Kat817

Upper GI is not a big deal. You go in to the radiology dept, with an empty stomach---they give you a large glass of gunk (VERY technical term) to drink. They have you lie down on the Xray table, and the gunk shows up as it follows the path of your digestive tract. It shows how much can gather in your pouch, and how fast it is dripping or pouring through. Then shows if there is any motility problems with your upper, large intestine. Then they lose the contrast. So if you need it looked at in the lower intestine---you get the much loved LOWER GI-----same process, only by enema! No thank you! I have some issue with the cantrast solution, I drink so much of it, and lay flat, it wants to just come back up! And it kinda messes with my system, and it takes me a day or so to work it all out of me---but nothing too terrible. The UPPER is pretty easy to take. Have a meeting with an a news reporter later today! I have been (along with many neighbors, my parents, lots of people also on this route) having issues with my newspaper delivery. I am not getting my paper. It is supposed to be here by 7 AM---and IF I get it, maybe once a week the last couple, it is after noon. They extend my subscription is how they "make it right" . And it is NOT making it right by me! They come after my business---I did not go asking them to deliver me a paper---I have been a paying customer for over 20 years, been in this same home as a steadily subscribed customer for 20 years. If I did not pay my bill, they sure as hell would not deliver anyway, and yet even tho I pay, they are not upholding their end of the business deal. They keep losing carriers, and that is not my problem, pay them more! In this day of unemployment, they cannot tell me they can't find a responsible employee! I wrote a letter to the editor, mailed it certified, it was never printed--SURPRISE!!! So I spoke with both the circulation manager, and eventually the editor. When I get them, I get the paper delivered late, and to my door, by someone from the office. When they give the no paper notice to my delivery person I get an extension. If I am not getting it today, why do I care if they say they will give me one next December (I am paid thru then)? So I told the editor, if it happens again, I am going to the TV station. So I did, the local guy is coming to talk to me, a neighbor and a local attorney who has her office on this route, and is not getting her paper either. She said she will represent all of us on the route who are having problems ---- in a breach of contract suit. Could be interesting. They are going to film between my neighbor (the handicapped cat lady---sympathy angle---and I, the ANGRY one, and the attorneys office. All outside, no indoor filming. So I used the air compressor and blew off the porch, and made sure it all looked decent. Now I am gonna be a STAR!!! LMAO That is not supposed to happen until later this afternoon. And just FYI----I did NOT get a paper this morning! grrrrrrrrrrr Kinsey is going to stay with me for a bit while Manda gets her taxes done and her hair cut. After the TV thing, I have to go to Walmart, and get Rick stocked up on things to take to eat. etc. Some of the small towns they work in, close things up early, and if he comes in and has not eaten, he is out of luck. So we pack a tote with microwavable shelf stable things..... Will check in later.

Suzanne, my neighbor is just the opposite, they have 9 cats. Who half of them think they live at my house. Now I like animals, but don't care to be home to other peoples animals. I cannot leave my lawn furniture out, without her cats making hair nests in the chairs, laying on the table, and they have shredded the back to my lawn swing. I had a cat for 16 years----he did NOT get on counters or tables---a spray bottle when he was a kitten broke that habit. Same with shredding furniture! We had a can filled with nuts and bolts, shook it everytime he went near, then moved him to his scratching post----and I never had anything shredded. This really, seriously irritates me! Along with the 9 cats, she has a Great Pyranese, and a Rottweiler, and the rotty barks, every minute we are outside....there is also a parrot, and a cockatoo that shriek----loudly! How the husband rested through his chemo I have no idea, the house is a noisy zoo! There are multiple fish aquariums with fish, and frogs, and lord knows what else. I can take all of it except the destruction of my stuff, and am unsure how to handle that. I set mouse traps on the swing, and did me no good. Put strips of duct tape upside down on the chairs, and saw the cats walking around wearing it....didn't deter them! I have mentioned it to her, and she says scare them away. That is NOT my job!!! Any and all suggestions appreciated!! Well DH went and bought his next project bike tonight. Should be an interesting build. We went to dinner with the son, and family tonight. He made me mad, and is on my list! Long story with no value, he was just a jerk. DD had a late meeting, so I had Kinsey for the afternoon and we kept her for the evening. She was so shocked, I let her wear her tutu around! I figure WTH!!!! She is 5---and if she wants to wear a tutu, why shouldn't she!!! My inlaws are sick, so I took out chicken Noodle soup---homemade! And last night Rick mentioned eating chile Beans, and his Dad ask where his were. So I took them some of those too. I know when I don't feel good I don't want to do much, and I am not 80+ years old....so I did what I should! My FIL is bleeding when he urinates, so is going to the Dr. tomorrow, hope all is well. Guess I will head to bed. I ate too late, and KNOW it is not good for me......but I is sleepy!!! LOL See ya tomorrow.

Rick has decided to get back into shape. He is doing exercises every night. Sit ups, and push ups----not me! BUT we did make a pact to begin walking each night after dinner, as soon as the Olympics are over! Following his valve surgery, we walked daily---it helped his recovery and my weight loss---but somehow, somewhere doing it fell away. We decided to do it again. I know I need to do it. I am going to uncover my elliptical today! It really is not covered, but there is a doll house blocking it's ability to spin around, as well as an unused exercise ball!!! Imagine that! Going to find new homes for those items and get with it. He wants his muscle tone back before making such a long ride....and he has a point. Our bike is really heavy, and it helps to be able to control it easier. As soon as I can ride again, core muscles should get a work out again.....til then it is inside equipment....and MAKING myself do it. Anyone want to agree to.....say....even 15 minutes of daily activity---meaning some sort of exercise----to help push me along????? Sorry y'all are feeling bad. My throat is kinda sore, like something is trying to get started on me. I spent the first half of the day yesterday not being able to get too far from the bathroom.....not sure what that was about. I took so much Immodium, I may have other issues!!! LOL Sorry way TMI I know! NM is going through a big battle in regards to the concealed carry permits. There is a group fighting to give us the right to carry our weapons into a restaurant or bar. There is a restaurant group fighting it. I KNEW I was not supposed to have it in the places, but it is usually --if I am carrying---in my purse, and I never think twice about it! Seems so silly----here they are fighting about it, and I would bet anyone who is carrying CONCEALED will keep it that way!!! There are those who get the permit, and then wear a holster so everyone can see they are armed etc--------THEY are the ones to worry about alcohol, and weapons! If you feel a need to let others know you have a gun, then the gun could well be an issue. Going to my weekly lunch with Marie today. I need to make a pot of Soup before I leave. My inlaws are sick, and she informed me that my DIL and grandsons are not feeling well either. They seemed fine, but WTH, I'll make soup. I didn't do it yesterday when the hint was made, but hey I was not feeling good then either, and no one was making me anything!! LOL So....gonna go get busy.

