mdrai

Hey girlies... I slept in 'til 9:30 this morning because this is it... the last day until I don't know when that I can do that... tomorrow morning begins 8am soccer tryouts & then a.m. practices all next week & then SCHOOL!... plus I was up 'til after midnight finishing "The Help"... good book... it takes place in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, but I kept having to remind myself that, as to me I had a hard time believing that that kind of black/white nonsense was so bad so recently (in my lifetime); I kept thinking I was reading about the '20s or something! I recommend it. You'll never believe this (I sure don't!)! So on Monday my car gets a new idle control motor; I drive it on Tues & it's fine; on Weds DH drives it and the check engine & some other light pop on! :thumbup: & they've been on ever since. The car is still operating fine, though. DH is so mad! He's off today & he's taking back in... ay yai yai! For a car that's never given me a moment's trouble... it's been nothing but since July! Thanks for the love, Pam & everyone... I'm ok... not surprisingly, DH & I haven't yet had our big "talk"... honestly, it's because we haven't had the time... we're in & out & up & down & working & taking kids places... probably part of the problem, I know. BUT... even the teeny tiny bit I shared w/him that day on the phone I think helped... I think it shook both of us out of our complacency and routine and taking each other for granted. So I'm feeling a bit better... & plan to continue to open up more regularly than holding it in. I think that's it from here for now... starting tomorrow through next week is CrAzY around here w/the 2-a-day soccer practices + every day pom practices + kids' doc app'ts (got to squeeze them in before school starts!), etc... so don't fret if I'm not around much... school starts the 24th, & I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine. Smooches!

((Terry)) Got a new idle control motor on my car yesterday... One of my bestest bff's for the last 16 years who lives in NC & her sons came for a visit today... they're visiting her Mom in N. Va... our kids are all w/in a year of each other, and get along SO SO well... & she & I just pick up wherever we are like we haven't been apart at all & talk nonstop for hours (sound familiar, Haydee?)... so it was a better day. DH & I haven't had a "talk" yet... no time... we seem to be on opposite schedules & are never alone... but just saying what I did say to him helped me, I think... keeping stuff crammed inside just makes it feel bigger & more festery (is that a word)... let a little out, and ahhhh... it feels a bit better. Thanks for all the support, love & encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to me that you're here!!

HANDS DOWN it was going up (& then back down) the hill w/you & Judy. Not even close on that one!!! LOLOLOLOL!!

We actually did go to counselling w/the emphasis on communication about 10 years or so ago... so we know what we're doing and what to do but we just tend to slip back into old habits... most likely if we actually talk then we'll clear the air and everything will be ok... I'm probably being overdramatic... thanks for putting up with me!

We're back -- ds's team won the championships! Yay! Too bad it was about 100 out... phew!! Did I tell you all about my car problems? That about once a week it won't start until I gun the gas? I took it in & they said they couldn't find anything wrong w/it. Well, it happened twice on Saturday and then the WORST thing happened ... while I was driving it (going only about 5mph but still...) it just STOPPED & the steering locked up! :thumbup: I was a wreck after that! But what was I supposed to do, stuck down in the boonies on a Saturday eve?? So I got it going again & just prayed like crazy & it was fine the rest of the weekend... I drove it straight to the repair guy last night... dh picked us up there... I had the worst stomach pains (I think a combo of being in that heat all day + not eating much + worry) the whole time driving the 3 hrs home (stupid beltway traffic!!) & when we got to the repair place I just burst into tears. So they call this a.m. & are replacing the idle control motor to the tune of mega hundreds of dollars. Lovely. Of course dh is hopping mad... we *just* paid off the Sept. Disney trip (all cash that I saved, btw) & he's all "rickin' frickin'"... ugh. I am in a *very* bad place emotionally w/him right now... I have been for quite awhile... but the last month has really been hard... usually I just try to ride out these types of feelings... I chalk it up to life's ebbs & flows... & it does usually abate & things go back to "normal"... but somehow that's not working this time & I think we need to hash out some things & it's not going to be pleasant... we are NOTORIOUS for our horrible communication skills & always taking things the wrong way w/each other, etc... you'd think after knowing each other for 28 years we'd have this worked out, but evidently not... sorry to go on & on about this... I don't even know why I'm typing this... I'll probably delete it... but maybe not... & I keep thinking about what Terry said about folks out there having it way worse than us... & then I feel like I need to just suck it up and be grateful for all I have, which I am, it's not that... ugh... I don't know... I am very sad inside and just want to cry... I usually just keep it all bottled up -- WHICH IS WHY I AM FAT, BECAUSE I EAT TO NUMB MYSELF & KEEP THE FEELINGS BURIED UNDER ALL THAT SUGAR! Sorry. Ack!

