Maybe I should teach him the finer points of packing. I got everything for a week into one max sized carry on and one tote bag. Of course, as you can guess things multiplied while I was here, so I shipped myself a box this morning with a couple of textbooks in it.

We finished about 1:30 today. I started keeping up with how many I graded on Sunday. Since Sunday I did 975 student's packets. Saturday I probably did about 250 and maybe around 100 on Friday. That's a lot of papers!


I leave lovely Lincoln about 8:45 tomorrow morning. In the scheme of what happens in Lincoln, should stay in Lincoln........... we had Karoke night last night. I did a great job as backup singer and dancer for more than one act. Thank God for the beer goggles that everyone was wearing.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Alrighty....
Back for a wee visit

Bren...LOL at your dad and his packing and loading. I, to, wish my DH had a little more fashion savy. But, he enjoys me picking out his clothes and I enjoy buying them(at least for now...I'm almost never at a loss what to get him for his Bd, Father's Day or Christmas) A snazzy shirt and a pair of Land's End jeans get's my eye everytime...LOL.

Barb...how was your day? More dvd scanning? Have you moved out of induction?
The thought of doing phase I is a little scary...I really don't want to give up my nuts....LOL...but I'm pretty sure to MANY nuts may have contributed to these *above normal* pounds. Yeah, well, nuts and a few other things I sure should've passed up, but didn't.

Alida...how did your etch job go today? Any pic-cha's????

Peg...I was going to suggest the same as Teel did...on your first *kitchen* day, make up a few meals, double servings. Then feast on the *left-overs* every other night. That's exactly what we did tonight. I had made LC mini-meatloaves about 2 weeks ago, so I just nuked a potato for DH and made myself some cauli mash in my magic bullet, sautee'd up some ham and green beans and called it a done deal. Soooo glad I had the entree already made up.

Teel...great minds on the make ahead meal...hehe
We've had the bird business going on in the back yard today. It's still so hot, the birds are actually SITTING in the water...ha! The mourning doves are the funniest. The just SIT there; I think they must've fallen asleep in the water! DH has replenished the water several times today; the pigeons splashed it dry again this afternoon.

Judy...LOL at what happens in Lincoln.... I don't think I could ever do karoke in front of people...I'd be terrified! I used to get nervous and my heart would pound just singing in the back row of the church choir! But, good for you girl! Ummmm, what song did you rock their socks with??

Donna...I bet you are working your little fingers to the bone right this very minute. Cutting grass, ironing, or otherwise tidying up the motorhome, eh?
Have a good time girl and exercise that plastic to the max....cha-ching!

Rach...hola! You are missed.

Well....the electrician dude finally showed up around 1600. He replaced the faulty light and all seems well. Soooooo.........I'm hoping this was just a fluke, yanno?
Just got a call from my DD...she's at DFW on her way to Norfork, VA to see some friends for 5 days. The grandson stayed home with his dad since he's still in school. They have another 2 weeks of school left...can you believe that??????!!!!!!!!!

Well....gotta get my stuff together for work tomorrw...it's gonna be a busy one again. Oh....my gyn Dr's office finally called and the lateral lumbar xrays were negative for fractures, so we think I didn't really have any bone loss...just a miscommunication of sorts about my REAL height...duh! I guess for simplicity sake, I won't say I'm 5'9" anymore....

have a good evening everyone!
later chickadees,
S.

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Beer goggles? Is this a figure of speech, or do they have special drinking gear in Lincoln? I'd love to have been a fly on the wall to see you do your Supremes routine!

Terry, my dh has been "retired" for 25 years. When his job went away (at Hallmark) we both agreed that he'd enjoy life as a househusband, and so he has. Right this minute, I'm watching tv and talking online, while he's in the kitchen cooking dinner. So the main domestic challenge of MY retirement will be not to infringe on his space.

And BTW, Peg, cleaning up the kitchen has never been a favorite chore of mine. I'm glad you're a willing partner. I do laundry.

Today's creative research? Episodes of Xena.

P. S. Posting at the same time as Shelley. Glad to hear you're not actually shrinking. Two inches is a lot. Take care.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Happy Friday, goils!!!
Out the door to work I go!

later chickadees,
S.

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Good morning!

Gosh, Shelley beat me to it!

BTW, Terry and Donna -- Barb is putting together a birthday list for all of us. The only dates missing are yours! If you'd like, send Barb a PM with the info. Also, do we have your e-mail addresses? You could include those, too, if you wish.

