Kat817

Plain, I know he smoked several, and I remember going to the pipe/tobacco shop with him, and he preferred a (don't take off points here for spelling--'k?) Merchaim????......something like that, maybe Mersham.....it had a slight downward tilt. I still have a couple of his pipes, and his cleaning tool....and a bag that had cherry flavored tobacco, and a bay rum or something. When I catch a whiff of that type of tobacco when I am out places, it transports me back in time! I loved my Dads pipes!! He had the ash tray with the cork knob thing in the middle for tapping his pipe against. I will ask him tomorrow while we are building a new fence to try to keep the kids out, about his other pipes. He quit smoking them completely 28 years ago----as of May. When he had his first bypass surgery. He and I quit together! His pipe, my cigarettes. He stayed quit, I did not!!! Went back a couple years later, and smoked for several more years before finally quitting in 91. Well this cold is kicking my a$$---I am off to bed. We drove almost 200 miles today to pick up a welder my DH was buying, only to get there, and they discovered the computer was wrong, and they were out of stock! GRRRRRR So 200 miles home, and both of us, as well as the granddaughter with us, were sick.....not a fun happy trip!!! See y'all tomorrow!

HI girls~ Long day, we went to Albq. was a bust trip, the welder we went to pick up was out of stock, which is not what we were told....grrrrrr TracyK----if there is some one you could get to look at it as you idle--Rick said check your exhaust and your exhuast heat shield, he said it sounds like something is loose, and does not sound serious or high dollar. As I keep saying, all is well with me unless Rick gets laid off, and that continues to be a serious possibility. If that happens, we will cut ALL unnecessary spending, and unfortunately that would include my trip. It would be the same if he were planning to go somewhere. Judy!!! YAY a baby!!! I am so glad all is well. Poor Kris! To be so upset, is totally understandable. The cord issue is why Connor ended up being c sectioned! The little acrobat had an extra long umbilical cord to begin with, and it went from his little belly button up and under his arm, across his back, out underneath the other arm, down and was wrapped around his ankle twice!! So she made it to 10 cm. and when she would push>>>>>>down would go his heart rate. Well as his arms squished down to his sides to manuever through the birth canal, he pinched it off. So they gave her something to suspend the contractions, and took him c section. His party last night was awful....tense, and segregated families.....not a fun time, luckily he is a little one and did not notice. Will go into it tomorrow. Well I am off to bed, I have a ferocious cold.....yuck! Hang tight Judy!!! Hugs~~

Tracy--Rick has more ????'s What does it do when you rev the engine? Does the noise remain the same or intensify? Now do the same while you have your foot on the brake and put it in gear, and rev it. Is it missing when it is running? BBL Is it using more fuel than usual? As well as the oil.

