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teelbee · #46 05-07-2005, 03:16 AM

Donna your garden is sounding like a wonderland! There are lots of uses for DaVinci syrup, though I don't use it as often as I once did. If you have almond meal, you can make the 3-minute chocolate cake (or a variation of that) with your syrup. It's tasty, quick, and easy - hardly any cleanup to do after.

Peg, I'm glad you like the Spanx - they really do a lot for the ol' rear view, don't they? And, WoW - an Rx for spa treatments! Isn't that amazing? I'm having a flare of of FM and arthritis, too. Probably set off by the cold I had recently plus the stress of doing all the heavy yard work, fixing up, and clearing out the house. It's very miz... motrin is letting me down this time, so let me know if the spa treatment helps.

Barb, I understand about the wine completely. A glass now and then is fine, but it's so easy for it to become a daily habit. And, it reduced my resistance to other temptations, too. I just gave it up all together - that was easier for me than resisting it on week nights. After a while, I didn't miss it at all, and now I don't even like it. I took a "nicer" bottle of champagne to a celebration in February. There was a toast so I took a sip to be polite. Gacck! I asked the hostess if there was anything wrong with the bottle, but she told me it was fine. And, I used to be quite well informed about California wines; not a full-blown connoiseur, but knowledgeable.

Judy, you must be just about done with the school year - I bet it's a bit crazy for the next few weeks. Do you get a break between the end of the regular school year and summer school?

Alida, I have two computers and one is XP and the other is Win98. Frankly, I think the old Win98 machine has some advantages. It is pretty stable and virus resistant (most virus programs are not designed to target Win98). Still, neither of my PCs has completely a clean bill of health. There's always something wrong with one or the other - I just keep finding work arounds.

BC, you had to replace a 5-year new roof? That seems strange. Wasn't it still under warranty? Or, are roofing warrantees only good for 3 years? I thought it was longer, but I could be wrong.

Ilse, good luck with the job application - how nice that will be to work near your new house. I'm sure you'll have a fascinating time watching the new place being built over the summer. Do you have an anticipated completion date?

I had a major break dietwise the last two days. I've been under lots of strain yesterday and today; and I successfully resisted the cookies many times - but not ~all~ of the time. I also ate a small bag of cinnamon pork rinds yesterday, which I'd never had before - very tasty, but obviously a red light food. I'd stayed at 134 for quite a while, but my weight was 137 this morning!!! EEEKkk! And after doing so well, too.

One family already made a slightly over-asking-price bid on the house. But the realtor isn't accepting bids until the 11th. Plus, they hadn't signed off on the disclosures. Our realtor talked us into setting the asking price pretty low, so I couldn't get too excited about the bid. Hopefully, they'll submit a bid next week.

I get to feeling pretty freaked that we just have this short window for showing the house. Especially because the timing seems bad - what with the rain, the Mother's Day holiday, and the fact that the San Jose Mercury News had bold headlines today proclaiming something like Housing Bubble Soon to Burst". Then, you read the article and find out that most experts think it's unlikely to burst or do any more than level out over the next 2 to 5 years. One crank predicts a retreat and the media blares it from the roof tops. Thanks... I really needed that right now (said dripping with bitter sarcasm).

Well, sleep is the best thing for frayed nerves. So, off to bed I go.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

KCTinter · #47 05-07-2005, 08:35 AM

TB, I am curious about your statement about having a short window to show the house. Is the real estate market so different in CA? We put our house on the market, asked a slightly higher price, had one showing for realtors, then two Sunday open houses, and voila, sold after about 1 month (accepted a few thousand less), and this was in March, a rather dreary season here in KC.

Barb, I agree. Your will power is amazing! Ha. Wish my only problem was a few glasses of wine! As it's my birthday, I am going to make another (this will be my 5th) Aunt Ruth's. That is going to be my birthday cake, if I can get some before DH eats it all. Yesterday I made that Carbquik Cream Cheese Coffee Cake. Added almonds and almond extract. Rolled out the dough a little more so it was not so "doughy." Delicious! I think after all this birthday eating, I will HAVE to go back to induction for a few days, LOL!

