Good morning Ladies!

Happy B-Day Zig!

I borrowed the book "learning to love yourself" and dont remeber who wrote it :( I will recheck at home though and see if it is still kicking around.

Need to get back to work but wanted to post that!

John

Happy Birthday Zig! I hope you have a wonderful day!! Marci, I am so glad that you remembered for us all.

Milkdud, did I miss something? I thought that you had left your job? Did you start another?

DeeMarie, I think that is indeed how we first met! You gota do another Virtual Dinner!

The Virtual Dinner was great! I cooked for six, all very non-dietetic fare... I couldn't get my pics to post but everything turned out great! Check over at the cooking forum and look for South American Virtual Dinner : "Menu", and "What are you doing now?". I am doing this AGAIN next week for another group of friends. A good time was had by all : )

Off to work!

Zig, I hope that this is a terrific day for you. Heck! Make it last all week long!

Tikanas

Zig - Happy Birthday to my SS sister! I agree with Tikanis "make it last all week long". I am so thrilled that you have returned to this board. Thanks for all your input and support. You are a great source of inspiration for me.

debi - What a relief! Glad it went so well - we missed you.

Marci - I saw that little rabbit, rabbit you snuck in there LOL.

Tikanis - that sounds like so much fun. I may have to try that some time. Are you having another treatment soon?

Milkdud - a month is a long run, I am sure it will do you a world of good -just be careful and listen to your body.

Dee - you are the best stepmom! I forgot to post after you wrote about your Diana Ross episode - funny, but I could just imagine it all.

Enjoy the beautiful day!

Happy Birthday Zig - hope it's a great one.

BJ - can't believe your parcel hasn't arrived yet! Mailed that April 15th.

Not a good weekend for Mom - doctor had to be called in - my Brother is coming home from Florida on May 15th - Hoping that's what she is waiting for.
Thanks so much for all your thoughts and wishes.

I did get to golf a couple of times of last week - not as much as I would like, but that's OK too.

Take care everyone.
Joanne

Zig - Happy, happy birthday! I hope it's the best one yet! Enjoy!

Joanne ((hugs)).

Will check in tomorrow.

Donna

{{gwi:1501318}}
Happy Birthday Magic Kitty!
Come visit us or we will eat all your cake ourselves!

Oh my goodness, 2 parties this week! That calls for a song from your resident diva (sorry Maddie, I got here first!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU................
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.........................
HAPPY BIRRRRRTTTTHHHHDDDDAAAYYYY DEAR, SWEET, BRIGHT, COMPASSIONATE ZIG & MAGIC KITTTTYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

Hope this week is special for both of you and those you love.

Joanne, there is not a day that goes by where I don't think about how you are coping with your situation. It was almost 18 years ago that I faced this with my mom.

Glad to see that most of you are up and about and feeling better.

I am back in the office with only 2 meetings today and most of my department is either working from home or on holiday. I've decided to take about 3 hours to thoroughly go through this place and toss out old files and junk that I do not need. It's worth the time because I don't feel so much stress with less around me.

Hope everyone has a great day! Make it count.
Take care, eat healthfully, and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!
(those extra 3 Nevers are for you, Beege)
DeeMarie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGIKITTY!!!!!

Thank you for the birthday wishes. I am so grateful to be part of this wonderful group.

Marci ~ Thank you for the gif. I wasn't surprised as much as amazed that you remembered since it's been such long time since I have posted. Hope you find the perfect shoes.

Dee~ my oh my thanks for making me smile. Loved the song :-)

BJ~(((((HUGS)))))) I hope things will get better once the class is over.

Joanne ~ you and you family are in my thoughts and prayers. Having just gone through something simialr I know how stressful and exhausting this can be.

Debi ~ What good news. Sounds like things are looking up for you

milkdud ~ your recovery is amazing, just don't overdo it

Hi to everone else

Better get back to work. With proms, graduations and open houses this is a really busy time for
me

(scooting Diva Dee over)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUSE BOTH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUSE BOTH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR WONDERFUL ZIG AND LYNNNNNNNNNN
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUSE BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday, ladies! ((((((hugs))))))))

Joanne, you're in my thoughts and prayers. I walked this road with my mom 16 years ago last month--

BJ!!!! Did I read that you and DD are coming to KY??? Any chance to see you???? PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEEE????? I made it a point to move vacation back this year so that I wouldn't miss ya this year!!! (OK--whining and an attempt at guilt--might work!!! JK!! LOL!)

