Kat817

Good morning girls, I look like a TV commercial, I am sitting here typing in my snuggie blanket!! LOL. I really do use it, as silly as they are. In a few minutes I won't need it again, but while the fire kicks in, it is nice! Rick laughs at me, because I turned it around, and wore it like a robe and walked out and got my paper. I told him, all crazy OLD ladies do these kind of things!!! LOL It is 11 degrees out right now, so just a bit chilly! Super dry tho, not even any frost on the windshield. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving pot luck at Rick's work. 90% of the guys will buy something at Walmart and bring it---but many are single or have working wives. So I am taking a potatoe casserole, and a Gooey pumpkin butter cake (Paula Deen). Oh and they were each given a turkey for a safety thing---and he donated his to be fried for the dinner. I will Dr. it up tonight, and inject it!! Rick's cough medicine helped him sleep all night, and he said he woke up with a super sore throat. I think that is a good sign, that maybe his sinus' finally drained. He sounded much less stuffy---and to me the theory makes sense. Maybe I shoulda been a Dr.!! My MIL has an ultrasound on her gall bladder today---see if that might be causing her stomach pain. I am soooooo tempted to go climb back in bed. The bed is warm, and the room is dark, and the house is quiet. Or I could get things ready to shampoo carpet.....decisions, decisions.......

Well, let's see, I too am tall, 5'9". I am now what I would call an average build, although much more top heavy than bottom. Sounds like combined Jachut and I could make 2 very well built women!!! LOL. I carry no excess weight in my hips, they tend to run to the boyish thin----not the curves I would like! Meanwhile I still even after weight loss, have DD's. Which when trying to buy clothes stands for Double Dammit! I am, 49 years old....therefore my skin is not as taut as I would like for it to be, however I have not wrinkled as badly as many of my former classmates. Of course there are also those that still look much better!!! LOL I have long, wavy, to downright curly, dark blonde/light brown hair. I have large blue/gray eyes, and thanks to an orthodontist years ago, and a good dentist more recently, straight, fairly white teeth! I do my best to smile....trying to believe that my mood is what I make it....so I am trying! Several years ago, my hair was much lighter blonde and straight as a stick. Then I lost it all with chemo, and when it grew back it was totally different, both in color and texture---now I really don't know what to do with it, so just do a wash & wear! I hate messing with it, and taking time to "do" it. I wear make up, but not a lot. Most of the time, you will find me in jeans, and casual tops with either my Sketchers or my riding boots. Summer I live in flip flops. Almost always I will have small hoops or even smaller diamonds on for earrings, one in each ear (which are smallish ears by the way), no other piercings. No tattoos. Several scars. I wear a watch,and my wedding rings on my left, and a small gold and diamond ring on my right hand. I love the question, and am anxious to see how others look too!!! You can go with yours now, we know you are not writing a personal ad!!!

Actually I don't find that sad at all!!! LOL, makes sense to me, for it to be totally 100% different for this year anyway, for your friends husband. Times tempers the ache of the loss, it never goes away, but as time goes by it seems you can better remember the good times without the hurt being so acute, so then you can go back to having your traditions, but for now, this seems totally logical to me. With my family this way, it is pretty simple, Mom and I buy groceries together, and I do most of the cooking, she does the sides she plans on. The girls---as in DD, and DIL, will do the clean up! They don't do much of the prep, due to time constraints, and multiple families to see, but they always clean up. And I let them!!! LOL DD changes up what she brings, but I just ask DIL to bring some pop, because she is dealing with both boys now, and I wanted to make it simple, and we need drinks.... Yay Jenn!!!! I am so happy for you! What is it you will be doing in your new job? What a load off your mind! You can relax going into the holidays, and enjoy them!!! Manda dealt with her ex all day she said. He was still mad. Then he wanted to text her with a play by play of the funeral. He is so wierd! Anyway, he is mad, so he is pulling out of the birthday party they had planned for her this Sunday. They were going to a place called the Big Bounce. It is a big place, full of those inflatable bouncing things, and inflatable slides, and all that type of thing. They have areas for parties, and you provide the cake, and they do the rest. She is having Tinkerbell. They had agreed and invited family and friends from both sides. Now he is mad so he is not going, and is supposedly going to have his own party for her the next weekend. Meanwhile, I betcha the kids from his side show up and Manda has to pay for them too. He is such a PITA!!! So at lunch Rick told her he would pay the other half if her ex didn't, because it is not cheap, they only did it since they agreed to split the cost. Rick has bronchitis, and a sinus infection......and cancer on his nose the Dr. thinks. He is really worried about the sore on his nose, we thought it was a zit that would not go away because the nose piece on his glasses rubs it. He told Rick to see a dermatologist immediately, and when we could not get in til Jan. they called and he goes in the first week of December. Meanwhile he feels crummy----and is taking antibiotics and cough syrup. Put on a pot of chili, when I got home---not sure it is what I want but he thought it sounded good. I always reflux chili----always have even long before banding. Keep us in the loop on your Dr. Suzie! My eating today sucked!!! Ate taco salad for lunch, and THAT was my healthy eating!!! LOL Better go get some onion chopped and cheese grated to finish the chili off. See y'all later!

