Coffee and...for Tuesday, February 28, 2006, =^..^=

Here's the daily continued from
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/579181/
Have a super day! ♫ Wow, where did the month go?????
Susan
=^..^=

Good morning. Early here again since I decided to stay up between checks at the barn due to the first session taking longer than expected, leaving less time for sleeping even if I could. It's a rainy, stormy night, and as I predicted yesterday, it's bringing the lambs out. I brought in a pretty wild ewe who had a lamb in the field and the front feet of #2 lamb showing. She didn't want to follow the cart but after coming back to it a couple of times when I walked away from it she did follow at a little distance. It helped that her lamb was maaaa-ing now and then. Another ewe with some mucous showing followed us in so that makes 4 ewes loose in the center of the barn that could have lambs by the time I get back since there were already 2 inside when I got there. Follow that?

In addition, there was a note about a lamb that was tube fed earlier in the evening. "Please check the lamb in #4 and help it nurse if necessary." I saw the lamb standing up but didn't see if it nursed or not. The finger in the mouth test produced a very weak sucking reflex, the mouth is warm so the lamb is not chilled. The weak sucking reflex could mean he just nursed and wasn't interested, or that he is really weak. I don't think he nursed. I'll check again and might have to milk the ewe and tube him. His littermate died, the note on the barn chart says "granny interferance", meaning that an older ewe who is anxious to have her own lambs probably stole a newborn and wouldn't let the mother near it. Sometimes they fight and the helpless lamb gets stepped on or hurt some other way. I don't know what happened. When I got there neither of the grannys in the barn was paying any attention to any lambs in the pens, they were just picking at some hay. I hope I don't get greeted by a chaotic situation when I go back.

On a lighter note, I'm sitting in a brand new adjustable office chair that my hubby brought home so I would be more comfortable at the computer. Bless his heart. He mentioned the other day that he thought we needed a new one but I just said the old one was ok. I had added 2 cushions to make it the proper height. They were lumpy and not too comfortable. I tend to make do with things that are far less than perfect, would never have bought this new chair for myself. Probably that habit comes from being almost too poor to eat for a lot of years. I'm sure we lived below the poverty level before it was ever defined, and lots of those thrifty habits have stayed with me.

BetsyBug, I'm glad to see you again. I hope you will again become a regular part of the gang who frequent the cyber kitchen for our daily fix. I'm sorry you have had so many unfortunate events lately, one is hard enough but 3 in just a couple of months, oh my, you needed hugs and we didn't know........

Elaine, I don't know what that ~ symbol is called. I use it as a wave. thinking of your symbols and the sounds you have assigned to them made me think of Victor Borge's phonetic rendition of Romeo and Juliet with all the punctuation sounds. Whenever I have seen it I just crack up laughing all over again. I don't know how he did it with a straight face.

Ann, how did the concert go? When I read your post and thought of the time zone differences I decided you were probably already at the concert. What time zone are you in? Eastern or something earlier than that? The way Dave has this site set up everybody's posts show as what time it was here when you posted there. And I know that some early mornings when I say it just got light and I'm about to go feed my horses that some of you are almost ready for lunch. Right now I need to be getting the coveralls and jacket back on and going back to see what the situation in the barn is.....

Morning all, I'm up early due to Mother Nature deciding to rearrainge my yard. Howling winds and gusts have tossed over my potting bench, tipped over the cat house,removed some of the roofing from the horse stall and loosened the rest, took at least one garbage can across the road, I think too dark to find it now, and I have lawn chairs everywhere. Oak limbs are down everywhere and it's pouring rain. We are under flood watch here in the valley, thankfully I don't live close to any streams or rivers but will have to help move my friends horses here to higher ground untill things subside.
Defoe, You and yours are in my Thoughts and Prayers as always.
Mary hopefully with this weather the ewes will finish lambing out and you can get some much deserved and needed rest. Your DH is a sweetie for bringing you a new chair. Sounds like me and mine.
Well need to put on another pot of coffee and some dry socks...untill later....Lauri

Me again. Lauri, we are getting the same storm. I looked at it on the sattelite weather pic and it covers the whole west coast. We are just getting the upper edge of it. They said there were flood and flash flood warnings for a lot of places in Cal, be careful. I hope your damage isn't too bad and that you can get the horses to higher ground.

Another set of twins were delivered by the time I got back to the barn. The ewe had gone into one of the empty pens and the grannys were too busy with hay to notice. One of them is in labor, just the easy stuff for now, she breathes rapidly several times and then holds her breath, over and over. She is still chewing her cud so is not too uncomfortable. Both sets of twins were girls tonight, nice sized ones that will be unlikely to have any trouble getting off to a good start. There are about 50 ewes left to lamb so it will take at least a couple more weeks for the busy part, and then there are the stragglers who make us wonder if they will ever have their lambs.

