All the best for a great week for everyone.

Hope these postings grow and everyone participates.

I've got a lot of appointments this week so that should keep me out of trouble, or get me into more. Time will tell

ivamae

Good morning people and peeps! ( I see Maddie is talkin' to the chickens these days...) See what happens when the MIAs don't post??

Hi Ivamae. Looking for trouble, are we? Here's hoping we all have a great week.

Payroll tomorrow and I am a bit backed up after survey last week. I had BOTH of my children working for me over the weekend! Cannot WAIT till all of this paperwork is computerized after DS has finals next week!

What's on everyone's agenda this week?

Tikanis

All this talk about CHICKENS made my ears burn!

I was going to check in last Thursday, but had a major disaster, as the racoons ate our quail after tearing apart the chicken wire and tunneling under the enclosure. My daughter was in tears for hours. I have felt like I am a in a starring role in an island version of Caddy Shack - with the racoons as the enemy. Attended the college graduation of our oldest daughter, only to have it dampened when we returned home to find that the racoons had invaded the chicken coop and nailed 3 of our chickens - gone, just overnight! ARG! With no quail, only 2 chickens, and 4 pheasants (an illness wiped out 4), I am just about through raising birds!

Anyway, I am here. :-) Just went to the doc last week: chlolesterol is GREAT, liver and kidney function perfect, Vitamin D low, and doc said I need to lose 45 pounds before next year's visit.

So, away we go! I'll have to catch up on everything, but for now, being back on the board is good!

wow, you were really missed Ms. BJ. Sorry about the birds; time for you take a break and relax with us for a bit.

Weekend was incredibly hectic, and I don't even feel like I was away from this office. Each week brings me closer to calling it quits and retiring, but I would seriously need to win the lottery in a huge way, so I'm stuck. I'm so jealous of stay-at-home people; I guess it's because I've been working since I was a kid for almost 43 years non-stop and I'm tired of it. I love my vacations and feel very blessed to have the time and opportunity to take them, but I am so tired of working........

Maddie, thanks for getting us started.

What's everyone up to this week?
Check in MIAs; use BJ as an example!
Make today count!
Dee

Bj!!! You just made my whole week!! I am SO happy to see you!
Sorry to hear about the birds : (
Congrats to you on having raised a graduate!

DeeMarie, I feel for you! Any chance of changing careers? Or at least jobs? You sound overwhelmed and I am so sorry!

Hope everyone else's week is off to a roaring start.

Check in MIAs! If BJ can check in, ANYONE can! Ha HA!

Tikanis

Wild Chicken, all the best in losing that 45 pounds. I have lost 40 in the last year and am so happy about it. What really helped was this forums Weekly Weigh in postings. I hope it doesn't give up the ghost as I feel we really need it. If I don't report to someone, I soon slip back up and I so do not want that to happen.

all the best
ivamae

What perfect timing to check-in to find BJ has returned!

BJ - I knew that racoons will go after baby birds in nests, but didn't realize they would attack full grown birds. UGHHH. Glad you got a good report from the Dr. Congrats to your DD on her graduation - what is in store for her now?

Tikanas - Your kids are great to help bail mom out from under all that work.

Dee - Sorry to hear that work has been crazy. Just imagine one of your cruises that I am sure is just around the corner.

Life is still hectic with work, home and play - but I try to keep things balanced - just wish I had a few more hours in the day.

Good Morning!

Just checking in... back later. Payroll deadline today!

Hello everyone -- having a better day, but all these new processes are driving us all nuts!

Raeanne, it was lucky that you posted late last night. I saw you online in FB and was going to nudge you with a little "you'd better be posting on THS"!, but thought better of it! LOL!

BJ, good luck with the weight loss. I'm still stuck with that 9 pound loss from earlier in the year and I have another 70 to go. DH confirms that he does not see me eat that much, so I've got to blame it on all the meds I take for hypertension. Of course, I can't stop taking those, so I can't lose the weight, but if I lost the weight, I COULD stop taking the meds. I'm hoping that if I get my butt in gear to find a good cardiologist, we can perhaps work on all these meds. I'm just maintaining my BP with my regular internist visits.

Hope everyone is having a good week!
Hang in there.
Dee

AHA! I knew that if I kept posting about chickens, BJ would come out.Now, to test my theory, I'm going to start threads mentioning George Clooney. We'll see! :)

BJ!! My sister! How good to see you post! We've missed you!

Nothing much going on his week, except I'm studying like mad. It's hotter than Hades here, so I'm staying inside with my books. We hacked up a pig heart today, and I think we're playing with veins Friday. I know I'm tired.