Wow Jenn, your color is totally impossible for my old eyes to read!!! LOL Maybe later, and maybe with my glasses! I have my Kinsey girl, and we are having such a good time. Basically she come in, climbed in my bed, and passed back out! Oh well, she will wake up and THEN we will have a good time. Tracy she turns 5 on the 1st of December!!! Unreal! Seems like yesterday in some ways, it has gone so fast, and yet it is hard to remember life without her. Hard to explain. Rick went to work, he is going to go into Urgent Care at 9 this morning. I expect them to send him home. So Kinsey and I are taking my Mom shopping early this morning, then if he comes home, I will send her with my Mom and come look after him.....poor baby! LOL MY fear is, I will catch it, and be sicker than a dog while trying to host Thanksgiving dinner. I sure hope not! Looks like for Thanksgiving we will have our son, DIL and their 2 boys. Manda and Kinsey -- her bf is going out of town to take his Mom to her families house. My parents, my brother, and a friend of Rick's who has nowhere to go. Ricks parents are refusing to go anywhere, because the family is not going to be together. Well his sister DID invite us, but made special effort to mention it is the extended family that made it too big to handle. Well that leaves my parents and brother alone. And I won't do that. I do not have room to have her entire family here, she has 3 daughters with kids and I simply do not have enough room. We do all the summer gatherings so I can do it in the yard---but the inside ones, I am limited. So if his Mom cannot make her mind up to say eat with one of them, and come have dessert with the other--which I recommended. I told her I had plans for 2-3 sugar free desserts, so they could come by after dinner with his sister, and have dessert with us, and she refused, saying no they would just stay home. Her damn martyr attitude is making me furious! Rick sees it. He says he just wants to eat too much and watch football, and he would prefer to do it in his own house! So if he is not going to worry about it, and try to make it right by them, neither am I. We just spent a week with them in Texas, having our meals together, the whole 9 yards, and his sister was there, so she had a healthy dose of family togetherness, she can either grow up (LOL she is 82) and deal with things the way they are, or sit at home alone. Maybe we should chip in and send her to Denver to the other kids house!!! THEY get together! Yeah and his sister there is MUCH nicer, and also has a 5000 sq. ft. home! Actually Rick's Mom would love to go, his Dad flat out refuses to leave. They act like preschoolers, and you cannot put them in the corner!!! Will check in later......gotta go take out the turkey we are frying on Wed.

Music awards just come on here, surprised me, as I was waiting for my usual Sunday night shows. I do have to wonder what in the world Janet Jackson was thinking with that safari outfit and the clunky boots. She may have put on some weight, but she is still nicely curvey and shapely, and she hid it in not only an ugly outfit, but an ill fitting one. The crotch of the pants was half way down her thighs as she danced. Wierd!!!!!! Rick is sick, chest congestion, and massive headache---wondering if he will make it to work, or if we will be going to urgent care in the morning. I have Kinsey tomorrow. A girl my DD and her ex husband went to school with (he dated her sister when married to my DD...losers all) anyway the girls daughter who was 9 died following a fire in the mobile home she was staying in with her father, he died as well, along with his girlfriend. Anyway, Manda's ex, wants to take Kinsey to the funeral for this little girl none of them ever even met. I will not speak too badly of her mother, because it is never deserved to lose a child, but this girl, caused massive trouble with my DD in HS, brought drugs around, is still involved in that lifestyle---is why she did not have her child. The boy she had in HS, has been removed from the home years ago, and she has 2 others. DD is not going to the funeral, and REFUSED to allow Kinsey to go. Well he was MAD. So she ask if she could stay here, so he doesn't get any wild ideas of taking her out of daycare. If Rick is still sick, I will see if my Mom can keep her. She is not any work, just wants attention----and lots of it! Sorry if I am rambling, it has been a confusing night for me!!! LOL Everyone take care....

Spiders are not my thing, nor are snakes. Some people freak out with blood, or what have you, that doesn't bother me a bit! To each their own, thank heaven!!! House looks great Fanny!!! Off to take the spider to his new home. We have not abused him, he will be going to a nice home!!!

Tracy, you won't be the only one that way with the house, he may be more flexible on his "wants" after he makes a couple more payments out of his pocket without any help. If it is meant to be, it will be! Personally I love the house, I have a barn thing as you know....so it is right along what I would have if I could do whatever I wanted!!! Well gotta run, we are off to town to shop and deliver "that damn spider". Had to wait til today because I cannot carry the container, I will wig out and throw it, so need Rick for the transport. Plus someone has to watch that it does not escape in the car. I have the lid taped every way but Sunday!!! I am so brave.....in a controlled kind of way!!! Will talk to y'all later!