The lamb I needed to check on was too weak to stand. I picked him up and stood him on his feet and he just collapsed, so I put him in the warming oven to wait while I swiped some milk from his somewhat reluctant mother and got the tube feeder syringe gun ready. It's a bit scarry putting the tube down into the stomach, I worry about getting it in the lungs, but the feeding part goes fast. The lamb is back in the barrel staying warm under the heat lamp where his mother can't paw at him to get up. Paul will be there at 5 to look at him again.

Goodnight, it's time to get some more sleep.

Good morning!

Mary - I've been enjoying your lambing stories so much. Hope that little one that's having trouble recovers.

Lauri - so sorry to hear about your bad weather. We had a light dusting of snow last night. DH had to go in to work at 12:00, so, got a great nights sleep last night, LOL. Just checked the temp and its 15 here.

Defore - Still keeping MIL in prayers. Good for you starting your spring cleaning already. I think I'm going to take a day off in the next couple of weeks to have some un-interupted cleaning time. Need to do it before parents come home from FL. Mom means well, but she can really put a kink in my day off. She would rather find ways to distract me, like going for lunch or shopping. And of course I can't say no when she asks.

OK, gotta get a few more things done before leaving for work. Hope you all have a great day!

Hi there
Trying to decide if I'm going to try to make my riding lesson. It's 9 degrees out. Last year we had so many bitter cold Tuesdays and Wednesdays I made a ten degree rule, if it's not 10, I'm not coming....it may be 10 by nine o'clock when the lesson starts....but that's still stinkin'cold!! My toes and nose freeze. I can put those hot-pack things in my boots, but will I be having FUN?

I've enjoyed everyone's wedding tales!

lauri and Mary~Good luck with the storm, it sounded dreadful on the weather channel!! We have so many violent storms now, it seems like someone is always in the crosshairs!

BetsyBug~Welcome back. I hope things are looking better for you!

sarv~I've lost my taste for meat too. In college my roommies used to say I had the eating habits of a six year old, still do. If I need a dose of chocolate, I take a dose of chocolate. I do try to eat oatmeal (whole grain) for breakfast, and I like fruits and veggies. I think overall I eat pretty well, just maybe not in the same order as other folks! Rice and beans are a good combo,too.

defoecat~wish I would have a cleaning attack! Good for you! It's so cold and drafty here I just want to curl up under a blanket. Sorry you lost your wedding pictures, but it sounds like you have what really counts after 41 years. Prayers for your DMIL....what a roller coaster.

Back in a bit.....

Morning, gosh Mary was a grandma over and over tonight- what fun! Hope the weak, little one survives. I love hearing about your adventures!!

I spent a restless night - manicotti that I had for dinner was not agreeing with me - gonna give the rest a heave ho today! I had one english muffin left for breakfast, but I don't know what happened, but it was burned to a crisp. I ate it anyway - charcoal is good for the stomach isn't it!! If this is how my day is going to be, I should just go back to bed!!

Heard from the mother of the bride. She said the kids went way over the $3500 allowance for booze. Went thru $900 worth in 20 min!! Can you imagine....

BB- glad to see you again. So sorry for all the junk you've been going thru. Seems the bad times visit us all sometime or other. Good luck on the major redo - I can only manage a room a year (if that) - how do people do a whole house???

lauri -yikes, sounds like you have major storms out there - you can keep them too!! 14 deg here this morning and of course cloudy. Freezing rain tomorrow - wanna trade?

Briar, your description of your wedding made me have a 'gut laugh' - especially when I reached the part of 'divorce!!' I think I've been with this old goat for so many years that we'll be together until the end. Too much work to call it capuut! Besides, I've invested his $$ too well for him and he has way more than me! How's that for justice...

Today I'm going back to the huff/puff after a 3 wk absence. Probably will have to reintroduce myself! Plus I need to pay for another year of this torture... Afterwards am going to a scrapbooking store - just looking I hope. I also have a 15% off coupon from Kohls = may have to see if anything has my name on it!

Somebody was talking about Ploy Crystals in here the other day I want to know something about these things. They look expensive. Do you mix them in the dirt are what. I seen pictures where the plants were going just in the crystals.

I don't know where the month went either, but I'm glad it's gone! We've had major snow storms in March but I'll be surprised if we get any this year, the winter has been so mild, and we haven't had decent snow cover since December. I expect to lose quite a few perennials, but they made it through last year,so it's just a waiting game now.

BB, (Marcia), I'm sorry to hear you've had such a sad time, we're glad to see you back, and we missed you. New flooring sounds terrific, wish I had put all hardwood in here when we built. Carpeting looks shabby after only five years, but even laminate would be a huge expense. During building, we had heavy rains and water got onto the OSB subflooring and swelled it unevenly. Builder said, "OH, no problem we'll just sand it down"...they did, but there are uneven places, the floor squeaks here and there, and the carpeting has worn in spots where the edges of the OSB is different heights. So, new flooring would also mean replacing the subfloor. And taking off all the baseboards. Ugh. Plus being "open concept" there's no good place to stop, it's all or nothing. Nothing is the favorite choice right now.