Hey Girlies~ Jenn glad you have glommed on to some hidden stores of energy and fought your way through this with determination in tact. You Go Girl!!! Yes Suzie, I have tons of pillows, and even have a linus blankie!!! I have a throw that is super soft fleecy stuff on one side, and satin on the other, and I love it!! I use it to toss on when I only want light cover, or when I need extra. I want high thread count sheets, and comfort surrounding me when I sleep!!! I am spoiled beyond belief with it! Love candles in my bedroom, and feel deliciously lazy and cozy when in my bed!! LOL Tracy when you PM Jenn your new address, send it to me as well please!! My arm has a large bruise, but it is healed! I will call and get my cholesterol count this week, have a feeling it is something I am not going to want to hear, and will need to work on!!! Rick and I are going to San Antonio in June. The vacation week is the 14th to the 18th. Tracy, Suzanne---any of you available in that time line, we want to do the River Walk, and maybe a float----we will spend a couple of days then head back to the farm, and work some before coming home!! Will update as it gets closer. Would love to hook up tho. Well speaking of vacations, he left his paper at home in regards to scheduling them, and needs it, so I am taking it over and meeting him for lunch!! Woo Hoo! We are enjoying the Olympics in the evening. I was TOTALLY put off with the couples short Figure Skating last night. The scoring sucks! They scored couples who fell higher than those who did not. And whoever dressed the USA couple needs smacked up side the head!!! IMHO!!! Humble my butt!!!! See ya all in awhile! XOXOXO

Happy Valentines Day Ladies, and a special Happy Anniversary to you Tracy! Many, many more to you! We spent a lazy kind of day. Slept in, lazed around reading the paper and watching the Olympics. Then we went in and had a late breakfast. Went and delivered some Valentines to the kids and grandkids. Come home, took a motorcylce ride, but it was cold and windy! Then grilled some ribeye, and had it with shrimp scampi, and loaded baked potatoes for dinner. Rick got me a very pretty ring. Simple gold band that rather than meeting in the middle on top it is separated, and has 3 hearts in white gold with little diamond chips. So the gold band goes from one corner on the bottom of the hearts, around the bottom and ends on the top of the hearts. If that makes any sense!!! It is pretty, I love it! Now we have kicked back, have our jammies on, and gonna be lazy some more!! We have way too much sweet stuff around! I made Ricks favorite for his dessert, for Valentines Day--cheesecake. And I made giant sugar cookies for each of the kids and my brother, so I have those around, and we bought ice cream the other night, so I know I will splurge later.....just keep it small will be the goal! Then tomorrow, send away all the leftover cookies, and get this all out of my house!! We did take my brothers cookies over to him while we were out, as well as the kids. He is so thrilled when we go to his house. I HAVE to make more effort to do it more often. Ok Tracy, will shop for you like I will for me, find a deal I like!!! LOL Anyone else? Just let me know. Well I am off, the sofa and my snuggled down husband look inviting!!

Jenn, I am so impressed and happy to read your attitude in regards to this. I totally understand the confusion, and irritation at how they conduct business....but to see it as one more thing to put behind you and move on from is great!!! This morning I was making the bed, which is huge (King) and we have tons of pillows---like 3 Kind sized, and 6 regular, all down pillows. One of our very serious indulgences is our sleeping. But anyway, making it with all the pillows and stuff is a PITA, I was grumbling, and suddenly the silliness of that hit me. Not only do I have a bed, a very nice, comfy, cozy bed with great pillows and sheets and blankets, it is warm, and safe inside of a nice home. It is not a big home, nor the nicest in the neighborhood, but it is mine! I know where I am sleeping tonight. I am confident it is where I will sleep each and every night. To grump because making the bed is not simple as I want it to be.....I felt very selfish!!! You now have your name cleared of that debt Jenn. And you still have your home and your kids, and your friends.....and your health. You know where each of you is sleeping tonight. That door of $8K closed, will be interesting to see what opens for you now..... I am so glad you pulled above the set back instead of letting it bury you in depression. YAY you!!! I did finally quit bleeding. Rick annoyed the hell outta me, and would get all freaky when I tried to take off the bandage! So I wore it all through dinner, and all the way home, and for about another hour. Took it off about 11 last night, watched it for a little while then went to bed. I woke up freaking out, because he had a flashlight! He thought he felt something wet in the bed, and thought I was bleeding again---I think he just felt cold sheets----who knows! It is nicely bruised this morning, but all is well, and I feel fine. My headache is still there, but Ibuprofin is keeping it at bay. It is over 40 degrees outside, so we are headed out for a ride. I am not particularly fond of the idea.....the roads this time of year make me nervous, with all the debris from sanding and salting the ice, there is sand everywhere etc. But we are careful, and we won't be out long, it will be too cold even leathered up. I cannot drive to the barn----I have to take the quad across the field, the mud is so deep. So we have been going in from the road, just long enough to throw new hay, replenish bedding, and muck stalls every few days. Had a trough heater go out, so Rick fixed that this morning. Then he changed the oil on both cars, and fixed my slider door on the van, it was not wanting to close great---would close, then reopen, then I would close it and sometimes it would stay, sometimes it would reopen again! It took 4-5 times sometimes, small adjustment, and it works great again. Also had a plug in the windshield washer---no fluid going to the drivers side---so he fixed that. He has been a busy guy----I have played computer games!!! He is ready to ride!!! See ya!

