Kat817

I know I need to post....I am just so tired, it seems to be too much for me to do right now. I need to stay awake so I can go give my MIL her shot. I had SERIOUS plans to sleep in tomorrow, then was told (yes told) by MIL that I would have to do the one in the morning too, my niece had been doing morning since I was working, but since I am off.....I guess I am doing it too. So much for sleeping in, she wants it around 7 no later than 8. deep, DEEP sigh...... Work was slow. Then went to the 50th anniversary, had a VERY good time! Was so good to be with my old friends! Come home, watered everything, planted some more moss rose in some patio planters, and here I sit, trying to stay awake!!! I am hungry, and don't know for what. Rick will be very late again he said. Tomorrow is his last day to fill both positions...so should get better soon. Will try to check in later.

hi girls~ I am so tired, I cannot see straight! MIL's biopsy went well, she said she thinks she remembers him saying it looked good---but she was supposedly knocked out. Now she woke up during her knee replacement, so I am not saying it couldn't have happened, but I think she is imagining it!! We will have results on Tuesday---she sees the oncologist again on Thursday. They postponed FIL's procedure until next Friday. I wish he would cancel it, and not go anymore, I don't think they have helped him at all....but tell that to the SIL & BIL in Denver who seem to be calling all the shots these days. Anyway, I am still going to be giving her shots in the belly for about another week. Did have 30 minutes to waste today and hit JC Penney's nad found some capris and shirts---shirts were on clearance, and I was super happy with them. Capris on sale, but still cost me more than I wanted to pay, but they fit well, so sucked it up!!! LOL I said I was not buying anymore size 12's....I lied. I bought them! Can't stress over it right now. Too much going on. Tomorrow, I work, then have a friends parents 50th anniversary party to go to. Then MIL's shot.....then, I think a drink and the patio is ALL I am doing! LOL Rick got home about 7:30 tonight. He left yesterday morning!!! 39 hours.....and it was ALL overtime!!! Uncle Sam takes most of the cash, but we pay our 401K and our IRA's, and stock purchase plan with pre tax money---and that is a big boost. Should top out our IRA's for this year already! YAY!!!! We do Roth IRA's---I know a lot of people don't like them, but we feel like they will be best for us when we retire. Assuming that happens sometime! LOL Yeah Tracy, the whole thing with BP is scary to us. Halliburton is right in the middle of it all.....so it hits close to home. DD is a BP employee, and Rick is with Halliburton!! I too think they knew in the beginning they were pouring way more oil in than reported. But....I honestly believe they are doing everything they can at this point to fix it, and save the shores, sea life, and their own hides! The news on TV makes it sound like they are simply choosing not to take care of it properly. The entire worldwide company is on the line, from the CEO's down the admin assistants like my DD. I think if they had known how to fix it when it happen, it would have been done in hours. The fact is no one KNOWS how to fix it. It is an experiment in the making, and a deadly one. Just as they do not know how to fix it, I don't think they honestly thought it could or would happen. Here in our area, BP is the leader in work safety. They make a 3 hour job take all day with the precautions that they have in place. When they draw a BP job everyone groans because they know what they are in store for with the safety precautions. Something like this puts those precautionary measures in perspective..... I read that there was a huge gas bubble come through the line, which caused the explosion....and as deep as they drill, to me that is not any ONES fault---it is an act of nature that equipment could not handle....it would be kind of like capping a volcano, and expecting it to hold.....never knowing if it would blow. Now they know these things can and do happen....and measures need to be taken to make things safer. What those measures are, I have no idea. It has been on my prayer list to be sure, that they be given guidance and ability to repair the problem, and wisdom to fix the damage caused. Well ladies, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend----I will get in here and do personals....I promise, but for now I am off to bed!

Hey y'all~ What a day!!! Super busy at work. They held classes at the court house for all the election day workers, and absentee workers etc. And since they might not be working their precinct, they all voted today! CHAOS!! But busy is better. Then I come home and mowed lawns---all of it, in one shot, no break---by myself!!! I kept thinking, Rick is going to be so shocked!!! Guess who is having to work all night??? LOL Figures!!! My next plan was to go to Connors Tball game, but he was sick, so he didn't play tonight. So took a shower, then went to dinner with Manda and Kinsey. Come back home and met MIL here, and give her a shot (she is having her biopsy tomorrow, and she had to go off her coumadin, so we are giving her 2 shots a day of Lovenox). Then Manda, Kinsey and I went to the carnival!!! The little town I live in, has a yearly event called Fiesta Days, it coincides with graduation. They have a big parade, a pet parade, car shows, vendor booths, a mini Prince and Princess contest, it goes on for 4 days---lots to do---small town fun. Anyway---there is a carnival each year. Kinsey finally made it to be tall enough to ride many of the rides. With Manda's shoulder---guess who rode with Kinsey----yep Granny here!!! LOL We had the best time!!! Saw lots of old friends. Wish Rick had been there, and wish that Connor would have been well to go, but all in all, we had lots of fun! Now I am exhausted. I am heading to bed in a minute---I will not sleep well tonight with Rick being gone....and work again tomorrow. I am working for another woman on Saturday since Rick is working. Kinsey is upset because her preschool is in the parade, and she keeps telling me "but Granny I am IN the parade!" Now IF I was going to bug out on the people at work, that might make me do it!! LOL Suzie, I have to agree with the girls---and I DO know how it feels to seem like you are spending every minute at the dr.'s. But you might as well find out where all these cysts are, and have your mammogram done. It is time for my follow up with mine, as soon as I am done working, I will do it. I will go get smushed with you!!! Angela the house sounds great!!! Ducks must lose legs frequently---my Aunt has one that is one legged, and her name is Eileen (I lean), so you are not alone in the pathetic name dept. We had a 3 legged turtle named Tripod. Then the dogs....there was Dioge (sounds like Dee Oh Gee....or D O G), and Panintheas (puh-ninth-ee-us...run together pain in the ass). Naming innocent animals is funny! My brother is a snake lover. He had a boa named Julius Squeezer, and a python named Monte. LOL Well I am off girls, my jaws ache from yawning. Poor Rick, not sure how he does these nights. I am worried, he did not take enough food for this long. Leave it to me to worry about food!!!