Tracy----is the noise rattling? Or is it worse during acceleration? Do you hear it at all when you are just idling? Is it worse when the van is in gear? Is it worse when you turn? Can you hear whereabouts under the van it is coming from--engine area or along the frame? I am taking it none of your dummy lights are on....which is good! Rick does a lot of phone Dx for the family......so he might be able to give you an idea what to look for or at. On our van, the exhaust system dropped a bracket, and it rattled like hell! It was a vibration type of noise....which roared/rattled when I accelerated--both in gear and in park. When Rick looked under it, he saw it, it was like a $3.00 fix for the bracket----and it was all better. I have the advantage of DH being a mechanic! In fact the van I drive-------was given to us, because the friend of ours that had it, she blew the engine (more later) and Rick pulled the old engine, bought one from a junk yard and dropped it in. Which is deceptive--because being a van, he literally lifted the body OFF of the engine, then rolled the engine out, and the new one under, and then lowered the body and all the other components back down!!! As for the blown engine-------this is totally important for all cars. The reason the engine blew was a mismatched radiator cap----6 bucks! It can also happen if the right radiator cap is put on wrong. It does not allow the heat of the water that is supposed to be cooling the engine to eb and flow with the heat being dispersed. It caused the thermostat to fail, and locked up the engine-------hundreds of dollars for the engine, and it would have been thousands if DH had not done it himself. It is sometimes the little things.... If your van is not running badly, or overheating-and all your fluids are checked out,and not changing drastically------it is likely a simple fix. Wish you could drive over for Rick to take a look!!! Man how I wish that, and the van has nothing to do with it!!! LOL Judy--today is the day!! Manda did that, piddled with labor the last 2 days of November, and then Kinsey was born the first of December!! And like I said yesterday--I so totally sympathize with your position in this. Being a Mom in waiting is bad, but at least you know what is going on at all times-------not so with Grammy in waiting. Point here Laura---keep in touch with your Mom and often!!! LOL Well I guess we are going riding. Rick got his Moms car fixed, she had a wheel bearing, and CV joint out. Now it is finished, and Connors party is not until 4. His gifts are all wrapped and ready. In the Dollar Tree the other day I got a sheet of stickers---I think they were for scrapbooking. It has a dragon, and a hippo and an alligator, and mice, all kinds of animals all done up in birthday hats, with balloons and curly streamers, and balloons with Happy Birthday spelled out. And then extra balloons with letters for a name. So we bought them, and I let Kinsey pick a plain gift bag, and we decorated it this morning. I LOVE IT!!! I am going back for more, it is sooooo cute! Anyway--our friends will be here to ride soon--so I guess I should go get ready. I do not feel like going really--I have a massive head cold, it hit last night, Kinsey and I both, at the arena cross event, she is coughing, I am just stuffy headed, yet my nose runs like a faucet. Fun.......not! Will check in later to see how Grady/Madison is progressing!!!

Many years ago, my Dad was trimming a tree and a limb gave way, and he fell 25 feet...feet first onto a flagstone walkway. He broke his back and his feet. He was in a ward in the hospital---a big long room with beds on both sides, with only curtains separating them. Each day at noon his ortho Dr. would come by to see him, sit on the foot of his bed and prop his feet on the bedside table so his feet could not be seen, and he and my Dad would smoke their pipes (yep IN the hospital) and listen to Paul Harvey. They remain friends to this day. And THAT is the rest of MY story!!

I have heard of occasional leaks in bands prior to adjustment (fills)---and contacting Inamed/Allergan---it was replaced at no charge, now whether your surgeon charges to do his/her part is a whole different story. But if the band is defective, as opposed to say being poked with a needle during a fill, the company will stand behind it usually. Did you contact them? I was banded in MX---but was given the ID # to my band, the box it come in, all the info regarding it, in case I had issue with it. Even my lapband card I carry in my wallet has the band ID# on it. I would contact the manufacturer, and then discuss it with them, then my Dr. Good Luck!

I sent Rick to his folks alone. DIL called, and was hinting around that maybe Connor would like to go to the motocross thing tonight, too bad his Daddy was gone or working.....blah, blah, blah. IF and that is a big ol IF he had ever been taught to sit when told, and behave, I might consider it....buthe hasn't and when he wants down, he just goes. This will be bleacher seating....close quarters....nope, not me! She will not ask Rick, she would have kept at me! I love him to pieces, but I do not want to battle with him in someplace like that, it is not a safe place to teach him to mind, that should have been done a couple of years ago..... So....no baby news. Can you imagine us when Laura is close? Judy is expected to be this excited, but the rest of us??!! I hate crunches too----and actually have been told to avoid them....aww darn!!! The area in my back where the herniation is, is under too much pressure with crunches. Rick is back~~guess his Dad did not buy all that Rick told him too, so he tore it apart, and will finish it tomorrow morning, after he gets the stuff. I am really surprised by Rick, normally he would have caved and went and bought it. But their attitude towards our son and what is going on, has changed him a bit. Now he is going to cut the frame on the motorcycle he is chopping....he is as excited as a little boy!! LOL Gonna go watch the sparks fly!!