hey, back home, getting ready to go to dinner with Becky & Gary. Had quite a time with my blood donation. I had a massive headache all morning, I thought it was caffeine withdrawal, I had not drank any DP or anything caffeinated in 36 hours or so, so I slammed the DP---thinking the caffeine would help. It did not. It did raise my pulse I noticed tho!! I do a double donation, a unit of blood and a unit of plasma, or platelets or whatever. Anyway it takes awhile, they bleed ya, then put your fluids back in, remove more blood, then back in, etc. I thought I was gonna pee my pants I laid there so long. Seriously was hurting by the time I finally finished!! Got done, headed STRAIGHT for the bathroom, and was crossing my legs I kid you not! I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat down, and suddenly I feel wet, and my arm is pouring blood around the bandage... I cannot stop peeing! So I am applying pressure....and trying to figure out how I am going to stand up and pull up my pants and button them, while holding pressure on my arm. So I sat.....and sat....and bled and bled. Finally someone come in, so I have no idea who it is, I ask them would you please ask the woman sitting outside in the blue shirt to come in here please, I need help. I am sure she was surprised, I heard her speak to Mom, so Mom come in! I had her hold my arm pressure while I redressed! Went out, showed them, not to mention, half my clothes are covered in blood. They laid me back down and had pressure on my arm, straight in the air. Everytime I put it down, the bleeding started. The one woman wanted me to go to the hospital! I laughed, and said unless they were paying, there was no way in hell I was going to the hospital! After half an hour or so it quit, we waited another 20 minutes or so and finally left. Come home, Manda and Kinsey come by.....we opened it to look at it, and up it raises, ready to bleed again. So now it is pressure wrapped again....and it hurts it is tight, but my fingers and all are normal color and size so it isn't too tight, but I guess it just likes to bleed! LOL I look down to see if my fingers were normal before I typed that, and my rings are blood caked.....guess I should go clean them before dinner!! Got our Valentines Day shopping done. Just bought for the kids. I got large boxes (selling this year for $16.99 a piece) of Russel Stovers candy at the outlet in Abilene, buy one get 7 free!! Yep buy one get 7 free!! Bought them and Easter Candy, and have it stored in the cool garage. So the kids get candy, and the grandkids balloons, candy and bears. Done deal. Well that is about it for my day...I really wanted to stay home and watch the opening ceremonies, but DVR will have to do....will watch it during one of the events I don't care so much for. Still have my headache........gonna lay down for awhile before dinner. See ya laterz

Jenn, if you stop in to read, I agree with the others, I am sorry this happened to your refund, I think it is pretty common with student loans. We paid off Rick's school loans, paid them just exactly as they sent the paperwork. Paid them early etc. Then like 5 or maybe even 7 years later, we went to buy a car, and just a couple months before that they had sent a loan to collections! We had no idea! We had moved, but had not "hidden", and had never seen anything involved with this loan. We contacted them, and it was for the right school, and they provided the paperwork, but had NEVER attempted to contact us, NEVER sent anything in regards to it. We found out then, they can sue you for payment, and are not required to have you served, nor required to make any contact whatsoever. We were going to get an attorney, as they had added an additional $800 some dollars in court costs etc. But they deferred all but the original amount, and we paid it---but it sucked! If we had not went to buy the car, the same thing would have happen, and our tax refund would have been taken. They have a statute of limitations in everything else, why not this? If you had defaulted on all of them I can see it, but if others are paid, they should see that, and HAVE to at least make contact so you know you owe it! The paperwork with school loans is unreal, so to personally know exactly which goes to which is impossible, and I am VERY organized in my bills. Makes me mad to know they are still doing it. Sorry Jenn, I know where you are at. In the end Kev is not helping, and he hasn't been, so that has not changed. This is the way the gov't. offices do business with school loans. Look around you will find countless stories just like yours. The complaints yearly are astronomical! And the ability to get that info back when we were dealing with it is nothing like you can search for now. I bet you would be shocked! Taking Mom to town today. Then I am supposed to donate blood. But I am not feeling good. Stomach is queasy, glands in my throat are swollen, and I could have slept another 6 hours. Went to bed early.....not sure I will do the blood, might wait til next week. Will see as the day progresses. Well I am off to see if a shower will perk me up. LOL Suzanne, I am a slug----I am so proud of you for hitting the gym like you do!!

