Kat817

Good morning! Early for me! I stayed up when Rick left, going to try to slowly reset my sleep clock to his. Thank you so much for all the prayers and good wishes in regards to his job. They helped! He is staying. Out of the departments 21 people, 5 are staying, and he is one of them. He was called in, as was everyone, and they all come out saying they had to transfer or be laid off, so when he got called in, he was expecting it to be the same. But they told him, he had an exemplory safety record, and wonderful recommendations, and with his seniority, and experience they would like him to stay on here and help keep this facility running at capacity during this slump. He was shocked he said. The people making these calls have never met any of them, they are going on interviews with others, with outside company men, and employment records. He told them he would like to stay here, so for now it is. We so need the next 3 months to be non eventful. Again thank you!!! Long Hairstyle - Photo of long Hair Style This is the plan for my hair. Not the color of course!! But the sharp taper. It has been blunt cut for awhile now. I always want the layers, but if I want it straight like this I have to blow it dry---otherwise my curl works against me! But I can just let it air dry and be ok......anyway, this picture, it would remove probably 8-10 inches off the sides of my hair right now....it has grown long! And I have just ignored it! LOL My cousin I ask for prayers for is still in the hospital, but is improving. They are working to try to stabalize his blood sugar. It is responding, but they give him a little container of apple juice---like a little pudding cup type of thing---so they could monitor how his body processed it, and it alone caused his blood sugar to jump over 350 points! He was over 1100 when he went into the hospital. He come down to just over 400 with monitoring, then they began trying to figure what settings he needed changed on his pump. They are unsure with the drastic jumps he makes what to do.....poor kid. He LOVES the attention the nurses give him tho!!! Will let ya know if I cry when I pass a mirror later!!!

Hi girls~ Mom is home, and surgery went well, she no longer has a gall bladder! My brothers dental surgery went well, he no longer has a wisdom tooth! LOL We stopped got some taquitos from the A&W, and now are kicked back. I am exhausted. nmalek, Cindy is right, you are much too tight! The sweet spot is different for everyone, well the amount of fill it takes to get to your sweet spot is different. If you can eat everyday food, hard protein, meats, and salad for instance----without PBing, just not eating lots, being full after a small amount, then you are at your sweet spot. PB'ing frequently, is not good, it will cause band/stomach damage. Talk to your doctor, and he or she will help you find the right spot. Suzy---so glad things are going well with Gia. I know it has been referred to as the honeymoon stage, and things can happen, but maybe I just have my rose colored glasses on snugly, but it seems you are both going to experience the newness of the situation together. She has not been "through the system" so you will be able to show her the difference her life can take. I am pulling for you. I think the kitten was a totally unique plan, and what a wonderful thing to do, give her something to love, that will love her back. Perfect. Suzie----YAY you had a crappy morning!!! LOL I know how miserable that can be. Maybe try a different type----metamucil, or a spoon of flax seed oil a day. I am having a MAJOR chocolate craving.....and I have none! It is so freezing cold outside, I don't wanna go anywhere!!! Tracy, thanks for the commiseration.....the whole idea just made me wanna cry!!! How does Macy like having Mom to herself again? Any news on the testing?? Jenn, hope you get your computer up and running soon, we miss you. Michelle---don't work too hard! How is Reggie settling in? Has DD tried to ride him yet?? LOL Gotta go scrounge for something to kill the craving......chocolate milk or cocoa sounds like the plan! See y'all tomorrow. I am going to get my hair chopped off and highlighted tomorrow!!! Wish me luck!

Hi Bandwife, I agree, that possibly an appointment with a new Dr. might benefit. As I read your post, another thought come to me. There is a condition fairly common among bandsters called first bite syndrome. What happens is that (keep in mind this is being paraphrased, or repeated as best I remember it from my Dr!) the band is placed, often times a bit higher than normal, and when the first bite goes down, it causes a spasm. When the pouch and all spasms, it pushes that first bite up into the esophagus, and triggers the gag reflex---and it is more than just the gag like you get from saying Ahhhh. It is a painful gag, because of the spasm---it is gagging on a contracted muscle. The first thing to try they said with it, is warm liquid. Prior to eating----sip a few small sips of very warm liquid. It can be hot Water, tea, coffee, whatever. The heat is supposed to relax the muscles, and avoid the spasm. Then begin with EXTREMELY small bites, and move up to a normal band way of eating. I am not saying that this is his cure all, but it is VERY common. And it is something quick, and easy to try to see if it helps. There may be other ideas for first bite syndrome---you might do a search on it, and have some other ideas. Oh yeah I remember they also recommended an acid reducer. I will look around and see if I can find some of the people who used to deal with it. The good news is, if it is a first bite syndrome thing, as the pouch and esophagus adjust to remaining calm during eating, it does ease. So sorry it has been such a rough road for you!!

Oh Cindy--how scary!! You will be in my prayers for sure. I agree, I think it is time to go to the school board or whatever to let them know that the superintendent put his test scores and all above the safety of the other kids and teachers. If you have an especially big mouthed parent of a student in your class, maybe now is the time to let her know what is going on! I went to many meetings to fight for my kid, other kids, and teachers!!! We got a call tonight, that a cousin is in ICU. His name is Lee, and he is in his early 20's. When he was 11, he got the encephalitic form of West Nile Virus. It attacked the brain. He was in a coma for weeks, and when he come out of it, he was left with quite a bit of brain damage. He is fully capable of eating alone, and dressing, and even staying alone for short periods of time. Unfortunately one of the effects of the WNV, was the parts of the brain it damaged, left him with epilepsy, and severe diabetes. He wears a full time insulin pump, because his blood sugar is all over the place, high and low, and everywhere in between, with no warning, or no control with diet. He got a bug, and ended up with the nausea, and diarrhea, and dehydrated, which put his blood sugar extremely high. My Aunt said when she walked in his room you could smell the keytones. It is a sickly sweet smell, as the body is unable to break down the sugar. We TRIED to go into a state of ketosis when losing weight, it meant we were burning good---this is not good for him. So they have him in ICU, and have as of yet been unable to stabalize his Blood sugar. It is so scary. He already has severe nueropathy from the diabetes, and has little to no feeling in his extremities, but he is a happy kid! He works for a Methodist mission, making and packaging the picnic sets you get at fast food restaurants---with the knife, and spork, napkin, salt and pepper, wrapped in cellophane. They manufacture them, and package them. Everyone he works with besides the leaders, are handicapped as well. He makes a little money, and he loves it. Just spoke to my Aunt---she said they believe his pump has quit working. So they are trying to slowly manually bring his blood sugar down, it cannot be done too quickly or risk going too low. If you could remember Lee in your prayers, he is a special kid---he has fought a lot of battles, and I want him to keep winning! Take my Mom to the hospital at 8 in the morning. So.....will check in as I can!!! Going to have you on my mind Cindy---don't forget to check in with us!!

