how about drinking?

How thoughtful, Gail! Glad you are back home Lori, and can't wait to hear about it! Beans, Hope you got home safely too!! Junie,Hate that you are feeeling so bad, and hoping the dr can find a simple solution, and you can be back to kicking back with your bucket of dog beers soon! Let us know how you are doing. Sounds like you are still having a great time in Israel, Karen! Gail, what a good feeling to get so many jobs done. I have a "to do" list a mile long, too. Good way to look at things...I may need to adopt your attitude about fixing and doing things (since my DH does not like to). I am waaaay behind too, been really busy, but have read the posts and laugh and cry with each of you.....then when I have time to post (like now), I don't remember what I wanted to write yesterday! SO....gonna have Pants make us all some Golden Cocktails, thanks to Gail, and toast to Lori's return, and to all of you fab gals! *clink* Even though I don't know what Calvados is....LOL.

Wishing everyone a wunnerful day-before-Tuesday! Cheers! Golden Cocktails! Bottomz Up!

Kathy

Hi! I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Got to the mts and weather is still weird. I was so sad to see that the new spring growth on most all the evergreens must have gotten frozen as the tips are all turning brown. So frustrating because the trees were looking so pretty with all the bright green growth. Not much to do about the weather though. There are still tons of pretty wild flowers, so that's good. Everything else is pretty much okay...I'm always hesitant to say that cuz seems that whenever life is mello something happens to eff the calm up...so got my pinkies crossed for just more mello times for a while at least. I picked up some merlot on sale for $2.50 a bottle (couldn't resist the price). It was from Italy so I had hopes of finding something good and cheeeeeeeeeeeep, but it was really boring, more like faintly fermented grape juice. I also bought a few other bottles on sale, so my hopes are still high for a good tasting good deal. We shall see! Hope you will all join me for happy hour and (cheap) wine tasting...he he he! Cheers!

Hi Karen, yes my step daughter is visiting until Aug 5 its nice she gets on well with my two kids and while DH and I are at work its nice they all have each other at home. Yes I am doing Rads, 28 sessions not sure of my start up date yet but have gone for my CT Scan and mapping and should hear soon when I start

Beans.....sorry you got a case of "Merlittle".  BLECH!!!!  I have learned what is decent in the cheaper labels.  Covey Run is one of them, and generally reliable.  Safeway carries it.  Give it some air though, and I like Cabernet-Merlot best if I can find it.

Karen.....glad you are having such a super time.  Well, just plan the next time.  These things are so worth doing.

Kymm......what you didn't say says it all to me.  That is, you are on the mend.

I am not as busy as I would like to be, but perhaps this is because I have been washing soaked and greasy cycling duds.  Hurts to sit down too (strained glutes).  However, have been doing some work and thinking for updating the website if my former business partner start up again.  Right now, still on hold, but need to have the thinking done.

Still have not heard back on the full time job which is what I think I would really want to do, but do know I am in the system.  So walking the fine line between follow up and being a pest.

Can't wait to have all this resolved.  Meanwhile, cHairs, and to good wine!!! - Claire

Oh Claire! Had to read your post twice I thought you said you were washing dudes not duds! LOL! Was sort of wondering why they were greasy then decided I probably didn't want  to know.

Oh, Kathy Ick! Well I'd rather find skeletons at least. Oh, last night guess what we found... in the kitchen... a poor dead bunny!   I don't like that at all. My son took it out and gave it a proper burial. Ok, now that is one critter I would have been just fine with it still alive even in the house .... don't like that and means she is getting better at this... Why can't she just go for rats and call it a day?

OK, so remember a while back about that company that came by to scout a location for an ad and they chose my house.... well. I'm thinking I'm in such a huge mess not sure what on earth to do! So the woman in charge is a nut and an unprofessional nut to boot. I asked a friend of mine who is a lawyer to look over the contract. Well, the whole thing is totally vague. She got really upset that I asked a lawyer to look at the contract and sent me this ranting email complaing about all her problems and expenses. One thing that really freaked me out is that she said normally she has a full run of the property when they "rent" a few rooms. So now I'm so nervous about the whole thing.. wish I had people who could be here with me when they descend.... 

