What's Up?

I have been up since 4 and thought I get the post started.   Post away while I run for coffee.

There is nothing like a strong cup of coffee to get the blood flowing. My granddaughter and I spent the night playing some game she found online. I really didn't know what to do but she needed a partner so I pretended to understand. 

Today I have to go down to pick up my grandson and I am not looking forward to seeing my daughter. My husband said he would go up to the door or I could stay at my sister's. I will figure it out when I get there. She did her flood of text again last night, and I finally turned my phone off because even with it on silence, it would light up and my granddaughter knew text were coming in and she knew they were from her mom. The good news is she says that it's her mom trying to make a point and doesn't see it as her mom being a crazy assed *****that will come later.  

We made sugar cookies last night too and she decided she would decorate with nutella...so she has a platter full of nutella covered sugar cookies. LOL.  I also let her make her own pizza. We use the box of pizza dough that you just add water and let set for a minute then roll out and put on the pizza rock. She has been doing these since she was a toddler. She made her a cheese pizza and made Granddad and me a cheese and pineapple pizza.  She was very proud of herself for making it all with very little help.  

Well, I gotta go turn the heat on. It was so warm here yesterday that we went to town without jackets but the temperature started dropping a little while ago and now it is probably getting close to 40 degrees....plus it's raining like crazy. Yesterday, we were coming back from the store when the flash flood hit and the rain was so hard and fast we had to pull over and the streets, within a minute, were flooded. Thankfully, we live on the top of a mountain so it flooded but rolled away pretty quickly...those below us, though, we using canoes to get around....this weather is freaky. 

Good afternoon everyone....

I am so enjoying my Keurig...the coffee is wonderful!! I love that I can have a hot cup anytime! 

Not much happening here. I am like Vickie and I plan to get my decorations put away today. I just decorated the living room, kitchen/dining area, and bathroom. I only put up a small tree with lights attached. It won't take long to pack it all away. The hard part is bringing the totes from storage and back there again. I don't do well with lifting.They do have shopping carts in the storage area that is helpful.

Wishing you all a good day!!!

Prayers for our wonderful OFF Family and their families. Special prayers for those that have requested. 

Lots of love and hugs to all...connie d

Wanted to pop in to say hi to everyone. My daughter left yesterday morning and is in Tampa to watch the Bucs game and to visit with her friends she missed the first time around. That girl does not let grass grow under her feet. So outgoing always fun seeking. I am a quiet laid back person. It was wonderful to have her for a week. Quite the character she is.

I wish everyone well and am sending love to you all. Vicki, I am happy that Christmas is over, it had to be a most difficult time for you. I see horrible tornadoes in the Dallas area, but you are not near Dallas, thank God. Connie, I hope you are hanging in there, you too, Kathy. Carla, I wish I still lived on the west coast of FL so we could meet. I forgot so many, but am sending hugs to all.

I have to take Joe to the doctor on Monday. Lisa finally convinced him to see a doctor for his prostrate. He urinates a lot, is very overweight, has diabetes, high BP, cholesterol and she seems to think he has issues with his prostrate. She flat out told him he is a ticking time bomb. He is.

So one of Lisa's friends, Rachel face timed her on the iPhone. I know Rachel well and her brother not so well. We were all saying hi and they were saying, oh wow look at the palm trees. I asked her father if he was coming to Lisa's wedding and he said he didn't know, but if I were going he would, lol. I always thought he was a good looking man. Who knows? Right. I haven't dated in so long and he lives so far away.

Anyways, have a great day and hugs to you all. I am back eating clean again.

Arlene It would be very easy for us to getogether. I can come to your area anytime. It isn't that far of a drive for me.

Carla

Good morning Jeanne and all who follow!  Happy Sunday! 

Oh Jeanne, I do feel for you and your situation with your daughter.  I am so sorry about it.  I sure hope she gets some help for her behaviors and her thoughts.  We are all here for you whenever you need us.  It may help you to find a group or something like it, to help you manage your own stress and process your feelings.  Not sure you need that outlet or help, but if you do, please do it. And I think it was Connie who mentioned it, but you may also want to start looking into your rights as a Grandparent, so you don't lose time with nor acess to your precious little ones.  

I gave up caffeinated coffee a few years ago but have been drinking a cup or two of "the real stuff" over the past few weeks.  It's turned into a daily cup of real coffee.  I don't like that - I don't want to get addicted to it again!  It's fine to have a cup once in a while, to really jolt myself awake if I need the boost, but I don't want to over-do it.  So tomorrow I go back to straight decaf and save the real stuff for when I need or want it.  

As for me, today we have yet another family party this afternoon.  Ron's extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. He has a huge family.  I will be sure to eat before I go because I know from experience that this is a drinking and sweets only event - they call it "cake and coffee."  But it's cake, cookies, cannoli, chocolate, and loads of booze party! Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that! But I am not drinking yet, and I am not having sweets, so I need to be sure I am full so I stick to only the tea or decaf coffee. 

I did pretty well with my food and exercise plan over the Christmas week.  I overdid it a bit last night - a few too many of my no-carb sausage stuffed mushrooms and no-sugar-added pumpkin cheesecake. Nothing "bad" in either recipe but I had too much of a good for you thing and ended up with pouch pain.  YUCK!  So I will watch my intake today.  Started my day with a good workout, which always helps me keep my head "in the game" if you will.  

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.  Will pop back later after football, and after the party.  Be good and stay happy everyone.  Prayers to those who've asked and even to those who haven't - we all could use a little prayer right now, I think  

xo

Christtine

Good morning sistas,

Today is the day that Christmas comes DOWN in my house.  I'm so ready to pack it all away.  Plus, this is my only day without the boys here.  