Yes I have named the tarantula....I lovingly refer to him as "that damn spider". It is the perfect name for him, fits him perfectly! Abey (youngest DD) is taking him today. She is animal oriented, has spent most of her life working between pet stores and vets. She says I cannot turn him loose now, he will die, it is too cold, and he should already be hibernating. She said I likely disturbed where he was hibernating when we were doing the leaves in the yard. So....she said she will either just keep it in the house, in an aquarium thing until spring, or she will see if Tom at the pet store she worked at might want it. She also said he needs some crickets to eat....I laughed. I don't theeeenk sooooo. Not here anyway!!! Rick said we would deliver him to her later today! I got up with Rick early this morning, he is working. He has guys wanting to take an extra day off at Thanksgiving, and this way they get their hours, and the work does not fall behind. When he left, I hit the guest room, and got it cleaned up seriously! Baseboards to ceiling it has been dusted, and cleaned and I threw away SOOOOOO much stuff! It was hard at first then I got into it! LOL Now I am headed to town with my Dad to buy things to finish his shop walls. Who knew I was a shop designer??? LOL Going to dinner tonight with Becky & Gary---been awhile, we have all been going different directions. Everyone have a good weekend----be safe-----have fun!

Stopping in to make a post about my morning! Stop right here, and everyone repeat after me.... "I am so proud of you Kat!" LOL Here's what happened. Got up with Rick at 6, chatted with him til he left, and then got busy. Was cleaning my kitchen, cleaning out the fridge etc. I decided now would be a good time to start roasting the peanuts Rick gives to eveyone at work. I could not find my season salt. I mix it with garlic powder, green chile powder, onion salt, all kinds of things, process it to a powder and season the peanuts. I then figured out I bet Rick left it next to the grill on the back patio. So I walked out through the garage (attached) to the patio, and sure enough there it was. I picked it and some Montreal seasoning he left out there, and headed in the house. Mind you I am wearing jammies and socks....nothing else. As I stepped into my garage, which is finished, and is a laundry room on that end, carpeted, etc.....crawling across the floor......is a....TARANTULA!!!!! I screamed, and carried on for a few seconds, before I realized I was on my own, there was no one around to rescue me!!! I spied a bucket on the porch, so I grabbed it, and managed to put it down over the top of him....but the handle kept it from sitting flat, it would not contain him! So I got an old container---Rick uses them to store things in the shop, but I believe potato salad had originally come in it. Got it over the top of him. I am jumping around totally freaking out. I despise spiders, I am a HUGE chicken! I was going to go around the house and remembered I locked the front door when Rick left! Did not care that there is snow on the ground and people about and I am in short jammies, and socks! I am that scared of spiders! With the container on him, I sat to think....I was afraid I would forget in my daily habit and walk out and kick the container off---since usually that floor is empty. So once again I got brave..... I put a jar on the floor and used the mop to move the container, and as hard as it was to believe he acted trained and climbed right in the jar. I sucked it up, grabbed the jar and put the lid on, then lost it and tossed the jar!! Good thing it was plastic. It landed softly on the carpet..... The biggest reason I HAD to catch it, was I needed to KNOW where it was. The idea of him being free in our home was not an option. Him hibernating in my garage is not an option. I have no desire to kill him, but I need him away! When I told my neighbor, she is an animal (and ANY other kind of critter) freak, she was concerned he is not getting air! So she brings me a terrerium---like I want this for a pet! I want it for one reason only. My darling Rick laughed his ass off at me, and kept asking me if I was sure it wasn't a water spider, 'cuz you know they get pretty big'......GRRRRRR I KNOW a tarantula when I have one of the hairy legged beasts crawling on my floor! I am keeping it for him to see. Then she asks me what do tarantulas eat? Like I care, it is NOT a guest in my home! LOL If one were brave enough he would mostly fill the palm of your hand. He is moving fast now he is in the warmer part of the house in that terrerium. The cold he was moving much slower. He is in the terrerium thing with a giant book on top....sitting smack in the middle of the end table.....so nothing accidentally knocks it open! I cannot tell you how freaked out I was, it took me 2 hours to get my heart rate back to normal. I feel like I slayed a dragon-------I am BRAVE!!! I am woman hear me ROAR!!!! Need to get busy---gonna do a no-no, and cut and paste some of this to another thread, so I do not have to type it again!!! Will be back to check in, just had to share my morning!!!

