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Hello To All !

Betty - the last (and only time) that I drove through Detroit to Canada 24 years ago... I didnt' have a passport... I suppose they've changed that now... ??

Yikes LK - Can't remember a passport costing $150... was only $50 ??when I got one....again quite a while ago... I need to realize that when YEARS pass... stuff changes LOL....
Betty - can't wait for Paul to let you work from home... although wonder if you'd miss having folks around... Barb how is the eye?
Crissy - I'm with you gal... if it were up to Hubs we'd never even have vacation. I can't even fathom that. Got to try to figure out how to spend my vaca time only 6 days till 12/31 .... was on Disney website last night dreaming.

Thunder... when are you leaving on your trip? How proud you must be ! Susan - I hope ya'll do go camping. Just the thing to get away for a bit and relax.
DEBBIE! LOL on the hubby. I feel that way about mine sometimes too. Girls have been gone since Sunday. The house is Quiet and Clean. No Drama No Mess. Shame on me for even typing that.

Dianne... Maybe we can have the Pool Party Saturday night! Hoping Hubs will clean up the backyard in anticipation that we might do Fathers Day here Sunday... so will be pretty out there. Had 2 Rum Runner hibbies bloom today... it's covered in blooms and about to bloom are the Texas Star, Bon Temps and Cosmic Ray. Should be quite a show in a day or 2.

Save a Rhubarb pie in the freezer for me ! and My prayers for you and hubs ... hoping everything is fine...Surely it will be...

I'll pop back in a bit... headed to Disney to dream....
Hugs,
Mary

Oh Mary, I dream in Disney also! lol Tinkerbell has saved me many a times!

If you want drama...I can send some your way! OMG! The kids are driving me crazy....I think DS is actually worse than DD right now. He and several others have been so mean to the baseball players (verbally) at school since the prom issue. Well last night was the sports banquet....and I gotta tell you, I think all those kids and a few parents (me included) were a bit surprised. Quite emotional.
DS came home with a Senior plaque which listed all the sports/years played and participation from 2005 to 2011. Also another letter/pin for track.

Tomorrow we are back to yet another doctor with Shannon. I think we are seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel....and working to pick up a medication tomorrow once we get this doctors approval. Got her new eye glasses....and got home, the "jewels" on the frame were missing! SO, will handle that tomorrow also. SO very tired of driving to Rochester and the gas is killing us....$150 just the last 7 days for me only...not including DH's work driving!

Barb, sure hope that eye is feeling better.
Bev, I also hope Scotty is treating you better....and it must be nice to be able to just walk away from it and go home to peace and quiet. I hope your able to get some rest.

Shirley, missing you....sending hugs and prayers!
Betty, how are the toes? OUCH ...I still get pains in my foot wear the break is...so sure hope your toes heal well.

Waving to Crissy and Susan, LindaKay...everyone.....

I need a smakeral of something.....

Debbie

mmmmmm Debbie - I'll have a snackeral with you!! What're we having?

No No Deb ! Do not send drama my way LOL! My blood pressure is up just reading about your drama... LOL....

I am sure we'll have Puh-lenty of drama once the girls return... this is always the way it is... either they get along with BioMom and she sends them back with all kinds of arguments... or they don't and they come back stressed....

I do feel your pain... know the end of the school year can bring so much emotional stress... Are kiddos working through the summer? or going straight to school ?

We've got "Training" this week at work. So stressful. How crazy that I've been doing the same job for 23 years and STILL have to be taught how to give presentations! Amazing I've been able to pay the bills all these years without that knowledge... (ROFLOL!)

Oh well.... gotta do the 'corporate' stuff or they wouldn't have a job... right?


Deb - you've got me laughing... what's a Smakeral ! LOL

Hugs,
Mary

sumfin to "smack" your lips over, Mary! ^_^

Oh Susan ! Thank you ! Does Betty have any spaghetti leftover? OR I'm thinkin' popcorn ! LOL
Dianne probably has some leftover baked goods or a Rutabaga pie for us....

