Kat817

I'm baaaaack!!! You Texans can relax now!! LOL Was an overall good trip. My grandsons have grown like little weeds! Connor is now as tall as Kinsey---he was several inches shorter when they left in June---seriously, I have the pitures! Now they are even Steven. Garrick is walking, and attempting to run, probably could have if he was in familiar surroundings. He will suddenly decide to share his kisses, and he puckers up, with the absolutely most perfect little lips---any female I know would love to have his lips!! Not Angelina full, but perfect! He is starting to talk, and chatters unintelligible things when ask a question. Took him a few minutes to remember everyone---but he was standing at the door to my inlaws bedroom, and MIL said something to him that triggered, and his entire look changed, and he just run at her with his arms in the air, it was so cute! Cows are in, water gaps worked on---they are a no win situation....so hopefully it helps. Kinsey did wonderful! She behaved so well, and travelled good, loved being with Connor! She learned to ride the ATV, and was glued to her Papa's side, if he was outside working, she was right with him! We had a blow out on the way home. 70 mph, in a van, pulling a trailer! Could have been bad, but the guy in the outside lane we were passing, was paying close attention, he slowed, swerved into our lane, giving us a clear path off the road. Got the donut on (Rick kept saying that thing had to go....then forgot it!!) Drove on to Clovis NM, and found the tire store and bought 2 new ones. He refuses to replace one, he says it makes a difference. So the woman at the counter could not get it through her head what we wanted. The blown out tire and wheel are sitting on the trailer we were pulling---we want one new tire on that wheel, and the other new tire on the other back wheel, then rotate them, and put the new tires on the front, it is a front wheel drive vehicle.....omg, she could not get it! Well there was a little man in there, trying to find a cheap tire to use on his oldsmobile, he could not afford much, but he sure needed a tire he said, he was telling the woman about delivering meals on wheels, and she was just rude, she didn't care. Rick noticed he was given the same prices we were, so he ask what size of tire, and ended up giving our extra tire---that we were originally going to use as a spare to this man, and paid to have it mounted and balanced for him. The little man was so happy, and grateful! Anyway with all that, and unloading parents, and granddaughter---we finally got home about 8:30 last night! Thanks for all the great thoughts, it WAS a good time, of course had its moments, but worth it! I have personals for everyone---but Rick just got up, I am going to visit with him, and will be back---I missed y'all!!!

Well this is it---It is after 10, and I am back up at 2!! LOL, Rick is sleeping, and I will be able to in the car if need be. Kinsey will let me sleep, she has her DS, and DVD player both. MIL is the one who does not think passengers should sleep! But I will be behind her!!! I am putting Rick and his Dad up front, his Mom in the center, and Kinsey and I in the back seat of the van. It is a bench, and bigger for the 2 of us, and I would prefer to be the one to tend to her thousand issues---y'all know how travelling is, it is a constant state of "where is this, and what did we do with that?" LOL BBQ with the family was great, saw family here from California, and Washington state, Colorado, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and bunches from NM. Lots more due in tonight for tomorrow and Sunday. Hate missing it. I have a cousin in ABQ who has a rare form of luekemia, and he was there tonight. We got a chance to sit and talk for quite awhile, was really good. I also had a chance to visit with another cousin who is now a pilot---might have found a connection for some discounted flights---LOVE that! Anyway, it was harder on Manda tonight than she expected. I had her sit down here at the desk top and print me out a medical release for Kinsey. Kinsey is just excited, she does not realize she is going to be gone from Mommy for longer than a couple of days. But we will be fine. She told everyone who would listen tonight she was going to Texas with her Papa and Gran! Will check in if I get a chance. If not I'll be here within the week I'd guess! One of those cases of expect me when you see me! LOl Take care everyone, and I'll miss you!

As with anything, it is great for some, not for others. My SIL and I were banded the same day by the same Dr. and have have totally different experiences! Totally! She lost fast, went to goal, before I did by a long shot! Then she got too tight, and began throwing everything up, our Dr. is 6 hours away, so it is not a quick trip to be checked. Well in my opinion she handled it poorly....and has since begun letting her DD who has experiences with ports, fill her and unfill her at home. She vomits every day, she is gaining weight back rapidly---and has seriously compromised her health. She said this morning on the phone, she told her pharmacist, she would never recommend it, and wishes she had never done it, and would NOT do it again. BUT.....the band did not fail her....She failed her band. She is not doing things in any way right. But she would and may have for all I know voted NO. It does not cure hunger for everyone, many but not all. It did mine instantly, she says she is always hungry. Same Dr. different results. She likes the Pasta and potatoes and such, and has trouble eating them, so is disappointed more often than not with her diet. I prefer other foods, so it worked better for me. I too wish those with other experiences would voice them, but often they get bashed if they are not happy bandsters. It is NOT for everyone. It WON'T work 100% of the time. It is NOT a guarantee you will not regain weight. It CAN be eaten around, and you continue to gain even with a band. Until your head is in the game, it is a hard thing to lose even with the band. But when it all comes together, and you are ready, and the band is there to help----it is an awesome combination!!! And it works for lots of us!!!

