suzyt

Nieces are such wonderful little people until they begin sharing their ear aches!! My fever is worse today and now my throat and ears hurt and I can't breathe out of half of my nose.....Target manager was not happy with me -- what do you want me to do? Infect everyone?? On the good news side -- as a CPA I have to take 40 hours of continuing ed each year and it can be quite expensive. I bought the last two self-study classes Christmas Eve. They arrived today and I have completed one of them. Yeah, me!! Tomorrow I will work on the second one after my doctor's appointment. Jeez, cutting it close, two days before the end of the year..... Hope you all are doing great!! Judy -- no popcorn ok?

Merry Belated Christmas!! My computer was at Best Buy getting fixed and logging on with my BlackBerry takes FOREVER!! I flew to Indianapolis and stayed Wednesday night with my parents, Thursday we drove to South Bend to visit my brother, SIL and 3 nieces. Mom, Dad and I stayed at a local hotel and went back to my brother's Christmas Day. I flew home to Charlotte that night and was supposed to work at 2 am. Was running a 101' fever so I called in sick. Feeling better today......more resting on tap. Not much else going on here. Enjoy your holiday time off!!

How is it possible that I spent 5 hours messing around on the computer updating my BlackBerry with pics and contacts??? Good thing the Carolina Panthers don't play until 8 pm tonight!! I would have missed the whole game..... Have an enjoyable Sunday afternoon!

Laura -- as Michelle said, yes, you do need to cook the sausage first. We have subsituted some ham before as well. It is fairly easy to get ready and yummy as well!! Well worth a trial run. My Mom always has the stuff on hand to be able to make this casserole. Makes it for Easter morning as well. Hugs to everyone!! Suzanne

Laura, My Mom and my brother Carl make a egg casserole for Christmas morning -- I am usually at one of their homes for Christmas, so I don't make it much, but I do love it. 2 cups plain croutons 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 4 eggs slightly beaten 2 cups milk sausage (I use most of 16 oz Jimmy Dean sausage roll) 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 tsp onion powde dash of pepper Grease the bottom of a 10 x 6 x 1 1/2 pan. Combine croutons and cheese in the bottom of the pan, pour remaining items (already mixed) into pan. Can prepare night before and leave in refrigerator until morning. Bake 50 - 60 minutes at 325' YUM!! Pamela -- I do have some cookie recipes, but they all require a cookie press. Let me know if you want them! I live in North Carolina. Happy cooking!! Suz

I have a leak in my band. I had been telling the doc since February that something was wrong -- in August he finally agreed with me. Took me until October to convince him that Omnipaque would work and I was waiting on the consent form. Then he called and said the lawyers for the hospital won't allow it. Haydee, I may end up seeing if Dr. Spivak can (will) see me. It would be cheaper to fly to Houston than to replace the band at this point -- never mind that my 'new' insurance will not cover WLS. I have had this 'new' insurance since last October (had surgery in June w/ BCBS) and they have reversed every payment they already made for fills and flouro. I now owe the band doc $1800+. There should be a rule that if the insurance company pays for it initially, they cannot reverse the payment. I'm hoping that all of our situations get better in 2010, but I am not quite sure that that will happen. I am hearing of more and more people getting laid off. I hear Mary Poppins on TV -- I may just have to watch it. Talk to you later!! Suz

My doctor called me a week ago and told me that the laywers will not let him do a fill with Omnipaque even if I sign a consent that nothing that happens is their fault. In one way, I guess that's good that they are looking out for the health of their patients with treatments that are unknown to them personally, but on the other hand, it is very frustrating for me! He had told me two months ago that he would do it. I have gained 30 pounds since February and I'm not real hopeful that it will come off anytime soon. Target is wearing me out -- or rather the early morning hours are. But the extra money is nice. Last week I thought my allergies were acting up and they may have, but now it has migrated to a cold. At least it's not the flu!! Well, I didn't get the job the interview last week. I'm getting really tired of this -- they keep telling me that I am the 2nd choice -- what do I need to do to be the first choice??! Thursday I applied for 6 or 7 more positions. Happy that there were 6 or 7 appropriate positions available..... Okay, enough of my whining!! Have a great week!!