Investigating new computers. Absolute minimum for what I want is $1,500. Since my work is so graphic-intense, I add a powerful graphics card. Also need MS Office Small Business, plus a few other tweaks. As for Win XP -- do you all have the Home Edition or the Professional Edition? I am thinking the Home Edition will do me just fine. No network stuff going on here!

Peg, your doctor sounds like a dream! But I am glad you went and at least some questions were resolved. Whoo-Hoo . . . three pounds gone . . . that's wonderful!

Donna, your garden is inspiring me! That's the plan for today. Buy and plant some flowers in the front and try to spruce up the yard a little. Will really try to get the shopping list all inclusive. Can't tell you how many times I had to make several trips to the store because I forget something major, like potting soil.

Happy weekend!

pegster · #48 05-07-2005, 11:00 AM

Hi Gang!

It's Saturday morning and I am here in this thread instead of studying and trying to fill in a blank MW document (my sermon...).

About my Doc. She IS a dream! She is probably a good 15 to 20 years younger than I am. She has two kids 3 and 1 and a stepdaughter 15. We call each other by our first names. She will research aches and pains and drugs for me until the "cows come home." Because FM is so elusive, it is sometimes hard to get doctors to take the pain seriously. Not her! She listens. I've been pretty lucky in the last several years with doctors. I refuse to have a male doctor. I won't settle for the officious attitude any more. I just keep shopping until I get what I want. Her practice is in a very run down part of town in a clinic. 60% of her patients are on Medicaid. She speaks both Spanish and Portugese, though English is her first language. She is funny, very attractive and well...just great. She emails me to see how I'm doing!! I don't know if you will understand this, but I absolutely love sitting in the waiting room of the clinic with very very poor folks. I serve a very wealthy church, and somehow, it really does my heart good to be with another segment of God's people. nuff said.

TB: I'm so sorry that you are in a flare too. Yesterday was a lost day for me. I took the Percoset she prescribed and slept all afternoon. I also put on one of those warm patches that you can buy at the drugstore. I slept really well last night and got up this morning feeling much better. Stress does a real number on us, huh? My Doc has given me Percoset to take when the pain is so bad. I use it sparingly because it is so powerful. If I know I'm going to be home, like yesterday, I take it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Sigh. I wish you could have a little rest. You know that sleep is key too. Sleep, because it relaxes all the tense muscles and can break the cycle. Look at all you have been doing, girlfriend!! You have been a whirlwind. Take a spa break!

Alida: I have Windows XP professional edition. I also have MW office edition. I just replaced my computer. It is expensive, but, IMHO, worth it. Before, I had XP home and MW home (I know that's not what it's called, just can't think of it). They are adequate. But, these bigger ones have some neat features that I didn't have before. I also have 3 gigs of RAM (or ROM, can't remember the difference) and a 6 gig HD. I'm hoping that this will last me for a while! For what it's worth.....

Judy: I hope you are able to take a break from grading today. What's the weather like out there in Texas? Has it gotten hot yet?

Donna: I hope you have a ball in the garden today. How are the legs coming? Are they beginning to look better? You are a real trooper, girlfriend.

Brenda: What are you doing this weekend? I wonder if you are frantically trying to get Mother's day bracelets done, or it you are done now.

We are having a nasty rain storm with wind today. It is 40 degrees. They even said there may be some snow showers!! I refuse to believe that, however. It is a nice day to be in and chained to the computer. The "i" at work continues his evil tricks. Nuclear bombs in my email. I don't know why I open them! I keep hoping that he has reformed. He has called for a meeting with me on Tuesday at 9:30. There are a couple of lay people who have agreed to talk to him about his attitude. I wonder if they have done that and he is meeting with me to apologize (she said, dreamily, in her ever positive spin on things!).