Kinsey is going to Tx with us....figured she would. Today was show and tell, and the letters were C & D. Whatever she brought needed to begin with one of those letters. She chose to take her cast from when she broke her leg. We were there taking her snacks (her Friday), so got to watch her do her show and tell. She walks up there with this tiny hot pink cast, which had been totally decorated up. Granny got a little crazy with the glue gun, and rhinestones!! LOL Anyway, she tells them "This is my cast, from when I broke my leg. It starts with C, not leg, it starts with something we haven't been told yet, but cast starts with C!" Right away one little girl says it is too little to be hers. Kinsey tells her she was 2 or 3 when she broke it, so she was pretty little. Then this little boy asks her how she broke her leg. Her eyes lit up and she says in a total skateboard twang " I was doing this sick trick, and jumped off my toybox, and when I landed on the floor covered in toys it broke my leg, it was totally lame, I couldn't walk for a long time!" Sick trick? Totally lame? Who is this child??? Jenn, I can't believe your hair is falling out so fast! Mine takes awhile even with stress or diet. Back when they give us the horrid diagnosis on Manda, it fell out heavily, but it was a couple of weeks down the road. Poor you, I know it sucks. Even with my chemo, it seemed a slow process, finally I buzzed it, and when that got scarce----I lifted the rest off with the sticky side of duct tape!! Now there is a use you never thought of with duct tape isn't it!!?? Got to go to my least favorite Aunts house tonight. She is extremely fake. She talks in a little girl voice, and pretends to be all peaches and cream sweet----I know better, she and I have locked horns before! She had the audacity (not to mention stupidity) to slap my daughter across the lips when she was 3 for interupting a conversation the Aunt and my Mom were having. I damn near decked the woman. No one slaps my child in the face. I was literally--not figuratively, but literally nose to nose with her teeth clenched holding my temper at bay, and we left. She never actually apologized, she tried to downplay it, and tried to explain to me how children need to be disciplined. Yes they do, and if you wanna smack em on the hiney, that is one thing, do NOT slap them! The one and only time she has ever been slapped. And we rub it in now.....she has a granddaughter now that all hell would have broke loose if anyone slapped. So Manda being Manda will wait til there is a dozen people around, whether there or at a church pot luck and say something about Aunt Karen being the only person in the world to ever slap her in the face!!! I love it, I can see my Aunt wanting to do it again!!! LMAO Anyway the family reunion begins there tonight. I am missing the rest, so will go to this. Otherwise I would have skipped it and hit the rest. Looks like we will be gone anywhere from 4-7 days----depends on what is going on, and what we decide to do while we are there. Since cows are in......it could be a quick one still. Kinseys teacher just sent her weeks worth of work, and told her to have fun. So we are going to get some post cards for her to take back. Better get with it, kitchen needs cleaned before we go. I had it cleaned once......then cooked! Made baked beans to go out there tonight. Will try to check in later, if not----I will use aunties computer if I get a chance.....will miss you all!!! Trey---I am going to Comanche....a small town SE of Abilene. Between Brownwood and Stephenville. Will PM you a ph. # if it is anywhere near you, give us a call and we will try to meet up! Hugs all!!!

I can eat the bread, but a few bites in and I am done---no more than 2 inches of a 6" sub. I do it on occasion when everyone is going there---but I usually will try to do something without that much bread---just because it fills me up so fast, without being of any nutritional value. Much better for me to fill that space with veggies or something healthy than the bread. But there are those days it is just exactly what I want!!! And I love having the ability to eat some of it to satisfy that, and go on, and know I did not wolf down an entire sandwich! The first few bites are the ones with the taste satisfaction anyway, and we get those!!! Good Luck to you. I agree, if you want to maintain a diet similar to what you ate before, beware of going too tight.

I am over 4 years out. I made it to goal weight, in about a year and a half. Then had some health issues, non band related, due to a traumatic health diagnosis on my DD, and was put on steroids. That combined with the unfill for my own surgery....I let myself forget it all, and regained almost 40 pounds! I have got some of it off, but I am healthy. I take ZERO prescription medications anymore. My joints don't ache. Blood pressure, blood sugar, all is good. I no longer wear a size 22/24---I wear 10's. If I get back to the single digit sizes Great, if not....I feel wonderful here. I eat normally, I do not feel ostracized and unable to eat certain foods. And I love the knowledge it is adjustable to what I need when. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have recommended it over and over again!