Drive by post -- I'm in a mood and don't really want to go into it. Just happy to read all your stories! Tomorrow will be better for me, I'm sure. Maybe I should go peruse the People of Walmart site?? That should help cheer me up!! Suz

Hello ladies!! I didn't get the job, but it's probably just as well. They never called me back to tell me I didn't get it even after I left two messages. During the interview she asked me if I had kids. I said not at the moment, but I am a foster parent so I may at some point. I asked if it was possible to work from home if a child was sick -- she said no, they'll need to come in with you and sleep on the floor. Yes, that's the answer, let's make everyone sick and have a child that already doesn't feel well sleep on a floor! I do have an interview Tuesday with a large organization. It is an assistant controller position with 3-4 people reporting to it. I have good experience with this, so fingers crossed!! I am still fighting with my band doc to get the Omnipaque fill. I have been waiting on the attorneys to ok the consent form for 6 weeks!! GRRRR!! I call every week to get an update and there is never an answer from the doc. And his nurse doesn't know -- she passes on my message, but he is not telling her anything either. So I wrote an e-mail to express my frustration. I am about to the point where I have lost the will to fight for the fill and to fight to lose weight. :sad:

I am hoping to have a full-time (8-5) job and then the state pays for daycare. Waiting on a call as I type for a job that would be perfect!! This placement was to be temporary, but I wouldn't have felt comfortable going to work and right now I am not in a position to quit my part-time job for a 3 -4 day placement. If it had been a 'permanent' placement (12 months) and a girl or pair of sisters closer to my expected age range of 3 - 10, I would have done it. I have been told that I should probably only have girls since I am single and boys in foster care really need a father figure. I am going nuts waiting on this call about the interview -- you said you would call on Tuesday -- so call already!!!! UUUGGGHH!!

Hi ladies!! I am sorry that you (Judy & Pamela) are having such a rough time right now. I say prayers every day for the violets -- even when I am not posting, I am reading.... I am pretty busy with my Target & Curves jobs, but off from both tomorrow and going to visit with a friend going through chemo. This is her good week, so we will meet for lunch and chat for hours!! Gets her out of the house and gives me an excuse to eat out!! The county DSS called on Friday and asked me to temporarily take a 17 year old with a tendancy to sneak out of the house. I had to say no -- I wouldn't have gotten any sleep with worrying that she would get out and with my Target job - leaving at 3am, not a good fit. Come on guys, that's the first assignment you want to give me?? Can't we start a little easier?? Hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving visiting with family and friends!! Suz

I got the approval today to be a foster parent!! Yea!! Now I wait for the call that they want to place a child....

I like them all!! Tough decisions, Haydee! Watching a show on Animal Planet about werewolves.... kinda strange -- hope I don't have nightmares!! Suz

Good morning ladies!! I am getting in the routine of this 4am stuff Monday, Wednesday & Friday. I sleep 11 pm to 3 am, work until finished (usually 9 am), work out at Curves, come home and sleep for 3-4 hours, then up again. The great news is that I can sleep in as late as I want on Tuesday and Thursday (providing that the cats don't want something). Today Wesley, the boy, was licking my nose to get me up off and on after 7 am. I managed to sleep until 10 am. But my goodness the standing is hard on my feet and back!! Today my shoulders are quite sore too. I imagine that some of that will get better, but some is just due to standing on a concrete floor for too long. I'm going to try to find a better pair of sneaks -- I've been wearing the shoes I walk and do Curves in. Michelle -- Congrats on the raise!! Haydee -- Love to hear the details -- don't stop sharing!! Janie -- hope you catch up on your sleep soon!! Pamela -- goodness, do you ever sit still?? Judy -- I know it is tiring for you to watch the kids, but I also know you wouldn't have it any other way!! Just think of all the memories for you and for them. My maternal grandmother was my only living grandparent after I was 6 and she was my most favorite person in the world!! I wish she was still here..... Laura -- Congrats on the downward trend!! I knew you could do it!!

Laura, Glad you are feeling better and able to swallow Water -- that's important!!

I have the bestest brother in the world!! I was talking to him last night about the possibility of filing bankruptcy and issues with me owning part of the lake house. He called tonight to offer to buy my 25% share for whatever $$ I needed to pay off my (very old) credit card debt and medical bills. He is awesome!! And I guess now I will have to cut my sister-in-law some slack too since she agreed to let him offer.... No bankruptcy and a clear slate to start working toward saving again!! Have I mentioned that I love my brother?

