Coffee and...For Wednesday, March 8, 2006 =^..^=

Here's the daily continued from
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/581128/
Have a super day! ♫
Susan
=^..^=

Hi everyone
Well, Here's a little something I got today and thought it was worth passing along. Well, thought I'd get a smile or two anyway. LOL LOL

A Living Will

A man and his wife were sitting in the living room and he said to her,
"Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent
on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull
the plug."
His wife got up, unplugged the TV and threw out all of his beer.

hehehe
Good night!!
... Elaine

lol, that's a good one. Continuing the conversation about lung cancer in non-smokers, I am getting the house remodeled some time this year, and one of the priorities is laying the plastic under the house that should keep any radon down.
I just placed an order with Big Dipper Farm. They had a great selection of shade plants and the only place I could find the Euphorbia I wanted. Of course, while ordering it I discovered there was a $25 minimum order so I got an astilbe, a Lady's Mantle, Black Cohosh and East Indian Holly Fern. And this is just my first order.
I have been trying to order Illicium Aztec Fire for 5 years from Wayside Gardens. This shrub is also known as Mexican Anise. Every year, they back order and then tell me later that they are unable to get more this year. Since my name was supposedly kept on their list for the next year, I should have gotten it then but to no avail.
I am going to call them today and tell them if they can't send it this year, I will never order from them again. By the way, does anyone know somewhere else I can try?

Morning everyone. weather man was wrong again...freezing rain was expected and again nothing. Seems when we least expect it we get dumped on and when they forecast something it comes to naught.

Wood, I've never heard of that plant...I'd be ticked if they keep giving me that story...

I tried chat again last night,but you just can't believe the difference between the old and new computer. I actually prefer the old one!! I am going to try keeping both of them hooked up - what luxury I will have.

I did sit in my chair and play free cell until my head was throbbing....

I've only smoked for about a year and a half during my early college days and then it wasn't much - I was into the look! But I've had a nagging cough as long as I can remember and my chest always feels tight. I know something isn't right, but my xrays are never bad. Speaking of radon- does it develop in areas as opposed to just one house? Our house has never been tested and we've lived in the lower area for most of our lives. More worry...

LOL Elaine!! I always call the kids' electronics(computers, video games and ipods) their life support. They always seem to be hooked to wires. No beer yet, though.

woodspirit~plant envy! greenhouse envy!! ;-). Good for you taking steps in your remodeling to keep out radon.

I was astounded to hear the lung cancer rates, and that they've increased 600% for women, and how many of them are not from smoking, but no research is going on to find out why! I wonder if there are also carcinogens in all those nasty housecleaning sprays. That would explain why men aren't as affected. Course I've always believed housecleaning is bad for your health (j/k). We've had radon tests done before buying homes, but I never thought of it with the farm... then too I wonder if they should be repeated....

darius~I'm glad you weren't in that apt. for long. I wonder if the guy has rented it to another innocent tenant, unaware....if I were you I'd notify them and the board of health.

9kitty~I know what you mean about not realizing the pets are "old" 93 seems like yesterday. Hope Indy is feeling better, don't envy you being the clean up team

Maria~is there a lot of radon in your area? one wonders about other air pollutants with that many lung cancers.

Meezer~I used to say hit the hay...but I have developed allergies and handling haybales for the horses with bare skin gives me hives....so hitting the hay no longer seems restful at all LOL....and I have a good mattress!!

McCool~sorry you had one of *those* days - hope it's behind you. I have NO idea where my seeds are either. The dark really gets to me, especially after a long winter, I bet if you got out in some sun you'd start perking up. Having your plants get their heads frozen off is a downer too. I think I have a grief period every time I lose a good plant or a year's worth of bloom, and oh forget it for each last daylily bloom of the season , I all but have a ceremony!! Here's hoping today picks up and is much better for you!

Ann~Whew!! do you EVER just sit around??? LOL

Kelly~ I couldn't take Wellbutrin, it did my stomach in. The cold sounds dismal. I finally bumped up the thermostat yesterday, I'm so tired of feeing cold. I hope things are looking up for you as well....My goodness we need some sunshine and warmth!!

sarv~ Wow, was that you I saw streaking by? I hardly recognized you!!! LOL LOL You look GREAT! Now you can keep windows open, chat, post and shop at the same time....watch out world!

dr~thoughts and prayers for good, or at least bearable, news....

Woofens~Hope all are healthy again at your house

Maria~I hope you're all better too!!

Hi Elaine, makshi, Babs, defoe, Mary, suzieq, oz,bal, and whomever I *tried* to include,,,****waving****

sarv~the radon is in the soil in large areas, the trick is to keep it sealed out of your house, seal up cracks in the concrete, etc. You can get a test at the hardware store. If it shows radon,, you can take steps to get it out of your house.

I think I paid under $25 each for 2 radon test kits at Lowe's, and that includes the mailers and getting back the test results. Here's a link for info on Radon: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

It was 30 when I awoke at 6:30 this morning and it's up to 36 now. It's clear skies and will probably get up to around 75. Big difference between lows and highs. But the warm days are wonderful. I woke up a little stuffy and felt chilled. I refuse to give in to any thoughts of the flu creeping in. I haven't the time, too much to do.

They came and took the horses back to their other place this morning. There are 4 total and since they have a 2 horse trailer, they had to make 2 trips. They took the mare and the Shetland first. Left the two geldings (one of which is the "Alpha") for the next trip. Those two ran the fence hollering and yelling to see half of the herd being taken away. So now they are all gone and it's quiet out there.

We were getting quite accustomed to their curiosity and antics. We spend most days outside working on some part of the property. When we get nearer to the pasture, the horses come close looking to see what we are doing. They will let us pet them, but only a little as the "Boss" horse won't let the others get too friendly. If the others get too close to us, he nips them to make them back off.

Yesterday I encourage Snowy to have a good run around the back yard. The horses were encouraged and kicked their heels up and started to run a bit too. Little did they know that Snowy was a former track racer and she won, hands down.