Gail, what a doll you are! Thank you so much for the Golden Cocktail. Had to look up Calvados, as I did not know what that was either. T'is apple brandy!

Junie, sure hope you check in soon and all is ok.

Stanzie, that is YOUR home, not hers! And if you are uncomfortable signing that contract, THEN DON'T! Sorry bout the bunny, ick!

Beans, glad you made it home safe too. Karen is having a great time, Kymn is doing better, Chrissy is good, Kathy is a working maniac, Claire cycling, Kristy is radiating and looking for a puppy, DorK is working her butt off (so glad you will get what you have coming to you girl) I just know I am missing someone, certainly not on poipose.

Our time away was good, except for some of the time spent with the kids. Those two should not have had kids! Well, once again they were suppose to meet up with us in Laughlin, Friday evening to spend some time with us. Well, they didn't get there until 11:30 pm. So, Sat. morning they call around 9 and ask if we want to come to their room to visit. So we do, the place is TRASHED! How do you do that when you get in so late and you just got up? The kids are running around the room, behind the curtains, jumping on the bed, etc. The baby, who is 3, comes up to me at one point, thinking it's funny and just starts hitting me! She is walking around with a huge pc of cold pizza and her dad says, go see Grammy. I had on a white top, so I am sure he was hoping she would get pizza on me. During our time in their room, his mom calls and I hear him tell her that they were wanting to go to the pool, but Lori doesn't want to! NO, that is not true. Lori can't go to the pool, Lori can't sit out in triple digit temps. There is a bit more to this, but don't need to go into all of. So my DH decides he just can't take it anymore and tells them to go do what you want and we will go our way as well. They asked if we would like to go to lunch with them, which we declined as it would have been our treat! So hour or so later they call and ask if we would like to come sit with them at Mickey D's (in the casino) while they eat. Sure. Get there, kids are still running around, grandson (who is mildly autistic) is jumping and flitting in front of the soda machine, hitting the ice dispenser and just watching the ice fall. Then grand daughter is over there getting ice off the bottom of the soda machine and eating it. Later we go to the arcade, mom and dad think, oh we are gonna go next door to the gift shop, you got the kids? Sure we do. But what dad was thinking was we would fork out for tokens to play the games.......NOPE, not happening, you can pretend to play. Then the 3 yo, who is still in diapers, makes a mess in her diaper, and who takes her to the bathroom.........dad. In the mens rest room! I was kind of taken aback by that, especially since mom was there. And usually when ever the kids messed their diaper, dad always found it funny to say, oh let's let grammy have this one, like it is a privledge! Now mind you, I never minded changing the kids diapers, but when we were there last, in CA in April, I spent everyday potty training that kid, only to see months later she is still in diapers. I thought for sure they were going to try and get me to change her diaper, good thing they didn't as that would have been a BIG FAT NO. As for DH and I we had a great time. Went to 2 movies, 1 comedy show and of course played our games. DH hit one jackpot for $250 on a .50 bet, so that was fun. Came home to all of my flowers and veggies munched on, holes dug under the boardwalk that goes across the town. I will get what ever is distroying my stuff! I promise you that!

Clink Clinky Dink!

