TUESDAY, OCT. 7TH

[Jewels]

Run through here on my way to bowling. Then I have to take a friend to lunch as I lost a bet on the baseball playoffs. Then to yoga later. Busy day so will check in later. Weather is windy and rainy and back to normal here. I hate it!! I hate the less light like many of you. I will survive but getting nightie and robe on at 5:00 is my norm on days like this. It is my only consulation!! DH says, I should just stay in them all day. I would if I could!! LOL Catch you later......... Julie

[THINNER-2003]

Very foggy here this morning- very.
I have a dr's appt today at 3pm... not sure how that dr appt is going to go with this dr- it's my primary physician on my insurance but I've only seen him ONCE all these years- and only to get a referral to a specialist about my knee swelling early last year... other than that all I've ever gone to is my OB/GYN. So I don't really know this dr- we'll see what he says about all my "issues" and what referrals he'll give me/etc.

I'm starting to miss school- kids are out this week for fall break. We were supposed to go camping but DH's schedule keeps changing and it didn't work out as planned. In fact, it's worse with him working 12hr shifts 6pm to 6am and then sleeping most of the day... ever tried to keep 3 young children quiet enough for daddy to sleep when it's been raining and they can't go outside? It's not fun.... LOL

[Jewels]

Shelly, what can I say except

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS ON LOSING 80 LBS!!!!
Julie

[zip2play]

Holy CHRIST!
80 pounds in 6 MONTHS!!!!!!!

I'm dumbfounded. Did you do INDUCTION the whole time? What happened to your metabolism? What are you eating now?

Quiet Fall day here...gorgeous sunny 60°

Passed off some Kefir grains to another "live in Poconos (PA) and work in Manhattan" woman....oy a 2 hour commute- ONE WAY: many do it. She was happy to get the grains.

I think her Ladyship (Phonecia) is sending up a flower spike.....a good sign for the coming year. It MAY be another aerial root but since it looks like a teeny penis tip it's probably a flower spike. Aerial roots look more like worms! Pics when I get ambitious....ambition is in short supply this season: survival is all I ask!

LIGHT therapy begins tomorrow. Bob is unscheduled for any work the rest of the week (it can change). Definitely the El Greco show at the METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART....maybe a car to Pennsy?
The El Greco Exhibition

[Loretta V]

Hi to all today

Julie thanks for the picture of fall in your area. Just beautiful. Enjoy the lunch and the bowling. I will be happy when the time changes soon. It is really dark in the morning on my walk. I cannot find my markers.

Shelly Contrats on that great weight loss. I sure would like to have a gander at your menu. I used to work that shift for many years but my kids were about grown. That is a problem keeping them quiet so DH can get his rest. Hope that doc takes care of your "issues" and you get some satisfaction. We have had some VERY foggy mornings also.

Zip that sure was a trip to deliver those grains. I'm sure the gal appreciated you effort. Enjoy those days with Bob being home. Do you have your schedule worked out for your light therepy?

Here are some of the fall goings on in my yard.



The burning bush has some beautiful colors this year.


Susan glad to hear that your speech went well. Sounds like you did a great job with an intersting topic. What's next????

Ginny hope you have some of the gorgeous weather we are having. High 70s and 80s. Beautiful days but some heavy fog in the early mornings.

Poop Linda back to work for you. Will you sign up again? Or do you just stay on the list now that you are an independant? Hope you don't overdo it on the 7 flights of stairs today.

Shawnee hope you get to make those cookies soon. I was surprised at their great taste. I might cut down on the sugar next time. Yes I sure was a big cookie eater in my other life. I just enjoy them for some reason. I am going to eat my apple raw and by itself as Sommersizing suggests. I'll have the cookies later in the day. That natural apple is tasting pretty good all alone. Aren't you in the Apple State??

DH and I are celebrating our 5th Anniversary today. Hopefully we will go out for dinner this evening but we will see, it is sort of tentative.

Later and hi to Jackie and Pam
I tried to get those pics small but I guess I need to try for smaller next time.

[OrchidCactus]

Hey gang,

Beautiful day here, sunny and upper 70's! Gets a little foggy at night here too, so we're careful driving! Don't forget everyone, watch out for deer on the country roads and highways! It's bow season here now, so you know the deer are more active.

