Good Luck!!!!

TGIF!! Toasting with water today.

Good luck to you Stacie!! I'll keep you in my prayers today!!

DH is off today so we are going out looking at houses. There is one more area we'd like to check out.

Still haven't heard from my mom...been about a month now. I figured I'd let her kinda stew on her words for awhile but I can't turn off the worry.
This tough love is hard but she needs to realize she cannot treat people like that. I have armed her with resources to senior public transit which is free for her. I've also made her aware of the senior center in her area where she will find an array of programs to assist her but as you all know she balked at all my suggestions saying she can't be bothered getting involved with those people LOL!!
She threw away all the pamphlets and literature I gave her.

I know she will come around and realize she can't treat me like a slave and have me jumping thru hoops...just going to take time.

In the meantime I've enjoyed having Fridays to myself and I've gotten a lot done.

Tomorrow I have to work and its DS first day on the job too!! Hopefully he'll like it!! I know he'll like making cash!

Our Phils didn't do too well last night...bummer!!
They play again tomorrow night!!

Sunday my DD is working the Eagles game!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Cheers!
Susie

Good Luck Stacie, whichever way it goes.
Good luck to you to Suzie, hope that house sells real soon.

Debating about whether to go to the cottage this weekend. It's suppose to rain all weekend so I'd just as soon stay home but Clive wants to do some more work on the seawall...rain and all! So as of right now no idea what I'm doing this weekend!

Whatever it is it will involve a martini come happy hour! LOL

Happy weekend all.....

I'll be thinking about you Stacie, and sending you good vibes. I had two c-section babies, you won't heal up quite as quickly but I was up and around pretty well in not too much time. No lifting the others, though!

Suzie, I hope that house sells soon and you find a great one in a nice space. Don't cut off ties with your Mom for too long, just eventually talk to her and tell her your hurt with her actions.

Chase, have a martini for me, come what may....

tomorrow is the birthday party for the grandkids. Bud was 3 on Monday, Makayla will be 5 on November 4, Amanda will be 26 on November 2. Lots of parties.

I'm baking homemade rolls for the sloppy joes and cakes for both the grandkids. Bud gets a "farm" cake, with a tractor plowing the chocolate frosting "field". Makayla is getting Hannah Montana and I haven't quite figured out the logistics for THAT yet.

I have two calves that need to be locked in the barnyard and weaned and sauerkraut that needs to be canned, so I won't be bored.

Annie

Good Luck Stacie! Hey, ya gonna have that doctor tie those tubes again? Maybe a double knot is in order hahahahah! BUT only if that's what you want. I'll be thinking of you guys.

Good luck to Suzie too!! I'm not getting along with my sister right now either. She hung on me Sept 30th and we haven't spoken since then. What a shame. I hate family problems, hope you get yours straightened out. Hope I get mine straightened out too.

Chase, where ever you are, just enjoy that martini~ *clink*

Oh boy Annie you have a busy weekend planned for sure! Happy Birthday wishes sent to all the kids!

We're going to a Halloween Party Saturday night. Should be lots of fun.

And we're expecting our first cold front of the season....it's gonna dip into the 70's. Woo Hoo bring out the 3/4 length sleeve shirts people!!

Have a fun weekend everyone!!

Shaun, there's a cold front coming through here on Monday too. It's supposed to snow!

Annie

Oh Stacie, hope everything "comes out" ok...can't believe you're doing this again already (probably neither can you)

We've got the usual soccer game tomorrow, ripped out all the tomatoes last weekend so not much more to do in the yard (yeh, Shaun, we've already had 3-4 freezes!)
But it's a gorgeous fall day outside, gold and red trees abound. I love fall, got to get me some pumpkin for the annual pumpkin cooking that DH groans about. This year I'm going to try Martha's brown butter pumpkin cookies in addition to pumpkin-ginger scones, and either some muffins or bread.

Cheers to all
Lisa

Oh baby! Sending healthy happy baby vibes your way.

Alice is home sick for day 3. Seems to be a flu bug. Hard to keep this kid down but this flu seems to have done it.

Daniel was 18 on the 22nd. We celebrated his "adulthood" last night with cake, ice cream and pizza. Only the cake was semi-homemade. I've had a busy work schedule this week.