hey girls~ A quick check in, I have girls coming to lunch. My Megan, is coming, which is not unusual, but her sister is joining us today with her 2 kids! I love her sister too, but she was 8 when she come to stay with us---and Megan was 5 and a half weeks. Then Liz (sister) qualified for a special tutor program after school as soon as she hit 5th grade, so I only had her sporadically. Where as Megan practically lived with us! I am excited to see Liz's kids again. Their Mom called a couple of weeks ago, and wanted to know if she could take Rick and I to dinner soon. Rick thinks she is going to ask to leave Megan here, and is going to move with the older daughter to AZ, and divorce her husband. Even Megan thinks they are only waiting to divorce until she graduates. We kind of think the older daughter moving is moving plans up a bit. We discussed it in depth. Megan is a good kid. She is very involved with her 4H and maintains decent grades, not perfect, but good. They still have me authorized to see her grades!! If it comes down to it, we will take her, she is too good to let fall through the cracks created by her family. My extra bedroom will just not be extra anymore! She already lives in my heart, might as well move her into my house! LOL Michelle, kids that age seldom do the sleep thing just to be naughty, they have issues sometimes with sleeping, same as we do. Stress, what we don't see as anything can really mess with a kid! And when I am stressed, I cannot sleep. My BF, when she is stressed, all she does is sleep! A little girl I had who was normally a pretty good little girl, suddenly was very difficult, she would not sleep, would not eat, cried non stop. She was about 5 at the time. She had a different kind of life, but one she was accustomed to usually. She went back and forth between her Mom and Dad every night! They lived on the same piece of property, and one night with Mom and one with Dad. They began it when Alyssa was small, and she seemed fine with it. She is Megans age now,and goes a week at a time now! Both parents have remarried. It worked for them I guess! Anyway--all of a sudden Alyssa was just impossible, she would not talk to anyone, I spoke with both parents, Grandma called me worried, none of us could figure out what was wrong with her. She would doze off, and wake and within minutes would be crying. She wanted glass after glass of milk but nothing to eat. When I would cook for the kids, you could tell she was hungry....but not a bite, no amount of bribing or threatening, she would only ask for milk! We conferenced with both parents, and Mom made her a Dr. appointment. We were all REALLY worried. So one afternoon, I sat down with her in my lap while she cried, and the kids ate lunch, and I told her "Lyssa honey no matter what you can tell us, no one will be hurt or mad, we just love you" and she was sobbing....and when she tried to still her lip from crying, I saw when she bit it, her tooth wiggled. So I thought I would change the subject, and let her calm down so I said in a really upbeat way something about her tooth being loose. OMG she was wailing that she was sorry, she didn't know why it was loose, she brushed her teeth, and she kept drinking milk, and it won't get better, and she was so sorry! She kept telling me she was sorry! All this poured out of this little thing, before I could even think! Finally I grabbed her and told her it was ok, everyones teeth get loose and fall out. She looks at me and says...."fall out?" and the tears come again! In the end, that is all it was! She had no idea she would lose her teeth! She was an only child, and was one of the older ones I had here--so it had never come up! She suddenly felt her tooth wiggle, and freaked out. She was afraid to eat, but she drank the milk! All the things she though in her 5 year old mind might help! I called Mom and Dad, and before long they were both here----we all talked and reassured her, and then the after school kids come in, which is when she usually left, Mom is a teacher! They showed her and told her about their teeth! And her eating and sleeping went back to normal! Long story I know. But if peeing hurt, she might think she can control THAT by not sleeping. Since usually the first thing you do when you wake up....is go pee. Hard to say what is running around in that little head, but I seriously doubt she is just doing it to keep you awake too!! That doesn't help......I know.....but most of us have been there in one manner or another through the years! Suzanne, I am not sure how far it is from us here to Sturgis. We usually go to Denver and spend the night, then go on in. This year we are going a different way. Too many of us to barge in on his sister!!! Well my girls are here!!! YAYA

Tracy of course I will get you a tshirt, tell me what you have in mind. Color? Size? Girlie, standard mens type tshirt, bike print....mount Rushmore print....they have thousands and thousands of options. Standard mens tshirts can be bought pretty cheap, especially if we wait til closer to the end of the rally--when vendors start worrying about being stuck with product! There was one concert Rick wanted to see that we will miss, we won't get in until the day after. We camp at Buffalo Chip Campground which in a matter of days becomes I believe the biggest or second biggest "city" in the state of South Dakota! It is huge! It is broke down in small sections of different groups. It is not laid out precisely, so you can set camp pretty much as you please. There is a group of us going, so we will all set up together, and plan accordingly--one of us taking a table, others taking extra tarps that kind of thing. Mind you we are taking the bike, and we will RIDE it in, not trailer in. We will however be pulling a trailer! In the trailer, are all my creature comforts!! a 10X14 foot tent Double high Queen size air mattress appropriate temp sleeping bags (we have like 6 different ones!!!) my down pillows lawn chairs cook stove top lanterns & flashlights ceiling fan for the tent ceiling light for the tent folding stool to sit on in the tent to put my boots on!!! coffee pot (drip no less!) cooking gear Thats all I can think of, but we are fully stocked anyway! The front of the trailer has an ice chest rack, so it is filled,and kept full, because it keeps the weight on the hitch and tongue of the trailer, and prevents it from wobbling as you fly down the interstate, being passed by the big trucks. We also have the saddle bags and trunk on the bike, but that will hold our leather, and rain gear, that kind of stuff---because I have NEVER been that it did not pour on us at one point or another! But I have an awesome rain suit!! Problem was the hail! HUGE hail, broke out tail lights, and dented the bike size of hail!!! We used the 10 X10 shade tarp thing and dropped the legs on one side to try to deflect it, and still where Chana's thumb was on the outside of the tarp she got hit by a piece of hail, and BROKE her thumb! It was BAD! Lots of injuries. Anyway, Buffalo Chip campground, once you buy in, you are good for the nightly concert, and entertainment, which covers all kinds of things, from bike climbs up hills, burn outs, tattoo contests, beauty pageants, pickle eating contests (!) There is a main stage and 3 smaller venues all within Buffalo Chip. They have showers and bathrooms everywhere, so it isn't bad. We take some of the runs, do the Deadwood museum and Mount Rushmore all the usuals. Looks kinda eerie to me that they are playing Disturbed on Friday the 13th there. Not sure about some of those bikers on Friday the 13th!!! There was an entire section, had a private entrance to a camp area, with an overhead sign something aboug Wiccan.....will stay away from there again!! LOL Anyway----looks like it is a done deal, they have our money!! Off to take my Mom to town here in a minute, go early and get home early is the plan.....we'll see!! More snow due tonight. This was the first morning in awhile we have not woke up to new snow. Supposedly by mid week we will have a deep freeze, so maybe we can get the inlaws car out! What a mess!! Might think of some beans myself Jenn.....hmmmm wonder if I have time to put them on before Mom shows up????? Gonna Run!! LOL