Think I'll do some more painting today. Can't wait to get the trailer painted to match the pumphouse. The green looks so much better in this terrain that the washed out yellow it presently has.

Tomorrow we have a handyman coming to hook the pumphouse power up to the circuit box, install a new vanity in the guest bath and a few other odds and ends. We have a very long extension cord running to the grow lights in the pumphouse now. We have to unplug it nightly so we can shut the front door.

I made a trip under the trailer the other day. I say trip because it has had skirting since late December. We were hearing some strange sounds coming from under there whenever we ran the washer so I thought I would investigate. So I crawled in at one end when Jeremy separated the skirting a bit. Crawled all the way to the front. Had to detour to one side to avoid the a/c ductwork. Ran across a snake hole. I had Jeremy open the skirting in the front so I wouldn't have to go back by that hole again. Anyway, all is well under there. No water leaking or any ground eroding.

The noises we heard are simply vibrations of the trailer during the spin cycles. We probably could balance that thing a little better.

Anyway, here are the horses. We'll sure miss them. And we're off working for the day now.

Molly
:^)))

What a pretty herd you had there! I love working outside with the horses nearby, they're always curious.

Off work again today - My brother is here for the day, from Cameron, Ontario. He got here about 5 last night and will head to my sister in WI tomorrow morning, then on to his daughter in Grand Rapids, MI and back home again. It's his winter round-about, LOL, he works in contruction - laying water mains, etc., so has 2 to 3 months off each winter. We're going to an auction today, tractors and garden tractors. He's an Allis Chalmers nut cuz dad had two of them when we were kids. DH is an a red nut (International) so this is a blast for them. I'm just along for the ride, and taking my book and new bifocals. ha ha!

And the good news is, altho Kandyce could not go to Howie's dr, since they don't accept out of state Medicaid, she can go to the Mayo Clinic. She has a consultation appt for March 20 at 8 am. Wonderful news!

{{{{Carol}}}}

later all..... off to see the tractors!!!!!!!!!! lol

Morning, every one, that looks like my neighbors pasture with the horses, Molly, some times I just stop and watch them and when the little one arrive can't keep my eyse off them, have to take some pictures one of these days.

Sarv, i think it is so funny using two compiuters, well I have two also one is a laptop, hardly ever use it only when I travel, I am more comfortable with my desk top.

NO redon here, dmc, had the house tested not a bit in sight, but Massachusetts just made a law every home owner must have a tester built in before June, I think, because one little girl died because piles of snow plugged up the exhaust pipe, very sad

So far I am over what ever it was I had, it was not the flue, I am sure just a plain old fashioned cold and the coughung made me sick to my stomach, too much flem to handle it properly





This message was edited Mar 8, 2006 9:37 AM

MOLLY- you surprised me this morning I would have thought you would have put that Vanity in the bath. Also as to getting under the trailor. Ahhhh that is something I would not have done without at least a real big floodlight. Must be all kind of small critters get under the skirt and set up house. We have scorpeans, rattle snakes ,black widows and all that around here and I know in Florida you got somethings worse. I stepped on a coral snake one time up at Mayport. Just watch your butt in those crawl spaces Black widows and Brown recluse love those places.

LOL, Maria and I both have two computers!! I am at my old one now, I actually prefer it. My new one is set up all differently and I am not accustomed to it at all. I'm not good with change...hard for this old dog to learn new tricks!!

Molly, I think you should get a horse or two! eek on the snake hole... Glad there were no leaks/washouts under the trailer. I think animals give us all a sense of wonder and peace and fascination.

I transplanted a bunch of seedlings - a zillion coneflowers - doubledecker ones and sunset - I don't know what I'll do with them all!! My eyes are always bigger than my gardens.... LOL

Kooger, I live right by Grand Rapids, Mich. small world huh!!

Only spend an hour or so playing free cell - darn that is hard to win....I have to leave it alone for awhile.

Today is my non workout day (workout buddy goes out of town to visit her mom), so I usually clean on Wed, but I did it yesterday since my bro was coming...so free time!! yahoo....

I really need to make a decent meal, plus go to the grocery....

I'm gonna get dressed and take off!!

Good morning! Better late than never. I've been up but chatting on the phone with my sis, comparing notes on disagreeable grandchildren. Among other things. Sammi's been on a rampage for about an hour, but now he wants lap time and looks about ready for a long nap.

Sun's shining, snow's melting, and I have nothing outstanding on my to-do list although if I took a better look around I'm sure I could find some cleaning to do. So, I won't look.

I hope the not-wells are feeling better today, as well as family members who are down with whatever evil bugs are around. And hoping for better reports from those going through testing, so there's no more bad news.

My cousin's wife died of lung cancer too, and neither of them smoked. I look with a jaundiced eye at the reports about smoking being the major cause,as we have some pretty lethal chemicals floating around in our air from manufacturing, burning fossil fuels, and worse. And how is it that the standards get lowered so that they can avoid doing anything about it?

Sarv, it takes a bit to get used to a new keyboard, but you will. I'd be a little leery of the Norton antivirus, but the others mentioned shouldn't be a problem. We had some glitches with Norton, but now we've got several others (DH is super cautious) that work well. Also, don't grab any of those free trials, because some of them have built-in spyware that tracks your searches and sites, and results in getting more junk email or spam. Get a recommended program, you can pay for and install it on line, and not get hidden spyware with it. The more you play around on your new laptop, the easier it will get.

Ann there is only one community pool in our area that doesn't use chlorine in their water, they have some other purification method. I hate the smell of chlorine, and it makes my eyes burn so I don't do aquafit type exercises even though I am sure it would be beneficial.

The new kitty isn't a given, you have to fill out the application, they check with your vet, it's like adopting a child! All your other pets have to be current on their shots, etc.

My colonoscopy was a month or so back, but Dcat and I both had good results. Sis had one yesterday too, said she's been tooting ever since! They even gave her a photo...it's hanging on her fireplace!! I asked if she was going to frame it!

DR, the flower picture gives us hope...it's supposed to get up to 60 here later this week. We'll see. Weather predictions have been so far off lately I don't even pay attention to them. Sorry to hear about your DF's test results. We were hoping for better news.