Have a good Saturday everyone. Don't even think about me here in my office with the space heater on full blast while the wind and rains pellets the windows.

Peace, Peg

teelbee · #49 05-07-2005, 12:51 PM

Alida, houses do sell very fast here unless they are overpriced. In May, many, many more homes will be coming on the market, increasing the competition. I've lived in my neighborhood for over 20 years, and it's one of those places where people tend to say put. Usually the pickings are very sparse for home buyers in this neighborhood. As it is, I've never seen so many For Sale signs as are up this spring. I'd have been in much better shape if I'd been ready a month earlier. Or, even a week earlier.

Shelleyg · #50 05-07-2005, 08:23 PM

Peg,
I posted in the *Third Watch* thread for ya!

pegster · #51 05-08-2005, 12:08 AM

SHELLEY~!!!! c'mon back! Thanks for the post. I read it.

Peace, Peg

KCTinter · #52 05-08-2005, 08:22 AM

Happy, Happy Mother's Day! Happy Spring!

Got a call for my youngest step son -- the one who just joined the Army Reserves. He told us he is going to be learning Iraqi (is that Farsi?). Sigh. DH thinks he volunteered to go to Iraq but is not telling us. My only hope is that by the time he does go there (Spring, next year) things will have calmed down a little. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.

I did plant yesterday. I picked Hostas, Ajuga and Coral Bells with a bit of Impatiens for some color. Also geraniums in the planter by the door. While planting, I noticed the area does get some sun for about 2 hours. Other than that it's filtered by a hugh oak tree. Hope that won't burn the hostas. We shall see. Next up is a tree ring around that oak. Plants there may have to wait for next year. My right hand is swollen this AM from all the digging in hard clay soil. But I think I'll still be able to play Blackjack today . . . .

Peg, Windows XP Professional, eh? And you probably mean MS Office Professional. I hardly ever use MS Word or Excel, but do need it for the occasional file I may need to open. I use Publisher the most. Never use Power Point. That's why I think the Small Business Edition will be sufficient. The other software I use the most is Adobe's Illustrator and Photoshop. Those I've got on CD. I know this thing is going to crash big time sometime soon. All it takes is money!

Peg, you are so lucky you have found a doctor you can connect with!

TB, I know it will sell soon! Are you prepared for the next hassle of packing and moving??? Or don't you want to think about that yet? I imagine it's a one-step-at-a-time process!

Brenda, did you take pictures of your Mother's Day bracelets? Would love to see those.

Again, Happy Mother's Day!

BC · #53 05-08-2005, 05:56 PM

Hey everyone, and Happy Mother's Day to any Mom's of 2 or 4-legged kids. Although, it seems that so many Mom's have rather mixed feelings about today.

Peg, Alida, I did finish the Mother's Day orders Thursday evening, whew. I'll attach a picture of one I finished Wednesday, but everything finished Thursday went unmemorialized

Green isn't a color I work with well, but the buyer was very pleased, so what can I say.

Peg, and TB, I'm sorry to hear you are both hurting. Truly, maybe there's something in the air--two of my local friends are having flares and/or setbacks too. Peg, you are fortunate in your doctor, for sure, and yes, I do understand how heartwarming and interesting it is to rub shoulders with people you don't ordinarily get to meet

Percoset is strong stuff, but it is important to break that pain cycle if you can. Have you heard of Endorphigen? Good luck with your meeting, Peg, but I wouldn't hold my breath for an apology

TB, Is it still raining there? The builder would have replaced the areas around the chimney and skylight where the workmanship was shoddy but since the those shingles were not made anymore it would have been a different color and/or style in patches. I couldn't abide that on the front of the house! Anyway, it gave us the opportunity (even if we hadn't sought it) to replace an ugly cheap brown shingle with a nice architectural "driftwood gray." I was working then and it wasn't such a big bite out of the finances as it would be now.

