Coffee and... For Friday, Dec 16, 2005

Darius, you comment about the classical music stations reminds me of a trip we took across the US in 1986. We drove out to Alberta for my inlaws' 50th anniversary party and then on to the coast where we visited DH's cousin on Vancouver island and Expo 86 in Vancouver The we put on kid on a plane back to Calgary to visit with her grandparents for awhile. And drove down to Seatac airport south of Seattle and put the other kid on a plane to Alaska to visit my sister who lives there. We had one week to drive back across the continent and meet the kid to was visiting grandparents at Toronto airport. What a vast wasteland of radio waves going through Montana, the Dakotas, etc. We weren't able to find much of anything except country and western which wore a bit thin after awhile.

Re clothing sizes, I've been around long enough to see standard sizes come and go. They sure don't mean much.

Maria, cocolate filled hazelnut cookies sound really good.

Elaine, I was 9 when I started violin, but I was blessed with an excellent public school program. Never had regular private lessons until I was junior in high school. Actually started studying math in university, but switched to music and along the way made the switch to viola and haven't looked back. The handbells came much later - only about 1990 when the church I was then attending acquired some. A few years later, we changed churches and the new church had bells which were not being used. After an appropriate period to figure out the politics of the new church, and a couple of festivals at which I took a lot of workshops to figure out what I was doing, I eventually took then bells on.

MaryE - between the two of us we'd make a perfect match. Where you are large I'm small and vice versa. I also prefer separates if I can find both sizes. One piece dresses are bound to be huge on the top if I get the hips to fit.

What sort of diesel car do you have? DH has a 13 mo old VW Golf which we like very much. Fun to drive - very peppy, but it does take a LOT longer to warm up in the winter. He had an engine heater installed in it today. It's the grandparents mobile with two car seats in the back for the grand-twins so we both drive it depending on who is doing something with the kids.

Janis, if there is ANY way to get your mother into counselling, do it. I would be VERY worried about her safety in such a relationship. If she was in an abusive relationship before, she may think this one is better (and it may be), but very likely she has become used to being in such relationships. She deserves better, but probably doesn't think she does.

We had lots of snow today. As a result - only 135 people through the Food Cupboard - 9 days before Christmas. Monday night will be a ZOO (and I won't be there - have a concert to play). Next week Wednesday will probably be very busy too, but maybe not because Christmas hampers will have been distrubuted to those who are receiving them.

Now we are trouble shooting. Like a family of 7 which got a voucher for only $15 from the Christmas Exchange (CE). And you may remember that the CE took on the referrals to the Salvation Army toys this year as well as for XMAS food vouchers. Well, it's been bungled. We've got all sorts of clients being told they aren't in the system. We are starting to give them all notes from our program stating that they were referred and on which date. No use in phoning the toy program. All we ever get is their voice mail and a message saying their voice mailbox is full so we can't even leave a message. Am I steamed?? You betcha!

My replacement started working with us today. He's got lots to learn, but will be a quick study, I think.

Oh, and a lady called the FC and said she had some food and toys to donate and could someone please drop by and pick them up as she wasn't well. I was going out - remember the curling brush? (I got it) and she wasn't far away; so I said I'd stop by. Should have been smart enough to realize that I'd have to wade through snow deeper than my boots the whole length of her unshovelled driveway to haul all the stuff to my car. About 4 trips up and down her driveway. I said to myself, "Smile, be grateful". (normally, we promote the FC as being COMMUNITY run and ask people to drop things off to us.)

Christmas WILL come and all will settle down. ;-)

Have a good evening everyone.

Ann

Okay, you've been at it again.

Woofens, what a horrible situation. Please see if you can convince your mother to kick him out, that is not a healthy situation. If you need the 2x4, please shout, it comes super express.

Well, I said earlier that I would comment on sizes. I am 5', weigh 120 lbs, am a size 8, and a size 7 shoe. So I am vertically challenged, with a "firm foundation". Don't think there is any such thing as a "standard size". I have found that the more expensive clothes sizes do run smaller. But do I want to pay that extra money to say I am a size 4? Not. Since I am petite, it is difficult to find pants that do not have to be cut off and hemmed. Have found that some "crop pants" work for me as long pants.