Wow Shelley! WTG, girl! That's an impressive amout to lose, and so quickly. Keeping the kids quiet must be tough--kids and quiet usually don't go hand in hand LOL

Julie, how did the bowling go? I do miss doing that, but don't dare try it until the elbow is in top form.

Zip, get started on that light therapy! We don't want you down in the dumps this year. Good deal with Her Highness...has she inspired the new orchid to spike yet?

Loretta, yep, we're getting the nice weather hopefully all week, then rain on Sunday is what they say. What it will do remains to be seen, I don't have too much faith in extended forecasts! I reckon you early birds are the only ones who will throroughly enjoy the time change.

Linda, off to work today? Know the drill........

Shawnee, glad you made yourself get to Curves. Go for me too, huh? How much of the Evening Primrose did you take? Either my body has become accustomed to it, or the power surges are getting stronger.

Susan, are you off today or working? Hope the weather is cooperating either way....you need that sunshine too!

Pam, check in when you're able.

Well, all, off to snuggle some puppies and then to work.

[LoveMontana]

Hi everyone,

Julie, So you are another one who gets into their snuggies early too? LOL I try to force myself to stay out of the shower till at least 6 PM.
Have a great lunch.

Shelly, Yikes!! 80 lbs so quickly? How on earth did you do that? We would all love to see a typical menu. I bet many on the golden bb would too. We oldies are lucky to lose 3 or 4 lbs a month.
You have your hands full with three little ones. I raised 4 and all were 13 months apart. You have my deepest sympathy.


Roger, so Phocenia is going to give birth to some more blossoms soon? Can't wait to see the pictures.

Hopefully you and Bob WILL get to go away for a few days this time. I don't see any hurricanes out there in the Atlantic, so the weather should be fine. You should hit those PA hills in time to see some brilliant color although we seem to be behind this year. They usually peak by mid Oct. but aren't showing much change right now.

I can't imagine a two hr. commute everyday although I know a few who do it.


Happy Anniversary Loretta and DH.

Hope you have a wonderful dinner. Tell us all about it.

My State contract is good until the end of NYS's fiscal year which ends March 31. Last year they just extended it automatically. We shall see what happens this time. It would be nice to continue till SS kicks in in two years since my Gov. 401 K isn't paying what it did when I first retired. Thankfully my regular pension is stable.

I'm so jealous of your beautiful fall garden. All of my impatients and other flowers are DEAD . Killed by a heavy frost last week.

Ginny, I see you are sending those warm temps up north. Thank You.. Tomorrow it will be almost 70.
It's foggy here too and quite heavy in spots till about 9 AM.
Have a good evening at work.

My day started off very badly. We have a key ring holder on the wall in the pantry, under which sits our "burn bag" where all the junk mail goes. Well, it seems that my NYS badge and personal alarm/locater attached to a break-away-safety strap apparently fell into the burn bag unnoticed by me and was incinerated with the junk mail. After our safety dept and personnel office people stopped laughing, I filled out the necessary paper work for a new badge and alarm. Humm, I wonder how much they will bill me for that alarm. Needless to say I moved the key ring holder to a different location.

Waving to Shawnee, Pam, Susan and Jackie.

Off to get dinner but will be back later.

[zip2play]

Hmmmm, Linda WHO????

Loretta,

Cute garden...Southern hospitality seems to last an extra month for you....though my windowsill never has seasons.

No 2 hour drive for me; she picked up the kefir grains at HBO from Bob in Manhattan...she's a new age therapist in town.

Dinner yesterday was SOOO good.... I made Dover Sole Francaise and Broccoli Rabe.
Cute coincidence: I was reading the ShopRite ad and I saw broccoli rabe (rapini) on sale at $.99/lb (really good). I looked up and the TV was on a cooking channel and yep, a big Italian Mama was cooking BROCCOLI RABE! A good tip....par-boiling (blanching) makes for a less bitter product. It tastes SO VERY HEALTHY!

[SuSUN]

Hi Guys,

Yep, had this morning off, the Smokers this aft 7 of them so a small group 2 have just quit, 3 more are planning for next Monday! It is our Thanksgiving up here!

Off tomorrow just have a Smokers group tomorrow night then the PN on Thursday, then the office all day Friday. Think I'll drop the office starting next month.....too much stress on the phones!

Managed a Sunny walk with Oliver when I came home from the group. It has been a bit cooler but the Sun is still coming out between the clouds. Staring up to get some into the retina.