Oh get over yourself Patty!!! The only difference is we bitch about her, and you bitch about us.....same judgement. We are not simply judging what an article says about her, but also what she says herself....which most of the time is utter nonsense. What her parents say about her---they are tired and worried. IF going away from the public light, and dealing with her children in a safe and healthy manner, on her own with no financial help from the gov't. was possible, I wish she would do it too. As has been pointed out, to do so, on her own with no help is not a possiblity. If it bothers you to see us tearing her apart, and dissecting her life, unsubscribe from the thread. It is something we have discussed and many other subjects have come up within the discussion. I for one have no intention of stopping, nor any intention to quit calling her selfish, she is in my opinion, and that is really all I can add---is MY OWN opinion. Which I am as entitled to as you are yours.

Well Judy I think if us Violets started calling her, she would see through that ruse too!!! Hugs--I know how tough it is. Word of Warning!!! I know you are excited, but seriously prepare yourself, seeing your daughter in pain is not easy, even if it IS for childbirth. Manda's labor was so heavily induced with her pre eclampsia, that the contractions hit hard and hung in there for longer than a natural contraction usually does, and it was HARD to watch. I wanted to MAKE her DH react and behave in a certain way---and he was right there, rubbing her back, and doing all he could, he was freaked out too!! Of course he did not have any medical background. She did, but was not prepared anyway she said!!! Tough it out, it passes, and just like Mom you forget it once that baby is here!! Pamela-enjoy your day. Is this something you are doing as a personal choice thing or is it in relation to your new civic post? I used to laugh my butt off brushing my dalmations teeth--what a struggle, and if I happened to gag her, her eyes got bigger than the pugs!! Poor thing!!! Suzanne, I would love to see the house. I am not so much into the theme stuff, but then again, I have no room like that!!! My theme....messy, homey, and fit for kids! Kinsey and I took a long walk to the park, played for awhile. Mailed my bills-------now I need to get ready to go to my inlaws so Rick can work on his Moms car. Fun.....NOT. BUT----his attention to his family, and his kind ways are part of what I fell in love with----so I tell myself, I would not want him to change, and simply tell them to spend money they cannot afford when it is something he can fix in a couple of hours. Instead I am going to go help if possible. The other thing is, he would do it for my Mom, or for me......so I need to behave!!! LOL BBL---maybe......maybe tomorrow! HUGS~ and HURRY baby!!!

Thanks so much green-------you know we have 3 kids, and it is always something, usually not anything as serious as this was, but they are always on my mind. I cannot for the life of me imagine 14---and loving them and being able to care for them in the way I do the ones I had. I being the key word. Not a caretaker, or an older sibling, but ME and my husband..........boggles my mind!

I've been known to kill threads before....in this case that would mean I'd won.....cool!!!

Pull you off? Hell I'd just perch next to ya!!! It has been a royal PITA to access the site lately. Hope everyone is well. Told some of you over on FB, we had bored HS kids decide to build themselves a fire on our back property....and the winds were kicking up. So ended up with the fire dept. and police here yesterday. Today Rick called and has a guy bringing several loads of fertilizer (aka manure!!!) to spread up there on Monday. We have a play area up there, with horseshoe pits, tetherball pole, net for badmitten/volleyball. All of it is down of course, but there is also a big area we use for a garden and a shady area under the BIG tree we just have garden furniture in during the summer. It is bare up there in the winter....and the fertilizer will help the soil, be all gone before we begin using it again, and will hopefully keep them away----it will reek for a few days anyway, and anytime it gets wet for awhile. The only one who is up there regularly is the neighbor-- he has chickens up on his part. He said he wanted to talk to the guys about bringing some to his garden area as well. Hope they don't just deal with the smell and gather it to burn!! Rick did hook me up a hose to the city Water supply just in case! I filed reports with everyone I could over it!!! I didn't do this crap when I was a kid, my kids never got in trouble for this kind of stuff, and I would have beat them senseless!! It is frustrating me, because I have seen the kids, they are well dressed and well groomed, they have nice backpacks....and nasty mouths! And there was a pipette up there, so they are smoking more than cigarettes, and I do not want that on my property! OK enough ranting! Rick is working on his Moms car this afternoon, then tonight I bought him tickets to a motocross event. Tomorrow we have a softball practice game at noon, then our Grandsons 3rd birthday at 4. And on Monday we are going to Albuquerque to get a welder Rick needs. So taking a few now to catch up!!! Will do some drive by posting. Have a friend waiting for a new grandbaby---have to check on that!! Everyone have a safe and fun weekend!!! HUGS!!