Hope all is well with everyone. And where's Besh? Amy?

Hugs,

Maddie

ARG!!!!! My whole post just got erased! I pushed the space bar too many times in a row - and POOF! SHEESH! Give a girl a break!

Oh, well, I'm coming back to work tonight, so I'll check in and re-post what I was gonna post! (I only have internet at work...and ya know, and my boss is a tyrant, so I have to sneak, sneak, sneak...haha)

TTFN!

Hi everyone,

BJ, good to see you post. When did you start raising birds? I lost my first flock of chickens to predators and I am alot wiser now. Raccoons can penetrate just about any fortress. Chicken wire is insufficient you must you welded wire.

I had to put my little Siamese Garnet down on Monday. He has been failing and I actually had the vet scheduled to come to the house this Thursday. On Monday I knew he wouldn't make it so I had to drive him to the vet. I wish it had been different but he was so close that it didn't matter. Poor little thing hung in there very bravely. I don't have to tell you all how I feel right now.

Hope everyone keeps checking in.

Suzanne! I am so sorry to hear this! I know just how you feel and my heart goes out to you : (

Well, Maddie, I see that you are right in the thick of things! I have always told my kids "Mom loves blood and guts and lucky for you, I get it outta my system at work" Ha Ha! When do you do your clinicals? Who are you trying to coax out with George Clooney?

Bj, I hate when a whole post just disappears! Come back with your re write and tell us what's going on.

Dee, I hope your cardio guy can help adjust your meds. Which anti hypertensives do you take? A couple of my patients are stuck in that same "loop" as you. Just MADDENING! I am glad that work is a little bit better. Think happy thoughts; "Ohmmmmm" : )

Well, Ivamae posted a 41 lb weight loss up there in the weekly weigh in and I wanted to be sure to say a big HURRAY!! That is quite an accomplishment, Ivamae and we are all very proud of you!

Raeanne, that was a good teaser; now come back and tell us what's REALLY going on LoL!

I cannot believe that it is Wednesday already! I am busier than a one armed paper hanger, but it's all good. Basking in the relief of last week's successful survey and life is good!

Tikanis

Hi all!

Ah, Suzanne, I'm sorry to hear about your purrbaby. Sending hugs and good thoughts to you!

Tikanis, I hope this coming January. I am looking forward to it, but it just seems to be taking so long. The University of Louisville has a program that will let a person with a bachelors degree in another field obtain their RN in a year, but unfortunately, it's just too expensive. At my age, I can't come out heavily in debt, so that option is out. But...I'm farther along than I was this time last year. :) Did you go through a period where you doubted that you would ever learn everything? I keep looking at the books, and the RNs that teach and sometimes I just feel overwhelmed, and that I'll never know what I need to. I've never been this excited, or terrified, in my life. If it's like this in school, I wonder what it's like in the clinical setting. And as for George, I think that if I could get BJ to show up by mentioning chickens, maybe I can get him to show up too! LMAO!

Hope all is well!

Hugs,

Maddie

Hi Girls,

My fan club president said you were over here talking about me, so I thought I'd pop in and say hi.

I don't really have any issues with my weight, but I enjoyed reading the updates and especially enjoyed a personal shout-out from Maddie. You girls appear to be a very tight-knit group. Good for you!

We'll all do lunch soon, please?

Thanks for all the love,

-George

O-M-G!!!! I missed George - story of my life!

Happy Thursday!

Hello to George; it was nice of you to post, but I miss JOHN, who is our true brother in weight struggles. LOL!

Tikanis, I wish I had your e:mail addy so that I could send you a list of my meds. Maybe you can make some sense out of it all. If any of you have both our e:Mails, please send along her addy. :0)

I'm about to call it day here at the office. Tomorrow I think I'll work from home so that I can concentrate on a project that is falling behind.

Have a great evening!
Dee

Just my luck to miss George! ROFLMAO

Has anyone heard from Jan? - it's not like her to be MIA.

Maddie - looks like you worked your magic by getting George to stop by.

Tikanis - did I miss your post about Kayaking to CSN? I need to find out more about how that went.

BJ - thanks for your emails!

My sister, her family and my brother are coming for the weekend - should be a lot of fun! Work is crazy but it can wait. The weather looks perfect to be out on the lake.

Have a greate weekend!

Hi Guys!

Well, I finally have time to post a little!

Raeanne- Glad to be back in the swing of things. I have been using my SAD light a little when I'm at work at night...helps the mood...a lot.