I know I am the odd man out, but I do not watch DWTS or the Biggest Loser, and occasionally catch Glee, but don't stress if I miss it! On the other hand, I watch Sunday night from 7-10 faithfully!!! Extreme Home Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers and Sisters. And I record Breaking Bad while B&S's is on! And I watch Grey's and Private Practice on Thurs. Then this year I have got hooked on Modern Family on Wed!!! Most of the time tho we pop around on sitcoms. Light hearted, not to be continued kind of thing!!! LOL Work was busy, I enjoy that. Had some morons in today tho----spoiled several ballots, something about voting for only one person per race was difficult to understand today. Then some guy come in and he had registered as a Rep. and he did not want to vote that way, wanted a Dem. ballot. I told him he would have to change his affiliation, and wait to vote Dem. for the next election, and he got MAD!!! refused to vote the ballot we printed him, and then wanted to take it with him. Well they are counted coming out of the machine, and then again as they are inserted for counting, and if the numbers do not match up---then it is election fraud! I mean if that were not an issue, I could hide ballots of those I disagree with. We had to call in backup for him. Frustrating, that people who want to vote, know so little about it, and then lose their temper over it! So Suzie, do they think these cysts they are finding throughout your body it seems, are related to the chemicals you were exposed to? How bizarre---I am anxious for you to see your Dr. and get moving on this. They are doing my MIL's biopsy Fri. FIL gets reamed tomorrow. Poor man is so stressed. Today I gave him a pedicure. He was so grateful, I honestly felt guilty that I had not done it long ago---but had no idea it was an issue. He cannot reach his feet, even without his belly (!) his spine just does not bend that way at 84. And he is diabetic....so his feet have bad circulation, but his poor toe nails had grown so long, they were hooked almost to the floor! He had gouged himself trying to do it with the Dremel tool! MIL cut them for him for a long while, but her arthritis has her hands almost curled closed. So I took the foot bath, and let him soak for 30 minutes, then cut and ground on his toe nails! They were bad, but nothing gag worthy!! LOL My SIL was saying she just could not do that....and I guess I understand, some people have issues with feet. But she and my MIL like to point out they attend church much more regularly than I do, and they think I am a heathen! So I told her.....it wasn't beneath Jesus to wash anothers feet, so why should I feel it beneath me? She never commented!!! I know she isn't saying it is beneath her....but still!!!! FIL said over and over how much he appreciated it, he was so happy! Then I cut his hair, told him I come prepared to clip him from head to toe---so he better behave! LOL Rick is still not home.....hoping he gets here soon. Chicken Pot Pie is done and waiting! Guess I will go and make a salad....need to eat more salad less pie. mmmmmhmmmmm sure do....we'll see!!

Hey ladies~ Went to lunch with Marie today--it is always good! We are not going to be able to the next month it seems, so, enjoyed today! She is gone on vacation for the next 3 weeks---going Jenn's way---to NY, which is where she is originally from. Then we have trips planned....so lunch is gonna be hit & miss for awhile. Found out today they moved MIL's biopsy up to this Friday. So hopefully they get moving quickly, and have a plan in action so we know what is or is not going to be ok as far as her trips go, and how she will be feeling etc. Also got the news that FIL's issue is not resolved, so they have to do the roto rooter thing again, which just seems to cause more problems than it helps----dunno what to think about that. SIL is unhappy I cannot take them. Everyone is used to me being off and at their beck and call, and now, I am commited to this job through the end of the month, and will do my best to honor that commitment. Was cloudy here all day but no rain. Blah---but I got a LOT done here at home! I would not allow myself to turn on the TV or the computer when I got home, until things got done!! LOL, I know myself well! Tracy, glad you had a good time! I am ready to get away. This weekend reawakened my NEED for time with Rick doing things WE want. Even if it is work, and we are together! Manda saw the ortho today, she is headed for some PT, and hoping to get movement back. If she damaged the nerve leading to the deltoid, then she has permanently crippled her arm! She is pretty shook up. Her sister on her Dads side graduates tonight, and she is off to meet her newest nephew (her other sisters 3rd son). She bought Kinsey the cutest halter style maxi dress! Has a little wooden ring in the front, and is a swirl of pinks and lilacs---she looked so cute! Angela I am the same way, the smoke gets to me, and ends up making me leave, long before I am really "ready"!!! Cindy---I have seen the flashing nanner smiley! Took me a few to realize what I was actually seeing!!! Rick is working late....so I am off to find myself some dinner. Will check in later!

Thank you for taking this to PM, we have had complaints on this thread. With you pushing a product you admit to distrubuting. If you want to continue to use this sort of advertising, you will have to get ahold of the owner to discuss buying advertising space. Other than doing that, you may add a line to your signature, showing your website etc. But starting threads to introduce your items is not allowed. Thanks for understanding, and taking it to PM's---that is what keeps LBT great!