Judy, I can so sympathize with your position in all of the labor issues!!! I know you just want to pack a bag and move to their house, and just sit and stare at her!! LOL--Ok that may be a little extreme, but knowing you have to wait to be called, and sitting there not knowing, yet not wanting to keep calling and bugging them....that was the worst!!!!! I too am praying for a safe healthy baby---and also for a sane Grammy by the time he/she gets here--I remember this time and anxiety so well from Manda!! TracyK--no I do not see my new grandson often. I maybe could have scheduled a visit today, but I have Kinsey, and SOL does not want other children around him. And while I shouldn't play favorites with the grandkids--------I guess I do in a way. Kinsey is old enough to understand that I am leaving her somewhere to go see a baby she really wants to see herself. While Corvin is little and has no idea if I come or not. Add to that, that I seriously HATE being ordered by that 4 foot POS she married....so I stay away. They were invited to Connors 3rd birthday party tomorrow.....they MAILED a no RSVP. Not even a phone call. Just a little card with Smith's and the word Regrets. Truth is I will probably never be much in his life. Rick and I were talking about it in bed last night, and he says he is afraid of his own grandkids. Because they can be taken away so easily. With the sons situation, we expect her to take the kids and go to Arizona if they don't work it out. If Manda should decide to remarry someone away from here, she too could take Kinsey away. It is hard not being the one in control! Rick come up with a plan to help keep the kids off our hillside. We have a "play area" up there, that we have removed all the play items. The horsehoe pits are empty, the tetherball is down, the net is down for the badmitton/volleyball. Nothing to DO up there, but drink, smoke and sit around. The other area up there we have planted a garden in before---it is just grass now. But he called this morning, and has arrangements for a couple of guys Monday to deliver and spread several truckloads of fertilizer (aka manure) around up there. It will be pretty fragrant for a week or so....longer as it gets wet down and soaks in. Which by the time school is out, and they quit coming around, it will be soaked in, and WE can enjoy our land, and the fertilizer will actually help the soil. The only one it might affect was our neighbor who goes up there to tend to his chickens, and we ask him, and he is actually wanting to talk to them when they deliver about putting some in his garden area. It is far enough from the house we will only smell it if we are out and the wind is right.....but heck we are around it at the farm anyway, so WTH!! Hopefully the kids will not want to sit around in it, or go back to school smelling like farm boys! On the down side, if they do choose to gather it up, it will burn.....worth trying we decided. He did hook me up a hose to the city water---so if an emergency arises, I am ready next time. Rick is once again working on his Moms car this afternoon. Then tonight we are going to the motorcycle show I bought him tickets to. Manda, and her friend are taking Kinsey and going as well, in fact we are having dinner with them prior to going. Then tomorrow, we are getting together a quick softball practice, at noon, then have Connor's birthday party at 4. And Monday we are going to Albuquerque, to buy a welder Rick needs. So I might just do some drive by posts checking to see if Judy is a Grammy or a Grampy!!! Everyone take care, and have a fun weekend!!!

Well most of us figured that she thought this would be her way to fame. Add another check in the selfish column...... I think like Kaiser, a lot of people, and businesses along the way will feel taken advantage of simply because all of us know these babies and children are innocent bystanders in this fiasco. We feel taken advantage of because in order to help the kids, we end up helping her, and that goes against the grain! I hope that things are taken slowly enough to be careful that the kids---all 14, get the help and are able to be raised in a manner that kids deserve. I know kids do not need all the latest clothes and electronic gadgets to be raised properly....but they do deserve to live in a home that they can be regularly bathed, fed and sleep in. Which are all going to be very difficult for any ONE person to do. And while she can and would have to have help, a different person holding, rocking and feeding each of those infants each different day----would not allow them to bond with anyone....seems to me a circle is forming, she is raising kids even if there ARE 14 of them with no parent bond. I thought that was what she was trying to escape. I do not in any way support how she went about trying to make herself feel better about her life. I also am quite sure there are some deep mental issues working here. Maybe the irresponsible Dr. who allowed this to happen should pay for all her mental health care. Anyone heard anything new on the father to the babies---or is it to all the kids?