Yeah Jenn, I had to laugh thinking of me in a cropped top! Granted I would soon wear one now than 5 years ago! I cringe for those poor people and how they have to dress for the Biggest Loser. That alone would have held me back from even thinking of trying out! Ricks stuff is packed, house stuff is packed....mine is spread across the bed, awaiting packing. Food drew me away. So sitting here talking to y'all and eating! Don't ask what! Should hear from Manda soon to know whether Kinsey is going or not. We worked on her name for awhile, and now the only thing she insists on getting backwards is the slant of her y! She did her weekly letter test perfect---nothing backwards! And recognizing the same letter in a different order in another word, is not a problem, and that is what we were told to watch for. Like seeing an "a" at the beginning of the word apple, does she see it and write it the same if it is in the middle like in car. And she sees it, recognizes it, and writes it the same each time. O M G Y'all ain't gonna believe this shit! Our cows are all in! There are none missing, seems they went across the water gap, and the water went up, so they were stuck, it is down they wandered home...guess some little cow birdie come in the night and told her this!!! NO reason to go to TX now, but damned if I'm not going, I am seeing those grandsons! I KNEW she was messing with us. I told y'all that! I honestly don't think she sat and plotted, but she is losing it mentally quicker than I like to admit, and when she sets her mind that something is a certain way....it is! Oh well, less work for us there, will be fine by me. LOL who am I kidding? My FIL is going, he can find work to be done if Rick is around. Never Fails....NEVER. It is kind of a relief, I am not fond of going onto other peoples property and cutting a herd of cattle. We went on a neighbors property once to repair our mutual fence, and we drove over, well they drive a truck to throw supplemental feed, because they have a herd of well over 600 cows. When they heard the truck, they come a runnin'!!! 600 cows running at ya is kind of intimidating!!! Well........better get busy. I called Rick back and apologized for losing it....yeah, I lost it! She won't call me, it is better to call him at work. Which could be true, he apparantly didn't lose it!!! LOL He just laughed at me.....he expected it he said. He even laughed at me with the laugh I love so much!!! Oh and I don't have see through clothes, I have those new t shirts, that are thinner in some areas---that is what Rick was talking about, I ask, because I was thinking, maybe I have ones I don't know are see through, and I am sharing my rolls with everyone!!! Gotta go----see ya in awhile.

LOL, Jenn, me wearing your shirt, might be more than poor ol' Trey's heart could handle, or any other innocent soul out there. You are much shorter than I am......and Michelle is not alone in that Saggin' Wagon! I would look like the internet cartoon of the old lady with her titties hanging out the bottom of her shirt!!! Guess I am not without semi transparent clothing, I ask Rick if I had anything almost see through---intending it to be a joke, but he looked at me and replied "is a frogs ass watertight?" Uh, guess maybe somewhere they are hiding!!! LOL Suzanne, how far would this trip be for you? Rick and I just booked a mini vacay---he is feeling very guilty (without cause) about this trip, he feels his Mom was in a manipulative mood! DUH! But, in her defense, she is in a very emotional place with her granddaughter, and she can't DO anything, so she is on a tear to DO something to fix all other problems! Anyway, we were going to use this week of vacation and do something of MY choice, since he chose to go to Sturgis for his 50th. But..... So today I was watching GMA and they had a segment on about Fall travel specials. From Austin TX to Las Vegas NV, airfare, and 4 days 3 nights at Circus Circus for $300.00. So I called to get a price from ABQ, and it is $271.00. We are planning to go between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Should be a fun time, and will be our Christmas to one another! I have tore this house apart looking for the FM modulator for the IPOD. I can't help but think it got left in Becky's truck coming home from Sturgis. It is not to be found. And a black shirt, is also MIA. Everything is ready to go, ATV's loaded. Wheels on the trailer repacked----van cleaned. We have a family reunion picnic tomorrow night, so won't have much time at home for Rick to do anything before we leave, he works tomorrow from 6-5, then picnic at 6....and we are leaving at 3 AM on Sat. Morning. Will find out tomorrow if I am taking Kinsey. I hope so. I think the trip will be hard for her...but she will be so happy to see Connor!!! Well, I am going to tear the desk apart and see if I have hid the modulator from myself. See y'all tomorrow!

Oh my----I feel so ALL important!!! We will likely stick to our original plan of being there the 2nd week of November. But crap, now I have a dilemma. Where I live, we actually get winter, so all the clothes in the stores now are winter clothes----where am I gonna find a transparent shirt this time of year????? Jenn----you really behaved quiet calmly in SA. Myself, an old married woman, and another woman, who "wasn't their type"---had to practically drag you up to the pool table and dance floor in the Gruene Hall! And who got pictures of them put on, dancing with strange men? I did! He wasn't strange, just that I was the one dancing! LOL Was a fun time, not the place to go with that group, but fun anyway! LOL I need to pack! Guess laundry should go first! LOL Debbie, how cool, was the card in addition to being paid, or was that how they paid you? Teacher conferences already Cindy? Wow, I know Kinsey brought home a progress report. She is having the usual Kindergarten issues, lower case b, d and q confuse her. And she still tends to round some of her "r" sounds, but not all so it is habit, not speech problems. Showing some possible tendencies to be dyslexic---her Dad is---but with repetition, she turns her letters around then and remembers them. For awhile she wrote her Ki right then the nsey was ALL backwards. But she is doing in right now. Hopefully she doesn't end up with the problems, but we will deal with it if so. Michelle, when do you plan to go to the hardware store? I would enjoy that type of retail, it is not "fussy"!!! I liked retail work---the mental side of it, figuring out how to display something, or add to it, to make the sale is a challenge I enjoyed! The customer side....ehhhh not so much! LOL Tracy---Kinsey says she wants to be a ladybug. Or a dead bride. LOL Who knows where that come from, before school, we could trace some of the wierd thoughts---not so any more! Macy made such a cute witch! Maybe she needs to be a witch with a crystal ball so she can see-look (or whatever---I lost the thought) even better! Will catch the rest of you in awhile, time to change the laundry.