Which reminds me,as soon as the weather warms up we need to put a new coat of poly on the hardwood in the kitchen and dinette where moving the chairs has worn it away. I'll tackle that when I can have the windows and doors open.

Dcat, I'd call that spring cleaning! I was looking at bedroom curtains the other day and thinking they could use a spin in the washing machine. Would rather do it when I could hang them outside but by that time I'll want to be playing in the dirt and ignoring the interior of the house.

Woofens, I hope today is a better one for you, and you are able to find some help in dealing with the problem child. In spite of everything we do, some kids will just challenge us at every step. Sometimes they win. No matter what, parents always feel they should be able to solve their problems and take it on their shoulders when nothing seems to work.

Sarv, copper trellises? That sounds neat. We'll need pictures when you get your new computer. Saw Martha S. do a copper one on her tv show a few years back, and it was beautiful. I have a half dozen of those wooden fan style ones from the garden store...very cheap, it was year end and they were marked down to a buck and a half, so I bought six, brought them home, painted them to match our trim . If they fall apart in a year or two or three, (and they will!) no big loss. I have three metal arched ones that are slowly falling apart, so this might be their last season. They were poorly designed, but that escaped my notice when I got them...

Darius, yes, flourescent fixtures used to have 40 watt tubes as a standard, of what use are the lesser ones? You really have to inspect everything you buy now, with all the imported products that are made to much lower standards than what we are used to. I don't see that as saving much money in the long run.

I would guess that most of us had some pretty lean years in the beginning of our adult lives. Heck, I had pretty lean years even before that, but like most people my age, we didn't know we were poor. Everybody was poor! Hand me downs and pinching pennies were a way of life. I got married at 19 too, and we scraped by somehow. When my middle child started school, I cut up most of my summer dresses from when I was single in order to make school clothes for her. My wedding dress became binding for a quilt. Nothing was wasted.

During that same period, I got a job waiting tables that required wearing a uniform which was supplied, but I needed to wear white shoes........friends of ours took us shopping and paid for the shoes, but the only white ones available were a size too small. I needed the job, so got them anyway. By the end of each shift, I could barely walk. We lived from hand to mouth, if it weren't for tips, we wouldn't have eaten at all. Only the young and optimistic can survive under those conditions, I wonder if today's young people have that much grit.

BAH!! Since we installed the digital phone, high speed has become low speed for me, and DH's computer on the home office connection has become NO speed at all. Ahhh technology. That means a lengthy phone call to the cable co. this morning. If we drop it and go back to the regular phone service, there will probably be a reconnect charge. So much for the $10 or $15 monthly savings in that regard. Pffffft!!

Having lunch with an old friend today, she's the one that had brain surgery for her epilepsy. She lives in a mobile home and her son wanted her to move to TX and live near him. She decided against that but is considering an assisted living place. If she fell or had a bad medical event, there is no one near enough to help her or even know that there was anything wrong. She is looking into one and I told her I would go with her to check it out and help ask questions, once she makes an appointment and gets a brochure. She is very forgetful and sometimes it takes her a while to process information. I hope I can help her.

That storm out on the west coast looks terrible. Hunker down, looks like you're in for some nasty weather. And lambs will be popping out right and left one of these days. Mary, you're going to have a busy time! You won't have much of a chance to use that new chair by the sound of it! What a nice DH to think of that for you.

Well, better get my dear rear off this lumpy chair so I can go harass the cable co. call in my prescriptions for refills, and get presentable to be seen in public. Waving good morning ~~ to everyone. Read evrything but went brain dead after the first twenty posts... I will check in later to see if you have all stayed out of trouble.

Sheila

Just saying hello to every body am getting to be just a regular lurker, I read all your posts . your lambing experiences, Mary, brings back memories when we had sheep and babies in the bitter cold of winter.
I our old farm house the floors squeeked too, M5, but they have been there for 150 years, no wonder!
.
Hope every ones problems will go away soon and that all of you keep healthy.

I lead a boring life at the moment, too cold to do anything but made an appointment for Samson next week to have him neutered, poor baby
I did make a "Gugelhupf" what is generally called a bundt cake here, this is my mothers recipe in a mold she gave me. It is made with chopped candied ginger and a ginger glace on top of it with a sprikle of confectioner sugar........have some with your coffee or tea it is very good

Well, just checking in. Seems busy this morning. Sorry for the bad weather folks are having, and the cold weather, Mary the lambs are coming fast and furious. Hope they all make into the world without taking you out due fatigue. M5, rats about the speed of the computer. I am looking into the possibility of broadband which is something new to the area. DSL is not an option here, so the choices are satelite, dial up or broadband. All are not very reliable. What a good deed to help that friend out.

|I am into cleaning mode again today, Tackling the other bathroom, and finishing our bedroom. Took down curtains, and EEWW, just covered in dust and grime. How in the world can things get so dirty?