Went to lunch, was nice, caught up with Marie. Spent awhile on the phone with my BFF Becky, she just got back from her families home in TX, had all sorts of drama with a pill addicted SIL. Then got my windshield repaired. Then took Dad my laptop---his computer died, fought to get it online....finally got it, got ready to leave, only to discover I had locked my keys in the car!!! Bad enough, add to it, I had parked in the drive behind my parents, effectively blocking both their car and truck in!!! We were all stuck! Rick is at work--where 50% of the workforce will be gone by Monday! So I called my brother, and he brought me up here, I got my spare and got my car. Felt like such a dummy!!! NOw I have a fire going, and dinner cooking....gonna go change out of my jeans, into my lounging pants, and be comfy!!! See y'all in the morning. Pray for our job situation PLEASE!!!

OK, Jenn, I have your birthday down as the 12th--am I screwed up with someone else? It isn't the 12th yet is it? I am sooo confused!!! No takers on the magazine? I am mailing my subscription renewal today---so let me know! Tracy, I like your ring! I know I totally enjoy time with my husband uninterupted! We don't always go and do something, but it is nice anyway. We kept Kinsey last night while Manda went to a meeting with the skating rink people about the derby league. She is getting so big, and talks about so many things that surprise me! So adult! She is concerned because 2 of her friends have loose or already lost teeth, and she has not! It has already started! Comparing herself to others! We tried to tell her it will happen when HER body is ready! She will not ever remember that I know!! Supposed to go to lunch with my friend today, will call her in a bit, maybe she got lucky and is sleeping in! My MIL called me and woke me up. Then right after she hung up, the glass guy called. I have a mobile company coming to repair a rock chip I picked up yesterday. He will be here between 12 and 5. I told him make it more towards 5!!! LOL He wants my business he will! Well, no answer at Maries......dunno what my day holds I guess!!! Will check in later!

Good Morning~ Michelle the pics are too cute! The dog looks like he has been there forever!! DD is adorable! Rick is back to work. Things are going down there finally. They ARE making them a sattelite office from the Grand Junction Colorado office -- which is ok in theory, but it is a 6 hour drive away in good weather! Anyway because of that ALL the highest level people, everyone from the facility manager, HR, all dept. managers, everything got either transferred out, laid off, or bumped back to the previous position. So Ricks direct boss, that never does a thing, has been bumped back and is now on equal ground with Rick. His boss had promoted one of his cronies, to a position above Rick and the other guy he has job shared with for years, without proper education or work requirements, so he was bumped too. So that puts 4 of them in the position, and they are not going to allow 4 of them to stay. Rick is prepared to go to the Ethics committee if he is the one laid off. He has seniority over the guy he likes that he has worked with so long, but he is Native American, just like the boss. And then the one guy has not got the job requirements for the position he is in! So......if push comes to shove he will shove back. We desperately need 3 more months, for the insurance. So....anxious, nervous, and stressed over the job again. I have plans to be using my eliptical, for shorter periods of time, half in the morning, and half in the evening. The other thing I want to do, is find a GOOD yoga video. Something I can do in the day.....it is quiet here, I need something for stress relief, and am told Yoga is the way to go. Anyone have any recommendations? Goal is to get the rest of my "regained" weight off before we begin these long motorcycle trips! I know I can do it---just need to actually DO it! LOL Rick is in the mood to help me more....he wants to get back in shape as well. But he is so irritating, he can drop and do 50 sit ups, or do lots of push ups, and then whine about being out of shape. I would kill myself doing either!!! Walking weather is back pretty much, so I plan on that, plus, the eliptical, and finding some work out things I can do at home.....unless he gets laid off, I will NOT do them in front of anyone, I am totally uncoordinated!!! My Mom is having her gall bladder out on Wed. MIL just had hers out, hoping it is not contagious. The pain I had AT my band, went away, then come back yesterday. Not sure what it is connected to. Trying to figure it out. I did nothing to pull anything yesterday. Tracy, glad you had a good time!! Sounds fun! I look forward to seeing your ring. I love jewelry! I don't wear as much as I like, because of the kids, I have to watch my wedding rings even, the marquise cut of my diamond, is sharp and dangerous. It was of course one of those live and learn lessons!!! Well, I am off to do my few minutes on the eliptical--and I do mean few, I make it about 10 and have spaghetti legs!!!