Oh hell yeah, I see a nice little get together happening! Yes Trey, Louisiana, my son transferred there with work the beginning of summer, taking my 1 & 4 year old grandsons with him---when everyone knows they should have been left with me! LOL So yes, you are invited to the whole get together, and yes when we go see the kids, I will definitely give you a call for dinner! Michelle, I hope it is ok with you, I added you to our church prayer chain, I figure it can't hurt! Damn, company BBL

Angela, I made a lasagna in one of the plastic dishes, for a pot luck, and it looked great, but when I went through the serving line, it was crunchy on the bottom. I couldn't do anything about it---but yeah, it transmits heat much faster than regular cookware---they should warn you. Some cake mixes actually brownies maybe on the mix it says if you are using dark non stick, to cook a different time, so it DOES matter. Sorry you had it happen at a crucial time. cinnamon rolls.......mmmmm I am trying to focus on the visit with the boys. It is hard to ignore the other, but I am. In fact she has not spoken a word to me, ignores my calls, instead calls Rick at work. he was mad, she called 4 times in a row, he was in a meeting, having to write a guy up, and he waits, and calls back. She said she figured they had a truck running, and he couldn't hear. She was calling to say, that we would have to pick them up because they didn't want their car left over here all weekend....duh! LOL Feel better Jenn, what happen with the accident? Your mistake or someone elses? I am supposed to be getting on track again with Rick, so far all we have managed to do is NOT buy ice cream! Nothign else has changed!!! LOL We are pathetic! Suzie, I think we relate quite similarly to you going to your sisters, and me to my inlaws. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that you love her dearly---I DO love my inlaws, they are good hearted people, but they USE me up! Use Rick up, and I hate that, it irritates me and makes me feel petty. Yeah our niece has had drug issues for years, but the Mom and Dad, and grandparents refused to acknowledge it for a long time, and her sisters told them, but it fell on deaf ears. Then the blame game, it was the husband, well he is gone, then the boyfriend, now he is gone, then the friends, but they change every week---the only common denominator is her....she has a problem, and I pray she gets help. She was such a good kid, reminded me much of Rick when he was younger. Saddens me. Well I need to get busy, I have not set anything aside to pack or anything. Now I need to get going! Will check in later today!

Manda won't be going....but maybe Kinsey. I know you will all find this impossible to believe, but now my MIL is going! Since she found out the kids are going to be there, she will not stay away and let the "boys" have some time. Sorry, I love her, I really do, but it just kinda wilted the trip. Traveling with her is hard to say the least. We must stop every 100 miles, and she stares at the odometer or the milepost signs so she is on target---so she can get out and move. She drives no faster than 55 regardless of the speed limit, and prefers about 45. And when Rick hits 80...she starts telling him, about how she has never had a ticket! You do not eat when you get hungry, and they don't like to snack much in the car, because they are both diabetic, and it is hard to find appropriate snacks (?)--you eat by the clock! At 8, again at noon, and again at 5:30. Anyway, I am still excited to see my boys, just not excited about the trip. And I will tell you what, if those cows are all found in our intact fences, then I WILL have my say. They will both go, but we will foot the bill. All the fuel, the food etc. It would have been our expense if neither of them had went so it shouldn't matter, but it still bugs me, my parents would not be this way. Rick's niece, is in jail. She has a drug problem, was on probations and had a dirty UA. Well come to find out she stole over $3000.00 from his sisters account, before going to jail. They are all worried over her kicking the habit (meth)...I personally worry that if she stole the 3K, then she owes someone, and they want their money...they don't take "payments". It worries me for her safety, before worrying about the "kicking the habit". Anyway, every single conversation with his Mom at this point is about this girl---her granddaughter. I cannot imagine it being Kinsey and me being blase about it. But the same conversation for an hour a day is difficult, but 12 hours in a van together, then in the same house, then 12 more in the van.....make me feel like hyperventilating. They all ---MIL SIL etc enabled the girl, now here she is. Maybe it is time she paid the dues---keep her away from her "friends" but they are all trying to come up with ways to bail her out of the jam she is in. Kinsey stayed with us tonight while Manda and her new friend went to dinner. We bought a new game called Candy Land Wheel. Done with the characters and color thing of Candy Land, it is different enough to keep her well entertained! She won a round, I won a round then Rick won, so we quit then!!! I played an Opposite memory card game with her after school today. Basic memory, only the cards are opposites, you find hot and cold, or over and under etc. She kicked my butt fair and square!!! OMG I had not realized how my memory has failed! WOW---no going easy on her either, she out and out beat me! Going to go rub Rick's back, he is stressed pretty good over all this too. Poor Guy!