Roger,
Thanks for the Light Info. Will get DH on that project. He needs stuff to do over the Fall and Winter months. Not sure about the before 6a.m.
Do share how you made that Dover Sole and what is Brocolli Rabe?
I took brocolli spears and carrots with dip to my smokers group today for their munchies.

Loretta,
Thanks for the wonderful pic of your yard! What a treat this late on to have so much colour!
My next speech, as you asked I have not christened yet? I thought maybe something about planning for retirement. I will have to check what I am supposed to incorporate I think it is the use of words, gotta read up on this next one!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LORETTA!

Shawnee,
What a gorgeous pic of the man made lake, those Fall colours reflecting in the water is breathtaking! So serene and tranquil!
Good for you getting to Curves! If I cut back on the full days at the office maybe I can squeeze some time for a workout. I really need it, I'm such a procrastinator!

Ginny,
Thanks yes, I got some Sunlight with Oliver on his walkies this aft. DD said that she had 5 deer in her yard this morning. She has a long back yard and she puts apples out for them. They were young as they still had the white tails.
Your temps sound wonderful for October!

Linda,
Ya sure got the Fiscal Budget sorted! I am slowly reducing my work load. It got too busy of late. Dont get my SS till 60, I'm 55 at Christmas, so a long haul ahead of me yet. I think I'll just do the groups, a couple of hours is plenty for me although there will be a drop in $$s.
Glad you moved that Key Ring Holder....can cause havoc eh?

Julie,
Sounds like you had quite the agenda for today! Bowling and Yoga. Hope you enjoyed the lunch too!
I like the idea of nightie and robe all day too, but ya gotta have a change for a few hours!

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME SHELLEY! FANTASTIC 80LBS GONE! Menus requested!
I guess these rainy days, it's time for back to back Videos for the children.
What I did with our kids, if ya change their distraction about every hour or so. Keeps them quiet. I would have them dancing to, "Sugar, Sugar" the Archies not sure if you would remember them.
Then we would paint, lots of mess, then they played at the sink with those submarines that came in the Cereal packets with baking soda. Then if it was not raining, cuz we lived in England when the kids were small, I would take them out to look and feed the ducks or what ever wild life we could find. Hope this helps! What kinda work is DH doing 6-6 yikes 12hours done it myself in the past so has my DH!

Wavin to Pam and Jacki, Hope to check back later!

[Jewels]

The weather has turned so crappy we have cancelled our "last hurrah camping trip" for this next weekend. Kind of sorry but am getting too old for this cold windy rainy sitting around the campfire kind of camping. We always put a huge tarp up but that was great when we were younger. We always went all year round back when we had kids.

Just got my shower in and jammies on. Yippee! Now I'm comfy!! Roger, you must think I'm crazy!! I love broccoli but never tried broccoli rabe. I've seen lots of recipes for it in magazines. Will have to look for it. Phonecia sending up a flower spike??? I'm so jealous.

Loretta, happy anniversary to you and yours!! Love your flowering garden. Nice this time of year. Do you do all the yard work?

Susan, ok, you and Roger have got to share the info about the light. My DH could make one too if thats what your saying. Help me too!! Before 6:00 A.M. isn't in my vocabulary gang. Tell me something else. Maybe I'm reading between the lines here. I must have missed this info.

Hey Linda, I made it til six tonight before I got my jammies on. LOL Glad I'm not the only nut here. Yeah, I'd say the key ring holder needs to be somewhere else. Ours are always falling on the floor. Especially with the DGK here. They play with them sometimes.

Ginny, how do you guy's rate getting such beautiful warm weather? Hope you got out and enoyed it. Fog here in the mornings, almost every morning now. #$%#$# Speaking of deer hunting, my DS1 just got back from bow hunting elk. Didn't get any. boo hoo!

DGS just called and his wheel came off while he was driving. Gotta run and see whats going on. Always a crisis with this kid.

[LoveMontana]

One more quick check before bed.

LOL Roger

Julie, sorry about your DGS. What's the story on that tire?

You beat me with the snuggies and shower. I lasted till 6:30 and then did it.

Sorry about the trip being cancelled. I have two words for you...
NICE HOTEL.

Susan, you aren't saying you have to work on your Thanksgiving are you? Sheesh!
Good for you for reducing your work load. Life is far too short to work forever. Take it easy and just do what you want.