Hey girls~ Stopping in to make a post about my morning! Stop right here, and everyone repeat after me.... "I am so proud of you Kat!" LOL Here's what happened. Got up with Rick at 6, chatted with him til he left, and then got busy. Was cleaning my kitchen, cleaning out the fridge etc. I decided now would be a good time to start roasting the peanuts Rick gives to eveyone at work. I could not find my season salt. I mix it with garlic powder, green chile powder, onion salt, all kinds of things, process it to a powder and season the peanuts. I then figured out I bet Rick left it next to the grill on the back patio. So I walked out through the garage (attached) to the patio, and sure enough there it was. I picked it and some Montreal seasoning he left out there, and headed in the house. Mind you I am wearing jammies and socks....nothing else. As I stepped into my garage, which is finished, and is a laundry room on that end, carpeted, etc.....crawling across the floor......is a....TARANTULA!!!!! I screamed, and carried on for a few seconds, before I realized I was on my own, there was no one around to rescue me!!! I spied a bucket on the porch, so I grabbed it, and managed to put it down over the top of him....but the handle kept it from sitting flat, it would not contain him! So I got an old container---Rick uses them to store things in the shop, but I believe potato salad come in it. Got it over the top of him. I am jumping around totally freaking out. I despise spiders, I am a HUGE chicken! I was going to go around the house and remembered I locked the door when Rick left! Did not care that there is snow on the ground and people about and I am in short jammies, and socks! I am that scared of spiders! With the container on him, I sat to think....I was afraid I would forget in my daily habit and walk out and kick the container off---since usually that floor is empty. So once again I got brave..... I put a jar on the floor and used the mop to move the container, and as hard as it was to believe he acted trained and climbed right in the jar. I sucked it up, grabbed the jar and put the lid on, then lost it and tossed the jar!! Good thing it was plastic. I landed softly on the carpet..... The biggest reason I HAD to catch it, was I needed to KNOW where it was. The idea of him being free in our home was not an option. Him hibernating in my garage is not an option. I have no desire to kill him, but I need him away! When I told my neighbor, she is an animal (and ANY other kind of critter) freak, she was concerned he is not getting air! So she brings me a terrerium---like I want this for a pet! I want it for one reason only. My darling Rick laughed his ass off at me, and kept asking me if I was sure it wasn't a water spider, 'cuz you know they get pretty big'......GRRRRRR I KNOW a tarantula when I have one of the hairy legged beasts crawling on my floor! I am keeping it for him to see. Then she asks me what do tarantulas eat? Like I care, it is NOT a guest in my home! LOL If one were brave enough he would mostly fill the palm of your hand. He is moving fast now he is in the warmer part of the house in that terrerium. The cold he was moving much slower. He is in the terrerium thing with a giant book on top....sitting smack in the middle of the end table.....so nothing accidentally knocks it open! Girls I cannot tell you how freaked out I was, it took me 2 hours to get my heart rate back to normal. I feel like I slayed a dragon-------I am BRAVE!!! I am woman hear me ROAR!!!! Need to get busy---gonna do a no-no, and cut and paste some of this to another thread, so I do not have to type it again!!! Will be back to check in, just had to share my morning!!!

Oh my Diva, how far you have come!!! But the smile is there! I notice your clothes were like mine, even bigger than they needed to be, like I could hide in them. I know you are concerned with having further to go, but girl, you have come so far, you WILL do it! I have NO doubt! I am so proud of what you have done already!!!! Donna, I am almost through my 40's!!! Welcome to the group, it is VERY supportive, you have people here who are long timers---me! Some fairly newly banded girls too. I was banded in April of 06. Best thing I ever did weight wise. I am married, have 3 kids, 6 grandkids, just quit working, and seem to stay pretty busy! I lost down to goal weight, had some health issues---not band related---and gained back almost 40 pounds. So I am working them off again! I rely heavily on this group here to keep me honest with myself on doing that! Keep us posted on your progress to surgery. We love the new bandster energy we gain through newbies!!! Welcome! And again Irene----AWESOME job!

Oh Taps, I so channeled you yesterday! I got up and started cooking--early---6 AM! I chopped, and diced, and sliced, and sauteed, and mixed and kneaded......I planned on making a big pot of stew, enough to share with my inlaws, as my MIL has been sick. Well I was on a roll! We had stew, my inlaws had stew, my parents had stew, the neighbors had stew.....you get the idea, my one big pot, turned into a couple of big pots!! LOL, and french bread........I had a bowl last night, and a piece of toasted bread.....mmmmmmmm Everyone was appreciative, and I have leftovers so don't have to cook tonight either! WIN! Hope you are enjoying the new hours even tho you don't get to enjoy us as much here Plain. Hi Brandy! I am off to help my Dad again today. He built a new shop, so I am helping him get it insulated---well we did most of it yesterday. Today we will finish off the ceiling and insulate the roof. Then begin designing the wall panels/pegboard/shelving/whatever else I can figure out for storing the massive amounts of STUFF they have!!! Yesterday my brother and I were both there, working with my parents, it was so nice---kinda strange it was just our old core family. My DH was at work, and he is always in the middle helping! We laughed and really enjoyed the day. Then come home and mulched and raked leaves--I was exhausted last night! But got my exercise in without question! Having some serious arthritis pain this morning. Getting old is NOT for SISSIES!!!