I had a small smakarel of toast and honey....slightly sweet yet filling! Pooh would approve! haha

Mary, I remember the girls are a handful for you when they get back from biomoms.

I think DS is realizing how much he has screwed up this year...and it is too late to fix. Especially when everyone on the team got certain awards that VERY easy could have been his...if he hadn't screwed off so much. And now that school scholarships are being handed out...he has received NONE! It is his bad attitude the last six months.

What is rutabega pie? Did you mean...rhubarb? Oh Mary...I don't know what a rutabega pie is...it scares me just the sound of it.

I can't remember what I wrote above already....and am afraid if I scroll up I am going to loose this....so I think I am just going to post this.

Not sure if I will be back or not....if not...good night! lol

Debbie...rutabega pie? shakes head

Rhubarb is what I meant Deb ! So sorry! Forgot the mysterious veggie that we Southern Belles don't have.... I suppose I ought to try to grow it here.....

So understand your frustration..... DS almost did NOT Graduate last year.. I had to step in and help him ...talk to the principal..... I so hope he goes to community college in August... but I'm completely out of it.... it will be 100% his decision...

100%, eh? Good for you, Mary - he has to start making his own decisions and living by the consequences!

y'know, Mary - I could probably send you a root of rhubarb - it really really "takes' very easily, and grows from year to year.
Let me know if you want some, and I'll send it ^_^

We have had our same rhubarb growing for 21 years....it was at this house when we moved in and still going strong. I might chew on one stalk raw a year....and give the rest away. The kids that liked the pies are now married so they make their own.

Mary DS is going to a community college...however it is two hours away. SO, he will be on his own. His common sense has left the building of late....so I am worried. But as said, if he hasn't learned by now...he has to learn it on his own the hard way!

Off and running this morning already to Rochester. Have a good day

Debbie

Morning all, perfect day for those who aren't at work...had I not had a Dr's appointment next Tuesday I think I would have called in sick..

Looked at the gardens and knew this morning they were asking for a 'drink' so got them watered..all look so overgrown, must have been all the rain in May..lordy, can hardly find the pond..would start some transplanting but it's much too late in the season..a red cherry tree which was no more than about 4' last year, perfect drop for the big 6' frame I hang a planter from has now grown to about 10' and is blocking the view of the frame..should really attemp to move it but am sure it's root bound and impossible for me to dig up..a 'to do' for the fall when the boys are around..gardens have a jungle like appearance...oh well, when all are in bloom it will be spectacular!!!

Mary and Debbie, how about I meet you at Disney!!! Still have a few days left after booking some holidays..

be back in a sec

Teenage drama of any kind is a big NO for me!

Debbie you just have your hands full with everyone and everything, and to all of those teenagers who think since they just graduated high school life is easy, HA! I didn't go to college right after high school, I didn't pick a profession because I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to do, yeah, not a good idea and 20 years after graduating I am living up to my decisions and I am not happy with some of them and you can't go back and redo it.

See y'all at Disney!!! We actually had a vacation planned in Spring of 2010 to go to Disney and Universal and all of that but Dave lost his job January of 2010 so it was cancelled.

Has it been that long ago already since Dave lost his job..yikes long time ago isn't it? You submitted your resume to be considered for the new job, how long before you hear? Think the day at Disney makes us feel like children, not a care in the world, we remember the better times...must ask Cathy if she got her pictures developed from when I took her to Epcot at Christmas, forgot about those!

Busy here this morning, with 3 offices being relocated all within a month, much to do i.e. telephone changes, moving vans etc.

Am trying to respond in mini posts..

Just had a meeting with Paul..said the only reason he'd want me in the office is when assessments are going on so if I can book all my appt.s on 2 or 3 days then work from home the others..fine with me..shows he's trying his best to accommodate my needs lol...of which I have many!