Judy.....THAT is what I forgot to say earlier! I like the name Grady.....if Kinsey had been a boy she would have been either Grady or Brady......both names on my Dads side....now as she has been researching my Moms side, she found a relative distantly that was named Keziah.....so she is entertaining that, even tho she says she is done with having kids! I like her choices in names. And as for middle names, the only way to find out what works is pretend to be mad and utter them through clenched teeth!!! LOL Kat

That is how I took it to Lu. Anyone wanna come help me kick some HS boys asses??? I own 3 lots behind my home here, they are up a hillside, in a beautiful area. There used to be a railroad run through it many years ago. After the RR was taken out, it just sat for years, then they offered the area behind our homes to all of us along the route. I have hell keeping the HS kids off of it. It is fenced, and posted as private property etc. They go up there and ditch school, and hang out, and drink and smoke....and we run them off everytime we catch them. I don't often go up by myself during the day as there are always several of them. Lately it has been 3-4 boys, rude as hell. Today they broke into my shed, took out the wheelbarrow, and set a fire in it....usually they light fires in our natural fire pit up there. Today the wind is blowing like hell 25-40 mph. So I guess they thought the WB would contain it....not! So I just had the police and fire dept. here putting out a fire. Lost a tree that was full grown, probably 15 years old. And have another mess to clean up. I want to hurt them! Supposedly now the school resource officer has a handle on it. They got some good shoe print casts, and they took some soda bottles and a pipette to fingerprint....for all the good it will do. It is just frustrating the hell outta me! Thanks for letting me vent about it!

Hey girls~ Just said goodbye to the firemen and policemen, the damn HS kids set my hillside on fire again. I think each year these kids get more worthless around here! We have 25 mph winds today with 40 mph gusts, so they built a fire in my wheelbarrow......that they broke into the shed to get.....and expected it to stay in the WB I guess. Well it is winter, and the only water I have up there is irrigation water, and the ditch is dry for the season, so had to call the FD. Actually the neighbor called, I was having lunch with the crew from Rick's work. Come home, and they were working on it. Filed the complaint, let them take some footprint casts, they took some soda bottles, a pipette (smoking crack up there too I guess), and I signed a waiver for the police and the school resource officer, who is also an officer, to access my yard and property at any time, with or without me here. As that is the best way to sneak up on the property. Then he went next door to my neighbors and got an ok to hide out in his chicken house at some point. Then the city will file the charges, I won't have to....in fact they encouraged me to come to the hearing and say point blank I do not want to file charges, so they would be less apt to retaliate after the fact. So I lost another tree.....and ended up really irate....and now my hives are howling! When I went up there the other day the kids--4 boys--------were up on the next hillside which is twice as high, heckling me. Then while I had Kinsey and Connor in the yard yesterday they meandered off my property like it was theirs. I did not want trouble because I had the kids, so I simply said "boys that is private property, please quit hanging out up there" To which I was told to F off. Then this today. Hope they catch them, as it is now, I am afraid to let Kinsey play in the yard alone. I blame some of it on my neighbor, he let them hang out up there for weeks before letting me know. He thought they were just sitting around, and was not bothered by it, until they decided to sit around in his Beemer he is restoring out there! THEN he gets upset. Well now they like it, they are settled. We got rid of our lawn furniture up there, so they had nowhere to sit. They rolled logs in from somewhere. We got rid of them, they brought more. We got rid of those last weekend....now all this. With the way the wind is blowing, I could have lost my house, and all my outbuildings, not just a $60.00 wheelbarrow. It is frustrating to say the least. Would LOVE to bury a wicked bear trap.....then I would hurt one of them and feel bad tho.....not to mention the going to jail thing!! Gonna go make sure there is nothing smoldering in this wind. BBL if the site will allow! Kat