Good Morning~ I wouldn't have said that 30 minutes ago. I was sleeping soundly when the phone woke me with a call for Phyllis Hanley, from a collection agency, called Medicredit. I told her she had a wrong number, and she proceeded to tell me that I could not hide from the debt, and she was willing to work with me! I repeated this number has been mine for well over 20 years, and no one by that name has ever lived here. She did not believe me! I finally told her that apparantly the person she was looking for did not pay their bills, and guess what they lie too---this is NOT their number! So she tells me she is going to send a certified letter to me at some address in Ohio, I told her, why don't you do just that! Grrrrrr!!!!!! Jenn, we have several little trips planned as of now, but nothing in Sept. We are going to TX in June, and Sturgis in August, and taking Connor and Kinsey to Denver at some point this summer. And who knows what else. We find we enjoy the short, quick getaways in multiple for several years, then we will have a blow out and do a long away from home trip. Then back to our shorter ones for a few years! We just paid our registration for concerts and camping at Sturgis, at the Buffalo Chip. Will see, Jason Aldean (YAY), Doobie Brothers, Disturbed, ZZ Top, and I don't remember who else. It is our 50th celebration. That is soooo hard for me to believe! I don't feel 50.........well I won't be until August, but still! We both turn in August, he 2 weeks before me!!! LOL And right smack in the middle of those 2 weeks, we will be in Sturgis! Hope this old body can handle the ride again! I need to go in and make a cake. My Mom is having their prayer group at her house tonight, and I told her I would bake a cake for her. She has a dentist appointment today or would have done it herself. One of the other women was supposed to have refreshements, but her ex husband died, and she won't be there. So I am cooking.......hmmmmmm I am making a pineapple upside down cake so I don't have to mess with frosting it!!! LOL Besides it is my Dads favorite, and using the Splenda brown sugar, he can have some of it! Kinsey loved her teeny pads I bought her, she wore the wrist brace pads around last night! They are EXACTLY like my wrist brace I wear when my wrist acts up, just in miniature, and she got 2 of them, 2 elbow pads, and 2 knee pads, all for $10.00 and my one cost me $17-----because it was medical??? Go figure!!! Suzanne, will be thinking of you today, as you go to your Dr. Not to mention all the running around you will be doing! You are a busy woman!!! Let us know as soon as you can how it went. September here is still very nice and warm, we can do whatever you want. We can meet up and do dinner, or you can come here to the house and we can cook out, and hang out.....whatever!!! Today is my lunch with Marie, but I have't heard from her, will call her shortly and see if we are still on. It snowed yet again last night. I have to go at some point today and get the truck out for my FIL to use. They have a loop around their home----a large circular drive, with them in the middle, and 4 smaller homes like spokes off the loop, that have been rentals. One of the rentals, had some serious wind damage, pulled the roof 3/4 off this Fall. So it could not be towed, it had to be dismantled in place. Well we have 18" of snow on the ground sitting and it keeps snowing, so it is a huge mud bog out there. Then the dismantling company come in, with the big tractor thing with jaws (sorry Jenn I don't do construction, don't know what it is called!!!), and the back hoe and now you can no longer tell where the road was back there it is just a mass of ruts, and mud. Unfortunately that is where my inlaws drive backs out on. Their car is stuck in the drive, they are afraid to pull it out. As soon as the next super cold night hits, Rick is going to go get it out, when the mud is frozen---til then I am taking the truck for them to use. It is getting up to about 40 in the middle of the day, which melts off each nights snow, but there is so much snow sitting, the ground is still froze enough that there is not much soaking in, that has melted.....the oilfield has shut down all but necessary for safety trips out into the field.......terrible time. People are getting laid off, due to that now too! Well I am off to get dressed since my sleeping is over. I did not get to sleep til after 2 AM, couldn't go to sleep.....got up with Rick at 6, when he left I crashed, and was sleeping good til I was informed I was someone else, and not paying my bills!!!

Hi, I am not too sure if they have any sort of support group in the ABQ area or not at this time. I understand there is a new lap band surgeon and center through Lovelace hospital. You might try checking with them to see if they offer any sort of follow up program to their patients, and if so if they accept patients from other surgeons. I am in the Farmington area, but would be happy to discuss your banding with you anytime. I have had an excellent experience with mine, and would do it again in a heart beat! I began in a size 22/24, and now wear a 10. I was on several meds, and am off of all of them now. I have made goal, had a few setbacks in my health other than the band, and along with stress, found myself on the regain, since I had no fill due to an unrelated surgery. So got a little fill, and the weight is coming off again! It is so nice to feel in control again! Please feel free any time to PM me, or if you would prefer, I can PM you my cell #. Take care, I look forward to hearing from you and hope you have a great surgical experience!

Write yourself a letter today, open it in 40 years, and then decide if living --- just living day to day does not teach you lessons. I agree, that age alone does not make one wise--but it definitely does add to your knowledge base. I understand you don't necessarily agree with this, and you likely won't until YOU are on the other end of the age disagreement!!

Ironically, everytime anyone, you ---and me included, makes a post, it bumps it right back up! It is now again in the new posts! The only way to make it go away.......is for everyone to totally and completely quit posting. Til that happens it will be here.