Good morning~ Not lots of time right now, I have no idea what the rest of the day holds for us. It is rainy. Yuck!!! Was paying a bill a minute ago, and come across my renewal notice on my Redbook magazine. I have a free subscription to give to a friend for renewing mine....anyone want it? Let me know. I am going to order mine anyway. Had dinner with my inlaws, and son and his family last night. Was not what I had planned, but Connor was so excited to show Papa what he could do on his skateboard, we could not refuse! This boy turned 4 on the 3rd. He has NEVER had any form of skateboard before. He can already turn it upside down on his toes, and jump, flipping the board upright, and land on it with both feet, balanced! He can go across the room, and get both feet on and balance. And he can rock it from toe down to wheelie, and balance through it all! He has learned all this on the carpet. We know he is in for a shock on concrete, but at least he is getting the general balance idea down. He had no clue on balancing a month ago on roller skates, so this is a huge step! He also got a bicycle for his birthday, and the road is dry enough, he has learned to ride it, and he is his Papa all over again, he is a daredevil!! He just learned, and all he is concerned with at this point is SPEED!! LOL He was so proud to show off for Rick! Rick is trying to tell me I can go look at some puppies they had listed in the paper.....border collies, which is what I want, except part of me wants an indoor dog for more company, and I cannot have the fur....allergies cause my asthma to kick in. So if I get an indoor dog it has to have hair not fur. But I love border collies, they are so smart, and have a natural aptitude around the horses and cattle......but not gonna go look, I will bring home one!!! LOL Glad Reggie is making a good fit with you Michelle! Off to watch some Lock up, and decide what today holds----maybe a movie, nice and relaxing!

Good morning everyone!!! And a good morning it is! I got a call from Rick, and they are tearing down, and headed home tonight! Boss man there said these guys need to get home, now make it happen! The crew Rick went down with had been in Texas for 3 weeks, went home overnight, then to Colorado, and they wanted to go home, it has been one night in over 5 weeks! One has a 8 week old baby---he won't even recognize her! And another has a baby with a due date of yesterday! Still hanging in there tho. So they are packing it in, which takes probably 6 hours, it is 3 hours to location and back to the yard, to wash it all down before hitting the hiway, so late today they will head out for the 9 hour drive home! BUT---he IS coming home, at least for a little while!!! I am HAPPY!!! Suzie it was great talking to you too!!! Suzy, it sounds like Gia is being pretty good for what she went through. sleeping might not feel safe yet. You lose control when you sleep, thoughts come to mind you can't hide from, and even people do horrid things to you. I am sure as she relaxes, that too will adjust. The no caffeine thing makes sense too. Lucky for her, short and spiky "dos" are still an ok thing for girls. and yes, the earrings will help. My neighbors daughter is 11 and she is all into soccer, plays year round. She is half hispanic and half white. Their son is super blonde and blue eyed, and the daughter is dark haired and dark eyed!! Anyway they keep her hair about an inch and a half long max! They have it spiked all over, and the tips bleached! I heard about it at first from my nosy neighbor that they had bleached Sarahs hair. I thought no way she is only 11---but they had, just the tips. It really looks cute on her. She used spray on the tips on Halloween, and on Valentines day in orange then in hot pink. I bet she does green for St. Patricks Day! She comes from a VERY academic background, both grandparents, and Dad teach, Mom subs and drives a bus. So apparantly she fits in---they would know better than me! When my daughters were in later junior high, the in thing was to shave the bottom half of your hair. So when you put it in a pony tail, it showed. I refused to let them do it! Well Manda, Abbey never let hers get long enough. Then I saw this show-- might have been an Oprah or something and they were talking about teens and the ways they rebel. It was shown as one of the silent rebellions, is what they called it, where it could be shown off, or hidden, as needed. So I relented! Not shaved, but shorn VERY close. And we had rules. She could wear it to school in a ponytail. But when we went to dinner, or to see the grandparents etc. The hair went down and stayed down. It worked wonders. She cut it twice, and the novelty wore off, and then we moved on to the pierced tongue!!! It never ends!! STILL!!! I praise you for being willing to take on this age. She is so needy still, and does not want to be. Good Luck to both of you, you remain in my prayers. Tracy, glad you are happy about being done babysitting. I was thinking about taking in a baby! I know a girl who has a new baby she is needing someone to watch. But I know if I got her now, I would have her forever, because one on one with a baby, she would worm into my heart!!! I already have extras that way. One of them (Megan) will be staying the weekend with us, a week from now. Well, I agreed to go to town with the neighbor. I do not want to. Plain and simple. Sounds mean, but I don't. She is physically handicapped---she has most joints fused, and moves with difficulty. She needs new shoes. I am not going because she wants my company---she needs help. And she is desperate for companionship. If it would without incident I would not have issue. She wanted to go to lunch before, so we went. Half way through lunch she began telling me how much it meant to her to go and started crying....fairly loudly and obviously. I know it is going to happen again today. She wants to take me out to thank us for doing their lawn, and shoveling their walks while her husband has fought his cancer. I do not want to be mean, but the outbursts are embarrassing! AND---last time she ran over me several times with the damn cart thingy!!! OK, I am finished ranting. I am going. It is the right thing to do, she is lonely, and needs help. It could be me someday. Wish me luck girls!!!

Hey Girls, I just spoke to Suzie---gonna go with one with ie and one with y for separation here!!! Suzie got a call from her Dr. this morning, she had not heard on her upper GI so she thought all was well, then she spoke to them and they said the Dr. needs to see her. We all know how scary hearing that can be! She did speak to the office and found out the test shows a hiatal hernia. I told her about my experiences with mine, and if any of you have any experience, or knowledge, please share it with her! She had an existing appt. and they could not get her in any sooner, so she will go in a month---on April 5th. I feel like if it is "just" a hiatal hernia and he is willing to wait a month to see her, it is not horrible scary news! Thank You God!! Anyway she said she is off to work, and ask me to let you know. It was SOOOO good to talk to her!!! Hoping some of her mojo worked its way through the phone lines to me!!! LOL Suzy---I read on FB where you were getting a foster daughter---but to be totally honest, I had not connected your FB name to SuzyT!!! The bells and whistles started going off as soon as I read foster daughter!! I am such a dummy!!! I have watched your posts there, and feel like you will be a wonderful step for this girl. You have an upbeat attitude, while still being level headed. I am sure there will be a huge adjustment period for both of you, please feel free to come in here and post your concerns, successes, set backs etc. without feeling judged. I personally have huge respect for you doing this. If you want to speak to someone who has done this their entire lives, and need any kind of guidance, just let me know and I can hook you up with my Aunt. Just be advised, if you talk to her on the phone, she sounds funny---just like Tracy here, she is a true Texan!!! Gotta go, supposed to be out cutting FIL's hair 20 minutes ago. LOL See ya!

