Hi Everyone!

[gja1000]

Ah! All weekend company gone. Had a nice time with the family, but it is always good to have a quiet house once again.

My school starts on Wednesday. I'm ready though, I love the beginning of a new semester. It seems odd though, it always seems to go by so fast, yet here it is 101 degrees today and it will be cold by the time the semester is over in December! I'm looking forward to a little cooler weather (or maybe A LOT cooler).

[DianaB]

Sorry that I didn't post about our trip to Texas earlier.......We had a great time!!! It was so good to see my cousin, Steve, and his wife, Belinda!!! I hadn't seen them for almost 20 years!! Steve still has his wonderful sense of humor and soon had us all laughing!!! They had a very nice 25th anniversary party that included aunts, uncles, and cousins. My aunt, Joyce, had really gone all out with the cake and everything!!

I went down on Friday with my Mom, Step-dad, and my brother. It was a quiet trip for the most part. My Mom read a book and my brother slept while Art drove. It probably was a good thing because I found out that my brother had been arrested for beating up a guy that was in his ex (?) wife's bed......it's a long story.....well, it's just another in a long line of bad decidions. His life is so full of drama.

I stayed with Rick and Lynette, my cousin and his wife. They are such wonderful people.....Glen and I get along with them so well!!! They've just completed a lot of work on their home and yard.....it was all so beautiful!!! They had a wonderful swimming pool and I was so excited about it but the water was so hot!! The weather was terribly hot and just warmed the water up too much. I did swim but it was not as refreshing as I thought that it would be.

An aunt and uncle who lost everything in Katrina now live in this community and we've never really had too much to do with them because they lived too far away.....had us over for a shrimp supper. It was really good!!

Another day Lynette, Carol (another aunt), and I went to Gladewater and shopped the antique stores. We didn't near make it to all of them!!! I found a Chatty Cathy doll in her original clothes!!! I was pretty excited because I've always wanted one!!!

Glen and I headed home on Wednesday and decided to not go on the Indian Nation Turnpike so we could see the country.......we found out that it takes a looooong time to drive through the southern part of Oklahoma!!!!! So I called my Aunt Marva and we spent the night at her house in Muskogee. The next morning we left and hit some flea markets on the way home!!!

I was so ready to get home and see my Baby Dean!!! Rick and Lynette had a new little granddaughter, Milie Jo, that was 7 months old and soooo cute.......and Marva's little great-granddaughter, Addy, was at Marva's house and also cute.......I told Glen that I had ooo'd and awwww'd over everyone else's baby that I needed to see my own!!!

It was a great trip and so relaxing!! Being down there with my Aunt Carol and her husband, Richard, and Rick and Lynette is like being with mom and dad and a brother and sister. They're very close family to us.

[Janet]

Sounds like wonderful family time Diana. So much to do and people to catch up with.

I am going to go get the bus either Wednesday or Thursday and make sure it's already for the route. School starts Tuesday the 31st. Starting later because of a school construction project. I'm beginning to get anxious...I do miss some of the kids. Registration is the 24th & 25th so after that I'll know how many new kids I'll have. It takes so much time making the easiest and most fuel efficient route and then calling all the kids letting them know what time to expect me. Parents want to talk and talk and it takes soooo much time. I'm usually able to cut the call short in a nice way and then on to the next.

I hope things go well this year. A couple drivers have quit and new ones hired. Some that have been there awhile are only there for the gossip and it's so maddening. I'll probably just stick to my bus instead of with the gossipers....I usually don't agree with their thinking so it's best I just stick to the bus.

Still haven't heard from any place but a few where I put in an application. If this keeps up...I'll be stuck here forever.

[Lindsey]

Sounds like you had a nice trip Diana!

Janet, I hope things work out for you. I can't believe school is starting again. A couple of weeks ago we heard the pools in the city were getting ready to shut down and I couldn't believe it. But school is right around the corner!

Gayle, I have never heard of turkey poop compost lol! The plants have doubled in size over the past few weeks but no flowers or anything yet. Oh well, I gave it a try. We got frost last week already and I had to cover the plants. In the next month or so everything will have to be out of the garden. Next year I'm planting earlier!