Suzanne, there is a Motel 8 both in Farmington which is about 10 miles away(which I would recommend) and in Bloomfield--about 7 miles away. Farmington is a bigger town, and has restaurants to choose from etc, that Bloomfield does not. At this point in time I don't think there is anything that will have us away from home in Sept. I will look forward to it!!! YAY!!! Rick wanted chile for dinner, it gives me massive heartburn, so I am going to have soup. We are keeping Kinsey for awhile tonight, while the DD's go to Durango to watch the Durango team practice. They started this derby thing, and have 13 girls in just over a week, 20 is their goal. Manda was laughing that she and Abbey started it, and they are the worst skaters of all!!! Oh well, they will get better, they already do better than I ever did! And Kinsey has begun learning to go backward. I bought her new pads today, because they come with wrist guards, and she has such tiny bones, I thought it important to protect her wrists. That is one of the most common injuries, from catching yourself in a fall. In fact the other night, the girls practiced falling for an hour!!! Abbey said that was the hardest---making yourself fall! We thought maybe she would leave Corvin with us while they went too, but his Daddy had a fit, and he will be keeping him......waaaah I ate a piece of cinnamon bread that someone brought, and I got sent home in a leftover package----and I have burped it ever since. Not gonna eat no more!!! Well I am off to finish dinner up and stoke the fire. It is cold here too. We had more snow overnight, and now it is cold. Will check in later!

GREAT GAME~ I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!!!!! Was the type of game I hoped for, a win, but not a slaughter, and I had doubts, I will admit, but sure am glad it went that way!!! We too ate too much, I need to put some things away. Just stopped in to say YAY SAINTS!!!!

Got my stuff cooked for the party. We will be at Becky & Gary's. Which is normal, we swap years back and forth. BUT Rick and I bought our TV, and leaving it to go over there is not making him real happy!!! But he had to revamp the entertainment center---and it turned out great! I have a couple of new shelves, I need to find the right thing for, then that will be that! We ended up buying our TV at Best Buy, which we did not want to do. I despise their return policy etc. But we went everywhere, and in 3 different stores, we chose the same TV a 52" Samsung. So Sears had the best price--but did not have it in stock, and it was back ordered and they could not even order any until they began filling the back orders. So Best Buy matched their price, and had it in stock. The picture is incredible! It has a million to one dynamic picture ratio, compared to our bedroom TV that has like 30K to one!!! With the changes to the entertainment center, and him working part of yesterday it took all day getting things in and finished. But it looks great, and we are happy with it. Give our old TV to one of the guys that works for Rick, he said he was interested for his MIL. she did not have a TV---and he wanted to buy it. Rick just give it to him, we have no idea how long it will last, and had no desire to rip anyone off. I made some queso cheese dip, and have mini tacos, and rolled tacos in both beef and chicken for dipping in it. Have Death By Chocolate dessert, some candy---the white chocolate with cherries and pistachios, and pulled pork for sandwiches. Becky has way more than that!! Does not seem like we will have a shortage of food!! Rick will have a few beers, I won't! I will drink my Diet DP---so I can drive. Well I am off to see if my candy has set up enough to cut----GO SAINTS!!!!

Yep Tracy it is Rhuematoid Arthritis, and it is a horrible disease often times, and in others like mine, one would not know without tests that it is an issue. I am VERY lucky. My DD has it as well, and it is much more of an issue, she has flares and residual problems from them. She has an enlarged ascending aorta from hers already. I would have still opted to have a child, because mine is so non eventful, and I was young and dumb too-but I HATE that this is something I feel I gave to her, that she has problems with. Suzie, that is exactly what I want in this laundry room. I want an ironing board to fold against the one set of cabinets, and to have a place-which will be the open end of the closet area, to hang dry things. The long cabinet will have a deep sink in one section. It isn't something I will use much right now, but I used to want it to bathe the dog in---and who knows, I might up and decide I need another dog!!! And we have a gray water permit for it--so we will put it in. My laundry area now is in the front part of the attached garage. Rick insulated, drywalled, and taped it a couple of years ago. At that time the plumbing was on one side, and the gas fitting for the gas dryer was on the other side of the room. Since that time we have gone to an electric dryer, so he has the 220 wired in, he will just move the plug, and we can stack them, freeing up the space, and modernizing all in one move. I have a large pantry space out there as well as a mishmash of cupboards and shelves that hold my overflow of small appliances, and roaster pans and all. I also have a small area out there that I keep all my wrapping supplies. Ribbons, paper, gift bags, and more recently packing supplies, so he is going to build me in a couple of conveniences for that too. A drop down table area, and spool racks. Space that will be MINE!!! I helped him do all this stuff in his shop, and now I need some improvements for what I do! Should be nice, I am excited! Wish I just had thousands to spend and not worry about tho!!! Don't we all! We are supposed to go look at TV's tonight. Rick has to work tomorrow. They have a crew leaving, and he has to have his guys there to make sure they are all legal to go through the different ports of entry. He will not ask his guys to go in on their day off without going in himself......respectful, but a drag for us!!! LOL I need to go get busy and drink some water. I am down 2 pounds this morning. Not sure it will last, but I have not seriously sabotaged myself, so maybe!!! Will check in later or tomorrow!