Deb--glad that it went well, and that you feel so good! (((hugs!!))

Well, the dinner party went off as planned on Saturday night. The place looked nice, and I was actually proud of it. :) Rog smoked ribs, and made baked beans, slaw and a cheescake while I worked a show on Sat, and then we all met and ate--good time! I like to enterain, and I just wish I had more room; we do it more often!

So where is Patti, Amy, Happyto, Gretchen? Come out and post!!!!

Hugs,

Maddie

Wow!! Two parties in as many days!!!

Happy Birthday to Zig and Magic Kitty. I hope you both have wonderful years full of health and joy.

Magic Kitty, it's been too long since we heard from you. Are you still moving?

Zig, what did you do special for your birthday?/

Happy Birthday Magic Kitty! Hope it's a great one!

Happy Birthday Magic Kitty! Are you moved yet??

It is a nice rainy morning here. I love it. I don't even mind going out in it!

Debi, how is that knee doing?

Back later!

Tikanas

Happy Birthday ZIG!!!!!!! Yay! Hope you have a week-long celebration that's as special as YOU are! MUH-WAH! Love you!

Magic Kitty! Happy, Happy Birthday! How'd the move go? Please pop in and tell us what's up with YOU! (((HUGGLES))))

Joanne! I got the birthday box last night! THANK YOU so much! It's a tea party-in-a-box! Special yummy teas, a wonderful tea press, a bejeweled friendship spoon to "stir up" conversation, pictures of London/Ontario and a "To Market, To Market" cookbook full of ideas for fresh cooking! I was looking through the cook book and getting hungry---I'll have to visit the Pike Place Market and cook something up! The best of all, though, was the photo of you and your family! You look like someone I would LOVE to spend some time with! Fun, fun , fun! And your daughter's wedding must have been a fairytale! Lovely! Everything! Thanks so much! What a great day you gave me! SOOOOOOO special!

Well, I am writing an assignment for the 'Ick' class today. I'm finishing up all the work for this week and next Monday, so I can have a strees-free DERBY! I leave Thursday night and arrive in the bluegrass state Friday morning! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

My neighbor is moving to London June 2nd, so the neighbors are haivng a luncheon for her today. I will miss her--she is very nice. Her son and daughter-in-law are moving into her house. I'm sure they'll be as nice as she is---just younger!

Maddie! I want to see you. I'll email you my and DD's flight info and see if we can hook up somewhere!

Have a great day. Sunny here and about 60.

Have a great time BJ!

QOD: Does anyone have the questionnaire that most of us filled out when we first started the birthday/holiday swap? I would love to have the new members fill it out...makes it easier to know what to include in their package. (Can you tell I'm still trying to shop for Donna?!)

We had about 98 children of employees in today for workshops and special events. I was an escort for a group of 6 boys (aged 11-13). Since I had back-to-back meetings this morning, I only got them for the afternoon. NOW I remember why I did not want children LOL! They knocked me out....kept trying to round them up like steer. They finally settled down in the advertising seminar when they got to create and star in their own TV commercial!

Meeting some old colleagues for dinner tonight. One I never got along with, but she comes with the group. Will try to be on my very best behaviour but she has lots of trouble with personal boundaries (like in the middle of a staff meeting....."say, you are always smiling. How many times a week do you have s@x?" HUH? Wish me luck! haha

Make every day count!
DeeMarie

DeeMarie (and anyone who wants to answer the questions), here is the questionaire that we used for this year's exchange.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
2. Diamonds or pearls?
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
4. What is your favorite TV show now?
5. What did you have for breakfast?
6. What is your middle name?
7. What is your favorite food?
8. What foods do you dislike?
9. What is your favorite chip flavor?