We will all go to my friend's annual pumpkin slaughter-I mean carving-party and pot luck on Saturday. I'm taking the paella salad posted by Deborah_ps a while back. It caught my fancy and seemed like a good choice for this crowd. Otherwise it will be quiet and work as usual.

TGIF to everyone! I toasted with a skim pumpkin latte at Java Surf this morning after dropping Sam off at school. Both boys have been home sick for 3 days, today is the first day they felt well enough to go back. Seemed like the nasty stomach flu, and I'm praying DH and I don't end up with it. Got soccer games, a birthday party and a fall festival this weekend. So the weekend will fly as usual. Like Shaun, we'll be enjoying the (slightly) cooler weather in Florida. Yahoo!

Stacie, you and the baby will be in my prayers for sure. Good luck no matter what happens.
Susie, I'm so sorry about your mom, I know it has been a constant hurt for you. I sure do hope she comes around and soon, but if not, I agree with Annie, don't wait too long OK?
Chase, enjoy your martini at the cottage this evening (if you and Clive do go!).
Annie, happy birthday to Bud, Makayla and Amanda! I know your cakes will be spectacular! I hope we'll get to see pics:-) Rub those cute little calves' heads for me, and save me some snow, please?
Shaun, I hope your sis calls soon and apologizes for hanging up on you. It's a real insult when someone does that. Have fun at the Halloween party!
Lisa, will you share the pumpkin ginger scone recipe? And I'm jealous of all your fall colors!
Eileen, sorry Alice has been sick. Sam and Ben were sick with a bad stomach bug for 3 days, and now I hear it's going around their schools. I hope she feels better soon. Happy birthday to your dear Daniel. Geez, 18 really is officially grown up, isn't it?
Happy Fall to everyone and have a safe, joyful weekend!
DONNA

Stacey, I am wondering where you are right now. On your way to the delivery room? Thinking of you!!

Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy so it's a good day to head to the mall to buy clothes one size larger than the clothes I have now. Sigh. I'm thinking of trying WW online. Can't go on like this!

It's also time to switch the clothes (at least the ones that still fit) in the closet. Summer/Fall into the back and winter into the front. We are at that crazy time of year when the high could be 70 or 50. However, I know which way we are headed -- doowwwnnn. Brr. Already had to scrape frost off the windshield once.

I am seriously trying not to hang myself after looking at my investments. Goodbye retirement.

What else this weekend? I'll cheer for the Phillies tomorrow night. Did I tell you that my son sold three World Series tix on ebay? He got $1500 for three STANDING ROOM tickets. That is crazy.

I'll make the usual weekend visit to Mom. She is 91 and quite independent. I just wish I could spend more time with her.

It's time to do some raking, too. I mulch up as many as possible with the lawn mower, but there are always some to rake. I have to dig up the annuals, too, at least the ones the deer haven't eaten.

Then there's the laundry, grocery shopping, house cleaning, etc that I do every weekend.

Here's a clunk of my travel mug and cold coffee from the morning. Starbucks Gold Coast -- good even at room temp. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

Clinking with ice water at work. I have one daughter with strep throat and the other with a swim meet this weekend. They were both planning on going to a big scarey shindig called Fright Night on Saturday - so we'll see...
Stacie - I will be thinking of you - I love the name Hudson.
Annie - if you need any inspiration for your cake, visit the Cake Central website. Everything you always wanted to know about cake, but were afraid to ask!
I just ripped a recipe out of the paper for pumpkin pie scones, so I think that will be breakfast on Sunday.
Jane

Here is a link that might be useful: Cake Central

TGIF, clinking with a cold Perrier at my desk.
Good luck Stacey, I don't know how you do it--preggers, 3 kidlets and time to can and be online? Wow! Wishing you all the best today!

Annie, Happy Birthday to your crew! You're better than me, creating those adorable cakes for each! Is the Monkey Princess going to be six?

Yesterday was DGS Jayden's 4th birthday! Can you believe it, because I can't! DD had a few family and friends over last night, a cupcake party in school this morning and a birthday party at the little gym on Sunday! This isn't a birthday, it's a 4 day celebration! We bought him a train table which by some estimates will take up to two hours for assembly. DH will be armed with his electric screwdriver on Sunday after the gym to set it up at their house. It's too big to assemble and transport from our place.
No other real plans this weekend. We'll play it by ear-- Maybe a movie or dinner with friends Sat &/or Sunday night. The weather is really warm right now, last Monday it was typical fall! Who knows what to expect. Like you, Pam, I'm needing to pull back on my eating and running errands as usual.