Just spoke with my sister Sharon..we haven't met up since before Christmas and she's less than 100 miles away..she's busy tonight but we are trying to find at least an hour we could hook up..I'd drive to the city, go to Awesome Blossom Nursery which is one of the best nurseries to purchase hanging baskets, then we'd meat up for supper and that would get me home around 11 and free up one of my weekend days so play with the pond...let's hope this plan comes to pass...

Let's hope, Betty!!
Take care of that poor foot of yours..........

Mary, is rutabega like a turnip??? know sometimes when I purchase a turnip the girl looks for rutabega..will have to search on-line..

As for all the young ones trying to decide what they shall become my heart goes out to them..they must choose appropriate courses in high school, not many know at that point and if they make the wrong decision in courses it adds years of schooling!!!

Braedon who is in grade 10 made the honor role again this year, proud of him..grades average 94%..Jeff was telling me that this week he'll be taking Braedon for math tutoring, seems for some reason Braedon's goal is to get 100% in math..asked him what he'd like to be, absolutely no idea!!

Asked young Caleb about being on honor role (he's 11) said "I'd be there grandma except they don't have honor roles when you are in grade 7!"

I was very lucky with my boys, maybe it was because we lived in the country and kept them soooo busy, think knowing they'd have to tangle with dad made them cautious as not to get out of line..lol..Jeff, he'd argue with me but Greg always went with the flow..I so feel for you with young adults, today it's so hard to raise them..different values they learn at school..chin up, soon they'll be out on their own and you'll be looking for them to come and visit!!!

Meant to tell you that last night I got so ANGRY, used some pretty bad words, had you heard me you'd have washed my mouth out with soap for sure...

I was travelling a back concession, enjoying the view, up on the side of the road a large turtle waddled, guess they are laying eggs at this time of year...big big one..there was no chance of my running it over because it was well off the pavement..just as I passed the turtle I looked back to see him and admire..was a black car behind me, actually went OFF the paved portion of the road to run over it, off the poor turtle flew..I was enraged..got to the stop sign and I virtually pulled on an angle so the car couldn't cross , put my window down and there was a woman, maybe in her 40's, told me she didn't see it..well, you had to see it to go off the road to hit it and back on the road, used some )(*&%$$%^&*() on her!!! Long time since I've been that mad!

Had a lovely supper with Ann, she said she had a few bad days this week but that's to be expected...

Oh Betty, that would have made me so mad! I would have written down her license plate number and called the police and reported her for animal cruelty!
Glad to hear you will be able to work from home a few days of the week!
I got news for you guys, that have kids graduating. The next few years will be just as bad, unless they move out on their own, but they will still try to move back home many times, as they find out the hard way, it is hard to make a living.

Sorry I didn't get to chat with you for long last night..but you did arrive just as everyone else did for spaghetti..imagine, I didn't even burn it.

Debbie, wow that's a lot of $$$ spent on gas..gas went up 3 cents this morning here..was coming down but right back up there..

Dianne, how is your day going...

OMG LindaKay, isn't that the truth, have a lot of friends with adult children moving back in for one reason or other..CHANGE THE LOCKS!!! lol
It the heat unbearable LindaKay?

105, 107 all week!

Bet that pool outside isn't giving any comfort, would be like getting into HOT tub..
it's probably close to 80 here, no humidity, light breeze..almost perfect..so want to finish the project I started i.e. pond and get my yard back into order..think I took on more than I should have!!!

Actually, it feels good to get into the pool, and when we get out, the air feels cooler too!
Don't over do it Betty!

Betty I am up to my eyeballs in pastry crust!!!

Just think though Dianne, you'll be able to put feet up and whenever you need sweets, voila, just look in the freezer..how is the headache today? What time is your appt. tomorrow?

LindaKay, I would have thought with all that heat you'd not be refreshed from the pool..

As for the pond, don't like seeing just one big hole in the ground..nor do I like the back seat of my car filled with liner/pump and supplies..usually I only do 2 day projects but with the family up all weekend and then my foot, well just have to find some of my patience..

was just coming to post this then got sidetracked..


This year we experienced and are going to experience four unusual dates:1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11; that's not all ... take the last two digits of the year in which you were born; now add the age you will be this year, and the result will be 111 for everyone!

