productive, and felt good. It just seems the past weekends here at the house by myself have been boring, sad, or just strange. But this weekend, I felt like I had purpose and I felt good. I hope I am beginning to find my way. I really don't mind being by myself, at all, but since losing Gary I guess I didn't quite know what to do with myself. It feels good!

Janet, I wish I could have gone to the auction with you! I would have loved looking at all the stuff.

Diana, I know you must be ready to get everything straightened out from all the hustle and bustle of moving and then getting everything settled again. I know you will enjoy some quieter time.

This week at school will be some meetings and some orientations, both new students and new faculty. It will be busy but not crazy (at least I hope it won't be). School starts next week on the 29th, and my first class is on the 30th. I'm ready! :)

Gayle, I'm glad you are feeling more like yourself again!

I have been feeling robotic. My sickness is starting to lift a bit - I can breathe through my nose again finally, but the cough has gone to my chest and I feel like I can't stop coughing at all. I'm just kind of forcing myself to get up and get through each day. I haven't had time to rest and try to get over it because of my job...

I don't get riled up very often but I feel like I have to hold back from telling off one guy at work. I had issues with him before with his last project which was pushed on me at the very last minute. It is the same this time. It has basically had to be taken over by another guy because our department head has been getting so angry about everything being submitted late, because the two of us there who make the plans and drawings are never given enough time to get done what needs to get done. It is such poor time management on his part and it reflects badly on us. Anyways, I was asked to come in on Saturday, but my coworker needed my work to be done before he could work on his part on Saturday as well, so I ended up working on it all night Friday (until midnight) and then going back Saturday morning, and then bringing it home to work more on Saturday night. I took today off, because I think I need it before I burn out. I just get so angry even thinking about him though, and I think I might ask my manager to not be put on any of his jobs anymore. Not only does he not know how to manage time, he doesn't even know what he's doing to begin with. Just shows, I guess, that even if you have a master's degree from Harvard, you can still be a dumb*ss :rolleyes: It just sounds good on paper!

Janet, your auction sounds like it was so much fun!! I love it when things go cheap and you're so happy to buy things!! I wish that you would have gotten a picture of your new things!!

Gayle, I can hear in your posts that you're doing better. I'm so happy for you. It's been so stressful but you're getting all that needed to get done behind you and you're ready to move on. I'm glad that you have a little longer to get rested up before you have to be back to teaching again. Hugs!!!

Lindsey, I think that it's a good idea to talk to a supervisor just like you mentioned. There's no sense in working for someone who doesn't know what they're doing and dragging your work down with them and making everyone else look bad. Stand up for yourself!!!

It's quiet here......I'm hating it. Glen and I were talking this morning and I started crying. I know that it's that empty next syndrome......but I miss having the kids here making noise in the morning. That's what feels like home......all the noise not the quiet. Oh well....it's just getting used to it!!

I stopped by Dae Lynn's a couple of times yesterday and each time the kids came running...."Grandma" and I got big hugs! I think they are missing me too!! I've got some things to clean up here then I'm going in and helping Dae Lynn get things in order. Plus I've got to go by the hardware store....hopefully see Jaci there......and get some things for a light fixture we're putting up. We bought a new fan to go over our bar in the kitchen and I bought a separate light fixture on e-bay that was suppose to be NEW.....but it's not. I'm going to get some of my money back....it's fixable but I shouldn't have to pay as much as I did for it.

I wish you could have come with me too Gayle. I also wish the the auction was held when Diana was here. Diana you could have bought soooo much for $1.00 to sell in your flea market booth.

It's good to read that you're feeling better Gayle. Sounds like this week will be good too, you'll be busy.

Lindsey...I sure hope you can get something to boost your immune system this winter. You were ill so much last year. Maybe check with your Dr. and see if he can help you someway. Gotta keep our newlywed healthy!!

I went over to Dae Lynn's yesterday and straighten up each of the kids' rooms. I'm not ready to decorate yet (I need to stay home to get things done so it's going to take awhile.) But the rooms are arranged and look nice. I helped to fold some laundry and put some groceries away. Jaci came by and Dae Lynn and Damon decided to go to Wal-mart but told Jaci and I that we were welcome to stay and visit. After Jaci left I cleaned up the living room and put out some throw pillows. Then they had two little end tables that they really didn't have rooms for so I put them together in front of the couch like a coffee table. I also arranged some things on a shelf that was in the living room. I took everything out that didn't belong and place it in Dae Lynn's room and a hallway to get it out of sight. It looked so nice. She called me when she got home and told me how much they liked what I did! It made me feel good!!

I have Karlie and Dean today. It's already been a challenge. I don't know what's going on with Karlie.....it must be the move, I suppose. It's a good thing that school starts tomorrow. I think that the structure of school is good for her and that she enjoys the challenge of it so that means I'll just have Dean. Dean by himself isn't a problem.

