Sunday January 4, 2009 What's NEW?

Debbie,

A kitten - awww, how sweet of you to take it in your home. We haven't had a kitten in so long. Ours were aduldtish when adopted.

Joey  is not looking too healthy. He perked up for a few days but is beginning to lose more weight and real clingy with Tom. We are now feeding him baby food but I don't know how much longer we can keep him going.

We met the new beaux last night. He is very quiet and shy. Perfect for Kari. This one might be serious. They are both so young but I will keep that opinion to myself.

I found a couple more suspicious lumps, below the mesh on my belly. They feel like hernias but there is no pain. Since it is Sunday I won't write the words I used. This is ridiculous. If there is the slightest twinge of discomfort, I will call my surgeon. Otherwise, they are staying right there.

kisses
Annette

Happy Sunday Debbie and Everyone,

How fun to have a new kitten in your home, Debbie.  I hope all is well with it.  Special prayers for Floyd and Brenda from me and for anyone else who needs them.  I include you all everyday.

Had a good day with hubby yesterday.  We ran errands and he actually did alot of walking on his own.  That's remarkable, believe me.  Had some trouble with the computer so I did a bunch of maintenance things on it yesterday.  Seems to be running better this morning.  It's 4 years old but not used for much more than the internet so it should be just fine.

Biggest plan for today is to gas up the car.  Not sure what else but I know crochet will be part of the day.   Have a good day.  Stay warm where so many are so cold and blustery. 

Kathi

Good Morning Debbie and Friends,

Debbie, seeing your smiling face makes me dream of our camping dream of "meeting in the middle" somewhere with our camping gear. Any time, any place!! I so want to spend a week in the Mesa Verde region doing an archeological dig. I have info from several universities where you can sign up, self pay, and go along to an actual site for a week or two. For many of these sites this is the only way you can actually get "down and dirty." On one they actually teach you how to make mud bricks and help repair walls of ancient cliff dwellings, kivas, etc. Talk about fun! I loved making mud pies when I was a kid. Maybe in a few years eh?

Today. . .It's about 15 here and clear skies. Nothing special planned. Looking for a couple of small table lamps for the great room. I've browsed all stores around here. Most lamps are too large, too elaborate, too plain, not enough light, too expensive. . . you get the picture. I've even "browsed" hundreds if not thousands on line and just haven't come across the "right" ones yet. I know they're out there somewhere.

Our home is just the two of us again and Maggie. Loved having the kids coming and going. Nate, our son, and Kristin, his significant other of 2.5 years,(can you sense my anticipation here? We love her!) left yesterday and got back to the Seattle area safely. The passes from east to west in WA are so dicey this time of year. They lucked out and make it easily without any closures. They are both teachers and start back tomorrow.

Speaking of teaching. I taught for about 18 years and gave out (mentally, physically, emotionally) about 5 years ago. Instead of withdrawing what I had in my retirement we held out and I'm now eligible to start my real retirement in March when I turn the big 6-0. Got my packet of info to fill out and I'm working on that today. I want that first check as soon as possible!

A friendly welcome to all those new to OFF. What a wonderful welcoming site where many friendships are formed and much info, fun, and all kinds of sharing take place. For those either looking into surgery or those with dates fast approaching you've found the right place for that much needed support!

You all have a great day!

Good morning, all.  A lovely Sunday here already.  It is 57 and gonna climb another 8 degrees or so.

I'm just waiting for my Momma's weekly call.  We usually talk at least one other time during the week.  She is sounding better.  I worry about her nerves when it becomes time to do her taxes.  Dad always did EVERYTHING.  The last 2 years when he knew his time was short, he made her do the taxes.  But she had no interest in learning and is gonna 'take everything to H&R Block'.    My Sis and I are trying to encourage her to try a CPA instead, since her finances are convoluted.

We already got our State tax booklet in the mail!  I wish all the 1099's and tax info from banks and brokerage firm would be as timely!

Hope everyone has a fantabulous Sunday!

Aloha and good morning OFF family,

Debbie....you are such an angel when it comes to animals. I'm so glad that little kitten found you!! I'm a firm believer than animals pick their humans, not the other way around. I got my "Poki" from the shelter where she stared me down until I knew she was supposed to come home with me.