We are hoping, not planning on it, but hoping he comes home this weekend. I am SO ready for him to be here! I may never sleep normally again!!! LOL It has become my schedule to be awake until 2 AM then sleep til 8:30 AM---cannot break the cycle, it does not matter when I go to bed, I am awake until my body totally gives out. We had Connors birthday party last night. What chaos. The place was not big enough, she had probably 40 people show up, lots of exes! He comes from a divorce, she comes from both divorce, and being raised by her grandma as opposed to Mom, so has multiple families. Now everyone gets along, there is not an issue there, it is just sheer numbers!! My sons kids had 5 grandmas there, and in the boys cases, one was missing, and in my granddaughters (Ally) case 2 were missing! She come in with 2 huge boxes of cupcakes, and just let kids go wild, no organization of any sort. Poor Manda has a sinus infection, and was in that room with screaming kids! She was better than I would have been, I offered to bring Kinsey home if she wanted to go, but she stuck it out. He loved his skateboard---he hid it under the table so the kids wouldn't mess with it!! LOL All my grandchildren are mobile now. Corvin is not just walking, but running, and Garrick can crawl with the best of 'em now!!! Today I am going to take my Moms dog over to the groomer, and have dinner with my parents. They opened a new place in town, we are going to go try it. Will check in later....everyone make it a good day!

Hey Girls~ Tracy, dyslexia has multiple forms, and many levels of severity. It can be mild, where they transpose certain letters or combinations of letters or numbers---or one and not the other. Or it can be very severe, and everything be reversed or jumbled, or anywhere in between! My niece, (who is now well over 30) was struggling as she learned to write her name in Kinder. and one day when my SIL was cleaning up the bedroom she looked in the mirror, and there lay Lisa's paper, with her name looking perfect---in the mirror. So she started paying attention, and back then they did not test like they do now, it was much more unique, and difficult to find help for, but she was diagnosed, and had some sp ed. classes to help her overcome the differences in how she saw and worked. She is now a teacher herself---and writes just like you and I. On the other end of the spectrum, lies my husband. He is dyslexic, and transposes numbers the worst. He was not diagnosed until he was an adult, and our son was being checked---his is even milder than Ricks. Rick has SERIOUS problems copying things. To look back and forth and try to write what he sees causes him problems. Taking a keyboarding class was the best thing he did, he can type much better than write it. And he still does the old hunt and peck typing, but the letters fall in order better for him. It HAS affected his job choices. It HAS affected the job he has! Keep in mind in addition to this he is double color blind. Reds, browns, blues and greens ALL give him problems. So anything electrical was out due to that----wire colors must match!!! He has always struggled with math problems, passing HS algebra with help and making a D!! The MAIN reason he chose not to go on to college then, and hit the oilfield, was the math. He hated it. He struggled to read comfortably. Then when his son went into preschool at the screening, Rick could not help him, he himself failed all the screenings!!! So the same school nurse we had, referred his son for further testing, and found a Dr. for Rick to see. He went, took the tests, and found he does have that along with his vision problems, that send the signals to the brain with errors. He was blinded in one eye with a piece of metal years ago. It is not completely without sight, it is 20/500 in that eye which is legally blind, but can be corrected with lenses--but that confuses the brain to have such disparity in the eyes. So when you added it all together, he was depriving his brain of the information needed is how they explained it to him. They sent him to a class at the college -- was not cheap, so get it dealt with now through the school!!! They give him tips, and taught him all kinds of ways to cope with the problems. There are no magic cures, and much of it is just learning to compensate. And a HUGE part of Rick's was just being told he was NOT dumb. He went from there, on to college, and got his degree, because he knew he could, and knew he could ask for help if he needed it, because he had a legitimate reason to ask for it. It will benefit all of you to find out the exact problems now, and learn to work with them. She will be so much better off. If there is one near you, our Boys and Girls club, offers special help for learning disabilities, and the cost for the club for the year is $10.00. I know YOU want to help her, but often times, they learn better from others!! However, I do think if the kids you are keeping are causing the family problems, then quitting is the right thing. As for your money.....yeah, I would wonder! And yes you are right, that is why it is paid up front and whether the child shows up or not. Was supposed to go to lunch with Marie, but had to cancel. Speaking of kids, I have Kinsey. I am not sure why.....Manda is sick, not sure why she isn't in school, some sort of closure. Manda is going in for a swab test to see if she has Mononucleosis----she has been sick for a month, takes her antibiotics, feels better for 3 days, and wham is back down with sore throat and swollen glands again! Got everything ready for Connors birthday party tonight. Should be nice and noisy. They are doing it at Burger King, in the play area. He chose a cake with motorcycles! He belongs to his Daddy and his Papa. Kinsey is being a brat!! She is playing the DS and designing clothes, and won't let me turn her girl into a hoochie mama!!! LOL Gonna go play. Tracy--maybe PM Cindy! She teaches, in an older grouping, but she does a lot of sp. ed. inclusion, and much of that is from learning issues. She would be by far the best info you could get in this room I am betting!! Sure hope the boy she was worried about is settling in, and feeling as accepted as she wants him too. Keep us posted. If they want her to do some work at home, let me know what level---I have all the books I bought for Lyndzie. Would be glad to send them to you.