The Dr. told me, that eventually that is the goal of the band, to help control not just portion, but the actual hunger itself. Unfortunately the nerves they need to trigger, are not highlighted in red on the outside of your stomach! Just as we are all built differently on the outside, we all have similar differences on the inside. He said where some people carry weight in the stomach, and others in the hips---the stomach itself can be stretched into (or out of!!!) different shapes too. So while they have a general idea of where the nerves are "supposed" to be....hitting them is somewhat of a crap shoot! Which is why you get such differing stories on here. Some people get instant relief from the hunger---apparantly the band is in immediate contact. Others like me, as soon as the fill begins contracting the stoma area, it puts pressure onto the nerves...others who need more fills to make contact, and yet others, who never trigger the nerves, and still lose weight simply by restriction of portions. He went on to say that those who have early relief from hunger are usually those who have quicker relief of blood sugar issues as well---since the 2 seem to be related. I have attended several of his seminars, and different questions are always ask---I feel fortunate to have heard the answers to some I would have never known to ask. If there were a magic wand hid out.....these wrinkles, and sags, and stubborn last pounds would all be gone!!! Oh how I wish for a magic wand!!!

Unlike angermoms post, I have in fact lost my hunger. It did not happen immediately after banding, but when I got the first fill. My Dr. explained that the placement of my band must stimulate the nerves that indicate the full feeling. I have honestly gone way too long without eating, but....I KNOW I must, and even with the physical hunger gone, I still have head issues where I think I must have XXXX (fill in the blank!! Depending on the day!). And even with the hunger gone, the taste buds are still perfectly in tact, so battle with the need to eat healthy vs. yummy!!! Not that it cannot be both...but you get the idea! The biggest advantage to not starving all the time, is I am able to take time to make wiser decisions. When I would come in from work before, I was ravenous, and would begin eating, the quickest things to grab were a bag of chips, or Cookies, where with the hunger not there, I can take time to find something better for me....the panic feeling is gone. Lack of "hunger" has in no way led to me being malnourished. It changed how my stomach feels, not how my brain works. I know I have a small little pouch to fill, so I do my best to fill it with dense, high Protein foods, not slider, or filler foods. The fact that I do not always do that, is reflection of my old eating habits---nothing to do with hunger or lack of it. On a normal day, my mind still tells my body it is time to eat. I KNOW I need to eat, even without the gnawing twist of hunger. Same as my husband knows he must take his heart meds, even without feeling anything wrong with his heart anymore---it is to maintain health. There ARE days that I have to get up and run and do things, that I suddenly realize it is 3 PM, and I have not eaten! That is when I click, that the hunger is gone. I try not to let that happen, it is not good for your body. But neither was gorging it for years either---and I DID do that too!!! LOL Right after my banding, when I was on liquids, I just drank what I could! I did not try limiting myself too much. I did not overfill my stomach, but I drank broths, often! I still lost weight, but did not go hours between sipping them! Same with the fuller liquids---I did not just eat them 3 times a day---I did small amounts frequently! Then when I moved to a full diet. I ate a lot of almonds, they help with my desire for crunch, and salt (my weaknesses), they kept me full feeling for quite awhile. And always LOTS of water!!!! Good Luck---work with your Dr. when you can for your fills, they will make a HUGE difference!

Tracy posted a pic of a winning slot on facebook, but nothing else. Hell maybe she hit it big and is in Tahiti or something!!! LOL I had a fabulous weekend. It has been a long time since we just connected and did not feel a need to entertain anyone but ourselves! I told you about our Saturday!!! We did not drink too much, so felt fine Sunday! We ended up going back to the nursery, and buying more plants, and planting them. Then we met up with my inlaws for lunch, on our way for a ride. We saw them pulling into the Chinese restaurant as we were ready to ride out of town, so we pulled in, bought them lunch, and then took our ride. We rode up to the lake, parked and watched the water, and boats....sat under a tree, and just relaxed. Then come home, and grilled some burgers, and watched my Sunday night line up!! LOVED it! We have needed the time for reconnecting for a few weeks, we just never seemed to have time. While we are sad at how things become with our son, we are completely at peace with how we handled it. We know he needs to see a Dr. and the only way we have to help him do that is to show our disapproval in his actions. Then he has to take it from there. His Mom has these same issues, and he KNOWS that. And he KNOWS she is better on meds. So I feel he is smart, and he is loving, and caring when "up" so he will recognize this soon, and when he does life will be better for not only him but his entire family. We will ALWAYS be here for him. What we won't do anymore is be his dart boards for the pointed words he spews when he is on a "down". I appreciate all the understanding...it is called tough love for a reason, it is really tough to do. Especially when the other side of his family is LOVING the estrangement, and cozying up with them. But when she comes off her meds.....as she always does, things will change again. We just refuse to be part of her constant drama. We like the drama free life!!! I went and picked up Kinsey. She is swinging in the yar. Then we are going to my parents for a birthday party for my Aunt. This is not my favorite Aunt, so.....am going, but not excited!!! LOL Early voting is picking up. We stayed really busy today. There are several local races being decided in the primary. Like there are only Republican candidates for Sherrif. So this election will decide it. No one else gets a say! LOL, so some are really out there campaigning. There are a few races that way---keeps us busy anyway. Still deciding if I am working election day or not.....probably not! If I stay in my little town, I have to work with the same Aunt we are dealing with tonight....no thanks!! And not sure I care to go to the next town.....lazy!! Well I am off to check the things I am cooking to take. Hope Tracy has a great time, and that Suzanne has good news from her Dr. Look forward to hearing!