I have been in a similar situation as what TracyKS is in now. The child support does need adjusted, but if she is the one to ask for the change, then she has to get the attorney to get things going....which costs money, which is the basis of the problem! Anyway that is how it worked for me, for years with Manda's dad. He remarried, and had 4 more kids, and a huge home----and I struggled! Tried to get him to take Manda during the end of my 2nd marriage when the abuse was at its worst, and he refused. I know it is little consolation now Tracy--but I fully believe what goes around comes around.....and the tables will turn! Manda's Dad, continued through the years to be unfaithful (have to admit it was nice realizing it was not me....not something I did right or wrong, it was HIS issues) So he ended up divorced again, but by then she had run up credit card bills so high they re-fi'd the house, and ended up losing it. Then he moved in with a former friend of mine, together they have spent the last few years drinking themselves into oblivion. Just the other day Manda said she kicked him out, because she wanted to sober up (for the umpteenth time, hopefully for her and her family she can do it this time). So now her sister who lived with them, the one we consider ours....is having to move back with her Mom and her boyfriend who do not want her, because her Dad is going to be living in the motor home. My home is not as huge or fancy as the one he had and lost. But it is mine, and it does not have wheels! I do not have alcohol issues. I have kids who love me. Overall a life to be proud of. I did not purposely or willingly let my child down, he will never be able to say that. I Won. And Tracy, so will you! My opinion on your going on these little trips etc. is kind of like leaving a kid in Kindergarten the first few days, they feel abandoned, but they realize after the first few times, you are coming back, and when you come back happy and refreshed and happy to see them rather that resenting them for not going-------they will be ok! Now.....if you can find ANYTHING that the ex is doing that is against the divorce agreement or if an attorney will take it based on you having a child to raise that you are paying for....File the papers and include attorney fees and legal fees in the filing! Rick ask me if Kinsey and I wanted to go to lunch with one of his coworkers and his girlfriend---we used to hang together at the ballpark, we get along well so I said ok. I was supposed to go to the restaurant a bit early and get us a table. Well word of it got out, and he calls and says there will be 11 people. NOT what I agreed to, and half the time these guys think since Rick is the boss he should pay! I plan on ordering first and stating very plainly it will all be on separate checks---and to please add gratuity to the tickets. Otherwise some of them will not tip. Morons! Jane, my new grandson is Corvin, and he is already over 10 pounds!!!! He is an eater. I had Kinsey and Connor in the back of the shopping cart in Home Depot yesterday and had 2 people comment on the twins!!! Nope! And Ali just had her US, and there is only one baby there! Unable to tell what it is yet....but the US pic is awesome!!! Sorry you are in such pain again Laura!!! Rick and I are both Leo's and neither one really fit the profiling, although I do more than he does. He HATES being in the spotlight more than anything!! Heather, I have no real idea of what Alex looks for when he contacts people for being moderators.....he ask a couple of times before I agreed! I don't do a lot, and usually refer to him or Susan before taking much action other than reminding people of the rules. I make contact with newbies, and welcome them to the site, delete spam posts....mostly just monitor and sometimes warn!! I am picky where I monitor in R&R------I have to be careful, I get pissy!!! LOL Better go, Kinsey wants to write!