My posting has been sporadic lately mainly because life is just complicated right now. So much going on. My healing from the tummy surgery is going beautifully and my hipbone to hipbone scar is all healed and my belly flat. It has been a month and I could not be happier with the results.

On Friday evening I went to Carl's Jr. where I had a buy-one-get-one-free taco salad coupon. I got one beef and one chicken. I ate about 1/3 of the beef one, and I barfed for half the night!! I had to get up early ....4:00 a.m....to go to the hospital to test "my babies." I think I might have gotten an hour sleep, but thankfully all of the offending taco salad got out of me, and I was fine after that. Even after 2.5 years, there are just things that my little "Gracie" does NOT want me to eat. I'm actually glad because it reminds me that I still have the tool doing what it was designed to do.

I'm now counting down to the 13th when I leave for Calif. and my two weeks with my son, DIL and grandsons. One of those weeks I'll be chief cook and bottle washer for my little ones.....4, 2 and 8 months. I'm having mixed feelings about that!! I think I can handle it, but I'm such a slug in my real life....I'm going to have to dig deep for the 24 hour a day momentum that I will need.

I have friends of friends coming to kitty sit while I'm away so I am doing a lot of decluttering, cleaning, organizing, etc. so that they can have a comfortable place to stay. I think they will love the winter Maui because the days are a lovely 80 degrees, and the nights around 65. Also, the whales are here...so they can just sit on the lanai and watch the antics while they read, relax and get tan.

OK..it's almost light out now, and it is going to be a glorious sunrise. I'm going to take the Sunday paper out on the lanai with a banana protein shake and enjoy it. I hope you all have a lovely Sunday, and again thanks for sharing your lives with me, and all of us.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hi Debbie and my OFF family:

Just got off the phone with my mom, our weekly Sunday phone call. She says Aunt Bernice (90) isn't doing well and may have to go back to the hospital ... she has been confused (thinks it's Easter) and probably has an infection again. I fear she's not long for this world ... she didn't look good when I saw her before Christmas at the nursing home, although her mind was still sharp and she was still giving it to my mom.

Karen C., I would love to do an archaelogical dig sometime, but I fear with my knee I wouldn't be able to kneel that long ... and forget camping, I can't sleep comfortably on the ground (oh, there are AeroBeds, I forgot!) Camping to me is a hotel room with a shower and a pool.

I slept better last night, although I was in a lot of pain before then. Too much standing to make my spaghetti dinner ... you know, it takes time to boil the water, cook the pasta, the sauce, etc. ... I have a galley kitchen and nowhere to sit. It would take too much to haul a chair in there, and then it wouldn't be level with the stove or counter anyway. So I stood/leaned while I cooked, did some PT exercises, etc. Paid for it later. Not doing much today. Watching football, have crab dip (crab, cream cheese, ****tail sauce, on whole wheat bagel chips) made for lunch/snack, reading, etc. Really low-key day. Already did some PT in a chair. Need to get away from the computer, too ... sat here for 2 hours yesterday ... waaay too long!

Well, that's it for me. Debbie, hope your kitty finds a new home, either with you or with whoever left her/him. Sounds like you like her/him already, though. I know I love my kitties ... miss my little miss Diva, too.

After we took the grandkids home from church, we decided to go for a Sunday afternoon drive.  I drove on some roads I hadn't been on in years.  It is a nice day here in Virginia though a little cool.  Won't have a chance to do this again until probably next month so really enjoyed it.

I need to fill out my application for the fitness center tonight so I can drop it off tomorrow!

Hope you all have a good Sunday evening!

Jeane

Forget kneeling Eileen! Now that I am so much smaller I can sit on the ground with my legs spread out and play in the mud! I've had both knees replaced so I totally understand the no kneeling. . . But where there's a will there's a way!

Yeah, I guess you're right, I could just sit on my butt with my legs spread out. I would love to do an archaelogical dig ... took a class at Western Montana just for fun when I lived in Montana and it was a blast ... we went to some inactive digs and were able to take some artifacts home with us. Had such a good time with all the teachers in the class. I have always wanted to do a dig, but figured the heat, the kneeling, etc., would be undoable for me with my weight, back, knees, etc. Maybe now, though .... Are you game, Karen?

Eileen, Nothing wrong with dreaming is there? Check out the Crow Canyon web site. They list future projects.