OK, gonna take a shot at this....first confession time. I am buzz posting! LOL. Welcome everyone! I LOVE that my family drama drew you all out!!! Stick around. You are right, these are amazing women. Suzanne, that is totally bizarre, but explains why you hurt. I expect you will be having that cyst removed sooner rather that later. Which is good, you will feel better I am sure! What a good thing that you had the MRI when you did. Take it easy, and if you choose vicodin or tequila, don't do them together. I lost a friend to a simple dose of pain meds, and a glass of red wine----she never woke up! So be choosy, and do one or the other! Tracy, I am glad the book is "talking to you" tell it to talk to me....I Need it! I was actually back down 4 of the 6 pounds I had again regained! Not real sure why I gained it....not eating any different. Not real sure why I lost it either!!! LOL Oh well, going away is better. Cindy---I too would have lost it over the text. How totally sweet. Today I worked for 4 hours. One of the women in my party, had a family issue come up so I worked for her. When I got off, Rick and I went to this nursery I LOVE. It is in an old neighborhood, which is really rundown. But they have amazing plants. They give you a box, and pair of scissors, and you can clip out one or 2 from a 6 pack, whatever you want, and they charge you .44 cents a plant. We also bought a 3 foot long window box, already planted, and gorgeous, for $13.87!!! We got all kinds of veggies and flowers. Then come home and planted them....and drank a few beers!!! Then we went to the place down the road (walking distance) and had some dinner....and another couple of beers---which was 2 more than planned! We ordered, and they brought them, but they looked way too dark. So I ask, and sure enough they had pulled the wrong draft, so she brought us the right light beers----but left the dark. Rick drank the dark, I drank the light, and now I am buzzed posting!!! LOL I am really glad to have both of you new girls posting!!! Son left today. He chose not to speak to us about it prior to leaving. He is still mad for whatever reason. We keep going over and over things, and honestly feel we have done nothing to be sorry over. We are not putting land in his name, to be lost to an ex wife. He is furious over that....according to his Aunt. Too bad. Rick took him a belt buckle he found he thought he would like. They were gone, so he left it in the window. He called and told him. He never said thanks, or no thanks or kiss my ass, nothing. He just left. So be it. We cannot change him, and until he gets medication for himself, I don't see him changing in any serious manner. We have talked it over, and are ok with it. Threatening Rick with not seeing the grandsons, pushed the wrong button. We have 1 payment left to an ex wife who threatened crap all the time, and if the son thinks we want him to step in and take over when she leaves off, he can think again, we have had enough of that! We will always be here if we are needed, but will not beg for a relationship he can abuse at will. As hard as it is to believe....we are ok with that decision. We have had happy days---the lack of stress is wonderful! We have really been trying to deal with the issues with MIL. They are doing a type of biopsy on the 26th. That and the ensuing results will determine our TX trip. I will let you know Tracy. Well I cannot type an "a" without hitting the cap lock---it is really pissing me off!!! LOL I have backspaced my way through this post!!! LOL I will check in tomorrow. We are going riding....not sure where, but it is a motorcycle day!!! WoooHoooo!!!!! Welcome to our happy little group girls---glad you are here, I really enjoyed reading about you, and look forward to having you here! I will re read inan unbuzzed state tomorrow!!! Cya then!!!

cwtbt---please feel free to join in at any time. Please understand, there IS drama in my life at this time, and it is directly related to this thread. Someone in my life, and I do know who it is, comes here, and reads, but refuses to join in. I have nothing to hide. I have been open about my band from before I got it! Over time, people here have become VERY good friends of mine, and we chat about everything under the sun. In my case, that includes my family. They do no always please me.....that does not mean I am right and they are wrong, but I am the one telling the story!! Being among friends I felt able to say what I was feeling, and that has offended my stalker. So I set a trap to assure myself that it was in fact happening. And they bit.....hook, line and sinker----took the bait. Did I think it could be you? Yes I did. I had no idea what name they were under or if it was simply a "visitor" it doesn't matter. You are more than welcome to join us, these are amazing women, and occasionally Trey/Plain joins us...but even he is alright!! :biggrin: I thank you for speaking up, and easing the questions of whether or not it was you or not! Welcome. Tracy--GREAT talking to you. I miss you! Hope Suzie is having fun! Michelle--you have some Christmas started then---I have 3 things I bought at Christmas close out sales!!! You are still ahead of me! Cindy--guess last day testing is probabaly pretty standard then. And yes Tracy you would go just to say you did---goofball! Well I told Tracy on the phone, but we have had bad news. The 2nd scan shows the lung issues with my MIL to not be a blood clot, they believe it IS cancer now. So the family has been on a roller coaster over it. Sad, then happy, now back down again. It is pretty scary, she just gives up instantly, sits in her chair and prepares to die. And FIL cannot remain here living alone---he is in no way capable of that. Makes me crazy thinking about it. Well I am doing laundry so I can have clean clothes to wear to work the rest of the week--nudity in the polls is frowned upon---especially my nudity!! LOL Will check in later, thought I better shut up the dang crickets!