Sarv, so out goes the leftovers. I had pork roast with sauer kraut last night, and me and DH both had tummie aches. So that is on my list of things to do, throw that stuff out.

Well, I think I told you yesterday about DMIL having a cat scan. The hospital called early this morning, and she has blood clots on both lungs. They have given her some medicine to try to dissolve the clots, but it is a very critical matter. So keep her, and us in your thoughts and prayers.

Well, gotta get back to the cleaning. I will check in again later to see what's going on.

Oh yum Maria, just the thing for a cold day!
I'm not going riding, it's 4 here with the wind chill. Nothing is fun when it's this cold! Curl up with a cup of tea and a good book, I guess. (And now a slice of Gugelhupf!)

Maria, nice to see you again. I'll have a teeny slice of your cake since I'm going out for lunch.

Was just checking in after a fruitless phone call to the cable co. Got a level 2 tech, (supposed to be smarter than the level 1?) and before we finished our conversation, I was cut off. Now the phone doesn't work. Augghhhhhhh!!!! Think I'll let DH deal with them tonight on my cell phone, they can't cut that one off! Customer service, my eye!

Dcat we will be thinking good thoughts for your MIL. Just what everyone needed, another crisis on top of all the other ones. That poor woman, she must be so unhappy with all these problems, one after another. Probably wishing she hadn't had the surgery in the first place.

I'm going to go now and either kick the cable boxes, or bang my head on a wall. Better get off here before they screw this up too.

Sheila

Yes, here in the NW, it is nasty weather.
Am going to be driving back to Oregon today. Was going to go tonight at 5 pm to avoid the traffic and people, but am going to leave I think at 9 am instead. My mother worries too much on me driving at nite so will try to please her for once. Tho I hate driving thru all the cities during the day but....
Dcat, am so so sorry to hear about the blood clots. Those sound nasty. Do hope somehow they can disolve them. Sounds very tricky tho. Am always hoping for the best for her.
Sarv, yes, I want some pics of the trellises too. Copper sounds neat. Does your DH weld them together or how do they go together then?
Maria, you made such neat, interesting deserts. I will have a piece of that for breakfast, thanks!
Having broadband over dial-up is great! If anyone can do it, go for it. It is much more expensive but I think it is worth it. You can do so much more with internet then.
My father had bad news yesterday. He went to the uroligist (sp?) because his PSA was high. Well, it had gone from 26 to 600 in 3 months so the doc. wants him to see an onolocologist (sp?) real soon. So it was rather depressing here last nite. I have read that those numbers don't really mean anything but will find out in a week or so. So keep him in your thoughts too along with Dcat's MIL please.
I did have a great visit with my parents tho. My mother and I went shopping the other day and we got 8 items for under $75! Stores were having great sales around here so we had a ball shopping.
Well, need to get into the shower, pack the car, and head south in the rain and wind.
Have a good day everyone else, hope the weather elsewhere is good, like in FL, hehe.
Later, Carol (DR)

Maria, I really envy your baking skills. That looks Yummy!

Bonnie, prayers for your MIL.

GM everyone! I'm sort of awake and maybe with it, but I'm certainly not in the running mode yet. I have been trying to catch up on the past several days of posts and there is so much going on with so many I'm not sure I could ever address all the issues. Please know I do think about each one of you and send all my strength and prayers for those that need them. I send all my happiness and care for those that wish a bit of that as well.

I had a rather busy shift last evening at work and am still recovering from it. I just don't have the stamina I used to have even 10 years ago anymore. The nurse manager approached me last night and asked if I'd want to pick up more hours at work and I sort of thought about it for a time, talked it over with one of my co-workers whom I have great respect for and she "gave me permission" to say "NO!". It's an odd thing, how nurses get smacked right between the eyes with the guilt monster all the time. It's one of the ways we are controlled in our work lives. The employers always like to put on the guilt trip as in, "we need your help, we can't staff without you", etc. So we put in lots of overtime, lots of extra hours and drudgery just to be told when we put in a request for time off, "it's impossible, we can't cover your shift, we can't staff without you, you have so many areas you can work and no one can do what you do." Harumph!!! I've fallen for that ruse for too many years and I'm grateful to my co-worker for giving me the strength to say no. I'm to a point in my career that I can work part time, I can afford to work part time and I'm finally doing that after 32 years of working full time plus. My stamina is just not what it used to be and I don't recover as quickly as I once did. So, guilt be gone! I don't need you ruling my life anymore.