I made it through my first 4 am morning at Target -- standing that long though gets to my back. They have me unloading boxes, hanging the clothes and then putting the clothes on the floor. Not too bad -- I work with three other ladies, so we chat the whole time. Had to help put the toys out after we finished our stuff so I got an extra 45 minutes. I stopped at Curves to work out on the way home, then crawled into bed for 3 hours!! My brother surprised me last night and said that he and his family (and maybe my parents) would come down to visit me for Christmas -- must have been the weekend for holiday discussions!! I will be working at Target the day after Thanksgiving so there's no way to go to Indiana that weekend. And since I'm seasonal, I don't know that I could get time off for Christmas. Anyway, they said that they might come down the weekend before Christmas -- I have ALWAYS gone to my parents and then traveled with them to my brother's house -- no one has EVER offered to come here!! But they know I am broke, so maybe that made the difference..... Have a good day!!

Great news today!! My doctor finally talked to Dr. Spivak about using Omnipaque in a band -- and he agreed to do it (if I sign a legal waiver after the lawyers have approved it). Yippee!!!! I hope this will work and get me back to restriction!! Going to see if I can get to sleep -- got stung by a bee this afternoon (at the gas station, how random is that!!)and man does my foot hurt. Luckily I am not allergic so no other nasty side effects. Had a ice pack in my sock the whole 4 hour shift at Curves.

There's a Culver's near my parent's house -- I may have to try it when I'm home for Christmas!! My Dad loves good burgers too!! Paying some bills today -- hoping that will help the migraine go away. Back later.

Judy - What is a butter burger? It sounds like it must be some sort of hamburger -- one of my favorite things!! I don't start at Target until orientation on Thursday. Luckily that starts at noon. Not sure if I will start the 4 am stuff on Friday or next Monday. Not going to be fun getting up that early, but I figure 15 minutes to get there (8 miles), 15 minutes to get dressed (no make-up) and I should be good. Got paid from Curves today and she shorted me $20. (she pays me cash) I don't think it was intentional but you would think you would double check something like that -- wouldn't you?! I can't work my Thursday afternoon shift due to the orientation so she may not keep me much longer. She said that since I would probably be getting foster kids she wanted someone more permanent. The lady she is talking about replacing me with is looking for a full-time job (just like me) so I'm not sure that it will be any more permanent. Whatever. I am trying to take each day as it comes. I have used every penny of my savings, 401(k), everything. I went to talk to a bankruptcy attorney this afternoon. It may not be an option because my parents (trying to get around inheritance) have already added my name and my brother's name to the Northern Indiana lake house. Well, it is an asset and has to be included in my assets...... What a mess. My brother borrowed some money against the cottage to start his business several years ago, so the only hope I have is that he hasn't paid much back and the equity is small so my 1/4th is even smaller. Or he may have to buy me out of my share (or loan me that value to contribute to the assets).... sheesh!! I don't like having money conversations with my family..... especially when it is about me.

Happy Birthday Haydee!! I have used vistaprint for my business cards and thank you cards -- I haven't had any problems with them. Did you look to see if they have any save the date items already? I'm trying to not use the heat much, but geez when it is 60 inside the house, enough is enough. The cats were even huddled under the blankets.

I got the part-time job at Target. It is unloading the truck and working the merchandise out to the floor. It is 4 AM until 8 am, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Yikes! But you do what you've got to do. Have a great weekend!!

Judy, are you getting the snow my aunt is telling me about in Northern Indiana?? It seems really early to me.... Off to deliver a tax return to a friend.

Hello!! Not feeling much in the mood to post lately....I have been missing everyone though. Got an interview for a part-time job at Target on Friday. It's not much, but any extra $$ helps out!! Got to go.

Wow, I missed a lot being offline for a few days..... Heather - my sympathies. I cannot imagine what you are going through. ((((HUGS)))) Haydee - definitely red velvet! I've gotten a few more calls from recruiters for full-time work, but then you never hear anything else. Very frustrating. Here in NC if you are on unemployment, you can earn a certain amount and still get your full payment, so I applied at Target and Walmart for 15 hours a week. Target called today and I have an interview on Friday. It's not much but $130 per week would help!! Last Wednesday, my Mom had a car accident. Some lady pulled out in front of her to turn left. Mom hit the front of her car but didn't T-bone it. Mom's car was totaled, but she only had the bruising from the seatbelt. Very lucky!! So Saturday she e-mails that she bought a new car -- another Chrysler Sebring but this one has a larger sunroof -- it's a convertible!! I am laughing because she never opened the sunroof!! And a convertible in Indiana -- she's lost her mind..... She says, it has air conditioning. Ok, but what about heat -- you're gonna need that soon!! I am kidding, I'm glad she could get what she wanted. Off to Curves.