Got up this morning to a nice surprise!! I logged the computer on a bit ago and saw a deposit notice for the bank--which I expected, today is payday for Rick, and our direct deposit lets us know when it hits the bank. I clicked on it to check how much it was for, and it wasn't his check, it was our income tax refunds!!! We had them figured a week ago today! They were e filed, but they come in already! So did his check, but was surprised and happy. Now our rework of the laundry room can begin, and that makes me nervous!!! Remodel of anything is SUPER stressful for me. I am getting a new washer/dryer tho!!! Not sure which ones I will settle on, but they are going to be front load stacked. Which will allow me to move the freezer where the dryer is now, and add a 8 foot counter top, with both under and over cabinets. We are also enclosing the pantry with new cupboards, and adding a closet--a HUGE closet! It will be the width of the room which is 12 foot, and take about 4 feet off the length of the attached garage. We do not park cars in the garage, we park bikes, so we can afford to lose it to storage space. I know it sounds as though we will be spending a fortune.....but we aren't. All the cupboards and cabinets were given to us! They are nice oak cabinets. My friend Becky had them in her kitchen. Her brother designs kitchens and builds cabinets for a living, and she wanted cherry wood, so he come and redid her kitchen, and laid new floors for her. She give us all the old cabinets. So to get all this done, we will have to buy the Washer and Dryer, and flooring, and counter top-----the rest is all donated to the poor----me!!! LOL Will sure make my laundry area nicer, and more inclusive in the house. Our only other purchase is going to be a new TV. Ours is VERY outdated, but still worked fine until the cable companies all went digital, and it is not HD compatible....so our picture quality was really diminished. We found one we plan on buying. Will do some last minute comparisons I imagine. I wonder if we would get a better deal waiting for clearances AFTER the Superbowl.....anyone have any connections to ask??? Suzanne, the mass concerns me too. I have spoke to my Uncle, who is a Dr. and he is totally supportive of how the procession of treatment is being handled. My CA125 is raised, but is holding at the higher number, it is not changing. So along with the monitor of the breast issue, I now have to go redo my bone scan, to check the tumors they know I have. He says it is likely I am developing another somewhere. It seems I have some sort of disorder that causes them to form, but only to a certain point. They grow but stall out. He says he has seen it before, and in fact believes my Grandmother -he and my Dads Mom---may have had the same thing. He said it is also shown that CA125 raises during an RA flare. I was diagnosed with RA at 16. There was very little really known about it in comparison to now--but they predicted me a future in a wheelchair. Well the original flare calmed,and I have NEVER had another. We always thought it a misdiagnosis. Then I had the arthroscopic miniscus repair on my knee, and the arthritis is normally very white----RA is red. I do have it. Have never had issues with it. Not thinking I do now. But it is a possibility for the number being high. Well I am off to see if my granddaughter might want to go see ToothFairy.....Manda is sick, cold I think. She has been worn down. She has been working out hard every night, and has been totally into the formation of the Derby team. Now she is sick.....so will see if Kinsey wants to spend the day with me! Hugs!

Michelle, you might call ahead, and ask if you can pick up sterile supplies and try to get a urine sample at home. Usually they will be ok, with her peeing in a "hat" that sits in the toilet, and it being poured into a sterile specimin cup. It can be done in the morning---which is MUCH less traumatizing than them taping a bag to her, or even worse catheterizing her to get the sample. If your DH shares dept. at all with ambulance services, they might have the sterile speciman bottle. My granddaughter had a UTI, and my DD spent 45 minutes in the bathroom with her at the Dr. doing everything imaginable to get her to relax and pee, but she has performance anxiety I gues. Finally I talked to her on the phone for a good 15 minutes, and she relaxed, while sitting there, and tinkled without even thinking about it. And sure enough, she had an infection! We really PUSH her to drink now. She was used to having a bottle (not a baby bottle, but like Aquafina or Dasani) of water all the time, here. But at school, they cannot do that. So we push her all the time to drink now. Well saw my Dr. And the mass is still there, he believes it to be less evident is how he put it. So we are going to give it another dose of antibiotics, this time he poked me with a needle!!! Give them to me that way!! Then we are going to look at it again in 2 weeks. Also had my yearly exam done, and he did not laugh, nor scream, so I am assuming it was all pretty normal! Left there, met up with my DH for lunch. We went to a little local burger joint. Was so good, but I am soooo full! I ask him what did he want for Dinner----and you guys will not believe how hard he wants me to cook and work, after dealing with the Dr. today. He wants.......a bowl of cereal!!! Seriously! He said Saturday we went out with the family to breakfast, and then Sunday I cooked him Sausage and Eggs, etc. And he was craving cereal. Okey Dokey Smokey! Bought a fresh gallon of milk and we are having cereal!!! He is so friggin' hard to deal with!!! I am off to stoke the fire, it is freezing cold!!!!

I am off for the day too. It snowed again last night, and it is FREEZING! There is ice everywhere---Rick chipped my car out for me, so it is sitting out there warming up. I go today for my follow up to see if the antibiotics did anything for my mass. Keeping my fingers crossed--makes it really hard to type! lol In all seriousness, my fingers really do not want to work right now, I have been out in the cold, and my left index finger is totally useless, the arthritis in it is sooo bad. I am losing my hair again. No sudden weight loss, no change in diet, no surgery.....maybe stress? I don't know, I am sick of it tho! It is sooooo foggy outside, it looks like a winter wonderland. Everything is white. Each branch, and each twig is icy white.....so pretty. And so friggin miserable!!! LOL, I actually don't mind it most of the time! Well it is time for me to leave, the drive is going to take longer on this ice. Will let ya know what I find out.

Been busy re-vamping the extra bedroom that the kids use. I also keep an extra dresser in there, so it is a catch all room like no other in the house! I have been getting a smell of mold or mildew in there, it is concerning me. It is the room above the crawl space under our house, so Rick is going to check that out for me. I stripped and remade the bed---I always do after the kids stay, thinking if someone else stays they would want a clean bed. So I change it, and the kids stay again!! LOL Got things much more organized in there. Found no cause for the smell I am getting, so we keep searching. It shares a wall with a bathroom---so if under the house is clear, that is our next spot to check. The thing is, I don't smell it all the time, just occasionally. I was thinking it had to be one of the plants I have in there, but I went around smelling, and nothing....so I have no clue. Had lunch with my friend yesterday. We had just finished eating, when a girl she used to play softball with come in, and just sat down with us. Talk about psycho!!! She is extremely manish. Trying not to use any derogatory phrases, to offend anyone---but she was VERY manly. Openly lesbian, and went on and on in detail about break ups and girlfriends, etc. It would have been ok I guess with just Marie, at least she knew here, I had never laid eyes on her before! I now know about her preferences, her previous drug habit, her prison time due to the drugs, and all kinds of things about other women in the area that I did not care to know! Marie was running late because her son had been by, so she come by and picked me up, so I had no car to make an escape in. Finally I told her I hated to break up the conversation, but I needed to get home. She called me later apologizing over and over! Like she had any more control over it than I did!! Crazy woman! I need to sit down and figure out vacation times, Rick has to turn in his requests by the end of the month. I know my inlaws want to go to TX the first week of June, which is upsetting my DH, we have a rally we always attend on Memorial weekend, and there is no way to do that an get them there when they want to be to attend a reunion. They went to the reunion last year, but they do them yearly. I think between them both and the years included in the reunion, there are less than 20 people, I mean they are in their 80's. But the rally will be there in years to come, and the inlaws won't, so we will do the right thing. Glad things are going well Jenn---comfortable is good for the heart! Going to go reheat some jalapenos---talk to y'all later!!

