That amount of rain puts our seemly wet weather in perspective and yet,because of 2 years of drought it seems really rainy here if only in contrast...but in weather we have numbers and they don't lie when it comes to rain totals. I think our drought is over,after 2 years of digging in chalk to plant (and watching the water disappear when ever you watered) -we are soggy. I pulled a big(dry)Y.Aloifolia trunk out of the ground yesterday and it was almost as wet as when Gale pulled Evelle out of the ground while they were escaping from prison in the movie Raising Arizona! May was double our avg and June has been drier but flash flooding is forecast this weekend so that should change. Just looked- We are around 11.20" here for the last 6 weeks

ilene-84, Happy Birthday to your Dad! Is he a WW II vet? I hope all the medical issues are behind you and your family now. Spring is around the corner and it's such a great time of year. And, I'm sure when your kitchen is all done, it will be great simply because it has been a labor of love. It's good to know I am not the only one sleeping terribly. I wake up every day with a terrible headache and neck pain. I also wake up in the middle of the night repeatedly adding up cabinet sizes, trying to make a list of events of what should come next, what goes and doesn't go, if I do this then I have to do that and the infamous DID I MAKE A MISTAKE and what are my options now if I decide to change the layout. I started keeping a pen and paper on the night table to be able to jot down the ideas and make notes. However, one kitty is a pen thief, the other is a paper tearer. So when I get up to find the pen, big doggie has to come over and inquire as to what I am doing but more so to make sure he is not missing out on a food tidbit. Then DH starts in, what's wrong, is everything okay . . . it's so pitiful I have to laugh because I would cry. Now I try to get back into bed and find out that another kitty has stolen my warm spot and I just can't bear to move them so to the couch for me where I wonder, I just left that bed with all of them so how did we fit on there before! At least I'm off the kitchen biz. So much for the couch idea. There is usually the shy rescue cat there who so prefers DH to me. Then if I manage to lay down, it's impossible to get my back comfortable but then I finally fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion and then there is DH waking me, come back to bed, you know the couch is no good for your back. Argh . . just leave me be! This is a daily routine for us. I almost want to quit my day job and get a night job just so I don't have to go to sleep. I am sure also that the massive amounts of junk food I am eating is not helping the situation either. I am actually craving veggies so I don't know what that says about the diet. But in the end I will have a nice enough kitchen that I have built out of a labor of love. I am so looking forward to cooking again for us so hang in there! Christine, thanks for sharing your perspective on things. I must say you must be one strong resilient woman! You go girl.

"On a slightly other note, it never really occurred to me that I had a "right" to be intimate with BF while his daughters are present in the apartment. The last time they were here that was 10 difficult days for me where everytime he tried to kiss me goodnight and our door was open, I was so tense I just felt angry. I am hypersensitive to being observed, and I knew they could see us. It's just not natural for me - I am a little uptight but also I'm just concerned to not do anything in front of them that they would be upset by/tell BM" It is my view that you should be affectionate in front of the kids. After they've seen the aftermath (and during-math, if that's a word) of a bad and/or dysfunctional relationship, they need to see what a good one looks like. They will learn from that example more than any talk. That doesn't mean you have to be perfect or that you can't even disagree. But, as I've said before, kids need an example of both how to love someone AND how to deal with a disagreement. Now, I'm definitely not saying that you should have a make-out session on the couch when they are there. But a short but sweet kiss or cuddling on the couch while watching a movie or even an affectionate nickname will show them that you are happy together and secure in your relationship.

Ruthie, when going through so much, you reached out to others and now it's our time to reach ot to you. My hand to yours for strength when you need it, my frienship to lift you up when down and God's arms around you to carry you through. Now it will be sunshine in the morning, rainbow's at rain's end and an angel on your shoulder to walk with you. I can't descibe the reaction to the wonderful news other than jubilant jumping up and down. I am so thrilled at the good news. Take care and God Bless Lynn