Mary, that sleep schedule would drive me crazy...I don't know how you do it. I've never heard of the Siamese/Ragdoll mix, I'd like to check the site. According to the DD vet tech, Ragdolls have some health issues so I've never been tempted. Plus they shed a lot more that Siamese. I've only had one meezer that had hairball problems and he loved Catlax so it wasn't often a problem. He was kind of shaggy too, being a lynxpoint and not from a good line. Didn't have the long lean build, either. He waddled in his senior years. ( Like me LOL)

Maria, I've got three frozen bananas sitting in the freezer! DH saw them one day and asked why they were there. I told him they were waiting to morph into banana bread. He just gave me "the look". You know, the one where they don't want to say you are nuts, but they are thinking it....

Babs, thanks for the kind words. Isn't it amazing what good lighting and makeup can do? Share that Shepherd's pie recipe, I think we would enjoy it. And be sure to tell your mum how much we enjoy hearing about her. Did she get to use the new bathroom yet?

Did you get a doggie bag, Elaine? I hope so. When my DH has a business lunch or dinner out, he usually tries to bring home a treat for me, but it has to fit in his pocket! Sometimes it's a bit of chocolate or fruit or mints, but never food.

McCool, I've not only misplaced seeds, I once lost an entire box of Dahlias. Found them the following spring, and stuck them in the ground. One survived. Now I hang all my seeds in plastic vented bags in the laundry room where I can keep an eye on them. Looks a little odd, but what the heck, it's MY laundry room.

~~~~ to everybody else, need to get moving here.

Have a sunny day, and rain if you need it.

Sheila

Good morning everyone. I slept like the dead last night, and the cold I thought was coming, must have detoured somewhere, because it didn't land here. I do have a headache, but have taken some advil, so maybe it will be gone before long. After going through the cleaning out process for the colonoscopy, I weighed this morning, and Mr. Scale says I have gained 3 pounds!! Guess I ate so much filling up again that it caught up!! At least I know that I am not full of s***.!!

Molly, the horses are beautiful. Did the owner calm down any, or is there still contention? A crawl under a trailer, the only way I would do that is if someone pushed me under, and I had no way out!!

101, I loved your joke!!.

Sarv, 2 computers, I can't even handle one.

M5, Oh, a new kitty. Maybe she/he will become # 1 victim of Sammi, and leave the girls alone.

Darius, I would contact the recipients of your Christmas gifts and ask specifically if they received them. Let them suffer a little humiliation, would serve them right, to bring to their attention what you thought of their non responses.

dmc, a farm lady who is allergic to hay!! What a hoot, so Hitting the hay is not a pleasant thought.

McCool, sorry for your awful day yesterday. Things have got to look up, so today may very well be a very nice one.

Wood, I have stacks of nursery catalogues sitting here. I intend to order some things but haven't had the time. I will look to see if any of them contain the shrub you want.

Oz, you are right all sorts of things reside in dark places. My DM got bit by a brown recluse last year, and it took about 3 months, to get the place healed. She had a tough time of it.

Maria, glad that you didn't have the flu, a common cold is bad enough. Thanks for the banana bread yesterday, twas good.

kooger, Oh,I love auctions, even if it is farm machinery. Have fun.

Well, today I am starting my tomato seeds. So I had better get my behind off this chair and moving to get it all accomplished. To any I may have missed, ~~ waving hi to you. Will be back later to see what's been going on.

SARV--- Face it your new toy has you lock scock and barrel. Those keys and that in the top mouse will drive you nuts. I have a lot of trouble with sausage fingers. Had a awful time with the mouse for a long time. Awful sensitive.

We are getting the rain now. We are in the red area of the weather map. Do not know what is happenening out by Susan. should be getting a lot out there.

Finished spaying all the wrought iron yard furniture yeasterday, got all the plants topped with 12-12-12 and the whole yard lawn fed. I am not going to be able to hold the hosta in the ground with warm rain the next few days several of them are going to explode up. At this rate I will have leaved out hosta by 1 April.

We have been eyeing a big cast alumium tree bench. Go for income taxes this afternoon so maybe it will happen. Love those old wrought iron patterns in the garden.

I was going to weld up a 6 ft wide arbour for here this year but Miss Boss around here does not want one now. I would have gotten my friend thatr builds docks to take it up to versailles with him when he took dock parts up there and have it hot dipped in galvanize. no idea what that would cost

Had to take Bubby to school this AM, he missed the bus. So I'm in my car shivering, watching the little balls of freezing rain bouncing off my hood, and the DJ on the radio says. "Its gonna be a beautiful day, high 52." Gotta love Ohio in March.

Took DS 15 to the therapist last night... he keeps telling me he isn't the worst kid he has seen. Maybe not, but fix him anyway ok? LOL We go to court on the 15th. I do have to say that since he got the court papers, his behavior has improved. Considerably. I bought him the new Harry Potter movie last night, it came out on DVD yesterday. He watched it, I went to bed with my sleeping pill and slept 7 hours WOO HOO. I was exhausted. Still a bit tired, thinking about a nap LOL. I just can't get warm.

Well, hi to all, will try to comment on everyone's posts in a bit, right now i'm gonna go snuggle into my bed for another hour or so :)
Hugs
Janis

Good morning!

Sarv - Bet you are loving that new computer. I only have one at home, but here at work I have two. My new MAC and a PC that I use only for processing FedEx Labels. When I do labels, I process anywhere from 3000 to 6000 in a shipping cycle. That's why we have the seperate puter for doing them.

Defoe - So glad your tests were OK.

M5 - I'm sure your application will get approved. Can't wait to see pictures of the little girl. Any names picked out yet? I'm also really glad you are getting her from a rescue. One of the programs I work with deals with animal shelters. I hear stories all day long and it gets very depressing knowing how many homeless animals are out there.

Elaine - That was very funny!

Molly - I would miss seeing the horses everyday. Will they be coming back? Do they pasture them there seasonally?

Kooger - Great news for Kandace!

McCool - Hope today is a better day for you!

Janis - Glad to hear DS is doing better.

Thanks for all the good thoughts regarding DS. He is doing very well. Not much pain at all. We go back to the Dr. next Wed. to have it unwraped and take stiches out.

Gotta get back to work. Will check in at lunch. Have a great day everyone.