This is the year of Money!!!

This year October will have 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays and 5 Saturdays.
This happens only every 823 years.

OK, I am back from Rochester already.....and I hope this explains all my "absenses" of late....besides my shoulder issue. Life has gone kaputz....hit the fan and blown all over the place!

All right...we do have a "diagnosis". This has been going on for a couple weeks. DD, who is the "cancer survivor" at age 20...has been having the horrible headaches...and 8 or 9 on the pain scale. Which started us off in the ER on the 28th/29th for 14 hours. Then last week we started at the Neurologist.

Shannon has had an MRI, MRV, MRA...and two lumbar puntures. Three technically as the first one didn't work..and was a "dry tap" but complete with pain. Four vials of fluid sent off, pressures measured and now, here we are. DD has Pseudotumor cerebrai...also known as Intracranial Hypertension. The cerebral fluid in the brain and spine is at a high level...causing intense pressure on her brain and head, going down into the neck & shoulders.

The lumbar punture took off some of that fluid to get it down to a "15" readying. This high fluid and whats going on, actuallly mimics brain tumor symptoms...and can cause some big trouble...including vision loss among other things. The medication should help with the headache...and the control of the cerebral fluid levels.

The "good" news in all of this, there is no signs of cancer, meningitus, blood clots or brain bleeds...which were all suspected.

SO, hopefully...she will get back to a somewhat normal life, for what can be normal for her/us. She is off work until the 26th of july...panicing about everything and paychecks and the works. I told her to "just heal" we will figure out the rest. Starts her new meds tonight....and I pray it works! All this on top of the scum of a boyfriend. Grrrrr!

I go tomorrow to get my shoulder checked...has been a month Thursday. THEN, DH goes Tuesday for his knee/elbow...yes TWO now!

Betty, I would have been crying and ripping that woman up good about the turtle....and called the police also! Some people just have no heart.

Be back....in dire need of coffee.

Debbie

Goodness, you have been through so much! Glad to hear it is not cancer, and they now know what it is, they can get it treated properly!
Sending prayers for everyone!

Deb, just don't know what to say at times like this....BIG BIG hugs to you and Shannon......very glad it is not return of cancer...

Ha! Hate to tell y'all but it was that way in the early 90's too, it's hard when you start out because you can't get a job that pays above minimum wage, but minimum wage doesn't pay enough to even rent an apartment unless you want to live in ghetto. I needed to move back in but my mom DID change the locks and she let me stay on her couch for 2 nights, that was it. I ended up moving in with an ex-boyfriend and his the-one-he-left-me-for girlfriend. Less that ideal, mom said I had to learn, how could I learn when I had a full time job that paid Minimum Wage! Then again, nothing is ever good enough, she hates Dave because he was laid off because of the economy crash and can't find a job because of the economy, she says he's lazy, he's up and running exactly like you are Betty, I don't think I would call that lazy. Betty yes it has been that long and yes he loses his unemployment on July 1st and I don't make enough to pay the bills, and I have no idea when I'll hear about it.

Debbie, when all this is over you must find a job that teaches how to deal with stress!!! honestly have no idea how you deal with life on a day to day basis! So glad at least they've been able to pin point the problem and that there may be meds to help out..thank the Lord is wasn't cancer..wow, you need a drink while putting on a big medalion saying "Mother of the Year" your hubby and children are so lucky to have you.

Thunder what date are you off and running?

Crissy, guess with the economy there is not much else for the children to do but move back with parents. Let's hope something comes up before July..you'd hate to have to sell your beautiful home.

On MSN with Sharon..shaking my head here..she was 40 when she adopted 2 young babies..has had nothing but tears in the last few years..today she found out her youngest has been lying, steeling and worse..Sharon is quite wealthy so there is nothing that these young ladies don't have...the youngest is 17..very/very talented but I've not much use for her for the way she treats her mom...was going to meet up with Sharon tonight but now it all depends on her daughters needs..now tell me if you just got a telephone call saying she'd not been at school for a few weeks, most likely will fail and she call you to be taken to her girlfriends and picked up (which is about 1 hr. drive each way) and give her spending money for supper and the mall would you do it??? I'm beyond being supportive, guess I've never lived it and have no patience for it! Not a nice lady am I???