Just as an aside from the posts of yesterday, my DH and I married on a shoe string. We put out just about $500.00 total. We married at the court house, paid the justice of the peace a $30.00 fee. I found an ivory dress at Nordstrom's that was originally $300 for $25.00 and had a two-tiered cake made for $38.00. DH was in his dress blues uniform (no added cost except to have it cleaned and pressed) and we had our reception at the Enlisted Club on base for room rental of $40.00 + $200.00 for food, 2 kegs of beer all the sodas anyone could drink, and a disc jockey. I calligraphied our wedding invitations on Hallmark stock and sent them out. Most of DH's squadron (150 or so) showed up (the court house was packed!), including his Commanding Officer. The C.O. gave me a huge set of "Baker's Secret" bake ware that cost almost as much as our wedding. His wife laughed and said, "He's never spent $300.00 on me, you must be something special." The first 3 years we were married DH never ate store bought bread. I used to make bread 3 days a week back then and kept the skipper in bread and rolls for all his entertaining needs. Hence the gift of bake-ware, LOL. This was in October 1983.

One final comment. The ~ symbol is called a tilde ( teel-day). It's a grapheme with several uses. The name of the character comes from Spanish, from the Latin titulus meaning a title or superscription. In Spanish, the word tilde does not only refer to the ~ symbol as in English; the accent mark over vowels (e.g. é) is also called a tilde in Spanish. I speak Castillian Spanish (sounds like one has a lisp). I use the symbol to separate my VR name from the general text.

I hope everyone has a fabulous day. With care, ~Babs~

Afternoon, all. Hope your days are going well. I have been finalizing seed trades all morning, and trying to get my seeds organized for sowing. I have babies in the 4 flats I planted, some 4 O'clocks, some dianthus, some Rudbeckia and pansies :) I love to see those babies pop through the soil! Brightens my day considerably.

Well, on a more serious note, spoke to the juv. prosecuter today, and filed the unruly charges. I hated to do it, but I would hate it more if I didn't do it and he hurt himself of someone else, and that is where things are headed. There is a lot of guilt there tho. Hopefully this will straighten him up. If it doesn't, then he will be placed in a juv. facility, and his life will be harder than he has ever imagined.
Read all the posts from yesterday and today and thanks so much for all the kind words and encouragement. It really does help. I can't comment on every one, but prayers and thought to those who need them and their families, and higs to all
Janis

Hi There,

This will be quick as I have students in 90 minutes and I want to go out and do an errand first.

Just a note to Carol, re the high PSA - have they put your Dad on antibiotics? We are dealing with prostrate here - DH goes for his surgery tomorrow. We don't anticipate problems, but please keep him in your thoughts.

His PSA was elevated, but only a bit. They put him on antibiotics for a few weeks to rule out an infection before they sent him for the biopsy. We got a first hand illustration of what an infection can do to the PSA because he hopped a plane to Europe hours after having his biopsy and promptly came down with an infection which put him in a German hospital for 5 days (that was end of November). During that time, his PSA was REALLY high - far higher than the cancer has made it. In his case, the biopsy was positive and after weighing all the options, he decided on surgery because there is a very good chance the cancer is contained and once the surgery is over he'll be able to get on with his life. So for your DF, don't panic right away. but DO see the urologist and follow his instructions. And know that if it turns out to be prostrate cancer that it is often very treatable.

Concert went well last night, but more later.

Ann

P.S. You want a good laugh? Here's DH and I outside the court house. It no longer exists. The fire department burned it down several years ago and a new court house has been built. This building was left over from WW2 when the base was built and it was a homely little place. DH is holding the wedding certificate and our mouths were open because one of our friends had brought her children to the wedding and her son had "pantsed" the baby!
And yes, men in the Navy could still have beards then. DH always had a very nice beard, well-groomed and kept neat. For those that are curious, he was an AE-2 then, aviation electricians mate, second class petty officer. Oy vey, we were so young back then!

Enjoy, ~Babs~

AmandaPanda pictures. She is an expert bird watcher. Those are Gold Finches eating thistle seed and the feeder is swinging in the wind.

And a very good rug wrinkler!

Morning everyone

Well, I started posting this message approximately 10:30 this a.m. but when I tried to send … I got that (by now) famous message … the page can not be found … This time, however, my DSL and phone were both down and I didn't even know it. Soooo, *sorry* Dave for all those *ugly* things I said right at first!!! LOL LOL I kept my cool however, and copied and saved it … and have added a bit to it. Am sending it on in hopes that it will do. To those I've missed … please overlook me today!!

That sure sounds like some storm out west. I hope all y'all out there will stay safe and warm. I *really* hate to report that it's 63 here. I cant imagine
those tempts you are having. Brrrr!!!!

Mary~ thanks!! I'll be waving more often! Sure hope that poor little lamb makes it. He sounded so weak. Poor thing. Hope you have a chance to enjoy
your new comfy chair. Aren't those "little" surprises just the greatest?

Lauri, hate to hear you're in that bad weather. Yikes ... what a mess!