Yep, been running around like a chicken with my head cut off!!! LOL Worked this morning, was really slow. Then went to lunch with Marie, which was as usual, really nice---she is such a good friend. She is one of those people who seriously listens when you are telling her something, and she hears with her heart, and does not judge you. If something makes you sad, she feels it too, and if you are celebrating, she is happy too. She makes me want to strive to be as good of a friend to her, as she is to me. Waiting to hear how MIL's Dr. went today, and we will go out there. First we have to figure out a way to cover the veggies we planted, it is supposed to get really cold tonight, but the plastic over them will not work, because the wind is blowing way too hard. There are gusts of like 55 mph and sustained winds of over 30 mph-----so need to go hunt up some more buckets or something to put on the plants. Empty some trash cans or something and cover them. Damn weather!! The sky outside is brown. Worse than any city smog I have seen in Los Angeles, or Denver---it is dirt, you come in and your teeth feel gritty---it is horrid! It blows in rain, one of those 6" rains----a drop every 6 inches. Then the dirt blows---cars are filthy. I just hate it! BIL bought my inlaws a computer. My poor MIL is lost! She remembers where to click, but she HATES trying to move the mouse!!! We had her playing solitaire, which will get her more adept with the mouse. I have a feeling we will be getting lots of calls about how and what to do with it!! LOL I ate pretty good, until meeting Marie, then I had chips and salsa, as well as my meal......I had such good intentions!!! Figures! As soon as I am done working these mornings, I plan to start walking early in the morning, I like that time of day when it warms up, right now it is simply too cold. Suzanne, hope they figure out what is causing your pain soon! I HATE being in the MRI machine, they dose me up with valium for them!!! Michelle, all your Christmas figured out? WOW!! Good for you! I have nothing in the works---well a wreath started, and I will have time to finish it, we won't be having new grandbabies this year to add stockings for! But nothing else planned! Tracy--loved the pics of Macy at the scout trip. Some kids were staring off into space, and she is totally focused on what he is saying---that is so good! Cindy----I was talking to a kid here, who was in asking questions about early voting, and they have a final the last day of school here. He said it discourages kids from just not showing up the last day, and since they post the grades on line, they don't have to have time to get them done, so they do their last final the last day of school. I would have been screwed, I was like one of your kids, my mind was already off on summer break! well, I am going to go round up buckets.....see y'all later!!

Long day---thinking of all of you! Hoping your family is well again Michelle! Worked this morning, then shopped for groceries and house stuff, then went to the inlaws, as SIL is here from Denver. Was fun. Now getting things ready to go to bed! We covered our veggies, it is COLD out! I am tired of the crazy windy weather. Wore shoes today that rubbed my foot, so need to find some other ones for tomorrow.....hmmmmmm OK---gotta get with it. Will post after work, and after my lunch with Marie tomorrow. Was a great weekend, hope everyone else had a good one too!!

Looks great Suzie!! We too have been doing yard work. We have always had a slope up to the edge of our yard, not steep, but a PITA just the same. So we made a garden border around the edge, laid railroad ties, and filled in, it keeps the lawn flat, and gives us someplace to plant some veggies. Got quite a bit more done this weekend. Considering Rick is also working on his tractor ( our old Jonh Deere) and then plowing his Dads fields. We also took time out, and went to dinner with an old co worker of his on Friday night, and then had breakfast with the family on Saturday, then lunch with my Mom and family today!!! In between all that we managed to accomplish a lot. AND he mowed. Would not let me help....I got some beautiful flowers for Mothers Day---2 bouquets, and a gift card! We bought lots of flowers, for the beds and planters. That is what I will be doing when I get in from work this week, planting them, and trying to get the back porch in shape. Ricks sister is going to be here today from Denver, and we always end up out there a lot when someone is in, so it might well take me all week to accomplish it!! LOL Well son called and left another hateful message about renting the trailer already on Rick's phone. We have no idea in hell what he is talking about!!! We are not involved with ANY trailer out there! Nor will we be. We know NOTHING about one being rented. His mom has repeatedly said this is the first time they will have ever lived out there totally alone. So what is going on I have no idea. I think when I made the comment to you girls, about it, thinking we had a spy, and then sent you the email....I was spot on! Yep! I know, so quit being a wimp and snooping, either be an adult and join in like one or leave me alone here! Michelle, sorry your crew has been so sick!!! My gosh on top of surgery! Feel better to all of you---and feed Reggie in something he cannot chew up! You do not need to be dragging that big of dog to the vet, you just had surgery girl!!!! Jenn good to see you, so glad all is falling into place for you!!! Tracy, loved your FB pics!!! You do have a model on your hands!! Kinsey is like her, she loves dresses! Cindy---what fun things did you find to do on MD? I started this 3 hours ago, and company showed up! Will post it now!

Just sitting here in the house, Rick is out tilling the flower/vegetable beds. I woud like to be outside, but the lilacs are too bad right now, and the Russian Olive trees are now budding out, and that doubles my issues. I am living on my inhaler, and hating it! We went to Breakfast, with the parents, and DIL and 3 grandkids. Son was at breakfast with co workers, saying goodbye, and he showed up later. Neither one of the girls showed up. They do not like getting up and going when they do not have to, so I wasn't terribly surprised. And with all that has happened with son, they are kind of distancing themselves from his drama. Oh well, we had time with the parents. Rick got the tractor going, and plowed about half of what needs done. He might get the rest today, we will see, we have some shopping to do, so will just take it step by step and see what gets done. Tomorrow, we are taking my Mom and Dad to lunch, not sure about Ricks. His sister from Denver is due in tomorrow, so, not figuring they will go. His sister is going to be here all week, she is going to telecommute her work. Then Wed. we have more family coming in from Texas. Rick's 2 uncles and a cousin---all are from 70 and up, in his Dads generation. One of them is profoundly deaf, and communicates with a combo of sign and lip reading. Well his Mom is trying like hell to get US to put them up. I keep telling her to send his sister over here, and let the old men (NO offense intended, just fact) stay where they can visit and rehash old times with my FIL. She does NOT like that idea, and is being very difficult over it, is going to end up pouting, and making these men feel very unwelcome I am afraid. I have no real issue with them being here except I really don't have room for them all, and Rick leaves for work at 5:30, and me at 6:30 am. So........if I want to get them breakfast or anything, I am gonna be up early, and so will they---someone is going to have to sleep in the LR!! We could very easily put his sister in Kinsey's twin bed, and be done....she has 3 extra bedrooms....I have none. Guess we will see, I will do what I can to make these VERY special men feel welcomed. I have put on weight.....time to get serious. I did good last night, and did good this morning, considering we ate out, and looks as tho we will be eating out all weekend! Sticking to mostly Proteins, and that helps. Really want to get a handle on it now before it gets like it did before! I think I need a fill, I have none to speak of .25 cc. is all. Maybe a fill would make me remember the rules better. Although when I have time to get to CO to get a fill I have no idea. I work all month, then we go to TX. So would have to be between TX and when we are going to Yellowstone. And I hate spending our vacation money on it----but do not want to have to re-lose even more weight for the Lord knows how many times! Will try to draw from y'all and your commitment......share the mojo girls!!! Well think I will lay down for awhile, this allergy medicine is kicking my butt.....