Peg, I agree with Terry. You have had soooo much water damage over the years! Is it HOA or will you file a claim with your insurance company?

You like doing the dishes? Will wonders ever cease?

And here's hoping the small discussion groups will get your class rolling.

Yes, the basement has windows, TTL. Big windows, too, but not a walk out. Even though this is their house, at some point I am going to have to mention that this area is MY OFFICE and not a bowling area. The other day I went down there to find that the film slitter had been dismantled because they set up wood blocks for "bowling!"

Judy, You teachers sure know how to have fun! Yes, I am dying to know what songs you sang. Complete with dance moves?

You're off to Dallas this AM. Have a safe trip! Did the truck with the missing papers ever show up?

Brenda, yanno, I have never understood options. When I read about selling your options, it was the morning after the Dow had a big drop. I sorta cringed. Now you mention that is GOOD. Mind explaining?

I jotted down that Isadora foundation. Now I have to remember to put it in my purse so the next time I'm in Walgreen's I will have the name with me!

Shelley, I am sure that light fixture was just a blip. GREAT news about not shrinking! When you first mentioned this, you did say that you might have given the doctor a wrong height way back when. Sheesh. Two tests and $$ spent. But at least now you know.

Barb, Xena? Does this have anything to do with your New Zealand trip because it was filmed in New Zealand?? Just coincidence?

Terry, you are just a cute little bundle of ideas! Running a small sprinkler for the birds is a great idea.

As for the monitor situation, I agree. Probably a very low end graphics card. Because of my graphics background, I have beefed up the graphics in every computer I ever had. I tried fiddling with the resolution, to no avail. I normally prefer a higher resolution (1280 x 1024). On that monitor, I can't even read the stuff at that resolution. Well, today I will find out if the hard wire will work better than the wireless. My feeling? She needs a more powerful computer. Tried to get by "on the cheap."

Donna, yikes! It's invoice time again. But when that's done, you'll be off to Washington! Have a wonderful trip!

Rachel, Hola! Donde esta? (Is that right?)

Off to another day. The etch went well but it was a window over a tub, so in, out, in, out. PITA. And rough on my hip. By the time I got home, I was bent over like an old woman. TTL a good night's sleep takes care of it. The customer originally wanted a privacy film over the etch. This needs to be done at least three days after the etch. But yesterday, he told me he's not so sure about it. Sigh. The film is ordered. I told him if he decided not to go with the film, he would have to pay for it. Always something.

Have a great day. See you tomorrow, SATURDAY!!!!!! XXOO

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Back atcha, Shelley. Have a great day. Friday does change the flavor of things for the better somehow.

The termite guy came yesterday, and did a thorough inspection without finding any sign of the lil critters. That's a relief to me. Among our many future home renovation projects, there's lot of exterior woodwork that needs replacing. But first, a lot of concrete pavement. If I had the ambition for it, I'd get an architect or landscaper to redesign the walks and stuff, and not just repour what's there. Maybe the concrete guy will have some ideas. The value of our home doesn't justify a big investment. But we have "deferred maintenance" up the wazoo, and I'd like to do as much of it as possible while I'm still hauling in a paycheck.

This year, however, travel is the big budget item. Yesterday I bought a plane ticket to the BBQ in Colorado. Remember our sisters' team? "Rub This" will be at it again in August. Southwest Airlines has just added a direct flight to Denver, and they were having a promotional deal.

Alida, it's finally hot in our neighborhood. Try to stay cool today.

Bren, my dh is addicted to clothes. And it's not like he goes anywhere! We've had our biggest quarrels over closets stuffed with stuff he never wears, or has forgotten about. I've seen fancy shirts he has bought TWICE, forgetting he already had it. I think it's a genetic trait. He had a spinster aunt who bought everything she laid eyes on, and died with clothes in the closet with the tags still on--from decades earlier. That isn't happening here.

Today's research: Alice in Wonderland and Donald Duck. This project is going better than I expected from the initial feeling of overwhelming chaos.
Continues next week. Oh, and if you have a favorite song you'd like made into a greeting card, let me know.

Judy, hope the weekend goes smoothly. Pace yourself.

Peg, what's the sermon this week?

to all the chickadees. Catchya later.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Forgot the picture. I forgot to take a picture also showing the shower "window" which has the same design on it, just narrower and taller.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Barb, favorite song from Alice in Wonderland? Well, it's not exactly from Alice, but White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane oldie) is a favorite! However, I don't think that song would pass Hallmark's censors:

One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she's ten feet tall

And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell'em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Call Alice
When she was just small

When men on the chessboard
get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's off with her head
Remember what the Dormouse said:
"Feed your Head
Feed your Head!"