DMC, if it were 9 degrees here ... I wouldn't *even* be entertaining the idea of going out for a ride. LOL Sounds like the kind of weather to curl up and
stay in. ;)

Oh my goodness Sarv, can't imagine all that money on booze down the drain!!! Your poor friend!!! I'm waving at you and hoping your day improves!

BB/Marsha, your remodeling sure sounds pretty. Sorry you've been having problems of late. Maybe coffee can help?

Defoe, am not believing that about the MIL. Oh my goodness ... what else is she going to have to endure? Am sending so so many hugs to all of you.

M5, know what you mean about the carpet. I have hardwood floors in the hall, and 3 bedrooms. I *love* my hardwood floors. The people that had this house
before didn't take care of those gorgeous floors. If I ever have the $$ I'll have them refinished. There's carpet down the hall and in the front bedroom
… but I won't allow it in the other rooms. What I'd give to have hardwood everywhere! LOL

Woofens~ ... many hugs going out to you today. Hope your meetings / counsiling sessions, etc.go well for your son. Know this is going to be a long road
and there won't be an easy fix.
I smiled at the description of "lean" years. I too think this group has them in common. When we got married ... we had a tiny apartment with only 3 rooms.
The bed was in the den. LOL It was in an old house upstairs which had been turned into apartments. We made our night stand out of a bushel basket weighted
down with brick. I had a gold plastic table cloth with fringe draped over it to the floor. Gorgeous! I was very proud of my accomplishment. We also
took wooden crates (DH worked in the grocery business) and glued them together. Covered them with that woodgrain shelving paper ... and waalaa a book
case!

Okay, I've spent way too much time trying to get this together. Am sending waves ~ (see?) to Maria, Pati and the rest of the lurkers out there today.
Hello to everyone else. :)

Oh, I did want to say Robert ... so so *glad* to hear the great news about the pups! What a relief. Know that was a load off your mind.

daisyruffles, so sorry to hear about your Dad. Hope his appointment goes okay and please know he's certainly in my prayers.

Babs … good for you … kicking that guilt monster down!!! You've done your time. Let these young ones have a turn at it. LOL

Well, I too am asking for prayers for my Dad as he'll be going to the Oncologist tomorrow. Both of my sisters will be going with him and Mom … hopefully trying to get some answers about the Myelodysplastic Syndrome and what that can mean for him in the future.

Well, I really need to get up from here, so I'll wave and be gone. Hugs and smiles to all
… Elaine

Hello to everybody! I've been lurking and trying to catch up with everybody. Finally got thru all the posts now. I'm so sorry to hear about all the bad things that so many have gone thru lately. It's good we all have a place to vent our frustrations and have people who seem to genuinely care about each other to make us feel better.

I guess it's my turn to vent now. I have to start with a little background info first, though. In 2001 my younger sister (16 at the time) was killed by a young man from a neighboring town. We had little cooperation from the local police at first because they were considering her a runaway. She had gone missing on a Thursday evening and my mom called the police Friday morning. The following Tuesday they called me and questioned me to see if I thought she may have run away and I told them most definately not. By this point we had already been out searching ourselves and knew we were looking for a body. We had gone around questioning people and knew that she had gone to the gas station with this kid, so we talked to the people who worked there. One of the women had seen her come in with Toby at about midnight, and then he was back about an hour later and was wet and muddy, but by himself. We knew from that to look around water within a half hour drive from the gas station. My DH has some friends who had a boat so we got them to go out on the river to look and they found her that Tuesday afternoon. The kid did get caught because of all of this, and did confess, but there was no real hard evidence against him, only his confession. He stated they were on the boat ramp by the river having intercourse and got into a fight. She shoved him, he shoved back, and she fell in and didn't come back up. He said he got scared, so he threw all her stuff (purse, clothes, etc.) into the river. Then he went back to the gas station and bought a pack of cigarettes and went home without telling anybody what had happened. Since they decided this was an accident, he was able to plea bargain down to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to the maximum Indiana allows for this. His sentence was eight years.

This brings us up to current. Yesterday I was driving home from my doctor appointment with my DH and took the scenic route thru the country. We passed a truck that had the logo from his father's junkyard on the side, so I looked to see who was in the truck. He was driving. It was a shock to see this kid out driving around in a brand new truck after only four years while my sister is in a box. I double checked with our town cop today and he called the parole officer and confirmed that he got out two days ago. Our family was never notified of the parole hearing so we could be present or testify.

This is a very hard thing for me. I never had closure because when we had the funeral she was not even in the coffin because her body was being kept for eveidence for the impending trial. I never got to see her because she was too badly decomposed so nobody would let me. Her body had been in the river in August for almost a week. We also have no grave to visit because she was cremated and my dad keeps her ashes in a box at his house.