I am up, ready to go, feel miserable!!! All around me lilacs are in full bloom, and I am SO incredibly allergic to them. My eyes are swollen, my throat is swollen....Rick said he freaked out because I snored!!! LOL Live with it I told him....I do! I live in fear that one of the ladies in the offices at the court house will bring a bouquet from home---it would literally run me out of the building. I have showed up at church before, only to have to leave, because someone brough them in a bouquet to share with everyone. I will admit they are gorgeous, but man.....they hurt me!! Exercise? Remind me again what that is???? Well our tree is not getting taken out this weekend as we had hoped---the guy doing it had a scheduling conflict. So....some sort of dinner with Lenny before he goes I guess....I don't know, we are not in the loop! Think I will stop at Sonic and get me a pop to take to work, maybe the caffeine will keep me awake this morning! LOL Well it is time for me to get it together. The County Clerk give us scarves with red white and blue stars and stripes to wear. Well it clashes with everything I have almost!! Today I am wearing purple! I am not wearing the scarf! I will wear my ID badge---but c'mon! If I have to look that stupid, I will just wear my sweats!!! Have a good day everyone!

Home again! I am enjoying the working. Lots of fun people come in....also some jerks, but no one stays long, so I get rid of them quickly, and if they get to be big jerks I get a clerk to deal with them!! Has not happen yet. Although one man got mad at me for telling him he could not tell his wife who to vote for! He yelled---and was like 5 feet away--Emma you be sure to vote for Kokesh like I told you, I don't care what the paper said, we want Kokesh. I nicely told him "sir we cannot discuss candidates here in the voting area, and you cannot tell someone else how to cast their vote it isn't allowed" He worked his lips around a few times, and then told me he had been married for 48 years which is longer than I have been alive (wanted to thank him for the compliment, but didn't), and when they got married, in church in front of GOD she promised to obey him, and by GOD she does, and that carries a much higher level of law than what someone told me could not be done in a stupid room in a courthouse! I was unsure whether to push it, there were no other voters in the room, because I did not want to make the womans life miserable.....but he was an ass! So he tells me, I suppose my looking over her ballot is not allowed either? I told him no it was not, and if he wanted to speak to the County Clerk, I would be glad to get her. He mumbled something about another damn woman, and walked out....leaving his ballot in the marking booth, not counted. I went after him and told him he HAS to insert it himself, if he leaves it, we destroy it, and his vote has not been counted. He kept walking, and while all this is going on, his wife, did her voting, inserted it to be counted, he come in, told her to get the hell out of the way, and shoved his in the machine. Poor woman! But she put up with him for damn near 50 years, she has a problem too!!! Not much planned for today, Rick is going to put the last bolt in my brothers truck he fixed---the box was one short, so he made do, and is bringing one home to fix it right tonight. Making chicken pot pie for dinner tonight, had leftover chicken, so have some veggies on cooking now. Think it is time for some diet Dr. Pepper.....will check in with all of you later!

No major announcement, but we were the only ones who went, at the game DIL was whispering with his Mom about some get together they are having with them.....I swear they act like they are in Jr. High!! Anyway game went great, the kids are improving. Sadly they do not have much parent participation, and it shows. The other team had parents everywhere, and their kids kicked butt! They paid attention, and knew where to throw the ball etc. Our kids, have worked you can tell, they are most of them hitting the thrown ball now as opposed to hitting it off of a T. And most of them run the right direction, most of the time!! LOL. Connor knows how to position himself, and he does pretty good, but he gets distracted and there is no one to keep him focused. The boy is gonna be good tho! He can whack that ball, and when the time to throw it comes, once he decided he will throw it he can wing it pretty good!! Fun as heck to watch! Love them so much. Sitting out at the ice cream place, Garrick is on the table eating ice cream and everything you say to him he shakes his head NO! He is so doggone cute!!! Went to lunch with Marie after working today. Was SOOOO good to catch up with her! Now tho she is leaving for 2 weeks, come the end of the month, and when she gets back, we will be leaving for TX---so we can lunch next week, then we will have a dry spell!!! Fixed Rick and my brother stuffed sopapillas for Cinco De Mayo today. Rick is putting new leaf springs on my brothers truck....you know he has only been working since 6 this morning. He doesn't mind nearly as much as I do!!! LOL Glad you are doing well Michelle, I am proud of you for trying so hard to behave!!! I have never tried the WW bars Tracy, I eat some ice cream, but try to make myself put it in a cone, I eat less!!! Thanks for the Jenn update. Not sure what happen to Jolly, she was working so hard on blankets.....then poof was gone! Suzie, you are going to be miserable if you overworked your overworked body girl!!! LOL 2 Vicodan, and you would not revive me for days!!! Cindy enjoy graduation!! Take lots of pics! The Dollar store here has lots of really cute graduation party things. Well here come the guys---better go see whats up, it usually means an Auto Zone run for me!!! LOL

I hear ya Suzie, I can eat mexican all the time! I think when you are here I will take you down to my little restaurant we go to all the time...mmmmmm Finished my first day. Voting began a little slow, but it wasn't too bad. Lots to learn the first day. Everytime they have new software, so have to relearn the computer. Working with a woman named Shirley. She seems nice enough, and once I kind of got the point across that I did not want to discuss politics with her, nor was it allowed, it was good, and I think it will be fine, it is only a month afterall!!! Tonight Connor has a game, then they want to go eat ice cream, I guess he is going to make his announcement that he is moving or some stupid thing. At least my MIL said he was. Like someone doesn't know? So I need to figure something Rick can eat on the run..... Where is everyone??? Suzie, Rick is going around the yard with railroad ties, and he plants his veggies in them---but we seriously need a plan.....just don't know what it is out there yet!!! Well, I am off to find something to eat, and figure out a dinner plan. Will check in later----hope everyone is ok!

