It's Monday...What's New??

Good Morning Diane and Friends,

A quick drive by here before I get my busy day started. My friend and I had a wonderful time in Spokane seeing the musical version of The Color Purple. We had front and almost center SECOND ROW seats! It was so awesome to be able to see the costuming and facial expressions up close. I'd never had that experience before.

Then we drove through nasty fog 3 hours to our other friend's home in Chelan, WA. We spent 2 nights with her, did some antique shopping (scored 4 glass door knobs for $8.00!! I'm making towel racks with them), came home just as it was starting to snow on Saturday. Yesterday and today it is cold (13 this am!) snowy and blowing. I didn't venture far yesterday but really need to get out today.

Craigslist has two mission style end tables here locally that I want to take a look at. The picture on line looks perfect for our great room, but I need to make sure they aren't too big.

Did some on line shopping yesterday and will try to finish up in the real world today. We have a local photographer, John Clement, who has one of his photos on the front of the National Monuments Calendar. I'm going to try to find a couple of those calendars to add to Christmas gifts. They are absolutely stunning.  He does some amazing working and has a web site if you'd like to look at it. I think if you type in his name and "photographer" you should find it.

Diane, a big congrats on your retirement! I knew you were planning for it but missed that it is practically here!!! Good for you. The "guest suite" is waiting for you anytime.

Brrr! It's garbage day and Mike's still in bed, so guess I'll venture out. Maggie is so not into going outside to do her duty when it's cold, snowy, and windy. I totally understand. I have to go stand out with her or she runs right back to the door and begs to come in. Sometimes wish I had tried to train her to a litter box.  Is it too late???? 

I'm working on a "Santa's Elf" project today. It's so much fun and I love the idea of just doing something to be doing it for someone. It helps me get in touch with the true meaning of the season.

Stay warm wherever you are. I saw an article about local "shelters" for the homeless. I do have a lot to be thankful for. You all take care.

Diane, congratulations on the retirement. That is quite a accomplishment. I hope that your life in retirement is just great. You earned it, girl.

Today it is soooo cold. It is 5 right now. I woke up during the night with the freezing rain hitting the window last night. It isn't to bad out right now. But Bill just came in and said that his car doors were frozen shut. He had a heck of a time getting them open. I know mine will be since they freeze shut in the back all the time. I don't lock them since that makes them worse. Oh the trials and tribulations of living where it is so cold in the winter. It is hard to believe that last night on our way home from the Christmas party is was in the middle 50's. What a drop. Like a rock if you ask me. But then again the temps were suppose to drop like 30 degrees in a hour last night. I never stuck my head out when I hit the front door last night.

The Christmas party went well yesterday. I seemed to the topic of conversation for a long time. Some of my family I hadn't seen since have surgery so they were surprised. My uncle Bob who is 91 kept telling my Aunt Virginia to look at me, and that I was so skinny now. I kind of got a laugh at it. Then towards the end Aunt Virginia (mom's sister) came up to me and talked to me about making sure I didn't lose to much weight. I told her that I would like to lose another 30-35 pounds and she told me that was good but she didn't want me to look sick. I had to laugh on the inside about that~imagine someone thinking that if I lost weight I would look sick. The food was alright but I ended up eating 4 cookies and that was bad~but that was yesterday and today is today and that isn't going to be happening again. I enjoyed the party and Carolyn and I said that we would do the party next year. None of the younger kids would do it. I announced that after next year the younger ones are going to have to do it. We have done our share of it and it is now time for them to do for their kids. Now let's see if it happens. I kind of doubt it personally. I know that my sister won't do anything to help me~she never does. But boy will she the first one to take credit for everything that goes good and if something doesn't she will blame that on me! lol

I am suppose to be going into the church office this morning but my back is hurting so bad I can hardly walk. I know it was way to much socializing yesterday. I am going to see if I can go in on Wednesday and Thursday. I tired to call Jeri this morning but she wasn't at the church yet.