I had such a busy weekend! On Friday after work, Scott and I headed to my grandma's for some lasagne (delicious!) and then went with my brother and his girlfriend to the Black Eyed Peas concert! It was a really good show!

We got home around midnight, went to sleep, got up early, and had the whole family out for a day of golf. The course in our town is SO nice! But it's long, and half is uphill, so I'll definitely get a cart next time! At the end of the 9th hole, there's a clear short path to our house so my mom and I just walked home instead of alllll the way back to the parking lot with Scott

Everyone hung out at our house for the afternoon and played some bocce ball in the yard. My grandma and mom and I went to check out the antique store in town and everything was soooo beautiful. I want to go back and buy some things!

We had a big barbeque later with steaks, potatoes and beans from my parents' garden, salads, and nanaimo bars for dessert. It was so good! After everyone left we packed our bags, showered, and went into the city for the night. We planned to play cards but after a few games I was so tuckered out I went to bed.

We did tons of shopping yesterday which was good because we stocked up our storage room and our freezer. A grocery store had a 10 for $10 sale on a bunch of items so we took big advantage of that 10 coconut cream pies for $10? Don't mind if I do!

When we got home last night, we had JUST put groceries away when the power went out. Usually it's 10 or 20 minutes before power is restored, but it wasn't coming back on. We called the provider and there was a recording saying there was a substation down, all surrounding towns were out of power, and there was no estimated time for it to be fixed It ended up being 2.5 hours without power! I was just going to bed when it came back on.

Now I'm counting down to next weekend when I get to do NOTHING!

[Marilyn]

Sounds like everyone is having a nice end of summer. We took a two week vacation. Left the first of August and got home on the 14th. Went to Lake Charles, New Orleans, Williamsburg, VA, Washington, DC, Anapolis, MD, Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA, Gettysburg, PA, down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Grandfather Mountain in SC, over to Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN and back home. It was very much an American History tour, but had a wonderful time. Melissa, Garrett and Karen were able to go with us. It was the first time our little family took a long driving vacation in the US. We have always flown everywhere due to lack of vacation time. I burned my entire vacation on this trip, but it was well worth it.

It's a little hard to get back in the swing of things, but we're working on it. Would love to spend a few weeks in Greenville, SC. I've been there on business, and we stopped and ate there on this trip, and Rex agreed with me that it is beautiful and he would like to spend some time there, too. We'll have to park the RV there for a few weeks when we retire, if we ever do....

[DianaB]

Everyone has just been so busy!!! I guess that's because summer is about to come to an end.

Janet, I know that you're excited about seeing your little kids!! Enjoy your late start!! Our school started last Wednesday. It felt like we hardly got to see Feyn's kids....even though they just live down the road from us. They were so involved with different camps and activities all summer.

Lindsey, it sounds like you had a very full weekend!! How nice that everyone was able to come and enjoy being at your home. I bet that you have so much room now for everyone when they come!!! It sounds like you're in a really good location too....being next to the golf course!!!........I'd like to know how your parents grow steaks in their garden!!!!........I just couldn't resist saying that!!!! LOL

Marilyn, it sounds like you had a wonderful trip and saw so many things!!!! I would love to be able to get Glen to go on a trip like that!!! He's not interested in history so I doubt that he'd ever go.......may have to just plan on it without him!!!! I'm sure that you really enjoyed having your family with you....but missed having Karen's husband. I'm sure that it will be a trip that will always be remembered!!!

[gja1000]

It's good to hear from everyone. I hope you guys up north are enjoying some cooler weather. We had a cool front this week and instead of 103, it is 97. But it does feel better.

Our school started Wednesday. It has been crazy around there this week. But then it always is the first week or two of school.

We got all our gutters up and the downspouts positioned over our rain barrels, now if it will ever rain, we might catch some!