I don't look at appearance, size or anything else in a person. What I look for is a big kind heart. And you can tell those people after only a few minutes of conversation. I would rather have someone pretty on the inside, and ugly outside than pretty on the outside and ugly on the inside.

Well I will be back later to check posts again before I go to bed.

Defoe I am with you. I know plenty of beautiful people that are truly ugly people.

Well we are loading up the Pilot and taking the kids to see if we can find any house with holiday decorations. They seem to be far between more each year. If we find any really nice ones I will try to get some pictures.

Hope all have a wonderful night, and all please stay warm and safe.

Casey

Ok, home from the party, no casulties.... no fights, just alot of tension and dirty looks.

I stayed the entire time, I was good, and I had a miserable time LOL But the babies were so cute. Justin ate almost all of a 4 inch round cake LOL Glad I don't have to take care of him tonight!!

These are my babies, my neice and nephew
Justin on the left and Jackie on the right :)

1 more after this one. I'll write more tomorrow I'm wiped out tonight but thanks to all for the encouragement!!!

Hugs to all
Janis

last one for tonight, might post more in photo's not sure yet :)

Nite All!

Janis

Hi everyone,

D'cat, so sorry about your MIL. I somehow seemed to have missed that earlier, don't know how. I hope everything turns out okay. This is no fun at any time, but I think that having it happen around the holidays makes it harder for everyone. My mother had a heart attack the day after Christmas several years ago and has had "false alarms" right around the holidays on two other years since. I think it's holiday stress, at least in part.

Darius, nice to see you back and glad you made the journey without mishap.

Janis, that's a nasty situation for sure, but I suspect that any attempt at intervention on your part would just keep you in a no-win situation. Does your mother have any good friends that she WOULD be willing to listen to?

Maria, how's the weather down your way now? We had sleet and freezing rain last night and I was afraid that the trip in to work would be hair-raising this morning. It had turned to all rain by then though, so the roads weren't bad at all: however, by the time we got home everything had refrozen and DH actually ended up having to crawl on all fours the last few feet to the back steps since the driveway and sidewalk were solid sheets of ice. Might be interesting heading out tomorrow morning too.

I don't mean to leave anyone out, but it's been a long day and I'm too tired to keep writing. Good night and sweet dreams to all.

Hi all,
Just checking in to see what everyone has been doing. Looks like you've all been plenty busy. LOL
Sarv, I couldn't have been good with white chili in front of me. I love that stuff. :)

We had hot wings tonight. Got the best recipe from a DG member who lives in NY. It's one of the best ones I've ever tried.

Woofens, sure hope your DM will find a way to get out of that relationship. You are right to think about your own family first. I don't think I'd want my little ones around that situation either. Will say a prayer for God to turn that situation around.

Defoe, hope all went okay tonight. Those situations can be hard, can't they. I saw where you are having more company, so looks like I won't be dropping in for breakfast. LOL

Well, now that we've all 'fessed up about our weight and height ... I'm feeling a bit taller. :) I see I'm not the shortest one in the bunch. LOL

To all those I haven't named ... didn't mean to slight you. I always enjoy your post. Mary, both Ann's (hmmm can't do that! ) to Ann and Anne, DMC, M5, Julie, Kelly, Kooger, Carol ... odd and even, Hap, Darius, the guys ... oh my to *everyone* ...
goodnight!

Janis --- goood for you --- bad situation and you held your own and wished the twins a happy b-day!!!

*Patting Janis on the back wit a big hug* !!!!!!

Tomorrow's DAILY is UP in the Parking Lot!
(A little earlier than usual...but I'm beat.)
Here's a link if you need it:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/562845/

Hope everyone sleeps like *contented* child tonight (No colic! LOL)
See ya in the morning.

~julie~

Janis,

Smart idea no shirts on the twins for b-day cake. When my grand-twins turned one, we had to do a strip down of Amy after the cake and hose her off a bit under the kitchen sink. She had the icing in her hair, all over her face, everywhere. We literally didn't know where to start the clean-up. LOL Yours are quite the pair. Enjoy them.

Good night all.

Ann