Aww Jane, sorry I missed you!!! Cuz I really do...MISS YOU I mean!!! Come back and see us soon! Was a very boring, weekend. I got nothing accomplished really! I did read the book Manda brought me. Talked to Rick for quite awhile last night. Looks like it will be another week or more. Sucks so bad!! Once this ne crew gets there, if the room is still as it is, I am gonna go see him! Will have to see how it works out. Spent part of Sat. night playing games, and chatting with Cindy, that was fun. Nothing on the agenda yet today. Of course I have not spoke to anyone yet to find out!! I need to wrap Connors gifts.....his birthday is Wed. Party tomorrow night. My son only gets his daughter from his first marriage on Tuesday nights, so they planned his party around that. He went over to my MIL's computer (that has been in her LR for 4 years and never used!) and pulled out the keyboard and started typing. She ask what he was doing, and he told her he was telling everyone he wanted a skateboard for his birthday. She ask him who he thought would get him a skateboard, and he thought for a second and decided Santa would! It was at this time my MIL decided she should tell Connor that his Papa bought him a skateboard. Which is true. We did go buy it together, before he left, knowing he might miss the party. We bought a Spiderman skateboard, and a Spiderman helmet, and the elbow, knee and wrist pads. She did not want Rick left out of the credit, when I walked in with a skateboard. Because I am not even going to attempt to wrap it or bag it now. I have NEVER tried to take any credit away from him, and he was furious! But it is a done deal, she already told him. So he keeps calling me wanting to talk to Papa. So.....Papa bought him fun stuff, Granny bought him clothes. It really doesn't matter to me for that. But he has had his heart set on a skateboard for over a month. I wanted to see his face when he saw he got one.....and now he is expecting it, so the excitement is not going to be the same. She loves doing these kind of things. And now Ricks sisters want us to join the entire family for a trip to Yellowstone. I really, truly do love his family. But we already take his parents along to TX so they can see family. I told his sister, yes we would go as long as one of them, made arrangements this year to do the Fall trip to TX so we didn't have to spend 3 of 4 weeks vacation with his parents. I told her I did not marry a Mama's baby, and hate after this many years to have one! I want some time with my husband! We already planned one trip to be taking the middle grandkids to Denver.....leaving us a flex week, and nothing more. Irritates the hell out of me, if you couldn't tell. Suzie, I too hope Spring rushes on in!!! It was nice being outside this weekend. I walked around wondering what to do!!! The list is endless!! I hope you totally enjoy your concert! Tracy, I too love hitting the 2nd hand shops, of course I have a lot of old country items in my home, everything here is old---me too!! Jenn, Michelle, Cindy, whever else my brain give out on me(!) have a great week, will talk to you soon!

Tracy, I understand about wanting to buy things for your new house----just don't rule out all having fun! I can look back 25 years ago, and remember plain as day Rick at a Journey concert.....he had been drinking some (ok we both had!!) and he was totally 100% enjoying himself----right down to his air guitar accompaniment to the band! That memory I can smile at all the time, but I cannot tell you what comforter we had on the bed, or pillows on the sofa at the time. I know in many cases one is a necessity and the other is not....but just a reminder to have fun along the way too. I am thinking of painting my bedroom this week. Not sure I am up to moving the bed alone tho.....and have no one to help me. I do not want to ask my Dad he is too old. Son is working all week......going to see what it would entail, and think about color!

Good Morning~ I am so glad my DD no longer lives in Hawaii, I would be so worried about her if she did! Cindy I can see your pain in your post about how to help this boy while protecting the other kids in your class. It just makes you wonder what the child has lived through to fill him with such horrible, strong emotions. He is already so mistrusting, you have your work cut out for you, to try to get him to feel accepted in a short period of time. I feel for everyone involved---as you say especially with your autistic kids, routine is extremely important, so you are really working with one hand tied behind your back, if not both! I will be thinking of you. Remind me again what age these kids are...... Hormones and migraines....my best friend Becky, always thought red wine triggered hers. Which is quite common. What she had not put together was she only ever really drank when she was seriously PMS-ing! So imagine the surprise, when following her hysterectomy, she could drink red wine without issue! We had to laugh. Rodeo does smell....but it is a smell I am used to from the barn! Not something I would choose to dab behinmd my ears for sure! Yep, I POGO. I play lots of different games, depending on my mood! Will PM you (and any of you that want it here) my name there, and you can look me up! We just get a lot of readers in here I don't know, so will PM it!! Long ass weekend stretched in front of me with nothing to do. I decided in the middle of the night, I was going to drive to Grand Junction today.....but read the paper this morning, and the mountain passes all got snow, and a big storm is due to hit tomorrow. So guess I will keep myself here. Granddaughter is with her Daddy this weekend, and DIL was not too receptive to the idea of me taking Connor and not all of them to lunch. LOL Think I might go get my hair cut off! But this is not the right mood to approach something like that in, I might end up with no hair left!! LOL Who is the rodeo concert Tracy? And why don't you want to go? Crowds? Cost? Music genre? This is the country Megaticket this year, we usually buy the tickets, but too many of them collide with already made plans......so guess not this year. Tickets are $120.00 for all of them. I wish we could do it. Might do a couple individuals anyway. Definitely the first one, although we are seeing Jason Aldean at Sturgis. Not sure what we will do, but we will hit some, and they also usually offer at least a couple of old rockers we want to hear too!! LOL The 2010 Country Megaticket includes the following concerts: Brooks & Dunn with special guest Jason Aldean - May 22 Tim McGraw with special guests Lady Antebellum and Love and Theft - June 2 Sugarland with special guests Little Big Town and Danny Gokey - July 29 Toby Keith with special guests - August 12 Brad Paisley with Darius Rucker - September 19 Rascal Flatts with Kellie Pickler and Chris Young - October 17 OK, enough rattling on.....see ya later!