Gary's family has decided to go to Eureka Springs Arkansas (actually Beaver Lake) the second weekend in October. I'm really excited because I hardly ever get to see the fall color change. Now watch, the leaves won't be changing by the time we are there! I'll keep my fingers crossed though, that the leaves WILL be changing!

[Blueyes]

Hi everybody! Wow, y'all wear me out being so busy, lol!! I have been trying to rest up from our trip to get Kirby. We were gone for 8 days, so we had a nice vacation along the way. I've never seen so much corn and soybeans The fields were really pretty through Iowa.

It was so nice to meet Tink, and of course get Kirby. He is growing fast! Now if he would sleep all night it would be nice. I'm such a light sleeper, every little sound he makes wakes me up... but he's really being good.

[DianaB]

Gayle, you're right....we do have cooler temperatures now.....in fact it's in the 70's in the morning. With it getting that cool at night I'm probably done swimming in the pond because it cools off pretty quickly when the temps change. The day temps have been wonderful!!

Betsi, I'm glad to hear that you had a good trip!! You got to see quite a bit of different country!! When I went to Chicago we went through Iowa and you're right....the fields were just beautiful there. The ground just rolls up and down there and made it so pretty!!!

I'm sure that Kirby is growing!!! How old does he have to be to start with his training? Or can you start right away? I bet that you'll really enjoy doing that!! We have a therapy dog that wanders around our middle school. She's a golden retriever and her name is Bliss. The kids all love her!!

[Blueyes]

I start Puppy Kindergarten with Kirby next Thursday at Petsmart. It is once a week for 8 weeks. When I get the basics done, we'll start training at the Therapet facility. That's where he'll learn to be around hospital equipment, elevators, etc., and all of the commands that go along with that. I'm really looking forward to it

I'm sorry it's too cool to swim Diana Our weather have been a bit cooler, with less humidity...probably much like Gayles weather.

[paula1961]

Hi everybody!! I am finally home once again lol. Dad is still in the hospital and I have been in Lexington since Tuesday. Glad to hear that all of you are having a nice end of summer. I love reading about everyone's adventures.
I'm looking forward to fall but certainly not looking forward to winter.

[Janet]

The last few days the temps have been so wonderful here and with a light breeze too. I've noticed some leaves on the ground. Today I went to an auction in town. Saw a few people I know and haven't seen for awhile so it was good catching up a bit. I didn't buy anything....wanted to, but also wanted to hang on to my money. Don't really know why I even went. Everything was going so cheap I couldn't believe it. There was a Summer's End Festival near by and most people were there instead of the auction. One of the lowest turn outs I've ever been to.

I didn't make it to the festival. It is usually a pretty nice one, but again...didn't want to spend any money...lol. If I would have thought about it, I would have left my billfold home and just went and looked...lolol.

My younger brother's wife was there, but we didn't speak. Such a strange woman

Mom found out my other SIL wasn't driving her to Florida, so she said she was driving herself....yeah...we'll see about that.

Not sure how many of you have Kat's email address, but here it is if you would like to drop her a line and let her know you're thinking of her: katcarasella@yahoo.com

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Janet

Mom found out my other SIL wasn't driving her to Florida, so she said she was driving herself....yeah...we'll see about that.
katcarasella@yahoo.com

Now, THAT SIL has brains! LOL! I sure hope your mom doesn't try to drive herself, although she probably will. Oh LORDY!!!

I would have loved to go to the auction with you! I also love festivals and the like. I can (usually) go without spending any money. It's kinda therapeutic for me. I also love prowling in antique stores, and don't have to spend a dime to feel like I've had a great time!

I wish I had your cooler weather - but then in the dead of winter, I'll be glad I live in Texas. LOL! Our weather has cooled off a bit, so it is not so stiffling hot. But we are supposed to have increase humidity this week, along with a tiny chance of rain. The humidity won't feel good at all, but a little rain would be nice!

[gja1000]

Going to my daughters this evening for pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and fried okra (from the garden). MMMMMMMMMM!

[paula1961]

Originally Posted by gja1000

Going to my daughters this evening for pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and fried okra (from the garden). MMMMMMMMMM!

Sounds yummy Gayle!!