Hi ladies! Belated Happy Birthday Dee! Your package looks awesome! :) KYSusie--I didn't answer your ? re hair coloring either--I have done both. I tried a new stylist and I love my hair! She cut it so well that **I** can style it at home, and it looks great! Honestly, this is the best cut I have ever had, and she is worth every cent! (until the reality stricks me when I get the bill!) Well, a DGF and I went to our annual hen-party on Monday night, and she suggested that we eat at an O'charley's before we went. Now, this part of Louisville is typical middle-class suburbia--nice homes, etc.... Well, we had just started munching, and all of a sudden all h3ll breaks loose; there was a drive-by shooting in the parking lot (2 cars down from mine), and about 60 feet away from where we were sitting. Holy splumony! Talk about creepy. We're chowing salad, and here's this guy all red and holding his side sitting in front of my car. I think they caught the guys that did it; they had been on a 2 man crime spree, and decided to shoot someone. I told my bud that I'm going to have to stop going out to eat; remember the old man that died next to my table at the casino buffet? Scheech! And I forgot to tell you all--Rog's cousin's 12 yo step daughter went to her first dress-up dance on the 11th, and since her mom was at work, I got to help her get dressed and mess with her makeup. What fun!!! She is so pretty that it scares me, and she picked out a really pretty, long, black spagetti-strapped dress that was *not* tacky like so many are now. Her mom and I went back up to the school when mom got home, and we had a blast, hiding in the shadows, watching the dancers. G0d, these kids look so much older than I did when I was 12. Ack! It was sweet, and I was touched to be a part of her big night! :):) Rog and I went to an all day conference at the local World Trade Center for information on exporting from China. Really interesting stuff; makes me realize that I want to seriously research this option a bit further. I worked an art auction last night, and my old comnpany owner was there with his wife. Talk about awkward! We were nice to each other, but he can go p!ss up a rope as far as I'm concerned. Oh!! And I found out that my old boss is preggers; I guess she finally oops her hubby, b/c he definitely did not want another kid. Their DD is 10, so this should be fun! I'm glad I'm not there any longer! Gotta go! Hugs, Maddie

I am back and fully rested and tan. We had the most gorgeous weather. I actually read 3+ books - I finished Eat Pray Love, I read a book by Ellen DeGeneres (it was like her monologues), Water for Elephants which I totally loved, and The Red Tent - which I also totally loved. I quickly went through the posts and want to send (((((HUGS))))) to all. ((((((SUZANNE)))))) I am so sorry to hear about Blue - I had hopes of him hanging in there longer. I know how much all your animals mean to you, but there seemed to be a real bond with you and Blue. (((((DONNA)))) I am so sorry about your sister, but happy to hear your mom is getting some help. I know it is very frustrating for you to be supportive under these circumstances. You deserve to be able to live your own life and don't ever feel like you are a bad person - we all know you aren't. Patti - ((((HUGS to you and Dave)))) - I am so sad that he still has to struggle with his past. Marci - cute Ground Hogs Day story. I got to see Joe Namath when I was about 18. He was going to visit an orphanage near where I lived and his limo pulled into town - a very odd site back in those days. He had the window opened and waved to me. I used to love him, so he totally made my summer. I just read the magazine New York and found out he was from PA. Besh/BJ - I just heard about a book called "Does This Clutter Make my @ss Look Big" - LOL - I have to get it. BJ - when do you leave? I hope I didn't miss you. Glad to see you posted - I know your plate was running over. Whenicit - I will keep my fingers crossed that the house is sold. This vacation was my motivation - I hated looking at myself in my bathing suit each morning! Dee - Saratoga in the Spring sounds wonderful to me! I can't wait. My DD introducted me to a drink called Caparenia - very much like a mojito and very much my new favorite drink. I got a kick out of your emails - thanks. Here is the List so far - if you are not included and want to be, please let me know. I will match up the names on Tuesday: Unbirthday List Marci Patti Raeanne BJ Dee Donna Suzanne Milkdud Maddie Hello to all that I missed - but my laundry is calling me and it is Sunday. Missed you.

Whew! Dee~I didn't think I was going to get in in time to wish you a Happy Birthday on here either. I didn't realize that others were having the same problem. I had been reading on here today though. I hope you enjoyed your day. NH Suzanne~I am pretty sure I know what the sign means. Milkdud~Good to see you are still staying busy. Tikanis~Not 100% about the dating thing but I didn't read exactly what you are doing except on this page. My sis is about to marry someone she met on one of those & I'm very leary of him. My DBIL & DSIL met on one & they have been married a couple of years. Not certain how that is going either. Seems fine except for one thing. They are living in 2 different parts of the world. For the next 3 years I guess??? Marci~Good to see you here. I knew you would be here today. Maddie~Good to see you here too. Donna~I'd love to see your pics. Wodka~Glad to see you are doing so well too. Raeanne~Will have to catch up with all of you soon. I am still doing lots of quilting. Making lots of purses right now. It is great practice before tackling the big project of a quilt. Everyone will be leaving for back north soon. I really dread it again this year. We moved in December & love, love, love our new location even though it wasn't far at all. The neighbors are much friendlier. I made such good friends last year when new people moved in that we stay busy when we can. I try to move & stay busy in between dr visits. ;-) Take care Dear Friends. I miss each & every one of you. Patti

Hello everyone - yesterday went over my points with a late night family meal out (no one felt like cooking for obvious reasons) and I think I am about 6 points over this week on my meals. We are having a quiet day today at work and Saturday will also be quiet. So I have surrounded myself with my lovely yogurts, fruit, low/no fat chocolate biscuit bars I found in the store - wafer type things but I have be sucumbing to KitKats and going to stop this. Last night I was sooooo tired from all this family stuff, I felt weak and had a plate of sausage and mashed potato. Still not sleeping well, even with a mild sedative but things will return to normal. I am hanging in there. Planned meals today/tomorrow/sunday and hopefully for my weigh in on Monday I will recover from this week chaos. I too looked up that diet site with all the restaurants - I have resolved that walking up to a Tim Horton's donut counter is an automatic 6-8 points for the things I like. So I will be saving up my points when I visit home. They don't know what a good donut is over here! LOL to all, many thanks for the best wishes and codolences. We are remembering her funnier moments together and having a few laughs. Cheers, McPeg