We one the first game 8-1! Next one is @ 4.

Off for a day full of soccer! Enjoy your days!!

Hello from Solomon's Island, Md! We're here for ds's soccer tournament this weekend. We came down and toured historic St. Mary's City, then came here to Solomon's. I think the "Tiki Bar" down the avenue has my name on it! We have a marina view room, which is nice. Two soccer games tomorrow, and then depending on the outcome of those will depend how many & when they play on Sunday. Everyone have a great weekend!!

((Pamela)) I can picture your PO cuz' we went there! & of course margi heaven... I love that I can picture you in all these scenarios now!! :ohmy: Glad you are healing well but follow doc's orders & don't sweat! ((Janie)) That is simply one part of life I'll never understand... how great folks (& kids) can get sick & die while evil ones seem to go on forever... doesn't seem like a good system... Work work today... cannot avoid like I did yesterday!! (note to self!)... laundry & then packing for the weekend. I'm so looking forward to being by the water and simply relaxing... oh, w/a bunch of soccer games thrown in for fun! Make it a great day, Vi's!

It's not you, Suzie, it's that ol' Judy... she liked the second one better... everyone else has agreed w/me... I mean, chosen the first one. Which one do you prefer, Haydee??

3 to 1 so far... keep the votes coming! :tongue2:

Uh oh... which one looks guiltiest? They were probably trying to log on to cats&dogstalk.com...

Well, you started it!! :tt2: I would've been too polite to mention it... :tongue2: You'll get more input Haydee, I'm sure, knowing this group!... They must not be in avoidance mode like me! Altho... I do have the book actually open now... there's nothing like hunkering down with "Employment Discrimination Law", y'know? Good times, good times... I just have to keep reminding myself that this is DISNEY $$ I'm earning!! That usually kicks my butt in gear!

Oh waa waa.. playing the "old" card... really? If anything, that works AGAINST you! he he he... :tongue2:

Yay, Haydee.... thank you for giving me an assignment to help me procrastinate on doing my work... I WAS folding sheets to avoid working... but this was much more enjoyable!! It IS a tough call -- they're both great! If I had to choose, I think I'd go w/the Hazel West, though... I liked the playfulness of a lot of the shots... but it's so hard to choose... they obviously showcase just their good stuff, lol! It was fun to see wedding ideas from the other pics as well... floral arrangements, etc... I know, I'm so sneaky!!

My son bought a HUGE bag of those with his OWN money (so that no one else can eat them, lol) for about .99. I tried one & it was spicy!!

Judy -- post a pic of that new hair color... please! Jen -- yes, we went to Hanover, PA, and did the Snyder's of Hanover pretzel/chip factory tour, and then the Utz chip factory tour, & the factory store prices are really good, so I stocked up on lunchbox size stuff for when school starts here in a bit... I probably won't have to buy chips 'til Christmas! lol! Make it a great day, everyone!

Back from pretzel & potato chip land -- oh my! Those factory stores really should be outlawed... & the fact that you can get all sorts of fun flavors & deals that they don't have in the regular stores... again I say... oh my! (can you say sweet potato chips??) Laura... I just got "The Help" yesterday from the library... I'm planning on reading it this weekend when I'll be @ Solomon's Island on the eastern shore of MD from Fri - Sun for ds's soccer tournament... we're staying at a marina w/a nice pool and are going early on Friday to relax & enjoy (just me, ds & my mom), w/the first game on Sat morning. Off to pom practice & soccer training... now newly rescheduled to be at the exact same start & end time on the complete opposite (North & South) sides of the town! Of course! Oh, one more funny thing... we ate lunch in this little PA town at a place called the "Famous Hot Weiner"! Had the kids laughing all day... It was kinda funny...