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
11. What kind of car do you drive?
12. Favorite sandwich?
13. What characteristic do you despise?
14. What are your favorite clothes?
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
16. Favorite brand of clothing?
17. Where would you retire?
18. Favorite time of the day?
19. What was your most memorable birthday?
20. Where were you born?
21. Favorite sport to watch?
22. What fabric detergent do you use?
23. Coke or Pepsi?
24. Morning person or night owl?
25. What is your shoe size?
26. Do you have any pets?
27. What did you want to be when you were little?
28. Longest friendship you still have.
29. Biggest accomplishment?
30. Favorite school sport?
31. Event you look forward to.
32. What is one thing/product you absolutely detest and would hate to see in a gift package?
33. How do you pamper yourself?
34. If I had a day all to myself, I would______________________.
35. If you were a box of cereal, what kind would you be and why?
36. What in your life now reminds you of when you were growing up?

If you are new to this team (and especially if you are in the birthday swap), would you please cut-and-paste the above questionnaire into your follow=up post and answer the questions?

Many thanks!

1. What time did you get up this morning?
5:00
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds are this girls best friend
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
RENT
4. What is your favorite TV show now?
Amazing Race
5. What did you have for breakfast?
Whole Wheat pumpkin spice muffin lots and lots of coffee
6. What is your middle name?
don't have one
7. What is your favorite food?
anything Mexican
8. What foods do you dislike?
sardines, anchovies, clams, oysters, mussels, frog legs escargot
9. What is your favorite chip flavor?
plain, why mess with a good thing

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
    Elton John Love Songs
11. What kind of car do you drive?
    Tracker or Wrangler
12. Favorite sandwich?
    2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun BIG MAC
13. What characteristic do you despise?
    lying, prejudice, self-centeredness, greed
14. What are your favorite clothes?
    Jeans, T-Shirts, Blazers, Bib Overalls
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
    Thailand and Viet Nam
16. Favorite brand of clothing?
    Old Navy
17. Where would you retire?
    Mackinac Island, MI
18. Favorite time of the day?
    early morning just before dawn
19. What was your most memorable birthday?
    50th
20. Where were you born?
    Chicago
21. Favorite sport to watch?
    college football
22. What fabric detergent do you use?
    Tide w/bleach, Era, Woolite, Woolite Dark
23. Coke or Pepsi?
    COKE
24. Morning person or night owl?
    Both
25. What is your shoe size?
    61/2 - 71/2 depending on where I get them and what style they are
26. Do you have any pets?
    no
27. What did you want to be when you were little?
    a doctor
28. Longest friendship you still have.
    almost 40 years...DH
29. Biggest accomplishment?
    besides being a wife and mom, graduating from college and getting my Masters Degree
30. Favorite school sport?
    to play - volleyball to watch - football
31. Event you look forward to.
    my anniversary
32. What is one thing/product you absolutely detest and would hate to see in a gift package?
    perfume
33. How do you pamper yourself?
    I don't
34. If I had a day all to myself, I would_____________________.
    Bury my nose in a book
35. If you were a box of cereal, what kind would you be and why? TRIX because they are for kids or Lucky Charms because I think my life is.
36. What in your life now reminds you of when you were growing up?
    nothing, which is how I want it to be.

I'm not really new but have been away for a long time. I think it would be fun if you Old-Timers filled this out too.

zig

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:15am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Spiderman 2
4. What is your favorite TV show now? CSI, Survivor, American Idol,
5. What did you have for breakfast? small whole wheat bagel
6. What is your middle name? Marie
7. What is your favorite food? pizza, pizza, and pizza covered in pizza
8. What foods do you dislike? liver
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? plain potato chip