Looks ike we are both being nightowls Michelle!!! Yep, I too had estrogen induced migraines, and fought with them for years. They wanted to try this and that and the other before finally being forced into the hysterectomy due to cancer! I had the surgery, and never had another migraine until I got my band. Then I had 2. Not severe, but it scared the hell outta me! Then I found out through my surgeon that fat cells hold estrogen, and when I was losing quickly it was being dumped into my system, and hello migraines again! I have not had one in years now. I love it. I love not dealing with female issues. My hysterectomy and my band, I would not trade for either of them!!! I have NEVER taken HRT. I dealt with many of the issues of menopause prior to surgery as the tissue choked off my ovaries long before surgery. I have less hot flashes than before....and not to subject everyone to TMI, but there has been no loss of desire, and occasional dryness has been the ONLY downfall. And there are plenty of things to help that. If you do not want to try to have a child, then go for the surgery would be my advice. It will improve your life so much you will be amazed!! And depending on what the cause, they can even do hysterectomies laproscopically now!!! I was cut from hip bone to hip bone, and pubic bone to belly button!!! Big ol cross----I always said it was a sign---a cross, that I was going to be ok! And here I am! My niece just had hers done laproscopically and was up and around very quickly. Well I am taking my pity party to bed. I have been up playing games on POGO, to keep myself occupied. Kids are all busy, DH and my BFF are both out of town......I sat here and bawled my eyes out. I hate being alone.....I know exactly what you mean, I am totally glad he has a job, and yes the OT is nice, but having him here is priceless.....sniff Off to bed with me.....will watch Property Virgins in bed!!!! LOL

Yay, glad the new bed is a good one! Hope the headache eases. It might take a few days for the meds to leave your system if that is what is causing the migraine. What kind of surgery would you be looking at. I think I missed something......not new, I do that!! Suzie, I do not have a way with words, in fact find myself saying the wrong thing often!!! But 90% of the time it is said with good intentions anyway!!! Tracy, I agree, go to the rodeo! I love them. I volunteer for the HS finals here when they have them, and love it. Be careful, or you might end up being a "buckle bunny" yourself!!!! Was it Suzie who said go people watch? She is so right, we laugh ourselves silly at some of the cowboy walks!! A riding heel will make you stride differently, somewhat like a woman in heels as opposed to tenny shoes. BUT.....we have categories. Seriously! Some of them walk like they met up with the saddle horn suddenly and unexpectedly! Others walk like they have a corn cob up their butt!!! We laugh at that, and the wads of chew some of them think are so hot----girls too! Girls chew tobacco these days!! OMG ewwwwww You will enjoy it. Funeral was this morning. Was not terribly emotional. They have known for years this disease was killing her (ALS) and it was basically just a mass, they did not have a eulogy. At each of my grandparents funerals, one of us grandkids, read something, that all of us got together and wrote up, in memory of our grandparent. Like my maternal grandpa letting my DD Manda sit for hours and brush his hair, even tho it was never more than an inch long! How he loved Matlock, and laid on the floor and colored pictures with us. Or my paternal Grandpa seldom calling me by name, half that part of my family only knows me by Honey Child! There was none of that. I left there knowing nothing more about her than when I went in. I missed the "human" side of it. The cemetary was ankle deep in mud! Ice, snow, mud, it was horrible! Lots of old people sliding around. My parents and my inlaws being some of them! Went with them (parents and inlaws) to a little diner here in town and had a bit of lunch, then come home. Fire was out, house was cold.....hate that! BUT----in my backyard, and in the yard at the church both, I saw Robins. So Spring is coming!!! Not fast enough, but the birds say it is coming! So got wood in, stove cleaned, fire lit, jammie pants on, and kicking back now!! Thinking I might have a diet DP, and read for awhile. Rick called last night, looks like he will be gone another week. Makes me so sad. I am usually so excited when Friday rolls around, he is off then for 2 days. Today it feels like it is mocking me! And Becky is in Texas---so I am really alone! LOL And Tracy, thanks for the exact wording on the quote, it was in my mind, but I didn't remember it, I just knew the idea of what I wanted to say, but not the words!!! Well gonna go feed some more wood into the fire----everyone take care and I'll talk to ya later!

Healthy food.....wow what a concept! Who woulda thought food could be healthy!!! Not anyone looking in my cupboards and cabinets that's for sure!!! LOL Jenn, you may well be on to something. I believe that you do reap what you sow. If you plant seeds of anger and hatred, it is hard to get past the evil growing to get to anything happy. Where as like you are doing, setting things right, and working to make others happy, planting those seeds protects you with a surrounding of happiness. It is like the saying that whether you plan to fail or succeed, you will be right. If you plan to be angry and hurt, you will be. At the same time, you have to be allowed to go through the emotions involved in the break up. It happen due to circumstances not normal in relationships. While you HAVE to move on, without the accident, you may not have had to move on. Dealing with him now is not like dealing with a "normal" person. He is never the same day after day so dealing with him is never the same day after day. And when he is on a good swing, it reminded you of days gone by, and give you hope, only to have it dashed again, and again. Time has passed, and you have faced it and moved on at the speed that is right for you. No one else was invested emotionally as you. Even the kids, they were young, they didn't know him the way you did. In years to come, the relationship between you and Kev will continue to morph, and who knows how his mental injury will figure into that. But as with all exes, the anger and hurt fades, once you are ready to allow that to happen. As your friends we hate seeing you struggle through it. But you have done it. You are working through the stages, and will come out the other side stronger. And when you get there, we'll still be there! Til then, say what you are feeling, and cry when you need to cry, and celebrate when it feels right. And as for those around you.....those that matter, won't care what you say, and those that care....well they don't matter anyway! Go plant happy seeds!!! I am going to go see about buying a pair of boots this afternoon. I saw a pair I want, not a high heel, but more of a narrow wedge...over the calf. I want to see what material they are made of. The funeral tomorrow, then the burial is here in town, and will likely be muddy, as we got more snow last night. I do not want to buy new boots then ruin them the first wearing!!! Wish me luck!!