Went to the Garden Gallery and found the proper pump and water falls unit so maybe I forgo my trip to Orangeville and pick up what I need to finish the pond.

Oh Debbie I'm so glad this is treatable, sounds like it's pretty easily treated anyway, and it's not the C word, or any of those other issues you mentioned. I bet she is panicking! Poor thing, way too young to be going through this. What would cause this?

Betty it seems here the younger you are the easier it is to get a job, much easier to find work when your 20 vs 50.

I say again Betty, raising kids is not about being nice, it's about parenting them. The best parents are NOT friends with their kids.

we leave the morning of the 29th, drive for 20 + hours, needing to make multiple stops, for hubby to walk around some, as his body can not take 18hrs of straight traveling!!!! will arrive at the great lakes sometime morning of 30th, pick Momma up at o'hare airport in the afternoon, gates open for graduation at 4 am (yikes) 1st of july !!!!

gonna see Judy some where in there??? maybe when we arrive, before airport?? or part of saturday???

That will be quite the trip for you all..Thunder, you've been to that region? are there DG friends along the way??? hard trip for sure when you've a bad back or legs..gas-ups just doesn't do it!

Crissy, everyone wants to pay less but they don't understand they just don't get the experience for their $$$'s..

"The best parents are NOT friends with their kids". I so agree with that statement Crissy!
Betty, I would be so upset with the 17 year old, and would not give her a ride, much less money for supper and the mall! She would be grounded for doing so bad in school! And for stealing... I just may call the cops!

Here in AR they're hiring the younger, less experienced because they can train the employee to the companies benefit, an older more experienced person will be much harder to train to benefit the company more than themselves.

LK my mom was a cop and she would have called the cops on me, without a doubt. Guess who avoided stealing like the plague because of that???

Just what you would have needed, get caught doing something only to have your mom be the officer on duty..yikes..I'd have always been on my best behavior..

When I think about it, worse thing I'd do is come in at midnight when my curfew was 11:00 but then all those years ago it didn't seem as though there was anything out there to get you into mischief like today! AND, you would never ever back talk to your elders.

((((Debbie and Shannon)))
Betty that person that hit the turtle needs more than a verbal whiplashing. The turtles come and lay their eggs in our front yard and in some of the gardens. We let them be as they have been doing it long before we ever built here. I did draw the line though at the 1 snapping turtle that was trying to come into the house. It had made its way onto the 1 step we have at the side door when I opened that door. I don't know who was more shocked me or the snapper. My goodness they can be a size! I mark where they lay their eggs on the lane in front of the house so no one will drive over those spots. Sometimes the little turtles don't come out until Spring - they can tell what the temp is on the surface and if it is cooler than where they hatched they stay there for the winter. Once they hatch and are out they make a beeline for water.
LK couldn't agree with you more about parents needing to be parents NOT friends. When I taught I used the same philosophy in that it was better if I was the teacher and they were the student.You do no teen a favour by trying to be their 'friend'.
Thunder while your trip is long in miles how exciting it will be for you!!!
Barb I am so anxiously looking forward to seeing you in August.What a treat that will be for me.
Made 4 doz individual rhubarb pies and 1 doz individual peach pies. I found peaches in the freezer so thought I had better do something with them. Also made some Eclairs which DH polished off so I am assuming his appetite is coming back - I sure hope so!
LOL Mary I will save you a rhubarb pie for sure. I do make Sweet Potato Pie and Squash Pie so maybe Turnip/rhutabaga Pie is not to far off the mark. My mam when we were kids used to put turnip in the mashed potatoes to make the potatoes go farther and I still like that combo about once or twice a year.lol
Hope to BBL going to take something for this blasted headache.
Dianne