Snt---while DH and I do not have the issues you do with the MIL situation, and we DO have one anothers backs most of the time, even in family situations.....it is not just your DH. There is a fine line for most of us--where WE can say absolutely anything mean or hateful about those we love, but no one else can. Be it your spouse to your family....or your family to your spouse. I am NOT defending him. Just saying that it is a normal response. I am sure he knows it is different with his Mom, but he wants it to be the way he imagines it! I was that way when I was in a bad marriage, I so wanted it to be different, everyone around me was trash talking him to me I thought, and now in hindsight, they were just being honest, and trying to help me, but I so wanted it to be different, in my ears all I heard was them trash talking. It wasn't really the end of the marriage I was mourning, it was the death of my dreams of what the marriage would be. So if Mom just moved in, it may take him awhile, to recognize that what he had hoped would happen when she moved near, is not happening that way at all. I would continue to be honest and stand my ground, I am only saying that it isn't really that he is choosing her and her ways, or choosing to be treated like crap. He is hoping with all his heart things will change! It is like the puppy that comes up and licks the hand of the idiot who just kicked him, as opposed to biting it----he is just wanting the love that she has not given him in the proper manner. You have.....so he is not trying to win you over--he is trying to win her over. At least that is how I ended up seeing it with my family. I was not turning my back on them. They loved me, I was working my ass off to make HIM love me the way I wanted him to. Well that was never gonna happen. And in the end I am glad it didn't---I moved on and ended up in a much better place. But it was, what it was, at the time. My heart goes out to both of you! Kat

I agree Diva....awesome avitar!!! Glouc, my DIL is dealing with similar issues, she and my son discovered when they went to get pre qualified for a home about a year ago---her birth Mom has used her info all over the place. She was raised by her Grandma who is begging her not to file charges, and disrupt the family.... I am so sorry you got done the same way. Plain, are you auditioning for the Brokeback Mountain sequal.....Reach Around Ridge????? snt----I wish I had an AHA moment of an idea for you, I am afraid it is gonna get ugly before she moves on, and whatever you do, make sure it is moves on, not moves IN! Make her dislike the hell outta you NOW!! I feel lost when LBT goes down....but amazingly all my work is done at the end of the day....imagine!!

One of the gossip mags I scanned headlines in while waiting to check out at the grocery store, has a story that she wants more kids....but we all know how unreliable those are!!! I did not watch Dr. Phil. Can not stand that man and his condescending attitude, and then add her in the mix....no thank you!!!! LOL I have no dount whatsoever, that his was done as an attention getter and money maker through ratings. If helping her gets him more recognition, I think he will do it. But alas, we have not got our local land line to God to tell us what is really going on........

Hey girls~ Busy day here, I had both Kinsey and Connor today. And let me tell you that little boy keeps me busy!!! Roasted a chicken and made salad for dinner. Made a cheesecake for Rick, but it isn't really calling me. I am waiting to hear back from my Dr. about a hopeful fill come Monday, I am ready to get this show back on the road. The hives are finally easing. I am back to where I was prior to Manda getting sick. I see my PCP next Thursday and am going to try to go off the steroids---which was HIS advice, and we are going to try an antidepressant, which will work for anxiety. Hope like heck it works!! Was another beautiful day here. We had to run to Home Depot and pick up an angle grinder for Rick. I almost took the kids to the park, but Connor does not mind well enough yet to have him in such an uncontrolled situation, when I cannot just chase after him if necessary. Kinsey I have no issue with her minding. Connor develops deafness at will!!! If he does not like what he is hearing, he simply pretends not to hear and goes on about his business. Something we worked on today!! He will be 3 on Tuesday. Party on Sunday--could be an interesting situation. It is rife with drama. Rick's ex and her parents have not spoke since she was committed last time, and he has been staying over there when Ryan is not home. He knows Rick will make him face his responsibilities in a different way, so he basically is avoiding us.......he will talk on the phone so if the conversation goes in a direction he doesn't like...then something comes up and he has to go!!! He has ask repeatedly for her to go to marriage counselling with him, and she refuses, saying he will not listen, so it is pointless. Yet she cries and begs him to come home. He has taken Connor, and they have been civil, but he swears unless changes occur he is not changing his mind, and he wants some sort of counselling for them both, and she is standing strong against it....so it is a standoff now. His ex is being part of the problem---when she heard they split, she is trying to get in the middle of it. And she plans on bringing the kids to the birthday party. Tonight our son told Rick he told her if he could not pick them up and take them to the party then they simply were not invited. He said she got all huffy and said no one could stop her from being in the restaurant. Like I say, it could be interesting...... Surprised Rick with tickets to the motorcycle races and motocross races, along with a stunt show for Saturday night. He was happy!!! Well, I am going to go cruise some threads, I have not done a single moderating thing in weeks!!! Will catch you all later!! XOXO Kat