To add my two cents, we have XP Professional at home. We do have three networked computers, though.

Alida, I can imagine you and DH's concern about your SIL. It sounds as though this is something he feels some passion about.

Donna, Alida, I have Stella D'oro's, creeping phlox, and a few other things in pots to put in my empty bed, plus I have to divide huge Autumn Joys which have outgrown another bed. How 'bout coming over to help me plant??? I tried to mow yesterday, but our still-in-warrenty walk behind is dumping gas out of the carburator--back to the dealer tomorrow. So I was quite the site on the rider mower this afternoon

I really prefer to walk! Alida, you selections sound lovely. I think the hostas should be ok with a couple of hours of sun, especially if you keep them watered.

Shelleyg · #54 05-08-2005, 08:32 PM

If I may *pop* in here and say something...Bren...that bracelet is absolutely stunning!
I have been lusting after a piece of Ameythyst and peridot jewelry for ages!
I do like those stones you used

Shelley

pegster · #55 05-08-2005, 09:26 PM

Shelley: You can pop in any time. You are certainly a "Vet" along with me and the rest of us. I well remember our "chat" a couple of years ago. Do come back. We welcome you!

Brenda: BEAUTIFUL! wOW! I am so impressed with your talent, girlfriend! Thanks for sharing the picture. More.....more....more! Somehow the picture of little ole you on a riding mower gives me a chuckle.

Well, I suppose that that is more than a chuckle. But, you know...

I am so glad that Mother's Day is almost over. Of our six, I did get a card from one stepdaughter, a call this afternoon from my youngest daughter and that is it! I don't know what is in the mind of my other daughter (the one from Carrolton, Texas) Yeah, she is pregnant. Yeah, she works full time. But, gang! This is Mother's Day. I AM her mother!! She has been like this for more than 20 years. Why do I continue to hope? I really don't know. Just stupid, I guess. My own Mom, 94, choked on a piece of meat (on Mother's Day) two years ago and ended up in the ER, where they tried to remove it with an endoscope, couldn't, put her to sleeperforated her esophagus trying to remove it, did major thoracic surgery, and she died 10 days later. Ya know, she was, in many ways, a terrible Mom, but I honored her every year. I didn't forget her. I called. I wrote. I hosted her in my home. And, I had to go to therapy for 30 years to get over the abuse and learn to live despite my past. Why can't my own daughter, who didn't suffer any abuse at my hands, get over her own screwed up idea of her past? RANT OVER

I hope that today has been a wonderful day for all of you. This morning at church many young women my daughter's ages hugged me and kissed me and thanked me for being who I am. They wished me Happy Mother's Day, and I took it in as a representation of who I am to many young women. I am so grateful for ministry. It gives me the opportunity to get far more than I give.

DH fixed me a steak for dinner. He is absolutely ready to kill DD2. Of course, he will never say anything. He never does. (I wouldn't want him to, really) He is watching 60 minutes and the Red Sox now. Soon we will settle down in the basement and watch TV until bedtime. I've been going through pictures and cleaning out a box I found in the "bad room" labeled "memorabilia." Found some baby pictures of my oldest daughter (the one who died when she was 16). So special to see those today. (She has been dead 23 years now)

Physically, I'm feeling MUCH better than I did last week. Pain is under control. I'm sleepy, but not exhausted. We leave Thursday for SoCa. I can't wait.

Peace, Peg

BC · #56 05-08-2005, 10:34 PM

Peg, (((hugs))). I'm with the young women at your church. If motherhood is caring, giving, teaching, guiding, and loving, then I think you are an exemplary representation of what this day is all about. Perhaps DD2 will learn much becoming a mother herself. Glad you are feeling better..., but I think there are too many hurtful memories around Mother's Day, so Dr. Brenda prescribes something non-traditional next year--go skydiving :silly: take a cruise; blow some money in Vegas on a cute showboy

Well, you get the idea.....