Oh, Lori. They sounds bad. Way badder than my kids! My sis was one of those moms and her kids are struggling as adults but thankfully finding their way to more normal lives. We were really nervous about having our kids stay with the ILs when we went to Europe and left them for the first time (they were 6 and 8) because they think our kids are spoiled (we allow them to make decisions about what, when and how much they eat, include them in conversations, and we never spank them). Their friends invited them to go on a weekend sailing trip on their yacht and 10 years later those people are still raving about how well-mannered out kids are! So when FIL reminded me, "you remember how spoiled your girls were when they were little..." I said, "hmm, I think the Wilsons would trade grandkids with you anytime!" Wish I had your story to share with them! The sad thing is, the incident he was refering to was when they visited on Mother's Day when DD1 was 2 and I was expecting. DH wanted to take his mom and the mother of his children to brunch at this beautiful resort (great food, amazing views)...  As most parents realize, 2 YOs don't sit still for a 2+ hour meal. DD was really good (we brought small toys and crayons) but near the end she got a little antsy. We always took our kids to nice restaurants but used it as an opportunity to socilaize them (manners were expected to some extent) and got them out of there before they had a meltdown. So, DH told DD that she looked like she needed some fresh air and started to walk her outside. FIL insisted to take her instead (at the time I thought he wanted to spend time with his grandchild but perhaps he was dodging the bill?) so we have this really sweet picture of 6'2", football shouldered grandpa holding hands with DD and looking down at her as they walk across the lawn. She just had her first haircut and insisted on still having ponytails so the whole back of her naturally platinum baby hair is hanging straight down and the little ponies are poking out the side of her head. I have always cherished that photo but in his recollection, he was dealing with an insolent child. I cringe to think what he might have been saying to her! When he made the comment about my kids being spoiled he reminded us of having to take her outside when we were having brunch because she didn't know how to behave at a restaurant. Wow. Sure wish they had some truely obnoxious grandkids (not mine of course) to set them straight!

Visiting family is so weird. It's like a time warp where you hear other people's perspectives on shared experiences. I tend to remember pleasant thoughts and positive feelings and just try to forget the bad stuff. It is heartbreaking to dredge up the ugly bits and learn that their experience of your best memories was so different. I guess this is why I do not want to see my toxic sister. She made my life miserable when we were teenagers (and well into adulthood). I have tried to forget all the hurtful things she did to me and remember more pleasant experiences but not only does she like to dredge up the past, but her stories are so different from what I remember - the point of every story being that I was the spoiled favorite of our parents. I don't want to expose my daughters to this person. They are admittedly a bit unconventional, but in a healthy way and she is (in addition to being mean) very conservative (she doesn't speak to or about one of her sons because he is gay). Family and freinds should try to make you feel good about yourself, not tear your down. Life is too short to feel bad. I want to spend every day around people I like who are kind to me.

Or maybe I should just drink more?

Here's a fun one:

A Signature Purple

• 1 oz. freshly squeezed pomegranate juice
• 1 1/2 oz. Hpnotiq®
• 1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice
• orange rind or sour grapes for garnish 

How to make it

• Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker over ice.
• Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
• Garnish with orange rind or sour grape.

Great post, NM! About the doc-shock syndrome... I have it bad time and I've lined up appointments with them all during the next couple of weeks (the dentist as well) so I can just get it over with. Good luck with your appointment - just think about how great you will feel when you get that clean bill of health!

Oh NM - Loved all your posts - so thoughtful and amusing as always!

AStorm - Oh my gosh, I think we are related with our sisters. The only difference is mine is Not conservative in the slightest but neither sister had children (far too selfish, really true they even admit it) and think I'm a terrible mother.So many of your stories I could have written myself it is amazing and unfortunantely not in a good way. I think if that is the story they use to say your kids were not well behaved it is a good thing as gosh they really had to be thinking hard to come up with something at all to even be possible to show a shadow on your children's upbringing - does that make sense? I think I'd choose to see it as a compliment in the long run cause if that is all they can come up with and she was 2 and these are people who want to find fault? Wow, I'd consider you all phenonomal parents. 

My children are now "scared" of my one sister and they do not like her. They saw her for who she is and the way she treats me. Of course she doesn't know this but I imagine someday she will and will be interesting to see if it bothers her at all. I'm assuming no. They have asked me never to leave them alone with her, that is pretty bad. 

Goldie - Wow, you and your lovely DH are Saints to put up with all that. Don't you find it amazing that they can pretend not to realize how awful they are being to you all? Those poor kids - well, at least as a consolutaion when they become the grandparents they will find out why they shouldn't have acted that way....at least I hope it works out . Obviously sometimes I think children just are born and certain way and are going to be selfish and try and take advantage of everything and everyone possible no matter how correctly they were brought up. But glad you are standing up to them as I know how hard that is especially when you actually want to be a part of the kids lives and all but have to put up with a lot. Hopefully they will see that you all get what they think you don't notice them doing. Gosh I feel like I'm speaking in tongues or something...