I just updated my ticker....honesty sucks btw!! Jane we are not failures.....slow learners maybe!!! Will check out the recipe Terry---I am always on the lookout for something new....I get in a rut, and cook the same things over and over again it seems! Kat

Hey girls~ Home again. Took my Mom to the Dr. she is having surgery on her hand next month. She has some sort of issue with the tendons or something in her middle finger, when she bends it....it stays bent, she has to physically pry it back up. It is sooooo painful sounding when she does it, and she catches her breath, so I am sure it is. He said it is a minor surgery, small incision in the hand at the base of her finger. She will be numb from the elbow down, and just heavily medicated with verced and demerol rather than general anesthesia. My Dad went yesterday and he has bronchitis. He feels miserable. Since my Mom doesn't drive except locally, I took her since he couldn't. I slept terrible last night. Took forever to fall asleep, and then I kept waking up. I am soooooo sleepy right now, I could go for a looooong nap, Not so with Kinsey, she is hyped up! Not sure yet about me and the trip, hoping things with Rick's job settle down and I can see my way clear without putting a kink in things. If he gets laid off it will put a shut down on most things fun! I am seriously tired, and my neck aches. I didn't even want to take Kinsey and go riding, I cannot imagine throwing a saddle right now...even thinking of changing into my boots is draining. Just poured me a small glass of Diet Dr. Pepper, WITH caffeine--------maybe it will jump start me!! The weather is so wonderful outside! It is mid to high 60's....no coats, shirt sleeves are fine. I am not in the least bit jealous of Judy's snow. Now come summer when we are in the midst of a draught, I very well might wish I had felt differently! Gotta tell you what happen yesterday afternoon. Rick's friend who is staying out back (in a motor home--while waiting to take possession of his house on 3/1 post divorce) had brought his granddaughter Aubri over...she is 3. He had her swinging in the back yard when we come home. Kinsey saw them and out she run to play. Pretty soon, Kinsey come in and got some dolls and went back out. I was putting away groceries, and could hear them chattering away, and knew that he was out there with them, so just let them be. Pretty soon he knocked on my kitchen window and told me to come out for a second, and there sitting on the lawn swing were the 2 girls and their Barbies. One little blonde girl on one side, with a black Valentines Day Barbie, and on the other side of the swing, is the cutest little black girl with the Blonde Valentines Day Barbie!!! He said they cracked him up, they did it on their own with no discussion at all! And that is how they played with them. They sent them down the slide, and rode them on the trike. Then when Manda come to get Kinsey she kinda fussed about going, and then she tells her Mama, she wants hair like Aubries, because they had it all braided up!! Cracked me up! Well I am off to clean out the fridge, and peel some potatoes....try to get things ready for dinner, when I really just wanna sleep!!! TracyK---not sure what is on your mind sweetie, but know my thoughts are with you!! (((hugs))) Kat Kat

I am off to dinner at my inlaws. I too lost a post Judy!!! I was telling Michelle in the other post that the Meemaw and Granny ARE country...We ARE country!!! In fact my MIL takes country to the hillbilly level!!! If you go to Wikipedia, I think her pic is under the Hillbilly heading!!! She does not say can't....she says cayn't. She does not cook with oil, she cooks with ole. She does not have arms, she has orms. She wears her VERY long naturally gray hair in the age old bun on top of her head every day...EVERY day! She is losing her teeth, and has not been to a dentist in decades. She is likely to call anyone and everyone Sugar at some point. She is eccentric, and hillbilly....and 80+ years old and allowed to be I suppose!!! Me I am country, and Granny was a "I can if I want" kind of thing, and now I love it. Your Mom will come to realize it doesn't really matter WHAT they call you as long as they continue to call you something. Any name they give you in those sweet little voices is wonderful! Well I am off to dinner---BIL is in town. Could be a bit stressful if she chooses to trash talk my son tonight!!! Wish me luck!!! Had an AWESOME ride today-Kinsey fell asleep in the saddle!!! Kat