NYSuzanne: My DD (11 yrs old) started raising quail, chicken, and pheasant for a science fair. Well, as soon as the fair was over, the racoons invaded and had a bird hunt. Soooooooo sad for everyone and every bird involved. The racoons, foxes, and deer on this island are a HUGE problem for humans- but that's nature for ya! They have no predators, so there are millions of them. I finally gave up planting anything that I could eat since the deer ate it ALL before me! I bought a 40 pound bag of clover seed and grew a front yard of clover for the deer - now I have people pulling over in front of my house to take pictures of the deer in my yard munching clover! If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Maddie - My dad gave me Kentucky Monthly magazine so I can read all about what's happening in your neck of the woods...and think of YOU, sister. Muh-wah!

Ivamae - CONGRATS on your weight loss - what an inspiration you are!

Tikanas - SAVE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF, girlfriend!!! And when are we gonna meet up? Next time you're in Portland, Seattle, or whatever, let me know. I'll drive to you!!! :-)

DeeMarie: I just got a cruise brochure and instantly thought of you! It's been so long since I've cruised... WAH!

Isn't it strange how something (by happenstance) will make us think of each other? That being said, whenever I wash bras, I think of Besh - haha - she's the one who gave the sage advice of "Never put your bra in the dryer." Remember when we had the "Advice Week" thread?
Ah, well...Let me see - other reminders:

Whenever I think of cruises, I think of: DeeMarie
Anything Salem-related or the bra thing (lol): Besh
Horses or Sweet Pea Wine (We have that here): NHSuzanne!
ANY wine or Chippino (We had that when we were with you): Raeanne (HAHA!)
Hawaii and Futuristic Painting: Amy
Kindergarten! & Successful SS: Marci
ALF, Cats, and Cooking: John
Harold's weigh-in thread and success!: Ivamae
Austin Powers & "Who Cares About The FREAKIN Scale?": NJKaren
"YUMMERS!": Happyto

I have more, but I gotta get some work done...
...what are YOURS?

It's Friday, YAHOO!!

Dee, I would be happy to take a look, help if i can. Raeanne, Maddy, Bj, Suzanne and Donna all have my email addy. Ladies, feel free to pass it on to DeeMarie please.

A nice administrative day at the home office with DS who is doing a MUCH NEEDED post-final-exams cleaning of his room, chatting, planning a small open house to celebrate his graduation from community college and his future at UCLA.

Not too sure about the weekend plans, might kayak with my favorite nephew tomorrow morning...

Life is good : )

Tikanis

Greece! - and Kayaks! : Tikanas: Wow! I haven't had my kayak in the water in over 2 years - now, THAT'S sad! I better fix that SOON!

Your son's going to UCLA---CONGRATS!

My DD and her boyfriend are soming this weekend - the WHOLE FAMILY will be here. We're celebrating 3 birthdays, graduation, and Father's Day on Sunday. Should be a big time!

The island is packed and still, more people are POURING off the ferry. I'm staying AWAY from town this weekend - going to the mainland to take a CPR and Blood Pathogens class to keep my license current - what FUN!

Check in and tell us what YOU'RE doing this weekend!

Hi all!

Gol-durn,rotten, stinkin' luck! Son of a biscuit eater. Dad-blammed timimg. Figures--I'm off studing, and ol' Georgie-poo shows up. That is one handsome tall drink of water.... as my mom used to say. :) LMAO at whoever did that, and thanks for the best laugh I've had in days! (OK--let's see if we can get Ed McMann to show up from the great beyond with the winning Publisher Clearinghouse entry! We'll have that get together yet!)

BJ, How is your parents? Please tell them I said hi, and I hope to see them another May. I wonder how Happyto is doing. I know that Patti was keeping in touch with her for a while. Remember Renee and Sonu? What I wouldn't give to read some of those old thread from the late 90s. I was in Owensboro, KY a few weeks back, and was thinking about KYSusie. She was so drop-dead gorgeous.

Gotta go--I have an ugly anatomy test on Tuesday morning. U G L Y. Wish me luck. :)

Hugs,

Maddie

Things that remind me of BJ - thigh-high boots, peeps, chickens, when I need to pour detergent over my funky foods...

I am reminded of Maddie everytime I pick up my stapler LOL.

Think of Dee when I see the Soprano's and now NJ Housewives (KIDDING)

Maddie - Yes, Sonu had some great stories. I also enjoyed Myrna who I almost met and then Deb from TX that I spoke to on the phone. Hope all of them are doing well.

I am still concerned over Wodka not posting - it's not like her to not check-in. If someone has her snail mail address, could you send it to me.

Dee - I will send Tikanis' email to you.

I was hoping to catch George, but I think he is gone forever LOL.

Enjoy your weekend!