Morning all, just sneaking on real quick and then going to hide. Over did it on chat and neck is throbbiing down on to shoulder top this a.m....Oh well. Hope all is better with the flu/cold ones and everyones tests are going good. T's&P's and Hugs for those who need them...DH is growling gotta go....Lauri

Just had email from Amazon saying something is not right with my account would I please send information or I would lose account. Called Amazon, say said it is a scam do not answer, delete it . Disgusting!

Maria, I've gotten several of those kind of things. At first I wrote back saying they must have the wrong person - now I've wised up - delete, delete, delete....

Got the homestead cleaned up (a quick once over), put away all the potting soil stuff, washed the wild hair and am thinking about heading to the grocery store. I need to take a load of bottles/cans back. DH hides them thinking I won't see where they are - he is such a stooge sometimes...

Oz, I'd love a huge arbor.....I think my DH needs to meet you!! He's made no progress on my 2nd trellis = maybe this weekend...

My brother called to see if my computer is working for me....oh I can just hear him asking for me to stay at his house....(He is a good egg....)

Gonna play free cell for 1/2 hr - promise...

Hi again, sunny and we're up to 32 - soon it will be above freezing-yay!!
I just got back from the allergist. I had a skin test for 50 substances. I had reaction to cat allergens and dog allergens, a little reaction to ragweed, a minor reaction to dust and one type of mold, nothing for 44 of the spots, and then....the drop of horse allergen BLEW UP....it's severe, and the staff was surprised, not having seen anything quite like it.
I have developed asthma, and although I avoid any dusty riding, it is obvious now that there's a connection. I am going to get desensitization shots. Hopefully it will help.

Mind you, over the past five years I've been trying to learn everything about horses. I have four. I've taken up jumping, I trail ride, and drive carriages and sleighs. The horses are my greatest joy in life, my vision of my future when the kids are out of the house, my main form of exercise.....

Odd isn't it that I have the weird severe allergic reaction. The dr. said it will keep getting worse and I guess the asthma isn't something to take lightly.

Is it irresponsible to want to continue?

Good morning. OH NO, Dmc, not a horse allergy! Bummer. Can they desensitize you to it? I know a couple of people (endurance riders) who have horse allergies and athsma, they always carry a rescue inhaler. One takes a combination of meds and does just fine. She rides daily, cleans the barn, grooms, does long endurance rides, so take heart, it is manageable. The other one I'm not sure about, haven't seen her in a few years and heard that she had gotten into trail riding to have more time with her DH and kids.

Elaine, very cute joke! and in many cases to true.

Lauri, wow, the neck pain is still with you. Too much of a good thing (chat)! Are you using a heating pad? I used to wake up with a crick in my neck and then I got a flatter pillow, it keeps my neck and spine in better alignment, and I haven't had the problem since. I know, yours didn't start that way but maybe a flatter pillow would help. I hope it is better soon. When your neck hurts it sure does crutail all sorts of other movements, just proves how connected we are.

Janis, isn't it strange how a little leverage (court papers) can improve the behavior of your son. I hope this tough love approach is just what he needs, and that with the prospect of something he considers worse happening, he is doing what he should have done all along or at least less of the other stuff. Don't weaken! He might be thinking that his good behavior will make you forget the court thing, and then he could go back to his former behavior. Unfortunately, some kids have to be pushed. Your tough love approach is also an example to the other kids. And we thought being a mother was gonna be easy!

Maria, I'm glad you didn't fall for that scam. The phone call could have saved you hundreds of dollars. Did they ask you to forward the email to them, sometimes they do that so they can track the culpret down.

Oz, lets have some pictures of your wrought iron furniture. There's just nothing like pictures.

Sarv, when you cash in the bottles and cans do you spend the $ on yourself, get some plants or something? Hehehe, he hides 'em, you cash 'em in. Good system, I wouldn't complain!

Kooger, I'm glad your son's GF can get a consultation at Mayo.

Molly, your trip under the trailer gave the the heebiegeebies. I'm not into snakes, spiders and enclosed spaces. I get a bit claustrophobic when I have to get under the bed to plug something into the extension cord under the bed. Some folks have it much worse, can't close a door in a small bathroom, thank God I am not that bad, I don't freak out but just feel pretty uncomfortable and have to take a deep breath and tell myself I will be ok, finish the job and get out from under there.

Last night was another no lamb night, and the sheep were in the barn so my check went quickly and I was back to bed before loosing too much sleep.

The weather is beautiful this morning, bright sun, no wind, 20 degrees when I got up but it will be warmer later, I think they said 35. Snow showers predicted for this afternoon. When I get the laundry hung up I'm going for a ride. Hello and a wave ~~~ to everyone I missed. See you all later.

Oz, I am sorry to disappoint you but I had no choice but to hire out a couple items. Getting the power hooked on the pole is something no one here wants to do and you can't get anyone out to the house to do a 10 minute job, so I found a bunch of little things to add to the list for him to handle. We went and bought parts and pieces today for several tasks.

Ohhhhhhh, I forgot about the dreaded brown recluse spider. Good thing I didn't think of that when I was under the trailer.

Sarv, no horse for me, but I will consider a chicken or two after I get back from Lauderdale.

Bonnie and Suzie, Nope still haven't had any conversations with the horse owners. And yes, I miss the critters already. Went to town for supplies and when I pulled into the drive I found my eyes looking over the pasture for them. :^(((((

Molly

Molly in most states you have to be a licensed eletrician to hook up to that pole and the power company knows who is and who is not licensed. Yeah it is freaky up there most of those pole are carring at least 600volts. Best thing you can do is stay away from that box. Had a friend killed about 30 years ago when he got on a latter to clean leaves out of his gutter and there was a leaky wire on the pole. The charge leaped about 6 ft and blasted him.

Got to 50 deg today -a virtual heat wave!! I went to the store with no coat on!! Supposed to be a little warmer tomorrow even-yahoo.

Ham, sweet potatoes and corn for dinner- sure tasted good - gonna use the bone and make a pot of soup tomorrow. Hmmm, should it be bean or pea...