You are so right, it does cost a lot more to eat healthy! It is 10 times as much to buy stuff to make a salad than to buy a cheapo store brand box of macaroni and cheese! The good news is, when restriction is met, the quantity of food you take it drops so much that buying enough is not a big deal at all! Now I will always buy a really good steak, and share one with my DH as opposed to finding 2 that were both big enough and afordable. If you break down big packages into snack sizes, and buy family packs it is cheaper sometimes. Nothing in regards to any of this is cheap......but neither was eating in the quantities I used to eat! Not to mention the medications I no longer pay for, or co pays to regular Dr. visits to check my blood pressure and blood sugar. and visits to the ortho for my aching knees. It works out......just takes a little while, and a lot of determination to get there. But it is SO worth it!

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Count 'em!!! 4 4 more child support payments after the one I mail today!!!!!! Love it!!! We pay it the first of each month. The June check is going to be for 3 days not 30. I know we are legally responsible for the entire month, and I am sure we will hear from her to pay it. If we do hear from her, we will call in the lien we have on her house. If she accepts it and goes on we will let the lien ride until whenever she wants to pay or move. But the end is in sight. She cannot bankrupt us now. We will self represent with our attorney's help if she takes us back to court now. Not sure what she could find to do but she is always finding something! But as far as the child support, we could pay the remaining 4 months and survive even if Rick were to get laid off. And it is close enough now, that we could even afford to keep a COBRA plan in place for her for those few months if need be, even tho that is more than the $657.02 we pay in child support! That sounds very uncaring, and we are really not that kind of people. For those that don't know our background----this is a child my DH's ex wife had, and we have proven it is not his biological child (we believe her to belong to her cousin--not close enough cousin to be illegal tho --or genetically harmful.) Rick originally paid what the court ordered so as not to get caught in a contempt charge, then when the test come back that she was not his, he had unknowingly set precedent and recognized her as his, and has had to pay through her 18th year---so until she turns 19. At the same time, since she is not biologically his, the court saw no need to enforce any visitation. So we pay for a child we have not had any contact with outside of a courthouse! He actually for the childs sake, tried to develop a relationship with her----we thought, well she needs someone with what she has as a Mom, but we were never allowed to see her or talk to her on the phone....so no relationship ever developed. We used to send her things, then got a note from her Mom to not send personal letters in with the packages, she did not want them, so we quit sending anything. None of this is the childs fault. She is 18 now, and we have heard nothing from her, except receiving bills---and that is from the Mom, never a word from the child. We did get a call from her when she was 16, wanting us to help her buy a car. We told her if she would come here cash in hand, we would match whatever she had---never heard another word. We plan to send her a registered letter telling her if she sends proof of being in school, we will continue her health insurance for as long as she is in school. We are going to state very plainly tho that we will not be responsible for any unpaid medical, or copays or such. But if she is going to school, it won't make a huge difference in our premiums. We are not cold hearted, even tho it sounds as tho we are. So we are celebrating that chapter in our lives coming to a close. I am glad the girl has reached adulthood, and is well. I know she has probably got no idea we support her. If ever it comes up, I have every single cancelled check, or copy of checks more recently we have paid for all almost 19 years. Anyway--getting that check ready to mail is what is on my mind this morning, one more sigh of relief. July is gonna be a party! LOL I have got the house cleaned except for vaccuuming. I want to haul in some wood before I vacuum, as it makes a mess! Then I am off to try to exchange the food processor. Took pork chops out to fry for dinner, now to come up with what else to fix! Will check in later ladies. Make it a great February!!

Just sitting here, kinda watching TV, just vegging out. We went to town, decided not to go to the movie, we went and had some nachos. Went and bought a new food processor ---mine bit it over Christmas---and the one I bought is too tall for fitting under the cabinet, so guess I will take it back tomorrow, and find another one. Michelle, Rick said he told his boss, that he and his employees, would be on the clock from the time they got in that truck, until they got home or to a motel, and if he didn't see it that way, they could look into it further. He changed the subject, and moved on, but signed off on the guys time. So guess he was just blowing smoke. I have to go find a couple of boxes. I sold a couple of bike parts on ebay, and the boxes I planned on using, ended up on the porch----in the storm, and were soaked! Dangit! So now back to finding boxes to ship so they can go out tomorrow. I have made almost as much this last week ebaying leftovers from the bike build as I did working! Probably more without the commute and clothing expenses figured in! I have tons more to go too! Now he is buying 2 bikes this week, simply for us to part out. Sounds excessive, but we got one for $50 and one for $75!!! He will utilize part of them, and we will ebay the rest, and should clear 10-20 times that amount easy! So wierd! One helluva job!!! I have actually kinda got into it, and have my own little corner of the shop----for taking pics, and packing boxes. As it increases in volume, I will have to make changes, but for now, it takes a couple of hours on Sunday to list, and then a couple more to ready things for shipping. I don't accept any payment other than paypal, because I don't want to deal with it! Only one so far has fallen through in the sale. I wanted to leave negative feedback for them, but ours is 100% good, after 3-4 years, and was afraid if I left bad, it would bring on retaliation. What do y'all think?? Anyway---off to print mailing labels and play some games. Tomorrow, I am helping my Dad with his shop some more, and going to try to clean up his computer....I would rather take a beating......