Off to tour a pretzle factory today... give me strength!! Enjoy the day! :smile2:

You crack me up, Judy... "I'm old, but I'm richer than I was on Friday..." lol! Laura... I like Russ's haircut! and of course the pic of the lil' man... I cooked a big dinner yesterday, too, Suzie... ribs, mediterranean salad, pasta salad, and a chocolate molten cake... took all afternoon & used every pan in the house! Way to go on the July challenge, Janie! Even better on the affirmations!! I've warned the kids that @ 9am we're attacking the house & cleaning like crazy 'til the job is done... it's not soooo bad, but it's also worse than I like it to get... Then it's driving time for me... my mom taxi is back in business... taking kids to & fro, up & down the hiway, to their different activities on different sides of town at almost the same times... I am superwoman!! Enjoy the day!

Good morning, Vi's~~ Went out to dinner w/friends last night for DH's b'day... I don't remember the last time we had an "adults only" night out!... we went to our fav Indian restaurant... just walking into that place relaxes me... Today is DH's actual b'day, so I'll be baking & cooking, etc. We've got to pick up DS from soccer camp as well. + we woke to rolling thunder & pouring rain. Lovely day! I read Life of Pi years ago and LOVED it! Right now I have Shanghai Girls from the library (by Lisa See, who wrote Snow Flower and the Secret Fan) but haven't been able to start it yet... maybe today? (Funny... it was a really long wait for it, so I requested the large print edition & got it right away! lol!) Today is kind of the "unofficial" end of summer for us... tomorrow begins both kids' Fall sports activities... which run every day of the week, + weekend stuff for the next 3 weeks 'til school starts... ay yai yai!!

I don't know, Judy, because it was a library book, but I looked it up on Amazon but they didn't have the Contents listed, either, but it does say that it's 384 pages, if that helps (do Kindle pages match w/printed pages?). Do you never get a TOC w/Kindle books? I hadn't thought about it before, but I guess it would take some getting used to not having the physical book to know how far along you are... seems strange! I'm still on the fence about all this new-fangled technology... I do love the physicality of a book...

You don't DRINK the vinegar, you hold it in your mouth, then spit it out. lol. Surprisingly, my 10yo dd LOVES that program Nova Science Now! We watch it all the time. Pammie... maybe frozen peas or corn would work the same as the blueberries but not stain? Make a vanilla yogurt/protein powder/frozen blueberry smoothie w/the berries... Work today... got a little burned @ the pool yesterday, esp. my eye lids... weird. It's grey today, calling for thunderstorms, so just as well I've got all this work to do! Enjoy your Friday!

Hey girlies... quick post before I call it a night... Haydee... what was that vinegar trick that doc told you to do awhile back when you had sugar cravings? Cuz' I thought of it tonight when it popped into my head that a big bowl of granola w/milk would be tasty... and the thought wouldn't go away... & I even had the milk out, & went into the pantry for the granola and -- WHAM! -- out of no where I saw the vinegar on the shelf above the granola... so I grabbed it, got down a shot glass, poured a shot, and held it in my mouth until I counted to 25 (don't remember how long she said to hold it for, but that was as long as I could stand... my mouth got all hot and tingly and owie... still is a bit!)... then I spit it out, but didn't rinse.... then I put away the milk... wasn't that you were supposed to do that every time you got a sugar craving and then in awhile they'd stop?? something like that? Did you ever try it? Anyone else? hmmmmmmmmm... Judy -- So glad you're enjoying the book! Sweet dreams, Vi's!

"when will my mommy instincts kick in?!?! " On baby #2! Everybody knows that baby #1 is the "practice" baby! :thumbup: ~~~~ Off to the pool!