I really AM happy to be planning to see my boys....but overall, just decided I need to do more tail wagging, and less growling and barking. I wasn't getting anywhere with my bad attitude. And wierd as it was, as soon as I changed my perspective, things fell in, and now I get to see my grandsons!!! So....I went shopping! LOL, just little fun things they can play with while we are there. psssssst don't tell, but I am going to try to take Kinsey with us! She and Connor love one another so much, I know they would both be thrilled! Manda is going to speak to her teacher when she takes snacks in on Friday, and depending on that whether she gets to miss the 3 days or not. Well I have to unload things from the car and fold some towels, and figure out something for dinner----any suggestions????

I'M GOIN' TO TEXAS!!!!!!!! Going to go see my boys!!!! The kids are going to meet us there. Wild horses can NOT keep me away now!!! Connor kisses and Garrick snuggles coming my way!!!! This is one happy Granny! Angela I am so sorry for your Uncle, at least he is at the best place possible for treatment! Prayers headed that way for all of you. Off to shop for goodies to take to my boys!

Oh Jenn---let us know what happen...and feel better. Poor you, accidents suck, but when you think of what could have happen.......you are here, and typing, so it is all good! Angela, OF COURSE, I mean to include you when I see bossy ol' Tracy! LMAO! If I say that too much I might need you for protection! The only place that looks like it is above a blink in the road between Comanche and Deer Park, is Temple----little further for y'all than it would be for me. Unless ya wanna add my 12 hours to get to Comanche from here!!! LOL Cindy, I KNOW in the next several months, at some point or another, we plan to go see our kids in Bossier City----so if we fail to all hook up at once, I will be in contact then for sure! Well as it sits right now, Rick is leaving on either Sat. PM or Sun. AM I am contemplating going with him. His Dad is not much help when it comes to things anymore, and it usually takes more than one person to herd a cow especially with a calf, and supposedly there may be more than the one out....we have no idea. They graze an 80 acre section of land. There are 2 tanks (ponds) and a creek. When the creek gets high, if they are on the other side, they are stuck til the water level drops. She was rather a unique looking cow, with an Angus calf, so she could have been taken. There is also always the possibility that a hunter took them out, it has happen before---we find dead cattle more frequently than you would think. No one has been over the full 80 acres. We do not expect anyone else to do that...it is ours to deal with ultimately. They also could have just gotten out onto land owned by other family members, so it would not be an issue. The worries are that if they are on another ranchers land, he could sell them---taking our profit...and the worse case scenario, is that they get on a roadway and cause an accident, for which we as the cattle owner are liabel. We are a few miles off the hiway on the dirt---with lots of prime grazing, and lots of baled hay between them and the road, but you still worry. According to MIL, there are no pecans on the trees, so a trip in November is optional. Not to me, I want to see my grandsons! I mentioned going with Rick so I could cook, and help him some, and she was telling me about how they could use some "just boys" time. Uhhhh helllo? One is 50,and one over 80, they are not "boys" and my "boy" might like a little help! Manda is off interviewing for a new position within BP, at the local office, rather than the one up north. Would change her drive time to about 15 minutes as opposed to an hour, and through flat lands rather than the hills she drives in Colorado snow. Hope she finds it to her liking. The job has actually been offered, she is just sitting in on meetings, to see if it is something she would like to do. Michelle, help us help you, maybe you can be our impetus for us all to get some weight off!!! You might have it on your signature, but how much more do you want to lose? Debbie, thanks, headache returning, was likely me grinding my teeth in frustration!!! LOL, my inlaws can be so uncaring of things it just pisses me off. It is THEIR way only---no concern it seems. And yet, she would throw herself in front of a train to save any one of her kids, Rick included. But did they even think, or consider another one of the 4 kids taking time off (one is not working at all, she is at home) to help in this? Nope! Why? Because they claim this is our cow.....we'll see. The cousin down there thinks otherwise! Oh well, I will quit complaining about it. It is, what it is, and if we end up going we will enjoy our time together. If he goes alone, he will have lots of time with his Dad---it will all be ok. We will have more vacation time next year... done. Gotta get some things ready to go to the PO.