IWe have a Cabellas coming to our town - oh man, I can't wait!! DH and boys are in hog heaven. It is a boom to this area as the economy is the pits. Tons of manufacturing is leaving and so many people are out of work - scarey..

Hope everyone had a fun day!! Spring keeps getting closer...

This message was edited Jan 23, 2007 8:08 AM

Hi folks,

I've popped in a couple of times today to read but haven't gotten anything written.

Went to aquafit this morning and then drove DH to his Dr's office to have the staples removed from his incision. It's a week since the surgery and two more weeks managing with the catheter, but he's doing well. He managed to take a shower this morning but found it a bit of a challenge.

This afternoon, I did some errands - popped by the local Salvation Army Thrift Store to get silverware for DD. She says her DH has been taking her good stuff to work and she's afraid it won't come home. Probably won't one of these days - hence 19 cents each from the Thrift Store. Got my photo taken for a new passport. They won't let you smile any more and I had to take my glasses off because they could'nt get it without glare. It looks suitably grim I think and not a bit like me. LOL

Stopped by FC. Successor there had managed by last Wednesday to suitably tick off two major volunteers, one of whom told me he was thinking of leaving. I e-mailed successor last week and advised him that I heard vols. weren't happy. The whole place is RUN by vols and if he still thinks otherwise, he's still got a lot to learn. He wants me to come in and help with month-end stats. Maybe next week I'll find time. Let him stew a bit. Meanwhile, I'm documenting everything in case we decide at the end of 6-months probationary period that he's not right for the program. (His wife's a lawyer).

Got the first movement of the Barok Divertimento printed out for the rehearsal this evening. The other two movements should be easier as there aren't a lot of metre changes. Second movement in no very long either.

Now, I'm going to try to go back over today's postings and catch up.Looks like I got the wrong name attached to the colonoscopy yesterday. Sorry. But still glad it's over.

Elaine, I enjoyed the living will joke. DH says it not very fair. LOL

I had a window open this morning to capture the URL and pass it on to you. You might find it if you search for CBC Marketplace. If not, I'll look it up later when I reconnect to Internet and pass it along. Marketplace is an investigative TV program hosted by Wendy Mesley who is a recent breast cancer survivor and she did a show which aired on Sunday about the increased rates of Cancer. A great deal of it is on the web site.

The article in the newspaper this morning about Dana Reeves indicated that people who have looked after spouses with neurological ailments are frequently at risk of life-threateneing diseases themselves. I'm interested in the talk about Radon. We hear little or nothing about it in Canada. Has it been caused by things in particular or is it just in the soil in many places?

sarv - be thankful you didn't get the freezing rain. And please send good thoughts this way. I have to take the twins to Kindermusik tomorrow which means a lot of time on the roads. If your head is throbbing from Freecell, try the Spider Solitaire for a change.

dmc - with all the chemicals in household cleaners, you may have something about them not being good for you. We should probably all go back to vinegar as an all purpose cleaner. I bought some new Windex last week.I know there's ammonia in it, but what else I don't know. Except it took the peach color out of an old wash cloth I was using as a rag.

And dmc, I don't very often JUST sit around. LOL But I have spent an hour or more in front of the TV with the crochet hook going each of the last few nights. I'm much more likely to do that if I've got a project on the go.

Molly, nice horses. Hi Kooger. Nice to hear from you. Say "Hi " to the Canadian brother.

Maria - I've got two computers too - side by side in the same room. Eventually, I'll get everything hooked up on the new one and just use the old one for data. I agree with Sarv - it takes awhile to get used to a new one.

Sarv - have you always lived near Grand Rapids? One of my good friends here in Ottawa came from there originally. Re Freecell, one tip I learned is not to stack up too many cards in a row. If you do, you may have too many to move anywhere. Also some games you want to build on the Aces faster than on other games.

M5 - I think my pool uses SOME ozone in addition to the chlorine. There is another pool in town that went to a saline process which broke down just AFTER the warranty on it was over. They were not able to resolve it successfully and went back to chlorine. I don't really know what happened on Saturday, bit I do know that perfumes seem to hang just above the surface. Use to really bother me when I was still swimming laps and the aquafit ladies were next to us.

I have TWO frozen bananas waiting for others to join them and become banana bread.

Janis - glad DS has improved recently and hope that it continues to improve. Also hope that counselling works.

Suzie - glad to hear your DS is doing well too.

Maria, there have been a whole host of scams that look like they are from your bank and Amazan and probably anyplace else that you might have accounts. DON'T follow any of those links even if they seem legit. Better to pick up the telephone and make some calls if you aren't sure.

dmc - sorry to hear of the alleriges to horses. I sure hope the desensitization works and NO, I don't think you are irresponsible to try to continue. Give it a good shot.

Lauri - if your neck is still bothering you, try a good massage therapist.

Mary - glad you had a good night's sleep. How many more lambs are expected?

Molly - wise decision to leave electrical stuff to a professional.

Just reconnected to Internet and here's the URL for that site on Cancer - http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/cancer/index.html

Have a good evening everyone.

Ann

Hi people,

Oz, what happened to your friend was just awful! We came home one night a couple of months ago and I saw sparks coming from the wires out front where some branches of one of our trees was rubbing against them. I called the electric company right away and they came out and took care of it. There was no way any of us was going to try to deal with it, but I was really nervous about the risk of fire until they got here.

Yipee aye oh kayay (or however you spell it)! Thanks to everyone who wished me a better day today. It must have worked because not only did I finally manage to get that program I was fighting with all day yesterday installed, but DH also got a job! It's only a part-time job at Trader Joe's and certainly doesn't pay the hourly rate that he got as a software engineer, but it sure is a whole lot better than no income at all! (It should also make him feel that he isn't "useless" and will give him somewhere to go and a definite schedule so that he isn't constantly showing up at my store and invading my space constantly. Phew!!!)