I guess my question is this: How do you go on after somebody has done this to someone you love? I know I should forgive and forget, but it is so hard to do when he still had his whole life ahead of him. He is only 23 or 24 now. He can still get married and have children and my sister will never have that opportunity. Is four years long enough to have really made him regret what he had done?

I'm sorry to go on for so long, but it does make you feel better to get something like this off of your chest, and I know you are all good listeners. Thanks for letting me vent.

I don't know what to say, other than {{{{{hugs}}}}}

I'm so sorry

Janis

Flowerchild{{{ }}}
I sure wish there was more I could say ... but *please* know that I'm sending you big big hugs. I do not think that 4 years is long enough ... and I have a *lot* more I *could* say ... but I don't think I'd better. Prayers, though, to you and hugs for your pain.

... Elaine

Flower Child I am SO SORRY you are going through this! This is just TERRIBLE. I think I would go out of my mind trying to deal with something so unfair, unjust and so awful.

I'm sure I would need counseling, and I know there are support groups. I don't think I can do anything but pray, for peace for you and your family, and for justice for that kid. it sounds like law enforcement really dropped the ball, and the kid is probably dangerous.

Thank you all for the hugs. As far as the kid being dangerous, I do believe he is. We have found out that when he was twelve he shot he grandfather, which was ruled accidental, so was not admissable in the trial. Also, the weekend before everything happened with my sister, he and another guy had two young girls (about 15) at a camp site and got them drunk and took advantage of them. This happened across the river in another county and we couldn't get their prosecutor to cooperate with ours on the charges, so no charges were ever filed on this. I am sure this was not a one time thing and that it will happen again to somebody else.

I have gone thru some counseling at the beginning and went thru a pretty bad depression, but I found that just working out in my yard and digging in the dirt was a lot more therapeutic than anything the counselor could say to me.

Flowerchild how terrible and sad for you, it seems there have been too often happenings like that in many places. What a horrid thing to befalll you and your family.(((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))

Flower Child ((hugs)). Later tonight I will relate to you a very similar episode. I am pressed for time right not.

Finished cleaning. I now have 2 very very clean bathrooms, and my bedroom is done. I still have 2 bedrooms, great room kitchen/dining, and laundry room. So it will take a good while, but I am so pleased with the start.

They have given DMIL blood thinners, have restricted her to bed( no movement) and are monitoring her. Hoping that they can dissolve the clots. So again, waiting.

I have another mystery diner appointment tonight, so am getting ready to head out the door. I will check in when I get back, and let you know how it was, plus will add my comments on today's posts.

Waving ~~~ to all. Gee I like that little symbol!!

Oh my flowerchild! So Sorry for all you have been through. Sounds like this guy should have never been let out. EVER! Won't say more on the subject as my opinions on such things are pretty harsh.

Mary - Amanda is really growing. Such a cutie. I bet she is into everything at this age. Just like a 2 year old.

DR - sorry to hear the news about your dad. Will keep him in my prayers.

Maria - You make me fatter just looking at the yummi pictures you send. LOL

Babs - Good for you saying NO to more hours.

Elaine - saying prayers for your dad also.

Another half hour to the work day. Still have some laundry to put away tonight. Got it all folded last night though. Think I'm having Kielbasa and scalloped potatoes for dinner. Not sure what to have for a veggie yet, maybe a salad. Have to see what's in the fridge. Oh I got some nice looking strawberries the other day. I think I will cut those up for desert. Hope they taste as good as they look.

See ya!

Let me tell you. If that would have been my sister are daughter I can gaurantee you something would happen to him. It would be neither fast are with mercy. I bet the police just might not look into it either to awful hard. It is a war out there with these animals.

That worries me too. My dad and my brother have had four years to come up with plans on what they would like to do, and it's very difficult for me to try to talk them out of it when I would like to do the same. I don't think we will need to do anything ourselves, though. I think he will get himself into trouble quick enough that we don't have to worry too much.

Back from a day shopping and I am royally pooped- too tired in fact to even eat dinner. DH made swiss steak. I had a huge chinese lunch, so food does not sound good to me at all. Maybe later. My stomach is still rolly polly...but that kind of thing is going around.

Flower - gee that is a hard situation. It is easy for me to say what I would do, so take this with a grain of salt - I've not walked in your shoes. I am convinced that stress causes real problems with your body, so I would try just leave everything be. I truly believe that in the end he will be punished - it is out of your hands. As far as no grave, I find I talk to my dad all the time and never visit his grave. I know he is above watching - looking down at me. I can talk to him whenever and where ever I am. This gives me immense comfort. Life never seems to be fair, that is for sure.

Regarding the trellis's - they will not be beautiful things - I need something strong to withstand the sweet autumn clematis. It grows huge in one summer, even tho I cut it down to the ground each spring. Amazing plant.. The trellis will be two 4x4 poles, 44 inches apart with copper tubing between the poles with a support piece of wood in the middle. Very utilitarian!