Well Michelle, I am so sorry the diagnosis was not positive, but at least you know now what you are dealing with, and can begin treating the symptoms as they arise. The unknown, and being treated like you are just whiny or drug hunting is horrible. We will keep you in our prayers, and be with you here during the highs and lows as you deal with this. When you feel like crying, and feeling sorry for yourself, we understand----and are here for you during those times. As you learn about it, please keep us informed too---we can better help you through the hard times, if we too know what is going on. If you need help, ask your sister, it might help her to help you right now. Nothing much changed on the TX deal. Looks like Rick, maybe both of us will be leaving either Sat. afternoon or Sun. morning. I have a family reunion on Fri. night and Sat. I told him it pissed me off, he missed the last one, because he was out of town working. So much to his Dads unhappiness, he put him off from tomorrow until Sunday. Tuff cookies! He is jumping through hoops for them anyway.grrrrrrr So he tells his Dad he is going to go down, and then when we go in November, he is selling ALL our cows. His Dad did not like that!!! That is his ace in the hole, when he needs to go, he backs it with something to do with ours as well. So....that means in order to keep his ag tax break, he either has to come up with and buy more himself, or grow crop, or something. Rick has tried to convince him to sell their cows, and lease the land for grazing---which would maintain the tax break. He says he would rather die----which is such a mind trip it just pisses me off, and upsets Rick. So anyway---if I up and disappear.....you will know why and where. Tracy I looked it up and I am about 5 hours directly NW of you. If we can figure it out in Nov. it would be better, this is going to be down, gather in cattle fix the fence, and head back home, hopefully in 3, max 4 days. Kills me to do it. Suzanne, I am mailing a package your way probably tomorrow---keep an eye out! Again, hugs to you Michelle----we are here with you.

Well...figure it out!!!! I meant how far from you to Comanche TX. That's all...... but it likely doesn't matter. You guys just make your plans without me. Now my MIL called my DH at work on his cell as she does when she wants me left out of the issue. And she wants him to go to TX TODAY! Right now! Seems we (as in Rick and I) have a cow and calf that somehow got out and in the neighbors field. Well we have family there, that spoke with the neighbor, not a big deal, so he knows, we are this far away, and to be quite honest, he has NEVER lifted a finger to do a damn thing to the common fence. We put it in, WE maintain it---meanwhile it also fences his animals in. So no biggie. Well now my FIL has a cow out and all hell breaks loose. They MUST get down there and fix it, ASAP! The trip costs no less than $600.00 in fuel and food, not to mention they want him taking 4 days off unpaid or use our vacation. Do they pay for it? Oh hell no. We know with another cow out, we need to fix it or they will all find the opening. But ya know, only a quarter of that friggin' property is ours, we might be fencing for one of the siblings while they stay at home, not losing any time from work, and will it ever be made up to him.....nope! I think the thing that totally pisses me off, is I am not going to get to see my grandsons now in November. It breaks my heart, because if they think I can afford 2 trips, they better start thinking again. OK.....headache is back. They piss me off so frikkin bad, I am not fit company..............

Good morning~ I think I am going to live, yesterday I would not have placed any bets. I was miserable sick, I slept off and on all day---I went back and forth from throwing up to sleeping all the way home from Albq. night before last, then slept all night, slept most of the day, then slept straight through from about 7 til 5 this morning, and now I feel ok. My headache is back there somewhere, like I know if I shook my head hard it would hurt---but not throbbing like all day yesterday. Stomach feels fine. 24 hour bug I guess. Glad it is GONE! Tracy, I will do my best to hook up with you when we go to TX. Our place is about 80 miles SE of Abilene. On the diagonal, headed towards Austin. So give me a figure, and I will see what I can do!!!! Rick and I had it all figured out last night---I was going to fly down do the time with you guys, then go to son and DIL's, and ride to TX with them and my grandsons I miss so much! Then we realized, we have to take 2 vehicles. He is driving the truck, because we have stock panels and a squeeze chute to haul down, along with a couple of ATV's. So the truck is all we can use to pull the trailer. But although it is an extended cab, it is only a 2 door. My MIL cannot get in the truck, period, and for a ride that long, it would be very uncomfortable. It is too high for her to get in, heck we use a step stool to get her in the back of the van!!! Anyway----figure it out, and we will do our best to work with it. Angela, your comment about blotting your face, made me think of a show I watched---about the cost of things. The same paper factory, makes the thin face blotting tissues sold in the make up areas, in small packages for high prices, that makes the toilet seat covers for businesses!!! The paper is exactly the same! Can you believe that? They could probably make the entire blotting paper they sell from 2 toilet seat covers, that business put out free----and I have a niece you will not catch with out blotting paper in her purse! I keep telling her take some seat covers!!! LOL Debbie, these really are great people on this thread. It is pretty easy to find nice people, and even people you really like a lot on the site in general, but to find some you can connect with, that understand your issues.....is very special. Hope you can find some extra work playing somewhere, financial issues can be soooooo stressful! Have had my share in my lifetime! I am going to be working for the month of October, doing election, early voting. The pay is good, and it hits right where I can buy Christmas, and pay property taxes without hitting our account at all. Which is nice. We have a medical flex account, we use kind of like a personal account! We pay our medical as we go along, and then come Oct. or Nov. and we send it in to claim our $600.00---and I use it the same way, towards Christmas, without it affecting our usual account so much. Cindy, I am glad you are feeling better---strep infection is nothing to mess with, it is a scary infection. Cost my DD a kidney! Speaking of losing things due to infection, did anyone watch Oprah, when she gave a house to the woman who lost both arms and legs to a flesh eating virus? She is a woman in her mid 30's has 2 young kids, and got sick---really sick, ended up amputating her limbs to save her life! She adjusted so well---it was impressive on both counts. I don't have exact dates of when we will be in TX---I just know it has to be later in the fall, when the pecans have dropped, or are ready to be thrashed. And if years past count----we almost always end up there during our anniversary, which is the 10th of Nov. I complain, but it falls on deaf ears of my inlaws. So I figure, we can celebrate whenever.....we won't have them forever. So I told you we cut the big tree on the hill down. Well Rick brought ONE piece of the trunk, a smaller piece down the hill and split it to see how wet it is---and out of the one piece we ended up with 2 heaping wheelbarrows full of wood, at least 25 avg. size pieces of wood! There are another 20 of those on the hill, many of them bigger yet! Suzanne can tell you I have no room for that much more wood!!! Will stack it somewhere, let it cure for the year. Well I better go call my Mom, I know she is worried about me, with being so sick yesterday---and she is trying not to call, in case I am sleeping. So I will call and ease her mind! Michelle, relax today, don't stress over your appt. tomorrow!!! We will all be there with you in heart!