Bill has gone to go get gas. It has gone up about .30 a gallon. I know it is from the Christmas season. They can be so greedy...but then again they make no profit. If I was in business and made no profit would I still be in business? I think not! It will go back down after the holidays I am betting. The price of oil is down so that has to be the reason why the price has jumped.

I better get going. I have been going on and on forever! I am sending love and hugs to all and special prayers are going up for everyone. Remember to smile~and if you can't smile for what you have smile for the things you haven't got.

Hi all,

Just a quick pop in for me. I'm expecting a call any minute from my new "Lifestyle Coach".  My case mgr at BCBS decided since I am a  "success?? (losing weight without wls surgery, I think it's because they won't have to pay for sugery) on my metabolic program she no longer needs to follow up with me but that I should have a lifestyle coach to help me continue losing weight.  We'll see.  My insurance changes January 1st from a BCBS HMO to a PPO through United Healthcare. 

We all are in various stages of a cold/sore throat.  I have the stuffy nose sore throat part. Taking Cold Eze Zinc lonzenges and hot tea.  Both the granddaughters have more of the cough part.  Jen & Earl the runny noses.

Hope you all have a grat day.
Hugs, Paulette

Good Morning Diane and all my OFF Friends,
Unfortunately, this not a good Monday for me.  Too many things happening that involve deviant behavior.  Two years ago our son vacated a house we owned and the house has been sitting empty until such time that hubby's health was good enough to fix it up to sell.  Well, someone broke in and stole every inch of copper pipe.  They ripped up the walls, tore out sinks, etc. to get to it.  Luckily we had the water shut off and drained from the pipes.  But still . . .

Then this morning I get in to work and discover someone has vandalized my Christmas display on the filing cabinet near my desk.  They made off with a small angel ornament that was on top of the tree, other ornaments and an empty wrapped package??? that was under the tree.  We have had a lot of lay-offs and someone has been deliberately breaking projectors that cost $1,000 + as well.  The last day for a lot of people is this coming Friday.  I can't imagine what else might happen before that day comes.  I feel like I have to lock everything up.  I just can't get the thought processes behind people like this and it scares me to think I probably know this person.

This has really taken a shot at my holiday spirit.  Sorry to bring you all down.
Take care,
Bev

morning diane and my OFF family!!!

all i can say is WOW!!!! what happened over the weekend here??? OMG!!!! darlene please don't go into not posting!!! i guess the new thread isn't for everyone and the other happy thread is for most...i am not sure...guess i will just stick with the whats new thread and leave it all there...LOL

well i worked all weekend and my shoes died....omg did my feet hurt!!!! firday night i worked til 10 pm and the shoes went with 3 hours to go!!!! OUCH!!!!! sooo went to walmart for new shoes after i got out of work. found a pair that feels like i am walking on air. 22 bucks!! sold!! then rick took me to have a drink and a slice of pizza. had a good time. came home so tired and had to get up early to be to work at 8 am. saturday after work we went to the grocery store and spent rest of our money...oh well we atleast have food in the house again!!! worked sunday til 8 pm and came home so tired out didn't stay up late at all. ate supper and watched a shark movie then went to bed. still tired this morning. oh well tomorrow i am off and i can sleep all day if i want to....LOL like that will happen....sighs....still not sure if i have the weekend off after christmas so i can go see my mom. i hope i have it off because mom isn't feeling good yet...worried about her...my sister is having surgery this morning to have the stents changed in her kidney lines...so she isn't looking after mom like i would be if i were there...she makes me so mad!!! speaking of christmas...we were going to have christmas here this time and ricks mom and brother were supposed to come over and also his daughter and grandson too...well it seems that his brother won't come here because of his dad...well his dad isn't coming here so whats the problem??? now we don't know if nicole and anthony will be here or diane...so last night i told rick fine!!! if nobody comes over it will be just us and we can run around nekkid if we want to!!!! LOL not really...but am upset that its going to be just us here with a huge turkey. but i told rick if i get friday off as well as the weekend....we can leave christmas day and surprise my mom...soooo i should know hopefully by tomorrow or wednesday for sure if i have time off to go see mom. i still have gifts to wrap to. got the cookies all made and rick loves them!!! guess he does because they sure are going fast...LOL rick and his mom are fighting again...seems that he forgot a few bags in her car the day after thanksgiving when they went shopping...he has been asking her to bring them over so he could wrap them...well it seems that they have disappeared now!!!!! all but one was for me and the one was for his mom...me thinks she took them back to the store for money...rick is so upset over this and i don't blame him!!!! if his mom did take the things back for the money she ought to be ashamed of herself!!!! rick looked in her car for the bags and they were gone...soooo not sure what happened to them!!!