Defoe - get your butt over to my house!! I never spring clean anymore....just clean all year long. I do curtains in the spring, never wash a wall (just repaint!!) Windows in the summer if I feel like it. I remember the days when I gutted a room and did everything - no more!! Who cares, I certainly don't...

We had a jail break in our area today - man the police cars were all over and the local news has dominated - escapee was caught - he had formerly shot a police man. They shut down an area around where my folks live - glad they are in Fla and not home- they would have freaked out!

Babs- you have all of our permission to say NO - working all those years gives you that right. You don't want to burn out before you retire!! Oh how young you looked getting married!! Didn't we all.

I grew up with hardwood floors and vowed I wouldn't have them again!! We had to strip and wax them every spring etc. Now they are back in style! What goes around comes around they say...Our house is totally carpeted except for the kitchens and bathrooms. And they will probably stay that way until I move to the nursing home and they all have linoleum!

Woof - I think you made a good decision...darn kids anyhow...why can't they just listen and follow rules. We'll send the 2x4 - he's a male....

Maria, I'm not hungry for dinner, but would enjoy a little piece of your cake. Do you have any hot fudge or fresh fruit for the top!! Glad to hear that Samson is getting the 'things' whacked off

Hi to everyone else!! Gonna do the crossword now.

Sarv, *giggle* you *do have a way with words!!! LOL
Quoted
Glad to hear that Samson is getting the 'things' whacked off

Almost snorted my coffee all over my keyboard!! :)

Defoe, when you get through at Sarv's mon down here. LOL I *hate* to clean house. If I had the $$ I'd hire it done. I use to find immense satisfaction from doing it, but now ... oh well ...

Maria, sorry I didn't let you know ... got your recipe. Thanks! You *really* have some good ones.

Well, just popped in for a min ... back to the kitchen. :)

... Elaine ~~

FlowerChild... I am of 2 opinions (beside hugs for you!). One is the reminder in the Christian Bible that says "Vengence is mine, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19)... and the other opinion is that I'd be on him like a dog on a bone. I don't have enough foregiveness in my soul, I guess.

Prayers for everyone else with family troubles.

lol, Sarv , just bought 2 lbs. of Strawberries two for the price of one! Cake has a ginger glace , do you think it will good with it?

Been reading about every ones wedding, mine was kind of complicated.
I was just 18 years old Richard was 22,. As some of you know I met him in Vienna it nearly took a year for him to to file an amazing number of papers before the US goverment allowed me to come. After Rchard met me in New York where I arrived, he thought we just could go to a justice of the piece and get married but added his mother would be quite upset if we did that, I remember saying I really don't care if we get married or not, as long as we are finally together. His mother took me shopping for a dress, I was so serious in those days, the first dress I tried on , I said that is it did not matter to me what I wore I just wanted every thing to be over with. She then arranged a very small wedding in their church with a reception at her home, it was sort of confusing to meet all these people I never met before as a matter of fact the only person I really knew was my husband.... ...but we did live happily in many years to come

lol, Sarv , just bought 2 lbs. of Strawberries two for the price of one! Cake has a ginger glace , do you think it will good with it?

Been reading about every ones wedding, mine was kind of complicated.
I was just 18 years old Richard was 22,. As some of you know I met him in Vienna it nearly took a year for him to to file an amazing number of papers before the US goverment allowed me to come. After Rchard met me in New York where I arrived, he thought we just could go to a justice of the piece and get married but added his mother would be quite upset if we did that, I remember saying I really don't care if we get married or not, as long as we are finally together. His mother took me shopping for a dress, I was so serious in those days, the first dress I tried on , I said that is it did not matter to me what I wore I just wanted every thing to be over with. She then arranged a very small wedding in their church with a reception at her home, it was sort of confusing to meet all these people I never met before as a matter of fact the only person I really knew was my husband.... ...but we did live happily in many years to come

The day before our marriage

What a handsome picture Maria - you two dressed alike!! I think strawberries would go very nicely with your cake. I did have a small bowl of the swiss steak dish, but I only ate the potatoes and carrots- skipped the meat. Feels good in my tummy now.

Finished the crosswords (well as much as I could) did the sudoku, and read the last pages of a book I was on. Now it's time to visit the chat room. See ya there

What a great picture and story Maria! You were a beautiful couple! I can't imagine an adventure like that at only 18. My DD is going on 19 and has barely figured out her laundry and how to make a bed!

Flowerchild~another whole worry about your father and brother doing something to the kid. I believe he will trip himself up, I just hope no one has to die in the process. I wonder if the police will pick up on his tendencies NEXT time? Lots of prayers for all of you. No, I just can't imagine . And then to see him driving around town!!

I got booted out of chat for idling, I can't type fast enough...maybe I'll go see if it's quieted down any!

flowerchild they better be very careful because they are the first ones the cops will look at. It is not like gunning down drug dealers. They have a connection to your family.