Darius, thanks so much for clarifying your post about your friends not contacting you or thanking you for the gift that you sent. Being the eternal pessimist, I automatically figured that it must be my fault and that the candles didn't get to their destination.

I got outside for a little part of the day today and it almost felt like Spring! I raked a bit of the debris out of the back of my garden, but found that, despite the relatively mild Winter, the ground was still frozen solid. Maybe this weekend we'll be able to get a lot of the dead vines, etc. moved off of there, but I doubt that we'll be able to till the soil for at least a couple of weeks. Checked the little flower garden out front and found that the daffs that I divided last Fall seem to be coming up. I just hope that they don't get frozen by a return of very cold weather which we're likely to have. The tulips that I planted at the same time don't seem to be poking their heads up yet and that's just as well (as long as that doesn't mean that I bought dead bulbs --- they were bargain purchases from Christmas Tree Shop).

Thanks to Bonnie (Defoecat) the butternut squash seeds that I managed to misplace won't be a problem. She generously offered to send me some of hers and I gratefully accepted. I think that I have some of the herb seeds at my store as I was planning to put some in the gardening gift baskets this Spring. Too bad for my customers, I'm keeping them if I can't find the ones I'd saved for myself.

Molly, enclosed spaces bother me too, but I'd be a lot more bothered thinking about venomous snakes, spiders, etc. Please be careful! We're fairly lucky up here, not too many really harmful critters --- more nuisances than anything else. The horse picture was lovely. Was that Chestnut(?) in the foreground the Alpha horse of the herd?

Dmcd, you're allergic to HORSES? Bummer! I sure hope that the shots can take care of that for you. You're right, asthma is serious. One of my brothers nearly died of it when he was a kid. Please don't take it too lightly, but I wouldn't want you to just give up on something that so obviously gives you such pleasure.

Lauri, you might also want to check out the contoured pillows that are available these days. My DH and I both use them as we each have some spinal and/or neck issues to deal with. It takes a bit of getting used to, but hopefully will help in the end.

Maria, so glad you didn't fall for that phishing scam! We're always getting those fake notices from Paypal, ect. I'm usually not all that violent a person --- don't even like the graphic movies, etc. , but I've got to say that the people who perpetrate these scams really get my blood boiling and if one of them was standing in front of me, I probably would have difficulty not taking a swing at him/her.

kooger, hi! So nice to "see" you here again. I'm so glad that your son's GF can go to the Mayo Clinic. As far as I know, they still have a great reputation. All the positive thoughts that I can muster go out to them and to you.

I'm sure that by now several others have posted on this thread-- sorry it takes me so long to post! I'm trying to remember who else to respond to on this thread. No good, I have to go back and check.

Mary, have been following your exploits and the pictures and am just amazed at what you manage to accomplish. I love the area that you show in the pictures but don't think that I could deal with the animals while still being a meat eater.

101, cute quote. I enjoyed the joke. BTW, I gave you my home phone number, but it looks like my schedule may change in the near future. Mondays are probably the best bet for my being at home.

suzieq, glad your son is doing so well.

sarv, lucky you, having two computers to choose from. I'm very glad that your brother was able to help you set your new one up, but, please, as others here have been saying, don't set yourself up for a miserable two weeks or more because he gave you a little time and help in setting up your new computer! At least let him know the problems you had last time and enlist his help in making sure that a better system is in place before you agree to house/teeniebopper sit again!

Janis, hang in there! It sounds as though you have gotten through to your son. Make sure he knows what the limits you set are and this may work out very well for both of you. I have my fingers crossed anyhow!

Woodspirit, good luck with the plant quest. I don't know anywhere else that you can get that cultivar, so I just hope somebody else can help you.

If I've left anyone out --- so sorry! I surely didn't mean to ---- just have a hard time keeping up with everyone. I'm sure that at least a few of you have posted in the time it's taken me to type this. If any of you are people that I haven't addressed in my post, so sorry! I'll try to catch up with you next time.

E. McCool

Good late afternoon. My pretty day is gone with the wind so to speak. By the time I got out there on the horse the clouds had moved in, the wind had come up and it was COLD. I rode about 1 1/2 hrs, mostly at a walk because our recent snow has made the ground as slick as it was 2 weeks ago. Darn, and there is snow and rain in the forecast for the next few days. I got quite cold, ate a toasted cheese sandwich and hot tea when I got home, stayed just half an hour and then it was out the door again.

This afternoon I helped the neighbor get the remaining ewes into a small corral where they were pretty crowded so couldn't move around much and they were checked one by one and marked to either keep because they are going to have lambs, or to sell because they don't look pregnant. So, now there are so few to watch, maybe 10, that I am through with the night checks. I wonder how many nights it will take my brain to quit thinking I have to get up? The cats are even on this get up in the middle of the night schedule, it will take them some time to adjust.

Chemicals and cancer, I do believe there is a link there, a strong one. We have no idea what reacts with what, and they don't do a lot of testing along those lines. Kind of scarry when the windex bleaches an old washcloth that has probably been bleached a few times already, or at least washed enough times that it shouldn't be loosing color. We don't know what is in the laundry soap that might react with the fabric softener we use, or the spray starch, or be released if the garment is ironed. And then we wear it along with deodorant, body lotions, perfume, all of which have other chemicals. It's no wonder to me that we have so much illness, not just cancer but especially allergy related things. Oh, and then there is the chemical coctail we call air, and the one we call water. And let's not forget all the ones we eat. That is why I grow a lot of our food, I know what is not in it. At least I can do something about some of it.