Michelle, read my new tag line at the bottom of my signature. If those people cannot forgive you for being human, and making light, regardless of the situation, then there is no need to want to make them friends. The way I see it is, MS or not, if she cannot find a way to use a restroom outdoors like everyone else, is she really capable of the outing? And if it is an issue, then he should carry a portapotty in his vehicle---end of problem---find someplace, set it up, and done deal. I think you did exactly the right thing, explained yourself, let them know you were not being thoughtless, and now let it drop. They will forget it if you let them I bet. But don't keep bringing it up and apologizing, or it will stay fresh in their minds too. I agree we need to be politically correct to a point, but good grief, having to monitor every word we say is ridiculous too. Took food over to our friends family home. He got in with his kids last night, not sure if they will stay here with me tonight or what will happen. The family home is VERY small, and even they don't know yet how much more family is coming in. The family shows up to eat our friend said, and they welcomed the food. I made a pot of baked Beans to go with it, so it could be a meal on it's own. My folks took in ham, and cheese and croissants for sandwiches, and my MIL is making a cake and a pot of Taco Soup to take in tomorrow. The rosary is tomorrow---and to be totally honest, I have never been to one. The funeral service is Friday morning, and I will definitely go to that, unsure about the rosary. I have been totally lost at both catholic services I ever went to, I feel kinda out of place when they begin kneeling, then sit, then kneel, and I never know what to do!!! And they started reciting the Apostles Creed, and I know it, we say it as well, but they stopped in the middle and did something, and I almost spoke ALL BY MYSELF!!! Oh well----I'll go anyway. Rick is really upset at not being here. She took good care of him when he was a kid and spent the night there and all. She was a sweet, sweet woman. Little bitty thing, about 4'10"!!! Her sons are short too---Ricks friend, is maybe 5'6", he was shaving with a full beard in 4th grade, and was totally bald by graduation! Both he and his brother!!! Has anyone seen the advertisement on HGTV for the new show called "Tough As Nails"? It is a show about a female contractor/builder. Always makes me think of you Jenn!! Well I am off to start a fire, we are to be hit with a snowstorm tonight. Got my wood in, stove cleaned, and fire ready to start. Everyone take care!

I freeze too Suzanne! Took my parents to town today and helped them pick out and buy a new TV. Ok, I helped pick it out, and set it up, I did not help buy it!!! LOL Ricks best friend from childhood, that was just here, is on his way back. His Mom passed away a couple of days ago. I am so glad he come when he did 2 weeks ago, so she could talk to him, and he spent some quality time with her. I think they will be staying with me. Not sure yet when services are, but I will be going of course, Rick would have been, in fact he likely would have been a pall bearer, but being out of town, he is not. I talked to him this morning, and he called to tell me, he got out of his truck to help a kid who is a new driver, get his chains on. They were going up to a mountain pass called powder Horn, it has a huge high dollar ski resort etc up there, and there is feet of snow up there. He knew the kid was nervous, so he stopped to help, got back in his truck to go check and see how others were doing, and he said it felt like his nose was wet, so he was going to wipe it----and his mustache was froze solid!!! From breathing on it in the ice cold! Had to laugh! I have a huge crock pot of pork roast cooking. Will let it cook overnight, and shred it, and add sauce tomorrow, and take it out to our friends family home. Pulled pork is easy to make quick sandwiches while getting things done. There will be quite a lot of family coming in from out of town. I bought 4 packages of buns, and am making a big double batch of brownies. That should work. I feel so bad for the family. Our friend has issues with some of his family, they don't like his lifestyle, they think he acts too good for them (he is in my opinion!) but, it is a difficult relationship, usually tempered by his Mom, so with her being gone, I figure they will stay here from now on out. Rick has his cell phone charging apparantly, it goes straight to voicemail....hate that, I want to talk to him! He'll call back as soon as he gets to the room, but I hate waiting!! LOL Guess I will go hang clothes up, I heard the dryer quit. Talk to y'all tomorrow.

Yay Suzie, I love not having to take meds now. To be actual, I take an OTC acid controller everyday along with my vitamins, but no Rx meds at all. Prior to surgery, I took Metformin for blood sugar, HCTZ, and Lisinopril for high blood pressure, Lovastatin for high cholesteral, and Celebrex for knee joint pain. Now nothing! With insurance that is still a savings of over $90.00 a month! The Celebrex cost me back then $40 a month, and generics were $15---the HCTZ was cheap--but still, that is a lot of money!! Off to watch some Olympics, and try to get into a new to me, but old book Manda brought me over to read. See ya all tomorrow!

If you are going to do Day care of any type, plan on being sick with cold junk for a couple of years straight!!! But the advantage to that, is that now, with grandkids, they get sick, they give it to Rick, and I stay well, I have had that particular strain, and am immune, I occasionally get sick, but nothing like most people! I thought someone was still messing in the back yard Tracy, now I think it might have been the cats jumping off my lawn swing. Now there is enough snow out there again, I will be able to tell, not much hiding footprints!! It snowed off and on all day yesterday, and over night. Wet, heavy snow, with fairly high temps, so it is melting into a slushy mess on the roads, but it is too bad yet. The big storm is due to hit over later today and tonight, is sitting in Arizonza right now. So thinking about getting Kinsey and I dressed and running to Walmart, then just holing up!!! But she is not wanting to go, she wants to lay on the couch! Manda is only going to work to conduct a meeting, then coming home---so since Kinsey was kinda whiny and stuffy, she is with me instead of at day care, pre school was cancelled...all school here was. She got here, wanted pancakes, ate a few bites and was done. But Granny ate her whole pancake of course! And it is morning, so not going down easy. All that sick sweet stuff is sitting heavy in my stomach. I still hurt this morning. Not sure what I pulled, but it is getting better, just slowly. Still no digestion issues, so it is just minor, but painful. I love our bed. It is a standard one side pillow top, we can spin it, but not flip it. We have had it for 7 or 8 years. I love it! Like I said tho, I make a virtual nest in our bed!! I don't like satin sheets, but I love silky soft ones---high thread count, with lots of pillows, and snuggly blankets. With Rick gone, I wake up, and half the bed is still made. When I go to sleep, I don't move around much I guess!! When he is here, we don't snuggle up so much to sleep, but we always touch. Whether it is holding hands, or butt to butt, we always touch. So it is weird getting used to sleeping alone. I many days go back to bed after he leaves, so am somewhat used to it. But relaxing at night is really hard. He siad the weather there is similar to here, except they have minimally 16" of snow on the ground and more to come. He said the facility manager, come out to talk to him, which is surprising, with the size of the facility. Told him getting the entire convoy there in that weather, without issue spoke really highly of the mechanics in Farmington! More praise than they ever get here! He called and told EVERY one of them individually. Because he knew if he ask the local boss to spread the word, it would not happen. Moral here is pathetic. Work is supposed to be picking up, but the weather is kicking them back down. There is work to be done, but no way to get to the locations, because the mud is too deep. Just when it began drying up, this storm hit. So they are going into a temporary layoff this week. Rick got a call offering him an excellent job. Awesome pay, housing provided, all kinds of perks.....in Australia! No thanks! Ooooh pancakes...........yuck. Going to go move around a bit and see if they will move around a bit!! Talk to y'all later!!