Hey y'all! Getting things done here so I can go to bed early---so wierd for me!!! Tracy he leaves end of next week I believe, I don't know for sure, they are supposed to make some sort of announcement, and have a party for him next weekend. Yeah, feel like partying with them.... Spoke to someone who knew him years ago, who mentioned that someone he used to know is going there as well for a "vacation".....not a happy bit of news. Oh well, I cannot live his life, and if he is going to make mistakes, he has to live with them and the consequences. Cindy---Manda is hurting, in the upper arm area, not in the shoulder so much, so she is anxious to get back to the ortho and discuss it with him. The ball is broke, but the upper arm is black and hurts.....probably nerve damage, but what does Doc Mom know??? Got my mani and pedi today, felt wonderful. Have to be in at 6:30 tomorrow, to get my orders!! Should be kinda fun anyway. Tracy, not sure what is going to happen with BP, my DD and best friend both work there! Hope it does not ruin them, for their sakes of course. Halliburton is being sued over it as well.....so hell we may all be out of work for it! I need to go get some things put up off the bed, Rick is ready to crawl in!! Will try to post in the morning, if not, when I get home I will let you know how it went!

Have lots of fun things going on.....will send out an email this evening. Also got a disturbing comment from a friend of sons, about him going to LA -- by himself, before the family joins him.....kinda weirding me out. You hate hearing things that don't highlight your kids at their best. I know things are stressed with him right now, but I still dislike hearing things that seem to center around his morals......have to think on it another time, going to enjoy my day!! Glad you are ON it Suzie, just had to voice my concerns. BBL

Good morning, I am awake! Normally I go back to bed when Rick leaves, because I go to bed late, but since I have to be an early riser the next month, I thought I would begin it today!!! That way maybe I will be sleepy enough to go to bed early tonight!! I have been searching my closets for a certain pair of shoes, and not finding them. I emptied the closet, and not there! I am hoping, they are in a tote in the shed, with most of my flip flops----will look later today, it is too cold out there to go digging around in the shed, it is still below 30....froze pretty good last night. Bye bye fruit! Well all the fruit except for my apples. They produce no matter what, and we don't use enough of them to make it worthwhile to do anything with them. I think Rick is going to spray the tree, and we will give it away. The apples always make, otherwise I would have no mess in the back yard to clean up! LOL Off to get a pedi (and thinking about a manicure too!!!) today, and have lunch with Rick. To hear him talk, we won't ever get to lunch together again! LOL, it is ONE month!!! I need to call my friend Marie, and delay our lunch tomorrow from 11 to 1....see if that works for her! She has been in TX for a couple of weeks, so it is past time to catch up! Manda goes this week to finalize Kinsey's school registration! Can't believe it! She is ready, she is self teaching herself how to read! She recognizes simple sight words already. The words on her flash cards, she knows the word, without the picture.....think she has been through them a time or 2!!! And she is getting the sound idea.....she ask me why my name did not start with a C. I ask her then what sound does the K make.....she replies, "well that's kinda messed up huh?" LOL Suzie, I am in total agreement with Tracy in regards to your neighbor. Made my blood run cold. What sex is the oldest child in her home? Coming from someone who was conned, and damn near killed by a reformed "ex" con-----I am here to tell you prison does not reform them, it hardens them, and smartens them up in manipulating people. Now that is only my experience....but I would have some safeguard in place, and would not allow him in my home, or to know much about my "things". I find that scary as hell. A healthy 19 year old who is turning his life around, would be looking at healthy 17, 18 year olds.....but instead he is looking at who can help him acheive what he needs/wants. I know my experiences color my judgement, but I am here to tell you, he(my ex, the con) was NOT that way when I dated and married him. I am not an idiot! I would never have married someone who treated me like that, or who had that history had I known! I knew he had spent some county jail time, but he lied about what it was for, along with everything else! We went out with friends one night, and were in a local club, where some man, open handed slapped his wife. My ex took him down, and literally sat on him, threatening him, and berating him about a man hitting a woman being the weakest human on earth...yadda yadda yadda, until the police come. Yep he put on one helluva show, I would have NEVER imagined he would become the abuser he was. And it was not just me, he abused everyone in his past---it was on record. But innocent as I was, I never questioned whether he was honest with me. Why would someone lie about every aspect of their life? That whole world was foreign to me. They learn to manipulate people like nothing else. And they prey on those who will believe their stories, who are far removed from the type of life they lead. Those who will blindly trust.... You may not be able to convince her to be careful, but Suzanne, DO NOT be alone with this guy, and don't let him have access to your home. Please, be careful! I guess I am hard hearted these days----but I don't trust like I used to, I look at things differently. Well I am doing laundry, got the bed stripped and changed, have things ready to make some meatballs, so I have dinner ready to go.....this getting up early is wierd!!! LOL Gonna go unload the dishwasher......see y'all when I get back from town!