today the weather is warm...its 55 here and then supposed to drop into the 30's with rain changing to snow...i keep thinking the way my luck is in traveling to michigan and back to ohio it will storm like the dickens next weekend!!!! grrrr

george congrats on the -150 pounds!!!! ^5 to you!!!!! and margaret...happy belated birthday!!!!

also i want to thank everyone that has sent me christmas cards in the mail!!!! like i posted friday i think it was...i was thinking nobody cared to send me/us any christmas cards!!! makes my heart feel good to know i have you here that cares enough to send me a card!!! i just wish i could afford to send one to each and every one of you a card!!!! so to those that do not get a card from me..."MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"

well its time for me to shower and get ready for work. hope things get back to normal here soon!!! not nice to fight before christmas!!!! makes everyone so depressed and all....enough of that ok?? please make up and be happy here again!!!

love and hugs to you all!!!!

Congratulations Diane you have earned your retirement !! I followed around a military husband all over the world and only had little part time jobs or volunteer dental assistant posts on the bases. After 25 years here I am back in the work force, alone, not making enough to live on so I will be working foreverrrrrrrrrr.
  Personally I think the get it off your chest  friday post is a great idea. It should be a safe place for people just to dump for a minute, with no comments or reprisals. Of course we should NOT dump about an OFF sister or brother. It is a choice to read it, if you don't like that sort of thing, just don't read it . It is as simple as that.
   On my third sewing machine I finally got one working last night. I was begining to panic I have 5 sewing projects to do for presents and our family Christmas is this coming Sunday. Got 2 done last night so I am on my way.
   Gave mom her Doxie puppy friday afternoon and she was sooo excited. But like all new moms she isn't getting much sleep now. I was there last night and already it seems to be trained to a piddle pad so that is good. Her cat has been in much pain and suffering from a kidney disease so today I will take her to be taken out of her misery. That is such a hard thing to do. I had a ****er who was my best buddy and I allowed her to suffer with cancer because I didn't want to lose her. I held her and kissed her at the end, but I think it was selfish of me. I swore I would never do that again.
  Think I am going to submit a 3 month program to my pastor . We have a saying at the end of each service we say" It's a NEW Beginning" . My program will be social, emotional, spirital and physicial with teaching , games, challenges prizes and fun. It would be called "A New Healthy Beginning"  we have periodic weight loss challenges but they are boring, just weekly weigh ins basicly.. We all know how far THAT has gotten us in the past. I have put some pounds on that I really want to get off and would love to do it in a fun way.. Think that is possible.  I better run. Have blessed day.

Good Afternoon Diane and everyone.......

Congrats on you upcoming retirement Diane. You must be so excited!! How wonderful for you.

Sounds like everyone is doing well on here today. I finally got a chance to get here and check in.

I had a busy weekend. I am all but done with my shopping....finally. Only a couple little things to pick up tomorrow.

I have so much packing and gift wrapping and everything to do...I am running out of time. I am leaving for Iowa Wednesday morning instead of Friday as originally planned. There is going to be a huge ice storm and tons of snow Thursday and I don't want to drive 4 1/2 hours in that!!

I will try to get on here earlier tomorrow. I sure have missed you all.

Love and hugs.......connie d