Meezer, when will you know if you are approved to adopt the kitten? I hope she is not of a timid nature, that would never do with Sammi the Terrible cavorting around at full speed. He seems pretty much fearless, but maybe having the older cat box his ears recently has given him an attitude adjustment. I think I can see some spritzer bottle lessons in his near future. I showed my hubby the picture of the 3 cats looking innocent with the plant on the floor, he said "yeah, right".

VAnn, I think it is a very wise move to document the faux pass ( ?) and failings of the FC successor. I hope you don't end up having to take over the job again and train somebody else. 6 months sounds like a very long probationary period, enough to pretty much ruin a smoothly running operation. ? on the windex, is that the new one they are calling an all purpose cleaner?

I just looked out the window, snow is coming down, or rather, blowing horizontally past the window. Big change from this morning. I think I had better go water the greenhouse plants before this turns into a full blown storm. The connection there is that I hate to open the greenhouse door when the wind is blasting and cold.

Back later. Ummm, might have to bake something, the counter looks kinda empty. What sounds good? well, just about everything.

Yep, McCool, the chestnut is the Alpha horse. That poor shetland that you can hardly see is treated pretty much like an inconvenience by the rest of the horses and yet that little one is the friendliest of all to us.
We miss them already.

I just got in a few minutes ago. Finished painting the pumphouse and started the trim work on the outside of the mobile home. It's going to look great. Back to it again tomorrow.

Molly
:^)))

For anyone who is hungry- DH is making rootbeer floats. Give him your order!! I'm gonna finish up the dab of vanilla ice cream with some caramel...yum

Vi - I have lived in or close to Grand Rapids Mich all my life. It is a nice town. We're south of there in the country (well, used to be country) after I got married. My mom still lives there. (GR)
Hope that new guy at the FC gets his act together soon - imagine ticking off an important volunteer!! For heavens sakes, don't you go back there! Good thinking documenting with a lawyer wife!

Mary, I agree about the chemicals in our environment/air/food. I think we are doomed. I try use as much natural as I can - I almost hate to eat out anymore just thinking of what may have been added to the food (notice I said almost...LOL) Keep the snow out there please...this is one time where you don't have to share with anyone!

I have one of those contour pillows. I don't use it everynight, but often will haul it out. Mine seems very hard..Chiro recommended it when I had a pinched nerve in my neck.

McC - hooray for DH getting a job. I know what you are going thru - my DH is in the same situation. He keeps waiting for the ax to fall again - it has fallen 3 x and we've made it thru,but each time I age considerably!

DM- good luck with the allergy problems. Isn't that strange that you are so allergic to horses. Is it the dander in their coat? I haven't taken my allergy meds for the past two days and I've been fine other than a full feeling in my chest.

Well, time for American Idol!!

WEll I took my allergy stuff when I got home and then slept a couple hours. I'm fairly sensitive to medications, even the ones that don't make you drowsy. Plus this is not a very inspiring time of year.

Molly, maybe the horses will be back at some point? I 'd way rather have them for neighbors than most people! Hey, you can't have "neighbor" without "neigh" (sorry)

Mary, I'm going to try to learn from your weather hardiness....tomorrow! LOL Actually we're supposed to get the 50's that are in the midwest now, so that won't be tough. I want to go trail ride, which here, this time of year, mostly means roads. Wow, now I'm really thinking not just about all the chemicals, but the reactions. I know the perfumes in magazines will cause bronchospasms...just think of all the things you never would have come across on your little country farm. I guess my body is rebelling, as many of ours are. Scary about the cancer rates though. I agree about the foods. Seems like vinegar and salt and baking soda were used extensively in the old days. They've demonstrated how all the anti-bacterial stuff is starting to backfire, but I haven't heard about all the other hyper-cleanliness issues that might be out there.

Molly, I just realized why I endure these long cold winters....we don't have all those nasty critters!! My best friend would tell me they are not nasty, they have a place in the world and the food chain, and I agree totally as long as they're in FL. and I'm all the way up here!!

Ann~GRRRRRR at your FC successor. Oh boy, now you have to document everything and worry about nastiness and a possible fight if it doesn't work out. It just doesn't end, another good deed doesn't go unpunished.
Speaking of punishing and good deeds, are you officially allowed to decline on the committee to allocate the bequest that was left to your church? Do you need the 2x4?

McCool~yay on the computer program, the DH job, and the general change in luck. Oh wouldn't it be great if we could just wish each other's problems away? I bet your ground isn't frozen very deep at all- a little rain in the next couple days will probably soften it right up. Good for you getting the raking started. We have tons of oak leaves, and here I will confess I was SURE I would have terrible allergies to mold and thus have an excuse to avoid the leaves....but no, just the HORSES for heaven's sakes!! the vaccuum, lawn, leaves, dishes, laundry and all those annoying people-no problem. So I'll start raking.....soon....

sarv~nice niece you have there...great response on your part. Ditto on the caller id. Those types suck the life right out of you.

oz~awful story about your friend....thanks for the excuse not to clean gutters!

lauri~ouch on the neck, hope it's better

Janis~lots of luck, prayers and blessings, there are worse kids and you know it, he's your son (he looks like you too!!)...It's so, so hard, but you'll get through it. I am keeping him and your family in my prayers for the best outcome. Therapy can be very effective. (Growing up can too, but I know, you gotta keep them alive to do it!)

Hi to everyone else still to visit!!!~~~~waving~~~~~~~

This message was edited Mar 8, 2006 8:07 PM

This message was edited Mar 8, 2006 8:09 PM

sarv~YUM rootbeer floats! I'll have a couple (LOL) I'm completely giving in to emotional eating today. I had buttered noodles for dinner- comfort food, and a bag of yogurt covered raisins.

Ok, Sarv, pass over a root beer float please.
I need it.
Since I don't drink, I will need it to survive what I am going to be going thru.
Now, I have some sad news all, so don't read anymore if you don't want it to ruin your day.
My father e-mailed me this morning and told me that he got the test results back.
Turns out that the cancer has spread to multiple places in the bone and to the lymph nodes in the chest. Will see if it can be treated and if so, he will live for awhile.
But if can't be treated, he will have only months.
So am crying lots tonight.