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Alida, the etch is beautiful, but that flower looks like a man-eater. I don't know what the view out that window may be, but trees don't last forever, and I think the homeowner would be wise to get the privacy film while you're around to do it right.

Good luck with the computer. Our gkid Scott put together a nice system with $35 in surplus parts from DeVry, and plans to rent it out to a classmate. You CAN get cheap computers that work just fine.

The Xena connection is serendipity. Of course, I'm particularly aware of the Maori faces, NZ accents, and NZ scenery in the Xena episodes.

Now...off to "feed my head."

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Hi Gang!

Been up for a while, getting settled in the day and waiting for a call from bf in SoCa. I had a heck of a time getting to sleep last night, after 1:00 am. Then, I was awake from 3:00 to 4:00 am. Up at 7:00 am. I'll probably nap this afternoon. We'll see.

I was so bummed last night. I was hoping that I could persuade my dd3 to come and take care of me the week after surgery in August. Before I asked yesterday, she said that she couldn't possibly come. Didn't have the time coming. Okay..............But then she proceeded to tell me that she does have the time to spend a week with her Dad in No. Carolina (he's paying), with the kids. Arrgh. I go through this every Summer. Why do I allow myself to get sucked into this stupid jealousy??? Every Summer she and the kids have time and money to go to No. Carolina, but no money or time to come here. They've only been here once since we have lived here. I really don't begrudge her time with him. I just want equal time!!! Today I feel better about it. I'm at least not depressed as I was last night.

Barb: I'm not preaching this week again. It's Children's Sunday. The kids do the entire service. I'm not even going in. I'm going with dh to our church.

Your job sounds really fun right now. I can't think right now of a song that would fit a card. But, I'll give it some thought. Yup. I like cleaning the kitchen. We have a really small kitchen. So, it doesn't take long. We renovated it two years ago, if you remember. (I'll try to attach a pic) and I love to make it sparkle. Well, the site tells me that I already uploaded a pic in April Tracking. I suspect, however, that it was more than two months ago, but probably a year or two ago. Sigh.

Alida: Glad to hear that there are windows in the basement. So sorry that your hip is so bad right now. When are you going to look into a replacement, my dear. I have a guy in my parish who is now walking without help just two weeks post surgery. He is in his 50's. He says that nothing in the surgery or the recovery has been as painful as it was before the surgery. Pretty impressive, huh? He only has a 3" incision. (not that I saw it! Ha!) He told me.

I love your work. Thanks for the pic.

Hi to everyone today. I'm going to be writing a curriculum for two classes this next week. I begin trying to teach the recalcitrant deacons how to communicate with each other without yelling. Sigh.

Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
64-3/4 years young

Morning!

Jeepers, everybody's already replied to everybody almost, and it there doesn't seem to be a lot left for me to say!!!

Ok, I'll start with the most recent and work back
Peg, I remember your kitchen, great lighting, red accents, very, very pretty and I would think very satisfying to work in--or clean up in. Sure makes me wish I had a decorator friend and your good taste! If you are inclined, you could delete your picture from last year's thread and reinsert it, or maybe even rename your picture and insert again--I've never tried that...Anyway, I'm terrified of making a huge garish mistake, so even picking a wall color is agony. Sorry though about your sleepless night, daughter's decision, recalcitrant deacons, and water damage (ack, again for you!). The last few are good enough reason for the first, Peg. Many hugs. May you get sunshine and warmth soon.
LOL, Barb!
Ok, favorite songs that would make good cards----of course I'm drawing a blank now. Alida, I love your idea, but have to imagine a whole 'nuther card company publishing it

Oh yes, I remember the Rub This girl! You'll have a hoot. And your down under trip sounds phenominal, well worth the planning and $$. Still, when you're ready, you may find spiffing up your house to be rewarding too, although on another level. I love the HGTV show "Curb Appeal" where plain and/or run down houses get a face lift, usually fairly reasonably, which makes an amazing difference. Good place for ideas, anyway.

LOL, your DH is a clothes horse, too? Well, both your DH and my DDad are good looking guys, so maybe that's part of it. Dad's only been into clothes as a hobby since he retired 20 years ago, but is making up for lost time. He doesn't have anywhere to go, either--but is the best dressed guy at the local breakfast stop, I'll bet. Yeah, I don't want anyone to go through my closets after I die and say "What was she thinking!"