Shell, hey, drop in anytime! We're a nice crew, honest! And thanks for the compliment. Here's a picture in greens and purples, just for you. Boy, I'm really feeling like a space hog, here

Shelleyg · #57 05-08-2005, 10:54 PM

Ohhhhh.....aawwwww.....wow! You are good lady!

There is just something about those colors together that just mesmerize me. I was actully thinking of using a pale sage and amethyst for some redecorating I'm doing; but the neutrals won out in the end...but still...

Thanks for the invite to join your little group here. I have followed along from time to time and think you guys are awesome...a true bit of comradeship here

I would very much like to pop in from time to time.
This is a terrific thread

Shell

Judy · #58 05-09-2005, 01:27 AM

Oh my gosh, I had to go back two pages to catch up with all the conversation. I didn't realize that I had been MIA for so long. I got a new haircut yesterday morning then spent about 4 hours at school doing a review for the AP test my kids are taking on Thursday. Today, DD and I went shopping. I should have been grading papers, but OH WELL.............

My quick news of the weekend:

DS closed on his house and moved his stuff this weekend. The movers bring fDIL's next weekend and I think we are going the weekend after that to help them with all the things they still need done. I can't wait to see pictures and then the real thing. They are excited -- and yes he did remember to call today. Plan B for the wedding is still up in the air. I expect that some kind of plans will start to shape up this week.

OK, after the dismal showing from some of your children, I almost hesitated to say that DD was here overnight and that she, fDIL and DS sent flowers to me at work last Wednesday so that I would have them for the remainder of the week and today. I'm pretty proud of my two------ as far as I am concerned they are

s.

Ilse and TB, I hope the home sales are going great, and that the rainy weather hasn't slowed down the market. We had rainy cool weather here, too.

Alida, Happy Birthday! My .02 on the computer is get a new one, buy as much as you can afford, and if you can afford it go XP Pro -- actually I think it's only about $50 more. You can probably get by with MS Office for small business under the qualifications you listed. We have Office XP Pro, and I use Word and Powerpoint every day, Excel some, and never even touch Access. When DS worked for the university, he was able to get software at the faculty cost, so we went with all the top of the line stuff. It is great. Be sure to get your files off the old computer, It sounds like your hard drive may be going out. Just an FYI -- you should do something before long. Microsoft is coming out with a new platform called Longhorn before the year is over. It will have bugs in it --- they always do when they are new. Get something now before 98 is totally unsupported and before the new system is all that you can get.

Peg, Sorry that you have had some physical and emotional bummers this week. It must have been bittersweet finding the pictures of DD1 today. I'm glad that the people at church recognized your nurturing and said thank you for it. It's not the same, but maybe it is a small Band-Aid on the wound. (((hugs))).

BC, Those bracelets are wonderful!!! Those were some lucky Mamas that got those for Mother's Day.

Barb, Donna and Shelly..............

pegster · #59 05-09-2005, 01:27 AM

Brenda: You are a nut!! A Vegas show-boy? Somehow I don't think that DH would go for that! (Neither, Vegas or the show-boy) But, I hear you. Next year I won't be working on Mother's Day and I CAN go somewhere and do something. And maybe I will, by golly! DD2 finally called at 9:00 pm She was happy and perky. I was cool. Dang, I was mad. Still am. But, DD1 sent me the most amazing ecard thanking me for being her Mom and teaching her how to mother. Sigh.

Shelley: You are welcome any time. And speaking of decorating.....stick around girl. That's been our conversation lately. Go back to last month and see Judy's pics of her guest room. It's just waiting for us to visit!

Hope you guys had a good day. It's over, thank God!!

Peace, Peg

Judy · #60 05-09-2005, 01:31 AM

Peg, We posted at the same time. Blame the lateness of DD's call on time zone differences.......... I'm glad they both finally came through.

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