I have had two nights of absolutely lousy sleep.  Lulu has developed the most god-awful hacking cough!  There is no sleeping through it.  We are calling the vet first thing in the morning.  Every time I managed to fall asleep, she would start that damn coughing again and I would wake up.  Finally I moved out to the living room couch around 3 a.m. and then Mom got up at 6 a.m., so that was that.  Ugh.  I think I will be taking a nap this afternoon.

Thank you all for your concern about me and the tornadoes, but San Antonio is a long, long way from Dallas.  About 275 miles.  However my best friend lives in the DFW area and I was very worried for her, but she and her family are okay.  It's heartbreaking to see the destruction and the loss of life.  Also the poor animals!  I am making a donation to the Salvation Army on-line this morning.  I think they do the most to help of all the organizations.

I have severe brain fog this morning and, like Christine, need that heavy duty jolt of caffeine to jump start my head today.  Only with me it is Coke, dammit.  I have to get myself weaned off of those again.  Next year.  LOL!  

Love you all!

Good Morning Jeannie and OFF,

I am finally back.  Wow!  What a whirlwind week this past seven days has been.

First, I somehow managed to initially pack my clothes, BEFORE I checked the forecast for here.  Yikes, I had lots of sweaters, and nothing nice that was short sleeved.  So, I had to open all the airtight Ziploc bags with my heavy sweaters and robes, and switch out some nice sort sleeved tops for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It was in the 70's here both days.  Then, I packed everything.  Adding and moving things around.  On Monday, I dropped Utley off at the dogsitter, thanks to my friend, Jen, from church.  I loved her before she started helping me out, but what a blessing she has been.  Barely slept Monday night.

Tuesday, my friend, Michelle, picked me up at 7:30, and the doc liked that the wound was not infected, and is starting to heal.  He said, "See you when you get back."  Then, Michelle took me to the bus stop near the MSU campus, in time for an earlier bus to the airport.  I got a standby ticket, and was on my way at 10:00.  Got to the airport, checked my bag, got a wheelchair, and headed to security check-in.  The TSA agents were wonderful.  What a blessing.  Then, the sweet boy driving me, dropped me at my gate at 1:00, for my 4:00 flight.  I looked in my purse, and YIKES, my boarding pass and drivers license had been accidentally left at the security place.  I heard my name over the PA, and went back and got them.  Praise God my gate was closest to the security desk.  Met and chatted with a sweet woman while waiting at the gate.  Had a wonderful flight, found my sister in Trenton, and was at my sis-in-law's at 7:00.  Somehow, I wasn't too tired, in spite of the lack of sleep, and long day.  

Wednesday, Kathy, sis-in-law, and I went to Target, after taking Neil, my nephew, to work, around 8:00.  I rode the little scooter/shopping cart, and discovered that the display areas in clothing and basically the entire store, are not configured for them.  I kept running into clothing racks, and moving them, then again in the DVD display area.  I moved a heavy rack I couldn't put back.  At least, I could put back the clothing racks.  Found an adorable lace top, and shell to wear under it, white, short sleeved, perfect fit, right near each other.  Then, we went home, where I spent the day wrapping, and finding out that I brought too many presents for the kids.  Plus, I learned a shirt I ordered my niece's son did not arrive at Kathy's.  Wasn't charged, but had to drop back and punt.

Thursday, we celebrated Christmas with my kids, Sis, Sis-in-law, nephew and Mom.  It was lovely and fun.  Mom was shocked when she opened the earrings Chris got at Tiffany and Company for Colleen, Sean and him to give her.  I posted pics on Facebook.  Unfortunately, I didn't get pics of all the kids and me.  Darn.

Christmas Day, I worked feverishly on finishing the blanket I made Emma, my niece's baby girl.  Then, I made the mistake of riding with Eileen and Mom to Erin's.  We got lost.  Eileen *****ed about Kathy's directions.  It was raining.  I was miserable.  Finally got there.  It was lovely.  There was a ton of food.  Unbelievable.  My niece, Erin's, in-laws are lovely.  Got to hold Emma, just two months old.  Got a picture of the huge baby blanket, well half of it, coz it was folded in half.  

Erin is standing, so it is huge.

Here is a pic of my Mom with Emma.

Saturday, the kids and I took Eileen to lunch to celebrate her retirement.  It was such fun, especially because the kids somehow managed to sneak the two huge boxes of luggage in, and put them next to me, where Eileen couldn't see.  After we ate, Eileen almost burst into tears opening the luggage.  She was so surprised and overwhelmed.

After lunch, Sean took me to his other grandmother's where he worked feverishly to rebuild my laptop.  He gave me a solid state hard drive for Christmas, and replaced the fried one, then had to rebuild the other things.  Then we had pizza there, and came back to Kathy's to watch the Eagles disaster.  He spent hours more here helping me, and I was too tired to start rebuilding my bookmarks.

Overslept this morning, and didn't get to church.  So, I enjoyed a quiet morning here.  Have no clue why my text starting being italicized.

Love, Hugs,

Trish

Sounds like a whirlwind trip, Trish!  I don't know how you survived all of that!  You're amazing, woman.  I'm glad you're back home.  Please rest so you can continue to heal.  Love you!

Hi Vickie,

I'm not back in Michigan, yet.  I fly back on Friday.  Still have some visiting to do, and trying to get Mom to see a doc who understands geriatrics here.

I just got to see my grandchildren playing with my niece's babies for the first time.

Hugs,

Trish