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Gene Pitney's Greatest Hits
11. What kind of car do you drive? Nissan Altima (getting new one in a month)
12. Favorite sandwich? REAL turkey (not 'wet' deli stuff!) on whole wheat w/ lettuce and good NJ tomatoes
13. What characteristic do you despise? liars
14. What are your favorite clothes? business suits
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Bermuda (I leave Saturday!)
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Elisabeth
17. Where would you retire? near friends/relatives
18. Favorite time of the day? morning w/ hot coffee
19. What was your most memorable birthday? 28
20. Where were you born? New Jersey (you godda problem wit dat?) lol
21. Favorite sport to watch? Football
22. What fabric detergent do you use? Purex
23. Coke or Pepsi? Diet Coke
24. Morning person or night owl? Morning Person
25. What is your shoe size? 6 1/2 WW
26. Do you have any pets? No, No, No ... never!
27. What did you want to be when you were little? a figure skater/ice dancer
28. Longest friendship you still have. 53 years (two childhood friends)
29. Biggest accomplishment? finishing college while working full time and part time jobs
30. Favorite school sport? football (was a cheerleader)
31. Event you look forward to. when my stepdaughters or nieces get married!
32. What is one thing/product you absolutely detest and would hate to see in a gift package? Liver!
33. How do you pamper yourself? bubble bath and great fun novel
34. If I had a day all to myself, I would watch chick flix with or without girlfriends, drinks and popcorn (and then order a big pizza!).
35. If you were a box of cereal, what kind would you be and why? (All Bran, cause I'm full of ......LOL!!) Nah, I would say Grape Nuts 'cause I'm Nuts!
36. What in your life now reminds you of when you were growing up? Walking around our lake this spring...the sounds of birds chirping and green all around reminds me of my father's garden.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30
2. Diamonds or pearls?both. Depends on what IÂm wearing.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Mrs. Henderson Presents.
4. What is your favorite TV show now? Sopranos.
5. What did you have for breakfast? I didnÂt.
6. What is your middle name? Trouble!
7. What is your favorite food? Milk (honestly, I can drink a gallon a day)
8. What foods do you dislike? Liver
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Plain Lays

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? AC/AD High Voltage
11. What kind of car do you drive? A POSsie
12. Favorite sandwich? BLT
13. What characteristic do you despise? In me? Being wishy-washyÂa true Libra
14. What are your favorite clothes? Sweats for around home; Chicos for going out
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? ENGLAND!!
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Chicos, Talbots
17. Where would you retire? England, NC or TN
18. Favorite time of the day? Early summer mornings, otherwise evenings
19. What was your most memorable birthday? My 40th, when I didnÂt get anything from Rog, but I did get a huge bouquet of flowers from you all!
20. Where were you born? Louisville
21. Favorite sport to watch? Basketball
22. What fabric detergent do you use? Cheer
23. Coke or Pepsi? BothÂbut give me Big Red!
24. Morning person or night owl? DependsÂ.
25. What is your shoe size? 7/12
26. Do you have any pets? YepÂ3 hairy cats
27. What did you want to be when you were little? A fighter pilot, a dancer or a doctor
28. Longest friendship you still have. 40+ years
29. Biggest accomplishment? IÂm still standing
30. Favorite school sport? I didnÂt play, but I love college basketball
31. Event you look forward to. The DERBY!
32. What is one thing/product you absolutely detest and would hate to see in a gift package? Liver!
33. How do you pamper yourself? I talk Rog into bushing my long hair, and rubbing my feet.
34. If I had a day all to myself, I would say the h3ll with gas prices, and go to all of the out of the way shops around here that I just love, and spend all day looking. ORÂtake a class in PMC or photography. OR sit under a tree in a park and eat fried chicken.
35. If you were a box of cereal, what kind would you be and why? Grape Nuts, Âcause I love purple, and the rest id fairly obvious! LOL!
36. What in your life now reminds you of when you were growing up? Going to the local ice cream place and getting a cone. The smell of cut grass. Soaking in the tub, and then getting into fresh sheets. Being barefoot in the yard.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:00 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds!
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I don't remember - it was one over the winter but I guess it wasn't memorable
4. What is your favorite TV show now? Law & Order SVU, CSI,lots of stuff on Food Network, House Hunters on HGTV, King of Queens, Ghost Whisperer
5. What did you have for breakfast? Cereal and coffee
6. What is your middle name? Lee
7. What is your favorite food? Chocolate!
8. What foods do you dislike? Chinese (I know, I know, weird)
9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Kansas City BBQ