Hey y'all~ We are home, not supposed to be, but we are. We did the fair, had a blast, bought me a new hide---huge kinda triger striped cow hide, going on the wall I think. Anyway---we ate, drank beer, had fun, then about 4 I got a headache, took ibuprofin, as it was all that was available. Did not touch it, by 8 my stomach was rolling, and we headed home, not to the motel, but like Suzie----home! I threw up all the way home....yuck! Thank goodness we did, I hurt everywhere, even places I didn't know I had. My head is still hurting, and even the thought of eating makes my stomach heave. Slight fever, but I am sitting here in long pants (jammies) long sleeves, socks, and a blanket. I don't know wth hit me. Glad to be home, not 200 miles away. The LA trip------um I will be nearby the 2nd week of November. We are supposed to meet up with our LA kids, but I might sqeeze a day or 2 away......just a thought. Do it whenever you can....just me butting in!! Suzanne, I am so glad you had a great vacation, you both totally deserve it. Did I read today was Darrells birthday? Well happy birthday Darrell!!! Rick said in honor of your birthday he will drink beer and watch the game, he wouldn't otherwise ya know!! Gotta go lay down, will catch up in awhile.

Sounds to me like a slight unfill is in order. When the band is too tight, you tend to overfill, and the food sits too near the esophagus, and the result is reflux. I cannot explain it as well as it was shown to me in a diagram at the surgeons, but.....that was the basic idea. You might not need to have all the new fill removed, but some. Be sure to try to not eat after say 6-7 PM, and about an hour before you go to bed, try drinking a glass of Water to flush out any remaining food, and that could help too. I take an OTC acid reducer, because I have a haital hernia. I take it every day at 5 PM (set my phone alarm to remind me!!), and if I do these things, I am ok. When you go back to bed, even tho you are propped up, try laying on your left side as opposed to your back, it lets your stomach fall into a position that helps reduce the reflux. Good Luck! Do not ignore it for long, it can cause serious damage and eventually disease the esophagus. And when your esophagus is irritated, it does not allow you to swallow in a normal manner, and you might find yourself choking----it happen to my DH, and I had to do the heimlich on him 2 different times, and it ended up it was an irritated esophagus due to reflux---and he is not banded, but had damage done to his during a medical crisis he went through.

Yay!!! I am so glad y'all had fun!!! No accent at all right Suzanne??? T & A-----you know you Texans are a pretty risque bunch!!!! LOL What now Suzanne, heading home, or more stops? Keep us updated! Hugs!

wooohooo---you will have fun tonight T& A----altho you know typing that, T&A just means totally different things than Tracy and Angela....right? It is a rally term that they actually have T&A alley----where the girls flash away!!! Shar, you need, to make your Ex work for you. Years ago---back in 1991, I was getting pressured to quit smoking. So I made a New Years Resolution to quit. I told everyone, I was going to quit in 90 days, I was going to have lots of support yadda, yadda, yadda. In reality, 90 days would be the 1st of April, so if I failed I could say April Fools!!! Well my DD went to see her Dad, and come home telling me, "My Daddy said you could NEVER quit smoking!" Well that was IT! It was harder than hell, but I quit because I REFUSED to let him tell her what I could do! I showed him, almost 20 years later, and guess who still smokes and who doesn't!!! He is still a smoker! So when you want to eat the bad stuff imagine the look of amazement, when he sees you all slimmed down, and how he is gonna kick his own butt for letting you get away and get snatched up by someone else!!! LOL Tracy is right tho, don't let him keep you away----he is not worth it! Watering the lawn, getting things ready to go to Albq. Tomatoes everywhere, I am going to give them to Becky to can! Not messing with them myself! LOL