I'm here....... Rick left this morning about 3:15 AM, in the middle of one hellacious snow storm. He is headed into Colorado, into an even worse storm. He is having to take the crew several hundred miles out of the way to avoid mountain passes that are either closed due to weather, or that do not allow semi fleets. So he is due to make it in to location any time now, he said the roads have been trecherous. He will be gone at least a week, possibly more. It is still snowing hard here---white everywhere! We knew the storm was due to hit, and he was leaving, so we spent yesterday working to prep things. Got the wood splitter going, and split a cord and a half of wood. And I hurt myself. I picked up a big log, and I think I pulled a stitch on my band----not sure. It is NOT interfering with my digestion in any way. But it hurts. To breath deep and put pressure on it hurts. Laying on my side hurts. It scares me! So today, I am being very still, and doing nothing much. Want it to be better!!! After that we got our chimney swept out, and did Rick's parents again as well. Neither one really needed it he said, but with him leaving and a storm hitting, he felt better knowing they were ok. Went to lunch with my parents yesterday, took Connor with us, and then just vegged on the couch together watching the Olympics for me, and Rick watched the inside of his eyelids.....he worked hard!!! And he had to leave early. So I just sat there and soaked it up. I am going to dig through some books, and movies, and find something semi healthy to cook up so I don't have to cook often, or go anywhere, and just hole up. It is seriously snowing hard out there. YUCK! On a positive note, the maple trees in our yard, have buds!!! So I threw crystals down the sewer line!! Nice info huh!!!??? Every year the roots, cause us problems, so when I noticed the growth activity I was proactive, and so proud of myself!!! Hopefully that means summer will be coming. Not going to do my elliptical today.....not doing anything much to stretch my belly area. I want it better! Will be back......and will see most of you on Facebook as well, for those of you not there, C'mon!!! If you need contact info let me know!

:sad: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACY!!!!!! Hope you have a great day my friend! Enjoy it and know we are wishing great things for you this year!! Off to get the last of the things ready for Rick to go. Things are in such chaos there, they changed him to take the crew to Grand Junction CO. So he was planning for that, then this morning, he finds the frac crew blew a motor in the blending machine---which is a blender so huge it fills a semi!! It blends sand by the ton with chemicals. So he is probably staying here until that gets ready to go. No one knows what it going on, and they tell the guys nothing... But he is out of some of his meds, so I am going to go get them, and have everything on hand, so I can get him ready to go in a matter of minutes, then quit worrying about it. My Mom is going to have her gall bladder taken out next week it looks like. It does not have stones, but is not functioning. Same thing happen with my Grandma's. Guess I will remember that so if I begin having problems.... I'll check back in later today, it is snowing, so I won't be spending any extra time outdoors today. I AM proud of you Suzanne! I hit the elliptical for probably only a total of 13-15 minutes---in 2 sets. I am SO beyond out of shape it is pathetic! I got off all spaghetti legged!!! Will keep at it. Once again, Tracy--hope you are treated as specially as you deserve today!! Happy Birthday my friend!

Well they come and did the interview with us all, and said they would call and let us know when it would air. He said the first step of the piece was done at the newspaper office, and that they were cooperative. Before he got here, we had a man come to the door, both my neighbor and I, and introduce himself as the NEW route person. Said he was new in the area, brought in from somewhere else, and was going to be studying maps to figure out the best plan. Was a nice man, give us a card with his cell #. I told him point blank, that it was no offense to him, but his new employers had simply shoved us to the back burner for too long, and it had moved on to the next level! The reporter ask us how we had tried to resolve the issue, and said each time we used names, that they would give that person notice, and if they would not sign a release, they would blurb the name, but it would show that we did know who we talked to. He talked primarily to the attorney. Hit the obvious high points of each of us....my neighbors handicap, showing that she has handicap placcards for her cars, and has a handicap pick up on her trash bins, but the newspaper has not even offered her a paper box to help her. And with me, he seemed to want to highlight, that we were steady customers in one place for 20+ years, showed that we are well lit in regards to our house number, and scanned over the desk calendar I had marked with missed papers and late deliveries. We mentioned the visit from the new delivery driver---and Karen, the attorney popped in with it may very well be, too little, too late, and questioned why in a county with such a high unemployment rate, of people familiar with the area, did they bring in someone from out of the area. And then she in true lawyer fashion (!) brought up, that he come to her as well saying he was new and not from the area, but he was driving a car with local plates---that the state issue plate was simply New Mexico, but the front had a local car dealership advertising type plate....so either he is here using someone elses vehicle or he is not completely "new" to the area, and they are again giving us another excuse. Then they left.......so who knows!!! Suzanne, it seems like good news to me too, and I totally RESPECT your Dr. for admitting that he could not find the Xrays. Many would have faked their way through it I believe! I agree with Tracy, actually SAYING he could not find them, could not have been an easy thing, but he did it, he was honest! That counts! Look forward to hearing what he says when he gets them back! Silly you! Not sure what today holds. Rick went in to work late, he is sick....which is not good. Looks like he might not be going to TX, which is nice, but it is because they are all but shutting down local operations, so looks like either he moves out to work, or faces lay off. No wonder my stomach is trashed and I want to eat everything in sight!!! Anyway........to wrap up this post....I got my newspaper this morning about 7:30, and Rick is off to work, we'll see if he makes it through the day! BBL