Good morning. Not sure what my day holds, thinking I might be hanging panelling, peg board and OSB with my Dad---he is on a roll, and knows he has free help!! LOL Then I think Mom and I will do our Thanksgiving shopping this afternoon. I figure, that gives me a week to forget what I put where.....story of my life! I am having serious arthritis pain in the joint of my left index finger....I need to be working on Garricks christmas stocking, but, it hurts to sew.....because the stocking is pieced, and stuffed with fiberfill stuffing, then beaded and sequined, you have to hold it taut, so I use that finger, and it HURTS! That joint was broken courtesy of my ex, and it has never properly healed I guess. Jenn, I am glad you found something to "get into". Back years ago when the kids were small, I got into a group that was studying and getting grants for city parks. I met such a diverse group of people, other moms to city attorneys, contractors to kids too excited to wait til it was done! I have been on other boards with many of the same people in the years since, but it was such an eye opener, and I met so many people I would never have had opportunity to meet otherwise. I still count them as friends, and we visit when we run into one another in the store!!! And one REALLY ironic one, I ran into a man who was in on the meetings, he was a school board member, and was wanting the parks because kids were getting hurt playing on school grounds when no one was around, after hours. So he was there every meeting, very nice guy.....anyway I ran into him a couple of years ago, at a park we spearheaded, and we were both there with our grandkids!!!! We both said we still felt real pride in the park, even though the equipment has all changed, the park is THERE! Getting involved in something like that is wonderful, you will meet new people, and who knows.....maybe one will be special!!! LOL Suzanne, please let us know as soon as you find anything out with your Dr. You have been in my prayers, and will stay there! Tracy, has Macy started telling you what she wants for Christmas yet?? Kinsey has a birthday in a couple of weeks or so, and she is concerned with it! Connor wants EVERYTHING he sees on TV either for him or for "Tinsey". If it is girlie toys, Kinsey gets it in his opinion, otherwise he wants it ALL!!! Michelle---feeling any better??? Well I am off to pay some bills, oh the joy of it all!!! lol

I am exhausted!!!! We went and bought Dad's insulation, and went back to his house, and we were just getting started, when my brother showed up. Well he took over what I was doing, and I began cutting insulation, he and Dad were both stapling it up. Mom was there, handing things to everyone. Was kinda nice, our original core family all there working together, good quality time, and you could tell it meant a lot to my parents. I was so glad to be doing that for them. We worked til about 1, stopped for lunch, then hit it again, finished up about 3. Then I hauled butt home, and began raking and mulching leaves in the yard. That was my original plan for today, before talking to my Dad. My brother come by when he left my parents, and he stopped and helped me, and 2.5 hours later, it was all done, as well as the neighbors. Rick has done his yard all summer since he is so bad with his cancer. So my brother and I did it too. I am physically exhausted, but I feel SO GOOD. Not sure where this energy is coming from, but I am gonna take full advantage while it is here!!! I feel good Tracy, not sure what it is. Rick says it is stress relief from not working under the conditions I was. I don't know, I just know the world seems bright, and I can breath deep. I look at my DH and my family and I can hardly contain the love I feel for them. It is strange......but, I am liking it!!! Now when the lack of additional paycheck hits, I might rethink it! Well I am off to the shower. See you all in the mornin'!

Busy day for me....going to "work" for Dad!!! Going to help him install some insulation in his shop, since I am experienced. This morning I got up, and started cutting and peeling, and dicing, and sauteing, and baking.....had a plan, was going to make a big pot of stew to share with my inlaws, MIL is sick. Well I was having such a good time, we are having stew, they are having stew, my folks are having stew and so are the neighbors!!! I have bread rising....french bread. My house smells wonderful!!! I better run, before I get a dessert idea! I cannot eat much, so it is fun to cook when I know it is leaving the house!!! Talk to y'all later!