 Kathy - Love the idea of telling your hubby to go search for something out there... How about hiding something he wants out there.... hmmm? That could be amusing except somehow I still think you would be left with cleaning it all up. Isn't that how it always works.

Well, I got myself into a full blown tizzy of worry and concern last night over this whole ad thing. I wrote to my friend (lawyer - really friends with his wife so feel odd asking for help especially as it is more complicated) thinking it was his work email and he wouldn't see them till the am. Well, he wrote back and told me to calm down and relax. So embarrassed.... Still haven't called. I'm so not good at any of this. Seems like every friend I have in the world is out of town next week so can't find anyone to be here with me. I haven't signed the contract but I did agree in an email so that is a paper confirmation so I think I'm stuck but she is worried - not sure if that is good or bad but it is what it is right now.... So didn't need all this expecially as the money isn't enough to really help anything I was more thinking of a foot in the door but now thinking I should have left that door closed and locked.

Karen - Wow, your trip has totally been flying. So wonderful you have connected and made good friends and feel comfortable and welcome. That is so important and makes the trip all the more special.

Kymn. Love what Claire said about what you didn't say means things are better. Hope that is true and everything is going better and you are feeling more like your old self. Hang in there....

Oh, I've got to learn to do the side by side thing so I can catch up with Husker, Chrissy, Mrs. Nice, Beanie - oh Beanie! I think my brain is too muddled and lack of sleep from worry has me turbulant inside and out......

Hi Girlies,

Popping in for the drink of the day, cheerZ!

Nice to see you Lori, seems like forever.  Will try to catch up later.  And to the rest of you lady friends, I am dumbfounded as to where the last two days have gone. It is Sunday #3 here in my dork brain. I skipped the day b4 tuesday and the real tuesday, taking personal days off. So surgery, tommorrow.  I have to wait for "the call" to tell me what time I report.  Beanie is in charge of loading the bus.

I have been swimming, doing laundry, and trying to embrace the moment and enjoy feeling so good. It was my choice to move forward with the tissue expander - again-.  But I will .have two boobies again, yee haw. !!

Ehhh, drinks for everyone!! CheerS!!! 

*********CALLING ALL LOUNGETTES**********

I just received a call from our Junie, from the ER! She will be undergoing surgery in a little while, and didn't want us to worry about her. SO please lets all be thinking of her and praying for her to have a smooth surgery and quick recovery. It is not bc or pulmonary related, but I will leave the details up to her. I told her we will also make ourselves teeny tiny and join her in the operating room asap. Then we can just continue on, to be with DorK tomorrow. I am raising my glass to a perfect surgery for both Junie and Dorothy! *clink*, here's to both of you!

Kathy

I will be back in the morning for more catching up. Just wanted to bring LOTS of foil for on the bus!

Ya all know how much fun it can be and since Junie kind of got it going (I think) we all should have some. DorK, we will bring some the hospital for our visit with you too!

xoxo

Popping in to add my thoughts and prayers for Junie and Dotty.  Hoping all goes well with the surgeries goils!!!!!

Having a drink or three in your honour and because I can now strike two more things off my to do list .....yeah!!!!!!!

Love, hugs and TITZ UP!!!!!!

Oh Junie- Hope it is nothing serious and you will be home in no time and feeling better. DorK - you too!

I'll bring my roll of foil as well - Hey I even can bring the sword, helmet, coins and oh something else that my son made for a role playing game - surely they are magical and good for lots of good heroic healing! 

Yay Kitty!!!  Good luck and I hope everything goes well for you and you have a speedy recovery!

Dotty, thinking about you hon and hoping all goes well for you also and you have a quick and easy healing time!  I'm so looking forward to seeing you.

Got my travel insurance approved today.....sccratch one more thing off the list!

Did someone offer some cheap wine, dog bears or just alcohol in gerneral?  Oh yeah, Beans!    Think I'll line up for a few of each..........I feel like celebrating.............YAHOO!!!!!!!!

TITZ UP!!!!!!