Alida, another beautiful etch job!! I agree with Barb, privacy film would be appropriate. Betting now that the customer knows he'll have to pay anyway, he'll have it installed.

Warning: Boring stock talk below!
Stock options? Ok.... We're talking "employee" stock options rather than buying options or futures on the open market. The stock options I'm speaking of basically give an employee the right at some time in the future to buy a determined number of shares at a determined price. Options can be awarded to employees as bonus, part of a contract, or even in place of salary increases or other benefits. (This last was particularly true with start-up companies in the dotcom days--early employees of Microsoft, for example often became millionaires on their stock options.) If you are lucky, the company's stock price increases over time so that when you exercise the option you'll be buying stock at the more favorable option price. If, on the other hand, your company stock goes down, the options are pretty much worthless, since the option price is higher market value. DH's company stock has been in the latter category for so long it's pitiful, however, it was enjoying a higher blip and we were able to take advantage of it. What we did was a buy/sell order. Exercise the options (buy) for the option price and immediately sell at the market price. The broker who administers the options program for the company executes, takes out appropriate tax, and sends us a check. Another factor we considered was that options end when employment does.

Shelley, your Dad is like my DH. He's actually said (jokingly) he'd be most happy if he only had one shirt to wear--then there wouldn't be any difficult decisions, LOL!!! So I have to buy for him, even the basics, or take him kicking and screaming to the store. Plus, he's extremely conservative, and once he gets used to a style, difficult to change. Do you know, the man never had a pair of jeans until he met me? Or ate Mexican or Chinese?

Glad you're not shrinking! Hard to rethink something you've always assumed true about yourself, though, isn't it. And bless you and DH for keeping those little birds cool...

Judy, LOL!-- we're getting a whole 'nuther picture of you! Yup, I'm seeing you as one of the Supremes, too. Love the whole idea of a bunch of economics teachers letting loose the wild inner rock star Hope the weekend goes well.

TB, Donna, Rachel! Waves to you both!!!
___________
Gotta run! Hospice gig, haircut, then meeting gf's for early dinner. One gf and her DH#4 have just bought a "hobby farm" in Wisconsin Got to find out more about that!


hugs to all

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Good morning. Friday, finally which means I'm out of here in 6 1/2 hours and on my way to Washington. Can't wait! It would be nice if my boss would say something like "you've worked so hard this week, why don't you take the afternoon off". Ha!! Like that would ever happen. And, if it did....I'd probably have a heart attack and still not get out of here early.

It just poured here yesterday and it's supposed to continue all weekend. That's just such a shame....it's Graffitti Weekend here in our little corner of the world. Old cars come from all over ..yes, some from as far away as California. They race them at our track and then tomorrow, there is a parade of old cars and then a show and shine in the park. If it rains, it's more like a show and rust! Tomorrow night is the burn out where all the dummies try to make more smoke than the next guy by stomping on their brakes and the gas at the same time. I've seen more tires replaced because of this stupid stunt. Then tomorrow night is the big dance....lots of poodle skirts and guys with white t-shirts and a cigarette package shoved under the sleeves. Bring back any memories. It's a great weekend here....and if it rains, it will ruin most of it. So, I'm hoping for the best. All of the retailers sure need the business. Where my office is, I can sit and look out the window beside my computer and see all the old cars coming along the Trans Canada Hwy....great view.

Terry: I had to laugh when you said you loved the clothes in Canada. I feel that way about the States. I guess we just get used to having what we can get and anything new is so much nicer. I find the states is far ahead of us in styles and usually sets the colours for the upcoming seasons. Plus, we don't have any factory outlet stores. For me...it doesn't really matter where I am, I can have fun shopping.

Peg: So sorry, about the water damage. Especially when you are getting ready to sell. Hope it won't take much to get it all fixed. But, would you mind taking this crappy weather back that you've sent us? I've just about had enough rain for this year....who ever heard of rain day after day in the desert?

Barb & Brenda: When my mom died, my gf and I decided it was time to take my dad out and get him more updated in his clothes. I was 16 at the time and thought it would be great to have a "hip" dad. We talked him into purple shirts with the extra long cuffs, dark pants and cowboy boots. Then got him to grow his sideburns long and cut them on a slant. Wow...hot looking guy. That was the extent of it though. He just couldn't see the point of spending too much money on clothes. His thinking was you could only wear one outfit at a time so why buy more? lol He looked so sharp in that outfit though, he ended up finding himself a woman and marrying her. Hmmm....so now it's my fault, I guess, that he married the wicked witch of the west? Whole nother story.