Well, y'all are just a coupla losers so there!!! Wish I was.....I am sitting tight! I need to drop 2 pounds from my signature, but that is it! Has been that weight for weeks! LOL Wierd thing is, when I lost it the first time, I sit at this weight forever then too! So I am confident it will happen when I am in the game, and not til then. I am so up today emotion wise, I might actually get my head back in the game. I feel hundreds of pounds lighter. I am awake and energetic, not sure what is up with it, but I am enjoying the feeling!!! Spent the day with DD and DGD, we went to Durango, CO to get a bill of sale for a 4runner she just bought, and then they went to the dentist. DD has 2 teeny cavities, her first! She is 28--DGD has none. DD's are so minor they are filling them without any meds, they are surface, in the enamel only, have not gone below, so little to no drilling will be involved. We tell Kinsey she has to brush after eating especially sweets so the sugar monsters don't get in and make cavities in her teeth. So Manda tells her she has 2 cavities. Kinsey ask her why she didn't brush, and Manda told her she did, but apparently not good enough. Kinsey thought for awhile and told her, she bet they got in when she snored at night, because she snored with her mouth open! It was hilarious, the look on my DD's face. Of course the dentist is the exact image of tall, dark, and handsome!!! Then we went and had a salad bar lunch, and come home to finish my laundry. Was a WONDERFUL day. This place we go to have salad, sells by the pound. There are 5 sections, with veggies, and fruit, and hot foods, etc. It is PERFECT for me. I can fill 10 plates if I want with a bite of everything, and they subtract the tare weight of the plate, and charge for your food. So I pay for what I get and not a ton extra! Kinsey cracks me up, she wants to try everything! Today her new discovery, and she ate a bunch of them, was marinated mushrooms! Last time she ate her weight in cottage cheese and avocados! LOL Me, I am a traditionalist, made me a small, but loaded salad, and was a happy camper! Coupons here are doubled or tripled, up to a dollar, so even the quarter ones take off .50 -.75 cents depending on the day you use it, so it adds up quickly. Makes shopping a bit of a challenge, and not so mundane!! I always buy dried pasta, and keep cereal on hand, and snack foods, so we have lots to use coupons on. And Safeway gives ones out for $1.00 off your next shopping order of under $20.00 and $5.00 off if over......so it even helps on meat and veggies. Hell I'll take their buck....or even all 5!!! Today I bought granola bars for Kinsey, and with the sale and the coupon, the boxes of Quaker granola bars ended up being under .50 a box. I can handle that. Ricks best friends Mom is in the hospital, she is dying of ALS, and not expected to make it much longer, her ability to swallow and breath is being affected. So we are going to the hospital tonight, and then out to dinner. Scary how that disease is, she is 100% mentally alert, and could converse with a letter board for awhile, and still follows conversation, but has no movement left to join in, she moves her eyes for yes and no. So, so sad. We call her Perfie, would you remember her in your prayers, as well as her family please. Y'all are the best!

I look through the coupons, and used to use them quite a bit. I had a file for them, all that! Now, I just kind of match up the ad in the paper for what is on sale, and what I have a coupon for, and make my list on junk mail envelopes, and stick the coupons in the envelope. I always took the file, but seldom strayed from my list. Now, we have Safeway here in town, and they have the customer card things. On their website, you can go through and load the coupons onto your card, then when it scans it automatically uses the coupon--and it works! The other concession I make, that irritates my DH, is there are a couple of big stores in the town we shop in that are totally inconvenient, across town. So I make the list of what they have on sale I want, and have Walmart price match them--then using the coupons, it makes it easier on me than running all around. DH does not like shopping at Walmart, but he is reasonable and can see for himself the price difference. We have certain things we buy in certain stores. I only buy fresh meat at Safeway, Walmart does not compare. That kind of thing. I have not done real shopping and comparing since I went to work....I am looking forward to it again! Gonna go call my Mom and just chat, because I can. Talk to you all in awhile. Feels really cold again this morning.....15 now at 8:17.