Lost my post, having computer issues.....grrrrr think it is my modum, it is connectivity that is the problem. I might see about taking it in for the yearly "go over" before popping for a new modum. If so I will do it this afternoon, then we are going to Albq for the fair, so I won't miss it so much! Kinsey is still put out too Suzanne!!! My Missouri friends MIGHT be different! LOL We were hoping to stay in ABQ til Monday for a concert---Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, and Justin Moore. I loved Hootie and the Blowfish, and everyone I know rolls their eyes at that!!!! But I love seeing Darius Rucker making his way, C&W music, is very "white" for lack of a better description, I mean besides Charlie Pride, name another black man to make the scene!!! I like the diversity. BUT......the day has already been taken off, so no one to cover for Rick, so we can't go. Waaaaaahhhhh!!!! Anyway......going to do a full scan on my computer, and get the compressor and blow the dust out, and see if I can do any good!!! BBL

Go kick back and enjoy the buzz Angela!!! I wish I was able to join you!!! I had a day not worth mentioning!! boring....blah! Had to take Kinsey back to the school, I swear the child cannot remember to bring anything home! She had 4 jackets there, and none to wear in the morning....Not sure what to do to help her remember.....she needs it in the morning, but by afternoon it is 90 degrees and hot again, jackets are not on her mind. Rick is feeling better, but I guess it is allergies still, he has massive drainage, and feels crummy, so is back on antihistimines....which drug him, make him worthless company! LOL So he slept all evening, and I read! Now I have to go eat a spoon of sugar, I have hiccups......grrrrrrr see ya tomorrow!

Wow Michelle, your post scared me! It is a time your sister needs to be ever vigilant, and never alone if she can help it. If she has access to and can attend a concealed carry class, so she can be legally armed, now is the time to do it. I know in some states, if you have an abusive situation in the court system, the class fees are waived. I will admit, it took me awhile to become hardened enough to move forward to it, and get the gun, and keep it in reach. Then by the time my state got the concealed carry permits he was in prison, but he won't be there forever. And while I would not just shoot him if I saw him walking down the street, if he EVER shows up at my place, or threatens my families safety ever again, I would not hesitate. I KNOW he means business, and now, so do I. Make sure your sister knows to document EVERYTHING. If he glares at her during child visits, or whatever, she needs to date and time it all. My case was back before everyone had computers to document times etc. So I detailed everything, and once a week, I would make a copy, and mail it to myself. Then when it come in the mail, I stuck it in a shoe box. Then when we went to court, if he disagreed with any issues, timing etc.----it was all there, dated on the stamp, and unopened since that time. As it was he buried himself so deep, none of it was necessary----but it helped me feel like I was helping myself. Good Luck to you all----keep us posted, I feel a need to know how she is doing! Suzie, you crack me up with Roswell!!! Years ago, there was supposed to be a spaceship landing (edited to say CRASH--not landing) outside of Aztec. They allegedly gathered alien bodies etc, and the government DID come in, and close off the area, and now out in the middle of the mesa, there is a cement pad----40 foot by 40 foot.......with nothing anywhere around it! Now, I do not believe even back in the day of this---that any group of people could keep something of that nature quiet---it IS wierd. They have a UFO symposium here too, sometime in May I think it is. They never capitalized on it for decades, then some of the Roswell people who are serious believers come here to see the site, etc, and it has grown since then. But Suzanne, to the best of my knowledge, I have never been probed by an alien. My husband is wierd sometimes, but I think it's the beer!!!! Cindy, you feeling any better? Hope so! Tracy & Angela, I would imagine tomorrow later in the day or the next day for Suzanne. You will enjoy the visit!! If they are touring Carlsbad today, then on to SA, the Alamo the next morning, since it closes at like 5-6 or so. Jenn--don't let yourself get too run down!!! Busy girl! Trey---hope the LBT bug strikes often, we like having you around!!! You said "like Kat" you have American Indian in you.....I DO????? Wow!!! I have nephews that are half Navajo, but on the Dads side. They do say I belong to the NoAssAtAll Tribe...... lol! My DH has quite a bit of Indian blood somewhere, like you with coloring, lack of much body hair. He said in high school, he hated it, he felt immature to the hairy guys. Now he appreciates it! I MUCH prefer it!! My ex was very hairy. It was like sleeping with an SOS pad!!! And in the bed, I would sweep off the sheets, there was hair on them, it all looked like pubic hair everywhere----ick ewwwww! Now, that is not an issue, unless he is trimming his goatee, mustache, and forgets to clean it up----grrrrrrr!!! And it is not a heavy growth!!! He deals with it now, and I prefer it! LOL Debbie, hope work improves for you! Shar where ya at??? Hiding?? Well, my stomach says it is lunch time....ooh the clock agrees!!! See ya!