Alida: Love the etching. And the film....yup, unless you like to expose yourself, I guess. I'd just love the tub!! We have glass shower doors on our tub which I'd love to have removed along with the shower. Dh wouldn't like that though. And, our bathroom isn't big enough for a separate shower. I can just picture myself laying back in a tub full of bubbles, candles lit, my book in hand....totally relaxing.

I did send my birthdate and e-mail address to Barb, like you requested. That will be nice to finally have a list of the dates. Is there also a list of home addresses?

Judy: Which one of the Supremes were you? Good for you for letting it all out. Wish I could do things like that. Well....with my voice, it's just as well that I don't.

Shelley: Did you get your walking in this morning? You're doing so good with that. I love to walk, but the idea of getting up early to do it just doesn't appeal to me. I'm not a morning person.

So, I won't have to worry about my flowers for this weekend, I guess. I think I'll take my two big hanging baskets in the house anyway. If it keeps raining, they could get pretty heavy and the tops snap. If it's not one thing (no rain), it's another (too much rain).

Guess I should get back to work so I have everything done before I leave. I have a huge bucket of change to roll ....dirty job. Did you ever wonder what happens to all the coins that go into newspaper vending machines? Well....in this office, I get to roll it before it can go to the bank. About $4,000 once a month. Not my favorite job, but we all have those jobs that have to be done that we hate and if I keep putting it off....no one else will do it. Have a great weekend everyone....I'll report back on Monday...that is unless I explode along with the credit cards that should be smokin!!!
(Actually, we are only allowed to bring back $50.00 in goods across the border seeing as we aren't going to be in the states for 48 hours...unless we want to pay duty...we'll see!)

__________________
Donna
238.5/166.4/150
I will see my goal weight again!

Hi Gang!

I've been at this d8*n computer all day!! I'm getting tired of it, and you know it takes a lot for me to get tired of my beloved computer!

I just wanted to stop in and tell you my news: after talking at length with my bf this morning about my surgery, I've decided not to have it. She was a nurse for 25 years for OB/GYN's and gave me a perspective that I didn't have, both about the physiology of it all, as well as the type of surgeon who checked on me last week. She also forcefully reminded me that we ARE moving in September, and that will be VERY hard having just had surgery. Not only that, but it will be impossible if I am one of those who has complications. So, I decided to wait. I can have it done in SoCa later. Then, I will be in the retirement community where they have a visiting nurse who will come in and check on you if you have surgery. They also have a health center where I could go and stay for a few days if there are complications. All this is free. I have called the surgeon to cancel. I feel about 20 tons lighter!!!

Well, back to doing the d**n budget on Excel!

Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
64-3/4 years young

Yea Peg!!!! Great Decision!!!

Thank goodness for bf's,eh?

Speaking of which, off to see a couple of gf's right now!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Good SATURDAY Morning!

Donna is probably in the States now, running from store to store like a little kid in a candy shop -- Judy is in Plano packing up her Dad's place if she isn't suffering from her wild night in Lincoln, Nebraska -- Peg made a very sensible decision about her surgery (didn't I hint at that?) -- Brenda may now be thinking of buying a Hobby FARM instead of paying off the house -- Barb (our low carb QUEEN) is probably exercising at this very minute, or perhaps watching cartoons -- Rachel is having a fabulous time in Spain -- Shelley is recuperating from a hard day's work (getting nails done?) and Terry is, gosh, what ARE you doing, Terry?

What I should do today is clean the freakin' house. Bob will not play golf as he played in a tournament yesterday. So that means he'll be around. He mentioned buying more pea gravel ? you know ? the WRONG ROCK.

Computer working. Monitor changed and working. And I am finally getting a good handle on their software. Yesterday was a good day. At least I did not feel like an idiot.

Ashley may try to sell the Etchlike part of the business. OK by me! She says she would rather have me in the office than off doing an Etchlike job for the little bit of profit it brings in. After paying for supplies and paying me for my time to do the job, the profit was only about $200. For the same amount of time doing a film job, the profit can be more like $800 to $1000.

As for that man-eating flower (!) I guess I could suggest filling in those wide open areas with more etch. But actually, there are no houses behind those trees and the only view a neighbor has of the bathroom is a small window looking right at the doorway into the bathroom. In other words, the tub, vanity and shower areas cannot be viewed by the neighbor. Up to them!

It's 5 am. Maybe I'll do some ironing. Too early to run the vacuum! Or mayby some Free Cell. Yeah.

Have a great day! XXOO

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135