We really did have a good trip. We will go back in the spring. And Plain, it is not ALL of TX without internet, I was so shocked!!! LOL Our place is in the country....and we live there a total of one month a year....so nothing that is not REQUIRED is kept going! So it was ME in my little place that had no connection, not even dial up!!! Heck I cannot even get cell reception! We are in central TX, some refer to it as west central, but they are wrong!!! LOL Well......I am now unemployed! Come back after all the crap the week before I left, and the OM said I told her I would be in on Friday, and me not showing up they assumed I quit. I set her straight, then went to speak to the Dr. She followed me right in the office, saying for legal reasons they both needed to be there, he looked kinda perplexed, but said nothing, so I left. I did tell them that #1 we had ALL agreed I would be off a week, and back on Monday. At this point he looked at her in a quick turn of his head and she changed the subject to extreme absence. I went on to tell them that #2 was I did NOT quit my job, that her having my stuff packed, and my check ready told me she was firing me, and I would communicate with them through the unemployment office. And I left. Later yesterday the Dr. called saying he would like to talk to me, I tried to get him to do it over the phone, he wants me to come in. I know if I do, she will just horn in on whatever meeting he has in mind. So I wasn't going to do it. Then I was thinking last night, that I have never used my benefit for eye exam we pay for through DH's work. So my plan is to make an appointment! Then she violates my HIPPA if I ask that she not be in the room! I am going to ask him for a letter of reference and see what he says!! I will say, I slept through the night, no reflux, woke happy and relaxed, not even dreading the mountain of laundry following vacation. My MIL is sick, I have a pot of chicken and noodles cooking, going to take it to her. I feel massive relief--I had not realized the amount of stress I allowed it to cause until this last week, and the thought of coming back made me so sad, and normally I am ready to come home. So wierd. Anyway, I am unemployed, but happy. Most of my Christmas shopping is done, and we will keep our fingers crossed with DH's job.....will think about my next move! Michelle, I hope you feel better soon, this stuff has really hung on with you. Is the moist air making it worse you think? Ebony, DH saw the pic of your bike, you want, and he said it looked great for its age! He has a collection (I call it) of old bikes! He has several early 80 models of Yamahas, a Kawasaki similar to the one you want, and a couple of old Honda's, he has an old shovel head, and the chopper he just built was built on an old Yamaha frame. He also has newer ones, but....he loves the old school look. He does not want the Big Dog look wide tire chopper, he wants the old Peter Fonda look. Takes an old bike to get that!! OH! The snake! We were told they are chicken snakes. We didn't know how they were getting there....through the septic, or if they were in the house and using it as a den. Seems they are coming through the septic. It dries with us being gone so much, and Lord knows how old the system is..... So this last visit, when we found them, we took a piece of heavy plate glass, and put over the commode......and there he was anyway. I guess on a positive note, there were no mice to be found!!! LOL Nah, I am scared spitless of snakes, I did not want it for a roomate. Stayed with my Aunt!! Time to change the laundry----I feel like Tap---loving my housework!!! LOL

All in all I am happy about the change. The Dr. called me today and wants me to come in and talk to him, I am going, simply because I don't think he EVER gets the full story, I think she censors EVERYTHING!! So I plan on going in and speaking with him, even asking him for a letter of reference, in case I should want it. But I will not allow him to talk me into returning with her in charge, as it sits now, I am entitled to unemployment, and they both know it! To go back and it be miserable I would lose that option if I were to quit. DH is happy, he has wanted me to quit, or simply to change jobs, he is not against me working, he is against it making me unhappy. So....... will take a few days to assess my next move, apply for Unempl. and go from there. I told Rick this morning, I felt like I should be sad or emotional, but I only felt relief. Guess that should have been my clue!!! LOL Well I am going to finish dinner, a real live home cooked meal, not quick and easy or fast food, my hubby will be shocked!!!

Guess who just joined the ranks of the unemployed??????? I feel like dancing and singing tho.....The witch is dead....ala Wizard of Oz!!! She may not be dead, but I am no longer dealing with her.....

Suzanne,m I am so sorry to read of your new developements on the Xrays! That is so unacceptable for them to say they tried to contact you with such serious information! I too hope and will be praying that it is just precaution, and nothing to worry about. Since this has all been documented, and you currently must monitor your health, will this be covered under the same insurance benefit? I feel crappy this morning, my head is splitting, and it is cold outside---- 17 now, so I set the timer to remind me to go start my car in advance, I always forget until I walk out and see the frost, or have to climb in and sit on that cold leather. I will never again have leather seats! I did not order this one with them, we bought it the way it was. Newspaper never got delivered this morning, I feel like my schedule is all outta whack! Still cannot get my wedding rings on, I got several fire ant bites on my hand, 2 of them on my ring finger---barely with the help of cooking oil got them off! Wearing an old band I had, my fingers used to be this size all the time!!! LOL Feeling very unsettled going in to work this morning, like I am waiting for the other shoe to fall. I do know I will not take much crap from her!!! I will walk out! Crap battery was dead, now I am, late!!

Well I survived Texas, and as far as I know, it survived me! Was a good week, a REALLY busy week, but we had fun anyway. Let's see....we, picked up hundreds of pounds of pecans,between the fallen nuts, and thrashing the trees, we repaired fences, pounding several dozen fence posts, we culled the herd, sold 8 calves, dosed the rest of the cattle for flies, and worms, gave black leg immunizations, and tagged new calves ears, Rick shredded probably 60 acres. You have to shred to keep the weeds and bramble from overtaking the grass, which allows the dew overnight to water the grass, and keeps the cattle in grazing material. We went to a little town not far away, and celebrated our anniversary, did the bulk of our Christmas shopping there. Spent lots of time with extended family there, and worked til we fell asleep easily at night!!! We enjoyed it though. We have some decisions to make about the old farm house. Once again there was a big ass snake in the toilet!!! I kid you not! We did NOT stay in the house! I refuse! We have family who have connecting property, it is all part of the original homestead---we stayed there, in their hopefully, and to the best of my knowledge, snake free home. These are not venomous snakes---appear to be what they call chicken snakes, but I do not want one snacking on my parts exposed over a toilet!!! Well one of my grandkids I missed so much just drove up. Will check in later!!!