Today I'm working on my house while watching the kids. It's such a mess and I really need to get things organized and cleaned up. Glen and I have decided to turn the bedroom that the kids were in into a multi-purpose room. I have a nice roll top desk that's in his office but it's just buried under stuff. Whenever Glen cleans his desk it all goes right over to mine so it's unusable. Then we have a hide a bed in the basement that we're going to move up. We very seldom need both bedrooms when guests come but we'll still be able to use it as such with the hide a bed in there. I'd also like to put a small tv in there and the kids could watch movies in there. And I could do my crafts or whatever in there.....so the room could be a lot more usuable. It's going to take awhile because I need to paint it and Dae Lynn still has some things to get out. In time.....in time........

Wow Diana...you've really been busy. Wish Rick (not Ricky) would move out so we could have an extra room...lolol. I would love to have one for crafts and sewing that way I wouldn't have to get stuff out all the time. When you're done painting there, could you come back and paint here? If the guys would just keep there hands off the walls it would look so much better.

Today I made a basket so that it would hold artificial flowers. When I was at an auction a few weeks back I bought 3 big boxes of silk flowers to use on the gravesites. Today I was cutting the stems down to the urn size so they wouldn't stick out so tall. When I was done I was carrying them back out to the garage and promptly FELL OUT THE BACK DOOR! Not sure how I did it but ended up scrapping the skin off my left knee, hurt my little toe, hit my hip on the thing that holds the door open and somehow scrapped the inside of my right thigh.

When it first happened, I just layed there and cried. I was so afraid I had broken something and I was here by myself of course. It was so scary. I came in and cleaned it up a little and couldn't stop shaking so I called Diane. After she helped get me calmed down, I cleaned it up better and bandaged my knee up. It was so gross with skin hanging off, almost made me sick and things like that usually don't bother me at all.

One of my friends from work said she would check in to getting me one of those alert buttons...lol. I ran my afternoon route and wasn't hurting too bad, but now the pain is starting to set in so I guess it's time for some Tylenol or Ibuprophen. Just one thing after another. :)

Well dang it Janet! You had a close call. I know that knee is going to hurt and the rest of you is too. I'd take more tylenol than ibuprofen - tylenol won't contribute to bruising, but ibuprofen might. However, the ibuprofen will work better. Maybe in a day or two take ibuprofen.

A concept that I use a lot is called vigilance. When we are distracted, we are not as vigilant regarding our surroundings. We just walk or move and don't thnk about what we are doing, where we are going, and what obstacles might be in our path. I think its really important to bring vigilance to the forefront of our mind, really consciously try to remember to think about what we are doing, especially when moving. It's so easy to just mindlessly move through our day, but vigilance can be our friend!

That will be a hard one fore sure Gayle. We are so use to just doing what we need to do and not really thinking about it unless there is a big danger to us. Just walking or going down steps does not seem like something we need to think about but as we age...you're right we to bring vigilance to the forefront of our mind.

I'm a little more sore and my knee has swollen just a bit where the skin was torn off. I'm sure it will be okay. I cleaned it real good and put an antibiotic cream on it with a bandage. Getting older just plain sucks...lol.

I'm glad that you're alright! I know that falling for some people is really hard on them. Just take a little something for the soreness and you'll be fine.

We had an interesting evening last night.....we had Kera's boyfriend, Jordan, call and ask if he could stay with us. He's been having problems with his Mom and spent the summer with his grandparents in another town. He came back yesterday and his Mother didn't want him to stay at her house. I had told him awhile back when he was visiting that he was welcome to stay with us if he needed to. After he called and called Glen and told him. He wasn't too happy about it but said that he could stay temporarily. So I went in and had to clean up everything that Dae Lynn had left behind and underneath the bed and change the bedding. I imagine that the last few things I'll have to pack up and take to her. That's how she usually does it.

Anyway.....Jordan spent the night. He seems like a nice boy but from what I understand he's had some problems in the past but is doing better now. School started today and so Amy came and picked him up and took him. He has the money to pay for his school fees and supplies because he worked for his Grandfather during the summer. He said that he's also going to go and look for a job this afternoon. He took all of his stuff with him so I don't know if he'll be back or not. He's going to try and talk to his Mom again and see what she says.

Amy lives really close to us and with Jordan and Kera dating it makes them nervous having them so close together all the time. I can understand because Kera isn't the most trust worthy. Anyway....we'll see what happens next.

Jordan had an incident with his mother, the police were called, and he's back with his grandparents in another town. I'm not sure what's going to happen with the situation.

Today Dae Lynn had a guy coming to put in a phone jack so I had to run in and let him in. I loaded the Tahoe with some more of her things. I know that if I don't just take them in they'll just sit and sit here. I put them in the garage where she can go through them when she's ready. Now I just have a couple more big boxes of books and toys and a fan. Then she'll be pretty much out.

Other than that not much is going on. I guess I better get off the computer and get my own house cleaned!!

Not much going on here either Diana. Took the cats in this morning for spay/neuter and declawing, have to pick them up tomorrow after 10. Did some cleaning and then shredded newspaper for the litter box. Guess they can't use regular litter because it can get in where their claws were. I'm learning so much more about cats than I ever wanted to...lol.

So glad tomorrow is Friday and the weekend is around the corner. Temps are going back up into the 90's so that won't be fun, but it's better than snow....I guess.