I'm having a major allergy work-up on Tues so I have to be off antihistamines,vitamins, stomach meds etc. beginning tomorrow, so it should be an "interesting" weekend, to say the least!

Cheers and a healthy weekend to all!
Ellen

PS Susie I feel your pain. Things with my parents are becoming more and more difficult. Dad is giving my mother fits and in turn she's cranky and whiney with me. I dread my daily phone calls to check in. She complains bitterly but won't allow me to get additional help in the house. I hope that things straighten out with your mom, soon.
Same wishes to you Shaun!

Stacie, my thoughts are with you and can't wait to hear how things go. I obviously never got tired of giving birth and welcoming a new one into the family. What a wonderful time. I hope and pray it all goes well for you both.

Not much going on this weekend. One dd off to visit her sister at college and watch Notre Dame beat up on the Huskies on the football field. Sunday we're having our fall "Pie Fest" with dear friends of ours. The husband in the family installed all our vinyl and carpeting with the motto: "Will work for pie!" So we feed him pie at every opportunity, and plenty of it! We could never repay his kindness and help. Blackberry apple and Green tomato mincemeat are on the menu for Sunday. Now I just have to come up with an actual meal to feed everyone before the pie binge so we don't all have blood sugar crashes...

Happy fall weekend to everyone!

Hi! TGIF to all!

I had a long day at work today but I'm home finally and clinking with a cup of coffee. Even one drink would put me out tonight. No big weekend plans, I'm working.

Annie. hush up about snow. I'm going to pretend I never read that. Have fun making cakes and have even more fun with the GKids...:)

Nancy

Stick to your guns Susie. I can feel your tension and hope you take good care of yourself. You will never be there for mom if you don't attend to your needs first. Being healthy and strong allows you to give more with less effort. Sounds like your mom is throwing a guilt trip at you so shrug it off. So hard when you want to help someone and they turn good intentions against you.

Moms good luck with all those children... hope the sicky ones recover, those to be come healthy, and those that hope find their dreams.

I didn't post yesterday as I was on the road for hours. My alma matter had invited me to attend a lunch/lecture/ and what was probably a wake. A dear departed "sociological technologist" was appreciated with a presentation of his final study given by one of his associates. Lunch was steak strips with a fancy peppery sauce. My table was joined by three beautiful current students happy to enjoy a free lunch. I couldn't hear those across the table from me but the young lady next to me was excited about pursuing a career in enviromental law. We had an alumni at the table currently working in that field so the talk was hot and heavy about what law school might be a good choice. The study was presented after lunch and was about the Internet habits of young people. It looked at the integration of technology into the social lives of high school students... facebook, my space, and creative outlets. Later we met in a quiet room of mostly faculty and memories of the late 60's and 70's and the school's founding were shared by those who were at the scene of the crime. Then we got down to business with cocktails and a connection time. I was a bit of an oddity because most students are fairly wealthy and go on to graduate programs and fancy careers. The college has some intest in using me as an example of what can be done with a liberal arts education without law school. They like that I was able to reinvent myself over and over to meet the challenges of my life. For awhile I sat with the Dean and drunkenly bent his ear about skills I've found critical but aquired after school. I stopped for a burger at a the Harrison Roadhouse which is just off campus and sobered up for the long drive home. For me drunk is about three drinks these days so an hour and food was plenty to get me on my way.

I so needed that touching back with a place and people that gave me my adult life.

Back to work today. A pocket full of business cards and head full of projects.

: )
lyra

Good luck to you Stacie, even though it may be a little late?! I can't wait to see baby pictures! Clinking to you all with my cup of coffee this morning, have a great weekend everyone!

Bri

I checked conversations and we've not heard back from stacie ? that's a sure sign she had her little Hudson, imo....

Hello ya'll. Clinking with a mug of tea.... I keep checking on Stacie, too?!

DS came by for supper Friday and modeled his new suit. Don't know where this tall thin kid came from. We are short :) Supper was cutlet stew, Special K loaf, Challah and apple pie.

Yesterday was a good day to read the paper (if we had gotten one, arrgh!) work around the house and practice. After church today, I'm heading to Indy for a Flute Fest planning meeting. Anyone a flutist? Come visit Indy the end of January for the Flute Fest!

Judy