Good for you Tracy, I am so glad you managed to surprise your Mom!! And people are the best surprises!! We did that with my parents 50th anniversary, got the 2 couples who stood up with them to come in for the vow renewal. Both couples are related to my Mom, her cousins. In fact her cousin married my Dads college roomate is how my parents met, standing up for them at their wedding!! So when they did their vow renewal, there were 3 couples up there with 50 years under their belts! Texas was so nice, shirt sleeves, sunshine....good thing I got a fix, it snowed here over night! We now have pecans coming out our ears! And Rick managed to shred a large area for the cows, you have to shred off the weeds and bramble growth, so the grass is able to be reached by the dew, and the cows....we also got some fences repaired, cows immunized against black leg, a few ear tagged, all of them dosed with fly and worm medicine....a trailer full hauled off to Coleman to be sold. And yes, we DID have another snake in the commode!! I kid you not! I did NOT stay in the house, went to stay at an Aunt & Uncles! Which is not an inconvenience, it is all on the same original homestead, but they have recently built a new home, and it is snake free as far as I know. We have been discussing our options as far as the house goes. I am NOT sharing it with snakes. Thinking mobile home......newer, more inpenetrable. This old house is just that, really old, and not too solid, and empty for months on end. Our other option is a nephew who is 23, we might offer it to him to stay in. He has challenges. He got encephalitic form of West Nile Virus. It left him with serious medical issues, and mental challenges. This way he would have some independence, and yet be close enough for daily check ins. We have not made any decisions yet though. Ate lots of good food. Managed to get a good portion of Christmas shopping done. I was up 3 pounds when I got up, but I am retaining so much fluid, I expect about half that to be gone today.....still sitting on this plateau. Which is sad, because I seriously worked this week!!! Cow chasing, and fence building and thrashing pecan trees is WORK!!! I will get some pictures down loaded onto FB.... I missed my grandbabies something awful!!! Kinsey is on her way over, she is staying with me for a couple of hours so Manda can do laundry---she has to go to a laundromat, no hookups in her apt. Then we are keeping Connor and Garrick tonight while our son and DIL go out for their anniversary. Rick and I had a great anniversary. We worked all morning, loading cows to go to sale. Then we went drove to Fredricksburg and did some shopping-------oh my account was in shock!!! But Christmas is looking feasable now!!! Then we went and had a nice steak dinner. We order an appetizer, and one meal, we learned!! Was yummy! Then we made our way back, lots of work to do the next day. But for those of you telling me not to do anything you wouldn't.....THANKS for all that freedom!!! LOL Well I made breakfast, I guess I will go clean it up. Football and grandkids today! Missed you girls!

We're home! Great trip! Lots to get done, and unloaded etc. just stopping in to check in. BB tomorrow!!

Hey y'all! Well here is the news.... I went in and had a heart to heart with the Dr. today. Told him I was planning to quit, and discussed issues with him. Now he and the OM are not romantically involved I don't think, but they are tight....one does not breath without the other knowing! He was not happy, he said I was working wonderfully, he was very happy with the job I do, and he did not want to lose me. He suggested I take this week, go to TX with my DH and then come in and see if anything can be worked out. So I figure, if in a weeks time, nothing changes, I will leave anyway, and if it does change, I will be thrilled! And if the OM gets all pissy and fires me, then I will simply draw unemployment, and be done with it! So bottom line is I am leaving for TX tomorrow.....I am going to go in and talk with the Dr. and accept the offer, then leave!!! LOL the schedule is PACKED! So......I feel like I can breath a little better, and my DH is happy beyond belief. Normally, I sit things aside, and make lists, and pack carefully, over a week or so......this is so out of my comfort zone in packing!!!! But we do have a house there, with many of our things in it, so it isn't like I have to take EVERYTHING! We have the usual....shampoo, toothbrushes, blow dryers....as well as household item....towels, food.....all there, I mean it is a basic old farmhouse, simple 2 bedroom one bath....old and rustic. LOL I am so mad....I cannot find what I did with 3 books on disc we bought, I wanted them for the trip, and they are MIA....and I do not have a week to find them!! DD and DGD are MUCH better!!! No fever now in almost 24 hours, by morning they will have been well over 24, so she said if DGD is up to it they may go back to work/school. Then turned right around and contradicted it and said no they would take the last day, and be sure they were up well and go back Monday!!! She is SOOOOO my DD!!! Well, I have a bazillion things to do.......and no time to do them! So someone keep a highlight reel for me!! I will be without internet for a week! We live rustic like I said!! Water and lights is about all we pay for year round, when we are there for only short times. Will check in when I get back, thanks so much for all the support and understanding as I whine about my job!!! Hugs to all of you---see ya in a week or so!!