Surely you have to just use the paper while their paws are healing and then go back to the kitty litter......don't you?

Yes.....they said just for a couple of weeks. I'm really angry, the Vet didn't send any pain meds home and I can tell Kitty is hurting. I'm going tomorrow and get her some pain pills. Don't understand why they didn't send some home with us.

One of my good friends was in the hospital this week with heart problems. She thought she was having a heart attack, but nothing showed up at the hospital. They kept her overnight and sent her home on a heart monitor. PLEASE everyone, stop falling out of doors and getting sick. I need you all to be well.

Guess we're just trying to keep you on your toes...lol. Hope it's nothing serious with your friend and that she's feeling better.

My friend Diane....the one who just joined but hasn't posted yet is going through something that is hard to figure out. Not sure if it's stress, anxiety, mental, we just don't know. They've done a few tests on her, but nothing really decided on what's wrong. Please keep her in our prayers also, I would appreciate it.


This morning Kitty was still sitting on her haunches with her front feet in the air, which tells me she's in pain. So Ricky headed over to the Vet to get some meds for her. They gave enough for 3 days...and it better be enough or I'm headed right back over there. She's not crying much, but I know she's hurting. Skeeter seems to be doing really well, but since they sent him meds too, we gave him one. If he doesn't need the rest then I will be giving them to Kitty. It just breaks my heart for her to be in pain.

Ricky and I went to Lafayette to a Best Buy store there. Since his laptop computer died, he has been wanting another one. He still has his first laptop, but it runs so slow. We just use it as a back up. Anyway, I had some money put back from my inheritance to give him for all the help he gave me with Mom and afterwards. They are really busy with back to school, so it will be tomorrow before he can pick it up. They are going to get it all ready for him and get rid of all the nonsense stuff and create a backup disc for him too. He's really anxious to get it home. I think he's going to be amazed at how much faster it will be and how much better the graphics are on it.

On our way back home we stopped at the Rossville Summer's End Festival. They had a lot of booths and a lot of people. We did a walk through and then came on home. That's been my day so far. Don't plan on doing much else, it's so hot outside today and I just feel like being lazy now.

I made a quick trip to Houston this weekend. Brooke called on Thursday and wanted me to come down. We've had a lot of fun today, shopping, baking and just being together.

They say the hurricane coming into the gulf may hit closer to New Orleans and there was a message from the hurricane center tonight that after it makes landfall, it may drift west at full strength to HOUSTON! :eek: We just saw that a few minutes ago on the tracking models, so I guess the kids will get things ready tomorrow. They already have all their emergency packs and three generators, but will need to get some gasoline, water and food that doesn't needvpreparation, in case they are without power. The trackers won't really know till Monday where it will make landfall or what it will do afterwards, but I the kids are going to get ready anyway. Bryan has been through a hurricane when he lived in FL, but it's been a long time.

Janet, I hope Kitty is feeling better! I can't believe the vet didn't send pain meds to begin with!

Gayle, hurricanes must be awful! It's a good idea to be prepared ahead of time.

Yesterday we did a lot of shopping! Scott had a doctors appointment at our new doctor in the mall, so I shopped while he was in there :) One of his fingers for months has been just scaley and dry and the whole front of the finger looks like the skin has just been eaten away. He didn't want to go but finally went. It turns out it's contact eczema and he now has some cream to put on it every day. Hopefully it gets better!

And he actually brought up his heart issues to this doctor too, which I didn't think he'd do because he keeps saying he's fine. I didn't even push him this time! Every once in awhile, his heart will just start beating really hard and fast, and he feels like he's out of breath. It happens almost every time he eats, and then other random times too. It has happened his whole life. He went to a doctor when he was younger and living at home, but it didn't happen when he was at the doctor so the doctor said he was fine.... I made him go again to our old doctor here in the city and he did some bloodwork but it ended there. This new doctor is making Scott go for bloodwork on Monday and when she gets the results she will refer him to a specialist. I think he really needs to have his heart monitored for a day or two so they can track when it happens!

Anyways, while we were out I bought a few new shirts, Scott bought some tools I know nothing about, we bought a wheelbarrow for yard work, and we got groceries. We also found time to go to the bank and change him over to my account and close his old one. Our bank was having a customer appreciation day with free drinks, sno kones, cupcakes, and TACO IN A BAG!!! Ohhhh taco in a bag is my favourite food ever. I don't know if it's popular where you guys are, but you just crunch up a small bag of Doritos, cut it down the side, add some ground beef (with taco seasoning), lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, and catalina salad dressing, and enjoy! I just spent $7.50 a couple of weeks ago on one at the fair, so when it's free, I'm all over that lol!

Today my plan is to highlight my hair and make cabbage rolls! Scott just left to play a round of golf, so it's pretty quiet around here.

Oh yeah and we got all of our wedding photos on Friday and I put a bunch of them on Facebook yesterday, so go check them out if you haven't seen them :)

Did check them out and I love them. All the wedding photos I've seen have been beautiful!

Lindsey, your wedding pix are so wonderful. I don't know how I would ever decide!

Yes, I do know about taco in a bag. My sister-in-law made them a few weeks ago. They are really good!