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I'm still into that Jimi Hendrix thing for some reason.
11. What kind of car do you drive? Jeep Liberty
12. Favorite sandwich? Still PBJ
13. What characteristic do you despise? Dishonesty, shallowness and cruelty
14. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans, tee shirt and sneaks OR shorts, tee shirt and sneaks
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? England, Scotland and Ireland
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Coldwater Creek
17. Where would you retire? Some place where it is warm most of the year
18. Favorite time of the day? Very early morning or sunset/dusk
19. What was your most memorable birthday? 40th
20. Where were you born? NJ
21. Favorite sport to watch? Football
22. What fabric detergent do you use? Arm & Hammer or Tide
23. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi (diet please without caffeine)
24. Morning person or night owl? Neither - but definitely more morning that night
25. What is your shoe size? 6 or 6 1/2 depending on the shoe
26. Do you have any pets? 2 very, very spoiled dogs
27. What did you want to be when you were little? Nurse
28. Longest friendship you still have. 38 years
29. Biggest accomplishment? Buying my own home
30. Favorite school sport? To participate in track, to watch football
31. Event you look forward to. My days off each week, does that count as an event??? I love all holidays.
32. What is one thing/product you absolutely detest and would hate to see in a gift package? Anchovies and/or Chinese food
33. How do you pamper yourself? Listen to music, read, get a manicure
34. If I had a day all to myself, I would turn off the phone, watch Lifetime, snack on chocolate and KC BBQ chips and read a wonderful book.
35. If you were a box of cereal, what kind would you be and why? Alphabets - they say lots without being noisy
36. What in your life now reminds you of when you were growing up? Grass that was just mowed, iced tea in the summer, the beach and all of the wonderful smells that go with the ocean.

Maddie, I sent you an email with my cell # and plans. I HOPE WE CONNECT! Love!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 4AM

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I think it was a bugs life!

4. What is your favorite TV show now? Alias which is sadly ending. Boston Legal too.

5. What did you have for breakfast? Kashi Go Lean Crunch

6. What is your middle name? Suzanne

7. What is your favorite food? Lobster and Champagne

8. What foods do you dislike? Organ meats, innards of any kind.

9. What is your favorite chip flavor? Don't eat them.

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I just got a live complitation of Collective Soul and Alanyis Morrisette. Both great.

11. What kind of car do you drive? Toyota Corolla and a F250 Pickup to tow my horse trailer.

12. Favorite sandwich? BLT with real tomatoes!

13. What characteristic do you despise? Dishonesty, conciet, rudeness.

14. What are your favorite clothes? Riding clothes

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Horseback riding in Tuscany and/or France.

16. Favorite brand of clothing? Ariat and Talbots

17. Where would you retire? The Blue Ridge Mountains in NC.

18. Favorite time of the day? Early, early morning.

19. What was your most memorable birthday? All of them!!

20. Where were you born? Panama City, FL

21. Favorite sport to watch? Nothing unless it's an equestrian sport.

22. What fabric detergent do you use? All

23. Coke or Pepsi? Neither, I don't drink soda

24. Morning person or night owl? Morning

25. What is your shoe size? 8

26. Do you have any pets? Yes, lots of them. 2 Morgan horses, 2 Pygmy goats, 3 donkeys, 2 Siamese cats, 1 calico cat. Soon to have chicks!

27. What did you want to be when you were little? I don't remember anymore.

28. Longest friendship you still have. 34 years

29. Biggest accomplishment? Staying alive!

30. Favorite school sport? I really hated sports.

31. Event you look forward to. My summer full of horse camping trips.

32. What is one thing/product you absolutely detest and would hate to see in a gift package? Things with fake scents.

33. How do you pamper yourself? Manicure, pedicure and massage.

34. If I had a day all to myself, I would take the girls out for a nice long picnic complete with carrots and wine!

35. If you were a box of cereal, what kind would you be and why? Kashi Go Lean Crunch I eat so much of it I will turn into a box someday.

36. What in your life now reminds you of when you were growing up? Nothing.

Happy Birthday Magic Kitty - come back and tell us how you are doing.

Maddie/BJ - hope you two were able to get together. Maddie - did you get a derby hat this year?

I will post my answers later or tomorrow.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.