Only crying because....
He has had a very long good life at so far 86 years old but....
the main thing I am worried/upset on/about is that....
bone cancer is one of the most painful cancer to go thru....
and I had to see people/animals suffer due to pain
So .....
Hanging in there but am so sad......

Kooger, thanks for the hug earlier.
Sarv, what is the heck Cabellas???
Ann, thanks for the link about cancer, very interesting.
McC, glad to hear DH has a job even tho it isn't much, it will be better than nothing.

Have anyone ever used a web camera? Or have I already asked that here. I have one to do with my dad since I don't hear well on the phone so it is kind of neat.

Ok, need to maybe call my dad so later then.
Later, Carol

{{{{{ Carol (DR) }}}}}

((((Carol)))) so sorry to hear your father's bad news and hope that he doesn't have too much pain.

dmc, Yes, I'm co-chair of that committee to decide how to use the money. It won't be done right away - they are looking at organizing "cottage group" meetings of church members to discuss issues and then make some recommendations to bring to the annual meeting which is NEXT February. My handbell ringers are thrilled. there might actually be a chance that we will get the measly $2000 that we'd like. LOL It's a pretty small part of over $300,000.

Good night all.

Ann

Carol, I am so sorry, hugging you!!!!!!

Okay, been mia most of the day.

Oz, you can come fix the arbor for me, if Miss Boss doesn't want it.

Kooger, Glad the GF has a consult at Mayo.

Woofens, DS is good, due to whatever, but make sure that he knows that the long term is the time line.

Susieq, glad that DS is going well.

Lauriewilson, soory for the neck pain., and a growling DH, pitch him a bone. LOL.

Maria, Glad you didn't fall for that scam. Just watch out. Glad to see you feeling better.

Sarv, yeah, you are going to play for another 1/2 hour, I'm sort of addicted to freecell myself.

dmc, Cheer up, I took allergy shots for years, and finally was able to overcome some allergies. But be warned, they are usually replaced with allergies to something else.

Mary, I had hoped the ride went well, but with the change in weather, Rats, does that mean no ride tomorrow?

Molly, when you miss those horses so much, that means you will have to buy some LARGE animals to have to admire. LOL

Sarv, don't get guilted by that niece. I have one like that too, and take her in small doses. The nerve of that hussy!!

Vann, chuckled about the grim picture, keep that to show to gran twins! And the sucessor at FC, I would make sure to tell him that all volunteers are important, and to treat them well. Good idea about documenting.

McCool, Hurray, for part time job for DH, beats no time job, Huh? I will try to get the acorn squash seeds in the mail in the next day or two. Glad we got to talk today. So your schedule is changing? Glad to know that. So Mondays will be better, starting when?

DR ((hugs)) to you. I am sitting here crying for you. I know 86 years is a long life, but we all want to keep them years longer. My T & P are with you.

Well, I had a very boring/eventful day, depends on how you want to look at it. Had a run to the post office and bank early, then came home got all necessary supplies together, and started my tomato seeds. That shouldn't be a big job, but got carried away and planted a total of 288 seeds of 32 varieties of tomatos. Plus, potted up 3 Rhubarb tubers, and reseructed (sp?) 4 geraniums that I had dug up and potted and kept on my plant shelf in the house. They are already showing some green. Also, just for the heck of it, dug and potted 2 gerbera daiseys last fall, and they are showing green as well.

Going to the grocery tomorrow, and as you all know, HATE THAT CHORE!! If I could have someone go buy it and bring it home, I could cook it. I tend to buy the same things week after week.

DH and friends are having another "Rabbit fry" tomorrow, and the request has been made for me to make the corn bread batter before I go to the store. Only on the condition that I get credit for it this week!! Last week he claimed it for his own, not!!

Had a good chat with McCool and 101 today, both such lovely people. Hope to be able in the future to be able to talk with all of you. I have unlimited long distance service, and I'm not a "phone hound", but enjoy getting to know all of you. Beware, when the phone rings, it could well be ME!

Well, I am very thankful that the cold that was looming, wasn't. I didn't wish it on anyone, so if you get it, don't blame me. I swear by the Airborn and Zicam. Stuff, really works. Plus added the Vitamin C this year. I will walk a mile to get around a cold!!

Well, it is time for me to bid adeau, to all I wish a warm, restful night tonight. And all dreams be sweet ones!!

Well, that is a lot of tomatoes, Bonnie! Guess you will have to share one with me, hint, hint, hehe. I still need to plant my seeds.

Well, more bad news.
My sister e-mailed me her version which I do appreciate since my dad gives me the very short one as most men do.
She says that the cancer has spread to throughout the bones and a few lymph nodes around the lungs. She asked the doc. how much time he has and of course he didn't want to say but said up to 6 months possibly.
The docs will decide on what kind of treatment he can handle this week and next week.
So......
So my son and I are flying up to see them during his spring break at the end of the month.
My son walked around the house tonight looking at all the things my dad has made. Like the wood work and stain glass work. Then he walked over the bookcase he had made me many years ago and picked up my parents pictures and just looked at them.
Was so sad to see but on the other hand, so sweet.
He and my dad were close since they both like work with their hands.

The picture is of my dad on the left, my older son and his girlfriend from this summer.

Thanks all for being here, everyone, do appreciate!!!!
~~~~~~~waving~~~~~~~~~~
Carol

Oh Carol, your Dad sounds like my dad was. He loved to make things, loved his garden, and until he couldn't get around very well was a big fisherman. He was 86 when he passed away. He had a stroke, not cancer, not a pleasant thing, but not nearly as painful. My Mother had melanoma and it went to her bones and brain. Affected her thinking and WAS very painful. Thankfully, she didn't suffer long. But any suffering is too long. I will pray for your Dad to be kept comfortable and maybe a miracle too. My dad passed away in 1990 and it seems like yesterday. I miss them both so much.

OK, that probably didn't make you feel one bit better. Sorry. Just know I feel your pain.

Well, Ranger went over the Rainbow Bridge at 2pm today. I was so hoping Michelle and Crew would be able to find a cure for him, but it wasn't to be. She said he passed surrounded by love and I know he was. He was such a beautiful sweet dog.

Well, I will go do the daily, I could just go on and on with my boring stuff I do every day. I listen to you guys and think, I wish I could accomplish all those things. Oh well...

Susan
=^..^=