I'm with you Suzie, I would have that tree up so fast their heads would be spinning! I really dislike being watched like that! It would be a MAJOR issue with my next door neighbor, if I was not next door, like if I was across the street! As it is, she sits at the window---she is for all intents and purposes, house bound, and watches out towards the street. She cannot see my house, only if someone pulls up, and I am ok with that being watched. She sledom makes it into the back yard, she just cannot manuever the terrain, but we have grapes growing as a fence addition between our houses, some start on their side, some on ours--and they make an awesome block in the summer, you cannot see anything without parting the leaves! Problem is grapes take a lot of water to produce good grapes, and they take a while to establish. Each year we add a panel of fence--the hard hog wire type---to the top of the wood fence so it gives them climbing room---so as it is now, from their house they cannot see in our yard, and very little from their yard. However from his shop, it is still open----so hope they get grown soon. That will block the sun from Ricks tomatoes, so he is in no hurry! He must care less about the privacy than I do!!! So the neighbors on the other side, are the snooty ones. The rich real estate company owners...they look down their noses at us all the time!!! They are snow birds now, they left late in the fall and went to Houston, and have yet to come back yet. So they left, without draining the irrigation to their house, and now they are broke and leaking.....and noone to fix it. So it is soaking the alley behind our houses, and has now progressed to the point, none of us have any pressure....so our water (irrigation) is shut off, and the break needs repaired. I called their cells, neither one answered. I called their son who lives there year round, he give me their cell #'s and said he has no idea why they aren't answering. Makes the mean in me come out! I have been nice to them, picked up papers that were complimentary ones thrown out, and done things to make the house look less empty so they don't get broke into. They EXPECT that tho, and I am done, things can pile up now, I am no longer being nice. They have a small front yard they water on a timer with city water (less weed issues than ditch water)---so they do not have a rush. Meanwhile, the rest of us watch either our lawns go brown or our water bills go up, even tho we have water rights. It's very frustrating, and even more so to be treated like we owe them to fix it since they simply don't care. I suggested to the ditch group, we go just this side of the break, and cap it off, and when they get back if they want it fixed, they can fix it......we'll see. None of them live next to them, so they feel helpful!!! LOL not me!!!! Well Rick has ended up working both yesterday and today. But the rumor is the entire Halliburton yard here will be closed in 60 days max. Which will get us through the CS time we were hoping for, then we have to reevaluate what we want to do..... new life chapter! Took Connor to town with us to buy steer manure for the planiting area, and he is such a sweetie. Like Rick said, he has no idea what his little world has in store for him. Gotta go help my honey---talk to ya later!!!

Hi, just now getting home, and back to my computer! Awww Tracy, so sorry you are so sick!!! YUCK!!! Are you running fever? If not I would wonder about food poisoning. Usually if it is going both ways with no other real symptoms, such as body aches, and fever...it is something to wonder about. Hope it passes quickly! Michelle, glad to see you posting, and doing so well!!! DD is going to be a veteran at overnights soon!! LOL It is a hard thing to let them go like that! Suzie, which sister is moving? I spent the day running like crazy, and had plans much like yours, to just kick back, read my book, and do nothing... HAH!!! Was a BUSY day! Let's see, I slept in, then went to town, picked up Kinsey's pics, had lunch with Rick and did some Walmart shopping ---bought 3 shirts for $3.00 each! Went to a meeting here in Aztec, took a half hour or so.... Then I stopped at Rick's folks on my way home, give his Dad a haircut, then went to my folks, and let Mom pick some pictures out. Come home, met Rick as he was pulling up. So we brought in some wood---it is COLD here again, actually saw snowflakes in the air, but none made it to the ground today! Supposed to freeze hard again tonight, we kissed any fruit goodbye, the trees are all bloomed, and now froze....does not hurt my feelings to be honest!!! LOL 2 days ago we were in the 80's, and now snow in the air again! So, then we met up with Becky & Gary to have dinner and watch some warm up runs with the horses. We ate at the restaurant at the local casino, which is where the horse track is, then we gambled for awhile! Becky won the most---she come out $113.00 ahead, I was next with $50.00. Rick lost $10.00 and Gary lost $27.00. LOL We would have stayed longer, and enjoyed it, but the smoke runs us out every time. Rick got a call while we were out, and he has to work tomorrow. Makes me unhappy, but whatcha gonna do about it??? So we went to the grocery store, got some things to make a lunch for him, and come home. My meeting today was about a temporary job. Looks like I will be working for the next month. Start Tuesday morning, and will work the month of May. The little town we live in is the County Seat. So all the County offices are local. NM has early voting. I will be working the early voting for the month. I am working from 7 AM to 1:30 PM. I won't leave til an hour and a half after Rick leaves, and will be home long before him.....so other than the 2 Saturday mornings I will be working---he works one of them---he won't even know I am gone. The money is decent, and I thought it would make a nice addition to our stash for Sturgis. We are also going to Yellowstone in July, so $$$ is always beneficial! I will enjoy it. My Dad worked for the County for 25 years, retired there---many of his friends are still there, and many others I know from watching their kids for years! So it is a nice place to be, and I think it is a wise move for me, in case I want to pursue a job there in the future---with the County I mean. So......for a month I will be working again. I have lots of reasons for doing it, and none I could really come up with for not doing it!!! I am running into a little bind at the end of the month, I was going to take my parents to Colorado for my cousins graduation. He has been accepted into the Air Force Academy---only the 3rd from the area in Colorado he is from to be accepted, the other 2 nominated him. One is a senator, and the other a retired astronaut! So he graduates over Memorial Weekend, and I was taking my folks. I think Manda is going to be able to take them. So it will all work out ok. If she can't, Rick said he would skip the rally he was going to go to, and he would take them..... I have a toothache...makes me unhappy! Very back molar on the bottom left side. Going to go brush, and see if it will ease at all. See ya tomorrow!

Suzanne, you are not alone.....everytime I get ready to post, the phone rings!! Now I am heading out the door, will be back and post!!!